p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Chapter 7/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"1/span/span/span/spanspan style="color: #000000;"supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"st/span/span/span/sup/spanspan style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;" person/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Stahl, considered the hottest place on the planet, at least from the people that live there. At least it was the hottest place you could live in and not die of the heat... even though there were still cases of that. I could only imagine how the heat would affect the others./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"3/span/span/span/spanspan style="color: #000000;"supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"rd/span/span/span/sup/spanspan style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;" person/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit sighed, wiping the sweat off his forehead while he was eating a pear. He stared off into the distance, watching as they approached Stahl. He knew that it would get crazy hot there, and he had already witnessed others beginning to become affected by it./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"It's soooooo hoooooooot..." Vanessa complained, fanning her hand to her face while lying on the ground. "Don't you have some ice magic or something, Bereit?"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Nope. Fire and lightning is all I got." Bereit answered. Fallen snickered slightly behind him./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa groaned. "I'm gonna die..." She whined./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"We can get drinks when we arrive to Stahl." Bereit said, turning his head to her, hoping the idea of getting something to drink would get her to stop complaining./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"If this is the hottest place you can live in... what could they have to drink? Lava?" She asked, not having high expectations./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Ice cold water, if that's enough." Bereit answered./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Stop..." She begged. "You're gonna make me even more thirsty." Vanessa said, in a raspy tone./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"If you want, I could spit in your mouth." Bereit said sarcastically./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Screw you." Vanessa said, wiping more sweat from her forehead./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa would then see a small container in the corner of her eye, looking up to see Fallen holding it. "Here. There is some left." She offered graciously, a small, yet polite smile on her lips./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"You sure?" Vanessa asked./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen nodded. "If I'm going to take Ifrit's trial, I must learn to take heat. Plus, I have Shiva's gift." She reminded the sweating girl, gesturing to the see-through cloak that hung loosely from her shoulders. "It keeps me cool, thanks to Shiva's blessing." Fallen explained in a matter-of-fact tone./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa ripped the water container from Fallen's hands and chugged the whole thing. Fallen was slightly surprised by her quick actions, but she still smiled. After Vanessa finished, she gasped for air, then sighing in relief. "You're a life saver..." She said, leaning her head back./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen smiled. "I always put other lives before mine."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Really? Even if you were dying of thirst?" Vanessa asked, sitting up./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Call it a... code I live by." Fallen said, then standing up, wiping her head of sweat. It seemed that even Shiva's gift wouldn't be able to keep her entirely cold./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"A code?" Bereit asked./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen remained silent, shyly looking away from Bereit, her cheeks slightly flushed; either from the heat, or embarrassment. Bereit got the feeling it was probably more than just a code. But he would keep to himself for the time being./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The ship landed, the group stepping off, to the metal floor that coated the city. The others wondered if the heat could get any worse... and yes, it could. Bereit knew this the hard way. They were all panting from the physical exhaustion the heat put on their bodies./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The heat is unbearable." Imbir commented in a soft groan, keeping a normal look, despite sweating a lot. "How does anybody live in it?"br /br /Bereit shrugged. "Well, we aren't exactly dressed for the occasion." Bereit pointed out./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"This coming from the guy who wears nothing but black." Vanessa remarked slyly./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"I'm just used to this kind of heat. At least close to it." Bereit said, although still finding the heat to be barely bearable./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The group then travelled through the city, to get a lead as to where Ifrit's shrine was located. After some searching, coming across a bulletin board, they found there was a request from the Elder of the Shrine. Something about, "Threats to the shrine." Bereit sighed, thinking that it never was that easy. "Great... more trouble." Bereit mumbled to himself./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The location of Shrine was outside of town, in the direction of a volcano, one of the large landmarks of Stahl. While the location of the Shrine was a great risk for public knowledge, according to the Elder, praying to Ifrit everyday keeps the volcano from erupting. Not that the city folk knew this./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"On the way to the Shrine, they would see what the wildlands were like. And what they found were vast sandy dunes, not helping with the temperature of the place, and only adding to the scorching heats. They came across monsters they have never seen before, except for Bereit, because he's been here before. The monsters they've encountered all seemed to be based off fire, or sand related. And since it was Stahl, it made sense./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"There was a chameleon like enemy that ran on four legs and shot fire from it's mouth. It's skin was a deep red, and it's eyes always locked on who or what it looked at./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"A big yet slow, horned monster that looked something like a yak, having a lot of wooly fur. However the horns were on top of the head and were aimed forward./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"And a one that they couldn't really get a read on what it was. It was some sort of collection of red hot rocks that float around, and used fire magic. When struck with any sort of magic, it seemed to only get stronger, but when struck by weapons, it would immediately shatter./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"With the trek and all the monsters they came across handled, they arrived to the Shrine, where everyone was sweating from the heat that was getting even worse as they drew closer to the volcano. /span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The inside was just about the same as the rest, except it was clear that this was Ifrit's Shrine, from the symbols on the outside of the Shrine. They walked in, then being treated to a cool air that gently made its round within the inside of the Shrine. At least compared to the outside. Vanessa sat down immediately, then lying down on the seats, exhausted out of her mind. Fallen found herself almost immediately compelled towards the door that undoubtedly lead to the inner chambers of Ifrit's Shrine. Shiva's gift vanished in a small shower of sparkles once Fallen had gotten close enough to the door. It was as if Shiva herself was willingly allowing the young Summoner to meet the new Deity./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Welcome to the Shrine of Ifrit." The Elder said, having shaved head and being a tall yet slender man. He then saw Fallen, taking quick notice of her outfit and the rod she carried with her. "A Summoner? I see. You're here for your Pilgrimage then, correct?"br /br /Fallen nodded. "Yes." She answered simply, unable to take her eyes off the door./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"I'm sorry, but the Shrine is not ready at the moment." The Elder informed./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen furrowed her brows and turned away from the door, now facing the Elder and the rest of their entourage. "Not ready? No, you must be mistaken, kind Elder. That shouldn't be possible. Shrines just can't be not read-.." /span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Threats from people, right?" Bereit asked, cutting into the conversation before Fallen had the chance to finish./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Well, those 'people' is a person. Just one. The 'Assassin' type." The Elder explained./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Sounds like some sort of setup." Imbir proposed, finding this suspicious./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"He... did mention a 'Bereit.'" The Elder explained. "Is that any of you?"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit had a surprised look on his on his face, thinking that an Assassin was after him. But for what? He looked down for a second, then back up to The Elder. He knew this would be dangerous, but it was either that, or he risks the lives of everybody here. "That'd be me he wants." Bereit said, telling the his name./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen scoffed quietly under her breath, shaking her head slightly with disapprovement./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit, not to steal your thunder, but I don't see you beating an Assassin anytime soon." Vanessa said. "Let's just get this trial done and get out of here before he gets here."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit crossed his arms, thinking about it. It would be risky, but he did think that dealing with this Assassin would also save the Elder, since he was a witness of this Assassin person. And witnesses never see their killer twice. He looked up, and turned his head to Fallen, who was still watching him with her brows furrowed. He could tell that she wasn't very fond of the situation they were being placed in./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Have Imbir stay by his side. ====/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Have Vanessa stay by his side./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa, go with Fallen to Ifrit's trial. Imbir, you'll stay with me for when the Assassin shows up." Bereit said./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"No." Fallen spoke up. "She isn't my Guardian. Only Guardians can come with me to the trials. Bereit, it must be you." She insisted./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Right..." Bereit said, crossing his arms and pursing his lips into a thin line./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Alright, I'll be your Guardian." Vanessa said, out of the blue./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen and Bereit's heads both shot up almost immediately, staring at her with wide eyes. They were both incredibly surprised by what she said. "A-Are you sure?" Fallen asked. "It's quite the decision you're making. This means you must stay with me until my Pilgrimage is over. Until death does us part. Just like Bereit." Fallen explained, grabbing ahold of Bereit's free hand while still keeping eye contact with Vanessa./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"I thought that was the whole point I was with you guys." Vanessa said. "Plus, with that whole ordeal of those anomalies around the world, I'm in this with you guys 'till the end." She added, walking up to Fallen. "I'll be your Guardian. And I'll stay by your side until we watch you become a Grandmaster Summoner." She preferred to look at it that way, rather than how Fallen put it. 'Death do us apart.'/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen was astonished by Vanessa's sudden proposal to become her second official Guardian. It was encouraging for her to have another, as she knew it would mean that she would be respected even moreso and looked up upon. Most Summoners had the chance for two Guardians. It made her feel like she really was growing as a Summoner. She nodded, and did the same as she did with Bereit, the symbol coming out of her staff, and going into Vanessa's chest./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"From this point forward, you and Bereit are now my Guardians. You are to accompany me into any trials we come across. Although it is not necessary for all of my Guardians to be present with me throughout each trial, it is highly suggested. But... If you must pursue this Assassin, Bereit, I will not stop you." Fallen explained to her Guardians./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit smiled, seeing that she was letting him handle this assassin. It was dangerous, but somebody had to do it./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa smiled. "Alright." She said, cheerfully. She looked at the boys. "You two be careful. We'll finish this trial as soon as we can."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit nodded and waved at the two. He then sat down on a bench, waiting for this Assassin, as did Imbir./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Fallen and Vanessa went to the stairs that lead down to the door Fallen had been drawn to upon their arrival, that continued down the Shrine, eventually leading to the trial of Ifrit./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit and Imbir waited for the Assassin to show up, but Bereit knew how they worked, as did Imbir. An upfront attack wasn't their style. Bereit looked at the door, having a suspicious look. He stood up and walked to the door, about to open it. "What are you doing?" Imbir asked./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"He's here." Bereit said, as he then opened the door./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"All Imbir saw was a fiery blast, Imbir and Bereit being blown back, as did the Elder. Bereit's back hit against a statue of Ifrit, falling to ground. Imbir wasn't affected as much by the explosion, so he quickly hid behind a statue, to see what was happening./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Coming from the smoke of the explosion, a man came out, in a slim suit of armour that had scars and scratches all over in a plain grey colour, with a mask that covered his whole face, and showed both eyes, but the other one being black for some reason. His hand was coated in fire, so it seemed he used magic. It was the Assassin./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit tried to get up, his spine in absolute shock, barely able to get up. He kept pushing himself up, using his arms, but he just couldn't get up./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"And to think she sent me to kill a kid." The Assassin said, in his muffled voice from the mask./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit looked up at him, seeing his single eye starring down at him./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The Assassin aimed his index finger to his forehead, lightning charging at the tip. "The Ehre family sends sends their regards." He then turned immediately, to block Imbir's machete with his arm, with his armour. He then slid a dagger out and slashed at Imbir, Imbir jumping back and standing in a fighting stance, trying to buy Bereit time to get up./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir brought his arm up and swung down, the Assassin parrying his swing and coming to him to stab him in the chest. Imbir grabbed his hand and punched him right to the mask, and kicked him away./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir kept fighting with the Assassin, Bereit trying to get back up. Bereit got a look at the fight, seeing Imbir was holding well by himself. But he had to help him. He finally did get up, grabbing his sword off the ground and ran at the Assassin, who jumped back from Bereit and Imbir, then looking at the two./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Why am I wanted dead!?" Bereit shouted./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Classified." The Assassin said simply. "It won't matter anyway, once I'm done with you."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Continue to question./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Taunt. ====/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Oh yeah? Let's see what you got." Bereit said, ready to fight./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir looked at Bereit from the corner of his eye, thinking his taunt wasn't needed./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Let's hope you aren't all talk then." The Assassin said, readying himself./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit swung his sword, the Assassin dodging to the side and slashing his knife to him, Bereit dodging that and going to kick his leg./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The Assassin jumped back, and blocked a swing from Imbir, Imbir drawing his gun and aiming to the head, having his gun knocked out of his hand./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit went for a direct kick to the face of the Assassin, who was knocked back to the door. Bereit then shot a lightning bolt, knocking him further back, out the door. Bereit ran outside to find the Assassin on the ground. Bereit jumped and came down to bring his sword through him. The Assassin charged fire around his boots and brought his legs back, and lunged both his feet directly to Bereit's chest, leaving Bereit on the ground, winded./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit hit the sand and gasped for air, that kick really taking a lot out of him, and feeling burns on his chest. Bereit got back up immediately, standing on his own feet and his sword in hand./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The Assassin's hands were coated in fire, his boots no longer on fire, as he went to attack. The Assassin swung his dagger to go for Bereit's neck, but Bereit ducked and caught his arm with his right arm, his sword arm occupied. Bereit then coated his hand in lightning, and punched the right side of his waist, with a knee right to the waist./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The Assassin pushed him away, Bereit seeing lightning charged on his arm instead of fire. Bereit charged lighting as well, as they both shot lightning at each other, their lightning bolts clashing. They were both blinded for a moment, and then looked at each other./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that." The Assassin complimented, though more of a taunt./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit looked at him, not replying./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit! Duck!" Imbir shouted, Bereit crouching./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The Assassin saw Imbir, and saw the gun he held. Imbir fired a shot, the Assassin dodging it, the bullet barely grazing his armour, but breaking a chunk of his shoulder armour off. The Assassin then threw a fireball at Imbir, Imbir dodging it and running to him, with his machete in hand, Imbir loading a flash bullet./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir swung his machete at the Assassin, him blocking each swing, then the Assassin landing two punches to the gut and kicking him back, knocking him down. The Assassin then aimed his index finger to him with the lightning around it. Imbir shot the ground, the Assassin, looking at it, and got blinded by the bright flash./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;" span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit came in, coating his serrated sword in lightning, and made a diagonal slash right across his chest, cutting right through the armour, leaving a long and deep cut, the Assassin making a pained, muffled grunt. Bereit then charged lightning around his hand, and punched him right in the face, cracking the mask in half, and knocking the Assassin on the ground, Bereit feeling the steel collide with his knuckles./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The Assassin was sent flying back, and slammed his back right on the ground. He recovered his stance, holding his mask together. He looked at Bereit and Imbir, realizing, he was outnumbered. No, outmatched. "Looks like I finally found my match." The Assassin commented. "We'll meet again, Bereit, but next time, it'll be one on one." He stood up and whistled, a Chocobo in full armour coming to him, and getting on./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir wasn't letting him get away. He loaded a normal bullet and aimed. He fired a shot, the Assassin jerking his back, avoiding the shot. He kicked the sides of his Chocobo, running off./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit watched as the Assassin grew distant. He kept his eyes on him for as long as he could, until he disappeared. He thought finishing him off would be a good idea, but he figured he couldn't do it in time. Plus, he didn't want to hurt the Chocobo. A small sacrifice to kill an Assassin, but but Bereit just couldn't do it. He wouldn't handle the guilt very well./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir holstered his gun, sighing. "An Assassin. And of all people, going after you?"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"I think it has to do with that purple haired woman I nearly... you know." Bereit said. "Back at Mt. Koloss, the cave." He added./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir thought about it. "Hmm, if she was able to afford the Shard of Alexander, she could be able to afford a bounty." Imbir said, thinking it made sense. "And if you have a bounty that's worth an Assassin's attention... we should be more careful with where we go next. For all we know we'll have an army after us."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit felt nervous at the thought of that. This simple Pilgrimage would be a fight for survival if that was the case. "And all she wanted was a Pilgrimage."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Army or not, the Pilgrimage would have been dangerous. She wouldn't be the first to die on one. And she probably would be if it weren't for you." Imbir pointed out. "Just take my advice. We should be careful with what we do and where we go next."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit nodded. "Yeah." He simply said. Although it really did leave him with a lot of thoughts. If that name the Assassin mentioned was the lady that he attacked at Mt. Koloss, that would mean he's in a lot of trouble if he pissed somebody like her off. He could only imagine what was coming next./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa came out the door, looking at the two, seeing her and Fallen was done with the trial. "Are you two alright!?" She asked in a worried tone, knowing the Assassin had come./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Be cocky./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Be real. ====/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"He was a challenge, I'll give him that." Bereit said. "But we beat him, so he won't be bothering the Shrine for a while."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Umm, you fought a trained killer, Bereit. Don't give me any of that cocky crap." Vanessa said, taking it as if he was being cocky./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir saw that she came back alone. "Where's Fallen?"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"She's inside. The Elder's watching her." Vanessa answered./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"She went unconscious again?" Bereit asked, thinking that's what happened./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Again?" Vanessa asked, not knowing that it has happened before. "Well, to answer your question, yes." Vanessa answered again./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit sighed, though knowing that Fallen couldn't help it. He remembered one of their past conversations where she had told him that if he had ever attempted a trial, he would die rather than fall unconscious. "We're gonna be here a while." He said, walking back to the Shrine. He walked through the broken doors, to find the Elder was disappearing with Fallen in his hands. "Hey!" He shouted, as the Elder vanished immediately, giving him no time to even catch him. "Dammit!"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The other two ran in, to find what happened. "Wait, the Elder took Fallen? That doesn't make sense." Vanessa said./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir looked at the rooms that they hadn't been in yet. He walked to the door to the left, and opened it, to find a dead body. "I think I found our answer." Imbir said, motioning his hand to the two. They walked to his side, to find the body he discovered. The body had a pool of blood around him, with his white and purple robes stained with blood, and a cut to the fabric right where the chest is. "I think this is the previous Elder, or the real one, until the impostor killed him." Imbir theorized./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Poor guy..." Bereit said, then hearing a shuddering breathing, looking to the closet, hearing it was coming from there. He carefully walked over the body, to stand in front of the closet, and opened it, to find a boy, that looked slightly older than Bereit, his aquamarine eyes gazing at them in fear, his white short hair being revealed as well./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Please! Don't hurt me! I'll do anything!" The boy said, in his scared tone./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Threaten to calm down./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Calm him quietly. ====/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"It's okay, we won't hurt you." Bereit said, trying to go for the quiet approach. "The Assassin and the Imposter is gone. You have nothing to be scared of."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"The looked at him with fear in his eyes, not really believing him. He then looked past Bereit, to see the real Elder's body. He stood up and walked out, showing his attire, a white robe that hugged his body. He then kneeled to the body, and slid his fingers onto his eyes, closing them. He closed his eyes too and put his hand to The Elder's chest. "Rest in peace, Elder Einfach, let Ifrit's flames warm you in the afterlife." He said, his hand on his chest. "Oh, apologizes, my name is Zelkova, priest of Magistrate."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit crossed his arms. "I only wished we could have met in... a better situation." He said, looking at the Elder. It really was a shame that life was lost, because of Bereit. It just came to him now. "Listen, you need to find another place to live. This Shrine is as good as done." He said, cutting to the chase of this guy's situation./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"I do have an idea of where I could go next. However..." He paused for a moment. "I want to avenge the Elder. I want to find that Assassin and kill him. It may be wrong for me to kill, but he killed an innocent man!"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Well, you're on your own on that one. He's long gone." Vanessa informed./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Actually." Bereit turned to Vanessa. "That Assassin might know where they took Fallen." Bereit said. "He could be working with the Impostor, so he could lead us to where he might be."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Zelkova looked at the two and stood up. "Could I come with you three!?" He asked. "I may not be very useful in terms of combat, but any wound or illness you develop, and I can cure it." Zelkova said, showing what he was, a Healer./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Can you cure sunburns?" Vanessa asked, not expecting him to waste his talents on it./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"He nodded. "Of course." Zelkova joked, placing a hand behind her neck. A gentle white light glowed on her skin, the sun burn disappearing./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa felt her neck, smiling. "Thanks. I didn't really think you'd do it."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"I'm a Healer, it is my job." Zelkova pointed out./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa gently laughed, looking up to Zelkova, seeing he was taller than her. "Anyway." She said, turning to Bereit. "How are we gonna find this guy? He ran off."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"We're in a desert, Vanessa. You only the wind and time covers your tracks." Bereit explained./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Vanessa gave a confused look, not knowing what he meant. /span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"He rode off on a Chocobo, Vanessa. He most likely left tracks on the sands." Imbir explained more clearly./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Oh! I get it. Okay, so let's head out and follow them." Vanessa said, hoping a bit, happy that they at least have a lead./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit then looked at Zelkova, Bereit making sure to hide his burns on his chest, not wanting to waste time. "Listen, we've got quite the road ahead of us. A long one. I just hope you know that."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Zelkova nodded. "Yes, I understand. I'll go as far as I need."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"But that leaves us with one question. What do they want with Fallen?" Imbir pointed out./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Beats me, but we just have to find that Assassin and find out where he took her. Then we'll focus on the why." Bereit said. "You guys ready?"/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Imbir nodded, as did Vanessa. "I'm her Guardian now. It's my duty." She reminded him./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"You have my word. I'll heal you if need be." Zelkova said, as he put his hand to his chest./span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Bereit smiled. "Awesome. Alright, let's head out. We've got a Summoner to save."/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Save your game up to this point?/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"Yes/span/span/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"span style="font-weight: normal;"No/span/span/span/span/p