Zethia (Story)
Zethia (Story)Summary
The party reaches Zethia, but she has already become a host to the Other. When she departs, King Aurelius's soul merges with Zodiark to give chase on wing, leaving the prince to follow.
Dialogue
Shadowwyrm: NROOOOOAWR!
Zethia: Hngh... Aaaah!
Euden: Zethia! I'm here!
Zethia: Euden!
Notte: We made it! YESSS!
Euden: Get behind me, Zethia!
Zethia: Thank you, Euden!
Aurelius: Out of my way, boy!
Euden: I won't allow you to lay a finger on her ever again, Other! This time, I WILL keep her safe!
Aurelius: You fool! You have no idea what you're doing! Come away from her NOW! Before—
Zethia: Before she stabs you in the back?
Euden: GWAUGH?!
Notte: Wait, WHAT?! Euden! Zethia, why did you just DO THAT?!
Zethia: Hmmm, why indeed? It's such a mystery! ...Unless the rite is already complete and the Auspex is no longer herself! Ah ha ha!
Euden: Zethi...a...
Zethia: Well, isn't this sweet? You're still calling me by that name. You needn't force it. I'm perfectly happy to be called the Other.
Notte: No...
Ranzal: Euden! Notte! You two okay?!
Elisanne: What have you done, Auspex?!
Mym: Get back! She's changed! The worst has come to pass...
Other: Oh, what a marvelous body this is! Mana courses and crackles within every limb and digit! Every speck of flesh! I feel as if I could unmake you all with the flick of a wrist. Shall we put it to the test?
Cleo: RUUUN!
Other: Let's begin with family, shall we? Return to dust, O dearest brother of mine! HAAAAAAH!
Euden: NWAAAUGH! NWAAAUGH! NWAAAUGH! NWAAAUGH!
Other: Now, let's see what remains of... What?!
Aurelius: Grnnngh!
Other: Aurelius!
Euden: Father!
Aurelius: I am a shameful excuse for a king... I allow my body to be taken, then fail to spare my daughter from...the same fate... But you will not have...my son...
Other: ...Heh. Eeee hee hee! AAAAH HA HA HA! Oh, but you ARE an amusing old fool! Do you really think you can change this? You've traded your life to halt a single blow. Bought the boy a mere moment.
Euden: Stay strong, Father! Cleo, he needs—
Aurelius: No, Euden. My body falters...but my will lives on! Death is not the end for those who draw the blood of dragons. I leave the rest...to you, Shadowwyrm... Accept my soul as mana. Our pact is ended. I place my trust in you. Follow your own...judgment...
Shadowwyrm: Aurelius. Faithful master. Gentle king. You would grant my freedom? Then I shall see you avenged. Not as a vassal's duty, but as a friend's mourning. Thus do I honor your sacrifice.
Euden: Wait. Father is becoming one with the Shadowwyrm?
Elisanne: How deep their bond must be!
Shadowwyrm: NROOOOOOOOAAAAAWR!
Other: Tsk! The beast feeds on death itself and grows stronger for it! That king is truly a nuisance to the last... But I've a more important task now than toying with you all. With the Auspex's body, I can now proceed to the chamber depths and draw the Flow Eternal. Farewell!
Notte: Zethia! No, this can't be happening!
Luca: What is he planning to do with her body?
Elisanne: We must pursue her! Quickly!
Shadowwyrm: You will not!
Mym: Why stop us, Zodiark?
Shadowwyrm: Slaying him is my duty.
Shadowwyrm Aurelius: And saving my daughter is the same. Leave this to me.
Euden: That voice... It's Father! I can feel him!
Shadowwyrm: My power earned me a seat among the Six Greatwyrms. Let it now banish this threat from our world. You must not follow. Leave this place and seek safety!
Notte: ...He's gone. What do we do now, Euden?
Euden: I won't abandon Zethia or Zodiark, and I won't leave the Other unchecked. He mentioned something called the Flow Eternal, right? What new horror could he possibly be plotting?