A/Note: This is the second to the last chapter. I had finally beaten Milla's Story before finishing the sixth chapter. I also finished Tales of Graces F before finishing the other chapter too. I beat the Devil Beasts in Tales of Xillia. I'm quite happy that I had beaten them both, even though Lineage & Legacy kicked my butt more than I can count. I'm also replaying Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Legendia. Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is next on my list to begin. I've never played the second game of Symphonia and I'm hoping to like Symphonia more than I did the first time. I played Tales of the Abyss first if you were curious. Anyways, I'm done with my rambling. On with the fanfic!

Disclaimer: I don't own ToX.

Chapter 7

Jude walked toward the elder man with something to eat, as everyone else had something in their hands. Rowen was stroking his beard, but stopped as soon as he saw Jude with a bowl Creamy Beef. With the food outstretched to the old gentleman, Rowen took the food thankfully. Jude stood there for a moment watching out to where Rowen was looking. He then looked at Rowen wondering if he should say anything, as two soldiers a male and female started to take notice. They were both from Elympios and heard about the group.

"Those must be two of the people that we heard about from the major," the female said noticing that the two males were beginning to speak.

The male soldier huffed out air from his nose, "Yeah, those people don't even belong here. You can tell they're from Reize Maxia."

"No kidding… They have a sense of loyalty to the people at least," the female noted from watching the two men and the way they fought against some of our comrades.

The two of them watched as the two men started to eat their food in good conversation. As they stopped eating their dinner, Rowen and Jude walked over to the rest of their group. A roar of hunger was in the pit of both of the soldiers stomachs. As the male put his hand over his stomach he looked at his female counterpart. The two of them haven't eaten for hours since their breakfast around six in the morning.

"I'm starving… We haven't eaten in a while," the male soldier admitted hiding in his visor.

The female nodded in agreement, "Here, here… Too bad we're out of provisions."

"Mhm. We may have to ask those two for food at some point," the male said a little disgusted.

They didn't want to ask people who were invading, but they decided to make their way to Jude and Rowen's group. As they approached the group, Jude and Rowen were heading their direction with bowls of what they were eating just about ten minutes ago. Those ten minutes went by rather fast for both parties. Jude and Rowen held out the food to the two hungry soldiers knowing that they were famished before they even said anything. They took the food in gratitude taking off their hats and sitting in the spot while Rowen and Jude watched quietly.

"I guess, you guys aren't bad," the male soldier said with a scar going down the side of his head.

The female nodded with her chin length hair falling forward as she stared at her food, "Not bad indeed."

"I assume that all of your military knows who we are," Jude said starting to sit down in front of them.

Rowen watched the two, "And why are you not coming after us? I might be a little presumptuous thinking that it might have to do with saving your research facility."

"Your presumptions are correct. And of course all of our military would know about your excursions," the male said after gulping down what he just chewed.

The female soldier pointed her spoon at them, "It helps that you guys are going against that crazy king."

"You mean Gaius," Jude said looking at the ground.

The female nodded her head, "Yeah, him."

"Gaius has fallen, but his belief that he can protect his people lives on," Rowen commented starting to sit down as well.

The two soldiers decided to continue eating, as they didn't want to say more. They would disrespect the two that had helped save their research for the spyrites. Rowen noticed this and put his hand on one of their shoulders in assurance. The one he had put his hand on moved slightly to remove his hand. Rowen knew better than try that again even though it was supposed to be a soothing act. As the male finished before the girl, he decided to continue their conversation.

"You two going to go against that bastard," he questioned after he nodded in thanks.

Jude looked at him, "We're going to try to persuade him with reason first, and if it comes to a fight against Gaius… We'll deal with it."

"Alright, I guess that makes sense. He's a little too crazy for his people though if you ask me. Doesn't he have a personal life to live," the male soldier remarked rubbing his scar.

Rowen rubbed his beard slightly, "Yes, it has led him to a dangerous route…"

"How long have you two been traveling with each other," the female asked switching from that dangerous subject that her comrade had brought back up after eating.

Jude looked at her next to answer question, "I believe it has almost been a whole year."

"I have not noticed, it does seem to have been a while since our first excursions in the world," Rowen said looking at Jude with a side glance.

Jude nodded in agreement, "I honestly have forgotten how long it has been too. I'm not too sure if it's even been a year or not."

"That happens," the female started, "It's not easy to keep track of time when you're traveling. It's not even easy when you're military personnel busy day in and out."

Rowen chuckled, "I do not doubt it. I once was part of one as well."

The two of them started to speak about times that are rough, while the male soldier stared at Jude. He was staring at the young man like he was trying to see what makes him tick. Jude noticed this and looked at the soldier. He quickly looked away getting a little uncomfortable from with the other soldier. The male soldier continued staring at him, until he was about to say something.

"Hey, you single," the male soldier came out to say.

Jude was shocked, "Why are you asking that?!"

"Just askin'. It seems you are, but I'm not too sure," the scarred soldier answered.

Jude blushed a little, "Um… Hard to tell…"

"You hidin' something, but whatever. If you have a lady on your arm, you gotta learn how to appreciate the good times while they last. It's not easy keeping them happy, but you gotta get your head in the right place and think about how they feel about something before doing something. You get it," the scarred soldier said now standing next to the young Mathis.

Jude looked down, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Just in case you are. I used to have someone… died in action," he mentioned patting Jude's shoulder.

Jude felt sympathetic, "I'm sorry for your loss. Was she in the army too?"

"He was… He was my first partner then came this girl. If you're wonderin' I don't particularly care what sex someone is. I've had both sexes and it never bothered me," the male said now looking down at Jude.

Jude didn't feel as uncomfortable as was when the man was staring at him, "I see."

"Just hold them close, until that time comes close to an end. It could also go with just comrades," the male soldier inclined to end the conversation there.

The female soldier and Rowen stopped their conversation not that far off. Rowen smiled at the way Jude had reacted giving a small chuckle that came with the smile. Jude wasn't uncomfortable with the words that poured from the soldier's mouth because he could understand after everything to consider. Rowen stood helping the female off the ground, though she looked away with a tint of heat rising to her cheeks embarrassed that she was getting helped this way. When she was straightening herself she noticed, that her partner walked over to her grabbing his hat off the ground. She picked her hat off the ground as well.

"I was wondering where you two are heading, we could give you some food," Jude asked looking at them both equally.

The female shook her head, "No, we won't need any more food for a while since we just ate and soon we will have to head back."

"Alright, if you need anything before you two go don't be afraid to consider the offer," Rowen retorted giving a look to the young lady and the male.

The male looked in a different direction, "We will. You know a good a kid, old timer."

"You're not so young yourself, but yes, Jude is turning into a fine young man," Rowen agreed with joy.

Jude and Rowen turned their backs on the two leaving the two alone to head out. As Rowen and Jude went back to their group, the two soldiers started heading out. They were starting to leave when they looked behind themselves watching as the two of them were speaking to their group. The male watched carefully as he watched Jude interact with each member. The female watched them both unlike her male companion. She looked up at the person beside her with a little smile.

"They're not as bad as we had heard or assumed," she said starting to straighten her hat.

The male chuckled a little, "Yeah, they better not let us down…"

"To save us from that mad king," she said as she started to look away.

The scarred male soldier nodded then started walking again. The girl stopped watching the group and caught up with her partner. They had to head back to base before anything could happen to them on the road. The group of travelers between worlds decided that it was time to go against Gaius before it was too late. It's too late to turn back now and headed to the dimensional breach. It was time to finally end this.

A/Note: Seventh chapter complete. Hoorah, my third game fanfiction is almost complete. I had to edit some chapters for spelling mistakes and word mistakes. Like I accidently used second instead of third for one of my author notes about how many game fanfics I've written thus far and I forgot one of them. I finished this chapter after the sixth chapter, but decided to put this up later to keep track. I was watching M*A*S*H when I came up with the two soldiers. Love the show. Give me feedback if you wish. Thank you for reading this installment. See you in the last chapter of this.