AN: Here comes chapter 3. All the reviews I received have been wonderful. I am really glad you guys are enjoying it so far. 'Fractured' Milla existing after chapter 11 brings out a lot of possibilities. There have been some PMs regarding ideas about where to take this story. I thank you all for that. It just shows me how much you guys want this story to not fall off, and I'll do my best in trying to keep it good.
Anyway, time to respond to reviews.
Time Heals All : Thanks! I will probably try to insert a skit once every chapter but no promises. I wish to make sure the skit stay in character like in the game. If I feel the chapter has a scene that does not fit a skit, I won't create one just for the sake of it. As for fluff, I was worried it was too... 18+ so I thought it didn't fit the 'T' rating...? That was just my concern, lol. Thanks for pointing out the name errors, I have already fixed them up :)
GroundZeroFirework : Lol, I was just worried the Jude x Milla scene was 18+... i mean I never showed what they were doing but I thought maybe the hints were just borderline... but glad you liked it
Haseo55 : The Ludger x Milla pairing will take time to build up. But I will be thinking on the pairings. As for your guess on the unknown figure at the end, it will be revealed further on in the story. And yes, I will try to keep the personalities in character when I do a skit. Thanks
Mr. AE Hachi-Roku : Well obviously I won't be confirming of who the unknown figure was in the last part, whether you guessed it right or wrong :p hahaha
chronotimeguard : wooooo! Thanks... I will be dropping more of their relationship in future chapters
Riku Uzumaki : Well whether your guesses were right or wrong, I won't be confirming it here.
Anyways, that's it for reviews. OH I left out a super important point I wanted to say in the last chapter but I forgot.
Thing is, I'm changing one fact about the Chromatus form. The use of the Chromatus in this tale consumes a large amount of energy and will also further damage the inside organs. So it is still a double-edged sword but it will hurt the user's performance in future battles the more one uses it. This will be vital for future chapters in this plot.
Alright, sorry for my rambling guys... I just really appreciate all the support from you guys reviews so I wanted to thank each and everyone of you personally. Now hope you enjoy this chapter
CHAPTER 3: BONDS
The morning light shone through the window and Milla's eyes twitched. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and the first thing that registered in her mind was another arm holding her by the waist behind her. Milla turned and saw Jude's sleeping face. He had a little drool seeping off the corner of his open mouth. Milla continued to stare, admiring his sleeping face. It was cute.
Milla pried free from Jude's arm and slowly got up from the bed. Milla surveyed Jude's room and upon finding her clothes and Jude's scattered across the bedroom floor reminded Milla of the previous night. Milla blushed upon the memory, taking another glance at the sleeping Jude. The passion they shared, it was a year's worth being released. 'Jude might look innocent… but last night… he was much more…' Milla decided not to finish that thought. If she did, she just might wish for a repeat performance.
"M-Milla…? You're awake?" Jude said, rubbing his eyes.
Milla was dressing herself up as she answered, "Do you mind looking away?"
Jude blushed heavily and apologized, turning away, "S-s-sorry! I didn't mean-"
Milla giggled and sat on the bed next to Jude, now fully clothed, "I'm just joking Jude. After last night, I don't think it makes any sense in hiding. Besides, it's not the first time… you've seen me."
"Y-yeah b-but still…"
"Hmm… perhaps I've still not fully grasped human customs…? I thought being as how close we are, I thought you could tell I was joking."
Jude scratched the back of his head nervously, "Hehe… it's just… I… well…"
Jude ran out of words to say and the two just stared at one another. Then both laughed. Jude then went and grabbed his clothes, putting them on. Jude wondered if this sort of experience was possible in the near future. Once he perfected spyrite technology, could Milla live with him like this? She was still the Lord of Spirits though. Would she be able to just… abandon her duty? Jude shook the thoughts away. When the time came, they would move through it together. For now, his main focus would be in perfecting spyrite technology.
Once Jude was fully dressed, he turned to Milla, who seemed lost in thought. "What's wrong?" Jude asked.
"…Ludger Kresnik… how did you meet him?"
"Ludger…? Oh, I had an appointment but I got lost in Trigelph. Ludger helped show me the way to the train station. However Exodus attacked the train we were on. I don't know how but Ludger somehow ended up boarding the train as well… The two of us helped each other to stop the attack and… well, we've been together ever since, helping one another. Why do you ask?"
"I just feel… if we need to pass Origin's Trial… Ludger will be vital in helping us."
Jude nodded in agreement, "That is true… He is the only one who can travel to fractured dimensions… Without him, we couldn't have gotten the Waymarkers."
"That's not what I meant…" Milla replied, "It's true that we need him in order to travel to a fractured dimension… But I feel Origin's Trial was meant to be completed by a Kresnik… A chosen line by Origin… Ludger will be vital in completing the Trial."
"…I… I know we have to beat Origin's Trial… but I'm also doing this because Ludger is a friend. He's already going through so much and… I want to help him go through with it. He… he has a massive debt. So sometimes I accompany him on jobs to help him. And… he shoulders the burden of destroying different worlds as an Agent. I want to make sure he knows that we're there to support him."
Milla listened to Jude without any interruption. Jude continued rambling on for another minute about why he wanted to help Ludger. Honestly the Lord of Spirit could already see that Jude held Ludger in high regard. Even though Ludger had not fought with the group a year ago, Jude seemed to have formed a deep bond compared to the others. She wondered why that was so. She might have gotten the hang of some human customs, but the friendship between Jude and Ludger was probably something she would need time to figure out.
Once Jude was finally done, Milla's stomach grumbled. "How about we pay Ludger a visit? I'd like to see how my 'other' self is doing…"
"…You just want to eat Ludger's cooking again, don't you?"
Milla merely grinned.
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"Is it done yet?" An impatient Elle asked from her sit on the dining table.
"Be patient." 'Fractured' Milla replied, "Honestly… when Ludger's the one doing the cooking, you don't complain at all."
"I do if he puts tomatoes in my food!" Elle retorted. "Hmm… why are you even cooking? Ludger left earlier to do some grocery. He didn't tell you to cook."
'Fractured' Milla had a small blush appear on her cheeks, "W-well… I can't just stay here and do nothing! I don't intend to be a freeloader."
'Fractured' Milla continued stirring the pot of soup. Elle on the other hand just played with Rollo to occupy her time. The large cat was more than happy to play with the little girl. A minute later, there was a knock on the door. Elle opened the door.
"What are you guys doing here?" Elle asked.
Jude was scratching his head, "Well…." Next to him was Milla and behind were Alvin and Leia. "We just thought we'd drop by. We met Alvin and Leia on the way here and they joined in as well." Alvin waved in his usual 'cool' attitude.
Milla sniffed the delightful aroma and then barged in, "Oh my… that smells good." Milla then noticed it was 'fractured' Milla doing the cooking, "Oh, you're cooking something? Let me watch…"
'Fractured' Milla rolled her eyes as Milla stood next to her. "You like to eat so much, why don't you just try and learn to cook something?"
"I'm learning right now, am I not? By watching you cook." Milla replied. 'Fractured' Milla made no comment and continued adding in some herbs into the soup.
Alvin, Leia and Jude had entered the apartment by then and witnessed the interactions between the two Millas. It was interesting. It was like watching twin sisters with different personalities. That was the only definite difference between the pair. Well, the bangs on their hair and color of their outfit were different as well. And 'fractured' Milla seemed to at least have better knowledge of human way of life than Milla.
Alvin and Leia took a sit on the dining table with Elle between them, facing the two Millas cooking. Jude took the sit opposite of Elle. It was then that Jude realized someone was missing.
"Where's Ludger?" Jude asked Elle.
"Ludger said he needed to do some grocery shopping." Elle answered, "Although that just means he needs to pick up more tomatoes."
Leia was staring at 'fractured' Milla doing the cooking and blurted out, "Hmm… So Ludger actually asked Milla to cook huh? I guess he really trusts you to take care of Elle." 'Fractured' Milla went stiff at the comment.
"No, Ludger just said he was going out shopping." Elle explained, "He thought Milla would still be asleep. The moment Ludger left, Milla…"
"Elle!" 'Fractured' Milla interjected, stopping Elle from finishing. "I mean… I didn't want to be a burden, that's all! So I thought I'd help around with some chores…"
Leia had a knowing grin plastered on her face, "Ohohoho… is that the only reason? Not because-" Alvin nudged Leia's side, stopping her from tormenting 'fractured' Milla.
Jude shook his head with a chuckle. Milla was oblivious to Leia's teasing her 'other' self since she was far too engrossed with the wonderful smell of Milla's food. It was a rowdy morning in such a compact apartment.
Then the door of the apartment opened and Ludger entered the room with a bag of items. "Oh, what's everyone doing here?"
Alvin and Leia turned around in their seat. Alvin gave his 'cool' wave, "Morning Ludger… thought we'd drop by to see how 'things' are going."
"Things…?" Ludger said confusedly.
"No, no, it's nothing!" Leia said quickly, "A-anyway… we were just on our way to Duval when we bumped into Milla and Jude. We thought we'd drop by and… have breakfast together!"
Ludger chuckled as he placed the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter. He did not mind them intruding in his place. As a matter of fact, he preferred it. He knew they liked his cooking and he enjoyed the company. As Ludger removed the items from the bag, he then noticed 'Fractured' Milla was cooking as well.
Skit: Confusion
Present: Ludger, 'fractured' Milla, Milla, Jude, Alvin, Leia & Elle
Ludger: Oh Milla… you're already up.
'Fractured' Milla & Milla: Of course I am! *both stare at each other*
'Fractured Milla: Think he was talking to me Milla…
Alvin: Huh… now that I think about it, how DO we differentiate between the two Millas?
Jude: ...Huh, good point… It's not right to call either of them the 'other' Milla…
Elle: How about… the Milla I and Ludger know become 'Milla 1' and the one you know becomes 'Milla 2'! *Both Millas sweat drops*
Leia: Elle, it's not nice to put a number after their names just to differentiate them you know… If that's the case, it'd make sense to cast the Milla we know as 'Milla 1' since she's the original.
Alvin: And isn't what you just said much worse than what Elle did?
Leia: *Realizing what she said* Oh no! *Turns to both Millas* I-I'm so sorry! It's not what I meant!
'Fractured' Milla: its okay… I mean, I guess it's true… I'm just a… second Milla.
Milla: No you aren't. You're Milla Maxwell as much as I am Milla Maxwell. Don't speak so ill of yourself. I will not have that.
'Fractured' Milla: …You're right… thanks.
Jude: Still, this doesn't resolve how we should call each of them. Calling both of them 'Milla' will confuse them. What do you think Ludger?
Ludger: Well… I think its fine isn't it? Both are Millas… I don't think we need to change the way we call them, right?
Leia: Mmm… perhaps that's for the best…
Elle: So, when's Milla going to try cooking? Maybe she's better than Milla…
Milla: Are you talking about me?
'Fractured' Milla: Or me?
Ludger: *Nervous laugh*
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After breakfast was done, Alvin and Leia left the apartment first to head to Duval. Ludger decided to head to the job bulletin to take on some jobs to pay up his outstanding debt. Jude and Milla insisted they join. There was nothing they could do anyway until Vera made the call to move for the final Waymarker. Elle and 'fractured' Milla joined as well.
As they traversed the streets of Elympios, they were met with glares of contempt. The party did their best to ignore them. The hatred between Elympios and Rieze Maxia was still hard to dissipate. There were even whispers of calling Ludger a 'traitor' for being friends with Rieze Maxians. It was the same for Jude and the rest in Rieze Maxia, being labeled by some as 'betrayers'.
Imagine the party's surprise when they found Gaius and Muzet speaking with the locals. Muzet spotted the group and flew to them with a happy smile until she spotted the two Millas.
"Oh dear… I don't know who is who…" Muzet said with a pout.
"It's me Muzet." Milla answered, "What are you doing here with Gaius?"
"Hmm… I'm just bored and I thought I'd try and have a little fun… but Gaius is just such a stiff."
After Gaius was done conversing with the people and they left, Gaius joined in the conversation. "I am doing this just so that I can understand the local people, Muzet. I am not doing this for fun." Gaius then turned to the group, "So what brings you all here?"
"Ludger's just about to search for a job to take on." Jude answered.
"Interesting…" Gaius crossed his arms across his chest, "If you don't mind, I'd like to join you. I hear there is an elite monster that needs to be taken care of in the Alest Highroad. They are offering a generous reward as well."
Muzet giggled, "Oh sounds like fun. I'd like to join as well."
The group was about to agree on it when Ludger' GHS started ringing. Everyone turned to Ludger as he picked the call. It was Vera.
"DODA here. We have detected a new fractured dimension. The rift is located in Leronde." Vera said.
"What about the one for the final Waymarker?" Ludger asked.
"The dimensional abyss towards the final Waymarker is still highly unstable. For now, we need you to destroy the new fractured dimension."
"…I understand… We'll head to the new fractured dimension then." The call ended and Ludger placed his GHS back into his pocket.
"Looks like you have a job to do." Jude said, "We're willing to join and help you."
"Yes… this shouldn't be your burden to bear all by yourself." Milla added in.
"I'll come along as well." 'Fractured' Milla said, "Just to make sure nothing happens to you. It'll be troublesome for Elle."
"There's nothing to do here so… count me in!" Muzet said. Gaius merely gave a nod.
Ludger nodded with gratitude, "Thanks guys… Let's meet at the Spirius Corporation in ten minutes. We should prepare for the journey."
The group nodded and went their separate ways for a moment. Only Elle and 'fractured' Milla stayed with Ludger. Just as Ludger was about to move, he started coughing and had to cover his mouth to not draw attention. No one thought anything of it. Jude who was not too far away saw Ludger's cough and stopped for a moment.
"You okay Ludger?" Jude asked from afar.
Ludger merely gave a thumb up and Jude continued on his way with Milla. Elle and 'fractured' Milla moved ahead and Ludger followed them from behind. It was then that Ludger could feel a liquid sensation on his hand that he used to cover his mouth. Ludger checked it and widened in surprise and concern when he saw what it was.
'Blood?'
CHAPTER END