AN: New chappy. I got caught on a new game (Trickster), but I'll be sure to keep writing this.

Attic-Window: Yeah, the character's are all at odds with their personalities... They change again, though back to the original ones or... Anyway, thanks for the review! Poochie's thoughts are always welcome! -Grins-

Judgment Flame: lol. No problem. Thanks for the review!

"Don't want to..."

"Get up!"

Hien hit the floor with a loud groan. "What the fu--"

A hand was clamped around Hien's mouth instantly. "Jeez, Hien! Keep quiet... And by the way, watch the language. But you weren't stuttering so... No problemo!" Seifer whispered into Hien's ear.

"Mmmf! Mmhmmf!"

"What?"

"Mmmgo!"

"Oh, right."

Hien took a deep breath. "I-I... I asked why you were waking me up in the middle of night."

"Oh. That's easy. We gotta get goin' now. Ya know, Victoria Island and all."

"W-we're leaving n-now?"

"That stutter's back!"

"W-whatever."

"Oh. Yes. Yes, we are leaving now. My teach' is onto us. He kinda caught me when I was scoping out ships. But don't worry! I found us a ship. The guy who owns it is named Zale. He's an archer. But anyway, we gotta get goin' now."

Hien nodded. "I... just have to gather my stuff."

"Sure. I'll keep watch. Hurry it up, though. We don't have all day."

"Right."

XxX

Kronos glanced up at the sky. The cool night air ruffled his wavy locks of raven-colored hair. Smiling, he turned and made his way towards the wasteland that was once Perion.

"Finally... The die has been cast..."

XxX

Two hooded figures shuffled soundlessly through the docks. They moved like wraiths; silent, graceful, and carrying an air of imprinted fear. Alex watched through slitted eyes as the two men grew closer. "Out for a night stroll?" He asked, smiling innocently.

One of the men nodded.

Alex smiled. "Yeah, I find the cool night air to be quite relaxing at times..."

The men bowed slightly and continued on. Alex gripped his sword. In an instant, he had drawn it and swung at the men as they passed. Almost in the same instant, one of the hooded men had drawn his own sword and deflected the blow. Leaping high into the air, the man plunged down to meet Alex in battle, holding his sword by the cross-guard. Alex stepped gracefully out of the way; elluding an air of confident arrogance. Swiping at the man as he fell, Alex rushed onwards to continue.

The hooded man easily countered the blow; flipping in mid-air to arc towards Alex. As he did, his hood fell, revealing Seifer's face. "Hien! Keep going!"

The other hooded man, Hien, nodded and started to step forward. Alex drew another blade from some hidden place. "Don't move, Hien."

Hien stared into the piercing eyes of his superior. A feeling of meek inferiority overwhelmed him and no matter how hard he tried, his feet wouldn't move. "Hien! Go! I'll hold him off! Get to the boat and tell Zale to start headin' out! I'll catch up!" When Hien didn't move, Seifer called again. "Hien!"

I have to move!

B-but... M-Master A-Alexei said...

I have to move! We've got to get to Victoria Island!

Hien darted forward.

Seifer grinned. "Alright. Now we can really fight!"

"Is that all you think about? Fighting?" Alex asked sharply.

"Heh. Don't be taking that kinda personality with me! I'm not your student anymore! I'm an adventurer!"

Alex sighed. "Seifer! This adventure... It's nothing more than a mistranslated fantasy of your childish side!"

Seifer paused, his sword wavering. The moment seemed to extend for hours, as Alex waited for Seifer to put down his sword. "You're wrong."

"What?"

"You're wrong. Fantasies... Are dreams. Dreams should be acted upon! I learned that from you! If those stories you and Aradia tell are true... Then you once dreamed of being the greatest, of being better than Akuji!"

Alex stepped back, startled by Seifer's remark. In the young swordsman's eyes, a fierce glow grew, erupting into an inferno of determination.

"You dreamed of being the best, no matter how hard you had to fight! Well... My dream is to find Victoria Island... To find the mythical place of legends! And if it exists... I'm going to save it. I'm going to fight Kronos and bring the human race back into the dominate spot on the Islands! This is my quest... And I'm going to follow through!"

XxX

Hien arrived at the boat, chest heaving and panting heavily. He spoke to the archer who sat cross-legged on the roof of the cabin. "A-are you Zale?"

"Aye."

"I-I'm Hien--"

"Seifer's friend. Since he's not here, I presume he's holding off Alexei."

Hien blinked in surprise. "Y-yeah..."

"No time for talk then. Then help me get this boat out of the dock!"

XxX

The torrential, freezing rain cascaded down upon the snowy tundra of El Nath. The main lodge, the Arm and a Leg Inn, sat comfortably in the center of the harsh city; enjoying it's easy life as the most active inn in all of Ossyria. Every traveler that passed through El Nath paused to swap a story of daring and adventure at the massive hearth of the inn. An arm of the famed Zakum hung over the mantle, while the leg of a gryphon from the far-off lands sat snugly in a corner. The two prizes were the main reasons for the inn's name, though the tavern's inhabitants would happily joke that the inn's name refered to the prices of the inn's ale.

The night was routine, a round of drinks for everyone, followed by the newest gossip. The talk turned to the weather, then hunting, then the usual boasts about how big their last catch was. "Heh! Mine was prob'bly 'bout as -Hic- wide as this bar! Then it was... lessee... -Hic- Oh yeah! It was 'bout as tall as the ceiling!" One customer was heard saying.

"Yeah, sure! Hey, Scadur! How big was your last?"

Scadur, one of the greatest hunters in El Nath, smiled. "Dunno. Haven't been huntin' in a while... I think me apprentice may 'ave gotten something." He let out a shrill whistle that pierced the ears of all in attendance.

The door flew open. Snow drifted in slowly as a lone figure stood in the doorway, hunched under the weight of a huge mass. "Hey... Someone call?" Chase dropped a massive Yeti to the ground to the appreciative cheers of his tavern-mates.

AN: Woooh! Chase is back in town! Feel free to review... Flames (which I don't tend to get) will be used to stoke the fire of my scorn! Bwahahahahaha! Anyway... Till next time!