A/N: Just like always, it's time for another chapter. However, Emil Lime and I decided to post two new chapters today instead of the usual one. This will officially start their Journey and introduce some interesting things into the plot.

As for this chapter, it starts a little bit in the past, where Ilene left the Church. It's really the only chapter that'll do it this dramatically and then it'll be straight forward here after, so bare with us.

Thanks to our wonderful readers and, of course, a special thanks go to Cobakia for reviewing.

If you enjoy the chapter, then feel free to leave a review! They're always appreciated, no matter how short.

Enjoy,

Orangepotato and Emil Lime

Chapter by Orangepotato

Holtz Capella: Now's hardly the time for an adventure…

His feet ran faster than he ever thought possible.

Down the flight of stairs, through the narrow hallways that circled the sanctuary and past the large wooden doors that served as the entrance to the Church, Holtz opened the doors just in time to see the last of the priests disappearing into the outside world.

Ilene was gone.

He'd never had a chance to say goodbye.

Dashing forward, he made a beeline towards the gate, only to be caught by Reverend.

The aging priest shook his head, eyes filled with sorrow. His frown only made Holtz uneasy.

"Let go," he growled, struggling a bit.

Reverend only tightened his grip. Not enough to cause pain, but enough to cease the fight, "My child. The Chosen's Journey is dangerous. It was her wish that you not accompany her."

"I don't care about that! She'll need me!"

"Please," Reverend sounded mournful, like he was speaking at a funeral, "Don't make this more difficult than it already is."

Heart sinking, Holtz casted his eyes to the ground, feeling Reverend release his grip.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that his sister would have to become an angel to save the world. She never chose her fate, it was handed to her at birth. Why? Why hadn't she ever agreed to run away when he'd offered it? Leave the world? They didn't need saving anyways.

"Holtz," Reverend turned away from the teen, walking back to the safety of the Church, "Come along."

The High Priest exited the courtyard as well, a deathly silence filling the air. Even the noise of the outside that was common for the time of day was gone. It'd seemingly vanished when Ilene had disappeared behind the gate.

Looking at the walls that enclosed him, Holtz took a deep breath and followed behind the aging man. Was this really how everything was going to end? The next time he'd see his sister would be when she was an angel? He'd have to go to the Tower of Salvation to visit her?

Stepping into the Church, he realized how much he hated the place. Yes, he'd always told Ilene that he didn't like it and she'd laugh it off, but he really did hate it. He hated every single person inside of the Church, he hated the Goddess for creating such a screwed up system… Hell, he didn't even believe she existed. Why would she create a world where one person had to suffer so much for the sake of everyone else?

He sighed. He didn't know anything about the so called 'trials' the Chosen had to face, but he knew that every other Chosen before Ilene had died. Either the Desians had killed them or the monsters had been too powerful for them to handle.

Ilene's chances of success were low.

Maybe the next time he saw his sister it'd be in a casket.

Tears stung at his eyes, but he didn't cry. Instead, he sat himself in the sanctuary, the hard wooden pew beneath him digging into his bones.

He didn't feel liked he belonged.

"My child," a priest approached him gently, "your sister is gone, isn't she?"

"Yeah." Holtz spoke to the ground.

The smooth voice of the priest filled the air, "You two were always close. I really thought you'd be joining her on her Journey."

"She doesn't want me there."

"I'm sure that isn't true."

"She said it herself."

"Well, maybe she-"

"Just shut up!" Holtz snapped his head up, snarling at the man. Anger flared in him for only a second, but it faded quickly, despair taking its place. Taking a deep breath, he realized he didn't even recognize the priest. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

The priest seemed slightly taken aback, but he simply smiled, "That's alright. I understand that you're upset." The man sat himself in front of the teen, silk robes swishing with the movement.

"Do I know you?"

"No, I'm sorry. Probably not. I'm new here. Reverend told me all about you and your sister."

"Oh."

Silence surrounded them again. Holtz looked at the back of the man's head. Jet black hair flowed out from underneath the priest hat, brushing the man's shoulders. Hints of yellow colored strands mixed with the black, the priest's hair almost seeming to be a bit longer in the front.

"Why don't you follow her?" The priest's question took the red head by surprise. He nearly jumped out of the pew, the man's voice echoing strongly off the of the sanctuary walls.

He finally found his words, "Because-"

"She didn't want you to there? I feel like you're the type of person who doesn't listen to anyone." A pause. "Even your sister."

The priest turned around in his seat, smiling at Holtz. There was a laugh on his features, like it was some sort of personal joke.

It was probably truer than Holtz wanted to believe.

"The priests will know I'm gone."

"What are they going to do? Follow after you?"

"They might send the Royal Knights."

"What will they do? Arrest you for aiding the Chosen?"

"What about-"

"You want to go, don't you?"

The question hung in the air for a little while. It resounded in the teen's mind, bouncing off every thought in his brain before finally resonating with his heart. It was the truth. He wanted to go. He'd wanted to follow after her when she'd left, hell, he wanted to jump up and run after her now.

Something inside him told him he needed to stay, however.

A small voice of reason.

Something that whispered there's no turning back once you've made the decision.

The priest spoke, "You're wasting time thinking up excuses when all you want to do is follow her. Who knows? Maybe you can change the course of nature itself."

His heart beat wildly.

Yes.

Maybe he could convince Ilene to escape from it all still. Maybe there was a chance she wouldn't have to turn into an angel if he could just convince her to understand. She didn't need to save the world from destruction… there wasn't anything in the world to save.

Standing, pulse thudding in his ears, he turned to leave, but a question brushed his mind, "What's your name?"

The priest stood, smiling, "Jacques. My name is Jacques."

Holtz reciprocated the smile, "Thanks, Jacques."

With that, he charged out of the sanctuary and quickly grabbed a backpack of supplies, a steel sword and his signature bow and arrow. The Chosen's first stop was the Temple of Martel. That's where he was going to go.

Running through the desolate town, passing by the ruined buildings and once grand structures, he headed towards the forgotten temple, feet pounding against the earth as fast as his rapid heartbeat.

I'll just wait for them outside the temple! I'll convince her to let me join them. Then maybe I can convince her-

His thoughts were interrupted when he spotted the large group of Desians. He spotted several priests running off through the thickets of trees that surrounded the temple. Instantly, his heart was in his throat.

Ilene!

Drawing his sword, he leapt into the air, voice ripping through his throat, "Get the hell away from her!" In the bleeding light, he just killed the first person he saw. Nerves on fire, he yanked his sword out of the downed Desian and readied himself for an onslaught.

Several of the Desians turned to him, eyes wide behind their masks.

Fear was barely there as Holtz rammed his blade through one of the surprised men's stomach. Blood splashed downwards, earth drinking it up greedily.

He managed to kill a few more before making it over to his sister. The mercenary nearby had already taken advantage of the attack and had started chanting, mana hued orange and red swirling around him as he finished in one breath,

"Eruption!"

Red hot lava burst through the ground, scorching several Desians in the area. Shouts and hollers filled the air, the rest of the enemies positioning their blades and charging the group as the last few hit Desians dissolved into cinders.

"Prepare yourself," the mercenary breathed, blade already at the ready. His rust colored eyes narrowed and Holtz felt an instant dislike for the man.

Prepare yourself? What stupid advice… the red head tossed the thought away though, as the first Desian approached him. He swung his sword out, the metal clashing into the enemies armor and chipping it. Dodging his opponent's attack, he managed to cut the back of the man's knee, hearing a howl of rage and pain.

That man was down for the count.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Ilene danced between enemies, eyes focused. She kept her pace, twisting out of the way when there was danger, but she there was still hesitation when she'd bring her blade down on a Desian. There was still a pause when she considered which way to go.

With a small smirk on his face, he realized he'd always been a better fighter than her.

Killing two more Desians, Holtz yanked a few arrows from the quiver on his back and slid the bow from around his shoulder. Pointing at one of the enemies his sister was engaging, he sent an arrow flying, the pointed tip hitting the enemy in the eye, blood spurting out of the guy's helmet before he dropped to the ground.

He flashed Ilene a smile and watched terror cross her face for a moment. He was able to see her fumble with her sword, but before he could turn around to see what she was staring at, he felt heat brush against his back and then heard the solid sound of something charred falling to the ground.

He dared to turn around.

"You should be more careful when enemies are around," the mercenary spoke, voice smooth and low.

Anger flared in the red headed teen, but Ilene responded quickly, "What was that all about?"

"I don't know."

She let out a long sigh, "But apparently the priests were in on it." There was a sad tone in her voice, but Holtz didn't look at her. He kept his gray eyes trained on the mercenary. After a moment of silence, she continued, "We need to keep going."

She moved past Holtz and her bodyguard, the man turning and following after.

Before his sister could say the inevitable 'go back to the Church', he piped up, "I'm coming with you."

That met with shock from the mercenary –well, as shocked as he could appear, Holtz mused – and made Ilene turn, a smirk hinted on her face.

"It'll be dangerous," she noted.

"Danger is my middle name."

"It might be scary."

"I'm not scared of anything."

"You could very well die."

"Then cry at my grave, will ya?" He walked up to his sister, making sure to glare at the mercenary as he passed, "If you don't want me in your group. Fine. But I'm following. I'll go on the Journey by myself. Martel knows I need to cleanse my soul with a pilgrimage."

She smiled, "Martel does know."

It was the mercenary who gave a long sigh, "If the Chosen desires it, who am I to say no?"

He walked passed them both and started towards the next temple, Ilene and Holtz following behind.