|| Port Isolde ||
|| Southwestern Rosaria ||

"Come in, come in!" Lord Byron enthusiastically urged the woman into a room with a large fireplace.

When the door closed behind them, Lyra bowed politely. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Byron."

The man smiled from ear to ear. "It truly is you, Lady Edelweiss. I remember that hair and those eyes from anywhere. Oh, how your father would be mesmerized at how beautiful his daughter has become..." He cleared his throat. "It is also hard to forget the girl my dear nephew is fond of. Those little glances of his gave away his true feelings when you last visited with him all those years ago."

She giggled. "It seems everyone was aware of his feelings except for myself."

"He was clearly distraught when we spoke earlier. Shall I fetch him for you, my dear?" Lord Byron offered.

"If it is not too much trouble."

"Not at all! Wait here. I'll return with him shortly."

Lyra watched the man leave before wandering over to the window. She gazed up at the glistening moon that peeked through the dense clouds. Its brilliance graced the port with what little light that could pass through the gray clouds. Her thoughts ran back to what Indra said and felt anger bubbling in her veins. She clenched her fists, only to unclench them moments later at the sound of heavy footsteps rushing down the corridor outside the room.

"Slow down, boy!" She heard Lord Byron shout. "She's not going to disappear into thin air!"

She found herself smirking in amusement. "You'd be surprised, my lord..."

Even though she was looking at the door, it still startled her when it suddenly opened. She jumped a little before smiling at the man she had caused such distraught. From his expression, she could see a mix of relief and desire. She was about to say how much she missed him but found herself being engulfed in a warm hug.

He clung to her as if she would disappear if he let go even for a second. "Thank the Founder..." he whispered.

She wound her arms around his torso. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

"How many more heart attacks must you give me before you are satisfied?" he teased.

She laughed at his question. "You're quite sturdy and can handle it. After all, you will most likely have more before all of this is over with." Her cheerful demeanor shattered as she told him about what happened. "I did not go willingly with Indra, but it allowed me to speak with him. What he said was...disturbing, to say the least."

Lord Byron cleared his throat to draw their attention. Realizing he was still there, the couple was slightly embarrassed. They pulled away from each other.

"F-Forgive us, Lord Byron," Lyra said.

Lord Byron grinned. "Nonsense, my dear! You both are joyous to be back in each other's arms! I could not fault you for that. Though, I would recommend the spare room if you wish to continue."

Clive sighed. "Uncle..."

The lord guffawed. "Go on, nephew. Take your lady to your room!"

Lyra turned bashful as she covered her face with her hands. "By the Heavens..."

Knowing his uncle was insistent, Clive gently took one of her hands and pulled it away from her face. "Come on."

She nodded and allowed him to escort her to the spare room Lord Byron lent him for the night. When they entered the room, she was taken aback.

"If this is a spare bedroom, I cannot image what the master bedroom looks like..." She muttered. Even her room at Rosalith Castle was smaller than this.

With the sound of the door closing behind them, Clive knew it was safe to talk about the corrupted god. "Where did Indra take you?"

"The heavens," she answered, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Time flows differently in the heavens. One can spend a few minutes in the heavens and a few hours pass on Valisthea. Indra and I only spoke for a few minutes before he returned me to the Lazarus."

Clive sat next to her. "And he did not harm you?"

"No," she replied. "We simply...talked. Hard to believe, I know. It seems he is allied with this "Ultima." As for how he found me, well...he confessed he could find me anywhere. He somehow is able to locate me regardless if I use the power of prayer or not. No place is safe for me..."

He took hold of her chin and turned her face toward him. "You are safe with me. From now on, do not leave my side. Never go somewhere I cannot follow."

She stared deeply into his sapphire eyes before lowering her gaze. "That...may be an impossible promise. There will come a time I must face Indra alone. I'm sorry, Clive."

"No," he denied her apology, slowly releasing her chin. "Perhaps what I desire is too selfish."

She grabbed his hand with a small smile. "Not at all. I understand wishing to stay by the one you love, but there will be times where we must stand on our own. But when that time comes, know that I will return to you." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek before pulling away. "It's getting late. We should rest."

"All right." Clive stood up and started to strip off his armor so he could get comfortable.

Once Lyra was free of everything she needed to sleep comfortably, she returned to the bed and flopped down on her back. Her golden locks fanned out behind her and she closed her eyes. She felt the mattress dip under Clive's weight as he climbed onto the bed.

She didn't open her eyes until she felt a hand on her cheek. She was greeted by the sight of Clive's handsome face. She could see the mixture of fondness and disbelief in his eyes. She gazed at him questioningly as his fingers caressed her cheek. "Is something wrong?"

"Once again, I find myself questioning if you are real or simply an image conjured by my mind," he confessed. "Are you certain you are not a false image I fabricated to trick myself?"

"This again?" She asked, surprised. "Even if I do this?" She pinched him on the cheek with a smirk, making him chuckle lightly.

He grabbed the hand she used to pinch him before leaning down and kissing her on the lips. It was a chaste kiss, one he wanted to give her the moment he saw her. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

She placed her hand on the back of his neck and twirled a few strands of his hair around her finger. "Though I would enjoy for this to continue, we should sleep."

"Yes," Clive agreed. "We have a long journey back to Bennumere."

|| The Hideaway ||
|| Central Storm Deadlands ||

A day later, Clive, Jill, Lyra, and Torgal were back at the hideaway. While Clive went to speak to Vivian about the Iron Kingdom and Jill paid a visit to Tarja, Lyra went to her and Clive's chambers to check on the morganbeards.

After ensuring they were growing well, she went to check with Nigel, the head botanist. He excitedly told her about his purchase of various seeds that would come in the next delivery to the hideaway. She was looking forward to decorating the place with flowers once the seeds arrived.

Leaving the backyard, Lyra searched for Jill and found her by herself next to the lift. She saw the distant look on her face as she stared across the lake.

"Are you all right, Jill?" She asked worriedly.

Jill looked over at her friend. "I'm afraid I will not be able to achieve what I must when we depart for Drustanus."

On the way back to the hideaway, Lyra learned Jill wanted to head to Drake's Breath to face her past. She knew the woman had no qualm with the Mothercrystal but the men who worshipped it. Because of Vivian, she was familiar with the leader of the Crystalline Orthodox and all he had done. "Are you frightened you will not be able to kill Imreann?"

"You do know him," Jill said. "But no. I am worried he will escape before I can finish the job. He must pay for what he has done."

"I'm well aware of what that man has done, and he deserves to pay for it all. If he escapes, we pursue him."

"I will kill him," Jill proclaimed before turning to the goddess. "It's what I need to do to put the past behind me. What I need to move forward. And I know that I can do it...if you and Clive are there beside me."

Lyra smiled at her. "We are with you, Jill. Whether it be to face the past or the future, Clive and I will always be with you."

"And I'll be beside you both, too. We'll bring down the Mothercrystal together. All while Cid looks on."

"I'm convinced the three—" She heard Torgal bark while making his way over and she corrected herself. "Apologies. The four of us are inseparable. I would even say Cid would have agreed."

"We'll make him proud," Clive said as he overheard the last bit of the women's conversation.

Jill and Lyra smiled at the man.

"Was your chat with Vivian fruitful?" Lyra asked.

"Very much so," Clive replied. "Are you two ready?"

Jill nodded. "Yes."

A smirk manifested on Lyra's face. "Dismantle a cult and destroy a Mothercrystal... Sounds like a normal afternoon for us."

Torgal barked as if in agreement. Her words made Clive and Jill grin in merriment.

"Let's go," Clive said.

|| Drake's Breath ||
|| The Iron Kingdom ||

Three days on the dot, they were aboard the ship Lord Byron promised and crossing the Boiling Sea toward Drake's Breath. Jill was using Shiva's power to conceal the ship with mist.

Clive was sitting on the edge of the ship with his hand outstretched, amazed at the mist. "Useful trick, freezing and thawing the spray to make mist. How did you learn to use your powers like this?"

"The Masters made me do it when the Crusaders took to the seas—to keep the fleet's movements from prying eyes," Jill explained.

Suddenly, Jill winced and groaned in pain. Clive got to his feet to check on her while Lyra came up behind her to see how she was doing. She placed a hand on her friend's back and asked, "Are you all right?"

Jill smiled reassuringly at the goddess. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not," Clive remarked.

Jill clutched her hands to her chest. "This may be the only chance I get to go back. My only chance to put things right. I have to do this—whatever the cost."

Clive was more than supportive. "All right."

Lyra moved to stand in front of Jill. She placed her hands over hers. "The price you have to pay—perhaps I could give back what has been taken once I have absorbed more Mothercrystal shards."

"Thank you, Lyra," Jill replied. "But if I must regain what has been lost through the suffering of another, I do not want it back."

"The shards do me no harm, I promise. It may take time, but I will give back what has been taken from you and so many others."

"Then I shall believe in you as I always have," Jill smiled.

Eventually, they drew close to Mt. Drustanus. Through the fog, they could see the brilliance of the Mothercrystal.

"There she is," Jill said. "The Iron Kingdom's Mothercrystal."

"Drake's Breath..." Clive murmured.

"Time to see it crumble," Lyra stated.

Boarding a rowboat, the party continued toward Mt. Drustanus to remain undetected. They arrived on the shore a few minutes later. Clive jumped out of the boat before helping Jill and Lyra out. Torgal leapt out of the boat and landed next to the younger woman.

Clive looked around at the landscape. "Strong currents, sharp rocks...and aetherfloods. Let's not forget them. This island is a natural fortress."

"But safety breeds complacency—allowing a single rowing boat to slip in unseen," Jill replied. "The Sanctuary is inside the mountain. If we follow the old trail, we should be able to enter by the back gate."

Lyra gazed at the volcano. "We've got quite the trek ahead of us."

"All right. Let's go," Clive said, taking the lead. As they proceeded up the path, he commented, "I always imagined when I came here, it would be to reclaim it."

"It used to belong to Rosaria, didn't it?" Jill asked.

"Once. Though it's been in the Ironblood's clutches for far too long."

"As was I. For thirteen years, this rock was my home. I know its secrets only too well."

"So bleak..." Lyra muttered as they crossed over a narrow makeshift bridge.

"Not an enthusiast?" Jill questioned.

"Not even the slightest."

"Did you not help create this world?" Clive inquired.

"I did, but my specialty is greenery—forests, pastures, flora. Landscape such as this was not my doing," Lyra said. "Though even in conditions like this, life does find a way to thrive. However, I cannot comprehend how the Ironblood would choose to occupy such a location where vegetation is impossible to grow. They must rely heavily on importation from Creag Loisgte."

"You would be correct," Jill confirmed. "Without imports from the capital, only the monsters on this rock could survive."

"Perhaps it would be best to leave this place only to the monsters."

Heading further up the path, they soon encountered an aetherflood. The blue wisps of aether floated through the air as it washed out the glow of the Mothercrystal and the volcano. Through the first gate they entered, they came across Akashic enemies. They cut the enemies down before pressing on.

Proceeding up the sloping path, Clive and Lyra were surprised at a sudden earthquake. Jill, on the other hand, wasn't shocked. She explained they were common and they continued forward.

They advanced through more groups of Akashic enemies until they arrived at an area that was flooded with water. In the center was a strange pile of sticks.

Jill looked around in surprise. "Look at this place. What a mess..."

"Wait," Clive said, stopping everyone. He picked up a pebble and tossed it at the pile of sticks. It bounced off the sticks and disturbed what rested beneath it, an Akashic Morbol. Its large form breached the surface of the water and was ready to attack.

"It's turned!" Jill shouted.

Clive stared at the large creature. "Nothing a Shield of Rosaria can't handle..."

"An echo of the past," Lyra said as she readied her talismans.

"Yes," he agreed. "Just like old times."

Her talismans were set ablaze. "Just as Stillwind, we shall be victorious. Let's do this."

Although the Akashic morbol was much stronger than the morbol Clive and Lyra fought at Stillwind, they were able to stand strong against the creature with Jill and Torgal with them. They avoided its foul breath and other attacks and were victorious.

With the area clear, they moved on and found themselves inside the mountain. The temperature was high and the magma lit up almost every corner of the volcano.

"It's like a furnace in here..." Clive groaned.

"We're inside the volcano. You get used to the heat," Jill said. "Though I don't remember it being quite this hot..."

"The Mothercrystal may be affecting the volcano," Lyra stated. "If the Mothercrystals are connected, then the destruction of Drake's Head may have triggered a reaction with the other Mothercrystals. And if the temperature is rising..."

"So is the magma," Clive concluded.

"We'll need to be quick," she replied. "We wouldn't want to be caught in the eruption."

Deeper into the volcano, there was another earthquake. This one was much more intense than the previous one.

"Was that one cause for concern?" Clive asked.

"It was," Jill responded. "And they're getting bigger. Something's wrong. I fear Lyra may be correct about the Mothercrystal."

The group fought against many monsters and pushed through the heat of the rising temperature of the volcano. They soon came across a bridge where magma was spewing onto it, blocking their way. Clive was about to search for another way around when Jill stopped him. She semi-primed and used Shiva's power to block the magma flow with ice, allowing all of them to pass before the ice melted. With that obstacle out of the way, they continued their trek through the volcano. 

Eventually, they were near the Oratory but their path was blocked the moment a large lizard jumped out of the magma and screeched at them.

"One of the demons!" Jill shouted. "But they never leave the lava..."

"The rising magma may be causing distress," Lyra commented. "This volcano is close to erupting..."

Drawing their weapons, the battle began.

The flame lizard was large, but they had the skill and numbers. Even when the demon started to spew magma at them, it didn't stand a chance against them. They were victorious. It tried to cling to the rock, but it slipped. Its body plunged back into the magma.

Jill sighed as she wiped the sweat off her face.

"Are you hurt?" Clive asked.

"Just hot," Jill replied.

"Your face is quite red," Lyra commented.

Jill looked at the blonde. "And you aren't even breaking a sweat. Does this heat not bother you?"

"Temperature has no effect on my body. Neither heat nor cold bother me."

"Goddess..." Jill mumbled with a small nod. "Right..."

Lyra looked over at Clive and noticed he was barely sweating. "You are hardly sweating, but perhaps it is due to your affinity with Ifrit."

"Perhaps." Clive handed the waterskin to Jill.

She gladly accepted it. "Thank you." She opened it and took a gulp of water.

Clive looked in the direction the flame lizard had vanished. "Quite a commotion our friend made. Let's hope the guards didn't hear it."

Jill turned around to gaze at the nearby ladder. "The gate to the inner chambers is just up there. Then we make for the Sanctuary."

"Excellent," Lyra said.

Jill turned back to her childhood friends. "I need to finish this. Before the heat finishes me." She handed the waterskin back to Clive.

He took the waterskin and put it away. "Hear, hear."

Lyra placed a hand on Jill's back and provided her with a small amount of healing to cool down her heated body. The silver-haired woman was flabbergasted when she felt her body cool down. Seeing the blonde smiling at her, she smiled back.

Pressing forward, they left the area where they fought the flame lizard and headed toward a ladder.

"We'll enter the Comraich by the handmaidens' living quarters," Jill informed the others. "It was always a hive of activity."

"Sounds like we'll have a hard time staying out of sight," Clive stated.

"We won't have to. There's someone there I should very much like to see."

"An ally behind enemy lines?" Lyra asked.

Jill nodded. "Yes."

The group scaled the ladder and quietly snuck through a door to enter the Comraich. They crept through the halls until they came to a stop at the sight of many people.

Among the many faces that passed and didn't notice their presences, Jill recognized one woman and called out to her. "Lady Marleigh! It's me!"

Marleigh heard the woman and gasped in shock when she saw who it was. "By the Mother... Jill? It can't be!"

Jill hastily walked up to the woman and grabbed her hands with a smile. "It is, my lady!"

Realizing there are too many prying eyes, Marleigh said, "We cannot talk here. Come with me." She quickly guided Clive, Jill, Lyra, and Torgal to a storage room where it was quieter and no one else was around.

Clive and Torgal stood by the door just in case someone were to enter. Lyra was glancing around at the various crates while Jill and Marleigh hugged each other.

"I'm so glad you're safe!" Marleigh breathed a sigh of relief.

"And I you," Jill replied.

Marleigh pulled away from the silver-haired woman and grabbed her arms. "Whyever would you risk coming back? Are you a fool, girl? Or have you grown tired of your freedom already?!"

"Forgive me, my lady," Jill apologized. "But...I had to come back. There are things I left undone. Tell me. Where is the Patriarch?"

At the question, Marleigh looked away. "At this hour, he'll be in the Comraich, giving thanks..."

"You mean—Oh, that fiend," Jill hissed. She quickly turned to her childhood friends. "Clive, Lyra—we have to get to the Sanctuary. Now."

"Understood," Lyra replied.

Jill turned back to Marleigh and grabbed her hands pleadingly. "Lady Marleigh... You must flee this place. Gather your things and go."

"Now listen here, Jill—" Marleigh tried to protest.

Suddenly, the sound of imperial crusaders shouting in their native tongue came from the hallway outside the door. They were drawing closer to the room they were hiding in.

"We have company!" Clive warned the others.

"It seems someone divulged our presence," Lyra added. She then looked over at Jill and Marleigh. "We must leave before we are caught."

Marleigh rushed over, grabbed a wooden plank, and placed it through the door's handles to prevent the Ironblood from entering the room. As the men on the other side started banging on the door and trying to open it, she backed away before running to the other side of the room. "This way."

Clive, Jill, Lyra, and Torgal followed the woman.

Marleigh opened another door. "Follow this passage. It leads straight to the Comraich. Go on, stop dawdling!"

Jill smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you." She then grabbed her hands and squeezed them. "You were always so kind to me. My light in the darkness. Take care, my lady—please. You deserve better than this. A long and happy life. Promise me." She then let go of her hands and exited the room behind her friends, casting one last smile at the woman before running down the passage.

Before falling out of earshot, Lyra heard Marleigh say, "I'll live. If you promise to do the same."

Traversing through the passageway, the group encountered many imperial crusaders. One by one, they cut them down and cleared the way while heading to the sanctuary.

As they were ascending a stairwell, Jill broke the silence between them. "Clive, Lyra, there's something I need you both to know. I saw the Patriarch do things no one should have to see. And so I swore that he would die by my hand."

"We understand," Clive replied. "I faced my demons—and you must face yours."

"It seems we shall face our pasts, but..." Jill glanced at the goddess. "What of you, Lyra?"

Lyra came to a stop as she thought about her past lives. She had freed the souls of the Fallen whom she had unknowingly trapped with her anger, but there was only one figure that haunted all of her lives—Ultima. And now, Indra was allied with such a devastating entity. "My demons... I shall conquer them in time. They are strong and I'm afraid I am not strong enough to face them yet."

Jill walked up to her. "When that time comes, we shall be standing by your side just as you have for us."

"I..." Lyra remembered what she told Clive that night in Port Isolde. There would be a time when she must face Indra alone, but that didn't mean she was truly alone. The thought of him alone allowed him to be there with her just like Jill. "Thank you, Jill. And you, Clive... Perhaps I haven't yet realized just how deep our bond goes. Even if I must do something alone, you and Jill will still be with me in spirit."

Clive and Jill smiled at her.

Suddenly, Lyra was nudged in the leg by a wet nose. She looked down to see Torgal gazing up at her. She laughed and stroked the top of his head. "You as well, Torgal." She glanced back at Clive and Jill. "Let's go."