#zihaha

"This...isn't magic that the living have access to. Not unless someone's figured out Necromancy while we weren't looking." Chihatora stands, walking to where I stand at the circle's edge. "Zi, could you lift me up for a minute? I wanna see it from farther away. Nodding, I reach down, lifting the surprisingly light little Black Mage over my head. "Ah, that's perfect. I can make out some glyphs, but it's certainly nothing I've ever even tried using before." He motions to the ground, so I lower him back down.

Unyanertag stands, looking down at one such glyph. No, you probably wouldn't have used this. It's...not really something a Black Mage would touch." Creaubont looks down at the little one, confused.

"I thought you'd all said that it was dome kinda dark magic."

"That's certainly the aura of it, there's no doubt. But this is an Avatar's glyph. And I would know that better than anyone." He scratches his head, furrowing his brow. "It's really similar to what I've seen of Alexander's glyphic signature but.. some of it's off. Not to mention Alexander would have left a white ring instead of this."

"Alexander....that's not a good sign then. I guess I should..mention something I found out in Arrapago." Creaubont clears his throat. "The Vizier's been gathering candescences. I didn't think much of it, but something he said in Arrapago got me wondering..."

"By the gods you surely don't think-

"It has to be." Creaubont's face is grim.

"What are you even talking about?" The pair exchange a glance, then look at me.

"Alexander is a calamity. The Celestial Avatars don't exist in our plane of existence for a reason, which is why when I've sought their power I've had to go into their realms of existence. Alexander can travel between realms freely though, so long as he has a vessel. As well as.." Unyanertag looks down at the circle. "...the Dark Rider. This, has to be the rider's work."

"Even so, I'm far more concerned about Alexander. If the Vizier's rebuilding the Colossus, we've no way to know what he really intends to do with it. Mr Chair! We need transport, now!"

Chihatora nods, mana running over his hands. "Alright, San d'Oria for Creau, Bastok for Unya, Jeuno for Arty, and I'll take Windurst. Zi, I'll send you back to Whitegate to make sure the rest of the group knows, alright?"

We each nod, as darkness creeps over our frames, sending us away to our destinations.

"WHAT?!" Lilcrumpette slams his hands down on the table. "You mean to tell me we didn't just lose the court's puppetmaster, but that she was the friggin EMPRESS??" He lets out an angry yell, jumping down from his chair. "How the HELL did you guys mess this up so badly!"

"So how's it feel to know a woman saved you, eh Zi?" Artemiis nudges me in the side, smirking.

Shaking his head, Unyanertag interjects, "Come on Arty, Rose doesn't count as a woman at all. She's way too manly for-

A cold glare shoots at the little one as Roselan enters the room, causing him to jump with an "EEEK!" He quickly scurries out of the room as she walks toward us.

"T...thanks Rose. You really saved me in there." I look down, face warm. She opens her mouth to say something, then closes it, muttering as she blushes more deeply. "Ah erm. I...can't hear you. Can you speak up?"

She kneels down, throwing her arms around me, hugging me tightly. "I s-said...I like you, okay? So you can't misinterpret it or just not notice anymore." I sat there shocked for a few moments, before returning her embrace. Her body is so warm against mine.

"I have to admit, find myself rather enamored with you as well."

She draws herself back, red face very close to mine, eyes staring at me. "You would say it in a funny way, wouldn't you....." I find my gaze very much lost in hers. ".....say it the way I said it." There's a tremble in her voice, a nervous relief showing itself.

“My Queen,” the Merrow starts, “I found this one in one of the tunnels nearby, the Imperial hounds close on his tail. Normally I would have left him, but because he was so close to your highness, and because of his…attire…” She looks down at me, bound and gagged, with two other Merrows whose hands kept me knelt to the ground.

Medusa takes a moment to inspect me further, as I stare back. An old rumor of meeting eyes with her turning men to stone flashes through my mind a moment after our eyes connect, and a flood a relief washes over me as I find firsthand that the rumor isn't entirely true. “Surely, you aren't so far into life that you've earned the title ‘Mirage’, are you? I suppose it is of no matter though. Mortal or not, I do not take kindly to two-legs walking about in my domain. See that he is put away.” The Merrows bow their heads and push harder on my shoulders forcing mine down a bit too, though my eyes stay locked with Medusa’s until I’m turned about and removed from the chamber. “I don’t like the look of his eyes,” Medusa mutters. “Far too much defiance and there’s an odd sense of vitality in his presence. What say you, sister?”

She looks to a Lamia near the chamber’s exit, whose gaze lingers on the door. As though breaking from a trance, Euryale turns to answer. “Ah, yes, the blue one. He is…interesting. There’s something in his presence, if I could only put my finger on it…" Her voice trails off, eyes glossing over a bit as she loses focus, then her pupils constrict sharply in realization. “If I may, sister, I should like to see the blue one…alone." She runs her forked tongue across her lips in anticipation.

Expression curious, Medusa nods. “Very well, you may see it alone, just tell the guards to step outside so long as you…need time." Euryale bows, then exits the chamber hastily.

"Ugh this sucks." I find myself locked inside of a cage, with several other cages in the room. “First I get warped here for no reason, then I get myself caught, only to end up in a storage room that’s being used as a prison." I mutter angrily as I worm myself up, trying to sit rather than lay on my side. “Any chance I could lose the ropes ladies? They’re awfully uncomfortable, and I’m having a dreadful time of moving in them." My sentries stand…er…can they stand without legs? I suppose I’d call it standing at least, and so they stand unmoved by my attempt at sympathy. A rattle at the door draws their attention as Euryale slithers in. After a short exchange of hissing, the guards glance at eachother, then exit, closing the door behind them, a second “clink" suggesting that it’s bolted shut. ____________________________ “And you’re sure he’s over here?"

"This is the warp destination. Only Arty would know where he's gone from here." Chihatora takes the pointed hat from his head, running a small hand nervously through his short hair while Roselan stares down at the circle of raised rock left by my barrier.

"Zi, you'd better be close by or I swear..." The sharp cracking of her knuckles makes Chihatora jump, skin crawling as her anger emits into the air.

"Oi, if you keep funneling out such a strong presence how the 'ell am I supposed to find him?" Artemiis is knelt down, ear to the ground with his eyes closed. Roselan staggers back at the comment, but starts calming herself little by little. "Theere we go, now I can feel around for a propper reading..."

After a few minutes of waiting, Roselan stomps impatiently. "Wouldn't it be quicker to follow his tracks or something?"

"Aye, if he were heavy enough to leave indents in rock. Or if a whole flippin' crowd of people hadn't come through here and ruined the afteraura of his trail-

She pulls him abruptly from the ground by the back of the neck, hoisting him into the air like a tiger might its' cub. "What do you mean more people passed through?! They might know where he is!" Artemiis shrugs sheepishly, "Well the trail goes off towards the others, so I'm sure if it's a lead they'll manage."

Roselans's nostrils flare for a moment before she returns Artemiis to the ground. "I hate the idea of that Onion or my brother find him first..."

"Haha, why's that? Worried you won't be the one to save you damsel in distress?" Roselan's startled face flashes red as she sends a kick into the Mithran's side. He rolls about while gasping for air. Right on the mark then. As he regains his composure, his ears perk up suddenly.

"You found him then?" Chihatora asks.

"Aye."

"That was much quicker, my kick must've helped then."

"Oh, no, I had a better idea what to look for. Seeing as lamia are a girls, I just thought I'd look for an embarassed or nervous aura instead of panic or angry..."

A cloud or red seeps off Roselan, eyes nearly glowing as they glowered. "Which way?" _________________________________________________________ Nashmeira, blah blah cs stuff with unya, creau, sev/time/men

"La la la la la~ la la la la la~ la la la la la~ HA HA" Creaubont sang one of his favorite songs as the group walked along, Zero dancing to the tune.

Unyanertag, however, holds his hands over his ears. "Creau, it was ok the first three times, but you can stop that now."

Creaubont freezes mid-step, neck cracking as his head turns to face the little one. " ...Do you...have something....against PIZZA?!?!" 

Unaynertag jumps back at the sudden change in volume. "Woah woah, if you start shouting like that we'll draw too much-

The shrill cry of a Merrow resounded from the opening of a cave nearby.

".....attention."

"Ha ha! More enemies to bask in the glow of my song as I run them down!" Tatang, wrapped comfortably over Creaubont's shoulders, let out a small cry in agreement as the Elvaan pulled his weapon from his back.

"Haha, I guess we'll have to give them a reason to fear the pizza song then." Severity pulls a pair of grips from his waist, each adorned with three dirk-length blades protruding from the front.

Menphina looks down at Zero sighing dejectedly. "Well I was hoping we'd just happen across Zi and warp out of here, but I guess it was too much to ask for." A sharp swish resounds as he takes the scythe from his back, whirling it in warm-up.

"Uh, guys...." Timelock nervously taps Creaubont on the shoulder, pointing in the direction opposite the cave. As the group turns, they're shocked to find a large group of Lamia staring at them curiously. "I think we're juust a bit outnumbered."

"This is no time for counting Alan! It's a time for killing! MWA HA HA!" 

"Halt!" A voice calls out, stopping Creaubont just before skewering a Lamia, still standing as though it were in no danger. From the cave walks Raubahn, followed soon after by a group of people in alchemist's garbs and more Lamia. "Ah, so it's you then." He strides up to Creaubont, shaking his hand politely, before asking that they have a word alone. Nodding, the considerably taller fellow follows.

"Huh? What's an Immortal doing here?" Timelock stares confused at the hume speaking with Creaubont.

"Not just any Immortal, that guy's the head honcho." Menphina looks about, finding a suitable rock to take a seat upon.

"Think he's here to help us look for Zi then?"

"Nah, they'd not have a search party of this size for just one troop." Severity, arms crossed, looks around at the alchemists and Lamia. "What's up with the Lamia though?"

"Heh, guess you guys wouldn't know." Unyanertag, head held proudly, puffs out his chest. "I hear a lot of things, being in the guild so often, like for instance, THEY are responsible for those things even being made. Tried to use them as weapons, until a lot of them went rouge and set up shop here." The trio stares in disbelief at the little White Mage. "What, you thought these things just popped up out of nowhere, natural beastmen? Nah, these scaly beaut's are a product of science." He opens his mouth to continue, but no words emit as he spies the Grand Visier run out from the same cave, headed north towards the water. "What the...hell?"

Timelock begins setting wards on sight and sound on himself. "Shall I have a look then, see what the hurry is?" The remaining three exchange glances, then look at him, nodding.

_________________________________________________________

"No need to be so shy, surely you can tell me your name~ can't you?" Two gleaming eyes peer through the bars of my cage, my gaze transfixed by them.

"Well I...suppose it would make you all stop calling me 'two-legs'...Ziharku." Blinking rapidly, I look away, two phantom lights plaguing my vision. Euryale frowns slightly, then moves about the cage. I'm trying wriggle away from her, but the ropes dig too deeply into me to move properly. She laughs lightly at my effort, the motion probably, in fact, humorous.

"Come now, Ziharku, let me loosen those a bit for you. The way you're thrusting yourself about is very~ distracting." I freeze, my face is hot as I notice the vulgarity in it, then panic hits me as her thin arm reaches through the bars, taking hold of my leg. Her mouth opens with a faint murmur, then my eyes snap shut with pain as my ears start ringing, face contorting as my muscles tense at the cacophony. A few minutes feel like hours as I lay, tense, the sound assaulting me. As the sound dies down, quiet returns, and I notice that the ropes no longer dig into me.

I open my eyes slowly, looking down at my hands before me. "Ah, erm, thank you miss-" As I go to thank her, turning my head toward the bars, my face is far too close to hers, now pressed to the bars staring in at me expectantly. I push my torso away, breathing quickly with surprise.

"How curious, that you should shy away from me so much. I suppose my song was not enough then?" The disappointment in her eyes fades as her eyes begin to glow. "Is it because I am Lamaie, or..." Her talons run down the length of my leg. "...perhaps, because I am a woman?" My face flushes again, making Euryale laugh.

"It's...both! I'm not very gold with either, ok?" I blink my eyes again, trying to rid my vision of the alluring glow.

"Ah, how very~ cute, my shy Ziharku. Never having lain with another, you know naught how to handle one of my kind then, do you?" She reaches down to band about her waist, procuring a ring of keys. "All that keeps you from...enlightenment...is a set of rusted bars. What will you do?" She smiles in anticipation.

I look at the bars surrounding me, then back at her. "With my limbs unbound, I could just as easily use magic to break free."

Her grin grows wider. "We outfitted every containment room with something to drain the air of mana. Surely you noticed that?" I turn around and feel about for mana, but as she's said there's none to be found. I curse my luck. "And without a weapon..." I hear a clink from behind as she opens the lock on the door. "...you have means to resist~ me." _________________________________________________________ "Did I ever mention how much I hate these things?" Roselan lifts a Merrow above her head, hurling it into the incoming crowd.

"I could sleep them all if you guys would stop hitting them for a bit." Chihatora looks on in dismay as the few he's managed to put to sleep awake as their sisters crash into them.

"And I could kill them all if you two would stop making them move about and uhh I don't know, stop getting in front of me! This narrow passage is perfect for shooting through a few at once!"

After a few curses, Chihatora finally runs out in front, putting up a Manawell to block the passage entirely. "Ok, strategy time, before they finish off the last of my mana."

............. "Go!" The Manawell disapates as Roselan charges forward, arms guarding her head as she runs in a forward lean. From behind her, Artemiis shoots a hail of bullets to the immediate left and right of her, both keeping the shrieking claws at bay and drawing the attention of those surviving the volley.

Chihatora, having followed in Roselan's trail for a short duration, stops and holds, chanting as quickly as he can while the mana in the air surges and swells about him. Merrows and Lamia alike tear at the stone he's covered himself with, though gaining no purchase as in a flash of light, lightning surges through the crowd surrounding him.

Roselan looks back for a moment to see the hallway full of charred and twitching bodies. "Keep going, Juliet! Romeo won't wait for you forever!" Artemiis calls out down the hall.

"S-shut it Arty!" Roselan's face burning as red as the scarlet of her hair, she continues forward. ________________________________________________________ "Zihaaar~ku, don't be like that. There's nothing wrong with that~ at all."

"I-I-I keep telling you, it's not okay at all!" Backed into a corner, I jump up, kicking the walls behind me, projecting myself over the Lamia. I land just a few yalms behind her with a thud just before a flick of her tail sends me forward, landing face down.

"A shame, despite my usual charms, I simply cannot persuade you into this can I? No matter, sometimes I don't mind taking charge of the...situation."

Before I can push myself up, her hand is on the back of my neck, tail wrapping around my legs. My hands go to my sides, planting firmly as I try to push up, only to have her shift her weight to my neck, risking injury were I to continue the effort. 

"You have something I need~ Ziharku." Her free hand runs down my back, coming to lift my shirt. Her hand is cold on my back, sending chills down my spine.

"W-what are you doing?!"

"Oh~ just wondering where best to make my incision...." Her talons poke and prod at the exposed skin.

"....huh?"

"You, Ziharku, are one of the finest~ specimen in Idolator potential I've seen in quite some time. My intention was~ to have a more willing underling, but it seems I'll just have to take~ you under my wing with force." Sharp pain shoot through me as one of her claws stabs into me, a stream of blood pouring out, warm in contrast to the hand that sat there moments ago. "Hmm, no this simply won't do. I can't get all of your organs~ out from this side."

Her hand relaxes its grip slightly, tail gripping me as she flips me over, fingers digging back in as she pins me down. My breathing is short, desperate as I gasp for breath under the pressure. My vision blurs as my hands pull at hers, trying to rid my neck of the press. She smirks as her hand runs down my stomach. "This will do nicely~. In fact, I should be able to extract your soul from this side too." Her forked tongue slides over her lips as her hand raises, intent on gutting me. I close my eyes, bracing for the pain.

A crash at the door stops her hand mid swing. "Hm?" Another crash, and splinters flutter down from the door. A long creak echoes through the room as one of the heavy doors slowly slides open. Green eyes, cloaked in blood lust peer in from the shadow of the hallway. "First a stubborn eloper, and now an interloper? You two legs are just too much trouble!"

The door swiftly swings the rest of the way open, wood cracking as it impacts the wall. "What...do you think...you're doing....on top of him?" Despite my clouded vision, I can make out the terribly thick cloud of rage the surrounds her. Uh oh. 

Euryale's hand traces the outline of my stomach muscle. "Oh, did you want to do this instead~? Well then by all means, if you can remove me th-

A loud *WHACK* resounds as Roselan's bare fist impacts on Euryale's face, sending her flying into a wall ten yalms away. The grip she'd had on me sets me rolling in that direction limply, coughing as I can finally breath properly. "Rose...I can't...thank you enough..for-

“Curillaaa, it’s time to eat.” The tall frame of a Elvaan garbed in a Red Mage’s armor walks through the street searching for his daughter. “Just where did that girl disappear to…”

Barricades, burning in the streets.

"The shadows..."

Obscure figures, running. Clashing. Falling.

"I remember thinking, 'this is the end', but then..."

Then what? Certainly it wasn't, or you'd not even be here today.

"But where is here..?"

Tch, it figures you'd not know, so terribly reliant on sight. If only you could open your eyes....but that can wait...heh heh heh heh....

"Open my eyes? So I'm unconscious?"

Well you certainly aren't asleep, if that's what you mean. Back to the topic at hand though, what haaaave~ we here?

"It....an attack on the city. I was too young at the time to fight."

Tut tut tut, I won't have you lying to me.

"Lying? What do you mean?"

A memory repressed, rife with obscurity, with inaccuracy.

Figures, running. Clashing. Falling. Before me, two familiar shapes. They too, running. Clashing. Falling.

"I...don't want to see this."

But you do, you DO! Your very first taste...