In The Name of Love

~Riovanes Castle~

E"Usually, no one can be expected to afford anything for me, but when people can, I always feel bad because I can't get anything for them."
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~Fort Besselat~

L"Well, I plan to claim that I lost the directions. The Mediator seemed to imply that she only wrote them down once. But if there is further activity, they may try to scout for this cave. So it's kind of a gamble for you to stay here."

Mortal smiled, "Those are good reasons." She walked off towards the store, happy knowing that she was in the clear for getting Euryale a present.

--

Noct looked on as Mortal walked off, a bit happy knowing what Mortal was getting for Euryale. She then looked at Sab. Getting her a present would have been kind, and perhaps Sab would take it as an apology and cease acting so disgruntled. Sadly for Noct, Sab had a pretty little ribbon in her hair, and smelled of Setiemson. She was about ready to just give up when she got an idea. With a small smile she followed Mortal to the store.

--

And so Sab was left there with Euryale, "So... I'm, uh, sorry about your home."

--

Inside the shop Mortal frowned at the store's counter, then smiled when Noct walked in, "Noct, I need 14k in gil."

Noct nodded, "Certainly." She turned to Iliad, who had just purchased his bombs, "Give me 30k in gil."

"Wait, what?"

"You heard me," Noct said, "You know I'm good for a loan, besides, you owe me."

"How do you figure?"

"You stole my brother for five years, I'm sure that is worth at least 30k."

Iliad sighed and passed around the gil.

~Riovanes Castle~

E"Don't remind me."
==========================
~Fort Besselat~

L"In any case, we are now short on leads again. Can't expect Seraph to say anything meaningful."

S"Damn right!"

Sab let out a sigh and rubbed the back of her neck, "I didn't mean it like that, I was just trying to give my condolences."

--

"So, what do you suggest?"

~Riovanes Castle~

E"Condolences received. Now, can we please just forget it? Let's talk about something else...like how I'm now a summoner."
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~Fort Besselat~

L"I hear the Thunder God is patrolling Dugeura Pass. Perhaps we could--"

R"We already met him. He doesn't know anything either."

L"Wait...and he let you go?"

R"Yeah. He thinks it's fishy too. It probably helps that I was coming INTO Zeltennia, when I'm supposed to already BE in Zeltennia. We did find this, though."

*He tosses Lilith the shred of uniform.*

R"We found that abandoned in the Sand Waste. So, the Evil Eye definitely does exist."

"Oddly enough, I am too," Sab said, "That summoner's crystal had a few summons. So, there's that."

--

"Now it is just a matter of finding these copy cats," Zac said, looking at the fabric.

~Riovanes Castle~

E"I learned almost all of my monk skills, so I took up summoning as a secondary ability. What are they doing in there?"
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~Fort Besselat~

R"Well, they can't be THAT hard to find, if they just leave their clothes lying around. Maybe we should hit up some thief dens & threaten to bust some heads if they don't tell us where these guys are."

Sab let out a sigh, "Buying you a present. You're their friend after all." Sab looked at Euryale, "So, what summons do you know?"

--

Everything all paid for, M.I.N. makes its way back to the others.

--

"I doubt it would be that easy, but it could be worth a shot."

~Riovanes Castle~

E"But I just said not to buy me a present. I'll feel guilty."
================================
~Fort Besselat~

L"Where would you start? What city?"

R"Me?"

L"Obviously, we still can't travel as a group."

"Didn't you get Mortal a ribbon," Sab said, "You just said you only feel bad because you can't get them anything back. Well, that means they can get you something now."

Mortal nodded, "She has it exactly right. Here, Euryale, happy early birthday." Mortal extended her arms, holding out a Chantage. She seemed almost giddy handing it to her.

Noct walked in behind, Mortal, carrying a small box under her arm.

--

Zac awaited his answer.

~Riovanes Castle~

*Euryale's eyes widen & seem to moisten.*

E"That's...I've wanted that for years now, but how did you...I couldn't...what would I get you come July?"
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~Fort Besselat~

R"You said you had found leads in Bervenia, did you not? Let's pursue those, & travel separately again."

"The only present I could ever ask for is that you stay with me; that you love me," Mortal said, happy that Euryale liked it, "Or is that too much to ask?"

Sab looked at Noct, "Aren't you going to give her your present too?"

"This present isn't for her, it is for you," Noct handed Sab the box.

"Me, I didn't expect you to get me anything," Sab said, trying to act like this wasn't the first birthday present she ever got. She opened the box and pulled out a pantherskin bag. "Thank you, Noct, I... don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything, I'm just happy you like it," Noct said with a smile.

--

Zac looked at Lilith, waiting for her to take the lead.

~Riovanes Castle~

*Euryale reluctantly accepts, hugging Mortal with one arm.*

E"Thank you, Mortal. I will treasure it, but not half as much as I treasure you."

*She then sprays some under each arm.*

E"So...how is it?"
===================================
~Fort Besselat~

L"You should go first, as last time."

Mortal smiled, hugged back, "It is great, but how about this." She takes the bottle and sprays a bit on Euryale's wrist, she then takes her wrists and rubs them together, then rubs her wrists on her neck.

Iliad looked at Sab and Noct smiling at each other, then at Mortal and Euryale hanging onto one another, and felt a bit awkward.

--

"See you later, Roatha," Zac said with a small wave.

*After quite a while of gritting his teeth and sitting on his hands trying not to break Seraph's face, Reiter isn't exactly happy about this situation or the plan in general. They follow Roatha.*

Reiter: <We're attacking thieves? In Bervenia, of all places?>

Rhea: <Reiter... what Zac said is true. Thieves don't all steal to survive.>

Reiter: <Yeah, can you tell the difference just by looking at them?>

~Bervenia~

R"The fact is, this group is a Brigade copycat. And the Brigade was mostly made up of thieves. They made their bases in thief dens dotted across western Ivalice. There's absolutely no way that no one knows where they are."

*He turns back to face them.*

R"Let me ask you something: If you're hiding a notorious serial killer, does it really matter why you steal? You're still an accomplice to murder."
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~Fort Besselat~

L"Why didn't you go with them?"

S"Because you & I are best friends FOREVER."

*Seraph hugs Lilith.*

L"Get off of me."
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~Riovanes Castle~

*Euryale smiles. It's hard to tell, but she's blushing.*

"Really, Mortal, I can't thank you enough. I feel beautiful."

Mortal smiled back, her blush showing clearly, "You are beautiful, Euryale. I'm happy you feel that way too."

--

Zac just followed along.

~Grogh Heights~

*The group comes to a series of tiered grain fields, held in place by retaining walls, & with stone steps running down the middle. A pair of red Avis are eating the grain on either side of them. But on the other side is a green dragon, flanked by 2 trees that don't look like they should be there. Dragons do not eat grain. It roars.*

{Help me devour those humans!}
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~Beddha Sandwaste~

L"It's odd that we aren't running into any monsters here. It's almost as though someone systematically cleared out the region."

Mortal furrows her brow and rushes towards the dragon, "You will not devour the humans. You will assist me in defeating these Avis, you may feast on them if you wish."

Sab is weirded out by Mortal talking to a dragon.

--

Zac chuckled, "Or perhaps it is just those benevolent dragons."

~Grogh Heights~

E"She knows how to talk to monsters. I can't make heads or tails of what they're saying, though."

*The dragon begins to move towards her.*

<Presumptuous monkey-beast. Humans have destroyed our sources of food. I protect these Avis from humans as they eat THEIR food. I would not turn on them, but I would love to repay you for my starvation!>

*One of the Avis flaps its wings, & exploding feathers fly off of it onto Sab. Another does the same thing, but to Noctis.*
=======================================
~The Free City of Bervenia~

*They arrive in the good part of town to see broken armor & weapons strewn about the streets. Ramza exits a shop, & begins to make his way to the eastern gate.*

"Whatever she is saying, she is pissing them off," Sab said, casting hasteja on as many people in the group as she can, barring Mortal, who is too far away.

Mortal puffed out her chest, "I am no normal human. I am a dragon given a new form. My name is Mortal, and if you do not listen to me I will bring death down on you."

Noct began to dance a Forbidden Dance. Iliad threw a thunder bomb at one of the Avises.

--

"Well, this looks sketchy..." Zac said, looking around.

~Grogh Heights~

*The dragon laughs, which sounds to everyone else like gurgling.*

<I've heard stories about a dragon named Mortal, but it has surely died by now. Do you really expect me to believe that a scrawny little mammal like you was once a monster who controlled the Sandwaste?>

*One Avis lands beside Illiad & pecks at as many pressure points as it can. Whatever it was trying to do, it didn't work. The other just Feather Bombs Noctis again. Once Hasteja hits, Euryale takes off, punching the Avis that attacked Illiad.*
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~Bervenia~

L"Agreed. There was clearly a fight here. And since he's coming out of an armor shop, I'm guessing he was involved."

Mortal breathed fire into the air, "I expect you to bend to the will of your better!"

Iliad stabs the Avis that pecked him. Sab uses Stop on the other Avis. Noct is dancing.

--

"That is Ramza," Zac said, "Our paths crossed his before, but I never expected he would do this to a town."

~Grogh Heights~

*The dragon looks slightly shocked, then opens its mouth in what might be a grin. Behind him, the freaking trees pull themselves out of the ground & start following.*

<So it's true. But you know what? That just means that now you're easier to crush!>

*The dragon closes the distance & tries to rush her. The Avis that Illiad falls asleep. Permanently. The spell misses the other Avis, who's really taken a liking to Feather Bombing Noctis. Shortly afterwards, Noctis's dance triggers, & that Avis falls asleep. One of the trees also looks sick, its bark starting to flake.*

~3~
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~Bervenia~

L"I recognize him from the church's wanted posters, but from where do you know him?"

Mortal double slashes the dragon, "You stand no chance against me. Concede the fact, and I'll allow you to live."

Iliad fire bombs the other Avis, Sab tries Stop again, Noct still dances.

--

"I could have sworn we met him before, but perhaps I'm wrong," Zac said, "Maybe I just recognize him from the wanted posters too."