Chapter Nine: Cierra: How much time do we have?

The group are all back in Riviera, Elendia, happy to be home. "Ecthel, Don't fly into the tree! It has Lina's favorite fruits!" Lina exclaimed as Ecthel started to fly in haste. "I won't crash into it! Man I missed flying… It's been so long… Maybe I should fly around Elendia for a while."

Ledah was flying along the grove of repose looking for herbs, and things that may help restore Rose's voice. Ecthel was all over the place… The undine springs, Pixia's residence, Lina's place Elder's or the Crystal caverns… Flying fast and slanted… it was a whoosh down to the grass or whoosh up through trees…

Every time it was nearly crashing somewhere or into something... Or even right into someone… When he flew to the grove of repose… He almost flew right into Ledah and didn't even notice that he was going to crash into a tree. Ledah who was flying peacefully scanning the area was a little surprised that Ecthel cut him off… He had no time to comment on Ecthel's hastiness. If he didn't do something Ecthel would've crashed into the tree.

Ledah flew over and caught Ecthel. "Hun…? … who…? Let go! Stop it!" He was struggling to get out of the grasp. "Let go!" "You want me to drop you? Stop struggling!" Ledah exclaimed. "Ledah, what are you doing? Don't hold me down like this!" Ecthel exclaimed "Ecthel! You were going to crash into the tree!" Ledah said. "… eh… Thank you for saving me Ledah…" "… … You're welcome… Friends are supposed to… um help each other out… But, you are still too hasty. Flying like crazy, you should fly more carefully so you don't crash into something." Ledah Lectured. "Sorry… I think I need to get used to having my wings back again. But without flying all over… I'll try to keep calm now." Ecthel said.

The people of Elendia were all shocked and confused. They wondered about since when did Ecthel has wings…? Meanwhile in Asgard, Malice started her hard training to become a Grim angel. She hopes she will succeed this time and earn a real diviner.

Back in Elendia the two angels, Ledah and Ecthel were flying together heading back to Lina and Fia's home while Ecthel asked Ledah about the potion to get Rose's voice back. "What kind of things do we need for that potion?" Ecthel asked. "Well… There is a lot, to list them all is not necessary… You won't be able to remember all of them unless you hear it over and over again. We can find some in Riviera. I have everything from Asgard. We should check all areas of Riviera. Here too." Ledah answered. "Okay, Well… I'm going to collect the others now. I'm going to tell them that we will head out pretty soon… To Tetyth." Ecthel said. "Tetyth… The Sunken city? You've been there before?" Ledah wondered.

"Yes. We went there to seal an accursed. The fallen angel. We were flooded… by two demons who has mistaken some matters but everything turned out fine. That was just right before you heard me and we had that chat about you're going to go to Yggdrasil it was when we were heading back to Elendia." Ecthel explained. "

You went to many places. I overheard someone say you went to Mireno Cemetery too…? Where else did you go?" Ledah asked. "Well… We went all over after we defeated Hector… We were trying to get rid of all demons which roamed Riviera. Every where, But those demons should be just where the Accursed were… Since they were restored by where they first came so the sooner we go to where the accursed was the less chance they will be roaming elsewhere. And we can save a lot of time by searching every inch of Riviera. Since we have a limited time we will need to do this very quickly. That's what Fia and Cierra had come up with." Ecthel said. "Yes. That was where they were summoned in the first place." Ledah agreed.

The group sets off to the sunken city of Tetyth once again… "I hope we don't have to kill them too." Ecthel said asworry crosses his face. "What are you talking about Ecthel?" Lina asked. "Gee Ecthel, We don't know if they're here or not." Serene said trying to cheer him up. "You're right. Well… at least we'll see Iria and Aria again." Ecthel said. "Yes. Let's ask them if they know anything about the situation." Fia said.

"As long as I don't have to step on the switch again…" Cierra complained. "Oh no... Not the switch!" Fia chimed in. "I'm not doing it. Nope!" Serene exclaimed. "… We don't need to go there do we?" Ecthel asked. "well if we do… please don't call on me!" Fia said. "Lina is not heavy enough!" Lina said innocently. "We know! I don't think it's necessary." Ecthel said... Lina should be heavy enough now he thought to himself.

"… … what are you all talking about?" Ledah asked confused. "Oh! Ledah, The girls are just thinking about going somewhere we might not need to go this time. Last time we had to step on a switch to get through and I picked Cierra to step on it." Ecthel Explained. "A switch…? You mean you needed to open a door with it?" Ledah asked a little surprised.

"Yes. Hey! Look! There is another grasshopper! Think Mursya would want another fish? We can catch one with it!" Ecthel said happily. "Alright! Let go and catch another fishie!" Lina exclaimed. "You sure you don't want it Gateau?" Cierra asked. (I'm not a cat, and my name is Rose!) "What's going on?" Ledah wondered. "Well… Her new name Cierra gave her when she found her, Rose hated it. Now let's catch the Grasshopper before it runs away." Ecthel said.

"Lina hopes we don't get flooded again!" Lina said. Ledah flew over to the rocky area where the group once tripped. He took the plants that were there and then they started to fish. "Ledah, what's that?" Ecthel asked. "Some magical grass. It should be helpful to break the effects of a magic potion." Ledah answered.

"Um, Ledah, why haven't you used your Crimson Courage or Rose Kuez against the demons we were fighting?" "… … It wasn't necessary. I might consider it." "Alright! Lina sees a fishie! Ecthel catch it, catch it!" After catching the fish into the Carnea district they go and they defeat some pesky demons on their way. Sounds of water came upon them… Realizing what must have happened Lina started to cry and the girls all looked disappointed.

Meanwhile a group of three demons are talking in the same room Fool and Sage was in. "So what's the plan?" "They've defeated nearly all of us here… How to defeat them? We can't beat them like this. The group is very powerful." "Look at them! They are battling against our water comrades. There's the one who defeated us last time… Ecthel… and those girls… Who's that angel? He seems very powerful." "He uses fire. Look! Ecthel is asking his advice! It seems he is the new leader… Oh no! Our comrade!" "Activate the flooding! We have to stop them from advancing." "But that might not be enough… They've escaped it once." "We can add in the deadly Aqua-virus to put them out! But It also instantly knocks out any of us who are in the water… Do you think we should risk it?" "If it would kill them too, we should take the risk and sacrifice a few of us to save all the rest of us." So the demons had activated to flooding system and added a deadly virus that would instantly knock out other demons. They had no idea that It wouldn't have such a grand effect on the sprites.

Around the same area Fool and Sage saw the demons activate the flooding. They quickly rushed to warn Ecthel and his friends. "Look Sage! Someone activated the flooding in Tetyth like we did! Ecthel and his friends are there too! What should we do?" Fool asked "It's too late! We better warn them now!" Sage exclaimed. Ecthel had finished the battle with his Mimic Ray. Fool and Sage showed up as soon as the battle was finished. Ledah grabbed Lorelei immediately ready to battle.

Sage called Ecthel when they got there. "Ecthel!" Ledah starts his attack aiming it at Sage. "Let's go Ecthel!" "Sis look out!" Fool exclaimed. "No Ledah! Don't! These two aren't our enemies! We didn't kill them last time so they aren't any threat to us! Don't attack them!" Ecthel told Ledah. "They're demons! We are to get rid of all of them!" Ledah said.

"That's really mean! We're not like that!" Lina exclaimed. "Ecthel spared us once, So we are here to help. It looks like some demons have activated the flooding system. And they destroyed some other area that blocks the water. Meaning your time is very little. We'll try to help by going ahead and clearing a path for you so you can get out safely." Sage said.

"No. That won't work Sage." Ecthel exclaimed. "Why not?" Fool asked. "Because, The ones who had stopped the Retribution must be the ones to kill all the demons who have been revived in the timeframe of a year. So If you go defeat them for us… It wouldn't work. Ledah is a Grim angel too so it's okay for him to help us. You guys are demons too so it will not work out." Ecthel explained. "Okay. Then we'll go ahead to see if we can stop the flooding. That way you can explore this place more thoroughly." Sage said. They leave.

"More flooding… Waaaaaa! Lina hates this!" "Lina stop acting like a baby!" Serene exclaimed. "You actually believe them?" Ledah asked. "Ledah, They are fool and Sage, The ones we spared." Ecthel said. (Let's hurry, We don't want to get flooded again!)

The group hurries into the next few areas. But the speed of the water is really fast this time… It's like something is causing a tsunami. The speed of the flooding has been enhanced. It was about at least ten times faster than last time. They had no time at all. But they still had to go defeat the demons. Slashing while running to avoid getting wet the group came through and into the colossal.

Many demons block their way… One slash even from Ledah's Lorelei is not good enough to defeat them all. The only option is to battle them. And they are way stronger than anything they have ever seen so far, with no weaknesses and high resistance to almost everything. They are like elementals… They can switch elements to use to attack but that doesn't change their properties…

"We can't turn back, we have to fight! They can't be touched by our physical attack and shift elements.. We need... Let's see… Let's try… using our strongest weapon and bring in every element we have! Since we have no other fire, Ledah will have to come with us. It's a good thing we had the Elendians help… They made us a lot of each weapon like the Silver moons and Infinite arcs, spiral arcs, Diana's bows, Holy sabers, Rosier, Grand Sabers and Mistrial Swords… Some of those had been upgraded to zyphers… Or our weapons would be all out by now. If we had the correct things they could have made us Southern crosses. Those would really come in handy, but which ones should we use now? We can choose three weapons. I guess I'll take the Zypher for Mimic Ray… Um… Who else is battling with us this time? Fia, Cierra, Serene, or Lina?" Ecthel asked trying to determine the items."Let me have a go at it okay?" Serene said."Okay. Then we are taking the Rosier and Infinite arcs. We'll be switching when the time comes." Ecthel said.

Battle:

Attacking with all the element attack they have wasn't enough. Ecthel used Rosier, Serene used her Infinite arc. Little damage was dealt each time. Although the overdrive builds fast. "Gosh These things are tough!" (The water is going to come in a few turns… you better hurry!) "We will try! Go Serene!" Two rounds later Elementals changed to holy… "Rose how long do we have?" (I don't know! But I can see the water!) "Not long then… Let's hurry." "They shifted… into holy… Serene! Over skill now!" "Here's my trump card! Serene Absolute!" Ecthel took the infinite arc and slash at the elementals. Ecthel also tried to attack with Lorelei. The attacks were still not enough. More time passes and Rose notices the water... (The water's coming! Get out of here now!) "We need to finish this battle! Kill all demons!" Ecthel exclaimed. Then.. The Elementals changes to fire. "Oh no! Let's switch now! They will heal if fire hits them…" "Okay. I'll switch with someone." "Fia! Join us! I'll take Ledah's place, you come next to me with the holy water! Serene, you stay where you are…" (I mean it! Get out now! Or you'll get soaked!)

Battle ends.

Ecthel looks behind them to see the water speeding up towards them… It was too late to get out. Making a dash flying slightly Ecthel and his friends still got soaked since the tsunami flooded the room… right before getting out. Rose was the only one who made it out since she saw it coming and stayed close to the exit. The three super elementals vanished…

Fia was a little shocked… The elementals were defeated as soon as the water touched them… what could it mean? What is this water she thought to herself… "Oh… Cierra, do you think a virus could be in this water?" Fia wondered. "Aqua-poisoning virus…? It kills all demons it touches by contact… But what about us, sprites and angels who touches it?" Cierra asked.

"… I think I know… One of my friends had died from something called "Water sickness…" it was about a month before Malice came and stole everyone's souls… I was very sick and then I recovered but my friend who was swimming with me in a blackish stream of water that same day we got sick had died… I remember the healers said something about it will really hurt some of us sprites while others recover depending on our bodies." Serene explained.

Fia looked pensive for a moment then... "Oh! I remember! I read something about the aqua-virus! It attacks your blood supply, usually it only have a deadly effect on a person once… The second time you get it, the poison wouldn't be as deadly… Remember about six years ago? Lina dropped into some blackish water like this one. She got sick and then we all got infected… Serene was fine though… I think that was this! Since there were no demons around for at least five miles of the range of that river… We recovered Thanks To Serene help and the Healers of Elendia but we almost lost Ecthel-kun… Is that the effect on us Sprites? What about angels?" She sighed and asked "What should we do?" "If this was the same kind of water we better get out of here." Ecthel said.

While discussing about the aqua-poisoning virus they tried to climb out to the next area, Ledah pulled Ecthel out of the water. Then the water stopped right on the staircase closest to the leveled grounds… Fool and Sage had succeeded in blocking flood off by stacking many obstacles in it's way… They didn't know that it has been poisoned or they were late… The group didn't know that the water stopped so they continued to run and then Ecthel saw that only four of his six companions are with him…

Meanwhile in Asgard Malice started her test… Back in Tetyth the group was getting rather worried. "Is everyone okay?" Ecthel asked."I'm fine." Fia reassured. "We are all soaked!" Serene complained. "Should we dry ourselves?" Cierra asked. "We don't have the time Cierra… The water… It'll catch up if we stop now! Hun?" Ecthel said Why's it so quite? He thought. Then "Where's Lina? Lina!" "Not only Lina is not here, Ledah is also missing!" Serene pointed out. "Could they be still under the water back there?" Cierra asked. "No, Ledah was the one who pulled me out… Ledah might have flown ahead! But Lina… She could be still under water…" Ecthel said. "But we can't go back… What should we do?" Fia wondered. "Let's go find Ledah! He'll have a way." Ecthel said. They go into the Aura Plateaus and found Ledah slashing at a demon. Lina was also there holding tightly onto the flying angel's robes. Ledah didn't seem to mind and he stabbed the demon again. Ecthel quickly went to help his best friend with the battle.

Battle:

Ledah was battling on his own but he wasn't doing too well. Ecthel ran up to him immediately "… Enemy's stats…? …" He looked Ledah over worriedly. "Ledah… are you okay?" Ledah looked really pale and tired. It was like after the battle in Yggdrasil or after he blocked Ecthel from Malice's attack. "It's a fire, it also have good resistance against my attacks." Ledah said answering Ecthel's first question. "So it's not weak to fire. You look pale, are you okay?" Ecthel asked. "I'll be okay. … Let's finish the battle! … And we are on ground now so you can let go of my robes now little sprite." Ledah said to Lina. "O-okay… s-sorry" Lina said and ran out of the battlefields "how did you end up on him?" Fia asked. "Lina don't know… Lina was on a rock… something tangled Lina up… and suddenly Lina felt wind and then Lina see Mr. Ledah flying and Lina grabbed his robes before Lina fall…" Lina said. "I think I know what happened. Lina was with us on the rock, Ledah's cape must have tangled her hair." Serene tried to explain. "Okay, We can discuss this later! Let's finish the battle first." Ecthel said. "I want to help. What are we up against?" Serene volunteered. "I think it's a fire element dragon!" Ecthel said. "Okay. Then I'll battle." Serene said.

Battle:

Formation:

Front: Ledah Ecthel

Back: serene

Items: Zypher Silver moon potion

They join Ledah. "Serene, let me use this time's energy, then you can have it!" "Okay." Serene slashed with her scythe. "This should end it Mimic Ray!" Ledah looked as though he was about to faint. As the battle continued, Ecthel noticed that Ledah was barely wounded. Something was wrong.

Two rounds passed Ecthel noticed that Ledah might not be able to hold on for any longer so they switched by Ecthel's request. "Ledah! … What's the matter? The dragon's attack isn't that strong! You're barely injured but you look very pale! Let's switch." Ecthel exclaimed. "… O-okay… I-I'll switch…" Ledah knowing defeat he meekly responded and left the battle field.

Ecthel stepped into where Ledah was standing and instructed Cierra to come forth. "Cierra, Join us with the blue stinger!" Cierra's attack did a splendid amount of damage. Just like the battle against Ledah all those years ago. As the energy in the overdrive almost maxes Ecthel instructed Serene to finish it. "Alright! Serene! We can finish it this round!" Indeed after Ecthel's attack the overdrive maxed. "Here's my trump card! Serene Almighty! You can thank me later."

Battle ends.

Ecthel was really worried. He ran over concerned. "Ledah! What happened to you?" He asked. "I'm okay. Let's keep going." Ledah replied and went on forward. "I hope so… We need your help you know?" Ecthel remarked. "Yes, I know. I'll be fine. Let's go." Ledah said. Fia looked pensive again then "Can it be?" Fia wondered to herself. "… Cierra… Serene… What do you think?" She asked her friend's advice. "I don't know…" Serene answered still confused as to what was going on. "We'd best move on." Cierra said.

With that the group makes their way to the next area killing all demons they encounter without stopping for a long period of time. But right before entering the St. Clarmonts Ledah dropped unconscious… Ecthel and the girls were shocked… He hasn't been looking too good since they found him battling the dragon alone but fainting suddenly? What happened? Questions will have to be asked later though because they don't want to get soaked again.