Tear knelt down before Van's grave.

It was mid-morning, and a cool breeze was floating through the fields.

It really had been a year…

Yulia City had needed help in restoring order now that The Score was gone, and she was there to comply. Records had needed to be written and research needed to be done.

That was basically what the city was now, a research facility for the study of fonons.

A year had passed since the final battle with her brother and she had not seen anyone since the victory banquet.

Jade and Guy had returned to their own country, Malkuth.

Anise had told everyone that she was going to return to Daath to help restore the Order of Lorelei. The Score may have been gone, but Yulia's teachings were still alive, after all.

Mieu had been staying back in Baticul with Natalia, who had resumed her role as princess of Kimlasca-Lanveldear.

Tear closed her eyes.

And then what about him?

Everyone had left the banquet with grim looks on their faces…they all wanted to know hisfate.

Tear had tried to not think about him, for a soldier was not supposed to allow their personal matters to interfere with their job. And that's what she was now, a soldier working to serve the planet.

But still she wondered and still her mind strayed.

What had become of him? Where was he? Had he…survived…?

Luke…

Live life for your country and your planet, this was the job of a soldier. So…

"Tear!"

She turned to see a man running towards her. He worked in the records department with her, and she recognized him instantly.

She stood up. "W-What is it, Pender?"

He stopped and bent over to put his hands on his knees and catch his breath.

"It's the city!" he said panting. "This group of protesters is attacking it!"

Tear's eyes widened.

"Attacking the city?! But why…?"

"They're rebels, unhappy with the disappearance of The Score."

The Score…so there were still people who would cling to it. She was reminded of all the events that had taken place a year prior.

"Please, you have to help! We managed to gather all the citizens inside the town hall, but we need fonic hymns to heighten the defense of the building!"

Tear nodded. "Okay, I'm coming."

Her job as a soldier was once again calling for her.

Tear and a few others quickly sang several hymns to seal the doors of the town hall.

She turned towards Teodoro. "What should we do?" she asked.

Teodoro frowned. "Right now it's important to keep all the citizens safe. We sent over a couple of carrier pigeons to Malkuth."

Tear nodded. They would need help, as there wasn't anyone but her and a few others who were capable of fighting in battle.

She looked around the town hall. All over people stood, with worried looks on their faces.

Voices could be heard on the other side of the door.

"You bastards better open this door! Curse you for betraying The Score!"

Just what was going on?

Outside stood a troop of Malkuth forces were just beginning to arrive. A boy dressed in armor and having golden hair stared at the crowd trying to attack the town hall.

He sighed.

"Commander Cecile, what should we do?"

Guy scratched his chin. "Well, I was hoping that we wouldn't have to resort to violence."

He turned towards his soldiers.

"Just try to capture as many as you can and avoid killing, okay?" he said smiling.

"Yessir!"

How can remain so calm in a time like this, several of his soldiers thought.

With furious battle cries, they charged.

Guy felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see a man with red eyes and spectacles.

"Quite a lot of respect your soldiers have for you, eh Commander Cecile?"

"Jade." Guy grinned. "Hey, you don't have to call me 'commander', okay?"

Jade closed his eyes. "Oh, I didn't mean for you to take it seriously. Let's just hope that Tear is alive and well," he told him.

"Yeah…"

The rebels followed the orders of a man dressed in white. He was a rather brutish figure, with a huge frame and bulking muscles. His hair was brown and clung to his forehead and sides. "Come on! Bust the doors open if they won't let us in! Make them regret the day they stopped following The Score!"

"Russell, sir!"

The man turned to see one of the rebels gasping for air. "There's a troop of Malkuth forces coming!"

The man named Russell roared. "Let them come! I will show them the sting of my axe!"

Tear helped lead the citizens upstairs.

"Quick, we can get out through to Aramis Springs!" Pender told them.

"But what about them?!" Tear asked. Her grandpa and several others were still at the doors, trying to hold them shut with their fonic artes.

Pender closed his eyes. "We have no choice. Let's just hope that help arrives soon."

Tear frowned.

"Okay…"

"All right, let's go!" Guy attacked with the blunt end of his sword, striking all the rebels he could.

Jade stood to the side, casting his fonic artes.

The rest of the troops charged through the crowd, causing a chaotic battle between them and the rebels.

Guy ran straight towards the door of the town hall, with the intention of clearing the enemies trying to get inside.

However, he suddenly felt a blade slam against his, and glared at the man holding it, who scoffed at Guy.

"You political 'heroes' always screw things up. Well, no matter." He leapt back. "You are about to be sliced to bits by my axe!"

Guy readied his sword. "Heh, it's been a while since I've had a good fight. Don't disappoint me."

Russell ran forewords, lifting his axe in the air. He was about to bring it down on Guy, but he managed to roll out of the way.

Guy then leapt up into the air and struck Russell on his head, allowing a thick stream of blood to erupt out.

He sheathed his sword when he landed on the ground. "Waaaay to easy."

Several of the rebels stopped battling when they saw their leader lying dead on the ground. This was the perfect opportunity.

The Malkuth soldiers quickly managed to finish them off, taking as many as they could prisoner.

Guy walked towards the door, followed by Jade.

"Well, I must say that this is a new record for you, Guy."

Guy grinned. "You really think so?"

"Yes, you managed to only kill an eight of the enemy this time."

Guy sighed. "Oh well, we did what we could, right?"

He knocked on the doors to the town hall.

"Get lost, you Score following scum!"

Jade frowned and pushed his glasses up. "We're with Malkuth. The enemies have been finished off."

The doors opened. "My apologies, Colonel Curtiss" Teodoro said running up.

Tear and Pender ran back downstairs.

"Colonel, Guy!"

Tear ran up to them, a smile on her face.

Guy grinned. "Hey, Tear. Long time no see, eh?"

Tear nodded. It seemed like a cloud had been lifted from her mind after seeing her friends again.

"What's the situation with the citizens?" Jade asked.

"We were about to evacuate them," Pender told him, "But then you guys showed up."

Jade nodded. "Good."
Teodoro turned towards him. "Just what has been going on here, Colonel?"

"I wish I knew that myself," Jade said, closing his eyes and frowning.

"So you're in the Malkuth forces now?" Tear asked Guy, standing off to the side with him.

Guy nodded. "Jade and I both. Well, I guess Jade was in already, but"- he grinned. "You'll never guess what happened."

"W-what?" Tear asked, a look of curiosity on her face.

"I'm his commander now!" He laughed.

Jade suddenly appeared behind him and coughed. "I don't really think that's something to brag about, right Commander Cecile?"

A look of shock came over Guy's face. "R-right."

Tear smiled. It was good seeing the two of them again.

"Well, what should we do now?" Guy asked.

A sly look came over Jade's face. "You're the commander, why don't you tell me?"

Guy grinned nervously. "H-Hey, come on."

"Well, we should go back to Malkuth. We need to take the rebels to jail as well as give Emperor Peony our report."

He turned towards Tear. "Why don't you come with us?"

"Yeah, it's been a long time since we've seen each other," Guy told her.

Tear smiled. "Sure."

It really had been to long.

Just what had everyone been doing in their time apart?

And what was he doing?

Tear closed her eyes. No, a soldier's duty is…

But…