Broken Fairies

by EnergyMageFrea

Light Magic has won over Dark in the battle to decide the Balance of the world, but shadow has never settled so thickly over the Fairy Tail Guild as it has now, and that darkness does not seem to want to leave. Is it possible, after all the evil and the pain suffered, lived through and triumphed over by the Guild- that Fairy Tail has finally broken? {Fourth Story in Series!}

22. Chapter 22- Chatter

Chapter 22

Chatter

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, only my own OC's, Energy Magic, and Ideas

.:+:.

"What on earth do you mean that fool of a girl is prisoner in another country?!" Porlyusica snapped, her red eyes flashing and voice ringing through the hall as she stood in front of Master Makarov, who sweatdropped- grimacing slightly at the loudness of her voice. The Old Lady's hands fell on her hips hotly, scowling.

"She's not been out of trouble for more than a month and she's already smack in the middle of some mess?!" She went on, "How on earth does one person manage to constantly be in the middle of some disaster?!"

"... I have been asking that question more and more frequently for years now." Master grumbled wearily, Porlyusica let out a low growl at the comment.

"Tch... so you called me here to check on Moon?" Porlyusica growled, redirecting the conversation with ease as Master nodded stiffly.

"She's been made sick by a powerful Magical Tool, and thus far Wendy's Healing Magic has not had any affect." Master explained lowly, Porlyusica's eyes narrowing at the words. "Aisha seemed to have doubts that Wendy's Magic would have an effect to start with, and it seems she was right. She sent a Tonic over from Adgnei, one that's been altered to better contend with this Magic- though even still she warned it would not do away with the Magic entirely, only lessen the side effects." He sweatdropped slightly, his eyes shifting toward the hallway that lead toward the Infirmary. "... I've given little mind to Adgnei in my lifetime, but I had heard of their strength in their Tools... I just hadn't imagined they were as advanced as they are. Fiore's Magical Tools and inventions couldn't hold a candle to what they have."

Porlyusica simply frowned at the words, her face unreadable now as she simply held him in her gaze, and he kept his attention on the back hallway a few moments longer. He was tense, stiff-shouldered, and his face worn... Worried. About Moon, and the team on their own in Adgnei... And Frea too.

That damn girl... Doing this again

Not that it was entirely her fault, mind you... For some reason fate seemed apt to put that Dragon Slayer in danger more often than not.

"... I'll do what I can for Moon." Porlyusica grumbled, her feet taking her passed the Old Man with ease. "Don't worry yourself too much about your Brats, Makarov. They will be fine." She muttered hotly, he blinked at it. "You'll make your heart give out brooding like that, quit!" He jumped slightly, blinking several times.

Porlyusica stalked off toward the back without another word, leaving him standing there a bit taken aback and the Guild a bit stunned too.

... I hope they will be fine...

---

"... is it too early for me to ask why Edryd makes you so nervous and angry?"

Aisha stiffened, her eyes snapping sideways toward Chase and violet eyes glittering as she immediately bristled at the quiet string of words he cast her way out of near nowhere.

They were stopped at the front of a pathway that lead through what had been called 'Monatre Grove'. On either side of them spanned lines and lines of trees with silver vines and leaves, their bark smooth and shining white almost as they curled up far over their heads and toward the sloping, circular dome roof of a building that was too big and too massive to even seen the ends of. Stars and constellations shone along the dome, shimmering slightly and almost life-like as if they were Magic and not paint. At the center of the Dome there was a large opening that showed the sky outside.

They and the Thunder Legion had left the center Atrium of Banore and Therigist behind, making their way through what near labyrinthine expanse Banore was and toward this Grove- and it's mentioned Secret Entrance/Exit, all to avoid the Kullui that were on the lookout already. They were to make their way out of Banore and onto the streets and districts of Coriisette, gathering up what information they could about the state of things, and why it was that Frea was taken in the first place- while Therigist did his work on his end, gathering up supplies and the people they would need to manage a way into (the apparently unreachable) Okeal.

The Thunder Legion were trailing along behind both Chase and Aisha as they made their way down the path, before veering off into the trees and following some hidden path only Aisha seemed to know- thus the secret part. And now there was a small, brief lull between them- and Chase decided he ought to break the waiting a bit and just ask what was on his mind, even though asking was likely to get his head snapped off.

The scowl that spread across Aisha's face in the next few instants was enough to confirm even more what he suspected- Edryd was an incredibly sore subject... and he just didn't understand why.

"... something went on between the both of you, right?" Chase asked softly, his voice low so he could not be overheard by the trio following behind him and Aisha a ways. "I felt your emotions when you saw him in Moon's playback, you know..." Aisha's eyes flashed, her attention flitting away from him and toward the ground- he saw her shoulders stiffen, a flash of pain and guilt ramming into him from her and he blinked.

"...tch... Not now." She hissed lowly, "... Not with them here." She added, her head tilting imperceptibly toward the Thunder Legion behind them. Chase let out a silent breath, but nodded anyway in relent.

"... Aisha, do you have any suggestions where we look, once we reach the Lower Warrens?" Freed asked, speeding up behind them and voice soft to match the relative quiet and peace of the space around them.

"As unwise as it sounds, I would suggest you look for places that the Kullui seem the most active." Aisha murmured lowly, "If the God-King is planning something to combat an oncoming Civil War, I imagine He has the Kullui setting up preparations for such a thing among the Lower Caste. The Kullui themselves don't speak, so you won't catch any chatter from them- but you're smart enough you can probably piece together something, if there is something to find or see. You can also eavesdrop on the people in those areas, they may have something useful. Just be careful, and don't draw attention to yourselves- I don't want to rescue you three along with the Screw-Up." The Thunder Legion nodded stiffly, their eyes flashing.

"... Right." They murmured,

"And don't forget the Chatterbox still has us connected, so you can talk to Chase and I if you need to." Aisha reminded lowly, her steps leading them suddenly left off the main path and into the trees. The Thunder Legion stuck a bit closer, and Chase's eyes wandered toward the large tree set at the center of the Grove they had previously been walking towards- before turning. "There's a built-in function for the Chatterbox that can relay what one person sees to everyone else connected on it." Aisha went on, "It doesn't last more than a few seconds, but it can be useful, as well as distracting. Everyone will only be able to see what you are seeing for about ten seconds, so don't activate it like that if you're in the middle of needing to actually see where you are. But in the event it's easier to see what you are doing, or where you are- I'll give you the keyword."

Aisha wove around a line of tight knit silver willows with hardly any room between them- the lack of space turning their group into a single file line as they followed her lead. The MoonLight Mage seemed to be following a path through the wood and the foliage that didn't exist- or at least the rest of them couldn't see, and she was stepping through grass and fallen leaves, and over top roots in her bare feet without a care in the world.

"You have one hour. When time is up I'll have one of Therigist's workers find you and bring you back to Banore- you'll get lost, don't panic about it, the Lower Warrens are a maze. Just make sure you three stay together, and don't draw too much attention to yourselves- walk around and keep an eye out, see and hear everything you can, and be open to it. Don't worry about a destination, just find what chatter and information you can from just walking among the people." Aisha went on lowly, the trees widening out again as the ground sloped downward. "We've gone over the bulk of what you need to know about blending in, but if you have further questions you can ask while you're out..." Aisha mumbled, her steps slowing up as they came up to a near curtain of silver vines blocking the way in front of them, the tendrils nearly touching the ground as Aisha stopped a moment. Her purple eyes wandered along the curtain of vines slowly, her hands on her hips and quiet as the rest of the Fairy Tailers drew up behind her, intrigued.

"... Skiela..." Aisha murmured, her hands reaching forward to part the vines a bit as her fingers wrapped around something sheer white and... scaly?!

There was a soft hiss that reached their ears as the vine curtain shifted and a single tendril suddenly curled up under Aisha's hand, several other sections of the curtain moving too as a narrow head and golden eyes came up to face Aisha- and the Moonlight Mage sighed.

"There you are." Aisha mumbled to the (very long!) snake that had itself hung from the tree and buried among the rest of the vines, almost completely camouflaged among them. The snake flicked its tongue out and butted it's head against Aisha's cheek, it's body curling around her hand, arm and shoulders.

Evergreen latched on to Freed's arm, nearly jumping out of her skin at the sudden appearance of the animal and looking incredibly uncomfortable. "You weren't kidding about that snakes...?!" Evergreen hissed, Aisha sighed.

"Do I ever 'kid'?" She muttered lowly, her free hand running along the snake's (Skiela apparently) head a few times before it moved forward and her palm pressed against the curtain.

"Ite." Aisha murmured softly, a flash of light flowed across the vines, outlining a doorway- and the curtain itself shifted, the vines pulling apart on their own and leaving bare a single, upright slab of stone and a wooden door set into it. Bixlow stepped up to said slab of stone, Aisha in the middle of gently unwinding the snake from around her figure and Chase at his side as they both peered around the boulder. There was more trees and grove behind it, and that door lead absolutely nowhere- except to the other side of the rock.

Odd...

"You and this snake are familiar...?" Freed asked slowly, "... You gave it a name?"

"Teyza named her. She's a favorite in Banore." Aisha explained flatly. "And she bites people who aren't supposed to be using this door. She's something of a security measure- she'd be biting you four if I wasn't around." Freed blinked, sweatdropping a little as he nodded,

"Ah.."

"This door goes somewhere?" Bixlow mumbled, tapping it with his knuckle.

"It goes many places." Aisha corrected, "Adgnei is a country built up on complex magical tools, don't forget that- and don't judge things by their outward appearance." Her hand reached forward and grabbed hold of the handle- and twisted it. There was a soft click that came with the motion and continued on as Aisha turned the handle a few more times- each time earning a small flash of Magic similar to Teleportation Magic that Chase felt.

"... and five. That'll put the door in the Lower Warrens." Aisha murmured near to herself, her hand lifting as she knocked three times on the door- and it swung open.

The other side of the door lead out into a long corridor that was lit along by Lacrima set into the roof. Chase and the Thunder Legion blinked in surprise, Chase and Bixlow leaning around the edge of the boulder and seeing the back had not changed.

"Cool~" Bixlow smirked,

"Incredible." Freed murmured under his breath, Aisha's eyes dropped closed as Skeila nudged her nose against her jaw.

"You three will follow that corridor all the way to it's end. If memory serves, it'll dump you out in an alleyway off the Neiqe..." Aisha murmured, her eyes opening in time to see the confused looks, and she sighed. "... It's a market. Food, tools, clothes- you get the point. It'll have a lot of people, you can blend in easily." They nodded a bit. "Now, on to that Keyword- everyone stand still and listen carefully."

"Johle."

Chase and the Thunder Legion stiffened, their vision swept across by the image of the snake known as Skiela, to which Aisha was looking down at- and now they were seeing what she saw too, no matter how much their eyes moved. They saw Skeila's tongue flick out toward them, the image lasting a few seconds longer before it faded and they earned their own sight back.

"... hmm... I suppose that would be distracting." Freed mused,

"That was weird~!" Bixlow chuckled,

"Weird~! Weird~!" His Tiki Dolls hummed,

"Well now you know it, use it wisely- stay in touch." Aisha murmured lowly, her head tilting toward the awaiting hallway. "Be careful."

"Yes, we will do our best." Freed murmured, Evergreen huffed.

"You two kids be careful too, yeah~?" Bixlow smirked, sticking his tongue out in habit as he shot Aisha and Chase a look- earning a frown from Aisha and a small smile from Chase.

"Will do."

---

Frea grumbled under her breath, her silver eyes glittering incessantly as she trailed along the rows of high, dust (and plant covered) shelves on either side of her. She was stiff-backed and still slightly wobbly despite how much she refused to give into the whirl and haze of her own head and Senses. She bit back at the stab of pain that ran down from her chest and into her stomach, blinking rapidly against the blur of her vision and what slightly dazzling effect the sunlight had coming through the high, arching windows.

She'd walked straight through what mess a workshop Talarr had and out the door into a hallway grand and high-roofed and utterly empty outside two emotionless, silent men standing at the head of the door. They hardly payed her mind as she emerged and they said nothing as she stalked away and to the immediate left- leaving Talarr and Seyre and her wolf behind... Ignoring Talarr as he fumbled to follow and call her back.

She turned left and started down hallways unfamiliar- and yet, sickeningly, she recognized them.

A thousand years and more, through war and destruction, mayhem, age and progress- that Adgnei she'd lived through with Mordren's life was bleeding through from her mind and overlaying the present, and she hated it. Things were different, structures updated, replaced, repaired- stone cracked with age and covered up with tapestry that bore mark of Adgnei that was nothing like it had been... But the layout, the walls, the feeling she got as she walked through them and further toward where Mordren had so, so many times when Reyan came into his life... it was like she was back there, back with him and not in her own life. It was disorienting as all hell, and that trickle of lost time and lives and memories laying over her reality- mixed with the wash of energy everywhere and things she couldn't set straight, and she felt like she was going to lose her mind... Her head hurt, so, so badly.

Everything hurt

This is bullshit

She knew what she was headed toward, though she didn't expect it to still be what it had been when Mordren walked through it. Back in his day it had been halls upon halls of books, several levels high and littered with cases and tables and Magical artifacts- and people. Polished stone floors and sloping roofs overhead, stained glass windows looking out on a city in it's prime and the utmost of regal. There had always been people here, the best of the best, scholars and warriors and people of real power and import... Magic moved through the shelves without end, letters and things being delivered, books replaced where they had been taken down- tomes and scrolls of Magic and culture and some of the most deep, lost notions and theory, that the world now would never even dream.

It was lively, it was clean- it was a sight to see... but when she walked in she paused in sheer surprise.

It was still a massive, separate wing of the Palace of Okeal that contained shelves upon shelves of old, dusty, untouched and even rotting books. What used to be clean, polished stone and wood was now cached in dust and mud and falling apart- the wildlife and plants had torn into the building and taken root in the foundation. Some of the shelves themselves were torn apart and welded together by twisting roots, there were piles of earth and soil littered among the rows- growing from them trees of multicolor leaves and other plants- to which some looked normal enough to those in Fiore, and others not so.

Sections of the roof had holes in it, several of the high windows that had once had beautiful stained glass- those had been destroyed, and replaced with glass that was nothing as regal... And even the new glass was broken in several places. Puddles of water were littered across the floor too, the stone cracked and sunken in in places- the cases that had once housed artifacts or the like were now involuntary planters for the foliage that had taken over and started it's own forest in the space. She could hear the rustle of plant and creature alike, feel the wind coming in through window and wall and hole- but just that.

It was so quiet, so full of life and yet so utterly lifeless... It had been left to fall apart.

It was clear no one had bothered to care for it in a long while, and certainly not in the last fifty years or even longer... And seeing a library that had once been so grand like this?

Stupid, and she hated it- because she only knew what it used to be like because of being forced with Mordren's life- but seeing this made her angry, and a little sad all at once.

She'd left the entrance and the trailing Talarr behind without hesitation, walking among the rows and the shelves and seeing the damage for herself- pausing as she came upon a series of large, open windows that showed the Valley outside and the shining spectacle of Coriisette below it. Down there where there were so many people and so much Energy is was suffocating- it weighed on the edge of her mind no matter how much she tried to ignore it. Down there where Aisha and others from Fairy Tail were already working to steal into Okeal and rescue her... She hated the idea of needing rescuing, but given how shitty she felt...

... The Guild is probably losing their minds right now... And Moon?

She knew that if Edryd had used that sword on her without ever realizing it- it was entirely possible he hit Moon, and that pissed her off, and worried her.

Her eyes found the long shadows slowly getting deeper over the valley as the sun sank further in the sky- the day slowly drawing by and already half over while she'd been unconscious.

... And I was supposed to head out with the Thunder God Tribe today... Damn it, why does this shit always happen to me?

She stiffened, her composure tilting suddenly as her hand shot up to steady herself against a bookshelf- dizzy and hissing as icy, chilly pain raced through every inch of her person in the same instant hot, burning jolts of pain like electricity ignited through her person courtesy of the Collar around her neck. Her eyes snapped shut, shaking and panting as she willed both to just... Quit...

"...tch...!" She winced harshly, doubling over a bit as her elbow met the shelf along with her hand and her shoulder met it soon after- the red haze dulled down with the rush of heat enveloping her- but that deep, biting, throbbing agony?

That wasn't apt to fade as quickly, it never did- every time that darkness in her chewed off another piece, spread just that tiny bit more- it hit hard and it lasted... And she just... She wasn't in the shape to deal with it right now.

"... Grrrahhh...! Felle! What in the literal hell...?! Why in the fuck is it always me...?!" she snapped, all to herself and not caring how her voice broke the heavy silence of the dead library. She pushed back against the shelf and straightened herself up as much as she could, holding her breath and her free hand falling to curl around her torso gingerly.

"...tch... Out in freaking Adgnei, the very last place I ever wanted to see again and with this veude collar on me and all by myself, feeling like absolute crap because another ferdey with another Magic Sword came after me and Moon and now one of us is playing prisoner! Only this time around we have no idea why I'm here, because no one will fucking explain it!" Frea snapped aloud, her anger still flaring though she did her best not to let her Magic flare with it. "And all of that on top of the fact I barely got the Guild to sign off on letting me work a job in Magnolia, yesterday!"

She paused, her eyes narrowing to slits when it occurred to her what Moon had said yesterday- about Carla's Visions.

... And now I'm in the very place that all that insanity is supposed to be happening... The world seriously hates me

Her hands fell on her hips and her head bowed slightly as she let out a low sigh, sweatdropping.

"Kynna... Kynna, ze don't wanna keru de censse some hilo qeinne neas..." She muttered lowly, suddenly switching gears back to a time and a language she had been falling further into and remembering recently... And stopping herself, unconsciously, from using around the Guild too much, though still she slipped up as Moon had pointed out... Laxus too.

Some of it just came so easily, she didn't have to think about it- it was just there and it fit in the sentence without having to think about it, but some of it she had no clue- and automatically switched back to English without ever really pausing. A blend and a mash of two languages, one she'd learned and known- but had been so young- and the other the one she'd used all her life really... Both of them felt right, with not one more so over the other. It was a same blend and bleeding effect to the reality of where she was and the persistent overlay of Mordren's memories to be honest... Just less aggravating.

But all of this was aggravating to an extreme, and she was tense as tense can be- and why not? She was alone, hurt, struggling to keep her own Magic contained (whilst being unable to actually use it), surrounded by strangers and kept prisoner in a powerhouse of country she has absolutely no good memory or image of... With the threat and dread of disaster born from Carla's Visions and the promise that she was going to be used for... Something.

What do they want with me? Enough they ignore all those laws and customs that say I'm supposed to be 'respected'...?

She hadn't a clue, and the sinking sense of dread like a heavy, cold weight in her core made her swallow.

"Y-you do... Ah... Do you really speak the Dragon Language...?" A sudden uncertain and slightly awed voice asked from her left and Frea stiffened, her eyes snapping open and narrowed as she glanced that way. A little further up the badly damaged floor and mucked up stone, at the end of the row and sunlight glinting off his glasses- stood Talarr. His hands were in his pockets and his feet fidgeting slightly, his eyes had a hard time staying fixed on her when she looked back- he was nervous as hell and wary of her, she could see it in his posture easily enough even without those emotions ramming into her along with his Energy Signature.

It was just him though. No sign of Seyre or her wolf, though judging by their Energy Signatures they were not far off... she just couldn't tell where exactly, in all the mess.

She wasn't sure how Talarr managed to find her among the endless rows, even if he had heard her voice- this place was a maze.

"Ah... I'm sorry... I've just... I can't help but ask, you're switching between English and a different dialect in a manner that makes me think you're fluent in both... and ah.. while you were unconscious you were muttering things, all of which sound like... the Dragon Language... for what little I have researched it..." Talarr explained softly, Frea turned toward him slightly, one hand on her hip and eyes narrowed. He sweatdropped, his hands in his pockets shifting nervously as his eyes dropped to the floor. "... There... there isn't much about the Dragon Language, anywhere... but I've managed to collect a few tidbits from their age, things that were left in old ruins... documents from people who lived in that age... but... hardly any of it got written down... or translated..." He sweatdropped a bit more, "... I've looked into a link between The Dragon Language and the traditional dialect in Adgnei and our culture, and rituals, and in the names of Landmarks... and other things... uhm... I've hypothesized that what persists today of the the Traditional Adgnein Language is a dialect that borrows things from both the Dragon Language and another, ancient, Rune-based language. Bits and pieces of them have been mashed together in a way, while others ring familiar to their original in one language or the other... of course that's just a theory, I don't really have much to show for it... I've tried cross-checking different words and runes left over from the Ancient times, but what is left is badly degraded and unreadable..."

Talarr trailed off, shuffling his feet slightly as he shook his head at himself- one hand lift from his pocket to gesture toward the area around them.

"... If there was anything worthwhile to research in that venture left... It was before my time. The Royal Family gave up preserving our history a very long time ago... if there ever was much work done to keep it in the first place." Talarr sighed softly, "... And as it is... I've not really been afforded much time for researching the language itself... There have been other priorities that Drennios specified for me... But... Ah... You..." His eyes moved back toward Frea as she took a few steps forward down the aisle toward him. "... You know it, right...? And you're fluent in it...?" Talarr asked softly, his purple eyes glinting in barely contained intrigue. Frea grimaced slightly, her eyes moving away from him for a minute, biting the inside of her cheek.

... His hypothesis isn't all that off... But the Dragon Language was more a token few phrases commonly known among the citizens... It wasn't a fully-implemented language by anyone here... But Telips was... I suppose it is possible those token phrases and Telips melded into it's own language after a long while.

"... No." She mumbled, he blinked. "... I'm not fluent, I know some of it... But the bulk of it, I can't..." She paused, her eyes flashing. "... I was young, when I learned... And I've forgotten a lot of it. I'm only now remembering pieces."

"B-but where did you learn..?" he asked breathlessly, "I've found half a dozen single words scattered here and there without ever really knowing what they mean, and you just condensed so many of them in a near fully formed sentence...!" he paused, "Did the Dragon who taught you your Dragon Slayer Magic...?"

Frea stiffened at that, her eyes flashing as her lips pulled slightly at the edges at even the mention of-

"... Some of it." She muttered lowly, Talarr stiffened at her tone- because it clearly meant drop it.

"... I'm sorry, Energess..." Talarr murmured softly, "... It is unfair I ask questions... When I cannot answer yours..."

Damn right

Frea let out a low breath, her eyes trailing sideways toward the windows overhead and pausing.

Seyre said Talarr was hopelessly loyal to Drennios... But not an inherently bad person. Frea knew that, she could feel it- there wasn't a malignant bone in his body, he was nervous and with little backbone... But there was nothing dark about him. And he seemed genuinely uneasy about all of this, what he was doing and what he'd been ordered to do. Regretful even... And maybe that guilty conscience would get heavy enough it would outweigh the need to follow the order to say nothing.

And anyway, Seyre had also suggested calm and patience was the better road right now while she, Aisha and whoever the hell else she had with her were trying to figure out what was going on, and how to get into Okeal... And as much she opposed that idea, she really wasn't in any shape nor position to be trying to start a riot or break out on her own.

Patience... Damn it

But still there was a cold sinking sense of dread hanging around, and getting worse- that was akin to the day that Mordren had done what he had. She needed to try and figure out why she was here. Seyre maybe had to be subtle in her interests, but Frea didn't have to be.

Her eyes narrowed, blinking several times to try and rid herself of what faint haze of color bled into her sight from the color his Energy Signature had were she using Energy Sense... there was bleeding color from so much Energy all around and all different things, it was a mess and it made the headache worse.

Talarr's eyes widened slightly as he noticed the way the Energess was blinking, her expression pulling in discomfort and... Disoriented slightly.

"Are you... Alright...?" he asked slowly, Frea shut her eyes and grumbled under her breath.

"... Fine..." She muttered, she felt disbelief flash from him and growled. "... Tch... There's just... too much Energy everywhere... All of it is getting... Distorted, muddled..." Talarr blinked in slight intrigue at the words, his head tilting slightly.

"... I was aware your Magic made you incredibly sensitive to all forms of Energy, but I suppose I didn't imagine it would be enough to... Overwhelm you..." Talarr murmured, Frea glanced toward him. His eyes dropped closed as he seemed to muse for a moment to himself, his voice lowering too without meaning for it to do so. "... I suppose Adgnei would have a multitude of different Energy coming from different sources at all times, given the Magical Tools in use at all hours of the day... And the amount of people... And new creatures and the like... And it's not as if the Cloaks woven into Okeal's Barrier will block any of it from the inside... Since they're not centered on individuals but the Palace as a whole..." He hummed a bit under his breath,

"... You made that thing, that could Hide Energy. 'Cloak'...?" Frea asked lowly, he jumped a little at the sound of her voice, sweatdropping. "... How in the hell did you manage that? I can pick out an Energy Signature a city away from me without even trying, but I couldn't feel Edryd or those other two within a few dozen feet from me." Talarr's eyes widened a little, awed.

"... Y... You can what...?" He stammered breathlessly, Frea let out a low sigh. She started forward, clearing the space between them- and Talarr reflexively took the tiniest of steps backward, but just one.

"How much do you actually know about Energy Mages?" She asked lowly, her arms crossing over her chest as she halted in front of him.

"... Ah... More than most... But... Comparatively little, when stacked up... With you... Or even anyone in your... Guild..." He mumbled nervously, "... There is so little information about your Magic... I've gathered what I could... most of which is vague... And others that stem from a few... Documentations, from your Magic Council about... Y-you... Energess... Anything other than those... Well... It's all been mostly theory and hypothesis on... My part..." He admitted quietly, his eyes dropping from her and stiff as a board. "... I, ah... I am aware you are able to sense Energy of all kinds around you, it's a natural... Instinctual ability in all Energy Mages... B..but... Ah... I was under the impression you could only sense Energy up to a few dozen feet, without the use of some Enhancement Spell...?"

"... I'm an exception to that general rule." Frea murmured lowly, he blinked. "My Senses have been heightened to an extreme well beyond that limit. Now I can feel Energy everywhere in a radius of a dozen or so miles, instead of feet."

"T-that is... Incredible...!" Talarr breathed, his jaw slightly slack in awe.

More like tiring

"How did you manage to hide their Energy Signatures?" Frea asked again, he blinked, "And not even just that, I couldn't smell them either."

"Oh... Ah... Well... all Magic gives off a sort of power or sort of... Mm... Pressure I suppose? You would attribute that to it's 'Energy' I think... I was already able to block off the pressure or a Magic and 'hide' it, by creating a device that emits and matches the... Ah... exact opposite frequency in which that power existed on." Talarr started slowly, "... Ah... Doing so counteracts the frequency of the Energy I'm trying to hide and in essence... Nullifies it. Makes it even out and dissipate and therefore the frequency of that Energy is no longer emitted, and you can no longer feel it..." Frea's eyes narrowed,

"... I altered that single counter-frequency to counteract frequencies that weren't just Magical in nature... I found that just... Ah... Living things give off a sort of subtle, faint frequency of their own that is unique to them..." He paused, his hands fidgeting in his pockets again. "...hmm... I suppose that would be... Ah... My intellectual equivalent... to your 'Energy Signatures'..." He added. "... And along with that, I also implemented a more Magically inclined portion... I found record of a Rune-based Spell that was meant to 'Hide'. When I used it, it didn't have an effect of really hiding anything from view- but rather hiding Energy and Magic and those frequencies... I used it to constrain the effects of the Cloak on an area and persons inside it's perimeter more stably. It doesn't hide the Frequency for living... Ah... The Energy Signatures themselves, but it does hide Magical Power and other Energies quite well." He finished softly, his eyes darting up toward her and away the whole time- but finally stopped when he saw the recognition dawn in her expression.

But why...?

"... Mm... That's a pain..." Frea muttered under her breath, her eyes dropping closed as she cocked her hip a little.

... That means Chase won't be able to get a feel for anything in the whole Palace... And if there's anything else these people wanna keep hidden I am fucking screwed... I hate Hidden Energy.

And that 'Rune-based Spell' he mentioned?

... Where in the hell did Talarr find the Rune that Saige uses though...?

She forced herself a small breath, her head and her Senses wandering outward from where they were and through Okeal itself... Just looking, at everything (well, looking in a metaphorical sense). Every Energy Signature she could find, every flash and splash of Magic, through halls and corridors different yet still so much the same... There were people in Okeal, but not many... And most of them were...

... These Energy Signatures... They... Don't feel right... They're old... And... They almost don't feel human...?

She sweatdropped, pushing passed that and searching out the rest- about half a dozen others she didn't know, human, and most of them bearing the familiar Negative Energy of someone mean, malicious. She bit the inside of her cheek at that, pushing her attention passed it and further- farther upward and dreading what she might feel next... But there was nothing there. She could feel nothing.

... Does that mean... It's... Moved...? Like it did with...?

She couldn't fully hope in that, even without feeling anything... And it didn't make her feel better

"... Did you use the same technique for Hidden Energy on Edryd's sword?" Frea asked lowly, forcing her mind and her Senses away from searching- her head was pounding now and she didn't dare open her eyes for a few seconds lest her world be swimming.

"...hmm...?" Talarr hummed, his thoughts still on the face she'd made and now on the sudden Pain Meter spike in his eyeline- though the Energess did nothing to show it outwardly. And along with that he saw her temperature lift two degrees more than the abnormal height it was already at with the Sickness Magic, making him grimace slightly. He was about to comment on it before her question managed to click in his head, and he stumbled to reply in what rather long pause there was between her asking it and him registering it at all.

"O-oh, uhm... Y-yes... Lord Tuvral requested I assist him in hiding the Magic of the sword for the time it sets on a delay..." Talarr replied softly, Frea's lips pulled into a tight line.

"Tch... I swear if he touched Moon- I'm gonna beat the crap out of him. I already wanna punch him for what he did to me..!" The Energess hissed lowly, Talarr's eyes went wide and he stiffened at the very blunt threat to the man that Talarr himself would never, ever, think of crossing.

The idea of anyone ever punching him, or 'beating the crap out of him'- a Vaide- was like... Like treason!

"...a-ah, Energess please..." Talarr stammered quickly, "...i-I understand your... Your anger with Lord Tuvral and i-it's not unwarranted, but you really... You can't just say you're going to harm him...! A-and even then, you are not in good health...!" He mumbled, breaking off as his eyes darted across the information on the inside of his Glasses.

Frea opened her eyes and shot him a glare- only she couldn't see him clearly for the blurriness and bleeding color, and her head whirled enough it was sickening.

"S-speaking of which... You... You really should... You need to sit down...!" Talarr said, a bit more urgently now as he saw Frea sway a little and he instinctively moved his hands forward to steady her. She could feel her mind slipping further and further toward a chasm out of nowhere at the simple fact she'd been stretching her Senses out... Why was that such a monumental task all of a sudden?

... Damn it... Why...?

... I hate Edryd's stupid fucking sword...

---

"... you... You already know that I called a Druhma before. Before what happened with... Frea." Aisha's voice was low and tense, Chase- who had watched the Thunder Legion disappear down the hallway and the door in the stone shut in front of him- went stiff, his heart skipping a beat and his eyes widening as Aisha suddenly switched gears- and to that.

The memory of that day popped into the forefront of his mind, the Guild a wreck, everyone waiting in a sullen Building and all waiting for news from Porlyusica they knew wouldn't be good... He swallowed back at it, his eyes flashing as he slowly let his eyes drop from the door and to the ground.

... Aisha stalking forward toward a line of Council Knights and stopping them in their place. Denying them entry and action, all at the utterance of a single word... Druhma.

A Rite and a Ritual she had called once before, an occasion she had shared with him in the minimal of detail- and a memory he felt hurt her more than words could ever express... A story it had taken her a long while to get comfortable enough around him to even tell. And with good reason. Aisha's past was hard and filled with loss, from a young age she was stripped of her home and her family and taken as a slave into Adgnei. Forced into a life in a country she knew nothing of and stripped of all rights and power- and even her voice, the Barren were not meant to talk, ever or at all.

Clawing her way into favor with the Family who owned her, working as a spy and gathering intel on the people of Adgnei... Learning the ropes and ways of it's society, culture, and it's crime until it was second nature. Catching the eye and attention of the lowest on the chain for head of that Family, but highest on the rung in the underground and most powerful in the Black Market. That man that took the would be Barren Aisha under his wing, taught her how to find information, hide, exploit what she knew- and get anything she needed.

Therigist never cared that Aisha was by all rights a slave. He saw a will and a drive that he could use and hone, and in the meantime- she became very, very good at just about everything he set her on. The young girl he brought up as a tool became a bit more than that- further when her Magic manifested, and he did everything he could to help her hone it. In the end, the student became something of a master- but not before the worker grew to be something of a daughter figure.

In his own way, Therigist really cared for Aisha and still did- but after she was found for being the Cosmic Soul, and raised into the Noble Caste- his relationship with her became much more formal and much less casual. Aisha stayed in business with Therigist even after becoming a Noble, kept tabs with her and still ran his Thieves Guild- electing help from Lady Celene where needed... But never for want. As Aisha had described it to him, Therigist might have let their relationship fade once she became a Noble- but the Moonlight Mage wasn't looking to let that happen, and hadn't, while she was still in Adgnei.

But in her years of being a Noble in the midst of Adgnei and all it's corruption, and all the hundreds of the Nobility and Middle Caste that held Aisha in low regard- she remained strong under their hate and their admonishment. She remained tall and did her work, cast her influence and fought back against them- did what she could to stand up for the Lower Castes and she never wavered.

There were few at all in the Nobility that liked Aisha, and fewer still that even tolerated her- but despite that, there were still some who saw what she stood for and agreed. Few who ever dared stand with her- and there had been one person in particular. The only other person in Aisha's life she'd allowed that close, outside of the Energy Mage she called Partner now.

Chase sweatdropped, his blue eyes trailing toward Aisha and seeing her standing there beside him, still and quiet for a minute as her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her eyes dropped closed.

"... Ranath, right?" Chase murmured softly, Aisha nodded stiffly. "... you told me he died, while you were here... that you called a Druhma for him, and he didn't..." He paused, biting the inside of his cheek a little, his words fading as he felt the pain and sadness throbbing from Aisha become all the heavier.

"... I never told you the full thing." Aisha mumbled, "... I told you Ranath and I were close, that we worked together, and there was hardly a thing I did once I became a Noble that he wasn't around for, or helping me with." Her hold on her arms tightened a little bit, her shoulders hunching.

'Close' was understating it a bit, but Aisha needn't say it out loud- Chase could tell by the way she was acting, the emotions she felt when she was talking and thinking about him- about Ranath. Being 'close' would never account for the sheer heartache he felt from her when Ranath was brought up, nor the agony and the guilt she felt when she thought about it- calling a Druhma for him, praying and hoping and waiting in a Death Watch that the person she cared for the most in the world at the time, and trusted so wholly- would live.

And he didn't, and that broke her... forced her into being that cold, distant person she was that didn't trust anyone easily. Closed off and harsh to the world that had been nothing less than cruel to her since she was young- and that world that took away the only person she had ever loved and let in as much as she had Ranath.

The Guild didn't realize just how much it meant that Aisha had let them into her heart as much as she had- she was Fairy Tail, and she would protect the Guild and everyone in it with all she had. Chase knew she would, even if Aisha didn't seem that way on the outside... and Chase realized just what it meant when she let him in as she had. Aisha hadn't ever planned on getting close to anyone else in her life, and she certainly hadn't been looking to let Chase in either... and it had taken awhile, but she did.

And because he understood how hard that was for her to even consider- Chase loved her for allowing him into her life like that. And he's long since sworn he wasn't going to hurt her, not if he could help it- and he wasn't going to make her live through another person she loved being killed, not on anything... she'd been through enough with Ranath, and Solana combined. Both of which he knew she felt so, so guilty for what happened to them- more than she would ever admit, even to him. But he could still feel it.

But she was right, she'd never really told him much about what happened to Ranath, just that he'd died. Not how or why, but he knew it was a sore topic- and he'd never pressed it, but now Aisha was the one getting into it... and after he'd asked about Edryd?

"... Ranath was a member of the Noble Caste too, like I said. He didn't hate me like the majority of them do, and in reality- he liked what I was doing, how much I stood up to the rest of them... we got along well and he helped me deal with a lot of things." Aisha mumbled, "... he wasn't in line to be the Head of his Family name... and even if he was, he wouldn't have cared about keeping up appearances or avoiding associating with me. He was just... determined to stick with me, and I hated it at first... but eventually..." She sighed.

"... I appointed Ranath as my Ilaen." Aisha murmured softly, Chase blinked.

"Ah, you did a good job dressing your friends for the part." Therigist smiled, glancing toward Aisha again. "And I see you've appointed a new Ilaen... even if only for this excursion, to speak of who you chose for such a role... Hehe..." He chuckled a bit and Aisha's eyes narrowed, Chase blinked at that, his eyes darting from Therigist and toward Aisha in surprise.

'New' Ilaen...?

"... I figured there was another one before me, after what Therigist said." Chase told her softly, she nodded. Her eyes moved over toward him, landing on the Dyann around his torso and eyes glittering- Chase noticed where she was looking, sweatdropping slightly as he glanced down, his expression softening a bit. "... was this his?" He asked quietly, his hand falling gently on the fabric, Aisha nodded. Chase paused, swallowing slightly as his eyes flashed. "... I'll take good care of it, Aisha-"

"I know." She cut him off softly, he blinked. "... just... let me finish. I told the Guild that I left Adgnei because I hated the corruption, and that is partly true. The other half of it, is because of what happened to Ranath... why he died, and the consequences that came with that." Aisha shifted, her feet bringing her around as she turned her back on the door in the boulder a little bit, her violet eyes scanning over the trees and over toward that very large tree in the center of the grove that Chase had noticed earlier.

"... I got into some trouble with one of the more influential Noble Families. I helped Therigist smuggle a large portion of the Barren owned by that Family, out of Coriisette and hide them away in a far corner of Adgnei. They were being severely abused, even by normal standards- and one of them was going to be killed... for bearing a bastard child to one of their Masters." Aisha muttered, "Adgnei dictates Barren cannot interact with anyone, especially not a Noble- but even then they can't refuse anything they are told to do. She didn't have a choice, she had to do what he wanted and she ended up pregnant... and the Family couldn't risk a scandal, so they were planning to have her assassinated."

Chase grimaced, his eyes narrowing at the words and Aisha letting out a low growl under her breath.

"... I had Seyre get in and keep the Family's attention for awhile, while some of Therigist's people got them out of the estate. Ranath and I were waiting for them on the edge of the city, to get them transport out into the country and go with them to make sure they weren't followed or hurt in transit." Aisha went on quietly, "We got them, we were just about ready to head off- and then one of Seyre's wolves met us, with a warning that the Family had caught on to the plan and had sent Nirav to apprehend us, and kill the Barren we were trying to get out." Chase's head tilted at the name, Aisha noticed it from the corner of her eye and let out a low breath.

"... Nirav is a Vaide." Aisha explained lowly, Chase sweatdropped. "He's the only one left of his Family name and he has no successors... he doesn't bother in politics and he's turned himself into a self-anointed 'justice seeker'. He runs with the Kullui and commands the bulk of them, and he also takes Contracts from the Nobility, Royalty and some of the Middle Caste... in plain terms he's a bounty-hunter... most of the people he hunts down have been officially convicted of some crime, and he has every right to go after them. Many of those convicted have been labeled criminals under false, or thin pretenses- the Nobility tailor crimes and the judicial system to their own whims... but even sometimes they can't rig the game, so they hire him on as an assassin instead. As far as I am aware, he has never failed to complete his assignment, not once."

Chase stiffened, his eyes narrowing to slits and his heart dropping a little when it was clear where this story was headed.

"... it was my idea. I decided to try and get the Barren out and I did it knowing I was pissing off the wrong people... and that I had no legal grounds, nor really any right for anything I was doing." Aisha muttered lowly, "Therigist warned me against it, and I didn't listen. Ranath didn't argue, he never would- he knew I was serious, and that I'd gather up my own contacts and my own help and do it by myself if it came down to it- and that was enough. He wouldn't let me do it by myself, he came so he could help me, and keep an eye on me... and in the end he ended up dead for it."

Aisha's head bowed, her eyes shutting tight against the memory and her shoulders hunching slightly.

"... they all ended up dead. Everyone of them, the Barren, Therigist's people helping us... Ranath..." She hissed, "... tch... We tried to get them out, I told Ranath to take the Barren and go while I kept Nirav back. But of course that idiot came back, he came back and went against my orders and he stepped in to the full-on fight I'd started with Nirav. My Magic wasn't... I wasn't going to win, and I knew that... and so did he. He came back and fought with me, we went head to head with a Vaide and we couldn't even win with both of us... what we'd done was grounds enough for Nirav to kill both of us and no one would bat an eye, the Nobility didn't like me to begin with- and Ranath was my Ilaen... it would be expected he'd die with me, that was his job and his duty and I... I didn't ever want that. I didn't ever think it would come to a situation like that, I was always careful- Therigist was always careful. We never got caught, never got betrayed, there was never a job that went that bad- ever." He heard her swallow, her knuckles white from the tightness of the grip on her arms.

"... Nirav was going to cut me down, he had me backed up in a corner and that was it. I was dead." Aisha's voice dropped, "...tch... but Ranath... that stupid idiot... he jumped in front of me, and Nirav cut him down instead." Chase's heart skipped a beat, a bead of sweat falling down his face as his eyes widened a little.

"... tch... I'm sure it makes a lot more sense now, why I was so... so fucking pissed at you, back in DeathBolt." Aisha growled lowly, Chase's eyes dropped slightly. "... tch... you did what he did..."

"... and he ended up dead." Chase mumbled softly, "Aisha I didn't realize-"

"It doesn't matter." She grumbled, Chase tilted his head slightly. "You're not Ranath, I knew that- even then, and now. Don't apologize for it, just don't die." She told him curtly, he smiled sadly.

"... yeah." He murmured, Aisha shook herself a little.

"... anyway... Nirav saw Ranath do that, and I guess... he was impressed, or something- or maybe he was just playing with me, I don't know. But he let me live, instead of killing me... even as he walked away and slaughtered everyone else." Aisha muttered lowly, "... Ranath... He was alive, but barely and I was... I was just hoping that maybe... maybe he'd be fine, he'd live... I took him to Banore, the Keistae did everything they could and... and I called a Druhma." Aisha hissed, "... I'd grown up getting more and more into the idea that all of this... that Adgnei and the Gods and their culture, that there was some power in it.. that maybe there was some truth in all of it and I thought maybe... what Gods would punish someone for trying to save the life of someone innocent, and trapped...? What Gods could sit back and watch as someone who sacrificed themselves for that, for good and for... for me even... how could they just let him die? That's what a Gods-damned Druhma is for, isn't it? Praying and hoping and wishing and asking the Gods to... to just... not... damn it."

---

... What darkness had settled over the Guild before suddenly thickened, shoulders and bodies stiff as they tried to calm what tears had risen anew, tried to still their hearts and their breathing as that awful, horrible truth hit them square on.

Aisha stiffened, her eyes casting down and away from the hall below them. Chase was shaking badly in her hold, his hands covering his face as she watched in silence, her heart aching painfully to see those dozens of glittering drops of moisture fall past his hands, splashing against his lap. The breath caught in her throat, her deep purple gaze glinting as she stared, riveted.

Not once... Not in all the time she had come to know him... she'd never seen him cry, not once.

She swallowed, cursing herself and the world in her head as she felt those tears of her own prick at the edge of her eyes, she felt like... she was watching him fall apart. Break into so many pieces in her hold she couldn't ever put them back together, he was slipping through her fingers and seeing what agony he was in was enough to make her own soul crack. She hadn't wanted that, not ever, she never wanted to see him in that much pain, she would have gone against any enemy, fought anything to keep him from feeling something like this- and yet she couldn't do a damn thing. She was helpless... because what was breaking him was something she couldn't fix.

Not just him, the Guild. They were falling apart, they were breaking and bursting at the seams and all for one reason... And damn it, she hated it.

She may not have acted like it, but she did like this Guild, she loved the people in it, grown close to them all, and seeing them suffering this much, that put her through just as much pain. Even more so, as she looked out across the sullen, painful faces, the tears and the hunched shoulders, and toward him, trembling and gasping in her hold as he cried and couldn't stop...

It had happened before, this had happened in a place and a time long passed right now, and it was a sight she never wanted to witness again...

Banore was so silent, the only thing to be heard an array of low, sad and painful whispers and humming- a song that was sung by everyone in halls pulled dark, candles lit and flower petals littered across grand, old stone floors. People moved slowly, soundlessly- the Kesitae hummed and prayed, heads bent and eyes closed- all thoughts on one thing as she sat there, her hands held around another- limp and growing colder in her grasp with every passing hour. She sat, not moving for so long as time swam by in a blur so agonizing... her head filled with words and wishes and hopes and prayers that felt emptier and emptier. Every single one made her heart break further, the sound of shallow breaths fading no matter how hard she pleaded.

Hours ago that felt like years she'd seen those yellow eyes open for the last time- a small, weak smile on his lips and the words so soft she strained to hear them- the small, faint squeeze of his hand in hers and the light fading fast... the words the last he ever said, and those that broke her.

... Her hands clenched into fists against the door, hissing under her breath as she let out a shaky gasp, anger and hurt swirling in her stomach all the stronger as those unwanted memories floated back in full force, and she couldn't stop those tears from hitting the floor at her feet, her back to the rest of that dark, solemn, broken collection of people waiting... waiting that felt like torture, waiting in what Rite, what ceremony she had suddenly called into existence by near mention of the word... A Rite she never wished to enact again.

"... damn it..." She hissed, "... You... If you're actually even real... Drennios, Rehvan... Kallin, Jirrai... you're all... Bastards..." Her fists were shaking she was pressing them against the door so hard. "... you made me call... that fucking Rite... a s-second time... how dare you...? You made me call it... and for the god damn... Screw-Up... of all people..." She took in a shaky breath, hating it all, the emotion, the pain, the dark cloud hanging over every head and around every heart. "... but damn it... you can't... not a second time... not this time, please... make me repeal it..."

The tears hit the floor at her feet a few more times.

She'd said it aloud, made it final, made it real... And he heard it. The only one in the Guild she had let close, let know her life, her past. The only one who knew the sheer gravity of that single word, the only one who knew what it actually meant, and she knew without even being near him- her saying it aloud, declaring it like that, that hurt just as much as everything else did, maybe even worse.

Druhma

"... I-i... I'm sorry... Don't do it for me... and don't even do it for her... say screw it to me... I couldn't care... But... they can't take this... He can't take it, not if she dies." Her words fell away altogether, damn it... she was praying, she hadn't done that... Not for so, so long.

Not since she... not since Ranath.

"Drennios, Rehvan, Kallin, Jirrai... please, please... he has done nothing wrong. He tried so hard to protect so many people, spare their lives... he's been so kind, he's been with me... the only person that I... please... he doesn't deserve to die, not for being loyal to me. Not for protecting me... I can't lose him... please."

Not him

"... Aisha... It was worth it... all of it... I always loved you... you were worth it."

I'm... I wasn't

---

Aisha hissed under her breath, her eyes shut tight and biting the inside of both cheeks. She could hear Chase move closer, she felt his hand fall on her shoulder gently- and the warmth of the contact both made her angry, as well as appreciative.

She jammed the recurring thoughts into the back of her mind, and they pushed back with a fervor- the wall she'd placed up for them was already broken and crumbling, and she couldn't hide them away any longer...

... not the pale, twisted and painful face of the man that had sat with her, through all of it. His heart breaking just like hers, silent and hoping as she was... and the Gods never replied.

"... The Druhma lasted four days." Aisha mumbled, "... I stayed with him the whole time, I didn't talk to anyone I didn't... I didn't even tell his Family, they found out and..." She swallowed, "Four days after I lead him into a fight that killed him, four days sitting in watch for a Druhma I called into effect, four days of sitting in Vigil with him with only one other person at my shoulder... Ranath Tuvral died." Aisha murmured quietly, Chase's eyes widened a little, his ears ringing with the name-

W-wait a minute...

"... Tuvral...?" Chase echoed, Aisha nodded, just once.

"Ranath was Edryd's brother... his twin." Aisha told him quietly, "Edryd was with me, during the Druhma. Seyre told him what happened and he rushed to Banore, he... he didn't say anything to me, the whole time. He was just focused on Ranath, and when it was over and he was gone..." Aisha shook her head, letting out a long sigh. "... Edryd blamed me for what happened, he hated me for bringing Ranath into something so stupid, he hated me for calling a Druhma, and he hated me more when it ended with Ranath's death. And he has every right to." Chase sweatdropped, his eyes flashing at the last bit and mouth opening to protest- she never gave him a chance to.

"Edryd and I never butted heads when we met, when I met him and Ranath... he wasn't on board with the way I challenged Tradition, but he wasn't trying to throw me from Adgnei either. But after Ranath died, he threw every ounce of willpower he had into opposing me, and we fought, on more than one occasion. There wasn't a thing I did in Adgnei that he didn't call me out for, or try to dismantle- and that made working with Therigist and the Black Market, and getting anything done, extremely difficult. He's got a vendetta against me and he isn't looking to back down on it... and I don't blame him. So instead of constantly battle him, I left Adgnei altogether." Aisha muttered, "But Edryd's hatred for me, makes it likely whatever is going on with Frea now- is all being funneled through him and his House. They've shut me out and they are air-tight, everyone who works with Edryd knows not to associate with me- or face his wrath. He's a Vaide, none of them will be willing to risk that. And his feelings toward me, just make him all the more dangerous for the Guild to contend with."

Aisha turned back in Chase's direction, his hand leaving her shoulder as she did so and her purple eyes resting level with his blue ones. "If we run into Edryd during this... it's more dangerous that I confront him, than anyone else." She murmured lowly, "I plan to avoid him at all costs, but I doubt I'll be able to during the whole thing... if he does, this is going to be his chance to get back at me without any legal or traditional issues or rules getting in the way."

"You think he's gonna try and kill you?" Chase asked lowly, his tone borderline dangerous and lacking what calm he always seemed to have- Aisha paused, stiffening slightly. Her eyes dropped from him as uncertainty flashed from her, and Chase's eyes narrowed further.

"... I don't know." She admitted. "... Edryd really wasn't the most confrontational person, but people change."

"I'm not about to let him touch you, you know." Chase told her steadily, she nodded a bit.

"I know." She murmured, her eyes falling closed as her hands met her hips. "... we should probably get going, we don't have a lot of time."

"Alright." He murmured, she turned from him and grabbed the door handle, twisting it a few times as he stood behind her in silence for a few seconds. "Aisha." He said after awhile,

"Hmm?"

"Thank you, for telling me." Chase murmured softly, she stiffened a little in surprise. "I know you're not good at talking about things like this, so thank you for trusting me."

She grumbled a bit in reply, but not actual words. Chase smiled, a bit sadly.

"I'm sorry about Ranath." He said softly, "... But I'm glad he saved you, if he hadn't- I'd have never met you." Aisha blinked, a faint blush washing across her face as Chase felt the nervousness spark from her. He stepped closer leaning in a bit and drawing up with his face next to hers from behind, humming lightly as he smiled a bit more. "And where would I be without you, My Lady?" he asked, tone light and slightly teasing- before he pushed a bit closer and landed a small, gentle little kiss on her cheek.

Aisha sucked in a startled breath of air, her face turning bright red and eyes glittering like mad as Chase chuckled, stepping up a bit to be at her shoulder instead of behind her. Aisha's head snapped around toward him, scowling and flustered as all hell as her hand shot forward-

SMACK

He winced, still chuckling despite the sudden slap of her hand against his arm- leaving quite the red mark across his skin, and she huffed hotly.

"Do not do that out of nowhere!" She snapped hotly, he hummed.

"Ah, but you didn't mind the other day-" He murmured lightly, she shook her head at him.

"We're working, you idiot!"

---

The streets of Coriisette's Lower Warrens were packed, cobbled streets filled with people in plain clothes and all wearing Dyann's of tan, green, orange or yellow. The afternoon light glittered from the few simple metal bands they wore on their arms and the piercings in their ears, their skin painted across by tattoos in varying hues and designs. They were not wearing anything fancy or expensive, but the colors and the threaded designs into their clothes were hand-stitched, and in their own way, rich. Either side of the street were packed with buildings and houses, banners and flags strung between the buildings, chalk painted and drawn across the ground by children- the street opening wide in front of them in a square that was wider than the Guild Hall thrice over in diameter.

All along the sides and in a maze-like pattern there were shops and tents filled with food, supplies, jewelry, Magical tools, metal-ware... merchandise of all kinds and shapes and sizes and caliber. People filled near every stand, shopping, talking, browsing- there was laughter and smiling faces, words shared between friends, haggling- from what they heard and saw it seemed that everyone knew everyone. Familiarity and comfort ran among everyone, small bits of discord and heated tempers where bargaining for a better price- calm and serene where tables had been set up and some were playing quiet, thoughtful games. Mothers talked amongst each other as their children bumbled around with each other, some of them chasing, others drawing with the chalk.

Those bright glass orbs they had first seen in Banore were persistent even here- floating overhead and lined up along the banners and the lines of flags, giving off their strange glow that was ethereal, the sunlight breaking as they hit the surface and sending color everywhere. Had it been dark those Salmellion would have lit up and been dazzling, like stars of strange colors all around.

It was so full of life and movement and noise- even the silent, leering, watchful figures of men lined up around the perimeters here in there in dark clothes and hoods didn't seem to make a dent- but they did earn wary, distrustful glances from the people all around.

Kullui

And then dotted here and there carrying supplies, bags, and other such manual labor were those dressed in nothing but white- eyes cast down, silent and obedient as the status of the Barren dictated.

Freed, Evergreen and Bixlow drew up slightly at the edge of the market- the 'Neiqe', as Aisha had called it. They were at the spillout of a sidestreet little more than five feet wide across, the strange door in a boulder Aisha had put them through had dumped them there- stepping from the wall where the stone had the faint, faded line of a doorway painted on it. But that was it, it looked nothing like an entrance and it wasn't conspicuous in the slightest, and they could see no way to open it nor get through it now- it was just... wall.

They immediately took note of the Kullui standing by in silence as their eyes passed over the scene before them in wonder and slight awe, and they cast glanced between one another, sweatdropping.

"... There are only a few Kullui here, they seem nothing more than security." Freed mumbled softly, Evergreen and Bixlow nodded. "... let's start moving through the square, keep our ears open and see if we can find any of that 'chatter' that might be worthwhile. Perhaps we'll catch someone mentioning unusual activity."

"Right." Evergreen and Bixlow nodded stiffly,

"Stick close, Babies, and keep an eye out for useful stuff, yeah~?" Bixlow ordered of his Tiki Dolls, which circled in closer to their group as the Thunder Legion stepped out of the side street and into the crowd warily. People hardly cast them a second glance as they started forward, moving in between people and sticking close to one another as much they could- focus less on where they put their feet and more on the people, she shops... and their ears.

"... I've got fresh fruit..!"

"... Cure-All, cheapest in the Warren!"

"... looks like you pulled a few threads..."

"... The servals have been nicking more and more lately... where in the Gods is that hoard of theirs?"

"... How are you?"

Freed lead them forward, slow and careful not to run into anyone or anything in the constantly closing quarters as they moved further toward the center of the square.

"... oh... I'm... I'm sorry I'm a little short..."

"Hmm, don't worry about it- just promise you'll stitch up the next thing I inevitably put a hole through."

"Deal, thank you."

Freed stumbled to a halt as some creature suddenly darted over a stand and into the walkway in front of him, Evergreen and Bixlow running into him a bit as they watched a small, lean, cat-like creature scuttle away with a loaf of bread in it's mouth.

"That damn cat!" A man snapped hotly, having been attempting to chase it down- but soon giving up as other people around them sighed.

"... even the servals are going hungry..." Someone mumbled quietly,

"I think they've started stealing food to bring to the Barren." Someone else said quietly, earning a weary glance from their companion.

"Gods... but at least someone's looking after them..."

"Don't say that, where one piece of food gets stolen, someone else goes hungry."

"We're all hungry."

The further in they went, and the more they saw- that bright, happy place full of life suddenly grew a bit dimmer... the shine wore off and they started seeing the things that didn't bode well.

Everyone in that square was thin, lanky- many of them pale and quite a few of them clearly tired. What food they saw being sold was little, the shelves nearly bare and the owners themselves were sallow-faced and sullen. They saw people coming up short with money and being turned away, they heard people whisper small pleas for things they couldn't afford- and were rejected, and the rejection left them looking broken and afraid.

They passed by people sitting on the ground, clothes torn and tattered- thin and bony and with dead eyes... men and woman huddled in groups and holding their bodies, shaking and sickly, empty glass vials discarded around them. Saw the way passerby's looked at them in pity, distaste and worry all.

"... Gods... more and more people are getting addicted to the damned Cure-All..."

"... they're trying to get rid of the hunger pangs..."

"Everyone knows you take too much of it and you end up worse than before..."

"... I think the sellers have been watering it down, so it works less..."

"... I heard some of the got caught selling fake Cure-All... the withdrawal in their customers was bad..."

"... isn't that how Hene...?"

"Yes, her body couldn't take the backlash of no longer having it... poor girl..."

The Thunder Legion sweatdropped, their hearts twisting slightly as they picked up chatter both light, inconsequential- and then the words of worried, scared, angry people... people dying, people sick and families left to starve.

"... the Kullui nearly beat him to death..! He didn't even do anything..! They blamed him for something he didn't do..!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down Bealie...!"

"... tch... the Kullui are out of control..."

There was a sudden whistle that rang out around the space, the trio of Fairy Tailers moving among a small open space with tables and people mingling among them, talking- some hushed, others not. The Thunder Legion faltered slightly at the sound, immediately tense and looking for the source-

"Oi~! You there, the gorgeous one! Why don't you come sit down and talk with us awhile?"

They glanced left, paused now completely and catching the green (slightly blood-shot) eyes of a man sitting at a table with three other men, all of them wearing Dyann's of a pale green color crossed by darker markings. Said man who was calling their attention to him, and had been the one to whistle- smiled, his eyes glimmering as he saw the three of them and patted his hand against the table.

"Yeah~! Come here, let's chat a bit huh?" The Man smirked, Evergreen scowled, huffing.

"No thank you. Flattery will get you nowhere, by the way." She replied curtly, her hands on her hips and clearly miffed- the man blinked, his smile curling a bit more as the other three men at the table with him let out exasperated sighs.

"Heh, wasn't talking to you." The man told Evergreen with ease, his eyes flicking toward Freed instead as the green-haired man went stiff as a board in shock. "Yeah~! The handsome guy with the green hair, come here a minute~!" Bixlow coughed, desperately holding back a laugh as Evergreen blinked several times- and Freed turned bright red.

"I-I'm flattered, but I'm not.." Freed struggled to reply,

"Ignore him, he's drunk and an idiot." The man across from the cat-caller after Freed muttered, his jaw in his hand and tattoos etched into his skin under his eyes, and dark red hair. He shot the cat-caller a small, weary little stare as the other two men at the same table let out sighs. "-and also already Bonded with someone, might I add. I'm sure Vealon would love to hear you were whistling at another man, Mennid." Mennid looked away from Freed and to the man sitting opposite him, sighing as he shook his head at his friend.

"You take away all my fun~!" Mennid whined softly,

"No, I keep you from getting your ass handed to you."

"We're leaving." Evergreen growled, her hands clapping down on Freed's shoulders and whisking him around as she started to push him forward through the crowd and away from Mennid. Freed just staggered in front of her, walking but by no means aware of where she was pushing him toward- he was still sputtering and red-faced. Bixlow followed behind the both of them, laughing under his breath and taking everything he had in him not to bust out laughing like an idiot.

"I cannot believe the nerve...!" Evergreen hissed hotly, still pushing Freed ahead of her and unaware of the way in which Bixlow paused- the Seith Mage's eyes trailing sideways and failing to keep up with his compatriots for a few seconds.

"Cat-calling a complete stranger! How inappropriate!" Evergreen muttered hotly, steering Freed away from the tables and further toward an inactive fountain- the outside littered with people talking amongst themselves and split off slightly from the vendors. She finally halted Freed and let him go, her arms crossing over her chest indignantly, Freed cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly- finally gaining some semblance of wit back and trying to calm down again.

"... Someone... ahem... 'Bonded' to someone else..." Freed mumbled, "... I must assume that's the equivalent of... Marriage..." He added softly,

"That makes it worse!" Evergreen hissed.

"... Yes..." Freed mumbled, sweatdropping as his hand fell over his mouth and he grumbled. His eyes moved up, passing over Evergreen and finding the empty space that Bixlow should have been in. "... Where is Bixlow?" Freed murmured quickly, Evergreen stiffened.

"... That idiot...!" She hissed, her eyes flashing. "I cannot believe he wandered off...!"

"Or perhaps he simply lost us...?" Freed murmured aloud,

"Hey, gimme a break- I didn't go anywhere."

Freed and Evergreen jumped, whipping around at the familiar voice and finding a smirking Bixlow behind him. He stuck his tongue out in his usual manner, still smiling as he tilted his head left a bit.

"I did overhear a few guys talking about some of the Kullui gathering all over the Warren and setting up black Salmellions since this mornin', though~" Bixlow smirked, "And weird as it sounds- there's this soul hanging around us and I think it wants us to follow~!"

Evergreen and Freed blinked, sweatdropping a bit.

"Soul...?" They mumbled in unison, Bixlow smirked.

"Yea, I told ya this place is packed with 'um." Bixlow replied, his Tiki Dolls circled over his head, echoing 'yeah'. "And this one's not just floating around all boring, it's jumping up and down- I think it wants us to come with." Bixlow hummed, "Never had a soul looking to mess around with the living before, the ones in Adgnei are super weird~!"

Evergreen and Freed cast quick glances between them, they knew Bixlow's Magic and they knew how it worked- mostly. They knew that the man could see things other people couldn't, the Spirits of those who'd passed among them- but Souls and Spirits had never been interchangeable with him. They were two different things, the latter of which being what he saw more than anything- Spirits, a lasting imprint or being created of memory. But that was just it, it was a memory image and not really much the person it was supposed to represent... But Souls?

Souls were rare, they never stayed among the living unless something odd was going on, they were supposed to leave the land of the living and go... Somewhere- and they certainly didn't interact with humans, no. And Souls, as Bixlow had explained- Souls were... Well, like the real deal. The real, lasting, actual thing left behind of someone who died- them, not just an image.

So for Bixlow to say there was a soul trying to get his attention... That was weird. Like really weird.

Adgnei was proving a foe, enigma and mystery in all

And what was that, about black Salmellion? Of all the ones they'd seen today and could see over their heads, and all the colors- black was not one of them.

So was that it? That small piece, that one thing among all the chatter that would lead them somewhere? Closer and closer to some sort of answer or explanation of what was going on and why Frea was Prisoner?

Aisha had suggested they look into what the Kullui were doing... And this was something.

"Alright." Freed murmured,

"Lead on." Evergreen told Bixlow quietly, the Seith Mage nodded.

"Yep~"

---

They set to work gathering intelligence and listening for useful information right off the bat- the both of Chase and Aisha by now well versed at stepping into the role of spy and Information gathering from their numerous missions that required just that. (Missions on the behest of Master Makarov mostly, especially regarding Ivan...)

Aisha had always been good at getting answers to her inquiries, and she knew where to look and where to listen better than anyone. She knew how to act and where to put pressure on- how to set up a face and a pretense for other people that hid her true intentions, or otherwise made sure to have the right demeanor in a certain situation. Whether that meant indifference or calm in a risky situation, or harshness on someone weak-willed or scheming- you name it. She always had a good handle on everything and she got the job done- Therigist had taught her, and he was the best of the best in the underworld and all things needing a more subtle, tempered, clever approach. He needed to be the best, to navigate Adgnei and it's politics and dangers- as well as stay at the top of a powerful line of Black Market hierarchy, and maintain a Theives Guild that could steal just about everything.

And in their time working together, Chase had learned to do what she did with surprising ease. He was already calm and cool under pressure naturally, and that worked well with the high-stakes, sensitive missions they took to gather info and track down targets. He followed Aisha's leave with ease and they understood one another well enough to guess and know what the other was thinking and planning without actually saying anything between them. And through working with her, he'd learned what to listen for and even what sort of Energy to keep an eye out for and what could be useful at a certain time.

And the two of them working together?

They were damn efficient, and good too.

As Aisha expected- there was no time between stepping out into the cobbled roads and large, clean houses of stone and mortar work decorated in paint and metal, Salmellion strung in near lines along the sides of the street and planters filled with foliage and trees of hues not green. She strode up through the street in her bare feet with the utmost posture and calm, aware of the looks she earned from the people on the street and the murmurs that spread like wildfire.

They all knew who Aisha was, everything single one of them. It wasn't even the telltale purple Dyann amidst a sea of blue- they recognized that silver hair and purple gaze, the tattoos and the neutral face of Adgnei's Cosmic Soul.

The people of Adgnei's Middle Caste averted their eyes from Aisha and avoided looking at her directly or openly- but they looked, they had to, they couldn't help it. Lady Celene had been gone and abandoned Adgnei for a number of years now after a mess of trouble with not one Vaide, but two. That same trouble that had ended the life of her Ilaen and now she had another walking at her side- a stranger and not a native member of Adgnei.

Aisha didn't pause, she ignored the curious and distasteful looks she received and she started right to work. She moved around the maze of buildings and people with ease, pulling aside a few and exchanging hushed words with them- all of them on the fence in the coming conflict and those she trusted not to double-cross her. She shot dangerous looks toward the people who glowered at her and whispered behind her back, and sent them scuttling away with a look that was enough to stop a man's heart.

In little time at all she had the names and locations of the make-shift militia set up in the Middle Caste and a few partnered down in the Warrens. She had the names and numbers of the weapons being stashed and collected, supplies and medical tools... then more story and event surrounding the Kullui and their sudden lack of unbiased activity.

Half an hour into the hour they were awarded, and Aisha had a list of half a dozen people who had been moved from their homes and Families into the Palace at the behest of Lord Edryd Tuvral. People who left, and no news nor rumor ran rampant with their departure because they'd been asked to serve the God-King and serve as workers in the Palace- a usual rotation of services that would never make any bat an eye- especially not when they all went willingly.

Only that in the mix of half a dozen people, three of them were Artificers and Smiths of some caliber- and you needn't people with skills like that to do general maintenance in the Staff. More had been called up to Adgnei in the last few days- but they were less important... cooks and cleaners and Barren- all going into Okeal with supplies like food, cloth, metalware and not really anything Magical. At first glance it almost seemed like Okeal was to be seeing some sort of Celebration soon... but underneath that there were whispers of more Magically inclined objects being brought into Okeal. Specifically, Metal specially made and forged to stay strong against both physical and Magical Force, the sort of metal one would use to create Magic Tools- or Magical Restraints, Collars... a small little hint to something more trained to keep custody of a very capable Wizard Saint and less a party.

"There have also been a number of Keistae and Botanists circling in and out of Okeal for a few weeks now... and a lot of Herbs and Plants being relocated and replaced. Apparently the Royal Gardens have some sort of disease... or maybe they're all getting used up, I can't tell you for sure. The only reason I'm privy to that is because Lord Givinna requested for more seeds from me... but I'm sorry Lady Celene, any news coming out of Okeal hasn't been easy to come by... Lord Tuvral has been being very thorough..."

The continual gathering of information and the exchanging conversations between the few trusted enough, came to a pause as Aisha pulled him aside for a moment and down an alley at the behest of the small, subtle wave of a hand from a thin, green-haired young man dressed in all white and his eyes cast to the ground nervously- only breaking up from the ground as Aisha and Chase drew closer. At the Barren's side was a wolf, in it's mouth a letter and it's yellow eyes fixed on the Fairy Tailers, quiet.

Aisha took the letter from the wolf and it dipped it's head to her, the Barren man following the creature away as they rounded a corner and disappeared from sight altogether.

Aisha drew her hand along the seal and broke it with Magic, her eyes scanning the words quickly and Chase standing by in silence, waiting to hear what she had to say.

"... Frea's woken up. Seyre says she's still sick, and the Collar is activating a lot more frequently than Talarr means for it to... but she's alive, and currently they're allowing her to move around Okeal. She can't get out, and if she retaliates they'll apprehend her, but Seyre told her we are here and that she needs to be patient." Aisha murmured softly, Chase blinked and nodded slowly in understanding. "She hasn't managed to get any answers out of Talarr about what is going on, though she thinks he's on the fence about staying loyal to the God-King and going against tradition and better sense... maybe Frea will be able to get him to talk. Seyre says he seems genuinely interested in her and worried about what's being done to her, and what's planned." Chase's eyes narrowed slightly,

"He's the King's Ilaen right? Isn't his loyalty supposed to be unshakable?" Chase murmured,

"... from what Seyre's described Talarr as, he's not the most sturdy of personalities. He's an Ilaen, and though that title is usually placed with people who can fight and are in their own rights- warriors, Talarr isn't that. He's smart as hell, he's more a scholar than a warrior... and it seems his conscience is being tested. Seyre doesn't think he was very happy about creating a Forbidden Tool to start with, and since then and seeing how it's affecting Frea- he's losing his conviction little by little. Which would make sense, Seyre also describes him as a Traditionalist, as well as not being by any means 'confrontational'. He'd see Frea as a higher Authority than he is, since she's been named an Energess- and everything about Adgnei tells him he should respect her, help her in any way he can, follow orders even, and by no means harm her... only that's exactly what he's being ordered to do."

"So the God-King is ordering him to go against everything he's learned." Chase mumbled, Aisha nodded.

"And if he's already questioning what's going on, even silently- he might find it in him to stop listening." Aisha murmured, "He knows why Frea's been taken, and what's being planned. Edryd made that clear, and that Talarr isn't supposed to say a thing. But maybe even a threat from him won't be enough to counter his morals... if he flips, his help could be valuable... he might even be able to contend with the Barriers, he helped maintain and modify them, among other things..."

"And the Collar?" Chase murmured,

"He made it, but he also admitted there is only one Key that can release it." Aisha grumbled, "And unfortunately, Drennios has it." Chase sweatdropped,

"Do you think Talarr will betray his God, and King?" Chase asked softly, it was Aisha's turn to sweatdrop, uncertainty passing across her face.

"... tch... I don't know. It'd be easier to guess, but I don't know a damn thing about him, only what Seyre's been mentioning." Aisha grumbled, her eyes dropping closed as she crossed her arms about her chest, pausing. "... Frea has got a knack for picking apart people's feelings at the best of times though, so she might break him... she wants to know why she's here more than anyone else, and she's stubborn as hell." Chase smiled slightly at that,

"She'll figure something out." He mumbled, his eyes flashing. "... but I hope it's soon, I have a bad feeling about all of this, and it's getting worse as time drags on..." He admitted quietly, Aisha nodded stiffly.

"Aisha, I have an inquiry." Freed's voice suddenly broke into their thoughts, pausing their conversation and snapping both Aisha and Chase into attention.

"What?" Aisha murmured,

"The Salmellion. I understand you said they are not inherently Magical, and more Traditional Placeholders than anything. They are apart of the culture here, yes? If that were the case, then would it not fall on the Keistae to look after them, and place them in a space?" Freed asked, Aisha blinked at the rather odd 'inquiry'.

"Yes, Keistae look after them and repair ones that are damaged, as well as add new ones- though not regularly." Aisha mumbled, "Anyone in Adgnei can move them and look after them if they see fit to do so, but they are mostly left alone by everyone but the Keistae. Why are you asking?"

"Have you ever seen a black Salmellion before?" Evergreen asked next, Aisha blinked.

"Black...?" She mumbled, Chase's head tilted. "... black... no, what is going on?"

"I dunno but it's givin' me the creeps. The Magic here doesn't feel right." Bixlow grumbled, "Those Kullui dudes are setting up a bunch of Black Salmellion all over the Lower Warrens, and their dumpin' a whole bunch of them around these weird, old ruins built in with the city... gateway-looking things."

"The gateways look as if they were already there, but the Salmellions are new." Freed elaborated, Aisha's eyes narrowed.

"There are several old ruins and structures dotted around Adgnei. What was left standing after age or destruction or whatever were left as they were and Adgnei built back up around them... those Gateways you're talking about are all over Coriisette. But they've been looked into a researched, they're just stone- there's nothing Magical about them." Aisha grumbled, "And the Salmellions are supposed to be the same- they aren't objects for some Magical Tool, they're not meant to be like that... but you can feel Magic coming from them?"

"Bixlow can, though neither Evergreen nor I feel anything inherently Magical." Freed murmured, "However I will admit there is some... unsettling feeling around here I can't quite grasp."

"You remember how I said there was a city on top of city of Souls and Spirits around here? Like everywhere I've been looking I see one, they are everywhere around here." Bixlow asked, "And remember how they're all really in to those Salmellion things? Crowding around them and giving off so much energy that they make them glow and float like they do?"

"Yes..." Aisha murmured slowly,

"Well wherever they're putting up the black ones, all of those Souls and Spirits are avoiding getting near them at all costs." Bixlow mumbled, "There's like a hundred foot radius around these things that's completely empty. I couldn't go three feet a little further up the street and not see a dozen of 'um, but around the new Salmellions? Nothing. They're not coming near and the ones that get too close just freakin' disappear."

"What does that mean?" Aisha asked lowly,

"Couldn't tell ya Boss, but what I can say- this isn't right. Whatever the Kullui are doing, setting these things up- it ain't gonna be good." Bixlow replied lowly, Chase and Aisha both sweatdropped at that.

"... Aisha, we've also started hearing people talk about the Kullui lining up on the borders of the city and the Lower Warrens." Evergreen added lowly, "They aren't doing anything, but what I'm hearing- it sounds like they're starting to slowly box the Lower Warrens in, bit by bit, and they're gonna start making people real nervous soon."

"And there have been a number of small scuffles around here as we've been moving further in. People are being arrested and some of them are fighting back, and there doesn't seem much cause for any of it- they are all slowly starting to act out, and question it." Freed muttered, "We've avoided the conflict where we can, and we've been careful not to draw attention to ourselves with anyone, and least of all the Kullui."

"Have you two found anything out on your end?" Evergreen asked,

"We've tracked down weapons stashes and warehouses for the make-shift militia. There's been a few people called up into Okeal lately and they seem mostly the sort for some sort of gathering or celebration- which is backed up by what the bulk of the supplies being taken there are. It seems odd there would be a celebration going on, but even then anything is possible." Aisha murmured, "There's little things about metal that's used against Magic or otherwise for Magical Items, and something going on with the Royal Garden- but Edryd's been careful not to let anything fall into hands that would let the information slip. All the allies I have in the Middle Caste have been effectivly cut off, but we'll keep prodding."

"You hear anything about Frea?" Bixlow asked,

"Seyre sent me another letter. She's awake, but still sick- they've not chained her up and are letting her walk around Okeal, though there's not a chance in hell she'll get out on her own." Aisha murmured, "Seyre thinks that Talarr is losing his conviction to follow orders, since he's seeing what Edryd did to her, and what that Collar is doing too. There is a chance he might decide to disobey the God-King, and if he does- his help would come in handy, but we can't rely on him turning on Drennios. And there is only one key to release the Collar on Frea, and Drennios has it- that's an issue we'll have to address when we get into Okeal."

"Right."

"For now keep listening, see if you can catch anything else that might be useful- and keep a wary eye on those black Salmellion, and the Kullui's movements. Evergreen is right, if the Kullui are closing around the Warrens, people are going to get nervous and soon enough it'll be more than a few small scuffles here and there- you three stay out of conflict at all costs. We can use a few Skeleton Keys to release a Collar if you have one put on you, but getting away from the Kullui in the first place will be difficult. Be careful, and stay alert- one of Therigist's people will find you when the hour is up." Aisha ordered lowly,

"What are you two going to do?" Evergreen asked,

"We'll head to some of the Gateway Ruins here in the Middle Caste, and see if the Kullui are setting up more of those black Salmellion. If they are, maybe Chase or I can piece together more about what they are and what they're being used for-" Aisha murmured,

"If Bixlow is the only one really feeling any sort of Magic from them, then it might be a good idea to see if Jynx has an opinion. Her Magic and his are pretty similar." Chase told her quietly, making her pause for half a second.

"... Are you sure she can even enter Coriisette?" Aisha mumbled, Chase shrugged.

"Dunno. If she's being blocked off, she couldn't tell us while we're here. You'll have to contact the Guild and see if they've seen her." Chase replied, Aisha sighed but nodded anyway.

"Fine, I'll talk to the Guild in a bit. See if Jynx is around... the should have said something about Moon by now, so I can check in on that end too." She mumbled, "Anyway, outside of that- we'll see if the Kullui are doing the same thing with the Salmellion here. After that we'll head up to Kelen and see if we can't earn something from Corielain, though I doubt they'll be anymore inclined to talk to me now than they were before... and Edryd might be there too."

"That sounds risky, what if they attempt to detain you for your connection with Fairy Tail?" Freed asked, "It was Corielain who set the order for Edryd to capture Frea in the first place, right? If they think you're meddling in their affairs, they may not take kindly to it."

"More so if Edryd is there waiting for you." Chase mumbled lowly, Aisha shot him a look. "As it is the hour is almost up, if we go to Kelen and start something they could hold us there, and then we wouldn't get back in touch with Therigist or anyone else. They might even try and tail us back to Banore to dismantle what we're trying to do." He sighed a little, "You already doubt they'll talk to you, and even if there is a small chance we learn something... it probably won't be big enough to risk walking into a estate full of Nobles out for your head, least of all if any of the Vaide are there waiting for you."

"And confronting them head on might stir them into action faster, closing what small window we may have to even get to Frea." Freed cut in softly, "If you were to butt heads with them now, that upset may push them to rush ahead, and act rashly."

Aisha fell quiet for a few long moments, her arms crossed over her chest and eyes closed as she fell into thought... weighing her options and going over what they knew, and didn't- and what could be done now. Because they made valid points, and Chase was right (though he didn't say it as plainly), Aisha already had doubts confronting Corielain was the right move... but it was a move, and she had little else she could turn to do...

"... hmm... let me square away what's going on with Moon, and Jynx... and we'll go to the Gateway Ruins. After those I'll decide what we do next... and if I really want to risk something, or..." Aisha mumbled, letting out a slightly annoyed breath. "... I'll ask Seyre to keep prodding for info on the tower, and what's going on with the Salmellion if she can... and I'll have her ask Frea to try and get Talarr to see reason, and explain what's going on. We'll have to hope Frea can piece together things from the inside, even if we can't... having any information about what's going on inside the Barriers is valuable, even if it's little."

"We didn't ask before, but Chase- can you search out any sort of Energy Signatures or Magic from inside Okeal?" Evergreen murmured, "I assume that was one of the first things you tried once you and Aisha got a bit closer to Okeal?"

"Yeah, and that whole place is like a deadzone for me, even with Energy Sense." Chase mumbled, sweatdropping a bit. "I can feel the Magic from the Barriers themselves, though the Magic is a bit distorted and unfamiliar to me- but that's it. In terms of Energy, I can't feel anything inside the confines of the Barriers, not Magic nor people, or even just the Energy of the Land. It's kinda like it's empty in there, though that's definitely not how it actually is... and with that I can't feel Teach, or anyone else... and I can't feel anything from that Tower either."

"Bummer." Bixlow grumbled,

"They must have used the same Magic on the 'Cloak' that Edryd had with him and on his Sword, on the Barriers themselves." Freed mused, "... they seem well prepared to contend with the abilities of Energy Mages..."

"They'd have to be, to keep Frea locked up." Evergreen grumbled,

"I'm going to contact the Guild, you three stay alert... we have about twenty minutes left of the hour." Aisha ordered,

"Yes ma'am."

Aisha brought her hand up and waved it over her arm, the brand from the Chatterbox glowing across her skin as she shifted a bit- that same hand moving as a piece of paper appeared in air before her and letters began to glow across the face as she quickly addressed another note that she sent to Seyre a few moments later, but not before she was already calling attention of the Guild.

"Cana, did the Altered Cure-All have any effect on Moon?" Aisha asked allowed, her eyes trailing across what was being written as she waited for an answer, multitasking.

"Her fever's gone down a bit and she's not as out of it as she was, but she's not woken up yet." Cana replied soon after, "Porlyusica's been tinkering or something with a bit of the Cure-All itself, trying to pick apart what's in it and how to alter it a bit more I think... and Levy took a crack at that book ya sent over."

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't really do anything with it..." Levy's voice cut in apologetically,

"Yeah, and Master's not had any better luck. Not a surprise, since Moon's really the only one who knows anything about those Runes..." Cana sighed, Aisha bit the inside of her cheek, her eyes narrowing a bit in thought.

"... don't worry about the book." She grumbled, "Has Jynx been at the Guild today? We wanted her opinion on a Magic here that Bixlow's picking up, but I doubt she's able to get passed Coriisette's Borders even with her Teleportation Magic."

"Ah, no- nobody's seen her. And we don't really know how to get ahold of her either, she kinda just comes when called right?" Cana replied,

"Usually." Chase mumbled, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Oi! Have you guys figured out how to get to Frea yet?!" Natsu' very loud voice broke in out of nowhere and Aisha scowled,

"That Seyre chick said anythin' else about Silver?" Gajeel butted in too,

"Have you found any leads as to what Project she was brought to help with?" Erza asked, more quietly and calmly than everyone else- but no less tense.

"We're still collecting information and piecing it together." Aisha replied lowly, "Be patient, and stop shouting through the Box, Salamander."

"You've been there for hours now, you tellin' us you don't have anything?" Gajeel growled, a vein ticked on Aisha's forehead.

"Frea is fine. She's in no immediate danger, she's in Okeal but she's not in a cell, she's not confined to a room- she can't leave Okeal, but she's allowed to walk through it at her own convenience." Aisha replied lowly, "We are doing everything we can and covering all bases, we have to do this right and be smart about it. Got it?"

"... we understand."

"Hmph."

"So she's under house arrest, huh...?"

"It puts us a bit more at ease, knowing Frea's not being harmed at the moment."

Aisha stiffened at that last comment without meaning to, and Chase did too- because that wasn't true... that Collar around her neck was doing harm, but the Guild wasn't aware.

They can't know

Aisha's eyes found Chase's, her head tilting toward the end of the alley they were still tucked away in- and he nodded.

"Keep away from making too much noise through the Box, but tell me if Moon wakes up, or if Jynx decided to join." Aisha ordered lowly, her steps moving her toward the street again as Chase followed her. "Seyre will keep me informed, and Frea too. I'll contact you again when we have more."

"Got it." Cana replied,

"Be safe, Brats." Master grumbled.

They said nothing more as Chase and Aisha moved through the nearly empty streets and further in toward the edge of the Middle Caste that bordered the Lower Warrens. They avoided the bulk of the people in the streets, marching forward and averting any lengthy amount of time in the view of the Kullui.

Ten minutes of walking and watching, they slowed- drawing up and halting, cautious and alert as they found the old, cracked stone of an archway in the middle of a square... and the battalion of silent, face-less, hooded figures of the Kullui shuffling about and leaving deep, ebony black orbs of glass in their quake that seemed to glow with some unnatural, fractured light. The light of the sun itself as it started to slowly sink even seemed to get swallowed up and eaten by the inky black Salmellion, and both Fairy Tailers watched from the shadow of a building, silent, tense.

Chase sweatdropped, his eyes narrowed to slits and shivers running up his spine as he felt... something, something faint and dark and cold- and yet familiar in a way that was chilling. It wasn't strong, it was so faint he had a hard time picking up on it at all- let alone picking apart the specifics... but more than anything, something about those Salmellion did set him on edge. The bad feeling that had formed itself into a persistent lump in his core got a bit heavier, and he wasn't sure why- but Bixlow was right.

This isn't good... whatever it is...

A quick glance toward Aisha told him that she felt it too, maybe not in the same way- but she knew bad things when she saw them. And more than that, she hated that she didn't know why-

"Tch..." She hissed lowly, her eyes flashing. "... this isn't right..."

"I don't know what Magic this is, but it's Dark... and it is nothing like the rest of the Salmellion. They're completely different from the normal ones..." Chase told her softly, his eyes darted away from her though and up the street behind them a bit, intent. "... there's about two dozen people headed this way, their Energy Signatures feel like the Kullui Dolls..." He told her quickly, she nodded.

"Come on." She ordered softly, the both of them breaking away from the square and the Kullui setting loose the black Salmellion- Aisha lead them both around a corner and into an open doorway, they both stopped against one wall, the room they were in empty and quiet. Aisha drew her hand in air before her, paper appearing again and words sprawling across the face as she quickly wrote it with her Magic.

'The Kullui have begun placing black Salmellion around Gateway Ruins in the Lower Warrens and the Middle Caste bordering that section of the city. They have a different Magic placed on them than the regular Salmellion, they may be connected to some Magical Weapon. See if you can snatch one, we may need to test it.'

With another wave of her hand, the paper rolled up ad disappeared to it's intended recipient- Therigist.

"What do you want to do now?" Chase asked quietly,

"We'll head back to Banore. If Moon doesn't wake up soon, I'll try contacting that Saint Balthan about reading the Tome Therigist gave us... in the meantime we need to focus on what the Kullui are doing, and prepare for an attack." Aisha muttered lowly, sweatdropping slightly. "If they continue to band together and place themselves around the borders of the city, then they must be trying to box everyone in... and that's not really a sign for anything other than trapping us here. We already knew the God-King might try and crush rebellion on the Lower Caste, this might be it." Chase nodded stiffly, and Aisha growled.

"... we focus on that, and hope Frea and Seyre find more answers on what is going on in Okeal... tch... this is not good." Aisha muttered lowly,

"-Aisha, we think there may be a problem..!" Freed's voice broke into their thoughts next, urgently and they stiffened.

"What?"

"I think we're being followed." Freed replied quickly, "There was a blockade of Kullui and we backtracked, but they seem to be searching for someone... and I think they may be looking for us."

"Yeah and there's this guy ordering them around too, and he does not look friendly." Bixlow mumbled,

"We can find a place to hide-" Evergreen muttered, but Aisha cut her off.

"Who is heading the Kullui?" She asked quickly, "Activate the Image-Sight link, now!"

"Johle."

Aisha and Chase stood in utter stillness as their sight got washed across by dirty, packed streets and the image of ranks of Kullui stalking through the crowd and moving in and out of homes, searching, hunting... all the way at the end of the street from where the Thunder Legion was standing, peering around a corner.

A tall, bulky man with deep russet hair and tattoos drawn across his skin and over his lips in thin lines was ordering the Kullui this way and that, his green gaze searching the streets and piercing- a deep purple Dyann flecked across by black wrapped around his waist, his fingers covered in rings and blades tucked into straps along his arms.

Chase flinched a little when he felt the panic rise from Aisha and ram into him in the next second, his heart sinking just as hers did when the eyes of that man swept across the street- and locked with Freed's, and subsequently- all of them watching the same thing.

"Run, now!" Aisha snapped quickly, "Do not try and hide and do not try and fight back, get away from him and away from the Kullui! They are hunting you, and you will not be taken prisoner- that is Nirav! He is a Vaide and he will kill you!"

Chase sucked in a sharp breath of air, his ears ringing with the name and instantly understanding why she was so panicked- that man had killed Ranath, and now he-

Shit!

The Image before their eyes faded entirely and Aisha was pale, her eyes glittering like mad and trembling as both she and Chase tensed, ready to rush out, and spring into action- any action.

"Run!"

---

Thank you for reading, and your phenomenal patience! QwQ

I know I haven't updated in soooo long! w I hope the long Chapter makes up for it, and the next installation should not be too far behind!

I appreciate every one of you lovely readers and thank you for sticking with me! Thank you all so much

I think I might have said this in the last few chapters? But the Adgnei Arc picks up significantly from here. Promise

There was just a lot more world-building and setup I needed to do and hadn't realized! Apologies for that, but the climax of the conflict with Drennios and Frea starts next chapter for sure!

Please, Vote and Comment if ya can! Thank you~!