Sobe walked quietly along the reef, carefully climbing over rocks and staying well away from the crazed looking Lamia. Nodem and Quirk/Genta had both refused to tell her what was so scary about them, so she decided that it would be better if she simply stayed well away. She finally stepped into an area clear of monsters and glanced around. She sat down on the rocks at the edge of the ocean and dipped her feet into the cold waters, glancing up at the sky. A full moon shone down, the stars shining brightly. Even in Windurst they had never seemed to be so bright.

A soft metallic clank drew her attention as Quirk sat down next to her. Sobe smiled at the automaton, the two taking a moment to rest.

"How sweet."

The burning conflict I'm feeling
It summons me to descend into
the other side
And just beyond the stars blazing
A beam light from a red, velvet
moon illuminates me

Sobe stood and spun in one motion only to find herself a few yalms from Feliz. She glared at him, still remembering the last time he had appeared to her. That cocky, arrogant excuse for a hume was standing there, just as he always did, that incorrigible smirk behind the veil (So what if she couldn't see it? She could *sense* it there!) as he stared down at her with a combination of expectation and superiority.

"So this is where you've been hiding, Sobe-chan? Oh, I do hope that some of the rumors I've been hearing about the capital aren't true…" He crossed his arms over his chest, glancing briefly at Quirk, before turning his attention back to Sobe, obviously dismissing what he thought of as a simple automaton. Sobe's glared at him.

"What rumors are those?" Feliz leaned forward, as if whispering to share a secret. However, his voice was just as loud as before, though no more so.

"That you're consorting with a Corsair…and have knowledge of their whereabouts." Sobe simply shrugged.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Feliz simply raised an eyebrow at her in a 'You're kidding.' expression.

"Oh please. You know well what I'm talking about. You have the stench of a corsair all over you. Now, tell me where they are, or else I'll have to have you arrested and the entire place flooded with other Blue Mages…who won't be nearly so kind to your… 'friends'…as I will be. Of course…if I do have to arrest you…I'll make sure you get to stay with me…" He winked at her and she nearly facepalmed. Of course, he would flirt with her like this…

"I don't think so." Already though, she was planning. If he left, the empire would be here at the reef faster than she could cast a Headbutt. And then Nodem and Aurou…they wouldn't be safe…

She had no choice.

She had to.

She drew her swords, and pulled her veil across her face, for the first time in a while, looking like the Blue Mage that she was.

"Genta." She whispered softly enough so that Feliz couldn't hear. "Return to N- the captain. Tell him what's happening, please…" I don't want you to see me like this… Quirk hesitated, arguing with her for a few moments, before finally heading back. Feliz simply sighed.

"I guess I'll have to follow it after I take care of you…don't worry, I promise to make up for any wounds threefold…" His voice slipped to a low tone, something that might have been seductive to another person, but simply made Sobe feel ill to her stomach.

"Shut up Feliz…you've ruined our life long enough…" She started pulling a shackle from the magic she had locked up. Then another. Her magic was tense…anticipating its sweet freedom. Feliz just laughed, sensing her rise in power.

"Going to try to kill me, Sobe-chan? Very well…if you win, I die…but if I win…" A dark grin grew on his face. "You'll stay with me…and we'll see how long it takes to-"

A third shackle gone. Anger rose. She would not be used by anyone! don'tletthemuseus! she could almost hear the beast shout. She left forward, slashing with her swords, opening with a Headbutt. Feliz lept back, easily resisting the effects of her magic.

"Is that all you've got, Sobe-chan? My grandmother could cast magic better than that, and she's laying six feet under!"

"By your own hands, I'm sure!" She retorted, slashing again. He dodged.

"Heh…You know me too well, dearest!" A fourth shackle gone.

"SHUT UP!!" She screamed a feral warcry, releasing a barrage of spells at Feliz. She was angry, she hated him…

A fifth gone. releasemereleaseme!Icanhelp!killhimkillhim! How many more shackles had she places upon herself?! toomanytoomany!releaseme! Each restraint released increased her power, increased her anger and rage. Images flashed through her mind. The Yagudo.

Call me Master!

NEVER! the beast replied.

Feliz took a few hits, blood trailing down his cheek, staining his veil into a shade of purple. His grin faded, and his demeanor shifted to something far more serious. The kiddie gloves were apparently off. An ochu appeared in front of Sobe, and she quickly threw herself to the side to avoid the Bad Breath. Sobe smirked.

Let's see how much he likes this…yesyesdoit!

She casted, a Gorger empty appearing in front of her. With a strange sound, it attacked with four hits, vanishing right after. Feliz staggered back with a snarl. He retaliated with another slash, which Sobe barely managed to move out of the way from, followed by the sudden appearance of a Tonberry.

"Huh?" It chattered something, before slamming the end of its staff on the ground. Something unseen wrapped itself around her, a curse of somekind, before the sensation of hundreds of daggers stabbing themselves into her body made her fall to her knees.

"Give up…Sobe-chan. You can't beat me…" He slowly walked towards her.

"Give up, Stubborn one. Give up to me, and I can teach you what I know."

No Master Hotaka…I will not!
don'tgiveup!No!

His hand lifted her chin so that she was staring up at him.

"We don't need to fight…I'll take care of you. I did after your first boyfriend left you."

"Aedyn…where are you? Why won't you reply? I thought…after last night, we…"
Sae. She was so heartbroken. She gave up everything for him, and he left her…without a word.

Just as she had felt before, the old emotion returned. Anger. Hatred. Rage. She had been nearly consumed by it at that time of her life. And now…

With strength of infinite measure
The mighty sword divides order
from chaos in the kingdom below
And from the mansions of glory,
This empty soul cries out one
final plea …
The end has begun

"Do you have no reply?" He took her arm and tried to tug her to her feet, pulling her in close.

onlyonemore!takeitofftakeitoff!let'sgetridofhim!protectfriendshurrythoughhurryhurry!

One shackle. One last branch of control over her magic.

don'tneedcontrol!iamyou.angerletmego!whatyoudidn'twant! the beast chanted.

And she understood.

Each unshackle had brought with it a torrent of emotion. Anger, jealousy, hatred, fear. All things she had pushed aside for one reason or another. This beast she struggled with now…it was not Senka, or some other personality. It was everything she had pushed aside, in her struggle to fit in with the others, to be accepted, to gain the coherency and sanity of mind that she now had. The magic was simply not allowing her to push those emotions aside as she had done before.

She didn't want to accept them. But in order to win this fight, and protect Nodem and Aurou from the plague that she had helped bring upon them… she had to.

She had to.

The final link was released.

The beast shrieked in triumph. Her vision turned red, and a flare of magic was all the warning that Feliz had. With one smooth movement, her arm raised, was covered in magic and plunged elbow-deep into Feliz's chest. As she pulled her arm free, all of her wounds healed, his blood having restored her. He collapsed to the ground and Sobe stared impassively down at him.

"A dead man tells no tales…They are safe…they are safe…"

I will devise, from perfect skies
A dark and vengeful day
Faith and mercy gone astray


––Song: The Divine Wings of Tragedy by Symphony X––

Sobe hummed softly as she stared up at the night sky. It was quiet here, like it always was. She had been getting to know this place a fair bit better after a few weeks here. Although, she couldn't help but sigh softly. The quiet was a nice contrast from Jeuno or the few times she had visited Whitegate, but now…

Well, it didn't matter. She nodded to herself. Traveling to Nashmau had alleviated some of her boredom, and she had gotten the chance to meet a few people there. Sobe admitted that she really wasn't much of a people-person (in fact, she would rather avoid it altogether and let Sae handle it), it was a nice change of pace. She smiled, enjoying this little place in a corner of the reef that had absolutely no monsters.

"Saerun Sakimoto."

Oh goddess, now what? Why can't anyone let me have my nightly walks in peace?

She quickly stood and turned. A hume female Blue Mage stood there, arms crossed behind her back.

"Can I help you?"

"Under orders of the Empress…you are under arrest for the destruction of a fellow Blue Mage, more importantly your supervisor and advisor. I, Hataba of the Skyserpents, have been appointed as your judge and jury. What have you to say for yourself?"

Sobe sighed. Great…she knew that would come back to bite her. And even better, she had some random soldier out here.

"I have nothing to say to you." The mage smirked and pulled out two scimitars.

"Very well. Guilty by abstention. Your sentence…death. We have no need of an out of control mage who will attack her comrades. Any last requests?"

Sobe had no intent of simply giving up or dying to this lunatic. However, she had to know…

"A question." Hataba raised an eyebrow, nodding shortly.

"Speak."

"Why did Feliz come out here to find me?" The other paused, apparently not expected that question.

"I do not know. He did not speak of his intention before he left here. Despite that…you are still to die for killing him."

Sobe pulled out her own scimitars, inwardly relieved. Feliz didn't tell the other imperials…If she could keep Hataba from finding them…Nodem and Aurou would be safe. Now…no ensure her own safety!

"We'll see about that!"

Hataba grinned. "So you won't give up without a fight. Very well! Let us have some fun then, shall we?"

Hands up and don’t you make a sound
Shotgun is pointed at me now
It just might blow me away

Sobe was the one to attack first. She would not go down without a fight! She would live, to make sure that Nodem didn't do something stupid, and leave Aurou alone again. And she… She had Jericho to return to. And the rest of the group, Avina, Kaolla, Kirious, Muriru, Draenen…and hell. Maybe even Kenjii. If he wasn't being annoying.

Hataba easily parried each and every one of Sobe's sword attacks without so much as breaking a sweat. Their swords clashed together, sparks flying off as they held their ground, swords struggling against each other to gain the upper hand. Sobe jumped back, swords scraping against the rocks with a loud screech as sparks flew from the contact. Hataba followed, casting a quick Sudden Lunge, stunning Sobe in place. Hataba followed it up, summoning a long beastman made staff in her hand, hitting her with five powerful blows, sending Sobe flying back into a wall.

It took her a moment, but Sobe quickly picked herself off of the wall, seeing Hataba pacing slowly towards her. Sobe picked up her swords, and then charged. Hataba also rushed in slashing. Swords crashed with a loud echo. The two were evenly matched in physical strength. Sobe quickly casted, summoning a gorger empty which delivered a four-hit strike. Hataba just jumped back and snarled lightly, taking the hits. Sobe bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, embuing magic into it*. As she did, Hataba had just finished casting something that looked like a green shield around her self.

The two began a cast-off. Sobe summoned a pile of razor-sharp leaves to her hands, throwing them like kunai at Hataba. Shadows appeared around the other, taking the leaves and vanishing into mist. Hataba lunged again, stunning Sobe, while she casted another spell. A Lamia appeared in front of Sobe and unleashed a quite powerful five-hit attack, knocking her to the ground.

I'll have to remember that one next time I pick up my Gi and knuckles…

Sobe staggered up to her feet, the lamia's spell having knocked more out of her than she thought. She casted again, a soulflayer appearing in front of Hataba. It raised its staff and bolt of lightning crashed from the staff to Hataba. The green shield, which Sobe had only caught a glimpse of earlier, flared to life, absorbing the damage.

"Give up! You cannot win against me, Saerun!"

"Not a chance in hell!" She retorted. Hataba laughed.

"Well, feel free to let me know. Because Hell is where you're going! Play time's over! DIE!" A dark blue aura appeared around Hataba and Sobe staggered back, feeling the other Blue Mage's strength increasing exponentially.

"What the-?!" Hataba's spell went off, and Sobe found herself staring face to face with a wyrm. A giant, flying dragon type wyrm.

Oh Gods above… She couldn't move. It took her several seconds, but the wyrm disappeared and Sobe was able to move again. But Hataba was nowhere to be seen.

"Where?!" She felt a chill right behind her, and Hataba's voice suddenly whispered in her ear.

"Die. Traitor." Hataba's thin scimitar slid through her torso and for a moment, the pain didn't register. As she pulled the blade free, everything hit her at once, and she collapsed face down onto the ground. She gasped lightly, unable to breathe. She was coughing, she tasted copper in her mouth. It hurt so much…

"Don't worry…you may have been a traitor in life…but in death you shall help serve Her Majesty proudly, as you should have from the beginning." Hataba was kneeling besides her -when had she moved? She ripped the glove from Sobe's left hand. Sobe watched, her vision blurring swiftly. She was unable to follow Hataba's movements, but one moment she was sitting there, and the next…

Sobe's weak scream pierced the quiet night, followed by sputters as more copper filled her mouth. Pain was searing in her hand, and she watched as Hataba pulled her own hand away, clutching something, her hand dripping with blood. Whatever it was…it burst into a shower of light and surrounded Hataba. She smirked.

"You can die now." And vanished.

If the light should take me
Then tonight I’ll be free

Is this really the end…? She was growing weaker by the second. Her strength had failed her completely. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. The pain was overwhelming.

Haha…guess I failed after all… Not entirely, she reminded herself. Nodem and Aurou…they were safe. With her dead, the Empire wouldn't return here. If they stayed out of sight, which they were good at, they should never be noticed.

–––––
*CRACK!- Shizzz…*
"Oof…"
"You okay down therrre?"
"Yeah…I'm fine. Just got distracted…"
"Least it wasn't firrre?"
"Haha…yeah, guess so."
–––––
"Oi! Nodem!"
" . . .Sobe-san. You're loud today. Something happen?"
"Erm…Hi."
". . .Hi." He laughed.
–––––

Sae…I'm sorry. I tried my best to protect us, but I couldn't… She coughed again, weakly spitting out blood.

–––––
"The blackouts…the hours of missing time…"
"Correct. That was me. Sometimes I would come out even when you weren't in danger. I was…lonely."
"I'm so sorry Sobe…that you had to go through this nearly alone."
"I…I tell you that I'm the reason for your blackouts, and you're trying to comfort *me*?! I'm you, but I don't understand you at all!"
"Hehehehe…."
"Don't laugh! This isn't funny!"
–––––

An image passed through her mind, one that made her smile softly.

"Jericho…" No sound passed through her lips. How stubborn he was…he is. She still remembered…
–––––
"You claim to be unstable…I've yet to met the person who hasn't slipped or cracked. It takes a great discipline to hold off. Infact, I think just to have made it this far you've shown some great fortitude. You are still a person; and every person deserves just as much dignity and care as the next."
–––––

Always so eloquent, always with something to say. So determined to make sure that she thought of herself as a person…he never let her talk badly of herself.

Congratulations…you, Nodem and Aurou succeeded…but now….

The pain was starting to fade, she was feeling numb…

It's too late. Figures…

Her eyes started to close.

Please…forgive me…everyone…I tried…to do what I thought was right for everyone…but I failed…

She couldn't breathe.

Nodem, Aurou, be safe….and happy…..I'm sorry Sae couldn't make Aurou's wedding dress like she promised…

Her eyes closed completely.

Jericho…I love you…I'm sorry that…it wasn't forever…like I promised…Please….forgive me……

One last exhale.

Goodbye….

I’m blessed by a nightmare nightly
And when I'm dying it reminds me
I grab the air now and hold it tightly
Remember everything I love
Then I'm gone.

*KJ, that {{Warm-Up}} was dedicated just for you!

––-Song: Blessed by a Nightmare by Autopilot Off––-

Talacca Cove was quiet tonight. Perhaps too quiet. The black haired elvaan pondered to himself as he walked. As soon as he thought it, a weak scream echoed throughout the area. His eyes widened and he swiftly ran as quickly as possible towards it. A minute later found him in front of an Elvaan woman, in a tattered Blue Mage attire. His first instinct was to turn away, Blue Mages were no friends of his.

However…he took a closer look. This was one of the two ladies the Demon Fox had been with. And he did owe his fellow corsair. Plus, would he truly really leave someone to die like this…? Etadial pulled out his pearl.

"Robrecht, gather as many people as you know with healing experience. I have someone who needs attention…fast." He picked up the wounded elvaan, and flicked an earring. The two swiftly vanished.

–––––––-
In case anyone wondered how Sobe survived, here you go!