p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 21/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;"The party was making their way to the airship. While the sky was clear of any of those light pillars, that spawn the Anomalies, the sky was turning grey, and quiet rumbles could be heard from the clouds. A storm was coming. And Bereit was still out there./span/p
p class="western" 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 just realized now that we left Cid and the co-pilot in the airship the whole time." Imbir 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;"I'm sure he doesn't mind. He probably has some magazines he can read or something." Vanessa figured./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He flies, not fights. Well, as far as we know." Scharf 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;"Well, Berei- oh... right." Vanessa spoke, regretting what she said. "Sorry." She was going to mention Bereit might know if Cid could fight./span/p
p class="western" 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 sure Bereit might have seen Cid fight. He did escape a prison with him, so he can ask him when we find him again." Fallen said, her mood suddenly hopeful./span/p
p class="western" 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 party wasn't going to question her change in act, but they did think it was a bit odd. She was usually straight forward with how she felt of certain things. Maybe she just wanted to act positive for 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 a storm is coming, I hope Bereit doesn't get caught in it." Zelkova said, seeing the possible storm brewing./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He's smart. I'm sure he wouldn't stand out in the open." Imbir assured./span/p
p class="western" 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 party finally made it back, each going inside to see Cid, seeing he wasn't at the cockpit. Though, most of the party member went to do their own thing, leaving Imbir and Vanessa at the cockpit. "Cid!?" Imbir called 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;"I'm in the can!" Cid called out, from the bathroom./span/p
p class="western" 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, peachy." Vanessa said, sitting on the pilot seat./span/p
p class="western" 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 approached the door to the bathroom, leaning next to it. "So, good news and bad news."/span/p
p class="western" 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 start with the bad news." Cid insisted./span/p
p class="western" 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's M.I.A. After he learned he has a relation with the Erpels, he took off." 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;"Cid was surprised to hear he took off without them. "So, he ain't with us anymore?" Cid 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;"He said he needed to clear his head. Maybe with time he'll come back." Imbir answered. "Though, I doubt he'd leave us for good."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"When you say relation, you mean he has some relation to the Erpels in terms of knowing them, or being them?" Cid 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;"Being one of them." Imbir 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;"Crap... that's tough." Cid said. "What do you think he'll do about 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;"He knows as much as we do about it. And I doubt we'll get answers anytime soon." Imbir answered. "For now, let's just focus on where we can find him. We just need to think where he would go."/span/p
p class="western" 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, the way I see it, he has no way out of Wuste, he can't fly... at least he doesn't know how to yet." Cid 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;"How would he be able to fly?" Imbir 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;"There was a second of silence. "You know, this conversation could be taken seriously if I wasn't in the bathroom." Cid 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;"Imbir blushed a bit, looking away. "Fair enough. I'll wait for you by the cockpit." He said, scratching his head as he walked away./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Actually... we're out of toilet paper." Cid called out, though Imbir was already out of hearing distance./span/p
p class="western" 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 few minutes past, Cid finally coming out. "Anyway, as you asked me." He said, as he scooted Vanessa off his seat. "Yes, Lords can fly. And since Bereit is using an airship instead of his own powers, it's clear he doesn't know what he can do. At least all of 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;"Why wouldn't he know what he's fully capable of?" 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;"He only knows he's a lord. He just needs to learn how to control the power he has." Cid explained. "And that, is why we need to find 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;"You've got a plan?" Imbir 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;"They maybe be eons old, but they have temples where they worship the first Divines to ever exist. The Grand Divines." Cid explained. "Think of them as the grand-daddy of the ones we know now."/span/p
p class="western" 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 Ruhe mentioned the first ones were Erpels." Vanessa 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;"So, we find Bereit, and we bring him there. They've each have shrines, so he visits the ones of Ramuh and Ifrit." Cid 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;"Though, we really should consider how we approach Bereit with this. I'm sure confronting the first Divines won't be an easy thing to have him do." Imbir said, placing a hand on his chin. "Plus... who knows what he'll think of this. Maybe he doesn't want to be a lord..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sadly, that just isn't something he has control over. He'll have to face what he is eventually." Cid said, turning to the controls, looking over them for a moment./span/p
p class="western" 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 really think he can do it? I don't doubt him, but I'm not so sure about it either." Imbir questioned./span/p
p class="western" 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, at this point, we NEED him to succeed. Otherwise, we're screwed. We ain't a team without him." Cid said. "And our morale would hit an all time low."/span/p
p class="western" 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 thought about what he said, and he did have a point. Bereit really was the glue that stuck them all together. And Fallen would be crushed if he was gone. He looked back for a moment, seeing Fallen was only just leaving to the cargo area. "Yeah. You're right. Then let's go find 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;"Though, where do we start?" 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;"I don't think that thunderstorm is coincidental." Cid said, as he pointed ahead of them. Imbir and Vanessa looked through the windshield, seeing all the clouds were circling and small bolts were striking in the same area. "A lightning Lord is appearing in their Ethereal form. Looks like he's talking to another one."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Another?" Imbir 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;"Most likely. Thunderstorms never gather like that on their own. And I did read up on them." Cid 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;"Then that's where we're headed." Imbir said confidently./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Want me to fly us there?" Cid asked, turning his head to Imbir./span/p
p class="western" 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 shook his head. "Whatever Bereit's doing, I bet going in with the airship is gonna disturb 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;"Well, I doubt you'll make it in time on foot." Cid 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;"I've got that covered." Imbir said, as he then pulled out that device that was normally given 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;"Cid recognized what he was holding, grinning slightly. "Smart." Cid complimented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"P.I.I, this is Imbir, I have a request to make." Imbir spoke into it, looking up as he waited for a 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;"We hear you loud and clear. What's your request?" The voice through the device asked, it being The Boss./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Requesting off-road vehicle to come and deliver us to a specific location." Imbir answered, eyeing Cid for a moment./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"An off-road vehicle is heading your way and will arrive shortly." 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;"Thanks. That'll be all." Imbir said, as he then turned the device off. "We'll be back." He added, as he then exited the airship, the others following him shortly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"About a minute passed, and a four-wheeled vehicle came to them, something they haven't seen before. The tires hugged the sandy ground, as if attached to it. Unlike the airships, it didn't have any frame or metal to cover the vehicle. It was full of metal bars, springs, gears, and all sorts of mechanisms. There was the seated soldier inside, the outside having four seats and seat belts around 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;"Scharf and Vanessa whistled, impressed by what they saw. Fallen had a surprised expression, though a part of her was a bit frightened by the way it looked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Where to?" The soldier 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;"Where the storm is gathering." Imbir answered, pointing to where it was. Everyone then seated themselves, putting in their seat belts. Though, Vanessa hung on the top, since there wasn't enough seats./span/p
p class="western" 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 calm, but Fallen was a bit nervous of how safe this thing really was. It was questionable, to say the least. And with Vanessa's stunt, she wasn't excited over that either./span/p
p class="western" 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 engine roared, as it then drove through the sandy lands of Wuste, driving ever closer to the gathering storm. It was really fast, and it handled the rough and shaky terrain very well. Barely any shaking came from the buggy./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Making their way there, everyone was having their strange thoughts about the gathering storm. Cid did explain that it was a lightning Lord making an Ethereal form, they were having their own thoughts about what was happening. But if there was one thing they all agreed on, it was awe striking to watch. The way the lightning bolts all struck the same place, and how it was brighter than most/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Whatever Bereit's doing, let's hope it doesn't attract too much attention." Imbir said. "Though, I doubt creatures would love to get any closer to a storm."/span/p
p class="western" 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 just hope he's not getting hurt. Or... hopefully not doing anything rash." Vanessa spoke, her tone showing worry./span/p
p class="western" 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 wouldn't think so, but we certainly have to watch our backs." Imbir reminded./span/p
p class="western" 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." Vanessa said, everyone remaining silent at that point. As they drove, they would come across monsters, but they all ran away from the buggy. The antenna on top of it seemed to be similar to the device that The Boss had explained to them before. The one that drove them away. Perhaps a portable version./span/p
p class="western" 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 mountain in all of Wuste. And Bereit was there, where all the lightning struck down. They reached a path that was clear that it lead to where he was. Everyone got off, and ran up said path. Imbir turned to the soldier. "Wait here." He instructed, the soldier nodding in 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;"The party ran up the mountain path, Fallen being able to keep a pace with everybody, along with Zelkova going the same pace as 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;"The closer they got, the louder the strikes got, and the hotter the air got. It certainly was taking it's toll on the party. Though, they also came across small monsters, but they all ran past them. Perhaps, like the monsters outside, they were running from what was happening above. The path was very straight forward, with a few caverns to traverse, but they had one steep climb to make, and they arrived to the center of the storm strikes. One by one, they got up to witness what was happening./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (Bereit)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Legs crossed, looking at a human formed being of lightning, it being a woman, but no face or sign of clothing. "So... he was telling the truth?" Bereit 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;"The woman nodded, as lightning struck brightly over her, but around her, was a tame and gentle flash. "Yes. But... do not let it change you as a person. You're still the Bereit I know and love. Same with your friends. What kind of friend would you be if you left them?" She spoke, her voice having a strange lightning sound to 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;"I didn't mean to... I just needed answers." Bereit explained. "I was scared... that what I am was going to change me..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It won't I promise you." She said, as she then knelt down to look at Bereit. "It's apart of you. You aren't apart of 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;"Bereit looked down for a moment. "So... what do I do now?" He asked, having asked her 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;"Go to the Shrine of the Ancient Divines. We'll see you there." She said, as she then smiling, though it wasn't visible. "I love you, sweetie." She said, as the lightning stopped striking and then the storm disappeared, the clouds all flying away in different directions./span/p
p class="western" 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 sat there, silent for a moment, the sky's rumbles still there for a moment, until it went to complete silence./span/p
p class="western" 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 wanted to say something, but they were all waiting for someone else. Plus, they just weren't sure what to say./span/p
p class="western" 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 about to take a step forward, though she was stopped by Bereit's hand coming up. She gulped, nervous as to what he would say./span/p
p class="western" 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 hope you guys aren't tired. We've got travelling to do." He said, turning to them and smiled. "The Shrine of Ancient Divines." He reminded, walking past them, but was stopped by Fallen's hand./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"She had a serious expression. "Bereit... we were worried sick about you." Fallen explained. "Is everything okay? You're not just trying to seem happy for us?"/span/p
p class="western" 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 was silent for a moment, pursing his lips for a second. "Well, not entirely, but I knew this would come eventually. I'm just trying to accept what's to come."/span/p
p class="western" 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 down, letting go of his shoulder./span/p
p class="western" 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, that thing you were talking to. What exactly was that?" Scharf 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;"That 'thing' was my mother. At least in her Ethereal form. We're gonna meet the real one in The Ancient Shrine." Using that for short. "Along with dad." Bereit answered, continuing to walk forward, everyone now following 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;"Your parents..." Fallen whispered. Not only the Erpel bit, but he was going to see his parents again. And with what he had said, it seemed he was dealing with a lot right now. How was he able to hide his emotions so well? Or... was he even hiding anything?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Both of them. Wow. It must be tough, after so long." Imbir said, feeling pity 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;"It was... but we're not here to form a pity party." Bereit said. "We need to get to the shrine. After that... well, back to schedule." It really did seem like he was trying to seem fine with what was going on, but Fallen knew that wasn't the case. He was hurting. She could tell./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Though..." Bereit looked back at everybody. "I really am sorry for leaving you guys like that." He apologized. "I really needed a moment to myself to take in all that I learned in that moment."/span/p
p class="western" 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 understand, Bereit. The apology is appreciated, but there is no need for it." Zelkova spoke. "The discovery was as shocking as it was for all for us."/span/p
p class="western" 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 Zelkova, thinking that pun was intended. He then looked at everyone else, seeing they were all smiling. "Thanks, guys. I couldn't have asked for a better group of friends than you guys." Bereit then looked at Scharf for a moment. "Well, other than you."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Prick." Scharf said, with a 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;"Bereit grinned back, now having left the mountain with everyone else. Truly, Bereit was happy to see them all again. And seeing they were doing fine, it was a huge relief for him. But the thoughts were all put away, once he saw the new vehicle, at least one he hadn't seen before. He whistled, impressed. "What beauty am I looking at here?" He asked, walking a little faster to get a close look at 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;"You flatter me." The driver joked. "We call it a buggy. Drives through sand like it's a normal road."/span/p
p class="western" 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 leaned to Fallen. "I didn't know Bereit was into this stuff."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Neither did I. I guess it's something he hadn't seen before." Fallen said. "Well, we know what to get for his birthday." She joked, Vanessa and her quietly giggling./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Damn. Hopefully I'll be able to take this thing for a spin one day." Bereit said, his big smile showing he was very interested in what he saw./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One day. But you 'heroes' have some business elsewhere, don't you?" He reminded./span/p
p class="western" 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, you're right. Though..." Bereit looked at the four seats. "How are we gonna fit all of us?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just do like Vanessa did. Ride on top." The driver 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;"Isn't that... unsafe?" Bereit asked, knowing the risks./span/p
p class="western" 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'll be fine. If Vanessa's in one piece, you'll be the same." The driver 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;"Bereit looked back at Vanessa, seeing her shrug. "Eh, it's fun at least." She 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;"He shrugged. "Alright. Let's roll." He simply said, everyone then hoping on the buggy and driving through Wuste./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Throughout the drive, Bereit turned out to enjoy hanging onto the top of the buggy. While everyone was safe in their seats, Bereit was laughing and shouting in excitement./span/p
p class="western" 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 child at heart, that one." Scharf commented, with a small 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;"Frankly, I prefer that over a serious Bereit." Imbir commented. "He gives that positivity we all need."/span/p
p class="western" 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 have a point." Scharf said, looking back at Bereit for a moment. "Let's just hope that smile stays after he goes to the shrine. Something tells me it's gonna be bad."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Me too." Imbir agreed./span/p
p class="western" 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 party really did worry for Bereit. Not because he was the leader, but the fact this could be really damaging to his morale and overall happiness. While they didn't truly know what was bound to happen, they could tell it wasn't going to be good from the way he interacted with his mother./span/p
p class="western" 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 party had been returned to the airship, getting off the buggy and dismissed 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;"If you ever need another ride, you know what to do." The driver called out, as it then drove back to the P.I.I 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;"Well, that was fun." Bereit said, fixing his hair, having it been messed up from the wind./span/p
p class="western" 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 party then went inside the airship, seeing Cid and the co-pilot. Cid turned his attention to Bereit, seeing he was standing there. "Well, glad to see you're in one piece." Cid said, actually relieved to see he was okay./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Good to see you are too." Bereit said, as he then leaned on a wall. "So, we need to head somewhere."/span/p
p class="western" 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 Shrine of the Ancient Divines, right? Say no more." Cid said, as he flicked a few switches and buttons, the airship rumbled, with the engines starting 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;"Bereit smiled, seeing everything was already going the way he wanted it to. He looked back at everybody, seeing the party, all looking back at him. He really did find his own crew. Then The Captain and the kids back at Ozean came to his head, realizing that he hadn't seen them in a while. And the sudden feeling of homesickness ran through his mind. "Maybe I should pay them a visit when this is over..." Bereit whispered to himself./span/p
p class="western" 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;"The party was making their way to the airship. While the sky was clear of any of those light pillars, that spawn the Anomalies, the sky was turning grey, and quiet rumbles could be heard from the clouds. A storm was coming. And Bereit was still out there./span/p
p class="western" 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 just realized now that we left Cid and the co-pilot in the airship the whole time." Imbir 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;"I'm sure he doesn't mind. He probably has some magazines he can read or something." Vanessa figured./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He flies, not fights. Well, as far as we know." Scharf 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;"Well, Berei- oh... right." Vanessa spoke, regretting what she said. "Sorry." She was going to mention Bereit might know if Cid could fight./span/p
p class="western" 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 sure Bereit might have seen Cid fight. He did escape a prison with him, so he can ask him when we find him again." Fallen said, her mood suddenly hopeful./span/p
p class="western" 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 party wasn't going to question her change in act, but they did think it was a bit odd. She was usually straight forward with how she felt of certain things. Maybe she just wanted to act positive for 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 a storm is coming, I hope Bereit doesn't get caught in it." Zelkova said, seeing the possible storm brewing./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"He's smart. I'm sure he wouldn't stand out in the open." Imbir assured./span/p
p class="western" 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 party finally made it back, each going inside to see Cid, seeing he wasn't at the cockpit. Though, most of the party member went to do their own thing, leaving Imbir and Vanessa at the cockpit. "Cid!?" Imbir called 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;"I'm in the can!" Cid called out, from the bathroom./span/p
p class="western" 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, peachy." Vanessa said, sitting on the pilot seat./span/p
p class="western" 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 approached the door to the bathroom, leaning next to it. "So, good news and bad news."/span/p
p class="western" 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 start with the bad news." Cid insisted./span/p
p class="western" 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's M.I.A. After he learned he has a relation with the Erpels, he took off." 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;"Cid was surprised to hear he took off without them. "So, he ain't with us anymore?" Cid 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;"He said he needed to clear his head. Maybe with time he'll come back." Imbir answered. "Though, I doubt he'd leave us for good."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"When you say relation, you mean he has some relation to the Erpels in terms of knowing them, or being them?" Cid 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;"Being one of them." Imbir 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;"Crap... that's tough." Cid said. "What do you think he'll do about 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;"He knows as much as we do about it. And I doubt we'll get answers anytime soon." Imbir answered. "For now, let's just focus on where we can find him. We just need to think where he would go."/span/p
p class="western" 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, the way I see it, he has no way out of Wuste, he can't fly... at least he doesn't know how to yet." Cid 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;"How would he be able to fly?" Imbir 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;"There was a second of silence. "You know, this conversation could be taken seriously if I wasn't in the bathroom." Cid 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;"Imbir blushed a bit, looking away. "Fair enough. I'll wait for you by the cockpit." He said, scratching his head as he walked away./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Actually... we're out of toilet paper." Cid called out, though Imbir was already out of hearing distance./span/p
p class="western" 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 few minutes past, Cid finally coming out. "Anyway, as you asked me." He said, as he scooted Vanessa off his seat. "Yes, Lords can fly. And since Bereit is using an airship instead of his own powers, it's clear he doesn't know what he can do. At least all of 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;"Why wouldn't he know what he's fully capable of?" 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;"He only knows he's a lord. He just needs to learn how to control the power he has." Cid explained. "And that, is why we need to find 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;"You've got a plan?" Imbir 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;"They maybe be eons old, but they have temples where they worship the first Divines to ever exist. The Grand Divines." Cid explained. "Think of them as the grand-daddy of the ones we know now."/span/p
p class="western" 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 Ruhe mentioned the first ones were Erpels." Vanessa 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;"So, we find Bereit, and we bring him there. They've each have shrines, so he visits the ones of Ramuh and Ifrit." Cid 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;"Though, we really should consider how we approach Bereit with this. I'm sure confronting the first Divines won't be an easy thing to have him do." Imbir said, placing a hand on his chin. "Plus... who knows what he'll think of this. Maybe he doesn't want to be a lord..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Sadly, that just isn't something he has control over. He'll have to face what he is eventually." Cid said, turning to the controls, looking over them for a moment./span/p
p class="western" 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 really think he can do it? I don't doubt him, but I'm not so sure about it either." Imbir questioned./span/p
p class="western" 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, at this point, we NEED him to succeed. Otherwise, we're screwed. We ain't a team without him." Cid said. "And our morale would hit an all time low."/span/p
p class="western" 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 thought about what he said, and he did have a point. Bereit really was the glue that stuck them all together. And Fallen would be crushed if he was gone. He looked back for a moment, seeing Fallen was only just leaving to the cargo area. "Yeah. You're right. Then let's go find 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;"Though, where do we start?" 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;"I don't think that thunderstorm is coincidental." Cid said, as he pointed ahead of them. Imbir and Vanessa looked through the windshield, seeing all the clouds were circling and small bolts were striking in the same area. "A lightning Lord is appearing in their Ethereal form. Looks like he's talking to another one."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Another?" Imbir 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;"Most likely. Thunderstorms never gather like that on their own. And I did read up on them." Cid 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;"Then that's where we're headed." Imbir said confidently./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Want me to fly us there?" Cid asked, turning his head to Imbir./span/p
p class="western" 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 shook his head. "Whatever Bereit's doing, I bet going in with the airship is gonna disturb 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;"Well, I doubt you'll make it in time on foot." Cid 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;"I've got that covered." Imbir said, as he then pulled out that device that was normally given 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;"Cid recognized what he was holding, grinning slightly. "Smart." Cid complimented./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"P.I.I, this is Imbir, I have a request to make." Imbir spoke into it, looking up as he waited for a 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;"We hear you loud and clear. What's your request?" The voice through the device asked, it being The Boss./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Requesting off-road vehicle to come and deliver us to a specific location." Imbir answered, eyeing Cid for a moment./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"An off-road vehicle is heading your way and will arrive shortly." 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;"Thanks. That'll be all." Imbir said, as he then turned the device off. "We'll be back." He added, as he then exited the airship, the others following him shortly./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"About a minute passed, and a four-wheeled vehicle came to them, something they haven't seen before. The tires hugged the sandy ground, as if attached to it. Unlike the airships, it didn't have any frame or metal to cover the vehicle. It was full of metal bars, springs, gears, and all sorts of mechanisms. There was the seated soldier inside, the outside having four seats and seat belts around 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;"Scharf and Vanessa whistled, impressed by what they saw. Fallen had a surprised expression, though a part of her was a bit frightened by the way it looked./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Where to?" The soldier 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;"Where the storm is gathering." Imbir answered, pointing to where it was. Everyone then seated themselves, putting in their seat belts. Though, Vanessa hung on the top, since there wasn't enough seats./span/p
p class="western" 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 calm, but Fallen was a bit nervous of how safe this thing really was. It was questionable, to say the least. And with Vanessa's stunt, she wasn't excited over that either./span/p
p class="western" 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 engine roared, as it then drove through the sandy lands of Wuste, driving ever closer to the gathering storm. It was really fast, and it handled the rough and shaky terrain very well. Barely any shaking came from the buggy./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Making their way there, everyone was having their strange thoughts about the gathering storm. Cid did explain that it was a lightning Lord making an Ethereal form, they were having their own thoughts about what was happening. But if there was one thing they all agreed on, it was awe striking to watch. The way the lightning bolts all struck the same place, and how it was brighter than most/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Whatever Bereit's doing, let's hope it doesn't attract too much attention." Imbir said. "Though, I doubt creatures would love to get any closer to a storm."/span/p
p class="western" 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 just hope he's not getting hurt. Or... hopefully not doing anything rash." Vanessa spoke, her tone showing worry./span/p
p class="western" 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 wouldn't think so, but we certainly have to watch our backs." Imbir reminded./span/p
p class="western" 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." Vanessa said, everyone remaining silent at that point. As they drove, they would come across monsters, but they all ran away from the buggy. The antenna on top of it seemed to be similar to the device that The Boss had explained to them before. The one that drove them away. Perhaps a portable version./span/p
p class="western" 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 mountain in all of Wuste. And Bereit was there, where all the lightning struck down. They reached a path that was clear that it lead to where he was. Everyone got off, and ran up said path. Imbir turned to the soldier. "Wait here." He instructed, the soldier nodding in 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;"The party ran up the mountain path, Fallen being able to keep a pace with everybody, along with Zelkova going the same pace as 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;"The closer they got, the louder the strikes got, and the hotter the air got. It certainly was taking it's toll on the party. Though, they also came across small monsters, but they all ran past them. Perhaps, like the monsters outside, they were running from what was happening above. The path was very straight forward, with a few caverns to traverse, but they had one steep climb to make, and they arrived to the center of the storm strikes. One by one, they got up to witness what was happening./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"3/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"rd/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;" person (Bereit)/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Legs crossed, looking at a human formed being of lightning, it being a woman, but no face or sign of clothing. "So... he was telling the truth?" Bereit 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;"The woman nodded, as lightning struck brightly over her, but around her, was a tame and gentle flash. "Yes. But... do not let it change you as a person. You're still the Bereit I know and love. Same with your friends. What kind of friend would you be if you left them?" She spoke, her voice having a strange lightning sound to 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;"I didn't mean to... I just needed answers." Bereit explained. "I was scared... that what I am was going to change me..."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"It won't I promise you." She said, as she then knelt down to look at Bereit. "It's apart of you. You aren't apart of 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;"Bereit looked down for a moment. "So... what do I do now?" He asked, having asked her 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;"Go to the Shrine of the Ancient Divines. We'll see you there." She said, as she then smiling, though it wasn't visible. "I love you, sweetie." She said, as the lightning stopped striking and then the storm disappeared, the clouds all flying away in different directions./span/p
p class="western" 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 sat there, silent for a moment, the sky's rumbles still there for a moment, until it went to complete silence./span/p
p class="western" 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 wanted to say something, but they were all waiting for someone else. Plus, they just weren't sure what to say./span/p
p class="western" 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 about to take a step forward, though she was stopped by Bereit's hand coming up. She gulped, nervous as to what he would say./span/p
p class="western" 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 hope you guys aren't tired. We've got travelling to do." He said, turning to them and smiled. "The Shrine of Ancient Divines." He reminded, walking past them, but was stopped by Fallen's hand./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"She had a serious expression. "Bereit... we were worried sick about you." Fallen explained. "Is everything okay? You're not just trying to seem happy for us?"/span/p
p class="western" 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 was silent for a moment, pursing his lips for a second. "Well, not entirely, but I knew this would come eventually. I'm just trying to accept what's to come."/span/p
p class="western" 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 down, letting go of his shoulder./span/p
p class="western" 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, that thing you were talking to. What exactly was that?" Scharf 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;"That 'thing' was my mother. At least in her Ethereal form. We're gonna meet the real one in The Ancient Shrine." Using that for short. "Along with dad." Bereit answered, continuing to walk forward, everyone now following 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;"Your parents..." Fallen whispered. Not only the Erpel bit, but he was going to see his parents again. And with what he had said, it seemed he was dealing with a lot right now. How was he able to hide his emotions so well? Or... was he even hiding anything?/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Both of them. Wow. It must be tough, after so long." Imbir said, feeling pity 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;"It was... but we're not here to form a pity party." Bereit said. "We need to get to the shrine. After that... well, back to schedule." It really did seem like he was trying to seem fine with what was going on, but Fallen knew that wasn't the case. He was hurting. She could tell./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Though..." Bereit looked back at everybody. "I really am sorry for leaving you guys like that." He apologized. "I really needed a moment to myself to take in all that I learned in that moment."/span/p
p class="western" 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 understand, Bereit. The apology is appreciated, but there is no need for it." Zelkova spoke. "The discovery was as shocking as it was for all for us."/span/p
p class="western" 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 Zelkova, thinking that pun was intended. He then looked at everyone else, seeing they were all smiling. "Thanks, guys. I couldn't have asked for a better group of friends than you guys." Bereit then looked at Scharf for a moment. "Well, other than you."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Prick." Scharf said, with a 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;"Bereit grinned back, now having left the mountain with everyone else. Truly, Bereit was happy to see them all again. And seeing they were doing fine, it was a huge relief for him. But the thoughts were all put away, once he saw the new vehicle, at least one he hadn't seen before. He whistled, impressed. "What beauty am I looking at here?" He asked, walking a little faster to get a close look at 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;"You flatter me." The driver joked. "We call it a buggy. Drives through sand like it's a normal road."/span/p
p class="western" 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 leaned to Fallen. "I didn't know Bereit was into this stuff."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Neither did I. I guess it's something he hadn't seen before." Fallen said. "Well, we know what to get for his birthday." She joked, Vanessa and her quietly giggling./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Damn. Hopefully I'll be able to take this thing for a spin one day." Bereit said, his big smile showing he was very interested in what he saw./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"One day. But you 'heroes' have some business elsewhere, don't you?" He reminded./span/p
p class="western" 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, you're right. Though..." Bereit looked at the four seats. "How are we gonna fit all of us?"/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Just do like Vanessa did. Ride on top." The driver 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;"Isn't that... unsafe?" Bereit asked, knowing the risks./span/p
p class="western" 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'll be fine. If Vanessa's in one piece, you'll be the same." The driver 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;"Bereit looked back at Vanessa, seeing her shrug. "Eh, it's fun at least." She 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;"He shrugged. "Alright. Let's roll." He simply said, everyone then hoping on the buggy and driving through Wuste./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Throughout the drive, Bereit turned out to enjoy hanging onto the top of the buggy. While everyone was safe in their seats, Bereit was laughing and shouting in excitement./span/p
p class="western" 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 child at heart, that one." Scharf commented, with a small 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;"Frankly, I prefer that over a serious Bereit." Imbir commented. "He gives that positivity we all need."/span/p
p class="western" 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 have a point." Scharf said, looking back at Bereit for a moment. "Let's just hope that smile stays after he goes to the shrine. Something tells me it's gonna be bad."/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Me too." Imbir agreed./span/p
p class="western" 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 party really did worry for Bereit. Not because he was the leader, but the fact this could be really damaging to his morale and overall happiness. While they didn't truly know what was bound to happen, they could tell it wasn't going to be good from the way he interacted with his mother./span/p
p class="western" 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 party had been returned to the airship, getting off the buggy and dismissed 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;"If you ever need another ride, you know what to do." The driver called out, as it then drove back to the P.I.I 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;"Well, that was fun." Bereit said, fixing his hair, having it been messed up from the wind./span/p
p class="western" 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 party then went inside the airship, seeing Cid and the co-pilot. Cid turned his attention to Bereit, seeing he was standing there. "Well, glad to see you're in one piece." Cid said, actually relieved to see he was okay./span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"Good to see you are too." Bereit said, as he then leaned on a wall. "So, we need to head somewhere."/span/p
p class="western" 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 Shrine of the Ancient Divines, right? Say no more." Cid said, as he flicked a few switches and buttons, the airship rumbled, with the engines starting 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;"Bereit smiled, seeing everything was already going the way he wanted it to. He looked back at everybody, seeing the party, all looking back at him. He really did find his own crew. Then The Captain and the kids back at Ozean came to his head, realizing that he hadn't seen them in a while. And the sudden feeling of homesickness ran through his mind. "Maybe I should pay them a visit when this is over..." Bereit whispered to himself./span/p
p class="western" 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