The Valiant

"What can you tell me about this 'order'?" Zac asked, leaning against the bar to get a bit more comfortable.

--

"Well, there is only Senthose now," Iliad said, "If we're going to attack, now would be as good a time as any."

~Limberry Castle~

<They're a group who was started by the son of a deceased Corpse Brigade commander. Word is that they attacked the Black Sheep Knights and paraded their remains around this very city, then they ambushed their leader, Baron Grimms, at Lake Poescas, and less than an hour ago they raided a supply caravan from Sal Ghidos to Zeltennia, killing everyone.>
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~Zeklaus Desert~

*Senthose turns & looks in their direction.*

S"I imagined you'd come through the desert, but I was just going to follow your footprints. I didn't expect that you'd actually come right to me. Oh, look, there's more of you now."

E"Yeah! So if you don't leave us alone, we'll come over there & beat you up!"

S"You do that. I think it would be funny."

"Hm, their 'leader' sounds like an asshole," Zac said, "And a supply caravan from Sal Ghidos? I don't-- I mean, do you think there could be anyone else that may have done that?"

--

Mortal stepped forward, "So, you're the one who is looking for me then, huh?" She looked Senthose up and down, and furrowed her brow, "I can't say I'm all that impressed."

~Limberry Castle~

Tavernmaster<They wore cloaks that were stitched together using old Corpse Brigade uniforms, & discarded Blackram Knight uniforms, featuring an eye as their crest. Who else would have access to thsoe materials?>
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~Zeklaus Desert~

*He looks at her, making a disgusted face.*

S"Neither am I. What a tacky hair ribbon. And somehow, I thought a dragon-woman would be...tougher."

Zac shrugged, "I guess that leaves little doubt." Zac took a long sip from his wine, then asked, "So, what exactly has been wrong with the weather as of late? I'm from this area, so I wouldn't notice any seasonal oddity in the weather."

--

"My thoughts exactly," Mortal said, folding her arms, "You're far to scrawny for me to respect your claim as an assassin, and if what they think about you is true, I really can't respect you as a dragon. I almost want to beat you down, and rid you from this desert on principle."

"Is... she getting into a territorial dispute?" Sab asked.

Noct just shrugged.

~Zeklaus Desert~

*Euryale grabs Mortal's shoulder.*

E"Don't do it. He's too calm, I think he has some kind of trap."

S"Oh, now that's just sad. Tell me, do you believe you're friends? Ridiculous. They don't, couldn't possibly, understand you."

*He waves a hand dismissively before clasping it to his chest & holding the other out in Euryale's direction.*

S"But I do. I might not look it, but I too come from humble origins. Though, not quite so humble that people regularly accuse me of being...a witless, degenerate lizard."
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~Limberry Castle~

Tavernmaster<Famine the likes of which have not been seen in decades has descended upon Ivalice. The eastern lands of Zeltennia and Limberry suffer from a drought which has reduced the harvest to half that of a normal year. And to the west in Gallione and Fovoham, widespread flooding has also destroyed close to half of all crops. The capital of Lesalia is awash with refugees who have lost their homes in the war, or who are simply in search of food.>

Mortal furrowed her brow, and opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself. Letting out a small sigh, she turned to Euryale and said, "Maybe you're right, Euryale." She looked back at Senthose, "Tell me this, do you really want to go back to the way things were?"

--

"All the while Ivalice teeters on the brink of war thanks to the pettiness of the church and dukes," Zac said, mostly to himself. With a sigh he downed the rest of his wine and ordered another glass, wondering when Lilith would start showing up, he was beginning to miss her.

~Zeklaus Desert~

<Look at how she speaks for yo-->

"I have nothing to say to you! Just answer her question!"

<Yeesh, calm down, woman. All right, wyvern...what do you mean by "the way things were"?>
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~Limberry Castle~

*As it so happens, Lilith emerges at that moment, looking shaken.*

"I assume you want the spell that did this to me because you're in the same position as I am, or am I mistaken?" Mortal replied.

--

Zac furrows his brow, "Lilith, are you alright? Is something wrong?"

~Zeklaus Desert~

S"I see 'witless' is an apt description for the dragon race. That, combined with your disappointing physique...mayhap I should think twice about using the spell."

E"You were planning to cast it on yourself?"

*He holds up a finger.*

S"One of many possible uses the spell poses to me. Who do you think would pay more for it? Ordallia or Romanda? Maybe the High Confessor. Or maybe I could keep it to myself, & use it to produce a legion of mercenaries with dragon powers."

*He points at Mortal.*

S"You are the kind of person who probably assumes that assassins obtain their money from their contracts. Which they do. It is quite lucrative. But the mark of a true assassin is the ability to extort their victims. A word of advice, wyvern: An object's most obvious trait is not necessarily its most valuable one."

*He winks at Euryale when he says that. She shudders.*
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~Limberry Castle~

L"Well...I was about to give my report when the Marquis told me that he'd become one of the New Zodiac Braves. An organization led by the church...who all hold Zodiac Stones! And then he introduced me to his new vassal, Argath! And what did Gustav tell us? 'Argath attacked the Royal Palace with me.' How many 'Argaths' could there possibly be? And on top of it all, I hear the Marquis was 'mistakenly' said to be killed in battle...no, no, this can't be coincidence. There's something rotten in the State of Ivalice."

*She hangs her head & slams some money on the counter.*

L"And, needless to say, I didn't get my promotion. Give me two of what he's having. No, three."

Mortal was not happy with that wink and drew her swords, "Watch yourself, Senthose. I don't care how valuable your assets are, they'll all be worthless when you're dead."

--

"Great, this whole things feels like a bad play," Zac said shaking his head, "At least there is a bright side. We know they don't have all of the stones." Zac let out a sigh, "Wow, even I have to admit that isn't much of a bright side... I'll take another drink as well..."

~Limberry Castle~

*Lilith quickly slogs down the first two drinks, then mistakenly snatches Zac's, thinking it's her third one, & takes a sip.*
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~Zeklaus Desert~

*Senthose makes an exaggerated jump to the side.*

S"Oh, no, don't hurt me! Relax, she's not really my type. Bit chubby."

Noct tensed, "Mortal, don't--"

Mortal used Fire Breath on Senthose.

--

"That eager for an indirect kiss?" Zac asked, "Or did you not realize that was mine?"

~Zeklaus Desert~

*They are still several feet apart, so Mortal hits only empty air.*

S"That was adorable, really. Even so, I cannot stand for your defiance. Not only have you failed to bring me the information I specifically requested, but you had the audacity to attack me. I see now I'll have to give you a taste of my power."

*He points at Euryale.*

S"We'll see which is more valuable to your so-called friends: You, or the price of a Gold Needle."

*A cloud envelopes Euryale &, after a bright flash, she is turned to solid stone.*

S"Now, continue on your way, & don't you dare approach me again without a lead."
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~Limberry Castle~

L"Yeah, I'm not really in a joking mood right now. Tell me you found out some good news while you were here."

Mortal charges Senthose, double slashing. Noct starts dancing Last Waltz. Iliad throws a fire bomb, while moving in closer. Sab begins charging a Graviga, the charge time being cut down by Swiftness.

--

"Only that Ivalice is suffering a famine, and that 'the order of the evil eye' has been blamed for an attack on a caravan coming from Sal Ghidos," Zac replied, motioning to the bartender for another round of drinks.

~Zeklaus Desert~

*When Mortal gets about five feet away from Senthose, a bomb in the sand goes off. Aside from fire, the explosion also propels hot oil over her. It is painful & humiliating. Senthose expects the bomb wound on his shoulder, looking mildly annoyed. He then puts a sword to Mortal's throat.*

S"You are lucky I am so magnanimous."

*Senthose teleports away.*
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~Limberry Castle~

L"Well, I already knew about the famine, but...do you think it was Seraph?"

Sab stops chanting and lets out a small sigh. Mortal lets out a scream that bordered on carnal.

Iliad looked at Noct, "Well, I believe she was once a dragon a lot more now. We should see what we can do about Euryale."

Noct nodded, walked past the statue of Euryale, and gave Mortal a potion, "I'll return to town, and get a gold needle. I'll return when I've learned how to use it." With that, Noct began walking back towards town.

Iliad followed behind, "I'll go with you."

--

"I doubt it," Zac said, "Supposedly they wore outfits that were stitched together from old corpse brigade, and blackram knight uniforms, and they had an eye on their chests. Now, even if they didn't change out of their disguises like we did, why would Roatha allow Seraph to attack a caravan, killing everyone there?" Zac sipped from his drink, "It sounds fishy to me."

~Limberry Castle~

L"Seraph could have killed him. Or maybe Seraph is acting on his own. It must be a lot harder to control him, now that it's one-on-one. Unless maybe you're implying...?"
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~Zeklaus Desert~

*Euryale makes an awesome garden sculpture.*

"I'm implying it is someone else. The bartender made it seem like it was a group doing this, so if it was Seraph, Roatha was present."

--

Mortal sat at the base of Senthose's The Monk Euryale with an expression half pissed off, and half worried. Sab sat a little bit away, thinking of how to make conversation. She finally settled on, "I'm sure she will be fine. Noctis will return shortly."

Mortal let out a sigh, "That isn't really what has me upset."

"Do you, um... want to talk about it?"

Mortal gave Sab a questioning look, but found nothing but sincerity staring back. Well, sincerity and a bit of awkwardness, but it was enough for Mortal to relent, "I'm just sad that I couldn't do anything... I couldn't protect her, she means so much to me, and I want her to mean even more, but here she is, turned literally to stone."

"Perhaps you're being too hard on yourself," Sab suggested, "I'm sure she doesn't expect you to save her from everything. She knew Senthose was dangerous, but she still rushed to your side."

"And what did that get her but this?" She motioned to The Monk Euryale, by the artist Senthose Rasheverek, "Maybe I was wrong, maybe I shouldn't try to be more to her... or with her... or whatever. I should just stay friends with her."

In a rare moment of clarity, Sab understood what Mortal was getting at, and in a rare moment of selfishness said, "Maybe you're just not right for each other. If it is so hard to be with her, maybe you should look for someone else. Things of that nature... I don't think they should be forced. If they are, is it really real?"

"Maybe you're right," Mortal looked downtrodden, Sab felt despicable.

--

Noct spent most of her time at the shop arguing with the clerk about wanting to learn how to use a golden needle, and the clerk trying to teach her how to use 'soft'. When she realized what was going on she felt foolish, and wordlessly walked back to the desert, ignoring Iliad's jibes, and jokes.

~Limberry Castle~

L"But who else could it possibly be?"
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~Zeklaus Desert~

*The statue seems to stare judgmentally at Sab.*

"We did see that strange looking fellow at Poecas," Zac said, "Or it could be someone with something against us, which doesn't narrow anything down, or it could just be a band of brigands, copycatting our look."

--

Noct returns and uses the needle.

~Zeklaus Desert~

*The first thing Euryale does after the needle is used is shiver & rub her arms.*

E"Thanks, Noct. I hate to admit it, but when I figured out what he was going to do...part of me was afraid I'd be stuck like that forever."
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~Limberry Castle~

L"Well, I can't look into it. With my investigation terminated, I'm back to being a castle defense footsoldier."

"I'm pretty sure Mortal would cut through heaven and earth to find you a gold needle, so I don't think you needed to worry." Noct said.

Mortal didn't say anything, still thinking about what Sab had said.

--

"Wait, so this is it?" Zac was a bit shocked, "You're not going to be traveling with us anymore?"

~Limberry Castle~

L"What us? It's just you & me. And I'm not making you leave."
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~Zeklaus Desert~

E"Yeah, I'm sure you're right. And with that ribbon, I didn't think he'd be a match for her. But...it was still scary."

Zac smiled, "It is nice to know that I'm welcome to stay, but you're going to be stationed here though. It'll be kind of hard to see this whole conspiracy between the dukes, and the church to the end if we're both stuck here."

--

"You know, we need to work on getting you one as well," Noct said, "Right Mortal?"

Mortal nodded.

"Er, uh, so, lets get going then?"