Disclaimer: I do not own Baten Kaitos or anything associated with it. (I'm running out of things to say up here...)

Chapter XII: Over The Rolling Sea

Death is believed to be the ultimate peace, the greatest release from responsibility and all earthly ties. But Kalas found neither peace, nor release. When he became aware of his existence again, the first thing he realized, as if some deep instinct had been put in place to tell him, that he was dead. The second thing he became aware of, that he had no body. He felt nothing, other than the strange feeling of existing. Lastly, he was not in heaven, or even hell. He was floating several feet off the ground, still in the Ice Cliffs. The blizzard winds had subsided, and the various inhabitants of the cliffs began to leave their various shelters, searching for food.

Kalas looked around, a numb despair filling him. What… what happened? He thought stunned. He looked down at the ground, and it was as if he had been physically struck. He saw his body, almost completely buried in the snow. He looked away, feeling disgusted, and deepy disturbed vy the sight. He looked around at the frozen landscape, almost unbroken white as far as he could see. What now? He thought, Isn't something supposed to happen? Aren't I supposed to go somewhere? He looked down at himself, and found that he was now comprised of a ring of glowing blue feathers. He noted this feeling numb. What's this mean? He thought. He tried to twist around, to see something other than glowing blue feathers, but all he accomplished was floating around in circles. He looked around the landscape once more. The sky was cloudy, as it always in the Ice Cliffs, so he could not tell what time of day it is. The landscape looked all the same to him, broken only occasionally by a rocky outcrop of stone covered in a layer of blue frost. He did not know where he was in the Ice Cliffs. Well, getting lost won't make much of a difference now, he thought glumly. He was about to head off in a random direction, hoping to eventually find Cursa, when he felt a strange compulsion to go in a different direction. It was not conscious, it was as if someone else was inside his mind, and trying to tell him to go somewhere else, or maybe this was just some weird instinct showing him the way back home. Curious, he obeyed the compulsion, maybe it would lead him back to his friends and he could find out if they were still alive…

Nekton, The Shrine of Spirits, where Spirits from another world were said to gather. Mira had always been an oddity, but this place had secrets that it would never forfeit, making it an enigma even to those who lived on this continent. It was a forest, but the trees were stripped bare of leaves. They were like wooden skeletons, with glowing red orbs floating among the branches, as if trying to replace the leaves the trees should have. During the day, the forest was always caught in twilight, and at night, the only light came from the orbs floating among the trees, mimicking the twiling of the daytime perfectly. The forest floor was tightly packed dirt, tinted a strange violet. In places, there would be little lights embedded in the ground, as if pieces of a fragmented star had been scatted over the forest. Strange monsters flitted behind the strong trunks of the trees, appearing only for the briefest moment. In the middle of the large clearing in the heart of the forest, there was utter silence. The animals and monsters flitted around and the trees that stood like skeletal sentinels in the forest's perpetual twilight.

Then a sound like cloth being torn filled the clearing as a great hole filled the sky. Then Allyr fell from it, screaming. Only the tree branches broke her fall as she crashed through them. She landed on the forest floor heavily with a loud "OW!"

"Are you all right?" asked Kalas, alarmed. If Allyr was injured now then it was unlikely that they would get to Wazn at all, much less save anyone.

Allyr swore, "I… I don't think anything's broken…" said Allyr. She tried to stand up, but fell back to the ground with another curse. "Just… give me a minute." What followed was what Kalas thought was the longest minute of his life or afterlife. As soon as Allyr stood up, shakily, he finally began to relax. Allyr looked back up at the sky, at where the hole had been. The sky was whole again, and there was no trace left of the gate that carried her here. "I think that little girl's trying to kill us." She muttered angrily, rubbing her sore back.

"Trying to kill you." Corrected Kalas.

"Yeah, yeah," said Allyr, temper near the surface because of the pain, "Get all technical about it why don't you?" She looked around the clearing, memories coming back to her. It's strange, she thought, So much has happened because I ended up in a car accident. I wouldn't be here right now if it had never happened. So much wouldn't have happened. I suppose it's all for the best. A silence filled the clearing.

"… We should probably head for Wazn," said Kalas, trying to fill the silence.

"Yeah, but how?" asked Allyr, experimentally flexing the leg she had fallen on, "I'm broke, so I can't hire an airship. And judging from what you've told me, it seems unlikely that there'll be any flights to an island that's been taken over anyway. Duke Calbren!" Allyr suddenly shouted, looking slightly more cheerful, "Duke Calbren knows me! Maybe we can convince him to lend us an airship? Or I suppose just a boat would work, since there's the Ocean now, and Wazn's right in the middle of it…"

"Duke Calbren won't be there," said Kalas, "He was there when Wazn was attacked."

"Melodia will probably be there," said Allyr, though she felt like she was now grabbing at straws, "Being the heir and all." Then she added, "Unless she was there with Duke Calbren?"

"No," said Kalas, "She wasn't there. I don't remember her being there anyway."

"Well, that's good," said Allyr cheerfully, "Melodia knows me too. If she's there, then it's more or less smooth sailing until we get to Wazn. Right?"

"But she's never seen you with a body," pointed out Kalas, "To her, you've just been a disembodied voice that happened to follow me around. She may not believe you if you told them that you were my Guardian."

"…That does present an issue," muttered Allyr, "I don't know… Are you willing to vouch for me if she doesn't? I know what I'm asking, but there's no other way to get to Wazn. So, please?"

Kalas was silent, thinking. Did anyone here know he was dead? Hell, he did not know what happened to the others who were with him when Wazn was attacked, and he had been there. How would they know? Did he really want them to know? "Yes," said Kalas finally, "If they don't believe you then I'll speak up for you."

Allyr sighed, "Thanks so much," she said, "That makes one part of this a little bit easier." She looked around the unearthly forest, "Well, let's head out," she said, "I'd like to get moving, even though this place brings back memories."

Mira is known for being the embodiment of the enigmatic, the unusual, and the downright strange. There was Parnasse, the Confectionary Village, which as the name implied, was made entirely from pastries and candy. There were the Mystical Gardens, where someone could be walking on the ground, or on the ceiling. It was impossible to tell because it all looked the same, no matter if you were up or down. There was The Picture Book Village, which looked like it had been cut out of a brightly colored picture book, and dropped onto the world. The strange clockwork inhabitants of the village did nothing to make the village seem any more normal. There was Nekton, the Shrine of Spirits, where spirits from another world were said to come, by chance or design, none knew. Then there was Balancoire, probably the most normal of all places on Mira. Though right now, however, it was covered in thick fog that made it famous. The fog would thicken and thin as if it was a sentient being, with motives that no one could understand. Now it was as if some thick, wooly blanket of vapor had been dropped on the city.

Allyr thought this was a mixed blessing. On the one hand, no one was out to stare at her, ask her who she was, or why she was there. On the other hand, she could not see anything more than two feet in front of her the fog was so dense. Kalas knew his way through the city very well, and helped guide Allyr through the city. Though as he had not been to Mira in a very long time, he did make some mistakes.

"Ow!"

"Oh… sorry. I forgot about that."

"Forgot? You forgot? You forgot about this wall that just happens to be sticking out here?"

"It's not that easy to miss is it?"

"Well, there is the fog! And it happens to be thick, and everywhere!"

"It's not as if the fog is that dense."

Allyr was leaning on the offending wall, separating the cobbled road from the river than ran through the town. Allyr was rubbing her foot where it had made solid contact with the corner of said wall. "How far to the manor now?" she asked, trying not to think about the throbbing pain in her foot.

"I think... it's just over there, beyond that building." Said Kalas, "The diner, over to your right."

"Oh, that one," said Allyr straightening up. She could see an indistinct shape in the fog, but nothing else. There was however, only one diner in Balancoire that Allyr knew of. She smiled inwardly, "Trill's parents own that one, right?"

"Yeah," said Kalas, "Why do you ask?"

Allyr shrugged, "Nothing," she said, "I was just curious as to whether or not Trill knows you're taken."

"I wouldn't put it that way," muttered Kalas.

"I was just trying to cheer you up." Said Allyr, "So which was is it again? Stupid fog…"

A couple minutes later, Allyr was standing at the entrance to the manor, arguing with the two guards station outside. They were both wearing that Allyr remembered as the standard gear for a Miran city guard: Bronze helmet, boots, and chain mail shirt. A green tunic covered the chain mail, proudly bearing what Allyr vaguely remembered as the crest of Mira. They each carried a large spear with a steel head. The guards looked ready to use the weapons if they had to, something Allyr was not interested in provoking the guards into doing.

"What? Why can't I go in?" Allyr asked, eyeing the spears.

"Are you daft?" asked the first guard, scowling down at Allyr, "Can't you see the fog?"

"Yes I saw it!" said Allyr impatiently as a little voice in her mind tried to remind her that she should not be shouting at a man with a spear in his hand, "I can barely see anything but fog! Why does that keep me from going into the manor?"

"Because," said the second guard, the younger of the two, "It's not open to the public right now."

"I need to see whoever's in charge!" said Allyr. It sounded horrible as she said it, and she groaned inwardly. At least it was better then 'take me to your leader'. That would have been truly terrible.

"Lady Melodia" said the first guard, "Cannot see you right now. She's busy."

"Oh, that's good," said Allyr, cheering up a little, "So Melodia is here. That's very good, she knows me. Why don't one of you go in, and tell her that Allyr needs to speak to her." She paused, "And if she says she doesn't know the name, tell her I'm a friend of Kalas's. Okay? Um... please?"

Guard number one gave her a disbelieving look, "All right," he said gruffly, "I shall ask milady if she knows you. If she doesn't wish to see you, then you will leave." He gave Allyr one last look before turning on his heel and walked into the manor, pushing past the great double doors, leaving Allyr alone with her silent Guardian, and guard number two. Allyr looked around, feeling uncomfortable in the silence, and in the presence of number two with his pointy stick. After what felt like hours, guard number one opened the door and gave Allyr a resentful look, "Milady wants to see you," he said abruptly, "Come inside." Allyr walked in, giving the guards a smug look that she knew she would have gotten in trouble for in any other situation. Maybe that was why it felt so good now.

The entrance hall of the manor was large to say the least. As the entered there was a window and a completely dust-free black grand piano to her left. To her right there was a door she knew lead to a museum. In front of her was a balcony, with polished wood rails. There was a staircase, lined with similar rails reaching down from the balcony to the floor Allyr was on now. "Wait here," said number one, "Lady Melodia will be here shortly." Then he walked up the stairs and vanished from Allyr's sight. She was left alone with number two, who looked like he did not want to be stuck looking after Allyr. She walked casually over to the piano, as if going to examine it. She covered her mouth with a hand, as if thinking.

"Kalas can you hear me?" whispered Allyr, hoping that the hand and the whispering would make it harder for number two to notice that she was talking.

"Loud and clear," said Kalas, who had no such problems with talking at normal volume. He doubted that number two would be able to hear him, "What is it?"

"I was just wondering," whispered Allyr, giving number two a quick look, "When we go to talk to Melodia, and ask her for transport to Wazn, do you want me to tell her about…" Allyr shrugged, "About this? You know… about…"

"That I'm dead?" he said bluntly, almost as if he did not care about it anymore. He was quiet, thinking about it for a minute, "…No," he said finally, "Just for now… Don't tell her."

Allyr sighed, "All right," she said, "If you don't want me to, then I won't tell her."

"Thanks," said Kalas, "It means a lot to me."

"No problem." Said Allyr.

"Lady Melodia," said the guard entering Melodia's small circular room, "Excuse my intrusion, but there is someone here who wishes to speak with you."

Melodia, who had been looking out the window at the distant sky turned around to face the guard, "Who is it?" she asked.

The guard grunted, "Some woman calling herself Allyr," he said, "She says she's a friend of Kalas's. She doesn't look like she's from around here, or anyplace I'm familiar with for that matter." After a pause, the guard added, "Should I remover her?"

Melodia looked back out the window, thinking, "I'll see her," she said simply, "I imagine you're making her wait outside. You can bring her in, and tell her I will be with her shortly."

"Yes milady," said the guard bowing, before walking out. As soon as he had closed the wooden door Melodia continued to look out the window. She remembered Kalas's Guardian Spirit, was this really her? She shrugged, maybe it was, and maybe it was not. If it really was Allyr, what was she doing here? How did she get here? It sounded like she had a body now, how did that happen? If this was Allyr, did she know about the Wazn siege? Melodia doubted it. That probably would not help. No one knew what had happened to the rulers and the others who had gone to Wazn, what had happened to them after it was attacked. Where they dead? Or where they facing some torture worse than death? What was this… Morjidza planning? What was his motive? Where did he get the power? How? Why? If, somehow, this did turn out to be Allyr, should she tell her that it was very likely that Kalas may not have survived? He, and all the others who were there when Wazn was attacked? What should she do? What could she say?

Melodia tore her eyes from the window and walked out of her room. So many questions, and few answers. First things first, she had to make sure this really was Allyr, and not someone else posing at the Guardian. If this were someone else, then she would not have to explain anything to this person. Melodia walked out of her room, her footsteps echoing slightly in the hall. She went to the balcony railing and looked down. She saw a woman with long brown hair, apparently examining the grand piano. The guard had been right about this newcomer, she did look foreign. Her pants were made of some blue fabric that Melodia could not identify. Her shirt had red sleeves and a blue body, a design she had not seen before on any of the continents. When the woman turned around, and saw Melodia, her brown eyes lit up. "Melodia!" she shouted clearly very happy to see Melodia, "It's so good to see you again!"

Again? Thought Melodia. This might really be Allyr.

"You," snapped one of the guards, "Shall address the Duchess as 'Lady Melodia'!"

"Melodia, I need to talk to you!' continued the woman, "Now." When she glanced back at the guards she added, "Preferably alone."

"These are bad times," said Melodia, "How do I know you really are Allyr, and not someone else posing as her? She never had a body."

The newcomer shifted uncomfortably, "Um…" she started, "That's a really long story… Uh… what would I have to do to prove I'm Allyr?"

Melodia was silent. The newcomer gave the guards a wary look, and then she shouted, "Melodia! Let's go home, together!"

Silence filled the room. The newcomer swore under her breath, "Stupid!" she muttered, "Of all the things to pick… it had to be that one… stupid…"

Melodia looked down at the newcomer, an expression of shock on her face. In Cor Hydrae, Kalas had said those very words to her, trying to save her from Malpercio's power. No one but Kalas and his companions, including Allyr, could have known that he had said that. "What are you going on about?" shouted guard number one, "What are you-"

"I'll talk with you, Allyr," said Melodia, to the newcomer, Allyr, "Up here where we won't be disturbed."

Allyr immediately bolted up the stairs, three steps at a time. She was standing next to Melodia faster than she expected, a relieved look on Allyr's face, "Thanks so much!" she said. Then she added, "Your Highness."

Melodia looked back down at the two guards, still on the ground floor, "You may return to your duties," said Melodia. The guards bowed to their Duchess and returned to the door leading outside. "We can talk in private in my room," said Melodia to Allyr. Allyr merely nodded and followed Melodia in to her room. The room was as she remembered it: circular, with a four-poster bed, a table with a mirror, a dresser, and a window looking out into the foggy city beyond lined the walls. A painting of a vase of roses hung from a section of the wall. Allyr watched Melodia as she closed the door then turned to the former Spirit. "Pardon me for asking," started Melodia, think that Allyr looked more or less as she imaged she might with a physical body, "But why are you here? How did you get here, and in a body?"

"Um…" started Allyr, "It's a long story."

"We have all afternoon," said Melodia.

Allyr looked uncomfortable, "Do you know how I can get to Wazn?" asked Allyr, avoiding Melodia's questions, "I know it's been invaded, but need to get there as soon as possible."

Melodia looked surprised, "Have you been here long?" she asked, "You know about the siege?"

"Uh…" Allyr tried to find something to look at that was not Melodia, "Yes, I know about the siege, that's how I know it was invaded. I just need to get there as soon as I can."

What is she hiding from me? Thought Melodia, Does she not trust me? But then… I suppose she has reason to. Last time we met I tried to kill Kalas and his friends. "Are you all right Allyr?" asked Melodia, "Why are you so rushed? Running into the middle of an invaded country isn't a well thought out plan." Allyr stayed silent. "I…" Melodia started, suddenly feeling uneasy, "Did you know… that Kalas was there… when Wazn was attacked?"

"No," said Allyr, though something about her tone seemed to tell Melodia that she was lying, "I didn't know."

Melodia looked at Allyr, certain now that she was hiding something. "I… I thought you should know," said Melodia, "…That there's a possibility that he, and everyone else on the island, might not have survived. There's been absolutely no contact with anyone in the island, except for Morjidza making wild claims…" Melodia tried to suppress a sob, "I…I can't bear the thought that Kalas might be dead," she said to no one in particular, looking at her feet, "He saved me from Malpercio when everyone else would have just left me to die. I don't want to think he can just suddenly be… gone! Just… not here anymore… just… gone…"

Allyr stayed silent as Melodia regained her composure. Melodia noticed Allyr glanced over to her right, looking at a patch in the air as if searching for something. Then as Melodia wiped away her tears, Melodia saw Allyr mouth the words, "Are you sure?" to the air.

"I'm sorry," said Melodia, sticking her observations in the back of her mind, "I shouldn't be crying. There's still hope, right? He could be alive, maybe Morjidza's just holding him captive-"

"Melodia," interrupted Allyr, her voice firm but with a note of doubt, as if she did not think that speaking was the best of ideas, "What if I told you… that I knew what happened to Kalas? Exactly what happened to him?"

Melodia felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach, "You… you know?" she said, sounding stunned, her eyes wide with surprise, "You know what happened to him? Is he alive? How did he get off of Wazn? Did he get off of Wazn? Does he know what-"

"It's… not good news," said Allyr, looking at her feet.

"Then…" started Melodia, her expression changing as realization sank in, a feeling like being buried alive, "He's… dead?"

"He's not dead… Per se." said Allyr hesitantly.

"What do you mean?" asked Melodia, not understanding how someone could not be dead, 'per se'.

Melodia jumped as she heard a voice in her head. It was not as if she really heard the sound, using her ears, it was as if the sound was coming right into her mind as no other sound does: "Because I'm still here."

Melodia clutched her head, thoughts reeling. She knew that voice, "What… what was that?" she said, more to herself then to Allyr, desperately trying to understand what was going on.

"Um… I don't think I need to introduce you to my Guardian Spirit, Melodia." Said Allyr, "Because you already know him."

Melodia's eyes widened with shock, and she seemed to stop breathing, "K… Kalas?" she said, "He's…. your Guardian Spirit?"

So Allyr told Melodia what had happened to her and Kalas since they had bonded in the park in her home so long ago. Allyr told Melodia everything, and Kalas filled in when Allyr forgot an important detail. Allyr told her about the Sabre dragon and the illusion monster, and about coming to this world. There were only three things she left out: All mention of Immortals, (Melodia seemed to have enough problems as it was), Kalas's confession to Allyr before they left her world, (Allyr thought that if Kalas wanted Melodia to know that, he would tell her himself.) and Kalas's pact with Death.

When Allyr finished, she fell silent, waiting to see what Melodia's reaction would be. Melodia stared at Allyr, looking as if she was trying to digest all of this information at once. It's got to be hard, thought Allyr, Everything she's gone through already, and now I'm dumping this on her. Kalas wanted me to tell her, but something just doesn't seem fair..

"So, Kalas really is… you really are… dead then?" said Melodia, looking at the air around Allyr, wondering where he was.

"… Yes," said Kalas, then he fell silent, afraid to say more. What could he say? He had a guess about how Melodia probably felt about him, after saving her from Malpercio. She had seemed so depressed after they fled Cor Hydrae after Malpercio died, and now she looked almost broken to hear about this.

"This… this is awful…" said Melodia to herself, "Thing were bad enough as they were, but now Kalas… you're…" Melodia trailed off. Then she looked up at Allyr, "Is this why you need to get to Wazn?" asked Melodia, looking depressed, "Are you going to avenge his death?"

"Partly," said Kalas. Melodia suppressed a shudder at hearing his voice in her head, it seemed so unnatural to her. Though it had not bothered her as much when Allyr had been a Spirit, but to hear Kalas's voice like this… that was different. "But I don't know what happened to Xelha, and everyone else who was there. I was captured after everyone else. Then I was imprisoned in a cell in an airship, alone, I don't know for how long, until Morjidza killed me."

"So they could all be dead too?" asked Melodia, "Grandfather… and everyone else?"

"...I remember Morjidza saying that everyone else was alive," said Kalas, "I think he said that they were of value to him. But he could have been lying-"

"Then there's hope!" said Melodia, clinging to this information, "They could still be alive! They could be saved!"

"Maybe," said Kalas, "I don't really know."

Allyr was about to snap at Kalas and give him a mini-lecture on a little thing called 'discretion', when something suddenly clicked in her mind, "Excuse the interruption," said Allyr, "But Melodia, before you had said that Morjidza had been making wild claims of some sort? What were they?"

Melodia shuddered, "You wouldn't believe it," she said, "But Morjidza claims to be one of Malpercio's servants, and has come to avenge the death of his master."

"WHAT!" shouted Allyr, panic gripping her like the talons of a large bird of prey sinking into her back, "He's got ties with Malpercio?"

"It seems likely," said Melodia, as Allyr reeled at the implications of this fact, and Kalas pretended that he had not previously known this, "At first no one outside Wazn believed him. He had sent human heralds, apparently people who have been following him for some time, came to the islands to deliver the messages. Then the monsters from Cor Hydrae started attacking the other continents in random groups. Things haven't been going well since."

Allyr groaned in dismay, "This is awful," she said to no one in particular, "Have they been attacking often?" Melodia nodded, "Well, all the more reason to get to Wazn nice and fast."

"But how?" asked Melodia, "I… I mean… no one can get in or out. No one. Do you know how you're going to get in? Are you going to try it alone?"

"Well," started Allyr, who had a vague idea of how she was going to get in, "What about going through the Ice Cliffs? We might be able to-"

"NO!" shouted Kalas suddenly, "You can't go through the Ice Cliffs! You'd freeze before you got anywhere near Cursa!"

Allyr gave him a surprised look, which quickly became searching, "Do you have any other ideas?" she asked. He stayed silent. "Okay," said Allyr, looking back at Melodia, "Do you have an airship I can borrow?"

The fog was still thick over the city, letting little of the moonlight through the dense vapor. Kalas looked out the window of the little guestroom, trying to see something other than the slightly translucent fog. He vividly remembered nights like this, when the fog has been so dense it was impossible to see the sky. He had gotten use to it a long time ago. Allyr was lying on her side on the lone bed in the room, completely silent and still.

"Can't sleep?" asked Kalas, still looking out the window.

Allyr sat up and looked over at the Spirit, "No," she said, wrapping her arms around her knees, "Not really. So you've learned to tell when I'm asleep?"

"It's not that hard to tell," he said, "When I touch your mind it feels different… I suppose 'cloud like' is really the only way to describe it."

Allyr sighed and lay back on the bed. She remembered what Melodia had told her earlier that day, "Running into the middle of an invaded country isn't a well thought out plan." Melodia had denied Allyr an airship on the grounds that if she were killed in her attempt to enter Wazn, a great advantage in the war against Morjidza would have been lost. A Guardian Spirit's power was rarely given, and it was something too important to be carelessly tossed away.

Makes me feel like a pawn in a chess game. Thought Allyr glumly. Melodia had promised that it should not be long before Allyr could leave. But a plan did have to be made, Allyr admitted that. Nah, not really a pawn, decided Allyr to herself, More of a rook that no one wants to loose by doing something stupid. Doesn't make me feel any better.

The pair remained silent for a long time, Kalas looking out the window, Allyr lying on her back, staring at the blank white ceiling. "I want to apologize in advance," started Allyr, "If this question bothers you… But did you die in the Ice Cliffs?"

Kalas was silent for a long time before answering, "…Yes," he said finally, not looking at Allyr, "Remember when I said the cell I had been held captive in had been in an airship?" Allyr nodded, "When the ship was flying over the Cliffs, I was taken out of the cell and Morjidza dumped me into the snow." He fell silent again. Allyr did not say anything, wondering if he would say more. Then, she realized, he did not need to say anything more. "How did you figure it out?" asked Kalas.

"When I suggested that we go through the Ice Cliffs to reach Cursa undetected." Said Allyr, "Your reaction seemed out of character. I just guessed." A silence fell onto the pair that lasted a long time, or exactly how long, they would never be certain. "I'm sorry I brought it up," muttered Allyr, breaking the silence.

"Don't be," said Kalas, "It doesn't matter anymore."

"…This is new," said Allyr, "I didn't think I'd ever hear you say that about your own death."

"I've come to terms with it," he said, "That's all." There was another long silence. "You really should get some sleep," said Kalas, "Staying up all night worrying about everything isn't going to help anyone."

"Same to you," said Allyr, setting back down.

"Spirits can't sleep," pointed out Kalas, "Remember? I never had to wake you up when you were the Guardian."

"I meant the worrying,"said Allyr, lying on her side so she could look over at him, "If you worry I can't relax. Besides, it'll feel better if you think about something else."

"You'll never really stop being the Guardian, won't you?" said Kalas, Allyr caught the hint of a smile in his voice.

"Look who's talking," she said, smiling over at him, " 'Night Kalas." It would be half an hour until she fell asleep, but it was deep, long, and untroubled. Kalas just kept staring out at the foggy night, lost in his own thoughts.

Nekton was still locked in its eternal twilight, unchanging. Animals still flitted unseen between the tree trunks and around the thin branches. The red balls of light still hung like glowing red eyes, gazing down upon the forest. Inside the clearing in the forest's heart, there was silence.

Then there was a slight shimmer in the air, barely perceptible like a heat haze seen in the corner of an eye. It might have really been there, or it could have just been a trick, played by the forest. When the shimmer was gone, it was replaced by a woman, with long spiky black hair, and red eyes.

"Damn her," muttered Malice, glaring angrily at the surrounding trees, as if blaming them for all her current problems, "Damn the both of them! If that little bitch had kept out of it, I wouldn't still be doing this! Now, where is she…" she stood silent in the clearing for a long time, apparently listening for something. Then she grinned to herself, a look not unlike a shark finally catching the scene of blood. I found you, little girl, she thought, walking off out of the clearing, And this time, I'll skip the games of cat and mouse. As soon as I find you, you will die!

Did you really think I'd toss Malice that quickly? Yeah, she's back, and she's angry! But before anyone hurts me with pointy things, remember: Happy ending! I promised it way back in chapter 2 or 3, and I haven't changed my mind! Happy ending! HAPPY ENDING I TELL YOU!

(-cough-) Anyway, once more, please review. Anyone. At all. Please? (Gotta reach 50... soon...)