* Separate universes ... lost a collective loneliness *

It had been a long time, almost a century since the end of the Rabanastre war, since the time Ivalice had gone through a period of peace and the alliances between the various kingdoms and empires had been strengthened. Ivalice lives a new golden age like the times that were.

Hidden in her of the most secret rooms of the Tampio of Miriam, the princess Ondine had slept for too long now, a name that had become a legend in her own country, in her memory a statue had been erected in the family mausoleum real.

But the time of awakening was now never come and soon the princess's awakening was near.

The sun had just risen, barely heating the cold air that reigned in the valley, in the Paramina gorges, when in the room where the young princess had been placed, Ondine awoke from her long sleep that for almost a hundred years had kept asleep.

The crystal of Mystes that enveloped her, protecting her, slowly began to dissolve, releasing a thick blanket of Mystes inside herself. Ondine reopened her eyes, she felt dizzy and at the same time even rested, despite the initial disorientation the young girl could not understand where she was, that room seemed familiar enough.

Fearing to be alone, Ondine hoped that there was at least someone shouting loudly asking if there was someone beyond her, her voice echoed mighty in the bare walls of the temple, I did not spend much time that the young woman felt the approach of some steps, the clinking of the armor that quickly approached his room.

The moment the girl turned and walked through the door, she opened up, finding herself in front of a group of five men, who seemed to stare at her in disbelief, only one of them at the center of the group did not seem surprised, rather silently stared at her. in his eyes as if he were happy to see her again.

Ondine took a step forward that immediately the soldiers knelt at his feet, the young woman took a back step unaware of the reaction of those soldiers.

"Where am I?" The young girl asked one of the soldiers, who almost frightened answered her. -You find yourself at the Temple of Miriam ... my lady.-

-Why am I not in Dalmasca ?! - the girl asked gravely, but the soldier did not know what to say to you. The man who stood at the center of the group answered, then, what seemed to be a superior compared to the other four, simple soldiers.

"My lady's been a long time since they brought you here."

- "Since they brought me here!" - asked the young girl as she seemed to scrutinize the soul of that simple huma, the phrases "it's been a long time since they brought you here" seemed to sound strange. That sentence seemed to make no sense, Undine did not know what the man had meant, he took courage and asked for news of his friends, on the outcome of the war between Dalmasca and Archades in the skies of Rababastre, churches of his sister and Emperor Larsa .

-What are you saying? ... I do not understand you. The sooner it is my interest to know what happened after the fall of the "Fortress of the heavens" and why my sister Lady Ashe brought me here! - I protest the princess, beating her foot on the ground and threatening the man.

The soldiers did not know how to tell her that the news she was asking went back now too long, at a time when none of them had met. The man tried to respond to the demands of the princess, warning her that it had never been 100 years since her fall into eternal sleep.

-We are not able to send you my lady back. It's now 100 years since Dalmasca won Archades - he cut short the man while Ondine tried not to lose the little lucidity he had. He could not believe it and he categorically refuses to believe it.

Fearing a violent reaction from her, the soldiers begged the princess's forgiveness until she punished them, seeing their attitudes Ondine ordered the soldiers to stop begging her.

- I order you to stop! Why should I punish you? Why then? - the young girl asked irritably as she urged the soldiers to get up. The four simple soldiers looked timidly at the young man, they did not dare to cross his gaze with theirs, for fear of who knows what other reaction, the only one not to have decomposed too much was the young superior.

"Do you want to know what happened in these years?" Asked the princess.

"My lady, so many things have happened from the events of 100 years ago, that telling it now would take more time. Come My Lady, this place is not suitable for conversation.- the captain pointed out, while the girl asked him his name.

"Your captain name?" The woman asked decisively, the soldier looking at her answered.

"They call Ikram Firdus Azelas," said the man.

The princess looked at him strangely, that name reminded her of one of his old acquaintance, the man invited her to follow her to a place where all his doubts would dissipate.

Ondine was quite dubious about where they would escort her, never taking her eyes off of the huma, while the latter gave orders to the men to prepare the chocobo for the departure, while another soldier gave the order to warn immediately the Great Kiltiasl Gavriil.

The princess remained silent as she advanced among the eyes of those present, she recognized well the environment around her, she had been there before when she had met the Great Kiltian Anastasis, she wondered how it would have been that time. She was surrounded by so many doubts and did not feel at all in the mood to be happy, knowing that what she knew now never existed anymore.

He was behind Ikram just a few steps while two soldiers escorted her on both sides, covered by their skin and some light protection to allow large movements.

Ondine felt nothing except the slight thinning of the Mystes, which permeated the temple, the sound of his footsteps resounded throughout the temple, the group reached the entrance of the temple where just one of the two soldiers who had left .

He carried with him five chocobes from the Spartan saddles, while he waited almost impatiently for the arrival of his companions.

-Sir Ikram is all ready, even heavy clothes were worn for your Grace- said the man bowing to Undine, handing her heavy clothes, the girl thanked the soldier for the kindness received, the man was astonished by how much grace the young he had expressed himself.

At that moment the captain gave orders to prepare to leave, escorting the girl, Ondine hastened to wear the heavy fur even if the cold felt just enough, just enough to make her shiver.

I try to get back to his chcobo when Ikram, offered to help her but the princess refused to answer that she could get away on her own. Once on the back of the chocobos, the captain gave the order to leave, heading for Bur-Omisace, before night fell.

It took almost a whole day to reach the sacred mountain home of its excellence the Gran Kiltias, the trip was not pleasant at all and more than once the group had stopped to rest the chocobo. For the duration of the ride Ondine had not breathed or uttered a word, standosene to look at the environment that surrounded her as to ascertain if there had been changes or not.

It seemed that nothing had changed, remained almost similar to before, remained silent while pulling the considerations of what she saw, when suddenly during one of the breaks Ikran approached her.

Ondine was standing near her chocobo as she saw the captain approach and ask her how she was or if the journey had once tired her, the princess remained silent a moment before answering him.

"How are you your Majesty?" Asked the captain.

"I feel like thinking about the captain, but I'm fine." The girl answered with a faint voice.

-I hope the journey is not tired, for any problem I'm at your disposal .- I ask Ikram wondering if there was any problem noticing the almost sad expression of the girl.

Ondine kindly thank the captain for his availability, before expressing the desire to arrive at the sacred mountain before dusk. -Thanks of Captain's thought, but there is no problem. Tell your men that we will soon leave again, I want to get to Bur-Ormisage before it falls in the evening. "

Ikram was about to object, what seemed foolish to him, but the girl seemed to be serious while exposing his desire. The pause lasted just long enough to let the chocobos rest before resuming the long journey again.

The journey was very quiet without any difficulty, arriving at Bur-Omisace just before nightfall. Undine when she saw the place again, a small smile appeared on her face that did not escape the men who had escorted her for the duration of the journey.

Captain Azelas, coming down from his chocobo, approached the girl, inviting her to come down, and Ondine thanked the man again with a slight nod. Ikram took her hand gently, when the young woman took a few steps forward the captain gave her a small bow as it suited to those of her rank, whose label imposed a salute.

Meanwhile, on the stairs of the sacred temple of the Great Kiltias, appeared the figure of the fifth soldier that Captain Azelas had sent to warn his Holiness the Great Kiltias, the wake of Ondine. Together with the young soldier there was also a Kiltian servant who approached the young woman whom Azelas held by the hand, the kiltiano made an immense invitation as he approached her, inviting her to follow.

Ikram led her close to the Kiltian servant, letting go of the princess's hand, who approached the servant who began to make her way. Ondine began to climb the stairs of the ancient temple, while the Kiltian showed her where to follow her, when strangely her eyes met those of a young soldier whose gaze was fixed on her.

The intensity with which he observed annoyed the young Ondine, who remained silent, trying to ignore that look so penetrating, a shiver ran down her back as the strange figure of the man followed her with his eyes.

The young man was tall on the meter and octane with dark blond hair up to his neck, his body was massive and thinking, well muscled, the result of the hard training of a soldier. The man wore a dalmasca armor, which Ondine knew well to recognize, who represented another rank within the army and only six people in the entire army could claim the title of General.

The man could not have been little more than thirty years or less, while his beautiful face showed marked but at the same time gentle features, while a bearded blonde was going to frame his face, a little more on his chin was a little goatee , while his fleshy lips were surrounded by a light thread of beard. The hair was almost indomitable and rebellious, blond as the ears of ripe wheat and golden reflections, while his eyes revealed irises of the color of the ice, an intense blue.

The general had a proud trend, being described by his men as a strong, courageous man with a fiery temper, quick to anger in the midst of battles and full of passion in bed. The authoritarian aspect was even more highlighted by the powerful shoulders while on the face there was an expression of seriousness, which often resulted from his posture and his looks and a long scar near the lip that rose to stop near the nose on the left side.

The scar, however conspicuous, was barely visible, was well confused with the fine features of the general, giving it a certain mysterious charm.

The girl followed the Kiltian up to the room where the Great Kiltias was, with her there was Captain Azelas, while a few meters away the young Dalmasco general followed them.

Once in front of the Grand Kiltias' room, the young princess continued through the room where the Grand Kiltias Graviil stood imposing, Ondine proceeded securely to the bottom. The sound of his footsteps broke the silence that reigned, while once again Ondine retraced those steps that had once led them there.

He was in front of a new Gran Kiltias of which he knew nothing, but in him the young woman did not perceive anything, he only knew that this meeting was vital for her.

He advanced a few steps more when the Gran Kiltias Graviil suddenly opened his eyes, which immediately went to stare at the young Ondine, Helgas went to meet her, greeting her as it was to one of her rank, while Captain Azelas was there.

Helgas was happy to meet the girl, telling her she had seen her coming in a dream.

- Be you! Welcome to my humble home, Benedetta, daughter of the gods. I saw your coming in a dream, your presence honors us. We have long been waiting impatiently for your light to awaken from your eternal sleep. "

-He also honored you, waiting for my awakening. I thank you, "said Undine, closing her eyes, bowing to the presence of the supreme Kiltias.

-I hope you have made a good trip.-

-The journey was long, but nothing compared to that. -

- I see a certain apprehension in you ... and I can understand you. - The Grand Kiltias is pronounced while he observes the young girl's face.

-You know that I would like to speak to you.-

-Would you know what caused you to eternal sleep ... and why did you wake up here, in time to which you do not feel you belong? -The hegas commented as he watched the princess nod, after all it was right that the girl pretend to know the answers. His holiness, he invited her to get comfortable and relax more, announcing that there were some things she needed to know.

Ondine, not breath, so decided to listen to the advice given her by the helgas, sitting on some cushions that the supreme Kiltias had arranged for her and for the captain. The cushions had been placed before his throne of Gravil, while he solemnly sat on it.

"You must be gracious to know that to meet you here was at the behest of your sister, Queen Ashelia. He brought you here in the hope that I could help you, but I could not do anything. I do not have these powers. Your sister and Emperor Larsa decided to remain there for your safety ... and in the hope that one day she will open her eyes again.-

Ondine listened very carefully to what the elderly and wise Helgas was telling, while her words slowly gave way to images of the princess's mind, who imagined what her sister had to go through. He did not show anything of his feelings, as an old friend had taught her, she was not allowed to feel fragile.

- I understand, there is nothing else I should know? - the young woman asked tremblingly, the helgas looked at her holding back a long sigh, still having much more to say to her.

-You have always come to visit sister, with her they also went to pay homage to the emperors of Archade and Rozzaria There was never an opportunity in which they failed to come here. One of all, if not the most present ... an Archadian judge.

The last words had startled and at the same time whiten Ondine, felt inside her a strange pang in her stomach, as if there were a thousand butterflies.

The anxiety and nervousness of learning came to grips with the calm of the young girl, who in an almost appealing and trembling tone asked the Grand Kiltias to know what had happened to her friends.

"Please your Excellency, tell me about them! What was it? "- the girl's trembling and worried voice resounded throughout the room, while Captain Azelas, who until then had remained calm, tried to reassure the girl who already knew what to expect and her suspicions were soon confirmed. .

Undine trying to keep control, while explaining that she should not be there, that something must have gone wrong, while her eyes were wet and shiny.

- There must be an error. I felt tired and collapsed asleep ... it was not my intention to make this happen. - the girl reproached herself, but the Great Kiltias explained to her that she should not reproach herself.

"Do not fear or Light of Dalmasca that all is lost. What over time ends then turns to come again to us. You should know. "

The Great Kiltias told her, getting up from the throne and approaching her, pointing to the necklace she wore around her neck. At first Undine did not understand what she was pointing to the high Graviil, but carefully following her finger she saw with amazement the necklace around her neck.

He recognized it at once, it was the necklace that Basch could always have around his neck, whatever he wore never separated, he wondered why he had her as he took the pendant in his hands and looked as if it were the most precious among the treasures . It seemed as if the Great Kiltias had suggested something to her, after which Graviil reminded her that her sleep was due to the intrusion of someone who had decided for her.