Chapter 2

The captive was taller than Yuan, with short, brown hair and goatee, and light brown eyes. He wore a long, tan trench coat, with a belt holding it close to him. One of the sleeves had been removed, revealing a muscular arm. Though shackles had been placed on his wrists, he gave the feeling that he was in control of the situation. Something that amused and annoyed Yuan at the same time. He had a bored look on his face, and appeared to be someone who was used to giving orders.

Yuan paced around the man, sizing him up. With a curt nod, Yuan ordered the two guards that brought him to remove the shackles and leave the room, before walking behind his desk and sitting down in the chair.

"So, what information do you have that I don't?" He said to the prisoner, an amused tone in his voice.

The man said nothing, however, but rubbed the places where the shackles had cut his skin and glanced around the room. Finally he murmured, in a deep voice, " So, this is the Tethe'alla base for the renegades."

Yuan smiled humorlessly. "I'm surprised that you can tell the difference between us and the Desians. Now, what information do you have?" his annoyance growing at the look on the prisoners face.

The man looked at him with slight distaste, then said, "I have just recently received word that the new chosen of Sylvarant has been born, and now resides in the village of Iselia." He said, his voice full of contempt.

Yuan was startled at this news, not only because of the new chosen's birth, but because this man, whoever he was, new about Sylvarant! As far as he knew, only the Renegades, Cruxis, and the Desians knew about the two entwined worlds.

"How do you know about the existence of Sylvarant?" he asked, his voice still calm.

"I, myself, am from Luin, on the Asgard continent," he said, just as calmly. "I came to Tethe'alla through the otherworldly gate, and have been searching for this,…" he thought hard to find the right word "…establishment to inform its leader of the chosen's birth. Now that I have, I'll be on my way." He turned to go, but was stopped by Yuan's question: "You are a half-elf, aren't you?"

The man turned, placing a hand to his ear to feel the slight point in them. He looked straight into Yuan's eyes, then said, in a voice full of pride, "Yes, I am indeed a half-elf."

Yuan's next question caught him slightly off guard. "Do you know the truth behind Cruxis?"

He looked at Yuan for a while, then asked, trying to keep the conversation light, "the truth?"

"Yes," said Yuan, standing up and walking to the front of his desk, "Cruxis is thought to be an order of angels who govern over the worlds, but, in truth, is mainly comprised of half-elves like us," as he said this, he briefly pulled his hair away from his ear, exposing the point. "Their leader, Lord Yggdrasil, wishes to revive his sister, Martel. In order to accomplish this, he places a Cruxis crystal, onto certain newborns, who then become the chosen." As he spoke, Yuan watched the expression on the man's face. He was amused to see a look of slight horror and anger on his face, which was exactly what he wanted.

After he finished speaking, he waited to see a reaction. The man looked down at the floor, muttering, "such a cruel thing to happen to anyone."

"Yes," said Yuan, " and that is exactly what we, the renegades, oppose. Our goal is to eventually reawaken the great seed, an combine the two worlds back into one."

The man looked up at this, then asked, "If Cruxis is as powerful as you say, then why haven't they stopped you yet?"

Yuan stood there, contemplating how much to tell him. He was a stranger, yet, for some reason, he felt he could trust him with the truth. So, he said, bluntly, "Because, to him, I am one of the four Seraphim of Cruxis." Here, he drew out his wings, which varied in color from light blue to aquamarine. The man took a step back, eyes wide with surprise. Yuan withdrew the wings and continued. "what he doesn't know is that I'm the leader of the Renegades as well."

The man looked at him with a newfound respect, but before he could get any words out, Yuan asked, "Do you think your fit for a high-level post of the renegades, and of a task for the betterment of the worlds?"

He straightened up at these words, and said, with a voice full of self-confidence, "I believe that I am capable of anything."

"Good," said Yuan, a half-smile coming to his lips. "By the way, the guards didn't catch your name."

The newest member of the Renegades also smiled. "I am called Botta, sir." All the contempt was gone from his voice

"Then, Botta, you are my new second-in-command, and will act as the renegades leader on the open. Have the guards take you to your new quarters on the floor below." Yuan said, holding out a hand in welcome.

Botta took it, shook it firmly, and left the room, shoulders set and eyes fixed ahead.