Sever connection.

The Throne Room is nearly clear. They're safe. Before things get worse on the rooftop, you sever connection to your Arcane Eye to once again focus fully one the matter ahead. Before you can make another move, Mipa bolts forwards with a deafening battle cry--surprising to come from such a small body. It isn't ALICE who intercepts, however. It's Meti. The hairs on the back of your neck stand up, but it's too late to stop it. Without breaking a sweat, the djinn withdraws a tiny transparent cube from seemingly nowhere, and she whips it straight at the charging goblin.

First, it expands. Then it passes straight through her like nothing happened. Though it stops around her, and Mipa smacks up against the side of it, now trapped inside. It then begins to shrink once again. She slams her hands up against the interior in panic, though thankfully it isn't about to crush her. She shrinks as well. The cube returns to its original size before floating back into Meti's hand. She now has a brand new pet--the world's tiniest goblin.

Not only that, but Meti holds up a second cube. There's a figure already inside of this one. It's Linzeri.

"Do not get any closer!" shouts Mela, floating above. "The djinn is full of many tricks. She is responsible for disabling the Shard of Draconax, and now she has two of our allies held hostage. She said that if we were to do anything, she would crush Linzeri in her hand. I am not certain if that is how the magic item she possesses works, but I dare not take the chance."

"Damn it," you curse. "Meti! What are you doing here? Why do you care what Lord Vraelion does?"

She remains silent, but you stare back at her with a piercing gaze. She's incredibly difficult to read, but you feel as if something is off. She's an ally to Elok Daven, so it makes sense she'd aid somebody like Lord Vraelion if he were to be considered an ally too, though to crush Linzeri and Mipa alive seems ****. Granted, I don't know a lot about her, but she hasn't done anything like that before. She might be bluffing.

"Let them go," you demand. Your tone is serious and strict. If their lives are truly in danger, you're not here to mess around.

"We could play a game for them," she says.

"Not in the mood," you snap back. Then you slowly bend your knees. You arch forward, as if ready to pounce, though you're still quite a distance away.

ALICE inches closer, putting herself between you and Meti with her shield raised.

"I said not to try anything," says Meti. "And I meant it. Once Lord Vraelion is finished here, I'll be on my way."

You look around to your allies. Alice. Mela. Chula. Chini. Chila. Patricia. Klava. Raleza. Brizi. Vodrani. With this amount of powerful friends on your side, you shouldn't have any trouble against a mere two opponents. Once you're able to defeat them, you can reactivate the Shard as well, which should push the battle even further into your favour. Your eyes stop and lock onto the tiny Linzeri and Mipa. The former has given up on trying to escape, and merely watches with her arms crossed, though the latter is smashing her axes hard against the interior walls.

"Drop them," you demand once more.

"I must follow my orders," Meti responds.

You steel your mind, take a deep inhale through your nose, and reach a state of calm focus as you breathe it back out. Slowly, you slide Lauo back into its scabbard, though you remain in position to sprint. As carefully as you can, you watch each and every movement made by both the ALICE and Meti behind her. You look to your allies once again, and then to the beetle locked onto the side of the Shard. Finally, you take one last breath in, hold it, squat farther down, and then...

Bunny Hop! Space warps around you, but your concentration is intense. Reality snaps back almost immediately, but you find yourself immediately on the other side of the ALICE heading straight towards Meti. Neither can even react in time. You reach out with both hands and tackle the djinn by her arms. Both Linzeri and Mipa tumble from her grasp, and the two of you go flying straight off the side of the castle roof.