Authors note:

Pro tip: Sveta has 3 different types of beast form! Google it, her power in beast form increases by a tremendous amount of you give her the right djinn.

Easter Egg:

Tyrell yelled loudly as the monsters came closer: "BANKAI!" and suddenly all the monsters died from severe awesomeness and were shortly after replaced by a Dullahan which whooped his ass.

On to the serious talk. People have been wondering this and I suppose it's actually plausible to be otherwise, but this does NOT take place after the main story. Though I actually really like that idea now, I'm not going to rewrite two chapters to match that idea.

This story follows the group on their journey through Weyard in Dark Dawn and simply elaborates on a relationship between Karis and Matthew.

Chapter Three: Sanctuary

"Harapa." The Mercury adept said, pointing at what seemed nothing more than more trees behind which the path should lead them. But it was indeed only just visible, a section of a large, slightly crumbled wall was right there just above the leaves, maybe a kilometer or two away. Everyone sighed in gratitude that their long hike was almost over.

Rief, son of Mia, now added to the group of adepts, had led them along mountains and beaches and through forests both small and large to reach Harapa - the first city both after the now collapsed tunnel and for the three childhood friends to ever see.

"There's junk everywhere on the sides of the town. Alright, we'll meet up at the large building near the edge of the town in four hours." Matthew with determination. Rief gazed over the town from the edge whilest Tyrell got a head start and ran wide and proud into the town.

Rief looked a the Venus adept. They had gotten used to it by now that Rief wasn't too capable of hiding what he thought or felt, and this time was no different. You could easily see the disappointment in his eyes and face. This didn't escape Matthew.

"Just a little break Rief. It's not that much time loss. Can you go tell Tyrrel to buy provisions for a week of traveling in my stead?" Matthew spoke absentmindedly.

"Sure. If I can catch up with that energetic hothead." Rief responded with a saddened sling to it. He definitely meant what he said, Rief wasn't in the best physical condition. He was much more aligned toward being a caster adept, using psynergy to pelt his enemies from afar rather than get up close with weapons like Tyrell and Matthew always did.

The Jupiter adept sighed. "If he causes trouble, you've got my okay to drench him." Karis suggested, causing Rief to grin in an almost diabolical way... One could see the idea was indeed tempting him.

"Right - meet at the tower in four hours. I'll go tell Tyrell first of all..." Rief said after a silence that lasted two and a half minutes. Matthew nodded and saw Rief off as the Mercury adept made his way down into the city's bustling crowds, leaving him and Karis alone at the entrance to the town.

Karis looked over at Matthew, whom was staring over the busy city and inspecting it's layout.

"Always the leader, huh." she thought to herself.

"Hey Matthew? It's nicer to look at the city up close..." She said, nudging towards the sandy road which led towards the market street and ended in the town's square, doubtlessly the busiest of them all since both people and cattle led by breeders were scurrying all over the place and it looked like just making your way through it would be a major hassle.

The earth adept turned around to look at her. A broad smile grimaced his face as he replied. "Yeah. Sounds better. Let's go."

A few minutes of pushing people and squeezing in between crows later, they arrived at the center of the town. "Wow, the area is pretty arid, that fountain must be a blessing to these people." Karis commented as they arrived near the center of the city where a rather large fountain stood. "Still... It's a bit big." she continued.

Matthew grinned without turning as they made their way past the fountain and passed into what seemed to be a street dedicated to trinkets, armor, weapons and, oddly enough, florists. There were shops of all sorts - most of them rubbish for anything but they were probably for tourists or travelers Matthew figured.

A smile crossed his face as Karis ran right off towards one of the stalls which had glittering necklaces, rings and bracelets of all sizes and shapes. If there was one thing she could never resist when in a shop, it was jewelry. She started picking through the various jewelry, trying on anything she thought she might like even the slightest bit that could be found in the stall.

The Venus adept decided to follow her and see what she was fussing about at the stall, and just as he arrived she turned around to him having put on different earrings.

"What do you think?" She asked right off the bat, a happy wide smile covering her face. He had no clue what she was referring though - he failed to notice the earrings.

"Mm, nice..." he responded, not knowing what she was talking about. Before he could even find out what it was, she went on. "I knew it!" she yelped happily.

What was she cheering about, Matthew thought, it's doubtful it's that spectacular. Whatever it is. But it didn't matter. A moment of staring at each other later she smiled and turned around to pass fifty-seven gold coins worth over to the stall vendor. "Whats with her?" he thought.

The two adepts continued their way along the street, but speed was not with them - Karis was distracted at nearly every stall they walked past. But Matthew didn't mind. It was kind of fun to see her so happy and go-lucky and he liked watching it and making her ha- "Wait, what'd I just think?" he interrupted his thought process as he stopped walking. "I- Freaky" The young boy shook off his confusion at his own thoughts and sped up to catch up to her.

Three hours passed, during which they had visited a large portion of the shops.

The large city bell, situated just thirty meter from the town square, rang six times, audible throughout the city.

"We've been walking for three hours, my feet are killing me... Where does she get the energy from?" he thought. Yet he dreaded asking that question, he knew he wouldn't get anything out of except for her frowning at him.

He spoke up. "You know... The bell rang six times just now Karis. So that means three hours have passed. We really should get back to the meeting place soon."

She sighed as she turned to him with a sigh as they walked through one of the streets. "Sheesh. Already? So whats the plan Matthew. Are we trucking out tonight or are we staying the night?" she responded with a hint of sadness behind her tone.

Matthew stared ahead at the rising stairs in front of them as they walked on, pondering the question. He was cut off however just as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Aah! What a coincidence! Now we can walk to meet Tyrell together." a crisp almost squeaky voice spoke behind them. It was hard not to recognize the voice which had interrupted them, somehow it had irritated Matthew. "Ooh. Rief. Yeah. Of course, why don't you." he responded briskly.

Karis looked up at him surprised. Both asked themselves the same question – why'd he respond so hostile? He was a friend after all. An ally in their fights. Rief did not care though and continued as if he had not at noticed. He moved to the other side of Matthew as they walked on down the streets of Harapa to meet up with Tyrell.

Fifteen minutes later, the adepts were on the other side of the city.

"Matthew! You said it was through these alleys and down this road, now, why am I seeing the tower on the other side of the town!" Karis exclaimed as they stopped once more to get their bearings.

"You're too dependent on me, I told you, there's too many people in this city! I can't make out a damn thing in this place." the Venus adept snarled back as he inspected the city from a ledge. "Tsk..." was all she responded with, turning away not knowing what to say.

"Not your best act ever Matthew. I told you we should've taken that turn right..." Rief commented.

This wasn't what Karis needed right now. For some reason him criticizing Matthew made here really mad. He had no just reason to criticize someone in those shoes! "Yeah of course Rief, except that that would've led us out of the city."

Now Rief was getting irritated as well, he moved towards a house an leaned against it as he spoke. "At least we wouldn't have been across the entire city like when he leads."

This last one the Jupiter adept took badly. "Oh really? So you'd rather be out in the wilds tha-"

Matthew interrupted. "Guys! That's enough. We'll follow the main street back down, then take the street on our front right. We'll keep walking till the town wall and then we'll just go left until we reach the tower. Alright, now do you really want Tyrell to be the first one there? Really, he'll never stop about it? So can we get a move on then?" he intervened with a stern and powerful voice, catching Rief completely off guard as he only managed to mumble an apology and walked ahead of the group.

At first she glared at him angrily for his interrupting her. But what was the point she thought, her anger subsiding, she walked on ahead of Matthew back into the alleys following his instructions.

"What the elements am I doing..." She thought. "Why am I getting so mad every single time it's about Matthew and when he... Does something wrong."

It had happened three times before now but she just didn't get why.

There was no reason to think about it so much she figured though, so she shook the thoughts out of her head as they finally reached the tower, no more than three minutes to spare.

"Well, at least Tyrell ain't first." Matthew commented as they arrived. The large tower towered above them from inside the city wall, no more than thirty feet between it and the houses.

Twelve minutes later Tyrell came walking up to the group casually, ignoring that he was late. "Hey, guys, whats the plan for the night?" he asked as if nothing was wrong.

He wasn't received coldly though. Matthew called out to him. "Hey, Tyrell, took you're sweet time."

"Yeah, I know, these alleys are confusing." He responded as he arrived at the group, coming to a standstill as he eyed everyone over.

"Right guys, I've decided we're staying the night here. We've gone a long time with no good nights rest, time to catch up." He said to the group as they gathered around him.

Karis was the first to respond. "Finally, a nice warm bath followed by a comfortable bed..."

"Right." Matthew continued. "There's just one thing. Tyrell, you know what I'm talking about but this'll be new for Rief. Shared bedrooms. What's the plan? We can't rent an additional room just for you Karis. That'd be too much on our poor finances. So, one of us'll be sleeping in the same room as you."

Immediately Karis snapped out. "You know I don't want Tyrell in my room Matthew, don't even put that up for a possibility." Matthew rolled his eyes. "You still haven't told me what happened between-" he said but Jupiter adept interrupted him before he could finish. "And I'm not going to. Nor is Tyrell. Right, Tyrell?" Tyrellnodded at her whilest as he mumbled something about changing and it being an accident.

"You know... I don't know... It kind of sounds weird. Sleeping in one room with a- a girl." Rief said as the group had fallen silent for a short moment. Everyone turned their heads to him in surprise.

Matthew looked at him with a large degree of surprise and a slight hint of amusement. "So... You want to opt out for it then?" Matthew said. Rief simply nodded back at him, blushing like a tomato at what he just told them.

"That leaves me I guess Karis. No problems right?" Matthew asked as he turned to her, deciding not to tease the younger boy for it.

A small distinct red blush came to her cheeks as she thought of the idea. So far she had always had separate rooms for her, in the Cabin, in inns and even their tent had a fabric they could use to separate one side of the tent from another. This would be one of her few times ever sharing a room directly with anyone other than her mother. "Y-yeah. That... That's, uh, fine, you know... Ahem..." Her face started to glow even more, why was she stuttering?

Tyrell came to her rescue out of the embarrassing sentence. "Uh yeah. That's sorted then? Do we actually have an inn at this hour that's still open for booking?"

"There's one a short walk from here that I asked around in. We should still be able to book in for the night." Matthew responded. Everyone nodded and as the conversation seemed over, they made their way towards the inn in question.

Wide awake.

He was sweating, his heart was pumping faster than it ever had before and he had long ago kicked off the sheets... He had woken up from a nightmare... But the Venus adept could not remember what it was save for very small details; tall men in armor, people on the ground all around him, unable to move. And everything, had a tint of red. He laid back on his pillow with his head, he was slowly calming down, his breathing calmed down. "What was that..." He pondered to himself as he lay there, staring at the solid rock ceiling. He repeated that question in his head until he his exhaustion demanded his body to asleep once more...

Author's Note:

Right, first of all, no. I am not saying Matthew has the power of foresight. He had a nightmare. Don't we all? If you think about the details given you can determine what happened in the nightmare. Just think Golden Sun style and the way I'm portraying Matthew.

Also, there was SO much I wanted to put into this chapter. But I decided I'd be overdoing it in just the first city that way so I had to cut out a lot of really good material for later. So no worries! The ideas are still there!

One thing to note is that I'm replaying the game along the speed of the story, so that I can make direct references to what happens inside the game. (I haven't found any Golden Sun Dark Dawn site yet that's fully updated for the events in DD...)

I aimed to end this chapter on a cliffhanger, and I'm not going to say anything else about it just yet.