Got another chapter ready. Have been checking it several times to make sure there are no mistakes, call me a grammar nazi if you would but I don't care. Blame my old studies that caused me to be kind of frantic when I spotted a mistake.

I nearly forgot, remember that lullaby of the adventurer from the previous chapter? It is actually Serah's theme from FF XIII-2. I love this song so much that it's in my head. The song can also show the relationship between my character and Aegis in this story.

Chapter 2 - Arrival

I have arrived at Ravenloss. I was delayed a lot as I was recovering in Oaklore, though Captain Rolith was no where to be found that Maya filled me in. Word is that a new organization or something called the Rose had taken over a majority of Lore, intent on ridding the world of magic, which explains the lack of abundance of many creatures that anyone would see everyday. I am also positively certain that my sister Jaania had something to do with the Rose's sudden rise of power. I went to Falconreach straight away. Thank the avatars that magic is still welcomed there and Storm is well, napping next to Twilly and clearly overjoyed seeing me again. I at first attempted to use the portal to Ravenloss but for some odd reason it was inactive. I killed some time to look around some more. Warlic's tent at the Elemental Foothills was abandoned and Nythera was no where to be found, probably with the Rose around, they are very likely to be targets that they must flee, and I'm sure Xan would do the same. Standing at Robina's usual spot at Surewould Forest was a Rose agent called Cinquefoil, who claimed to have known me. I was also surprised to learn that King Alteon gave the Rose his full support, which caused me to begin doubting him so I became determined to stop the Rose and put all who rely on magic at ease.

Cinquefoil was also willing to put a stop at the Rose's schemes and told me about the old Bandit Camp and Sneevil Tree Fort which now act as bases for the Rose. I found several disturbing things at the tree fort as well as the journal of a Rose Magus called Hansa. Hansa appeared to be against the way the Rose deals with magical creatures and would like to pass a message to all of Lore. Her team was said to be currently stationed at the Sandsea so I travelled there to find out. What I experienced back there was that Sek-Duat was no where to be found, the citizens of Sandsea welcome The Rose, considering the past events, me "helping" Sek-Duat destroy an artifact, which turned out to be a source of his powers while the latter had Zhoom captive and stole some of his life, Storm saving my life but was weakened by Sek-Duat, as well as becoming very angry, and Hansa acknowledging me and Storm after we defeated the former pharoah and returned Zhoom his stolen years of life.

But I digress, I received a letter from my hawk Jet, which I obtained it during my training as a ranger. The letter was from Tomix, my mentor in Soulweaving, asking me for my help and that the portal to Ravenloss was working again. I rushed to where the portal is located and waited until evening. After entering Ravenloss, I'm at awe at how much changes Ravenloss underwent during my absence as it looks more lively than empty, as many beings of magical nature that I also don't know of are taking refuge here. I saw the gate to Pellow Village and practically ran towards it, while seeing new faces. Upon going through the gate, an Atrea Soulweaver is there, as if she is expecting me and takes me to the edge of the village, where Tomix stands, with what appears to be a ship floating next to him. He is more mature than I last saw him but he appears to be more decayed and his hands remained in that condition since the battle against Greed, but I'm sure he can get used to it. Afterall, I learned all my skills from the best Soulweaver I know.

"I knew you would come at first notice, Wave." Tomix addresses me with a tired grin.

"Of course I had to. Can't pass the request of my friends. I see that Ravenloss is more lively than ever. Who would have known that dracomancers or dark elves would exist?"

Tomix chuckled at my statement and turned serious. "Hey. I believe we have a lot of catching up to do. Ask your questions, Wave."

"Serious as usual. So uh... What happened to Aspar? I don't see him around this time." My question causes Tomix's expression to turn grim, but he composes himself as he gives me his answer.

"Before banishing Lust, she revealed to me, that Aspar is Envy. I did not believe it at first, why would I? Aspar was my best friend... He vanished a few months after I banished Lust. I thought he'd come back, like he did before we were hunting Wrath. But he hasn't. I'm still feeling the bond, but it's become corrupted. I'm trying really hard not to believe that Aspar is Envy, but all the evidence is telling..."

"I knew he had to be Envy! I began suspecting him when I was looking for help after you were covered by rubble trying to get the Sun Key."

"I do recall you were asking me about him in the past, turned out you were also trying to warn me. But I have really good memories of our journeys, and I hate to think he's been Envy this whole time. Fooling me. Using me... Using me for his own plans... or somthing. I don't know. But I do know where he is now."

"Really? Where? You bet I'm going to give him a good beating as soon as I see him. Elemental Spirit of Kindness, my foot. The last thing I want to meet is a traitor." Yeah, I had seen treachery several times. Even Sepulchure himself had been betrayed by Drakath who impaled him with his own Doom Blade.

"He's heading into the Ynnungaap. I'm not really sure why though. To get there, I need a ship, a flying ship. A ship strong enough to reach Ynnungaap. I need all the help I can get, you are welcome to join me Wave, if you wish."

"You can always count on me, Tomix! I'll come flying your way if you need me"

Tomix relaxes upon seeing my goofy grin. "I know full well you can be trusted. You are one of those who I can still consider a friend..."

"Then what's Ynnungaap like? Best I know much about that place before charging in, right?"

"Yes. Ynnungaap, a location beyond the void... also known as Deep Void. It is where the void core is located. I'm getting this might be Asp - I'm sorry, Envy's point of destination. But why? What could he accomplish with the void core? I thought I knew him well..."

"Who knows? We'll find out as we get there. How's Riadne doing?"

"Oh, she's here. Currently helping in the Ravenloss Orphanage. She will be joining me, once the ship is ready. When the Chaosweavers were driven out of Ravenloss, she turned her attention to help rebuild it."

"That's good to hear. How about Izaac?"

"Izaac has been in Pellow Village... for all these years apparently. Do me a favor and don't raise your voice while talking with him. He's gone a little cuckoo. It seems the void has a strong influence on the weak-minded. You should be careful."

As Tomix said that while pointing at his temple and doing a circle motion with his fingertip, that surprised me. Tomix, cracking a joke? "Hey! You were never joking before! What happened?"

But Tomix remains unfazed about this. "You are only young once, but you can be immature forever."

"I... think i've read that somewhere before."

"Quite possibly." This is awkward, I've to think of something to break the ice, that's when I notice a cube hanging at his waist.

"Hey, I've never seen a cube like that one before, what is it?"

"I had to form a bond with a different Elemental Spirit, I couldn't weave without Aspar by my side. I visited the Plane of Elemental Spirits and stumbled upon Pandora. THE Pandora. One of the First Weaver children and the founder of Chaosweavers. She was being harassed by other spirits."

"Pandora? I remember meeting her on my first visit to the Plane of Elemental Spirits, before I met Aegis."

"I'm sure you did. I saved her and she's now my Soul-Ally. But... there is a catch... Apparently, when she's in the material world, her very existence is causing misfortunes and... cataclysms. She told me of an artifact, a cube that was created by her previous Soul-Ally. I retrieved it and she's now inside the cube."

"Pandora's cube, huh? Interesting, I'm so looking forward to what she can do. Well, that's about everything I want to ask."

"I see, I think you ought to explore around Ravenloss more. I'll inform you when we're ready to set out."

"Will do." Giving Tomix one last smile, I leave him be and passed by an area where the Greedling used to stay after Greed's defeat. I can still remember that adorable little spirit that I sometimes could not bring myself to punt it like a football for tricking us. A bluish figure caught my eye but I can only see his backside. That figure has an ethereal shield on his right arm and his left hand is placed at the tree bark, as if that figure is deep in thought. As I get closer, I finally can make up the figure, that same one who I've been longing to see.

"Aegis?"

Sorry there's no Aegis here. This fic is based on Book 3 Ravenloss Saga after all, it is better to know what is going on before I decided to jump to the point, right? Hope you like it :)