A/N: Naturally, since the prologue was so short, I thought I'd upload this part, too. :3

(Author: Me)

For several long moments, the Summon Spirit struggled to keep hold of Emil, unsure of what was happening. "No! Emil!" He struggled to renew the hold he had on the boy, but felt him slip, losing him. Calling out again, he summoned his power, slamming it against what felt like another, immensely powerful flow of energy. Ratatosk cried out in pain, startled. Images flashed through is mind, his memories of his journey with Emil, and for a moment he wondered if this was what mortals meant when the said whatever it was about their life flashing before them when they were about to die.

A sudden, almost familiar presence made itself known in his mind. Ratatosk felt shock and recognition from the second mind brushing his own, but he wasn't able to identify it. He felt its anger grow at the memories it tapped into, then with a sudden rush of power, he felt himself connected to a body again. Disoriented, he dimly heard a familiar voice.

"Please use your Centurions to restore the balance of mana! If you do that, then the world will be saved."

He jolted slightly, the world suddenly coming into view. He stared at the human and half-elf before him, uncomprehending. Several long moments went by in which he struggled to understand what was going on, this was no memory—this was really happening. Aster and Richter stood before him, and the human was alive. He blinked several times, barely avoiding voicing aloud his thoughts, Impossible! I… He can't be! What's going on?

Blinking up at the Summon Spirit, Aster paused. Ratatosk wasn't acting right. He looked confused and shocked. Aster shifted nervously, glancing at Richter for a bit of help. When the half-elf just shrugged helplessly at him, he hesitantly addressed the obviously disoriented Summon Spirit again.

"Um… Ratatosk? Are… Are you alright…?"

Staring at the human for a moment, Ratatosk wasn't sure how to answer. It was another moment before he finally understood. It was when I used too much of my power… Something went wrong; I've heard rumors, but to think…! This is the past! Wait, Emil! What happened to him…? If this is the past, then… I lost him, somewhere in the time stream… Emil… He could be anywhere, any when. He's human now… He likely didn't survive… I miscalculated…

Aster was unsure what to do. Ratatosk was staring into space with a very distant, sad expression on his face. Glancing to Richter, he whispered, "What… What's going on?"

Shaking his head, the red-haired man glanced back at Ratatosk for a moment, thinking, before responding. "I'm… I'm not sure, Aster. But just a few minutes ago, I felt a very powerful surge in the mana within him. It may be what's upsetting him."

Nodding, the human stepped forwards, trying again to get the Spirit's attention. "Ratatosk…?"

The genuine concern in the boy's voice snapped Ratatosk out of his daze. Staring at the two scientists before him, he blinked a few times. "Forgive me for my distraction. You were here to ask that I restore the balance of mana in this world, correct?" From the way the human simply nodded, without looking too afraid, he judged he had arrived before his declaration of hatred for mankind. I can undo what I did… I can prevent the death that never should have occurred at my hands. Emil… You would have wanted this, wouldn't you?

Relief flowed through the two scientists at the way the Summon Spirit seemed focused again, and even kinder than he had just minutes before. Something was different, though neither could put a finger on it.

"I understand. I will restore the balance of mana in this world. I have a request for you, however."

Blinking in surprise, Aster and Richter looked at each other wondering what they could possibly do for the powerful Summon Spirit. After a moment, Aster looked back to Ratatosk. "Of course, Lord Ratatosk. What is it you want from us?"

Smiling, the Summon Spirit spoke carefully, a strange tone in his voice. "You must do what you can to prevent the hatred mankind seems so good at producing from reaching the level it did 4,000 years ago. I do not want the Spirit of the new World Tree to suffer the same way I did when my tree was killed. There are those who want peace in your world, and even by simply speaking out against the hate you can help to protect your new World Tree."

A bit surprised, both Aster and Richter stared at the Spirit for a moment before Aster spoke. "Of course, we already do that, we'll be very sure to keep doing so, Lord Ratatosk."

Smiling again, the Spirit chuckled slightly. "Now you call me by my title, human? No, no, don't worry—but just call me 'Ratatosk'—being so formal doesn't suit you, Aster."

The human blinked, startled, he glanced at Richter, before turning back to Ratatosk and frowning slightly. "Uh… How, exactly, do you know my name…? I never mentioned it…"

Pausing for several seconds Ratatosk mentally berated himself. Stupid! I'm not supposed to know his name! Damn it, what the hell do I say to cover that? It was several more seconds before he managed to answer. "Uh… Well, I… You've been traveling with Centurion Aqua! I can read my Centurion's minds, so that's how I know your name and personality."

Aster didn't buy it, not for one second. He gave Ratatosk a very skeptical look, but seeing how uneasy the Summon Spirit was he glanced at Richter, shaking his head almost imperceptibly in a gesture indicating to drop the subject.

Ratatosk coughed slightly after a moment's awkward pause, continuing on. "Uh, anyway, moving on…" Ratatosk paused again, focusing his power, reaching out to his servants. "Awaken, Centurions! Restore the bonds with your monsters and repair the mana of the world! … Aqua, please return to your duty as a Centurion. I know you care for Richter and his friend, but you're needed now to keep the world safe for your friends. You can, however, escort them to the nearest town or city. Perhaps you may even be able to visit them once things settle down more."

"Thank you, Lord Ratatosk! You're… Very kind." The Centurion of water seemed taken aback by Ratatosk's very sudden, and rather unnerving, change in attitude and personality. Still, she was grateful that he wasn't angry with the mortals. She had been at least somewhat afraid that he would lash out.

Nodding to the mortals and Centurion, Ratatosk felt along the lines of power connecting him to his Centurions, glad to find them stirring quickly. "Alright, you should get going, I'll handle things from here. And take care, alright?"

Still a bit perplexed by the way Ratatosk just seemed off, Aster smiled at him, nodding once, before grabbing Richter's hand and leading him off, pausing at the exit to look back and call over his shoulder, "Thank you for your help, Ratatosk!" With that, he was gone, and Ratatosk was alone again, save for Aqua and now Tenebrae.

"Lord Ratatosk, you seem troubled. How could you have known the human's name, if I may be so bold as to ask?" Shuffling his paws slightly, Tenebrae watched his master, somewhat nervous of the response he'd get. He was surprised by the simple sigh and soft tone Ratatosk used when responding.

"That, Tenebrae, is something I will keep to myself, at least for the time being. Now, go on, you have your duties to attend to."

Once the Centurions had left, Ratatosk went about his task, though he couldn't help but feel a strange tugging sensation in the back of his mind. After some time, he simply gave up on working for a few moments, instead focusing on the sensation and examining the strange connection. His brow furrowed slightly as he focused, then his eyes went wide with recognition.

"Emil! He's survived… He's still drifting in the time stream…" Ratatosk pulled gently on the connection, sending out a tendril of his own power, hoping to anchor the boy and pull him to safety. After several moments, he cursed loudly as he lost Emil again.

It wasn't until several weeks later that he once again felt Emil's presence, this time more strongly as the boy was booted from the time stream.