Instructions

When the team ran outside, they saw a shadow looming over the entire city. All six of them looked up towards the sky to see what it was, and gasped. There, way above the clouds, was what appeared to be some sort of walkway, as if there was ground up there. It crisscrossed like a web over the air, connecting something the group couldn't quite fathom.

-The Aeropolis!- exclaimed Dymlos, -It couldn't be, could it? Why else would the Eye of Atamoni disappear not too long before something like this appears?-

-I believe so. If you look towards the northeast, you can see Dycroft and Belcrant,- Clemente added. Everyone looked in the direction the Swordian had specified, and saw a large, floating palace with some sort of sword sticking out of it in the direction of the ground.

Philia inquired, "What is that? Why has it appeared in our world?"

She heard her faithful Swordian sigh; there was a small hint of fear in his voice. -It's the Aeropolis, the world of the Aetherians during the Aeth'er Wars. Up there, on that ground in the sky, lay several buildings that make up their fortresses. But we completely obliterated them all.-

-The Eye of Atamoni must have revived them,- Atwight added, -It's only logical as Belcrant, the weapon coming off of Dycroft, uses it as a power source. That must have been what made the loud booming noise just now; Belcrant had sucked up ground to create that walkway.-

-We have to go to Radisrol; it's our only way into the sky with the Draconis missing,- Dymlos said.

Stahn inquired, "Where's that?"

Rutee looked at him, saw his calmness in such an urgent situation. 'If he's afraid, he's hiding it very well. I feel my heart pounding just thinking about that thing up there, but I don't think his is.'

-Radisrol is where I was sleeping earlier,- Clemente told the group, -Head there and seek out the control room. There, we should be able to wake up Commander Raiker; he's been integrated into the computer system just in case something like this happened.-

"We'll charter a ship. Then, once we get there, we can get further instructions," Garr stated.

At that point, Hugo joined them in front of the castle. He told the six, "You kids just do what you have to do. I'll keep things calm in Darilsheid. Rutee…Emilio…please come back safely. I can tell that this trip will be more dangerous than the last one."

Both of them turned at exactly the same time and spoke as one. "We won't fail you, Father."

S...S

-The command center is where I was sleeping,- Clemente informed the team when they got to Radisrol, -If the city has surfaced again, then we know that the commander has probably woken up.-

The team followed the Swordian's instructions and headed for the room they'd found him in. There, they saw the computers were up and running, and a man's face was shown on the screen. He smiled when he saw their group, knowing help had arrived.

-Welcome, I am Raiker. It's good to see all five Swordians and their masters. But what happened to Igtenos? It seems he was overloaded by a power surge from the Eye of Atamoni,- the computerized face voiced.

Garr replied, "So that was it…when Lydon tried to use the Eye to control his powers. Is there a way I can fix him, Raiker? Something here in Radisrol?"

The commander shook his digital head. -No, but perhaps in one of the more technological factory based Aeropolises may have something we can use. We can get him back, that's the main thing. It's not like poor Berselius, whose Core Crystal broke during the final duel with the Aetherian King.-

"Core Crystal?" inquired Rutee, "What's that, Atwight?"

-It is the crystal on each of our hilts that contains our essence. If it breaks, then we die,- Atwight informed her mistress and the rest of the Swordian Masters.

Lilith asked, "Can you guys please fill me in on what's going on? I can't hear what they say!"

Stahn sighed. "That's one reason we wanted you to stay back in Lienea." He then began to inform his sister on what the Swordian had told Rutee.

-Anyway, I need an assistant,- Raiker informed them, -Also, the Boot Disc lying in a cave near Lienea. You can leave here on Bernardo, the Sea Dragon, and head to a port to find me my assistant. Then, go and get the Boot Disc.-

"Yessir!" exclaimed the five Swordian Masters in unison. Raiker pointed them to a small Horn that lay in the corner of the room collecting dust. He instructed them to use it to attract Bernardo. Afterwards, the team left to the city's outskirts and called for their ride.

S...S

"So…an assistant. Have you tried Otto's Lab? He's a brilliant scientist," Hugo suggested.

They were at the palace, giving a report to the king. On the way out, they ran into the president who had been instructing some soldiers in emergency protocol. Leon informed his father, "We've yet to go there, but that sounds like it could help. Thank you…."

The older man smiled; his son rarely gave him any thanks. "Good, then go and do so. Our future is in the hands of you young people."

"So, Leon," Lilith whispered when they walked away, "What do you know about my brother and your sister's relationship? I see they're awfully close all the time."

"They don't tell me anything and I wouldn't tell you if I knew!" Leon coldly replied.

When they got to the lab, they asked for the professor's help. However, he was busy with his research and couldn't leave. One of the assistants overheard the conversation and came over to offer his aid. He told them, "I've got to do my part to protect the world, after all."

At that point, Rutee noticed a disc on the ground. Since Otto usually specialized in botany, she wondered why it was there. "Hey, Professor…what's this object do?"

"Take it!" he called, "I don't know and I don't care; I'm only interested in living things." So the girl pocketed the object to bring with them on their journey.

S...S

"Here's your assistant. He's a scientist working in Seinegald Castle," Stahn informed Raiker.

The commander told them, -Good work. Now, I'll have to train him to operate Radisrol's systems; it's been a thousand years and this technology doesn't exist anymore. I want you to now go and get that Boot Disc. As I said before, it should be in a cave that lies in an inlet on the Fitzgald Continent, just south of Lienea Village. You might want to be warned, though.-

Leon shrugged. "No warnings needed; I can handle myself against a Guardian."

-It's not the Guardian,- Raiker stated, -You will have to use three Swordians as keys to open the doors. So only two of you, and the little lady, will be able to enter the inner room. I'd suggest Igtenos acting as a key since he's dormant, but the other two are your own decision.-

"Sounds like a plan. We'll think of it when we get there," Stahn replied.

Philia told them, "I'll stay behind; I'd rather take a break if I can."

Leon looked at Stahn and Rutee; two of the three would have to go on. "Well, my sister obviously is needed to heal. Then it's just me or Stahn. I'd say…."

"Oniichan should go!" Lilith exclaimed, "I'd rather fight with him than this rude boy!"

"Lilith! That's not how we decide things," Stahn yelled back.

"I'd rather not be with her, either. So I'll stay behind; she's enough to keep you two lovebirds' mind on the mission," Leon replied.

Rutee muttered, "If this mission wasn't so serious…I'd positively slug you, Emilio."

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words...

Of course, we all know the real reason Lilith wants Stahn and Rutee to come with her. She wants to see how they act when they're in battle together. She's so devious, isn't she? But I love Lilith just the same. Heh, and her first attempt at pissing Leon off has occurred; she and he will have a few more interactions throughout the story as Lilith attempts to drag the poor boy along in her schemes.