KittyKatEmo: YAY!! SCHOOL IS OUT!!

DeadlyFlower: Good for you. You only sit around wasting time during holidays anyway.

KKE: Actually, I can't this time. I have to study for exams. And what fun I'll have doing so!

Amy: Um, this is a computer screen. The readers can't tell you're being sarcastic.

Jen: I'm sure they can tell she's joking! Unless you can tell me who enjoys studying for exams. Then I'll take that back!

Amy: Heh, you're right.

KKE: Yes, well, I'm here to finally get on with the story. After last chapter's madness, I think it's time I got back on track.

DF: Chapter 51: Curing Zelos. Meeting Virginia Sage

Kratos and Lloyd spent a few moments getting used being back in their bodies, then they finally left the house and re-grouped with everyone else.

"Jen... My head is killing me..." Zelos mumbled, rubbing his head.

"Oh yeah? Well I'll tell what's killing you even more! That gross thing on your arm!" Jen harshly stated, bringing matters back to Zelos' illness.

"You know what this is, don't you?" Sheena said, looking intently into her eyes.

"Not exactly. I mean, and know what it's called, what it is and what it does, but I've never seen in until now and I don't know if there's a cure." She lied about the last part, knowing well that there was a cure since Kratos told her, but she kept that quiet to keep Kratos safe.

"...You went to Lake Umacy didn't you?" Kratos suddenly asked.

"Yeah. Why?" Sheena was now confused.

"Hmm... Nevermind," he mumbled. Jen stared at him, knowing he knew something that needed to be told.

"Perhaps the best thing we could do is ask a dwarf who is knowledgeable on Cruxis Crystals. Zelos' arm looks like it's crystallising itself and I'm assuming it's being caused by his Cruxis Crystal," Raine suggested, noticing that the crystals had spread to the back of Zelos' neck.

"Jen, what do you know about it?" Seles asked.

"It's called Chronic Angelus Crystallus Inofficium. All I know is that is crystallises the body until the subject dies and turns into a Cruxis Crystal."

"You certainly don't mince words," Sheena growled, not liking the sound of what Jen had just said.

"Why should I have to sugar-coat this? If I make it sound better then it actually is, then that could be catastrophic."

"She's right," Seles sighed, with Sheena agreeing.

"And you... don't know of a cure?" Presea asked. Jen shook her head.

"There has to be something we can do!" Sheena cried, not willing to let Zelos go without a fight.

"Then perhaps this could be useful," Kratos said, pulling out a book and handing it to Lloyd.

"I'm... gonna give this to you," Lloyd mumbled, giving it to Genis. Genis grinned and flicked through the book.

"Ah, here it is! Hey! Look here! It says one of Mithos' companions was affected by this disease too-"

"DISEASE?! You mean... I'M A DISEASE BAG?!" Zelos gasped, only for Sheena to smack him upside the head.

"Be serious about this!" she glared. Zelos just laughed and told Genis to continue.

"What happened to Mithos' companion?" Colette asked.

"It seems the person was cured. Uhh... Um... Sis, I don't understand this bit." Raine walked over and took the book from Genis.

"This handwriting is unreal..." Raine gaped, staring at it. Jen looked at it and her eyes snapped wide open. She looked at Kratos, who was staring at the sky.

"I think I can work out what it says. It says: 'A Mana Fragment and Zircon are fused using the Boltzman's technique to create a Rune Crest. Fibres from the Mana Leaf Herb, when placed in the crest, protect against the crystallisation caused by the illness,'" Raine read. Then looked up at all the blank faces.

"WHAAAAT?!" they all blinked, confused and frustrated.

"Kratos, care to explain? That is your book after all," Jen said, giving him a shifty look.

"Isn't it clearly stated? A Mana Fragment and Zircon needs to be fused to make a Rune Crest. Then a Mana Leaf Herb is needed to complete the Crest. Make sense?" Since this is writing with no audio voice overs, I can tell you that Kratos spoke to them all like they were retards, and as you can plainly see, he just repeated everything that Raine read out.

"Well... Where are we supposed to get that stuff?!" Lloyd growled, slightly annoyed with Kratos.

"Elves use Mana Leaf Herbs in their magic. Maybe we could try the village of the elves in Tethe'alla," Sheena said.

"Heimdall..." Raine whispered to herself, looking bothered about something.

"We can try asking Alicia about Zircon. When we were in Altamira playing truth or dare, I seem to recall hearing someone talking about Zircon," Presea suggested.

"Right! That's great! What about the Mana Fragment?" Sheena asked.

"Kratos?" Lloyd asked, looking at him.

"...Derris-Kharlan," he answered.

"How are we supposed to get there?!" Lloyd growled.

"We go to Derris-Kharlan! We can use my Cruxis Crystal!" Colette smiled.

"Actually, we can use mine too. And the Tower of Salvation is actually visible in Tethe'alla, the flourishing world," Zelos said, to which Colette continued to smile at.

"We can't take Anna with us, but I don't feel comfortable leaving her here either," Jen said. She'd been thinking about this.

"Why not?" Lloyd asked.

"Well... At first I thought it would be okay to leave her here with her family, but... After what happened in Palmacosta, I'm not so sure. If random disasters keep happening like this, I don't think it'll be safe to leave her anywhere."

"Then take her to Exire," Kratos said. An imaginary light bulb appeared over Jen's head and she smiled.

"Hey, good idea!"

"What the hell is Exire?" Anna asked, looking irritated about not having a say about this.

"A floating city in the sky in Tethe'alla. It's entirely populated with half-elves who felt they had no place in this world and so needed to be isolated from the rest of civilisation," Kratos explained. Raine and Genis looked slightly shocked about that.

"To think that such a city exists..." Raine sighed, wondering if that was really the last hope for half-elves.

"Oh, I see. Well, if you think it's the safest place for me to be, then I'll go. Just give me moment to say my goodbyes. It'll probably be a while before I'll get to see my mother or Rebecca again..."

"..." Kratos didn't reply. He didn't even look at Anna.

"We should probably get going. Anna, be quick!" Sheena said. Anna nodded and told her family that she would be leaving. Jen looked at Kratos, whose mind was elsewhere. Anna said some tearful goodbyes to her mother and sister, and then she joined everyone else.

"Okay, let's go!" Sheena smiled.

"...Have fun. We'll definitely meet again," Kratos said, and turned away in the opposite direction.

"What?! Where are you going?!" Lloyd demanded, grabbing his arm.

"I have something to take care of."

"A-Are you going to Cruxis?" Jen nervously asked.

"...No, not yet."

"Why do you have to go?" Anna asked, looking sad.

"I have my reasons. Take care Lloyd." Kratos quickly ran off, escaping before Lloyd could say anymore.

"Damn him..." Lloyd cursed under his voice. Anna sighed, pretty much pissed off with her husband.

"Right, well, shall we go to Exire?" she asked, taking her mind off Kratos.

"Yes, let's go," Jen mumbled, and they all left Luin, flying away to Tethe'alla.

Exire

Anna looked around her, and there wasn't much to see in the city in the sky. It was very windy and quiet.

"D-Do I really have to stay here?" she nervously asked.

"It's the safest place for you to be until you give birth, at the very least," Jen replied, looking to the sky.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, if Kratos moves that arse of his and comes to protect you himself, then you'll get to leave this place sooner."

"Hehe, I suppose so!" Anna smiled.

"We'd better check with the village elder to make sure it's okay for you to be here. But it should be okay, because there's an elf lady living here. Her name was Virginia, or something like that anywa--"

"You know my mother?!" Raine suddenly cried. Jen looked slightly shocked at what Raine had just said, but answered her.

"N-No, I don't know Virginia. I just know she's here."

"Do you come here often?" Presea asked.

"Not really, only from time to time. Last time I was here, it was around 11 or 12 years ago. I forget which..."

"12 years ago..." Raine whispered to herself, knowing that it was 12 years ago when she and Genis were pushed through the Otherworldly Gate.

"Do you know where she lives?" Raine asked, looking slightly sad, yet at the same time determined to see her mother.

"Um, no, but we can ask the elder. He'll know for sure." Jen lead them to the elder's house and they entered.

"Miss. Jenna? I didn't expect to see you again..." he whispered when he saw her.

"I... uh... I came here for one reason, but now there's a second reason I'm here."

"I see. Well?"

"C-Can my sister-in-law stay here for a little while? It's not safe for her to stay in any cities on the ground and she's okay with being here as long as you are, right Anna?"

"Of course!" Anna smiled.

"Your brother's wife? In that case, I see no problem with having her here. I will find a house for her as soon as possible. What is the second reason you have for being here?"

"Where does Virginia live?!" Raine demanded, worrying Genis.

"S-Sis..." Genis sighed, looking to his sister.

"Virginia? Are you sure you wish to see her? I would advise against it. Miss. Jenna, take these people away."

"It's not my place. This woman would like to see her mother. I think you would agree that I am the last person in this world to keep someone from seeing their mother."

"...I see. You are Virginia's child?"

"My brother is here too!" Raine cried, pointing at Genis. The elder suddenly looked surprised.

"I understand now. I will take you to her home myself, and I will leave you to speak with her. Let's go," he calmly said, and began to lead them to Virginia's house. Genis felt nervous, but he knew that Raine was probably even more nervous. When they spotted the house, Raine suddenly got reluctant to enter, but Lloyd encouraged her to go in.

"It'll be fine," he smiled, trying to calm her down.

"Lloyd, will you come in with us?" Genis asked, somehow feeling that Lloyd's presence would make them feel better. Lloyd nodded and he, Raine and Genis slowly entered the house, with no idea what to expect. Would Virginia be happy to see them? Or would she turn them away in disgust? They would soon find out.

"...Who's there?" A faint call from the house sounded. Raine took one look at the owner of that voice and she knew she had found her – her mother.

"Excuse us, we have something we wish to ask you." Raine chose to get straight to the point, since it didn't look like Virginia had recognised them.

"Oh! Half-elves! My child is a half-elf too!" the elven woman smiled, holding up a doll she was carrying.

"It's a... doll..." he muttered to himself, beginning to get confused.

"Can you see he intelligent looking face? Her name is Raine and she's my pride and joy!" The woman hugged the doll, while Raine stared at it in horror.

"Huh?" Genis blinked, wondering what that woman was thinking.

"And right now, I have another child on the way! I've already decided on a name! If it's a girl, it's Jean and if it's a boy, it's Genis! What do you think? Aren't they lovely names?"

"Are you Virginia?" Lloyd asked, wondering if they had got the right woman since she had been saying all these weird things.

"Yes, that's right! How did you know?" she smiled, confusing Genis and angering Raine.

"Stop this!" Raine cried, outraged at Virginia.

"Professor..." Lloyd whispered, looking sad.

"Stop this!! What were you thinking?! Do you have any idea what happened to us after you abandoned us?!" Raine roared, beginning to cry.

"Wh-What?! Why are you raising your voice like that?! You'll wake Raine!" Virginia cried, feeling threatened and trying to shield the doll she called Raine from the real Raine.

"I'm Raine! I'm the child you shunned and abandoned, not that... doll!! Genis is here too!"

"What are you talking about? There must be something wrong with you!" Virginia glared, clutching the doll tight in her hands.

"You're the one that wrong! How could you?!... How could you?..." Raine tried her best not to cry, but she knew she couldn't keep it in much longer.

"Oh... Now you've gone and made Raine cry! Please leave! There, there... shh... It's okay Raine! The scary people have gone now... Don't cry..." Virginia whispered, cradling the doll, kidding herself that she was putting 'Raine' back to sleep.

"..." Raine clenched her fist and bit down on her lip. Her tears rolled down her face and she couldn't be in the same place as Virginia anymore. She turned and ran out of the house.

"Raine!" Genis called, running after her.

"Sorry for disturbing you. Thank you for your time," Lloyd said, at least being polite to the crazy woman. He followed his friend out of the house and saw Raine outside crying. Genis put his hand on her shoulder and tried to stop her crying.

"Raine... don't cry..." he whispered. He was feeling a little shaken himself, but he knew it was harder on Raine as she could actually remember what had happened all those years ago.

"How could she?... First she abandons her children, then she abandons the memory of doing so! She... doesn't even remember us!" Raine continued to cry. She wiped her eyes, but the tears still came.

"Why is Virginia here?" Lloyd asked the elder.

"Several years ago, I found a husband and wife collapsed from exhaustion in the Ymir Forest. It was Virginia and her husband Kloitz," the elder began to explain.

"Father..." Raine whispered.

"It seems Kloitz was dispatched from Meltokio to investigate the elf village. He fell in love with Virginia and remained in Heimdall but..."

"But a half-elf that lived in the village tried to sell out our father to the soldiers. It became a huge incident. Fighting broke out between the elves and the half-elves..." Raine finished the sentence for him, making it obvious she was angry about that.

"Because of the incident, Virginia and her family were banished from Heimdall. The travelled from land to land, but the world was not kind to half-elves."

"And we were abandoned," Genis sighed, looking sad.

"So it would seem. Kloitz must have been ill, for he died soon after they arrived in this village. Virginia began to lose her mind from that day."

"She's unbelievably selfish! She tosses us aside on a whim, and then forgets us! And then she goes into her own little world of dreams!" Raine cried, still feeling angry.

"...Even so, Virginia was worried about you two. 'In the legendary world of Sylvarant, surely half-elves will be free from discrimination... I want them to be happy...' That's what she said."

"I've heard enough!" Raine yelled, burying her head in her hands and pulling on her hair.

"Alright. I've been keeping Virginia's diary safe here. You can come and get from me if you ever decide you want to read it," the elder said, and began to leave, but Jen stopped him to talk to him.

"Elder... I'm the one who told her of Virginia... Did I do wrong?..." she asked.

"I'm going to assume you told them of Virginia to assure them that it would be okay for your sister-in-law to stay here. You did not know Raine and Genis were related to Virginia, therefore, I do not see it as your fault. However, Raine may see it differently."

"I understand..." she whispered. She turned and looked at Raine and Genis again. Raine had slightly calmed down and Genis tried to persuade her go and read the diary.

"We might find something interesting by reading it!" Genis said. Raine nodded, and they made their way back to the elder's house. When they got there, he handed over the diary. Raine opened and and looked for the last entry. It had been written 12 years ago. Raine began reading it.

'The Otherworldly Gate opened today. Raine, Genis, forgive your powerless mother. Surely even the Imperial Research Academy will not follow you to Sylvarant. This must be a better choice than to spend your life in that damp, filthy dungeon like a slave. Please, make your way to freedom.'

This passage of writing, written just before Virginia lost her mind, didn't make any sense to Raine or Genis and so they just had to ask. The elder was more than willing to explain.

"Raine, you must have been incredibly talented. It seems the Imperial Research Academy was dying to get its hands on you."

"So that's why we couldn't settle down anywhere and had to keep travelling," Raine said.

"Eventually, you were chased to the Otherworldly Gate. It seems she managed to send you through it."

"...Mother..." Raine whispered.

"Then... she didn't abandon us because we were in the way or because she hated us or anything!" Genis' eyes lit up up happiness.

"Yes, that's right," the elder answered.

"Raine, this is great news!"

"This diary..." Raine said, looking at it.

"Take it with you. After all, it was your mother's."

"...Thank you."

"Miss. Jenna, I will now house your sister-in-law. You may leave at any time."

"Th-thank you!" she quickly said. Raine and Genis looked at her and knew what she was thinking.

"Jen, don't worry! It's good that you told us! Now we know the truth!" Genis smiled.

"Yes. Even though we had to experience this, I finally understand why my mother abandoned us. And I can see that she lost her mind because she was alone and had no one else in this world."

"I'll always have Raine, and she'll always have me! That's how it's always been! And it'll always be like that!"

"...Thank you..." Jen whispered, and stopped feeling guilty.

'Alone after having no one else in this world... Sounds so unbelievably like the way I was...' Jen thought to herself.

"Jen! Take care! And bring Kratos here next time you come!" Anna called. Lloyd quickly ran over to her and gave her a hug.

"Mom... Please take care!" he whispered into her ear. Anna smiled and hugged Lloyd.

"You too! You'd better not die!"

"No way!" Lloyd grinned, and caught up with his team. Jen simply waved goodbye to Anna and they took off on their rheairds, to Altamira.

KKE: That scene between Raine and Virginia is SO sad! It made me cry!

DF: But you can't help but feel sorry for Virginia!

Jen: She has a nice voice!

KKE, DF & Amy: -Staring at her-

Jen: What?! She does!

KKE: I have to agree with that. ANYWAY I hope y'all liked this chapter! I did it because the scene with Virginia is one of my favourite parts of the game!

DF: I'm sure everyone likes it!

KEE: Well then, back to naming the baby Aurion! At the moment, Seren is winning, followed closely by Alexis! Yuki and Jessica are now out! So now choose which you like more!

DF: Seren Aurion

KKE: Or Alexis Aurion!

Amy: Which ones do you like?

DF: We were meant to choose a name for the suggestions we got, but then we liked 4, so we left it down to a vote. And Seren and Alexis are the 2 names that were most popular, so it's a final duel between them!

Amy: Oh, okay!

KKE: Thank you for reading! Remember to vote!

Jen: See y'all soon!