The instant everyone able was gathered, Kuja told them of Soul's Mastery. And their shock was exactly as the Genome had predicted.

"S - say that again?" Vivi was pale, well, as pale as a Black Mage could be.

"Soul's Mastery was the final spell that I used in creating the Black Mage puppets. You remember when my... other side tried to make you and your sons puppets again." How could anyone forget? "Well, that was just the first half. That spell stole your will to do anything on your own, your will to act. Soul's Mastery made it so the Black Mages would obey me, and only me. One emptied them, the other dominated them." He sighed. "I could easily write the spell down, but I fear what would happen if it was cast anywhere near a Black Mage, or if any tried to cast it."

"That makes no sense," Zidane finally said. "The ten Black Mage casters are supposed to use the spell to control the Mist, not become puppets again." Kuja sighed again, bowing his head and burying his hands in his hair.

"I know. But it is the spell." Zidane patted his fellow Genome's shoulder.

"I know, bro, and you did a great job of finding it. Why don't you write it down anyhow, and maybe we'll find the answer." As a precaution, as Kuja took up a piece of paper and a quill, all the Black Mages left the room.

"Are we all that's left?" Vivi asked.

"Yes," answered No. 37, drawing a ragged breath. "Everyone else is either too sick to stand... or in a coma."

"And we're just barely standing," added No. 12 with a shiver. Vivi coughed, no longer trying to hide it.

"We'd all better take it easy," he advised, "or there won't be enough of us left." Wearily they nodded and moved off to rest. But Vivi stayed nearly, sinking to sit on the red carpet in the hallway, leaning against the wall and letting his eyes close. He was tired, and felt weak, as if he lacked the strength to move an inch.

Maybe he slept, or lost consciousness for a while, but when he managed to open his eyes it was mid-afternoon, and the doors were opening. Slowly he stood as Steiner exited.

"Master Vivi, we think you should see this." Vivi entered to see Kuja completing what appeared to be one of many scrolls. He scribed a word, and then, as he began writing the next word, the quill - resisted.

"Huh" Vivi blinked in surprise, as Kuja repeatedly tried to write the word, but the quill nearly broke, refusing to move an inch.

"It's been like this each time," Freya said. Slowly Kuja wrote a different word that the mysterious force controlling the quill accepted, then abruptly read the spell aloud.

Vivi cried out in alarm, trying to cover his ears but was too slow. He'd heard every word.

And nothing had happened.

"The spell is changed," Kuja said as Vivi looked at them, baffled. "The altering of one word changed the spell completely." He held out the scroll to Vivi, who somewhat hesitantly took it and looked at it. It was an easy enough read, easy to understand and easy to remember, and the last word did change the tone of the whole spell, from domination of another, to domination of oneself; in other words, spirit control, essence control...

Soul Mastery.

"This spell should allow the ten casters to control the Mist, moving and shaping it as they will," explained Kuja. "Once it's out, the ten casters use this spell to catch it and hold it fast, and then send it out across the world. And then, when it's done it's work, they call it back and re-contain it in the crystal."

"Thanks Kuja," Vivi said, then coughed before adding, "You've saved us." Kuja smiled, then began to shiver.

"No. We all saved us. Now - " He stood on trembling legs, " - lets get that up that mountain. I'm starting to not feel so good."