There was one place that Minfilia knew was safe for her - and safe for Lightning - to bring anything. Night had fallen, after all, and the people nearby would be asleep. 

The Tonberries, on the other hand, might not be. But their new camp by Silvertear Lake was still the best place for any of this. Minfilia had gone straight into Belias’ throne room - after calming Lutia from their very first teleport. Lutia chirped and refused to leave the side of the Aetheryte, and that was fine.

“I apologize for how late it is, Belias,” Minfilia bowed, “but I hope you understand. I do not know who or what Lightning needs me to aid.”

Belias looked down at her, before reaching out a large paw. “You may have use of my chambers. The ballroom is large enough for any issue…”

“Pardon? You have a ballroom here?”

Deeply chuckling, Belias stood. “I hoped to make a palace similar to one I used to work in. Even if the gigas would not appreciate it, I would. It would… remind me of better times,” he said, as he began to lead her. “Thus, a ballroom.”

And it was impressive. Marble coated the outer walls, with half-ruined paintings. They must have come from wherever Belias did… paintings of Kings and other royalty. One seemed off, though - Minfilia gazed at it. A group of six, it seemed, but the faces were long gone - scratch marks deep in the canvas. But from their poses, they looked like adventurers. Heroes, perhaps. She noticed Belias looked that way as well, letting out a long angry sigh - flames dripping from below his armour.

Belias did not let Minfilia get too distracted, as he stepped back - into deep shadows, illuminated by firey drool. (Or were they tears? Minfilia could not tell.)

“Call in Lightning, then - and whatever she desires. I shall simply watch - and if you are in danger, I shall protect you and you alone, little one.” His voice had lowered, hiding any emotion. This place was important.

Internally, Minfilia promised she would not let it get damaged - as she mentally recalled the way into the room, and began to move so she could lead Lightning and the beasts she’d brought. She had no idea what she would be seeing.

When Minfilia got there, she almost wished she had not seen it. A large beast, made of dulled blue crystal. It seemed to stumble, multiple colours pulsating though what seemed to be its’ chest. If she had to put a species to what it looked like, it looked like some form of millipede - with hand-like wings trying to pull itself along. Eyes watched along the length of the beast, as it followed Lightning - one part trying to rip into her, the other trying to cling to her.

Lightning, for her part, seemed calm. “They won’t bite.” Even as she said this, the creature wrapped one hand… leg… wing around one of her arms, ramming into it. Lightning bled, but did not shift her expression. “I let them know they’ll be saved.”

The two walked together - Belias seeing the creature as they entered. Belias gave a concerned snort, moving slightly to shield Minfilia - before standing back. Minfilia cleared her throat, and got out her daggers.

“I hope that Urianger taught me right,” Minfilia said - even as she was filled with sudden doubt. Stopping a Primal was one thing, but this thing wasn’t a threat. Was it? The marks she made on the ground made her shudder, as she looked to Belias for approval. He nodded quietly, and so Minfilia continued. The ground parted easily, as if it had been broken apart before. Tiles crumbled, and dirt shuddered.

The creature Lightning had lured looked on, as the pattern grew and grew. First, the daggers. Then, the dust. This was her fourth time, and Minfilia had begun to get used to it. Damn, she had gotten used to it. Her hands fumbled with the stilling dust, her claws too long for the moment. Still, Fordola had moved to her shoulder - but Minfilia looked up to her, her lips curved in concern. “Return to Belias, Fordola,” she commanded.

Fordola tsked. “Because of the interference?”

“Because of the interference.”

The tiny lizard crawled down, over, and into Belias’ leg fluff. Funny. Belias laughed so gently that only Fordola heard it. Was he trying to appear tough in front of Lightning? His head tilted again and again, watching the pink-haired woman. He was unreadable.

Fordola supposed that’s what masks were good for. She looked over, as Minfilia let out a grunt. She had finished preparing, and the beast had moved into the circle - hands reaching for her.

It was time. And Minfilia tried to hide her concerns - bury them deep down. She would save this person, she would be altered, but she would find a solution to this later.

Light surrounded them, and Minfilia suddenly felt a pain cut though her body. Not just a pain, but a dissapointment. This was different then Titan, or even the others. For a moment, she could feel… something watching her, something not there. Trying to both calm her but scold her, in wordless pain.

Then, everything seemed to still, in the bright light of the magic. Quiet tendrils wrapped around Minfilia, and in a brief moment, Minfilia realised that she could no longer move. Her breath was stilled, even her heartbeat was stolen - even if she was terrified, she could not feel her body panic at all. Was it her magic? Or was it the curse from the other being? (Why was she thinking of it as a curse? When had she begun to think of it as a curse?)

All she could do was wait for the magic to fade, to see what she’d done. Hopefully. However, it was not sight that gave her a clue - not at first, anyway. It was the sound of impact, of something hitting something else - hard.

“What did you do to Minfilia?!” Belias roared, the sound of crackling embers filling the room. “How dare you—

Lightning!”

Vision slowly returned, as Minfilia tried to focus. She still couldn’t move, but the fight - well, she could feel movement around her, at times. Lightnings’ thin shape - and her cape - brushed against her, but Belias dared not come close to her. However, even if she could not tilt her head down, Minfilia could feel familiar claws holding onto her hips, slowly moving upwards. Fordola… Fordola was here. That’s right.

Still, Minfilia struggled to listen to the others. Belias was distraught, his voice burning harder then any flames. And Lightning barely speaking, only grunting and cursing. Until Belias let out the loudest roar any of them had heard, and he thudded to the ground.

That was when Minfilia could see. And Lightning had cut at Belias’ mask - one of the horns falling to the ground, and the beast letting out a soft little cry. Fordolas’ tail was visible in her vision, before she turned to face the scene. Lightning was glaring down Belias, expression harsh. 

“What did you do—?!” Belias choked out, before picking up the horn of his mask. There was no blood, only pain.

Lightning did not move. “I didn’t do anything.” Before the others could speak up more, Fordola let out a little roar. The two turned, and Minfilia felt fear.

“Yeah, uh, she didn’t. But this is fucked up? Where’s th’ people she— she took the illness from?!”

“Explain,” Belias said, suddenly towering.

Fordola sighed. “Okay, so. The way her magic works means that there’s some sort of… aetherial transferrence? Dunno what that means, but it’s why she has these fluffy ears. And scales like me. And so… she took something which turned her to crystal? From those people.”

Lightning dashed forward— before Belias blocked her. “They’re still in the circle. Out cold. They spent centuries like that.”

Centuries—?! Then the rumours were true. Lightning had lived that long, at least. Minfilia shuddered, though she could not move. However, Lightning spoke up, voice harsh. “She took it in. That’s what— shit.

My… allies were cursed by the Gods. Refuse their curse, and they’d become a monster. Accept, and do what they were asked? And they’d turn to crystal, until the Gods needed them next.

As you might guess, they chose to rebel. As did I - but it caught up to them first. Probably because a different God claimed me.” Lightnings’ eyes met Belias’ mask, and he gave a deep rumble. Lightning continued, a bit of regret bubbling up in her voice - though she would not admit such. “Unlike Eorzeans, I am not enthralled.”

Finally, Lightning had gotten close to Minfilia - though she could not dismiss the warm breath nearly burning the back of her body away. If she wasn’t so damn bruised, she’d knock Belias away again. Just as she thought… but why? If Minfilia had no alliance to a God, she should have turned into a monster. Her hand covered over Minfilia, before she looked to the lizard on her forehead. Fordola. Whatever. “What did she believe in?”

Fordola paused. “Well, she had visions of Hydaelyn. But she believed in Rhalgr more. I think?”

“Hydaelyn—” Lightning said, before suddenly, she closed her eyes. A thought came to mind, and she suddenly turned - looking at Belias. There was a mix of confidence and horror dancing across her face, if only for a few moments. “I’m staying here.”

“You did this to her.”

“And? I have an idea on how to help her,” Lightning said, expression growing colder. “ I can’t leave until my allies wake up.” And with that, she gave Belias a nod - before moving away from Minfilia.

Without hesitation, Belias moved to touch Minfilia. “I shall cure you.” Before Lightning left - hefting one of the people across her shoulders, a child-looking one - she gave him a pointed glance. “There’s two ways to fix her. Either we kill all the gods, or we find one who’ll give her a Focus— the curse I mentioned.”

With that, Lightning was gone. Belias began to think, when Fordola spoke up. “…Primal are like God, right?”

Nodding slowly, Belias looked Fordola over. “Are you offering…?”

“Hells no. Uh, I mean— I don’t believe that I wouldn’t not temper her in my flames?” Fordola said, deep in thought. Her tail clinking against Minfilias’ frozen face. Before she beamed. “But I know one who’d be able to help. Mind if I borrow your knight?”

“You speak of Chlodebaimt.”

“Yeah, Chlodebaimt,” Fordola corrected herself. She jumped from Minfilia, to Belias, sliding down his body with a little rumble. “Knowin’ the distance, and knowing we sorta need to avoid Ishgardian sight, I think that trip’ll take a week or so? Uh, so, slower then if we could just teleport. But that’d wipe out too much Anima.”

She didn’t need to make excuses. Belias rumbled, and nodded slowly. “Go. He will know this is serious - and that you are trusted. Especially if he catches wind of what happened with Lightning…”

Right. Just like Minfilia, Belias would not be as forceful as he should be. Bah. She scurried out, and Belias was left alone. The room was only illuminated by the firey sheep, and for a moment or two, it was quiet. It would be a bit before Lightning returned, to collect others.

It made sense, then, that Belias slumped. That he let down his guard, if only for a moment, and wrapped Minfilia in some of his fluff. He hoped that she could feel it, feel the warmth vibrating from him. Then again, if he knew she was conscious, he may not have done what he did next. For Belias began to weep wordlessly, wrapping his large arms around her. There was a loud clunk, and his mask fell. His face was still hidden by his position, by the wool surrounding his face. But Belias mourned, in a way he only had a few times before - each time centuries apart. Minfilia felt his warm tears running down her frozen form, and wished that she could move, that she could give him a sign.

Belias only let himself mourn for a few moments, though. He tried to move his hug, tried to change it into more of a comforting one. But even an eternal beast - even the one known as the Father of Lies - could not hide how much he mourned. His arms moved to grip her tighter.

Belias dared not let go, for Minfilia would slip from his grasp and be lost, he worried. “…I dare not fight Lightning,” he whispered, hoping she heard it with her Kobold-esque ears. “We cannot be certain she did not decieve us both. She may be Paragon in disguise.”

Was that possible? Lightning told Minfilia that she fought Ascian. Then again, they could have in-fighting. Belias continued, his voice a gravelly growl. No anger entered his voice, however, as he made a vow to Minfilia.

“Once you are saved, I shall figure it out. I promise.”