Asch jerked awake, his breath coming in harsh gasps as he clutched at the sheets. The nightmare quickly fled his mind, leaving him with a vague sense of horror as he worked to calm his breathing. He pulled his hand through his hair, clearing his bangs from his face as he looked across the room. No change. He sighed and let his head fall forward, contemplating on returning to sleep. A flash of red crossed his mind and he clenched his jaw before pushing the sheets away and getting out. He turned on the lamp as he left the room, heading straight for the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

Nearly ten minutes later, he was sinking into the desk chair with a small sigh as he breathed the scent of the coffee. He closed his eyes as he relaxed and allowed the brew to fully wake him. Another ten minutes and he would get to waking the dreck up.

He looked at the replica from over the rim, taking in what was obviously a state of sleep and not just simple unconsciousness. The day before seemed to have been a switch. He tapped the side of his mug. But a switch from what? What had been the difference? The spirits? He scoffed to himself. Obviously, but what was the connection? Did the spirits somehow alter the mind? They had played on the idiot's guilt. Used it for their own ends. He tilted his head at that, watching as said idiot turned slightly. What was it that the spirits wanted so badly?

He huffed and drained the last of the coffee, setting it on the desk as he leaned forward. Wake up time.

Natalia chewed on the inside of her lip as they approached Baticul, clutching the edge of her seat in the Albiore to keep her nerves from showing further. Various scenarios of her father's rejection played in her mind, many of them ending with them being arrested or killed. Or both, her mind seemed to taunt her and she gripped the seat tighter.

"Hey," she jumped as Tear placed a comforting hand on her shoulder then smiled apologetically. It appeared she wasn't hiding her nerves as well as she thought. "It'll be alright," Tear assured, "everything will work out." She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Tear smiled softly.

"You still have us," she told her, giving her shoulder a squeeze before settling back into her own seat.

"Thank you," Natalia murmured as she looked to the window, watching the clouds as the Albiore passed them by. She took a deep breath and steeled her nerves, trying to still the minute shaking she could feel in her hands. Everything will be fine. She released her breath and clenched her jaw. If only she could believe it.

They managed to land and get to the castle without incident, quickly scaling the tiers of Baticul with very little speaking. It was just outside the audience chamber when Natalia paused. She bowed her head, hoping beyond belief that her father had yet to be told. Mohs' voice echoed through the back of her mind and she swallowed. Hopefully, he had lied at the time but if Almandine had reported the incident…

"Natalia," Jade urged and she nodded, raising her chin and straightening her back in the image of the princess she was raised to be. It wasn't just her future riding on this meeting.

"Let's go," she murmured, striding forward to push through the doors and into the chamber. "Father!" she called as the King stood, surprise, awe, and a small bit of apprehension showing through as his guard fell.

"Natalia," her name came out in nearly a whisper and she nodded, pacing the rest of the room to reach the steps to the throne. "You're truly alive. I hesitated to believe it when I received reports of your sightings yet," he trailed off as he sank back into his seat and Natalia smiled. He didn't seem to know yet.

"I apologize for not returning sooner but there were more pressing matters at hand," she stepped back as the rest of her group came to a stop behind her, "Father, Grand Maestro Mohs want this war between Malkuth and Kimlasca and he will do everything in his power for it to keep. He has already been to Malkuth claiming that the fall of Akzeriuth is at the fault of our country and I'm willing to believe he is en route to Baticul to report something similar. Whatever you do, do not heed his words."

Ingobert was frowning, "Natalia, this is a very large accusation you're pinning on the Grand Maestro, are you absolutely sure?"

"Very much so," Natalia nodded, "there's also the matter of the lands at this moment. I'm sure you've noticed the disappearance of Chesedonia and most of the desert."

"Indeed."

"They will not be the last."

"But the Score!"

Natalia shook her head as her hands curled into fists, "The Score isn't to be trusted! Already, events have happened that-"

"Your Majesty!" Natalia spun in surprise, watching with wide eyes as Alpine entered the chamber with a woman at his heels, "Don't listen to the lies of this impostor!" Natalia's breath hitched as the rest of the group tensed.

"You mean," Ingobert's whole being seemed to crumble as Alpine nodded.

"She confirmed it," He gestured to the woman who only gave a slight bow.

"Nanny?"

The woman refused to look at her, "Your daughter was stillborn," she reported, "but the Queen fell into despair. So I took my daughter's child, who was born a few days earlier, to her…"

Natalia turned to the King, "Father, please!"

"Silence!" Alpine slashed his hand at her and she stepped back, feeling a hand come up to rest on her shoulder. Alpine faced the King once again, "She took me to where the Princess was buried. I'd like for you to see the proof of her words."

Ingobert slowly pulled his head from his hands and stood, still managing to move with grace despite his distress, "Very well," he nodded to Alpine, "take me there."

"Father!" Natalia bit back a sob as the King walked towards the doors.

"Guards, capture them!" The hand on her shoulder tightened it's grip as Alpine's shout signalled the soldiers into moving.

"Fight them off!" Jade's voice commanded from right behind her as the door closed behind her father. He was the one holding her shoulder. "We can't afford to be stopped here."

"This seriously blows," Anise quipped as Natalia shakily retrieved her bow from her back.

"Anything different would be suspicious," Jade returned and then they were fighting.

It didn't take as long as she had expected. Either the soldiers had gotten weaker during their leave or they had gotten stronger and she highly doubted her- the King would let his army weaken when there was a war brewing.

"Let's get out of here," Tear offered and the group made for the exit. Natalia kept her bow clutched in her trembling grip as she ran, not trusting herself to be able to retrieve it if she placed it on her back.

She didn't end up needing it, the group clearing the bridge with little more than curious and confused glances as they fled the city. She sank to the ground once they had reached a veritable level of safety, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself down. Tear kneeled next to her and placed a comforting hand on her back. She didn't say anything and for that, Natalia was grateful.

"So, what do we do now?" Anise spoke up as she rose to her feet, nodding to Tear in thanks.

"Not Daath," Guy ruled out, "Ion said he'd send a message if he found anything about Luke and going there might hold him back form searching."

"We'll return to Sheridan," Jade decided, "Iemon and the others might be able to come up with something that could help us. If not, I'm sure our pilot misses her family."

"Aw, Colonel," Anise cooed, "I didn't know you cared."

"I don't," Jade smiled down at her, "I'm simply making sure that she doesn't become despondent and hold us back in the future."

"Cold," Guy muttered as Tear sighed.

Asch scowled as he stood in the hallway, watching the idiot as he stared out the sitting room window. There wasn't much out there, just a wall of gold and barely visible shadows beyond it. Though, judging by the emotions he could sense in the back of his mind, the idiot wasn't actually looking outside. He huffed. If he wasn't going to do much more than stand there, then he could do something about himself. He went to the linen closet, pulled out a towel then returned to lob the length of fabric at the back of the reject's head. Surprise flickered through that was echoed by an actual cry as Luke turned around to stare at him, the towel falling to his hand.

"You've been standing there for nearly an hour," Asch pointed out with a glare then stepped to the side, "go make yourself productive and take a shower." Luke continued to stare and Asch continued to glare until he finally started moving. He nearly tripped over the chair on his way by and Asch rolled his eyes as he went into the kitchen. "Food will be done when you're out," he received a hum of acknowledgement and he turned to watch Luke's back as it disappeared down the hall. The first real attempt at communication since he woke up. Though he dreaded to think about what it would lead to. Incessant chatter and endless worries about his friends, his mind supplied and he cursed himself. Food. He was making food, not thinking about the dreck in the future.

Something quick, he mused as he opened the cupboard and considered his options. Pasta was quick. There, decision made. He grabbed the dried noodles and a jar of sauce before moving to the freezer and taking out a pack of ground meat. Then he set about preparing it. Simple stuff. Pot of water to boil and a frying pan for the meat and sauce.

When was the last time he'd had pasta? He remembered someone making it one night where they had stayed in an inn though he couldn't remember exactly how long ago that was. He frowned, but wait... Didn't he just have it a couple days before the whole mess in Daath started? Yes, yes he did. It had a bit more than just sauce and meat but he did have it. But he could also remember having some kind of stew then- Wait.

His hands slammed onto the counter and he heard a thump as the idiot probably tripped in the shower. This was getting stupid. He worked to separate his thoughts from the reject's and if he felt a string of indignate hurt flow through as he untangled the threads he wasn't making any note of it.

He wondered why he'd taken to keeping the link open. Then he wondered why he didn't just close it back up again. It was tempting, he figured as he registered the other's emotions turning south. He scowled and sent him a mental nudge. Though, if keeping it the way it currently was kept him from wallowing he supposed he'd have to keep at it. He had no patience for his self-pity.

Ion hummed softly to himself as he searched the shelves of the abandoned library, taking care to not disturb the dust too much and make a mess of himself. He was sure he had seen it once months ago, hidden among texts of similar colouring though he struggled to remember if it was a deep red or a deep blue. The shadows that filled most of the room made it difficult to recall. Genesis… genesis… genesis… The word turned into the lyrics to his song as he scanned the spines, not noticing when then they took on a green hue.

There!

He reached up and pulled the tome from the shelf, holding his breath to avoid breathing the dislodged dust. Genesis of the World. He grinned and made his way to the exit, proud of his accomplishment. Jade could definitely make use of it.

He took a closer look at it once he got into better light, laughing slightly as he realized it was neither red nor blue but green instead and thumbed through the pages. Yes, it would be very useful, now if only he could figure out a way to get it to them. He'd have to send someone to hand it to them in person, sending through the carrier system was simply too dangerous. Anyone could see the book for what it was if they got a glimpse inside. There was also Mohs to consider as well. He'd gone up to unlock the door shortly after the group had left to Baticul and seeing as he had yet to be approached by the man after several hours he could assume Mohs had taken his leave of Daath for the time being.

He hummed lowly as he wiped the rest of the dust off the cover of the tome. There was also Luke and Asch to consider. He'd have to ask around, see if there had been any strange sightings that could lead him to them. He knew the occupants of his city would have little information with them being witness to the initial event. But if a flash took them, then something similar had to leave them somewhere. Perhaps he should go around in person. The people were more likely to answer to the Fon Master himself if not to his messenger. But then… He sighed and shook his head. He had to take care the issues that were floating around Daath, not leave them to someone else once again. He could tell Tritheim was doing most of it just by looking at his haggard appearance. No, he would have to send a missive to the major cities instead and hope that they wouldn't get intercepted. He would have to deal with asking around his own city between work.

He held the tome close and looked up just in time for an acolyte to come careening around the corner and run clear into him. He managed to catch himself on the wall though the book and the acolyte himself both tumbled to the floor with his hat rolling further along the corridor. Ion blinked in surprise.

"I am so sorry, Fon Master!" came the immediate rush as the acolyte picked himself up and hurried to retrieve his hat, "I didn't expect to find you down this way, no one ever comes through here. Please, if there's anything I can do," he trailed off as he placed his hat back on his head, hiding his hair. He then bent to pick up the tome Ion had dropped and held it out, waiting for him to take it back.

He didn't take it immediately, taking in the acolyte's almost nondescript appearance after replacing the hat. "Tell me, what's your name?" His head tilted in curiosity.

"L-Loren, sir," was his reply and Ion's intrigue grew.

"Why don't you come with me, Loren," he smiled as he took the tome back and tucked it under his arm, "I'd like to ask you a few things."

"But," his eyes darted down the corridor, down towards the library, Ion noticed, "the Commandant wanted me to retrieve-"

"I'll take care of that," he smiled assuringly, "I'll explain what happened when he asks."

Loren nodded slowly then bowed his head, "Lead the way, then, Fon Master." Ion's smile widened.

"Please, call me Ion," he requested and continued making his way to his rooms. He wondered what else was hiding in the depths of Daath.

Lovely child of sound...