The Palace of St. Bevelle

*Zeno loads up his glyphgun and props it on his shoulder.*

Zeno: <Let's go then.>

"You like it, don't you?"

*A bigass sword comes swinging towards Zeno, an Iron Giant having stepped out from behind the lightning rod. 2 lizard-type monsters, a Gold Element (floating stones formed into a symbol pulsing with lightning), & a hulking lizard-beast swarm onto the scene in front of them, as well.*

Zeno: <I've got the lizards.>

*He fires several rounds towards the reptiles.*

"No."

*A bubble forms above the Gold Elemental which pops showering it with water.*

Ark: <Sure you do.>

*Ark dashes past the giant, attempting to steal from it, and slashes at one of the lizards*

"Yes you do, I can see it all over your face!"

*With 3 monsters down, Luna slashes at the lizard monster, leaving a gash on its flank.*

"Whoa. These last 2 are tough."

*It shoulder rams her, knocking her to the ground & causing her to cough up blood. It then opens its mouth, charging an orb of energy within. Zeno, who made no effort to move, got a deep slash down his back from the Iron Giant.*

*Hitomi casts Protect on Luna and moves further away from the Iron Giant.*

*Ark leaps onto the oversized lizard and rams his dagger into its head*

Ark: <Heee haaw!>

*Zeno collapses, and sighs in pain.*

Zeno: <This... sucks...>

*He crawls a few feet away and tries shooting the Iron Giant.*

"Stupid Soulscribe."

*Hitomi casts cure on Zeno.*

~1~

*The electricity builds in the lizard monster's mouth. It sways slightly, but remains on its feet as it dashes towards Ark. Luna leaps up, slashing across the Iron Giant's front. Some holes & a gash now in its armor, it stumbles back, & turns for Hitomi instead.*

*Hitomi backs away from the Iron Giant, casting Water on it.*

Zephyr takes this opportunity to cheap shot the Iron Giant from behind with an Armor Break.

*And Zeno continues his shooting of the Iron Giant.*

*With everyone ganging up on the poor thing, it falls over & rusts into Pyreflies. The remaining monster opens its mouth wide to let loose with its attack as Luna scrambles away from it.*

~0~

*Hitomi runs off casting water on the Kusariqqu.*

Zephyr gets the hell out of the way.

*Senthose smacks him on the head.*

<The Hell kind of Samurai are you? The damn White Mage is the one who vanquished it.>

*Sure enough, the monster was falling over, dissolving into Pyreflies.*

"She must have gained courage & strength from her new hairstyle that she loves so much!"

*Luna hugs Hitomi, her eyes watering.*

"I'm...just...so...happy...."

"Let go of me."

"... you raise a good point."

*Luna lets go. Senthose kneels down & whispers into Hitomi's ear.*

<(You know she really seems to like you...& of course, you realize that she won't be in this world much longer.)>

*The planes give way to Macalania Forest, but they aren't there for long. As they climb the tall, sloping root, they eventually come to a vast are a of frozen mountains, with a large sheet of ice in the center, beside one of Rin's hotels.*

"Macalania Lake...the temple is on the far side, stretching under the lake itself. But...maybe we should stop at Rin's first. I'm hungry, & it doesn't look like anyone brought any warm clothes."

"(I know. But why form a bond with someone if it's just going to break?)"

"Sounds like a good idea Luna."

"(Everyone dies eventually.)"

*Rin opens the door, eyes closed & smiling.*

Rin<I'm afraid it will cost extra today. You see-->

*He opens his eyes, widening them when he spots Senthose.*

Rin<I did not expect to see you all the way out here, Maytan. You can all stay for free.>

<I won't argue with that.>

Rin<Wait, I didn't vote for you. Quadrouple price.>

"What the Hell is this crap?!"

"........what?"