[@Randomness][@13org] [quote] [color=6ecff6]"Enough! Despite everything that you said, you have failed to reply to anything I said with arguments of significant substance other than outbursts of anger and arrogance! Even if you kill Jazdia, there is nothing preventing Lythiel to find another vessel. And when she finds it, it most certainly won't conveniently wander to your doorstep to let you know of it's existence!"[/color] Miwa said in an angry tone, looking directly at Arcan, almost too close to comfort. [color=6ecff6]"I believe there is not much else to be said, is there? We have reached an impasse, Arcan. What will you do? Will you simply try to kill Jazdia once we leave your precious gallery and forsake your duty by ignoring the fact that Lythiel remains a threat? Or will you uphold your duty both to Theriadore himself and to the Theriadore gallery by assisting us in finding a way to deal with Jazdia's curse in exchange of our help with dealing with the [b]two[/b] threats you failed to contain, both Lythiel and the necromancer?"[/color] Miwa said, her grasp on her weapon becoming tighter as she gave Arcan an ultimatum. [color=6ecff6]"Think wisely about your choice and know that should you decide to face us, neither one of us will leave unscathed... And unlike you, we have no reason to wait for you to try to strike us down once we leave the gallery. After all... Wasn't you that said [i]'my problem is right in front of me. Why should I ponder about the wicked intricacies that the monster is plotting if I can end it now?'[/i]"[/color] Miwa finished, looking directly at Arcan as she used his own words against him. [/quote] Arcan was somewhat smarted by the audacity, yet no shadow was moving, nor air changing. In the presence of the entire party, the ancient Djinn adjusted his anger to accommodate a more professional demeanor. After all, he had made his choice. Calmly, he tugged the cuff of his suit and fixed his eyeglasses. His external control had been perfected for millennia, so when he looked again at the rebellious act Miwa displayed, he was both convinced yet tired. [quote]“That’s enough, dear. As much as I would love for an ancient djinn to follow us on our endeavors, his duty is to this vault.”[/quote] Arcan searched for whoever said that. Finally, a sensible statement after all this... pathetic standoff. He saw one of the party members, a gorgeous woman with tanned skin. who casually stepped up and positioned herself between him and Miwa. The curator gave her a nod of acknowledgement and respect before addressing the matter at hand. [i][b]"Let me tell you what I will do. To maintain the status quo as long as everyone here is willing to uphold it."[/b][/i] He declared, setting up hard boundaries by eyeing everyone present before shifting back to Miwa. [i][b]"And to give you additional information. Consider this a token of apology for my rudeness earlier."[/b][/i] A pause ensued as he took one last unfriendly look at Jazdia. [i][b]"Your friend has less than a month," [/b][/i]he continued, his tone was icily clinical. [i][b]"In three weeks, she will start to lose her sanity, there will be no her, no memories, and no name. Then, after that period of limbo, she dies, withered like Thealeone. But it will be a nobler death. You can, of course, let her stay here, let me monitor her. But what we do not know is what happened after she died. The soul..."[/b][/i] He clenched his fist, reeling back an intense emotion, and that restraint was summarily tested again by Jazdia. [color=ec008c]"No deal,"[/color] the ranger said, now standing by herself, the mask of indifference was donned and fastened with iron. Her blade sheathed, and she breathed deeply. Sorrow lingered in her eyes, visible only to those who look closer. Her own death and soul, talked and trivialized like a cheap thing. Yet here she was, exhausted, yet enduring. [color=ec008c]"I will not just sit idly and fade. I will fight it to the bitter end." [/color] Arcan considered a vicious barb, but plain dismissal was apparently more apt and cruel. [b][i]"Pointless suffering. But you have made your choice." [/i][/b] The curator looked at Miwa again, his expression remained hardened. [i][b]"Priestess Shirakawa Miwa. You heard what your friend has decided; hence, I shall be forthright. You will leave my Master's Vault in peace, with a sincere prayer from me that you will turn back to the West. I will take one last effort to search for any knowledge that might help your friend, although I am certain it shall be a futile endeavor. Whether my effort begets hope or despair, I will find you, and the Creator is my witness, hope next time we meet, it will not be on the path leading to Ostianor."[/b][/i] Arcan finally started walking toward the door, but barely two steps, Vesemir stopped him. The elven scholar was genuinely confused, but utterly failed to read the room. [color=#F4E7CA]"Wait, curator Arcan. Help me understand. What was going on?![/color] [b][i]"I will not repeat myself,"[/i][/b] rumbled the ancient djinn. [i][b]"Since some of you are willing to risk life and suffer to protect the fallen, I figured transparency should be a virtue in your group." [/b][/i] Another step closer to the door, then Fia called. [quote]“I suggest we clear out that contaminated room as a sign of good will. Let Arcan reclaim that section of the vault. In exchange, we leave here peacefully, and promise not to return. At least until the time in which that curse is no longer affecting our dear Jazdia. Be it cleansed or death. Does that sound amiable, dear Arcan?”[/quote] Arcan neither dismissed nor agreed. He simply stood there for a moment. Briefly regarded Rezello, eyeing Verdant in her not-so-pleasing form, and then his gaze fell to Vesemir, Eblana, Stepan, Fia, and the last two who had given him so much trouble. No, trouble was a way too mild; it was a crisis, a cataclysmic one, and he was forced to downplay it for now. [i][b]"You have a lot to think about. I will leave you to it."[/b][/i] Then, as swiftly as the cold air regulating in that room, he disappeared. [center]****[/center] Vesemir needed a moment before he could finally gather his words and ask. [color=#F4E7CA]"So... what was that again?"[/color] Mr Elc. could only close his eyes and shake his head. Eblana shot him a glare. Stepan was as clueless but couldn't say anything. Jazdia let silence be her answer for now, but soon enough, she would weave words that understate the grimness of her own fate.