Note: Third part of Catching Up here! Then we can get on with the journey! I feel that while these sections sort of put a halt on things, they are necessary as I don't want any character, major or minor, to feel entirely one note. Granted, some may not be as developed as others, yet there is at least some form of substance there. There will be more Catching Ups put in between each important section, yet I don't want them to be too numerous, as they are mainly a 'where are they now' bit in the story.

That said, hope you enjoy!

Special thanks to Falchio1984 for going through the chapters and catching stuff I missed. I'd like to finish this thing up first or get a good chunk of it done before I go back and edit, yet still, thanks a lot!

Thanks to Owyn Ross and TheEmeraldMage for staying with me on this so long too!

Catching Up 3

The chilled water below him lapped at the boat's hull, he then gave a slight shiver as he pulled his cloak around him. He was lucky to have found one, lest he is caught instantly. Actually, though, it was a curtain. His absence would have surely been noticed by now, and knowing how close Angela came to being caught, he knew that he would have to get on a ship as soon as possible.

Victor looked over the railing, he would soon be out of Altena. And while it pained him, he had to do this. He could no longer afford to stay anywhere near his native land. He held the note in his hand, it sealed in an envelope with wax. "Do not open it under any circumstances," Jose ordered him. "This is for the princess' eyes only."

"Why?" he asked.

Jose was silent for a good while, only answering when he heard footsteps growing closer and closer. "Because she's the only one who can help save us all now."

Valsena

"Auntie!" Wendy cried out, the dishes rattling once again as trembling and shaking overtook the small home. The young girl rushed to her aunt, the blonde woman taking her in her arms and huddling down under a doorway until everything went still again.

Slowly, cautious with each step, the two exited the home and looked to see several other citizens exiting their own homes, looking around in concern. It had happened again.

"Your Majesty, they're getting worse." a soldier said, Richard nodding in agreement.

"Unfortunately, it seems to be so." ever since Duran and those other five with him had left, the area had been seized by terrible tremors. Most were mainly small and had only given the residents a fright, yet increasingly, they grew more and more intense, rattling the entire foundations of homes, some having already toppled over. Even his own castle didn't feel safe to be in anymore. "Any clues on the source of these quakes?"

"We have some leads, yet it's mostly just speculation." the soldier answered.

"It's better than nothing. Speak." Richard commanded.

"We haven't been able to reach it, and while they weren't too willing to give out too much information, we managed to get some news from the dwarves. It seems once we mentioned Duran, they were much more amiable."

Richard gave a small smile. The wielder of the Mana Sword was said to change the world wherever he went, or as the tales told. And while he was far from being the same person, the king couldn't help but remember the feats of Roget and his band of rebels. "And what did they have to say?"

"They were feeling the quakes more than anyone due to their home being underground. And while they only gave us so much, even with mentioning Duran, they said that they have their theories." the soldier explained. "They make their living through mining precious minerals, which requires that they go deep into the caverns." Richard nodded, listening. "Well, they've reported that they've been mining less and less due to dangerous creatures now making their dwelling there."

Richard quirked a brow. "Dangerous creatures?"

"Yes, and not the usual ilk either. The goblins and molebears have either gone into hiding or left entirely. There have been reports of the more aggressive needlions kicking their cousins out and taking over their burrows, prime slimes quite literally devouring their green-skinned kin and absorbing anything in their path. And even more, there have been sightings of dragons."

Richard rose from his throne upon hearing that. "Dragons?"

"Yes." the soldier confirmed. "Granted, their size is small and they aren't able to fly yet, but to have such a creature venture so far from their home...Majesty, this must mean something."

Indeed, Richard thought. The needlions and prime slimes he could perhaps overlook, but dragons? And the continuous shaking and earthquakes...he had a theory of where they were all coming from, and if he was correct, then it wasn't good news for any of them. Still, he had to be sure. "Well...keep yourselves on guard. Should these become more serious, then we shall take the appropriate measures to make sure everyone is safe," he said, though he knew that it would do only so much to help their current situation. "Until then, get as much information as you can. Check Maia, the dwarves, Beiser, anywhere in the land. Anywhere and everywhere that you think may be of interest. We must monitor this and keep on top of it when the worst comes."

"The worst comes?" the soldier questioned.

"...I fear that it will not be getting better anytime soon. You may go now." Richard said, the soldier bowing and making his way from his king and out the doors of the throne room.

What a predicament he and Valsena as a whole found themselves in, Richard thought. Though he couldn't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, he had more than a good enough hunch as to what was causing the earthquakes, as well as the dangerous creatures migrating nearer and nearer to them.

'It knows that its time is near.' Richard mused. 'It knows...and it's been denied a release for far too long.'

Duskmoon Forest

Anati felt Coco come to a stop, the forest once again growing silent. And always at the same place too. The small grave that she had seen the king stop by some time ago. Though it had been some time since she had seen him around, let alone heard of anything from the castle. True, while her home and her profession was mainly that of a farmer, Mintas still received daily news and reports of what was going on throughout the kingdom. Yet for the past while now, there was nothing. Rumors abound though, some saying that there was a world war coming, how the end of the world was but a short time away, how Mana was fading from the world, yet Anati found herself skeptical of it all. While this wasn't to say that there WASN'T something going on (Coco's behavior was somewhat concerning), yet as far as she knew, there was no sign of any doomsday event.

In fact, it seemed that all this talk and rumors began not long after she came across Ferolia's own prince.

Kevin...the blue-haired beastwoman wondered what he was doing now. She had brought him close to Astoria, yet she could only wonder if he made it to where he wanted to go. And if he was King Gauser's son, then what was he doing out of the castle, let alone wishing to go out of the country? She had wished she had asked him more before she took him on her boat, yet given all this talk, perhaps he was safer where he was. She could only hope he wasn't alone out there. She wouldn't know what to do if she didn't have her dear Coco.

"Kweh?" the chocobo quarked, squinting her large, blue eyes at the grave.

"Just a minute, girl," Anati said, dismounting the large, yellow bird, some wildflowers in her hand. She had no idea who was buried here, yet what she got from what she had heard from the King was a 'Karl' and a 'Diana'. And this grave was small, so it couldn't have been a beastman or woman, so perhaps a pet? Whatever the case though, it was someone that had passed, and thus, it was only right to pay them some respect. Perhaps it would bring their soul some comfort, wherever it was.

It was then though that Coco whirled her head around, her keen eyes sighting something in the distance. "Kweh! Kweh!" she squawked, flapping her wings.

"Coco?!" Anati shouted, the bird yanking her back and taking her in her beak. "Coco, what do you think you're doing?!" it was then that, in the distance, she saw a bright light in the distance. "What is-GAH!" Anati had little time to say anything else as Coco sprinted forward, eyes centered on the light. "Coco! Coco! Slow down, girl! Stop!"

Despite her master's commands, the chocobo had no intention of stopping, the light continues to glow and lead the bird onward and onward. Anati uselessly kicked and maneuvered herself around, yet once she saw it, she too found herself intrigued and fascinated. While she probably wouldn't have followed it as Coco was, she did find her mind racing as to what it was. It appeared unnatural, and yet she sensed no hostility from it. It was golden and warm...comforting even. Almost...motherly.

On and on Coco went, only stopping to let Anati get on her back and ride her properly. The light seemed to lead them on and on into the forest, going into parts that Anati had never traversed through, and soon, into parts that she didn't even know existed. The forest, despite its name, appeared to grow even darker and darker, the trees growing so thick that not even the moon itself could shine its light down. It wasn't long before everything went completely dark. Anati's naturally enhanced eyesight, a trait all beast people possessed, saw that this part of the forest was covered in dense, darkly colored flora, and while not present, the eyes of several creatures rested in the brush around the beastwoman and her chocobo, many suspicious and wary, but a few hungry.

The light then vanished in a veil of darkness, Anati about to call for it to wait, yet she stopped when her ears picked up the sound of footsteps. The light had disappeared into what seemed to be a deep cave, and after a moment, Anati could see a glowing, circular marking approaching her. She then saw that it rested on the forehead of a balding human garbed in white robes, hunched over and with long, white hair. It was a woman of considerable age, and judging from how she beat her cane against the ground, nearly blind.

"My Lady…" the old woman croaked out. "You have led someone to us?" the woman stumbled forward, losing her balance. Anati rushed out to catch her, the woman then feeling her way up to her face. "You...My Lady...a beastman...why have you led one of them to us?"

Anati then heard more footsteps and saw more glowing circles. "Who...who are you?"

The old woman was silent for a moment, as if pondering something important. "Maybe...maybe the promised day is upon us," she murmured to herself. Then, she took Anati's hand. "Come," she said. "You may not be the one we await, but your presence here will lead to him bringing peace for us all."

Jadd

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. That was what any one of these humans would've said had they saw them. Ludgar wanted nothing more than to rip out each and every one of their throats, yet for now, he had to remain as stealthy as possible. Swimming in the salty waters that surrounded the fortified city, he and several beastmen waited under the dock until the ship that was coming with supplies inched closer and closer, news of how Jadd was taken back from them quickly spreading, and thus, it was safe to once again dock in the harbor. The ship drew closer and closer until it came to a stop, the anchor being released and allowing those on board to taking the crates down to the dock.

"Now!' Ludgar hissed, waiting for all the men aboard to leave, the captain being the last to exit. Climbing the sturdy chain of the anchor, the beastmen landed on the deck of the ship and quickly rushed over to the lower parts of the sea vessel where they could lay hidden. Finally, at long last, they could get moving again.

"Sir?" one of his troops asked. "Why go to Altena? Why not search for the Mana Stone back in Ferolia?"

"You know why," Ludgar answered. It wasn't as if they didn't know where it was, it was just that there was no way to access it. "Thus, I'm sending half of you to Altena, and the other half will go back to Ferolia."

"But I thought you said that the Mana Stone was sealed off."

"It is." their commander said. "Yet there IS a possible way to open the way."

He didn't need to explain what he was talking about, the place a well known tale in the area. From the time that humans once resided in Ferolia, it was said that they had built a magnificent tower that housed the stone. It used to be visible for all to see, yet ever since but a decade and a few years ago, it vanished away from view, leaving nothing but even more forest where it once stood. They had tried searching for it, and a certain location was discovered where it possibly stood, yet it didn't matter, for there was no way to enter it. It was completely blocked off by an energy field, making it both invisible and inaccessible.

At least, that's what he initially thought.

While he far from liked him, Ludgar had to admit that perhaps Goremand's tip was the only thing he could go off of. 'Luna.' he told him before going off to who knew where again. 'Search for Luna.'

Astoria

"Luna?" Fureddie asked, confused.

"That's what he said." another beastman answered, the last of the rafts built from the ruins of the lakeside town.

"What would he want with the Elemental of the Moon?" Fureddie asked again.

"I'm not sure." the other beastman said. "But the rest of us have to go to Ferolia and begin the search." he gestured to the rafts. They weren't the biggest, let alone the best put together, yet they would have to do. Then he noticed something. "Where's Joseph and Kirk?"

Fureddie shrugged. "They keep going to the mouth of the Cascade Cavern. I don't know why though, the path to the Light Stone's been sealed off." he then looked in the direction of the entrance to the cavern. "A lot of the guys have been going there lately."

"Well go get them. We've got to move out."

"Fine, fine. I'm going." Fureddie made his way out of the destroyed lake town and walked a short distance to the cavern entrance, only to see several beastmen entering. "What the?! Hey! Hey guys! Where are you going?!" he grabbed one, Joseph, on the shoulder. "Hey, what's with you? We gotta go back to-" Fureddie was cut off when Joseph turned around, a strange, glowing mark appearing on his forehead.

And while it was more stylized, Fureddie thought it resembled a glowing eye. "The path must be opened," Joseph said, voice dull and emotionless. "He commands it."

"What? Who commands what?" Fureddie didn't understand. "What are you talking about?"

Joseph then turned to face him. "He commands you to come as well."

"What? What are you…" suddenly, Fureddie felt his head begin to ache, pressure building to where he couldn't even stand, being forced down on his hands and knees, body trembling. "What...what the hell?" he stammered, it felt as if hundreds of needles were piercing through his skull. "What...is this?! I...I can't…"

"Resistance equals pain," Joseph said nonchalantly. He then placed his hands on both sides of Fureddie's head. "Do not fight him. He wishes you only peace."

Peace...he didn't know why, yet the moment he heard this, it seemed that something 'clicked' within his brain. Steadily, while the needles still pierced his brain, he heard a voice begin to speak to him.

'Yes...I bring you peace.'

Fureddie's eyes widened. "Wha...wh-who…"

'Relax.' the voice said, voice deep but soothing. 'Relax and I shall remove the clouds from your mind.'

Slowly and steadily, the beastman found his purpose for why he was here being brought into question, reliving all the past events that had brought him here. And then realizing how...useless it was. How useless fighting against the other nations, as well as the humans as a whole, was. How much needless work had gone into it. It was all so chaotic and unnecessarily violent. It was...unorderly.

'Indeed, it is, is it not?' the voice asked. 'Finally, you understand, yes?'

Fureddie's eyes drooped, his breathing growing slow and steady. "Y-Yes…"

'And you understand that you've been going about achieving your goal all wrong, yes?'

"...yes…"

'Then you know what you must do. What must happen.' Fureddie then rose, his eyes glazed over and glassy, a golden, glowing eye materializing on his forehead. 'Then come. Assist your brothers.' he began to follow Joseph and the others into the cavern. 'Unblock the way. Bring the blood that will release me.'

Ship

Wiping his brow, the captain boarded the ship, looking back at the town he and his fellow shipmates had dined and slept in, hearty drinks shared among everyone and good food, along with a warm bed without the sensation of constantly moving on the water being a distraction. Odd for a seafaring man, he knew, yet he simply could NOT get any sleep while on the ocean, only able to get in some shut eye when he was completely exhausted.

"All right boys!" the stout, old man cried out. "Hoist the anchor!" The ship's anchor was pulled out from the water, and soon enough, the sea vessel was out of the harbor, Jadd steadily disappearing from sight and the endless ocean surrounding the ship once again. 'Pity it had to end so soon.' the captain thought. 'Still, I suppose I should be grateful that we can get supplies in without having to worry about-'

"Captain!"

The old man whirled around, yet was quickly tackled and held down by several beastmen, their strength far surpassing his own. Everyone on board was quickly subdued, and those that had tried to escape down into the lower sections of the ship were chased down and promptly dealt with. Then, he was lifted up and brought over to the edge of the ship.

"W-Wait! Wait! You can't-" he got no further words out before being tossed overboard, making a hard impact and disappearing into the water below.

"Hey!" one of those that had thrown the old man said. "Where's the commander?"

SPLASH!

Everyone heard a second splash from below, then what sounded like something sharp being jabbed into the wooden exterior of the ship. Ludgar climbed up and hopped over the railing, the fallen captain over his shoulder, of which he promptly threw to the ground. He pressed his foot down on the human's stomach, water being expelled from his lungs, and soon, he was conscious and coughing up the remaining liquid that had gotten inside him.

"Sir, why'd you-" the beastman asked, yet he received a glare from his commander.

"You just threw the captain overboard, you fools!" Ludgar roared.

"Well...yes. The ship is ours now, what use do we have for him?"

"We have USE of him because he is our means of making it to Altena unnoticed!" the blonde beastman snarled. "If a ship full of beastmen show up at their shores, then that'll surely be cause for alarm! Our deeds in Jadd have probably been spread far and wide now, so us arriving there on a stolen ship will surely be seen as an act of aggression!" he narrowed his eyes. "Something that you fools didn't seem to even consider." he glanced down at the captain, who, while terrified, looked up at him with wide, and dare he says, thankful eyes? Ludgar merely huffed and averted his eyes. "Change of plans, old man. You're bringing us to Altena."

"Wh-What?" the captain sputtered. "But, but we've already set course for-"

"Well re-set it," Ludgar ordered. "We head to Valsena, or we start throwing off some of your crew for the sharks."

The old man looked down and bit his lip hard, contemplating and analyzing his current predicament. "...fine. I'll do it." he said. "Just...let me up and tell my men. Don't hurt anyone, please."

"Keep them in line, and we won't have to." the commanding beastman said, letting the old man go to collect his shipmates and tell them of how there had been a change of plans.

Ludgar went to the front of the ship and rested his arms on the railing, staring out at the sea. 'You'll have to decide soon.' he remembered Goremand telling him before he departed.

'And I will.' he responded. 'And who it is will not be your concern.'

The jester smirked. 'Or it could be that you're stalling.'

Ludgar clenched his fists. 'Don't be ridiculous. The mission hasn't changed, and His Majesty's orders are absolute.'

'Then why haven't you chosen a sacrifice for the Light Stone yet? And if not that one, then what of the others?' The beastman tried to block out the jester's voice, yet found himself unsuccessful with every attempt. 'Maybe...you can't do it.'

'What was that?' Ludgar snarled at him, Goremand, of course, unphased.

'You heard me.' the jester grinned even wider. How such a thing was possible was beyond the beastman. 'Maybe you can't do it. Maybe you just don't have it in you to go through with the task.'

'Shut up…'

'Maybe you're just as soft-hearted as that little prince of yours-'

"SHUT UP!" Ludgar slammed his fists down on the railing, his voice echoing throughout the endless horizon and giving both his men and sailors alike a start. "Damned clown," he growled, gripping the railing until his knuckles turned white. "You know nothing." he lowered his head. "You know nothing of what I am willing to do. What I had to do." every punch, blow, kick, drop of blood, sweat, tears (to his shame)...it had all gotten him to where he was now. He would never hesitate, not for anyone, not even his Majesty. Yet even with this, the last thing the jester told him still refused to leave him.

'Then why did you let the little prince live?'

Nevarl

Once again, she had tried to take off the necklace, and once again, it reacted to her efforts with tightening around her throat until her oxygen had been cut off and she was sent writhing on the floor. It had given the poor boy that was with her quite a start, he came over and tried to pull the horrid object off himself, yet he found his efforts only made it worse, so he was forced to back off. Eventually, the world had gone black and everything went cold and still, yet Jessica still found herself waking up in the same cell, disappointed that this was still not some horrible dream.

"You ok?" Elliot asked, going over to her and reaching for her neck to make sure it was ok, only for her to shield it from him with her hands. "Oh...yeah. Sorry," he said. Her neck was covered in red markings and bruises from the cursed object clenching around her throat, yet he still wanted to make sure she was ok. After all...he had to be brave. That was what his sister would say.

"I...I'm fine." Jessica sighed, thankful to be able to breathe again. "I'm sorry you had to see that." she then looked away, trying to keep her tears to herself. 'Look at me.' she thought. Here was a little boy ripped from his home and she, the older one that he probably would rely on for support, was the one shedding tears and feeling sorry for herself. Still, as much as she tried, the tears still continued to fall. "H-Hawkeye…" she whimpered. "I...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Elliot drew closer to her. "Hawkeye...is he a friend?"

Jessica nodded, then stopped herself. "He...was a friend." she said sadly. "But he'll never forgive me now. But...I wish he was here." she lowered her head. "I wish I had seen it sooner. I wish I never believed that witch, even if just for a second. And…" she buried her face in her hands. "And...had I gotten help sooner...then...then maybe Eagle would've…" she began to sob again, to her shame. She then felt a small hand place itself on her shoulder.

"H-Hey. That...that doesn't sound like your fault." Elliot said. "If anything...I deserve to be here more than you."

"What?" Jessica turned to the boy. "But...you're just a child. What could you have possibly done?"

Elliot looked down at the floor. "How about letting an enemy into the kingdom because you were too stupid to listen to them?" Jessica wasn't entirely understanding, yet she noticed the boy beginning to tremble. "If anything, I'm the one who won't be forgiven." he then also began to cry. "Sis...she hates me. She hates me."

Jessica was left in an awkward position, not knowing much of the context of what he was saying, yet before her stood a weeping child that clearly needed comfort. Inching her way forward, she took him in her arms. "H-Hey now." she began, unsure of what to do, let alone if this would even help, yet still, she went on. "She doesn't hate you."

"Yes she does!" Elliot shouted. "She hates me! I let those people in! She hates me!"

"No she doesn't," Jessica told him. He seemed unconvinced, what could she do? While she didn't wish to delve too deep into uncomfortable territory, she needed some context. "Who is your sister?"

Elliot sniffed. "R-Riesz."

"Ok. What's Riesz like?"

"Well...she's tall. She's got long hair. She...she's kind of stern and strict." he said. "Though it's because I'm such a screw-up who can't hold a spear right." he went silent for a few moments before continuing. "But...but can be nice too. She gets me in bed every night...and always helps me whenever I wonder about mom."

"Your mom?" Jessica asked.

"Y-Yeah. She...died. After I was born."

Jessica nodded. "So did my mother."

"R-Really?" Elliot was surprised to hear that.

"It's not easy." the blue haired young woman said. "But...but even so, if you have family around you that loves you...it can help a little. But it still can hurt."

Elliot nodded. "Yeah. I guess…" he looked away. "Say," he then said. "You have a big brother too, right?"

Jessica nodded, though she bit her lip. "I...I did. Eagle." she said. "He…" she then chuckled. "Truth be told, he and Hawkeye treated me like I was a little girl. I guess in the eyes of a big brother, you're always going to be a kid to them." She remembered well how he used to prod and tease her, ruffling her hair (which she hated), and how he always knew of how she was feeling, and if someone made her sad, he would deal with them personally. "It may just be me...but I think older siblings sort of wish that you wouldn't grow up."

Elliot shifted his eyes. "It feels my sister wants me to grow up right away."

"Oh, is that so?" a voice suddenly said. Both Jessica and Elliot looked to see a familiar, red-eyed man outside of their cell. "I would say that she simply wishes to fashion you into a suitable young man."

Elliot trembled, yet noticed the man's hungry gaze towards Jessica, the blonde boy gathering up his courage and stepping in front of her. "This is a private conversation. You're not invited."

"Oh, why not?" Malocchino looked hurt. "I perhaps have something of value to say." he then smirked. "Such as how your father is being quite the stubborn old goat in not telling us where the Fire Stone is."

"Do not touch my father!" Jessica shouted, getting close to the bars. "You've taken my brother AND my friend from me! Do you really need to take anything else?!"

Malocchino smirked. "Friend? Is that what he is to you?" he asked. "To him, maybe. Yet you don't feel that way about him, do you?"

Jessica flinched. "What...what are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, dear." the vampiric being said. "You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about." his red eyes bore into hers. "Dear Belladonna's told me ALL about how you go and put on expensive perfumes and ask for the little bird's opinion of them. How you try out dresses and jewelry, asking his preferences of whether he prefers long or short hair, the size of a woman's chest, her eyes, her lips, all things that you make sure are perfect in his eyes."

Jessica bit her lip. "Sh-Shut up." she stammered. "You don't know anything."

"I know that he'll never want anything to do with you after you abandoned him to his fate after your brother's death." he then reached through and cupped her cheek. "Yet to overlook one such as you...he truly is foolish."

Jessica moved away from him, yet before she could get away completely, he seized her by the chin and yanked her forward, holding her in place. "S-Stop!" she cried out, struggling against the surprising strength of the pale-skinned man. "Let go! Stop!"

Malocchio held her tight, his other hand seizing her neck. His breath hitched, his enhanced senses feeling the blood coursing through her arteries and veins, the heat of her skin against his ice-cold flesh, and the wide-eyed look of terror in her eyes...oh, it was almost too much to bear.

"Get off of her, you creep!" Elliot shouted, reaching through and trying to punch and kick through the bars. Yet he was quickly sent back by a force sent out by the pale Malvole, the young boy smashing into the brick wall.

Malocchio then returned his attention to Jessica. "Your women here are divine," he said, gazing at her throat longingly. "They're young and shapely, good forms and warm skin...and even warmer blood." he brought Jessica closer to where she was mere inches from him, the bars that imprisoned her now being the only thing protecting her from him. "That friend of yours...Alyssa, was it? She was a fantastic catch."

The blue-haired young woman's eyes widened in horror. "You...you took Alyssa? You...you murderer!"

"You say, murderer, I say I am a mere predator within his rights to catch his prey," Malocchio told her. "She was good...but I've had my eyes on you for some time, little desert princess. And it may not be tonight...or tomorrow, or the day after that, yet there will be a time where I shall make you mine." he then brought his mouth close to her throat, his chilled breath ghosting her neck. "And depending on how you behave, I can grant you either pleasure that'll bring you to the highest Heavens to torture that'll rival that found in the levels of Hell. But whichever route you decide to go…" he then stroked her lips. "You WILL be mine."

He then released her, Jessica backing up and eyes locked onto his until he turned away, having been satisfied. He made his exit from the prison, Jessica positioning herself in the corner to sit down.

"Are you ok?" Elliot asked.

"Y-Yeah. I think so." Jessica answered.

"I'm sorry," Elliot said, ashamed. "I...I couldn't do anything, I mean."

"No, it's fine," Jessica told him, actually somewhat thankful the choker was around her neck if it meant it would be protected from Malocchio's fangs. "I thought you were very brave."

The blonde boy in rags was surprised to hear that. "Really?"

"Yes." Jessica nodded. "I think your sister would've been pleased."

"Well…" Elliot blushed, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't know…" he then sat by her. "I wish she was here."

Jessica wasn't sure whether or not this would be the right thing to say, yet ultimately, this poor child needed some comfort. "Well...who's to say that she won't be?" Elliot looked up at her. "Maybe she's on her way right now."

Riesz? On her way here? Elliot was tempted to dismiss this outright, as too many factors got in the way. One, how did she even know where he was, let alone, why would she come for him when he basically let Laurent fall in the first place? Still...he remembered her words to him during their training sessions. True, it was mostly about being prepared for combat, yet there was something she said once that came back to him at that moment.

'A warrior's heart is ultimately, though, not measured by how well they wield a spear or sword, but by the valor of their character.' she told him. 'They provide hope for the hopeless, and protection for those that can't protect themselves. Should you come across a time where that responsibility is thrust on you, then I trust that you will show everyone just what kind of heart you have.'

He didn't understand what Riesz meant by that at first, yet now, being in this cell with this girl around his sister's age being held hostage by a cursed object...he felt something rise within him. Some sort of fire that he didn't even know he had. He might've not been that good with a spear...but he could at least be somewhat brave. If not for his sister, then for this fellow prisoner.

"Yeah," Elliot said. "She...she's on her way. She's tough. She can handle those stupid demon guys." he said. "And...and I'm sure that friend of yours is on his way too."

"Hawkeye?" Jessica was surprised to have heard this come from the boy. "I…" she looked despondent. "I don't know. I mean...even if he was, it's not like he could just come on back here."

"Isn't he a thief like the other guys here?" Elliot asked. "That must mean he's pretty smart, right?"

"Oh, is he ever," Jessica answered. "Eagle said that he was just bragging, but I think he IS the best thief in all of Nevarl." she said with pride. "There hasn't been a heist he's gone on that hasn't been a success."

"He sounds cool." Elliot replied.

"Oh, he's more than cool. He's…" the young woman sighed. "He's magnificent." Magnificent...and out of her reach. No, she told herself. She shouldn't entertain those things that pale-faced creature said to her. What did he know? He was nothing more than a depraved pervert that lusted after her body. What would he know of such things as…

"Jessica?"

Jessica shook her head. "It's nothing. But yeah. Hawkeye...he's...he's cool." she needed to change the subject. "Anyway, what's your sister like?"

"Riesz? Oh, she's the best soldier in all Laurent." Elliot declared with pride. "She's strong, she's pretty, she's kinda rough when it comes to training, but she's nice, I guess."

Both of them went on about their respective loved ones, exchanging facts to past events that ranged from humorous to sad to reflect on happier times. How long they went on for before exhaustion took them both, neither exactly knew, yet by then, it became clear to both of them that, right now, they would both have to be strong, not only for those loved ones but for each other. As for now, they were the only ones they had.

Elliot rested atop of Jessica, her dress serving as a decent pillow, the two prisoners still having their beloved figures in their minds even as they slept.

Courage and hope were the only two things they could hold onto now. For themselves...and for everyone else.Note: While it won't get as much attention as the main characters, I wanted to showcase a friendship between Jessica and Elliot, as I feel those two have quite a lot to go through and would need at least some support system in each other.

So, getting to the Ghost Ship next, yet I want to build some things up before things get all spooky.

Here's hoping you enjoyed, and I'll see you next time!