Square-Enix owns Star Ocean. I'm just a two-bit hack who writes about it.

Albel hasn't always been the murderous psychopath we know today. His suffering is a point of interest that I couldn't resist delving into. A story about Albel? Preposterous! But you know you enjoy it.

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"Father, are we really going to see that clown again?" whined the boy, hurrying to keep up with the three adults.

His father started to laugh at this. "Now, don't be rude," he told the child. "Adray is as old and dear a friend as Woltar." As he said this, the other man cleared his throat. "Oh, you know what I mean," he added, still chuckling.

His son scoffed at this. "How can soldiers from different countries be friends?"

Woltar spoke up this time. "You speak slander, boy. This is peacetime. Soldiers exist only during war," he said.

"Still, was it necessary to walk the entire distance from Airyglyph to Aquios?" the woman broke in. Her husband simply shrugged, as though it hadn't occurred to him. "What's wrong with walking? It's good exercise, it'll keep us strong."

"If it doesn't break my old bones," Woltar added sarcastically.

The boy continued to grumble, until finally his father stopped walking and turned to him. "Please, calm yourself," he said. "Adray is really quite fond of you. Besides, I heard that cute Zelpher girl was going to be visiting him with her parents today..."

His wife nudged him with a scowl, and the child's expression matched hers. "He's just a child, don't joke like that," she scolded. This seemed to set him laughing again, briefly, but he collected himself quickly and they continued.

After a while of walking along in silence, the four arrived in Peterny. The young boy was overwhelmed by the sounds and smells of the city. Some of the smells made his mouth water. He tried not to say anything, but his stomach began to growl, and he looked up at his father, who began to chuckle once more. "I suppose the trip has built up your appetite, hasn't it?"

Woltar's look was decidedly disapproving. "We can't eat now," he said sternly. "Surely the Lasbards will want to serve their guests, and it would hardly be polite to refuse because we've already eaten."

The father, however, was clearly not listening. As Woltar continued to rant about etiquette, he went to purchase some food for the child and returned immediately. "Here, this should do for now," he said, with a broad grin. The child accepted gratefully, much to Woltar's displeasure.

From Peterny, it wasn't far to Aquios, where Adray dwelt. The moment Woltar had knocked on the door, it was thrown open, and a muscular fellow without a shirt stood before them. "Welcome!" he greeted enthusiastically. "Come in, we've been waiting." As the four stepped inside they saw a small red-haired girl standing behind him, and another girl and her mother sitting in the middle of the room.

"Clair, it's going to be boring around here for a while, so why don't you take Albel and Nel and go do something?" Adray suggested. The seated girl nodded and stood, approaching the boy. With his most apathetic shrug, he followed her. Nel hurried after them as her parents entered the room. "Ah, Glou," greeted the man. "Adray told us you would be coming as well. It's good to see you again."

"Likewise, Nevelle," responded Glou. "It has been too long since we last visited."

"Well, nobody expects you to make the trip every day," Adray assured him. "Come, sit." Glou and his wife took the suggestion, and Adray produced a platter of food, which he placed on a table near the door. Woltar gave Glou a look that could only be interpreted to mean "I told you so".

Out back, Albel and Nel were assessing a large tree, while Clair assessed them. "Adray is nuts," Albel said without looking at the others. Nel glared momentarily. "No he's not. Sir Adray is a good man."

"Heh, whatever," Albel said, and turned his attention to carving something into the bark.

Back inside, Nevelle's expression had become grim. "I have heard there has been tension lately, between our countries and Greeton..." he said hesitantly. "War may not be far behind."

"So do you fear death, then?" inquired Glou, not seeming altogether troubled by the idea.

Nevelle shook his head. "Not at all. I fear killing." The others nodded their agreement. "But, more than that," he continued, "I fear that if war does come, it will not be swift."

They all took a moment to consider the meaning of this. Glou understood almost immediately, and gave a solemn nod.

"Hey, we're not here to get depressed over a war that hasn't even happened yet," Adray interrupted, having produced a deck of cards and begun shuffling while none of the others were watching. "Let's play a game."

Nel looked over at what Albel was carving. "Hey, stop it, Albel. That's just mean," she protested. The boy just snickered in response and continued. "Really, you shouldn't do things like that," she insisted, at which he stuck out his tongue.

Clair laughed at this herself, although she knew without looking what Albel had carved. "Careful, Albel, she might cut it off," she warned. By way of a response, Albel grinned and Nel scowled.

"You're not helping, Clair," Nel informed her.

A few hours passed, and many hands were played. "I fear I never did learn to bluff," Woltar said, mostly to himself, having lost every hand. Nevelle, meanwhile, had done very well, having won more than the other six together. "It's getting late," Glou said, "and I suppose we ought to go."

"Nonsense!" Adray bellowed, in his usual fashion. "I won't have you making such a trip at this time! You must stay the night!" And of course they had no choice but to accept. "That goes for you, as well," he informed the Zelphers.

"Are you certain you have room?" Nevelle asked uncomfortably.

"I have more sense than to offer you a room I don't have," Adray replied flatly. And so it was settled.

This was about the time that the children returned. Nel was yelling at Albel about something, Albel was simply beaming, and Clair was laughing madly. "Did you enjoy yourselves?" Woltar asked them. Albel continued to smile, and Clair continued to laugh; the only answer was Nel's indignant snort.

That night was peaceful and still, and many more such followed. At least in Albel Nox's memories, every night was much the same, calm and restful.

Until the death of Ophelia Nox.

Albel was ten years old when his mother died in childbirth. That day, something changed in Albel and his father. They became more quiet, more withdrawn than before. Glou no longer visited his old friends, and his booming laughter became rare. Albel stopped smiling altogether, as far as anyone else was concerned. Only one person could bring them a glimmer of joy. That person was Peppita.

It was only natural that Albel would become protective of his baby sister. After the first few months, the two were almost never seen without one another. Only Glou was ever able to take her from his sight. Others began to think of the two almost as one being. Still, it was over a year before he allowed anyone else to see him smile.

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This is just a little something I'm trying out. I honestly think there's more potential here than I'm going to be able to get at for various reasons, but it won't stop me from trying. I want to see where this story takes me. I've had a few flashes of inspiration lately, thinking about writing this, and why not? I mean, if it can be written, why not write it?

I'm planning to improve this chapter. A lot. That's going to be my main focus, though I'll continue to write new stuff as well. I need the proper feedback to make this as good as it can possibly be. So, please do review.

Incidentally, this story contains less Adray-bashing than usual. It's unavoidable, as this is supposed to be more serious.