Me: Well, this is the last chapter. As for me, I'll continue writing in other franchises like Naruto or Fire Emblem.

Colette: At least I was saved from the clutches of Cruxis.

Lloyd: I'm so happy you're okay, Colette.

Yuan: By the way, Kinira... I have a question. Were we intended to fight Mithos?

Me: Nope. I planned that you fight Norn. I don't know why... But all in the main games in the Aseria the final boss is a half-elf. I wanted that you guys actually fight Norn because she gets so pissed at Mithos and she develops the idea that every human and half-elf is bad.

Kratos: It's scary that she would do that.

Raine: But Kinira has a point there. Dhaos has half-elves as ancestors... Richter and Mithos are declared half-elves. It's no wonder she wants to change something.

Scarlett: It would have actually been nice if the final boss of Dawn of the New World would be Ratatosk.

Me: I know... I just wonder how Ratatosk would look like. I think a giant human with elements of a squirrel. Maybe having a scarf which is so long that it forms a tail. But anyway... Hope you enjoyed the story and...

All: Keep yourself healthy!

Act II Tethe'alla; Chapter 24 – Hot Spring Break

Yuan wasn't happy with the suggestion of the stupid Chosen to spent some time at the Hot Spring in order to celebrate Colette's and Scarlett's return. He hated Hot Springs because of his hair. It would get wet and it also would take hours to get it dry again. He could cut his hair… But he didn't want to. The other reason he hated it was a far more personal one. He just didn't like bathing with others. Well, at least Kratos wasn't here. Otherwise the maiden's working here would faint over his well-built body.

Standing in front of the hot spring he sighed. He had wrapped his cape around his body tightly while both Lloyd and Zelos wore only towels around their hips. Upon seeing those two clearly enjoying the hot water Yuan blushed. He grabbed the ends of his cape with his hands and put it even tighter around his body. Just the image of him sitting in the hot spring… He had a reputation and if that idiot Yggdrasill found out about this… Oh the horror… If they weren't enemies he would have teased him until the end of his life.

"Come on, Yuan. The water is really good!" Lloyd called him.

"I'll… pass… No way I am going to… to go into the hot spring." he replied blushing even further. "Besides! I have a reputation! What would the other Renegades think of me?!"

"You do realize that the girls are spying on us." Zelos said smugly. "Scarlett as well…"

"You do realize, Chosen, that water channels lightning rather good. One spell and you will be electrocuted!" Yuan snapped.

"Yuan, I will be electrocuted as well…" the teenager sighed. "And I am the only one who can wield the Eternal Sword."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure that you are out of the water while I electrocute the stupid Chosen." the leader of the Renegades said. "Besides… Your father will have my head if I ever threaten you again… And an angry Aurion is a bad Aurion…"

"So… Are you coming now in the water, or what?" Lloyd raved annoyed.

Yuan gulped. The personification of both Anna's and Kratos' wrath combined… He was certain he would not survive this… Sighing in defeat, he slowly removed his cape and let it fall to the ground. Closing his eyes, he walked swiftly into the water and covered it with the liquid.

Actually… It felt rather good. His tense muscles relaxed and he gave a satisfied sigh. A thought actually started to form in his head. On a day off some of the Renegades could actually enjoy such a hot spring. It was a stress reliefer and the warmth felt really nice on a body.

If it weren't for the stares of all the maids. Some of them even gave them snacks… Not only to the stupid Chosen but also to him despite the fact that he could be easily identified as a half-elf. Maybe they were desperate for a male companion. Lloyd on the other hand was not really satisfied that the girls weren't giving him some snacks.

"Well, kiddo… Looks like you need to grow before the ladies even take a look at you." Zelos teased.

"At least I have my best years ahead of me. And there is only one lady for me." Lloyd replied.

"Oh really?"

"Really." the teenager said.

"Who is it? Your teacher or Colette?" Tethe'alla's Chosen asked.

"I won't tell." he answered with a huge smile in his face.

"Aw… You are no fun…"

"Children…" Yuan thought. "Always so-"

"Do you have someone you like, Yuan?" Zelos wanted to know before laughing. "Oh, let me guess. It's Scarlett!"

As an answer Yuan raised his hand and let lightning travel between his fingers. His face was very serious. The Chosen gulped while Lloyd gave a pout and dived until his mouth touched the water. The angel smiled at this reaction and leaned back. Closing his eyes, he heard some rustling. Apparently, the girls of this group had enough. Fine by him, he could now really relax.

Soon the stupid Chosen and the teenager left the waters. Yuan took a deep breath and left the hot spring as well. Immediately, he wrapped his body into the cape. He cursed because his hair got wet. This would take hours until they dried. But at least they didn't plan anything big right now.

The angel walked towards his yukata. Why they had one was beyond him but they were comfortable. But somehow, he could now feel his scars on his back he had received during hours of torture. His stepfather wouldn't be happy that his only, not even biological son, was tortured by his own men just because he was a half-elf and they didn't need him anymore. His stepfather was a kind human and besides Kratos the only human he had trusted… before he started travelling with this weird group. Thinking about his stepfather Luan Ka-Fai, he would have liked his fiancée or every Renegade. Even in such dire times Luan was an extraordinary human. He had adopted him, even though he was a half-elf and helped him becoming the very first half-elven general in the history of the kingdom Sylvarant.

Shaking his head, he sighed. That was in the past. He shouldn't waste his energy on that. Instead he focused simply on trying to get his hair dry. After about thirty minutes later he noticed that Zelos was going to the girls which were bathing right now. Furrowing his brows, he followed the stupid Chosen until they were right in front of the protection.

"What are you doing, stupid Chosen?" Yuan snarled angrily.

"I am going to check out the girls. Do you want to come with me?" Zelos asked.

"And why should I do that?"

"Because Scarlett would be there too. And I know from my resources that her breast size is rather big."

The angel sighed in annoyance and turned around while his face heated up. He just hoped that someone else would caught Zelos before he checked out the rest of their group. And truth to be told Lloyd was joining those two as well.

"What are you doing, Zelos?" the teenager asked him.

"Shh! Be quiet. I want to hear what they are talking about." the Chosen hushed him.

"Wait! Are you checking out the girls?!" Lloyd hissed.

"Shh! Be quiet or I'll hit you!"

"You are checking out the girls!"

"How about I cast my Divine Judgment upon you?!"

"This is getting stupid." Yuan raved. "You are a pervert, stupid Chosen. Scarlett was right calling you that."

The angel turned around and wanted to leave this place before he got into troubles.

Scarlett stared out of the window. Her legs were pressed to her chest and she wrapped her arms around them. She was in no mood of joining the other women of their group in the hot spring. The events had traumatized her very much.

Being kidnapped by one of her best friends, being used by Yggdrasill to retrieve the Great Seed, nearly killing her friends because of a trap and being unable to use magic because her Mana veins in her body were heavily damaged by someone's Mana. To describe her condition, she felt terrible.

A hand slid onto her shoulder causing her to flinch. She was about to use her magic but she stopped noticing that the gathered Mana wasn't enough to form any spell. She looked down onto her palm and closed her eyes.

"Norn said that you probably can't use magic anymore." Yuan said. "She didn't say that you will never be able to use magic anymore."

She barked a cold-hearted laugh. It sounded really odd coming from her considering she never laughed that way before.

"Don't you think I know this?!" she snapped at him. "It isn't because I can't use magic anymore! It is because that one of my closest friends helped kidnapping me!"

"You don't need to snap at me! I am not responsible for your kidnapping!"

"Why shouldn't I snap at you?! You only care about yourself and your pretty much dead fiancée! No one else!" she shouted angrily while tears started to form in her eyes.

"When answer me the following question, Scarlett! Why do you think I came all the way to Derris-Kharlan?!"

"Because… because…" she stopped and looked down.

Tears streamed down her face and she began to sob. However, she turned around and muttered something like he should go and she wanted to be alone. She also said that he didn't understand her at all.

Scarlett heard him leaving and began to cry even more. She buried her face in her palms and continued sobbing.

"Scarlett…" the now appearing Tonitrus said.

"Toni…" she muttered. "I'm sorry…"

"Hey, you shouldn't apologize to me. You should apologize to Yuan. But then again, I know how you are feeling. Then Aither died Lord Ratatosk was furious and constantly snapping at me. He is getting pissed rather easily… No wonder he got his nickname… The Lord of Angriness and Gossip! You should have seen him then he had first heard this nickname! He was so furious he threatened to kill Maxwell! Oh… I'm sorry… I got distracted again."

"It's okay… Toni." she replied and began smiling slightly. "It's just… difficult to get over what happened to me."

"Once you pass over this you will get stronger. Remember that, Scarlett Eclipse…"

Upon hearing the name of her Clan, her smile vanished and she looked down to the floor. Marvin, no Remiel, had explained to her that living in such a clan was a curse. Especially because he was a half-elf. A half-elf… Scarlett kind of wondered if nearly all of her problems resolved around her being a half-elf.

"Toni… Can I ask you something? What do you think about us?" she wanted to know.

"About your group? Hm… I like all of you." he replied grinning.

"I mean… What do you think about half-elves? Except from a few people, everyone thinks that-"

"I stay neutral towards half-elves. Yes, they cause some problems… But humans and elves cause as many problems as them. But I think no one should judge someone solely on their race."

"Do you… like me?"

"Of course, I do! You are such a nice person!"

"Do you think others like me?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't someone like you?"

"It's… just… I tend to get into troubles so much… I mean… My kidnapping… I cause so much trouble for-"

"Stop! Scarlett, listen to me!" Tonitrus shouted and jumped onto her lap. "Don't even think that way! You don't cause too much trouble for others. Everyone causes troubles for others. Not just you."

"Tonitrus… Thank you."

"You're welcome! Now come! I think you should spend some time in the hot spring as well before everyone returns back to the Renegade's base."