Felinis: I've been writing this in between doing art and playing tales of Xillia 2. I almost finished at 2 this morning, but I was so tired I wasn't sure what I was writing. I'm convinced that Ludger communicates through a series of intricate blinking and groaning, because it is ridiculous how silent that man is.

Yuri dreams of the sea. He's under the cool dark waves as he sees scales flicker into his vision. He sees is curl around him all at once. It's incomprehensibly huge! It spans almost the whole size of length of what Yuri saw of the Heracles it's body serpentine as it swims. The scales are see-through, but the light hitting them creates a rainbow luminescence not textured like a snake, but more a fish. A head appears from the coil of the body and it's unexpected… It reminds him of cow in the shape of the head and softness of its black eyes.

"Yormgen." It speaks in a voice that's light and airy like a tinkling bell. "Please take me to Yormgen." He realizes that this thing… Is it… the core in the red chest; but it's an Entelexeia? Yuri can see that clear as day! "I promised I'd protect Yormgen."

"Who are you?"

It blinks and continues circling around itself. "Who am I? I was… who was I?" It continues circling as if it's pacing around Yuri. "I can't remember. I've been here so long…"

"You're the clear ciel crystal?" Its eyes seem to light up as it swirls more frantically.

"Yes! Yes!" It shoots upward and Yuri is thrust down from the rapid current. "I am the clear ciel crystal! I am that." It looks down at Yuri from above and opens its move to reveal hundreds of glimmering rounded diamond teeth. "My name was Zeru of the deep sea!" Zeru's eyes narrow on him. "You were the one I felt outside. You… what are you?"

Yuri swallows. "I'm… I'm human."

Zeru laughs. "What human has fur and horns?" A pain wracks through his entire body as he feels that sensation that haunts his dreams. Of bones changing and his humanity fading. He can't move he's in so much agony as Zeru is still laughing. "Isn't that better young one?" Yuri doesn't dare open his eyes. He doesn't want to see what's happened to him… It's just a dream! "You think me a dream? You're a rude child!" Lightning vibrates through his body and he screams. "You fear your own flesh, Yuri Lowell. It's laughable; adorable even." Yuri cracks an eye, Zeru is practically crushing him as they encircle his body. "But, foolish. This is what we are! You remind me of the ones who decided to die like humans. Denying your own race because you hate your fate and flesh… Ha, how utterly foolish!" He feels a long tongue curl around his ear and he flicks it reflexively. "But, it should be expected from a filthy half-breed. You were blessed with our blood and yet you decide to resent us. We are the gods of this world! I am, was, is and forever am a god to you mortals. I chose to protect your kind from the kindness in my soul and yet that fool died at sea. I had to keep that boat floating and wait for someone to fetch me." He can't breathe as those round teeth are crushing Yuri's stomach. He tries to pry away, but Yuri can't. Not like this.

"Yuri Lowell, consider this my gift." There's an acidic burn in his chest as those teeth crush harder. "Let me help those bones and fangs to grow." Stop it…!

Yuri wakes to his surprise on a bed his wounds wrapped up. Huh? He sits up and sees that he's inside a house… or an inn? Some sort of building. He sees Rita and Karol asleep on another two beds next to them. How did they get here? His coat and shirt are off to the side along with his gloves. Somebody treated him, but he's not in a cage, or dead, so it was likely Estelle. He looks in the mirror at his body relieved that nothing has changed. An ache is vibrating in his bones though, but Yuri laughs it off as him being sore. Everything's fine! It was just a dream! He sees the chest off to the side singing away loudly and his stomach lurches.

We're here

Yuri ignores the dread that zaps through him. Zeru… it had to be an Entelexeia, but why does it sound like a core? What is that crystal? As he steps out the door a middle-aged woman stops sweeping at the buildings entrance. Her clothes are strange in the shape in layering, but her face is just like any others. "Oh, good! You're awake. We found you and your friends collapsed outside the town entrance. It's rare someone with sacred blood comes here. Everyone was so worried."

"Sacred… blood?"

"Of course, you're Entelexeia aren't you?"

He blinks in shock and a little dread. "Yeah. I am."

"How joyous!" The woman enthuses. "Is there anything you need? Food, wine, clothes? We polished and sharpened your sword."

"Oh, thank you! I'm good, though." Yuri chuckles nervously as he backs away. "I'm just gonna head outside."

"Alright, do come back."

When he gets outside the inn he's immediately ambushed by Patty who demands a morning kiss. It's cute kid, but Yuri is very much not interested. He finds the other girls at the bridge talking and they turn to say 'good morning'. Apparently, someone out in the desert rescued everyone and Yuri is certain it has to do with the Entelexeia he saw before he passed out. Rita and Karol walk in and note the bizarreness of the greenery and the sky with no barrier. It's all odd. Estelle found a feather of Phaeroh's which only confuses them further. Or at least everyone, but Judith.

I promise to tell you all the details

She better! Judith already made Yuri spill secrets so she should too. Raven runs up and starts yammering about how they're in Yormgen of all things which leads to a whole other set of questions. There's no barrier, but the town is completely at peace. It's Karol who brings up the monster as they walk about the town. "It didn't feel alive."

Yuri nods. "I don't think it was. Back when I was in the knights, I thought something a lot like it, but it wasn't nearly that strong."

"But, what was it?" Estelle adds, but they don't have answer. The towns people keep giving strange excited grins at him and Judith, but he's not sure why. It's actually creepy how excited they are to see them. There's no blastia anywhere and Yuri confirms that with Rita. The people… They've never even heard of blastia! Really creepy shit going on here, but then the atmosphere is so peaceful…

Rita is holding the chest in hand asking people about it and a young woman black hair and green clothes approaches. "That box..."

Estelle lights up. "Do you know something about this box?"

She nods. "Longchi had it... Where did you get it?"

"On a ship called the Atherum, my lovely lady. Have you heard of it?" Raven smiles doing his best to be what Yuri thinks is charming, but just comes off as silly.

The girl claps her hands joyfully leaning towards the old man with twinkling eyes. "Of course! You know about the Atherum too?"

"Y-yes. We happened to come across it on the ocean…"

"Did you see Longchi?"

Raven holds his smile hesitantly. "And Longchi would be...?"

"Oh, Longchi is my love ...I'm sorry to suddenly get so personal."

Raven's smile fades. "Your love...damn it..." He pats the boy on the back and walks away dejectedly. "Hey, Karol. Your turn."

"You're hopeless..." Karol huffs rolling his eyes. "Umm, all that we saw was, uh, the ship itself."

The girl's face falls and when Judith asks for her name she reveals herself as Yuefan. They whisper with each other about the bizarre nature of all of this. The diary was from over a thousand years ago it's way too much of a coincidence. "Do you know about the clear ciel crystal?"

"They say it has the power to drive back monsters." Rita adds.

Yuefan nods. "The sage said it was necessary to make a barrier around the town. I-is that what's in the box?"

Estelle places it in her hands. "Yes. We came to deliver this box to you." Yuefan's face seems torn between grief and joy. Has the town been that troubled? But, everything is at peace in Yormgen.

Yes! At last I'm here

The chest is opened and inside is a beautiful jewel the size of a hen. It's stunning as the sun refracts on the surface and Yuri hears Zeru singing of freedom. Estelle asks if she can hold and she cautiously picks it up.

"Wow... Is this the clear ciel crystal?" Karol gasps.

Rita's eyes are alight with that curious glint. "Looks like it..."

Patty whistles pressing her face up to it. "It's so sparkly and glittery. A treasure even prettier than a noctiluca flickering on the sea's surface." As Yuefan talks of the Krytian sage and making a barrier. She has no knowledge of blastia and as she tells her story she talks of how she's waited three years for Longchi to return. So, Judith any explanation?

I think it be more fun for you to guess.

Yuri rolls his eyes and tries to get her to explain as the others mutter about what is going on. The group decides they need to visit this sage which makes the crystal yell loudly for them to hurry.

"Yuri, you said it was a type of core, do you still think that?" Rita asks as they walk with the jewel in hand, Yuefan having let them take it with them. Something about how it be wrong to deny an Entelexeia or a Krytian. Again, really weird.

"Yeah, but this one is different."

"How so?"

Yuri thinks on it a moment. "This one actually talks and has a distinct personality. Blastia have tones, but they don't say words. Or at least not anything that makes sense; most times it's just gibberish in Geraios."

"Really?"

He holds up his bodhi blastia. "This guy never says anything. It hums really loud sometimes, but he's pretty quiet."

"So, all blastia talk?" Karol asks.

Yuri nods. "Any that are working. I had to learn to tune it out over the years though. "

"Wow."

Yuri just shrugs because he's so used to it he thinks nothing of the fact. Upon reaching the largest house where they're told the sage resides, they find inside it's empty except for Duke. It's surprising to everyone as the man's red eyes widen in surprise.

Patty alone is unaware and leans over to Yuri muttering. "Who's that?"

"We've run into each other a few times."

"You... why are you here?" Duke asks.

"We sort of just passed out while walking through the desert and would up here."

Duke's eyes drift to Estelle then back to Yuri. "No matter... For what reason have you come?"

"We're a little curious about this." Yuri says holding up the clear ciel crystal.

Duke narrows his eyes darkly at Yuri. "This must have cost you dearly to obtain."

"Actually, it just sort of landed in our lap." Yuri says setting it on the table.

"Hm... That was quite a miracle." Duke takes it into his hands examining it carefully. "Tell me, what is the name?"

Yuri blinks. "Oh… Zeru. That's the name."

Rita barges forward and points an excusing finger at him. "You're planning on making a barrier blastia, aren't you? You're free to go pretending you're a sage, but forget about making any blastia. Who'd even consider building a barrier blastia with something that's so obviously not a core? There's no formula! And the structure is different! Yuri may say it's like a core, but it's not the same."

Duke just blinks. "But it is a solid mass of aer. It simply lacks an inscribed formula."

"Lacks an inscribed formula...? What do you mean?" Rita exclaims trying to take the clear ciel crystal back only for Duke to easily keep it out of reach. His face is still that stony expression and it's almost amusing.

"They are most commonly known as apatheia, of which the clear ciel crystal is one example. At least to you humans." Duke says the last part to Yuri and a shiver travels his spine.

"So this is an apatheia...?" Raven whistles his eyes glinting.

Duke pushes Rita back one more time and she crosses her arms in aggravation. "Also, I am not the sage. No such being exists any longer." Duke places the apatheia on the floor.

Lies! Take me to the sage!

"Well, that's a problem. I'll be needing that back, now. I made a promise I'd take this thing home." Even if Zeru is dick who tried to eat him in his sleep.

Duke just waves a hand as he takes out his sword. "Neither I nor humanity have a need for such a thing. No one does, not even you." The golden light from Keiv Moc erupts and Yuri hears the core cry as it's torn apart into bubbles of aer. When he's done, there's nothing left and Yuri realizes Duke killed it… "The apatheia bring only chaos to humanity. They are better off returned to aer."

"Returned to aer...? Is that really all you did just now...?" Rita gasps staring at the sword and the ground where the apatheia once sat.

"That's still no reason to go smashing it." Yuri hisses.

Patty turns her nose. "How rude to do this to a treasure we finally got a hold of!"

"Wasn't the clear ciel crystal -the apatheia - needed to save this town from the monsters?" Estelle states with concern and faint anger.

"This town has no use for a barrier and no need to be saved." Duke says sheathing his blade. "This place has been granted everlasting calm."

"Oh, yeah? What about monsters and stuff like that." Yuri says crossing his arms.

"They'll never come here. You should have noticed by now. Or are you not paying attention?" Yuri narrows his eyes at those words as he suddenly realizes that there's no smells here. No there are, but they feel fake. He places a hand on the table and lets it fall through as everyone gasps.

"This place isn't real, is it?" Yuri says as the walls fade away to show the desert in the corner of his eyes.

Duke nods. "Correct. Though that would have been clear if you were paying attention."

Repede sniffs the air but just sits in confusion. "But, it smells real!"

It does and that's the weird part. All the oddities suddenly become clear to him. If this is Yormgen as it was a thousand years ago then everything makes perfect sense. "You seem to know a lot. So you must know about me and Estelle."

"Yes! Why does Phaeroh want me dead?"

Duke looks at her pleading eyes and simply opens his mouth. "There is a being in this world who possesses a power the Entelexeia despise. This being is known as the Child of the Full Moon."

Estelle thinks carefully on the words. "...Child of the Full Moon, like in the legend... The one with Brave Vesperia." Yuri's mind travels back to that old fairy tale. He remembers it vaguely… Something about wo siblings stopping a calamity. One became the night star Estelle had named the guild after and the other was the Child of the Full Moon who stayed behind. Yeah, he never has been easy on nights when the moon is full... "But what would these Entelexeia have against me...against the Child of the Full Moon? Yuri do you know?" He just shrugs, because other than being poisonous Phaeroh should have no reason to go out and hunt Estelle.

"That answer lies only within the hearts of the Entelexeia themselves." Duke says cryptically. There's no more they can gain from him and when they leave they can't stop mentioning the Goddess the Child of the Full Moon. That name is often left from scripture, but it is dated around the start of the empire. So perhaps that's where the truth lies.

"So this town isn't real?" Karol asks setting his hand on a tree. "But, it all feels real."

Yuri tries to explain it best can. "It's real and not all at the same time. There's a tree there, but there's solid aer forming a tree to us. That make sense?"

Patty rests her head on her fist tilting in confusion. "I guess."

"Let's just leave tomorrow and get back to Mantaic."

It's a lazy day for the most part and Yuri gets fidgety in a few hours before he needs to spar. He's forced to stop for the stupidest reason; that being his hand cramps up. It's annoying and he's forced back in the inn by Estelle when he starts limping because of how sore his body feels. He flops in of the inn bed groaning. A loud slurp enters his ears and he sees Patty on the bed next to him with a large bowl.

"Want some oden?"

He has to pass even though it does smell good. "I can't. Sorry, but ya know…"

She holds out the skewers from the bowl. "Oh, come on, try some! It's my grandfather's secret recipe."

"What do you mean? I thought you lost your memory."

Patty takes a bite off one of the skewers. "I know everything when it comes to Aifread. I spent a long time investigating him, after all. That's how I know that Aifread was the one who told me my name when I lost my memory."

"Aifread gave you your name?"

"Aye. That's my oldest memory." Yuri sees a smile different than what Patty usual gives spread on her face. There's no mischief or silliness, just love. "I don't know if he's my real grandfather or not. But I feel like he's such an important person to me that I can't think of him any other way."

"I see. Still, it may be wise to keep that to yourself." Yuri understands that… He loved, still loves, Norien like a mother even though it hurt her reputation. He can't love parents who were never there, but he can love her.

"Aye. But..."

"You're used to it now."

"Aye. I try not to let the little things get to me."

Yuri smirks. "'When the going gets tough, the tough don't cry!', was it? Even though you know that in your head, it won't stop what you're feeling."

Patty stays proud. "I've got more patience than a camouflaged stone flounder sitting still on a stone wall. And if I do ever choose to cry it will be over something that's worth it"

"I see. It looks like you've soured your relationship with that guild, though."

"No worries! Things will work out somehow. Tomorrow's wind will blow tomorrow, and what will be shall be." She holds the bowl up to his face. "Anyway, you'll feel down if your stomach's grumbling."

He a cautious takes a bite and finds it's good. "Huh, that's a surprise." He takes another happily. "It's pretty good."

"Of course it is!" Patty cheers.

After a few more bites Yuri leans back curiously. "You seem to be taking all this weirdness in rather well. You don't even know me that much, so why aren't you bothered by any of this?"

She blinks a moment as if surprised by the question's very existence. "Because, you're a good person. Any soul with working eyes could see you have a bleeding heart. That what I like about you and what I'm choosing to focus on." She takes a long slurp of her oden. "Besides, I don't get half the stuff you folks say anyway."

"You're something else Patty."

"I hope that something involves a ring covered in jewels." She partially teases. "I still plan to bed you for my wife."

"What happened to being you supposed husband?"

Patty smirks. "That was before I thought of how dashing you might look in a wedding gown."

"Yeah… not gonna happen."

Come morning they set off with the kid's parents through the desert. They don't have a goal past getting to Nordopolica and meeting Belius as a group. It's a three-day journey back as they rush to make it to Mantaic in time for the midday sun. Along their trip Yuri was forced to take breaks several times from aching bones and joints. His body doesn't feel right especially in his legs and spine. Nothing has changed or a least nothing anyone can see, but that pain is weighing him down. It'd a miracle they make such great time. They stop when they see people about thinking the knights have loosened regulations when they realize that these people are being forced into a wagon. Standing in the center is Cumore speaking of riches and fame for any who finds Phaeroh as he cracks a whip on a protesting woman. If it's anything like last time this isn't going to work if they confront him so Karol proudly decides to break a wheel from the wagon as he enjoys the chaos. It's decided that hiding in the inn is their best option… Yuri swears as he walks he smells a faint trace of Flynn. But, if he was here none of this shit would be happening. He's certain it's him once they're inside and he follows his nose to room giving a loud knock.

He's yanked inside unceremoniously to where Flynn is. The blonde is wearing a cloak over his head and he immediately shushes Yuri. "First, I know! Shut up! I'm not supposed to even be here. Cumore's enforcing martial law to keep other brigades from entering so I had to sneak inside in order to know what's happening. The idiot still seems set on throwing a coup and right now isn't the best time to be bringing a brigade without proper orders from Alexei himself. It'll be a legal mess otherwise."

"But, why is he after Phaeroh and why were you at the coliseum trying to get close to Belius?"

"I'm not sure on Phaeroh, but I know Belius has to do with her being an Entelexeia. She's a war criminal as well, so Alexei wishes her brought in for questioning. I take it you already knew that bit first, though?"

"Yeah, I got a nice chat with her myself. So as a knight you plan on destroying an entire city? You know that she's basically the head of her own country, right?"

"I am well aware of my actions. But, I have faith in my orders and intend to follow them."

"What about now right? Cumore is sending every person he can grab into the desert to die! This nut might kill the whole town at this rate."

"I'm doing what I can."

"But you're not doing anything now!"

"Let me see your hands." Yuri is pissed off because Flynn is changing the subject. Because, Flynn knows he should be taking action, but he isn't. He knows, but won't acknowledge it.

"What's the matter? Won't admit I'm right."

"Show me your fucking hands!" He knew this was coming, but it's still a pain as Yuri pulls off the gloves. Yuri's not sure what to think when Flynn's hands starts trembling around his. Flynn's prodding his hand, pressing on the pads, touching the fuzz of fur. It's gotten a bit thick around his hands and Yuri admits he's been doing his best to shave it down. It's strange, because we the pads and fur Yuri doesn't feel the texture of Flynn's skin like he should. Everything is muted now when he touches things or walks barefoot. "How long?"

"Some time after Heliord. I had a really bad episode and woke up to purple hair and paw pads. I don't mind the hair too much, it's kind of cool." He's being casual about it because Yuri knows that Flynn is close to snapping and becoming blindly furious. At what, well that's unsure. Could be the world, Yuri, himself, or simply everything. "The fingers got like that after a few days along with the fur."

"And the bug coat?"

"Fur, I'm growing it basically everywhere in patches. So I needed something that could hide it better."

Flynn swallows. "Do you know what's happening now? Or if we can fixt it-"

"There's no cure as far as Belius is aware of. It's just gonna get worse."

Flynn's brow knits and Yuri knows he's thinking on something. "How long did she give you before you're not…?" He doesn't need to say; the words are well understood.

"About a year; probably less."

Flynn swallows and tries to smile at him with that same looks Norien might give when she was upset. "I'm sure there's ways we can fix this! We just have to look."

"It's okay Flynn. I can live with this."

"Bullshit! You're as okay with this as I am." But, Yuri has to be… There's really no choice in the end. "Just say you hate it already."

"I hate it, are you happy now?" Yuri spits crossing his arms.

Flynn shakes his head sadly. "No, I'm not. I know there's a way to fix this! I'm not going to let this happen to you!"

Yuri just shakes his head. "If you can pull off a miracle then all the more power to you."

"About Nordopolica…" Flynn bites his lip and his face seems a little pink. "Why did you say Lady Estellise is my girlfriend?"

"Aren't you two dating?"

Flynn shakes his head violently. "Lady Estellise and I… we'd never… we're not a couple!"

Yuri raises a brow. "What's the big deal? It's not like I'd plan on taking her from you. Estelle's really good for you!"

Flynn palms his face. "But, we're not dating!"

"Oh, I get… This is one of those neither of you will admit you're a couple things." Yuri rolls his eyes. Man, of all the people to get stage fright with ladies Flynn should not be one of them. Poor Estelle, she probably needs to take the lead with everything when it comes to this sap. "Just ask her out already."

"I'd rather not."

"Don't be so shy!" Yuri grins. "You can practice on me."

"Yuri, I am this close to slugging you in the face." Flynn says holding his fingers together and he takes it as provocation to go further.

"I am flattered you love me so much, but this time try 'Estelle would you be my girlfriend?'"

Flynn sighs shaking his head. "Yuri, I swear-"

"It's real simple Flynn. Just say, I love you." Flynn punches him straight in the jaw and Yuri is knocked into the wall. "Fuck, really Flynn?!"

"I told you I was going to slug you." Flynn huffs. "I'm more amazed you didn't take me seriously."

Yuri groans rubbing his sore jaw. "Ass, you're taking this too seriously."

Flynn turns up his nose and crosses his arms. "I think my actions are thoroughly justified." A pain crunches through Yuri before he can retort and he stops as he legs rattle in pain. "Yuri, are you okay?"

He holds up a hand so Flynn won't attempt to coddle him. "I'm good. It's just growing pain… really fucking painful growing pains."

"I promise, we'll fix this." It's a nice sentiment, but Yuri can't say he believes Flynn. Neither of them have a solution or the skill for this sort of thing. Yuri just sits on the floor waiting for the pain to stop completely. Flynn grabs the bags and flings them tightly over his shoulder. "I'm heading back to my troops. Try not to cause too much trouble before I return."

"No promises." Yuri to feels the skin on his face burn and he grimaces. Isn't this all a little fast for something that should take a year? He groans setting his head in his knees. Give him a break for once!

Felinis: I can't wait for the next chapter...