To say Severin was surprised when they came in would be an understatement. At first, he looked worried, until he noticed that none of them seemed particularly alarmed, and that their group had regained one of their missing members. Nonetheless, his greeting was pessimistic.
"I hope it's good news."
"Actually, yes," Evan replied. "We found out who's behind the riots, and possibly the murder."
It was then that Suzuran stepped forward with the knife and journal and handed it to Severin while explaining, "Provence-san brought an old man whose arm was long amputated due to oripathy, and he claimed to be the last of the original Winterwisps. Here are his knife and journal, we decided to bring them to you."
"And how do you know he was telling the truth?" Severin asked as he unsheathed the knife to examine the craftsmanship.
"I don't think he would lie, and…they were his dying words. I think he simply wanted to tell his story, before he died," Suzuran said somberly. "He claimed Biederman was behind the riots, and was the one to destroy the power plant."
"Biederman, are you sure he said Biederman?"
"Positive, sir," Suzuran replied.
The Schultz sheathed the knife and scoffed before handing it back to Suzuran. "Well, if he is truly alive, he is more than a likely suspect, and he has a motive. Biederman was a catastrophe messenger for Wolumonde who was of Winterwisp descent. He used the knowledge of the Winterwisps to keep watch for catastrophes from the vantage point of the mountains. When the Great Rift happened…many townspeople took to blaming him, sadly. In fact, they were so furious and desperate that in the first week alone, the Gendarmerie had to intervene on seventeen cases of violent crimes committed against him, and those are only the ones we know of…"
A couple gasps sounded from some of them, including Evan who hissed in sympathy at the thought of having police stop more than two violent crimes per day against a single person.
"Before you arrived, he had shut himself away in his home. That is, until Doctor Atro kicked the door down."
"Yeah…that sounds like her…" Folinic muttered.
"...But, even though she forced him out, we never saw any improvement in his mental health. He never smiled, and he often glared at everyone with a burning hatred, even Atro. Perhaps…he turned his anger to her, and faked his own death so he could exact his revenge…"
"Sadly, that's not an uncommon story, and it's why many catastrophe messengers have bodyguards, such as myself," Ayerscape chimed in with his eyes shut. "It's a thankless job."
"Yeah, I've been run out of a couple towns myself…" Provence added further, looking down as she thought about the painful memories of her line of work.
"...I'm truly sorry. I should have seen the signs…" Severin apologized. "But, now we have a murderer to charge, maybe, just maybe, that will calm some of the people down…but I fear we may be too late, listen carefully."
The room fell quiet, and as they listened, a small sound came from outside as people began chanting, chanting for war against the infected who had incited rebellion. Like rhythmic war drums, they chanted two words, 'Fight back' over and over.
"...We at least have to try…" Greythroat admitted. "If we don't, I fear headlines across the world will read 'Reunion Surfaces in Leithanien and Destroys Wolumonde', and all our work here will be for naught. After Atro, I don't think any of us are willing to let that happen. Schultz Severin, we will disable as many Gramophones within Zwölftontechnik Strasse as we can, but we will also search for Biederman, and bring him in by any means necessary."
"Good, we will defend the Rathaus to the best of our abilities."
"Ayerscape, Click, Provence, we're moving out! Evan, you are to follow Operator Folinic's and Operator Trainee Suzuran's orders."
With that declaration, the four of them left in a rush, leaving Evan with Folinic and Suzuran.
"Schultz, we'll see to the wounded," Folinic declared before leading them out. The sight was honestly depressing, but he remembered, for the first time, a simple truth that would sink in throughout his future journey.
"This is Terra, after all…"
Even though the Rhodes Island crew had a difficult task ahead for them, The Mudrock squad would face its own question.
"Infected bastards!" one riled up townsman would call during a charge, only to be met with either a mercenary's sword or the hammer of the Mudrock squad's own.
"...Arise…" Mudrock muttered. Earth pulled forth from the ground as rocks sifted out of the soil and began coalescing into a singular form.
The eye flickered to life with a purple glow and the colossus looked to the townsfolk, who routed at the display of such ancient and powerful sarkaz witchcraft. They were left alone, but the group of infected who long abandoned Wolumonde started arguing, leaving the Sarkaz to discuss among themselves.
"Mudrock," a grizzled, respected mercenary grumbled. "We need to make a decision, fight, or wait for death. You're young, but I respect your judgment."
"...And what would you suggest?"
"Hmph, personally, go about it the way us Sarkaz have for years in Kazdel: Level the city, take anything that is useful and leave."
Mudrocked hummed in thought before looking to the flames burning from the city.
"Very well, but if we learn that, Rhodes Island were the ones on our side, we ally with them."
"...Fine, but I don't understand how that will change the outcome. Alright, we're with you Mudrock."
The mercenary moved to deliver their message to the Leithanien crowd who were still divided among looters and non-looters. Only one side would make it through the winter alive, but until then? Well, it was just fair game.
"...But…we are not hatred…" Mudrock muttered to the earth, reminding herself as she remembered the band around her arm. The mercenary leader stopped, and looked at her, stunned as though she knew what to say. Either way, they would march, and soon Wolumonde would face their ultimate choice, but somewhere, deep in her heart, hidden by armor, she knew the outcome. "Thank you…friends."
For now, they marched. Sharing a banner with the ideals of Reunion.
Somehow, during all the chaos going around him. Evan had no idea what pushed him. He just listened, watching as his body helped Suzuran and Folinic, not recognizing the worried glances the vulpo girl gave him.
Yet, even then, she continued to be a light to those suffering more than he. It anchored something in him, and he felt all right.
That was until the Gendarmerie was on the defensive, then he remembered where he was.
"Evan-san, we won't let them touch a single one…" she said, taking a deep breath as she looked to the crowd with a determination he hadn't seen on Lisa before. No, this was Suzuran. The young vulpo released her breath and soon, a soul-warming stream of foxfire danced through the air. The rioters quickly became confused while the Germanderie felt a new sense of vigor. He could only watch as the foxfire haze spread across where they were. "Evan-san, help them!"
Caught up in the moment, he felt relieved. If Suzuran could stand up to them, perhaps so could he. Sure he didn't have foxfire arts, but he did have the ability to take out confused ones with a bonk to the head from the flat side of his blade. It didn't make him feel good in any way, but he had to do it anyway.
Once, he found himself actually in a blade fight with someone, but thanks to what Dur'nar taught him, and Suzuran's confusing haze of Foxfire, he could keep them away from her, and the defenses. That was, until someone yelled an infected had taken over the Gramophone.
Arts fire sprayed into the crowd at random and for a short while the only thing keeping people alive were Suzuran's arts. She was clearly strained, and he ran over to her. His heart ached, but the despair soon turned to a desire to protect this golden light in a sea of ethereal blue.
As suddenly as it started, the bombardment stopped, and he noticed Greythroat was back. The crowd finally scattered, still terrified by the bombardment that had stopped.
"Suzuran, can you hold these arts?" Greythroat asked.
""Y-Yes!" the vulpo girl struggled to push out.
The little child pushed out her arts at a higher rate, forcing the rioters to a crawl while invigorating the Gendarmerie soldiers, save for one.
"F-Folinic, Uncle- t-the Schultz has collapsed!" Tatjana struggled to call out. "He's coughing up blood and it's not stopping!"
Evan looked to the shower of blue fire that sprayed throughout the square, and the golden light that still glowed strong at its center and decided, "She's got this."
When he joined Folinic, she was struggling to find the problem as there were no injuries. Suzuran's arts had already healed the surface wounds, but maybe a piece of the projectile and internal injury were in there somewhere?
"Miss Folinic! His lungs!" Suzuran shouted as she sent a wave of enemies back with foxfire.
Folinic began to struggle to open the suit, and called Evan over.
That's when they both felt a sharp prick and Evan noticed his hand had been impaled and was bleeding. The shirt didn't last long after that, and both were greeted with spikes of black peeking from his right lung.
"Y-You're infected?!" Folinic screamed in shock before pulling out the emergency painkillers and a scalpel. After injecting the syringe, she then cut the lung open and began pouring her arts into it. Like magic, the lung stitched itself back together and when it was covered, Folinic injected a syringe into his lung's infection sight and the Schultz/'s life flame once more flickered into his eyes with some strength while coughing up the remaining blood.
"Uncle…" Tatjana muttered with wide eyes.
"These…" Folinic muttered as she examined the shards. "These are possibly decades old, this usually only happens after years of being oripathic."
"Yes…" Severin affirmed with a cough. "I was once stabbed with originium after tussling with a Winterwisp in the lake. I think…it's the old man you said saw Biederman…"
"Speaking of Biederman, we found him," Greythroat said, drawing everyone's attention. She then took a deep breath and finished her report, "He's dead, killed by the same riot he instigated it seems. The rest are investigating the site, we'll know more then they return."
"...He's dead?" Folinic asked, voice empty and detached as she looked at Greythroat as though she couldn't believe what she was saying. Greythroat nodded, and then Folinic's mouth curled in a sadistic smile as she heard the news. It was hard to see, and Evan felt compelled to look away and took a deep breath, only for Greythroat to turn from Folinic to Severin.
"Operator Folinic, take the Schultz into the Rathaus for treatment, the rest of you, we will assist the Gendarmerie until-" Greythroat didn't get to finish the order as loud bangs and the sound of falling stones caught all their attention and they looked to the source.
At the helm, besides a colossal stone golem was Mudrock and the sarkaz mercenaries, calmly walking as Gendarmerie and townsfolk fled from the terrifying display of ancient sarkaz arts.
"It's Reunion!" one of the infected rioters shouted. "Reunion has come to liberate us!"
Cheers erupted from the enemy, and they stopped to watch as Mudrock entered the foxfire haze, slowed, but untouched by the powerful display Suzuran gave. At first, the rioters cheered until they noticed the warrior stepped right past the child and towards Greythroat who now had her crossbow aimed once more.
The gray earthen shield pushed the fire away and around as the ground practically glowed with its lightless aura that came from Mudrock.
"Schultz the Mudrock Squad-" Dur'nar started before she laid eyes upon the Sarkaz's display of their ancient arts alongside Suzuran's.
"Freeze!" Greythroat's voice shouted.
"...Then make me…" Mudrock challenged. "You're the true warriors."
It was then that Reed charged forward from the front lines and buried the smallest bit of her spear into the shield and her arts cascaded around the shield harmlessly before Mudrock turned around.
"Very well, we decide this the old way."
"Reed, move!" Dur'nar's voice shouted in time for Reed to disengage before she was pounded to a pulp. Rocks flew into the air and were levitated by Sarkaz witchcraft before being pounded towards Dur'nar. Foxfire swished off the shield, but the bright flames did attract Mudrock's attention briefly enough for Reed to re-engage and slam her spear into the shield, once more Drawing Mudrock's attention before she retreated again.
Dur'nar used her free hand to reach for her sword as she ran over towards the back while Reed danced around the shield between strikes.
"Alright, anyone got ideas? I don't think that shield is going down easily…and they're practically invincible while it's active."
Mudrock spun and Reed managed to block a fatal blow, but not the momentum shift and was flung into the side of a building.
"What about the Gramophones?" Evan asked after looking around a little, causing some eyes to look at him. "I mean, they're strong enough to melt steel, right?"
"I could do it," Suzuran volunteered. "I would have to take control of the arts' ley lines directly, but I can control nine of them, but that would take a while…"
"Let's start with three," Greythroat suggested. "If that's not enough, you may take control of more."
"...No, I won't let you…" Mudrock said before raising their hand and slowly gripping it. "...Arise…"
Before their eyes, stones from houses and the street alike gathered into a spot, creating a creature of stone, a colossus with a single purple eye as it slowly rumbled to life and began to move. Three bolts shot into the colossus, and its attention shifted to the shooter.
"We'll distract it, get Suzuran to the Gramophones!" she ordered. "Folinic, we need support."
"I'll go with you. Evan, let's get Suzuran to the first Gramophone. I'll need your help," Dur'nar said. At first, he stood there, but a small spark of courage ignited and he grabbed Suzuran's hand. The three of them ran through the crowd and made their way to the first gramophone. Thankfully, Dur'nar's electric arts made incapacitating any who tried to stop them relatively easy.
As they approached the first of the Gramophones, they began to notice some of the rioters attempting to seize control of it fully.
"Sorry, but we can't let you take those!" Dur'nar shouted before she slammed her sword into the man and sent him to the ground. "Suzuran, now!"
The vulpo nodded and soon the gramophone began to glow as Suzuran channeled her arts. The Gramophone began to glow the same light blue as Suzuran's arts as she attempted to establish direct connection with the device.
"Evan, whatever happens, we can't let them touch her."
He only nodded and prepared the standard blade, the weight feeling familiar as those with focus decided to turn their attention back to them. Thankfully, a little training went a long ways. Sure, he was only able to keep most busy and rarely made actual wounds that they didn't walk off. It was through Dur'nar's efforts of using her actual experience to keep most of them at bay did he realize that she was actually taking most of the heat. For every four people, Evan would take one and Dur'nar would probably be taking twice or more the number. Every so often, Greythroat would provide fire support, arts infused arrows whizzing through and only somehow lightly embedding themselves into non-lethal parts.
"Almost done…" Suzuran managed to squeeze out as she focused and then, a flash of bright blue sounded and the Gramophone sang to life. A feeling of reinvigoration passed through them as the device looked for a valid target. The arts unit hummed as it gathered power and blasted an offensive immolation arts towards Mudrock.
The gramophone's shot rang true, even though Mudrock merely flinched, they turned their heads and then had to pull up a wall to block a barrage of Ayerscape's blades. This opening allowed those taking the gramophones to begin taking the next one. This time, now that she knew how, Suzuran made connection much quicker and they were shortly on to the third when Mudrock noticed the combined shooting of two towers.
Mudrock sighed then slammed the hammer down as cracks formed along the earth and made their way towards the Gramophones. Soon, the defensive structures collapsed and they had to go take more. It only seemed to stall the process, at least until the sarkaz caught on to the fact the gramophones were being taken and moved to intervene, only for the mercenaries to soon get attacked by the return of Provence, Ayerscape, and Click. Provence ran towards Dur'nar, Evan, and Suzuran while pelting supporting fire, making their job easier. Meanwhile, Ayerscape and Click went to assist Reed in the fight against Mudrock.
Everytime they took a new Gramophone, Suzuran's speed at taking them became faster, and they soon had not three, but four Gramophones converging on Mudrock. This started to wiggle the shield, and soon minor cracks began to form as it lost some of the flowing aura it once had. Mudrock simply raised their hammer, only for a wave of foxfire slam into the enigmatic sarkaz who defended against the barrage as the shield cracked further.
"We're getting through! Now, pour out everything you can into your arts attacks!" Greythroat shouted, and soon a barrage of arts attacks whittled away Mudrock's shield piece by piece as shards flew off and one last salvo from the Gramophones finally split the earthen arts shield.
Bolts, knives, and arts beams all slammed into Mudrock as they then continued to barrage the Sarkaz, but they didn't flinch.
Mudrock then began kneeling to the ground and the earth shook. An earthen gray aura converged onto their location and rose as it centered on the sarkaz warrior. Stones shook and rose from the ground until they sat suspended. Something big was about to happen.
"Fall back!" Greythroat shouted as they disengaged in time for the earth to slam under an invisible force as Mudrock stood, stones and dust flying around the hammer head along with the gray aura that was characteristic to their arts showed that whoever was to get hit with that would be in for a quick, violent death.
Bolts lodged into the armor, and Provence even got a lucky shot that took a chunk of helmet with it, but she soon found herself needed in taking down the colossi with Greythroat. Mudrock simply slammed their hammer wherever they could find an enemy as explosions sounded from each and every impact the hammer made with the earth.
"How tough is this guy?!" Click expressed as she fired as many arts she and her drone could muster, only for them to seemingly get absorbed by the armor.
"They must have a limit, we're getting through the armor!" Ayerscape yelled as they sent out a set of three arts infused blades which were lodged into the armor. Their arts cascaded onto the equipment and sunk in. They knew, however, it was now a matter of whittling down Mudrock's endurance.
Thankfully, Suzuran had turned the gramophones onto the colossi, which helped immensely as precise shots from Provence finally found the core in the head and the beings tumbled, now they could shift their attention all onto Mudrock.
Blades, glowing from arts usage, flew through the air and slammed through the armor. Mudrock finally stopped moving as sounds of surprise came from under the now ruined helmet in a shockingly feminine voice. She looked towards the source and saw Folinic glaring at the sarkaz warrior with blades floating around her.
"Will you stop?! All this bloodshed, is this any way to repay the lives Atro tried to save, is it?!"
"Then hand over the murderer, let them face justice for their actions," Mudrock's voice sounded as her lower jaw moved from being exposed by the hole in her helmet as it hung off. It was then, the door to the Rathaus opened and Severin limped out. For a moment, Mudrock's lips pursed a little, perhaps at the sight of the crystals Severin was no longer bothering to hide.
"Fine…does anyone have a light?" Severin asked as he pulled out a cigar and walked over to Mudrock. Once they were mere inches away, he whispered, "Please, make it quick, and end this senseless slaughter."
"You…" Mudrock mumbled before gripping her hammer tighter and nodding. "Very well, does anyone have matches?"
A nearby sarkaz mercenary began sifting through their package, only to complain about how wet they were now, and Severin sighed.
"Don't bother, it would be my last smoke anyways."
A pit slowly formed in some people's stomachs as the weight of Severin's words finally set in. Before anyone could stop him, he raised his voice.
"Let it be known! I, Severin Hawthorn, Schultz of Wolumonde, am-"
"Uncle, no!" Tatjana interrupted as she ran forward to embrace him. "No, you're not the killer, stop, don't sacrifice yourself!"
"Besides, the murderer is already dead," Ayerscape added, earning Mudrock's attention, which prompted him to continue. "Biederman, the catastrophe messenger of Winterwisp descent, is the culprit. We thought he was dead, but he was the cause of the riots, on testimony of an old Winterwisp clansmen. If you stop, we can show you the evidence, and we can come to an agreement."
By now, the crowd was whispering among themselves, divided into different factions, and Mudrock lowered her hammer.
"Is that so…" she said before taking a deep breath and turning to the crowd. "The murderer is dead, justice has already been served. There is no more need for violence."
"Pah, some help you were! Aren't you supposed to be Reunion, aren't you supposed to stand up to the oppressors, not make friends with them?!" an infected rioter, wearing a crudely made Reunion wrapping shouted.
"I do not wear the banner in the name of bloodshed. If you have any sympathy in you, those of you claiming to be Reunion should leave. We, the Mudrock Squad, will no longer protect those who call for senseless violence."
"Traitor!"
"Coward!"
Calls and insults continued from those still seething with rage and the desire to vent it sounded and Mudrock then ripped the Reunion banner off her arm and raised her hand. She then let the banner go, fluttering down to the ground, then began to pull her fist in, visibly struggling as the very ground began to shake.
"Hey, Mudrock, what are you doing?" one of the mercenaries asked as they began to panic from the ground literally moving under their feet. Bricks, stones, and all other forms of earth came from across the town square from various sources.
"...Arise…!"
"Mudrock, stop! That's dangerous, don't over-exert yourself! Don't burn your life away!"
"...I said…ARISE!"
None dared interrupt as the bricks laid themselves and stones globbed into a giant pair of feet, then a torso, then the arms, and it all ended when a head gazed over the Rathaus, and even the control center as its gaze met the mountains.
"If you still wish to vent your anger on this town…" Mudrock spoke to all.
"If you seek an opponent…" the earthen giant spoke after.
"Mudrock, sharing life with your creations is dangerous, stop!" one of the zealots pleaded as they watched their leader. Instead, Mudrock poured more energy in and a giant hammer formed from the remaining stone in the giant's hand. When they next spoke, they spoke simultaneously as they shared words.
"We…"
"Will show you the meaning of true conviction."
"Will show you true strength…"
"In the end, it's just an arts construction! Charge!" one still unruly rioter shouted before charging, alone to meet the colossus. Mudrock moved her hand and the giant followed. A fist formed and with a push forward, it slammed into the ground, squishing the rioter flat and unrecognizable, just a pulp.
"I will not allow you to harm this town further!"
"We will defend them!"
"So if you seek to further cause problems…"
"Come…"
"...Then, face us!"
Panic took both the WInterwisps and the Reunion sympathizers, and they scattered to the wind.
None of the Rhodes Islanders could believe what they were seeing. From the earth, Mudrock had claimed a colossus, nay, a titan that had declared it would defend them. A being on par with the mountain it gazed at. Fists, already caked with blood, had shown the brutal demonstration of the ancient sarkaz arts construct's capabilities.
"So…that's true Sarkaz Witchcraft…how terrifying…" Greythroat spoke as she stared wide eyed and in awe at the sight.
Soon, Mudrock let out a breath and relaxed. The titan collapsed and it fell to a mere pile of rubble. She looked to the pile and let out a warm smile.
"Thank you, friends…" she said to the pile before turning to Rhodes Island. "Rhodes Island, I wish to apologize for the problems our presence has created. Should you wish it, I will repay my debt both to you, and Wolumonde however you see fit. We wish to help you, as I see now we share the same goals."
"Mm!" Suzuran hummed before running up to Mudrock and hugging her. Under the suit, a look of surprise came, only to be replaced by a smile as Mudrock returned the hug. "Thank you Mudrock-san!"
"Such a kind child…I'm so sorry."
"Hey, Schultz, here!" a mercenary before tossing a match Severin's way. "I finally found a dry match."
"Thank you. Do you wish to share one, as a sign of peace?"
"Nah, I quit years ago."
"Yet you still carry matches…"
"Hey, they come in handy far more often than not. Pretty convenient what a little sulfur on a stick of wood can do."
Severin lit the match and Tatjana sighed with a smile as he lit his cigar and gave a puff.
"Very well, we're going to reach a formal conclusion in the Rathaus. You de-...sarkaz are welcome to join us."
"Pah, depends on what Mudrock says. But, after almost calling us devils, don't expect-"
"Very well, we will join…" Mudrock replied before moving to take off her helmet, revealing a beautiful face with red eyes and flowing white hair that was caked with dirt, but somehow the sight of the earthen substance only made her look more endearing. Shortly after, the armor deflated and she worked to pull her damaged suit off. Only a tank top and binding bandages covered her upper portion, and oripathy crystal lesions lined her body in spots. She noticed the stares, and with an innocently curious glint looked at them and asked, "Is something wrong?"
A few became embarrassed, such as Dur'nar and Click as they tried to avert their gaze. Evan and Greythroat openly stared with mildly slack jawed disbelief at the sight, and Ayerscape was nudged by Provence as she whispered something in his ear that made him look at her with a look of minor disgust and disbelief.
The only one who spoke after several moments, was Suzuran. The little vulpo said to herself out loud, "Mudrock-san is very pretty…"
Mudrock gave a quick 'oh' before smiling kindly and pulling her hand to her mouth and said, "Thank you."
"To think…such a young age…and she wields so much power…" Severin mumumbled to himself, next to Tatjana who looked to her uncle curiously. She didn't get a chance to talk as her uncle stepped forward and offered a hand to Mudrock.
"On behalf of Wolumonde, please keep us safe, at least until aid arrives. That is my only request for now."
"Mm, very well…" Mudrock said before taking the hand and they shared a short handshake before letting go. She then turned to the mercenaries, followers, and other sarkaz in her care who had been standing by, some of them equally shocked as the Rhodes Islanders alongside the Leithaniens that remained, and said, "We are to protect this place. I wish for no more bloodshed or hatred, please."
"Whatever you say, boss," one of the senior mercenaries said before walking over to the rubble and began moving it. Like a magnet, people flooded from across the square to move rubble, no longer bothering to care that the person they worked beside was different or probably just an enemy mere minutes ago. They simply worked, enraptured to now aid Wolumonde after Mudrock's declaration, and the terrifying glimpse of her true power.
Already, Suzuran had been placed on Mudrock's shoulders and the two looked to each other with kind, innocent smiles, now a symbol of the unity that was to come.
Twilight had long ago fallen, but Wolumonde's night would inevitably pass.
Author's Note
Well, chapter 30 is now out, and now all that's left is to wrap up the arc. Put a nice little bow and cherry on top. And hey, next chapter we get to see one of my all time favorite operators. My only clue to you will be that we share a favorite vegetable.
Anyways, review response...
Bastion: You can recommend films, but don't expect me to watch all or most of them soon. Also, yeah, people who question Reed's presence is to be expected, no matter how much I say in AN's or in the description that there's gonna be a lot of canon divergence. Anyhow, thank you for all the contin ued support.
RaphiTheOne: Ok, first off, that wasn't Mudrock they fought, just a Mudrock Zealot. Also, thanks for the compliment on Folinic. I always wanted to introduce her, and I think Wolumonde in game did a good job showing her flaws and how they cause problems both within and outside. I really wanted to expand upon that here. Also, this isn't the first time Kal'tsit raised her voice in this story, but she did only raise it at Dokutah. Beyond that, she remained somewhat calm. Also, I like the potential of Kal'tsit's subtle controlling streak. She tries to control people with reason and pretending to give them a choice, as we see with young Passenger in her event. She said she would let him choose, but had Mon3ter try to interrupt his choice when it wasn't what she thought it should be. I think it shows that even though she is subtly manipulative, she can't control everyone, and I'm showing in this story she is used to taking her frustrations out on Dokutah.
Anyhow, we're approaching novel length for this story...wow...Seriously, I didn't think it'd get this far. Thank all of you who support me, really. Makes writing this story all the more rewarding. Anyways, until next chapter (or two maybe...).