Chapter 18: Necessity

Phew...okay, before anyone starts, let me explain.  I DID finish this on March 31, so I finished my writing and revisions by the end of March, like I promised.  However, it was late at night and what with April 1 being right around the corner, I decided to sit on this until today, so that more people would have a chance to see it.  So I did keep my promise...sort of.

Anyway, this chapter marks a turning point for this story.  We're drawing near to the climax and things have gotten a bit more serious.  Not everyone will like this, because it deals with some surprisingly relevant real world issues and moral ambiguities.  I'm not trying to actually make a statement, so much, as to show people the gray area with the issues involved, because there is a lot of gray...it was difficult to write because of this and because of how emotional it got towards the end.  This is a chapter that I am especially proud of.

On that note, I'll let you see it.  I'm taking it slow with the next one, so I hope to have it done by the end of April, but I can't promise anything.  My internet has had issues, I've had some bad news on the home front, and I've got some stressful obligations to fulfill before the middle of April, so that'll be eating up a lot of my time.  Not trying to make excuses...just trying to explain the whys of the continued delays.  Anyway, enough talk.  On with the chapter!

Chapter 18: Necessity

            "Hmmm...gundarimos..." Aeon murmured, stroking his bony jaw.

            "Ya've heard of 'em, eh?" Canak smirked, handing his gun over to Pow before helping Danny pull the curtain over the walled off room in front of them.  "There's a reason fer that, I assure ya," he chuckled.

            "Boss," Danny cleared his throat.  The red haired neeg ran a hand over his mohawk before clapping Pow on the shoulder.  "Is that all fer now?"

            "Aye," Canak nodded.  "Ya're excused.  Why don ya an Pow get some rest, eh, Danny boy?  Just tell the others that I'll be in my office in case anythin blows up, eh?"

            "Y-Yes, sir!" Pow saluted Canak, while Danny rolled his eyes and guided his son over to the trapdoor that led downstairs.

            Once Danny and Pow had left, Canak took Yuka's hand and the two of them headed to the right of the curtained off area, where a wall cut the domed room in half.  "Aright, come on.  We ken take a load off inside, afore we get down ta business" Canak said, pushing open a door in the middle of the wall.

            Aeon, Mina, and Celine headed towards the door.  Pulling Celine with her, Mina sidled over to Aeon and whispered, "Aeon, you're here to buy these guns, right?  What are you going to use them for?"

            "You are mistaken, Minava," Aeon replied, without looking at her.  " I came here to verify Canak's claims about these devices.  Anything further is to be discussed inside."

            "Well, you're as cheery as ever," Celine snorted, "Ya could stand to be a little impressed, Aeon.  What we just saw was amazing!"

            "Hehe, thank ya," Canak winked at Celine and playfully slugged her in the shoulder as she and Mina followed Aeon inside.  "I don mind it, though," Canak said, ushering Yuka inside before entering himself and closing the door after him.  "I'm used ta skeptics."

            Mina blinked her eyes to get acclimated to the room's dimness.  Glancing up, she saw that the ceiling was covered in thick iron plates that shut out most of the light from the fiery rain outside.  The room was saved from being pitch black by a thick, glass window at the back which reached from wall to wall and floor to ceiling, allowing in a little of the light from the red and gold deluge. 

            In front of them were several large chairs and couches, a few easels with sketches and drawings next to them, and in front of the seats was a small desk, covered with books, wads of paper, some crumbled, some in neat stacks, and all manner of writing utensils.  To the right of the door was a simple cot, large enough for two people, resting on the rough stone floor with several low bookshelves and night stands cluttered around it.  To the left  were several display stands, most holding unusual metal devices, while one held an unusual looking creature with a small, stocky body, four legs, rocky skin, and an elongated snout.  It was propped up with wires and was not moving.

            "What the..." Celine broke away from Mina and the others.  Bending down, she ran her fingers over the creature's coarse, dry skin and gazed into its empty eye sockets.  "This's an apocra," she whispered, furrowing her brow and glancing back at Canak.  "A stuffed apocra."

            "Aye," Canak nodded and scratched behind the creature's crested head, where Mina assumed the ears might be.  "This's Gammy.  'E was the first gundarrimo I ever came across.  Scared the crap outta me, too, I don mind tellin ya," Canak let out a short laugh and shook his head. 

            "Here we go..." Mina heard Yuka snort under her breath.

            "See," Canak went on as if Yuka hadn't said anything, " I 'ad ta cross through the Shokudo range one day ta avoid bandits on my way back from sellin some iron an whadda ya think I saw?  This ruddy little thing with a big ole nose starin straight at me," the neeg moved to face the creature's eyeless sockets and stuck out his tongue at it.  "Damn near burst out laughin..." he snickered before winking at Mina and Celine, "Course, that was afore 'e nearly took my 'ead off."

            "Wait, what?!" Celine exclaimed.

            "He attacked you?!" Mina raised an eyebrow and stared at the stuffed gundarrimo.

            "Aye.  Shot some 'ot rocks outta 'is nose, propelled forward bya spurta flames," Canak smirked.  "Don ask me 'ow, but I managed ta capture the little beastie an took 'im back ta my aunt an sister.  They wanted ta sell 'im, but after lookin 'im over, I thought ta myself, 'if I ken figure out 'ow 'e shot those rocks, maybe we could do it too.'  An that," Canak spread his arms apart and turned his gaze skywards, "Was the starta all this."

            "Hmmm..." Aeon floated forwared and stroked the gundarrimo's elongated snout.  "All this came from a simple observation?"

            "Well, maaaaaaybe there was more'n just that," Canak chuckled and scratched underneath his bandana.  "I owe more'n I can ever repay ta my comrades...we 'ad to study an experiment an risk it all just ta get this far," the neeg's eyes lowered suddenly and he rested his hand on the stuffed gundarrimo's head.  "Unfortunately, Gammy ne'er lived ta see 'is namesake.  Even in death, 'e 'elped us though.  My early guns couldn shoot fer crap...but when Gammy died, we cut 'im open ta stuff 'im an saw the inside'a 'is nose was twisted inta a spiral.  An when we copied it with the next modelsa guns, well...what ya saw out there was the result."

            Bowing her head, Celine put her hand over Canak's.  "Sounds like ya really loved him.  I bet Gammy lived a happy life."

            "Ehehehe, I like ta think so," Canak mumbled, "Course, my guns ain't all that spawned from me'n Gammy's chance meetin," he added. 

            Moving over to the display stand next to Gammy, Canak flicked two rings on his fingers together and the wick of a lamp hanging over the stand ignited, casting a ray of light down on a strange looking device.  It was almost as big as Mina and composed of a bag of cured aurox skin that connected to tiny metal box.  A long hose came out of the other end of the box and had a handle attached to its mouth, with a switch attached to the handle.

            "I made this after I saw a little sack in Gammy's nose.  I think 'e stored what 'e was usin fer fuel in it.  Any 'ow-"

            "Canak," Yuka clamped her hand down on his shoulder and shook her head.  "If ya start goin on about yar inventions, it'll be midnight before we get any business done.  We don have time for-"

            "Wait," Aeon interjected.  He floated over to Canak's side and stared at the device.  "I would like to know about this creation of yours, Canak."

            "Aright!" Canak whooped, slapping the lich on the back.  "See, I thought about 'ow Gammy could 'old all that fiery stuffs in 'is nose an why it didn jus come out," he said, picking his own nose as he spoke.  "So, I tried ta make somethin similar...give it the ability ta 'old stuff in it, mostly fluids, an release it in a big spray, like that spurta flames I was tellin ya about.  Ain't as portable as Yuka's aquades, but if ya fill the skin with water, it'll douse any flames, I guarantee."

            "Hmmm..." Aeon touched the device, while Mina walked past it, only stopping to glance back once.  "Have you considered putting oil in the skin?"

            "Smart man, smart man!" Canak thumped Aeon's back again.  "I 'ave...course, we're still workin the bugs outta this one, so we ain't makin manya 'em ye-"

            Above them, there was a loud crash and the ceiling shook.  Mina's eyes were drawn to the window where a flaming boulder bounced off the top of the foundry and careened past them.  For a few seconds, Mina forgot to breathe.  Sweat formed on her palms and she froze in place.  Then, all at once, her heart began to pound so rapidly that it threatened to explode.  Bolting over to the window, she glanced down and saw the bolder land harmlessly to the side of the tower.  Outside, the rain of red and gold embers continued, as if nothing had transpired.

            Gripping her chest, Mina leaned against the window and took several deep breathes.  "Mina?"  Glancing behind her, Mina saw Celine begin to approach her, but Canak held out his hand to stop her.

            Ambling over to Mina, Canak put a hand on her shoulder.  "Ya don need ta worry about that.  It 'appens sometimes," he said, flicking the flint rings on his fingers back and forth before glancing back at Yuka and Aeon.  Out of the corner of her eye, Mina saw the lich and his companion nod.  "Ya're scareda flames, ain'tcha?"  Canak shook his head and chuckled.  "Ya must really love yar sister ta come ta a place like this."

            "I...I promised I'd help her," Mina said, trying to slow her breathing while keeping her eyes facing forward.  "B-but I'm not scared of flames," she shook her head.  "I live in a tavern, so I'm used to cooking fires, or hearths, or-"

            "S'okay, ya know," Canak interrupted and knelt down next to Mina, so that he was closer to her height.  "Truth be told, I'm a little scared myself."

            "Huh?!" Mina turned her gaze to face the neeg, who was staring out the window with a gentle smile adorning his lips.  "You?!  But...you work with it everyday!  And-"

            "Hehe, that don change a thing," Canak said, undoing his bandana.  Even in the dim light, Mina could see the wart and burn marks on his shaved head.  "Fire ain't easy ta predict an its even 'arder ta control.  Ya gotta be a damned fool ta work in a foundry mosta yar life an not 'ave a 'ealthy feara it's power.  Little fear ain't a bad thing.  Keeps ya focused.  Keeps ya on yar toes."

            Feeling her heartbeat settle into a slow, steady rhythm, Mina turned her gaze back to the glowing rain outside.  "Most of the time, I'm okay, but..." Mina shook her head and felt her heart contract.  "Sometimes, I just freeze up when I see it."

            "It takes time," Canak shrugged.  "Fer me, it 'helps ta remember the good partsa fire.  Sure, it's left its mark on me, but I owe it more'n anyone'r anythin.  Even more'n Gammy."

            "What are you talking about?" Mina mumbled, looking over at the neeg who had a childish grin on his face.

            "Hehe, fer a neeg, flames'r moruva god than Shanadia," Canak smirked at her.  "Flames're what forge the barrelsa my guns.  Flames're what cook my food, keep me warm in the night, an put on one 'eckuva show whenever I launch any fireworks.  Flames're also what built this place an gave two 'undred neeg workers shelter, jobs, an 'ope."

            Mina cracked a smile, but hung her head.  "Heh...I like how you make it sound, but..." she clenched and unclenched her hands before turning back to Canak.  "How do you forget about the burns?"

            "Ya don't.  I remember all my burns.  But fer me, they ain't painful.  They're reminders," he said, retying his bandana around his head.  "Remindersa 'ow fire shouldn be used."  A few seconds passed in silence, with neither Mina nor Canak moving.  Then, Canak let out a sigh.  "Listen, Mina, there's always gonna be some idjit with a fiery poker or a flamin sword or holdin a fireball in their 'and 'oo don respect flames.  'Oo're just usin it because they ken.  But that's a reason ta 'ate idjits, not fire," Canak said, getting to his feet and turning away from the window.  "An even if I get burned, I'm glad fer fire.  Cause we'd all just be livin in caves without it.  Sides..." he said, glancing back at Mina and the window, "If nothin else, it sure is beautiful."

            Mina didn't budge from her spot at the window.  She could feel the others watching her, but didn't turn to look at them.  After a few seconds, scattered conversations appeared behind her, between Aeon, Canak, and Yuka.  Blocking them out, she clutched her hand to her heart.  She could feel the energy in her stomach begin to swirl about and rise through her body.  Guiding it into her hands, she rubbed her fingers together, feeling the heat on her skin, and managed to conjure up a tiny wisp of smoke, but nothing more.

            A hand came down on Mina's neck and she was pulled into Celine's embrace.  The tan skinned girl didn't say anything.  She merely held Mina close.  Feeling Celine's warmth against her skin, Mina held out her hand and guided energy into her fingers.  Briefly, she saw something spark in her palm before snuffing out.

            Lowering her hand, she glanced back outside the window, at the fiery rain that lit up her face and the room behind her.  "He's right, ya know," Celine whispered, holding Mina tightly, "It is beautiful."

            "Yeah..." Mina murmured, leaning into Celine's embrace.  "I wonder if my magic could make something that pretty..."

            "Haha, nah, ya probably couldn't," Celine smirked and ruffled Mina's hair.  "Your flames'd burn brighter than anything out there."

            "Ceeeeeeliiii..." Mina let out a short giggle and smiled at her friend.

            "Oi," Yuka mumbled, coming up behind the two girls.  "How ya doin, Mina?"

            "I'm okay," Mina sighed, putting a hand over her chest and feeling her heart ease up.  "I feel..." she glanced back out the window and closed her eyes.  "Better," she said, taking a deep breath before turning back to Yuka.

            "That's good.  I can tell Canak's worried he said the wrong thing," Yuka rolled her eyes and smirked.

            "Everythin aright?" Canak called.

            "Fine!" Mina and Yuka yelled back.

            "Then we should begin," Aeon said, floating over to one of the chairs in front of Canak's desk.  "No more delays."

            "Aright, aright, I ken take a hint," Canak snickered and took a seat behind his desk, shoving several mounds of paper aside so that he could see Aeon.  Mina and Celine followed Yuka over to one of the sofas in front of the desk and all three of them plopped down on it.

            "Aright," Yuka mumbled, turning her eyes on Aeon, "So, do ya want me ta start or-"

            "Canak," Aeon said, without acknowledging Yuka, "I honestly believe that you created these guns with the best of intentions in mind."

            "Hehe, thank ya very much," Canak bobbed his head up and down.

            "However, I would like to request that you cease creating any more of them."

            Mina and Celine saw Canak's eyes widen and the blood drain from his face.  Next to them, Yuka averted her eyes and slumped against the couch's fluffy cushions.

            "You are more than welcome to keep the money I have brought as payment for the guns you have already made," Aeon went on, "And I will pay you for shutting down your production.  However, I would like you to shift your efforts in another direction."

            When Aeon had finished, silence fell over the five of them, like a foot thick sheet of steel.  Canak glanced from Yuka, to the girls, to Aeon, in shock.  His mouth opened but words did not come out at first.  Seconds crept into minutes before he managed to smile and started to laugh.  However, it was noticeably forced.

            "Ya're messin with me, ain'tcha?" he chuckled, turning from Aeon to Yuka.  The lich faced him head on, but Yuka kept her eyes downcast.  "Ya...ya're not serious, right?  Tell me this's some kinda joke!" he shouted.

            "I can understand your feelings," Aeon said, locking his fingers together and gazing at Canak over them.  "However, you will receive payment for your work and your comrades will be taken care of.  Also, if you agree to work with me, I can pay you handsomely."

            "This ain't about money!" Canak shouted, slamming his fist down on the desk and scattering papers all over the floor.  Mina and Celine jumped at the sound.  His voice lost any trace of joviality and turned harsh and bitter, as if he'd been gargling with iron dust.

            "Canak, please-" Yuka started to say.

            "Ya knew, didn ya?!  Ya knew he was gonna do this an ya still came back?!" Canak turned on her.

            "Oi, watch yar mouth, ya idjit!" Yuka jumped up and butted heads with Canak.  "I didn know it'd turn out like this!  Sides, he ain't sayin ya should just stop makin things altagether!!  At least hear him out, eh?!"

            Canak visibly shook with rage for a moment before running a hand over his face and sinking back into his chair.  "Aright...go on.  Whadda ya want me ta do?"

            Reaching down to the floor, Aeon picked up one of the scattered papers and looked at it.  "What is this?"

            "Oi, this ain't the time fer that!!!  I asked ya a question, 'oh high an mighty' Frozen Shade!!!"

            Flames flickered to life in Aeon's eye sockets and he handed the paper to Canak.  "Humor me.  What is this?"

            Canak snatched the paper out of the lich's hands and looked it over.  "This's an idea I never got a chance ta flesh out.  It was a device I toyed around with back at my aunt an sister's foundry that allowed us ta talk ta one another even if we were ten floors apart," the neeg grumbled.

            "That is my idea," Aeon said.

            "Eh?!" Canak raised an eyebrow and looked from the crumpled paper to Aeon.  "I don follow you..."

            "I want you to develop new items that can be used to help others.  Things like that device would make life much easier for both Lucarians and Telnumbrans," Aeon said.  "Rather than making a weapon, the council and I are prepared to pay you and put our own neeg mechanists under your command to make devices to improve the quality of life of our people."

            "Ya've gotta be kiddin me..." Canak sighed, tossing the paper aside.

            Catching it, Aeon went on, "You are a genius, Canak.  I have seen it.  It is a shame to waste your talents on something that is designed only for killing."

            As he spoke, Mina felt electricity running up and down her spine.  "Killing..." she whispered under her breath.

            "I didn make my guns ta kill...I made 'em to prevent death," Canak spat.

            "Even so, ya gotta admit that people're gonna misuse em, Canak," Yuka chimed in, keeping her gaze steady, even though, Mina could practically hear Yuka's heart thumping in her chest from her spot on the couch.  "If ya're plannin on farmers'r traders usin 'em, what's ta stop bandits from gettin some too?"

            Canak stared at Yuka for a moment, before turning back to Aeon and shaking his head.  "In another life, maybe I'da 'elped ya, Aeon," he sighed, "But I didn make these guns just ta make money.  An while I want others ta use 'em ta protect people, that ain't the only reason I made 'em, either," he said, clasping his hands together and glaring at the lich behind them.  "Like I said...they're equalizers."

            "Ummm..." Mina raised her voice and all eyes turned to her.  "Then you're doing it because you hate maes?" she said, staring straight at Canak.

            The neeg's expression melted slightly and he leaned back in his seat.  Putting one hand over his eyes, Canak said, "I...I don 'ate all casters.  I certainly don 'ate ya, or even Aeon, but..." removing his hand, Canak massaged his temples.  "Ya an Aeon ken use magic.  An that puts ya above every neeg in Serano."

            "We don need magic, Canak!" Yuka flashed the neeg a defiant stare, "We're crafty!  We can build things no one else'd ever dream of!"

            "An where's that gotten us?!" Canak spat.  "Entertainers or mechanists at best, makin things fer the rich'r the crazy.  The resta us 'afta be guards, thieves'r laborers.  The most unfortunate work in foundries, ta forge metal fer others.  An even then, we're looked down on!  People'd take a human blacksmith over a neeg one anyday!"

            "So then...if you're not after money, what do you want to use these guns for?" Celine muttered, squeezing Mina's hand as she spoke. 

            Narrowing his eyes at her, Canak let out a sigh and shook his head.  "Heh...that suspicion in yar voice?  Well...can't say I blame ya," The neeg muttered, rubbing his ears underneath his bandana.  "Since ya asked, what I want is ta make a kingdom fer my people.  A place ta call 'ome that ain't a stinkin foundry.  An these gunsa mine will 'elp make that a reality."

            "Canak," Aeon murmured, his voice stern and controlled, "If you will work for me, I can give you the kingdom you desire."

            "Pffftttt...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...." Canak held his head in his hands as he burst into a fit of raucous laughter.  "Ya'll give it to me?!"

            "Oh, that was the wrong thing ta say, Aeon..." Yuka groaned and covered her eyes.

            "I spit on your offer!" Canak shouted, throwing papers off his desk.  "A kingdom ain't somethin ya can just give!  It's gotta be made with the sweat, blood, and toil of a united people!  We'll make a kingdom fer ourselves, thank ya!"

            "Put aside your pride, Canak!" Aeon said, his voice cold and calculating.  "You need not become a merchant of death in order to give your people a home.  You can be better than that."

            "Tcch..." Canak grunted and kicked his feet up onto his desk.  "So ya say ya can give us a kingdom...then what?  Ya gonna defend it forever?  Shall we rely on ya until the enda time?!" he sneered.  "Even if ya could give us a kingdom, we'd 'ave ta be the ones ta defend it!  An without these guns, without somethin ta level the playin field against casters like ya, then we'd be wiped out in a single day!"

            "Canak-" Aeon began.

            "Why're ya so damned opposed to 'em anyway?!  Whadda ya care 'ow people use 'em?  After all, ya'll be the one 'oo chooses 'oo gets 'em!" Canak added.

            "Canak," Aeon murmured, the flames in his eye sockets flickering brightly in the dim light of the office.  "Do you have any idea what will happen once your guns have left this place?"

            "Aye, I do," Canak smirked, "Things'll start ta change.  People won't 'ave ta rely on casters as much.  Maybe some normal folks can get seats on yar precious council.  Tell me...does that scare ya, lich?"

            "People will die if these guns are spread," Aeon retorted.

            "My guns're like fire," Canak turned to Mina and winked at her.  "It ain't the weapon's fault...it's the idjit wieldin it.  Ya can always lock up'r execute the idjit.  Sides, at least people'l have a chance with these.  As it stands, havin a sword means crap all if ya don know how ta use it."

            A sigh escaped from Aeon's lipless mouth.  "You still do not understand."

            "Understand what?" Canak narrowed his eyes at the lich.

            "What you have said is true," Aeon nodded.  "And I agree with you...an equalizer of sorts is not a bad idea.  However, if your guns give everyone the power of a seasoned mage, then when the time for war comes, do you believe that only mages will be called to the battlefield?"

            "Eh?" Canak raised an eyebrow.  "What're ya talkin about?"

            "Oh, goddess..." Yuka massaged the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

            "Not sure I'm followin either," Celine whispered to Mina.  "Do you have any idea what they're talking about?"

            "Vaguely..." Mina mumbled.  "My parents told me stories about the wars between Lucaria and Telnumbra.  Apparently they've raged from the time of the Lord Prophet, until just a few centuries ago, when a treaty was established.  In those stories, mages, apocra, and all manner of other powerful warriors from either side would meet and battle to protect their homeland."

            "That is correct," Aeon said, turning his gaze to Mina and nodding at her.  "When the time for war comes, mages are bound for the battlefield.  However your comrades, Mina's family, farmers, traders, mechanists...none of them are called to the battleground, because their power is like a drop of water in the ocean compared to what the rest of us wield.  It would be a pointless slaughter.  However, if anyone can wield a gun, then anyone can have the power of a mage.  Anyone and everyone could be drafted into battle."

            "So..." Canak drummed his fingers on his desktop and cast his eyes from Yuka, to Celine, to Mina, before finally resting them on Aeon.  "Ya're sayin the fact that we 'ave no power is a blessin?"

            "No," Aeon shook his head, "However at present, I do not believe it wise for something as revolutionary as your guns to be introduced to Serano."

            "Maybe we need a revolution, then!" Canak glared daggers at Aeon before falling back into his seat.  "I ain't gonna compromise on this.  Ya need ta make a choice.  Do ya want my guns'r not?"

            For a few seconds, silence overtook them.  Aeon and Yuka exchanged glances and the lich gave her a curt nod.  Yuka bit her lip and shook her head.  "Aeon...maybe we shouldn't push this," she mumbled.  "We can always just destroy the guns we've bought."

            "And how long until more are made, Yuka?  How long until Canak or one of his subordinates leak these designs to Lucaria?  I will not be his contact with the Telnumbran Elder Council beyond this meeting.  I cannot ensure they will be handled safely."

            "Eh?" Canak raised an eyebrow.  "This schemea yars...it ain't what the council wants, is it?" the neeg cracked a sinister grin.  "Ya're just a cowardly bastard tryin ta keep 'is positiona power!"

            "You are mistaken," Aeon murmured, "What I am trying to do is keep the peace."

            "Ya talk big, but all ya're tryin ta do is keep things from changin," Canak spat, "Well I say we need change.  Heh...in fact, I'd give these guns away if I could.  Then we wouldn need ta rely on casters like ya.  Why, if I 'ad an armya neeg with guns, ya wouldn 'ave the gall ta even make such an offer!" Canak jumped to his feet and turned his back to Aeon.  He walked over to the window and put his hand to it.  The neeg took a deep breath and glanced back at Aeon.  "Last chance.  Ya want my guns'r not?  I'm only givin ya the courtesy causea Yuka."  Aeon did not respond.  He merely stared straight at Canak.  "Well?!" he slammed his fist against the glass of the window, "Make up yar mind!  I got an emissary from Lucaria on their way an they've offered ta pay just as much as Telnumbra.  I can still tell 'em ta turn back, provided ya forget this nonsense ya've been spoutin."

            Floating out of his chair, Aeon folded his hands behind his back.  "Yuka," he said, turning his gaze to meet hers.  "Take Minava and Celine outside."

            "Aeon, ya...yar not-" Yuka began.

            "Heh..." Canak snorted, shaking his head.  "So...ya gonna kill me?" he sneered.

            Mina's eyes widened and she inhaled sharply.  Turning towards Aeon, she opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it.  Shaking her head, she squeezed Celine's hand and felt her squeeze back. 

            "I would like you to reconsider, Canak," Aeon murmured.  "Let us talk at length.  We can reach a compromise so that both your wishes and mine are abided by."

            "An if I don't?" Canak growled, reaching under his desk.

            "Then I will do what is necessary to preserve the peace."

            "Wait, hold on!" Celine jumped up and moved between Aeon and Canak.  "I know this ain't our business, but...c'mon...you're not seriously goin to..." she glanced from the lich to the neeg.

            "Aeon," Mina got up, ran over to Aeon, and tugged on the sleeves of his black cloak.  "I know you're just trying to do what's right, but...these are good people.  You...you won't hurt them, right?"

            "If that is what is necessary, then yes, I will," Aeon said. 

            Mina let the cloth of his cloak fall from her fingers and took a step back.  Her heart throbbed in her chest at a slow, tortuous pace, each beat ringing in her ears.  Slowly, she turned to face Yuka, who rose from the sofa and put her left hand over the sawblade on her right wrist.

            "Did you know about this?!" Celine barked at Yuka.

            "I...I..." Yuka stammered, flicking her flint rings together, even as her hands began to tremble, "I was told ta expect the worst.  I...knew this might happen."

            "Tcch...I misjudged ya," Canak shook his head.  "An 'ere I thought we 'ad somethin, Yuka."

            "Don't bring our relationship inta this!" Yuka stamped her foot down and hopped over Canak's desk so that she was face to face with him.  "Ya know how I feel about ya," she said, wrapping her arms around him.  "That's why I want ya ta change yar mind.  I understand how ya feel, Canak, I do!  I know all about bein weak compared ta casters...I live in a place fulla them, for pity's sake!  But...please...listen ta Aeon!  Let's work together ta help others.  I know ya had high hopes fer these guns, but we can make yar dream a reality another way.  I'm beggin ya...please, trust in Aeon."

            Canak's shoulder's slumped and he wrapped his arms around Yuka.  "I'm sorry, Yuka.  It ain't just pride that's 'oldin me back.  I 'ope ya know...I never wanted it ta be like this."  Removing his hand from under his desk, he pulled out a tiny device that looked like a miniature gun.  It had a shortened cylindrical mouth connected to a wood base, with a ring underneath it and a bit of metal that the neeg's finger rested upon.  Canak ducked out of Yuka's arms, wrapped his free hand around her shoulders, and placed the muzzle of the miniature gun to Yuka's head.  "Keep still, lich!" Canak growled, "I don wanna 'urt 'er!"

            "Canak?!" Yuka exclaimed, wriggling around in his arms.  "Lemme go, ya sonuva bitch!"  Her muscles bulged out and it seemed like she was about to break free, but Canak turned his miniature gun skyward and pulled the trigger.  The muzzle flared and something shot into the ceiling. 

            Everything seemed to freeze as smoke rose from Canak's gun and dust fell from the ceiling.  "Everyone just calm down," Canak said, keeping his eyes fixed on Aeon.  "Ya two, over ta this side," he glanced at Mina and Celine before jerking his head to their left.

            "Yuka..." Celine whispered.

            Taking her hand, Mina turned her gaze towards Aeon.  The lich nodded.  "Come on, Celi," Mina murmured, guiding her friend to the left of Canak's desk.  As they walked, Mina's heartbeat thumped harder in her chest.  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Aeon, floating quietly to their right with his hands folded behind his back.  He seemed to be waiting for something.  The two girls stopped moving once they were clear of the furniture in the center of the room.  "Okay, we're here.  Now what?"

            Canak slowly backed away from his desk, pulling Yuka with him as he went, and edged over to where Mina and Celine were standing.  He stopped a few paces from them and fixed his eyes on Aeon.  "I'm sorry," he mumbled, "If ya weren't such a bastard, I mighta liked ya."

            Biting down on his lip, Canak let out whistle through his top teeth.  Immediately, the door burst open and a torrent of fire shot through it, engulfing Aeon, the furniture, and Canak's desk in flames.

            "Aeon!" Mina cried, taking one step towards the lich before freezing.  Her eyes fixed on the gigantic pyre that the sitting area had become and she began to tremble.

            "Stay back!" Mina and Celine turned to the doorway as a dozen neeg garbed in leather armor, cloaks, and hoods ran into the office.  Each had a strange device strapped to their back that looked like an inflated bag of aurox skin.  The skin connected to a metal box which funneled into a long hose that the neeg held aimed at the lich.  A little ways in front of the nozzle was a tiny candle, held in place by a metal fitting.  Something fluid poured from the end of each of the hoses, however it ignited into flames the instant it hit the candle.  The neeg filed in through the door, continuing to pour flames over Aeon, to the point where Mina couldn't make him out amidst the blaze.

            "Dammit!" Yuka squirmed in Canak's grasp and managed to get a hand into one of her vest pockets.  She pulled out two aquades, but Canak jabbed her in the stomach with the butt of his gun and she dropped them onto the floor.

            "Don get involved!" he barked, "Just let 'em torch the lich!"

            "Huh...that smell...!" Sniffing the air, Celine ambled over to Mina's side and guided her away from the flames.  "Lantern oil?!" she murmured.

            "A good nose," Canak smirked, "I told the lich I'd considered usin oil in my device.  Add a little spark ta ignite it an looks like I ken create fire magic too!"

            "Then you planned for this?!" Celine growled at him.

            "Like my auntie always said," Canak muttered, "Bein prepared fer an ambush is the best way ta prevent one.  I may love Yuka, but I ain't a fool.  That lich 'as a reputation."

            "You...you..." Mina glared at Canak and trembled, her voice cracking as she tried to speak.  "He...He wouldn't have done it, you know!" Mina stamped her feet, her heart thumping with the same intensity as her voice.  "You...you don't know Aeon!  He's a hero!  He's saved us plenty of times!"

            "That's enough, Mina," Yuka grunted, narrowing her eyes and looking over her shoulder Canak.  "So...what's gonna happen ta us?"

            "Tccch," Canak spat and leaned his nose into Yuka's pony tail before taking a sniff.  "I ain't a savage, ya know..." he mumbled, nuzzling her neck.  "Ya'll all go free.  I'll make sure ya get home...I promise."

            "And we're supposed to believe you after this?" Celine snarled.

            "Believe what ya want," Canak said, keeping his voice calm and toneless.  "But I ain't lyin.  An I didn lie before...if I ken, I'll help ya, Celine.  This 'ere ain't personal...it's fer my people."

            "Aeon..." Mina whispered, falling to her knees and holding herself.

            "It'll be over soon," Canak said, watching his men relentlessly flood the floor with fire.  "I ain't gonna give 'im time ta heal.  Even a lich'll go down if 'e takes enough damage an fire's the best way ta melt a Frozen Shade."

            "Stop it..." Mina grunted, trembling as she watched the fires grow higher and higher.  "STOP IT!!!" she screamed, feeling a massive surge of energy swell in her stomach, which she instinctively guided into her hands.  Extending her arms, she imagined the wind swirling around in her palms, moving in a different direction for each hand.  Pillars of wind formed in each palm and rose until they touched the ceiling. 

            "Whadda ya think ya're doin?!" Canak yelled.  "Stop that!"

            Ignoring him, Mina focused her eyes on the flames and the faceless figures dousing the area with them.  Pouring more and more energy into her hands, Mina made the wind swirl faster and faster before slamming them together.  The gale that was kicked up blew Mina's, Celine's, and Yuka's hair about, and grew to such an intensity that the cloaks and hoods of the leatherclad neeg in front of her began to flap violently.  Two neeg turned to face her, but Mina had already formed a tornado in her hand.  It only extended up to the ceiling, but she held it still, her eyes narrowing on the fire in front of her.

            "Stop whatcha're doin right now!!!" one of the leather clad neeg yelled, aiming his weapon at her.

            "Wait!" Canak barked.  "Don fire!  Just stop 'er!"

            Panting hard, Mina raised her hands over her head, carrying the tornado with her, and grabbed onto the bottom of it.  "Not...this...time!" she panted.  Wielding the tornado like a club, she made a sideways swipe at the mound of flames before her.  "HAAAAAA!!!!" Mina screamed, swinging with all her might.

            The force of the tornado knocked a few of the leather clad neeg off their feet and unbalanced the rest, while Canak, Yuka, and Celine stood transfixed.  Dropping to her knees, Mina had to use her hands to keep herself from collapsing onto the ground.  Panting and sweating, she looked up and saw that the flames in front of her had almost been snuffed out.  Only a tiny fire remained and within the blaze, she saw a figure, floating peacefully with his hands behind his back.

            "Dammit!" Mina turned and saw that one of the leather clad neeg had lost his hood in the gale, revealing Pow's dull red hair and teenage face underneath.

            "You're that...neeg from...earlier..." Mina panted, barely able to speak.

            "I told ya not ta interfere!" Pow screamed and aimed his weapon at her.

            Mina's eyes widened when she saw a spurt of oil hit the candle and ignite into flames, however before it could touch her, a tiny metal device flew past her and exploded in a burst of water, dousing both the flames and the candle at the end of Pow's weapon, so that only a tiny spurt of oil came out. 

            A tan streak darted past Mina and a fist slammed into Pow's face, flooring him in an instant.  "Don't you ever point one of those things at her!" Celine growled, rubbing her knuckles before turning back to Mina.  "Ya alright?  Can ya stand?"

            "Get up an keep goin!" One of the neeg in leather yelled to the others, who jumped to their feet and began to feed the dying fire that still engulfed Aeon.  Pulling off his own hood, the neeg revealed himself to be Danny.  "Boss, we can't let this stand," Danny murmured.

            "I said stop, dammit!" Canak yelled, aiming his gun at Danny, while still trying to hold Yuka in place and keep her from squirming.  The gun trembled in his hand and Canak's eyes were wide.  "We talked about this!  If it came ta this, we were just gonna take down the lich!  'E's the only threat ta us!  Leave the girls alone, Danny!"

            "This'n knocked us all on our asses, boss!" Danny snarled, stepping over Pow and leveling his weapon at the two girls, "This's fer our dream!"

            "No..." a voice that was both quiet, but which filled the room seemed block out all other sounds.  Skeletal fingers jutted through Danny's mohwak and latched onto his skull.  Ice began to extend from the bony claws, down the neeg's head.  Turning to look behind him, Danny's face froze in shock as ice engulfed his body, freezing him solid.

            "I had planned to let you expend your oil so that we could do this quietly," Aeon hissed, green flames filling his eye sockets, "However I will not allow your men to harm my companions."

            Canak's eyes widened and he yelled, "Alla ya, drop yer weapons!"

            A few of the neeg did as they were bidden, however others trembled at the sight of Aeon.  They backed away from him while leveling the muzzles of their weapons at him.  The lich raised his hand and his bones iced up.

            "NO!" Canak screamed, just before a wave of ice shot forth from Aeon's palm, freezing all of the neeg solid and encasing half the room in ice.

            Celine helped Mina up and they stared at the frozen figures.  Some were trapped in mid stride as they appeared to be bolting for the door, while others still seemed ready to fight.  However, the ice encasing them was so thick that they were barely recognizable as neeg any longer.  Turning to face Canak, the two girls saw him trembling in place, his eyes wide and tears lingering at the edges of his cheeks.  His grip on Yuka loosened, and she ducked out of Canak's grasp.

            Pulling on the cord attached to her saw blade, she started it spinning and slashed through the barrel of Canak's gun before kneeing him in the solar plexus and punching him in the face.  Yuka panted and turned to face Aeon while her blade slowed to a halt.  Tears were streaming down her cheeks, which she quickly tried to wipe away.

            "It is alright to be sad," Aeon murmured, floating up to Yuka and patting her on the shoulder.  "Know that they did not suffer.  The ice is so thick that their hearts stopped instantly.  However, the situation has changed.  You understand," Aeon stated, rather than asked.

            "Y-Yeah," Yuka sniffled and cast one last look at the frozen form of Danny a little ways in front of Mina and Celine.

            "Y-You stopped their hearts?" Mina croaked.  "B-But they're just frozen, right?  They-'re not-"

            "It is irrelevant," Aeon said, floating past Yuka and over to Canak.  Lifting him up by his neck, Aeon held the neeg in place as ice extended from his fingertips.  The ice did not proceed above Canak's throat, but spread down his body, even freezing the air underneath him so that he was fixed to the floor, right next to his display stands and in front of the giant glass window.  "My actions from here are clear," the lich murmured.

            "Go on then...kill me!" Canak snarled.  "But ya won't stop progress...people like ya...ya 'ide behind the titlea justice or whatever...just ta keep things from changin...but ya can't do that forever," he panted, frantically flicking his fingers together to try and create a spark with his flint rings, "Even if I'm dead...others'll carry on my work.  The neeg'll 'ave a place ta call 'ome someday!  We'll 'ave our own nation!"

            "Perhaps in time," Aeon nodded, "However no one here will carry on your work.  I will see to that."

            Silence overtook them.  Canak was struggling for breath, but his eyes were wide and darting from Aeon to Yuka.  "W-whad...whadda ya mean?  Whadda're ya plannin?!"

            "Your comrades know not only how to use these weapons, but also how to produce them.  They know what it is they are creating and even without your leadership, I believe they could produce more guns.  As such, I cannot allow them to leave this place, lest someone carry on your legacy," Aeon said, floating away from Canak and heading towards the open door.

            "W-Wait!  Ya...ya can't do this!" Canak screamed, struggling inside his prison of ice.  "Just kill me if ya 'ave ta!  They're not involved!"

            "Yes.  They are," Aeon said, resting his hand on the open door leading out of the room.

            "They're just laborers!  Foundry workers lookin fer a better life!  Don do this!" Canak yelled, tears streaming down his cheeks as he spoke.  "Look, I'll work with ya!  I promise!  Just stop!"

            Silence fell on the room for a few seconds before Yuka let out a sigh of relief and pulled a pair of small torches out of her vest.  Flicking her flint rings together, she lit each of them and held them up to Canak's frozen limbs.  "Aright...then it's settled," she said, flashing the neeg a weary smile.  "Sorry about..." she swallowed hard and was unable to continue.

            "Then...it was just a bluff..." Mina put her hand over her thumping heart and let out an exhausted sigh before leaning into Celine for support.  "I knew it."

            "Wait..." Celine mumbled, narrowing her eyes at the lich.  "Something's wrong..."

            Raising his hand, Aeon flicked his fingers at Yuka and a sharp gust of wind rushed past her, snuffing out the torches in her hands.  "Oi!  Aeon, what're ya doin?!" Yuka shouted.

            "Heh..." Canak let out a whimper and shook his head.  "Ya thought it'd be that easy?" he choked out.  " 'Ow much do ya really know about 'im, anyway?"

            "Aeon, he promised ta help us!" Yuka said, rushing over to the lich.  "We don need ta do this anymore!"

            "Yuka, you know this is how it must be," Aeon said.  "His word is worthless.  The instant his comrades are safe, he will betray us for the sake of his dream.  The time for negotiation has passed."

            "But...but ya promised that if he agreed ta help us..." Yuka stammered, grabbing Aeon's cloak by the neck and shaking it.

            "If his word is not in earnest, then I cannot honor my promise," Aeon shook his head.  "I am sorry.  This is necessary for the peace of this land."

            "Don let 'im do it, Yuka!" Canak yelled.  " 'E calls it necessary, but 'e's just tryin ta keep things from changin!  STOP HIM!!!"

            "Wh-what's going on..." Mina whispered, stepping away from Celine and heading over to Yuka and Aeon.  "You...you were bluffing, right?" she murmured.  "You had to stop the others, but...you're not going to hurt all these people..." her voice pleaded with the lich.

            Ice swirled around Aeon's body, extending out from him and only stopping when it threatened to touch Mina and Yuka, both of whom stepped back as it approached.  Turning to face the door, Aeon raised a hand and a maelstrom flowed out of it, freezing the adjoining room whole before crashing through the trapdoor and spreading down the tower.  The floor buckled underneath them as seconds ticked by, however after roughly a minute, the tower settled and Aeon lowered his hand.

“What'd you just do?!” Celine cried out, bolting over to the door and surveying the frigid walls and ice encased floors that made up the top floor of the tower.

"I have frozen everyone in the tower," Aeon said, looking back at Canak who was hyperventilating.  "They do not even know that they have been frozen.  It is as if they are asleep.  They will not suffer."

The tower shook violently and nearly knocked Mina and Celine off their feet.  Yuka managed to keep her footing, however the aquade she had dropped skittered over to rest next to Canak's frozen form.

"That was ya, wasn'it?" Canak stammered, glaring at Aeon through sweat and tear streaked eyes.

"Yes.  Only the tops of the barrels my undead were carrying had your payment.  The rest was loaded down with Canak's firework powder.  That shock was likely them breaking out of your storeroom and positioning themselves throughout the tower, near structurally weak points," Aeon replied, "One errant spark will be all that is necessary ignite the powder and set off an explosive chain reaction.  Once that happens, the weight of this tower will tear itself apart.  Anyone who comes looking for your weapons will find your tower destroyed, the victim of an accidental explosion in your powder room.”

“Aeon…yo-you can’t be serious…!” Mina murmured, looking from the lich to Yuka, whose eyes were wide with panic.  “Th…they’re good people, Aeon!  Just like my parents or the people in Gesthal!  They haven’t done anything!”

"I know," Aeon nodded.  "I take no pleasure in this.  It is not justice...but it is necessary."

Mina's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.  She tried to speak, however before any words could come out, Yuka's spinning saw blade tore through Aeon's skull.  "This ain't what we agreed upon!  I ain't gonna let ya do this!" she screamed, flinging her saw blade on its wire at Aeon.  The blade cleaved through his bones, hacking and slicing at Aeon’s body until his cloak was littered with slash marks.  Pulling her blade back, Yuka fell to one knee, panting.  She reached into her vest pocket and pulled out a metal sphere with a wick in it.  Lighting it with her flint rings, Yuka tossed the sphere at Aeon.

Aeon turned to face her and caught the sphere.  He closed his hand around it just before it exploded, taking Aeon's entire hand off.  For a moment, Aeon looked down at his bone stump, which had a human hand jutting out of the end, covered in blue, frostbitten skin.  Ice spread out over his human hand and it transformed into bone once more.  Within seconds, the cracks and breaks in his bones iced over and mended themselves.    "I am sorry," Aeon said, letting his hand fall to his side.

"Stop..." Mina grunted, getting between Aeon and Yuka.  Raising her trembling hand at the lich, she closed her eyes and pushed a gust of wind out at Aeon so weak that it did not even ruffle his cloak.  "Wh-what?" she panted, looking at her hands.

What's wrong?" Celine called, taking Mina's hand in her own.

"I warned you that you might not like what you saw, Minava," Aeon shook his head and raised his own hand.  Underneath Mina, Yuka, and Celine, a circle of blue light, inscribed with arcane characters and a six sided star, formed.  "You made the choice to come here.  This is the consequence."

Before Mina or the others could reply, a wall of blue light appeared around them, forming a cerulean tunnel overhead.  The three girls were pulled asunder and shot through the tunnel before being reconstituted.  The walls of light dropped around them, depositing Mina, Yuka, and Celine into the rain of fiery embers, a good distance from the foundry.

"W-we have to get back!" Mina stammered, shaking Yuka and Celine's shoulders.  "We can't let him-"

Before she could finish, an explosion ripped its way out of the bottom of the foundry.  The three girls watched, wide eyed, as fire tore its way through the foundry's windows and new explosions blossomed from the walls, like fiery flowers.  The explosions climbed up the tower until the top was engulfed in flames.  For a moment, the landscape was still around them.  Then, the battered foundry began to creak in the distance and sway unsteadily on its foundations.  Finally, it began to collapse in on itself, the metal shield that had protected it from the fiery rain now crashing down upon the center of the foundry.  In just a few seconds, the foundry was nothing but a pile of rubble in the distance.

A cloud of ash began to surge forward towards Mina and the others, but a wall of wind formed in front of them and the ash curved around it.  Through the ash, Mina could make out the silhouette of a skeletal figure, lacking any legs, floating towards them with his hands folded behind his back.

Mina and Celine stared at the lich as he passed through the wall of wind.  Celine bit her lip and averted her gaze, wiping an errant tear from her eye, while Mina just gaped at Aeon, wide eyed.  Her mouth moved, but no words came out.  She fell backwards and scooted away from him as the lich approached.  The lich seemed to notice her gaze and did not look away from her.  He raised his hand towards them, but hesitated when Yuka began to sob.

An incoherent wail escaped her lips, as tears streamed down her cheeks.  Putting her head in her hands, Yuka screamed as loud as she could, while another circle of blue light with a six sided star inside it formed beneath them.  Yuka continued to weep and cry, even as they were shot through another cerulean tunnel.

When the tunnel of light disappeared around them, Mina, Celine, Yuka, and Aeon were back on the top platform in Merkel's tower.  The aged neeg was waiting for them, his warty, wrinkled face hard and stony.

"Sa thas how it went down, eh?" he grunted, spying Yuka's bloodshot eyes and tear streaked face.  Shuffling over to his niece, Merkel took her head in his hands and pressed it against his feeble chest.  "Let it out, girl," he whispered, "Jus let go..."

“He’s gone…” Yuka wept, struggling against Merkel's arms.  “Canak is…Canak is gone!  Everyone’s gone…!” she cried, breaking free of the white haired neeg and banging her fists against the floor.  “Dammit!  Shanadia dammit all!” she screamed.

Looking from Yuka to her own trembling hands, Mina finally raised her eyes to Aeon.  "How...how could you...?" she whimpered, tears blooming at the corners of her own eyes.

"They didn't deserve that," Celine grunted, balling her hands into fists as her own eyes misted up.  "Even if they betrayed you, they didn't deserve that!"

"I am sorry about your lost opportunity," Aeon nodded to Celine.

"Ya think that's what this is about?!" Celine snarled at him, reaching up and grabbing the lich by the collar of his cloak.  "You just killed two hundred people as if it were nothing!"

"Yes," Aeon nodded, gently wrapping his hands around Celine's wrists and pulling her off him, "I did what was necessary to preserve the peace."  Floating forward, he stopped a few paces ahead of the others and looked back.  "Yuka...a few survived the explosion."  Yuka looked up at Aeon and for a moment, Mina saw her eyes suffused with hope and despair in equal parts.  "However, they were beyond saving.  I removed their suffering."

Yuka's eyes widened and then dropped to the floor.  Her shoulders buckled and a manic laugh escaped her lips.  "Hahaha...you haven't put us all down..." she choked out, gritting her teeth and narrowing her eyes into a glare.  "There's still one neeg left who can carry on Canak's legacy, you know..." Yuka hissed, meeting the lich's gaze.

"Yes.  I know."

"Then ya may as well get it over with!" Yuka spat.  "Go on!  Kill me!  Put ME out of MY suffering!  Cause if ya don't, then I'll revive Canak's dream!" she shuffled to her feet, but was trembling with such intensity that she looked as if she might collapse at any moment.  "You sent me there as a spy, but he told me everything...he told me willingly!" Yuka sobbed, slapping her hand against her chest.  "I can do it...I can reproduce Canak's guns!  I can make casters like you," she pointed at Aeon with a quaking hand, "Obsolete!  I can give the neeg a kingdom ta call their own!  I can-"

"You would not," Aeon shook his head and floated over to Yuka's side. 

Seeing this, Mina and Celine tried to get between them, but Merkel caught both girls by the collars of their dresses and held them back.  "Keep outta dis," he grunted, "Ya may not trust 'im...but dis's family business.  Give 'em a moment, eh?"

"Stay back!" Yuka growled, pulling on the cord attached to her saw blade to start it spinning.  She raised it against Aeon, but he passed through it, the saw piercing his rib cage as he wrapped his arms around Yuka in an embrace.

"Yuka...you have a kind, honest heart.  A heart dedicated to helping others and protecting those you hold dear," the lich murmured, squeezing her tightly.  "More than anything, though, you're not stupid, Yuka."  Releasing her, Aeon pulled Yuka's saw blade from his ribcage and held it still until it stopped spinning before lowering it to her side.  "I know, because I've watched you grow."  He ran a hand over Yuka's pony tail before placing his skull against Yuka's forehead.  Aeon's bones melted away to reveal his human form underneath.  Frozen tufts of blue hair and frostbitten skin pressed against Yuka's olive green face.  "That's why, I know you won't.  You don't agree with what I've done...and I don't blame you," Aeon shook his head and hugged Yuka once again, "But you understand why I did it.  Knowing that...I don't believe a heart like yours could ever do what Canak was prepared for."

Yuka dropped to her knees, carrying Aeon with her, and slid her saw blade off her arm.  Leaning into Aeon's broad, frostbitten shoulder, she began to sob once again, clinging to the lich for support as she cried.

"You've made me proud, Yuka," Aeon said, patting her on the back.  "And even if you hate me...even if you want to kill me...nothing will change that."

"P-p-p..." Yuka sputtered, suddenly, pushing herself free of Aeon's embrace.  "Please...just leave me alone..." she wept, turning her back to him as more tears poured down her cheeks.

Releasing Mina and Celine, Merkel nodded at Aeon before waddling over to Yuka's side and putting his arms around her shoulder.  Yuka struggled against his touch and elbowed the elderly neeg in the face, knocking him to the ground.  The instant Merkel hit the floor, he sprang to his feet and spat some blood and a blackened tooth onto the platform before making his way back to Yuka's side.  He rubbed her back and held her tightly as she wept.

With trembling legs, Mina started towards the pair, but Celine caught her shoulder.  Looking back, Mina saw that a few tears had dribbled down her friend's cheeks, but nonetheless, she shook her head.  "Th...there's nothing we can say or do right now that'll help," she choked on the words.  "She...she needs time..."

Lowering her eyes, Mina nodded, though her entire body trembled as she did.

"You two."  The girls looked over at Aeon.  Bones of ice were forming around his legs, chest, arms, and head, while a black cloak knitted itself together over his shoulders.  The bones pressed closer against Aeon, like a protective armor, until his human form vanished and he was once more a floating mass of bones.  "Come with me."

"And...and if we don't?" Mina stammered, unable to look Aeon in the face.

"Then I will leave without you," the lich said, turning towards the platform that had carried them up the tower and floating forward.

Celine's hand clamped around Mina's wrist and the tan skinned girl pulled Mina along.  "Celi?" Mina whispered.

"If he wanted us dead, he'd have done it before now..." Celine grimly replied, "Whatever he wants, let's just get it over with and go.  I..." another tear fell down her face.  "I don't want to be here right now."

Allowing herself to be pulled along, Mina added, "Me either..."

The two girls stepped onto the platform, but kept their distance from Aeon as he operated the panel attached to it.  Silence overtook them as they descended and hung over the trio while Aeon led them outside the tower.  The sun was beginning to set when they stepped onto the grass outside.

Mina's hand trembled in Celine's grasp when Aeon came to a stop just short of the forest where Gadius and Deminos lived.  She opened her mouth, but closed it almost immediately.

"If you have anything to say, you should do so now," Aeon said, without turning to face them.

Mina gaped at the back of Aeon's body.  Balling her hands into fists, she squeezed more tears out of her eyes and trembled.  Her stomach contracted, twisting itself into a knot, and she felt her entire body growing hot.

"Why...?!" Mina hissed, furiously rubbing her eyes and glowering at Aeon.  "Why did you...why did you have to kill them all?!"

Aeon turned and glanced back at Mina for a moment before looking away.  "I have told you already, Minava.  It was necessary to preserve the peace."

"You keep saying that...!" Mina sneered, her heart beat pounding in her chest as she did, "But how do you know?!  How could you know that Canak or his inventions would threaten the peace?!"

"I did not know, Minava," Aeon replied, "However the risk was too great to ignore."

Mina's heart pounded faster and faster as her skin turned a light pink and her body grew even hotter.  "You..." she gritted her teeth together.  "You killed them..." her stomach writhed about within her and her chest began to feel like an inferno.  "You killed them..." she growled, "BECAUSE OF THAT?!"

"I told you earlier today that to protect your friends, you might have to do what was necessary, Minava," Aeon said, still looking away from her.  "That is what I have done."

"You...!!" Mina tried to envision wind flowing through in her clenched fists, but all she could feel was heat, surging through her body.  "ARRRGGGGHHH!!!" she screamed, reeling both hands back.  She threw them forward and a plume of flames shot out of both of her palms, bathing Aeon in fire.  No sooner had Mina loosed her attack, then the heat within her dissipated and she dropped to the ground, panting and crying as new tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Mina!  Mina?!" Celine called, putting her arms around her friend and holding onto her as Mina dug her smoking hands into the grass and began to pull it out in great tufts.

"Your flames shine brightly, Minava," Aeon murmured, turning to face her and Celine.  His body cloak and bones were still aflame, but it did not seem to affect him in the least.  "However, I do not believe they were made for that."

"I...I didn't mean...I'm sorr-" Mina sniffled, before shaking her head violently and staring up at Aeon.  "No...no, I'm not!" she choked on her tears as she spoke, "You...you're worse than Agni!"

"Perhaps," Aeon murmured, kneeling down next to Mina so that he was eyelevel with her.  "However, when one wields magic, they must take responsibility for their actions.  Both what they have done and what they have chosen not to do.  I weighed the lives of two hundred neeg against the lives of countless hundreds of thousands who might die to Canak's weapons in the future and made my choice."

Bowing her head, Mina looked down at her hands.  Despite smoking, the skin of her palms was untouched.  "How can you do that?" she grunted, pressing her hands to her chest, "How can...how can you just casually judge whether they deserve to live or die?!"

For a few seconds, Aeon was silent.  Then, he floated back to his normal height and turned away from Mina.  "Because someone has to, Minava."

"Huh?" Mina looked up and saw that Aeon was staring down at her from over his shoulder.

"A long time ago, someone precious to me decided she wanted to protect others," the lich said, grabbing hold of his skull and tearing a small chunk off.  Immediately, the flames in his eye sockets vanished, replaced by the deep, emerald hue of a human eye, with a few strands of bluish hair falling over it.  "However, you can't protect if you're not willing to destroy.  So I made a choice.  I'd do what she couldn't.  I'd cut down those who threatened the lives of others.  My hands were already stained with blood.  So, what would a little more matter?"

"Heh..." Celine snorted and stood up, gazing directly into Aeon's human eye, "You think that makes it alright?  You think that because you're trying to protect others, that justifies murder?!"

"No," Aeon's eye vanished as his skull reformed around it, and a flicker of green flames sparked in his eye socket, "I will never claim that such a slaughter was right or just.  However, it was necessary."

Once Aeon had finished speaking, Celine bent down and helped Mina to her feet.  The girl was trembling and shivering in her arms.  "If that's how things are, then...what happens now?" Celine mumbled.

"Hmmm?"

"After all this, you don't expect things to stay the same between us, do you?" Celine grunted, stroking Mina's hair, while scowling at the lich.

"No," Aeon shook his head.  "I do not."

"We won't be back," Mina sniffed, unable to raise her eyes and look Aeon in the face.

"I understand," Aeon said.  Turning away from them, Aeon began to float into the forest.  Just before he disappeared from sight, he stopped.  "Minava," he called out.  "I would suggest you never forget what you have seen today.  You can now wield all four elements.  Having that power means that someday, you too will have to make a choice."  Once he was done speaking, Aeon vanished into the trees.

"So...it's over...?" Mina stammered, leaning into Celine for support.  "Just...just like that?"

"I dunno," Celine shook her head, "But either way, we should get out of here."

Putting her arms around Mina, Celine helped her through the forest, which was surprisingly empty.  The two girls met no apocra on their way through, and even though they passed through Gadius's fields, the jela-vey was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, Mina!" Mina's head snapped up when she heard Deminos's voice call out to her from the trees.  "Long time no see, huh?"

Trembling in Celine's arms, Mina broke into a run, tearing through the forest as fast as she could in the direction opposite the voice.  Glancing back for a moment, she saw that Celine was right behind her.  They exited the forest at a run and bolted through the plain between the forest and Nerise's valley, only slowing down when they saw the door leading outside.  However, resting against the door was the tall, lanky form of a teythen, shrouded in red and black.

"Welcome back," Vincent murmured, getting up from the door and walking over to Mina and Daryl.  His crimson eyes drank in their expressions and he let out a sigh.  "So...that's how things went."

"You...you knew what he was planning?!" Celine shouted.

"We all did," Vincent said, his pale face betraying no emotion.  "Because that's what it means to travel with Aeon," the teythen said, shaking his head.  "We may not like it...but we can understand why it needs to be done.  We can live with it."

"You stood up for us..." Mina balled her hands into fists and felt fresh tears welling up in her tired, bloodshot eyes.  "Even though you knew..."

" This is what it means to be one of Aeon's comrades," Vincent said, kneeling down in front of her and patting her on the shoulder.  "I'm sorry, but that's the way it is.  This is what we do, Mina."

Immediately, Mina unclenched her hands and she sagged in place, to such a degree that both Vincent and Celine had to hold her up.  "All of you?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Vincent sighed and lowered his eyes.  "All of us have killed.  All of us have done things we don't want to do.  But Aeon never forced us," he said, getting to his feet.  "I want you to remember that."

Mina looked into Vincent's eyes, but before she could say anything, there was a voice a fair distance behind her.  "Hey!  Why'd you run away?!  What's wrong?!" Deminos called.  Mina whipped her head around and saw the svelte conjurer fast approaching them, his face streaked with sweat and his orange cloak and suit flapping in the light breeze.

"Go on," Vincent opened the door leading outside, "I'll handle your goodbyes and see that Daryl gets home safe."

"Thank you," Celine grunted, quickly pulling Mina after her into the long corridor leading out of Acacia.

Mina's eyes stayed glued to Vincent's calm, somber face, even as Deminos appeared in front of the door, his red face covered in sweat stained brown hair and flushed with panic.  Then, Vincent pulled the door shut, and they were gone.