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Tolin watched with an increasing sense of "this is a bad idea" as the ritual was started and completed. They would be lucky if Archer didn't kill someone. They would be lucky if he did something besides take a knife to his own throat and end his revival early. But, alas, it was too late for that. "Stop that, Archer. Are you going to kill someone in cold blood in front of your son?" The comment would enrage him, if anything. It would probably send him into a murderous rage, but hopefully the presence of the still-sleeping Gardevoir would prevent that. If Archer took any violent actions, it would wake him for sure. Waking Alfred meant having to deal with him. Hopefully the implications would hold his psychic for at least a moment.

Serrin merely watched the flames with a childlike fascination as they sprouted from the ground, dancing and writhing.

Oh, good then. Alfred's presence would stop him from killing them all provided he didn't manage to forcibly teleport them all outside. "We have three months, Archer. I don't like this any more than you do, but I don't think we have time to waste. Bringing you back was a gamble, but it's a gamble that might end this earlier. If what the Elite told me is true, we likely won't have the full three months. We'll probably be dead before the balance is gone." Is the pendants made the bearer as powerful as Tolin predicted, then it was quite possible it's owner may simply choose to exterminate the city. Whether it's through a gathered army or simply such a flagrant abuse and manipulation of the power that he smites it all himself.

Serrin merely backed away from the fire, his face slowly shifting to something with more recognition. He kept his distance.

Tolin let out what would've been a ridiculous fit of laughter if not for the fact that he stifled it down to something a bit more quiet. A tear formed in his eyes as it settled down. "Well then! I did always tell my friends I'd be the last one alive. I suppose the only way to do that would be to outlive Arceus, wouldn't it?" He let on a mischievous smile that he so rarely used. "She's planning to kill me, though. The Elite, I mean. I just manipulated her into deciding to do it later. It wasn't very hard; she's quite arrogant." His smile faded slowly as he shifted into contemplation. The balance needed to exist, on some level. As long as there were competing forces. Could it be possible to have Creaus and Suecra simply counterbalance against one another? Or would they simply die along with their maker? Or, stripped of their creator, would their powers and influence simply fade? "What of the other two? Creaus and Suecra? If we remove the balance by killing Arceus, what happens to his other parts?"

Tolin nodded and went straight to business. They didn't have the time. "Alright then. I'll insure Nico is dealt with. Myself, if I have to. It would be safer in the long run for you to deal with the Elite regardless." Archer was stronger than he was. Archer was temporary. Archer's death cost them the least and his efforts could gain them the most. He mulled it over, for a moment. "Will you have time to deal with all 17 pendants? Lady Neon estimates your time at a week. There's nine of them left, with eight pendants scattered to the wind. One of them is probably in use."

And then there was Darkrai. And Alfred. But... with the reversed pendants, they could be enough. Not to mention he was dead for sure in three months with or without Suecra. Well, there was time. Perhaps the completed Arceus would have the benevolence to heal him, provided he didn't first kill them all. Well, that was for later.

Well, there was that. Killing Alfred did present the chance. Might also kill everyone but there was a chance. "I'm not concerned about leaving them alive. It's more the time you have left and their strength. But, so long as your confident..." He shrugged. "Just be careful. If you die with the pendants in hand we'll be worse off than we were before." Of course, Archer already knew this. The comment was more for clarification than anything.

He shook one scythe back and forth, as if waving a hand "no". "Killing Alfred is a last resort. If it had been a viable option to begin with I would have killed him when it first became apparent he hosted Suecra. We'll solve the issues to give Arceus a bit more time. Once that's gone we can retrieve the mirror and deal with the two gods. Call it arrogance, but I don't see it any other way. Not as long as the dead and the old keep fighting. Darkrai will be stopped. Arceus will be restored and Alfred will live to see his children's children."

Tolin wasn't given the time to respond at length to Archer before Alfred had awoken. Well, there were ways to be subtle in giving answers. He simply shook his head at the question. "Not quite. The original was destroyed and there weren't any copies. But we're in luck, to an extent. This Charmander here is related to the original author tangentially. As a child, he managed to glance through a few notes that were left behind. I've been gleaning whatever I can from him, though I believe I've learned everything I can." It was believable enough. It would explain his temporary presence as well as any further visits if necessary. He certainly looked old enough. Archer's face probably couldn't contort into anything that wasn't a cold, stoic stare. He gave a brief nod to Archer, who stood in his Charmander form. "Thank you for your help. And please, take this with you." He turned back to the desk and took a blank sheet and began writing something out on it. "If you remember something else, you can contact me here. Just send a letter, or if time permits come yourself."

The letter itself detailed the entirety of his address. Guild of the sun, west wing, room number, location. It also held something in much smaller writing. He folded the paper multiple times in order to make it more difficult to read through Psychic. The creases, in large part, fell on the smaller words in order to obfuscate them. The address was written somewhat larger, and although folded would be easier to read.

Lucario. Avoid. Has mirror. Rebirth 3rd in command.

He turned back to face Alfred. "Are you feeling a bit better? We should see how your wife is doing with her research. Hopefully Lucinda has managed to discover something useful enough to let you take a break." He chuckled slightly. "You wouldn't want to miss your two eggs hatching, would you?" The statement was a bit crass. Maybe even a bit nasty. But, well, Archer deserved to know he had two grandkids.

Hahaha! Archer was going to kill him later. He had expected as much, but the context of the story was more important than the story itself. Coming up with a fake story and apologizing to Alfred later with the full context was a lot easier than telling him in front of Archer that, "Sorry. I can't tell you anything." Alfred was sharp enough to pick out a lie. He had intended to tell him as much as he could from the start. Nothing about the Elite if he could avoid it... though he doubted that highly. The lie was more for Archer's sake. The unbearable subtleties of the present company and social convention would help the conversation. Alfred wasn't likely to demand answers with present company, and once Archer left he could speak more freely. He had a feeling that if he said anything with Archer present, he might start finding it hard to breathe.

He merely shrugged off the hidden accusation. "Only when I don't see another option, Alfred." It was a quiet statement. It did not dismiss or confirm anything. It was all he could say in return to the voice that rang with an alarming coldness. Normally, at the very least, Alfred spoke in frustration. It was unnatural to hear him with such a blank voice.

Serrin opted to leave the uncomfortable atmosphere in favour of following Lady Neon to the kitchen. "I'll come with you." He knew a great bit about making tea. It was a knowledge so deeply ingrained in his being that it was instinctual.