Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 5

Undineday, Gnome-Decan 27, ND 2019 – 11:20am local time (Daath)

"Whoa!" cried Anise as she struggled for balance in the shaking library. "What's going on?!" What the hell is this?!

Florian shook his head wildly, panting for breath. "I...I..."

"It's an earthquake," said Tear as a row of bookshelves in the middle of the room toppled. "We have to get out of here," she added sharply. "If the cathedral collapses, we'll be buried alive!"

"Oh no!" cried Florian. "Anise, help!"

Anise grabbed Florian's hand. It was hot, she noticed. Is he feverish? Is he getting sick? "Let's go, Florian!" She had to shout to be heard over the deep rumbling that came from all around.

Together, Anise, Florian and Tear ran from the library. Up, up, up flight after flight of stairs. Ugh, thought Anise. Why did they have to build that library so far down? She didn't let her fear show. I have to stay strong for Florian.

They burst through the door in the upper level of the cathedral's central section. At the staircase leading down to the main entrance, they ran into a crowd of panicked people who were also scrambling to get out before the structure could collapse. Anise's grip on Florian's hand tightened.

"Ouch, Anise!" gasped Florian.

"Sorry!" she replied hastily. "Stay close to me, Florian!"

"Right!" Florian agreed without hesitation.

Is there something more than just this earthquake that's scaring him? Anise wondered.

When they got out of the cathedral, the streets of Daath were full of people running and screaming. "This is bad," Tear wheezed. "People could easily get hurt by the mob, not just the earthquake."

"It's not an earthquake!" someone behind them hollered. "It's an eruption! Look!"

Anise turned her gaze to the west. In the distance, Mount Zaleho was spewing lava high into the air. Her eyes widened. Why is this happening?! she thought wildly. The volcano has been dormant since the Dawn Age! Why is it erupting now, at the worst possible time?!

"Oh no. Oh no!" cried Florian. He was trembling with fear.

"We have to do something!" Anise exclaimed.

"Anise, what in the world do you think you can do about a volcano?" asked a familiar voice. It was Anise's mother, Pamela. Anise's father, Oliver, was by her side.

"Ummmmm..." said Anise. Damn. I have no idea. Think, Anise!

"We can evacuate the citizens," Tear replied firmly. "I borrowed the Albiore – a flying machine – so that I could travel and visit my friends. The Albiore has room for several hundred passengers in the main hold. If we organize people into groups, we can transport one group at a time to safety."

"Safety? But where?" asked another familiar voice.

The crowd parted to allow Grand Maestro Tritheim through. Anise gave a small sigh of relief at the arrival of someone with authority.

"This isn't a very large continent," the Grand Maestro continued. "If the volcano keeps erupting for very long, the lava could cover all of Padamiya!"

"Yulia City," Tear said calmly. "We've taken in refugees before. Also, we can send a message to the port at Daath Bay to redirect all incoming ships to Yulia City, so that the people on pilgrimages from Kimlasca and Malkuth can return home."

"Good thinking, Tear," Anise said, stifling her jealousy. Why didn't I think of that? If I'm going to be Fon Master one day, I have to show more leadership!

Tritheim looked indecisive.

"It's all the Order of Lorelei's fault!" shouted a man nearby. "This is a punishment for abandoning the Score!"

"Shut up!" Anise yelled at him. "That's not true!"

"Then why is Mount Zaleho erupting now?! Why are there earthquakes in Chesedonia, and what's causing the bad weather all over Malkuth?!" he retorted.

"Enough!" Tritheim said forcefully. The accusation seemed to push him to a decision. "We'll do as Locrian Sergeant Grants has suggested and evacuate to Yulia City. I will instruct the maestros, conductors, cantors, and other members of the Order to gather the citizens and divide them into groups of one hundred each. The Albiore will carry as many groups as possible in each trip."

Tear and Anise nodded in agreement. Anise thought she heard Florian whisper It's my fault, but she dismissed it as a figment of her imagination.

"In the meantime," Tritheim continued, "the Oracle Knights will protect the citizens from monsters as we move everyone out of the city to wait for their flight. We'll set up a temporary camp at the edge of the forest just to the east. I will stay behind with a small contingent to monitor the cathedral for signs of collapse."

"I'll notify the pilot of the Albiore immediately," said Tear, in a carrying voice meant to reach a large area of the crowd. "Anise, Florian, you come with me," she added more quietly. Anise and Florian both nodded.

The three of them threaded their way through the streets, heading toward the edge of the city. Florian was still holding Anise's hand.

"It's okay, Florian," Anise told him softly. "It's going to be okay."

"Y-Yeah," Florian replied uncertainly, glancing over his shoulder at the volcano. Then he straightened his back and said confidently, "I'll be fine as long as I'm with you, Anise."

"Yeah..." Anise echoed. I hope so, Florian, she thought. I really hope so.