Chapter 3- To begin anew.

"Sieg."

Sieg stopped abruptly and turned around to face the voice, finding Artemis leaning with her small back against the cold damp stone walls. Sieg noticed her clean attire of white slacks, ankle high boots, long-sleeve shirt, and custom long coat. It was basically what Sieg usually wore save for the face that hers was all white. That and today Sieg only had a dark pair of pants, small boots, and a sleeveless gray shirt.

"Yes Legionnator Artemis?" Sieg asked slower then usual. The reason for his slowness is that He and Arcia had been working 24-7 to help the ex-inhabitants, survivors, become comfortable in their new surroundings, the ruins of Tkachek. This used to be where the first Order was before the Reformation ended the first and created the newer Holy Order. But ruins they may be, they were safe. At least for the moment.

Artemis chuckled briefly and looked at the opposite wall before saying, "Formalities are necessary in times of peril?"

Sieg though too tired to chuckle, instead merely asked, "What is it you require Artemis?"

"Would asking for hope be too much?" Artemis retorted, shaking obscurely from the quick freezing breezes passing through the ruin catacombs.

Sieg grunted at her unnecessary but usual harsh sarcasm and answered, "At the moment it would be nice. But I cannot offer you solace. I can only say that we will make it."

Artemis scoffed roughly and snapped, "Am I the only one not blind to the forces we face? They outnumber us a hundred to one. Not even a Legionnator such as yourself can take on those odds."

"True but I believe we can survive with our determination." He quickly answered.

Another scoffed and Artemis asked with a hint of annoyance, "You believe that?

Sieg answered flatly, "I hope."

Artemis bounced off the wall and enraged, she slammed her white gauntlet covered hand on the stone, chipping off a large piece of it. "You hope?! We could be attacked at any moment and you hope?!"

"Artemis!" Sieg shouted with a sudden burst of anger and irritability.

Artemis stopped, surprised by his quickly produced energy shout.

"It has to start somewhere doesn't it?" Sieg asked with his usual seriousness. "If I as the leader of these homeless people don't act as if we are going to make it, then the sacrifice of all the other Legionators and warriors will be for naught! I must bring hope to my people, by any means necessary. I shall not go without a fight."

Artemis stood there, utterly stupefied by Sieg's stubbornness and unwillingness to falter. It was very leader-like. It was also one of the things that the recently destroyed Order looked for in a Legionator. That is why……

But one thing bothered Artemis.

"Sieg." She said in nearly a whisper, "Why now do you come as if you were a hero? Didn't you leave soon after the incident with Delacroix?"

The rapid uneasiness seemed to flush out of Sieg as she brought that subject up. That territory was forbidden.

But Sieg had a reminder of his own. "Before answering that, how about you answer this. Didn't you leave as the enemy overcame us?"

Artemis quickly flustered from his question as he did to hers. This was now a battle of words and memories. But unfortunately for her, it would be a quick one and she knew this. At least Sieg came back to fight. Artemis was not willing to give her life up yet. Not for a organization she couldn't stand in the first place. That was supposed to be the reason why she abandon them, abandoned everyone to the enemy. But she often wondered if that was the real reason. And now that she was back did they really want her?

Sieg knew what was going on inside Artemis. It was partly the reason why Sieg was so much higher in rank, with her controlling 3 Legion Crests and him controlling 7 including an Ultimate Crest.

Many times in her past, she had shown a slight sign of apprehension. After time, it gradually became something similar, and this was putting it bluntly, cowardice. This time ,she had fled when the enemy came, and now coming back afterwards, she now unknowingly isolates herself from everyone, making herself feel outcast. When in all honesty, they needed her now more then ever.

But still, not even Sieg could force her to stay. "Artemis. I feel your pain-"

"Do you?" She cut in, voice barely above a whisper.

Sieg grunted then stated, "If you wish to leave, you can. It's up to you entirely." He had not anticipated the cold stare from her. That look chilled him to the bone. He actually would have now preferred the angry outbursts she was known for.

But this was no outburst, it was just ice cold harshness.

"Say what you will about me before but at least I came back!" She viciously snapped.

"But come back for what? I ask you and with that I shall leave you." Sieg turned around, growing more tired from the conversation and unhurriedly trudged back to his quaint room.

Artemis stood there dumbfounded. In those two sentences, she had felt that her whole life had been for forfeit, as if she didn't have any meaning.

Another draft quickly brushed past her, seizing her in it's cold vice grip. But she didn't move. Not even to comb back the dark emerald strands of hair that danced whimsically around her small face. She now felt empty.

Sieg on the other hand was glad that he had finally made it to his room. He pushed open the inconveniently heavy iron door, and stumbled in the dark chamber for the lantern he had asked Arcia to placed in his room. Finally finding it on the other side of the room, past all the garbage that laid in wait on the floor for some unsuspecting traveler, he turned it on letting the warm amber glow illuminate the small room. He turned back around to close the door only to find someone standing in the doorway.

At first he thought it was Artemis angered by his final comment but he quickly realized that it couldn't be. The frame of this person was much larger in size, larger then Sieg. He also wore a different outfit. His sleeveless trench coat was a dark sage color but the rest of his clothing was similar to old eastern civilization. The pants he wore were baggy at the bottom and his vest sat under his trench coat. He also had small eastern sandals with sage color socks.

The larger man moved, incredibly quietly into the light, giving off this enormous smile as a greeting. "Long time no see Sieg," he spoke with such vigor in his deep booming voice despite the fact that he looked as was well over 50 years of age..

Sieg couldn't help but return the friendly smile as he replied quietly, "Not long enough Julian. Not long enough."

Julian exploded into a fit of laughter as he quickly came up and seized Sieg in a tight bear hug. Sieg almost passed out from the great power behind Julian's massive arms.

"Julian…." Sieg gasped, "Please……"

"Oh!" Julian exclaimed as he set the stunned Sieg down, still laughing whole-heartedly. "I'm sorry mate. Just full of cheer to see you alive and well."

"Yes….Full of cheer as always" Sieg spat through coughing. After finding his breath again, he sat down on his hard spring mattress and motioned for Julian to close the door.

Julian swung his leg out a little knocking the door just enough to close somewhat silently. With the reassuring thud, the door locked itself into place.

Julian then found himself a chair amongst the rubble that littered the floor and sat in it leaning on the back quite carefree.

"Well then mate-oh I mean leader." Julian joked.

Sieg waved him off and said, "I'm no leader. Just someone who took control of the situation as it reached a dire point."

Julian tipped his head to the side and said jokingly, "You still talk funny, you know?"

"You aren't the culmination of linguistic skills yourself." Sieg shot back.

Julian just stared at him for a moment and then busted into a fit of laughter again.

Sieg rolled his eyes in response and then decided to inquire as to why Julian came.

"Julian?"

With his laughter dying down a bit, he replied, "Yes?"

"Why are you here?"

Julian abruptly slowed down and stopped his laughter and shaking his head, he asked, "Should I have a reason to come back during this time? You need men to fight and I can fight very well."

Sieg looked at him sternly then asked, "What made you come back? I thought you were through with the Order."

Julian rapidly became depressed and slouched in his chair.

Sieg knew it was an uncomfortable topic but it needed discussion.

"They were bloody fools." Julian started, voice no longer soft and playful. "I told them not to underestimate them and they did anyways."

Julian stopped for a moment to gather his thoughts and Sieg waited patiently for him to continue.

"We could have stopped them earlier on had the Order been serious about the Demons. But because of your victory against Azrial, they suddenly thought that all their Legionnators were invincible. And my men paid the price for their arrogance." Another pause, this time with a short prayer mumbled to his fallen comrades and then he continued.

"That's why I left. I wasn't going to follow an organization that was going to blatantly get their followers killed like that. I just couldn't take it."

"But shouldn't you have stayed to help fight? If not to protect the Order itself, then the people." Sieg asked.

Julian looked up to Sieg and said angrily, "Don't think I've been sitting on my ass not doing anything. I'm not like the others damn it."

By others, Sieg could only think of Artemis and those that suffered a hideous death by the hands of the Demons. Poor souls.

"Day and night, week by week, I've spent the last two months fighting to protect as many souls as I could. But no matter how many I saved, two of three more died in my hands, while I fought to protect them." He suddenly grew cold as a sneer crawled onto his face, "You know, I look at the people here and only recognize a handful of them? I can't find any of the others that I struggled to protect. I wonder if what I did, I did for naught."

"No!" Sieg suddenly burst.

Julian looked up at him questioningly.

"We are Legionnators, we fight for the Order, and if the Order is gone then our obligation is to the people." Sieg announced proudly.

Julian shook his head and let out a cold chortle. "Not everyone shares your strength or vigor on that."

Sieg stood up and looked down at Julian, shocked that he would say that. Beside himself, Julian had always been one to proudly show his loyalty to the Order. But now, his loyalty was questionable. As was Artemis.

Sieg sat back down and dropped his head, gazing at the cluttered stone floor. He didn't know what to do now. The people around him were failing, and the support was faltering. Whatever happened to the man that had hope only minutes ago? The man who came back from a life of peace and happiness to fight again? What happened to Sieg Wahrhiet?

An aura of silence and apprehension filled the room now. Neither one of them wanted to say anything for it would only make matters worse. If that was possible. But it wouldn't last. Julian had a knack for changing the conversation to more lighter things. His skill for that came in handy now.

"To make it a brighter mood….." Julian mused aloud.

Sieg though made no hint of acknowledging him. He was too deep into his own tunnel of despair that he didn't hear Julian.

"What about this rubbish I hear about you and Arcia?" Julian asked with a wryly grin on his face.

That though got Sieg's attention real quick. He snapped his head up with a questionable look on his face and stuttered, "W-What do you mean? W-W-What rumors?"

Julian's grin only got bigger as he explained very tactfully, "Oh just some things on the grapevine. I've heard this and that, you know the usual that comes with every popular pairing."

This wasn't exactly the most comfortable situation for Sieg anymore. He wasn't one for this……..particular subject. Sure, he and Arcia fought together to rid the world of Azrial and put Delacroix down to rest but that was it. No feelings arose from that……..right? Self-doubt quickly seized him and now he was more uncomfortable then before.

Julian on the other hand had a grin so big, that if it got any bigger, his face would spilt in half. He loved to put Sieg, the "unbreakable", in a hot spot. This man had the reputation as a man of action and intense determination with great focus. A man not to trust anyone so lightly nor to act out his emotions so easily. He was as a military strategist would say, the perfect soldier. One who does not let his emotions get in the way. Or that's how some say he is. Julian though could see right through the "Perfect Soldier" act and see that Sieg was really a caring man. Especially when one uses the time he spent with Siela and Delacroix before Azrial, as an example. Not many saw it, but Julian saw that he was truly happy. Of course you couldn't see it on his face., but it was there. One just had to look hard enough.

And now, Sieg seemed different again. Similar as when he was with Siela and Delacroix yet different. Close to as when he was just Sieg the solider and yet, oddly unalike.

"Well?" Julian pressed on. He was going to get something out of him sooner or later. Why not just save himself the trouble? "Is there something?"

Sieg did not want to divulge into this. It irritated him. But then did he have feelings for Arcia? He didn't even know. All he did know was that he could trust her and that by itself was something few people could attain from Sieg.

"Camaraderie." Sieg finally stated flatly.

Julian's grin fell faster then a meteor during a meteor shower. "What?"

"It's merely camaraderie. I trust her, she trusts me. Simple." Sieg explained, now feeling much better.

Julian rolled his eyes. "Sieg, Sieg, Sieg. That's what it starts with. Then it changes, expands. It becomes stronger."

He stood up stretching out his old tired muscles and then said, "Don't ignore it Sieg. Trust me, that is not something you want to do."

"Why's that?" Sieg wondered aloud.

Julian chuckled and walked back to the door to lean on it, "Because when it's too late to say anything then you will be in greater pain and you can't do anything about it."

Sieg merely stared at Julian.

"Trust me." Julian closed his eyes for a mine, "That's one of the worst things you could do." Then his voice suddenly became a whisper, "To not say what needs to be said."

It seemed like this was starting to become a more personal matter, in which Sieg had no ability to help. But just as he was about to change the subject, it seemed that Julian had read his mind.

"You know, I heard another little rumor that you decided to head out."

Sieg stirred a bit and said, "Where did you hear that?"

Julian opened his eyes and grinned, "Gonna go after the Son of Sparda huh?"

Sieg took off his boots and placed them by the bed, all without saying a single word.

Julian crossed his arms and said, "All by yourself too. You're going to leave us to go after the Son of Sparda."

Sieg quickly shot back, "Do you see any other way?"

Julian put his hands up saying, "Hey, chill out. I'm not calling you a coward or anything. I'm saying you got balls to be going after the bloody head of the whole damn Demon Army." Letting his hands find the pockets of his trench coat he quickly added, "Might be a suicide mission right there."

"No." Sieg spoke flatly, "Suicide is staying here, thinking that we might outlast them." He swing his legs onto the bed and laid down, somewhat disappointed at the softness of the bed. It was laying on a rock slab.

"You got a point." Julian agreed, "But you're only one man. Against millions? Not the best odds."

"I don't have a choice. I must do it, for the people of Rotar." Sieg decreed.

Julian gazed at the look on Sieg's hardened face. He knew that powerful look of determination. He also knew that trying to talk him out of it would be futile.

"Then let me go with you." Julian offered. "It's the least I can do for-"

"No!" Sieg exploded sitting up.

Julian stopped startled by his outburst.

"If you come with me then my mission will be in vain. You and Artemis must stay and fight till I can return. They will find you before I return, considering where we are at. You have to hold out till I return." Sieg laid back down and closed his eyes. "So I can return to something instead of nothing."

Julian jumped off the door finally deciding to let Sieg get his rest but just as he was going to reach for the door, it swung open nailing him on the nose. Julian fell back crying out in pain as Sieg jumped up grabbing his sword that rested on the desk beside the bed, on instinct.

Sieg looked at the doorway and was surprised to see the same knight that he talked to before, panting in front of him But what startled him the most was the look of terror in his face. Sieg was about to ask what was wrong when the knight screamed, "They're here! They're here! They have found us!"

Sieg couldn't believe the timing of this. It was way too quick. He quickly snatched up his gauntlets and boots and put them all on, rushing out the room with the angered Julian not too far behind him.

"Damn that kid! My nose is bleeding!" Julian complained as they turned a corner only to met a wave of people running like mad men. As the rush died down and the people escaped to safety, Julian and Sieg charged forward again through many corridors and rooms till they got to the third to the top level. Halfway through, they find a single person standing in front of a door and from the door was coming the sounds of bone crunching and wet splatters.

They ran up to the lone figure. Sieg grabbed it's shoulder whipping around a startled Artemis. Surprised to see her, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Nostrils flaring, Artemis nearly exploded with rage, "What kind of question is that?! I'm here to kill the demons before they return to report our location!"

Julian burst into a fit of laughter then catching a nasty glare from Artemis, decided to stifled it.

Sieg apologized, then let his combat skills take over, "How many are there?"

"Seven." Artemis quickly answered unsheathing her two Viper claw batons. "Five small ones and two big ones."

"Do you know if they have reported our location?"

"Haven't a clue." Artemis said gravely.

Then Julian chimed in, "Then lets take them out as quick as possible!"

Artemis shot another look at Julian and said, "Under the assumption that they haven't already reported back!?"

Julian shrugged his large shoulders and said, "Why not? There is only one other way out this place and that's through the twin dragons. Rather kill these few demons then two bloody dragoons!"

Artemis turned to the rusted iron door that separated them and a distributive group of intruders and then turned to Sieg. "Well then commander? What do we do?"

Sieg already had the answer ready but he wanted to know one thing, "One thing Artemis."

Artemis nodded, "Yes?"

"Why are you here? What did you come back for?" Sieg asked the ill-favored question again.

Julian was about to flip out but Artemis stopped him with her comment.

"To prove something to myself. And to the people of Rotar." She answered proudly.

Sieg nodded and said, "Then lets go." He asked that because he needed a reason to trust her, to be able to trust her with his life.

Sieg walked up to the door and kicked up open to catch the Demons off guard. And it would have worked had there not been a demon near the door which flew and hit one of the bigger demons. That demon in turn whipped his head over to Sieg and roared for the others to notice.

But just as Sieg was about to charge them, Julian firmly gripped his shoulder.

Sieg turned to him wondering what possibly could be wrong now.

Julian grinned at Sieg and lifted up his sage colored gauntlet. "I think it would be nice and proper to let our Legions do the talking. Quickest way to take out this rubbish."

Sieg nodded and looked to Artemis who agreed as well.

The three of them stood straight up as the Demons started charging at them and in unison slammed their gauntlets into the ground. With a bright flash of light, the Demons suddenly realized that they were not coming out of this one alive.