Author note: Just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews and views so far-I appreciate it. XD Now, to answer questions...

zgirl16: I was originally going to keep this the canon Zaelista as this fic takes place post-game, but I don't have the two married yet so...we'll see... XD

ShitanePaiko: Yup. Asthar's back, and I'm really happy about it... XD

Okay, now back to the story! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!

2. I Need You

General Asthar woke up, sitting up in bed and surveying his surroundings for a moment before remembering.

He had been brought back to life. And Therius had gotten him out of that coffin, that crypt he was sealed in...

He couldn't remember another time that he had been just that relieved to see his pupil. He really couldn't. But he was alive, Therius had gotten him out of that coffin before he could suffocate to death. The explanation to Zael and the others went...smoother than he thought. Though he did get a few stares from a couple of the maids, butlers and other knights in Lazulis Castle. Which, well, that made sense, considering the fact that he was dead for a year.

Getting dressed quickly, he figured that a nice walk around the Lazulis Castle Courtyard could probably do him some good. Fresh air always helped one's train of thought keep moving, after all. He was alone as he walked down the hallway-which made sense, after all, it was early morning-but he did pass by a few knights who bowed to him in respect. He nodded, acknowledging their presence as he passed by.

Therius...he remembered his pupil telling him of what happened since Asthar's death. Dagran had to be killed because he went insane with the Outsider's power, Zangurak and Zepha were both dead, the Gurak Continent and Lazulis Island were at peace with each other...heck, Lowell himself had even gotten killed temporarily, but was revived due to Dagran using his power of the Outsider to save him. And now Therius had been training the knights back at the Empire to become true, noble knights, the knights that they were supposed to be.

Asthar couldn't help but feel a bit proud of his pupil for taking on such a task. Knowing his own experiences, it wasn't easy to discipline future knights-it required much patience to get that job done...

His train of thought was then halted when he suddenly smelled something.

Lilies...?

Astahr remembered that Therius had been bringing a bouquet of fresh lilies to his grave only yesterday when Asthar was revealed to be alive again somehow. It made sense, back then, to be smelling lilies, but...now...? He hadn't even neared the Courtyard yet, and already he was smelling flowers. There were no other pot or vase of flowers lying around in the hallway. So...where was that scent coming from?

His answer was given when he stepped into the Courtyard, which was flooded with flowers.

Literally, almost completely, flooded with flowers.

Lilies had been the most noticeable scent, but now Asthar noticed the scents of roses, sunflowers, tulips, lavender, and various exotic blooms as well. That was not the most surprising part, though. The place had gotten...far more extravagant in appearance since last time. The shock of all these plants seemed almost overwhelming.

The most surprising part was that there was actually someone besides him in the courtyard. Her eyes, brown as the darkest dirt, gazed upon a lily she held in one hand as black locks of hair elegantly trailed down to a few inches past her shoulders, as if they were. Crimson lips, as red as the reddest rose, seemed to make the smallest frown as she looked up from the lily and gazed around her.

"Perhaps," She started, loud enough for Asthar to hear, "I may have...overdone the decoration a bit. I was worried I wouldn't get noticed. I tend to blend in with nature, after all." She tossed the lily aside with a sweeping gesture, the lace sleeves of her red blouse showing off her long arms in a sophisticated but different way-not like the noblewomen that wore stuffy ballgowns and such. She wore the blouse with black dress pants and flats, and she stood with one foot in front of the other, keeping such perfect balance where she was standing.

Asthar felt that he was supposed to answer what she had just said.

"That may be true, about overdoing the decoration. I'm not sure if Lady Callista would appreciate this much extravagance..."

The woman looked up at him, making eye contact with him as she spoke again. "Of course, such decoration was not meant for the good of Lady Callista...General Asthar."

There were countless people that knew his name. Civilians, for example. Other soldiers, too. But something told Asthar that this woman was not a civilian, or a noble, or a soldier. She was none of those. In fact, he sensed something...threatening...emanating from her.

"Pardon me, but I'm afraid I'm at a loss for a name." The once-dead General responded. "May I know what your name is, if you please...?"

The woman nodded quietly, taking a few steps closer towards him until they were only a few feet or two away from each other.

"Azalea." She finally spoke after a moment. "My name is Azalea, General Asthar. It's a pleasure to finally meet the man who I raised from the dead only yesterday."

General Asthar dared to raise an eyebrow. "You...?"

"Yes, me. Though it was completely a mistake to do so. My master was not pleased with this, obviously..."

Master? Mistake? She's the one that brought me back...?

Azalea just continued speaking. "I thought that I needed you for the prophecy to be fufilled, but I was wrong..."

It was then that Asthar caught Azalea's scent.

Lilies. Sir Therius carried lilies on the way to his grave...could it be...?

"You used the lilies to purposely lead him to where I was so that I wouldn't suffocate in my coffin, didn't you?"

Azalea's eyes widened a bit, but she gave the smallest half-smile at this statement. "I did, General. Excellent deduction. I manipulated his sense of smell to choose those lilies, actually. Manipulating that scent gave me the advantage to give him a greater sense of something happening in the crypt, which was me bringing you back to life in this situation...which would therefore cause him to run over to the crypt and save you from dying the second time in a row. Impressive, isn't it?"

"So," The General stated, "That means if you have the same scent as something that someone has, they'll be able to sense you more easily. That must be quite a weakness in battle...if the enemy can sense you, you won't even be able to hide."

Azalea gave him a look, as if it was a mere joke. Her smile completely vanished, her voice growing cold in an instant. "There are many scents that come from many, many flowers, General. Don't think that it'll be that easy to catch me like that again."

Before Asthar could answer, that was when Therius walked in on them.

"General-"

Therius was cut off when a vine appeared out of nowhere, wrapping about his neck tightly. The knight tried to break free, but the loss of breath caused him to slowly grow slack.

The older man's eyes widened in shock at this, before turning towards Azalea, taking out his sword. "Lady Azalea, unhand Sir Therius this instant!"

Azalea just glared back at Asthar, all of the cool elegance completely gone. Her eyes glowed a dark combination of emerald and sky as she spoke. "The reason I came to confront you is this, General Asthar. Tell me where the book of fate is, and then I'll let your pupil go..."

"The book of fate...?"

What in the world is she talking about...?

Before Asthar could do anything, a blur rushed at Azalea, knocking her back before turning and shooting a Bolt Arrow at the vines restraining Therius, freeing the white knight. The blur then cleared, and the General recognized the figure to be none other than Zesha-except that instead of the usual armor Asthar had seen him wear, he was instead wearing funerary black and red armor.

The Gurak King glared at Azalea sharply, pointing his East Wing at her. "Leave at once, human." He snapped. "Now."

Azalea glanced at Zesha, then at Therius, who had gotten his sword out, then at Asthar.

"I'll retreat for now. But don't believe this is the last you will hear from me."

She then teleported away before either of the three could do anything. Therius let out a breath, sheathing his sword, before turning to Zesha, who had put away his own weapons.

"Lord Zesha...what are you doing here?"

"I thought thank you is in order, first...?" The Gurak King muttered quietly, before explaining. "I just needed to see Lady Arganan about something important..." He then turned towards Asthar. "Who was that woman just now...?"

General Asthar glanced at where Azalea was, before speaking. "She said her name was Azalea, Lord Zesha. And...that apparently she is the one that brought me back to life..."

Therius' eyes widened at this. "So...she is both a nature mage and a light mage...?"

The once-dead General nodded in response. "I suppose so..."

And she said I wasn't needed for something. A prophecy. That I wasn't actually supposed to be brought back to life...I have to find out what this is all about.

"That would take more power than a regular mage to resurrect someone, if you don't have a large amount of power like Lord Zangurak did with the Outsider..." Zesha muttered to himself, though the other two heard it. He paused, before speaking again. "I will be going to see Lady Arganan now. I'll tell her about this at once..." He then turned on his heel, walking out of the Courtyard. The other two paused, before following.

Callista wasn't going to be happy with this news. That was something both of them knew for sure.