"Achlys!"

I shrieked, dropping my papers on the dock and jumped around to find Ludger, Gaius, Elle and Rowen coming towards me. I breathed out sharply and rubbed my head. Today wasn't a great day. Alvin is somewhat miserable and he won't tell me why. I was so stressed out because of the wedding. It was in a few months and I still had to make a natural, looking sign that said 'We are all family today. Sit wherever you would like!'. Alvin thought it would be a good idea for Rowen to be the Officiant and Rowen loved the idea. So, now we have to get a suit tailored for Gaius. Leia's bridesmaid dress wasn't tailored correctly, so tomorrow we have to find another tailor to do it. There was just so much to do in so little time.

"Hey guys," I finally spoke, bending down to pick up my papers. "What are you up to?"

"Just coming to check on you," Ludger replied. "Alvin said you were a little jumpy the past couple of days and he's worried about you."

"Heh, he's worried about me," I mumbled, neatly stacking the papers and standing up. "I'm not jumpy. I'm just preoccupied."

"Stressed over the wedding?" Rowen asked.

I nodded. "You have no idea."

Elle stepped up in front of the group, turned around to face them and put her hands on her hips. "I'm going to be their flower girl! Alvin told me a few days ago!"

"Oh?" Ludger cocked his head. "He didn't inform me about this."

"Well, that's another thing that I don't have to worry about," I sighed, tilting my head down. "I'm glad that he has things under control."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Gaius laughed. "He's been very preoccupied as well."

Ludger's GHS started to ring. Seeing who it was, he rolled his eyes but answered it. "DODA here. We have discovered a fractured dimension over Kanbalar. I'm sending you the coordinates. You know what to do," Vera hung up the phone.

"Duty calls," I gave a two finger salute.

"Do you want to join us?" Ludger asked.

"Yeah! Come with us!" Elle tugged gently on my coat.

I smiled at the girl and nodded. "Alright. I just need to put these paper in the meeting house."

"I'll do that!"

"Oh my darkness! Dean!" I jumped as the mercenary came running up to my side.

"Did I scare ya' boss?" Dean smirked, holding out his hands to take the papers.

I snarled, handing over the papers. "You four have been doing that a lot recently."

"Whoa! You mean Bri is having fun too?" Dean exclaimed.

I nodded. "Don't corrupt the young one. Please."

Dean waved his hand dismissively at me before taking off to the meeting house. I gently rubbed my temples with two fingers and sighed. When this wedding thing is over, my stress should disappear. Or even this whole thing with my brother and the Kresnik's. My stress would disappear for sure. Right? I could only hope. I turned back to the group and gave 'em a big smile.

"Ready?" Ludger asked, taking out his GHS.

"Yes, I am."

"Alright," Ludger pushed the enter button and we were rushed into the fractured dimension of Kanbalar.

"So, how do we find this thing?" Elle asked.

"The catalyst?" Rowen replied. "Well, let's ask around town."

"Good idea," Gaius nodded in agreement and set off in a person's direction.

Everyone went their separate ways. I stood in the same spot and just looked around the area. Everything seemed normal. I couldn't sense my brother here, but I did sense something else. A dark energy? Was I in this dimension? I wonder what I was doing here in Kanbalar. I took a step towards the middle of the square and noticed that everyone was eyeing me cautiously. Was there something wrong with my outfit? I looked down at my self and kicked a heel up. No. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I shrugged. It was probably nothing.

"Hey, did you find out anything?" Ludger asked as the gang all joined up with me in the square.

Gaius and Rowen shook their heads. "Nothing."

I glanced at the towns people again and gave a little nod. "The people of Kanbalar have been eyeing me since we got here."

Gaius hummed and glanced at the folks around us. "They seem worried."

"Better see why," I shrugged and went to talk to the first person I laid eyes on. As I walked up to the wide eyed man, his face grew pale and immediately got to his knees. My pace slowed and I eventually stopped just a foot or two from where the man was. "Why are you bowing, sir?"

"I-It's only common curtesy, M-My Lady."

"My Lady?" Strange. I tapped at my chin with a finger, pondering what I should ask. "Where are the others?"

"I-In the castle," The man pointed up the mountain with a shaky finger.

"Thank you," I bowed my head and turned to rejoin the group. "Let's head up to the castle."

"Alright," Ludger took the lead and got on a slidecar.

Even the man who operates the slidecars was looking at me with bulging eyes. People don't really fear me back in the prime dimension. I must be the catalyst then. Figures the second time going into another dimension with Ludger we would end up having to kill a fractured version of me. Thankfully, I know all my moves and my weaknesses. However, the fractured version of me will know my weaknesses as well, but I know a few new moves that I didn't know a year ago.

"I assume we can't just walk through the gates into the castle," Ludger gave a short laugh.

I stepped up in front of him and winked. "Well, if these people are afraid of me than I'd assume we can do just that," They all followed me up to the gate where the guards stood at attention on the wall. They both had little beads of sweat running down their face as I nodded to them both; everyone passing through with me.

"Well, we can do that," Ludger stifled a laugh so the guards couldn't hear.

"Well," I coughed and gave a rather seductive pose. "Even if I wasn't feared in this dimension, who would say no to me?"

Gaius choked on his own gulp of spit and started coughing frantically. Rowen gave him a couple of hard pats on the back to get him past this incident. When all was good, Gaius straightened himself out and shook out his hair. "Come. Let's head into the castle."

Ludger and I shrugged, and started into the castle. Immediately, I could hear familiar voices. Too familiar that it made my chest ache. I pushed the others up against a pillar and just listened for a bit. Hearing those voices again made me want to cry. They made me want to jump out and hug them all. I bet hearing those voices were hard on Gaius as well. I peaked my head around the pillar and eyed the group near the fountain.

"While His Highness is off trying to destroy every last spyrix in Elympios, we have to snuff out the last remaining Exodus agents and take them out," The fractured Achlys hopped on to the fountain edge and gently kicked her feet. "I don't care if they're of importance to this nation or not. They need to be killed immediately."

Presa sighed and rubbed her arm. "Is... is that why you didn't try to save Al from falling?"

Fractured Achlys rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Spyrix users are scum, Presa. They kill spirits like me. All of them need to be dead. Even the ones we had relations with."

"That includes people who protect the spyrix users?" Jiao spoke in almost a whisper.

Fractured Achlys nodded sternly. "Even they are not to be trusted."

Wingul didn't say anything. He just looked at the fractured Achlys with concern. There was no necklace around fractured Achlys' neck. No love that I could feel between the fractured version of myself and Wingul. There was no feeling of intimacy in the air either as Wingul backed away to go stand against the nearest pillar. The look in his eyes said it all; I care and I love. I could almost hear his voice, but my attention broke away from Wingul as Agria spoke now.

"Didn't you use to defend the spyrix users? It's a little odd that you changed your mind all of a sudden."

WHACK!

I watched in horror as the back of fractured Achlys' hand made contact with Agria's cheek. Agria stumbled back a bit, cradling her cheek with a hand. She looked lost and confused as to why fractured Achlys would do such a thing. When her hand lifted from the cheek, a prominent red spot could be seen displayed across it. I stepped out from behind the pillar with my sword at the ready and made my way to the top of the steps; my sword pointing at the fractured version of me.

"Don't you dare touch her again," I growled through gritted teeth.

"How the fuck-?" Fractured Achlys leapt off the fountain.

Every member of the chimeriad grouped around her and my friends grouped around me. Presa looked directly at me, her eyes glistening with tears. Shit. I was wearing Alvin's coat. Fuck me. I was also wearing the necklace that Wingul had given me. However, Wingul could barely look at me without blushing furiously. If I had stayed with them instead of staying with Alvin, would Wingul had loved me like I see how he does in this dimension?

I turned my attention back to fractured Achlys with a proud look painted on my face. "I am the real Achlys, Great Spirit of Darkness. The protector of Elympios. The old leader of Exodus. A lover of all humans both spyrix users and non-spyrix users alike. You will not hurt anyone anymore than you already have."

Fractured Achlys smirked and put her face into her hands, laughing maniacally. Ludger and the others took a step back, ready for anything that the fractured Achlys could throw at them. Jiao and Presa pulled Agria away from Achlys, growing very concerned for her. Achlys hair grew darker and her skin was painted a dark purple and blueish color.

"I'm the only real Achlys," Fractured Achlys growled and brought her head up from her hands; her eyes as black as night. "And every human deserves to die!"

"Get ready Ludger!" I shouted at the boy as I leaped down the steps and thrusted my swords at the catalyst.

Achlys hissed as I lunged at her, getting out of the way quickly using her vanishing arte. She reappeared to my side and slashed her sword at my face. I bent backwards, dodging out of the way and linked my orb with Gaius. He rushed to my side and we attacked together, slashing the same way at the same time in unison. We didn't allow her to even start chanting any artes, not even get in a stab or two. Gaius thrusted his sword up, cutting her deep from the left hip to the opposite shoulder. She growled at the man and twirled her sword around in the air. I put my hand up and dispelled the arte quickly.

"Shimmering toll!" Rowen screeched, thrusting his short sword out in front of him.

Fractured Achlys withered and was knocked to the floor by the light arte. It didn't look like she was going to get up either. Well, that was easier than I thought it would have been. I sheathed my sword slowly and turned to Ludger. "Do your thing."

Ludger shook his head. "They're staring at you."

I didn't want to get caught up in emotions. I didn't want to get caught up in feelings that I had a year ago. As if my body was protesting, I turned around and was greeted by a tight hug from Presa who was actually crying into my shoulder. Fuck no. I didn't need this. I didn't want this either, but I didn't dare push away.

"It really is you Achlys," Presa whispered, nuzzling her face into my shoulder. "I've missed you."

Again, my body protested and returned the hug. "I-I missed you as well."

"I missed ya' too! Ya' old hag!" Agria squealed and joined in on the hug. Well, never thought this day would come. "This one wouldn't let me call her names!"

Wingul now joined, a bit nervous at first. My eyes shifted to meet his. A smile tugged at the edges of my lips. "I've missed you as well, Wingul."

Wingul's embrace tightened and his lips touched my cheek gently. "It's been lonely without you."

We were all suddenly lifted into the air and Jiao's booming laugh filled the rooms, and hallways of the castle. "It's been very lonely without you, old spirit."

For once, in the past couple of weeks, I felt no stress. Only happiness. I nuzzled my face into the hug and gave a deep, relaxed sigh. This is what I wanted. But, as soon as I realized that fact, I felt no arms wrapped around me and felt the ground beneath my boots. I opened my eyes to find that we were back home. Back in the prime dimension. A tear escaped my eye and I quickly wiped it away. I had to realize that they were gone and never coming back. This was the prime dimension. This was reality.

"Achlys?" Gaius' deep voice snapped me from my thoughts.

"Are you alright?" Rowen asked.

I nodded. "Yes," Which was a huge lie. Probably the biggest lie that I've ever told. Was it convincing? Probably not, but either way, I had to face reality. I reached behind my neck and unclipped the hooks that held my necklace together, and took it down from my neck. I stared at the glimmering gemstones in the middle of the silver vines and grazed my thumb over it. I'm sorry Wingul. I just can't deal with the memories anymore. I turned around, walked straight up to Gaius and shoved the necklace into his hands.

"Oh?" Gaius gawked at the necklace that I had just given him. "Isn't this the necklace that Wingul gave to you?"

I nodded. "Yes. I don't want to wear it anymore."

"Achlys!" Exclaimed Rowen with a bit of frustration and disappointment in his voice.

"Wingul gave this to you to show that he cared and loved you, even though he couldn't say it," Gaius explained, handing the necklace out to me. "You should keep it in memory of him."

I shook my head and turned away from the group. "I don't want to remember them. I don't want to remember Presa. I don't want to remember Agria or Jiao. But I especially don't want to remember Wingul."

"But why?" Elle asked. I could sense a frown forming as she asked.

Staring out into the distance, I started walking towards the meeting house. I put two fingers to the side of my head and gave a lousy salute to the friends behind me. "I don't want to remember because it's too painful and filled with regret."