[center][color=9ACD32][h3]Xyster- Crocus Streets[/h3][/color][/center]

Unwittingly, and in anticipation of the next obstacle to appear before her, Xyster passed Merlina right by.  She continued her trek down the emptied Crocus streets, trying to put aside the vibe of loneliness that emanated from between the cracks of cobblestone.  All in all, she hadn't been in the beautiful capitol of Fiore for long, but it still felt acutely wrong to see shuttered windows, unmanned carts, devoid cafes, and an overall paucity of the people that made a network of bricks and mortar into a living, breathing city.  In the maze formerly known as Crocus, there was only adversity to be found, instead of the brimming and inspiring events of vestiges that the Dullahan loved.  Her face betrayed a growing worry.  Where were the enemies?  Was something big, even bigger than one of the largest carnivores to ever live, slouching its way toward her even now?

Xyster both craved and dreaded finding an opponent that would push her to her limits.  As with all users of Reaper Magic, she had a contract with the forces of death, and when it expired, so would she.  The Dullahan was living on borrowed time, and the clock was ticking.  That, however, wasn't the half of it.

The smile had long since vanished from her face as she powerwalked through the city, replaced by a sharp-toothed frown that made her look rather sharklike in a strangely comical way.  Her roving emerald eyes took in every detail in sight, even as her concern mounted.  The sense that she was doing something wrong had become a tangible presence in her mind, a stinging pain...or was that a headache?  Either way, it was irritating and distracting.  It did not, however, prevent her from looking up and discovering an enormous flying boat diving straight toward her.  Finally!  A new, wicked ear-to-ear grin appeared as she cried, [color=9ACD32]”My next opponent, at last!  Prepare to meet your maker, vile contraption!”[/color]  The Harvester appeared out of thin air, and she flourished it, imbuing herself with that protective black aura.  Her weapon was leveled at the incoming ship, menacing enough to cause deep fear, if only her foe wasn't an inanimate object.  After a moment, this realization settled in, and Xyster rolled her eyes.  [color=9ACD32]”Lord, I'm such an idiot,”[/color] she moaned, banishing the Harvester,  [color=9ACD32]“That thing must have people on it.  Probably up there for camerawork.  Something went wrong.  Instead of wrecking it, I'll save it!  But how..?”[/color]  

Well, first things first.  Some elevation was needed.  Xyster scrambled to the top of the nearest building, nimbly making use of a planter, the doorframe, and several windowsills.  Once on the roof, she considered her options.  Potentially, she could leap to the ship in-flight, grab anyone she saw, and get them to safety one by one, but that wouldn't prevent the ship from crashing into the city and causing billions of Jewel in property damage.  As the image of the boat plowing through buildings and homes, potentially with people inside, flashed through her head, she winced.  There would be nothing redeeming in deaths like those, and only bitter tragedy.  [color=9ACD32]”No,”[/color] she muttered, thinking aloud.  [color=9ACD32]”I'll have to move the ship somewhere else.  But where can I put it...and how will I move it?  My magic isn't suited to this.”[/color]  In tune to the chaotic noises from above growing louder and more intense, so too did her state of mind.  There was nothing really that she could do, personally.  She needed help.”[/color]

Fortunately, Xyster wasn't the only one drawn by the calamitous spectacle.  A few streets over from her, towering above most of the buildings, came the familiar gigantic shape of Salvoy the World, with his middle-aged summoner Nash sitting on his shoulder.  From the looks of it, the dynamic duo had already seen the careening airship and decided to step in and stop it themselves.  They certainly had the brute strength to stop the out-of-control vehicle, if such a thing could be done.  Still, their arrival ticked Xyster off somewhat.  Saving the ship had been her idea!  [color=9ACD32]”Hey!”[/color]  No response.  Xyster began to run across the roof, every step threatening to send loose shingles flying, and leaped across a narrow back lot to another roof.  When she was in range, she called to the pair again, and this time they turned toward her expecting a fight.  [color=9ACD32]”Hey!  I know we're opponents, but we ought to work together to save that airship.  Both our guilds were scoring low yesterday; if we do something cool, we might both come out of this event with great scores!”[/color]  Xyster was very pleased with her line of reasoning.

Nash was convinced.  [color=4682b4]”Fine by me.  But we've got a problem.  Salvoy can carry the airship, but it's coming in too fast for him to grab.  Do you have a way to slow it down?”[/color]  His eyes were on the ship—there wasn't much time left.

Putting a finger to her chin, the Dullahan considered.  [color=9ACD32]”Keheheh, I'll see what I can do.  But I need to be in a certain mood to do it; prerequisites and all that.  Give me the best insult you've got, sailor!”[/color]

Shrugging, Nash obliged.  He did, however, add in a clever bit of his own.  [color=4682b4]”That ship thinks you're a bony freak and your parents never loved you!”[/color]

A sudden fire sparked in Xyster's eyes.  Truth to be told, it was difficult to tell if she was angry or laughing.  [color=9ACD32]”You take that baaaaaaaaack!”[/color]  She rose off the ground, floating like a marionette, silhouetted in a purplish umbra.  [color=9ACD32]”Balberith!”[/color]  A wave of purplish force blasted forward and intercepted the crashing ship seconds before it would have bulled into Crocus.  Immediately the entire vehicle was wreathed in a deathly corona, and for three seconds it moved slower than tar, as if caught in a dreamlike trance.  In that moment, Salvoy jogged forward, reached up, and grabbed the bottom of the hull.  Grunting in effort, he said, [b][color=4682b4]”Where....do I put it?”[/color][/b]  Xyster climbed up the giant whale and onto one of his arms, looking for a safe place.   She appeared quite recovered from her momentary...whatever that was.  [color=9ACD32]”Hmm...find a park or something, or use the moat thing that's around the mountain with the Doma Flau!”[/color]

Salvoy groaned and began to walk.  The ship, now freed of the worn-off, Balberith suspension, was exceedingly heavy.  [b][color=4682b4]”I don't know if I can make it that far...too heavy!  I feel like the weight of the World's on my shoulders.”[/color][/b]  He grinned as he plodded forward.  Even in dire times he could pull out a joke.  [b][color=4682b4]”Seriously though...if we run into any more elephants, we might be...done for.  We might...need more help.”[/color][/b]