Crystal is still reeling from that meeting with that Frostelvan woman, Rune, from the Spirit Bureau. 'Xulgoth Alduin', the name rings around in her head as she tries to work on other things. "Where have I heard that last name before? It sounds really familiar, but I can't figure out why." she says to herself.

Just then a wind breeze comes through the window and blows a picture frame off her self, knocking it off and she's startled as it crashes to the floor. She stands up and walks over to it and picks it up. She stares at the photo of her mother inside for a long while, with the same blonde hair as her, and the same eyes.

The eyes. . . She picks up the comm stone from her desk. After a little while, the image of her mom, Maurice, appears. "Oh hi darling! How are you?" she says.

"I'm doing good mom. Hey, I have a strange question. Did you ever have any siblings?" she asks.

Her mom appears taken aback at first. "I had one, I haven't spoken to him in many years though, not since we were kids," she says.

"Do you know what your last name was before you were adopted?" asks Crystal.

"What's all this about, honey?" asks Maurice.

". . . Just curious, that's all."

For a long time Maurice is silent. "I really have tried to put all that behind me, and. . . I'm sorry, I just don't like dredging up the past."

"It's alright, I'm sorry I said anything. Forget I called." says Crystal as she starts to put down the comm stone.

"Alduin. . ." says Maurice.

At that moment, Crystal's heart drops. It can't be.

Maurice seems to see right through her. ". . . It's him isn't it? My brother. . . After all these years, he's found you, hasn't he? Does he know?" she says, with a worried look.

"Mom. . . Do you remember the man that my friends used to call the Xenomancer?" says Crystal. Her mom nods. "Mom. . ." her voice cracks. "It's him. You have to get out of Almahna. Right now! If he doesn't know, it's only a matter of time before he finds you! Get out of Almahna!"

And before Maurice can answer, Crystal slams down the comm stone, as she then collapses to the floor, hugging her knees as she breaks down in tears. "Kairine, where are you?!" she wails.

"I'm here. . ." says a familiar voice. As she looks up, with tears in her eyes, she sees a transparent image of Kairine Kamuya. "I'm so sorry, Crystal, I don't have much time. I am in the Ocean Kingdoms. Crystal, something is coming. You've probably already seen the signs. Something not seen in over a thousands years. . . Something not of this world."

"Kairine. . . Yeah but the Xenomancer. . . he's back, and his real name, it's. . ." says Crystal.

"Xulgoth Alduin. Your uncle. I know. There's more to him than meets the eye. He is far more dangerous than you know. I'm sorry I didn't connect it sooner. I once knew him as Flarius. . ." says Kairine.

"Wait. . . that guy who used to torture you when you were younger?"

"Yes. You can say he appears to have had a number of identities through the years. I think you and Kuai should leave Almahna. Your mother as well. He has killed far too many people, and I fear you're next." says Kairine.

"Kuai's gone with Eira to Agroba. They're with a group of adventurers though. . . Is Xulgoth connected to whatever is coming?"

"I fear he's in fact summoning it. . ."

"What do you mean?" says Crystal, but before she could answer, Kairine's image disappears. Crystal slumps back. "The Ocean Kingdoms. . . Why is she there of all places?"

Maurice flies through her house, gathering clothes and other things and packing them away in a bag. Her daughter's last words to her are still fresh in her mind. How could he have found us after all this time? I was so careful. I changed my name. I changed my whole life. How could he have found my darling daughter? Does he know?

At that moment, there comes a knock on the door. Maurice's heart stops cold as she looks back at the door. I shouldn't answer it. . . it could be him. But how? How could he have found me? There's another knock, this time more forceful. The backdoor. . . I could escape out the back. . . She grabs her bag and slings it over her shoulder as she quietly makes her way toward the back.

But as she reaches the back door, she hears a voice call out to her. "Maaaurice! Oh Maurice! I know you're in there. Come and give your dear ole' brother a hug, won't you?" says the voice. "Or should I call you. . . Mary. . . I've no idea, you have so many names, it could drive a brother mad!" He knocks on the door once more.

She reaches her hand out for the door's nob and slowly and quietly turns it, doing all she can to ignore his calls. You're already mad, brother. Suddenly the door slams open as two large men step inside and walk toward her. They reach their hands out for her but she ducks and sprints toward the stairs. But as she reaches the stairs, she's stopped cold as a man dressed in a red circus uniform, wearing a top hat and holding a cane steps before her. "Ah, dear sister. How long's it been? I really have lost track all these years."

"You're insane," she says, as she steps back, only to be stopped by the men behind her. "What do you want, Xulgoth?"

He seems taken aback. "Is that any way to greet your dear brother after all these years? Tsk tsk tsk. What would mom and dad say?"

But she only spits in his face. As he pulls out a handkerchief and wipes his face, the two men behind her grab her. She struggle and fights to get free, but they're too strong and easily overpower her. "Okay. Let's try this a different way. Where is it?" 

"I'll never tell you, you psychopath. And you're no brother of mine. My brother died in that house."

Xulgoth smiles as he leans in and whispers in her ear. "The small and scared boy you knew. . . is indeed long dead. But I am very much alive." He says as he turns around, looking around the house. "How quaint. . . You come from fortune and power, and this is what you've made of your life. . . How truly. . . sad."

"You want the family fortune? You can have it. I want no part of that money!" says Maurice.

Xulgoth looks back at her. "Is that what you think I want? How little you think of me." he says as he waves to the men holding her. "Do you think money truly buys power in this world? Oh no no no. Money buys the illusion of power. What truly buys power. . . is fear. And chaos. . . begets fear." he turns around. "Take her. I will find what I want another way. I have my ways. . ."

"You'll never find it! I have made sure of it!" she cries out as the men drag her out the back door, and her bag slips from her shoulder and falls to the floor. Xulgoth takes another look around the room, and then is about to leave, when suddenly his eyes fall upon something. A picture frame sitting atop a shelf. He steps over to the picture, staring deep into the eyes of the girl in the photo. A very familiar blonde haired woman. As he stares into the photo, a smile spreads across his face.

"I will be seeing you very soon."