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zahra-kha · 4 years ago

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Dear Diary 32

The weekend was a blast! Well, up until I nearly bled out in the middle of the forest.

I was late to Hanami so I missed out on the fortune-telling which was sad about, but I did manage to get a good luck charm. I’m not sure how well it’s working, but I didn’t die, so I guess it’s doing something. I was really hoping to get my fortune told, I enjoy that sort of thing, but I guess I’ll have to wait for another festival.

I ran into Tamala, Nivaar, Vivien, and Arashi while I was there, oh! Before that though, a strange person bumped into me and handed me off a letter from Lord Thiji Higuri from the Regalia sending his regards. I responded to her giving a formal greeting from house Kouris and infomed her that I’d try to visit the Regalia to give proper respect and greetings to the Mythrite Sultan at some point. It’s not exactly often or common for someone of his standing to reach out to someone of my position, so I should at least give him due respect.

Some of the folks from Ebonheart were there and I chatted with them for a bit before I gave them space to enjoy the festival. I didn’t want to crowd them.

So there was a ritual and a blessing sort of thing. I didn’t really understand it, but it involved lining up to drink sake. I wasn’t sure if that was a religious thing or not, but I didn’t feel very comfortable jumping into something like that when I have my own beliefs and I pray to my own gods. That’s not to say accepting blessings from another belief set is bad, it’s just that I’d like an understanding of what I’m accepting before I accept it. I’m probably overthinking it, I doubt the priests would have offered a blessing to all if it was harmful or insulting. I’m not sure why I felt so apprehensive about it.

After everyone went up to accept the blessing, it was time for the performances. Everyone was so amazing! There was such a variety of performers celebrating the beauty of spring and from different cultures too!

I was performing as well. I did two songs, one on the blossoming of a new love after heartbreak (Yes, it was a personal song, and I don’t often sing about my feelings, but I also feel my songs won’t reach anyone if I don’t try to reach out and touch their hearts with my own). The other was about the powerful bonds of an unshakable love, and I think that moved some people. I really tried my hardest with that song.

The Sword Princess Zenos one was inspiring, I wanted to go home and write some friend fiction featuring Trystan as the warrior of light and Vin as Sword Princess Zenos. I wonder how badly I can bastardize this? I won’t be satisfied until I’ve upset some people (in a good/bad/funny way!)

After the performances, someone named DJ CARVI came out. He had this amazing car thing and started playing this awesome music while playing on the guitar! We danced and danced until we nearly passed out! He looks so cool, and I love his personality! The music was unique and flowed well and just....

[There’s a series of hearts and little doodles of CARVI’s helmet along with little notes saying ‘I ♥ DJ CARVI’ written on the margins. Zahra is clearly a fan]

I tried to see if Tamala could get me an autograph but she already had one so I politely asked if he had signed autographs after his show. He did us one better and give us illegal copies of his album and signed them! I’m not supposed to listen to it but that’s okay! I’ll just try and check out another showing of his and see if I can find places where there’s orchestrion scrolls of his work. And maybe some posters. Or other merchandise.

He was really cool.

So anyway, the next day was Lucky Sparrow’s 4th anniversary! We had a wonderful turnout, so many showed up in green and gold. That was so nice to see, I loved the support, it just goes to show how much people love Lucky Sparrow and how much they’ve given to everyone. I’m proud and honored to be a part of them.

The performances were ama-zing! We practiced and practiced and everything turned out well! Suki and I got to do our solo acts, and I even saw some familiar faces in the crowds! I think I heard Kaito, Vel, Koh’a, and S’aeil out there! I think one of them was celebrating their own anniversary! Scorpius showed up too and wished me luck, that was kind of him.

We all got a bit sappy after, which made me happy. I love the environment with the troupe, it helps me feel a little less alone. It’s warm and comforting, which I think I needed after everything that’s been going on.

Speaking of...

After the show I went back to the encampment and found it empty. I thought it was going to be my best chance of investigating everyone so I tried to hurry.

I went through Sahrin’s things first. I admit I was still upset Cecilia even insinuated that Sahrin may have tried to kick her out. Even if we cleared the air on it, I wanted to prove his innocence. I didn’t find...much? A locked jewelry box and a bunch of really raunchy letters to Fitaan. Gross.

Fitaan’s tent was...strange. It was like going into a room felt like someone was trying too hard to show it’d been lived in. Things that looked normal upon first glance, but then didn’t make sense as you really thought about it. A bedroll but no pillow, sheets or blankets to be found. Cooking utensils but no traces that food had ever been in the room. Not even dried herbs or meat. Thrown away parchment in a trash bin, but no writing utensils to shown he’d been writing anything. Sure, he could have taken some of the items with him to track down Armand but...the room feels too neat, clean, and off for that. It’s like it has the appearance of a normal room but there’s enough bits and pieces once you look around to know otherwise.

Esila’s tent was normal. Smelled of metal and polish but that’s likely from all the blades she has laying about. She has a hobby of collecting axes and swords. I tried to be careful, but she really didn’t have anything that I could find.

Armand’s room had been cleaned out by Sahrin already, he took everything of relevance with him. I didn’t find much of anything outside of letters he’d saved from old lovers and a letter from Sahrin congratulating him on job well done on his first solo performance at a village he was at in Thavnair.

It was when I went to Sai’s room that everything went downhill. I’ve been to her tent countless times. She’s been training me with how to use daggers, she’s taught me how to be a better songwriter. Sai is...the calmest of the group. The quietest. But when she speaks she always has kind or profound things to say.

I’ll be honest, there was a part of me that didn’t believe Cecilia, either. She’d just come to the troupe and suddenly she disappears and then reappears and starts saying Sahrin kicked her out, then that Armand was behind it, and suddenly I’m just supposed to believe the people I’ve cared for since childhood are trying to hurt me?

I went to the encampment to...

I wanted to prove everyone wrong. Myself wrong. I didn’t want to believe my family would betray me. Sahrin. The troupe. And I was angry with myself for doubting them. Angry for not doubting them more. I was angry at my friends for doubting my family, and I was angry at myself for being unreasonable about it. I just wanted the truth. Mostly, I was angry that this was happening at all.

So when I heard something click after finding a letter in Sai’s drawer, I think my mind went completely blank. I stopped thinking, I didn’t move, everything just went white.

I don’t remember too much of what happened, only that instinct told me I had to go. I had to leave, I couldn’t be found. I don’t know if that was out of fear or just a sense of survival, but it started raining heavily so I lost my bearings quickly. It’s fuzzy, but I don’t even think I realized the trap had been a knife until I finally found a spot to sit down because I felt really tired suddenly.

I needed a healer, and I could only think to call Gail. She came and I don’t remember much of our conversation after she arrived, but I think she brought me to her apartment somehow and I got shoved into her bath. I told her as much as I could as I tried to warm up, I don’t remember how long I was out in the rain, and I didn’t feel much pain, just exhausted.

Oh, but after she healed me and got some food in me, godsdamn did the pain come in full force! I think the blade had been poisoned, because after I got back to my apartment I felt feverish and weak from the after effects. I’m still recovering, the fever is gone and I was able to take a look at the letter.

Gail got a good look at it too, seems like it was a letter from Sahrin to Sai, a really old letter too. I guess from the days before the troupe was formed. I know Sahrin is very anti-Imperial, but I guess Sai is too, looking over the letter’s contents. I’m not sure what this all means, but I guess when Sahrin was thinking of making the troupe, he had some grand designs and made some promises to Sai about it. I wasn’t able to find out much else since I triggered the trap, but the letter was well taken care of even after all these years. It must have been important to Sai.

Sai, was it you? Did you put Armand up to killing me? Deceiving Cecilia? How much of everything going on is you? You were like a sister to me, I don’t understand. I don’t understand.

#ic #Zahra's diary #Zahra Kha #Zahra Kouris

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thijihiguri · 4 years ago

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The Emperor’s Ascension, Pt. 3 (& Denouement)

Two times now has the world of Elementa been trapped in stasis. The first was at the very beginning of this battle, when the Snow Flower herself, Koyuki Kazahana, High Empress of Hyoga, emerged from on high to face her beloved husband in battle. Of the many obstacles he had overcome up until now, Thiji battling his own wife would be his greatest. Still, he pressed on, goaded by Koyuki to face her with all he had.

The second occurrence is the current sight everyone struggled to behold: a blade pierced Koyuki’s body by Thiji’s hand. Though it was expected to happen eventually, the sight was too much for many to stomach. The Handmaidens of Peace, the Royal Family’s most loyal sect of warrior-priests, had practically fainted on the spot, save for Sylla, Shijima, and Celuwen, who watched on with mouths agape. Seraphina slowly moved her hands from her eyes to behold the scene, gasping loudly once she did.

“Princess Seraphina, with me!” Umi spoke as she rose from her seat. “We go now to attend your mother.”

“Y-Yes, Auntie Umi!” Seraphina said reluctantly. Shiro silently nodded and followed them down.

As they left the stands, Koyuki let out a soft exhale as she lost the strength to stand, slowly falling backwards. Thiji quickly caught his wife and pulled his blade from her body, leaving behind a wound that had frozen over. The Diamond Emperor dropped a knee, cradling Koyuki in his arms. Though there was little expression on his face, he still felt sorrow for what he had done.

“All right – mic me, boys!” Nora said with a snap of her fingers. The cameramen took out a pair of lavalier mics from his pocket and tossed them over to the Teal Quaintrelle, who then chucked them straight down into the stadium, landing beside Thiji and Koyuki. As if on cue, Thiji took them in hand and attached one to his robe, and the other to Koyuki’s qipao. “And now, the big reveal!”

“That was tough to watch, even for me…” Homura sighed.

“It was tough for all of Elementa, sister,” Sakuya replied, “but the plan has been carried out flawless so far. The time has come to commence the summoning. I already sense Mizore is channeling her energies to complete this process; let’s not keep her waiting too long.”

Raiko and Homura nodded and left their luxury room to teleport to Nora’s dirigible. Meanwhile, Koyuki gazed upon her beautiful husband, who had laid a hand upon his cheek.

“Koyuki…” was all he could get out before she interrupted him with a finger to his lips.

“Be still, my lord…” Koyuki said, her voice weak. The microphones attached to their clothing amplified their voices so that everyone within the stadium could hear them clearly, along with everyone else watching throughout the world.

“But, my flower…” he tried to speak again, only to be shushed.

“Still, my love… hear me,” she repeated, smiling. “Ever since you were born, you were destined… for greatness. Ever faithfully has the Higuri Clan served my Pure Branch, but you were meant to do more than serve… All your life, you have served me and my family, but the truth is… we’ve held you back. Your strength and potential, limited… because the love you had for us softened your heart. We curtailed the Diamond Prophecy, though we did not know it at the time… the Trials of Winter was to help reshape you into who you were; what you were meant to be. You had to let go of me in order to become the Diamond Emperor… It was difficult at first… but I accepted it with time. To ascend, you had to strike down your flower… Love is a powerful force, and I always uphold its values… but it can make us complacent… it can bring our guard down… it can even end us. But not you, Thiji. You’re meant to become a force far greater, and after bringing our Hyoga into the golden age of prosperity it now has, you have fulfilled your duties as a mortal…”

Seraphina, Umi, and Shiro hurried to the field, but Shiro pointed out that flowers were beginning to blossom through the snow-covered ground.

“What… What’s this…?” Seraphina asked.

“Her power is being spread throughout the land,” Shiro explained. “She is returning to nature.”

“Is… Is my mother dying…?”

“No, she is not, thankfully,” Umi replied, “but she has suffered too much damage to maintain her form; she is one with nature, and therefore cannot perish easily.”

“You Kazahana sure did luck out in the superpower lottery…” Shiro grumbled, a hint of jealousy in her voice. She then spotted a familiar flower materializing right above Koyuki. “No way… is that -?”

A delicate snow-white flower with purple stamens appeared above Koyuki’s body, and around the stamens were tiny blue snowflakes dancing about. The flower slowly descended to her right hand, which she then presented to Thiji.

“Do you know what this is, my lord…?” she asked him. He looked upon it and gasped. He wanted to reach out and touch it, but was too focused on holding his weakening wife.

“It’s… It’s the first Snow Lily that marked your birth!” Thiji answered. Koyuki grinned at his response.

“The very first Snow Lily – yes,” she confirmed. “I kept and safeguarded it all my life, for the right moment to show it to you.”

Something else had begun to emerge from the flower: a tiny, coin-shaped object – no bigger than a poker chip – materialized and levitated in front of Thiji’s head, expecting him to grab it.

“Koyuki… what is this?” Thiji asked.

“The Proof of the Snow Flower…” she replied. “This was the final battle in your Trials. I was the only other Lady of Winter standing in your way in Elementa, and I was determined to harden your heart for the task. If you failed this day… The gods would have been displeased. But they knew you were stronger than that; I knew you were stronger than that. And now that it’s all over, I can gaze upon you… one last time, as a mortal. I’m so proud of you, Thiji…”

As their conversation continued, Seraphina began feeling another reaction coming. This one, however, was more familiar to her.

“It’s been a long time, my beloved child,” spoke a female voice to her telepathically.

“Mother Moon..!!” she gasped. “How may Your humble daughter serve you?”

“I have need of you for a moment; mind if I use you as a vessel?”

“Whatever your desire, O Luminious One!”

The clouds parted once more as a beam of lunar energy shot down from the heavens, enveloping the Alabaster Rose. Shiro and Umi jumped out of the way, watching in awe.

“That’s the sign, sisters!” Sakuya spoke. They channeled the powers of Izanami, Izanagi, and Amaterasu – the gods who chose them to be Eternals – into the pillar, causing an elemental reaction which created a rainbow bridge. Everyone shielded their eyes from the light as it washed over the stadium and the entire Borealis Tundra.

Moments later, the light faded, and everyone scanned their surroundings – the sky was once again cast into night, with the silvery moon illuminating Hyoga. Turning center stage, everyone noticed that Seraphina had transformed into a taller, yet equally slender woman of blue-violet hair and a silver-white-and-blue floral dress. On the right side of her head was a silvery-blue flower in full bloom, and in her hands was a pristine harp. She plucked the strings and the moon’s light filled the stadium.

“Iss thiss… the powerss of a God?” Z��hira asked. “To witnesss one appear before uss…”

“The Divinity of Night; the Lady of the Moon…” Hiro spoke under his breath. The other Eternals jumped down from the blimp and landed behind Thiji, sticking the landing in a kneeling position.

“It has been far too long since I’ve taken a stroll in the mortal realm,” the Goddess said as she stretched. The Handmaidens of Peace watched in awe as the Goddess of the Moon descended to grace them. “You’ve come a long way, Thiji Higuri. All that has happened up to this point shaped you into who you are now. Thy wisdom; thy strength; thy intellect; your heart of diamond – these are the tenets that deem you more than qualified to become an Eternal – should you accept. Just as I have chosen thy mother, Mizore, I have found thee more than worthy to ascend.”

She then turned to Koyuki, who met her gaze with a grin.

“High Empress Koyuki… your mother would be so proud. But it pained all of us to put you through this. You truly are worthy of the name ‘Kazahana’, and the Snow Flower from which sparked your birth.”

“I did what I must, Lady Tsukuyomi…” whispered Koyuki, her voice very weak at this point, “for him… I only hope that Thiji can forgive his flower…”

“I already forgive you, Koyuki… I do,” Thiji spoke, now holding her close. He deliberated for a moment before looking up towards Tsukuyomi.

“Speak thy mind, Diamond Emperor,” the Moon Goddess urged.

“I accept this charge, Lady Tsukuyomi,” he began, “however… I wish to begin anew.”

“Pray explain thyself.”

“I know that Eternals are reborn after death as they can never be truly killed, and with each rebirth they are stronger… but I wish to be reborn as an infant. This way, my power will be exponentially more immense, and I may better serve towards Elementa’s safekeeping.”

“WHAAAAT?!” Homura shrieked, fire spewing from her maw. “That clever bastard’s gonna deny me a sparring partner?!”

“Dial it down, Homura; the mics are still on…” Raiko grunted whilst covering her ears.

“I’m sure Mizore’s going to be ecstatic over this,” chuckled Sakuya. “She’d want nothing more than to hold her little Thiji again.”

“Very well, and very astute of thee,” Tsukuyomi stated. “I shall make it so, but you’ve many friends gathered here; I will allow thee one final chance for any parting words with them.”

The Diamond Emperor nodded and turned to everyone present. Shiro approached and gave Thiji a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s been a hell of a ride, Thiji,” Shiro began. “You’ve helped me save a lot of people, and the missions we’ve been on together have been the most memorable ones ever. It’s going to hurt me seeing you go, but there’s a secret I’ve been keeping from you for quite some time now.”

She turned their attention towards the stands. A cloaked figure in white sat alone. Lifting the hood revealed a young girl with hair like Shiro’s, only slightly bluer, with Thiji’s eyes. She wore a white-and-blue gown and her face was filled with tears. “You see that young woman there? That’s Soyo – my daughter. Your daughter.”

“The Princess has a stepsister…” Umi said under her breath.

“WOW! That’s unexpected!” Nora commented. “I knew Thiji got around, but…!”

“Because of you, my Clan survives. And I’ve discovered that some of us survived the purge. The Lands of Kiri have a princess, and I’ve discovered that some of my kin have survived the purge. We would not have survived without you, Thiji, and to this, I owe you so much.”

Da Ji hurried over to Thiji, teary-eyed as ever.

“My Emperor,” she began, “I will wait for your rebirth, and when you return, I will do my utmost for you! I… I only ever wish to serve you – as a mortal, and as a Goddess. I will forever be yours…”

“And I am grateful to have your love and support, Da Ji,” Thiji replied. He then turned over towards his brother, his gazing firmly upon him. “It will fall upon you and Seraphina to lead Hyoga in our absence. Though the Snow Flower will return, I must answer a higher call. But Hyoga’s sanctity will always be my prime concern. Horu. You’ve the entirety of the Tundra Force and the Handmaidens of Peace backing you; you’ve numerous allies and advisors. Reach out to them; lean on them if you must…”

“We won’t fail you, Brother,” Horu acknowledged. “I’ll watch over Empress Seraphina as well. Your shoes will be difficult to fill, but I’ve learned much from you.”

A large flower began to blossom in the center of the stadium. It opened one of its petals as the last of Koyuki’s power seeped into and nurtured the now verdant area. She gazed upon her beloved husband once more, a smile on her face as she gave her final words:

“Thiji… you were, are, and always will be… my light… my lord… my love.”

Her strength all but spent, Koyuki’s arm slowly fell to the ground, her eyes shutting into a peaceful sleep. Though they knew she was not gone from this world, the scene was no less heartbreaking to watch. Thiji lifted her body and carried it into the flower, placing her comfortably inside of its petals. As it closed, a violet pulse emanated from the plant, thereby “sealing” it. With the Snow Flower laid to rest, it was finally time. Thiji turned towards Tsukuyomi, but another voice would make itself known beforehand:

“Thiji!” cried a tearful Nora. “Don’t you dare think this marks the end of your career! There’s gonna be A LOT of ideas I’ll be throwin’ at you when you’re reborn!”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh – even Tsukuyomi. But with all said and done, the Goddess called upon Her divine powers, showering the Diamond Emperor in lunar energy. The light could be seen from as far as the Frozen Sea, and after a long moment of bathing in its luminescence… all went quiet. The moonlight had faded, the skies returned to normal, and Thiji and Tsukuyomi had vanished. Seraphina levitated back down to earth, laying a hand upon her mother’s resting place. It was warm, as if her mother’s presence was still evident, responding to her daughter’s touch.

“Rest well, Mother. I promise that Hyoga will be better off than when you left it,” she said with a smile.

With his brother’s ascension now complete, and Koyuki’s own rebirth underway, Horu’s first order as Emperor was to consecrate the Borealis Stadium to allow her sister-in-law the blissful sleep she deserved. In a year’s time, she would reemerge, ready to rule Hyoga once more as the Great Empress, just like her mother. Masao was given the charge to protect the holy site in place of the Virgin Snow Courtyard, to which she was more than honored to accept. Though Hyoga was definitely still well into its golden age, there would still be disreputable types who would aim to take advantage of this succession. However, their powerful new allies in the Glacierfin extended their reach to beyond the Frozen Shore, and the Kirishinobi would serve as Horu’s personal honor guard.

Sometime later, Thiji began his new immortal life as an infant, per his request. Mizore happily carried and walked him around the Antarctic Glade, showing him the domain was far vaster than when he originally visited. All who inhabited it witnessed their new lord, and pledged their fealty to him. While he rested and grew within this new realm, he practiced his newfound abilities through his avatar, which was a simulacrum of what he would look like as a child. Da Ji had also frequented the Antarctic Glade, accompanying the new Eternal of Ice through her own avatars. The love she showed for him was adored by Mizore, who was more than happy to allow her passage to and from their realm. Soon after, he would take his avatar to the mortal world, making his return known to all of Hyoga. When Koyuki was reborn, she grew another pair of wings, becoming a Seraphim. After serving her all his mortal life, the time had come for her to serve him – as his beloved Snow Flower Seraphim. She would gain more specialized powers that complimented her mastery over Floramancy, cementing her place among the Kazahana Pure Branch.

The time had come for the greatest age of Hyoga’s time: The Eternal Age of Iceflowers.

#thiji higuri #god of winter #ice #snow #short story #frost #flowers #love #romance

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mythriteshah · 9 days ago

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A Scintillant Spectacle

"Did you hear?" asked a young Hyune male to an Eldite woman with whom he was conversing, "There's been a whole slew of challengers wanting a piece of the action in the Arcadion since it reopened!"

"As if I'd miss a single beat of the know!" the Eldite replied with a chuckle, strolling down True Vue amidst a crowd of other Alexandrians. "I hear tonight's match wasn't planned, but it should be nothing the Gem Lancer can't handle!"

Solution Nine - the popular residential district within Everkeep - was apparently abuzz with rumors of an upcoming shotgun match with one of Alexandria's renowned fighters taking on a yet-unknown combatant. The sheltered people living within the electrope dome were practically starving for entertainment - any means of escape from the recent tragedy of their beloved Queen Sphene. With the revival of the Arcadion (pun not intended), however, that need would be assuaged. Along with new connections beyond the dome being made possible, the Alexandrians now had the opportunity to explore a realm as foreign to them as it would be for those coming into Yyasulani. And whilst some embraced this monumental shift, others could not dare to turn down a spectacle of martial and magical prowess the likes that only the Ascension Arcadia Championship could provide.

Within the confines of the great tower which loomed over True Vue, a woman slowly made her way down a long, dark tunnel, her strides slow, confident, and dignified - the hallmarks not unlike that of a princess's. As her footfalls echoed throughout this long hallway, the quiet roar of cheering could be heard as she proceeded closer and closer towards the blinding light at its end.

Save for the ubiquitous regulator resting upon her left temple, this Hyune woman was of fair skin and sported a maroon-and-ivory corset dress, with puffy sleeves and two light purple swirly bracelets that traveled up her forearms. She also had upon her head a light purple headband tiara with a large red jewel that appeared to be a jasper. She had wavy, pale blonde hair that trailed at the hips, with a single long curl draped over her right shoulder; thin, ruby red lips, and orbs of amber or a citron orange, with eyeshadow to match.

"How audacious - that people from beyond the dome would be so brazen as to challenge Alexandria's finest warriors with no enhancements. Well, I suppose it will do for a good show. If they wish to risk life and limb before an audience of thousands, then more power to them. I'll ensure this upstart's arc comes to a jewel-spangled conclusion!" the woman mused inside her head, a smirk creeping along her features. The cheering of the crowd grew louder as she neared the blinding light at the tunnel's end, letting it envelop and invigorate her, the crowd's cries reaching a crescendo as she crossed the threshold...

[The day prior...]

Outside of Everkeep, the cacophony of levin striking the ground and pylons filled the air. Far beyond the Ward - the great electrope wall which split the eastern and western reaches of Yyasulani - stood what remained of Alexandria, with the former royal palace in the horizon, now lying within a crater of lightning which seemed to crackle and churn endlessly. Amidst these submerged and derelict ruins were scenes of battle - broken husks of what was once automated sentries, now rendered defunct and haywire due to... neglect? Errors in code? Whatever the case, there were a fair number of them strewn about, and the sharp sound of steel against steel was heard as another would be cut down before ultimately being defenestrated from a worn-down two-story house, landing on the submerged ground in a chorus of clanking metal.

This particular manse was one of the more fortunate to withstand both time and calamity, though its interior left much to be desired. The roof was kept mostly intact, allowing little light within the attic. When the sentry was sent crashing below, however, a bright flash shot out from the broken window, as if yearning to be free. The one who bore witness to this was a lone Milalla, garbed in the kind of attire in which someone of a noble house would be seen, with a large capeline hat of royal blue adorning her head.

Resting on her hip was a grimoire of peculiar make, boasting a bluish covering, and within its contents were the etchings and geometries of an involute tome. Disregarding the mechanical corpse, she would remove this grimoire from its bindings and slowly remove the quill. A moment later, three other blonde-haired Milalla armored in the effects of the local Yyasulani Hunters - and each boasting full masks of different colors - would emerge from the hole in the wall, waving down to their blue companion as though signaling her.

With a silent nod, she would take a deep breath before putting pen to paper, tracing her quill along the intricate glyphs as a circle of power began to form around her. As she traced, it would shift in color - from green, to red, to blue... and finally orange. Once this happened, she would complete her murmured incantation, slapping the page with an open palm before raising it into the air, completing the summoning...

... to reveal an orangish-brown Carbuncle. The Milalla pumped her fist in the air, silently reveling in her successful incantation; the three Milalla followed with applause. Their brief moment of celebration over, it was time to investigate the scene. The dapper Milalla arcanist entered the ruined establishment, ascending the stairs to be greeted by her compatriots surrounding a large orb. It was opaque in look and texture, with a white-to-blue gradient, and levitated several fulms from the floor. Any attempts to get near it would be repulsed by a thin tessellating barrier that shimmered periodically in and out of view.

Whatever this diminutive quartet was after, it lied within that massive marble. Opening her grimoire once more, the blue Milalla channeled aether into the orange Carbuncle, empowering it as it curled into a ball, spinning in place as it rapidly gained speed. At the height of its acceleration, it would propel itself forward, crashing into the orb. The resulting clash of aetherial signatures would cause a reaction within the sphere, shattering the barrier and eventually causing cracks to form upon its surface. The fractures would split and creep along the circumference of the orb, streaks of whitish-blue light escaping from the needle-thin spaces... until finally bathing the area in an ivory radiance as the orb finally shattered.

Some time would pass. It was now a half-bell before the bout.

Within the lobby of the Arcadion, the entire area was vacant save for a lone Milalla male, sitting upon a bench. His face was obscured by an argent helmet, with white tufts of fur jutting from the bottom end. His entire upper body was bare, revealing a rather lean form with some musculature, and even boasting six-pack abs. Finally, he had on a pair of ice blue brais that was tucked into a pair of sabatons.

About five ticks later, the double doors leading deeper into the compound would open; a Hyune woman with medium-length tresses and wearing in a tuxedo and skirt - all in white - strode towards the Milalla with a smile. Chained to her left wrist was a strongbox that was reinforced in some dark metal - different from that of electrope. Once within arm's reach of the man, she would take out a key from her inner breast pocket, freeing her fettered forearm and laying the case beside him on the bench, before finally greeting him with a low bow. As she rose from it, she would slide him a wink, to which he would simply respond with a curt nod of the head.

"Hello, North Wind," she began, "And welcome to the Arcadion! I am known as Howlita, and I have been chosen as your sponsor for this upcoming match-up. As you are aware, the Arcadion boasts a large roster of Alexandria's most talented fighters, and to proceed in any matches throughout the Ascenion Arcadia Championship, you will require a second to vouch for your skills. Fortunately, however, your opponent is not a champion, but is a combatant of the Cruiserweight tier, so further approval was required in order to authorize this coming duel. I have done extensive research on your abilities, and the higher-ups have deemed you worthy of participating in Alexandria's greatest entertainment venue! But with that out of the way, let us proceed to the opponent you will be facing shortly."

Gesturing towards the large phasmascape-like screens flanking him, they would begin to activate as if on cue, fading into a white screen that remained static for several seconds before it transitioned to his adversary...

"Your opponent tonight is the one and only 'Princess Diaspro', known by her peers and fans within the Arcadion as 'Gem Lancer'. Despite being labeled as such, she holds no true claim over the royal line, and it is merely a title she has earned due to her uncanny knowledge of gemstones and jewelry. As her name suggestions, she boasts some proficiency with the polearm, but contrarily, it is not where lies her true strength. She commands a wide variety of magicks pertaining to that of gemstones, which implies her true mastery lies in arcanima, bringing the full potential of gems to bear upon her foes."

Her gaze would shift from the screen to momentarily focus upon the strongbox with which she had entered. "The special gear contained within that case should help make up for your chosen combat style's inherent lack of ranged capabilities. Furthermore, as a reminder: Arcadion fighters augment their abilities with feral souls, with the potency and variance depending on the tier. The Gem Lancer is a contender of the Cruiserweight tier, and as such, has a rather unique feral soul that sets her apart from her peers. Through her influence, she gained clearance to command the powers belonging to that of a faerie-like creature, which enhances her manipulation of gemcraft and, of course, granting her the ability of flight."

After that rather in-depth analysis of the Gem Lancer concluded, the screen would then transition to the view of a round chamber, connected at both ends by tunnels which both combatants would enter. It was a resplendent battlefield glinting with floating jewels of all colors, shapes, and sizes. The ring itself was circular, and had upon its surface the silhouette of the Gem Lancer's head facing sideways. "The Arcadion also creates arenas befitting that of its fighters," Howlita continued, "and the area upon which you will be dueling her is known as 'The Glimmering'. The entire arena is crystalline, including the very floor upon which you'll stand, but it is durable enough to withstand heavy impacts, so fear of falling is nonexistent. As an affirmation, the boundaries are protected by invisible barriers; the Gem Lancer prefers a fair fight."

With the explanations finished, Howlita would turn back to the Milalla - known apparently as the North Wind - with a confident grin. "I was also told that you wish to face this Princess of Gems without a regulator - and without backup. That is very bold of you, sir, and while I am certain you have your reasons..." She would pause to flash him another wink. "... I should still advise you to use caution. With that being said, I will be watching the entire spectacle with much interest! Good luck, and have fun!"

Once more time would march on, and the hour of the battle had now arrived.

The crowd's cheers intensified upon the arrival of the Gem Lancer, her beloved fans waving signs and glowsticks frantically, eager to gain her attention. She kept a rather lofty disposition, her arms crossed as she maintained her confident strides towards the arena.

"There she is, folks! The Bejewelling Beata - the Princess of Gemlight - the dazzling and daring... GEEEEM LANCERRRRR!" cried the announcer.

From the opposite side, the Milalla, now fully equipped in his battle attire, gave off a faint shine as tiny lights danced around the cloth of his vest and skirt. Armed with naught but a pair of glowing Nyepels, he was intending to fight lance with fist.

"She will doubtless harry me from afar and above with her magicks. While my choice of discipline is not optimal against an opponent capable of flight, the Gemweave enhancements upon my gear should help weaken, if not outright nullify, some of her deadlier techniques. I will need to study and observe her closely, and force her into melee combat, where I will be able to strike past her defenses and wear her down," the North Wind said in his mind. He made his way out of the tunnel, meeting the cheers of the crowd - though not nearly as enthusiastic as that of his foe's.

"And the challenger: an underdog from beyond the barrier - the Monk that heralds a chilling tomorrow... THE NORRRRTH WIIIIIIND!"

Within the audience were the same four Milalla that were scavenging around Archeo Alexandria, all nodding to one another as they began to make calls on their linkpearls, engaging in hushed conversations - the details of which were easily drowned out by the roaring fans. At center stage, meanwhile, the Gem Lancer sized up her miniature opponent, taking note of his veiled appearance and seemingly unkempt attire, the faint glint irritating her eyesight somewhat.

"I can see why you'd hide your face so," she taunted: "such a garb made gaudy with shiny baubles will avail you little in this place! But I can tell you're the strong, silent type, so I'll give you that much. Still, you're rather brave or foolish standing before me unenhanced."

The North Wind simply brought his hands behind his back, staring down the Hyune from within his helmet. He did not seem to talk much, or was just laser-focused at the fight ahead. Whatever the case, she would toss her cloak in a dramatic fashion, people grasping at it wantonly as her regulator began to glow bright red. "Fine - don't try and defend yourself with words. Let your actions speak for you!"

"DIASPRO... GEMLIGHT!!" the audience cried as her entire form became enveloped in a cloud of orange sparkles. She would ascend into the air as her body began shimmering from her feet to her head; regular attire began to change form. As if completely swapping her color scheme, she now sported a dress out of an ivory bodice with a collar connected to it and a red skirt. Her maroon boots remained the same, only slightly longer, stopping just below the knees, and her puffy sleeves gave way to a red bracelet and hair piece. A pair of maroon wings with red tips formed on her back, and her transformation was culminated with a headband that was further decorated with jewels and feathers. With an outstretched hand she would gather a multitude of reddish-orange jewels that formed into her signature lance, grasping its shaft once it fully materialized before pointing it at her foe. The North Wind slowly placed his hands into his Nyepels - though not as flashy a response, he still got himself battle-ready as the bell sounded, officially commencing the start of the match.

Making the first move, the Gem Lancer raises her lance towards the ceiling, discharging a bright red light from its tip as she cried, "Gem Flash!" The Milalla would shield his eyes from the radiance, lowering his guard once it subsided - only to find that his foe had vanished! Ruling out that an invisibility spell was possible, the only obvious conclusion was that she sprung into the air in an attempt to confound him; he took this brief moment of calm to survey the battlefield for any immediate changes and noticed the outer edges of the ring surrounded by six clear crystals lying horizontally in the air - all of which began glowing a maroon color - possibly having absorbed the residual aether from her opening gambit.

Having deduced enough from his cursory glance, he would hop to his right, and about second later the center of the ring would be struck by a descending Gem Lancer, who sought to end things quickly with a dive. The North Wind would respond in kind with a wind-infused Shoulder Tackle, lightly damaging and forcing her back at least ten yalms before catching herself, her faerie wings beating rapidly to break her fall.

"Beautifully dodged AND countered! Looks like we have ourselves a battle!" the announcer commented. The Gem Lancer sighed, hiding her approval behind the disappointment that her opponent had his wits about him. Clearly she had counted on a quick end, but now it seemed she had to actually work for it. The North Wind, taking the offensive, charged at his recovering quarry, raising his right fist to strike. A straight jab to the ribcage would be in the Gem Lancer's immediate future, but regained her footing enough to avoid the assault with a frontwards flip, causing the Milalla monk's fist to connect with an invisible barrier. As the Bejewelling Beata landed once more on her feet, her foe would push off from said barrier, twisting around to deliver a downwards slam with his left fist; once more would the Gem Lancer avoid danger with a light hop into the air, leaving naught but another crack on the crystalline floor. The North Wind pressed the attack, jumping up to meet his opponent in midair before twirling to deliver a firm kick with his armored boot. In the nick of time, the Gem Lancer was able to erect a red barrier with an outstretched hand, but the defenses were meager at best given the short window, sustaining some damage as she was once again pushed back.

"The challenger's answered her opening move with his own flurry of attacks! But both combatants have barely begun to fight!"

The crowd's excitement ramped up as the initial exchange of attacks left everyone eager to see how the rest of the battle will unfold. With the measure of her foe now taken, it was time for the Gem Lancer to switch things up.

"Let's see if your vision is as good as your fists!" the Gem Lancer challenged, her voice echoing throughout the Glimmering. Swooping down through the center of the arena, the North Wind would duck out of harm's way as he turned around to notice the Hyune fighter had flown into one of the crystals; they would slowly raise right-side up, with the silhouette of the Gem Lancer made visible in the crystal with which she merged. The six crystals span rapidly counterclockwise, descending out of view for a brief moment before ascending once more, the reddened jewels now spread out evenly around the outer rim.

"Blink and you'll miss it, folks: here comes her Gemflare Dive! Let's see how the challenger fares!" the announcer stated. His gaze now shifting between any of the six crystals, the North Wind remembered the Gem Flash, and that these jewels would likely mimic that same ability. It was merely a matter of when. Facing northward, he relaxed his nerves and waited for a sign: the six jewels were still for now... but he would hear faint humming from behind him; the southeastern crystal was where she would attack.

With little warning, the Gem Lancer shot out from said crystal, lance pointed before her as she dashed across the center at high speeds. While the North Wind was able to successfully read the initial attack, the gem from where appeared his foe would begin shooting reddish beams into the air, showering the area in a rain of red lights. This runoff was unavoidable, however, so the North Wind shielded himself with his Nyepels as best he could to soften the blow. When the Gem Lancer resolved her dive, she entered the gem across from her whilst the previous one began to crack and splinter, until finally detonating into a flash of red light. Thankfully, the North Wind was not facing that direction, and the blinding effect would be nullified.

The process would repeat itself, with the remaining five gems spinning counterclockwise before spreading apart evenly around the field's outer rim. In the time between the next dive, the Milalla faced northward once more took to a defensive stance, releasing his chakra into aetheric patterns of concentric yellow rings; he braced himself for the impending laser rain with the Riddle of Earth.

A momentary pause... and another gem would resonate softly with energy to his immediate left. With a forward roll he would easily foresee the incoming dive, once more watching the Gem Lancer zoom by in a streak of maroon and ivory, followed by the harrying laser shower. Having sustained damage, Earth's Rumination was complete, and he would perform another series of gestures with his arms, answering with Earth's Reply to negate the minor injuries sustained from the initial two blasts.

As the Gem Lancer launched herself inside another gem, the North Wind turned to his right to avoid getting blinded by the exploding gem, and unleashed the chakra within his body to detonate a bluish blast of aether that would cause the two gems to the north and northeast to splinter as well, reducing the total to a meager two.

"The North Wind's not one to wait things out, it looks like! Clever!"

The announcer's commentary would be answered with applause as the two crystals would repeat the process one final time. As they would ascend from below, one gem stood along the east, and the other, on the west. It was at this time that the North Wind saw the glinting in his vest intensifying, having gathered sufficient ambient aether to be of use. With one final pause, he would anticipate the next dash... coming from the west.

With a knee-jerk reaction, he pointed his right fist towards the eastern gem, and several tiny beams of bluish light shot into the maroon crystal, turning it a deep violet. The Gem Lancer would emerge once more from the opposite end, heading straight for her opponent, who had but barely avoided the dive with a hop to the left. A loud thunk would ring as the Gem Lancer slammed into the amethyst crystal.

"OW...! What the -? How did you...?!" she said in astonishment, rubbing her head as she gazed upon her reflection. The Hyune would gasp lightly as the large jewel began to crack. Disregarding the exploding crystal from which she dove, this final one would shortly detonate as well, but it did not blind either combatant. Instead, it discharged a shockwave of purple aether akin to that of levin, sending both of them sliding across the floor; the two would break their fall, each dropping to a knee as the resulting blast immobilized them temporarily.

"Amazing! The challenger saw right through her Gemflare Dive, and even turned it against her! What other marvels await in this jewel-blessed bout?!"

The crowd roared once more with applause, urging the two fighters to continue. The blonde-haired Hyune grit her teeth through the paralysis, staring down her foe with a glare that belied both amazement and annoyance.

"So... it would appear that the rumors about you are true..." she grumbled. The North Wind did not waste his energy with a retort, and instead used this reprieve to allow his wounds to knit, feeling Earth's Reply wearing off. Once their paralysis would wear off, Diaspro would pick her lance up from the floor and call forth several oblong-shaped jewels of scarlet red, levitating above her head as she resumed with her sentiment, "but you are still unenhanced!" before charging towards the North Wind, her jewels now shooting red beams of energy to harry and distract him.

The Milalla was unfazed, having her right where he wanted her, and engaged in a melee skirmish with the Gem Lancer. As he had surmised from his previous briefing, her skills with the polearm were considerable, but her movements were telltale and easily readable; her swipes and thrusts would be deflected if not outright dodged, and though his own martial prowess easily overshadowed hers by leagues, her gift of flight helped tip the scales by quickly disengaging from any blows she could not otherwise avoid.

"A brawl of fist, lance, and magic! It's still anyone's game, with neither side letting up!"

The four Milalla were murmuring to themselves as the fight ensued, seemingly awestruck by how things have thus far transpired. Some moments into their discourse, one of the masked ones pointed back towards the action, noticing the North Wind was getting the upper hand, now leaping onto his foe with his strikes, but aiming for the jewels which provided fire support, shattering them to her chagrin.

With a strong punch to her midsection, the Gem Lancer would be pushed back towards the northern end of the arena. The anger welling within her was made apparent as she grumbled through grit teeth, dissipating her lance now and took to the skies once more, beyond the North Wind's reach. With arms outstretched, she called forth the jewels which floated around the Glimmering, those of matching colors forming together into large conglomerates - just an ilm or so shorter than a full-grown Milalla.

"Jasper... Garnet... Amethyst... Citrine! Emerge from gem-rest and bring me victory!" the Gem Lancer incanted, tracing geometric sigils along the jewels' surface with her finger.

"A bejeweled summoning! The Gem Lancer's calling in reinforcements!" The announcer's forewarning puzzled the Milalla monk, now intrigued by her... unusual methods of bringing forth aetherial constructs. He watched as he would now be surrounded by four large globes of light - one shooting forth from each crystal before landing upon an intercardinal quadrant. These intangible masses would soon take form into Carbuncles - slightly larger in size than the average familiar, and sporting bodies made entirely out of the gems from which they were born. The four larger gems, meanwhile, levitated idly before Diaspro, flanking her from either side.

The North Wind's gaze switched between the amethyst Carbuncle on his left, and the jasper one on his right. He remained still, trying to analyze this predicament before he found himself swarmed. All four maintained a mien of passivity as they stared down their Milalla adversary with their beady, onyx eyes. After making a calm step to the right, the crystalline quartet all took to a low stance, as if preparing to pounce. After a beat, their bodies would begin radiating their respective colors, giving the North Wind some unease. The Gem Lancer levitated calmly from her aerial vantage point, curious to see how her foe would fare this time.

"They're gathering aether from the surrounds..." the North Wind deduced in his mind. As before, the tiny latticed jewels within his battlegarb would glint - the counterattack was imminent. With his palms outstretched, he would focus his ire on the amethyst Carbuncle first - maybe due to a preference in color. Another array of bluish-white beams would fire upon the purple construct, shattering a thin defensive barrier before chipping away at its body. Soon, it would sustain too much damage to maintain its form, and dissipated into aether, transferring its gathered strength to the larger one which stood beside Diaspro.

"Hey! How are you doing that?!" she growled in annoyance, gathering another assortment of red jewels to assail him. "Stop that at once!" The North Wind kept his silent composure, taking note of the approaching rays as he rose his gauntlet in time to deflect them, sending the rays careening in all directions, with a few errant blasts striking the citrine Carbuncle to the southeast, leaving the garnet and jasper ones remaining. Seeing her attack fail once more, she seethed, tightening the grip on her weapon as the aether from the citrine Carbuncle would transfer over to the larger jewel.

With two more constructs remaining, the North Wind took to an offensive stance, a pinkish aetherial lotus blossoming several ilms above his helmed head. With a flourish, the lotus would disperse its beautiful petals, and enhance his blows - the Riddle of Fire has begun. With a graceful turn on the ball of his right heel, he focused his chakra as he wheeled around, punching the space before him with great force as a ball of icy flames would launch at the garnet Carbuncle. A delightful explosion of ice and fire would make quick work of the third construct, leaving the jasper one by its lonesome. He leapt into the air and rose his left leg, preparing to deliver a telling heel drop. Surprisingly, however, the jasper Carbuncle hopped to the side, avoiding a swift demise. The Milalla monastic, however, followed up with a radial sweep with his right leg, but the crystalline critter was light on its feet, hopping into the air to avoid the second strike. Clearly this particular gemstone was the Hyune's favorite to last this long. But despite these few extra seconds, its life would also prove ephemeral as the North Wind would drag his left fist along the floor, sparks forming along the spikes of the Nyepels before he brought it up in a sharp, explosive uppercut, unleashing The Forbidden Chakra on the airborne construct.

"No...!" gasped the Gem Lancer as the jasper one shattered before her eyes. With her quartet crushed, the aether they had gathered to the best of their abilities would be housed within their respective jewels. Now refocusing on her quarry, she waves her free hand as the four jewels began to glow brightly, looming over the North Wind as they surrounded him. "My friends have gathered enough aether to best you! Fall before my Gemlight Barrage!"

There was no getting out of this one, it seemed, as no other recourse remained for him but to weather the coming storm. With a deep inhale, the North Wind gathered himself, and as he exhaled, a cloud of cold air would permeate through his helmet, taking to another defensive stance, but unlike that of the Riddle of Earth. Instead, he spread his arms apart as spikes of aetherial ice took shape before him. Bringing his hands together with a robust clap of his gauntlets, the spikes would shatter, and tucking in his arms, the icicles formed mandala patterns around his very being, encasing him in what appeared to be a layer of frost.

"A never-before-seen technique from the challenger! But will it be enough to endure the Gemlight Barrage?!"

The audience watched with bated breath as they beheld the sight of the North Wind being battered relentlessly by her aetheric barrage. The Hyune combatant squinted her eyes as she tried to keep the North Wind in view, the deluge of beams obscuring him. This "Riddle of Ice" appeared to have been working with great effect, withstanding the brunt of the assault. Before too long, however, bits of ice would begin to chip and break, the shell of aetheric ice struggling to maintain itself. The Milalla within the crowds were especially concerned by how things would turn out as this appeared to be rather grim for the upstart.

With the last vestiges of their stored aether, each of the crystals would release a final, larger blast simultaneously, shattering the barrier of ice and moderately damaging the North Wind - his Hyune opponent giving a harrumph of approval, finally dealing a strong hit. A large cloud of smoke hid the North Wind from view, and the audience fell quiet, assuming the worst for the underdog.

"Is... Is it over already?!" asked the announcer, his clarion voice booming throughout the stadium. After a long series of beats, a bluish glow could barely be made out from inside the cloud. The Gem Lancer arched a brow, leaning forward slightly to ensure it wasn't just a trick of the light. The cloud would pulse a second time with that same bluish light, before she would behold a large snowflake headed straight for her!

She parted her lips with a gasp as she veered to the right, the icy projectile just glancing the left side of her head before detonating in a dazzling display of ice and snow. The cloud would be dispersed with a chilling breeze created from the North Wind's namesake: Ice's Reply. Though there were signs of visible damage on his gear, he was still standing.

The Glimmering would once again be filled with cheers and applause, the audience displaying their collective relief that the North Wind was still lucid. "A spectacular defensive gambit by the North Wind! He endured the endless fusillade, and even answered the Gem Lancer with a glancing yet firm rebuttal!"

With her still reeling, it was finally time for the North Wind to go on the offensive. Leaping diagonally upwards towards the Gem Lancer, he would charge for a fierce flurry, frozen aether gathering in his fist. In a surprising twist, however, a haze of purplish lines and sigils appeared between him and his quarry, and in a violet flash of light, he would bump into an outrunner - one of the mechanical constructs produced in Alexandria. It teleported into the fray, colliding with the North Wind's helmet with a clunk, and rebounding him back down to earth.

"HOLD!" the outrunner succinctly commanded with its adorable glove-like palms outstretched, the screen representing its face turning red with an expression resembling that of an agape mouth, as though shocked or surprised. The cheering quickly dissipated as everyone in the vicinity now stood silent, the referee now making its way towards the arena.

"There's been a call for a hold by the referee! What could this mean?!"

After softening his landing with an ukemi as he touched the floor, the Milalla monk silently watched the referee float past him from his knelt state, towards the southern edge of the arena. The Gem Lancer, recovering from his gelid attack with a hand on her head, opened an eye to view what was going on... only to gasp in terror at the revelation. Her fair-skinned features dimmed and her lips quivered; the Milalla quartet within the audience took note of her sudden pangs of dread, and huddled together, expecting a most shocking turn of events.

One of the numerous cameras within the arena would zoom in on the referee grabbing something off the floor, and as it turned around slowly, it unfurled its gloved hand to reveal it...

"Source detected: this regulator was destroyed, but combatant Gem Lancer retains her enhanced form! Awaiting this battle's judgment!"

The outrunner's screen would turn blue as it would now cycle through an ellipsis; the audience gasped, exchanging glares and whispers galore, utterly baffled by what they're seeing right now. As for the Milalla, their expressions were also of astonishment, but kept their eyes glued on the Gem Lancer. As for her opponent, his eyes went half-lidded beneath his helmet, turning his gaze from the shattered regulator, to the deliberating referee-bot, and then his quarry, who still flew high above the crowd.

When the Gem Lancer saw the revealed regulator, her heart skipped a beat. It was a vain hope that someone else's just somehow got shot off amidst the duel, but it would be all too plain to see when she removed her hand from the left side of her head where she had but previously endured the glacial blast.

"That regulator... Could it be the Gem Lancer's?! But if so, she would have been knocked out of her enhanced state!" the announcer blurted out. "The referee is now deciding on whether the match should continue, but what does the audience think?!"

"Let them fight, obviously," one of the masked Milalla - specifically the emerald-masked one - immediately answered aloud with a raised voice. "The Gem Lancer's a whole different breed of fighter if she didn't need the regulator to enhance herself to begin with." After a moment's pause, several onlookers began to nod in agreement with the diminutive damsel's sentiment, and a moment later they would raise their voices, clapping their hands and chanting: "Let them fight! Let them fight! Let them fight!"

The uproar would continue as the referee would resume its deliberations, but the Gem Lancer, still dumbfounded by this unlikely turn of events, could only feel herself welling up with anger, having her secret be exposed. Before too long into the chanting, the referee would arouse from its stupor, the entire Glimmering flashing a bright green as it waved its hands energetically, unintentionally tossing the device off into the scintillating abyss.

"The Gem Lancer maintains her enhanced form, and is deemed able to continue fighting. The North Wind has not been disqualified as a result on counts of foul play! Resume the match!"

The bell would sound once more, declaring the battle's continuation as the referee would fly out of view.

"WE'RE STILL IN IT, FOLKS! The Gem Lancer, despite no longer with her regulator, has maintained control over her feral soul! This is the caliber of warrior you can only find in the upper tiers of the Arcadion! But now we approach the climax! Will our upstart claim victory, or will the Bejewelling Beata give the North Wind a crash course on cruiserweight-tier battlers?!"

The announcer was chewing the scenery for all its worth now, with the audience cheering once more with renewed gusto. The North Wind gave a slight sigh of relief, supposedly thankful he did not lose on a technicality. But his patting of the back would be cut short as the area began to glow - from the numerous jewels to the very arena floor upon which he stood - and raised his head towards the source...

"You think to outshine me? The brightest jewel here - in her own home turf?!" a rather perturbed Gem Lancer exclaimed, her left hand conjuring a whitish-blue orb, whilst twelve larger cylindrical gems - no doubt one for each moon in a cycle - floated along the arena's edge, spreading out equidistantly in a manner not unlike her Gemflare dive startup. "You've gotten lucky this far, withstanding two of my special maneuvers, but THIS ONE's going to leave you dazzled and down for the count! Take this, 'Northern Upstart'!"

As she reared back her left hand, all but one of the four Milalla gasped as the realization just dawned upon them, with the blue behatted one merely bearing an intrigued countenance.

"Wait, is that--?" uttered the aqua blue-masked lass. When the Gem Lancer tossed the orb towards the North Wind, he knew there was no retreat, so the only other recourse was to face the danger head-on. Gathering the residual ice-aspected aether left behind by his previous counterattack, he would attempt to stop the projectile dead with a straight punch, only for the orb to splinter off into numerous smaller simulacra, surrounding him from all sides before materializing into a transparent crystal-like formation. Thus immobilized, the Gem Lancer called forth her jasper javelin, appearing in her right hand as she then began to fly clockwise along the edges of the arena, while also leaving behind a wake of faerie dust and driving her lance through each of the twelve crystals, shattering them and leaving behind a cloud of its aetherial signature. "It's the Moonstone prison! Look at that familiar sheen of white and blue!" the aqua blue Milalla confirmed.

"Worry you not, madam," the debonair Milalla reassured with a smile, "for I am certain the North Wind has a response for it."

"Ohoho! You know what this means, everyone! This could be the deciding finish! Get ready for the windup...!" the announcer blared out, heralding what may as well be the Gem Lancer's ace-in-the-hole. Once the Hyune would complete her lap around the Glimmering, she zoomed toward the far northern reaches of the arena, high above the crowd as she raised her weapon skyward, and the duodecim of crystalline remnants would be absorbed into her weapon, whilst a multitude of multicolored rings began forming a tunnel starting from her and ending just fulms away from the North Wind.

Her opponent seemed a goner, punching against this barrier of white and blue; though he had begun to make a few cracks here and there, it would not break in time for him to mount a proper defense against the Gem Lancer.

However... his battlegarb would, for a third time, begin to sparkle all over his body - this reaction was no doubt a result of the Gem Lancer's enraged state influencing the battleground, and empowered not only herself, but his latticed gear as well. The North Wind sheathed his Nyepels, gathered his chakra, and would turn the bluish lights a red-orange, altering its properties before thrusting his arms laterally, sending an omnidirectional blast of lasers that would pierce through the moonstone prison like a hot knife through butter, and ultimately freeing him from his predicament.

As the crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch, the diminutive duelist now stared down the kaleidoscopic conundrum that was the Gem Lancer's flashy, ultimate attack. Again, retreat was no option, and defending against a strike of this caliber would only spell his defeat. There was only one other alternative...

With a gentle exhale, he lowered his head and brought his right fist into his left palm. In his mind the area around him quieted to a low muffle as his chakra was being expelled into a small aura around him, a bluish-white flame against the multicolored radiance of the Gem Lancer. He seemed to have been... meditating? Ascending? Finding inner peace even in what may be his final moments?

Meanwhile, the polearm within the Hyune's hands had gathered all the aether it could, turning into a rainbow spear that vacillated ceaselessly with the borrowed strength of the other crystals.

"EVERYBODY!" the Gem Lancer shouted with a commanding tone, "WHAT IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND?!"

"G! E! M! S!" the crowd chanted.

"THE POWER OF...!"

"GEMS!"

After that brief call-and-response, she hurled her lance through the tunnel of rings, drawing closer and closer as everyone was practically jumping out of their seats to witness the inevitable impact. The North Wind, even with his visage obscured, remained the picture of calm, and when the lance would pass through the final ring...

... He pivoted on his right foot, turning ninety degrees to the left. This allowed the lance to miss him by mere ilms, but he would also reach out his right hand to catch the weapon mid-flight before it would touch the floor. The momentum of the weapon would cause the North Wind to spin at impossible speeds - so fast, even, that he had begun to levitate several fulms off the floor, which resulted in a rather impressive spectacle of a rainbow trail forming into a small pillar.

When he would eventually decelerate, he faced the Gem Lancer, her own weapon now being raised against her. And with his first utterance since this battle even began, the North Wind would give an addendum to Diaspro's claim:

"Actually... it's Diamonds."

... before returning the javelin to sender. Utterly dumbfounded for the third and final time, the Gem Lancer stood there in shock, only having enough time to bring her arms before her face in a vain attempt to shield herself. The lance would find its mark, and detonate into a fantastic display of multicolored stars and sparkles, with the North Wind touching back down with his back turned to the explosion.

The referee floated down toward the Gem Lancer's body once the gem dust settled, inspecting it from multiple angles for any signs of activity. After a brief moment, it would throw its gloved arms up and declare: "K.O.!"

"THE MATCH... IS DECIDED! VICTORY GOES TO THE NORTH WIND!"

The Milalla quartet heaved a collective sigh of relief, with the audience going ballistic over the bout they had all witnessed - fireworks and confetti had erupted all over the gem-speckled stadium, celebrating the conclusion of this brilliant duel. The North Wind, prior to taking his leave of the arena, would give gentle waves and flowing bows to the stands, returning the admiration in kind...

This concludes the main portion of this story. If you wish to read further for the denouement and big reveal, you are welcome to press on by clicking the "keep reading" line below!

With the battle thus concluded, the Milalla monk dusted himself off and began his slow trek down his respective entrance tunnel. Whilst his opponent was barely coming to, she could make out the diminishing visage of the Milalla, a dogged determination in her citron amber orbs to as his silhouette faded from view...

Soon he would exit the Arcadion proper after being congratulated by Howlita, who was standing by in the lobby and tended to any hurts he sustained prior to taking her leave. Now back in True Vue, he would be met with a venerable ovation from a large crowd of Alexandrians flanking the stairs which led to the plaza. He would acquiesce to some of his newfound fans' requests to take pictures with this rising star from beyond the barrier, and even struck a few poses for the crowd.

"Haha! That was an astounding spectacle!" the Hyune male said to his female Eldite accomplice. "Who'd have guessed the Gem Lancer possesses such power even without the regulators?!"

"I hope this gets published into the Cruiserweight's edition of AAC Illustrated!" she replied giddily.

Getting away from that section of Solution Nine about a half-bell's worth of time later, the masked monk relaxed at the Residential Sector, enjoying the pristine emerald grasses within the park as he reclined upon a bench. During this time he brought a finger to his ear, and a series of short chimes would sound...

"Listen closely," he said in a low tone, "the final part of this phase is about to commence. I will be keeping this channel open for the next few minutes. I ask that all listening find a place with minimal ambient noise and to remain silent until the discourse has come to a close."

A brief moment later, his solitude would be conveniently cut short as Diaspro would emerge in the distance, back in her normal, resplendent garb. Scanning the area, she would immediately single out the relaxing Milalla and ran his way.

"YOU! I demand to know who you are, stranger!" she demanded. The woman would only be met with silence, but only briefly, as the Milalla jumped from off his bench to face her.

"May we use a room first? I feel there is much for us to discuss, and privacy is recommended."

Diaspro looked at him quizzically, but did not deny the logic behind his response. With a reluctant nod she would lead him into the large apartment complex, where they would ascend the higher tiers of the electrope structure until they would arrive in what could only be Diaspro's private chambers - a gem-speckled domicile with an atmosphere not unlike that of the very Glimmering in which she just fought. The main distinction was that the decor had more faerie-like aesthetics, with silhouettes of the winged mischief makers lining the walls, and by her neat and well-kept (and jasper-lined) bed was the portrait of a fair-skinned Milalla with blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore the effects befitting that of a Nymian Scholar.

"You will have to forgive me for this..." the Milalla spoke once more as Diaspro shut and secured the door behind them. He would slowly remove his helmet, and the revelation absolutely shocked the Hyune so that she staggered, nearly losing her balance and falling on her rear.

"Th-Thiji...?! But..." she gasped. The very person she fought was none other than the Diamond Sultan himself - the same Diamond Sultan she had imprisoned and held hostage for the better part of a moon. "I've never met one capable of escaping my gemstone prisons! I should've known as much when you were able to do so during our battle... which means you've won free not once, but twice!"

"Indeed," Thiji responded, "but I hold no ill will towards you, so do not feel so alarmed as to call security. If you are wondering how I was able to break free - which I am certain you are - it is due to the very motivation behind your arresting of me: I have many allies, both near and far; within the barrier and beyond it. Much like how aetherial signatures can be countered with the proper opposition, so too can gemstones, which house their own unique signature. The prison in which you encased me was made of Moonstone - a whitish-blush opaque crystal. One of my Angels - who also happens to be my sister-in-law - has learned the ways of Arcanima enough to summon a Carbuncle of an appropriate jewel needed to weaken and nullify the prison - in which case would be Sunstone. Of course, other jewels are capable of achieving this result, but Sunstone was the best candidate for this purpose."

The explanation absolutely astounded Diaspro. It was no small wonder that he was able to fulfill all those feats of martial and magical prowess during their duel. But she also could not help but feel relieved knowing that she would not be met with a fierce retribution that may have culminated with her sudden... disappearance.

Slowly pacing the floor towards her nightstand, she would gaze upon the portrait of the scholar for a brief moment before turning to face Thiji.

"I suppose I should've known better than to challenge the mind of one such as you," she commented. "I've only begun to hear about your deeds, and I must express how intrigued I am to know more about you... But I know you're more interested in learning of me."

Thiji could only nod curtly as he made himself comfortable on her sofa, placing his helmet on the table before him whilst Diaspro took the framed portrait in her hands and planted herself on the side of her bed. Unbeknownst to her, four individuals stood guard some yalms away from the door outside her room - the same Milalla warband which rescued Thiji who were, in fact, his Angels: Veeveena, Veeveera, Veeveeja, and Umimi, specifically. With their own linkpearl transmissions cut off, they ensured that no one would interfere with the discourse between Thiji and Diaspro as she began to disclose the truth to the Diamond Sultan...

"As you may have guessed by what you have seen thus far, I am not really from Alexandria. And based on your prior knowledge of Arcanima, you are doubtless aware of the Age of Enlightenment - better known as the Fifth Astral Era. More importantly, this was the point in history that the War of the Magi began to unfold. In the years leading up to that great conflict, the Milalla - no - Lalafell who ventured out from the South Sea Isles would form the maritime city-state of Nym off the shores of western Vylbrand. One of those Lalafell was a man by the name of Skyon Klyon - a man possessing great intellect and compassion. His colleagues referred to him as 'Sky', but because he was also quite proficient with the axe and blade."

Thiji already had a hunch as to what this woman truly was, but he respectfully maintained silence so that she would divulge the entire truth for him (and his eavesdropping Angels).

"Nymian scholars bind and bond with faeries to assist in their stratagems, and Skyon was of no exception. But he saw something different in this one; she was always fascinated by the glimmer and glow of gems, as it was among the first thing she beheld when she was first summoned into the corporeal realm. He understood that faeries were more than mere constructs borne from aether - they are sentient beings, capable of thought and emotion, and it is because of this that the bond they shared was different from most. He made a study out of gemstones and taught this faerie all he knew about them: how they were formed; their unique aetherial signatures; how each brought their own beauty and contribution to the world, and even the very concepts they symbolize and embody. He took note of her heavier affection towards red and orange stones, and gave this faerie a name..."

"Diaspro."

Thiji softly spoke the name, to which the Hyune could only nod in acceptance. "How convenient, then, that most native Alexandrians tend to be named after minerals or gemstones, allowing you - a Faerie - to in perfectly. But you have divulged enough, and you are forgiven for your deeds-"

"Oh, no - I appreciate your clemency, but after what I've put you through, you deserve the whole story," she interrupted, rising from her seat to face Thiji after placing the portrait of Skyon back down on the nightstand. She then paced towards the glass windows which gave a wonderful view of the entirety of Solution Nine, watching the many vehicles fly by... "That is all common knowledge, though, and I am getting too far ahead of myself. I was actually first summoned during the time of the Fourth Astral Era, before the Age of Endless Frost took the realm by icy storm. Sky was among the first settlers on an island known as Aloalo to escape the Fifth Umbral Calamity and reach this plane, taking his knowledge with him. He did not go off to fight in the War of the Magi. Instead, he would serve in the Alexandrian military, putting his arcane and martial knowledge to good use, which earned him the battlefield title of 'The Specialist'. Being a faerie, I was a peculiar sight in this realm, but a unique one, and with my aid, we fought and won no small number of battles... but then the Storm Surge happened."

"Aloalo Island is a venerable trove of history, with no small number of means to experiment with Arcanima," Thiji interjected, which impressed Diaspro.

"You know of Aloalo, too?" she asked as she turned her head.

"I lent aid to an expedition there not too long ago with two others: a Conjurer of Stillglade Fane, and a... Light-infused Miqo'te, we'll call her, and have learned much during that time - about the origins of my own people, and of the very arcane gifts we shared with the rest of the world. But I will see about putting the remaining pieces together myself: this calamity of lightning occurred, and Skyon met an untimely demise - most likely due to the erratic storms, or valiantly defending the Alexandrians you've come to cherish."

The Hyune faerie nodded sagely, confirming Thiji's statement to be correct. He would then continue: "Normally a familiar's corporeal holdings rely on the aether of their master in order to persist, and when cut off, they would inevitably dissipate when that source is removed. But my findings in Aloalo have proven that even this can be prevented. Due to the incredible life and vitality that Aloalo Island still breathes into its environs from an ancient jewel, a faerie who now calls that place home has persisted long without the presence of their master - whomever they may be. That selfsame jewel was no doubt the reason said faerie continues to exist in the material realm - but how was it that you maintained your physical form? Was it through electrope?"

"Yes," Diaspro answered firmly, "and thanks to the Lalafell - or Milalla as they were then called upon inhabiting this dimension - introducing arcanima to the world, they were able to inscribe the runes upon the ore that granted its ability to convert lightning-aspected aether into other elements. When Skyon perished, I remained, recovering whatever I could with my tiny form and magicks and sought shelter. Over the years, I persisted on the electrope that became ubiquitous after the calamity, as it helped me maintain my physical form. During this time I would pore through the tomes left behind by Sky, learning all that he knew of arcanima, while also gathering any gemstones I could find so as to pique my fascination. I also honed my own skills in secret, gaining mastery over jewelry manipulation and gemcraft. With Everkeep's construction, I no longer had any cause for worry in regards to me losing my corporeal state, but I also needed to blend in with the other Alexandrians; I assumed a Hyune form as my own aetherial signature grew enough to support one, and adopted a regulator, but I never truly needed it, nor have I made use of it. My skills in glamours made it look as though I was using a feral soul to assume a new form when I fight in the Arcadion."

She paused, reaching into her robe pocket to reveal a soul crystal, etched in the familiar shape of a Scholar's, but lacking the symbol.

"Along with the grimoires I saved, this soul crystal is all that remains of him. It's how I was able to retain all the knowledge I've gained and even add my own experiences to it. I sensed a familiar presence when you came here for the first time, and thought it too good to be true that Sky had miraculously returned."

"That makes sense," Thiji replied with a cant of his head, "and given that faeries preceded Carbuncles, and succeeded the quaqua, you were eventually capable of creating your own familiars, combining the arcanima you've learned with your mastery of gems."

"Right again. And thus did I christen myself a 'Gemlight Faerie', and became the Gem Lancer as well as the Princess of Gemstones. I lived quite well among the Alexandrians, using my know-how of crystalline gleam to become a fashionista in my own right... Though the secret is out now, and I no longer need to keep up the facade. Everyone seems even more excited knowing that I've been relying on my own strength instead of borrowing power from feral souls; I never really condoned the use of them, anyway - thanks a lot, 'King' Zoraal Ja..."

Thiji would chuckle at the not-so-subtle jab to the late King of Resolve were he able, but now that the truth was revealed to him, he would consider his task complete. Hopping off the couch, he approached Diaspro with dignified strides, his hands behind his back whilst she pocketed the soul crystal once more.

"How would you consider serving under the Higuri Regalia, then?" he offered, to which only Diaspro could gasp in response. "Your knowledge of gems is unparalleled, and as a Faerie, you possess wisdom spanning many winters, especially after being stranded in Alexandria for so long; you would prove an invaluable asset to our efforts. Through us, you will become a Queen of Gemstones."

This proposition intrigued Diaspro greatly. The prospect of having a life outside the barrier was very enticing, and to see how much the Source has changed was also of considerable interest - to see Eorzea and beyond, and to interact with its various spoken societies. Now, after decades of living and learning in Alexandria, she would finally have that chance. Thus she gave her answer:

"Make no mistake... Your Eminence - I still have a duty to fulfill in Alexandria, especially now that my true self is revealed, and people will doubtless want to know more about me with enlivened interest. But I would not properly honor my former master's legacy remaining inside this dome - let alone Everkeep - for the rest of my days, and to be honest... this place could use a bit more pizazz. Your Regalia would be the perfect answer to that; our meeting was very auspicious, it seems!"

Concluding her affirmation with a curtsey, Diaspro would thus swear her allegiance to Thiji Higuri and the Higuri Regalia; the Diamond Sultan would nod in response before he would slowly make for the door, but would be stopped by Diaspro once more.

"If I may make a request?" she said with hand outstretched.

"Of course you can model for us, Miss Diaspro, and your request to contribute to my upcoming clothing line is accepted," he replied. Diaspro was dumbfounded, a stunned countenance made apparent on her features.

"You... can read minds?"

"No," he responded, "I've just been in this line of work for so long that I've gained a profound intuition on haute couture, and those looking to make their mark upon it. We both can agree that Alexandria will be looking forward to a shock in culture when they begin venturing beyond Yyasulani en masse, but even more so will they be astounded by the aesthetics of the various locales and peoples of this realm. I have learned much and more during my time spent on this continent, this New World, and witnessing its history through sight, sound, and word of mouth has opened my own eyes, in a sense. Every single person contributed to the greater picture that is now Tuliyollal, and even Alexandria was welcoming to the native races' own ways of life when the fusion occurred."

He would pause, turning his body to meet Diaspro's gaze.

"Tural. This is the breakthrough I sought. Not just Tuliyollal and Alexandria, but the continent as a whole, with its rich history and aesthetics - now blessed by the unexpected arrival of the peoples from another reflection."

"I like it! And I will ensure you that my own contribution will be worthy of your Catalogue," Diaspro declared with a bow. "My gemlight designs will wow natives and foreigners alike! But... this Queen-to-be requires rest, as this day has been eventful, thanks to you and yours!"

"On that I've no doubt," Thiji stated. "You will be granted your rest, and I again apologize for the measures taken to undermine you. We are pleased to have you with us, Miss Diaspro, and we will ensure you do not regret this decision."

Diaspro would finally be left to her own devices as the Diamond Sultan vacated the room, now greeted further by his mother and father, who voiced their eagerness to return home after being within these levin-inundated lands for so long. With the operation thus completed, the Higuri Regalia would begin making the necessary preparations to cross the salt, now enlightened by the experiences gained from their extended stay within Tural.

Perhaps in time, the Higuri Regalia may even have a branch in the New World. But that, like everything else, will be decided by the Spinner's own hand...

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