Chapter 26

Raine, Lloyd and Colette

Raine got off the train at the house of salvation, from there she went to the otherworldly gate. She saw the full moon rise and stepped into the portal. Her body's structure teleported to Sylvarant. Her body fell from the sky, she saw the ground coming closer until her body slammed into the ground. She cautiously got up and dusted herself off. She was back. She looked around, she appeared to be somewhere near Palmacosta, she began to walk towards the city.

The orchids blossomed along the dirt path, each with its own unique pattern. She smiled as she saw a few rabbits run across the road and into their den. It felt nice to be back in Sylvarant, she hadn't been there in so long. She wondered how Lloyd and Colette were as she walked towards the city. Within ten minutes she reached the city.

She entered the city gates, it was darkening outside, but she wanted to get to Iselia by dawn. She trudged on through the city without sparing a second to look for a familiar face. She entered the port and saw a small boat. She walked up to it and noticed a man there.

"Is this you boat sir?"

"Yes."

"Do you think you could take me to Iselia?"

"For a price…"

"How does five hundred gald sound?"

"Fair. We will leave now, yes?"

"Yes."

She sat down in the boat and let her fingers glide across the top of the water. The reflection of the moon shimmered on the top of the dark waters. The man pushed the small boat forwards with two sets of magically entranced oars. He had probably cast a spell on them to make them paddle with out him.

In an hour they reached the shores near Iselia. She thanked him and gave him his money. She stepped off the boat and started walking into Iselia. She could see no one was out. She went into the inn and got herself a room. She went into the room and put her stuff down and laid down on the bed. She fell asleep almost instantly.

Colette had just finished lunch. She was about to look for Lloyd when he entered the living room.

"Hey Lloyd, want to go for a walk with me?"

"Sure."

She smiled as he held her hand and let her out the door before locking it. She looked down at her hand and admired her beautiful ring Lloyd had given her. It was silver, a large green stone sat in the middle in an intricate crown. He took her hand again and they headed out into the street. The cherry blossoms were beginning to boom, the pink buds slowly were outing into full bloom. As they walked by the inn she saw a woman who looked like the Professor Sage. She stopped, so did he.

"Lloyd, is that the Professor?"

"Looks like her."

"Lets say hi."

"No, wait to see if she notices us."

"Ok."

They stood there talking about random stuff until she turned around and saw them there.

"Lloyd! Colette!"

"Hey Professor." They both said in unison.

"How are you two?"

"Great." Said Lloyd smiling at Colette.

"Good."

"Why are you here Professor?" Colette asked.

"I'm here for a week until I go back…"

"Back where?" she asked.

"To Melotokio."

"What's there?" Lloyd asked sounding very curious.

"Zelos."

"Wait, you mean, that you, and Zelos?" he said stuttering over words.

"Yes." She replied blushing extremely red.

"That's so cute!" Colette chimed in.

"Yeah…" Raine said blushing.

"Is something wrong Professor?" Colette asked.

"Well…"

"Tell us Professor. You can tell us." Lloyd said.

"No, I really can't, besides it's nothing really."

"Ok, if you insist." He said.

"So, what've you two been up to?"

"Um…" They both said sheepishly.

"Guys…what did you do?"

"Well, nothing really…" Lloyd said.

"Sure…" she said right before she spotted the ring on Colette's left hand.

"What's the ring for?" she asked as she stared grinning.

"Me and Lloyd are getting married." Colette said smiling.

"Really?!"

"Yeah! Isn't it exciting?" Colette said enthusiastically.

"That's so sweet!" Raine said.

"Colette, don't forget the other part…" Lloyd said smiling.

"What other part?" Raine said looking at Colette.

"I'm pregnant." Colette said smiling dotingly down at her stomach.

"Oh my gosh, you're pregnant?" Raine said as her face softened.

"Yeah." She replied.

"I'm so happy for you two! I knew it all along!"

"Knew what?" said Lloyd.

"That you two were meant to be."

Lloyd rolled his eyes and Colette laughed to herself.

"I guess you were right Professor." Said Colette.

Raine was happy to see them getting along so well. She knew Lloyd would be a good father and Colette would definitely be a good mother. No doubts about that, she remembered Colette would baby-sit all the younger kids in Iselia when she was younger.

"God, so much has changed…" said Raine.

"Yeah, it has." Said Lloyd.

"Lloyd, you should go home and write Zelos that letter, me and Raine can discuss wedding dresses and the party and all that stuff." Colette said.

"Why are you writing Zelos a letter?" Raine asked.

"See if he knows of any jobs I could get in Melotokio."

"I wouldn't write him right now."

"Why?"

"He's, um, not doing well right now." Raine said as she looked down.

"Is he okay?" asked Colette.

"I don't know. I hope so…"

"Raine, do you and Zelos have a thing, like seriously?" Said Lloyd eagerly.

"N…no, of course not Lloyd." She said blushing.

"You do don't you?" Lloyd said smirking.

"Yes…"

"Really?" Lloyd said surprised.

"Yes…"

"Oh, for how long?" He asked.

"A week or so…" she said.

"I get it…" Colette said wrapping an arm around her.

"I'm so sorry Professor." Colette said.

"What happened?" said Lloyd confused.

"Nothing sweetie, you go home and work on that letter, I'll be back later. Ok?"

"Fine." He said as he left confused and annoyed.

"Colette, how do you know what happened?"

"He dumped you right?"

"No, I left for a week to decide whether or not I want to stay with him."

"What happened?"

"I can't tell you."

"Professor, I'm the chosen you can tell me anything."

"Okay, well to make a long story short he raped me."

"What?"

"Its true."

"Oh my gosh!" she said as she hugged Raine.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I think so."

"You should have told me sooner."

"I was afraid to tell anyone."

"I understand. He doesn't seem the type to actually rape someone."

"I didn't think so either."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Just don't tell Lloyd and I'm not mad at you guys or anything, I just need sometime to myself this week. I don't want to talk about it."

"Ok, I hope you feel better soon Professor."

"Thank you Colette." Was all she said before she went back into the Hotel. Colette went home and went and laid down on the couch and lay there looking at the beautiful cherry trees.