Chapter 46: Reflections in the Snow
"What do you mean Jade's gone?"
"Well, he isn't anywhere to be found," Aston explained. "When he didn't show up this morning we went to check on him and found all his belongings packed and gone. He had checked out of his room and everything. We've no idea where he went."
"Has Noelle returned with Ion yet?" Guy asked.
"No, that's the baffling part. We thought perhaps since he'd finished his project that he'd gone to meet up with the rest of you."
"Well without the Albiore he couldn't have gotten too far," Natalia pointed out. "Shall we go looking for him? There is a possibility he might be trying to meet us in Baticul. We did stay longer than we had intended."
"The Colonel's not that stupid," Anise said. "Just like we're not getting to Grand Chokmah without him, there's no way he could get into Baticul without us."
"You have a point," Natalia conceded. "But where else would he be trying to go?"
"You said he had finished his project," Tear spoke up. "May I ask what he'd been working on?"
"He had been working on a measuring device to measure the core's vibrations. The design was all his and I'd been the one building it," Aston answered. "I was having trouble figuring out some of his plans so he spent a great deal of time assisting me. We just finished it last night, and now he's taken it and run off!"
"You don't think he'd try and head to the Meggiora Highlands Sephiroth on his own, do you?" Luke asked in worry. Even if he was the renowned fighter he was rumoured to be, alone he was in very real trouble.
"No I don't think that's a concern," Spinoza spoke up, turning everyone's head as he walked in the room. "The vibrations can only be measured in a Sephiroth that hasn't been tampered with. We had come to the conclusion that the alterations you made to the Sephiroth's operating system might interfere with the data."
"But from the looks of things my brother's already altered almost all of the Sephiroth," Tear pointed out. "Which ones are left?"
"I don't have any idea," Anise said disappointedly. "That's not easy information to come by, even if you were in Daath. Ion might be able to help, but he isn't here either."
"That still leaves us with the question of where would Jade go without an Albiore?" Guy wondered. "Noelle hasn't returned from Daath yet either. Should we wait for Ion and then go looking for Jade? I'd hate to leave Ion on his own longer than we have to."
"That's not entirely accurate," Spinoza cut in. "Noelle and the Fon Master returned late last night."
"They did?" Aston cut in. "How come I didn't know of this? And where's the Albiore?"
"It was after everyone else had turned in for the night. Jade left with them almost immediately after they'd arrived," Spinoza explained. "I'm afraid he didn't say where he was going, but wherever it was, he was in a hurry."
"So Jade took off with the Fon Master and Noelle," Asch pondered.
"But where would he be going with Ion?" Luke asked.
"I don't know," the older sibling replied, "but if that's the case then there's one way to find out. Ginji, can you get on those transmitters and ask the old man what the hell he thinks he's doing?"
"Definitely," Ginji said with an enthusiastic nod.
"Good, cause then we're going after him and dragging him back here whether he wants to or not."
"I'd pay to see that," Anise commented under her breath.
"Let's just hope it'll be willingly," Guy muttered nervously.
"Thanks a bunch for all your hard work," Luke said to the researchers. "Sorry to leave so soon after arriving."
"It's no problem at all," Spinoza replied. "After all, this is our world too. We'll have lots to discuss with you when you return."
"Yeah, so don't keep us old folks waiting. Unlike you youngsters we don't have all the time in the world to wait!" Iemon shouted from the mechanical bay.
"Don't worry Uncle Iemon!" Ginji called back. "We'll be back before you remember we've left!" The silver haired pilot laughed followed by the two seniors standing with the group. His uncle had already delved back into his work and didn't even protest.
--
"How far are we?" Asch asked, taking a seat next to the silver haired pilot.
"Hard to say," Ginji replied with a mild shrug. "Not far though. An hour, maybe a bit more. Landing might be difficult though so that could delay things a bit."
"I'm pretty sure there's a port on one of the coastlines. If it's easier you could land in the water and pull in that way," Asch suggested.
"That should work fine so long as you don't mind the walk, it won't be an easy one. Are you sure this is the right place?"
"Play that recording again, please."
Ginji reached over on the dash and pushed a series of buttons. The small transmitter turned on, playing nothing but static at first, but then there was a discernable sound, and the voices in the small machine relived the transmission that had taken place just a few days earlier.
"Noelle? This is Ginji, can you hear me?"
"Hi Ginji, you're coming through clearly on this end."
"Do you have the Fon Master and Jade on board by any chance?"
"Yeah, Jade had asked for a ride so I agreed. It's been awhile since I was out flying so I don't mind. Why, is something wrong?"
"No… Where are you headed?"
"Well we're just north of Grand Chokmah right now, we're heading north for-"
"Noelle, shut that transmitter off."
"Jade, that hardly seems-
The transmission cut out and static once again took over the speaker until Ginji shut it off. Damn that old man, just what the hell was he doing at a time like this? It was clearly Jade's voice in the background. Asch felt so stupid! Wasn't it Jade who had convinced them to let Ion go to Daath alone in the first place? But Noelle didn't seem uncomfortable or being forced to do something against her will. Ion's final protest at the very end proved he was safe, and also not in any form of distress. Nothing indicated it was any kind of trap but… It looked like tracking the old man down was the only way they were getting answers.
"Yeah, I'm sure it has to be Keterburg," Asch finally concluded. "The only other place north of Grand Chokmah is the Absorption Gate, and the old man wouldn't go there on his own, forget with the Fon Master that he'd have to protect."
"Ugh, why does it have to be Keterburg?" Anise's protest came from behind the cockpit. "I mean, I'm not against finding the Colonel or Ion or anything, but seriously, the ice capital of the world? We're going to freeze!"
"I heard there are some rather nice spas in Keterburg," Natalia commented.
"Yeah, there's quite a few attractions there including a casino," Guy replied. "It's a bit of a retreat for nobility and other rich folk, so a lot of things cater to their needs. Though from what I hear, Emperor Peony forbade any further development."
"Wow! A spa full of rich people? A Casino?? I can't wait! How soon are we gonna get there?" Anise exclaimed in excitement, sending a wave of chuckles through the group.
"Why would the Emperor forbid the development of Keterburg?" Tear asked once everyone's amusement died down.
"Well rumour has it he spent the majority of his childhood there," Guy explained.
"Perhaps he just wants to protect the town he remembers and not have it overrun by the nobility," Natalia suggested.
"That's very possible," the blonde agreed. "But given how remote the place is, tourism is really its only source of income. So he couldn't cut them off completely."
"Where do you hear all this stuff?" Luke asked incredulously.
"Guy used to be a Malkuth noble, it's not surprising he's kept up with such matters," Tear replied.
"Yeah but…"
"Oh that's right," the melodist realized, "you're a member of nobility as well."
'You fail,' Asch taunted.
'Shut up,' Luke shot back.
"We're almost there," Ginji called back. "The port's in view now, I'm going to land in the water and pull up to the docks. You should probably start getting ready."
"Look, there's the Albiore II," Luke pointed out. Sure enough, Noelle's machine was silently sleeping in port.
"Well at least we know we've come to the right place," Natalia commented.
"But will we really be able to find Ion and the Colonel?" Tear asked.
"No idea," Asch replied honestly as he hopped out of the front seat. "But you'd best bundle up. It's going to be a long and cold walk."
--
Snowflakes gently drifted down from the sky laying themselves down upon fields of untouched white carpet. The forests of evergreens bore the load on their branches, making them droop down but giving them a magical look all the same. Luke's eyes lit up and the seven year old couldn't help but laugh as he ran down the road leading out of the Keterburg port. His arms spread out, and his cloak flying out behind him, the young noble ran in a circle before collapsing backwards into a nearby snow bank.
Natalia and Asch simultaneously rolled their eyes while Guy couldn't help but chuckle at his best friend's antics. Snow had always fascinated Luke ever since he was little, so was it really any surprise he was so excited? Especially considering Baticul never had much snow, and it never lasted more than a month before melting away. Guy had half a mind to scold him for diving into the snow like that, especially when they were going to have to listen to Luke's whining later when he was cold and wet... but how could he get mad at Luke for loving the world around him?
"Okay enough is enough," Asch said once everyone had caught up to the younger redhead who was still lying in the snow, his emerald eyes fixed on the falling flakes. The eldest sibling offered his hand. "You're going to get soaked and freeze before we get to Keterburg, and I am not listening to you complain the whole way."
Luke took Asch's hand despite the disgruntled look on his face. "Fine then, Mother."
Asch let go of his little brother's hand at the snide remark and sent Luke crashing back into the pile of snow.
"Hey!" Luke protested. But rather than an outraged look, a mischievous gleam shone in Luke's eye and a wide grin spread across his face. That grin was mirrored by his original and both of them took off down the road, Asch managing to stay just ahead of his brother's grasp.
"Those two," Guy sighed, laughing a bit when he saw Luke shove Asch into the snow up ahead.
"They're both going to catch a cold at this rate, honestly." Natalia crossed her arms, though whether her displeasure came from the complaints she knew would exist in the future or the fact that she wasn't in on the fun had yet to be determined.
"I don't think you can catch a cold from playing in the snow," Tear pointed out.
"That's beside the point," Natalia protested. Everyone shook their head in mild amusement at Natalia's displeasure. That wasn't what she had said. "Asch is a representative of Kimlasca, at the very least he should be acting his age. Luke may be seven but Asch is not."
"Come on Natalia." Guy did his best to try and calm the irritated princess. "Let them have some fun. It's been awhile since Asch was relaxed enough to mess around anyways. Things are only going to get worse from here on out... so let him enjoy it while he can."
Natalia watched the two up ahead, still attempting to push each other into the deep banks. They had since drawn their swords, turning their game into a sparring match. From the amount of snow clinging to Luke's cloak, it looked as if he was losing. The victorious carefree grin on Asch's face confirmed it. Guy was right. Natalia… she couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen him smile like that. "I suppose you're right," she finally conceded.
The Kimlascan Princess pulled her own cloak tighter around her. Just watching the boys was chilling her to the bone. She noticed that Tear also had her cloak tied tightly, though she had the added benefit of a little cheagle to help keep her arms warm.
"Luke really seems to like the snow," Tear commented.
"Well yeah, I guess you could say that," Guy replied. "We don't get a whole lot in Baticul so this is pretty exciting for him."
"There's so much of the world he's never seen," Tear said softly.
"Maybe, but I think that's true for anyone," Guy answered. "Yeah Luke's younger than he looks, but there are people who spend their entire lives in one village or area. You're a member of the Oracle Knights, so you have the benefit of being able to travel a lot, but most people don't have that chance. I think Luke's seen more of the world in his seven years than most people ever will in a lifetime."
"You're right, I'm sorry."
"Yeah," Anise agreed. "Until I traveled with you guys, I hadn't really seen too many places either. For being the Fon Master, Ion really doesn't get to go anywhere interesting. It's always the same boring cities."
"Well, let's catch up to those two and add Keterburg to the list, shall we?" Guy suggested.
"Yes," Natalia smiled. "Let's be on our way."
--
The snow was still falling gently as everyone made their way through Keterburg. The several extra pounds of water Luke had managed to accumulate in his winter cloak labelled Asch the victor in their little game, much to the younger sibling's dismay. Not that Luke had been completely defeated; his older brother was carrying around his fair share of excess water as well, but a win was still a win. It didn't take long for the two of them to abandon their cloaks altogether. While in the end it was probably the warmer of the options, but that didn't spare them the strange looks they were getting from the locals. Usually tourists bundled up to the point they looked ridiculous, what were those two doing in nothing but light jackets?
"So where should we start looking?" Anise asked. "He could be anywhere, right?"
"Excuse me," Asch stopped a man as he was walking by. "Could you point us in the direction of the Governor's house?"
"Who is the Governor of Keterburg?" Luke asked his best friend.
"That would be Nephry," the man replied for Guy. "Nephry Osborne. She lives in the house at the end of this street. It's on your right; there's a big sign, you can't miss it."
"Thanks," Asch nodded to the man who promptly continued on his way.
"So what do you want with the Governor of Keterburg?" Anise inquired sceptically.
"I think I get it," Guy answered. "Jade's a pretty big military figure, even if he doesn't have a really high rank. Not to mention the fact that he's with the Fon Master. If anyone is aware he's around, she would be."
"At the very least, it's a good place to start," Asch added, stopping in front of the house the man had indicated.
"Well he was correct in that we couldn't miss it," Natalia commented. The place they'd stopped before was quite the size, even given the fact it belonged to the governor; though from the looks of things it doubled as her office. The place still seemed rather quaint, not unlike the rest of the town. Natalia could easily see how this remote village had become such a renowned retreat. Tear was the first to knock on the door.
"I- I- I- I'm c- cold," Mieu shivered violently, turning his complaint into a fit of stuttering.
"Don't worry Mieu." Tear picked up the young cheagle and held him in her arms. "We'll get you inside and next to a fire soon. "Is anyone home?" the melodist called, knocking on the door again.
"May I help you?" A maid appeared at the door.
"Hello, we'd like to speak with the Governor if at all possible. Is she seeing people?"
"Certainly, right this way please," the woman opened the door wide and allowed them all entrance.
As soon as everyone got inside, they could see why it had taken so long for someone to answer the door. The front room was a complete mess. Books sat in stacks everywhere, furniture was shoved against walls and into corners haphazardly while lamps and other fixtures were scattered across the room. Only a small path was cleared to reach the back room, and presumably the office Nephry worked out of.
"Miss Nephry…" the maid opened the second door. "You have guests."
"Let them in," the voice came from within the room. Once the maid had bowed and moved out of the way, they could see the woman from which it had come. Unlike her house seemed to suggest, Nephry was well kept and very proper. Her golden brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail and glasses sat cleanly across her brown eyes. The white and black suit she wore was pressed and the desk behind which she sat didn't have a single pencil out of place. Anyone who didn't know better would think they'd stepped into a different world.
"You're Mrs. Nephry Osborne?" Natalia inquired upon entering.
"No, Osborne was the name of my late husband," the woman replied. "I'm Nephry Balfour, the Governor of Keterburg. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize," Natalia said softly. "I didn't mean to bring up a painful topic."
"It's alright," Nephry replied with a smile. "He died several years ago. I'm afraid I've yet to sort through his belongings in the front room though; I do apologize for the mess. Most people know to use the side door."
"Balfour…" Guy mumbled. "I'm sure I've heard that name before."
"I know!" Anise exclaimed. "Isn't that what Spinoza called the Colonel that one time in Belkend? He called him Jade Balfour."
"You know my brother?" Nephry asked curiously.
"Your brother?! You mean the Colonel is your brother?!"
"If you're referring to Colonel Jade Curtiss of Malkuth's 3rd division, then yes, he's my older brother."
"But wait a sec," Anise waved her hands. "How come the two of you have different last names?"
"My brother was adopted into the renowned Curtiss military family when he was young due to his exceptional talents. He's been in the military since that time."
"It's kind of funny," Luke commented. "You know, for all the time we've spent together, we really don't know much about him. I didn't know Jade was adopted."
"The old man doesn't like talking about himself," Asch added.
"That sounds like him, he's difficult to deal with on the best of days," Nephry chuckled.
"Any advice?" Asch inquired.
"Not a bit," the Governor replied and everyone laughed. A sad look dawned on the Colonel's little sister and everyone was silenced. "Tell me…" Nephry eventually managed. "Where is he now?"
"Actually, we were hoping you might be able to tell us," Tear spoke up. "Has he not stopped in to see you?"
"No, I haven't seen him since my husband's funeral," she said sadly. "Then I received word of Akzeriuth… His Majesty sent word that he'd survived but I didn't know if I could believe it or not."
"You don't trust Emperor Peony?" Natalia asked.
"I do, we've been friends ever since my brother and I were children, but it is because we're close I worry that he's lying to me. After losing my husband, I don't know if I could take losing my brother as well. He may just be trying to protect me from the truth."
"I wouldn't get your hopes up," Asch said with a bit of a grin. "You can't get rid of the old man that easily."
Though it took them awhile, Asch, with various contributions from everyone else, told Nephry the story of their journey. It hadn't been intentional, but the retelling gave everyone a chance to properly sort through everything that had happened to them recently. It was astounding how much had happened so fast, and it didn't take long before their story became far more detailed than any of them had intended it to be.
"Yeah, I wouldn't worry," the redhead finally concluded. "Jade made it out of Akzeriuth just fine. We actually think he's somewhere here in Keterburg along with the Fon Master, but we have no idea where to look. Do you think you could help us with that?"
Nephry pondered the question for a moment, her face still bearing a great sadness. "Try south of town," she finally said. "There's a house down there, just on the edge of town that burnt down a long time ago. Regardless of what else he does, Jade always stops by there when he comes back home."
"Why there, may I ask?" Natalia inquired.
"That's something, I'm afraid, you'll have to ask him if you find him."
"Thanks," Asch smiled.
"Do me a favour though." Nephry added before anyone could leave.
"What's that?" The redhead asked.
"Please tell him to stop by before he leaves, and if you could, would you come along as well? There's something I'd like to speak with you about concerning my brother."
"Sure, we can all stop in before we leave town."
"No, just you."
Asch eyed the governor curious about her strange request. What could she possibly want to say to him? "Fine, I'll do my best to make it by."
"Thank you." Nephry smiled. "Best of luck with my brother," she waved gently from her seat as the group let themselves out.
"Because Score knows… you're going to need it."
--
The scorched timbers lay against each other, contrasting against the unbroken snow. Their ashes had long since been blown away by the winter storms, but the memories they left behind still lingered. The wood had been preserved by the frigid ice, as the lives that once inhabited this place were by those who still lingered in its ruins. Such people were just fools.
The cold wind tossed the Colonel's golden brown hair around, but didn't faze the man who stood solemnly ankle deep in the snow. The cold never bothered him, nor did the memories, or at least that's what he believed. It was fruitless to dwell on the past, all that ever came of it was hesitation. Humans were such strange creatures, always looking behind them and letting those regrets destroy their future.
But still this place held onto him, and refused to let him go. Perhaps he had never really escaped it to begin with.
"Jade," Ion's soft voice broke the silence. Perhaps the temperature didn't bother the Malkuth Colonel, but Ion for one wasn't used to these sorts of temperatures, and without any chance to dress properly. "What is this place?"
"It's nothing of any importance," Jade replied. "I was simply curious if they'd cleaned things up yet, but it appears as if they haven't."
"If you'd like to see things all cleaned up, why not speak to the Governor here? I hear she's quite considerate."
"No, there's no hurry. There are far more important matters to tend to. I'm certain you need not be reminded that we're on a very tight schedule. There's no saying when the lands might fall."
"I see," Ion commented with a smile. "This place is important to you isn't it?"
"Not at all, it's an eyesore I'd like to see removed."
"Then what is it we're doing here?"
"That's something we'd like to know too," the familiar voice made both Jade and Ion turn around, one with more enthusiasm than the other.
"Asch, everyone, it's good to see you!" Ion's relieved smile shone through in spite of the cold. "I was concerned when we didn't leave word in Sheridan as to our whereabouts, but Jade didn't seem to think it was necessary. How did you find us?"
"That's something I would like to know as well," Jade cut in sternly.
"Hey!" Anise protested. "We spent a lot of time trying to track you down, don't give us that look. What do you think you're doing halfway across the world with Ion?"
"Perhaps I should ask you what you're doing here as well," the Colonel provided.
"Don't Jade," Ion said in Anise's defence.
"I'm sorry Ion." Anise's head hung down and she suddenly found herself unable to look at anything but the snow below her feet. "I- I didn't mean to hurt you, or to betray you. I know that isn't any excuse and I shouldn't even be here, but I really want to help you guys stop the Commandant and that pig Mohs! But if you want me to, I'll leave."
"No, that's fine Anise. You don't have to leave. You're no longer in my services, so you're free to do as you please. Follow your own path this time."
"What a touching reunion," the cackle sang tauntingly turning everyone's attention towards the ruined building. "And in the most appropriate of places, wouldn't you say so, Jade?"
"Dist!" Anise exclaimed her eyes landing on the overly extravagant God-General. Her anger, however, only lasted a second until the reality of what she was seeing sunk through her initial shock at his undesired presence. Then it was all she could do not to laugh.
She had always known Dist was a pansy, like, come on. The way he acted alone could send even the most serious Oracle Knights into fits of giggles, forget his wardrobe. But this… this was on a whole new level. Like, could anyone say pom-poms? They were hanging all over, from the end of his disgustingly pink hat to his matching pink mittens. The hood of his black jacket was lined with the same fuzzy pink stuff the pompoms were made out of, and his boots looked like some cotton candy had thrown up on them. The man was a walking fruit cake!
"I haven't the first clue what you're talking about," Jade sighed in mild annoyance, an unusual event in and of itself. Jade was always the first in line to push Dist's buttons. This time he wasn't provoking the man at all. "A stack of discarded firewood is hardly suitable for a reunion."
"Ohhhh," Dist's feet pounded furiously in the snow beneath his bright pink boots. "Don't you even start that! I won't let you pretend you've forgotten about the Professor!"
"What professor might that be?" Jade shrugged. "We've had a great many professors here in Keterburg, you'll have to be more specific than that."
"Heh." Dist straighten up his composure and took a more confident and taunting stance. "You may act all innocent but you know the truth. You haven't forgotten about Professor Nebilim! Otherwise you'd never have come here! Here to this place where you became a murderer."
"That's enough." Jade's face lost every trace of the nonchalant manner it had held just a minute ago. His red eyes burned with a fury none of them had ever seen before, but rather than intimidate the God-General before them, it only seemed to spur him on. That did it, Dist really was an idiot. And a dead one at that.
Luke couldn't help but watch the stare down between the Malkuth Colonel and the God-General. Murder? That wasn't right, that just didn't seem like Jade at all. Sure, Luke knew that Jade was a soldier and an excellent one at that. He was bound to have killed a lot of people in his life, but that was a battle, a war… death in war wasn't considered murder, and as stupid as Dist may be, Luke was sure he knew the difference.
"I knew you'd return someday, to this place," Dist continued. "This is where it all began, for you and for me. Admit it! You yearn for those times again, for those days long since past. Now finally after all these years, together, you and I can bring her back. We can return to how things used to be. You know better than anyone that fomicry can return her to this world, and then everything will be how it once was!"
"So… it was you that resurrected that forbidden technology in the first place. Why did you do it? That technology was forbidden for a reason!"
Everyone watched on in awe. Jade was angry, like genuinely angry. Not giving a disproving look or that awkward silence he somehow managed to create when he was upset at someone, but a raw fury that seemed to burn in his blood red eyes.
"Don't look at me like that," Dist spat. "I did it for the same reason you did, for the exact same purpose you had in mind when you created fomicry in the first place! You can pretend all you like, but I know the truth, you still want to see her again, to return to the olden days! That's why you'll never truly forbid fomicry! Not until together we've achieved our goal!"
"What?!" Anise's exclamation rang the loudest but it encompassed the feeling of just about everyone present. "Colonel… you invented fomicry?!"
Tear opened her mouth, wanting to ask a million questions at once, but couldn't find her voice. Jade… Jade had ties to fomicry as well? He'd invented it? Some how even as the thought grazed her mind; she couldn't get it to sink in. Suddenly everything she'd ever said to the man in blind hatred of the technology came back to her. How many times had she gone on about how much she hated whoever had come up with such a horrid thing? And here he had been sitting right there the entire time, listening to her every word! The melodist was so mortified she would give anything to sink into the snow and never crawl back out.
The man before them seemed to regain some of his former composure. "Yes," Jade eventually replied. "Even I had my young and foolish years, things I wish I could undo. But there's one mistake right now that I know I can fix," and with that implied threat alone, Jade drew his spear. His hateful gaze never once left Dist.
Everyone quickly followed suit and Dist's cockiness suddenly went down a peg. "Ha!" The God-General laughed, "You think you can beat me? The ever elegant, Dist the Rose?"
"Better look again Dist," Anise taunted. "You're way outnumbered."
The God General pulled a strange device from his bag. It was some kind of fon machine, but it was only about the size of a large ball. No way could he think a dinky thing like that would turn the battle in his favour. But with a creepy smile not even a mother could love, Dist held it up proudly showing it off to his enemies.
"No," the man said slyly, "you'd better look again!" And with that he slammed the machine down in the snow at his feet. A hiss of steam escaped the ball once it struck the snow.
The entire snow bank rippled, as if someone had thrown a pebble into a quiet pond. But rather than move outwards, the ripples suddenly congregated and swept over everyone's feet. Just what the hell did that crazy bastard think he was up to this time? Asch's eyes remained fixed on the snow waiting for some sort of grotesquely oversized and useless contraption to erupt from its endless white depths.
"Ow! What the hell was that?" It was Luke who cried out first. The redhead in question spun around only to see his friends, all staring at him with confusion and worry in their eyes. But on his leg lay the evidence of a strike, a long cut that stretched diagonally from his ankle to his knee. It wasn't deep or serious, but it did bleed. Natalia didn't waste anytime closing up his wound. She was the one to cry out next.
Soon everyone was stomping around in the snow, trying to find the invisible attacker. Tear and Natalia were doing their best to try and stay on top of the injuries but were quickly becoming overwhelmed. Dist's evil cackle echoed from his newfound perch on the burnt building.
"What the hell?" Guy swung his sword blindly at the snow. Suddenly the blonde felt something connect, and whatever it was, it went flying towards a nearby tree. "Guys over there!" The blonde called out as he continued to hack away.
Against the tree, in several different pieces was a small fon machine. It couldn't have been bigger than the blonde's thumb, but it was equipped with several small but sharp blades, already stained with blood.
"Yeah! Look there they are!" Anise pointed at the ground where everyone's footprints made the snow too shallow for the critters to hide. The ground itself almost seemed to be moving as they whistled about, cutting everything they approached.
"No fair!" The young Fon Master Guardian whined. "There's thousands of them! We can't destroy them all!"
"So what, you have a better idea?" Asch yelled as he started swinging at the machines he could see. The snow around them was already splattered with red as everyone's injuries accumulated.
"Haha! Who's outnumbered now? Behold my beloved Barrelow XV.III also known as Barries! Struggle all you'd like, but you'll never destroy them all in time. They have an almost endless supply of energy, but your healers don't. Even the smallest injuries can add up and be fatal," the God-General crowed. "So keep running, run and beg, then maybe I'll have the grace to kill you myself."
"Not on your life you two faced pansy!" Anise stuck her tongue out and went back to swinging blindly in the snow from Tokunaga's back.
"You may be willing to suffer, but what about your friends?" Dist taunted, sending Anise on a frantic search of the area. Where was Ion?! The raven haired girl found him clinging to the branch of an evergreen, trying to keep his feet out of the snow. Blood ran down his hands where the needles dug into his skin but he wouldn't let go. He didn't want to be a burden on Natalia and Tear. They both had their hands full looking after everyone who was fighting; they didn't need the extra body to concern themselves over.
"Ion!" Anise hurried over to the Fon Master's side. "Here, get on Tokunaga!" The raven haired girl jumped down from her doll as Ion scrambled on top.
"But what about you, Anise?" The girl in question bit her lip as Dist's stupid little bugs started clipping at her legs.
"I'll be fine, you just stay on there!" Anise hurried back into the fray.
"Sacrificing yourself for the brat?" Dist laughed. "Just keep fighting, the longer you resist, the hungrier my Barries will become!"
"Having fun?" The point of Jade's spear found itself brushing the back of Dist's neck, leaving a red trail to mark its passage.
"Jade!" Dist suddenly turned meek. The tone in the Colonel's voice was nothing short of malicious, and even one so thick as Dist knew when their life was in danger. "You know you don't want to kill me."
"Call off your little pets," the Colonel commanded.
"I- I can't! Once they're unleashed they won't stop until they run out of power."
"Then perhaps you'd like to join them." Jade grabbed the God-General by the collar, pink fluff and all, and held him out over the rippling snow.
"No! Please don't!" Dist grabbed at Jade's wrists.
"Then you are going to tell me why you're really here," Jade's hateful stare pierced even Dist's dense skull and the God-General gulped. It was clear he was trying to decide which of the two fates was worse: dealing with Van after betraying his plans, or facing Jade's fury. The Colonel's grip loosened slightly and Dist slipped a little closer to the snow.
Jade's fury, definitely Jade's fury.
--
"Damn it! This is useless, we aren't getting anywhere!" Guy yelled in frustration as he knocked another two bugs aside. No matter how many he smashed, five more seemed to take its place.
"Well what else are we supposed to do?!" Asch yelled back with an equal degree of frustration.
"Oh darkened storm cloud loose thy blade and run mine enemies through!"
The sudden burst of fonons caught both Asch and Guy's attention as Luke's arte crashed into the snow. The iridescent blade sent a pulse of electricity across the ground, short-circuiting every machine in its range and knocking out a hundred of the little bastards right where they stood.
Artes! Of course! Asch could have kicked himself for not trying it sooner, but he had been so focused on trying to keep the damn things at bay…
"You can get them with fonic artes!" Asch called out, unleashing an arte of his own. Noticing the sudden change in the tide of battle, Anise and Tear both switched strategies while Natalia stayed focused on healing. Guy, being the only member of their group with no knowledge of fonic artes, was left to hack away as he had been. But at least now it felt like they were making progress.
But why had it taken so long to figure that out? Asch's arte landed before him, melting a huge bunch of fon machines and taking the snow with it. Usually, if an enemy was susceptible to fonic artes, Jade would drop a hint… well as much of a hint as he ever offered, and they could adjust their strategy accordingly. Come to think of it, where the hell was the old man anyways?
"Tear, if you don't mind…" Natalia trailed off as she sank down in the snow, her panting betraying her depleted energy. She was simply too exhausted to continue, it took all the energy she had left to swing her bow at the few fon machines that were still scurrying about. What a dreadful foe! Who would have thought that something so small could cause such chaos? There hadn't been a battle this wearying in a great deal of time. That Dist was certainly proving to be more of a threat than his quirkiness seemed to suggest.
Tear quickly picked up the slack and continued to work on healing everyone's wounds. There were barely any fon machines left anymore, certainly not enough to merit the use of fonic artes. As fierce as they were in a swarm, they were equally harmless when there were only a handful of them. A good thing too, her own energy levels were starting to run low. But that wasn't going to stop her. A good soldier should never display that sort of weakness on the battlefield. The safety of her friends was more important than her own weariness or need for rest.
"That's enough Tear," Asch motioned for the melodist to stop. By then she was far too tired to even protest. "We'll be fine; the rest will heal on its own, or can wait for later."
"Asch is right," Luke agreed bringing his sword down on a fon machine at Tear's feet. Though they seemed able to sense enough to escape being stepped on, the little critters couldn't sense the fine point of a sword in time to escape that particular fate. The dazed melodist simply nodded. It was taking all her energy to stay conscious, she didn't even register what was being asked of her. Maybe she had gone a bit too far this time.
"How about you Ion? Are you okay?" Anise offered her hand to help the Fon Master down.
"I'm fine, thank you Anise."
"Well, that was the craziest fight we've had in awhile," Guy commented sheathing his blade. The blonde surveyed the area as he joined the others. The area around them that was once white and untouched was now beaten and spattered with red. Maybe it was just the contrast against the snow, but there seemed to be an awful lot of blood lost this time around. That and both girls were on the ground, completely spent from healing everyone. Just how serious things could have turned out was really starting to sink in. Who would have though Dist of all people could get them in such a pinch? "Good job thinking of using fonic artes Luke!" Guy said cheerfully, patting his best friend on the back. His attempts did nothing to dismiss the solemn atmosphere.
"I just wanted to try and get rid of as many as fast as I could," Luke explained.
"You know, speaking of fonic artes," Guy suddenly clued in. "Where's Jade? We really could have used his help this time around."
"The Colonel sure picked a bad time to be MIA," Anise commented.
"Who's missing now?"
"Jade, there you are," Ion spoke up in place of the startled Anise. "What happened to you during the last battle?"
"I do apologize." The Colonel pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "But I had other matters to attend to."
Jade tossed the beaten and bloody body of Dist the Reaper into the center of the group, further tainting the once pristine white blanket beneath their feet. Only the steady rise and fall of his chest and the drool coming out of the corner of his mouth betrayed the fact that Dist was still among the living.
"What's this? Mercy from the Necromancer?" Asch taunted.
"If you'd like to kill him, by all means, be my guest." Jade waved his hand over the unconscious man. Asch scoffed and rolled his eyes but made no motion to take the God-General's life.
"So…" Anise eyed the two men standing over Dist. "What are you going to do with him if you don't plan on killing him?"
"Interrogate him," Jade replied simply. "Despite his claims, he was likely here for some other purpose than to ambush us. Once we know what the God-Generals are up to, I will have him arrested by local authorities."
"Works for me," Guy shrugged, followed by nods from the others. "But where are we going to take him? It's too easy for him to get away in the open like this, and I don't doubt some of those fon machines of his are still crawling around."
"The local inn should do just fine. I'm sure I don't need to point out to you that both our healers are thoroughly exhausted. Everyone here needs a good rest. We can simply lock him in a room there and interrogate him in the morning."
'Is it just me, or is Jade a little too comfortable with this?' Luke asked his sibling, doing nothing to hide the sceptical look on his face.
'Yeah, and resourceful,' Asch added. 'But I guess he does come from around here, it shouldn't really be much of a surprise.'
"So, uhhh," Guy broke the awkward silence, "how are we getting Dist back to the Inn?"
"Why you're going to carry him of course," Jade provided.
"What? No way! Why me?" Guy protested. "Can't Anise just bring him on Tokunaga?"
"And have him drool all over it? No way!" Anise stuck her tongue out and promptly placed the stuffed animal in question back on her back.
"What? Drooling… no…" Guy trailed off as he sighed in defeat.
"Well would you rather take over for one of the twins?" Jade asked maliciously. Guy looked up to see Asch with Tear on his back and Luke doing his best to help the Princess to her feet.
Guy shuddered involuntarily. "No!" He sputtered before realizing the implications of his answer.
"Good then everyone is happy," Jade shrugged.
"Ugh," Guy buried his face in his palm, stealing a glance between his fingers at the unconscious God-General. At least it's not Arietta…or Legretta… or Cantabile…. Guy sighed as he tried to look at the bright side. But as he heard the man sigh and start to mumble in his induced slumber, the blonde could only hope the Inn wasn't going to be very far.
--
The fire crackled, sending embers up the chimney as Jade Curtiss stood before a window looking out over Keterburg. The common room on the third floor was cozy enough, housing a few couches, some plants and a wall of glass windows from which the soft light poured out into the night. Everything below seemed peaceful, and at the same time, stagnant. Nothing here ever moved, nothing here ever changed. Frozen in time like the tundra upon which it dwelt.
"What has you out here this time of night?" Asch asked, breaking the silence and stealing a spot next to the Necromancer.
"I could ask the same of you," Jade answered slyly. "And for the record, it isn't late. Sundown is simply much earlier this time of year than other places in the world."
"There's just something I wanted to ask you," Asch said seriously.
"Oh? The interrogation earlier regarding Dist's claims wasn't enough?"
"You essentially told us nothing," Asch shot back.
"I answered every one of your questions," Jade pointed out.
"Answering a question with a question doesn't count."
"It doesn't particularly matter, seeing as you knew everything already, didn't you?" Jade replied.
"I did," Asch conceded. "I read almost every one of your books on fomicry when I was a kid. I recognized the name Balfour right away."
"Well then, what is it you came to ask?"
"We spoke to your sister earlier today."
"Ah so you met Nephry," Jade commented. Asch could see the gears in Jade's mind turning, trying to deduce what the redhead had procured from that particular meeting. "I imagine she told you all sorts of nonsense about me, then?"
"Not really, we told her about everything that's been going on but at the time we were more concerned with finding you. She did ask me to come back later so we could talk. Any idea what she's planning on telling me?"
"I've a few ideas, especially given you told her about your involvement with fomicry. But before I tell you, tell your replica he can come out at any time."
"Sorry Jade," Luke replied sheepishly as he stood up from his spot behind the couch.
"No matter, talking to one of you is the same as talking to both of you anyway." The boys eyed Jade curiously, something the Colonel seemed to take a great deal of delight in. "You can hear through each other, can't you?" Luke and Asch looked at each other before simultaneously nodding. "And not just that I imagine." Jade pushed his glasses back up.
"Oh?" Asch's curiosity was piqued. "I take it it's a normal occurrence then?"
"No, not at all, it's the first I've ever heard of it. Though I'll admit you're the first perfect isofons I've encountered."
"Then how did you know?" Luke asked.
"It's just that the two of you make it so obvious," Jade said almost tauntingly. "It's part of the reason you can switch places so easily. It's only natural if you share your thoughts. But really, you shouldn't have switched on the trip to Grand Chokmah, poor Natalia worked so hard to impress Asch with her cooking." Asch snickered as Luke let out a shudder at that particular memory. And here they thought they'd manage to evade Jade's notice that time.
"Jade," Luke finally asked, "how come you invented fomicry in the first place? Did it have to do with the 'Professor' Dist was talking about?"
"No," Jade answered with a sigh. "The Professor Dist was referring to was a Professor Gelda Nebilim. But I had already developed the theory behind fomicry at that point. The very first replica, was a replica of a doll my sister had broken."
"You invented fomicry to fix your sister's toy?" Asch asked incredulously.
"To be precise, I developed fomicry as a way to replace her doll, without her having to sacrifice the toy she loved so dearly," Jade answered. "Of course, afterwards I continued to perfect the process, but that was the first successful attempt. If you really think about it, Tear's claims weren't entirely false. Fomicry was indeed born from pain and sadness."
"So how does this Professor Nebilim fit into the story?" Asch asked. "And why did Dist think you murdered her?"
"Because I did. Professor Nebilim's death was my doing."
"You're a worse liar than Luke," Asch commented. "You may be a lot of things old man, but you're not a murderer."
"You'd think differently had we met under different circumstances," Jade replied simply. "Don't underestimate the difference perspective can make on a persona. As a child the concept of life and death meant almost nothing to me. I constantly yearned for knowledge, to develop my skills, regardless of the cost to anyone or anything else. I was fascinated by the Professor and her healing artes. She was the first Seventh Fonist I had ever encountered. I had a great deal of respect for her abilities."
Asch came to a realization. "That house in the clearing, it was hers, wasn't it?"
"Not precisely," Jade answered. "I had gone there to practice with the Seventh Fonon. Of course, I am not a Seventh Fonist, and I had no capacity to control the Seventh Fonon. The arte went out of control and Professor Nebilim got caught in the crossfire. The building then caught fire and burnt down. That was where we encountered Dist earlier."
"No…" Luke shook his head in disbelief still wrapped up in Jade's tale.
'It's hard to believe isn't it?' Asch commented.
'Yeah, I mean, the Seventh Fonon always seemed … I don't know, gentle.'
'That's because our fonon frequency is the Seventh Fonon. Think of a hyperressonance, if it's not handled properly, it can be very destructive.'
"Are we finished now?" Jade eyed the boys disapprovingly. Luke gave Jade an apologetic look and the Colonel seemed satisfied enough to continue.
"Before she died, there was just enough time left. I extracted her replica data. I thought that there still may be a chance to save her."
"Did you ever make a replica?" Asch asked.
"Only once, but the creature born was a monster and in the end I had to kill it as well."
"I'm so sorry," Asch said sincerely.
"You don't… you know…" Luke fumbled. "You're not still trying to make a replica, are you?"
"No," Jade answered. "You, Luke, of all people should understand. A replica has no memories of the past, or of their original's former life. I've wanted to beg for the Professor's forgiveness, so that I might feel better, but a replica can't give me what I want. A replica can't forgive me."
Silence fell over the lobby, broken only by the crackling of the fire.
"So why did you tell us all this?" Asch finally inquired.
"I think, of all people, you deserve to know how fomicry was born. It goes without saying that this is to remain between us. The first person to tell can apologize to the real Professor Nebilim on my behalf, in person. Now that we're in agreement…" Jade continued a sly grin finding its way onto his face. "Perhaps you can answer my question."
"What's that?" Asch said, refusing to back down before the Colonel's inquiry.
"How is it the God-Generals were able to distinguish the two of you? They knew not to kill Asch, meaning they must have been sure who they had in their custody. How?"
"I'm still surprised you haven't noticed," Asch said with a mischievous grin.
"Well seeing as your fiancée and your best friend," Jade said turning to Luke, "aren't aware. It can't be particularly obvious."
Asch scowled as Jade ruined his fun causing Luke to snicker. Rolling his eyes, Asch turned around and pulled his hair back into a ponytail. It was faint, but just above the hairline on his neck was a long scar. To emphasize his sibling's point, Luke turned around and did the same, revealing no markings of any kind.
"It happened during the kidnapping," Asch explained. "Sometime after Luke was born, I was trying to figure a way to pull the bars out of my little makeshift cell, but I fell and hit my head on the rocks. It healed up before I made it home but Van would know it happened. I figure that's probably how the God-Generals knew."
"You're likely correct in that assumption," Jade agreed. Luke stifled a yawn. "It's been a long day; I think it's time you were off to bed. We'll be getting an early start in the morning, late sunrise or not."
Luke nodded and allowed Asch to usher him from the room. Jade turned to face the window again, watching the reflections of the redheads in the glass as they made their way towards the hall. Asch paused for a moment before he left the room.
"Jade, why did you really come to Keterburg?"
"Hmph," Jade smiled and closed his eyes as he adjusted his glasses.
"Don't push your luck."