She set down the arrowhead beside her, taking in a moderate breath in and out. Though the thought of the arrow was on her mind, she wouldn’t spend much longer thinking about it. There were more important things to focus on. For one, who had attacked her? And the more important question was [i]why[/i] did they attack her? To her knowledge, Savayna and Grant had arrived unnoticed, not counting the showy display she gave everyone when she attacked those at the main gate. Speaking of which..

After moments of silence, Savayna spoke. “[color=lightblue][b]Something I found odd, Grant. I wasn’t stealthy at all with those floating machines, so why didn’t we meet resistance? Or rather,” she quipped, “why didn’t [i]I[/i] meet resistance?[/b][/color]” Savayna asked Grant, looking at him thoughtfully. “[color=lightblue][b]And another thing. Why didn’t they persue us? I don’t remember much, but I heard Zeromus release a battle cry when I would come in and out of consciousness. This just doesn’t add up.[/b][/color]” Savayna was struggling with the fact that she could remember Zeromus but not why the arrowhead beside her seemed so Occuria-damn familiar.

[hr]

When it had happened, Wesley had little time. Save the innocents. Save Nadeline. Save yourself. Ensure everyone went unharmed. Ensure that no man, woman, or child was left behind. That’s what Wesley had promised himself in that small window of time before he and Nadeline had summoned their Espers. 

Or so they tried. Wesley wouldn’t get that chance nor Nadeline, because in the moment that followed, something completely unknown to them [at the time] had passed through them. It was a cloud of black smoke that reeked of putrid flesh. Such a foul stench that Wesley never got the chance to summon Hashmaal, nor did Nadeline get that chance to summon Ultima. 

But there was still a chance. There was no chance for the innocents. As much as it weighed on his soul, as much as it made him want to give up, Wesley couldn’t. Not when Nadeline could still be saved. Selflessly, Wesley, as he and Nadeline descended, cast a spell unlike ever before. Completely out of his wheelhouse, WEsley raised his hand up, a series of dozen of glyphs trailing along his arm, surrounding his body. And then his body itself became a glyph - a seal, if you will - and cast Nadeline away from him. This seal surrounded her in a brilliant orange and white light. As Nadeline would find herself several paces away from the ship, Wesley would look on as she would land ten paces tot he left of where the airship was poised to land.

I am sorry, father. I will not be able to lead our country after all.

[color=39b54a]I’m afraid you’re wrong,[/color] Wesley heard a voice say. It wasn’t Hashmaal. It was..

“[b][color=fff79a]Father?![/color][/b]”

[color=39b54a]you did a selfless thing for that girl, Wesley. You really did use that one spell that I told you never to use, huh?[/color]

“[b][color=fff79a]It was my only choice.[/color][/b]”

[color=39b54a]I recognize this to be a fact. And you were in the right to use it, for without it, she would have died from the impact.[/color]

“[color=fff79a][b]Guess both of us are fools for love.[/b][/color]"

Jonathan laughed.[color=39b54a] Wesley, it seems you are ready.[/color]

“[color=fff79a][b]Ready for what?[/b][/color]”

[color=39b54a]The Order Seal.[/color]

“[b][color=fff79a]What is that?[/color][/b]”

[color=39b54a]I’ve not the time to explain, but just let me show you instead.[/color]

As Wesley would look down confused, he saw something. For a moment, a large glyph appeared before him. Acting faster than Wesley’s eyes or mind could, the glyph passed through him. At first, he felt pain unlike any other pain he had ever felt. It was like someone was skinning him alive. But then it shifted. The glyph, or seal molded inside of him, and that’s where he understood. A wave of knowledge, of power, of balance merged with his soul. Outwardly, Wesley would appear to have a strong, magickal aura, mist twisting and contorting the air around him.

And as Wesley was mere yards from the ground, he would prepare for impact.

[i]CRASH![/I]

He made impact,landing on top of the airship. He would connect with it. Hard. He felt bones snap, joints breaking, muscles tearing, and blood coming from all limbs. He was flung several paces deep into the crater that was twice as high, thrice as deep. He lay beside bodies piled high - bodies of Bangaa males, of Viera, of Moogle,  of Seeq - all bloodied. Some had decapitated heads, some had blood still warm, and some were - some were still alive. By the gods..

They’re still alive! 

Wesley tried to move, but he didn’t budge. Everything hurt. Head to toe, everything hurt. Surges of sharp agony was the least of his worries. Wesley was bleeding out. And just as Nadeline was under the impression he was fine. She saw him, but had she not realized he was severely hurt. 

“[color=fff79a][b]Nadeline…[/b][/color]” Wesley managed to say something finally. His voice, while weak, had volume. It would no doubt reach her.