Three days before....

     The still night air was broken deep in the forest surrounding the Church
city of Tienne.  Two men stood in the seeming wilderness; one was a slightly
tipsy gentleman in his late fifties, grey hair overcoming his fading brown
locks; while the other was more clear-headed, younger and clearly worried
about greater things than roaming goblin bands or packs of dire wolves.

     "This is nonsensical," claimed the younger man.  "For one thing, it's
almost tomb-robbing... for another... it *must* be heresy at some level!"

     The older man shook his head.  "We're protected.   Come on... the
entrance is around here somewhere, if I remember right."

     "I thought you didn't go into this mystical stuff?"

     "This *isn't* 'mystical' stuff," his superior retorted sharply.  "It's
merely a power that isn't fully understood yet.  The Church would've likely
destroyed it ages ago if it was connected to any sorta magic or whatnot
whatsoever."

     The younger man paused.  "They *know* it's here?"

     He received a shrug in reply.  "Maybe.  Probably.  Who knows?  'snot
like it's not protected.  Speakin' of which... got the explosives?"

     The young man nodded quickly.  "Yes, yes.  Fine... there's no changing
your stubborn old mind once you're set, not even when you're drunk.  Let's
get this over with quickly... if I'm going to be out here, I'd like this done
as soon as possible."

     The old man took the device from his unwilling accomplice and held it
up to the moonlight, inspecting it carefully.  He grimaced.  "As soon as
possible?  You'd better hope that isn't as long as I t'ink this is all gonna
take...."

     He turned and glanced back at the nervous young man.  "We're in this to
the end."  And then he smiled to himself, slightly wistfully.  "And... she'll
be magnificent."

     No more was said.  It was only a short time later when explosions could
be heard, awakening all the wildlife in the southwestern region of Tienne's
proud forest.

     It was indeed going to be a long night.







                           FINAL FANTASY LEGACY
                               Knights of the Round

                         Chapter 31 - Wood and Metal

                       FFL Concept by Brian Stricklin
                        FFL #31 by Terence Fergusson







     
     Two days before....

     She entered the quiet forest glade unchallenged at first.  It was, as
her 'assistant' had said, 'fairer' than the surrounding woods.  And there, in
the centre of the glade, lay a carpet of the fragile white flowers she
sought.

     This was momentarily puzzling to her, for the young man who had found
the flowers for her had said that only a few had been growing here.

     Yet, as she stooped to collect some of the rare flowers, the intensity
of the freezing wind around her increased.  She spun swiftly, drawing her
strangely curved blade as she did so.

     And met with a pale young woman, her face framed with shimmering
multicoloured hair.  "You're not welcome here, Knight of the Wind."

     Madonna grimaced, then frowned.  "I see no Caller... why are you here?"

     The young woman glanced about the clearing.  "Where else would I be?"

     The Knight snorted in reply.  "One of the Three... the so-called
Goddess of Purity.  Yet... walking around as free as a bird.  Where are your
followers?  Do you not care for your *Church*?"

     Shiva sighed.  "Grave times are coming.  Yet all you will do is bring
them swiftly to the present, and allow them to last forever.  I cannot allow
that."

     She skipped back lightly as Madonna cleaved the air where she had been
standing.  The Knight smiled ferally.  "You're weak.  Far weaker than any
legend says... and if you're here... where are your peers?"

     Madonna smirked when no reply came.  "Very interesting.  It's been nice
meeting you... 'Goddess'.  However, I have other business to attend to."  She
swiftly gathered up a large bundle of the flowers she had came for, and was
pleased when Shiva made no further move to stop her.

     She turned her back on the glade and began her journey back to the
nearby capital.  But, just before leaving, she glanced back, and it again
pleased her to see the pale goddess fixing her with a cold gaze.  Madonna
smiled and laughed aloud.  "Ah, I have no doubt we'll meet again, Guardian.
Mayhaps on the battlefield, I think."  And with that, she left the glade,
never to return.

     In the Knight's absence, Shiva let out a heartfelt sigh.  For now, all
she could do was rest and regain her strength from her long captivity.  And
hope that the young woman she had met once three weeks ago... and once more
in a recent 'dream'... was indeed the one fettered by destiny.
    
                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     One day before....

     Bolgan Valecrest was woken from fitful slumbers by a loud banging on the
warehouse door.  He grimaced to himself as he realised that, once again, he
had fallen asleep in his workshop.  Still... it had been worth it.  He smiled
to himself as he gazed upon the Excelsior, no longer a cursed vessel that
symbolised his failings as a Master Engineer.

     More loud bangs brought him to attention, and he hurried to the door,
wondering who it could be.  He undid the latch and cracked it open, and his
jaw dropped when he saw who was on the other side.

     High Priest Lambert barged his way inside, paying no attention to the
shocked expression on the engineer's face; he had come here for one thing
only.  Armand Cavanaugh followed him in, closing and locking the door behind
him.

     "Are the reports true?" Lambert asked, not taking his gaze off the ship.

     "Y-yes, Father Lambert.  The Excelsior is ready."

     Lambert closed his eyes and sighed.  "After all these years."  Then he
glanced back at Bolgan, suspicion tinging his gaze.  "You once told me that
you didn't think there was any power that existed that could allow an Airship
this size to take flight, let alone power a fighting fortress like the
Excelsior.  I assume the situation has changed?"

     The engineer went white and stammered to find a reply, when Armand
stepped in.  "Your Eminence, I believe 'no questions asked' were the
stipulations we gave Master Bolgan?"

     Lambert sighed, and waved his hand.  "Yes, yes.  Still, if you will
pardon me a little curiousity, perhaps Master Bolgan could tell us how he
finished this in a mere two days?"

     "A-ah, Father Lambert, the only thing that has remained unfinished for
the past two months has been the engine room.  The fortress has been
completed for some time, and automatically upgraded as we researched new
technologies.  All it required was a power source, something capable of
sustaining the Boost technology for an indefinite period."

     The High Priest nodded grimly; that had all been in the report as well.
"I see.  No questions asked, hmm?"

     Bolgan nodded hurriedly.  "No questions asked."

     "I thought as much."  He shook his head, gazing once more at the
airship.  "Commander.  You will be in charge of the Excelsior."

     Armand nodded once.  "Yes, Father."

     "Master Bolgan.  You will pick a team of your most trusted and capable
engineers.  You will be maintaining the Excelsior during flight."  He tapped
a finger against his lip.  "Tell me, is TIAMAT finally ready?"

     "Ma-maintaining the Excelsior?  Father Lambert, I--"

     "Is TIAMAT ready, Master Bolgan?!"

     Bolgan took a ragged breath, and nodded once, affirmative.  "Yes, Father
Lambert.  We've worked in the latest designs from the new model GOLeMs, as
well as corrected the power matrix.  We don't believe it will malfunction or
suffer power-loss before a critical strike like the last field test."

     Lambert snorted.  "The 'last time'.  The ill-fated Light Warriors, if I
recall."

     Armand coughed lightly into his hand.  "Father Lambert... what is your
will regarding TIAMAT?"

     Lambert looked up, gazing at the ceiling.  "I don't intend to lose this
war.  Three quarters of the fleet we built up set sail last night.  The
Excelsior will catch up with them at La Verde and offer air and ground
support.  Commander, I will leave you to work out the details of the
Excelsior's force... yet I suggest you take TIAMAT and a handful of the newer
GOLeMs."

     He suddenly paused and stared hard at Bolgan.  "What of the other
original prototypes?  Are they ready?"

     Bolgan tried not to shrink back from the High Priest's gaze.  "They
still require the necessary modifications to correct the latest errors in
their battle process, yet that shouldn't take much longer than a week in the
hands of some of the more well-trained engineers...."

     The High Priest grimaced.  "They have half that.  See to it, Bolgan.
Once you're done directing them, you will report to Commander Cavanaugh."

     Bolgan nodded quickly, already moving towards the door.  "Yes, Father
Lambert," he called back hurriedly.

     Armand waited until the old engineer had left the building, before
turning to face the High Priest.  "All three prototypes, your Eminence?"

     "It can't be helped, Cavanaugh.  They're coming... I can feel it.  I
can't afford to leave La Verde to the heretics... but Tienne cannot be left
unguarded.  The Wall cannot be left unguarded."

     Armand glanced at the warehouse door.  "Reports say there were
explosions in the southwestern forest region two nights ago."

     Lambert arched an eyebrow, gazing at the Commander.  "Are they certain?"

     "Yes, your Eminence."

     "...hmmm... foolish.  So foolish.  I didn't think Bolgan even remembered
that site."

     Armand closed his eyes, frowning to himself.  "Do you want--"

     "No, no," cut off Lambert.  "It's too late for that now.  What's done is
done.  It is possible it is even better protected now than it was before.
But... you will guard it with your life, Armand.  Is that clear?"

     "Perfectly, your Eminence."

     "Good."  The aging priest turned once more and took in the glory of the
Excelsior.  As Bolgan had promised... it was most certainly a magnificent
fortress.

     He nodded to himself.  It would have to do.  "Commander... you leave
tonight."  Lambert fixed him with a cold stare.  "Don't fail."

     Armand nodded slowly.  He understood.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Present day.

     The coastal city of La Verde lay quiet and serene upon the far
southeastern peninsula of the main continent.  The westerly sea breeze
brought promises of warm weather and clear skies for the next few days,
despite the clouds that dotted the horizon in the direction of Tienne.

     Yet, in only a few hours, all that would change.

     With the exception of a small uprising five hundred years ago, it had
been over one thousand years since this ancient war had been fought.

     And soon the next battle would begin in earnest.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "Right... here we are."

     "How do you know?" Marcine asked.  The ease in which Davin had led them
through the pitch black passages still had her in awe; she'd long since lost
track of the various twists and turns they'd made to get here.

     Davin chuckled in reply.  "Back when I was a student here, a few of us
would use these to get out of the Academy undetected.  Some of the students
used to do that to escape curfew, or just to visit the town."

     "Yes.  I seem to remember you in particular, young Highwater, doing just
precisely that."

     Marcine gasped in surprise, and Kyle was already turning to face the
unknown speaker with his naginata ready, when Davin finally found his voice.
"That... I know that voice... Master Benedict?!"

     Abruptly, a simple act of Geomancy from the unknown speaker brought a
small light flaring into existence, revealing the face of a rugged old man,
wearing a body-cloaking brown robe.  He frowned at Davin, and tutted in
seeming dismay.  "Oh young Highwater... would that I had known you were going
to run off with brigands and heretics the minute you left the Academy; I
would never have let you graduate."  He glared at Kyle when the naginata
blade was abruptly held a hair's breadth from his throat.  "And a Dragoon as
well... hmm, maybe there's hope for you yet, Highwater."

     Davin groaned in disbelief.  "Master Benedict... what are you doing
here?"

     The old master broke out into a mischevous smile.  "You think maybe your
old teachers weren't once students themselves?  Hah!  This is what makes
tracking down young delinquents so easy for us old 'decrepits'."  Benedict
frowned again at Kyle.  "Young man, perhaps you'd like to put that toy down
before someone gets hurt?"

     Kyle didn't move a muscle.  The old man sniffed in disgust, but ignored
the young Dragoon.

     "Master Benedict... you have to understand, please.  Marcine isn't the
enemy here... she--"

     "I know that, Highwater; please do not try to teach me how to suck
eggs."  He smiled grimly.  "If you'd been with the Manakyr, I would've
already done far more than give your ears a well-deserved tongue-lashing."

     Davin sighed in relief.  "Kyle... let him go.  He's not a threat."

     "Kyle, please," Marcine asked when Kyle didn't move.  In answer, the
Dragoon finally lowered the blade, holding it loosely at his side.

     "Anyways... Master Benedict, why are you here?  I thought everyone in
the Mystic Academy was--"

     Benedict tutted again in disappointment.  "Young Highwater... do you
indeed think that poorly of the masters of the Academy?"  His expression
darkened.  "True... we have suffered losses.  Some of us, and many of the
students, were taken completely unaware.  However, those of us with *sense*
managed to evade those lumbering buffoons long enough for things to calm
down.  It is easy to hide in a town the enemy believe they have total
control of, wouldn't you agree?"

     Davin nodded slowly, seeing the logic in his old master's statements.
"Okay... but what are you doing *here*?"

     The old man chuckled.  "Looking for you, of course.  Maybe you think
your elders have gone blind and deaf with age?  Hell no!  Some of us saw the
commotion you caused back in town, and quite a few of us recognised the
young geomancer in the party as the skiving miscreant they had lamented about
not one year before.  You do know he skipped my Geomancy lessons three weeks
in a row, do you not?" he asided to Marcine.  "It's a wonder he ever
graduated at all."

     Davin glowed red with embarrassment.  "Master Benedict!"  Kyle simply
chuckled quietly to himself.

     "Ah, yes," Master Benedict finally said, a twinkle of amusement in his
eyes.  "You are indeed correct, young Highwater; this is not the time for
swapping old tales of your haphazard education under our tutelage.  We've
been waiting for the right time to take back the Academy for a while now, and
what fortune that your antics in La Verde have allowed us a small window of
opportunity."

     "A window of opportunity?" asked Marcine curiously.

     "Yes, indeed.  You do not think our ancient Academy Masters built this
place without ever thinking it could be taken and used against them?  Of
course not!  The secret passages are just a single part of the fail-safe
mechanism that would allow a relatively easy retaking of the building.  We
are indeed fortunate that those imbeciles who even now defile our halls are
lax in their vigil.  They think us overcome... HAH!"

     "Master Benedict," Davin asked, "what fail-safe is this?"

     "I'm glad you asked," he smiled in reply.  "Not even the need for a
blatant prompt... you're learning to ask the right questions, young
Highwater.  And here I thought you'd learned nothing... you do an old man
proud."  He wiped a nonexistent tear from his eyes.  Marcine giggled
slightly, while Davin just sighed.

     "Come," said Benedict.  "Let me take you somewhere."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     With an almost silent click, a portion of the wall moved away, and
Master Benedict led his young wards into a half-forgotten cellar, deep
beneath the Academy itself.

     "Ah, here we are," he announced, smiling to himself.  "This is where the
first half of our 'fail-safe' resides."

     Marcine looked around.  All she saw were broken barrels and dusty
crates.  "Where is it though?" she asked.

     "Behind this large crate here.  Would you two young men care to move it
out of the way?"

     Davin and Kyle glanced at each other, but shrugged and obliged.  They
placed their shoulders against one side of the crate, and slowly shoved it to
one side, revealing a small niche in the wall.  Benedict smiled broadly, and
inspected the recess.  "Ah, good... it's still in working order."

     Davin looked at the revealed device that had been hidden behind the
crate.  It was a simple sturdy lever connected to the ground, with a row of
indicators on the wall next to it.  "What is this, Master Benedict?"

     The old man chuckled to himself.  "The Academy was built over a natural
gas vent.  Convenient, don't you think?  The original architects saw the use
of this, and that is what we use for our heating purposes.  However, they
also saw another use, more in line with the fortress the Academy is."

     Kyle nodded to himself.  "If you flooded the entire building with gas,
then any invaders in the building would be quickly dealt with... providing
you were careful enough not to gas yourself, of course."

     Benedict beamed at the young Dragoon.  "Well done, lad!  Very quick on
the uptake!  Indeed, that is what the fail-safe is."

     "So why haven't you used it before now?" asked Davin.

     "Simple, young Highwater.  This device is only one half of what is
needed.  There is another lever, exactly the same as this, situated in
another part of the Academy.  A part that you cannot access from any of the
secret passages.  Both levers must be pulled within seconds of each other, or
the fail-safe is not activated."

     "And you couldn't access the second lever while the enemy here were
still alert," added Kyle.

     "Precisely!  Yet, what fortune that we have here two strapping young
lads to do the work for us!  You couldn't have come at a better time, you
know."

     Davin sighed wearily.  "Okay, we get the picture.  So, where's the
second lever?"

     Benedict chuckled.  "In the Headmaster's office, of course, behind the
centre bookcase.  You should know it well, young Highwater... I recall having
to send you there enough times."

     Davin just groaned again.  "Great.  The Headmaster's room is at the very
*top* of the Academy.  How the hell are we going to get up there without a
fight?"

     The old master grinned slightly.  "Very carefully, if you can manage it.
I don't think the enemy will be all that vigilent.  Still... you should move
quickly.  They're not going to be kept occupied in La Verde for all that much
longer."

     "And after we get there and pull the lever?" Kyle asked.

     "When you do that, I'll know about it here, and then I'll do my part.
Just mind you stay behind the automatic shutters until they raise again; this
cellar and the Headmaster's office are the only two places in the Academy the
gas won't penetrate.  Once they raise... we'll meet you in the courtyard."

     "We?" asked Kyle again, eyebrow raised.

     "The girl should stay here," Benedict replied promptly.  "Trust me,
she'll be safe."

     "No," Kyle almost growled out, "I think it'd be better if Marcine cam--"
                                                     
     Davin touched his shoulder.  "He's right.  Marcine would be safer here
than with us for now.  Besides, we've got a job to do."

     Kyle glanced at Marcine for confirmation.  His sister nodded slowly.  "I
trust him too," she said.

     The Dragoon sighed.  "Fine, fine.  Let's get this over with.  Lead the
way, geomancer."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Within the topmost office of the building, a lone mage sat comfortably
in the chair meant for the Headmaster of the Mystic Academy.  He thumbed
through one of the books he'd found in the Headmaster's private collection;
it was one that was almost impossible to find even in the Academy's well-
stocked library.

     He chuckled at the irony of it all.  The last time he had been here was
five years ago, as a new student.  Yet, not even a month had passed before he
got called up for 'disciplinary' measures and was expelled from the Academy.
He forgot precisely why he had been expelled... possibly the fact that he'd
taken ancient history books from the Library's locked vault, and possibly
because he'd actually experimented with the 'forbidden Mystic Art' via those
same books.  He didn't much care anymore about that though... his expulsion
from the Mystic Academy had only led to his initiation into the Manakyr.

     And now, here he sat in the Headmaster's chair, in the Academy that had
shunned him.  Palson felt proud of himself.

     He was startled out of his reverie by a knock at the door.  Sighing, he
put the book down and got to his feet.  "Come in," he announced.

     One of the clairmancer Initiates assigned to him entered quickly then
approached the desk.  "Sorcerer Palson, we just received a message from
Sorcerer Terrin in La Verde."

     Palson shook his head, sighing.  "What does it say?" he asked, slightly
irritated.

     The Initiate produced the scroll that had been used to take down the
clairmantic message they'd been given, placing it on the desk.  Palson picked
it up, glancing through it.

     The Sorcerer finally nodded slowly to himself, digesting the news.
"Guess it was to be expected.  In that case we'll--"

     "Ah, sir, there's one more thing."

     Palson glared at the Initiate, disliking the interruption.  "Go on," he
said.

     "We've detected the Legacy within the confines of the Mystic Academy.
She's somewhere in the building, sir."

     Sorcerer Palson blinked, then glared at the young Initiate.  "Why the
hell didn't you tell me this before?"

     The Initiate shrank back slightly, but replied, "We were told that the
order to withdraw takes priority, sir.  Many apologies, Sorcerer Palson!"

     The older mage sighed and calmed down.  "Just what we needed."  He sat
down and pulled out a fresh piece of paper, on which he began to write down
orders.  "You will take this and present it to the guards on duty; they will
be staying here and searching for the Legacy.  Everyone else should proceed
to La Verde with all due haste in preparation for boarding.  Is that
understood?"

     "Yes, Sorcerer Palson."

     "Good."  He handed the orders to the young Initiate, who left as quickly
as he could without actually running.  As the door closed behind the
Initiate, Palson looked around the room, and sighed once more.

     He was going to miss this place.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "Now... maybe it j'st be me imagination, but I be thinkin' there be far
more Manakyr on th' streets than ten minutes afore, wouldn't you agree,
lass?"

     There was a silent nod.  "This one believes you to be correct, Mistress
Fallensand."

     Mika pouted.  The three of them had ducked into a nearby shadowy alley
to evade yet another group of Manakyr, on their way to the northern gate
which led up the pass towards the nearby Mystic Academy.  "Darn... what's
with the holdup?  Can't we just use the rooftops, or those neat passages big
brother showed us, or something?"

     Jil shook her head.  "Nae lass.  It be a mite more difficult than that.
I have nae thought of a way past th' Northern Gate yet... and yer brother be
th' only one who knows how to use th' passages."

     Shizuka glanced up at the lady captain.  "This one believes that she
could pass over the gate easily, yet she doubts the chances of success with
all of us."

     Jil nodded in reply.  "Aye."  She paused.  "But... I be thinkin' that
th' Manakyr we're seein' nae all be patrols."  She gestured slowly to another
group of the robed men, who hurried past without much care for their
surroundings.

     Mika shook her head.  "Weird.  What's all the rush?"

     "I believe I have the answer to that," announced Cheney, as he dropped
into the alleyway from above.

     The young alchemist leaped backwards, and only just managed to prevent
herself shrieking in surprise.  "Chennn-eeey!  Don't *do* that!"

     Cheney smiled and bowed apologetically.  "I'll try not to in the future,
Mika."

     Jil arched an eyebrow, then just shook her head in amusement.  "So...
what be happenin' wit' th' Manakyr?"

     Cheney sighed.  "I'm not sure... but I think they're moving out."

     "Moving out?" Mika asked.  "You mean... big brother won?"

     Shizuka shook her head.  "This one believes that if Master Highwater had
already succeeded, we would know of it.  He was not looking to free his
Academy when he left, in any case."

     Cheney nodded slowly.  "Indeed... no, I believe they're moving on.  La
Verde's only a stopping point for them."

     "I nae like th' sound of this," announced Jil.  "Movin' on ta where?"

     "I don't know.  And I'm not sure I'd like to guess... yet.  But... I
think I've found a way we can get out of La Verde during the confusion."

     Jil paused.  "Wait... ye don't mean--"

     The old monk smiled.  "Yes indeed.  The easiest way out of La Verde and
the surrounding area... is by air."

     Mika brightened.  "We're gonna steal one of those airships?!  Cool!"

     "This one does not believe it will be so simple," admonished the young
ninja.

     "You're right, Shizuka," added Cheney.  "But, it's the best lead we
have."

     "I be in," announced Jil, with no further prompting.  "So... when do we
be startin'?"

     "Immediately," Cheney said, smiling.  "Follow me."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Kyle glanced around the corner, then jerked back as he spotted another
Manakyr patrol halfway down the corridor.  He shook his head carefully,
catching Davin's eye, who nodded in understanding.

     "That's the third patrol already," Kyle whispered.  "Something's made
them vigilant."

     The young swordsman nodded again.  "Yes... but have you noticed how few
of them there are?  We saw evidence of far more patrols in La Verde."

     "Maybe that's because they think we're still *in* La Verde."

     "Maybe," Davin said, carefully.  "But they tracked us down before... I
think they know how to find Marcine."

     Kyle started, and gazed hard at Davin.  "We're going back.  We--"

     Davin shook his head firmly.  "No.  Trust me... Master Benedict is as
good as his word.  He's one of the most powerful geomancers in the Academy.
And besides, if worst comes to worst, they've always got the secret
passages."

     The Dragoon slowly relaxed, and then nodded once.  "As you say then.
But if she gets taken--"

     "If she gets captured, then it probably wouldn't have made a difference
whether we were there or not.  Besides... the sooner we get to the
Headmaster's office, the sooner we can deal with the Manakyr."

     Kyle grunted in reply.  "Right.  So, which way now?"

     "Down that corridor.  Past the patrol."

     They readied their weapons.  "On three then?" Kyle asked.

     "On three."

     "One... two...."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Marcine finished yet another circuit of the room, and was about to begin
another when Benedict coughed, catching her attention.  "You'll wear a rut in
the floor if you carry on like that, young lady," he remarked.

     She sighed.  "I can't help it.  I'm worried."

     "Hmph.  There's nothing to be worried about... not with one of the most
talented students I've ever had the pleasure to teach here."

     Marcine blinked.  "Who... Davin?!"

     The old man clucked to himself.  "Oh, did I say 'most talented'?  Pardon
this weary old man's senility...."

     The young mage stared at him, then smiled softly.  "How much of what you
said about him were exaggerations?" she asked.

     Benedict laughed.  "None of them!  He was a truly disobedient
rapscallion at sixteen years of age!"  A twinkle appeared in his eye.
"But... I've never met anyone with as much raw talent for the spirits than he
has.  *Raw* talent, mind you... he was no natural to the Art.  He's still
learning, by the looks of things."  He sighed wistfully.  "But if he ever
does master it...."

     Marcine nodded, smiling widely now.  "I think I understand.  Thank you,
Master Benedict."

     The old master snorted.  "You tell him I said that, and I'll deny
everything.  Damn my failing memory," he added for emphasis.  Marcine giggled
to herself.

     "So," began Benedict, "how'd a young lady like you get mixed up with
heresy?"

     Marcine started, not expecting the question.  "Uh, I... well...."

     "'Tis only a question, young lady.  Still... an old man like myself
can't help but hear rumours."  He paused for a moment.  "Did you know that
a Sleeper was called upon down in La Verde, to aid in the Manakyr's
invasion?"

     Her voice caught in her throat.  "N-no... what Sleeper?"

     Benedict scratched his beard.  "Now... you see, I'm no expert on the
Sleepers.  And I didn't get such a good look at it... my eyes aren't what
they once were.  Yet, with that serpentine body and all the water flying
about... I'd hazard a guess at Leviathan."

     Marcine suddenly found it difficult to breathe.  "But... not just anyone
can perform a Calling... surely?!"

     The old man shrugged.  "Who can say?  History books tell us of the
Callers the Manakyr trained during the war.  Darovan wasn't the only one...
merely the first.  Still... history also tells us that the power of the
Sleepers was sealed up, never to be used again.  Until now, of course."

     He gazed at Marcine curiously.  "Come to think of it, I recall a rumour
that Leviathan also appeared over Tienne just over a month ago."

     Marcine just stood there, blinking.  The power to unseal the Sleepers...
and she and her brother possessed it.  And... because they were now unsealed,
others could use it.  *Had* used it.

     "Are you alright, young lady?" Benedict asked, worry tinging his voice.

     She shook her head sadly.  "I'm... not sure.  This is... it's all my
fault.  It's all my fault."

     Benedict snorted.  "Balderdash!  *All* your fault?  Unlikely.  Did you
tell those robed buffoons to invade La Verde?  Or maybe you created those
large beastly things they fly around in?  Or are you the woman they all claim
as leader, who would flay them alive for disobedience?"

     Marcine blinked at the questions.  "No... at least... I don't think so.
But... I'm the one responsible for--"

     Benedict waved his hand, cutting her off.  "Whatever it was that's your
fault... you know now.  You know what it can do.  Mayhaps you don't know how
to fix it... and mayhaps you'll be forced to do it again... but this time,
you know the full responsibilities of your actions.  Am I right?"

     She paused, considering the old man's words.  Then, finally, she nodded
once.  "Yes.  I know now."

     Benedict smiled widely.  "Good... good.  I dislike all this talk of
heresy, but it is wise to know *what* makes something heretical.  The Church
has never done anything without good reason.  Which is why I tend to distrust
most heretics, since they understand nothing of what they're doing."

     Marcine smiled weakly in reply.  "I... thanks.  That means a lot to me."

     Benedict chuckled.  "You are welcome, young lady.  Now--"

     The sound of heavy footsteps drifted to them along with rough voices
shouting about patrols and search routes.  Both were drawing nearer.

     The old man frowned.  "It would seem we have company.  Be a good girl
and watch the lever, would you?"  He flashed her a grim smile, then rolled up
his sleeves.  "This should only take a moment."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Cheney finished helping Mika up the final climb, and they joined the
others at the top of the roof, gazing down upon the old marketplace.  The
Manakyr had cleared out all the stalls and carts to make room for a makeshift
dock for the airships.

     "Wow..." whispered Mika, staring at the starsilver vessels in awe.

     Cheney seemed less than impressed the second time, his attention focused
upon another problem entirely.  "It's gotten busier.  It's going to be more
difficult to sneak aboard now."

     Shizuka scanned the area, biting her lip thoughtfully.  "This one thinks
that not all the vessels are ready."  She studied the airships one by one,
then nodded to herself.  "That one over there," she stated, pointing at the
far northeastern one.  It was resting lower than the others, with the
entrance bay almost resting level with the rooftops.

     The monk nodded.  "Yes, that does seem to be the best option.  I don't
think I've seen anyone board that one yet; it probably has the least amount
of crew onboard."

     Mika frowned slightly, something bugging her.  "Cheney," she ventured,
"do you... do you know how to fly one of these things?"

     Cheney shook his head sadly.  "I'm afraid not, Mika... but I don't see
much choice in the matter."

     "It be a good thing ye have me around then," announced Jil with a manic
grin.  "There be no ship that Jil Fallensand cannae pilot.  Let's be going!
I be wanting to see th' inside of this beauty!"  With that, she carefully
made her way across the rooftops, heading towards the airship.

     "This one... feels this enterprise to be doomed to failure," Shizuka
commented glumly.

     "Oh, Shizuka," Mika giggled, shaking her head.  "It'll be fun!  Besides,
what's the worst that could happen?"

     Cheney looked to the sky, frowning slightly.  "Let's go," he said.  "I
think we should hurry."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     It was only a small ripple at first, caused by the calm natural tides of
the sea.

     But... as the first bowsprit poked out from behind the curve of the
mountain range, it became a wave, churned up by the wake of the ship.

     And then another joined it.  Followed by another.

     The sea of masts advanced upon the lonely seaside town, under a not-so-
cloudless sky....

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     The double doors burst open, and the two men dashed into the office,
spreading out in battle formation.  In fact, they were indeed surprised when
it became clear that the effort was wasted.

     "Empty?" Davin remarked.  "Strange... you'd think at least one of their
more powerful guys would be here, after all we've been through."

     Kyle shrugged.  "Let's not waste time debating it.  Centre bookcase was
it?"

     The geomancer nodded.  "Give me a hand."

     Between the two of them, they slowly pulled back the bookcase from the
wall it leaned against, spilling a few books in the process.  Behind it, they
found a similar niche and lever as they'd seen in the cellar.

     "Here goes nothing," announced Davin, as he placed both hands on the
shaft and pulled.

     There was an audible crunch as the lever moved into the opposite
position, before automatically returning to its original resting place.  One
of the indicators on the panel lit up... and it was soon followed a few
seconds later by a second light.  Almost immediately afterwards, large steel
shutters slammed down in front of the double doors to the office as well as
over the windows, completely sealing them in.

     Kyle spun around, startled.  "We're locked in?"

     "Yes," Davin agreed.  "But listen."

     Through the walls, they could hear the hiss of gas being pumped into the
corridors outside.

     The Dragoon finally relaxed again.  "Guess there's nothing for it.  How
long do you think we'll be in here?"

     Davin shrugged.  "Five minutes, maybe?  Give or take.  We might as well
take a look around while we're waiting."

     Kyle nodded, and turned his attention to the books that had fallen.  He
picked one of them up, and flicked through it.  "'The 1653 Treatise On The
Codex Of The Church'.  What '1653 Treatise'?"

     "Never heard of it... but it wouldn't surprise me.  The Headmaster's
private collection has always been filled with rare history books like that.
He's no heretic, mind you... but he always was a stickler for history."

     Kyle shrugged to himself, and placed the book on the shelf, beginning to
sort through the rest of the books that had fallen onto the floor.  "'The
History Of Clea Manakyr'.  'The World Before The Divide'.  'A Treatise On The
Kin Of Ashura', 'The Secret Of Nu'."  One book in particular caught his eye.
He picked it up and gazed at the etching of the large tree on the cover.
"'An Exploration Of The Existence Of The Worldtree'.  Worldtree?  What's
that?"

     Davin blinked from where he was sorting through papers on the desk.
"The Worldtree?  You've not heard of it?"

     The Dragoon shook his head.  "No.  Never."

     Davin shrugged again.  "Well, that's pretty understandable, actually.
It's not much more than a geologist's curiousity.  It's some ancient tree
that grows in the centre of the Harshak range.  Huge thing.  You can't see it
from here.  But, back in my old village... on a clear day you could just
about catch a glimpse of its massive head of leaves."

     Kyle opened the book, scanning through it.  His eyes fell upon another
crude drawing of the tree.  Something about it... tickled his memory.  Had he
seen it before in one of his feverish dreams?  He couldn't say.

     "Hey... look at this!"

     Kyle placed the book back on the shelf, glancing back over at Davin.
"What is it?"

     "Manakyr orders.  Looks pretty recent too," he said, holding up the
scroll he'd found amidst all the mess he'd been looking through.

     Kyle approached quickly, motioning Davin to read it.  "What does it
say?"

     "Lessee... it's some sort of withdrawal order, or something.  Most of
the important parts are in Manakyr... but from what I can make out, they're
pulling out of La Verde."

     "Pulling out," Kyle asked, incredulous.  "Does it say why?"

     "I don't know.  It mentions another destination though... guess we'll
have to show it to Marcine."

     "Keep it safe then."  A sudden mechanical sound made him pause, and he
watched as the steel shutters finally raised, revealing clear skies and an
empty corridor.

     Davin smiled.  "Good timing.  Let's go find your sister."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     They found Marcine and Benedict in the entrance of the grand courtyard,
to the south of the Mystic Academy.  The old man was smiling widely, pleased
with the current turn of events.  "Good job, good job, young Highwater!" he
announced.  "Even if you did take your good time in getting around to doing
your part of the job.  Hmmm... you didn't go off spying on pretty young
women, did you?"

     Davin just shook his head, face glowing.  His old tutor hadn't changed a
single bit in the last two and a half years he'd known him.

     "Actually, Master Benedict," Kyle replied sternly, "Davin was with me
the entire time, and I can vouch that he did not 'go off spying on pretty
young women'."  Davin shot the Dragoon a surprised, yet thankful glance.

     Master Benedict seemed amused.  "Really, now.  Quite against his nature,
I would've thought.  Perhaps you've grown up a bit since I last saw you,
young Highwater."

     "I would've hoped so, sir," Davin replied weakly.

     "In any case... all that's left is to round up whatever Manakyr are
left, and slap some rune manacles on them all.  It does my heart no good to
see what those upstarts have done to our Academy."

     "I'm glad you two are all right," smiled Marcine.

     "He didn't... bother you," Davin asked tentatively, "did he, Marcine?"

     Marcine shook her head.  "No, not at all.  It was nice talking to him."

     "Heh..." chimed in Benedict, "it was a pleasure looking after the young
lady.  You could learn a lot from her, Highwater."  He brushed down his robe,
then looked around.  "I'm told you wanted to visit Gaia... well, I will leave
you to do that.  Myself... I must signal the other Masters and get the
Academy back into shape."  He waved to the group, and started on towards the
main building.

     Davin just shook his head.  "He's impossible."

     "I think he's quite charming," Marcine said with a grin.

     "Oh!  And Highwater?!" shouted the old man, halfway to the chapel.  "If
you're ever in the area, and need a place to stay and recuperate...."

     "Yes?" asked Davin, somewhat surprised.

     "...then you'd better apologise again to Carlton before you stay at his
inn!  He still hasn't forgiven you for the 'dancing plates' incident."  With
a mischevous chuckle, he disappeared into the chapel itself, out of sight.

     "Figures," Davin said with another groan.

     "...'dancing plates' incident?" asked Kyle, a hint of a smile on his
lips.

     "Ancient history," Davin said, trying to drop the subject.  "Let's go
meet Gaia."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "What took ye so long?" Jil asked irritably as Cheney finally snuck
inside the airship.

     "Nothing much," he replied.  "Worked out how to take the ship yet?"

     Mika scrambled in, followed swiftly by Shizuka.  "Wow... it's all shiny
in here too," she commented, gazing in wonder.

     Jil smirked.  "Nice, ye see?  An' it not be too long 'fore all this be
mine!"  She smiled happily to herself, the thrill and expectation of
commanding a new ship filling her.

     "Yes," Cheney half-agreed, "that is, if we can work out how to actually
capture it.  Perhaps we should look for the bridge?"

     Jil nodded.  "Aye.  We should also be lookin' fer th' engine room... I
be wantin' ta know how this beastie moves."

     The old monk smiled.  "Then it's settled.  We will--"

     "This one dislikes to interrupt, yet she feels she must point out that
this vessel is now in motion."  Shizuka gestured outside, where it was clear
that the airship was indeed ascending.

     Cheney frowned.  "That's strange... they haven't even finished loading
the others.  Why would--"

     A sharp jolt threw them all to the floor.  The sounds of internal
explosions rocked the vessel.

     "What are those idiots doin' to me ship?!" Jil roared, firmly believing
in her own personal rules of possession.

     Cheney grabbed the side of the door and swung outside, hoping to get a
better understanding of what was going on.  He saw....

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     ...the sounds of battle rocked the marketplace.  Swiftly approaching the
docks, a fleet of ships bearing the flag of the Tri-fan bombarded the Manakyr
with cannon-fire.  Dragoons were already leaping the closing gap and landing
in the city, charging into the front lines.

     And overlooking it all was a large starsilver fortress, pummeling the
Manakyr airships with its guns.  Another volley slammed into the same vessel
Cheney was looking out of, almost knocking him off his unstable perch.

     Abruptly, two of the other airships in dock bailed out, lifting into the
sky with whatever the Manakyr had managed to load them with, and doing their
best to retreat.  A third airship joined the one Cheney was on in an attempt
to distract the behemoth, allowing swift escape for the others.

     What surprised Cheney the most was the markings on the attacking
airship.  It, like the warships approaching the dock, bore the sign of the
Tri-fan.

     The forces of the Church had arrived.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "Starboard cannon fired... direct hit.  Estimated 78% success ratio in
lowering their attack factor.  23 seconds until reload, switching to standard
arms fire in meantime."  The weapons engineer of the Excelsior continued his
report, adding to the general hubbub of the bridge.

     Commander Armand Cavanaugh listened quietly, watching the battle through
the limited view the forward screen provided.  "Valecrest... can we deploy
our ground troops at this height?"

     The Master Engineer looked up from his latest calculations.  "Ah... I
believe that the Dragoons can descend from here easily with no heavy drain on
their Boost Armor."

     "And the GOLeMs?"

     "There's only a 3%... no... 2.7% chance of catastrophic failure from a
controlled fall at this height.  It should be safe."

     Armand nodded quietly.  "Good."  He picked up a radio transmitter which
linked him directly to the 'weapons' bay.  "Deploy the GOLeMs immediately,"
he ordered into it, without waiting for a reply from the other end.  "Have
them back up the Dragoons already in La Verde and aid in retaking it.  Also,
deploy two of the Dragoon regiments to aid in that task."  He paused, looking
out at the two Manakyr airships in front of him.  "Have one of the remaining
regiments initiate a boarding action on the undamaged Manakyr vessel."

     The radio crackled to life as the crewman stationed there replied.
"Sir, what about the big one?  What should we do with it?"

     The Commander hesitated... and then came to a decision.  "Deploy it, and
send it to the Mystic Academy.  Its mission objectives are to crush all the
heretics it finds there.  Understood?"

     "Yes, sir," came the final crackle of the radio, and then the set went
silent.

     The Excelsior rocked slightly as the bay doors opened, and the deadly
arsenal it carried were deployed, one by one.

     Armand waited until the radio crackled to life again.  "Armour deployed,
Commander," reported the engineer.

     "Good.  Stand ready."  He turned towards the helmsman, a young Dragoon
who, like everyone else on the ship, was still getting used to the fortress.
"Take us up to battle speed.  We're taking down those airships."

     "Yes, sir," the Dragoon replied promptly.

     *Battle speed,* thought Bolgan glumly.  The demands of battle called for
more and more power.  Had he done the right thing?

     He brushed his doubts away yet again.  He'd double... no, triple-checked
his calculations.  Taken in every worst case scenario possible.  There was
nothing the Excelsior could do that would draw too much energy from its power
source, nothing that would cause anything catastrophic.  Of this he was sure.
He was positive.

     ...and then he began a fourth rechecking of those exact equations.
Everything his studies told him informed him there was no scientific or
natural way that the Excelsior could possibly draw too much power from its
core.

     Yet still his instincts continued to tell him otherwise.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     In a place where material things are non-existant, emotions can
sometimes be given shape.

     He reflected on that note, thinking on what he had experienced.  And
sensing the barrier weaken bit by bit.

     He thought he understood something now... he no longer thought of
himself as alone.  Had something else been imprisoned here?  After him,
maybe?  Or was it before him?

     Perhaps.

     But it was... different than he was.  It had no will.  No being.  No
identity.  It just... was.

     He searched for the words to describe it....

     ...it was cold.

     ...it was evil.

     ...it was *hate*.

     And in his own hatred... he thought he could relate.

     It was powerful as well, he realised.  Or had he realised that before?
Time seemed meaningless.  He felt that he'd had these thoughts before... but
he couldn't remember.  Yet.

     Abruptly, he suddenly felt a strain on another section of the barrier.
It was... trembling.  Tense.  Stretched to its limit.

     It was *fragile*.

     ...but he couldn't touch it.  Not as he was.

     Yet as he reached out, he felt... power.  And hatred.

     ...and with that hate... he gently touched the barrier....

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Deep in the Excelsior's engine room was the core that everything in the
airship ran off.  Now at battle power for the first time in its life, the
room literally hummed with energy.

     Even deeper in the core was a small room that only the Commander, Bolgan
and the Master Engineer's team were allowed access to.  Which, as the troops
onboard had reflected, was fine; they had no wish to tamper with anything
that kept their current vessel from plunging hundreds of feet into the
ground.

     Within this small room was situated the entire source of the power that
allowed the Excelsior to take flight.

     It was impressive how a small yellow crystal of perfect clarity,
softly glowing and spinning serenly in mid-air with its long point directed
straight down, could generate so much energy.

     But... were an observer to look more closely, they would have been
witness to an alarming event....

     ...for in that instance, a small, hairline crack appeared on the
crystal's surface.

     It did nothing to hamper the running of the airship... but it was clear
that, given time, such a crack would grow until it split the whole thing
asunder.

     It was now only a matter of time....

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     On the ground, the battle heightened as those Manakyr left behind
desperately fought for survival.  The Dragoons, having expected greater
numbers of foes and more resistance, wasted no time in pouring through the
city, cutting down the few unlucky stragglers.

     However, it wasn't all one-sided.  When the forces of the Church watched
as ten of their number fell against one of the blue-skinned tiger-like
monstrosities, their main thrust of their attack faltered as they themselves
were forced onto the defense.  Almost completely immune to physical and
mystical attack, those Atma Beasts that had remained claimed many lives in
the service of the Manakyr.

     The arrival of the GOLeMs helped equalise things.  The Church's
mechanical soldiers outnumbered the Atma Beasts by far, yet the beasts' sheer
physical strength helped nullify some of that advantage.  Dismayed troops
watched as two such beasts systematically tore apart an unlucky GOLeM,
ripping off the insect-like legs one by one.

     However, slowly but surely, the extra force was enough.  The Manakyr was
held back... and would eventually be broken.  By the time the final Atma
Beast had fallen, the Manakyr would be in full rout.

     Nothing stood in the path of the largest GOLeM however.  It seemed even
the Atma Beasts had enough sense to stay away from that particular
monstrosity.  Bright red eyes extracting and absorbing visual information, it
turned towards the mountain range and marched towards the Northern Gate.  For
beyond it... was the mountain path to the Mystic Academy.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     The large tree Gaia stood to the north of the main academic building,
in the precise centre of the campus.  They were forced to walk around the
Chapel and the lecture halls to get to it, past wonderful gardens that, for
the most part, had somehow survived unmarked from the invasion.  As they
walked, they passed various unconscious Manakyr who had not been able to get
clear of the gas before being overcome.

     They eventually came to a stop on the final pathway around Gaia.  The
actual tree stood in the centre of a vast circular patch of grass, surrounded
by the path.  No flowers or weeds grew underneath its boughs, which just
added to its mystery and breath-taking awe.

     "Look... Kyle... I appreciate you standing up for me back there," Davin
said, as they stepped off the pathway and advanced across the grass towards
the tree itself.

     "I wasn't doing it for you," retorted Kyle.

     Davin shrugged, and kept on walking.  Marcine looked between the two of
them, then smiled softly.  It was acceptance enough, she felt.

     They eventually came to a halt right next to the great trunk.  Oddly
enough, Gaia did not and seemingly never would bear fruit.  It was one of
many reasons that had given the students cause to believe that some ancient
spirit lay dormant inside the tree.

     A spirit that Davin finally hoped he would be able to call upon.

     "So," said Kyle.  "You're the expert here, geomancer... what do we do?"

     "I'm... not sure.  Taking it step by step wouldn't hurt though."  He
placed his hands on the trunk and relaxed.  "Here goes nothing," he remarked.

     He sent a simple Geomancy call into the tree.  He gained no response.
Probing it caused him to hit some kind of void where no spirits lurked at
all... it was a void his skills couldn't seem to penetrate.

     "Nothing... literally," he said to himself.  Kyle neglected to comment.

     Davin racked his brains trying to think of a way to signal Gaia... if
she even still existed.  Suddenly, he drew his blade, taking a couple of
steps back.

     Marcine blinked and gasped.  "You're not going to... hurt it, are you?"

     Davin shook his head.  "No.  But I've got an idea."   Twisting the hilt
in his hand so that the blade pointed down, he slowly approached the trunk
once more... and touched Genji's Heartstone to the tree.  And then, he
attempted a different sort of Geomancy.  He touched the Heartstone with his
mind... and resonated off that into the tree.  The Heartstone glowed softly
in response, and Davin felt on the verge of success....

     ...and then nothing, again.  He blinked and drew back, disappointed.
"Damn... felt so sure I had it, as well."  He sheathed his blade with a sigh.

     "So what do we do *now*," asked Kyle, irritated at the delay.

     "I don't know.  Maybe--"

     ...the grass rippled....

     "Did you feel that?" asked Marcine.

     "--yes," agreed Davin.  "It came from--"

     ...the wind picked up, leaves rustling in the sudden breeze....

     "--the tree... you think, maybe--"

     ...YES... ...I AM HERE....

     ...and then a multitude of vines burst from the ground in front of
them, intertwining and constricting together, sap and greenery forming blood
and skin.  Bark curled up, forming interlocking plates of armour around the
forming being, clothing and protecting the spirit.  Within seconds, the
process was complete...

     ...and the Knight of Wood finally stood before them.  Gaia blinked
emerald eyes for the first time in years, and gazed upon the three.

     "You hold Genji's... and Percival's Heartstones," she noted after a
while, "yet neither of them are present.  Who are you?"

     Marcine found her voice first.  "I... I'm Marcine Cavanaugh.  We came to
find you."

     Gaia shook her head fiercely.  "Your names mean nothing to me.  Who
*are* you?"  She stared at them long and hard, as if searching their souls.
"An Elementalist... you were the one who called me.  A Dragoon... one of the
all-suffocating over-protective Church.  And... one who wields True Magik."
She paused, puzzled, then fixed Kyle with a cold gaze.  "Why do you suffer
such companions?  I would not expect such from one of the Church."

     Kyle grunted, disliking the Knight's tone.  "I'm not sure I'm 'one of
the Church' anymore.  I'm here for the sake of my sister; don't try to
belittle that," he warned.

     Gaia's lips quirked upwards into a half-smile.  "Familial love... I
understand.  You have chosen ties of blood over your duty then."

     The Dragoon growled.  "I still have my duty.  It has changed, nothing
more."

     Davin neatly stepped in between the two.  "Come on, people, we're not
here for this.  Let it go, Kyle."

     Kyle grumbled to himself, but fell silent.  Gaia laughed in response,
but not in ridicule.  "The Elementalist is a peacemaker as well.  Perhaps you
are the one who forged this remarkable group of people?"

     The geomancer blinked, then shook his head.  "No... we've just have a
common cause, is all."

     "And what is your cause?"

     Davin took a single breath, composing himself.  "We are looking for the
Gilgamesh... and the Fourth Crystal."  When Gaia didn't immediately respond,
he continued.  "We learned of information that led us to believe you were
here, and we only recently figured out that we needed a Knight to find
Gilgamesh.  That's why we're here."

     "The Fourth Crystal," Gaia murmured.  "Why would you be interested in
that?" she asked, suspicion once again tinging her voice.

     Davin thought for a moment.  "To free the Three Gods, I guess."

     "And why would you wish to do such a thing?" the Knight of Wood pressed.

     "You know," Davin said, almost to himself, "I'm not entirely sure."

     Gaia snorted in contempt.  "Then you are not truly serious about your
cause.  You are drifters."

     Davin shrugged.  "Drifters?  Maybe.  I prefer to believe we're carving
an unknown path.  The paths already offered to us... frankly, I would not
want to tread them."

     "And which paths have you been offered?"

     Davin took another moment to collect his thoughts.  He felt as if he was
being tested... yet he didn't know what the right answer was.  So instead, he
followed his heart.  "Two main ones, I guess.  But... the paths belonging to
the Church... they seem to follow rules blindly.  Maybe those rules are there
for good reason... but they've hurt all that are close to me.  I don't
believe they hold the right answer."

     "Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the good of others," Gaia
replied, holding nothing back.  "And what of the other path?"

     "The Manakyr... they... they rebel against that path too.  But most seem
to think only of the power to change the world... to change it for their
liking.  Their path seems to lead to war and bloodshed... without real
reason."

     "War is often a necessary part of such a revolution, and the reasons
behind such wars are often inscrutable to those not involved."  Gaia stared
hard at Davin once more, before continuing.  "And what of *your* path?"

     "My path?  I'm not sure.  I guess... I'm searching for something.  I...
I don't know what it is... but I... I know things can be better than this."
Words were starting to fail him, but he plunged on regardless.  "Maybe
I'll... I'll find that there really is nothing out there... but... I *know*
I'm not the only one who thinks this.  I can't be the only one who thinks
this."  He glanced behind him at Marcine and Kyle.  Marcine smiled
encouragingly, while Kyle just gave him a firm nod.

     "I see," announced Gaia, drawing Davin's attention back to the Knight of
Wood.  "Clea thought the same way.  And that is what attracted me to her.
And that is why I stand before you now."

     She smiled warmly for the first time, and bowed.  "I am Gaia, Knight of
Wood.  And though perhaps you know it not, you tread in Clea Manakyr's
footsteps.  I would indeed be honoured to hear your names now.  Marcine
Cavanaugh's I already know."  She glanced at Kyle.

     The Dragoon shrugged.  "Kyle Cavanaugh."

     "And the Elementalist is...?"

     "Davin Highwater," said the geomancer, smiling with relief.

     "I see."  She looked again at Davin, seemingly puzzled.  "You know...
your face.  It... reminds me of someone...."

     Davin blinked in surprise.  "Someone... but...."

     "No... it's likely nothing.  In any case, there are more important
things at hand than a passing resemblance."

     The geomancer almost looked as if he was about to protest that, but then
stopped and sighed.  "You're right... go on."

     Gaia hesitated for a moment, then sighed.  "Darovan's prophecy has come
to pass, for one... though I see the interpretation has, as expected,
'differed'."

     "What interpretation?" Marcine asked curiously.

     "You do not know?  Then I shall tell you what I *do* know.

     "Near the end of his years, Darovan was said to have uttered a prophecy
aloud in his waking state after a particular calling of Phoenix... his
'safeguard'.  What he said exactly is no longer known... at least not by me.
His prophecy talked of a Legacy that would come after him, and finish the
work that was required.  The details are... vague.  Yet... the Manakyr raised
themselves up behind this prophecy, awaiting the coming of 'Darovan's
Legacy'.

     "...yet... all I know for sure is that before me stands *the* Legacy.
Don't look so surprised, Marcine Cavanaugh," she added.  "There are many in
this world who bear the ability to tell these things.  In any case... you are
the Legacy... and you do not seem to serve Darovan's purpose."

     Marcine looked down at her feet, biting her lip.  "I..." she ventured,
"I am of his line.  Or so I've been told.  And... I believe I've broken one
of the Crystals... I... Shiva's Crystal.  It's broken... and... it was
because of me, I'm sure."  She closed her eyes, ashamed of herself.

     Gaia looked at the young woman closely again.  "Face me," she ordered.
"Open your eyes."

     Marcine did so, slowly, and found herself staring into the emerald
depths of the Knight's own eyes....

     ...who shook her head finally, and broke the contact.  "Perhaps I was
mistaken then.  You indeed believe what you say... and you indeed fulfil
Darovan's words."

     "Look... please don't do this to her," cut in Davin.  "We're learning...
we're trying to fix things."

     "I've done nothing to her, Elementalist," Gaia replied coldly, "that she
has not already done to herself.  And... I am unsure.  Perhaps such actions
are necessary.  Perhaps that is why we failed so long ago."

     She paused, then smiled to herself.  "Rise, child of Darovan.  Though
you may be of his blood... you are not of his heart.  Of this, I am certain.
I shall entrust you with Clea's quest."

     Marcine glanced up, and felt comfort in the Knight's gaze.  Finally, she
smiled, and nodded.  "Thank you."

     "In that case," Kyle said, "maybe we can actually get some answers.
Where is Gilgamesh?"

     Gaia chuckled.  "Ever the force of order.  I can see how you came into
your own, Kyle Cavanaugh."  Her face grew solemn though.  "My liege's voice
has been... quelled.  He resides in the city of Clea's final battle, entombed
by the builders of that city.  He resides now in Tienne."

     Marcine gapsed.  "Tienne?!"

     Davin shook his head sadly.  "The lion's maw...."

     Gaia nodded.  "It is so.  If you wish to find him, you will have to go
to Tienne."

     Kyle shrugged.  "Well, we won't get anywhere standing around here then.
And things won't get better if we wait.  We should--"

     "Not so fast, Kyle Cavanaugh," the Knight of Wood interjected.  "You...
amuse me, and remind me much of my former self.  Please... step forward."
She smiled when Kyle hesitated.  "Do not be afraid... I will not bite."

     Kyle approached slowly, until he was within arm's reach of the Knight.
Gaia nodded in approval.  "Good.  Kyle Cavanaugh... I shall entrust you with
my Heartstone.  I see you have found one of Ashura's blades... that was part
of the puzzle, if I recall.  At least... so Clea said.  Please... present it
to me."  As Kyle slowly drew the almost forgotten blade at his side, Gaia
grasped the amber stone situated in the chestpiece of her armour.  "Hold
still.  This shall only take a moment--"

     The ground trembled softly underneath their feet, a rythmic pounding
that seemed to be approaching.  Kyle blinked, stepping back.  "What the...?"

     Davin shot a questioning look at the Knight, who shook her head in equal
confusion.  "It is not my doing," she replied.

     The rythmic shaking was joined by the pounding of metal upon earth.

     Kyle glanced to the south.  "That sounds like a GOLeM... could it
be...?"

     They raced off the grass, to the western side of the courtyard where the
Academy buildings would not block their view of La Verde.  Marcine was the
first to see it... she stopped dead in her tracks, letting out a gasp of
surprise.  "Look!"

     The battle between the airships was clearly visible to them now.  And
the Tri-fan markings on one of them were as clear as day.  Kyle shook his
head in disbelief.  "They're here?!  The Church is here?!  And... that
ship..."

     "I know," Marcine finished.  "It's just how father described.  It's...
actually flying."

     "But what is it that's approaching?" Davin added.  "Can't see from
here... the mountain path must dip too much.  Gaia, we--"  He bit off his
sentence, biting back a curse.  The sharp ring his sword made as he drew it
attracted the others' attention.

     "So easy," Siegvin muttered, shaking his head from his position directly
behind the Knight of Wood.  His blade jutted out of Gaia's abdomen, and a
trail of blood trickled down it.  Gaia seemed just as surprised as the
others.

     The masked swordsman fixed Marcine with his gaze.  "I've been looking
for you, you know.  How kind of you to lead me to another of the Knights."

     "Siegvin..." the Knight of Wood spat, as if the name itself was a curse.
"Had no idea you were still crawling around, tainting the living."

     "Ah, ah, Gaia... I have need of one thing, and one thing only from you."
He jerked the sword once, elicting a cry of pain from the Knight.  Her hand
opened, releasing the Heartstone of Wood... and Siegvin caught it deftly
before it hit the ground.

     "Let her go, Siegvin!" Davin yelled, unwilling to charge while Gaia was
still in the way.

     Siegvin laughed at the request.  "Not yet, I think.  Perhaps though, if
you and Miss Cavanaugh would be so good to relinquish your Heartstones as
well, hmm?"

     "Don't do it!" bit out Gaia.  "Don't worry about me.  And as for you,
Siegvin... I'll make sure the Worldtree *never* accepts you."

     "Really?" Siegvin replied, almost disappointed.  "I have two of the
stones already.  What are a few more?"

     "Don't... don't you dare underestimate me."

     "Siegvin!" Davin warned, spreading out slightly.

     Siegvin shook his head, chuckling to himself.  "Ah, but Gaia... I would
never do that.  But... what would you do if I did... this!"  And with that,
he jerked the sword back, twisting it as he did so.  Gaia gasped, coughing up
a single spurt of blood... before she slumped limply to the floor, her heart
pumping its last.

     Marcine choked back a cry of horror, as the needless death brought back
unwanted memories.  So cruel... so sudden....

     Davin let out his own cry of rage, and charged the masked swordsman, his
silver blade blurring in a barrage of swift but deadly moves.  Yet Siegvin
was already moving backwards, twisting easily through the web of death,
parrying each blow with a single touch from his scarlet sword.

     "Each time we fight, Highwater," he laughed, "you are better and better.
Yet... let us put you truly to the test--"

     He got no further when the background 'footsteps' of the unseen GOLeM
suddenly transformed into a explosion of earth and stone as the far southern
wall of the Academy was breached.  Kyle was the first to examine the beast
that stepped through the broken debris.

     It was unlike any GOLeM he had ever seen before.  The four insect-like
legs had been set lower in the body, ending in three-toed 'claws' that
allowed it mobility over a large variety of surfaces.  Large metallic wings
were currently folded back over its body, which, when unfolded, would allow
it to glide over its enemies and attack from above.  A spiked ball attached
to a long prehensile 'limb' formed its tail... and at the front.... at the
front, five dragon-like heads attached to tentacle-like necks gazed upon each
of them in turn, as if assessing the situation.  One of the heads opened its
maw, revealing for a moment, a small build-up of energy within, just waiting
to be fired.

     Siegvin frowned, again leaping out of range of Davin's sword.  "The
Church are early for a change... too early.  Not what I had expected at all."
He turned and smiled nastily at Davin, who was warily approaching.  "Not this
time.  I'll see you again... be sure of it.  If you survive the Church's
little toy that's come all this way to play with you, of course."  With a
laugh, he dashed for the northern wall, leaping easily over and out of sight.

     "Siegvin!  Get back here, you coward!" Davin cried out, frustrated with
his arch-enemy's sudden departure.

     "Davin!"

     Marcine's cry finally pulled the geomancer out of his angered state, and
he turned to see the GOLeM, TIAMAT, approaching Marcine, red eyes glowing.
Kyle had already planted himself between the beast and his sister, and TIAMAT
was seemingly considering how to approach things.

     Davin ground out a curse at Siegvin in his absence, and ran back to
assist his companions.  He rejoined them just in time, for it was at that
moment that TIAMAT came to a single conclusion; there was only one logical
course of action it could take.

     To crush the heretics before it.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Another blow shook the vessel down to its bolts, and this time, the
effects were far more devastating.  Cheney watched in dismay as parts of the
corridor he was in suddenly collapsed in on themselves, blocking anyway
forward.  "Damn... there goes that idea."  He looked back as Shizuka emerged
from the opposite end of the corridor.  "Any luck?"

     The young ninja shook her head sadly.  "This one located a few
storerooms, but she found nothing that could be used to escape the ship."

     Cheney sighed.  "Come on."  They ran back to the entrance hall.  Jil and
Mika were as they had left them; they looked up as Cheney and Shizuka
approached, but understood the situation quickly when they caught the
expression on the monk's face.

     A smaller explosion again rocked the airship, and Jil flew to her feet.
"Dammit!  Will ye quit blastin' th' seven shades outta me new ship!" she
yelled out the door, the full force of her anger directed at the tiny glimpse
she could catch of the Excelsior.

     "This one respectfully notes that this ship has yet to fall into our
possession."

     "Ashura take ye," Jil shot back, glaring.  "It would have if those
interferin' Church busybodies had nae shown up!"  She stomped back further
inside and sat down heavily, almost sulking.

     "Cheney," Mika spoke up, "we're gonna get outta here, right?  Right?"

     The old monk shook his head, sighing.  "I don't know, Mika.  We could
jump... but we've already gotten too high up.  I think they're trying to
climb to try and evade the cannons... but it's not going to work."

     "This one believes that, were we over sea, we may survive such a drop.
Is there no way we could divert the course of the vessel?"

     "Maybe," Cheney said, reluctantly.  "Hang on."  He carefully made his
way over to the door and leaned outside, holding tight onto the nearest
purchase, looking about for as long as he dared.  He shook his head as he
returned.  "Assuming we could even do so, we're right over the centre of
western La Verde, and we're *still* heading inland.  Whether we like it or
not, this thing's going down over land."

     Shizuka looked down, trembling slightly.  "Then... this one believes we
are doomed."

     Jil shot to her feet again.  "Never!  I nae be goin' ta me grave without
a fight!  Even if it be fate I be fighting!"  She turned and yelled down the
corridor, flushed with anger.  "Ya hear me, ye washed-out searats?  Ye can
*keep* this piece o' crap!  I nae want it no more!"

     She paced up and down the small bit of corridor that was left to them,
then looked up with a grin on her face.  "I have a plan," she announced.

     Cheney shrugged, a slight smile on his face.  "At this juncture, I
believe we'd be willing to try anything."

     Jil beamed, clenching her fist.  "Ye nae have ta worry... this is gonna
work, I can tell.  Right, first, Mika!  I be needin'--"

     This time, the explosion was deafening, entire sections of the airship
breaking off, scattered to the winds as mid-air debris.  The floor lurched
abruptly, listing terribly.  Cheney grunted as he fended off a piece of the
ceiling that slammed into him, and Jil staggered, crashing to the ground in
mid-sentence.

     And Mika....

     The young alchemist had been getting to her feet, hope beginning to
reignite within her.  All her attention had been on the former Captain, and
the Excelsior's final volley had caught her completely by surprise.  She
slipped and fell, rolling towards the open door, screaming....

     ...and just caught the edge of the door as her legs spun out, only just
managing to hold on.  The sharp metal dug deep into her hands, but she
swallowed her pain as best she could.

     "Mika!" Cheney yelled, but his speed was hampered by the debris.

     Shizuka darted forward, moving before anyone else had even *thought* to
react.  She threw herself to the ground, her hidden knife finding a purchase
in the metal flooring, and swung down towards Mika in one smooth movement,
hand outstretched....

     ...only to find Mika's own hand wasn't there anymore.

     Cheney finally got to the door, and hauled Shizuka back inside.  He
gazed outside, expression darkening by the second.  "She... she's gone," he
said quietly.

     The ninja's eyes glistened softly, and refused to meet anyone's gaze.

     Cheney glanced over at Jil, who was still on the floor, overcome by
shock.  "Whatever your plan was," he said, "it has about thirty seconds left
within which to work.  We're going down."

     Jil shook her head in disbelief.  "Tis been a pleasure knowing you."

     The old monk nodded slowly.  "That it has."  He looked out the door
again, watching the ground slowly approach.

     "That it has."

     There was a flash of red....

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Davin quickly picked himself up as he was once again thrown to the
floor.  A swift leap back almost immediately afterwards saved him from being
speared by one of the mighty beast's claws.

     The GOLeM was *far* superior to that one he and Marcine had faced back
at the beginning of their journey.  He remembered how it had taken a Calling
to even put that first GOLeM down.  Now, he felt that all their skills had
slowly honed themselves to the point where they would stand an even chance
against a Church GOLeM, without having to rely on the Calling.

     But *right* now... all those skills were only just enough to keep them
alive against TIAMAT.

     Kyle abruptly fell from the heavens, having completed his Boost Jump.
He speared the GOLeM's back, naginata outstretched... yet the dismay was
evident when the blow merely glanced off the metal plating.  A second later,
the spiked tail arched up and swept the Dragoon off, hurling him to the
ground.  Davin ran forward and dragged Kyle back before TIAMAT could take
advantage of the position.

     "How the hell do you damage this thing?!" Kyle groused, sweat pouring
off him.  "We can't keep this up all day!"

     "I don't know--"

     "Howling breath of winter, freeze the blood!  Di-Ice!"

     Marcine stepped forward and unleashed the spell at the lumbering GOLeM.
She was rewarded by a roar from one of the heads and the sound of stressed
metal... but nothing more.

     "Marcine, stay back," Davin warned.  "We need to--"

     TIAMAT's retaliation was swift.  One of the heads fixed Marcine in its
sights, eerily synchronising its movements with her unsteady retreat.  She
seemed paralysed as the jaw opened, leaving her to stare at the tiny fireball
within.

     "Marcine!" Davin yelled.  Kyle was already up and running.

     Marcine brought her arms up in a feeble attempt to block the blow.  And
the fireball flew forward, becoming a rod of molten death....

     ...and as Marcine flew backwards, she marvelled at the fact that she was
still alive.  The Phoen Staff, that had caught the brunt of the blast, glowed
red hot in her hands.  Yet it seemed cool to the touch, she thought.

     Davin rushed forward at TIAMAT, shield upraised, unwilling to waste any
more time on this battle.  He tried to focus on what Gyn had shown him...
perhaps the secret to defeating this monstrosity was within the blade.  He
sent a call to Genji's Heartstone, and it lightened his heart to hear the
response.

     The geomancer smirked at the GOLeM.  "Let's see how you like this.
Great spirits beyond..." he began to intone.

     Kyle finally made his way to Marcine's side, helping her up.  "You okay,
Marcie?"

     Marcine shook her head to clear it, then nodded once.  "Yeah... thanks."
She gazed curiously at the glowing staff in her hands.  "I think the staff
protected me."

     Davin raised the Ashura Blade far above his head, continuing his
incantation.  "Grant me the power to destroy those who stand in our way!"
The blade glowed a blinding white, and with that, Davin yelled at the top of
his voice, "Holy Blade!"

     The bolt of lightning that came his way as he charged merely bounced
off harmlessly.  He reached the underbelly of the machine and stabbed deep
into it, uncaring of the consequences.

     TIAMAT screamed, and all five heads jerked back.  It threw Davin away,
retreating a good many steps before slowly recovering.  Davin shook his head
in disbelief, fighting to retain consciousness.  "Impossible," he choked out.
"It's still moving?"

     Kyle moved forward to help the geomancer, leaving Marcine to gaze once
more at the Phoen Staff.  There was something about it, she felt... something
she could use right now.

     The GOLeM fixed all three of them with a stony glare, seemingly enraged
at the pain they had inflicted upon it.  And in response, all five heads
moved into a pentagon formation, each jaw slowly opening in sync.

     Kyle pulled Davin up and started helping him back.  "What the...?" he
exclaimed as he noticed what the GOLeM was doing.

     Davin shook his head, almost disbelieving the sight.  "No... a Delta
Attack?!  No way... we can't stay here...!  We can't fight that!"

     The globe of energy that appeared between the five heads merely grew in
size, begging to be released.

     Kyle sped up, trying to make it back to Marcine as fast as possible.
"Run, Marcine!  Get out of here!"

     The young mage jerked her head up, and gasped as she saw the imminent
attack.  "By the Three Gods!"

     "Don't just stand there, you idiot!" Kyle yelled.  "Run!"

     "But...."

     And TIAMAT stepped forward, heads curling back, ready to throw the blast
that would annihilate virtually everything in front of it... the glow from
the static energy ball filling the entire courtyard with a blinding white
light....

     Marcine concentrated on her staff.  There was something she could do.
She concentrated on the energy the staff now wielded... trying to understand
it....

     And then she realised what she could do.  And with that realisation came
the sickening understanding that she'd nowhere near the time left to do it
in.

     The heads of TIAMAT jerked forward, unleashing the blast....

     ...when a pillar of earth stabbed upwards from below, spearing one of
the heads on its jagged spike.  Out of sync, the ball of energy flickered and
fell, detonating right at TIAMAT's feet.

     Davin looked up at the second floor of the Academy, where an old man in
brown robes stood on the balcony, arms upraised.  "Master Benedict!" he
yelled, relief filling him.

     "Don't just stand there gawping," the Master immediately admonished.
"Get to the lecture halls!  The doors are too small for that thing to
follow!"

     Davin smiled and nodded.  "Come on," he said.  "The halls are just
around the corner."  Kyle nodded.

     "Wait!" Marcine called out.  "Look!"

     The dust around the behemoth finally cleared, and TIAMAT strode forward
once more.  One of the heads hung uselessly to the side, permenantly damaged
by the Master of Geomancy's attack.  The other four were peppered with shards
of debris and a multitude of dents and scratches; one of the remaining four
had its left eye gouged out.  But... it was still moving.  

     The rightmost head shot up, aiming for the balcony, and let loose a
rapidly spiralling blast of superfrozen air.

     The balcony exploded.

     "Master Benedict!" Davin yelled out.  He got no response.

     Satisfied, TIAMAT directed its attention back on the three in front of
it, advancing slowly.

     "Come on," Kyle ground out.  "We can't do anything here."  He helped
Davin as quickly as he could towards the northern lecture halls, then glanced
back at Marcine.  "Come on, Marcie!"

     "One moment... I think I... I've got it!" she announced.  She held the
Phoen Staff aloft, her free hand outstretched towards the GOLeM.  "Flames of
the earth, fire of the sun, lend your energy to become an inferno... the
perfect blaze!"  She levelled the glowing staff at the great metal beast,
drawing on the energy it had used against her.  "TriFire!" she yelled in
triumph... and the staff pulsed once in command.

     Abruptly, the air around TIAMAT caught fire, becoming a huge globe of
fire that assaulted the mighty GOLeM from all sides.  Even from where Marcine
was standing, she could feel the heat from the spell, burning whatever it
could within the area of the effect.  TIAMAT staggered back, completely
distracted.

     ...and when the spell finally dissipated, TIAMAT still stood, but much
the worse for wear.  Its tail was gone, consumed by the globe of fire, and
many of its gleaming plates of armour were tarnished and scorched, only just
protecting its great hide.  Even the wings were mottled and broken now, a
tattered remnant of their original form.  And two more of the heads lay
broken, useless hunks of dead weight.

     But Marcine shook her head, shocked, as the two remaining heads fixed
her with a deadly glare.  It advanced upon her... and then crunched to the
floor as its left foreclaw broke off at the hinge, temporarily halting its
attack.

     Marcine needed no further prompting.  She turned and ran, quickly
rejoining her companions as they fled for the lecture halls.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Zarela Grenados urged her chocobo onwards, leaving the city and the
sounds of battle far behind.  This entire trip had been one disaster after
another, and that... that... egotistically insane *Beastmaster* had screwed
up *her* kill.  If she ever saw him again, it would be too soon.

     Fortunately, the last time Zarela had seen him, he was being carried
away by one of his own blue-skinned beasts.  Had they been a little bit too
much for him?  She wasn't sure, but the sight had amused her nonetheless.

     But her main objective had failed.  The bitch had escaped somehow.

     However... Zarela knew where she was heading.  A now... 'indisposed'
Manakyr patrol had been very helpful in that regard.  She'd learned of their
next destination... and also that they knew they'd meet 'her' there.  Marcine
Cavanaugh.  They didn't have to state her by name, of course... Zarela knew
who it was.

     And this time... she'd be ready.  As would Nikolai.

     She continued riding down the mountain pass, leaving the land and air
battles far behind.

     She had a long journey ahead of her.
     
                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     The lecture hall was a surprising small room, constructed from solid oak
and reinforced with a marble-like stone.  It was obviously not as old as the
main buildings, and seemed almost like a new addition to the campus.

     The Academy believed in small classes, and so there were really only
about three or four rows of seats on a ramped area, all facing the central
stage.  The halls were mainly used for lessons on the theory behind the
Mystical Arts; actual practical lessons usually took place in secluded
practice areas or in the grand courtyard.

     They took a few moments to catch their breath, while Kyle closed the
door behind them.

     "That was too close," Davin exclaimed.  Kyle raised an eyebrow at the
odd resonating quality the geomancer's voice took on; Davin noticed his
reaction and smiled slightly.  "It's the building.  The lecturers liked to be
heard no matter where you happened to be standing or how weak their voices
actually were.  You couldn't even whisper without everyone hearing you."  He
sighed, glancing at the closed door.  "How far behind us was it, did you
see?" he asked, sitting down on the raised lecture area.

     Kyle shook his head.  "Not sure, but it seems to have some trouble
moving now.  It's coming, but slowly."

     "By the Three Gods... what is that thing?" Marcine asked, physically and
mentally exhausted.

     "TIAMAT," Davin replied.  When Marcine gave him a questioning look, he
smiled ruefully.  "Gyn got around to telling me a little about the history of
the Light Warriors.  They fought it before... and lost two of their
companions to it.  I... I wasn't sure at first.  It didn't quite match her
description.  But... there's no doubt about it."

     "TIAMAT," echoed Kyle.  "I thought that was the failed prototype of the
GOLeMs?  What is it doing here?"

     Davin shrugged.  "I've no idea.  Probably a new field test... meant to
retake the Mystic Academy, I guess.  I think it's just coincidence that it
found us here."

     "So," continued Marcine, "how are we supposed to defeat it?"

     "I'm not sure," Davin said with a sigh.  "Gyn said that, back then, the
heads were its weakness; defeat the heads, and it's finished.  But... some of
our attacks have already been hitting the heads... but there's still two of
them left.  They've upgraded it over the last thirty years, it seems."

     Kyle leapt to his feet, naginata ready.  The sounds of the limping GOLeM
were getting closer.  "You'd best figure out how to deal with it, then," he
noted, "because I think our 'friend' is ready for the second round."

     Marcine nodded, gathering herself.  "I'm ready."

     Davin smiled slightly, finishing off his final potion.  "Let's get this
over with."

     They listened quietly as the lumbering footsteps finally ground to a
halt.  And then, the door burst inwards, one of TIAMAT's remaining heads
snaking through the gap to glare at them.

     The battle was rejoined.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "Never again," Reill grumbled, as he tried to pick himself up; a futile
attempt, as it turned out.  "Damn, I think I burned out my Boost Armor doing
that."  He frowned at the crimson armour in question, which seemed to be
giving off a lot more smoke than would be considered normal.

     The Dragoon... and his impromptu baggage... had all landed in an alley
in the northern parts of La Verde.  To the northwest, the explosions
continued as the Manakyr airship completed its seemingly lethargic descent
into the ground, taking entire buildings and streets with it.

     Cheney shook his head to clear it.  It had been a narrow escape.
"Wouldn't surprise me," he finally replied.  "It was never designed to carry
that much weight in the air."

     Jil rubbed her bottom, growling slightly.  "Maybe so, but perhaps ye
could have been a li'l easier on th' landin', lad?"

     Reill sighed.  "Perhaps you may have preferred it if the airship had
dictated your landing?  Damn it, there's no *way* I'm going to get this thing
to move anytime soon."

     Cheney chuckled.  "Needless to say, we are much in your debt, Reill,
however the landing may have turned out."

     The old monk glanced over at Shizuka, who had yet to say a word.  "Are
you alright, Shizuka?  You didn't sustain an injury from the fall, did you?"

     Shizuka didn't move.  She just continued to stare at the cracked cobbles
of the alley floor.

     "Shizuka?" Cheney asked carefully.

     "This one... has failed again," she finally said.

     Cheney sighed, shaking his head.  "Shizuka--"

     The young ninja raised a hand, cutting off the monk's protest.  "This
one knows her duty.  She regrets only that she cannot fulfil it yet."  She
produced a small wide band, meant for a woman's arm, from the folds of her
kimono.  It was inscribed with an image of a phoenix.  "This one regrets not
pressing this on Miss Gil... on Mika sooner.  She also regrets not
remembering about it sooner... perhaps it would have saved a life."  She hid
the Plume Bracer back within her robes, shaking her head.  "This one has no
right to it.  She will give it to Mika when next she sees her."

     "Hold on a moment," Reill said, sitting up as best he could.  "Mika's
that little girl with the red hair, right?"

     Cheney blinked, rounding on Reill.  "Yes indeed.  What of it?"

     "Didn't I say?  Martin was with me earlier... we saw you getting on
board the airship before this whole thing started--"

     "Yes, yes," Jil interrupted testily.  "And Mika?"

     Reill shrugged.  "I'm not sure... but Martin jumped first when we saw
the whole thing coming down.  Thought I caught a glimpse of someone falling
out... but he was off like a shot.  And... he's not here now."

     Cheney breathed a sigh of relief.  "Then there's still hope."

     Shizuka finally looked up at that, but still had nothing to say.

     "In any case," Jil noted, "we're right back to where we started."

     "Maybe," Cheney agreed, "but I think we have a better chance now at the
Northern Gate.  I very much doubt anyone would be willing to stop us at this
point."

     Shizuka nodded slowly.  "This one will come.  She must see this through
until her duty has been met."  She got slowly to her feet, preparing herself.

     Reill smiled slightly.  "Well, best of luck to you then, Cheney."

     The old monk raised an eyebrow.  "You're not coming, Reill?"

     "Not with my armour in this condition," he groused.  "I'd just hold you
back.  I figure I'll just rest here for a while then get someone to help
carry the armour in for repairs once this all dies down."

     Cheney smiled.  "Very well, if that's how you feel.  In that case...
shall we see if we can find Davin?"

     Jil nodded.  "Guess th' Northern Gate awaits."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "Miss!"

     Mika slowly opened her eyes.  The last thing she could remember was the
wind whipping through her hair while she expelled the last air in her lungs
in a final scream of fear and exhilaration.  She vaguely remembered thinking
about Davin... and regretting the worry and grief she was going to cause him
by dying like this.

     She *was* dead, right?

     "Miss!  Are you okay, miss?"

     Bah!  The afterlife sure was persistent.  Couldn't they let her rest for
a while longer?

     "Come on... please speak to me, miss!"

     Wait a minute.

     She focused her eyes on the young man in scarlet armour carrying her.
"You... you're... you're one of those guys who was with Marcine's brother,
right?"

     "Oh, thank the Three Gods, miss!" exclaimed the young Dragoon, relief
showing in his face.  "I was worried there for a sec!"

     "You're... you're Martin, right?  So... you're dead as well, then?"

     Martin almost recoiled in shock and surprise.  "No, miss... at least, I
hope not!  It was touch and go for a few moments though, I guess."

     Mika struggled a bit, and Martin set her down on the ground.  "Where are
we then?" she asked, puzzled.

     "I'm not sure myself, miss," the Dragoon replied with a little
embarrassment.  "I brought you in through one of the emergency doors a little
ways back after I finished my Jump; it was the closest way in that I could
see."  He looked around, whistling to himself.  "Some ship, huh, miss?
Didn't even suspect the Church had something like this!"

     "The Church's airship?  You mean...."

     "Yup, miss!  Heh... that had to have been my best Jump ever, by my
reckoning.  Captain would've been proud if he'd seen it."

     Mika smiled gratefully.  "Thank you, Martin... but... what about the
others?!  Are they okay?" she asked quickly, suddenly remembering their
predicament.

     Martin blinked.  "I'm not sure, miss, but Reill was with me before...
I guess he went after them when we saw that ship you got on starting to go
down."

     Mika breathed a sigh of relief.  "That's good to know.  I hope they made
it out okay."  She looked around, taking in her surroundings properly for the
first time.  "So... what do we do now?"

     The Dragoon shrugged.  "Beats me, miss.  Maybe we should go up to the
bridge and--"

     "Hey you there!  Dragoon!"

     Martin turned and saluted before he even knew what he was doing,
ingrained training taking over.  "Yes, sir!"

     The Dragoon Captain who was approaching him looked less than happy.
"What are you doing away from your post?  We're still at battle stations!"

     "Well, sir, I was...."  He stopped, looking around in confusion.  He was
sure the little girl had been here a moment ago.

     "No excuses!  You should be on stand-by in the cargo hold.  Follow me."

     "Uh, yes, sir!" Martin agreed reluctantly, and fell behind the Captain.
They marched off, leaving Martin wondering for the next hour exactly where
the young alchemist had vanished to.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     The young alchemist in question was currently taking her own tour of the
Excelsior, opening doors and exploring storerooms in a vain attempt to amuse
herself before the inevitable happened and she got caught.  Still, sneaking
off while adults' attention was distracted was something she'd mastered long
ago.  She'd found it came in handy whenever Mrs. Walters had discovered what
one of her 'experiments' had done to the kitchen.

     Still, this was a far cry from those days.  Now she was a *real*
adventuress; an entire dungeon for her to explore!

     Well... okay, so it was actually an airborne fortress... but she could
still explore it!

     Still, as she continued, she found that... it just wasn't as exciting as
she'd rememered it.  It didn't have the same... 'feel' as the secret passages
she'd been in so recently... or the solemn depths of the Starsilver mines...
or the mystery of the underwater cavern where--

     She abruptly cut off that thought.  Not here.  Not now.
    
     Still, it was out of the question to just sit around and wait for
someone to find her.  No fun at all.  Much better to make a nuisance of
herself first.

     Well, not *literally*, but....
     
     She noticed that she had managed to get herself deeper into the airship,
where the walls weren't as smooth and clean as they had been.  Instead, they
were filled with panels, needles and gauges.  The 'expensive stuff', as Mrs.
Walters had liked to call them.  Mika, herself, had only gotten close to a
steamcar once before being pulled away by the owner; apparently, he hadn't
been happy with allowing 'little brats' like herself to get too close to his
'expensive' status symbol.  She'd only wanted to have a closer look at it.
It wasn't like she was going to do something *permenant*.

     Her aimless stroll came to a halt outside a final door.  She glanced up
at the words etched into the metal: ENGINE ROOM.

     They wouldn't mind if she just took a teensy-weensy look, would they?
     
     She was opening the door and slipping inside before she even finished
the thought.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Even with only one head at a time to deal with, TIAMAT still proved to
be a deadly opponent.  The way the pressurized blasts of water emerging from
the dragon-head's gaping maw punched through wood and steel alike quickly
made that point.

     However, it couldn't target all of them at once, which the party used to
their immediate advantage.  Yet, as they pounded attack after attack into the
GOLeM, the only effect they readily noted was that each blow just seemed to
make it angrier.

     "This isn't working!" yelled Kyle, barely dodging another crushing jet
of water.

     "Have you got any better ideas?" Davin retorted, looking for any kind of
opening.  He tried to calm down slightly... this wasn't getting him any
closer to a solution.  "Marcine!" he yelled, desperate.  "Can you remember
something... anything your father may have said about the GOLeMs?"

     "I... I'm not sure...."  She gasped as TIAMAT's head diverted its
attention towards her, sending another blast of water her way.  She dove to
the ground, hurling an incantation as quickly as she dared.  "DiBolt!"

     The bolt crackled around the GOLeM's head for just a few seconds,
causing it to jerk back slightly... yet it was a momentary distraction.  A
moment later, it was back on the attack, trying to pin them with its deadly
water jets.

     "We need something stronger!" exclaimed Davin.

     Marcine shook her head sadly.  "I'm... too tired to try another high
level spell," she lamented.

     Kyle raced forward, thrusting his naginata into the maw of the GOLeM,
causing another scrape across the metal.  He jumped back to evade the
inevitable counter attack.  "Whatever you're going to do," he yelled, "you'd
best do it *quickly*!"

     Davin backed away, trying to get room to think.  Geomancy then?  The
problem was that the spirits here weren't particularly *strong*.  They
weren't as old as the ones you found in the wild.  And he lacked the strength
to try and call on the Heartstone again.

     He stopped and listened.

     Yes... maybe...

     "Kyle!  Cover me!  Get down, Marcine!"  He vaulted onto the centre of
the lecturing stage, taking the optimum position for what he was about to
try.

     Kyle didn't even look back; he slashed again at the GOLeM's neck,
keeping the machine's attention on himself.

     Davin opened himself to the spirits of the air, trying to focus on what
he wanted them to do.  It was a long shot... but if he directed this
right....

     The GOLeM swung its head violently, knocking Kyle off his feet.  Jaw
opening, it fixed its sights upon the immobile Davin, ready to take advantage
of the geomancer's situation.

     ...but Davin had already had more than enough time.  "Hear me, spirits
of the air, and scream your answer!  Sonic Boom!"  Abruptly, he hurled the
force of the Geomancy into the wall opposite the GOLeM.

     The sonic wave bounced, amplifying many times as it did so, taking full
advantage of the acoustics of the room.  And then finally, it slammed into
the GOLeM's head, right into the jaw.  Almost instantly, the head exploded,
scattering parts in a small circle below.  The GOLeM screamed in rage,
withdrawing the now useless neck.

     Davin waited expectantly for TIAMAT to resume its attack with the one
remaining head... yet it surprised him when nothing else emerged through the
doorway.  He could still hear the GOLeM stomping around outside, but... it
wasn't approaching.

     "Did... did we drive it off?" Marcine asked tentatively.

     "I don't know," Davin replied.  "It's not strong enough to break in, I
don't think... not enough mobility.  What is it planning?"

     "It's drawing us out," Kyle ventured.  "I think it wants us outside."

     "A waiting game?  I wouldn't have thought it'd be that patient.  There
has to be something else...."

     There was a sound reminiscent of a flamethrower outside, and then
abruptly, parts of the building immediately caught alight.  The flames were
small at first... but they were increasing.

     "What the?!"

     "Damn!" Davin exclaimed.  "It's trying to flush us out!"  He knelt in
a puddle the previous head had caused, and called upon the spirits within.
"Waterball!" he yelled, sending it into the growing fire.

     Some of the flames abruptly winked out of existence... only to be joined
by more as TIAMAT's assault increased.

     "We can't stay here and fight this," Kyle realised.  "We've got to get
out of here."  He glanced up at the ceiling.  "But at least I can distract
its attention first.  Get out once I'm gone," he said to the others, then
abruptly jumped up and through the ceiling.

     Davin threw another Waterball into the fire, then followed Marcine as
they left by the only door.

     Outside, they immediately took cover as TIAMAT directed its flames at
them, but they were saved a fiery death when Kyle speared down from the
heavens, landing on the remaining head.  However, the power behind the Jump
wasn't enough, they saw, as TIAMAT threw the bewildered Dragoon away, howling
in fury.

     Marcine glanced at Davin, who shook his head.  "I can't throw another
Sonic Boom out here," he explained.  "We need something else.  Go check on
Kyle," he said as he rushed forward, trying to distract the beast from the
downed Dragoon.

     Kyle was just getting back to his feet as Marcine ran up.  "What the
hell does it take to put it down?" he grumbled.  "We're all running out of
steam, and even Boost Jumps don't seem to affect it!"

     Marcine bit her lip slightly.  "Maybe... maybe if we empowered your
Boost Jump," she ventured.

     Kyle blinked, rounding on Marcine.  "How?" he asked.

     "I'm... not sure.  We did it once... way back when the Knight of Earth
attacked us."  She finally nodded to herself.  "Hold out your naginata.  I
think... I'll cast a spell on it."

     The young Dragoon reluctantly did so, holding the blade out for Marcine
to see.  She focused her magic on it, reciting the incantation under her
breath.  "Di-Ice!" she commanded, and crystals of ice coalesced over the
blade, imbuing it with its power....

     ...until the metal snapped abruptly, shattering the blade.

     "Dammit!" Kyle yelled angrily.  "Now I have *no* weapon!"

     "Wait," Marcine said, gears turning.  "The Ashura Blade.  That's the
only thing that's different.  When we used it against Percival, Davin used
the Ashura Blade."

     "I can't attack well with a sword in a Boost Jump, you know that," Kyle
countered.  He stopped, realising something.  "But... it's just the blade you
want...."  Abruptly, he held out his hand.  "I need some string.  Now!"

     Marcine nodded, fishing some out of her pocket.  Kyle snatched it as it
was offered, and began swiftly fastening the Sword of Ashura to the naginata
shaft he still held.  In the background, the sounds of Davin hurling Geomancy
after Geomancy at TIAMAT could still be heard.

     "There!" Kyle announced, brandishing the makeshift weapon.  "Will that
work?" he asked sternly, fully aware of the situation.

     "I hope so," Marcine said quietly, cupping her hands.  "Howling breath
of winter, freeze the blood!  Di-Ice!"

     This time, the air around the blade softly crystalised... then vanished.
The once golden blade now shone with a sapphire aura.

     Kyle nodded.  "Guess this'll have to do.  Come on!"  He raced back
towards the battle, just in time to see Davin finally fall to a glancing
blast of fire that slipped past his Phoenix Shield.

     "DiBolt!" Marcine yelled, hurling the spell at TIAMAT, while behind her,
Kyle leapt into the air one more time.

     TIAMAT staggered back from the electrical energies that surrounded it,
the attack knocking the finishing blow it had been readying off target,
scorching the ground next to the downed geomancer instead.  It rounded back
on Marcine furiously, sending another blast of fire at her.

     Marcine fell forward, partly from fatigue, allowing the flames to pass
over her harmlessly.  She hastily readied another spell frantically as she
watched TIAMAT began to lumber towards her....

     ...and Kyle speared down through the final head, and the magic the
Ashura Blade had captured was released in an explosion of ice.

     It was finally too much for the great GOLeM as the last head shattered
violently, the blast throwing the Dragoon clear.  Smoke pouring out of every
crevice, it swayed then toppled onto its side... then exploded again from
within, hurling debris in every direction.

     The party slowly gathered themselves up, Marcine spending a few seconds
tending to Davin and Kyle's immediate wounds.  It was clear that they were
lucky to even be alive.

     "I'm sure the Church will be wondering what happened to their toy," Kyle
finally said.  "We should leave as soon as possible."

     "Wait," Davin interjected, as Marcine cast another Cure spell on him.
"We've got to find Master Benedict... I have to know if he's okay!"
Relenting, Kyle followed as Davin and Marcine got up, intent on finding
Davin's old master.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     They found him alive and well as they reentered the main building from
the chapel.  He beamed at them proudly, descending the main stairwell to
greet them.  "My, my... quite an achievement!  You had me worried there for a
bit, you know."

     "*You* worried?" Davin asked in disbelief.  "Master Benedict... I
mean... the balcony you were on!  You could've been--"

     "Feh!  You worry needlessly!  I'm far too old to do something stupid
like getting killed in pointless battles.  Still... it seems you fared pretty
well.  Well done, young Highwater."

     The geomancer smiled wanly, shaking his head.  "Thanks, Master Benedict.
But... are you sure you're alright?"

     "Of course, of course!  Heh, takes far more than that to put a dent in
this old master!"

     "He's lying," Kyle said sternly.
     
     Davin glanced back at Kyle.  "Huh?"

     "I should've noticed it when we came in.  He's had to nurse a chest
wound, I think.  Probably hasn't even finished clotting yet."

     "...how--?"
     
     "Blood stains blend in well with sackcloth, which is much like the robe
he's wearing.  But if you look closely...."

     Benedict chuckled dryly.  "Well pardon me for not having the time to
prepare a change of clothes.  It's polite to humour old men who wish to keep
their dignity and apparent superiority intact, you know."

     Marcine quickly approached, concern written on her face.  Amidst the old
man's unheard protests, she quickly recited the familiar spell.  "Cure!" she
intoned, directing the energy into the tender wound.

     As she withdrew, Master Benedict straightened up slightly, patting the
hardened cloth where the wound had been.  He shook his head in wonder, then
settled into a mock-pout.  "Can't leave well enough alone, can you.  How's an
embittered old man like myself meant to entertain his students with scars
from his younger years, when with one mystical incantation and POOF, it's
gone?"

     "Please, Master Benedict," Marcine said with a strained smile on her
face, "don't joke about things like that."

     Benedict chuckled slightly.  "My apologies, young lady, but it is my
nature to make light of such things.  When you get to be as old as I am,
perhaps you'll be the same way.  So," he said, sobering up.  "That was magic,
I assume?"

     Marcine nodded mutely.
     
     "Hmmm... first time I've ever seen it up close.  Interesting... yet I
well understand the reasons why it has been linked with heresy for so long.
Oh, don't give me that look," he complained.  "I explained to you well enough
before how I felt about such things."

     "Oh!" exclaimed Davin.  "Marcine, could you take a look at this?"
     
     She blinked in confusion.  "Take a look at what?" she asked.
     
     Davin held out a piece of parchment to her, and she accepted it with
some hesitation.  "It's something we found while we were in the Headmaster's
office," the geomancer explained.  "Looks like a withdrawal order of some
kind, but most of it's in Manakyr script.  We were hoping you could translate
it."

     Marcine nodded, slowly.  "Okay," she said, "I guess I can do that."
     
     She began to read it aloud, translating as she went.  "To the Manakyr
stationed at the Mystic Academy...."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "Is he... lucid?" she asked, as she approached the guard.
     
     "A-ah, Madonna," the mage outside the cell stammered in fear and
surprise.  "He was awake when we brought him his food."

     Madonna frowned.  "That's not what I asked."  She sighed, and waved him
aside.  "No matter, I shall see him for myself."

     She swiftly undid the magical locks without waiting for the guard to
respond, and pushed open the barrier, dipping her head to enter through the
smaller-than-average doorway.

     The tall lean young man within was only a shadow of his former self.  He
glared up at Madonna as she entered, brushing dirty blond locks from in front
of his face, enjoying what moments of defiance he could.  The Knight merely
smirked in reply.

     "Why are you here?" he finally asked.  "You got all you wanted from me."
     
     "So... you are still capable of speech.  Frankly, I'm impressed... after
all it took to gain the information we required from you, I would've thought
you'd have been... ah, but what does it matter," she said, trailing off.  "As
for why I'm here... I'm inviting you on a little trip."

     The young man narrowed his eyes.  "A... trip?"
     
     "Why yes indeed," Madonna exclaimed.  "I thought it would be very
instructive to show you what good use we were about to make of your hard-
gained knowledge."  She smiled down at him.  "It's completed, you know.  And
just in time too."

     "And if I... refuse to come?"
     
     "Heh.  You still believe you have a choice... most remarkable.  You
*will* come.  The only question is whether it is by your own will, or by
mine."

     The prisoner gazed at the floor again, his unruly hair falling down to
hide his eyes.

     "You know," Madonna noted, "I haven't even told you where we're going.
It's a place I think you know quite well."

     The young man shook his head.  "I can guess."
     
     The Knight of Wind smirked.  "I'm sure you could.  Because we're leaving
tonight.

     "It'll be quite a sight, don't you think?  Gazing over the flawed
splendour of the city of...."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     "...Tienne?!"

     Marcine nodded slowly.  "That's what it says."  She glanced over the
orders Davin had taken from the Headmaster's office once more.  "They're
supposed to leave a skeleton guard to hold both the Mystic Academy and La
Verde, then withdraw from the city and move on to Tienne."

     Kyle cursed.  "So... they're not retreating... they're stepping up the
invasion.  And with a large bulk of the Church's forces *here*...."

     Davin nodded.  "Tienne's in danger.  And we have to walk into the middle
of all that to find Gilgamesh."

     Marcine handed the scroll back to Davin, who folded it away.  "I guess
we'd better go find the others then, if we're to get there before the Manakyr
do."

     "Hold on one minute, young lady," Master Benedict butted in finally.
"I'm actually glad I got this chance to speak to you again before you left."
He searched the folds of his robes, muttering to himself, then finally
produced a round amber orb that fit neatly in the palm of his hand.  "I think
you may have a use for this."

     Marcine stared.  "That... that's a Guardian Egg!  But why--?"
     
     "The whys and wherefores don't matter, young lady, but, if you insist...
this has been kept in the Academy vaults for many generations.  I don't
believe we ever felt it important enough to send on to the Church, and
certainly, it is within our nature to keep various curios and such for later
perusal around.  Still... you seem like a pleasant and *responsible* young
girl," he noted, placing great stress on the word he knew the young mage
would remember.  "Therefore, I do not see any harm in passing this particular
relic into your care.  If you'll accept it, of course."

     "I... thank you, Master Benedict."
     
     The old man took her hand and placed the Egg gently inside it, closing
his own hands over it.  "Good, good.  I'm sure you'll make a good caretaker."
He turned back to Davin.  "Now, as for you, young man--"

     A shocked gasp brought their attention back to Marcine.  Her eyes were
slightly unfocused, and she clasped the Egg close to her breast.

     "Marcine?" Davin asked worriedly.  "What's wrong, Marcine?"
     
     "It's... it's here.  And... it's breaking.  *He's* here."
     
     "Who's here, Marcine?" Davin pressed urgently.  "Who is it?"
     
     "He's... he's so sorry... he...."  Marcine turned and ran for the
chapel, heading outside.

     "Marcie!  Wait!" Kyle yelled, before following on her heels.
     
     "Marc--" Davin started, then sighed, and shook his head.  "I guess this
is farewell, Master Benedict."

     The old man sniffed.  "This is no time for farewells, young lad.  We'll
meet again after all is said and done, I'm sure of it."

     Davin grinned, backing towards the door.  "Til then, Master."
     
     Master Benedict merely smiled in response.  "Go after her, Highwater."

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     They found her in the courtyard outside, gazing towards the south... and
the Church's approaching airship.  It had dealt with both of the Manakyr
vessels; one of which now lay in ruins in the northwestern parts of the city,
while the other had been forced to the ground, seemingly without damage.  The
Excelsior was now heading north, towards the Mystic Academy.

     "He's there."
     
     "Where?" pressed Kyle.  "Who is he?"
     
     "There.  Can't you see him?"
     
     Davin fell silent for a moment.  "The Church's airship.  That's where he
is, isn't that right, Marcine?"

     Marcine nodded slowly.  "Wisdom's there.  And it's breaking."
     
     "Wisdom," Kyle repeated... and then realisation dawned.  "You don't
mean--?!"

     "I hope not," Davin replied, shaking his head.  "I truly hope not.  Come
on.  We don't have a single second to lose."

     They took off running, leaving the confines of the Academy and heading
towards the south.  Towards the airship.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Bolgan Valecrest stalked the corridors of the Excelsior, infuriated with
himself.  He was a man of science!  Formulas and calculations were his creed!
He did not submit to 'instincts' without any evidence to back those feelings
up!

     And yet, here he was, treading the path to the engine room once more.
Ever since he had installed the Excelsior's power source, he'd felt...
uneasy.  Like maybe there were some things that should be left untampered
with.

     Still, it was too late to go back.  And pacing helped him think.
     
     It was as he was approaching the engineering sections that he noticed
something amiss.  It was almost imperceptible, but he caught it instantly; he
intimately knew the sounds the ship made.  And the humming of the engine had
changed pitch by a fraction of a decibel.

     He sped up his pace.  A tiny vibration joined the humming shortly
afterwards.

     He was running by the time he reached the engine room itself.
     
     As he approached the core, he hardly noticed that the inner door was
already open.  By then, even the deafest grunt on the ship could hear and
feel the rumblings now.

     And as he reached the very centre of the airship, the power flickered,
and died.

     Gasping for breath, he entered the tiny room, catching the eyes of the
young girl already standing there, watching the amber crystal in horror.  The
artifact was riddled with cracks now.

     Mika glanced back at the crystal.  The light it cast was fractured,
creating unnatural shapes in the darkness.  "There's a second catalyst, isn't
there," she stated, completely serious.  "It's like alchemy... but... on a
bigger scale."

     He nodded slowly, too shocked to be angry.  "Yes... there must be."  He
reached out and picked her up.  "Come on.  We can't stay here."
     
     Mika shook her head sadly.  "Why did you do it?"
     
     Bolgan hadn't an answer.  The shrill vibrations of the crystal had his
entire attention.  He watched as it slowed to a stop, and then just hung
there, the sounds of stress getting louder and higher-pitched....

     Shards of yellow crystal peppered his back as he ran, shielding the
little girl as best he could as the room behind him exploded.  It was the
only thing he could do.

                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     Lambert looked up from his work, frowning, and gazed on the triple flame
he had had set up on the desk in front of him.  It had seemed prudent, when
the reports had come nearly a week and a half ago that the Sanctuary Flame of
Purity had gone out.

     He watched, grimacing, as the flame symbolising the God of Wisdom
flickered once in a non-existent breeze... then died.

     Damn Bolgan.  Damn him.  Barely a day had passed, and it seemed like his
fortress was already a failure.  Still... it was bound to have happened
sooner or later, regardless.  A part of him welcomed the hastening to the
end.

     "They're coming," he said, getting to his feet.  "They've got no other
choice now."
    
     He walked over to the bookcase, and selected a large tome.  He traced
the colourful image on the front, and read aloud the title.  "The Codex of
the Tri-fan."

     He sighed, shaking his head.  "They're coming for the Wall.  The heart
of that Wall.  I *have* to be ready."     

     His index finger came to rest in the centre of the image adorning the
tome....

     ...where they were joined together in the centre by a small globe of
purest gold....
     
                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

     In the grand courtyard of the Mystic Academy, silence finally reigned; a
small pocket of order amongst the chaos without.  The Masters were returning,
slowly restoring the old way of things.

     It would take a few days, but the Mystic Academy would soon recover from
the blow it was dealt, becoming once again the institution of the Mystic Arts
it had been known for.

     Yet... some things never recover.

     Another leaf fell from the lonely tree in the centre of the courtyard,
landing in the soft pile that had been slowly forming over the last few
minutes.

     Gaia would be evergreen no more.



                         -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Author's Notes:
     Hell.

     I had no idea this chapter was going to be this huge.  I knew it was
going to be big... but not *this* frackin' big.

     First off, just a little story explanation.  I have no true wish to down
the Excelsior permenantly, so soon after it's taken flight... so I hope
future authors will find an alternative power-source, and that the Excelsior
will once more take flight (this time in the hands of the party ^_^).  But,
if not, then c'est la vie.

     By the time you read this, the FFL Map (the 'draft' version, anyway)
will have been updated (well, updated for a week now), along with the notes
accompanying them.  In addition, the Glossary *should* also be updated over
the next few days (I'll probably finish it up over the weekend), with quite a
few new people and places added.  Since it's been seven chapters since it was
last updated, you're well advised to take another look through it if you're
planning on writing a chapter.  Just remember; the Glossary is a guide, and
is *not* a replacement for reading through all 31 chapters we've had so far.
You should use the Glossary as a reminder first and foremost.  (Trust me on
this, please ^_^;)

     Oh, credit goes to Scott Schimmel and Kate Malloy for prereading this
thing before it went up and being there to bounce ideas off.  Much obliged.
     
     Thanks.
                                         Terence Fergusson
                                      -- Student of Advanced Murphodynamics