It was a long day for those in the Black Mage Village. Sr. Tot agreed with Vivi's theory, but he'd never heard of the like before; there was no precedence for treating such an illness.

By now, Vivi was utterly, totally, and without a doubt exhausted, both physically and mentally. His eyes dropped, and he could barely keep his mind focused.

"Master Vivi?" The Black Mage jumped in surprise at Steiner's soft call. He looked to see the knight and Beatrix looking at him, worriedly. "You should get some rest."

"So should you," replied Vivi, noting the haggard expressions.

"Which is exactly where we were going," countered the lady knight. "The others are already in bed, and so should you be."

"My sons... " he began, but Beatrix pulled him up gently from his chair at Valian's bedside.

"Need you rested," she finished. "If you can barely keep your eyes open, how can you help them?" Against that logic Vivi couldn't argue, and reluctantly went to bed.

It took him quite a while to sleep. His mind was flooded by thoughts of the illness, and his fears. For a brief moment, he thought he dreamed, and then his dreams turned into something else.

Vivi found himself walking in a garden he'd never seen before, towards a fountain that flowed with sparkling water, purer than anything he'd ever seen before. Two angelic figures with upraised wings poured out the water from jars as spouts. Along the sides of the fountain's pool, and indeed on even the bottom beneath the water, were images of men, elves, Sir'Kai, beasts most magical and natural, dragons, and there! Vivi saw, on a separate little section, humans, Genomes, Black Mages, and chocobos. With a start, he was one Black Mage that looked more than a little like himself. And next to that section, he saw carvings of more humans and smaller people in robes with pointed hats and faces hidden behind scarves who floated: Trollans, like Orko. The more he watched, the more he realized that the images shifted as the water rippled, to scenes of worlds both familiar and foreign.

"How - "

"Many worlds touch the Spirit Realm," a female voice, full of caring and warmth, said from behind. Vivi gasped and spun quickly to see a female feline, very lovely, with fur and shoulder-length hair the color of honey, wearing an ankle-length gown that was the hue of spring grass. "Do not fear, Vivi Orunitia. I am a friend."

"Who are you?" She looked familiar, but he couldn't place her.

"I am kin to a dear friend of yours, one who traveled with you when you were away from home, now handmaiden to Spirit Queen Zana, ruler of the Spirit Realm." Vivi suddenly recalled where he'd seen her eyes, kind and full of expression.

"You - Zentarou and Zantar's mother, Adreana?" She nodded gracefully.

"I have only a small amount of time to speak with you. Reaching so far through the realms of the living, far from Talsdia to your Gaia, is a great strain on myself, and Queen Zana herself. So please, listen well, and do not speak.

"You were a friend and ally to my youngest son, so when I was alerted to your plight by a greater power than myself or my Queen, I delved the Library of Souls for an answer. And this I found: All casters under the Spirit Plague will sicken, suffer, and die, unless the essence of those created by magic to use magic washes the world clean."

"What does that mean?" Vivi was puzzled.

"There is more. Those so formed will control the essence in concert with the spell of Soul Mastery. But they too are vulnerable to the Plague. Ten must be their number, or all will fall." She, and the world around Vivi, began to waver. "I have exceeded my strength. I can no longer stay."

"Wait! I don't understand!" But she was fading from view.

"Remember, Vivi! Remembeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..."

Vivi awoke with a start, panting.

And he remembered.