Disclaimer: It's obvious I don't have Tales of Xillia, because it was properties of Bandai Namco.

So now it's the time for Milla who seems to not have anything to say about Jude~ after all, she had her mind pretty much fixed on leaving without telling. I don't need to mention that she was in quite critical condition as well.

For any of you who wanted to slap Milla in this story go ahead because I can sense that she started to sound like the Milla from the first time in first game. Hey, I just want to capture the image of a very headstrong Milla if about duty after all~ :D

So, if any of you wanted to review, go ahead because by seeing how my hit rate increased like hell after Xillia release in America, I found myself not really asking for review anymore~ but I still do it because of habit.

Note:

"…abc…" : Normal talking

"…abc…" : Whispering, past talk, and far away sounds (so if it was in 1st POV, eavesdrop)

'…abc…' : Heart talk, telepathy, that kind of stuff

Milla POV

I waited in front of Leah's cottage for Jude as we decided our course of action for this day and that is to visit some place that Rei... I mean, Rise, had said could ease the burden of Memory Arte. I took one of Leah's swords that I found inside her weaponry since I didn't prepare one or asked the Four Great Spirit to send one seeing how I made them quite busy with the train passengers. After all I didn't intend to fight anything on my visit. But remembering how Jude had mentioned that the place was quite far from this place, I won't get surprised to have some monster ambush so I took one from Leah.

I twirled a leaf with my middle and index finger as I gazed to the small river that passed by Leah's cottage. It took me some great effort to not say that I did know who Rei is. After all, Rise Record is Rei. Rei is the name that she used before we, I and Jude, somehow gave her name through our action. Her name with the associated word has different way in sound but it came from the word 'Rise' and also the fact that she was born in Rieze Maxia the land of birth of I and Jude.

I smiled bitterly at how Rise must looks like when she heard how Jude called her 'Rei' again. But I knew that if the girl I raised dares to abuse her power, she is serious on returning Jude memory. I found it quite ironic since I wanted Jude to just forget about the Spirit existence in his life.

'Rise… why you tried so hard? If Jude forgets about us he will be far away from harm…' I spoke to the wind but I know that Rise actually was here and listening to my thought.

As I whispered her name, I saw a golden-ish, almost orange, light flickered in front of me, showing a figure of a smaller version of me but with Jude's eyes. She had grown into teenager just because she wants to, and she trembled in front of me. Her form is a see-through one because she isn't allowed to materialize in the world of living more than that. She is the very spirit that defied me and doing Jude will when she was originally my recorder.

"M-Milla-sama…" she said with trembling lips that almost looked like right now she was being kept inside a very cold refrigerator or I'm going to erase her from existence.

I smiled at her before asking, "Will you stop the Arte for me, Rise?" I asked nicely even when I knew the answer of it. After all, this girl action is a mix of me and Jude. She obey those with greater control except when she wanted to side with who. If something like that happening she will do what she thought was right.

Rise looked away with a guilty expression before saying, "Jude-sama will inside of me is stronger than of Mi-Milla-sama… j-just this once I can't obey your wish, M-Milla-sama. I beg for y-your forgiveness," she answered with an obviously guilty tone. She also made it quite clear that she was frightened as well.

I let out a sigh, knowing that this answer is the one that I will get from her. Rise hadn't needed to remind me twice that I lost the fight over her 'use' fair and square. But I also noticed that it wasn't just Jude will that beat me and there is her will too in it.

"Why you wanted Jude to remember about us? We, Spirit, will only bring harm to him. Jude had gotten involved deeply with our problem enough already. Just… answer me that," I asked once more to Rise who still trembling in front of me.

Rise gave on her knees with her head hung down. I heard her sobbing as she said, "I-I… Jude-sama… is dear for me… I don't want to be forgotten by him… or Milla-sama… I… I also want to hear Jude-sama… Jude-sama calling me 'Rise' again… my name is precious treasure from Jude-sama and Milla-sama… t-that's why…" she said while crying with loud hiccups.

My body moved by itself as I pulled her to me with little Mana that I have. I stroke her head gently before saying, "It's okay… calm down Rise. You are a good girl after all," I softly whispered to her after all every time I said that, Rise will always stop crying. In the end, she is a big crybaby trapped in an eternal life.

Rise sniffled shortly afterwards before saying, "Milla-sama… I wanted you and Jude-sama to live happily… for that I will do anything. After all Milla-sama and Jude-sama are my beloved Papa and Mama," she said before disappearing bit by bit before completely leaving no traces at all.

I was left shocked at Rise words. I knew she is always so direct it was almost embarrassing but she is a sweet girl. What got me shocked is the fact she called me and Jude her parents. It is technically true but still...

"I… and Jude… it would be nice…" I softly said before closing my eyes once again. Yeah, it would be nice if we can become a family. We can live peacefully without any worry about the world. But, even with that… I am the Lord of Spirit and that kind of hopeful wish won't happen. Right now I found it as ridiculous even. That's why I must cut Jude tie with us.

At the same time, I heard sound from the house walking closer to my place. I was wary that Jude had seen me with Rise, since it will blow my cover completely. I looked back to find Jude who looked like he was deep in thought and that's when I realized that he used his original clothes again, like me. I looked at Rise direction and she had left with no trace except some wet spot on my clothes now, but Jude won't know it.

"Jude, you changed your clothes?" I asked unconsciously. It's not that I dislike his researcher clothes and it's not that I didn't wash it before, but I just wanted to know why now.

Jude snapped from his trance before saying, "Ah, Milla-san! Well… I thought it would help me remember something but I guess it wasn't that easy," Jude answered before smiling sheepishly.

I smiled at his answer before rising up from my position while saying, "It suits you, Jude… and did you bring weapon with you just in case?" I said before asking Jude. I didn't think he brought his bracers with him so I was slightly worried.

Jude then shows his hands to me which now had a pair of silver colored bracer that had the feel of Sylph in it that I instantly looked at them. As soon as he knew that I was looking, he said, "I was surprised at first to find something that I'm familiar on in the weaponry but… I lend it from Leah-san though she didn't know it," Jude said with a nervous smile on his face.

I let out a laugh at this before saying, "We can say sorry together later when we meet her. Don't worry, I'm going to be with you," I said with a slight laugh. I knew that Leah will be scary when she got mad since she was so cheerful at the point of loud. But in my lifetime, I only got scolded once by Leia's mother, Sonia and that's it.

Jude smiled weakly before saying, "That's… reassuring somehow. I don't know how was this Leah person like, though she shared almost the same name with Leia, my childhood friends. Do you care to explain her?" Jude said before asking for more details.

I was mildly surprised by the question and how Jude mentioned Leia like I never met before. But then I let out a breath I don't know holding since I was reminded, badly, that Jude didn't remember me. I tried to put on a smile before saying, "I don't mind but… can we do it as we walk along? You lead of course," I answered with a smile that I hope I put on.

Jude tilted his head to me before answering, "Yeah sure why not?" he answered before approaching me with his hands outstretched. I don't really know what he expects by it so I tilted my head back to him, signaling a 'What are you doing?' question by expression.

Jude quickly withdrew his hands before saying, "No, forget it. Anyway, Rei said that Leah's cottage faced South East and we need to go to North so… this way," he said before pointing to the direction of the lake. He then walked before me and I need to catch up to his walking pace, curse my weakening body.

One way or another, I managed to keep a steady pace with Jude. His face looked grim somehow so I instantly asked, "What's wrong?" I asked in concerned tone.

Jude looked as if his train of thought was being cut by my question before quickly saying, "No, nothing at all," he said with a frown on his face it is funny since he never frown before.

I smiled beside him before saying, "That's not pretty convincing but okay I take it. You said before you wanted to ask about Leah right?" I said with a concealed amused smile on. Maybe my face lies in the border of simply smiling and smirking but I don't really know nor care.

"Yeah, I guess…" Jude answered not pretty convincing me. It was as if he had lost interest in the subject if only I'm not pushing it on him.

I took that as a 'yes' since at least it was better than silence right now or maybe I'm just being talkative. It's not like me to be indecisive but I had come to a term with it along my stay.

I inhaled a quite deep breath, I don't know much about Leah but at least I know quite a lot about her during our meeting. I exhaled my breath before saying, "Well, Leah is… maybe the best word to describe her is 'energetic' not to mention she is also weird. But her entirety is energetic, like Leia I guess," I said with a light tone.

I know that Jude is surprised at how I mentioned Leia name like I had met the said person. I didn't want Jude to disturb my talk or even have him gave me a question about how, fearing that he might be a step closer to his relationship with the Spirit World so I said, "Leah is someone you define as a 'Beastmaster' having a tiger as a pet. She has a weird sense of naming and logic, calling this tiger 'Daisy' and mentions it as a 'cat'. It's true in a way because tiger is just a big strong cat," I said explaining a little bit more about Leah.

That piqued Jude interest from how I know Leia to Leah's pet when he said, "A tiger as a pet?" he said with an obvious interest. I wonder what is wrong with having a Tiger as a pet when in Xian Du they have Wyvern as one mean of transportation. I don't think her tiger made her weird, I just thought that calling a tiger as a cat is the weird one even when it is true in a way.

"A white tiger to be precise. She also has a long fiery red hair… almost like fire and also dark brown eyes that I could compare with a tree trunk or maybe hot chocolate?" I said while trying to recall the said person image inside my head.

Jude stifled a laugh before saying, "I don't think I will meet a person who compare someone eyes with a plant or a drink. I guess all different kind of person exists," he said with laughter.

I looked to the road once again not knowing to be insulted or just amused by Jude comment. I took neither and instead saying, "She is loud, weird, talk very fast and also disappear very fast. But she is a witty and good person inside, oh and she uses sarcasm a lot as well. That's all I can say about her," I said before ending my description of our savior of some sort.

I could sense Jude's smile on me before saying "Sounds a lot like Leia just with different quirks," he said.

I nodded my head lightly, somehow imagining that both of them will surely get along. But then, I don't know how much Leia had changed the past 4 years though I think she won't change that much. Somehow remembering a thing from the past felt so nice.

We had ventured deep into the forest when suddenly Jude said, "Milla-san I have some question to ask but… would you mind it?" he asked with nervous tone.

I'm usually would feel alarmed when Jude wanted to ask something but right now I felt normal maybe thanks to my light mood. I looked at the road for awhile thinking about what to answer before saying, "Go ahead. But, I'm not going to answer what I can't say," I said that with my mind trying to focus on the road. I didn't mind with the question but even with my light mood I need to be alarmed of surroundings. The forest is too quiet for me.

Jude seems to understand my condition when he said, "Okay, but promise me not to get mad," he said with a slightly scared tone.

I raised one of my eyebrows to him but with my mind still scanning my surroundings. Jude seems to know that I'm watching so he said, "Err, well… how do I say it… could you tell me more about…" he said but sounded like he was hesitating all the while.

"About what?" I inclined him to go on. I just hope he won't ask me about Ni Akeria or Musee. It might just blow my cover completely.

Jude looked away nervously before saying, "About… the person you supposed to meet," he said with a lowering sound in the end.

I don't know what I should show to him right now. I was supposed to meet him after all. But he will find it weird if I answered that it was him. Unconsciously I looked away with a not-so-visible blush (I hope) as I said, "I love him," I said softly. Maybe this was something called indirect confession.

I could sense Jude was surprised by my answer but he quickly added, "I know that Milla-san love him but… I-I mean… what do you think about him? How he was like?" he asked quickly I knew he was stuttering as well.

I smiled before looking at the path. It's weird to describe Jude in front of the said person, but I will try. It might just be the last time I could convey my love for him directly. I need to stop thinking about our parting or it will only burden my heart that I didn't want to let him go. Okay Milla, focus!

"For me… he was the most wonderful man exist. He is smart and athletic at the same time. He always runs to help people in need and will see it through the end. He always believes in me no matter how ridiculous our situations at the moment are. All in all, he is a person I can always trust no matter what happened. That's why I wanted to protect him from harm and support his decision if he doesn't have any doubt about it," I said softly reminding myself of the time when I and Jude traveled together. We have up and down at first but I love his company in the end.

Jude let out a deep breath before saying, "That person must be worried sick right now since you disappeared," Jude said with an obviously guilty tone.

I laughed ironically before saying, "Sorry to disappoint you but he won't get worried about me," I said with a slight laugh. Well, maybe the Jude from before will get worried sick about me just because we are a very great friend and he is just a worry-wrat or that's how Alvin described.

I know Jude was surprised when I said that. He almost instantly said, "Why not?" he asked.

I took a few steps ahead from Jude so now I'm ahead of him before stopping on my track that Jude followed naturally. I wanted to pour my worry to him since he is the one who I care and love. But, saying it to him right now is pretty selfish of me so I said, "He already left me in a train accident," I answered with a small voice almost like a whisper.

At the end of the day, Jude forgot about me because of the train accident. I could just say that the Jude that will get worried for me is dead at the accident as well and the Jude in front of me is another person who resembles him. I know it wasn't like that at all but… I don't want to make it hard for both of us. Jude had suffered enough because of his connection with me.

I guess Jude heard my answer because he called me, "Milla-san…" with a deep guilt, maybe because he asked something I prefer to not say. He was half right at it because it doesn't felt too good on saying bad things. But at the very least when someday he either remembers or forgets me, my feeling will always in his memory.

I tried to put on a calm look since Jude was being guilty in my part as I said, "I don't know the direction around this part. Let's hurry up and get going," I said as I turned around to face Jude.

Jude still looks guilty but he quickly nodded as he said, "Yeah, we should," he said.

Yup, and here we are with the chapter 24. In the next chapter there will be the start of Jude and Milla short journey~ I don't know how good I am in describing action and I didn't knew the name of all of the Artes they had because I don't really know how many addition they got in Xillia 2.

Please review this story if you want to and for my dear reader who wanted to have some sort of sequel of this story, please read:

/s/9642650/1/Tales-of-Xillia-Salvation

Don't worry, we collaborated in some way so I approve of it~