D'aww thanks for all the reviews guys D: it keeps me alive... LOL
I'M GLAD YOU GUYS LIKED THE LAST CHAPTER SO MUCH!!!
The Fool Arcana: :D im glad you liked it!! I almost started laughing too, but I wasn't supposed to be writing it at the time and my mum was in the room so I had to be quiet…. Lol s'ok, I do anon review a lot too _ omg I want to do a Jade RP so badddd xD GAMING FTW. Lol
Midnightxwolfx: yessssssssssssssssssssssssss. lol but they turn out better in the end (hopefully)
Labyrnith: yupyup had to have some weird quirk bout Artemis, and well aircars was perfect haha you'll learn some more quirks bout her later!! lol… I love contradiction… xDStar03 chaaaa, but its only chapter 8! Gotta wait lol
Culinaromancer: lol no worries! I take forever to review/update anyway… lol I'm glad I managed to keep him in character x_x lol yeah, evenos is the original, arrrggg Guy xD
Serena Anges: d'aww thanks :D lol I thought that part was funny too xD
El-xo: lol thanks3 evenos is original fon master, Ion and Sync are his replicas
annethepyro: lol yeah, who doesn't??
Philadelphiacheese: XD i'm sorry haha, i'm very bad at updating on schedule u_u I'll try harder to update regularily haha thanks for the support
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 8:
"Whew…" Artemis watched as Natalia delicately wiped her forehead.
"I see that real battles never go as easily as training."
Artemis was surprised at the princess. She hadn't been expecting her to as able as she was. Her aim was very accurate and her endurance didn't seem to be failing at any rate. At least her enthusiasm wasn't either. But even though Artemis somewhat appreciated her bowman ship and healing abilities, not everyone thought the same.
"So why don't you go back?" Luke said almost with resentment.
"No!" Natalia exclaimed. Artemis almost covered her ear from the pain, but held her composure to not do so. What she did do though, was discreetly walk closer to Guy so as to avoid the princess shouting in her ear.
"I have no intention of returning to the castle," Natalia claimed, "And besides, did my healing skills not prove useful just now?"
Natalia looked at Guy expectantly and Artemis unintentionally took a step away from him.
Guy glanced at Artemis before giving Natalia an answer somewhat hesitantly.
"You have a point…" he said, "Until now, we've had to rely on Tear for healing."
He paused again and glanced at Artemis again. The servant remembered the miracle gel that Artemis had given him once and thought about mentioning it. He scratched his neck and decided not to.
"Having another Seventh Fonist like you on the team would certainly be an asset…"
"Guy!" Luke exclaimed, "You can't be serious! She'll make you do everything!"
Artemis' eyes showed her amusement as she looked at Guy. Guy on the other hand caught her sight and looked away somewhat embarrassed.
"Luke!"
Artemis watched uninterested as Natalia pulled Luke away to speak with him. Well, perhaps that was the life of the noble. Thank Lorelei she wasn't any part of nobility.
She turned around to see Jade and Guy speaking with each other. She didn't know what, but that didn't matter much. From their manner, she supposed they were talking about the two nobles that were bickering. Artemis opened her mouth to ask them something, but when she saw a Basilisk jumping at them, she settled with shouting at them.
"Move!"
The two complied without any complaint as Artemis ran past them. She pulled out a dagger and parried the Basilisk's attack. It hissed at her but stopped when a spear went through its head and a sword dismembered it from its body.
"…Thanks," Artemis said dully. She wiped the Basilisk's blood off the side of her face and brought her dagger down in a swift motion so the blood came off. Thankfully the blood only got on her face. She'd hate to get something on her nice uniform… yeah, no.
"Mm, I was starting to worry that the aircar had traumatized you to the point of being unable to battle Artemis," Jade said.
"…I don't like you."
"Ah, sorry Artemis," Jade said, "It appears you've gotten something in your hair."
"What?" Artemis blinked, "Where?"
Jade pointed to his own head in reference. His smile widened when Artemis patted the wrong place on her head. She frowned and asked Tear where the object was in her hair. Before Tear could answer, Guy had brushed his hand in Artemis' hair.
"It's a spider," he said.
"What?" Artemis asked, "Let me see it."
Sure enough it was a small spider that Guy had smashed in his hand. Artemis frowned and rubbed her hair some more. Guy laughed and said that there was nothing else.
"Oh Artemis look what we have here," Jade called out.
Artemis' face paled.
"-the aircar!" Jade smiled.
Oh…If evil had a face… it would look just like Jade.
No one said anything after the group boarded the aircar. Perhaps no one but Jade noticed how Artemis attacked. Because the saber strapped to her waist was only for decorative purposes for sure. Jade realized with some amusement that Artemis pulled her daggers from the satchel hanging on the opposite side of her waist. Jade would have to see into that. He'd go and ask Artemis about it at another time. After all, not many people can pull so much from a satchel the size of one's hands.
The aircar jerked in the air again. Jade looked over at Artemis. She was standing rigid still in the corner of the aircar. Both of her hands clenched onto the railing. He smiled when Artemis' eyes met his and the greenette frowned deeply.
After they had discovered several handy items and equipment the group finally got the aircar for the umpteenth time. Artemis had almost convinced the group to leave him behind…almost.
Guy felt sorry for the man. He was only going on request from the king, but why? Either way, the man had to ride in a aircar several times in one day. He almost wondered if the king and Jade had some sort of conspiracy against Artemis, because Jade would constantly smile just before they boarded an aircar. Guy almost had to drag Artemis into the aircar. They should have gotten out of the factory by now. But having to rearrange oil pipes and the such, their exit took even longer, but with Artemis' reluctance to ride any aircar… At least they got a good share of items along the way.
Maybe…Artemis should have gone with Van… They still would have met up… and there wouldn't be any other aircars in their path.
"Hey, Natalia! Slow down, would you?!" Luke exclaimed as the Kimlascan princess ran ahead of the group. His breath somewhat caught in his throat.
The princess had ran into a particularly dark area of the factory before turning back, simply to put her hands on her hips.
"What? Are you tired already?" she said to Luke, "How disappointing."
Luke's face flushed, "Th-that's not what I'm saying!"
"…Ugh," Anise walked up Luke.
"For a princess, she's got the stamina of a farm hand," she mumbled under her breath.
"Did you say something?
"Nothing!"
Natalia flipped her hair behind her and leaned forward, "Fon Master Ion's been kidnapped, remember?"
Anise scowled at the light-haired girl. She didn't need the no-battle-experience-princess pointing out her priorities.
And either Natalia ignored Anise's expression of distaste or she simply didn't see it, because she continued to talk.
"Besides, we need to work as quickly as possible for the sake of all who are suffering," she threw her arm out for 'all who are suffering'.
"Am I wrong?"
Anise bit back what she was about to stay and resolved to turn away from Natalia. Tear gave her and understanding look before looking back at Natalia. She took a step forward and lifted her hand slightly.
"That's true, but this area is dark," Tear looked past Natalia where the shadows revealed nothing.
"So I think we should be a little cautious."
Guy definitely agreed with the other female party and he was sure everyone else did too. It didn't seem that anyone was very fond of Natalia, not even Jade who had found the agitation she brought onto others amusing at first. Artemis probably didn't like it either.
"She's right, Your Highness," Guy spoke up, "Please, if you would, walk more slowly…"
Natalia suddenly spun to look at him, "Guy! I told you not to treat me as a princess!"
Guy faltered a little offended.
"Oh, that's right," he rubbed the back of his head, "My humblest apolo-err, I mean, sorry."
"Natalia," Jade called out promptly, getting the princess' attention.
"The seven of us are in this together. It's not right for everyone to cater to your needs."
He adjusted his glasses, apparently Jade was losing his patience and any humor in the princess' behavior.
"For the time being, at least, you've cast aside your status as royalty, correct?"
Surprise written on Natalia's face, she had to take a moment to reply.
"…You're right. I'm sorry."
Guy shook his head. Why did everyone listen to Jade? Probably because he's evil.
"Ahh, it's so wonderful to see everyone come to understand one another," Jade said with a smirk. Evil indeed.
"…You need to get your ears checked," Luke said folding his arms.
"How are you holding up, Artemis?"
Artemis looked over to her left. She frowned before rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"I'm fine now," she said, "Thanks for the concern, Guy."
The light-haired boy smiled and patted Artemis lightly on the shoulder.
"Only a little further out. I think I see the exit anyway."
Artemis smiled but it quickly slipped into a frown.
"Do you smell that?"
"Something smells." Apparently Luke noticed the smell too.
"It smells greasy!" Anise exclaimed while holding her nose in reference.
"Maybe it's from when the factory was running?" Guy said to himself.
He shook his head, "No, it's too strong for that…"
Before anyone else could suggest anything, Tear pointed out something she heard.
"…Is something there?"
Natalia frowned, "I don't hear anything."
"No," Jade said seriously, "there's definitely something here."
He walked over to Artemis. Just in case she wouldn't be able to fight with her condition.
"A monster?"
"Look out!"
Tear pushed Natalia out of the way as something appeared right where Natalia would have been. A monster covered pinkish slime landed before them. A shiver went up the back of Artemis' neck. The monster before them was eerily familiar. Before she could think any more on the monster, it began to attack.
"Uah!!" Anise exclaimed, "Here it comes!"
The monster went straight for the closest party member, Luke. He rolled out of the way and pulled out his sword.
"What is that thing?!"
No one responded, the adrenaline from a new fight distracting them from replying. Guy ran past Luke and slashed upwards at the monster. The goo gave way slightly and Artemis recognized the monster beneath it.
It was a giant spider.
"What the hell was that thing?" Luke exclaimed.
"It's not one I've seen around here before," Guy said raising an arm as he spoke.
Artemis looked at him with an expression asking 'and how many times have you been here?'. He smiled sheepishly.
"The inside looked like a spider," he finished and walked over to Artemis.
Tear looked doubtful with Guy's observation.
"Well, it's hardly surprising that an abandoned factory has a few spiders. We even saw some earlier."
Tear nodded in Artemis' direction.
"But…"
"The oil it was feeding on may have caused a mutation due to fonon activity," Jade clarified to Tear. He glanced at Artemis.
'Fonon activity, huh? What stops me from being like that then?'
"…Tear?" the Princess couldn't meet the seventh fonist in the eye as she spoke.
"Yes?" Tear turned to Natalia.
"Thank you. You saved me," she said accounting for when Tear pushed her out of harm's way.
"…I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you and everyone."
Everyone was surprised by the stubborn princess's genuine apology. Tear shook her head.
"It's alright."
"No, it's not," Luke cut in, "Don't drag us down, Natalia."
Tear stared at the boy's intrusion, unable to comprehend his immaturity.
"Luke, that was a little rude…" Artemis said.
"What?"
"The Princess was giving us all an apology, I don't think it was right for you to just brush her off like that."
Luke scowled at Artemis and looked over at Guy.
"Where's this sewage facility, anyway?"
Artemis just sighed.
"I imagine it's down below…" Guy trailed off as he spotted something.
"Hey, is that an emergency exit?"
Everyone turned to where Guy had pointed out.
"Let's take a look," Jade said.
Sure enough, there was an exit out of the factory. The relief Artemis felt couldn't be expressed in words…no more aircar…
"Okay, if we lower the ladder there, we should be able to get outside."
"Yes, Master!" Artemis almost jumped, she had completely forgotten about the little cheagle.
"Once we get out of here, it's on to Chesedonia!"
Tear nodded her head in agreement, while trying to not grab the little fluff.
"Chesedonia lies across desert. There should be an oasis midway, so we'll stop there to rest."
Artemis looked down the ladder. She tested it with her foot first. If the factory had mutated spiders who knew what else it had…
SURPRISE POV!! (just for little bit)
He looked over at Oracle soldiers standing nearby. He scowled at them. Such a simple thing like retrieving the Fon Master didn't require this many people.
He turned on his heel and began walking away.
"Sync, where are you off to?"
"I'm going to scout ahead, don't worry, Asch."
"I'm not worrying."
Sync didn't bother replying before running ahead of the group. He wouldn't admit that he didn't want to be around the Fon Master. What had him wondering was where that other green-haired man had gone. When Sync had gone to get Ion, he hadn't seen the other man had gone.
Artemis. Artemis was his name. The Fon Master had caught Sync looking around for him and told him.
Not that he wanted to know or anything.
He wouldn't be distracted by something like that. He definitely wouldn't admit that he kept his cloak in his room out of some unnamed feeling.
A distant shout pulled Sync to a stop.
"Hand over Ion now!"
Damn, that other replica's group caught up.
Sync ran back some to Asch and the Oracle nights. He was about to shout at the other God-General when another tuft of green hair distracted him. Artemis was there with the group. A different outfit this time for sure, but definitely the same man. He took an unintentional step towards Artemis, before shaking his head.
"Asch! Ion takes priority right now!" he took to shout at Asch instead.
"I know!"
He swiftly boarded the Tartarus, Asch with Ion following behind.
It was fine. He'd find more out about the man. If not from his own research then he would speak with the Fon Master. Not that he was going to resort to those measures.
After hours of traversing through the desert the group finally reached the Desert Oasis. Luke had an episode and spoke with Asch, and they learned that Ion was in the Zao Ruins…Convenient. The group checked in at an inn with mind to start search for the Zao Ruins and Ion the next morning.
"How many rooms?"
Jade glanced at Artemis before answering.
"Two rooms will be fine."
As soon as the men had entered their room, Artemis was the first to speak. He untied his satchel and started undoing his boots.
"Shower," was all he said.
Smart thinking, Guy surmised. Might as well enjoy feeling clean while they could.
"Oh, there's two showers," Artemis said while he was looking in the bathroom.
"Two? Well, isn't that peculiar?" Jade said, taking off his things as well.
"Really?" Guy walked over to the doorway and smiled.
"Well, what do you know, there's really is."
And then a clever idea hit Guy. If he shared some shower time with Artemis, he could figure out what exactly was going on between them- er strictly based on when Artemis had abruptly left and the Peacock Eyes. Nothing else. Nothing…
"Yup…" Artemis trailed off while he walked past Guy back into the room. He was in the process of taking off his collared suit when Guy proposed his idea.
"In that case we could shower at the same time, huh?"
Artemis froze, his arm halfway through a sleeve. He turned and stared at Guy.
"Say that again?"
"Huh? Oh, well, it'd be faster if we showered two at a time since there's two showers anyway."
"Excellent idea, Guy," Jade suddenly patted Guy on the shoulder.
"And since Artemis and I are the most undressed, we'll take ours first."
"What?" Guy's plan just got taken!!
Jade began pushing Artemis into the bathroom.
"I don't recall agreeing to this."
"I don't recall giving you an option~"
The door was locked as soon as it was shut. Jade smiled.
"Time to shower."
"…You are going to turn around right?"
"Why would I?"
"…Because you're a nice sadist?"
"Mmm, I can't say I am."
Artemis' face flushed.
"Jade, really?" "I assure you, I won't do a thing, Artemis."
Jade pulled off his white shirt and started on his pants.
"I know the female anatomy, seeing you won't be any different."
"…I appreciate getting compared to your text book diagrams."
"Of course."
Still somewhat red in the face. Artemis reluctantly turned round and began undressing as well. When she reached the bandages around her chest, Jade reached out and touched her back. Something was under the bandages on her back, maybe a seal.
"I can't believe the trouble you go through putting this on."
Artemis probably could hear the amused expression on his face.
"Don't remind me," she replied and started pulling the bandages off.
Only when she stepped under one of the showerheads did he see her fully. He wasn't paying attention to her figure, more as he was at what was on her body. Seals. One on the nape of her neck, on her back just under one of her shoulder blades, on her stomach, on her feet, maybe seven seals in all. His eyes narrowed, this was what they did to control Fighting Slaves.
"You're looking at them aren't you?" Artemis mumbled as she stood under the water.
"Would every Fighting Slave have this many seals?"
"…Sometimes more, sometimes less. Was that the reason why you came in?"
"Who did it?" Jade watched Artemis' expression carefully. Her eyes lowered when he asked her who placed the seals.
"…An extremist. Let's leave it at that."
THANKS GUYS!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCCCHHH!!! 3
btw polls are 14 for Jade, 10 for Guy, 5 for Sync, and 2 for other. so yeah, Jade looks like the def. pairing for right now, but who are you guys thinking of for the "other" pairing? .__.