Other Character Counter: 4

Chapter 54: Two Parts of a Whole

Paramina Rift, a great ravine running through the mountains of Jagd Ramooda. This was a barren land covered in hoarfrost and deep snows. The spent shells of airships hang in the frozen river, and here and there, can be seen ruins of great cities built during the years of the Galtean Alliance. Many are the scholars who believe that the Paramina Rift was once a rich and verdant land, and that climate change brought about by the Mist made it into the cold, harsh, Jagd that is seen to this day. Northeast of this Rift lies the great mountain, Mt. Bur-Omisace.

It had been three years since the party had last visited Mt. Bur-Omisace. A full two years since the horrid events that had laid waste to the holy mountain of the Kiltia and two years since the death of the late Gran Kiltias Anastasis. Since then, the people of the Mountain instated a new Gran Kiltias to maintain the Light of the Kiltia and propagate peace in the Holy Mountain.

It is there where Vaan and the others were headed to, after the blasted aftermath of their battle in the Henne Mines. They were going to consult the present Gran Kiltias, like what they did in the past, as their journey determined the fate of the world in general and not just Archades.

Vaan sat stiff at the wheel, feeling the muscles in his back tighten more under the stress, because he was piloting the Galbana. His muscles were tightening because he had insisted, despite Penelo's worries, that he would be able to pilot the ship all the way to Mt. Bur-Omisace, which had now an aerodome, unlike two years ago. Though the aerodome was still brand new, it was not an industrialized port, and was used mainly for visiting pilgrims. Vaan figured that was enough since their only intention was to get Kiltia healing and some Kiltia advice.

The radars of the Galbana indicated to Vaan that they were nearing Paramina Rift. Only an hour or so and they would be able to dock at Mt. Bur-Omisace. It would have been faster to travel by crystal, but his and Basch's condition at that time made Penelo reluctant to use the magick.

Vaan groaned now as he switched the pilot mode to auto-pilot feeling his muscles stretch in protest. Though his ship did come with this feature, Vaan was never really fond of it since he loved the feeling of piloting his own ship. But now, he needed to tell the others they were nearing their destination, and he needed to check on his friends any way.

Larsa, since Vaan awoke a few days ago and resumed the piloting of the Galbana, had been unusually silent and withdrawn, only showing emotion when it came to asking about Basch's condition. Penelo was in a right state, trying not to show how tightly wound up she was but Vaan sensed it and somehow mentioned it offhand to Larsa. Since then, Larsa seemed to show a little bit more effort to act as normal as he could to appease some of her worries.

Basch on the other hand had awoken only once and had lapsed back into a feverish sleep and had not woken since. Yvelle was trying as hard as she could to heal him, but since her Mist was severely depleted since their excursion in Henne Mines, she could barely do anything but try to stop the infection from spreading. Vaan knew how hard the young hunter was working to bring Basch back to a normal state, he had seen it himself when he had solicited Penelo's help to first check up on the Emperor and his Judge Majister, seen the exhausted look on the normally shy girl and had tried to comfort her as much as he could.

Meanwhile, the other members of the ship were also in varying degrees of emotion, save perhaps Captain Sephyr, who remained unfazed and was busy hatching up a plan to suggest at the opportune times, that or watching over the suspected non-hume Yvelle with astounding intensity that Vaan had to wonder why Yvelle hadn't noticed by now.

Penelo was in state of worry and slight panic, but holding up well despite being tasked to watch over most of the party. She rarely showed her fatigue and it was this why Vaan had insisted he was well enough to pilot the Galbana, so she had one less thing to worry about.

The Queen of Dalmasca on the other hand, showed no signs of any emotional fatigue, but instead was back to the cold, distant state that Vaan had remembered as her earlier demeanor in the earlier stages of their travels three years ago. Vaan had tried speaking to her, tried to show how grateful he was that she of all people had acted as his anchor to stay alive and how thankful he was that she had provided comfort to him in his dire hour, but she would give him no opportunity. She refused to acknowledge his attempts at conversation, said nothing unless it was really needed and basically stayed away from him, which was a feat since the Galbana was not that large a ship. Vaan had resigned himself to speak to her once the danger over Basch had passed, when everybody was more than a little calmed down.

Vaan gritted his teeth as he made his way to the lower levels where the rooms where. He was sure Yvelle and Penelo would still be there, hard at work over Basch's injuries, trying to heal the Judge Majister as much as possible. The hunter did not know if Basch would make it, but he would not entertain any thoughts otherwise; Basch was always the member of any group that would be sure to survive any battle. He was Basch!

Hissing in pain and gripping the bandages around his torso, he hobbled down the stairs almost stumbling into a person coming up the stairs from the opposite direction.

"Oops, sorry." Vaan said apologetically, gripping the rail closest to him in support to avoid leaning against whoever he bumped into. He hoped it wasn't the Queen of Dalmasca. He didn't know if he could survive the humiliation.

Well it seemed Basch's fates didn't sympathize with Vaan, because sure enough it was Ashe who stood on the other side of the stairs, clutching the railing on her side in balance and support with a strange look on her face. It looked and resembled something like surprise, but Vaan dismissed it as quickly as he wondered that, because there was no way Ashe could ever look that surprised.

"Uhmm..." Vaan said lamely, regretting the words that went out of his mouth as soon as he said them, resisting the urge to smack his palm against his forehead in embarrassment. Instead, he breathed inwardly and ventured another sentence. "What are you doing here?"

Stupid question! Vaan chastised himself feeling the heat course across his cheeks as he realized he formed another ineloquent sentence. He braced himself for the appraisal he was sure he was going to realize from Ashe grey eyes.

To his surprise, Ashe was not looking at him. In fact she was looking at everything but him, something Vaan had not seen her do before. She was actually fidgeting, as if she was embarrassed at being caught walking about.

"Ashe?" he asked, his embarrassment forgotten, curiosity overruling everything. Why was Ashe embarrassed all of a sudden? "Are you all right?" he added.

Again, Ashe acted most unusually. Because unlike the behaviour Vaan anticipated, Ashe said and did nothing but even under the dim lights Vaan noticed the red staining the Queen's face.

Okay. Vaan mused to himself. Something's not right here. He moved closer towards the Queen.

That seemed to jolt Ashe into action because she moved up one step, so she was slightly taller than Vaan.

"Vaan," she said in her normal voice. She looked down on him with her normal gaze too, though he could still see traces of that blush on her cheeks. "I'm sorry if I bumped into you. I was not paying attention to where I was going."

Vaan couldn't help the confusion that was undoubtedly on his eyes. "Uhmm.." he hesitated before he ventured again. "No, it's okay, I wasn't really looking myself. Sorry if I hurt you or anything." He tried to get a good look of Ashe as she had tilted her head so that her sandy brown hair partially covered most of her face.

"No, you did not hurt me." Ashe whispered in a small voice, the smallest Vaan had ever heard from her. "You most certainly did not."

There was something Vaan detected in her words where her face could not tell him and Vaan, for some weird reason thought it was important. It seemed Ashe was struggling through some emotion or other, one that she was unaccustomed to feeling. Vaan wanted to help her out, whatever it was, and he still haven't said thank you anyway.

"Hey," he said in a soothing voice, proceeding to go up the step so that he was level with her, when he felt the sharp pain sear through him and made him frantically clutch the railing and step on something on the step.

"Vaan!" Ashe's voice was laced with sudden and concern that Vaan felt a surge of pleasure despite the physical pain he was feeling. He felt Ashe drape a comforting arm around his shoulders and try to look at the source of the pain.

Vaan grunted. "I'm fine, Ashe." He breathed through gritted teeth. "It's just the wound acting up. It will pass." He attempted to grin at her, glad at least that the concern for him he thought he had imagined from her was real, but it only came out as a grimace. This caused Ashe to frown.

"You lied to Penelo about your injury." Ashe said, not even bothering to make her statement a question. Vaan shrugged sheepishly. "I don't want to worry her more than she has to. She's got her hands full."

Ashe frowned if it was possible even harder. "You need to tell her these things Vaan, otherwise, how are you supposed to get the treatment you need to have?"

Vaan frowned in confusion, not sure where this conversation was going. "We're nearing Mt. But-Omisace already, it's just a matter of time before the Kitlia can heal us, I thought I'd tough it out."

Ashe, again to Vaan's surprise, sighed roughly. Her arm around his shoulder tightened however. "Come, I will accompany you to the captain's seat. I may not be a healer, but I might be able to give you some measure of comfort to ease the pain." She breathed with tight lips, unusually hostile again. Vaan ignored that, just glad that she was offering him some help. He just nodded and allowed Ashe to steer him up the stairs, very much aware of her arm that was once around his shoulders, was now supporting him around his waist. He tried not to show too much of his pleasure.

When they reached the bridge, he did not allow Ashe to help him to his seat though and instead hobbled the rest of the way, almost collapsing against the seat. He brushed his pain away instead however, and gestured over to Ashe to come join him, as bold as he allowed himself to be.

To his relief though, Ashe allowed a small smile to grace her lips and made to sit on the seat which was usually occupied by Penelo.

"Hey, I'm really sorry for bumping into you." He said as means to restart the conversation. Deep inside, Vaan seriously hoped he was not going to get bitten at apologizing too much.

This time he was rewarded, because Ashe just gave another small smile, folding her hands upon her lap. "You need not worry Vaan. I am more concerned of hurting you than you should be doing damage to my person."

Vaan scoffed, trying to brush her concern as unnecessary, and he did so, although a bit less nonchalant as he intended it to be.

"Don't worry about me, Ashe. I'm tough."

Ashe gave a small laugh that Vaan had to look if he had heard that right. He never actually heard Ashe laugh before. "So I noticed," she said and the way she said these words were very different from the last time she said those words to him.

When the laughter died however, she turned to look out the windshield of the Galbana, and the look on her face could only be described as wistful.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Vaan found himself asking before he thought about it thoroughly; he just wanted to find out what was wrong with his queen. "Are you all right?" he asked, and had to note that he had asked the same question twice now and had not gotten any answer from Ashe.

Ashe forced her gaze away from the night sky outside to look back at Vaan. Her expression was soft, none of the hard lines of a young woman forced with problems that should be beyond her age. It made her face look tender and vulnerable, and it was familiar to Vaan. The last time he saw her look like this was when they were still in Jahara, and she had confessed her hidden fears to him, under the watch of the full moon. He had embraced her then, and he had been more daring than he had ever hoped to be with her. He was not sure if the outcome of this encounter would be the same, but he was determined to provide whatever it was he could to help her.

"I am sorry." She said after a while, her voice still unusually softer than normal. Vaan's blue eyes showed his confusion and his question.

Ashe sighed roughly and ran a hand through her sandy brown hair, something Vaan had never seen her do before.

"I left Rabanastrre not only because Captain Sephyr required my assistance." She sighed again and Vaan saw her hesitation. She avoided his questioning gaze and turned to look back outside, as if that gesture made it easier for her to speak. She was silent long enough for Vaan to become slightly impatient.

"Why did you leave Rabanastrre?" he asked, trying not to let his impatience show. Thankfully, Ashe seemed preoccupied in trying to get whatever it was on her mind to say that's why she did not notice anything.

She closed her eyes and brought a hand to massage the bridge of her nose, a pose reminiscent of Basch when he was stressed. Vaan didn't know who copied whom, but he recognized it enough to be a little cautious.

"I do not know what overcame me." She started her words clipped and short. "It was like I was not my own person anymore." Slowly, she lowered her hand and met his eyes.

"I felt that you were in trouble; I cannot explain it." She said with tender emotion, but her determination was still evident in her tones as if she was daring Vaan to contradict her, but Vaan didn't even think of it. She sighed roughly again and folded her hands in front of her lap once more.

"I felt you were in trouble, and the only thought in my mind was that I had to aid you in any way I can and I could not rest until I was sure you were all right." She closed her eyes as if she was in some pain.

"Imagine my horror when Captain Sephyr and I rescued your group from Henne Mines, that your condition was far worse than I had ever anticipated." She looked up and her eyes were glazed with unshed tears again. "You worried me greatly Vaan." She murmured but there was no chastisement in her tones, in fact, her cheeks flushed red again, and Vaan had to wonder why he marked her as unfeeling before.

"I should be the one apologizing to you." Vaan answered now, in a soft voice as well, afraid of ruining the moment. "I never intended to make you worry or anything. I'm sorry." He said eyes and words contrite.

Ashe shook her head. "It is not that. I..." she hesitated and she bit her lip in a very Penelo-esque manner. She looked away again then swiftly looked back at Vaan, as if suddenly deciding something. "I want to apologize for getting in the way."

Now that was totally random. Vaan thought to himself, and the confusion he felt must have shown on his face because Ashe gave a small smile and a shrug. "It is not right for me to get your ship without your permission and come looking for you, like a mother who's hunting her misbehaving son. I was out of my place and I apologize." She bowed her head as if in shame and Vaan had to struggle to stop his relieved laughter from coming out lest he would offend Ashe.

Instead he gave out a surprised sound to make Ashe look up as he was still not bold enough to reach forward and tip her chin up with his hand and gave her a surprised look.

"You're apologizing for that?" he asked her incredulously, and he did not need to feign his scepticism, because he really felt it. "No offense Ashe, but if you don't need to worry about that." He grinned widely showing his teeth and making him look like the Vaan of the old days.

"If it weren't for you then the rest of us would have been buried alive in the Mines. I'm glad you got the Galbana and came to look for us. In fact I'm glad you came in general. I wouldn't have it any other way." He grinned again and felt a surge of pleasure when Ashe began to blush a faint red and looked away. He turned off the auto-pilot then and took the wheel once more. Ashe then stood and made to leave him to concentrate, but then she stopped when Vaan called her name.

"Thanks for the moogle drink." He said, with a grin not looking back towards her. It was Ashe's turn to feel confused.

"What drink?" she asked a bit nonplussed. Vaan then turned in his chair to look at her, his eyes twinkling with appreciation.

"The drink you were going to bring to me up here but dropped when I bumped into you." His voice managed to hint a bit of the enormous smugness he felt but he grinned again. "Thanks for it. It was delicious."

Before Ashe could say anything, Vaan spun around again so he was facing the windshield and didn't say anything anymore, leaving Ashe to look at him cheeks flushed again, but with a small smile on her face as she left the cockpit.

XOXOXOXO

Mt. Bur-Omisace was the sacred mountain of the Kiltia sect, located on the north of Jagd Ramooda. A temple was built there by believers to mark the place where the founder of the Light of Kiltia began to spread the teachings. There are accounts in the Holy city there dating back to writings from the age of the Galtean Alliance. It would be an error to call the mountain a shrine to Kiltia. Apart from the temples there are only a few residences, with roadside shops catering to the steady stream of pilgrims. In recent years, refugees from war torn lands have gathered here forming camps on parts of the mountain.

The priests of Kiltia give them aid that they might live here in peace. As Mt. Bur-Omisace is surrounded by Jagd, before, the faithful must cross the Inner Naldoan Sea by boat and their pilgrimage to the Holy city. Now advances in both moogle and Archadian technology allow ships to make berth in the mountain itself.

In its long history, Mt. Bur-Omisace has never fallen under the control of any foreign power. On the understanding the Kiltia followers would exempt themselves from political dealings in other lands, Kingdom and Empire both formed a pact to guarantee the Holy city its independence, an agreement which was broken three years ago, during the Great War.

Now Mt. Bur-Omisace, despite it still maintaining its peaceful facets, has evolved from their withdrawn and somewhat naive belief of being untouched to involve and create their own defence for the Holy Mountain. The new Gran Kiltias, though very much a devout of the teaching of Kiltia, was forced to adapt to the aftermath of the Great War, which was that the Holy city was tainted by the forces of the outside.

Though the religion and the essence of the teachings of Kiltia remain the same, the mountain itself experienced a radical change since it was attacked during the Great War. It had transformed into a much more alert city, none of the complacent attitude that it once had and was now able to defend itself from most attacks from the outside forces, though since the ascend of Queen Ashelia and Emperor Larsa, attacks from other countries were nonexistent. The most trouble Mt. Bur-Omisace had to worry about were attacks from the harsh beasts that existed in the Rift. It did not mean however that they were not prepared should another war come into existence.

The Light of the Kiltia is the name of the religion of which Mt. Bur-Omisace is the home of. The religion was begun by the prophet Kiltia, over two millennia ago. The religion of the Ordalian peoples is a dualist system- a polytheistic pantheon with the God of Light, Faram the Father, as its head.

After embarking on a journey to proselytize and deliver the word of the vision he had seen to people, Kiltia came to Bur-Omisace and from there, his teachings spread.

The Light of Kiltia continued even after the prophet's death until it covered all Ivalice. Though the followers and churches of Kiltia are spread far and wide, they do not interfere in affairs of state or governance. Though at one point the church held considerable influence, they willingly discarded the power fearing oppression. Ever since, church officials with the rank of celebrant or higher have been forbidden from participating in state craft. In addition, Mt. Bur-Omisace maintains a mutual non-incursion policy with its surrounding territories.

Several years after Kiltia's founding, Saint Ajora began a new teaching, that Faram alone was the one true god, the popularity of this new sect further lessened the power of the Light.

Now with Mt. Bur-Omisace a transformed city, more and more pilgrims visit the city in the intent of being enlightened and realize that despite being devout to Faram, one must also be aware of the evils of the outside world. It is the new perception why the Light of the Kiltia is entering yet another transformation.

Vaan steered the ship in the small but sufficient aerdome of Mt. Bur-Omisace, careful of his movements. In his travels and hunts with Penelo, he had discovered how tight the aerodome of the mountain was and if you're not careful, you would find yourself without a coat of paint on one side. Vaan learned this the hard way the first time he berthed in the mountain's aerodome. As he landed smoothly, he saw a couple of Kiltia members approach the ship readying their selves to welcome them. He waved at them as quickly as he could.

"Welcome to Mt. Bur-Omisace! We..." Vaan did not give the first Kiltia before him to continue his sentence before interrupting him and informing them about the patients aboard his ship.

"Oh my!" said one of the female Kiltia and quickly called for help while the other had gone up and followed Vaan to where Yvelle was still trying to heal Basch.

When they got there, the Kiltia with Vaan could not help gasping. Not at Basch's state, but at the Yvelle's appearance. She looked so distraught, so desperate that it seemed that she believed Basch was dead already. Vaan had approached her and had to gently coax her hands away from Basch's leg. It was only when Penelo came and assured the novice hunter that Basch was being carried away to be healed, did Yvelle step away. Her face showed how exhausted she was and before Basch was even carried off the ship, she fainted out of exhaustion and it was Captain Sephyr who had supported her and carried her off the ship as well. Penelo was busy coaxing Larsa out of his stupor and did not know about what had transpired after she coaxed Yvelle out of her state until Vaan came to get her for the second time around. Ashe had retreated somewhere at the back of the group, hood and cloak swathed about her.

That was how the party entered Mt. Bur-Omisace, and it would be five days later when Larsa would snap out of whatever trance he placed himself in and when Basch would be declared somewhat fully healed and it would be two days after that when the party would be gathered once more before the new Gran Kiltias to consult and talk about their next plan of action.

XOXOXOX

"This place has really changed hasn't it?" Penelo asked Vaan as they met outside each other's quarters exactly a week after they had first arrived at Mt. Bur-Omisace. Penelo had regained somewhat of her old mood now since they were well-rested, well-fed and safe at the moment. In fact, Vaan could almost describe her as optimistic, the way she practically bounced next to Vaan as they made their way to the Grand Hall where the others as well as the Gran Kiltias was waiting for them. Vaan had to cast her a doubtful look.

"We barely got a chance to look around the last time Penelo." He said as if it was blindingly obvious and Penelo just rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Oh Vaan, I meant the atmosphere." She gestured around her as if trying to take all the air in. "Can't you feel how charged the air is? It's not the sleepy mountain we came into the last time. It almost feels like its holding its breath or something."

Vaan raised a teasing eyebrow at her. "What's with you and your metaphors of air? Are you feeling windy all of a sudden?" he chuckled at his attempts at a joke.

Penelo just elbowed him good-naturedly. "And what's with you? You seem as you could laugh again. I kinda missed that with you, you know." She folded her arms behind her back. "You know Vaan, we've really come a long way haven't we?" she gave him a look, one which Vaan returned with another teasing smile.

"Please don't tell me you're having one of your sudden epiphanies again." He gave a mock-groan and had to avoid the good-natured swipe Penelo was aiming for his head, despite him being taller than Penelo.

"I cannot believe you!" Penelo cried in mock-outrage. "I'm trying to have a moment here!"

Vaan was laughing out loud now as she chased him around. "Can't you have your moments later? You never snap out of one of those once you start going." He chortled now as Penelo really began chasing him in earnest.

"Vaan? Penelo?" a rough voice from ahead caused the duo to stop their monkey business to look up. Basch was coming out of his own room, on his way to the meeting himself. It was rather surprising to see him alone for once and not accompanied by Larsa or any of the Kiltia healers. He had been in the worst state of the lot of them and it took a great deal to heal him back to normal.

Vaan though was just glad to see Basch up and about now, as he should be, bearing the same bearing and aura as was before. Though there was still a slight limp in Basch's leg, they were assured that it would fade in a couple of weeks just give it time. That was enough for Vaan to call Basch fully-healed.

Vaan then now bounded over to Basch, beaming wildly at the older man. "Hey Basch! Good to see you back among us!" He clapped the older man in the shoulder, as if they hadn't seen each other in ages. Vaan's enthusiasm elicited a small smile from the Judge Majister.

"It is good to be back, Vaan.' Basch replied in his gruff voice but they could hear the earnestness in his voice. Penelo had come up behind Vaan and said her own enthusiasm about seeing Basch healed and looking well. Basch then gave her his own thanks of looking after him when he had been unconscious which Penelo brushed off dismissively as nothing.

"Hey speaking of which," Vaan said as the three of them headed again for the Grand Hall. "Where's Larsa? We usually see him around you Basch, fussing like a mother Cluckatrice over her first chickatrice." He laughed again at his own joke and even Basch could not help smiling.

"I managed to convince him that there are other things more important than my health that he has to attend to, and since then he has been counselling with the Gran Kiltias and other members of the Kiltia order."

"That's good." Penelo now spoke fervently. "I was afraid his spirit was broken after Henne. Thanks Basch." She gave him a smile. It was Basch's turn to dismiss Penelo's thanks.

"It is my duty." He said with a deep nod. "However, I will not deny that his behaviour had raised my concern."

"You two worry about Larsa too much." Interrupted Vaan. "He's a strong kid. I didn't think he wouldn't be able to recover. It'll only a matter of time before that. Larsa's not the type to forget he's got a job to do after all."

"It's not that Vaan..." Penelo started to say, but they had reached the Grand Hall, and they had to stop their conversation to acknowledge the presence of those others in the room.

The Grand Hall of Mt. Bur-Omisace was located at the far end of the Hall of the Light. Before the attack on Mt. Bur-Omisace three years ago, the Hall of the Light was just one great hall. But after the attack and since the restoration, the Hall of the Light was separated into two: First the main hall, which was still called the Hall of the Light where pilgrims could pray and enter freely, and the Grand Hall, where the Gran Kiltias resided, flanked by guards.

Penelo, Vaan and Basch entered the Grand Hall, suddenly quiet. The atmosphere of the Grand Hall was one of meditation and repose, so sudden noise would actually sound and be awkward in the vast Hall. Basch was unaffected by the sudden inflicted silence, but Vaan and Penelo, unused to whatever imposed silence, were shifting uncomfortably as they made their way to the little circle of people at the middle of the Hall.

Larsa was there of course, dressed in new clothes, but still very much in disguise with the foreign style of clothes. His jet black-hair was tied up in his usual style though, as if that measure of familiarity helped him remember his identity. He nodded amiably at the approaching party, though his royal-blue eyes were strained with stress.

Next to Larsa stood Ashe, looking strangely out of place with her style of clothes. She was not wearing the clothes she wore during their travels three years ago, but something less conspicuous. Her sandy brown hair had grown longer as well, emphasizing the change of the princess Ashe from the Queen Ashelia of today. She looked up when she heard their approach and she gave them a small smile of welcome, something that was not usual three years ago.

Captain Sephyr flanked Larsa's other side, ever intimidating with his tall frame and long silver locks. His stance was still the same, ever withdrawn, ever silent, with eyes serious. He did not look up when they approached.

A little behind the three, stood Yvelle, healthy again, well as healthy as she looked before, with her pale skin and slender frame. This time however, the purplish circles under her eyes that she had acquired when she was desperately trying to heal Basch with her own capabilities. No traces of exhaustion was visible in her face now and when she looked up at the sound of their approach, she beamed at them, making her purple-coloured eyes shine like amethysts.

The other members of their party stood facing another quartet all wearing the Kiltia colors of blue, white or green. One of them of course was the Gran Kiltias and the three remaining were the guards.

When Vaan, Penelo and Basch approached the group, they all bowed respectfully before the Gran Kiltias.

"Gran Kiltias Lerusse," Basch spoke for the three of them and the Gran Kiltias turned to greet them, turning away from the previous conversation.

Gran Kiltias Lerusse did not look like the late Gran Kiltias Anastasis. Gran Kiltias Anastasis was the epitome of old age wisdom, every line on his ancient face worn with care, his eyes both literally and figuratively had seen ages of the world as they passed by and he was far enlightened with the Light of the Kiltia. He preferred to stand still and watch the world pass by, giving wisdom when it was asked but never before it was sought.

Gran Kiltias Lerusse however, had no physical indication of age. A relatively new Gran Kiltias, Lerusse had been chosen because out of all the priests and priestesses of Mt. Bur-Omisace Lerusse was deemed the most capable to bring Mt. Bur-Omisace back into the enlightened mountain it was once was out the ashes of a devastated spirit. Lerusse had been chosen because the Kiltia needed somebody who would be able to act when needed but would not compromise the teachings of Kiltia. They needed somebody who was not afraid of change but would not abandon the old ways. They had chosen Lerusse because they needed strength and fortitude. It had nothing to do with the fact that Lerusse was a Mist Sage instead of a Dream Sage. And it had absolutely nothing to do also with the fact that Lerusse was a woman.

Gran Kiltias Lerusse gave a small smile of acknowledgement at the gathered party, her garnet eyes holding all the wisdom they needed to verify that she was the Gran Kiltias. Ebony-haired to contrast the ruby of her eyes, her locks were gathered at the back of her head and wound into a tight bun, held together by several elongated pieces of hair adornments. The bun was also adorned with a long braid that cascaded down her back, very much like her predecessor, and as was the style of all Gran Kiltias and was ceremonial in nature. However, she had some locks loose and flowing and covered one ruby eye giving her the impression of being mysterious. Her attire was different and somewhat unexpected from a Gran Kiltias, or a priestess of the Kiltia for that matter. Clothed in a frock of pure white with fur trimming, she wore a corset of a deep blue hue with gold accents which complimented the buckles that criss-crossed the front of her heavy skirt. The heavy fur trims accented the neckline that exposed her shoulders and the ends of the long sleeves, making it ideal for the cold and harsh weather of Mt. Bur-Omisace. She carried a small plush representation of a Nu Muo in one arm, cradled against the crook of that arm.

" I hope that your quarters are to your liking," she spoke to them in a clear calm voice,

"Your hospitality is very appreciated, your Grace." Basch replied for them all and Gran Kiltias Lerusse smiled in appreciation.

"Before we begin further discussing your plight, I would introduce my guards," she said gesturing behind her to the three Kiltia standing there.

To her left there stood a man dressed in a long robe with the Kiltia colour of blue with an under tunic and trousers of white. Long-sleeved as was tradition, what was striking about this man was that he used one of the long sleeves as a makeshift sling for his left arm. Buckles also riddled his robe and they were a dull gold colour, as they had been aged. His waist was cinched with a large cloth and leather belt of the same Kiltia colours, he also had a singular pauldron on the left shoulder in a pattern of again dull gold and reddish leather. His face was partially covered by a soft green muffler, but they could see that his face was scarred in the right eye, stretching from the top of that eye down to his cheek making him look as if he was squinting that eye. Short hair coloured in shades of grey and black, this guard also wore a pair of spectacles like that of Al-Cid Margrace, with the tinted glass. There was also a large wine jug strapped to his right hip and he supported a sheathed Masamune in his gloved right arm, resting the sword across his shoulders.

"Ardian." The man said in a slightly hoarse voice and nodded to the group.

The man on Gran Kiltias Lerusse's left looked like the polar opposite of Ardian in terms of amounts of clothing. Clad only in a robe of white with blue and gold trimming that reached only the top of his shins. The rest of his shins were covered in leg armor that looked like it was forged from Halcyon. His hair was shade of white blond and it cascaded past his shoulders in luscious locks save a few stray locks that flopped over his face in a stubborn way. He was probably younger than Ardian with his lean built, and he would have been considered extraordinarily handsome if it weren't for the rather large and ugly scar on the right side of his face, completely obscuring that eye that for all intents and purposes was a brilliant electric blue. His hands were obscured and always placed behind him. He carried no weapon, at least none that was seen. He gave the impression to be a silent and aloof kind of man with his mouth set in a firm line. But when he looked at the group, he gave a warmer greeting.

"Frethelion at your service." He spoke in a deep voice and a warm smile quirked one side of his lips.

The last member of Lerusse's guard stood a little away from the three. He was robed dominantly in green. His high-necked robe reached past his knees but was left open revealing deep brown colored trousers and boots and light blue undertunic with a faded gold belt. The robe had little detail in the front, with nothing but embroidered symbols of the Kiltia stitched upon the hem, but the back had a highly-detailed design indicating different layers of blue, white, gold and green all around the lower robe as well as the entirety of the back. His hair was short and rather spiked at the front in the colour of snow contrasting to the almond-colour his skin and the bottle-green color of his eyes. He had a royal cloth wrapped around his head. A Sweep was held loosely in one hand and he bowed before the group.

"Greetings from the Father." he spoke in a round, warm voice. He also smiled warmly to the group making his eye twinkle. "I am called Barenor, and I am the Head of Defence of Mt. Bur-Omisace."

Gran Kiltias Lerusse drew the attention then, after the introductions were made with a slight movement of her skirts.

"I can see in your eyes the reason why you are here and it is not only to seek Kiltia healing." Her burgundy eyes were fixated onto Larsa's blue eyes her expression unfathomable.

Larsa opened his mouth to start, but the Gran Kiltias raised her palm to him, interrupting whatever it was he was planning to say.

"Lay down your words, Larsa, son of Gramis." She said, though there was no hint of reproach in her tones. "I know what it is you seek; I shall give you my counsel, for that is why you have come, am I not correct?" she looked up to meet the eyes of the others now, pausing on each face before moving on. She nodded, as if to herself, and gestured to her guards. They too nodded and swiftly and silently the departed the Grand Hall.

The Gran Kiltias turned to them once her guards departed. "I deem that this conversation, no matter how long it may be, is something that we must speak about in private and away from prying ears. For it is not everyday when I am asked about the Shadow Nethicite and its two parts."


A/N: Cliff-hanger...!! We have reached our 54th chapter...isn't that awesome?? I will tell the reason behind the changing of Mt. Bur-Omisace's change...later...hahahaha..read on...I'm very cheerful this week so forget if I sound if I'm a little perky...hehehe...Cheers to Vaan and Ashe fluff!! Wahahaha...

(*sounds of drums pounding in the distance...announcing the coming of doom*) Dum..dum..dum...

Stay tuned!

Cheers!

CometWong