Following the intense battles with Malar and Enich, Zechs collapses in exhaustion and is taken to his parents’ home to recover. At the same time, Galahad marks the ritual site to prevent further sacrifices. That evening, the party celebrates their hard-won victory at the Faint Mandolin and Jaded Kitty Kat, sharing drinks, reflections, and heartfelt moments—Turk earns his title “THE Turk,” and Greyleaf connects deeply with him over magic and family. Before the night ends, the mysterious Ickra appears with critical news: updates from JM, the status of Argo, warnings of fiend activity in Ors Themar, threats to the arcane balance in Mechfall, and a chilling note that Arguile has another alternate—one with a rifle. Meanwhile, Zechs dreams of his childhood sacrifice, recalling The Constable calling him "Quill" and suggesting his role is tied to destiny, not malice. Upon waking, Zechs reflects on the weight of his powers and joins the others to discuss next steps, including Galahad’s coming confrontation in Granzia and finding Arguile’s mother.

As the group departs for Iwi, they briefly reunite with past allies Cereius, Attros, and Doctor Honeydew, noting significant changes in their magical gear and a new ally, We Ahqua. Flashbacks reveal Arguile fleeing mid-heist under the curse of lycanthropy, with Greyleaf, Duo, and Shanks tracking him down and subduing him until morning. With the curse lifted, the group reconnects, makes camp, and prepares for the next leg of their journey. After notifying their families and arranging travel via Rig, they arrive in Nykorua and begin adjusting—Arguile’s hometown is alien to most of the party, leading to humorous missteps, the discovery of Arguile’s many aliases, and a tailor named Elmira who upgrades their wardrobe. As the group explores the city, they enjoy both fun and introspective moments, with Arguile meeting Mira, who provides a lead on his mother and returns his hidden stash. Meanwhile, Galahad acquires a temporary weapon and orders a custom-fused blade from a smith named Jax, while Zechs excitedly pitches gadget ideas.

After shopping and training, the group visits the Crystal Gardens for a brief connection to nature and gathers more information about the city’s rules, history, and key figures. Arguile shares insights about his guild and their operations compared to others, giving the party a clearer view of the city’s underworld. The team’s next mission begins to take shape as they prepare to locate Arguile’s mother and address mounting threats. With their goals set, they make their way toward the Spire District, eyes forward on what may be their most personal and revealing journey yet.

There’s so much happening, and we pick up with arc 27 “Much Ado About Dorna ”.

How will the rest of this story unfold? Find out next time on the Medusa’s Cascade: Collateral Damage!

Theme Music is written and performed by Efflorescence

Mixed by Thomas Lapierre III

Check out the show at themedusascascade.com