Suddenly, as death magicks surged their way through Michel’s body, Zodiark noticed something absolutely wrong. It wasn’t exactly what Zalera’s power was like--not really, anyways. It was, like Aloa’s voice, distorted and mixed. Ancient Viera mist mixed with the Death Esper’s own intended to finish the job that Shion had started. It was different from Shion’s magicks, though. Hers was purely purification-based. Zodiark could tell that his brother’s approach was a lot more vicious and vile. Much like Zodiark’s own ambition, it dug deep into the connection that he had with Michel, no matter how guarded it was, the piercing magicks got past all defenses and now had the Keeper of Precepts on his knees, gripping his chest tightly as he grunted out. It also caused him to start to pant heavily.

And as it dug further, Zodiark fell on all fours. 

“[color=0076a3]What’s happening?[/color]” Hamut asked, worried as he saw Zodiark almost cry out from the pain. Whatever Aloa was doing not only halted his master’s attack completely but it also forced him to collapse to the ground. 

Hamut gripped his blade and swung at Aloa. The viera would stop it with her claw, though it seemed she wasn’t quite interested in Hamut so much as she was in Zodiark. She would acknowledge him as she held his blade steady. “[color=deepskyblue]Your master so loves to take that which does not belong to him,[/color]” Shion would inform Hamut as Vlyn would put her down, the male viera healing her wound. “[color=deepskyblue]My Chamomile is not a tool to be used at your leisure.[/color]”

Zodiark fought through the pain, standing up despite every inch he moved ripping through his hold on Michel. “[color=36454f]Your Chamomile sought [i]me[/i] out. Like your poor Rio and like Jackson, Michel was the one who called out to me. All I did was answer his lust for power.[/color]” Zodiark struggled to say that. 

There was probably some truth to what he said, but just as Zodiark loved to cause pain, Shion reveled in the opportunity to talk down to him. “[color=deepskyblue]Truly? Then why are you struggling so much to keep him under your thumb? Ah, forgive me, my simple hume mind couldn’t possibly comprehend whatever thoughts cross your opalescent mind.[/color]” 

“[color=36454f]You’re right about one thing, Blue Rose,[/color]” Zodiark said through panted breath, “[color=36454f]you could never understand what it’s like to be me--what it’s like to be perfection. You could never understand what it’s like to be the greatest in all of existence. This is why you could never possibly control [b]my[/b] power. That is why I chose Rio over you. Unlike you, [i]he[/i] understood what it took. He wasn’t a weakling like you. But maybe he was. Perhaps, like every man before him, he was too weak to handle my Seal.[/color]” Zodiark marathoned past that but not without consequences. He felt his hold over Michel slipping the more he spoke. Though, as he looked to Aloa. “[color=36454f]Great and powerful holder of Zalera, you didn’t know this, did you?[/color]” Zodiark let out a grunted laugh. “[color=36454f]I guess the Blue Rose of Utena never really does change no matter how much she boasts.[/color]” As Zodiark spoke, Hamut couldn’t help but feel he was saying too much.

The viera would look at Shion out of the corner of her eye. Vlyn’s healing spell finished, though Shion remained steady. No time like the present to confront your demons--literally and figuratively. The blue haired woman looked at her blackened hand wistfully. “[color=deepskyblue]Yes...just like them, I, too, sought power once,[/color]” She stated, forming a fist. “[color=deepskyblue]Though you’re wrong about one thing: Rio didn’t have what it took, but I did. You knew he was my weakness...and purged him in an attempt to strengthen me. Too bad instead it opened my eyes to the monster you truly were.[/color]”

So it was true. Vlyn had thought as much when the Garif had addressed her, but he didn’t think it was an actual reality. “[color=thistle]The Ashlesha Ascendant…[/color]” He chuckled, an eye closed, though he supposed he would have to be the bearer of bad news. “[color=thistle]We viera live longer than humes. The very reason Aloa left the Wood was to find the Ascendant...to find the one rumored to have been chosen by the gods--chosen by you.[/color]”

“[color=plum]We were less than a passing glance,[/color]” Aloa informed Zodiark. “[color=plum]But long have I watched you. Your disturbance goes back to years...and when my people refused to take action, i chose to do so myself. Ivalice herself has chosen me--and so my own plan would turn as time did.[/color]”

“[color=deepskyblue]In other words, [i]Master[/i], Aloa knew long before you even had it as a thought,[/color]” Shion would lay it outright, though her expression would darken. “[color=deepskyblue]I admit, I would like to take credit, but while the Treaty Blade was my idea, it was Aloa who brought it fully into fruition. One step ahead of me--yes, I will admit that. For all my power, I never could truly come out on top. Luckily for me, Aloa was always a step ahead of [i]you[/i].[/color]” She stated, beckoning towards the crystal around them. If one would look closely, traces of Aloa’s magicks were all around them. “[color=deepskyblue]I haven’t changed. But I have changed my company.[/color]”

It took a long moment for it to register with Zodiark. How could this have gone past him? Was it because he didn’t anticipate Aloa’s role in all of this or was it simply he didn’t think the Viera were capable of something so clever and so sneaky? That wasn’t their way. And yet, as he just heard it himself, there was no denying it. The ones who he should have gone after from the beginning was not the Blue Rose. It wasn’t even Jackson’s band of misfits. The ones he should have dealt with were the Viera. Those abominations that shouldn’t be allowed to breathe the same air that he breathes should’ve been his main target. He was careless. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

Zodiark had only one thing on his mind now: to make sure these Viera and Aloa didn’t make a fool out of him again. And so, despite the continued rising levels of anguish, he rushed forward. His movements were slow, but he reached out, aiming for Aloa. As he did, however, Aloa would take Hamut by his blade, callously throwing him aside. Rather than run, Aloa went straight for Zodiark, her normal hand grasping him by the throat, though it was meant to hold him steady rather than harm.

Vlyn would snap his fingers, revitalizing Shion’s previously wilted roses, and they would spring to life, wrapping their vines around Michel’s body. Aloa would stare at Zodiark, as if looking into his very soul, her cape billowing around them as they were surrounded by her magicks. “[color=plum]Your rage will be the end of you, although I will comfort you with a thought. I will not be the one to strike you down--that honor will belong to the Prodigal Son. I am but a stepping stone, though that humiliation in itself will suffice for now,[/color]” She informed him rather cooly, her expression stony. “[color=plum][i]Begone, he of darkness, and come forth you who would Whisper[/i]![/color]”

Aloa released him, though she would slam her palm onto Michel’s chest, the light once again erupting through him. As it did, a shadow formed behind him, screeching at unbelievable sounds. In that same moment, Michel’s body fell forward. Without a host, it was, at least for the moment, an unconscious body.  Meanwhile, the hovering shadow that could only be deduced as Zodiark was nothing but a floating hume-sized shadow of absolutely blackened darkness that had eyes like maroon. As it screeched more, it swirled around Hamut, empowering the Archadian.

And as Zodiark found a new host, Hamut rose from where he was and raised his non-sword arm up and conjured up a mixture of powerful magicks that was his own and Zodiark’s. Powered by Exodus’ seal and Zodiark’s Seal, Meteor came from below, glowing bright orange and surrounded by a pitch black aura. It came down for the group, though at the point of contact, Hamut would be already gone.

“[color=deepskyblue]Always with the dramatics, are we?![/color]” Shion couldn’t help but get frustrated, though as Vlyn would raise his hand, the crystal glowed, shattering the meteor.. “[color=deepskyblue]...an illusion?[/color]”

“[color=thistle]No, but viera magicks are much more than hume ones--even with Zodiark’s ‘enhancements’, he doesn’t quite understand how to utilize the crystal’s power.[/color]” He stated, kneeling down to pick up the unconscious Michel. “[color=thistle]What’s next?[/color]”

Aloa narrowed her eyes at the scene, but it seemed Hamut had truly fled. She let out a small sigh; she had hoped to capture him, but it was of no importance. “[color=plum]We go to him,[/color]” She stated as both her flaw and cape would dissipate, her red eye going back to its usual brown. “[color=plum]Although...I am not too pleased you would reveal my place.[/color]” She couldn’t help but give Shion a look.

The woman gave her a genuine smile. “[color=deepskyblue]Forgive me. I could not hold myself back...it was satisfying to rub it in his face,[/color]” She outright admitted, though she would regain her usual serious composure. “[color=deepskyblue]Next, we deal with the Seed...and see to it that Fandan
iel remains where he needs to be.[/color]”

Vlyn shrugged. “[color=thistle]To Dalmasca, then?[/color]” He asked.

“[color=plum]Indeed. We have carefully dismantled one problem. Yet our work is not done,[/color]” Aloa stated, holding out her arm as her teleportation spell spun around them. Their surroundings morphed, the Mist blinding until instead of crystal, they stood on stone, people bustling around them. Few paid them any mind, though the castle was in view. “[color=plum]We will ask the royal family to spare us a room. Wesley should be awake now.[/color]”

Shion nodded, though she winced, holding her abdomen. “[color=deepskyblue]Next time...I’ll get him for sure.[/color]”

Before anything would happen, Michel’s body, which was over Vlyn’s back, started to fidget. Additionally, he was coming to. He coughed and his eyes would open. “[color=teal]Where...am I?[/color]” He asked lowly, his voice still weak.

Shion would place her hand on his cheek comfortingly. “[color=deepskyblue]Be still, you are with me in Rabanastre,[/color]” She soothed him, speaking gently. “[color=deepskyblue]Tell me, what is the last thing you remember?[/color]”

“[color=teal]I was with Meli. and then I heard a whisper of sorts. It goes blank after that.[/color]” Michel tried to remember, but each time he tried, he was met with static. “[color=teal]Tell me, what happened to me? How did I end up in Dalmasca?[/color]” Michel asked confused.

“[color=plum]We came from Giruvegan, where you had followed Shion to,[/color]” Aloa informed him bluntly, ignoring Shion’s annoyed look. “[color=plum]Your actions were not your own, instead you bended to Zodiark’s will. He stated as such--is it true?[/color]”

He started to remember. Yes, the reason he was with Meli. “[color=teal]I think…[/color]” Michel’s eyes went to Shion’s. “[color=teal]My Mistress, I must apologize. I did this willingly.[/color]” He regretfully admitted, gesturing Vlyn to let him down. 

The viera was glad to put him down, letting out a sigh of relief, though he was practically shoved out of the way as Shion would step closer to Michel. “[color=deepskyblue]Why?[/color]” She asked, unable to hide her disappointment, and outright ignoring Vlyn’s expression of annoyance.

Michel took a deep breath, preparing himself for his explanation, though Shion being so close to him didn’t make it any easier. “[color=teal]Before you berate me, allow me to explain. I was not doing this because I wanted to. I understand the risk involved, but I stumbled upon something in Archadia. Actually, my father told me about it. An old scripture from the the beginning of Ivalice.[/color]” Michel said, “[color=teal]in the scripture, it detailed the Espers, their three stages of their Seals, and something called the Word of Ivalice.[/color]” Michel tried to recall exactly what it said. “[color=teal]Mistress, it also stated that the way to truly know Zodiark was to allow the beast to take control of your body. Should your will be strong enough, you may understand the truth of his soul. I admit, it was a gamble, but I found out something important…[/color]”

Aloa raised both her eyebrows, clearly amused. “[color=plum]The Word is hume knowledge? Now that’s a surprise,[/color]” She mused, though she would put that to the side, sensing Shion’s impatience. “[color=plum]You were able to connect to him? I’ve underestimated you. What did you learn?[/color]”

“[color=teal]The Zodiark the legend states was misinformed. He is not the real Zodiark. I suspected when I was reading the scripture, but it was proven to me when he took control.  The one who calls himself Zodiark is actually the reincarnation of Vayne Solidor--or what remains of him after Venat’s control.[/color]” 

“[color=plum]A remnant of ages past...I see,[/color]” Aloa seemed to understand.

“[color=thistle]This doesn’t surprise you?[/color]” Vlyn asked.

“[color=plum]Of course it does. An unbound remnant is a large threat, however...I fear that is not what I mean.[/color]”

Shion shook her head. “[color=deepskyblue]What she means is that the true Zodiark is still running amok. No matter--I will continue to deal with the demon.[/color]” She stated boldly.

“[color=plum]I will...search, then. Zodiark is...too much of a wild card to be let loose,[/color]” Aloa admitted, turning away from the group with a thoughtful expression. “[color=plum]I trust you will guide your mistress, Michel.[/color]”

“[color=thistle]We just got back together, and you’re leaving?[/color]” Vlyn couldn’t help but whine, though he would nod. “[color=thistle]Oh well...guess we have our work cut out for us.[/color]”

Michel simply nodded to Aloa as she would depart. “[color=teal]We could use a rest, I think.[/color]” Michel suggested. With everything that has transpired, some rest to rejuvenate their energy was the top priority. Shion nodded in agreement, beckoning for him to follow her. She walked without fear: now that she knew exactly who the enemy was, she needed to continue no matter what.