I decided to walk from the crag of Mea to Windurst. The late afternoon sun making the red walls of the canyon glow with an almost warming light. It was nice, especially after what had just happened. As I got closer to Sarutabaruta I began thinking of the others again. Were they alright? Would Kreoss be okay? Was Caenir hurt? Was Mai okay? How was Briddy and Tsiife? ... And what of Alberic?
It wasn't long before I found myself in Sarutabaruta on a small cliff, overlooking the Zanbibi River. Where was Alberic? And would the magicite be enough to bring back the Alberic we all cared for? I could still hear it in my bag, resonating. I held my bag close, hoping for an end to all this madness soon, so everyone could be back together again. Just then I heard the sound of frantic feet racing towards me. I looked out of the corner of my eye, watching a chocobo jump off the small cliff, and race across the river in the direction of Windurst... It looked extremely frightened and was squawking as if it had been whipped to run faster. Then I heard the steps of someone coming to stand at my right side. I turned, staggering away, feeling my blood running cold.
There stood Alberic, seeming to be in his normal form. He greeted me, the malevolent look in his eyes causing me to back away more. Every time I inched away he only got closer, questioning me, towering before me like a shadow of death. He suddenly grabbed at one of my arms. I jerked away, falling, landing roughly near the edge of the cliff. He loomed before me, saying something again, and panicking I threw my hand up, casting a flash spell in his face in hopes to possibly get away.
I then felt the force of a single strong hand gripping my throat, slamming my head back into the ground. I struggled, unable to breath, grabbing with both hands at his own, trying in vain to pry the crushing grip away. I could see Alberic grinning, my thoughts at that moment were that I would die there, at the hand of my possessed friend. He suddenly leaned in and kissed me. I stared at him in shock, beginning to feel light headed, my vision felt tunneled, my strength to get his hand away quickly fading. "We are all dieing Seik..." I could hear him speaking again, but the words sounded echoed. "Every breath we take brings us closer to death."
I gasped, feeling his hand let go of my throat as he stood up. He said something about either dieing now or later, either way he would be the one to kill me... But I could barely hear him over the sound of my own staggered gasps for breath. I could hear him walking away as I lay there, staring at the sky, trying to breath normally again. I closed my eyes for a moment, not moving from where I lay, feeling around near me for my bag having dropped it in the struggle. Finding it I pulled it closer, my throat was hurting badly and I felt that I couldn't even stand... I could feel tears in my eyes once again.
The sound of chocobo feet came near me again. I turned my head, looking up as its rider spoke to me. It was Tripp, and following behind him seemed to be Mai. They asked if I was alright. It hurt to speak, I could barely bring my voice above a whisper, telling them that I was just dazed. They were apparently hunting Alberic down, because when I absently mentioned his name they asked where he had gone. I sat up then staggered to my feet, pointing off in the direction I thought he had gone, towards Windurst. Mai raced off, but Tripp got off his chocobo saying he would accompany me as we ran there.
I had a had time running at first, but quickly found my balance again and followed close behind Tripp. Upon arriving to Windurst he told me that I should rest in Woods for a while. As he took off in search of Alberic, I began to wander aimlessly towards the fountain. I reached into my bag for a moment, searching for the magicite before a sudden explosion sounded from the Port district. My heart began racing as I ran towards the source.
As I passed through the tunnel before the Orastery I was blocked from moving closer by searing flames. I held my bag close as I made my way cautiously around the fire, getting closer to the ministry, the sound of Alberic's voice ringing through the air. I quickly climbed the stairs on the side of the building and peered over the railing. Alberic stood atop a small pillar on the balcony, he was back in his dragon-like shape. Tripp and Mai seemed to be trying to talk some sense into him, causing him to become more erratic with his words. He screamed constantly that the Mai before him wasn't the real one, but admitting that even if she was fake that he could never hurt anyone with Mai's face.
Tripp then told Mai to cause herself to bleed to prove to Alberic that she was real. Mai pulled off a glove, revealing a severly scarred hand, then pulled one Faith Baghnakh from her side with the other hand. Alberic's attitude suddenly shifted, he seemed overwhelmed, frightened, and almost child like. He grabbed at Mai's hand, yelling at her, taking the weapon from her hand... Though it quickly disappeared from his own hand and appeared back at Mai's waist. Tripp had walked past me at this point, telling them that he was going to go check on Kreoss.
Alberic's attitude changed again. He had sensed the spear that Mai carried with her and demanded to see it. Mai pulled it out of her bag and showed it to him, keeping a good grip on it. Alberic looked betrayed... He began screaming that he knew she had come to kill him, his voice continuing to grow higher as he questioned Mai, he then fell to the ground sobbing heavily. Seeing him like this was painful... Mai dropped the spear, going to his side, trying to comfort him but he only swatted at her. Tripp came back suddenly and began yelling at Alberic again.
I could then hear the magicite loudly. I turned away for a moment, pulling it from my bag, the noise it was creating sounding almost similar to that of pain. I heard Mai scream then, turning to find that Alberic had snatched the spear and was holding butt of the weapon on the ground and the blades held against his chest. I started unwrapping the magicite quickly, leaving only a small amount of the binding to be able to hold it still. He screamed that he wanted to die, that death was the only way to end his sorrow. Mai kept trying to reach him but he swung at her, keeping her at bay, preparing to drive the blades into himself...
I dropped my bag and pulled myself over the railing, throwing the magicite at him with all my might. He drove the spear at himself, just as the magicite struck him hard in th back, the stone exploding into dust as it hit him. Alberic fell to his knees, his wings and horns turning to smoke, dissipating into the wind. The spear vanished in a flash of white light as he fell back into Mai's arms. I thought I had failed... He lay there unmoving... Staring blankly at the night sky... Tripp used Divine Seal and quickly cast a powerful healing spell on him.
Alberic then began to stir. He looked around for a moment, then up at Mai, asking if she was the real one. She hugged him tightly, beginning to cry. I fell to my knees, hunching over, crying and thanking Altana that he was still alive. "Hey, you okay there kitten?" I looked up at Alberic, who now stood near me, holding Mai in his arms, and smiled at him through my tears. He shuffled his foot slightly, apparently trying to push my note book back into my bag, which had fallen out when I dropped it. "Can't be losing that can we now, Seik?" I stood up wiping the tears from my eyes "No... I can't be losing that..." is what I told him. I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and began following Alberic as he walked across the roof top. Tripp once again leaving to go check on Kreoss.
Caenir was there and most likely had been the whole time. He looked terrible and like he had been in a daze, but he seemed to have calmed down and didn't appear to be hurt. Alberic asked if he was okay and thought he took a few moments to answer he said he was fine. Caenir quickly asked if anyone knew where Kreoss was, Alberic responding that he was the type to normally be in Aht Urhgan. Caenir asked for a teleport Mea so he could catch the ship in Mhaura and Mai suggested that her and Alberic go to the Monarch Linn. Alberic whined about going to the Linn but then agreed and teleported us away to Mea first.
Once arriving at the crag I decided to stay with Mai and Alberic. Caenir bid us goodbye as he made his way to the port town and we teleported off to the crag of Holla. I followed Alberic and Mai all the way to the Linn. Once we arrived they went to the back of the area to the nest that was still there and sat down, beginning to talk, Mai telling him about all that had been happening. I sat down on the rocks before the grassy area and pulled out my note book, beginning to look over the entries I've made pertaining to this ordeal.
After a few minutes I closed the book and stared at the cover, still somewhat wondering how this all happened. I looked up at Alberic and Mai for a moment and smiled, it's so nice that they can be together again. I caught a look from Alberic and told him that I was happy for them, though my voice still couldn't be raised very high. I found myself touching the sides of my neck lightly, I could feel the bruises beginning to form where his fingers had been. Alberic asked if something had hurt me, I told him I was fine. I think he then realized that he may have hurt everyone.
Alberic looked upset saying that we should have killed him for trying to hurt us. Mai hugged him tightly telling him not to say that. He laughed saying that Mai would stay by his side even if he was evil, Mai agreed. He talked about how they had first met, how everyone seemed that didn't like him except for Mai. Mai laughed slightly, saying that she still didn't understand why they didn't. Alberic claimed it was because they were "jealous of his dashingly good looks, and/or of his fiancé". I held up my hand to hide a giggle, I'm glad Alberic is back to his old self.
He smiled saying that I agreed with him, then mentioned that I should be hooked up with someone and started asking me what my preferences were. I could feel my face turning bright red, so I put my note book back in my bag, saying that I would leave them alone and hurried out of the Linn and back to the coast. While making my way back to Tavnazian Safehold, I thought for a moment of Lord Sikayu... I wonder how he is? His letters while on his journey stopped coming a long time ago... I hope he is okay.
I decided to sit down outside the Safehold for a few minutes to write this before heading back to Windurst to rest for the night. I'm glad that everything seems, for the most part, back to normal... I hope Kreoss is recovering quickly and that everyone can sleep a little easier tonight...
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