Disclaimer- I don't own Star Ocean. It is the property of the great Square-Enix and Tri-Ace.

Chapter 5 Disagreements

"Is he going to be okay?" Nel asked quietly as they lugged Fayt on both their shoulders.

Cliff was oddly silent, as he had been ever since the incredible display of power from the unconscious boy. After a moment, he sighed. "Yeah, he'll be fine."

Something in his voice told Nel he was remembering something else, something vital to whatever happened back in the aqueduct.

"You know something."

Cliff only grunted and stayed silent.

The Aquarian sighed. It was obvious the blond man wouldn't budge on this. "Fine, I won't push any more. But if this is going to be a problem-" She began, but Cliff cut her off.

"It won't. If anything, it might just help you win your war." Cliff's tone had only a hint of amusement, more serious than she had ever heard.

Nel stopped cold and almost dropped the unconscious Fayt. "So, you know?"

Cliff shrugged. "Why else would you risk your position as a spy and free two strangers?" At her surprised look, he laughed. "That's the thing about acting foolish. People underestimate you."

Everything was dark... so very dark, as if the sun had been destroyed and the stars hurled to the earth. There was a low rumble, like an oncoming tempest...

Fayt blinked slowly, feeling a heavy weight on the back of his eyes and a vicious storm in his head. Lifting his head slightly, he managed a slight groan.

"Well hello there Sleeping Beauty." Cliff greeted, amused.

"Where am I?" The Earthling murmured sleepily.

"In a wagon. We're leaving Airyglyph." Nel's voice answered briskly.

Fayt turned his head towards the redhead, and saw two unfamiliar heads of hair beyond her, at the drivers seat. Noticing his gaze, Nel introduced them.

"This Tynave" She motioned towards the blonde, "And Farleen is the driver." The Aquarian gestured to the purple haired one. "They serve directly under me—my ears and eyes in Airyglyph. They're the ones who told me about you two."

Cliff seemed quite pleased with the prospect of being escorted by three women. "Why exactly are there only women in your army?"

"Aquaria is ruled by the Holy Mother of the Church of Apris. We employ many more women than Airyglyph."

"The Church of Apris?" Cliff questioned curiously.

"Yes, the church of the Sun God Apris." Tynave added in. "The Holy Mother leads the church—and is also Queen of Aquaria."

"A theocracy…" Fayt murmured, almost sounding amused at the archaic idea. Religion had passed to the sidelines in the wake of science.

"I gotcha. What you're saying is your country's packed with temple maidens. Now I HAVE to see this place." Cliff grinned, eyes sparkling with daydreams.

Nel rolled her eyes and the wagon was silent for a moment, until Fayt asked a question.

"What the hell happened?" Fayt mumbled quietly, rubbing his head.

"You tell us." Nel stated flatly.

"I don't remember... I just remember shouting something... and then-" Fayt's eyes widened as he realized what kind of power he had exerted. "Then I killed that giant crab."

"You don't know how you did it?" Nel asked, and Cliff looked at Fayt earnestly, as if expecting or perhaps hoping for a no.

"I don't know." Fayt bit back the remembrance of focusing that divine rage that poured through his veins, the way the rush of power drowned out all fear and doubt from his mind. "What allowed me to do that?"

"It looked like some kind of runology." The Aquarian commented.

Fayt's eyebrows moved together. "Cliff, do you think their runology is what we call symbology?" He whispered to the Klausian.

Cliff seemed surprised, but nodded. "Sounds about right."

"But I've never even tried using symbology before." He muttered.

"Perhaps you've always had the gift, and you were just forced to tap into it." At seeing Fayt's doubtful look, he added, "Trust me kid. All sorts of things happen when you're looking death in the face."

Believe me, I know. Cliff added mentally.

"Are you two done talking amongst yourselves?" Nel asked, annoyed at being ignored.

"Yeah." The Klausian responded, and after a moment, he said, "Maybe now we should talk about exactly what you want us to do."

Nel nodded. "I'll explain, but remember: refusal isn't an option."

"I don't know about that… I won't do anything that I don't want to. And there's always a chance we won't be able to do what you ask." Fayt said quietly.

"I told you in the dungeons that I required your technology, did I not?" Nel asked, her voice now carrying a dangerous edge.

"Right, but what does that entail?" Fayt shot back. "I won't be coerced into making weapons."

"Look, if this was going to be a problem, you should have asked me before you accepted my conditions. By agreeing to cooperate—even just to get out of the dungeon—you're bonded to me. Those were the conditions of your release, and I expect you to uphold them." Nel said firmly, her eyes hardening. "Or are you planning on breaking your word?"

"Look, you didn't even give us a real choice! 'You can live or you can die'—that's called 'coercion,' you know." Cliff cut in.

"So, you won't cooperate." Nel sighed, and seemed about to issue a command to the drivers when Cliff responded.

"When did I say that?"

Fayt whirled on the Klausian. "What are you talking about? What about the UP3?"

"This is hardly the time or the place, kid…" Cliff muttered.

The Earthling sighed, and prayed that the consequences of so many violations of the UP3 would be minimal.

That seemed to be the only thing he had, were prayers.

Albel Nox watched impassively as soldiers of the Dragon Brigade soared overhead. Around him, the people gasped and wondered at the fearsome warriors.

The Dragon Brigade, unmatched by anything the soldiers of Apris could throw at them. To the Airyglyphian people, they were a symbol of the immense military might of their kingdom.

To Albel, they represented the most bitter failure of his life and the worst memories that haunted his psyche.

Memories simmered beneath his cognizant mind. Memories of terrible pain, a roaring fire-

Snorting slightly, he dismissed the memories. "Its not my problem." He murmured, and turned and left.

And yet the roaring of that inferno from so long ago did not dissipate in his ears, nor the searing pain that had destroyed his arm, and his humanity.

"Before I explain things, might I ask one thing?" Nel questioned softly.

"What?" Fayt asked quietly, meeting Nel's burrowing gaze.

"Are you two really engineers from Greeton?"

Fayt seemed taken aback for a moment, and only stammered in response.

"Hey, you still don't believe us?" Cliff asked loudly, to cover Fayt's unease.

"It's not that." Nel shook her head. "It's just… The fact that you possess special technology and knowledge is clear to me—so, yes, it does seem likely that you are who you say. Still, something doesn't fit. The way you respond to danger, and your fighting ability indicate that you are not telling me everything. And…you are certainly not average engineers." She shot a pointed look at Fayt. "So you see… I believe my doubts are well founded."

"Okay, you got a point." The Klausian conceded. "But it seems to me you're just going to have to take our word. We got nothing to gain by lying to you anyway." He paused and glanced at her still questioning gaze. "Wait, you don't think we're Airyglyph spies, do you? Oh, please." He laughed lightly.

"Yes, I see what you mean." Nel agreed, a hint of a smile on her face.

"But you still don't trust us." Fayt stated flatly.

"No, I trust you. In any case, I was ordered by Her Majesty to bring you to Aquaria. I must fulfill my duty." The Aquarian said firmly.

"Well then, Nel? Please answer my question." Fayt said quietly.

"Yes… Since you're unfamiliar with this region, I'll fill you in on the details while explaining our current situation."

"Please." Fayt nodded.

"Tynave, the map." Nel called out.

"Yes, ma'am." Tynave rummaged about until she located the map, and placed it on the floor of the wagon, spreading it out between Nel and the men.

The redhead gestured to a red dot on the map. "This is Airyglyph, the town we just left. Everything to the west of this line is the nation of Airyglyph, a military superpower." Turning her finger across the parchment, she let it fall east. "Eastwards of the border is our country, Aquaria. You follow?"

Fayt and Cliff nodded silently, studying the map.

"As I mentioned earlier, Aquaria and Airyglyph are at war. Airyglyph is a militaristic nation that reveres power above all else; Aquaria is a peaceful nation that worships the Church of Apris. Aquaria and Airyglyph maintained friendly relations until several years ago. But one day, they invaded our territory without warning." Nel explained quietly, a hint of outrage in her voice.

"It seems they'd been planning their invasion for some time. Airyglyph's a frigid land ringed by mountains. Food production has never been easy here—especially in winter. We believe they were after our land, fertile with the blessing of Apris." Tynave added, frowning slightly.

"A war of aggression, huh?" Cliff commented, eyes glancing upwards to look at the two women.

"Correct. There was no diplomacy, only outright militaryaggression. We resisted, but we were outmatched. Somehow, we managed to hold them back, but the bordertown of Arias was laid to waste. Still, the war has not been completely one-sided. We may be lacking in military power, but we do have runology." The spy said this last part with a hint of pride in her voice.

"What exactly is this... runology." Fayt asked, needing confirmation that this was the same as symbology."

"A secret art handed down by the followers of Apris. We inscribe special runes into our flesh that enable us to invoke normally impossible phenomenon… Thus the name 'runology.'"

"Which is what you used to break us out." Cliff murmured, to which Nel nodded.

"But what's stopping you from using runology to keep Airyglyph back?" Fayt asked, knowing that the power of symbology had often turned the tide of many wars in Earth's history.

"There's only a few of us that can use runology. Far too few to help us stand up to Airyglyph. That's why we decided to develop a weapon that makes use of runology. It's a man made weapon that uses the special energy evoked by runology as a power source. The engineers have named that energy 'channeled force.'"

"'Channeled force'?" Fayt inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Correct. It's similar to lightning. But there are still a number of problems preventing us from cooperating the weapon." Nel sighed.

"Which is where we come in." Fayt stated quietly.

Nel nodded. "Just when our research ground to a halt, Tynave and Farleen told me about you two. They also brought back a fragment of that thing that fell into Airyglyph. It was of great interest to our researchers. They said the fragment was of a material they could not identify, and that we should enlist your aid in our weapons development. And that's where I came in."

"So you're asking us to help develop a weapon that uses channeled force?"

"Yes. That is correct."

Cliff pulled Fayt aside and whispered, "Hey, I bet we could use their power to make us a communicator."

"Yeah," He agreed, "A radio wave device, maybe. I don't really know much about this 'channeled force,' but my guess is it's electricity, and if we can make that, we're home free, but…"He turned towards the spy and sighed. "Nel, I can't do it. We can't help you."

Nel's eyes hardened. "Didn't I say refusal wasn't an option?" Her voice was icy.

"But you're talking about a weapon that will kill many people! I don't want to have any part of that. Plus, we don't have any time to spare." Fayt added bitterly. I can't waste time on this crap.

"I understand your situation, you need to hurry to save your father, correct?" Nel's gaze seem to pierce right through him.

"Yes." Fayt replied.

"You admit this is a personal problem, not one that concerns us?" Nel's gaze never wavered and her voice was brittle and cold.

Taken aback, Fayt agreed weakly, "True, but…"

"Our country's in a state of war." Nel cut in, her voice now icy and adamant. "Both the people of Aquaria and Airyglyph are dying, energy weapon or no. A quick end to this war will reduce the number of lives lost. That is why we need to complete our new weapon as soon as possible."

Cliff looked slightly bemused, inappropriate for the situation. "This is starting to remind me of my old Earth history lessons…" And if I recall, the atomic bomb was not exactly the best development from Earth.

Fayt knew what he was talking about. The second World War on Earth, so many centuries ago. They had used a powerful weapon to end the war quickly and without many lives lost on their side... but even today, scholars debated that it was unnecessarily damaging, and the aftereffects had been costly.

He would not be the catalyst for another atomic bomb dropping. "Even so, that's not a good enough reason for me to build a weapon."

"So you're going back on your word?" Although Nel never moved, both men could tell she was ready to spring forward with her weapons.

"That's coercion!" Fayt shot back, eyes blazing with outrage.

"Call it what you will." Nel said dismissively. "I already told you back at the prison I could not let you live if you refuse to cooperate. I don't have anything against you two, but my duty comes first. And I don't need to remind you that you can't help your father if you're dead." The last part was added smugly, and the glint in her eyes told them she was not joking.

"Now wait just a second!" Fayt glared at Nel. "That's a low blow. I am not going to let you use my father's predicament against me."

Nel shrugged, a smug smirk on her face. "What do you think Airyglyph would do if we abandoned you here?"

"We wouldn't help them, either!"

"I wonder if you'd sing the same song after their inquisitor had his fun with you."

"…I would. I've already had a taste of it. Believe me." Fayt said quietly, rubbing his arms almost unconsciously.

"Confident, aren't you?" Nel quipped dryly.

Cliff decided enough was enough. Turning towards Nel, he said firmly, "Hey, don't get all bent outta shape." Rounding on Fayt, he reprimanded, "And you, chill out."

Growling, the Earthling stayed silent.

"We have no other choice. Frankly, the war with Airyglyph will escalate unless something is done soon. If we could only complete the new weapon, the situation would shift in our favor. If that means we must force uncooperative people into submission, then so be it." Her voice was harder than steel, and twice as sharp.

"Is that the teaching of Apris?" Fayt retorted caustically.

"Of course not. The Sun God Apris and our queen would never wish such things. Yet if we do not act, they will find themselves lacking for followers. Would you rather we submit to their swords, like lambs to a slaughter?" Nel challenged, a furious glint in her eyes.

"That's not what I mean." Fayt responded defensively.

"But that is what you are saying." The spy snapped.

"You're just twisting my—"

A sudden cry of fear and terror broke the heated argument. "Oh no!" Farleen screamed. Everyone, head's up! I think it's the Dragon Brigade!"

"They've caught up with us? Damn, we were so close to Kirlsa, too!" Nel swore, a despairing glint in her eyes.

"What are you gonna do? Fight?" Cliff asked.

Nel shook her head, her face screwed up in concentration.

Tynave's quiet, almost resigned voice broke the tension. "Lady Nel… It would be best for you to slip off and find shelter in the rocks." Her face brightened in false cheer and confidence. "We'll lure them away!"

"That's suicide!" Fayt protested. "You'll be killed!"

"Don't worry." She assured him with a grateful smile.

"We'll be fine!" Farleen chipped in, "We've lost their kind before!

"Tynave, Farleen, I'm counting on you." Nel said quietly, looking at the with a mixture of pride and worry. Turning towards Cliff and Fayt, she ordered, "Okay, you two, let's go."

Startled, the Earthling placed his hand on the spy's shoulder. "This is insane! You're just gonna let them go?" He demanded furiously.

"You are too valuable for us to lose! We'll be fine—fewer people means more speed. We'll outrun them! So please, go!" Tynave assured him hurriedly.

Cliff tugged on Fayt's arm. "Time to go kid," He said quietly.

Swallowing down his instincts, the Earthling nodded.

The Klausian proceeded to move towards the end of the wagon, where Nel was waiting. The Aquarian looked at him, and jerked her head towards the opening. "You first."

"The things I have to do," Cliff grumbled, and leapt out.

As the Earthling moved to the back of the wagon, however, Tynave placed her hand on his shoulder. Startled, Fayt turned around sharply.

"Fayt. Please, look after Lady Nel." She implored him softly.

Nodding, he replied, "You be careful yourself!"

"Don't worry about us!" Farleen responded.

Nearly in unison, Farleen and Tynave said, "May the grace of Apris be with you!"

Again, Fayt nodded, and then leapt out, with Nel following close behind.

Amazing... real dragons, Fayt thought to himself, watching the feral yet majestic, streamlined reptiles soar overhead. But the awe was cut by the knowledge that they were chasing Tynave and Farleen.

Thankfully, the dragons passed without incident. When they were out of sight, Nel remarked quietly, thoughtfully, "The Dragon Brigade. I feared they'd show up sooner or later. It shows how important you are to them."

"That's the Dragon Brigade?" Cliff questioned, still scanning the foggy roadside for the beasts.

"Correct. They're one of Airyglyph's three military branches. Knights riding powerful air dragons. Not to be trifled with. Time to go. While Tynave distracts them, we can go through Kirlsa and enter Aquaria territory." Nel moved to leave, but Fayt's voice stopped her cold.

"Wait a moment. I have agreed to cooperate with you yet." Fayt's voice was adamant and hard as steel. "And we can't leave them here! There's no way they'll be able to escape with those dragon knights chasing them…"

"Yes, there is an extremely good chance that they'll be caught. But there's nothing we can do about that." Nel reasoned.

She might as well have been a machine, with all the damnable monotone and tonelessness of her voice.

The sheer coldness of it, icier than the weather of Airyglyph, mixed with memories at that emotionless computer that blatantly told him his parents were lost.

"They knew the dangers of their mission when they accepted it. If I became a burden to the mission, they would leave me behind in the same way." Nel continued, in that same icy and without inflection tone.

"You... how can you be so cold?" Fayt asked softly. "Don't you give a damn about your friends!" His voice raised with his fury.

For a moment, something indiscernible passed through Nel's eyes, some strange pain, but then it was gone, replaced with the normal cold impassiveness.

A tense moment passed as the two glared at each other.

Cliff moved over to the Earthling and said sternly, "Hey, Fayt. Shut up." Fayt protested, but the Klausian ignored him. I'll leave whether or not we cooperate up to you, but save the debate for later! We got to get somewhere safer first." Turning towards Nel, he asked, "We'll be safer once we reach Aquaria, right?"

Nel nodded, the glare broken. "Yes, I can guarantee that."

"There you are. So let's go there, then we can decide what's what. Make sense to you?" Cliff asked rhetorically, turning towards the still reluctant Fayt.

"Yeah, but still…"

"You want Tynave and Farleen's sacrifice to go to waste? Whatever their objective might be, they're risking their lives to save us!" Cliff's voice had raised up a notch, obviously irritated that Fayt was taking the sacrifice of two soldier's lives for granted.

"…You're right." Fayt admitted almost inaudibly. Nodding towards his unlikely companions, he set off into more unknown territory.

Nel, while not looking like she was thinking deeply, was calculating her next moves. Kirlsa was still Airyglyph territory, but she had some contacts and it was not as conspicuous as the Airyglph capital city.

Also, she was still, despite appearances, immensely concerned over Tynave and Farleen. No commander wants to send their men into certain death... but a good commander is willing to spend their lives to complete the objective.

Finally, there was her cargo, namely, her companions. Valuable as they were, they were also suspicious, with not truly convincing back stories and strange habits.

Cliff, though seemingly chauvinistic, arrogant, and foolish, was obviously competent, perhaps even extremely so. Knowledge of tactics and other military subjects, combined with unnatural and polished fighting skills, made him a virtual enigma. There was no way he was a mere engineer. If anything, he seemed almost a general at times.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other of her companions, the younger one.

Fayt, while strange, was more understandable. Idealistic, weary, and off balanced, most likely due to the fact that he had been tortured and his father was still missing. He showed immense promise with the blade, but in all, he seemed just a kid, thrown into something way over his head.

Except for that other side of him.

That other side worried her. That strange, furious power that erupted within him in the Aqueducts.

Shoving the worry out of her mind, Nel reasoned that unless it posed a problem, she wouldn't spend any more time on it.

Suddenly, Fayt began to stumble, and clutched his head.

Groaning, Fayt felt immense weariness seeping into his body. In all the tension and excitement, he had forgotten just how weak he still was from all his exertions.

"What's wrong?" Nel asked, a hint of concern and worry in her voice.

"My head…" Fayt stumbled and fell to his knees, groaning. His vision went completely white. Then it cleared, and Fayt stood shakily, rubbing his head, which was still painfully blank.

Nel's voice, softer with concern, broke through the blankness. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Nodding, he replied waveringly, "I just felt dizzy there for a minute."

"We'll be in Kirlsa soon. Can you make it that far? Why don't you have him carry you…" She motioned towards the strangely taciturn Cliff.

Slightly irritated by the insinuations of weakness, Fayt nearly growled, "I'm fine… I'm not a baby, geez." In a huff, he stalked off.

Glancing after him with a strange expression, Nel said quietly, "Very well.", and followed.

Cliff, who still had not said a word, watched Fayt unblinkingly. "So... its draining him." He murmured. "This could be bad." His face was set in a strange way, as if he was faced with a problem he couldn't quite figure out.

Nel glanced back at him. "Are you coming?" She asked wryly.

Nodding, Cliff followed, but the strange expression lingered in his eyes.

Nel breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. Though Kirlsa was still Airyglyph territory, at the very least it was not the capital city. They could breath a little easier, especially thanks to Tynave and Farleen. Brushing those thoughts out of her mind for now, she spoke. "This is Kirlsa. If we can get through this town, we'll be in Aquaria." Glancing at Fayt, a mixture of worry at him slowing them down and general concern in her voice as she asked, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine…" Fayt replied aimlessly, distracted.

Why was he so tired? Was whatever he did back in the Aqueduct affecting him?

From what he had read, regular symbology didn't tax your body so much as your mind. So what was happening?

"Don't overexert yourself. Remember, you're not as strong as we are." Cliff placed his hand on Fayt's shoulder as he reminded him.

Brushing away the Klausian's arm, he bristled. "Now even you're treating me like a baby. I said I'm fine." His voice was laced with irritation and a tinge of anger.

"Yeah, well, I'm saying you don't look fine at all." Cliff replied calmly.

"I'd prefer to just leave this town now, but that won't be possible with Fayt in this condition… Let's stay here tonight." Nel assessed.

"What about those guys chasing us?" Cliff asked, glancing over his shoulder on reflex.

"We'll be okay if Tynave and Farleen succeed in leading them off…" She trailed off for a moment, distracted, before adding, "And in any case, we have nothing to gain by forcing a sick person to march."

"I'm..." Fayt wanted to say fine, but suddenly the ache grew again and he stumbled, black dots dancing across his vision. "Okay... maybe I'm not so good." He murmured weakly.

Grabbing his shoulder, Cliff said reassuringly, "We'll be fine."

"And we're in luck. There's an inn right over there, in that building with the wagon outside. Let's go." Nel said, and Cliff half-dragged, half helped Fayt over to the wooden building.

"You're a magnet for trouble, aren't you?" Cliff asked rhetorically.

"Only recently," Fayt replied, a weak smile on his face. "Only recently."

"I'll see you later." Nel declared, an hour after they had checked into the inn and laid Fayt down in one of the beds.

"Where're you going?" Cliff asked, shooting her a questioning glance. Fayt groggily pushed himself up on the bed, and looked at the redhead.

"I'm just going to check things out. I'll be right back." The spy replied vaguely.

"All right, but are you sure you should leave us alone? Aren't you afraid we'll just run away?" Cliff challenged, a grin on his face.

"No. You won't run out on me. I trust you, remember?" Nel replied wryly, glancing at them.

"Oh, don't say that. Now we can't run away…" Cliff groaned good naturedly.

The Aquarian chuckled. "I don't mind you walking around, just don't leave the town. And don't do anything…conspicuous." She shot Cliff a warning glance especially. "We're still in Airyglyph territory. There's no telling where the enemy is hiding."

Cliff and Fayt nodded, and Nel departed.

After a few long moments, Fayt stood up, bored and restless. "I think I'll take a walk—I'm sure it'll do me good," He declared, moving towards the door and glancing at Cliff. "You coming?"

The Klausian shook his head and laid back, resting his head on his arms. "I'm conspicuous just walking around…" He sighed. "Well, it's gonna be pretty boring, but I guess I'll just have to wait right here. Be careful kid. Like she said, we're still in enemy territory."

Fayt nodded. "Yeah, I know." And with that, he left. A good deal of time later, he found himself passing by a cemetery. While having no inclinations to go there, the feeling of despair that was ever at the back of his mind, the idea that somewhere out there, Sophia and his parents were in danger and in need of his help, nagged and itched and continued to aggravate him.

However, a flash of deep crimson caught his eye, and he paused. Is that... A second glance confirmed it. Nel was in the graveyard, and was talking to some hooded woman.

"…according to our latest information." The unknown woman said quietly, in a voice that was very disheartened.

"I see… They're up to the same nasty tricks as always. Is it the Dragon Brigade?" Nel questioned, her eyes and tone hard with some unreleased anger.

"No, it's the Black Brigade. Of course, the Dragon Brigade is backing them up." The mysterious woman replied, a tone of bitterness and irritation in her voice.

"I see. Good work." Nel commended, but her heart obviously wasn't in it.

"Whatever you do, please don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. You know they plan to-"

Nel shushed her, seeing Fayt out of the corner of her eye. What's he- "Go." Nel ordered.

"Yes, ma'am." She saluted, and left the cemetery, her eyes widening a fraction as she saw Fayt.

When she had passed, the Earthling walked over to Nel, not a hint of what he had heard showing on his face.

"What are you doing out here?" Nel asked, a tinge of suspicion in her voice.

"Nothing really." Fayt replied casually, calmly. " I was passing by and saw you, so… Who was that?" He asked in the same tone.

"She works for me, gathering intelligence here in Kirlsa. I was just checking up on her." The spy explained in a patient tone.

"Is something the matter? You looked pretty grim…" Fayt asked quietly, concern in his voice, which Nel found a bit touching after all she had done to them.

Still, she was also their only means of escaping the country, she reminded herself. "Nothing unexpected. I've found out our pursuers are getting close to this town, so we can't afford to waste any time here."

"Ah, there you are…huh?" Cliff greeted, then paused in a bit of surprise as he saw Nel and Fayt walk in together. "You two were together?"

Both flushed slightly at the insinuation, and Fayt lied, saying, "I ran into her at the entrance."

"Like he says." Nel agreed.

"So how are you feeling now?" Cliff asked, turning towards the Earthling.

"I'm okay. It must have just been the fatigue catching up with me." Fayt replied nonchalantly, waving off concern.

"Right. Well, hope that's all it was." The Klausian remarked in a strange tone.

"Sorry to worry you guys." Fayt apologized, rubbing the back of his head bashfully.

"Well, as long as you're okay. Don't sweat it." Cliff waved his hand dismissively.

Glancing out the window, Nel commented, "It'll be night soon… You should rest up today." Tomorrow we'll pass through the Kirlsa Caverns, which are mine shafts to the north of town. We'll go through there to Arias. Of course it'd be faster to go through the wilderness to the east, but we can't be sure that they aren't waiting to ambush us if we go that way." Nel explained. "At the very least, we won't have to worry about soldiers." But the tone in her voice made it clear that going through the mines was not something to be taken lightly.

"Spit it out. What's dangerous about the mine shafts?" Cliff interrogated ruthlessly.

"Well, a number of monsters have taken up residence there. I'm not saying it's completely safe. Let's just say I'd rather face them than the soldiers. So now that everyone knows the plan, let's get some sleep. We leave early." With that, Nel turned, and went into her own room.

Nodding, Fayt climbed into his bed. Within moments, he was asleep.

Thanks to Firedude328, Z.A.G., gleenthefrog, Arakasema, Goldamon X, SahagielX, deathknight sora, babipink, Ryumasa the Ryuhaitou, Gester, ChistopherC, PersonaJXT, starscream1998, Tristan Amaryllis, Shining Light, Dimitri Plabato, and darkangelgep for reviewing!

Q&A

Firedude328- I sent you an e-mail. Did you get it?

Z.A.G- Albel fight is definitely something I look forward to as well.

Arakasema- Because Roger and Peppita bug me. And what place do prepubescent children have against the Creator?

deathknight sora- Because I'm novelizing the game. That's why.

Ryumasa the Ryuhaitou- I'd feel more for his teacher, personally.

ChistopherC- I know the Inquisitor (its not Executioner) wasn't killed. But this would be a bit boring if I stuck completely to what happened in the game and didn't change a few things.

PersonaJXT- Yeah, I know it was a bit cheesy. But no, Fayt's power still reveals itself fully at the arrival of the Vendeen. This just explains why Fayt can pull off all those moves.

Tristan Amaryllis- I cut out dialogue that seems unnecessary. I know that Mirage probably could have a relationship with Fayt, but I was more meaning for this story.

AN: Sorry this took so long. Kind of a boring chapter, so it was harder to write. Rest assured, I'm seeing this story to the very end.