Note: Okay, so five months? Or so? Since the last chapter? Things got a little crazy, I put down Zestiria for a while and then I realized I skipped over Goddodin because I hadn't really wanted to do the trial because I thought it would take me several hours to get through it.

Ended up taking me less. Like about 25-30 minutes or something, so uh... whoops. Anyway, the continuation!

"It feels different than when I was armatizing with Izayoi." Lailah appeared beside me as I released the armatization. "Like... I'm not feeling that weight in my chest anymore. It's... strange, but not unpleasant."

"That's how Armatization should be!" Lailah exclaimed, clapping her hands together. We were on our way to Pendrago, and the rains were pouring down on us. For a moment, I stared up at the skies and watched the rain fall. Soon, we'd have to face Cardinal Forton and...

I couldn't think of what would happen next. I didn't like that thought.

We continued onwards, into the city proper. The Knights were in danger of being disbanded, and Sergei had gotten a letter from his brother. Though he was going to go to the Church, Sorey encouraged him to leave it to us. It would be a bit difficult, but with all of us together we could do it-

Or so I hoped. The Cardinal had proven difficult but with the blessing of Musiphe, Sorey could probably finish her without my help. Not that I'd be any help with what little experience I had with the Armatus. I just hoped I could avoid being petrified by her. As we headed for the church, Forton's domain threatened to cut off our resonance. At Mikleo's command, Sorey purified the domain to allow us to keep our resonance.

The whole church was like a maze, and none of us really knew the way. The way forward was blocked by stone tablets that referred to each of the elements. The first one was red and, the moment we got it, it was easy to find the others. Gathering them was our priority, as it helped us find and fight Forton. But it was like running in circles once we found each tablet. Difficult, and very much like a quest for fetching. A fetch quest, if you would.

When we made it into the inner area, there were a ton of statues. Ah- Forton had petrified them. Hearing the others talk about them as if they were just mere statues reminded me that they weren't. I walked up to one in particular, the one that looked like Sergei, and put a hand on the shoulder. Petrified forever. There was no way for them to become human ever again.

A fate worse than death.

And when Forton had noticed us, Dezel had taken her on almost immediately. That was when the rest of them realized he was blind. I'd known since the first time I'd met him, but that was because I had known about it before ending up here. I had to react as shocked as the others, but we were pulled into the battle with Forton.

"Lukeim Yurlin!" I called out almost immediately, armatizing with Dezel.

I had to prevent the others from getting petrified, so I had to knock them down as Forton opened her eyes to petrify. Using the Armatization as best as I could, I was fighting as much as I could solo while protecting the others from getting petrified. But in the end, we prevailed. Releasing the armatization, I felt a little weary afterwards. Perhaps from running around so much and using up a lot of energy.

Watching Rose assassinate Forton and give the calling card of the Scattered Bones, we left the church into the outside. The ground was still wet from the constant rain, but the sun was out and shining. Mid-afternoon, it looked like. I stayed silent as things played out in front of me. Rose talking about the calling card, giving us an alibi almost immediately, and we headed to the Pendrago inn to rest.

Rayfalke...

The dream I was having was interesting. I stood atop the Spiritcrest with the boy next to me, and there was a man not too far from us with the black and purple specks of Malevolence around him. As if consuming him. The boy stepped forward a bit.

"That's Eizen." He said, looking to me. I looked down at him before back at the man, Eizen, who was staring at the sky. A dragon with four horns flew the skies, and it seemed he was watching it. "It seems there's still some of him left... Even though there shouldn't be since he gave himself to the Malevolence..."

I took a step forward myself, and then another. The bracelet on my wrist burned, and I winced. Silvery light came from it, and the boy put a hand to it. "This was his, wasn't it? How did you come across it?"

"...At a store Rose took me to." I look back at the boy, and the light faded. We heard footsteps, and noticed brown boots. One of them was pulled up while the other was folded over. Ah, it was Eizen. Looking up, I noticed how he was looking at us. But his gaze was turned to the boy almost as instantly, and he looked confused.

"...Laphicet?"

"Hello, Eizen. It's been a long time."

It's been a long time.

She's coming to save you from falling fully into Malevolence.

Power of Purification...

I woke.

Sitting up, I shook my head. My first destination had to have been Rayfalke, but I'd gone astray. Perhaps I could go back at some point, just with Lailah, and save Eizen from his fate. But... then again, I'd need Sorey nearby to keep the Squire's power going. This was going to be difficult. Climbing out of bed and grabbing my bag, I left the room to go take a bath and think about this.

Perhaps... I'd have to go back at some point. For now, though, I'd have to follow until I had a chance to. Izayoi was no longer with us, which meant that my powers as the Oracle were nil and I couldn't do it on my own. I needed to find a way to bring back said powers, and that would help Sorey immensely. Feeling as if he was straining himself with two Squires, when usually a Shepherd had one active at a time, I had to wonder.

Perhaps Kain could help?

Maybe when we headed back to Goddodin, I'd ask him.