#;for the plot

No...No no no!!! It wasn't supposed to be like this! Covering her mouth as she slowly felt the bile rise into her throat, Ashe couldn't even move to cover her mouth in time as she began to cough and puke up the 'pretty light vomit'.

...She was never meant to contain the light, was she?

Ashe was vaguely aware of her friends yelling and Alisaie getting ready to head over.

"The combined power of every Lightwarden is too terrible a burden for any one soul to bear..." Ashe looked up from her puddle of light as the Exarch made his way towards her.

"????"

"And so I shall relieve you of it."

"EXARCH!! What are you doing?"

Ashe looked around her as a circle of magicks began to form around her and the Exarch. What was...?

Smirking as he began his spell, the Exarch began to speak again. "I will channel this profusion of power to the Crystal Tower and use it to travel to other worlds. As I have dreamed of doing ever since I first learned of their existence! Who would choose to remain here, in this dying realm, when they might go elsewhere and begin anew? Not I. And thus…thus did I use you!"

Ashe looked around the area as her gaze fell onto the Exarch once more. Where was Emet-Selch? Where...What was going to happen? Why was the Exarch lying to her again? He was going to die... And her comrades had begun to figure that out as well. This was all a ruse...

A stupid ruse.

This stupid...

"At journey’s end, an opportunistic thief makes off with the hero’s prize," he said as he began to take the light from Ashe. "A paltry way to end a chapter, I concede. Yet your tale will continue, and my role in it will scarcely be remembered."

Ashe's eyes widened as the hood fell off to reveal a red-headed Miqo'te. No...No no no. It was...It fucking was...

"G'raha!!!" She yelled, trying to stand up before falling to her knees again.

Fuck...

"Worry not. Whatever should become of me, I will be happy and free, safe in the knowledge that I have played my part."

And then he gave her the saddest smile he could, if that was possible.

"Thank you for fighting for this world. For believing. Fare you well, my friend. My inspiration."

He made his final preparations to cast his spell and....

BANG.

Ashe watched in shock and horror as the Exarch slowly fell to the ground as everyone began to yell.

Soroi was beginning to get worried. 

She was beginning to get worried... 

Running a shaky hand through her hair, she froze when she heard footsteps from above. “Mother?”

Oh Seven Hells....? How did he? 

“Satoshi, I told you to stay away. What are you doing here?”

“You seemed upset, so I wanted to make sure you’re okay. So I followed you and...What are you doing?”

Sigh... Of all the things... Oh well. He was here now. She was just going ot have to deal with it. After all,  as much as she hated it, this was his heritage. Laying a hand on the number pad, she waited until Satoshi was closer. “Stay close,” she commanded. 

Quickly inputting the pass code, Satsuki watched as the door to the lab opened. Slowly but surely, she walked inside with her son at her heels. “Shirou? Are you down here? ...Shirou?”

“Uncle Shirou?”

Satsuki narrowed her eyes, her stomach clenching. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong... 

His home. The capital... In flames. Riots. People... What was going on? Was this what his mother was fearing? Why was this happening? Why was he being forced to see this?!

He could vaguely hear someone calling his name. Why were they calling his name? 

“-Oshi! Satoshi!”

He could feel someone vaguely shaking him. It sounded like a retainer. One of them. Edward? Denis? His gaze continued to stay transfixed on the scene in front of him, taking a step towards it. 

There. He could see himself... And Denis. Bodies. All around them. Soldiers of some kind maybe? Makellosian soldiers. Blood... Everywhere. What was going on?! Why was this?!

“....!!!!”

The scene changed again. There was his mother. His aunt. His father and von Karma and... Mother was pointing Bakuzan at von Karma and...

“Sanageyama’s squadron has found nothing as well, Lady Satsuki...”

“...I see...”

She sighed, tracing the rim of her cup with a slender finger. “Did I do the right thing, Soroi? My goal the whole time had been to get Miles on the throne. Instead, my son is one the throne. His health is deteriorating-”

“He rules well, Satsuki.”

“But at the cost of his health?” 

“Sometimes sacrifices must be made....”

She paused, choosing to ignore that thought. Leaning back in her seat, Satsuki heaved a tired sigh. 

“Tell Sanageyama’s ninja to keep looking. How is Jakuzure?”

“.....While the Nohrian soldiers haven’t found your husband either, she reports that one of them has very interesting conspiracy theories...”

Rhea nodded as Jusis adjusted himself in his seat. He finally had gotten away from everyone and was able to finally talk to Rhea.

Adjusting his ARCUS 2, he sighed softly.

"What about you, then?"

"...I plan to travel to Crossbell to pick up some things and then head to Bareahard. Is it okay to stay at the mansion for a bit?"

"Of course. I'll make sure a room is prepared for you when I'm dropped off from the Courageous." Jusis was quiet before frowning. "How...Are you holding up?"

Rhea chuckled. "Horrible. I haven't slept much and I haven't really eaten."

Yeah. He sort of figured that.

"What...Do you plan to do after your stay in Bareahard?"

Rhea was quiet as she looked to the side. She then looked at Jusis and gave him a teary smile.

"I plan to close down Witchy's Brew in Crossbell. It's wrong for me to keep it open there as a once oppressor and the Ex-Governor General's wife. I'll be having a 'Going Out of Business Sale'. Then... After? I'll be heading to Eryn Village. I think it's best if I leave the public eye."

She then waved her hand.

"I promise I will still be visiting Rufus. I just...."

"No. I get it. You also need to heal and process. Just know my door is always open for you, Rhea."

Hm?

Turning around on her heel, Rhea clutched her bags tightly as she stared at the woman who had come up behind her. It had been late and Rhea had been doing some last minute shopping before all the shops closed.

Rhea continued to stare before furrowing her brow. Aidios... She hadn't been expected to be confronted by her contemporary, of all things. If that was what she could call her.

...Former classmate?

"I don't know what you mean."

The other witch raised a thin eyebrow before smirking. Oh...

"You know exactly what I mean, Rhea Ariti. You're little... Visits with Lord Albarea, hm?"

...Ah.

Clutching her bags tighter, Rhea sighed. She didn't seem jealous, but she wasn't sure. She seemed really close with that other guy who had been skulking around a few years back.

"I think my relationship with Lord Albarea has no bearing on whatever your scheme is, Vita. I've sensed you visiting Cayenne for a long while now."

"...Is that so? And if I told you that Lord Albarea was part of that scheme."

Rhea frowned, narrowing her gaze. Ugh. What was this woman playing at? Really?

"I wouldn't be surprised. The man is a cunning individual, to put it lightly. He's also ambitious. I like that in a man."

Turning on her heel, she looked over her shoulder as she stared back at Vita again.

"Bother me again, on my turf, and I will make sure you regret. Anguis or not, I can and will hold my own in a duel against you."

Without another word, Rhea walked away.

"...Themis?" she murmured.

"Something is very wrong," he murmured. "Back in the city."

...Ah. Being one of the Convocation must have met he was in tune to those things. Was the city being attacked again?

Getting up, she put her notebook in her backpack. Pulling the cloak she had repaired back on, she pulled the hood up. And then the cowl up over her nose and mouth. Back to it, then...

Grabbing her swords, she put them back on her back before frowning. "Are you sure?"

"Only one way to find out," Themis murmured, grabbing her hand. "We may finally get to get our culprit today."

"Or just a bunch of monsters. I'll try and meet up with Azem."