He had arrived in Arkylia the previous night after a long flight from Iselia (the damned winds had slowed him down...among other things). Though the innkeeper had given him one of the better rooms, Kratos found sleep to be somewhat elusive, his mind ruminating on the puzzle pieces they had regarding Ratatosk, and the still empty spaces they had left to fill. The Summon Spirit was out for revenge, there was no question there. But his method...that part remained an enigma to Kratos. There was no doubt in the angel's mind that these orbs were from a time before the Great Kharlan War. What concerned him was if their meaning had been lost to the tests of time. What would that mean for their fight?

Morning came all too soon, and he readied himself for the coming journey to the Kijara Seafalls. After downing the blackest cup of coffee he could muster, the angel set out for the Chair's private airfield, where Raine would meet him. He had sent her a message when he arrived, expecting to receive a response in the morning due to the late (or early depending on how one looked at it) hour. To his surprise, the half elf texted him back in a minute, confirming the details of their trip. Of course, it made perfect sense she was awake. No doubt she was preparing for the upcoming election. He had the brief thought of asking her about it, but decided against it. Things were...there was a delicate balance between them. And that was how he intended to keep it.

"Good morning." Raine said as he arrived. She wore a brown turtle neck and black pants underneath her long, orange coat. With her hair bound up in a bun, he had full view of her alert eyes.

Grunting, he slung his pack over the backside of his vehicle and began securing it.

"I was mapping out the flight last night. I believe it would be best if we flew towards Luin, then directly towards the Seafalls."

"It would be faster if we went directly there." He answered, pulling on the straps around his pack.

"The winds would be against us."

"Then either path is the same amount of time."

"Not so. I've calculated we would gain an hour if we went towards Luin first."

He shrugged but said nothing to the contrary. The wind would get stronger once they headed east from Luin, but her mind was made up and he knew there was no dissuading it. Starting the trip with an argument would be bothersome. It was best to avoid it.

Once he finished, they hopped onto their rehairds and flew into the sky, hovering just above the capital city before shooting away. For the next four hours, they flew towards Luin, darting through the white clouds, skating on the wind currents. They kept conversation to a minimum, choosing to focus on the journey rather than engage in small talk. Momentarily, he wondered if he ought to make an effort. Bring up his situation with Lloyd and Dirk; but he didn't know how. Besides, if she wished to converse, she would initiate. So he remained silent.

After four more hours, the pair arrived at their destination. As the clouds parted before them, they found themselves flying towards the Kijara Seafalls. Waterfalls cascaded down the lush green mountain, crashing down from the flat cliffside into a lagoon at the bottom. The rivers of water fell hundreds of feet from the mountain top, the blue water intermingled with the white foam as it rushed down the cliffs and glittered in the afternoon sun.

The mountain sloped downward on its side, leading to a flat clifftop, with a full view of the Seafalls. Kratos pointed at it and Raine nodded. Simultaneously, they flew their vehicles towards the area and landed about ten feet from the edge.

"It's beautiful." Raine said, climbing off the aircraft and taking a few steps to watch nature at work. The breeze rushed by, picking her hair up and drawing it to the side of her face.

"Agreed." He joined her side, crossing his arms over his chest. The scene was magnificent; the force of the water overpowering anything and everything in its path. There were still some places in the world that awed him. This was one of them.

"I have to say, I didn't know this place existed."

"Neither did I."

"I'm surprised. I thought you'd seen all of the world by now." Raine tucked her hands into the pockets of her long orange jacket, still watching the waterfalls.

"No." He paused, then continued, "Though I have visited the island south of Thoda Geyser."

"Oh? That is pretty remote. Is there anything there?"

"It is untouched."

"I'd like to go there and see. I'm sure it would be interesting to see what the world would have been like had the elves left Aselia alone."

He did not respond, watching her out of the corner of his eye. There was the tiniest crinkle at the edge of her eye and the slightest upturn of her mouth. It seemed he was not the only one pleased with the destination of their trip. Minutes passed and the pair stood in unspeaking, absorbing the scene, listening to the water clatter against the rocks and splash into the pool below.

"Why did you go? To the island, that is." Raine asked as she faced him.

"After Anna died."

Though he kept his eyes straight ahead, the angel could feel her eyes on him. Only a few times had they discussed Anna, and it had solely been in the context of Lloyd, not about Kratos' relationship with the human woman, or how her death affected him. And while he did not speak to anyone about it (save for Lloyd on occasion), something inside him wished to avoid such conversation with Raine at all cost.

"Considering the location of the other orbs, we should find the orb in the cliffside." He said, pointing at the waterfalls.

"Are you saying we need to go through the waterfall?"

He swept his eyes towards hers and saw the shadow of fear. "You could stay."

In fact, he preferred she did.

"No. I'll go."

"Are you certain?"

Taking a deep breath, she clenched her hands into fists and nodded. "I want to see one of these orbs myself."

It seemed the desire to study antiquities was winning against the long held fear of water. Inwardly, he smiled. Some things never changed. He appreciated that eternal curiosity of hers.

"How are we getting down there?"

"Flying."

"What?!" Raine's eyes widened.

"How else?"

Pursing her lips, she did not respond. Perhaps she was reconsidering her decision.

Good.

"As I said, you can remain here."

"No. I will be fine."

Her body stood resolute, but there was a tremor in her voice. Why couldn't she just stay? The angel would have insisted, but he knew she would fight him . It had been difficult enough to get her to accept that he was coming on this trip. And then the brief debate on which path to take to get to the Seafalls hadn't helped. Another heated discussion would only escalate the existing existing tension, and that he did not desire.

"What do I need to do?"

Assuming an expression of indifference, Kratos answered: "Put your arms around my neck."

Exhaling, Raine slowly did as she was told. They locked eyes for a moment. Kratos watched, waiting. Then she averted her eyes, gazing at the falls once more. As her body closed the distance between his, his heart beat quickened at the touch, but he kept his body straight. His arms encircled her waist; he felt the smallest jump in her body at the contact.

"Ready?" He asked in a low voice.

The half elf glared up at him, her silver hair flying around her face. "Do. Not. Drop. Me."

"Rest assured, I will not. I have seen your wrath."

A smirk flashed across her face. Relief washed through him.

Pushing off the ground, the Seraphim opened his wings and guided them into the air. A gust of air pressed upward against his feathers, shooting them higher into the sky than necessary. He could feel Raine's fingers dig into his shoulders and he wrapped his arms tighter around her body. Though he wanted to see the falls from up high, he would not dally knowing how anxious she was between the flying and the water. As the angel dove towards the falls, he could feel her turn her face into his chest and her body stiffen. Slowing as he reached the fall, he whispered that they were about to pass through the waterfall. Against his chest, he felt the slightest movement of what he interpreted to be a nod. Bending forward slightly, he darted through the water, taking the brunt of it on his back, though some droplets fell onto her head and shoulders. She flinched.

Now behind the falls, he swept his gaze around. Somewhere, there must have been a ledge that they could stand on, assuming that there was a cave somewhere along the rock face. It was darker than he liked; the shadows of the rippling streams on the crags played tricks on his eyes. Raine's elven vision would be sharper. And more useful.

"I need your eyes."

"What?" She asked, her voice trembling.

Hesitating, he said, "I...need assistance seeing any switchbacks."

"You can't see them?"

"It's...dark."

Looking up at him, she grinned, "Is the famed Seraphim getting old?"

Apparently, despite the circumstances, she could still tease him.

Raising his eyebrows, he said, "Would you like to see the seafalls from higher up?"

"Don't you dare!"

He smirked.

Slowly, he flew along the wall, giving Raine time to examine the ragged and worn earthen walls. Minutes passed as they moved, the sounds of water falling behind them echoing in their ears. Kratos felt his arms begin to tire, but did not falter in his hold of her. Casting a glance over his shoulder through the waterfall, he saw the sun had begun falling faster through the sky, leaving orange streaks in its wake. They would soon lose daylight and need to camp for the evening. Ideally, they would find the orb before. Otherwise, they would need to find it in the morning before departing for the Grace Cathedral. Also, Raine had to be in Meltokio in two days, and a delay would cause problems.

"There." The half elf undid one of her arms from around his neck (he held her tighter to support her) and pointed into the cliffside. He flew closer to where she guided him. There it was, the same strange symbol carved into the scars of the wall. And underneath was a cave opening.

Kratos flew into the cave and landed on the soft dirt. Simultaneously, they removed their arms from each other, stepping backwards to have their own space once more.

Their eyes met.

A blush dusted over Raine's cheeks. Clearing her throat, she said, "Thank you for flying me down here."

He nodded, keeping his eyes on her. Dragging his eyes from hers, Kratos peered into the cave, searching for some sort of light in the black. There was none.

As if reading his mind, Raine tapped her staff. "Light." The top of the Scepter blazed to life, white luminescence filling the cavern. She led the way deeper into the cave and he followed, putting his hand on his sword's hilt.

Their footsteps echoed off the walls as they continued further inside. How far did it go? And what would they find? He kept his ears alert for any noise out of place; he did not want any surprises. After a few more minutes of walking, they could see the end of the cave, the light flickering over some object at the closure.

As they neared it, it became clear: it was a large chest. Raine bent down in front of it and examined it. It looked ordinary: a large steel box with a curved top, similar to the one Lloyd had described. A huge lock hung from the front, dark orange from rust and weathering. The half elf fiddled with the lock for a few minutes, then glanced at him. "Can you break it?" Kratos nodded. She stepped backward and he pulled out his sword. With one sweeping motion, he brought his blade down onto the lock and metal on metal clanged against one another. The lock fell to the side, broken.

Raine knelt and pushed the lid off the top of the chest. A green light filled the cavern.

Leaning over, the young woman put her hands into the chest. He watched, his stomach slowly crunching in on itself. She pulled out an object: a sphere. The orb glowed neon green in her hands, bathing her face in its light. Deliberately, she turned it around in her palms, her face enraptured, eyes roaming its figure and fingers touching every inch of its surface. As she rotated it, its color turned to a dark, murky green.

He didn't want her to hold it any longer.

Quickly, Kratos took it from Raine, its coldness sending a shiver up his spine, and dropped it into the bag at his side where the purple orb already was. He could feel the bag buzz as the two orbs touched each other. Pulling the drawstring, the green light disappeared from sight.

She blinked. "It's evil. Isn't it?"

"I think so."

"Do you know what it is?"

The angel shook his head. "No."

"I trust you aren't lying."

He narrowed his eyes; he did not like the tone of her voice. "Why would I lie?"

"You didn't share that you knew Ratatosk was inside Zelos." Raine creased her lips into a line, the light of her staff highlighting the glimmer of distrust in her stare. "I'm not blind, Kratos. You and Yuan seemed to already know about Ratatosk."

"We suspected."

"So, let me ask you again. Do you know what this is? All of it?" Raine put her free hand on her hip, scrutinizing him.

"No."

"Alright."

"I wouldn't lie to you."

His voice was low as the words passed his lips, quicker than he had time to keep them to himself. Her blue eyes widened slightly and her lips parted the tiniest bit. That surprised her.

And him.

"Do you think Mithos knew what they are? Knew they existed?" Raine turned away and walked towards the entrance of the cavern.

"Doubtful." The angel matched her stride, still considering the words he'd just said.

"So the question is, why does Ratatosk know? Does that mean they are from before the Kharlan War?"

"Possibly."

She had reached the same conclusions as he had. He wasn't surprised.

"The Summon Spirits must know. I assume that's what you plan to discuss with Origin?"

He nodded.

"Then I will accompany you and Yuan to visit him."

"That is not necessary."

"Why not? Are you hiding something?" The half elf stopped at the opening of the cave and turned her face towards his.

"No." He eyed her, irritated.

"Then...?"

There was a challenge in her voice, a challenge he did not want to accept. What he and Yuan would learn from Origin, he did not know. But he knew for certain that whatever it was, it would mean danger. The angel wanted to minimize the risk that it would have on Lloyd, Colette...and Raine.

"Sun has already set. We need to get back to the rheairds. If we leave now, we can make it to Balacruf town in two hours." Kratos said, directing his view to the landscape beyond the waterfall.

An expression of annoyance crossed her porcelain face, but she said: "Why don't we stay here for the night?"

"What?"

"Not here specifically, but down in the cove."

The angel scrutinized her; she was sincere. "You want to stay."

"It's beautiful here. Quiet." Raine crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't look at me that way. I'm serious."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"You're going to be next to the waterfall."

"Not next to. In the vicinity of."

"I am surprised."

"You don't know everything about me, Kratos Aurion."

The man raised an eyebrow, and the woman met his questioning gaze with one of provocation. He would have liked to dive further into that topic, but thought better of it.

"Are you certain?" He asked.

"Yes. Besides, it would be nice to spend an evening under the stars."

"Then let's go."

He flew them back up to the top of the cliffside — Raine did not hang on so tightly to him this time, though he kept a steady grip on her — and they boarded their rehairds. As the sun disappeared underneath the horizon, the pair touched down at the base of the waterfall some twenty feet away from the shore, the oranges and purples streaking the sky providing the last bit of natural light left from the day.

As Kratos began to unload his gear from the vehicle, he cast a glance over his shoulder at the woman, who was doing the same with his things.

"I remember you not being fond of water."

"Very diplomatic." She smiled at him and took her sleeping bag off the carriage.

Walking a few feet from the rehairds, the angel took a seat and began the process of starting a fire.

Placing her pack opposite of him, she said, "Any body of water that I could find myself drowning in, I tend to stay away."

Raine was not one to admit her weaknesses, he knew that well. Why was she so casual with it now?

It was disarming.

"Why would you tell me this?"

"You have already witnessed it yourself." Raine shrugged as she unrolled her sleeping bag.

True. He did recall her reaction to the washtubs as they made their way to Thoda Geyser a few years ago. It was unparalleled to anything he had ever seen before. But it was understandable, given the traumatic experience from her childhood.

"You said you wouldn't lie to me." Raine paused, "I believe we trust each other. Have I misread that?"

"You have not."

The fire flamed to life between them, its yellow and orange flames licking the night air. Silence settled over the two as they worked in conjunction to prepare for their evening stay. It had been many months since he'd spent a night in the wilderness. It pleased him that he had the chance to do it again; he hadn't realized how caged he'd felt by the constant work from one facility to the next; the stays in local inns and the business that came with his responsibilities. Something about nature was freeing to him.

Inevitably, memories of being on the run with Anna came to the forefront of his mind. Most of the nights had been spent sleeping in trees, or in the safety of caves, ultimately any underbrush that created full cover. He had spent many of those nights listening for Cruxis soldiers in pursuit, his heart pounding and body exhausted. But a single smile on that woman's face made everything worth it.

"Here."

He looked up from the flames to see Raine offering a sandwich. He took it with a nod.

Grabbing a sandwich of her own, she sat on top of her sleeping bag. "So, at the cliff."

Taking a bit of his sandwich, he waited for her clarification.

"You asked for my help looking for the cavern."

Once again, he did not speak.

"If I'm not mistaken, angelic vision should be sharper than any."

He set his eyes on her.

"You are aging."

"I am fine." He said harshly.

"It's alright to admit it. I won't tell anyone." She smiled mischievously and took a bite, the firelight giving her an orange glow. Not unattractive; it enhanced the structured lines of her cheekbones and the fullness of her lips.

"You're enjoying this."

"Maybe."

He glared.

"When did it start?" Her playful attitude disappeared.

Finishing his sandwich, he murmured, "The past year."

"Does that mean your Cruxis Crystal is weakening?"

Was that a touch of concern in her voice?

"No. As any body ages, so does mine. The aging process will be...longer, even though I will live for many more years to come."

"How old would you be now? If you were not using your Cruxis Crystal?"

"Isn't it impolite to ask about age?"

"Only if it's to a woman." The mirth had returned to her eyes once more, sparkling with delight.

He returned with a smirk. "Thirty."

"Ah."

"What?"

"Just curiosity."

"Why?"

"You do give off a certain air." Raine looked at him from beneath her lashes.

He cleared his throat as his heart beat quickened. "Which is?"

"Never mind."

"You owe me an explanation."

"I owe you nothing." The wry smile was small, but filled with amusement.

Opening his mouth, he readied a response, then stopped. The words, though joking, reverberated through him. He averted his gaze from the half elf, looking out into the darkness, his mind changing the meaning of the conversation. "No. You do not."

"Don't feel sorry for me. I'm fine."

"I don't."

"Then what?"

"It is my fault you are injured." Kratos turned his face back to hers, expressionless, the pain of his failing bursting within.

"You've already apologized for something you needn't." The woman said, her voice flat and eyes level.

"Had I fully caught you, you wouldn't be in pain."

"Had I not jumped off, I would've died anyway. I'd rather be alive and in pain, than not."

The image came to him as clear as day: A knife to her neck, a combination of fear and defiance in her eyes, words on her lips, then the slightest nod and she was gone.

"Is that why you left? Because you believed you are to blame?"

Though the intensity of her gaze disturbed him, he did not look away, as if his own stare answered the question.

"That's the most bullheaded thing I've heard." Raine huffed, crossing her arms.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me."

His gaze hardened. "I did not protect you, as it was my duty."

"Did you miss the fact that I put myself in that danger? It wasn't any fault of your own." Her eyes blazed.

Kratos said nothing, anger boiling in the pit of his stomach. Or was it shame? These days, they felt almost indistinguishable.

"Is that the only reason you left?" She questioned.

"Why else?"

"You tell me."

"Clearly, you have some thoughts of your own."

Raine said nothing, her stare severe, as if she were waiting for something. Was he supposed to respond? With what exactly?

"I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning." The woman tucked herself into her sleeping back and turned away from him.

As he pulled himself into his sleeping bag, he thought of Anna once more. If she were here what would she think? What would she say to him about any of it? Was there even something to say?

Would she hate him for it?

Growling, he pushed the thoughts and guilt away and shifted onto his back, contemplating the stars that twinkled in the sky. None of it mattered in comparison to the darkness that would overtake the world if they didn't stop it.

The devil was out there, and it was waiting for them.

"So...are you not going to say anything this whole trip?" Sheena asked as she dismounted her rehaird. Tightening her ponytail, the young woman looked at Seles, her eyes flashing with annoyance.

The half elf tossed a glance in the ninja's direction, shrugged, and walked towards the Abbey, her red hair flying in the wind behind her.

Clenching her hands into fists, Sheena stomped after the young woman, gritting her teeth as the cold wind grazed her skin. For the past day and a half, she had tried to be patient with Zelos' sister. It was obvious that Seles still held a grudge against Sheena for hanging onto the orb (but really...was that necessary?), and probably still believed Sheena didn't care enough about Zelos' life (and that was obviously not true at all and she would prove it to Seles). Which is why, Sheena believed, the young half elf was giving her the silent treatment.

Which was absolutely ridiculous.

Besides, they had more important things to worry about. Between Seles' rally and the infinite rain, their trip to the Abbey had been delayed by two days, which could only mean Ratatosk was getting stronger and Zelos weaker.

Sheena closed her eyes and summoned his smile to the front of her mind. What she wouldn't give to see him in the flesh right now.

After a twelve hour flight across Tethe'alla, a sleepless night in the small town of Terracotta, and now an early morning trip to make it to the Abbey by midday, the Ambassador was grumpy. Grumpy and hungry. And Seles' childish antics — because they definitely were — were only making it worse. After all, they had a mission, and this mission in some way (it had to), contributed to the ultimate goal of rescuing Zelos.

Ahead, the Abbey loomed, stretching upward, determined to meet the sky. An enormous, dark building, it sat on the cliffside next to the ocean, isolated from any type of civilization, as if warning visitors to stay away. As the two women neared the building, Sheena's eyes took in its immensity. The roof was lined with statues of scowling gargoyles, grey stone turned ash-colored from wind erosion, and the grounds immediately surrounding it were barren, a stark contrast to the greenery lining the hills only a few miles away.

As they reached the door, Sheena said, "What are we going to say?"

Seles rolled her eyes and shook her head. Sheena clenched her jaw and said nothing. If that was the game the half elf wanted to play, so bit. She would as well.

Taking out a keychain from her pocket, Seles slipped a large, ornate silver key into the keyhole of the bronze doorway and turned. Creaking, the doors opened automatically, inviting the pair inside the ancient monastery.

The half elf strode forward, Sheena on her heels. As they passed through the main corridor, a chorus of gasps reach Sheena's ears and she turned her head to the right. Nuns had stopped in place at the sight of Seles, many aghast, others awed. Why were they so astonished?

"Lady Seles! I never thought I'd see you again." A tall, elderly woman strode forward to meet the redhead halfway. Her light green bonnet framed her face perfectly, and her black habit fell loose to the floor.

"Neither did I but here I am, Mother Laura." Seles crossed her arms in front of her body, straightening her spine, and slightly turning up her nose.

"What can I do for you?" Laura asked. "Oh, Lady Sheena! I did not see you there. Welcome. May the Goddess shine down upon you."

Surprised, Sheena gave the older woman a smile. She seemed nice enough.

"Thank you."

As Seles continued her conversation with Mother Laura, the ninja swept her eyes around the floor of the sanctuary. It was plain, quiet, and devoid of life, save for a few nuns tending to a planter containing withering ferns in the corner. The young woman had only been to the Abbey once: with her friends when they visited Seles long ago. That had been a short trip. Now, she had the opportunity to really soak in the setting. And it was...bleak.

This was where Seles had been banished to for the majority of her life. And it was depressing. No wonder she did not come back to visit.

"I need access to the catacombs." Seles said, breaking through Sheena's observational thoughts. Stunned, she turned, swallowing. The catacombs? Visiting graves was not on her list of ideal things to do, much less do at all.

"But...why?" Mother Laura asked.

"That is not your concern."

Clearly, Seles thought the orb was in the catacombs. She hoped it was not.

Mentally, she scolded herself. It didn't matter how she felt. If it helped Zelos, that's all that mattered. Even if it meant possibly facing a few ghosts.

Sheena plastered on a smile and directed herself towards Laura. "If you don't mind, there's something we'd like to look for down there. We would be very appreciative if you gave us the key."

Seles gave her a sideglance, but said nothing. Inwardly, Sheena smirked. After all, being Ambassador did mean she had to be diplomatic sometimes.

Laura gave her a wary look but nodded. "Alright. This way, please."

The nun led the way through the sanctuary towards the back, where she opened a door that led to a long hallway. As they walked down the corridor, Sheena studied the shabbiness of the tapestries and the fraying carpets. Hard times had befallen the Abbey. Now that Colette and Seles were the heads of the Church, couldn't they give funds to Mother Laura to fix up the place?

Maybe Seles didn't want to. Sheena didn't blame her.

As they headed through another door, the trio came to a staircase that spiraled downward into darkness. The ninja felt her stomach drop out.

Grabbing a lantern hanging from the wall, Laura lit the inner wick and began descending the steps.

"You can stay here if you want." Seles said, a smirk on her face.

Sheena glared. "No way. I'm coming with you."

"Suit yourself."

The High Priestess followed the nun and finally Sheena did as well (after a half a minute of hesitation). She gripped the railing as they walked down the stairs, heart hammering in her chest.

Being so close to death...memories of her first encounter of Volt swarmed through her. Her vision clouded. Ear-splitting screams; heart-wrenching shrieks; agonized cries. So many bodies; faces twisted in agony and horror. They were forever seared into her memory.

It had been all her fault.

She didn't know if she could ever forgive herself.

"I will leave you here. Please let me know if there are any questions I can answer." Laura murmured as she finished lighting the first four torches of the tomb, leaving the rest in blackness. "Please be careful. There is much history down here." Then she turned and ascended the stairs, leaving the two young women alone.

"Let's get on with this." Sheena said. Taking one of the torches off the wall, she began to light the remaining torches in the crypt.

"You really don't like this, do you?"

"No."

"Like I said, you can wait upstairs. I can do this." Seles walked to the center of the chamber, sweeping her head left to right, taking in the scene.

"Thanks but I want to help." Sheena replied, putting the torch back in its holder. "Otherwise I wouldn't have come."

A small bloom of relief coursed through her as the darkness receded. With the lights on, it seemed less daunting. The air was still; there was a musty quality to it. She could tell that it was not often visited. The walls were an orange and brown. Coffins lined both walls, all the way to the end of the tomb. Each bronze box glinted in the firelight; the sign of Martel was engraved on their covers, infused with a golden paint as per the custom.

Seles crossed her arms over her chest. "I know you're just here to keep an eye on me. I'm not going to do anything, regarding Ratatosk. So you can go."

"Look. I know that you're mad at me. But I'm on your side."

"If you were, why didn't you say anything about rescuing him? They were talking about killing him!" The half elf demanded.

"Seles, it's not that simple. I was in shock." Sheena said, struggling to keep her voice level.

"That's an excuse. It's obvious that you don't really care about him."

"Excuse me? I would do anything to get Zelos back right now!"

"So would I. How does that change anything?" Seles spat. "I can't believe that my brother would give his heart to someone who CLEARLY does not value it." Seles spat.

"I do!"

"Prove it! Tell me exactly why I should believe you."

Silence.

Sheena's mind whirled, trying to come up with words. She had to say something. But what? Looking at Seles, the ninja could see the anger in the younger woman's face. The pain.

Her heart softened.

It was the same pain the ninja had felt upon learning what had happened to Zelos.

Swallowing, Sheena leaned against the wall and turned her gaze down to her feet. She thought about the last time she had seen the ex-Chosen. They had argued, and she had ignored his apology. He had promised to make it up to her when he got back.

But he never came back.

"I'm scared." The young woman whispered.

"Of what?"

"Of losing him."

"So am I. So what?"

Wrapping her arms around herself, Sheena hesitated, "I didn't know that this...what's between me and Zelos, was going to happen. Any of it."

"Yeah, he told me." Seles crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"You know what Lloyd and Colette have? I never thought I'd ever have that, especially after what happened with Volt." Biting her lip, she could feel the warmth of shame rush through her cheeks. "I didn't think anyone would want to be with a murderer."

Squeezing her eyes shut, the young woman remembered when she had recounted the original incident to Zelos. He'd wanted to know every single detail she remembered. Every single person who had cursed her. And he hadn't run away.

He had held her instead.

"He...made me feel safe." Sheena whispered.

Then she was no longer in the crypt, but in Yuan's kitchen months ago, when Zelos first shared how he felt about her. It would be forever cemented in her mind, that moment together in the kitchen in the middle of the night. She had been unable to sleep, thinking about him more than she wanted to. And of course, as fate would have it, he had appeared. There was a minor attempt at small talk, but they both knew what lay between them.

Her heart had pounded in her chest; blood roared in her ears. His presence had made it difficult to concentrate, knowing that they were alone together. And then there he was, staring her straight in the eye, refusing to look away. The resolution in his voice had taken her aback and had sent a tremble of anticipation up her spine. The words he'd said had been unimaginable, wonderful; until that moment, she hadn't realized she had been waiting to hear them. Needing to hear them. Zelos hadn't held anything back. He had been completely direct with her, though she heard the slight tremor in his voice, the only sign of vulnerability.

And, in that moment, she knew she wanted to protect him.

"He was honest with me. He trusted me and..." The young woman shook her head. "I'm not really sure what's going to happen to him. And that makes me afraid. Because I don't know what would happen if he..."

Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned away, brushing them into the air. It was embarrassing, breaking down like this, even if it was in front of Seles.

"Goddess, I'm pathetic."

"Stop it. You are not." Seles whispered. "I don't know what I'd do either if he is gone."

Throat closed, Sheena looked up to see the High Priestess' eyes were glossy, almost blurry in the firelight.

"He's my only family. He was the only one who accepted me when I was growing up. Even after everything that happened between our mothers." She took a breath. "When did you start to have feelings for him?"

"I'm not sure. I guess I always thought he was cute." Sheena smiled, then narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare tell him that."

"I won't. You'd never hear the end of it otherwise." Seles laughed. After a moment, a solemn expression came over her features. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been mean to you."

"It's okay." Sheena smiled.

They were silent for a moment, sharing a smile that they only knew the meaning of.

"Okay, enough with this touchy feely stuff. We need to find that orb." Seles whipped around.

"So what are we looking for?"

"We should find the symbol somewhere here, on the ground or in the wall are the most obvious options. Hopefully not on one of the graves."

Sheena wrinkled her nose. The High Priestess rolled her eyes.

"If it's in one of them, I'll take a look."

"Thank you."

The two women searched the room, looking for any sign of the strange symbol. Sheena crawled and swept a torch over the floor tiles while Seles went from wall to wall, eyes moving across the chipped brick, scouring for the marker. Minutes passed as the pair worked in silence.

Finally, Sheena rose from her feet.

"Did you find anything?" Seles asked.

"No."

"Shit."

"I guess that means it's probably in one of the graves." Sheena said warily.

"Ugh. This just got disgusting." Seles wandered over to the first one. "Let's push the top off, then I can move things around while you look."

Bracing herself, Sheena grabbed the underside of the lid and lifted as Seles grabbed the other side. It was heavy; her forearms trembled under the weight (she was thankful they both still had their exspheres). Carefully, the two lay it on the ground next to the coffin. Silently, they looked down at the contents of the grave. A skeleton greeted their curious looks, its dusty bones a mellow yellow. Gently, Seles leaned down and began to push the bones to one side of the grave.

Sheena watched the younger woman, her eyes following every move.

"Don't you feel..."

"Like I'm committing blasphemy? Absolutely. But I trust Martel knows why and will forgive me." Seles responded flatly as she continued to move the bones around. "I'll ask Collette later what she thinks I should do in penance."

A pang of remorse floated through Sheena. She understood the conflicting emotions Seles most likely was feeling at the moment. The people of Mizuho held their own belief of not disturbing the dead: should one enter a grave and disturb the deceased, they would be cursed to limbo, unable to reincarnate and reenter the world, as was per the natural order of things.

"Do you see anything?"

"No." Sheena replied as she swept her hands across the bottom, brushing away dirt and dust.

"On to the next one."

After replacing the lid, they moved to the second grave, repeating the exercise of opening it. Seles dove her hands into the space once more, carefully handling the bones as Sheena began to search.

"You and Colette are pretty close."

"Reorganizing the church wasn't easy. There were things we argued about, sometimes we couldn't agree, but overall, I think we've created an institution worthy of its people. The teachings are no longer being warped by—"

"I found it." Sheena interrupted.

"Alright. Um...there's not a lot of room, so I'll collect the bones in the corner."

"Are you sure?"

Clenching her jaw, Seles nodded. Disrupting the natural orientation of the skeleton, Seles collected the bones and slid them into a clump at the end of the coffin, making way for Sheena. There, in the center, was the glint of silver. Hands trembling, the ninja gripped the top of the box with her fingertips and pulled. Slowly, the lid slid off to reveal—

Nothing.

"What?"

Sheena stuck her hand in the box, feeling around its cold interior. Maybe it was farther down than she thought. But nothing greeted her hand. Just cold air.

It was empty. There was no orb.

"It's not here."

"It should be here. It has to be here." Seles said. "You don't think someone took it, do you?"

"That's exactly what I think." The ambassador replied as they replaced the lid of the grave.

Anger bloomed in her heart. They needed that orb. It was supposed to be here, as Ratatosk had said himself. That was one of the few keys to Zelos' freedom. Where on Aselia was it?

"Do you think Mother Laura knows?" Sheena asked.

"Possibly. I don't kn—"

Good enough. Sheena stormed out of the crypt and up the stairs.

"Mother Laura." The woman called out as she b-lined through the building towards the front sanctuary.

The older woman turned around, her expression grave. "Yes...?"

"Where is it?" Sheena demanded, her eyes blazing as she stopped directly in front of the old woman.

"What are you talking about?"

"In the catacombs. The orb."

Mother Laura frowned, shifting her face to the side to avoid Sheena's stare."Oh that..."

"Yes, that."

"That's why you didn't want us to go down there, did you?" Seles interjected, her arms crossed as she came to stand next to Sheena.

"Please, I can explain."

"Then explain."

"Five years ago, we were...running out of money. And I knew that thing was down there." Mother Laura's shoulders sagged and she wrung her hands.

"Do you know what it is?" Sheena asked, her anger abating the tiniest bit.

"No. All I know is that it is a legend of an artifact hidden in the catacombs."

"Who hid it?"

"According to the scrolls, a woman named Kimbell Draeys."

"Who is that?"

"Upon Martel's Tree, I don't know. The old scrolls didn't say either. They just commanded us to guard it through the centuries." Mother Laura exhaled and tucked her hands into the pockets of her black dress.

"And clearly you didn't."

"It was a hard time for us. The pope cut off our funding. If we had no money, I would've had to turn out all of the nuns. Including you Lady Seles."

"Doubtful. Not unless you wanted to go to prison." Seles sneered, putting her hands on her hips.

Mother Laura winced.

"So what happened to it?" Sheena said.

"We sold it. I mean I sold it. To a man named was Alex Beck."

"Do you know what he did with it?"

"No. I only met him because one of our nuns had a history of...underground gambling."

"So this Alex is some kind of broker." Seles smirked. "Well...looks like we need to find him. Thanks, mother. Next time, don't sell priceless artifacts. It is against Church policy, you know."

"It's pretty tacky too." Sheena added.

Ignoring the please of Mother Laura, the two women turned and strode out of the Abbey.

Sheena kept her gaze straight ahead, her thoughts circling on this mysterious Alex Beck. Who was he? And how would they find him? Chances were he didn't have the orb in his possession any longer (it had been five hears ago). But, if they could find him, maybe he would be able to direct them to whomever bought it.

"That was pretty cool." Seles said. "You know, sticking it to Mother Laura."

"I don't think I was sticking it to her..." Sheena blushed. "I just wanted answers."

"I'm betting you keep my brother on a tight leash."

"Maybe." Sheena gave her a smug look.

"I think we're going to get a long just fine." Seles winked.

The last few days had been rather difficult for the High Priestess. As she exited the Palmacosta cathedral and headed across the main square, the blonde sighed. Between her annual tour of Sylvarant visiting parishes and their congregations, and now the swarm of questions regarding Seles' Half Elven Rights movement in Tethe'alla, Colette was a little...overwhelmed. Not that she would ever admit it. She didn't want anyone to worry about her, especially Lloyd. And the young woman knew she could take care of herself, no matter the obstacle.

Though, it would be nice to have Lloyd here.

Shielding her eyes from the bright sun that rained down on the coastal city, she wished Seles had told her before the rally had happened. Not because of the politics of the half elven rights movement. She would support her spiritual sister in any way possible, that would never be a question. But why had the half elf kept it from the ex-Chosen? They told each other almost everything. Seles was one of the few who Colette confided in when she and Lloyd became estranged shortly after the Journey of Regeneration. And Seles was the only other apart from Lloyd that knew Colette woke from nightmares of Miguel curving his blade across her cheek. The young woman was in the habit of telling Seles' her secrets, so why did Seles not feel the same?

It was confusing. And hurtful.

When the young woman reached the middle of the square, she stopped, watching the bustle around her, men, women, and children to get to their destinations. Only two months ago the city had been the sight of a terrible, tragic attack. Images of the injured flashed across her mind; she recalled the many burned and disfigured by the bomb. Tears dotted her eyes; even now with the city healed, she could not help the overwhelming emotion take over, the emotional memories from that day. She had discovered a latent angel power: she had the ability to sing to bring healing. It hadn't been much at that time, just enough to still pain in those who were injured. Since then, she'd practiced a few times in secret, and each time her voice was stronger, the song longer, the greater the healing to those she concentrated upon.

Regardless, she was simply thankful that the city had returned to peace, and everyone was safe.

Which was exactly why they had to defeat Ratatosk. The wind whistled past her ear and she shivered. It would be horrible if people got hurt. Tucking her hands in her pockets, she resumed her course, heading towards the Palmacosta Academy.

It wasn't exactly what the Professor had said, but maybe if Genis weren't busy, he could come with her to where the orb was. Besides, she wasn't entirely sure where it was and it would be so helpful to have him along. Not to mention fun. Since the Erinyes were caught, Colette hadn't had much time to hang out with the half elf, with her duties and him going back to school. And all of her free time was devoted to Lloyd. Honestly, she felt guilty that she was neglecting her friend. And this would be the perfect way for them to spend some time together.

Hopefully the Professor wouldn't be too mad.

Entering the Academy, the blonde walked through the East Wing towards the dormitories. As she passed through the corridor, students stopped and stared. Smiling, she greeted them with a friendly 'hello'. Still after two years she was not used to all of the obvious attention (and the gawking), and Seles had helped her feel a little more comfortable during these times. Besides, it was nice meeting new people. It was one of the things she enjoyed most about her position, being able to connect with people all the time and hear their stories.

Walking up to the reception desk, Colette clasped her hands in front of her. "Hi, there."

A green-haired young man sat at the desk, eyes cast downward at a very large textbook. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Genis Sage?"

"You're not gonna find him." He said, still not looking up.

"Um, is he in class? I don't mind waiting."

"No, I haven't seen him. Think he said he was going on some sort of trip."

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Do you know where he went?"

"No."

"How long ago did he leave?" The young woman fidgeted with her hands.

"Like a couple days ago? I dunno."

"And no one's tried to look for him? Has this been reported to anyone?"

"Why? He's smart. He can take care of himself."

Colette narrowed her eyes. She could hear the scorn in the youth's voice. She knew why he was so indifferent: because Genis was a half elf.

"What's your name?"

"Who's asking?"

"The High Priestess of Sylvarant." She didn't like to use her position, but now it was necessary. Her friend was in danger.

Gerald's head shot up and his bulged. "Oh-h-h goddess, I'm so sor—"

"I want you to go straight to the Dean of Students and tell him Genis is gone right now. I will also speak with him about your conduct." She said, imitating Seles and using her most authoritative voice.

He swallowed. "Yes ma'am."

"And I suggest you revisit the teachings of Martel. They include love and acceptance for all."

Color flushed through the youth's cheeks. Nodding, Gerald rose and hurried away, glancing back over his shoulder as he went.

Ice traveled through her veins. Genis had gone after the orb by himself. It had been a few days already and he hadn't come back. And he hadn't contacted anyone, which could only mean something was wrong.

Heart pounding, the Priestess pulled out her holocom. The Professor needed to know. Quickly, her fingers touched the small screen and pulled up a conversation with her mentor. As she began to type out a message, her fingers stopped, hovering above the keyboard. Raine would only get worried about Genis and come back from her trip, of getting the two orbs. And they needed the orbs to stop Ratatosk and save everyone. But not telling Raine about Genis felt wrong.

The angel stared at the screen, stuck. What should she do?

Lloyd. She could call him to come help her. Surely that would be a good compromise. If Lloyd were with her, they would definitely find Genis.

Her heart deflated. No, she couldn't contact Lloyd. She couldn't drag him away from Dirk, not when the dwarf truly needed him now. That would be selfish of the young woman.

No, she'd go after Genis on her own. And if it was bad, she'd tell Lloyd. Then Raine.

A/N: The plot thickens...I'm probably going to start shortening chapters to two episodes instead of three so they aren't hella long, and I can update probably more often. Anyways, leave some love please (^_^)