And we go into another chapter of this story!

"Uuugh..."

Vargas opened his eyes, looking around. "Where...?"

He noticed Selena sleeping on a chair next to him. She had a worried expression, so Vargas shook her to wake her up "Ah...?" she gasped. "Good morning, sleepyhead..."

"I should say that to you." said Vargas. "Say, are you free this evening...? I ought to take you to a special place."

"I can't bond to anyone, Vargas." she said, looking away. "I'm the chief of the Savat, it's said that... If he or she were to marry, great disaster would befall the people."

"Why did you even accepted that anyway, Selena?" asked the Fire King. "You look no more than sixteen!"

"I'm fourteen." she replied, making him drop his jaw.

"WHAT?! Y-You are still a girl! You can't possibly rule all the Savat!"

"Who said i cannot?!" she burst, pointing Lexida at his throat. She was crying, but an angry frown was on her face. "I'll show the world what i can do. I'll do whatever. For my people." She put away the sword. "I'm sorry, Vargas."

"Don't worry... It's all fine." he replied, patting her shoulder.

-Two hours later, village square-

"So... Are you ready, flamehead?"

"You bet, strawy!"

The two swordsmen readied their weapons, while Lance held Drevas horizontally. "Victory will be awarded to who breaks his enemy's weapon OR makes the other yeld. No bites, spits, scratches, headbutts, punches or kicks. Only swords. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"

"Brave Burst: Infinity Nova/Thunder Explosion!" shouted the two warriors, their elements clashing with explosive power. The two parried and stroke perfectly on par with the other, almost mechanically. Vargas suddently slashed horizontally, sending Eze skidding on the ground. He gripped his broadsword tighter, and smashed the ground. "BRAVE BURST: THUNDER EXPLOSION!"

Vargas parried the lightning bolts with his blade, recoiling a bit. He then fell on one knee, panting. "I will never surrender, Eze! Brave Burst: Infinity Nova!"

"STOP!"

Selena threw herself in between of the two, her hands raised. "You'll kill yourself. It's a tie."

"I can perfectly control myself/Shut the fuck up!" said the two, making her bow her head. "You remember me of myself..."

"Well. We'll settle this some other time." said Vargas. "Want to eat? This battle has made me hungry."

"Now that you mention it..." replied Eze. "It's LUNCHTIME!"

Watching the two walk away, Selena took a deep breath of relief. "Phew. That was close."

"You did it because...?" inquired Lance. "There is a reason."

"There IS a reason... But it's personal, i'm sorry Lance." she said, looking away. He put his hand on the Drevas, and he shook his head. "Drevas senses something. Tell me, Selena."

"I'm sorry, but i can't say it..." she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Come on. Tell me..." said softly Lance.

"I just want to go back so i would have never accepted this!" shouted Selena, throwing away the Lexida. She then ran away, crying. Lance was about to go after her, when...

Hold still, Lance.

"But Drevas, she is..."

You can't comfort her, you know it. Someone else needs to do that.

"But those idiots will never do it!"

You can't make someone love you, Lance. You know what will happen in time.

"I don't care."

Then go young man, but if she has to die alone because of you, don't blame it on me. Well, technically it's MY fault but still...

Lance calmly walked to the longsword and picked it up. "So beautiful... I'm sorry i can't help you... Nor Lidith..."

Cue: In the Shrine (Lufia II)

-Gallant's Workshop-

"Hammer this, hammer that, there's nothing to say, i'm hammerin' all the day..." sang the Blacksmith, repairing a sword. Hearing the familiar smell of Lancia's cooking, he smiled. "Hey, what is for lunch?"

"Boiled Squirty!" said the cook, putting some spices in the pot. "It's coming out perfectly!"

"Ok, i'm done." said Gallant, wiping his sweat off. "Man, it's hard to repair 500 swords at once. In a single morning."

"You're still great..." replied Lancia. "I'm sure you will forge legendary weapons someday."

"I hope so." He sat on a chair. "My work is getting more and more intense later..."

"It seems like you have to eat something~" chirped Lancia, putting the pot on the table. "Eat up!"

"Thanks for the food." said Gallant. "It's really tasty, as always."

"I'm happy you like it." Lancia peeked at him, blushing a bit. "Ehm... D-don't look at me..."

"How i can't?" he replied. "Without your food i'd not be able to work this hard. Plus, i can't see your cute face if you look sideways."

She became even redder. "T-thanks..."

"Lancia, i love you." he suddently said, making her gasp. "G-gallant... You're making me blush..."

"How so...? We are a couple." whispered Gallant, putting a hand over her shoulders. "No matter what happens, i'll be at your side."

"No matter what happens..." she smiled. "Gallant... I'm planning on travelling along the world, to improve my cooking... This time for real. Will you... Stay at my side?"

Gallant nodded. "I need to improve my crafting. I have to search for new materials... Agnium is a no-no, thanks to Orwen II, and Mythril is too rare here."

"These guys seem to be travelling. Can we go with them?"

"I suppose so."

-Meanwhile, in a thicket-

Selena was running away, crying, until she tripped on a root and fell down. She yelped, clutching her ankle, and remained like that, sobbing. "Why... Why didn't i leave it to Lucina... Why...?"

A creaking sound made her shiver. She looked at the source and saw a Dark Spider. "Ah! S-stay away!" She reached for the Lexida, but she didn't feel it and backed out. "S-stay away!"

The spider snapped, grabbing her with its maws. Selena shrieked, grabbing a branch. She held on with all her strength, but the branch snapped. Hitting her head, she passed out...

"Uhhhhh..." said Selena, opening her eyes. She felt a nauseous stench. Her eyes began to see in the almost total darkness, and saw white strings everywhere. "Mmmm?" Ahhhh... Where am i...? She felt her mouth gagged, and her hands and feet tied. "Mmmmmm!" N-no!

Dark Spiders began to come out of the walls, and the girl widened her eyes. "Mmmmm! Mmmmmm!" SOMEONE, HELP MEEEEEEE!

She then saw a Granamos come straight for her, and she struggled with all her strength. "Mmmmmm!" I won't become worm food! Not today!

It opened its mouth, and Selena closed her eyes, crying silently. Who am i kidding...? I'm done for. The Granamos took her in its mouth, swallowing her whole. That's it, this is how my life ends... Lucina... I'm sorry...

Suddently, the Granamos shrieked, and Selena felt it shaking. "Hiyah!" said a male's voice. "Take this! Brave Burst: Infinity Nova!"

The Granamos shrieked again, this time with a squelching sound. It stopped moving, and Selena gasped seeing a sword cut through its belly. That's Vargas's sword...

"Hey, i found her! Quick, dispose of the others!"

"You bet! Brave Burst: Thunder Explosion!"

Two strong arms took her on, and she looked at the man. "Mmmm..." Vargas...

He freed her mouth, leaving her free to talk. "All OK? How the fuck did you get in here?"

"I-i'm sorry... I ran away..." she cried, warm tears rolling down her face. Vargas held her close, running away. "EZE! YOU DUMBASS, COME OUT!"

"In a second! SUPER BRAVE BURST: HYPER THUNDER CRUSH!"

A storm of lightning bolts came out of the cave, nearly frying Vargas and Selena. Then, they saw Eze come out of it, exhausted. "This marks me as better than you, Vargas..." he panted. "Let's return to the village."

"Are you ok, Selena?" said Vargas, freeing her from the spider silk. "Gah!"

"W-what is it?" she asked. Upon seeing his blushing face, she looked at herself. "Ah! T-those spiders..."

"Their silk slowly melts down preys... You were lucky to only have your clothes melt off, Selena." said Lance. "It's really painful."

The girl shivered. "Ah... T-then i suppose i should thank you..." she said, looking away and blushing. "D-don't look at me please..."

Vargas gave her his cape, that Selena accepted gladly. "T-thank you..."

They returned to the village, where Vargas snapped his fingers. "Take this." he said, giving the Lexida to its owner. "You can't always run away. You have to stand and fight."

"Thanks, Vargas..." she whispered. "I'll... Fight. I'll not run away like that... No more."

The Fire King put a hand over her shoulders. "You have me. Even if i'm no more than a warrior, i'll help you with everything i got."

"T-thanks..." she said, hugging him with tears in her eyes. "Thanks, Vargas... I'll do my best..."

H-her chest is...! "L-let's do our best... Together."

-End of Chapter-

Selena and Vargaaaasssssss :D

Plus Lance is a bit of a silent type... Just tell her already!