Savayna was just as wary of the Caeruleum and Sanguine. Though she didn’t have as much time invested in finding Sylvester as Nadeline had, she stood ready to strike should the two prove to be untrustworthy. At the moment, however, she simply stood next to her Rozarrian friend.

Meanwhile, Caeruleum seemed to grow weary. He sighed exasperatedly. “[color=dodgerblue]For such a well-educated girl, you can be so stupid sometimes.[/color]” Caeru seemed to have snapped, “[color=dodgerblue]are you really that clouded by your need to find Sylvester that you never noticed what’s happening to Wesley?[/color]” Caeru took in a deep breath, turning around as he would try to find his center.

Though, as he would, Sanguine stepped forward. “[color=830303]Rozarrian girl, please do not hate my brother. His tact is not what ours is,[/color]” Sanguine apologized for his twin brother. “[color=830303]Our master told us specific instructions exactly how to grab you off of the street. You see, there was another reason why he came back to Dalmasca. Of course, you know one of the reasons: to live up to his destiny as heir to the throne, but that was a gesture to save face. The truth of it all is that, the night before he left for Dalmasca, he received word from one of our spies inside the [i]false[/i] Brotherhood faction of who was responsible for what happened to you and more importantly, how our master ended up in his comatosed state.[/color]”

Savayna spaced out throughout a lot of what he said, though she heard that last bit about the one who was responsible for usurping the Brotherhood from Wesley. “[color=lightblue]]And who might that be?[/color]”

“[color=830303]We do not know his name, only that he goes by The Protector. I imagine he’s the one that Leviathan partnered up with, Lady Savayna.[/color]” Sanguine implied, looking at Savayna.

“[color=lightblue]Are you trying to say that this...Protector is the reason why my father is dead?[/color]”

“[color=830303]That’s exactly what I’m saying. But furthermore, my queen, Wesley knew all of this and…[/color]” Sanguine took a breath in. “[color=830303]Our master did not want to believe the rumors are true, so that’s why Hashmal did what he did.[/color]”

“[color=lightblue]What did Hashmal do?[/color]”

“[color=830303]He gave Wesley a fighting chance. He--[/color]” Just as Sanguine was speaking, he was suddenly impaled from the back as a black sword pierced through his chest. His eyes were wide. He looked back, though before he could make out exactly who it was they were gone and he staggered forward. The sword was still in his chest and he started to cough up blood. He reached to Nadeline. He was able to grab her hand. As he did, his body faded away, the black sword being the only thing left behind.

As Savayna picked up the sword, she sensed something from it. A dark, vile mist similar to Zodiark but even more ancient was coursing through the blade. Before she could say anything, there came another sword for Caeru, though he dodged it. He looked over to Savayna and Nadeline. Reaching out he brought them close to him. “[color=dodgerblue]He comes back. Please, protect our master. Tell him that his faithful servants tried but The Protector came for us.”[/color] 

Before they could even get a word in, Caeru surrounded them in a field of Mist and in the final moments before everything went black, the sight of a cloaked figure with red eyes stabbed Caeru in the same way that it had Sanguine.

And then there was nothingness.
[hr]
The Dark Castle in the Sky, while it had always had a dark field of mist surrounding it, was abnormally melancholy. It was causing ripples all over the east of Ivalice; from the marshlands of Tchita to the Port of Balfonheim. Storms raged on, lightning striking the ports and fires starting all over all lands. One could wager this was a reflection of Zodiark’s own strife and anger.

He sat in his throne, sulking and surrounded by his pitch black Mist. Though, as he sat there, in came Robur, his loyal Lion Knight. His metal armor clanked on the stone ground. He would bend the knee as he stopped in front of his master.

“[color=cc5500]Master Zodiark, our sources on the ground say she has the sword.[/color]”

“[color=364f54]Yes, Robur, I’m well aware.[/color]”

 Zodiark wasn’t being told anything new. He knew about The Blue Rose getting the Sword of Kings. He knew exactly where she was. Shion knew that he knew she had the sword. Still, it didn’t stop her from doing whatever she was planning on doing. Though, it was a curious thought. She was at Jahara and was with the male viera. Whatever she had in mind might work. The real question was if Zodiark should let her do it or stop her. He most certainly could, but [i]would[/i] was the question.

[hr]While Cassandra frantically went searching around the room, the others just looked on as she kinda lost her center and all because of Keiran not in the room. Did she really hold him in the highest of priorities and instead forgot about her brother? Jackson didn’t understand it. Gods, if he had to marry someone that loose in the head, he might just have Savayna kill him before that happens.

Though the queen didn’t notice, the others saw ALoa had returned. And from what she just said, it seemed as though the time has come to cure Wesely. However, there was just one problem with that: Cassandra heard none of it. In fact, she was glowing and not in the way you’d want her to. Her Mist activated and eyes were bright with orange light. Her face was as if wrath itself became Cassandra.

“[color=mediumpurple]Nothing happens until that Abomination returns to this room![/color]” Cassandra roared, huffing heavily.

Jackson would step forward, though he did hear Belias’ voice repeat [color=crimson][i]Whatever you do, don’t let it be the same you did to that Maester.[/i][/color] He knew that of course. Jackson knew that he couldn’t handle this as Jaakuna would. He had to handle it with care. He looked back to Emiri, mouthing ‘please forgive me’

And then he did the unthinkable. Jackson took Cassandra’s face in both of his hands and he locked lips with her. A passionate kiss that lasted for about five seconds and then her mist was gone. Her crazed look went down to one of neutral calmness and--well, her entire body was shaking as if the most wonderful thing happened to her. 

“[color=ed1c24]Cassandra, Aloa is ready to cure Wesley.[/color]” Jackson smiled at Cassandra.

“[color=mediumpurple]O-oh okay,[/color]” Cassandra stuttered, still recovering from that surprise kiss from Jackson. “[color=mediumpurple]Please, Miss Aloa, proceed as planned.[/color]”

Jackson would then go over to Emiri. “[color=ed1c24]I had no choice. She was ready to destroy us all.[/color]” Jackson sighed, avoiding Emiri’s gaze in fear of what she might do to him if he did.

Just as Jackson had submitted to the thought of Emiri likely scolding him mentally, he felt a familiar mist. “[color=ed1c24]Oh Gods, not again![/color]” For a moment, Jaakuna had come back out as he covered his head with his arms and whimpered quietly. However, as nothing happened to him, he would finally open his eyes and he saw that nothing happened to him. In fact, as he would look in front of him, he saw what everyone saw. “[color=ed1c24]Nadeline, Savayna--where did you two come from?[/color]”