Dwarven Vow 153:
Is dòcha gum bi fios agad air deich rudan le bhith ag ionnsachadh fear.
You can know ten things by learning one.

59-

"Wait, you can just… add a new Dwarven vow? What's the point, then?"

Genis was skeptical of Lloyd's news, but Lloyd wasn't fazed. He was too excited to care- and Genis couldn't blame him. He just smiled along as Lloyd explained.

"I-it's not like we can add something as an official Dwarven vow. We're just adding it to our personal Dwarven Vow collection. I'm sure individual Dwarven clans have their own personal vows. Why not us too-?"

"Okay, okay." Genis gave Lloyd a friendly nudge against the arm. "But you're not here to talk about Dwarven vows, right? You're here for the research meeting."

"Oh! R-right."

Lloyd had taken the day to recover in Sybak, and the next morning he left Dirk to continue working with the citizens of Mizuho and accompanied Sheena back to the Elemental Research Lab in Meltokio. The meeting was meant to discuss the findings of their recent research, so Sheena had told Lloyd all about what happened in Greenriver. Meanwhile, a radio call from Colette and Zelos reassured Lloyd that Song was alive and safe. Because of that, he wasn't expecting any surprises from the meeting, and his mind was filled with ideas about the new construction projects for Mizuho. But he still insisted on going- after all, he wanted to see Colette and Song, and if they were bringing up the Greenriver events again, Sheena would need moral support.

The conference room that Professor Low had reserved was small, its table not even large enough to accommodate their group. Song dragged in a chair from an adjoining room and sat silently in one corner, just listening to the conversation. Lloyd kept glancing over at him to see if he was in pain, but he seemed fine. Just quiet.

As Professor Low recounted the trip to Greenriver, Lloyd held Sheena's hand under the table. Kratos and Anna made no comment on Sheena's situation, only acknowledging that the trip had failed to reveal any potential for Tethe'allan summoners.

"So, uh, we're back to the starting point," Zelos explained with a shrug. "No summoner and no leads. If you've got any bright ideas, now would be the time to suggest them."

"If your investigation in Tethe'alla didn't turn up anything, we'll have to search in Sylvarant," Kratos sighed. "The problem is, I don't know how we'd do a large scale search for the presence of a specific gene across all of Sylvarant. Even if we're just talking mitochondrial DNA, it could take years if not decades to obtain and sequence enough samples to be reasonably sure we've found every group."

"What choice do we have?" Zelos asked. "The summon spirits haven't got a clue, and Martel won't tell us a thing."

Professor Low gave a hum of thought. "A summoner needs elven heritage, don't they? We could use that to rule out a large amount of the population that wouldn't need to be-" She cut herself off as she realized what she was saying. "But targeting half-elves for a project like this could open some doors that we wouldn't want to touch. We should be considerate of the social implications such a project could have, especially in Sylvarant, where the wounds caused by the Desians are still fresh. Even the human population may not take kindly to such scientific experimentation."

"She's right." Raine nodded in agreement. "There must be another way. If we can develop an easier method of testing, then maybe-"

Kratos broke in, leaning over the table. "While you're working out your new test, the NV Zone will keep growing and will keep endangering the people of both worlds. If these earthquakes continue to grow in intensity, the village of Mizuho will only be the first casualty. Besides, what will you do when your tests find a summoner? Will you arrest them on the spot? Accuse them of creating the NV Zone with no other evidence? Question them until you get a confession of desperation-?!"

"No, but we can't just do nothing!" Raine shot back. "You said yourself, we can't let this continue!"

"Yes, but you can't rely on nothing but logic in a situation where logic has no place-!"

"Um?" Lloyd cleared his throat and raised his hand, drawing the others' attention. "You guys are arguing like there are no other summoners we know of besides Sheena."

Genis stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Uh, yeah. That's the gist of it, yes."

"But… I'm confused." Lloyd frowned, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Maybe I'm misinterpreting what you said about summoners. You said that summoners inherit the gene from their moms, right? And that they need elven blood to use the power, right?"

"That's right, but…" Colette began and then gasped. "Lloyd! You don't mean-?!"

"We do know somebody who fits that criteria, then," Lloyd said, leaning back to place his hands on the table. "Someone who's a half-elf, and who we know got the summoning gene from her mom because her uncle was a summoner."

The table went silent. Song, who had been sitting slumped in one corner, perked up again. "Adora…" he gasped softly, and then with more confidence. "Adora!"

"But-" Zelos protested. "-she was consumed by the Great Tree, wasn't she? Kratos, Song, you guys were there. Didn't you see it?"

Song stood up, bracing himself against the table. "She was consumed, yes, but not killed. She nor Yuan! I knew it!"

"Wait, wait, wait." Kratos waved his hands. "This is all speculation. How could an infant make a pact with a summon spirit-?"

"But that explains everything!" Anna jumped up beside Kratos, grabbing his shoulder and shaking it. "Remember what Gnome said? If a summoner didn't know their own name or other identifying information, a spirit couldn't demand it? It wasn't amnesia, Adora's just too young to recognize her name or have any sort of self-identity. Her self-preservation instincts and the desire to save her father's life would have been all she had to offer. And even if the original Martel is only part of the spirit Martel…" She looked up, eyes connecting with Lloyd's. "...a mother's desire to save her child is stronger than anything I know of."

Lloyd smiled back at her. "A pact Martel couldn't pass up," he repeated. "Of course. It was all to save Adora and Yuan."

They shared a moment of silent agreement before Professor Low finally broke in. "Sorry, sorry, let me see if I've got this right. Adora is… the baby? And Martel is her mother?"

"Original Martel," Kratos clarified. "Not spirit Martel."

"The original Martel who died four-thousand years ago?"

"Yes, that's the one."

Professor Low removed her glasses and took a long, slow breath. "Okay, I'm starting to put this together. The light magic Raine and I researched was used to keep Adora a baby all this time. Meanwhile, her mother died, was revived, and then turned into a magical tree. Then, after Adora was awakened and reunited with her father, her father was stabbed protecting the tree that her mother turned into. Is this correct so far?"

"Yep!" Anna chimed, though Kratos shrugged his shoulders.

"More or less."

"Then," Low continued with a sigh, "you believe that this four-thousand-year-old infant has somehow managed to make a pact with the spirit of the Great Tree in order to save her father's life?"

"Yes!" Song called, raising his hand, though Kratos waved him off.

"That is what Lloyd and Song seem to be suggesting. But I don't know if-"

"I've got it!" Raine broke in with a gasp. "That must be the reason the NV Zone is expanding without a change in the Tree's mana output. The energy absorbed is being used as life support to keep Yuan and Adora alive."

"W-wait, Sis, you're not buying this, are you?" Genis tugged at her sleeve, but she ignored him.

"It sounds absurd, but it pulls together all the strange threads we couldn't figure out before. There are the accounts provided by the spirits, the expansion of the NV Zone, and Song's report that Yuan and Adora are still alive."

"I, uh, don't think that last one is exactly on the level of the other two-"

"I know it from the Cruxis Crystal!" Song defended, cutting Genis' statement off. "The whole reason I got crystal-ified is because the crystal is still connected to Yuan, right? Being able to sense him through the crystal has got to count for something!"

"I wouldn't say that's how it works, but…" Kratos shook his head. "Considering how little we have to go on right now, it might not hurt to add it to potential avenues of research."

Anna raised her hand. "Why don't we just send in a group to ask the spirit Martel like when Sheena tried to make a pact with her?"

"And hear her whole 'a pact creates a sacred bond' act again?" Zelos scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "I'm not sure I'm up for that."

Colette tugged at his sleeve, trying to pull him back into a proper sitting position. "If we're able to identify Adora as the summoner, Martel may be more willing to work with us," she suggested. "If the Tree is really acting as life support for the two of them, it can't last forever. If the pact really was made to save their lives, then the current setup won't accomplish that without outside interference. Pointing that out might provide a loophole in the pact."

Zelos finally sat back up, throwing his arms around Colette. "Hunny, you genius! That's what we need- a loophole!"

"It's true that a summon spirit shouldn't be able to make a pact if they can't fulfill their end of it," Sheena thought out loud, squeezing Lloyd's hand. "If we point that out, it just might nullify the whole thing."

"That's assuming that Adora is the summoner, and the pact was made to save Yuan's life," Kratos broke in. "Don't forget, this is speculation."

"Speculation or not, I think it's worth investigating," Raine offered. "We'll have to decide who to send, of course. Sheena, you went with Colette and Zelos before, correct? Did you feel comfortable with their support?"

Sheena was surprised enough by the question that she let go of Lloyd's hand. "Well, yes, but… are we sure that's enough? Challenging a summon spirit may not be the easiest thing to do, and we don't know what will happen if we suddenly nullify the pact."

Song's hand shot up. "Let me go with you, at least to the edge of the NV Zone! If the pact is nullified and Yuan and Adora are released, you'll need a doctor on-site to treat Yuan's wounds. This time I'll have my medical kit and all my supplies handy. I'm not going to fail him again."

"I don't want to sit by and watch either!" Lloyd exclaimed, taking Sheena's hand and holding it up. "Is there someone who can lend me your exsphere? I want to stay by my friends' sides no matter what."

Zelos reached across Colette to elbow Lloyd. "Your friends and your fiancee, right?"

"W-well, Sheena's my friend too. If she wasn't, it wouldn't be a very happy marriage, y'know?"

Anna laughed, seeing Lloyd's embarrassed face, and Genis snickered alongside her. "I'll loan you mine again, Lloyd. After that heartfelt plea, how could I not?"

"Really, Genis? You're the best! I'll take good care of it and give it back right away, I promise-"

Before Lloyd could even finish his statement, Kratos cleared his throat conspicuously.

"I won't stop you from pursuing this endeavor, but I ask that we put safety measures in place for everyone's sake. If there is any retaliation from the spirit Martel, it could put more than just those within the NV Zone in danger. Give me a few days to mobilize a backup unit- I don't want to put anyone else in danger if we can avoid it, but I want some of my soldiers ready to act as support if needed."

"I'll do some more research in the meantime," Raine added. "If you and Song would grant me access to the Renegade archives, I might be able to provide some insight on the information that's hosted there."

Song nodded. "Yeah, of course! I'd appreciate your input. Uh... that's okay, right, Kratos?"

Kratos sighed. "Do what you think is best. I'll worry about doing my part and you can worry about doing yours."

"Y-yes! I will!"

The group broke into individual conversations, and it wasn't long before the 'meeting' had dissolved into several smaller groups making independent plans. Eventually, they began to disperse, Kratos and Anna leaving to speak with the militia, and Lloyd leading the rest out to brunch together. Professor Low stayed back to gather up her research materials, however, and Raine told Genis she'd catch up with them later. Genis offered her an encouraging smile and waved as he left, and she found herself alone in the room with Professor Low.

Since the incident in Greenriver, Raine had been considering the most tactful way to bring up her and Low's relationship. There were so many factors she couldn't account for, so many things she wasn't sure of, but if she waited too long trying to get everything just right, she'd miss her chance. She might as well go ahead and say what she wanted to say, and there was no telling when they'd have another casual moment alone like this.

"Uh, Todd?"

Professor Low stopped, hearing her name, and turned back to look at Raine.

"Do you need something?" Low asked, offering a smile in an attempt to hide the nervousness in her voice. She was still apprehensive about being alone together, it seemed. Raine took a deep breath, hoping to instill her voice with a sense of ease before continuing.

"I just, uh… wanted to say that… I appreciate your point about the idea of testing half-elves. It's good to be conscious of that sort of thing, and, uh…" Raine waved one hand. "...what you said to Sheena the other day, I think it really helped. Being able to acknowledge your own mistakes for the sake of others is an honorable thing. I wanted to thank you for that too."

There was a tense silence, and Professor Low swallowed back a lump in her throat. She reached up and waved one hand in an abstract gesture. "Raine, may I be forward for a moment? I don't want to keep dancing around this matter, for your sake, and for mine."

Oh gods, there it was. Raine bit her lip and nodded mutely.

"I want to improve myself," Low continued. "I want to become the woman you believed in. But I don't want myself- or anyone else- thinking I'm only doing it to win you back. I need to move on, decidedly, officially. You understand, right?"

Another nod. "I understand," Raine answered, feeling a pain in her chest. That was it, then, wasn't it? She had her answer before she could even ask. It was probably better this way, probably healthier for the two of them not to risk hurting one another again. But it hurt. She understood, but it hurt.

Low wasn't finished talking, however.

"I do want to move on," she continued, "but I don't want to do it without… without asking at least one more time. If you say no, that'll be the end of it, I promise. But I have to ask. Would you be willing to give me another chance?"

Raine's breath caught in her throat.

"Y-yes," she said instinctively, not even needing to think it over. "Yes."

"Then you have my word tha-" Low began a prepared response without even thinking, and stopped as she processed what Raine had actually said. "Wait. You will? You will?!"

Raine fidgeted with her hands, hoping her bashful smile was clear enough. "I mean, I… I've been thinking that I'd… like to try again. I'd like us to try again. Both of us."

Professor Low stared, unable to respond at first. Her expression shifted unidentifiably as she processed the response. "I-" she began, her mouth hanging open for a moment before she closed it and shook her head. "You're serious? You're really serious?!"

Raine stifled a laugh. "To be perfectly honest, I was afraid you wouldn't be willing to give me another chance. I dropped you so quickly and callously after what happened, without even listening to your point of view."

"I-I was the one who didn't listen to you! Or, I didn't care to even ask. I assumed that you saw things the same way that I did. I assumed everyone who was 'intelligent' saw things the way I did. But that's not the way the world works, and I'm sorry that it took hurting someone I loved- that I love- for me to realize it."

Raine reached out and took Professor Low's hand.

"Let's begin again and continue working to improve ourselves together. Not as lab partners this time, but…" She leaned forward, and Low met her halfway in a short, gentle kiss. "...just as partners."

Professor Low sniffled back tears of joy. "That would make me very happy."

The smile Raine offered was all the reply needed, but she spoke anyway.

"It would make me very happy too."


It took three days for Kratos to make all the arrangements with the militia, and in the end, he still wasn't fully satisfied. However, he decided that there was only so much he could do, and left the situation in the capable hands of those who'd be approaching the Great Tree.

Genis' exsphere and the air within the NV Zone felt just how Lloyd remembered them, and he took a deep breath before looking back to the rest of the group with a nod of encouragement. It had been raining the previous day, and while the sky had cleared up, the ground was still damp and slippery in places where the vegetation had been completely stripped away. Sheena had taken Colette's hand and was letting Colette lean against her while Lloyd and Zelos led the way. Genis, Raine, and Professor Low were gathered outside the NV Zone, and Lloyd periodically glanced back at them to make sure they were safe. Once he made it to the Tree, however, his focus turned to the task at hand.

Sheena stepped forward so that she was the closest to the Tree. She cleared her throat and called out, just as she had done before.

"I am the summoner Sheena! I ask for an audience with the spirit Martel!"

Silence.

There was such a long period in which nothing happened that Zelos actually stepped into line with Sheena and prepared to call out himself. But as he did so, there was a flash of energy, and the whole group scrambled back a few steps to allow room for the human figure that emerged from the very Tree itself.

Colette and Sheena's descriptions of Martel's proxy had prepared Lloyd to see Tabatha's face again, but even so, there was a physical shock to it that he couldn't subdue. He reached out for Colette's hand and squeezed it as he stared, and she gave a supportive squeeze back as the spirit spoke.

"FOR WHAT PURPOSE HAVE YOU RETURNED?"

"We are here to ask about the pact again," Sheena replied, and followed it quickly with "-not to make a pact of our own, though. We're just looking for more information."

The spirit's emotionless expression held neither amusement nor frustration. "I HAVE TOLD YOU ALL I CAN. BUT IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO ASK FURTHER, YOU MAY PROCEED."

Sheena looked back at the others and drew in a deep breath. "The summoner," she began, drawing herself up to her full height, "is Martel and Yuan's daughter, Adora, correct? She's an infant, which is why she wasn't able to provide the spirit Martel with more information than her vow. She was acting only out of instinctive desire to live is the deepest, most primal desire that any creature has- that's why the vow alone was sufficient for the spirit Martel, wasn't it?"

There was a pause.

"A VOW FORMS A SACRED BOND BETWEEN SUMMONER AND SPIRIT. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DIVULGED TO OUTSIDERS."

"Please, we just want to help!" Colette exclaimed. "If Adora and Yuan stay inside the Tree… or wherever you have them… they're never going to recover! Eventually, the Tree is going to run out of energy to support them, or their health will fail, and they'll die. We need to know exactly what's going on so that we can save them-"

"A VOW FORMS A SACRED BOND BETWEEN SUMMONER AND SPIRIT. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DIVULGED TO OUTSID-"

Lloyd didn't wait for her to finish.

"That's enough! If we're wrong, just tell us! It's not like that would give us any more information about what's really going on, right? But if we're right, then lives hang in the balance! How can you keep the pact a secret if you're not even able to hold up your end of the deal?" He turned and pointed to the small group watching from outside the NV Zone. "We've got a doctor and medical supplies ready and waiting. If you really want to save Yuan and Adora, you've gotta give them back to us."

His statement caused the spirit to waver, and Sheena stepped forward again to close the gap between them.

"Spirit Martel, I ask you to annul your pact with Adora on the grounds that your inability to fulfil your end of the agreement renders the pact invalid. I do not ask that you establish a new pact with me, but simply that you return the Great Tree to its original state."

The area around them went completely silent, its stillness almost suffocating. Lloyd swallowed back a knot of nervousness in his throat as he met the spirit's blank, expressionless stare. Was she thinking it over? He couldn't tell, and that made it even worse. While the pause was only a few moments, it felt like an eternity, and that made the punctuated reply that broke it even more distressing.

"NO."