“I…”

“I…”

“I…”

“It’s starting.” Natalia watches the rapidly transforming Omniscient Guard with a dispassionate expression. She shows no signs of terror. However, her lip curls up, revealing her feral canines. “Almost too late…how do I get past them?”

“Get past them?” My eyes flick to Natalia and I realize she’s completely lost it. A minute ago, I was ready to sacrifice everything to kill the Stranger. However, now that I have my sister back, my priorities have changed. My rage at Kisa’s death smolders underneath, but revenge no longer seems quite as important, because if nothing else, I still have her. I’ll get you out of here. Whether you want to leave or not! Elina and Jarshan should be coming…but who knows when they’ll get here. Regardless, I’m taking you back to the Sect!

“Madman! What did you do!” Jasselryia backs up as Michel takes a defensive stance in front of her. She watches the shambling hulking things her Omniscient Guardsmen have become with distaste. “This is…this is…something unholy! By Yuel…you actually used flesh magic! Necromancy! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!”

“We’ve finished it. Selena’s stolen army is no more. Now it’s all ours!” Blink crows triumphantly, holding up a shining scimitar. Several of the Omniscient Guard stop chanting. They lumber towards him, fleshy tentacles squelching. “Traitors! You are now under my command! In the name of Merekeep’s rightful Lord, redeem your honor! Pay penance with eternal servitude! Kill these meddlers-” His voice wavers as the strange creatures show no signs of stopping. They advance on him, continuously chanting with black tongues. As the slapping tentacles get closer and closer, Blink assumes a defensive stance. His expression changes to one of unease. But he does not run. “Stop! We serve the same master! Why won’t you listen! Damnit, get back-”

“Oh dear…” Michel hurriedly pulls Jasselryia back towards Natalia and I as the Omniscient Guard suddenly lunge at Blink. “My lady, do you know what’s happening?”

*Shing Shing*

Blink’s scimitars flash. He blurs around and around, but he’s let the beasts get in too close. Though he severs over a dozen slimy tentacles, the creatures barely recoil.

“Stop! STOP! I command you!” He cries and tries to turn around. Blurring, he starts to run up the wall behind him. But then a tentacle shoots out with unnatural speed. It smashes into the back of his neck, and I see the tip burst through, coming out the other side of his gaping mouth. Blood spurts as his body immediately goes limp, “W-Why…?”

“The old Lord.” Jasselryia’s voice is low. She whispers back to Michel, “He must be in the palace. These foul creatures are surely borne from his experiments.” The young woman turns around to me and I see concern on her face. “Mr. Myrr. I’d hoped we might talk further, but it seems Merekeep is about to become a bit unruly. Michel and I, as well the rest of my house are leaving. I suggest you do the same. Whether the Lord or Selena wins, this city will not be a place for the living soon.”

“What?” I shake my head confused. “The Stranger…he was the Lord…before Selena? Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you said there was no one who matched his description in Merekeep! You must’ve known!”

“The old Lord was supposed to be dead. But it seems Selena lied about killing him. Or…perhaps something fouler is afoot.” Jasselryia’s cockyness has been replaced by a desperate urgency. She scrunches her eyes, and I see a tinge of fear cross her face. “We need to leave this place. Selena may be cruel, but that madman was truly insane-wait, your friend!”

Something flutters behind me. I whirl around-

*Whoosh*

-just in time to see Natalia’s tail flash away. She leaps forwards, with a hiss, and accelerates to top speed in an instant. It’s so obvious now. Her movements are graceful and smooth, like Elina. Yet there’s something else there. A hidden explosiveness which I can only assume was taught to her by the Stranger. My sister is gone before I can open my mouth-

“NATALIA!” I reach out, but she’s already dancing past the distracted monsters feasting on Blink’s body. They look up, feeling the wind of her passage…and catch sight of us. Natalia sprints into the sewer mouth and I curse. DAMNIT! She’s going after the Stranger!

“My lady…Mr. Myrr…we need to leave!” Michel raises his sword into the glinting moonlight as the foul creatures which once stood beside him, turn from Blink’s carcass. “They’re coming!”

“Mr. Myrr…come with us! Forget your friend!” Jasselryia offers her hand to me. “We can get you out of here! Don’t get entangled in the Lord’s plot!”

“Issel!”

“Issel!”

The Omniscient Guard advance towards us, breaking into a shambling run. They do not blur out of sight like an assassin, but instead accelerate with terrifying strength, becoming bigger by the moment. Each foul step leaves a bloody footprint on the ground and they howl. I look around. Smoke billows into the night sky, lit red with flames. It seems the whole city is burning. Perhaps that’s my fault. I did tell the Demi’s to go wild. Screams echo from all sides, and I hear more cries, ‘Issel!’. It seems the monstrous Omniscient Guard are gathering…coming towards the palace. Soon, this place will be a nightmarish hell. Leaving would be the smart choice. But looking at the sewer mouth, and the ripples in the brackish water left by Natalia’s fading footsteps, I know what I must do.

“Sorry.” I shake my head. And refuse Jasselryia’s hand. “Thanks for coming. But I won’t be leaving just yet. Can you do me one more favor? I need to get through these things.”

Jasselryia’s eyes flash with disappointment. But she understands.

“Very well. I suppose it’s good to make an honorable friend.” She motions at Blink’s desecrated corpse, “Don’t trust your Qi to protect you. These things are the bane of assassins! If you live…come find us in Yavi City!” The young woman nods at me then barks to her manservant, “Michel, we’re leaving! Bring some of these beasts with us!”

*Fwick*

She tosses a spinning dagger into one of the charging creatures. It shears through the Omniscient Guard’s armor, right into where the heart should be. The freakish monstrosity drops…tumbling on the ground…but soon gets right back up and rejoins its companions. Multiple freaks hone in on her as she dashes away to my left. Michel takes off as well, dragging his sword on the stones of Merekeep’s road. Sparks fly, and more creatures follow the ear-splitting noise-

“Mr. Myrr! Good luck!” Michel roars before following Jasselryia into an empty alleyway. About a third of the remaining Omniscient Guard hesitate, trying to choose between those two and myself. I chant ferociously in mind and body. Gotta catch up to Natalia!

[Stormy Breeze of My Loneliness, Gather Forth-Gust]

[Stormy Breeze of My Loneliness, Gather Forth-Gust]

The first tornado rages towards the incoming freaks. I don’t really expect it to do much more than slow them down. To my surprise, the raging wind actually blows a few over. Their coordination seems lacking. However, they quickly rise again. Before they can regain themselves, I launch the second, silent Gust behind me, pointed down at my feet.

*Whoosh*

Taking to the skies, I spring forth, flipping up and over the creatures, landing on the other side. Without a second glance back, I ignore their angry cries of ‘Issel!’ and rush into the sewer mouth. Soon, it becomes dark, with only the light of the glowing guidebones on the walls. Behind me, I can hear strange footsteps, long tentacles dragging in the water. But I care not if they follow. Chanting rapidly, I throw both arms behind me and unleash another set of powerful Gusts from my palms. The backflow lifts my feet from the ground, and I rocket forwards. Wind rushes over my ears and the glowing bones turn into blurry lines as I fly through the pipe. Well…perhaps flying is the wrong word. That would imply I’m in control. Crap a turn! Almost smashing into a wall, I flip forwards and land horizontally on the wall to absorb the impact with my knees. Dropping down to the ground, I cock my head and listen.

*Splash Splash*

Somewhere up ahead, I can just barely hear footsteps. They’re faint and rapid, but it must be Natalia. She shouldn’t be this slow. I’m certain she’s still injured. My foolish sister is going to get herself killed. I have to stop her-

Wait for me!

I’m coming!