Heee.

Also, Bellona can help with analyzing the focus. Figure out what's going on with it.

She'd appreciate it. There's a lot to untangle here.

It's really very fascinating...

A fine example of magecraft, even if the use to which is was put is deplorable. (Alexius twitches a bit at this.)

The personal choices of the wielder don't sully the beauty of the blade. 

Heh. An apt metaphor.

Though they should tuck this wielder away until they need him again, so they can work on understanding the blade they've liberated...

Cassandra will handle him. She can suppress his magic, like a templar.

- That's also a fascinating ability and something she'd like to learn more about...

Perhaps when they've finished here?

Later, sure. 

Preferably not near the delicate magical equipment, yes.

She'll be good! Promise.

She'd better be.

"For you, I will be."

"Don't I feel special now."

"Good - you're very special to me."

Grin!

And then, to work. Since they have the time, Eliana wants to take a few days for the analysis.

Allows her to pick out more pieces too... 

(Including ones she can pass to El - and to the alternate timeline version of her who's apparently decided to make herself a research monkey for the other timelines - that might help with the transit array...)

(Though not sharing the Gate with Eliana feels increasingly weird, and... She's a bit worried that unraveling Alexius's magic might close off their ability to rescue the other Bellona's, and to not do that she'll need to tell Eliana...)

Eliana notices something's off at the end of the second day. She's probably ready with counter ritual tomorrow.

"You seem distracted, Lionheart."

"...Yeah."

"I'd like to talk to you about something - important."

She sets her work down. "I'm listening."

"Thanks."

And - "There's a - place I go when I dream," she begins. "It's more - distant, than the Fade sounds like it is? More outside of time and space."

"A place of power?"

"No, not really. A place of - knowledge, kinda, but it's... A place inside me, and it reflects me."

"In Amestris, we call it the Gate of Truth. Every alchemist has one - we think every being, but that's... Hard to assess with non-alchemists, since only alchemists can reach it. It's your deepest self, and the doorway to - the universe."

"The - important part though, is that there's only one Gate for each person. I've been able to pass messages with my other timeline selves through it, though we can't all access it at the same time."