Love Charm

Just our luck. On the way to Baskar from the Ark of Destiny, we got caught up in a sandstorm. Then, we managed to crash into this serpent that lives near the rocks blocking the way to the inner sea, called Balal Quo Naga. And it doesn't look too happy to see my friends and I.

I begin to fire off all eight shots on our Sandcraft's gun. That knocks him around a lot, and he begins to slink away. But for some reason, an explosion rocked the area. We were nearly kicked back by the backlash, but the good thing is that the rocks in front of us were destroyed too.

Suddenly, I see a suitcase sinking deep into the sands. I jump in to grab it. But I ended up getting stuck myself. Just my luck, now I'm beginning to sink into the depths.

A hand pulls me up now. When I look back, I see Jet, using his scarves as a rope for Clive to hang onto while he goes down to get me. I'm now in his arms, lying in the deck of the Sandcraft.

"Stupid!" he yells at me, "You could have gotten yourself killed out there. Why did you go and jump in for some dumb suitcase? It wasn't as important as your life. Never, ever do that again." He turns his back on me, and walks back to his position at the Harpoon. But I can see him blushing.

I blush as well. He was worried about me. Maybe the Guardians are right. I can hear Moor Gault making catcalls at this, and Celsidue is giggling. We'd better find out who owns this suitcase. Wait a minute, wasn't Emilia's fiancée missing after going on his Sandcraft? Could this be his?

* * *

It was the suitcase of Emilia's fiancée, Mario. In return for returning it, she gives us a statue of a goddess that he brought home one day. As I hold it, I feel a strange power flowing through it. It almost feels like that of a Guardian. But I can't communicate with her at all, it's as if she's asleep.

*It's Raftina. Virginia, remember how I told you that the High Guardians turned to stone? Well, this is the statue of the Guardian of Love, Raftina. We've got to go back to the Fallen Sanctuary, and head to the northwestern pillar. Then, we can free her from this prison,* Schturdark informed me.

I say, "Guys, this thing feels like a Guardian. Do you think it has something to do with the High Guardians? From what I heard in Baskar, a goddess was one of the four High Guardians."

Gallows thought for a minute. "You're right Virginia, that statue looks just like the Guardian of Love, Raftina. I think that we can find out more if we head to the Fallen Sanctuary."

"Sad," Jet muttered, "The inexperienced chatterbox realized that the statue is a Guardian before the Baskar Priest. Proves that Gallows is the slowest man on this whole planet."

"Do you want to make something of it kid? If you do, we can fight right here and now. Come on, just you and me," demands Gallows. He brings up his fists, spoiling for a fight with Jet.

I beg them, "Please, don't fight you two. Let's just go to the Fallen Sanctuary, and free Raftina from her prison. I'm sure she can help us greatly when we're fighting against the Prophets. I don't think we've seen the last of those three, even after all the wounds they took at Yggdrasil."

I knew they were still alive. Else I would have seen Ge Ramtos coming for them. But instead, they had teleported out and escaped. These guys aren't the type to just give up, even though their greatest means towards their goal was destroyed. We'd meet again, I just didn't know when.

* * *

At the Fallen Sanctuary, I began to walk towards the northwestern pillar. We needed Jet's Radical Sneakers to get to the stairs. I waited for the group to catch up. Guess Gallows didn't know which one it actually is. They'll probably think that I'm just lucky to have chosen it right away.

A voice speaks directly into my mind. *Shaman, are you ready to fight? For you may be able to free me, but you'll need more than just that to be able to wield me. I can feel the love in your hear is strong, but are your skills up to par? Show me the power you and your allies have.*

We began to fight. Raftina was pretty slick. She started by copying our magical abilities. Then, she used her Weaken skill in order to foster elemental weaknesses. Luckily we all have several guards to protect us, saves me a lot of trouble when it comes to healing my allies from the injuries they get due to her attacks. Besides, I can combine my Force Skill Mystic, along with the Green Thumb PS that I got from Florina's Dried Flower to allow me to heal us for a greater amount in case of an emergency.

With her high magical defenses, we just attack her. Guardians, this is the most boring fight I've ever been in. But I can feel her life force getting weaker, she'll soon succumb, and we'll be victorious. She's beginning to feel like Stare Roe, Chapananga, and Celsidue did when we met them.

Finally, Raftina kneels down. I can see that she is ready to yield to us. The Guardian of Love looks up, and her eyes meet mine. I guess she's chosen me as her master.

*Shaman, I feel the strength of your love,* she tells me, *Make use of my powers in your fight. These monsters are going to pay for the damage they are doing to our beloved Filgaia.*

With that, her body begins to transform into a Medium. But unlike the other ones, her Medium is golden. She flies over to me, and I feel a gentle warmth covering my body. A light shines brightly from the Mediums. When it clears, I can see that Aqua Wisp and Moon Spark are also gold.

"I guess the legend is true then. The High Guardians are so pure, that their Mediums are made of gold. And to hold one gives that power to two other Mediums in your possession. Dang Virginia, you get all the luck. Then again, you've got the biggest heart out of all of us," Clive told me.

I was relieved. No one thought anything of it. They do say that the High Guardians are attracted to people who show their respective virtue in abundance. I look to see what Jet is doing at the moment. To my surprise, he is staring at me, with a small smile on his face.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Jet's got a crush, Jet's got a crush. And Virginia does too. Would you expect anything else from me? This is my fav. couple in the world. Ok, so maybe not in the world. But out of all the unstated couples in the world, Jet and Virginia take the cake. My big fav would be Stahn and Rutee in Tales of Destiny, but S & R do get together definately. They have a son in the sequel.