p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 17/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Wuste was only a few kilometres away, the party making their way over the ocean. They flew over the ocean side of Wuste, now entering the large deserts. Though for the short amount of time they were there, something waited for them. Somewhere in Wuste./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Bereit)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The distance creatures in the large deserts were all running around, as the birds were flying around. Bereit was glad to see that. At least none were infected with that strange virus. Though, he bet it would eventually come to this place, but it made him wonder. Could the virus spread to more than just animals? Could it infect humans too? He had a worried expression, looking down for a moment. "We should warn people about this thing." He whispered to himself./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yo, Bereit." Cid called out to him./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit turned his head to Cid, and started walking to the cockpit, standing next to the two pilot seats. "What's up?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cid then pointed in front of him, Bereit seeing a fortress, with high walls, and soldiers at their posts. While it was a fortress, it wasn't a big one. Fairly small, for that matter. "What the hell is that?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"From the flag, I think it's the P.I.I company." Cid answered. "People who handle anything Paranormal or out of this world."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit raised an eyebrow, turning his head to him. "Pie?" He asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No. P. I. I." Cid answered. "And with those anomalies appearing, my guess it isn't a coincidence they're suddenly showing up now, of all times."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit took a good look at the fortress, actually intrigued to meet these people. "You'd think they'd appreciate what info we have of it?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cid paused for a moment, thinking about the idea of them doing so. "They would probably appreciate the gesture. And getting them on our side would definitely help. Let's just hope that they don't try anything funny."br /br /"Like?" Bereit asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Taking Fallen's summons and try to weaponize them." He gave as an example./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit's heart sank a bit when he heard that. "You think they would actually do that?" He asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If it keeps anything 'paranormal' under their control or takes down anything they can't have, they'll gladly do it by any means. Though, I never met them, so I can't really say for sure." Cid explained. "The Ehre family doesn't exactly help me trust companies."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Maybe they're more honest." Bereit suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Anyone is more honest than the Ehre family." Cid said, eyeing the fortress for a moment. "I agree. Let's pay those guys a visit. Let's hope they take visitors."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And if they don't?" Bereit asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We promise them flowers and a box of chocolates." The co-pilot answered sarcastically./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, sure." Cid scoffed./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit laughed, actually finding it funny. "I just might."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cid rolled his eyes. "Just go and wake everyone up. We'll be landing shortly."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit nodded, pushing himself off the seats and turned around. Though, he thought he saw someone run off at the last second, but he didn't hear any footsteps afterwards. Maybe he was just a bit sleep deprived. Hell, he WAS sleep deprived. At least just for this day. But he sure hoped he could get more sleep in the on-coming days./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He searched the airship, first finding Scharf leaning on the wall, just outside the cockpit. "Couldn't get your beauty sleep?" He asked Bereit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shrugged a little. "I got a bit, but some thoughts caught up with me." Bereit answered./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thoughts, huh? You've got demons you can't drown?" Scharf asked, standing properly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You could say that. ====/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As if you care./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's a funny way of putting it." Bereit answered, as he sat on one of the benches./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I get it, it's too personal. Something you want to forget." Scharf said, showing he understood what Bereit was saying./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It's not that it's too personal to talk about... it's too secretive." Bereit added. "And the fact I can't tell anyone is driving me nuts."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It's about that Lord power of yours, isn't it?" Scharf said, Bereit looking at him, with a shocked expression. "So what if you tell your friends? As if they'll tell everyone in the world who you really are."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"How do you know that about me? Who have you been talking to?" Bereit asked, looking around nervously./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Ehre family had their eye on you for a long time. And frankly, they aren't all that good at keeping secrets." Scharf explained. "Remember when you were taken to that prison? That was their main reason. Just so you could power their machines. To mine out all that Mythril."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What the hell would they need that for? Don't they have enough firepower as it is?" Bereit asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They're mostly in it for the rep they'll get out of it. Mythril is valuable. Though, there is talk about Mythril having..." He paused for a moment, trying to find the word. "A power to it. Something that can ward off... well, something evil. I remember reading up on it before but I can't remember the specifics."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, it's better than nothing." Bereit said, leaning on his hand. "Maybe sometime, we could get our hands on some."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Definitely." Scharf said, as he then yawned. "The other bozos are in the room to the right. Let them know what we're up to."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit raised an eyebrow. "How do you know what we're doing?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, there isn't a whole lot to do in here." Scharf answered./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, I guess not." Bereit agreed. Though, it made him think about what he said. Maybe he would have to keep his voice down, if he doesn't want to anyone to hear anything... well, personal./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He walked to the other room that Scharf told him to where the others were, him opening it, seeing Imbir, Vanessa and Zelkova all together. Vanessa was still sleeping, Zelkova looked like he just woke up, and Imbir looked tired, but hid it pretty well. "I take you barely got any sleep either?" Imbir asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shook his head. "Not much. But I've done sleepless nights before, so I'm not really affected." Even though he could definitely feel it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Tell that to Vanessa. Despite the battle we just had, and with the fact that we up since 2am, she's out like a light." Imbir said, laughing a bit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lucky." Bereit said, looking at her./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I don't mean to sound rude, but I'd imagine it's her simple mindedness is what helps her." Zelkova spoke up. "Sadly, it can be a double edged sword."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Frankly, I'm not the brightest either, but I'd imagine she has her smarts in certain areas, you know?" Bereit said, looking at them./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We all have our strengths." Imbir said. "Though, before she wakes up, let's change the subject so she isn't creeped out. What's the plan?" Imbir asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit shrugged off the strange change in subject. "So there's these guys called the 'P.I.I,' or something like that might be able to help us with this whole anomaly ordeal." He answered. "Though, it'll probably take some convincing to get inside."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Very much, yeah." Imbir agreed. "Got any ideas?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Info. About the anomalies. Maybe they can give us some too. And hopefully, work together." Bereit explained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Let's just hope they choose to co-operate with us to the very end." Imbir said, looking at his nails./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Let me guess, trust issues?" Bereit asked, guessing that's what he meant./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Very much so. I've had some bad deals in the past. People like them." Imbir explained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Maybe they're different." Bereit suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Here's to hoping." Imbir simply said./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit sighed. He really did hope they would help, and not exploit them. "We're gonna be landing soon, so pack up."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone nodded, except for Vanessa, since she was still asleep./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit closed the door behind him, as he then turned to go back to the cockpit, but he realized he forgot to speak to Fallen. He figured she'd be at the cargo room, since that place was quiet. He went down the ladder, as he saw Fallen was there, but she was asleep, but on the cold, steel floor. He couldn't help but laugh, finding it funny that of all places, she was sleeping there. He approached her, kneeling down to her, and gently shook her. "Yo, Fallen. It's time to get up."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen slowly opened her eyes, holding Bereit's wrist for a moment. But Bereit immediately moved his hand, wincing from the seering cold pain he felt from Fallen's fingers. He looked at his wrist, seeing the parts she touched immediately freezing, turning a deep red./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen looked at what she did, rubbing her eyes. "Oh... sorry." She said, in a tired tone of voice. "I didn't realize I could do that..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You can use ice magic?" He asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I guess... or maybe I was holding..." She yawned again, looking at her ice glaive staff. "This for too long..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at her fingers, seeing they were freezing to the touch. "And your fingers don't hurt?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen shook her head, as she then turned to look at him, moving her messed hair to the side, showing the same thing happened to her cheek. "Now that I think about it, I don't feel them at all..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Help warm her up ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Leave her alone/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"As much as this made him uncomfortable, Bereit figured he could help her feel her fingers again. "Here, let me help." He said, as he gently held them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen closed her eyes, still sitting up. "Thanks..." She said, in her still tired tone of voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit blushed a bit, as he then held her fingers, and made small fires around his hand, to start warming her hands up. He made the little fires fly towards her fingers, as they circled around each finger, watching as her fingers regained their normal colour, along with the ice melting away, the water dripping off the bottom of her finger./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'm surprised you were able to get any sleep." Bereit said, looking at her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen was asleep, her head hanging low, and her mouth open./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit snapped his finger near her, Fallen jumping in surprise. "Oh, Bereit. How..." She yawned again. "How long... how long have we been here?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit figured she was way more tired than he figured. Or maybe she didn't get any sleep at all. "Did you get any sleep at all?" He asked her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen blinked slowly, shaking her head. "No... but Shiva tried to help with it... but it just... it didn't." She answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, I've got some bad news. We're heading out to check on some people. A company or something like that." Bereit explained. "They could help us with the anomalies." He added./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen nodded, yawning again. "Okay..." She simply said, as she closed her eyes again. "Let me know when we land."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We're gonna be landing soon, so you might as well splash some cold water on your face to wake yourself up." Bereit suggested, as he stood up./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen looked at him, her eyes barely opened. "Can you bring some water to me please?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fine./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You've got legs. Use them. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen sighed, as she tiredly sat up. "Fiiiiine..." She said, as she sluggishly walked towards the ladder, tiredly pulling herself up them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit rolled his eyes, as he climbed up the ladder, going to the cockpit, to find everyone is there. He looked out the airship windshield, seeing that they were already landing. "So, we're meeting some paranormal guys or something?" Vanessa asked, rubbing her eyes with her palm. "Can I just sleep this one out?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sorry, Vanessa, but we're all going there." Bereit answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa groaned. "Fine... maybe the blazing heat will... wait, no it won't."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Quit your whining. Maybe with the help of P.I.I we'll close these anomalies faster." Cid said, turning to them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If they know how to close them in the first place." Imbir pointed out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They're the only allies we have at this point. Beggars can't be choosers." Cid pointed out as well./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Then let's stop wasting time and head out." Bereit said, as he walked towards the door that had the ladder they could use to drop down./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Someone's in a hurry." Scharf said, walking with him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit curious of what those guys might know." Bereit admitted, making Scharf laugh./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I hear ya." Scharf added, as he went down the ladder with him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Cid laughed a bit. "And they were at each others throats yesterday."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Let's hope they actually get along at some point." Zelkova said. "We could definitely use it." He then stepped forward, to follow the others./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"After a few minutes, the airship landed on the sandy land. Imbir went to the ladder, as did Vanessa, and Fallen came afterwards, looking a little more awake than usual, but still having that tired look on her face. She climbed down the ladder, seeing everyone together, standing on the burning sands of Wuste. "Morning everybody..." She said, rubbing her eyes./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A little late for that, don't you think?" Scharf said, looking at her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen blushed, yawning. "Sorry... I'm just really sleepy."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Aren't we all?" Vanessa said, laughing a bit./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A nice stroll will wake you all up." Scharf said, as he started walking, as everyone followed./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A stroll through a desert." Vanessa pointed out. "It's just gonna make me even more tired."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, get used to it. Because with what heat we might have in Holhen, we're gonna be here for a long time." Scharf explained. "Unless you want to challenge it."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa sighed. "Alright, alright. You've made your point."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And with that, the group made their way to the distant fortress. It was a fair way to it, being around four hills of sand, so it was hidden, at least from their direction. On their way to it, they came across the same monsters they had before, the strange floating rocks, the large vultures, and all of those other ones. But of course, they were not even a struggle to battle. Unless you were Vanessa, who barely even lifted an arm, she was so tired./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They only had a handful of encounters, until they reached one of the hilltops of sand, seeing the fortress of the P.I.I, seeing their waving black flag, with their symbol of a grid, with dots around the bottom right and middle top of the grid./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit whistled. "Wow. The base is way better up close." Bereit said, as he made his way down the hill, stopping from a hand grabbing him. He turned back, to see Fallen stopped him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I don't think it's a good idea to go in there unannounced. Maybe we should call out for them before we approach?" Fallen suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I mean, they're gonna draw their weapons anyway when we approach. As long as we keep our cool, we'll be okay." Bereit said, with a smile./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen was a bit against the idea of just approaching like that, but she didn't have a lot of social experience or any sort of situation handling. She thought about it for a moment, thinking it perhaps was best to leave it to them. "Okay. But, promise me you won't do anything rash?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen, do I look stupid to you?" Bereit asked, in a tone showing he knew what he was getting into. /span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well-" Scharf spoke up, immediately seeing Bereit glare at him, Scharf had a big mocking grin on his face./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit then walked to where he could see the entrance of the fortress, seeing three people positioned there, all three wearing metal padded clothing. They all looked at the party that approached them, having their hands close to their weapons./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Hey, this place isn't for civilians. Beat it." The brown haired one spoke./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We have information on the anomalies. Those huge crack things that have been appearing as of late." Bereit explained. "We've been closing them for a while now. I think we can... work together to get rid of these things."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The three of them looked at each other, wondering what to do. One of them pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Hey, boss? We've got a suspicious group here. They claim to know things about the anomalies." There was a moment of silence, then chatter came from the device. "Alright. You're the boss." He put it away, looking at them. "Come on in. The boss'll be waiting for you inside."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit watched as the door opened automatically, smiling a bit as he walked inside. He was so excited to see what was inside. And what was inside, was all sorts of wonders that surrounded the party./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Technology, wires, rods, all sorts of contraptions surrounded them. While it was only about 7 of them out where they were, Bereit bet there were more on the inside of this fortress./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"In front of them opened an elevator, a young man walking out, looking about seventeen years old. He wore the same black patted clothing, though the clothing was different. He wore cargo pants, a bit torn, and had a long-sleeve shirt, with a best over it. His blue eyes gazed at the party, raising an eyebrow. "So you're merry band of misfits that'll save the world, huh?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Boast ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Be sarcastic/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Agree/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Be modest/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The only ones that can." Bereit boasted, with a cocky grin./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen looked at Bereit with a disapproving stare. She didn't like the idea of boasting for it, but she figured he was only joking around. He was the kind to do that./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf and Vanessa laughed and Zelkova and Imbir having no response./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, experience taught me that people who boast their titles don't live up to it for long. But, we're desperate so we'll even take someone like you." The young man said, crossing his arms./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit huffed at his insult. "Lead the way, your excellency."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The young man huffed back, motioning his head to tell the others to follow him, leading to the elevator he took. Everyone walked in, the elevator then went down, as the young man pressed a button that had the number 4 on it, out of the ten buttons there were./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen leaned to Bereit. "Hey, when we meet whoever the boss is, we should be more formal. At least try to win his approval." She suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yeah, Bereit. I mean, with how these guys are, I bet they won't tolerate disrespect." Vanessa butted in./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit sighed. "Yeah, I guess you have a point. I'll try to be more 'formal.'"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen smiled. "Thank you, Bereit."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You know, for a Summoner, those are some short shorts." The young man commented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen turned at him, blushing, feeling nervous. "Could you not make comments like that?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I mean, aren't Summoners suppose to dress more... sophisticated? Like in those big baggy robes or some crap?" The young man asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I don't remember anyone asking you." Scharf spoke. "You leave her to her Summoning, and we'll leave the paranormal stuff to you guys."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright. Sorry for the comment." The young man said, though his tone wasn't very convincing./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The elevator then stopped in place, opening up to see there were people in all sorts of white coats, tubes, containers, and firearms, in all sorts of shapes and forms./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf whistled. "Colour me impressed. You guys have more guns than a military outpost."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The young man looked at him, with an unimpressed look. "We're not military."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf noted the strange response, as if he was offended by what he said./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"So... what are we looking at exactly?" Vanessa asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Weapons development. Anything that's a ghost or similar, we can kill it or contain it for further study." The young man answered, leaning over the railing of the metal platform they stood on. He then walked down a set of stairs, the others following./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"While they walked down, Imbir looked at his gun, thinking maybe he could use some upgrades. Perhaps he could have some attachments to handle anything paranormal. It only just hit him now that he wouldn't be prepared for anything of the sort./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Boss! We've got V. . People who claim to know something about the anomalies." The young man called out, to another man that turned to look at them, having a glowing green claw mark across his face, that seemed to have a burn effect./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone looked shocked from the mysterious scar on the man's face. It certainly was something nobody saw before./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well now. Why shouldn't I be surprised it's a bunch of kids and a baby-sitter?" He spoke, in his gritting voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Same could be said about your front gate security." Scharf responded./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They're recruits. But they act the part of a tough soldier. I'm sure you what I mean." He replied./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You need the real deal, not an act." Scharf said. "But we didn't come here for a scolding. We're here for co-operation."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'm aware." The boss said. "So tell me, what do you guys know about the anomalies?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf turned to Bereit, and motioned his hand to him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit stepped forward, going to do the talking. "You approach them, a sort of dragon appears out of them. What were they called again, Fallen?" He asked, turning to her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Erpels." Fallen answered. "A higher form of dragons."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And they come in all shapes and forms. Though, if we kill it, the crack it comes from closes. So the way I see it, those Erpels are the guardian of the portal thing. And if it's dead, then it closes it's self to prevent anything from getting in." Bereit theorized./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Interesting." The boss said. "And do you know where the portals take them?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"My guess, to whoever is making them in the first place. Though, we're gonna need a good idea of what's in there if we even think of jumping in those." Bereit answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And it has to be a big place if dragons are coming out of it." Vanessa added./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss paused for a moment, taking in all that they were saying. He turned around, remaining silent. "And here I thought we needed a miracle. Some chosen warrior or some bull." He said. He then turned to them. "For now, you all will stay. We've got food, drinks, and beds. Until we here that one of those anomalies appear, you're at home. We'll study these things while you guys handle the real trouble." The boss explained. "I hope we can strike a deal."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No need for a deal. We're here to get these things out of our world." Bereit said. "End of story."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss laughed a bit. "I like you... Bereit, right?" The Boss said, Bereit nodding. "You, and your band of misfits. I believe in ghosts, not prophecies. But I feel like we were meeting this very day, for a reason."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If I'm a prophecy, then by better have a temple somewhere in the world." Bereit joked. "But, to be real..." Bereit pointed his thumb to Fallen. "She's the star of the show here. Her summons and quick thinking got us through some tough situations."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen was a bit taken a back from the praise that Bereit gave her. She blushed a little. "Oh, you're just being modest. We all do our part."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Summoner, huh? There aren't many of you these days." The Boss said to Fallen./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well... it's a difficult thing to start. Even harder to finish..." Fallen explained. "And... well, it's thanks to Bereit I even got started."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Oh, you're just being modest." Bereit quoted her, to tease her. "But yeah, I did."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The Boss grinned a little, then looked at the others. "And I take you all have something to do with each other? Inspired one or the other?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir simply shrugged, not really thinking so. No one really inspired anything for him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa actually thought about it. "Well... wait, is this a rhetorical question?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I had inspiration from else where. Though, I'm sure they have yet to inspire something." Zelkova answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf simply didn't respond./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I can tell we're gonna get along just fine. Well, dismissed. Feel free to mingle while you're here." The boss said./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit turned to look at everybody, as he gave them all thumbs up./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Save your game up to this point?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yes/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Wuste was only a few kilometres away, the party making their way over the ocean. They flew over the ocean side of Wuste, now entering the large deserts. Though for the short amount of time they were there, something waited for them. Somewhere in Wuste./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/spansupspan style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/supspan style="font-size: medium;" person (Bereit)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The distance creatures in the large deserts were all running around, as the birds were flying around. Bereit was glad to see that. At least none were infected with that strange virus. Though, he bet it would eventually come to this place, but it made him wonder. Could the virus spread to more than just animals? Could it infect humans too? He had a worried expression, looking down for a moment. "We should warn people about this thing." He whispered to himself./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yo, Bereit." Cid called out to him./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit turned his head to Cid, and started walking to the cockpit, standing next to the two pilot seats. "What's up?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cid then pointed in front of him, Bereit seeing a fortress, with high walls, and soldiers at their posts. While it was a fortress, it wasn't a big one. Fairly small, for that matter. "What the hell is that?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"From the flag, I think it's the P.I.I company." Cid answered. "People who handle anything Paranormal or out of this world."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit raised an eyebrow, turning his head to him. "Pie?" He asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No. P. I. I." Cid answered. "And with those anomalies appearing, my guess it isn't a coincidence they're suddenly showing up now, of all times."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit took a good look at the fortress, actually intrigued to meet these people. "You'd think they'd appreciate what info we have of it?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cid paused for a moment, thinking about the idea of them doing so. "They would probably appreciate the gesture. And getting them on our side would definitely help. Let's just hope that they don't try anything funny."br /br /"Like?" Bereit asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Taking Fallen's summons and try to weaponize them." He gave as an example./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit's heart sank a bit when he heard that. "You think they would actually do that?" He asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If it keeps anything 'paranormal' under their control or takes down anything they can't have, they'll gladly do it by any means. Though, I never met them, so I can't really say for sure." Cid explained. "The Ehre family doesn't exactly help me trust companies."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Maybe they're more honest." Bereit suggested./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Anyone is more honest than the Ehre family." Cid said, eyeing the fortress for a moment. "I agree. Let's pay those guys a visit. Let's hope they take visitors."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And if they don't?" Bereit asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We promise them flowers and a box of chocolates." The co-pilot answered sarcastically./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, sure." Cid scoffed./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit laughed, actually finding it funny. "I just might."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cid rolled his eyes. "Just go and wake everyone up. We'll be landing shortly."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit nodded, pushing himself off the seats and turned around. Though, he thought he saw someone run off at the last second, but he didn't hear any footsteps afterwards. Maybe he was just a bit sleep deprived. Hell, he WAS sleep deprived. At least just for this day. But he sure hoped he could get more sleep in the on-coming days./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He searched the airship, first finding Scharf leaning on the wall, just outside the cockpit. "Couldn't get your beauty sleep?" He asked Bereit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shrugged a little. "I got a bit, but some thoughts caught up with me." Bereit answered./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thoughts, huh? You've got demons you can't drown?" Scharf asked, standing properly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You could say that. ====/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As if you care./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's a funny way of putting it." Bereit answered, as he sat on one of the benches./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I get it, it's too personal. Something you want to forget." Scharf said, showing he understood what Bereit was saying./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It's not that it's too personal to talk about... it's too secretive." Bereit added. "And the fact I can't tell anyone is driving me nuts."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It's about that Lord power of yours, isn't it?" Scharf said, Bereit looking at him, with a shocked expression. "So what if you tell your friends? As if they'll tell everyone in the world who you really are."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"How do you know that about me? Who have you been talking to?" Bereit asked, looking around nervously./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Ehre family had their eye on you for a long time. And frankly, they aren't all that good at keeping secrets." Scharf explained. "Remember when you were taken to that prison? That was their main reason. Just so you could power their machines. To mine out all that Mythril."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What the hell would they need that for? Don't they have enough firepower as it is?" Bereit asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They're mostly in it for the rep they'll get out of it. Mythril is valuable. Though, there is talk about Mythril having..." He paused for a moment, trying to find the word. "A power to it. Something that can ward off... well, something evil. I remember reading up on it before but I can't remember the specifics."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, it's better than nothing." Bereit said, leaning on his hand. "Maybe sometime, we could get our hands on some."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Definitely." Scharf said, as he then yawned. "The other bozos are in the room to the right. Let them know what we're up to."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit raised an eyebrow. "How do you know what we're doing?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Well, there isn't a whole lot to do in here." Scharf answered./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah, I guess not." Bereit agreed. Though, it made him think about what he said. Maybe he would have to keep his voice down, if he doesn't want to anyone to hear anything... well, personal./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"He walked to the other room that Scharf told him to where the others were, him opening it, seeing Imbir, Vanessa and Zelkova all together. Vanessa was still sleeping, Zelkova looked like he just woke up, and Imbir looked tired, but hid it pretty well. "I take you barely got any sleep either?" Imbir asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shook his head. "Not much. But I've done sleepless nights before, so I'm not really affected." Even though he could definitely feel it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Tell that to Vanessa. Despite the battle we just had, and with the fact that we up since 2am, she's out like a light." Imbir said, laughing a bit./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lucky." Bereit said, looking at her./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I don't mean to sound rude, but I'd imagine it's her simple mindedness is what helps her." Zelkova spoke up. "Sadly, it can be a double edged sword."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Frankly, I'm not the brightest either, but I'd imagine she has her smarts in certain areas, you know?" Bereit said, looking at them./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We all have our strengths." Imbir said. "Though, before she wakes up, let's change the subject so she isn't creeped out. What's the plan?" Imbir asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit shrugged off the strange change in subject. "So there's these guys called the 'P.I.I,' or something like that might be able to help us with this whole anomaly ordeal." He answered. "Though, it'll probably take some convincing to get inside."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Very much, yeah." Imbir agreed. "Got any ideas?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Info. About the anomalies. Maybe they can give us some too. And hopefully, work together." Bereit explained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Let's just hope they choose to co-operate with us to the very end." Imbir said, looking at his nails./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Let me guess, trust issues?" Bereit asked, guessing that's what he meant./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Very much so. I've had some bad deals in the past. People like them." Imbir explained./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Maybe they're different." Bereit suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Here's to hoping." Imbir simply said./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit sighed. He really did hope they would help, and not exploit them. "We're gonna be landing soon, so pack up."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone nodded, except for Vanessa, since she was still asleep./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit closed the door behind him, as he then turned to go back to the cockpit, but he realized he forgot to speak to Fallen. He figured she'd be at the cargo room, since that place was quiet. He went down the ladder, as he saw Fallen was there, but she was asleep, but on the cold, steel floor. He couldn't help but laugh, finding it funny that of all places, she was sleeping there. He approached her, kneeling down to her, and gently shook her. "Yo, Fallen. It's time to get up."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen slowly opened her eyes, holding Bereit's wrist for a moment. But Bereit immediately moved his hand, wincing from the seering cold pain he felt from Fallen's fingers. He looked at his wrist, seeing the parts she touched immediately freezing, turning a deep red./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen looked at what she did, rubbing her eyes. "Oh... sorry." She said, in a tired tone of voice. "I didn't realize I could do that..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You can use ice magic?" He asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I guess... or maybe I was holding..." She yawned again, looking at her ice glaive staff. "This for too long..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit looked at her fingers, seeing they were freezing to the touch. "And your fingers don't hurt?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen shook her head, as she then turned to look at him, moving her messed hair to the side, showing the same thing happened to her cheek. "Now that I think about it, I don't feel them at all..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Help warm her up ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Leave her alone/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"As much as this made him uncomfortable, Bereit figured he could help her feel her fingers again. "Here, let me help." He said, as he gently held them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen closed her eyes, still sitting up. "Thanks..." She said, in her still tired tone of voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit blushed a bit, as he then held her fingers, and made small fires around his hand, to start warming her hands up. He made the little fires fly towards her fingers, as they circled around each finger, watching as her fingers regained their normal colour, along with the ice melting away, the water dripping off the bottom of her finger./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'm surprised you were able to get any sleep." Bereit said, looking at her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen was asleep, her head hanging low, and her mouth open./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit snapped his finger near her, Fallen jumping in surprise. "Oh, Bereit. How..." She yawned again. "How long... how long have we been here?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit figured she was way more tired than he figured. Or maybe she didn't get any sleep at all. "Did you get any sleep at all?" He asked her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen blinked slowly, shaking her head. "No... but Shiva tried to help with it... but it just... it didn't." She answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, I've got some bad news. We're heading out to check on some people. A company or something like that." Bereit explained. "They could help us with the anomalies." He added./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen nodded, yawning again. "Okay..." She simply said, as she closed her eyes again. "Let me know when we land."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We're gonna be landing soon, so you might as well splash some cold water on your face to wake yourself up." Bereit suggested, as he stood up./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen looked at him, her eyes barely opened. "Can you bring some water to me please?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fine./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You've got legs. Use them. ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen sighed, as she tiredly sat up. "Fiiiiine..." She said, as she sluggishly walked towards the ladder, tiredly pulling herself up them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit rolled his eyes, as he climbed up the ladder, going to the cockpit, to find everyone is there. He looked out the airship windshield, seeing that they were already landing. "So, we're meeting some paranormal guys or something?" Vanessa asked, rubbing her eyes with her palm. "Can I just sleep this one out?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sorry, Vanessa, but we're all going there." Bereit answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa groaned. "Fine... maybe the blazing heat will... wait, no it won't."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Quit your whining. Maybe with the help of P.I.I we'll close these anomalies faster." Cid said, turning to them./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If they know how to close them in the first place." Imbir pointed out./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They're the only allies we have at this point. Beggars can't be choosers." Cid pointed out as well./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Then let's stop wasting time and head out." Bereit said, as he walked towards the door that had the ladder they could use to drop down./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Someone's in a hurry." Scharf said, walking with him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit curious of what those guys might know." Bereit admitted, making Scharf laugh./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I hear ya." Scharf added, as he went down the ladder with him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Cid laughed a bit. "And they were at each others throats yesterday."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Let's hope they actually get along at some point." Zelkova said. "We could definitely use it." He then stepped forward, to follow the others./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"After a few minutes, the airship landed on the sandy land. Imbir went to the ladder, as did Vanessa, and Fallen came afterwards, looking a little more awake than usual, but still having that tired look on her face. She climbed down the ladder, seeing everyone together, standing on the burning sands of Wuste. "Morning everybody..." She said, rubbing her eyes./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A little late for that, don't you think?" Scharf said, looking at her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen blushed, yawning. "Sorry... I'm just really sleepy."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Aren't we all?" Vanessa said, laughing a bit./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A nice stroll will wake you all up." Scharf said, as he started walking, as everyone followed./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"A stroll through a desert." Vanessa pointed out. "It's just gonna make me even more tired."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, get used to it. Because with what heat we might have in Holhen, we're gonna be here for a long time." Scharf explained. "Unless you want to challenge it."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa sighed. "Alright, alright. You've made your point."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And with that, the group made their way to the distant fortress. It was a fair way to it, being around four hills of sand, so it was hidden, at least from their direction. On their way to it, they came across the same monsters they had before, the strange floating rocks, the large vultures, and all of those other ones. But of course, they were not even a struggle to battle. Unless you were Vanessa, who barely even lifted an arm, she was so tired./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They only had a handful of encounters, until they reached one of the hilltops of sand, seeing the fortress of the P.I.I, seeing their waving black flag, with their symbol of a grid, with dots around the bottom right and middle top of the grid./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit whistled. "Wow. The base is way better up close." Bereit said, as he made his way down the hill, stopping from a hand grabbing him. He turned back, to see Fallen stopped him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I don't think it's a good idea to go in there unannounced. Maybe we should call out for them before we approach?" Fallen suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I mean, they're gonna draw their weapons anyway when we approach. As long as we keep our cool, we'll be okay." Bereit said, with a smile./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen was a bit against the idea of just approaching like that, but she didn't have a lot of social experience or any sort of situation handling. She thought about it for a moment, thinking it perhaps was best to leave it to them. "Okay. But, promise me you won't do anything rash?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen, do I look stupid to you?" Bereit asked, in a tone showing he knew what he was getting into. /span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well-" Scharf spoke up, immediately seeing Bereit glare at him, Scharf had a big mocking grin on his face./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit then walked to where he could see the entrance of the fortress, seeing three people positioned there, all three wearing metal padded clothing. They all looked at the party that approached them, having their hands close to their weapons./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Hey, this place isn't for civilians. Beat it." The brown haired one spoke./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"We have information on the anomalies. Those huge crack things that have been appearing as of late." Bereit explained. "We've been closing them for a while now. I think we can... work together to get rid of these things."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The three of them looked at each other, wondering what to do. One of them pulled out a walkie-talkie. "Hey, boss? We've got a suspicious group here. They claim to know things about the anomalies." There was a moment of silence, then chatter came from the device. "Alright. You're the boss." He put it away, looking at them. "Come on in. The boss'll be waiting for you inside."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit watched as the door opened automatically, smiling a bit as he walked inside. He was so excited to see what was inside. And what was inside, was all sorts of wonders that surrounded the party./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Technology, wires, rods, all sorts of contraptions surrounded them. While it was only about 7 of them out where they were, Bereit bet there were more on the inside of this fortress./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"In front of them opened an elevator, a young man walking out, looking about seventeen years old. He wore the same black patted clothing, though the clothing was different. He wore cargo pants, a bit torn, and had a long-sleeve shirt, with a best over it. His blue eyes gazed at the party, raising an eyebrow. "So you're merry band of misfits that'll save the world, huh?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Boast ====/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Be sarcastic/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Agree/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Be modest/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The only ones that can." Bereit boasted, with a cocky grin./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen looked at Bereit with a disapproving stare. She didn't like the idea of boasting for it, but she figured he was only joking around. He was the kind to do that./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf and Vanessa laughed and Zelkova and Imbir having no response./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well, experience taught me that people who boast their titles don't live up to it for long. But, we're desperate so we'll even take someone like you." The young man said, crossing his arms./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit huffed at his insult. "Lead the way, your excellency."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The young man huffed back, motioning his head to tell the others to follow him, leading to the elevator he took. Everyone walked in, the elevator then went down, as the young man pressed a button that had the number 4 on it, out of the ten buttons there were./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen leaned to Bereit. "Hey, when we meet whoever the boss is, we should be more formal. At least try to win his approval." She suggested./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yeah, Bereit. I mean, with how these guys are, I bet they won't tolerate disrespect." Vanessa butted in./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit sighed. "Yeah, I guess you have a point. I'll try to be more 'formal.'"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen smiled. "Thank you, Bereit."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You know, for a Summoner, those are some short shorts." The young man commented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen turned at him, blushing, feeling nervous. "Could you not make comments like that?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I mean, aren't Summoners suppose to dress more... sophisticated? Like in those big baggy robes or some crap?" The young man asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I don't remember anyone asking you." Scharf spoke. "You leave her to her Summoning, and we'll leave the paranormal stuff to you guys."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Alright. Sorry for the comment." The young man said, though his tone wasn't very convincing./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The elevator then stopped in place, opening up to see there were people in all sorts of white coats, tubes, containers, and firearms, in all sorts of shapes and forms./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf whistled. "Colour me impressed. You guys have more guns than a military outpost."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The young man looked at him, with an unimpressed look. "We're not military."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf noted the strange response, as if he was offended by what he said./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"So... what are we looking at exactly?" Vanessa asked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Weapons development. Anything that's a ghost or similar, we can kill it or contain it for further study." The young man answered, leaning over the railing of the metal platform they stood on. He then walked down a set of stairs, the others following./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"While they walked down, Imbir looked at his gun, thinking maybe he could use some upgrades. Perhaps he could have some attachments to handle anything paranormal. It only just hit him now that he wouldn't be prepared for anything of the sort./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Boss! We've got V. . People who claim to know something about the anomalies." The young man called out, to another man that turned to look at them, having a glowing green claw mark across his face, that seemed to have a burn effect./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Everyone looked shocked from the mysterious scar on the man's face. It certainly was something nobody saw before./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well now. Why shouldn't I be surprised it's a bunch of kids and a baby-sitter?" He spoke, in his gritting voice./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Same could be said about your front gate security." Scharf responded./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"They're recruits. But they act the part of a tough soldier. I'm sure you what I mean." He replied./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"You need the real deal, not an act." Scharf said. "But we didn't come here for a scolding. We're here for co-operation."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I'm aware." The boss said. "So tell me, what do you guys know about the anomalies?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf turned to Bereit, and motioned his hand to him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit stepped forward, going to do the talking. "You approach them, a sort of dragon appears out of them. What were they called again, Fallen?" He asked, turning to her./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Erpels." Fallen answered. "A higher form of dragons."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And they come in all shapes and forms. Though, if we kill it, the crack it comes from closes. So the way I see it, those Erpels are the guardian of the portal thing. And if it's dead, then it closes it's self to prevent anything from getting in." Bereit theorized./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Interesting." The boss said. "And do you know where the portals take them?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"My guess, to whoever is making them in the first place. Though, we're gonna need a good idea of what's in there if we even think of jumping in those." Bereit answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"And it has to be a big place if dragons are coming out of it." Vanessa added./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss paused for a moment, taking in all that they were saying. He turned around, remaining silent. "And here I thought we needed a miracle. Some chosen warrior or some bull." He said. He then turned to them. "For now, you all will stay. We've got food, drinks, and beds. Until we here that one of those anomalies appear, you're at home. We'll study these things while you guys handle the real trouble." The boss explained. "I hope we can strike a deal."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No need for a deal. We're here to get these things out of our world." Bereit said. "End of story."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The boss laughed a bit. "I like you... Bereit, right?" The Boss said, Bereit nodding. "You, and your band of misfits. I believe in ghosts, not prophecies. But I feel like we were meeting this very day, for a reason."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"If I'm a prophecy, then by better have a temple somewhere in the world." Bereit joked. "But, to be real..." Bereit pointed his thumb to Fallen. "She's the star of the show here. Her summons and quick thinking got us through some tough situations."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Fallen was a bit taken a back from the praise that Bereit gave her. She blushed a little. "Oh, you're just being modest. We all do our part."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Summoner, huh? There aren't many of you these days." The Boss said to Fallen./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Well... it's a difficult thing to start. Even harder to finish..." Fallen explained. "And... well, it's thanks to Bereit I even got started."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Oh, you're just being modest." Bereit quoted her, to tease her. "But yeah, I did."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"The Boss grinned a little, then looked at the others. "And I take you all have something to do with each other? Inspired one or the other?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Imbir simply shrugged, not really thinking so. No one really inspired anything for him./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Vanessa actually thought about it. "Well... wait, is this a rhetorical question?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I had inspiration from else where. Though, I'm sure they have yet to inspire something." Zelkova answered./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Scharf simply didn't respond./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"I can tell we're gonna get along just fine. Well, dismissed. Feel free to mingle while you're here." The boss said./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Bereit turned to look at everybody, as he gave them all thumbs up./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Save your game up to this point?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Yes/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"No/span/p