Chapter 16: The Light at the End of Dusk

It was tricky trying to find a place to duck down and hide in for the rest of the night and for most of the next day. Eventually they were able to find a small abandoned fishing shack that they were able to take succor in when the next day arrived; accompanied by short showers of rain beating on the feeble, creaking roof.

There was barely enough room for the two of them to even stand up in, let alone lie down and get some sleep. They were practically on top of each other, something that caused Alphinaud to all but cringe at the thought. Claire, obliviously, thought that his discomfort was just simply due to the small space.

Later on that afternoon, she decided to head back to the city to see if she could find out another way to get to the mainland, and at least have an idea of the lands beyond all that. So she left him alone, pointing out to the cliffs in the distance that he should head to should something happen before she went on her way. She went on alone back to the city, keeping her hood up and making sure to have as much as her body covered as possible.

Her biggest issue was that though they were able to stitch up the wound in her side, she couldn't help but wince with every step. Still, she was able to grit her teeth and bare it for the most part as the light showers helped hide any suspicions to any passerby's to why she was so covered. When she finally arrived at Gatetown, she did her best to keep to herself while keeping her ears open for any news about travelling to the mainland. Sadly, she learned that the final boat would be leaving before dark, but even then, there was talk that they would have to postpone it if the storm came early—which it just might.

After hearing that, Claire wondered if it would not be wiser to wait until tomorrow to try and sneak on board…?

"Useless the lot of you!"

Claire's blood ran cold at the shout and she quickly ducked behind some of the shacks, that looked like they were one strong wind away from falling over, and crouched down low to watch out that Ran'jit was coming out of the front gates and was barking orders at some of the city guard.

She bit her lip, knowing that they were undoubtedly looking for her and Alphinaud and realized that they were in a serious situation here. They had to leave as soon as possible if they wished to avoid being found by the army… and she didn't think that they had the time to wait around for an extra day?

They had no choice but to leave tonight as soon as possible… but how were they to do that?

She silently left the town before they noticed her, though she did take a much longer way around the island to ensure that they weren't following her straight to where Alphinaud was hidden on the off chance that they were able to spot her. But as she walked, she went over in her head their options. The only way they could get to the mainland was either by airship or by boat… but with a storm coming, the odds of them making it through with one of Eulmore's airships seemed unlikely. Those airships were beautiful to look at, but they were surprisingly flimsy, at least that was what the people all talked about when they were asking if airship travel would be cancelled for today.

So that only left one option… by sea.

But with the last ship leaving before Alisaie even arrives…?

Gods, she needed a drink.

While she was passing by through Wright, she suddenly was visited by an urge to stop by the nearby tavern and shrugged.

Why not? Nothing suspicious about a young woman just wanting to get out of the rain and stop by a tavern to warm up?

Her senses were on high alert as she knocked and entered the largest looking building only to find a rather shabby-looking tavern and a middle-aged woman behind the bar cleaning glasses.

"Well, look what the hobgoblin dragged in," she said friendly as Claire lowered her hood and shook out her wet hair. "Fancy something to warm you up, dear?"

"Yes please," she said as she checked her coins and asked what she could get for the few gil she had left. Enough for one drink of cheap ale and a bow of stewed vegetables apparently—and even then she suspected that the woman was just being nice about it. Claire agreed, having not eaten anything since yesterday, and immediately felt warmth spreading through her body as she enjoyed the slight numbing of the ale and the energy the veggies were giving her.

"Sorry to pry, love," the tavern-keeper asked her as she watched her eat for a moment, "But you seem to be a bit young to be on your own out here?"

"Oh, I… I'm a slayer that has recently come to these parts," she lied, well, maybe not so much now that she thought of it.

"A slayer? My that is impressive!" the tavern-keeper said with wide eyes. "Are you here to deal with that vampire that has been stalking the people lately? The bastard has made it hard for everyone since no one wants to be out and about after dark?"

"What do you know about it?" she asked, having yet to see a trace of this 'Beast of Eulmore' at all in the last few days.

"Not much 'cept for what everyone else knows," she confessed as she put the clean glasses away. "Appeared about a week ago and several people have already been found dead with their blood all drained. I don't dare unlock the doors once the sun goes down. If someone is here by the time that night falls, they get locked in. If they have a problem for that, I charge them for their room right there and then or make 'em sleep here on the floor. I don't dare leave the door open until I know for sure that he's been taken care of."

She sighed at that and confessed, "Just when I was starting to think that there would be some peaceful days ahead. All of the vampires that were seen in these lands seem to have all but vanished overnight. Before this one showed up, anyway, we hadn't had need to worry. I only hope that they're able to deal with it as soon as possible."

"Yeah," Claire said sadly before spending the rest of her time drinking her drink in silence. When she was finished she thought to ask, "Tell me, do you know of a way to get to the inland at all after tonight?"

"Usually they have ships going at all hours unless a bad storm is coming in," she answered. "Only ones who would be out during a storm like that would be the fishermen, and even then they have to be crazy to fish tonight."

"Fishermen? So, there are old fishing boats out there?" she asked curiously.

"There's a small fishing village near the shore," she said as she pointed out the window to the east, where she realized that she and Alphinaud were hiding out in temporarily. "You may be able to ask them if anyone would be willing to take you out. But it's really not worth risking your life out in bad weather. Wait till tomorrow morning, love. It'll be far safer. If you like, I've got a room you can stay in? If you don't have much to spend for it, I have a couple chores that you can get done for me before sunset to pay for it?"

"Oh, no, but thank you for your kindness," Claire said as she set her coins down on the counter for her. "I think that I'll head back to the city to see if I can get the last ride back to the inland before tonight after all."

Claire headed off after that, but she made sure to make it look like she was walking towards the city until she was sure that she was out of sight of the tavern… before she then ducked down towards the shores. It was a very long walk, and the rains had paused at this point so that a humid mist seemed to hang about them. But already she could sense another storm coming straight for them.

She would discuss this over with Alphinaud when she got back, but she knew that if they could 'borrow' one of those shipping boats, that may prove to be their best option at the moment. It was a long row, but she reasoned that they could stick it out long enough to make it to shore… and after their boat ride, she felt that they could handle anything.

She made it back to the shed and tore off her dripping cloak, having to ring it all out as her tunic stuck to her body. Alphinaud seemed unable to look at her during this time as she explained their options and suggested that stealing a fishing boat may be their best option for right now.

In the end, he agreed, not wanting to find himself at the mercy of another surprise attack from Eulmore's Army.

"Close your eyes, will you? I need to change," she said unashamed. An odd shiver seemed to go through his body as he turned his back on her and she pulled off her tunic to wring it out as well. She made sure that he honestly could not see what she was doing before disrobing completely and pulling out some dry clothes from the bag. Once she was dressed again, she told him to get some sleep and that they would try to figure it out tonight.

He just nodded silently as she laid down, or at least as well as she could. She had to curl up into a ball to be able to lie down, but she still left room for him to curl up to if he wanted. Still, they were now all but pressed up against the other as she felt herself drifting back off as Alphinaud watched.

It hadn't escaped his notice that sleep seemed to come so much easier for her these days. Something that Alphinaud envied her for.

"Sweet dreams," he told her as her eyes immediately began to droop. "I'll keep watch for now… I'll let you know if anything happens."

He smirked slightly as he noticed her tangled rat's nest for her hair, which admittedly looked as if she took a knife to it and didn't really care about the results. That seemed like something she'd do.

"And I won't ask what you did to your hair," he added, unable to keep the affection out of his voice as she smiled back and was asleep in minutes. She looked so peaceful whenever she drifted off, he sometimes found it hard to pay attention to anything else.

He gulped hard as stray thoughts drifted across his mind from some dark corner that would make any reasonable person blush. This wasn't anything new, after all, why was he struggling so hard lately? They spent just about every day together for years… even before coming to these lands? There were plenty times that she had fallen asleep in front of him, such as on the couch as he studied and recited whatever new thing he found. Or how more than once he walked in Alisaie's room to find them on the floor surrounded by sweets and pillows where they passed out from a sugar crash.

But now it felt different.

He knew that they were completely alone where, not even his sister, was here.

He couldn't hide the fact that his feelings were so strong and that she meant more to him than anything else he could ever have imagined. She was more to him than some protector or caretaker. She is his best friend. And now, she is the person that holds the key to his heart… or whatever is left of it.

He can't bring himself to stop looking at her though. His eyes trail over her lean and almost muscular form… it's so easy to forget that he could kill her with his own hands when he is obviously smaller compared to her. Though he has control over himself, there is still that old fear that he doesn't want to risk touching her. Of course, he knew how strong she was, he couldn't help but look at the slightly weathered look that added to the edges around her face.

He remained still for a long time as he did try to focus but as the hours went on the more tired he grew, especially since the summer heat was trickling in through the cracks and made the shack grow hot. The heat just didn't do him any favors and he slid lower and lower down the wall as he moved closer to Claire as sleep began to settle in for him at last.

She seemed to be very comfortable and he realized that it may have something to do with his skin's coldness, keeping her cool even in this heat. Well, if that was the case, he moved closer as she seemed to breathe easier and easier.

He liked to think that he was able to help her in some way and cuddled up close, knowing that she wouldn't mind, having put up with them all this time. He moved closer to her, catching her scent of the ocean waves upon her hair that reminded him of sunshine and blue skies. Oh, what he wouldn't do to be able to spend even just one more day upon a hot beach in the middle of the day?

He just ended up focusing on better memories, remembering Sharlayan, the city of white stone upon the ocean. If he had known that he would be spending five years without having seen the sun then he would have made more of an effort to get out of the library and explore the world.

Well, at least it wasn't completely bad. His hand found hers and he held it tightly. He didn't know what he would have done if he had been on his own. Having her here was the sole ray of light that he and sister had left. It was difficult to think of what could have happened if they were forced to go it alone.

As he looked at her, his still dead-like heart seemed to warm up slightly as he studied her features. He had long since memorized every feature on her face, and smirked slightly at the jagged cut she had given her own hair.

He imagined his fingers suddenly tangled up in that same hair as he kissed her… tasted her properly. He imagined how warm her hands would feel on his skin as she would cling back to him…? His own hands beginning to wander…?

He blinked at the image and immediately sat up and turned away, wondering what the heck was wrong with him now. Why were his thoughts suddenly turning to such… activities? He felt ashamed even just thinking about it while she was lying here next to him? He gulped hard, forcing those feelings down and determined never to see them again.

It was so much easier to resist such temptations when his sister was here to keep him in line…? But with her here alone… it was almost physically painful for him.

Especially after seeing her lying there… vulnerable and oblivious to him. His mind went blank and it wasn't until his mouth was just grazing the skin on her neck did he realize what he was doing. He had to all but slap himself to pull away. No, he was better than this and no real friend would ever take advantage of someone when they were out like this?

She meant too much for him to give in to any kind of primal desires.

Thankfully, she woke up after only a little while later and they spent much of the remaining time just discussing things. He was afraid that if she were to fall asleep again then his mind would betray him again.

He did his best to keep her awake and talking until the rest of the daylight hours had passed and they felt that it was safe enough to leave their little shack and see if they could meet up with his sister.

He just held her hand as they stood at the shore… not letting go until he saw the glowing figure of a flaming bird upon the distance, carrying a very familiar form upon her back.

At the sight of them on the shore, Alisaie's beaming smile could be seen even from so far away and she almost didn't even wait for Suzaku to land before she slid off her back and hit the water.

"Claire! Alphinaud!" she called out happily, running straight into them for a big hug.

Claire just laughed as she flew into their arms and winced slightly as she felt the familiar bone-crushing hug.

"How are you?" Claire asked as she pulled away, still smiling.

"Great! I learned a lot from the Lords!" she chirped happily. "I got so much to tell you too about the flow of aether and everything as well!"

She then gave her brother a deeply annoyed look and added, "You better not have done anything stupid while I was away."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded as Claire rolled her eyes fondly and turned back to Suzaku and thanked her for bringing Alisaie back. The beautiful bird merely nodded her head and wished them a safe journey before she took to the skies and flew off into the night, disappearing quickly over the black waters.

"So what did the Four Lords say?" Claire asked as they walked along the beach, the stars quickly disappearing as the clouds continued to roll in.

"They studied my aether very closely these last few days," Alisaie confessed slowly. "And what they saw… well… it was unusual."

"Unusual how?" Alphinaud questioned as she sighed and remembered what they said.

*Flashback*

"Remain still for a little longer, urchin-child," Genbu said sagely as he floated about her, studying her aether carefully.

"Keep calling me that and I'll be using that shell of yours as a helmet or something," Alisaie hissed under her breath.

"Keep that attitude up and you'll be here forever," Seiryu teased with a laugh, not at all afraid to put her back in her place.

"Just remain calm and focus upon your aether," Byakko cut in as Alisaie closed her eyes and tried to relax. "Just shut everything else down and focus… use your mind and imagine the tendrils of your aether as fine strands. Focus and see it clearly within your mind. Allow Genbu to see them."

Alisaie had tried again and again but she was struggling just trying to keep up. She felt that she would just stand there for hours at a time, thinking that they were just screwing with her… but she thought of her brother and Claire and knew that she had to keep trying for their sakes. She couldn't come back empty handed… not after all this!

So she persisted in her trademark stubbornness as she frowned and tried to focus upon their instructions.

She relaxed her mind, allowed her body to become numb… and as she focused upon the blackness around her she felt it… or rather saw it spark up. She froze at that and tried again, this time trying to will her mind to calm down… and then they appeared.

At last, she saw the tendrils of aether spark and a deep red like her favorite color of lipstick suddenly began to sparkle out of her.

"Yes, that's it!" Byakko said as she beamed in joy at the sight of it and that did more to encourage her than anything else she could imagine. She focused hard now on just letting go, committing herself to the study… and little by little her aether began to take shape. It was still nowhere near as much as she wished to reveal, more like tiny threads of aether as if she were covered in string drifting about her head, but the others could see it.

"Ah," Genbu's voice spoke up, almost distracting her.

"Do you see what I see, brother?" Seriyu asked curiously.

"I see the threads," Genbu reassured them. "And I must say… they are not like anything I have ever seen from a child before. Even such a cold one. It is… most unusual."

"Unusual, how?" Alisaie asked, staring at the threads, watching the bright reds of her aether to twist and turn about her at her slightest touch—sinking and disappearing into her skin before billowing out once more almost as if they were alive as they twisted and turned.

"Normal, aether flows through the body as lifeblood… both a part of you and separate… but this aether does not flow like how it is supposed to," he answered back in concern. "Rather… it flows as it wishes to."

"So you're saying that it now has a will of its own?" she asked anxiously.

"No, rather its course seem to have been tipped to something… darker," Genbu answered.

*End of Flashback*

"Something darker?" Alphinaud questioned after Alisaie finished.

"He said that my aeither, while not quite like how a Voidsent's aether flows… but at the same time it does flows like one," she answered back. "Which explains some things, if you ask me."

"Yes," he said, his mind now whirling with thoughts. "Yes, that actually does explain a few things. Such as why light seems to hurt us as it does… as well as the hunger or rather the thirst we go through. It's not that we need aether like voidsent do but blood is still very much the same thing. I can't believe that we never thought of it like that before!"

"So what can we do about that?" Claire asked him.

"I don't know," he answered back with a gulp. "But if we can use this information combined with everything that we learned…. Including with Lily and the gem… I do think that we are close to finding the keys that we need to pave the way for a cure. Oh, if only grandfather were here with us now…?"

"We will be seeing him soon," Claire promised him, knowing that they were very close now. If she could just get them a little farther then…?

That was when she heard a loud squawking roar and she stopped dead as the others froze in step.

"Go hide behind those rocks," she ordered softly as they immediately did what she commanded and she took a few more steps forward, ready to leap back should something appear. She passed by a few more yalms until she could see something in the dark moving along the gravel beach.

She blinked… seeing the massive form of a Zu there upon the water's edge with a group of reptilian bird-like creatures as they snapped and roared at each other. It looks like the sound came from them but she was more focused upon the Zu warrior. He was speaking to…?

She squinted her eyes in the darkness to see a robed figure standing there and speaking directly to the Zu and seemed to be pleading with him for something.

She took a chance and began to creep forward as she could get in hearing range.

"I know that I have kept you waiting, and I apologize for that," the hooded figure answered rather raggedly. "But I had fallen asleep at an inn in Eulmore and when I awoke I realized how late it was. Please I must make it back to the Crystarium as soon as possible."

"Sir, the rains will be passing over here soon and spread on to the Crystarium," the Zu warrior informed him gruffly. "I will not be going to the Crystarium tonight."

"Then just to Lakeland then," the man pleaded. "I'll find my way back there on foot if I have to. Or I could rest at one of the outposts if it gets that bad. But please, I must get back as soon as possible."

Claire's ears perked up at this conversation and immediately felt that she had found the answer that she needed. Still, she knew that she was taking a big risk here and was anxious in wondering if she would not be making a big mistake trusting someone she didn't even know. Still, a part of her wondered if the gods were taking pity on her and she gulped down at the thought.

She stood there behind the rock as she contemplated her next course of action.

But as she was now waging war with herself, she heard the Zu sigh and say, "Very well, but like I said, we cannot take you directly to the city. If you are satisfied with as far as Holminister then you are free to come."

"Oh, thank you," the robed man sighed in relief. "I feared I would be stuck here for a few days longer and I didn't have any place to stay."

"Wait!"

She had done this without thinking. All that was going through her head was Ran'jit and his search of the island, and she knew that the longer they stayed the more likely that someone would get hurt. They needed to leave and she had to take this chance.

The Zu and the robed man both looked up, taken aback by her call, but she was already approaching them. The robed man seemed to be staring at her, but she didn't pay him any attention as she turned to the Zu and asked humbly, "Pease… I need to get across the water to the mainland as soon as possible. If it is not too much trouble, may I and a couple others be allowed to accompany you, at least as far as Holminister Switch? We don't have much but we can pay you. We will not be a burden and help out anyway we can until we get there?"

"Who are you?" the Zu asked, his lizard-like eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Claire opened her mouth, not really sure what she was going to say, but someone beat her to it.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting to see you here, my friend," said the robed man.

Startled, she looked at him. He was almost a full head shorter than her and was dressed in long travelling clothes, not unlike robes, but the upper part of his face was hidden by a large hood that covered his eyes. He smiled kindly at her though and bowed when he saw her look at him.

"Forgive me, my friend, I did not expect to see you out this late," he answered. "I had thought that you had gone on ahead of me. Please forgive me for not checking in. Don't worry, I'll take care of it," he reassured her before he turned back to the Zu.

Claire was a little blown away but she nodded as he added, "She will be coming with me."

"As will us!"

Claire bit back the hiss as she turned to see the twins racing towards her from their hiding place, but thankfully, they also wore hoods over their own heads to keep them hidden and she could see that Alphinaud had wrapped a scarf around his mouth to hide his teeth when he spoke.

"Oh, wonderful!" the hooded man said cheerfully as if he had been expecting them as they skidded to a stop before them all. "The more the merrier!"

The Zu seemed annoyed by all this but he did not try to argue as he barked for them to be ready to leave in a few minutes and that if any of them weren't ready to leave by then then they would be left behind. They all nodded in understanding as he went lumbering off and Claire turned to look at the robed man.

"Thank you," Claire said to him as he smiled back warmly at her.

"Think nothing of it," he chuckled. "Travel always seems so much faster in good company, my lady."

He headed off with the Zu down the beach, so he thankfully missed the hiss coming from Alisaie at the 'my lady'.

"Behave," she warned the two as she guided them after her.

"But who are they?" Alphinaud asked anxiously but she just shook her head, completely at a lost. But she could see the tip of a bright red tail poking out from underneath the travelling cloak and knew at once that he was a Miqo'te. She tried to rack her brains around it but she seemed to have a feeling that she knew who this man was… the way that he spoke… it seemed familiar somehow but she wasn't sure.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" she asked politely as the red-haired Miqo'te seemed to tense and freeze up.

"No one important," he cleared his throat. "Just trying to get home to the Crystarium. So let us be on our way, shall we?"

"Then why help strangers like us?" Alisaie asked quietly so that the Zu didn't hear them.

"Oh, just doing the neighborly thing, I suppose?" he laughed rather awkwardly.

Alisaie looked ready to continue, but Claire waived him down, not wanting to make this anymore difficult. She immediately felt bad asking him since he had not felt the need to do so with her. She just nodded and followed after him until they were back at the water's edge were she saw several strange looking creature. There had to be at least half a dozen of them all together and they were all large, grey-colored reptilian birds… that was the only way she could describe them.

"What are they?" Alphinaud gasped behind her in awe as the Zu tended to the flock of them.

"Why some young Amaro," the hooded Miqo'te answered happily. "He was here taking them out to the lands of Kholusia to get them used to flying and exercise. He was heading back to the mainland now where his kin will take over their care from there. He was more than kind enough to allow us to go with him, though, in truth, having more riders is good for them as well as helps keep everyone together."

"Amaro?" Claire repeated as she gazed at the reptilian birds. "And they can get us across the sea?"

"Why yes," he said rather eagerly. "And I'm hoping to leave right now before the rains come. It looks a bit threatening."

She looked up and she could just hear the roar of thunder in the distance and knew that it was almost upon them.

"How long will it take?" Alphinaud asked, sounding a little nervous at the idea of going over water again.

"Not long at all," the hooded man said as he found one of the smaller Amaro and began to pull himself up on the feathery back just as the Zu returned with two more Amaro. One of the larger ones he gave to the twins to share, saying that this one will be large enough to carry them both; before turning to Claire and holding out the reins for the other.

"Right, let's see you on this one's back," the Zu said gruffly to her. "This one's name is Seto. He's a stubborn one, but I think you can handle him."

Claire nodded as she came up to Seto, who sniffed her suspiciously for a moment before he spread his wings out and allowed her to clamber onto his back.

A few more minutes later and they were all hitting the air with the Zu out in front and the four of them flying almost in a single file behind him. Though she knew that it was risky, she was grateful for this chance to get away from the island and was now quite curious about this Lakeland place. According to the map they had with them, it was just beyond Holminister Switch but the tower could easily be seen in just about all of the landscape.

The tower where they were to meet up in the Crystarium.

After all this time it seemed hard to imagine that they had made it this far.

She smiled even as the rough beating of Seto's wings flapped about her and she had to hold on a little tighter to ensure that she wasn't accidently flown off. They skidded across the water even as the rain began to fall once more. It started off as a light haze and quickly turned to a drizzle; and the further they flew the heavier it became. Soon the waters beneath them were turning from the countless raindrops that splashed down and she had to pull her own cloak up to cover her head to try and keep the water out of her eyes so that she could see where she was going. She was shivering as the water continued to splash down and she was quickly soaked through to the skin.

Occasionally, she would look behind her to find the twins were almost doubled over on their Amaro, and she knew that it must be uncomfortable for them as well—they looked like a pair of drowned rats at this point and she wondered if she looked any better. Meanwhile the hooded man from before was riding on in front of her and she could see him continuing to shake to try and keep himself from slipping off the slippery saddle.

"Everyone alright back there?" he called back.

"We will be," she called in response, "Once we land!"

"Don't worry! We should be there soon!" he promised and she could feel the relief from Alphinaud and Alisaie behind her. She wiped her face to clear it though she may not have bothered for all the good it did since she was already soaked.

But she bit her tongue as they road on through the night for just under a bell. Until, at last, she could see the faint glimmering lights in the distance and almost cried in relief. She was still, sore, cold, and was now struggling to remain on her own saddle now. The Zu Amaro Keeper yelled that they were just about there and to hang on a little longer since they were to land at the Launch.

"After that, you lot are on your own!" he called gruffly. Claire didn't bother to answer, actually fearing drowning if she opened her mouth this time. She just forced a nod, splashing more water everywhere and her fingers were so numb on the reins that she could feel them cramping up.

The rest of the flight went smoothly—or as smooth as possible given the circumstances.

It was another ten minutes watching the distant land grow larger and larger as they approached. Eventually, she could see the tower appearing and she felt true relief as she urged Seto to sink lower and lower. He seemed to be just as hearted at the sight of the tower as they sped up ahead and eager to get someplace with cover.

They landed on top of the tower and as she turned to look at the twins as they came in for a landing, looking like they had just pulled themselves up from out of a long swim across the ocean rather than flying over it. She wanted to scoop them both up, but figured that they could do that once they find a place to dry themselves.

She looked around, wondering what to do when she felt the tap on her shoulder and looked back to see the hooded Miqo'te smiling at her from under the thin cloth.

"Let us take shelter here," he offered, "I know of a lovely inn that we can stay in until the rain stops."

"Oh, thank you," Claire said as the twins joined her, "But I fear that we don't have much…?"

"You need not fear, I know the innkeepers," he reasoned. "I'm sure that if I ask they will be more than willing to allow us to board with them until the rains stop."

"You have already done so much for us," Claire refused, still trying to be polite as they walked down the steps. "I feared that we wouldn't have been able to make it this far on our own. I couldn't possibly let you go to any more trouble."

"It's not trouble at all. But if you don't wish to accept it, I cannot well force you. I just don't want to see you three catch your death of cold," he offered warmly.

"Thank you," Claire repeated, "But…?"

"We'll take you up on that," Alisaie cut in and Claire looked down at her in surprise. "What?" she added, "I don't want to see you get sick again. We can leave in the morning."

"Agreed," Alphinaud chirped up and she looked sharply at them both, who just grabbed hold of her arms and steered her after their hooded stranger.

Claire didn't like this at all, but with her being outnumbered here and desperate to get dry, she sighed grimly, and decided to follow as well. Their new friend clearly had been here before as he led them through the rather sleepy-looking village until they came up to a large building that could only be the inn. He was welcomed inside by the couple in charge and immediately began looking for a spare room for him.

When he told them about her and the twins, who stuck very close to her, their hoods still folded over their faces so that Claire felt rather bare after she lowered her own hood; the couple seemed surprised but didn't question him.

Eventually, they were able to find a room with two spare beds so there may be some sharing here, which Claire reassured them wasn't a problem.

"If we are to be sharing a room, sir," Claire offered as she watched the hooded Miqo'te take the key from the innkeeper and headed off down the hall for their room, "Do you mind if I ask you your name?"

"Hmmm? Oh, that is right," he chuckled as he turned to them and bowed. "I never properly introduced myself to you. Very well, my name is G'raha Tia. And let us just say that I am a frequent visitor to Lakeland."

"G'raha Tia?" Alphinaud repeated slowly, frowning a little. "That sounds a little familiar."

"Oh, ah… does it?" G'raha Tia asked with a nervous laugh. "Names like that are common where I'm from so I guess it's not too surprising. Anyway, let us head to our room. I'm sure that we will be able to rest up with little problem."

They found their room at the end of the hall and when they stepped in, it certainly looked homey with two large beds and a large window that showed how bad the storm was as it raged on outside with the rain now beating against the glass as if it was trying it's best to break it. Alisaie cautiously looked around, her hood still pulled down, and spotted the door off to the side that revealed a tiny bathroom with a tub.

"You boys can wait out here," Alisaie scolded them as she headed off to the bathroom to get cleaned up, still trailing water behind her.

"It's alright," G'raha added cheerfully, "I remember there is a public bathroom here, I'll just use that. Feel free to change in here."

He gave a friendly wave before he went back out the door.

"Well, he certainly seems accommodating," Alisaie said with a shrug and finally pulled off her hood.

"It's a little suspicious," Alphinaud frowned as he also lowered his. "Let us not make ourselves too comfortable here."

"Agreed," Claire said as she pulled out her bag. She made sure to pass the two grimoires, who were wrapped up in a tarp to protect them, to Alphinaud before she followed Alisaie into the bathroom.

Alisaie pulled the curtains around the tub before letting the water run. Claire ignored her as she also began to peel off her soaking cloak and let it fall with a soggy slump to the floor as she went for the bag.

She hissed as she looked through her bag and realized that almost everything inside was wet as well. She dug deeper and pulled an old nightshirt that was at the bottom. Alone of her clothes, this was the only thing she had left and she sighed, knowing that there wasn't much choice. She stripped down to her smallclothes, but realized quickly that they were also far too soaked to be of any use and just thought 'screw it'. She also left those on the floor as she hung up every other square bit of clothing she had in the bathroom to try and dry them. The nightshirt she had went to her knees and so she was at least covered, but still could not help but feel slightly exposed in it.

She shifted uncomfortably but knew that there was nothing she could do about it. She called to Alisaie to hand pass out her wet clothes and she would find a way to dry them. At first, Alisaie didn't answer her.

"Alisaie," Claire called patiently, "I can't see through the curtain, you're safe. But you will need something later."

Alisaie still hesitated but after a moment she heard her sigh and muttered, "Alright."

A few minutes later, Claire could hear the squishing of wet fabric as her charge stripped down and carefully moved them through the curtains to her. Claire had already taken them to the sink and was trying to wring them out while using light fire magic to speed them on the way to drying.

After she was able to get them dry, Alisaie was already calling out saying that she was ready. Claire passed her a towel and her clothes and Alisaie quickly changed. As soon as she came out though, she stopped dead at the sight of her… not that Claire noticed, she just said to send her brother in while she finished here and went on to drying clothes.

Alisaie didn't move for a moment and Claire turned back to see what the problem was. As soon as their eyes locked, Alisaie just seemed terrified and turned away, muttering that she would call Alphinaud in.

Claire nodded, wondering why she was suddenly so nervous as she went back to drying everything out. The boy barely glanced up when he stepped in—only for him to do a double-take when he saw her in nothing but the nightshirt. She shrugged and confessed that it was really all that she had left that wasn't wet.

Water had dripped everywhere at this point when she was done wringing them all out, and using an old cord to hang them up. She gave him a set of clothes to him though, telling him to use these and to clean up while she finished here. He just seemed keen on looking at anywhere but her as he quickly got behind the curtains.

"Do you need anything?" she asked as she set the clothes aside for him once they finished drying. "If not I'll be just outside."

"No, nothing, my friend," his voice a little high-pitched as she shrugged and left him to finish cleaning up.

She stepped back inside the room where Alisaie was already on the bed with the blanket pulled up over her head as she seemed to be very tense. That was when Claire looked up to see that their hooded savior had returned and had already claimed one of the beds for himself, and had changed out of the long robes into more reasonable travel clothes. He was all but collapsed on the bed, his snores already filling the room.

Claire couldn't help but smirk at that as she used a towel to dry her hair, already feeling oddly comfortable for a change. Her side was still sore from her injury the day before, but waited until she was sure that Alphinaud had come out before she was able to take her time to really clean up.

After telling the twins to keep an eye on things here, she went back inside and started up her own bath of steaming water. After wincing slightly, she was able to sink into the warm waters and let out a sigh of comfort as she began to examine her body. This was the first time she had been able to do so in weeks, and really took a look at the many scars that had been added. She could see the still healing, jagged scar in her side from Ran'jit, as well as several older burn scars from when the airship crashed back in Coerthas, and several clearer bite marks from recent feedings. At this point she was starting to feel that she was running out of room for any more signs of abuse on her skin.

She ignored the pain for the most part as she allowed herself to sink almost completely into the waters and soak there with only her head resting against the side of the tub.

She had completely lost track of the days that had gone by since they were first invited to come to the Crystarium by Louisoix, but she figured that they had to be running short on time. She reminded herself that they were at the very borders of Lakeland… they were almost there… they could wait a little while longer.

And then… and then what? What will happen to them all then?

She sighed as she suddenly sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees as the water soothed her aching muscles. What would she do if Louisoix asked her to leave Lakeland with the twins again? Go into hiding once more? While she would do it all in a heartbeat, she wasn't sure how she felt about it. As much as she cared for the twins, she couldn't help but feel a strange kind of awkwardness from them now. Though she wanted to ask, she didn't pressure them to tell her anything. She was feeling both close and distant from them at the same time and she didn't like it.

It seemed that she may not be the only one weary from their time on the road.

But what if they told her that they didn't need her anymore? Would they just cast her out with nowhere to go? Well, she was sure that she could make it all on her own if that were to happen… but she couldn't help but feel angry at that thought as well.

What did she want to happen?

But no sooner did she think that did the answer come to her right away. She wanted to see them cured… so that they don't have to hide out in the dark anymore. If she could see that, then she would know that these last five years had been worth it.

She smiled as she imagined the looks on their faces once they look up to the sky and see the clear blue sky and a glorious sun shining overhead.

In fact, she was so comfortable dreaming of this that she didn't realize she had started to doze off until she heard a knock at the door and snapped her out of it. She looked up as Alphinaud called out through the door, asking if she was alright.

"I'm fine," she called as she stood up, "Getting out now."

She managed to pull on a dry robe and she felt much better than that old nightshirt, even wondering where that came from as she came back into the room, running her hands through her short hair.

G'raha was still fast asleep as the twins were sitting at a small table just next to the large window as they whispered in hush voices.

"You both alright?" she asked and they jumped up, looking surprised to see her there but both instantly reassured her that all seemed to be fine and they were just going over more of what Alisaie learned from her time with the Four Lords.

Well, that was good.

But she was starting to feel a slight headache coming back to her and instead told them that she was going to rest up for a little bit, but if there was any trouble they should wake her up immediately. Both agreed and she crawled up into bed, falling asleep after feeling so warm… and blacked out instantly.

Claire's eyes opened some time in the middle of the night, wondering what it had been that jerked her awake. She tried to move but found that she couldn't until she looked down. It looked like the two of them decided to join her in bed after all, each one holding tightly onto her arms as they slept on.

She smiled at that as she maneuvered the blankets up carefully so that all three of them were cozy and she settled back down. While still tired and anxious, her eyes drifting over to the still slumbering Miqo'te, she felt that they were over the worst of it. Hopefully, soon, they would be able to be reunited with Louisoix and he could help them from here on out.

After taking one last look at the window where the storm still waged on outside, she felt truly at peace as she allowed herself to drift off. Hopefully they would be up and moving by the time the morning came.

*Morning*

It was early and the sky was still cloudy, however they seemed to be moving away from them and she suspected that they were in for a sunny day. She knew that while that was going to be difficult for them, she could handle it. They would just have to stay under the cover of the trees and just wait it out in the forests until nightfall.

That was when she realized that they didn't know where to meet Louisoix?

She asked for the letter that they tucked into one of the grimoires and looked over it. She frowned realizing that they were kinda at a lost here. She didn't know how big the city was, but this was to going to be difficult to try and get two young vampires around with so many people?

She thought it all over and decided that perhaps they wait it out until pitch dark out and she would enter the city, sell whatever items they could, and see if they could get an inn room there? She could leave them safe in the room as she looked about the city tomorrow…? Perhaps ask and see if any foreigners from Sharlayan arrived or are scheduled to arrive. She ran this with Alphinaud, who agreed that may be their best option.

So early that next morning, after they made sure to clean up their mess and pack in silence, she left a quick note for G'raha, thanking him for his help since he was still sleeping, and snuck out the window with the twins.

She managed to get a good look around Holminister Switch and even found a shop that was just opening. She left the twins in the alley to hide as she went in to sell anything that they didn't need anymore… not that it was much. The clothes that they had were all pretty worn at this point and only could get a few gil from them.

By the time that she left, she had only the axe she stole, her knife, the grimoires, some dried out fruit, and a few medical supplies left. She frowned at the sack of coin and the pitiful amount of gil that they had… barely enough for a night or two at an inn. Still, that should hopefully be enough for now.

"Anything good?" Alisaie asked when she left the shop and the two joined her as they headed down the road.

"Not much," she said, showing them. "We'll have to walk the rest of the way to the Crystarium and think of something there. If nothing else, I'll just say that I'll take an inn for myself and sneak you both in through the window or something. You two would just have to be quiet and no one will ever notice."

"So, how much farther is the city though?" Alisaie asked curiously as Alphinaud had to lower his hood a little, fighting a yawn, as he looked over the map.

"It's a fair distance away," he said, tracing the worn paper with a finger. If we stick to the road, it will lead us through the forest of the lost shepherd. It does also look like that there are ruins scattered about between here and the Crystarium so there shouldn't be too much difficulty in hiding out. We can hide out in there if it gets too hot, and then we can just find a way in through the city itself. Of course, I heard that there are guards at every entrance…? And they inspect any who comes here…?"

"We'll work our way around that," Claire said as she brushed her bangs out of her face. "Let us just focus on getting through the forest first."

So began another long walk. She let the twins run on a little bit ahead of her, warning them to keep an eye out for anyone. They chose to remain close to the road so that they know where to go, but not risk running into anyone on the road itself. She also kept a close eye out for any suitable hiding places. The sun was slowly coming up and peeking through the clouds—and both Alisaie and Alphinaud were growing more and more sluggish with every step.

When they made it more into a valley-like area; that was when she could see it in the distance… the tip of the Crystal Tower.

She pointed it out to them and she saw how their eyes lit up in joy at the sight of it, but Alphinaud almost ended up stumbling as he struggled to keep his eyes open. The clouds were quickly disappearing and she could see patches of blue sky waiting for them. She looked around, and she could see the crumbling ruins of an old church and helped them the rest of the way until they could stand on their own.

She looked around and could see that these old ruins were all but abandoned for decades if not for a solid hundred years. She didn't see any recent signs that anyone was here and the stone was looking fairly weathered and worn at this point, with bright lavender grasses growing up around her feet. No signs of anyone treading over it in a long time.

"This should do for now," she said as she looked around.

"There, that looks like it leads underground," Alphinaud pointed out in relief when she spotted the wind-swept steps that disappeared down below.

Not pretty, but it should get them out of the sun and she agreed to check it out. They cautiously made their way down the steps until they came to a worn door of moldy wood that almost fell apart as they stepped past it.

It was very dark and it took a couple minutes for her eyes to adjust as she looked around. She could see an old altar at one end and a few pews that looked as if no one sat in them for years. This place should do… she planned to leave at around dusk when most of the sun would disappear and had just felt her muscles relax slightly…?

That was when she heard a loving sigh.

Her entire insides froze at the sound.

She took a step forward, her ears straining for any sound made. She felt the twins moving in behind her but she held up a hand to stop them and they immediately halted.

As her eyes became more used to the dark she suddenly realized that there articles of clothing scattered about on the floor, leading up to the altar. That was when she heard more sounds that clearly suggested what was going on.

Suddenly, there were excited whispering to each other. The first one, a man's voice, whispered hoarsely, "Now, I am quite sure I have never heard you make that sound before!"

A second voice, a woman's this time, just let out a soft moan until she was out of breath and answered back, "If you would stop teasing…?"

Feeling her face growing red, Claire looked to the altar where she could see a tangle of limbs just barely poking out from behind it as more sounds clearly spoke out what was going on. It seemed that the two of them were so lost with each other they didn't even realize that they walked into the room.

She silently urged the two behind her to move, not wishing to remain here… but that was when one of them accidently kicked into what looked like a spare, metal gauntlet… which raddled against the floor. Though it was only slight, the panting of the two lovebirds desperate moans suddenly stopped.

There was nothing but dead silence around all of them and she had to fight the urge to sigh in frustration.

"Who's there?" demanded the man's voice and suddenly she saw a figure stand up from behind the altar with a weapon in his hands.

She was on immediate alert and spun about with her axe, ready to strike… and she saw two figures moving in the darkness of the corners of the room. Both Alphinaud and Alisaie were up and she heard hisses coming from both of them as squinted her eyes in the dark to see the figures rise. The lovebirds were both tall and thin, giving them away as Elezens, but she was just trying to think of some kind of excuse until one of the figures clanked as they walked, revealing heavy armor.

She felt sick at the thought that she just led them into a dangerous place and was getting ready to tell the two behind her to leave before a small lantern was lit. It cast everything around them in a faint, golden glow, but enough for them to see by. She resisted the urge to blink from the light as she focused on their opponents… when her jaw dropped at the familiar figure.

"Estinien?" she said, slowly straightening as he stood before her with his lance.

There was no doubt… the man that she had met before was standing there before her. She couldn't believe it… the same slayer that she met moons before… all the way here in Lakeland? What in the world…?

That was when she got a good look at him. Thankfully everything from the waist down was still clothed, though it looked like someone was halfway to striping him down of even those. His chest was completely bare, however, and she could see the many scars that covered him, most likely from countless years of fighting as she could tell from the spider web of scars the covered his skin.

All but for some red marks on his neck that were clearly made in the last few minutes.

The man blinked in astonishment as he stared back.

"You," he said as he lowered his lance, but also looking like he was on the verge of skewering her anyway for catching them here like this.

That was when the second figure caught her eye. Claire looked behind him to see the second figure rise up, and seemed to have been the one who lit the lantern. She had long white hair that looked almost silver-blue in this feeble light as she had quickly grabbed a cloak and wrapped herself with it to cover herself up. At first, it looked like the pair were just caught in a place that they knew they shouldn't be but couldn't help themselves… but then Claire caught a closer look at the woman. Her pale skin, dark eyes… purely white teeth that shown in the dark…?

And when Claire's eyes went back to Estinien, she could suddenly make out the many bit marks that matched her own and she suddenly understood.

"A pink-haired caretaker for a pair of vampires…? Is this that slayer that gave you such a hard time?" she asked Estinien calmly as the two sized each other up.

Estinien just huffed.

"Yes, Lady Iceheart," he said as he eyes trailed over the twins, who were looking between them in confusion, and he smirked. "It would seem so."

(So I will be continuing to update and I finally have the entire thing all planned out and the exact amount of chapters. And before anyone asks, yes the twins are horny but they don't really realize what that means just yet. As for Claire? She is completely unaware of this since she is so used to seeing herself as their protector. But was getting a little tired waiting for some romance to come along so added a little here at the end. As for Estinien and Ysayle? Well, I just couldn't help it. I always thought that they would've made a cute couple and so here they are. Next chapter we will be properly introduced to Estinien and his friend. I felt that it was about time to meet a vampire with someone who was less a caretaker and more of their lover. So hope you all look forward to that.)