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[Redcoat]

OOC: Phantom, I put this post after yours, since, you know, mine is a conclusion and yours isn't. Yeah. XD

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S'ven's arrow flew from the bushes and straight into the creature's upper right abdomen; moving not only between two armoured ribs, but between two chitinous plates, it struck the true soft underbelly of the abomination and, suddenly heating up to great proportions, incensed what water there was in the beast's structure. What followed was essentially a miniature and internal explosion, sufficiently powerful to not merely disable the interior of the creature, but also expand its ribcage rather sufficiently to warrant a descriptor of total structural failure.

The entire upper section of the creature tore apart, with the internal ribcages flying out as metallic blades and splinters. The beast's misshapen heart burst into flames, as did the rest of its expanding form, becoming fragments of smouldering ash. As the Royal Guard's innards were, in essence, utterly carbonized by the mystic's arrow, its legs, arms, and backbone continued to walk, like a desperate automaton, finally coming to rest a mere few feet from S'ven and his ally, collapsing into a pathetic kneel as they smouldered.

Almost immediately after its collapse, it began to come undone, as the magic inside of it subsided; it began to melt away into the figment it was, as the mana within, freed from its oppressive control, sought refuge elsewhere as energy will. Its form turned to a vile-smelling slime, grayish-purple in colour, as the rest of it burned off or, as steel, fell to the ground. Before S'ven was now a mess, infinitely docile compared to what its purpose had once been.

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Takeshi's attack took the most primal form it could, given his thoughts and single-minded purpose. Mana took the form of physical force and kinetics, driving a virtual spear behind the Royal Guard's ribcage and up, through its entire midsection, up into its heart and through its neck. To make matters worse for the monster, Takeshi's concentration assured that it was not merely a thin path of destruction, but an expanding bubble of air pressure inside of the vile husk of a creature.

It exploded in all directions, upwards included. It were forced apart as if it were drawn and quartered--and simultaneously hung via special inverted anti-gravity long-drop--whilst being gruesomely assassinated, by route of gunpowder slipped inside of it and specially ignited by elemental cocktail. As it, too, converted to slime--in the process covering the entire forward half of the banquet hall, alongside Takeshi and anyone else who dared to be present--its armour fell to the floor, scattered across the hall, but causing only minor injuries to guests huddling in corners.

Takeshi's spell, however, drained him of all energy. He, too, began to crumble as Anikus and the rest of the party rushed forward.

Anikus' mind had effectively shut down. He was visibly shaking for a moment, before pulling himself together. His thoughts were primal and immediate, short bursts. He sheathed his sword, swung one glance at the cowering Duke, and took a look around.

We are all here... Thalmir and Telchi's auras still persist. There are no guests harmed.

With his party accounted for, his thoughts turned selfish. With a spot of hatred for his plight, he considered, then, how he would fare. There is no doubt that they will demand answers. I must steel myself. I cannot avoid revealing my mission, but the Crown would not be pleased...

"Let us..." He swallowed, his voice uneasy. "Let us go. Follow me, please."

Behind them, the Duke and his guards stared at them incredulously. It was all too much to be real. The smell was unbearable and sickening; the evil involved would imprint itself on all of them, and haunt their memories forever. Anikus gave one sad look to Duke Sarkos and nodded.

The scholar exited the building, head held high, but visibly ashamed.

[Chef]

Grimlain sheathed his sword after wiping the bloody blade on a dead enemy.  The carnage around the area was almost sickening to look at, even for Grimlain.  The battle was terrible.  Grimlain was almost having fun with it at first, but things got out of hand.  He didn't expect anything like this.  It was almost like they themselves were the monsters of the ordeal instead.  Grimlain did not know what these creatures were and why they were attacked, but he knew it had something to do with Anikus.

"Damn..." Grimlain said softly to himself.

As soon as the scholar beckoned them to follow him, Grimlain went.  He wanted to know what was going on, after all.  There would have to be a lot of explaining on Anikus' part.  Grimlain sighed, still asking himself the same question he had been asking himself since the beginning of this journey.

Why am I still here?

[Vithar Megilaglar]

Sakura motioned to Marketta, and they helped Takeshi up, whose was beyond tired, barely able to stand up. It was going to be a long, solemn march to the docks. They began, following Anikus and Grimlain out of the now bloody feast hall.

Takeshi looked up at Anikus' back, thinking, despite rampant exhaustion and a muddled head.

:Urgh...My head...This...this is the worst I've ever felt in my life...So tired...but my head hurts so badly...:

He squinted, letting his head drop as he sighed. A single line of thought occupied his head suddenly.

:...That's...that's twice that we've come across the Valdich this far south. And...and both times...because Anikus lead us into the danger...but...why? How is he involved with the Valdich...I...I must find out. But...not now...I can't walk if I tried right now...:

Takeshi raised his head, staring at Anikus' back, attempting to form the plan, but his mind couldn't grasp anything besides an undertow of tamped down frustration.

:Takeshi?:

His mind cleared almost instantly, although the exhaustion remained.

:Sakura...?:

:Does something bother you?:

:To a degree. But it's mostly curiosity, though. But my headache is...:

:I'm trying something. Helping you ignore it, maybe you'll recover from the headache faster?:

:Hopefully...but I don't think I'll be able to walk in any case.:

[Kamikaze_X]

After killing Valdich Royal Guard, Thalmir rested for a few moments. He could feel tension in the air, and it all stemmed from the castle. Sheathing his Claymore, and calling out t Telchi, they both ran forth and through the woods. Their ultimate destination was to the castle itself, and to aid their fellow comrades. The entire time, Thalmir thought of what happened in the past, and on the islands, and everything that they had to go through. Something didn't add up. Why would these monsters want to attack us? Were they just the most unlucky group of adventurers in the land, or was there something about them. It seemed, that every time they went somewhere, something horribly wrong would befall them. It wasn't normal.

And as he thought about his begrudged leader, Anikus, he wondered what his actual mission was. Was it just to collect these ancient relics of the past, whilst earning some plunder on the side? That scholar was no pirate, so he came to the conclusion that Anikus was hiding something from them. He deemed, partially through his resentment toward him, that Anikus probably had some ulterior motive. Gritting his teeth, he continued sprinting through brush and bramble toward the path to the castle.

It's tall stone walls loomed ahead as they traveled the path there. The gates were seemingly smashed open, and within was the most gruesome scene he had ever beheld in battle.

"It looks like your little tea party was cut short, Anikus...." Thalmir said coldly as he entered the dining room. "It seems like danger follows us wherever we go."

[Nowe]

Seeing the creature fall to the ground and disintegrate satisfied S'ven enough to where he stepped out from the hiding spot just to the front of the castle entrance. Coming from between the trees, he looked to where he had heard and seen a great fire, and saw a few people headed his way. From the entrance emerged a few more. They had yet to notice him, as he was still effectively hidden within the trees. Aingi, siting patiently on her haunches, let out a little whine at the hold up. "Not yet, we must make sure that they can be trusted before we meet with them," said S'ven.

[Vithar Megilaglar]

The solemn march to the docks was only made more solemn by the hidden stares and watchful eyes of a fearful population. The group marched on, towards the docks, and the Momentum. They reached the dock in due time, Takeshi was able to walk, looking better, but not at full strength. His face was darkly clouded, making Sakura sidle away, watching him warily. She'd never seen Takeshi ever this frustrated. She sensed that he was more than frustrated.

Despite her connection to Takeshi, not even she could have seen what happened next.

Takeshi's step sped up, as they neared a wharf house. He proceeded to grab the back of Anikus' coat, spinning the scholar around until the man crashed, back first, against a metal wall, the wall shuddering under the sudden impact. Takeshi took out a knife, holding it to Anikus' throat.

"I've been thinking, "Captian", about your leadership. The Valdich, they live in the north. Deep north. Why the hell are they this far south? How the hell did you manage to lead us into their hands? Twice now! How are you involved with them, as well? Are you on some sort of mission? If so, why did you manipulate us rather than tell us straight out?"

Takeshi got quieter with each question, the blade hovering ever closer to Anikus' throat. Despite the decrescendo, Takeshi's voice still seemed to have all the force of a cyclone, his hands gripping white-knuckledly to Anikus' coat-front.

Sakura stood back, her eye brows raised. She had never seen Takeshi actually angry, let alone explode like a loose firework in a gunpowder store. She remained silent, her head to the side, as if considering what had just trasnpired.