Gone was the ambience of merchants, pedestrians, and the like from the region known as West Coast. Even the seagulls were absent. Instead, the sounds of iron boots marching and low murmurs could be heard. All source of activity swiftly migrating to the central barracks that lead to the docks of the province. All of Arad immediately went into a panic upon receiving the news from the Empress of the Principality: Sirocco the Intangible had been resurrected. The entity forever etched into their history books along with the four legendary swordsmen of Arad. To hear she was back sent all residents of Hendon Myre harbored at West Coast to retreat further inland - away from the Sky Tower.
Sitting next to her husband who remained standing, Ryunmei rested clenched fists upon her thighs as Empress Skardi and Karakas organized the parties present. They really were in the thick of things. Ever since their exploration of Chest Town everything kept spiraling out of control; they were just too busy to notice. Glancing up at Jin, her fists only tightened further. How could he still be smiling at a time like this?! Inner peace gained from their individual enlightenment was all swell and all, but there was so much on the line right now. There was a literal column of foul amethyst energy slowly gathering along the lower portion of the Sky Tower, and it was visible right from the docks outside; all they had to do was poke their head outside to catch a pleasant view of Armageddon. Speaking of, as if on cue, the Empress's knight, Robato, alerted them of an major update. Sirocco was on the move once again.
The Apostle's wicked energy could be seen spiraling upwards, creating a reverse waterfall nearing the heavens. A collective glum sigh from the soldiers of the Principality, the De Los Empire, and Adventurer's Guild came out at once. They needed to move quickly and they needed to do it now. Although the apostle's telegraphed movements seemed to indicate her impending victory, the Great Pentacle atop the Sky Tower denied her entry into the realm beyond the heavens - Empyrean.
Hearing what was explained, next resulted in Ryunmei letting out a sigh of relief. The crazed deity bit off more than she could chew. Since her powers were not yet fully restored, the impact with the Great Pentacle not only negated her ascension but dispersed the energy she managed to collect prior. With her husband at her side, Ryunmei followed behind the rest of the advancing party. Coming to a halt before the archpriestess of Lemidia Basilica, they were informed of a most generous blessing by the church. Preparing for the battle to come, Oberith of the Holy Order bestowed upon them one of her church's most precious halidoms.
"Because the Mirror of Light will not be able to bless all our forces, I decided to have you, the advancing party, gaze upon it. Please, relax and allow Lemidios' light to shine upon you."
Silently, the brunette watched the archpriestess remove the cloth from the halidom. As they were told, a blinding radiance engulfed the advancing party of adventurers within the tent. Fighting back the instinct to shield her face and look away, Ryunmei gazed upon the relentless shine with wincing hues. As quickly as the light emerged, it began to fade. Upon the marvelous mirror were all their reflections. Looking at the holy relic in bewilderment, the female Nen Master's mouth temporarily opens in awe as it begins to crack.
Before long the cracks upon the surface shatters, however the shards never touch the ground. Instead, they disappear mid-fall amidst a ray of light penetrating into the tent. Even though one of her close friends from the guild is a man of the cloth, this was truly something out of the ordinary. Honored that Oberith would use such a sacred object to protect them from Sirocco's energy, Ryunmei approached the granddaughter of Magar Rosenbach. Gently reaching for and holding the other woman's hands, a sincere smile is given along with eyes glistening in gratitude. "Thank you, we will put a stop to this and save both Arad and Empyrean from this chaos."
