Disclaimer: I do not own Vindictus or any of its characters or places.

The clouds were forming above the town, and as always it made him almost made him grin. He loved the rain so much, it felt like a blessing from the Goddess herself. The half-dead plants long forgotten would flourish with the natural care. Little boys would splash and giggle in the puddles on the walkways, making mud pies and enjoying the rare treat.

He sighed, and berated himself. He knew not to get too hopeful.

It never rained in Rocheste.

He passed by the fountain, where there were gentle tunes flowing in the air. He saw Fiona once again sitting on the same bench, with yet another book. Squinting, he saw the title: 'Pros' and Cons' of Hammers'. He chucked, she really was taking the decision seriously. Better than you, what have you done to prepare? The small voice of bitterness retorted in his mind. Shaking his head, he started toward Fiona, nodding his head to the Piper on the way.

"Hey Fiona," he said, a smile he thought was -hopefully- light and carefree set on his face. He sat down next to her, leaning forward with his forearms on his knees, head down and thinking. He wasn't really expecting an answer to his question, he said the same thing everyday, and was surprised when he heard a hesitant "Hello."

Looking up, he started in shock for a moment, before quickly recovering and sending her a bright smile. "What is going on? You're all...well, you said hi to me," he leaned his head in his palm, "starting to finally warm up to the old Lann charm?"

She looked at him, not amused. "Don't push your luck. What was with the fake smile earlier?" His smile faltered, and became tense.

That was something else about Fiona, she didn't really make small talk. She was also the only one he didn't feel any disgust or discomfort around. Even with Dolores and Blawynn, he felt a tingle of unease. A feeling of not belonging. He could never tell them what he tells Fiona, he couldn't sit beside them for hours on end and speak his mind with the utmost truth. With Fiona, he was comfortable. She was on the same level as him, he liked to think. Unselfish. /Worthy./ a voice whispered.

He couldn't help but agree.

Even so, he hesitated before mentioning his problem. He was sure it wasn't natural, and they hadn't really gone into the telling secrets stage, yet. On the other hand, he knew she was a rational girl. She wouldn't judge him before hearing the whole tale, and even then she would help him. If not for the friendship, for the opportunity to learn something she hadn't already soaked up through her books.

He decided to try, since she was still expecting an answer. "Well, you see," he started. "I was just really hungry, and I have stomach pains because of it." What? That wasn't what he wanted to say. He tried opening his mouth to contradict that, yet it wouldn't open. If fact, he couldn't move any of his body. He panicked, and even panicking didn't seem like the right word for what he could do. Panicking involved sweating and twitching, some nervous habit you could outwardly show. He was stuck inside his mind, and felt detached as he felt his voice let out laugh awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

Fiona quirked an eyebrow, then seemlingly attributed to the weirdness that was "Lann" and went back to reading.

Still feeling like a puppet from Mr. Irvan's Toy Shop, he felt his body move to stand up. "I'm gonna go raid the Dormitory kitchens." His lips lifted, a strange feeling to not be in control over. "See ya Fiona!" And then his body ran off, down the alleyways. Twisting and turning through them until they were deep in the town's residential area, then whatever force that had taken over finally released its hold. He fell to his knees, out of breath.

He leaned forward and held out his hands on the ground in front of him, still breathing heavily. "Dear Go-"

/Don't you finish that sentence, young man!/

Pain.

"Shyte!"

He had tried talking to her again, the woman that was seemingly in his head. After several minutes of no answers with what he thought was mind talking, he belatedly realized he was also speaking too. He had quite an audience of stray cats curiously peaking out from the shadows. He had ducked out after that, thankful he remembered the pathway out.

On his way back to the Dormitory, he had almost walked past his initial destination. Taking a quick look around, he had dashed up the stairs to the Cathedral before anybody could see him. He never visited the Cathedral, and going there now would seem strange. He had a reputation to hold up after all. Looking around inside, he called out for Gilliam a few times. He didn't dare go far into the halls, remembering what the priest had said when he first ventured here.

"I advise against wandering these halls. Surely you've heard about cats and curiosity...It's no less dangerous for people like you." Shuddering at the implications, Lann listened for an answer.

When none came but his echoes, he decided he gone. Which was strange, weren't priests supposed to be bound to the buildings?

Mentally shrugging, he was about to leave when he felt a feeling again. The feeling he had been having for a while now. He slowly turned around and locked gazes with the statue.

It truly was beautiful, he thought. It was carved with such detail, he could almost imagine the true form of the Goddess Morrighan was in front of him. It was intimidating, and knowing he was alone in the Cathedral made it worse. But he was sick of mental attacks, of the these 'tingle' feelings, and the puppet act back in the courtyard was out of line. So he spoke, to end this once and for all.

The clouds were thickening now, blocking out whatever little sun there was. It oddly felt right for his situation.

"Who are you?"

A/N: Still looking for OC's. Tell me what you think.