Ephidel: Meh.

Yuan: Feh.

Itachi: … … Meh.

Loki: Hurrah. I'm back in business, or whatnot, new chapters will come!

Ephidel looked back on his experiences with these rag-tag mercenaries. The closer he looked at them, the more intertwined they seemed. Let's say some warrior were to kidnap Nino, seemingly one of the least important of the group, Jaffar, Erk and Canas would be of the first to go after the warrior. Then to their aid would come Legault, Priscilla, and Serra and possibly Pent. So to make a long story short, almost everyone was part of a chain. But some people were apparently more than friends. That's where he came in. When it came to couplings Ephidel knew more than Serra, believe it or not. On rare occasion he would talk to Serra about them.

(Flash back)

"Oh, oh! Did you find some juicy details Effie? Well, Didja?" The pink haired cleric would bounce around him gleefully.

"Hn. Yes, I believe I have."

"Well, tell me, tell me, pleaaase pleeeaaase!"

"Fine." He would blab out one of the couplings and she would say something like, 'Oh they broke up yesterday' or 'Yeah, that is such old news!' and he would nod absentmindedly, zoning out while she babbled on. But once or twice he was greeted with a dropped jaw and a blank stare (A beautiful reprieve). The next day he would hear, 'Well I didn't even know that!'

(End Flashback)

The couples themselves were as varied as their own personalities. Lyn and Hector were currently in battle with each other. Kent was attempting to court Lyn, and Florina was trying to apologize to Hector for something. Those were petite and somewhat shallow affairs to what was going on with Nino and Jaffar. Their affection was strange; he had stumbled across this affair accidentally.

(Flashback)

He was lurking around the tents, (As he usually did at night) and he saw Nino run out of her tent. Hearing her, he slunk into the shadows.

"Jaffar, I hate you! How could you?" Her voice told that she was on the brink of tears.

"Nino! Stop!" Jaffar rushed out of Nino's tent, catching up with her quickly. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer to his chest.

"Let me go!" She struggled to get free of his grip. "Don't touch me!"

"I love you…"

Nino froze in his arms.

"I…love you."

"Jaffar…"

"That is why I can't just be your friend. That is what I wanted to say."

"Really?"

"Do I look like the joking type?"

"No… But… It's just so hard to-" Her bangs covered her eyes.

"…Love me?"

"No! That's not what I meant. I mean… Jaffar, I… Love you too." She leaned her head against his chest.

"Nino… When this battle has ended," He stroked her hair ever so tenderly. "We should live together. I will protect you… with my life."

Nino smiled at his touch, she murmured, "Yes… Let's always be together… Jaffar…" She laid her head above his beating heart, closing her eyes. "Don't ever leave me… Ever. You have to promise."

He hugged her tightly. "On my life."

Nino stood up to her full height, kissing Jaffar lightly on the chin. He met her lips with his. He placed his arm at the back of her head and deepened the kiss still.

That was all Ephidel saw, for he fear that Jaffar would notice him soon enough, and he left like the shadows.

(End Chapter)

Loki: Yeah. I have some new muses lately, and I may begin to start writing Tales of Syphonia Fanfics… Not much to say, except, have a happy happy!