CHAPTER 13

It had just turned nighttime. Micaiah was busy thinking about something when Sothe had found her. As the two were talking about the praise Micaiah was receiving from the soldiers of Daein, Tormod came around yelling about something being wrong with his tiger laguz friend Muarim. Sothe then went to go and check it out with Micaiah as Tormod led them to the tent.

When everyone got to the tent, Muarim was acting funny in his tiger form. He was doing nothing but growling. Even worse, he kept shifting from humanoid form to tiger form in two minutes. What could have happened to Muarim was a question thought by Micaiah.

"This happens over and over." said Tormod. "He growls like he's losing his own mind, and shifts constantly within two minutes!"

"What else happens?" asked Sothe.

"His eyes turn red." answered Tormod.

"Wait…what?" asked Micaiah.

"NO!" yelled Cecily as she was watching the whole thing from behind.

"Lady Cecily!" yelled Craine. "We cannot let Muarim go feral!"

"I'll get help." said Cecily.

Cecily then went to get help. But as she went to get help, the Galdr of Rebirth was heard. Rafiel was the one singing it from the tent entrance. He used the song to revert Muarim back to his sane state; however, Muarim fainted.

"Muarim?" asked Tormod. "Muarim!"

"The Galdar of Rebirth reverts the twisted minds of souls to their normal heartful state. He will be alright now." said Rafiel.

Tormod cried as he thanked Rafiel for his service to Maurim.

Later on, Pelleas mentioned something about "feral ones". The feral ones, which were laguz permanently shifted into their animal forms invented during the Mad King's War, were formed with a drug made by Izuka. When Sothe called the experiment a bunch of twisted adjectives, Izuka was not pleased.

"You secretly gave Muarim that drug and turned him into a FERAL ONE!" yelled Cecily.

"So it was YOU!" yelled Micaiah.

"Come forth, you monster!" yelled Nolan.

"There's no escaping this one!" yelled Arakel.

"And what's wrong with you?!" asked Izuka. "Maintaining endless strength in beast state…how brilliant and wonderful this turned out to be."

"How dare you do such a twisted action, Izuka!" yelled Tormod.

"Do you not know that twisting the laguz into goddamn feral ones shortens their life spans dramatically and rapidly?!" asked Cecily.

"Not only did Cecily state facts about the life span deteriorating, but it destroys all sense of self, and they do nothing but fight until they friggin' die!" yelled Tormod.

"And you!" yelled Cecily. "You were the one that gave Muarim that twisted drug!"

"Those laguz pawns not need sense of self, Tormod." yelled Izuka.

"You are one twisted bastard, Izuka." said Sothe.

"Everyone wait, please!" yelled Pelleas. "What he did to that laguz was in fact terrible. But…he may not use the drug again. Try to forgive him."

Tormod later ran away in anger and disappointment.

The next day rolled around, and Tormod wanted to make an announcement about Apostle Sanaki sending in an investigation squadron to investigate the abuses of the occupational army of Begnion. Having sent Tormod a message about the preparations being complete, it gets better, according to Tormod. The information was going to cease all Begnion military actions. Micaiah wondered if the Daein army won. Sothe then answered, saying that it was almost too easy.

"Well, Duke Persis is leading the inspection team." said Tormod. "We'll be home free at last!"

"So Apostle Sanaki's deploying one of the empire's greatest men to cease all this…" wondered Sothe. "How wonderful."

"He seems like an honorable man." said Micaiah. "We will go announce the news, and return to you soon, Tormod." Micaiah said to Tormod.

"Alright." said Tormod.

In Nevassa, the Daein Keep, a Begnion senator was speaking with Jarod about him laying down all weapons once the apostle's inspection team arrives to see them, saying that Duke Numida maintains that the forces performed abuse allegations on Daein in violation of his order. He also reminded Jarod that he should not abuse the apostle's spirit, as it will destroy his life. The Begnion senator later left.

"Hah!" yelled Jarod. "How amusing. But still, he is a ruthless maneuver. Framing me for ruthless actions on Daein. Brilliant."

A Marshall General later came in to speak with Jarod. As the two were speaking, Jarod mentioned about having Micaiah dead.

"So you're going to have the girl?" asked the marshall general.

"I want…that girl…I have to have the Silver-Haired Maiden…" said Jarod.