Oi! Sorry for not updating in a while everyone. I've been too caught up with role-playing at my Kingdom Hearts RP site lol. But okay... I've got time right now, so I'm going to attempt to continue this right now. I just need to figure out a title for this chapter first. Hmm...

Disclaimer- I do not own Star Ocean or it's characters. Wheee!

Beneath The Surface

The ceremony was over, and Fayt was back in the room Nel and himself had been placed in. The savior of the universe immediately began preparing himself for his new trip. He had changed back into his normal attire from the formalwear he had on for the burial. Fayt recalled the whole ceremony that had occurred only a few hours ago.

Fayt and Nel were considered important guests to the burial, having been friends, or accomplices, whichever, to Albel Nox. So they were fortunate, (or unfortunate depending on how you look at it), enough to have seats up on the alter with the King of Airyglyph, so the whole mass of the Royal City could look upon them as well as Albel's empty coffin.

Yes, the coffin is empty. The Crimson Scourge, Albel's prized weapon, rested atop of the coffin. When Fayt questioned Woltar about the empty coffin, he got the explanation he was looking for.

"The truth, Sir Fayt, is that we had not found Albel's body. We sent a half dozen soldiers down to investigate Albel's disappearance. What we found down in one of the deep passages was Albel's sword, and a hall painted in blood. His body must have been torn to pieces or eaten by what was down there."

Fayt for a long while, remained silent through the king's parting words to Albel's soul. Nel who sat just to his right remained attentive to the king, whether she heard Woltar's explanation or not, he couldn't tell. Finally, Fayt leaned over towards Woltar more and asked, "Where exactly are you talking about? You keep mentioning somewhere, but you never tell me where."

Woltar's face remained blank, he didn't seem to have heard Fayt as he listened to his ruler's speech. "Why is it you wish to know?"

"I won't except an empty coffin and a sword as proof of Albel's death. You said there was no body found. Well, I'll go find one. I'll go down there myself and see what happened to him. For all we know, he could still be alive."

"Yes... I thought that as well, but whatever is down there, it has killed everyone who had gone down. Perhaps even Albel. If it could best Albel, what makes you think you're any different?"

"Are you questioning my abilities?" Fayt for the first time, took offense to such a thing. After all, he had saved the universe, did that not count as something? Did he not prove to everyone that he can take care of himself.

"Of course not." Woltar replied casually before answering Fayt's other question. "A few months ago, we found a passage that led under the city."

"To the aqueducts?" Fayt remember the passage from when Nel had helped him and Cliff escape Airyglyph on their first days on Elicoor.

"No... one that led further down. It was a passage to what we've decided a castle. We sent several dozen units down to explore it and report back. None of them returned. Albel took it upon himself to find them, however, he did not return as well. I fear that you may come to the same fate as they have."

"Where's the entrance to this passage?" Fayt ignored the old veteran's concern.

"In the dungeons. One of the prisoners had tried escaping. He found a weak spot in the floor of the cell. He removed the blocks and found himself a passage. He didn't return either." Woltar pointed out.

"Don't worry Woltar. I'll prepare after this is finished and leave tonight. I'm taking Albel's sword with me, if he's still alive, and I find him, he'll need his weapon." Fayt sat back into his seat and kept his gaze on the king. No more words were passed between them, the plan was already made. Fayt won't back down from it, no matter what.

"So... What are you doing?"

Fayt gave a visible jump, as he was brought out of his reverie. His gaze shot towards the door where Nel stood leaning against the doorframe. She hadn't changed for the ceremony, she remained in her normal attire. Fayt wasn't sure if it was because she couldn't find anything else to wear or it was because she just didn't care. "Um... Hello Nel."

Nel crossed her arms over her chest, lowering her head until only the upper half of her face was peeking out from the scarf, "You had not answered my question." She said, not returning the greeting, "What are you doing? Are you going somewhere?"

Fayt could have said 'No.' had it not been for the fact that he had everything packed up into his traveling pack. He turned his gaze away from her and back to his pack. He didn't answer her as he finished placing the remainder of his belongings in the pack. Pulling back the covers of his bed, it revealed Albel's sheathed sword. He grabbed it and placed clasped it next to his own sword.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Nel questioned, she didn't seem surprised at what he was going to do, which could mean that she expected him to on her own, or she had heard his and Woltar's conversation. Fayt was betting on the latter.

After a moment Fayt answered, "Yes."

"It'll be dangerous."

"I've faced plenty before."

"He's dead."

"Most likely, but there's still a chance."

"You could be killed like all the rest."

"I'm willing to take the chance."

"You're being irrational." Nel shot out in annoyance.

Fayt's anger grew, he crossed the distance between them, until he was up in Nel's face. The Crimson Blade didn't back down either, point for her, though Fayt wouldn't expect someone like her to back off either, "So what? You expect me to just say, 'Oh... Albel has been announced dead. So it must be true.' And go on my marry little way? Albel's body hasn't been found. There is no witnesses to his death. He's missing. MISSING. Odds are, he IS dead. But there's still a chance he's alive. And if he's alive, and we just abandon any chance at going down to find him, he could end up dead anyway, when he could be saved. Albel was a part of our group, he was a friend, you can't expect me to just abandon him."

'Our group' and 'friend'. Nel replayed the two things in her head. She wasn't part of the group, he didn't let her be, and she certainly wasn't Albel's friend. "The Queen has ordered me to escort you to Airyglyph and back to Aquios. I do not plan to disobey her orders." She spoke firmly, pushing herself off the wall and standing tall. As tall as her five foot seven stature could stand.

Fayt shook his head and let out a breath, feeling a bit disappointed. Disappointed about what? He had no idea, he just knew he felt it. "Nel... I don't care what orders the queen gave you. If your really that worried about disobeying than you can wait in here until I come back for all I care. I'm going after Albel, I won't just leave him as an empty coffin when he could still be alive."

"So be it." Nel brushed passed him and settled herself on the bed. "I won't try and stop you. Go ahead and get yourself killed." He held onto his beliefs so strongly, he wouldn't just leave someone behind.

Nel wondered if he'd do the same for her if she were the one in Albel's place. She didn't doubt it, but she doubted he'd do it for the same reasons. He'd probably feel obligated to search for her. He'd do the same thing for anyone, even if it was someone he didn't know. It's the way he does things. He tries to save everyone who needs to be saved. One day, Nel suspected, he'd find himself in a situation that he can't save the person, or himself for that matter.

The sound of the door closing turned her attention to Fayt, or rather, the spot she had left him. He's gone now, having left. For some strange reason, Nel was hurt, but more annoyed than anything. He didn't ask for her help. Did he think he could handle things himself, or did he just think she was unqualified to go down with him. Again she thought he saw her as weak. Again he refused to ask her to go along with him, just like last time.

This time, Nel won't sit idly and let him go without her. She had done it once before, but not this time. After all, this could be the time Fayt regrets going after someone. She wanted to be there to see it when it happens, that and she knew the queen wouldn't be pleased with her if she allowed him to go off and die alone.

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The dungeons in the lower section of the castle have never been Fayt's favorite of places to go. He's only gone down into the dungeons twice. The first time hadn't been willingly. He was tortured by the inquisitor. He was chained up, whipped, beaten, and whipped some more. The experience was not forgotten. Fayt had learned about the practice of torture during the medieval times in his history class back on Earth. The methods were unheard of in technological planet he was from, it was only a distant memory of when times were at their worst.

Living the experience was much more different than reading about it in some book. Fayt would have probably snapped and told the inquisitor what he wanted to know, if he had known anything. That was back then, right now however, Fayt believes that he could withstand torture, if he is one day captured, he prove it too.

The second time that he went down in the dungeons was to retrieve Albel from his cell, having been charged with treason. Ironic that he is yet again going down to the dungeon, and even further, to go after Albel once more.

The air is always cold and crisp under the castle. You can feel the moisture in the air against your bare skin. With the constant winter climate that Airyglyph is settled on, each breath that's exhaled is a small white cloud. The stone walls of the dungeon have a green tint to them from the mold that's beginning to form on after the many years. The cell bars are dented, and chipped from prisoners who have tried to break out and from the rust that eating away at them.

If Fayt concentrated enough, he could catch the sent of urine and rot, from old deaths. Prisoners who have died from when Airyglyph still practiced torture. It was a the smell of mold, urine, rot, and the dying embers of the torches mixed with the freezing temperatures that really brought home the fact that people were executed, and tortured down in the dungeons. Like the last two times Fayt had been down here, his hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and goose-bumps formed on the surface of his skin, just by the feel of the place. Unsettling spirits.

It was the last cell on the right side that has the passage Fayt needs to go. Airyglyph evidently felt that it would be wise to seal off the opening after all that's happened. Someone had come down and built a thick wooden door on it, then latched it shut to prevent whatever is down below from venturing above. Fayt had his doubts about whether the door would truly keep whatever managed to kill so many men from getting up if it truly wanted.

Kneeling down at the door on the floor, Fayt unlatched it and grabbed the handle with both hands. His muscles strained as he pulled it open, the door probably weighed twice as much as he did. He got it up and pushed it, letting it crash onto the ground, the impact echoing in the empty halls of the dungeon and shaking the bars of the cells.

He didn't worry about the noise, he's the only one down here after all. The few prisoners that were locked up in the dungeons were relocated to a different area. Airyglyph had recognized the fact that prisoners have their rights as well. Duke Vox was the only one keeping that from actually coming true.

Now that he has the passage opened, Fayt was at a new dilemma. If he goes down, what happens if someone comes along and closes the only way out? What if he can't get out after this? The whole investigation would seem pointless if in the end he can't even tell what he's discovered. He wouldn't back down though, if the exit is sealed off again, Fayt will just have to try and break it open, or find another way out. There's always more than one path to take.

Fayt finally took a moment to see what he unsealed exactly, or rather, try to see. He couldn't see much more than total blackness as he peered down the passage. He could only see the top of what were stairs, but as he looks further down, they fade away into the darkness. Looking around the area was going to be much more of a hassle if he can't even see where he's going.

Straightening up from his kneeled position, he quickly grabbed one of the burning torches off of the wall and walked back to the opening. He stood at the top of the stairs just peering down for a few moments before he tossed the torch down, watching as it bounced off of the stairs after some distance and continued down. It finally stopped after an impressive distance down, stopping on one of the steps, having not reached the bottom.

Fayt was more than surprised, he was downright shocked. 'Exactly how deep does this go?' He wondered before grabbing another torch. Nothing seemed to be waiting to jump him on the stairs so he was safe to start his way down. The glow of the torch reaching out to shed light on the very edges of the stairwell.

Step after step, Fayt continued down, his footsteps sounding off the solid walls around him. The walls weren't rigged like a cave being chipped away, they were flat and smoothed out, a definite sign that it was a passage used often in the past. How long ago, is left to question. When he reached his fallen torch he knelt down on the steps and picked it up before tossing it down once more, to make sure he was safe ahead of time. This time the torch hit the bottom, not too far down, it had reached the bottom, giving off a circle of light in the room that the stairs dropped into.

When Fayt reached the bottom of the stairs, he immediately took notice of the temperature change. It was warmer than above, which was strange and didn't seem possible since usually the further you go down, the colder it is. Heat travels up, not down after all. Perhaps he was just feeling the heat of the torch he's holding?

He looked around the immediate area, and quickly realized that he was in some sort of hallway. It was the same structural layout as the Kirlsa Training Facility, except more worn down and the halls were much narrow. It seemed to be built in the same design however. Old torches that haven't been used for years, if not decades, were along the wall, having only been used to collect cobwebs.

Fayt left his fallen torch on the floor, deciding it would make a good landmark if he needed to get out quickly. With the torch in his hand, he walked over to the wall to see if the torch sitting there would ignite. Holding up his lit torch to the unlit one, he watched with relief as the torch came alive and burned freely. If he got lost he'll just follow the line of torches to get back from where he started.

He pressed forward, sticking close to the wall and lighting torches along his way. He could make out metal bars on the left side of the hall, closing off entrances to other areas. At first glance he thought they were cells, and that he had walked into some sort of dungeon, but upon closer inspection, he came to the conclusion that they were doorways sealed off.

Along the wall that he was sticking close to, marks were engraved into the hard stone. As if swords had struck the wall and chipped some of it away. When he paid more attention to them, he realized that the marks were actually small designs carved into the stone. A writing he couldn't translate for the life of him.

Fayt stopped as he came to a small problem. The hall split, he could turn right or continue forward. Each way looked the same, and he didn't know where he was going to begin with, he's just looking for Albel, if he can even be found. Fayt could only guess how large this place is, and if his imagination was correct, finding any trace of life down here is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

After much consideration Fayt turned down the right path, deciding he had been heading in the same direction long enough. He hadn't come across another torch to light in a good amount of time down this path however, he began to wonder if there are any.

ck... ck... ck... ck...

Fayt stopped and turned around to look down the dark hall he has been heading down. He didn't see anything however. He strained his ears to hear any traces of anything, he heard silence. He shook his head and turned back around, continuing on his way.

ck... ck... ck... ck...

His brows creased as he heard it yet again, the sound of footsteps. Ones that were mimicking his own. He wouldn't be able to catch it if it weren't for the fact the second set of steps sounded a notch lighter unlike his heavy steps. When he stopped, the steps stopped, when he glanced over his shoulder, he again saw nothing but the darkened hallway.

'You're being paranoid Fayt.' He thought to himself, 'There's nothing there, you're along in this place, it's natural to become a little paranoid.' He let out a breath, blowing a few strands of his hair out of his eyes before he pressed on, trying very hard not to let his paranoia get the best of him.

...ck... ck... ck... ck...

Fayt shook his head, ignoring it, he was just imagining things. As long as he had his torch, he'd be able to make out, whatever or whoever was following him before they could jump him. Whatever God or Goddess looking down upon him, choose that moment to have his torch slowly die until it was only a heated, smoking stick.

"Great." Fayt displeasure was easy to pick up in his voice as he stopped walking and dropped the burnt out torch. He could still see somewhat, not very well, but he could. That's when a thought struck him, he could use the glow stone to see his way around, he still had it fortunately. He began feeling around for it, trying to remember which small pouch he had placed it in.

ck... ck... ck... ck...

Fayt stopped, he wasn't walking...

ck... ck... ck... ck..

Which meant something else is down here with him.

ck!ck!ck!ck!ck!

Fayt grabbed for his sword, the sound of metal grinding on the sheath bouncing off the narrow halls. He spun around, his arm right arm swinging his Levantine over his head in an arc, to swing down what ever was after him. Fayt's eyes widened as metal hit metal, while his sword was stopped, he felt another blade pressed firmly against his throat, "You need to use more caution." The figure said to him.

"Nel?"

And this is where I shall end the chapter. I so sorry. Heeheehee! Please review and let me know what you think of this chapter. The more reviews I get, the quicker I review to answer the readers need for an update. Hence the reason it took me awhile to update this, it didn't seem so urgent when there isn't that many people reading it.