AN: Thanks so much PoptartsAreMagic and Terron145 for reviewing the previous chapter!

I'm finally got my hands on Etrian Mystery Dungeon. Had to buy an American 3DS, though. If I waited until it came out to Australia, I would have waited until September to play it. Worse, I would have waited until NEXT YEAR before being able to play Untold 2! So I can buy it for my birthday, which is on the fifth of August! The day after! Honestly, I've never played a Mystery Dungeon game before, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm in for, but I'm excited nonetheless!

Anyway, enough from me. Please enjoy reading!

Chapter 35:

"What are you doing, Achyuta?"

Varuna chewed on his bottom lip nervously as he turned his gaze away from the formable Logre to glance at Bryce. Despite the deep scowl on his face, Varuna could tell that he was also feeling nervous. He had seen what a driveblade could do and it wasn't pretty. If they had to fight…

It won't be easy.

After the terse silence, Achyuta noticeably swallowed thickly and took an edgy step forward. "Sir Logre, I…"

"It doesn't matter," Bryce bit out as he strode to the forefront. "What are you doing here, Logre?"

Achuyta was momentarily surprised by Bryce's interference and defence. He, however, shook his head and tried to speak with Logre again. "S-sir Logre, let me explain-"

"I said it doesn't matter," Bryce once again interrupted, harder and firmer this time. "You don't have to explain anything. You're our hostage, so stay out of this."

Logre furrowed his brow in confusion and mild surprise as Achyuta took a rather submissive step backwards. "Hostage?"

"An eye for an eye, I suppose," Isiah stated as he moved to stand beside Bryce, the two of them looking rather stern and formable. He then levelled Logre with a piercing glare. "Besides, we're desperate men."

Logre twitched and made a low tisking noise. "You certainly know what to say, don't you, Isiah?"

"Not all the time," Isiah retorted sharply before quickly glancing over his shoulder at Nitish, whom of which was standing beside Achyuta, the blue-armoured imperialist looking torn and pained. Isiah quickly turned his attention back to Logre. "Why did the Imperial Knights kidnap Nitish?"

"I was unaware of that, I'm afraid," Logre answered readily, sounding surprisingly truthful. "It seems that they believe he can read the ancient text."

"…I can," Nitish whispered timidly, folding his hands together in front nervously when he abruptly found himself the centre attention. He also looked pained, frightened even. "And what I have read tells of an ancient being far more dangerous than any threat our world has ever known. Please, stop this. We cannot let the Yggdrasil Titan come into formation."

Achyuta's head visibly reeled back, his brow furrowing deeply from confusion. "Yggdrasil Titan…?" he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.

For a split second there seemed to be an expression of guilt on Logre's face, but it quickly eased out into a look steel determination. "…I must follow my prince's orders," he murmured as he reached for his weapon.

"You're really ok with sacrificing the vessels and sentinels?" Isiah snapped, his anger and frustration shining through. "Must we resort to such violence?"

"P-please!" Nitish desperately pleaded, causing Varuna to reach out and hold him, preventing him from approaching the unpredictable Logre. "Please stop!"

"It's no use," Bryce bit out as he quickly unsheathed his weapon, slashing it through the air in front of him. "Everyone, get ready. We're going to have to beat some sense into him."

Isiah's scowl deepened. "That, I am good at."

Varuna winced, but he knew it was the only way. But he didn't want his brother to get involved. He had been through enough already. "Nitish…"

He won't be able to take on Logre with his full strength unless Nitish was safe.

"You," Varuna said as he levelled a glare upon Achyuta and nudged Nitish toward him. "Protect my brother."

"Y-yes," Achyuta stuttered as he automatically reached out to Nitish, carefully taking him into his arms and pulling back.

And Nitish allowed him to hold him back, his gaze lingering with Varuna's for a moment. Varuna didn't need Nitish's psychic abilities to sense his brother's fear and desperation. Nitish didn't want them to fight. He really didn't.

They didn't want to fight.

But it was the only way.

"Everything will be ok," Varuna said to him, hoping that he sounded reassuring, giving his far too frazzled brother some comfort.

Varuna then unsheathed his own blades as he darted off to Logre's right, flanking him with Bryce who was on his left. Facing Logre at the front was Isiah, the two old friends eyeing each other rather viciously. Skittish and nervous, but determined nonetheless, Zoran stood at the very back, in front of Nitish and Achyuta.

Without warning, Isiah revealed his mace, swinging it up over his head with one arm and brought it down upon Logre. Just as quick was Logre's response; lifting his driveblade to block the attack, the mace ringing loudly against the metal.

"Snap out of it," Isiah hissed as he applied pressure to his weapon with both hands. "The Whirlwind I know would never do something like this."

"I am not Whirlwind," Logre stated firmly in response, his stare as cold as his tone. "Whirlwind doesn't exist."

"That's bullshit!" Isiah snapped, looking and sounding utterly enraged but controlled all the same. "For ten years you've been helping the citizens of Tharsis. Are you really going to turn your back on everyone for something that might not even work?"

"It will work," Logre retorted.

In a display of sheer power, he thrust his blade forward, dislodging Isiah's mace and causing the medic to stagger to his right. Before Isiah could right himself and before Logre could readjust his grip on his weapon, Bryce pushed himself forward and drew his blade. The clang of two clashing metals seemed to resonate throughout the entire floor.

"How do you know?" Bryce asked him with a low growl.

"Logre, you know who we are," Varuna said as he tried to get through to him, hoping that they won't have to resort to…something deadly. "We are researchers. We can find a way to help your people. Find a way that won't resort to such drastic measures."

"If there was another way, don't you think we would have taken it already?" Logre countered sharply as he and Bryce continued their power struggle.

"We have the knowledge of three labyrinths within our arsenal," Isiah added as he slipped to Logre's left. "More than you had, right?"

"We will never allow you to sacrifice two races," Varuna stated firmly.

Logre said nothing to that. In all honesty, what could he say? He could explain the reasons all he wanted, it won't do any good. They simply won't let him kill two complete innocent races!

"Have you forgotten everything we've been through?" Bryce demanded as his knuckles turned white from the tightening of his grip on his weapon. "Spring Valley, Moth's Garden, and the battle against the Boiling Lizard. Did they mean nothing to you?"

"Tch, I was simply using you," Logre retorted, his voice cold and empty…Almost as if the words pained him in some way, deep inside. "It would be of your best interest if you leave. Now."

"And if we don't?"

Logre gritted his teeth. "Then I'll force you to leave."

"You bastard," Bryce hissed before he suddenly jumped backwards, causing Logre to stumble forward slightly. "Do it, Zoran!"

"Snare Circle!"

A glowing circle of magic unexpectedly appeared around Logre's feet. Before the man could react, green vines grew from the circle and entwined themselves easily around Logre's legs, immobilizing him immediately. Logre's impressive form faltered, unnerved and agitated at not being able to move.

"Damn it," he hissed lowly as he suddenly lifted his driveblade and flicked a hidden switch. The sound the driveblade was that of a mechanical whirling and it immediately turned red hot.

He was planning something.

Something desperate.

Varuna tensed. Getting hit with a driveblade…that had to be un-survivable, right?

"Sir Logre, wait!"

Carrying his own driveblade in a defensive manner, Achyuta unexpectedly pushed himself into battle, placing himself purposely in front of Logre. He was in such a spot that if Logre was to use his weapon, Achyuta would be the first to suffer his attack.

"Move, Achyuta!" Logre growled sharply, his jaws tight and eyes narrowed in a fearsome glare.

"Please reconsider," Achyuta pleaded, an expression of desperation and uncertainty on his face. "We don't have to do this!"

For the briefest of moments, Logre looked hesitant, guilty even. But he soon plastered a stoic expression on his face as he pulled himself to his full height. As he did so, Achyuta took a half step backwards, his face paling from his previous defiant actions.

Logre then lifted his driveblade up over his head…

"Stop it!"

Before anyone could react, Nitish raced forward, placing himself between Logre and Achyuta!

"Nitish!" Varuna yelled out in alarm as he lurched forward.

"Get back!" Bryce ordered as he, too, threw himself forward.

A look of utter shock appeared on Achyuta's face as he dropped his own driveblade, his hands reaching out to take Nitish by the shoulders to pull him away. But Nitish stayed firm as he lifted his hands, presenting something toward Logre that was wrapped in purple silk.

"Please, Logre, look at this," he pleaded.

Surprised by Nitish's appearance, Logre's eyes flickered down for a second to see what Nitish was showing him. He soon did a double-take, his stance faltering considerably. "That's-!"

"Ten years ago a man saved my life, saved Varuna's life," Nitish unexpectedly said as he continued to look at Logre. "He was wearing this badge."

Varuna stumbled to a stop as those words resonated in his head. "N-Nitish?" Did…did he just say…?

Lowering his blade, Logre made no attempt to hide the surprise and utter guilt on his face. "Where did you-?"

Still cradling the item in his hands, an expression of pain appeared on Nitish's face. He drew in a deep breath, his eyes downcast. "I remember…" he whispered. "I remember the airship."

Logre suddenly looked pained as he shook his head. "...Don't do this," he murmured, his voice unnervingly shaky and his eyes unblinking.

"I know you!" Nitish all by cried desperately. "And you know us. Both of us. We were on that airship, too."

A sharp pain suddenly erupted from his temple, causing Varuna to drop one of his blades to clutch at his head. He paid little attention to Bryce who was hovering by his side in concern. The image of the fire dragon appeared in his mind's eye. He could see it so clearly. It was so close.

And fire…

"It was the Fire Dragon," Nitish continued, his voice trembling slightly from terrifying memories. "It struck our airship. Caught everyone by surprise. I'm right, aren't I, Logre?"

Varuna snapped his head up, his eyes wide. "T-that's when that man appeared…?"

In front of the two of them, as they huddled together in fear. Children. They were simply children. The sensation of falling. And trembling. Something wasn't right. Something large, ominous was towering over them. But that man…the man in strange armour. He…

"Yes," Nitish whispered. "He was badly hurt from the crash of the airship. He used the last of his strength to protect Varuna and I."

…His weapon momentarily distracted the fire dragon, granting him enough time to scoop the two of them up into his arms and carry them to safety. But he was hurt. So badly hurt.

"I still remember his voice, remember his words," Nitish continued. "He told us to live, that every life is worth protecting. If he could save the life of a child, then his own life meant something. He gave me this badge. And I have carried it with me ever since."

A stunned silence fell over the room, all those within trying to fully process and understand what they had just learnt. For Varuna, the memories of the fire dragon, the image of the man in black armour was still vague. He couldn't recall the specifics of them; he couldn't recall what his life was like before any of that. He didn't recall any faces or any names.

But…what Nitish said. It felt true. He didn't remember everything, but he knew that it was true.

Slowly, Logre lowered his driveblade and the sound of a switch being flicked shattered the silence. With his weapon hanging idly in one hand, he reached out to pick up the badge that Nitish had been carrying ever since. He looked down at it, his face rather solemn.

"You remembered us, didn't you?" Nitish asked Logre softly, looking at him with pleading eyes. "When you were healed by Isiah's father?"

"I'm sorry," Logre whispered as he continued to look at the badge. "But you didn't remember...You were so young. I thought it was better this way."

"So you did know them?" Isiah asked surprisingly gently.

"I know both Nitish and Varuna rather well," Logre said, still refusing to look at anyone, but it was easy to tell that the fight was out of him now. "We were on the same airship."

"Airship?" Isiah questioned, his brow furrowing. "But they were only children."

Logre sighed. "...Yes."

"…Why?"

"The class of imperial is the strongest within Cloudy Stronghold," Logre explained as his grip on the badge tightened significantly. "However, in effort of finding a cure for what was, and still is, plaguing our lands, we divulged in the training of other classes. Most importantly, Night-seeker and Runemaster. Those were the two classes that the empire felt would be the most beneficial for us. We, I just...never expected such young pupils."

"We were also a part of the plan?" Nitish asked.

Once again, Logre sighed deeply. He sounded so tired. "Yes."

Varuna swallowed thickly. "W-what you're saying is...that Nitish and I once lived here?"

"Yeah. You were orphans. Twins."

"This…this is crazy," Varuna stated as he shook his head frantically. It was too much. Too much for him to process, yet he knew it all to be true.

But…

"Two voices," Varuna murmured as he took a staggering step toward Nitish. "I remember two voices. The other. Who was it?"

Nitish tensed as he cast his gaze off to the side, unwilling to look at him as Achyuta slowly removed his hold of his shoulders and took a step backwards. "...That is probably the voice of the man who trained you. He…wasn't a pleasant man."

Varuna shook his head, his heart thundering in his chest as he tried so hard to process everything. "You…knew all this time?"

"You didn't remember anything, so I thought it was best that you didn't remember," Nitish whispered.

"B-but you remembered everything!" Varuna yelled. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Finally, Nitish whipped around to look at him. His blond hair floating around him as blue eyes, shimmering with unshed tears gazed at Varuna. "Because it was my fault that you went through so much pain!" he cried. "You were trained to be m-my bodyguard, t-that was your only purpose…I-I'm sorry."

"Why-how could you deal with that pain all by yourself?" Varuna asked as he looked desperately into Nitish's eyes.

"I wanted you to be happy," Nitish whispered and shrugged skittishly as a tear rolled down his cheek. "We're all that's left."

Varuna hugged Nitish fiercely.

"I'm sorry…" Nitish murmured as he buried his face against his shoulder, desperately holding onto him.

Threading his fingers through Nitish's hair, Varuna didn't say anything, tears stinging his own eyes. He couldn't say anything. All this time…Nitish knew and he kept all this pain to himself.

"This badge…" Logre murmured, bringing everyone's attention onto him once more. "It belonged to Emperor Afrodr. Prince Baldur's father."

Nitish tensed in Varuna's hold, surprised to learn of the man who saved them true identity. "…He was the emperor?" he asked as he pulled away from Varuna, his eyes slightly red.

Logre sighed as he closed his eyes and in a surprisingly tender display, pressed the badge against his forehead. "Nitish was right. I was-we were part of the group chosen to venture through the lands in search for a cure for the Yggdrasil curse. We were on the same airship as Emperor Afrodr. The only one to have made it to the Windy Plains."

Varuna felt himself become breathless once more…Emperor Afrodr. He was the one who saved them. They were protected by the prince's own father!

"Dispel Heal!"

Startling everyone immensely, the magic circle that had been glowing softly around Logre's feet abruptly dissipated. Soon afterwards, a gentle warmth fluttered over the group, any small nicks and scratches that they are accumulated during their adventure slowly began to heal.

Looking over his shoulder, a warm smile appeared on Varuna's lips as their vessel friend stood silently, his staff held tightly in two hands. "Thanks, Zoran."

Zoran smiled brightly, pleased that the battle seemed to be over. "Hm!"

"I cannot allow Prince Baldur to go through with this," Logre suddenly stated as he opened his eyes and lowered the badge. An expression of clarity and determination on his face, yet his eyes seemed somewhat tormented. "Emperor Afrodr would not want his son to kill so many people, wiping out two races! He wouldn't stand for it."

His grip on the badge tightened. "I…I can't slander his name like that. I can't forget my comrades who lost their lives trying to find a peaceful solution."

"Then join us," Bryce said.

"Sir Logre…?" Achyuta uttered as he took a step forward.

Logre handed the badge back to Nitish, who carefully received with both of his hands. "Emperor Afrodr was right. Every life is precious. We must get this through to his highness, Prince Baldur."

An expression of utter relief appeared on Nitish's face as he smiled up at Logre. He then turned around to look at Achyuta, smiling at him as well. Achyuta immediately turned his attention to Nitish, sharing his relief. The way they were looking at each other. It was rather…tender.

"Fuck."

Varuna jumped and spun around. While hearing such a foul word coming from Bryce was common, the only time he had ever heard Isiah utter such a word was when he was seriously pissed off by something or someone.

Roughly drawing his hand over his face, Isiah peered at Logre through one eye. "Did you say your Prince's name was Baldur?" he asked.

Logre looked confused, much like everyone else. "Yes, that's right. Why?"

Isiah sighed as he dropped his hand from his face. "Ten years ago, when I was still a rookie medic working with my father, we stumbled across a dying man in strange armour. Armour like yours. It was two days after Varuna and Nitish were found and taken in."

Nitish drew in a sharp breath while Varuna winced.

"There was nothing we could do for him," Isiah continued, his words straight forward and to the point, as was his usual. "No amount of healing would help. He kept asking whether the children were safe. I guess he was talking about Nitish and Varuna. I kept him company until he passed away and…he told me his regrets and wishes. His last wish was for his son, Baldur, to experience the excitement of exploration."

Isiah paused as he rubbed his forehead. "…I promised that I would try for him."

"Isiah…"

"Shit," Isiah uttered as he ran his hand through his hair roughly, placing his other hand on his hip and turning away in an irritated fashion. "This complicates things."

Once again, a thick silence fell over the entire room. There was so much information to take in. They learnt so much about so many things in such a short amount of time. It was difficult to take it all in.

A loud rumbling from elsewhere on the floor, however, alerted the group that now was not the time to sort through all their newfound knowledge.

"What was that?" Bryce asked.

"I'm…not entirely sure," Logre answered truthfully, his expression grim. "It must be his highness…"

"Then we mustn't linger here anymore," Nitish was surprisingly the one to say.

"Right, we've wasted enough time," Bryce said as he took on a leadership role once more. "The Medium is here somewhere."

"I'm not entirely sure of the exact location of Prince Baldur, I'm afraid," Logre said as he rested his driveblade upon its usual spot on his back. "We're going to have to search the entire floor."

"Well then," Bryce said. "Lead the way."

"…Right."

"Hold up," Isiah suddenly said as he approached Logre, the taller man looking at him with guilt and curiosity. A look of utter surprised appeared on his face when Isiah lifted his hand and ruffled his hair. "Your hair looked ridiculous. There, that's better."

Logre's guilt seemed to grow in intensity. "Isiah…"

"Forget it," Isiah dismissed quickly, dropping his hand. "I still have questions, though, but I'll ask them along the way."

"Right."

AN: Yeah, this chapter was pretty much one large info-dump, huh?