Speak with the spirit.

You don't doubt Party C's ability to kick ass, though they could be down there all night by the looks of things. Also, slapping around an elemental isn't going to get you any closer to your goal. So you near the top of the ziggurat in hopes of resolving things quickly, especially because where your body currently stands, the rest of Party A is waiting to enter a dungeon of their own.

As for Party B, you can only hope they're all right. That's another reason to expedite the situation. If they were to call you and need aid as well right now, that would be a problem.

You notice that as you near, the sands are attempting to attack you. Then one tendril stretches high above the rest, and you flinch as it lashes straight through your spectral form. You swoop down, stopping before the silver pillar. Now you can see that it rounds to the head, and the black shape you saw before seems to be some sort of strange obsidian relic resting within a compartment in the tip.

"Wait!" you shout with a commanding presence. "I'm here to talk, and I'm no demon." We don't have to bring up the title, though it probably doesn't help that Lady Vex doesn't have the same level of tact. And there's a literal demon down there.

The voice lowers itself to where it seems to be projecting from around you in a specific. "I cannot touch you. It seems... Hmm. You aren't here. This is some sort of scrying magic. How annoying."

"You woke up recently, right?" you ask.

"I did... Unfortunately for you, I think I've remembered how to fight. I was groggy at first. Now I'm just frustrated."

"Some bad people came to steal a key from here. They used it to release a dangerous creature. Thankfully, said creature is dead now, though it was used to empower another, even more dangerous one. We're trying to find who did it. Can you tell us anything about your thieves?"

"I can't simply trust your words. You may be seeking this key for yourself. It was entrusted to me long ago."

"So why have you slept?"

"I... don't remember," it admits.

You float closer to the pillar in the middle. "This stands out from the rest. What is it?"

"Are you searching for my weak points?"

"Is that was it is?"

"... N-No."

You peer closer. The odd, silver-like metal seems to contrast the obsidian relic on top, as if they don't belong together. It looks like its been forced inside. And while you can't touch it, you can feel a pulse deep within. Your Kitty Sense tells you that something is wrong, not that it senses anything from the objects themselves, but you get a strange yet familiar feeling from the spirit itself.

You then fly upwards again and shout across the battlefield. "I wanna try something! Somebody come up here, and try to remove the mysterious black relic from atop the pillar!"

"Excuse me?" the spirit snaps back. "What will that do... Have I forgotten my own weaknesses? Either way, I won't let you anywhere near the top of my temple!"

"Hah! Nice distraction, Kyle," calls Lynx from below.

You look down to see her sitting right on top of the aforementioned object, kicking her feet with a smug expression across her face.

"Wh-What? How?" the spirit stutters out.

"I'm the Spymaster of Castle Phoenix," Lynx answers. "And I intent to level-up on this quest. This has to count for some good experience, right? And if not, I'll at least get praise from Kyle. That might be worth even more."

Just as a tendril of sand darts towards her, it's cut short by Ariusia who only just reached the top of the steps. "Whew! I like to stay in shape, but I could have done with fewer stairs."

Rabbit's Foot comes up behind her. She nods in acknowledgement. "Oh. I should have said before, Ariusia. You complimented my suit. Ever since you put it on earlier, I really thought you looked pretty in that dress. Maybe get some underwear for it, and you have yourself some lovely new adventuring gear."

"I wouldn't really call it adventuring gear, b-but thank you," she mumbles under her breath. "I don't think it's very fitting on me though."

"So I just gotta pull this out, huh?" Lynx asks with hands gripped around the obsidian plug.

"If not, we'll figure something else out," you reply.

"Sounds good to me!" She groans and grunts as she pulls, and after a few moments, it finally moves.

The pulsing increases. "Uh oh," you mutter. "After you pull that thing, run!"

"Oh shit. Is it gonna blow?" Ariusia asks.

Mistress Dajy reaches the top. When she sees the situation, she smiles wide. "Oh dear. Yes. It's definitely going to blow, and I have a feeling it'll be a long time coming."

One yank, nothing yet. Two, it's almost there. Three... Pop! The second Lynx falls back with the hefty relic in her arms, she's knocked backwards by a ground-shaking explosion from within the pillar. A humongous geyser of sand fires up into the sky. It continues to sprinkle down for several minutes afterwards. Everybody on top of the ziggurat reels back, covering themselves up as piles of sand collect around them. It was a mighty burst, though everyone seems fine, and the remaining members of the group make their way up to figure out what the hell just happened.

Then there's silence. True silence. As in, the wind stops dead. The tendrils disappear. Compared to how it was before, it's a shock to the ears.

The voice finally speaks up again. However, its tone is far more mellow. You can't see a body, though you can sense it smiling. "Ah... I've finally returned," it says. "I'm so sorry, everybody. I don't know what came over me... or maybe I do. I'm remembering now."

"The thieves?" you ask.

"No. Far before that." Slowly, the sands rise above and begin to collect around the pillar in a swirling pass. The vague shape of a giant person forms around it. Though it still has no face, you believe that you're finally looking at what is effectively the spirit's true form. "I long protected this region of the desert until dark cultists came and drained me of my power. They inserted that cursed relic. I became so... pent-up and weak, that I feel asleep for decades. That is, until the thieves you speak of came and awakened me. I forgot myself. But now that I am truly released, I understand."

"We're trying to find the people who awakened you."

"As you said before. It's hard for me to remember, as they were fleeing while I was still opening my eyes, metaphorically sleeping. But let me guide you. In the morning, when the sun rises, I will help you find these thieves. And you, sunheart... thank you for relieving me."

Lynx looks down. "Should I wash my hands?" she asks under her breath.

"So you've got no quarrels with me?" asks Mistress Dajy.

"Let's not push things," says Lalarin nervously.

"Ah! We can take 'em if he gets mad," Bek assures her.

"That isn't what I was worried about.

The spirit falls quiet for a moment. Then finally, it speaks once more. "Hmm. I do still have a distaste for demons, but I'm willing to admit that not only can anybody change, but the world isn't the same as it was before I slumbered. I owe you an apology for attacking you during the corrupted state of my mind. Rest here, all of you. I'll keep you safe from the monsters of the night. Though with how mighty you all are, I suppose we may protect each other."

"Glad he gets it," Vex chimes in.

"And who are you, observer from afar?" it asks you.

"Kyle Warren," you answer. "But I need to get going now. We've won this time, but I need to follow the trail of two other keys. One will lead us to our true enemies."

"Trails are quickly lost in sand," it says. "But with me as an ally, I will make certain your party finds anything that may remain. Things no other being could hope to find. Nothing can hide from my eyes if it were once found in these dunes, Kyle Warren."

"And what was your name?"

"It's been so long... but the people simply called me the Guardian of the Sands."

"Sandy it is," says Vex.

"Listen to me when I say this, because I have a serious warning," you say. "Xavex the Evolving is hunting down powerful beings like yourself. He's killing them for their power. Please don't make yourself known yet if you can help it. Not until we take him down. Otherwise, he might come here next."

"I appreciate the warning, Kyle Warren," it replies. "I'll heed your words. It seems I've stumbled into something serious, and I feel increasingly embarrassed that I slept for so long."

"Ah it's all right," Bek says. "I sleep in sometimes too. Anyway, you gave us a fun fight."

"You seek glory in combat."

"I do, I suppose. Enjoyment might be the better word."

"And to better yourself. You remind me of the sunhearts who once came here to pray. I owed them then, and I owe them even now, given the skillful hands of your ally."

"You guys gonna be good now?" you ask.

"Yeah. Thanks a ton, Kyle," she says, twirling the FONE around between her fingers. "You be safe though too. Tell the others I wish them luck."

"I will. Goodnight, Lynx. Rest well, everybody."