Previously in chapter 8:

"A lot of boys trying to get you, don't you know? Even I have to say, in the 1st grade of Junior High School, Ignis had a little crush on you." Noctis laughed.

"What? Ignis?" Lightning surprised?

"Yeah, but just for a while. Until I told him someone liked you and about to be your boyfriend." Noctis said.

"Wait. What?" Lightning asked.

"I don't want Ignis to be your-" Noctis cut mid sentence.

"What is it Noct?" Lightning asked curiously.

"No no no.. It's nothing…" Noctis said. Geez, what if she knew I was jealous. Noctis mentally slap himself.

"Okay…" Lightning said skeptically.

"By the way Light, we'll submit the project right?" Noctis tries to change the subject. "What if right after that we go to the library? Search some information about the crystal thing." Noctis offered.

"Sure. What time?" Lightning answered.

"Before the training?" Noctis said.

"That would be perfect." Lightning smiled.

"Anyway, it's getting late. I have to go home Light. Thank you." Noctis said.

"Sunshine!" Fang tapped Lightning's shoulder.

"What?" Lightning asked nonchalantly.

"What do you feel?" Fang asked curiously.

"Err, feel about what?" Lightning asked.

"Geez, Light, 4 days again we're going to face the first selection for Death Cage Tournament Team!" Tifa said.

"Shhh! You are too loud!" Rinoa said.

"Ahem, anything bother you ladies?" Mr. Rufus asked.

"No, no Sir." Tifa answered panickly.

"Then pay attention. The class will be ended in 2 minutes." Mr. Rufus said sternly.

"But seriously Light, don't you feel excited about the selection?" Fang asked again, looks like she has no fear of the teacher.

"Well, sort of." Lightning answered nonchalantly. She started to pack her belongings and just when she finished, the bell rings.

"We still have about 30 minutes before the training right? What are you going to do?" Rinoa asked.

"I'm going to library. I have something to search. I'll go first. Bye!" Lightning waved her hand and quickly heads to the library.

"Library? At this time?" Tifa furrowed her eyebrows.

"That's pretty suspicious. She usually starts to train herself. Wanna follow her?" Rinoa smirked.

"Nah, pretty ladies, I think it's impolite to disturb someone activity~" Fang said.

"Oh come on Fang! I know you're curious too!" Rinoa said.

"Well, I've to say yeah, but, I think I know what she's doing. I bet she's with that lover boy~" Fang chuckled.

"Noctis?" Rinoa and Tifa asked in disbelief.

"Trust me. I never take back my words. We'll see later." Fang winked and with that the three girls left the class and getting ready for the training.

Meanwhile in the library

Lightning puts her bag and quickly scrolls the bookshelves, searching for a book about the crystal thing that she talked about with Noctis. Finally, she finds the shelf that contains all about the crystal, she's scanning the shelf and about to pick a book when suddenly something tapped her shoulder lightly.

"So you do come, Light." Noctis smiles warmly. He's holding a big old brown hardcover book.

"Of course I do. Do you think I have a bad memory?" Both Lightning and Noctis chuckles.

"Anyway, this is the book that we're looking for. An old book, but it's the good one." Noctis shows the book he's holding. On the cover Lightning could see the golden font of the title 'Fabula Nova Crystallis'. "My class finished earlier so I came here and searched the book." Noctis said, answering Lightning's thought before she even asks it.

"Oh, I see. We only need one book?" Lightning asked.

"Actually, two books. And the book I'm about to pick is…this one." Noctis smirks. He steps forward until he's only centimeters apart from Lightning. Lightning eyes' widened. Noctis is too close to her. She can see his flawless figure, his tall body –about 3 inches taller than her-, board chest, strong jaw line, perfect nose, and those mesmerizing eyes. She couldn't help but flushed. To make it worst, Noctis gives her a cool smile and he looks up and put his hand on Lightning's hand that's on a book on the shelf. He picks the book as well as Lightning's hand. Okay that's the boldest thing I've ever done. Noctis thought to himself.

"You pick a good one." Noctis smiled and let Lightning to hold the book. Lightning flushed even more. She quickly averted her gaze from Noctis to the book. Its dark blue hard cover entitled 'The Crystal History'. It's thick and pretty heavy.

"Let's go!" Noctis said and wait for Lightning to walk together to the reading room. There they sit together.

"So, where should we start?" Lightning asks.

"Well, I've read these books." Noctis said. Lightning raised her eyebrows, those are thick books you know. "I used to read about the crystal, I mean, on my first year I also need to know about how come I got this power, right?" Noctis answered Lightning's confusion.

"Here, if I'm not wrong it's probably in the middle of chapter one." Noctis started to open the dark blue book and turned the pages. Suddenly he stops at a page with a sketch of 3 big crystals.

"Light, look at this." Noctis points to the page and started to read it for them.

"The three main crystals that composed Fabula Nova Crystallis, created by Bhunivelze, The God to complete the world as the source of power, life and prosperity. Once, The God Himself trusted these crystals towards three greatest kingdoms that time, Tenebrae, Niflheim and Gran Pulse. However, human's greed made them exploit the crystals. Even they wanted to take control of the three crystals. War started to begin, lots of kingdoms fall, people died in vain. Even the three greatest kingdoms fight each other to claim the crystals." Noctis turns the page.

"But some people who were aware of the danger if people tried to claim the crystals fought back. They protected the crystal no matter who tried to claim it. Because they knew, the crystals kept Etro alive."

"Etro was created by Bhunivelze right? The goddess of death? To balance up the world?" Lightning asked.

"Indeed. But Bhunivelze restricted Etro's power. He was afraid Etro will take over his position. Therefore, he created the three crystals to suck Etro's power and transformed it to run the world. If people claim the crystal and exploit it, it meant Etro's power would be sucked. Therefore, she would die. However, Bhunivelze didn't want this. Because no matter what, Etro's presence is needed. Or chaos will fill up the world." Noctis explained.

"Luckily, some people were aware with this. Some of them were Etro's guardians. Others were people who tried to save the world." Noctis inhaled some air. "Then the war got even worse. Those who wanted to claim the crystal against their rival as well as the crystal protectors. The war went on until two and a half years. The number of the casualties was huge, but at last the crystal weren't taken. The protectors were able to do their job. Therefore, Bhunivelze took the crystals from the world and decided to control it himself, even though it took lots of Bhunivelze power. But he managed to changed the power of crystal to something else more useful, he transformed Etro's power into what so called life line that now is being used to create materials and technology. Wow that's a huge change." Noctis said. Both of them chuckled for a while.

"Then what happen?" Lightning asked.

Noctis turns the page again. "It said that those protectors got reward, they and their heirs, everybody in their bloodline will receive some special ability that's being given from the crystals itself, from Etro's power itself."

"Everybody in their bloodline? Oh, I see now!" Lightning said.

"What is it Light?" Noctis asked.

"Back in my childhood, my parents brought me to such a shrine. They said there was where my ancestors rest and they said we were part of history even though it has been a very long time, millenniums ago." Lightning said.

"Yeah, same here." Noctis said. "It's strange right? How the world a long time ago? Now it has changed became such an ordinary world." Noctis said.

"Indeed. Now how could I control the power?" Lightning asked.

"Maybe we can find it in the other book." Noctis took the other book.

"Wait! What time is it?" Lightning asked.

"It's… Oh damn we only have about 10 minutes left before the training! We should get ready!" They quickly take the books and leave the reading room.

"I'll see you later on the training." Noctis said. "Oh and by the way, let's stick with Mr. Cor Leonis, he knows about this crystal thing. Maybe he can help us." Noctis said.

"Sure. Errr, Noct." Lightning asked.

"Yeah?"

"Do you mind if sometime we meet again and, well, just discuss about the crystal thing?" Lightning asked. She feels her heart races waiting for Noctis' reaction.

Noctis caught off guard with Lightning's question. He couldn't help but blushed. He scratches the back of his head. "Well, of course I don't mind. What about tonight?" Noctis heart also races, waiting for Lightning's reaction. This time Lightning caught off guard. "Su, sure. I, I'm looking forward to it." Damn why did I stutter? Lightning mentally cursed herself.

"Okay then, I'll come to your place. 8 p.m?" Noctis asked.

"Sure." Lightning said.

Then they put the books back to the shelf before they walk out together from the library.

"Guess, we must split ways from here. I'll see you in the stadium!" Noctis waves to Lightning and gave a warm smile.

"See you later!" Lightning waves too and gives a smile. Then they headed to the changing room.

"See? I've told you she's with Noctis. Your bet please, ladies!" Fang said confidently.

"We never put a bet!" Rinoa exclaimed.

"Whatever! But later I'll surely interrogate Lightning." Fang smirked.

"Oh, I'm in! I'm in!" Vanille squeals.

"Nooo, I'm going to interrogate you too Van!" Fang pokes Vanille's nose bridge.

"Whaatt? Whyyyy?" Vanille cries.

"Oh no one missed Prompto's wink for you in front of the changing room!" Tifa points her finger on Vanille.

"Whaatt? No noo noo! Nothing happened!" Vanille tries to defend herself.

"Like we would believe in you!" The girls laughs and walks to the stadium.

And there goes the 9th chapter! I never know I will be able to write until this far!

Sooo, are you curious about the tournament? Well, then you should wait! It's still a long journey until that tournament! *evil laugh*

Anyway, thank you for reading and of course, please review~