Jude and Alvin make it back to the Colosseum wining each round that they participate in. As they wait for the finals to begin the party sits down to eat, Alvin teases Jude about him scoping out his opponents. Someone notifies the group that everything thats been happening has been no accident and Milla manages to stop the party from eating the food just as Alvin is about to take a bite. Alvin frustrated by the fact that it might be exodus takes off. Jude starts questioning Milla wanting to know if she has any idea why Alvin took off, wanting to run after him he holds back and stays with the party. Milla offers to go after him in place of Jude but Jude refuses remembering Alvin mentioning something about his mother being in town.

Jude runs through Xian du searching everywhere he can think for Alvin when he comes to one last house and just as he walks up to the door theres Alvin about to leave.

"Hey kid, sorry I darted off like that I was just about to head back to the inn."

"Alvin..are you involved with exodus...Milla told me that you had talked to my father about some things in Leronde while she was going through recovery...please don't lie to me..not this time." Jude's eyes filled with worry over the entire situation.

"Milla...that snoopy little...she heard everything did she, what'd she tell you Jude? "Anger was written all over Alvin's face.

"That you we're looking for the location of the key for the lance of kresnik, she's worried Alvin...about you..and about me. She doesn't think its safe for me to be involved with you when you're running around behind our backs still..." Jude glances down at his feet not wanting to look at Alvin.

"And if I was? Are you going to listen to her? You going to leave me?"

"I-I don't know...I want to be able to trust you Alvin...but I can't.."

Alvin's face had a twinge of pain wash over it, he knew this would happen he knew this wouldn't last long. His heart ached but he hid it well."Fine Jude do what you want. Listen to Milla she knows what's best for you right? If you don't want me, fine. Its not like it matters to me anyway."

"...I-it doesn't matter to you..if I leave Alvin?" Jude sniffled starting to shake where he stood. He looked up at Alvin anger filling his eyes tears streaming down his cheeks. "Why can't you just stop this Alvin?! Why can't you just let us trust you?! W-why..." Jude fell to his knees sobbing."..why can't you just let me love you? why can't you just let me care for you?" Jude rested his face in his hands sobbing harder wishing Alvin would just walk over and wrap his arms around him, but Alvin wasn't budging from where he stood.

"I'm sorry Jude, I never should have gotten you involved in this, I never should've pursued you. I"m not worth it. I'm not worth your tears or your love, I don't deserve to be taken care of, I don't deserve you. Just leave me Jude save me the trouble of trying to be the nice guy." Alvin stood there trying not to look at Jude's small weeping body below him.

Jude just sat there not knowing what to do. He was losing Alvin, and Alvin didn't care. Jude wiped his face proceeding to get up brushing off his knees, he looked at Alvin eyes puffy and red."I can't...do this anymore." The look on Alvin's face was nothing but pain and agony, his heart feeling like it was ripping out of his chest. "I need to be able to trust you Alvin, but I can't. I'm sorry." Jude turned and walked away not looking back to see how Alvin would react.

Alvin stood there almost in tears. He had ruined everything this time. How could he just let Jude walk away. He shook his head trying to clear his mind. He had to keep his mother alive, no matter what that meant for him. And on that thought he walked towards the inn following about 20 feet behind Jude.

Jude meets back up with everyone. The party had been looking for both him and Alvin. Alvin slowly makes his way to the party with a sigh, the bell chiming making the group curious with all that had happened how could they be having the final round? They make their way to the Colosseum meeting with Yurgen. He explains that they would need to fight the final round one on one because the rules had changed, and that it was to the death now.

Alvin decides after staring long and hard at Jude's clearly hurt face that he should speak up.

"Wake up and smell the poisoned coffee, kids. It's pretty obvious that this is a plot by exodus, the people trying to snuff you out."

Jude reacts in surprise that Alvin would reveal this. "Are you sure?"

Milla chimes in "Is it okay for you to say this?"

"My way of thanking you." He rubs the back of his head. The rest of the party confused. "I work for exodus."

"What your kidding me right?!"

"I wish I 've been having me do odd jobs for them." The party looking at him in speculation. "Don't worry the poison wasn't me. I almost choked down some of that stuff too, you know. I don't know who was behind it either. I worked for 'em sure but it was always small fry stuff."

Jude looks at him determined to get Alvin to promise he wont be involved anymore."Just tell me one thing. Can you promise us you wont work for them again?"

Alvin lets out an easy breath looking Jude straight in the eyes. "yes, you have my word."

"Good." Jude doubtful of Alvin's promise doesn't take his eyes from Alvin's

"..." Alvin lets out a nervous breath breaking the eye contact between them.

Rowen and the rest of the party question him about exodus and whether he knew anything about the rule change.

"yeah, they wanted to change the rules for the finals so that they could kill Milla. Even if you win, they have a back up figure you'll be worn out, easy pickings for their snipers in the cheap seats." Yurgen expresses his displeasure in all of this. Milla decides she'll still go out there taking the bait. Jude agrees with her and they come up with a plan. Milla will go in alone while the others pick off the snipers in the stands.

They act on it but while they aren't looking Elize bumps into some exodus agents getting Teepo stolen from her.

Milla then looks at Alvin as hes yelling nonsense to her about how he didn't know that they ha changed plans, but all Milla care about was Alvin proving his worth. She demands that he go after Elize and bring them both back safely. Alvin shocked and panicking agrees and chases after them.