Chapter 25: "Fighting for Acceptance"

Alaylle happily walks into Prontera Church and looks around quickly. Spotting Father Renauld sitting on one of the many long benches, Alaylle quietly sneaks up on him, making sure not to get spotted. Once she is right behind Father Renauld, Alaylle quickly covers his eyes with her hands. "Guess who!"

"Gaahhh!" Father Renauld panics a bit and then realizes that he isn't going to be going anywhere until he answers. "Hmm… Sister Nun?"

Alaylle uncovers Father Renauld's eyes. "Eeeehhhh? Sister Nun? I don't sound like Sister Nun at all!"

Father Renauld turns his head towards Alaylle. "Ah! Alaylle! I didn't expect you to be back here."

Alaylle nods happily. "Yup! I'm here to clean!"

Father Renauld stands up quickly and turns towards Alaylle completely. "What! Clean?"

"Uh huh! Just because I'm not an acolyte doesn't mean I can't clean, right?"

"I-I see… we should arrange some sort of paym-"

"Nuh uh! I'm not going to let you pay me!" Alaylle giggles. "Oh! But… uhh… I'm going to Payon tomorrow, so… I hope the place doesn't get too messy until I get back!"

---

"Kyaaahhh… I almost forgot about dinner tonight!" Alaylle runs and weaves around people as she makes her way to the produce and meat market in the southwest corner of Prontera. She skids to a halt right in front of Colette's usual stand. "Hello Colette! One of the usual!"

Colette grins at Alaylle. "A little late today, huh Alaylle?" She leans on the counter of her stand. "I sent it already, so you don't need to worry."

"What? Oh… thank goodness…" Alaylle sighs with relief.

"Hee hee hee… but in exchange… you have to tell me a piece of gossip!"

"Ehh? But I'm not the type to… ohhh… alright… let me see…" Alaylle taps her chin. "Oh! I'm going to Payon tomorrow with my Mommy and Daddy!"

"Oh? Really? Usually you stay home when they go on a trip… how strange! But… good for you, Alaylle! It's good to travel around to new places and all."

"Ahh… umm… Colette? Got any gossip on Karian or Kaori? I haven't seen them in a while…"

"Hmm… Karian… from what I've heard, she's north of Prontera practicing her magic on those centipede and spider things… I forget their names… Kaori… she's been learning how to use a bow and arrow from your mother."

"Eehh? I didn't know that!"

Colette shrugs. "She wanted to learn to use the sword like your mother does, but… your mother would have none of it… and anyway… your mother found out that Kaori is pretty good with a bow too."

Alaylle blinks her eyes. "Wow… Colette, you found out that my Mommy uses a sword? I didn't even know that until recently…"

Colette grins. "My information network is huge! I even know that you bought red mushrooms for some reason in Geffen a while ago!"

"Wow… that's kinda creepy, Colette." Alaylle sweatdrops and giggles nervously. "Anything else you've heard about me?"

"Nuh uh… why? Got anything new to gossip about!" Colette leans forward.

"Uhh… no… nothing! Umm… I'd better get going! See you later, Colette!" Alaylle waves goodbye happily to Colette as she rushes off home.

Colette cups her hands around her mouth as if to make a loudspeaker. "Hey! Make sure you come talk to me when you get back! I wanna hear stories about Payon when you get back!"

---

"Aahh! That should do it!" Alaylle smiles happily as she finishes packing. "Oh! Wait! I almost forgot my chain!" Alaylle quickly looks around her room. "That's strange… I thought it was here somewhere… I'll try asking Daddy and Mommy…" Alaylle exits her room, heads downstairs, and down the hall to her father's workshop. Alaylle knocks on the door and calls out, "Daddy? Are you in there?"

"Yeah! I'm in here… Daaahhhhh!" A loud explosion is heard from the other side of the door.

Alaylle rolls her eyes with a soft giggle and waits for her father to tell her to come in.

Corin whimpers after about a minute of silence and says squeakily, "Ow ow ow… okay… its not locked… come on in, Alaylle."

Alaylle opens the door slightly and notes the gray smoke pouring out. She shakes her head slightly and enters the workshop.

Corin grins sheepishly while wiping soot off his face with a clean cloth. "Eh heh heh… sorry about that, Alaylle. Was there something you wanted to talk about?"

"Umm… I didn't cause that explosion by interrupting, did I?"

"No no no! Don't worry about that!" Corin rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Oh… whew… uhm… I was wondering if you knew where my chain went?"

Corin grins widely. "I was hoping you'd ask that!" He quickly makes his way to a corner of his workshop and walks back to Alaylle proudly holding a chain in his hands. "Here you go, Alaylle!"

Alaylle takes the chain and looks at it. "Daddy… this isn't my chain…"

Corin shakes his head and starts fiddling with his hands and making sideways hand gestures. "Well… it is your chain and it sort of isn't your chain. I used the excellent metal that you brought home from the Ambernites and made a chain from that, using your chain as a template! You see chains weren't used as weapons until recently, so… I didn't quite know what to do to make one… and made quite a few faulty ones…" Corin scratches the back of his neck and smiles. "But! I made one really great chain! And this is it!"

"Daddy… thank you!" Alaylle smiles happily and hugs her father.

Corin hugs Alaylle back and grins. "Eh heh… anytime, Alaylle."

Alaylle disengages from her father, and then takes a few swings with her new chain.

Corin startles a bit. "Oi oi… Hold on a moment, Alaylle. I almost forgot to tell you something! That chain is a special chain! Take a good look at it!"

Alaylle stops swinging the chain around and looks carefully at the chain. The chain is just like any ordinary chain that would normally be bought at the Prontera Church, except for a few modifications. There are a few more links on the chain than usual, and on the handle, where the links of the chain attach to the handle, is a metal ring with a small red heart in it. "Hmm… the chain's a bit longer… and… there's this little heart thing on the handle…"

"That's my daughter for you! Such good eyes! Just have to be reminded to use them!" Corin grins and then nods. "You're exactly right! But do you know what the heart is there for?"

Alaylle shakes her head.

"When you touch the heart, the chain will burst into fire!"

Alaylle looks at Corin to check if he's joking. She then touches the heart on the handle while giving the chain a swing. The links of the chain burn with fire as Alaylle swings the chain. "Whaaaa! You weren't joking!"

"Yup! Oh, and if there's any contact with the links when you touch the heart, those links won't fire up… it's a little safety thing so that you can grasp the chain without worrying about burning yourself!"

"Wow… thank you Daddy! Does this chain have a name?"

Corin shakes his head. "I don't believe in naming my weapons… I prefer to think of as the user defining the weapon, not the weapon defining the user… but if you're going to call it anything, call it a Fire Chain."

Alaylle giggles. "Daddy! That's not true! You give goofy names to your inventions all the time!"

Corin bursts out laughing. "Hey hey! That and this are two completely different things! Oh! Wait… I almost forgot to give this to you! Made it just for you, along with your chain!" Corin goes back into the same corner of his workshop and brings Alaylle a buckler with the spike on top of the buckler missing. "While I made this, I thought the spike wasn't your style, so I didn't put one on top."

Alaylle picks up the buckler and blinks her eyes quickly. "Looks heavier than it actually is, huh?"

Corin grins and nods. "Made the inside a bit more hollowed out and lighter so that you wouldn't be forced to lug it around with your back arched." He winks at Alaylle.

"Thank you so much, Daddy!"

"Heh… don't thank me just yet! Learn to use 'em first! The departure time is at 9, so… you'd better finish your packing soon!"

"A-ah! Right!" Alaylle quickly gathers the chain and buckler up and runs out of the workshop.

Corin smiles and shakes his head as he watches Alaylle run off. He glances over at a clock and groans. "It's this time already?" He sighs and pokes what appears to be a metal ring box with several pipes sticking out of the top. "I guess this'll have to wait until I come back…"

---

Neyrilla and Corin quietly wait outside of their house, their bags placed in Corin's cart. Alaylle comes running out of the door tugging a bag and looking frantic. "I'm sorry-I'm sorry-I'm sorry! I'm sorry for being late!"

Neyrilla glances over at Alaylle and then at the bag she's tugging. "Oh no. You're not late, dear. We're just early, that's all. Packed enough things, I see."

"Y-yes… I didn't quite know what to pack so…"

Corin grins and points to his cart. "Don't worry about it! Just toss it in and we're off!"

Alaylle flings her bag into the cart and walks with her parents to a Kafra. "So… umm… just what do you do at Payon, anyway?"

Neyrilla smiles softly while Corin grins widely. "Heh, you'll find out!"

Neyrilla quietly hands a sack of zeny to the Kapra. "Three to Payon please…"

---

"Whaaaaa! It's so cool! It's so moist! It's so… so… green!" Alaylle turns her head quickly to take in Payon. "What neat buildings! Oh! So many trees! Whaaaa…" She squirms and darts all around, trying to take it all in.

Neyrilla has a firm grip on Alaylle's ponytail and calmly leads Alaylle and Corin to the west side of Payon. "Alaylle, you can sightsee later on, okay? For now, we should at least get to the place we're going to stay." She stops for a moment and looks around.

"Hmm?" Alaylle looks up at her mother.

"Aahh… the buildings that the Kingdom of Rune-Midgarts are constructing are looking quite nice… Although… why would Prontera buy parcels of land all around Rune-Midgard and make these virtual castles? I just don't see any point in it…" She looks down at Alaylle. "Oh, don't worry about it Alaylle, I'm sure it's nothing." Neyrilla thinks to herself, 'At least for now…'

"Mommy, are we near where we're staying?"

"Oh yes… it's just a bit more north-east of here…"

---

"Whaaaaaaaaa! Th-this is where we're staying!" Alaylle stares up at the Payon-style castle in front of her. She looks at the tall walls surrounding the castle, the gate, the wide open courtyard, and then at the huge castle in front of her.

Neyrilla inclines her head and smiles softly at Alaylle. "Yes… although I do admit… it is quite impressive, isn't it?"

Corin shrugs his shoulders while looking up at the tall building. "Get used to seeing it a lot, Alaylle… you'll be coming with us every year from now on, after all."

"Waiii! Really?"

Neyrilla nods her head slowly. "Yes really… now… let's head in… we need to check-in…"

---

Alaylle sits on a cushioned couch in the entrance room of the building. Neyrilla and Corin are quietly talking with the receptionist at the desk. Alaylle looks up and around the room… White walls decorated with landscapes, tall ceiling, a chandelier, and a huge red carpet covers the floor. Several other cushioned red couches are arranged in the outer edges of the room, with other people sitting on them while they wait to check in as well. 'This room… is as big as the first floor of my house! I had no idea they made rooms this big…'

Neyrilla and Corin finish talking to the receptionist and walk over to Alaylle. Neyrilla smiles softly at Alaylle. "Alaylle? Our bags have been brought up to our rooms, but… your father and I have to do some business before we go up. Could you wait here for us?"

"A-ahh… yeah… I'll be okay!" Alaylle rests her hands in her lap.

Corin rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry about this, Alaylle… some business just came up all of a sudden."

---

Neyrilla and Corin quietly enter a meeting room with a circular table surrounded by chairs. Already seated at the table is a red spiky haired wizard with spectacles, reading a book. Next to him is a sage with the same red hair, except his is combed neatly. They often stop reading for a moment and just as often argue heatedly-and then quickly go back to reading. Next to him an acolyte with long blue hair and glasses sits, looking bored. Just next to her is a red haired girl with her hair done in braids and the hair falling in front of her ears, with the braids falling onto her shoulders. She's dressed as an alchemist with large, round spectacles and is looking impatient. Two merchants are next to her, one blond haired, and one with white hair and both appear to be balancing some books. Next to them is an assassin wearing a sakkat and sunglasses, and two empty chairs, completing the circle of nine chairs.

All of the people already seated look up at them as they enter and quickly stop their assorted activities. The assassin is the first to speak up at the two enter and grins. "About time you two came! We've been waiting here a while!"

Corin grins right back at the assassin. "What's with the sunglasses, Patrick? Got a hangover?"

"What? No! They make me look awesome, don't they? All mysterious and cool!"

Neyrilla smiles softly and shakes her head. "Again with the appearance thing, Patrick? Anything to look 'cool', huh?" Neyrilla turns towards the center of the table and becomes serious. "Glad everyone could make it… well… almost…" She gestures over to the blue haired acolyte. "Everyone, this is Ann… she's subbing in for Midori."

Patrick glances over at Neyrilla. "Hey… what's so important that Midori gets to skip out on a meeting?"

"She's investigating and divining any activity that the demons and monsters are planning."

Patrick taps the top of his sakkat and says jokingly. "And you didn't send me? I'm hurt…"

Corin grins and shakes his head. "Oh, don't worry, you'll get your precious assignment soon enough."

"Ahem." Neyrilla shakes her head with a small smile. "If you two are done… The first object of business has to do with my daughter. I know this is irregular, but I wish to have her join the clan. And… I have sent you all letters asking your permission. And so… all agreed?"

The red-haired wizard grins. "If it was anyone other than Alaylle, no… but since it is… yes."

"Don't know much about her, but she seems to be fine… yes." The red-haired sage shrugs his shoulders.

The red-haired alchemist idly fiddles with her braids. "If she's anything like her father, sure!"

The white-haired merchant nods. "She seems to have the right type of mind for it."

The blonde-haired merchant shrugs. "Seems like a decent person… let her through."

Patrick grins. "From what I've seen… can't wait to see what her niche is."

Corin smiles widely. "You know my answer already. Send her through!"

Ann frowns thoughtfully. "I… I can't approve of this. I might just be standing in for the person that's supposed to be here, but…" She takes out a stack of papers. "This Alaylle girl… doesn't seem to have any magical ability at all… and she was stripped of her Acolyte status… she seems to be completely without worth to our clan… therefore… I can't just let her through." She gestures at the papers. "Here is my objection."

Corin raises an eyebrow and gestures for the papers. Ann quietly pushes the stack to him and Corin slips on a pair of reading glasses and examines the papers. "Hmm… all the forms are filled out appropriately." He glances back at Ann. "However, there are enough votes already to push her throu-"

Ann quickly pulls out another form and pushes it over to Corin. "Then I challenge her!"

Corin blinks his eyes and takes a look at the form. "Hmm… did your homework I see… The measure is indeed halted. Although…" Corin grins. "Alaylle is in the waiting room, so this won't delay the decision by much." He gestures over to Neyrilla. "Neyrilla will be the judge."

"What! But she's her mother! She has a conflict of interest!"

Corin shakes his head. "On the contrary, you are the challenger and she is the challenged. Not only that…" Corin grins. "I think Neyrilla will be far more critical on Alaylle than you will be."

"F-fine! I'll go to the waiting room right now!" Ann quickly gets up and leaves the room.

Neyrilla calmly gets up from her chair and leaves the room, following Ann.

Corin, Patrick and everyone else in the room get up from their seats as well.

Corin blinks his eyes. "You all are going to watch as well?"

They all nod.

Patrick grins. "Why not? Once in a while it's fun to watch someone get completely owned."

---

Ann bursts into the reception room and runs over to Alaylle, and points at her. "You! I challenge you!"

Alaylle does the sensible thing anyone would do when someone comes out of nowhere and suddenly says such a thing: she blinks her eyes and looks confused. "Huh? Me?"

"Yes, you!"

"Me?"

"Yes you!"

"Me?"

Ann screams out, "YES YOU!"

Alaylle just blinks her eyes. "Me?"

Meanwhile, Neyrilla and company have already entered the room and are sweatdropping at the exchange.

Neyrilla quietly walks over to the two and shakes her head. "Ann, I'm afraid you need to be a bit more descriptive… Alaylle doesn't know what this is about, after all." She happily looks over at Alaylle. "Alaylle, this girl wants to see how well you can fight… could you spar against her? Just like we did at Grey's place?"

Alaylle picks around in her left sleeve pocket and takes out her chain. "Umm… okay!" She looks around and then startles. "Wait, here?"

Neyrilla nods quietly in response.

"Well… okay… I hope I don't break anything…" Alaylle hops to her feet.

Neyrilla leads Alaylle and Ann to the center of the room. She glances over at Alaylle and Ann. Alaylle bows towards Ann and then looks a bit awkward holding her chain… while Ann looks mad. 'Wonder why she's so angry?' "Fight until one is disabled or surrenders… begin whenever you wish…"

Ann wastes no time and whips out a mace. She charges at Alaylle with her mace lifted high, screaming all the way. Alaylle inclines her head at the scream, turns around and runs away. Ann chases after Alaylle, still screaming and trying to get within striking range with her mace, while Alaylle leads her on a merry chase around the room. Ann slowly starts to slow down and tire out from all of the running and screaming, and soon stops, leans forward, rests her hands on her knees and catches her breath. "Q-quit… runn-"

Alaylle dashes at Ann and quickly strikes her in her left shoulder, her left side, and then her stomach, sending Ann back onto her bottom onto the floor.

"Ouuuch! That was a dirty trick!" Ann shouts as she gets up off the floor.

"No it wasn't… you were the one that was screaming and wasting your breath while chasing after me…" Alaylle taps the top of her head with her chain. "I never really got why people scream out like that when they strike… I mean… isn't like a giant warning?"

"Shut up!" Ann gathers mana in her hands and then thrusts it towards herself. "Heal! Blessing! Increase Agili-Owwww!" Alaylle has quickly struck Ann in the stomach with her chain again. Ann swings her mace at Alaylle in a diagonal swing, and Alaylle sidesteps to avoid getting hit by the mace. While Alaylle sidesteps, Ann tries the spell again. "Increase Agility!" Ann quickly runs away from Alaylle using the enhanced speed granted from her spell. "Heal! Angelus! Ha! Now let's see you hit me!"

Alaylle quietly watches Ann… and does nothing. Ann growls. "Come on! I took all that effort to put my spells up, and you aren't gonna attack? Fine! I will!" Ann charges at Alaylle again, with her magically enhanced speed.

Alaylle blinks her eyes. 'So much faster!' She tries to sidestep a strike from Ann, but is too slow to avoid the mace. Her strike hits Alaylle in the right shoulder-and bounces harmlessly off the armored cloth. The mace bounces off the cloth, causing Ann to lose her balance. 'Whaaa… she's wide open! Steel Twirl!' Alaylle swings her chain quickly around her, hitting Ann, and then uses the precious momentum to bring the chain above her head and then in a downward strike, all in one smooth stroke.

Ann goes literally flying through the air, her magic enhancing even the speed at which she was launched at, spinning horizontally at least twenty times before crashing into the floor. She lands face first onto the floor, dropping her mace, and slides a few feet before coming to a stop. Ann tries to get up, but then quickly stays down when the nausea catches up from spinning so much in the air. "Ungh…"

Neyrilla nods once. "That's enough! Alaylle has disarmed as disabled her opponent. Ann, your challenge is dismissed."

Ann answers with a groan, still suffering from the nausea of spinning.

Alaylle bows to Ann and then looks confused. "Uhh… Mommy? Can you tell me what all of this is about?"

Neyrilla laughs softly. "Sorry about this, Alaylle…" Corin walks over to Neyrilla and nods with a grin on his face. "We meant to tell you this tonight, but this came up!"

Neyrilla gently grabs Alaylle's ponytail and starts leading her into the building. "Well then… let's find a more comfortable spot and we'll tell you what this is all about."

Alaylle just blinks her eyes blankly and nods while being dragged by her ponytail.

End of Chapter 25

---

Chapter 26 Preview!

Alaylle: "Eeeehh? You mean all this time-?"

Neyrilla: "That's correct… sorry for keeping it a secret, but…"

Corin: "Some things just have to wait until a person is ready, you know?

In the Next Chapter: "The Family's Business"

Alaylle: "This clan thing sure is new to me…"

---