Fandom Final Fantasy: The Age of Ophiuchus [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

‘Shiva will say something.’ Although in truth, Zariel didn’t know if Phoenix could persuade her to say more. She hoped that Shiva would see reason when Phoenix manifested, when she could see the evidence for herself of what became of Phoenix. Certainly, she would worry about her own future. Possibly Lixue’s, Zariel did like to think the bonds weren’t entirely one-sided. That remained to be seen.

“They won’t be long,” Zariel sighed, weight shifting, “Once Oleander hears….” She ought to write a letter herself, but she wasn’t sure if word would travel quicker by rumor or not. He might already be on his way. ‘Wouldn’t hurt.’ She’d send a moogle soon, at least then he’d know she hadn’t forgotten him, and that he wasn’t unwanted. Not that the latter would prevent him from storming Ucantis to see her.

At least she could always count on that.

Assuming he knew she was in Ucantis and didn’t go straight for Rozari. She sighed at the unspoken thought; she should have brought him with her. ‘But then this wouldn’t have happened.’ And Cleon might be dead. Oleander was not known for his restraint.

“Some,” she said, jumping to his query, “but I’m sure it’s not enough. How long until the transfusion is ready?” She wanted to get this over with, and then wait out Phoenix waking up, so they could figure out this crown that Leander had – if Lixue’s mother didn’t know where it was. Zariel had her doubts, but she was one of the people who knew Leander, and could at least indicate if she knew of it, and where it was.

It was better than nothing.

~***~

“Riiight,” Oleander let the word drag out as he agreed with Jagger about ‘Fuck Lixue’, which probably wasn’t necessary, Oleander got himself into this mess. If anything, Lixue’s treatments should have made this more difficult – and yet, there he was, fucking it all up by messing up the place. Jagger approached, and he was about to let her help, when another came in, interrupting, all ‘Mister Imperator’.

He couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh.

Mister Imperator.

He was pretty sure some of Lilia’s friends called him that. Not grown women.

Jagger playing along with only added to his humor, and he finally reached up and grasped the side of the counter, managing to pull himself up on his own, “I got it, I got it – yeah I can pay, ugh,” he rubbed his left arm, it had taken the brunt of the fall, somehow. The little one came up to him and grabbed his hand, which he didn’t refuse, “I probably just need a potion or somethin’,” he said, letting himself be pulled back along to the back.

Admittedly, he’d forgotten he wanted to go back there in the midst of all of this chaos he caused. The portly woman followed, “Don’t worry, we’ll get you all fixed up! Better than a potion! Your head will be all clear!”

“Not sure I want that,” he joked, glancing back for Jagger, but she didn’t seem to be coming, “Won’t be long!” he promised, assuming it really wouldn’t be, before he was pushed to the back and could see what was going on back there.

‘Oh. Oh right.’ The IDs.

He could see the setup. The printing presses, the outlines, the watermarks – yeah, this was the place.

The portly one managed to reach up and put two hands on his shoulders to push him down to sitting on a crate. He didn’t realize she flew. Didn’t realize she had wings, because they were gone before she came into sight. “Just one moment, going to get some things!” the little one said, scurrying off to go find a good poison to help them deal with him, since he expected healing.

“No, no, I’m fine,” Oleander said, starting to get back up, “Ya’ll aren’t, but I am. Hey, Jag—” he raised his voice, and was met with a faceful of acid from…from a bug butt? The little one was flying, and she had a bug butt? He wiped distractedly at his own face, more bewildered than hurt, “I drank way too much.”



Sandy had stepped forward, moving to where Jagger was as Oleander began to be escorted towards the back. “Now, you can wait for your friend outside, so we can avoid any more problems, hm?” She said, tone clipped, the haughtiness of a noble in place as she put a hand on Jagger’s back to turn her towards the door, and walk out with her.

No, not ideal, but it was better to separate them and handle them, and she’d have better luck if they weren’t together.

 

[Arcanist]

Lixue could barely maintain a sigh at the thought of Oleander’s return. He could imagine the chaos and foolhardiness Oleander would bring with him back to Ucantis once he heard of what happened. But he expected nothing less when it came to Ixion’s chosen. He was beginning to see a strange pattern with water signs. Scorpio was volatile, and from what he heard of Cleon, Cancer’s own emotions couldn’t be kept in check.

Those born under fire had competition, to be sure.

Thinking of the Zodiac’s chosen would wait. Topic changed to the transfusion, and Lixue was quick to get back on task. “Very soon. In fact, it’s about time I can return and check on how things are progressing. I should be quick in returning with the finished product.” Discreetly, of course. As much as he would like to limit him having to move around so much, it was imperative that he keep Zariel in the one place, and resting while Phoenix wasn’t using up her mana.

“I won’t be long, Zariel. I advise you get yourself comfortable in the meantime.” Lixue told her, before once again leaving in a haste. These things had to work. They still had much to discover of Zariel’s…dare he say, condition. Regardless of if it helped her or not, he would endeavour to find something that did work.

That’s why he was here. To find out worked.

Thankfully, taking mana from one of Ucantis’s mages wasn’t so much of an issue. Lixue assured the mage they would be compensated – money was always a prime motivator – and very few would say no to an Imperial’s ‘request’. He could easily wave off what the mana was being used for with those reasons alone.

It was quick, quite similar to a normal blood transfusion, and the process was streamlined by now that the process was simple. It was much like clockwork now, having taken it from creatures and mages within Amarum’s borders, and eventually transferring it into others. Filtering and refining it helped, and administrating it in smaller doses tended to but he imagined Phoenix would gobble it up once he awoke properly.

Lixue could adjust while prioritising Zariel’s safety. He was less foolhardy than he was left alone in a laboratory those years before.

Lixue would eventually return with what was needed to complete the transfusion. The equipment was mobile, easy for even someone like Lixue to move around without too much speculation. While setting up what they needed, including what seemed to be a contained tube as well as what seemed to be something similar to IV lines, he explained, “This operates rather similarly to a blood transfusion, surprisingly enough. Usually we can administer it in different ways in the lab, but we’re not quite blessed when it comes to our surroundings. The mana will come from this tube, transfer through the IV line, and into your bloodstream.”

“I’ll be here with you through the process, so if you feel any pain or discomfort, let me know. We’ve used these methods quite a few times to great success.” Lixue had to force himself to avoid calling this a ‘test’ or something else along those lines as something interesting to observe regarding Zariel’s circumstances. People never took well to being called experiments, subjects, or crudely as his colleagues often said, ‘little lab moogles’.

“We’ll get started as soon as you’re ready.”

~***~

Following Oleander into the back was a bad idea, she knew that. Though, that didn’t stop her from wanting to, even tempting herself forward before Sandy stopped that. Much like a disgruntled child, she groaned as Sandy pushed her towards the door, “Man, it wasn’t even me who broke all your shit!” She did try to look past Sandy as they walked, even believing she had heard Oleander calling for her.

Sandy kept pushing as if oblivious to Oleander’s shout. “Some fresh air will clear that head of yours. Gods know you need it,” she said, clear enough for Jagger to hear her displeasure at dealing with her.

Jagger scowled at the woman’s haughtiness before the cool night’s air hit her. The streets outside were quiet, though, she imagined that was because everyone was in the heart of Escander, drinking, gambling, fucking - really, what she and Oleander should have been doing with the rest of the city.

Jagger took in a mouthful of air, only serving to make her feel woozier before asking, “So, what, we just gonna stand around here and--” She turned, and the wind was forced out of her as she was forced to the ground. She barely had time to stop some manner of blade from ripping into her neck – only, she realised the reddened, insectoid blade burst through the underside of Sandy’s arm. Jagger had just enough strength in both hands to keep Sandy’s arm away, which by now had metamorphosed into something hard and almost insect-like.

“So this is the fight you put up, Aries? I’m disappointed,” Sandy sneered.

“Get the fuck off me!” Jagger snarled, her eyes scanning the red shelling around her face and fuelling her determination to push her off. She wriggled against Sandy’s grip, which only prompted Sandy to push harder towards her neck.

“You’ll forgive me for taking such an ample opportunity when you and Scorpio landed right on our doorstep,” Sandy continued, “you’ve both made it much easier after the chase your dear Aquarius gave us.”

Jagger’s eyes widened a little, struggling against Sandy’s group. She choked a, “You killed…?” No, not Lixue. Her. ‘Shiva.’ Something burned in Jagger’s veins. Maybe it was adrenaline or fight-or-flight, but she felt a sudden strength in her as she bucked her hips up, managing to catch her off-guard and throw her off her. She scrambled to her feet and to the door of the shop. She could have easily run down the street, but she knew she would never hear the end of it if she left Oleander behind.

From Oleander, a miracle if he survived on his own, and from his sister and the scientist.

Jagger slammed the door, trying to lock it. Sobriety hit hard, and yet, adrenaline and alcohol mixed so dangerously together that she couldn’t lock a door properly. She could hear the shouting from the other side, abandoning the door as Sandy did what she scolded her sister for, slamming the door open.

“Oleander!” Jagger shouted, rushing past shelves of trinkets on her way to the back. Running past one, she tipped one sideways to slow Sandy down. Gods, why didn’t she follow him into the back?!



Cindy gave a cackle at Oleander’s bewildered remark, two hands clamping down on his shoulders from behind to get him to sit, and stay sitting, once again. “Well, then aren’t you lucky to have us to take care of you?” She smiled, something more sinister edging on the corner of her lips. “You must be really feeling out of it right now.”

“Yeah, look at you!” Mindy told him, still floating in her wasp-like form. “You’re all over the place.” It was the most cheerful she sounded with Oleander and Jagger being in their shop. She brought out a small vial with a greenish liquid, popping the lid. “Don’t worry about your friend, you’ll get to see her real soon.” She found it hard to hold back a giggle, as did Cindy behind Oleander.

Then came the shouting, the bangs and crashes of shelves and what was once precious commodities.

Cindy huffed. “And she complains about us making such a ruckus…”

Mindy’s face soured to familiar pout. They had to make this quick. She looked to Cindy, and Cindy’s hand moved as if to pry open his mouth. “Open wide, Imperator!”

 

[Lucyfer]

‘From anyone else….’ Admittedly, even from Lixue, the order – even if not stated as such, just heavily implied – to stay still was grating. She wanted to go out from her room, even with the threat of possibly breathing fire no longer a hypothetical proposition. The people knew she was back. They saw Phoenix in the air over Ucantis. That she had yet to make an official appearance or announcement about Rozari was no doubt starting rumors.

Lixue’s activity would further some of them.

‘Rumors may be better than truth.’

Zariel would stay put. “I understand,” much as she loathed it. “I will remain here and try not to set the room ablaze.” What humor there might have been was too deadpanned to even be deadpan humor.

She might get used to her sudden lack of humor, as well. Everything still felt so off. ‘Give it time….’ This transfusion, then the crown…certainly, then, she’d reclaim some of the scraps of her humanity. Until then, she would just have to suffer herself. Ironic. Other people usually did the suffering.

And so she would wait when Lixue left, and try not to pace.

A pointless endeavor. She was pacing soon enough, frustrated with the environment, frustrated with her inability to leave it. Ucantis wasn’t Amarum, this wasn’t her true quarters, and the heat-warped floor stood out to spite her. She thought about moving a rug over it, tried that, but the rug placement looked ugly and somehow more out of place…so she moved that back to where it had been, managing so far not to catch anything on fire.

She sat.

She stared at the warped floor because it irritated her.

She ignored a sudden wave of exhaustion and nausea as her mana dipped, then got to her feet and took another ether. She was beginning to hate the taste of them.

By then, Lixue had returned, and she was more than ready to get this over with. She took a seat in the chair once more, and listened as he explained while setting up. “I’m ready, and I will,” she was lying a bit, she wouldn’t let Lixue know of any minor pains or discomforts. Possibly not even moderate ones, as she let the needle enter with all the IV hook-ups.

The needle still hurt. Not that she showed it. Or mentioned it.

Then there was that sickening feeling of something being pulled, even if in truth, mana was being pushed in. She grit her teeth against that, and tried not to clench her fists. Then it was just enduring the tediousness of it, and how long it took. “Is there anything I ought to know about what’s being said?”

Likely not. Not because she shouldn’t, but possibly because Lixue wasn’t paying any attention to the gossip while working. She would listen to whatever he had to offer, disregarding the spiking temperature until it felt like a headrush and she had to drop her head into her hand. The headache was also terrible, something she didn’t yet recognize for what it was, despite all of Leander’s memories. “Fuck.” She might be able to withstand these things, but that didn’t mean it felt good to burn from the inside. At least it wasn’t so hot it was melting the chair, or the IV lines.

Yet.

Her nails dug into her scalp as her eyes shut to regroup.

And then Phoenix opened his eyes and relaxed the grip, awakened by the sudden flux in the mana pool itself, and the immediate increase in so short a time. He lifted his head – well, Zariel’s head – as his hand lowered back to his lap to fix his gaze on the one nearby. ‘Lixue.’ Zariel’s memories said enough about him, enough for Phoenix not to worry about what was going on when he looked at the lines running into his arm.

“When this is over, I need to speak to Shiva.” The manner of speaking was different. There was a certain clipped nature of some consonants, but Phoenix didn’t bother to explain. It didn’t matter to him if Lixue recognized the shift or not; Shiva would.

And he relaxed the temperature. ‘Sleep.’ Zariel needed it, though he felt her mind struggling, furious with the sudden shift that had no warning. Another day, she might be successful in toppling him – unlikely in his mind – but she truly was too tired to pull off such a feat of mental fortitude that day.

~***~

“Get the fuck off me!”

Typical Escander commentary. Anissa might have ignored it in her pursuit of a hotel for the night, except for the sheer rage. This was something beyond the norm, and she could hear a struggle. So, taking a deep breath, she moved in that direction, only to pause when another voice spoke.

Calmer.

Deadlier.

“You’ll forgive me for taking such an ample opportunity when you and Scorpio landed right on our doorstep,” the stranger continued, “you’ve both made it much easier after the chase your dear Aquarius gave us.”

‘More…?’ Anissa’s mind swirled, before memory hit her about who Scorpio was. Everyone knew Scorpio – you weren’t the Empress’s brother without being famous. Someone was trying to kill him? And…someone else? ‘Aquarius….’ Either way, she understood one thing – a few of the Zodiacs were here, and someone was trying to kill them. She didn’t know about this threat, and felt a bit of fear grip her, before practicality returned.

Someone wasn’t expecting her.

And this could be a good way to get information from Scorpio about what the Empire was doing. He’d owe her, right? He didn’t need to know she was tied up in all of this. ‘Black wings surround me, Diablos give me strength, favor me in whatever is hunting those who bear the blessings of the Twelve.’

Anissa found the door slammed open by an…insectile thing? The creature was storming into a store, where she could hear the sounds of more fighting. ‘Now or never!’ She lifted her white chimes and called upon a great gust of wind, which manifested quite well, catching the woman who had just lifted off the ground to fly towards the back in it, and slamming her against a wall before a myriad of things crashed into her, crushing her against the wall.

Anissa could hear the frustration and she ran into the store and noted the way to the backroom.

She paused between it and the insect, holding out her chimes as a threat, “Why are you hunting Zodiacs?” Anissa asked, eyes a bit wild with her own adrenaline rush as she realized she was taking on something Not Human, and also something that thought they could kill the Imperator. The thought that she was in over her head was there, but there was no turning back now.

And she refused to show that as the tall woman climbed back to her feet, brushing off debris, and chuckling through her rage, “Well, well, well…Capricorn too.”

Anissa didn’t acknowledge.

~***~

Did Jagger hear him? No, based on her calling his name, he guessed not. She sounded panicky. He tried to get up again, and was again pushed down, before his head was pushed back and one of them was trying to get his mouth open. ‘Goddamnit.’ He couldn’t kick her. She was flying, and he couldn’t kick her from how he was sitting.

‘All right.’

He still had his hands, and he balled one into a fist and slammed it into the vial, breaking the poison against her hand and his, glass shards embedding in both. “Owww! Ruuuude!” she cried out as she flew back. “Fine, the hard way it is!”

“Yeah, no, fuck off.” Oleander moved to elbow the one behind him, but she moved back. He didn’t hear any steps, but her grip left him, and when he got up, he saw she was flying again, and Jagger had entered the area. “What the fuck did we drink?” He asked, gesturing out at both as if he was completely unbothered by them trying to kill him. Or perhaps he hadn’t really registered that part yet. It wouldn’t be the first time.

There was more crashing – quite a lot of crashing, and it seemed to momentarily bother the two flying women.

“What was that?” Cindy asked, the more worried one.

Mindy huffed, “Just Sandy making a mess,” she didn’t sound concerned, even if she knew in her heart it had to be more than that. Both Jagger and Oleander were here, Sandy wouldn’t make a mess on her own, she was too much of a priss for that.

“Whatever, you’re all under arrest by the Empire for this illegal ID business,” Oleander said.

Cindy and Mindy stared at him.

Mindy burst into laughter, and all but shrieked, “You can’t arrest us!”

“What? Just ‘cause you’re not human? Empire law applies to everyone.”

“Are you really this dumb?” Mindy asked, still howling, “We’re going to kill you!”

“I kind of figured you were trying. Not doing a very good job, and I’m drunk.”

Mindy’s laughter cut off abruptly, apparently taking offense, and she tilted her stinger towards him – and rapidly shot several stingers at him, dripping with poison. Oleander crossed his arms in front of his face and let the stingers hit.

His tattoos began to take on an eerie glow as they took in the poison, and tried to fight it. It’s not what they were made for, and Oleander had nothing like his sister’s immunity. He felt the poison, like the alcohol, but it made for a far deadlier concoction as lightning came spurting out of him, lashing out in all directions while the tattoos continued to glow.

At least it was definitely destroying the ID making machines.

 

[Arcanist]

• Notice Zari’s differing behaviour? More deadpan
• And the pain she encounters
• Gossip, but he probably knows little - mention of her return?

Zariel’s behaviour had preoccupied much of Lixue’s thoughts. He wondered if he had ever been like that when he awoke from his cold stasis; deadpan, distant. There was little he could compare between the two. His Empress had died and risen from the dead, whereas he had only brushed the boundary before Shiva intervened. Even as he continued with the transfusion, it was something that niggled at him during the process.

Pride was something Zariel held in abundance and one such thing that she wouldn’t forsake to tell Lixue simple and honest truths. This type of transfusion was never meant to be easy despite its refinement over time, but there were ways to manage any niggling pains in between. He wouldn’t bother her by asking about any, for she would only dismiss them.

Instead, she asked of any worthwhile chat and gossip concerning her. Lixue raised his eyes to her, pausing before answering. “I did happen to hear of that soldier you sent to the infirmary. His injuries are rather severe,” he said, his expression impassive as he kept an eye on things, “no thanks to melted armour fusing with him. I can imagine people are speculating how it happened with where he was stationed, and with your timely arrival.”

Yet something else that they would have to weave a tale around.

“To think you can barely contain that power in you…” No wonder Leander had dominated two nations before his death. He thought to muse more on the phenomenon, but Lixue the sudden drop of Zariel’s head and her hissing curse. “Zariel?” He hardly needed to touch her arm to feel the heat rising from her – not enough to cause the damage it had to the floor, but he wondered how long it would be before that happened again.

Had he given her too much? Too little? Even as he checked that nothing was out of place, that gods forbid, he had done something wrong, he urged, “Zariel. Speak to me.” There was no answer, not even as her head lifted and what pain she seemed to be in subsided. Lixue opened his mouth to enquire after Zariel again, only for her stare to fixate on him.

He was caught off guard by the strange recognition he felt when he looked back at her, and yet, he stood with confusion playing in his expression. It was not his recognition, but rather, Shiva’s. To be so tightly interwoven with her, and for as long as he had been, made the sudden emotions and reactions from her jarring, even if they were subtle. Lixue had always known that her pain was his to share, and vice versa, so of course, it would extend further than that.

He understood Shiva wanted to speak to him. Or rather, knew she could not avoid confronting Phoenix. She would consent to Lixue’s summoning.

Lixue cleared his throat. Recognising that sudden shift, that Phoenix was in place of Zariel, surprisingly humbled him. He treated Shiva with defiance, growing more confident that he would not be belittled and intimidated by a deity, but he had never spoken or faced another one before. It didn’t take a fool to understand Phoenix, and only Phoenix, waved the sceptre here.

“Of course,” Lixue agreed. “It won’t be long now.”

Whatever burning questions Lixue had for him, they were not asked. As the last stream of mana flowed, the rest of the transfusion had been carried out in silence. Anticipation made the very tips of his fingertips tingle as he removed the IV lines and patched up the point of entry in Zariel’s arm.

Finally, regardless of whether he or Shiva was ready, the process was finished. He stepped back, feeling the biting cold around him before Shiva bloomed from familiar iced petals. If she was wary of Phoenix, she hadn’t shown it as she practically lounged mid-air.

“Phoenix,” Shiva started, her voice as enticing as it sounded so many times before. “So good of you to finally join us. You had quite the long rest, haven’t you?”

~***~

When Jagger had turned to look back over her shoulder, she yelled at the sight of Sandy being thrust against the wall by what seemed to be a gust of wind. She knew normal winds couldn’t be as powerful – or perhaps they could, but she had little time to reflect on that – and she was soon alerted to the presence of another woman. “Hey, uh…thanks!” It was only after she called out to her that she saw the woman holding out a...branch to defend herself.

Just when she thought Sandy had forced her to sober up. It couldn’t have been something that ridiculous that caused that wind, right? Right?

Then again, she was standing in front of a giant fucking bug.

Sandy hardly seemed fazed by the action, instead, commenting on the appearance of yet another Zodiac with them. Capricorn! Hell, what a coincidence! Sure, the woman didn’t react, but Jagger figured Sandy had some sort of sense for the Twelve if she guessed who she and Oleander was.

Plus, Jagger wouldn’t complain about the extra pair of hands to join her in pest control.

“Fine,” malice dominated Sandy’s laughter, “I can add three to the list of Zodiacs we kill tonight!” She poised her arms back, coating the blades on her arms in blazes of fire before deciding to lunge straight to strike at Anissa.

Fuck, even fire too? This night couldn’t have gotten any worse.

Jagger could have considered staying back and maybe throwing things at Sandy at a safe distance. Instead, she decided to grab the nearest thing to her – a wooden stool, no time to think on that one – and ran at Sandy, smacking her across the face with it. Only after hitting her with this stool, she decided that maybe she should have just stayed back and threw shit at her instead.

Lead with the head, wasn’t that what they said? Even if it was full of drink. She was never one to make sane decisions after mouthfuls of ale.

Or sober for that matter.

~***~

Mindy’s poisonous stingers exacerbated the situation much further than she intended. As lightning spilled from Oleander, causing the machines to overload and go haywire, there was little room for the two sisters to defend themselves.

Cindy, in an almost split-second decision, cast a guard upon herself. A bubble of golden light shimmered around Cindy, and as the lightning hit, she could still feel its effects, but certainly not as potently as she would before the spell. Before the guard could fully engulf Mindy, she caught the lightning’s intended effects. It pinged throughout her body, zapping her with an incredible force, making her squeal. It wasn’t long before it rendered her flightless and sent her pummelling to the ground, much like any bug zapper would do.

Not quite dead, but certainly struggling along its boundaries.

“Mindy!” Cindy cried out.

All Mindy could return was jittered noises, jerking at the onset of lightning still coursing throughout her body.

Though, that concern only quickly drove her to anger as she puffed out her cheeks, rising into the air. “Oh, you’ll feel triple the pain you caused!” She growled before flying forwards, intending to land down on the Imperator to squash him for his insolence.

 

[Lucyfer]

Silence was acceptable to Phoenix. The shared mind was not quiet; Zariel was not Leander, not so easily humbled as he had been. No, she expected Phoenix to arrive, one day. And she had expected to be in more of a position like Lixue – more in control. This caught her off guard, but her expectations and plans changed little.

Rather than soothe, he shifted his thoughts for her to view and study, the silent communication they could have. He showed her the crown she had wondered after, and showed her that Leander had hidden it, unlike the sword. He allowed his mind to go over his own artifacts, hidden away, and where they were hidden, for those would be the next steps.

He wasn’t a fool. Even with this transfusion, Zariel wouldn’t last long. She was weaker than Leander where it came to magic; it seemed her focus in early life had been more physical, a curse of leaving the sword behind, it seemed. They thought the secrets were in it.

Well, Lavi was a fool.

Phoenix had enough memories of Lavi growing up.

Enough to know Leander had neglected him, more or less by Phoenix’s own command. Lavi was nothing, just a flower to seed the one who meant something.

And though Phoenix had those thoughts, he had little consideration for how Zariel would see them. Or the quiet seething at them, the building resentment.

He was focused on Shiva when she appeared, as cavalier as ever, though not quite as annoying as Bahamut could be. ‘Oh, Bahamut….’ There remained fury there for Bahamut quite unlike the rest of them, because Phoenix knew Bahamut was being a willful little shit. Phoenix stood as Shiva took up her levitating lounge, and for all the fire in his eyes, it was just as dead Zariel’s own.

“I have been dead, Shiva.” Still, clipped consonants, clipped sentences. “I have much to catch up from the last time I manifested. It seems little has changed with regards to the majority of us,” he did not sound pleased. “Bahamut is playing a game. Leviathan is ignorant. The only one who is halfway decent has linked herself to Zariel’s murderer, and you?” He tilted his hand towards Shiva, and let the wrist fall limp in implicit disappointment and frustration, “You have not even done Lixue the courtesy of letting him know where your temple is, have you? And Lixue has been in the presence of those who know.”

His own gaze narrowed, “Do you, too, think this is a game?” Phoenix was not drawn in by the enticing tone, enticing form. That was something fools like Ifrit fell for, those too controlled by their emotions, their lusts.

Not that Phoenix had known much outside of anger for over a century now.

~***~

Anissa wasn’t getting any answers tonight, it seemed. She grumbled at Sandy’s threat to make it three, wanting to tell her she was probably very outclassed, but was surprised instead by the manifestation of the fiery blades that appeared. Nissa prepared herself to launch water at the strange woman, but didn’t need to. The woman who’d been arguing with Sandy earlier came forward with…a chair.

‘Diablos give me strength.’

Anissa managed not to groan, and continued the water spell she had in mind, only twisting it to slam an icicle into Sandy’s abdomen before she could respond against Jagger. It didn’t penetrate her skin, but broke up against it and shunted Sandy backwards so she couldn’t hit Jagger as easily.

Sandy dropped to her feet, deciding she might actually fare better in the small environment on her feet instead of flying. She hadn’t forgotten the wind, and the Capricorn seemed quite capable with magic. She didn’t need to learn how capable, as she ducked under the next barrage of icicles and then sprinted and lunged at Jagger, intent to tear into her with the still-flaming blades, as well as make it difficult for Capricorn to strike her.

After all, it’d be hard to hit her without hitting Jagger.

~***~

Oleander was trying to recoup with the poison in his body, and the electricity already draining his laughable mana pool. He couldn’t control it, of course. That was always the problem, the one side-effect of these damned tattoos, though right then, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter as Mindy made those sounds. “Really should have picked someone else to fuck with,” he noted, before the larger one took offense.

She was still fast on her wings, but not as fast as Mindy.

Oleander was drunk, but managed to fumble his roll well enough that he was out of range as Cindy slammed her stinger into the ground where he’d been, getting herself stuck, as he straightened up and noticed he was conveniently quite close to Mindy right then, and she hadn’t gotten up.

Lightning was still coursing out of him, but it made him oddly lucid. Likely because it made him tired – the sort of tired that was strangely lucid, where things couldn’t be faked anymore. Not emotions, not actions. There was no strength left for it.

So, Oleander didn’t play around with Mindy’s situation before he slammed his boot down on her neck, breaking it as well as sending more lightning spurting out from the slam through her body.

He expected blood.

What he was pretty sure he saw instead was a white ichor that gushed up from her mouth, before Mindy just…faded. “Huh.” Weird. “Well least there’s no mess to clean up.” Not that he’d have to clean it up.

Cindy shrieked and this time, when she came at Oleander, it hit hard as a blast of holy magic slammed into him and knocked him into the room with Sandy and the others. Definitely not what Oleander was expecting, and though he hit the wall and slid down it, he didn’t seem dazed or all that bad.

It wasn’t anything like Leviathan’s attack, after all. It was the poison that made him shiver and groan as he started to get back up.

 

[Arcanist]

Dead. Of course, she was as in the dark when Lixue had discovered this from Zariel. She was sorry to see Phoenix return without a sense of humour, though, she was not convinced he ever had one to begin with. Phoenix's desire to take charge had not burned out, that much was obvious.

Remaining in her lounge, she listened to Phoenix's anger, simmering like a low flame, destined to lead into an inferno. It was inevitable that once he returned, he would not take to her behaviour. He most likely would not take to her reasoning or her circumstances, nor would her dear Lixue.

But this was not the first time she had endured scolding, certainly not the last either.

“Leviathan has always been the dreamer, that comes as no surprise. And Bahamut has always bent and broke rules. I would know.” She sighed, wistful as she tapped her chin. “I suppose it became a kind of test as time went on. A test for humanity. Humans are fascinatingly selfish, self-sufficient and unpredictable at their cores. Not every mortal will follow along to the whims of a god, and you can never tell what direction they will take or thought they have. Asura’s host is one such figure of unpredictability – like Asura herself. If he hadn’t killed the Empress, how long would it have been before you came back to the realm of the living, if at all?”

Phoenix might have revived later down the line. But the young king’s actions only made the course of which way the wind blew more intriguing. And who were they to say it had to blow in one particular manner towards their goal?

Shiva smiled to herself. “I wish I could say this had been my idea the whole time. To see if humanity really could stand up to the threat that we’re all facing, but…what can the Water Bearer do when she tips her vase to water the soil that cries out for sustenance, and it is empty?”

“Even when confronted, you still wish to speak in riddles?” Lixue broke the silence with a harsh scoff, his frustration as red-hot as Phoenix’s.

Shiva sat up now, her smile patronising. “I’ll answer this one for you. You may suggest the Water Bearer goes and fill her vase, but where must she look for water? What if it isn’t in a lake or a pond, or she is in a land where rain never falls? How do I water the soil when I cannot even refill my vase?”

Shiva turned to Phoenix. “I have not told Lixue of my temple because,” the slightest hesitation, the first, Lixue noted, he had seen in her, “because I do not remember where it is. There are gaps in my memory I am sure I never had before I bonded with him. That is why I have had Lixue work to find the water – the knowledge – that I have lost and cannot seem to find.”

Lixue stiffened. He feared an outcome like this. He had wished Shiva was purposefully being difficult over this, rather than having forgotten anything. And worse, she had concealed it from him.

~***~

The impact of the chair on the life-sized bug left it splintered and fractured, hardly useful now for doing any real damage. Sandy was then forced back by a spattering of ice, thanks to the mage who joined the fray, though, that only gave Jagger a small window to acclimatize herself to her next threat.

As Sandy evaded the second round of magic fired at her, she leapt straight for Jagger. Though she saw it coming, the time between acknowledging it and attempting to dodge was skewed. She managed to sidestep, though, she felt one blade slice into her arm as the wound stung and skin charred around it.

Jagger grit her teeth and growled through the pain, but she wouldn’t let it distract her. She suffered worse, far worse. It was a graze to her at best. Her hand fumbled along the shelves that were miraculously still standing at one wall, and found a bright blue bottle, most likely for storing something in it than for drinking. Before Sandy could try to hack at her again, she aimed for her head with it, smashing the bottle in the process and making her stumble back.

It was a great opening to get in at Sandy, though, Oleander being launched through one wall and up against another was what really stole the moment. Both Jagger and Sandy were alarmed by the body that was now slowly rising from the wall. Soon after, Cindy ripped through the wall, red-cheeked and raging.

Gods, why were they so ugly? Though, Jagger guessed that was what huge bugs would look like at their size. She needed a stiffer drink after all of this.

Then Cindy caught sight of Anissa, and almost looked surprised at another addition of someone else fighting. “Wait, who are you?!” No doubt a question Oleander would soon ask, but that would be left for later. She scoffed, shaking her head, “No matter. We’ll be sure to leave none of you alive after what he did to Mindy!”

So that was where the pintsize doorstopper went. Jagger could only assume she also turned into a bug, and Oleander took the role of pest control. The mention – and quite obviously the lack of presence of – Mindy caught Sandy’s attention, and Jagger took her chance. Broken bottle still firmly in hand, it was her turn to leap forward and poke a few holes in this bug.

 

[Lucyfer]

Phoenix was also not a fan of Shiva’s games, and it showed. Perhaps in another time, he might have humored them. He understood that knowledge was good, riddles were good, for creative thinking and problem solving, but now wasn’t the time for this kind of nonsense. His features showed it well enough, even on a face not his own.

Thankfully, Shiva got to the point.

Unfortunately, it seemed she was also suffering some issues for having fallen down to Hyune and into a host rather unwillingly. Memory loss. That was the first Phoenix had heard of that, and his posture shifted, arms folding across his chest. There was a trace of a softening in his features, a trace of sympathy, as he mulled it over.

He didn’t know where Shiva’s temple was. He really didn’t know where any were beyond his own. He must have known at one point, but then humanity moved on to consolidate it all in Ibec, and he forgot to care about where the others were. Only his own, and he at least still knew where that was.

“It must be in one of the poles,” Phoenix wanted to sound certain. That was where ice was, and Shiva was ever more inclined towards that part, where Ixion preferred the storms, and Leviathan the deep seas. Their temples were aspects of themselves.

Once, Phoenix’s temple had been housed within a volcano.

That volcano went dormant and died when he did.

“What do you remember of your previous incarnation? Perhaps there is a clue in that, if the memory loss is recent.” Shiva’s temple would be necessary to find, “I’ll have teams dispatched to search the poles in the meantime.” Zariel would have teams dispatched, she was the one with that influence, but he wasn’t concerned if it was he that ordered it, or her.

They’d listen to whatever voice came out of her body, knowing no different. Besides Lixue, of course.

~***~

“You mean I was getting out of this alive before? This was a happy fun times antique shop brawl? Oleander managed to act mock-surprised rather well, fully aware there had been no plan to let any of them out of this alive and Cindy was full of shit. His talking and mockery did at least further distract Sandy, who was then taken by surprise by Jagger’s stabbing, though she was quick to jump back, wings fluttering to aid in that, as Cindy rushed at Oleander.

Oleander braced, but he didn’t need to do anything. The ‘new one’ tripped up Cindy with another gust of wind that swept under her feet and knocked her to the ground easily enough, before she had to dodge behind the counter thanks to Sandy reacting in Cindy’s favor and sending a wave of fire her way, and another Jagger’s way, before turning towards Oleander as he moved to the fallen Cindy.

He didn’t mind executing another – but two beams of fire were sent right at him from Sandy’s arm-blades, and he did not manage to roll away in time. Both beams hit and he again hit the floor, “Oooow,” he rolled from his stomach, onto his back, stared at the ceiling as he tried to regroup. The lightning had stopped, more because Oleander simply couldn’t produce anymore than because he desired it to stop.

Damn magic and its weird ways.

Anissa popped back up as Cindy was getting to her feet, and Sandy tried to stick to the defensive, trying to watch all three without moving in for the kill on Oleander while Cindy was recovering herself. Rather than try another spell, she suddenly shouted out in horrified surprise, “Wedge, no! Don’t come in here!” and waved frantically towards the window in a manner suggesting someone go away.

There was no Wedge.

She was just hoping a distraction helped. She didn’t want to be part of an investigation into an Imperator’s death.

 

[Arcanist]

The heat of Phoenix's frustration cooled, if only a little, at Shiva's situation. Lixue had expected him to take the news badly, though, perhaps Shiva's memory loss proved better than a deliberate game of cat and mouse.

Lixue resumed his silence as Phoenix continued his ponderings. Somewhere cold, that almost seemed obvious given Shiva, but he made the mistake of taking her at face value. Shiva had hummed, possibly agreeing along that line of thinking. Lixue pushed his glasses up. It couldn't have been that easy. None of this had been up to now.

Shiva pondered in the silence that came after Phoenix's question. It was one of the few times her Lixue would see the effort of concentration in her eyes. "She…yes. A she. That is who I remember. The woman knew of me, I am sure, for I faintly remember hearing her calling and singing my name. A singer, I think."

Lixue raised an eyebrow, though he wouldn't question the nature of Shiva's recollections.

"And I remember her doing just that in the end, calling for my name. No matter how long I try to hold onto her voice, she cuts off. It is as if all my ties to her have been suddenly severed.” She looked troubled then by her thoughts, and it was Lixue who went and assumed them.

“A sudden death perhaps. I can’t imagine your ties to her being severed in any other way.” At least, from what they knew. If she sounded so desperate as Shiva described, those severed ties were unwanted.

Shiva nodded as she lounged back again, ever so pleased with Lixue’s probing and musings. “I cannot imagine her passing was natural if we were so violently separated like that. You could liken that separation to a murder. And before you ask," she added, an amused smile surfacing, "I do not remember who committed such an act. Between her voice and tethering to you, my dear Lixue, you are lucky I remember much beyond that."

Solemnity was never Shiva's shade. She would never express it, but Lixue knew better. He pushed his glasses up once again with a sigh. “I understand. We just have to find things to jog your memory," he murmured. "And there's still the matter of the poles to be investigated too as said…"

Shiva hummed, her eyes moving towards Zariel for a moment, smiling. "Of course. Phoenix will take charge and move ahead on that." There was almost something knowing in her tone, but she said little else after that.

~***~

She was close, but once again, Sandy proved the victor with the aid of her wings. Jagger cursed, her knuckles going white as she continued to wield the broken bottle. These bitches - whoever they were - wouldn’t just bloody well lie down and die, would they? Neither would she, and that only became a conflict of interest for both of them.

Though Capricorn felled Cindy, Sandy was quick to make up for her sister’s little trip. Cindy’s attacker managed to dodge the incoming flames, though Jagger was not so lucky in swiftly moving entirely out of its reach. The wall of flame collided with her chest, forcing her against a stack of shelves against a wall. Items fell and smashed, but she was yelling some incomprehensible words as she pat down her chest. The flames ate through part of her shirt and flesh alike, even as Jagger attempted to haphazardly pat her chest down. It was a pain she was intimately familiar with, and one she forced herself to put aside once again.

She had been waiting for someone else to start some bullshit, only, most players were on the floor, or recovering, or even just waiting themselves, and the fight had come to some sort of odd halt. Sandy seemed too alert for Jagger to run and try something else, and she wasn’t even sure she could make it to Cindy with the sister spotting her and jumping her.

But all their attention turned to whoever the mage was calling for outside the shop.

Sandy narrowed her eyes. ‘More of them? No, surely not…’ She tried to discern a voice, or multiple, if she could. Their covers were already compromised enough, but three against two was already a stretch. The numbers against them didn’t need to grow any higher. “Cindy,” she called to her sister, who was alert and ready to heed her sister’s call, “we must–”

The order did not come. The wind was knocked out of Sandy and she was sent to the floor with Jagger on her back. Dazed, she had tried to recover enough to produce the same flames from her blades again, only to feel one blade being tugged on, no, ripping, from her own flesh. She shrieked as she blindly tried to swipe behind her with little luck, until she was silenced with gurgled gasps as she felt her own arm blade driving into her back. Once, twice, thrice, until she was no longer conscious to count.

That same white ichor Mindy spewed gushed from Sandy’s back, until her body too seemed to fade, even with the blade Jagger had once possessed.

Cindy had every chance to intervene, but the distraction and watching Jagger tackle and mutilate her sister left her in crying hysterics. Two sisters out of action, and she was the last one to remain. She would not fair well against three, never mind four or more waiting outside that shop front. “Next time, you’ll…” Cindy growled in between her fits of heaving hysterics, face reddened from that crying rage, “you’ll wish you had died here! All of you!” She suddenly turned much smaller, apt for a pesky bug, and zipped towards a cracked opening in the shop window. All that was left behind was a ruined shop.

Jagger haphazardly made it onto her feet, ignoring the heat seared into her chest and the tightness that seemed to follow. “Fuck…I’m never drinking again…” She tried to joke, almost breathless. She glanced to Anissa and Oleander, asking, “We good? Good thing that Wedge guy was around when he was…”

What kind of name was Wedge anyway? Stupid, she thought, as she decided standing was no longer an option, and carefully sat herself back down on the floor again. The adrenaline was starting to wane, much worse and quicker than Jagger was used to.

 

[Lucyfer]

A sudden death. Phoenix’s eyes narrowed, “One of the Cardinals. It must have been,” he was always certain it was those, when a Zodiac died. “This is news to me,” he paced, hand going to his chin as he mused over the thought. “Are they all losing their memories when their chosen dies that way?” Leander, of course, died slow, not sudden.

Part Phoenix forcing him to live, part natural human deterioration.

He was certain Zariel had mentioned the Cardinals to Lixue so he didn’t bother to explain what he meant by it, stopping as Shiva indicated he would indeed get on it. “I—we—,” the correction was tinged with irritation, and suddenly he gripped his head.

Zariel was not as easily cowed as Leander – she had the advantage of foreknowledge.

In an instant there was a flare of flame, and Phoenix took form behind Zariel as the bird he was, as Zariel fell forward, hand still pressed against her head, and a look of pure malice on her face. It was there only a second, before it numbed as she rose to her feet.

Phoenix’s tone was chiding as he moved to perch on her shoulder, masking his own surprise that she’d even pulled it off, running on fumes as she was. “It is far better for both of us if I not abuse your mana by taking form right now.”

Zariel’s look remained deadened as she answered that statement flatly, “Ask, next time.” She had no qualms confronting a literal god. Then again, she had been raised to kill a God Killer, Phoenix wasn’t about to put fear into her heart. Phoenix needed her as much as she needed him, and she knew it.

She also didn’t care if Lixue saw conflict.

Others…maybe. Although right then, that dead feeling seemed to creep into much. She had enough sense not to risk her reputation, but for how long?

And Phoenix knew that. Would no doubt abuse that, in the future.

“We are already looking for all the temples, as you are aware, Shiva,” and Lixue. They had found a few. “It is possible if you can be restored with your power in your haven, your memories will return.” She cut her gaze to Phoenix an instant, permission to talk.

Not that Phoenix needed permission. “I know where my temple is. It is where I had the crown returned when Leander began to ail, so it would not fall into the wrong hands. I could not know for sure that another would be born so soon. There is an island partway between Ucantis and Rozari, a dormant volcano. I can show on a map. We will need to head there sooner, rather than later.”

~***~

Oleander turned his head to watch Jagger make bug-meat of the other one, and grinned, even as he stayed laying down, when the other one tried to get away. Anissa tried to clap it between her hands, but of course, Cindy was too quick, and got away. “Hmph!” Anissa put her hands on her hips, then sighed as she saw the Imperator was not getting up.

Oh she was going to be in trouble for this somehow, wasn’t she?

Then she noticed Jagger’s state, and her skin heated as she quickly averted her gaze and wished she had something to offer the other woman. ‘This is a souvenir shop, right? Ah….’ Her eyes darted inconspicuously around the shop as Jagger spoke about Wedge.

“There is no Wedge,” Anissa said, spotting a bit of purple cloth being used as a curtain. She went to it and tugged it down, flimsy bar and all. “I just wanted to distract them and it worked.” She pulled the curtain off the rod and with her eyes down, offered the cloth to Jagger, “You may want to wrap that around your chest before you leave here.”

At least by then, the Imperator was sitting up, though he still wasn’t looking good. He looked pale. Sick, almost.

The alcohol was probably getting to him, too.

“So, I know this isn’t exactly the best of times, but do you know who they were and why they’re hunting Zodiacs?”

“Yeah. Probably a Cardinal.” Oleander groaned, “Zari mentioned them once or twice,” probably more than that but he didn’t pay attention. “Oh shit – I mean, fuck. I didn’t say anything, okay? You don’t know what a Cardinal is.”

“I actually do not know what a Cardinal is.” It was a meaningless term to her. Something to explore…and she sighed as she said, “Look, I’m Capricorn, all right. I have a right to know what’s going to try and kill me one day, don’t I?”

Oleander squinted. “Prove it.”

Anissa swiped her hair back, and removed the choker on her neck to show the mark, “See?”

Oleander lifted a hand, crooked a finger to come towards him, but Anissa shook her head, “You can see it just fine.”

“You have…any idea how many people fake those? Jagger you check it, I don’t wanna get up.” And to compound that, he put his head on his knees, further giving in to the ill, shaky feeling that came with the electricity just went off.

Not to mention the alcohol.

He really felt like throwing up. “And you make sure she comes with if she is. Can’t…can’t lose another Twelve’s damned zodiac.” And they really did feel damned nowadays.

 

[Arcanist]

The Cardinals. Zariel mentioned them briefly before and what she knew of them, and he understood enough to know they were to be avoided if possible. It would not, but keeping them at arm’s length was imperative, considering the damage that had been done to Shiva. The presider of Aquarius held a hand to her head as she hummed. At least she was trying to remember her murderer, the Cardinals.

But a return of her soft smirk and a lasting silence disappointed Lixue, but it did not surprise him.

The suggestion of chosen ones’ memories disappearing upon sudden death was soon eclipsed by a sudden flare, and Phoenix taking his more physical form. Lixue had shifted slightly after his initial surprise to aid Zariel onto her feet, though, became aware of the ever constant heat wavering between them. He had not recalled ever feeling so physically uncomfortable in her presence.

And even if he understood it, dare he say relate to it, her rebellion against Phoenix still surprised him.

Shiva had not flinched during the exchange, smiling that secret smile she always held so close to her. She folded one leg over the other. “Likely so. Perhaps even finding it will help fill in all the missing pieces I have lost.” She noted how Lixue forced himself to hold in a sigh. She did not blame him, given how hard he worked, and how many cues he tried to give her to jog her memory.

Lixue would keep trying. But his mind moved to the dormant volcano that had been mentioned, and the need to return to that abode. “Someone will at least accompany you?” He asked Zariel, eyes moving to her armlet and back. She was capable, but not in the condition she was in. He knew he was no fighter, much to Shiva’s unspoken chagrin he was sure, but there were very few that could help her in the only way he could.

“Volcanoes are not usually my choice of a vacation. But I would be interested in seeing what’s become of the old place.” Shiva teased. She knew Lixue had more pressing matters behind the scene, but she could never resist prodding.

~***~

Then she noticed Jagger’s state, and her skin heated as she quickly averted her gaze and wished she had something to offer the other woman. ‘This is a souvenir shop, right? Ah….’ Her eyes darted inconspicuously around the shop as Jagger spoke about Wedge.

No Wedge. As much as Jagger hated feeling foolish, it was enough for them to get the upper hand on those bugs, just like the mage said. She raised her arms above her head, stretching them and unintentionally heaving her chest out as she said, “Smart move.”

Though, she paused as the woman approached with a purple curtain. "Huh?" Jagger stared at her sheepish look as she took the cloth off her hands. It was only when she looked down and saw the damage that was done that she smirked a little. "Ohhh, okay…" She hadn't expected it to burn right through to her chest. No wonder it felt so hot there. Jagger would treat it properly later. She liked to think burns were her area of expertise by now.

"The look on your face," Jagger chuckled, unravelling the curtain as she sat. "No need to get so flustered. We're made of the same stuff, you know." Shameless as always, but she didn't see the need to get so embarrassed about it.

As she started to bind the cloth around her chest, talk turned to what those bugs were doing chasing them all. 'Cardinals?' Zariel never mentioned them to her before, so she felt as in the dark as the woman. Not unless that's what she called Ophiuchus's goons. Either way, it was not common knowledge.

At least she wasn't the only one spilling the beans, even if she was much more intentional about it.

Jagger laboured to her feet with a ground, the last of her adrenaline wearing her down. "Shit. Forgot I heard about that," she murmured as Miss Capricorn was the one to reveal who she really was. Jagger watched her remove the choker. Smart way to hide her. Or maybe painfully obvious.

Regardless, she knew she was telling the truth about who she was. And less than eager for either of them to touch that mark either. "No need,” she told Oleander. “I heard…the tall one," she waved her hand, "call her Capricorn when she arrived on the scene. Guess she can sense Zodiacs or something." They could do with someone like that on their search teams at this rate.

"Jagger, by the way," she introduced herself. "Aries. Got the mark right here," she said with a grin, slapping her thigh. She figured she didn’t need to strip down again to prove it. The woman, it seemed, didn’t need to do anything through checks. “Were the soldiers at our checkpoints really that stupid not to check you on your way in?”

No way she went through any checkpoints. And if she did, that was a real bad fault on the Empire’s part. Though, Jagger didn’t sound hostile concerning it. If anything, her relaxed demeanour and amused smirk said otherwise.

 

[Lucyfer]

Zariel wouldn’t prod Shiva’s smile. Nor Phoenix. If nothing else, they were in agreement that they didn’t need to hear whatever Shiva kept behind that smile right then. Zariel was volatile, and Phoenix was impatient. They had their marching orders about finding Shiva’s location, to help both her and Lixue. From there…well, from there, they could only hope for the others, but at least soon they would know how to navigate at least one of these temples.

Leander’s memories of going through it played in Zariel’s head as Lixue asked if she would be taking anyone. Of course, she felt it would be easy enough, even foreseeing what may be there. ‘It may not be so easy this time.’ Phoenix could not maintain it.

“Yes,” she said, “You, if you have the time, Oleander, and Jagger.” All of them, “You should all see what is ahead, although I suspect they won’t all be the same, it will give us all an idea of some of what to expect, at the very least.” Leander didn’t know if the others were drastically different. He’d never explored any of the others.

Never looked for them.

“With my inability to keep an eye on it, it is unlikely to be as the others are,” Phoenix didn’t bother hiding that, confirming some of Zariel’s concerns that it may not be easy. And if others had forgotten where theirs were, would that mean theirs were also no longer being kept? Or was that a natural consequence of being thrown out of the sky for all of them. Not even Phoenix knew, but he did know his connections to everything were…different than the others.

Death did that.

“I’ll send for Oleander and Jagger soon,” Zariel said, “and we’ll leave as soon as they get back.”

~***~

Anissa was only a bit more flustered as Jagger teased her over it, letting out a huff and keeping her back to Jagger as the woman arranged herself, glancing at Oleander while he answered, and only to Jagger when she confirmed that she didn’t need to double check the mark because of what one of the bugs had said.

“Huh….” Oleander mused, and frowned as Jagger brought up the guards. “Zariel’s going to be so pissed,” he grumbled, but pulled himself up to his feet at last.

Anissa debated mentioning she was a priestess of Capricorn, and abusing this was how she got through. No one was going to check a Holy Woman if she said she wasn’t blessed by Capricorn, after all. Why would a Holy Woman hide it? Of course, if she said that, then she got Ibec in trouble, didn’t she? ‘They’re going to find out anyways.’ The guards would say as much, and she’d have to start revealing who she was.

She sighed, “It’s not their fault completely. I’m a Priestess of Capricorn, and they took my word after I proved my credentials,” she said.

Oleander groaned and buried his face in one hand. Yeah, that wasn’t their fault, that was one of those weird loopholes, because why would the Ibec clergy hide this? “Yeah, Zariel’s not going to be happy,” he muttered again.

“She might overlook it, all things considered.”

Oleander looked up over his hand. “What things considered?”

“Well, I can confirm there are no others in the clergy,” Oleander snorted, evident doubt that she would know, “And I’m willing to meet her and learn how to summon Diablos.”

“Yeah, hate to break it to you, she doesn’t know.”

Anissa looked confused. “No? But she just summoned Phoenix, I thought this continental—”

“What do you mean she just summoned Phoenix?” Oleander interrupted.

“You didn’t know?” Anissa looked guilty, only for realizing she knew before the Imperator. “I—well—it was recent, when she took over Rozari, I assumed she knew all along that conquering the continent was how,” that’s what was reported, even though it didn’t make sense with anything she knew about Phoenix.

“Rozari’s already finished? She’s already married to that ham? I thought I’d at least get an invite to the wedding!”

“Uh…no, there was…you might want to sit down.” Anissa didn’t quite know how to say that ‘ham’ tried to have the Empress killed by joining with the runaway King of Ucantis, but apparently she was going to have to – although she looked to Aries for some semblance of help.

 

[Arcanist]

All of them would accompany Zariel and Phoenix. "Of course," Lixue nodded. He did not object to Zariel's plan, knowing that in some ways, it concerned all of them. The Twelve all had temples after all. If only the rest of the marked could learn from the excursion. Alas, that was not to be. Not with a few of them choosing to openly oppose them, even choose violence against them.

He wondered what their patrons thought of the shambles that had been wrought upon them.

"We'll have to be thoroughly prepared before we leave," Lixue stated the obvious, but there was nothing else for it. Other than think about what possibly could have changed in Phoenix's abode since Leander's time.

"Until then, Shiva and I will look into her temple," among other things, "and we'll leave you to some rest, unless there is anything else you need of me.” Preserving her mana was of the utmost importance until they found Leander’s circlet. Though, whether Zariel would take the rest was questionable. It would be full speed ahead now towards their goal.

Ophiuchus could strike at any time he pleased. It was any wonder that he hadn’t with all of them scattered and ununified as they were. Perhaps he could not. Perhaps he wanted to see how far the gods could get with their goals of reaching the skies again.

~***~

Jagger’s brow in some surprise at the woman’s occupation and murmured a small, “Huh.” She knew the clergy weren’t exactly relegated to the Ibec and the temples, but the irony for one to make her way to Escander. It was hilarious, really. She was sure Juno would have enjoyed this very much.

If only.

Though of course, Anissa was a special case when it came to her position and getting through the checkpoints. It made more sense when she pieced it together, though, her nose scrunched up at Oleander’s obvious observation of how Zariel would take it. She had almost opened her mouth to say that of course she would be unhappy about it, because really, would she ever? Though, she stopped herself.

The mercenary had enough sense to know that she did not hold the same privileges as Oleander did as her brother. She couldn’t insult Zariel and get away with it as easily.

But at least they would bring her home another Zodiac. That would at least improve her mood, grant the scientist a rare opportunity to smile too. No further forward with knowing how to summon any of them though, even though the poor Priestess expected that knowledge from them.

Until she mentioned Zariel just summoned Phoenix.

“Wait, wait, wait, rewind,” Jagger waved her hand, tension already tightening around her head. Maybe it was the alcohol that was causing that sensation rather than the difficulty in following the conversation at hand. “Conquered the continent?” The action was unsurprising. The speed was what visibly took Jagger aback. She knew she was going to discuss some sort of marriage arrangement in Rozari, but there was no way she got hitched without making a show of it first.

That was how these things worked.

And the way Anissa looked so guilty, trying to find the right way to say something…awful.

‘Jagger…sit down.’

Jagger tasted acidic and bitter remorse at the back of her throat, and glanced at Oleander. He hadn’t twigged on and grim recognition settled in her features. She looked back at Anissa. “What the fuck happened in Rozari? We’ve not exactly been looped in.” She knew enough to know it wasn’t good, but not enough to know exactly what had happened.

 

[Lucyfer]

Zariel shook her head, “No, not right now,” she would rest, but not before forcing herself through announcements necessary for her role, for her army, for her people, about Phoenix. About Rozari. About all that had happened and their next steps in securing the continent, now that they held it, and then moving her attention more strongly to the tower.

With Phoenix’s voice, she knew how to finally complete it, so it would get to Ophiuchus. It would be difficult, but then, what part of this had been easy? “Take care of yourself.”

“Try to remember,” was all Phoenix had to say to Shiva, before Lixue would leave, and allow the two those terrible moments of privacy, where neither were actually alone any longer. Their thoughts flowed much the same, heard in two heads rather than one, and terribly intermingled. Conversations were rapid fire in that way, popping up at the slightest hint of thought.

It was terrible.

But words were needed to clear it up. “You will ask. Or this will happen again.”

“You could learn from Leander,” Phoenix responded drily.

“Leander died before his work was completed. I don’t intend to learn from failure.”

“He was mortal. So are you. Precautions need to be taken for your death, as well.”

She understood what he was hinting at. “The line continues through Lilia,” Zariel left it at that, for now. If Lilia had to be legitimized, that was a conversation with Oleander for another day. He’d likely prefer getting married to legitimizing her. He’d rather spare his beloved Lilia the pains of royalty.

“You—”

“It takes women nine months, not to mention the obligation to actually raise the child which Leander was able to toss off to his queen. Can you afford that?” Zariel cut Phoenix a look as he moved to perch on the bed.

Phoenix didn’t need to say it.

The answer was no. “Then we have work to do, and you need to stay visible for it. I’ll rest when the announcements are over, and so will you.”

~***~

Neither of them knew what was going on. Anissa knew this was bad, because she, someone outside the Empire, knew before the Empress’s own brother. There was no going back from this, though. She’d opened with the assumption he knew, and now she had to explain what had happened in Rozari.

“Okay, okay, but don’t shoot the messenger,” Anissa lifted her hands to try and placate what she expected was coming. It settled on Oleander’s features, then. The realization this wasn’t as bad as a marriage, it was something normal people thought was bad. He didn’t sit down, but he did move to lean against the counter.

Maybe that was more because he still wasn’t feeling good, though.

“I’ve been traveling, so I was closer to things, it’s probably going to be here soon, or a letter, something.” She was rambling. She realized it, stopped herself with a deep breath, and continued, “There was an assassination attempt, led by Prince Sesario in cooperation with the missing King of Ucantis. When his parents learned of it, supposedly they quickly gave in to the Empire to avoid bloodshed and, well, spare their own hides. They supposedly had no knowledge of it.”

Debatable.

Very debatable.

But that was politics.

The counter Oleander was leaning on, splintered and broke under his fist as he slammed it down with a, “FUCK!” before he began storming towards the exit, forgetting the little Capricorn in his need to get right to his chocobo, and get to wherever Zariel was. “She should have brought me! This shit always happens,” he was complaining in his anger, and realized as he hit the door he was actually complaining to people.

Jagger.

Capricorn. What was her name? Did she say it? Didn’t matter. “Come on. We’re going back to Ucantis, or maybe Rozari if she’s still there. I knew I should have killed that fucking prince.” No, he didn’t. But he regretted it now. “Smarmy, playing nice, fake son of a bitch.”

 

[Arcanist]

“Of course,” Lixue gave a slight nod, though, knowing that advice would not be followed. He let his basic needs slip far too often in favour of finishing what he deemed more important tasks. “And you, Zariel,” he added, wondering how much she could possibly take care of herself with Phoenix’s presence taking such a toll.

With Phoenix’s parting words to Shiva, she smiled and nodded. “Try again, as if I have not already tried.” Perhaps He or Zariel had noticed, or perhaps it was only Lixue, how strained keeping that smile suddenly became. She would no longer have to strain as she vanished again in a flurry of iced petals, just before Lixue took his leave.

He lingered at the door, unsure of why he chose to do so. It was not to eavesdrop, but he hesitated the first time he tried to walk away. Hesitated to leave Zariel on her own. With Phoenix. He walked away knowing that could not be helped.

He realised he would have loose ends to tidy up, no doubt to explain himself after absconding so suddenly from his mother’s company, but he could not bring himself to do so. There was no lack of rooms in this orthodox castle - ironic, considering the Bandoethels had been reduced to two, now one - and slipped through a door.

Lixue paced into the room. The curtains were drawn, blocking the light from outside. He saw the furniture take shape in the dark around him.

“I thought you would have been happier at Phoenix’s arrival, Lixue.”

“I’m not unhappy,” Lixue insisted, wishing he hadn’t summoned her to chime at him again. As irritated he was by her aloofness, this wasn’t the first time he used Shiva as a soundboard. It helped. “I just didn’t expect things to be…the way that they are.” He was beginning to understand what everyone said about Leander. The change in him.

Lixue was too young to remember Leander, but heard enough from his mother in her comparisons of him and Lavi. The stories that circulated Amarum helped build a picture too, albeit, from rumours and speculation.

“Then you do not know Phoenix,” Shiva said quietly, pointing one toe to a tile on the floor. Ice gathered around the base, hardening the longer she kept it there. “My memories may be scattered, but I remember enough to know he likes to keep control.”

“And so does Zariel,” Lixue retorted. She wouldn’t allow it, not even from Phoenix. Shiva’s raised brow said otherwise. “The way they are bound,” Lixue started, moving in the direction of a more harrowing thought, “it’s unlike ours. They are completely codependent on each other. If that bond is severed…”

Shiva recognised Lixue’s thought process, but softened at how he could not keep the analysis and personal emotion detached. She let two feet touch the floor before she approached Lixue. “Whatever knowledge it is you seek, I will try and provide it. Perhaps you will find an alternative for their…bond.” It had been spoken about before - should other marked prove inconvenient for them. Perhaps it could work for Zariel too.

Lixue pondered, silent, before he spoke, “I will consider it. But we have more pressing matters at this moment.”

Her temple.

~***~

Jagger braced herself, and eyed Oleander supporting himself against the counter. If it was as bad as Jagger assumed it could be, he wouldn’t be happy about it. Hell, he’d be much worse than upset about it, from what he had heard of his lapses in keeping a cool and level head.

And when their ‘messenger’ relayed the news to them, it was somehow worse than Jagger expected. It had to be injury, or near death at the very most, but a whole assasination attempt. Oleander reacted as expected, though, the sheer force of his fist breaking through the counter and his shout made her flinch, something that was unnatural for her. All the while, she tried to get her own head around what she had just been told.

The surprise that Cleon attempted it wasn’t easily masked in her expression. “Fuck. I didn’t think he’d have it in him…” Jagger murmured under her breath, rubbing her head. She wasn’t convinced the runaway King could wipe his own arse, never mind plot an assassination with another prince. Were nobles really as thick as the wooden planks in this shop?

Well…

But that only raised other questions for Jagger. Diddy and the letter she sent. Did he get it? Waste of fucking gil if he didn’t. This wouldn’t have happened if he got the letter. Not unless Cleon saw it, didn’t believe it, lost his shit, or one or all or none of the above.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Oleander was ranting and raving on his way out the door about how he should have been there, Jagger still stood swaying. She should have never left Didymus behind. Do as you're told, don’t ask questions, and get paid for it. That’s what could have happened if she dragged them all back, but she was soft where Diddy was concerned.

“Hey, at least she’s alive,” Jagger pointed out to Oleander as she followed him out. “That’s the main thing. And we still need him in all of this, dumb assassination attempts aside.” Logic would not win out here, but it needed to be said regardless. And there was still so much that they didn’t know.

Oleander’s comments didn’t add up to who Cleon was though. He was just genuinely too nice. “You’ve met Rozari’s prince?” She couldn’t remember if he had mentioned it or not, in between the drinking, the drunken bar walk, the bug fighting–hell, maybe she was just assuming they met from Zariel’s previous mention of him.

And Jagger looked behind at the priestess again, eagerly pressing her for more information if she had it. “What happened after the attempt anyway? Did they manage to arrest them?” If Cleon and Rozari’s prince were involved, Diddy and the other two were bound to be wrapped up in this shitstorm too. They were fucked if they were being taken back to Ucantis or being kept in Rozari. Whether they were directly or indirectly involved, assassinations were a blackspot on your reputation.

If they had eluded arrest, escaped somehow…at least Diddy would be safe for the time being. Until she could sort something, plead his case if she needed to.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘At least she’s alive.’

How many times had Oleander had that thought, or been told that? ‘At least she’s alive.’ As if that were all that mattered. It wasn’t, but he didn’t know how to verbalize that there was more she needed. More he needed, after their hellish lives. Zariel had faced down numerous assassination attempts before, most of them with him at her side, but the two without him….

Well, that’s how she got her scar.

And that’s how she won the continent.

But Oleander still felt an ache like a twin, though they weren’t. That there were missing and scattered pieces to her, to him, with each of these incidents. How could he not feel that way when he didn’t know all about this one? When the other led to his mother’s ‘Murder.’ suicide, and his father’s death by assassins.

Of course, he didn’t say any of those terrible brewing thoughts, and scoffed as she asked about the Rozari prince. He heard Anissa following, but looked back anyways. They were not returning empty handed. “Yeah,” he said, glancing ahead again, “He found Lilia. She got away from Anna. Again.” He was lucky the Prince hadn’t tried anything then.

So fucking lucky.

He didn’t even realize the tears that suddenly stung his eyes at worry, though the crisis had been averted then. “Fuck.” He hissed it out, wiping at them as if it would get rid of them, stop it all from pouring out of him like the lightning, which thankfully wasn’t trembling upon his forearms.

Anissa noticed, even walking behind. She tried not to focus on it, but how many people watched the Imperator breakdown? Probably not many. She heard stories of his temper, but not of him breaking into tears at the drop of a hat. She also didn’t know who this Lilia was to him. Still, she made sure to answer Jagger, “They escaped. I don’t really know how, the Empire’s naturally not publishing much of that information.”

“No, of course not, goes against morale. Let’s just celebrate our huge fucking victory no matter the Twelve’s damned cost.” The bitterness was impossible to hide. The anger. The knowledge of how many times this had been done, the omissions.

‘Our fami—’

“And the arrival of Phoenix! Time to break out the good liquor!”

‘My lif—’

“Can’t wait to hear the story when we get to Ucantis.”

‘Your lif—’

They were at the hotel then. All of them wrecks.

“Dad!” Lilia’s cry drew him out of the darkness as she came running over, only to stop, and cover her mouth, as she saw how he and Jagger looked. And saw the strange woman behind him. Anna, at least was right behind her. “Daddy? Jagger?”

“We’re okay,” Oleander sighed, dropping to his knees to let her approach, and she did, reaching a hand to his face. “We’re going back to Ucantis. Aunty Zari has a nice red bird to show you. Better than a chocobo.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

 

[Arcanist]

Rest was a fleeting fantasy for Cleon. He was not uncomfortable in the faeries’ den, and he was accustomed to sleeping on the ground by now, but each hour he roused from unfulfilling sleep, he remembered what happened only mere hours before. When Cleon did fall asleep, he would wake again every hour, slowly realising what happened mere hours before, and what he did. He would ruminate, not only over Zariel’s murder, but Cid, his father, picking over every detail, until he could dissect it no longer and let sleep take him.

The cycle repeated for most of the night.

When Cleon awoke and opened his eyes for the last time, he lifted his fingers to wipe away the dew that settled on his eyelashes. He rolled onto his back and sighed, looking up at the morning sky, wondering if it was true or if it was an illusion set up by the faeries. They were lucky they were marked. He heard plenty of tales on his mother's knees of dangerous creatures who lured humans in with trickery and illusion, and they never ended well.

Cleon sat up with a grunt, stretching his sleepy bones. He felt the familiar feeling of the clothing that, for a period, practically stuck to him. Fresh and clean, though, he wondered how long that would last. He started unfolding some of them, though, paused, unable to shake the strange feeling that came over him.

The kind where you knew someone was watching you.

His eyes moved. Was he being watched from afar? From the bushes? Must have been the faeries, already up to old tricks so early in the morning. Cleon’s eyes soon moved upward, up the trunk, through the leaves…and the snap of a branch made him flinch and snap his gaze toward the sound. He caught the amber eyes of the wild looking woman, once owl-like and focused, now spooked at her being spotted. She slid down the tree, already beginning to run.

Cleon stumbled onto his feet to go after her.

“W-wait, Om-AGH!”

A tree root caught his foot, and before long, he was eating dirt. He spluttered in his moment of shock, only realising he had fallen. His hands groped along the ground to try to quickly push himself up. By the time he got over the shock of the fall and locked eyes on Oma, her legs had taken her further than he could ever think of reaching her right then. Though he thought he saw her look back as she ran, and that spooked look gave way to a small laugh instead.

Cleon grumbled something as he pushed himself onto his knees, rubbing dirt off his cheek. He thought he could hear high-pitched tittering. He didn't remember seeing any tree roots around where he was sleeping the night before. Faeries again, or perhaps he was looking for something else to blame. Regardless, he huffed, failing to see the humour in it. Though, maybe he deserved some humbling humiliation.



Cleon took some time getting over his little trip and to dress in his regular attire again, before he started towards the centre of the abode, where they all gathered the night before. He wondered how many of them had awoken and already made their way there. Part of him hoped the others weren’t awake, though, that would simply be wishful thinking.

Cleon arrived in the centre, and to a silent dismay, found a few others lingering there too. Either they had just awoken, or had been awake for several hours now. Some faeries flittered about as usual, whispering excitedly about the day ahead.

Some hadn't clocked his arrival yet. Kikiti was one, who was in deep conversation with Hector, the boy he was stuck with after they were seperated the day before. She seemed to be in good spirits despite what happened, chirpy as she always had been.

"Do you think she has a lot hidden away in her stash?" Kikiti mused to Hector, speaking in hushed and fast tones. One of the faeries had tipped them off to Oma's stash hidden in the swamps, though, was only willing to show it to them after Cúchulainn was no more. They said it was much too dangerous to go out on and search on their own if that horrid thing was still mulling around. The only reason Oma ever did was because she was very familiar with the swamps. It was a labyrinth for anyone else who had the misfortune of wandering through there.

“Probably lots of things if she’s lived here for a long time," Kikiti answered her own question, and felt her ears burn at the realisation. She added, "but she’s bound to have something we can use for her anklet."

An anklet? Maybe to make her feel more welcome when she travelled with them.

"How'd you sleep, Cleon?"

Cleon jerked a little at the call, though, even at discovering it was Sesario, he still felt tense at the sight of him. "It was...fine." He lied. He was sure the hesitance in him refuted it, though, Sesario chose to ignore it.

"You must be used to it now," Sesario commented with a yawn, trying to make idle conversation to put him at ease. "Me, not so much. It's been awhile since I slept rough until now." He had slept on the hardwood of his old employer's deck for many nights, though, he was younger then, and quite enjoyed the view. Not so much in the storms, or the hail, or snow, but his Captain wasn't entirely heartless to make him sleep outside in that. He slept worse smushed between crewmates down below the deck.

Cleon frowned, reminded of another problem that he had caused. "No thanks to me, Sesario. I never apologised about what happened to your airship."

Sesario clicked his tongue. Yeah, no thanks to him. But he shrugged. "Well, can't change what happened, but I appreciate it. If it makes you feel any better," he chuckled a little, scratching his cheek, "technically it wasn't you who blew the old girl up."

It didn't really make Cleon feel any better about the situation. He was still at the core of the problem. "I suppose so," he answered after a moment's silence.

They would have continued standing in silence, had Sesario not piqued up with a, "You look like shit."

Cleon looked up and blinked, though, followed Sesario's gaze away from him. At the sight of Cid approaching, he shifted his gaze back to the ground.

"Look who's talkin'," Cid grumbled, trying to rub the creak out of his neck. He looked to Cleon and muttered a low greeting, while Cleon looked up and gave him a short nod. Little more beyond that was exchanged. Conversation from the night before was still a raw and open wound for both of them.

The more or less peaceful atmosphere of the faeries' abode shifted. Many of the faeries present flittering away from conversations and tasks with a chorus of excited voices to welcome the arrival Titania. Following along, trying not to draw too much attention to herself, was Oma, who felt much safer in these crowds of faeries than a crowd of human strangers.

“Delightful! Good to see all the marked gathered in the one place,” Titania clasped her hands together, her voice much too bright for the morning.

 

[Lucyfer]

Time.

Didymus had endless time to think when he went to lay down, and try to sleep. Not that sleep came easily, of course. He wasn’t sure he actually slept at all, though he shut his eyes sometimes and thought a lot of time passed, he was certain more of it was spent in thought. Mostly, all of those thoughts were about how to escape. Whether or not he ought to talk Kikiti into coming with him. ‘Her parents….’ Right in Ucantis.
Did Zariel figure out who Kikiti was?

Would she?

He wasn’t too worried about his own parents, Jagger was still there, but Kikiti was another story. Jagger barely knew Kikiti. Would she bother trying to protect her parents. Hells, Jagger! If Zariel didn’t know Kikiti now, she’d know her soon when she interrogated Jagger – and she would, right?

Didymus groaned.

Tossed, and turned, as if he’d find a position where the thoughts stopped.

If he went back, would it do more good?

Would it ruin everything?

The thief had no answers, and when the sun rose, it was too early. He laid still in his makeshift bed a while longer, staring at light that permeated and broke up the shadows of night. Staring, and wondering, as the world around him awoke in chirps and laughter he couldn’t find the heart to share in.

‘The world is going to be destroyed, and I’m worried about one lalafell’s family and my reputation.’ How pathetic.

He forced himself to get up amidst the sounds of other people waking up, living, thriving. He trekked his way over to the central area where food had been before, and where food was again. Didymus was still wary about eating it, and so stuck to the rations he had, pulling one out of his bag to munch on, and noticing Kikiti chatting away with Hector. He bristled with irritation at the sight, but didn’t go to interrupt them, choosing to hang out on his own.


Hector, for his part, barely even noticed Didymus’s arrival, caught up in conversing with Kikiti and enjoying the breakfast. “I’m still not sure about taking from her stash,” Hector noted, “she might not want one of her personal things turned into an anklet,” at lest they were on the same vibe about an anklet over every other kind of jewelry. “I guess if we can find a way to ask her….” Although that gave away some of the fun of presenting her with something nice.

Of course, as he considered it, he heard Sesario’s greeting – not to him, apparently, but to Cid who joined the group. Hector glanced around at everyone present, noticing it now seemed to be all – except Oma.

Though, as he thought that, he heard Titania’s greeting and moved to stand quickly, wanting to be respectful as she approached with Oma. He smiled, though he wasn’t even sure he’d be noticed for it so far back.


Reva had come not long after Cleon. She had waited, listening for him to move, before she herself began to rise and wander off to the unspoken gathering area. She did not go to him; there was a sense of space she felt, but couldn’t name. Cid’s arrival highlighted some of it in her mind. There were plenty of things spoken the other night that she had been hasty on.

Things that, in hindsight, she might have been better to let Cleon answer.

Yet, she was Cleon’s guard – in all things, was she not? ‘There is a time to guard, and a time to learn.’ But Cid had come on too strong for the softness Cleon still held, even after murdering an Empress.

There was no time to consider remedying her silence to either Cid or Cleon.

Titania arrived with Oma in tow, and Reva moved to be closer to the fae, “Thank you for allowing us this time to rest and recover,” Reva greeted with a slight inclination towards the Queen, “We are prepared to help face Cucu now.”

“Uh, we haven’t talked about this at all. I am not ready.” Hector interrupted, then added, “Not that I won’t be – but I don’t want to walk into this blind when a whole contingent of fae don’t seem able to take it down. No offense.”

Didymus gave him a sidelong look, half-hoping he offended the fae just so he could see Hector get smacked down.

 

[Arcanist]

Each of them had eventually gathered in the centre. Reva arrived also, silent in her approach as Cleon had known best. Even with how they were already drawn to one another, he couldn’t help but reflect on the absurdity of how they all managed to gather in the centre once again.

Their patrons’ influence seemed to permeate even the simplest of actions. He wondered if the stories he was weaned on had some truth in them, if the gods had their hand in everything.

The approach and welcoming of Titania was met well – by most. Hector did not take so well to Reva’s eagerness to jump into the fray when it came to Cucu. One such faerie, by the name of Puck, his cheeks growing a strange reddened purple, didn’t take well to his criticism of their attempts to kill Cúchulainn themselves. He flew over, fist tightened into a ball, and knocked it against Hector’s head.

“Criticise us, will you? Let’s see you do better when I turn you into a little squealing piggy, huh?!” Puck sneered, much to the pleasure of some mischievous faeries around them. Some even seemed poised to join him in this little threat of his. “Let’s see you fight Cucu then!”

One of the other faeries landed on Hector’s head, tugging at his hair. “You’ll be so helpless with your little piggie tail and your little piggie snout!”

The threat had not gone through though, as Titania cleared her throat, signalling to the other faeries to flutter to attention and leave Hector be. However, she had done so with no haste, and a slight smile playing on her lips. Once her retinue had dutifully stood down, although disappointed, she continued, “I understand your anxieties. Try though we have, it is true that we cannot do it on our own. But with the assistance of you all and the Zodiac, it should be less of a menial task to rid the Swamps of Cucu.”

Kikiti’s smile was too bright. Cleon’s eyes shifted to the ground. Sesario stilled the realisation that threatened to light up his features.

Right. The fae knew Reva could bring forth Leviathan. They expected the rest of them to be able to do so as well. They technically never asked if they could, only assumed, though, he could imagine the fae would be less than happy to hear of that. So they wouldn’t, less they see the fae’s good hospitality thrown back on them.

“Can’t wage a war without knowing what we’re up against,” Sesario ushered things along, “what’s this Cucu’s deal then?”

“Some of you have seen him for yourselves. You may find it hard to believe, but he was fae once, and he used to walk among us. One day, the Swamps had been covered in a strange Mist , and he sought to go and deal with it himself. After he left, the Mist had disappeared, and yet, Cucu never returned. It was only when we sought to search for him in the Swamps that we discovered his hulking, monstrous form.” Any trace of sympathy in Titania’s expression gave way to a deep frown and a wrinkling of her nose. “Whatever he had done to dispel the Mist, it cost him fae form. And now, it costs us our home, which he saps the life from.”

It wasn’t hard to put it all together. “So, all the dead plants and rotting wood, and that stench,” Cleon wrinkled his nose, “that was his doing?”

He didn’t need to say more as Titania nodded gravely. “Everywhere he passes, trees, plants, they wither away. It is like a pestilence, a poison that he uses to feed upon the land. Oma has even seen the creatures and beasts who dwell here languish with Cucu’s presence.”

Oma shifted on her feet, perhaps nervous at the sudden attention, or else, frustrated by the thought of the damage Cucu had caused. Whatever languished did not last.

“Poison,” Cid repeated, gruff and harsh before he had even come out with the rest of his observation, “we’re dealing with poison, and you’re sending us out to choke on it ourselves?”

“We have ways in which we can aid you, protect you. We would not leave you to fight Cucu entirely by yourselves.” Her brow furrowed at the very thought of Cid suggesting such a thing.

Though, you could never fully trust fae, they say.

 

[Lucyfer]

Hector frowned at the faerie who got into his face. “Why, is that how you all tried to fight Cucu – as pigs?” he sneered right back, and then had his hair pulled, “Hey, OW!” he swatted at them, but it didn’t last long before Titania was clearing things up and he was left to seethe – and get his hair back in order, while glaring at the faeries who bothered him. And Didymus, who was smirking at him while keeping his eyes focused on Titania.

Hector knew the look. ‘Yeah, fuck you, too.’

Titania seemed prepared to tell them everything, because they would face Cucu with…the Zodiacs. Plural. The same realization hit Hector as it hit Sesario. ‘Ah. Ah fuck.’ They didn’t need all of them, right? Leviathan was going to be enough, right? Leviathan seemed pretty fucking enough to him. ‘And Phoenix….’ Phoenix had…wrecked everything immensely with their ship which shouldn’t have been that easy, and he doubted that was the full wrath of Phoenix.

They’d be fine.

Even marching into poison. ‘Maybe not so fine.’

Didymus chimed in, though, “If you can give me some ingredients, I can make enough antidotes and protections against the poison,” he said, “I can probably make a fog that would repel it,” he added, since the others – well, some of them – knew what he could do.

“How are we supposed to see in a fog?” Hector asked.

“With your eyes, probably.” Didymus answered, “It’s not smoke, it won’t hurt.” It would make things a little more difficult, “probably,” he added, “I’m working on a theory, so I haven’t tried this before. It might sting.”

Hector groaned.

“The Mist,” Reva interrupted their bickering. “Is it all gone?” there was an edge in her voice that anyone familiar enough with viera might understand.

Didymus was aware enough – and realized again all of his bombs were gone, left with Zariel. Yeah, he needed a lot of things to get things prepared.

Titania was aware enough, too. “It seems to be,” she answered gently, “but I admit, I do not know what will happen when Cucu is defeated. His form is tied to his dispelling the Mist, but it may be released when he, too, is dispelled.”

“Have you, uh, considered that seriously?” Didymus asked.

“Of course,” Titania answered, though Didymus’s gaze remained steady on her. “Why? You seem concerned.”

“I, uh, I know a bit about this Mist,” he hedged.

“You always know a bit about something,” Hector noted.

“Yeah, I do,” Didymus agreed, trying not to sound as irked as he was. “And I know the Empire hasn’t figured out how to get rid of it – as far as I know, no one has.” They could contain it, but it was probably better if he didn’t mention that. “So I’m kind of worried of it spreading. Maybe it’d be better if we just, uh, trapped this Cucu or something?”

Reva was looking at him with a bit more intensity now, but he ignored it. ‘Yeah, I know, why is the Empire interested enough in Mist that I know about it. Yeah. Well. Have you heard of Lixue fucking Virys?’ He was pretty sure Jagger had mentioned it when he asked about the weaponry he’d been given. He knew that Mist wasn’t an uncommon subject among the higher ups. Enough that Oleander knew of it, and he, uh, wasn’t the brightest cookie.

Not stupid.

But not someone who should know anything about Mist.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti shuffled on her feet at the bickering between Didymus and Hector. She couldn't understand the malice in that bickering or the weird looks they gave one another. Though she supposed not everyone could get on all the time…then again, that wouldn't stop her from trying to change that here.

"He's not…normally like this," Kikiti reassured Hector, or at least tried to. "He's good with making these kinds of things, and cooking too. It'll help us, promise." She wasn't sure why she felt the need to justify Diddy to Hector. Maybe to lower the tension that grew so stifling around them as it was. Yeah, that was it.

The Mist though. That wouldn’t help them, and it certainly wouldn't help Reva. Cleon heard the story of how Reva and Leviathan were united, when she happened upon a strange mist and lost the grip on herself. It was only Leviathan that awoke her and her sisters from the strange frenzy that latched onto them. He had not seen Reva in such a state, and with the Twelve’s blessings she hadn’t experienced it in a long time. Cleon always remembered thinking he did not want to see her like that, never mind to be an enemy to her with her fighting prowess.

“Maybe that’s a better idea then,” Cleon decided. Titania’s words did not instil much confidence in him that the Mist wouldn’t be released, and Didymus’s alternative was better than waiting to see what happened when they killed Cucu.

“This the same Mist that crops up in places that I keep hearing about from folks?” Cid looked for confirmation, probably just as confused as a couple of others when talking about it. He heard about it, of course, but he thought it was a lot of speculation for a bit of misty weather. Though, Cid would be lying if he didn’t have his own suspicions with how he heard monsters made travel routes more treacherous.

Cleon nodded. “The very same that affects monsters and plenty of other things. With Reva, it makes her more…” Aggressive? Crazed? Cleon struggled for a better word for it, and eventually settled on, “...not herself.”

“Not promising,” Sesario sighed, “and if the Empire seems so interested in the Mist…” He didn’t finish that speculation, and it took a lot in him not to look at Didymus. He promised him, at least, some time.

Hector was less forgiving in that regard.

“So, how would we trap Cucu then? I mean, dropping a net on him and calling it a day isn't gonna cut it, is it?" Sesario quipped, though, his question was at least serious. They needed to discuss how they were gonna do it, if they were gonna do it the way that Didymus suggested they should.

“Perhaps that is something we can help with,” Titania spoke up again with a coy smile, “if we found a suitable object, a trinket of sorts, we might be able to seal Cucu away. Though, that kind of magic requires much concentration and plenty of fae, including myself, to perform it.”

“So…we would draw his attention.” Cleon stated. There was no question. They would be the distraction. Whatever they planned to do, they were going to be doing most of the heavy lifting anyway. He brushed his thumb over the mark on his other hand.

It was not enough to hope Leviathan would be all they needed in this fight. Leviathan had to be.

 

[Lucyfer]

Hector couldn’t help the sympathetic, almost pitying, look that he gave to Kikiti as she rose to defend Didymus. She didn’t know, did she? She hadn’t caught on when it had all been spelled out. Everyone seemed to be ignoring what was so glaringly obvious – but then again, a lot had transpired on the ship, and on the way here. He wasn’t about to just let it go, though. Not for long, anyways. They had to confront this before it worsened. ‘I bet he made himself seem mighty helpful.’ But why the hell wasn’t anyone questioning how Didymus knew this?

Knew how to work with the Mist, for that matter!

Didymus tuned out that look. He nodded at Cid’s inquiry about the Mist, certain it was the same even though the fae likely couldn’t confirm that. He imagined they got out about as much as the average viera. Maybe more. At least they were willing to humor trapping Cucu rather than force him to be killed, and possibly spread even more Mist. Who knew! Maybe they could even restore him!

Unlikely, but that’d be the better ending, wouldn’t it?

“So, I guess we need to find this kind of object, huh?” Didymus noted, folding his arms over his chest. Titania did say if it was found, which meant it wasn’t. Yet. “What sort of thing were you thinking?”

“How good you to ask!” Titania trilled, but Didymus swore he saw a certain…mischief there. Or perhaps he was imagining it. “When Cúchulainn went out, he took with him his trusty spear, Gáe Bulg. It is not with him now, but I know it is not destroyed. It’s enchanted, so to speak,” Titania grinned, “That sort of talisman ought to be enough to hold him, only we know not where it’s been left. We have actually been looking for it ourselves, in trying to retrace Cucu’s steps to find what turned him into such a thing, if it can be found….”

“If it’s more than the Mist,” Didymus muttered.

Titania nodded her assent. “Oma has been a part of that, she knows where we have looked, where we have not. She can assist in locating it, if that is the way you wish to go,” Titania noted.

Didymus shrugged, looked to the others. He wasn’t…expressly in charge here. And Hector had no qualms expressing his doubts.

“How long have you actually spent looking for it?” Hector was quick to do just that, but before he could get an answer, Reva interjected.

“We’ll find the spear.”

Hector frowned, turning a quizzical look to her, “Reva, it could be destroyed, it might not exist, and we’ll waste all this time—”

“—to save a life, and save more. If Mist spills, all will suffer.” Reva countered.

Just to be a nuisance, Didymus agreed, “She’s right. No one’s really figured out how to manage it, and you clearly didn’t if you had to send this Cucu guy out. Plus, maybe if we can bring him out of this…state…he’ll have some information on it.”

“And how long do we search before we realize this is stupid and we’re risking our lives for something that might not even still exist?” Hector demanded. “Until someone dies? Until 3 people die?”

 

[Arcanist]

Brows raised and furrowed at the mention of their potential seal - a spear, lost somewhere in the woods. To some, it was the perfect alternative to destroying Cucu and releasing more Mist. To others…

“Seems too convenient to me,” Cid grumbled, looking at Titania with some scepticism. Trust was not something easily afforded, no less to faeries. “An enchanted spear, lost and vanished?”

Titania gasped, pretending to look affronted. “Convenient? As if I would make it up? Well, I can understand it seems that way. Though we have all seen it before, Oma included. We’ve only managed to cover so much of this land in this short amount of time, what with Cucu’s roamings and the poison that runs through it.”

Cid rubbed his nose, scowl still heavy in his expression. Again, he saw no reason to trust it, even if they knew some of them hoarded gods among them. He was not alone in this sentiment with Hector expressing his own doubts - he understood why Sesario kept him around - though Reva had made up her mind, laying out her own reasons for searching for the spear.

Cleon was quick to counter Hector in the midst of the opposition Reva faced. Given Reva stood the most to lose if the Mist wasn’t contained, his answer was clear. “I trust Reva’s judgement. She has seen the Mist and knows just what it contains. Risking releasing it will surely make matters worse for us.”

“As much as it would be useful, Hector has a point,” Sesario folded his arms, “the Swamps aren’t the safest to explore, and given how easily we got lost in them, it’ll probably take just as long to go looking for the spear again.”

“That was before we had some protection, and before the faeries here knew who we were,” Cleon glanced at the faeries. They did hold the Twelve, whether or not they could summon them. A gentle reminder, that was all. “I just don’t think we should take the option completely off the table.”

Kikiti looked around the group uneasily. It was much easier when there were less of them and they could decide on things much easier and quicker. Not that the company of those that had joined them were unwanted, but things seemed all the more difficult in paving a way forward. “Look, maybe Oma could lead a few people to where she hasn’t scouted out yet to find the spear, and anyone who wants to stay here could help prepare for the battle ahead,” she suggested, desperately seeking a compromise.

“I don’t know about splitting up,” Sesario voiced his concern, “especially with that thing roaming around and what it can do before we’re even prepared to fight it.” That, and he wasn’t fully trusting of the fae. Faeries were faeries, temporary allies or not, though, he wouldn’t admit to it aloud. He could imagine they would do something as malicious as plant a red herring to waste their time all the more, given faeries.

Didymus, though, he noted, was too keen and too cooperative. Hector knew it, and he tried to get others to see it too. But it was easier to spot and question when you knew.

Kikiti spoke up again. “Well, like Cleon said, we should have some protection. And if people did decide to go and split up, others can still prepare even when some of us are away, right?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus was thinking much the same thing as Kikiti as the arguments continued, no sign of agreement approaching. If it had just been him, Kikiti, Cleon, and Reva, they’d be looking for the spear now. As it was, they had to contend with Cid, Hector, and Sesario, who didn’t want to consider trusting the fae. ‘Not that I blame them.’ But there was the matter of an angle.

What did the fae have to gain by tricking them, when they had protected Oma for so long? Didymus didn’t see it. He did see the potential for wasted time, time that would only continue to get wasted if they couldn’t decide what to do. Time the Empire would not be wasting. ‘Time the Empire that is possibly on the right side of this, is not wasting.’

He needed to get back to Jagger.

He needed to figure out what was really going on.

And keep his head.

“We don’t have time to prepare anything drastic,” Didymus said as Kikiti voiced that allowed, “If anything should be prepared, it’s the fae that should do it. They’ll be counting on us to deal with Cucuch—whatever, Cucu, so they need to make the preparations. And if they are going to help,” he gave a sidelong glance to Titania.

Who continued with that mock offense, tinted with too much amusement, “I do not know where you all get the idea that I would not. Have I not been generous?”

“My point exactly, you have been, and we have little reason to mistrust you, and the others.”

Some of the mock-offense fell into genuine surprise.

Didymus pretended not to notice. He knew that feeling too well. Maybe it would even help them get help. “Splitting up isn’t bad, but to cover ground. I’m guessing Oma isn’t the only one who’s looked, and we’ve all seen you fae can kind of teleport people and things around, so – why don’t we split into groups of—” he did a quick count, “3.” It’d be an odd number, three groups of three, one group of two, but the fae could fill in.

He was counting Oma and Cid, because they weren’t fae.

“So we just wander around, looking for a spear, and hope the fae teleport us away from danger?”

“You have a better idea?” Didymus snapped at Hector, “I’d love to hear. I’d love to hear any idea from you, rather than your constant doubts.”

Hector did not have an idea, but he still looked immensely offended, “Excuse me if I recognize problems better than everyone else.”

Reva cleared her throat.

“Since we will get nowhere arguing, let us take it to a vote.” She suggested. It wasn’t ideal, but she, too, recognized the looming threat of time escaping them. “All those in favor of searching the swamp in groups, raise your hands – pardon me, not the fae,” she noticed a few fae hands rising, “we must make this decision among ourselves.”

Didymus, of course, shot his hand straight up immediately.

Reva held hers aloft, as well.

Didymus didn’t have terrible ideas.

 

[Arcanist]

Of course Didymus had a point where their trust with the fae was involved. They wanted their help with the mist-fuelled creature lumbering around. and so why would they sabotage those associated with the Twelve? Perhaps it was hasty to think they would thwart their chances of helping - or ending - Cucu.

But fae found humour in strange and malicious ways, and who was to say they still wouldn’t be tempted to fit in their fun.

As Reva had called for the temporary ceasefire with a vote, Sesario shot Hector a sharp look that told him, 'Take it easy, kid.' The atmosphere was suffocating enough - Didymus and Hector's blows weren't making it any more comfortable to be standing in. If they really did go through with splitting up and looking for this spear, he knew who Hector wasn't going to be put with.

Votes were quickly cast - some by the fae, until Reva disputed otherwise. Oma went to mimic the fae who put up their hands up - though, suppressed a small smile at being too late to do so. It did not matter to her either way what was decided - she would have to help these strangers even if her choice had been considered anyway.

As Didymus and Reva’s hands sprung up, Cleon's hand went up not far behind Reva's. Though that was unsurprising given his previous argument for conducting a search.

Kikiti watched the hands of her companions sprout up, though, had been watching for any hands of the outlier of their quartet. She could see Cleon turning his head - perhaps to look at her for her answer, or perhaps not at all, but she rushed to put her own hand up and tried to keep her expression neutral. Indecisiveness as always gnawed at her, for giving up what might have been had she voted otherwise.

But enough time was wasted already and she didn’t want to seem so unsure of herself in front of the others.

Four votes.

Ses and Cid were not so convinced - a mixture of the plan and the man who suggested it coming into doubt and suspicion. Though, there was not much that could be done about it now.

“Excellent! Looks like you’ve finally come to a decision then,” Titania beamed, with most of the fae giving their nods and cries of approvals in tow.

Oma needed no prompting and stepped forward. She gestured in one direction. “Where you start. See no spear.”

“The south, the entrance from where you all came,” clarified. “She likes to keep watch at the entrance for anyone stumbling through.” That was usually the case - though, Phoenix was her warning first.

“Might not hurt to comb over some of it again,” Cid advised, though, he rather they didn’t have to, “seeing as we’re splitting to cover ground anyway.”

Oma continued, directing to areas that still needed a thorough search, “Up, right, left,” North, east, west. Though, she had a little more to say about the latter. “Left dead. Dead tree, dirty water, no beast.”

Cleon nodded, believing he knew the place. “I think Hector and I passed through some of it last night. That might have been where he transformed.” He theorised aloud. Was there any strange shadows, resembling a weapon that he dismissed in his mind at the time? He was grasping in his memories, a little desperate to remember it to make this easier on them.

“Only one way to find out,” Sesario shrugged, “so, groups of three…ish, right?”

“Whoever feels they’d benefit most from an extra pair of swords,” Cid announced, stepping forward, “I’m yours.”

Cleon would gravitate to Reva, a certainty. Sesario wanted someone to keep an eye on Didymus, and he preferred it wasn’t Hector. “What d’ya say Diddy? For old time’s sake?” Just with a bit of a grin teetering on his face.

 

[Lucyfer]

All directions were worthwhile to investigate, but Didymus knew with only three groups, South was likely the one they wouldn’t explore. In fact, he considered the deadlands that Cleon seemed to know to be the most likely place, thinking much in line with Cleon – that was probably where Cucu transformed, which would be the place the spear was lost.

Hector also nodded as Cleon said it. He wasn’t more enthused about the idea, but he could follow the logic. “Right, then Se—” what the fuck was Sesario doing? Hector heard him call out to Didymus for a partnership and looked immediately towards him, upset, as it was suggested. ‘What the fuck.’ Traitor.

He could go along with Didymus and Sesario – but Cleon’s area was far more likely to prove useful! “—then I’ll go along with you, Cleon, since we were there together,” they knew it, a little, and he looked towards Kikiti, wanting her to come with him so he had some sort of friendly face in all of this.

Reva, who had not quite forgotten all of Cid’s words, and knew there was a point to them, noticed Hector’s look also. “Cid, you and I shall go together,” she volunteered Cid for herself. Gruff as he was, angry and argumentative as he had been, she knew he was capable in a fight, and wouldn’t let any of that irritation get in his way.

If the Mist got to her…well, she also didn’t want to be around Cleon.

Didymus just sighed, “Fine, Sesario. Fine. We’ll go, uh,” Cleon had clearly made his choice, “North.” And maybe if it was just them, they’d be okay. Who else was left, anyways? Kikiti and Oma, and he could already feel the sting of betrayal from the puppy dog eyes that Hector had shot her way.

Oma was likely to pick Reva.

Two thieves together was not exactly ideal so far as combat went, but they were both exceptional at running away. And they’d have some fae with them to get them out of trouble. In theory.

Reva nodded, “Then we shall go East,” Reva accepted, and did look to Oma, “Will you join us?”

Diddy just crossed his arms, but did give Sesario a sidelong look for what he’d done.