Disclaimer: ToV does not belong to me.

Apparently, I failed the last chapter :( but don't worry, I've rewritten it! Made it better! Hopefully. More in-character, substituting dialogue and certain actions to make it more 'Vesperia' like. Hopefully, it is better (First part is almost the same)

Okay, I'm pretty sure I'd fallen asleep in my bed. In my room. At the inn in Zaphias' lower quarter. After spending the day with Karol and Judith, doing random guild jobs. Including tracking down one of our forgetful princess' favorite book... which was being used by Rita in her magic practice. But that's not the point. I'm positive I'd fallen asleep in my bed.

So why the hell am I floating in perpetual darkness, in one of Rita's magic spheres? Heh... maybe Sodia finished the job.

Then the world around me starts illuminating. The light is so bright, I have to cover my eyes. When I reopen them, I'm not floating in perpetual darkness. I'm now floating far above a planet. Funny, doesn't look like Terca Lumireis. I've seen it from the sky enough to know that much. No, it's a completely different place. My first thought is, "What the hell am I doing here?" My second thought? "Wait... is this thing gonna give out?" As creepy as this is, it's made even worse by the prospect of being dropped.

"Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of mana."

That voice... it's so familiar, yet at the same time I can't quite place the name of the person speaking. That's weird. I look around, hoping for maybe another person floating in a magic sphere, "Uh, hello?" No response, so I try again, "Are you just gonna tell me a story?" Remotely, I notice the sphere floating downwards.

"A war, however, caused this tree to wither away, and a hero's life was sacrificed in order to take it's place."

"I don't see any giant trees," I told the voice. Then I wonder aloud, "Wait, do you mean-? Oh, never mind. I'm an anti-hero."

"Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens."

I sneer at the thought, "Yeah, that's terrible. Not everyone can be immortal, ya know. People die. Plus, aren't you abandoning the people?"

"The goddess left the angels with this edict: 'You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed'."

"Oh, a vengeful goddess, eh?" About the time I realized the sphere wasn't gonna just give out, I laid down on my back and stared upward at the sky. Occasionally, I would glance downward to see how far from the surface we are. Surprisingly, the voice didn't just continue it's narrative. It spoke directly to me.

"Are you quite done?"

I think about it, "Yeah, I'm done. Continue."

"Good. Anyways, where was I?" I roll my eyes and almost laugh, but don't, "Oh, right. The angels bore the Chosen One, who headed towards the tower that reached up unto the heavens. And that marked the beginning of the regeneration of the world."

"And let me guess," I stroke my chin, pretending to think about it, "I'm supposed to protect the 'Chosen One' during this journey?" I'm vaguely aware that I'm floating into a building. We pass through the wall and into what appears to be a school room. Children of all ages are sitting at desks, including Estelle and Flynn. Rita is standing in front of the classroom, lecturing. A body is standing up sleeping behind all the desks, and I realize it's my own. Wow, so did not see that coming.

"Mm, something like that. I bid you good luck."

I sit and stare upward, "Wait, why would I need- whoa!" Without warning, I'm dropped downwards, towards my body. Then all goes black.

"Yuri Lowell, wake up! Yuri!"

Something hard hits me square in the jaw. I awaken instantly with a "Gahh! Wha-?" to an unpleasant sight. Rita's staring me in the eye with that angry 'I'm-gonna-kill-you' glance she usually reserves for Karol or the old man. Um... okay? To see her staring me down like this... I wonder what got her so angry in the first place. And then I remember how I got here.

Rita scowls angrily, "How the hell do you manage to sleep standing?" After an awkward pause, she continues, with her arms crossed and her glare set on low, "Well? Aren't you going you going to answer my question, Mr. Lowell?"

"Uh... experience?" I shrug, smirking when the classroom echoes with laughter. Flynn rolls his eyes as Estelle politely covers her mouth to suppress the giggles and fails. Rita sighs, presumably giving up, and turns around, walking back to the front of the classroom. I decide to just listen for now, to see what's going on. They obviously recognize me... but not in the way they're supposed to...

"Never mind. Ugh, I swear... Flynn! You answer it instead," My knightly amigo stands up, obviously taking the opportunity to show me up. Great. No matter where I am, Flynn Scifo always seems to be my rival... or at least, very angry with me. Another story, another time.

Flynn stands at attention as he answers her, though the conceited gleam in his eyes never fades, "Yes, Ma'am. Alexei, the hero," Here, I suppress the urge to growl at his mention, "brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Ground of Kharlan." He flashes a grin back at me, conceited and show off-y. I stick my tongue out at him.

Rita, meanwhile, ignores our wordless banter and continues the lecture I was apparently asleep for, "Right. Afterwards, Alexei formed a pact with the goddess, Martel," Here, I remember that strange story the voice told me, "to seal away the Desians whom caused the war-"

Much to her chagrin and my amusement, Ted, who I failed to notice in the front row, stands and shouts, "But the Desians are back and causing everyone nothing but trouble!"

Our hot-headed mage glares daggers at him, presumably for interrupting her lecture, "And you forget that we covered this last time. Again. When the seal weakens, as it has now, the Desians resurface along with their Human Ranches. Need anything else we've already gone over repeated?"

Ted blushes as the entire class laughs yet again, "N-no, Ma'am. Sorry I wasted your time," He sits back down and Rita, seemingly neutralized by his apology, continues to lecture.

"Now, as I was saying..." Rita draws a symbol on the chalk board, one I swear I've seen before... back at the castle while we were rescuing Estelle, "Today is the Day of Prophecy. It's the day where our savior, the Chosen of Mana, will receive the Oracle of Martel from heaven. Afterwards, she will begin her pilgrimage, called the Journey of Regeneration. Now, Estelle."

Ah, Estelle. A familiar face that isn't perpetually mad at me. She stands up, bowing politely, "Yes, Professor Mordio?"

"Tell the class about the Journey of Regeneration," Rita's voice isn't the commanding bark it was when she was addressing Flynn and me. It's softer. Of course, Rita's always had a soft spot for Estelle, no matter how much she tries to deny it.

The pink-haired girl folds her hands behind her back as she recites, probably from a book, the answer: "Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the summon spirits upon which she had bestowed the responsibility of the world's mana awaken from their deep slumber, and mana is restored. The journey is also apart of Alexei's pact with the goddess. By completing the journey and becoming an angel, the Chosen fulfills Alexei's vow of the pact, and the Desians are re-sealed beyond the void."

"That's right. Though I'd be surprised if the Chosen herself didn't know the answer to that, of all questions," It figures I'd be in this aiding Estelle. Why is she always tied up in the world's problems? "Mana depletion occurs because the Desians consume vast amounts of mana in their Human Ranches. Because of this, the summon spirits of Earth and Water are unable to properly nourish the land. That's why Sylvarant is suffering from food shortages and droughts," Estelle, at this point, smiles back and me and waves. I wave back, kind of but not really hiding my confused look. She giggles, "Now, for the next question-"

A blinding burst of light interrupts her. My second that day.

Everyone else is mesmerized, and Rita has to calm things down in her cool, collective way. "QUIET! ALL OF YOU!" It's not perfect, but it certainly got the classroom to settle down and listen. Rita rushes over to the window and looks outside, "That's probably the Oracle now. I'm gonna go check it out. Alone," She adds after eying the class, which varies from ages Ted to myself, "Everyone else BETTER be studying on their own when I return," And with that, she rushes out, grabbing a staff on the way out.

Estelle stands, "Professor, wait! I'll go with you!" The younger girl moves to follow Rita, but stops when Rita shakes her head.

"Sorry, Estelle. I can't just be blindly thrusting you into danger, especially on the Day of Prophecy. Wait here with the others. The priests will come for you if it's time," And with that, she rushes out the door, leaving us alone to 'study'.

The girl sits back down, "Yes, Ma'am..."

Okay... this is weird. Of course, being Yuri Lowell, I'm used to strange happenings and such. But this is... this is the very definition of strange! The students, ignoring Rita's threat, start moving around, conversing with others and Flynn, to my surprise, is actually studying. Either he's a complete nerd in this universe, or he's genuinely afraid of Rita, which I don't blame him for if that's the case.

A pair of hands grab me suddenly and I'm pulled into the hallway just outside the classroom. The culprit, to my surprise (not!), is Estelle. She's frowning seriously with that determined sparkle in her eyes... I've been through this before. I know where this is going.

"Yes, I'll take you wherever you need to go. Just don't yell," I whisper.

She seems surprised, then nods, back to serious-mode, "Thank you, Yuri," She whispers back, "That light came from the Martel Chapel, and as Chosen it's my responsibility to receive the Oracle. Not to mention," She looks down, clearly saddened, "My grandmother should be there. I have to make sure she's okay."

"Don't you worry. Now let's-"

"Get out of here before Flynn shows up?" The blond finishes, having appeared from nowhere. Estelle jumps, falling backwards. I stare Flynn dead in the eye, not really startled by his sudden appearance. Living on the edge, with knights constantly chasing you down, does that to you.

"Hello, FLYNN," I emphasize his name for the sheer purpose of annoying him. You'd be surprised how useful annoying your opponent can be.

The knight closes in on me, his blue eyes squinted in anger, "I don't think you'll be leaving here, Yuri. Rita told me to keep an eye on you today, and I intend to do just that. She'll kill me otherwise, and it's hard to hide from your sister," They're siblings in this world? Could've fooled me. Meanwhile, Flynn flinches at the thought of what Rita would do to him.

"In that case..." I quickly wonder whether or not this will actually work, then decide to try it, "come with us."

"WHAT?"

Well, that certainly pissed him off, "I'm just saying... you'd be able to look after me just as well at this Martel Oracle-receiving place-"

"Chapel," Every knight's favorite commandant responds.

I nod mindlessly, "Right, Martel Chapel, as you would here. Maybe even better, because it will be just us three."

"I don't think-"

I smirk at him, "Besides, Rita never said where you had to watch me, did she? Nor did she say you couldn't go to the chapel with us to study it," I see the gleam in his eyes, confirming it. Yup, this world's Flynn is a dork, "Only that you couldn't go with her," I still see the doubt on his face and sigh, "If we have to face Rita, and I pray to whomever is listening we do not, I'll say I drugged and kidnapped you, alright?"

Finally, he gives in, "Alright," Score: Ultimate Master Swordsman: 1. Nerdy-Flynn: 0, "I'll go get my weapon."

"Why would you need one?" I asked, "Shouldn't the temple-"

"Chapel," The word-master corrects.

"CHAPEL be some sort of sacred place with, you know, no monsters?"

Flynn shakes his head, smirking condescendingly, "If you could manage to stay awake in class more than a few seconds, you'd know that it's a part of the Chosen's Journey of Regeneration. Estelle, would you care to explain?" The pink-haired girl nods, steps forth and recites the answer, again from a book by memory, I'm guessing.

"The Chosen receives judgment from heaven as apart of her journey to regenerate the world. A large portion of that journey involves battling monsters, to prove to the Goddess Martel that she is ready to accept her responsibility as an angel," The girl frowns, determined, "But we've got to go help the priests and grandmother! I'll get my chakrams. Flynn, you get your kendama. Yuri... you already have your sword."

Wow, guess I'm so used to the blade tied to my hand, I failed to notice I had it in the first place. Flynn, having given up, grabs his kendama, which I recognize as a magical weapon Rita once had to use when the old man broke her whip... long story. So apparently our Flynn's a magic user. Estelle returns with two circles with holes in the center, presumably chakrams. A physical fighter. We exit the classroom as a group.

Upon entering the plaza just outside, we find the entire village seemingly deserted. Is this because of the Oracle-thingy?

"Huh? The town shouldn't be this quiet..." Flynn noted, "Even when we're in school, everyone else continues trading and working and such. Why-?"

"Estelle! Flynn! Yuri!" An unfamiliar voice calls out. A man with neatly groomed blond hair and tidy clothes walk up to us. Estelle gasps upon seeing him.

"Father!" She cries, rushing over and embracing him. Well, that was unexpected.

Flynn also seems relieved to see him, "Frank!" He rushes up to the man, who reluctantly pulls apart from his... daughter, I guess, "What happened here? Where is everybody?"

The man's face darkens, "The Desians invaded shortly after the Oracle's Light flashed. You can actually still see it from here," Shielding my eyes from the sun, I notice a pillar of light emerging from the direction Rita had run in earlier.

"Why?" Flynn seems outraged, and I don't blame him. From what little I know, these Desians are bad people, "The village has a non-aggression treaty with the Desians," Wait, WHAT? "Why would they just attack?"

Frank shakes his head, "I'm not sure. They marched through the village without harming anyone, but they were headed for the temple..."

"Professor Mordio is there!" Estelle gasps, genuinely worried, "And all the priests, and- oh no. Please tell me grandmother hasn't left for the temple yet."

"I'm sorry to say Phaidra left shortly after you left for school," Frank sighs in worry.

Having had enough of their moping, I turn towards the village gate, "Okay, I get it. We have to save the priests, Estelle's grandmother and Rita, help Estelle receive the Oracle and fight monsters along the way," I turn back to them, "Alright, let's get going."

Frank wishes us safe travelings, hugging Estelle one last time. And as we head out of the rear village gate I realize something...

Just who the hell was that voice from earlier, anyways?

So? Did I pass?

Party Member(s) at this time:

Yuri Lowell (Lloyd Irving)

Estelle Sidos Heurassein (Colette Brunel)

Flynn Scifo (Genis Sage)