Tales of Xalthia

by xXGhostStalker

*DISCLAIMER: This holds no relation to Tales of VS or any Tales game* A mysterious lineage. An unimaginative power. Oblivious to Tsuki Himura, he defends his kingdom from evil and learns of a sinister plot. Forced to seek help, he travels the globe for much needed allies. Join him as he learns more about the world and about himself as something awakens inside him.

44. Purpose

Tales of Xalthia

Chapter 42: Purpose

Three days have passed since the hunters from Sirione made their retreat from the area. After multiple searches by scouting parties, they determined that they had indeed left the area. With Ryoka leading the recovery effort, he had sent out a message to King Raiku. In the letter, he explained everything that had happened along with a request for aid. Several squads of soldiers along with a few volunteers who are well known for natural reconstruction with their Earth Artes arrived within a day after the letter had been received by the King. With what happened, Tsuki and the others decided to stick around and help out wherever they can.

After the third day had gone by, the village was somewhat relatively back to normal. The tension in the air had been lifted, most of the buildings had been restored and the landscape replenished with newfound life. Of course, not everyone in the village had fully gotten over the ordeal but they've managed to cope. As a safety precaution though, some of the Esseand soldiers that were deployed out as a recovery effort stayed behind to guard the village to make sure nothing else happens and to give the villagers a better peace of mind that they are safe and protected.

It was around three in the afternoon on the fourth day that Tsuki's group had a chance to gather their thoughts and relax. They were all gathered at Ryoka's place to discuss what's happened and what will happen now. Ryoka had made tea and snacks for them in appreciation for what they did for the village and laid them out on the living room table as everyone sat around it. "I know I've said it before but the entire village appreciates everything you've all done for us these last few days" he said.

Tsuki, more than anyone, couldn't just leave after what happened. He felt responsible for what had happened due to their reasoning to attack the village. The village seemed to have a peaceful life up until they first arrived. "I'm sorry. If we hadn't came here in the first place, this wouldn't have happened" he said.

Ryoka shook his head. While he knew that the Hunters would come after him because of Cesela and their encounter with them back in the Canyon Pass, he didn't blame them. "You have nothing to apologize for. If not because of Cesela, they would of eventually caught onto us at some point anyway. It was just a matter of time" he said.

Rein couldn't help but reevaluate Ryoka. He was very curious to know more about him since what he witnessed and heard back in the forest clearly meant that he hasn't been entirely truthful about himself yet. The armor he wore and the weapon he used only made it more clear that he was no simple village elder. He soon crossed his arms and sat back in the couch. "I think it's time you come clean. Who are you, really? You're not just a village elder, are you?" he asked.

Ryoke fell silent for several moments as he gathered his thoughts. He soon sighed heavily, scratching the back of his head. "It's true. I was never a village elder to begin with. There was a time my name was feared on the battlefield. As you may have heard, I'm the former Commander of the Sirione Knights under the royal family" he said.

Luan took a moment to gather her thoughts, taking a sip of her tea as he formally introduced himself. "So, if you're the former Commander, that would mean...?" she said, trailing off at the end.

Ryoka nodded slowly, closing his eyes. "Yes. I was there when Sirione fell. Not only that but I watched helplessly as the King and Queen were struck down. Only a very small number of us had escaped from the attack with our lives. Everyone else was either killed off or captured" he said.

Silence filled the room as a sense of heaviness and dread quickly filled the space. The largely speculated fates of the royal family's fate was now confirmed by a key witness. This sudden news dashed their hopes on the small chance of their survival.

Tsuki was holding onto the hope that they were still alive. Now, this would make the search for the Relic Key much more difficult. "So, the royal family is dead then" he said.

Ryoka fell silent for a moment, shaking his head soon after. "I wouldn't say that the entire royal family is dead but I can't say that with total confidence either" he said with a grim expression.

Cheria tilted her head, looking over to him as she took a bite out of some of the snacks he had prepared for them. "What makes you say that? Does that mean someone's still alive?" she asked.

Ryoka shook his head once more. "Like I said, I can't say it with total confidence. The royal family consisted of the King, Queen, Prince and a newborn Princess. The King, Queen and Myself fought off the attackers in order to buy time for the Prince to escape with the Princess. The plan was to meet up with them at a specific location once we knew that they had escaped safely from harm" he explained, drifting off at the end. Flashbacks of a bloody, gruesome and hopeless battle flashed through his mind.

Elle was starting to put the pieces together. "Until things went south which resulted in the deaths of the King and Queen" she said. It was to be expected, unfortunately. They were up against incredible odds with Dark Arcanum playing a vital role in their fall which played out very similarly to Eresseas' Fall.

Ryoka nodded, making a fist in frustration. "I barely managed to escape with my life. Even with all my combat experience, planning and prowess, there was nothing I could do. Naturally, I made my way to the spot where we were suppose to meet up but I didn't find anyone there. The only thing I found was a piece of ripped clothing and a mud-stained crown that belonged to the Prince. Since I don't have the high sense of smell the King and Queen possessed and with our intelligence network all but destroyed, I was unable to locate them" he said. Watching the King and Queen killed right in front of him was bad enough. Losing track of the Prince and Princess pretty much soiled his name and reputation as the once great Commander of Sirione.

Lynette crossed her arms, leaning back into the chair she was sitting in. She was slowly processing everything through her mind. "So, there is a chance that the Prince and Princess could still be alive" she said.

Ryoka sighed, leaning forward to take a sip of tea. "It's possible but the chances of their survival are pretty slim at best. The dictatorship holds a tight watch over the entire kingdom. Even a small group of travelers can't help but feel constantly watched. Then again, they would have proclaimed that they would have been killed by their hands just like they did with the King and Queen if they had been discovered alive so who knows" he said. He's always believed, no matter who slim the possibilities are, that they both somehow made it out alive and have lived their lives so far in secrecy.

Phi fell deep into thought. The situation in Sirione was far worse than she could ever imagine. She's heard reports that the current state of affairs within Sirione were quite turbulent but not to this level. "I see now why Tsuki wants to do something about Sirione so bad. If anyone in the worlds needs the attention for aid, it's them" she said.

Ramza was stroking his chin a bit before taking a bite out of some cheesecake Ryoka made. Sooner or later, they'll have to get involved with Sirione's dictatorship. However, Just like Honegroth, it'll be their small group against an entire kingdom, even if it is a dictatorship now. "Unfortunately, until the situation with Esseand and Dolothlond changes for the better, I don't think it's wise for us to concern ourselves with them for the time being, as harsh as that may sound. We have our hands full enough as it is and taking on more than we can chew would only make the situation worse" he said, reminding everyone about their current goals and objectives.

Everyone knew Ramza was right. They still need to obtain the Relic Keys from both Esseand and Nargelond so they couldn't just get up and leave after everything that's happened as of yet. Besides, Tsuki appears to already have a place in mind and now that he's regrouped with everyone, he can now follow through with his plan.

Tsuki scratched the back of his head and sighed. "Well, since everyone's together again, we should continue on our way" he said.

Ruko looked over at Tsuki, sipping some tea. "To where though? We don't really have anywhere in mind to go. Unless you have some place in mind already" he said.

Tsuki took out the map of Ersheath and pointed to a patch of forest near the snowy fields of the continent. "This is where we are right now. Our next stop should be the village, Northmount to the west in the snow fields" he said, trailing his finger to the northern snow region.

Nagi was a bit confused. The location he chose was a bit out of place and random. Not only that, everything in the snow region is under Dolothlond occupation. To make matters worse, the snow region is blocked off by a fortress which was also under Dolothlond control. "Why there, of all places?" she asked.

Tsuki hadn't said anything about what Flynn had told him before knocking him off Sky Tower to anyone yet. He then took a deep breath. "Before we got knocked off Sky Tower, Flynn told me to meet up with him in Northmount" he said.

Rein looked over at Tsuki with a surprised look on his face. "Meet up with him? What for?" he asked. The mention of Flynn gave him mixed feelings of what happened on Sky Tower. Deep down, he knew that there was something different about Flynn. Almost as if there was something else going on that was forcing him to take the actions he did back then.

Tsuki shook his head. "I don't know. He simply told me that he will be waiting there. He would have answers for us when we arrive" he said.

Nagi was a bit skeptical on why he told him where to meet. She can't be too suspicious though since he was the one who pointed them into the direction of where Tsuki would most likely be headed off to after knocking him off Sky Tower. "Are you sure that's a good idea? It could be a trap to get the Aer Crystal back" she said.

Tsuki simply shrugged. "I can't say. However, he's an old companion of Taichi and Emma and I want to believe that connection between them still stands to this day. Besides, if he wanted the crystal, he could have easily taken it from me. Instead, he knocked me off the Tower with the crystal so it's clear he had no intentions of taking it from me" he said.

Elle took the time to think about everything that went on in Sky Tower all the way up to their current state of being. "I get what you're saying. I did sense that his actions felt a bit...off. Almost as if he was holding back. However, I still don't think it's a good idea considering that we'll have to somehow get past that fortress...but I guess we have no other leads for us right now" she said. She would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about Flynn. She has a feeling that they had no choice but to meet up with him if they wanted to make any progress with this conflict between kingdoms.

Ryoka was rubbing his chin, deep in thought as they discussed their next course of action. When they expressed difficulty on reaching their destination, he came out of his thoughts with a nod and a grin on his face. "There's another way to get to the snow fields so you won't have to fight your way through the fortress" he said.

Lynette tiled her head at him. "There is? There appears to be only one entryway into the snowfields though, according to the map" she said.

Ryoka leaned over to the map that Tsuki pulled out and pointed to a small alcove area along the mountain just before a road that leads to the fortress not too far from the forest that surrounds them. There were no indications of something being there and looked like just any other normal alcove you'd see on any map. "There's a cave that's unmarked on any map. This village has an established trade agreement with Northmount and that fortress has caused a lot of problems since it came under their control. As a result, a couple of old allies dug a tunnel and punched a hole through the mountain to reach the snowfields. We have the cave entrances on both sides hidden away with special Artes and only allow merchants to pass through. However, I'm making an exception for you guys after what you've done for us. I give you permission to use this passage whenever you need to" he said. After all they did, it was the very least that he could do for them to repay them.

Tsuki looked at where Ryoka pointed to. It wasn't too far off the beaten path but in a place that wouldn't stand out to others. All they had to do was walk along the mountains a bit after leaving the forest. "That would definitely be helpful. Thank you" he said.

Ryoka nodded and stood up. "Unfortunately, it'll take some time to release the special Artes. I'll need to get in touch with someone on the other side so they can release it on their end. Make yourselves at home and I'll call on you guys when it's been released" he said. He then started to make his way towards his door. However, he grabbed onto the door handle and stopped, turning back around to face them. He then gave Tsuki and Cheria a serious look. "One last thing. I think it would be in your best interests if you left Cesela here with us. We'll take care of her so you wouldn't have to worry about her. If she continues to go with you, you'll only be adding greater risks to an already dangerous mission" he said.

Cesela's ears dropped into her head as Ryoka had recommended that she should stay behind. Of course, she knew of the risks that were involved with her accompanying them but she didn't want to leave them despite all that. Tsuki and Cheria also had pretty heavy looks on their face. They want what's best for Cesela. However, they feel like there truly is no safe place for her anywhere in the world so long as the Hunters are trying to capture her once more. The village could of possibly worked as a place to hide her from being captured again but the Hunters know the location of the village now. Leaving her behind would be no more dangerous than having her accompany them. They weren't sure on what was best so they couldn't reply to Ryoka's recoommendation.

Ryoka realizes that such a recommendation wouldn't exactly be easy in anyone's case in this sittuation now that the location of the village has been discovered by the Hunters. "I'll give you guys a liittle time to discuss it amongst yourselves" he said. He then opened his door and left, leaving everyone in silence.

Cheria stretched a bit after he left, feeling a bit sore from everything that's happened over the last couple of days. Now that they've had a chance to relax, she was going to make use of her time. The topic on Cesela could wait till a bit later. "Well, if we're on standby for now, I think I'm going to hit the bath. I could use a bit of freshening up" she said. She then stood up and looked over at Cesela. "You want to join me, Cesela?" she asked.

Cesela's ears twitched a bit at the mention of a bath. She hasn't exactly been able to properly freshen up after recent events so she was more than eager. "Huh? Oh...sure!" she said. She then stood up and walked up to Cheria.

As the two walked out of the room, Ramza stood up as well. "I think I'll go out and do some patrols around the forest. Even though their presence seems to have vanished, it wouldn't be good if we were caught off-guard by something else" he said. He grabbed his greatsword that was leaning up against the wall and made his way to the door.

Rein also stood up, picking up his katana and placing it back on his waist. "I'll join you. One person won't be able to cover a lot of ground with a forest this big" he said. He then followed Ramza out the door.

Nagi stretched a bit, leaning back against the couch. "I think I'm going to hang out around here. I'm feeling a little tired so I want to rest up a bit" she said.

Elle also leaned back in her seat, drinking more of her tea. "I'll keep you company then. There are things I need to think about anyway. So much has happened in a short amount of time, after all" she said.

Lynette grabbed her staff and stood up. "Well, there are people who are still injured from the whole ordeal so I'm going to head off to the clinic and see what I can do to help out there" she said.

Ruko looked over at Lynette. He scratched the back of his head, mumbling a bit before standing up. "I'll go with you so you don't get into any trouble. You tend to go a little overboard with your healing Artes so I don't want you to pass out on us" he said.

The two nodded at each other and left the house. Once they were gone, Luan started to follow suit with everyone else by standing up. "I'm going to continue helping the restoration efforts. There are some buildings that still need repairing and with most of Esseand's soldiers now gone, I want to pick up the slack a bit. Mind helping out for a while, Phi?" she asked, looking over at Phi.

Phi looked at Luan and nodded. "Sure. I was planning to help out to begin with myself. Besides, there's a subordinate in town so I want to make a report to my Grandfather" she said.

They both soon left the house, leaving only Tsuki left with deciding what to do during their brief time of rest. Tsuki scratched the back of his head and sighed. "I guess I'll take a bit of a walk to help clear my head" he said. Just like everyone else, he soon left the house as well.

As everyone split off to do their own thing around town, Cheria and Cesela were off making use of Ryoka's bathroom. Their clothes were hanging up while they both sat in a bath tub filled with water and soap. They haven't had a chance to bathe since they were in Chesberry so they took advantage of the opportunity to do so.

The sensation of warm water and soap on her body and in her hair caused Cesela's ears to twitch excitedly. She sighed with content as she could feel her troubles wash away in the bath. "Boy, this feels nice. I really needed this" she said.

Cheria was sitting behind her, washing her hair with shampoo. She could feel her ears twitching up against her hands as she washed her hair. She had to agree with her. It was nice to bathe in hot water and relax. "Yeah, it sure is nice. We haven't been able to do this since we found you in Chesberry…" she said. Her hands soon stopped as she drifted into her thoughts.

Cesela's ears twitched once more when she felt her hands stop moving, turning her head to look at Cheria. "Cheria? Are you-?" she asked.

Then, Cheria's arms suddenly wrapped around Cesela, pulling her back up against her in a tight but warm embrace with Cesela's back pressed up against Cheria's chest. It was a similar embrace you'd see a mother giving to their child to help or comfort them when they're feeling troubled. She knew that Ryoka's last words weighed most heavily on her mind.

Cesela felt the warmth of Cheria's body as she was held tightly in her arms, her breasts pressed up against her back. "C-cheria? What's going on?" she asked, giving her a look of concern.

Cheria held her close as she buried her face in her hair. "It's a bit late for me to say this but I'm glad you're safe. When you guys fell from Sky Tower, I didn't know what to think" she said.

Cesela felt a special kind of warmth inside of her from Cheria's embrace and words. It almost resembles a motherly feeling and she couldn't help but find herself being absorbed by it. She gave her a soft smile, placing her hand over her arms and leaning back against her chest. "We weren't in any danger thanks to Tsuki. If he hadn't created that barrier around us, who knows what might of happened to us" she said. It was true. The fall from Sky Tower would have definitely killed them. The defensive barrier he had put up around them sustained pretty heavy damage from the water's impact alone but amazingly held up all the way up to when they were washed up on the beach.

Cheria tightened her hold around her a bit with a faint chuckle. "It seems we both owe him much" she said.

Cesela smiled a bit as she rested up against Cheria, leaning her head back against her bare chest to look up at her. "He has this presence around him that makes you feel like everything is going to be alright but at the same time, he gives off a different presence. Or, multiple different presences, I should say" she said.

Cheria fell into thought as she talked about Tsuki. She can relate to her on him giving off a completely different presence. Almost as if it wasn't him but somebody else. She felt it when they had their encounter with Diaz and then again at Sky Tower. She wasn't sure what was happening with him but she knew that it probably has something to do with the Sigil "He tries his best to cover for all of us without much thought of himself. It's quite troubling, to be honest with you regardless what presence he has" she said. She didn't like that Tsuki always puts himself in danger but she also knew that it was in his nature to do so because of his training as a knight.

Cesela had thought about something briefly when they first met in Chesberry but never actually said anything about it and she was curious about their relationship. She tilted her head back against Cheria's chest and looked up at her. "I've been wondering. What kind of relationship do you two have? It seems more than just simply friends like with the others" she said.

Cheria had a feeling she would bring their relationship up as a question at some point. A question that she would normally get flustered about but seeing as how this was pure curiousity of a child rather than the teasings of adults, she was able to keep her cool. "Hmm...well, we are friends. We've known each other since we were kids but you're right; there is something more to that. I am his Princess while he is my knight. My bodyguard. My protector. We share a strong and deep bond that's unique to us. More important than all of that though...we're family" she said. Aside from her parents, Tsuki was, without a single doubt, the most important person to her. She could talk about him and what they share together for hours if she wanted to.

Cesela tilted her head. The topic of family was very alien to her mostly due to the fact of not having her memories of childhood which would naturally include anything that had to do with family. The family that she knows is one that's related by blood though so her mention of them being family without being of any blood relation or bound by marriage confused her. "How can one be a family if there is nothing there that makes them one?" she asked.

Cheria was a little surprised when she asked about family. She knew that she understood that they weren't related to one another through blood nor are they legally bound as family whether it be from marriage or adoption. It was how she asked her that surprised her. "A family can be anything. No one person has to have blood ties to another nor do they need to be legally bound. A family can be a group of people who work together and support each other as they accomplish a certain goal, for example. Which means, all of us...me, Tsuki, Lyn, Ramza, Ruko, Nagi, Elle and even you...we're all family" she said.

Cesela's ears twitch a bit when she not only described to her what family was but also seemed to include her in it as well. This made her feel a little happy which caused her heart to stir a bit. She placed her hand over where her heart was and closed her eyes. "A family...is it really alright for me to be a part of it?" she asked

Cheria felt her heart being pulled a bit that she even had to ask such a question. This made her hold onto her even more. "Of course. No one should be without a family. One of these days, we will find your real family and I'm sure they'll be overjoyed to see you again" she said. She was confident that whenever she gets the chance to meet her real family, things will get much better for her. Although the thought of leaving her with her real family and no longer being able to see her anymore makes her a little sad.

Cesela's ears dropped a bit when she brought up her real family. She doesn't even know if they're still alive. She wasn't sure if she wants to know if they are still alive or not. If they were still alive, that would be great but if not, it would just bring her more pain and sadness. "But what if we don't? What if they're all dead? Then, I'll be all alone..." she said

Cheria stroked her on the head gently, her hand running through her hair and grazing against her soft ears. "Then we will make a new family for you. I'm sure no one here would object to that" she said. If it comes to that, she would adopt her in a heartbeat.

Cesela smiled a bit when she said that they would make her a new family. It was an idea that made her feel at ease and happy. "I...would like that" she said. She wouldn't mind it if things got to that point but that's all to be decided in the future.

The two continued along with their bath, chatting amongst themselves about variosu different topics. Cheria told Cesela things about herself, a little bit more on Tsuki and just about everyone else too. She also got into a brief conversation about the world itself. After about another twenty minutes, the two of them had finished their bath and were sitting in front of a mirror with towels wrapped around them. Cheria was sitting behind Cesela as she dried her hair and made some personal changes to her overal hairstyle.

As Cheria worked on her hair, Cesela watched herself through the mirror. She saw that Cheria was giving her hair some much needed trimming and changes. In the process of all that, she thought about the different kinds of things they talked about. She didn't have many good memories herself for obvious reasons and the fact that she couldn't remember much, if anything, at all before her time as a slave, it didn't help. "You know, I feel like there is something I should be remembering. Something really important but I just don't know..." she said.

Cheria soon finished up giving her hair a bit of her personal touch and saw that she was frustrated at the fact that she couldn't remember much of anything. It was a normal reaction. In times of trauma and negative experiences, people tend to shut themselves off from the world which results in them subconsciously locking those bad memories to the backs of their mind in order to protect themselves. She slowly turned her around to face her and looked at her in the eye. "Don't you worry too much about it. I'm sure things will slowly start to come back to you. In the meantime, you'll have us to support you" she said. She then leaned towards her and kissed her on the forehead. Being a princess, she knows how to treat kids but Cesela wasn't the average child. She's someone who she wants to protect. To give a better life. Even though she has dealt with many young kids before, she's never felt such a strong bond before.

Cesela's face turned slightly red after Chera had kissed her forehead. Although she has grown more comfortable being around Tsuki and the others, she wasn't used to any sort of loving or caring touch so whenever they show her kindness and love a parent would for their child, she's left without words. "Cheria? Remember what Ryoka said? About whether I should stay here? I want to keep going with you all. I don't want things to end here. I don't want to say goodbye. Is it alright if I stay with you all?" she asked in a low tone, worred about what her answer may be. It was a question that they both had been avoid on bringing up because of the question's nature.

Cheria gave her a soft smile and patted her on the head. She understands how she feels to some extent. She is aware that Cesela has grown rather attached to them, Tsuki especially. In fact, she's noticed that Tsuki is in the same position as she is in when it comes to Cesela, more or less. She could tell that the time they were together after being knocked off Sky Tower has really taken its effect on him. Having to part ways would probably put her in more difficult situations than she would be if she came with them. However, she was also aware of the dangers that they have yet to face on their journey. "It's your decision to follow us. Given our current situation, it's a tough choice. No matter what is decided, each decision will have their own trials and perils. Our journey is wrought with danger that's yet to come. If you're asking for my approval, I would want you to stay. At least then, we'll be able to keep an eye on you rather than dropping you off in some stranger's lap. However, it's ultimately up to you" she said with stern look on her face. She wanted to hear it from her own mouth that this is what she wants despite knowing the dangers of the unknown that lie in the future.

Cesela took a moment to steel herself. She then gave Cheria a stern and determined look on her face. "I know danger awaits me. No matter what I decide, there will always be that lingering danger. Instead of standing by and letting it come to me though, I want to face it. I don't want that fear of danger to control me anymore." she said with a firm, unwavering voice. Behind her uncertainty of the unknown, there was a fire beneath her. They were also going to eventually face off against the dictatorship and the Demi-human slavery problem and she wants to be there to witness it all come burning down in flames.

Cheria pet her head a bit, running her hand through her hair and around her fox-like ears. She could see that this was what she truly wants. "Well, alright then. Once we all meet back up, we'll give them your answer and show Ryoka your resolve. Besides, I don't think any of us really planned on having you stay behind anyway" she said. She then took one of the nearby towels and wrapped around Cesela and herself. She hasn't been part of their little group for very long but it's clear that she's already found her place among them.

As the two of them soon took their conversation to deepen their bonds out from the bathroom, the scene shifts over to Ramza and Rein who were out in the clearing just outside of the village where Tsuki, Rein and Cesela encounted the villagers for the first time several days prior. Due to recent activity in the forest, the villagers had been cleaning up the mess that the Hunters left behind as they left.

Ramza was scanning around the area, taking careful note of the edge of the treeline as the wind blew past him in a cool, gentle breeze. The sound of the tree canopies rustling in the wind could be heard accompanied by the normal wildlife noises. He stood there in silence until the breeze settled down. Meanwhile, Rein was busy walking around the perimeter of the clearing, peering into the forest as we walked around to make sure that he didn't see anything suspicious.

After a while, Rein eventually made his way back to the center of the clearing where Ramza was waiting for him near the old play area. "Well, it doesn't seem like we're being watched. I'm also not sensing any evil intents from the woods so it's probably safe to say that the Hunters have indeed left the area" he said, leaning up against the old, rusted swing set of the play area.

Ramza looked over at Rein as he gave his assessment of the area. His assessment was pretty much the same as his. "Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. There have been no evil winds blowing. If that isn't telling enough, the sounds of the wildlife dictate that no one walking among the forest" he said. Being in a mindset like this makes him remember some of past when he was enlisted in the Esseand military. He's reminded of the occasional survival training missions they had sent him out on during training.

Rein had several impressions on Ramza since they met. By general appearances, you'd be able to make him out as just another ordinary mercenary out of the bunch. However, he was...built up different than just some random mercenary. He has a certain air around him and although he seemingly tries to play it off, it's still there. "Sounds like you wear the mercenary mantle well then. Better than a knight's shield at least" he said. He may try to shrug it off but he can see Ramza for what he truly is.

Ramza chuckled a bit as Rein tried to analyze and deduce him. For not knowing anything about his past though, he pretty much hit the nail on its head on his last little comment though. "Figured out some of my background, have you? Sadly, there isn't much to say as my time in the military was short. Less than a year of service, in fact" he said. It was a shame too since a lot of his superiors saw great potential in him.

Rein sat down on one of the low iron frames scattered about, crossing his arms as he tried to figure out more about him. "If I may ask, why did you quit the knights? Was there any reason for it?" he asked. He saw something in Ramza that reminded him of someone he knows back home. Because of this, he wanted to see just how far he could go.

Ramza leaned up against a nearby tree, looking up at the sky through the branches and brush of the tree as he felt the a nice, cool wind blow past his face with the sound of leaves blowing in the wind as silence fell between the two of them. It wasn't until a few minutes later when Ramza decided to break it "A reason? Yeah, I guess you can call it a reason. You see, someone that I was quite familiar with had up and disappeared one day out of the blue. After failing several attempts and trying to gain information, I ended up walking away from it all and sought to become a mercenary with their ability to freely travel. It was my hope that I might be able to find a lead into her disappearance. That's still my goal" he said. He wants to know the truth behind it. Why she had disappeared.

Rein looked over at Ramza as he seemed to be in a bit of self-reflection at the mention of this person. He had a point; a mercenary has a lot more freedom than a knight would have. Rather than being tied down to a kingdom, a mercenary can go wherever the wind takes them. "When you say that you're quite familiar with them..." he said before trailing off, unsure if it was proper of him to even bring all this up.

Ramza closed his eyes with a heavy sigh soon following. "The person that disappeared was my wife. Her name is Myla. We met while I was on duty and we both quickly fell for each other. She wasn't the most strongest of fighters but she knew her way around a fight at least" he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a locket of some sorts and opened it up. Inside it was a picture of a young girl that appeared to be in their late twenties. She had long, brown hair that went slight past her shoulders with brown eyes. At a glance, she looked more like someone who would operate behind the scenes rather than on the frontlines. "She took a few of her associates and left for Velika for some business matters. They were trying to figure out how to get some much needed food and supplies to victims of the earthquake. Seeing as she knew her way around a fight and that she was guarded by her associates who had been her bodyguards when she travels for years, I didn't think much of the lack of communication at first. I just thought she was too busy conducting her work. However, after several days of no communication, I reached out to the person she was suppose to meet and they informed me that she never arrived" he said. His finger traced along the edge of the small picture within the locket.

Rein didn't know what to say. He didn't have that special someone in his life but he knows what it's like to have lost or missing loved ones. It's tough. Any number of reasons could have been the cause for her disappearance. An accident on the road, attacked by monsters, even the possibility of abduction. So many reasons and not any of them good. "How long has she been missing for?" he asked.

Ramza continued to stare into the picture within the locket. "About four months" he said. He then closed the locket and put it back into his pocket before scratching the back of his head. "I reached out to as many of my contacts as I could and even some of hers but no one had seen or heard anything and were all equally distraught by her disappearance. I couldn't focus on my duties as a knight and caused some mishaps because of it. I was about to give up all hope until I heard a rumor that Draxus had abducted some people at the time and moved them overseas to where their hideout was. I knew I couldn't go overseas as a knight without a reason so I left and became a mercenary to do so" he said. It was a literal last minute decision with no notice whatsoever but if it was a decision that would eventually lead him back to Myla, he would take it.

Rein was starting to connect the pieces a little bit. "So, you used your connections you made as a knight and the bond you formed with the royal family to expedite the process. No one would think anything out of the ordinary if you just blend in with the normal crowds that come in and out of the port by ship" he said.

Ramza nodded. "Exactly. After doing a little digging, I found out that they were somewhere in Cayhill so I hopped on the first ship there and made my way there. Unfortuantely, my search didn't turn up much of anything. Since I was in Cayhill on a mission to take down the Shadow Knight though, I had all the time in the world to search. All of that led up to me running into Tsuki and Lynette in Briswater and then...well, here we are" he said. His story helped fill the gaps of where he was and what led up to the events of their eventual meeting. Almost seemed like it was bound by fate to happen. He then looked over into the direction of the village. "To be honest with you, part of the reason why I'm following Tsuki around and accompanying him on this worldwide quest is to see if I can dig up anymore information on her whereabouts. In a sense, I'm taking advantage of this opportunity to get to places I would have trouble getting to on my own. Personally, I'd rather not become involved in matters that revolves around other kingdoms but I got to play with the cards that I have been dealt with" he said. He understood the gravity of Tsuki's mission well. It wasn't just a normal quest that he has embarked on. However, he mostly didn't want to be involved with it but got dragged into it anyway. To no fault of Tsuki, of course. Who could of predicted these things would happen?

Rein soon stood up and walked up next to Ramza and looked off into the direction he was looking in. "The same goes for me when I think about it. I'm a proud Dragon Rider. I serve Dolothlond faithfully and want it to thrive. I don't want to be involved with matters that don't relate to my duties. However, my struggle with the Courts has been and will continue to be an uphill battle. A battle in which I won't be able to fight alone and something tells me that by following Tsuki, I'll arrive at the solutions I need to turn my kingdom around before open war commences" he said. It's only a matter of time before something happens or someone in the Courts becomes radical and does something extreme to push the notion for open war and hostilities. He wants to know the reason why all of this is even happening in the first place. He wants peace to return.

Ramza chuckled a bit with a slight grin on his face. A single man against a governing body that seems to hold control and influence over an entire kingdom was definitely quite the task. "I'm sure everyone else has their reasons for following Tsuki. Cheria, Lynette, Phi and Ruko want what's best for their kingdom so they're of equal standing with Tsuki though I'm sure they each have their own individual goals they want to reach. Nagi is still in the process of finding herself and discovering what her purpose should be. Luan is a nutcase for ruins and history so she will go anywhere that might lead her to new discoveries. Elle will follow Cheria and safeguard her to uphold her final mission given to her. As for Cesela, she's a bit on the mystery side with so much about her we don't know nor understand. She's possibly in the same boat as Nagi is, trying to find herself. Every one of us have their reasons for following Tsuki and I'm sure he knows this" he said. Tsuki may be a bit hard-headed at times but he's not stupid. Ramza knows that even he realizes that not everyone following him is of the same mind as him but doesn't question it because their arrangement works out in everyones' favor.

Rein shook his head, dropping it a bit with a smirk. "I still think this whole situation is crazy. Adding more problems to an already bigger problem. It's a fool's errand, if you ask me. But, in the long run, it could work out to be beneficial so I guess I shouldn't say anything about it yet at the risk of swallowing my own pride" he said. He then turned around and started to head off in the opposite direction of the village. "Guess we'll just have to do our parts in this craziness and hope it all leads us to our own individual answers" he said as he walked off.

Ramza understood what he was saying. What they're doing is beyond crazy but what's a little adventure without a hint of craziness? "Yep. We just got to keep moving forward and plow our way through our troubles. We came this far already and there's bound to be a finish line somewhere" he said. He gave one last glance over in the direction of the village before following Rein towards the opposite end of the clearing.

The scene soon switches back over to Harukim where Elle and Nagi were still relaxing in Ryoka's living room with the snacks he laid out for them almost gone as they have been chipping away at them. The silence in the room was a bit peaceful. It gave them both time to sort things out for themselves without much cause for interruption. It's a moment of peace that doesn't seem to come all too often anymore these days. Nagi was sitting on the couch while Elle was standing up and looking out one of the nearby windows with her arms crossed.

The silence in the room was starting to grow a little uncomfortable for Nagi. When she thinks about it, this is actually the first time since she was along with Elle. There were so many things she wanted to ask her but she knew she couldn't because she wouldn't get any answers to her questions out of her due to her circumstances. However, she's been thinking about a lot of other things since leaving Cayhill and the one thing that's always bothered her is her lack of contribution to the party. She wasn't fit for close combat like Tsuki and she didn't have the aptitude and discipline to wield a bow like Cheria. However, there was one thing she did have an affinity for that she has kept to herself and with Elle having a similar affinity in addition to fighting in close combat, she was the only one she could turn to. After a few more minutes of silence, she finally decided to break it. "Hey...Elle? Can I ask you something?" she asked.

Elle was so focused on her own thoughts that the world around her seemed to be pretty distant. The only purpose she had left was to safeguard Cheria. Her main source of purpose dried up with Eresseas' fall. Defending the royal family was all she had so ever since they left, she's been trying to figure out what she wanted to do going forward. It was something she never really had to think about. She soon came back to reality though as Nagi spoke to her. "Huh? Oh, sorry. What is it?" she asked, turning around to face Nagi.

Nagi was a bit hesitant on asking her what she wanted to ask. However, she soon pulled herself out of it and looked up at her. "You can use magic right? Not the kind that Lynette uses but offensive magic" she asked.

Elle tilted her head at her question and thought it was a bit of a strange thing to ask. "Yes...why do you ask?" she asked.

Nagi took in a deep breath to calm herself before continuing on. "Will you teach me how to wield magic?" she asked. She was tired of being a liability. Tired of just being along for the ride. Tired of not contributing to the party. Even Cesela has something to contribute to the group. Yet, she's just been following them along, unable to help in fights. She doesn't want to feel left behind or that she was a burden to the group.

Her request definitely surprised Elle and although she was surprised, it wasn't all that unexpected especially her asking to be taught magic specifically. Ever since she first saw her in Eresseas, she could sense a vast, untapped power within her. Pure, raw magical power. The perfect ingredient to become a literal avatar of destruction. The question was how she was going to tap into said power. She had no training and probably doesn't even know of her true inner potential. Although Lynette could wield magic, the affinity tied to it was completely opposite of hers. Elle's affinity, that being of shadow, falls more in line with Nagi's affinity. She expected that one day she would come to her about this. Those of the same affinity tend to be drawn towards one another and that seems to be the case here. "So, you're finally ready to embrace it, huh? That dark, powerful force you sense swirling inside you" she said.

Nagi has always felt something inside of her. It wasn't magic like Lynette. Rather having the warm, soothing feeling as if you were being shielded or healed, what she feels is raw, destructive power. She's been afraid of it because of how deep it runs but she was now ready to face her fears and learn to wield the power she's been bottling up. "I'm tired of standing on the sidelines as everyone else fights. Tired of being protected constantly. I'm a part of this group and I haven't done anything to contribute" she said.

Elle leaned up against the wall and gave her a thorough examination. Her powers have always been blocked off due to her own hestitancy and fear. After examining her, she could feel that those feelings of anxiety that had been blocking her power have now been lifted and could feel her power start to flow freely through her body. However, without a medium to use to channel it, she won't be using her power anytime soon. Thankfully, she has an idea. She then reached into her bag and pulled out a strange looking book. There wasn't any indication of what it is and when you open the book, all the pages are blank. The book looked pretty old too. She then walked over to her and handed her the book. "Take this. See if it reacts when you touch it" she said. She found this book quite some time ago working as the Shadow Knight but the book never had any reaction to her. She was aware of what type of book it was though so she held onto it on the off chances she might be able to use it.

Nagi tilted her head and reached out to grab onto the book. Almost immediately upon grabbing it, a strange glyph appeared on the front cover of the book as the book started to glow a violet color. Soon after, similar glyphs appeared along the spine of the book as well as on the back cover. "W-what is this?" she asked. She slowly started to open the front cover of the book and all the pages that were blank had text on them in an ancient, unrecognizable language. However, for whatever reason, she was able to read it.

Elle took a look at the book now that the pages are full of text and, as expected, she can't make out anything. It just looked like a bunch of jumbled up letters. It seems she was right to hold on to the book after all. "So, the book has chosen you as its master. That book is unlike any other book out there. It's a unique spellbook that reacts to certain individuals. Each spellbook is associated with one of the core elements: water, earth, fire, wind, light and shadow. There's even a rumor that there's a spellbook out there that associates with all of the elements at once but that's more of a legend. Your element attribute is shadow which aligns with that book and it has chosen you" she said.

Nagi wasn't entirely sure of what was going on because there seems to be a lot she needs to be filled in on which will happen over time. What Elle said though seemed to be true; she could feel a strong connection with the book already. Almost as if she was suppose to have this book. "Shadow..." she mumbled to herself. As she mumbled, a new line of text appeared on the inside of the cover. "Wielder of Shadow, the knowledge of ancient past lie within these pages. Pages that contain the essence of the unbridled and unparalleled power of Shadow. Confront the darkness. Own the darkness. Make it part of your being and most of all, be not afraid of Shadow for it is your sword as much as it is your shield" she said as she read the new line of text. After reading the text, the book started to give off a violet light as it started to levitate out of her hands for a moment before a brief occurred. When the flash went away, the book landed back in her hands and the pages with text that had unreadable text became readable for Nagi. "So many spells. Where do I even start? How do I even use them?" she asked.

Elle held her finger up to her own forehead. "Feel the magic. Their incantation will come to your mind quite easily. It might be a good idea to go out and get some practice before you go into actual combat. We can't just throw you into the midst of a battlefield without some experience. Feel up for some training?" she asked. She needed to make sure she was fit for combat. Not only for herself but she would need to show Tsuki that this is what she really wants to do.

Nagi was a little uneasy at first but after taking a deep breath, she nodded at her with a confident look on her face. "Yes. Please, teach me how to use magic. I'm prepared" she said.

Elle nodded her then urged her towards the door. The only place they could practice was in the surrounding woods. Nothing too dangerous lingers in the forest that they can't handle, just low base monsters. They had enough time to practice. As they did that, Lynette and Ruko were out in town helping out those who still need assistance. Phi was out checking in on her contact that she had in town as well. Lynette had been in the plaza which was serving as a temporary clinic and was treating as many of the injured as possible. Ruko was with her to assist in basic first aid and to make sure she doesn't overexert herself. By the time she finished treating all of those that were injured around the plaza, she took some time to take a break and recover her mana. Meanwhile, Ruko brought over a cup of hot chocolate someone made for them since the weather was a bit on the cold side with them being so close to the snowy region of Ersheath.

Ruko handed her the cup of hot chocolate and sat down on a nearby bench. "Good work. You're getting better managing your mana. You used to use it rather haphazardly" he said. He then took a sip of the hot chocolate and he could feel the warmth go through his body. "Ah, that sure hits the spot. We're going to have to get used to the cold temperatues soon if the snowy region is our next destination" he said.

Lynette was feeling worn out after all of her healing and the hot chocolate was something she definitely needed. "It's crazy when you think about all that's happened. This all started out with just a simple mission. Now, look where we are; caught up in the middle of something far greater than we could of imagined" she said. There was no way she could have predicted things could have turned out this way. Things have been happening way too fast and it shows no sign of stopping.

Ruko took a sip of the hot chocolate and felt the warmth of it almost immediately. Not only that but the taste of it was pretty good too. "It has been quite the wild ride so far, that's for sure. I joined in on this whole adventure to rediscover what I've been missing. Being dragged into something like this sounds like something that only happens in fantasy and stories" he said. There were some days that part of him thinks that he will wake up one day and realize that all of this has just been some crazy dream. However, he is wide awake and this is reality.

Lynette followed suit by taking a sip of her hot chocolate and looked over at him. He's mentioned that he wants to rediscover something but he never really elaborated on what exactly he was trying to find. "When you say that you are trying to rediscover something. What do you mean by that?" she asked. She's been traveling with him for a while now and yet when she thinks about it, she doesn't know a whole lot about his past.

Ruko continued to drink his hot chocolate and then looked up into the sky in thought before he could answer. Truth be told, he isn't quite sure himself. "That's hard to say. Back in Basilwell, I thought I was pretty content with how things were. Serving under Commander Alba, I felt like I didn't need much else. Before you guys left to return to Eresseas, I mentioned that I was inspired by your story right? While that was true, the Commander had ordered me to spread my wings..." he said.

As he was telling her his reason, he couldn't help but have a flashback to the conversation that took place quite a while ago, back during the aftermath of the attack on Basilwell. The flashback included him being summoned into Alba's office.

Ruko didn't understand what Alba had just told him. Part of him believed that this was some sort of punishment of some kind. "What? You want me to go with Tsuki? But why? Did I do something wrong?" he asked. He didn't dislike Tsuki or his companions by any means. They were certainly the capable bunch. However, it doesn't make any sense to him.

Alba was standing behind his desk, looking out the window into the sea. He could understand Ruko's confusion at his rather strange and sudden orders. "Listen, you're a good man. One of my best even. Your help around here is invaluable to not only me but the people of this town. There isn't much left for you to learn and grow from around here. I don't want tha talent of yours to become stagnant especially if I'm going to pass on the leadership to you one day" he said. He then turned around and walked around his desk over to Ruko.

Ruko watched him as he walked around his desk and over to him. He had to take a moment to catch on to what he said at the end. "Wait. Pass on the leadership? Me? What are you talking about?" he asked.

Alba stood within arm's reach of him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're my most capable and competent man around here. You know what needs to be done without having my input and you spare no effort in seeing the task to its full completion. On the day I step down from being Commander, I'll be making you my replacement. However, until then, there is still much for you to learn. You're missing something and I think going out and spreading your winds and seeing the world will give you exactly what you're missing" he said. Looking at Ruko makes him remember back when he was part of the Royal Eight. He had a very similar conversation with Tsuki back then.

Ruko didn't understand what he was talking about. He had no idea what he could possible be missing. "But what is it that I'm suppose to find? You're not making any sense, sir" he said. While it was true that he never really left Basilwell all that much and doesn't know much about the world outside of history books and town gossip, he had no idea how to go about finding out what he's missing.

Alba gave him a nod with a bit of a chuckle. "Unfortunately, that's something that only you can discover. You've got the brains and the brawn. What you're missing is purpose. Everyone has a purpose that drives them. Tsuki's purpose is to protect the people and the royal family. Lynette's purpose is to ease people's pain with her incredible healing Artes. Ramza's purpose is to make it big in the mercenary world. My purpose is to strive for greater heights in our research" he said. He then walked over to one of the tables along the wall in his office and pulled out something before walking back to Ruko. He then held out a necklace with a srange looking crystal attatched to it. "If it wasn't for Annie, I may have never found purpose. She gave me what I needed and now it's my turn to do the same for you. If Annie were still with us, we'd both be giving you this speech" he said. He then placed his other hand on his other shoulder and gave him a look that a teacher would give their student after witnessing them accomplishing something grand. "That is why I am relieving you of your duties as my Vice. You are to go out into the world and find what your true purpose is and when the time comes when you finally discover what it is, I'll be waiting to see what it is" he said.

The flashback with Alba and Ruko soon came to an end and the scene switches back to Ruko and Lynette with near empty cups of hot chocolate in front of them. Despite all that they have seen so far, however, Ruko has yet to find out what it is that he's meant to find. Though, accomplishing the task on findind something you're suppose to discover is rather hard when one isn't sure where to look or where to even begin.

Lynette played with the empty cup in her hands as he told her his goal and intention was though based on what he said, it all sounded incredibly vague. She wasn't sure how to respond to something like that. "Your purpose, huh? And without any sort of clue on what to look for? That doesn't seem very helpful. How will you even know when you find it?" she asked.

Ruko finished up the rest of his hot chocolate and set the cup down next to him as he looked up into the sky. "Hard to say, I guess. According to the Commander, he says that everyone has a different purpose and when we do find out what that purpose is, we will just...know" he said. He let out a brief sigh before looking back down at Lynette. "What are your goals? I know you originally started out on this journey to repay Tsuki back for saving your life but what are your long-term goals?" he asked.

Lynette sat back in the bench as she gazed down towaIrds the grass in thought. She knew what she wanted to do so it wasn't hard for her to answer his question. "I want to help people. I want to be someone who could ease the pain of others whether it be by magical Artes or the more traditional methods through medicine. It's my dream one day to open up my own clinic" she said.

Ruko knew that she would of wanted to pursue a career where her abilities shine the most. With her healing abilities and the vast potential of growth especially if she were to combine healing Artes with traditional, modern-day medicine, he could see her becoming quite the doctor in the future. "A clinic, huh? So, you want to become a doctor" he asked.

Lynette nodded at him. She set down the cup on the bench next to her and noticed a small scratch on Ruko's arm. She then held her hand up over the scratch as her hand started to emit a warm glow. Moments later, that same warmth soon covered the small scratch as she started to heal it. "Yes. I've wanted to become one since I was little" she said.

Ruko looked down from the sky and towards Lynette with a curious expression. "If I may ask, why did you want to become a doctor?" he asked. Considering that they have plenty of time to burn, he might as well take this chance to learn more about her. He has been wanting to know more about her but there was never a really good time to just sit down and have a nice talk.

Lynette twiddled her thumbs a bit as she had a bit of a gloomy expression on her face but tried to keep up a smile. "When I was little, I didn't have the best of health. In fact, I was rather frail and I couldn't do much on my own which put a lot of stress on my family. One day, my health took a drastic turn for the worse and was on the brink of death" she said. It was a story and past that she didn't really like talking about. It brings up too many bad memories which lead into more unpleasant ones. "A traveling doctor came through our village and caught wind of what was happening and offered to help us. My family didn't have the money to pay for his services but he said that he wouldn't accept a single Gald. He used his healing Artes mixed with traditional medicine and because of that, my health made a significant improvement" she said. She then felt the wind blow past her as a flower petals blew in the wind. She watched the petals get blown around by the wind before disappearing behind trees and brush. "I lost my mom when I was still very little so all I had left was my dad though he eventually passed away due to sickness. Being unable to do anything for my dad and remembering how I used to be in a similar situation as he was, I decided that I wanted to become a doctor. Since then, I've devoted myself to the healing Artes. I haven't had a chance to try mixing in the traditional medicine yet though one day, I hope I will be able to. In a way, it's me repaying the doctor who saved me" she said.

Ruko listened to her story quietly as she told it. Looking at who and how she is now, he would have never guessed that she had such a frail childhood. He couldn't imagine how that must have felt and to witness her own father fall into the same situation as she had found herself in and not being able to pull through it must of had quite a significant impact on her. Hearing her story now, a lot of her actions in the more recent days made much more sense. Her determination to ease peoples' pain. The expression on her face when she can't save someone despite her best efforts. It makes him remember back when they found the safehouse where Tsubaki's soldiers were all slaughtered and her reaction when she tried to heal the wounded soldier but was unable to save him. "I see. Well, if it's any consolation, I'm positive that you will reach your goal one day. However, even the best doctor needs to know their limits. When the burden becomes too much for you to bear, lean on us. We might not be able to cast healing Artes like you can but we can try and make it easier on you. Tsuki and Cheria look out for each other, Elle and Nagi look out for each other. It only makes sense that me and you were to look out for each other. I know a bit of first aid myself as well so I won't be totally useless to you" he said. He was almost a little embarrassed to say that last part. It just seemed a bit out of character for him. He couldn't help but scratch the back of his head.

Lynette wasn't sure how to respond to him especially after his last comment he made. In fact, his last comment made her slightly blush from embarrassment but tried not to get flustered by it. Instead, she gave him a soft smile while still blushing from embarrassment. "Thanks, Ruko. I appreciate it. I'll be sure to lean on you guys whenever I need to" she said. He did have a point though. She knows that she can't save everyone.

They gave each of them a certain look and as the atmosphere was starting to really pick up around them, the moment was ruined when a cry for help rang out. They snapped out of it and looked towards where the cries for help were coming from. That's when they saw a man run up to them.

The man soon stopped in front of them, almost out of breath. He immediately recognized Lynette as he had seen her around town, healing people with her Artes. "Miss, please help me! My daughter's wounds opened up again and we can't stop the bleeding!" he shouted, feeling desperate.

Lynette knew the severity of the situation immediately and stood up. She wasn't about to let another person die. "Leave it to me. Show me where she is!" she said.

Before Ruko could react to anything, the desperate man had already started leading Lynette away towards one of the houses on the other side of the plaza. He couldn't help but sigh a bit before letting out a slight chuckle. "Doctor Suzaki, huh? Yeah, I can see you becoming a great doctor one day" he said. He took a few moments to gather himself back up as his thoughts soon went back to what he is looking for. "I wonder what it is that I want to do..." he said. He then stood up and chased after them before he lost sight of them.

As Lynette and Ruko take care handling the injured, Luan and Phi were out in another part of the village that received the worst of the damages. People who could still move around and work despite the injuries most had were hard at work cleaning up the debris and getting things ready for the rebuilding efforts. Luan had been pitching in her help in areas that were lacking in aid while Phi was off talking with her contact.

Phi was talking with someone in light armor, bearing the mark of Eresseas on the collar. As it turns out, the person she was meeting with was one of her closest allies that operates in the shadows. She's been using her in order to gain any information on the current events that are going on in Cayhill and to see if there's been any news of the remaining Royal Eight members who disappeared the night of the attack. Unfortuantely, it would seem that the news she was about to receive wasn't what she was hoping for.

Her contact was a young girl with a petite figure named Serena Alyz. She was just a year younger than Phi. After Eresseas fell, she sought out Phi. She almost lost track of her until she saw her being rescued by her grandfather just off the coast by the lake which surrounds Eresseas. She has always served Phi as her shadow when necessary and ever since they were able to reunite before leaving Cayhill, she's been using her own connections to get in and out of Eresseas in order to deliver news to her.

Serena had handed over a sheet of paper to Phi with a grim look on her face before bowing to her. "I'm sorry, Phi. This is all I could find and with the area around Eresseas being cut off, it's impossible to learn anything more. Based off what I did learn though, there's a good chance that the other Royal Eight members are still alive" she said. She was fairly confident that if anyone high profile were to be captured or killed, Caius would most definitely show it off to the people of Eresseas in order to break their spirit. The fact that there hasn't been a single word about any deaths among the royal family or Royal Eight tells her that there's a chance they could all still be alive somewhere.

Phi took the piece of paper and looked over it. She didn't expect much of anything but even if she were to receive small updates of minor things that take place around Cayhill, that would make her feel a little better. Even though the report she was given doesn't say anything about the royal family or the missing members of the Royal Eight, it does say that the citizens are trying their best to stay strong. Based on the report, Menorion has built fortifications around Basilwell as well at outposts around the few coastal areas to prevent any access onto Cayhill from the sea and even though she couldn't pass through the Veil, Serena noted some changes going on within it though she wasn't able to identify what was going on. "Hmm...well, at least they don't seem to be interfering with civilian life all that much aisde what's happening within the Veil and Basilwell. I suppose that's the best news I can take for now" she said.

Serena continued to bow her head to her. She wished that she was able to deliver some better news to her. She knows how much love and care she has for the missing members and the royal family and she isn't able to ease her worries for them. "I'll try harder. I know they're out there, somewhere. If I had to guess, they're probably biding their time, waiting for their chance to strike back. Wherever they are and whatever their doing, I'll be sure to find out so you can sleep easier" she said.

Phi looked down at Serena and got down on one knee, placing a hand on her shoulder and gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "You don't need to push yourself so much, Serena. The last thing I want you to do is putting yourself in any unnecessary danger. If something were to happen to you, I wouldn't know what to do with myself" she said. Not only was Serena her shadow and closest ally but she was also her closest friend. They had known each other since they were younger. She was practically like a sister to her. "Your safety and well-being is far more important to me than a status update. No matter how promising a lead might be, if it puts you in any mortal danger, I don't want you risking your life for it especially since you have no one to back you up" she said.

Serena looked up at Phi and gave her a brief stare before nodding to her. "I will keep that in mind. I'll try my best to not get involved in something I can't handle" she said. She took a moment to gather herself before standing back up to face her. "What are you going to do now?" she asked.

Phi stood up and looked off towards where people were busy rebuilding what appeared to be a small shop. "I'm going to continue on with Tsuki for a while longer. I want to see where this all leads to" she said. She has her own plans and goals that she wants to achieve so she knows that she can't stay with Tsuki and the others for as long as she would like to but she wants to do her part and try to at least help them along the way. Plus, his group is already big enough. If they were to travel in a bigger group, they wouldn't be able to get around as easy as a smaller group could. She smiled a bit to herself as if she was thinking about something before turning to face Serena again. "Getting information out of Eresseas is our priority so I want you to keep an eye on things over ther for me. While you do that, I have a request to make of you, if you can spare what little manpower you have left" she said.

Serena tilted her head at Phi when she mentioned something about a request and manpower. Serena may be Phi's shadow but she also has her own people working under her lead. You can say that she runs her own covert spy and reconnaissance network in order for her to gain information on multiple fronts. The field of information in the current times is absolutely essential. "I lost a significant amount of manpower but I still have some of my best. What would you ask of me?" she asked. Her covert network, like most organizations within Eresseas, took a significant blow when Eresseas was attacked. Several people have either been killed or went missing.

Phi took out a copy of the world map, unfolded it and placed it on a nearby stump. She then pointed to a certain place on the world map. "I would like you to send one of your best here in order to gather any information they can" she said. The place in question she wanted to send them too isn't an easy place to work around in so this wasn't going to be a simple task.

Serena looked at where Phi was pointing to and had to process what she had asked of her. "Umm...you sure about this? I don't know if you're aware but getting information out of that place is an incredibly hard task for even the most seasoned veterans" she asked. The place she wanted to send someone to was unexpected and sounded almost too unreasonable, given the risks that were at stake. It was understandable why she would be apprehensive on sending on her best to such a place when her covert network is spread thin.

Phi nodded with a stern look on her face. She knows just what it is she was asking. She knows the risks and the indefinite hardships that they would endure there. "Yes. I know what I'm asking for might seem unreasonable but sooner or later, it's going to be something that needs to be dealt with so it would be in our advantage if we were to gain information about them as opposed to going in blind. This is why I need one of your best to work on this" she said. Naturally, given what she's asking, a part of her expected her to flat-out refuse her request and she wouldn't blame her if that was the case.

Serena had to take a few minutes to think about her favor. Where they would be going could very well be a one-way trip if things were to go south. The fact that she called this a favor instead of simply giving her orders that she couldn't refuse shows her that Phi understood this just as well. It would also fall in line that she could just as easily as refuse the request. However, Phi was never someone to make reckless decisions. They always served some sort of purpose. After giving it a lot of thought, she reached a decision. She then got down on one knee, bowing her head at Phi. "I understand. I'll send someone over there to begin working on information gathering right away. I can't promise you any updates in a timely manner, however" she said., accepting her favor.

Phi looked down at Serena and nodded. She had a lingering doubt in the back of her head about ths favor that she had asked but any information is better than no information at all. "Thank you. Make sure you tell whoever you send there to exercise extreme caution. Unless the circumstances are dire, they are to NOT do anything that may attract attention to themselves. Their safety is of the utmost priority" she said. She didn't want someone to get themselves involved with something that would be too much for them to handle. They've already lost too much as it is.

Serena noddes to her as she received her message to pass on to whoever she chooses for this mission. After that, she stood back up and started to make her way past her towards the village entrance but stopped just behind her for a moment. "Phi...be careful out there. If something happens, contact me" she said. Putting both of their own respective missions side-by-side, Phi would probably have the hardest of obstacles considering the fact that she would be involved in matters that would extend out to what she normally does.

Phi gave her a soft smile without turning around. Telling her to be careful when, in her eyes, she had the biggest responsibility to bear. "You too. I want good news when I see you again" she said.

With that, Serena continued her way on out towards the village and exiting into the forest. Phi turned around soon after and gazed out in the direction that Serena had walked off into for a moment before turning into another direction and heading towards where villagers were in the process of moving stuff around. She wandered around the area, helping out where help was needed until eventually she met up with Luan who appeared to be quite excited about something she had apparently found among the rubble of what appeared to be the remains of an old storehouse.

Luan had a series of old-looking scrolls and dusty, old world maps of a time long since passed. The sounds coming out of her mouth and her body language just scream of excitement. She didn't even know where to begin processing of what she just found. "No way! Are these Lorentz Scrolls!? It's said that these contained ancient knowledge and magic of a bygone era! It's believed that out of the eight in existance, only one was discovered! With this find, that makes three! Oh, the look on their faces when I tell those bookworms! And these maps! These maps long predate our current world! According to these maps, the continents of Inyand and Menorion used to be one big continent but it seems something happened at some point in time that caused the land to split into two! My historian soul is about to burst out of my chest!" she shouted with rather extreme excitement and happiness. She was completely and totally unaware of her surroundings as she let her feelings out, unhindered.

From the eyes of any third party watching Luan practically go into full lunatic mode, they would probably think that she's lost her mind and in the eyes of Phi, they wouldn't be all that wrong and far from the truth. She wanted to call out to her but given that she was being stared at by so many people, it was almost too embarrassing to do so. Given that they haven't really traveled for very long, she was always aware of her fascination with history and discoveries but this was taking what she had thought about her to a whole different level. It was almost as if she was looking at a completely different Luan. Interrupting her now at this point would be far too awkward for her so she decided to sit back and wait until she had settled down. When she had seemed to have settled a bit after a few minutes, someone else called out to her before she could speak up.

A young man in slightly ripped and burned robes approached Luan. Based on his looks, he looked like someone who hit the books quite often. "Ah I know those kinds of reactions. You must be a fellow historian, am I correct?" he asked.

Luan turned around and saw the man approach him. She felt a connection with the man almost immediately just by his presence. "I am. Just seeing things like this ignites my passion!" she said. She was still riding on her previous excitement. The fact that she made two major discoveries makes her crave for more.

The man chuckled a bit before stopping next to her and reaching to grab one of the scrolls. "These used to belong to an old scholar here in the village before being passed down to the Chief. Do you know the legend behind these scrolls?" he asked, holding up one of the scrolls.

Luan thought about what she knew about the Lorentz Scrolls. Aside them containing lost knowledge, there was a secret to them. "Each scroll is said to contain knowledge long forgotten. Legend has it that each scroll contains a piece of magic and by gathering all eight of them, those pieces are woven together. However, when researchers and historians tried to decipher the only scroll that was found, they were unsuccessful due to the lost language that was used to make the scrolls. It's a language that has the foundations of modern day spellbooks but much more complicated and old" she said. The Lorentz Scrolls have been a hot topic of discussion and debate in the historian field. Many have speculated of what would happen if all eight scrolls were to come together. The most popular theory is that once all of them are brought together, the scrolls would unveil some secret, powerful Arte. The credibility of this theory is only solidified more when people think about why the eight scrolls are split apart. However, seeing as these scrolls where from a bygone era, they fell into obscurity over time and no one knows where the remaining scrolls are. Treasure hunters are paid an exorbient amount of Gald for the discovery of just a single scroll. One scroll can net close to, if not exceed, five million Gald. The person who discovered the first of the scrolls were awarded roughly ten million Gald at the time. Knowing how sought after the scrolls are and the payout for turning them over, it brings a thought to her mind with the fact that they're staring at not just one, but two of them. "I have to ask though. This village would never be short on funds if you turn them over so why keep them in secret?" she asked.

The man set the scroll back down next to the other before reaching for a box small enough to hold both of them. "Too much attention would be attracted to us. In our current society where Demi-Humans are oppressed, they need a safe haven until their dark days are finally over. These scrolls were donated to the Chief, the former Commander of the Sirione Knights, to be used to help rebuild Sirione when the time comes. The cost of rebuilding an entire kingdom will far exceed the amount awarded by these two scrolls but it would give them a good place to start off from. Everyone in this village is in full agreement of that whether they are human, Faerie or Demi-Human" he said. He then placed the scrolls in the small box carefully after examining them. To his relief, the scrolls were unharmed in the chaos. He soon reached out to the old world map afterwards. "As for this map, assuming the Chief can find the right buyer, this could also earn a high reward but selling off old maps like these is a rather difficult. I would imagine only the most dedicated and hardcore cartographers would most likely be willing to pay a high amount" he said. He examined the map to make sure that it was also unharmed. There was a very slight burn in the top left corner that wasn't there before but it should be fine, given how old it was. He then carefully rolled it up and placed it in a small tube-like container he brought with him. "The village thanks you for finding these before it was too late. If the remained buried in this rubble much longer, it's possible that we could of lost these forever" he said.

Luan listened to all he had to say about the scrolls. It made sense that they wanted to keep them in secret. It would really help them acquire some much needed funds in the future. It also made sense on why this area was so heavily defended during the attack. She was also a little surprised with how important these were to the village, they were not only stored away in a common storage area but that they actually stood around her and watched as she had her little moment with them before the man came. "I guess what people say is true. If you want to hide or conceal something, especially if it's of high-value, hide it in the open where no one would expect to find it. I'm a little surprised I wasn't jumped on when I found these after hearing all of that" she said.

The man laughed a bit as he put the tube-like container over his shoulder before shutting the box with the scrolls inside of it and putting a lock on it. "Well, for one thing, I believe the villagers are all in agreement that you're a good person. You and your friends came to help us and even went out of your way to help us get things in order around here in the aftermath when you all could of easily left. Not only that but the way you reacted to finding the scrolls and map showed us that you weren't just some treasure hunter looking to make fast money but someone who has a very deep passion and love for history" he said. Although it was his first time seeing her around the village, it was very easy for him to make a quick judge of her character just based on her initial reactions. He would have similar reactions himself if he were to discover something major so as a fellow historian, he was able to feel her energy and excitement.

Hearing someone say those things to her with a straight face right in front of her made Luan feel a little embarrassed to the point where her face turned a bit red. "O-oh...I-I see" she said. It was at this moment that she could start to feel all of the eyes on her as she finally took the time to look around her to see the small crowd that had formed around them. Several people were laughing a bit at her expense while others gave her silent nods and smiles. However, it wasn't until her eyes soon locked onto Phi when she felt her embarrassment shoot through the roof. She could almost feel her face turn bright red like a tomato. She was at a total loss for words. She soon dropped down to the ground, and grabbed onto her legs to almost curl up in a ball. "Ohhh I could just die of embarrassment right now!" she shouted into her legs.

Seeing Luan almost collapse from her understandable embarrassment, Phi walked up to her finally and got down on one knee and put a hand on her shoulder. "You can't die yet. There's still so many discoveries out there waiting for the passionate Luan to discover and show the world" she said in a teasing tone of voice. She wanted to try and help her calm down but seeing her in this state makes it so easy for her to be teased and she couldn't help herself.

Luan could hear the unbridled teasing in Phi's voice and the fact that she said that with a straight face and smile made it that much worse for her. "Phi! You're not helping me here! Where's my support at!?" she shouted, her face still bright red.

Luan tried to calm herself down no thanks to the help of Phi as the crowd around them all laughed. The sight of seeing Luan so flustered really helped lift the mood people were having in the end. Because of this, people were able to work more efficiently with being in better moods than they were in before. When things settled down with Luan, they got back to clearing out the area. People were much easier to approach one another and everyone felt a little bit more life come back to them with renewed vigor.

Lastly, that leaves just Tsuki. As opposed to doing things like patrolling the area, providing aid the injured or helping get things back in order, Tsuki was somewhere high up in the trees on a small platform that overlooked the village below. It was clear that this spot was used for things like meditation. He was the only one around which gave him a sense of peace. He was going to use this opportunity to do something he's been meaning to do for a while now. He soon sat down in the center of the platform and closed his eyes. He sat there in total silence for a few minutes, hearing the sounds of leaves rustling through the wind and small animals jump through the trees around him. Before he knew it, any sound that wasn't nature was almost blocked out. However, the silence was soon broken when a voice rang out. Tsuki opened his eyes once more and saw a ghostlly figure of a man sitting in front of him. While most of his featuers were blurry before, he could finally get a glimpse at him. It was Hendrik, one of the souls that were bound to the Sigil inside of him. He had long, spikey hair that went slight down past his shoulders with a scar going down his right eye. The armor he was wearing was still unidentifiable due to having no resemblance to anything in the modern day with a demonic, double-bladed axe on his back. Based on his looks, it was even more clear that this man was, indeed, somewhere in his forties and has seen his fair share of battle. He has the presence of an old war veteran. The only difference this time compared to the previous times these things have occurred was that he wasn't finding himself in the Celestial Bridge. He was still in his physical body in the forest.

Hendrik was silent for a few moments after forming in front of Tsuki with his own eyes closed. After some more minutes of silence, they both opened their eyes and looked at each other. Hendrik had a grin on his face as he gave Tsuki a nod. "So, you finally managed to pull one of us out. I suppose I should thank Fuji for that" he said, referring to someone else. He then folded his arms together and looked around the area. The place he was in brought up some old memories for him. "So, I take it that you have something you would like to talk about" he said.

Tsuki nodded as the ensuing conversation between the two of them would end up being quite lengthy. By the time the conversation ended, it was getting close to sundown. Everyone met back up at Ryoka's place except for Tsuki who arrived a little later than everyone else. They took the time to talk about what each of them did while they were split apart except for Tsuki was was pretty vague in what he was doing. He simply told everyone else that he found himself talking to someone from the village and ended up forgetting about the time. Everyone was gathered around Ryoka's living room as he had brought out some food for everyone to eat. They spent the next hour or so talking amongst themselves and eating the food. After everyone finished eating, they were able to get back to talking about what they were discussing prior to them going their seperate ways.

Ryoka soon handed Tsuki a scroll with an engraving and seal on it. "With this scroll, you'll be able to go through the passageway. Simply hold the scroll up to the stone wall and the path will be opened up for you. So long as you have that, you can come and go through it whenever" he said.

Tsuki took the scroll from Ryoka and put it away in his bag. "Perfect. This will really help us out. We appreciate this, thank you" he said. Now that they have their way forward, they can finally continue along. He was curious to know just what exactly awaits them at Northmount and why he needed to go there.

Ryoka soon turned his attention over to Cesela who was sitting next to Cheria. "Moving on to her now. Have you reached a decision about what you're going to do?" he asked. Taking her any further would continue to place her in danger but he is also aware of the fact that keeping her in the village wouldn't help either since the Hunters know about the location of the village now. Deep down, he wasn't sure which would be the safest option.

Cesela was silent for a few minutes as she stared down at her feet. She understood that no matter where she went or who she ended up being with, she would always be in constant danger that would hang over her head until the dictatorship of Sirione was overthrown. She would rather face the danger rather than biding her time. With that thought in mind, she clenched her fists and looked up at Ryoka with a stern, determined expression. "I will continue to travel. I will fight this head-on. I may not have memories of my past and I may not look all that strong right now. However, I lost one family already and I will not lose another. I will conquer the dangers set before me and rise above them" she said with strong confidence in her voice.

Ryoka could see the intense fire in her eyes. He could hear the strength of her words and the resolve behind them. He knew from when he first saw her that she had very strong, untapped potential. He also knew that this would be her answer and had something prepared for this occasion. He smiled before standing up to grab something behind him. He then handed her a small but strong and sturdy bow with a sleeve of arrows to go with it. He had consulted with his villages' weapon shop owner and had him make the bow and the matching arrows to match her size. "I had a feeling you'd say that. These are for you" he said.

Cesela took the bow and sleeve of arrows as she looked them over. The bow was made out of strong, durable wood with a bit of aluminum plating along the edges of it. She put the sleeve of arrows on her back tried to wield the bow in her hand. After seeing how Cheria handles a bow, she tried her best to mimc it. She held the bow while pulling back on the string to help her get a better sense of how the properly wield it. "Hmm...I think this is how you do it, right?" she asked.

Ryoka chuckled a bit as he watched Cesela try out her bow. It was like watching a child play with a brand new toy. "It'll take some training and getting used to but you'll get the hang of it. You'll need these as well to protect your fingers" he said. He then handed her a pair of gloves that were designed for beginners in archery and marksmenship. "To protect yourself against any kinds of burns or scraps due to not mounting the arrow properly, most beginners wear special gloves like these. Over time though as you practice and improve your skills, you may find yourself not having to need them anymore but until you've got a good handle on things, I suggest you wear them" he said.

Cesela took the gloves from him and put them on. They were lightweight and comfortable to wear so she didn't see anything wrong with wearing them especially if it helps her starting out. "Thank you so much. I don't know what to say" she said. The thought of one day being capable enough to fight with her new friends would surely play as a big motivator for her to practice whenever she can.

Ryoka glanced over to Cheria briefly before looking back at Cesela who was getting a handle of her bow with the gloves on. Her form needed work but that would only get better with time and practice. "You don't have to say anything. If you want to, you can promise me that you'll train hard. I'm sure there's a certain bow user among us that would be more than thrilled to teach you the ways and to guide you along the way" he said.

Cesela lowered her bow and looked up at Cheria. "Cheria? Will you teach me how to use a bow?" she asked. Whether she was doing it naturally or intentionally, she gave her a certain look that people would normally have a very hard time in refusing.

Cheria felt Ryoka glance over at her as he was trying to get the message across for her to show her the way. Before she could even give an answer though, she saw the look that Cesela was giving her. Her ears were laid back with her tail down and had the fox equivalent of puppy dog eyes. She already knew what her answer was going to be but seeing Cesela give her that expression almost makes her practically melt. "O-of course I will! I would be absolutely thrilled to show you the way of the bow" she said. Being in this situation reminds her of when she wanted to learn archery for the first time. Her would-be teacher at the time had refused to teach her until she was able to soften her up enough to break her down.

Tsuki nodded at them before looking at Ryoka. "It's a perfect fit for her. She is much too young to wield something like a lance or a sword and fight on the frontlines and she doesn't really show any clear aptitude for magic as of yet. So long as Cheria is okay with it, then I have no complaints" he said.

The topic of magic was Nagi's cue to speak up to the group. She had spent the last few hours practicing her spells with the help of Elle and she managed to get the hang of the more basic spells rather fast and easily. "Speaking of magic, there's something I want to say" she said. She then took several deep breaths and calmed her mind. She wanted to fight with everyone and didn't want to be protected anymore like she has been up till now. "I've decided to fight with all of you from here on out" she said.

Her declaration was a surprise to all except Elle. Ramza was probably the most shocked of them all. He didn't see Nagi as much of a fighter and he's typically a good judge of character when it comes to that sort of thing. "Fight with us? How?" he asked.

Nagi took out the spellbook that Elle gave her and channeled a bit of her magic into it. Upon doing so, it was almost as if the spelllbook ignited to life. The few short hours she spent practicing and training with Elle were very beneficial for her. "With this. I only know the basic spells but I've been able to master them so far. I would like to think I'm capable enough to help you all in battles now" she said.

Tsuki would always sense trances of magic with Nagi though it had been really faint. Now, that faint trace of magic as become a strong, burning flame. If she wanted to fight with them, that was her choice. However, he wanted to know the reason why. "I'll ask only one thing. Why do you suddenly want to fight alongside us now?" he asked.

Nagi subdued her magic as the spellbook almost seemed to power down. She wanted to give not only Tsuki but everyone else a clear, unmistakable answer. She wants to show them her resolve just as Cesela showed Ryoka. "Ever since Prophet Castle, I've been sheltered and protected. I have been burdened by past memories that I know will never go away. Those burdens made it so I couldn't bring myself to fight. However, after our encounter with Diaz and that Hunter and seeing someone risk their well-being to protect me from harm, I thought to myself. Is this what I want? To be coddled and protected like some damsel in distress?" she asked, clenching her fists. What's happened in the past is done and can never be erased or changed. All she can do is move on and by doing so, she will become a stronger person. "No. I want to fight. I want to contribute. I don't want to be thought of or looked at as the weakest link. If I have the power to do so, then I want to lend it to our cause because whether we wanted it or not, we're all in this together until the bitter end" she said with confidence. After seeing Cesela prepare herself to face her own troubles and attempt to move on from them, she didn't want to be left behind.

Tsuki listened to what she had to say with an open mind. He could see the resolve of her workds and the newfound strength behind them. She was ready to fight and he could see that. "Well, if you have chosen to fight alongside us, then who am I to try and stop you?" he asked. Honestly, he was happy that she was finally taking steps forward. Not only that but having a purely offensive magic user would benefit the group as a whole in a number of ways. "I can't make any promises in no one wanting to protect you from harm, however. Like you said, we're all in this together. We will look out for each other and cover for someone's weaknesses as needed" he said.

Everyone seemed to fall in line with Tsuki's thoughts as they all nodded in agreement. With everyone being capable of defending themselves, that should ease the stress of the group significantly. The group continued to talk amongst themselves, mostly to analyze and access the strengths and weaknesses of Cesela and Nagi for the next hour or so. Before they all knew it, the time was becoming rather late. The topics soon turned to their next move and it was decided that they were going to spend the night in the village and then head out to the secret passageway to get to the northern snowfields in the morning. With everything being decided, they went back to their individual rooms at the inn to prepare their things and to get some much needed rest. Everyone except for Tsuki and Cesela, however. Tsuki wanted to give her some pointers to the basics of fighting. Her form needed work but Cheria would be able to help out with that but she managed to get the basics down rather fast. Cesela ended up falling asleep next to Tsuki in his bed as they both decided to call it for the night.

The time slowly crawled as Tsuki started up at the ceiling of his room, unable to fall asleep as Cesela was sound asleep next to him. Not being able to sleep, he slowly got out of bed as to not wake her up and walked over the window where the moonlit rays were coming through. The thought of Cheria showing her the ways of the bow brought some sense of comfort to him. He wasn't much of a bow user himself but he did dabble in a bit of hunting with his father when he was a kid. He wasn't very good at it, however. Most of his potential kills all got away from him. His father, on the other hand, was a master at archery. His skills at the time were unparalleled. Sadly, those skills weren't passed on to Tsuki though. Instead, he adopted the skills of his mother who excelled at swordsmanship.

As he taught the basics of fighting to Cesela, he couldn't help but have a few flashbacks of when his parents taught him the very same thing. While everyone has their own unique style of fighting amplified by their weapon of choice, they all follow the same principles and fundamentals. It was these principles and fundamentals that he wanted to now pass onto her. It did make him wonder though about how his father supported his mother since she played the bigger influence on him in his weapon of choice. "Well, things seem to come full circle. If only I knew how you handled things, father" he said, staring up at the bright moon. This was the first time he had actually thought back to his parents. As family, it was natural that he would miss them and a life he could of potentially had. However, he hasn't really thought about them all that much. Probably due to the mental wall he had put around his memories regarding that fateful night. He was soon brought back to his senses when he heard faint rustling and groaning.

Cesela, still asleep, had grown a bit restless in her sleep as she was moving around and moaning. She seemed to be having a dream and based on her body language, it wasn't a very pleasant one. "No...stop..." she said in her sleep. She started to roll around the bed a bit more as she was having a clear case of a nightmare of some sort. Her ears were laid back as well. Given that all she's been through, it would be only natural to assume that she would have nightmares now and then.

Tsuki walked over to the bed and put his hand on her shoulder to try and wake her up. "Cesela, wake up. It's okay" he said. His attempts to wake her up didn't work. In fact, she only seemed to grow more restless as he noticed that she was starting to sweat a bit. He didn't have much experience with kids so he wasn't sure on how to handle this. If Cheria were here, she'd know what to do but he wasn't about to go and wake her up for this.

Cesela continued to toss and turn in the bed before reaching over and grabbing onto his sleeve while still being stuck in her nightmare. She was almost curled up in a ball at this point. "Don't leave...mom...dad..." she said. It seems that whatever she was having a nightmare about, it involved her family that she had no memories of.

When she brought up her mom and dad in her sleep, that sent a slight shock through him. Not being able to remember anything from her childhood, including her parents and whatever family she may of had at the time and then reliving those forgotten memories in her dreams only to wake up to having no memories of both the dreams and what they were about must be a very suffocating and isolating feeling. He couldn't even begin to imagine just what she feels or what she is going through. On the outside, despite having no memories and being forced into slavery for several years, she seemed like a strong, independent girl. However, on the inside, she must feel incredibly trapped and lonely. After all, she was only just a ten year old girl. It made Tsuki feel a certain way he never really experienced before and he didn't like it. He felt pain and sorrow.

Not having any words to say, he crawled back into bed with her and then held onto her gently while stroking the top of her head. He could feel her body tremble in his arms as he tried to calm her down. All of this only cements the fact for him that the Demi-Human slavery must end. No one should have to go through irreversible trauma like this. After a while he could feel and hear her start to settle down in her sleep. Knowing that whatever he was doing was working, he continued his efforts until finally she was able to go back to sleeping peacefully.

Tsuki sighed with relief as he wiped the sweat from her face with his sleeve. He then laid her back so that she could be more comfortable, giving her head one last stroke. "Don't you worry about a thing. We're all here for you. You deserve to have happiness after everything you've been through and I'm going to make sure that happens. I won't let anything else happen to you. I promise" he said. He may not have a lot of experience with kids but he's seen how Cheria acts around them in times like these when she puts on her "motherly" side so maybe him putting on his "fatherly" side is all that he needed to do. Not that he was any good at expressing that side of him. At least, not consciously. As he watched over her to make sure she stays peacefully sleeping, he slowly ended up drifting asleep. To make sure that she could feel safe, even while she was asleep, he gently held her hand as they both slept.

As soon as Tsuki had fallen asleep, Cesela ended up opening her eyes a bit and stared at him. Unbeknownst to him, she had actually been awake since Tsuki held onto her and helped her settle down in her sleep. While the nightmare she was having was still fuzzy, she knew that it was quite significant and caused some concern. She pretended to sleep as Tsuki spoke his last words before falling asleep. It wasn't just his actions that made her settle down but his scent. She could feel incredibly at ease with his scent. Hearing him say what he said also made her more happy than she could be in this scenario. She soon found herself leaning in closer to his face and kissed his cheek softly before laying back down next to him with a light blush on her face to go with a smile. She remained silent as she then soon went back to sleep, holding onto his hand. They may not be true family but she didn't care. He was importent to her and that's all that mattered to her.

To be continued...