Two weeks until finals start, and I think the stress is driving me crazy. For example, last weekend I was minding my own business, playing Phantom Hourglass, when suddenly an idea popped into my head for a pairing that was just strange. Yeah, I know, I should have been studying, but that isn't the point. The point is, I couldn't update all weekend for fear of making the thought reality, and nobody would want that. The reason being that the pairing was . . . SorenxNasir. I apologize for any mental scarring I may have just caused, as well as the shortness of the chapters. With any luck they will be longer next semester. Thank you for reading and reviewing, and enjoy.

Ike had decided to do what Nasir said and go to Palmeni Temple. Soren wasn't very pleased with this decision. He didn't trust any advice given by Nasir, and he wanted to reach Melior as soon as possible. Even so, he'd gone with the group, and it was a good thing he did. From the moment they entered the temple, he knew something was wrong. The priest that showed them in was stuttering worse than he had been a few days before. When the mercenaries that had made the temple their hideout showed themselves, Soren wasted no time taking them down. Instead of trying to push his way through the priests, Soren volunteered to stay near the entrance to guard against any reinforcements that may come. He didn't have to wait long. He was almost disappointed when he saw the sages and Feral Ones enter; he'd been hoping for a challenge. He finished them off quickly, and went to join the rest of the group. He arrived just in time to see Rhys kill the leader with a well-aimed light spell.

With the battle was over, Soren took a moment to look around. He couldn't explain it, but something was putting both him and the elemental spirits around him on edge. He was almost certain the source of it was somewhere in the building, but he couldn't find it.

"Here." He hadn't noticed that Ike and one of the priests had been talking, nor had he noticed Ike walk up to him. He looked from the general to the object that was being offered to him. It was a staff, and from the looks of it, an ancient and powerful one.

"What is this?"

"That old guy gave it to me. I can't use it, and Rhys has too much to carry as it is. If you don't want it, you can give it to someone else when we get back." He took the staff, feeling slightly uncomfortable. It was obviously a staff for healing, and while he knew how to use such staves, he had never felt the need to study them in great detail. To him, magic was for killing and fighting, not healing.

Mist ran over to them soon after and led them to a room that was separated from the rest. It had no windows, but it appeared that someone had lived here in the past. Soren glanced at the walls and unintentionally took a step back, colliding with Elincia. This is what had been bothering him. The walls were covered in the language of the herons. He expected the spirits to be more agitated here than anywhere else, but they were nowhere to be found. It was as if the entire room had been Silenced.

"Are you all right?" Her voice was so gentle, he thought for sure the princess had been speaking to Reyson, but when he turned to face her and apologize, he saw she was addressing him. It took him a moment to find his voice.

"Oh . . . um, yes. I'm sorry." He turned back to the walls, taking in as much as he could.

"Can you read it?" This time it was Ike that spoke to him. He sounded curious, and a bit impressed.

"Most of it," he answered, keeping his eyes on the writing, "a few of the phrases are a bit too complicated for me to understand, and the writing has faded in a few places, but I should be able to figure it out . . . " He heard them exit the room, leaving just him and the laguz in the room. If he understood correctly, not only had someone lived here, but they had died here as well. He glanced around the room, trying to find anything that would help him identify the 'Lillia' and 'Elena' who were mentioned in several places. He found it, but he wished he hadn't.

"Ike . . . " The lord wasn't expecting Soren and Reyson to finish reading the writing for a while, so he was surprised to find Soren standing behind him.

"What is it? Are you finished already?"

"No, but I found this," he held the feather he had found out to Ike. His hand was shaking as he handed it over. He wasn't sure if Ike noticed, but as soon as Ike took the feather, he clutched the staff he had received earlier with both hands to hide the sign of weakness. "I think you should ask Reyson about it. I'm sorry, but I can't go back in that room."

Soren had left the temple, and now sat on the steps outside, thankful for the fresh air. As he waited for the others to finish whatever conversation they were having inside, the sage inspected the staff. Somehow, he doubted he could use it even with years of practice.

"I see the Ashera Staff has you vexed." Soren jumped at the voice, and turned to glare at the one who had spoken. It was the priest that had given the staff to Ike.

"Ashera Staff?"

"Yes. It is said that only those whom the goddess finds worthy may wield the staff. It has been in the possession of the Palmeni Temple for many, many years." The prince was silent. What could he say to that? The priest left after a few moments.

By the time Ike and the others emerged from the temple, Soren was convinced that for him, the staff would never be more than a fancy walking stick.

I know it's short, but I really need to study. If I don't, my report card won't have any marks on it, it will just say 'EPIC FAIL' in big bold letters. That being said, I probably won't update until finals are over.

You know, the more I think about it, the more I want to write a SorenxNasir fic. It might be fun. Maybe when this is done . . . No! I won't give in to the temptation! Not yet, anyway.