And here comes chapter 15!

Honestly I have no idea what's going to happen. I better start writing to find out.

Enjoy!

I do not own the characters or the locations of Tales of Symphonia.

"You are sure that you don't want me to help you? It looks quite heavy" Anna said and watched how Phaidra was carrying a basket full of firewood. "It's not heavy at all. Besides you are still hurt. You shouldn't carry anything" the elderly woman said, but Anna saw that she was breathing heavily. She rolled her eyes and took the basket from her hands. It was heavy, but she would be able to carry it to the house.

"At least let me do something to help you" Anna said and walked to Phaidra's house "I'm not as fragile as I look." Phaidra touched her cheek softly. "But you're not as tough as you pretend to be." The young woman raised her eyebrows. "What's that supposed to mean?" She put the basket next to the front door. "Only that you like everyone to think that you can take care of yourself" Phaidra answered. "And can't I?" Anna answered. The elderly woman smiled. "Of course you can. But just like me you hate it, when someone thinks that he has to help you. Even when you need help."

"I still don't get what that has got to do with my toughness" Anna answered truthfully. "Forget it. I was simply thinking out loud" Phaidra answered. "You think I'm pretty stupid, right?" Anna said and opened the door. "Of course not!" the elderly woman replied. "You are a bad liar, Phaidra" the young woman commented. "I'm not lying!" Phaidra protested. "And you do it again" Anna said and rolled her eyes.

Five days had passed since she had been saved. And in those five days…nothing had happened. There hadn't been the slightest sign of anything! Anna had hoped to at least hear or see something from Noishe, but nothing. But this big fat nothing at least proved that he was really back in Derris Kharlan. She still felt awful but at least she knew what had happened.

"Anna, are you even listening?" Phaidra asked and stopped her thoughts. "S-Sure!" she answered a bit confused. The elderly woman shook her head slightly smiling. "I thought you wanted to visit my husband in the afternoon? You said you wanted to help him." "Yes, I want to help him!" "Then you should leave now or you can accompany him on his way back home" the woman said laughing.

Quickly Anna left the house and started walking to the Temple. After five days she knew the way by heart, but honestly it was hard to get lost on the way. A soft breeze was blowing and even though it wasn't a strong wind Anna was afraid it could lift up her dress. Phaidra had had quite some fun dressing her. Right now she was wearing a beige dress with long sleeves with a dark brown bodice. Anna had to admit that it was a pretty dress, but so inconvenient. She missed her pants.

The Temple was already in sight when Anna heard a noise behind her. She couldn't even move around, before something nailed her to the ground. Great now a monster is going to kill you! she thought and was about to scream, when she felt something wet touching her neck. She turned around. Whatever this is, it's really heavy!

Absolutely amazed she looked into Noishe's puppy dog eyes. "This…is…You are…" she stammered. The Protozoan started to lick her face and for the first time Anna didn't mind a bit. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"NOISHE!" she said blissful "It's you! I thought I would never see you again!" The Protozoan barked happily and his tail was wagging extremely fast. She let go of him to look into his face. "Where have you been? What did you do? What happened?" she asked quickly. Noishe looked at her for a while. Then he started to whine. She patted his forehead and said "Yuan, right?" He nodded.

Suddenly there was a tear running down her cheek, but Anna could prevent herself from bursting into tears. "Noishe, I'm so, so incredibly sorry, that I walked off alone! I can't say how sorry I am. What happened is alone my fault! I'm responsible for it!" Noishe licked the tear off and touched her cheek with his nose. She smiled sadly.

"What about…him? Do you know where Kratos is?" she asked and was prepared for her last hope to be destroyed. Both looked at each other for an endless moment. Noishe looked away and whined loudly. She clenched her fist. "So…Derris Kharlan, right?" she said, but her voice broke off. The Protozoan touched with his nose her forehead. Then he whined silently. Anna knew what he was saying. She held the tears back and caressed his back. "I'm going to miss him dearly…" she whispered, but Noishe heard the pain in her voice. He licked her face again. "Thanks, Noishe! Thank you…" she said and kissed his forehead. Then she buried her face in his fur. Feeling the warmth of his body was comforting. "I'm going to miss him so, so much!" she said silently into his fur. Noishe whined again.

She took a deep breath. Then Anna got up again. "I have to go. Someone is waiting for me" she explained. Noishe looked like he wanted to accompany her. "No, Noishe! You can't come with me" he whined "Those people are afraid of you! They think that you are a monster." The Protozoan looked quite disappointed. "Well, you can't come with me and you can't come to the town. So what shall we do? Hm…I got it!" she snapped her fingers. "During the day you stay in the woods. There you can chase some animals and catch something to eat. And in the night we meet at the Temple" she pointed at the building "In the night no one goes there and there usually aren't any monsters. So it's safe for the both of us. Is that alright, Noishe?" He seemed to think about it. Eventually he nodded.

"Great!" she hugged him again. "I gotta go! I have to help someone." She made a step, but then she turned around again and said smiling "I'm glad you're still here with me, Noishe! I really am!" And Noishe looked like he was thinking the same thing.

Anna brushed some chocolate brown strands out of her face and blushed slightly. "Quit it! He was certainly not!" the young woman said to Jonathan, while they were walking back to Iselia. The man smiled. "Oh he was. This young man couldn't stop looking at you. I'm sure he comes back tomorrow just to see you again" Jonathan answered. "Oh please! You are exaggerating." "No, I'm not. I bet if you aren't at the Temple tomorrow he will ask where you are." Anna raised her eyebrows. "I bet he won't." "Then it's a deal. Tomorrow you stay in the town and we'll see what happens." "Deal!"

Anna stretched her arms. "And even if you should be right, this boy is wasting his time. I'm already taken." Yes, she was taken and not even this distance could change that. She noticed Jonathan's worried look. "I know that he's gone, but that doesn't change the fact that I love him and no one else." He shook his head, but smiled.

"This young man has to be quite special."

"Unique fits better. And he's older than me."

"Really? How much older?"

"Aboutfourthousandandeightyea rs" she mumbled silently.

"What?"

"Not much older" she lied.

"However, even if you're taken that doesn't prevent other men from falling for a young and pretty woman."

"Would you please stop flattering me? It's embarrassing."

"For me or for you?"

"For me!"

…

"And how was your day, love?" Jonathan asked Phaidra and kissed her cheek. "A bit boring but not bad. How was yours?" "Nice thanks to my assistant" he looked at Anna. The young woman rolled her eyes, but smiled. "She is very good with people. Especially young man" he winked at her. "You promised me not to tell her" Anna said and sighed. Phaidra laughed. "I should have told you. He's not good at keeping secrets." The elderly woman added smiling "So are there any handsome pilgrims out there?" Anna rolled her eyes. "Hardly" she answered.

"Really or are you just picky?" Phaidra asked. "Seriously are you two trying to get me married? Since three days you are talking about nothing else" the young woman replied. Jonathan shook his head smiling. "No, of course not. At least not intentional." "Good" she answered silently. "But if we would try it with all sincerity we would get you married in less than a month" Phaidra said "I introduced all my children to their partners." She sounded quite proud. "You sound exactly like my mother" Anna answered and rolled her eyes.

The meeting with Noishe had been short, but very nice. The Protozoan had been more than happy to see her. A mutual feeling. She had told him about Phaidra and Jonathan and that they were taking care of her now. He had seemed to be happy that everything was alright. Noishe had, however, whined quite loudly when she had told that she had had to go back. She had teased him about being afraid of monsters when she wasn't there. He had protested also quite loudly.

Now Anna was sitting at the table bored to death, because she had said that she wouldn't show up at the Temple. And because Phaidra didn't let her do anything with the lame reason that she shouldn't strain herself and the wound.

"If you don't let me do anything, would you allow me to read something?" Anna asked and looked at Phaidra. The elderly woman looked up from her cooking and answered "Of course I would let you if I had any books that you could read. I'm afraid the only ones written in a normal language are the cook books."

"What do you mean?" "Most of my books are written in Angelic Runes. My family is the Chosen's family so of course I have to study this ancient language. But I don't think…" "Perfect!" Anna said and smiled brightly. "What?" the woman looked confused at her. "I can read that. I studied this language myself!" "You can?" Phaidra said amazed. She nodded. "You are full of surprises, Anna" the elderly woman answered smiling "They are in my bedroom. In the bookshelf above the bed."

The rest of the day Anna spent reading books about the Journey of Regeneration. It was a bit weird, since she knew the true meaning of it, but it was certainly better than starring holes into the air. However, after one year without reading a book it was absolutely wonderful to read again, especially since it was written in Angelic Runes. At first she had some problems with the grammar, but later it was really just fun.

She was so focused on reading that she didn't even hear when Jonathan came back. He had to touch her to snap her out of it. "Wha-What?" she said confused. "So interesting?" Phaidra asked and smiled. "Oh Jonathan! You're back!" Anna said and smiled. "You are certainly a fast one" he answered. Phaidra rolled her eyes. "Oh leave her alone."

"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that you lost the bet. To be more precise you lost it double." "Double?" Anna and Phaidra asked confused. "Yes. Two men asked for you." "Two?" Anna said unbelieving. Jonathan nodded. "Well, you are certainly popular. It's a miracle you aren't married yet" Phaidra said smiling and winked at her. Anna simply rolled her eyes. "Well, then I have to admit that you were right, Jonathan. But I don't quite believe you." "I can prove it" the man answered. "How are you going to prove that?" the young woman asked. "I told them that you'll be back tomorrow. Then you will see it yourself." "Great…" Anna said, but her voice really wasn't enthusiastic.

She turned over the page of the book in front of her. She read the headline of the chapter. "Angels". She suppressed a sad sigh and closed the book. No, she couldn't read a whole chapter about them without crying.

"Is it okay if I go for a walk like yesterday?" Anna asked the two. "But you haven't eaten anything" Phaidra said. "Are you kidding me? I can still barely move after all the food you shoved into me at lunch" Anna answered. The elderly woman sighed and said "Alright. But be careful. There are still monsters out there." "Don't worry! I can take care of myself" she answered smiling and left the house.

It was pleasantly warm that evening. Even the strong wind was warm. She stretched her arms and sighed. On her way to the Temple she had to stop her dress from lifting up several times. She groaned a bit frustrated. "Dresses" she mumbled.

Eventually she arrived at the Temple. Like always the sight of the Temple of Martel was impressive. This place had something magical. She shook her head and smiled. What would Martel say to all this? I don't think she would be very happy Anna thought while going up the stairs to the Temple. The sun was still above the horizon; however, the sky was already orange and red. "Wonderful weather!" she said sighing.

Noishe wasn't here yet, so she sat down on top of the stairs. The wind played with her hair, making it even messier than it already had been. "Great! Later I can brush it forever" she groaned. The air smelled fresh and a bit salty from the nearby ocean. It reminded her a bit of Luin.

She shrieked when Noishe's cold nose was pressed against her neck. "You love to startle me, don't you?" she asked and rolled her eyes. The Protozoan barked happily. He laid down next to her and put his head on her lap. Anna stroked his head. "And did you chase some animals?" she asked smiling. He nodded. "That must have been fun!" Noishe barked. He seemed to agree.

The young woman laughed silently. "And you weren't afraid of the monsters?" He looked at her, like that had been something ridiculous to say. "Of course you weren't. Someone like you isn't afraid of anything" she replied laughing. The Protozoan nodded.

She smiled. "Know what? I read some books today about the Journey of Regeneration. It's quite weird to read them, when you know the truth." Anna shook her head. "I know what Cruxis did is wrong, but I'm a bit impressed by them." Noishe looked at her surprised. "Don't give me that look! I mean you have to admit that it is impressive that they invented a religion that is so successful even after four thousand years. Wrong but nonetheless impressive." Noishe simply shook his head. "Hey! I think about that stuff, okay? I have much time on my hands!"

The young woman sighed. "Far too much time!" The Protozoan sat up. He whined silently. He had noticed her sad expression. "Do you know how it feels when you have so much time and nothing to do?" He nodded. She sighed again. "I have no idea what I am going to do now! I can't go back or forth. I'm stuck!" He touched her cheek with his nose.

"Luin is not an option. And I don't want to burden Phaidra and Jonathan any longer so staying is also out. Izoold might be…No, I wouldn't make it." Anna groaned. "Why do I even bother? Some Grand Cardinal is going to catch me anyway. I could spare me the trouble and go to the ranch right away." Noishe looked at her shocked. "I am joking! Don't worry! I'm not so desperate. Nothing could make me wish to go back to that hell." She stroked his back.

"But I do have a problem with the Desians. After all I'm a host body on the loose. Not very good for Kvar's image. I bet the other Grand Cardinals are making fun of him for not being able to catch one weak human. The Angelus Project escaped. I hope he has nightmares because of me. That would be only fair" she said bitter.

"We should change the subject" Anna looked at the horizon. The sun was about to completely disappear. The last rays of the sun painted the nearby ocean fiery red. "I should go now. It's getting late." Noishe whined. "Do we have to discuss this again? I won't find back when it's dark." He didn't seem to consider that as a problem. "They will worry about me!" The Protozoan whined disappointed. "We'll meet again tomorrow" she assured him.

She turned around. But before she could go down even one stair, she was on her knees. "Ahh" she hissed silently and touched the Crystal. It was slightly glowing. "You ruin everything. I hope you know that!" the woman whispered bitter. She even felt how the cut on her back, which had mostly closed, opened again partly. She felt warm blood running down her back. "Dammit! Wasn't the thing with Yuan enough for you?" Noishe next to her barked concerned.

"Since I'm already talking about him. If you ever happen to meet him again, bite him for me" Anna said to the Protozoan. At first he was a bit confused, but then he nodded. "Thanks, Noishe!" she answered weakly smiling. The burning vanished slowly. "It's over…" she sighed relieved. The young woman got up again. The Crystal has a larger appetite than usual and it's getting greedier she thought worried.

"Good Night, Noishe!" Anna said smiling again and went down the stairs. She was walking faster than usual. She felt uncomfortable and her back was hurting again. "If I should ever see this Seraph again then he is so going to pay" she growled. Halfway to Iselia Anna stopped abrupt.

She looked around. She was pretty sure she had heard something. "You are getting paranoid, Anna" she said to herself. She wanted to start walking again when she suddenly heard a bark behind her. "Noishe?" Anna said surprised and looked at the overly excited Protozoan. He was jumping up and down and couldn't stop moving.

"Is something wrong? What happened?" she asked. With his teeth he grabbed the fabric of the dress and pulled her back to the Temple. She pushed him back. "Noishe, what the hell happened?" the young asked slightly angry. If that was just a try to make her stay longer…He barked again. He sounded extremely excited. Again he pulled her with him. "Oh why can't you speak?" she asked and sighed.

Now he didn't let go of her anymore and pulled her with him with incredible strength. "Noishe! Ouch! Let go! Would you please watch out! This dress is borrowed! I can walk myself! Noishe, let go!" the young woman protested growing more and more annoyed "Noishe! Let go of me! Noishe! I'm not gonna say it again!"

Finally they arrived at the Temple. The Protozoan pulled her up the stairs. She fell several times. "Noishe that hurt! I think my knees are bleeding. Noishe!" The young woman groaned. "What the hell has gotten into you? Noishe? Are you even listening?" Finally they reached the top of the stairs. Noishe let go of her, but didn't stop jumping around. She looked at him confused. "Noishe? Have you gone insane?"

"That is his way to express happiness" a voice said in front of her. "No…" Anna whispered and her eyes widened.

To be honest it was cruel even for me to stop here.

Hope you liked it!

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