[Voice/Action]

[esper_flight]

[Her voice is quiet, tense.]

I don't like this. First, that earthquake and now, the sky....

It's not over, is it? I really hope I'm wrong, but somehow I don't think I am.

[The journal then closes, but it's abruptly opened moments later, a thump and the sound of sliding pages indicating that the instance is accidental. Terra's voice is a little

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[vulcanblazer]

[By now, Adell's in the midst of combat, fighting waves of powerful looking demons summoned into town. He's doing a spectacular job beating them down with his bare hands. After punching out a rather large foe, Adell looks over his shoulder to check for more threats. Instead, he sees the familiar purple glow of Terra's Esper form flying by.

He immediately breaks away from the area he was in to meet up with her. He'll be running along the ground as fast as he can. Unsurprisingly, the orange aura that normally accompanies Adell when he's pushing himself looks far more intense than ever before.]

Terra!

[esper_flight]

[Terra's glow is likewise brighter, though otherwise her appearance is the same. She perks up when hearing his voice -barely- and moves to descend. Not touching the ground, Terra nonetheless is now close enough to speak without shouting--or would be, without the noise surrounding them.]

Adell! Some of these are Espers! I've seen them behave like this before, but we have to help them stop---

[And then, her eyes widen as she stares past Adell. Beyond him is a quickly approaching figure, a very familiar one with horns and silver hair....]

Father! No!

[vulcanblazer]

[Adell quickly spins when he see Terra look away from him. An incoming Esper was headed this way and...

F-Father? That's Terra's...? Oh hell. For right now, Adell readies himself defensively. There's no telling what might happen here...]

[esper_flight]

[As he approaches, it becomes clearer that Terra's father isn't heading for her, but Adell. There's nothing in his eyes or expression that indicates a rational being, not now. Instead, the power within him builds and Terra charges mid-air to shove Adell out of range before it can be directed at her friend. She knows what Maduin is about to do, but there's no time to further plead with him.]

[vulcanblazer]

[While keeping his eyes focused on Maduin's incoming charge, he had completely taken his eyes off of Terra. Terra's charging shove takes him utterly off guard and he'll go flying a fair distance and land in the dirt nearby.

He doesn't look particularly hurt, but he's initially a little dazed getting back to his feet. That was a surprise.]

[esper_flight]

[There's no time to apologize or explain. Moments after Terra's charge, Maduin's power coalesces as Chaos Wing. Thanks to Terra's efforts, at least they aren't directly in its path, but she's impeded from reaching Maduin right away due to the strong blast of magic.

Rolling away from Adell, Terra rises from the ground once more. Her body aches a little thanks to the impact, but she ignores that, instead focused on Maduin.]

Father, please! Don't do this! He's a friend!

[But Maduin isn't done yet. Focusing on Adell, the Esper charges forward once more, fists clenched and ready to deliver another blow. Quickly, Terra tries to cast Sleep only to have it take no effect. Still unwilling to harm him, she then casts Slow. If she can't knock her father out with a simple spell, she can at least make it more difficult for him to harm her friend.]

[vulcanblazer]

[The Slow spell delays Maduin long enough that Adell has time to dig in his heels. Maduin's powerful fist comes down on the demon, but he catches it in one of his hands, sliding back several feet.

Tendons and sinews in Adell's arm tighten and strain from the force. Maduin's blow is surprisingly potent, though he's able to soak it. If this was anyone else, Adell could easily follow this up with a very powerful attack, but knowing that this is Terra's father, it severely limits his attack options. Instead, all he really can do is defend until Terra can get through to him... so he'll try to keep him locked dead in his tracks for now.]

Listen to her! She's your daughter! I'm not here to hurt her! Or you!

[esper_flight]

I don't think we can listen! We just need to weaken him! Maybe then he'll come back to his senses!

[Or so she truly hopes. Thinking quickly, Terra casts Osmos, then Rasp. If she can drain him of his magic, perhaps that will be enough to snap him out of it. But that will take a few more castins to truly be effective, and in the mean time, Maduin shows no indication of listening to Adell. He stretches for his hands, invoking Chaos Wing once more.]

[vulcanblazer]

[Thanks to the training he's done with Terra, he's gotten more used to taking magic damage than he was used to at home, but Chaos Wing hits differently than any of Terra's spells.

Either way, despite being better able to withstand your average magic attack, Chaos Wing hits hard. Adell attempts to block it from hitting anything vital, but the attack delivers a pretty substantial shock to the system. But he holds his ground, out of sheer force of will. The damage done is obvious, though.]

Sorry about this!

[He's gotta make sure he doesn't get that spell off again. It hurts. Adell will dash forward and strike Maduin with a strong punch to the gut. His blow isn't anywhere near full power, but if he can wind the Esper, maybe he can stop him from using his magic.]

[esper_flight]

[Maduin, on full offense-mode, is too busy attempting a punch of his own to dodge Adell's attack. The punch sends him staggering back, giving Terra time to use Osmose as Rasp again. Bit by bit, Maduin's strength is fading.

But it's not gone entirely. After the Esper recovers his balance and some air, he leaps forward, claws extended and ready to slash Adell. Despite the magic steadily draining him, his focus does not deviate. Terra is unharmed...at least, for now.]

[vulcanblazer]

[He sees those claws bearing down on him. Well, he decides the best way to evade it is to make him miss. By charging headlong at him. With Adell's speed, he's able to lunge forward and shoulder charge Maduin to knock him back.]

[esper_flight]

[Adell's tactic is effective enough. The sudden lunge sends the Esper staggering back, with a loud thump as he hits the ground. He moves to regain his footing and launch a counter attack, when Terra's magic drains him further. Swaying, the Esper lowers his claws and that all-consuming rage begins to fade from his eyes.

Terra glides forward, her tone hesitant. She wants so much to be able to speak with Maduin, but she can't help wonder if that berserk mode is truly finished.]

...Father?

[And Maduin stares at her as though seeing her for the first time. His voice is weary and confused, but also hopeful.]

Terra?

[vulcanblazer]

[When Maduin speaks, Adell's muscles relax a little. He doesn't yet drop his guard, and instead merely watches. The Esper might still be a threat...

He readies himself to try to restrain Maduin if he tries to attack Terra but otherwise takes no aggressive action.]

[esper_flight]

[Terra closes her eyes for a moment in thanks, then steps forward. To her surprise, Maduin steps back. The realization of what he's done seems to hit him, and his eyes widen with horror.]

My power...I could not stop myself....

Father, don't! Something about this place or the people running it did this to you! It wasn't your fault!

[She spares a quick, pleading glance at Adell.]

[vulcanblazer]

[At this point, Adell drops his fighting stance when Terra glances at him. Carrying his normal confidence in his voice, he'll speak to Maduin.]

She's right. It's not because of anything you did at all. And don't worry about what happened. All that matters is you're back to normal, right?

[esper_flight]

[Maduin bows his head at Adell.]

I am deeply sorry. The rage and confusion consumed me...I don't know how it happened, but I thank you -both- for stopping me.

[His shoulders slumped and Terra rushed forward to help support him. Looking him over, she realized that he must have been in several fights before theirs, for there were wounds they did not inflict. That and his general weariness was greater than it should be otherwise. Immediately, she cast some Cura spells upon him.]

Father...we need you. Something's agitating all the Espers. If you're yourself again, if you can keep your control, then maybe you can help us get through to the others here. We need to stop them, before they hurt themselves, or others.

[Maduin seems to consider this, but hesitates.]

If I were to lose control again....