I have to thank Dragon Chyld. I was really getting discouraged that no one liked how the story was going. I started writing this for me, and still am, but I did get a little addicted to reviews. :) I am getting frustrated, though. I am trying to hurry their "relationship" without it feeling rushed. That and I can't decide how it will end. Will they be together? Will they split up? Will they even survive the end of my story? I just don't know yet.


What is he doing here?
That was the question on everyone's mind. We have been traveling together for months, but this was new. Albel never ate any meal with the group, but there he was, sitting between Nell and Maria and across from me. It was an unusually quiet breakfast. Even Cliff said little. He wasn't paying attention to me. He was just sitting there eating. It didn't matter, though. It was driving me crazy. I was so nervous that I could barely eat.

"Are you sure you're okay, Sophia?" Nell inquired.

"I'm fine. Really!"

"Is something wrong, Sophia." Fayt jumped into over protective mood immediately.

"No, really. I'm fine. I just had a bad dream last night. That's all."

"Really?" Fayt asked.

"She was moaning for a long time and she was hot and sweating. Now you're not eating."

I could see a small smirk on Albel's otherwise impassive face and I began to blush again. At very least, he suspected.

"I'm just not hungry that's all."

"I wish you would eat some more though, Sophia. We have a long trip today."

"I know. I'll try." I smiled.

We all picked at our food for a few more minutes until Fayt stood up.

"Okay. Everyone, check out and gather any supplies you need. Once we get past Suferio, there will be no more places to buy supplies. Let's all meet at the gate in about half an hour, okay?"

There was a general mummer of consent and everyone began to get up and leave. Fayt and I were last. I think he wanted to make sure I kept eating.

"What are you going to do for the next thirty minutes?" I asked him.

"Well, I need to go to the outfitter and I want to check with the workshop one more time before I go. I'm not sure I'll have time to do both though."

"I'm going to the outfitter too. Would you like me to get your stuff too?

"Sure, Sophia! That'd be great!... but can you carry everything?"

"I'm not a baby, Fayt. I can carry both our stuff for a little while. " I teased

I was feeling more comfortable around him until I realized it.

"Okay. Okay. I need three more of Fresh Sage, four Blueberries, and a bottle of Winking Sage Cider.

"No problem." I said with my fake smile.

"Are you sure you're okay. We can stay for one more day."

With a sigh, I told him he worried too much and I left.

After I gathered our supplies, I started to go to the gate to wait for everyone else. Peppita was already there, performing for some of the local kids. I leaned against the post and pretended to watch. There was a lot more fighting to come and every victory we achieved meant more guilt for me.

Why am I always so satisfied by a victorious battle? How can I just inflict pain and death on these beings and not care?

When Fayt finally made it to the gate, everyone else had already gathered. Most were watching Peppita's show. Albel was leaning against the gate on the other side of the street watching me with a smirk. The way he had been watching me lately was unnerving. Fayt apologized with a sheepish smile and we all turned to continue our journey.

I was admiring the scenery when we were attacked by a Convictor and a Myconid. Cliff and Fayt threw themselves into the middle of the two. I went after the Myconid to the right and summoned Efreet. Then, I had to back up to heal Cliff. The Myconid came after me and the Convictor cast Thunder Flare on the guys. Sooner than I would have liked, I had to start using items. Between enemy attacks and Fayt's insistence at using stronger symbology, both were getting low on MP. The Convictor was defeated first. Cliff soon finished the Myconid with a strong kick.

It wasn't hard to skirt through to Surferio. Most creatures had cleared out and left a mostly open path. I stopped at the Faerie Tear, but the didn't have any Blackberries. I still had plenty though and we moved quickly through town, hoping to avoid a meeting with Roger.

I hate the Passage from Parched to Plenty. It's so creepy and the enemies are annoying to deal with. Our very first battle lost Cliff. I had to quickly bring him back and use more of my Blackberries to sustain him. He did get the last blow with a Sphere of Might, though. I hate the Mosel Dunes too. It is so hot and sweaty and sticky there. I was just thankful we knew our way this time. We almost made it without having to fight a Chimera.

Once again this battle was extremely difficult. I spent a lot of time trying to support Fayt and Cliff. Cliff was incapacitated almost right away. After reviving him, I spent several minutes trying to heal him, but he was moving around too much, so I had to use one of our few Physical Enhancers. The battle was in our favor for a few minutes, but then both of the guys were incapacitated at the same time, so I had to use an Analeptic too. I began to get very frustrated. My healing spells just were not hitting there marks and Cliff was even paralyzed! I cast a quick Cure Condition, but it was too late. They were both incapacitated again. I cast Gravitation, hoping to give me more time to heal. Finally, a healing spell hit the mark on Fayt, but to save time, I had to use more berries on Cliff. Though Healing was working well again, it was all I seemed to have time to do. I managed a few Fire Bolts and Thunder Flares, but mostly had to heal and use Cure Condition. Then, Fayt started using Explosion a lot, so I had to use some berries on him too. While I was doing that, Cliff was incapacitated again. A few minutes later, Cliff was incapacitated AGAIN! after a Triple Attack. Even though I used berries, it wasn't enough in time and I had to revive him again. My MP was getting low at this point too. Then, it was Faerie Light, Restoration, Cure Condition, and berries one after another. I thought the battle would never end, but it did.

Ragged and tired, we stood around for a few mintues.

"I guess our leveling up wasn't as much as we thought." Fayt stated.

"Leveling up?" Nell asked.

With a shrug, Fayt told her it was gaming terminology. "Might as well use it."

We debated on whether or not to go back to the inn in Surferio, but we decided to push on just a little bit longer first. We would have to go all the way back to Peterny for supplies soon anyway. Adray healed us and I ate some Cold Soba once we got inside the ruins. Once again, I was glad we had been here before and knew where we were going a little. The monsters were different though. They were faster and harder to avoid. We soon found ourselves in a battle with two Convictors. Cliff and I were incapacitated several times during this battle. Fayt barely managed to keep himself alive, despite the quickness of the enemy and the repeated Air Raids, that drained him so much. Fayt saved me at the last moment, finishing off the last Convictor, but Cliff was still incapacitated at the time. We decided to head back after reviving him.

We tensely ate there in the hallway and tried to sneak back. To everyone's surprise, Albel once again ate with us instead of keeping guard. He sat across from me again. We didn't get back far before running into a Proclaimer. This time, Albel shoved Cliff out of the way and joined the battle in his place. I realized with a silent groan that I was glad he did. It was a much easier battle. I only had to revive Fayt once and Albel twice and had an even mix of offense and support. Soon, we arrived at the Surferio "inn". It was late when we arrived, but we were still able to get some beds.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The moon was full and beautiful against the black sky. I watched it from a window high in a tower. Sighing, I turned around to the familiar room. With my elegant old fashion dress trailing behind me, I walked to the bed, stopping only briefly for a glance in the full length mirror.The only light in the room was the moonlight and a weak candle by the bed, but I could see everything perfectly. Such is the nature of dreams. Sitting on the bed waiting for Fayt to come rescue me and set off a grand adventure, I got the vague impression that something was a little different in the room this time. I studied the room for some clue to what was bothering me and perhaps to what lay ahead. Every dream like this started the same, but I had never had to wait on Fayt so long.
I heard a noise from within the room. Startled, I jumped up and looked around frantically before I froze. There was one corner of the room that was completely dark. That was new. Suddenly, I realized how this dream was different. Fayt wasn't coming at all. This wasn't about him and he wasn't going to rescue me this time. This was about my previously unseen captor and I knew who he was before he ever stepped out of the dark with a sinister chuckle. Albel.
I remained still. What could I do? I knew the bedroom door would be locked and the window would be no help. While I contemplated my lack of options, Albel only stalked toward me silently. I simply watched as he rounded the bed to my side. Just as he came around the side, I cried out and tried to climb over the bed to the other side. That was a mistake. He quickly had me pinned and even more helpless. I squirmed beneath him. He leaned close to me and I could hear him laughing quietly at me. I opened my eyes.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He was staring at me from the bed beside mine. My face heated immediately. I flipped over and went back to sleep.

I have GOT to stay away from him.

6/2/07