Alice was asleep on the desk in the room where everyone in Naofumi's party stayed the night. As the morning rays of the sun shined through the window, Alice began to wake up, only to hear the sounds of a shell cracking. Opening her eyes, she noticed the eggs beginning to hatch. Standing up suddenly, she yelled in a whisper.

"Everyone! Wake up!"

As everyone got up, Raphtalia being the last one, they all watched as the eggs began to hatch. The first one to hatch was a cherry pink filolial, followed by a white pink filolial, then a golden yellow, then lastly a baby blue. The first filolial jumped straight into Alice's arm, the second jumped onto her shoulder, only to use it as a springboard to get onto Naofumi's head. The baby blue filolial just pecked at the desk, while the golden yellow filolial was…

"Gone." Raphtalia said as she looked around for the 3rd filolial. "Where did it go?"

Trying to contain their laughter, Naofumi, Éclair and Alice, were trying not to ruin the fun the filolial was having, by nesting in Raphtalia's hair.

"What's so funny?" Raphtalia asked as she turned around to face them.

"Oh, nothing." Naofumi said as he tried to suppress his laughter.

In that moment, the golden filolial popped out of Raphtalia's hair, causing everyone to burst out laughing. Looking up, Raphtalia saw the filolial looking down at her, just bobbling its head from side to side.

"Well, we better think of good names for them." Alice said with a chuckle after calming down.

"You're right. Perhaps we should all name one." Naofumi said. "Okay, Raphtalia, you take the one on your head. Alice, you take the one in your arms. I'll be taking the one on my head, and Éclair, you take the blue one."

"Right." Everyone answered simultaneously.

Back In Melromarc…

Placing a saddle on a horse, Motoyasu looked like he was preparing to leave, when someone came out from the shadows.

"What is it?" Motoyasu answered, looking defeated, and frankly not in a good mood.

"I just came here to say, that you will always have my assistance." As the Priestess says this, she pulled out a crystal ball that looked to be drained of mana. "So, if you ever need assistance, don't hesitate to contact me."

"How…how could I have been so foolish?" Motoyasu said as he looked in the castle's direction.

"It wasn't your fault. This world probably would have been better off not being saved." The Priestess said as she looked down, causing Motoyasu to look at her. "But, even so…please save our home."

Seeing someone like her bow towards him, caused Motoyasu to snap out of his depressive state.

"I know we look like a place that doesn't need any protection, but I can assure you that this world still has beauty to it. So please…please save my home." At this point, the Priestess was about to go into tears only to feel herself being pulled into an embrace far tighter than she had ever expected. "Spear Hero…Motoyasu?"

"I'll be sure to return to save your home, so…" Motoyasu stopped to look at the Priestess in her eyes. "…can you wait for a little?"

"I'll be waiting for your return, Cardinal Hero." She said with a smile.

A few minutes later…

Looking back at the large city of Melromarc from the mountain tops, Motoyasu remembered the last thing the Priestess told him before he left.

"There is something that Melromarc doesn't want to you heroes to know."

"What's that?" Motoyasu asked as he began to mount his horse.

"There are more than one Wave. The Waves you've been seeing, are only one of many." The Priestess answered causing Motoyasu to become very shocked.

"How…how will I ever find the other Waves?" Motoyasu asked as he was still shocked by the news.

"Look for more Dragon Hourglasses, they will lead you to the other Waves." As the Priestess says this, she hands over a book that had a spear, sword, bow and shield in a circle with each other. "This book shall help you. Not sure if you could read our language but keep it with you if you are ever lost."

Present time…

Closing his eyes, Motoyasu set off, not once looking back at the city of Melromarc. As the city began to grow smaller and smaller with the distance, Motoyasu looked at his feathered companion.

"Looks like it's just you and me, Chloe." Motoyasu said as the now named black-feathered filolial Chloe jumped onto Motoyasu's shoulder. "Let's do our best from now on, okay?"

Almost like she answered his question, Chloe squawked before Motoyasu snapped the reigns to get the horse to run.

The Next Day…

Raphtalia was running after a little figure that ran within the tall grass of Lute Village. As Raphtalia dove into the tall grass, the golden filolial, now a little bigger than the day before, jumped into the air far out of Raphtalia's reach.

"Hey, come on!" Raphtalia yelled as she got up. "Kou stay still. Oh, come on, please?!"

"Looks like Raphtalia has it hard." Éclair said with a giggle as she begins brushing her hand against the sleeping blue filolial's head. "Don't you think, Aqua?"

Aqua, about the same size as Kou, didn't answer just snuggled into Éclair's lap. As Éclair looked at both Alice and Naofumi, Alice was focused on the cherry pink filolial, while Naofumi was focused on his.

"I feel like Sakura is a little less mature than Aqua, don't you think Naofumi?" Alice asked.

"Yeah, whatever." Naofumi said before continuing. "I still can't believe you tricked me into naming her."

"Hehe. It was your fault for answering the question." Alice said with a smirk before realizing something. "Oh, by the way Naofumi..."

As Alice was about to talk, she heard what sounded to be a clocks hand ticking, but the event was interrupted by Raphtalia diving straight into Alice. All the while, Kou was jumping up and down on Raphtalia's back.

"Master Naofumi…help me." Raphtalia said all exhausted and frankly not looking to good either.

"Kou." Was all Naofumi had to say for Kou to listen and jump onto his shoulder. "It's not that hard."

"Probably not for you." Alice said as she lifted her head only to press against Raphtalia's breast.

"Ahh! Hey, don't get up!" Raphtalia shouted.

"Why not? He might actually be enjoying it. Isn't that right, Nao~fum~mi?" Alice said a smoothly and seductively, only to see Naofumi turn away in a matter of seconds. "See?"

"What are they doing?" Éclair said before she turned her attention to some villagers looking a bit worried. "What's going on?"

At the end of the day…

All the filolial had gotten too big to the point it almost became impossible for Naofumi to carry them alone.

"Wait, why am I the only one carrying them?!" Naofumi yelled as he turned to his party.

"Well, we were holding them, but…" Alice said as she felt herself become light-headed. "Whoa."

"Miss Alice, are you alright?" Éclair asked only to see her words were going in one ear and out the other.

"Alice?" Raphtalia said Alice's name only to get the same result.

Now, not being able to hear anyone else voice, Alice began to cover her ears. Then what seemed like an eternity, she heard a voice Alice would've rather forget.

"Your time is almost up. Whether you like it or not, I'll be coming out." The voice said, causing Alice to begin shaking. "So, you best enjoy the time you have…"

"Alice!" Naofumi yelled, causing Alice to snap out of whatever trance she was in.

"Naofumi." Alice said before collapsing.

Later that night…

As the cold spring air blew across the tall grass of Lute Village, Alice stood under the enormous number of stars that shone without a care. As she closed her eyes, Alice began to remember her time in Rock Valley.

3 Days Before the Waves…

"Huh?! You leaving again?" A young beastman demi-human yelled, causing a brighter red-haired Alice to cover her ears.

"Yeah, I am. And next time, don't go yelling it to the entire village." Alice replied.

"But why now of all times?" The demi asked.

Alice didn't answer, only remembered the blood she had on her hands as well as smelling the iron that rose from the dead body. As she remembered this, it caused her to instinctively cover her mouth.

"Big Sis Alice?" A brown-hair raccoon answered.

"It's nothing. Keel, take care of Raphtalia." Alice answered as she grabbed her bags and threw them over her shoulder. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

As Alice said this, she began to walk away without ever turning back to look at her village. Then stopping just before the village had left her vision, Alice looked back. Gritting her teeth, unbeknown to Alice her hair had begun to grow darker.

Present Time…

Opening her eyes once again, Alice spoke up.

"I thought I snuck out perfectly, but I see your eyes can't really be deceived, huh?" Alice said as she turned around and gave an embarrassed look.

"Well, I was betrayed. So, I developed a keen sense of sight." Naofumi responded as he walked up.

"Well, that is true." Alice said with a chuckle as Naofumi walked up beside her.

"So, are you okay?" Naofumi asked. "You gave everyone a bit of a scare."

"Haha, is that so?" Alice forced a smile, before continuing. "It's not every day you get to be free."

"What did you say?" Naofumi asked quickly.

"Hmm? I didn't say anything." Alice said.

"I nearly had it." The voice spoke in Alice's head, causing Alice to shiver. "I'm almost free. You can feel it, can't you, Alice?"

"Alice?" Naofumi asked as he noticed Alice holding her shoulders.

"Huh?" Alice said as she turned her attention towards Naofumi. "What is it?"

"You were going to tell me the truth." Naofumi said. "But it's alright if you don't want to."

"No, I will." Alice answered quickly. "I just need to clear my head."

After taking a few deep breaths, Alice continued.

"I guess I'll start from just a week before the 1st Wave."