Chapter 6

The Sylvaranti Vanguard

Sheena, Pietro and Harley were holding back the Desians on their own. Though the guardian user was holding well against the three that were assaulting her and had already killed three others, it seemed more came to replace them. At this rate, they could very well take the city. If she could at least kill their leader, it would disrupt their whole strategy and give them an advantage.

The Desian transformed into a golem-like demon attacked her with massive knuckles, bigger than its other limbs. Sheena noticed it and before the knuckle could make contact, she jumped, landing on it as it hit the dirt. Sheena then ran up the arm of the demon and delivered a light-charged kick on its face, however, the damage was minimal due to the resistance of the enchanted, stone skin of the half-demon.

When the agile fighter landed again, the Desians ganged up on her and started attacking with their blades and lances. Sheena avoided most of the attacks, but got some scratches in the process. The golem-like Desian tried to smash her again, but this time, the violet haired woman had come up with a strategy.

Right before the massive stone hand of the half-demon connected, Sheena used all her speed to jump aside and leap forward once she landed. She quickly placed three seals on the Desian; one in its chest, another in its extended arm and a last one on its left knee. The transformed Desian tried to swat her away, not noticing the seal cards that were placed on him. Sheena did a back flip to escape the attack. Performing another hand signal, she shouted:

"Power Seal!"

Blasts of energy emanated from the seals on the golem-like demon, tearing some rocks from its body and making it kneel. However, when Sheena was about to run to attack the creature, she heard the sound of something zooming in the air and before she could react, she felt an arrow pierce her left leg.

Letting out a cry of pain, Sheena kneeled. The Desians had smirks in their faces as they approached the woman, ready to take her out. Quickly surveying the situation, Sheena saw Harley and Pietro were surrounded near the door to Asuka's. It was then she heard the sound of a bow being loaded. Looking past her attackers and to the other side of the town, she saw a bowman in the broken, stone bridge that decorated the view of the city.

Dammit! I can't believe I didn't notice him earlier. Sheena scolded herself.

"Now, time for you to die, human bitch." one of the Desians said, readying his sword to cleave Sheena in two.

As the sword came down and Sheena was readying her seal cards to defend against it, a red blur got there first and the sound of metal colliding against metal was heard. When Sheena identified the figure, she saw it to be Lloyd.

"I won't let you damn Desians do as you wish with her!" the dual swordsman said, blocking the Desian's sword with one of his twin blades. The young man used his opponent's moment of distraction and swung his other, free blade, leaving a gash on the Desian's waist.

Before his opponent could fall, Lloyd pushed his blade aside and impaled the Desian's chest, effectively killing him. The other half-demons recovered from their surprise and attacked. Lloyd parried the attack of other Desian while the transformed one brought its rock knuckle behind to smash the dual swordsman. Lloyd saw that by the corner of his eye and, when the massive fist was coming down, he jumped behind, throwing the Desian which he had his blade in a lock with out of balance and making him stumble forward. The last thing the half-demon saw was the rock fist coming down, right before his entire body was smashed on the ground.

Sheena took the chance and pulled off the arrow from her leg, gritting her teeth in pain while doing so. It would slow her down, but she had worse wounds before. She then saw the bowman aiming for Lloyd and scanned around for something to use. The violet haired woman then saw the discarded blade of the Desian that had tried to kill her. Taking the weapon, she stood, aimed and threw the blade. It soared through the air and hit its target, impaling the bowman and making him fall from the ancient, stone bridge to the abyss below.

Turning to look back to the red clad swordsman, Sheena saw he was now slashing at the golem-like Desian. What was more surprising was that he was hitting in the exact spots she had placed her seals to create flaws in the armor of the creature. Deciding to help her "savior", Sheena took a fan of seal cards in her hand and charged them with light.

When Lloyd jumped back after applying Sonic Thrust to another fragile spot he had detected in the Desian's "natural" armor, he saw Sheena run past him, with a fan of glowing seal cards in hand. The transformed Desian tried to attack her, but she jumped, staying at level with his head. The violet haired woman then swung her fan of cards at the neck of the monster. Five seconds later, the head of the creature started to slide to the side until it fell from the body. The decapitated half-demon then fell, chaos energy leaving his body and the rocks that composed it, turning to dust in a matter of seconds.

Lloyd had his mouth agape at another show of Sheena's power in battle. However, he didn't have time to show his admiration. He saw Sheena's friends struggling against the Desians; one was already on the ground, bleeding from several cuts, while the other, also with cuts all over his body, had his sword in deadlock with a Desian.

Lloyd and Sheena looked to each other and nodded, going to help Asuka's workers. The Desians didn't even had time to react before Lloyd plunged his swords in the backs of two of them, right through their hearts, and Sheena again decapitated the one that was forcing Pietro to his knees with her still glowing fan of seal cards.

"Thanks a lot, Sheena." Pietro said, kneeling from exhaustion, using his sword as a support.

"Are the others still inside?" she asked. Her workmate nodded. "Good. Get Harley inside and have him treated." she advised. "We're going to clear the rest of this mess. Lloyd, can I count on you?" Sheena asked Lloyd as she opened her set of seal cards in a fan again before turning towards his direction.

The young man nodded to the voluptuous woman. The two were about to go when they heard Harley calling for them to wait. The half-elf struggled to get to his feet, but since he was unable to do so, he just stayed with his hands supporting him. Pietro went to his side and passed Harley's right arm around his shoulders, helping his friend to stand.

"Sheena…mother went to talk with the mayor…before they came…I think she's still there…" Harley said between laborious breathes.

Sheena's eyes widened. Lloyd could see fear mixed with concern in them. She turned to him, wordlessly asking for his aid. He nodded and the two rushed to the residential part of the city.

After killing around ten Desians, who seemed to be trying to force their way inside the houses, and evading others, the two fighters went up several sets of stairs and arrived at what should be the house in the highest spot of the city. In the front of that house were three people. One was an aged man, white hair evident beneath his hat. Another was a woman with silver hair, but once Lloyd saw the third, who was with his back to them, he immediately focused his attention to him.

"Well, well… I certainly didn't expect to see you here, Asuka. Now if you excuse me, I have business to handle with the mayor." the person who had his back to Lloyd and Sheena said.

"And what kind of business would be it for you to invade our city like that, Grand Cardinal Rodyle?" the mayor of Asgard asked with a scowl on his face.

"I assure you, mayor, it wasn't my intention to invade… your city." Rodyle said, looking around the city, making his disapproval of the place clear. "However, circumstances presenting, I…"

"Let me guess: you came here to collect test subjects for your little experiments, didn't you?" the woman, Asuka, inquired in a firm and sharp tone, not seeming wavered by the presence of the Desian Grand Cardinal. "Was it you who attacked, the village in our borders too?"

"They don't leave me any options." Rodyle said in what seemed to be a dramatic tone. "Those fools simply don't understand the grandiosity of my work and that upstart Kvar is even stealing some of my research and claiming it as his own. Me, the Grand Rodyle."

"Oh, really? I feel so sorry for you." Asuka said with evident sarcasm in her voice. Lloyd was starting to like that woman already.

"Shut up!" Rodyle said, now seeming angry at being mocked by the silver haired woman. "You'll hand over all those inferior beings now, unless you want me to take down this pathetic, dirt hole which you call a city."

"Over our dead bodies!" Sheena said. Rodyle immediately turned at hearing her and Lloyd got a better look at who they were dealing with.

From the strange, large, green cloak he wore with openings all over it and the blue clothes below, Lloyd could already guess that Rodyle should be a Desian of higher ranking. But for a Cardinal to command an invasion on Asgard personally… that guy surely meant business.

Rodyle used some short of green glasses in the bridge of his nose. His dark-blue hair was combed behind, but his stature, voice tone and manners made Lloyd think more of a lab rat. Rodyle looked from him to Sheena. The Desian Grand Cardinal gave out a chuckle and looked to Asuka by the corner of his eyes.

"Now, now, Asuka. You never told us you had a daughter."

Lloyd didn't understand that statement, but once he took a clearer look on Asuka, he comprehended what Rodyle meant. Asuka's body figure was practically identical to Sheena's, however she had pointed ears and appeared to be slightly older, though she conserved the air of someone around her thirties. Asuka also had long, silver hair, which fell behind her back and eyes of a pale blue.

Asuka didn't reply, just cast a quick look to Sheena, who returned it, like the two were communicating without saying anything. Sheena then stood on a battle stance. Lloyd saw that was his cue and did the same.

"Oh. You intent to fight me. How amusing." Rodyle said, pushing his glasses up his nose, just for them to fall back to their previous position.

"The only thing I find amusing here is the fact that a lab rat like you actually decided to take a stroll to see the sun for once. I thought your species liked closed, shady labs." Sheena taunted.

Rodyle's right eye seemed to twitch at that and Lloyd was trying very hard not to laugh. And he had thought Sheena was sharp before. However, he didn't think that taunting a Desian Grand Cardinal was a good idea, after all, they were rumored to be the strongest of all Desians, easily matching demon generals.

"HOW DARE YOU?"Rodyle shouted. It was obvious he didn't take well insults. "I'll make you cower before my genius self!"

Rodyle then reached for the earth and to Lloyd's surprise a broadsword started to materialize itself from the ground. When the blade materialized completely and gained its own colors, the Grand Cardinal swung it, before thrusting its point to the ground again. He adjusted his glasses again and reached inside his cloak, seeming to press something in there.

Suddenly, Rodyle's figure seemed to glow and duplicate several times. Lloyd and Sheena soon realized he had made illusions of himself. The images then disappeared and reappeared around them, starting to attack, some with their broadswords, other casting earth magic.

Sheena and Lloyd had to avoid several attacks and tried to counter some, hoping to find the real Rodyle by seeing which one of them was solid, like in ordinary illusion magic. However, the duo soon discovered that all copies were solid. When the ones casting unleashed their spells, Lloyd and Sheena were thrown into the air and were attacked by several chunks of rocks and hit by stalagmites when landed. The Rodyles then attacked again.

"Sheena, those are demonic illusions!" Lloyd and Sheena heard Asuka shout. "They're magically more advanced than normal illusions, but you still can find the original one if you 'look.' "

The way she had said "look" made Lloyd think she wasn't talking about trying to find the real Rodyle with their eyes. The young man had little time to think on that, though, as he had to defend from more attacks of the Rodyles.

Sheena was in an equally bad situation. She could dodge their attacks, but the spells that were coming were taking their toll on her, even with the magical defense she had. Plus, she would need time to concentrate and look for the original Rodyle and the wound on her leg was starting to slow her down.

Lloyd was panting as he jumped back to avoid a spell and the broadsword of another Rodyle. He then looked to Sheena and saw she was trying to blow away the copy of the Grand Cardinal attacking her with Demon Seal, however, a Grave spell caught her first, throwing the guardian user in the air and hitting her in the back with pointed stalagmites several times. The strength of the impact of the large, pointed rocks was enough for her to cry in pain.

Ok. That's it. Lloyd thought, gritting his teeth. He then noticed the other Rodyles coming to attack him as others behind were charging spells.

"Out of my way!" Lloyd said, quickly concentrating and charging his will and energy on his blades, like his father once taught him. "Raging Beast!" Lloyd spun, catching all Rodyles at his front, and released a blast of pure energy, forming the face of a lion, which blew the copies of Rodyle at his front away, making them collide with the ones that were casting, interrupting their spells.

Sheena saw that and an idea came to her mind once she got up. She called for Lloyd to come. The red clad swordsman did so and helped her to repel another two Rodyles attacking her. Sheena asked the dual swordsman:

"Can you use that Arte again?"

"Yeah." Lloyd said as they stood back to back to each other.

"Then defend me while I concentrate."

Lloyd didn't know what she intended to do, but nodded instantly. He trusted Sheena. As other copies of Rodyle came, Lloyd blew them all away with Raging Beast, again making them collide with the ones that were casting.

Sheena then took the chance and stood still, closing her eyes and letting go of her vision and other senses, reaching for her sixth sense and bringing it out. She could suddenly see again, but the world was now different: it was made of several colors and glows. Even the wind and the earth had a glow to them, but this one was flowing like an ocean. The people were now just glowing, colorful dots of energy which vibrated with a certain intensity.

The guardian user could see Lloyd at her front, glowing with a scarlet aura, which seemed incredibly stronger and formed the head of a lion at its front each time he used his Arte to defend her. However, she didn't have time to admire that. She then analyzed Rodyle's copies. In her vision, they were just dull figures, without any aura on them.

It was then the violet haired woman saw it; one aura with a twisted vibration, two colors sharing the same glow and mixing in a way that didn't feel natural. Sheena finally opened her eyes again, making her senses return. The real Rodyle was at the back of his copies, out of Lloyd's reach.

Time to clean the field for him! Sheena thought, deciding that a shout to Lloyd would certainly warn Rodyle and give him the chance to hide again.

The female fighter then threw several seal cards at once and concentrated her magical energy on them, making them fly around Rodyle's copies, which seemed confused when they saw the pieces of paper floating around. Making several hand signs at once, Sheena then shouted:

"Typhoon Purge!" the seal cards started to fly around the Rodyles at such speed it seemed they were indeed being carried by a typhoon. The cards then started to cut the copies of the Desian Grand Cardinal, giving the impression that Sheena was controlling flying daggers rather than seal cards. The guardian user then pointed her one open hand to the crowd of Rodyles while still making a hand signal with the other. The cuts on the copies of the Grand Cardinal shone with a weak light, attracting all the flying seal cards, which attached one on each cut. "Now, begone from this world!"

The seal cards then shone brightly and exploded with light-charged energies and Sheena's own, magical one. The Rodyles were all blew away and went to the ground. Lloyd had been observing Sheena's Arte work meanwhile. It was then he noticed one Rodyle had been left standing, completely unscratched.

That's the real one! Lloyd thought, running to him.

Rodyle could just observe his copies being beaten by mere pieces of paper and being blown away by some kind of explosion based on light element and magical energy. It was then he noticed he was the only one left standing and that Lloyd was coming to him. Before the Grand Cardinal could react, Lloyd attacked:

"Sonic Thrust!" Lloyd plunged his sword through Rodyle's guts. The pressure and force of the impact made the sword exit by the back of the Grand Cardinal together with blood. "Beast!" Lloyd let go of his sword on Rodyle and changed the remaining one to his right hand, using his left shoulder to bash at Rodyle's stomach, stunning him, and attacking him with another burst of leonine energy concentrate on his sword.

Rodyle was blown away, bouncing hard on the ground and leaving a trail of blood, all his copies disappearing. Lloyd was panting, that last Arte drained all of his remaining adrenaline and Sheena was on one knee, supporting herself with one hand. Calling forth her spiritual sensitivity on battle and using that Arte had drained all of her magical energy.

The two fighters looked to each other. Lloyd smiled to Sheena a smile that said "good work." The violet haired woman returned it. However, a grunt coming from Rodyle made the two snap their heads back to where the Desian Grand Cardinal was lying. To their surprise (and fear), Rodyle was getting up, like he had just tripped.

Once on his feet again, the dark-blue haired Desian dusted himself and looked to them with a smirk on his lips. He then let out another one of his chuckles and spoke:

"Well, well, that was certainly a surprise. It seems you two are quite different from those other inferior beings. However…" he then looked to Lloyd's twin blade still embedded in his chest. Rodyle then gripped the handle of the blade. "it's necessary to have more than that to kill me." the Desian scientist pulled out the blade at once, letting more blood splatter on the ground. "Such simple weapons are useless against one of my caliber and grandiosity. Specially if used by incapable, human hands as yours."

Rodyle then threw the blade back to Lloyd. It skidded on the ground as Lloyd fell to his knees, not believing that all that hard fight had just be for the amusement of that Desian. He then supported himself with his two hands, thinking:

Are… are all Grand Cardinals like him? Can someone like me ever beat one of them?

"You two certainly will be interesting research subjects." Rodyle continued.

Rodyle then reached for something inside his cloak, but his expression changed to one of worry once he touched the spot where Lloyd had pierced him. The Grand Cardinal then took something from under his cloak and looked to it. It seemed to be some kind of metal device, but now it had a hole in it where Lloyd's sword had pierced and it was smashed.

"MY ILLUSION PROJECTOR!" Rodyle let out, making Lloyd and Sheena look to him again. The dark-blue haired man looked to them with hatred on his eyes. "You imbeciles broke it! Do you have any idea of how many months it took me to develop it?"

Sheena and Lloyd could care less about some device developed by a Desian like Rodyle, but it seemed the Grand Cardinal took his work very seriously. The two fighters thought, at the same time, while sweatdrops fell behind their heads:

Great… a mad scientist…

"I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL… !" Rodyle then stopped.

Lloyd and Sheena heard what was the reason for the Desian Grand Cardinal to cease his speech. Battle cheers were sounding from the direction of the city entrance. The three looked to there and saw there were armed people entering the city and fighting against the Desians, quickly eliminating their opponents.

One member of the troop of newcomers was carrying a standard flag with a red emblem drawn on it: the Silvaranti Vanguard's emblem. Lloyd and Sheena smiled at seeing they were being saved by the resistance group while Rodyle cursed:

"Dammit! Not those cursed Vanguard rats again!" he then turned to Lloyd and Sheena. "I'll just eliminate you before…"

Rodyle ceased his speech once again as a person stood between him and Sheena and Lloyd; Asuka. The woman had a serious expression on her face and a piercing glare on her eyes, though Lloyd and Sheena couldn't see it, since she had her back to them. Asuka spoke:

"If you want to kill them, you'll have to get past me. Are you sure you want that, Rodyle? And I wonder what your lord will think once he hears that you attacked Asgard without consulting him first." Asuka's tone was sharp.

Rodyle gritted his teeth, growling. It was obvious he had recognized his defeated. After grumbling a little, the Desian Grand Cardinal stood still and reached for beneath his cloak, pressing another device inside it.

"Don't think I'll forget this humiliation." with that, Rodyle teleported away, yellow strings of light dancing around him as he disappeared.

Lloyd sighed in relief. Asuka then helped Sheena to stand. The voluptuous, young woman asked her mother if she was alright. Asuka nodded, saying Rodyle didn't really have intention of harming them, he was mostly concentrated on taking the citizens.

Lloyd stood and went to retrieve the blade he had pierced Rodyle with, taking time to analyze the sword. The blood had already dried and there were some stains on the ground, which were disappearing, probably an effect of the demon blood that was mixed to Rodyle's own. However, Lloyd's real concern was that Rodyle didn't even seem to be harmed after he took Lloyd's sword out of his body.

They say that the most powerful demons don't even feel pain, unless you're able to make a mortal wound on them. The way Rodyle simply took out my blade makes it look like the Desian Grand Cardinals are the same. How do you fight against someone like this? Lloyd thought.

The red clad swordsman then heard someone speaking to him. He looked up and saw it was Asuka. She had already spoken with Sheena, who explained who he was for the silver haired woman. She then spoke in a velvet tone:

"So, you're the Lloyd that Sheena spoke about. She told me you saved her and my employees."

"Y-yes ma'am." Lloyd said, getting flustered by the soft tone Asuka used to speak with him and that she referred to his actions like she did.

Sheena then approached her mother from behind while Lloyd was distracted, scratching his head in mild embarrassment and with a blush on his face. The violet haired woman whispered to Asuka:

"I never said he saved me. I could have defended myself from that Desian just fine."

"Let him believe in it. Sometimes, men need us to give them some ego boosting for their own good." Asuka said, speaking by the corner of her mouth as she continued to cast an interested look on Lloyd. Sheena let out an "oh" of comprehension.

Their talk was interrupted as three soldiers of the Vanguard came running up the stairs. Lloyd noticed two of them use standard Vanguard uniforms and masks. It was generally a security measure for them to cover their faces, so the Desians and demons wouldn't be able to identify them and persecute their families in retaliation.

The member in front of the group didn't use a mask and had a different uniform, indicating he was possibly of a higher rank. The man had brown hair combed to the sides, forming two, thick spikes and a serious look on his features befitting a military. In his hands were two claw-like weapons. He and the other soldiers looked around for more enemies, but they relaxed once saw there were none.

"About time you showed up, Hawk." Asuka said, approaching the Vanguard official.

"Lady Asuka. It's good to see you're well. I was afraid we wouldn't get here in time when we saw the Desians coming." Hawk said.

"The important thing is that you came just in time." the mayor of Asgard said, approaching.

Sheena went to join the talk too, apparently, she knew Hawk as well. Lloyd stood behind, just taking in the scene and thinking in what that meant. He finally met someone from the Vanguard who could tell him about his father…

- / - / - / -

After the last Desians were either killed or teleported out of the city like their leader, Lloyd went to fetch Emil, Marta and the Centurions, saying the situation had been cleared. The group was called to the mayor's house for them all to have a dinner in commemoration to their efforts in driving the Desians away from Asgard.

"But we didn't do anything." Emil said when they sat in the table of the mayor's house and made a cheer for their efforts in the defense of the city. "Lloyd and Sheena were the ones that did most of the job."

"C'mon Emil. What's the problem in commemorating a little?" Marta said with a smile while enjoying her meal.

"Marta…" Emil muttered, sighing once he saw his friend and admirer was very interested in the food, rather than in the motive for which they were there.

Lloyd was also eating everything in his plate in a fast pace. The fight with Rodyle had tired him out. He was sitting at the left of the mayor, who was at the point of the table. To the red clad swordsman's left was Asuka and pass her was Sheena. After finishing his second plate, Lloyd decided to start a conversation with Asuka while he filled up his third plate:

"So, you're Sheena's mother?"

"Actually, I'm her stepmother. I found Sheena when she was still little and raised her here in Asgard." Asuka said, her tone sounding a little heavy.

"Yeah, but for all those years, I consider Asuka to be my mother." Sheena said with a smile.

"Really? It's hard to believe you two aren't related." Emil said, having heard the conversation.

"Why do you think that?" Asuka asked the blond, shy boy in her velvet voice.

"Well… it's because you and Sheena… I mean… you two look alike." Emil said with evident nervousness in his voice and seeming to be struggling to pick up the appropriate words.

"How alike?" Sheena asked, tilting her head to the side, curious as to see what the boy would say.

Emil blushed wildly, not uttering a word after that and lowered his head. Everybody saw it was obvious that he meant Sheena and Asuka's body figures. Marta had an angry expression on her face as she narrowed her eyes and looked to Emil. The brunette girl spoke, in a sharp tone:

"Oh. So you noticed their resemblance, huh Emil?"

"Well… it's just… I think it's quite obvious, don't you think." Emil said, starting to sweat under Marta's stare.

Sheena and Asuka both knew Emil didn't mean that in a malicious way. From his shy demeanor, they could guess he wasn't the kind of guy that would be able to pull off some pick up line. He simply said what he thought. But that surely could cause him trouble with a possessive girl as Marta interested in him.

"Oh yeah. I think it is. It's obvious that you were looking at Sheena's and Asuka's bodies, weren't you?" Marta said in a low, angry tone.

"Ok, you two. Can you stop from making a scene in front of the mayor?" Sheena asked, sighing.

Marta let out an "humph" and went back to eat her meal, now in a fast and angry pace. Emil lowered his head again, with an expression of guilt and fear on his face. Asuka decided to drop the awkward atmosphere and talked to Lloyd:

"So, Lloyd, are you and your friends here on Asgard just for a tour or is it something else?"

"We've actually got to do something here, but now that it's done, we should be going by tomorrow morning." Lloyd said. "But first…" the young man then turned to Hawk, who was sitting at the mayor's right, talking with him. "Mister Hawk, you're a member of the Vanguard, right?"

"Yes. I'm sergeant of the Combat Division." Hawk answered.

"Then can you tell me if somebody named Kratos Aurion joined the Vanguard, like one year ago?"

"Aurion… are you talking about General Aurion?" Hawk asked.

Lloyd seemed to gasp, as Marta, Asuka, Sheena and Emil looked to Hawk in curiosity, all of them asking at the same time:

"General Aurion?"

"Yes. Approximately one year ago, a man named Kratos Aurion joined us. He soon called Commander's Brute attention, not just by his skills, but also by his dedication in the assignments given to him and in helping the members of his team. He also worked with the Renegades in some missions and it seemed he has become friends with their leader. Anyway, it was decided by both commandants that he would be given the post of General of Unity."

"General of Unity? He must certainly be someone of value if even Yuan approved him." Asuka commented.

"What's a General of Unity, out of curiosity?" Lloyd asked, trying to contain his enthusiasm.

"It's a unique post between the Vanguard and the Renegades." Marta explained. "It's quite an honor and it's very hard for someone to get this post, because he needs to be obtained it with the approval of both leaders. The person serves as a bridge between the two organizations, being able to command troops of both with equal rights and respect."

"Yes, but seeing General Aurion's skills and will to ensure the safety of others, we all knew it was just a matter of time before he awarded a high rank." Hawk said, with a smile. "I even fought alongside him and I can say; that man has both sharp morals and blade. I could even dare to say that he would be a fair match against a Desian Grand Cardinal or a demon general."

"And where is he now?" Lloyd asked the question with certain enthusiasm.

"Sorry. That's confidential information and…"

"He's my father. I'm Lloyd Irving-Aurion, his son!" Lloyd said, almost in a desperate way and putting his two hands in the table, almost getting up.

The room went instantly silent at that. Asuka put her right hand under her chin, like she was analyzing Lloyd. Sheena had her jaw dropped at hearing that and both Marta and Emil remained silent. Hawk finally spoke, after taking time to analyze the information:

"Are you really the son that General Aurion spoke of?"

"Yeah. If you want, you can ask me anything about him." Lloyd said.

"The young man is saying the truth." Asuka suddenly spoke. Everybody in the table turned to her. The mayor of Asgard asked:

"How can you be so sure, Asuka?"

"Oh, you know me, mayor. I have a knack for finding liars and I can say this young man isn't lying."

"Well, if you say so, Lady Asuka." Hawk said. "But unfortunately, I really do not have this information. I'm sorry." Lloyd had his head downcast at hearing that. It was good to know that his father was having so much success in the Vanguard and the Renegades and was doing well, but it was a let down not to able to contact him. "But if you're interested, you can join us and I'm sure it would be possible to arrange for you to meet with your father again." Hawk added.

Lloyd's head shot up again at hearing that. The dual swordsman asked if Hawk really meant that and the sergeant nodded. Lloyd had a big smile on his face, even forgetting his early fight with Rodyle, very happy to know he was so close to another of his objectives; joining the Vanguard and the Renegades.

"I've heard that you and Miss Sheena have faced off against Rodyle. Well, I can honestly say it's not everyday you hear that someone was able to fight against a Desian Grand Cardinal and survived to tell the tale. You would be more than welcome in the Vanguard."

Lloyd was about to accept the offer when he remembered something. He looked to Emil and Marta, who stayed quiet during the entire conversation. Everybody was observing Lloyd as he let the smile on his face drop when he looked back to Hawk, assuming a serious stance.

"I'm really honored for the offer, but I can't accept it right now." Lloyd said, surprising everybody around the table.

"Why not?" Hawk asked.

"Because I already promised to Emil and Marta that I would help them on their journey."

"Lloyd, you don't need to refuse it because of us." Marta said.

"Yeah. After all, you came with us because you wanted to discover clues about your father. You should take this chance to meet him." Emil spoke.

"I know, I know. But I also promised that I would help you two in your journey and I keep the promises I make to my friends. If I joined the Vanguard knowing that I've broken that, I would never be able to face my dad." Lloyd said in a tone of someone who had made up his mind. "Besides, now I know that dad is doing well, so I don't need to worry so much." Lloyd said with a boyish grin.

"Well, that's a pity. I'm sure you would make a great addition to our cause, but if that's your decision, we will respect it." Hawk said.

Sheena and Asuka just observed, mildly surprised that Lloyd had let down a chance to meet with his father after all that time for the sake of continuing to help his friends. Asuka then inclined near to her daughter and whispered, just so that Sheena could hear her, in her velvet tone:

"My, my. So he's a man of his word too. And if his father is like that, you've found a real jewel here, Sheena."

"Mother…" Sheena muttered, looking to the side and blushing.

- / - / - / -

"Are you sure that's what you want Lloyd?" Emil asked once they were back in their room at the Inn. The mayor had insisted on paying the bill for them as long as they stayed in Asgard.

"I said I would help you, so I'll help you. Besides, my dad always said that I had to honor my promises, so how can I face him if I broke an important promise to my friends like that?" the red clad swordsman said.

Emil smiled at that, though he also seemed a little embarrassed by having Lloyd affirming so readily that he was his and Marta's friend. The blond, young man also felt happy at the perspective of Lloyd continuing with them on their journey.

"Man. My dad, a General of Unity of both the Vanguard and the Renegades…" Lloyd mused as he sat on his bed.

"Your father seems to be a man of noble heart." Tenebrae commented.

"Yeah, he is. He was always ready to help everybody. Well, actually my mother was more. She said that she spurred it on him. But he was always defended anybody that needed help. He didn't like the idea of innocent people, who would never do anything against other beings or this world, suffering because of what others, who were greedy, did."

"If only we had more people like your parents during the war, we could have called them to defend the mana…" Tenebrae said, sighing.

"I don't know." Ratatosk's voice sounded, the Summon Spirit possessing Emil. "Humans tend to be very wary around things they can't understand. I doubt they would help me or Origin without hoping for something in exchange."

"Hey!" Lloyd exclaimed in protest, turning to Ratatosk. "My father isn't like that! Ok, he knows that we really messed up back in the war and that we need to atone for that, but my mother said that as long as we keep trying and don't give up, we can find a way to fix things."

"Oh, really? I'd like to see you humans try and fix the balance of mana you disrupted, or even live one day of your pathetic lives as one of us, then you would understand what it is to try and keep the Equilibrium with you humans messing with it the entire time." Ratatosk said, leaning closer to Lloyd, with his fists closed and his tone as harsh as ever, now with a daring connotation.

"Boss, calm down." Lumen said. "I don't think Lloyd's father is like that…"

"Shut up, Lumen! What would you know? You didn't have to deal with the humans and half-elves' idiocy..." Ratatosk suddenly stopped and grabbed his head with his two hands. His head suddenly shot up as Emil's voice sounded. "Don't talk like that! We're not all like this. There are people who work hard to…"

"Emil?" Lloyd asked, starting to get worried.

That didn't seem to be a simple discussion between Emil and the Summon Spirit merged to him like Lloyd had frequently witnessed during their journey. Emil's head turned to the side as Lloyd felt, again, something change in the air and he knew Ratatosk had taken the control back.

"You shut up! You don't have any idea of what your race did! You humans are the main reasons for all of this! Ugh! It's useless to talk with you people!" Ratatosk waved his arm and Emil was once again given back control, opening his emerald eyes.

"What the heck…?" Lloyd let out.

"Man, I haven't seen boss this angry since the war." Lumen commented, his cheerful and lively tone gone now.

"Yeah, it did seem he was angrier than the usual. Emil, do you have any idea why?"

"I'm sorry, Lloyd. I have the impression that he probably remembered something, since we hatched Lumen and I gained more power." Emil said with his head downcast by not being able to say why the entity inside him was that aggressive. "But I don't have access to Ratatosk's memories. They are attached to the part of my soul that belongs to him."

"Maybe you should give yourself some time, my Lord." Tenebrae said. "You've probably felt a reminiscence of the emotions that these memories carry. Your other self will probably be able to calm down with time."

"Right."

After that, Marta had entered the room and noticed the heavy atmosphere in it. She asked if something had happened, but Lloyd and Emil decided it was better not to tell her about Ratatosk lashing out on them. The petite brunette dismissed it and went to prepare herself for bed.

Lloyd and Emil decided they too needed some rest after that eventful day. When he laid on bed, all that Emil could think of was what Ratatosk could have remembered for him to suddenly get that angry…

- / - / - / -

While Lloyd, Emil and the Centurions had been talking in the Inn's room, Marta was out in the streets of Asgard. People had started to repair the damage done by the Desians' attack, but decided to stop once the sun had set and sleep to continue the reconstruction tomorrow.

The female fighter was looking for someone and soon located the person exiting the Inn that stayed right at the entrance of the town, where some of the Vanguard's soldiers were resting while they too helped with the repairs.

As Marta approached, the figure turned around and saw her. He then gave a salute as he greeted her:

"Lady Marta, it's good to see you safe and sound. How has your journey been so far?"

"It's alright Hawk, you don't need to address to me like that."

"Oh. I'm sorry, milady." Hawk said, still in his salutation pose.

Marta sighed. Hawk was the kind to take his job seriously, sometimes a little too serious. But that's how he earned the rank of sergeant anyways. She concentrated on the reason she had come to him and asked:

"How's daddy doing?"

"Commander Brute's doing just fine." Hawk answered.

"And what about with what we talked the last time?" she inquired again.

"There haven't been any orders to dissuade you or Emil back to the Vanguard by what I know. I would say he heeded Lady Lydia's last words. If anything, he's more cautious than ever about what troops he sends to fight against the Desians and the demons."

"Really? Good." Marta said.

She had feared her father would ignore her mother's words in favor of some kind of grudge he could have started against Ratatosk. After all, her mother died in the night Nebilim attacked that temple to kill Emil. Marta had never spoke a word about it so as not to worry the blond swordsman. For all that Emil knew, he could have assumed her mother was still alive and they were only mourning about those who lost their lives trying to defend him.

"Oh, another thing: don't mention who daddy is near my other companions. I don't want them to know about who exactly I am just yet." Marta said.

"Why not?" Hawk questioned. Marta was hoping he wouldn't ask that.

Hawk had the tendency to follow most orders without questioning, but when he saw something particularly wrong with one, which was not very often, he tended to ask about it. Marta had discovered that in some particularly inopportune situations, which almost made her change her mind.

"Just… don't, okay? I'm not ready for them to know about it." Marta said.

"You don't trust your companions? But this is a personal journey for you and Emil, correct? I doubt you would choose someone not trustworthy to accompany you." Hawk said.

"It's… just that… it's…" Marta said, seeming to be struggling to tell Hawk something without actually saying it. Luckily, the sergeant of the Vanguard's forces caught the message.

"Oh. You mean… of course. I promise I won't tell them." Hawk said, making continence again.

"Thanks Hawk."

Marta said goodnight to Hawk and left, however, on her way to the Inn, she felt something in the air, like a presence nearby. She had already sensed something similar before. It was then a voice echoed near her ear and a figure revealed itself, since there was nobody in the streets at night:

"You certainly seems to have too many secrets for an ordinary girl." Ventus spoke.

"Ventus? What were you doing eavesdropping me like this?" Marta said, trying to sound more angry than worried.

"Lord Ratatosk said for me to watch over you. I am also curious as to why you are so familiar to me, but it seems to me you have other secrets bound to you besides that." the Centurion spoke, perching himself in the air near Marta, his sharp, eagle eyes fixing on her, like he was trying to read her.

"Please. Don't tell him anything about what you heard right now. He already knows that I'm the daughter of the Vanguard's commander…"

"Yet, it seems there's something more that you're not telling your companions, including Lord Emil." Ventus interrupted her.

Marta could see Ventus was really precise in his analysis of things, no wonder Lumen had said he was the most intelligent of the Centurions. It would be hard for her to keep her secrets around the eagle-like Centurion. All Marta could do was to lower her head with an almost desperate expression on her face. Ventus noticed that and couldn't help, but feel a pang in his heart.

"But, I suppose I can keep it to myself. That is, as long as nothing of this poses a threat to Lord Emil." the Centurion of wind said. Marta shot her head up at hearing that, an almost unbelieving look on her eyes mixed with one of relief. "I hope I can trust whatever you are keeping to your own knowledge doesn't harm my lord directly."

"N-no, of course not." Marta rushed to say. She then added, head downcast. "Actually, it would be more probable it would harm me, rather than him."

Ventus raised his eyebrow, tilting his head to the side in confusion. Marta said it was nothing and said he didn't have to worry about it. The Centurion of wind sighed as Marta thanked him for keeping that conversation she had with Hawk between them.

"It's nothing. Though, it forces me to pose you a question: do you believe that your companions' opinions about you or their trust in you will change if you reveal whatever secret you are keeping to yourself?" with that, Ventus "drew" his wings to their full extension and flew, landing at the top of the Inn where his reincarnated lord was staying, leaving behind a Marta with a weight on her heart and several questions running through her mind…

- / - / - / -

A new day had dawned. Emil, Marta, Lloyd and the Centurions packed the supplies the mayor had given them and were ready to leave Asgard for their next destination. According to Emil, they should take the Hakonesia Pass and head for Palmacosta.

The group made a quick stop at Asuka's for breakfast and to give a farewell to their friends there. Tanny asked them to return when they could, as well as the rest of the workers of the night club/restaurant. Linar was also there, helping his sister with the kitchen, since they were receiving members of the Vanguard for breakfast and lunch because of the reconstruction, so Aster also got the chance to say bye to him.

However, Lloyd hadn't encountered Sheena after they left Asuka's. Instead, he had caught a glimpse of her "mother" there. Apparently, she was also helping the others with the intense movement. The red clad swordsman felt a sting at his heart by not being able to say bye to the woman who had caught his interest during those two days in Asgard.

While the group was chatting with their new Centurion (Lloyd decided to keep himself out of the talk, still wondering where Sheena was) and passing the entrance of Asgard, they heard a familiar voice calling them:

"Hey! Wait!"

The group stopped and turned. Lloyd suddenly felt like his heart was about to jump out of his mouth. Sheena was coming to them and, more surprisingly, she had a backpack slung over her right shoulder. She was also using a purple, low cut jacket, apparently the same one she used during her night work at Asuka's. The difference was that she was using a night-blue skirt with two open slits on it and black, tight pants with purple boots to match. Her arms were bare, except for two half-gloves she was wearing in each hand. Lloyd couldn't tell if she was wearing something below the jacket and the very thought of that made him blush.

"You didn't think of actually leaving without saying 'good bye' to me, did you?" Sheena asked, with a smile on her face.

"Well, we wanted to say 'good bye,' but we couldn't find you." Emil said, his tone sounding curious as he looked at the backpack.

"I guess it was because I was at home, gathering my things."

"Why?" Marta asked the voluptuous woman.

"Isn't that obvious? I'm going with you guys."

If Emil, Marta and the Centurions looked surprised, that was nothing compared to how Lloyd was. The young man was practically paralyzed on his spot, unable to speak or make any move at all. Sheena smirked at their reaction. Emil was the first to recover and asked:

"But… don't you have your work at Asuka's and all of your friends?"

"They'll be fine and mother already said she had to see personally how businesses were going, anyway. So, can I come along?"

"Well…Um…" Marta muttered, unable to form any phrase due to the shock of the revelation that Sheena now wanted to go with them on their journey. Emil and Lloyd had explained her they told Sheena about their journey in order to make she drop her suspicions about what they were doing in Asgard.

"I think that what Lady Marta is trying to ask is: won't you try and steal Emil from her?" Tenebrae spoke with a mild smile on his canine face at quoting the question.

"What?" Emil let out, looking to Marta, who just gave an embarrassed smile as she closed her eyes.

"For the last time: I'm not interested in him." Sheena said, looking to Marta, apparently ignoring the fact that it was Tenebrae who spoke.

"But it does seem there's someone you're particularly interested in our group." Ventus said in his soft, yet strong voice. He was perched on Emil's shoulder, though the blond boy didn't feel like the Centurion weighed too much.

"And what if there is? That doesn't mean I won't help you guys along the way."

"That might be, but…"

"Look, if you don't want me to come, just say it."

"N-no. That's not it." Marta hurried to say. "I mean, we would love to have you with us."

"Then it's settled." Sheena said, with her typical smirk on her face. "Now, where are we going to?"

"To Palmacosta." Emil said.

"Then off we go."

"Cool. I like your style already, Sheena. You know, maybe you could help Lady Marta with boss." Lumen said.

Everybody looked to the Centurion of light. One minute passed, they ignored him and started to walk like nothing had been said, though Marta was now considering the idea. Sheena had the air of a smart woman and considering how her stepmother was beautiful and probably had her lovers, maybe she could indeed catch some tips from Sheena. The petite brunette started to giggle at the idea, which made Emil look at her with a confused look.

At the back of the group, Lloyd was trailing very behind, still a little shocked and trying to process the reality that Sheena would be traveling with them now. It was then he felt someone put a hand on his shoulders. Lloyd felt like his entire body had gone stiff when he looked and saw it was Sheena, her smirk still in her face.

"What's the problem? You haven't uttered a single word since I said I was going to join you." the voluptuous woman asked.

"Yeah, Lloyd. What's up?" Lumen decided to ask too, also curious as to why the dual swordsman wasn't saying anything about the woman that he was interested in joining the group. He and Tenebrae were walking between Emil and Marta and Lloyd and Sheena.

"Well…Um…it's…well…I…uh…" Lloyd mumbled, incapable of forming decent sentences.

"Oh. So that's why." Lumen said with a look comprehension on his face.

"What did he say?" Sheena asked before realize to who she was directing the question to.

"He said: well…hum… it's…well…I…uh…"

Another minute of heavy silence passed at the back of the group. Sheena almost stopped at hearing another of Lumen's blunt statements. She then looked to the Centurion with a harsh expression on her face and a vein throbbing in her forehead, speaking in an angry tone:

"Do you want to feel some pain?"

Lumen seemed to have gotten scared by that, for he teleported from where he was to stay floating at Emil's front, peering at Sheena from behind the blonde's figure, that made Emil look even more confused than he was before. Tenebrae chuckled at the scene, probably enjoying the fact that somebody in that group was finally able to make Lumen stop speaking.

"Um…why did you joined us, really?" Lloyd asked, the awkward silence cause by Lumen's blunt statement seeming to dissolve the nervousness he was feeling seconds ago.

"Oh, you wanna know? Well, it's mostly because of you."

"M-m-me?" Lloyd stuttered, letting the exclamation sound louder than he intended to.

"Yeah. You might not realize it Lloyd, but you're the kind of guy who you can't find walking down the street every day, you know?" Sheena said, remembering the talk she and her mother had the other night:

"So, you know they're departing tomorrow, right?" Asuka asked her stepdaughter as she and Sheena were organizing the bedclothes.

"Yeah, so?" the guardian user asked.

" 'Yeah, so'? Are you simply going to let a jewel like that Lloyd Irving-Aurion walk away without even trying?" Asuka asked, speaking like Sheena had just said to her that the clouds were made of cotton candy.

"Mom… it's not like…" Sheena said, getting a little embarrassed by the talk.

"You like him, don't you? I can see it written all over your face." Asuka said with a grin.

"So what? It's not like he likes me back."

"Sheena… what had I taught you? Life is too short for us to stay dwelling in the past when a true chance for us to become happy in the present shows up."

"Yeah… but I…"

"Are you really going to be able to sleep knowing that you haven't even tried to win the most, if not only, decent man that has walked into your life. A chance like this happens just once. Take it now, or else you'll spend the rest of your life thinking why you haven't taken it when you had the chance to."

Sheena suddenly felt like she was sixteen again and her mother was lecturing her about the man that had almost taken her away from Asgard with his soft talk and gallant manners. She promised to herself she would always listen to her mother about that kind of thing from that day on. After all, her stepmother was very experienced in that field.

But she also had set up a barrier around her heart and was very afraid of letting it down just for her heart to be hurt again. Asuka knew that and it was because of it that she was having that talk with her adopted daughter in the first place. Sighing, Sheena finally decided:

"Alright… I'll try… but what about you and… ?"

"Don't worry with me and the others. We can keep things going without you and you can visit us anytime you want. This is your chance Sheena. Savor it."

"Don't worry mom, I will." Sheena said, now able to smile.

Sheena's mind came back to the present. She saw that Lloyd was scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. She had to admit he looked cute when he did that and, now that she noticed, he was also quite handsome. No wonder Asuka insisted on her taking this chance.

"Do you… really think that?" Lloyd asked, unable to look at Sheena. "Because…I'm not exactly the most intelligent or sharp guy around."

"I don't think so. You can be quite smart from what I've seen so far. I also hope we can get to know each other better. In more ways than one, that is. Heh heh heh." Sheena added with an almost seductive tone in the last phrase, making Lloyd blush six different tones.

"That… that was kinda upfront." the dual swordsman said, though he couldn't deny he liked that.

"Well, mother always said that life is far too short for us to spend time on little games." Sheena said waving her hand. "So, it's better you be upfront and show what are your true intentions rather than spend time on something that might not even work out in the end."

Lloyd had to admit he agreed on that point with Sheena. Life in this demon ruled world was too short. He suddenly could see why she just tried to seduce him before. But it also made him come up with another doubt about that line of thinking:

"Ok, but…what if I…don't take your offer in the end?" asking that almost made his heart shrink in pain, because in truth, he knew Sheena was a good woman inside. Showing what some of her intentions were made Sheena part of who she was today.

"Then I'll know I have at least tried." she said, with another smirk. "Though it would really be a pity. You're quite handsome." the violet haired woman said that in a softer tone and with a soft expression on her face, putting her hand on Lloyd's cheek and caressing it. The swordsman felt like a part of the heavens was touching his right cheek. "But that's life. Better live it than be sorry later." she said, recovering her usual tone.

Sheena then moved away and started to walk to the front of the group. When she removed her hand from Lloyd's cheek, the red clad young felt an incredible urge to ask her to don't go. He touched his cheek. What Sheena said about at least trying…wasn't it what his mother once taught him?

"It's better you try and fail, than not try at all and stay thinking you could have." that was what his mother had once said and Lloyd found it to be very true.

"She's not very modest, don't you think?" Tenebrae said, bringing Lloyd out of his thoughts. "It makes me think what kind of upbringing she had."

"Hey. Don't talk about her like that!" Lloyd said, getting defensive without even noticing while closing his fist and lifting it a little. "It doesn't matter if she said that, she's a good person inside and that's what counts. She was just showing a part of what she felt for me."

"Ah, so you do like her." Tenebrae said, an expression of fake comprehension on his canine face.

Lloyd stopped, his expression frozen in his face at realizing the trick the Centurion had applied on him. Sometimes, he wondered how he could fall so easily for things like that. Lloyd then muttered, narrowing his eyes to the Centurion of darkness:

"Sometimes, I really hate you, Tenebrae."

"Hahahahaha!" the black dog-like Centurion laughed.


Remember what I said about characters having new traits as an effect of them living in this demon-filled world? Well, Sheena's "upfront" behavior is one of them. Remember that she was raised by other person than the ninjas of Mizuho; a person that has ample experience in the affairs of relationship, life and, why not say, seduction. But don't worry. As you saw before, Sheena's still Sheena and she still gets flustered and shy when complemented (see the previous chapter in case you don't remember).

Before finishing this chapter, I have one more thing I would like to share with all of you: a skit! Yes people, you read it right!

Why I'm doing one, you ask? C'mon. Admit that you simply love them.

Anyways... here it comes!

The skit is between Lloyd, Marta, Emil/Ratatosk and Tenebrae. I happens after Lloyd and Sheena fought against Rodyle.

- - - - - Rodyle, the Mad Scientist - - - - -

Marta: So, Lloyd, you said you and Sheena had to fight against Rodyle.

Lloyd: Yeah, but we couldn't defeat him at all. It looked like he was just toying with us.

Emil: Well, you have to consider, the Grand Cardinals are the strongest of the Desians. They are like Great Demons; capable of not feeling any pain at all unless you mortally injure them.

Lloyd: But… how can I make a wound like that on him if I could barely hit him?

Marta: Hey, don't worry. Remember: we're on this journey to defeat the demons and the Desians. You'll probably get stronger along the way, s, don't let it bother you so much.

Ratatosk: I do hope he gets stronger. Can't be the one doing all the fighting here.

Lloyd *narrowing eyes*: You really do know how to cheer up people.

Ratatosk: What's that supposed to mean?

Marta *sweating*: Hey, let's calm down. Anyway, what was Rodyle like Lloyd. Emil and I heard about the Desian Grand Cardinals, but we never got to know how they really are.

Lloyd: Well, he is just like most of the Desians: thinks everybody are nothing compared to him, doesn't respect the lives of others in the least and doesn't show mercy. But he also behaved like he was the only guy with a brain, like his projects or whatever he talked about were the most important thing in the world and got really angry when Sheena and I broke a gadget he used to make those copies of himself. Short of… shorta like…

Tenebrae: A Mad Scientist?

Emil, Marta & Lloyd: Exactly!