I'm sorry it took so long for part 2 to come out. I've been having a lot of problems with things, and since New Year, I lost my writing mojo for a long time. However, here it is everyone: Part 2. I hope you like.

As I said last chapter, this part pretty much follows some of the game, so expect to see some familiar text from in the game, and also, remember song list is at the end.

Alright, let's go.

Disclaimer: Part 1.

-/-/-/-/-

Withered Petals

-/-/-/-/-/-

A few weeks later, I had received word from a soldier that someone had come to see me at the Garden. Puzzled, I had followed the guard to the entrance where, to my surprise, Kai was standing. He was wearing the gray, blue and black armour of the Euros Knights which simply led me to believe he had been promoted recently.

"Kai, what a surprise!" I had said, walking in with a smile; "What brings you here? It's quite unusual to see my friend arou—"

"Heath," Kai cut me off sharply. His voice was still flat and calm, but there was a tone of urgency behind it... and... worry?

"Kai, what's wrong?"

"Heath, we need to talk. Now," Kai walked past me and stepped outside briskly; "And not when the children could walk in."

Puzzled, I turned and followed him, strolling down the path towards town slightly. When we were a suitable distance away, Kai stopped abruptly, making me slow and stop next to him. His eyes were narrow like they normally were, but they were filled with worry, pain and remorse. I suddenly felt a chill go down my spine as I looked at him.

"Kai, what's happened?"

Kai was silent for a moment before looking at me straight in the eye; "I went to your house to check up on Iris like you asked me to."

"Yes," I nodded, a sudden weight dropping into my stomach as I unintentionally reached up to touch the Krystonan at my chin; "Is she okay?"

"..." Kai was silent for a moment, his eyes never leaving mine. From that single look I could tell that this wasn't going to be good.

"...The door was off its hinges. The carpet was torn up. Plants uprooted, walls cracked, a window smashed..." Kai continued on with the list, my heart slowly beating faster and faster as he said these things; "Plant pots smashed, vases shattered, tables broken—"

"What about Iris?" I cried, grabbing his shoulder, "Kai, is Iris okay?"

Kai gave me another look, and at the single look, before he even opened his mouth, I felt my world splinter slightly.

"...Gone."

My world shattered around me. My eyes widened as my mouth tried to force words out but my voice box wouldn't make them. A cold sweat begin to slide over me, my hand shaking a bit as I pulled it away from him. Kai seemed to expect this reaction and slowly began to continue.

"I checked everywhere. The town, the forest, even the mountains... nothing. Heath, Iris has gone and I don't know what we can do."

"We have to search!" I began to get frantic; "Kai, we need to get the church to help me search!"

"Not you," Kai frowned, "But a squad will be put onto it. More because of it was an Arc Knight's home that was attacked... but I will try to get them to find Iris too."

"Why can't I go?"

"Heath, you have the Garden Children to look after. I have to return to the Euros Knights. We're planning to do some work on the Wind Lapistier in a few months to test its power, and you need to be on call all the time for the Garden Children. Listen to me Heath, I will get the Church to do it. I have already seen Cardinal Kingston, and he says he has sent a about looking for Iris."

I sighed quietly, looking away; "Kai... thanks..."

"I am sorry to bring this news to you, my friend..." Kai frowned at me before adding; "...I am worried about Iris, too. I'm sure the Church will find her, however."

"..." I looked away, beginning to walk back towards the Garden. My world had crumbled within the blink of an eye, my happiness drowned with a single fact. The girl who I had saved, the girl who brought so much love and joy into my life had just gone missing.

And I hadn't been there to protect her.

-/-/-/-/-

Soon after, the Garden Children and I ventured out to the Holy Church. Witch sightings had been on the rise, and I had been ordered to take the Garden Children to eliminate them all. Although that was true, a Witch named Lucia under the cover of a maid had slipped into our ranks and fought alongside us. However, we came across the Witch of Immolation and her and Lucia both vanished. Soon enough, I had to split up from the Garden Children to return to the Church. The Children were named 'The Fatal Hounds' or 'God's Hunting Dogs' and were ordered to recover Lapistier – magical rocks with untold power of the elements - and defeat Witches.

When I returned to the church, I learned of the attack against the Euros Knights by the Witch of Immolation. Immediately, my thoughts went to Kai and whether he had been killed. Along with that, I began to think about Iris again and how the search for her was going. I asked Kingston, but he said that they still hadn't found anything. My hope was slowly dying, and I soon found myself resigning to the fact that Iris was gone.

However, something was wrong. The Church said they were looking for Iris, but I saw no leads as to showing that they were doing that. I also began to get suspicious of some of Cardinal Kingston's actions; like disbanding me from the Fatal Hounds and making me guard him. It was less of me to guard him, I thought, and more of him keeping an eye out for me. Soon, however, I was told to travel to Jaideth to check out an important facility exploding. When I got near, however, I was told that my own students, the Fatal Hounds, were branded as traitors; fraternising with the witches, our enemies. I didn't really want to go against my students, but I wanted to keep as close to Kingston as I could to keep an eye on his actions.

I arrived in the town to cheers and shouts from the crowd. They were all still horrified about the facility at Jaideth exploding. I said that it was most likely the Witches and that everyone had to calm down and not be frightened. What happened next surprised me. I began to head towards an inn when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning, I was surprised to see the most unexpected person standing behind me.

"Hello Heath. Long time no see."

"Kai!" I smiled warmly; "Kai, you survived!"

"But of course..." Kai nodded his head, his arms crossing; "I had to. I wanted to figure out what happened. Your students are here too, Heath."

My eyebrows raised; "The Fatal Hounds?"

"And the witches," Kai nodded and I felt my blood boil. So they really were conspiring with them, "Heath, listen to me. The Church is hiding something and I have a feeling that the Fatal Hounds would know something. I know you may brand them as traitors, but I want some more time to look into Kingston's actions."

"As do I," I nodded firmly; "If that's true, may I ask a favour of you, Kai?"

"Yes."

"Look after them. Make sure they all remain safe and well, and that no harm comes to them."

"I promise I can do that for you, Heath." Kai began to turn, before pausing and turning back; "Heath, what of the search for Iris?"

"...No leads..." I muttered, "The Church said that they're looking, but... I see no sign of them doing so..."

"I see..." Kai frowned, "So you believe that they are not doing as they said they would?"

"That is correct."

"..." Kai scowled a little before shaking his head, "Then it falls onto our shoulders to find her, Heath. She was a sister to us, and she cherished you beyond all else. We have to find her, no matter what."

"Yes... you're right, Kai. I'll do my part from the Church; can you do yours from the Fatal Hounds?"

"I will."

I nodded and bid him farewell. Although our meeting was brief, it was good to know that Kai was still alive. That was at least some weight off of my back. Now I simply had to find the Fatal Hounds. This proved much easier than I thought it would, since instead of myself finding them...

"Sir Heath!"

"Sir Heath?"

...They found me. I turned to see the group running towards me, Alph and Theo in the lead with large smiles on their faces. I wanted to smile back, but what I had said to Kai rang in my head. I had to pretend I wasn't with them... that I was against them.

"Hm? You...!" I pretended to look surprised as the group stopped in front of me; "...What do you want, traitors?"

Alph gasped and took a step back, his eyes widening as I spoke again; "You have ignored your orders and have allowed yourself to be 'charmed' by the Witches you were sent to condemn. I also heard that you attacked Sir Andre of the Zephyroth Knights. Explain yourselves!"

"No, we weren't charmed!" Alph protested. Even now, in front of me, Alph was determined to prove himself, just like he always was; "Lucia and the other Witches helped Theo!"

"Did you ask the Witches to help you, knowing that they were against our God?" I countered and Alph closed his mouth. Instead, Leon took up the post of explaining.

"Wait Sir Heath! The Church was going to use Theo as an experiment! Are you saying we should still have faith in the Church after that?"

"..." I looked at the group quietly. They were branded as traitors, but what they said... sounded oddly convincing. I never trusted Andre myself, and Kingston's bizarre actions had not gone un-noticed... it actually sounded like something they might do.

"Sir," A young, red-headed boy named Nikolai, another of the Garden Children, spoke up, adjusting his glasses, "Are you aware of what the Church did to the town of Jaideth?"

"No..." I admitted quietly, actually a little intrigued now, "Go ahead..."

"The Church created the Steel Witch in Jaideth," Lucia spoke up, looking at me in the eyes. A steel Witch? I had heard nothing of this what-so-ever. If the Church was making something like that, surely I would've been informed of it being so close to Kingston.

"A 'Steel Witch'?" I asked curiously, lowering my spear, "What...?"

"Jaideth was levelled because the Steel Witch lost control," Lucia continued, "It couldn't control its power and that's why the facility was destroyed."

"These lovely Witches would never do such things!" Nikolai cried in protest, gesturing to the three Witches with them, "They are all kind people..." Wait a moment. If they were all kind, then what about...?

"...Then how do you explain the acts of the 'Witch of Immolation'?" I countered, folding my arms as Nikolai closed his mouth; "She single-handedly wiped out the Euros Knights."

"I apologize for what Vanessa has done..." Piped up the smallest in the group, a blue-haired Witch wearing all red with a palm leaf that looked no older than Theo; "But Witches are not the enemies of humanity! In fact, we've been helping—"

"I will not fall for your blasphemous words!" I cried out suddenly, remembering that they were supposed to be our enemies; "I have seen many people who have suffered from the Witches, and I will never forgive the Witches for what they have done! I swear to GOD, that I will see all Witches punished for their crimes!"

"Sir Heath!" Alph yelled angrily, his hand moving to his blade; "The Witches aren't our enemies!"

"Silence, Alph! Not another word..." I growled, reaching for my own spear, "Are you going to say that the enemy is the Church? Or God HIMSELF, perhaps?"

"Wh-what?" Alph's eyes widened, "I... S-Sir Heath...!"

"Do you expect me to listen to this nonsense?" I asked angrily, glaring at him, "I see that you have become too close to the Witches! You are no longer my students!" I took a deep breath, knowing that I had to do this to try to convince them that I wasn't with them anymore. I needed more time.

'Forgive me, Alph...' I thought as I opened my mouth; "I will punish you with my own hand!"

"S-Sir Heath! Y-you would actually fight against us?" Alph cried in alarm, taking a step back, "N-no way!"

"Silence, Alph! I am tired of hearing your protests!" I growled, grabbing my spear and pointing it at him. Alph froze for a moment before suddenly drawing his sword and pointing it at me.

"Then I will fight YOU!" The entire group behind him looked shocked, and even I felt a little surprised. The last time Alph had challenged me, I had lost because I wanted him to boost his confidence. However, I had no choice now but to use my full power against him.

"Brother!" Theo cried as Alph took a step forward, "What are you doing?"

"Alph!" Leon took a step aside as Alph walked up to me, taking a fighting stance; "Y-you can't be serious!"

"Everyone step aside!" Alph yelled angrily, grabbing his blade and pointing it at me, "This is between me and Sir Heath!"

"I am the Cleansing Flame!" I roared angrily, holding my spear up to the sky, "I will not be defeated by a traitor of God!"

"If I win, please Sir Heath, just LISTEN to us!" Alph yelled angrily, glaring me down.

"This is it, Alph..." I muttered before running at him. The two of us crossed blades, and I was surprised by how much he'd grown. I brought my spear down so it missed his face by mere inches as he jumped back, drawing the rifle on his back and firing at me. The rifle wasn't deadly, but it was enough to dent my armour and make me stagger. I dived forward, jabbing my spear at him, but Alph once again out-manoeuvred me, knocking me to the ground. I raised my spear to block Alph's slash, but the spear was knocked clean out of my hand as it clattered across the cobbled walkway. I stared at Alph in shock as his sword went close to my throat. As I leaned back in defeat, Alph seemed to notice the flowers in my armour around my neck and blinked a little before shaking it off.

"Sir Heath!" Alph cried, even though he was close to me. I, as an honourable knight, played to my side of the bargain and looked at him as he spoke, "God is going to consume the planet, not save it! We're supposed to prevent God from waking up!"

This surprised me. I had heard nothing about this in any of the Church's books or records, and now Alph was proclaiming this in front of me... where he had learnt this was beyond me, but the seriousness in his voice convinced me a bit. I shook it off and kept my composure.

"So what?"

"H-huh?" Alph seemed surprised at my remark, lowering his sword. I quickly backed away and grabbed my spear, standing up; "What do you mean, 'so what'?"

"Even if that were true, that doesn't matter to me..." For a sudden moment, the moment when I had learnt of Iris' disappearance flashed into my mind and how empty I had felt then. I opened my mouth to speak, but my words caught in my throat briefly. The smiling face... the joyous laugh, the love of flowers...

"Sir Heath?" I shook it off as Alph's voice caught me out of my stupor and I returned to my senses. I was supposed to think he was a traitor and show no weaknesses.

"I have no doubt in my mind that the Witches are evil; they still cause innocent people suffering. It is my duty, my mission and my wish to purge them from this world!"

"S-Sir Heath..." Alph looked hurt, slowly taking a few steps back. I hated seeing him like this, but I knew I had no choice but to do it. I raised my spear to charge when a sudden voice cut me off.

"That was quite entertaining."

Alph wheeled around and gasped as I looked up. Standing not too far away was Cardinal Kingston himself, in his royal splendour. Somebody else was behind him, but I couldn't make them out due to Kingston blocking them from view.

"Cardinal Kingston?"

"I have always enjoyed watching a student pit himself against his Master..." Kingston smiled, and it was one of those smiles that unnerved me, a creepy smile that sent chills down my spine.

"Kingston!" Yelled Alph angrily, drawing his rifle and pointing it at him. I went to stop him, but something stopped me otherwise. Kingston began to speak to Alph, but I seemed distracted by the person behind him. It was like Kingston was deliberately blocking me from seeing them.

"Do not fail me this time!" Kingston suddenly yelled, pointing at the Fatal Hounds. The person moved out from behind them, and what I saw horrified me.

A girl, a girl with long purple hair, a mechanical helmet, dilated blue eyes with a black-and-silver robe, mechanical arms and legs to match. My eyes widened as I saw her.

"I WILL SUCCEED." The girl said in a monotone sounding voice, raising an arm. The voice sounded familiar, too familiar. Purple hair, done in two buns... blue eyes, a young girl...

"That's the Steel Witch!" Alph cried as the rest of the group grabbed their respective weapons.

"S-Steel Witch? Her...?" I looked at her and at Kingston's next words, everything clicked.

"Now Iris! Destroy them all!"

IRIS. That was it; the one word that had embedded itself in my mind. Images shot into my head; a girl in a white dress unconscious in a field of flowers, the same girl hugging me sobbing as an orphan, the flowers, the joy, the life in her, the red cape, the small flowers in my armour... her gentle smile, her beautiful blue eyes, her purple hair tied into two buns and the gentle graze of her lips on my cheek. Looking at the girl now, it clicked and the resemblance was finalized.

"I OBEY," The girl-machine raised her arm, a small compartment in it sliding open to reveal cannon that began to spark; "ACTIVATING CANNON MODE. PREPARE TO DIE."

"I-Iris...?" My eyes widened as I stepped forward, "I-is that you, IRIS?"

The robot jumped, her eyes shooting over to me and an image of Iris' face appeared in my mind's eye, smiling and joyful. Whatever this was... it wasn't Iris. It was a monster. Did... the Church do this to her?

Did the Church... LIE TO ME?

"S-SIR HEATH?" Iris stared at me before beginning to spark and taking a few steps back; "ERROR, ERROR."

"Iris?"

"ERROR IN EMOTION CHIP. ATTACK SUBROUTINE ABORTED. ATTACK FAILED." Iris shuddered and looked at me quietly. At that moment, a connection seemed to form between the two of us. I saw pain and sorrow in her eyes, and an unheard cry for help that tore my heart clean in half. Alph and the others were all looking between myself and Iris in confusion, where-as Kingston simply scowled at Iris angrily. My heart caught in my throat as my spear dropped to the floor, causing me to stagger to my knees, clutching the red cloak over my left shoulder to prove that I wasn't dreaming. Iris... the girl who had gone missing this whole time... had been with the Church? And they'd done THIS to her?

"I see that we couldn't completely erase her memory..." Kingston scowled angrily, glaring at Iris with irritation; "Iris, respond!"

"ERROR. ERROR..." Iris shook on the spot, "SYSTEMS... SHUT DOWN... Heath..." Iris shuddered before suddenly collapsing onto the ground in a heap. I started forward, but Kingston stood in front, blocking me from her.

"Iris!"

"Tch... useless scrap witch!" Kingston snarled angrily, kicking Iris' unconscious body and making my rage double; "...Oh well. I have ordered the Crow Knights to this town, in case something like this occurred."

"Wh-what?" I heard the little Witch who had spoken up earlier cry. With a thunder of footsteps, I knew what was happening.

"Oh lookie, we're surrounded..." The other blue-haired witch yawned, leaning back on her magic carpet with a sleepy expression on her face. Kingston grinned wildly, pointing at me.

"Now Heath! Command your soldiers! Order them to capture the Witches AND the Traitors!"

I couldn't respond. My mind was too pre-occupied on other things; I barely even heard his command, 'Iris... Iris, what did they do to you?'

"Do it, if you've got the stones!" A large, light-green haired woman growled, raising her fists; "The Nature Witch will not fall to you puny humans!"

"No Mavi...!" The Witch on the carpet complained, shaking her head; "If you fight with your full power, you could easily destroy this town..."

"No, don't do it Mavi!" Lucia cried, grabbing one of the older Witch's wrists and pulling her back.

"But..." Mavi looked irritated at the other two Witches stopping her, but Kingston drowned out their squabbling.

"What the hell are you DOING HEATH?"

"Ugh..." I stood slowly to my feet, looking down at Iris before turning my hurt expression on the Fatal Hounds; my own ex-students. Alph looked just as hurt as I was, Theo was cowering away from all of the guards, Cecille huddled behind Leon, Leon looked like he was about to slice some heads off, Saki was scoping for a way out and Nikolai was watching the Witches argue. The only person who caught my eye was Lucia, and I saw a look of sudden understanding come across her face as she looked at me.

As well as the pain of Iris... I didn't want to hurt them either.

"Hmph!" Kingston growled, pushing Iris aside with his foot, "Never mind then. I will do it!" Kingston turned and faced the army, "Knights who serve the light of God! Capture these Witches!"

"Yes Your Holiness!" One of the Knights called, turning; "Okay everyone; we gotta catch 'em all!"

"CHARGE!"

I looked on as the scuffle began, Knights pushing past Knights, the circle getting smaller and the Fatal Hounds and the Witches all packed into the middle. I wanted to help, I wanted to do something... but my mind was still too focused on trying to process the information I just received. Iris wasn't dead. Iris wasn't lost. She had been taken and experimented on by the Church... and I was working for them, and knew nothing.

I was such a fool.

A ray of hope suddenly shone through me as I saw Kai, wielding his samurai sword like an expert, dart through the Knights and cutting a way out in their path, making it to the Witches and children. The group conversed quickly in the confusion before turning and bolting out of the death trap and out of harm's way. A small weight was lifted from me as I sighed, my head dropping down again.

"Thank you... Kai..."

"Argh! What are you DOING? Don't let them get away!" Kingston bellowed angrily, "You... bumbling fools!"

In the confusion, I turned and sprinted away, my mind still jarred with emotional trauma. Kingston... the Church... Kai... Alph...

...Iris... she was still alive... I turned my head to look back, and saw a small glimmer of life from Iris as she looked over at me, her eyes showing hidden emotions even from a distance, emotions that I had never wanted her to feel ever again.

Pain... and fear.

-/-/-/-/-/-

I ran... that's all I can remember of that part. For ages, I kept running, into the forest and towards the centre of it before I finally collapsed into a heap in a ditch. So much had happened within the past few weeks that I couldn't even think straight anymore. I finally let my emotions overtake me, and with nobody around to watch... I burst into tears.

I cried for a good few minutes, just letting everything out. No-one was around to hear me, and for once, I felt truly alone and left out. My students were against me and I them, Iris had been manipulated into a machine... and now I had no idea in what to do.

Something hit my hand as I rested it in my lap, and I looked down. The Krystonan had fallen from my neck and now rested in my open palm. Staring at it, I could see Iris' face staring back at me, perfectly clear against my clouded vision from my tears. It took me a few minutes to think straight and finally begin to piece things together.

First of all, Iris was alive; that was the most important thing to me. Iris was alive and, although not well, was still here. I gulped back more tears, and suddenly felt anger overcome me. The Church... they had lied to me all of this time. They had lied about looking for Iris, they had lied about everything... and what Alph had said earlier, about them creating Iris... was that true as well? I guessed it was, after seeing her.

Something hit me just then, and something that I would remember for the rest of my life. Something that made me finally realise what I had to do.

"Then I will fight you! Everyone step aside, this is between me and Sir Heath!"

"...Alph..." I looked back the way I had come, finally getting to my feet. Alph had, in all respects, shown more courage than even I had; fighting against his own teacher on pure resolve alone, wanting to prove the truth and be a good leader... but more than that.

He wanted to do what he thought was right.

A wash of understanding took over me. I had to do what I thought was right. I couldn't live under the Church's false lies anymore, and I couldn't stop going forward. My initial resolve from before came back, what I had fought for since I met her.

I wasn't like other soldiers. I didn't fight for honour or glory, or for the land.

...I fought for Iris... and no matter what she looked like now, she was still Iris to me.

Grabbing my spear, I began to run towards the closest area; the Altar of Souls. I needed to find Alph and the others, and also Iris too.

I needed to set things right.

-/-/-/-/-

Track listings:

"The Interstice of Light and Dark" (Scene 4) Track 22

"A desperate battle without end" (Scene 5, Act 2) Track 15

"Failing to Redeem the sin" (Scene 5, Act 3) Track 34

"The Night We Can't Meet With" (Scene 6) Track 20

Again, sorry for the long delay everyone. Part three... I'll try to get it up by the end of January/beginning of February. Again, I'm really sorry about the lateness of this. I hope you enjoyed it!

+Regii the Lunar Wolf+