Thank you two new Follows.

Thank you Varupikusu, Mizu Hoseki and Presea for your Reviews.

Guess 52 wasn't that popular! Unfortunately my editing will continue to be bad for this Chapter. I'm only 60% done on NaNo...

In Continued Path news, the Xillia 2 stuff is going to be much shorter chapter-wise. So that means when it happens there'll be multiple Chapters posted a week and better editing since I don't have to go through tens of thousands of words.

Tales of Xillia and the Tales of Series are the copyright of Namco Bandai and whoever else owns the rights. I own nothing except for OCs that have unfortunately appeared.


Chapter 53: Home Again

Others were on deck... outright everyone in fact. Alvin, Agria, Elize, Iver, Presa and Wingul. A bunch of soldiers were up as well. Jude didn't even remember how he got here, how he was called. If he even was. He was just here now.

"Finally," Wingul grunted over at the two of them. "Hurry along with this, we don't have time to waste."

Leia was never a waste! But Jude couldn't do anything but mildly nod. A few soldiers took an order from Wingul to retrieve the body. Probably what Rowen and Ivar were doing before Jude interrupted them. Well, whatever.

"Wow," Agria groaned. "He's even more of a sadsack than when I saw him." She quickly sneered and smiled.

"Wait," Presa interrupted any answer before Rowen could deliver it. "You had one-on-one time with the kid and he's still alive?"

"And you had one-on-one time with the stud what's your point?!" Agria got all defensive.

A glare from Wingul shut both of them down. "Enough of your minor bickering. Either help or get out of the way." Was that him being helpful or just quick to anger himself? Whatever.

"I'm going," Alvin said, earning a slight look from Presa. "It's my fault for not sending her right back home when I saw her. They deserve that much." Was that being mature.

"Well, guess I'm sticking with you then," Presa shrugged and threw her support in as well.

Wingul scoffed at her decision. "I intend to investigate his father, nothing more."

"I can't wait to see the look on their faces." Agria cackled at their upcoming misery and Jude couldn't put words into deriding her. Plenty of thoughts though.

"I suppose," Rowen spoke, "I will be accompanying Jude. Unless any of you strapping young men feel the need to let an old man rest his bones?" That much of a burden was he?

"Yeah, yeah," Alvin shrugged and walked over to take the crushing burden of Jude off the old man's shoulders. "You and me against the world strong young man." He really was just a kid.

Ivar crossed his arms. "I will stay on the ship." Figures.

Elize and Teepo were more supportive. "I want to do everything I can..."

"Are you sure Miss Elize?" Rowen asked. "It may be too much to bare?" And Jude didn't get that consideration?

The little girl shook her head. "I-I have to be strong... for everyone." She grabbed her doll and hide her face behind it. Teepo said stuff as well. "Elly needs to do this."

"I see," Rowen caressed his beard. "Your choice is still yours, Miss Elize."

"Thank you!" the duo said in gratitude.

The soldiers returned, carrying the body of Leia up. A boarding platform had been set off to the side, and they were taking it in that direction now. Doctors still attended to her with healer and first aid as they moved but their own fatigue was clearly setting in.

"Let's move," Wingul declared and took the lead. Everyone save Ivar fell into line behind him as they walked down. The people of Leronde were gathering in the seahaven to look at the Elympios battleship... a good cover to move Leia.

A wagon awaited them like Rowen said, and after placing Leia within its confines Alvin dumped Jude up on there was well. A quick slap of a whip and they were slowly on their way.

Jude had no more thoughts to share. No more melancholy to embrace. He stared longingly at Leia...

Could he return her feelings? Ever thought of her as more than just Leia? There was an occasional pretty girl who caught his eye... but he was always so busy with medical work that he never gave a thought to romance or any of that. The older students teased him about it as well... only further driving him inward...

But Leia... she wouldn't do that.

He couldn't tell how long he'd absorbed himself in his thoughts but eventually the wagon stopped and Alvin pulled him back out.

The Leronde Lodge had been repaired to pitch-perfect condition. In fact it was almost eerie how perfectly fixed it was. If only Leia could be fixed like that...

"What's the play Jude?" Alvin asked him.

Play? There was nothing to play or plan or think about! Jude brushed himself off and practically stumbled into the Lodge itself.

He collapsed to the floor with a ugly and loud thud and a voice full of ire shouted down at him. "Who's making all that racket down there?" the supreme voice of Master Sonya rained down from above. Several heavy thuds later, the voice was one of surprise. "Ah, Jude! It's about time you returned! You're parents have been worried sick!" His Master jumped down from above and helped pull his depressed self up. "Wow, you've really been through the wringer haven't you? Well, I'll get you whipped back in shape soon enough! Where's that daughter of mine! The both of you are in for it now!" Leia's dad waved from behind the counter, glad it wasn't him about to be scolded.

It was the most painful words he ever had to speak... "I..." he slowly saw the otherwise immaculate strength of Master Sonya fade as he spoke. "I'm sorry..." he said and the parents snapped back at each other. Leia's dad rushed out from behind. "She... she..." tears started to flow from his eyes again. "She... she...!" he couldn't even say it...

Master Sonya dropped her grip and Jude fell back down to his knees. "I'm sorry," he said again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he repeated on and on and on.

A thunderous crash rushed outwards as Master Sonya went out to investigate it. Jude looked up at Leia's dad... Warrick. He looked on the verge of tears just from Jude's apology...

Shouting came from outside, and the sound of a rather brutal smack before stomps from Master Sonya. Jude followed, Warrick followed. He was slow, too slow to hear the answer, but Sonya was up on the wagon looking down at her near-dead daughter. The unstouchable master carried her daughter off from her carriage...

Warrick started bawling himself, falling down to Jude's level and pounding the ground with his fists. "Why?" he cried out. "Why Leia?"

"Jude..." Master Sonya spoke... so vulnerable. "What happened?"

"It's all my fault!" Jude railed at his own mistakes. "Leia... she protected me, saved my life! I couldn't do anything but watch! I'm sorry!" He slammed his forehead into the ground and begged forgiveness. "I'm sorry!"

He braced himself for the blame, for the pain. It was what he deserved!

But there was nothing but weeping.

"Why...?" he choked out before his own tears dried up again. "Why aren't you punishing me...?"

"Oh Jude," Master Sonya said. "Don't think that way... That's not what Leia would want..."

What Leia would want...?

"She was a girl who always knew exactly what she was doing. Don't you think differently," Master Sonya's grief seemed to only drive her. "She snuck away to be with you... even knowing what I'd do when she returned. She was the bravest daughter a mother could ask for." She looked back down at Leia. "We need to get her over to your parents right away."

That should have been there first stop... It just made him feel even worse.

Rowen spoke first. "My apologies madam, sir," he offered his condolences. "My carelessness allowed this to pass."

"You're damn right," Master Sonya agreed. "You're too old to not know better. Letting kids like Leia and Jude fight. What could you be thinking?!"

What? Why was she blaming Rowen instead of him? But she just didn't blame Jude.

"Don't blame Rowen!" Elize shouted to defend the old man. "Leia was... she was just doing what was right!"

"There's nothing right about kids like you dying!" Master Sonya verbally slapped everyone.

"You're correct," Wingul answered her, "there isn't." And agreed? What was going on? Was Jude delusional? "But reality is not so kind to always bend knee for righteousness. Just know that your daughter's actions saved not only his life but mine, all of ours." Now he was outright lying? "Take this information how you will."

Master Sonya looked at him... she didn't glare, she didn't look on in hate... Jude had no idea what was going on...

"If anyone should be blamed," Alvin stepped forward. "It should be me. I could have sent her home at any time. But I didn't."

Leia's parents looked at him in confusion, they had no idea who Alvin was. Warrick answered his call. "Hurting you isn't going to make our daughter better."

Alvin clenched his teeth at the news. "Fine." He relented and walked back over to Presa. The two females of the Chimeriad kept silent as well.

Dammit, just what the hell was going on! Nothing made sense anymore... but of course it didn't. A world wear Leia was like this wasn't one with sense.

"Warrick we need your help, it's an emergency!" a middle-aged man barged into the somber occasion. "W-wait what's going on?" He suddenly realized something was very, very wrong.

"Leia's in a coma," Leia's father answered with more weeping.

"W-what?" the intruder took a step back himself. "I-I'm so sorry I didn't know..." he gripped himself.. "B-but if we don't do something Doctor Mathis may join her!"

What? "Dad? What about dad?" Jude spoke back up.

"Jude you're here too?" the man suddenly realized. "I-I mean, there's been a cave-in in the old Felganna Mine! Doc Mathis went into to help the miners but he got cut off too!"

What? That didn't make any sense either! Jude struggled up. "It's the mine abandoned?" he spouted out gibberish. "No, the mine's abandoned isn't it? What's he doing there?"

Warrick chose to answer that. "Well that Hammerzamm monster was the reason the mine closed down in the first place. When you three took care of it we started refurbishing it..."

So now Dad was in danger because of his actions? He couldn't—he wouldn't! Jude pushed himself up. "I have to go help dad." He wobbled towards the town's north. When he fell, Alvin was the one to catch him.

"Easy there Jude," Alvin warned him. "You aren't much in the state to rescue anyone. Even yourself."

"I won't let Dad die!" Jude screamed. "I already failed Leia I can't fail him too!"

"Put him in the wagon already," Wingul scowled at the scene. He then looked at the messenger man. "Can you direct us to the Felganna Mine?"

"Uh, yeah, sure," the man agreed.

What was with the sudden burst of consideration from him? "Why are you doing this?" Jude had to ask.

"I still need to investigate your father's connections to spyrix and Elympios. Nothing more." Wingul turned around and left. With a shrug of her own Presa joined him... and Agria unsettlingly displayed no manic glee and went away as well. The runner went out after them.

"Miss Elize," Rowen spoke up once again. "Will you accompany us to the Felganna Mine?"

Now he was dragging her into this? "I'm enough..." Jude panted out.

"No!" Elize shut him down. "You can barely walk! I have to do this!" She was trying to be brave too... wasn't she?

And here he was useless. Dammit! "C'mon," Alvin began dragging him forward. "We got food and drink on the wagon. Get your strength back on the way there."

Was it disrespectful to do this? Jude glanced back at Leia's parents... "I'm sorry..." he said before they left the lodge.

Alvin helped him up on the wagon, sitting next to him(and Alvin himself sitting next to Presa). Agria, Rowen and Elize sat across from them while Wingul and the messenger were up front with the driver. Once everyone was safely on board the driver mushed the horses forward and they were on their way.

The ride was smooth and the conversation nonexistent. He didn't even know why Agria and Presa were coming with them...

Alvin at least made some noise rummaging in through a bag. "Here," he pulled out a waterskin and some bread. "Drink and eat what you can. It ain't perfect but we're pressed for time."

Jude took the offered items... but didn't push them down his throat. He just didn't have the energy... or will.

"You can't even feed yourself?" Agria snickered. "You're such a sad-sack it's amazing."

"That's enough Agria," Alvin simply said back and the girl quieted down. "Here," Alvin picked the wineskin up himself and began pouring it down his throat. But it was so obnoxious that Jude grabed it and finished. "There you go."

Agria glared back at them, prompting Presa to speak up. "You sure are staring longingly at the scene," she lightly chuckled. "Ooooooh, I get it, you're into boy's love relationships aren't you?"

"Shut up," Agria crossed her arms.

Jude had no idea what she meant specifically, though it was generally somewhat clear from the wording. But this really wasn't the time to care about such things. Not with Dad in danger and Leia's fate uncertain.

"Better than the alternative isn't it?" Presa went on.

"I have no idea what you're talking about you old hag!" Agria yelled back at the ribbing Presa was giving her.

They didn't have time for this schlock. "Could we hurry up!" Jude managed enough strength to yell out. The wagon picked up the pace a bit but... walking would certainly be faster if he hadn't been nigh-useless! He hurriedly shoved the water and bread down his throat. Even if they wouldn't digest in time, even with the slow plodding of this cart.

"More fodder for your puke eh?" Agria grinned over at him. "Can't wait to see what horrors await us there!" She was back to being terrible. Those times of her being helpful on the ship must have been a dream.

He didn't dignify that with a response. Instead, he turned back to Alvin and asked, "Got anything else to eat?"

The man shook his head. "Nope, sorry," he answered. "We weren't really expecting a sudden disaster like this."

Dang it, he'd be a total burden like this. He finished off the water and bread before handing the former back. He wiped away his tears, he didn't have water to waste anymore. He had to save Dad! He just had to have one success! He clenched his fists... at least one success...

Agria didn't count. Not at all.

The wagon continued onwards in mostly silence. The instructions of the messenger leading them onwards to the mine. Eventually, they arrived, the massive entrance consuming the entire way forward once again.

"Doc Mathis was near the back of the mine," the messenger said. "We got most of the injured out earlier, but he got cut off with another cave-in and we didn't want to risk anyone who couldn't help." He explained in a bit more detail.

If it was in the back it was close to where the rock monster was. Hammerzamm? "Alright," Jude said. "I know my way through these tunnels just follow me." Could they even follow him? He put strength into his limbs and moved, albeit quite weakly. Even Dad being in danger couldn't push him? How did he react so strongly against Agria's aggression on the Hallowmount? Dammit!

Alvin helped again. "We'll take the lead," the mercenary said. "I can fight with just my gun anyway."

"Very well," Wingul agreed. The mix-matched group proceeded inwards, the darkness overtaking them before the light of the mushrooms and spirits brightened things. "Which way?" Wingul asked.

"There," Jude pointed around the boulder in the middle of the large room. The mining equipment around had been sorted and was slowly being replaced, but if cave-ins were still a possibility maybe it was too dangerous. Alvin helped him around and to the path he'd opened up.

With Leia. With Milla.

Maybe the cave was cursed and they were all about to die? The ghost of retired miners about to get them because they were never appeased!

But that was silly. They headed on, Alvin's gun clearing out the monsters who crossed their path. Compared to the struggles with escorting Milla this was almost easy... Still, cave-ins were a threat. Jude instructed them down the paths until they reached the large section. Across the gap was the tunnel to where they fought Hammerzam. But it didn't look like Dad was there, so Jude pointed them down the other paths.

The mine rocked a bit as they went. But nothing else crashed around them. Some good news, for now anyway.

They exited unto a section where there were some more old mine cart tracks. In a distance corner was a spirit lantern and beneath it, "Dad!" Jude shouted and pushed off Alvin. He hobbled over to where his Dad and some other man were both laying face-down on the ground.

"Jude? Is that you?" he asked?!

"Did you hurt your eyes?" Jude asked with a shout and knelt down next to his old man.

"It's nothing," he refused to admit any weakness. "I just got some rock dust in them during the cave-in." He weekly pointed back at the man beside him. "Never mind me. He needs help."

Elize was over at him. "His head's bleeding," she said. "I think he's asleep."

Jude shuffled over and investigated the wound himself. It was... bad. "Don't move him!" he harshly cautioned everyone. "There's internal bleeding in his brain." It'd take a bit of time to treat it, if he even could. "Rowen, can you stabilize the area?"

"Perhaps," he replied. "Is it truly so dire?"

"Yeah," Jude nodded. "Wingul, will you return to the Mathis Clinic and get them ready to receive the patient?"

"Don't order me, boy," Wingul refused his request.

"Someone else then, you were just the fastest." Time was of the essence here.

"I'll go," Alvin offered.

"Thanks Alvin."

"Anytime." The mercenary of Elympios took back off down the tunnels.

Jude focused back on the patient. "I need to treat him using Healer. It's too dangerous to move him like this." He braced himself for his Dad's rejection.

Dad was against it, as Jude expected. "You're going to try and stop cranial bleeding with Healer?!" he expressed his outrage. "If you make a mistake you'll kill him instantly!"

"I know," Jude resigned himself to the truth. "But I have to do it."

Dad grunted at it. "If only I could see properly."

He already had Leia's actions on his mind... would he fail here too?

"Do it," Agria plainly said. "Come on, where'd all that arrogance you keep spouting in my face go?"

His hands shook! But she was right, where had the old Jude gone...? If he couldn't save this one man how could he look himself in a mirror anymore? Look at Agria, remember Leia or Milla! "It's okay," he reassured himself, and Dad. "This is my decision to make."

"Jude..." Dad trailed off on his name.

"All right, here we go," Jude mentioned before he concentrated on the patient. He sought out the afflicted areas with lesser spirits to locate and understand the full magnitude of the damage. If he was off by even the slightest, Dad's fears would be founded. So he wouldn't. The spirits reported back to him, and Jude understood the full value of the damage. It was slight, which only made it harder.

He took a deep breath and flexed his fingers to calm down before applying Healer very, very carefully. He molded the healing arte into a needle and slowly stitched together the damaged brain tissue while redirecting the blood flow just enough to stop the bleeding but prevent any clots. He finished his work and then drew out the loose blood before repairing the damaged skin tissue with a slightly less precise use of healer. "There, that should do it," Jude wiped the sweat off his brow and collapsed backwards. It wasn't perfect, but considering the circumstances, it was the best he could do. "Let's get out of here before another cave-in occurs."

The others agreed, and with a bit of coercing with Wingul, they began to leave. Jude was well enough, or at least was better off than Dad and the injured man, to walk out on his own. Alvin must have cleared the monsters on his own exit, as nothing crossed their paths again. The injured were loaded on the wagon and everyone headed back into town, and eventually back to the Mathis Clinic, Jude's home.

He gave a glance over at the Leronde Lodge... Leia's parents weren't to be seen.

They were inside the Clinic, of course.

Mom wasn't working on Leia, not now, she quickly had the new patient situated in a room before she took Dad to get his eyes cleared. Once he could see again he checked on the patient personally.

The two of them came back out, Mom speaking first. "The miner's condition as stabilized." He was out of danger then? Good—excellent. Jude took a deep breath of relief. He wasn't completely useless.

"And it looks like I can see again," Dad said. Well, Jude knew that but the others possibly wouldn't. "I'll begin preparation to treat Leia shortly."

Good, good, good. If anyone could do it, it was dad. He'd already helped her years ago.

"The miner said to thank you for saving him. You did well Jude," Mom passed along the miner's feelings and gave a compliment of her own.

It felt so hollow with Leia still in danger... but... there was just a bit of gratitude in his own heart. He couldn't feel out a reply of his own, and just nodded back.

"So modest," Mom smiled at him. "That's why Leia would do what she did..."

He didn't need to be reminded of that again.

"Oh honey," Mom immediately moved in for a hug and tears of her own. If Jude wasn't so exhausted from pushing himself past the edge he'd return it. "If you need a shoulder to cry on we're here for you." Of course she was...

"What happened?" Dad... asked. The scorn and anger Jude was expecting just weren't in his words. That was almost scarier than him being angry.

Alvin gave him an answer. "A fight. A big one. With Elympios."

The lack of reaction from Dad to that name was a bigger tell than anything. "This is why you should have stayed home!" Dad lashed out. "Leia rushed off after you and she ended up like this!"

"Dear..." His Mom tried to placate his Dad a bit...

...but Jude could do it himself. "I know," Jude accepted his Dad's berating. "I know. It's my fault. Leia chose her path but I influenced it... I know that. I... I can't do know..." If he had the energy he'd clench his fists.

Dad was no so easily swayed. "That sounds like a conclusion you came to once before already." Jude looked at him in confusion. "How's Milla?"

"Dead." He looked away.

"I presumed as much," Doctor Dad clasped his hands in front of him. "You claim to accept responsibility, and act on it. But do you know what it truly means, Jude?"

To hold oneself accountable for their actions. "I know the meaning, but I don't know if that's what I'm doing... I just know I can't by staying home and letting things continue on." Leia was responsible for saving his life. If her parents didn't blame him... then he had to move on for all their sakes. "Turning away from what's in front of my eyes... I know that isn't taking responsibility in any case."

Dad grunted at his answer. "If you've haven't found your answer now, you may never have it." Dad shook his head at the conversation. "How many lives have your actions saved?"

"The miner..." Jude answered quick and cleanly. If Leia hadn't required them to return, he may well be dead. Dad too, if another cave-in occurred. People sick and injured in Talim. The attack against Gilland. The scores of wounded soldiers in Kanbalar. Agria. He looked at the girl in red, the girl confused at his sudden interest. "It's even right to compare worth when talking about lives. But I've saved people! I know I have!"

Alvin put his hand on Jude's shoulder. "Yeah, good old Jude here's helped out plenty of times. I think he's broke double digits on keeping Agria alive even."

"Shut up," the girl in red seethed.

"Neither of you might like it, but he has made a difference. And so has Leia."

Dad calmed down a bit from that, seeming to ruminate on his own decisions.

"Enough of this pettiness," Wingul burst into the conversation. "I've a many question for you Doctor Mathis regarding your connections to Exodus and Elympios."

Before Dad could open his mouth to speak cries and screams emerged from outside. His words twisted into a question. "What's going on?!"

The doors to the clinic slide open and a man out of breath panted. "We're under attack!


AN: What could possibly be attacking Leronde?