It seemed that all battles that had involved Shell were proceeded with another. The first dealing with the physical mutations of creatures taken over by her twisted power. The second, forcing her intent from the souls previously shackled in Sectio that now resided in the passing plane of Nonesthic.

A multitude of questions arose from Kenan. In the necessity of curiosity grew an anger stemming from an possessive nature that wasn’t entirely his own. It was his plane Shell tampered and his potential power she was stripping. It didn’t matter if he was abstaining from taking the proverbial temptation, it was still in his ownership. Therefore he had another reason to deal with her, and swiftly too. Yet, the forward thinking sentient mind that resided in his skull told him she held important information.

Firstly, why was she taking souls? How was she using them and why? Could she only touch the tarnished that she previously influenced? Most importantly, how did her power enter Nonesthic? His realm.

Noctis shook out both irritation and inquiry. He had to focus on what was ahead. His senses left the body that was on a medical bed covered in blankets. He forgot the smells and sounds of the world and let his conscience fall into Nonesthic. As the transfer happened, he felt a second quintessence join him. Dion.

His feet met the ground. The furry beast bumped his legs. “Alright, let's do…” Kenan stopped. Stood with his back straight, confusion pressed into his face as he began scratching his forehead. “This?”

Noctis expected to see a scene familiar to when he had escorted the souls of the first mutated-beast battle. The one in which he didn’t participate in. Tens of beasts fighting a large mass of intertwined vines. With some humans trying to escape the mess. That was not the case.

Instead, many animals. Most of whom weren’t even close to adulthood, were corralled carefully by a large, impossibly massive wyvern. No. Dragon. That wasn't it either. Kenan could tell it was the same creature, but changed. The four wings had fused to make two and enlarged beyond means. Its maw had thickened and enlarged, whiskers sprouted from the side of its nose. Tens of legs sprouted from its belly. The creature's overall width became a bit worse, but its lengths had increased by what seemed hundredfold.

The creature's long tail had wrapped itself around the multitude of beasts. It looked at ,and beyond, Nonesthic. As if searching for something. Kenan approached, as he willed, he was unseen by the souls of the past. So was Dion.

When he was close, Noctis summoned his sword into his hand. Then, let himself be seen by the large draconic. Immediately it shifted its head to look towards him, locked its eyes into his. “You have come.” Kenan was taken aback by it’s women sounding voice. She wiggled her body and slithered her face in front of Kenan. The scene had Noctis think of Nattura. She was much, much bigger in this form. “Can I know your name?”

“Kenan.” He banished the sword. “Noctis. Kenan Noctis of the sorrowful night, son of Tyris…” He paused, thinking. A smile escaped onto his face. Thoughts of Jorun. “Tyris Earth-listener. What is your name?” Whatever emotions she had, she kept inside.

“Nuki the Gifted. Pleasure to meet you. Kenan Noctis.”

“Likewise.”

“If you would please.” She unraveled herself to reveal the beasts. “Send them to their planes. They shouldn’t have been here.”

Kenan's eyebrow raised. “You know?”

"No. Yes." Her face scrunched. "It is odd. To have sentience and beastial instinct at the same time. By looking at you, I know what-who you are." She turned her gaze towards the various cubs. "In my given knowledge passed down from generations of dragon and dragonkin." She switched back to Kenan. "I should be both fearful and grateful of your appearance, of any Mortems. But you specifically, I believe. I should keep a distance"

Noctis thought for a moment. Trying to find a base in his mind. He waved his hand. Suddenly hundreds of doors appeared and opened. Through the connection Noctis asked Dion a favor. The dirus obliged by bounding in the group and begun ushering souls to their respective planes.

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"May I ask you a question?" Kenan said. Nuki looked at the remaining beasts and smiled. Yet, it had a tinge of sadness to it. Noctis saw hues of Hernie in Nuki's face. The draconian beast switched back her gaze.

"You do not need to act cautiously, like a child. Especially since we are in your territory. Ask away, young mortem"

"Why are you… different here? How did you get captured by Shell?"

"Hmmm. It will be difficult to answer such questions in a short manner." Nuki snarled at the name Shell. "Draconis evolve. All of them, excluding dragonborn, change. Originally, I was a small wyrm in the ground. Then I became a drake, and eventually a wyvern. I was beginning to transform into what you see now. When a draconic, or any creature that begins to evolve so that they may push past their limits. They became weak for a time period. Shell caught me at the beginning of my transformation. Yet, my soul continued with the evolution."

"Oh. I see. Do you have any knowledge of Shell that I would find useful?"

She shook her head. "I only know of an aversion to fire, but I suspect you already knew that."

Kenan nodded. "I will kill your slaver. Nuki. I will avenge your free will." With a wave of a hand, a large door appeared, big enough for the dragon to fit inside. "May your soul last in peace until it is time for you to come back to Sectio."

It half flew, half slithered toward the door for a moment. It opened to reveal a bright blinding silver light. Nuki looked at it, back to the exiting cubs, and then to Kenan. She bowed her head. The door shut and disappeared. "I cannot. I must not."

"Why?"

Nuki looked at the last remaining animals soon departing. "I have to pay. To repent. If you'll have it, let my power become yours."

"Wait. Hold on. Do you know what you're saying? Giving up the afterlife, no chances of reincarnation. To fully become non-existent."

"It is not what I'm losing. Because what I have already lost was the scope of my existence."

"I don't understand. Why would you give up your soul? To me?"

"I believe my intentions mingle with my beastial feelings. I fear it might be hard for you to understand." She focused on Kenan, and looked past him. "I grew up in the forest surrounding the human settlement you reside in. I have been there much longer than it has, much longer than anything. At first, I was merely a predator, taking and eating whatever I wanted.

"When I grew, and evolved into a wyvern. Things changed. The forest no longer becomes solely my hunting grounds. I started appreciating the life that grew from the ground, the other beasts surviving the cycle of the forest. I developed a love for my territory. I tended to the lands, helped raise many cubs. Served the young as if they were my own brood. Only ate the old and lame. Protected the forest from over-hunting. Rapid human expansion. Natural disasters and more. This place was mine. Not only, I recognized it was my destiny to see this place flourish. Bahamut’s plan for me.

"I failed. I knew of Shell's presence for many months. I thought she was a hermit. I was wrong, and because of letting my guard down. I let her ravage my forest. My brood. For that, I cannot forgive. I will not let myself bask in the great platnum dragon's glory."

Kenan looked at her, into her eyes. He saw Ava in them. His hands balled into fists. Anger slithered its way into his mind. Why must parents always give their lives for their children? Why?

"I cannot promise you that I will revive your home." He said.

"I do not want such an oath. All I want is to be a part of the reason for Shell's demise. Besides, when the fire comes. Behind it is a greater force of life. For it both destroys and gives." She smiled. As for knowing something he didn't.

"You understand…"

"What I'm giving up. Yes. Nothing less than what I would give to them."

Kenan grunted. He wasn't sure of his feelings. Annoyance mainly, but it wasn't known where his vexation was directed at. "Any last words? Nuki the gifted"

"Yes. For your ear alone. A piece of advice. Remember you are still you. Don't let someone else's intentions force you to do their bidding."

"Hm.. I feel like you know something."

She smiled. "Sure I do. But nothing you can understand. Now, please." She bowed. Getting her large forehead as close as possible.

"Your soul is freely given?" He asked as he placed two fingers on her forehead.

"Yes."

"Then. In the hunger of Nonesthic and the honor of Bahamut. It is freely taken" Kenan felt for the little plume of pressure inside of Nuki. He sent an invisible hand and pulled.

The previously large draconic creature shrunk and started to disappear. "Thank you."

Noctis didn't bother in transforming her power into a ball. Instead, he pushed it through himself and into his sword. The bond of weapon and wielder pulsed and strengthened. The two became closer, and the weapon itself boiled its power.

Somewhere. In the depths of Nonesthic. A roar sounded out