AN: *cough* *tries Markiplier's voice* Hello, everybody! This is GroundZeroFirework and welcome to the tenth chapter of ToX: The Lilium Twin! Alright, first off, I'd like to inform everyone that I made a minor edit to the final parts of Chapter IX and it's not really something you can easily spot but it was an edit nonetheless. Secondly, I would like to thank everyone who reviewed to the previous chapters. I hope everyone found some of it funny. Anyways, without further ado, let us move onward to the tenth chapter of ToX: The Lilium Twin; let's go!

CHAPTER X:

THE GIRL WITH THE DOLL

As Chris, Jude and Milla exited Nia Khera to the Kijara Seafalls, the older woman suddenly stopped in her tracks and contemplated.

"What is it?" Jude asked her in worry.

"I was mulling over our options. What if we can't take a boat straight to Fennmont?" Milla asked.

"Well…" Jude began until a new voice cut him off.

"I vote against taking the land route from Auj Oule. Crossing the mountains would be a real pain."

"Alvin?" They exclaimed in surprise once they turned to see the mercenary making his way towards them.

"We could head towards Sharilton from the Sapstrath Seahaven." He informed them.

"We? What do you mean 'we'?" Jude asked him.

"That handmaid of yours offered me a little job." The older man answered as he put his hands on his hips. "He wasn't so crazy about his exalted Spirit travelling with two pipsqueaks for protectors."

"He said that? That's it. I'm gonna give that little bastard a piece of my mind!" Chris declared and she began to stalk back to Nia Khera until Jude grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Plus, the good villagefolk overpaid me. It'd be a stain on my professional pride if I didn't give them their money's worth." He added as he pulled out the bag of Gald that the elder gave him. Judging from the way it bulged, it seems very likely that they did overpay him.

"Hehe…very well. Good to have you back." Milla said with a smile.

"Yeah, thanks for coming along." Jude told him with an approving nod.

"Well, make this trip more interesting on me, will ya?" Chris jokingly requested as she patted Alvin on the shoulder.

"Sure thing, kid. And thank Ivar and the villagers, not me." He told Jude as he crossed his arms. "So, what's the plan?"

"First, we head to Hamil to investigate Rashugal's movements." Was Milla's answer.

"If they're still there, that is." Jude reminded her.

"Then you better take this, keep it handy. Just in case." Alvin said as he handed Jude a map. "Shall we go?"

The other three nodded and they continued on their way.

After at least another 2 hours' worth of travelling on foot and battling monsters in the Seafalls and the Galia Trail, the group finally returned to Hamil.

"There don't seem to be any Rashugal Soldiers here." Chris pointed out as they looked around. They continued on to the town itself and noticed that a commotion was happening.

"Get out of here!" They saw a villager yell at the girl they saw earlier.

"This is all your fault, you evil brat!" A woman accused the girl before she bent down to grab a rock and flung it at the child.

"Stop it! Sticks and stones can break bones, you know?"

"What the hell is this? She's just a child!" Chris said before she went over to aid the girl. Jude, in the meantime, walked up to one of the villagers and grabbed his wrist before he can throw another stone at the girl.

"What's the big idea?" The villager asked him before Jude walked up to Chris and the girl. Chris was trying to get the girl to look up to her so she can examine her for injuries. Thankfully, she easily cooperated.

"You okay?" Jude asked the girl as he kneeled before her.

"Hmm…no bleeding or injuries. She's okay." Chris declared as she stood up.

"Do you have any idea what you people put us through?" The Mayor asked Jude as Milla walked up to them. They looked around and saw that they were injured people everywhere. Both men and women. The young and the elderly.

"Is this Rashugal's doing?" Milla asked her. The Mayor gritted her teeth in anger and Alvin filled in the blanks.

"They couldn't find us. So, they took it out on the village."

"Yeah, sure and that justifies throwing rocks at a defenseless little girl!" Chris yelled at the Mayor.

"Leave here at once! You outsiders are nothing but trouble!" The Mayor yelled at them in anger before she stalked off. The villagers dispersed the moment she walked away.

"She was like a completely different person." Jude said. The moment their attention was removed from her, the little girl took it as her chance to run away. She was a fast runner for her age.

"Hey, wait!" Chris called for her but the girl disappeared from their sight. She turned to Milla, who nodded in response. Without another word, Chris gave chase to her.

"Let's see if the villagers know anything about Rashugal's activities. Don't forget, we'll be leaving soon." Milla informed Jude once she turned to him.

"Gotcha. Thank you." He said before chasing after them while Alvin and Milla stayed behind. After a minute of running, Jude caught up to Chris just in time for them to see the girl enter the shed by the Porange orchards.

"Let's approach quietly. We don't want to scare the girl off." Chris cautioned him before they entered the shed. The shed would make a suitable living space for a person. Aside from the barrels of Poranges, there was a bed, a furnace, a small table and a chair; among other things.

"Where is she?" Jude wondered. It was a small shed; not much room for a little girl to hide in.

"I got a pretty good idea where." Chris stated all of a sudden. It was only then did Jude notice the stairwell, connecting the upper floor to what seems to be the basement.

"Only one way to find out; let's have a look see." Jude said. Chris nodded in response and they both carefully went down and entered the room. In it were barrels. Lots and lots of barrels. Once they were past the first row of barrels, they spotted a mop of blonde hair which quickly disappeared. Rounding the corner, they saw the little girl from earlier covering her head with her hands. Beside her was her doll. Chris crouched behind her immediately.

"Hey, can we talk?" Jude asked the girl but she remained cowering.

"Hey, it's okay. Come on." Chris tried to reassure her as she stood up. The girl stood up but her back remained turned from them.

"Don't worry. We won't hurt you." He assured her. The girl finally turned to face them, sporting a questioning look on her face.

"Hi there." Jude greeted the girl as he bent down to her eye level. "We've met once before, right?"

The girl did not answer them but her doll did.

"Wah-hey!"

Jude was so surprised that he fell on his ass while Chris nearly knocked over an entire set of barrels.

"Whoops! Clumsy little guys, aren't you?" It asked them.

"This is Teepo. He won't hurt you." The girl assured them before the doll continued on for her. "And this is Elly. But you should call her Elize. Nice to meetcha!"

Jude's mouth hung open in shock and he could swear that Chris was nearly passed out.

"Ah, heh. Nice to meet you, too. Eh…both of you." He nervously answered. Elize approached them cautiously with Teepo in her arms.

"Um…are you two okay?"

"Sure, we were just thrown in for a loop." Jude answered. "My name is Jude. And this is my friend, Chris."

"Wah-hey, Jude! Wah-hey, Chris! Thanks for helping us out before!" Teepo spoke up.

"Holy crap, a talking doll." Chris muttered out in shock.

"Thank you." Elize shyly said. Fully recovering from her shock, Chris crouched in front of the girl.

"Hey, Elize, my friend here is going to ask you some questions. We need you to answer them, alright? Can you do that for us?" Chris gently asked her as she took Elize's hand. The little girl shyly nodded.

"So, what exactly happened here? Can you tell us?" He asked her.

"Well, first, all these meanie men showed up from who knows where. Some place far away! Then, the big man whupped them all!" Teepo enthusiastically explained for Elize. It dawned on them who exactly the big man was.

"Ah, yeah. That guy." Jude said upon remembering him.

"But then he wandered away somewhere." Elize informed them.

"Right! That's when the meanie men started bullying the villagers!" Teepo added.

"Is the big guy a buddy of yours, Elize?" Jude asked her.

"No…" Elize answered as she shook her head.

"He's a bad guy! He locked Elly up!" Teepo added for her.

"Locked you up?" Chris asked for clarification and Elize nodded in response.

"We arrived here together in Amnis." She said.

"But they started chucking rocks at us the second we stepped outside! Those meanies!" The doll told them. A deep frown appeared on both the teenagers' faces.

"Jude? Chris?" Elize called for them.

"Oh, sorry. Are the two of you waiting for friends here or something?" He asked them. Elize sadly looked down, which made both of them feel bad because that could only mean one thing.

"Friends? We don't have any."

"Well you do now." He said.

"Yeah, we'll be your friends." Chris assured her with a smile.

"O-Oh…"

Elize blushed at the offer of the two older people.

"Wah-hey! Jude and Chris are our pals!" Teepo jovially exclaimed. The two teenagers were disturbed by Elize's situation, however. Being locked up, left behind and then abused by the villagers. It's not exactly the stable environment a child like her needs. One thing's for sure; they have to get her out of here.

"Hmm…mind if we tell our friends about you, Elize?" Jude asked as he once again bent down to her eye level.

"Why?" She asked in curiosity.

"We don't like the way the villagers treat you." Was his answer. "We want to ask our friends if there's anything we can do."

"Maybe we can find someone to help you. Or your family along the way." Chris gently told her.

"Sure, why not? Jude and Chris are our pals! We can trust them! Right, Elly?" Teepo jovially declared to which Elize nodded.

"Thanks, Elize. You just wait right here." Jude instructed her.

"We'll be back for you, alright?" Chris told the little girl. The moment they turned around though, Jude felt Elize grab his hand. They both turned to her with surprised and questioning look on their faces.

"What is it, Elize?" Chris asked her but she remained silent and instead opted to look down shyly.

"Oh, you want to come with?" Jude surmised. Elize smiled, giving them their answer.

"Come on then." The older girl said with a nod of her head, signaling her to follow them. And together, the three of them left the tiny shed. Elize was starting to get hesitant though and she promptly stopped in front of the shed and looked around. Chris noticed this and approached her.

"Come on. It'll be okay. I promise." She assured the girl as she held her hand out. Elize smiled as she nodded and took her hand before they continued walking to the town.

"So, do you know man who took you here?" Chris asked her.

"He says his name is Jiao. But I don't know anything other than his name." She shyly answered as they arrived to the town proper. They spotted Milla and Alvin waiting for them by the Mayor's house.

"Don't worry about them. They're nice people." Chris tried to reassure the girl.

"Hey, there you are." Jude greeted them.

"Oh, it's the doll girl." Alvin said as he took a good look at Elize. Noticing his gaze, she blushed and hid her face behind Teepo.

"We're finished here. We didn't learn anything useful. It's time to go." Milla declared before turning around and starting to walk. Jude immediately called for her as he approached.

"Wait, we need to talk. It's about the girl."

Milla sighed in exasperation but decided to hear him out, nonetheless. They walked off to the side with Alvin while Chris stayed behind to entertain Elize.

"So, what's this about the girl?" Milla asked him as she crossed her arms.

"Remember that huge guy that drove off the Rashugal soldiers earlier?" He asked them.

"Yeah, what about him?" Alvin asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Elize told us that his name was Jiao and he was the one who brought her here and locked her in the shed by the orchard. They arrived in Amnis but for some reason; the people don't like her." He explained to them.

"The villagers do seem to treat her like a pariah." The mercenary pointed out.

"Until that big fellow Jiao returns, I don't see her situation improving." Milla contemplatively said.

"But Elize insists Jiao isn't her friend." Jude reasoned with her as they looked at Elize, who was bouncing Teepo like a ball under Chris' watchful eye. Unfortunately, she bounced Teepo too high that he rebounded all around them and only stopped when he managed to chomp on Chris' head.

"He locks her up when he's around and the villagers treat her horribly when he's away. Sounds like she's stuck between a jerk and a hard place." Alvin said with a serious tone.

"Unless we bring her with us." Jude suggested to them.

"Bring her with us? And then what? Have you given this any thought?" Milla asked him. "You do remember my mission."

"Yeah, I know." Jude said with a sigh as he looked down at the ground. However, when Milla saw his "kicked puppy"-as she's read about-expression, something in her made her concede to his suggestion.

"Very well, she can come." She declared as she put a hand on her hip.

"Really?" Jude asked in surprise at her sudden change of heart.

"Jude. Do you remember what I told you at the falls?" She questioned him.

"Huh?"

"Be yourself, and do what you have to do. That's what I said to you." Milla reminded him.

"Yeah, I remember." He answered as Alvin observed them.

"Those words still apply. Can I assume your decision to bring the girl is just another step in your path? That it will help you find the answer you seek?"

"Y-Yes." Jude nervously answered.

"Then tell Elize she's coming." Milla instructed him.

"You got it." Jude said with a huge grin before running over to where Chris and Elize were.

"So, what's the verdict?" Chris asked as she put a hand on Elize's shoulder. Jude gave her a knowing smile before bending down to Elize's eye level.

"Elize, would you like to come with us? You can if you want to." Jude told her with a small smile. Elize hesitated for a bit before looking up at him and giving him her answer.

"Yes."

The two teenagers smiled at the girl's answer and they both made a gesture for her to follow them and they approached Alvin as Milla walked away. They followed after her immediately to the village entrance and while Alvin and Milla walked on ahead of them, Elize stopped in her tracks and turn around, making Jude and Chris do the same. They turned around as well just to see what she was looking at. Turns out that some people were watching them leave. With a small smile on her face, Elize waved at them but the people just turned their backs on her. Jude sighed in exasperation with the people's attitude. But it's not like he can do anything about it.

"Elize, we have to go." Chris told the girl as she gently held her by her shoulders. Looking up at her, Elize nodded and held her hand as she allowed herself to be led away from Hamil. After a while, they finally caught up to Alvin and Milla.

"Nice of you to finally catch up." Alvin told them.

"Yes, nice of you to wait for us too. Jerk." Chris mumbled sarcastically. Jude noticed Elize's discomfort and wondering who these people are.

"Oh, I guess I haven't properly introduced Elize yet." He said.

"I'm Elize Lutus. Hello." She shyly greeted them.

"Well, you look like you'll be a fine lady when you grow up." Alvin told her as he approached her.

"Way to add to your creepy factor, Alvin." Chris mumbled out but Alvin ignored her.

"I'm Alvin. It's nice to meet you."

"I, um, well…"

"Don't talk to strangers, Elize. Strangers are bad." Teepo reminded her.

"Why is this stuffed animal talking?" Milla asked them. Chris couldn't resist putting a palm to her face.

"Huh? Teepo always talks." Was the little girl's answer.

"Naturally." Teepo followed up.

"Oh. So I'm the one who's reacting strangely?" Milla prodded them.

"Sure looks that way!" Teepo declared as he put himself closer to Milla's face.

"I'm arguing with a stuffed animal." She said in an amazed voice. "How unusual."

Chris', Jude's and Alvin's eyebrows rose at her remark all of a sudden.

"Looks who's talking." Chris muttered to them as she started walking.

"Unusual, she says." Alvin said.

"Coming from you, Milla?" Jude asked in disbelief before following after Chris.

SKIT: The Aunt (Alvin, Chris and Milla)

Alvin: So, Chris, you seem to be experienced with kids. I thought you were the little sister?

Chris: *uncertain* What kind of drug are you on this time, Alvin? Where are you going with this?

Alvin: *defensive* Hold your horses. I just want to know how come you're so good with kids.

Chris: Oh, is that all? Well, if you must know; my Aunt is the reason I'm so good with kids.

Milla: Oh, then that means you have cousins then? Did you care for them as well when you lived with her?

Chris: *surprised* What? No! I never said that. My Aunt's as single as she comes.

Milla: Then, how is she the reason?

Chris: My Aunt is a teacher and she sometimes tutors 8 year olds at our house so I had to watch over them and play with them sometimes. She taught me how to deal with little kids and how to care for them too.

Milla: Where is she now then?

Chris: *sadly* I-I don't know. I haven't seen her since I ran away from home. I don't even know if she hates me for leaving her alone.

Milla: I highly doubt that.

Alvin: *arrogantly* She's single? Mind introducing me to her, then? I happen to be good with the ladies, you know.

Chris: I would rather get stabbed in the neck a thousand times over again.

As night falls on Auj Oule, the group finally arrived in the Aladhi Seahaven yet again and obtained new weapons. Chris marveled at the new Broadsword she obtained and so did Elize at the Ruby Wand that Alvin and Chris bought for her using the money they obtained in jobs. They approached the ticket seller immediately after that.

"Excuse me, when is the next ship leaving for Fennmont?" Jude asked him.

"I'm afraid the Rashugal government has blockaded the capital and its surrounding regions. That means all scheduled voyages to Fennmont have been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience." The ticket man answered with an apologetic tone.

"Are any ships sailing?" Milla asked him.

"Sorry, ma'am." He said before he suddenly remembered something. "Ah, but the route to Sapstrath Seahaven is still open. Would you like a ticket to the Sapstrath Seahaven?"

They all shared a knowing glance for at least 10 seconds before deciding.

"We'll take it. 5 tickets. Thanks." Chris told him before handing out the payment and collecting their tickets.

"Very well. Please board the ship and await departure."

They all nodded and went to the boarding area. While Jude, Alvin and Elize didn't go in right away, Chris and Milla did. They both stayed by the railings and observed their three companions.

"So, what do you think of this?" Milla asked her all of a sudden.

"What?" Chris asked as she leaned on the port side of the ship.

"About bringing the girl along. What do you think?" Milla clarified for her. Chris contemplated for a few seconds before sighing and answering her.

"What I think about this situation is a double edged sword. Personally, I think this is a bad idea. But I kinda felt bad for the girl so I guess it's kinda good that we got her out of there."

"So, you support Jude's decision?" She asked the younger girl as they watched Alvin's pigeon fly off.

"I never said that. I was merely neutral in the decision. Jude's decision was his and his alone. And also, my opinion in this doesn't matter. She's Jude's responsibility but I won't hesitate in helping him care for the girl. He can't possibly do these things on his own." She told Milla. All of a sudden, their ship's horn started blowing.

"Looks like we're sailing out." Chris pointed out before yelling at the others. "Hey, get in here! Unless you guys want to be left behind!"

Alvin, Jude and Elize climbed the stairs to the boat immediately and as soon as they got in, the ships started to move along with them. A sailor from the other ship waved at them.

"Fair Winds and Following Seas! (1)" Chris yelled at the sailor with a wave.

"Fair Winds and Following Seas!" He replied before their ships started distancing themselves from one another.

"What does that mean, Jude?" Elize asked him as she turned to him.

"It's a Navy greeting, Elize. Do you know what a Navy is?" He asked her but she shook her head.

"A Navy is a division of the military that specializes in naval warfare. Or sea battles, if that's what you prefer. They don't just fight though; they also patrol the seas under their country's territory." Alvin informed her.

"It's Rieze Maxian tradition to greet fellow ships 'Fair Winds and Following Seas' as a good luck sentiment." Chris said as she walked up to them.

"Wow, you guys know a lot!" Teepo exclaimed in amazement. Chris chuckled at the statement.

"Haha…maybe…but there's still a lot that we don't know. Contrary to what they say; adults don't know everything, Elize. Remember that." She told her as she patted her head.

"Yes, Ma'am." Elize said before rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Tired?" Jude asked her and she nodded.

"Come on. I'll take you to the cabin. I could use a good rest myself." Chris offered as she held her hand out, which Elize immediately took before they walked off. Eventually, they arrived at their designated cabin and Elize took her shoes off before climbing onto bed with Teepo beside her. Chris pulled the blanket from under her and pulled it over her as she settled in.

"Hey, Chris."

"Yeah?"

"Why do you have two Lilium orbs sticking together?" Teepo asked her for him and Elize.

"How do you know about that?" She asked the young girl.

"I saw it earlier and I asked Alvin what it was. He said a person can only have one at a time. So why do you have two?" Elize asked her. Chris sighed as she tucked the covers around Elize's small frame.

"It's a long story. It starts off as a legend but as it goes on, I'm sure a smart girl like you can fill in the blanks as it goes by. So, do you want to hear it?" Chris asked her as she tapped her nose and the little girl nodded.

"Hooray! A bedtime story!" Teepo cheered on. Chris chuckled before composing herself and starting on her story.

"Long time ago, when Rieze Maxia was still in its infancy, two brothers were born. Twins. And when they came out of their mother's womb, there, clenched in their dainty hands, were Lilium orbs. These twins were the first pair of Lilium Twins…"

AN: Alright everyone! That's it! This is Chapter X of ToX: The Lilium Twin. Now before anything else, I'm going to tell you guys the meaning of the single number that can be easily spotted in this chapter.

1 – The term "Fair Winds and Following Seas" is often used as a good luck sentiment by the United States Navy (which I totes don't own just like Tales of Xillia so disclaimer over here). I first heard this greeting in the TV Series NCIS (my family and I watch a lot of crime shows). I just totally made up the fact that it's a Rieze Maxian custom.

And that's the meaning of the number. Anyways, I just want to ask you guys this question as early as now so I can start mapping things out, okay so here we go:

DO YOU GUYS WANT ME TO SAVE FRACTURED MILLA BY THE TOX2 STORYLINE?

Please tell me so I can make the equation for this and properly solve it so it doesn't look like a total rip off from KingRPG's "A Different Path" (which you guys should totally read by the way if you haven't). If you guys don't want to tell it to me via review and you prefer to vote (or to...you know...drill your votes into my skull); I shall be leaving a poll in my profile so that everyone can vote in. However, should the end result be a 'yes' vote, please keep it in mind that this result will not be without consequence for the readers (which will be to get hit by the feels train) because of the twist I intend to make in the end.

Anyways, that's it for Chapter X. Please leave your review and your favorites to this chapter and this story in general. I really appreciate them and they totes keep me going so please, please do so. Thanks to everyone for reading! Stay tuned! Until next time! Ciao!