Chapter 2

A serene scene. Lush, green trees were all around the place. A coll breeze was blowing making the tress dance gracefully. Sounds of chirping birds completed the forest ambience.Then, a yell of frustration.

"Argh...We're lost aren't we...", Ace complained, glaring at Jack.

---Flashback---

Ace brought out an old map of Payon Forest and looked, rather, studied it. His face was literally pressed onto the piece of paper in his hand.

"No need for that sir Ace! I know these woods like the back of my hand!", Jack said, stealing a triumphant glance at Kat. She just smiled plainly in return. He turned back to Ace. To tell the truth, he was quite disappointed. He was trying his best to get Kat to like him, but so far nothing yet.

"I think she likes Ace better than me...", Jack thought, grumbling.

"Are you sure we're on the right track, Jack?", Ace asked still studying the map.

This broke Jack's train of thought, "Yeah, we ARE on the right track, sir Ace, don't worry..." He made a grab for that map in an effort to hide it and get Ace to relax. Ace just grabbed it back from him and soon they were in a tug-of-war. The prize?

RIIIIIPP!!

Kat turned to see Ace holding the map. Then she faced Jack only to find him holding his own map.

"Er...Whoops?", Jack said as a furious sage started charging up his spells. Jack ran around in hopes of escaping his fiery fate as Ace followed him around and around the tree making the two guys dizzy. Katherine sweatdropped at the scene before her.

---End Flashback---

Kat giggles brought Ace out of his thoughts. Then Jack sneaked to Ace's back surprising him. Ace was about to hit him when Jack pointed at something in the distance.

"Is that...a flag?...Yes it is!!", Ace exclaimed in joy.

"I told you I'd get you there sir.", Jack said proudly. He grabbed Kat's hand and made a break for the gate, leaving Ace. He soon saw the two run and chased after them, not wanting to get lost again.

After a few minutes of running, the trio reached the gates of the famous Payon Town. It wasn't as crowded as Prontera was, but it still had a lot of people, mostly archers who had just graduated. It was already night time when arrived and they all felt bushed after that "trek" Jack had put them through. They found an inn nearby and there they had a good night's sleep.

Morning

Jack, the early bird, was, yep you guessed it, was the first to rise. He went to Ace's door and knocked. A snore was his answer. Again he knocked, a bit louder. Now a loud grumble came. He tried for the third time.

"Damn it Jack stop that! It's 4 AM! I need more sleep!", Ace yelled from behind the door.

"Sheesh...No need to yell...", he mumbled. Jack found his way outside and thought of going for a stroll around the town while waiting for his friends to wake up. He enjoyed the morning breeze as it blew, calming him. It blew through his hair, through his clothes. He didn't wear the traditional rogue armor since he thought it heavy.

In the distance, Jack saw the sun rise from its hiding place in the east. He sat near the water underneath the bridge. He saw the sun cast its fiery rays over Payon. There Jack just sat, his feet dipped into the water. After a few more minutes, he walked back to the inn to check if Ace and Kat were awake.

He just sighed as he saw the two, in their casual clothes, chatting endlessly over breakfast.

"Mind if I join you guys?", Jack cut in their conversation.

"Huh? Oh hey Jack." Kat looked at him and smiled making him blush. The sage chuckled.

"Sit down man, and eat something, you look hungry." Ace then called the waiter over for Jack and he ordered his breakfast, a simple scrambled egg and some bacon.

Ace drank his coffee while Kat finished her juice as they waited for Jack's food. Finally it arrived and Jack gulfed it down fast. After he finished, they thought about wandering around town for a bit. First stop was the refinery where they tested their luck.

After an hour of clanking and hammering and crying, a happy sage, rogue and priestess came out of the building. They were all proud of their new equipment. For Ace, his cranial was improved greatly and was its peak defense capabilities. Jack held two items, his special bow and his dagger. Both seeming to emanate power. Kat just stared a her bible. Ace had volunteered to upgrade it, making it reach maximum strength, earning him a kiss on the cheek from Kat.

"Glad to be of help to a pretty lady.", he just said after she thanked him.

"What next?", Jack asked them.

As they continued walking, Kat tripped on a rock in front of her. Luckily, a pair of strong hands caught her before she fell. Then she opened her eyes to the sight of the most beatiful pair of brown irises she had ever seen.

"Are you alright miss?", the man asked, a Payonese accent evident.

"Y-y-y...", was all Kat managed to say.

"She's alright. You can put her down now...", Jack butt in, he was getting irritated seeing Kat in HIS arms, not his.

"If you say so fella," the man placed Kat gently back on the ground.

"T-thank you..." Kat finally said with a little difficulty, since she was still embarrassed. She quickly went behind Ace and hid herself.

"Hey, thanks for the help. By the, way didn't catch your name.", Ace approached the stranger, Kat still behind him.

"Wolfe. Nicholas Wolfe.", the hunter bowed.

"Well, I'm Ace Algiz. That rogue over there is Jack Nols and this beautiful lady behind me is Katherine Lockheart.", Jack went on introducing them.

"Pleased to meet you all,"Nicholas bowed again.

"H-hi..." Kat mumbled from behind Ace.

"Yeah...Hi..." Jack said through gritted teeth.

A screech of a bird was then heard from above, causing the three to look up. The screech came from a falcon, which landed on Nicholas' outstretched arm.

"This is Uno, my falcon," Nicholas introduced his pet; while it pecked him signaling it wanted food.Nicholas fed it and after it finished, it looked around and found Ace. It just stared at him.

"Erm...Wh-why is it looking at me like that...?" Ace asked, preparing to jump if it be needed. The falcon soared into the sky flew to Ace's shoulder, nipping his ear.

"H-hey that tickles!" Ace laughed.

"That's weird. I never thought he'd like anybody esle. Usually he claws other people," Nicholas explained while Kat and Jack backed off. Ace continued laughing.

"This isn't so bad. Say, can he stay with me for a while? If you don't mind that is," Ace requested.

"Oh sure, no problem. He seems to like you anyway,"Nicholas smiled as Ace continued playing with the falcon.

"Come pet it, Kat. He won't hurt you, I promise.", Ace smiled, reassuring Kat. She stretched out a hand to it. And surprisingly for her, it let her. Jack's turn now. But him being who he is, well let's just say that he needed a lot of bandages and Ace and Rob laughed endlessly after.

"O-o-o-oWWW!!!" Jack yelled inside his room as Kat treated his wounds.

"Why did you have to that Jack? You had to push your luck didn't you?", Kat was a bit mad at him.

"Sorry..." Jack apologized.

"Oh it's ok...Just don't try that again," she hugged him. She was surprised when he hugged her back. Thoughts now flooded her mind and she felt like crying. It was too much for her. She felt confused because of what Jack did.

"Aw...That is so sweet," a familiar voice came from the door way.

"Ace..." Jack said when Kat pushed him lightly. He lay down on his bed and slept.

Kat walked over to Ace and hugged him as well. Then she cried into his shirt. No words were needed. He hugged him back, rubbing her back to stop her sobs. Then he led her outside. They passed by Rob's room and found him and his falcon asleep.

"Hey Kat, wanna come with me tonight?" Ace asked her as they reached the door.

"Huh? Where Ace?" Kat said, traces of tears still on her face.

Ace wiped her face clean and told her, "Oh just somewhere. C'mon, what do you say? It'll be our date."

"O-ok then Ace...Let me go get dressed."

"Sure Kat, take your time, we're not rushing." Ace smiled. After a few minutes, Kat was out, dressed in a fitted pink skirt and a matching pink shirt, which just complimented her hair and her eyes.

"Wow...You are on pretty girl...Especially in that.", Ace told her. She blushed at his comment.

Some residents and hoodlums in the area took a glance at Kat. And just plain stared at her, appraising her body. Their eyes wandered to parts of her body that I would not want to mention. They only stopped when they noticed her companion's hand erupting little sparks. Then they went back to whatever they were doing but the picture they had of the lady was still fresh in their minds.

"You sure do attract a lot of attention Kat..." Ace said. She just took his hand and they continued walking towards Archer Village.

"Hey, where are those two headed? Hm..." A wizard followed closely, his light bulb of a head, shining.

"Better follow them..." he said to himself as he stalked the couple.