Authors Note/Disclaimer: I don't own WA: Alter Code F, it belongs to Media Vision/Sony. Agetec can bite me.

About the only thing I can think of to say about this fic right now is that I'm going to try to post it in tandem with Metamorphosis, because between the two of these fics, you'll get the whole story. You'll see what I mean once I get more written, hee heh. Anywho, off you go to read now, kay?

Prologue

"Zed?"

The demon glanced down from where he was standing on the wall that surrounded Saint Centaur towards the source of the voice. Aura smiled up at him. "Are you up on the wall again?"

Zed jumped down next to the blind girl. "I was. Did you want something?"

"No, no," she replied, laughing and shaking her head. "I was just wondering where you'd gotten to."

Zed crossed his arms across his chest and grinned. "Want to join me?"

"What? No, what would be the point?" Her voice seemed to contain a hint of regret, and Zed knew he'd touched a nerve. It hurt him to know he'd upset her and he decided to try to make it up to her.

"Aw, come on." He wrapped a strong arm around her waist.

"Zed, what are you doing? Zed!"

Aura yelped in surprise as he jumped, lifting her up off her feet and into the air. He held her tightly, ensuring she wouldn't fall, and set down lightly on the wall top, putting her back down. She was about to ask him if he were out of his mind when he shushed her.

"Just listen. Please?"

She did as he asked and was surprised by what she found. She closed her eyes out of habit and listened to the wind as it rustled the leaves in the trees, heard the local Memory Bird preen its feathers. Something was scurrying in the grass by the wall, and birds were singing in the forest in the distance. The sounds of life surrounded her and though she couldn't see them, she could picture the image in her mind's eye. A sudden sound out of the natural harmony dispelled her picture, however.

The sudden, pained gasp startled her. "Zed, are you okay?"

He didn't reply right away, clutching at his chest, waiting for the pain to recede. Once it was gone, he waited a couple more seconds to make sure it wasn't going to return before responding. "Yeah… I think so."

"What happened?"

He shrugged. "Dunno, but I don't think it's anything to worry about."

"I hope you're right."

"I know I'm right. There's nothing on this earth that can hurt me!"

"Oh, Zed. You're such an idiot." The tone of her voice made it clear she was teasing.

"Heh." He scratched at the back of his head, embarrassed.

"Now I understand what it is you like about being on the wall, though."

"Well, the view is spectacular, too." He continued hastily, trying not to sound callous. "I know you can't see it, but I could describe it for you."

Aura smiled. "That would be nice."

He was about to start by pointing out the sea on the horizon to the north when the sound of someone clearing his throat interrupted him. He turned to see who was there as Aura did the same, out of habit again. She already knew who it was, just by his voice.

"Mister Oliver! How are you?"

"It's just Oliver please, Miss Aura." He adjusted his hat, part of the yellow uniform that marked him as a merchant. Once he'd learned there were still people living in Saint Centaur, he'd taken the trouble to stop in from time to time as he traveled to other towns to peddle his wares, or restock. "I have a message from your friends."

"Oh, they got our letter?"

Zed lifted her, jumping back down to the ground so they could converse easier as Oliver nodded. "Cecilia says they'll be able to stop by within the next couple weeks when they're on their way to Port Timney. Hanpan said to say hi for everyone, as well."

Aura laughed. "That's wonderful. Thank you for stopping by."

"No problem. I know it's still a few weeks until Captain Bartholomew is supposed to come by, so do you need anything in the meantime, before I go?"

Zed shook his head, entering the conversation for the first time. "Nothing I can think of."

"I think we're good for the time being, thank you again," added Aura.

Oliver inclined his head. "I've gotta be going now, then. I'll see you again next time. Goodbye." With that, he turned and left the town, leaving Zed and Aura alone again. Silence reigned for several moments.

"Can we go back up on the wall?" asked Aura suddenly. A lopsided grin crossed Zed's face and once again, he wrapped an arm around her waist and jumped. The two spent the rest of the day laughing and listening to the sounds, Zed's sudden chest pain completely forgotten.