After their experience on the train, Ludger and the others woke up in a pub in Duval.
"Ugh... My aching head." David said, much to the amusement of those gathered there.
"Hey, guys! They're finally coming to!" He heard Zelos say.
The happiest of all to hear the news were Ramona and Raine, who promptly formed a tight hug on Scott and Genis respectively, relieved that they're alright. Even David and Sectonia smiled that they made it out alright. Then the newscaster started her report and everyone looked to the TV.
"Top story: Terrorists hijacked a train meant for today's festivities and crashed it into the Oscore Plant. The number of casualties is still unknown at present. Authorities suspect the attack was an assassination attempt conducted by Exodus, the terrorist organization that opposes peace with Rieze Maxia."
Ramona walked over to the skinny man in red at one of the stools. "What's your story? You a regular here?"
The man was still looking at the TV. "They call it an assassination attempt. Nasty business."
Scott wanted to get something straight. "And who exactly, are you?"
Ramona looked at Scott for a moment. "Scott, he's the one that found you guys and brought you here."
David was surprised to hear this. "All of us at once? Damn..."
The man looked over to them. "It's no small feat. But really, that's all you need to know."
It was at that moment that Jude walked in. "Mr. Rideaux, how are they coming along?" He then looks to the group. "Oh, you guys are awake! Any aches or pains?"
David holds his head. "Besides a splitting headache, yeah."
"The treatment worked without a hitch, for all of them, I might add." Rideaux told them.
"Wow. Spirius' medical agents really are tip-top." Jude said amazed.
"It's true. Unfortunately, I couldn't use my healing spells without one of those Allium Orbs." Raine said solemnly.
"Wait, Raine has an Allium Orb now, too?" Genis asks the group.
"We all do. Jude gave them to us while we were waiting for you knuckleheads to wake up." Zelos told them.
"I'm flattered by the sentiment, really, but our medical spyrix are simply superior to your spirit artes, that's all." Rideaux said.
"Spirit artes?" Colette asked them.
"That's basically what they call magic in this world." Lloyd said to Colette, in which she nodded.
Jude's phone then started to ring. "Ah, Leia? No... No, don't worry. I'm fine." Jude then started to walk away. "Sorry, you guys. I better take this."
While Ludger and Elle have some banter over her watch, the others talk about what happened.
"So, tell us. What happened over there?" Sheena asked them.
David, Scott, Sectonia, and Genis explain to the others what happened on the train.
"That's sounds...so horrifying." Colette said, shuddering.
"For you all to get caught in an assassination attempt..." Regal says solemnly.
"Well, we're alright now, right?" Scott asks.
"Yes, but you see... The thing is..." Raine tries to piece together before Rideaux walked in.
"Sorry to interrupt all the excitement, but the bill for your medical treatment comes to 15 million Gald."
"Say WHAT?!" David couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"That is a lot of zeros." Scott said in shock.
"Were our injuries really that bad? I think you're overpricing here." Sectonia tried to reason with Rideaux.
"Exaggeration or not, you guys were really messed up. You don't want me to tell you guys what your injuries were." Zelos said.
"Oh, it might sound excessive, but can you really put a price on saving lives?" Rideaux asks.
"Seriously, Rideaux. Do we really look like we can pay that kind of money?" Ramona asks him.
"With the proper work ethic and a little elbow grease, anyone can make money if they try." Rideaux says slyly.
Nova walked in. "Excuse me, I'm looking for Mr. Rideaux."
Rideaux bows at this. "Ah, perfect timing, Miss Nova. This woman works for Verland Bank."
Nova was surprised to see Ludger. "Ludger?! What are you doing here? Is this loan for you?"
David looked down. "Unfortunately, yes."
Rideaux spoke up. "It's up to you all whether or not to accept it, of course. In any case, we're talking about a small fortune."
"You call 15 million Gald small? I'd like to know what you call hefty." David mutters, then sighs. "Fine. We'll do it."
"Dave, you need to think about this, man. Where are we going to get 15 million Gald?" Zelos asks trying to reason with him.
"I know it seems impossible, but we don't really have a choice in the matter. Besides, he saved our lives. We owe him." Zelos slumps at this. There's no reasoning with him now.
"A wise outlook." Rideaux said, having Nova bring Ludger and David the contract.
Jude returned to the scene. "Sorry about that. The call ran long."
"She must've had a lot to talk about if it went this long." Scott commented.
Jude then saw the contract. "What are you guys doing?"
Rideaux spoke to him. "Oh, they're just taking out a little loan to cover their medical obligations."
Jude walked over and saw the contract. "This bill is huge! Did anyone tell you what'll happen if you sign that?" Ludger shook his head. "Basically, you'll be tracked via GHS."
"GHS? Those cell phone things you guys have?" Sectonia asks.
"Yes, and they'll be monitoring your finances around the clock. You won't be able to buy a stick of gum without them knowing."
Nova spoke up at this. "A lot of debtors can't manage their money. Lots of them squander the cash they should be using to pay us back."
"Those deadbeats waste their money and their lives." Rideaux comments. "But those two aren't deadbeats, aren't they?" Jude tries to protest, but Rideaux cuts him off. "Or maybe you're saying you'd like to cover their bill. Besides, not to be gauche, but haven't you sunk every last bit of Gald in your spyrite research?"
Jude didn't bother dignifying that. "Hold on, you guys. There's gotta be another way."
"Well, you could always try mooching off of a family member. A solidly-employed older brother, for example." That was the trigger. Ludger didn't hesitate to grab the pen and sign the contract.
Nova looked at the contract. "Pleasure doing business with you. I will transfer the amount of 20 million Gald to Rideaux's account."
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!" David shouted. "You said 15!"
"I forgot to include the veterinary fees. My apologies for the oversight." Rideaux says nonchalantly. "See me if you ever need follow-up treatment. I'll even give you the frequent-patient discount." Rideaux then walked away.
David growled a bit. "I swear, one of these days."
"Don't look so agitated, you guys." The group then looks to Nova. "It's my job to help you pay off your loan. That means we're partners now!"
"I appreciate the support, Nova. I'll be counting on you!" David said with a smile.
The group walked outside where Jude spoke up.
"Hey... Sorry I left you guys holding the bag on that loan." Jude said, feeling down.
"It's okay. It's stuff like that that leads to adventure." David said with a smile.
"I will never understand how you can be so optimistic at a time like this." Ludger comments.
"It's like the Great Gozu once told me back in my world: 'When the going gets tough, you need to grab the bull by the horns!'...or something of that nature." Ludger chuckles at that. He has a feeling that they'll get along just fine.
Elle spoke up next. "So, Jude... You're broke too, huh?"
"I've been researching ways to replace the current spyrixes. I got stumped, and the bills piled up."
"Not that I'd know how it feels. Science has never been a strong subject of mine." David commented, causing everyone to chuckle. "What? It's true."
Jude then turns to the group. "What will you guys do now?"
Elle has a suggestion. "Head to Canaan!"
"There she goes with that Canaan stuff again..." David comments.
"I have to go there! You guys could come with me!"
"Canaan... A place spoken of in fairy tales and ancient spirit legends." Raine said, getting starry-eyed.
"Oh no..." Genis mutters.
"They say that the spirit that reigns over the cycle of regeneration dwells there!" Raine says, barely containing her excitement.
"It's a place full of magic... and it can grant any wish you make!" The group starts to get skeptical.
"I don't know why... But it seems there's more to this Canaan place than what we hear in stories." David says.
"All the more reason to see for ourselves! Isn't that right, Jude?! Sectonia?! You two admitted that you've heard about it, right?!" Raine asked, clearly getting excited.
"Uh... yeah." Sectonia and Jude said. They honestly didn't know how to deal with someone like her.
"According to accounts, the sage Kresnik travelled to the Land of Canaan wielding the Lance of Will. Ludger, by my knowledge, you have that lance!"
"The question is... How do we get there?" David asked.
"No one knows, but it will a discovery worth uncovering!"
"And there's still that Julius guy we ran into on the train..."
"There's no way that way that was Julius!" Ludger said, coming in hot on David.
"I believe you, Ludger. For some reason, he felt a little off..." Ludger looked down, regretting getting mad at him. "There's no need to apologize, Ludger. You care deeply for your brother. I respect that." Ludger smiles at that. "In any case, let's look for the real Julius."
"You guys will come with us to Canaan, right?" Elle asked.
"Why even bother asking? Of course we'll go!" Raine said excitedly.
"Plus we are some thing of do-gooders." Jude commented. This causes the cat to meow.
"He says 'You guys don't smell like them'." Elle said.
"Uh... Thanks, I guess." Jude said, not believing he's talking to a cat.
"By the way, Ludger. What's your cat's name?" Sectonia asked.
"Rollo." Ludger commented.
"That's a nice name. I like it." Colette said happily, causing Rollo to meow again.
"He says 'Thanks'". Elle said for Rollo.
"Alright. Our first course of action should be to catch a train back to Trigleph." Lloyd said to the group.
As the group heading back to the station, Scott and Ramona wanted to ask something.
"Say, Genis. What was with Raine back there?" Ramona asked him.
"What everyone saw was my sister in Ruin Mode." Genis told Ramona.
"Ruin Mode?" Scott asked.
"Uh-huh. Raine's an absolute maniac for ruins, temples, ancient civilizations, stuff like that."
"That's...kind of creepy." Scott said uneasy.
"Tell me about it. Luckily, she only gets like that when she's near ruins or talking about them. Also, she's a school teacher when she's not traveling, so get ready for some lectures."
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind." Scott told Genis.
When they reached the station, Jude struck up a conversation.
"When I came to, Rideaux had already finished treating us. I trusted him because he said he worked for Spirius. I had no idea he'd be like that." Jude said a little down.
"Yeah, that sneaky little weasel slapped us with a huge bill. I don't know much about this world's currency, but medical bills shouldn't go that high." David said, still bitter about the group's encounter with Rideaux.
Elle got something out of her pocket. "This is my treasure, but...we could sell it. If we do, we can pay our debts."
"It looks lovely, but...it's just a seashell." Ramona said bluntly.
"You mean it's not worth anything? It took me a whole day to find it..." Elle said, looking down.
"Even if it isn't, don't worry, Ludger. We'll help you pay off your debt." Ludger nods at Ramona's words, then his GHS started to ring.
"Howdee-hoo, Ludger!" Says Nova's voice on the other end. "Anyway, just calling to chat. You know, just a personal phone call. I hadn't seen you in forever and we didn't get a chance to catch up, you know? I know things back there got a wee bit awkward, but it was really great to see you again. Don't be a stranger, alright? Toodles!" She said, hanging up.
"Saying she's hyper would be a bit of an understatement." David comments. "But it's weird, though. She was on the train with me, Sectonia, Genis, Scott, Ludger, Elle and Jude, and yet she acted like it didn't even happen. Just what's going on here?"
When the group got to the terminal, there were denied tickets to Trigleph because Ludger's loan gave him travel restrictions. However, as more of the loan is payed off, the restrictions will gradually lift.
"Sorry..." Ludger said to the group.
"Don't worry so much about it, Ludger. We already told you we'll help you pay off your debt, and that's what we're going to do!" Lloyd said cheerfully.
"Lloyd's right. We got ourselves involved in this whole thing, so it's natural that we stay by your side until the end." Ludger smiles at David's words. "You can count on us with whatever support you need."
A/N: Inspired by Jexi the Hunter and Hope the Victor