Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OCs and the plot

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Chapter 5

It took about a week for my side to fully heal with the help of the elven magic, and for Hien to finally let me out of bed. However, since I didn't need my balance in that week, help was required for me to walk safely. An elf helped me outside the day I could get out of bed and when Lucifer saw me he galloped up to me, scaring the elf away. I quickly gained my balance on my own and when Lucifer loped by I grabbed the longer fur at the base of his neck and swung onto his back. He tore off into the village with me laughing aloud, euphoric in my new found freedom. Lucifer took me all over the Ymir Forest showing me the sights. That day I began training to regain the strength that I had lost.

Afterwards, the elves began to accept me for who I was and they warmed up to me. When I would go outside with my flute, they would sometimes crowd around to listen if I went out during the day.

I became stronger while training with the elves, surpassing what I had before. It came to the point where I had gotten stronger than the elven warriors in the village. But with my strength came the time for me to leave the safety of the elves. Adventures and traveling called my name drawing me from the peace.

I had asked Hien for a meeting with him, but minutes before I was supposed to be there, I was still on the training field.

The elf I was sparring with realized this and forced me away. "Aren't you supposed to meet with Lord Hien soon?"

"Oh, son of a-. Thanks for sparring with me and reminding me. Later!" I began sprinting towards Hien's home. I put my training to good use and with every silent footstep, I launched with greater speed than I had before. When I reached his cabin, Hien was sitting on his porch, waiting for me.

"Good evening Sky," He greeted as I climbed the porch steps. "How are you as of late?"

"Good," I sat in the chair next to him. "It's helped me a lot being in Heimdall, but-"

"You feel it is time to move on." He finished for me. "I figured that was your reason to see me, so I gathered a few things for you." Hien lifted a leather pack into his arms and handed it to me. He motioned for me to open it, and when I did I saw that packed inside was a complete medical kit, gels of all kinds, and various other things. I looked at Hien in amazement.

"This can't all be for me." I said quietly. "I don't deserve this kindness."

"The music that you have brought to the elves of my village is more than enough." Hien spoke as he pulled something else out.

It was a sheathed sword. The handle was woven black and white cloth of the finest make and on the end was a dragon's head with a black onyx gem held in its maw. The sheath was raven black and the hilt was bright silver. Hien drew the blade and the evening sun glinted off of the two toned metal. The unsharpened edge of the blade was ghost white leaving the sharpened side black as pitch. Sheathing it again, Hien handed the sword to me.

"Take this blade as well," Hien said. "Since you have mastered the blade, you are in need of one. This is Eclipse. He has never tasted blood but I entrust him to you who will get more use out of him than I. Go and have the adventures that this old man could never have."

"Thank you sir, for everything." I stood and bowed to him before slinging the pack over one shoulder, attaching Eclipse to my belt, and darting towards the cabin I resided in.

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The next day Lucifer and I left the village with many of the villagers waving goodbye at our retreating figures. When we exited the the Ymir Forest I remembered something. I halted Lucifer and looked back at my refuge for the past three months. I fished my flute out of my old tattered pack, and played the song that I had written while there. It started out as a slow and guarded melody and grew much like the friendships that I had made. I had never played it for the elves, but I was sure that the enchanted forest could convey my feelings to them.

The song was just about finished when an elf appeared at the forest's edge. It walked out and stopped next to me, and spoke when I finally lowered it from my lips.

"The way that you play is enchanting." The male elf informed me. "Every time that you play, I am forced to stop and listen."

"Enough with the pathetic flattery, and tell me who you are and what you want with me," I spoke icily.

"My name is Arleos." He spoke bowing to me. "Under Hien-sama's orders, I am here to accompany you."

"Hien ordered you to come with me huh?" I spoke flatly. "Did he give you a reason?"

"To make sure that you stay safe." Arleos shot back. "He cares about your well being!"

I sighed and slid off Lucifer. I whistled one long shrill note and Arleos covered his sensitive ears with his hands. He looked at me, confused before a blue-roan beast, much like Lucifer, came loping towards us. It slid to a stop in front of me and began nuzzling me in the chest with affection.

"Thanks for coming so quickly Andariel." I stroked her head between her ears. "I'm sorry for this but I'm going to need your services for a while. An elven man is going to be hitching a ride with you, not me, so be good okay?" Andi growled softly and leaned in closer towards me.

I lead her over to Arleos who was staring bewilderedly at me because of the fact that I knew more than one protozoan.

"This is Andi. You would never be able to keep up to Lucifer on foot so I'll let you ride her. Once you get on her back, we'll take off."

It took him a few tries, along with a few falls, before he managed to get onto her back. We set off with me grinning and giggling quietly.

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At dusk, we finally reached the outskirts of a city. I recognized it as Meltokio, but before we reached the city walls I halted Lucifer. I dismounted, as did Arleos, and let Lucifer and Andariel tend to themselves. I held out a headband to Arleos and he looked at me with confusion in his eyes.

"Put this on. People around here aren't as understanding as the elves are. In the human world, half-elves are hated and some of them have pointed ears. The headband will at least hide the tips. You're going to have to change your clothes as well. I've got a spare set in my bag you can wear till we buy you your own set."

Arleos stared at me incredulously as I dug through my pack searching for the clothes. I pulled out a pair of pants, a soft shirt, and a tunic, all of which I threw to him before turning around and waiting for him to change.

When he had finally finished, he pulled his hair back with a rawhide string and put the headband on. Dressed in traveler's clothes, Arleos could easily pass as a human.

"Now do I look human at least?" He asked.

"Yes but there is something that might make the cover-up a bit better." I thought for a moment before rifling through my pack once more. "Here."

I tossed him a dark red hat I had buried in the bottom of my bag. Arleos shook it out before donning it. Now he looked no different from any other traveler.

"Let's go." I slung both bags over my shoulders, shifting Eclipse in the process, and strode towards Meltokio's gate, Arleos falling into step behind me.

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We had just managed to get through the gates before the guards closed them for the night. We went to the inn, and booked a room before heading to the dining room to eat. Arleos and I ate in companionable silence when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.

Eight people sat at the same table, silent save for a red haired man, who was flirting shamelessly with every woman that passed by. The eight of them were all of different ages and upbringings clearly told by the way they sat. However, a depressed air surrounded them especially over a boy dressed in red.

'It couldn't be.' I looked back at my plate. 'How? Why? How?'

"Sky? Are you all right?" Arleos asked looking at me with concern. "Something wrong?"

"It can't be." I whispered. "How is he here? Why is he here? I thought I told him to stay at home."

"Your brother?" Arleos asked. "You have a brother?"

"Does it matter?" I snapped quietly. "I leave him safe at home to find something important to the both of us, and this is how he repays me? I'll be back Arleos."

I stood up quietly, to not attract attention, and glid over to his table, my face showing no emotion.

"Hey lovely!" The red haired man grabbed my wrist as I walked by. "Stay and have a drink with me!"

I smiled and leaned down to his ear. "Now why would a moraled woman like me ever think of having a drink with a spoiled, narcissistic, egotistic, bastard chosen like you? Answer me that and maybe, if I believe you, I'll consider your offer."

The red froze as my words spoken with a light air and a smile dug in deep. He went to answer but when no words came to him, he turned back to his plate to eat in silence. The black haired girl in their group looked at me suspiously as I wound further around the table.

When I reached the boy in red, I grabbed him by the white pieces of cloth hanging down the back of his chair, and dragged him out of the inn. His companions jumped to their feet in an attempt to stop me but I was already outside. Dragging him to the wall, I pinned him up against it, his feet just barely dangling off the ground.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I snarled. "I thought I told you to stay at home. Emphasis on home."

"Sky?" He gasped. "No way! Is it really you?"

"No shit. Answer the question you worthless excuse for a brother!" I slammed him against the brick.

"Ahh! That hurts Sky!" He gasped. "I did what you said, but things happened and I accompanied Colette on her journey."

I set him gently down on the ground. "Is this true?"

"Ask Genis, Colette or Raine and they'll tell you that it is true and probably better than I can."

"Guess I'll do that now." I sighed and turned around to see his companions surrounding me. "Well, who wants to fill me in?"

"We won't say a word to you!" I turned to the black haired woman. She was about to say something else when the silver haired woman in their group set her hand on the younger's shoulder.

"Still as violent as ever aren't you." She spoke, a smile creeping into her voice. "I remember when the mayor in Iselia angered you once when he told you off about something. I had to knock you out so that you would stop trying to 'rip him a new one' as you would say."

"This coming from the woman who would throw things at her students when they would fall asleep in class, Raine." I smirked and walked towards her. In the faint street light, I could see her smile fade from her lips. "So, tell me. Why are all of you here, and not in Sylvarant?"

Raine sighed and told me of the events that had led them to this point. Lloyd and Genis getting banished from Iselia, the Chosen's journey, the Desians, the Renegades, Cruxis, and how they were going about separating Sylvarant and Tethe'alla.

"That explains a few things." I shifted. "Now i understand a bit better. I hope my knucklehead of a brother hasn't been too much trouble."

"You have a sister?" The large muscled man in their group said. "You never said anything about having a sibling Lloyd."

"I'm not the kind of sister to be bragged about." I turned around running a hand through my long auburn hair. "That's why people don't know about me, and I prefer it to be that way. I'm going back inside to my traveling companion and my dinner. See you around little brother." I clasped him firmly on the shoulder, causing him to cringe in pain, before walking back towards the inn and back to Arleos.

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All right! The chapters just seem to be getting longer and longer don't they? Cool beans XD

Anyway, read and review as always, 'cause they give me the drive to keep going!