I know I know..... why only now? It's been a while since I last updated. Stuff like college and games and selling my soul to Philippine Ragnarok Online took my time and creativity away. It's summer, so I can finish this!

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The bars in this country, at first glance, seem to be no different from the ones we have back home. There's your typical rowdy and drunk patrons, gossipy bar tenders and passed out hobos on their tables. The tables and chairs are still made of cheap oakwood. Some of the mugs have beer leaking out beneath them. Sailors brag endlessly about their long and grossly exaggerated sea stories. Bartenders whisper the newest gossip into patron's ears, accompanied with the typical "Oooh's" and "Aahh!". The snoring of passed-out drunks rings in everybody's ears despite the noise made by everyone's chatter. Yep. Feels like home alright.

"Here's you ale, miss."

All except for the ale! All I can say is YUCK! I can't imagine how these damn things were made in the first place. Where were they aged? Inside dead man's boot? Horrible. Simply Horrible. Horribly horribly bad. I'd rather drink my own urine. Okay... maybe not.

"Uhh.... Mint? Tell me again what we're doing here?"

Rue took a sip of the ale, and pushed it away in mild disgust. Guess he didn't like it either.

"The professor said we should wait for one of the main research teams here. He said they frequent this... this place."

Frankly I couldn't imagine them being in this bar. Seeing a bunch of intellectuals sitting in a bar drinking the night way was a strange sight. I also couldn't imagine them drinking this sad excuse for ale. I asked for a glass of milk to wash away the taste. The milk tasted a month old. I shuddered at the thought of how their water might taste and quickly pushed the glass of milk away. Isn't there anything to drink in this place? I can't stand it!

We've bee waiting for a while already since those archaeologists haven't arrived yet. They're supposed to be the ones who were in charge of the excvation on Lady Andrena's atelier before the government closed the project due undisclosed reasons. The team is working on another excavation on an isolated valley to the east, but the professor said the details are beig kept under tight secrecy. He said they were currently unsure of what the place actually is, but initial findings point to it to be an old ancestral home. Hmm... I wonder...

Something reeks. I think I can smell the stench of vomit coming from somewhere in this bar. Ugh. I can't take it any more. I feel like puking myself....

"Look! You either pay or get out of here!"

A shout coming from the stairwell diverts my attention from the sour smell of puke. A young girl of about 15 or 16 came rushing down the stairs with a messily-packed bag. Above her stood a large middle-aged pot-bellied man who was probably the innkeeper. He shouted at her as she came down the stairs.

"A week without paying your bills? Get out you josh!"

"Please sir! Just give me 3 more days!"

The girl was pleading with him. The stern look of the innkeeper meant he wasn't changing his mind. I decided not to intervene. I thought of helping but I might just make things worse. She strutted away with her face and eyes going all red. Looks like she was about to cry but was holding it in. Taking her hastily packed bag she began walking to the door. She's pretty tough after taking that kind of beration. If it were me I'd have kicked the innkeeper's head in. Of course that's just me. I used to be quite hot-headed before, but events of the past year cooled me off a bit. Rue said it wasn't fitting for a princess and he said he didn't want to be on the business end of my temper. Boy... if he only knew he truth....

If he only knew....

*CRASH*

The sound of a body falling echoed across the beer hall. Looking to my side, I saw the young girl on the floor, apparently tripping on Rue's weapon that was leaning on the bar table. Rue, like the gentleman that he is, panicked and began helping her up. She quickly got up and bowed to Rue, all the while dusting off the dirt from her dress. I got up from my stood to try and help her too.

"Are okay miss? I'm... I'm sorry. I should have placed that thig somewhere else. Are you alright?"

"I'm okay. No worries. I'm such klutz hehehe. Later. Thankies!"

For someone who just lost her place to sleep she was awfuly cheerful. And in a rush too. She bowed down to Rue again and headed out the door for parts unknown. I just had a feeling we'd meet her again.

And speaking of being in a rush, those damn scientists better rush down here before I lose my temper!

*Sigh*

.... Makes me wish I was working with Klause again...

****************

I looked out the window. I could see the sky getting darker. It's getting late. We've bee waiting here for hours. It's getting annoying, but we really can't complain when those scientists arrive. We requested their time so we have to wait for them. They're the best info we've got about Lady Andrena's atelier. I just wished we had something to do to releave this boredom... and maybe all this noise for the matter. I never liked bars myself. Mint said bars like this were everyday to her in her kingdom, but seeing her face twist after a sip of ale I knew she changed her mind. I can't stand it either. I can't imagine what their water would taste like. I wouldn't even dare to try.

I wonder how that girl is doing. She took quite a verbal beating from the innkeeper guy. I'd probably have broke down and cried if it were me. Mint had such an angry look on her face when the innkeeper was shouting. I've never seen her put on an angry scowl before. I was such idiot for putting my Arc Edge on that side of the bar table. A little to the left and she might have fallen directly on the blade. I'm so careless. I decided to look for her later and help her find a place to sleep. It's the least I could do.

At that moment, a bunch of burly but smart looking men came in the bar. They were covered in dust, including their mustaches. They must be the research team we've been looking for. There were 6 of them in total, and they took over a table in a far corner of the room. Mint got up to greet the man. I paid the barkeep and followed suit.

"Excuse me? Would you be the museum's northern research team?"

The man with the glasses stood to greet Mint. Mint wiped the ale off her hands to shake his. His geeky but wise look reminded me of someone, but I couldn't figure out who.

"Yes miss. That we are. Am I correct to assume that you are Princess Mint of the East Heaven Kingdom?

"Huh? Yes I am. How did you know?"

The man took out a cigar and puffed it.

"Of course I know you, your highness. I had the honor of holding court with your Royal Family ten years ago during a visit to your kingdom. I was part of our kingdom's visiting emissaries. I don't think you would remember us. As I recall, you were asleep on your seat at the time."

Mint scratched her head and gave a weak smile. We both pulled up chairs and sat at their table.

"Well... as you know, the government has suspended further searches at the site of Lady Andrena's atelier indefinitely due to security concerns. Knowing that she was the younger sister of the Aeon Valen, and upon hearing of the incident regarding him in your kingdom, the Department of Historical Research instructed us to suspend research on sites related to him for fear of his creations being misused. We have already unearthed plenty of Aeonic creations, including hundreds of [relics] that were broken or we had to disable ourselves."

My heart lept upon hearing that they have unearthed so many [relics], but I was saddened to hear that they were no longer functioning. One of them could have been used to save Claire! No matter... we're going to find one that works.

"However yours is a special request. After hearing of how you defeated him when he attempted to resurrect, the DHR deemed it safe for you and your friend to inspect the place."

Mint put up a big smile. A very big one. As for myself I couldn't hide my joy. I'd probably bounce off the walls if I could

"Here's the map to the site. We've instructed the guards there of your arrival. You'll have to go to the town of Ixiom north of here, then go to the site on foot to the northwest. It should take you two days from Ixiom to get there. I'd suggest you guys get some rest tonight so you can leave early and get to Ixiom by late afternoon. Go on! Shoo!"

Both of us quickly got up, bowed and said our goodbyes. Heading for the door I heard the old man speak again.

"The two of you better not "expend" all of your energy tonight. You'll need it tomorrow."

He winked at us. Mint quickly turned around and blushed like a rose. Ummm.... I don't get what he said.

****************

Waaahhhh....

What am I gonna do now? That darn fat innkeeper kicked me out of the inn, now I don't have a place to sleep! I told him to wait for just a few more days, but he wouldn't believe me. I told him I'd be able to pay him off once I get back into the atelier in the north. I recently heard a rumor that a pair coming from the East Heaven Kingdom ws give access to the atelier. I just needed to find them and somehow tag long. Now that I'm out in the streets, how am I supposed to find them?

I dragged my bag and sat on a bench by the fountainside. I was horrified when I woke up and found my stasis pod was inside a museum storage room! It was just a good thing some of my stuff was with me. I managed to sneak out of the museum with what little stuff I hd with me.

And I was naked at the time! It would have bee DANGEROUS if I wore clothes inside the pod, but I didn't think I'd be inside a dusty old room rather than the atelier. Man.... even if it was in the middle of the night, I wouldn't want to run across town again in my birthday suit. It was a good thing there was a clothes shop nearby (that had a lot of neat clothes by the way). It was closed, so I took some clothes I liked and left some gold at the counter.

I probably shouldn't have used up most of my gold buying clothes. It's a bad habit of mine... but they were all so nice and cool! I didn't have much when I woke up, and the gold I had left was barely enough to get me back to the atelier, where I realized the guards wouldn't let me in. I would have blasted way through (I could if I wanted to), but my powers hadn't come back yet, so I had no choice but to come back here and look for the pair that had permission to go in.

And now I'm sitting here. I took out a sandwich, and realized it was my last bit of food. Wahh... now I'm gonna go hungry.

"Hey! You're that girl! You don't look so good...."

I looked up and saw the guy who helped me up back at the bar. He had a concerned look on his face. He was this girl who looked eerily familiar. I know I've seen tht face somewhere before.

"You got kicked out of the inn right? You need a place to stay?"

"Umm.... yeah... but I better get going now...."

Yeah I'd better go. I need to find a way to get back to the atelier, and find a way to sneak inside.

"Huh? At this time of night?"

The redheaded girl asked curiously. I don't have time for 20 questions!

"I need to get Ixiom fast. I HAVE to go now if I'm ever going to find a way there."

"Ixiom? That's where we're going! We're going there tomorrow morning! You could come with us if you need aride."

My face lit up at his proposal. Finally! A way north! Wait.... are these guys who I think they are....

"We're on our way to check out a old atelier there. If you need a place to spend the night you could stay with us. Our room's too big for the both of us anyway."

Yes! I'm sure of it! These are the two who have the special pass! What luck!

"My.... thank you so much!"

"My name's Mint. He's Rue. Pleases to meet you!"

She rasied her hands to shake mine. I haven't done that with a human for a log time...

"My name's Andrena! Call me Ann! Please to meet ya!"