Destroy and Rebuild
Chapter Twenty Five: Visitors
Disclaimer: I don't own Radiata Stories or any of the characters in the game; they are the property of the brilliant minds at Square Enix.
Authors Note(s): Words in '…' indicate a thought. Words in "…" indicate spoken words. The first thing to note is that this story is a sequel. The characterization and storyline contained here are based on the characters and events that occur in my first story, Sever All Ties. Everything that happens in this story will make a lot more sense if you have read that one, so I recommend reading the first story before reading the sequel. With that in mind, the story picks up where Sever All Ties left off, and tells what happens after Aphelion is defeated and Jack and Ridley return to Radiata. I hope you enjoy.
Adele Russell frowned as she read the report in front of her. The Radiata Knights were behind schedule in their move out of Earth Valley, which was causing tension to grow. The dwarves were no longer being forced to work in the mines as they had been under the subjugation of Radiata, but having the two groups in such proximity had created a volatile situation. At the same time, the light elves were refusing to begin their pullout from Fort Helencia until the knights had completely withdrawn from the dwarven home. Two weeks after the Valkyrie's announcement about the imperative of fixing relations between the races, they still had not achieved this modest goal. She was scheduled to meet with King Jiorus and his advisors later in the day, and this would have to be a discussion topic. Adele had been very anxious when she began working with the noblemen from the castle, but the King had immediately taken a liking to her straightforward, matter-of-fact way of handling issues. Some of the others were less appreciative, but having the respect of the King ensured that everyone was at least polite to her. Sipping her tea, she continued to read.
Morning sunlight was pouring through the dining room window, and Adele was sitting across from Lady Freya Rothschild. The noblewoman was reading a leather-bound book, casually sipping her own cup of tea. The clock on the wall showed that it was 10:00, yet they had seen no sign of Jack. They had long since finished their breakfast, yet he had not come down from his room. The time was quickly approaching for her to leave and go to the castle, and she hoped to see her younger brother before departing. Though she tried to continue working, Adele soon found herself glancing at the clock again. This did not escape Lady Freya's notice, and the older woman smiled as she closed her book.
"If you have somewhere to be, then go," the noblewoman said, casually sipping her tea. "If you're concerned, go check on him. Sitting here and letting the clock distract you isn't helpful at all."
"You're right, of course," Adele smiled, but did not rise from her seat. "I had just hoped to see him before leaving to go to my meetings at the castle."
"Elwen's been working him very hard, I'm sure he's just sleeping," Lady Freya returned her smile. "He got back late last night, so he got even less sleep than he normally would."
"What do you mean when you say he got back late," Adele put down her cup, somewhat surprised by the noblewoman's words.
"Jack left in the middle of the night last night, after we had all retired for the evening," Lady Freya said simply.
"You knew that he left," asked Adele, surprised. This prompted an amused smile from across the table.
"A true lady always knows what is going on in her house. He left through the front door and came back a few hours later," the noblewoman said in a calming voice. "Jack is capable of taking care of himself, and he was not being secretive about what he was doing, so there was no reason to stop him. I know that you basically raised him, and that he did a great deal of growing up after he left home, but you should try to give him some credit."
"I know," Adele replied. She tried not to appear bothered by anything that Lady Freya said. "It isn't that I'm afraid that he still needs me to look over him; I know that he can look after himself. What worries me is that there might be something wrong with him. He's seemed rather secretive about his training with Elwen, and I just don't feel like he's being truthful. I'm just concerned about my brother."
"I understand completely," Lady Freya's smile faded somewhat. "I had similar feelings about my husband and son a number of times over the years; Gawain's behavior around the time he disappeared and Ganz's departure from the Radiata Knights. I was a nervous wreck."
"I, uh, I think I will go check on Jack before I leave," Adele closed the folder of documents and rose to her feet. "Thank you for your guidance."
Adele placed a hand on Lady Freya's shoulder as she walked out of the room. The topic of her husband and son appeared to have shaken the Rothschild matriarch, and a tear had begun to form at the corner of her eye. The older woman was rather proud, and would not want to be seen as fragile. Adele had a great deal of respect for the Rothschild family; she distinctly remembered meeting Sir Gawain, Lady Freya, and Ganz when she was younger. Sir Gawain was her father's closest friend, her mother had gotten along well with Lady Freya, and Ganz had been a playmate on a couple of occasions. Even after her father died, she had not been angry at Sir Gawain. Her mother had not blamed the Lion of the West for her husband's death, and so Adele had not blamed him either. They had drifted apart over the years, until Ganz had rescued her from Radiata Castle. Adele smiled softly to herself as she imagined for a moment how things would have been different if they had stayed close to the Rothschild family over the years.
Knocking at Jack's door did not bring an immediate answer, and she waited a few moments before knocking again. When her brother still failed to appear, she softly turned the doorknob to enter. Sticking her head inside, she saw that he was sitting in one of the armchairs by the fireplace. Jack was fully clothed, slumped back in an armchair with his head resting on his hands, and staring at the floor. He didn't look up when she entered the room, and she was unsure for a moment whether he was awake or asleep. His head turned as she walked toward him, and he wordlessly went back to looking at the floor. Their eyes only met for a moment, but she could tell immediately that something was wrong with him. She sat down across from Jack, not forcing him to break his silence. After several long moments, she spoke.
"What's wrong, Jack," Adele asked simply. Her voice was soft, but level. He did not answer, so she spoke again. "Can I ask where you went last night?"
"Out," Jack replied after a moment, not looking up at her.
"Jack Russell," she said slowly and firmly. He raised his head to look at her, and their eyes met. "Do not think that you can push me away. I don't care what you say to the knights, guild members, or anybody else, but you do not talk to me that way."
"Sorry," Jack said softly, his head drooping again. "It was a long night, I'm tired and I'm frustrated. Sis, this is so hard."
"What is? Jack, what happened to you last night," Adele was trying to convey her concern without sounding too alarmed.
"I went to the Black Town," Jack's words surprised his sister, and it showed on her face. "I wanted to talk to Rynka and Flau about what happened with Captain Ganz."
"And, what happened," she pressed him further on the issue. For the first time since she had joined him in the room, Jack sat up in the chair.
"Have a seat anywhere," Rynka said, gesturing to the small living room area of the apartment. "Flau lives next door, and she'll be up in a minute.
Jack sat down on a wooden, three-legged stool that was sitting against the wall. Looking around, he observed the sparse furnishings: an old wooden table that had seen better days, a couple of mismatched chairs, and a bookcase that held a few books and trinkets. The cold outside was forcing its way in, giving the room a chill; the fireplace gave off an orange glow, providing some warmth, but Jack still did not remove his cloak or gloves. Rynka brought him a cup of tea and took a position standing near the fireplace. Jack tried not to make a face as he drank the bitter tea.
Rynka had always had a tough disposition, and she had seemed unapproachable during his time at Theater Vancoor, but Jack felt closer to her after learning that she and her partner Flau had helped Captain Ganz rescue his sister from Radiata Castle. The door opened silently, letting the cold in from outside, and Flau stepped inside. The younger thief's normal attire had been replaced by long pants and long sleeves, covered by a cloak. She gave Jack a warm smile as she took a seat at the table. They all sat in silence for a moment before Rynka cleared her throat and spoke.
"It's good to see you Jack Russell," her voice was calm and level as she spoke. "Though I'm wondering what has brought you here at this time of night."
"I wanted to come sooner, but this is the first chance I've had. The Chief has been making me train all the time," Jack smiled at Rynka, and turned to look at Flau.
"There's definitely a lot going on," Flau returned his smile as she poured herself a cup of tea. "We've been trying to keep track of everything."
"Yeah, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. That's not why I'm here, though," Jack's smile dropped slightly. "I want to talk to you about Captain Ganz."
"Ganz, of course," the corner of Rynka's mouth twitched a bit when Jack spoke.
"He wanted to go with me to Gold Dragon Castle," the former guild sergeant said. He did not take his eyes off of Rynka as he continued. "I don't think I could've kept him from it."
"We heard about Ganz's death from Ortoroz after the trial," said Rynka. Her face didn't give away any emotion.
"That's the way he was," Flau said wistfully. When he turned to look, she had a light smile on her face. "He always said, 'You must do the right thing, no matter the cost.' I'm sure this was just another instance of that for him. Plus, he cared a lot about you and Lady Ridley. He talked about the two of you all the time. I know he was willing to die protecting you."
"What did Ortoroz tell you about the way that Captain Ganz died," Jack felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as he asked. Flau looked a little confused by his question.
"That he died fighting against the Silver Dragon," Rynka spoke before Flau. Jack turned to see that her gaze had hardened somewhat, as if she was bracing herself for bad news. "Don't keep anything from us, Jack."
"He did fight against Aphelion with us," the young swordsman said, nodding his head to emphasize the point. He paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "But, he wasn't killed during the fight."
"I don't understand," Flau's brow furrowed. "Ortoroz told us that he died fighting the Silver Dragon."
"His father, Sir Gawain, died in the fight," Jack clarified. He continued before one of the women could interrupt him. "Sir Gawain protected us when Aphelion first attacked, and it cost him his life. After the fight was over and Gold Dragon Castle began to collapse, he made the decision to stay behind."
"He chose to stay? Why would he do that," Rynka wore a neutral expression, and she was clearly trying to understand what had happened. Jack was trying to think about how to proceed.
"I think that it was the shock of seeing his father again after all that time," Jack was speculating, but he knew his friend well enough to talk about him in this way. "Sir Gawain left before the Captain joined the Radiata Knights, they hadn't seen each other or spoken in over half of his life. They talked on the day that you came to Fort Helencia with my sister, but I don't know what about, but the Captain had a great deal of respect for his father. He must have felt strongly enough about him to stay."
"I just don't understand," said Flau. Jack could hear the frustration in her voice, and he saw in her eyes how troubled she was by his words. "He had so much to live for, why would he throw it all away?"
"Although he hid it well, Ganz was anything but simple," Rynka was still guarding her emotions, and spoke levelly. "He was constantly struggling with his thoughts and feelings. I don't know why he did it either, but this wasn't just an impulse for him."
"I don't know what else to say," Jack forced a light smile as he looked at the two women. "I know he cared about the two of you, and that he…"
"Save your words," Rynka's words instantly became harsher as she cut him off. Her right hand was clenched in a fist, and he could sense her frustration. She paused for a minute before continuing. "We don't need you to tell us what he felt."
"It was very considerate of you to come to see us, Jack," Flau's smile was hollow, and he could see a tear forming in her eye. "I hope you won't think it rude, but I think that Rynka and I really would like to be left alone now."
"I…" the former knight rose to his feet, not knowing what to say. "I didn't want to cause any more pain. I was only trying to help."
"I know you were," Flau put a hand on his shoulder as he reached for the door. When their eyes met, he could see her tears. "We don't blame you, Jack; if Ganz wanted to stay, you couldn't have changed his mind. But, I thought we had given him something to live for, Rynka and I both did. Knowing that he chose not to come back hurts worse than thinking that he died in battle. There's nothing more you can say here."
"Flau, I'm sorry," Jack said as he stepped out into the cold. The temperature had dropped and the wind was strong, but the young swordsman already felt numb from the situation he was leaving. "I wish I had done something more, I wish there was something else I could say."
"I know. Thank you for coming to talk to us, Jack," tears were falling from Flau's eyes as she gently closed the door.
"I don't know what else I could have said," Jack concluded. The frustration and pain from the previous night had never really gone away, but he was suddenly feeling them much more acutely. "They deserved to know the truth, it wouldn't have been right to lie to them, but I feel like I did the wrong thing."
"You did the right thing in telling them," Adele looked saddened by his story, and she instinctively took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It would have been worse to keep it from them. Doing the right thing doesn't always lead to an outcome you would have wanted, but I'm proud of you for the choice you made."
"Thanks," Jack feigned a smile as he acknowledged her words. "Sis, I still don't understand why the Captain didn't come back with us. He really did have something to come back to. I know he felt close to Sir Gawain, but I don't know why he would have chosen to stay at Gold Dragon Castle."
"You knew him better than I did, Jack." she looked unsure of what to say, but spoke confidently when she continued. "I don't know what Ganz was thinking when he decided to stay behind, but he must have felt it was important enough to give his life for. He knew what he was doing, and what he was leaving behind. He must have had faith that you would be just fine without him. Have you been up all night thinking about this?"
"Yeah, I couldn't go to sleep," Jack was telling half of the truth. He saw no reason to include the details of his conversation with Nocturne, which would only make his sister worry more. "I feel exhausted, but I can't these thoughts out of my head."
"Well, you need to try to get some sleep," his sister smiled, and he could tell she was concerned for him. "Elwen is going to have you training hard again tomorrow, and you need to be ready to give it your all."
"I know," Jack nodded with a sigh. After a few moments passed in silence, Adele rose to her feet.
"I have some meetings to attend at Radiata Castle, so I have to leave for now. Will you be all right," asked Adele. Jack nodded again to indicate that she should leave, and she offered him a partial embrace where he was seated. "Do what I said and try to get some rest. As much as it bothers you, I believe that you did the right thing."
Though he smiled lightly as she left, it left his face almost immediately. His encounter with Nocturne and conversation with Rynka and Flau had given him a lot to think about. Experiencing firsthand the sort of pain they had experienced bothered him greatly, and he was fighting the feeling of responsibility that would not go away. Jack slowly stood up and put a piece of wood on the dying fire in the fireplace, then walked to the class door leading to the balcony. Though the morning sunlight brought a measure of warmth with it, some of the cold from outside still managed to seep in from the balcony. Pulling back the curtain, he let the light in and gazed out.
The leaves had all turned color, and most had fallen off of the trees, swaying and moving gently with the light wind that was blowing. There were some clouds in the sky, but the sun was unobscured at the moment. Seeing the trees as they were made Jack think of his last mission with the Rose Cochon Brigade, and the accompanying trip to the Nowem Region. The leaves had been changing colors on that trip as well, and he vividly remembered the bright orange and yellow colors accompanied by the sound their rustling in the wind. His mind naturally progressed from this point to the end of the mission, Ridley's transpiritation and the dissolution of the newly formed unit had set the stage for everything that came after.
'I was so optimistic, there was so much to look forward to, then it all changed in an instant' Jack reflected. Though he continued to stare outside, he was focused only on his thoughts. 'Where do we go from here, Captain?'
"Sure is a beautiful morning out there," a loud voice from behind him startled Jack, and he turned around quickly to see a smiling Alicia standing in the doorway that Adele had left through. "Lost in thought, huh? I knocked three times."
"Alicia. Sorry, I guess I'm just a little distracted today," Jack fumbled through an excuse. The Vancoor sergeant waved off his apology as she walked into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed that was closest to the balcony. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you were doing. Your sister was leaving as I arrived, and she told me that you were up here," Alicia explained. "I see you're not sleeping away the day that the Chief gave you to rest, so let's go do something."
"I can't," Jack shook his head as he spoke. "I have a lot on my mind."
"About what," Alicia asked, though she provided the answer before he could. "Is it about Nocturne?"
"How did you…" Jack began, before Alicia interrupted him.
"Surely you don't think that Void is the only guild that gathers information on what's going on in the city," she smiled in amused fashion as she spoke. "It's not common knowledge, but the important people already know. I was pretty impressed to hear how you handled it, really. The Jack I remember from Theater Vancoor would've rushed into a fight with Nocturne right there outside of Club Vampire."
"I couldn't. If our positions were reversed, I'd want to fight him as bad as he wants to fight me," answered Jack. He tried to smile back at Alicia, but couldn't. "He has every right to want revenge, but we need him on the team more than anything else."
"Very true," Alicia gestured for him to sit down as well.
"Of course, if I'm being completely honest, I don't think I could have beaten him last night anyway," the former knight smiled lightly as he spoke, but did not move away from the window to the balcony. "The Chief's been pushing me pretty hard, and I'm not at my best."
"We're training pretty hard too, you know," Alicia pointed out. "The facilities at Radiata Castle are pretty impressive, and everyone is trying to get stronger."
"I believe you, it's just that I think I would have been at a disadvantage last night," Jack was being careful as he spoke, and even turned away from her to look out the window.
"Why? Is it because of the Falvern," asked Alicia. Jack immediately turned around, regarding her with a mix of surprise and confusion.
"How did you…" he was stunned at hearing her say this, believing knowledge of the sword to be limited.
"The Chief told me; and even if she hadn't, you're not very good at keeping secrets anyway, I can see it on your face when you're hiding something," Alicia replied, humor lacing her words. The Vancoor sergeant's tone became more serious as she continued. "I know about the sword's power, what you're fighting through, and what you have to do to recover."
"Why would she tell you that," asked Jack. He didn't want for his trials with the Falvern to become common knowledge.
"I don't know; I didn't ask, she came to me and told me. I'm not supposed to talk about it with anyone but you and her," Alicia rose to her feet and walked toward the window where he was standing. Her smile returned as she spoke again. "I have to admit, the last couple of weeks made a lot more sense after I found out about the Falvern. I couldn't figure out why you were suddenly so weak and slow."
"It's been frustrating," Jack shook his head after pausing for a moment to reflect on what she had told him. "I can feel the distortion caused by the sword. My strength and stamina are being used up trying to keep it in check."
"Well, at least your technique is improving since you can't rely on your physical abilities," Alicia's attempt at cheering him up was unsuccessful, and her face became more serious. "You'll get through this Jack, I know you will."
"I wish I could be as confident as you," he answered in a dejected tone. "It just seems like nothing is turning out the way it's supposed to."
"Of all the people in the world to have doubts, I wouldn't have picked you," Alicia stepped closer. "You've definitely changed a lot, Jack Russell. I think the naive, immature kid who came to Theater Vancoor is still in there, but he definitely grew up a lot."
"Yeah," Jack said with a nod, feeling slightly uncomfortable at how close she was to him.
"Let me ask you something, Jack," Alicia looked right into his eyes, and he could see her nervousness. "Why didn't you kill me on the day we fought at Lupus Gate? Was it because of the time we spent training and going on missions together at Theater Vancoor?"
"That was part of it," Jack said reflexively, thinking about how her question related to what he was feeling. He continued after several long moments, choosing his words carefully. "I learned after going to Fort Helencia that it would mean fighting my friends, and I convinced myself that I would be killed or captured if I hesitated in those battles. I couldn't let that happen, but I didn't like what it was doing to me. I was already troubled by who I was turning into, and then you were standing in front of me. When we fought, things felt more confusing and yet clearer all at once. I didn't go into that fighting thinking I would let you live, but by the end I couldn't do it. I don't like that part of me, the part that was driven to think that fighting without hesitation was the only option that I had, but I really don't know if we would be here today had I not thought like that. It's still bothering me."
"It was a difficult burden for you to bear," Alicia looked as though she was still processing his answer. "There definitely were those who would have killed you or taken you captive, but not everyone. I've told you already that I don't harbor any ill-will toward you. Some people will understand and others won't, you can't let it get to you."
"It already has, though," Jack shook his head as he spoke. "Nocturne got to me last night. I deserve the blame that he directed at me."
"The Deputy Chief and I already told you that it will be impossible to make everyone see things your way. All you can do is make peace with the way things transpired, and do what you think is right," the guild warrior was trying her best to empathize with him, but he was clearly still bothered. "If you're still having these doubts, it means you didn't turn into the person you were afraid of becoming."
"You're right, I know. I just wish that made it easier," Jack frowned and turned to look out the window again.
"I think maybe that's why the Chief told me everything about what you're going through," Alicia sounded upbeat, and he turned to look at her again. "Maybe she wanted you to have someone to talk to about all of this. You're keeping this from everyone, aren't you?"
"I don't want my sister or Lady Freya to worry," Jack answered, looking down at the floor.
"You need someone to talk to; someone that really understands," Alicia's tone softened as she spoke.
"Yeah," Jack nodded absently at her words. "I don't have the Captain anymore, and I haven't seen Ridley or Gil in over a week."
"I'm here for you, so don't be afraid to share all of this with me, okay," said Alicia. Her eyes found his, and he could see her concern.
"Okay," the former knight agreed, still thinking about everything they had discussed. Alicia surprised him by wrapping her arms around his waist and pulling him into an embrace.
"Get some sleep, rest your body and your mind. The Chief's going to push your training up to the next level tomorrow," she spoke softly, and Jack felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Alicia held on for a moment longer, releasing him just as he started to feel the warmth of her body pressed against his.
Without waiting for him to say anything, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room without looking back. As she pulled the door shut, Jack sank to the floor and exhaled loudly. He suddenly felt exhausted, as the physical and mental fatigue of the previous night combined with the morning's emotionally draining conversations. Adele's concern for his well-being was expected, and she had always been good at figuring out when something was wrong with him, though he was grateful to have kept the details of the Falvern and his encounter with Nocturne from her; she had enough to worry about without adding things that she could not help him overcome.
Alicia's concern, and their conversation, was still fresh in his mind, though he was unsure how to react to her words. She had been his closest friend in his time at Theater Vancoor, and he knew she was trying to look out for him, but even her words could not completely dispel the unease he was feeling and the doubts he was having. Nevertheless, the former knight was grateful that he had been able to really talk to someone about what he was feeling. He stood up, muscles protesting as he rose, and gazed out the window again. The sky had clouded over and the wind picked up, and the cold permeating the room was decidedly more noticeable. He turned around to tend to the fire, and was startled by a figure standing between him and the hearth.
"Hello, Disrupter," Lenneth spoke levelly, but there was a smirk on her face. Jack's eyes immediately darted to the Arbitrator, sitting near the fireplace. "Oh, don't worry about that; I'm not here to fight, just to talk. You don't look well, is everything all right?"
"Just tired from my training, that's all," the young swordsman's eyes were locked onto the Valkyrie, though she was casually surveying the room. He tried to hide his fatigue as he continued. "What do you want?"
"I've just told you, I'm here to talk. You seem rather dense, but perhaps that's just from being worn out," her tone did not sound condescending, which made the insult even more pointed. "I thought, perhaps, we might discuss the challenges that you will be facing in the next few weeks."
"Are you going to tell me what they are? Maybe how to beat them," Jack smiled, which prompted the same reaction from Lenneth.
"No, nothing like that," she chuckled softly. "You humans always think you should be accommodated, it's a trait I've never understood. No, to the contrary, I want you to understand the hopelessness of your situation: You will be standing in front of the Gods themselves, the ones who created everything, and you have no hope of winning."
"Why would we talk about that," Jack wore a confused look.
"It's just a starting point," replied the Valkyrie. "I thought that we might talk about what that means for you personally."
"I'm not very good at word games on a normal day, and today I'm tired and frustrated," Jack shook his head to drive home the point. "Why don't you just tell me what you want to say?"
"You're suddenly so matter-of-fact, but I suppose that's fine with me," Lenneth's smile faded to a neutral expression. "I sensed the power in you, you know, that day in the court room. At first I thought it was you, and I admit I was excited. But now, standing here, I don't know what to think. I wanted that power to be yours, Disrupter. I wanted you to be strong enough to fight Aphelion on your own, to fight me on your own. Knowing the power isn't yours should be a letdown for me, but finding out that you possess the holy sword is too promising."
"The what," asked Jack. Her voice had quickened while speaking. "What are you talking about?"
"The holy sword Falvern," Lenneth was grinning again. "That's how you beat Aphelion, isn't it? I didn't sense it in the court room, but now I can. The power of the sword is inside you, smothering you from the inside. I know you can feel it. You're getting weaker every day, and if you can't force it back into the sword, it will eventually snuff your life out completely. Of course, you don't have that long, because you won't survive if you take on the challenges in your current state."
"What does that mean," Jack was caught off guard as she detailed exactly what he was going through. "There's no reason to repeat things we both know already, so what do you want?"
"I want you to let me help you," Lenneth's words surprised Jack, who tried in vain to keep the confusion from his face. There was a moment of silence before Lenneth spoke again, as if she were carefully picking her words. "I want you to think about who you're trying to help, and why. When you fail, and the Reset occurs, all of humanity will be destroyed. It doesn't have to be that way, Disrupter. If you join me, I'll guarantee your life will be spared."
"You're joking, right," Jack stared straight at Lenneth, voice suddenly confident. "I'm not going to back down, and I won't betray the people who are counting on me."
"People who you fought against just a few short weeks ago," the Valkyrie countered. "People who would have killed you if given the chance. Many of them still would. You don't owe them anything, and even if you did, you would fail."
"That's your way of seeing things," Jack frantically suppressed that she had stoaked up in his mind, trying to remain calm and level-headed.
"How many people would I have to add to make you reconsider," Lenneth pressed him. "What if I saved your sister? Freya Rothschild? Alicia Roberts?"
"This isn't about me, it's about the cosmic order and peace," Jack insisted, though he could hear the uncertainty in his own voice. She grinned at his reply.
"An appropriate answer for the world's would-be protector," Lenneth nodded her head and adopted a serious expression that seemed to mock him. Her neutral tone and soft smile made her next words frightening. "You'll have to cling tightly to it while you're being destroyed. Maybe thinking you did the right thing will give you comfort as you die."
"I don't think we have anything left to talk about," the former knight was already struggling to stay calm, then Lenneth began walking toward him.
"There's no need to be rude, Disrupter," she said. Jack took a step back as she purposefully closed the distance. "You're under no obligation to accept my help, but the offer stands whenever you want to take advantage of it. Let me just give you a parting gift."
The Valkyrie reached out with her right hand and touched his chest with her index finger. She stepped closer and flattened her hand against his torso as a warm sensation began to work its way through his body. It was a soothing feeling that drained the tension from his muscles and displaced the weariness he felt. Jack's entire body felt refreshed, and he marvelled at the technique. The warmth faded as she removed her hand, though she stepped closer instead of backing away.
"Let me take away your weariness so you can continue your training with El," she softly ran her fingers down his left cheek as she continued. "I really do want to fight you, so it won't bother me if you don't accept my offer. Until next time, Disrupter."
The Valkyrie backed away from him slowly, before turning toward the doorway. Her form began to shimmer and fade, and she disappeared as she crossed the threshold. Jack shook his head and sat down on the edge of the bed, thinking about the things that Lenneth had told him. Her words had pulled at some of the doubts in his mind, and he was uncomfortable with how easily she had gotten into his head. Though he felt better after her healing treatment, he was still exhausted. The former knight climbed into his bed, intent on getting some much-needed sleep. It took several long minutes with the heavy thoughts weighing on his mind, but he was eventually able to drift off into slumber.
Vegeta26: Well, the wait wasn't too long this time. I've got a little more free time now, so I'm hoping I'll be able to write a little more regularly. I've got another project in the works that will be competing with this one for time, but hopefully I'll just end up making good progress on both. Things are going to move a bit quicker in the next couple of chapters and some action will be forthcoming. As always, I appreciate those of you who continue to review, and hope that you'll let me know what you think.
nanohaxfate: Thanks for the review; there are definitely a few tense moments ahead for Jack, Nocturen, and the rest of the team. Let me know what you think.
MattMC3: Good to hear from you. The Nocturne story is one that I've been looking forward to introducing, and I think it's going to add quite a bit to this, you'll have to let me know what you think. As for Jack and Sigourney, that conversation will also have important implications for the rest of the work. I hope to hear from you again.
radiata's lover: Welcome, and thanks for the kind words. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the story, and hope that you'll continue to review.
Zach Fleming: Ridley has access to both the Quasar and Hap's powers, but has to learn to what extent she can access and utilize them. More on Jack and Nocturne's interaction will be forthcoming. I'm set up as a beta reader and I'd be happy to work with you on a story, just find me through the site. Looking forward to hearing from you.