Resonance of Faith

by Dark Interval

AU. Sequel to "The Stars Told Me So". The truth is out, but a new threat looms large over Elicoor II. All three nations must set aside centuries of strife and come together in a final fight for peace and sovereignty. But Fayt's powers aren't the only things complicating the situation, and Roger is about to uncover a secret that would change his life forever. FaytxRoger/AlbelxRoger.

3. The Lost City

Author's note:

I'm back with an update and it's a doozy! Also, no, it's not an April Fool's joke.

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Review response:

CelestialSkye72 - I couldn't thank you enough for your sweet and encouraging review! :) Please continue to enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. Also, please continue to ship Fayt/Roger and Albel/Roger with me because after 13 years, this fandom is still a very lonely place 8,)

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Resonance of Faith

by darkinterval

Chapter 3: The Lost City

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Daybreak, and the start to a brand new morning of which Fayt wasn't exactly looking forward to. In fact, he had spent the better portion of his sleep tossing and turning on the mattress; the rest of it was spent in misery as he laid awake in the darkness of his room, staring blankly at the ceiling as he agonized over what he would say to Aquaria's ruler come sunrise. They had promised the Queen a brief explanation and were due to set off to rendezvous with the King of Airyglyph and Prime Minister Aznor at Surferio – and the mere thought of holding a serious discussion with the continent's three leaders in the same room was enough to make Fayt sick in the stomach. He barely understood any of this himself; after all, he had literally been told that he was actually a product of illegal symbolical genetics research spearheaded by his own father, the moment he came to. Fast forwards 12 hours and the notion still sounded ludicrous to him; he didn't know what to do with this information apart from wishing it never existed, so he crushed that thought and tossed it at the back of his mind to be speculated on another day.

Unfortunately, that day came the moment the cock crowed dawn, and Fayt found himself nervously standing outside the palace throne room with Cliff, Mirage and Maria, as their little party of four awaited their audience with the queen.

"Sleep well?" asked Cliff with a sardonic quirk of his lips.

"Ha-ha, very funny," said Fayt with a roll of his eyes. "As if anyone could sleep after that brouhaha yesterday…"

"I did. Knocked out as soon as my head hit the pillow. Slept like a baby too!"

"Now you're just being annoying."

"If you two are quite finished, I'd like to ask you a question, Fayt," Maria stepped forward to interrupt the bickering pair; and the moment her eyes landed on the handsome Earthian, her serious expression melted into one of genuine concern. "Are you alright? You look a little pale…" At his hesitance, her gaze turned guilty. "Fayt, I… I'm sorry if my explanation yesterday cost you your rest, but please understand that it's without any ill intent. You have the right to know, even if the truth sometimes isn't what we expect or want to hear."

Emerald eyes studied the other's intently. They looked so alike, Fayt realised, eerily so with their matching blue hair, vibrant green eyes and confident, self-assured dispositions. Their facial structures also bled some resemblance, especially the high cut of their cheekbones and the incline of their jawlines. But the similarities ended there; while he was fun loving, passionate and known to have a stubborn streak, Maria was calm, methodical and came across as rather arrogant; their personalities were a far cry from each other. And yet, their pasts were the same, and even though they each grew up to leave radically different lives in different galaxies, their paths crossed and here they were; grappling at the reigns of an unknown present. The least he could do as a gentleman was to be a little more understanding of her current position.

"Don't worry about it," he said with a faint smile. "It's like you said, I needed to know the truth, even if I'm not 100% onboard with what you're saying. It's hard to accept what I am and what's happening, but I'm trying."

"I appreciate that," she acknowledged with a smile of her own, as she reached out to touch his arm. "And I'll be here every step of the way to help. You can trust me."

Fayt smirked at that. "Do I have a choice?"

Maria hid a giggle behind her hand, eyes twinkling; and Fayt thought with an odd flutter in his stomach, that the expression suited her.

Unbeknownst to the pair, the two Klausians shot them twin looks of concern, but otherwise made no move to intervene. If what was happening was what they thought was happening, then it was probably for the best for everyone.

Suddenly, the towering doors of the throne room parted, causing the four of them to jump. A guard stepped through and saluted them in typical Aquarian fashion. "Her Majesty will see you now," was the formal announcement, before she bowed deeply and slowly backed away. Shooting each other apprehensive stares and at Cliff's noncommittal shrug, the party entered the vast throne room and paused at the base of the stairs. Atop the steps upon a regal cathedra sat none other than Queen Romeria, her face impassive and expectant all at once. She quietly observed these so-called engineers from another world; on her right stood Laselle, her royal advisor and court magistrate; but what really surprised the party was the figures of two very prominent, very familiar Elicoorians standing patiently and diligently on the queen's left. Fayt's eyes lingered on the shorter of the pair longingly. It felt like ages since he last saw and held Roger in his arms, but his boyfriend had been avoiding him like a plague and he missed him.

Nel had her hands behind her and stood straight-backed, chin high and posture as poised and dignified as always. She kept her gaze fixed on the group at the foot of the stairs, but would conveniently avoid Cliff's eyes every time he looked her way. The cold treatment was disconcerting; it was almost as if the past few weeks of friendship and comradery didn't happen and Nel had went back to the way she once was when they first met in Airyglyph's dungeons. Next to her, Roger had his arms crossed, expression hard and uncharacteristically unreadable. Although he fidgeted occasionally and found it hard to control the agitated swish of his tail, the Menodix held his ground and unmistakably, Fayt's gaze. Never had he seen Roger this serious; the change unsettled Fayt and he unconsciously leaned towards Maria, who stood next to him. Quark's leader shot him a reassuring stare; Fayt returned it; and a flicker of emotion flashed across the Menodix's eyes – surprise, confusion, resentment and the slightest bit of hurt. He saw that.

"Commander Zelpher is my head of military and personal escort; and Roger Huxley will be representing his father while the Prime Minister prepares for our arrival," Romeria explained to the group as if reading their minds. "They have the right to know – and I believe, considering the camaraderie you share with each other, they too deserve an explanation."

Roger? So that's him, Maria thought as she discreetly scrutinised the little humanoid next to the throne, he's the one who triggered Fayt's powers. But what made him so special? As far as she could tell, he was just an ordinary country bumpkin – and Fayt cared about him? She wondered about the nature of their relationship and couldn't help but feel the slightest twinge of jealousy. Shaking it off, she went down on one knee.

"With all do respect, your majesty; they may be acquaintances of my colleagues, but this matter is of strict confidentiality and doesn't involve them. We agreed to speak with the leaders of the kingdoms involved in the conflict. This isn't part of the arrangement."

Roger glared down at the new girl with the strange clothes. Who did she think she was, barging in on their lives like that, taking control and speaking for the rest as if their opinions didn't matter? As far as he understood, she didn't know the full situation of their world, yet touted like she did. He did not like the way she brushed him and Nel off so thoughtlessly. Humph, 'acquaintances' – who was she to speak of things she didn't even understand? And what was worse than her sharp tongue, was Fayt choosing to support her words through his silences. Why wasn't he defending them? How could he let this stranger talk to them like that? Less than a minute and he already disliked this bossy girl from the stars.

"How dare you use that tone with her majesty?" Laselle interrupted with a downturned lip. "You will do what is asked of you and apologize to the Holy Mother-"

"Silence, Laselle." Romeria raised her hand at her advisor, before turning sharp vermillion eyes to the newcomer. "'Maria Traydor', was it? Indeed, we have spoken about the matter yesterday and the nations have agreed to a conference with the four of you present for a thorough explanation. However, you ask me to trust with my eyes and believe what I barely understand, before departing my kingdom on a pilgrimage to a sacred city that no human has ever entered, not for hundreds of years. At the very least, we are allowed a preamble."

None of them missed the Queen's emphasis on the word 'we'. Maria hesitated.

"But, your majesty–"

"Alright," Fayt interrupted as he stepped forward. No use hiding anymore. They violated the UP3 enough as it was. Besides, Aquaria's ruler had shown them nothing but kindness, graciousness and hospitality since their arrival. It would be reasonable to grant her this simple request if only to give her a peace of mind.

"Your majesty, as you're probably aware of by now, Cliff, Mirage, Maria and I are not from your world. In fact, the four of us are from different worlds – and there are many more worlds out there besides ours, besides your own; even worlds that have yet to be explored in the cosmos. And the people of these worlds lead very different lives, some in concord and some in disagreement with others," he paused in his explanation to bow his head in regret. "Currently, some of these worlds are at war. I'm not entirely sure of the situation, but I believe that those who attacked us yesterday, the Vendeeni? I believe… I'm their objective."

Other worlds? War? Roger and Nel thought, perplexed. Gaitt alone was a vast plain and that wasn't counting the uncharted territory of Greeton. It was difficult to imagine there were other places – no, entire civilizations beyond their never-ending skies. 'So that's why Fayt's technology is so advanced,' Roger realised as he thought back to that fascinating navigator device they tried repairing prior to the war's outbreak. But the once pleasant memories and innocent days spent together only left a deep and painful scar in his heart. Not only had Fayt betrayed him, but he had also lied to him. Fayt had been lying to him all this time, and it hurt Roger to realise that perhaps he had lied about his love for him too. Fayt was from another world; he never intended to stay; their relationship was nothing more than a fling and he had been played a fool.

Meanwhile, Maria continued to gape at Fayt in surprise, but otherwise did nothing to stop him. If he was willing to place his trust in these people, then she supposed she had to trust his better judgment; after all, he and her subordinates had been stuck here much longer than she preferred and knew the ways better.

"A war?" the Queen echoed. "I believe Commander Zelpher has mentioned this to me before. Your father was kidnapped by the enemy, which resulted in your quest to save him, correct?"

Fayt nodded. "Yes, your majesty."

"And am I right to presume that the enemy is the same one responsible for that attack on Aire Hills? This so-called 'Vendeeni'?"

Again, he nodded.

"Then all we would have to do is hand you over to them, and they'll go away," said Laselle, voicing everyone's thoughts.

But Romeria wasn't having any of that.

"Laselle, you are to remain silent!"

"Y-Yes, your majesty." He lowered his gaze meekly and the Queen stood.

As Romeria slowly and calmly descended the steps, Fayt watched her approach them with nervous eyes; every step she took closer a resounding 'boom' in his head that paralleled the anxious beating of his heart. Meanwhile, Nel and Roger trailed after the royal sovereign and kept a respectable distance.

"As much as it would make sense to simply give you to the Vendeeni, I cannot do that," said Romeria, stopping to address Fayt and conveying her sincerity through her gaze. "You – she glanced up at Cliff and Mirage – all of you are our guests. Moreover, you have placed your lives at risk and directly aided Aquaria during the conflict. I cannot speak for the other nations, but as Queen of this kingdom, I am grateful for your devotion. You did not abandon us when we needed your help. It would be improper for us to abandon you now."

Her compassion was humbling and Cliff bowed gratefully, the rest following suit.

"Thank you, your majesty."

She smiled at the blonde. "One good turn deserves another, Sir Fittir."

"Hah, did you hear that?" said Cliff, turning to the group while gesturing at the Queen with a wide grin. "She called me 'sir'!"

Behind the Queen, Nel smacked her forehead and resisted an exasperated sigh. Serious situation aside, some things really didn't change. Romeria simply chuckled.

"We are grateful, your majesty." Maria and Mirage bowed simultaneously.

"T-Thank you," said Fayt, the shock scrambling his brain and leaving him, for once, mostly speechless.

"However," Romeria interrupted, continuing her speech as she looked directly into Fayt's emerald eyes, "Can you answer me one thing, Sir Leingod?"

At the mention of his name (and in such a formal way as well), Fayt stood a whole lot straighter and braced himself once more. "Anything, your majesty."

"Earlier, you mentioned you were the Vendeeni's objective. You did not elaborate on the reasons to substantiate this claim."

"Well, I–"

"May I ask why?"

Fayt immediately bit his lip and hesitated. Fortunately, Mirage was quick was intervene and he mentally thanked her for her intuition and tact.

"Pardon my intrusion, your majesty; but may I suggest we continue this discussion at Surferio?" said the Klausian politely, ever the diplomat. "I'm afraid the explanation you want isn't that simple, and it would benefit all parties to present themselves upfront as a collective to prevent possible misconceptions. This way, it'll be easier for us to better address your questions."

"Hm, very well." Romeria turned to speak to her entourage. "Zelpher, we will leave at once to Surferio. Laselle, ensure all affairs run smoothly while I'm away. Allow the people to continue their mourning and leave the chapel open to visitors, Aquarian, Glyphian and Republican alike."

"Understood, your majesty."

"Roger," she finally directed her attention down at said Menodix, who gazed up at her expectantly. "Your father and King Arzei awaits our arrival. Please, lead the way."

"Ya got it!"

The boy scampered up front and threw a cheeky grin over his shoulder at the faces of Nel, Fayt, Cliff, Mirage, Maria and the Queen as they kept pace. Like Romeria said, his people had not opened the gates to humans in hundreds of years, not since the fall of the ancient kingdom of Aquor. Unfortunate and desperate circumstances aside, this was the most exciting and monumental event in Gaitt's history up to date: the land's three super powers coming together in an act of peace and diplomacy.

"Um, no transportation's allowed inta Surferio by the way. Are ya ok walkin', yer majesty?" asked Roger.

His innocent question brought an amused smile to Romeria lips. "My dear boy, from this moment forth, I am not a queen but your guest. If we are to travel by foot, then I will respect the customs of your kingdom."

"Then please, take this."

On cue, Nel pulled out a thin veil from her person and unfolded it before the queen. The veil was of a lovely silver-blue sheen, which shimmered under the light whenever angled right. It was exquisitely woven with the finest of materials; jewels and sapphires adorned the headpiece; and the veil extended past the shoulders. The delicate garment was as breathtaking as it was beautiful. Romeria reached out and touched the cloth, marveling at its soft texture, startled by its aura.

"This is…" she whispered in awe and disbelief.

"The Aqua Veil, one of Surferio's greatest treasures," Roger explained casually, as if he wasn't talking about a prized artifact that survived the exchange of centuries of hands and power. "A long time ago, after the fall of Aquor and the kingdom split inta Airyglyph, Sanmite and Aquaria, three enchanted objects were promised ta the leaders of each nation: the Crimson Scourge for power, the Sacred Orb for life, and the Aqua Veil for protection. Airyglyph received the sword years ago and now, it's Aquaria's turn." Roger grinned, his earnesty reaching his eyes. "My pops just felt ya should have the veil – ya know, as a sign of peace!"

Cliff, Fayt, Mirage and Maria gathered around to study the veil with interest. Enchanted artifact? Never did they expect the humanoids of this planet to be guardians of such sacred objects of power, especially Maria, who found it difficult to accept the idea that not only was Roger the son of a nation's sovereign, but also that he was no ordinary humanoid child, much less a country bumpkin.

"Hold on a minute," she requested as she whipped out a bio scanner and scanned the veil's surface. Her eyes widened at the readings she was getting; this data was incredible!

"What is it?" Mirage peered over Maria's shoulder to get a good look at the device, only for her gaze to turn solemn. "... I see."

"Is that what I think it is?" said Cliff, approaching them.

Fayt eyed the results and nodded. "Yeah, it's an OPA; but what's it doing here?"

"What? What is it?" Nel and Roger demanded in unison, curious and fascinated over the peculiar device, perplexing numbers and blinking lights. Roger's tail wagged excitedly; was this another one of Fayt's amazing technology?

Tugging on the swordsman's pants, he gazed up at Fayt with big, shining brown eyes. "OPA? What's that? Tell me!"

His insistence and adorable curiosity made Fayt chuckle. "Well, an OPA, or 'Out of place artifact', is what we call objects of great power that far surpass the civilization or technological levels of their worlds of origin," he simplified for the benefit of their companions. "Basically, it's when something is more advanced than expected."

"Well, yeah! Why do ya think we call them 'enchanted'?" Roger countered smugly.

"I don't know about enchanted," replied Fayt with a laugh, "but I do agree that they're treasures worth protecting."

"Heh, don't ya know it!"

The pair grinned at each other, the atmosphere between them lighthearted and carefree like it had been back before the war. It just felt so natural and wonderful to talk to Roger again, but before Fayt could fully savor the brief moment, the Menodix caught himself and quickly closed off again. It was as frustrating as it was painful. Try as he might, he simply couldn't resist the magnetism of Fayt's personality. He missed the comfort his scent and voice brought, and the giddying warmth of the swordsman's gentle touch. He missed the feel of Fayt's lips, his kisses and the passionate way he looked at him as if he was the only person in the world who existed. But Roger refused to give into temptation and make the same mistake twice; he couldn't allow himself to fall for a man who betrayed him and would never love him enough to stay. While he understood that his silence must be driving the blue haired man insane, he figured that some things were better left unsaid.

The mood turned a little tense between them after that, but no one else seemed to have noticed and it was almost as if those last two minutes had never happened.

"Regardless, it is a great honor, Roger," Romeria turned to acknowledge the child with a grateful nod and smile. "Aquor's ancient treasures are truly gifts from the gods. I shall accept the Prime Minister's good will with grace and dignity."

"Your majesty, allow me." Nel stepped forward and carefully replaced the queen's headdress with the Aqua Veil. The silky fabric settled on her crown with a light shudder and ethereal glow, before the light faded and it appeared normal once more. Nel took a step back and gazed on in approval. "There, you are protected."

And so, out of the palace they walked, past the glittering gates of the Holy City and onto the quiet cobblestone streets of Aquois. People bowed and soldiers saluted the Queen as she passed, extending their blessings and wishing her well on her journey. In silence the group walked, hearts uncertain, yet spirits high: Roger led the way; Fayt, Cliff, Mirage and Maria in the middle; and Nel and Romeria brought up the rear. And as the sun crept higher into the sky, Roger could only hope that this fateful meeting would be the very thing their kingdoms needed to bridge centuries of strife and free them from the darkness of the past.

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The moment they stepped out of Aquois and into Irisa Fields, Maria paused to take in her surroundings, splendid in its simplicity, shining with life. The lush green fields were vast and peppered with tall and shady oak trees; the air was crisp and pure; a gentle breeze blew through her long blue hair, musing it playfully; and blades of grass brushed against the thin material of her black stockings as she walked. She had spent majority of her life in Klaus and traveling through the galaxy chasing down the truth, she had forgotten what the sun looked like from her place beneath the clouds, how the wind felt and tasted against her lips, and what nature sounded like. Elicoor II was a lot like Earth, only more enchanting in its purest of forms. The displacement evoked a slight sadness and longing in her soul, as well as a deep anger and resentment for the scientists who denied her a normal life she always craved. She could have lived on Earth with her mother; she could have been happy.

Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of the rocky mountains in the distance – the very ones she remembered passing over on her flight post Vendeeni confrontation. She wondered about Lieber and Marietta. I hope they're safe, she thought, I hope we can make this work.

"Hey, you alright?" interrupted a gruff voice, followed by a comforting hand upon her shoulder.

Maria managed a slight smile. "You know me, Cliff," she turned to face the blonde. "I'll manage, I always have."

But the knowing look didn't go away; she couldn't stand his perceptive gaze and forced herself to look away. At least Cliff didn't pity her and for that she was thankful. However, displays of concern made her feel vulnerable and she loathed confronting the memories of her past. The scars were still way too raw.

"Anyway, where's Fayt?" she opted for a change in subject, suddenly realizing that the blue haired teen was nowhere to be seen. Strange, he had been walking next to her but a few seconds ago.

Cliff let loose a deep chuckle. "Who, Romeo?" he gestured ahead with his thumb. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

The Earthling in question had sprinted up to the young humanoid up front, before slowing down to casually keep pace. Either Roger didn't notice, or he didn't care as he made no indication of acknowledging Fayt's presence whatsoever. It was both sad and kind of pathetic really, but Roger still refused to talk to him and Fayt was desperate.

"Um… you… you look good today."

The Menodix actually stopped to shoot him a strange look. "But I look like this all the time!"

"Oh," he answered lamely and looked behind him for help. Mirage did encouraging shoo-ing actions with her hands, while Cliff cheekily formed a circle with his thumb and forefinger and put a finger through the hole. Fayt crimsoned and shot him a nasty stare, before composing himself and jogging forward to catch up with the boy, who hadn't even bothered to wait for him. Considering Roger was as direct as they came, Fayt decided to cut the crap and go straight to the point.

"Roger, I'm sorry."

A beat. Furry ears twitched ever so slightly, but the boy continued walking and never once looked back. Undeterred, Fayt intercepted him and blocked his path.

"I'm sorry!" he said more forcefully, hoping to convey every ounce of his sincerity, regret for his misjudgments and unwavering love, as he begged his boyfriend for forgiveness. "I'm sorry for what I did, for going behind your back and agreeing to a war against your people, for betraying your trust, for choosing Aquaria over you, for choosing myself over you, for hurting you – and I'll willingly take that all back if I could; make up for my mistakes and actions, if I can so much as earn your forgiveness and trust again."

His voice shook, heavy with emotion; his eyes stung as he fought down tears of frustration and hopelessness. But Roger wasn't even listening.

"Please," Fayt whispered in one last desperate attempt to get through to him. "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it, whatever it takes. I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Roger, please!"

I love you.

A soft breeze blew past, carrying Fayt's apology and unsaid devotion along with it. It ruffled their hair and Roger's conviction. The Menodix's shoulders slumped in defeat and he let out a deep, weary sigh. His heart ached for the other and for the truth that he could never seem to run away from, no matter how hard he tried. It hurt whenever he thought about Fayt and their relationship, but it hurt more when he thought about how much he loved him and how thoroughly impossible it would be to let the noble swordsman go. He had told Nel yesterday that he wouldn't be able to forgive the blue haired teen for everything he had done and put him through, but it hurt to push Fayt away and it was so hard to keep this up.

"I… I'm not mad at ya."

His response actually made Fayt do a double take.

"What?"

"I'm not mad at ya," Roger repeated as he took a deep, shuddering breath. "... But why did ya lie?"

Fayt blinked, unsure. "Lie…?" And his heart clenched the moment he came face-to-face with Roger's tear-filled eyes when the younger looked up. The child was desperately fighting back tears, and Fayt wondered for how long Roger had been suppressing his inner turmoil and suffering.

"I o-overheard from C-Cliff 'n Mirage that… that being with s-someone like me is against the l-law in yer world," Roger hiccuped between his words; it hurt so much to speak. "Cuz I'm f-from an 'underdeveloped planet', you'd get inta t-trouble… so why?" Wide, pleading eyes that swam with so much sadness and confusion, gazed deep into troubled emerald. "Ya knew this. Ya knew it was only temporary. Ya never planned ta stay and ya never will. So why did ya lie ta me? Why did ya lie about yer feelings? Who… who are ya, Fayt?"

He gasped when he felt himself being lifted into a pair of strong arms, as if he weighed nothing. Fayt pulled his precious humanoid boy close and pressed their foreheads together; their noses bumped lightly and affectionately; gazes locked.

"Why?" he echoed his beloved's words. "Because I fell deeply and madly in love with a boy from across the galaxy; a boy whom I otherwise wouldn't have met if not for who I really was," he said in a low voice, hoarse with emotion. "And if given a chance to relive these past few crazy weeks on this crazy planet, I'd gladly do it again."

His words and the passionate way he said them caused Roger's heart to flutter pleasantly, his body and face heating up from the proximity and intensity of Fayt's stare. Hands traveled from his waist to the back of his thighs and butt, and Roger blushed from the intimate and public display of the swordsman's possessive behavior. All he could hear were the sounds of his own aroused pants, all he could feel was the gentle caress of Fayt's hot breath against his lips; and for a moment, he had forgotten how to breathe.

"I didn't lie, Roger," Fayt continued. "Yes, I knew about the regulations of the UP3. Yes, I knew that whatever I– whatever we started couldn't and wouldn't last. And yes, I was wrong to drag you down with me; I was selfish – I am selfish, and should've stopped this from escalating sooner. But…" and at this he held Roger tighter. "But, my feelings for you are true: I love you. I love you. And I'll keep saying it, for as many times as you wish to hear it, for as long as I can say it; I love you, Roger. And I would never lie to you."

The Menodix's lower lip trembled from his confession. "I know ya didn't lie…"

A relieved smile crossed Fayt's lips. "Roger…"

"Ya just didn't tell the truth."

With a hard shove, Roger pushed the stunned Earthling away and jumped out of his arms. Their conversation was over; even Fayt could take a hint. And so, he watched with pain-filled eyes as the humanoid boy he so desperately desired, walked away from him and out of his reach.

At the back of the group and oblivious to the drama up front, Romeria's eyes narrowed beneath the veil when she saw the Menodix make a sharp right. Instead of continuing straight, he proceeded towards a pile of rubble from what appeared to be an old, dilapidated stone bridge.

"Nel, where in heaven's name is he going? The last I recall, we should be heading southwest towards Peterny."

The Aquarian in question hesitated. "I'm… not sure, your majesty."

The closer their party of seven approached the bridge, the clearer they could spot a pair of tall, dark figures standing conspicuously by the foliage; wary, impatient and out-of-place. The first of the two wore long regal robes of dark scarlet, beset with gold and precious gems that glittered under the sunlight. A magnificent crown adorned the gentleman's head, a pair of deep-set black eyes sat on a sharp, chiseled face framed elegantly by dark brown bangs, and the neatly trimmed goatee finished off the sovereign's fine features. The second individual was significantly younger with long, two-toned hair that framed his elegantly set features and reached his ankles. He wore an unusual purple military outfit that drew attention to his lean and toned physique, and had a katana strapped to his hip. The swordsman was as handsome as he was mysterious, radiating a dark and dangerous aura that inspired fear into whoever dared gaze into his crimson eyes.

The group stopped short as did the silent duo. Fayt, Cliff, Nel and Roger took in the sight of an all too familiar claw-gauntlet around the man's left arm, which effectively evoked a slew of memories that were less than pleasant. None were particularly enthused by the swordsman's presence to say the least.

"Arzei," Romeria stepped forward and greeted Airyglyph's King with a curtsy.

"Romeria," Arzei acknowledged in turn with a deep bow, before lifting his head to fix his eyes upon Aquaria's Queen with an uncharacteristic fondness. "You…" And the lovely, demure sight of the veil upon her crown momentarily took his breath away. "You look as beautiful as ever."

Romeria's expression hardened. "And you haven't changed a bit, I see."

Her biting statement pierced the King's heart and he winced from the cold and bitter treatment. "Perhaps I deserve that," he admitted with a tinge of regret in his voice. "I have wronged you and your people, as well as broken the years of trust we have built between us and our kingdoms. I only hope it is not too late to repair a friendship once strong."

Romeria simply shook her head. "Arzei, I cannot forgive you for the scars you have inflicted, but I will join you in arms alongside our Republican brothers, against this threat to our world."

"It would appear I have much to repent and prove to you," said Arzei sadly, disappointed but undeterred. "But at the very least, I can start here."

"And what in Apris' name is he doing here?" Nel demanded all of a sudden, gesturing and glaring daggers at a half-amused, half-exasperated Glyphian swordsman standing a little ways from the king.

The man's presence and proximity unsettled her greatly, more so than the gravity of this miraculous three-way meeting. As much as she was mad at Cliff for lying to her, she hadn't forgotten how the Klausian had almost died to the very person standing less than 10 steps away from them. Besides, hadn't Fayt left him for dead on the Bequerel Mountain path? Hadn't he failed in his mission to capture Roger? That last thought prompted her to quickly seize said humanoid child and hide him behind her out of instinct. You're not taking him, she mentally seethed, eyes blazing and stance defensive, you're not taking my only family. I won't let you.

Meanwhile, Fayt was thinking along the same lines, except that he felt a little more worried by the unexpected situation than visibly offended by it. 'What the hell is Albel doing here?' he thought in panic as he remembered his last face off with the Black Brigade captain and his close call with death. Fayt was no fool; that victory would have been Albel's if the guy hadn't passed out from exhaustion. In terms of speed, agility, power and combat finesse, Albel was the better fighter and arguably Airyglyph's ultimate killing machine; Fayt had every reason to be worried. That and he didn't like the weird looks the guy kept giving Roger as he strained to get a peek at the little Menodix playing hide-and-seek behind Nel's long legs. A possessive growl bubbled from Fayt's throat. He knew a rival when he saw one – and Albel Nox was the kind of irritating challenger in those arcade simulation games he never asked for, yet would come back to haunt him over and over again and thwart his victory path, until he either wore himself out or ran out of credits to hit continue.

Behind Nel, Roger continued to sneak terrified and curious glances at the Glyphian swordsman, confused just like everyone else on his sudden appearance. He wasn't sure how Airyglyph's military operated, but he knew for a fact that captains of military outfits did not normally abandon their posts and serve as escorts, King or no. It was crazy to even think this, but…. had Albel been demoted? What exactly happened between that time at the Kirlsa Training Facility and now? And why was he looking at him like that? Like he had words on his face that required deep concentration to read and decipher, because that's what Albel was doing: the man was studying him so intently, it made Roger blush and duck his head shyly. Unknowingly, that reaction caused a slight smirk to tug at the wicked one's lips. So, the little fool still remembers me, thought Albel with a growing sense of pride and the tiniest bit of hope, only to pause with a deep, unsettled frown as he pondered where that last emotion had come from. Humph, his time in the dungeons and the long journey across Gaitt on foot must have worn him out.

"I could say the same for you, Lady Nel," answered the King, though his demeanor revealed that he was unappreciative of the Aquarian's disrespectful tone. "The missive stated that this would be a discussion between our foreign visitors and ourselves. Their presence – he gestured at Fayt, Cliff, Mirage and Maria – I understand, but yours…" he trailed off in a manner that clearly suggested his skepticism.

"Nel Zelpher is here as my personal aid and escort," Romeria rushed to defend her high commander. "I for one do not see a problem with her attendance."

"Likewise, Albel Nox has willingly made this journey with me out of personal obligation," Arzei countered with unwavering eyes. "I trust no other with my life."

The two sides stared each other down in silent animosity: Airyglyph's King and Aquaria's Queen challenged each other's authority and better judgement through their eyes, while Albel and Nel continued to glare daggers at each other. The air sparked with unresolved tension, as the others looked between both parties helplessly, awkwardly. This wasn't good; not one foot into the Lost City and the two rulers were already in disagreement. Of course, ever the innocent optimist, the youngest member of their ragtag group didn't even notice this and clapped his hands impatiently.

"Great! Now that everyone's happy, let's get goin'!" He pushed past the stunned King and headed straight for the pile of rubble. "It ain't polite ta keep pops waitin'. He'll get all mad and grumpy like how he gets when he's got a nasty toothache. And trust me, y'all don't wanna know what he did ta the dentist the moment we convinced him ta get it checked."

The group of eight stared at him blankly. What was the point of that story again? And was Roger digging through bushes? There was nothing here but debris, rocks and more rocks. They felt like they lost the main objective of this mission altogether – and the longer Roger searched for god-knows-what, the thinner a certain Glyphian swordsman's patience ran. True to Arzei's words, Albel had agreed to follow and protect his king out of his own free will; he still didn't know why or what exactly prompted him to make that decision, but that thought made him angry, the wretched Crimson Blade spy made him angry, Fayt's stupid face made him angry, and everyone who had eyes would know that there wasn't a single city within a 10 meter radius, much less a bloody building.

"Worm, I did not waste my time coming all this way to wait around a pathetic broken bridge," Albel snapped dangerously, speaking up for the first time since their arrival. "Either explain yourself, or I'll let my blade do the talking for you."

"You will do no such thing!" Nel snarled and stepped towards him.

Albel shot her a patronizing smirk. "Humph, what's the matter, maggot? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn't even want me here."

"No, I want you dead."

"Then I suggest you get in line."

"Albel! / Nel!"

Arzei and Romeria gazed at them in disapproval and they looked away. Nel clenched her fists, while Albel's fingers twitched over the hilt of his katana. Now wasn't the time for petty squabbling, fine… but god was it hard.

"Are ya guys done?" Roger interrupted impatiently, hands on his hips, expression exasperated and a pout on his lips. Geez, if those two couldn't even be civil for two seconds, he didn't want to think about their upcoming conference in a closed room environment. "Anyway, no one's wasted their time. We're already here."

And without further ado, the Menodix pulled back the leaves of a nearby bush to reveal a stone plate with what appeared to be a shape of a handprint carved into its smooth surface. Strange markings surrounded the handprint, the elusive strokes of an ancient tongue carved deep into old stone.

"What's that?" Fayt whispered to Nel, who had moved to stand next to him in order to place as much distance between herself and the Glyphian swordsman as possible.

"The old language of Aquor," she explained, before making a sweeping gesture at the empty scene before them; vast, never-ending forests and clear open skies. "Remember the three enchanted artifacts Roger talked about? They hailed from that very kingdom, from a place our people know only from old history books and fairytales. A hundred years ago, all of this – all the kingdoms, cities, towns and villages you've seen and visited on your journey – once made up the great and powerful Kingdom of Aquor. And the shining jewel of Aquor, the crown capital itself, was none other than Surferio, the great city of the sun."

"Wait a minute," Fayt interrupted, confused. "Isn't that the name of Roger's village?"

"His village is just one part of the original Surferio, so the humanoids simply decided to retain its name in memory of its legacy." Nel shrugged. "The rest of it was lost to war and time."

"What happened to it?" Cliff asked, now wholly intrigued.

"No one knows. After Aquor fell to Greeton and split into the three kingdoms, Surferio disappeared. Some say it sank beneath the waves, some believe it only existed in people's imagination; that's why we call it the Lost City. It doesn't exist– Roger!" And Nel screamed when she saw Roger raise his axe to an open palm.

Protective instincts kicking in, Fayt dashed towards the young humanoid to stop him, but froze when he felt the strong grip of a claw grab his shoulder and dig threateningly into the material of his tunic.

"Fool, do you not have eyes?" Albel released him and indicated at the bridge with a nod of his head. "Look."

The entire group watched as Roger brought the blade to his palm, hesitated, then pressed the edge down against his flesh in a quick and clean slice. The skin tore and bright red blood oozed out the wound in rivulets. Roger winced and breathed through his nose sharply, but the sudden and distinctive scent of his own blood gave him pause and made him a little queasy in the stomach. But it was the only way, so he turned his hand and pressed the bloodied palm against the stone handprint. Immediately, his blood flowed through the cracks and seeped into the scriptures, filling the strange symbols with an ominous red. They pulsed to life in a brilliant crimson glow, like a heartbeat of the land, before the earth trembled beneath their feet and they watched, mesmerized as the bridge repaired itself before their very eyes. Rubble and solid stone flew up, melded together and slotted into place, until soon enough, they were greeted by a shimmering white stone bridge, impressive in its size and splendor. The bridge extended across a deep gorge and into the forest beyond, where a glowing orb of light floated at its entrance, seemingly beckoning its new visitors with its soft yet vibrant array of colour.

The group gaped at the magical spectacle, but the one person who felt the most astounded was Nel – and with good reason. Since her father died and Aznor Huxley welcomed her into his quaint little village by the steppes, she had always thought that Surferio was nothing more than a humble home within a humble land. It would appear that they had all misjudged the meeting venue, as well as underestimated the nature and capacity of their humanoid counterparts.

'So, when the Sanmite Republic practiced their isolation policy, they meant here,' Nel realised. But what exactly was "here", and where were they heading to exactly? And then, it suddenly occurred to everyone present that they were about to find out.

Roger withdrew his hand and performed a quick healing spell. At their stupefied reactions, he winked and shot the party a playful smirk.

"What, did ya honestly think that the Lost City was just a village by the lake?"

---

They crossed the bridge and stepped into the forest, and the moment the last person did so, the bridge crumbled once more. The rocks beneath the island forestry they stood upon began to fade; the illusion was gone and when Fayt leaned over the edge, he could see nothing but the rushing waters of the river beneath; make out the roar and rumble of distant waterfalls. The ground they stood on was no continent, but a large floating island.

"Ya can see across ta the other side," Roger pointed at the area they had stood but a few minutes ago, at the Irisa Fields and Castle Aquaria in the distance shrouded by a thin layer of mist. "But they can't see us, not unless they've got Aquor blood running through their veins."

"Extraordinary," Maria whispered to herself as she scanned the area with her device. "I'm getting extremely high energy signatures – much more than the previous two OPAs." She frowned thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, Marietta picked up small traces of these very readings on our way to your location."

"From that kind of altitude? That's crazy!" Cliff shook his head in disbelief. "Whatever's emitting that sheer amount of energy shouldn't even be in an underdeveloped planet at all."

"Those were my thoughts exactly."

"What do you think it could be?" asked Mirage.

"I've no idea," Maria replied with a shrug. "But whatever it is, we're standing right on top of it."

Suddenly, the sound of rushing footsteps, metal and rustling leaves pierced through the quiet and serene woods. A pair of guards burst through the clearing, weapons raised, and by the look of their triangular ears and long tails, they appeared to be Fellpool.

"Halt! Who dares trespass into Sanmite terri– y-your highness!" The guards stuttered and immediately went down on their knees before the stunned human king and queen. Romeria and Arzei gazed at them helplessly, but before they could formulate a response, Roger stepped forward to address the two guards.

"Tell pops and the ministers that the representatives are here," he gestured at his companions with a jerk of his thumb. "I'll bring 'em over. Just open the gates."

"Yes, sir!"

It was strange to see a little boy command two intimidating soldiers like that and it left Fayt feeling both amused and impressed at the same time. The Menodix really hadn't been exaggerating when he claimed he was 'very important' back at Arias. He supposed being the Prime Minister's only child and son from a famed city that apparently existed only in legends, greatly contributed to his status.

The guards quickly walked right up to the glowing orb and touched its smooth surface. In a quiet whirr and swirl of sparkling colour, the orb flew up; streaks of light danced beneath it, before the ground trembled and a staircase appeared next to it, descending underground. The Fellpool zipped down the steps and disappeared from sight. Roger motioned the group over with a wave.

"C'mon, it's safe; I promise!"

Nel and Albel moved in front of their charges respectively.

"Allow me, your majesty."

They descended first, followed closely by Arzei and Romeria. Fayt, Maria, Cliff and Mirage made up the rear. The grand staircase stretched deep beneath the earth; but the darkness the group expected from being underground never once came. In fact, the place was bathed in an ethereal light and possessed the grandeur and shimmering beauty that could rival that of Aquois. Instead of rocks and dirt, there were clouds and faerie dust; instead of darkness and shadows, they found themselves immersed in a sparkling city – sumptuous in colour, bountiful with life under the rays of a never-ending sun.

The further they walked, the more they realised that Surferio had no ground: the entire kingdom was made up of hundreds of floating islands and platforms, each unit carrying its own establishment – from general stores to armorers and outfitters, taverns to solitary islands of flora and fauna. Each island and platform had at least one dock, and the main mode of transport other than walking, appeared to be boats that travelled on air instead of water. Faeries, witches and other curious woodland creatures popped their heads out from behind buildings and tall trees to get a glimpse of their new human visitors. A few Featherfolkian flying overhead whispered and chatted excitedly amongst themselves. Humanoid families living on a few nearby islands stepped out of their homes to stare. The amount of attention, coupled with this new, fantastical environment made Fayt feel a little self-conscious. Roger's world was a brilliant place and nothing at all like what he had expected. The city's magnificent architecture, charming blend of nature and innovation, as well as its pure and sacred beauty made it look like a page straight out of a storybook; and when Fayt peered over the edge of the stone railings to seek out an end to the massive drop, he could barely make out the sparkling surface of clear waters and mermaids bathing under giant waterfalls, their high pitch tittering and songs carrying high into the air and filling the magical kingdom with allure and laughter.

"It's… it's beautiful," Maria whispered, at a loss for words, completely taken by her enchanting surroundings. In all her years transversing the galaxy and visiting distant planets, never had she seen anything that could hold a candle to Surferio's purity. There was just something so innocent and magical about the place and, as cheesy and it might sound, it almost made her feel like a little girl again.

"It truly is."

She jumped at the voice and turned around to meet Nel's eyes. The Aquarian's gaze was soft, wistful; her smile peaceful, as she took in the precious sight of the renowned Lost City, humbled by its majesty and the privilege of being able to see it with her own two eyes.

"As a little girl, I always believed in the Lost City of Surferio. But the war happened; my father died; and I no longer had the time for fairytales… until I met Roger." She smiled fondly at the memory. "He said that Surferio was as real as one wanted it to be, that it was the city of hope and it would appear to you the moment you needed it most." And at this she chuckled. "I suppose I never really stopped believing."

"Faith is a strong thing," said Maria. "It is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness."

Nel hummed. "Indeed, for only in darkness can you see the stars."

They reached the base of the stairs and onto a wide platform with six docks on either side. It appeared to be some sort of arrival/departure port, with boat timings of specific vessels displayed on a large signboard overhead. Currently, only one boat was parked at the docks – and it was actually no ordinary boat, but a magnificent ship with large sails, retractable gliders at its sides and at certain intervals, the ship's surface would gleam gold accompanied by short strings of music. In front of the ship stood Aznor Huxley himself, posture tall and confident, a wide grin on his face. He waved his guests over.

"You made it!" His eyes passed over Romeria, Arzei, Cliff, Mirage, Maria and lingered slightly longer on Fayt. "I hope the trip wasn't too tiring?"

Fayt shook his head. "Not at all, sir. And if you don't mind me saying this, your city's beautiful."

Aznor threw back his head in a hearty laugh. "A compliment from our savior from the stars! Now, why wouldn't I accept it?" Then with a smirk and twinkle in his eyes, he turned and gestured at the view all around them with a grand flourish of his hand. "Welcome, my friends, to Surferio!"

And with that, he ushered them onto the ship, dealing orders to the crew as he passed. Once everyone was settled comfortably, they took off; large sails billowing behind them as they flew through the air and straight towards the city's center. A large floating island with a giant tree stood at the heart of Surferio, its branches glowing and dispersing sparkling green light into the air around them and down towards the crashing waterfalls beneath. The tree appeared to pulse with life; but as they drew closer, they realised that it wasn't actually a giant tree, but a beautiful castle elegantly entwined with its bark and branches. Stain glass windows adorned the face of the castle, each one depicting a certain point of Aquor's history prior to its fall. Romeria couldn't help but comment on that.

"My dear Aznor, to think that all this time, you've kept this a secret from us and the world."

"I had to, Romeria," the Menodix replied regretfully. "Aquaria and Airyglyph were at war. We would have lost everything. I mean no offense."

"I understand," she said as she took in her surroundings. "Indeed, the temptation is great. Surferio is rich with history, enchantment, power and life. I do not deny the possibility of this magical kingdom crumbling once more, if it fell into the wrong hands."

"Aznor, if I may ask, what keeps this city afloat?" interrupted Arzei curiously. "What technology does the Sanmite Republic own?"

"Ah," Arzei shook his head with a smile, "I wouldn't say 'technology' exactly; that suggests innovation. In truth, Surferio isn't powered by science or magic… but life." He pointed at the castle up ahead, specifically at its tips that radiated the mysterious green energy. "The city gets its power from Gaitt's center, otherwise known as Castle Aquor; in fact, this entire continent is alive because of its power – and the closer you are to the heart of Gaitt, the more prosperous your land is. Life flows through the air and into the waters; and these rivers flow throughout Gaitt, from the lakes of Aquaria to the icy mountains of Airyglyph; it connects us."

"So that's why Aquaria is so blessed," Nel realised as understanding slowly dawned upon her. "We're the closest kingdom to Surferio."

Aznor nodded. "That is a fact, yes."

"And leave Airyglyph with nothing, save rot in a frozen wasteland?" Albel snapped bitterly.

"Albel, you will hold your tongue–"

"That's quite alright, Arzei," said Aznor, before turning to face the young swordsman with knowing eyes. "I wouldn't say Airyglyph had nothing; after all, your region has the dragons' protection and they're the most powerful creatures in all of Gaitt. Moreover – his gaze dropped to the sword strapped to the Glyphian's hip – there has to be a reason the Crimson Scourge chose you as its wielder, son of Glou."

Albel backed away instantly, stance defensive and glare set in place. "What do you know about my father?"

"Enough to see the resemblance," he answered with a knowing chuckle. "Glou Nox was a noble and righteous man, and was as powerful as he was kind. But he only became the great figure we all know and revere today after he met your mother and had you. Even the Marquis of dragons respected him." Aznor's eyes shone perceptively. "Do you have someone you wish to protect?"

"Bah! Enough with your senseless prattle, old man." Albel waved him off and stomped away. "Get me off this stupid ship, so we can hurry up and get this pointless meeting over and done with."

As the group watched him go with wide eyes, Arzei shook his head with a deep, regrettable sigh.

"You have to pardon Albel's character. He's an incredible fighter and a loyal knight, but he's… difficult."

"No worries, Arzei."

Unbeknownst to the rest, Roger's eyes followed the retreating swordsman, curious and intrigued. The Crimson Scourge chose him? That very sword was the most volatile and destructive force amongst the three enchanted artifacts, which reputably had a life and mind of its own. Not only did it choose its wielder, it also consumed them. One not only had to be mentally strong to resist its temptations, but also inherently good and steadfast in order to unlock the weapon's full potential. And Albel's that person, Roger thought in both surprise and awe as he recalled the day the Glyphian saved his life, there's more ta him...

The realization brought a smile to his lips, and he failed to notice a certain blue haired swordsman look on in jealousy. Fayt's eyes darted between Albel and Roger, panic and hurt bubbling in his chest. He knew it; had called it since that day at the Kirlsa Training Facility. Roger did harbor some feelings towards the Black Brigade Captain, and starting a relationship together hadn't exactly made them go away. That soft, adoring expression – one that used to be reserved exclusively for him – and lovely smile on his face said it all; and he'd be damned if he lost the boy he loved to a murdering psychopath. But Roger was still mad at him and Fayt didn't know what more he could do to earn his boyfriend's forgiveness. Actually, could they still be considered a couple after everything that had happened? He highly doubted it, what with the cold turn their relationship took and the thought made him feel even more disheartened than before. Eventually, he'd leave this planet and all the memories they made together, behind. He was losing Roger in more ways than one.

"Anyway," Aznor continued. "Surferio is what you see before you because of the Sacred Orb: an enchanted artifact passed down from ruler to ruler, since the dawn of time and is rumored to be the very soul that not only birthed the ancient kingdom of Aquor, but also all of Gaitt and Greeton. It's the land's very essence of life."

"And judging by how that thing keeps spewing out fairy dust, I'm guessing it's being housed in Castle Aquor," said Cliff, pointing at the very structure as their ship passed the island by.

"In a sense, yes. It was always there and we never moved it. We can't."

Fayt raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Cuz Surferio would fall and all of Gaitt would die," Roger explained solemnly. "The moment the Sacred Orb is moved from its pedestal, bad things will happen. That's how Aquor fell in the first place: Greeton tried ta steal it, the kingdom split inta three, and Surferio sank beneath the waves."

"Of course, when our ancestors uncovered this place, they managed to restore most of the city to its former glory. But alas – Aznor gestured at the numerous floating isles – this is best we humanoids can do; Surferio cannot return to the surface, not unless Aquor's blood descendants reclaim the throne and unite the land once more." At this, he spared a quick glance at Arzei and Romeria, who had conveniently chosen that moment to find the ship's deck very interesting. He closed his eyes with a sigh. "But that was centuries ago. Things change."

The ship docked at the nearest port and the party climbed out with Aznor in the lead. Roger helped tie the masts and was about to disembark the vessel, when his father's commanding voice stopped him.

"Son, take the ship and return to the village. I'll see you when this entire ordeal is over."

"W-Whaddaya mean?!" He sputtered in outrage. "I should be part of this meetin' too! I brought 'em here and–"

"Which I'm grateful for, thank you, Roger," Aznor interjected, holding up his hand in finality. "But this meeting doesn't concern you. I believe you've helped enough."

"But–"

"Roger, please. For once, just listen to me!" He raised his voice, but his expression was full of worry. The events of the war were still fresh in his mind. There was no way he was going to make the same mistake twice. "Go home."

There was a pregnant pause. All eyes were focused on father and son and their silent battle of egos. However, instead of stubbornly retaliating like most of them expected, Roger simply related with a loud sigh. His escape from the village a month ago and the resulting consequences continued to haunt him. Although every fiber in his being screamed at him to assert his rights, he understood where his father was coming from and gave in.

"Ok, pops. But can I at least find my friends?" he pleaded with big, hopeful eyes. "Melt and Dribe said they'd be here and I haven't seen 'em in forever!"

"... Very well. Stay safe."

"Yessir!"

And after giving Nel a goodbye kiss on the cheek and raising the sails, the child went speeding off in the direction of the city square. Aznor watched him go until his son's ship was nothing but a speck in the distance, before turning to address his guests.

"My apologies for that. This way please. The Sacred Hall is just a little ways ahead."

And with a turn and quick motion of his finger, the group followed the Prime Minister towards a towering, circular building made entirely out of stone. Ruins were carved deep into its surface and in comparison to the rest of Surferio's vibrant splendor, this particular building looked downright intimidating, ominous even, as it loomed threateningly overhead. Fayt gulped and took a cautious step back, but paused when he felt eyes on him. Quickly turning his head, he found himself victim to Albel's cruel, mocking smirk; the kind that goaded him and laughed at his inadequacy at the same time. He shot the Glyphian a death glare; Albel's smirk widened; and Fayt stomped towards the towering stone doors if only to prove a point.

"So, how do we get in?" he asked impatiently, scrutinizing for a knob, indent or handle.

"Not so fast, Leingod," replied Aznor, as he stepped forward to stand before a carving depicting a large celestial tree. Its roots extended down and branched out into three hand plates with each plate surrounded by the same symbols they had seen at the bridge.

"This is the Sacred Hall of Surferio. It's where all the important discussions took place between Aquor's leaders centuries ago. Policies, laws, military strategies – you name it! But its doors haven't been opened since." And at this, the Menodix slit his palm with one of his axes and placed it upon the hand plate, before shooting Romeria and Arzei a meaningful stare. "Until now."

Not needing to be told twice, Aquaria and Airyglyph's rulers stepped forward. Simultaneously, each raised their hands, palms up, as they motioned expectantly at their respective escorts with their fingers.

"Nel."

"Albel."

Silently without question, Nel slid one of her daggers into the Queen's waiting hand, while Albel handed the King his spare katana. Both winced as the blades sliced open tender flesh, momentarily horrified by the sight of their own blood and what they had just done, yet recognized a duty and promise forged through blood. Romeria and Arzei spared each other a quick, unsure glance, before they followed the Prime Minister's example and placed their palms upon the remaining two hand plates. Immediately, the ruins flowed a bright red; the building pulsed to life; and with a loud groan, the stone doors opened, beckoning its new visitors into the shadows and a place that hadn't seen the light of day for over a century.

"Come on, the other ministers will join us shortly," said Aznor, as he pulled away to step foot into the dimly lit chamber. Torches, which lined the walls, lit up as he walked. Maria jogged after him.

"I beg your pardon," she interrupted with a frown, "but 'other ministers'?"

"Of course, my dear." Aznor whirled around to shoot the blue haired girl an incredulous stare. "The Sanmite Republic is a democracy. I may be the Prime Minister, but I never make decisions without involving my cabinet."

---

The conference chamber was located at the center of the Sacred Hall and had taken quite some time to get there after navigating the convoluted twists and turns of the ancient building's passageways. A large circular stone table made up the room's centerpiece along with exactly eight stone benches. The Prime Minister motioned for them to take a seat. On one end, Maria and Fayt took up a seat each, while Mirage and Cliff stood guard behind them. On the other end sat Romeria and Arzei; Nel stood dutifully behind her Queen, while Albel had taken to casually leaning against a wall a short distance away. Aznor sat down as well next to three empty seats.

Romeria lifted her veil and her gaze swept across the room. "Your ministers are late, Aznor," she pointed out, to which the Menodix chuckled.

"Oh, they're on their way," he leaned back and casually propped his arms behind his head. "Any second now…"

As if on cue, the chamber doors slammed open and a rush of wind surged towards the party gathered. The miniature cyclone headed straight for the empty seat next to the Prime Minister and out of the current popped a very cocky, very familiar Fellpool.

"I'm sure you're all familiar with Malroy, my Minister of Defense," Aznor introduced.

The group nodded and Malroy returned the acknowledgement with a curt wave of greeting, before his eyes landed on Cliff and he smirked. "Hey, remember me?"

Cliff bristled at the mocking tone and Malroy laughed. However, before he could even think of giving the overgrown pussycat a punch to the face, the temperature of the room suddenly dipped and a swirl of icy waters gathered at the seat next to Malroy. A fox lady materialized out of the water, her nine white tails fanning out elegantly behind her. Long, straight cut black bangs framed her small and sharp face, and a pair of glasses sat precariously on her nose. With an upturned nose and raised chin, she regarded the group in a manner that could only be described as unimpressed. Fayt shifted nervously under her scrutiny. She reminded him of his Aunt Keiko, who would loom dangerously over his shoulder every time he did his homework and smack him with a book if he ever dozed off or tried to escape.

"I would like you to meet Nerissa, my Minister Of Justice."

"Charmed," she deadpanned with a sniff, before turning to address Aznor. "Has Roger returned to the village?"

"No, he went to look for your son and Melt," he replied. "You know the boys. They're probably busy with their 'Real Man' contests as usual."

"Humph, Dribe needs them as far as I'm concerned. That boy's afraid of his own shadow! I don't know what to do with him."

Someone giggled.

"My, my… well isn't this a lively bunch?"

An old Bunnyman hobbled into the chamber, his cane making rhythmic tap-tapping noises against the ground as he walked. The humanoid was small and slightly hunched from age; his long, floppy bunny ears reached the ground, as did his snowy-white beard and bushy eyebrows, which he had grown out over the decades. The eyebrows were so long and thick, they completely covered his eyes, and his beard bobbed every time he spoke like he had no mouth. It was comical in an endearing way.

"Ah, Elder Roland, my Minister of Foreign Affairs! How nice of you to join us," Aznor welcomed the oldest member of his team and possibly in all of Sanmite Republic. "I hope the journey over was manageable?"

"Oh, you know me, sir." He tapped the ground with his cane and the earth shifted beneath his feet to transport him straight to his seat. "Still fit as a fiddle!"

The rest of the group watched the exchange between the Republic leaders in fascination. Apart from being humanoids with very distinct characteristics, it appeared each minister had the ability to command a certain element. Apart from the elementalists they had witnessed on the battlefield, the only humanoids who had full control of their specific element were Aznor and Malroy. Now, they were privy to Nerissa and Roland's skills as well. Fayt couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with status and title, or was it the other way around whereby possessing such abilities led to eventual leadership. If that was so, Roger would most likely join the cabinet one day or even take over his father, what with his natural command over fire.

"Now that we're all present," Aznor looked to his guests, "Your majesty, your highness; ministers; and our guests from the stars. It is my honor and privilege to declare this historical meeting between our three kingdoms, open."

A loud 'Boom!' echoed about the conference hall and the stone slab in the middle of the table flipped over to reveal a 3D map of the whole of Gaitt. Miniature rocky mountains and hilltops protruded from the base; thin slivers of water ran between the land in representation of rivers; towns, villages and cities were marked out; and the structures of Castle Airyglyph, Castle Aquaria and Castle Aquor stood tall and proud at their respective locations. There was movement within the map and if one looked closely, one would be able to make out tiny dots in representation of people. Fayt, Maria, Cliff and Mirage's jaws dropped. This was amazing, not to mention entirely unexpected. Call it science or magic, but this level of technology was comparable to A.D 2452, albeit in its primitive stage. Meanwhile, Arzei, Romeria and Nel were at a loss for words. Incredible. They could see everything that was happening throughout the continent, the population count and distribution, the condition of their lands – everything. Even Albel had cracked one eye open to stare.

"Is this real time?" Maria asked, reaching out to touch the objects. They disintegrated upon contact with her skin and reappeared at their rightful positions.

"Yes," Nerissa pushed up her glasses. "This enchanted map was used by the ancient kingdom and shows the exact movements of Gaitt's people and any environmental changes. In a sense, whoever sees this will roughly know who is where and what they're doing."

Malroy chuckled. "Pretty useful, huh? Honestly, this would've saved us the hassle when planning wartime strategies."

"Of course, this is the first time any of us are seeing this," Elder Roland piped up. "After all, we were never granted access to these halls until the arrival of the King and Queen."

"Why is that?" asked Arzei with a curious tilt of his head.

"Because Surferio only recognizes the blood of its descendants." Elder Roland indicated at the ruins around them with his cane. "In the beginning, Aquor consisted of 2 races living side-by-side in harmony: humans and humanoids. However, when the kingdom fell after the war, its people became divided in ideologies. The humans who believed in theocracy and the teachings of Apris formed Aquaria; those who supported stratocracy and formed a kinship with dragons became Airyglyph; and the humanoids formed a democratic system otherwise known as the Sanmite Republic. When you, Aznor and her majesty gave your blood to these walls, the city recognized you. Currently, the three of you are the last descendants hailing directly from Aquor's roots."

Arzei and Romeria looked down at their hands and chose to remain silent. The former lifted his gaze in hopes of catching the Queen's eye, but she avoided his stare and the coldness of her rejection hurt him more than he cared to admit.

"I think we have been kept waiting long enough," Romeria interrupted and fixed her piercing gaze directly at a nervous Fayt. "Now, Leingod, if you please."

All eyes turned to him. Alright, Fayt. Showtime. And with a gulp and a deep breath, Fayt launched into his tale from the beginning. He talked about his vacation on Hyda IV and how he got separated from his family when the Vendeeni attacked. Of course, he hadn't known he was the cause of the attack at that time, but he managed to escape with the help of Cliff and Mirage. A mishap during their escape left them stranded on Elicoor II, which led up to the events of their capture in Airyglyph, subsequent cooperation with Aquaria, and their involvement in the war between the three kingdoms. Maria, Cliff and Mirage helped fill in a few details along the way, such as the nature of their mission to retrieve him, what Quark stood for, Robert Leingod's role in all this, as well as Fayt and Maria's true identities. While everything proved a tough pill to swallow, much less believe, a quick demonstration of Maria's alteration abilities were enough to convince the six leaders otherwise.

Throughout the discussion, Fayt couldn't help but feel that Roger should be here, to hear all of this and know him for who and what he was. Maybe that way, the boy would finally understand and learn to see and accept him in a different light. He couldn't undo what had been done, couldn't bring Ameena and Dion back to life or take back the lie he started in Arias when he first met and fell in love with Roger, but he could move forward and try to make things right. He just wished Roger could see that. It didn't matter if the boy no longer loved him; Fayt just didn't want to leave knowing that Roger hated him.

"Alright, so we can't give him up to the Vendeeni and we don't have the military capabilities to meet them head-on," Malroy summarised as he ticked off the main points with his fingers. "Now what? Unless we come up with a plan, our world is doomed."

Arzei considered the situation solemnly. "Whatever the case, we do not have the strength to face this new enemy – not alone, at least."

"So, you'll agree to our proposal?" said Romeria, who waited anxiously on the King's answer alongside Aznor.

"We have no choice," he concluded. "Our military forces also sustained terrible losses in that recent attack. Out of the three brigades of Airyglyph, only the Storm Brigade still has a captain. Woltar is the only one left, but he is far too old to fight."

At his position furthest from the group, Albel winced at that indirect slight to his ego and mentally cursed Arzei for suggesting his loss of status. That reveal inadvertently resulted in 10 pairs of eyes turning to regard him questionably, and Albel shot them a murderous death glare enough to silence any possible comments or queries that threatened to spill from their lips.

"Still, I don't see why we can't just hand these outsiders over to the enemy," Arzei continued. "Wouldn't it be best for all of us?"

"That might've been the case before, but Leingod's powers saved me and my son, without whom Surferio would surely suffer without our lineage. Giving up Leingod is no longer an option," replied Aznor.

"Aznor, you are speaking out of sentiment," Arzei argued. "Think about your people, think about the consequences. We cannot afford to exhaust our strength in another war."

"We aren't asking you to, Your Majesty," Maria interjected calmly. "All we ask is for your help to provide some form of distraction on the ground, so the four of us can slip past the Vendeeni undetected. If this plan succeeds, we'd be out of your hair and we promise to never return."

Arzei raised an eyebrow. "And if it fails?"

"It will not," Romeria answered confidently. "Not unless we work together. With our runological weapons, Sanmite's powers and your air dragons, I believe we would be able to achieve what Leingod and his companions are asking for."

"What you're asking for is to place innocent people's lives at stake for the sake of your own." Arzei pondered the suggestion and shook his head. "My deepest apologies, my friends, but I cannot do what you ask of me."

Nel suddenly slammed her hand on the table as she fixed her hard gaze upon the King. "Why?! So you can continue to uphold your nation's pride? You agreed to Her Majesty and the Prime Minister's proposal, you came all this way in an act of diplomacy – and now you're going back on your word?!"

The normally calm and levelheaded Aquarian's outburst shocked all those present, especially Cliff who watched her in awe and newfound appreciation. Hope and a creeping sense of affection welled up in his chest. Nel was defending them. Despite everything that had happened, she still trusted and cared about them, about him. At least, that's what he wanted to believe.

Before Nel could take another step closer, Albel drew his sword and stood protectively in front of Arzei. The Crimson Scourge glowed an eerie red and reverberated with power. She took a nervous step back.

"Watch yourself, worm," Albel raised his weapon threateningly with narrowed eyes. "I do not care for the current situation or what fate befalls these outsiders, nor have I the patience to deal with the idle prattle of foolish politicians deliberating the state of their kingdoms. But question the King and I'll gladly carve that tongue out of your mouth!"

"Your King is a coward!"

"Your Queen is a fool!"

"ENOUGH!" Aznor boomed and large thorns sprouted from the ground, effectively separating the arguing duo.

Nel clicked her tongue in annoyance and Albel growled, retreating to resume his position against the wall and as far away from the group as possible. The other ministers lowered their heads and chose not to get involved; Fayt and gang shifted about awkwardly. Good lord, it would take a miracle for the three sides to come together in peace.

Romeria cleared her throat in shame. "Please forgive my Commander's aggression. She's seen and been through enough in the last 24 hours."

"Then you understand my reservations," said Arzei sadly. "Airyglyph cannot afford to lose anymore of its soldiers to senseless slaughter. As King, my people come first. You should understand this better than anyone, Aznor, Romeria."

Said leaders lowered their gazes as they considered the weight of Arzei's words. Airyglyph's King spoke the truth, but could they be so heartless as to leave those who had helped them in one way or another, to the wolves? Meanwhile, Fayt and Maria's hopes began to fade. It would appear that the three leaders were not as easily convinced as they had once thought.

"May I suggest an intermission?" Elder Roland spoke up all of a sudden. "A time of repose to gather our thoughts. It's been a long day and the sun is fast setting. Our guests are more than welcome to stay the night. We can continue this discussion tomorrow."

"... Very well," Arzei agreed and raised his head to lock eyes with Fayt across the table. "But before we adjourn this meeting, I have a question, Fayt Leingod."

The swordsman blinked in surprise. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"That brilliant light I saw from my castle, the one that destroyed the enemy's ship… was it you?"

Fayt hesitated, still not quite able to come to terms with the discovery of his powers; but the expectant eyes of all six leaders, as well as Nel and Albel's pressured him for answers and he decided to go with the truth.

"To be honest, Your Excellency, I don't remember." He clenched and unclenched his hands, as he struggled to fish whatever memory he could from the inky blackness. "All I remember is rushing to Roger, to get to him in time, to save him – and then, nothing."

Aznor frowned as he tried to understand. "So, all you ever wanted… was to protect my son?"

"The kid's powers are affected by his emotions, like when he's stressed or extremely upset. Kind of like Maria's when she was put in a life or death situation," Cliff explained with his arms crossed. "Still, they never actually fully manifested before, until that incident."

"And why is that?" asked Arzei.

"Well," Mirage bit her lip and glanced at Maria hesitantly, "as strange as this might sound, we believe that the boy could have triggered Fayt's destructive capabilities."

"Don't be absurd!" Nel growled protectively. "Roger has nothing to do with this. He's just a boy!"

"... Humph, I beg to differ."

All conversation screeched to a halt the moment the Glyphian swordsman decided to speak up. Albel pushed himself off the wall and approached the stone table in long, even strides. He paused, deliberating his actions; and then to everyone's surprise, he removed his gauntlet. The intimidating metal appendage clattered onto the floor and then, Albel proceeded to unwind the roll of bandages around his left arm. Those too fell and joined the gauntlet on the ground. And instead of the gruesome sight and horrid stench of a rotting arm, a perfectly normal one stood in its place, complete with the mark of the dragons. Arzei stared at the healed appendage in complete shock. Like the rest of Airyglyph, everyone knew that Glou's son had failed the "Ascension of the Flame" ceremony and was cursed for life. This was the first time he was seeing this.

"Albel, your arm… the curse has been lifted?" Arzei whispered in disbelief.

"Curse? What curse?" Cliff indicated at the broody swordsman. "He's still here."

Albel chose to ignore the blonde's obvious jab on his person in favor of explaining himself.

"When I was a young boy, I was cursed by the Marquis of Dragons; my flesh would never heal, my pain would never cease. Every day was a living nightmare, every moment an excruciating agony… but everything changed when I met that little fool in Peterny." A flash of emotion entered his vermillion eyes at the memory. "Word had gotten out that a humanoid escaped from Surferio and I went to hunt him down, but an unfortunate accident occurred. The fool didn't even know who I was and healed me with his powers. He left a rather – and at this Albel smirked suggestively – inebriating impression on me."

Fayt's eyes narrowed in displeasure at Albel's choice of words and he didn't bother concealing the venom in his voice.

"So Roger healed you, big deal. What's your point?"

The Glyphian's tone grew impatient at his rival's stupidity.

"I don't think you understand the crux of the situation, Leingod. A dragon's curse cannot be undone. It is unheard of and impossible. But somehow, that little fool changed my fate; gave me powers I have been denied and should be denied for the rest of my life. I'm no dragon knight, yet here I stand bearing the mark and worthy of the Crimson Scourge. I don't know how, I don't know why, but it is no coincidence."

"Hey, come to think of it, hadn't Ameena been suffering from Tuberculosis?" Mirage snapped her fingers as she suddenly recalled that fact. "That illness is incurable on this planet's level of development, but Roger healed her, didn't he? And Ameena didn't die from her illness, but from the Vendeeni's attack."

"Hold on just a second," Maria whirled around sharply. "He changed a person's fate?!"

This was insane. What the hell was going on?

Arzei turned to address the now very silent Prime Minister in the room. "Aznor, your son…"

"Aznor?" Romeria questioned as well.

All eyes turned to the leader of Surferio, even the other ministers gave the Menodix worried looks. Malroy reached out to place a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Hey, Aznor, you don't have to–"

But Aznor shook his head and brushed the Fellpool's hand away. No point hiding the truth any longer. With a great and reluctant sigh, he decided to finally address the elephant in the room.

"Roger… has always been different. My wife and I have known this for years now." He paused to shoot Nel an apologetic smile, but the Aquarian only looked more troubled and confused from this latest revelation. "There is a reason he's not part of this meeting and why my family lives in a village far away from the Lost City. Heh, did you really think the Sanmite Republic's Prime Minister would start up an inn because of a hobby?"

"Sir, what are you saying?" Fayt asked, worry and anxiety eating away at his heart. He recalled that strange coma Roger had fallen into during his stay at Aquios. Was something wrong with him?

Aznor offered the blue haired swordsman a troubled smile. Oh boy, how was he going to explain this?

"Well, you see, Roger…"

To be continued...

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Author's note:

Leaving you guys with a cliff hanger because I'm evil that way. I hope it keeps you on your toes until the next update! There's a ton of original content in this chapter that would see some follow up as the story progresses. Also, I managed to reference some unresolved content from the first arc, which I'm quite pleased and relieved about. There's just so much to write for this retelling! Why did I embark on this project again?

As always, if you like my story, please leave a review and/or subscribe!