Vlyn let out a small groan, his hands stretched above him. He then relaxed, gazing upon Karolina in front of him. At Aloa’s instruction, he had returned to Stigma to keep her updated on the current situation. “[color=orange]I thank you for coming all this way just to inform me,[/color]” Karolina sighed, a worried expression on her face. “[color=orange]I only pray everything with the treaty goes well. I cannot shake this dread no matter what I do.[/color]”

So Lady Karolina was feeling it as well. Vlyn couldn’t really say it was comforting, his hand nervously scratching the back of his head. “[color=lavender]Aloa thought it best to keep you up to date. She wishes for Lorenzo to return to your side once things in Dalmasca have settled, though it may be later rather than sooner,[/color]” He admitted.

“[color=orange]Of course,[/color]” Karolina understood, her gaze turning out to the window. “[color=orange]My only concern is…[/color]” Her voice trailed off as her eyes widened. “[color=orange]What is…?![/color]”

Vlyn followed her gaze, an equal shock taking him as the screams of the people would finally hit them. He threw the window open to get a clearer look. Monsters littered the streets, attacking anything with a pulsing heartbeat. The creatures were cloaked in a saturated darkness, nimble, powerful, giving the many knights that had taken to the streets a challenge. Letting out a curse, Vlyn immediately jumped back from the window as several of the monsters leapt up towards the castle, their claws buried in stone.

One would approach the window, though Vlyn clawed right through it, sending it back. He gasped as a pair broke through, though as he turned towards one, a Holy spell erupted over it. He turned to see Karolina with her hand outstretched. She hiked up her dress and took off running, leaving Vlyn to follow suit. He could hear the sounds of glass shattering, though he continued to follow Karolina. He watched as several mages approached her, to which she finally came to a halt. 

“[color=orange]Ready the palings![/color]” She ordered them without hesitation. “[color=orange]I want every pair of hands either casting or outside, defending the people![/color]”

The paling? Who was going to channel the magicks for that? The realization hit him, and he grabbed her arm before she could run off. “[color=lavender]My lady, leave that to me, you can’t handle that much power,[/color]” He warned her.

“[color=orange]If Rozarria is like this, then I imagine both Archadia and Dalmasca are like this as well,[/color]” She replied, shaking her head at him. “[color=orange]I’ll be fine, but I need you to see to it that Nadeline and Lorenzo are safe. Stigma’s paling will suffice—if I cannot leave here, then you must go in my place.[/color]”

Vlyn hesitated as he would watch her run off. Crap, did she really think this was happening everywhere? Then again, as his ear twitched, he could sense that she was probably right. Letting out a curse, Vlyn shook his head, preparing his teleportation.

[hr]

“[color=indianred]How inconvenient.[/color]”

The words came as Roman looked around at the chaos around him. The monsters either hadn’t noticed or hadn’t quite seen him as he walked. He walked in a certain path, his eyes roaming and ignoring the body guards that repeatedly called for him to get to safety. He let out a groan, his fingers rubbing his temples as his guards scrambled around him. He watched the monsters, unamused, though as the last one fell, the knight would approach him. “My lord, what should we do now?”

“[color=indianred]Your job,[/color]” Roman stated, shaking his head. “[color=indianred]See to it that my people are safe![/color]”

At his command, they moved out, and Roman sat in his chair. What in the world was going on?

[hr]

Several viera would surround one of the fiends, their blessed arrows piercing through it. They were no match for their skill, and made sure to fell each one. Aloa before the village, an incantation born from her words. As one of the monsters approached, its very flesh would burn as it attempted to pass her glyph. That was one way of testing it, and she was grateful, stepping in front of it. The viera warriors were winning, and at this she was relieved. As they would regroup, Ktrn approached her, sword in hand.

"[color=plum]The village will see another day, but I fear Her strength wanes. Stay here, and protect one another--I must once again set forth,[/color]" Aloa instructed them.

As Ktrn would begin to reply, she let out a gasp, an arrow through her chest. Aloa's eyes widened, though she would leap forward, swinging her claw as another dozen would attempt to take out the rest of them. As she readied herself, she watched as a woman would approach them quite serenely. "[color=ivory]A good leader stands with her people. I admit, it's a very admirable trait,[/color]" Sophia told her, armored with an orb in her hand. "[color=ivory]You can't tell me you weren't expecting me?[/color]"

"[color=plum]Since I sent your master running with his tail twixt his legs, of course,[/color]" Aloa remarked as the rest of the viera would back away, a few taking Krtn with them. Sophia didn't seem to like that comment; little did she know Aloa was far from finished. "[color=plum]And now he sends you? An insult of the highest caliber. Child, do you think you can best me?[/color]" She asked, mist collecting and forming a cloak on her shoulders.

Sophia scoffed, her magicks in the air as she lifted her orb. "[color=ivory]We shall see, then, won't we?[/color]"

[hr]

Nadeline skidded to a halt, her blade charging up as she lifted it, and just when it seemed she was surrounded, she stabbed it into the ground, icicles erupting all around her. Each one pierced a monster, and as she lifted her weapon she continued to run through the halls. She slung spell after spell as they gave chase, though at the very least, she noticed their numbers thinning. Her feet hit the ground as quickly as she ran, her determination boundless. She came to a halt before a door, opening it. "[color=coral]Emiri--[/color]" Her words were given to an empty room. Her eyes widened with confusion, not a trace of the girl to be found. Had she already known?

Deciding to put that thought in the back of her head, she would instead continue, though she would immediately notice the cluster of monsters before a certain room. It took her a second to realize that was where Jaakuna and Shion slept, and her hesitation ceased immediately. Standing with her rapier above her, several glyphs would surround the unaware monsters. As her spell neared completion, she spun her weapon once, bringing it down, and an aetherial tornado formed. Each monster was either purified or thrown outside, and Nadeline hurriedly opened the door. To her relief, Shion remained unharmed, still unconscious, but Jaakuna was nowhere to be found, either.

"[color=coral]Shion! Shion, you must awaken![/color]" Nadeline urged her. The woman let out a soft groan, bringing Nadeline some comfort. "[color=coral]Listen to me, the castle is under attack, it is not safe here.[/color]"

"[color=deepskyblue]I've failed...[/color]" Her words were so quiet, Nadeline almost didn't catch them. "[color=deepskyblue]Forgive me, my beloved...[/color]"

Was she dreaming? Or was there something she didn't know?

[hr]

As Zeromus would appear, Grant would grip the air, his spell charging. The debris would stop falling around them, though they would remain firmly planted on the ground. Lorenzo let out a sigh of relief, quickly followed up by a yell of confusion and frustration. "[color=darkorange]What in the hell is going on here?![/color]" He screamed, his hands rustling his hair. "[color=darkorange]This was supposed to be a simple day trip! Now it's gotten all confusing!!! ARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH![/COLOR]"

Normally, Grant would reprimand Lorenzo or berate him, but for once, Grant was just as frustrated. "[color=magenta]You felt it, too, didn't you?[/color]" He asked Savayna. "[color=magenta]This mist...[/color]"

[hr]

As the light would fade, Emette would open her eyes. Emiri stood fast, a rather bored expression on her face. She would pick at the chains surrounding her, as if prying off lint from her clothes, and little by little, they would fade. She stretched her arms above her head, eyeing Jaakuna. "[color=#FFC0CB]S[/color][color=#F7BAC5]o[/color] [color=#E9AEBA]y[/color][color=#E1A8B4]o[/color][color=#DAA3AE]u[/color] [color=#CB97A3]h[/color][color=#C4919D]a[/color][color=#BD8C98]v[/color][color=#B58692]e[/color] [color=#A77A87]n[/color][color=#9F7481]o[/color][color=#986F7C]w[/color] [color=#896370]a[/color][color=#825D6B]w[/color][color=#7B5865]a[/color][color=#73525F]k[/color][color=#6C4C5A]e[/color][color=#654654]n[/color][color=#5E404F]e[/color][color=#654654]d[/color][color=#6C4C5A],[/color] [color=#7B5865]h[/color][color=#825D6B]a[/color][color=#896370]v[/color][color=#916976]e[/color] [color=#9F7481]y[/color][color=#A77A87]o[/color][color=#AE808D]u[/color][color=#B58692],[/color] [color=#C4919D]L[/color][color=#CB97A3]o[/color][color=#D39DA9]h[/color][color=#DAA3AE]g[/color][color=#E1A8B4]r[/color][color=#E9AEBA]i[/color][color=#F0B4BF]f[/color][color=#F7BAC5]?[/color]" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "[color=#FFC0CB]C[/color][color=#F8BAC6]l[/color][color=#F2B5C1]e[/color][color=#EBB0BC]a[/color][color=#E5ABB7]n[/color][color=#DEA6B2]s[/color][color=#D8A1AD]e[/color] [color=#CB97A3]m[/color][color=#C5929E]e[/color][color=#BE8D99],[/color] [color=#B1838F]w[/color][color=#AB7D8A]i[/color][color=#A47885]l[/color][color=#9E7380]l[/color] [color=#916976]y[/color][color=#8B6471]o[/color][color=#845F6C]u[/color][color=#7E5A67]?[/color] [color=#71505D]I[/color] [color=#644653]w[/color][color=#5E404E]o[/color][color=#644653]u[/color][color=#6A4B58]l[/color][color=#71505D]d[/color] [color=#7E5A67]d[/color][color=#845F6C]a[/color][color=#8B6471]i[/color][color=#916976]n[/color] [color=#9E7380]t[/color][color=#A47885]o[/color] [color=#B1838F]s[/color][color=#B88894]e[/color][color=#BE8D99]e[/color] [color=#CB97A3]y[/color][color=#D19CA8]o[/color][color=#D8A1AD]u[/color] [color=#E5ABB7]t[/color][color=#EBB0BC]r[/color][color=#F2B5C1]y[/color][color=#F8BAC6].[/color] [color=#FFC0CB]I[/color] [color=#F4B8C3]w[/color][color=#EFB4BF]i[/color][color=#EAB0BB]l[/color][color=#E5ACB7]l[/color] [color=#DBA4AF]n[/color][color=#D6A0AC]o[/color] [color=#CC98A4]l[/color][color=#C794A0]o[/color][color=#C2909C]n[/color][color=#BD8C98]g[/color][color=#B88894]e[/color][color=#B38490]r[/color] [color=#A97C89]b[/color][color=#A47885]e[/color][color=#9F7481]n[/color][color=#9A707D]d[/color] [color=#906875]t[/color][color=#8B6471]o[/color] [color=#815C6A]t[/color][color=#7C5866]h[/color][color=#775462]e[/color] [color=#6D4C5A]w[/color][color=#684856]i[/color][color=#634452]l[/color][color=#5E414F]l[/color] [color=#684856]o[/color][color=#6D4C5A]f[/color] [color=#775462]a[/color][color=#7C5866]n[/color][color=#815C6A]y[/color][color=#86606E]o[/color][color=#8B6471]n[/color][color=#906875]e[/color][color=#956C79].[/color] [color=#9F7481]B[/color][color=#A47885]u[/color][color=#A97C89]t[/color] [color=#B38490]i[/color][color=#B88894]f[/color] [color=#C2909C]y[/color][color=#C794A0]o[/color][color=#CC98A4]u[/color] [color=#D6A0AC]i[/color][color=#DBA4AF]n[/color][color=#E0A8B3]s[/color][color=#E5ACB7]i[/color][color=#EAB0BB]s[/color][color=#EFB4BF]t[/color][color=#F4B8C3].[/color][color=#F9BCC7].[/color][color=#FFC0CB].[/color]" She stated, her body surrounded by mist. She smirked, her arms above her head, and as they lowered, a dozen swords appeared behind her. A dark helm would form on her head slowly and her body lifted itself into the air, the swords forming a pair of makeshift wings.

Emette's eyes widened considerably, and she shook her head. "[color=mistyrose]Emiri! Stop! You can't win this![/color]" She yelled.