Luke: Hey! What's the big idea here?!
Tear: Calm down, Luke. The author probably put us up here for a reason.
Celestia2009: Yup! I wanted to torture you! *grin*
Luke and Tear: *…*
Celestia2009: Hey! Don't look at me like that! Wait, wait! No, not the tire, not the tire!
*tire flies across the screen, along with the author*
Tear: Luke! What's wrong with you? You do know that we'll be stuck up here forever if the author dies, right?
Luke: errrrr…. Hey! It's not my problem! I was in the middle of chapter 10 when I got teleported here! Can't I even finish the chapter?
Tear: What do you mean?
Luke: Yeah. It was getting good, too! *pout* We were fighting Undine, and about to beat her. Oh and there's that part where you… *blush* Never mind. *Walks off*
Tear: Wait! But what happened in chapter 10? *quietly* I wanna know, too.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3: Love That Transcends Across Time
"So now, your name is no longer Luke, but Viscount Luke Fon Fabre!"
And so, with my father's blessing, I inherited the title of viscount. I don't think I deserve this title, though. If only Asch was here... I could share it with him. I don't mind, and it would make Natalia so happy. Even though she appears to be cheerful and friendly, she's hurting badly on the inside. Only I can see the hurt behind her eyes.
"So, enjoying your first night as an adult, Luke?"
Luke looked up to see the ever sarcastic smile of none other than the colonel, Jade Curtiss. Holding, he noted, a goblet filled to the brim with ruby red wine.
"I guess I'm doing all right," Luke responded.
The colonel studied him carefully. "Oh? You certainly don't sound happy about it."
Luke sighed. "Jade, ever feel like you lost something and gained something at the same time?"
He watched as Jade paused and slowly brought the goblet to his mouth, taking a measured sip.
"When Nebllim was replicated," he answered slowly, choosing his words carefully, "I was glad that I was able to recreate her, for the sake of Nephry and, I suppose, Saphir. However, when she wasn't what I expected her to be, I felt like- well, a failure."
He paused to take another drink of wine.
"That was when I decided to stop trying to replicate people, to stop researching fomicry altogether. What I didn't expect was that someone would use my research to fulfill another vision of the world."
Luke nodded. "I see." He stared out into the darkening sky, where the city of Baticul was outlined in shadows, and the people were getting ready for the end of yet another long day.
After a while, Jade spoke. "Have you talked to Tear yet?"
"No, not exactly," Luke admitted. "She's been so busy lately that we haven't had time to talk yet."
"You should talk to her," Jade commented. He became serious. "Ever since the fall of Eldrant, she hasn't been the same. Admittedly, every one of us has been grieving, but it was Tear that hurt the most."
"And she didn't tell you about it?" Luke asked in astonishment.
"You have to understand. Being the dutiful soldier that she is, she immersed herself in her work, in order to forget. As soon as she got back, she threw herself into the restoration of Alkzeriuth. She cut off all connections with all of us, responding to neither letters nor calls. Natalia, Anise, Guy, and I all went to Yulia City to visit her, but every time we were there, she was either out or too busy to see us."
"I have to see her right now," Luke said, getting up from his seat. "Where is she?"
"She's in her room upstairs, the middle room in the hallway," Jade responded.
"Thanks!" Luke called as he dashed up the stairs.
After asking directions a few times, he arrived at the right room. He adjusted his sword nervously and knocked.
"Tear? Are you in there? It's me, Luke."
No answer.
He knocked again, panic rising in his stomach.
Open the door, please. Just open the door! Open the door and I'll know you're okay. Please, Tear, please be alright!
He stared fiercely at the door, willing it to open.
Finally, after staring at the door for a good twenty minutes, he decided to open the door, no matter what. Whipping out the key of Lorelei, he wedged it in the crack between the door and the frame and turned. No luck.
Maybe if I tackle the door, it'll work. Never mind what Natalia says about being a gentleman, I'll deal with the lecture later.
He put the sword back into the scabbard and took a deep breath, then tackled the door, putting everything he had into it.
The door swung open to reveal a ransacked room and an open window.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke: What?! She got kidnapped?!
Celestia2009: Relax, she's all right. Tune in next time to find out what happened to Tear, and what the seven sentiences have to do with this. Please read and review!!