Hello again my readers and welcome to another chapter!
I don't have much to say, except there is a skit here. So let's get on with the show!
This skit is between Raine and Ratatosk, though Lumen appears in the end.
Raine and Ratatosk
Ratatosk: Ok… why are you following me, woman?
Raine: Oh, nothing. I just wanted to ask you some questions if you don't mind.
Ratatosk: Really? Then let me end your hopes right away: I don't remember anything about my previous existence, save by some memories here and there.
Raine: Is that so? I heard Lloyd say you have retained your knowledge over the demons.
Ratatosk: … he did?
Raine: Yes.
Ratatosk: … he's dead.
Raine: Why do I have the impression you and the Centurions consider my presence a little… unwelcoming.
Ratatosk: It's not the fact of you being there. It's more like the look that you give them each time they reveal something that you mortals didn't know about.
Raine: That's just pure, academic curiosity. Nothing more.
Ratatosk: I would say more like obsession. You creep me out even more with that Ruin Mode of yours.
Raine: Creep… you out?
Ratatosk: Yeah. Not even demons give me the chills that I feel when I see that crazed gleam in your eyes and…ouch! H-hey, what are you? OW! OUCH! CUT IT O… oh my… GAAAHHHHH!
Raine: Humph. You have no manners whatsoever. You should work on your language a little.
Lumen: Hum… why is boss lying on the floor, bleeding and with a blackboard on his head?
Chapter 13
The Radiant Maiden
The travel to the city of Hima occurred without anymore mishaps and problems. During breaks, the group stopped for Tenebrae and the others to train Lloyd and Emil in the use of their powers. The young man was getting the hang of entering his spirit form and discovered new Artes to use while in either forms. Emil showed the same dedication, mainly because he didn't want to be a hinder to the others or his "other self".
Sheena was helping both boys to sense and manipulate their auras. The two were having difficulty in it, since the skill demanded a great amount of concentration, which tempted Lloyd to enter in his spirit form. Sheena revealed to be a good teacher in that area, which surprised even Raine.
Lloyd and Emil were sparring when the group stopped in a crossroads near Hima. Both had been sparring to master their new skills and Artes. Lloyd still had some problems with his, like incinerating parts of the area or setting the ground on fire unintentionally.
After the sparring, the boys decided to take a break and drink some water from their canteens. Lloyd commented with Emil:
"Man, this training sure isn't easy."
"I agree, but we can't give up. If we want to become strong enough to face the demons, we need to learn how to control our auras and powers," Emil said in an encouraging tone.
"You sound really sure about this."
"Um… well… Marta says it's good to keep a positive attitude," Emil admitted.
Lloyd chuckled while shaking his head. Marta was training as fiercely as the two of them, even though she didn't have the other half of her soul yet. The red clad swordsman knew it was to impress Emil more than anything and also to win the non-existent rivalry between her and Raine (the Professor and Emil traded information regarding their research on something or another some nights as a way to pass the time. In those occasions you could see Marta sitting in a corner and fiercely biting down any food that she would get her hands on). Lloyd thanked the goddess that at least Sheena was able to hold the girl back from taking extreme measures to ensure "her" Emil wouldn't be stolen.
"What kind of city is Hima?" Lumen asked that night as they were camping a certain distance away from the Hima mountains.
"It's a city that was built to serve as a rest place for adventurers that passed around the Hima region," Emil said. "It originally stood on the mountain path, however, when the Second Invasion happened, it seemed that some demons took residence on the mountain tops and started chasing the humans living in the city."
"And since it didn't have any decent defenses, Hima moved to the foot of the mountain and pledged their allegiance to Cruxis for protection," Marta said. "The city's pretty big today. You practically can't compare how it is now with what it was before. It still serves as a checkpoint for travelers and its businesses had expanded very quickly with Cruxis' protection."
"And we'll stop there before we go to the Tower of Mana," Lloyd said. "Good thing too. I couldn't sleep ever since we've met that Hell Knight."
"You shouldn't get so comfortable that the city can safely shelter you," Raine said calling the group's attention. "And we cannot call too much attention to ourselves while we're staying there. It'll certainly be suspicious for the people there to see you walking around with me."
"Why's that?" Emil asked.
"Because I'm a half-elf."
"So what?" Lloyd asked.
"'So what'? Did you forget how half-elves are viewed?"
"Does it look like we care? You're our friend and if anybody has a problem with it, they'll have to answer to me."
Again, Raine found herself flattered by that young man's resolve, who didn't view her as someone of another race, but as a person. She hid it though, trying to keep her composure as always. But she soon found herself blushing when Tenebrae commented:
"You sure know how to use words to charm a lady, don't you, Sir Lloyd?"
"S-Shut it, Tenebrae!" Lloyd said, standing in on the defensive. "I-I just said that because she's my friend. Th-That's all!"
"Oh. Then I suppose you would say the same to Lady Sheena should she be the one discriminated."
"Of course Sir Lloyd would," Ignis said before Lloyd could answer. The Centurion of fire had apparently been protective of him lately, taking subjects like these into her hands. "If somebody ever threatened Lady Sheena he would be like: Hey! You! Stay away of her or I'll burn you with the fiery flames of Hellfire!"
There was a moment of silence. Then sweatdrops ran through the forehead of the group collectively. Lloyd was the first to recover his voice and say:
"That doesn't even sound like me."
"Well, I think I wouldn't mind you defending me, Lloyd, but I can take care of myself. But thanks anyways," Sheena said.
"Oh," Ignis said, again taking it to herself to answer for Lloyd like she was some kind of representative to the dual swordsman. "In that case, Sir Lloyd will only have to worry about passing his night by the side of Lady Sheena."
Again there was a collective sweatdrop, only this time; Lloyd blushed furiously while Sheena just stayed looking to Ignis and trying not to fantasize about what the Centurion was suggesting. Emil then whispered to Aqua, who was nearer to him:
"Is she really ditzy, or does she really mean something by all that?"
"Believe me, my Lord, Ignis is dense enough to not even think twice before saying something... and I suppose she was referring to it in a romantic way," Aqua answered.
"And why is she answering for Lloyd?"
"Centurions don't serve just you, my Lord. We also served the Summon Spirits to know where there was an imbalance in the mana and to better regulate it, since Summon Spirits were those who distributed it and us the ones who regulated its levels."
"Of course, Lord Ratatosk's order is still being of higher importance to us, since he is our creator," Tenebrae said.
"Ugh! Of course! That's obvious! And who called you in to talk, Tenebonehead?"
Emil sighed as the two Centurions started bickering again…
- / - / - / -
It was just like Emil and Marta had said. Hima was a city with a blooming economy and the size of Palmacosta. Lloyd and Sheena found it quite hard to believe this city was originally a small settlement on the mountain path.
The city had many people circulating its streets, most of them travelers stopping to rest and to restock their provisions. The houses were well built and there were several stores here and there, not to mention about a good number of Inns around the street corners.
Raine was impressed as they entered the city, taking in the radical changes from the scenery to the houses and several Inns spread throughout the city. That made her remember exactly how many years had it been ever since the war ended and the demons took over.
Emil noticed the sudden change in the Professor's mood and the heavy expression on her face, like she was remembering something painful. The young researcher called her name and asked if she was alright. Raine, upon being called and noticing the expression she had, immediately changed to her normal posture and said it was nothing. Emil didn't buy that, but decided not to press Raine any further.
When the group arrived at the entrance of central plaza, they decided to split up. Sheena and Marta would buy provisions for their travel to the Luin region, Lloyd would make a reservation for them in the local Inn and Raine and Emil were going to search the city with the Centurions for anybody with a peculiar aura in hopes they might find another reincarnated Summon Spirit.
The group nodded and separated. However, before Lloyd went to one of the Inns, he noticed something in the middle of the plaza in the center of the city where they were, near the Obelisk of Mana. He immediately recognized the white clothing with blue lining and the blonde hair that reminded him of Emil. Approaching, Lloyd confirmed his suspicions when the boy he saw in Izoold turned and faced him, looking surprised at finding Lloyd there.
"Hey there," Lloyd said, putting up his friendly expression once more.
"You're… Lloyd wasn't it?" the boy asked.
"Yeah, that's me," Lloyd said, glad to see that he hadn't imagined the boy when he was in Izoold. He then approached the blonde. "So, what are you doing all the way out here?"
The boy just stared at Lloyd, seeming to consider if he should answer or not. Lloyd saw that and started to feel uncomfortable as the boy's blue eyes seemed to analyze him. Though the boy was clearly younger than him, Lloyd had to admit that the intensity of that piercing glare was quite intimidating.
"Uh… you don't have to answer if you don't want to," Lloyd said, forcing himself to keep looking to the boy's face. He was always taught to look at people's face while speaking to them.
"Mithos," the boy said it so suddenly, Lloyd let out an "huh?" not catching the words. "My name. It's Mithos. You asked it before in Izoold. Remember?"
"Oh. Y-yeah, I did…. I think," Lloyd said, remembering after sometime that he indeed had asked for the boy's name, but never got the answer.
"You're quite slow you know that, Mister Lloyd?" Mithos said, though his tone didn't sound insulting.
"Yeah, I suppose you could say that," Lloyd said, scratching the back of his head.
Mithos suddenly gave off a smile, a weak one, but still a smile. Lloyd was glad he had been able to break off the icy and serious expression the boy always wore, since it made him look so much older than he appeared to be. The red clad swordsman then turned to the Obelisk of Mana as Mithos did. After some time of silence, Lloyd asked:
"Say, why were you looking at this like you have been in Izoold?" the red clad swordsman referred to the Obelisk.
"Just… thinking about something," Mithos replied in a vague manner. "What about you, Mister Lloyd, why are you traveling from city to city like this, when most people won't dare venture at great distances?"
"Ok, first; drop off the mister thing, ok? That makes me really uncomfortable."
"Whatever you say, Mister Lloyd," Mithos said in a humored tone. Now Lloyd could definitely see the younger boy was picking on him, but he discovered he preferred that than to have Mithos staring at him like he was the suspect of some crime.
"Ok… anyway, I'm traveling with my friends."
"Friends…" Mithos said in a thoughtful tone, lowering his head.
Something in his voice made Lloyd's senses click in. It was possible Mithos didn't have many friends if he was traveling alone. Looking around, Lloyd didn't even sense or see any other half-elves around, though his perception of people's auras still needed some work. Maybe Mithos didn't even have a family with him.
"Say…" Mithos said again so suddenly that Lloyd was almost caught in surprise once more. "Why did you come to talk with me again? Don't you realize I'm a half-elf?"
"Yeah, I do," Lloyd said.
"So…"
"Look, I don't have anything against half-elves," Lloyd said, using his most sincere tone. "Actually, one of my friends is a half-elf."
"A human friends with a half-elf? You're lying," Mithos said with a snicker and a tone of disdain, showing he didn't believe Lloyd.
"Why not? What's the problem in it?"
Mithos didn't answer immediately, but turned to the Obelisk of Mana again as Lloyd was still looking at him. Everybody was so picky about that thing between their races. Lloyd understood most of what happened was because of the Desians, but what about before them? Surely the half-elves weren't evil by nature, so why everybody picked on them so much. Mithos then started to speak:
"We are different. Half-elves, humans and even the late elves… we're all different from each other in a way. Humans were the ones that caused the Kharlan War. They dragged the half-elves into it, thinking we could be used. Then they killed the elves by burning the mana and blamed the half-elves for everything that went wrong, just because they thought we were scum. We, in retaliation, joined the demons to exact our revenge on them.
"Do you really think it's easy to overlook something like that and simply 'befriend' a half-elf?" Mithos now turned to Lloyd, who found himself cornered by that argument, just able to mumble incoherent words. "Just as I thought… you don't even have any idea, do you? The ties of hatred between our species are stronger than those of friendship. That's why the Desians exist in the first place."
"But that doesn't mean you can't try. If you are willingly to give it a try, maybe something could change. Things don't have to be like this," Lloyd said.
"'Change'? Huh…" Mithos gave a low chuckle, shaking his head with his eyes closed and turning to the Obelisk again. "You sound just like I was…" he whispered.
"Huh?"
"Lloyd, what are you doing?" Raine's voice sounded and Lloyd turned to see her coming from the other side of the plaza.
He was about to answer, when he turned to Mithos, however, the young blonde was gone once more. Lloyd looked for some sign of him, but couldn't find any trace of the half-elf's presence and he was still not very good at detecting the traces of one's aura.
"Lloyd, did you get our rooms at the Inn?" Raine asked, stopping near Lloyd with Emil right behind.
"Uhhh, not yet," Lloyd admitted turning to her.
Raine sighed and made motion for Lloyd to follow her. Though the young man could hear her saying something about him slacking in his assignment, Lloyd's mind was still in what Mithos had said and how the blonde had mysteriously disappeared. The dual swordsman guessed Mithos was probably distrusting of other people, considering how he talked.
You don't have any idea, do you? The ties of hatred between our species are stronger than those of friendship. Lloyd was forced to recognize that what Mithos said was true; hatred was the main reason why everything was that way in the world. He knew those words would be always lingering in his mind…
- / - / - / -
After two days of travel, Emil and his group had arrived at the Tower of Mana. The local area brought some memories back to Lloyd, including the ones that were the main reason why Emil and Marta said to Raine they wouldn't be able to rest at Luin after exiting the tower. Though the Professor didn't show it, she sympathized with Lloyd's situation.
Using another fast monster to lure the demon watchers out of their post, Ratatosk and the others quickly undid the spirit seal and entered the tower. On the way inside, Lloyd commented:
"You would think that those guys have learned something from the last time we used a monster like that."
"Like I said; demons were never known fore their brilliant minds," Tenebrae spoke.
"FANTASTIC!" the group turned when they heard Raine shout and found out the Professor with her eyes wide in excitement and with the all-familiar gleam of her Ruin Mode. "Look at all these books! I heard the Tower of Mana was used as a library by the elves in the past, but I never dreamed it was actually true!" she started to run from one bookshelf to another, browsing between the titles at incredible speed.
"Um… do you think Professor Water would like to stay here reading?" Lumen asked the group.
"I'm almost starting to wish she does," Ratatosk said with a sweatdrop running down his forehead.
Lloyd then noticed Sheena had wandered to the center of the entrance room and had a distant look, like she was in a trance. The red clad swordsman approached her and touched her shoulder, Sheena almost jumped, seeming to have broken out of her state.
"Are you alright?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah… just…" she didn't complete her phrase, instead just brought her hand to her forehead and gave a low chuckle. "I think now I know how you felt back in the Triet Ruins."
Lloyd also smiled to her to help lighten the mood. Behind them, the group was still seeing Raine go from one shelve to the other, sometimes picking up a book, flipping through it and returning it to its place before going for the next one. Sheena and Lloyd saw that and the voluptuous woman commented:
"She seems to be having fun."
Lloyd agreed and the two decided to investigate the rest of the place. There was a strange circle inscribed on the floor, with three adjacent circles around it, and most of its surfaces made of a material that looked the same as the one of the teleporters back in the Triet Ruins.
Sheena and Lloyd then examined the door at the end of the chamber and saw nothing that could indicate how to open it. The reincarnation of Luna went back to the strange circle-apparatus in the middle of the room and asked aloud:
"What kind of technology could make something like this?"
Emil and Raine heard that, the latter returning to normal and approaching, Emil examining the piece of work that he hadn't analyzed the last time he, Marta and Lloyd had came to the tower. He then voiced his conclusion:
"Maybe it is some kind of primitive magitechnology. To be honest, there's little to no information about how these temples were built."
"Do you think the spirits had something to do with it?" Marta suggested.
"Probably," Raine answered. "I never found any books that contain this information either," she then turned to the Centurions. "How about you? Could you shed some light on the subject?"
"Sorry, but we are not allowed to inform others about specific matters that concerns the other Summon Spirits," Ventus said.
Raine sighed in disappointment, but said she understood. She then went to the door Lloyd and Sheena had been analyzing and took a look at it, putting a hand on her chin in a thoughtful pose. She then passed her hand over the stone, sweeping some dust from it and finding a text in an ancient language:
"'When three converge as one, the path to the enlighten ones shall be revealed…' could it be… ?" she then turned back to the circle, analyzing it once more. Lloyd and the others couldn't even begin to wonder what the Professor was thinking on. "Lloyd, Marta, Emil, please stand on each of the adjacent circles."
The three nodded and assumed their positions. After they were set in their places, the circles seemed to activate and the middle one glowed, the strange gears below the glassy material started to work. The door behind them opened, revealing a tunnel with a great spiral staircase leading to the upper levels of the tower.
"Wow! It opened!" Marta said, getting out of her place in her excitement to see the path open. As soon as she did that, the door started to close and before anybody had the chance to move, it had slammed shut.
"It seems it could only stay active while there are people standing on the pods…" Raine mused, while turning to the others. "That means most of us will have to stay behind. Sheena, who are you going to…?"
"Lloyd," the guardian user said, before the silver haired woman even had the chance to end her sentence.
"I should have expected that much…" Raine commented. Sheena smiled and looked to Lloyd, winking at him. The young man blushed and looked away. "Anyway, Lumen, you go with them," Sheena's smile immediately disappeared.
"What the… ? Lumen? Why have him tag along with us?"
"Because he's the Centurion of light and since you're going to collect the other half of your spirit, he might be of some help."
"Really? Yay! We're going to be a team, Shee-luni!" Lumen said.
"Please, tell me you're kidding," Lloyd said in an almost pleading tone. He didn't want to admit it, but part of him was looking forward to the chance of being alone with Sheena.
"No, I am not. Besides, I think it's not entirely safe to leave the two of you alone," Raine said.
"Why?" Ignis asked.
"Let's just say they might 'deviate' from their objective to do something… moved by their hormones."
"Hey. I'm a grown woman, in case you have forgotten," Sheena protested.
"Sorry dear, but from elven perspective, you are still just a child."
Sheena was ready to retort back, but Lloyd decided that it would take them nowhere and simply grabbed Sheena's arm. She looked to him and saw him urging for them to simply go. Huffing, Sheena moved his arm away from her and approached the door with Lloyd. The half-elven Professor, Emil and Marta took their places on the apparatus that opened the door.
When the access to the stairs was open again, Lloyd, Sheena and Lumen entered the door, leaving Raine, the Centurions and the others behind. Emil then moved from his spot and the door closed again. The swordsman then approached Ventus and the other Centurions and asked:
"What do you think Raine meant when she said Lloyd and Sheena might deviate from the objective?"
The Centurions looked between each other. The incarnation of their lord could be a genius in the scholar field, but he sometimes lacked knowledge about some facts of life. Aqua floated forward and answered that one:
"Let's just say, she would do something very, very close to what Lady Marta would like to do to you if you two were alone, my Lord."
"I-I wouldn't!" Marta, who was right behind Emil and at hearing range, protested, though the scarlet tone in her cheeks indicated the contrary. Emil blushed beet-red at that. Raine just observed and wondered:
Youngsters these days…
- / - / - / -
Lloyd and Sheena climbed the stairs of the tower with Lumen right by their side. The two looked between themselves and then to the Centurion. Did Raine send him with them on purpose? Well, Lumen might help when the time came to face Sheena's soul half, just like Ignis did with Lloyd.
"You know…" Sheena started a conversation to take their minds off the monotonous climbing; there weren't even monsters on this part of the tower to distract them. "This is the first time we got to go somewhere... just the two of us."
"What about me?" Lumen asked.
"Uh… I was referring to the fact that both me and Lloyd are mortals," Sheena said.
"Oh. Good, then go on," the cheetah-like Centurion said with his goofy smile on.
Sheena had a sweatdrop running behind her head at that. If one didn't take into consideration to the fact of which Summon Spirit's power they were going to collect, choosing Lumen to go with them to keep the two from touching 'deeper' subjects was a very good tactic on Raine's part. Lloyd decided to continue the talk:
"Yeah. Our group is getting quite big too. First it was just Emil and Marta. Then I came along, then you and now Raine. And the other Centurions too," Lloyd added when he saw Lumen was about to interrupt. The Centurion of light simply smiled again at him. "Now we also have these reincarnated Summon Spirits to find. I wonder how they are doing."
Sheena nodded to him and silence befell the trio once more. They arrived at a new part of the tower; a great room with several platforms in different heights. The trio went to a door at the end of the level they were in and were faced by more stairs. While ascending this new staircase, Sheena spoke:
"Lloyd, do you remember what you said near Izoold?" the red clad swordsman looked to her. "About you thinking you weren't good enough for me because you're a newbie on relationships," Lloyd blushed at the memory, but nodded notwithstanding. "I just wanted you to know, I don't expect you to do anything extraordinary or declare your love for me in a cheesy way. To be honest, I didn't even expect you to like me at all."
"How so?" Lloyd asked.
"Well… people tend to have these ideas about me, with the way I dress and all…" she left the rest hang in the air, but upon looking to Lloyd she saw he had a confused look. She explained, concentrating on the crucial points. "You know… like, I know a lot about relationships and had thousands of boyfriends and whatnot."
"And haven't you?" the guardian user threw him a look with her eyebrow raised. Lloyd quickly corrected himself. "I-I mean, not like that! I-it's just … I thought you did have a boyfriend when I saw you at Asuka's and… well, I thought you should be experienced like your mother," he scratched behind his head while trying to choose the right words, not being able to look at Sheena during the entire speech and sure he was failing miserably at voicing his thoughts.
"Huh. Yeah, most people would think that, but truth is, ever since a certain… incident happened, I've never had much interest in having a boyfriend. Most guys that I've met were either pigs, perverts, or idiots. Or sometimes a mixture of it all," Lloyd gulped, knowing sometimes he didn't act like the smartest person in Aselia. "Though mother kept telling me the right guy for me was still out there, I stopped believing in it."
"I think I know what you're talking about…" Lloyd whispered to himself, remembering his visits to Asuka's and how Sheena treated him in the beginning.
"But… after knowing you," Lloyd looked to her and saw Sheena was a looking to him. "I started to think that, maybe, there was still a chance for me."
There was silence after that. Lloyd reflected about everything Sheena told him and, though he wanted to reveal he knew what "incident" she was talking about, he decided to save that for another occasion. He also blushed wildly as he thought on what she said about thinking that he might be the one person whom Asuka spoke to Sheena about. The voluptuous woman then asked him what he thought about relationships and the dual swordsman answered:
"To be honest, like you know, I never had any dates or anything. Most of the time I passed training with my dad or being scolded by people for messing with the Desians."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard that story," Sheena said, nodding to him with her eyes closed. Her expression and smile turned sly once she talked again. "But you did think about it once, didn't you? It's virtually impossible for a guy not to have thought about that."
"Well…" Lloyd said, blushing beet-red now. He didn't feel much comfortable talking about these things, more so because he never had anyone to talk about it other than his father and they scarcely did it. "Um… it's… hey Lumen!" Lloyd called the servant of Ratatosk. "What about you? Do Centurions have relationships?"
Sheena narrowed her eyes angrily at that. Lumen then made a thoughtful face at the question and said:
"I don't know. But maybe…"
"Maybe what?" Lloyd asked, still desperately trying to keep that talk out of his thoughts on relationships.
"Maybe T-dark and Aqua-girl have a relationship."
Even Sheena stopped at hearing that. Lloyd and she were near a door that led to a grey, rectangular room. The violet haired woman then asked:
"Tenebrae and Aqua? Are you serious?"
"I heard boss say once that they fight like an old married couple," Lumen explained.
"That they do," Lloyd commented. "Do you think they broke up?" he asked Sheena, who shrugged.
"Nah, they don't seem to have any cracks on them," Lumen answered in his usual tone. Lloyd and Sheena looked to him again.
"Um… Lumen, 'broke up' means they were on a relationship once, but aren't anymore."
"Oh. Then no," Lumen said, putting his smile on again.
"Then how come they fight like that?"
"They're always this way since boss created them."
"Wait. Didn't you just say they were in a relationship?" Sheena asked, confused. Lumen nodded to her. "So are they or are they not?"
"Well, Aqua-girl always said that she and Tene-man have a 'relationship of mutual hatred' for each other."
There was more silence after that. Sheena and Lloyd each had a sweatdrop running behind their foreheads. Sheena shook her head and decided they had had enough of that talk:
"Ok. Lumen, shut up. Lloyd…" she then pointed to the swordsman. "We're not done talking about this yet," with that, she turned and started walking again. Lloyd sighed, knowing in a near future he would have to answer to those questions.
The three arrived at one of the higher platforms in the giant room they had been to before. In front of them, separated by a gap, was another platform at the opposite end of the room with what seemed to be a teleporter in it.
Lloyd, Sheena and Lumen approached the gap between the platforms that gave to the lower level of the room. Lumen then asked:
"So, how are we going to reach the other side?" before any of the two humans could speak something, a spectral bridge, seemingly made out of light, appeared as something between Sheena's chests seemed to glow weakly, though neither Lumen or Lloyd noticed anything. "Alright. This should do," the Centurion said with his goofy smile, not minding the mysterious circumstance of the appearance of the bridge.
Sheena and Lloyd looked between themselves and shrugged. Giving some tentative steps, they discovered the bridge was solid. The trio then walked to the other side of the room and arrived at the teleporter.
Lloyd, Lumen and Sheena appeared in which seemed to be the top of the tower, standing in one of the many minor towers. The place was open, so one could see the skies and the mountains all around. Lloyd was mesmerized by the scenery and was even more surprised when seeing there was a bridge in front of them made of what looked like floating, metal bars, which were sustained in the air by some invisible force.
"So this is where Luna's altar is?" Lloyd asked Lumen.
"Yup. It's open so Aska could come and land after flying around to inspect the situation of the mana around."
"Aska? Oh, yeah. That reminds me. Shee…" Lloyd stopped once he saw Sheena was already walking the magically suspended bridge and had arrived at the top of the central tower.
The red clad swordsman abandoned his unasked question and followed Sheena together with Lumen. When the two catch up with her, Lloyd saw that she had a distant look again, fixated on the altar. It was just like him when he had heard Efreet's voice and was near his altar.
"Sheena?" Lloyd asked, but she didn't answer, continuing to walk until she left them behind and stopped at the altar. Lloyd and Lumen stayed observing her as she looked up.
It was then the two heard the sound of what looked like a great bird's cry and wings flapping. Lloyd looked around for the source of the sound, but Lumen just pointed with his head for him to look up. The dual swordsman did so and almost jumped behind from surprise.
A great, shinning, golden bird descended from the skies. The feathers on its wings were colored orange, though most of its body was of a golden yellow, and there were ethereal, lance points extending from them. His tail was a mix between sky blue and purple. The bird had two heads, one with gentle, blue eyes and the other with fierce, red ones. Just from the powerful aura that the creature emanated, Lloyd could guess it was a Summon Spirit.
Aska looked to Sheena and spoke in a single voice:
"Luna, you've come. I was worried that you would have trouble with the demons roaming Aselia."
"Um… sorry, but I'm not exactly Luna. My name's Sheena," the guardian user said, looking from one head of the bird to the other.
"Oh… yes. I forgot that Origin warned us that our memories of our past selves would be lost in the reincarnation process."
"Wait, you're really Aska, the other Summon Spirit of the light?" Lloyd asked the bird-like entity, approaching.
"Ah, Efreet. I see you have already recovered the other half of your soul. That's good to know," Aska said, before answering his question. "Yes, I am Aska, the second Summon Spirit of the light."
"Hi there, As!" Lumen said, approaching to the altar, just like Lloyd.
"Lumen… I see you're still around…" Aska said in a tone that suggested he wasn't very content with the presence of the Centurion. However, Lumen, being as dense as he was, didn't notice and wagged his tail, his goofy smile on, thinking the brother of his lord's first crush was happy to see him. "But if you're here… that means Ratatosk is still in this world as well?"
Lloyd and Sheena nodded. Aska's two bird heads seemed to have surprised expressions as they both turned to Sheena and Lumen, asking in his single voice:
"What happened to Ratatosk? I've tried to contact him, but after the invasion began that became impossible."
"Boss retreated to the Ginnungagap and stayed there until the invasion happened. After that I don't remember, because we fused back with him," Lumen said.
"I see…"
"By the way…" Lloyd spoke up. "Where have you been? Why didn't you do anything to stop the demons?"
Aska looked to Lloyd and closed the blue eyes of his right head as the red ones of his left head focused on the reincarnation of Efreet. The golden bird said:
"I could not do anything to stop it not just because the scale of the invasion was far too great to be contained by one spirit alone, but because I had to wait for Luna to reincarnate."
"What do you mean?" Sheena asked.
"I am the other half of your soul," Aska said, looking to Sheena with his four eyes. The violet haired woman showed a surprised expression. Lloyd asked what Aska meant with that. "Though Luna and I are different entities, we both share the same role in this world and, as so, our spirits and powers are intertwined. One is part of the other."
"Then that means, when Luna was sent to reincarnate…"
"I stood as the part that corresponds to our power and thus, I must merge with your spirit, so we can become one again and you can also regain your powers as a Summon Spirit."
Sheena looked down. She didn't know what to think of that. On one side, she knew she needed the power of the Summon Spirit she once was back if she wanted to help Emil and the others, but she also knew very well what it meant if Aska were to merge with her. The guardian user remembered Emil and Ratatosk and, shaking her head, asked:
"Isn't there a way for you to give me the power of Luna and continue to exist?"
Aska stood silent at that. Lloyd and Lumen looked from Sheena to the other Summon Spirit of the light. The two-headed entity said:
"I made this choice the moment Origin proposed his plan. It is my will to become one with you, Luna… or rather, Sheena Fujibayashi."
"But…" Sheena tried to speak in a saddened tone.
"Do not worry. For us, spirits, death is impossible and change is a constant. We never remain the same, no matter our position or roles in the world. We are eternal," those words seemed to have an effect on Sheena as she looked up to Aska. "Never forget that. It is our duty to change to better protect this world and change we will. But, for now, let's concentrate on what you must do first."
Sheena then nodded to him. Lloyd felt that it was time for him to give space for Sheena, something inside him telling she would be tested by Aska. Maybe it was Efreet's soul. He wished good luck to her and Sheena turned to him to give a smile.
Aska saw that she had took her battle position and prepared too.
"Now. Let us begin!"
The bird-like spirit started the fight, taking flight and attacking Sheena, who jumped out of the way, with a dash. She saw Aska making a close turn to go for her again. Putting one hand on the floor, Sheena used all the strength of her arm and the flexibility of her body to shoot herself up in the air even higher when Aska came for another aerial dash.
The guardian user twirled in the air before landing and looked to her opponent, who was now flying out of her reach around the tower. Aska flapped his wings, the lance-like points that seemed to extend from his wings shooting light spheres that homed on Sheena. She jumped and dodged, some spheres hitting the floor and exploding with light as others still followed her.
Now how can I win against Aska? Sheena thought as she made a fan with her seal cards and threw some on the spheres, which exploded once being hit by the cards. Using my light-based attacks is out of question. In that case... she watched as Aska stopped circling the tower and flew back to the platform, aiming for her once more. Time to make use of all you taught me, Grandpa.
Lloyd couldn't contain himself and called for Sheena when he saw she wasn't moving out of Aska's way. Sheena was too concentrated on the battle, so she ignored Lloyd's calling, knowing he was obviously worried with her seemingly lack of reaction.
The guardian user waited and in the last minute shot her hand forward while jumping. She achieved to grab Aska's left head, pushing it down as she used the Summon Spirit as leverage to jump higher. Aska lost balance when Sheena put her weight against him and feel on the tower's floor, skidding on it.
Seeing her chance, Sheena ran to Aska while he was getting up and took out her seal cards, throwing three of them, which landed on the spirit's body. She was about to charge them with her magical energy when Aska's right head pointed to her and opened its mouth, shooting a light beam. Sheena was hit on the shoulder, feeling the light burnt slightly her skin and her energy. That moment of distraction was enough for Aska to reunite the light around and release it in a pulse, which destroyed the seals on his body.
The glowing bird quickly walked to Sheena, who stood on a defensive stance and dodge as Aska tried to pierce her with the beaks of his two heads. The guardian user jumped back, but Aska extended his wings forward, pointing them to her and using the ethereal, lance points to hit the violet haired woman, cutting her sides. The light contained in those lances once more seemed to burn part of Sheena's energy as the impact of the blow pushed her back.
Aska went in for another attack, but this time, Sheena countered by ducking and kicking one of the Summon Spirit's legs with enough strength to force him to kneel. She then kicked one of Aska's heads with great strength and applied a series of punches on his chest.
Good thing his body doesn't have any kind of armored skin, otherwise this would hurt. Sheena thought as she jumped to avoid the counter attack of one of Aska's heads and had to incline her body backwards once the Summon Spirit tried to hit her with his wings again. If I can keep this up, I might win.
However, Sheena soon learned that fighting against a Summon Spirit wasn't that simple. Aska quickly charged a spell and used Radiant Shackles on her. The guardian user was bound for enough time for Aska to approach and use a sidekick with his talons when the seals exploded with light, the attacks sending her to the ground. Approaching again, Aska tried to pierce her with his beaks once more; Sheena rolled in the ground and watched as the beaks created holes and cracks in the concrete. If she was caught in that attack, she would have a nasty injury.
Aska again charged a spell and casted Ray. Sheena looked to the brilliant sphere above her and suddenly felt some kind of sensation pass through her whole body; the sensation that she knew how the light would behave in that attack. Dodging and sidestepping, Sheena managed to avoid all of the light beams that came in her way. Aska observed that and said:
"I see you are already advanced on your control over the light. Surely, with me, your powers will increase greatly."
"But first I have to beat you into submission for that to happen," Sheena stated.
"True enough."
The fight then restarted as the two ran to each other, Sheena was ready to apply another sequence of kicks and punches, when Aska suddenly took flight and hovered in the air. He gently extended his wings forward and a giant sphere of light was created between him and Sheena, who was hit by the attack that blinded her and seemed to burn her energy more effectively than the previous ones. Aska flapped his wings and the sphere exploded, sending the reincarnated Luna backwards.
As Sheena stood once more, Aska quickly got to her and raised his wings upwards to soon lower them in a way to use the ethereal, lance points to slash Sheena across her shoulders, sending her away once more. The guardian user was impressed at how sharp those things were and at how strong Aska was.
Lloyd had his eyes wide at seeing Sheena was now definitely bleeding. He hadn't been too worried at the attacks charged with light from Aska, thinking Sheena could resist them since she was Luna, but cuts like those could be a problem.
Sheena scolded herself at her carelessness as she kneeled, feeling her shoulders weight. Aska prepared to cast another spell. In that moment, Sheena decided to try one Arte she had been working on. Pressing her palm against the floor and sending energy through it, she concentrated on making it travel to Aska's talons. The Summon Spirit was then propelled from the floor, interrupting his cast as ethereal, seal cards flew around him like angry bees, forming a sphere.
"Cyclone Seal!" Sheena then made the sphere of cards explode with her magical energy as she got up and ran to Aska while the bird-like entity was falling to the ground.
Sheena jumped in Aska's direction and used the speed to apply a powerful kick on his chest, sending the spirit to the ground. She ran to him again in top speed and tackled the spirit as he was getting up. Sitting on his chest, Sheena quickly placed some seals along his body and applied her magical energy on them, utilizing Power Seal Absolute, lowering Summon Spirit's defenses.
Aska quickly united the light all around him again, before Sheena could react, and released it in a pulse wave, forcing Sheena away of him and attacking her magical energies again. Getting up, the spirit hurried to her while she was trying to recover and shot his right head forward. This time, the guardian user couldn't avoid it and felt the sharp beak pierced her belly.
Lloyd gasped as he saw Sheena's expression of pain, but to his surprise, she gritted her teeth and grabbed Aska's head when it was retracting for the other head to attack, pulling her with it. The movement almost threw her back, but Sheena clung to the Summon Spirit of light's neck for her dear life and managed to hold on, putting her feet on Aska's back, near the base of his long neck. She then applied a headlock to the blue-eyed head and pulled it backwards, trying to immobilize it.
Aska fought and tried to get his head free, but Sheena used all of her remaining strength to hold the head in its place. She knew if she let it go, she would lose this battle. She would not be able to continue with her belly and shoulders bleeding, since she was already fighting against the pain the headlock was applying on her shoulder, which was screaming for her to let go.
The bird-like spirit seemed to have enough of it and poised his other head to strike. Sheena saw that and an idea quickly formed in her head, making she smile. The red-eyed head's beak shot forward at the exact moment Sheena shoved the blue-eyed head on its route, making the two collide, the attacking head hitting the other on its forehead.
Aska finally let out a painful chirp and fell to the ground, Sheena together with it. Lloyd finally had enough and ran to help his crush to stand up, seeing she is in no condition to continue. Sheena didn't object when Lloyd helped her, for she was too exhausted. The light base attacks burnt most of her magical energy and her stamina was leaving her with those cuts she had.
The Summon Spirit of light grumbled as he stood up, shaking his heads. Lumen approached him and smiled to the bird-like entity. The cheetah-like Centurion sat near the Summon Spirit, who looked to him, and asked in his well-humored tone:
"So, do you say she passed?"
Lloyd stood apprehensive as he passed Sheena's arm around his and helped her to stand. Was Aska going to reprove her because of him coming in when the two were down? And what happened when one failed in those tests? Did they get another chance? However, all his worries proved to be pointless, for after some seconds of silence Aska said:
"I would say she did."
Lloyd smiled in relief as did Sheena. Aska then instructed him to help bring her to the altar. Lloyd did as he was told and Sheena stood up, leaning against the altar's borders. The reincarnation of Efreet stood behind as Aska took his place in the center. Sheena finally managed to stand still as Aska approached his red-eyed head to her, speaking:
"Sheena… you showed true mastery over my and Luna's blinding light, standing against me using your magical energy and your intelligence in this fight. Surely, someone like you is more than able to become our successor."
"Successor…" Sheena whispered as the word rolled on her tongue.
"Now, we must merge for you to earn your powers as the Summon Spirit of the light back and, with them, restore the Equilibrium to this world."
Aska took one step towards Sheena, but was stopped when she said for him to wait. The bird-like entity just looked to her with a curious look on his two avian heads as the guardian user asked:
"Is there really no other way other than for you to cease to exist? Your knowledge about these demons and about the world could help us so much."
There was one moment of silence where no one seemed to even dare to breathe. Lloyd stayed quiet and even Lumen knew better than to interrupt that which he considered Aska's farewell. The Summon Spirit then spoke again, his voice full of determination as he said:
"My time of existing as Aska has come to an end and my knowledge over this world has become outdated with all the changes that occurred. If I stayed like this, I would become nothing more than a mere ghost of what I once was; unable to truly exist here due to the absence of mana. My time here was just prolonged for I utilized Luna's power, but now I can't do it anymore.
"If I were to continue existing, I would just be a remembrance of a past that is already gone. Something that wasn't able to go on and is forever doomed to remain the same, useless for this world. That would be true torment for a Summon Spirit, for we were created and came to protect this world. This is part of who we are."
Sheena stood silent at that declaration. She realized Aska was right and that she couldn't force him to continue to exist if it was just going to bring him pain. Sheena then nodded, replacing her sadness with determination to fulfill her role in this world as its guardian. It was the least she could do for Aska.
"Good…" the Summon Spirit said in soft voice. He approached and lowered his heads to her as she embraced them in the kind of comforting embrace brothers shared. The two started to shine and a golden glow enveloped Sheena. "Let's become one… my sister… the Radiant Maiden…" wind started to blow around them as the glow in Sheena intensified until Lloyd was forced to cover his eyes from the blinding radiance.
Just like with Lloyd, Sheena's clothes transformed and her wounds healed as a layer of light passed over them. Her purple jacket was replaced by two, simple, purple straps that crossed above her chest, covering a good part of her breasts, but leaving most of her front and almost all of her back exposed. Her hair came down, the bun undoing itself and letting her shoulder length, violet hair fall down. Her pants and skirt were replaced by a long, dark skirt with green lines, which reached until the floor and had a great slit on it that stopped near her tights. Under it she was using dark, mini shorts.
Her half-gloves gained a dark green coloration, Luna and Aska's golden, Radiant Emblem appearing in the back of them. Glowing rings made of ethereal images of her seal cards appeared around her wrists, floating at some distance from them. Paintings and symbols appeared over Sheena's arms, middle and down her back and sides. Her boots remained almost unchanged, though they now looked more like shoes and had wing ornaments on the heels.
Finally, yellow, ethereal wings sprouted from her bare back. When the transformation was complete, the light finally faded and Sheena opened her eyes, looking to herself and her new attire. The first thing she did was to raise an eyebrow and think:
Great... mental note: never walk in public in my spirit form. Otherwise I'll be force to kill half of the masculine population of the locals to keep the other half from trying to do anything funny with me.
"Wow!" Lumen said as he approached, looking really surprised at seeing Sheena's new form. "Shee-luni, you're almost like boss' first girl, but a little more dressed," those words made Sheena wonder what were exactly Luna's tastes for clothes. "Don't 'cha think, LYD…? LYD?"
Sheena looked to Lloyd and saw he was, for the lack of a better word, dumbfounded at her appearance. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were glued to her. Sheena could say he was taking in every detail of her appearance and her curves. Though that made her a little embarrassed, she grinned while approaching him and asked in a seductive tone:
"So, liking what you see, Lloyd?"
"I… I… I… I… I…" was everything Lloyd managed to mumble.
"I think that means 'yes'," Lumen said.
"That was a rhetorical question, Lumen," Sheena said.
"Retro-what?" Lumen asked, cocking his head to the side with a look of confusion on his cheetah face.
"Forget it. So… Lloyd?" the red clad swordsman seemed to shake on his place at hearing his name. "Do you have something to say about how I look like?"
"Um… well… that's… you…. I mean…" he mumbled again.
He's so skillful with words… Sheena thought, rolling her eyes. It probably would take some time until his shock wore down and she got a concrete answer from him. If I didn't know him any better, I would say he's spending way too much time around Emil.