omg i had to get this out. xD i think i really am addicted to this story haha
thanks for all the reviews!! i took my latin exam and i was feeling all depressed but reading all the reviews for last chapter made me smile
thanks for the support!!
XxXTwilight-SinXxX - OMG yeah! tell me about it!! i've been so addicted to this story atm it's crazy lol!
The Fool Arcana - lol at least you got ur login right? :3 dun worries i study3 i just happen to hmm never sleep before 1~ LOL
Labyrnith - lol thanks :3 no worries either, it's just so much fun to write those scenes too xD
Aion 13 - thanks :D and omg yes i love OHHC it never clicked till now how similar Artemis and Haruhi are!!
Yuleen75 -thanks a bunch that means a lot!! yeah, i know, but it worked out in my head xD well there's like too many people in this chapter
Millenia-the-wings-of-valmar - uwah what a name! :D hum.. a love square...? hmmmm
Yamilian - thankies! i almost for a lot of them too xD
summary: Artemis Niels is a part-time topographer, gel maker, and merchant, with some medical talents just for kicks. Dressing as a male comes naturally. but she never thought she'd be dragged on a quest to save the world. 'Tales of the Abyss is not my property'
Page 7:
Morning. Guy looked away from the window. He'd have to go meet with the others soon, but he still had time to spare.
He walked over to his desk and picked up the tan handkerchief. His mind began to wander.
Before they knew each other? They had only been together by coincidence. Because they happened to have the same destination. Did Guy even have the intention to 'get to know' Artemis?
Knock! Knock!
He set the cloth down, but still held it in his hand.
"Yes?"
"I've been told to prompt you on the meeting," the maid replied through the door.
"Alright," he said, "I'll be out in a moment."
Guy looked down at the cloth in his hand. He remained like that for a moment before he let it go and turned to get ready.
He couldn't be bothered with that right now. The king was waiting.
Artemis did not like the attention she was receiving from Jade at all. The man would eat and then stare at her. There was no pattern. If he wanted to look at her he'd just stare at her without any care.
It was unnerving.
And he probably knew it.
Artemis brought her fork down while it was halfway to her mouth.
"Can you stop staring?"
He just smiled some more and waited till he had swallowed his food before he spoke.
"Does it bother you Artemis?"
Artemis felt the corner of her eye twitch.
"Well, I'm just making sure that you don't pass out into your breakfast."
Artemis frowned and turned back to her food.
"I'm not that tired anymore," she mumbled and stabbed her food.
"Of course not, you had plenty of rest in someone else's bed."
Artemis was tempted to throw her fork- no all of her silverware at him. This man was going to be the end of her.
"You do seem more sensitive and respond more when you're not under the reign of the Peacock Eyes."
Artemis looked at him from the corner of her eyes. Did he annoy her that much just to figure that out? He was analyzing her every move. He was dangerous.
"It's much more entertaining this way I suppose."
"I hate you."
Jade just shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat.
"Excuse me," a maid came up, "Sir Niles."
Artemis wiped her mouth and turned to the maid.
"Yes, what is it?"
"The king requested your clothes be exchanged."
"…He said that did he?"
"Yes sir."
Artemis groaned. She didn't want to wear any sort of suit…
"Well, on with it then, Artemis," Jade said with his usual smile, "we don't want to keep the king waiting."
"Sadist."
Jade was speaking with the king when the doors opened. The group was coming together again it seemed.
Mohs, Luke and Tear entered the audience hall. Luke seemed somewhat confused as to why he was here.
"Ah," the king started, "we've been waiting for you, Luke."
Luke attention snapped to the king.
"An emergency assembly was called last night."
Alpine said promptly and nodded his head towards Jade, "We agreed to formalize a treaty with Malkuth."
"The letter from Malkuth contained the proposal for the peace treaty, but also a request for aid," Ingobert said.
"There is a mining city in Malkuth called Akzeriuth. It is facing a crisis due to the miasma, the poison blight that seeps up from Gnome's domain," Alpine explained.
"Malkuth can't rescue its own citizens because the miasma is blocking their road to Akzeriuth."
Ah, Jade had almost forgotten the princess was with them. She had been nice enough to be silent while he was talking with the king.
Pity.
"But Akzeriuth was originally our territory. So, naturally, there's also a connecting road from the Kaitzur side. With that in mind, they requested our aid to protect their citizens.
"Yeah," Luke said almost offhandedly and glanced at Jade, "helping their people would be a nice gesture…"
The young noble crossed his arms, "but what's that got to do with me?"
Duke Fabre was quick to explain simply to Luke, "His Majesty has graciously assigned you the honor of becoming Kimlasca-Lancaldear's goodwill ambassador."
Luke adamantly refused the offer until the freedom of his master was involved.
"…All right," he resigned, "If you'll set Master Van free…"
"You become a lot more cooperative when Van is involved," Jade almost teased.
Luke glared at the colonel, "…Shut up."
Jade shrugged his shoulders as if to say he did nothing wrong.
Afterwards, Tear was asked to read the score and Luke was called the Chosen Youth. Jade watched as Luke lost himself in thought.
His father spoke up, "It pained us to confine you, but people sought you for your power. Now, though, it is time you became a hero."
Luke's face lit up as if he had just pieced together a puzzle.
"A hero…" Jade mused aloud to himself.
Alpine caught ear of him mumbling to himself, "What is it, Colonel?"
Jade paused, considered answering the man, and shook his head.
"Nothing," he resolved. There was no point in complicating things at this point.
"Well, who shall accompany him besides me?"
Mohs spoke up quickly, "The Order of Lorelei wishes to send along Tear and Van."
Duke Fabre stole a look at Mohs before turning back to his son.
"Luke, who would you like to take with you?" he asked, "You should take Guy with you as your personal attendant."
"I don't care, as long as Master Van's going," Luke replied quickly.
Jade's eyes lowered. Luke was very dependant on his master. That could lead to some serious dangers in their future.
"…It's uncomfortable…"
"It fits you nicely, sir," the maid said.
"You think so?" Artemis pulled on her collar and turned to the maid with a pained smile.
"I can't say I like it too much, but it's what Ingobert wants, plus you said it looks nice."
Artemis closed her eyes and brushed a hand through her hair, "Can't go against the pretty ladies."
Artemis said, remembering once meeting a young lady who argued that she was right about everything because she was beautiful… though… - Artemis would leave that subject alone.
She looked to the maid. A red blush was on the maid's face. Ah, the pleasures of being something you're not…?
"…I think…I'll leave…now."
"A-Allow me to escort you, sir!"
"It's alright, I'll just be going to the city entrance…"
Guy looked over at the group he was with. It was everyone again, besides Anise, Ion, and Artemis. It seemed they'd be together for some time longer…
"A smaller group will attract less attention. Let's not add any more people than we have now."
Guy turned to Jade. Was it just him or did Jade seem happy? … in a sadistic Jade sort of way…
"I'll go make the necessary arrangements. Please wait for me at the entrance to the city."
With that Jade turned and walked away from the group.
Luke sighed.
"So that leaves the cold-blooded woman and the woman-hater…" he sighed.
"Hey!" Guy exclaimed, "Don't give people the wrong idea! I love women!"
And for some reason Artemis flashed through his mind. Guy quickly shook his head. That wasn't right, Artemis was definitely a man…right?
"I'm not sure shouting declarations that you're a womanizer is much better…" Tear said while crossing her arms.
"That's not what I mean!" he exclaimed, "What I mean is-!"
"Let's get going," Tear turned heel. Luke followed nonchalantly.
"Hey! Listen to me!!"
As Jade neared the city entrance he heard a conversation.
"Will you need anything else, sir?"
A woman's voice. She sounded young, not even 20 probably…she sounded very happy.
"No, I should be fine. Thank you though."
That was a voice he did recognize though.
"Artemis."
The green-haired woman turned round to face him. The maid beside her excused herself and ran off. Probably back to the castle.
"Hello, Jade…again."
"Hmm, you clean up nicely it seems, Artemis."
She wore a white swallow-tailed suit, the cuffs were green and black and the collar fitted onto her throat. A golden trim finished the edges of the cloth. She had on black gloves and black bottoms. Red accented the outfit uniformly.
Artemis shot him a look but Jade ignored it. So Artemis resigned to sighing. She pulled at her collar.
"I'll admit it looks nice, but I wish they'd have done something about the collar," she said, "I hate them."
Jade chuckled, "So long as it won't hinder you on the fighting field."
"It's not like that, it's actually very well fitted," Artemis wasn't even looking at him but rather mussing her suit, "I just don't like this collar."
"LUKE!!"
Artemis turned to Jade.
"Was that Anise? I thought she was accompanying Ion?"
Jade adjusted his glasses, "As did I."
Might as well speak up now.
"Anise, shouldn't you be with Ion?"
"Colonel-! Artemis!!"
Anise immediately ran over to Artemis and began to look her over.
"Whoa, this looks super expensive!!"
"…It was?" Artemis backed away.
"Artemis!" Guy exclaimed.
The said person jumped in place. She looked over at the blonde male in front of her.
"Oh, hi Guy…" she scratched her head, "You're going too? Ahaha…sorry about…yesterday…"
Jade cleared his throat, "What happened to Ion?"
Anise flushed, "When I woke up this morning, his bed was empty."
She frowned, "People said they had seen someone that looked like Ion leave the city with some circus performers…"
"Circus performers??" Guy exclaimed, "Don't tell me…"
"Well, this is a fine mess. It must be the Dark Wings," Jade glanced at Artemis who had crossed her arms behind her head before. Now she busied herself by looking at the sky.
"What?!" Luke exclaimed, upset from hearing about the Dark Wings again.
Then he realized something, "Hey, now that you mention it, they HAD been talking with Oracle soldiers. They must be working together!!"
"Let's go get them!" Guy added.
"You can't!!" Anise almost screamed.
"The God-General Sync is right outside the city."
Luke and Guy's enthusiasm dropped.
"…This is bad. If the Six God-Generals are outside, they'll find out that we're going by land," Tear said. Artemis dropped her arms and nodded in agreement. Jade figured the woman didn't enjoy her first encounter with the God-Generals.
"Huh?" Anise was confused.
"You're not going to Akzeriuth by ship?"
"No, that's a decoy," Luke let out as frustration started to get a hold of him.
"Damn it, we've got to find a way out…"
"Then take me with you on your way!" Anise exclaimed, "If I can get outside the city, I can look for Ion!"
Luke stared at the small fonmaster guardian and turned to Jade.
"What do you think, Jade?"
Jade raised his hands, "I suppose we can't refuse her."
"…It sounds like Mohs isn't involved in Ion's kidnapping this time," he added.
"That's right," Anise nodded her head quickly, "Mohs was mad."
Artemis stared at the smaller girl. Within a short difference of time, Anise had latched herself onto Artemis' arm, and it didn't seem as though she had the intention of ever releasing Artemis.
"Then, Grand Maestro Mohs and the Six God-Generals really aren't connected…?" Tear voiced.
"Though, whether Mohs is trying to cause a war or not is a separate issue," Jade finished.
Tear's lips tightened as she shot Jade a look. Jade ignored the growing tension.
Luke on the other hand was oblivious to it.
"What do the Six God-Generals want with Ion? He said they took him to that place called the Sephiroth, right?"
"The Sephiroth?" Artemis' attention darted back into the conversation.
"We don't have enough information to guess. Right now, we should concentrate on getting out of this city," Jade pressed before their matters got any farther strayed.
"Wait…I know a way."
Everyone turned to Guy. He turned and pointed behind him.
"Let's go to the abandoned factory in the old part of the city. We can get there by aircar."
"The abandoned factory?" Luke furrowed his eyes before nodding his head, "Okay."
Jade looked over at Artemis whose face had paled significantly. Before he could tease her, Tear spoke up.
"Artemis? Are you alright?"
"Do we h-have to go by…" she breathed deeply, "aircar?"
Everyone blinked.
"Artemis…" Guy started, "Are you afraid of aircars?"
"Yes, oh Lorelei, I'm afraid of them!!"
Guy held his hands out in case he had to grab the green-haired man. He was holding on to a lamppost while Luke was pulling on one of his belts.
"Let's. go. you. weirdo..!" Luke grounded out as he pulled on Artemis' belt. He didn't want to keep Van waiting, but Artemis was proving to be very difficult.
"Ah, Artemis," Guy bent down to his level, "why are you afraid of aircars?"
Artemis' face blanched some more.
"Artemis?" Anise took a step closer.
"When I was 7 I rode one that broke! It hurtled to the ground!!" Artemis got lost in his trauma, "It rolled and rolled…"
"Quick," Jade said, "Let's move him to the aircar while he's caught up in his trauma."
Guy looked at Jade.
"You're very…"
"Saaddiiissstttt," Artemis hissed. Jade just smiled.
She was holding on the walls of the aircar. She actually stood in her own corner.
Anise sighed and put her hands on her hips.
Suddenly the aircar jerked to a stop. Everyone, besides Artemis who was already holding on to something, grabbed on the railings.
"Whatwasthat?" she stammered.
"Probably just some malfunction," Guy said. He turned to Artemis and smiled, "It'll be fine, ah, look there it goes."
The aircar continued.
"Guy…"
"Ack, Anise!!" Guy jumped back to avoid contact with the small girl.
"You're getting a bit close to my Artie don't you think?"
"…What?"
The aircar finally stopped and its doors opened. Needless to say, Artemis was the first one off. She kept running till she was a way away from the aircar. The group stared at her before following off.
Guy patted her back as he walked by and gave her a sympathetic smile. He turned his head back to speak to the rest of the group.
"So you know Baticul was built in the crater made by a fallen fonstone, right? If we go in through here, we should be able to make it out through the crater wall."
Artemis jerked her head to golden-haired servant. He sure knew a lot now didn't he… well, it wasn't like she had room to talk.
"Yes, of course," Jade snapped his fingers, "If this was a factory, then…"
"…there would have to be facilities to dispose of waste water," Tear finished.
"Exactly," Guy nodded his head and pointed further into the factory.
"The sewage facility here doesn't work anymore, but we should be able to go through it."
The group stopped moving when they heard something walking across the metal flooring.
Everyone turned to owner of the new voice.
"The princess," Artemis said surprised.
"I found you," Princess Natalia proclaimed while pointing to Luke.
"What are you doing here?" he exclaimed and started to frown, "And why are you dressed like that?"
Artemis' mind wandered back to what she was wearing. She fixed her posture while crossing her arms. Might as well fit the image…
"What do you think?" she scoffed, "Two bitter enemies are finally about to make peace. This is not time for a princess to be sitting at home."
It would be safer… Artemis thought to herself.
"…Are you stupid?" Luke said, "The world outside is one place for a spoiled little girl. You may wind up having to fight people, you know. Not just monsters."
He was probably speaking from his own experience outside. Artemis surmised. But that still didn't excuse Luke from being a somewhat of a spoiled child either. It didn't seem that Natalia was ready to back down though.
"Three years ago, at the battle in northern Chesedonia, I paid a visit to encourage the troops. I'm prepared for battle."
"Raising morale and actually fighting are two different things," Anise spoke in a sugarcoated tone, "You're probably better off staying behind."
Once more, Artemis found Anise on her arm.
The princess snapped her vision over to the smaller girl who was smiling innocently. Natalia opened her mouth to speak when Tear's voice cut in.
"With all due respect, I'm afraid I have to agree," Tear said.
Guy took step foreward, a small one, and spoke, "Your Highness, I think it would be best if you returned to the castle…"
"Silence!" the Kimlascan princess exclaimed, "I'll certainly be more useful than this empty-headed Oracle Knight, or that uncivil one."
Oh, ouch. Artemis winced as she felt the animosity radiating off of the other women. How intimidating…
"Anybody else think I should rip daddy's little girl a new hole?" Anise strained.
Artemis sighed deeply. This would quickly become very troublesome…
lol i tried rewriting this chapter a lot but... it didn't work lol so it might be confusing especially with all the dialogue x_x
oh boy but i can't wait till you guys see when guy figures out bwahahaha
ack, btw guys there's a poll in my profile so go check it out :D
poll closes... iuno. lol