Disclaimer:

Ar Tonelico © Gust Co. Ltd. , Banpresto

Summary

Even after all the things that's happen, it's still hard for Jacqli to trust humans. Humans can change easily and not all humans are like Lyner or the others that's why she still refused to trust humans and convinced herself that she still hates them. However, when she journeyed to Metafalls in order to save the world, she found something that she never thought she would find.

Sia Leysritt Present

Harmonius: Song of Hope

Jacqli

Chapter One

Croix Bartel

"Sometimes you don't know when you're taking the first step through a door until you're already inside."

― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Jacqli observed the group from where she is seated. A lot of things happened and now she found herself joining forces with the people that was once her enemies. Though, she couldn't exactly called them that, their objectives are different and clashes at some point but she doesn't harbor any ill feelings towards them so she can't really called them her enemies.

This group were as strange as Lyner's group and coincidentally all of them reminds her a lot of Lyner's group. There's the maiden of Fuero, if she remembered correctly, her name is Luca. The girl has blue haired that was pulled into updo and was tied with a kanzashi. She wore a quite revealing outfit, and according to Luca herself, she wore those kinds of outfit to attract customer as she is working as Dive Therapist. As the maiden of Fuero, she is also called the Goddess maiden, meaning she has the administrator's D-Cellophane and thus were able to utilize her power and privileges, as well as the ability to sing EXEC_METAFALICA. At least, that's what Jacqli knew so far.

Jacqli then turned her eyes towards the Maiden of Aqua, Cloche Leythal Pastalie. She is a young girl with sandy blonde hair and purple eyes. The girl wearing a grand outfit, probably because she's a maiden. Jacqli had to wonder how she managed to do all this journey with that clothing AND high heels. As the maiden of Aqua, her role is to support Maiden of Fuero in creating Metafalica but since the information about Maiden of Aqua were too little she couldn't conclude what role the young Maiden has to take. The only way for them to know is for both Maidens to enter the Infelsphere once they reached Pastalia.

There are also three more companions in the group aside from her and the two maidens. Supposedly four, but one of them has left the group for a reason that Jacqli doesn't know (or doesn't care to be exact). Captain Leglius, the Captain of Grand Bell Knight; a man with muscular body and tan skin. His skin was marred by battle scars and it made him look tough. He hasn't say a word since the Teru girl, Amarie, left the group. There's also Cocona, a little girl with blue hair which is tied in twin tails. The girl is busy playing with the strange creature… Soope, was it? Whatever that round creature's name.

"So, by the way… Are you okay with no diving?"

The last person and seemingly the leader of the group. A Grand Bell Knight, Croix Bartel. A young man who has a strong sense of justice. Jacqli felt a little bit annoyed with him because she feels he has the same vibes Lyner does. Not that she hates Lyner or anything but the fact the guy beats her in duel left a bitter taste on her mouth. She felt thankful but annoyed at the same time. Though the boy in front of her only share Lyner's sense of justice but other than that, he is nothing like the blonde knight of Elemia. Croix is the cool and calm type, and he actually smarter than Lyner is and at least Criox didn't make himself look like an idiot so far. But still, the boy had come to her and tried to open up a conversation with her.

Strange. Jacqli thought. But she shrugged it off. She figured he was just trying to get to know her or digging information out of her. After all, among all of them, she was the one who knew the legend of Metafalica the most.

But that question about Diving is something that she didn't expect, though she does already have an answer to it.

"Never." She said simply.

"Huh…? Never what? You mean, you should do it?" Croix as curiously.

"I'll never let you." Jacqli said, stating the obvious. After all, why would she let humans entered her mind? She hates humans after all, letting them inside her mind is a ridiculous prospect.

"What's that supposed to mean? You don't have to refuse me like that…"

"Why would I want to show my mind to humans?" She asked back as if that is the most obvious answer he would get.

"That's kinda harsh. But won't it be harder in battle if you don't create Song Magic?"

I take it back, this guy is the same as that boy. They asked too much.

"My Song Magic isn't weak to begin with. I don't have to let you Dive to create more." She said, leaving no room for complaints.

She would never let humans to enter her minds and know the real her. Why bother? Once they learned what kind of person she is, they will leave her anyway so it's better to not show them at all. Humans are all the same anyway.

But then…

An interesting idea flashed her mind. Maybe she could let him in just for the fun of it. She suddenly remembered what happened when she hacked Shurelia's binary field that time and how annoyed she was when that ungrateful boy changed the ending of her amazing story. She hasn't write any stories since she came to Metafalls, she didn't really get the chance to, maybe she could play around with the boy for a little while. It could be fun. If he can handle it, he would just be kicked out of her cosmosphere, it's as simple as that.

"…I get it… Hehe…"

"…? What…?" Croix looked at Jacqli who suddenly smiled after refusing his offer to dive into her.

"If you want to Dive, I'll let you." Jacqli said. She knows she just spook the poor knight out of his mind since she just refused him but suddenly now she agree with the idea of him Diving into her.

Ha. He is fun to tease.

"What's with the sudden change? You're starting to scare me..."

Jacqli shrugged "Well if you're scared, you don't have to. I'm not forcing you to do it. I do have one condition. Luca and Cloche have to Dive with you. I'll turn you down if you're alone."

Croix looked confused. Must be the first time he heard of doing Diving with so many people. Usually, one Reyvateil can only handle one person inside her mind but Jacqli is not a normal Reyvateil like the ones Croix had met before. She is, in a way, special. But there is no need for him to know that.

"Why...?"

This guy asked too much. Are all knights behave like this?

"Because you're a human..." Jacqli answered as if that explained everything.

"I don't get it. Oh well. I'll just ask Luca and Lady Cloche when I want to Dive in you."

"Would you?"

At first Jacqli thought it's going to be just a simple diving. She would let him dive until a certain level, just until her story, her imaginary world is finished and then done, she doesn't need to let him go deeper.

She hates humans so this would not be hard to do.

Oh how wrong she was.

To be continued

Author's Note:

Yep, this is an old idea that resurface when I played Ar Tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica this morning. I fall in love again with my ultimate OTP: Croix x Jacqli so I write this fic. Don't you think both of them are just cute~? I like how Jacqli is conflicted about her feelings and Croix will always be there to assure her that everything is fine. Well anyway, the POV will be switched between Croix and Jacqli and the setting start after Jacqli returned the heart of Gaea to either Luca or Cloche and in this chapter they are on their way to Pastalia before departing to Kanakana Pier. Thank you for reading hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry for any typos or grammatical errors.