I don't think there was a phrase for just how quickly my eyes shot back open. 'At light speed', perhaps? In any case, my mind suddenly jolted with a spark of awareness, and for the first time in what seemed to be hours, I was wide awake.

My mind's first impulsive decision was to jerk to my right and wrap my hands around the nearest throat I could find. But... as cruel as fate had already been to me... of course there was no one sitting there. Of course! That voice that seemed to just slither into my ear and tickle my brain was just my lonely imagination coming out to play! Well, that's not what the mess around me said.

Worse still came the fact that I'd have to just ignore it all and keep pressing on. That'd I'd have to throw myself on the line for a place I hardly knew, risking life and limb to protect mythical creatures without the common sense to show themselves to me from a bloodthirsty maniac who probably hunts men for sport!

"Urgh..." I smashed the palm of my hand against my forehead. Either I'd need to find Latios and Latias, or somehow track this 'Jeremy' down to wherever he was hiding. Both were extremely unlikely, but only one seemed to not carry with it the risk of death.

"Wait," I finally caught myself saying. "That's it!" I honestly couldn't believe it took me so long to realize it... I did have a ticket to see the guardians of Alto Mare! I did have an ace up my sleeve! And that man's name was Lorenzo! "Agh! Duh!" To save my head from any additional damage, I settled on smashing my fist against the couch.

After everything that I'd learned about him already, I couldn't believe I never thought of it before. I brushed my filthy clothes off and sprung up to the door. The memory of that person visiting earlier was still there, but it'd just have to wait; I had my priorities.


"What is it?" Jonathan asked, poking his head over his brother's shoulder.

Matthew swatted his brother away. "What do you think?" He spat, ripping the letter to shreds. "Another invitation to peace from that stupid old man." He spun around and shot his brother a fiercesome look.

"Doesn't he realize our ways?" Jonathan scoffed, crossing his arms. "I thought the fool actually took time to analyze his enemies?"

"Yes and I'll bet you've been expecting AOEN to just pardon us, too?" Matthew sneered. "Bah, it's irrelevant. Caine is on the hunt as we speak, and it'll only be a matter of days until we have what we've needed all along... the Soul Dew..."

"It'll be a matter of days before we're cornered, as well." Jonathan retorted. "I hope you've planned a thoughtful speech for the headsman, brother."

Matthew smirked and folded his hands behind his back. "I always find your skepticism amusing, Jonathan. So, you know what? I'll let you think that. I'll let you join Johnston in thinking that I'm cornered and out of options. That way when I wield the power of a god in the palm of my hand, you'll be all the more surprised." His grin only grew as his continued. "I look forward to seeing the look on your face, brother... and Johnston's."


"Mister Lee, I can hear you loud and clear. But believe me when I say that I can't make them do anything they don't want to." Lorenzo's words felt like daggers piercing my heart. With each second he spoke, I felt closer and closer to just giving up.

"But they're in danger, Lorenzo! Alto Mare is in danger! How come they don't realize that?" I balled my hands into fists and shook them.

Lorenzo sighed and shut his eyes. "As I've said before, Mister Lee... They do realize that. They are the guardians of this place; they'd never let such a threat go under their noses."

"But that's exactly what's been happening!" I grabbed the old man by his shoulders for emphasis. "Face the facts, Lorenzo! People have been kidnapped, people have been hurt! There is fear in the hearts of these people! And Latios and Latias are just playing 'hard to get' while the people they supposedly protect have a killer walking amongst them!"

"Mister Lee..." Lorenzo removed my hands slowly, gently. "I understand that you are upset. But what makes you think I have the answers?"

I gulped. "..." Well, there was something I never took the time to consider.

Lorenzo almost looked depressed as he continued, turning away to face the wall. "Beneath all of this optimism, Mister Lee... I am as scared as you. And I... don't know what to make of this situation either..." He turned around to face me, revealing the tired bags beneath his eyes.

"...What?" The word just barely escaped my lips.

"My granddaughter, Bianca, has been the only person able to maintain contact with the guardians... And even she has said that they have become remarkably silent. Reclusive, even..." Lorenzo sighed and faced the floor.

I mimicked his gesture and stuffed my hands into my pockets. "What choice does that leave me with..." I shook my head in disbelief.

"Mister Lee..." Lorenzo said, pulling his eyes up to face me. "If there is any one piece of advice I can offer... it'd be to find my granddaughter. Find her and ask her to call The Guardians. But, keep in mind... there is still a possibility that..." He frowned deeply and placed his hand on my shoulder. "...This won't work. And if it comes to that, Mister Lee, all I can ask you to do is pray."

Those words were something to take in... All at once, I felt like fighting back against Lorenzo's sudden outburst of pessimism, if only to bring the smiling old codger I knew so well back. "I'm not just going to walk away from this, Lorenzo." I assured him.

"Mister Lee, if what you say is true... If Alto Mare truly is in danger... You have no obligation to help. This is not your home, these people are not your kin... and protecting them is not your duty. If Latios and Latias see fit to leave us to our fate... so be it."

I could only shake my head. "No, no, no, no, NO! I don't want to hear that! I am a sol- your friend! And protecting people is my passion. I live for the honor of putting myself in harm's way. If I have to take a bullet to save a life, I will. And if I have to face the nastiest man in Redaen to protect Alto Mare, I will." I drew closer to him. "Now tell me where to find your granddaughter, if you'd please."

Lorenzo's frown disappeared, replaced by a look of surprise. "She likes spending her free time in the secret garden." He finally found it within himself to chuckle. "Girl has a passion for painting... She always says Latias likes seeing her paint. Oh, I love that girl and her imagination."

"Thank you." I gave the old man a curt nod of gratitude and headed outside.


Though my suspicions about Lorenzo's granddaughter were mounting... What, with her making me chase her and then denying it... I had high hopes that she was my key to finally seeing the guardians. Besides, children are like... good at talking to animals and stuff, right? Stupid movies.

I made my way through the brush of the secret garden, finding it as quiet as it normally was. And there I was expecting that eerily familiar humming. Well, at least this time I'd have grounds for approaching the girl...

Sure enough, there was someone in the garden. That very same brunette from before was standing with her back turned towards me, leaning over an easel as she put the finishing touches on a canvas. It was always strange when I saw her. One moment she'd be as tall as me, with all of the proportions of an adult, and the next... she was this. A child. As soon as she began humming, though, I knew she was the one. There could be no chance she wasn't.

"So, Bianca's your name, huh?" I said with a smirk, emerging from the shadows with my hands folded. I figured I'd return the favor after her 'little game' from before.

The brown-haired girl turned around to face me, but the only thing she greeted me with was nervousness. She seemed to recognize me... just not in the way I had imagined... "Oh... You're that... sweaty guy from before..." She frowned. "How do you know my name?"