Mizuho
Midday
The morning had been fraught with argument and discourse but somehow an agreement had been reached between the remaining seven members of the Heros of Regeneration. While Zelos and Sheena had predicted that the numbers would be almost evenly split down the middle, there had been enough of an agreement that the battle of Lloyd's innocence versus his guilt was a matter to settle only after the man in question had been found. The worry for his health won out over the opinion on the crime, and once again the Heros of Regeneration had set out on a second journey. The first destination had been agreed upon at once, and the seven had taken their Rheairds to travel to the village of Mizuho to begin searching for information.
Sheena sighed tiredly as she rubbed at her arms and frowned at the closed doors that Igaguri had disappeared into when she had come to him asking for weaponry and armour. At first she had worried that she'd offended him, but she had caught a glimpse of a mischievous smile on his face when he left that made her both suspicious and eager to see what secret he was keeping. He had been gone for almost a full ten minutes before he'd returned carrying an ancient looking box in his arms and set it down between them.
He gently nudged it towards her, and his dark eyes twinkled playfully as he opened the box and allowed her to glimpse at the treasures that lay inside. A kimono lay folded up perfectly at the bottom and cushioned a set of battle cards that Sheena was quite unfamiliar with. The diamond-shaped weapons were safely settled upon the layers of the kimono and seemed to shine despite the obvious wear and tear on them.
Igaguri spoke gently as Sheena stared down at the weaponry and armour inside of the box as if she was entranced, "This kimono and the set of summoning cards have been in our clan for many generations. The Chief of Mizuho used the weapons and armour before you during the days when Mizuho had yet to be chased into secrecy and fought side-by-side with the Kingdom of Tethe'alla." His eyes laughed as he jokingly added on, "A legend insists that the woman who wore this kimono fought during the days of the Kharlan War itself, which makes these things relics if you think about it."
Sheena was too stunned to laugh at his good humour, and she reached out wordlessly to touch the thick fabrics of the ancient kimono. The texture was unlike anything she had ever seen in something so old, as it still glistened as if it was new and unlike the weapons it carried, it had no rips or coarseness. The feel was almost like silk, and Sheena exhaled appreciatively as her fingers ghosted over the seams of the armour. She had no doubt that countless magical spells and curses had been sewn into the gown to make it into a protective garment that no one had ever seen. "Wow..."
"These are the treasures of Mizuho, and have never been shown to anyone outside of the position of the Chief." Igaguri explained as he slowly lifted the battle cards from the box and set them down on the floor. He also removed the kimono from its resting place and set it down next to the weaponry it belonged with, and he met Sheena's eyes with a serious but gentle smile. "I believe that these garments and cards have been waiting for a ninja of your skill. As the former Chief of Mizuho, and as your Grandfather... I pass this treasure onto you and hope that they will serve you well in your campaign against your new enemies. You have proven yourself more than worthy of them as a master summoner and guardian user."
"G-Grandpa... I..." Sheena stammered nervously, and she recoiled away from the relics that sat there waiting for her to touch them. She was honoured to be faced with such a gift, but she had doubts that she could really take them and make use of them like the Chief before her had. She looked up nervously into the eyes of the man who had saved her life as an infant and trained her to be an expert ninja under his careful guidance. He nodded his head solemnly and she hesitantly reached out to take the kimono from the floor and stare down at it. She lowered her head and bowed before him, and spoke quietly, "I humbly accept this gift, Grandpa... I will make good use of them, I swear."
Igaguri chuckled and clambered to his feet before laying his hand fondly on top of her hair. He nodded towards the doorway and said cheerfully, "I'll be waiting for you to show me how it looks on you. I'm sure it'll be perfect for you. The change of weaponry and armour might be a bit much for you at first, but I'm sure you'll quickly adjust. After all, they have been waiting for you."
Sheena watched him leave, and she laughed softly as she turned her gaze back to the clothes laid in her lap. She slowly got to her feet and began to undress, ignoring the aching pain she still felt in her muscles. Despite Regal's treatment and Zelos' aid, she still couldn't rid herself of the burning sensation of her healed wounds. Raine had told her that the memory of the injuries would be with her for quite some time, even though her body had been healed of them. It was a reflex reaction of the mind when a healing art was used on a human body, and was one of the few unfortunate drawbacks to being healed.
The first layer of the kimono was thicker than she had expected, and upon closer inspection, Sheena was delightfully surprised to realize that a leather-like material had been used to shield her body from weaponry that would make it past most armours. The dark cloth clung to her every curve, and though it bit into her bandages she knew it would protect her body well. The fabric was simply a black leotard-like piece that stretched out along her limbs to her ankles and wrists. When she was sure that it fit her perfectly she reached for the second layer.
Sheena took a long moment to stare at the ivory and violet coloured silk that was to cover the undergarments. The gi looked almost identical to the old one she had worn before, and she pulled it on without hesitation. It draped her body comfortably and she rubbed her arms before pulling the sleeves taut and looping the bands around her fingers to hold them in place. She glanced down at the open front and smiled sheepishly before pulling it closed and tying the gentle lily-coloured belt tight around her waist.
She tucked away the strange new cards that were to be her weapons before glancing at the mirror that was propped up in the corner. She didn't remember it being there before and a sneaking suspicion told her that the former chief had placed it there on purpose. She sighed wearily before turning around entirely to take a look at herself.
The kimono fit her like a second skin and yet revealed very little about the wounds and scars underneath. As strange as it seemed to the ninja it clothed, the battle attire was almost exactly the same as what she had worn before. The colour scheme had changed and the neckline more modest, but otherwise... She had seemed to go back in time.
'I'm ready now.'
The words bolstered the shattered pieces of her resolve, and her lips thinned as she nodded to her own reflection. She turned her gaze from the mirror and walked out of the small and dark room to join the rest of her comrades. She didn't need to look long for them, as they were sitting in a semicircle around Tiga, Orochi and Igaguri in what was clearly a briefing. She sat down discreetly by the doors and listened intently as they continued to speak to the gathered heroes.
"... will be difficult, even for our network." Tiga was saying, and his dark eyes flickered from face to face before settling on Sheena. He nodded his head in silent greeting before clearing his throat and continuing on, "The enemy you face is new to us. While we've heard of uprisings in the more turbulent territories that are known for attacks on half-elves... they seemed unrelated to the movements of the Desians."
"It proves that the new front for the Desians know the meaning of secrecy." Zelos muttered with an annoyed roll of his eyes. He had a difficult time feeling sympathetic to the ninja of Mizuho considering all that happened, even if he knew his frustration was unwarranted. They had suffered already from the outbreak of violence in the attack on their chief, and he knew they'd stop at nothing to regain their honour.
"What about the names we gave you?" Genis questioned, and he cringed a little as his hand rested on the swathe of bandages that wrapped around his torso. He ignored the steadying hand of his sister on his arm and persisted to Tiga, "Auin and Tasogare? Did those names help at all?"
"I looked into those names myself and only found the smallest of details when I searched the imperial records." Igaguri answered, and a deep frown etched its way into his face. His eyes lingered on Presea for a moment before he elaborated, "As you know there was census records carried out in the towns of Tethe'alla and those records are stored away in the palace... it appears they both were residents of Ozette, almost nine-hundred years ago."
"Ozette?" Presea repeated in shock, and all eyes turned to her instinctively. She was unsure how to react to this news, and she only could shake her head as she muttered, "I never heard of their names before, and I certainly never saw them... But half-elves living there of all places...? I can't imagine they lived easy lives."
"Not necessarily." Raine interrupted with a shake of her own head. A thoughtful gleam entered her eyes and she rested a hand on her chin as she mused, "Nine hundred years ago...? Ozette was likely a very different place so many years ago. Was there any stories about what prompted such a hatred of half-elves particularly in Ozette?"
"No, none that come to mind. It... simply was always that way."
"That does give us something to hunt for. Learning the past can give quite an insight to the future." Tiga nodded his head sagely and looked to Orochi who likewise nodded. He left the room in a flash and left the second in command to say, "Scouts will be sent to delve into the history of Ozette in case the names Tasogare and Auin have a connection... In the meantime, we will likewise reactivate all of the old spies in the Desian cells to see if there can be additional information to gather. I cannot promise you what we will find... but you can rest assured that we will devote all of our resources to uncovering the secrets that the Desians are hiding."
"Thank you, Tiga." Raine nodded her head politely, and she then turned to Igaguri and nodded once to him as well. "And you also, Vice-Chief Igaguri. The aid of Mizuho will help us tremendously."
Igaguri accepted the praise with a smile and a nod of his own, then his eyes grew stormy in his old face. He clasped his hands together on his knees and he asked the heroes who sat before him pointedly, "Now... I assume that there's still more. You must be wondering of where your next destination will be, since we could not aid you as well as any of us would of liked, yes?"
Zelos smiled wryly at the old ninja's sharp intuition, and he looked around at the equally guilty faces of his comrades. It was true that they had hoped for more from their Mizuho friends, but sadly their outlet for information had failed. He spoke up for them now at their hesitation and said, "Do you have any idea where we should start out search then, Igaguri?"
"I cannot guess where your Lloyd would have ventured off to... but..." Igaguri put on an expression of wry amusement much similar to Zelos and he leaned back slightly before he began, "I am not sure how much stock you will put into what I am about to suggest... but I'm sure as Sylvaranti you know of the fortune-teller in Triet?"
"Yes." Colette replied with a firm nod as the others around her glanced curiously at each other. Only Raine and Genis knew of the aid they had received from the fortune-teller at the beginning of their journey of regeneration for long ago. She furrowed her eyebrows at Igaguri's implication and asked hesitantly, "Are you saying we should try our luck there...?"
"No, not at all. There is an elf that has recently been seen in Luin, and she has offered her services as something akin to it. Her readings, if you will call them that, have been surprisingly astute. It may be worthwhile to go there and see if she can aid you in any way." Igaguri chuckled at his own words and then added on somewhat wearily, "Of course she was only spotted there several weeks ago, and from what I was told, she intends to continue moving on. You may have missed her already, but... Any chance is indeed a chance, correct?"
Raine furrowed her eyebrows at this suggestion, and she exchanged a glance with Genis. His eyes were bright but somewhat sorrowful, and she knew that he had jumped to the same thought she had. Virginia had gone missing from Exire before their reunification of the world, and ever since she had failed to be seen again. Raine knew already that the odds of her mother surviving two years in her mental state was slim to none... but somewhere deep inside she was still clinging to hope. She took in a breath to accept the offer but was beaten to it by Regal on her left.
"It's worth a try. However what you said about the fortune-teller in Triet likewise makes me wonder. Visiting both locations may be a good place to begin." Regal answered with a thoughtful frown, and he looked at Sheena who had her jaw set in grim determination. However he raised a hand to his chin and added on, "Though... to separate now when we have only just come together may not be a good thing. We were attacked in pairs already."
"We're much more prepared for an attack than we were before, and no one said anything about just being in pairs." Zelos argued with a wicked gleam in his eyes. The lust for battle was obvious in every line of his body and his hand skipped almost tenderly on the hilt of his favoured blade. "One group goes to Triet and the other to Luin. We could meet up somewhere in between, like Sybak or something."
"I agree, only if we make sure to evenly split the group so that there are no troubles with fighting strength." Genis added on with a firm expression. He looked around at the others near him and their looks of determination fuelled his desire and he began at once, "Then–"
"I'll be going to Triet." Sheena cut him off with a sharp word, and at his surprise she softened a little and elaborated rather sheepishly, "S-Sorry... The places where we made the pacts with the Summon Spirits are also where we hid caches of the Exspheres we hadn't given to Yuan yet. I locked them away with the powers of the Summon Spirits opposite to whoever was residing at that seal. I'll need to check them all out eventually, just in case. And... W-Well, I know the fortune-teller there too."
"That is a sound reason." Raine agreed, and she took a quick glance around to measure the strengths and weaknesses of those beside her. She then suggested, "Then how does this sound? Sheena, Genis, Regal and Colette will travel to Triet, while myself, Presea and Zelos go to Luin. It seems an equal enough arrangement, considering that Genis is still healing from his wounds."
Colette hid the sudden wash of unease that went through her at the names listed, and she bit down on her lower lip. She wasn't pleased about splitting up the group when they had just come together, but she did understand the need to move and move quickly. Already two valuable helpers from their journey were dead, and their unofficial leader was missing and presumed guilty of murder. "That sounds alright, I guess... but we shouldn't be separated for too long. We have to get back together as soon as possible."
"Three days?" Zelos suggested with a mild shrug, but his face was anything but a casual smile. He ran his fingers along the hilt of his blade for the second time and idly explained, "When you take out travel time or maybe half a day, it doesn't seem like a bad amount of time. We get in, supply at the market, do our business, rest up, and then get the hell out."
"Three days sounds like more than enough time." Presea reasoned with a thoughtful tilt of her head, though she too looked uneasy at the thought of being separated from Genis. Part of her wondered at Raine's choosing even though she trusted the professor with her life. The pairs they had made since the end of the journey were divided now, and she couldn't help but muse that Raine had separated them intentionally.
"We should get moving immediately, then." Sheena ambled to her feet, but she still cringed at the aching pull in her back. She forced the pain into the deepest recesses of her mind before turning to the men who had taken care of her home while she had been travelling the new world. She folded her hands demurely before her and bowed to them, and her voice was low and full of respect as she uttered, "I thank you for watching over Mizuho in my absence. As the chief of Mizuho I will solve this mystery and protect the new world we've created."
"We have faith in you. In all of you." Tiga answered with a gentle smile, and he gestured to the seven before him that were likewise bowing before them in gratitude. He then pointed his hand to the doorway that would lead them towards an entirely new adventure and bid them farewell solemnly. "May the gods be with you, and safe journey to you all."
Fooji Mountains
Late Night
A cold wind whipped the ragged fabric of the dark cloak Lloyd wore into his face, but he ignored the sharp feeling of the material striking his cheeks numbly. The fire he had made almost half a day ago was burning serenely at his feet, and he held out his hands to it with a quiet sigh.
Ruins of the band of robbers that had camped here before him were still strewn around the tiny outcropping of rocks that made the swordsman shelter. Bones from their previous meals littered the tiny circle where he had made the campfire, and he wondered errantly what had become of them. Though the worlds had returned to its natural state and there was a relative, albeit shaky, peace between the Sylvaranti and Tethe'allans there were still many ragged groups of thieves and vagabonds.
Lloyd had already run afoul of one when he had been travelling the distance between the ruins of Balacruf and the Fooji mountain range. The group had been intent on robbing him and with no choice left to him; he had cut them down where they stood. No one could see his face and live if they could risk revealing him. Tasogare had enforced only a single law on him and warned him that it were the only one that he had to follow for her to hold up her end of their bargain.
Follow her orders, and the orders of her master. It turned his stomach in ways he would have never thought possible to be under the thumb of a creature as sadistic and cold as Tasogare, but his choices were incredibly limited. It hurt even worse to be at the beck and call of the twisted existence that Mithos Yggdrasil had become, but again he had no choice. Her warning of what would happen if he refused to uphold this rule still shook him to the core even when he was so far from her impassive tawny gaze.
"Those 'messages' we left weren't only for your friends, Irving. They were for you. The only reason why they live now is because you are here. Remain here, and they will continue to live. It was easy to injure them... imagine how easy it will be to kill them."
He wanted to fight her, to bring down Yggdrasil as he had before but the strength necessary to do so was beyond him. He had needed all seven of his comrades in order to bring the ancient hero of the Kharlan War to his knees, and he would need them again. Alone he was merely a thorn in the angel's side, and he wouldn't die needlessly fighting a losing battle. Nor would he risk the lives of his friends by arrogantly resisting the orders he was given. He had seen already how ruthless the angels he obeyed now were.
How he'd been reprimanded for disobeying the first order had proved that ruthlessness. Tasogare had commanded he steal the Exspheres hidden away in Palmacosta and so he'd slipped into the Academy to find them. To his horror, and her fury, he had been seen by the guards patrolling the halls. He'd had no choice but to dispatch them, and Tasogare had then commanded him to leave none alive. He'd resisted her order and what had happened afterwards had been something like a dream, one that he only woke up from when he had flown long and far from the scene of the murder. When he'd finally realized what had taken place he'd been tempted to turn around and kill the angel for what she had made him do... and only the true horror of her icy loyalty had made him continue forward..
The fire's crackle was like a whimper, and Lloyd robotically threw a log that rested near his knee into the fire. It almost instantly rose up an inch and began to hiss almost with pleasure at the new source of energy it found. Lloyd flexed his cold fingers and held them even closer to his only source of warmth, and he stared deep into the blazing embers.
His mind projected scattered memories that tore new holes in his already broken heart, but he couldn't look away. The fact that he would never again hear Sheena's voice or feel her touch made him stare deep at the images that replayed before him. He wouldn't ever ignore them, because his memories held the truth to him.
He was doing all that he was doing for her. He'd failed her already by allowing her to die, but he refused to allow her final actions to be in vain. He'd quietly follow the orders he received now, only to turn at the last moment when he had the chance to strike the death blow to those foolish enough to rob him of her. He wasn't sure when, or how it would happen, but he would keep his promise to the angel who'd taken Sheena from him.
"I'll avenge you, Sheena..." Lloyd muttered quietly, and he curled in on himself as he stared deep into the fire. His chest ached painfully, and he raised a hand to his throat where Corrine's bell hung against his skin. The cool metal was nestled against the hallow of his throat, and he turned it this way and that to hear its sad chime. It was as if the precious memento understood that his sorrow. "I promise... I won't let you have died in vain."
"Were you in love with her?"
The words Tasogare had spoken to him when she had taken Sheena still haunted and confused him. He wasn't sure how to answer the question she'd asked, even now. He could barely make sense of the myriad of emotion that swirled within him, and it clouded his mind and knotted up his instincts. All he knew was that since her death he had felt nothing, and knew only a bone-crushing agony that had made his exile from Iselia seem like nothing but a rip in his flesh.
"I want you back..." The words left him in a breathless sigh, and his head fell uselessly into his hands. Never before had he felt so powerless, or hopeless. His rebellious spirit had been thrown in chains under the weight of the threats that hung over the lives of the people he held so dear. "Dammit..."
The orders he had been given from Tasogare flickered absently in his mind, and he leaned back tiredly against the back of the cliff. His next destination was to be the Seal of Water, in the destroyed remains of the Thoda Island. It had been next to impossible to restore the old seal back to what it once was even with all of the resources available, and so it had been left in ruins.
Lloyd smiled ruefully as he remembered Raine's outrage at the news that little could be done to rebuild the seal. His professor had been absolutely livid and railed for hours. She eventually had ended up muttering something about wanting to show her respects, and then Sheena had hatched the plan to hide the Exspheres that were awaiting Yuan's retrieval in the abandoned seals. It was a sound plan, especially when the summoner suggested to seal away the crystals with the powers of the Summon Spirits. Only she, and him with the power of the Eternal Sword could break the seals to retrieve the stones.
A tired chuckle escaped him at the rueful irony of the situation. The seals would stand until another summoner formed pacts with the Spirits. Even then he could still break the seals with the power of the Eternal Sword. The Summon Spirits were free of their pacts but would continue to hold the barriers, at least until Lloyd destroyed them himself.
'Did they know that we'd sealed away the Exspheres with the power of the Summon Spirits...? It... It'd explain why they killed her... but Tasogare said so herself that she couldn't make pacts with the Summon Spirits because she lacked her elven magic.' Lloyd frowned as his thoughts spun in circles around his brain. 'Mithos... he'd still be able to make pacts, right...? If he had a new body maybe... but then he was their summoner a long time ago... I don't think it'd be possible for him to make a second pact...?'
Lloyd groaned in annoyance and slammed his hand into his forehead. It annoyed him to no end that he'd never asked more questions about summoning. Everything was hanging on a thin thread that could bring so much crashing down around his ears. There was simply nothing he could do with the Summon Spirits himself, and he had no idea if Mizuho boasted more ninja capable of summoning like Sheena had.
The mere thought sent a stab of pain through him, and he sighed tiredly. He didn't want to think about what was going to happen because of her death. About what was happening because of it. With the Summon Spirits free of their bonds he could only imagine what would happen if an enemy got a hold of such power. He shuddered in anxiety. Sheena's skills had served them well, and he hated to imagine what it would be like to be on the receiving end of such strength.
'This... This is insane... The future we all worked so hard for is out of our reach now.'
The fire began to splutter uselessly again, and Lloyd sighed tiredly as he reached down to fetch a second log. His hand touched nothing but air, and he chuckled wearily. His supply of firewood had dwindled, which meant his stay was overdone. He had to continue moving on.
Lloyd slowly got to his feet, and his limbs creaked wearily at his movements. His left hand ventured to the sword on his waist, and he drew it with a quiet click. Flamberge glowed slightly in the darkness of the night, and he slammed the blade into the depths of the fire.
At once the fiery sword let out a deathly hiss as it absorbed the dying flames, and Lloyd held it still until the last ember had grown cold and still. The blade pulsed gently before he lifted it from the flames and sheathed it again. He could still feel the hot energy from his sword radiating through its protective sheath, and he almost smiled. His hip would be warm for the next hour or so before the energy within the blade calmed down.
On impulse he reached over his waist to touch the icy hilt of the Vorpal Sword. Even sheathed after a few hours of no use it still sat cold on his hip. As the antithesis of Flamberge he was used to the difference between the two, and the energy the blades radiated failed to bother him now. In truth, he actually had come to enjoy it. After travelling for almost a full year after leaving Flamberge by his mother's grave he had grown to miss the soothing heat of Kratos' sword. It had only been when he'd faced one of the few remnants of the faithful Desian hordes that he'd returned to Iselia to once again wield the Material Blades in entirety. He admitted sheepishly that he simply felt whole with both swords strapped to his waist and at his disposal.
As he stood in the darkness he took one last look at the borrowed campsite he had used for the last day. He wondered if he would miss it when he left the area and headed east, but part of him doubted it. There would be many more campsites that he would make in the future, and none of them would ever truly draw him. There was no semblance of welcome to anywhere he stayed, and it was because he travelled alone.
He felt heartsick. It hadn't been the first time that he had found himself missing the comrades he had spent well over a year alongside, but at the time he hadn't been truly alone. He wanted to return back to his daily lessons that had punctuated his travels and the training that he shared with his more battle-minded comrades. The normalcy of the journeying was gone from him now, and he was left wishing for things he could not have.
Still he mused and wondered on how his comrades fared in the new world. He regretted not keeping in contact with them since he had begun journeying alongside Sheena. His last contact with any of his former companions had been with Presea almost seven or so months ago. She'd told him cheerfully that the reconstruction in Ozette had almost been completed, and soon they'd be taking their resources to Palmacosta to aid Lezareno's efforts in the city, which were likewise almost finished.
He'd been glad to hear that Regal's efforts were paying off in the reconstruction of the cities damaged by the rampage of the Giant Kharlan Tree. Many of the Sylvaranti had been shocked to find that many Tethe'allans had been willing to aid them. Lezareno had put forth almost all of their assets into rehabilitating the continents of Aselia, and the company already had completely restored the elven village of Heimdall while working on Ozette, Iselia, and Palmacosta. The husband and wife team that Regal and Raine had become were already legendary in the world of nobility.
Lloyd began to walk along the darkened path that he knew by heart. He had no idea how the two Chosen that had risked their lives to halt the mounting unrest between the Sylvaranti and Tethe'allans were doing. He worried for them the most out of the pairs that his comrades had split into, as their ventures were more dangerous and political than any his other friends had gotten into.
'I... I hope that they're all going to be alright...'
AN:
A much shorter chapter this time around... only six pages. XD Oh well. To be frank, I ran out of ideas! (Le gasp!) There's only so much material I can put in each chapter, because some ideas have to be separated! In any case, I'm happy that I managed to write another chapter in such a short amount of time... It makes me very happy.
I've been keeping my laptop close by every day, (since I left my damn MP3 charger in London and so I need a source of music) and that's helped me be able to write at any time. That surprisingly works well in writing out chapters. I think I'm going to do that more often...
Anyway, I've been working like mad... and replaying Tales of Symphonia. I have nothing else to play, to be frank, because along with my charger I left my DS there! So I began my ToS craze anew. I've beaten it for the fifth time last night, (The 24th of February, just to let you know) and so I started again. This time I'm determined to take the "hard path" and shake up my usual route of beating the game. Rest assured that I'm doing the "Sheena route" and no one else, because that is so how I roll. XD
While I'm boring you with my epic long author's note... I want to pose an idea. As you know, two years passed between the events of Tales of Symphonia and this fic, A New World. What happened in those two years are referenced occasionally in story, but it doesn't always seem real, or canon. Some events I've wanted to elaborate on, and so I came up with an idea. A series of oneshots about events that happened between ToS and ANW. Anyone interested?
I'll be remodelling my profile page and putting up a poll asking what my readers of ANW would like to see... along with posting several ideas that have been floating around my fevered brain. (When my internet is restored. April. APRIL!) I believe that I've hit a stride with ANW... and I want to keep going as long as I have it with me. Since my trips to London have been put on an indefinite hold... I'll have more time to write, but not research. Some updates are going to be delayed because of what I still need to search for, and some chapters are going to be re-edited because of my idiocy in updating too quick. It's gonna be a long process, (even longer considering when the HELL we're gonna get our internet back) but... I'm not giving up!
Review replies... are out of the question for now. XD Since I don't have the ability to look up what people said about my uploads... but I promise that you'll be seeing them in future updates when my net is back and safe. So, for now... Thank you for reading, reviewing, and sticking with me!
~ Sky
Fooji Mountains