Shout Outs...

Dragon Chyld: I figured all James all the time would get old way too quick.

Maxmagnus20019: Now why didn't -I- think of that? You could bet if that had happened Cliff would have his ass whooped in seconds flat.

xlizx: Like I said last Shout Out, lil' humour never hurts.

Almost unconsciously we walked towards Arias in formation. The exact purpose of military formations wasn't clear to me. Is it to keep your army organized? Intimidate the foe with a well-disciplined force? In our case it was more practical than anything else.

Nel was in the lead, a rested Tynave and Farleen flanking her on each side just behind her, leading us all to our destination since they were the most familiar with the place. Cliff was in the rear, our party relying on his instincts to protect us from a rear assault. Fayt and myself were stuck in the middle, ready to reinforce the women or Cliff as needed. The amazing thing is we made up this formation without anyone saying a word we just fell into it.

Course we're a few hundred short of an army, but details, details and all that.

"Lady Nel!" A female soldier called out as the group of six returned. A number of sentries, including the woman ran up to them. "You're all right!"

"Yes, I'm fine." Nel began. "I'm sorry to have worried you... Where is Clair?"

"She's at Headquarters. She was worried-- she'll want to see that you're back." Nel nodded in response before turning to her companions.

"Right, let's go."

And once again off we went to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of--

Oh, sorry. Similar theme, wrong story, sorry. We went to the mansion to see Clair.

"We're back!" James called out cheerfully as Clair turned about, seeing the Nel and her companions walk in.

"Nel!" Clair called out rushing up to her friend, pulling her into a friendly embrace.

"Sorry to keep you." Nel replied. Clair pulled back smiling as she looked over the two other women.

"And you two are safe as well." Both Tynave and Farleen saluted as she walked up to the three men. "I want to thank the three of you, especially you James. Thank you for watching over Nel for me."

"Ah, don't worry about. You could say we watched over each other." He replied.

"And as for you two, I fear they wouldn't have made it back safely to us had you not gone and helped."

"Don't mention it." Fayt replied.

"We didn't do much. It was mainly small fry." Cliff added.

"Don't sell yourself short." Nel said. Clair turned to face her friend, flanked by her subordinates. "And we were able to defeat the second-in-command of the Black Brigade, thanks to your help."

"You defeated Shelby of the Black Brigade?" Clair asked almost surprised.

"Yup!" James said grinning, patting Fayt's shoulder. "My main man here beat him like a government mule. An Airyglyph mule to boot."

"Ah, come on James! You took out a dozen soldiers!" Fayt replied as James crossed his arms.

"Well... Not take'em out so much as cutting them off at the knees." Cliff chuckled a bit as Nel nodded.

"It's as they say."

"I can't believe it..." Clair said almost as if it was still in doubt.

"Yeah, but that show-off in shining armour is still cruisin' for a bruisin'." Cliff added, smacking a fist into his palm.

"Oh, you mean that Albel guy." Fayt clarified.

"Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. He won't get away so easily next time I run into him."

"Albel?" Clair exclaimed. "You can't mean... Albel The Wicked?"

"We ain't talking about Albel The Candlestick Maker..." James quipped.

"James..." Nel started before shaking her head. "Still, it's amazing. Frankly I'm surprised we made it back in one piece."

"Is he really that strong?" Fayt asked as Nel walked up to him.

"Believe it Fayt." James said. "I know, first hand."

"I still doubt it was as you say." Nel added, staring at the hat wearing man.

"It is as he says Nel, I saw it for myself." Clair added before walking up to them. "But enough talk. You must all be very tired. I'll have them prepare dinner-- It won't take long."

One very filling dinner later... And a few rounds of seconds...

"So... You won't help us after all?" Nel asked, between Tynave and Clair on one side of the table. On the other side, Fayt was across for Clair, Cliff from Nel and James from Tynave. Farleen simply stood next to James.

"I'm still thinking about it." Fayt replied. "The whole prospect of making a weapon doesn't sit well with me."

"I see... Well, you don't have to answer immediately." Clair said. "If you can decide by the time we reach the royal city, that will be soon enough."

"Clair..." Nel began. "I think I will ride with them all the way to Aquios after all. Is that okay with you Fayt?"

"Of course it's okay." He replied. "Isn't that your mission?"

"That it is."

"And what of you, James?" Clair asked, looking down the table at the man.

"Yes, what will you do?" Farleen asked as well. "You would be a great asset to our garrison."

"I'd like to stay and help, don't get me wrong." James started. "But someone needs to keep Fayt over there in check."

"Very funny." The blue haired youth said, shaking his head.

"Besides..." James continued. "I've got unfinished business with ye old Wicked One, so I'm going to have to go along."

"Very well then." Clair said.

Soon after we refreshed our supplies we gathered at another gate, leading across a bridge. Me, Fayt and Cliff waited for Nel to say her goodbyes.

Nel nodded once before walking up to the three men, her arms crossed. "First, we'll head to a town called Peterny, in the northeast. After we've obtained supplies there we'll head to Aquios."

"Okay, understood." Fayt.

"Gotcha." Cliff.

"You da boss." James.

Nodding once Nel turned around to face Clair, Tynave and Farleen. "I'll be back."

"All right. See you soon." Clair said nodding. "Everyone, please be careful."

"You guys, too." Fayt replied.

"We'll be just fine." Farleen said.

"Yes." Clair added. "Take care of Nel for us, please."

"No worries." James said, walking up to pat Nel's shoulder. "We might have to, depending on how often she has to baby-sit Cliff."

"You're just a regular comedian, ain't ya?" Cliff said shaking his head. Nel shook her head as well before turning to her three coworkers.

"May Apris guide your path!" Tynave.

"May the grace of Apris be with you!" Farleen.

With that the group of now four turned and left for the Palmira Plains.

Compared to the Aire Hill and that forest on Vanguard the plains were very easy to traverse. Outside the occasional monster we had little troubles. The road was clear, the sky blue and best of all no Airyglyph Soldiers to speak of. Within a couple of hours we reached the stone walls of Peterny.

The three offworlders looked about as they entered the town, watching the flow of life within the town as people cheerful talked. "So this is Peterny." Cliff stated.

"This town has a totally different feel to it than Arias." Fayt added.

"True enough. For starters, the houses are in one piece." James said.

"More than that James." Nel began. "This town is closer to the royal city of Aquios."

"And further from the frontlines of the war."

"Yes, there is that too... But it also borders on the Republic of Sanmite, and is a centre of commerce."

"Makes sense." Cliff said. "No wonder it's so lively."

"I have to attend to some business. You can do what you will until I get back." Nel thought for a moment. "We'll meet... We'll meet in the central plaza. Go to the plaza when you're ready."

"Okay." Fayt.

"Got it." Cliff.

"You bet." James.

We split up and I wandered about town. The place was very lively. Friendly people were everywhere. I visited a few stores and browsed about looking at all the odds and ends. I eventually did buy something, black leather gloves with silver stitching on the back that made a pattern of two feathered wings. In turn I sold them my old ones, since these were cooler looking and possibly more sturdy.

And they just felt nice to boot.

"I see. You're sure he didn't leak any information." Nel asked the woman across from her as they browsed the shops, or rather pretended too, the noise of the crowd drowning out their voices.

"Yes Lady Nel." The other woman replied, a teal-haired lady of about twenty. "We caught him swiftly. He did get close though. Too close."

"So long as we can keep it a secret a little longer." Nel replied nodding before looking down the street at a man. "Hmm?"

"Something wrong Lady Nel?" The woman asked, looking where Nel did only to see a man with a strange hat into a window at the item shop. "Who is that?"

"That, Terra, is James, one of the Greeton engineers."

"Is he now... He's cute..." Nel sighed and shook her head.

"Can't you think of anything other than men, we're in a war here!"

"I know." Terra said shaking her head. "But it will end someday. And when Aquaria is free I plan on finding a husband. What about you Nel? Aren't you going to get married?"

Nel sighed for a moment as she remembered her own father. "I think I'd still be a little busy for..."

"Nonsense... Oh, he's gone." Nel blinked and looked back at the store, and sure enough James had left.

"It doesn't matter. I'll be seeing him later anyway."

"Oh, lucky you! Maybe you could--"

"Don't go there."

"Ohhhh..."

I wasn't going to mention this, but all the activity and cheerful faces in Peterny was something I needed. Being in the ruined Arias was sort of depressing and it forced me to remember of all the bad things that have yet to happen. But being in Peterny reminded me of everything I was supposed to be fighting for. Each time I saw a smile I felt a little bit better about being here.

Stretching out James looked at a building on the west side of Peterny. Looking up he scratched his head.

One of the things that perplexed me about Elicoor II was the fact everything was in English. Yes, I had a translator. No, it didn't work on the written language. Yet every sign around was in English. A few of them weren't perfect English, but English all the same.

This sign in particular said 'Craftsman's Guild.'

Shrugging James stepped into the building. Looking about he went around a couple of people, walking up to a desk with a girl laying down on it. As he approached she looked up and stood up straight, looking at him with sparkling blue eyes. "Are you here to become an inventor?"

"Ummm..." James began scratching his head. "Well, sure!"

"Really!" The girl said sounding excited. She wore a dress with a zipper in the front that went down to the top of her thighs and up to the bottom of her breasts, a black long sleeved zip up shirt under that and her blonde hair in two ponytails. In her hand was a stick with a white gloved hand on it. "Uh, allow me to introduce myself. The name is Welch Vineyard."

Welch Vineyard... With that name she should be making some wine.

"I'm the Craftsman's Guild receptionist, the Guild Master's secretary, and the liaison between inventors around the world."

"Wow... Well, I guess if ya ain't workin' hard your hardly workin'." James replied

"Oh you betcha!" She replied then added in a lower tone, "And they don't pay me much either!" She then slipped back to her normal tone. "But, not many people want to be inventors these days." Back to the lower tone. "I have a lot of time on my hands." She sighed as she slipped back to her normal tone. "Being an inventor used to be everyone's dream job. Uh, just a moment." She stepped out from behind the desk, stopping to look at him briefly. "I'll go get the guild master." And with that she left, returning shortly after with a short man with white hair sticking out from under a hat and a white moustache.

"So, you want to be an inventor?" He asked.

"Apparently." James replied.

"You probably know this, but... Our guild is a gigantic commercial organization supported by the government that distributes products and register's patents for inventions. All in the name of the advancement of civilization on this continent."

"We're the biggest guild in the industry!" Welch said proudly before adding, "Well, now that Nanix and Drace are bankrupt."

Why did I sign up with this guild again? I'd shoot myself, but on this planet I'd have to invent the gun first. Too much damn work just to commit suicide...

"We give free reign to youngster's with a sense of vision." The Guild Master said. "Welch, give that to him."

"There you go." She said, handing him a small blue device.

"Hey, a lil' compact communicator." James said, opening the device. "Even has a monitor on it. Good size for the device."

I kinda wondered how a medieval planet got something like this, but I have to admit... It not only kicks my Nintendo DS's ass, it spins it around just to kick it in it's balls.

"Correct." The Guild Master said. "Now that you have this you can contact us, no matter how far away you are."

"I work as a liaison through those devices." Welch added. "You can easily gather information about new items on store shelves, search patent registration reports, and even file patents of your own through the compact communicator."

"That's right, and if you want to work on an invention, you can use any workshop you want in any town. You can expand workshops, too. Of course, that will come out of your own pocket. Hehehe!"

Oh joy of all joys...

"Peterny's workshop is to the northwest of the Craftsman's Guild, right across from us... But that workshop's a mess, so you'll want to expand it's facilities before you do anything else..."

"Hmmm... Okay, here's your seed money." The Guild Master said, handing James 1,000 in Fol.

After a little more chatter Welch led me to the workshop in question. After a half hour of work I had invented... IT!

James sighed as he used the dull, pronged end of his newly made backscratcher.

Well... I wasn't going to change the world yet. I invented a few more odds and ends, a can opener for the already invented can, a pen that contained it's own ink and didn't have to dipped into a jar of ink... and a Runology power lava lamp. Yes, it worked. No, I'm not sure how I made it work. Yes, everyone needs a lava lamp. I submitted my stuff to Welch, who seemed pleased at my admittedly small start.

After that I went out to the central plaza...

James yawned slightly as he walked about to the central plaza. He turned his head and paused.

And of course there was Fayt... Sitting with Ameena Leffeld. Poor girl, unaware of the future ahead of her.

Well, the one that was supposed to happen, anyhow.

James sighed and crossed his arms as the two talked.

"Contemplating destiny?" A voice said, causing James to jump slightly and look to his right.

"Jeeze, Auron! How does an old man like you sneak around like that?" James all but yelled out as he turned to face his teacher.

"My apologies. I just had the chance to check up on you, so I thought I'd say hi."

"Hmm." James looked back at his friend and the girl. "Do you really think I can change things here?"

"I don't know. I think you can, but the question is what kind of an impact will it have."

"No kiddin..." James looked back to Auron, only to see empty space. "Stupid old man..."

"Ah, there you are!" Cliff's voice said. James turned around again, this time to his left to see Nel and Cliff walk up to him. "You wait long?"

"Nah. Just... spying."

"Spying?" Nel asked as James pointed a finger at Fayt.

"Hey, looks like our boy has found himself a lady friend. Let's go say hi." Cliff said walking towards Fayt and the girl, Nel and James right behind him.

Fayt and his companion laughed for a moment before Cliff spoke up. "Hey, whatcha up to?"

"Oh... It's you guys!" Fayt replied, startled.

I should note that Cliff decided to say that, kneeling down so he'd be at Fayt's eye level, since he was sitting and all.

"Hitting on the ladies?" Cliff asked, standing up.

"No Cliff, I only count one lady with Fayt." James added, nodding. "Yup, just one."

"N-no." Fayt protested standing up. "Ah, umm, she just looked like someone I know. And, well..."

"Come on, you can up with a better line than that!" Cliff said as he, Nel and James stepped forward. "I'll teach you a few for next time."

"Hate to burst your bubble Cliff, but A: using your lines would mean the ladies would hit him with sticks." James said.

"Hey!"

"And B: I have to admit... She could pose as Sophia's long lost twin sister."

"See!" Fayt said. "Even James thinks so."

"Anyway..." Nel began, cutting in.

"What?" Fayt asked.

"Aren't you going to introduce her?"

"Oh, yes. This is Ameena, she sells flowers in this town."

"Hi, I-I'm Ameena." The girl said.

"Ameena, these three are the people I'm traveling with, Cliff, Nel and James."

"Ameena, what a nice name." Cliff began. "Nice to meet you. I'm Cliff Fittir. Guess you could say I'm this kid's bodyguard."

"Nel Zelpher."

"James Jennings. Pleased ta meetcha!"

"And it's nice to meet you all too." Ameena replied.

Nel nodded before looking at the flower that was now pinned to Fayt's shirt. "That's a rare flower you're holding. Where did you get that?"

"Oh this?" Fayt said, looking at the flower. "Ameena gave it to me."

"Huh, a rare flower?" Cliff asked.

"It's the Maiden of Irisa." Nel began. "The current war has pretty much devastated the lands where it grows, so it's a hard flower to find these days. In the stories of Apris it represents the goddess Irisa. These days it's used as a good luck charm for travelers. It's much the same as Palmira's Wishing Charm, or the Wreath of Erinia, which we use to pray for victory in battle."

"Wow, that's pretty amazing... You sure you want to give him something so valuable?"

"Yes." Ameena replied. "I don't need it anymore. I'm sorry, but I need to get back to work..."

"I suppose if ya ain't workin' hard you're hardly workin'." James quipped.

"Oh..." Fayt added.

"Please excuse me." The flower girl said. "It was fun talking to you. Have a safe journey to Aquios."

"Thanks. Ameena, these are tough times... Take care of yourself!"

"Thank you."

"I'm sure you'll meet your friend again, I believe it."

"May the grace of Apris be with you! Goodbye, then..." And with that, Ameena took her leave, coughing as she walked away.

"Hey, is she sick or something?" Cliff asked. "She sure was coughing a lot."

"Uh, yeah. She said she had a cold." Fayt replied.

"Right..."

"All right you two, let's not talk out here. Let's get to the inn." Nel said, cutting in.

"Good idea." Fayt replied.

"Peterny has two inns, but there are some issues with the one on the east side, so we'll use the one on the west."

"Issues?" Cliff asked.

"It's a cheap inn that's also a tavern. Put bluntly, it's got a lot of questionable patrons. This maybe Aquaira, but we want to avoid and unnecessary trouble."

"Like ole' Cliff here getting into a fist fight with a drunk?" James asked.

"Quite honestly, yes."

"All right, let's use the one on the west side." Fayt said.

A little later we were in the hotel...

"Ok, we're checked in, I've got us two rooms." Nel said. "Fayt, you can share a room with Cliff. I'll share one with James. For now though, I'm going to visit with a subordinate in this town. Feel free to walk around, but whatever you do stay out of trouble!"

"All right... Don't worry so much." Cliff replied. "I don't know about them, but do you think I'd cause trouble?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?" James asked.

"Hey, why are you worried about us?" Fayt asked.

"I'm just saying what I think." Nel replied, stepping forwards and crossing her arms, her back to Cliff and Fayt but facing James who leaned against the wall. "This town is lively with commerce-- And that has attracted more than it's share of shady characters."

"Thieves, among other things I'd wager." James quipped.

"Yes. Guys like Cliff are easy to pick fights with."

"If that happens I'll give as good as I get." Cliff replied. "No worries."

"That's what I'm worried about." Nel.

"That's what she's worried about." James. Nel turned her head to look at James.

I should note... we said that at the exact same time.

"Ah, right." Cliff said.

Nel sighed, shaking her head. "Okay, I'm off. I'll be back by nightfall." She nodded to the three men before turning to leave.

"I think I'll go to the local tavern." Cliff said. "You two go amuse yourselves."

"I can come along and watch you pick a fight, that'd be amusing." James replied.

"Very funny..."

"Come on James, we can find something else." Fayt said.

"Aww, ruin my fun before it starts why don't ya..."

Fayt and I split up, he went to the east side and I went and found a restaurant. Despite eating at Arias I was getting hungry again, so I found a little spot in the plaza and sat down, ordering a plate of the local pasta...

James nodded to the waitress as she set down a glass of lemonade before leaving. James took his hat off and put it on his lap, running a hand through his hair.

"I think this is the first time I've seen you with your hat off." He heard a voice say. James turned his head to see Nel walk up to him.

"To be honest I've had it since I could remember... I just don't feel right if it ain't around."

"I see."

"What about you? I thought you were off to see someone."

"My meeting was postponed, something came up."

"Ah. Wanna join me?"

Nel nodded slightly and sat down across from James. "So, what are you doing?"

"Getting some food, I was feeling a little peckish. And... thinking."

"About what?" Nel asked only to see James shake his head.

"It's nothing."

"If you say so..." Nel replied, shaking her head before looking at James chest. "That's quite the necklace you've got there, where did you get it?"

"Oh this..." James began, taking the necklace in his hand. "I got it from my mother when I was six..." James looked down at the thing, biting his lip.

"Is... something wrong?"

"Wha, oh sorry. It's--"

"I'm not going to buy 'it's nothing' again."

James looked up and Nel and shook his head. "It just that when I was thirteen... she died with my sister."

Nel cringed slightly as he said that. "I'm sorry... I didn't--"

"It's okay... I just... Miss them is all."

"I'm sure. The design is curious though."

"It's what we call Celtic." James began, looking to the waitress as she set a glass of lemonade in front of Nel.

"Will you be ordering?" She asked.

"Just a small salad, Marian Dressing, and a small bun." The waitress nodded and left. "So, James, does the design… mean anything?"

"Well..." James began. "When she gave it to me she said if I was ever lost I could find my way, if I believed in myself."

"I see."

"What about your family Nel?"

"Well... My mother died at the start of the war, by an attack on Arias. And my father died as leader of the Secret Legion... I took over his job, but..."

"You miss him."

"I do."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay... What of your father?"

"He was a musician... When my mother died he just... couldn't handle it. He went from town to town, all but non-stop. Never really see him anymore..."

"Our lives haven't been that great, huh?"

"It's been all right... It still hurts, but things were going okay for me. Although this whole thing here got me thrown in a loop."

"I suppose. May I be... honest with you?"

"I suppose... Why?"

Nel leaned forwards speaking in a hushed voice. "What is they real story with you three? I know you're not just engineers, but..."

"You think we're deceiving you and you want reassurance. But why ask me?"

"I just think I can. You might the most serious person, but... I feel as if I can trust you."

"I see." James leaned back for a moment before leaning forwards again. "I won't tell you here, too many potential eavesdroppers." Nel nodded once before he continued. "We'll talk in our room. I can't tell you everything, but I can try and help you understand our situation."

"Thank you. Ah, our food's here..."

Let's just say I left a very nice tip. The food was great, and the lemonade divine.

Kinda weird to think they'd have lemons on an alien planet though... meh, who am I to ask? Sides, I'd have my hands full figuring other things out.

I told Nel I'd try and explain our situation, but I didn't want to let slip the fact we weren't even from this planet. Hell, Nel probably didn't even know what a planet was.

We split up after eating, and I soon went back to our room. A while later, Nel joined me...

"So, anything new?" James asked, sitting on his bed as Nel shook her head, sitting across from him on her bed.

"No, nothing important anyway. You were going to explain?"

"Yeah. Ever have a hypothetical discussion before?"

"Hypothetical?"

"I come up with a situation, you explain what your reaction to it would be."

"I see. No, I never had."

"Now's a good time as any. Now, let's say you, as a runologist, get stuck between two warring, primitive tribes--"

"Excuse me?"

"Settle Nel." James said waving his hands. "Hypothetical, remember?"

"Right... go on."

"Okay, so you're stuck between them. They have no Runology what so ever. Both sides think you could tip the scale of the war to their favour, especially if you teach them Runology. One tribe, the reds, try and force you to by any means. The second, the blues, want to keep you out of the reds hands, asking but not forcing your help. What would you do?"

"Assist the blues of course." Nel said smugly, crossing her arms as if it were a simple answer. James nodded before continuing.

"Okay, fine. But let's say the queen that founded your kingdom made a law that was considered not just important but a part of the foundation of your kingdom's legal system."

"And what is that law?"

"Do not interact with such primitive tribes as the reds and blues, and if you are forced to then minimize your impact as much as humanly possible, and do not for any reason give them the secrets of Runology."

Nel's mouth opened slightly before closing, her eyebrows knitting together. "So you three... are under such a law?"

"Fayt and me are, Cliff is with another... country that trying to gain Fayt's favour. Part of which is to help rescue Fayt's dad."

"I see... So by forcing them to help us finish our weapon..." Nel began.

"Fayt is breaking our law, and could face some major punishment."

"Oh, Apris... What have I done?" Nal said to herself putting her hand on her head.

"Hey, don't get all bent outta shape yet. Ya never know they could be lenient." James crossed his arms. "There is a little thing in the law about how you could bend the law around if there is clear danger to life and limb, and so far there hasn't been a shortage of that. And it's hard to minimize an impact that started in a major city."

"But still..."

"Look... These are... odd circumstances we're in, especially being put into a war like this."

"I am sorry for that."

"It's not your fault. Now I won't help unless Fayt will, and I know Cliff is the same way. So I want you to promise me something."

"What is it?" Nel asked, as James walked over to her, knelling down and placing a hand on her knee.

"If Fayt does help build your weapon, don't try and stop him."

"But if he does--"

"Then he'll be breaking a major law, but he knows that. And I know he'll accept any consequences from it."

"...Will he be fine? Really?" James nodded and stood up.

"I think so. It is an odd situation, and if nothing else we can bring up the fact you threatened his life. Should reduce it to a slap on the wrist."

"But--"

"No buts. Now, ya gonna promise, or not?"

"...Very well. I promise... May Apris look over him, and forgive me..."

"If this Apris is as good a god as I've heard him to be, I'm sure he already has. You didn't know, and I know Fayt is a little reluctant help, but the war and death is here, and the law is a long ways away. And hey, we never have to say we got involved. What they don't know can't hurt us, right?"

"I hope you're right..." Nel said before sighing.

"Good." James sat down on his own bed and pulled his boots off before setting his hat on the nightstand. "I'll see ya in the mornin' Nel."

"Of course. And James... Thank you. You helped me understand you guys a lot more."

"Don't worry about it."

Soon we were both asleep in our beds. I woke up part way through and looked over to Nel. Hard to believe this woman was in any branch of a military. Asleep she looked... so innocent. Yet I'm sure this war had robbed her of that, long ago...

Before we went to sleep though I asked her a question: why did our room smell like jasmine?

She said her mother used to wear that kind of perfume. And after her death she wore it too.

So why is that scent always in my dreams with flashes of crimson?

That's it for this one. As always, any C&C is welcomed.