Disclaimer: I do not own Star Ocean or its Characters.
Note: About Sophia's outfit…I was going to change it slightly, but then I thought about it. Every time I read a story I try to keep her as the author writes but I find myself seeing her in her uniform, so just to make it easy I kept the same one. Also, I used Venus for two reasons – it lightened the mood a little and as for the other…think mythological.
Star Ocean: The Untold Story
Chapter 7: War's Ugly Truth
It had been four days since she first set eyes on the castle. Four whole days and not once had she heard from or seen any sign of Woltar or Albel. Her days consisted of working with the scholars in the library and the researchers in the labs. She was shocked that she was able to help as much as she could. The level of physics on Elicoor was not as advanced as Earth and her limited knowledge soon earned her many admirers. She was regarded highly by the staff in the castle and had earned the title Lady Sophia.
She couldn't help but giggle when she was called by her formal title. Still, she couldn't refuse it as it had come straight from the King himself. She had earned his trust when he had traveled to the lab to see how the situation was fairing first hand. She had not known who he was and had still treated him as she thought any other should be treated. Upon learning who he was, she had apologized profusely; entertaining him more than before.
She had earned another title as well. On her second day there, she was allowed to train with a small squad of soldiers. Being at war, the King (who's trust she had gained quickly) saw fit to let her train and be prepared. He also wanted to see her runological skills which Woltar had informed him of. After the second day of training, which was her third day in the castle, she was nicknamed the Venus Witch.
She didn't take offense to being called a witch. It was obvious that the men who called her that meant it with respect and maybe a hint of fear. The list of spells she could use had increased as she trained in the fields. At first, she didn't want to train. Training meant killing and that repulsed her. But their foes were creatures with no heart or guilt and on the fields it was kill or be killed. It was a harsh reality for her and one she had accepted unwilling. What pushed her the most to train was the fact that Vox would check in on the lab and library. She didn't like him and something told her his motives were evil.
Now, on her fourth day, she was allowed to roam the castle freely. She had eaten her meals alone in her room, and had preferred it that way. Once she was done with her lunch, she was given the rest of the afternoon to do as she pleased.
She still had the extra coat that Mirage had given her earlier that week and she was most thankful for that. She walked quietly through the streets first, saving a walk around the castle for last. It was cold and the snow was falling at a steady pace. Sophia had never seen snow in such abundance before. It hypnotized her and sent chills through her. She felt like a kid and wanted to make snow balls and build snowmen, but she didn't. She just walked and enjoyed herself.
She had walked all the way to the front gates before she knew it. She took a brief second to greet the guards on duty before deciding to venture back to the castle. Her attention was distracted from the castle when a dragon landed a short distance from the gate.
The rider dismounted the dragon and took a few steps before landing in the snow. Instinctively, Sophia ran to him; accompanied by the two guards. Together, they rolled him over. He was injured, severely. Without hesitation, she healed him and the guards helped him to his feet.
"I must get to the King at once. The Aquarians have invaded the Bequerel Mines."
Before she knew what was going on, she found herself in front of the King. She had been motioned by the guards to go with the soldier. Not being one to argue easily, she followed the soldier to the King's throne.
The King sat in his chair and thought briefly on the news he had just received. "We have no choice but to send reinforcements. Inform Demetrio at once to gather his men. We will stop them."
The soldier bowed and left the room. The King looked at Sophia and opened his mouth to speak to her, but was cut short.
"Humph, The Dragon Brigade already proved its worth when it was defeated earlier. Perhaps I should go and assure there is no unfortunate twist?"
Sophia's heart jumped at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. She looked over her shoulder and had never been so happy to see Albel. Part of her had felt abandoned even though she kept reminding herself that there was a war going on. She didn't understand a lot about war, but she was beginning to see how much responsibility there was to those involved.
"You understand that by doing this, your actions will be closely observed," the King spoke calmly. "Your past actions are still being reviewed."
Sophia sent a questioning look at Albel. If he saw it she didn't know. Albel didn't respond as he bowed slightly to the King before leaving. Sophia's heart started to race. He was going to leave her. Even if the researchers and soldiers had befriended her, she still missed her days at the mansion. It was like she was being left behind again.
She turned quickly to the King. "I beg your pardon, sir. I would like to go also." She saw protest in his eyes. "I can heal the injured quickly and I promise not to get in the way."
The King gave her a forced smile. "Very well. Albel," he called to the swordsman before he was out of hearing range. Albel turned in his usual lazy fashion. "Take Lady Sophia with you."
"Thank you," she bowed before hurrying to catch Albel.
He shot her a glance in the hallway. "Don't think that since you have a title now that you can do as you please."
"I just want to help you. Is that so bad?"
He didn't reply. He kept a steady pace as he walked through the castle. Sophia didn't dare speak to him; she just followed, doing her best to keep up. He stopped briefly at the entrance and called two soldiers to accompany them. Together, the four of them made one final stop at the stables.
No one spoke as they led the lums to the front gate. Albel walked in front. Each soldier followed leading two lums each and Sophia took the rear. She hoped that these animals were as easy to ride as a horse. Her grandparents had owned a horse and she had some riding experience.
Once outside, they mounted the animals and set out. Sophia was pleased that the lums were a lot like large horses. They were easy to steer, but smelt really bad. Though dry, the animals smelled like a wet dog.
Sophia noticed Albel look back at her on several occasions. His first glance held a hint of shock. He didn't think she would be able to ride the beast. Her confidence gained a boost. It was strange; but if he approved, she felt like she had just received a complement in the highest form.
With the lums' help, the journey was short. They dismounted on a deserted road. Once again, Albel took the lead. He walked cautiously up the path and peered around the rock where the path forked.
He turned back. "There's a wagon and two Aquarian wenches. It seems we have a theft to stop. Don't let your guard down." The men nodded. "You," he directed his words to Sophia. "Stay back here. We'll need you out of the way."
She nodded. As much as she had wanted to come, she suddenly didn't like the thought of fighting. Unlike the training, they weren't monsters – they were people and she wasn't sure she could hurt anyone. She stood still and watched the three men disappear around the corner.
She took a deep breath and forced herself not to shake. She started by taking small steps toward the edge; but was forced into a full fledged run when she heard someone scream. It was clearly a woman.
She had almost rounded the corner when she saw her nightmares meet reality for the first time. From her vantage point all she could see was Albel. He held a woman in his arms. She was hurt and on the edge of death. Sophia gasped in horror. There was a wild look in Albel's eyes she'd never seen before. It was a hundred times more ruthless then the look he had given Vox in the kitchen almost a week ago. Then his face softened and he smirked. She couldn't see the object of his interest because her vision was blocked. And she wasn't sure she wanted to see anymore.
Albel pushed the woman off of him. She could hear shouts, but the noise didn't register in her. All she saw was two women, badly injured and pulling themselves toward the front of the wagon and away from Albel.
Albel exchanged words with the unseen force. She tried to listen to what he said but that too was lost. Her ears were numb to sound. She felt a vile taste in her throat and swallowed hard against her nausea. She lost that battle when Albel kicked one of the women before she could get out of his reach. Sophia turned away and released her lunch, managing only to hold back her sobs.
The wind carried his voice to her ears. "Hah! I'll be the judge of that! Now, let's see what you've got!"
"Ahhh!" The response to his words came in the form of a scream.
After drying her damp eyes, Sophia was overcome with a compelling feeling to take action. She couldn't stand there any longer as she watched the two women struggle for breath. Running so to gain little attention, she made her way to the front of the wagon. She could hear the fighting, but it remained in the background.
She carefully approached the two. They looked up at her first with fright. Their fear was short lived and replaced with hate. Pure hate. Sophia took a step back and gasped. She'd never been looked at like this. Not ever with so much hatred. She swallowed hard, forcing what little saliva was in her down her dry throat, and took a step forward.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered as her voice trembled. She bent down, finding strength to speak. "I can't allow you to fight, but I refuse to let you die." She healed them just enough to give them a chance at surviving, but not enough to give them strength. They were still weak, but their wounds had closed and they would live.
She bowed slightly to them before running back to her hiding place. It had occurred to her that Albel would not approve of her actions. She had healed them anyway, unable to allow them to die. As much as she didn't regret it, she still didn't want Albel to catch her.
Once she had taken a few breaths from her hiding place, she dared herself to watch the fight. She knew that if Albel or the men had been injured, she would have to heal them. She peered around the bend and first noticed that both the men had already fallen. Then her eyes found Albel. He had his back to her and was on his knees. Her heart jumped and her whole body twitched. Her feet were ready to dart around the corner when another sight found her eyes. She was rendered motionless as her eyes found a face she thought she would never see again.
Her breath came shallow as she watched her childhood friend standing over Albel. Her nightmare came rushing back to her once more with a swift blow. In the dream Albel had killed Fayt. It would appear that reality would twist that dream.
She was consumed by the thoughts of what to do when her attention drifted off of Fayt for a brief moment. To one side was a man who was clearly dressed in modern cloths. To the other side was an Aquarian woman.
Fayt had made it to Elicoor and she should have been happy; but it only depressed her more. A turn in events had somehow put them on opposite sides of a war. And there was the look in his eyes and the lines in his face. It was clear that he had changed. Or had he changed? Was it just him, or was it her? She tasted tears on her lips.
"You...put up a better fight than...I..." Albel spoke in short breaths. His claw dug into the ground under him. "This... This cannot be!"
The man took half a step toward Albel. "Want some more?"
"Gladly!" Albel said, forcing his voice. "I...won't be defeated by the likes...of..." He winched in pain and dropped his sword.
Sophia couldn't feel anything. It seemed the ground had disappeared from under her. The sound of his sword hitting the dirt floor echoed in her ears.
"Let's go, Cliff." Fayt said keeping his eyes on Albel.
"Huh?"
Fayt looked up to the man at his side. "We gotta get Tynave and Farleen to a doctor, fast. And we got the copper. No reason to stick around here."
"But shouldn't we take care of this little problem first?"
Fayt glared back at Albel. "Yeah, well, it's just like he said: Easy wins have never been my style."
Sophia couldn't move as she watched Fayt walk away. The wagon vanished down the dirt path and she stared after it in a trance. Her whole world was crushing down on her. He hadn't seen her and she didn't know if it was good or bad. She was clearly on the side against the one he had chosen, but she had missed him terribly.
She had felt so alone since the pod crash. The closest things she had to lean on were Woltar and Albel. Woltar had taken care of her and earned a warm spot in her heart. Albel, though he seemed cold and distant, still reminded her of the mansion. The mansion was the only place she had found on this planet she could call home.
Albel. She had to check on him. She had been so wrapped up in her own problems she had blocked everything out. She broke her stare and ran to the fallen swordsman.
He grunted at her as she knelt beside him. He didn't say a word as she healed him. "I-I'm sorry. I should have done something."
"Pathetic…excuse."
She didn't know what he was talking about, but she was sure his words were directed at her. If this was a test then she had surely failed horribly. She bit her lip and set to healing him again. The fight had been three on one and he was hurt bad. No matter how she tried, she couldn't stop the tears as they stained her cheeks.
"This…this is my fault. I-I don't know what I should have done but I should have done something. Anything but just stand there."
His wounds were closing and the color returning to his face. "Bah. You are weak and are not fit for battle." His icy stare chilled her to the bone.
She wiped her face dry. "Sorry," she hung her head. "I think we need to get you back to the castle. You still need to rest."
"We? I'll take my own self. I don't need you, wench." He stood up, finding the strength to keep steady on his exhausted legs.
She stood beside him, unconsciously offering him support. He eyed her before walking unsteadily on his own. For a brief moment, she contemplated following Fayt. She knew she could catch up to him. She glanced back to the dirt trail but her feet didn't move.
"You know, now would be your best chance to run." His words were harsh and blunt. This tone held a hint of anger as he spoke with his back to her.
She turned her eyes to his back and her feet started their journey away from Fayt. "No. I said I wouldn't run out on you. I made a promise and I'll keep my word."
That day, she would look back on and see it as a turning point in her life. That day she had made a decision that would mark her path.
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Cliff looked over at Nel as she walked silently beside the wagon. Fayt walked on the other side as Farleen and Tynave rode inside with the copper.
"Will they be alright?" Cliff asked. Nel had just returned from checking on them.
"Yes." She replied in a short tone. She chewed slightly on the inside of her mouth. All this time around her, Cliff was slowly picking up on her quirks and habits. She was chewing on something more then her mouth. There was something on her mind.
"A fol for your thoughts."
She looked at him, her eyes deep in thought. "While we were fighting Albel and his men, Farleen and Tynave had a visitor. It's a puzzle."
He gave her a questioning look, but she only looked away from him and back at the road. "Well, you goin' ta fill me in?"
She nodded. "While we were taking care of business in Peterny and with Dion, it would seem that Airyglyph gained a new ally. They call her the Venus Witch and she is known for her expertise in runology and as a scholar."
"The Venus Witch," Cliff repeated in a questioning voice.
"It would seem that she healed Farleen and Tynave before retreating back. She is the enemy and yet she doesn't act it. Her actions are both questioning and uncharacteristic of war."
Cliff turned the information over in his head. Venus. That was a 'place' he knew of. He quickly put the two together. His attention shot up to Fayt, who was walking unaware of their conversation.
Nel noticed his hesitation. "You know her, don't you?"
"If it's the same girl, then yes. But look, Nel; let's keep this to ourselves for a while longer. I'll need to figure out how to break this to Fayt."
"So there's a possibility that the Venus Witch is this Sophia you're looking for."
"Yup, you're good," he said with a smile.
She gave him a half smile in return. He finally felt he was getting somewhere. After so much trying, she was finally responding to him. At this point, he would take what he could get.
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They rode their lums slowly back to the castle. Sophia found that her thoughts jumped sporadically in her head. She was unable to focus on only one thing and felt a headache coming on. She lightly rubbed her temple with her fingers.
"You know them don't you?"
His words sounded so distant, yet they rung in her head like a shout. The words themselves taunted her, not his tone. His tone was neutral, but his words were like daggers.
She didn't feel like carrying on her façade any longer. "One of them." Though her eyes stayed fixed on the animal under her, she could feel his questioning look on her. "I know Fayt; the boy. He…it's complicated."
"Humph." He returned his attention to the road ahead of them. There were questions in his head, so many questions but his pride stopped him from bringing them to life. Out of a hundred questions, some directed at her and others at himself, he managed to voice just one. "Is he from Venus?"
She inhaled deeply. For the first time, lying was not setting well with her even at the small level. She felt like she at least owed him the truth. He might exhibit a cold persona to her, but he did that with everyone. In truth, he had made her feel safe – even if it was in his own little way. He had stopped Vox, and that was something she was the most grateful for. There were also times he had looked at her and it seemed he was searching for something and not taunting her. Much like the way he was looking at her at that moment. For brief moments, he would drop his cold stare. It was strange, but she felt at home around him.
"No, he's not. And neither am I." She waited for a response, but only found him urging her to continue with his eyes. His eyes seemed to talk more then he did. "It's going to sound crazy but I'm not even from Elicoor. I'm from a planet called Earth. It's a very far ways from here." She met his eyes again. His eyes were studying her, surely for a sign of truth. He seemed to be skilled in reading people.
He grunted. "And you didn't feel the need to say so till now?"
She shook her head and looked down at the ground as it passed between them. "It's against our laws to do so if it's a planet that hasn't invented space travel. Also," she looked up. He hadn't looked away from her the whole time. She suddenly felt shy. She shook it off, trying to finish what she was saying. "Would you really have believed me if I said so from the start?"
"No."
"Do – do you believe me now?"
He didn't respond. His gazed drifted off of her and back to the road ahead. The castle gates had finally come into sight. In honesty, he didn't know how to answer. All the logic was there to support her words. Her eyes told him she was honest. She had fallen out of the sky in a contraption that was clearly foreign. Some of the words she used were strange. And finally, she did take on any situation thrown at her. She might seem fragile and weak, but in actuality she had handled herself strongly. He had seen the pain in her eyes in the kitchen. He had seen her fight in the Granah Hills. And he had seen her befriend strangers. All in all, there was an aura about her that didn't fit on Elicoor.
They were met at the gates and ushered immediately to the King. She was exhausted both mentally and physically as she stood beside Albel in the King's presence. She had to restrain herself from yawning, unsure if that would be seen as a form of disrespect or not.
The King stood and paced the floor softly in front of them. When he stopped, he was facing Albel. There was a hint of sadness spread across his face. "Albel, you are here forward charged with treason. The evidence against you is to be reviewed once more before a punishment is decided on. For the time being, you are to serve your sentence in the dungeon."
Sophia stared at the King in shock. Her mind racing with unanswered questions that she wanted to blurt out. The King didn't look at her, but kept his attention set on Albel. Sophia changed her attention from the King to Albel. He just stood there for a moment, a neutral expression on his face, before nodding.
He was accepting it? But how could he? He had just fought for his kingdom only to return and be jailed. She watched, dumbfounded, as the guards led him away. He didn't struggle or protest. Sophia thought she had felt lost before, but in that moment the true feeling of being lost hit her hard.
She watched until he was out of sight. For the second time today she watched someone walk away. She felt betrayed and nearly defeated. Her exhaustion was catching her and her emotions were hanging by a thread.
"I'm sorry but it had to be done," the King spoke to her, breaking the silence.
"Can I ask why?" She tried to steady her voice but failed.
"We have evidence to prove he was secretly connected to Aquaria. Today's fight was surely no more than another act of letting the enemy go."
His words echoed in her mind. Albel connected to Aquaria? Surly there was a mistake. She had seen him attempt to fight even when he wasn't strong enough to. Then his words really hit her.
"Another?"
"Yes," he spoke in a monotone. "He let the same three go five days ago at the Kirlsa Training Facility."
Now her head was throbbing. There seemed like there was a lot she had missed. Somehow, Fayt had been on Elicoor for a while. Was he looking for her or had he crashed here also? But that man he was with, his cloths were not from Elicoor. The more she thought about it the harder her headache raged.
"The hour is late and I suggest you get some rest. I'll send someone for you in the morning."
She bowed and left the throne room. Her eyelids threatened to close in sleep before she could make it to her room. Luck was on her side and she barely made it to her bed. She collapsed, not bothering to change before sleep took her.
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Mirage had managed to make it back to Airyglyph and for days had to wait for the chance to contact Sophia. For days she was either confined to the castle or under the watchful eye of a soldier or guard. Mirage almost got the opportunity to make contact, but was interrupted when the wounded soldier landed at the front gate.
When she saw the girl leave with a small group, she immediately went back to the Eagle and attempted to make contact with Maria or Cliff. Luck was on her side and she was able to contact Maria and inform her on the current situation. Cliff, however, wasn't answering his communicator. This didn't surprise her. If he was covering the fact he wasn't from Elicoor, then using a communicator at the wrong times would be counter productive.
"So, you can't get him to respond?" Maria's voice was unaccompanied by a visual, since the Eagle was running low on fuel. The Eagle was the only device Mirage had that was capable of long ranged communication and the only one that could contact Quark's leader.
"No," Mirage responded in her usual to the point way.
"And you are sure that Sophia is safe where she is?"
"Yes. She's doing quite well for herself."
"Between the Federation's reaction to the Vendeeni attack, and avoiding the Vendeeni themselves, it will take a while for me to arrive. Maybe it would be best for you to find Cliff and inform him of the situation first hand."
"Affirmative."
Once the connection ended, Mirage set out immediately for Aquaria territory. She knew time was essential. She had spent her free time gathering information and putting the whole scenario together. She knew that the war was about to reach a new level. She had quickly determined that Aquaria was going to enlist Fayt and Cliff to help with the new weapon.
She made it to the trading town of Peterny by nightfall. Despite the urging in her gut to take action, she took a room at the inn. She would set out first thing in the morning and if she was lucky, she would beat the two to the castle.
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Sophia smiled at the darkness around her. In this place there was no scenery, no noise and no distraction. She took a breath from her seating place before leaning back; knowing he would catch her. After years of the same dream, each move was premeditated and each breath on cue.
She let her back hit him. Like he had always done, he caught her and wrapped his arms around her. She tilted her head and buried her face against the smooth slope of his neck. His hair brushed lightly against her as he turned to kiss her forehead.
She closed her eyes as she reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. She could feel his face shift with a smile under her touch. She twisted against him so her side was on his chest. Her hand came down and traced the line where his shoulder met his neck.
"Now would be your best chance to run."
She froze at his words. All the nights she had spent in this dream, never once were any words spoken. That, and the voice clearly did not belong to Fayt. Fayt was always the one she fell back on and who caught her. He was the one whose arms should be wrapped around her.
She inhaled. The fragrance, though familiar, was not that of Fayt. No, that wasn't his smell - it was someone else. She pulled back and opened her eyes. Red eyes set on her in a lazy fashion.
She started to push away from him. Her hands pushed on his shoulders as she locked her elbows. In response, he tighten his embrace. "You said you wouldn't run out on me."
His tone was different. It almost pleaded with her, but it threatened her at the same time. She searched his face for emotion only to find a blank expression. Then her attention drifted back to his eyes. His eyes were the core of his emotions. She was sure if she could learn him, then she would be able to read him in his eyes. In the deep red hue, she found a calming peace. She let her arms go limp, but left her hands on his shoulders.
"You promised."
She couldn't respond. It was like she was rendered mute and unable to speak. A guilty pain stabbed her gut. This wasn't the man she should be holding. This wasn't the one she had thought herself to be with. She felt like she was cheating on the relationship she had once wished to have with Fayt.
Once wished? Past tense. Was that what she thought of it, or was it the dream twisting her thoughts.
Her breath was lost to her as he leaned forward. Time slowed and she closed her eyes, leaving only slits to look through. He was getting closer, his lips aimed. She didn't move. With an anticipation that was new, she waited.
Closer. Closer. Then he suddenly vanished. She looked around frantically. She was alone in the darkness. A chill swept over her and she hugged her arms around herself, missing the warmth he had provided.
"Albel?" Her voice trembled as she shook uncontrollably.
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When she woke, it was déjà vu. Sitting in the corner of her room was the man she had been wishing to see again. Sophia sat up and smiled weakly at him. "Good morning."
Woltar replied as he left his chair and seated himself on the edge of her bed. "I trust you slept well, my dear?"
"Not really. It seems that everything is happening all at once and it's hard to relax."
He gave her an inquisitive look. "You mean Albel's imprisonment?"
"Yes. H-how did you…"
His light chuckle interrupted her. "My dear, you talk in your sleep. But you are not much for conversation as you only said one word."
She blushed. She remembered saying his name. That had always been her private dream and twice in one blow it had been invaded. He invaded it first by being in it and now Woltar by watching her sleep.
"I will tell you of what has transpired, but first answer me this: Do you know the two who crashed here?"
Crashed here? She didn't see a crash when she had walked the streets. She remembered getting lost for a short time, but never seeing a crash. Perhaps she had been too distracted by the snow, or by the wounded soldier. Regardless, she knew who he was referring to. "I know one of them. The other is a stranger to me."
"Are they also from your home land?"
She shook her head. "They boy is, but I'm not sure about the other one." She wanted to be honest with him, but she just couldn't bring herself to fully indulge in telling him the whole truth.
"I see. And what is your relationship with the boy?"
"I've known him all my life. He's a friend of mine."
"This could pose a problem. As I'm sure you are aware of, he is helping Aquaria."
She nodded as she bit her lip. "I-I didn't know until yesterday where he was."
He took one of her hands from her lap and held is sternly, yet with a gentle touch. "I will not ask you where your alliance lies. You proved that by bringing Albel back and tending to his wounds. I know that you could have run off yesterday and never returned. That is all the proof I required."
She felt guilt spread through her. Part of her still felt she should have run after Fayt. She didn't understand why she had stayed. Albel had even told her to run if she wanted. But here she was, back in Airyglyph.
"As for Albel." His words drowned out her guilt. "He has been charged with treason. It seems that Vox has come conveniently across documentation to prove a secret agreement between Albel and Aquaria." A look of discus crossed his face.
"But, he couldn't have done that. I mean, when he told me of the war there was no way he could talk like that and be working with them," she protested.
"I am aware of that, but the King has his doubts. It seems that Vox is taking advantage of his ties to the throne. What convinced the King was when Albel didn't stop the Aquarians at the Kirlsa Training Facility."
She remembered hearing the King mention something about the facility yesterday. "Were they at the training facility five days ago?"
Woltar nodded. "It was rather suspicious that you would go there when they were also there, but upon further investigation I learned that you really did spend most your time in the kitchen. The time you were in the kitchen was when Albel encountered them for the first time. Yet, we still can not deduce his reasons for letting them leave. He can be arrogant, but this was a stunt no one would expect him to pull. Under normal circumstances, he would have killed them and be done with it."
She absorbed his words. In a flash, it came back to her. The one question she had asked him that morning. She had asked him not to kill. Her dream had made her fearful for Fayt and in desperation to ease her own mind she had asked him for one favor. What his true motives were remained a mystery to her, but she couldn't help but to wonder if he had done as she asked. It didn't fit. He hadn't responded to the question and she could not understand why he would do something like that for someone like her. She had only met him and they weren't exactly close. She pushed that idea to the side. There had to be another answer. To think she had saved Fayt's life because of a dream was a bit outrageous.
"Yesterday, the three bested him at battle. He may have put all his effort into the fight, but defeat wasn't an option. He had let them go once and when they escaped him a second time, Vox jumped on the chance to prove his point to the King."
"Why does Vox hate him so much?"
"That, my dear, is simply the result in their personalities refusing to get along. Since the day Albel joined Airyglyph's army, the two have seen each other as competition." He released her hand and patted it gently. "Now, ready yourself for breakfast. Afterwards there is something I wish to talk to you about."
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(A/N) This chapter might seem a bit boring, but it's essential to the story line. Now, I'll leave you to wonder what it is Woltar wants to talk about. You are all close when it comes to Josephina, but not quite (I try to not be so obvious, but not completely ellusive either). As for my Nel and Cliff moments, I know they are small but at first I wasn't really thinking of other couples. Now that the bug was planted, I'm working it in.