Author's Note: Welcome to Act 3 of End of an Era! When we last left our heroes, they had just lost one of their own to someone who was once an ally. With Ivar now dead, the party decides to follow the former Fractured Milla, Amilla Sekundes, to the Continent of Glenwood to prevent her from ending the current era. Will they be successful in stopping the Lord of Time and Space? What is Amilla's goal in traveling to Glenwood, a land where the blessing of the Primordial Spirits does not exist? Find out this any more in Act 3 of End of an Era?
For those that aren't aware, in between my last update of this story and this one, I had written two one-shot stories for Tales of Zestiria, Simply and Because. While it is not necessary to read these stories to understand the events of Act 3 of End of an Era, it will give a bit of further insight of what happened to the Tales of Zestiria cast after the game, as well as hints of what's to come (hint: what exactly did Mikleo discover in the depths below the Tintagel Ruins?). Act 3 will reflect the events that occurred in these stories, so it shouldn't be a surprise upon learning what the current relationship status is between a certain earth seraph and a certain water seraph.
In any case, this chapter is a drama only chapter. So no action or fighting this time around, just some good old drama to hint as to what's to come in each character's personal arc for this act. Also, we're starting things off a little differently this time through the eyes of a character we never really learned to understand in the previous act.
Before we go back to the story, I'd like to take this opportunity to personally thank a few of my regular reviewers:
GroundZeroFirework – As always, thanks for your reviews of my work. I appreciate your enthusiasm when it comes to what will happen to Jude and Milla's relationship. I hope it continues to impress you as the story continues.
Draconic – Thank you for your very thorough and honest review; I've taken your advice to heart and hope it has helped a bit with my writing process. Unfortunately I'm still looking for that beta reader, but hopefully I can find one in the near future to help clean up my work a little bit more.
Arcana Fool – Thanks for reading so far. I'll agree that there are times in which the fight scenes do kind of drag a bit longer than their supposed to, I'm hoping to remedy this situation with the third act. Regarding flashbacks, I'm hoping to keep them to a minimum from this point forward now that the OCs' backstories have been revealed.
SonicProdigy55– Thank you for all your kind words as of late, they've really helped me continue writing over last few months. I'm glad my stories have been able to evoke such a wide range emotions from you and I hope my stories continue to impress and give you inspiration for your own works. I'm still looking forward to reading your own work once it has been uploaded. Good luck!
jesushotsaucechristmascake – Thanks for your recent review; I'm glad you've enjoyed the twists and turns this story has had so far. Of course, there are many more twists and turns as the story progresses. Hope you continue to look forward to what lies ahead in this story.
Anyway, I'd also like to thank all my other readers and anonymous reviewers for all your support, your kind words continue to inspire to continue writing and improve my craft. With that said, let's get back to the story!
Chapter 25: Prelude to Journey
Again she breathed heavily, her nerves continue to contort around the fragments of steel that pierced her flesh. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream, but the pain was too great. With every second, they dug further into her body, twisting, crushing and rupturing more of her insides. She was powerless she thought, there was nothing she could do to free herself from this torture. No, there was something she could do, something she could do to end the pain, but she could not bring herself to do it, no matter how much she tried.
"Are you giving you up?" a condescending voice questioned.
The grimace he gave her was enough to show her answer. She was strong, her will like iron, just as he expected. This woman showed promise, she could be the one to potentially be his newest avatar. Though promise was merely potential, it meant little if she couldn't use her power proper.
With the twist of his wrist, the steel embedded itself further into her flesh, forcing her to release another bloodcurdling scream from her already parched throat. The pain was only going to intensify, she knew that, but she had the power to prevent it. No, it was more than mere prevention, she could stop it from even beginning. She had to use this power she had been cursed with, she had to master it if this eternity of agony were to end.
Focusing on the task at hand, she felt the pain began to subside. The crusted crimson from her wounds slowly began to grow wet again, only to disappear slowly, returning to the crevices in her flesh as if it were being poured back in. Soon the metal inside her began to become undone, leaving her nerves, veins, skin and even clothes. She had done it she thought, she had rewound time to before she had been placed in her current predicament. She had used the power of the Primordial Spirit of Time as if it were own. She thought she had accomplished her task, she thought she had mastered his power, but the truth of the matter soon made itself apparent.
"Argh!"
As it had when this torture first began, the twisted shards of chained steel embedded themselves in her body once again, the pain as agonizing as the first time.
"I thought you would prove me wrong," the Primordial Spirit of Time said with a sigh. "Perhaps I read too much in your potential simply because you were a Fractured version of Milla Maxwell. Maybe I shouldn't have expected so much from a phony…"
"I…I'm no phony…" the young woman seethed. "I am…Milla!"
Again she reversed time before his eyes, reverting it back to the moment before this torture began. Yet like the time before, the accursed chains would only bind and maim her once more. Perhaps she truly did have promise, no, she did have promise, all she needed was the right push in order to truly utilize the power he granted her.
"Must you continue, Chronos?" a figure in the form of a young boy appeared behind the Primordial Spirit of Time. "Truly there is another candidate to take the form of your avatar?"
"No other candidate comes even close to matching that of Maxwell," the black and white spirit replied. "If this endless cycle is to truly end, then we need one who can match Maxwell in every way; we need Maxwell herself. I can find no other better candidate than one who was once a Fractured version of the Lord of Spirits; when she was sacrificed to summon the current Maxwell back into the Prime Dimension, you knew we could not let this nigh impossible chance to slip through our fingers. Surely you can agree with me on this notion, Origin?"
"I can agree with you in this aspect, my friend, but the trial you have set before her is just too cruel."
"It is cruel because the path ahead is even more so," a third voice interrupted, a woman clad in green and with purple hair now appearing behind them.
"Martel?" the Primordial Spirit in the form of a boy looked to this new individual.
"Milla, you are the only one who can truly bring this endless cycle of life and death to a close," the Great Spirit of the World Tree addressed the woman in chains. "Only you are capable of vanquishing the Lord of Spirits herself. For the sake of ending this era of darkness, you must overcome this trial."
"'Milla?' You would still address her by such a name?" Chronos scoffed. "This is not the Milla Maxwell we have sworn to defeat. She is simply another Milla. She is no longer, Milla the Former Maxwell; once she has mastered my power, she will be Amilla Sekundes, the Lord of Time and Space!"
Her body quickly sprung forward now, the world around her suddenly turning into an unknown land. The trees, the grass, everything but the sky was foreign to her. For a moment she believed herself lost, only to remember moments later of the events that recently transpired. She was no longer in Rieze Maxia, she was in an unknown land with her companions. The Continent of Glenwood, a land free of the influences of spyrite, a land that had been left uncharted for several millennia, a land almost forgotten by time itself.
"Is something that matter, Lord Sekundes?" the dark seraph questioned as the Demon King settled back into her sleeping mat.
"…I just remembered something," Amilla replied. "…it's nothing important though…"
"Perhaps you need more rest?" Symonne questioned. "The power of the spirits does not reach into these lands; even your own power is more limited here I'm afraid. Should you require more slumber, then I advise-"
"And I advise I'm awake now," the Lord of Time and Space quickly got up. "We should continue moving toward Ladylake. Ratatosk, is everyone else up yet?"
"My apologies, Lord Sekundes," the Lord of Monsters apologized. "I'm afraid the rest of our comrades still require slumber."
Much to her chagrin, Amilla turned back to find the rest of their party still sleeping. Perhaps the battle from a few hours ago was still taking its toll on her non-spirit companions, including Psi, who was still enhancing his latest upgrades Gilford installed in him a month ago when they found him. In any other circumstances, Amilla would have simply reversed time for each of her comrades, but as Symonne pointed out, her powers were limited here. The only thing they could do was wait for her comrades to be fully rested before they could continue on their way.
"You should return to sleep as well, Lord Sekundes," the blond Great Spirit urged. "You will need all your strength if we are to be successful in our journey."
"…sleep…?" she could only scoff as she sank back into her mattress. "…I hate going to sleep…"
Jude could only watch as his wife continued sit at the computer; he always knew she was full of determination in any task that needed to be completed, but what he saw now was not simply determination, it was obsession.
"Hey Milla…"
She heard her husband's voice, but she did little to even acknowledge his presence. Amilla was in Glenwood searching for something, but what that something was, even Milla did not know. She may have talked a big game hours ago when they said they would all travel to Glenwood together, but as her husband soon pointed out, their efforts would be fruitless if they at least didn't have a lead as to what Amilla's goals were.
By some miracle, Ivar's flash drive and computer had survived the destruction of the Nia Khera. The moment they discovered it, Milla had began looking through each of the files on the drive, discovering them to be the Ancient Tales that were shared amongst the villagers when she was younger. Obsessively she scanned through each of the stories as to a hint of what Amilla was searching for. Yet the tales were numerous and vague at best; the only clues she had for her Fractured counterpart's goals were the Exsphere she obtained from Emeraude, as well as the blue sword and diamond ring she wielded. She recalled having heard of tales of these items, but she could not remember what they were for. Yet by luck, she finally managed to find her answer, her eyes focusing on the tale now opened before the monitor.
"…I found it…," she said as her eyes glazed through the text.
"What is it?" Jude questioned as he hurried to her side.
"This tale mentions castle that cannot be reached by normal means," the former Lord of Spirits said as she quickly read the myth. "To enter this castle, the Heroes of Phantasia needed to acquire three items; a sword of water and ice, a sword of flame, and a diamond ring. Combining these three items would then create a new sword altogether, one that could bend time and space itself, the Eternal Sword."
"The Eternal Sword," the young researcher thought aloud. "So then is it safe to assume that Amilla is trying to gain access to this castle?"
"I don't know," Milla replied. "In the Tale of The Last Chosen of Regeneration, it was used to divide the world in two, as well as reunite the divided worlds back into one. There are instances in other eras in which it appears, but they seem to be nothing more than replicas of the original; even in our current era, copies of the two swords that comprise of the Eternal Sword, Vorpal Sword and Flamberge, are sold at nearly every weapon shop, as well as copies of the Diamond Ring."
"From our battles so far, she seems to have the true Vorpal Sword and the true Diamond Ring in her possession," Jude thinks aloud. "Based on this, she's still missing the true Flamberge."
"Precisely," the former Lord of Spirits nodded. "In conclusion, at this time, Amilla is in possession of the true Vorpal Sword, the sword of water and ice, and the true Diamond Ring. Each of these artifacts were scattered throughout the world throughout the eras. As she has recovered two of these artifacts thus far, then it's safe to assume that she still requires the true Flamberge, the sword of flame."
"I see, so that's why she went to Glenwood where the power of the spirits is weak," Jude surmised. "Flamberge must be located there."
"Then we have no time to waste!" Milla quickly rose from her seat, taking her sword in hand once again. "We must be off to Glenwood immediately!"
"Hold on a second, Milla!" her husband quickly urged. "It still won't do us any good to rush over there right away, especially with just the two of us. Everyone is still getting ready, not to mention the power of Muzét's knife is limited. If we're going to go, we need to wait for the others. They should be returning tomorrow at the latest once they have everything in order."
Again she was being impatient, but she believed her reasons were justified. With every passing second, Amilla was getting closer to obtaining the sword of flame. With the Celestial Record, it could also be surmised that she had a more detailed account of its location, hence she stole it when she destroyed Nia Khera. It frustrated Milla to no end that they had to simply wait while their foe had already gotten a head start, but she knew the importance of being prepared. This was an uncharted continent after all; they simply couldn't just rush in and hope for the best, especially with the young life that was growing within her belly.
With everything that had has been happening lately, Milla had almost forgotten about their daughter that was growing inside her. She had been acting without thinking, letting her anger get the best of her. She couldn't continue to stress however, she needed to relax for the sake of their child otherwise Ivar's sacrifice to save her would be in vain. With a sigh, the Former Lord of Spirits knew there were more than the truths her husband had mentioned; she needed rest for her own sake and that of her daughter.
"…we can wait no later than dawn," the former Lord of Spirits said, returning to her chair. "I'll send them a text message informing them of this and what we've just learned."
His GHS was beeping again. Despite everything that happened today, it seemed like the world simply continued on without him. Aggravated, it was Alvin's first reaction to just take his mobile device and smash it against the wall. He was sick of reading all these requests for clients; whether it was an update on a shipment of napples, to complaints of the craftsmanship of GHS charms, now was not the time he wanted to deal with any of it. Before he could toss the GHS into the wall, he noticed the name that had send the text. Noticing it was from Milla, the salesman's anger lifted somewhat slightly, taking a quick glance before deleting it from his device.
"So first thing tomorrow morning, huh?" the former mercenary reiterated Milla's message aloud. "Hey Leia!"
She heard him call her name as she stood before the sink. Frantically her hands tried to run the brunette dye against the hair that was colored purple. At first it was easy to hide these few hairs that were colored in this hue, but the more time passed, it had become more difficult. The few strands looked more like a patch in her bangs now, a patch that impossible to hide. Even the dye she was applying to hide it would simply dry the moment she touched the purple hair, crumbling as if it were old paint, leaving the violet patch to shine as bright as ever.
"Go away…," the editor desperately tried to scrub away the unnatural hue. "Just make it go away!"
It was clear the dye was not going to do anything, the situation becoming desperate for Leia. Frustrated, her hands slammed on the countertop of her bathroom sink, causing the furniture to shake slightly. The slamming was enough to cause one of the drawers of the counter to come loose, revealing to her a pair of scissors within. Taking the shears into her hand, she immediately went to work, bringing the metal as close to the root as she could, her fingers applying pressure onto the device, causing the purple strands to come loose with little effort.
With the purple hair now gone, she could only breathe a sigh of relief, only for her aggravation to return a second later. Before her very eyes, the hair she had just cut had already grown back to the same length it was prior, quickly filling in the gap she had created with her scissors. Again she clipped at the newly grown violet, only to find it replaced in the same instant. She cut a third time, only for it to grow a third time. A fourth followed, then a fifth, a sixth; no matter how much she cut, it seemed to always grow back instantaneously.
"Why?!" the editor began to cry. "Why won't you just go away? Go away!"
With this final cut, the scissors in her hand had shattered, its base destroyed and the shears themselves having their edges broken into pieces. Again she became desperate, her own fingers trying to wring the strands themselves and yanking them from their roots. Despite how it felt like her entire head was being ripped apart, she persisted in doing so, but within seconds it felt as if her arms were also ready to be ripped off.
And then she saw it again as she continued in her futile disputes, memories and words that were not her own. She saw the humans again, how they polluted and violated the planet, how they waged wars amongst each other and the world itself, leaving it little more than a wasteland. She saw the destruction they created firsthand, the injustices they brought upon Fodra. Humans, the cursed humans, they all had to die!
"Leia, what's wrong?!" her boyfriend suddenly opened the door now. "Leia?!"
"Die human!" her arm suddenly shot forward.
All it took was him taking her into his arms to snap her out of her trance, her own memories quickly flashing in her eyes as she remembered who she truly was. Her body had grown numb again, any sensation in her body having disappeared with the exception of her eyes which were now swelling with tears. It happened again, the way she lost herself for a moment, it was as if she wasn't in control of herself. No, she was in control of herself, albeit barely, but the fact remained that it was getting worse, the situation between herself and Little Queen was not getting any better.
"Alvin…," she realized what she was just about to do. "…I…"
"…no, it wasn't you…," he tried to assure her as he held her in his arms. "You're you, Leia… What you were going to do, what you wanted to do, that wasn't you. You would never want to hurt anyone without good reason, you wouldn't want to massacre people if it could be helped; it's just not you to want to kill. It's not you, Leia… It's not you."
"No, you don't understand, Alvin, it's getting worse!" she tried to push herself away. "Every day, I hear her voice less. Every day, the images of Fodra become more and more clear. Every day the memory of my parents, my friends and even you begin to fade. You don't understand, Alvin, it's not just Little Queen's will that's doing this; it's becoming my own! One day, one day I'll forget everything, I'll forget everyone, I'll no longer exist as I am now. There's no denying it Alvin, little by little, I am becoming Little Queen, so please… Please just leave me and-!"
"I won't leave you!" the former mercenary cried, bringing his girlfriend even closer than ever. "I'll never leave you. You will always be you, Leia, no matter what happens! You'll always be the woman I love, and there's no way I could ever leave you alone!
"It's my fault why this is happening to you to begin with; if only I had been there for you during the last few years, if only I had been there during our anniversary, if only I had shared my pain with you from the beginning, you would never have been put in this predicament. It's my fault, damn it! It's all my fault…"
She felt a wet sensation running down her the side of her face now, a translucent river that didn't fall from either of her eyes. It was one of the few times Leia had ever seen her boyfriend, genuine tears that he shed for her current situation. She could only reciprocate his feelings as he held her, gently running her hand down his neck as she pulled him ever closer.
"No Alvin, it's not your fault," was all she could say. "I allowed Little Queen to merge with me when I first encountered her months ago. She too was filled with sadness, for not being able to save Sophie when Emeraude killed those she loved. Though we met shortly after she arrived in Elympios when she fell through the Space Time Continuum after she fought Emeraude, if I had not merged with her back then, she would have surely died. Even if I wasn't feeling what I was feeling back then, I would have still merged with her just so she wouldn't die."
"So then why?" he questioned. "Why hasn't she returned to the pipsqueak then? Sophie got her revenge when we killed Emeraude a month ago, so why is she risking your life, your memories, your self just so Little Queen can still exist?!"
"…Little Queen can only merge with those who would voluntarily merge with her," the editor explained. "And right now, Sophie doesn't feel she is ready to merge with her again. There's still some unfinished business, some uncertainty that's still in her heart."
"Then let me be her new host!" the businessman quickly volunteered. "Do you hear that Little Queen, take me instead! Just let Leia go and I'll be your puppet as long as you-!"
"…she can't hear you…," the editor could only shake her head. "Even if she could hear you, I… I can't pass that burden onto you, Alvin. Even if I were to pass that burden to you, what guarantee is there that I would retain my memories or self? I'm sorry, Alvin, this is a burden only I can carry…"
"Leia…"
"…it's okay, Alvin… If it was meant to be that I would eventually lose everything that I am, then please remind me. Remind me time and time again that I am Leia Rolando, that I come from the small island town of Leronde, that I saved the world twice with my friends, that I am in love with you and only you…"
"…Leia…"
"Promise me, Alvin. Promise that no matter what happens, you'll remind me as many times as you have to until I can no longer find truth in your words…"
Defeat, this time Alvin was truly defeated. As strong as his girlfriend was, this was not a burden he wanted her to carry. But it was not his place to decide whether or not she could or couldn't fulfill this task that was given to her. She had a good heart, perhaps too good of one that she would even risk her entire existence just so another could continue. It pained him to know there was nothing he could do for her; no, there was something he could do. Even if he couldn't take the burden himself, he could help alleviate it. If he could have her fall him in love with him once, he could do it over again and again, as many times as time would allow until she could no longer reciprocate his feelings. Resigning himself to her fate, he made the most heart-wrenching promise he could ever make in his entire life.
"…all right, Leia… I promise…"
The familiar whistle of steam screeched in his ear now. It was a sound he was very accustomed to, the sound of water coming to a boil from within a carefully crafted pot. Reaching for the delicate handle, the former butler's fingers gently wrapped around the thin porcelain. With ease, he was able to lift the teapot from the stove, yet his digits suddenly gave way, the vessel for the tea quickly crashing against the floor, shattering into several pieces with the piping liquid already staining the carefully sanded floor.
"Oh dear," the prime minister exclaimed. "How clumsy of me!"
"Rowen, is everything okay?" his protégé entered the kitchen now. "Hold on, let me get a broom and-"
"Please, Miss Elize, it was entirely my fault," the elderly man said as he opened the door to the nearby closet. "Allow me."
Instantly the former butler found the broom sitting in the corner. It should have been a simple task to simply bend down and reach it, but a sharp pain quickly shot through his back the moment he bent it at a slight angle. No, it was more than just his back aching, even the digits of his hand were twitching uncontrollably. This wasn't anything new however, if anything it had been about a month since it all began.
In truth, his body had not fully recovered from the events one month ago. Though the wounds themselves appeared to have been healed, things had not been the same for Rowen since. Actually, things had not been the same for at least ten years now. Even during his initial journeys with his friends, he could still wield his sword as if it was a mere extension of his arm, but now, it was almost like directing an anchor in water. Even walking longer distances had become difficult for his knees; even a month ago during the fight against Emeraude, he tried his best to hide the discomfort when simply trying to walk alongside his comrades, even more so during their battles.
"Just when do you think this new generation can rule themselves?" Marcia's words from yesterday echoed once again. "Just when can you put faith in them? Just when will you ever place yourself over duty?"
"…not yet…," Rowen could only try to assure himself. "My body and mind are still able. I must not yet falter…"
I must not falter, even Sophie could agree with the elderly man's drive as she watched him struggle. The words he spoke also held true for herself. Though her conflict with Emeraude was now over, there was still something that she felt she had to accomplish. No, it was something she needed to accomplish.
"Sophie, do you mind getting a rag?" Elize asked the visitor from another world. "Driselle keeps them in the cabinet underneath the sink."
"Okay," the purple-haired girl complied.
Finding the old pieces of cloth that the young teacher mentioned, Sophie took one for herself and immediately began to work as Elize began to pick up some of the larger pieces of the broken teapot. Brushing the rag against the surface of the floor, the purple-haired girl couldn't help but remember days long past.
"Sonia, I've made your favorite, egg drop soup!"
She expected some sort of smile from her daughter, she expected her to jump out of seat with glee as she set the bowl of broth before her. Yet her child would only continue to sit in her chair, her eyes still filled with contempt. Of course Sophie knew her daughter would still be angry after the events that happened the day before; she had let her emotions get the best of her when she saw Emeraude walk through that door with Éclair, forcing her to lose control as she unwillingly lashed out at her husband, injuring him.
"Sonia, aren't you going to have some?" Sophie questioned, taking a spoonful for herself. "Mm, see, it's good."
"…I don't want any…"
It was the first time the young girl had actually refused her favorite meal. It would be a lie for Sophie to say that it didn't hurt, but in truth, it was probably worse than if someone had plunged a dagger into her heart. She couldn't bring herself to scold or get angry at Sonia however; she had to be patient if her daughter was to ever forgive her. That is, if she ever decided to ever forgive her.
"Sonia, you shouldn't starve yourself," she persisted. "Please, at least-"
"I said I don't want any!"
With a brush of her hand, the meal she had prepared fell to the floor. Looking at her child, she saw her eyes narrowed and her teeth bare. The very sight broke Sophie's heart, it ripped into her very soul. Yet she knew she deserved the contempt her daughter had for her, doing nothing as she ran out the door.
"Sonia, where are you going?!" Wallace asked the very moment he walked through the door to their home. "Sonia! Sophie, what happened?" her husband questioned. "Why did Sonia-?"
"…it's all right, Wallace…," the purple-haired woman could only say as she began to wipe the floor. "…everything is all right…"
"Sonia…," Sophie could only remember her daughter in the present.
She couldn't be angry with her daughter, not when she was right in her anger. Then what about her current predicament with Psi? She had ended their creator's life with her own hands, the very person that he had dedicated his entire existence to. She thought he had perished when Emeraude had stabbed through him to get to her one month ago, but here he was, still alive and now sided with Amilla's cause. Even if he was in the right for wanting revenge, was he still truly right if he joined the Demon King's side in this war for the current era?
Sophie could not save her daughter, but perhaps there was a way she could save Psi. But what if she couldn't save him? It had been a month since she last saw him; what if he was overcome with the desire for vengeance, what if the only reason for his existence was to end Sophie's life? Could she truly bring herself to be responsible for the death of another innocent life, the life of another person she could consider her family?
"What am I supposed to do?" the visitor from another girl questioned. "What am I…?"
What else could she do? She would do what was necessary, that was all there was to it. After all, she had given her word to the Great Spirit of the World Tree, she had given her word to protect this world, no matter what the cost.
So she was not alone Elize thought. Even Sophie was thinking of a loved one in this moment. She could see the conflict in her friend's eyes, how she wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing. It pained Elize to see this side of Sophie, to see another layer of pain she tried to hide from the world. It hurt to see her conflicted like this, not just out of concern, but because it also reminded her of the conflict she too faced.
"Can you do it, Elize?" Teepo questioned her, reading her thoughts as always. "Can you really bring yourself to-?"
"I can't bear to see Zoe continue to suffer," the young teacher interrupted. "I don't want her to continue living with this pain. But what she's asking of me, it's just too much."
The puppet could only remain silent now, his face turning into a frown as he continued to stare at his owner. Elize could only return the sentiment as she looked at her plush, only to frown further after remembering the fact that he was only a reflection of her innermost thoughts. She was essentially only staring into a mirror, a sick joke of what was truly in her heart. It disgusted her to see her uncertainty take shape in real life, her companion soon floating away out of her sight as it sensed the conflict continuing to eat away at her heart.
"Zoe, how can you ask me to do such a thing?" Elize thought aloud. "For you to ask such a selfish request, it's just…too cruel…"
Kill me, those were Zoe's last words to Elize. Ever since they reunited, Elize could only imagine what the older girl had gone through when she was growing up. Up until today, she believed she knew the kind of travesties and oppression Zoe had faced, but then she saw it. Those dark empty eyes, the aura of hatred, in that instant, she came to know the very existence of fear itself.
"Zoe, she needs to be shown…," she remembered that spoke of its own free will. "Show her what's in your heart."
Even as a child, the doll had frightened Elize. Even though it was supposed to represent the winged messiahs, the toy lacked their majesty and grace. As time progressed, its condition only worsened during their time in Labari Hollow, becoming more ragged and dirty. Ever since Zoe pretended to speak through it when they first met, she had kept the doll hidden away as best as she could, its very sight giving Elize nightmares for the longest time. Though she believed the fear of the toy had disappeared over time, the horror had returned when she saw it act and speak on its own.
"Do it now, Zoe," its voice made the young teacher's skin crawl. "Express to her what has laid dormant for these many years, show her how you truly feel."
Terror, she had never experience true terror until the booster spoke to Zoe in the way it did. With its words, it took control of her childhood friend, forcing her to attempt a cruel and terrible act upon her. If her voice hadn't been able to reach out to the magician, then…!
This time she had been able to stop her, but what of the next time they were to meet? The influence Claritha had over Zoe, surely it would only worsen over time, much like the other children who had been with their boosters for extended periods of time. Elize was fortunate in her circumstance, having learned to live without Teepo, only taking him out for short periods of time over the years. Yet many of the survivors of Labari Hollow were unable to function without their boosters, much like Rachel and Yupo four years ago. The relationship between Zoe and Claritha, this was more than an artes user and her booster, it was more like an abusive relationship, a relationship Zoe could not so easily get out of. If Claritha was the symbiotic parasite in their relationship, then even Elize were to rid Zoe of that doll, her childhood friend may even cease to exist.
"…Zoe…"
Click. It was probably the millionth time Elle had shut her watch again in the last hour alone. The curse of the Kresnik family, she thought it had ended ten years ago when Ludger sacrificed himself to eliminate all of the Fractured Dimensions, the curse of having to kill your loved ones, but it seemed the curse had not yet been lifted.
"Ivar…," her eyes filled with tears as she remembered her superior. "Milla…"
The roof of Spirius Corporation, it was once her sanctuary whenever she felt down. Though there was no body for either of the graves here, it served as a memorial for the two Elle had lost ten years ago. For the first time however, Elle could not find any solace whatsoever, the truth of the events that occurred in hours ago still running through her head.
It was her fault why Ivar had died at her surrogate family's hand. If she hadn't stabbed him with her Promatus spear, if she hadn't fallen for Symonne's illusions, maybe it would have been possible for him to push the former Lord of Spirits out of the way quicker, maybe he wouldn't have lost so much blood that he could have reacted faster, maybe…
…maybe she was just fooling herself… No matter what she wanted to believe, the fact remained that Ivar was now dead, killed by the woman she once considered to be a surrogate mother. Milla, her Milla, she still couldn't accept her Milla would commit murder without so much as batting an eye.
"Why…?" she questioned aloud. "It was supposed to be over ten years ago. So why…? It's our family's curse, isn't it?" she glared at her heirloom now. "It's because of our family that everyone…!"
The proof of the pact, it meant that anyone descended from the Kresnik Clan would live a life filled with death. In order to reach the Land of Canaan, other worlds had to be sacrificed in order to find the Waymarkers, and as well as the sacrifice of a living member of the Kresnik Clan in order to bridge the soul bridge to Canaan itself. Though she herself did not end the lives of the many ten years ago, she witnessed Ludger's journey firsthand, only to learn of him sacrificing his own brother, the 'Glasses Guy' as Elle used to call him, in order to reach the Land of Canaan itself. With the Fractured Dimensions finally destroyed, she thought that the curse of the Kresnik Clan was over, no more lives needed to be selflessly sacrificed, but after the events of today, it seemed as if the curse was far from lifted.
"…I hate it…," her eyes began to burn. "I hate it. I HATE IT!"
Taking the watch into her fist now, she began to pull her arm backward, her fingers ready to unfurl so that she could throw it away. In a swift motion, the heirloom would go crashing into the city below, disappearing from her life from then on. The last trace of her name, the last piece of her ties to the Kresnik name, she would have nothing to do with any longer!
…and yet, Elle couldn't bring herself to be rid of it, the memory of the Prime Dimension version of her father preventing her from freeing herself of the heirloom.
"Ludger…," the memory caused her to kneel to the ground. "How were you able to do it? How were you able to continue fighting after all the sacrifices you were forced to make? How were you able to carry on after losing the people you loved? How…? Help me, Ludger. Please help me… Ludger!"
Unlike ten years ago, the gentle touch of her guardian was nowhere to be found. There were no words of solace either, no form of reassurance that everything was going to be okay. For the first time, Elle was truly afraid of uncertainty, afraid that she didn't know what was truly going on, afraid that her actions would only lead to others getting hurt or dying. She wanted him to tell her everything was going to be okay, that he could fight in her stead, but… …but he left the world in her hands, and with that world, also came its burdens.
"Oh, I didn't know someone else was here. Are you all right, young lady?"
It was a voice of someone she did not know, but at the same time, it was somewhat familiar… Looking to the source of the voice, the young cadet's eyes quickly widened. The long, light brown hair tied in a single curled pigtail, the bangs almost cut in a straight line, and the light green pupils, it was a familiar sight, one that was almost like looking into a mirror. Though her memories of this person were vague at best, she instantly knew who this person was.
"Excuse me miss, but aren't you Elle Mel Marta?" the woman standing before her answered. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound so familiar with you, especially since I don't think we've met until now. My name is Lara, Lara Mel Marta, Chairwoman of the Rugen Consortium. It's nice to finally meet you."
"…er yeah, it's nice to meet you too," the cadet could only say.
"I don't mean to be a bother, but is it all right if I watch the stars here?" the businesswoman questioned. "I'm afraid this is one of the few places in the city where I actually feel at peace."
"…yeah, go ahead…"
"Thank you."
Taking a seat on the bench beside the young agent, Elle couldn't help but feel her chest suddenly growing heavy. She couldn't help but watch this woman as she stared straight into the night sky, watching it with a sense of awe and wonder. Many things began to race through the young girl's head as she watched the chairwoman, many emotions she fought so hard to keep at bay. There were many things Elle wanted to ask her, wanted to say to her, but she knew that she could say nothing in order to maintain the illusion that she was originally of this world.
"Have you ever wondered what the stars truly are?" Lara broke the silence between the two of them. "Are they the spirits watching over us from their realm? Are they the homes of other worlds like our own? Are they the worlds of the what ifs we had always imagined? What happens to the decisions that we never made? Are they simply forgotten with time, or do they take manifest elsewhere in this universe?"
"…I don't know…," the young agent could only remain silent on the matter.
"Do you ever wonder what could have been? What could have happened if you decided something else in a different point in your life?"
The question tugged at Elle's heart, reminding her of the choice Ludger had made ten years ago. Though she was willing to sacrifice her own existence so that he may live, she was never able to truly voice her wish to Origin that day. The wish to destroy all of the Fractured Dimensions, if only she was able to say it before her guardian could speak that day. If she had, then Ludger and this woman, they would have one day met, they would have one day gotten married, they would have one day had a child…
"…I do wonder…," Elle admitted. "All the time now actually; I always wonder what would have happened if I had chosen to do something I could have done ten years ago, how one person who gave up so much just for me could have lived if I didn't allow him to make a certain choice in his life. I wonder…how he could have lived, how he could have been happy with his real daughter…"
The very thought caused her eyes to manifest her sadness again, her fingers curling unto the Kresnik heirloom. She began to bite down on her own teeth, her body beginning to shake at the mere thought that if she hadn't let him speak, if she had simply let him express his wish, he would still be alive. Even if the illusion Symonne created of him was a fake, there was no denying that the words the mirage spoke were a possibility.
Though depression had consumed her, all it took was a gentle touch to calm her nerves. It was alien to her, yet familiar, the hand of this woman who sat beside her. Before she knew it, she being held in the arms of this businesswoman, wrapping her arms tightly as her hand gently patted against her head. Without saying any words, Elle felt her spirits begin to lift ever so slightly, alleviating some of the guilt within her, despite it still remaining tethered to her soul.
It was just like him back then, back when she was but a child, back when he did everything he could do to console her whenever she was upset. This feeling, it was something she had almost forgotten when he had passed, a feeling of comfort and warmth. She thought the only person who could make her feel this way was the Prime Dimension version of her father, but never once did she ever take into consideration she would get the same feeling from the Prime Dimension version of her mother.
"Real or not, I'm sure whoever you speak of still loved you regardless," Lara comforted the young cadet.
"Mommy…?" memories she had long forgotten became fresh once more.
"To tell you the truth, I always wanted to have children of my own, but I never did find the right person," the words tugged at Elle's soul.
"…I'm sorry, Lara, I-"
"You have nothing to apologize for," the Prime Dimension version of her mother said. "Perhaps it wasn't meant to be. …it's strange, being here with you like this… Even though we only just met, I already feel very attached to you, as if I could never let you go, as if you were my own little girl…"
"…Lara…"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say such strange things," the businesswoman quickly released the young agent now. "Please forgive me."
"No, it's okay," Elle could only shake her head. "Really, it's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Hm hm, well thank you for indulging me this evening, Ms. Marta," the chairwoman giggled.
"Just call me 'Elle'."
"'Elle'? It's funny, I always wanted a daughter named Elle. Even more ironic, you even share the same family name as I."
"…maybe it was just meant to be that we met today."
"Maybe so. Oh my, look at the time!" the businesswoman turned to her watch. "I have a meeting first thing in the morning and I still haven't prepared the materials for it. Well then, if you'll excuse me, it was nice talking to you."
"Yeah, it was nice talking to you too."
The chairwoman began to hurry now, running back toward the elevator. Even though the distance was not very far, another sense of dread came over Elle with every step Lara took. It was a sense of longing, of wanting to be a family. Even though she had her friends, they never could truly fill the void that Ludger left, no one ever could, but with Lara, the feeling of being a part of a family had returned in that mere moment they shared.
She didn't want her to leave, she wanted to tell her the truth. 'I'm your daughter!' she wanted to yell. 'You're my mom from a time that was erased!' Regardless of how much she wanted to say these things, she only thought these words could only be seen as delusions in the chairwoman's eyes, that even if she were to explain what happened ten years ago, they would only be seen as some sort of fiction. Even if the businesswoman were to somehow believe her, it would only destroy the identity Vera and the rest of Spirius tried to create for her in order to exist in this world. Knowing these outcomes, she could only accept that this was her fate, that she was indeed without a family any longer…
"I'm sorry, Elle," the businesswoman had unexpectedly returned.
"Yeah?"
"If it's all right with you, can we meet again in the future?" she inquired. "Perhaps we could share lunch one day or maybe a cup of coffee?"
Or maybe there was a chance, maybe there was still an opportunity. In her own world, she never really knew her mother, but maybe in this world…
"Sure," the cadet could only smile. "I'd like that."
…but maybe in this world, maybe she could grow close to her as she did her father.
It was hard to breathe, it was hard to move, yet she knew she simply couldn't remain still. For Muzét, it was impossible for Maxwell to simply exist, to simply rest and recover. She always considered her sister brash and quick to jump the gun in almost any circumstance in which she thought the world was in danger, but now that Muzét had inherited the role of the Lord of Spirits, she began to understand her younger sibling at little bit better.
…but could she even still be considered the Lord of Spirits? Her power was drained hours ago by Amilla, the Four no longer hers to control. Could she even still be classified as a spirit for that matter? The ability to wield spirit artes seemed to have vanished, as well as her ability to fly. She had been confined to this wheelchair for what seemed like an eternity now, even her arms barely able to push its wheels.
Regardless of whether she still had the power of Maxwell or not, Amilla Sekundes was still at large and she needed to be stopped!
"Where do you think you're going?" a commanding voice questioned before she could leave the castle doors. "I'm afraid the street plowers are no longer on duty at this hour; your wheelchair may get stuck the moment you try to push yourself though the streets. For that matter, I requested the City Safety Commission to add a ramp for the disabled to enter the castle one month ago, but as you can see, construction has yet to be completed. I'm afraid the current steps will only hinder you further, hastening your trip downward in a frightening fashion."
"Frightening for some maybe, but a certainly more of a thrill for a person such as myself," the new Lord of Spirits quipped.
Muzét was strong and determined, Gaius of all people knew that. However that determination could only go so far. He knew the disabled were certainly capable people, but as she was now, even Gaius knew it would be impossible for Muzét to confront Amilla, much less even stand against her, literally.
"You're certain you cannot go with the others tomorrow?" Muzét questioned the monarch.
"I have my reasons," the king replied. "First and foremost, should Milla and the others fail in their task, I may need to lead an expedition into Glenwood itself as King of Rieze Maxia. I must amass a fighting force and weapons for such a venture. Secondly, I'm afraid of what would happen to 'her' if I were to leave her alone."
'Her', there was no need for Gaius to explain who 'her' referred to. While she was in no condition to express the anger she had for this woman, she also knew the danger she possessed. That dark power within her, if it would go unchecked, Muzét knew that it would only put Rieze Maxia and Elympios in danger. Her personal feelings had to be kept in check, especially with the war with Amilla still needing to be fought. Swallowing her pride, the new Lord of Spirits continued to hold her smile as best she could.
"…yes, I see…"
She was doing it again he noticed. The way she would try to hide it all with that smile of hers. The subject of Lady Julia was always difficult to speak of, for both himself and Muzét. He wanted to avoid it if at all possible; he knew that stress and unfavorable situations would only be detrimental to one's healing process and certainly he was doing nothing to aid her in this regard.
If he could, he would continue to watch over her himself without any rest. He would be there to aid her in every step of her rehabilitation, he would be there to provide her with every meal, he would be there to give her words of encouragement. But alas, he could do no such thing; again he reminded himself of his duties as king. If he were to oversee anything, it would be the development of the forces necessary to enter Glenwood and stop Amilla. Yet he also had to ensure that these forces did seem imposing enough that they would appear to invade Glenwood itself; he had to find a middle ground in order to form a collaborative effort to stop this new threat. He had much to think about should the worst case scenario arise, and yet… …and yet he couldn't help but think about the woman that was standing her before him.
"…you should get return to your quarters and rest," the king could only say. "We must reunite with the others by dawn as Milla stated in her message. I will need you to be at full strength so that we may bring our friends to the other continent."
"…very well…," Muzét could only sigh. "Since I am a guest here at the castle, perhaps I can actually catch up on my beauty sleep for a change…"
Turning her wheelchair around, the Lord of Spirits slowly began to cart herself back to her quarters. Her limbs seem to had grown shot after less than ten seconds however, the pace of her vehicle slowly grinding to a halt. It was just as Gaius implied; in her current state she could do little to stand against Amilla, or for that matter, even get herself out of the city. Accept it, she thought, accept the fact that she would have to wait in the sidelines for the time being.
Before she could contemplate on the situation for long however, she soon found her wheelchair suddenly moving again. Looking up, she found the monarch standing over her, pushing the device in her stead.
"Please, allow me," he simply said.
Again he proved her wrong. She really couldn't do anything in her current predicament. Yet as he pushed her wheelchair, she couldn't help but wonder. Was it okay to be wrong, just this once? This hallway before her was grand, perhaps as large as a street block in Elympios. Regardless of how long it was however, she knew that eventually they would reach their destination. Even if they were to eventually get to her room, the current Lord of Spirits could only sit back and enjoy this moment for the time being.
Though Muzét was enjoying this moment, she felt a strange sensation suddenly cascade over her for a mere second. She could not describe where it exactly came from or what it was, only that it was some sort of dark contempt. It felt like eyes piercing her very soul, hands suffocating her lungs and burning oil passing her veins. It was a malicious feeling, one she hoped she would never feel again.
"…he's mine…," the noblewoman seethed as she saw her fiancé walk the halls with the wheelchair bound woman. "Lord Gaius belongs to me!"
She was used to the sound of the village roosters crying at this hour, as well as the sounds of groaning villagers as they struggled to return to their daily lives. The smell of breakfast was something she always looked forward to, even before she discovered the joys of eating. She remembered the sounds of children running around minutes after, their laughter echoing deep into the mountains themselves. She recalled her loyal servant also greeting her every morning, presenting her with a new set of clothes for the day, leaving them at her shrine's doorstep before hurrying back to the village. This was a routine she had enjoyed daily for a majority of her life, but now, that routine was gone.
"…morning…," her husband greeted as the darkness from slumber peeled away.
"…Jude…"
It was strange awakening in her old shrine, it was almost waking in an alien world altogether. She felt restless, exhausted even, despite having had a full night's sleep. If she could have it her way, she would have remained conscious throughout the night and find a way to get a hold of Muzét's knife for herself so that she could travel to Glenwood. Her husband would naturally try to stop her, but she would find a way to ignore him and continue onward. Yet she did stop herself from doing this, reminded by the tiny kick that now pushed against her belly.
"Milla, are you okay?" the young researcher asked his wife as her face began to churn.
"…ugh…," his spouse groaned, only to hurry outside.
Despite waking to it nearly every day now for the last month, Jude was still concerned over Milla's morning sickness. Knowing the drill, the young researcher followed his wife outside, a bottle of water in hand for afterward. Placing the bottle a few feet away, one hand pulled his wife's hair slightly back as she excreted the remainder of her dinner from last night, the other hand rubbing her back in an attempt to ease the situation. He could never tell how long it was going to last; sometimes it would be for no more than a few seconds, in others, sometimes almost an hour. Today seemed to be their lucky day however, her vomiting soon coming to an end.
"Are you all right, Milla?" Jude asked. "Here, have some water."
"Thanks," the former Lord of Spirits said as she took the bottle from her husband.
"Are you sure you still want to go?" the voice of her elder sister interrupted.
Turning around, the married couple found their friends all standing before them, each of them ready to go as Milla had ordered the day before.
"You've already done so much for our world, Milla," Elize said, "and what you've gone through yesterday, as well as having to carry your baby, it might be better to just have us handle it this time."
"You should listen to her," Alvin added. "No good is going to come out of this if you're just going to be blinded by rage. If Ivar wasn't there yesterday, then-"
"I appreciate all of your concerns, but regardless of what you say, it is my duty to confront Amilla," the former Lord of Spirits interrupted as determined as ever. "As I said yesterday, this goes beyond simply being the former Maxwell, this is because we are both Milla. She must pay for her many crimes against humans and spirits alike, she must be elim-"
"So you're going to kill her, is that it?!" Elle exclaimed. "Milla was our friend ten years ago, she was one of us, she was family. Are we just going to forget that and treat like she's nothing more than our enemy?"
The party could only remain silent upon hearing Elle's words. She had brought up a good point; regardless of the events that had transpired recently, Amilla was once a comrade in arms, even fighting for a cause that was not her own. Even though she was not the Milla of this world, she was still a part of their group, she was still one of them. However, recent events had proven otherwise.
"Elle, I understand your point, but the Milla you know is dead," Jude said. "That woman has made it clear that she is the Lord of Time and Space. The way she destroyed Nia Khera, using Emeraude and the Splintered as her pawns, as well as killing Ivar, hasn't she already proven to us that she is just the Demon King now?"
"But-!"
"…I have to agree with Jude, Elle," Leia regretfully concurred. "The Milla we knew back then wouldn't have wanted to make other people suffer, she wouldn't use others for her own devices, and she wouldn't have killed if it could be avoided. Amilla isn't the Milla you knew back then, so please just-"
"Are you going to tell me to just accept it?!" the young cadet yelled. "There has to be a reason why she's doing these things! The Milla I knew-"
"I'm afraid 'knew' is the keyword in this conversation, Elle," it was Rowen's turn to speak now. "As everyone has said thus far, this is not the Milla we knew from ten years ago, even you know this. Even though she had her disagreements with Ivar ten years ago, I would never come to believe that she would have murdered him in the manner that she did."
"I can't believe I'm hearing any of this… Why can't any of you-?"
"I'm afraid we no longer have time to argue," Milla returned the party to the situation at hand. "Elle, if you cannot accept that Amilla Sekundes is no longer the Milla you knew from ten years ago, then you should stay here for your own sake. I'm not going to lie; our goal is to kill Amilla. If you cannot accept that, then I cannot welcome you in our endeavor. However, if you can accept that the Milla you knew no longer exists, then you are welcome to join our cause."
The young cadet was defeated upon hearing her friends' words. All of them had lost face in the Milla they knew ten years ago, the Milla that sacrificed herself so that the woman before them now could return to their world. Yet even if they all lost faith, she knew she simply couldn't lose hers so easily.
"…maybe the Milla I knew no longer exists, but at the same time, I want to be believe that a part of her still lives inside the Demon King…," the young agent said. "If she inherited her memories, then why not her heart as well? Somewhere, deep inside, I'm sure a piece of the Milla I knew is still there. I want to see for myself if she still exists, but if not, then I'll make her pay for what she's done to Nia Khera, to this world, to Ivar."
"Well met," the monarch could only nod at the young girl's sentiment.
"Elle, you know we can't guarantee that a part of the Milla you seek still exists in the Demon King," the young researcher said. "Are you sure you still want to come?"
"Like I said, I have to find out for myself," Elle reaffirmed her determination. "I have many things I need to find out for myself…"
"Then I suppose that settles it then," the current Lord of Spirits smiled. "Are you all ready?"
"Ready as we'll ever be," the editor replied for all her friends.
"I can't guarantee where you'll land will be safe," Muzét warned. "I don't even know if you will appear within the wilderness or a city. Even I have never set foot in Glenwood when the Schism was still in existence. All I know is that it is a land where the ability for humans to wield spirit artes has been long lost, much like Elympios. For that matter, their technology is primitive compared to ours, possibly on the same level as Rieze Maxia eleven years ago; devices like the GHS and guns could be seen as some sort of sorcery or witchcraft. If at all possible, it would be best to refrain from using these kinds of items as much as possible so that you may blend in with the population."
"…well, at least now I have a legit excuse if I miss a call or two during our little getaway," the businessman quipped.
"Is there anything else we should be aware of, Muzét?" the former butler questioned.
"I'm afraid this is all the knowledge I have," the current Maxwell could only shake her head. "What I know is limited at best and already I have told you everything that I know."
"Then let us be off!" Milla ordered. "Muzét, if you will."
Saying nothing further, the elder sibling removed her trademark knife from her trenchcoat's pocket. With a simply swish of her arm, a dark blue sphere suddenly formed in the direction of her cut, as if a hole had been opened within the fabric of reality itself.
"The portal will automatically close once you've all walked through," the older sister continued. "I'm afraid that once you've gone through, you won't be able to return home until either I've managed to pinpoint your location and made another portal or once Gaius and I find you on the other side."
"It should take me no more than one month to make the proper preparations," Gaius further explained. "Once I have amassed our forces, we shall enter Glenwood as well. Let us meet at the peak of the highest mountain in one month's time, whether you are able to stop Amilla or not within that amount of time. Should you not appear during that time, I'm afraid we will be forced to assume that you had failed in your task."
"We won't fail," the visitor from another world assured the king. "I'll see to it that we will succeed."
"Then good luck everyone…"
It was little more than a blink of an eye; they were expecting perhaps a pathway much like the Temporal Crossroads once they had entered the portal, but upon entering the dimensional gate, they suddenly found themselves in a foreign place none of them had ever seen.
Already it was night, possibly because they had just traveled across the world in a single second, the time difference between Rieze Maxia and Glenwood much greater than that found between their home and Elympios. The stars here were different, they were brighter in fact, the sky even having a slightly lighter shade of navy blue. The air itself seemed cleaner as well, free of any forms of smog or the smell of oil as it could normally be found in Elympios and now even a bit in Rieze Maxia.
"Where are we?" Leia questioned as she tried to survey their new surroundings.
"It appears we're on some sort of mountain," Rowen concluded, pointing to the ground's edge a few feet away.
It was just as Rowen said, they were all standing atop the flat peak of a mountaintop. It was similar to the Nia Khera Hallowmont at first glance, but upon looking down the mountain, they could find no signs of a village located directly at the base. If anything, it seemed like the closest civilizations looked to be quite a distance away, appearing as little more than specks of light in the vastness of the plains below. From what they could see, there was a river running close to the base of the mountain, with a short stone bridge built above it to connect two landmasses. Looking to the west, they saw the second speck of light; though it seemed farther, the light seemed brighter, having been reflected off what looked like a large body of water, possibly a lake or ocean.
"So this is Glenwood…," was all the young researcher could say. "It does remind me a little bit of Rieze Maxia eleven years ago before the Schism was dispelled."
"As fascinating as this all is, we need to reach civilization as soon as possible," Milla quickly got back on point. "Though we know what Amilla's goal is, we know nothing of these lands. We can get a better idea of where Amilla may be headed if-"
"Yeah, you really must not know anything about these lands if you're out here of all places in the middle of the night," an unfamiliar, sarcastic voice suddenly interrupted.
"Who's there?!"
Not willing to take any chances, everyone quickly drew their weapons, their attention turning toward the direction of the unknown speaker. From within the darkness, the sound of footsteps soon followed, the grips on their arms tightening as they grew louder. At any moment they were ready to attack, expecting that even if one were to reveal themselves, there may be more hiding in the black atmosphere. Yet their aggression quickly ceased as a single individual walked from out of the shadows, an innocent looking individual they did not expect to see in this kind of place at this kind of hour.
"Is this how you greet everyone that tries to add in their two cents to your conversations?" the blond child that emerged from the darkness questioned, her tone flat yet mocking. "Aren't you an uppity bunch of earthdwellers?"
"Is that a child?" Leia questioned as she saw the little girl standing before them.
This girl standing before them looked no older eight, perhaps twelve at most. Despite the apparently dangerous environment, she was wearing a sleeveless white dress with yellow-orange frills, a single glove with a green ribbon tied on her right wrist, boots that seemed too big for her feet, yellow-orange ribbons tied on her upper legs and ankles, as well as the back of her dress, and an umbrella. Her ocean blue eyes quickly reminded the party of the ocean, while her loose, shoulder-length blonde hair was as bright as a sunflower. Despite her apparently innocent appearance however, she seemed rather unnerved as she looked at the party; if anything, she actually seemed annoyed.
"Great, more idiots who can see me…," the girl groaned, turning her back on all of them as she opened her umbrella, despite the fact that it was not raining.
"Of course we can see you," Elle replied, already becoming annoyed by this girl's reactions. "Is there any reason why we shouldn't?"
"…there is a reason…," Sophie surprisingly answered in the girl's stead.
"Wait a minute," the blond child turned around again, her attention focusing on the visitor from another world. "Don't I know you from somewhere? …you were there on the Hexen Isle at the end of the Age of Chaos…"
"Sophie, do you know her?" Elize questioned.
"…I thought it was just a strange dream," the purple-haired girl replied. "A world filled with people I couldn't see at first, of people who could naturally manipulate the elements themselves and magically merge with others. But coming here, I see now that it wasn't just a dream."
"Sophie, what are you talking about?" it was the former Lord of Spirits' turn to inquire. "Who is she?"
"This girl…," she began to remember. "At first I couldn't see her, all I saw was a ball of light. Yet with time, my sight was able to manifest her current form and others similar to her. …your name…, it's Edna, right?"
"No, it's Gladys. Of course it's Edna," the girl before them replied with sarcasm yet again with her flat voice. "It's been, I dunno, a couple of centuries, hasn't it, Sophie Lhant?"
Skit: When Milla Met Edna
Jude: What kind of parents would leave a little girl like this out in the middle of nowhere?
Milla: Yes, it certainly is disturbing…
Edna: Uh, excuse me, I'm not exactly a little girl here…
Milla: Surely you must be mistaken because you certainly don't look like an adult. Just how old are you anyway, young lady?
Edna: (sarcastic) Old enough to be your grandmother a hundred times over and then some.
Milla: …I'm not understanding you… Jude, are all children this difficult when it comes to their age?
Edna: (angrily) I told you, I'm not a-!
Jude: Milla, in times like this, you should treat kids as if they're adults too. It's really insulting if you demean them through their age, so it's better to just play along and acknowledge them as if they were your equal.
Milla: Treat them as if they were adults too… Hm… Oh, I get it! (smiles and pats Edna on the head) Yes, I see, you're a big girl, aren't you? Maybe you'll be as big as me one day!
Edna: (fuming) Big as you, just what are you implying?! I keep telling you that I'm much older than you, old enough that if I was as big as you, they'd be sagging down to me knees and dragging against the ground!
Jude: (quickly butts in) Whoa, hang on! Edna, Milla wasn't implying anything about your, ahem, womanly features. She was just-!
Milla: Edna, I'm afraid being a woman is not as easy as it seems. For example, every month, there is a time when a woman-
Edna: Ugh, I've known all about that stuff long before you were already born! I swear, just when you think you've come across the dumbest earthdwellers, you always find those that are just out of this world… (walks away)
Milla and Jude: …
Milla: …hm, maybe she is older than we originally thought…
Jude: (sighs) You think?
Milla: No, I am most certain of it. Speaking from experience, this is a time in a girl's life when we need to be understanding and give her the room she needs when she requests it. Perhaps I should go in more detail about this time of the month with her when she is more willing to listen.
Author's Note: And with that, the first chapter of Act 3 comes to a close. We've got a quite bit of ground to cover after doing a bit of research, so let's get to it.
I thought I should just have a quick rehash chapter of sorts before I had the party come to Glenwood. For that matter, I didn't think it'd make sense for the party to go to Glenwood if they didn't have a more clear picture as to why Amilla went, so I had to have Milla discover that she was after Flamberge.
The scene with Elle and Lara was something I wanted to implement for a long time; I always wondered in the epilogue for the True Ending of Tales of Xillia 2 if Elle ever met the Prime Dimension version of her mother. I wondered how this kind of scene would play out for such a long time, but I figured Elle would probably either never tell Lara of her true identity if they did meet, or the two would never meet in general. I thought this scene would also be necessary before Elle confronts Symonne in a rematch (though I'm afraid this rematch won't be for a while).
Regarding Edna, I figured she'd probably be the best candidate of which of the Tales of Zestiria cast they should meet first. As far as why her hair was described as being shoulder length and not having her side ponytail, it goes back to the events of my one-shot fic, Because. Readers may recall in that story that Edna gave her hair ribbon to Mikleo as a loving memento of her which she forced him to accept (this was also my way of explaining why Mikleo has tied long hair in the second Tales of Zestiria epilogue; as far as where Mikleo is now, I'm afraid that will have to wait for a later chapter). Taking this into consideration, I can say (for the sake of this story only) the events of Tales of Zesteria occurred hundreds of years before the events of Tales of Xillia.
I'm sure some readers might now be saying "that's not right, the worlds of Tales of Xillia and Tales of Zestiria are separate". In my defense, I did find that there is no official information in Tales of Xillia of what actually exists to the west of Rieze Maxia and I could not locate an actual world map for Tales of Zestiria other than a map of Glenwood. Moreover, the official timeline of Tales of Xillia 2 lists that the current year for Elympios is 4305 and 2294 in Rieze Maxia (so in terms of this story, the years are 4315 and 2304 respectively). I did some research on the official timeline for Tales of Zestiria (which I found on kisechuu's tumblr page) and found out that their first recorded era is the "Ancient Era", which occurred more than 3,000 years ago, in which legends state that humans and seraphim co-existed at the same time.
I want to believe that the Glenwood citizens of the "Ancient Era" would consider Great Spirits as the equivalent of "seraphim", but never considered the existence of lesser spirits as they could not perceive them (even Rieze Maxians cannot see lesser spirits, which are used in spirit artes). Taking this into consideration, the "Ancient Era" may be interpreted as a time before Maxwell took everyone in the world with mana lobes to Rieze Maxia, a time when Great Spirits/seraphim could still be seen by all. I would further like to believe that Glenwood did not share technology with Elympios during that era, but Maxwell still took its people with mana lobes when Rieze Maxia was created, fearing Glenwood would also walk down the same path as Elympios. (Although it seems like he didn't take all of them considering you have a character like Magilou in Tales of Berseria (I have to give credit to kirvee from the Taleslations tumblr page for pointing this out in a recent post she made).)
I could go on a bit longer on my theory (especially considering the other eras that are mentioned in the Tales of Zestiria timeline, not to mention some of Tales of Xillia's "early years" aren't given dates, so one game's era may have lasted longer than the other's), but I'm afraid it will become even more long-winded that it would take many more pages to go into this. However, if you're interested in discussing/debating this theory with me, please feel free to PM me about it from my Fanfiction account (please don't leave a review discussing/defending your stance, I'd rather a civilized discussion about this). But then again, this is just fan fiction anyway; I'm just trying to use as much canon material as possible to make sense of a lot of this story's events. If my Tales of Xillia and Tales of Zestiria theory falls apart due to other canon material I'm not aware of at this time, I have another way of explaining how the Tales of Xillia cast were able to travel to Glenwood that doesn't involve using these timelines.
Speaking of crossing over of games, with Sophie's guest appearance in Tales of Zestira, I thought she could act as a sort of "middle man" between the two parties; I made Sophie referring to her encounter with Edna and the others as a dream because I read somewhere that the Sophie encountered in Tales of Zestiria came from the timeframe between the main game of Tales of Graces F and the Future Arc. As Sophie doesn't mention anything about the Tales of Zestiria world in the Future Arc (though this is most likely because Tales of Zestiria wasn't made yet at the time and the fact that it would just seem out of place), I figured she probably just thought of her adventure in the Hexen Isle as a dream.
Anyway, I think I've said more than enough for now (this has got to be the longest author's note I've written so far, hopefully I don't go overboard again). In any case, thanks again to everyone for reading, I hope you've all enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I have writing it. Please feel free to leave me a review, all constructive criticism is welcome. If want to talk about my theory regarding the Tales of Xillia and Tales of Zestiria games taking place on the same world, please send me a PM on my Fanfiction account; I would be happy to discuss it with you in detail.
Thanks again for reading everyone. I hope to see you all in the next chapter!