Aspel/Merri/Drake/Ari
Merri and Drake had just finished dessert when they heard and saw the ruckus outside the restaurant, and for a brief moment Merri worried that there was already another riot. But when he squinted his eyes to see past his reflection in the window and through the Mist, he noticed right away that everyone was running from something, somewhere. Merri pulled out his network device and frowned -- it was dead. If they wanted to know what was wrong, and they needed to know, they had to make it to the scene themselves. With that, both men rose from their chairs and tossed enough gil to pay for their meal and tip before they were out the door.
As they pushed against the tide of fleeing citizens, Merri wished that he had his staff on him instead of his rapier, but even with everything that had been going on in the city lately he hadn't expected to have to fight tonight. Fortunately, he was not helpless as magic could be just as easily summoned through his fingertips, and his swordsmanship was improving every day. He hoped that it would be enough.
They breached through to the Tenements before long, and Merri had to stop to catch his breath. He motioned for Drake to continue on without him -- he'd catch up -- when he was knocked off his feet by the crashing wetness of Watera. He gasped from the impact of his back upon the cobblestone and quickly cast Cure upon himself before he hobbled back up, taking the rapier from its sheath. When his eyes laid upon the Elemental, however, he had half a mind to put the sword away, for it would be pointless against a monster like this, but he kept it drawn -- just in case.
It was then that he noticed Aspel, and this time -- this time -- he would not fail to protect her, or Drake. He closed his eyes to give himself a moment to gather up the Barwater spell Guy had so diligently helped him with and cast it upon her, and he prayed that it worked. It felt like it did, at least, and his eyes went back to search for Drake and he wished that he could offer the spell to him, too.
But for now, he knew he had to fight, and against an Elemental, he would not be helpless. With that, he began casting Fira.