Tales of Faith

Formation Arc – Luca Side

Chapter 47: Likely Troubles

Arche was stunned. No. Not stunned. Shocked. Surprised. Nonetheless, one feeling that the princess knew she felt was confusion. Why was Commandant Grast here? There wouldn't be anything of interest, not to her own perspective, for a knight of such a high rank like him to be here. But he is here. Why? He didn't appear to be searching for anyone. Well, if he was, he'd be looking for her. Arche did leave the castle without informing anyone, after all. So, it would be reasonable for Grast to be searching for her so that he could bring her back to safety…

But Arche herself knows. She can't let herself be found and recognized by any of the Namdiascan knights, especially Grast: he easily saw through her when she tried to leave the castle under a disguise once. Although, he did let her leave for that very occasion, but not after a scolding and reminding her to inform her subjects should she leave the castle.

The Aegislash which appeared at the top balcony was donned in a cloak covering his arms. Light plates of steel surrounded the remainder of his entire body to provide protection. The shield an Aegislash usually carries in front, is on his back. The Aegislash turned left, and then right. Returning to face in front of him, Grast gave a bow with one lowered arm.

Spreading his arms out, the Commandant began to speak. "Citizens of Vallis, and fellow adventurers. I am grateful for your warm hospitality." He said in a refined and clear tone. "By experiencing this final round, I might be able to find newfound strength for the Namdascian Knights' goal to preserve harmony and peace. Nonetheless, you may…"

Luca found himself nodding as he listened to Grast's speech. "He's an incredible speaker… And he's also looking for people here to support his cause… Right, Arche?" Luca turned to where Arche sat and looked back in front. He paused. 'Wait…' Luca turned back again to his right. He didn't see Arche anywhere. He leaned forward to get a better view. He didn't spot the princess anywhere. "Where did she go?" He said. Arturo noticed Luca bent forward and asked, "Luca, is something the matter?" He leaned forward as well.

"Did anyone see Arche?" Luca asked around the Crystal Bearers to the right.

"Nuh-uh." Vanille shook her head.

"I didn't see her." Kite said.

"I don't see Arche anywhere." Celsius replied.

Van appeared from the left exit of their side, looking around before spotting where his allies were at and headed over to their seats. "I'm here." He said, and promptly noticed everyone looking around. "Hm? Is something the matter?"

"Van, have you seen Arche anywhere?" Luca asked. Van shook his head. "Nope. I didn't see her from where I came." He tilted his head. "…Irvine isn't here, either?"

Cress rolled her eyes. "The brat went out for a walk, because everything is so boring." She told Van.

"Ah, I see." Van said, taking the seat Irvine once occupied. His hand twisted open the cap of a bottle of water he had been holding with one hand and he brought the bottle to his mouth. After gulping down some water, Van started to speak. "You have to admit, the ninja I faced earlier was quite incredible. With that speed, I couldn't keep track of him the entire time. And I was also fooled by that substitution." While the others nodded, Van said more that caught everyone's attention.

"Moreover…. He's one of us." Van finished.

"R-Really!?" Luca gasped.

"Is that why you forfeited in the end?" Arturo wondered.

"Partially. I was distracted when I felt it." Van replied. "Even while the Ninjask chided me for my fighting skills, I took the time to confirm it, and I did. The ninja is a Crystal Bearer."

"And with the Commandant's speech, we're moving on to the finals!" The announcer's voice suddenly called out. "We're now down to our final two warriors for today's competition!" Everyone turned to the announcer. "And now, we welcome them! I'm sure that you know these two very well, by now… So… no introduction!"

Emerging from the right, it was the Ninjask Van faced earlier while the Pokémon that appeared on the left was a Sigilyph. The two aerial competitors hovered lightly above the dusty grounds beneath them. The referee turned to both sided. "You know what I expect, don't you!?" He shouted, raising a hand. "The final round begins…" The referee swings his hand down. "…now!"

Almost immediately after the referee's call, the Ninjask vanished from sight. The audience looked around the battlefield, hoping to spot the Ninjask, but to no avail. The Sigilyph's eyes glowed, and everyone felt a sudden breeze hit them. Then, they could have sworn they saw the entire area of the battle covered within a translucent cube. Then, black flashes began to appear inside the cube. It was the Ninjask… only that there were numerous numbers of the Ninjask in the cube, all of them moving immensely slow, as compared to earlier.

"Hm. Trick Room." Raven said. "Looks like the Ninjask's speed has come as a disadvantage, in the end. He's now a sitting target, well, at least if the real one isn't hit first."

"Still, that's a lot of Ninjasks…!" Cress said, amazed. "I can't tell if that's Double Team, or Substitute!"

Back at the battlefield, the Sigilyph fired out currents of air towards the slow-moving Ninjasks. One Ninjask was slashed apart, only to explode into white smoke. Another hit also suffered the same fate. One by one, the Substitutes were turned into nothing more than white smoke. Although, while horrifying in a 'frozen-like' speed, one of the Ninjasks had his katana unsheathed, turning the blade around slowly. Once the Sigilyph noticed the odd behaviour of this particular Ninjask, it had realized which was the 'real' Ninjask out of the remaining Substitutes. The Sigilyph fired a Psyshock at the Ninjask with the drawn katana as he completes one circle around him. Then, the walls of Trick Room suddenly cracked and shattered apart, dispersing the effects immediately. The Ninjask released his katana, moving his arms together in succession before getting struck by the Psyshock… only to reveal that it was a broken log. And the Ninjask appeared below where its' substitution was hit, katana in hand. He sped past the Sigilyph before it could even do anything else, swinging the katana forward.

The Sigilyph's body receives a large cut before it falls to the ground, not moving. Silence filled the air as everyone stared at the Ninjask. The referee walked up to the Sigilyph and examined the body. Nodding, the referee raised a hand towards the Ninjask. "The Ninjask is the victor!" he announced. From the balcony, Grast was nodding to himself. A figure approaches behind Grast's seat, not detected by anybody else from the balcony.

"As the referee says… We have the final victor of this competition! It's…"

"Hold on."

Just before the announcer finishes, Grast suddenly called out from the balcony. The audience's attention was immediately drawn to the Aegislash as he gets up from his seat. "I found something earlier before I entered the balcony. It appeared to be some sort of supplement designed to enhance the consumer's capabilities. I believe that it belongs to the Sigilyph that participated in the finals. Following the coliseum's regulations… the Sigilyph has broken the rules!" Grast calls out loudly. He points an arm to the Ninjask. "And thus, the Ninjask shall take the life of the cheat!"

"WH-WHAT!?" Luca shouted in shock.

"Huh!?" Kite exclaimed.

"I thought that you said no one will die!" Heart said to Kite.

The Ninjask turns to the direction of the balcony. "And shall he refuse, the Ninjask's life is forfeit!" Grast finishes.

"Seriously!?" Cress shouted.

"I've never heard of this in my entire life!" Alvin said.

Everyone quickly focused on the Ninjask. They witness the cicada turning slowly to the downed Sigilyph and started to flutter towards the body. Van brushed his neck. "That blade… The Sigilyph really won't live…" he mumbled.

The Ninjask stops in front of the Sigilyph. Raising his katana in front of him, the Ninjask turns the long blade so that the katana was pointing towards the Sigilyph. The Sigilyph shifts for a moment, awakening slowly… only to see the katana pointing towards it and the Ninjask staring down at him with a stony glare.

"Don't look!" Kite stretched his arms and covered Lucille and Taro's eyes, bringing them close to him as he turned his head away with his eyes shut. Luca quickly adverted his sight away from the Ninjask.

The Ninjask's arms drove down, sending the katana down to the ground.

The atmosphere grew very cold. Everyone was startled, shocked. No one, despite how much they wanted to look away, couldn't bring their sight from the battlefield. Luca turned back slowly and saw the Ninjask drawing up his blade, dismissing it into a scroll. The Ninjask flutters down slowly, examining the motionless Sigilyph, where fluid was spreading underneath it. The Ninjask then grabs the Sigilyph by the head and dragged the body into the gates while leaving a trail of fluid from the Sigilyph's body.

"Nhhmmmph…" Luca quickly covered his mouth, trying hard not to belch.

"I-Is it over…?" Kite asked, still keeping his, Lucille and Taro's eyes shut.

"…." Van didn't say anything.

"This is terrible…" Arturo mumbled.


"Aw man! Where the hell am I!?"

A shout from a certain Empoleon resounded in a corridor as he stomped around. Irvine scratched the back of his head, turning his head around. "Which way was it to the seats!? And I heard loud voices from afar! Did some awesome battle happen when I wasn't there!?" he said. He decided to walk forward without any clue on directions to return to the seats.

"…Waiting Room…" Irvine read a plate adjacent to the slightly open door. "…This definitely ain't the way back to the seats!" He shook his head. "Augh, I'm gonna find a map or somethin', and find my way back!" Turning around, Irvine prepares to leave.

"You spared my life… Why?"

"…There is no reason for your passing."

"Eh?" Irvine turned back to the door. "I think I heard someone." Irvine peeked from the spacing and noticed that he didn't see anyone inside. Pushing the door open, Irvine entered the room. He looked around the room. There wasn't much to say about the waiting room used by the competitors. He found another open door and walked near it, hiding himself behind the walls. Peeking slowly, Irvine could spot a Sigilyph. There was another Pokémon there, quite small based on the casted shadow.

"Your blade never hit me, yet… everyone else thought that I had been killed by you. Why is that?"

"…Genjutsu."

"Gen…what?"

"I deceived everyone with an illusion. Now, leave."

"…I must thank you."

The Sigilyph began to turn around to leave, but it stopped. "I've realized that your name was never announced. My name is Rune. What's yours?"

Irvine's head was already poking out from the wall, and he could now see the small figure: a Ninjask.

"…Nin. Nin Azura." The Ninjask speaks.

'Woah, that's a seriously badass-looking guy there.' Irvine thought to himself. He then noticed the Sigilyph turning to leave the room. 'Oh crap.' Irvine stepped back and hid himself somewhere. Not noticing where he hid, the adult peeked around and saw the Sigilyph leave. 'Ok. Now I can leave.' His head was tilted down… and he oddly noticed that his shadow was somewhat… larger. Then, another shadow appeared from his left.

"Hu-!?" Before he realized what's going on, Irvine suddenly felt something hit the back of his neck. It didn't take long for him to fall on the floor.


Not very far from the waiting room, Arche was floating past a corridor rather uneasily.

"I don't think Grast saw me…" Arche said to herself. "But why is he here…? He shouldn't have any other reasons I could think of other than searching for me… Still, it's too much of a coincidence for him to be here… It can't be… that he was somehow informed by someone?" The princess slowed down with her pacing. "…No, it can't be like that… I… just have a lot of things in my head that I need to sort out as soon as possible." As she approached the end of the corridor leading to a junction, she heard voices. Arche stopped by the corner of the wall, quickly hiding herself from whatever was coming near her. The voices became clearer for her to hear the conversation.

"You heard how loud he was just hearing him talk to some random person? He says that he's the son of an aristocrat. He's going to fetch a hefty ransom, I tell you…"

"He also said he's from Felfrost."

"Isn't that, like, all the way at the Northern Isles!? Man, this'll be double than what we would expect from any aristocratic family living near here!" As the figures got closer, she could see someone else familiar to her…

'Irvine!?' Arche recognized the unconscious Empoleon carried by one of the odd people. 'Oh, no! They're headed this way!' She hid her face from the corner, looking around the things in the corridor to serve as a hiding spot. Soon, the trio passed by the junction, heading forward until one of the members stopped, turning to the corridor where Arche was at.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"I thought I saw… No, it's nothing. Anyway, let's head back to our hideout in the Dusted Dunes…"

"Idiot! Don't say the location of our hideout so freely! You'd never know if any of the officials heard us!"

The footsteps resumed, becoming less audible in the distance from the corridor. On one particular pedestal, there was a statue of a Diancle resting on it. Seconds later, the 'statue' got off the pedestal. "Dusted Dunes…" Arche said, turning to the direction of the spectator seats. "I have to inform everyone!"


Meanwhile, back at the spectator seats…

"Irvine's been gone for far too long." Luca said.

"Think he got lost or something?" Alvin said. He turned back to the arena, where he and the audience could see the Ninjask that won the competition awarded with a set of prizes. Commandant Grast was also there, conversing with the Ninjask.

"Your skills are truly remarkable." Grast told the Ninjask. "Of course, I would like to register you as a Namdascian Knight… If that is what you would want."

"I decline." The Ninjask told him. "Merely because I am on a mission. To find someone."

"I see…" Grast nodded. "Nonetheless, if you change your mind, you can head over to the Kingdom of Namdiascar and look for me. I'll handle all the preparations there."

Van nodded to himself. "Okay. We'll go down and talk to the Ninjask and tell him of our mission…" Although, as everyone began to get up from their seats…

"Everyone!"

The Crystal Bearers recognized the owner of the shout as she approached them. Arche gasped loudly before she spoke quickly. "Irvine's been kidnapped!"

"K-Kidnapped!?" Luca exclaimed.

"Augh! I KNEW he'd get into trouble sooner or later!" Cress groaned.

"Do you know where he is?" Van asked. Arche nodded. "Yes… the kidnappers mentioned that they reside in Dusted Dunes… We have to save him, now!"

"Can we not?" Cress said. Everyone turned to look at Cress. The Ampharos sighed. "Knew that wouldn't work…" She said.

"What are we standing around here for!? We have to go, right now!" Arche said, dashing out of the seats and into the hallways. The other Crystal Bearers followed her inside the coliseum. Although, the commotion has caught the attention of the Ninjask and… unfortunately, Commandant Grast. The Aegislash was wide-eyed as he saw the group that left the spectator seats. 'Was that… Arche!?'

The Crystal Bearers dashed through the entrance of the coliseum, running ahead to the direction of Dusted Dunes. Oddly, Raven suddenly halted. Heart noticed this first and called out to him. "Raven? Why did you stop?" she asked. Everyone else stopped running as well and gathered near Heart and Raven. The Zoroark was staring at the direction of the Coliseum. "…It appears that someone has followed us." Raven announced.

Shortly after he finished talking, a figure appeared from above the coliseum, landing perfectly in front of the group. It was the scarred-eye Ninjask from the tournament. The Ninjask eyed the group. "…Looks like one of your allies has gone missing."

"He's kidnapped! Are you here to help us?" Arche asked.

"No." The Ninjask replied.

"Why!?" Kite exclaimed.

"Wasn't that missing ally a liability to your group?" The Ninjask asks them. "If you were to ignore the threat, then you would have less obstacles to handle."

"No, we would not!" Vanille stepped forward. "We're gonna save him, no matter what! He's my friend!" She pumped her arms together. "No matter what!"

"Aren't you afraid of the dangers that lie ahead?" The Ninjask asks Vanille.

"No!" Vanille said.

"…Is this girl an imbecile?" The Ninjask bluntly asks Raven. Raven simply chuckled. The Ninjask turns back to Vanille and looked at her determined eyes. Or maybe too determined… "…Very well. You've earned my respect." The Ninjask speaks. "…I am Nin. Nin Azura."

"Ah…!" Vanille's eyes gleamed. "So, you'll…!"

"Yes. I will lend you my aid." Nin said.

"Nin-sama~!" Taro cheerfully announces. Nin turned to the talking Banette doll. "…The doll speaks." Nin said.

"Your combat skills are really of impressive magnitude." Celsius said to Nin. "You utilize your incredible speed to confuddle your foes before striking them down with lightning-fast strikes."

"Yes." Nin said.

"So… your attire… you're really a ninja from the rumoured hidden village in the Southern Isle?" Luca asked.

"Yes." Nin replied. He noticed Arturo looking at him. "…Can I help you?"

"It's been bothering me… that scar on your right eye." Arturo told him. The Ninjask suddenly twitched. "How did you… gain it?"

"I will not tell you. Just like the dragon spearmon from that day." Nin told Arturo.

"W-Wait…! Dragon spearmon!?" Luca exclaimed. He had realized who Nin could be possibly referring to. "Did you meet someone named Elazul!?" Nin turned to Luca. "…Yes. I recall hearing the dragon introduce himself by that name." Nin told the young mage. Luca's eyes widened. "T-Then, where is he!?" Luca shouted. "Do you know where!?"

"When I parted ways with him, he headed towards the place dubbed 'Academia'." Nin said.

'Academia…!' Luca recalled the days in the large city of education. 'That really WAS Elazul, all along!'

"You seem worried for this Elazul." Nin said. "Is he that important to you?"

Luca nodded. "Y-Yeah…! He's like a big brother to me!" Nin closed his eyes. "A brother…" he mutters under his breath. Luca placed his hands on his chest. 'He was there… He is alright… Thank goodness…' he thought.

"…Let's spend little time talking." Nin began to fly, but Van halted him. "…What is it."

"I sense a crystal from you." Van said to Nin. Nin reached for his side, taking out a pale green gem. "…This?" Nin asked. Van nodded. "Yeah. You're a Crystal Bearer, all right."

"…Crystal Bearer?" Nin said. "…We talk along the way." Nin says as he turns to the direction heading outside Vallis. Everyone else agreed with Nin's suggestion: they spent too much time talking here. It'd be better to explain everything to the new member while they headed to Dusted Dunes.


Dusted Dunes

"…I see." Nin nodded as everyone else trekked the searing sands, or in his, Celsius and Taro's case, flying. The Dusted Dunes, as its' name suggests, was a large land of sand. Underneath the glare of the now afternoon sun, the heat spared was no mercy on the non-Fire members of the Crystal Bearers. Making a stop on a rising slope, Cress asked everyone. "This place is huge! How are we supposed to find the brat?"

"…Might I suggest something?"

"Is that you, Trundir?" Cress and Luca said. Luca had already made pledges to everybody else's crystals sans Nin's Peridot, Vanille's Opal and Raven's Onyx. They were the following: Asras for Ruby, Trundir for Topaz, Bravely for Tourumaline, Nura for Emerald, Soul for Agate, Lilabel for Pearl, Glacia for Lapis Lazuli and Grim for Flourite. The ones that were already in a pact way earlier was Caeruleum for Sapphire, Terra for Amber and Zerin for Garnet. Yet… only the Crystal Bearer of the respective Crystal and the Crystalizer could hear the voice of the said crystal. Before, everyone was usually startled whenever Luca and someone else spoke for no reason… but now that they're aware of this…

"We crystals can detect other crystals' essences. Right now, Caeruleum is in possession of the Crystal Bearer of Water. We can focus on this scan if we were in the area of our favour." Trundir explained. "In this case, ask Terra. He's the specialist in earth."

"Okay… Terra?" Luca called out towards Alvin.

"Hm? What?" Terra said monotonously.

"Can you detect Caeruleum?" Luca asked.

"Alright. The sands are my domain, after all." Terra speaks. "Just stand there while I find Cakeo's essence…" There was silence in Luca's mind… for a few seconds. "Done."

'That was fast!' Luca said.

"Hello? Sands are my domain?" Terra said. "Cakeo's located at the right. There should be a large mountain there. Look around for an entrance. If you don't need me anymore, then bye." No sooner than that, Luca felt Terra cut the connection. The mage tilted his head. "That was really quick…"

"Tell me about it." Alvin scratched his head. "Well, at least Terra provided us enough info to follow. We can now find Irvine."

Trekking through the Dusted Dunes in the direction Terra had instructed them to go to, the Crystal Bearers could see a giant mountain in front of them. Getting closer, they spotted an entrance in a wall. "So, this is where Irvine is being kept?" Arturo said.

"Well… Based on what Terra said… This should be the place…" Luca said. Everyone turned to Cress, most likely knowing what she wanted to say.

"Okay, okay… We'll save him…" Cress grumbled. The Crystal Bearers headed into the entrance, entering the den of the thieves…

Chapter 47 End


Current Party:

Luca R. Ezperanda – Crystallizer (The one who connects with Crystals. He hopes for a bright future with the assistance of the Crystals.)

Weapon: Rune Staff (Staves)

Cloudia Vanille – Bowsword Trainee (She still has ways to go, but she'll perfect this art… eventually.)

Weapon: Ancient Bowsword (Bowsword)

Archelain Til Namdiascar VII – Namdiascar Princess (The princess of the Kingdom of Namdiascar.)

Weapons: Rune Blade (Shortsword), Round Shield (Shield)

Arturo Carpaice – Reunited Traveller (It may be fate, that brought him to their group.)

Weapon: Ancient Lute (Sword Lute)

Cress LaVeda – Awakened Resolve (A disaster, it was… But she has moved on… For the future…)

Weapon: Rune Hammer (Sledgehammer)

Heart Burkwood – Cleric (The blessed light continues to grow within her… She shall continue healing those in need)

Weapon: Ancient Rod (Rods)

Alvin – Experienced Mercenary (This skilled warrior shows no quarter, he means business.)

Weapon: Serpentis (Dual Gunblades)

Kite Maxwell – Brother Figure (Showing great care is nice, to the little girl he worries for…)

Weapon: Stone Greaves (Greaves)

Lucille Ostend – Timid Girl (This girl may not have much to say, but it seems that she has her own thoughts…)

Weapon: Comet Wand (Wand), Taro

Raven – Shady Guy (Who is this strange individual? Everything seems to give off an air of suspicion…)

Weapon: Four of Spades (Cards)

Celsius – Ice Spirit (The legendary spirit who governs the northern winds. Her powers are not to be trifled with…)

Weapon – Barehanded, Echanted Hairpin (Hairpin)

Van Grantieur – Free-spirited Swordsman (No longer feeling bound by anything, this warrior now treks on his path made by his own choices)

Weapon – Crimson Blitz (Broadsword)

Nin Azura – Ninja (Individuals who specialize in ninjutsu to turn the tides of battle)

Weapon – Lai Katana (Katana)

Skit: Earthly Thoughts

Alvin: "Hey, Terra."

Terra: "…Can I help you?"

Alvin (thoughtful): "I've been wondering… Why are you so uninterested in everything?"

Terra: "And? Is there anything else?"

Alvin: "Hmm… I've been having this aching feeling towards you."

Terra: "It appears that you have inherited the earthly thoughts."

Alvin: "…Earthly thoughts?"

Terra: "Oh, yes. The earthly thoughts are a very wonderful power indeed. You can read the thoughts of others through the planet itself. It is a truly, incredible power. You should try it out."

Alvin (unamused): "…That's a lie."

Terra: "Oh, you noticed. Wonderful. You looked like you were excited about the earthly thoughts a minute ago."

Alvin: "…"

Skit: "Getting to know" Nin

(Luca is being shoved near Nin)

Luca (nervous): "B-But I don't want to talk to him…!"

Nin: "…."

(Nin notices Luca…)

Luca (normal): "H-Hello, Nin! So… We're supposed to know each other! What are your hobbies?"

Nin: "…."

Luca: "Um… Do you have any relatives? Friends? Brothers?"

Nin: "…."

Luca (sad) : "Um…"

Nin: "…"

Luca (panicked): "H-How did you get that scar!"

Nin: "…"

(Nin is glaring at Luca…)

Luca (nervous): "U-Uh… This is going nowhere… S-So… how's the weather?"

Nin: "…."