Lira: Salima: Salima: So? Lira: Hmm? O—oh. Sorry. Salima: So what happened in the meeting? Lira: They... Lira: They think Noel is still alive. Salima: They wh—Are they sure? Lira: Not sure. But, they wanted to let us know, just to be on the safe side. Salima: It's hard to believe. Lira: Yeah. I'm not re— Priss: Oh my God! No way! Lira! Priss: You will not believe what I just found! Lira: Hmm? What? A clue? Priss: Well, yes. But for a different mystery. Priss: Take a look... Lira: Wh—Priscilla! What is this? Priss: One of the guys had a copy. It's the magazine that mom works for. See? Priss: Right there. Lira: Y—you shouldn't be looking at this stuff. Either of you... Priss: Huh? Well that's nothing. You should see what she drew on the next page... Priss: Hey Eva! You were right. She fainted. So what now? Lira: Wh— Lira: What happened? Eva: Welcome back, dear. Lira: Oh, Eva. Wh—where's Priss and Salima? Eva: Gathering our things. Lira: Ga—what for? Eva: Papa called. He wants us to meet him at the library as soon as, well... Eva: As soon as you recovered from your trauma. Lira: I wish you wouldn't... Eva: Hmm? What's that, dear? Lira: I wish you wouldn't influence Priss like that. Eva: Ironic, isn't it? Salima seems to have just as much disdain for me as you do. But your own sister gets along so much better with me. Eva: She's a big girl, Lira. And she's so very useful. Eva: If it helps papa, I have no intention of letting that usefulness go to waste. Eva: Oh! Excellent timing, girls. Looks like we can get going now. Salima: Is something wrong? Lira: No. Let's just get going... Salima: Eva? Eva: Yes? Salima: Is it true? Is Noel still alive? Eva: Apparently. Salima: It must have really hurt to find out, didn't it? Eva: Yes. Salima: I can't im— Lira: Lira: Does this have anything to do with our trek to the library? Eva: Actually, no. Rather, it seems papa has found out something interesting about our foes. Lira: Oh? What, exactly? Eva: He wouldn't say. But he insisted that we meet him as soon as possible. Lira: That's somewh— Lira: Time-stop? Why now? Eva: Indeed. The timing is far too convenient. Eva: Would you mind undoing me, dear? Priss: Oh. Sure. Eva: I'll take a quick look around to see what exactly is going on. Priss: I'll come with you. Lira: No, Priss. You need to stay here. Priss: What? But Lira... Eva: Well, you two work this out. I'm going on ahead. Lira: We've been over this. I need you to regulate the time-stop. Otherwise, I won't be any help to anyone. Priss: Yeah, I know, I know... Lira: Here. Sit here. Lira: Do you remember what to do? Priss: Yup. Priss: How's that? Lira: Good. You're getting pretty quick at this. Priss: Well, Eva's a great teacher. Lira: Um, Priss, about that... Eva: I haven't been able to spot anything unusual. How about you? Lira: She just synced up a few seconds ago. She hasn't had a ch— Priss: There's something big about a kilometer north of here. There seems to be a lot of small fries peppered around the area as well. Lira: Okay. Eva and I will head north to see what we've got. Lira: Salima, stay here and make sure nothing happens to Priss. Salima: Right. Eva: Lira: Lira: Lira: Anything? Eva: Lira: Hmm? Lira: What...what is that? Eva: No idea. But it's probably what papa wanted to warn us about. Lira: So what do we do? Eva: What we always do. Lira: Alright. How do you want to go about this? Eva: That thing looks terribly strong. So I think you should take the high ground. Lira: What? Eva: Well, I'll be honest, dear. You're clearly more gifted than me. And I don't have any intention of holding back against an unknown enemy. Eva: Make your way to the closest minaret and wait at the top. I'll push this thing towards you. Lira: Got it. Eva: When it's in range, then...Well, I'll leave it to your discretion. Lira: Eva: Now then. I suppose it's time to get a closer look. Eva: Okay, dear. That's enough. Eva: Hmm. Doesn't seem to care one whit about me. Eva: I think I can change that. Eva: I do believe I said that's quite enough! Eva: Not holding back, indeed. And here I thought I gave Lira the tough job... Eva: Well, I suppose it's n— Priss: That's pretty odd. They caught up with the thing a while a ago. But for some reason, one of them seems really shaken up all of a sudden. Priss: I mean, I usually can't make out details like that. But this an awfully strong reaction. Priss: What do you think is going on out there Sali— Priss: —ma? Priss: Gee. Don't tell me where you're going, or anything like that. I'll be fine planted to the ground like a tree. Priss: I wonder why she doesn't like me? I don't think I've done anything to upset h— Priss: Oh boy. I guess maybe I was paying a little too much attention to the others. Priss: Ah hah hah! Okay, Salima. Time to strike. Hello? Anyone? Lira: What's taking so long? Given how Eva likes to do things, I'm surprised she didn't beat me here and then complain about how slow I am. Lira: That woman. I swear... Lira: Why does it seem that I just can't get along with her? Worse yet, why does Priss take such a liking to her? Lira: If matters keep up this way, I'm not even s— Lira: Uh oh. Looks like it's just about time. She su— Lira: Something's not right. Lira: What the? What is she doing? She's not pushing it towards me. The fact that they ended up here is probably just coincidence. I think she's trying to take it out herself. Lira: Oh. I get it now. Lira: She's trying to take it out herself so she can get all the praise from her precious papa. That's why she had me go all the way out here. Lira: Okay. That's fine. It's not like I enjoy doing this in the first place. Lira: I've...never seen Eva so unhinged while fighting before. Could it— Lira: What are you doing?! What happened to pushing it towards me and let me do the dirty work? Eva: Heh. Just trying to take all the glory for myself, dear. Lira: Uh huh. Lira: Oh God... Lira: Noel?! Priss: What the hell is going on over there? Priss: Although, I suppose I need to worry about myself, first. Priss: You guys wouldn't like me. Priss: I'm not ve— Priss: Aaaaahhhh! Priss: What? Priss: Yeee! Priss: Um. Wow. Karl: That was quite a show. Good job. Priss: Well, I guess that makes for easy clean up, huh? Karl: It's the only thing convenient about Chaos. Karl: They at least have the courtesy of cleaning up after themselves. Priss: Karl? I thought you were at the library? Karl: Change of plans, it seems. Lira: What...what is this? Eva: A joke. In poor taste, too. Lira: But how...how are we supposed to fight that? Eva: I was trying to take it out before you had a chance to see. Lira: She...didn't want me to have to face this? Eva: I'm not going to ask you to kill it. Just distract it and I'll do the rest. Lira: But— Eva: Its carapace is tough. So much so that I can't get through it. Try to attack it on its left side. That should leave the right wide open for me to... Lira: I—I understand. Lira: For what it's worth... Lira: I wish it hadn't come to this. Eva: Yeah. I know. <...> <...> <...> Lira: Eva! Lira: This thing's strength is way above normal. I'm just glad it's not any quicker or I wou— Lira: ?! Karl: Oooo. That's not too good, is it? Priss: Th—they're both almost... Karl: Yup. Just about dead. Priss: N—no... Karl: I may be a little rusty, but I'm sure that's Lira taking the brunt of it right now. Karl: Oh! I think that did it. Priss: No...No, I can...I can still hear her. I can! Lira: Wh—what? No, Priss, don't... Eva: What? Lira: No...No, no, no, no... Lira: Don't! Eva: And I thought I had the prickly personality... Lira: That...that is SO bad. Eva: And tacky. Priss: Lira! Salima: Lira! Eva: No no. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Eva: Papa Karl: Sorry I couldn't warn you earlier. Eva: Well, we got through it okay. Priss: A—are you okay? Lira: Yeah. I'm fine. But Priss... Priss: Hmm? Lira: Promise me—swear to God you will never do that again. Priss: O—okay. I...I promise. Karl: I'm not sure it's going to be that easy, Lira. Lira: What? Eva: I think he means that's not the end of it. Lira: But we—There's nothing left of Noel except... Karl: And who do you think sent that abomination for you to see? Lira: W—what...? Eva: Noel. Lira: But how— Eva: What you destroyed was merely a pile of left-overs. I'm sure she just wanted to see how committed we are. To see if we could attack a familiar face. Lira: But I'm not sure I understand how she could have been there and n— Karl: There's a lot you don't know about Emissaries, yet. But, for now, how about we get out of the street and turn in for some much needed rest?