I haven't posted on this account in a while, but this is something I truly wanted to do since playing Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. I adore a lot of the characters, but the gutpunching back to back of Egil and Kallian really crushed me. It even left my sister crying! I liked Kallian, and the High Entia, as soon as we were introduced to them.

I kind of wanted to do something sweet for Kallian, though it's honestly rather bittersweet. I also wanted to tell two stories in one, so the past will be in italics, and the current story in normal font. Lastly, I do not know the age of maturity of the High Entia, so I might be a bit vague on ages, though I have a general idea in my head. I consider Melia to be an adult, late teens/early twenties like most of the party. Though there is a 33 year old NPC High Entia that is still a child, so I might be full off for all I know.

Chapter 1

It was a sight not very common in Alcamoth. Homs were rare to see that far away from the colonies, but a group of them? It was four men to two women, all of them young adults. They were lead through the city and into the Imperial Palace, to the surprise of the citizens. Many began to whisper, most of them with looks of shock or disgust.

Inside the palace, the whispering died. The guards on watch did not move, merely observing the group. The guards, at least, knew these Homs were no threat. They were not even armed.

Emperor Celin greeted them warmly, if not a little distantly. In the throne room was his own son, Prince Sorean, and his grandson, Prince Kallian. Had anyone else been in the room, especially his son's First Consort, the greeting would not been as welcoming. As the self appointed leader of the group, a young man named Tabin, began to plead their case, the Emperor nodded politely, though his face was passive.

"You see, the Homs don't even believe in you," Tabin ended. "All we want is to study, learn your culture, perhaps write a book. To show our colony, and the other colonies, that there are High Entia left. We don't seek assistance or aid in our battles and city life."

Emperor Celin sighed. "I do not know. My people will not like to be studied like specimens."

"We don't even ask you to come with us. It is your decision to not mingle with Homs life."

The Emperor smiled a faint smile. "We have interacted with Homs before, but not on such a large scale."

A young woman from the back of the group spoke up. "If it please Your Grace?"

"What is your name, child?"

"Amaiah." The Emperor nodded, allowing her to continue. "My colony grew up with tales of the High Entia." She smiled and shook her head at the shock on Emperor Celin's face. The jade green dragonfly hairstick in her bun dangled as she moved. "That is what we do not want, people to them of them as tales." Her cheeks began to show faint spots of pink as she rushed on.

"Our knowledge is so limited, and it is truly a shame. I fear in only a few generations, our people will know nothing of yours. I do not want that to happen, but it is completely understandable if you do not wish us to remain in the city."

Emperor Celin glanced at his son and grandson. "Allow me time to consider this. Your journey must have been exhausting. Prince Kallian, would you take them to the guest chambers?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

"My lady!" It was a cry that often came from the mouth's of the four High Entia handlers to the young princess. Albion, Izo, Fabrion, and Vasia had their hands full, but it was on Prince Kallian's orders, and they would die before defying any of the royal family.

"Should we split up?" Vasia asked as the four of them stepped through the thick woods. She stepped over a fallen branch and surveyed the area. The only woman of the group, she took her responsibilities quite serious in a way the three men could not.

"Might as well," Fabrion said with a sigh.

"No, wait," Izo said, stopping in his tracks. He thought he heard something, a small cry. Unlike the others, he had been looking up. Their tiny charge had once climbed a tree and fallen asleep. Vasia had spotted her purely by chance. Prince Kallian had laughed when given the report, though he had not looked amused.

There it was again. "This way," he told them, heading right through a thicket of berry bushes.

"Just pick her up!" Izo glanced at Albion, both of them paling with fear. They hurried ahead of the other two.

"She kicked me!"

"She's just a kid!"

"What are we going to do with a High Entia?"

The first voice they heard chuckled. "Someone will buy her."

Izo and Albion reached the clearing first, both breathless, their hearts racing. Their little princess was encircled by three Homs men, one of whom was clutching his hand in pain. As Fabrion and Vasia joined them, Izo held up a hand to stop them.

"We can take them," Fabrion whispered, once they had taken in the situation.

"Yes, but - "

"Oi!" Before the High Entia could agree on what needed to be done, the leader of the trio had head them. "Come out, and we won't kill you."

"I don't think we have to worry about that," Albion said as the four of them reluctantly stepped out of their hiding place. "There are four of us and three of you, or did you not pay attention in basic math class?"

The leader, a dark young man with even darker eyes, scowled. He picked up the young High Entia in front of him. She cried out and wriggled. "But we've got your little rugrat. Which one of you does she belong to?"

"That is none of your concern!" Albion said, his cheeks flushing with anger. "Put her down!"

"Stop squirming!" the Homs muttered. His companions were watching the adults, hands on their weapons, ready to strike. The girl in his arms did not listen. She was trying to kick her way free, though it was not working. So she did the only other thing she could think of. She bit.

The Homs cried out, shouting swears. Everything else happened too quickly for anyone to be sure. As he made to drop her, he drew a dagger. There was a small scream of pain from the princess, mingled with his swearing. The other two Homs charged at the High Entia, perhaps in a suicidal rush. Izo went for the leader.

It was not even a real fight. None of the High Entia took any damage, whereas the Homs lay dead on the ground. Vasia held the whimpering princess, with Fabrion kneeling before them. He held a roll of bandages, his fingers shaking as he wrapped up the small headwing of the princess.

"Such a brave girl," Vasia cooed, trying to calm down her cries. "Aren't you, Princess Rineah? Just hold still a moment longer. Fabrion's almost done."

"He split it," Fabrion muttered, trying to sound calm.

"What do we do?" Izo muttered. They were trying to appear calm, to keep Rineah from panicking. On the inside, it was a completely different story.

"We take her to Alcamoth."

"What?" Fabrion snapped as he tore the bandage from the roll. He tied it off and glared at Izo. "Prince Kallian will kill us!"

"If he does, we'll die more quickly and less painfully than if we try to hide this from him!" Albion snapped back.

Rineah flinched at their shouting, but looked up at Vasia with green eyes full of tears. "Can we?" she whispered. "Can we see Father?"

Vasia stood, still holding the little princess. "Yes, of course. We'll leave at once."

The three men stopped their bickering and stared at Vasia as she carried Rineah back the way they had come. "Besides," she called over her shoulder, "the medical facilities in Alcamoth are much more equipped to handle this than we are. We can't have it getting infected. Pick your jaws off the forest floor and let's go."

The men exchanged a glance among themselves, each silently agreeing that Vasia was right, and followed her.