"Alright folks," Lin began as Cirque ad Infinitum, along with Smolkie, gathered in a circle around Io's pages. The sigil each of them came together to construct glowed as if awaiting use. "This is probably the biggest show we'll ever put on. I know we're down one, but we'll get the Oracle back! We're going to dive into an evil god's lair, beat him the hell down, and rescue Io. Any questions?"

"Uhm yeah," Constance raised her hand. "Are we getting paid? I'm all for like, helping troupe mates and whatever, but that ain't raising our funds. Know what I'm saying?"

Ran stomped a foot, "Connie! This is Io we're ta-talking about here! I'm not letting the one I lo-lo-love to be used as an evil vessel! Espe-especially not after all the pain Veles already put him through-"

"Wait, wait, what was that? Rewind," Connie made the motion with her finger.

"Uhm... espe-especially not after all the pa-pain Veles already put him through?"

"No, not that you brainless bug," Connie sighed.

The Strongman let out a rumbling laugh, arms crossed. "Berinhard is thinking little Connie means part where you are doing the confessing of love to Oracle."

"Yess dear, it is quite a big step," Arika nodded but shot a glare at Constance and lashed out to thwack her upside the head.

Ran clenched her fists, beet red. "A-a-anyway! We can talk about my ev-evolving love thingy later! Let's go al-already before Io suffers any more!"

"I do fully agree," Smolkie let out a cough. "While I may not be of your wonderful family, I think of that boy as my own son. If only fate had different plans and allowed me adoption rights, I say! But then, he wouldn't have become such close friends with all of you, and Cirque ad Infinitum might not have come to-"

"Yeah, yeah, okay. In you go, Gramps," Connie shoved him into the light emitted by the sigil, and hopped in afterwards. Ran stepped to the edge and took a deep breath before falling in. Berinhard took Arika's hand in his own giant grip, and they exchanged a look of determination before leaping through the boundary together.

Lin was the last to go in and took a moment to look at their bodies under care of the Volties. "Astral projection, huh? Never thought I'd be doing it, but you always did have tricks up your sleeve. We're comin' for you, Io." He flipped upwards and his ethereal body slipped into the portal.