The dying roar of the beast did little to aid it, its corpse now sliding down the wall and marking it red. The entire hallway behind it was stained red this way, any enemy that crossed her path met the same fate. Her swords seemed to float behind her, her movements swaying. Her body moved all on its own, hypnotized to follow what beckoned her. Deeper and deeper, where light no longer illuminated, where humes had given up on going any further. The deeper they went, the emptier she seemed--though at this point, whether he wanted to admit it or not, Keiran was starting to feel it as well.

Finally, Emiri came to a halt. He was surprised, but the mist coming from the room was so...[i]hostile[/i]. He dared himself to peek inside, but it was mostly empty, except for something right in the middle. His eyes widened as Emiri stepped forward, symbols appearing all over her skin. Another step, and several more symbols appeared on the ground, though these he recognized--together, they formed an ancient glyph that etched itself into the ground. She stopped, her hand extended, and several white glyphs would appear. Seals, it seemed, though they shattered far too easily. The brunette slowly lowered her hand for a moment, a wind surrounding her. Both of her arms reached outwards, the symbols glowing red. The glyph in the room activated as well, a whirlwind of mist forming.

Jaakuna and Emette were at the head of the group, the end in sight--literally. She couldn't help but curse herself in that moment, though the moment they stepped into the room, the possessed Emiri looked back at them with red eyes. "[color=mistyrose]That influence...![/color]" Emette let out a gasp, her hands over her mouth. "[color=mistyrose]Chaos cannot reach her, we must stop her before the ritual finishes![/color]"

"[color=#FFC0CB]F[/color][color=#F7BAC5]i[/color][color=#F0B4BF]n[/color][color=#E9AEBA]i[/color][color=#E1A8B4]s[/color][color=#DAA3AE]h[/color][color=#D39DA9]e[/color][color=#CB97A3]s[/color][color=#C4919D]?[/color] [color=#B58692]T[/color][color=#AE808D]h[/color][color=#A77A87]i[/color][color=#9F7481]s[/color] [color=#916976]w[/color][color=#896370]a[/color][color=#825D6B]s[/color] [color=#73525F]o[/color][color=#6C4C5A]v[/color][color=#654654]e[/color][color=#5E404F]r[/color] [color=#6C4C5A]l[/color][color=#73525F]o[/color][color=#7B5865]n[/color][color=#825D6B]g[/color] [color=#916976]a[/color][color=#986F7C]g[/color][color=#9F7481]o[/color][color=#A77A87],[/color] [color=#B58692]E[/color][color=#BD8C98]m[/color][color=#C4919D]e[/color][color=#CB97A3]t[/color][color=#D39DA9]-[/color][color=#DAA3AE]S[/color][color=#E1A8B4]e[/color][color=#E9AEBA]l[/color][color=#F0B4BF]c[/color][color=#F7BAC5]h[/color][color=#FFC0CB].[/color]" Emiri would speak, her voice mingled with another's. "[color=#FFC0CB]Y[/color][color=#F9BBC7]o[/color][color=#F4B7C3]u[/color] [color=#EAAFBB]t[/color][color=#E5ABB7]r[/color][color=#DFA7B3]i[/color][color=#DAA3AF]e[/color][color=#D59FAB]d[/color][color=#D09BA7],[/color] [color=#C5929F]b[/color][color=#C08E9B]u[/color][color=#BB8A97]t[/color] [color=#B1828F]y[/color][color=#AB7E8B]o[/color][color=#A67A87]u[/color] [color=#9C727F]h[/color][color=#976E7B]a[/color][color=#916977]v[/color][color=#8C6573]e[/color] [color=#825D6B]f[/color][color=#7D5967]a[/color][color=#775563]i[/color][color=#72515F]l[/color][color=#6D4D5B]e[/color][color=#684957]d[/color][color=#634553].[/color] [color=#634553]L[/color][color=#684957]e[/color][color=#6D4D5B]t[/color] [color=#775563]y[/color][color=#7D5967]o[/color][color=#825D6B]u[/color][color=#87616F]r[/color] [color=#916977]d[/color][color=#976E7B]e[/color][color=#9C727F]s[/color][color=#A17683]p[/color][color=#A67A87]a[/color][color=#AB7E8B]i[/color][color=#B1828F]r[/color] [color=#BB8A97]c[/color][color=#C08E9B]o[/color][color=#C5929F]n[/color][color=#CB97A3]s[/color][color=#D09BA7]u[/color][color=#D59FAB]m[/color][color=#DAA3AF]e[/color] [color=#E5ABB7]y[/color][color=#EAAFBB]o[/color][color=#EFB3BF]u[/color][color=#F4B7C3].[/color][color=#F9BBC7].[/color][color=#FFC0CB].[/color] [color=#FFC0CB]Y[/color][color=#F5B8C3]o[/color][color=#ECB1BC]u[/color] [color=#D9A2AD]m[/color][color=#CF9AA6]a[/color][color=#C6939F]y[/color] [color=#B38490]c[/color][color=#A97C89]u[/color][color=#A07582]r[/color][color=#966D7A]s[/color][color=#8D6673]e[/color] [color=#7A5764]m[/color][color=#704F5D]e[/color] [color=#5E414F]i[/color][color=#674856]n[/color] [color=#7A5764]t[/color][color=#835E6C]h[/color][color=#8D6673]e[/color] [color=#A07582]a[/color][color=#A97C89]f[/color][color=#B38490]t[/color][color=#BC8B97]e[/color][color=#C6939F]r[/color][color=#CF9AA6]l[/color][color=#D9A2AD]i[/color][color=#E2A9B5]f[/color][color=#ECB1BC]e[/color][color=#F5B8C3].[/color]"

As her words completed, something at the very core of Ivalice herself shifted. The entirety of the mines shook, and for a moment, it would seem as if an earthquake had taken place. Lorenzo let out a yelp as he narrowly missed getting hit by a falling rock, backing up against the wall. Grant's eyes widened, although he didn't understand what was happening, it was as if his own instinct was telling him to run away. He looked up, noticing the walls themselves changing colors. "[color=magenta]Zeromus! What's going on?![/color]" He called his Esper, hoping for some sort of answer.

[color=darkorchid][i]Zodiark has awakened.[/i][/color] Zeromus informed him. [color=darkorchid][i]Though...there seems to be more to it...all twelve Espers freed...but now that Zodiark is completely free, Ivalice has lost her balance, it would seem...[/i][/color]

The hell did that mean?!

[hr]

Nadeline emerged from the room, a disappointed expression on her face. She crossed her arms, her eyes closed as she contemplated her next action. As amusing as Reia's interactions with the Dalmascan Royal Family were, Nadeline didn't quite appreciate Reia constantly trying to lecture her into her role as Wesley's future queen. No, she needed some air anyway, she needed to compose herself properly before she would speak with Wesley.

The Dalmascan sun was as bright as ever, though the breeze was certainly a welcome. Taking a moment to get her thoughts together, she placed both her hands on the railing, admiring the city. In that moment, however, she could hear Ultima trying to tell her something. Before she could ask her to clarify, several pools of darkness formed on the streets. Her eyes widened as multiple monsters began to pour from them, causing a widespread panic. How had they gotten past the paling? The knights were quick to act, one already running inside, presumably to inform the royal family. Several of the monsters would begin to scale the walls of the castles, and Nadeline jumped back as one tried to reach her.

"[color=coral]Those are...![/color]" They looked very much like the monsters that they had encountered some time ago in Archades. Her hand went to her side, though the emptiness reminded her that she didn't have her weapon. Snapping her fingers, her crown formed on her head, and as three of the creatures leapt towards her, she raised her hand, a Holy coming down on them. Turning on her heel, she sprinted down the hall, several windows shattering as they would break in. Wrenching open the door to her room, she slammed it shut, going straight to her belongings and pulling out her rapier.

The door broke down, and she turned around, weapon aloft. [I][color=lemonchiffon]And so the song has ended. The thirteenth Esper...awakened...[/color][/I] She could hear Ultima whisper in disbelief, though she instead side stepped an incoming attack. Her rapier glowed as she charged forward, her weapon coated in Holy as she would knock them all out of the room. As she ran to the hallway, she could see their numbers quickly rising. [I][color=lemonchiffon]My light will bless you. Do your best not to die.[/color][/I]

What a nice way to say 'be careful'. Nadeline shook her head, though she executed several strikes against the closest monster. She leapt into the air, her rapier stabbing another through the head. If it was a fight they wanted, it would be a fight they would get.