Like the underground Kobold settlement, the Wanderers’ Palace had a dampness to it. But unlike there, the air held a slight toxic scent - it almost seemed green, unearthly. A few Tonberry roamed, their fish-like tails slapping the ground. From all outside appearances, they were like any other beast. And yet, Alisaie crossed her arms - Minfilia behind her.

“It’s a man-made plague,” Alisaie stated. Minfilia stared at her, and Alisaie continued to look onwards - her voice barely above a harsh whisper. “At least, it was in my timeline. But it’s— it’s probably the same. The Warrior of Light found a way to stop it - and their minds were restored.”

A plague on Nym. Was it…? Minfilia was about to ask, but Alisaie answered before she did. “It was part of the War of the Magi. Voidsent… Voidsent exposure is dangerous, depending on the Voidsent. This one made Nymians turn into these things, and filled ‘em with anger. Rancor.”

Her whip-like ponytail swished, and her mouth parted into a shark-like grin. “You saw me help that Kobold, right?”

Minfilia nodded quietly, feeling her heart beginning to beat faster and faster. Why was she feeling afraid? Alisaie was a friend. Even if she’d lied, she was a friend. Though, as she looked at her, Minfilia bit her lip.

“I can eat the rancor. Fix their minds. And it helps me, too.”

“How?” Minfilia asked.

Alisaie seemed to calm, looking to her hands a little. “This state— it seems to get better when I eat Voidsent. And stuff they leave behind. I don’t know why.

Something bad happened to me, Minfilia. And once I fix these Tonberry, I’ll start telling you.”

Alisaie then darted out, jumping onto one of the Tonberry. The other began to stab at her, violently - Minfilia barely stopping herself from running out from the shadows. Alisaies’ clothes easily ripped, showing her far-too-light skin compared to Alphinaud. But as Minfilia watched, she could see magic seeming to be stripped from the Tonberry - a dark sickly green - and the Tonberry collapsed. Alisaie snarled like a wild beast, gripping to the other Tonberry - and doing the same. Within the minute, they were both out cold, the cursed magic drained. Alisaies’ skin tone had darkened, as she wiped her mouth - wiped it of a thick substance.

But Alisaie didn’t seem satisfied. Her eyes remained cold, as she looked down at them. “There’s something else clinging to them,” Alisaie snarled. “They won’t wake up until we take care of it - probably. Likely. That’s how adventures go, right?”

Shakily, Minfilia stepped out of the shadows - the marbled floor long-cracked and broken shifting slightly under her, the moss ever so soft. The toxic air seemed to calm, if only a little bit. “Yes, but—”

“But what?” Alisaie asked, turning back to Minfilia.

Minfilia held her hand to her chest, so quietly. “Please. I need to know what happened to you. Why you’re like this. And—

And, if I can help you.” That last bit just slipped out, but of course Minfilia would ask for aid. The two continued though the Palace, and Alisaie took a deep breath in.

“It started… well, it started a little after we got the upper hand on Garlemald,” Alisaie said. “The Warrior of Light had helped and freed Ala Mhigo, along with the land of Doma, across the sea.” Alisaies’ thoughts drifted back, her lips curled into a frown. “We put them though a lot, didn’t we?”

Minfilia nodded. “I can barely recall the Warrior of Light. But I hope they understood we simply wished to bring a brighter dawn. I wouldn’t have asked too much of them, I hope. But— truly? Ala Mhigo was free?”

Alisaie had forgotten for a moment that Minfilia was Ala Mhigan, and that hope in her voice was so— heartwarming. It was more painful knowing that Minfilia wouldn’t have seen it. Perhaps that’s another person she can change the fate of, Alisaie thought, as she gave a soft smile. “Yes. There were many costs.”

“Let me guess,” a third voice said - Fordola popping out of her bag. The Palace was growing dark, but Fordola had a tiny glow - helpful. “Those resistance people used this Warrior of Light person as a weapon, cuttin’ down whoever they could, and eventually there were too many losses.”

Alisaie looked down at the mammet-sized Primal, expression growing dark. “You survived, Fordola. And, no. We tried to respect the Warrior of Light.

You fucked up a lot, though.”

Fordola snarled, and Alisaie continued - as she drew her bow and arrow. She did not attach regular arrows, though, but small orbs with elemental charges - shooting them at the oily slugs they fought. “But due to your fuck-ups, we can make artificial Warriors of Light. With an artificial Echo. It stops them from becoming like me. I… it was too late for me to get the treatment.

Anyway, so Garlemald had to fight back. Before they did, Urianger said he felt something— something was about to go wrong.”

Both Minfilia and Alisaie understood one thing about Urianger - his heart was always in the right place. So as Alisaie spoke, Minfilia felt horror fill her heart. “He abandoned the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. Not only that, but he declared our goal impossible.

And then he went into Garlean territory. H-he wasn’t the first to go out that way, though. Alphinaud wanted to go there for a diplomatic mission.”

“Alphinaud existed in your timeline, then,” Minfilia said. “If what you say is right, you didn’t exist here.” But they seemed so perfect together. Still— why would Urianger speak so cruel— unless he was trying to stop anybody from following him? He could never pull off that role, Minfilia felt. If not for her, then Moenbryda would see though it.

Ah. She didn’t dare interrupt Alisaie, except— “This gate’s locked.” In front of them was a heavily rusted cog and wheel, alongside a heavy sealed door.

Neither of them really needed to speak the solution, though, as they looked back to the slugs. Odd, though. There seemed to be… something moving in the dark. Neither of them could see what it was, and Alisaie continued.

“We fought at the border. And then, as we fought— as the Warrior of Light fought— we began to get messages on our Linkpearls.

People were dying, and they couldn’t figure out why. The Empire had unleashed a biological weapon. But that’s— that’s not—” Alisaie felt her throat closing, as she froze. Her hands were frozen on the now-lubricated wheel, her body stilling.

She was surprised, then, when Minfilia wrapped her in a tight hold. In the middle of exploring, at that. A soothing hold. That did it - she was going to make sure Minfilia never became the Word of the Mother. Never became part of Hydaelyn. However she could - even if it meant destroying other plans.

Catching her breath, catching her racing mind, Alisaie calmed as they continued to move. “That’s not what caused this to happen to me. The land began to still. The wind stilled. The sea grew wild, and the earth itself began to rot. Everything seemed to slow.

And then the night vanished.”

Alisaie had stopped moving. They rested near the water of the waterways, Alisaies’ gaze turning colder and colder. Her lips trembling. And the first of her tears dropping. “That’s when they appeared. Thralls of a new type of Primal. All they wanted was the living - and if one killed you, you’d become one. Nation after nation fell.

Us Scions evacuated everybody into Mor Dhona, close to Silvertear Lake. Hah - we’d moved there to be safer. But it soon became the last bastion of the living. And don’t get— get me started on what happened to the Grand Company leaders. They were basically the new Primal.”

Alisaie hadn’t noticed that she’d bundled into Minfilias’ arms, into being held tightly. Minfilia was still listening, trying to comprehend it. The night itself vanishing…? The land growing that dead? “How did you— how did everybody survive, who did…?”

Letting out a snort, Alisaie looked up at Minfilia. “Thanks to Nero.”

“…Who’s Nero?”

A pause, and Alisaie sighed. “Haven’t seen him this timeline. But he’s a technomancer who knew a lot about Allag. And he used their technology - what had been discovered - to create enough to let us survive. And his apprentice, Aulus. He was the one who figured out the fake Echo.

Those with the Echo seemed to be immune, a little, to become those thralls.”

By this point, the three of them had nearly forgotten they were in a dungeon. Instead, Alisaie was getting comfortable being held. “It was also… it was also Nero who saved me. He found out that Voidsent energy could help me keep my mind - because I hadn’t lost it yet. So I became his guard, of a sort.”

“His guard? For… what, exactly? Is that why you’re here?”

Alisaie nodded firmly into Minfilias’ chest. “Yeah. We’re— we’re looking for places where we can easily get Voidsent to follow us. Then we take them home, and it keeps our home safe for a little.”

A thought crossed Minfilias’ mind, and she had to voice it. “If you simply wish to get Voidsent, could you not find a way into the Void?”

“Hah,” Alisaie snorted, finally smiling a little again. “That’d end up overwhelming our home. It’s very unstable… we need to find a good enough balance.

…I’m going to save it, Minfilia. And that’s why I had to lie - I need the resources of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, and of Alphinaud, if I’m going to save them.”

The two hadn’t noticed the presense following them. Until Alisaie suddenly snapped away from Minfilia, staring behind her. Minfilia turned to see… well, a Tonberry. But it did not look like the tiny ones - it was giant, and it was gazing down at them, with golden eyes. It did not breathe, nor did it move.

That is, until the knife struck at them. Fordola hid in her bag, suddenly growing dark - as Minfilia dodged, Alisaie swifting dodging as well. The Tonberry turned, emotionlessly, only their eyes visible in the now darkened Palace. Minfilia had to trust in Alisaie, as she ran.

While Minfilia could barely see, she could still note where walls were - usually due to a slight dull glow from long-broken torches. And, her hands were still oiled— there! Minfilia felt a wheel as she brushed by it, and swiftly turned it. A door opened, to a room illuminated by the skies above - it had become night, she noted, as she ran in. Behind her, she noticed the corrupted Alisaie running from the Tonberry. All it took was a loud shout, and Alisaie seemed to soar though the air, in though the door.

As it closed, they looked around. A small garden, long overgrown. Glass covered the ceiling, mostly broken, a waterfall coming though it. Minfilia slid down the door, looking upwards.

“Did you miss the night?”

Quietly, Alisaie slid down next to her - wrapping thick wraps around her arms, to hide the half-formed wings. “I’d almost forgotten how dark it got. When the land began to stop, time itself seemed to slow as well. Time pieces stopped working, too - even if we built new ones.

…But, Minfilia,” Alisaie whispered, looking to her with the softest smile, “I’ll never forget the first sunset I got to watch. Me and the group… we just sat and watched, and felt the fresh wind, and could count the stars.”

Fordola had crawled out of her bag, staring up at Alisaie. She’d never seen somebody look so amazed about… the night. But this teenager, looking younger then she’d been, fighting against changing into some sort of monster - they both carried burdens. “…hey, Alisaie?”

Alisaie looked down at the sealed Ifrit, and sighed. “Yes, Fordola?”

“…what did I do after— fucking up? Did I ever make up for it?”

A warmth entered Alisaies’ eyes, and she stretched out - weeds and vines being cut by claws. “Yeah. You became our ally. Hah - Lyse was a little scared, but then you showed that your fake Echo helped. And you became the Lighthunter - who cut a path across the dead land, and allowed us to check the Far East.

…Those who survived came over to Mor Dhona. They had to abandon their culture and home, but they survived.” Even as Alisaie praised the other Fordola, a deep sadness echoed in every one of her words. Alisaie then gently sighed, lowering her head. “I envy her.”

“Because she’s immune?” Fordola asked, curling up as Alisaie scratched between her scales. Alisaie shook her head.

“I’ve accepted I’m gonna become a monster some day. But, I mean. If I’ve kept my mind so far, then there has to be a way to keep it. If we can’t stop enthrallment from these new Primal…”

“…then we learn to stop the mental aspect,” Minfilia finished, a shine in her eyes. “Is that what you’re thinking?” This time, Alisaie nodded - and Minfilia beamed, even as she stretched out her own too-long claws. “I know Ramuh. I’ll ask him for advice.

—I know, Alisaie.” Minfilia leaned a little against the heavy door - she was thankful that the giant Tonberry couldn’t seem to get the wheel to spin, if it was trying to do so. “The words of a Primal are biased. But on the other hand, I don’t know… Ramuh seems to know things, and they make sense.”

Giving a little sigh, Alisaie stood. “Come on. Let’s keep going.

We’ve got to find out more about these Tonberry, and that scent I smell.”

And so, the three women began to move again - deeper down, though the garden. Fordola began to light the way again… looking to the plants. “So what’s with the lillies? Do you know?” Fordola mused, looking up at Alisaie.

Shrugging, Alisaie looked down at their light source. “I heard that they grew in Nym. So the Kobold began to use them as markers - they’re hardy.”

Belias seemed to care more about them. Perhaps it was another thing about that creature driven by grief. Minfilia then looked to Alisaie - no, she shouldn’t ask her far too many questions. It’d come out in time.

“…I’ll keep your secret, Alisaie,” Minfilia whispered - and Alisaie stopped, turning on her heels - and gave a soft little smile.

“You promised.”

But just as they seemed to grow comfortable again, a loud rumbling sound echoed though the area. They’d stepped out to a sort of… throne room? It was looted, clearly, but it had been open since even before the Calamity. But candles were broken, melted into the ground - but flames began to flicker from them, as a creature slid forward. It was almost like a Tonberry, but it was… melty. A heavy golden crown was half-sunken into the green sludge covering the creature.

Before Minfilia could react, though, Alisaie leaped forward - her fingers ripping out of her gloves, showing golden claws. Minfilia thought she should watch, she really did.

Then Alisaie unhinged her jaw.

It was too much to bare - Minfilia turned away, and noticed Fordola doing the same. The sounds were unbearable - the crunch of bones, the slurping of liquids, and the metallic clang of materials falling to the heavy ground. The flickering of flame could barely be heard over the horrific sounds of whatever Alisaie was doing to that melty Tonberry. Her eyes tightening to a terrified shut, Minfilia held her daggers tight - the room seeming to glow in a white light, nearly forcing her to open them.

In her minds’ eye, Minfilia wasn’t in the Palace. No, she was at a beach… or a garden… not enduring the mental image she couldn’t shake. It felt like an eternity, but it was less then a minute - the sounds stopped, and Minfilia could feel the air seeming to smell… better. Slowly opening her eyes, the air was clearing - it wasn’t covered in a green fog anymore.

Alisaie stood in the center of the arena, wiping away black sludge from her mouth. She looked almost normal - there was no sign she’d just… devoured… some kind of beast. “That wasn’t a Tonberry,” Alisaie said - her expression unflinching. “It was a Voidsent. But not the one we’re hunting down.”

Trying to keep her last meal down, Minfilia smiled politely - looking to the door barred with treasure, and with the mark of Oschon carved into it. Minfilia approached, putting her hand to the mark - before retrieving one of her daggers, cracking the door open.

None of them expected what they saw on the other side.