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"What do you mean, you've never used birth control?" I exclaimed, stunned. We'd decided only yesterday that we wanted to start a family, but it appeared we'd already hit our first snag. "You mean to say, that in the year or so we've been together, as well as the year and a half that you were with Dylas before me… you never once used any form of contraceptive?"

"No, never. I'm sorry, I guess I just never thought of such a thing even existing. I guess that's something else that I must have forgotten about, thanks to my amnesia."

I frowned at her. "You rely on that excuse far too often, Avani. It's one thing to say you can't remember details of your childhood or something—that's normal for amnesia. But it's another thing altogether to blame your tendency to not think things through on it!" I spoke far more harshly than was my intent in my agitation at the implications of her revelation.

With a hurt look, she turned away. "I said I was sorry. What more do you want from me? Okay, so maybe it wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done, but I don't understand why you're being so… so mean about it!" Then she stormed out of the house, leaving me slack-jawed in surprise.

I thought about what I'd said to warrant such an accusation, and as I mentally replayed my part of the conversation, I realized that I had perhaps been less than sympathetic. Especially the comment about her amnesia—I cringed as my words echoed in my head. I followed after her, but by then she'd already vanished from sight. No doubt she'd gone off to work off her vexation out in the wilds somewhere. I sighed and rubbed my forehead, then glanced up at the sky, noting dark clouds gathering on the horizon. They were still a long ways away, though, so I wasn't too concerned. I trudged up the steps from the garden and headed down the street to Porcoline's.

Dylas was on duty when I walked in, and he looked up in surprise. "Where's Avani?" he asked curiously, peering to see if she was straggling in behind me.

I shrugged and asked for a cup of coffee, and he gave me a sharp look as he poured it and passed it to me. "What's going on? You two are virtually inseparable. So where is she?"

"We… had a disagreement. Hey… did you know she never used birth control? Not once in all the time she was with either of us. Did… did she ever have a pregnancy scare or anything, that you know of?" I asked, sipping the steaming beverage.

He raised an eyebrow as he leaned against the counter. "Really? No, I didn't know that. And as far as I know, nothing like that ever came up. She never mentioned anything to me, anyway. Why? Don't tell me you were arguing about that, of all things?"

I frowned into my cup, pausing before responding. "Don't you see? She spent over two years sexually active with one or both of us, never using any contraceptives, and she hasn't once had even a hint of getting pregnant. We decided that we want to start a family… but apparently we've already been doing everything possible to have children—with no results. So what if… what if we just can't? We former Guardians, I mean. What if being bound like that for so long somehow rendered us infertile? I mean, it obviously had some lasting physical effects. Maybe there are other effects that aren't as… obvious."

Dylas looked surprised as he thought about it, then he just shrugged. "Well, I suppose that would be unfortunate if you really wanted kids that badly. But I still don't see what the big deal is. I mean, what've you got to gripe about, really? You got the girl—so what if you can't have kids with her, too? Isn't just having her enough? Don't be so… so greedy. I'd take a lifetime with Avani—with or without kids—any day. But she picked you, not me. Now where is she, anyway?"

I sighed and drained my cup, grimacing slightly at the bitter aftertaste. "I don't know. She just… took off. She's probably out venting somewhere."

Dylas scowled at me, his hazel eyes flashing, and slammed his hand down on the counter. He reached across to grab me by my vest and pulled me closer. "You mean to say," he growled, "you just… let her go? Angry and upset, out into the wilds, all by herself? What the hell is wrong with you? She's barely just recovered from her last escapade—barely—and you just let her go?" He flung me back, then stomped around from behind the counter to stand over me, glowering. "Now you listen to me. I love her, too, you dipshit, and don't you forget it. But she chose you—and I warned you at the time, didn't I? I said then that you'd better make her happy. Well, she doesn't sound like she's any too happy to me, so get up off that floor and get your sorry ass out there and find her. And I swear, if anything happens to her…."

I stood and glared at him. "Back off, Dylas. She's my wife. I don't need you to tell me how to take care of her!" I turned and started to leave, but he grabbed my arm.

"No. You know what? You're being a dick. So I'm coming with you—to make sure that you don't screw up more than you already have. Not because I care about saving your marriage—I don't. Nothing would make me happier than for her to leave you, because maybe then I'd get her back at last. I'm only going because, as much as I hate it to admit it, I know she'd be miserable without you."

Still gripping my arm, he pulled me back home and down the stairs to the storeroom where we all kept our weapons and armor. Tossing my equipment to me, he grabbed his own and we went back upstairs. As we strapped on our armor and buckled our boots, I glared at him, still fuming from our confrontation. "There is no need at all for you to come with me. I can handle this myself. I don't want or need your help."

"Tough shit, because you're getting it anyway. I'm not doing this for you, so just stuff it." He glared back angrily as he pulled on his newest fighting gloves.

I grabbed my shield and lance, and I considered for a brief moment smacking him with it. I was already aware that I'd messed up, and I sure didn't need him reminding me of it at every turn. Besides, it was none of his business—this was between me and Avani. I was the one that needed to put things to rights, and I didn't need him getting in my way.

But there was no dissuading him. He was bound and determined to see for himself that she was okay, and until then, he was sticking as close to me as my own shadow. I gave up trying and stalked towards the airship, Dylas close on my heels.

Once on board the airship, I stopped for a minute to think where she might have gone. Given that it was winter and she disliked the cold, I thought the Selphia Plains or Sercerezo Hill were likely options. Then I recalled a discussion about fishing from a few days ago, in which she had commented to Barrett that she had yet to hook a rockfish. She'd told him that she'd caught at least one of every fish to be found anywhere in the area except that one species, and she was eager to complete her collection, so to speak.

Therefore, I thought the sand pond seemed like a likely place to search for her, so I told the pilot to set course for Sercerezo Hill. He looked up at the sky nervously, saying, "Aye, but we'll hafta be quick. Storm's a-comin'. You be okay if I drop you out there? I can't wait around for ye ta finish, so ye be on yer own once ye disembark."

I looked up at the clouds—they'd moved in much faster than I'd predicted. Still, if my hunch proved correct, we should be able to find her and get back to town using escape before the brunt of the storm hit.

"Well, let's get a move on already. What are you waiting for, Christmas?" Dylas snapped irritably as he eyed the black clouds heading our way.

The airship dropped us off just past the bridge to Sercerezo Hill, hardly more than pausing while we jumped off the gangplank to the ground below before it turned and sailed full-bore back towards Selphia. A nearby herd of ill-tempered schmoolies immediately charged at us, no doubt disturbed by our bickering, which we resumed as soon as we'd landed. We quickly dispatched them and headed towards the sand pond on the far side of the bridge southeast of the hill. There were more than the usual number of monsters out, I noticed—perhaps galvanized into unusual activity by the approaching storm.

"I don't get it," Dylas groused as we fought our way through the dense growths of flowering vines and through flocks of schmoolies and bunches of monstrous blossoms. "Why would she take off like this, with a storm approaching, just because you two had a little spat? Or is there something you're leaving out?"

I paused to skewer a flower blossom monster as it slithered our way, reaching out with its thorny vines to ensnare either or both of us. Huffing in irritation, I brushed the hair out of my face and glared at him. "Fine. Yes, there was more to it than just that. I… I accused her of falling back on her amnesia as an excuse for not thinking things through."

Dylas stopped stock still, stiffening as he stared at me, his face growing blacker than the clouds closing in overhead. "You… what?" he growled. "No. No, you did not do that. Tell me you didn't."

"I'm not proud of it—I didn't even mean it. I was just… caught off guard, I guess."

"You goddamned fucking piece of shit! I can't believe you said that to her!" he bellowed, diving for me and grabbing me by my vest collar. "How can you even call yourself her husband after that?! Dammit, no wonder she ran away! After we find her and get her safely back to town, I am going to kick your ass clear into the middle of next week, Rover!" He shoved me back to the ground, glaring down at me, his face contorted with barely-concealed rage.

I narrowed my eyes and bared my fangs—I'd had just about enough of his attitude. Yes, he was right—I shouldn't have said what I said. Avani could call me every name in the book when I found her and I'd take it as my just deserts, but I wasn't about to take that kind of abuse from him. Friend or not, I was sick and tired of him constantly interfering in our marriage. And it was high time I told him so.

I sprang up to my feet, tossing my spear and shield aside. "You want a fight? Is that what you want? Well, come and get it, horsey boy, if you're not afraid of mussing your pretty mane, that is!"

Dylas flushed red, his eyes snapping with rage. "Fine, you got it. No weapons, no spells. Just you and me, Rover," he snarled, throwing his fighting gloves to the ground.

Gritting my teeth, I responded, "You got it. May the best man win."

"Oh, I will," he snapped, then he lunged at me.

Dylas had the advantage in height, weight, and sheer muscle mass. However, I had superior flexibility, speed, and endurance—not to mention intelligence. I knew my best bet for winning a fight against Dylas would be to keep him moving, staying just out of reach while provoking him into attacking, thus tiring him out before moving in. So with this in mind, I darted around him, easily dodging his blows at the last second, taunting him with equine insults that drove him into a frenzy.

As we circled, almost closing in on each other, then separating only to close in again, neither of us paid much attention to the rain beginning to fall. A few heavy drops at first, then a steady rain, then a downpour. Before we knew what hit us, we were caught in a torrential rainstorm. Yet still we fought on, the rain-slicked grass only serving to increase the challenge.

But in the back of my mind, I began to worry—I desperately wanted to check to see if Avani was there at the sand pond, still fishing, and if not, to find her. She didn't mind rainstorms—she found them rather exhilarating, as long as they weren't too cold. Cold was the only thing that seemed to bother her very much, and even then only after being out in it for a while. I began to regret initiating this pointless brawl, but Dylas was infuriated beyond reason by this point, and I highly doubted he'd stop for man or beast. So I started to maneuver him eastwards towards the bridge, hoping to reach the sand pond quickly to relieve my mind.

However, something most unexpected caused an unavoidable delay.

As we reached the bridge, Dylas was still lunging at me, still trying to land a blow, though he was obviously beginning to wear down. I had just leaped back to avoid another kick, when a deep, thundering voice spoke behind me, saying, "Who dares to defile the bridge of Typhoon the Storm-Daemon? None may enter his demesne!"

I spun around and beheld the largest daemon-class monster I'd ever laid eyes on, wielding a massive trident in his hand, which was as dark as the storm clouds overhead. Dylas, too, stopped, panting for breath as he stared wide-eyed at the monster. I stood up straight before him, acutely aware that our weapons were lying on the grass quite some distance away from the bridge. "I entreat you to let me pass, storm-daemon. I come in search of my wife, who may have wandered unintentionally into your realm before the storm arose. I mean you and your lands no harm."

He pounded his trident onto the bridge, causing the whole structure to shudder. Glowering at me with eyes burning like coals in his dark grey skull, he said, "Then she is mine now. All that set foot in my demesne belong to me, and to me alone. If you seek to reclaim her, then you do mean me harm—as I do you!"

He swiftly raised his trident and cast a whirlwind of sonic blades that spun towards Dylas and me, sending further blades spiraling outwards as it careened across the bridge. I jumped back, landing next to Dylas. Barely sparing a glance in his direction, I called out, "Truce?"

"Truce!" he shouted in reply, ducking below a sonic blade.

The storm-daemon had an array of powerful spells that made even our strongest magic seem like child's play in comparison. Though we cast spell after spell his way, he seemed entirely unaffected. Meanwhile, already partially drained from our foolish scuffle, we quickly used up nearly all of our energy for spellcasting. I kept enough energy in reserve for one healing spell, and escape used almost none. But I was loathe to cast escape, simply because I could not and would not abandon Avani to this… monstrosity.

Monstrosity, indeed—Typhoon seemed as though he was unscathed despite the barrage of our strongest spells, while we were both battered and exhausted. I was beginning to wonder if a strategic retreat to replenish our energy and arm ourselves might be necessary after all—for there was no question of my needing Dylas's help in this battle—when he cast a new spell, one I had never seen before nor have I ever seen since.

Summoning three spheres of dark energy, he quickly incanted a second spell over the hovering globes. They transformed into bolts of pure dark energy that shot out faster than a swallow in flight. Dylas and I both dove out of the paths of the projectiles, but they moved too fast. One of them skimmed over my right arm, and another caught Dylas in his side—fortunately his armor and leather clothing offered some protection, or he would have been gravely injured indeed. Dark energy didn't merely damage—it devoured, like acid or flame. Whatever it touched, it consumed. While it could have been worse, nevertheless it was bad enough. I had a cleft running the length of my arm, shoulder to wrist, rendering it essentially useless, and Dylas had a void in his armor and jacket that displayed a deep puncture into his ribs.

Things were not looking good for us.

Typhoon chuckled, sensing that the end of the battle was drawing near. He closed the gap between us in a single gigantic pace, gloating as he looked down at us. I tried to cast escape, but nothing happened—after that last blow, I was too drained for even that simplest of spells. I could see Dylas struggling next to me, apparently trying the same thing with similar results as he almost immediately fell back onto the planks of the bridge. "And so end all who challenge Typhoon the Storm-Daemon!" the monster boomed, raising his weapon triumphantly over his head for the finishing stroke.

Then a blur of green and gold flew from out of the woods on the far side of the bridge, crashing into the daemon, all but knocking it over. And there, to my astonishment, stood Avani.

If the daemon Typhoon looked like the embodiment of the storm clouds over head—dark and glowering and merciless, in that moment, Avani was the embodiment of the wind—swift, sure, and mighty was she as she stood tall in her wrath, the winds whipping her green hair into a verdant halo.

The daemon spun around to face her, hesitating in amazement as he beheld the figure before him. "So. You, then, are my most recent acquisition. Bow down before your new lord, hellcat!" he growled as a lascivious grin spread across his face.

Grabbing her dual swords from her rucksack and tossing the bag aside, she stared coldly into the massive monster's face. "I bow to none besides my liege lord, you asshelmeted troglodyte."

"My, such words from one so small and… frail. It's time you learned your place, slave!" He whirled his trident easily over his head, then pointed it straight at her chest.

"Avani, look out!" I called, struggling unsuccessfully to rise. She flew up into a back flip and landed several yards back, just out of reach of his thrust.

Before he could attack again, she quickly cast a healing spell, shouting, "Where are your weapons? Go and get them!"

As Dylas and I stumbled back to pick up our discarded equipment, she whirled around, her blades held out to her sides, slashing into the daemon's thick hide. Although he had to have sustained some damage, his only response was a deep, menacing chuckle. As we raced back, he growled, "Ahh, yes… you're a lively one, I see. I like that, yes. Please me well, slave, and perhaps I'll promote you to concubine," he said, licking his lips obscenely.

Avani grimaced in revulsion. "I'd sooner die a thousand deaths in the fires of the lava ruins than spend even one second in the company of the likes of you!" she spat, crouching down to launch another attack. Hissing, the daemon prepared another dark arrow spell. Before I could warn her or reach him to attack, he sent the bolts flying directly at her.

She sprang from her crouch, leaping high into the air and over the speeding darts. Holding her blades close together, tips just touching, she dove at the monster's head, shouting, "And I! Am! No! Man's! Slave!" as she crashed down, driving the paired swords like a wedge deep into the monster's skull.

The daemon Typhoon bellowed in rage and disbelief, grabbing her and flinging her down onto the bridge like a rag doll. He raised his trident high over head, preparing to skewer her, but the swords had continued to inflict their magical damage on him even as he stood. In a blinding flash of light, they clove him in two, and with an enraged howl, the monster vanished, leaving the three of us alone in the storm as her blades fell to the bridge before her.

Dylas and I ran to Avani, and I knelt next to her. "My Lady!" I exclaimed, checking her for injuries. Dylas stood behind me, although he hovered over me in his concern.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and smiled up at me, then reached a hand up to my cheek. "Leo…" she said wearily, "…I think we should avoid this neck of the woods on stormy days in the future."

I choked slightly, and heard Dylas snort in exasperation behind me. I gathered her up in my arms, nuzzling my cheek against hers. "I concur, My Lady. Why tempt fate?"


Disclaimer: Rune Factory 4, most locations and many of the characters in the story, and the game's plot belong to Neverland Co. and XSEED Games. The story plot and some characters and locations are my own invention.