Disclaimer: I do not own Avalon Code or its characters in any way.

Hi again! If you're reading this now, I guess that means you haven't gotten bored with my story yet :) Yay for the little things! Oh well… I know you would love to hear me rant but I better let you get to the story. TTFN! Ta ta for now!

Anwar's POV

"Or you're just attracted to her. No doubt about that, though."

That was impossible. I was incapable of love. I'm incapable because Olly…

Olly.

"Dude, you okay?" I came back to my senses when I saw a tan hand waving in front of my face. I took a step back and muttered a quick "thank you" before waltzing out into the desert to think.

Impossible. Preposterous. It's just… impossible. I'd heard that love takes months to build… it's only been a few days! It can't be love!

I guess I had no choice now. I had to approach her about it.

Aria's POV

"There it is! I see it!" Rempo flew up ahead of us to the cave entrance. "He's in here! I sense him!" when I reached the cave, I propped myself up against the cool wall, enjoying the feeling of it. "You get tired too easily."

"Well, I'm not exposed to overwhelming heat 24/7. And also, I don't rule over overwhelming heat 24/7." Rempo's cheeks reddened at that.

"Let's just get a move on, okay?"

The dungeon was a haze. I couldn't say that it was a pleasant haze, killing monsters and all, but there was some light-hearted chit-chat exchanged between myself and the spirits. When we reached the final room, we saw the yellow bookmark float toward us. That was when Ur appeared.

"I cannot see you, but I sense you." He tilted his head slightly in my direction. "I am Ur, the lightning spirit. It is a pleasure to meet you, Chosen One." I smiled at his friendly tone.

Suddenly a loud ringing echoed off the walls. We all turned to see a giant robot of some sort fall from who-knows-where onto the ground in front of us.

"My release seems to have triggered an alarm. Chosen One, you must analyze your enemy. Find its weakness."

"Oh, please. A lecture already?" Rempo rolled his neck and stretched out his legs. "All right! Let's send this scrap of metal back to the recycling bins!"

Anwar's POV

"Anwar, come with me." I obediently followed behind the desert witch into the desert. She almost never goes into the desert unless going to the cave. "Do you want to know why I asked you to retrieve the girl and bring her to me?" ask? That was an order.

"No, I do not." Olly smiled an almost toothless grin.

"Would you like to know?" I didn't have to think about it. I wanted to know.

"If you see it fit." Olly grinned again, this time with mischief.

"She's going to help me conquer the world." I froze in place. Olly stopped and looked back at me with an amused expression.

That girl wasn't capable of any evil. Sure, she could kill twelve of fifteen monsters by herself, but I have yet to see a truly evil act from her. Her appearance, her smile, her eyes, the way she speaks… it's all innocent.

"I see." I continued to walk.

Olly took a moment to glance over my expression, which I fought to keep blank, and then resumed floating after me.

"You have successfully escorted me here safely. You're mission is over. You may head back to the palace." I nodded and turned to sprint back to the town.

I wondered if she would be okay.

Olly had told me to watch the prisoners. I didn't know what had happened at the cave, but I knew it couldn't have been good.

She had been kidnapped by the desert witch and put in a prison cell. I walked quickly to the dungeon, surprised at my eagerness to see her.

When I reached the thick, steel door, I sighed and plopped down next to it. Would it be so bad if I opened the door just a bit? Just enough to check and see if she was okay?

Just when I thought I was going to drift off to sleep sitting there, I heard the door creak. My immediate attention went to the girl slinking out from behind it, not noticing my presence. I shot up quickly and put my arm on her shoulder, causing her to jump.

"And where exactly do you think you're going?" She turned quickly to see who had grabbed her, and when she saw me, she seemed to be relieved.

"Oh… I thought you were that witch." She made no attempt to pull away.

"If she is your enemy, I am your enemy, too." Worry was obviously written on her features. I didn't like saying these things to her, but I had to. It was my duty.

Suddenly the worry just disappeared, and was replaced with a small smile.

"You aren't my enemy."

"And why is that?" she looked off into the distance once again in thought.

"It takes two to become enemies. You must think of me as your enemy, and I must think of you as mine." She lifted one of her delicate hands and placed it over mine. "I don't think of you as an enemy."

Was this another kind of magic…?

"And my guess is that you don't think of me as yours."

…a magic that invades my chest…

"So we can't be enemies."

…and causes these feelings?

She gave my hand a slight squeeze before returning to the cell for a moment. When she came back out, she had she arm around the shoulder of the desert witch's sister, Ellie.

"Please let us go, Anwar." There was no smile on her face. Just a pleading look in the eyes. Olly was going to get on him for this later.

"Go." I turned my back on them as I heard their footsteps ascend the stairs to the main hall. I stood there for quite some time, frozen.

When I was about to turn and leave, I heard quick, tiny steps descending the stairs. I froze once again, not knowing what to expect.

"Anwar." it was her voice.

"Why are you still here?" it was quiet for some time before I heard her step closer. In moments, she was right behind me. She lifted out her hand to gently touch my back.

"Thank you… for everything." She withdrew her hand slowly, hesitantly. I wasn't sure if she had left or not. But when I turned to face her, she was gone. I hadn't even heard her leave.

I must be losing my touch.

"Anwar, where are the prisoners?" I refused to meet the desert witch's glare.

"I let them go." I braced myself, waiting for the pain to come.

But it never did.

"Yes. I heard from one of the nomads that…" she didn't have to say it. I knew what she was going to say… and how she was going to handle the issue. "It seems that I need to strengthen the curse a bit." I had to avoid her. I couldn't let her see me again. Not the way Olly was going to make me.

I once again braced myself, and this time I felt the pain.

I'll edit it later. I don't really feel like it now. I finally have my plot all set out now :)

Stay tuned for chapter four!