The translation for this week's Dwarven vow was tricky for me, because the wording used refers to the way that soil dries and stiffens after a heavy rain. It becomes more solid, but also more brittle and prone to cracking, and the duality of that state is what's meant by the saying- that after hardships is when people are most guarded and yet at their most vulnerable. I wanted to get that feeling across, but I didn't want the translation to sound unwieldy or awkward. English is my first language, and I still find it very difficult at times. Nevertheless, as per my standard greeting I don't own anything. I'm just a fan writing some fiction. Please enjoy!


Dwarven Vow 130
An dèidh na h-uisge, cruaidhidh an talamh.
After the rain, the ground hardens.

28-

Dirk had been busy for several months before the anniversary festival, his hands full with orders for statues and art pieces commemorating the event. Now that the event had finally arrived, his work had died down and he found himself with much more free time than he knew what to do with. For the first time in many years- certainly more than Lloyd had been living with him- he actually opened up some of the books that he'd stowed away on shelves in the back of his forge. They were handwritten by a dwarf who was clearly not a scribe, the scrawl half-illegible in some places to someone who wasn't familiar with the style. But for lack of neatness found in the writing, the hand-drawn diagrams were better than anything he'd found in similar human books. The text would have to be translated from Dwarven, but if Lloyd needed a textbook for his school, this was undoubtedly the best text on Dwarven smithing he could use.

Of course he might be biased considering how highly he regarded his sister's work, but Dirk decided not to worry about it.

The sky was overcast, with the sun peeking through the clouds at regular intervals, and the temperature was warm enough that Dirk could sit outside by the creek with only a light coat. He couldn't remember the last time he'd simply sat outside and read, so it was a pleasant change from hours spent in the heat of the forge. He was so lost in his sister's writing, he didn't notice that he had a visitor until his guest was right next to him.

"Um, D-Dirk?"

The familiar voice brought him back to reality, and he looked up with a smile.

"Frank! It's guid ta see ye- but whit'ur ye daein' heaur? Arenae they having' a celebration back in Iselia?"

It was only when Dirk stopped and waited for Frank's reply when he realized how winded the man seemed to be. His face was flushed and he had to stop and catch his breath before speaking again. His eyes were wide, almost like he was… scared.

"Y-yes, but I… er…" Frank began to stammer as he spoke up again, taking a moment to regain his composure. "...Colette just called me over the radio. I didn't quite get everything that happened, but apparently there was an attempt on Zelos' life during the festival in Meltokio-"

"Mo chreach!" Dirk staggered to his feet. "Is everythin' alrecht? Is he hurt?"

"Zelos is fine," Frank replied. "It's Lloydwho's hurt. He's… he's in bad shape."

Dirk stood silently for a moment, his grip on the book tightening. "Whit happened?" he finally choked out. "Is he…?"

"I don't know." Frank shook his head. "Colette was too upset to give many details. Sheena was there and she said something about emergency surgery, but even she didn't seem to know much beyond that. I came straight here because I thought you should know. My mother-in-law and I are leaving right away for Melokio so that we can be with Colette. You're welcome to join us if you would like."

There was another moment of silence. Dirk's expression darkened, and he began to speak with a sense of hesitation. "Tae be with her... is that tae mean ye think that he willnae-?"

"I don't know. All I know is that my daughter has been through something traumatic. Someone she loves has been hurt, and she doesn't know what to do. As a father, I can't sit by and leave her alone. And as a father, I know that you'd want to know what's going on."

Dirk closed his eyes and let out a pained sigh. "...thenk ye, Frank. If thes happened an' I didn't ken abit it, I wooldn't be able tae forgife myself. But I'll hae tae decline yer offer fer a ride tae Meltokio. If Lloyd is pure as badly hurt as ye say, 'en by the time ye arrife there'll be naught to be dain. I know a Dwarven shortcut. It's nae easy tae navigate, but if I want tae be in Tethe'alla in time ta dae somethin', then-"

Frank nodded, cutting him off. "I understand. Do what you need to for Lloyd's sake. Phaidra and I will travel on our own and meet you there. Give Colette our regards, okay?"

"Aye. Will dae."

Dirk tried to smile at Frank, but it was half-hearted and he knew that Frank could tell. This wasn't a time for cordiality, and both of them knew it. Dirk closed his sister's book and returned to the house to pack up some emergency supplies. He didn't know how long he'd be gone or how much he needed to bring, but at this point, he didn't care.

All that mattered was getting to his son's side as soon as possible.


Zelos stopped in the doorway, seeing the whole group waiting for him. He glanced back and forth between Genis and Raine, and then looked back at his sister.

"...I'm sorry, is this an interrogation or an intervention?"

"It's neither such thing," Seles replied with a shake of her head. "I just wanted their input in this conversation."

Seeing Zelos' uneasy expression, Raine cleared her throat and spoke up. "We don't mean to pry into your personal matters, we promise. We're only here because Seles asked us."

Zelos sighed. "Well, alright. If that's what Seles wants, I don't mind. But what's going on that we need all this input? Why not Colette and Sheena too?"

Seles leaned forward and adjusted her pillows so that she could sit up straighter. "It's not that I don't trust Colette and Sheena, but they don't have the scientific background that you three have. I want to ask you what you make of the statement made by the assassin."

Zelos' face turned pale. "I, uh, didn't really catch what they said. Everything was happening so fast, I don't remember it all. So maybe I'm not the one to ask. How about I leave you three to it-"

"I know it's painful to think about," Genis interrupted, "but this involves you. We're trying to figure out exactly who to target of the assassination was."

There was a moment of silence as a series of different expressions passed over Zelos' face. He lifted a hand and clenched his fist, his gaze falling to the floor. "..what the hell kind of question is that? Was it not ME? The one giving the speech? The one that Lloyd had to shield with his body-?!"

"Lloyd pushed all three of us out of the way," Seles interrupted. "The fact that he fell on you rather than on Colette or me doesn't mean that the two of us weren't in danger either."

"So what? You're saying that the assassin might've been after you or Colette? What they hell would they want with either of you? Not to be rude, but I was the headlining celebrity at that event. Even if the opening acts are better than the band itself, they're not the main draw. People were there for the Chosen, including the assassin."

Genis let out a hmph. "I have to applaud your consistency. You're as vain as ever, even when it doesn't suit you."

"Cut the crap, ya bratty pipsqueak!" Zelos snarled in response, prompting Genis to jump to his feet.

"Why don't you make me, you overgrown peacock-"

"Boys!" Raine clapped her hands, the sound reverberating around the room and calming Zelos and Genis' anger. "Everyone's frustrated and scared right now. But Seles asked us to hear her out, and that's what we're here to do." She sighed and turned to Seles, making a sweeping motion with her hands. "Please, explain to your brother what you explained to us."

Seles sat up straighter, shifting her weight and clasping at her blankets. "I can't say for sure, but when we were shot at by the assassin, I felt for a moment like I met their eyes… as if their spell were meant for me. I think I was the one being targeted, but I'm at a loss to say why other than just my gut feeling."

Zelos frowned, walking over to sit on the foot of the bed. "This sounds crazy. I can't think of a motive for the assassin to be after you, plus, there's no evidence."

"Maybe not directly, but-" Seles shook her head. "-something about what the assassin said felt odd, especially that last bit about natural selection. It seems out of place, but I can't put my finger on it. I know the general principle of natural selection, but I don't know the details. It's… survival of the fittest, right? That the weak die out and only the strong survive? Why would they mention something like that while going after a healthy, strong man like Zelos? I'm the sickly one that natural selection is already trying to drag down."

"That's…" Zelos' voice hitched in his throat as he spoke, but he managed to swallow his nervousness and continue. "...that's not what natural selection is at all. That's more like population control factors, or carrying capacity, or something. I don't remember my ecology classes that well, but-"

"No, you're right." Raine broke in. "While non-scientists tend to think of it from an individual point of view, natural selection isn't about individuals at all. It's merely the amplification of beneficial mutations over many generations. Natural selection doesn't necessarily favor the strong or the healthy or any other characteristic in particular- only the ability to produce offspring. As long as an organism can reproduce, then its genes get passed down to the following generation and its characteristics are preserved in the gene pool for-"

Raine had hoped that her explanation would be reassuring, but she cut off as she noticed Zelos making a sliding motion across his neck, his expression stern.

"...maybe you're right, then," Seles murmured, her voice a low monotone. "Maybe they weren't talking about me after all. Natural selection has already left me behind, since I can't even do the most important thing-"

"I-I think we're overthinking all of this!" Zelos jumped in before she could finish. "We're all stressed and it's making us look for hidden meanings where there aren't any. For gods' sakes, we… we… watched our friend almost die…"

A period of silence followed, with no one brave enough to speak up. Seles finally cleared her throat, her voice barely a whisper.

"I've always been convinced I'd die slowly, succumbing to some kind of illness. I never really considered a violent, instantaneous death as a possibility. But you all, who've adventured around the world, probably have. Maybe I'm imagining myself as the target because this was so unfamiliar to me. Seeing someone fatally wounded right in front of my eyes made death so real and frightening. It hurts. I wasn't particularly close to Lloyd, but it hurts."

There was a small sound from across the room, almost a cross between a cough and a hiccup. Zelos and Raine looked over immediately, but Genis had his head turned toward the window so that they couldn't see his face. Raine reached a hand out to place on his trembling shoulder, and Zelos stood up to step closer.

"...Genis? Are you crying?"

"Of course not," Genis choked with a shake of his head. "Don't be stupid."

"Stupid? What the hell are you talking about? It's not stupid to cry! Besides, you're still just a kid- you're expected to bawl your eyes out whenever you damn please-!"

"STOP YELLING AT ME!" Genis turned to face Zelos, the hair flying into his face only partially obscuring his reddened eyes and tear-stained cheeks. "I'm so SICK of you, acting like YOU'RE the one who can lecture US about being hurt! Lloyd was my best friend before I knew what a best friend WAS! He accepted me for who I was before I could even accept MYSELF! How do you think I feel knowing he'd sacrifice his life for somebody like YOU?"

Raine gasped and looked to Zelos to keep him from going after Genis, but Zelos stayed where he was, still trying to process what had been said.

"You… you…" Zelos stammered, his voice cracking, "...you think I don't feel bad about that? You think I don't feel overwhelmed by guilt at the realization that someone whose life is worth more than mine will ever be would just throw it away for my sake-?"

"ENOUGH!" Raine stood up, stretching her arms out in between the two of them. "You sound like a pair of schoolchildren arguing over a toy on the playground! The fact that Lloyd was willing to risk his life for someone else is part of what makes him Lloyd. You're arguing over who's closer to him and you can't even get that right?"

Zelos could hear it in her voice that she was fighting back tears, and couldn't bring himself to interrupt. Genis seemed to have the same reaction, staring wide-eyed at his sister as she continued.

"I want both of you to think about what you're saying before you say it! And while you're at it, quit talking about Lloyd like he's dead, because he's not. He's going to be okay. He… has to be okay…"

That last sentence was as far as Raine could go. Her composed expression crumpled into one of despair, and she pushed Zelos aside as she made her way back to the door. Before she could escape into the hallway, however, a figure on the other side of the door blocked her path.

"Oh, Professor Sage! Excuse me." Veronica jumped back from the doorframe, looking past Raine toward Zelos. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm here to tell Zelos that he and his friends have a visitor."

"A visitor? Now?" Zelos groaned. "The damn city's on lockdown. Who is it?"

"It's someone from the hospital. An urgent message for you, I believe."

Zelos froze and looked back and forth at Genis and Raine. A sense of unease passed between them and no one wanted to be the one to break it. Finally, Seles spoke up, moving to get out of bed.

"I'll go with you-"

"No, Seles, you've already overexerted yourself today." Veronica rushed to her side to block her from leaving the bed. "I'll get Tokunaga to keep you updated on everything that's going on. Please try not to worry."

Genis nodded to Seles. "We'll come back and let you know what's going on," he began, though his voice was hesitant. "Okay?"

"Alright," Seles sighed.

Zelos let Genis past him into the hallway and then followed after the two siblings. However, before he could make it out, Veronica grabbed his hand to stop him.

"What are you-?" He couldn't even get a full question out before she pulled him into a tight hug. As she did so, she took the opportunity to whisper a reassurance into his ear.

"I'm here for you, Master Zelos. No matter what happens, don't forget that."

Zelos left without a word in reply.

He knew she was trying to help, but what she'd said somehow only made him feel worse.


Anna sat by the side of the bed, her hand clasped tightly around Lloyd's. She hadn't moved since Song had brought him in, staying next to him while Song cleaned and re-stitched his wounds and gave him medicine to help with the pain. It would probably keep him asleep, Song had explained, but he also instructed Anna not to be surprised if Lloyd stirred a little. So far it had been two hours, and she hadn't heard much out of him besides a few slight groans.

But that was enough. It showed he was alive.

Song returned to the room- his own bedroom, which he'd insisted on giving to Lloyd- and greeted Anna with a nod. "How's it going?" he asked. "Any talking in his sleep?"

"No, not really. He was never much for that," Anna replied with a shake of her head. "Do you need something?"

"I was going to invite you out to the kitchen for some dinner. Yuan made vegetable curry since we have so many guests today. You really should eat something."

Anna frowned and looked back to Lloyd. "I know, but… I'm just not hungry right now."

Song walked over to the bed and knelt down so that he could place the back of his hand on Lloyd's forehead. "My biggest worry when I brought him here was infection, but he doesn't have a fever right now, so that's unlikely. We're not quite in the clear yet, but he's doing much better than I thought he would. You should come to the kitchen before your share gets cold."

Anna paused and glanced back and forth between Lloyd and Song and sighed sadly. She moved Lloyd's hand back over to the bed to let go of it, but as she did so, he groaned again and stammered out a few muddled words.

"...nnnn… five more… minutes, Dad…"

Both Song and Anna froze for a moment in awe, and Song cracked a smile.

"I guess he heard me and though I was his dad calling him for breakfast-"

Before he could finish, Lloyd continued with a strong accent masking his words even further. "...aye, thas what'che said… five minutes ago…"

"-and he's playing both parts in this scenario." Song tried to mask his amusement out of respect for Anna, but it was difficult to hide his smile. "I'm, uh, not sure if that's a good sign or a bad sign."

"...five more minutes… for real this time… I promise…"

Fortunately for Song, what he'd initially thought was a sob from Anna was actually the beginnings of a laugh. She leaned down, running a hand through Lloyd's hair. "Shhh. It's okay. You can sleep as long as you want to, Lloyd."

For the first time since he'd been knocked unconscious, a small smile passed over Lloyd's face. "...thanks, Mom…" he murmured, his voice no louder than a whisper. It was enough, though, and Anna pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here."

Song let out a sigh of defeat. "I usually don't allow food in my bedroom, but I'll make an exception for you this time. I'll be right back with a plate for you, Anna."

"Thank you so much!" Anna replied, finally able to direct a smile at Song. "Oh, and could you ask Yuan a favor for me?"

"Of course. What is it?"

"Could he go find Kratos and tell him what's going on? I know the militia is busy, but… he should be here, I think."

Song nodded. "I'm sure Yuan'll be willing to do that."

"Oh? What makes you so certain?"

Rather than answering the question, Song just laughed and waved a hand dismissively. "Let me rephrase that; I'll make sure he's willing to do it."