Lissa had reached the others by the time the second horn had sounded. "You heard the first horn, right Almios? Did you check the time when it happened?" Lissa leaned against a wall panting heavily. "No, I didn't think to check at the time," Almios fumbled and pulled the watch from his necklace. He frowned as he opened it, "Well, I think it stopped in the explosion, but I am going to start it up again and time it from there."

Lissa nodded while Mera, Mela, Micah, and Darvick gathered the nobles. "Did you see anything blocking our way?" Garza asked while passing her a waterskin. Lissa shook her head, drinking from it greedily. "Good, we can handle them," He pointed to the nobles, "Get out now and get some rest," Lissa glared at Garza as he spoke. He returned the glare, "Don't give me that. You have pushed yourself really fucking far since the temple."

Garza stepped closer, towering over Lissa momentarily, "And don't even get me started on how you act when fighting at the moment." Garza glanced at Almios, who looked away, "You fucking terrify us. You get this glazed look in your eye and just start ripping the Gloomed to shreds. Whatever has gotten into you isn't good. You don't seem to care about keeping yourself safe."

Lissa blinked. She almost did what? "Why didn't you tell me?" She looked him in the eyes. Garza sighed, "Because we kind of were all like that for a bit until we saw those nobles. I know seeing actual people cleared my head enough to fight smarter and not frenzied." Garza put a hand on Lissa's shoulder, "We all agreed on it after you left." Lissa tossed the waterskin back at him, "That isn't fair, and you know it."

Garza shrugged while putting away the waterskin, "Life isn't fair. Just go on ahead. It'll make us feel better." Lissa stood shaking her head and punched Garza in the arm, "I am still not getting out before you." Garza opened his mouth, and Lissa put a finger on his lips now, "But I will stick back with the nobles if you are all that concerned, deal?"

Garza rolled his eyes while nodding. "Told you she wouldn't…." Almios began before a hard punch to the arm from Garza shut him up. Lissa removed her finger and walked towards the others as they began arguing in earnest. Mera and Mela turned to look at her and then to each other, nodding. "Told you she wouldn't go for it, Darvick," Mera said in a sing-song voice. "You'll get your money when we are out of here, and not a second sooner," He replied while grabbing his coin-purse.

"I'll make sure you don't forget," Mela sidled up to him and patted his hand. Darvick grumbled and walked through the nobles, "Alright, we got a bit to go, and then we are out of here, and if we aren't out by the fourth time that horn sounds, we are stuck here! Now come on and get moving!" Lissa watched as the nobles who had been milling about hurried into motion.

"I would have been a bit more tactful," She commented while walking to Darvick. "Yeah, you would have, but still, this is effective, don't you think," Darvick nodded while falling into rearguard with Lissa.

It took only a few minutes for a marching rhythm to establish itself in the group. A far-off scream or explosion occasionally punctuated the echoing footfalls. Each disturbance encouraged the nobles to go faster and faster. "Reminds me of our drills as recruits," Lissa turned to Darvick, who jogged beside her.

"Which part? The explosions? The screaming? Or being in the back?" He turned his head slightly to face her. Lissa chuckled, "All of it." She looked at the haggard and scared nobles in front of her, "Minus the death and destruction, though." Darvick nodded, "When do you think it will all go back to normal?"

"Define normal," Lissa watched Garza, Almios, round a corner ahead. "No life or death situations around every corner?" Darvick eyed the buildings and alleys around them. "Fair enough, though I don't think it ever will," Lissa looked to her left and skid to a halt.

A strangely familiar little girl was racing towards her, a baby clutched in her arms. Lissa let out a shrill whistle and knew the others would stop the nobles from going further. So Lissa jogged over to the girl. Her eyes were streaked with tears, and she could see the fear in them.

The girl looked at Lissa and came to a stop as Lissa got closer. Their eyes met, and Lissa could see the relief pour over the girl. "Are you alright?" Lissa knelt before her. The girl nodded, "Can you….Can you help my mommy and daddy?" Lissa smiled, "I'll do my best. Where are they?" The girl pointed around down the alley she came from, "Down there, through the big glowing circle."

Big glowing circle? Lissa shook her head, probably just a child seeing a burning hole in a building. "Alright, I will go help them. But, in the meantime," Lissa pointed to Darvick and the others as they jogged over, "My friends will help you, okay?"

Lissa touched the girl's shoulder, "You're safe now." She turned to Darvick, who nodded, "Go on, we'll be right here." Lissa stood up and bounded down the alley only a few meters from the other end. She slowed. The hair on her neck was rising, and she could feel and smell the electricity in the air. Walking to the mouth, she looked to her left and gasped. Open only a few meters away was a portal.

She didn't recognize where the opposite side led to, but she did recognize the woman running towards her. Lissa rounded the corner, hands open, showing she was unarmed, "My lady, are you alright?" The Empress eyed her, and she could see the tension build and then release as she looked Lissa in the eyes. "Tell me, where is my daughter?" Lissa felt herself stiffen, and fog clouded her thoughts.

"She is with my friends on the other side of these buildings," Lissa pointed to the alley she came from. "Is she safe and unharmed?" Lissa felt her mouth move without her will, "She was safe and unharmed when I left her with them."

Lissa looked past the Empress to the portal. No, it couldn't be possible. Lissa's eyes locked onto the blade held in arms against a blood-drenched Legionnaire. Lissa felt the fog starting to lift and shook her head to clear it. She turned back to the Empress, "My Empress, you should go to your daughter." Lissa's eyes again went to the blade and the woman wielding it.

It couldn't be, but the stance was the same. The sword was the same. The armor was the same. Lissa stepped past the Empress, her ears ringing. Her heart thundered in her chest, and her breath quickened. Lissa watched Saida shove the Legionnaire off her blade and turn to face her. Her eyes darted to the dying Legionnaire and then to Saida. Lissa stretched out her hand, "Saida?"

She could see the sadness and shame on Saida's face as the words reached her ears. Why was she sad and ashamed? There must be a good reason why she was alive and was here. Lissa felt herself stiffen slightly as the power reached her before the words. "Emissary, kill her." Lissa felt herself being pulled into the darkness. She felt her body step forward and draw her sword. "No! What's going on! Saida, this isn't me!" She felt the scream echo in her own mind while nothing escaped her lips.

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Saida watched as Lissa slowly advanced towards her. "Lis! Stop! It's me!" She shouted, using one hand to point at herself. The only response Saida received was Lissa leaping at her. She rolled away from the blow and brought her sword up to guard.

"Gods damn it!" Saida turned her head to the portal for a moment. The Empress stood there smugly, "You shouldn't be looking at me, dear." Saida barely had time to turn the incoming slash and backpedaled under the following flurry of blows. She finally found an opening and smacked the flat of her blade onto Lissa's exposed flank.

She had expected the blow to throw her off due to the pain and surprise. That did not happen. Lissa merely used the opportunity to get under Saida's guard. She felt the white-hot pain as Lissa's blade caught an exposed joint. "You'll have to do better than that, dear, and she will kill you if you continue to hesitate," The Empress' voice carried through the battle.

Saida snarled and kicked Lissa away. Then, turning quickly, she sprinted at the Empress, "I'll kill you for what you did!" The smug expression on her face quickly turned to fear and then satisfaction. Saida was confused for a moment before she felt hands grab her hair and pull. Then, screaming, she felt herself being pulled and tossed backward. Looking up, Lissa stood between her and the Empress.

"Better luck next time, dear, though why she did not run you through is a bit strange, but it was effective in protecting me," The Empress wasn't even looking at Saida as she spoke. She was looking at the Emperor and Faceless fighting. "And what did I do, hmm?" She turned back to look at Saida as Lissa slowly stepped forward. "You are making my friend kill me!" Saida held her ground and put up her guard.

A cry of pain nearly made Saida turn her head, but she resisted the urge. "Charles!" The Empress shouted while taking one tentative step forward. "Stay away, Melinda! Close the portal!" The Emperor shouted before screaming in pain. "There is nothing on this side to close it!" The Empress replied while taking another step. The rest of the conversation was cut off as Lissa sprang at Saida. It was a textbook feint to her right, and Saida parried it easily. Saida furrowed her brow in thought and returned the feint.

It was ignored and countered with another textbook maneuver. Something that Lissa never would do. Saida knew that they each adapted what the Academy taught them to suit their strengths. Looking back, she realized every attack and counter had been just as their instructors showed them.

Saida smirked. She knew what needed to be done now. She threw herself at Lissa, attacking relentlessly and recklessly. As long as Lissa kept using the by rote responses, she was safe. If her assumptions were wrong, the only result of what she was doing would be death.

The sound of their blades clashing and the cacophonous beating of Saida's heart drowned everything out. Her vision narrowed, and all she could see was Lissa. She watched her footwork, the positioning of her wrists, and nothing else. Soon enough, she had her opening.

Saida stepped within Lissa's reach and slammed her fist into Lissa's temple. Momentarily dazed, Saida ripped Lissa's sword from her loosened grip. Stepping back, Saida threw the blade away, smirking. The smirk quickly fell away as Lissa drew her Focus. "Oh shit," Saida barely managed to say before an ethereal whip materialized and shot towards her.

That was one way to prove her wrong; she thought while diving out of the way. The whip drew back as Lissa adjusted to her moving target. Saida watched as she drew a dagger with her left hand. Saida debated for a moment on whether to grab her Focus as well but decided against it. That would leave only one hand on her sword, which was less than ideal.

"You'll have to do better than that, Lis," Saida expected a reply, but the grim silence between them let her know the truth. Lissa was gone, for now at least, and maybe if she killed the damned Empress, this would end. Taking a deep breath, Saida slowly circled Lissa. She wanted Lissa to think she was just waiting for a time to strike. With each step, she took a little bit more of her focus away from Lissa and onto her surroundings.

She was drawing closer to the portal now, looking for just a moment she found it empty. "Wher…." The momentary distraction was just enough to allow her leg to be wrapped by the aether whip.

Saida stumbled forward as the whip was pulled. Lissa was on her heartbeats. She slapped Saida's sword to the side and stepped close. Saida looked into her eyes and saw nothing recognizable. She had one last gamble to play. Wrapping her arms around Lissa, she kissed her. Saida felt Lissa's arms droop and sag. It worked! Pulling away, she smiled, only for it to fall moments later.

Lissa's eyes and expression didn't change. "But," Was all she could mutter before two sharp pains blossomed in her chest. Gasping, Saida looked down. She could see the hilt of the dagger and the Focus pushed under her armor. Saida looked back at Lissa's face. She could feel the hot tears falling down her cheeks.

She wanted to say something, but words died in her throat. The dagger and aether blade were pulled up and out. Saida screamed in pain as the blades cut more of her flesh. She crumpled to the ground, her sword discarded. Her hands pressed onto the wounds trying to stem the bleeding. Saida closed her eyes as she saw Lissa kneel.

The warm and slick metal touched her throat. "Just get it over with," Saida tried and failed to make her tone defiant. Instead, she felt the blade shake for a moment before being jerked away. "Saida? What's going on? Did I do this to you?" Lissa's voice was shaken and confused. Saida opened her eyes and looked at Lissa. She could see the confusion and pain on her face.

She watched as her eyes darted to the pooling blood. "Gods, Saida, how bad is it? I should have…." Lissa stammered, dropping her dagger and Focus. She clumsily began searching through her pouches for something to stem the bleeding. Saida smiled, "You always cared too much about others." She slipped one blood hand from her wounds and touched Lissa's face.

"Emissary," Saida's face fell as the Emperor's word, and the power behind it washed over her. She watched as Lissa's eyes glazed over again, waiting. "Take the Empress away now!" Saida blinked. That was not the order she was expecting. She turned her head to look where the voice came from. The Emperor cradled an unconscious Empress in his arms. One of her arms hung limply, and one leg was bent at an unnatural angle. Saida wanted to say something but knew it was fruitless.

She let her hand drop as Lissa stood and ran over and picked up the Empress. Saida couldn't make out if any words were exchanged before Lissa raced through the portal. "Damn it all," Saida muttered to herself as her vision swam. She looked at the rapidly expanding pool of blood beneath her. "Guess I'll be seeing you sooner than I thought," Saida said as she closed her eyes and let the darkness take her.

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Lissa opened her eyes and found herself lying on a couch in a well-lit library. She could hear the fire crackling behind her, and she sat up slowly. Then, looking at herself, she realized she wasn't in her armor but comfortable loungewear that fit her perfectly. "What? Where am I?" Lissa asked while taking in the shelves upon shelves of books around her.

"Finally, you are awake," Inalize's voice came from behind her, and Lissa spun to look at him. He stood in front of the fireplace with an open book in one hand. "What did you do to me!" She roared, leaping off the couch at him. He slammed the book closed, and Lissa froze in mid-air.

"This was just as unexpected for me as it was for you. What is the last thing you remember?" Inalize set the book down onto a nearby table and waited for her response. Instead, Lissa glared at him, only able to move her eyes. The silence held for a moment longer before Lissa fell to the floor in a heap. "Better?" Inalize walked over to her.

Glaring, Lissa stood cautiously, "I remember a scared little girl in the city. Running down an alley to see the Empress and a portal and then…." Lissa shook her head, no she couldn't have been there, "Then I saw Saida." She glanced at Inalize, "Was that because of you?" Inalize cocked his eyebrow, "What was because of me?" She glared at him, "Was Saida being there because of you!" She took one tentative step forward as she yelled.

"No, I had nothing to do with that. Why don't you take a seat?" Inalize waved his hand, and two very comfortable lounge chairs appeared in front of the fire. They both faced each other, and he sat in one while gesturing to the other. Lissa glared for a moment longer before sitting.

"What happened after you saw her?" He asked while a steaming cup of something appeared from thin air. Lissa blinked, leaned forward, and looked at the floor. "I remember someone speaking and then something flowing over me like a heavy coat. Aether maybe? I remember watching myself step forward and draw my sword, but I don't remember doing it myself. Does that make sense?" She looked at Inalize, who took a small sip from his cup.

"Anything else?" Lissa thought back again, "I think it was the Empress' voice? I am not sure. Why does it matter?" Lissa looked back to Inalize, who had a slight smile on his face. "I just wanted to know where I would have to continue from, my dear Callista." Inalize waved a hand, and a miniature of Lissa appeared between them. "How much do you know about enchanting?" Inalize said while Lissa stared at the model of herself.

"I know that you can enchant most things, given enough time, effort, and materials. But, to make things stronger, people faster, or a whole assortment of things, why?" She reached out to touch the miniature. She expected her finger to phase through it, but it did not. "It's solid?" Lissa muttered while leaning closer to inspect the model.

"Yes, it is as solid as the chair you are sitting on. Also, you are correct but left out the fact that you can enchant something to obey commands as well," Inalize snapped a finger, and a smaller miniature appeared. Lissa blinked. It was her as a child, "Yes, you can do that, but doing that sort of enchantment on people is outlawed."

"Have you ever heard of the phrase 'Rules for thee, but not for me?" Inalize said while the markings necessary for enchantment appeared on both miniatures. "I have, but what does that…." Lissa began and then stopped. "No, they wouldn't, couldn't do that to us, someone would say something and stop them!" She looked up at Inalize. She saw sadness and pity on his face.

"Not if the ones doing it were also the ones you would report it to. Why do you think you are taken at a young age to be Emissaries or Legionnaires? Tampering with the mind like that when you are older can lead to many unpleasant things happening," Lissa deflated as he spoke. It all made sense. Why hadn't she thought of it sooner? Then it dawned on her, "They do that while putting in the deterrents, don't they?"

Lissa rubbed the back of her neck, "That's why it hurts to think of our enchantments, our families, and who knows what else." Inalize looked away for a moment, "You are sadly correct, which is also why this portion of our conversation will be left out of your memories for now." Lissa cocked an eyebrow, "Why?" Inalize leaned forward, and both miniatures turned their backs to her.

"Those very same enchantments will know that you know too much about them. If you left now and I didn't block out your realization, it would cause blood vessels in your brain to rupture, killing you or at least putting you in an irreversible coma." Lissa put her hand in front of her mouth, suddenly nauseous. Was that why others she knew dropped dead for no reason? The simple fact they knew too much? She stood, eyes frantically searching for something to retch into.

Lissa heaved as she stood and felt a broad spike of pain in her side. She dry heaved for a few moments as the pain subsided. "What was that?" She asked while drawing in ragged breaths. "Pain from your body, more than likely someone injured you there," Inalize gestured to her sides. Who would injure her?

"Saida!" Lissa looked around for a door or some way to get out of here. "You have to let me out of here now! I need to make sure she is okay," Lissa scrambled to a far wall and started throwing books off the shelves. Thinking maybe one was a hidden lever to open a door. She wasn't able to make it more than a few shelves before being frozen.

"I would appreciate it, Callista," Lissa could hear Inalize's heavy footfalls as he walked over to her, "If you wouldn't throw these books around and make a mess of my study!" She felt an icy cold hand grab her shoulder and spin her around. Inalize stood there covered in darkness with the only thing visible, his golden eyes. "If I free you will you stop this nonsense? Blink twice for yes," Lissa could feel an immense pressure close in around her.

She blinked twice. The darkness and presence disappeared, and Inalize stood in front of her, smiling, "Good." Lissa slowly and carefully walked back to the chair. She could feel Inalize's eyes on her the entire time. She sat and looked at him. He was shaking his head while books floated around him, "Quite a mess you made. I had these ones in a particular order, you know. Why do you need to leave so soon?"

"Because I remembered what the Empress ordered me to do." Lissa fidgeted in her seat. She still wanted to leave but did not want a repeat of what she had just felt. "And what was that, hmm?" Inalize started putting books back onto his shelves. "She wanted me to kill Saida, and I sure I could do it?" Lissa said while looking at the miniatures still floating in between the chairs.

"A little overconfident, aren't we? Why are you sure about that?" Inalize turned his head to look at her. "Because right now she will be holding back thinking I can break free and I won't be…." Lissa gasped and held her head as pain blossomed from the side of her head. "Won't what? Be able to break free?" Lissa blinked as her vision swam. She looked to Inalize and saw the black mass superimposed over his outline for a moment.

"Yeah, there is no way out of here," Lissa took a deep breath and focused on the miniatures to clear her head. "There is a way out," Inalize said as the final book slid onto the shelf. "How and where?" Lissa looked around, finding the same shelves covering the walls and no apparent exits.

"Not a where but a who, me," Inalize calmly walked over to his chair and sat. "Why didn't you do it sooner?" Lissa wanted to shout but knew it would get her nowhere. "Because you were confused, and I needed to assess if you were truly yourself here," Inalize gestured to her. "And what is the answer?" Lissa held her breath. Inalize smiled, "You are yourself. This leads me to how I can get you back to your body. All that needs to happen is I give you a bit more of my power."

"And what do you get out of this?" Inalize smiled at Lissa's question. "My dear Callista, all that I get out of it is a more powerful assistant," Inalize stood and walked over to Lissa, a tiny golden orb in his palm. "Will this let me remember this conversation?" She looked at the orb, conflicted.

"Partially, yes, but the enchantments and all that entails will still affect you. At least for now," Inalize withdrew his palm, and the orb floated in front of Lissa. Taking a deep breath, Lissa slowly closed her hand around the sphere. She wanted to scream as what felt like lightning surged through her body. But, instead, her body went rigid, and she felt herself fall to the floor. The pain grew to an unbearable crescendo, and Lissa shut her eyes in a fruitless attempt to curtail the pain.

An eternity later, the pain subsided, and the smell of blood assaulted her nose. Breathing heavily, she opened her eyes and saw she had a dagger to Saida's throat. "Saida? What's going on? Did I do this to you?" Lissa felt her attention drawn to the wetness spreading at her feet. It was Saida's blood.

Lissa dropped her dagger and Focus. Her hands darted to the pouches on her belt. One of them must have something in them to stem the bleeding: cloth, a potion, something to undo her mistake. "You always cared too much about others," Lissa felt Saida's bloody hand touch her cheek. She wanted to cry to hold her and tell her that she would be okay and that she was sorry.

Lissa felt another raincoat being draped over her as she heard the Emperor's voice. She watched as Saida's voice fell as the words began to be spoken. "Emissary," Lissa wanted to scream and shout, "No!" But, instead, she could feel herself slipping away. "Take the Empress away now!" Lissa felt relieved that she wasn't told to kill Saida. The relief fell into the darkness around her as she stood and walked away. Then, as Lissa was engulfed by the darkness again, she held herself and cried.

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Charles took a few heaving breaths and stood unsteadily on his feet. He watched as the Blooded emissary ran through the portal. He saw Silvercrest on the other side. Why hadn't it taken them to his uncles? Why the streets of the city below them?

Looking back, Charles saw Jasmine's broken body stirring. Terrifying giggles came from a broken neck and echoing in the silent chamber. "Don't go," the multitudes of Jasmine's voice followed Charles as he walked to the portal, "I was just starting to have fun." Step by step, Charles drew closer to his goal.

He glanced behind at Jasmine as multitudes of sharp cracks came from her direction. What he saw chilled him to the bone. Jasmine crawled towards him on mutilated but healing arms. Her face and skull peeled and pulped open to reveal a grinning rictus of teeth. "I will just follow you. That way, we can keep playing. Maybe your little girl can join in too?"

Shuddering, Charles kept pressing forward. His thoughts raced. How would he close the portal without a control crystal on the other side? It would take hours to get the necessary preparations done to close the portal. Unless of course……. Charles eyed the crystal in the pillar. "No, I won't let you," Charles replied while taking strength from his decision.

"How? It's not as if…." Jasmine's voice trailed off as she came to the same conclusion, "You idiot! Don't you dare!" Charles could hear the snapping and crackling of bones grow louder as Jasmine quickened her pace. A few moments later, Charles reached the pillar. His blood-coated fingertips dug into the stone, searching for a grip on the crystal embedded into it.

"Damn it," Charles' fingers couldn't find purchase on it at all. He looked up and at the portal. On the other side was his family and the Legion. One he was willing to die for, and the other was willing to die for him. Charles looked back towards Jasmine now.

She continued to crawl towards him as her legs healed themselves. Soon, he knew she would be completely mobile again. But could he really let this monster follow him through the portal? No, no, he could not. So screaming in rage, frustration, and despair Charles imbued his fists with Aether. He began to rain blows onto the crystal as tears fell down his cheeks.

Charles could feel his bones breaking with each impact, but he did not relent. His only focus was the crystal as it cracked under his blows. "Stop!" Jasmine cried as the cracks grew more prominent. Only a few more hits, and it would shatter. Charles screamed as he felt Jasmine's hands grab and break one of his ankles.

He fell onto his knees, coming to eye level with the crystal. "I said stop," Jasmine's voice was cold and detached as her hands pierced his back. Charles' felt his legs grow cold and then numb. "Too late," He said while putting both hands above his head. Jasmine screamed as his fists descended onto the crystal.

Everything was silent for a few heartbeats as his fists made contact. Then, the silence was shattered by a loud crack. Charles was blinded as a white light blossomed in front of him. He started to let out a sigh as the light consumed him.