Note: This is a sequel, not a retelling.

~A quick character guide~ The Guy: Riven The Girl: Elleira

Brilliance A Legend of Mana Story

One ~Good Morning!~

Bud and Lisa stood in front of the class, both visibly shivering. Riven was smiling at them, trying to calm their fears, but Elleira kept her eyes on the teachers. Each of the teachers was studying the siblings, and none of them had anything resembling sympathy on their faces. Elleira looked over at Riven, who leaned in close, still smiling.

"They'll be fine," Riven said quietly.

"How do you know?" she asked, scanning the row of teachers again. "It doesn't look very good."

"Because I got the principal some stuff from the Underworld as a bribe. No way he'll refuse. You know he can't resist those old artifacts and stuff."

She looked up at the kids again. "I hope so . . ."

*************

As it turned out, the teachers did vote for the two children to be enrolled again, despite their past mishaps. But now . . . Riven hated to admit it, but he missed them. It was comforting having them around, especially when Elleira was out wherever, and when she did come by, it was only to use the forge.

After the defeat of the Mana Goddess, he spent a lot of time in the garden with Trent, or the pasture with his Rabites and Chocobos. It was getting desperately lonely, and even worse since there were no adventures to distract himself with. His heart was heavy, and while he missed the kids and Elleira, he missed Pearl even more. He shook that thought away quickly.

Blackpearl had made it quite evident that she couldn't spend enough time AWAY from him.

He rolled out of bed, snagging his hat off of Lil' Cactus's head and putting it on in one fluid motion. He glanced at himself in the mirror, scratching his chin. "I could use a shave . . ." Walking back to his bed, he kicked over the mattress and pulled out an elaborately designed black scabbard. The sacred sword Kiijin, granted to him by his mentor and trainer.

He pulled the sword and started shaving, trying not to think about what his master or Elleira would think if they could see him. When he was finished, he glanced at Lil' Cactus, who was still sleeping. Riven smiled, and started down the stairs. With a yawn, he walked through the house and to the front door, thinking of going to Domina for breakfast. Or, judging by the position of the sun, lunch.

Riven stopped abruptly on his stairs as a black chocobo slammed into his mail box, snapping it in two. The monster fell to the ground, whimpering. The warrior looked up, stunned to see Elleira fighting a monster in his front yard. And not just any monster - Deathbringer!

With a snarl, he pulled Kiijin and leapt at Deathbringer, who roared, slapping him out of the air. He landed hard in the pasture, and a Rabite came up and sniffed him. Wiping blood from his lip, he stood again, only to get knocked down as Elleira came crashing into him. She shook her head as she got up, dazed.

With a grin, she got off of him. "Hiya Riven! Just came by to see you . . ."

"Yeah, I noticed. What's going on?"

She hefted her heavy two-handed sword, Kiishin. "Bad stuff. He followed me here, trying to stop me. I need your help."

Riven nodded, and they both charged, weaving back and forth across each others paths, and Deathbringer couldn't follow them both. Riven plunged his sword into Deathbringer's foot, dragging it through as he ran. Elleira jumped, slashing at the monster's knee. Deathbringer fell, dropping his massive axe and catching himself with both hands. Riven and Elleira both leapt, running up his arms in perfect unison, and stabbing at his eyes simultaneously.

Deathbringer reared back, throwing them both to the ground. Light exploded from his innards, and he started breaking apart. His screams were deafening, and Riven guessed they could probably hear the noise in Gato. The monster knight finally shattered, shards of light falling to the ground in a shower. Riven wiped off Kiijin, slamming it into the scabbard. "What the hell was that about?" he demanded, turning to Elleira.

She wasn't there. He blinked, looking around confusedly before seeing her on his steps, holding the head of the Chocobo. "Sephiroth, are you all right? Did he hurt you? Poor baby."

Riven slapped his head, and stalked into his house, turning around a chair and sitting on it backwards. He chewed his nails, thinking. Deathbringer in his front yard, fighting Elleira. It was an impossible set of coincidences. He sighed. Riven considered going back to bed, shaking his head ruefully. The ONE DAY Lil' Cactus didn't wish him good morning . . .