Author's Note: This takes place after the prologue, but before Act I, so the group is around their preteens to early teens.

In Ram, the years seemed to drone on. At least, that's what it felt like to Alm. And with each passing day, Celica was still constantly in the back of his mind; the promise they shared kept him going. The bond between them went beyond distance, he knew it. Not that he wasn't content with his life as it was now. His close-knit circle of dependable friends refused to let him live a dull day in his life.

His skills with the sword grew at a steady pace as his training became more in-depth. Yet as impressed as Mycen was, he was still forbidden from ever leaving Ram. Discontent with being mere bystanders, Tobin and Grey optimistically joined, ever eager to prove their worth as warriors. Kliff kept to himself, practicing his magic discreetly so there would be no disturbances.

And Faye... she mostly remained the same: a kind girl with unwavering loyalty. She didn't participate, but came everyday to cheer them on. Her shouts of encouragement revitalized him when he grew tired and looked forward to her visits. She noticed it as well, making her heart swell.

After training, she developed a habit of bringing him food to replenish his energy. She originally thought that her mother should make the meals, but decided it was best if she made it herself. At first, her cooking was... sub-par, but no complaints from Alm. He repeatedly complimented her meals and finished without leaving a scrap of food behind. This was to hide his distaste in order to spare her feelings. With enough practice, her skills improved to the point where he no longer had to suffer in silence.

Regardless of their ordinary lives, they were content to stay as they were for now. Alm yearned to travel outside Ram and search for Celica, but knew not to disobey his grandfather. He, Tobin, and Gray began their own group training sessions to sharpen their skill when Mycen was unable to. Eventually, Kliff and, surprisingly, Faye ended up joining them. Kliff was a mage-in-training, but Faye was a newcomer, yet it didn't damper her motivation. Alm assisted her whenever he could, boosting her enthusiasm.

She initially dismissed the premise of learning combat, thinking Alm her brave knight, her rescuer. Growing older, she shed the thought because she realized that if she didn't, she'd burden Alm more than she already was. Tossing aside her opinion, she was diligent, looking to Alm as her inspiration. Unbeknownst to her, he observed from a distance and admired her drive, making her an inspiration to him as well.

That's why it threw him off when she abruptly stopped coming. None were oblivious, but most of them hadn't a clue what to do, except Alm. There was a place where he expected she would flee to.

Faye sat in the middle of the flower field, arms snug around her legs. Alm was right in looking here. It was the very flower field he and Celica frolicked in as children. He and Faye also played in it as children, with it being a common hang out spot when they wanted to play by themselves.

It was then it fully dawned on him how much she had grown. She was no longer the mere carefree child she once was, yet not a full grown woman. He preferred that her personality not change. The Faye he knew was endlessly eager to better herself and optimistic, helping shoulder their burdens and pain. The way she was now was completely out of her character.

The flowers and grass made subtle sounds as he quietly approached her. Up close, the sound of weeping and shaking of shoulders were undeniable. At a loss as to what to do, he announced his presence to her.

"Faye…?"

The brunette spun around, startled by his voice. The tear-stains confirmed his suspicions and he could feel his heart shatter seeing her somber. Sympathy took hold so he cracked a smile to comfort her.

"Alm! Why are you here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but to answer your question, I came here looking for you."

She blushed slightly. "F-for me...? Why?"

"Because we're all worried about you, Faye. All of a sudden, you stopped showing up at practice, so we knew something was up."

Slender hands darted to swiftly wipe the tears away. "N-no." She gave a fake smile, trying to convince him all was well. "It's nothing."

He didn't buy it. "Come on, Faye. You can tell us. We're your friends, remember? No one will judge you. And if they do," His smile grew bigger. "I'll sort them out."

She giggled and perked up. "Hee-hee. You always know what to say to cheer me up." She was bashful, but confided in him. "Honestly... it feels like no matter what I do, I'll never catch up to all of you... and I really really want to! I want to help protect everyone, but it seems like I'll never be able to do that." She turned away from him, unable to meet his gaze due to shame.

To her surprise, Alm bent down on one knee to level with her. He put his hand under her chin and tilted it towards him, forcing her to make eye contact, clearly unaware of the hold he had on her. Upon feeling his touch and then realizing how close their faces were together, Faye's blush intensified. Her lips quivered, not knowing what to say or if he was about to kiss her.

"Listen, you're not a burden. You never were. In fact, without you, I doubt we could hold ourselves together."

"Y-you're just saying that to be nice."

"Look at me and see if it's a face of someone that's lying. It's the truth, but you're too blind to see it. You're always there for us, whether we like it or not. You're an amazing friend and we can't ask for anything more than that. Don't focus on trying to match us. The only thing that should matter to you is that you're doing your best, and that's clearly true. Everyone has their own strengths, and you have yours. Believe in yourself like we do you. You shouldn't be afraid to speak your mind. The guys don't have a problem with that." She giggled once more, relieving him. "See? There's that smile I like so much."

It was just a short interaction, but it boosted Faye up to new levels. She had to contain her excitement though, and refused to let her body betray her. Dusting off the grass and flowers off her dress, she sprang up on her feet, head lowered to hide her ever-growing blush.

"Thank you so much, Alm! I feel so much better now."

"That's a relief. You're welcome to ask me for help anytime, not just for combat advice."

"And I-I... really like you too!"

It was then that she scurried away, too fast for Alm to react. He didn't move, only standing in the same spot completely dumbfounded.