As she would ask her first question, Zodiark couldn’t help as he lowly chuckled at Nadeline’s question. “[color=364f54]Of course you would ask about it.[/color]” 

He has studied this particular group of Ivalicians for a long time and there was definitely something daring and special about them. Specifically, Nadeline was the kind of Hume who valued the training of the mind above all else. Her potent magick was surely impressive, but it was the knowledge she had mentally that allowed her to know all of the little things about Espers and Ivalice’s history. So, it did seem very fitting that she would use the first ‘wish’ to ask about Zodiark’s Tome.

Looking at the girl, Zodiark let out an amused sigh. “[color=364f54]I’m disappointed, Hume Girl. you would think you’d recognize your own tome. But perhaps you never noticed that it was switched out, did you?[/color]” Zodiark said, giving Nadeline a dose of truth that he promised. “[color=364f54]Yes, that’s right. The Tome that you yourself had for the longest time was, in fact, The Grand Tome of Ivalice. It bonded to you and your memories and the memories that of your friends and family. This tome is a special one, for it does not display pre-written history but rather acts as a conduit for the desires of whomever holds it and displays such information for them.[/color]” Zodiark would reveal to her, answering her first question.

While he let that sink in, Zodiark would simply wait. Whether she wanted to retort or just skip ahead to her second question would be all on her. He was simply going to give her the time that she needed to soak that all in. It sure was one hell of a bomb to drop on her, that’s for damn sure.

[hr]

Before all of this happened, Jaakuna had asked himself and anyone who would listen if what he was experiencing was a dream. He didn’t want to believe Emiri was gone. But now, he found himself asking himself the same question. Not because of how Emiri was just a few moments ago, but how surreal this all seemed. He wasn’t sure if this truly was reality or if he was perhaps still unconscious and if he woke up, she wouldn’t be - well, his Emiri. The same Emiri that he had fallen in love with.

And as he asked himself over and over again, he heard Belias. [color=crimson][i]It’s real. Make no mistake about it, Jaakuna. What you’re experiencing now - the joy of holding her in your arms -that’s all real. You did it. Bask in your glory, Prodigal Sun. you freed The Time Scion from his grasp.[/i][/color]

Those words would melt into his mind and made Jaakuna finally happy. In all the pain and strife he went through, everything was okay now. She was okay now. She was free of Zodiark. She was free of his influence and he couldn’t be happier.

And then, he saw Keiran -he heard keiran.  He heard him inqiure to Emiri, then she would simply tell him to deal with it. “[color=ed1c24]Wait, what do you mean ‘this one’? I am not just ‘this one’ - I am [I]THE[/i] one,[/color]” Jaakuna would clarify, obviously defensive.

[color=crimson][i]Idiot.[/i][/color] Belias said, giving Jaakuna a mental scowl.

As he would huff even more, this time at Belias’comment, Jaakuna looked to Keiran. Seemed as though he was now the one without a purpose. Or maybe he was just unsure what to do. He stood up and approached Keiran and pinned him against the wall and had a hand gripping his neck. For a moment, Jaakuna had his mind set on obliterating this man from existence. His free hand went ablaze of deep red and it was being poised to punch Keiran. Since he was no longer attached to Emiri, it wouldn’t hurt her. So, why not do it?

“[color=ed1c24]Give me a reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now?[/color]” Jaakuna asked Keiran, “[color=ed1c24]I want you to give me a solid reason. If you can convince me, I won’t slaughter you right now. I’ll let you live your life however you want to. I’ll take Emiri with me and that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I [b][u]will[/u][/b] kill you.[/color]” Jaakuna said as he held his flaming fist just inches away from Keiran’s face, the flames reflecting in the young male’s empty eyes.