"I think it's that time, lass," Tamma whispered to the seamstress as her back bumped against the wall. The Ghenkans picked up their pace, not slowing down despite the threat of Tamma's arrow. Miwah switched to a one-handed stance with her sword as she reached for the Beacon on her chest. She kept her attention focused on the one to the left as he readied his axe for a forward a thrust. As soon her hand clutched the stone, her target wailed in anguish. His weapon dropped to the floor with a clank as both hands clamored to reach his back.

The other two Ghenkans stopped their assault to look at their cohort. He lay face down on the ground as Narrita stood with one boot on over his lifeless body. The closest Ghenkan turned around and aimed for Narrita with a backhanded swing of his axe. With a quick duck, the attack went high, plunging the blade of the weapon into the wooden bookshelf behind her.

"What are you two waiting for?" Narrita shouted from a prone position. "Use that magic of yours!"

Startled, both Miwah and Tamma and grabbed their necklaces and pressed the stones of their Beacons onto their hearts. The entire hall lit up, casting their silhouettes onto their attackers. In a flash, both women were now dressed in their Ensembles and holding their weapons. The remaining two Ghenkans took their eyes off Narrita to look at the Purifiers before them.

"Ah, so that's how you managed to kill our brother!" the Ghenkan on the right said. He lifted his axe and swung at Miwah with a vertical swing. Miwah slid to the side, easily avoiding the blow. She followed with a rising uppercut with the Liberator's blade pointed towards the scar on his chest. The Ghenkan quickly twisted his axe so the edge of Miwah's weapon clashed with the handle of his axe. With her first attack deflected, Miwah leapt back and lowered her body.

She pulled the arm holding Liberator back from her crouched position. The weapon's blade turned a brilliant purple as she took a step forward. The Ghenkan kept his axe horizontal, ready to block another uppercut, only for Miwah to resume her offensive with an [Aura Drive]. The tip of the blade clashed with the handle of the axe again, only this time creating a large explosion of mauve energy. The wood of the axe's handle shattered to pieces while the Ghenkan was thrown onto his back from the impact. Once downed, Miwah leapt on the fallen foe and finished him with a hasty slash to the throat. He let out a gargled groan as he desperately clutched the fresh wound.

"Watch yourself, lass!"

Miwah lifted her eyes from the slain enemy to see the remaining Ghenkan raise his axe for a diagonal chop. The moment his weapon reached its peak, a bolt of light soared through the air and struck him in the head. He grunted and staggered to the side, lowering his axe in his confusion. Tamma fired two more shots back-to-back, the first landing in the man's shoulder before the final one went straight through his back and jutted out his heart. The Ghenkan's arms went limp, making him drop his axe to the ground as he fell to his knees. He then coughed before falling face forward on the ground.

"Took you two long enough," Narrita said as she carefully stepped over the small bit of blood that started to pool next the Ghenkan she killed. "I would have guessed you two would have marched in here in those magic outfits of yours."

Tamma pulled her bowstring back. "We're not through yet," she said confidently.

"How do we know that this is not part of some plan? To get our trust only for you to stab us in the back later?" Miwah asked while holding Liberator defensively in front of her chest.

Narrita raised both arms and dropped her knife to the ground. "There. Does that prove anything?" She kicked the knife so that it landed in front of Miwah's feet. "One of you need to check on that fella over there. He's not looking too good."

"Chaston!" Tamma exclaimed with a gasp. She lowered Solstice and ran to the researcher's side as Miwah stood close by Narrita with Liberator ready to strike.

"Chaston! Are you all right?" Tamma dropped her weapon and held Chaston's back with both hands. The researched coughed before turning his head to face the hunter.

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"T-Tamma?" he said almost silently. One eye was too swollen to open all the way, leaving him to look with the other. "Those other girls... how are they?"

"You mean Miwah and Aurrie?" she replied with a trembling voice. "They're just fine. Miwah’s right here. She helped me save you. And Aurrie is keeping watch outside of the town's gate."

"T-They came... out of nowhere... I tried..." Chaston ended his sentence to take in a deep breath.

"Don't waste your energy trying to explain everything. You need rest."

The researcher shook his head. He moved his hand from his stomach and revealed a large amount of blood.

"Not going... to make it. Let me tell you... what happened... at least..."

"Don't say that, Chaston!" Tamma squinted her red eyes. Once she blinked, tears started to flow. "You... you can figure something out! You always do!"

"Not this time, I'm afraid. Alson... and Daego... got away through the window..." All eyes looked at the curtains that were moving from the small draft of wind. "Lug got away... too... But the Ghenkans were too close... They got me. And my research."

"Just hold on a bit longer, sir," Tamma pleaded. "We found that witch you told us about! You... you were right! She's the most powerful mage we've ever seen. Gertrude's been zapping Ghenkans all day. I'm sure she has some kind of magic that can help you with your wound."

"I don't know..." Chaston wheezed again, this time pressing his hand tight against his injury. "I can't fight anymore."

"Please... don't speak like that..." Tamma whispered. She wiped away the tears with the back of her hand only for her cheek to get drenched again a second later. "You've been through too much to let some barbarians stop you."

"I think... I've accomplished quite a bit in my life. Learned a lot. But... you girls never got around to telling me what... a Purifier was..." The research lifted his head and moved his only open to look at Miwah before staring back at Tamma. "Is that what this... is?"

Teary-eyed, Tamma nodded. "Yes," she mouthed.

"I'm sure... you'll do good with it. And Miwah?"

The seamstress looked away from the distraught bandit to make eye contact with the dying man. "Yes, Chaston?"

"That Xiwaoan Fire Blossom… If it survives... it's yours."

Miwah bowed her head. "Thank you, Chaston."

The research gasped. His head squirmed and his eye shut tight. "Good... bye..."

Chaston's hand that held his wound slumped to the floor. His head fell to his shoulder like a brick through water and lay there motionless. Tamma slowly shook the body, gripping Chaston's arm tight as she buried her face into his shoulder.

"Chaston!" she cried. "Oh, Deity! Why?"

Both Miwah and Narrita looked on as Tamma continued to hug the body. They both glanced at each other, sharing the same sorrowed look.

"Girls! Girls!" Gertrude called out from down the hallway. Yalch flew through the wall and appeared in the room, his hand cupping over his mouth as he watched Tamma mourn over the researcher's body. The witch stepped over the deceased Ghenkans and looked at the hunter as well.

"I'm sorry, Tamma," Gertrude said quietly.

The hunter stood up with Chaston's blood covering her ensemble. She hung her head low as she sniffled before picking Solstice up from the floor. "I... am too..." she said muttered. She walked past Gertrude and into the hallway.

"We'll let you have a moment to mourn, Tamma, but I assume that you know by now that this isn't the proper time for grievance," the witch. The hunter sat on the ground with her back against the wall, burying her face into her knees.

Now alone with the Miwah and Narrita, Gertrude placed her hands on her hips and looked at the two women before here. "Have you two made amends yet?" she asked quietly.

"How do you know them?" Narrita asked.

"They came for my help. Just as you did. I know you two don't want to admit it, but you're on the same side now." Both Narrita and Miwah opened their mouths, ready to say something, only for Gertrude to silence them with a wag of her finger. "I don't want to hear a word. I've heard both stories. Your past doesn't matter." She then pointed to Chaston. "The more you bicker, the more the bodies will pile up. From here on out, I want you to do as I say. Without question. Is that understood?"

Both women nodded in silence.

"Good. Now, Narrita. Do you have that necklace with you?"

The bandit reached into her jacket and pulled out her Beacon. "Right here."

"You remember that enchantment that you walked all the way through the swamp for?"

"Of course."

The witch then put her finger to her lips and made a shush sound towards Miwah. "I don't want you to say anything about what you're about to see."

Miwah stepped to Gertrude's side in silence. Narrita looked at her necklace then at the blood next to Chaston's body. "You want me to use this... on him?" the bandit asked the witch.

"Yes. Remember what I said? An equal exchange should awaken its powers. Although you might not have done the deed, the loss alone should more than suffice."

With some hesitation, Narrita reach down and dipped the stone in Chaston's blood. Once it made contact, the stone started to glow.

"Good. Your Beacon is now ready," Gertrude said.