*with a bandage on her forehead* All that waiting for me to recover aside, here's chapta ten!
Disclaimer: If you think I own what Namco/Bandai owns, you've got another thing coming. And besides, the owners will sue my ass if I said they're mine!
Rita wasn't wrong when she had said that Yuri's pathological need to make her life difficult is annoying is the truth. Seriously, if she had known what sort of mess she'd get herself in by leaving Aster and Richter to go after him and these…other people, then she should've stayed with them instead of running what felt like ten miles at breakneck speed to reach a couple of half-elves that she managed to hear got arrested and are sent to the capitol to be executed. But, unfortunately, it's too late to change her mind – yet she figured Estelle would never forgive her if she just let two people get executed for what they didn't do. …According to what Yuri had managed to explain on the way to the bridge.
Of course, after a brief introduction for both ends by Yuri, they all high-tailed it towards the bridge to catch up to the two half-elves and the knights that were herding them off; she threatened to Fireball that guy in pink's ass if he ever touched her. She even conjured a fireball to prove her point. He left her alone afterwards.
Although they were now running on the bridge, Rita didn't have the time to admire the strange lights that were on the side of the bridge. With every step the girl had taken, she was cursing in her mind about how tired she was getting – it's nearly like the time when they had to return to Zaphias…without Ba'ul as their ride, and having been blasted away by Estelle's power when they had awakened. Both parts sucked; a lot.
After running for what felt like another agonizing ten minutes, and when Rita felt that her lungs were going to explode, she saw something in the distance. Torches?
"That must be them!" the guy in red puffed out.
Suddenly, they winked out. Then the sound of moving machine parts drowned out their breathing and a part of the bridge had started to rise. And Rita heard Yuri spat out a curse.
"They're trying to cut us off!" He panted, trying to yell over the sound of the moving bridge.
"Any bright ideas? !" The female mage shouted.
Before Yuri could say anything, the guy in red shouted, "We've gotta jump it!"
"WHAT?!" Rita was sure she wasn't the only who shouted that as they all screeched to a halt.
Then she smacked him on the head. "Ow-!"
"Are you nuts? !" She shouted at him, "If we fall from there, we'll die! There's no way in hell we'll be able to jump that!"
"But if we abandon them, they'll die, too!" He insisted, tenderly rubbing his head as they – except for the blonde girl and pink haired girl (both of them with the creepy looks in their eyes) because they didn't look winded – panting heavily to get some air into their lungs.
"Damn…if only we had our own bridge or something…" Yuri muttered as he glared at the rising bridge.
"Wait…bridge… Yuri, you're a genius!" The woman in purple exclaimed, and they all looked over at her. "I'll call upon Undine so that she'll make a shortcut to get us over there."
"Who the hell is Undine?" Rita had questioned as she got into a stance of sorts.
A glyph – one just as different as her own (and Estelle and Old Man's) and Richter's casting glyphs – appeared under her feet. "I call upon the Maiden of the Mist. I summon thee…Come forth, Undine!" When she thrust her hand in the air, a large ball of water suddenly appeared above them and exploded. They all curled away at that for a moment – as if the water might splash onto them – but the water immediately returned to the center of where the ball was once at and formed a…humanoid shape. Once it was formed, a woman (the strange skin on her made her almost half-naked; yet with fish-like features on them) appeared above them – and she opened her red eyes. And Rita nearly fell at the large waves of Mana that seemed to seep out of this being.
"…I am at your service, Summoner Sheena," the woman said, staring down at…Sheena if she heard (and remembered) right.
"Undine! Please take us to the other side of the drawbridge!" She said immediately.
She paused to look over at the rising bridge, and looked back at her-
Her eyes seemed to have widened when she looked at something. Rita raised her brow and looked at what the spirit is looking at-
Yuri was giving her the same look he had given Ba'ul before they left for Zaude – the same wide eyed expression then like he was making now; the same as the…spirit seemed to be making at him. Rita raised an eyebrow at that – but the spirit broke the gaze and nodded to the group. "As you wish."
She raised one hand, and they heard the roaring of rushing water. When they ran to the side of the bridge, they leaned over the rails (or slightly for a couple with common sense)-
Rita could've sworn her jaw would've fallen off as she watched a thick curtain of water rising up from the sea, and it started to form…a bridge next to the bridge itself. It looked like an oddly shaped geyser; but the brunette female felt a little biased about this…
Though her thoughts were dispelled as the Sheena woman climbed over the rail and stepped onto the water bridge. To her surprise (one of the many since she arrived here) her feet settled neatly on the rushing water…as if it was a solid structure.
She nodded and looked back at the others. "Don't worry; the bridge's fine," she assured them, "Let's go!"
The guy in red nodded and practically vaulted himself over the railing, along with Yuri, and they took off ahead without losing their balance at all. The weird girl with pink hair and an axe over strapped to her back climbed over and followed them while that…Colette girl simply flew over – which made her uneasy at first since she was reminded of the weirdo in white that might've attacked Yuri – without any trouble at all.
Leaving her with that guy in pink. "Well, now, shall I help you up?" He asked, making a small grin.
A swift chop to his head – in which he yelped and held his head – was her answer. "Not on your life," she growled – this guy reminds her of the Old Man the longer she's with him. And, like the Old Man, he irritates her – then she clambered over the rail and raced along the water-bridge after the others. It felt like a minute before Rita jumped over the railing again and – quickly looking around to locate the others – dashed after the pinkish glow of Colette's wings. Yet the female mage felt a little unnerved since she couldn't see the figures that were Yuri, that Sheena woman and that guy in red besides the two she was sure were…Presea(?) and Colette. Were they further ahead?
That hope was dashed when the four of them caught up – with the other three still nowhere in sight – with the knights she had noticed taking away two people with silver hair. A woman…and a kid – and the kid seemed to be around the same age as Karol, too! What the hell?
The knights had taken notice of the (now) quartet…and Rita had counted ten of them – and they were more heavily armored than the Imperial Knights back in Terca Lumireis. This – again – sucked.
"You!" The presumed leader said in a snarl, pointing his halberd at them threateningly. "You escaped? ! Stop where you are!"
"Wait, the two with the weird samples are missing captain!" One of them spoke, making Rita blink. What?
She shook her head and stepped forward. "Listen, I have no idea what you thought those two have done," she spoke up, "And frankly, I wouldn't have cared if they had done something wrong. But a guy told me that they didn't – and that everyone here treats half-elves like crap, from another guy that I've recently met. But, I'll ask you nicely: Let those two go, and we might go easy on you."
The knights stared at her…before they started to howl with laughter. "Four of you against ten of us?!" The leader said, still laughing, "That's stupid! You're clearly out-numbered."
Rita narrowed her eyes. 'Wrong answer,' she thought before a casting glyph appeared under her feet. She decided to see if she could use an Intermediate spell now.
She made a smirk – one that would make even a couple of battle hardened knights and guildsmen crap themselves – and merely said, "I little test…!"
She thrust her hand and shouted: "STALAGMITE!"
Immediately, a rather large stalagmite – bigger than the one she casts – appeared under a couple of knights and sent them flying (the two of them screaming like sissies) before they crashed onto the ground harshly a few feet away.
And that made the other knights stop laughing; turning their attention to her (and she had a feeling that they were gawking at her – along with the two silver haired siblings still in captive). "What the hell? !" The leader shouted, "She could use magic? !"
"Damn right she could!" Yuri's voice shouted before he dropped in from nowhere and drop kicked one of the knights near the boy in blue as the guy in red took down the other near the woman in orange, and Sheena taking down the one behind the two. As the dark haired man straightened up, he was unsheathing his katana (but didn't toss away the sheath like he would usually do) and made a savage grin. "And you bastards took my sword – thanks for giving it back to me. For an award, you'll get an ass whooping for arresting two wrong people."
"Typical," Rita muttered under her breath-
Before hell broke loose - again. Yuri and the guy in red fought off the knights around the two silver haired people with their swords, the guy in pink using what seems to be Light Spear as that Sheena woman fought off a couple with – at first she thought her eyes were deceiving her – cards of sorts. Presea was using her axe and is surprisingly holding her own against a few of them as well; Colette as well.
As for herself…she was unleashing hell on them. Firing a Champagne and a Stone Blast, followed by Spread Zero – these knights didn't stand a chance against all of them…despite being exhausted from all that running.
It wasn't long until all of the knights were down. Rita had to catch her breath for a little bit as the guy in red – no, wait…she believes his name was Lloyd (from what Yuri had called him) – hurried over to the two silver haired people and (with skills that rivaled Karol's in terms of lock-picking) took the handcuffs off of them, said metal shackles falling to the ground.
"Are you guys alright?" He asked, once their hands were free – and she decided to approach along with the others.
"Uh…Y-Yeah, but…" the boy in blue stammered.
"You…came back for us?" The woman in orange asked softly, as if she was in disbelief.
"Well, duh!" Lloyd said, looking a bit put off, "Of course we did!"
"But…" the boy in blue let out. "But we're half-elves."
"So what?" Yuri said, raising an eyebrow as if it was a stupid question. "It really didn't depend on what race you guys are. It's not your fault you couldn't control what you are."
"He's right," Lloyd nodded, not giving the two a chance to speak. "Who cares about what you are? Who cares about what or who your parents are? And who cares about what others think? You guys are my friends – and I would never abandon you guys even if I found out you guys were half-elves, after everything we had been through." He got down on one knee and looked at the boy in blue in the eye. "You guys are great…just for being who you are; and of the way you are."
"…" In the light of the full moon, Rita could see tears well up in the boy's eyes. "W-We are? Really?" At Lloyd's nod – without any hesitance – the boy clenched his teeth and all but threw himself on him. "Lloyd!" He cried out, and cried into his red shirt, Lloyd holding him and letting him cry. "Thank you, Lloyd!"
After watching the kid sob (in happiness) Rita turned her attention to the woman in orange – seeing her discreetly wiping away a tear – and seemed to hesitate before she asked, "…What about the rest of you? Do you have any objections to us coming along?"
"Eh, where I'm from, commoners are always treated like crap by nobility," she looked at Yuri went he spoke up, making a shrug. "So…I guess we're kinda the same, all things considered. And besides, I have a lot of unusual friends; so I don't consider myself normal."
"The people of Mizuho have been ostracized for hundreds of years," she looked over at Sheena when she spoke up. "Our culture's completely different from the rest of Tethe'alla's, and our relations with the Church are shaky at best. We look different, we speak our own language, and our village is completely hidden from the rest of the world. So yeah, like Yuri said, we're all not that different."
"…Well, to tell you the truth, I can't say I'm really cool with this," she turned her head to look at the red haired guy in pink as he scratched the side of his cheek. "But it's just the way we're brought up here in Tethe'alla. 'Half-elves are bad people', that's what everyone tells us."
"But it's not true!" Lloyd pointed out immediately.
The guy just rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, but…knowing it is one thing. It's overcoming the idea that's been beaten into you since childhood is an entirely different story." After a moment, he just crossed his arms. "But hey, don't pay any attention to me. I'm just tagging along; and…kinda like you said, my opinion might not matter. And besides, people have always treated me differently, too…so I guess in a way we're a lot alike." He finished with a shrug.
Yet Rita couldn't help but feel that there's more to it – but she dropped it. She heard sniffling and turned to the boy in blue – who was wiping the tears off his cheeks – who looked over at Presea.
"P-Presea…? What about you?"
She merely turned her blank eyes on him. After a short pause, she said, "I…just want to go home."
'Uh…that's one way to respond,' Rita thought, and she couldn't help but feel sorry for the kid in blue when his face fell – she was reminded of Karol at his feeble attempts on trying to impress Nan.
"I see…" She heard the woman in orange say quietly, and then sighed. "All right, then."
"Welcome back to the group, you two," Lloyd said cheerfully, getting up while helping the boy in blue up.
"Th-Thanks…" He said, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his face.
"Okay…all emotional things and stuff aside," Rita spoke up after a minute, "What the hell are we supposed to do now? Those knights might have reinforcements coming here."
"Yeah…I'd rather not have round two with a bunch of the Pope's men," Yuri said.
The woman in orange regarded Rita for a moment before she began to rub her chin. "Hmm…Perhaps we should try to find shelter for now," she said – though Rita noted it had hesitance in it. When no one said anything, she continued (looking confident), looking at Sheena. "Sheena, are there any forests near here where we can hide?"
She nodded. "Yeah. It'll take a few minutes to get there, though."
The woman in orange nodded back. "Let's get moving then."
"Aw, what?" The guy in pink exclaimed, "We have to camp out again? ?" Rita groaned internally – again, this guy reminded her more and more about the Old Man the longer she's with him.
"Suck it up," Yuri told him, "Estelle put up camping better than you."
"'Estelle'?"
"One of our friends," he just answered – and didn't say anything about it. And Rita agrees why; none of them wanted to reveal too much about Estelle and of her abilities – to the boy in blue and added, "She's one of the nobles that are friendlier than the ones I knew."
"Wait, she's a noble?" Lloyd asked.
"Whoa-ho! A noble eh?" The guy in pink made a grin – one that looked really familiar. "A name like that must mean she's a total cutie! How come I never knew anyone named that back at Meltokio-?"
"YAH!"
"OOF! !" The guy in pink fell to the ground, clutching his stomach from Rita's punch.
"Don't you even think about it, you sleazebag!" She shouted at him, "If you ever touch Estelle wrong – or if I ever catch you doing something to her to what she doesn't want to do, I'll rip off your libido with Blade Roll-" when she relearns the spell that is, she mentally added, ignoring the yelp coming from the man, "-then I'll burn it to hell with Spiral Flare and force you eat it! Is that clear? !"
"C-Crystal…" he muttered from the ground.
"Good." She turned her head to the others – Lloyd and the boy in blue flinching – and said, "Let's blow this dump." Then she stalked off.
She heard Yuri said to the guy in pink, "You should listen to her, Zelos. Chosen or not, she won't hesitate to kick your ass – as you've already seen."
Huh, so that guy was the Chosen of this world – and who the hell would name their kid 'Zelos'? Eh, she heard worse names.
"Lloyd…I'm scared," she heard the boy in blue whimper.
"Me too, Genis." She nearly fell over when she heard the name – Genis? Really? She couldn't – honestly – believe that someone would call their kid that. And, again, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the kid.
After a few minutes of walking, the group found themselves in the cover of the trees above them. Once they found a spot – clear enough to camp in, but also so that they'll still be covered from whoever might find them – they deemed it as their temporary campsite to rest for the night. Sheena was asked to find some water and she took (more like dragged) Zelos with her, the strange fox creature with her following. Then Lloyd was asked to bring firewood and asked Yuri if he wanted to tag along – the dark haired swordsman just shrugged and the two walked into the woods to find some.
Rita couldn't help but raise her brow at how…casual – and at ease – Yuri was around him. Sure there are times where Yuri is like this…but, somehow, she was getting a feeling that Yuri…must have befriended that guy pretty quick.
Though, why does she care? Yuri might've known these guys longer than she did – she was, in a way, a newcomer to the group. Or rather, this new group, since Yuri already knows her – and probably befriended one of them.
"Hey," she turned her head to look at the boy – ugh, she didn't want to use his name; it'll only bring a disturbing image in her head – who approached her, since she was sitting on a large rock.
"What?" She asked – she's too tired to do anything right now.
The kid flinched at the tone, twiddled his fingers a little – as if he isn't sure if he should talk to her or not – then looked back at her. "You…seemed unaffected when you heard that we're half-elves…" He said, "Did you already know that we're…half-elves?"
She sighed. "Look, I don't particularly care what race a person is," she said – becoming completely honest, "Back where I'm from, a lot of people avoided me as the 'weirdo researcher who flings Fireballs at people'."
"You really can do magic?" He asked, raising his silver brow in surprise.
"Duh. Everyone in Terca Lumireis are capable of using magic as long as they have a Bodhi Blastia," she answered as if it was an obvious question.
"So you're from 'Terca Lumireis' as well?" They both turned their heads as the woman in orange approached her.
Rita narrowed her eyes a little – the tone the woman was using seemed like she was suspicious. But, she answered, "Yeah. I am; what's it to you?"
The woman merely just looked over her with the indigo-blue eyes, the stoic look almost reminding the genius mage of Judith – if Judith didn't have that distrusting gaze in her eyes.
Then the woman asked, "Your Bodhi Blastia…may I see it?"
The young brunette girl raised her eyebrow at that, but, reluctantly, started to take it off. "Alright…"
After placing the Blastia in the woman's hand, she looked over the small chocker-necklace for a few moments. Then she looked back at the girl. "How exactly did you managed to make your Bodhi Blastia work since Sylvarant and Tethe'alla doesn't have Aer? And before you ask, Yuri told us about where he was from a couple of days ago," she added before Rita could open her mouth.
Rita slowly closed her mouth after she heard that – well… that kinda explains how she knew about Terca Lumireis and Blastia. But the female mage had a feeling that Yuri didn't tell them everything about Blastia, Aer and such.
But she decided to at least explain on how she managed to get her Blastia to work. "Remember when I mentioned a guy who told me that everyone here treats half-elves like crap?" She first asked. When they nodded, she continued, "That guy is a half-elf and he helped me out with modifying my Blastia to absorb Mana instead of Aer."
The two of them looked surprised. "Really?" The boy in blue let out.
"Yup," she nodded, "He and this other guy – Aster – are pretty much the only people I hung out with ever since I landed here."
"'Landed'?" He parroted.
She made a thoughtful look. "…I don't exactly have all the details, but the two of them were out one night when they saw four streaks of light spreading out. Two headed off in one direction – which Richter told me is Flanoir – one headed somewhere over at Ozette, and one landed several feet from them."
"And that streak was you, correct?" The woman in orange questioned.
"Yeah." She nodded.
The woman in orange turned from her and rubbed her chin a little. The boy in blue looked up at her. "…Raine?"
'So that's her name…' Rita thought, finally knowing the name of the woman in orange.
After she thought that, Raine moved her hand and slowly nodded. "I see…"
"Huh? See wha-?"
"WE'RE BACK!" She and the kid in blue – who got his question cut off – nearly fell over in shock at the exclamation. They looked over to the source to see Lloyd and Yuri returning – with Lloyd being the source – the red clad moron waving as he had a rather large bundle of wood under his left arm as Yuri had two bundles under each arm.
Said dark haired male raised his brow a little. "Are you getting acquainted with Raine and Gene, Rita?"
It didn't take Rita long to figure out who 'Gene' is. She shrugged at the question. "You can say that."
She held out her hand to Raine, in a gesture to say 'give it here'. Raine placed the Bodhi Blastia onto her hand after a moment, and the young female mage put it back on. "Thanks."
"Seems like we're running low on supplies," she turned to Yuri when he spoke up, digging around in a bag. "But…" He trailed off when Yuri looked over at them. "Hey Raine, can I have my stuff back?"
"You're going to check if you got any food?" Rita guessed at what he wanted to do, raising her brow a bit.
"Yup, and…" Yuri made a grin as he pulled something out from in his shirt. "You'd think Zelos would get mad when he finds out I kinda…'borrowed' some Gald to get some things from the food shop back in Sybak?"
"…You stole some of his money to get those?" The kid – she decided to call him Gene as well – said, looking incredulous.
He shrugged. "Either eat or go hungry."
Rita could hear Raine sighing, exasperated; and Rita felt like she was going to do the same. "You know, Flynn will kick your ass – and send you to jail – if he heard about this," she said.
"Who's Flynn?" Lloyd asked.
"He's Yuri's childhood friend-"
The answer barely left her mouth before they all heard a sudden thunk and an irritated "Zelos!" before they all turned to the source. The source was Sheena yelling at the red haired man, a bucket of water in her hand…as the said man seemed to freeze, a bucket on the ground with its contents spilled out. The wide eyed expression the man had man vanished at the next moment and he made a sheepish grin as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Whoops," he said, "My bad. Didn't mean to drop it."
Sheena let out an aggravated groan. "Idiot Chosen!"
"Zelos…is clumsy," Rita nearly jumped when she heard the pink haired girl; the brunette nearly forgot that the girl is there!
"Ow! Why is everyone being mean to me all of a sudden?" Yup, he's like the Old Man, Rita thought with a bored look on her face, especially with that whine. So, with an annoyed look, she demanded:
"Would you just shut up?"
~o~
The jail cell is silent; just as it usually is on most days. Other prisoners would come and go – most sent off to the Coliseum to fight to the death against monsters that have started to appear; some would just be executed for a crime that they had committed…and there are others that are able to bail, and become paroled.
But not him.
How long has it been since…IT happened? A few years, maybe? There are times that he didn't feel the years go by – everything outside of the cell felt (and looked) the same. Despite the time that had went by, however, he would never leave this place – not willingly.
A lot of people had known who he is – and most couldn't understand why he could've asked his assistant to post bail, or talk his way to gain parole. He isn't like that; but, he could also understand why people would say that. Yet…
Yet they couldn't understand how important this 'servant' is…to him. Every time, whenever he thought about his crime, whenever he thought about her…his heart is being torn apart by the guilt he had within him, the guilt of what he had done…
And what he should've done, to prevent it.
But he knew that, even if he did, somehow, pay for his crime, somehow get himself out of jail…he would never – never – be atoned for the crime. Never forgiving himself for what he had done – and he was sure that Alicia's father and sister, wouldn't forgive him as well.
He understands though – because, who could ever forgive a murderer? He took away someone precious to them – even when Alicia is just as precious to him.
If he has to stay in the cell until the day he dies – or if he is sent off to be executed or forced to fight to the death in the Coliseum – then so be it. Perhaps…one day, he will atone for his crime-
The metal door creaked open. With his eyes closed, he listened as the knights calmly walked down the steps into the jail, their metal boots making 'clanking' noises as they stomped on the cold stone ground. They must be bringing in new prisoners, he reasoned, yet he somewhat frowned in confusion when they seemed to get louder. Are they heading for his cell?
Some of them stopped at other cells and…the doors to them opened he heard the knights order some of the other prisoners out of their cells. Some of them were asking why while others just do as they said.
He heard some coming at his cell and…like the others, opened the door. He opened his eyes and looked over at the knights.
A blue brow rose a little at what he saw. 'The Pope's Knights? What are they doing here?' He asked himself, slightly puzzled.
"Out," one of the knights ordered, "The Pope would like to have a word with you."
His eyes narrowed slightly at this, but he stood up all the same. He calmly walked out of his cell and stood in the center of the other knights, the four of them boxing him in so that he wouldn't bolt – but, even though it's a safety precaution, he wouldn't dare try to leave.
As he walked down the aisle, he took note of the other knights talking to the other prisoners in hushed tones. He isn't sure what they were talking about, but some of the prisoners looked excited about something. What it is, he had a feeling he's going to find out.
After they lead him at the top of the stairs, he blinked at who was waiting for them. "Duke Regal Bryant," the Pope spoke up, "I understand that you have turned yourself in for the crime of murdering one of your servants."
The bluenette had to clench his hands; at how casual the Pope had spoken about the crime. But he quickly calmed himself, and said, "Is there something you wish to talk to me about?"
Straight to the point – he was once the president of the Lezareno Company after all. And he had a feeling the Pope knew about that, and he said:
"The Chosen Zelos had betrayed Tethe'alla and is trying to destroy our world."
The ex-President's eyes went wide. "What?"
The Pope nodded. "It seemed that the people from Sylvarant had somehow made him go on their side," he explained, "And I received word that he and the Sylvaranti had escaped somehow, along with two half-elves."
Somehow, he had a feeling that the Pope was holding back something. But Regal had no idea what it is.
The Pope continued, "So, I'm going to make you an offer. If you and the other prisoners managed to capture the Chosen Zelos and his companions, along with a girl named Colette…I will grant you freedom."
He blinked. What-?
"I will grant you full pardon for your crimes," the Pope added, "Or, if that isn't enough, I shall do anything within my power to fulfill your want – no matter what it is."
He did a take. Fulfill his want…?
The ex-Duke hung his head a little, considering the proposal. If…If he managed to capture the Chosen of Tethe'alla AND Sylvarant's Chosen… Then…
He held his head up. "I only have one request."
"And that is?"
"…I want the Exsphere Broker by the name of Vharley to be arrested." That's the only thing he wished – if that man was put away, then…then at least Alicia and her family would get justice-
A flicker of shock went through the Pope's eyes before it was gone in the instant. "…I will see what I could do…" Somehow, there was something in the Pope's tone that made the martial artist suspicious. "Do we have a deal?"
The blue haired man looked over at the Pope's outstretched hand, offering a handshake to seal the deal. Then at the man's face, back at the hand…before he reluctantly reached out and shook it.
Letting go of the Pope's hand, the blue haired man looked up at him. "What is it that you want me to do?"
If he had to hurt someone…he'll do whatever it takes to give Alicia justice.
Yet, how come he couldn't shake off this unease that appeared in his chest?
LILIUM! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO DAMN SAD? ! But, that last part was pretty hard to type… At least I've managed to finish this chapter.
And so the Sage siblings are rescued and Regal made a cameo appearance! (Not sure if I got the fighter's character right, though; including Rita… Could you give me a holler if I did or didn't?)
Yuan: "The hell are you worried about? I only appeared in one chapter."
Hey, even KRATOS didn't have any screen time. …So I figured that maybe, next chapter, you, Pronyma and Kratos will appear next chapter, or something… I honestly don't know, yet.
Yuan: "Hmph."
Anyways, I hope you liked the chapter. Please leave a review – seriously, 40? Wow! I didn't know you guys liked this a lot! I love you all.
Kratos: "And the flames?"
ACK! When did you get-? …Never mind… Um…share s'mores with your son? Sorry, I've always wanted to try it… Mmm… *drools*
Yuan and Kratos: "…"
Karol: *pops in from under the 'screen'* "Stay tuned for the next chapter!"