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"SAY WHAT NOW?!"
<"We have lost contact with Lin Ai Androi, Blances Randuin and Blink Galatea, my liege.">
Eden's words sent Jeiel pacing in panic. As two of the girls mentioned by Eden were his wives, he worried at the thought of some ill-met circumstance befalling them. And he wasn't about to see any of those girls badly hurt - or worse.
"I have to go," he said, wanting to storm out of the gathering room. Bellona barred his path with Laeveteinn -her flaming sword - pulled out of her chest.
"Jeiel-dono, if you end up going after them and lose your way, Emerald City won't be able to pull itself together in your absence."
"Blances, Lin and Blink are missing, Bellona. I can't just sit here idly -"
"And do you expect them to accept the fact you threw aside your duty of overseeing Oz in a time of crisis just so that you can join them in the growing list of missing people?" Bellona raised her voice. "JEIEL-dono, please. This is not the time to act with your heart on your sleeve - "
"BELLONA, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO LIN and BLANCES, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH MYSELF. PLEASE, LET ME JUST - "
"JEIEL-kun!"
Ojo slammed her hands against the table. Her single eye narrowed at her husband.
"Your voice,"
Realizing that he had incidentally raised her voice just to stress his point against Bellona, Jeiel pulled back, pressing his hands against his forehead and into his scalp. "I'm sorry... I.. didn't mean it.."
Ojo went to Jeiel's side, rubbing at the back of his shoulder. "... it's okay... you're scared..."
Bellona lowered her sword. The flames on its blade died down as her grip on the handle tightened. "Jeiel-dono... it began from my end. I should be the one apologizing..."
"JEIEL!"
Sebyl appeared at the entrance of the gathering room, paler than usual. "There's something you have to see in the town square."
Jeiel and the other three women with him followed Sebyl's lead. Turning into a puddle, Sebyl slinked towards the end of the hall and into an open area overlooking the rest of Emerald City - where she reformed herself and pointed east.
Guided by Sebyl, Jeiel saw it. A blip of black energy, emitting blue and purple static as it grew ever larger, was right above the Emerald City Fountain. Oblations, Tin Woodsmen and other armed residents had encircled the blip, weapons at the ready.
Something about that blip.. made Jeiel's skin crawl.