A sudden splash of water upon Tiffa's face awoke her, sputtering and coughing as she did. She blinked hard while her eyes darted around, trying to get a sense of her surroundings and her state. She was shackled, that was for sure, with her arms spread above her head. Her legs, too, were bound by rough iron cuffs that chafed her ankles. And her state… she was stripped of nearly everything. Clad in mere rags that barely granted her dignity or modesty.

"Good morning, beautiful," an unfortunately familiar voice greeted Tiffa, causing her to raise her gaze through her dripping locks to look at… her. Beatrice, a single one of her dragon knights by her side that was holding a dripping bucket, gave her a sultry grin as their eyes met, leaning down and tucking Tiffa's locks behind her pointed ears as the captive elf filled her place of captivity with the sounds of her struggle against her bindings that echoed off the dimly-lit stone surfaces that surrounded her while she gave pained growls.

Beatrice raised a finger at her, making a gentle shushing noise, "Don't struggle, my love, I don't want you to get hurt."

Tiffa, finally relenting to her situation, relaxed her body, still heaving deep breaths as she was. She raised her crimson eyes to meet Beatrice's pale blue ones, glaring as she did.

"Where am I?"

"In Romalia's eponymous Holy City," Beatrice informed, smiling gently down at her.

"Why?" Tiffa demanded.

"You're needed," Beatrice began with a giggle. "Along with the other Void Mages."

Tiffa's eyes, while still framed by a disgusted scowl, widened.

"What?"

"You heard me," Beatrice smirked, "my, my, if I had only known just how special you were, I would never have let you go!" Beatrice squirmed with delight at her musings.

"Not like you had a choice," Tiffa growled.

Beatrice's "pleasant" demeanor dropped. She frowned at Tiffa, tilting her head up to force eye contact while Tiffa averted her eyes.

"Look at me," Beatrice demanded.

Tiffa did not comply, prompting a slap to ring out.

"I said LOOK AT ME!" Beatrice shouted.

Tiffa, wanting to avoid unnecessary pain, reluctantly acquiesced, still giving a disgusted look to the woman before her. Beatrice, ignoring the elf's demeanor, gave a wide smile, regardless.

"See? Isn't that better?"

Tiffa did not respond.

"Hmph, soon you'll understand you don't have a choice, either," Beatrice huffed as she shoved Tiffa's face away and stood back, turning to the bars at the end of this cell Tiffa found herself in, "Tell his Holiness that she's ready for him."

A few moments later, after the sound of a creaking, metal door opening and closing twice, two more figures appeared beyond the bars. The first one, carrying something in his hands that was round and flat covered by a cloth, Tiffa now recognized as Julio, based on Agnes' identification.

Agnes.

Tiffa hoped she was alright.

The second? He was a young man, not much older than Julio, it looked like, with cobalt blue eyes and silky, golden hair that reached to his blue-robes-adorned waist that was topped by a tall, blue hat. The two stepped through the already-open cell door, with the longer-haired man's body-length, golden scepter making heavy thuds on the stone floor as he approached the elf, Julio flanking him with an apprehensive, but determined, look upon his heterochromatic-eyed face.

"Do you know who I am, elf?" the man asked.

Tiffa looked up to him, blinking a few times to pretend like she was thinking before shrugging.

"Should I?"

The man smirked at her. "I am his most Holiness, Pope Vittorio the first."

"Should that mean something to me?" Tiffa asked, flippant, causing the Pope to raise an eyebrow.

"It should. As I am the one anointed by Holy Mandate by Brimir himself to usher in-"

"Let me stop you right there, human," Tiffa interrupted his building grand proclamation. "That means nothing to me." Tiffa felt her mouth break into a smirk as she watched this "Pope" scowl down at her. She mused on the fact that If he knew her lineage, he'd stop this right here. Though, she imagined he'd never believe her.

"Your indifference aside," Pope Vittorio began as he leaned over to better meet Tiffa's eyeline, "the fact remains that I am the one who is in control here. And unless you wish for things to become… uncomfortable. You would do well to mind your attitude."

It was Tiffa's turn to raise an eyebrow as she looked to her bound wrists.

"They're not already?"

Julio emitted a mostly-stifled chuckle, causing the Pope to scowl at him before turning his attention back to the elf.

"You were not supposed to exist," Vittorio began again, Tiffa looking uncaring, "rather… the power you wield was not meant for you. Not an elf."

"I still don't know what power you're talking about," Tiffa sighed, exasperated.

"By process of elimination I've determined yours. However," Vittorio paused as he gave a scrutinizing look to the elf, "despite your lineage, I'm prepared to make you an offer."

Tiffa raised an eyebrow. Did he know?

"Willingly help me and the other Void Mages, and I can make your life quite comfortable. Whether or not you know my station, know that I am akin to the voice of the Founder among humans. I can grant you nearly anything you wish," Vittorio offered.

Tiffa narrowed her eyes at him.

"All I want is freedom for my people."

Vittorio gave a defeated sigh at this, looking to Beatrice. Frowning.

"You assured me she could be reasonable," Vittorio practically hissed.

Beatrice shrugged as she smirked down at Tiffa, "What can I say? I guess my little spitfire is more stubborn than I thought."

Vittorio shook his head, unamused, as he looked back down to Tiffa.

"Last chance, elf, help us," He narrowed his gaze back at her, "or die."

Tiffa merely scoffed in response, causing Vittorio to cast his gaze to Julio, who nodded before unwrapping what was in his arms, revealing a mirror that Vittorio gestured at.

"Do you know what this is?" Vittorio asked.

Tiffa flatly frowned. "I don't know why you keep asking me these things, expecting different results."

"It is the Mirror of Brimir," Vittorio explained, "it has a… unique property."

I'm sure it does, Tiffa thought, uncaring.

"Allow me to demonstrate. I assure you you will not be harmed," Vittorio said as the mirror was brought closer to Tiffa, which allowed her to feel a familiar energy.

Khaydarin crystals? Tiffa thought, curious, and already unworried as she could feel no immediate murderous intent from any before her. Once she saw her haggard, sopping wet reflection in the mirror, the crystals inlaid in the metal frame surrounding the mirror glowed as Khalani runes manifested around it. She could read them.

Command, Divination, Displacement, Domination, were what they translated to in human tongue. The runes for Domination began to glow red, and it looked as though a floating projection of those same runes left Tiffa's head and were… absorbed into it. Tiffa merely regarded it with confusion as the mirror was taken from her face and shown to Vittorio, who nodded.

"Very good," Vittorio said as he looked down at Tiffa once more, a serene frown upon his face, "Are you curious as to what this means?"

Tiffa admitted she was, a little, but did not vocalize it.

"These are the four principle powers of the Void Mages," Vittorio explained, regardless, "no matter what spells or abilities they may learn on their own? These are the ones they are most attuned to. Your own power? Is that of Domination. The power to influence and control minds."

Tiffa twitched at that. So that was what it was? Her ability to control minds? It had nothing to do with psionics or her elven magic? It must have something to do with that… other thing, then.

Not that it mattered.

"This mirror allows a Void Mage to utilize the principle power of another," Vittorio further explained. "Ideally… this would mean we no longer have a use for you." He gave a disappointed sigh. "Unfortunately… you will need to remain alive until we no longer have need of your power of Domination. Lest the power be transferred to another Void Mage that we must seek out. And, unfortunately, we do not have the time to undertake such a task."

Hooray for me, Tiffa sarcastically thought.

"Rest assured, when our crusade against your people is complete, you will be disposed of," Vittorio declared, causing Tiffa to scowl up at him as he turned around.

"Wait! Your Holiness!" Beatrice sputtered, causing him to pause. "You assured me that she would be mine! Once this was finished!"

Vittorio frowned at Beatrice.

"That was under the condition you could convince her to help us." Without another word, Vittorio left, Julio following him.

"Well, that's disappointing," Beatrice sighed as she looked down at Tiffa, pouting. "I guess we better make the most of our time together, then, before you join your sword slut in the afterlife." Beatrice giggled as TIffa's face dropped and her heart sank to the darkest depths of despair.

Tiffa skipped past crying. Past denial. Past anger. Immediately she slumped over, hopeless.

No… Tiffa thought as Beatrice took her leave, the cell door slamming behind her as she did. Agnes…

After collecting the temporary personal shield from Karax, and informing Artanis of her growing plan, Louise, Siesta, Eleonore, and Zeratul were warped back to the surface, using the Tristain Academy Pylon. Without missing a beat, Louise walked to the girls' dormitory tower, flanked by the others, with Eleonore once again needing a moment as she recovered from the warp. Louise's destination, Tabitha's room, was reached swiftly before she knocked on the door.

It opened a moment later, revealing the Gallian, who looked at her with surprise.

"Unexpected," Tabitha said in as shocked a tone as Louise had ever heard from them.

"I need to ask something of you," Louise said.

"Who is it, Char-sorry-Tabitha?" a mature, feminine voice asked from within.

"Friends," Tabitha answered as they opened the door wider to reveal their mother, now looking very well, smiling at everyone.

"Oh! Hello! I'm Penelope de Orleans," the woman began to leave the bed to stand and incline her head to them, "Forgive my… informal appearance. I'm told we left Gallia in quite a hurry." The woman softly laughed.

"Shouldn't be out of bed," Tabitha admonished their mother.

"You worry too much," Penelope playfully rebuked her child as she walked up beside them, looking at everyone with the same sky blue eyes as Tabitha.

"I'm assuming you are just some of the-," Penelope's eyes froze at Zeratul, causing her body to follow suit. The fear she gave off was palpable, only eased by Tabitha's hand upon her arm.

"He's a friend," Tabitha reassured her.

It took a moment before the woman stopped trembling. Once she did, she took a breath and regained her friendly composure.

"Sorry, he's just-," she cut herself off, trying to think of a good word.

"Ugly? Yeah, I know," Derflinger commented, startling Penelope with a yelp.

"Also a-," Tabitha hesitated before saying the next word, narrowing their gaze at the ever-mouthy sword, "friend."

Once again, it took Penelope a second to regain her composure before she was able to say anything.

"You really have made some interesting friends, Cha-Tabitha," Penelope once again quickly corrected herself, giving her child an apologetic look that Tabitha merely nodded at while patting their mother reassuringly on the arm.

"Well, back to what I was going to say," Penelope continued as she cleared her throat and gave the group a grateful look, "I am told you were instrumental in helping my dau-my child. Both saving them and saving me," she bowed her head to them, "for that I can never express enough gratitude."

Louise smiled up at her, nodding.

"They're our friend."

"So you've more than proven," Penelope smiled down at the pinkette.

"I'd love to exchange more pleasantries, but we've actually come here with a request," Louise continued.

"Oh? For Tabitha, I assume?" Penelope surmised.

Louise nodded as she gave Tabitha a look of conviction, which immediately got their attention, "I don't know if you've heard the news… but Tiffa-"

"Alright," Tabitha cut Louise off, nodding.

"Don't you want to know more?" Louise barely stuttered, taken aback by this surprising willingness.

Tabitha shook their head, "Can explain on the way. Tiffa's a friend, too." Tabitha paused for a moment, "Owe her."

Louise, taking a moment to let the surprise fade from her, gave a half-smile to her friend before her before clapping a hand on their shoulder and nodding, which Tabitha returned.

"Just a moment," Tabitha held up a finger before shutting the door.

The group waited with bated breath for what felt like an eternity before the door opened again, revealing a version of Tabitha that shocked them. No longer were they adorned in the academy uniform and white stockings of before. They were clothed in a black uniform. With starched slacks, shined, laced boots, a brass-buttoned, long-sleeved coat with gold-threaded shoulder decorations, and a pin upon their chest with what looked like a bunch of colored squares of various sizes. They nodded their officer's cap-adorned head that had a upside-down triangle-shaped pin upon it with a crimson background and what looked like a silhouette of a leftward-facing eagle with its wings spread perched on a globe of a planet none of them recognized.

"Ready," Tabitha announced, snapping the humans present out of their brief stupor.

"Oh, yoohoo!" a familiar, exuberant voice greeted them all, causing them all to turn to their left to see Kirche, who already looked ready to go. When her only visible amber eye fell upon Tabitha, everyone present could see her flush.

"Oh! Oh my!" Kirche gushed, flustered and fumbling with her words over her shorter partner, looking them over while biting her lip.

"I must say, Tabitha, you cut quite a good look in that. I just love a wo-. A ma-," she paused to consider what to say, "You look great in uniform, Tabitha."

Tabitha blushed and averted their gaze, smiling ever so slightly at the compliment.

Louise, instead of feeling that pang of irritation at this redhead that she used to consider nothing but a pain in her life, shared the same smile that she gave Tabitha as she walked up to her.

"We were just about to come get you," Louise said.

Kirche's brows raised.

"You seem different," Kirche observed.

"A lot happened recently," Louise answered with her smile becoming solemn as her gaze fell.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Kirche asked, now beginning to notice the absence of a certain golden shadow of hers.

Louise shook her head. "Not yet." She once again met Kirche's now-concerned gaze, "For now, I just need your help. For Tiffa."

Kirche gave a confident smirk as she nodded, "Count me in."

Louise, her allies starting to be rallied, made her way down to the academy grounds once more, heading to the stables to retrieve Sylphid, who was napping nearby. Tabitha roused the beast from her slumber causing her to look over everyone and seem to sigh, knowing what was about to be asked of her.

"Wait!" a familiar voice called out to them, with them all turning around to regard a certain princely-haired blonde and his on-and-off (more on than off, these days) ringlet-adorned lover running towards them. Once they had reached the group, they stopped just shy of them, taking a moment to take some deep breaths before they began to speak again.

"Whatever's going on, we're coming, too," Guiche declared, Montmorency nodding fervently behind him as they each had a determined gaze.

Wordlessly, the group looked at each other, with Tabitha giving a shrug before Louise turned back to them, nodding.

Sylphid let out yet another exasperated groan. Despite her attitude, the group, sans Zeratul, who merely followed below, were allowed onto the dragon as they began their journey to Tarbes. On the way, Louise looked to her sister, who had a blank expression on her face.

"You don't have to come with us, you know," Louise reassured her.

Eleonore raised an eyebrow as she performed a familiar ritual with Louise, pinching her cheek. This time, in a much more playful and less painful manner than Louise was ever used to.

"As if I could do that. Leave my little sister to go off on some dangerous mission all by herself? Especially now? It'd shame me as your elder sister." Eleonore embraced Louise, "You're not going to face any of this alone. Not anymore."

"I wasn't alone," Louise replied, feeling a sting of sentimental tears manifest in her eyes, "but I'm happy to have you now, as well."

Kirche, watching this display and remembering the very few interactions she'd observed of those two, raised her brows, "That's different, too."

"A lot happened recently," Siesta informed her.

"I hope I get to hear about it," Kirche chuckled as she returned her focus to the horizon.

They arrived at Tarbes swiftly, thanks to the speed of Sylphid. Before anything else, Louise and Siesta felt it right to visit the Sasaki household. Just in case anything went wrong. Once within, and seated at the new table with Takeo, Lucy, and Julien, with the children playing outside, Siesta informed them of what they were planning.

"So… Romalia?" Lucy asked.

"To… fight the Pope?" Takeo asked, raising his eyebrows.

"If it comes to that," Siesta nodded.

"I'm not gonna lie, babygirl, this sounds dangerous as Hel," Takeo said, anxiety creeping at the edges of his tone. And face.

Siesta took her father's hand and gave him a reassuring look. "I know, but we're not alone. We have a plan. And, besides," Siesta paused as she smiled at each of her parents. "Tiffa's family."

"And we don't abandon family," Takeo hesitantly nodded. "Just…" he squeezed Siesta's hand as he gave her a pleading look while tears welled up in his eyes, "Come home. Please. We can't lose you. Not again."

Siesta felt her eyes reciprocate those tears as she rose from her seat to hug her father, "I promise."

"You both better come home," Lucy said in a lovingly stern tone. Louise gave a low chuckle as she nodded at her mother-in-law. "Good, I already felt like I had to bury one daughter. I'm not about to do that with my newest one."

Louise felt a tearful clutch at her throat, but there was, unfortunately, no time to feel those feelings. Instead, she and her wife exchanged lingering hugs with the Sasaki parents and Julien before attempting to depart, only to be accosted by the various Sasaki children, Juliette among them.

"Hey! Where're you goin'?"

"You better not be leavin' for a long time again!"

"Yeah! You still gotta take us to your new house!"

These were among the statements they received from the Sasaki children, and as they were addressing these concerns, Louise felt a tug at her shirt, causing her to look down at Trin, who was giving her a pleading look.

"You're coming home, right?" Trin asked, sounding as though she were about to cry.

Louise took a knee before her and took her into a tight embrace. "We are, I promise." On their separation, Louise gave her a warm, reassuring smile, which the youngest Sasaki seemed to be calmed by.

With that, the girls separated from the children, who were all seeing them off with tears in their eyes.

Their next destination was the refugee encampment near the Tarbes Nexus, where the rest of their group awaited them.

Mama Cassandra greeted them with a toothy, wide grin.

"Well, look who it is!" Mama Cassandra said as she made her way to the girls, taking them both in a brief, tight embrace before pulling back, a hand on each of their shoulders. "So, where we goin'?"

"Oh, we weren't going to ask-!"

"Nonsense!" Mama Cassandra lovingly admonished Louise before she could finish, "I heard what happened. Well, at least what they know. Somethin' to do with that 'Tiffa' girl. That's enough for me," she smirked at the two, "she's one of us. Family. And we don't leave family behind."

These echoed words of her father struck a chord in Siesta.

"I appreciate it, but-."

Mama Cassandra held up a hand to stop Louise. "Don't even try it, pinky, I've already made up my mind. And whatever you're doing? You're gonna need all the help you can get."

Now Louise truly was moved to tears as they manifested and fell down her cheeks. Perhaps she did lose her mother, but she was realizing, now, she had so much more. She nodded up at the woman, who returned the gesture with conviction before the group headed for the landed Ostland.

Colbert had been staying at Tarbes, as well, aboard the Ostland, and from the moment he saw Louise and company from the deck of the ship, he surmised what was going on as they approached.

Louise looked up to him from the bottom of the extended gangplank, giving him a smiling, expectant look. "Professor Colbert-?"

"Say no more," Colbert said, holding up a hand, "of course I'll help."

Louise's smile grew as she led her ragtag party aboard the ship, with Siesta taking a moment to stop in front of the former professor, raising an eyebrow at him. "Are you sure? There's probably going to be fighting. Well… more than probably."

Colbert chuckled as he clapped a hand on Siesta's shoulder, giving her a knowing look, "Until the ones we love are safe, right?"

Siesta, taken aback for a moment, returned his knowing look with a nod.

As they and the rest were coming aboard, Louise, Kirche, Tabitha, and Zeratul eyed a certain familiar figure aboard the ship who had just now made his presence known to them. Standing just as tall as Tiffa, a massive, muscled, mountain of a man adorned in a torn-sleeved dirt-brown shirt with his wrists adorned with silvery-steel gauntlets similar to the one Siesta used to wear and his lower body covered with simple, matching brown trousers was approaching them. Once he was close, recognition dawned upon the humans.

"You're-."

The man nodded to interrupt Kirche.

"Alexander," the man reached up to remove the bandana upon his head, revealing his elf heritage to small, yet audible, gasps, "Ei'lyx, is my real name. My Tal'Darim name."

The group gave him an imploring look, prompting him to continue.

"Henrietta sent me here. Figured you'd be off to save my cousin. And I'm not just gonna stand by and do nothing while a human takes all the glory," Ei'lyx chuckled as he smirked down to the group.

This was, again, a lot for Louise to process. For all of them to process. Without being able to think of anything else, Louise stepped forward, placing a hand on one of El'yx's arms. "We're glad to have you."

With that out of the way, and once it was confirmed everyone was aboard, Louise felt it pertinent to say something as everyone seemed to be looking at her expectantly. That old anxiety of having so many eyes at her attempted to clutch at her heart as it used to, being batted away by the fire of justice that burned like a beacon within her as she gave them all a look of conviction.

"We're going to Romalia," Louise began, "Those of you who know her? Tiffa has been taken. It seems by the Pope himself. If any of you have reservations about blasphemy against Brimirism, now is the time to back out." Though some amused chuckles broke out among the group before her, there were no protests. This filled Louise with a rush of confidence as she took a deep breath.

"Then, my warriors," she began as she raised her fist, "to me!"

Everyone before her raised their fists and roared in unison.

You truly wear the moniker of Executor well, Louise, Zeratul praised her.

Louise's heart filled with warmth. She felt ready for anything.

"That's all for tonight, comrades, Vive la révolution."

"Vive la révolution." The group of masked Jacobins repeated to the short, robed and masked man who was leading the meeting.

This was not whom Aly was paying attention to, as her eyes were trained on one near to him. A man in a mask that bore a silhouette of a dolphin's profile on its forehead. While the rest of the Jacobins dispersed, those two, in this warehouse they came to illuminated only by moonlight, were exiting the opposite direction the rest of the Jacobins were. Aly, calling upon her above-average physical strength and aptitude for stealth, snuck away from her comrades and disappeared into the shadows, doing her best to follow the man who, if Henrietta's paper was to be believed, was Mott.

"The Queen has been absent, as of late," one of them commented, that she could hear from behind the crates she hid behind while they walked.

"Yes, that attack on her Captain was most fortuitous for us. Without the Queen around, our plans have accelerated nicely," the second man replied.

"Our time is almost come. It seems my housewarming party will coincide nicely with her downfall."

The second man chuckled, "Indeed. I hear everyone will be there. I look forward to attending. I trust you've procured some nice girls for us?"

"I know your tastes," the first man paused, "you sick bastard."

Both men laughed. There was another pause as Abby had realized they were now at the back wall.

"Well, I suppose this is where we part ways, for now," the first man said.

"Of course, I'll see you soon, Chelenne."

"You too, Mott."

Aly's eyes went wide. It was true. It was all true. Her and her comrades were just being used by these nobles to stage a coup and put in their own form of tyranny. Well… not if she had anything to say about it. She began to sneak back to the side of the warehouse where her other comrades had left, only to accidentally step on something that gave a panicked shriek before scurrying off. Aly ducked into the shadows once more, trying not to move a muscle. It felt like an eternity passed in this silence that a pin drop could be heard in.

"Damn rats…" Aly heard Chelenne grunt before the back door opened and closed. She took a deep breath before continuing, carefully watching her feet as she did, to the other exit. Once she was outside, she began to make her way to where she felt she must go. The Charming Fairies. Unbeknownst to her, she was being shadowed. By two figures.

As Aly traveled, walking calmly through the moonlit streets, she heard a disturbance on one of the roofs while she was in an abandoned alley, and immediately snapped her head to it, narrowing her eyes. Before she could react, she heard an impact and flutter of clothes behind her, indicating she had an unwelcome visitor. She whipped around, moving to draw her dagger as she did, only to be met by a familiar face that was shaded from the moonlight in a white cloak.

"Michele?" Aly asked, hesitating on drawing her blade.

"Took a little longer to leave the meeting, I noticed," Michele commented.

Aly narrowed her eyes, keeping her hand hovering over the handle of her blade, "Just got caught up chatting."

"Is that so?" Michele knowingly asked, her face bearing a smirk to match. "And here I was suspicious after I saw you leave the royal palace unharmed the other day. But, no, just innocent, idle chatter, yes?"

Michele's tone was dripping with such threat that it caused Aly's body to tense as it braced for a fight. Before she could draw her dagger, however, she found it taken from its scabbard by an unseen force as it flew into Michele's hand.

"A fine blade," Michele commented as she moved it around to examine it, the metal glinting in the moonlight. "Shame you won't get to use it." She tossed the dagger away with an echoing clatter of metal on stone.

Just as Michele was to draw her own blade, her head snapped up, alert, as she jumped back while the ground beneath what would have been her chin violently shot up in a spike.

Aly whipped her head around as she instinctively jumped back, as well, not seeing anything. Choosing not to question her fortune, she turned and darted from the alley and into the street, where there was still a smattering of people and guards out that gave her weird looks as she dashed through them.

The pedestrians' and guards' confusion only grew as Michele appeared once more, leaping from a rooftop, drawing a sword as she did and raising it to chop down on Aly. Before it could connect, a large clump of dirt and stone impacted the turncoat musketeer in midair, sending her crashing to the ground and the civilians into a panic as they rushed to clear the street.

The guards readied their spears, looking around for the culprit while one of them went to apprehend Michele. As he approached, however, he let out a strangled scream of one whose air had left his lungs. It was due to Michele having manifested some kind of energy projectile in her hand and sending it through the guard's chest, causing him to collapse. The other guards, upon seeing this, rushed her, while Ally took this opportunity to rush from the scene. She heard various death rattles and wet, strangled screams as she ran, keeping her attention focused on escaping the carnage.

As Aly ran, Michele, after having bisected the last of the guards, flicked the excess blood from her blade and eyed her target, gathering energy in her other hand and aiming at her fleeing prey. Before she could, however, she felt the sense of impending danger of an incoming attack, causing her to redirect her bolt to a nearby rooftop, where a robed figure darted away just in time.

The street remained quiet for a moment. Michele looked out to her escaping prey with a scowl, settling, now, on killing whoever had interfered with her hunt as she took her sword in both hands and looked around. Once again, she felt the incoming danger with her psionics as she dodged another large dirt and stone projectile, looking to the rooftops. That was when she spied the familiar pale blonde locks reflected in the moonlight and illuminated by the street lamps coming from the hood of the robed figure that she surmised was her opponent.

Smirking with this new information, she dodged towards her new target, psionically leaping off of the projectiles that were launched at her, using them as steps to the one she knew was a woman and bringing her sword down upon her.

She found nothing but robes, leaving a large gash in the woman's disguise as she jumped back, keeping her wand trained on Michele, who gave her a knowing, smirking look.

"I know who you are," Michele said.

"Is that supposed to surprise me? We ran in the same circles, after all," the woman replied, lowering her hood to reveal herself to an unsurprised Michele.

"Ah, Fouquet, Longueville, Matilda, the woman of a thousand names but no real identity," Michele mockingly mused. "I'd heard a rumor you'd gone bootlicker, but to see it for myself?" Michele shook her head.

"They're just using us. And I'm done being used," Matilda declared.

"I don't care to argue politics. Just die, traitor!" Michele shouted with a wicked grin as she threw her sword and launched a psionic bolt at Matilda, who dodged the former while blocking the latter using some of the stone of the roof they were on, giving a smug look to her now-disarmed attacker, whose hand that threw the sword was still outstretched.

That was when Matilda eyed the glint of her opponent's metal prosthetic and pointed her wand to it, causing it to begin to turn against its owner's body, twisting and shooting into her opponent. Michele cried out in pain, faltering while desperately keeping a hand outstretched to her.

Matilda, her opponent now disarmed and having her body essentially turned against her, gave a victorious grin.

"Well that was pathet-," Matilda's taunt was interrupted by her opponent closing the fist of her outstretched hand, causing all the air to leave Matilda's lungs as she felt something bore into her back and tear itself through her. She looked down, eyes wide, and body frozen, at what was the sword Michele had thrown, now impaling her heart that was still desperately trying to work, each beat bringing her closer to death she already knew was inevitable.

Michele twisted her mouth into an even wider, more sadistic grin as she flicked the wrist of her fist-adorned hand towards her, causing the sword to jerk forward through Matilda, leaving a gaping hole where once was her chest while Michele caught her sword. Matilda remained frozen for a moment longer before collapsing to her knees and, finally, hitting the roof that they stood upon.

Matilda had no last thoughts, only a panicked static as the immense pain set in for a moment, and just as quickly vanished along with whatever could be called her spirit.

Once more, Michele flicked excess blood from her sword, knowing that while it was a bad idea to sheathe it right now, she had no choice as she had to make a quick escape. As she did, she spared one thought for a certain someone she remembered, Thanks for the trick, maid.