The sun continued its slow descent toward the horizon as Hiro and his group packed up their very few belongings and proceeded out of the remnants of the northern gate of Takkar. The survivors appreciated the admittedly little help they could provide until another village sent assistance.
Nall, unfortunately, still could not muster up enough strength to transform back into his dragon form. On foot, the five humanoids and the dragon-cat began the lengthy trek to the northwest towards Nota.
"Horrible... just horrible," Gwyn muttered as he stumbled along next to his grandson. No other words were necessary and neither Hiro nor Lucia nor Kuyo provided any as their minds tried to impede the horrific memories they now held.
The dark elf Midia, however, still occasionally mumbled as a conversation continued within her mind. The others took no notice of it except for Lucia still keeping a wary eye on the strange humanoid.
"Tell me about this world of Vecanti, Midia," the elegant voice requested very properly.
The dancer thought her words in response to the presence.
"I know not the origin of our world, but I do know how it formed a balance with two other worlds - the Human world and the land of dreams. Vecanti was also known as the Dark world... but I feel that was an unjust moniker. Our lands were perhaps a little more shadowy as less light from the sun seemed to pass through our skies. We were not a world of evil though... many races lived on Vecanti in harmony: dark elves, dark harpies, centaurs, reptilian peoples to name just a few in addition to humans."
Midia half-glanced around quickly just to take in the surroundings before she continued speaking within herself. The slowly darkening grasslands north of Takkar were quiet and devoid of any wild creatures.
"Our peoples," she continued, "Lived as any other civilizations do. Magic flourished as did a little technology... or so I've heard, as my home was a somewhat remote region of Vecanti. Just like the other two worlds, our planet had various climates strewn across its surface. A zone known as Iceworld represented the tundra areas that I've heard of on the Human world. I, on the other hand, lived in an area with few forests on the edge of a vast desert.
"It was a very warm area, but we were a warm, friendly people living day to day... away from the mistakes of the royalty of Vecanti..."
"I understand those mistakes... power of that magnitude comes with a price and corrupts that which should be pure... this I know well and am still sorry for..." the voice responded, taking on a tone of sadness as it grew silent.
Midia grew a little uneasy, feeling that her words had caused this unhappy remembrance in her 'companion'. She tried to improve the subject a little.
"This world feels like Vecanti though, albeit a bit brighter. And from what little of the peoples I've seen, here I find that only our multiple races differ. Perhaps my people could have been happy here if this had been the place we were relocating to. So nice..."
The voice remained silent.
"I don't exactly know your past yet... but I will not pry if you do not want to tell me," Midia continued. "Whatever you had done, you must have also performed great good deeds as well to clean away those sins if the being that selected to bring us together had chosen you to guide me... and I am thankful for that decision."
"Heh, heh, heh... even without hearing the story you are able to see behind it to the heart of the matter," it replied with a short chuckle, "I shall tell you that which I never wished to recall again..."
Midia listened intently, oblivious of her surroundings.
"Yuck... that's one big pile of gore," Kuyo spoke, pointing as they passed it.
"That huge lizard seems to have either killed or scared off nearly all of the denizens of these lands," Hiro answered.
Lucia suddenly slowed down her trotting, her attention diverted from glancing at the dark elf to the pendant around her neck. She placed her pale palms around it and concentrated.
"Lucia?" her love quested, noticing her odd expression.
"Hm... Nall, are you strong enough yet to change into your true form?" the Guardian of the Blue Star asked.
The winged cat currently sitting on Kuyo's shoulder hopped to the ground and flexed a little. He groaned and concentrated... suddenly, a white light enveloped them all and Nall yelled.
When the flash subsided, there was Nall... in human form.
"Sorry guys... still not enough power to get bigger than this size," he apologized.
"I forgive you... oops," Midia answered, though not looking at Nall or the others at the time.
Lucia glanced at Midia once again, then back at her golden accessory.
"Sorry," Midia spoke through her thoughts again, "but I do forgive you... I understand what your intentions were then and I can see your kind and hurting heart displayed its true side when you gave up the chance at more life and power at the side of a greater evil. You sacrificed everything you had been given back to help what you really felt for... I admire your heart to do such a thing. Though they were not directed at me at all, I feel those sins you once did... but your true soul shines through the past. Even if this goddess of Lunar and the Blue Star never openly forgave you, I do..."
"I thank you for your feelings, Midia. Your words make the 'dark' title of your race truly a misnomer... so pure... in a sense, Althena did forgive me..."
The dark elf smiled, enraptured in the tone of such a benign being. She didn't even notice the quite large rock sitting in the grass that she was currently walking straight towards.
Lucia had been feeling that strong, familiar presence nearby gradually increase in magnitude and her attention had been fully diverted toward Midia. Hiro and Nall shrugged the question of why she had asked Nall to test his power again and resumed their northern march.
The blue-haired girl caught sight of the rock and noticed Midia still in a pseudo-stupor. As the dancer wore no footwear, Lucia expected her to either stub her toes or trip once she encountered the rock and then perhaps 'wake up'.
She didn't expect to feel the presence grow stronger... nor to barely see a shadow pass over the rock with the darkening skies around. About two steps away from Midia's bare foot colliding with the object, Lucia saw it suddenly knocked away as if kicked.
"Beware... I know how much we want to converse but you must not be so withdrawn... the Guardian is watching us closely, Midia," the voice spoke to the elf.
Midia nodded, noticed the rock that her toes almost smashed into and then looked up at her companions. Lucia just turned away from staring at her in time not to have their eyes lock.
"I think we best teleport to Nota now," Lucia said quietly.
"Teleport?" Gwyn muttered inquisitively.
"TELEPORT?!" Kuyo asked loudly, "You mean we could've teleported around this whole time instead of wasting our time walking?!"
Lucia looked down at her pendant.
"I'm sorry. Until this moment my pendant did not have enough power to enable us to do so... Hiro, repairing the crystal that brought us here took a lot my magic stored within."
Hiro nodded, understanding the reason for the delay. "Yes, that's why it couldn't be used. It was too weak."
In a huff, Kuyo tapped the toe of her boot on the ground.
"Okay, okay. I get it... let's warp there and get some rest finally..."
Lucia raised the pendant above her head and shut her eyes tightly, thinking of the city they were about to transfer to. A magnificent flash of colors surrounded them for a moment and then they were gone.
The cold grasslands were empty once again...
Anti-Leo watched the flying minions bring the huge nets of purple-colored crystals down into the interior of the Mystic Ruins.
"Excellent... the mistress shall be even more pleased once she sees that another crest has also been collected."
He felt a slight tingling throughout his body as his two comrades, Anti-Ronfar and Anti-Lemina, joined him on the roof with a few winged Pipers and Necro Knights.
"I have a bad feeling I know what's happening," the former muttered aloud.
Sure enough, DarkStar's spell wore off... and within a few moments the doppelgangers skin was shimmering a light blue once again.
"Nuts," Anti-Lemina said, "I hope the boss can make that nega-nifty spell permanent... we could practically replace our 'other selves' if so..."
"If we don't mistakes with our big mouths, that is," Anti-Leo corrected, watching two more flying minions descend carrying the remaining two doppelgangers.
"What a waste," Anti-Jean sighed as she dropped onto the roof, glowing through her new clothes.
Anti-Ronfar whistled as his eyes scanned her literally from head to toe.
"You trying to seduce someone now?" Anti-Lemina scoffed.
Anti-Hiro interrupted as Ornah's mage henchmen came onto the roof. "Nah, she just wants to make sure her dress is the same as that of her double the next time we do any undercover work... it helped give us away last time. Plus, well, she does look even sexier now, doesn't she?"
The false Jean smirked and playfully pinched Hiro's clone's cheek... then slapped it hard.
"Ow! That was a compliment you maniac!"
"Ahem... doppelgangers of Zophar, we have more visitors apparently," the Necromancer interceded loudly, seeing the approach of Haranne and KOMUSHA from the east. Apparently they were deliberately flying to the ruins opposite from where their target had been from.
Haranne landed gracefully... dripping blood from every feature on her form. Her eyes stared off into nothingness. The metal titan proceeded within the tower.
"Ah... Mistress?" the mage quested as the doppelgangers were stunned at her appearance.
DarkStar spoke through the creature.
"I see my spell has worn off... tomorrow, it shall be a permanent part of your substance. My vessel has been tempered with enough hate, death and carnage to keep it mine... report all that has happened since my departure."
The Necromancer stammered, "Ah yes ma'am, er, sir..."
"I expected to get here earlier," the half-breed Leo spoke as he, Khalidah, Alisia and Jean walked through Nota to the inn on the west bank. It was very late in the day with the sun halfway past the horizon in the distance.
"True, but at least we can get some good rest and healing finally," the green-haired dancer responded with a slight grin.
Khalidah remained silent but looked around a lot, taking in her first sights of a (living) village of Lunar.
"I hope we can get Frye and the others in though... I'd hate to leave them outside while we're all warm and cozy in a nice bed," Alisia Dragoon said aloud.
"You better worry that Frye doesn't eat Chirper or Eindon," Jean noted, trying to cheer up her companions a little. Alisia and Leo grinned but Khali remained her usual somber self.
A few minutes later, the party entered the inn and Leo paid for a pair of rooms with the large stash of silver he had found in his adventures. The innkeeper, a burly middle-aged man, agreed to bring up some food after he dealt with the patrons in his bar area.
A group of guards and other men of Nota were 'relaxing' in the bar as the quartet passed by and peered within. The barkeep had his hands full as the men were drinking away their troubles... primarily the threat of town attacks all over Lunar. A small handful of musicians played a soft tune on their lyres, pipes and drums next to an empty stage.
"Wow," a hairy man near the door remarked with a drunken belch as he saw them step inside for a look, "Is that the entertainment?"
Khali looked slanted at this person as the innkeeper came up from behind and spoke. "No, these are just customers... I assure you the entertainment will be here soon... just enjoy the music till then."
"Too bad... like to see the nice legs of those gals up there..." the inebriated patron responded, gulping down more wine.
Leo shook his head as the group walked up the stairs. He was visibly holding in his anger. "That's no way to talk to about a lady-"
The innkeeper interrupted. "I know, I'm sorry. It's just they're having so much trouble these days... plus the entertainment already sent a message saying they'd be late... I don't know what to do but have them try to relax and keep things calm..."
"Drunkenly calm, that is," Jean added with a frown.
The man nodded knowingly. "I'll bring the food up in a bit... enjoy your stay."
The foursome entered the room Leo was to have. It was quite spacious and the beds looked comfortable. They immediately went to the window and threw it open.
"Frye! Whisp! You down there?" Alisia yelled out the window into the alley behind the inn. Sure enough, the dragon and the other creatures appeared out of the shadows they had sneaked into over the city wall.
"Come on up," the sorceress said with a smile.
Uneasily, Chirper and Eindon climbed onto Dragon Frye's scaly back and the drake flew up to the window, soon followed by the ball of fire.
"Very well, I'm going to rest my arm... it's still very stiff even after the healing bestowed by the Goddess' statue. The animals will stay here with me so you ladies may have your privacy in the other room," Leo said with a yawn.
"Good night Leo," the trio of women said almost at the same time. He wished them pleasant dreams as they left and went to their own room next door.
One hour later, another group of individuals entered the Nota inn. The innkeeper was not as his desk as Hiro and the others looked around.
"Hmm... a lot of noise from the bar," he noticed.
Kuyo just thought of something very pertinent as she glanced at her companions.
"Um... does anyone have any silver to PAY for a room?" she said with a frown. "My money pouch is gone... those bandits must've taken it."
Hiro glanced at his grandfather. "Gramps... I gave all my silver to Lemina before I went to the Blue Star. Lucia certainly doesn't have any either," he said.
Gwyn reached for his wallet and realized that he had never brought it... that mechanical adversary had attacked and kidnapped him before he could gather anything. The Dusk Blades would've stolen it anyway.
Nall broke in. "No cash here either guys... I usually don't need to carry any around, as you can guess."
"Midia?"
The dark elf shook her horned head. "I barely arrived here before I met you guys... no currency whatsoever."
"Arrived... never mind," Kuyo muttered. "How are we going to afford even one room to get a rest?"
They were interrupted in their worries by the sound of the innkeeper returning from the bar area.
"Hello there folks. Sorry to keep you waiting but we're having a little trouble in the bar with the entertainment coming late tonight. What will it be?" he asked.
"Um, sir, we were looking for two rooms for the night and a nice meal but-" Hiro started.
"Entertainment... if I entertain your guests with my dancing till the real entertainment comes, may we receive the rooms and food in return... is that a fair trade?" Midia interrupted.
The others looked at the dark elf inquisitively. The innkeeper scanned this person that appeared to be only a very fine looking half-beast to him. Her odd clothing left little to the imagination... but it did seem like something a dancer might wear.
"Certainly. The cost of repairs if they got too rowdy would be well more than the fee for two rooms. I hope you're a good dancer though... they're kinda impatient right now," he responded.
"Midia, are you sure you want to do this?" Hiro asked.
"I am a dancer, Hiro. It'll help me keep in practice at the very least," she replied with a smile and then glanced back at the keeper. "Would you be willing to let my friends in their rooms now? As you can see, they're very tired, especially my friend's grandfather."
The man looked at old Gwyn and consented to let them rest even before she did her thing for the patrons. It was a nice thing to do at least for an old man.
They walked to the entrance of the dark bar... it did not have much illumination except at the bar itself and near the stage. The number of men there was lesser but they seemed wilder by far.
"Don't worry, my friends. I can take care of this," Midia said with a grin as she looked inside. "You go relax and I'll come up in a few hours when I'm done."
Hiro shrugged and thanked the elven dancer. "We really appreciate this Midia... if you need us just call."
"I think I'll hang around the bar too... maybe get a drink," Kuyo added as Midia entered the room and things suddenly got a little quieter.
Lucia tilted her head at Kuyo. "How will you get a drink with no silver?"
"Believe me, I know how to get a drink out of a guy," she said with a rather mischievous smile, then glanced at Midia walking toward the stage. "I'll also keep an eye on our benefactor here. Get some rest Grandpa."
Gwyn nodded with a grin in response and started up the stairs followed by Hiro and Lucia.
Nall hung around for a moment or two.
"You know how to get a drink out of a guy... I wonder how," the human form of the White Dragon jested. "We need to talk sometime..."
Kuyo laughed, "Heh, heh. Sure... after you're nicely rested and strong. Don't worry about me either... I can handle a bunch of drunken men in my sleep."
"I bet you could," he answered with a grin and followed the others up.
Kuyo cracked her knuckles and entered amidst a few whistles directed at Midia as she stepped onto the lit stage.
Midia murmured to the musicians for a few seconds and waited for the music to start, half-glancing at two tables: one where Kuyo took a position to chat with some drunken men and another empty one away from the patrons... where she knew he sat to watch...
"You know what?" Alisia remarked as she lay on her bed in their room illuminated only be a pair of candles.
Jean, standing and looking out the window, and Khalidah, simply sitting in a chair nearby, both glanced at the red-haired woman.
"I could go for a drink after all I've been through here on Lunar... experiencing a new world, meeting new people, zapping minions of evil, almost being eaten by a giant lizard... sorry Khali," Alisia continued.
"No apology necessary," the protector of Azura responded, watching Alisia swing her legs off of her bed. "I don't even know what kind of drinks you have here on Lunar."
Jean turned away from her view of the Blue Star and her thoughts of the skies above, noticing for the first time an odd musical theme coming through the floor.
"I know we shouldn't get drunk, but I think a little relaxing couldn't be bad for us. Plus I haven't experienced your drinks here either," Alisia said with a grin as she strapped on her sandal-boots.
The music was getting to Jean... it was very different from what she was used to dancing to. The beat was slow and enchanting.
"Sure. I don't see what harm could come of it... and I really would like to hear that mystical tune more clearly," the dancer answered.
The trio of females opened their door and left the room.
"That's right. It sounds like the entertainment arrived finally... they'll probably leave us alone down there at least... that tune sounds cool too," Alisia responded as the group moved to the stairs and then down them, hearing the melody get louder as they approached the bar area. The sound of drunken laughter and cheering blended with claps below the volume of the music.
They stood in the doorway of the bar to see it half full with men illuminated by candlelight. Lamps shone fiercely atop the bar and in front of the stage. The flames illuminated a slowly spinning form performing there.
Midia's eyes were currently almost shut as she half-mouthed words going along with the melodies surrounding her. The musicians had taken her requested types of themes better than she hoped. Sweat dripped from her forehead around her horn as she moved her head and limbs in rhythm with the tunes.
Her blades and ponytail swirled around as she alternated spinning motions with a belly dance. The whole dance routine was already planned in her mind and she had already been performing for over an hour with a few breaks for the musicians. Midia herself was barely tired.
Her invisible friend remained silent through each movement of her dance, listening to her sing the words in her mind (she was only mouthing the words outwardly). She could hear his clapping and compliments during each break.
"Beautiful... your skill is remarkable and your grace is dazzling... the only creature that I have ever seen of your ability from the other side... IS OVER THERE."
Midia almost lost her timing as her eyes snapped open. Her gaze moved from the 'empty' chair she had been focusing on between scans of the cheering crowd toward the doorway. Three individuals stood there, all young women with their mouths agape. The one of the left was taller than the others with very unusual purple hair and a very tattered tan outfit and cape. Her gaze was more inquisitive than amazed. The one on the right had wild red hair tied back in a quite long ponytail and an equally wild outfit. The center girl...
"...Is Jean, a dancer friend of Hiro and Lucia with a spotted past. Be careful with what you say to her right now," the voice informed.
Gyrating her stomach slightly to the theme, then taking a spinning step to her left, Midia replied, "Let her know that I'm with Hiro?"
"...Not yet. There's no need to interrupt your performance... please continue as she poses no threat to us... continue to flow as you've done so well."
Midia smiled as she raised her arms above her head, motioning with them almost like serpents.
The trio stood motionless for a few moments, just taking in the amazing style that the dancer on stage was using. Alisia noticed a giggling, drunken woman in very skimpy armor with bright green hair lounging in the midst of a group of equally inebriated men at a table on one side.
Jean was thoroughly enchanted and found herself shifting her weight along with the music from side to side. Khali glanced slanted at her companion.
"Jean?"
The young woman began shifting her hips in the same rhythm and taking small steps toward the side of the stage.
"Such... such a different style," Jean muttered, her green eyes locked on the figure moving atop the raised floor.
Her companions looked closely at the other dancer.
"She's not human... looks kinda like Leo with a more ornate horn and finer features," Alisia said looking at Jean's movements. "Jean? What are you doing?"
"I can't help it... I must learn and experience it... I thought I knew nearly every style on Lunar," Jean said almost in a daze as she walked slowly forward.
"This'll get interesting... find a table Khali. I'll order some drinks," Alisia said grinning as she walked toward the bar. "It is a very unusual style..."
Khalidah looked around and found an empty table near the stage.
Alisia Dragoon found both the innkeeper and the barkeep ready to serve her.
"I see the entertainment arrived, eh?"
"Actually, she volunteered to perform for these guys to pay for her room. We got lucky I guess," the innkeeper noted.
"You definitely did... and she's entranced my friend. I think the show is about to get even better. We'll have three drafts of... uh... hm... what do you recommend?" Alisia asked, not knowing what sort of drinks they had on Lunar.
"I know just what you gals will like," the man responded and began to pour a smooth red liquid into some mugs.
Khalidah sat down at the empty table and noticed one chair had been pushed out. Something in the back of her mind told her not to sit there... she almost felt a presence there. She sat at another chair and watched the stage.
Jean stood shifting her weight on the floor next to where Midia danced. The latter made a decision inwardly, wanting to see the human girl dance herself. Smiling, she beckoned with a clawed finger for Jean to join her on the raised platform amidst cheers from the dark crowd. Jean in return motioned that she didn't want to Midia to leave the stage yet...
Each began to dance in their own style to the same music, each with their eyes watching the movements of the other dancer. The patrons of the bar loved it.
Jean pulled her fans out and began going through her steps in tune to the themes, her eyes scanning each motion that the pointy-eared female made from her tilting head to her stretching feet. Midia in turn kept close watch as the green-haired dancer waved and flowed to the melodies encircling them. They were taking in the styles of each other... learning them...
Khalidah raised her feet onto the table as they were aching from the long walk to Nota as Alisia sat next to her with the drinks and took a sip.
"Wow! I wish I could dance like either of them... all I can do is a sort of wild style that I picked up from Frye and his family. Whoa... this stuff is potent," Alisia said, looking into her mug. "It's very good, but I don't think I should drink more than half... it could knock me on my back by then."
Khali went to pick up her cup when she felt something brush quickly against the bottom of one of her feet. She immediately brought them off the table in response to the tickle... but saw nothing to have done the action. The strange girl looked at her companion and then at the pulled out chair where she could swear she saw the shadows moving. She glanced at the chair as she gulped the fluid... almost hearing a soft chuckle hidden below the loud music.
By now, Kuyo had noticed what was going on... and she didn't care. Her acting had earned this reward.
Alisia began to clap along with the music as it suddenly augmented in tempo. The beating of the drums and wild nature of the pipes mimicked the two dancers as they began to show their skills rapidly. Jean and Midia began to incorporate the styles of each other into their own and the display was wondrous to behold.
Jean blended the gyrations of Midia's limbs and torso into her own fan dancing. Midia's spun on her steps and flowed elements of Jean's style all the way to tips of her blades. The mix was perfect and they began to interact on stage, stepping and spinning along each other, intertwining their limbs and even exchanging their fans and swords in mid-step without any errors.
The drums continued to thump as the pace picked up. Each was sweating with intensity and exertion... but always smiling as they glanced out on the audience.
Everyone, even those that were 'intangible', had never been treated to such a skillful exhibition as they were now watching...
The dancing spectacle seemed to last forever. Actually, the show only went on for an hour or so after Jean had joined. A musically thunderous climax ended it with a lot of flamboyant jumps and one final step into their last poses. The cheers of the group watching were deafening when it finally ended. Alisia and Kuyo were on their feet clapping as Jean and Midia shook hands and bowed several times before descending to the floor.
The innkeeper came right up to them and thanked each (in addition to giving each a small pouch of silver as a gift for such a performance) and then started to mingle with the men there... trying to coerce them out eventually.
Jean and Midia walked over to Alisia's table, toweling off the hot sweat from their tired forms.
"And I thought you just wanted to RELAX here, Jean," Alisia said with a laugh as she placed on hand on her shoulder. "Both of you were excellent! Sit down and have a drink with us, please... ah..."
"Midia... and you are-" the dark elf replied, about to make a slip of her tongue.
"Jean, and these are my friends Alisia and Khalidah. Midia... you have to the best dancer I have ever seen," Jean interrupted. "The motions and rhythm of your style are perfect... I can't believe I was able to pick them up."
Midia smiled in response as she threw a glance toward the empty seat and spoke. "You were able to because YOU have to be most skillful dancer I've seen. I've never seen such agility and... flowing with a tune as you can do. I have the utmost respect for your style and I hope my rendition showed that respect."
"Indeed it did," Jean replied, reaching toward one of the mugs to find it empty.
"Heh, heh. To think, we were about to kill each other earlier today and now she's calling me a friend," Alisia joked, laughing. Jean had to join in with a laugh of her own after thinking about the events of the day.
"Where did you pick up that style, Midia... and where have the drinks gone, Alisia?" Jean asked, still panting a little.
As Alisia examined the three empty cups, Midia answered. "Well, it was a common style in my home village near the deserts... plus a few bits I gradually added to it. I'd like to add what I've seen from you too, Jean, if it's okay."
Jean responded pleasantly, "Of course, and I wish to do the same with your style if I may."
"Khali... did you drink all of this?" Alisia quested.
Khalidah, who had not raised out of her chair at all, emitted a hiccup and smiled. Alisia's mouth dropped open.
"I only had half a mug and I was already feeling the buzz. You drank two and a half of them yourself?!"
Khali smiled in response. "Sorry... I've never been drunk before... I don't know if I like it or hate it yet."
"Eh? You've never had alcohol before?" Kuyo quested as she approached and sat at the table. "You've been really missing out on something then."
"Ah yes, I forgot to introduce my friend Kuyo. Kuyo, this is Jean, Alisia and the drunk one is Khalidah," Midia said with a smirk.
"Yep... I was tempted to join you up there too... unfortunately they didn't have any vertical poles ready for me," Kuyo remarked.
The five women began to do a little friendly chatting over the next fifteen minutes. No one revealed anything about themselves... they only recounted their thoughts on the dancing and the drinks they shared from the bar.
"Well, it's really very late... we need some sleep," Jean sadly informed her new friends. She had been enjoying this night too much.
Kuyo noticed that only their group was still in the bar. Even the barkeep had headed off to bed.
"Yeah, we need rest too... can't imagine how long the others have been out," she trailed off.
Oddly, both groups headed toward the same stairs and found their rooms next to each other.
"You're staying up here too?" Alisia quested, supporting a thoroughly drunk Khalidah on her shoulder.
Midia looked at Kuyo and back at the other trio.
"Yes... we've been traveling all day and are just resting here for the night."
"Oh? Maybe we'll see you in the morning then before you depart," Jean spoke, "In fact, we have to move too tomorrow... though I'm not sure where exactly. I really ought to check back in at the Carnival."
"Hopefully we'll meet before we each set out again on the 'morrow, Jean. Good night to all of you," Midia yawned, clasping Jean's hand once again. Kuyo waved briefly before following the dark elf inside.
Alisia, Khali and Jean entered their own room. Alisia lay the purple-haired woman on a bed and found her to already be asleep. Chuckling softly, Alisia draped a blanket over the visitor from another world and then got into her own bed.
"G'night Fry... oh yeah, he's gotta be out cold with Leo by now. Ah well... g'night Jean. Excellent performance tonight again... I bet Leo would be jealous that he missed it," Alisia said softly as the dancer blew out the candles and hopped into the last bed.
"Thank you again, Alisia... yeah, Frye would've enjoyed it as well... he apparently likes to dance too from what I can see," Jean answered and the pair whispered a little while longer before falling asleep.
In the other room, Midia extinguished her flame and lay comfortably.
"Exquisite, Midia. I am very thankful for this opportunity to accompany and understand you," the elegant voice complimented.
As she fell asleep, the survivor of Vecanti muttered a barely audible response.
"And I... am glad to know you too, Ghaleon..."