Well, here's chapter 10. I'm not really fond of writing pre-chapter notes, but I just thought I had to cuz...I dunno...it's chapter 10 of my first fanfic. This has to be the best one so far, IMO. It was really fun to write, which is why I got it completed so fast. For those of you who read my profile, this is a bit like what Ragnarok will be like. I can't wait to write that one, but I will finish this story first. Enjoy, and thanks to everyone who reviewed! I appreciate it so much!

Cantabile left the makeshift floating port that had been installed to allow travel to and from Yulia City. When it was in the Qliphoth and the Outer Lands high above, there was no need for a dock, as there was nowhere to go. Because of the addition, the town had less people in the unsettling garb of the natives that made it impossible to distinguish gender and more "normal" people from other towns.

She headed down the walkway that led to the main building of the city. If she started now, she might make it by nightfall. Really, was it necessary for it to be so long? It's not even like they had to make a grand entrance for all the visitors they had. Sure, Baticul had a bridge kind of like this one, but it at least was practical; there was a yawning chasm directly below. Besides, hardly anyone went that way; the only thing back there was a path to the Zao Desert and one to Inista Marsh, neither of which were even the slightest bit enjoyable. She had never even been to Inista Marsh (or the Zao Desert, for that matter, but she counted Chesedonia), but she'd heard the most undesirable rumors of that place. It was near impossible to walk, the monsters there could poison you, and, if you had the chance to meet up with the Behemoth, it could eat you. Indeed, it was not the place for Fon Masters.

Yulia City itself wasn't the greatest place in the world, either, but it wasn't the worst. The holographic barriers that served as doors to keep miasma out of the buildings were kind of creepy, in Cantabile's opinion. She got a mild shock every time she passed through, but the others seemed to be used to it. Or maybe that's why they wear those freaky robes. She wondered what they were made of; they had to be rather warm, as the Outer Lands had blocked out all sunlight, and there was no telling how cold it got down there. These people may consider the robes to be some kind of traditional dress, and they wouldn't suddenly stop wearing them just because the Outer Lands just plopped down around them and put them on the equator, now would they? Or maybe the miasma and mud that once surrounded the city could generate heat or something...

She shook her head. Who cares? There's no point in worrying about it. Now she had a mission: find a book on Yulia's fonic hymns and learn the Second Hymn. If she could summon Lorelei, no one in the world could oppose her; she'd never be overshadowed again.

But she had to move quickly; if Jade and his band of kids caught up to her while she was here, she'd be trapped. Yulia City was a dangerous place to go when fleeing, as it was an island and they could easily secure the port area to prevent her escape.

She didn't feel like dealing with Teodoro for the time being, so she went straight for the jugular—she forced her way into his house. Cantabile had a way with locks. Nothing could hold her in or out for very long. She went to the library she knew was in the back. She'd been here a few times before, and the familiarity gave her a bit of an advantage.

Cantabile brushed the decades of dust from the spines of the books and read each one in turn, desperately searching for one on hymns. Most were in Ancient Ispanian, so it took a little longer than expected to read the titles. She quickly grew frustrated, as none seemed to be of any interest. She pulled a tattered piece of paper from between two books and glanced over it just in case. Ah, here we are: the symbols of the first two hymns. Tear must have been researching them and these were her notes. That would do for now. She memorized the symbol; being it only the Second, it was not too difficult. And the lyrics were here, too. Wonderful.

She recited them to herself a few times, then sang it between the First and Third hymns until it sounded right. She folded the yellowed paper and stuffed it into her pocket, next to her eye patch. She locked the door behind her, making sure it looked no different than she left it. Carefully, she inched her way back out, making sure it had all gone unnoticed. She relaxed, casually leaving the house behind her. She rounded the gentle curve that led back to the main building when--

"Fancy seeing you here," Jade's sentence seemed snide enough, but his voice was hard and serious. "We've been waiting for you."

Cantabile was trapped between a crime scene and a group of five kids and a colonel. There was nowhere to run. Her lucky streak had run out. They glared at her, knowing everything she had just done inside Tear's house. Damn that Necromancer!

"You want to fight me?" she tensed her body, whipping her coat out of the way and pulling out her one-edged sword.

"We didn't come to fight," Guy told her angrily. "We came to kill you and be done with it."

"Yes, we can't have you summoning Lorelei," Natalia added simply.

"It takes time to learn the hymns," Tear produced her own weapon, a burgundy rod topped with a sparkling blue gem and gold spikes. "You're too twisted to sing with the soul of Yulia."

"I never thought I'd have to fight the Fon Master," Anise muttered, instinctively pulling Tokunaga from her back. "You can't do this. I won't let you."

"Fine. If you insist on fighting me, I won't stop you," she tightened the grip on her blade, shifting into a fighting stance. "But I won't show you any mercy when you're bleeding to death at my feet."

"I don't expect mercy," Jade fixed his glasses, readying for the fight himself. "I've shown no mercy to my enemies so far, and I won't start now!"

"That's fine with me," her eyes flashed in the dim glow of the fonic glyphs carved into columns along the path. She loosed a burst of power that knocked the group back several feet, onto the walkway. "Let us begin,"

Jade and Tear held back to cast while Guy and Anise took the front lines. Natalia tried to get behind her, but Cantabile spun, sensing her approach. She slammed her hand to the ground; a shining circle of light appeared underneath her. Natalia froze, the fonic energy restricting her movement.

"Akashic Torment!"

Light exploded underneath them, instantly throwing Natalia against one of the pillars. She had no strength left to heal herself, but Tear came to the rescue.

"First Aid!"

"Heh," Cantabile dodged around Guy's sword and the bulky doll that came at her. "You still use weak artes like First Aid?"

Tear ignored her taunts. If she fell for it, it would only give Cantabile an edge.

"Blessed Drops!"

Again, she skipped around the assault, halting Guy's sword with her own.

"White Tiger Strike!"

She countered his attack efficiently.

"Phantom Blade!" Guy slid back under the pressure, panting.

"What kind of attack is that?! I've never seen a fighting style like that before!"

Anise came at her next. Tokunaga was a huge target, at least, and his girth didn't improve his speed.

"Cyclone Shot!"

Cantabile backstepped, and the doll shot above her, completely missing its target. Anise and Guy now had her surrounded. They lunged in to strike her simultaneously, but Cantabile executed a smooth double parry, drawing her replica Key of Lorelei into battle.

"Ground Dasher!"

She barely had time to break the parries, rolling out of range as fangs of stone tore up at her. She faced the party, still able and not even tired yet.

"How can we win if she just dodges our attacks?!" Anise called out to the colonel.

"Corner her and let me hit her with a fonic arte!"

"Right!" Guy closed in, his sword and sheath ready.

"Fool!" Cantabile blocked again. "I know the Albert style, you can't catch me off guard!"

"Then take this!" Anise bounded up on her gargantuan doll, its fists raised. "Shadow Tempest!"

"Beast!"

"Infernal Prison!"

"Tiger Tempest!" Cantabile swung around, causing Guy and Anise to lose their balance, then tossed her sword into the air, catching it after it inflicted several wounds to Guy's face. She landed gracefully, behind the two melee fighters and far from the rush of flames that Jade conjured.

"Damn!" the Necromancer left off his spell, as Cantabile was heading for him, her sword singing the dirge of battle.

"Sword Rain Omega!"

Jade couldn't prevent her from inflicting multiple trust wounds to his torso, and just when he thought she was done, her attack picked up, faster than before.

"Jade!" Tear cried out to him. She held her position, however, summoning Seventh Fonons.

Cantabile silently cursed herself for not taking out Tear first. Always go for the spine of the party, the healer, first. But she got Natalia out pretty early, and that was good.

But there was no time to regret her actions, as Guy was back, charging for her once again.

"Tempest!"

Oh, but isn't that a favorite trick?

"Shining Storm Rising!"

Guy was caught up in the steel torrent as he landed. Her weapon slashed through his skin and clothes several more times, but not severely enough to put him out of commission.

"O hellion whose roar chills the very soul, resound!"

Damn them! Five on one was not exactly the easiest way to fight!

"Bloody Howling!"

Cantabile managed to avoid the spell. She took this opportunity to take down Tear. Once the healer was gone, it would be much easier.

"Resurrection!"

"Thanks, Tear," Jade heaved himself up, still bleeding excessively.

"Damn you!--" Cantabile hissed, far out of range for most attacks. "Twin Demon Fang!" Tear didn't expect Cantabile to target her, so her second spell was cut short, and she was buffeted by the dual shockwaves.

"Storm Edge!" Cantabile jerked out of the way of the three arrows that came at her from behind. Natalia had healed herself enough to get back in on the action.

"Forgot about me?"

"Of course not, princess, you deserve special attention," Cantabile swiftly tossed one of her daggers at the archer, but it went almost unnoticed as she immediately defended Guy's latest barrage.

"Severing Wind!" he pulled off a mighty jump, spinning his blade around. "Blade reveal your fury! Dragon Tempest!" Cantabile paused, leaving herself open to be caught in the swirl of Third Fonons.

She was still standing after Guy completed his combo, but her sword was held in a parry. He fell for her trick, and as soon as he tried to break her guard, she unleashed her compound arte.

"Cold Blood Rush!" Guy winced as her blade sliced his flesh again and again, in insane swirling patterns he couldn't even begin to follow. He collapsed to the ground, dizzy from blood loss.

"Guy?!" Tear shouted, instantly halting her Eclair de Larmes. "What's wrong with him?!"

"It looks like poison," Jade flicked off an Energy Blast, but Cantabile didn't have any trouble sidestepping out of it. "I've never heard of a strike arte that can cause poison!"

"Natalia! Guy's been--" Tear cut her plea to the only one of their party capable of healing poison short when she noticed the princess had taken the dagger to her upper arm and was unconscious due to the rapid rate at which she was losing blood. "Natalia!" Tear made as if to run to her, but Cantabile stopped her, keeping her at bay with the tip of her keen sword.

"Now, now, Tear, we don't want a Seventh Fonist like you healing her--"

"Rock Mountain!"

"What the?!"

Cantabile ducked out of the way as four sizable boulders tumbled from thin air where she had just been standing.

"You!" She turned now to Anise, who was all ready scrambling to cast another fonic arte before the Fon Master could reach her. She was too late, as Cantabile was incredibly agile.

"New Moon Blade!"

Cantabile thrust her sword through Tokunaga, knocking Anise to the ground.

"Ram Strike!"

Anise was helpless as she tried to fend off the spinning blade with her staff. As Cantabile swung back for another powerful slash, something caught her eye.

"I who stand in full light of the heavens..."

Cantabile's eyes widened with fear at what Jade was about to do. She knew there would be no running from him now. She braced herself as much as she could.

"...command thee, who opens the gates of Hell..."

Jade focused solely on his target as he continued to charge his spell. There was no way she could survive this.

"Come forth, divine lightning! This ends now!"

Cantabile was caught in the eye of a hurricane. Cobalt clouds raced around her, and above, electricity sparked madly, too eager to follow the bridge of light to the glyph down below.

"INDIGNATION!"

She mumbled something that could not be heard above the roar of thunder. The last thing Cantabile saw was an enormous bolt of pure, writhing energy crash around her.

Jade fell to the ground, his health still critical.

"Did we kill her?"

"Jade! Don't move!" Tear turned her attention to the colonel, having healed Natalia a bit.

"Don't worry about me!" Jade commanded sharply. "Go see if we killed her."

As much as Tear wanted to pin him down and heal his wounds, she knew better. Reluctantly, she stepped over to where Cantabile's charred body lay. She tore off the long sleeve of Cantabile's jacket and checked for a pulse. She thought she felt the slightest flutter of a heartbeat, but after confirming it was only her own racing heart, she returned to Jade.

"She's dead."

"Good," Jade grunted, coughing up blood. "Are the others okay?"

Tear suffered the least injuries of anyone, so it was her grim duty to make sure the others were alive as well.

"Guy's alive," she reported to Jade, though she was not entirely sure he was listening. It was just comforting to say it out loud. "He's just been poisoned pretty badly, but it should be easy to cure once Natalia comes around." She walked farther back to Anise. "And Anise is fine,"

"Owww..." the God-General moaned, peeling back her clothes wherever it came in contact with an open cut.

"Tear!" Luke came running from where the Albiore was docked. "Is everyone okay? You need me to help?"

"Luke... yeah, get the Colonel to the city. Everyone got pretty banged up, but we're all alive."

"Right!" Luke found Jade collapsed on his side. He knelt down, forcing his hands under his body and lifted him slowly. "Is there an infirmary or anywhere I should bring him?"

"The infirmary isn't big enough for everyone, but they'll take in the most wounded for now. Head left past the meeting hall and you should see it soon."

"Got it," Luke carried the surprisingly light colonel inside as Tear went back to assisting the others.

"What happened?" Anise muttered, sounding drugged in her torpor.

"We've killed Cantabile," Tear did her level best not to excite her too much. "You got hurt, but not too badly, and you should rest a bit."

"Oh, okay. But how is everyone else?"

"They'll be fine, just go ask Noelle to get you a change of clothes. I'll be there shortly to dress your wounds."

Anise sat up, in much pain. She clutched her stomach, where the late Fon Master had left her a rather nasty slash.

"Can you walk?" Tear helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, I can make it," Anise limped off to the Albiore, mentally cursing the length of the path to the dock.

Tear set to work healing Guy while she waited for Luke to return. He seemed to be better off than Natalia. Though she had taken only a single dagger to the arm, Cantabile had an aim to rival the archer's herself, and it had lodged its barbed blade deep into her flesh. Tear could only hope it was not poisoned as well.

Guy groaned and stirred, finally coming to. He looked up at Tear for a minute before glancing down at her hand, which was resting on his chest as she healed him. His body went rigid, and he struggled to get away. Tear immediately removed her hand and stepped back. Guy relaxed and grinned up at her sheepishly.

"Sorry,"

"It's all right," she returned his smile. "How do you feel?"

"Ugh... like I want to throw up," he moaned again.

"That's the poison," Tear had to prevent herself from rushing to continue healing him. "I'll see if we can get some Panacea bottles. I'm sorry, but you'll have to hang on a little while longer."

"That's fine. What about Jade and Anise and Natalia?"

"Anise is in better condition than most of us, but Jade got hit pretty hard, then he had to go and use Indignation, so that didn't help his condition. Natalia is only unconscious, but she'll be fine."

"Oh, good," Guy let his head roll back so he was looking straight up.

"You think you can stand? There's no way I could carry you to the infirmary."

"No, no, I can walk," Guy insisted as he lifted his aching body from the gore-strewn battlefield.

"Okay, fine then, I'll go check on Natalia," Tear didn't offer to help him stand, as that would only make him break out in a cold sweat because of his phobia.

"Tear?"

"Oh, good, you're awake," Tear knelt by the princess. "I thought you were out."

"I can't move my arm,"

"What this one?" Tear pulled one of her knives out and cut away the sleeve so she could get a better look. She applied pressure to her wrist. "Can you feel my hand?"

"No..."

"The dagger may have damaged the nerve. Let's wait until we can have a doctor look at it before we do anything else,"

"That's fine, but..."

"They're all fine, don't worry."

"Thank you so much, Tear. You're always helping us so much."

"It's my job as a healer," Tear nodded to Natalia. "There's no need to thank me."

"Hey, Tear, I'm back. You need more help?"

"Oh, Luke," Tear stood up to speak to him. "If Guy needs help--"

"Tear, I said I can walk, I don't need any help," Guy leaned against a column near the rail of the path, barely ten feet from where he was a minute ago. "You help Natalia instead."

"Guy!" Luke caught him, as he looked like he was about to keel over in pain. "You're poisoned! How did you get poisoned?"

"She used some weird arte on me," Guy tried to shrug Luke off and stand by himself, but he promptly fell back on the rail, panting.

"Guy, come on, you don't know where the infirmary is anyway. I'll help you."

Tear focused on Natalia, knowing Luke would get Guy there safely, despite his protests.

"Don't try to move," she ordered. "And don't try to heal yourself. It'll only make it worse."

"I'm sorry, Tear," Natalia let the remaining fonons she was gathering slip away. "I have to do something or you'll wear yourself out."

"I'll be careful, Natalia."

"Shouldn't you check on Anise?"

"I don't want to leave you alone out here, even if Luke's coming back soon."

"Tear..."

"Don't talk," Tear whispered to the princess. "You don't have to do anything, we'll take care of you."

Natalia sighed as Tear went back to healing some of her more serious injuries. She wished she could help, too, but it would only exhaust her faster.

It wasn't long until Luke was back again.

"Hey, Tear. They're getting Guy an antidote as soon as they can. How's Natalia?"

"Better," Tear sat back, breathing heavily.

"Tear, stop it, you'll give yourself a headache," Luke said gently. He scooped up Natalia, who was even lighter than Jade, and started back down the path to the infirmary once again.

"I'll go see about Anise," she informed him.

"All right. I'll see you."

"Tear, I'm sorry..."

"Luke?"

"If I could've fought, too, maybe you guys wouldn't be so banged up..."

"Luke, it's not your fault. Besides, it was Jade who decided to keep you away from Cantabile. You can't say no to Jade."

"Yeah..."

"And plus I need you to help fix everyone up now more."

"Thanks, Tear."

She turned to head to the Albiore, blushing. Why did Luke always do that to her? He was nice to her, maybe too nice, and he always made her blush.

She was too busy thinking about Luke to notice the movement behind her. Cantabile counted her breaths for a few minutes, making sure she was alive.

She was alive? How was that possible?

Her whole body screamed with searing burns. She tried desperately to remember what had happened. Jade...Jade had done this to her. She was too tired to even think about what she would do to him for revenge, so she gave up on that.

Why was she alive?

Then she remembered. She had come to Yulia City to learn the Second Hymn. They caught her as she left Tear's house, and then they fought. And Jade used his most powerful spell to finish her off.

She had learned the Second Hymn, and she never thought she'd be so glad to know a defensive spell. Yulia had saved her.

"Fon Master?" a sickening voice hailed her cautiously.

"Dist," she coughed, her throat ragged.

"You're alive?" Dist acted more appalled than relieved.

"Just take me...somewhere," Cantabile tried to tell him. "Take me to Daath."

"Yes, Fon Master!" Dist pulled her body onto his chair, grumbling about how he'd have to replace the cushions because of all the blood that was getting everywhere. But he didn't dare just leave her there; she was Cantabile, and she would probably find some way to torture him after she died if he did. Dist wasn't taking any chances.