New chapter, yay. Sorry it took so long, again. ;-; And where are all my reviews? Have my readers all gone?

Raine: One can only hope.

Shut uppp! So evil. Gah.

Raine: I know.

Psh. Okay, let's go.

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This was bad. Very, very bad. Sheena darted up the stairs toward the audiance hall, looking for Regal. The others were still down watching over Raine - but if she didn't get help soon, there was no telling what would happen. Panting, she skidded around a corner, and nearly collided with said noble.

He was accompanied by a guard, presumably on his way to set his wife free. She slid to a halt, and nearly fell backward as she lost balance. Regal moved quickly to catch her. "Sheena--?"

"Regal...something's wrong...very wrong..." she panted, straightening.

"What? What is it? Sheena, what happened?" He blinked at her. "Is it Raine...?"

She nodded, still trying to catch her breath. "She's sick...or something...She fainted and...she looks feverish. We can't get to her, though..."

Without another word, the Duke and the guard following him were off toward the Prison, Sheena racing after them. It had only been about an hour and a half since Regal had left to go speak with the king. But Raine had been acting a little sluggish, saying she had a headache. That had been twenty minutes or so before she'd fainted.

Her face was flushed as best as they could tell, but without being able to reach her, they couldn't determine what was wrong. And Regal had had to know.

They reached the Prison to find Genis peering into her cell anxiously, and Zelos hanging around the door. He was the only other person that could cast healing magic among them. Immediately the guard unlocked the door, and immediately Regal was through it.

Zelos followed after just as the noble knelt by her side, hand to her forehead. "She is much too warm," he said after a moment, concern welling in the pit of his stomach. "Her breathing is...wrong."

"Wrong?" echoed Genis. "What do you mean, 'wrong'?"

Regal didn't know quite how to describe what "wrong" meant. It was just...off. "The pattern. It is not right. And it's shallow." What was wrong with her...? Something like this had happened three years ago...The Ozette Cold had been the one to strike that time. But this didn't seem the same.

"You know," began Sheena, who had approached as well to crouch by Regal. "It almost looks like the Aelaes maer."

He looked at her, quizically. What, exactly, was the "Aelaes maer?"

"It's actually a name given to this diisease by the Elves. I'm not sure what it means, exactly, but apparently it only takes effect in people with at least some of both Elven and Human blood. Half-elves."

"I've heard of that. Sybak had some trouble with it a long time ago," piped in Zelos. "The half-elves working there started coming down with this freaky sickness that rendered them utterly useless for a few days before finally--"

"That does sound familiar," agreed Regal. He had interrupted mostly because he really didn't see the need for Zelos to voice the "finally." It was obvious, yes, but to have someone say it...

Raine wasn't going to die. Not now, not ever in his life-time. As long as he was alive...she would stay as such, too. He would make certain of it. "How was it stopped?"

"I don't remember." Sheena glanced apologetically down at him. "We'd have to look it up in Sybak's library, probably. And quickly, by the looks of it."

Raine, at this moment, gave a weak cough before resuming her odd patterned, shallow breathing. "Genis," said Regal as he lifted her into his arms and stood.

"What...?"

"You must stay away from her for the time being."

"But--"

"This virus infects only half-elves, does it not? It would seem that it is, then, contagious, given what happened in the Research Academy. I odn't want to risk your catching this...Aelaes maer. Your sister's ilness is enough," he said, softly.

Lloyd took Genis by the arm, and almost had to drag him up the stairs and out of the dungeon. Regal watched this for a moment, then turned his attention back to Raine's flushed face. Even carrying her like this, she was hot. He could feel the excessive heat her body produced. It wasn't good.

"In the mean time, you'll probably want to find a doctor to watch over her. They could do more than we could, at this point. Even if it isn't much," said Zelos.

Regal nodded. "Yes," he murmerred, carrying her up the stairs, and out toward the open city of Meltokio. Yes, he was aware of just how strange it looked. But what did he care? Raine was in danger, very serious danger. He shook his head, willing her somewhere in his subconcious to hold on...just a little longer.

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Hold on, Raine!

Raine: ...Must I? I think I should just allow myself to die. That way you could not toy with me anymore!

Yeah...And Regal would be out of his mind with misery. So much for that idea.

Raine: ...

Hah. Cat gotcha' tongue? Stay tuned.