No, I do not, and never will, own Chrono Trigger. Disclaimers are hard to write sometimes, y'know?
Janus didn't speak to Lyn for the next four days. He didn't slow his pace, either. Lyn refused to complain, realizing that if she did the angry young man was likely to turn on her. Her ankle remained swollen and painful, even with healing spells. It was an angry pair that reached the magical cave four days later.
Still ignoring Lyn, Janus walked to the stone wall and started casting every spell he could think off at it. Lyn thought he was trying to blast his way in by brute strength. She didn't know it, but she was right. Janus had absolutely no clue how to open the hidden cave. Finally the blue-haired youth exhausted his magic and slumped wearily to the ground.
"I don't suppose you can open it," he sighed, venom still bitter in his voice. Lyn was surprised that Janus had relented enough to break his silence.
"No…" Lyn murmured. "I don't." She had been near the back of the slave line, and likely would not have remembered anything anyway.
Janus let loose with a string of curses. Lyn wasn't sure if he cursed the mountain, or her. She sighed and started examining the cliff-side, with no result. "Get away from there and sit down," Janus ordered suddenly.
"Wh…why?" Lyn asked.
"Do it!" the Mystic snapped, eyes blazing for a moment. Lyn complied, and his anger faded slightly "Now be quiet, I need to concentrate. I might need to take some power from you; let me."
Lyn nodded, "Okay…" Janus gave her a weary glare, and she silenced.
For a long moment they sat in silence. Then Janus quietly began to chant. Lyn followed the incantation as well as she could, but some of the elements and syntax confused her. He was using learning unlike anything Lady Flea had taught her. Lyn almost asked about it, but remembered not to in time. She felt a tingle as Janus sought to use her magic. The drain frightened her, and Lyn fought it. A sudden pain enveloped her, and she gasped. She opened up again, and Janus ripped the magic from her. She heard a rumbling, but wasn't sure if it was real or imagined. Then the magic drained stopped, and she slumped forward.
Lyn only rested for a short time, forcing herself to sit up long before she felt ready. She was glad to see that Janus wasn't in much better shape, sweat on his brow and white lips testifying to the strain he'd been through. She glanced at the cliff-side and mentally nodded. The cave was open, just as she'd suspected.
A minute later Janus stood, swaying slightly. He didn't look at Lyn as he staggered though the cave mouth. Lyn stood and stumbled after him. The rock wall slammed shut, almost on Lyn's heels.
That evening, Janus and Lyn stumbled into the Mystic Castle, bone weary and all but unconscious from magic loss. Lyn was following Janus from habit as he threaded the hallways he knew from a lifetime of experience. The Generals were eating dinner and discussing the loss of their students when the pair staggered in. Janus stopped where he was and slumped into a mostly kneeling position. Lyn simply fell to the ground.
"What are you doing here?" Ozzie quarried, sitting up in shook.
Janus panted out, "We…have…returned…Lord." His vision was swimming, and he was upright only by an iron will.
Flea stood and walked over to her student. "What happened to you?" she asked, toeing Lyn. Lyn mouthed something, but couldn't speak.
Ozzie looked between the pair, then clapped his hands to summon servants. "Flea, leave her alone. They are obviously unable to answer. They need rest." Flea bowed and went back to her seat as several imps appeared. "Take them to the infirmary, and see that they are allowed to rest. Alert me when either one of them wakes."
"Thank-you… Milord…" Janus murmured, trying to stand. He failed, and the imps had to carry him out.
Lyn's mind was elsewhere. She didn't feel when Flea kicked her, or when the imps picked her up. She didn't even realize that she was being given care, broth and medicine.
Woot! Reviews! You LIKE ME!! grin ...Right.
TimeReaper: No, this will never be abandoned. It will just go REALLY slow at times... embarrest Well, enjoy!
Orli's EEPs Chica: Just what DOES your name mean? Definatly finish CT, it ROCKS. And no probs with the review. It got me a review-back, so cool! Later.
I DEMAND MORE REVIEWS!!
Magus says, "And they demand more chapters." sigh I hate it when he's right.
