The party makes it back to Xian du. Jude's a little shaken up after finding out what Jiao had to say about Elize's past, Milla notices this an comforts him. Just as they finish their conversation Isla runs up to the group, concerned after hearing that they ran after the bad guys, but Jude's not buying it, this isn't some coincidence.
"Isla, you can drop the act." Jude states bluntly.
"Wh-What do you mean? I really was worried about you. Why would I lie about that?" She looks at Jude puzzled.
"Jude what are you saying?" Leia looks concerned not knowing where Jude's going with this.
"I'm saying it was no coincidence that we met Isla. Remember what those locals told us when the bell rang for the finals? At tournament time, any outsiders are either combatants or spectators."
Isla's face fills with shock.
"Right. I recall what she said when she came to help us." Milla taking time to remember the conversation perfectly, repeats it out loud. "You folks don't look like you're from around here. What brings you to town?"
Jude nods. "No one here would need to ask that, not at tournament time. You were ordered to make contact with us. By Exodus."
"Isla, thats not true, is it?" Leia looks upset hoping that Jude's theory was wrong.
"They said you'd never find out. They promised. But I had no choice in the matter." Isla looks down the whole time, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone.
"They blackmailed you, didn't they? They know your secret."
"Your former occupation." Rowen adds.
"They asked, 'wouldn't it be a shame if Yurgen found out?' What happened to the girl breaks my heart, but I had no choice back then, either. Please don't tell Yurgen!" She pleads falling to her knees.
"He doesn't know?" Milla looks confused.
"How could I tell him?! He's a good man."
"But it's all in the past, isn't it? Your fiance should know these things."
"You're a woman. How can you not understand this? I'm damaged goods. If he found out about my past, he'd leave me. I finally found happiness with Yurgen. For once in my life. Please...don't tell him...please..." Isla begs and pleads.
"Hmph. I doubt I'll ever understand human love. It has so many rules and conditions. What should we do Elize? You decide."
"Me? Why do I have to?"
"This womans actions affected you far more than us."
Isla rests on her hands and knees. "There's nothing I can do now to make it up to you. But please. Forgive me."
"I just don't care anymore." Elize walks away.
"Elize is all alone now. No matter what you do." Teepo follows behind her.
Rowen and Leia check on Elize. Isla just cries, gets up and walks away. Jude stares after her with cold emotionless eyes.
"We better try to find Yurgen. We need to talk to him about the Wyverns." Leia looks to Jude, getting no reaction from him. Her, Rowen and Elize begin walking away from the rest of the party.
"Whats wrong, kid?" Alvin rests a gentle hand on Judes back.
"Isla said there was nothing she could do to make it up to Elize. But did she actually try? Is there really nothing she can do?"
"Isla is the only one who can answer that question." Milla states closing her eyes.
Jude and company move on to look for Yurgen around the city, hoping to be able to attain the wyverns sooner rather than later.
"Hmmm maybe I should pay a quick visit" Alvin mumbles to himself.
Milla over hears him and asks curiously. "A visit to where?"
"Oh. Did you overhear that?" Alvin grins nervously. "Its nothing, just an acquaintance who lives here, is all."
Jude notices Alvin walking off and decides to follow him, not knowing where he was going exactly.
Alvin walks up to a door, taking a deep breath before entering. Jude slowly follows behind him, maybe this will help him understand Alvin better.
Jude walks through the door only to see a small apartment nothing out of the ordinary at all. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Alvin standing next to a bed, Jude swallows hard and walks up to Alvin, as he does he notices a woman laying in the bed.
"Who's this?" Jude asks quietly.
"My mother. Shes not doing too well. I don't have a father or any siblings, so I have Isla look after her when I'm not around." Alvin explains.
"Well. Hello." Alvin's mother addresses Jude.
Jude blushes slightly. "H-Hi..."
"Its nice to see you, Balan. Slipped out of your house to come play, did you? What a shame that Alfred isn't here to play with you now. Where did that boy go off to?"
"What is she talking about?" Jude asks puzzled.
"Leticia, Alfred's away at boarding school. Remember?"
"Oh. Yes, that's right. That poor boy must be crying his eyes out. He's so shy, and he always gets so lonely."
"Don't worry, he sent a letter saying he's fine."
"Oh yes!And that he'll come home for his next break. I promised we'd take a trip on the big boat when he does."
"I know. Alfred said he can't wait to go."
Alvins mother laughs. "You know what he said in his letter? He said he hoped that I wasn't crying! Isn't that funny? He's such a kind, thoughtful boy."
"Being away from our hometown has been tough on her. An my dad dying didn't help. All she talked about was how she wanted to go back home to the house we all lived in." Alvin turns to face Jude a small smile on his face, trying to cover up the pain in his heart. "Maybe she's happier now that shes forgotten all about that life."
"You've been doing all this for your mother?"
"Yupp. All these dirty jobs...it was all for mommy. Touching tale, isn't it?"
"Alvin, you don't have to be like this." Jude says with concern.
"Spare me your sympathy, it's all rotten in the end. It's enough to drive me crazy myself." He looks at Jude letting the false smile fade. "Let's go."
Just as Jude and Alvin walk out the front door, Isla is walking towards it.
"Uh...umm.." She says nervously "Excuse me."
"Got something to say?" Alvin then walks over to her.
"Listen, you know I was an orphan too, right? If I hadn't gotten involved in that line of work, I never would have survived my childhood."
"In other words, don't say anything to Yurgen." Alvin looks at her coldly.
"Also, I don't want to look after Leticia anymore. And I want you to tell Exodus to leave me alone."
Alvin sighs. "I'm afraid I can't do that. Only Exodus can make the medicine my mother needs. And you're the only doctor shady enough to prescribe it."
"I don't want to do this anymore! I want to go straight!"
"Sorry, but I think its a fair price for keeping my mouth shut."
"How could you?! All I want is to live happily with Yurgen!"
Alvin's face twists up into a maniacal grin. "And you can. As long as he doesn't find out about your past."
Isla starts crying. Alvin walks back over to Jude, the other have now joined up with him.
"All done."
"But shes crying." Elize points out.
"Yeah shes a big ol' crybaby." Alvin teases.
"We're just gonna leave her like that?"
"If you're so worried, go console her, comfort the poor, tragic princess." Alvin walks away from Jude, Milla following.
Jude just stands there for a moment watching Alvin walk away. He had a point, why did she even deserve to be comforted after all that she had done. Jude shakes his head and follows after the others.
Just as the party was about to give up on looking for Yurgen, he showed up out of the blue. He gives them the bad news that since they're on the brink of war, they will need to get royal permission to fly the wyverns. The party decides that they will travel to Kanbalar right away. Milla has other intentions upon meeting the king, she wants to ask him about the laboratory, why he did it and what happened to the other children who were help captive there along with Elize.
"Oh, I just remembered all of our luggage is still at the inn."
"Shall we go get it then?"Rowen responds to Leia. Leia nods.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a bit." Alvin says with a wave an begins walking away.
Milla and Jude walk after him.
"Alvin." Alvin stops. "You did well back there. I knew I could trust you to protect Elize for us."
Alvin walks a bit more than turns around. "Well I was prepared to honor my promise. Keep the faith. O Hallowed Spirit!" He makes a strange gesture waves and walks off.
"Never a dull moment with that guy." Jude chuckles.
"Soon enough I'll have to prepare myself too."
"Huh?"Jude says confused.
"I am strong enough to destroy the Lance of Kresnik as I am now, without the fours power."
"Wait, you sure its a good idea to destroy it with the four great spirits still trapped inside?"
"They would likely not survive. They would lose their forms and disintegrate."
"But I thought the four great spirits couldn't die?"
"Eventually new great spirits will appear to take their place. But they will be a different four, with different wills."
"So that means the four great spirits that you know, the ones that were always with you...they would just disappear?"
"A spirits personality and memories are unimportant. What matters is the spirits existence itself. Still I doubt the four will forgive me for this."
"You really care about all spirits, don't you? Not just the great four, but the lesser spirits, too."
"Not just spirits, humans, as well. To me, all lives, human and spirit, are equal and precious."
Jude smiles and they head back to the inn to meet up with the others.