Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.

Chapter 16

Sylphday, Gnome-Decan 42, ND2019 – 12:35pm local time (Tataroo Valley)

Jade's fonic arte wiped out all seven Filifolia at once. It also caught the attention of the Stone Golem. The golem turned away from the boy on the ground and lurched toward Jade. That was fine with Jade, since it shortened the range for casting his next arte. An opponent's mistake was a gift not to be wasted.

"Howl, O raging wind, and cleave mine enemies with your blade..." he chanted. "Turbulence!"

The golem was tougher than the Filifolia, but the blast of Third Fonons lifted it off the ground and pummeled it. Jade readied his spear. One more attack would dispose of the monster, and then he could deal with Florian. How convenient, he thought, that this area is so full of Third Fonons. Using artes is almost too easy here. But why are the Third Fonons concentrated enough to become sentient, and what do they want with Florian?

As the golem fell, Jade caught it with his spearpoint. "Feel lightning! Lightning Tempest!"

The monster exploded in a shower of gravel. Jade smiled slightly and put away his spear, storing it in his right arm as usual. The contamination effect was quite useful if handled with care, but it could be deadly to those who lacked the skill to control it.

"That wasn't too bad," he murmured, descending the slope toward Florian.

Florian was staring at him in awe, speechless. Around the replica, the air was full of small eddies of Third Fonons that glowed bright green in Jade's fonic sight.

Jade had some notion of what was going on here, but he was quite certain that Florian didn't have a clue. He was briefly torn between scolding Florian for running off by himself versus questioning him as to why he had done so.

He compromised by starting with, "Well, well, Florian. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Oh!" Florian stood up hastily and brushed the dirt off his robes. "Thank you for saving me, Colonel Jade!"

"Ah yes, manners. Very good, Florian. However, that was not what I meant."

"Um... should I say something more than 'thank you'?"

Innocent One, indeed. Florian clearly had no understanding of nuance. Jade sighed and abandoned any attempt at subtlety. "You might start by telling me why you left the rest of us behind, without informing us that you had heard Sylph calling you."

"Sylph?"

"You heard voices on the wind, correct? And the wind directed you here, to the Sephiroth, while clearing most of the monsters out of your way."

Florian nodded. "That's right! How did you know?"

"I noticed you slip away while our companions were talking about Luke, so I followed you. Also, I heard the voices from the moment we entered the valley. Why didn't you say anything about them to the rest of us?"

"Huh?" said Florian. "You can hear them too? Then why didn't you say anything?"

Jade raised his eyebrows. "Answering a question with a question? Very well. I wanted to find out whether you could hear them, since you were the person they were calling. I admit, I'm quite curious as to what the sentience of the Third Fonon would want, and why you. 'Help us,' hmm? What do they mean by that?"

Florian hunched his shoulders. "I don't know. But I can't just ignore them! If I did—" he stopped short.

"What do you think would happen if you were to ignore them?" Jade pressed.

Florian straightened. "Something bad. I know that much for sure. And you said Engeve was in danger. Whatever those voices are, I don't want them to hurt anyone!"

"Understandable enough," Jade said, adjusting his glasses. "But you didn't realize the voices belonged to Sylph?"

Florian shook his head.

The small mass of Third Fonons that had been protecting Florian and leading him to the Sephiroth gathered around him again, glowing even brighter than the rest of the eddies. Florian jumped slightly as the fonons tugged at his clothes, saying, "Ah! You're back! Where did you go?"

Go? We didn't go anywhere. We've been here all along.

"Oh," Florian said blankly. "Sorry."

The fonons drifted toward Jade. "Hello, Sylph," Jade acknowledged.

Tee hee hee! You're smart, Imperial Jewel. The fonons swirled around him, making his uniform cape ripple and, to his extreme annoyance, mussing his hair. You're strong and handsome, too. Tee hee hee!

"Flattery won't get you anywhere with me," Jade replied, feeling slightly smug nonetheless.

Tee hee! If only you had the same capacity as the Innocent One. We would have liked working with you. Too bad! Too bad! The fonons fled from Jade and gathered in the doorway to the Sephiroth.

"Oh? Are you referring to the ability to use the Seventh Fonon?" asked Jade, nettled.

No, no, of course not! The Mutant Fonon is harmful to us! But enough talk-talk. Innocent One, come with us to the passage ring. Our power is strongest there.

Florian nodded. "Okay. Come on, Colonel Jade!"

"Florian, wait," Jade said. "Look down there." He pointed across the stream and down the cliff. "Anise and the others are coming. We should wait for them to catch up with us before we proceed."

No time! No time! Hurry, Innocent One!

Florian looked briefly indecisive.

No time! Our power is building up quickly. Soon, it will go out of control again. You must hurry!

"I'm coming, Sylph! Hold on!" Florian cried, and ran for the doorway.

Jade tried to grab Florian's sleeve, but he missed his catch as Sylph hit him with a strong gust, nearly toppling him. As Florian vanished from sight, Jade called after him, "Florian! Stop!"

Don't get in the way, Imperial Jewel. The Innocent One must accept our power. We need him!

"What do you mean by that?" Jade demanded. "Explain!"

No time! No time! The fonons rushed after Florian.

Jade immediately gave chase. "Sylph!" he shouted. "Florian!"