McManus stood impatiently in front of Ichi's table as he clacked away at his computer. He sighed deeply, waiting for what seemed like years for the progress report. The city had been liberated from the Siren attack about twenty minutes after the tournament combatants was summoned. He hoped that he would be able to go back home and take a nap, but Ichi just had to call him of all people to assist him in this assessment. "Not that I have a life or anything," he said under his breath.

"What was that?" Ichi asked, looking up from the computer monitor for the first time.

"Huh? Nothing. How much longer is this going to take? I've got things to do."

"McManus, for as long as I've known you, you've never had anything to do. What makes this time so different?" He went back to typing.

"I could have something planned. I'm not a complete shut-in you know. Smart-ass," he added under his breath.

"I need you to be a witness. Come," Ichi said, gesturing to his side. McManus obediently followed, catching an elbow to his side as he stood beside him. "I heard everything you said. If you're going to insult me, do try and whisper."

McManus grumbled as he rubbed his side.

"Making the call, now." For a second, Ichi's screen was blank. Then, an image of a beautiful woman displayed. McManus wasn't sure whether he was looking at Ichi's wallpaper, or a popup to an adult chatting website, but just as the woman appeared, a look of pure disgust had appeared on her face.

"Oh God, no-"

"Oh God, yes," Ichi said with a snide smirk. "How long has it been, dear Melody? A decade? Century? Far too long for anyone to keep their sanity, I assume."

"Ichi," McManus said out of the corner of his mouth. "Who is this hottie that we're seeing?"

The woman looked furious as she turned her eyes to McManus. "I am Melody Glissando, the queen of the Serene territory. You will not address me in that manner-"

"She's also the woman that I've told about. You remember the one who healed my leg during the last war, right?" Ichi's smug smile widened.

Of course, McManus remembered that ludicrous story. About forty-five years ago, Ichi told his group some ridiculous story of a Siren who had mended his broken leg after being separated from the group during the Siren/Amian war. What was even more ridiculous was that the little nerdling claimed that said woman was a Siren princess, and he supposedly "got lucky" with her after his leg had healed. It was what got him into studying the Siren culture. "I owe Zero so much money."

"And I am assuming you remember this as well?" he asked the woman.

Melody pursed her lips. "Unfortunately, I still do. It was the worst experience of my life."

"Really, now?" Ichi pushed his glasses up, mused. "You sure fooled me. Considering how many times I've heard 'Oh, God,' that night, I believed that you were participating in a church sermon."

"Shall I break your other leg?!"

"Shall I take your other cherry?!"

They both glared at each other in silence. McManus looked from Ichi to the monitor, perplexed. "This is getting awkward," he whispered through the silence. "I'm just gonna-"

"Actually," Ichi looked at McManus. "I could really go for some tea right about now. Could you check on the tea?"

"Tea? Do I look like your servant boy?"

Ichi's expression quickly shifted. He stared at McManus in astonishment. "I said, could you check on the tea? Tea."

McManus blinked.

"Surely you can't be this stupid."

"Tea?" He remembered what Ichi meant as soon as the words left his mouth. "Oh, tea. Yeah, sure, I'll check on the tea," he said, over exaggerated. Before the last war, Ichi devised a code word to check the transmission for taps to ensure no unwanted ears were spying on their conversations. Tea, T. How did I miss that?

He left Ichi and Melody to their awkward silence as he slid his uplink from his pocket. He extended a cable from the cell phone like device and connected it to Ichi's computer tower. After a moment, he said, "There's only one person sending and receiving a signal. We're all clear here."

"Excellent." Ichi straightened his tie. "I'd rather this be a more professional conference. How've you been, Queen Glissando?" He stood from his chair and bowed regally before the screen.

"All has been well, Ichinose," he stated, sounding more lighthearted. "I'm under the assumption that something is wrong on your planet."

Ichi sighed as he sat on the chair. "I'm afraid so. We were attacked tonight at the Emblem of Valor tournament in Sylvia. A large congregation of Edge Walkers flooded the city, being led by a Siren."

"You don't think I have anything to do with this, do you?" Melody asked, sounding offended.

"Oh, heavens no. I know that you of all people are a woman of your words." He slid his glasses further up the wing of his nose. His eyes grew colder so quickly that it was almost terrifying. "We actually have meticulous evidence that proves your innocence. Moments after she fled, I was able to catch a glimpse of her. She had blood-red runes sprawled across her left arm. Along with that, a boy in a black cloak appeared from a curtain of darkness for a split second, covered her in it, and disappeared again. What I'm trying to say is that Aggaron the Dark is back, and is infecting your people."

"Aggaron? But... but it's so soon. It's only been forty years."

"Forty-four years to be precise."

"But what about the King of Elements? Surely he's been found."

"Yes, he has. We are now in the middle of training him. I'd advise you to warn your people of his return, so we can hopefully avoid more Sirens joining him. Also, rally your troops. There's no telling what he has planned, so we must constantly be on guard." Queen Melody nodded. "Excellent. Ending transmission."