Altered Tundra

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Wesley listened to what Nadeline had to say and everything she said did make sense. Everything from how Archadia didn’t know about Emiri’s special power to how Grant truly was a fool. Everything she said pointed to the fact that Emiri was the one true point of this entire abduction. It was the entire point on why they separated Jaakuna and Emiri and not Nadeline and Wesley, which they both can use to their advantage. “Now that we know this, perhaps we can use it to our advantage, maybe even surprise the enemy with this.” WEsley said as he pondered what to do next. It was good that they knew this, but how to use it effectively was the real question to ask.

---

Savayna wouldn’t blame Emiri for her suspicions. Her face gave it away. She was very suspicious of Savayna. However, everything that Savayna had said was the complete and absolute truth. Savayna leaned back in her chair, looking to the ceiling before asking her question. She had to word this perfectly..

Savayna cleared her throat. “Emiri, do you love Jaakuna?” She simply asked not even wanting to waste time. The truth of the matter was that Savayna believed Jaakuna on what he said about killing his father for her and while she hated him for the longest time, she understands why he left. Killing your father for a woman is just stupid, but Savayna understands.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Wesley’s eyes just widened as Nadeline would go to punch the wall over and over and over again up until the point that her knuckles were near bleeding and what even shocked him more was that she just felt all better after that very violent display. Though, Wesley did think it was a lot better than her punching him. Wesley slightly chuckled at that thought.

When Nadeline would speak, Wesley nodded in agreement. “We have to find some way to get out of here. I don’t like the idea of handing over Jaakuna over to Archadia or Emiri over to Rozarria.” He said, pausing, “And god-forbid you return to Rozarria too..” his face instantly went red.

---

As Savayna sat in the chair, Emiri was obviously not happy to see the Ice queen. She would snap at what Savayna wants to talk to Emiri about. “No need for any of that. I only wish to talk.” She said looking to the other direction, then back to Emiri. “Okay listen here, I know you don’t like me and I don’t like you all that much, but above all else, I fucking hate Grant.” Savayna said, “I have half of a mind to sneak you and your friends out of here, but..” She said pausing, getting up, pulling the chair over, and sitting real close in front of Emiri. She would lean in. “You have to answer one question for me. Depending on your answer, I’ll either let you go to god-knows where or you’ll rot here until you return to your homeland.” She said, telling Emiri that she would have to answer just one question and answer it to her satisfaction.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Crying and crying on his shoulder, Wesley didn’t say anything. He just let her cry it out. After everything that has transpired, Wesley knew that he had to be that shoulder for her to cry on. He knew that whatever pride or mask that she would have, she would abandon it cause her sadness is too much and now she would just let it all out. “it’s okay, just let it all out.” Wesley said as patted Nadeline on the back as she would cry all of her sadness out of her body.

---

Jaakuna just didn’t know what to do at this point. He was cuffed up, he had just given one of the biggest confessions in the world and the worst part of it all is that Emiri most likely heard him. He heard her screams, so of course she would hear him yell. How was he going to even begin explaining this to her? He didn’t even know if he could. Everything he said would sound like as if he still loves Savayna after all that happened between him and Emiri. Perhaps there’s a very small part of him that still loves Savayna, but that small part is slowly being overtaken by his love for Emiri.

Jaakuna just sits on the floor, against the wall that is closest to Emiri’s cell. He just bangs his head on the wall, the thud sound repeating as he repeats his banging.

---

Savayna had been reeling with what Jaakuna had said. She didn’t even know what to believe and what to take as a lie. On one side of things, Jaakuna could be telling the truth, which makes her position all the more complex. On the other side of things, he could have been saying that to get under her skin. If it’s the former, then it’s pretty bad. If it’s the latter, then it was working cause she’s completely bothered by this. Savayna just doesn’t know what to feel about this. She would have to analyze this all, but then Savayna got a bold idea. She knew she was going to regret it later, but she went to a certain person’s cell.

Opening a cell door, Savayna walked in, and to her sight, she saw a crying Emiri. “Okay princess, we need to talk.” She said pulling up a chair and sitting in it, crossing her legs.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

“It’s over. It’s really over.” Jaakuna said under his breath. He didn’t want to believe it to be true, but it was. Archadia and Rozarria had gotten their prizes: Rozarria had gotten Emiri and Archadia had gotten Jaakuna himself. It was the sad truth of it all and at the moment Jaakuna realized this, his hope was swept away. He not only was hopeless at the moment, but he knew he would surely be put to death by his own brother. Everything just sucked and Jaakuna couldn’t do anything about it in his condition.

As Jaakuna wallows in his hopelessness, the soldiers of Rozarria and Archadia as well as Grant, Aloa, Vlyn, and Savayna lead them all out of the Barheim Passage. The monsters that would come to them either by the mist in the area or just the noise that all of the armor would make from walking, they would be cut down to death. All the soldiers can handle a few skeletons and steelings. Everyone would soon make it out of the passage and into the heat of the Dalmasca Estersand. The heat, though incredibly hot, was the least of the worried that the group faced. They were prisoners and nothing could be done about it.

Within minutes, everyone boarded the Dreadnought Ark. None of the captured four were happy to be in the position they found themselves in. When they were in front of Grant and Savayna and the two Viera, Aloa and Vlyn, Grant would order the soldiers to confiscate all the weapons and any other possessions that they had so that all they had were the clothes on their backs. Both Wesley and Jaakuna roared out. ”NO!” This would prompt the soldiers to attack them with a punch to the gut to each of them. Both Jaakuna and Wesley bent over coughing up blood. Of course, Grant was probably wondering why they were speaking up all of a sudden and when he would see the Dusk and Dawn Shards, it made sense. And of course, the scumbag would take both of them, giving the Dusk Shard to Savayna, and telling one of the soldiers to take the Dawn Shard to the lab for study and research. He would then tell whoever the pilot of the Dreadnought Ark was to set a course for the Stilshrine of Miriam

As Nadeline and Grant exchanged words, Wesley just gave Grant the dead look. Meanwhile, Jaakuna had a very emotionless look on his face. He had been broken. Jaakuna really was at a loss for everything. Wesley would look over to Jaakuna for a brief moment and see how vast the events that had transpired affected him. He really had no idea. Right as Wesley was about to say something to Jaakuna, Grant would order the soldiers to separate the group from each other. He would specify that Jaakuna and Emiri were to be put into separate cells while Nadeline and Wesley were to be put into the same cell.

When the soldiers took Jaakuna, Emiri, and Wesley and Nadeline to their cells, Savayna just smirked at the wonderful position that her dear husband finds himself in. Grant then made a comment about how it was a wonderful the reunion was. He would then take his leave as he made a note that he would go speak to one of them. Savayna knew exactly who he was going to speak to. She actually let out a small laugh as he would walk away.

While Savayna stayed in the cockpit of sorts, Jaakuna was in his cell, sitting on the bench. Jaakuna was so out of it that it’s not even funny. He felt so loss, nothing about this was right and he never thought that he would be caught. Maybe that overconfidence is what led to his capture. He felt like a failure in that sense. He felt like he failed Wesley, he felt like he failed Nadeline, and most importantly, he felt like he failed Emiri. That’s when he could clearly hear screams. This somewhat snapped him out of his hopelessness state. He would hear her screams and he would immediately get up from the bench, pounding on the steel walls of his cell, shouting the same word. “EMIRI! EMIRI!” Shouting that over and over again, Jaakuna wasn’t even sure if she heard him

As Jaakuna would just repeat yelling Emiri’s name, his door opened. He turned to look and see who it was and in his gaze was an encounter than he wished he would never have.

“Oh dear Jackson, are you trying to call out to your little tramp?” Said Savayna as she stood there, walking into the room and the steel door closing behind her.

Jaakuna looked at her with disdain, anger, and guilt. “DON’T CALL HER THAT!” He said

As he would try to attack her with a punch of some sorts, but she would kick his arms up with a vertical kick and spin her body and kick him in the stomach with her other leg. This would send Jaakuna to a hard impact with the steel wall behind him and his ass on the bench. Savayna smirked and she would walk over to Jaakuna as she would raise his arms up and freeze them into the wall for the moment. He was stuck there and that’s how exactly she wanted it to be.

“Now that I have you where I want you, you’re going to tell me everything!” She said as her voice volume would increase.

Jaakuna just spat in her face. She slapped him with all that she could. This would continue for a few more rounds and it would lead her to create a blade of ice around her left hand and placing it against Jaakuna’s neck.

‘You’re going to tell me now or you can die here!”
“But what about my brother? I’m sure he won’t like it if you kill me.”
“Fuck your brother! I want answers and I’m getting them now.”

Jaakuna conceded and the look in his eyes would tell Savayna that he would answer any questions that she had.

“Fine, I’ll tell you, but do take that blade away from my neck. It’s cold as ice.” Jaakuna said chuckling, but it hurt cause the blade was still against his skin.

Savayna removed it both from his neck and her arm itself. She pulled a chair in front of the bench that Jaakuna “Now, tell me why did you kill your father?”

Jaakuna’s eyes widened. He knew that she would ask that question eventually, but right off the bat? He wasn’t even ready to answer that, but most importantly, how could he? He just couldn’t give that answer, not without bringing up what led up to it. “I-I-I can’t answer that.” He shamefully admitted.

Savayna’s face lit up with anger. “YOU WILL TELL ME!” She said grabbing Jaakuna’s face and proceeding to knee him in the gut.

As Savayna kneed him in the gut, he coughed out blood. “Fine, I-I-I’ll tell you.” He said coughing more blood.

Savayna still had his chin in grip of her right hand. ‘Now tell me why you killed your father and left without even saying a word to me?!” She said, slightly shouting as she did.

Jaakuna sighed. “Before I tell you the why, you need to know what led up to it.” He said, “You see, my father called me and Vincent to the Emperor’s Office to name his heir to the throne. You might not be surprised at this, but I was expecting it to be me.” Jaakuna said sounding almost nostalgic. “He chose Vincent over me.” He said in a low tone.

Savayna wasn’t satisfied. “So, you killed your own father — your own flesh and blood — cause he bent tradition and chose your younger brother instead of you to succeed him?” Savayna was both confused at Jaakuna’s explanation.

Jaakuna looked away.

“TELL ME!”
“YOU WANT TO KNOW!? FINE! I KILLED HIM FOR YOU OKAY! MY FATHER SAID I COULDN’T BE EMPEROR CAUSE, TO QUOTE HIM, ‘I WAS MARRIED TO A WHORE LIKE YOU!’”

After yelling that, Jaakuna had said it and even worse, he yelled it for everyone to hear it. However, what the more surprising thing was the look on Savayna’s face. It was as if she hadn’t come to terms of what Jaakuna just admitted and eve more so, why he killed his father. Savayna slowly stepped back. She was in such disbelief.

“You’re lying..YOU HAVE TO BE!” She yelled out.

Jaakuna wished he was, but he definitely wasn’t. “You really think I would lie about something like this? This whole thing is why I left when I did, it’s why I’ve been avoiding you all this time. Trust me, if it wasn’t true, I would face my brother in a heartbeat.” Jaakuna admitted.

Savayna just couldn’t believe him. “I don’t believe you. I CAN’T!”

Jaakuna didn’t blame her, but the fact of the matter of it all was that what he just said was the truth. “Savayna, once upon a time, you believed me. You know that I never would lie about something like this — something this serious. I swear on my father’s memory that I’m telling the truth.” He said, “but why should you care? You hate me remember?” Jaakuna said.

Savayna didn’t know what she felt, not right now. “I can’t do this right now.” She said as she would walk out of the room. As soon as she did, the ice that constricted him to the steel wall cracked and he was free.

---

Across the hall, Nadeline and Wesley could hear bits and pieces of what was going on. They heard Emiri’s screams, they heard the loudness of Jaakuna and Savayna and they even heard his admission. Wesley was troubled by this, but confused above all else. He looked to Nadeline and he saw that she was a mess. He would go over to her, sitting next to her on the bench, reach his right arm over her, and would go on to comfort her. “Nadeline, how are you holding up?”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Both Jaakuna and Wesley didn’t even know what hit them. There was first a drenching of some water-based magick flowing from the sky and ontop of them. That was nothing but a very unwelcomed shower. Then, to their very obvious surprise, in came a Thundaga spell. Both of their faces had the expression of being shocked. First, they felt no sensation like before. Any pain they felt was just ten-times that, well at least for Wesley. Jaakuna remembers what this feeling felt like as he remembers getting electrocuted by his cousin, Ixion just the day before this one.

As they both were shocked and laid out, they could still hear and with little bursts of grunts, they could speak, but they couldn’t move. As much as they tried, both Jaakuna and Wesley were both paralyzed at the spot they laid on. As they laid in that very spot, Jaakuna watched Aloa get Zalera and Wesley only heard the bits of it. Using Manufactured Nethicite, Aloa absorbed Zalera’s instant-kill attack and used it to deflect it back at him, thus giving Aloa the services of the Angel of Death.

“YOU STUPID BUNNY BITCH! JUST WAIT UNTIL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU! YOU’LL BE SORRY YOU WENCH!” Jaakuna roared and roared at Aloa, but that wouldn’t do him any good. He was paralyzed in the spot he laid.

Wesley wanted to say something, but he knew that it would be in vain. As that would happen, Jaakuna would hear Emiri scream out. Jaakuna couldn’t see what was happening, but Wesley could cause he’s facing the direction in which Emiri’s screams are originating from. That wasn’t all. Wesley also could see that Nadeline was in a cage, literally. If he could move his face, it would be lit up with anger.

“Wesley, tell me what’s happening?”
“You won’t like it.”
“Just tell me.”
“The male Viera is cuffing Emiri and taking her to some black-haired fellow.”
“Who can that be?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, Jaakuna.”

As both Wesley and Jaakuna pondered on that, soldiers of both Rozarria and Archadia picked both Jaakuna and Wesley up as they would also be cuffed. Not able to move on their own, Wesley and Jaakuna were dragged by the soldiers and they would both be brought to the area where this black-haired dude would call Emiri by Emelia. Jaakuna hadn’t heard anyone call her by that name since Nadeline did the first time that he met her. Jaakuna would be silent for a few moments as he thought about everything, but most importantly the man that called Emiri by her ’real’ name.

“Wait a minute..” Jaakuna said.. ”You, in the fancy clothes!” All Jaakuna could do was speak. He couldn’t point or do any kind of movement. “You’re---” Before Jaakuna could finish his sentence, he would see Savayna, someone who he hadn’t seen since Lowtown. Jaakuna’s eyes widened. He was both angry, confused, and just overall shocked.

“Oh my dear Jackson.”
“IT’S JAAKUNA YOU BITCH!”
“My, my, why so angry? Oh that’s right, you’re in fucking cuffs, that’s why.”

Jaakuna and Savayna exchanged words — nasty words — and nasty looks. This would prompt Savayna to look around the room and she definite saw that it was a full house. The crown prince of Dalmasca and Archadia were here, and the princesses of Rozarria. Truly it was a rare sight. When she would smirk, Savayna had her gaze upon Emiri. “So this is the bitch that has caused me so much trouble.” She said looking angry, bitter, and just livid with jealousy.

Savayna would just control herself. “Grant, be useful and take these guys to the Airship. I’m growing tired of this place already.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As Emiri gave Jaakuna a smile, it would soon turn to determination and concentration. The two of them would face the enemies as their gaze from each other ceased for the time being. As they did, Nadeline and Wesley joined them and it would soon proceed into Nadeline giving them an order — wait no, a friendly suggestion, as she so rightly put it. Whichever the case, Jaakuna and Wesley charged forward, each crossing each other’s path, like a zig-zag sort of deal, smashing any skeletons that would appear in front of them.

Going with each other’s momentum, they both jumped. Jaakuna’s blade was flowing with Fire Magick. It was like his entire Demonsbane was amplified from the mist and considering that under normal circumstances his blade is always amplifying magick, here within the mist, it’s almost quadruple. Still, Jaakuna found it under his control. The same was with Wesley, but his sword was laced with the bright whiteness of Holy. Glowing like the heavens’ light, he would strike as Jaakuna would strike as well. Both of them releasing the light of fire, if you will. As the two swords were motioned vertically downward, Jaakuna’s white and red fire went forth and followed by Wesley’s white light of the heveans, it would surround Jaakuna’s fire. The end result was a brightness at the head of the fire. This was just ten feet away from Zalera.

As the fire came near the esper, Zalera would scream and as that would happen, a wall of black and purple magickal energy would pop around the esper of death. This wall of flame-like substance just had a weird feeling. Jaakuna and Wesley would both feel it as they would land on the ground. It was like decaying flesh or something like that.

“Dammit!” Jaakuna yelled.
“This is truly troubling.” Wesley admitted.

Their combined attacks would have done a lot more damage if it wasn’t for the fact that they saw that Zalera was not only immune to whatever effects was left over from their attack being held off by that decaying black and purple magick wall, but the holy aspect of the attack seemed to be absorbed into her, as if it healed her. This what was truly troubling Wesley. He knew that his form of attacking wouldn’t be the best course of action. Jaakuna just didn’t know what to do either. Looking at each other, Jaakuna and Wesley were just going to try their best and hopefully something good would come out of it..

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Was It cause Wesley was clueless? No, it wasn’t that. He just never had that kind of relationship with someone, not like hoe Jaakuna and Emiri seemed to have it. Wesley wasn’t jealous, not in the negative sense. He was indeed jealous, but also happy for them. He smiled when Nadeline told him that Jaakuna realized that Emiri was the one. “Aren’t you younger than her?” Wesley chuckled as he said that. And again, he makes jokes. He’s making a habit of doing that and thus far his jokes have been pretty bad.

While Wesley joked about what Nadeline had said, Jaakuna and Emiri were at the front where they saw that the Esper was coming. Jaakuna looked on and saw that the beast itself took the form of a male(it looked like) that had nothing but his own skeleton and around his arm a woman, fully-skinned and all. It looked hume. Jaakuna didn’t recognize the woman, but he did remember when Wesley read about it and that the Angel of Death had some kind of Shamaness attached to him. That woman must be that very person. Either way, as he looked further on, Jaakuna saw — well sensed — something about this Esper. It had nothingness about it. It was like death was its existence and as such, so shall it be its nature.

When the beast revealed itself in all of its deathly glory, skeletons started to rise from the ground. At this point Jaakuna saw that Emiri was slowly stepping back, no doubt that she was a little frightened by the esper. Jaakuna grabbed her arm just gently, preventing her from walking any further backwards. “Don’t worry Emiri, as long as you stick by me, and we‘ll be fine..together.” He said turning his gaze to her. “Remember, we promised each other?” He said smiling goofily, yet somehow there was a reassuring aspect to his smile.

As Wesley saw the esper appear before them all, he drew his Platinum Sword. He raised his shield too. He would join Jaakuna and Emiri on the frontlines, his sword just boosting with magickal power from the mist and also his own amplification of his magick into the sword.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The influx of monsters had prompted all four of them to go at the monsters swinging. For the most part, it was really successful. There were a few instances where the group were each having their own difficulties killing the enemies in front of them in one blow, but that didn’t stop them. Each swinging their respective weapons at almost every foe that came at them, it wold get to the point that the monsters would stop coming in large numbers. However, they didn’t stop completely. That was until Wesley would utilize Holy into his sword and the undead enemies would stop and it was only a matter of time before the Steelings would stop coming at them.

When it seemed like they were able to move on, they did and Emiri would go on to say that something was there and that she can feel it. It took both Wesley and Jaakuna a few moments to realize what she was alluding to, but then they caught on. She must be referring to the Esper. They definitely were getting close, as the amount of mist in the air was getting more and more thick. It was getting to the point where Jaakuna nor Wesley couldn’t see five feet in front of them. Or at least, they couldn’t see the path. They saw their reflections as it faded from the mist.

When Emiri would ask if they were ready, Jaakuna spoke. “Am I ready? Of course I’m ready cause baby, I was born this way!” Jaakuna said in a very energetic tone.

Wesley looked towards Jaakuna and he couldn’t help but grin. He liked Jaakuna’s energy. “Well then Jaakuna, Emiri — after you guys.” Wesley said, offering to follow the two of them, while he and Nadeline hung back, but he sort of leaned towards Nadeline. “Is it just me or is Jaakuna acting different?” Wesley said as he could put his finger on it, but he definitely saw something different in Jaakuna’s attitude. “It’s like he went through a change, though I can’t place it.” Wesley would say quietly to Nadeline.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As they went through the entrance, the feeling that Wesley and Jaakuna both felt was something weird. Both of them would exchange looks as they knew something was off. Perhaps it was just the mist and that they were just feeling the overload of their magicks. Who can say for sure, but Jaakuna just knows that this feeling is going to take a little while to get used to while Wesley will continue to wonder about what makes the mist so strong in these kinds of areas.

The group would trek through the area more and more until the beasts and monsters would appear more often. Of course, they would slay said beasts and monsters whenever they would encounter them. When Emiri would see a Steeling, she would then use Stop. Wesley looked on as Emiri did that, wondering why she did. Jaakuna was shocked that she did it all of a sudden. Nonetheless, the bat-like beast was killed due to the slowed moments from the spell.

When Nadeline would make the note that the group must be wary of using their spells as the mist can amplify them, she would turn her gaze to Jaakuna as soon as she would say they could go astray. Jaakuna looked back to Nadeline with a confused look. “What are you looking at me for?” He said.

When Jaakuna was sort of defending himself in some sort of manner, Wesley just looked forward, eyeing the mist. He was intrigued. Wesley never really saw such a thing so close. He really didn’t get the sense of mist back in the caverns, but here, he could see all the colors. Added to the colors, there even seemed to be a mirroring aspect to the mist as Wesley could see his reflection slightly in the greenness of the mist. When he would go to touch it, he didn’t feel nothing physically, but he felt something inside — it was weird, but it was definitely something.

When the group headed even deeper, the aspect of the mist was getting thicker and thus was the number of monsters. The influx of Steelings, Zombies, and the Mimics was rising and rising. The group would have a difficult time to get through it, but they would with the power of friendship and togetherness.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

No doubt that Emiri was surprised at Jaakuna as she probably thought he was going to talk to her about something about him being sad for himself. Well, as it turned out, that would not be the case. As Jaakuna would just watch her surrender her longtime friends that were the Longsword and Shortbow, he would see that she would then pick how first, the Diamond Sword. Jaakuna nodded as that was a wonderful choice. She would swing it a couple of times to test it out and she seemed satisfied. Next, was the Burning Bow. Jaakuna nodded at that as well, nothing that it was a wonderful choice as well.

As she would put her previous weapons in the place of the new ones she picked out, she would go onto say that the weapons she picked out will do. Jaakuna just smiled at her and they would go out from the Armory and head to the central part of the ship, specifically the beaming station. As they would, Wesley and Nadeline would be waiting for them there. Jaakuna would wave to them and alert them that they are here. Wesley just smiled to Jaakuna and Emiri. He would make a note of Emiri’s new weapons, which would lead to Wesley do deduce that was the reason the two of them went off.

“Okay, well shall we get going?” Wesley offered up.

Jaakuna nodded. “Yeah, let’s do this shit.” Jaakuna said as he took his red and white bag that had his share of supplies. He also had his Demonsbane sword along with his Iga Ninja Sword. Jaakuna was wearing his usual wear, as well, so he was all ready to go.

Within the moments that they would all get into the beaming station, Wesley was wondering how it worked. “So, how does this thing--” When he was about to say that, the magickal particles would surround the four of them and they would touch down to the entrance of Barheim Passage. “--work” Wesley said as the seconds that it took for him to complete his sentence, they would already be on the ground. The heat would be the first thing that they would feel, as it is when anybody goes from a cooling airship to a desert. “Truly remarkable!” He would say, complimenting Jaakuna further on his ship.

Jaakuna touched the left side of his jacket. “Iris, initiate Invisible Cloak!”
“Yes Master Jaakuna.”

When she responded, the huge ship that was about seventy yards up in the air suddenly was out of sight. Or at least, to the normal eye. Jaakuna knew of where the ship was. “Now, let us be off to the dark passage.” Jaakuna said lightheartedly.