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[Arcana]

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Arcana had always been good at finding people, and the forests of Iasmu-Jima proved an easy enough place to find Ivae. Unsurprisingly, Nazralte was not far from his love's side, battling the enchantingly beautiful, yet demonic and sadistic, fan dancers. Perhaps a little surprisingly, Tai rode into the fray as well. No, not so surprising... with the Army disbanded, Tai rode with the Regent's troops now. Either way, certainly not unwelcome. The samurai had just as much cause as Ivae and Naz to suit her and Arlin's intentions.

Naz, Tai, and Ivae were victorious, and Arcana took advantage of the lull in the battle to emerge from the treeline and call a greeting. She rather enjoyed their looks of astonishment. After grins and hellos all around, Arcana suggested they meet her at Zento's inn that evening.

...

The four took their places around the low table, Tai, Ivae, and Arcana kneeling on the cushions easily enough and Naz looking like he'd very much prefer a chair. The inn was nearly deserted, and after ordering some tea and food, they sent the innkeeper away.

After some desultory small talk, Arcana took care to steer the conversation towards current politics. Ivae and Tai were eager enough to speak, for they did not seem pleased at all. The Dark Order had allied with the Ebon Skull and the orcs and was yet again making approaches to the Regency. Ivae and Naz were ready to dissolve their alliance with the Dark Order. Tai despised Tarothin for his past faithlessness to their lord in the Brotherhood of the Hand as well as his abuses of his wife.

She smiled inwardly, for she knew evil eventually relvealed its true form, and now Tarothin was revealing his. Those who'd tolerated him in the past even perhaps foolishly trusted him would do so no more. They at last saw his maneuverings as the power grab that it was; a vision of Order maintained by any means necessary. Order without Compassion, Justice, or any other Virtue. Order without a soul.

"And how will you keep him from power, then?" she asked.

"There is but one way," Tai said. "Removal of the demon... to spearate it from Tarothin or cause his death."

"I am inclinded to favor the latter," Ivae muttered, feeling the betrayal of an ally gone to in turn ally with the Ebon Skull, an order which had tortured her.

"I would wonder if separated from the demon, he would continue to abuse his wife," Tai mused. "But I know the human that was Tarothin to be a man of great evil."

"So why have you not done it?" Arcana asked softly.

"I have not the strength," Ivae said.

"And we do not have the chest," Tai added. Ivae and Naz nodded. They had heard rumors of the chest which contained the secret to Tarothin's demon. "It was once in Poet-san's keeping, but it vanished and I do not know where it has landed." The table lapsed into silence as each wondered over the fate of the chest.

Arcana glanced at each of them, considering her and Arlin's decision one last time, then spoke into the silence, "It has landed with me."

Ivae gave a small gasp and Tai's eyes widened in shock. Naz even stopped his uncomfortable figeting on his cushion and stared. Arcana loved every moment of it. She wished Arlin could have been there to see their expressions. He was the one who'd obtained it, after all. She leaned over the table and looked at Ivae intently.

"I believe you do have the strength. I sense a kindred spirit between you and I, sister. And so I give the chest to you."