AN: I'd like to clarify that in the previous chapter Emil and Marta were only supposed to be making out, not doing teh sex thing in front of Ivar - that's OOC and kinda gross. So, that chapter has been edited to remove that unintended implication and I apologize. Also, delay was again because I was procrastinating writing some scenes...
Chapter 20
"That was pretty quick thinking," the redhead man said, sheathing his sword as he strode over to look at the fading ice demon. The broken rocks shifted and tumbled down as the flesh supporting it disappeared faded away.
Tiger shrugged and looked at Genis. "You all right?"
"Yeah. Just bruised ribs is all," the half-elf rubbed his middle and grinned. "This is Sheena and Zelos," he gestured to the woman and man. "They're friends of mine."
"What're they doing here?" Tiger asked.
Sheena shifted her weight to one foot and tapped the toes of the other on the floor. "I woke up confused a few days ago, realized I wasn't where I last remembered being and nothing made sense. Half of what I remember doesn't seem to have happened and the other half is missing." She shook her head, lifting both hands in a helpless gesture. "So... I went to find everyone else, but Zelos was the only one I could find."
"I only remember parts of what she does, and other parts that she doesn't and after talking about it, we decided to come see if the Centurion Cores were real or if we had somehow just imagined them," Zelos finished and flicked his hair back off his shoulder.
"Yeah. They're real," Genis said.
"So... where's Emil?" Zelos asked.
Tiger shook his head. "I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to that."
Both Sheena and Zelos looked at him. "And who's that?" Zelos asked.
Clearing his throat, Genis waved a hand towards Tiger. "Tiger. Or... the original Emil Castagnier if you remember any part of that."
"I do," Sheena said, bouncing on her toes. "Wow. You two only have blond hair and green eyes in common."
"Please call me Tiger," he said quickly. "Jerkface can have my name."
Tenebrae faded in from the shadows and headed over to the pedestal upon which the icy core floated. "Awaken Glacies. The world needs you." It took a moment, but the petals covering the core slowly unfolded, leaving the floating crystal bare and blinding them with light.
Tiger rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the spots.
"Tenebrae," an airy feminine voice whispered, "Where is Lord Ratatosk? I cannot sense him."
Lowering his hand from his eyes, Tiger squinted at the shifting form of snow that sat upon the altar. He thought it vaguely looked like a woman.
"Emil went with Marta to defend Ratatosk and the Ginnungagap, but they died," Genis said as he stepped forward. "We're trying to help the Centurions Aqua and Tenebrae reinforce the barrier they made around the Otherworldly Gate by awakening the others."
Glacies looked at the Centurion of darkness, shoulders slumping when she bowed her head regretfully. "Then there is little we can do except delay the inevitable."
"Delay might be just what we need, though. If we can hold off the demons until someone thinks of a solution. Perhaps even Martel could create a new gate?" Sheena asked. "Or maybe the summon spirits I made pacts with might be able to band together and make a new seal?"
"I'm not sure," Tenebrae said. "But we simply need time to explore options."
The icy Centurion shook her head, snow drifting off her as she did so. "I will help you support the barrier." She didn't sound very hopeful though. A wind only she felt whipped her snow into a flurry and she was gone.
"So where to now?" Sheena asked.
"What?" Tiger turned to look at her.
"We're helping too, of course," Zelos lifted a hand with a smile. "Two little boys trying to do all this on their own is-"
Stomping his foot, Tiger pointed his finger firmly at the redhead. "I killed that demon by myself! So don't you say I can't do something!"
"Tiger, they're good fighters. They can help us," Genis said then turned to look at Tenebrae. "Care to help us get back out of here?"
Tenebrae sighed. "I suppose if I have to."
Stopping to actually look around, Tiger discovered that the stalactite the had been blocking the door was broken partially in one spot. It was just enough that Sheena could climb up and through a gap to the other side without having to scale the entire thing. Zelos lifted Genis up to help the short half-elf get a hand hold.
Determined to not need help, Tiger waited until Genis was clear, took a running start and scrambled up and through, sliding on loose rock as he went and landing on a patch of ice on the other side. Feet sliding out from under him, he landed on his back and sighed. "I hate ice," he said distastefully.
"We'll go to Triet next," Genis said. "It'll be warm there."
"Have you gone to the lightning temple yet?" Sheena thought to ask as she helped Tiger up with a hand.
"Nope," Genis said.
She sighed gustily. "Why does that place always haunt me?"
Tenebrae shifted form and allowed all four of them to climb onto his back before he leapt onto the bridge and walked over to solid ground.
Tiger slid off and patted the Centurion's side. "Thanks," he said.
"Finally someone who appreciates the sacrifices I make," Tenebrae bemoaned as the other three climbed off.
Carefully making his way along the path back towards the entrance to the cavern. He couldn't help but smirk when Sheena slipped on some ice and nearly face planted in a pile of snow. Once outside, he sighed, looking up at the lowering sky as another flurry of snow began to fall.
"Come on Tiger," Genis said.
Looking towards the half-elf, he clenched his fists in dismay to find that the boy had already summoned his rheaird. Heading over, he reluctantly climbed on behind Genis and gripped his belt tightly.
"Are you going to be all right?"
"Just get this over with quickly." Tiger squeezed his eyes shut and clutched Genis's belt tighter when they lifted off. Cold snow slapped him in the face as they flew higher.
"What's wrong with the kid?" Zelos asked.
"Afraid of heights?" Sheena asked.
"I'm not!" Tiger shouted. "I just don't like the idea of the sudden stop at the bottom."
Zelos burst out laughing. "I guess that's an important difference."
...
Aqua faded into view beside him as he stood staring out across the ocean. "I've made pacts with the sea monsters in the area," she said. "That should calm the seas a little." She bowed her head, poking her fingers together in front of her mouth. "Are you really okay, Lord Richter?"
Unable to give her the answer she wanted, he remained silent.
She looked down at the water below. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "You just got him back and now he's gone again..."
Flexing his fingers, Richter shook his head. "It wasn't just him this time... That wound had begun to heal." He swallowed and flicked his gaze sideways, looking at her through his hair as the sea breeze pushed his bangs back from his face. "I'll work to make this right," he said. "All else fails, I can use my original plan and burn my mana to hold the gate."
She turned to look at him, her fish-hair tail flipping with the suddenness of her movement. "Lord Richter!" she gasped.
"Something has to be done," he said. "Even if all the Centurions are awakened, you can't hold the barrier forever with just monsters."
"There you are," Raine called as she approached, striding down the dock towards them. "Do you have everything you need?"
"I've been ready to go," Richter said blandly. "I told you where I would be."
Raine shook her head. "I just needed to make sure everything was handled in the church... and with Lloyd and Brute. Can't believe those two are actually working together so peacefully."
"As far as most people are concerned, the Blood Purge didn't happen," Richter said simply and turned away from the ocean, though he did face Aqua briefly to do so, his eyes meeting hers. She silently nodded to him with a sad smile, understanding his feelings without him having to explain.
She faded away, leaving him alone with Raine.
"Shall we go?" the half-elf woman asked.
He nodded. Raine turned away to summon her rheaird, dropping it on the end of the dock in front of them.
"Heey! Wait! Raine!"
They both turned to find Lloyd jogging down the dock towards them, hands waving in the air. Reaching them, the human wheezed, leaning on his knees with his hands.
"What's wrong Lloyd?" she asked.
Lifting a finger to ask for a moment, he pushed upright and looked briefly from Raine to Richter. "I just wanted to tell you that Brute and me were talking and we're going to try to get the Vanguard and Church working together this time. So I might not be in Palmacosta when you get back."
"Brute and I," Raine corrected under her breath as if she knew there was really no point in trying on some things. "All right. Richter and I were going to Altamira first," she said and looked at him with a slightly raised silver brow, as if he had any choice in the matter. "I'm going to try to convince Regal to evacuate his people. If we can't, we'll need military assistance that direction."
Lloyd nodded. "I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can find Zelos and get him to convince the Tethe'alla king to help too. This isn't just a Sylvarant problem after all."
"Perhaps stop by Sybak," Richter said. "If you have time. They might have some weapons that could help."
The brunet nodded, scratching the back of his head. "Sure. I'll check that out too." He looked away briefly. "It's good having you on our side, Richter."
He nodded once and mounted the rheaird.
"We need to get moving while there's daylight." Raine said and climbed on behind Richter, her hands gripping his hips. "I'll see you later Lloyd."
Waving, he grinned. "Bye!"
Richter rolled his eyes and took off. "Acts like we're leaving on some holiday," he said distastefully.
"It's one of Lloyd's better points. Endless optimism," Raine said. They flew higher across the bay back towards Altamira.
"I'm surprised at you."
He felt her capture his hair and hold it down out of her face.
"I would have thought you would be angry at Tiger for calling you a coward. I know you heard him."
"The opinion of a little boy doesn't concern me. Nor should my feelings concern you. There are other more pressing matters at hand."
She leaned against his back. "But it is my concern. Your mental stability is important when I am relying on you to be my front-line fighter."
Grip tightening on the handle controls of the rheaird, Richter clenched his teeth.
"I need to know that you're not simply going to try to get yourself killed first thing." Raine leaned around to look at his profile. "Ah, so I've made you angry."
"I have a goal. I will kill Alice and the mana thief and then..." He shot her a look, wishing he didn't have such a nosy companion. Emil had pestered him, but at least Emil hadn't meant to provoke him the way Raine was.
"Right. I get that. But, will you protect me in the process?"
"Protect yourself."
Raine sighed and sat back, though her hand was still on his shoulder, holding his hair aside. He frowned at himself for liking the warmth of her behind him. Thankfully their destination wasn't nearly so far away by air. Richter landed the rheaird near the resort town's front gate. "Richter," Raine said, running her fingers through his hair. "I understand that you're hurt. But you can't let this consume you. You already know what you're capable of-"
Irritated, he leaned away from her. "I have no intentions of burning the world like that again. This time I only have myself to blame for losing those dear to me."
"No." Raine touched his back, but he cut off whatever she wanted to say by climbing off the rheaird, even though it upset her balance behind him. "Richter." She sighed and dismounted the magitech device and shrank it back to pocket size. He was already in the gates by the time she caught up to him, though already he could tell something was different. There were very few people walking the streets and those that were, looked more like natives than tourists.
A local police man approached, holding up a hand. "Hold, Altamira is closed to tourists right now."
"We're not tourists," Richter said.
"I'm Raine Sage. We're here to speak with President Regal about the recent events at the Otherworldly Gate."
The man's eyes widened. "Sorry ma'am." He backed up quickly. "The President should be in his office."
She nodded and strode past, heading for the ferry station. Richter silently followed her, not quite knowing where to go, since he had never had actual dealings with Regal in any official manner.
...
"It's time to go," Jude said, touching his shoulder lightly.
Looking up from the screen, Aster quickly rearranged his expression to a smile.
Jude laughed. "The records will be here in the morning. Staying up all night reading isn't going to do you much good."
Sticking his tongue out, Aster sighed and logged out of what he had been looking at. "This device is just too fascinating," he said, "So much information in one place. I love libraries but books can be damaged, stolen, or misplaced. I wonder if I can create something like this back in Aselia..." He stood and pushed his chair in, then looked around the lab he shared with Jude, finding that a few things had been tidied, mostly the tools he had used and Jude had replaced his sample spirit fossil, booster, and aspyrixis, though he was apparently working on studying the key crest and had several papers spread out with notes. It reminded him again of Richter picking up after him and he was surprised by the sour tightening in his chest.
'I think I miss him. I really miss him.'
"Something wrong?" Jude asked.
"No, it's nothing..."
Jude gave him a look that let him know he knew that answer was bullshit but nodded anyway. "Let's get some dinner. I got you a room at the inn. It's far more comfortable than the hospital."
"I'm using all your money." Aster sighed as he followed Jude out to the hall. He checked his pocket belatedly for the badge Jude had given him earlier and relaxed when he found it where he had left it.
"I'm using the project budget, don't worry," Jude said and smiled back at him. "I should be paying you, considering everything you've already done for us. It's further than I've gotten in the last few months."
"Now you just have to play politics and get people on board with it," Aster said.
"I think that will be a lot easier than getting them to accept the Spyrites."
As usual, the sky was dark and scattered with stars and Aster sighed. He liked the dark well enough and stars were nice, but he was beginning to miss the sun.
"Hey, Phony!"
Jude stopped and Aster nearly ran into him, then looked around the doctor's shoulder to find a man in white with silver hair pointing dramatically at Jude.
"Aster!" Marta gasped and shoved past the man with a fluffy collar.
Overjoyed, Aster jogged to meet her and they caught each other in a tight hug. "You're alive!" Opening his eyes, he looked behind her to find Emil approaching and sighed in absolute relief. "And Emil! I'm so glad!"
"You're telling me!" Marta said. "Richter would have our heads if something happened to you!"
He felt his cheeks burning and laughed. "Hope he hasn't done anything drastic this time."
"We won't know until we get back," Emil said.
"Hey!" the man in white slung his arm in several exaggerated gestures. "Ratatosk! You're ruining it!"
Emil sighed and looked over his shoulder, posture shifting. "There is your rival, have at. You don't need my attention for this."
The man's shoulders sank. "B- but you're supposed to help! And you owe me after Kambalar!"
"I said I'd lend you my power," Emil intoned haughtily.
Confused, Aster stared and realized with a start that the voice was Ratatosk's, not Emil. "Ratatosk survived too?" he asked Marta, relief knocking his breath out. He wasn't sure what would have happened if Ratatosk had died permanently. She nodded with a smile. "What's this about then?" he gestured at the man in white.
"That's Ivar," she whispered and linked her arm with his, drawing him to the edge of the boardwalk.
"Yeah! Exactly, so help me kill him!" Ivar said firmly.
Ratatosk lifted a finger. "Actually... no. Your promise was to exact revenge on Jude Mathis. Not kill him. I can't condone killing him. Besides, don't you think it's a little cheap getting someone else to gang up on your rival just to defeat him?"
Ivar stomped and seethed. "But he's backed by Lady Maxwell!"
Ratatosk turned to squint at the doctor. Jude wore an expression of general distaste, as if he was actually rather used to his opinion getting completely ignored in matters such as this. "So he is," Ratatosk said. "However, your promise was for revenge, not death. I will not assist you if you intend to kill him."
"Fine!" Ivar drew his sword. "I'll settle for defeating him!"
Nodding, Ratatosk strode over to stand beside Ivar.
"Why are you doing this, Ivar?" Jude asked. "I thought this was settled a year ago."
"I'll never forgive you! I'll prove I'm worthy of Lady Milla and win her heart!" Ivar came charging in.
Thankfully there weren't that many people on the boardwalk street as there had been earlier and those who were out had done the smart thing and moved away to watch. Aster spotted a familiar officer standing off to the side, frowning in disappointment, as if he really weren't surprised by any of this.
Pulling Marta closer, Aster leaned in. "Okay, what's this about?"
"Ivar," she pointed at the man in white as he slashed with his sword at Jude, "is mad at that guy," she pointed at Jude as the doctor easily dodged back and suddenly appeared behind Ivar, punching him twice and sending him staggering forward. "And wants revenge for something that I never really caught." Catching his balance, Ivar spun around and ran at Jude again, only to have the doctor perform the same dodge and vanish technique. "Ivar has a pact with Emil because he was the only source of mana available to keep them alive when they first got to this world."
This time Ivar seemed to expect Jude's sudden appearance behind him and spun around, slinging a wave of power that Jude was unable to dodge. Emil remained standing where Ivar had left him, and when Aster looked that direction, he realized it was still Ratatosk in control of their body, watching the fight with more than mild disgust.
"I hope he doesn't kill Jude, I kind of like him," Aster said.
"Ivar's no match for Jude," another man said.
Turning to look up at the tall brunet with a silk scarf, Aster raised a brow. "You're sure about that? He's allied with Ratatosk."
"Doesn't matter," the man said and laced his hands behind his head with a slight smirk. "If what you're starting out with is trash it doesn't matter what you do or add to it, it's still trash."
Aster opened his mouth as he tried to think of something to say. Unable to come up with anything, he turned back to the fight. Jude ducked down, sweeping his foot out and hooked an ankle around Ivar's, pulling his foot out from under him. Ivar quick-stepped to keep his balance and rushed Jude with another wave of energy that looked a lot like Ratatosk's Ain Sof Aur arte. Jude crossed his arms in front of him and blocked most of the damage, then sprang back repeatedly as Ivar chased him.
Dodging, Jude appeared behind Ivar again and jump-kicked him in the back of the head.
Ratatosk shifted his weight, putting his fists on his hips.
"Jude isn't even using artes," Aster realized.
"Ohh," Marta groaned. "Come on Ivar!" she shouted. "Quit letting him beat up on you!"
"If he can't defeat Jude... doesn't that mean he's broken his promise?" Aster asked.
"Only if he gives up," Marta said.
"And he's not going to win," the brunet put in. "So looks like you're stuck with him for a while longer."
"Ughh," Marta sighed.
"Believe me, if we didn't have to deal with him, that'd be great, but even without that pact, you know Gaius would send him with you as his eyes. If there's one thing Ivar's good at, its remembering details. Normally he'd have me spying on you, but I refused."
"So why are you here?" Marta asked.
"Trading opportunities," the man said and ginned. "If you guys can get back to Aselia, maybe there'll be something in it for me."
Jude sprang into the air as Ivar lunged in with a stab of his sword. An axe kick to the head sent Ivar to the ground, sword clattering from his hands. He lay there in an immobile daze. Crouching beside him, Jude poked Ivar and shook his head. "Are you done with this yet?" he asked.
"Never," Ivar growled as he slowly crawled to his hands and knees, blood dripping from his nose and eyes unfocused. "I'll never forgive you."
"Okay." Jude stood and dusted off before offering his hand down. "Should probably get you to the hospital now."
Slapping his hand aside, Ivar crawled over and got his sword, having to try several times to locate it accurately before using it to pry himself to his feet.
"Healer," Marta cast, throwing it at Ivar, which seemed to help his balance. "Alvin, can you..." she looked at the talll man.
"Sure, sure," the man said and strode forward. "Hey kid," he said to Jude and took Ivar's arm, helping support him as he turned to haul him towards the hospital.
"How pathetic," Ratatosk said distastefully. His posture changed, shoulders lowering and expression shifting to one of mild disappointment.
Jude turned to look at Emil, then Marta and Aster. "Well, looks like your friends came to you," he said, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"Ah, yeah. This is Marta," Aster gestured, "That's Emil and Ratatosk."
The doctor turned to look at Emil, brows rising slightly before he bowed politely. "It's an honor to meet you Lord Ratatosk, Lord Emil."
Emil flushed and waved his hands. "Ah - you don't have to call me Lord Emil..." He dropped his hands and lifted his chin suddenly.
"Finally, someone with proper respect," Ratatosk said.
Jude straightened from his bow. "How may I be of assistance?"
For a moment Ratatosk looked distracted and finally his posture changed to Emil. He smiled slightly. "That's very kind of you... Maybe we should go elsewhere to talk though?" he glanced around at the crowd that was still gathered.
"Of course," Jude said. "Have you had dinner yet?" When Emil shook his head, he gestured and turned to lead the way to the shopping center.