Thank you for your patience with me during NaNoWriMo! It was a big success, as always, and I look forward to getting back on track with my fics. As usual, I don't own anything. I'm just a fan writing some fiction. Please enjoy!

Dwarven Vow 138:
Nì amadan na tha air a thoirmeasg dheth.
Forbid a fool a thing, and that he will do.

41-

Kratos had his soldiers set up a perimeter around the Great Tree long before dawn to make sure that there was no chance for them to be taken off-guard by any members of the Church of Mana who might show up early. Song and Yuan accompanied them, Song helping Felix and Margie make the trip with their injuries and Yuan with Adora in tow just as he'd said. With the military escort, there was no problem getting them out of Meltokio, but Kratos was sure that the city guards had taken notice and word had spread. He could only hope that the Church members that were still threatening violence would bring it out to the Great Tree instead of trying to stir up trouble within the city walls- especially while Lloyd and Anna were still there.

"Are these really your best men? It's taken an hour just to do a simple survey. What are they doing?"

Yuan wasn't making any effort to help, but he could certainly watch and criticize. Kratos let out a sigh as he tried to focus on the situation and not on Yuan's nit-picking.

"I ordered them to take extra care in logging the terrain and the local biota, since any change in either could signal a problem with the Great Tree. Remember that this is a sensitive location and our goal is to protect it at all costs. If you don't think we're doing a good job, maybe you'd like to hand off the baby and do things yourself?"

Yuan frowned and looked away. "And do myself what I'm paying you for? Nice try."

"Then keep your whining to yourself and let us do our jobs."

"Whining? How dare you? I have every right to be concerned over your performance when the safety of the Great Tree is on the line-"

"Guys, guys, take it easy." Song stepped in, waving his hands to quiet them. "You should know more than anything that this is a situation requiring care and respect. Look at Felix and Professor Low- if they can get along, you two can."

Professor Low had traveled with them, not wanting to risk being caught alone by members of the anti-science group. Song had tried to stay between her and the siblings to keep them from arguing, but to his surprise, Felix started a civil conversation about the tree and actually seemed to enjoy her company- even if he wouldn't admit it.

"W-we're not getting along," he stammered, waving his hands. "I still don't agree with what she's doing."

"And I still don't agree with your perspective," Low broke in, addressing Felix with a pout, "but otherwise I'd say we're getting along quite well."

"Otherwise." Yuan let out a forced laugh. "Isn't that conflict the whole reason we're here?"

There was an awkward pause as the group all remembered their situation. Kratos returned to giving his soldiers orders, while Yuan busied himself with making sure Adora was sleeping comfortably against his chest. She had been surprisingly well-behaved considering the number of unfamiliar people surrounding them, but she had always done well so long as Yuan kept her in his arms, pressed against his side. It was his simple presence that calmed her more than anything else, and Yuan had no regrets about his decision to bring her along.

Kratos was busy speaking with the four members of the surveying section, giving them extra instructions on monitoring the tree's "behavior." Before he could get too far, however, another of his soldiers broke in.

"Sir!" Bryan interrupted. "There's a group approaching from the southeast. It appears to be five adults, not heavily armed, but not empty-handed either."

Kratos nodded and looked back at the rest of his soldiers. "Stay on your toes. Remember that our mission today is conflict resolution and damage control. Do not let anyone get within three meters of the Great Tree, understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

Within a few minutes, the group had come into view well enough for them to recognize the familiar face at the head of it. There were about four people following Veronica, two of them the servants that Bianca had met at the Low mansion a few days prior. Professor Low glared at both of them in turn as they approached the group, stepping forward in a foul-natured greeting, but the servants weren't paying any attention to her. The only one focused on her was Veronica.

"Todd! Oh, it's been too long since we've seen each other. I'm glad you weren't too busy to come meet us."

Song and Yuan both looked over at Professor Low. "You know Ms. St Martin?" Song asked.

"…yes…" Low murmured through clenched teeth, unwilling to break eye contact with Veronica.

"Know each other is an understatement. I was her nanny from the time she was in diapers up until she went away to the Imperial Research Academy." Veronica walked up to Low and reached up to rest her arms on her shoulders. "I was more of a mother to you than your own mother ever was, and yet you never wrote..."

"You are not my mother! My own mother would never threaten the safety of the world like this!"
"Of course not. She's too busy idly enjoying her retirement- unlike those of us who actually have to work for a living."

Professor Low grabbed Veronica's hands and pulled them off her shoulders. "Don't you dare try to change the subject. We all know you and your cronies are here to threaten the safety of the Great Tree."

Veronica sighed and took a step away. "If that's how you want to put it. But I see it more as a continuation of what I've always been doing."

"Which is?"

"Well, I've been cleaning up your messes since before you could walk. Why stop now?"

Professor Low clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "Why you-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Song jumped in between them, holding out his hands. "I understand that there's some history here, but you two can't let that get in the way of negotiations here. Please, let's focus on the situation. Ms. St Martin, you brought something you want to show us?"

Veronica sighed and took a step back. "Yes, that's right. We invited Professor Low here today to show off a little something we built- and thankfully, we have a wonderful audience to witness the exchange."

"We're here solely for damage control," Kratos spoke up. "This is between you and the professor. Just keep it civil."

Veronica nodded and looked back at Low. "We really enjoyed reading your latest publication, Todd. It was so inspiring, we just had to build our own version of the prototype reactor. Simon, would you like to present your work?"

The man had been standing back, watching the conversation. However, as soon as she called his name, he perked up and ran up the hillside, holding out the box that he'd been keeping close to his chest. "Yes, ma'am!"

He stopped next to Veronica and opened the lid of the box so that she could reach in and take out the device. From where Professor Low was standing, it looked the same as it had the previous day when Raine had examined it, so she didn't feel the need to stare any more than necessary. The whole concept made her sick anyway.

"If that thing is supposed to be our prototype reactor, it's a sorry excuse for it. The materials are all wrong, the transistor doesn't match the required voltage, and you would never be able to get a current through it with those dry joints."

"Hey!" Simon yelled. "We worked hard on this, making sure it fit all your specifications-"
Before he could get very far, Veronica held out a hand to cut him off. He stopped abruptly, taking a step back in anticipation of a scolding, but it was Professor Low that Veronica was speaking to.

"A fascinating observation, Todd. But how is it that you can comment on the state of our transistor and joints when those aren't visible on the outside?"

Her words were spoken coldly, yet with a pointed edge, and Professor Low felt her muscles tense up. What should she say at this point? "…I don't even have to look. I just know."

"You just know, do you? Meaning what?" A scowl passed across Veronica's face. "I know you, Todd. You never say anything you don't wholeheartedly know to be true. For you to claim our transistor is wrong- not just wrong, but the wrong voltage- and comment on the condition of the joints, you've clearly examined this piece beforehand."

"I-I…"

"What are you saying?!" Gisela came up from behind Simon, speaking to Veronica but glaring at Professor Low. "We never told her in the invitation that we'd created a prototype. She wouldn't have known it existed, much less been able to get her hands on it."

Veronica shook her head. "No, she wouldn't have. Not unless…"

Simon's grip on the machine tightened. "Unless…?"

At that point, Veronica turned around to look up at the group watching from closer to the tree. She raised a hand, pointing over to Felix, Margie, and Yuan. "Unless we had a few rats spreading our secrets around like the plague."

Gisela's head whipped around to look at them. "The Pattons? They'd never-"

"We were threatened into it! They blackmailed us!" Felix was the first of that group to open his mouth, and as soon as he did, he was already yelling. "Yuan and his militia buddy told us that we had no choice!"

"F-Felix…" Margie reached out with her good hand, grabbing her brother's arm. "That wasn't exactly-"

"Oh, don't play pretend for their sake, Gie! You heard what they said to us, both of them!"

"But we were doing it for Doctor Lu and the poor Irving boy as well… and that was genuine…"

"The Irving boy?" Veronica asked, taking a step toward the group. "Doctor Lu, I believe we had an arrangement. Did you encounter some… trouble?"

Song took a step forward, squaring his shoulders. "I could never kill a patient. No matter who asked me or what the circumstances were, it's against my code of ethics- and this definitely didn't fit the criteria for a doctor-assisted suicide-"

He cut off as he saw Kratos step forward, positioning himself between the two groups. "Veronica St Martin," Kratos began, his loud voice drowning out the chatter around them, "did you order Doctor Song Lu to kill Lloyd Irving?"

She smiled and gave a bow. "With all due respect, captain, you said that you were simply here for damage control. As an unaffiliated militia, your troops have neither the authority nor ability to make arrests under Meltokio law. So if you have no personal score to settle, I'd step back-"

"Let me ask again," Kratos interrupted. "Veronica St Martin, did you order Doctor Song Lu to kill my son, Lloyd Irving?"

The question brought Veronica to a standing position immediately. She narrowed her eyes, first at Kratos and then at Yuan and Song.

"For a neutral party just here for damage control, you seem to have found someone who's awfully… emotionally-involved." She let out a sigh and looked back at Kratos. "Alright, Mister 'Keep-It-Civil.' Yes, I did order Doctor Lu to kill Lloyd. And before you ask, I'm well aware of his reputation regarding the reunion of the worlds. But my resolve to protect the Great Tree takes priority over all else."

"You are a despicable woman-" Professor Low began, rolling up her sleeves as she stepped toward Veronica, revealing her exsphere that was attached to a bangle-like key crest on her right arm. "-and you have no right to-"

"Stop." Kratos stepped in, unsheathing his sword to hold in front of Low. "We're not here to incite violence."

"You're protecting the bitch who tried to murder your son? Don't you want revenge?!"

Kratos glared back at her in response. "I'm sorry, but I'm not particularly moved by your sudden compassion for Raine' pet idiot."

Low's eyes widened, her face turning a shade paler. "How did you… I-I… I didn't… I didn't mean…" She struggled to find the words, pinned to the spot by the ire in Kratos' eyes. In the meantime, Veronica began to laugh.

"Oh, you really haven't changed, Todd dear! You just can't seem to keep your foot out of your mouth." She paused a moment to quell her laughter and began again. "So tell me, what did you do to our little prototype when you discovered it? I doubt you snooped through your servants' belongings just to take a look at the wiring and put it back where you found it."

"Actually, I didn't do a thing to it," Low replied, her breathing slow and forced. "I didn't need to. It was already inert due to your faulty handiwork."

"So you did intend to tamper with it!" Simon hissed, sprinting towards her with his hand gripping his knife, stopping only as he was blocked by Kratos. "Why I ought to-"

"Civility, please," Kratos interrupted.

Veronica smiled. "Says the man with the unsheathed sword."

"I can see that you're armed. Drop your weapons, all of you." He looked back at Low. "That includes you and your exsphere. Using magic around the Great Tree could be dangerous."

"But-!"

"Alright, we'll drop our weapons," Veronica broke in, pulling her own dagger from a pocket in her skirt and holding it out for everyone to see. "But only after you drop yours, captain."

There was a pause, but Kratos turned his head toward the rest of his soldiers and nodded to them before bending down to place his sword on the ground by his feet. As he straightened up, he saw Veronica bend down to do the same with her dagger. But his instincts flashed a red alert at the sight of movement from behind her. He adopted a defensive stance, hands above his head to block an overhanded strike from Simon's knife.

Simon grunted as his knife slammed against Kratos' armor, sliding off as the blade scraped against the metal. Kratos grabbed for his arm to twist him into a more vulnerable position, but Simon managed to duck out of the way and under Kratos' elbow, plunging his knife in search of a break in the armor. The lapse in concentration allowed Kratos to kick one of Simon's legs out from under him, sending him toppling over so that one of the soldiers who had retrieved their sword could grab him in a headlock. Simon pulled and struggled against the soldier's grip, but he wasn't strong enough to break free on his own.

He wasn't on his own, however.

"Aqua Laser!"

The spell was aimed at Simon, but the soldier holding him ended up as collateral damage. She was blown backwards as well, the water having loosened her grip enough for Simon to stumble free, his mind still reeling from the impact. He fumbled forward in an attempt to find his attacker, but ended up running into another pair of soldiers who'd run in to aid their comrade.

Kratos, meanwhile, had heard Professor Low beginning the incantation. Once he'd seen Simon safely into the soldier's grip, he lunged in Low's direction to cut off her spell. Unfortunately, she had already reached the conclusion by the time he did so, and he had to duck out of the way of the spell's effects. While on the ground, he glanced in the direction of the sword he'd dropped, only to find that one of Veronica's other companions had grabbed it up and was pursuing some of the other soldiers with a technique- or, lack thereof- that suggested he was completely unfamiliar with that sort of weapon.

"C-Captain!" Bryan stammered, rushing to Kratos' side and helping him up. "What should we do?"

Kratos answered in an order that he called to the whole platoon. "Defensive maneuvers only! Incapacitate without wounding if at all possible!" As he yelled, he noticed that Bryan was offering his own sword. Immediately, Kratos held up a hand to refuse. "Keep it and follow your orders. I'll be fine."

"Against armed opponents-?"

"Just go!"

In the meantime, as soon as Low finished her spell, she felt herself grabbed from behind. Veronica had one arm around her shoulders, the other holding her dagger against Low's neck.
"You wouldn't kill me," Professor Low hissed, instinctively turning her head so that she could look back at Veronica. As she did so, the dagger grazed her chin and cut into the skin just enough to produce a trickle of blood that ran down her neck. She tensed up, but didn't move. Veronica hadn't responded to her challenge, and when she finally spoke, it seemed she didn't plan to.

"It's such a shame, Todd dear, that an incredible intelligence could be wasted on such a naive girl. It's as if the world revolves around you, and if it doesn't affect you personally, it doesn't matter. You just can't see past your own ego, can you?"

"That's not true," Low replied. "I'm doing what I think is best for the world and the people in it."

"You're doing what the people want so that you'll be hailed as a hero. It doesn't matter to you whether it's truly good for them or not."

"It does matter to me! It's always mattered-" As Low became more and more worked-up, she started moving her head again, pressing her chin further into the blade of the dagger. The pain hit her suddenly, and she pulled her head back with an audible wince. "…you of all people should know it's always mattered…"

"See, this is a problem you've always had. You want so desperately for others to approve of you. Your parents, your peers, your students- they weren't people to you, they were boxes for you to check off once you'd gained their admiration. The only thing you've ever loved was your ego-"

"That's NOT TRUE!"

Professor Low kicked backwards into Veronica's legs, sending her toppling over. Her grip on the dagger wavered as her arms flailed for a grasp, and the blade dug deep into Low's arm just below the shoulder blade.

Low screamed, turning on her heels to throw her attacker away. Veronica tumbled to the ground, fumbling for the blade that she'd dropped.

"I… I love science…" Professor Low began again, one hand clutched tightly over her wounded arm where a dark stain was already spreading along the sleeve. "…I love my parents… I love Raine… and yes, I haven't ever done a good job of showing it. I'm vain and egotistical and I never think of anyone but myself…" She closed her eyes, wincing as she pressed on. "…I need to change that… because, no matter how poorly I showed it… my feelings are real… and I have to do them justice…"

By this point, Veronica had retrieved her dagger and was approaching Low again. She wasn't making any move to attack, instead listening intently to Low's words. As Professor Low's voice trailed off, she was overcome by the pain and crumpled to her knees. Veronica took a step toward her, but was stopped by a voice approaching from her back.

"Don't move, either of you."

Bryan held his sword pointed in their direction, trying desperately not to let his arm tremble or his voice waver as he spoke out above the commotion. One of his platoon members stood by his side, her sword sheathed, but her hand on the hilt and ready to draw if necessary. Seeing Low and Veronica both looking back at him, he took another step forward.

"Professor, can you stand?"

"I-I…" Low tried to pull herself to her feet, but she only made it part of the way up before she dizzily stumbled back to the ground. Veronica sighed.

"Really, Todd, you've always been so overdramatic. It's just a little cut. Here, let me see-"

"Don't move!" Bryan broke in again as Veronica started in Low's direction. "Do not approach her."

"I'm a nurse, darling. I just want to help."

"Anita has first aid training." Bryan nodded back in his partner's direction. "Go check on the professor."

"Yes sir!" She removed her hand from the hilt of her sword, stepping around Bryan to get to Professor Low. She didn't make it that far, however, before a swift movement from Veronica caught her off-guard. There wasn't even time to draw her sword. Low screamed at the same time Anita did, and Bryan's instincts took over, sending him charging forward into the fray.

"ANITA!"

As the chaos had unfolded, Song could only watch in horror. He knew that he had to do something, but identifying that something was more difficult than he'd realized. Yuan had retreated back to the tree, standing with his back against the trunk so that he could see anyone approaching. The combatants were all more focused on one another than on the tree itself, so they were all keeping their distance- for now. But the commotion had woken Adora, and even being sheltered from the noise beneath her father's cloak didn't seem to be helping her calm down. The sounds of the conflict and the crying infant, the flurry of movement in his peripheral vision, the scent of blood mingling with the morning dew… it was too much for Song to take. He stumbled backwards, unable to make sense of it all.

There were sixteen soldiers including Kratos. Five of them were currently occupied in restraining the three subordinates of Veronica that had reacted violently when Simon attacked. Kratos and another three soldiers had Simon pinned down, and yet another pair was dealing with Veronica and Professor Low. Two soldiers were speaking with Yuan about defending the tree should the conflict move any closer, so that left four…

"Let go of me! You have no right-"

It was Felix's voice. Song turned to see the man screaming and kicking at a trio of soldiers who were trying to restrain his legs while another held his torso. He kicked with his good leg, but he was having trouble keeping his injured leg out of the way, and the soldiers looked to be more interested in keeping him from hurting himself rather than others.

A female soldier stood by his sister, her hands on Margie's shoulders. It was a simple gesture, so much so that Margie could have escaped easily had she wanted to. But she was too busy trying to calm her brother.

"Felix, stop this! Please calm down! You're going to hurt yourself-" She started in his direction, but the soldier's grip on her shoulder tightened in response to her movement and she stayed where she was. "The militia is here to help! It's Veronica's group you have to worry about!"

"Anyone… who gets in my way…" Felix stammered, still struggling for freedom, "...is… my enemy…"

He stopped momentarily, his eyes closing and his features growing calm. The soldiers holding him didn't loosen their grips- not, at least, until they heard what he was saying under his breath.

"Incandescent vortex, annihilate thy enemy; SPIRAL FLARE!"

There were screams as the soldiers tried to duck away from the oncoming flames, throwing themselves to the ground in order to extinguish the embers that had taken hold on their uniforms. The soldier that had been supporting Margie let go and dove to tackle Felix to the ground. Across the field, several soldiers and Church members had been caught in the path of the spell as well, and a few were panicking. Kratos had Simon pinned down with his foot on the man's chest, so the three soldiers at his side made a dash for their comrades who were caught in the commotion. As Kratos turned to give them orders, Simon reached up and grabbed Kratos by the ankle, trying to toss him aside. It only managed to throw off Kratos' balance, but it was enough for Simon to break free and reach for a sword.

Before Kratos could go after Simon, another spell was fired from Felix's direction, this time a water spell that affected a larger range. Kratos yelled to the soldiers as loudly as possible, though he wasn't sure how many could hear him over the torrent and the screams.

"Do everything you can to prevent magic use! Don't let his attacks approach the Tree!"

When Kratos turned his attention back, Simon had already managed to put a considerable distance between them. He cursed under his breath, preparing to follow, but the sound of Professor Low's voice behind him stopped him before he could.

"Hands off of her! ICE TORNADO!"

Kratos made eye contact with the small group of soldiers who had been talking to Yuan and motioned for them to follow. They nodded and did so, leaving Yuan and Song the only ones remaining close to the Tree. Yuan pressed his back closer to the trunk and hid Adora beneath his cloak to keep her close. Song felt his stomach churn as he realized that, were it not for Adora, Yuan would probably already be involved in the fight. But standing here like this, away from everyone else…

They were vulnerable.

Satisfied that his comrades were successfully distracting the soldiers, Simon made a beeline for where Song was standing, staring at the tree. He had a grudge to settle, and with Song so preoccupied, this would be his best opportunity.

"Doctor Lu!"

Song spun around on his heels, his face going pale as he caught sight of the bloodlust in Simon's eyes. "What are you-?"

"You goddamned traitor!" Simon screamed as he pulled his sword back in preparation for a horizontal thrust, not caring to listen to what Song had to say. "You may not be willing to kill someone for the greater good, but I sure as hell am! You should've been the one I tried to kill during the picnic- but killing you now will work just as well!"

And with that, he struck.

Yuan saw everything happening as though in slow motion. "SONG!" he yelled, shifting Adora to one arm so that he could stretch out the other. He shoved Song aside, kicking his feet out from under him so that the sword strike would miss him entirely. As he did so, Yuan channeled an angelic spell that had become second nature to him over the course of millennia, one that he knew would keep Song and Adora safe. He could see the sword being thrust toward him, but his mind was filled only with the incantation, waiting for the familiar sensation of angelic power coursing through his body.

"Holy light, reflect the evil which rises against thy humble servants. SANCTUARY!"

But that sensation never came.

Instead of the residual tingling of mana against his fingertips and the familiar warmth of the wings at his back, Yuan found his vision suddenly clouded. The only sound he heard was a high-pitched shriek from Adora, one that continued into a screaming sob. It was loud, but only for a moment before Yuan's hearing grew blurry as well, punctuated by the sound of his own labored breathing. There was the unmistakable gurgling of fluid pooling in his lungs, and while he tried to figure out what had happened, his consciousness was so cloudy that the next thing he recognized was the feeling of the dirt and grass against the side of his face. Adora continued to squeal and cry in surprise from her position shielded in his arms, but Yuan's muddled thoughts couldn't grasp it right now. He was only just now coming to the realization of what had happened, as his rapid heartbeat echoed against his chest where his Cruxis Crystal was no longer set.

Kratos… you damned liar…