Chloey found Chris sitting in the library his nose deep in a book that she'd been working on, he looked as if he was deeply in to it so she lightened her step so he wouldn't be disturbed by her presence. As he looked up to regard her there was a smile on his face,

"And so, the historian arrives," he grinned broadly, and she waited for him to finish what it was that he was going to say next "tell me, why is Lido so easily defended my dear?"

Chloey smiled and felt the age old 'deLupia' defence rise up, something that her father had said ran in the family and Chloey felt like smirking about it.

"Think of it this way, how easily could Lido be accessed by an enemy army?" she asked, beginning at the very point of the matter, as if she were explaining to a child that wasn't interested in anything less than a good story, "True it would be hard to get supplies if Lido were ever to be sieged, but in saying that Lido's isolation is part of the key to its defence. Paburo and Pabaro are both cities that are easily found and thus easy to control; Lido is harder because of the location besides few people stay in Lido and you know how hard it is for farmers to keep close to the town on the mountain sides, what with the winter floods and storms."

Chris looked at his wife and smiled, "I see, so if they had horses…?"

"Just as hard, they would have to have the equipment to do so and most armies here don't have the ability to do it."

"Well, you're a logical woman aren't you?" Chris teased, "Just like Thomas,"

Chloey playfully smacked her husband's arm and Chris pulled her in to his arms and kissed her tenderly,

"Really can't live without you, you know that Chloey?" he looked in to her eyes, "Something tells me that we're going to be away for a few days, am I right?"

Chloey smiled and kissed Chris,

"Yes, be ready to leave soon," she said as she kissed his forehead.

Chris got up, placed the book away and they both left the library as Chloey headed to where she kept her hunting knives and selected the ones that she could throw over distance. She had plans and Marchello was not going to interfere with them again.

As she walked out of the dilapidated gates of Lido and started smelling the fresh mountain air Chloey felt a lot better it was as if the air itself made all the difference. She had decided to wait for Chris by her favourite clearing, one that her father had often waited in for both Chloey and Kate to come with him and it brought back many memories, all of the times that she'd spent in that clearing was some of the best times, the first time that she discovered the world beyond the city of Lido and it soon became one of her favourite places to hide from Teresa and Claire when she was feeling particularly down about their teasing. She was glad to be rid of Marchello, even if it was just for a couple of weeks while she journeyed doing what was best for Lido. Chloey breathed in the fresh mountain air and smiled as their journey began. Chris carried some supplies but really the reason that Chloey had wanted to get out was because she knew that this time of year was the worst time to get out and hunt and any chance that she got she had to utilise. Especially before the storms started to rip through the area, and cause them some trouble with the possibility of snow and ice covering the roads and blocking the way home. Animals would move down in to the valley and as Kate lead the way Chloey noticed something that she didn't quite notice before, but it was subtle than she thought and she put it out of her mind as the journey continued.

Kate sniffed the ground and trotted ahead of Chloey as she looked for prey. Chloey had long since been used to hunting for various families and the poor usually begged the old warrior for her skills and would often try to repay her as best they could, Chloey gave them good cuts of meat that would help their growing children and asked for nothing in return, still they did send some of their older children to her to serve in her house and Chloey would often send them home with warm stews and enough food to keep their family fed for a while. As she walked Chloey regarded the gates of Lido in the late afternoon sun. The golden colours splashed across the sky as if God were reminding her of his wonderful creation. Chloey grabbed Chris' arm and Chris stopped and also looked at the glorious sunset,

"Not one is the same," Chloey sighed wistfully,

"Yes that is true," Chris looked at his wife and smiled.

Kate walked over to them and sat, clearly she decided that she too was going to watch the sunset. It wasn't long until Kate howled loudly, something that she often did when Chloey was out watching the sunset. Most of the villagers said that Kate was calling them to be inside and out of the dark night, though Chloey doubted it since Kate always howled at the rising moon regardless of what was going on around her.

Chloey and Chris walked onwards while Kate was trotting behind them looking for prey. Chloey slipped through the trees quietly without a noise and Chris stepped as carefully as he could, making sure to keep the sound of his footsteps as quiet as possible. Kate ghosted forward and Chloey looked further in to the darkening light. She could see the forest as clear as day when she used just a fraction of her yoki and it was easy for her to see the trees and she could make out some deer in the distance. She estimated that there were at least twenty of the creatures and based on the size of them it was possible that they were females. Chloey tilted her head and focused her hearing and she could hear that at least one member was struggling. Kate knew that there was dinner to be had soon and she was eager to go after the herd. Chloey slowly drifted forward and decided to follow the herd to see what was going on and to also see if there was any that were old enough to be good food.

The sun rose to bring in another day and Chris was packing up their camp when some bandits decided to try and attack them. It was both their first and last mistake as both Chloey and Chris killed the lot of them, not a single man living to tell the tale of how fearsome Chloey's sword technique was, her cuts deep and calculated to the point that the men didn't stand even the smallest of a chance and as Chloey and Chris went to leave Kate growled a warning and then she howled again. All that was left of the bandits were hacked up pieces of flesh that looked like a yoma had killed them. It was an old habit that Chloey didn't want to break. She soon found a good place to set camp for the night and she set it up. It was going to be their semi-permanent camp. Chris would keep watch while Chloey would make small raids to catch some deer and Chris would skin and prepare them for the humans. Chloey knew that the creatures travelled a fair way and she also knew the layout of the land. They were well placed so that Chris would be sheltered from the rain and fog that sometimes would roll in and Chloey was able to hunt near a water source that didn't freeze over easily. It was a good place to hunt.

Miria sighed as the cold air began to move from the north to the south in the never ending cycle of seasons. She had insisted that Natalie dress properly and Natalie did as her foster mother had asked. Years had passed since the Organization had fallen and some things never changed. Renée was busily pursing activities to keep her occupied while Miria had reflected on just how close she had been to seeing Chloey again. Miria had wanted to talk to Chloey so badly about things that she didn't want to talk to Natalie about because Natalie wouldn't understand in the same way that the quiet warrior would. Miria sighed as she should have known that Chloey would never have exposed her yoki, even if she knew that the Organization had fallen. According to Galatea both Chloey and Chris had actually asked her what was going on, and after talking with Chris, Galatea had discovered that neither had known about the fall of the Organization. Galatea had been shaken greatly since she was proven to be inferior to the older warrior and she wasn't the first "eyes" used by the Organization. Galatea had asked why Miria hadn't mentioned anything about Chloey and Miria decided that she would only give Galatea enough information to explain at least half the story and hoped that Galatea would think carefully about what Miria wasn't saying.

"Why, didn't you talk about her Miria," Galatea sounded hurt and annoyed at the same time,

"She made me promise not to say anything about her, I knew her as a key source, if she was to be found by the Organization, and they had a choice between their better eyes and you, how do you think they'll choose. It would be her life over yours and you know it," Miria sighed, "not to mention that Chloey herself wanted nothing to do with the Organization after she left it. She knew more about it than I did. Ever,"

"So then what are you planning to do now that we know of her existence?" Galatea asked Miria,

"What I always intended to do, go and see her again, at least once things settle down," Miria said looking out of the large window of the cathedral. Galatea sensed a strange yoki flow from Miria, one that she'd sensed before, but she didn't know what it meant, especially since Miria was good at suppressing her emotions and a thought occurred to Galatea,

"She can read you like a book, can't she Miria," Galatea asked frustrated that she couldn't read Miria despite how blind she was with her physical eyes, which led to her heighted yoki 'eyes'.

"Of course, her sensitivity is unrivalled she could read Priscilla if it came down to it,"

Galatea hung her head and tried to really read Miria, but again the yoki was just too low to read across the room accurately, Miria's yoki being as suppressed as it was irritated her, but now she knew, out there somewhere was a woman that could read Miria's yoki with ease and know what the Phantom was really feeling. Galatea still kept trying to sense the yoki fluctuations in Miria's body all the same but inside she was just furious that she couldn't get an accurate reading.

Natalie stretched and she yawned loudly. She had been reading a large book about the history of Rabona and it was duller than any book that she'd read. As Natalie rolled over she saw Miata having what looked like a sleep, but Miata wasn't asleep, her body was too tense and she was to alert. Natalie felt a smile on her face and got off her large comfortable bed complete with light pink blankets. Natalie had an idea and it was going to be a good one. Miata didn't say a word and she simply got up and walked behind Natalie down the corridor decorated with soft colours that made Natalie think of spring and she smiled as she thought of something fun to do.

As they arrived in to yet another room, Natalie looked around to see a whole gathering of other half yoma, each wearing different outfits and she spotted Valencia sitting next to a couple of warriors, and Natalie overheard their conversation, and she wondered who it was that they were talking about and the more that she heard the more that she came to understand. She wasn't sure why but she had to go and see Miria. She just had to. As Natalie headed off, she heard Valencia giggle and she shook her head. Of course Natalie wasn't sure what there was to giggle about and as she walked away to head to where Miria was, Natalie heard Valencia say one name, "Chloey," and she felt her mind whir with activity that she couldn't understand. It was as if she'd heard the name before but she didn't know where that was.

Miria was busy when Natalie arrived to Miria's large office. Natalie waited patiently for Miria to be not as busy and then she simply had no choice, because she had been waiting for several minutes now and she really wanted to get her idea planned out with some information first.

"Excuse me Mother," Miria's head snapped up from the paperwork that she had spent the morning staring over and she smiled when she saw Natalie,

"I see that someone is curious about something," Miria smiled, "you can have the key to the library as long as you lock it up when you're done for the day,"

Natalie's eyes widened in shock as she realised that somehow her mother had known what she'd wanted and was a step ahead of her. Natalie blinked for a few seconds and then stammered, "Th…thank you Mother," while Miria gave her the key and returned to her paperwork reluctantly. Natalie then left the room as quietly as possible. Miria was still as busy as ever it seemed, but not so busy that she didn't know what Natalie wanted or needed.

As Natalie and Miata both entered the library that was kept locked up for the safety of the humans Natalie had to admire how large it was. Shelves ran from wall to wall with a large gathering of books that used to belong to the Organization, mostly records of the warriors that had worked for the Organization. As Natalie looked at the shelves trying to decide what to read, she came across a book that looked like it was an interesting read, and as she pulled out the leather bound book she became aware of two things about the book. The title read The Luciela Era and Its Effect on Toulouse and it was heavy and thick. She carefully carried it over to the large oak table and once she set it down, Natalie opened the cover slowly. The book was well written and as she turned the opening page and read carefully about the warriors of the Luciela Era, most of whom were changed in a relatively quick time. She looked at the warriors listed in the contents and came across two particularly interesting sounding warriors, Signalling Kate and The Silent Chloey. Natalie opened the page to Signalling Kate and read the entry for the warrior,

Signalling Kate was the Number 3 mere months after being promoted to warrior status. She was a reasonable warrior with a relatively calm disposition said to be able to keep her comrades at ease while they were working with her. Signalling Kate is well known to have been able to work in groups as much as on her own, being a highly successful warrior in the field and showing that she was well ready to receive the Number 3 ranking. She was known to shake in the presence of yoma, thus giving her the nickname, "Signalling Kate" as the closer the yoma or awakened being was, the stronger the shaking. Signalling Kate is also well known to be close to the former Number 7, The Silent Chloey and the pair were one of the most widely accepted working pairings within the Organization, and they were both often seen sparring as their regions were close by. However it was to be a fateful hunt that would see the disappearance of Signalling Kate, her corpse to remain undiscovered.

Natalie read on and found something that looked interesting,

Of all the warriors of the Luciela Era only two were from the town of Lido, a small city located in the Paburo mountain ranges famous for the amethyst mines that were once the most productive mines of Toulouse. Lido is quite difficult to reach and the weather is mostly unpredictable, no other warriors have come from that town since.

Natalie leaned back in her chair and she saw that Miata was casually resting with her back against one of the many pillars, "Interesting reading huh?" Miata asked,

"Yes, I think I'm on to something Miata," Natalie looked up The Silent Chloey and skimmed the entry, "location of birth, Lido…now why would the Organization want a girl from Lido like her…?"

Natalie read on and the more she read the more confused she became, "Has shown multiple signs of depression and the occasional lack of self-preservation…defensive type noted for healing ability at the cost of strength…appears to be obedient, reasonably strong despite being defensive type…known to fight other warriors when pushed, cases of disruption in training…known to have finished off awakened beings on her own, however there isn't enough evidence to support it…" she sighed loudly, "just what are they saying I don't understand; how could they want a warrior like this?"

She looked out of the window in to the sunset and walked up towards it. As she gazed out of it she could see the people of Rabona going about their daily business, the markets brimming with buyers and sellers all trying to keep their families fed and cared for, the clomping of horses' hooves reaching her sensitive ears as she listened to the muffled voices. The light filtering down lightly casting a glow across the roof tops as the day looked set to end soon, the sky slowly changing their colours to their golden hues and showing the glory that Natalie had come to learn about with Galatea's careful explanation, the sky being painted by God's hand for their enjoyment

"Miata," Natalie began, turning to face not only her personal protector, but also one of her closest friends that she had made since the Organization had fallen, "could you please do me a favour and start making preparations for a trip to Lido?"

Miata looked up and tilted her head, "Why Lido Natalie? Do you really think that it is safe to go there? What if the town was really a hive of bandits? Or what if it was too dangerous to go there? Really you must think carefully about this trip, also you wouldn't have your mother's approval to go, what of that?"

"We'll be safe if the preparations are done well. Firstly I doubt very much that a group of bandits would take over the town, after all we would have known by now if they did and besides I want to see Lido for myself and not just hearsay from a report that could possibly be hiding the real situation over there. Also Mother is very busy, do you really think it's worth troubling her over? What if she is too busy to even give an answer, you've seen how busy she gets,"

Miata sighed, perhaps Natalie was right, "What sort of preparations Natalie?" she asked warily, as if expecting Natalie to go over board and not be listening to her. It was as if the idea was one that Natalie was enjoying too much to want to listen, but to Miata's surprise, it seemed that Natalie was thinking it all through, as if she was really thinking through everything that was needed as she calmly replied, "Well, I am thinking that we might need a few guards, just to be safe though we'll be fine, really there is nothing to worry about the area is safer than Rabona if the report is true, if not then we came prepared at least,"

Miata exhaled slowly and replied, "I'll get as much as I can done for you,"

"Many thanks Miata," Natalie smiled, "now then…what to pack…"

As Miata left the room she could hear Natalie pondering on all of the dresses that she had and what would look best for her to wear when she arrived in Lido. Miata left Natalie to it as she instructed a couple of guards to keep watch over the Princess and keep her safe while Miata made an attempt to get the logistics of such a trip underway. She didn't know why, but there was something that wasn't right, something that was making her uneasy and it wasn't the fact that Natalie wanted to go to Lido, it was going there in the first place…it was probably nothing, and Miata shook it off as she walked down the stair case lost in thought.