Yikes, lost another Follower. The Xillia section as a whole seems to be floundering, that's so sad.
Upside-wise, there were a bunch of new fics and updates. Chapter 20 somehow takes home the most visitors award for a whole week. Half the days it set new records, the other half it barel edged out setting new lows. Freaky!
Also, 52 Reviews! Yay random milestone! Thank you everyone who reviewed. And thanks Varupikusu, Prince of Havok and Presea for your Reviews. I also forgot to include the review thanks in Chapter 20. So retro-thank you to Presea and Varupikusu there.
Also(because repeating this so many times is good writing, as it directly mentioning it instead of changing it), I'd like to thank all my Reviewers, Favorites and Follows again for sticking through. I greatly appreciate you all, and while I don't name the names that don't Review as a gesture of privacy, I am glad you Favorite/Follow New Path.
Now, enough rambling, Chapter 21!
Tales of Xillia and the Tales of Series are the copyright of Namco Bandai and whoever else owns the rights. I own nothing except for OCs that have unfortunately appeared.
Chapter 21: To Fennmont!
The group heading for Fennmont first entered into the western tunnel entrance to Xian Du. Alvin was first, of course, so Rowen and Elize could keep him in their sights at all times. Not that he didn't deserve that, as being in front was where he'd be in a fight anyway. Though they at least trusted him enough to not just try and kill him outright. Elize wouldn't... of course. But the rumors surrounding Ilbert the Conductor's methods for dealing with enemy spies and intelligence leaks were legendary in the business. Most were lies probably, that was just how these things worked, but even the tamest punishment he'd heard was one he'd wanted to avoid for the rest of his life. Leia meanwhile for her part, just kinda chatted with the two of them. She did try and defend him a bit-he was kinda grateful for that-but after what he did they wouldn't trust him again so easily. For now it was just a difficult necessity for them all.
The chill and darkness of the cave passed as they entered the warmth and light of Xian Du proper. "Alvin," Milla said with her sword pointed at his head.
"Miss Milla, so good to see you!" he cheerfully responded to her presence, completely ignoring the death that slowly inched its way to an inch from his throat.
"Give me one reason not to take a step forward," she delivered her threat calm as could be.
"Well if I die here we don't get to take the wyvern express to Fennmont for the third assault on the Lance of Kresnik," he gave an amazing reason.
"Is that so?" Milla cocked her head to the side. She tipped her head towards the old guy and asked for his confirmation. "Rowen, is he telling the truth?"
"Unfortunately yes," Rowen somewhat reluctantly agreed with Alvin's explanation. "Alvin has apparently been in the employ of Auj Oule this entire time. The whole of his actions seem to be to transfer control of the Lance of Kresnik to Auj Oule."
"Preposterous," Milla kept her sword leveled at Alvin's throat. "I shall destroy the Lance of Kresnik."
"Of course you will," Alvin agreed with her. "But you couldn't do it even when you had the Four right?" Milla only slightly narrowed her eyes in response, but he was right. He'd seen it himself. Not that anyone else here knew that. "So, after a month of dangerous undercover work I've managed to deduce the structural weaknesses of the mighty Lance of Kresnik."
"And I'm just supposed to believe you?"
"You really don't have a choice if you want to get back to Fennmont," Alvin told her. "Permission to use the wyverns is only granted so long as I accompany you."
"I could just get Ivar," Milla countered.
"And the only reason you could do that, is because I freed him in the first place," Alvin shot back, but then he stepped forward, feeling the pinprick of the blade against his throat. "Look, you don't have to trust me, but for right now we have to work together." This was a hell of a time to try and call her out.
Milla glared at him, forming her own interpretations of his actions. She slowly pulled her sword back, and returned it to its sheath. "Fine," she said with an accompanying blink. "But the next time you attempt to intercede on my attempts to destroy the Lance, my sword won't be pulling back."
"Yeah," Alvin rubbed his throat. That was a hell of a bluff he'd just pulled off. He wished it was different, but it would all end soon, for the better of everyone. Except everyone in Hamil, including that kid. No, keep his mind focused. Right now there was something else he had to do. "Can we make a quick stop before we head for the wyverns?"
"For what?" Milla glared at him in suspicion.
"For what I'm fighting for."
Milla raised an eyebrow at him, but she somehow relented and said. "Alright." Alvin weakly smiled at her allowance. Even if it was a bad idea. Milla had something else to ask however. "Now, if I may ask, why are you here Leia?"
"Hehehe," Alvin looked back to see Leia scratching the back of her head. "That's a funny story..."
After their little recounting of Leia's reasons, and everyone else learning Jude was now on-foot to Fennmont for some crazy reason, Alvin led them up through the east side of Xian Du. The elevator to a secluded balcony, and the inside of a small room. His mother's room. He led them inside, and clustered them around the frail, sickly woman laying helpless in bed. She was asleep now, their entrance hadn't woken her.
"Who's this?" Leia was the first to ask.
"My mother," Alvin answered truthfully for once.
"Oh," Leia looked between parent and child. "Is there anything we could do?"
"Thanks for the concern, but no," Alvin closed his eyes. "She requires some pretty specialized medicine, expensive stuff. It's hard sometimes, to get it for her."
"So that is why your concern for wealth was so spoken in the throne room," Rowen latched unto the reasons Alvin had laid.
"Yeah, you could say that," Alvin looked at the others, the pity he'd just manipulated them into having. "In the end I'm just doing it all for mommy. Pretty pathetic huh?" He wryly smiled.
"No, it's not!" Elize, of all of them, shouted at him. "I don't know my mom, but, but I'm sure I'd do anything for her too!"
"Thanks, Elize," Alvin dropped his smile, remembering how he hurt her. "When we get to Fennmont, I have something to tell you."
"What?" she asked, but Alvin didn't answer.
Instead the mercenary looked at the Milla. "Alright so, now that we're not all on show on the street for all of Gaius' spies to see it's time to come clean." He grimaced at the idea. "The Key for the Lance of Kresnik is in Gaius' hands right now, I delivered it to him personally." Predictably Milla glared at him. "He wants to use the Lance for his own ends, but as long as we destroy it before he gets his hands on it, the Key's useless."
"You would have us believe you put on a show for him at the castle?" Rowen honed on Alvin's act. Though the mercenary was grateful he didn't follow-up with a question related to Elize.
"Believe what you want, but either way the Lance is out of commission. With Auj Oule readying for war to get revenge for Hamil, whatever's left of Rashugal navy's gonna be locked down and all ground forces are back at Fort Gandala. We slip in through Arklund like your original plan, meet up with Agria and disable the Lance. Then, take care of her, destroy the Lance, and deal with Nachtigal once and for all."
"There's no guarantee you haven't already reported this plan back in Rashugal," Rowen cut to the heart of his betrayal.
"Yeah," Alvin agreed with him. "If you can't trust me then strike me down once we get in Arklund. But if you only want guarantees stick with Gaius then. If the Lance isn't destroyed before he closes in on Fennmont it'll be his."
Rowen remained silent, as did everyone else. But the old Conductor was the first to break it. "I will let Milla decide this course."
"Me?" the Lord of Spirits was taken aback by his passing of responsibility. "I don't trust you, at all." Milla took another stab at his betrayal. "But for now, we may need your strength."
"Thanks," Alvin bowed his head at her acceptance. "And you, Elize?" he asked the one he'd probably hurt the most.
She growled at him, and Teepo glared and shouted. "Don't expect Elize to say anything to you until you stop being such a mega-jerk. Which will be never!"
"That's fair," Alvin closed his eyes after speaking, and looked at Leia once he opened them. "You sure you want to still come along Leia? Things are getting pretty heavy."
"If Jude's gonna be there I have to go too," the girl pumped herself up. "And if the King's hurting people he should totally be stopped." She balled her fists with empathic rage. She and Jude sure made a fine pair.
"Alright then," Alvin nodded at her perky resolve. His head perked up in remembrance then, and he walked over to a small desk nearby, and removed something, a bag.
"What's that?" Milla asked, cautious of anything Alvin might be bringing.
"Bullet bag," Alvin told her as if she had any idea what that was. "They're the, well they're what my gun here fires for my spirit artes, see?" Alvin pulled out some bullets from his coat and from the bag. "I use this place as a storehouse for my own things from time to time. Aren't I such a great son?" he smiled sadly at his own situation. "But that's enough about me being a sad sack. To Fennmont then."
"No," Milla interrupted him. "To Nia Khera."
Milla's declaration to take them to Nia Khera caught everyone by surprise, but she explained that with Hamil attacked by Rashugal, she wanted to make sure that Nia Khera was alright as well. No one argued about that. So after getting the wyverns from Yurgen, they flew the surprisingly short distance over to Milla's village, which looked perfectly alright from their flyby. Still, Milla had them land, and Ivar came running up, shouting "Lady Milla!" and bowing as could easily be presumed.
"Ivar," Milla abruptly said. "Has Nia Khera been attacked?"
"Unfortunately yes, Lady Milla," Ivar said with comparatively little ego, only for it to swell with his next words. "But fear not! I was able to route those cowards of Rashugal and send them fleeing for their mommies! My vigilance over these lands has seen no further trace of Rashugal dogs." Milla's handmaid burst into triumphant laughter. It was only then that he finally noticed Alvin, and quickly drew his short swords and dropped into his battle stance. "You!" he shouted. "I may not have been able to stop you at Fort Gandala, but you'll get yours now!"
"Anytime," Alvin unslung his sword, drew his gun and looked ready to fight just as much as Ivar.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Leia interrupted before any more could be said. "What's all this about?"
"If he hadn't been there we would have been able to destroy the Lance of Kresnik!" Ivar explained to her. "Wait, actually, why am I explaining this? Who are you?" Ivar acted bewildered at the sudden interruption.
"Oh, uh, hi, I'm Leia, I'm new," she awkwardly introduced herself in these circumstances.
"A pleasure to meet you Leia, now," Ivar focused back on the willing and able Alvin. "Come on! I'll show you not to mess with this handmaid and—wait, why are you with Lady Milla again!" it finally occurred to him what was going on. "Planning to betray her again aren't you! You may have everyone else fooled, but never me!" Ivar aimed his left-hand sword at Alvin's head.
Milla had grown impatient with this outburst and shouted at them. "Enough Ivar," she shook her head. "Alvin can't be trusted, that's why I've returned to Nia Khera, so you can accompany us again and you can keep an eye on him."
"I think this is a worse punishment than any feelings of guilt," Alvin honestly commented on the new situation.
"Truly!" Ivar pipped up with unbridled happiness "I knew you'd see my true value Lady Milla!" He was so overjoyed he looked ready to burst into dance.
Rowen spoke next, with some regards to the situation. "Are you sure of this course Milla? If any Rashugal troops remain in the area the village would be in danger again."
"Yes," Milla agreed with that assessment. "But if Hamil was attacked, then Auj Oule will no doubt send troops to the area, correct?"
"In all likelihood yes," Rowen confirmed her assumption. "But relying on Rashugal retreats and Auj Oule advances with war on the horizon is a risky proposition."
"I am aware of that," harshly aware, of it and the consequences, "but we need all the aid we can to take care of the Lance and Nachtigal. And I can trust Ivar beyond a shadow of a doubt, unlike Alvin."
"Ouch," Alvin sarcastically quipped.
"I will repay your trust a thousand-fold Lady Milla!" Ivar gave one last look at Alvin, before sheathing his swords, with Alvin following his lead. "When do we depart!"
"Um," a pair of people Milla didn't recognize stepped up from behind Ivar. "Did you forget about us?" the woman of the pair asked. They weren't Nia Khera natives, even if they wore Auj Oule clothing.
"Oh, right!" Ivar jumped over and introduced them. "These two came to Nia Khera saying they wanted to meet you Lady Milla!"
"Really?" Did it ever occur to Ivar that they could possibly be spies? Of course not. "What for?" Milla asked them.
"Well," the woman started. "fourteen years ago we met you and played together."
"Oh?" Milla responded in surprise. She certainly wasn't expecting that of all things. It was true, fourteen years ago she had left the protection of Nia Khera to explore the outside world while the Four were away on a mission to destroy spyrix. She had met some human children and played the day away. But, it was still possible this was some odd trap. "Yes, I recall that day dearly. I've even kept the present you've given me on my person at all times."
"The glass bead right?" the woman perfectly answered Milla's little baiting. "It was a silly old thing."
Seemed like it really was them. Still, it was comforting, in its ways. "So, what are you doing here?" she finally got around to asking.
"Well," the man spoke for the first time. "We were traveling nearby when we recalled the time from our youth as well. We knew about this old village so we came to ask if you were from here. But to be Maxwell, Lord of Spirits? Amazing!" The two of them chuckled at the situation. "Maybe a bit of catching up in private? Being old friends with the Lord of Spirits is something certainly worth talking about!"
"Indeed," Milla agreed on that, though she was ordinary for herself she assumed. "Ivar, entertain the others for a while, would you?"
"Yes Lady Milla," her handmaid agreed.
"Are you sure Milla?" Rowen asked. "Any time delay for our plan could be disastrous."
"Thank you for the concern Rowen," Milla nodded at him. "But, I think they deserve some consideration for coming out all this way." And if there's even the slightest chance they're an enemy... she deliberately didn't finish her thought.
The three of them traveled a bit up the Nia Khera spiritway, the path to her shrine. It seemed a fair distance, with a few trees for shade, as the two of them stopped ahead of her. "So," Milla started the conversation. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"The past," the woman said. "About what you did that day." Her words were, harsher, dangerous now.
"Is this about a grudge over a game of tag?" An odd thing to carry for so many years, but humans were odd creatures. She didn't want to consider the other option, not yet.
The man violently shook his head. "It's certainly a grudge," he stamped his foot, "but not over something so simple as tag!" he shouted at her. "If we'd know who you were all those years ago we'd have killed you ourselves! Instead the same day we met you was the same day you killed our parents!" Almost on command a trio of large men emerged from the nearby trees. They hefted heavy looking cylinders, with a set of prongs on their ends aimed at her. Each one wore the same uniform, some ugly yellow and green clothes set with a small full-faced metal helmet covering their heads.
She was actually... saddened by this turn of events. It was a memory that kept her going sometimes. But if their parents died that same day, that only meant one thing. "You're members of Exodus then?" she asked a question she already knew the answer to.
"If you'd just die, none of this would have happened!" the man swung his arm through the air. "Get her!" he ordered, but a shot rang out, hitting him square in the chest. Before he could even hit the ground a second shot hit the woman, and the two instigators were down before they even knew what was happening. Milla looked behind her, and saw just who she presumed it was, Alvin.
"Look out!" he yelled before firing on one of the Exodus soldiers. The hulking cylinder blocked the shot, but it didn't block Milla's wind blade, which tore around the weapon and knocked it aside. A small explosion followed up from Alvin and hit the man straight in the chest, sending him to the ground as well.
The other two aimed their weapons, arcs of electricity dancing between the prongs before they discharged in giant bolts straight at Milla. She felt the spirits die as she dodged around the spyrix weapon's fire. Explosions occurred on the impact points of the weapon, tossing grass and dirt through the air behind her. The surviving soldiers—all three as the one Alvin had shot struggled back up—aimed their weapons back at her. But like the ground behind her she was in the air now. One of them was antsy, sending off a shot at where she was, but the other two tracked her position through the sky. She saw the dancing arc of lightning ignite and fire—but she dashed in the air and flew straight away from the shot, and situated above the trio. She infused her blade with mana, and spun downwards, slicing one of he soldiers from helmet to foot with the death knell arte.
But that wasn't enough, for them or her. She spun around, catching two of them(Alvin was in melee now, laying waste to the third, the one he'd shot before)inside an arte. She spun again, and again and again, bringing them higher into the sky, on that third use of shimmer spin, she struck, piercing the chest of one of the soldiers. She heard his death rattle, followed quickly by Alvin's target joining him in death. Leaving just the last soldier to try and stop them. When he fell back to the earth, he swung his weapon, actually managing to bash her upside the head and force her back, but Alvin took advantage of that slow swing speed and added a thrust in as well, following Milla's example and slaying their final enemy.
Alvin put his weapons away and quickly applied an apple gel to her forehead. "Looks like you got loads of enemies," he wryly commented as he stopped her forehead from bleeding. "You sure about letting that handmaid of yours come with us now?" Milla ignored his question, she just waited for him to finish his medical aid. "The cold shoulder? Ouch." Alvin feigned pain at her deliberate ignoring of his words.
She walked over to the two... not friends. It was... unpleasant, to see them like this, they didn't even have time to register surprise on their faces before they died. As members of Exodus they had to die, but... "Why did it take me so long to realize, even Exodus is human." she frowned, for reasons she wasn't fully aware of.
"Where's this little bit of obvious come from?" Alvin curiously asked her.
"If Maxwell is the guardian of all life, is she a hypocrite for taking one?" she asked back.
"That's only something you can answer, I'm afraid," he sighed at the end of his answer.
It wasn't what she wanted to hear, it wasn't even a question she wanted to ask. But, it was the responsibility she had to bear. And there was one more thing to deal with, she turned around and faced Alvin. "Why are you here?"
Alvin slipped on a serious look, and crossed his arms. "I recognized those two," he looked right into her eyes without blinking, absolutely confident he could pass what he said as the truth. "Exodus right?" Milla kept herself in control, she didn't make any indication she knew what he was talking about, but Alvin reacted as if she had. "Don't bother trying to hide it. I've worked with them in the past, it's how I met them. Hell, you even said outright 'Exodus is human'."
She cursed her carelessness at letting that slip. This had unnerved er more than she realized. But she had to press back against Alvin's shadowy motives. "What's your connection to them then?" her sword was still out, she could have it at his throat in no time.
"They were a client a few times," Alvin admitted. "And, they're the ones who make my mother's medicine." He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "They charge an arm and a leg and a lung and a couple others body parts kept in pairs for it. So in the end I'm just a slave to coin and client." He gave a stark, bitter laugh at his own circumstances. "You still so sure you want me tagging along? I know your greatest enemy and we've already seen your handmaid can't keep his eye on me." He threw his arms out as if he just didn't care.
What Alvin said was all true, but his actions here gave him some shred of credibility. If killing her was his goal this was the perfect opportunity to do so, and he had the same opportunity, time and time again. Was there something more? Was it really all for his mother as he said? "My stance remains unchanged, you're untrustworthy, but your strength is necessary. As you've just proven. Ivar will still keep watch on you. Successfully this time." She'd give her handmaid a stern talking to once they returned.
Alvin breathed a sigh of relief at her decision. "Thanks," he told her, and pulled out his gun. Three quick shots rang out in response, destroying each of the spyrix weapons behind her. "Can't leave those right next to the Lord of Spirits village can we?"
Jude Mathis finally returned to Fennmont after nearly a months absence from his school. The night clime above had slowly sank in as he drew closer to the capital city during his travel on the Barnauer Highroad. The general in charge of Fort Gandala had eventually let him past(something about orders from Fennmont), an action which caused Jude to thank him profusely anyway, and Jude set out on the path to his other home right away. Scores and ranks of soldiers and tents and provisions flanked the main road to Fennmont, and a good deal many soldiers looked at him. He knew what questions they had, "who, what, why?" but none ever came up to ask. Good, he... well it was all still intimidating, the whole situation. Even after traveling through the Fort he still hadn't the foggiest idea why he took this route. Just that taking it was the right path.
The lumen trees and lack of soldiers were his first clue that he was nearing Fennmont again. Then the night clime set in, and finally he saw the outskirt walls of the city. Even during war there were no guards posted at the cities edges, so Jude walked right back inside with no fuss. Fennmont was the same as it ever was, people walked and talked and went about their business. Fennmont sentries in purple patrolled the area for anyone suspicious. Petals from the lumen trees floated and danced on the winds. The war, just didn't matter in here.
Jude headed through the trade district and back over to Talim. He felt relief seeing his school, still standing, still intact. Some of the other doctors and medical students noticed him as he walked closer. Greetings, "hey it's Jude!" and a dozen other small, inconsequential things were said, but each was warm and safe and familiar. He didn't imagine he'd be this relieved to be back in Fennmont, but he smiled as he answered the questions he was presented, said his "hi's" back, explained where he'd been(getting a few whoas from those who didn't expect he'd come walking back in!). But eventually the fanfare of his return died down—mostly at his own insistence. He was tired, and wanted to retire to his room for the night(even being gone for so long, his body still remembered the Fennmont timetable). The others conceded, and left, and Jude headed over to his dorms.
His room was just as he left it, clean, orderly, but with a faint layer of dust on top of everything. Any other day that'd be the first thing he fix, but right now, he had more important matters to attend to. It wasn't sleeping, as he told everyone just a few moments ago. Though he certainly wouldn't mind a rest after all that travel and all the sleep he had gotten back at the Fort was on the uncomfortable military cots. No, he needed to talk to Prinn, then talk to Nadia. He was sure Nadia would still be around Laforte, that's where everything started. But he wanted to talk it over with Prinn first. It just... wouldn't feel right if he didn't.
But even if he did confront Nadia, and she admitted to killing Professor Haus, what then? Laforte was constructed by the King, owned by the military. He couldn't somehow stop it? Milla, and Cline might, but they weren't here not yet. Well, they might be and he might just not know it, but that was a whole different case of what-ifs. For now he focused on what he did know. Guilt Nadia with Prinn? That was low... low enough to be something she would do. She might even try to kill him! She was certainly unstable enough to try it. No, he'd just wait for Milla and anyone else to arrive. Then they could all go at once and confront Nadia, and destroy that weapon, that Lance of Kresnik.
So, until they arrived, he should learn what he could, right? And that started with finding Prinn. It was a bit... okay, entirely unfriendly to use her like this. But it was for a good cause in the end, right? Jude threw down his travel bag, he could deal with that later, and headed right back out. Travel to the Talim Reception didn't take long, talking with a receptionist to learn Prinn's whereabouts took even less. She was actually just getting off duty now, so Jude hurried to see if he could catch her in the room—make speaking about Nadia more secretive, he guessed.
He quickly walked the Talim halls, patients and practitioners still lined the halls even in the middle of this war. Like nothing ever changed. But, something had changed. Him. Right? Before all this started, he would never have thought of doing anything half as crazy as this. But the words his mother recounted to him in Leronde still rung in his head, how he'd always go fight bullies and come back home, scarred from a day's fighting. It was less change, than remembering who he was all along, wasn't it? But either way, he moved forward.
The door to the room opened up, a patient slipping out with a happy look on his brown-bearded face. Behind him, Jude could see Prinn stepping out as well. "Nurse Prinn!" he... inelegantly shouted and waved at her, he was still a fair bit away.
She looked up at him, "Oh, Doctor Jude," she said back in quiet surprise. He was closer and shouting in a hospital wasn't... good. "You're back, what a pleasant surprise." She smiled at him, and he felt himself smile back.
"Yeah," he nodded at her. "Just got back a few minutes ago. Would have been here sooner but eh, kinda got sidetracked talking to a few others heh," he scratched the back of his head a bit.
"You ran off so quickly it's not a surprise really," she reminded him. "How was your trip home?"
"It was, excellent, Leia was fun as usual and I learned plenty of interesting things," he recounted for her. "How were things here? With the war and all." He already knew though, it was just polite conversation.
"A couple doctors were pulled off to Fort Gandala, but everything in Fennmont's just the usual." Her eyes perked up as she remembered something else then. "Oh, you remember those cases of mana depletion a while back? Those have stopped. There's still been the odd channeling problem, but no one's come in for related injuries."
"Good to know," Jude nodded. Milla told him those incidents were probably related to the Lance of Kresnik during their time together. That meant it probably wasn't operational right? "Say, um have you seen Nadia recently? I need to talk to her about something." Learning where she was would be useful to avoid her, or find her once Milla arrived.
"Huh? Why?" she asked, appropriately surprised.
Well, he didn't have a non-weird answer for this, so some form of honesty was good, even if he felt a little guilty about abusing Prinn's trust for this. "I'd rather not have my first day back ruined by accidentally running into her." He answered and looked away. "We were both at Laforte when it was attacked again and she was being her and... it was unpleasant."
"Sorry," Prinn apologized to him. "I know she's difficult." She didn't even add a 'but' on for extra reasoning.
Should he ask why they were friends in the first place? Prinn was nice to anyone, but Nadia seemed like the girl who would pal around with criminals. But he decided against asking, let her tell him on her own agency.
"She actually came by earlier, told me she was still working over at Laforte too," Prinn said. "Actually said I shouldn't come over. It was weird, but well, that's how she is."
"Thanks," Jude thanked her for the information. If Nadia didn't want her by the lab, did that mean there was more human experimentation going on? He could check it out, at least see how security was going. "I'm gonna head into town now, need to get some stuff for my room again. Thanks again Nurse Prinn."
"Need any help?" she offered her services.
"No, thanks, I got this just fine. Thanks again." Was he laying it on overly thick with the thanks?
"Alright," she nodded as he took a few steps back. "Have fun, Doctor Jude."
"You too," he said back before hurrying out of the hallway, and then the reception area before heading back outside into the night clime. He looked back up at the starry fake sky and took a deep breath, a slight chill tinged the air as he inhaled and exhaled and it refreshed him, kept him focused on his goal. He'd head over to the Research District and scope it out.
He walked along, keeping to the sides of the wooden walkways. He missed this, he realized, the nightly calm of Fennmont. Leronde was busy despite it's size, mostly from Leia. He wouldn't trade either's particular brands for the others, but both just felt right. He kept heading on, reaching the trade district now, the bustling people still going about. There were a few more sentries around then he remembered, but still nothing compared to the earlier attacks. He kept heading along, eventually trading the yellow tinges of Fennmont's major areas for the cyan tints of the research district. The general population of the area was... non-existent. Literally no one was about.
That was... odd. Jude looked around some more, even above to the lab roofs, and below to the waters that ran beneath all of Fennmont. But there wasn't a single soul in sight. The Research District wasn't very traffic-heavy in the first place, but there should still be a few people about. Jude furrowed his brow, could, could Milla have already arrived? Started her attack? It was possible. He hurried along, a tad worried, and eventually reached the large platform in front of Laforte. The guards at the lab entrance weren't there, Jude ran over—worried, and when he reached the doors he saw two sentries in purple laying off to the side.
He jumped over to them, and began diagnosing. He pulled off their helmets, checked their pulses. Alive, but faint, weak. He was close enough now to see bloodstains on the wood, he rolled them over, slashes gouged straight through the armor, ran along the backs of both soldiers, a bloody mess the whole way. Jude quickly used his healer arte, repairing the damage caused and stopping immediate death. Even if they guarded this place, he wouldn't let them die! He finished up the first, and quickly did the second, and checked their pulses again. Stable, for now. They'd lost a lot of blood, but healer would keep them stable for now. But what now for him? Go and get help? Charge into Laforte and see what was going on?
Milla was probably the one who'd done this. He had only just arrived, if she got here earlier she probably didn't have to wait. He could head in, help take out the Lance and save anyone, civilian or soldier inside. Even maybe Milla herself if this ended up being another clash with an entire army unit. Well, maybe not that much.
Jude clenched his fist, he'd, head inside, yes. This was for the better. The doors to Laforte opened on his approach, and he entered the imposing laboratory. This... this was were Professor Haus died. The last time he was here he was so focused on vengeance he'd blinded himself to the actual building, but now, now he could see it. Two walkways suspended themselves over a black abyss below, with a third raised platform in the middle of them. Stairs connected the lower paths with the middle, and the middle connected to yet another walkway higher up. A few small doors branched off the top floor, but those weren't his goal. His was deeper in.
The lights illuminated his path, the dull green-grey of the ground an ugly comparison to the cyan-blue lights outside. But, seeing the floor, he was reminded of that blood from the sentries outside. And there wasn't any inside. There weren't any blood, bodies or... anything. It was silent, completely silent save for his own noises. What, what was going on? He felt pinpricks of unease settle along his back, and hurried on. The metal door to the next section was jammed open, and Jude slipped under it and inside the second area. Structurally the next room was the same, just with worse lighting, the lack of light making the ground more similar to the wooden paths outside in appearance. But his footfalls echoed with the sound of metal, the only sound still around. If Milla was here, she'd be making a complete racket in noise. Had they already left, completely successful?
This felt wrong, but, he had to see with his own eyes. He kept going, the only comfort the ground beneath his feet being stable. He slipped on his gauntlets, ready for... something to happen at any turn. On his next turn, he did see something. Someone. Nadia. She had her back to him, and her between the swaying of her hair he could see her red dress was actually backless and her skin was exposed for anyone to see. She gazed into the blackened abyss below, for some reason.
But, that wasn't important, her still being here was. That meant Milla wasn't here. Was there someone else who'd attacked those sentries? Maybe... Nadia? She was crazy enough to do it. But... either way, he shouldn't be sticking around any longer. He turned around—
—and so did she. "What the hell are you doing here!" she shouted at him.
Dammit! he thought and twisted back at her glaring at him in anger. "I was delivering something to the Research District when I saw the sentries outside nearly dead," he told a half-lie. "I thought that Milla might be attacking this place again so I rushed in to stop her."
Predictably Nadia just burst into laughter at him. "Didn't get enough playing hero last time not-a-doc?" She hunched over forward and pointed at him. "Or do you just feel like lying to my face?" she stomped forward.
"L-lying? What do you mean?" he stepped back from her. Did she know? Or was she just guessing?
"Either way you're bad at both," Nadia dragged out a... weapon? He guessed at its purpose solely from the blood on it. Because there was no way to even describe what it was at a simple glance of its absurd shape. "This has been a long time coming." She stretched her mouth into a vicious smile and looked at him with a disturbing eagerness. She was ready to attack—to kill him.
Jude took steps back as she took ones forward. "Why, why are you doing this?" he pleaded at her.
"Because you're annoying!" she shouted at him with a complete lack of a good reason.
"Annoying?" he shouted back at her like a child. Annoying? Coming from her! "You're annoying! And insane! You're attacking me because I'm annoying? How am I annoying? The first time we met I saved your life!" He took a step forward and clenched his fists for a fight. Even if she had a Lilium Orb, he had one too, and she didn't look that tough. Maybe a fight would actually be better here! Keep her out of Milla's way. "I've tried to be nice to you for Prinn's sake, but if you just keep being such a... such a pest!" he insulted her. "I can't stand it anymore!"
This only caused her to cock her head back in roaring laughter. "Oh, and now the facade of being a goody-two-shoes drops." Her laughter abruptly stopped and she stuck her tongue out at him like a little kid. "Glad you're finally being honest with yourself right before your life flashes before your eyes."
Jude dropped into his combat stance. "Are you really threatening to kill me here, huh Nadia?" he narrowed his eyes, waiting for any movement on her part. When she advanced, he'd just run. Even if he did fight there was no telling how long it would take before Milla arrived. There was no point in fighting, at all. Even if she deserved to be hit.
Her mouth somehow opened even wider, and her smile contorted into a maddening gleeful snickering before she spoke. "Threatening?" her eyes widened to absurdity, "no, no no, I am going to kill you." And he could tell she was deadly serious about that.
"What is your problem?" Jude grunted a question out as he slowly backed away.
"My problem?" Nadia chuckled at him as she advanced, swaying her body around with each step. "The only problem here, is you!" she shouted.
Jude clenched his teeth. Dammit, this was getting him nowhere. Feh, might as well ask one last thing before he got out of here. "Was it you who killed Professor Haus?"
"Who?" Nadia rose an eyebrow at the name. "I have no idea who that is, but yeah, I probably did kill him." she smirked at him.
Yeah, that was what he'd figured. "He was my mentor!" he shouted his reason at her. "He worked with Prinn!" he swung his fist for added emphasis. Nadia smiled at him, he backed away but—
"—Halt!" a new, but familiar voice pierced there argument. Its owner rounded a corner, his weapon pointed at Nadia. His red armor a shining spot in the dreary lab. "What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"I work here," she gritted out through clenched teeth. "I was just taking care of an intruder."
But, that wouldn't work here. For one reason Jude knew, and one he learned. "The only intruder reported to me, was a girl in red clothes," the soldier told them both. "Surrender and come along quietly or I will use force. Don't think of resisting, backup is already on its way."
"But its not here," Nadia charged at the soldier, she took his thrust to her left arm, and completely ignored it as she slashed him, and a pillar of fire erupted knocking the soldier flying back with a scream. "Hate to stay and chat not-a-doc, but I have a meeting in the next room. Hope you enjoy barbequed guardsmen." She laughed like a maniac and ran off through a metal door nearby.
It hadn't even happened that fast, but still, he didn't try and stop it. But the moans of pain from the soldier dragged him back to reality and he ran over and immediately began treating him with healer. "Mister Eldin hang on!" Jude cried out and pried off his helmet to help him breath easier.
"Thanks Doc," the older man squeezed out a thanks between painful breaths. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"That's not important!" Jude shouted, unwilling to lie at the moment. Nadia's weird weapon had sliced straight through the armor(it seemed certain she had done the same to the outside sentries now) and the burns were terrible, but treatable with healer. "I can stabilize you, hold on Mister Eldin." Jude commanded him.
"I'm not going anywhere, wife'd kill me if I died," Mister Eldin bitterly smiled beneath the pain. "Go, catch up to her." he said. "If she hurts anyone else on the way inside you're the only one who can save them."
"But!—"
"—Go!" Mister Eldin shouted, and his face matched his resolve. "I'll be fine Doc. Reinforcements are already on the way and I'm no stranger to fatal wounds, this isn't one."
Jude looked at him, at his confidence. He slowly nodded, accepting the responsibility placed on his shoulders. "Alright, don't die while I'm gone."
"Promise," Mister Eldin smiled at him, before Jude stood up, and rushed after Nadia.
He ran as fast as he could, Nadia was slower than him, so he could catch up to her or her victims in no time. But there were none of the latter. The whole place continued to be empty, and silent save for him. At the end of his path was a set of double-thick doors, familiar ones, that led to the Lance of Kresnik's room. Had she ran here? Jude squeezed inside, the hallway was empty. But... no, this wasn't the time for doubt. He ran again.
"Dammit!" Nadia's scream of hate reached his ears before he saw her standing on the catwalks surrounding the room where the Lance of Kresnik wasn't. Everything in the room was the same from his last visit(save Milla's absence as well). Nadia, Gilland, and scores of white-armored troopers. All of them were in the room. Nadia flung her head back and noticed Jude behind her. "Great and now not-a-doc's here." Her weapon swung from pointing between everyone and Jude.
"Oh, you boy, Jude Mathis was it?" Gilland, the deputy chief of staff called out to him. "You truly have a knack for arriving here at opportune moments don't you? I'm certainly glad I ordered you through Fort Gandala." That was why Jude was let through? Gilland cut the air with his arm. "Everyone, arrest this Auj Oule spy!" he pointed directly at Nadia, "on multiple accounts of treason and conspiring with the enemy!" Gilland ordered them all and the white soldiers advanced.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Nadia swore at everything. "Where's the Lance of Kresnik!" she demanded an answer from Gilland.
"Safety beyond your reach spy," Gilland slipped a crooked smile on his face. "We've already moved it to Orda Palace. The King himself is guarding it."
Then... it was all true wasn't it. Jude finally accepted it. Milla's story, her mission, the dangers of the Lance. Everything now, was partially his fault. From Milla's legs to Mister Eldin being attacked by Nadia.
And Nadia just laughed. "Well, if it's in Orda Palace, I guess I need to find something else to use this bomb on!" Nadia pulled out some small mechanical device.
"A bomb?" Gilland shouted and fell back. "R-retreat! Everyone retreat!" he scampered away as Nadia laughed and threw the device right at him. Halfway to its destination, it exploded. No, that wasn't the right word. It engulfed the entire area in fire and screams and Nadia's sadistic laughter piercing the whole situation as the catwalks holding everyone broke apart from the force of the bomb blast and sent everyone, Rashugal trooper, Nadia and even Jude into the water vortex below. The only thing that drowned out Naida's laughing was her hitting the water. It didn't take Jude long to join her, but he had the reaction to take a deep breath before he hit at least.
The water currents entrapped him, but he didn't struggle against it. He knew the futility of such things from lessons with Master Sonia and Leia. The others though, had their own problems. Nadia thrashed violently like she would, trying to fight against the currents carrying them outside. The soldiers, plated all in metal tried to swim, but their armor doomed them, Some pulled off helmets, some gained a few inches, but in the end, they all sunk and Jude couldn't watch. He had to focus on keeping himself alive.
The current pushed and pulled and all visibility slowly faded away as he was dragged away from the room. The initial warmth of the water grew colder as he was pulled along. His training let him ration his breath, and he protected his vital spots in case of a nasty turn. He counted the seconds as the darkness continued. And continued. And continued. He felt the pull lesson just before a wave of icy water crashed into him and things brightened, just a tad. Jude oriented himself, saw the light and swam to the surface, gasping for air in the water outside Laforte. He slowly began stabilizing himself, and looked around for a way unto land.
But he saw Nadia instead, face-down and drifting in the water nearby. Not a thrash, struggle or movement to be seen. So unlike her. He swam over, flipped her face up. He never thought his rescue training would come in handy for this kind of situation. He looked around for land and spotted it, a small little pier next to some walkways. He wrapped his arms around Nadia and began swimming the two of them over. He dragged her up the short pier and checked her breathing and—
—Why? Why did he just save her? He looked down at her, she was completely at his mercy. He could end it, right here and now, get vengeance for Professor Haus and who knows how many other people she'd killed working in Laforte. Stop her from getting in the way of Milla and the others ever again! He'd even be doing Prinn a favor, she was terrible.
Jude brought his fist up, a fang ready to blunt the life out of her. Her small, frail-looking body—just as weak when he first treated her. Prinn. She was defenseless, completely unable to fight back despite still clutching her weapon in a death-grip. Prinn. His fist shook-he could do this—his fist shook more—he could do this! Prinn. His fist began to shake violently—HE COULD DO THIS!
He swung his fist.
AN: Will Jude kill Agria? Has the character tag and profile posting all been devilish misdirection this entire time? Find out NEXT WEEK on: New Path for History! Same fanfiction website, same fanfiction time. Maybe.
Well hopefully this Chapter makes up for the lackluster Chapter 20. And things aren't dying down anytime soon either.
I wanted to add a section with Isla, but I think it would have ruined the pacing.
Also apparently my draft word counter lied horribly to me and the initial draft of this chapter was only 8000 words.