“Uuugghhh...” Jana sighed as she materialized at a respawn point far from where she and Clara had been neutralized. Clara was sitting on the ground, blinking uncomprehendingly. A few moments later Merc also turned up, and the three of them looked around at each other, Merc seeming to be the least surprised.

“Well, I guess we can say Jana was right. Melody bragged about our plan when she was at school.” Merc finally said, and Jana let out an exasperated sigh.

“See, Clara?” the red-haired girl fumed at the girl with green hair. “That brat cost us the plan! We were this close to actually eliminating the Silvernight Queens' biggest weapon, and she--!”

“The biggest, you say?” Clara said almost nonchalantly. “Who tamed the dragon?” she asked, and Jana stopped short.

“Lana Windstrider...” the other girl said softly, looking away.

“Lana is the Queens' greatest weapon, not Dracuoatlax.” Clara said with a shrug.

“The biggest threat.” Merc corrected. “But we get your point.”

“That was one doozy of a surprise,” Clara sighed. “Melody won't be happy about us failing. But then, it's really...” she trailed off sadly, another sigh escaping her lips.

“Hmmpf. Why are you obsessing over her anyway... it's not like you don't have other options...” Jana remarked.

“Jana!” Merc softly barked.

“Tch!” the malevolent herbalist snorted, turning away from them.

“Still, they did turn our own ambush on us quite nicely.” Merc agreed. “I'm getting tired of this. We should just go back to the Borderlands and forget our deal with the King-Priests. It's getting us nothing, and they've practically lost the secondary war, never mind the actual competition.”

“The war for the orbs, you mean?” Jana turned back. “Hah, as if they're fighting it themselves. I almost hope Rayna gets her guild back from those two losers, finally...”

“That'd be an improvement.” Merc said with a shrug. “Well, the way things are going now, it'll probably happen.” he added, heading off in the direction of the nearest town. Jana and Clara followed after him, the latter lost in thought.

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“What's on your mind?” Jana said in a softer tone, looking over at the other girl.

“Maybe Merc is right. We should just give up our contract with the King-Priests. And if Mel doesn't like it, we'll quit the guild.” Clara said, and the other two stopped to stare at her in amazement.

“Th-that's extreme, coming from you... aren't you like, totally hot for her?” Jana wondered in disbelief.

“That's exactly why I'd quit.” the other returned with the ghost of a smile.

“I get where you're coming from, but still...” Merc remarked, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ehh... let's keep this to ourselves for now. We'll suggest it to the others, or at least one of them, if we get into another huge setback like tonight.” he then said.

“Cyan, you mean?” Jana prodded. “Just for the record, I don't have any intention of actually quitting the guild. Or of giving up.”

“And neither will Venomy... that twerp has so many screws loose they might as well be in a garbage bag lost at sea...” Merc quipped, and Jana snorted with laughter. “Cobra's hard to read, though I can't see him quitting just because of a few setbacks like this. Heh... I don't think I would either. Looks like it'd just be you and Cyan, Clara!”

“Hm, hm.” Jana nodded emphatically.

“I don't care if it's just me. That'll be enough to make the point. Though...” she continued, her eyes glowing venomously, “I'll still definitely claim my retribution on Lana herself.”

“If you're desperate, I happen to know where the last dungeon will be.” Jana remarked.

“Hm? How?” Clara said to her at once.

“One of the King-Priests and I had a--well, never mind that.” she said with a smile. “The point is, that final dungeon is in the west of Kunlun Province, up in the Guardian Mountains. Somehow I doubt it'll take long for the Queens to realize that. You could ambush them going in or coming out.” Jana told her, and Clara slowly smiled.

“You two go on without me. And remind my little princess that it was her who ultimately ruined tonight's dragon-killing.” she said with a pleased tone.

“Right,” Merc nodded.

“Of course! I'll relish it,” Jana smirked haughtily. The two of them watched as she headed in another direction, exchanging a glance with each other. “Think she'd actually leave the guild?”

“Her? Pfft, nah.” Merc shook his head. “She's just upset. Well, if she fails in her ambush she can't blame anyone but herself; and if she succeeds we'll all be in a better mood.” the alchemist said with a faint grin.

“You've got that right.” Jana sighed. “Let's go,” she then said, and they turned back to head for their own destination of the nearest wayport.