In The Name of Love

Zac looks at everyone, "Are you guys ready?"

--

Mortal shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe you were trying to be clandestine..."

~Limberry~

R"I was going to go get some things to protect against the assassins, actually."
===============================
~Lesalia~

<If he wants something from you, it stands to reason that he'll be making a house call soon. All we have to do is wait in ambush for him.>

"Well, hurry up then."

--

"Uh, I guess that makes sense," Mortal said, "But don't you think he would notice a bunch of knights?"

~Limberry~

R"Okay, I don't have much cash, so an Angel Ring was pretty much the best I could think of on such short notice."

Ramza<We have changed our equipment, & are prepared as well.>
=================================
~Lesalia~

<As if I would have them waiting out in the open. No, they will not make themselves known until I have summoned them.>

"Um, okay then..."

--

Zac nodded, "Alright then, lets go!"

~Lesalia~

<I'm just going to find the Lord & Lady of the house, & be informing them of my stay.>
============================
~Limberry~

*Celia, Lettie, & Elmdore are waiting at the end of the entrance hall, well away from gunshot range. The door locks behind them.*

Ramza<Where is Alma!>

Elmdore<It would be a waste to tell you. I plan to send you to the otherworld soon.>

R"And Lilith?"

Elmdore<I must praise your cunning & tenacity. I had no idea you intended to poison the castle guards with sleep herbs. But this just makes it easier for me to move around openly. As a show of appreciation, I'll be certain to kill her myself in a duel, when I have finished with the rest of you. Celia! Lettie! Kill them all!>

"Um, okay, the Lord of the house is at the room right at the top of the stairs," Mortal said pointing.

--

"The hell you will!" Zac replied moving closer.

~Limberry~

*Orlandeu moves closer to hit Celia with an ethereal blade that shatters her weapons. Lettie also runs forward, holding out her palm. A gray mist turns Zac to stone. Marquis Elmdore then appears near Roatha & Ramza, blasting them both with ghosts from a sword. Roatha immediately lashes out, striking him twice, but he grabs one of the slashes. Ramza teleports, tossing a Soft at Zac.*
==================================
~Lesalia~

*He heads to the room in question & enters.*
----------------------------------------
"I really, REALLY don't like him."

"I don't like the man trying to kill me more..." Mortal said.

--

Divum looks up, "Ah, you must be the man my daughter was talking about. Was there something you wanted of me?"

--

Zac shoots a barrage at the bitch that turned him into a statue.

~Lesalia~

<I just want to inform you & your wife that I'll be staying here, until such time as I've captured the assassin.>
----------------------------------------------------
"I'm not saying we should just let Senthose kill you, but I'm wondering if that guy won't try to eliminate us to tie up loos ends. He told us himself: He's the head of the Inquisitors, & he's going for the High Confessor's position. Wouldn't it be great if no one knew the sordid details of his rise to power? And he just so happens to be the head of the office meant to silence dissent for good."
==================================
~Limberry~

*When Celia Seals Orlandeu, instead of turning him back, Ramza hits her with a Shadowblade. She falls to the ground & her body explodes into light. An Ultima Daemon stands up where she once was.*

Ramza<So, those women were not human after all!>

Marquis<Knowing that won't do you any good!>

*Elmdore slips behind Roatha & bites his neck. Roatha's complexion becomes pale, his canines grow, & he gains a look of blood lust in his eyes. The Ultima Demon begins charging a spell & backs up. Lettie smiles.*

Lettie<Surely you'd rather be killed by a beautiful woman than a bulky beast.>

*She rushes towards him.*

Mortal let out a sigh, "Dammit... we just found a solution to one problem, now we have to find a solution for this one."

--

Divum stood up, "I'll have the maids prepare a room for you straight away."

--

"I don't think anyone here plans on dying," Zac said, shooting Lettie with a barrage.

~Limberry~

*Ramza uses a Soft on Orlandeu. When Lettie closes in on Zac, she slashes him twice across the chest. She drops from the split damage, but of course, transforms into an Ultima Daemon. The other Ultima Daemon points at Ramza, calling down a beam of brilliant blue light to strike down on him. It explodes, damaging Ramza. As Roatha stumbles over the torch to get closer to Zac, Elmdore teleports between Orlandeu & Ramza, attacking them both with screaming ghosts.*
=====================================
~Lesalia~

<Naturally.>
---------------------------------------------
"It's this damn power vacuum. Since the King died, every corrupt politician has been thinking about how they can grab more power."

Zac shoots Ultima Lettie in the face.

--

Mortal let out a sigh, "I'd rather just cross that bridge when we get there..."

--

Divum leads the Celebrant to his room, fetches a maid, then gets that bitch to clean. "You may wait in the common room, she'll get you when the room is ready. Until then feel free to make yourself comfortable."

~Limberry~

*Ultima Lettie then punches him in the stomach. It proves to be surprisingly strong, throwing him back into the torch. On the other side, vampire Roatha. Orlandeu & Ramza swing at the Marquis simultaneously, causing a pillar of white & red energy swords to emerge from the ground & pierce him. When they separate, he teleports near the back of the room, pointing a katana at Orlandeu. Red blades sweep across the room, stabbing him & critically wounding him. Ultima Celia finishes him off by calling a tornado up underneath him.*
====================================
~Lesalia~

<Oh, I will.>

*The celebrant is coming back down the stairs towards them.*

"(I think we should inform Noctis & Illiad of our plans. Safety in numbers, & all.)"

"Agreed, lets go get Noctis," Mortal said.

--

Zac downs a potion and makes his way away from the torch.

--

Noctis and Sab had decided to move away from the bar, and were sitting at a booth. "You know, you seem to want to hang out a lot for someone that supposedly can't stand me," Noct said.

"It isn't that I can't stand you... I just. You're not a good person."

"Ouch, tell me how you really feel," Noct said, taking a sip of her drink. "Still, you spend a lot of time around a bad person."

"I feel comfortable around you..."

~Limberry~

*Ramza takes this time to use a Holy Water on Roatha, who immediately rushes down the Lettie Demon & slashes her twice. It then backhands him across the face before slinking away, critically wounded & gathering magic energy into its claw. The Celia Demon points at Ramza, causing a bright yellow explosion. Elmdore then snipes him with another Sanguine Blossom, critically wounding him. However, his HP is instantly restored to full by twinkling blue-green lights.*

~2~
=====================================
~Lesalia~

<And where do you two think you're going?>

"To see a friend."

<That is fine, I suppose. I'll have a bodyguard accompany you.>

Zac shoots another barrage at Ultima Lettie.

--

"I'm not going to be tailed in my own home!" Mortal said.

--

"But nothing more?" Noct asked.

Sab's face was rosy, but Noct couldn't tell if it was just the alcohol, "I'm sorry. Its just, I'd never be able to trust you. You're a liar, and sneaky, with no sense of a moral compass."

"You didn't say no," Noct said.

This time Noct could easily tell Sab blushed, "See, this is what I mean about your morals. Your first thought shouldn't be about whether or not I answered your question, it should be about the facts that you're a sneaky liar with barely there moral values."

~Limberry~

*Ramza administers a Phoenix Down to Orlandeu, who finishes the other Ultima Demon off with a Divine Ruinition.*

Elmdore<You're stronger than I had anticipated.>

*Elmdore teleports away, but his voice lingers.*

Elmdore<Your sister awaits at the undercroft. Come deeper into the castle.>

Ramza<You coward!>

Orlandeu<What do you want to do?>

Ramza<...The Marquis will have to wait. We must find Lilith, & pray we are not too late.>
======================================
~Lesalia~

<You are not going to be staying in your own home, you are going to be out in the city. Besides, it's for your own safety.>

"Agreed," Zac said, "If everyone is alright we should get moving now."

--

"What do you mean out in the city?" Moral asked, "I'm just going upstairs."

--

"And if I didn't lie to you? If I wasn't conniving, what then?" Noct asked.

Sab folded her arms and leaned back, "Why are we even considering what if? You wouldn't change for me."

Noct frowned, "But I already have..."

~Lesalia~

<First of all, she said, "A friend." Second of all, I saw the girl out & about while I was on my way here.>
=============================
~Limberry~

*And so they kicked in the door to the kitchen, to find Lilith backed up to the ice box between 2 counters, fighting the Roatha Clone. She was covered in minor scrapes & cuts, & survived mostly by grabbing his attacks. Upon being shot, blasted with holy & unholy energy, & double-stabbed in the back, he drops to the ground & begins shimmering, transforming into the Ydoran Knight with the executioner's hood.*

R"You!? Who ARE you?"

<I am the past & future.>

"Her friend, my sister, and what do you mean she was out and about?"

--

"That was wonderfully cryptic," Zac muttered as he made his way over to Lilith, "Are you alright?"

~Limberry~

*The mysterious figure's eyes bulge as he begins gathering red-orange lights into his body.*

Ramza<Look out!>

*Orlandeu grabs Roatha as Ramza tackles Lilith & Zac. Shortly thereafter, the mysterious figure explodes like a Bomb.*
==================================
~Lesalia~

<Just as I said. I believe she was on her way to a local tavern.>

Zac had thrown himself in front of Lilith, then was tackled by Ramza. After the dust settled Zac stood up, "Is everyone alright?"

--

Mortal let out a sigh, and turned around to begin heading out the front door, "Thank you for the information."

~Lesalia~

*The Celebrant whistles & a female Dragoon comes in & salutes.*

Familiar voice<Reporting for duty, Ser!>

Celebrant<I need you to guard these two ladies, & report any suspicious happenings that occur around them to me.>

*The dragoon slowly looks over to Mortal & Euryale.*

Dragoon<...Well, this is awkward.>

Celebrant<Do you know them?>
===============================
~Limberry~

R"I think so."

Ramza<Aye.>

L"My braid fell out!"

Orlandeu<Do you know who that was, Lady...?>

*Lilith begins re-braiding her hair.*

L"Psyche. And no, I don't. He's no Southern Sky Knight, & he denied being in the service of the Marquis de Limberry, or the Lucavi."

Mortal looked confused, "Do we...?"

--

"That doesn't leave many options," Zac said, "Still, what was up with that transformative ability?"