Welcome to Gaia! ::

Raedou nodded.

"The Draon built this elevator for Hashmal's use only. Since she is the only one who can survive without a Penumbrellity, she can take this route."

He stepped onto the elevator.

"We don't have much time..." Raedou said, "And I would much prefer that we reach Eopia before tonight. Let us go down."

Perrault pointed out the proper direction.

"That way." he mumbled as he started down the path to Eopia.

"C'mon, Far!" he said, "The prince is waiting for us!"

Ephlas yawned at the mention of 'tonight,' but stepped onto the elevator without another word.

~

Dakon tilted his head and eyed Valthere warily. "I do. I know of many places that others do not, some places that have been long buried underneath the Sands. But I cannot risk leading you to such a place."

The wary traveler leaned back, popping some bones in his vertebrae, before continuing. "It's not that I don't trust your word, were you to give it, my lord, but if you were led to this place, you would take company, no doubt about it. If even a single platoon of soldiers were to enter that place, I have no doubt that, because of somebody, at least one of them, would pilfer something, or vandalize something, or in some way destroy a small amount of that place's culture. I cannot allows this."

Dakon paused for another long moment, looking around the room and then examining the throne for a brief time, before continuing.

"I could only take someone I trusted to that location. Someone I trusted considerably. Someone... two someones, such as your siblings."

((Uh... what princess? How do they know about a princess?))

"Wait up, Far!" yelled Perrault as he sprinted down the path, trying to catch up with the demon.

"Man, you're such a speed-demon!" he said.

Once he realized that he had made a pun that was rather funny to him, he stopped and got out his notepad to write it down.

Then, he raced after Farfarello again.

"Of course." As soon as everyone was on the platform, Hashmal placed her clawed hand on the keystone, "Be warned... This creature is not to be underestimated... It took the form of a human swordsman when it fought me, but when I found out it's real nature, the form shifted. It is either a master of illusion or a shapeshifter."

---

(For Techni to have something to go by.)

The Academy lobby was certainly a luxuriously decorated area. There were large windows, slanted to view the city. the rest of the tower was above them.

---

"They are my cousins, and I have no reign over their actions... such is the way of Sandgliders..." Valthere sighed, "You can take them there, as long as you return with what I need to face this menace."

Raedou nodded his head.

"Together, we will slay this beast." he said, "Weapons at the ready; the next level is one large room, and the impostor will spot us immediately."

He then signaled for Hashmal to start the elevator, and turned to Clem.

"Do you have any weapons in that pack of yours, biologist?" he asked grimly.

Noah stood at the desk of the Academy to make his monthly donation. He loved giving donations to the Eopian Academy of Science and Magic, since they always put it to such good use. He smiled and handed the desk clerk a red cloth bag with gold lining, containing 50,000 gilliam.

"Thank you so much, Prince Macweise!" said the desk clerk happily.

The prince only smiled again.

"Please, I've told you, just call me Noah!" he said, laughing lightly.

"Uhh- yes, sir."

He turned and began to head towards the door, until he noticed his friend, Archmagus Leonard. He called to the red-clad man and ran to him.

"Sir Leonard! Fine day, today, is it not?"

He turned his head and noticed Jaeto and Callisto.

"Ahh!" he said happily, "Are these friends of yours, Sir Leonard?"

(They're making me decorate the house... I already had to do the freaking tree! gonk Alone...)

Leonard tipped his cap to the prince, "Indeed sire. I seem to have found a young lady of nobility, and a bodyguard? I'm not particularly sure, but he is military... Did you give one of your famously generous donations again?" Leonard laughed, "As a businessman, I must say that it is an excellent investment. As an Archmagus, I'd say 'Thank You', my liege."

---

Clem nervously looked in his pack, "I have sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and an Arcane Dissolving solution. I also have several vials of methanol and ethanol, which are highly flammable..."

Hashmal slid her claw along the blade, which, though incredibly sharp, did not slice through her armor.