Gauge the trouble.

Though your journey to Tanver's Crossing has been cut short, you have every intention to return, especially knowing that William Cresswell is currently on his way towards Castle Phoenix without any word on his reason. The entire region southwest of here he considers to be his domain, so perhaps to him, you were the first to make a move. The difference is that he claims to own what other people already have. Right now, you stand on the grounds of your actual home.

After your party briefly recovers from the dizzying transportation of Bunny Hop, other residents begin to collect around the are near the inner castle's entry gates--where you've all landed.

The first to approach you is Yin. As she was standing nearby, she has no reason to teleport, so instead she hurries over, and by the way she moves, you're glad she chose to swap her maid outfit to one a little more risque. You hold your arms open, and it's like an an angler fish's lure to its prey. She leaps straight into your embrace and buries her head beneath your chin, rubbing her face back and forth against your neck. The warmth of the devil's skin feels pleasant.

But she then blushes deep crimson. Not at all meaning to have done that, she backs away with heavy breaths. She straightens her skirt, clears her throat, and curtsies politely. "Oh. Oh d-dear. I don't know what happened there, Master. One minute I was coming over to greet you, and the next I was throwing myself at you. That was very unprofessional of me."

"I offered," you say. "And I'd be sad if you didn't hug me, Yin. So not only should you not apologize, but you better come over and give me another one."

Her spine straightens as if your words alone have stimulated her nerves enough to tense her body. After swallowing nervously, she once again tackles into your embrace, though she squeezes you tighter this time around. You grant the same in return.

You run your fingers down through her soft, dark hair. "So then." Then, with the girl still in your arms, you look westward towards the sky. "I see what you were talking about on the FONE."

Literally speaking, Laputa is still quite a distance away, though because of the landmass' size, it looms overhead enough to cast a dark shadow upon the land, and it's difficult to tell at first, but the gap is narrowing. It's being steered in your direction. It doesn't surprise you that he'd want to make a grandiose entrance. It just bothers you that he hasn't sent a message.

You pull Yin to her feet and ask, "Anyone say anything? No messenger sent in advance?"

"Huh... Wha--?" She looks lightheaded from all the attention you've given her.

"Nothing yet," comes the voice of Fang. With hands on her hips, she stops short of you and stares bothered to the fortress above. "Just in case, we also sent word to Nyllia. She was out adventuring, but wow, those FONEs are handy, huh? Said she'd be here as quickly as possible."

"Yin," you call.

Finally, the devil maid straightens up again. "Y-Yes?"

"I need you to grab that magic mirror. The one that lets me contact William and Vex." And in the past, Elok Daven. "Maybe he'll answer. If he doesn't, I'll leap up there myself."

"Yes, Master!" After a salute, Yin vanishes into a plume of black smoke.

You wave your hand through the dark mist left behind by the devil's teleportation and step forwards. You then look to the others--Niki, Eva, Amara, Xiaoqing, and Snow. Various other faces approach, curious as to what's happening. Then you notice Fang fiddling with some paper in her hands.

"What's that?" you ask.

"I'm glad you asked!" Fang smiles wide and holds it up for you to see. It's another drawing, this time of Lady Nyllia Tesgella, templar paladin and seasoned adventurer.

[Link to image]

"Oh. She got a gear upgrade too, huh? Awesome," you respond. "Can't wait to see it in person."

"You'll love it, Kyle. Laira got some elven blueprints, and they worked together on the design. For the most part though, she's been out doing quest stuff. You know, she's always been famous to anyone who knows anything about adventures, but I think it's different now. You got yourself a noble, righteous paladin, slaying evil and protecting the innocent, but doing so in your name. People talk about that."

"It's true," says Snow. "Word before was that she was a fallen angel, corrupted by the Demon King into some kind of anti-paladin, but a lot has changed. I believe that she's done a lot to help cleanse your reputation as well as her own."

Lynx steps over. Before speaking, she casts her hood back and runs her hands up through her hair to the twin pigtails she often wears. "I've been trying to do the same. Maybe I should say we. Spies are good for many things, but nobody thinks about their ability to spread information."

"Looks like I have a lot of catching up to do on my thank-yous," you say.

"No need! It's part of the job. And it's what we want."

Poof! Yin reappears. She hugs the enchanted mirror against her chest. Though an impressive magic trinket, you haven't used it for a time. It became increasingly sketchy by its link to Elok Daven, and even now, there's no way to eliminate the possibility that Breiah won't use it for something strange. Now that you have these FONEs, you'll have little need for it once you distribute them to the others. That being said, the FaceTime is a nice bonus. You wonder if there's a way to repurpose that for another miracle of magic technology.

"Thank you, Yin. You're the best," you say. After taking it from the blushing girl's hands, you slide your hand over the refection of your face staring back. Then you cast your eyes towards Laputa--the fortress in the sky. William may have a flying castle, but you don't dismiss everything you have either. You started from nothing. People made fun of you for what you wore, and how you acted, and now you stand in the center of an entire village of people who refer to you as their king or their hero, or something much deeper.

After focusing your mind on the mirror, you reach out to William's side. It sits for a time--not long, just a couple minutes, though the stress doesn't help. Then finally, your face is replaced by a window into another side.

William Cresswell stands with the mirror in one hand. You can tell he stands outside by glimpses of blue sky just around the corner of his castle's exterior, as well as by the heavy winds that blow back his opened white coat and hair slicked flat back over his head. The sun's light shine bright off his greenish silver breastplate. Two blue crystals to perfectly match his eyes hang from his ears, and as always, his fingers are adorned with rings, most noteworthy though is the thicker band of silver and gold--the one you've seen consume the life-force of more than one opponent the two of you have faced together.

"You're wise to have called me," he says. Though your a far distance apart, you can feel his piercing, analytical eyes locked to yours like cold chains bind them together.

"You're not so wise to have rolled your entire lair up to mine without a single word."

"It's a method of transportation, like a horse, or an emu. Whether it was Laputa or simply a few of my people, nothing would have been different. I'm on my way to speak with you in person. Not everybody can simply hop to any destination in the world they wish. Don't take that wondrous power for granted."

"So why now?"

"I was in the area, and certain things have come up that I'd rather discuss face-to-face, and not through a fancy mirror."

"You could have used the mirror first, you know."

"We shouldn't necessarily have to tell the other everything we're doing, correct?"

"... Are you seriously upset that I entered the land you claim to be yours?"

"Do I look upset to you, Kyle? No. I'm not. Don't worry. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't have a conversation. If it's fine by you, I'd like to do so outside your walls. Mine as well. It doesn't have to be fair. Let's say, just one hundred feet down the road from the gates. We both bring a set number of allies. It isn't that I don't trust you. We should just both be careful in what we do, considering the dangerous game we play."

"This isn't a game. And don't think I've forgotten about Grenmila, or the spying, or the secrets. You're right though. We both need to be careful.

"Levels. Classes. Magic. Elves. Dragons. Kyle, this is the game world we've only seen in our dreams. As for Grenmila, I've already apologized, and assured you that she wasn't following my instructions, but I won't say you're wrong to be upset with me. You have spies as well though, Kyle, and you'd benefit from having more secrets. I'd rather you remember the times I've aided you in slaying Demon King Sa'dis, or Demon King Daven."

He's right. As reserved and mysterious as William might be, he does always come out to help. "We'll be discussing some more recent happenings."

"That we will. So, how many allies would you like us both to bring? I'll let you choose. Any number."

"I'll bring four."

"Spoken like a true dungeon master. Then I'll gather mine, and we'll meet you at the aforementioned location momentarily."

You nod, and the mirror reverts back into nothing more than a reflection. As soon as you motion to hand it off, Yin is already there to take it. She smiles and nods, and she bows her head as she retreats to the side.