The flight to Desier felt like it was taking forever. Flynn and Mist yakking away with Conrad was giving Yuri a headache. He needed to resist the urge to chuck a rock or something at them to get them to finally shut up.
"So what made you want to become a Knight Master?" Mist was asking Conrad.
"My father was one and I thought it just ran in the family," Conrad replied.
"Flynn's father was in the Knights as well!" Mist exclaimed.
"So is that why you joined the Knights?" Conrad asked.
"No. Yuri and I joined together to try changing the Empire," Flynn replied. "The laws were treating the people of the lower quarter unfairly. Yuri and I grew up in the lower quarter, so we know firsthand just how bad it was."
Conrad turned to Mist. "And you?"
"The pay seemed nice," Mist replied. "And I didn't really have anything else to do. When I joined, I was placed in the Jurgis Brigade, where I first met Flynn. I was picked on a lot since I didn't have a very impressive background. I was orphaned at a young age and I don't remember my parents. I traveled around a lot and eventually wound up in Zaphias. They must've thought I had no skills whatsoever because of that. The twins Chastel and Hisca were nice at least. But I guess it was because we were the only girls in the brigade."
Yuri blinked a few times. He'd never heard Mist's story before since she never talked about it. He thought she was a noble because of her skills with a sword and blastia. Traveling all over must've toughened her up.
"Remember our first mission together?" Flynn asked, turning to Mist.
"How could I forget?" Mist replied.
- - - Flashback - - -
"For this job you all will partner up and fan out to take care of the monster pack here in the Quoi Woods," Jurgis said. "They've scattered throughout the forest, probably waiting in ambush. The leader is a Chimera Butterfly, a Giganto Monster. If you encounter it, slay it immediately. The other monsters in the pack should become disoriented when that happens, making them easier to wipe out. If we're lucky, this job'll be done in three days. You all should have remembered to pack camping sets and medical supplies in case of an emergency. All of you be on your guard on this mission. Even if these aren't like the monsters in Shizontonia, they're still dangerous. I want no one dying on my watch. Watch each others backs. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir!" Everyone shouted.
"Good. Now partner up and spread out!" Jurgis ordered. Mist turned to Chastel, the bustier of the twins. However, she'd already partnered with her sister Hisca. The two saw her and mouthed "Sorry!"
Looking around, she saw that just about everyone else had paired up and headed out. She was about to go head out on her own when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw a man with spiky blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She recognized him from her first day, but couldn't remember his name.
"You're Mist, correct?" he asked. Mist nodded.
"I'm sorry, but I can't remember your name," she said.
"Oh, it's Flynn Scifo," he replied. He looked around. "Looks like we have to partner together. Mist realized then that everyone else had already left. "Don't worry. I'll protect you."
Mist narrowed her eyes. "I don't need protecting. Just leave me alone!"
Flynn's eyes widened and he took a few steps back. "Woah! No need to get angry. I was just trying to be nice."
Mist brushed a strand of silver hair out of her eyes. "Yeah right. Why the hell should I believe you? I'm not helpless, you know! I can take care of myself just fine! I don't care if you're senior to me, I won't allow you to treat me like dead weight!" Her gaze switched to the ground. "I'm fed up with everyone treating me like I'm useless..."
Flynn placed a hand on her shoulder and Mist brushed it away, golden eyes flaring. Flynn sighed. "I know some of the others have given you a hard time, but that doesn't mean you should be giving everyone the cold shoulder."
This just made Mist angrier. "Enough treating me like I'm a little kid!" she shouted. She landed a kick to Flynn's stomach, making the man stumble back as she turned and ran off into the forest.
'He doesn't know a thing about me!' Mist thought, gritting her teeth in anger. 'He's just like everyone else!'
A wolf leaped at her and she lashed out with her sword, ripping its belly open and blood spashing all over the undergrowth. Mist panted, feeling satisfaction in the blood dripping from her sword.
An Axe Beak was the next to come at her, striking down with the axe-shaped beak. Mist held her sword up to block them pushed the monster away. While it was staggered, she charged at it.
"Sonic Thrust!" she shouted, running the monster through with astonishing speed. One thing she wasn't prepared for was the Eggbear swinging its paw at her from behind. Something shoved her into some ferns and then there was the sound of something hitting a tree. Mist looked over to see Flynn on the ground at the base of one of the trees, claw marks scored across his back and right arm.
'He...he saved me!' Mist thought, astonished. 'But why...?'
Flynn's sides heaved as he fought for breath, struggling to get back to his feet. The Eggbear had turned its attention to him. Flynn was finally standing again, using the tree for support, but the monster was already in front of him and shot one paw forward, pinning Flynn against the tree while the claws slowly dug into his chest. Blood dripped from his mouth as the blondeglared at the monster, trying to get free. The Eggbear roared in his face, its breath stinking of blood and carrion.
"Aqua Laser!"
The claws piercing Flynn's chest left abruptly as a jet of water sent the Eggbear flying. Flynn dropped into a sitting position and switched his gaze to Mist, who had a blue magic circle under her.
Mist shot forward as the Eggbear got up, bringing her sword down. "Rising Dragon!" She pulled her sword upward, taking the bear into the air and she leaped up, slashing her sword multiple times before bringing it down, knocking the dead monster to the ground. She landed and turned to Flynn.
"That's the proper way to take care of a monster." She walked over to him and bent down. "Why'd you do that?"
"We're partners," Flynn choked out, blood spilling out of his mouth again. Mist sighed, pulling her bag off and opening it up, taking the medical supplies out.
"...Idiot," she muttered. "Take your armor and tunic off so we can get this over with."
Flynn did as he was told, though with difficulty thanks to his wounds. Once he got it off, he glanced up at Mist. "Did your face get sunburnt?" Her face was bright red and she made a small noise in the back of her throat. She began sweating heavily and her eyes were wide as she stared at him. "Mist?"
"I...I...I..." she stuttered. Seeing him shirtless made her reach her breaking point. She blinked a few times, snapping out of her trance and shook her head. She quickly began disinfecting the wounds, her face getting redder as her hands were brushing over his muscles. A few more noises sounded in her throat and she began wrapping the bandages around him, relaxing a tiny bit, but the image of the muscular body hidden under the armor and tunic was etched into her mind. She was bad when it came to boys, but this was ridiculous! She hardly knew him and she was already falling for him!
Once she was done, she slapped herself a few times to snap her out of her trance, earning a confused stare from Flynn. She pulled out the camping set in a hurry. "Better set up camp!" She laughed nervously.
"Are...you okay?" Flynn asked.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Mist replied quickly, breaking out into another sweat as she set up the basic barrier. She finished setting up the tent and turned to Flynn. "It's about time to sleep." Her gaze shifted downward. "And...thanks for helping."
"You were pretty skilled," Flynn said, making his way into the tent. Mist followed him in and sat next to him."I didn't expect to see you fight so well."
"That's what everyone thinks of me," Mist murmured. Flynn stared at her as she continued. "I'm not nobility and I'm not from Zaphias. I don't even remember who my parents were! Because of this, everyone assumes I'm just some weak, pathetic little girl."
"Not everyone," Flynn said. Mist stared at him in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"I never judged you by your appearance or background. I'm from Zaphias's lower quarter, so I know what you mean by people judging you by that. I've also noticed you don't really have any friends in the brigade besides Chastel and Hisca. If you want, we could become friends."
"Thanks, Flynn," Mist murmured.
- - - End Flashback - - -
"I never told you this, Flynn, but that was when I first began to love you," Mist said.
"Same here," Flynn replied, both leaning in for a kiss.
"Could you take your public displays of affection elsewhere so the rest of us don't have to suffer?" Jiro called out. The two kept kissing, except for the fact that Mist released one arm that was wrapped around Flynn to give Jiro the middle finger. Shu broke out laughing as Jiro's eyes widened.
"I kinda agree with Jiro," Yuri said to Judith. "It's starting to get old watching them do that at the most awkward times."
"Really? I think it's adorable," Judith replied. "Just look at how much they love each other!"
"What I'm worried about are kids," Yuri said with a shudder. "I would never get used to being called Uncle Yuri. It just sounds wrong."
"I agree with you there," Judith giggled. "But don't you think Aunt Judith sounds cute. Or does Aunt Judy sound better? Or maybe Auntie Judy?"
"They all sound wrong..." Yuri sighed. "What goes on in that head or yours, I'll never know."
"I don't think you want to know either," Judith said, smiling.
"We've reached our destination!" Tokunaga shouted. Everyone prepared to get off as Ba'ul landed in Korin. They got off and started walking into the city, people milling around them.
"Where will we find this Sui?" Mist asked.
"In her mansion, most likely," Shu replied. "Or disguised as one of the townspeople."
"Huh?" Yuri said.
"Hey! There she is!" Bouquet exclaimed. A woman wearing a yellow shirt and her hair in two buns came running up to them, panting when she reached them.
"Why aren't you waiting for us like you usually do, maro?" Marumaro asked.
"Because the information I have is too important to wait for," Sui replied.
"What's this information you have?" Conrad asked.
"It's about the reason for our world being sucked into this one," Sui replied. "Our two worlds at one point were actually a single one. After the Darkness was sealed, it formed a gigantic Dimensional Break, sucking half the world into it. Both planets reformed, existing side-by-side yet unaware of the other's presence up until now. Now it's trying to recombine once again.
"But why?" Mist asked.
"I don't know. Something triggered the Dimensional Breaks to appear. And according to what I've read, this is the second time in history it tried to form again. The first was over a thousand years ago."
"Something in Terca Lumires must've triggered it, then," Flynn said.
"Hold on," Mist said. "The Empire was formed over a thousand years ago by the Children of the Full Moon after they sealed away the Adephagos. The aer imbalance must be causing this!"
"In other words, the formation of the Adephagos," Yuri summarized. Ba'ul's howl was heard and Judith's eyes widened.
"Two more towns have appeared!" she exclaimed. Ba'ul howled again. "No, make that three!" The Entelexeia howled once more. "No, six!"
"Just as I thought. The recombination is speeding up," Sui said.
"Where are they located?" Flynn asked Judith.
"West of Zaude, east of the Blade Drifts of Zopheir, next to Nam Cobanda Isle, below Capua Nor, south of Hypionia, and north of Weccea."
"How long until they're completely recombined?" Kluke asked.
"My estimate is a week," Sui replied. "I'm worried about conflict breaking out, though."
"Us too," Shu said. "If another war happens, it'll be bad news for all of us."
"Maybe we could have all the leaders of both worlds gather together to talk about what's going to happen from here on," Flynn suggested.
"You're right. That's an excellent idea," Conrad agreed.
"I wonder if one of the towns that were just transported her was Lago Village, maro," Marumaro said.
"Lago Village?" Mist asked.
"My hometown, maro," Marumaro replied.
"Don't worry, Marumaro. I'm sure everyone there is safe," Bouquet assured the Devee.
"There is one problem, though," Jiro said. Everyone stared at him.
"What do you mean?" Kluke asked.
"Rosekstan," Jiro replied. "I highly doubt Logi would come to the meeting."
"General Logi isn't like that!" Andropov protested.
"Andropov..." Kluke murmured.
"Why are you still supporting him?" Jiro demanded.
"Jiro, that's enough," Kluke said, narrowing her eyes at him. Jiro's widened and he looked away. Kluke glanced at Andropov. "Please calm down."
"Yes. The last thing we need is fighting amongst ourselves if we want to prevent the world from fighting," Flynn said.
"Before we do any of that, I want to see if Lago Village is here, maro!" Marumaro exclaimed.
"Why are you so intent on going to your village?" Yuri asked.
"Yeah, I've never heard you so insistent about it," Shu added.
"I guess there's no point in hiding it anymore, maro," Marumaro said.
"Hiding what?" Bouquet asked.
"It's two of my six siblings, maro," Marumaro replied. "Marumira and Marutora, maro."
"Isn't Marumira one of your three sisters and Marutora one of your three brothers?" Shu asked.
"What about them?" Jiro asked.
"They're..."
"They're what?" Bouquet asked.
"They're..."
"Just say it, Marumaro!" Shu, Jiro, Kluke, Bouquet, and Andropov all said. The others remained silent.
"They're Shadow Wielders, maro!"
As you can see, I'm adding a bit of Blue Dragon Plus once again. This time it's with Marumira and Marutora having magic.