On the beach of an unknown island, Talia screams out in an inhuman voice as a miasma spills out of her body. Seeing the thick cloud of miasma, Glyn steps forward, opening his tome and absorbing the poisonous cloud into his book. She collapses unmoving as everyone surrounds her cautiously.

“What was that?” Miller asks.

“I have some suspicions, but I can’t say anything honestly.” Glyn stands over her. “Okay, someone tie her up and Pepper heal her. We don’t have too much time, so let’s hurry.”

Miller and Zanrit work on restraining Talia as Pepper heals her wounds slightly. Glyn watches with Tisha and Mila keeping watch for the enemy as Oscar and the ship seem to disappear.

“I healed her slightly but she won’t be in peak condition for some time,” Pepper says.

Glyn nods. “Thanks.”

“Are you sure healing her is wise?”

“I don’t want to commit a war crime here. And leaving her injured in a critical condition would count as a war crime.”

“What’s a war crime?” Miller asks.

“I’ll explain that little nugget later. For now, let’s interrogate.”

“Shouldn’t we flee?”

“I’m concerned about that miasma that came out of her. I don’t want to bring her with us in case she’s some kind of special bomb that’ll spread miasma across the island if we’re not careful.”

Miller nods. “Fair point. We don’t know what this enemy is capable of, and they’ve already proven themselves dangerously loyal.”

The pair stare down at Talia with Miller having tied her down to the ship’s wrecked mast. Pepper floats around cautiously of her as she returns to her larger form.

“There’s an odd energy coming off her. It reminds me almost of Glyn’s curse, but it's weaker. Faint.”

Glyn nods. “Could she be cursed?”

“I don’t think so. The feeling is distinct. In your case, I can feel it coming off your body like an aura. In her case, it feels like it's all trapped inside her, only expelling in small ways like her breath.”

“If it’s not a curse, then what is it?” Miller asks.

“Well, let's ask her.” Glyn lowers himself to Talia, staring at her. “You’re awake now, aren’t you?”

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Talia’s eyes open, and she stares at Glyn with a shaky gaze. She struggles to speak, letting out a creaky, weak noise.

“Take a breath and speak slowly.”

“Kill me.” She coughs out. “Kill me while I’m still myself!” She screams.

Everyone stares at her, stunned. As she cries out for death, struggling against her bonds as she stares at Glyn. “What?”

“Kill me before it wakes up again. I can feel it inside me crawling around speaking for me, changing my thoughts. Every day it feels like it's eating away at part of my very being. Please kill me!”

“What is she talking about?” Miller asks.

Glyn stares at her, noticing something under her skin, squirming. He stares and turns to Miller. He grabs the hilt of his blade only for Xia Bai to stay his hand.

“This could be a trick of some kind? She could have some skill that activates when she dies or something.” She says.

Glyn pauses. “Possibly.”

“No, don’t listen to her. I finally feel like myself for the first time in years! Please kill me before it takes me over again.” She coughs, a dark substance spilling from her lips. “It’s going to come back. It’s in me, it’s in the others. Warn her before it’s too late. That thing, the longer it's allowed to fester, the more dangerous it…….”

She stops mid-sentence and slumps over, unmoving.

“Um….” Tisha stares at her.

“Miller, go on ahead and tell the others to prepare a prison cell. Xia Bai, go with him while we ready the prisoner.”

Xia Bai rolls her eyes. “I’m only following your orders for now.”

“I know. But consider this an important favor.”

“Fine.”

Miller nods. “We’ll prepare a cell. Be careful with…. That thing.”

The pair go under the ship and disappear leaving Glyn, Mila, Zanrit, Tisha, and Pepper looking over the strange unconscious woman.

“What do you think is wrong with her?” Tisha asks.

“If I had a guess. I’d say it’s related to Morgan. But how and why would she do something like this to one of her servants?”

“To make them loyal?”

“But she said something about warning her.” Mila says.

Glyn shakes his head. “Stuff to worry about for later. For now, let’s get to the teleporter and get out of her.”

“Who first?” Zanrit asks.

“Pepper, Mila, you two go first. We’ll follow after we make sure she can’t escape. Also, need to do something with these swords of hers. "

“Right. Be careful.” Mila says.

Mila and Pepper go under the ship into the lower cabin where the pedestal for the teleporter sits. Mila places her hand on the device and channels her Mana. Only for nothing to happen. She waits for a moment and still nothing happens.

After another moment, she returns to the deck and looks at the others. “Glyn!?”

“What is the thing not working?” Tisha asks.

Glyn pauses for a moment and then laughs. “Well then, looks like we’ve been had.”

“What!?” Everyone yells at once.

“They were tricking us the entire time. No, likely she was acting as an independent agent until a certain point. But when would they have signaled her to act?”

“What’s happening?” Mila asks.

“Xia Bai betrayed us. Or more accurately, she’s been playing us this entire trip. We’ve been dancing along the palm of Morgan’s trap before we even knew it.”

As he speaks, a shadow appears, blocking out the sun as an enormous fortress floats high in the sky.

“What is that?” Zanrit asks.

Glyn tenses up. “It’s trouble. We’re really in the thick of it this time. Everyone, let’s run into the forest. And Zanrit grabs the pedestal. Hopefully, I can still get some use out of it before it’s too late.”

“Glyn, you look scared,” Mila says.

Glyn nervously smiles. “Oh, I’m terrified. This is the biggest mess I’ve ever stepped into. But I promise you, I’m going to get us out of it.”