Lux-and-darc

by tiakall

On another of the ten thousand worlds, the Earth Vestal makes herself the enemy of the world when she begins the Grand Ritual. In its aftermath, Alternis searches for the members of his adopted family, and allies to retake an increasingly dark Eternia. Alternis needs the light power of a templar to fight the Earth Vestal... but what he has is the power of a dark knight... *Complete

13. Chapter 13

"Feeling a little more comfortable with the controls now, Alternis?" Datz asked from behind the younger man at the wheel.

"Much, thank you. It's still a little difficult to pay attention to everything all at once, though."

"Just keep it in your peripheral vision. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you'd have done this before Caldis," he said.

"Well, I've always liked them, and I'm pretty good with hover vehicles and bikes," he said. "I thought about becoming an airship pilot when I grew up. I like anything I can ride."

Datz laughed. "Is that so?"

"We're getting close to the encampment," Zatz called from the bow. "No sign of unfriendlies thus far."

"How about it, kid? Want to try a land touchdown?" Datz asked.

"Uh…." Datz laughed again. "So, where are we heading, anyway?" Alternis asked, changing the topic.

"The Anticrystalism forces-that's what they're calling themselves-have control of western Eternia, from what I hear. Of course, most of that is tundra and small villages. The capital city's become a hotspot, but the Anticrystalists aren't willing to try and siege it directly because they don't want to hurt the civilians."

Alternis looked out at the mountains they were skimming, thinking. When they had talked about taking down Brigh, he'd assumed it was a matter of personal feelings, not an issue with the entire form of government. But the Earth Vestal was also the ruler of Eternia. What has she been doing to my country in the last five years?

The ship pitched, and Alternis swung the wheel, steadying it. "Whoa," Datz said. "Be careful."

"It's not that, Datz!" Zatz called from the front. "We're being fired on!"

"Are you kidding?!" Datz went over to the rail, then back to the wheel. "Hand it over, kid, and watch. You'll need to see this sooner or later."

Alternis grabbed one of the supports on the deck, watching as Datz approached the controls with a calm demeanor, ratcheting up their speed, raising their altitude. Another impact sent them rocking. "Airships aren't made to dodge cannon fire," Datz muttered. "Zatz, do we have a pinpoint on their location?"

"I can't see them! They're blending in with the snow!" Another impact, coupled with the sound of something down below exploding. "Shit!"

"What was that?"

"Nothing good. We're losing altitude."

"Edea!" Alternis shouted down. "Are you guys all right?"

"Pay attention, boy!" Datz snapped, all business now. "We're going to be making a crash landing. Zatz, get down there and do what you can!" The thin man ran downstairs immediately.

"A crash landing?!"

Datz scanned the landscape ahead as another cannonball hit. "There, we'll set down in that lake. It'll help soften the blow. Hold onto something!" Datz reached around, throwing a strap around his waist, through his belt loops, and pulled the ship's nose up as it began to sink. Alternis could smell smoke, and could only hope that his sisters were still unharmed.

They picked up speed as the ship sank, the trees zooming for them. Ice shattered with a horrid sound as they hit the lake, the bounce breaking apart the sheet all the way to the shore. The front end plunged toward the lake, just barely avoiding being driven under, and the airship skimmed across the lake until reaching the shore, the nose plowing a furrow in the snow-covered dirt. "We're down!" Datz called, unstrapping himself. "Are we taking on water?"

"Yes!"

"Leave the water to me!" Mephilia shouted, chanting something. "There, I've frozen up the holes. That will hold for a while, at least."

"We'll have to have her hauled onto shore," Datz said, "but more importantly, you lot have to make a run for it. Look, the encampment isn't far. Just keep going that direction."

"You're staying here?" Alternis asked.

"I'm not handing Heavyblow over to anyone. Don't worry about me. You guys are probably the target here, not us. We're just independant airship crewmen."

"He's right," Edea said, leaning on the railing as she made her way up the stairs, Konoe following with Agnes on her back. "We'll make a run for it."

"What's wrong with Agnes?" he asked Konoe.

"Bumped her head," she got out. "I want a healer."

"'m fine," Agnes mumbled. "Just dizzy."

"Then let's hurry." Alternis did a quick count as they jumped down into the snow: Edea, Konoe and Agnes, Tiz, Mephilia, Artemia. And then himself, landing with a puff of snow. "Artemia, you go ahead and see if you can track any allies-or enemies," he said, armoring up and drawing his sword.

She nodded, drawing her bow as she sped off into the woods. "Tiz, can you carry Agnes?" Alternis asked.

"Yes, I'm pretty strong-"

"Konoe, switch with him," Alternis said. "I want you available in case of trouble."

She nodded, letting Tiz pull Agnes onto her back, taking a place at his side. Mephilia stood on his other side, Edea at the rear. "I can hear vehicles," Edea said. "Let's hurry. They'll be slowed down by the woods and the airship."

As one, they ran for the woods. "Hurry, I can see the tanks," Edea called.

They broke into the line of trees, Alternis leading them at an angle away from the lake in case the tanks had spotted them. He winced at the sound of hovering vehicles overhead, scanning for them. "We may have to look for a place to hide if they get closer," he called to the others. "Keep your eyes peeled."

He heard the whistling moments before the shell impacted on the ground, shattering the trees and ground around it. All of them were tossed off their feet like leaves in the wind, fragments of wood and rock flying everywhere. His armor spiderwebbed all over with miniscule cracks from the pressure, but somehow held together. Landing on his shoulder with a hard impact, he lay there for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened. The tanks. Something hit us. The others…. He pushed himself to his feet, trying to take in everything at once. Some distance behind them was where the magic-infused cannonball had hit, flames still burning around where it had landed. In front of him, the others lay where they had fell, blood streaming out from wounds. He couldn't tell who was the most injured, who needed help first.

At his feet, Edea stirred, holding one hand to her bleeding head. "Edea!" he said, kneeling next to her. "Are you all right?"

"What?" she said, her voice loud. "I can't hear you!"

He pointed to the others, and she tried to pull herself to her feet, but fell. A tree branch had penetrated deep into her leg. Alternis wanted to tear it out, but knew that would only make the bleeding worse. They need healers. If Artemia comes back-if she hasn't been caught-she'll have to make a run for them. He looked up as he heard the sounds of footsteps, men with swords and staves, vehicles flying overhead. "Stay where you are, rebels," one of them spat.

There was no sense in trying to convince them that they weren't, of anything at all, but he decided to try one thing. "Leave them alone, and leave here. I don't want to have to kill you all, but if you insist on staying here, I'll show you no mercy."

They charged forward as a response, and Alternis steeled himself for combat, meeting their charge. He had to keep them away from the others at all costs. His body released a fresh bout of pain with every movement, but he didn't care. He was used to pain by now.

One of the soldiers met Alternis's sword with his own, and they parried, tying him up while the others moved past, heading for Edea. "No!" he shouted, putting all his darkness into the sword, slicing through both it and its owner. "I said to leave her alone!"

Edea, however, wasn't willing to be treated as an easy target. From her sitting position, she rose to her knees, spinning Braev's sword around like it was a toy on a string, slicing through anything that got close. But more and more were filling the area, readying weapons to strike against the injured.

In his distraction, one of them swung a sword, breaking through the cracked armor and biting into his side. His sword at a bad angle, he resorted to a punch with his off hand, knocking the man back. Artemia, he prayed, putting a hand over his side, please bring help!

"All of you, stay where you are!" The command was so forceful, so overpowering, that all of the soldiers halted, swords still ready for their strikes. "You scum of the earth! The Goddess of Victory has come to raze the wicked from her sight!"

Alternis could just see two figures, silhouetted against the setting sun. "Oh, for crying out loud," the second figure muttered.

"Stop ruining my entrance," the first said, giving the second a push.

"Get them!" one of the men cried, and they began moving up the hill.

The first figure, however, waggled a finger, and then cast out a hand, filling the area with a dark wind. Edea ducked down, and Alternis flattened himself behind a tree, watching as the blades of dark power within the wind sliced apart everything, bodies separating into multiple pieces with splashes of gore. Unnerved, the last of the group began to run away. "You can't escape the divine wrath of my kamaitachi!"

"That's enough," the second person said, and somehow, Alternis thought the voice sounded familiar. "They're safe. You wanted to see them, right?"

The first figure stepped down from the top of the hill, revealing herself to be a teenaged girl, dressed in white and red, long black her hair pulled into twin ponytails. "Alternis!" she shouted with glee, making a beeline for him, throwing her arms around his neck so hard that she knocked him into the snow. "I knew you'd be back some day! You kept your promise!"

"Victoria…?" The sword dropped from his hand as he touched her shoulders. "It's you...?"

She fumbled with his broken helmet, tossing it aside, taking his face into her hands. "Of course it's me, silly. I never break a promise. Though you came awful close to breaking yours just now! But I guess I'll forgive you."

"I hate to interrupt," the second voice behind them said, "but if you don't want him to be making a pretty painting with his blood in the snow, let me at least stop the bleeding."

"The others-" Alternis said as Victoria helped him into a sitting position.

"Yes, yes, I'm getting there," Victor said as he knelt in front of Alternis, adjusting his glasses. "Is that the only spot where you're bleeding?"

"I think so."

"Then hold still." Victor put a hand over the wound in his side.

It felt like acid had been poured in, reminding him of his treatment at DeRosa's hands. "By the crystals, that stings," Alternis said, tightening his hand around Victoria's.

"It's supposed to hurt," Victor replied firmly. "To remind you not to do something that stupid again. Now, I'll check on the others."

"Yeah, well, I'll be sure not to be in range of a bomb next time I visit," Alternis grumbled. "You know, there's a white mage you should meet."

"Holly?" He shuddered. "Don't remind me."

Alternis leaned back against the tree, hoping that some of the pain and injury would leech out of him. "Nice to know he hasn't changed."

Victoria snuggled against his side, putting her arms around his waist. "He's positively insufferable, all right, but he's not too bad, I guess. Don't tell him I said that. I missed you, Alternis. I missed you so much. I've been training every day since I got better, so that when I met you, I could protect you this time."

"Well, you definitely did that." Alternis looked up as more people came over the hill from the direction Victor and Victoria had come.

"Take the girl back to camp, carefully," Victor instructed, "we're going to have to be delicate with that leg." He sighed, several bloodied splinters landing in his palm as if attracted. "What a mess. I hate firebombs. You, hold still."

"Ow!" he heard Tiz's voice. "What the heck are you doing?"

"Healing your stupid self, so shut up."

"That's our Victor," Victoria quipped. "Such a warm and personable bedside manner."

"My sympathies lie elsewhere," he shot back.

Others were already helping the rest to their feet or carrying them, more healers on the scene. The branch in Edea's leg had been reduced to a stump, and she was now being carried like a princess in the arms of some bulky man that he thought might have been Barras. "Alternis!" He looked up at his name, and Einheria landed next to him in the snow, looking him over. "You're all right?"

"Getting there. Help me up?" With Victoria and Einheria, he got to his feet rather shakily, looking around. "Did we make it to the camp?"

"No, you're still a ways away. Artemia came running in like she was on fire, letting us know where you were, and we came to meet you." Einheria put a brief hand on his shoulder. "Welcome home."

With the Eternian forces gone for now, vehicles were brought in, saving Alternis any further walking. "We're going to be heading straight back to headquarters," Victoria told him as she got him into a large vehicle, where the others had already been laid out. "We have a lot of catching up to do. By the way, I've already met your sister," she added with a gesture to Einheria. "She was positively wonderful in battle."

"It wasn't much," Einheria protested. "I just did what I was instructed to do."

"Nonsense! Your spear work is so fantastic. I admire people who are strong in battle, you know." Victoria swung her legs idly. "And Artemia is the one that came to our camp at the front lines, right? They'll bring her to headquarters, too."

"You must be Victoria, right?" Edea said from her seated position on the floor, wincing as Victor carefully extracted splinters from her wounds. "I'm Edea. Alternis told me a little bit about you."

"He told me a lot about you," she replied. "He said you were impossible to hate, and I think he was right on the mark."

Edea blushed. "And this is my other sister, Mephilia," Alternis added. "Mephilia, can you hear me? Mephilia, this is Victoria, a friend of mine when I was still in Eternia."

"I can hear you in one ear, so far. Yeek, that tickles," she said, shaking her head. "Hello, Victoria."

"You're the mage, right? It's always nice to meet a fellow mage," Victoria said, clapping her hands together, "even if we are in different disciplines. You like magical beasts, right? That sounds great."

Mephilia drew herself up proudly. "Yes, I'm a summoner, and I know a bit of black magic, too. When we have a chance, I can introduce you to Prome-pyon, and Ziu-pyon, and Susa-pyon… All of them are very strong."

"I can't wait!"

"By the way," Alternis asked, "where is this headquarters we're heading to, anyway?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you?" Victoria said, putting a finger to her chin. "It's Lord DeRosso's castle."

"The old castle on the cape?" Alternis echoed. "It's still one one piece?"

"Don't be rude," she chided him. "Lord DeRosso keeps it in quite nice condition. He's one of the leaders of the Anticrystalism movement. Though I'm told you know the other, too."

Alternis took a moment to digest that. If he remembered the history Mahzer and Braev had taught him, the DeRossos had been some sort of nobility when Eternia had been ruled by a king, prior to the government takeover by the Crystal Orthodoxy. Now that he thought about, though, they had never said the bloodline had died out. "Who's the other one? Commander Kamiizumi?"

"Oh, no. He's far too wander-y to be a leader. He just takes on tasks here and there." Victoria pointed, and in the distance, the little cape was visible, the massive castle situated on it. The DeRossos must have been a higher rank than he thought. All around it, he could see temporary structures erected for vehicles and fortifications.

By the time the vehicle landed, the wounds had all been healed, although white magic couldn't do much for the exhaustion that had set in over everyone. Victoria offered her weight to Edea for her just-healed leg, chattering as she led her inside. "I would say she hasn't changed," Victor said to Alternis as the doctor cleaned his glasses, "but honestly, the treatment made her personality worse. As selfish and impulsive as ever."

"I don't see it that way."

"Good for you. At least, she seems to have taken a liking to your sisters, so hopefully you can be a better stabilizing influence on her than I have been." Victor let out a sigh. "It's been exhausting."

As they reached the door, he saw Vincent, checking things off a list as he talked with someone. "Oh, Victor!" he greeted with a smile, waving cheerily. "Welcome back. How was the outside world?"

"Cold." Victor brushed past his father without further conversation.

"Just like your attitude with your only father!" Vincent sulked, handing the checklist to the man he'd been talking to. "So, Alternis. Good to see you back in Eternia. Though your armor's seen better days."

He looked down at himself, then dismissed the now-useless armor. "We got caught by a firebomb."

"Ah. Try not to do that; I hear they're unpleasant."

"I'll keep that in mind." Alternis gave the older man a bow. "Thank you for helping Victoria."

He waved a hand dismissively. "Purely selfish motivations, I assure you. I just wanted to prove that it could be done. You have no idea how popular I was after I released my findings, you know. It's hard being the best doctor in the world."

Alternis couldn't help but crack a smile at the doctor's attitude. "So it worked all right?"

"More or less. Victor thinks some of the psychosomatic effects-the mental, the emphasizing certain aspects of her personality-are still in play, but honestly, not nearly as bad as I was expecting, since she was a little bratty from the start. Don't give me that look, boy, it's true and that's what you love about her. As far as physical side effects, she doesn't have that much physical strength in her body, but I don't know if that was the case before. Well, after this whole mess is over, I'm sure there are more patients that would love to have a shot."

Alternis let out a sigh of relief. "Even if you say it was selfish, I'm still glad you were able to help her."

"She helped herself just as much," Vincent said, his eyes gazing off into the distance. "The determination of a patient is a big factor in recovery from any illness or injury, you know. Sometimes, I wonder if my wife would've made it, if she had believed in herself a little more."

"I'm sorry."

"Really, I should be thanking you for bringing the little pipsqueak to me, I suppose. I let myself doubt too much, when I couldn't save her. I needed the motivation to try again. I guess that's why Victor has such a short temper with me. Really, I'm selfish too. All humans are to a degree, I suppose, though." Alternis nodded in agreement. "Well, tell our fearless leaders that I'll be by in a bit, once I've checked the equipment. Have fun, kiddo!"

Footsteps on the smooth marble tile drew his attention, and Victoria stopped before him, hands on her hips. "What are you doing? Let's go, you're going to be late." Without waiting for an answer, she took him by the hand, pulling him forward.

"Who's the boy?" he heard Kamiizumi's voice ask as they approached a set of doors, one barely open a crack.

Tiz's voice: "I'm Agnes's bodyguard. Just ask Alternis."

"He's also the sole survivor of Norende," Alternis said as he entered. "So he may know more about what's happened there."

"Ah, so you're the Norende boy Agnes was talking about," came a familiar voice across the room. "Yes, indeed, I'd like to hear more from you."

"Sage!" Alternis said in surprise. "What are you doing here? You're not in Yulyana?"

"There are things I need to do here," he said, "with Lord DeRosso here." He gestured to the man next to him.

He reminded Alternis of the stories about vampires that some of the other kids had told, that Braev had always scoffed at. Tall, thin, impossibly pale, and were those fangs? Alternis fought down his curiosity, deciding such questions would be rude. "Greetings to you, Alternis Dim Lee," the man said with some sort of accent he couldn't identify, but that reminded him a little of the vestals' formal speech. "Please, have a seat."

He pulled up a chair next to Edea, Victoria sitting on his opposite side. "It pleases me to see all the children of Braev and Mahzer Lee gathered in one place. Though by the same note, it saddens me that neither of them could be here," the Sage said.

"They are here," Edea spoke up. "In our hearts."

DeRosso's lips twitched in a brief smile. The Sage cleared his throat and continued. "The reason I've called you children here today is in regards to the Earth Vestal and the Grand Ritual. Although Commander Kamiizumi," he nodded to the swordsman, who had taken a position against the wall, "has done an excellent job laying siege to the Orthodoxy, the root of the problem is the Earth Vestal and the Earth Crystal. It is more than the fate of one government; it involves the world."

"That's why we put the crystals into dormancy, correct?" Agnes spoke up.

"Yes, child. And thus far, that seems to be holding the Grand Ritual at bay, but even now, we might be in peril. I did tell you in Norende that the Grand Ritual can have effect even when not completed. The evil energies that have gathered in Norende are proof of that."

"Just what is the Grand Ritual, anyway?" Victor said. "What is Brigh trying to achieve?"

"What she wants to achieve, and what it actually does are two different things."

"Sage," DeRosso said in a low tone.

"I know, but we're in it deep now, aren't we?" The sage hopped into a chair that seemed designed for his short stature, keeping his face level with the others. "What she thinks it is going to do is give her immortality and infinite power. While it is true that there is a way to grant immortality, and she will be briefly infused with a great power, it is not for the reason that she thinks. The Grand Ritual, even when it's only begun, is a beacon-one that will attract evil to our world. It will affect the crystals, and draw the Evil One into our world."

"What is the Evil One?" Alternis asked.

"What form it takes, I'm not sure," the Sage admitted. "I only know that its goal is to set up this world for the coming of the God of Destruction. If that happens-if the Grand Ritual is actually completed-we will have no way to protect our world from behind vaporized in the stroke of an instant, at a whim, by it."

"Boy, that's cheery," Victoria muttered.

"How do you know all this, Sage?" Mephilia said. "You always said the future was too difficult to predict."

"You're correct." He let out a sigh. "This information-this and much else-was given to DeRosso and I many long years ago by a visitor from… I can only conclude that she herself was from the future. She spoke of many things that to her, were in the past, but for us, consisted of the future." He looked over at Alternis. "A single village, now known as Gravemark Village for the stones that lay where people fell and died, its destruction was one of the many things she spoke to us about. With everything else she predicted coming to pass, I have no choice but to conclude that there is a high likelihood that the rest will, as well."

"Did she tell you the Grand Ritual would be completed?"

"...Yes," he said after a while. "And that the Evil One would fulfill its purpose. But, I also believe she came back to tell us for the sole purpose of trying to change that future. It could very well be futile, but I do not wish to sit by idly and let our world become nothingness. Lord DeRosso feels the same." The other man nodded a brief agreement.

"So then," Einheria spoke up, "what's the plan for stopping the Grand Ritual? You must have some kind of idea, since you've had Agnes putting the crystals into dormancy."

"Yes, that was the first step," the sage agreed. "Now, we have two pieces remaining of the puzzle. The crystal, and Brigh. We have to put the Earth Crystal into dormancy, and…."

"And we have to kill Brigh," Alternis said. "Is that what you're saying?"

"Brigh is mine," Victoria said immediately. "No one else gets to touch her."

Alternis looked over at her in surprise. Victoria's eyes were dark, seething, but restrained; she knew the target of her rage wasn't here. "In a nutshell, yes. We have to get you inside the Earth Temple for both of those goals."

"That isn't going to be easy," Victor said. "They've had it sealed up like a wax-covered bottle as of late."

"Yes, that's true. But I think we can get past their guard by offering them something that they want."

"What would that be?" Edea asked.

The sage looked over at Alternis, locking eyes with him. "You."

"Me?" Alternis stared back. "Surely her vendetta against me isn't so grand. She couldn't want me so badly she'd lower her defenses to get at me."

"It's more complex than that, child," the sage said. "You are a very real obstacle between her and her plan."

"Why?"

It was Victoria that answered, her voice low. "Because the barrier around the crystal is connected to you."

"Huh?" Alternis turned to her. "But it was my father that put up that barrier, not me."

"Yes, and if your father was the only factor involved, it would have eventually faded without his support." Victor cleared his throat. "Victoria and I worked as spies some time ago, and we examined the barrier in depth. There is definitely another power involved in the creation of that barrier, and Victoria is adamant that it's yours."

"You did tell me you and Braev were the only ones present when the seal was created, did you not?" the sage asked gently.

Alternis sat back, looking at Victoria again. She was staring straight ahead, her expression displeased. "But I don't have any ability with the light, or any affinity with the Earth Crystal."

"Most likely because that ability was sealed away with the barrier on the Earth Crystal. Braev was training you to be a templar, was he not? He had the ability; he could tell if others did as well. I assure you he would never have started you down that path if you had none at all."

"All right," Alternis said after a moment, "let's assume that this is the case. So she'll want me to break the barrier?"

"She'll want you dead, boy. If you die, that barrier will be released for sure. Brigh didn't realize this at that time, and thought that Braev's power was special. But now..."

He let out a sigh. "I'm not a very effective bait if she can just snipe me with a cannon and be done with it. How do we use this to our advantage?"

"That's what I called you in here for. All of you young people have unique abilities that have been battle-tested and strengthened," the sage said.

Einheria stood up, reaching for pencil and paper. "So, at the very least, we need to get Alternis inside, to remove the barrier, and Agnes, to seal the crystal and put up a barrier of her own."

"And me," Victoria spoke up. "Because I'm going to kill her."

Einheria paused, then nodded. "Will that really be strong enough, Sage?" Agnes asked. "My power is already covering two crystals. And the earth is not my affinity."

"You don't need to worry about that," the sage said, "so long as you carry that pendant I gave you. It will give you what you need."

"That leaves the rest of us to figure out how to get the three of them inside." Einheria did a quick sketch of the temple's tower and the surrounding area. "Any suggestions?"

The rest of them looked at the map, studying it. "I have an idea," Mephilia said at last. "But it's kind of dumb."

"I'll take a dumb idea over no idea," Alternis said. "What are you thinking?"

She pointed at the upper levels on the sketch. "Why don't we just crash an airship into it?"

Alternis stared at her. "I mean, we have that one in Caldisla that we stole from those soldiers," she added defensively. "Why not use that?"

"Aside from the crashing part, that actually isn't as insane as it sounds. If we announced that we were bringing in Alternis, had him tied up somewhere noticeable, we could get close by saying we're bringing him in," Victor suggested.

"And if we needed to, Mephilia's summons could keep them off our back," Edea added. "That way the rest of us would be able to escort him in."

"We'd have to find a pilot," Einheria said. "Do you suppose Datz would be willing?"

"If we repaired his ship, I bet he would," Alternis said. "He's practical, and he loves that ship."

"You young folk are crazy," the sage said with a shake of his head, but he was also smiling. "And that is why we asked you. While you are doing this, Commander Kamiizumi and our forces will draw their attention, so that your ship escapes attacks."

"How are you going to do that?" Alternis asked.

DeRosso spoke up, his voice cool. "We'll attack the capital city."

"Are you sure?" Edea said. "The civilians-"

"We'll make every effort to spare the townfolk," he continued. "If you're worried, then do your job quickly. Once you've done it, give us a sign; Mephilia, use one of your summons, and send it straight up from the tower itself. We'll take that as the sign that Brigh is dead."

"One other thing," the sage said. "Do not mention the Grand Ritual outside of yourselves. Keep this as quiet as you can."

"Why's it matter?" Victoria asked.

"Because we do not want to give anyone else ideas to give it a try," Agnes said. "And if people knew, they would lose faith in the vestals."

"That's absolutely correct, Agnes. If all goes well, I would like the Grand Ritual part of this incident to fade from history altogether," the sage said. "Well. It will take us a few days to retrieve the ship and do modifications so that you will be able to pull this off with relative safety, so take that time to rest and prepare yourselves."

---

When Alternis emerged from his room the next morning, his wounds healed and some strength returned, he found Konoe outside his door, fidgeting. "Good morning," he said around a yawn. "What's on your mind?"

She jerked her head, indicating the direction, and he followed her agreeably through the hallways of DeRosso's castle. During this war period, he had converted most of the rooms to sleeping areas, making do with what blankets and makeshift beds they could throw together - the room Alternis shared with Victor and Tiz appeared to be some sort of music room at one time. What had gone on in this place when it was full and happy, Alternis wondered, touching one of the faded walls. Lord DeRosso didn't have any family or even any retainers that he'd seen. How lonely this one house must be. "You've been talking more," he said. "With the girls, at least. You still seem just as quiet around me."

She gave him a brief smile. "I don't need to."

They exited through one of the doors, onto a snow-covered balcony. Even here, the wind had died down, leaving a smooth coat of snow that was promptly fouled up with their footprints. "You look like you want to ask me something." She gave him a nod, smiling. "About me?" A nod. "Past?" Shake. "Present?" Shake. "Future?" Shake. "Hm… something about me that doesn't involve the past or the future?"

"Why… are you… you?"

"Why am I me?"

"You… were kind to me." She seemed to want to say more, so Alternis waited, listening. "You… care about others. You always… treat people gently. You protect people. And… you forgave me. When… I couldn't forgive myself. I always… always… did what I was told, because… I thought that I had no worth... otherwise. But I always… wanted to be treated… like I was part of a family. For a while… I saw your kindness as my punishment. For lives that I'd taken. I would live with that guilt… forever… if only I could have stayed there."

"I told you," he said. "The woman that killed my mother is dead. Grapp Keep killed my mother. You're… not a stranger to me. You're someone I know, and like."

She looked up at him, eyes watering. "Why… are you so kind?"

He closed his eyes, considering the question seriously. "I learned what it was like to be unkind from my birth parents. I learned what it was like to be kind from my real parents. So… I guess I just had really good parents."

"Alternis, I… I have another… question."

"You're doing great. Go on."

"Alternis… Will you… will you be…." She swallowed, as if it were the hardest words she'd ever say in her life. "Be my big brother?"

He smiled, and put a hand on her head, like he had done since he had met her. "Of course. But we're a package deal, you know; that means you also get four sisters."

She smiled, nodding eagerly, then stepped up to him suddenly. Circling her arms around his waist, she gave him a hug, leaning into his chest. And then she let go, still smiling as she left the balcony, going back inside.

Alternis watched her go with a smile. It was cold out on the balcony in regular clothes, the snowflakes beginning to fall in his hair, but somehow, it was pleasant, and so he stayed there, looking out at the view.

"So you have another little sister, huh?" Victoria asked from behind him. "Or is she actually an older sister?"

"You know, I've never bothered to ask her age." He turned around. "You were listening?"

She blushed, looking to the side. "I was looking for you, it's not like I was eavesdropping," she muttered.

"It's fine. Are you cold out here? We could go inside."

"I'm fine if you are." Walking over to him, she put her head against his shoulder. "But it's a bit warmer like this."

He laughed, putting an arm around her. "You could just ask."

"But I like this way." She looked up at him, and giggled. "You still wear your hair in that little twist I gave you."

"I like it like this."

"I do, too." She leaned against him, looking out at the landscape. "You were gone for so long. I worried you forgot me."

"I never forgot you."

"I never forgot you, either. That old man's treatments were miserable, but every time I felt like it was too much, I just imagined you were there, holding my hand."

"I wish I had been." He took her cold hand in one of his. "Let me make up for it."

Victoria grinned. "I demand interest. You're going to be holding my hand for years to pay it all back." She turned her head away again. "I was a little jealous of that girl, you know."

"Why? You want to be my little sister, too?"

"No." She tilted her head up to look at him through her eyelashes. "I want to be your wife."

He blinked. "That's a little sudden, isn't it? Don't we get to date first?"

"Does that mean you want to date?" she asked, a little color coming to her cheeks, and he didn't think it was from the cold.

"Well," he said, his voice going quiet, "you're the only one I've ever wanted to date, so it'll have to be you."

"You started well, but the ending was a little flat. I give it a seven out of ten on the romance scale," she said, leaning up into him until their lips brushed.

"You'll have to teach me, then," he said, and kissed her.

She closed her eyes, waiting until he'd pulled back. "Sure. Teen romances used to be my favorite."

He looked at her, and unsuccessfully tried to restrain a chuckle. "You read teen romances?"

"What's so funny about that?"

"I'm not sure it fits with the battle-scarred Goddess of Victory thing you have going."

"It fits perfectly. Because I'm the Goddess of Victory, and I read them." She flicked him in the nose. "Punishment. And you owe me another one of those later."

"A nose flick?"

She leaned in, giving him a quick kiss. "Another one of those, moron. I'm going to go practice with Mephilia; see you later."

Alternis stayed where he was, a hand slowly touching his lips. Victoria was, indeed, as Victor described: selfish and impulsive. And he was pretty sure Vincent was also right, that he liked every bit of that.

Heading back inside, he stretched his muscles, debating. If he could find Edea, he could get in a little sword practice for the day. They just had to be careful not to overdo it, after their recent injuries. Too much would only exhaust them, not prepare them.

Voices in the hallway ahead caught his attention, and he paused, listening. "...want to go with you. I'm not a trained fighter like Alternis, but-"

"Unacceptable." Agnes's voice. "Tiz, I cannot put you in danger."

"I've already been in danger. And you saved my life, and discovered what happened to my town, and even gave me hope that they might be able to be helped after this. But I haven't been able to do anything for you."

"That is not true. I feel… reassured when you're with me."

"Then let me reassure you there! I feel the same way!"

He should walk away, he knew, especially after teasing Victoria about overhearing conversations, but he stayed. "Tiz, I… I am flattered, but… I cannot put you in danger. If you were to be hurt, I…."

"Then I won't get hurt, I promise. Please, let me be a source of strength for you. Even if what I have to offer isn't much." A step and a rustle of cloth. "I've never felt this way about anyone before, Agnes. I want to be with you. I want to get to know you better. You bring a light to my heart that no one else does. If you don't feel that way, all you have to tell me is 'no'."

"Yes," her voice broke. "I do feel the same. That's why I can't take you with me. I'll be all right. Alternis and Edea will be accompanying me."

"But I want to be there, too. They can guard your body. Let me guard your heart."

"...I'll think about it." Her footsteps moved away.

Alternis waited, but Tiz stayed where he was, and at last he approached around the corner. "Alternis," Tiz said. "Alternis, could you please teach me how to use a sword? I need to get stronger."

"No," Alternis said, "not in the amount of time that we have. You're much worse with a sword when you first pick it up, until the movements become reflexes. You'd do better to stick to your staff."

"Then what should I do? Alternis, I think… I think I'm in love with the vestal."

Well, that escalated quickly, Alternis thought, though he wasn't surprised in the least. "Look, Tiz. Supposing you had to escort Agnes into Florem, and to do so without suspicion, you had to dress up as a beautiful woman, makeup and all. What would you say to that?"

Tiz's cheeks flushed a deep red, but he said, "If it's for Agnes, I'd do it."

"That's the kind of mental preparation you need," he said. "If you're going to protect her heart, be serious about it. Our enemy is another vestal, who was indirectly responsible for the death of the Fire Vestal, who put attacks in on her friend, the Water Vestal. And in order to seal the crystal, she'll have to do so with one that she has a bad compatibility with. This won't be easy for Agnes."

"I don't think it will be easy for anyone," he said, "but you're right. And I'm aware of that. If I go with you, you'll have to protect me, too, and I'll just drag you down in terms of battle. But I still want to go."

"You could die."

"I know that. I could've died when I started becoming… that thing. But I didn't then, and I believe I won't now. So I'll do what I can."

Alternis grinned. "I can't say no to you, Tiz Arrior. If we both survive this, let's be friends."

"You're already my friend, Alternis," he said with a smile back. "But when we both survive this, let's get to know each other more."