A/N: Okay, so I've made some major changes! The scene with Tiga has been removed and will come MUCH later. When it shows up, you might feel a slight sense of deja vu. Fear not! The sensation is brief and completely harmless. :) Plus, when you see it again, there will be some additions by our resident helper, Raven Tsurara! You can look forward to her amazing contribution that improved that scene SO much.

Chapter 21

Raine kept to the back of the party as they wandered through Baticul. This place certainly looked like Kaitzur, but it didn't look familiar at all to her. She frowned at the industrial feel of it. Steam clouded the city with a musk that could've used some fresh air from any plant species, yet just like Kaitzur, there wasn't even a single blade of grass. If she had ever seen a place like this as a little girl, she would've definitely remembered it. Was Tethe'alla really where she remembered being as a child? She really began to doubt it.

They stepped aboard an aircar to carry them higher up into the city and she slumped against the back wall. This place was not somewhere she wanted to be. Guy noticed her discomfort and leaned against the wall near her.

"Still feel out of place, huh?"

"More so than before," she muttered. Raine wrapped her arms around her with her staff clung tight against her chest.

"Nah, it'll be okay," Guy said. "I imagine the highlands had more space and fewer people. It's no wonder you'd be uncomfortable here." Raine nodded. Perhaps he was right. By the looks of it, the ground floor of Baticul alone had more people than the whole of Palmacosta did. And not seeing any elves or half-elves anywhere was a bit jarring.

She avoided looking at Jade, turning her back to him. Not that he had changed anything about the way he treated her or talked to her, but he knew more than she wanted him to. How foolish! She had told him that her father was a soldier though a part of her wondered if he knew exactly who Kloitz was. No, reminded herself, she didn't actually say the soldier was her father but still. How commonplace was it that a human defected to the elves? Was he, perhaps, the reason the elves were destroyed? At least it was a comfort to know that not everything about Tethe'alla was out of place, but her recklessness gnawed at her. Especially in times of stress, she really needed to stop talking.

The aircar dropped them off at another level of Baticul. Anise really enjoyed herself as she explored the city, but Raine didn't want anything to do with it. She followed Guy in a fairly straight path even as the others wandered in a vague path towards an elevator. They all stepped aboard and the elevator took them up to stairs that led to the first patch of green that Raine saw in this city. A fenced-in lawn with trees and water fountain in front of the castle. Up here, the air was much fresher, albeit thinner, and she breathed it in deliberately as if this was her last chance.

Behind the lawn there was a brick wall and gates with another mansion inside, though this one didn't look as ornate as Astor's back in Chesedonia. The castle itself, however, left its own impression. Draped in flags bearing the Kimlasca insignia, it looked as forbidding as Raine expected. Several turrets and spires and a magnificent show of architecture and power, the castle sprawled, taking up more than half of Baticul's peak.

They entered the foyer where the colossal staircase no doubt led to the king's throne room. She followed the others up the stairs to main doors separating them from what she assumed would be the king himself. Guards stood at either side and one of them spoke as they crested the staircase.

"Grand Maestro Mohs is in audience with His Majesty. Please wait."

Luke turned to Ion. "Mohs is the guy trying to start the war, right?" Ion nodded. "Let's get in there before he gives my uncle any weird ideas!"

The guard reached for him. "Please stop."

But Luke shoved the guard aside and pushed his way to the doors. "I'm Luke, son of Duke Fabre! Get in my way, and I'll have them fire you!"

Looking concerned, Ion asked, "Are you sure it's okay to force our way in like this?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

Raine couldn't believe it even after Luke burst through the doors. There were definitely a lot more privileges as the king's nephew. She doubted anyone else would've gotten away with it.

As they approached, several people stood in front of the throne. One of the men wore a robe like a clergyman's and a hat that told her he was a high-ranking church official. Was he the Pope Sheena mentioned? He had to be Mohs, though. No one else stood in audience to the king. Maybe he was known as multiple titles? Van certainly was…. Near the king was a graying man in a gold and black uniform. He stood to the king's right but at the base of the throne. The king himself sat with guards flanking either side.

Mohs was speaking. "The Malkuth Empire is strengthening the defenses in their capital, Grand Chokmah. With Engeve as their supply base, even Saint Binah has been—" As soon as Luke's party approached, Mohs had stopped talking and turned to see who interrupted them.

The man in gold and black shouted at them. "Who gave you permission to enter the hall?!"

Luke snapped at him. "Shut up."

Impressed, Raine couldn't believe it. Could Luke seriously get away with behaving like this? Apparently he could. Neither the king nor Mohs scolded him for his outburst, even though Mohs definitely didn't appreciate the disturbance.

"Luke?" King Ingobert VI stood up. "Oh, it really is you. I'm glad you've returned safely. Then these people with you must be..."

"Fon Master Ion of the Order of Lorelei," Luke said, "and Jade from the Malkuth military."

Ion stepped forward, in line with Luke. "It is an honor to see you again, Your Majesty." Raine, however, stepped back closer to Tear.

Mohs seemed really surprised to see him. "Fon Master... We've been looking for you." Again, Raine wondered who secretly sided with the Church of Martel. She couldn't tell judging from their clothes, and looking around, she wondered who in this room even knew about it. There was only one person she was sure of, but she still couldn't figure out how to ask him.

"We'll talk about that later." Ion turned back to King Ingobert. "Your Majesty, this is Colonel Jade Curtiss. He represents His Imperial Majesty, Peony the Ninth."

"I am honored to be in your presence," Jade said, kneeling. "I bear an imperial letter from my lord for His Glorious Majesty, King Ingobert the Sixth." Anise stepped forward and passed off the letter to the man in black and gold. Raine nodded. So that's what she had inside Tokunaga. She could see why Jade was so concerned about keeping it safe.

"Uncle, what Mohs is saying is nonsense," Luke said. "I went and saw Malkuth with my own eyes. We didn't get close to the capital, but Engeve and Saint Binah were completely peaceful."

"Wh-what did you say?!" Mohs upstarted. "I'm merely trying to convey to His Majesty the threat that Malkuth..."

"Shut up! You're just trying to start a war! I don't even know you, and I'm sick of you already!" Raine watched for Mohs's reaction. He grit his teeth, but said nothing. This child seriously could get away with chiding such a high-ranking member of the Order?! Or they let Luke have more power than he should have... All this time, she thought she was safer with Jade, but clearly Luke had more say in things than she expected. No wonder Guy and the rest of the party did nothing about Luke's outbursts. She had originally attributed that to their keeping the peace, but now…?

No. Something was wrong here. The Order of Lorelei had just as much power as Kimlasca, right? Maybe Kimlasca's military was a significant threat. More so than the God-Generals? Raine really wasn't sure.

"Luke, calm down," the king said, "The letter from Malkuth has arrived. I won't ignore it. Now, you all must be tired from your journey. Please get some rest." King Ingobert held up his hand to gesture towards the man in black and gold. "This is Alpine, Secretary of the Interior. He will escort you to your rooms." Raine tensed. This meeting was about to come to an end, and she had no answers. She still didn't know if Sheena or Genis had been here. What should she do? How would she find out without asking?

"If I may, I'd love to see Luke's manor," Ion said.

"Very well," Alpine said, "When your business is finished outside, please return to the castle." Ion nodded. Mohs approached them, focusing more on Tear.

"Tear, you stay here. I must hear your report regarding the matter I assigned you."

Tear shook her head. "I'm sorry, Grand Maestro. It is my responsibility to see that Luke makes it safely back to his manor. I will return with my report shortly." He looked frustrated, but merely said, "Very well."

Raine took her chance. "Your Majesty… If I may."

"Yes? Are you a friend of Luke's?"

But now that she spoke, she hesitated, her heart beating hard. How should she answer that question? She wasn't really…. "Well, I… I'm under Jade's tutelage."

But the king's confusion didn't settle her nerves. "Under a Colonel's tutelage? That's most uncommon."

Jade clapped a hand to Raine's shoulder and said, "She means guardianship, Your Majesty. You see, she is a citizen of Kimlasca who accidentally trespassed into Malkuth. General Glenn McGovern of Saint Binah found her and asked that I bring her along. As a show of good faith, I brought her back safely to her home country, just like with Luke."

Well, that's Jade for hiding the truth behind half-truths, Raine thought. Why would he stand up for her? "My name is Raine Sage."

"Thank you for protecting one of my citizens. Was this the result of another kidnapping?" The king asked.

Raine shook her head. "I crashed a flying machine near Saint Binah." Should she say it? What would the others in the room think? Alpine frowned and Mohs certainly didn't look happy, but then she thought back to Glenn's reaction to her. With the king's confusion, too, not giving them some explanation might seem too suspicious. "I study the spirit seals at the Sephiroth."

Mohs raised an eyebrow and glanced at Tear who shrugged. Alpine was visibly confused, too, but didn't question it.

"I see," the king said as though the topic was only slightly strange. Should she be concerned? Somehow, her heart seemed to think so. "What may I help you with?"

Raine looked to the king and then at Mohs and back to Ion, all of whom waited with their eyes on her. Without knowing whether Mohs knew about Sylvarant and the Church of Martel, she had no idea whether to ask about Sheena. Was it even safe to just blurt out her name? No, there must be another way. "I'm…. My brother is missing, Your Majesty," Raine said and an idea occurred to her, "and I have reason to believe he might be in Belkend to speak with Class I about one of your projects. I'd like to charter a ship to get there."

King Ingobert nodded with understanding. "I can make sure you get there." Still, something seemed off. While he did understand the situation, he didn't seem to recognize the subtle hint. "Why don't you rest with the others for now? We'll ready a room for you as well." Raine nodded, but frowned as the king turned back to his nephew. "Luke, Susanne has fallen ill."

Duke Fabre left his manor after speaking to Luke, but that feeling in Raine's gut that said something was wrong lingered. Not that anything anyone said was strange, but it was more what they didn't react to that bothered her. She followed the others into the drawing room where a sharp woman's voice brought her back to the present.

"Luke!" The blonde woman in a beautiful blue dress approached them, but Luke was less than enthusiastic to see her.

"Ugh."

Her hands landed at her hips as she leaned towards him. "What kind of attitude is that? Do you realize how worried I was?"

But it was Guy who answered her. "Oh, well, you know... Luke's just embarrassed, Your Highness." Your Highness? Raine tensed. Was this the princess? The one who supposedly doesn't believe in hiring assassins? She certainly dressed in a high enough status. For one thing, the white on her gloves and stockings were as white as it gets. No one else she'd seen had such clean fabrics.

Princess Natalia rounded on him. "Guy! You have some explaining to do, too. I told you to come tell me before you went searching for Luke. Why did you leave without speaking to me?"

Doesn't she mean why not? Raine wondered. She had barely seen two seconds of this woman, and she already didn't like her aggressiveness. Immediately, she was glad Guy had left Natalia behind.

"You know a servant like me can't get into the castle!"

But Natalia ignored that answer. "Why are you backing away?"

"You know why!" He stepped back to hide behind a pillar, clinging to it for support. Not that it helped him much. Natalia nearly chased him.

"Once I marry Luke, you'll be my servant too. Get used to it."

"I can't!"

"You're so strange." Natalia sighed. "Just look how pathetic you are. I don't know what the maids see in you..." Thankfully, she finally turned her attention back to Luke and left Guy to the protection of the pillar.

If what she said bothered Guy that much, he didn't show it beyond the anxiety of the princess's too-close proximity. Still, Raine watched him. He probably carried his fears for many years since his family died, but when he moved to the Fabre manor, it certainly didn't help him to put up with abuse from the princess. His anxiety was obviously more severe around her as a result. The only time Raine had seen him panic that badly was when Anise pounced on him at Choral Castle. Well, maybe this time wasn't quite that bad, but still.

Ignoring Natalia's berating Luke, Raine walked over to the pillar where Guy still stood shaking. She left him plenty of room. "That's what you've had to live with, huh?"

He gave her a fake laugh. "Well, you know."

"And what about her?" Natalia hissed, glancing over at Raine and pointing. "She's not a servant girl either?"

Servant girl? Raine's lips tightened and she turned back to Natalia. "I'm a professor, Your Highness." Was this really the same woman Guy and Luke talked about? She had sounded much more of a lady than this. Then again, Luke was incredibly rude, too. Maybe this was just how nobility was raised. "My specialty is ruins and the spirit seals."

"Oh really?" Natalia acted like she didn't believe her. "Who would spend all of their time on that?"

Now Raine knew how Van felt when she accused him of an ulterior motive when all he did was train Luke. Was there something wrong with this idea? "Someone judicious enough to seek the wisdom of ancient history for a better understanding of the present," Raine said firmly, "and clearly with more respectable manners than a princess has." The affront left Natalia speechless. No one ever spoke to her that way, Raine supposed.

"Yeah, I bet Raine could teach her a thing or two about manners," Anise added, giggling.

"What?" Natalia snapped. Anise jumped back behind Luke in a fake cry. Raine shook her head. This was ridiculous. It wasn't worth coming out here to Luke's manor. As she left, she heard Luke bark at the princess, "Enough about that! What about Master Van?" Suddenly, Luke's impassioned outbursts seemed less of a mystery. Not only that, but if Luke was to marry Natalia, Raine enjoyed the thought that they would have the rest of their lives to torment each other. They certainly deserved it.

After meeting Duke Fabre and Natalia, Raine had enough experience around nobility. Not that she was surprised. They wore the same arrogance that the Desian Grand Cardinals had. She sat on a patch of grass in front of the castle and watched the sky overhead. Somewhere, Genis was likely missing her as much as she missed him. He would've had a few choice words for this woman and that comfort brought a smile to her lips.

She found one thing interesting, though. Before they ran into Princess Natalia, Raine had a chance to meet Duke Fabre. He sort of looked a bit like Luke except his hair was a deeper shade of vermilion red, rather than red-to-yellow fire like Luke's hair was. That's a little strange, she thought. Must've been the consequences of Malkuth's attempts to replicate him, if that's truly what that machine was.

Guy made his own report and finally had some free time. Now that he didn't have to worry about Luke, he could focus on anything he liked. Maybe he would go down and see Miyagi and check in. But then he saw Raine sitting outside, changed his mind, and approached her. "So, you've met His Grace Duke Fabre and Princess Natalia. What do you think?"

"Hard to believe she'd have a problem with assassinations." Raine said bitterly. "It seemed to me she performs them every day." He laughed, but she frowned. "How have you lived with that all these years?"

He shrugged, honestly unsure. He'd just had. He sat down next to her with an elbow on an upraised knee. "You get used to it, I guess."

"No, you don't." She plucked a blade of grass and tossed it aside. "If you did, you wouldn't react with so much fear when she inflicts her attention on you."

"She genuinely loves this country," he said. "It's not fair to judge her solely based on this." He'd seen the effects she'd had on the people of Baticul. When they needed help, Natalia was the first person to step up and offer them help, no matter what they needed. When Raine raised an eyebrow at him, he felt taken aback. "What?"

"You are truly something else. You compliment Tear and defend Princess Natalia, and you've certainly done a lot to raise my spirits. You're a bit of a womanizer, aren't you?"

"Woman—what? No! Not at all. I mean—"

"The maids seem to like you." She teased him, he could tell from the look in her eye and her sly smile. Oh, so that was her game. He shook his head.

"I just… treat people with respect. I'm a servant, I'm supposed to." He felt the heat rising in his skin. Maybe he wasn't always good at that and it was a bit of an excuse.

Raine laughed. "Whatever you say, Guy."

"So where are you staying tonight?" He kind of half-hoped she'd stay at the manor. Maybe they could spend another night staring up at the stars and fonstones.

She shrugged. "Might prefer an inn, or camp out right here."

"His Majesty might insist you stay at the castle."

"Um, no. Not with Her Royal Inflated Ego. I'll pass on dealing with more of that." But then she cast a sideways glance at him. "Is that common with royalty? His Majesty was the only one who behaved with the attitude I'd expect out of royalty."

"Her Grace the Duchess isn't like that."

Raine nodded and he watched her consider it. Unlike the others, Raine didn't bother sticking around to meet Luke's mother Susanne. Not that Guy blamed her. After her run-in with Natalia, he was sure Raine would never visit the manor again. Let alone return to Baticul. Probably. Something about that bummed him. Guess her staying over was out.

"So you're really leaving Baticul tomorrow huh?" He asked.

Raine nodded. "I have to get to Belkend. Genis is likely waiting for me there. Or, if he left, I'm sure he gave them a note for me." She turned and smiled at him. "But I'll sure miss you. The one person in our group who knew how to treat people." The compliment boosted him up. Or was it that she said she'd miss him? He shook his head. He didn't even want to admit that he really liked talking to her.

"Nah, it's as you say. You're just paranoid because your background taught you to be."

"Speaking of backgrounds," Raine said, "I saw the way you looked at Duke Fabre's sword. The one hanging in the foyer."

"Sorry," he said, "but there's nothing I want to say about that." True to their pact, she dropped it. The longer they sat, the more the silence dragged on. He found himself unwilling or unable to move. She seemed to feel the same way, so they sat for a long time, watching the guards pace and make their rounds.

Mohs walked up the stairs from the elevator to the castle and both Raine and Guy noticed him.

"What's he doing?" Raine asked. "I thought he was staying at the castle?"

"I don't know. Maybe he turned back for something. Oh!" Guy leaned towards her. "He was supposed to talk with Tear."

"And now he's headed back from the citizen's part of the city?" She didn't seem satisfied with that answer, so he added, "well, there is a chapel on the lowest levels of Baticul. Maybe he had some business there."

Mohs's movements were swift up until he noticed them sitting on the grass. Then he stopped and stared at them. No, more specifically, he stared at Raine. What he saw, he didn't like, as shown in the furrows of his frown. Guy heard her stiffen into complete silence. Sure enough, when he looked at her, she sat on high alert, unmoving, unblinking, nearly unbreathing. Something was wrong, but Guy couldn't tell what it was. Finally, Mohs moved on, taking the castle steps two at a time.

Well that was weird…. "Do you know him personally?" he asked. Raine didn't move, but said in a soft whisper, "no, but I think he knows something... about me."

Even talking with both Anise and Tear, Mohs couldn't understand it. Something was strange about this woman who claimed to have crashed a flying machine into Malkuth and studied spirit seals, and his trip to the chapel to check proved it. For some reason, the woman "Raine Sage" wasn't in the Score. As far as the records of Kimlasca went, there was no citizen by that name. But how could that be? He rubbed his chin in thought. Both Anise and Tear mentioned Raine's mysterious handwriting and how odd just about everything about her was.

Just who was she? What was her motive?

Could he really trust she was looking for the spirit seals? What did she plan to do there?

For now, it seemed Raine's objective was to find her brother in Belkend. If today was any indication, she would head there on a ship tomorrow. Maybe he didn't need to worry about her yet.

That's right. Luke was fated to head to Akzeriuth tomorrow. So long as she didn't interfere with that, there was no reason to worry. Belkend was in another direction.

Maybe, though, it would be a good idea to alert the scorers in Belkend about her.

Just in case.

This is the first time I've actually been in Baticul since I lost my memory... It doesn't even feel like home anymore. Oh, well. Right now, we need to head for the castle to see Uncle.

When we got to the audience room, someone was already there-Grand Maestro Mohs, from the Order of Lorelei. I listened to him talk for a little bit, but he really bugs me. He talks like he's so special, even though he's below Ion, and all he was doing was spouting lies to try and worsen our relationship with Malkuth. I guess he's the one behind all this war stuff... Master Van wasn't doing anything. I bet Tear will change her tone about Mohs after this.

We gave the peace letter to Uncle, and then I heard that Mother's fallen ill. She's always been pretty weak... Apparently my cousin Natalia is visiting her, and everybody else wants to see the manor, so we're heading there now.

We ran into Father when we entered the mansion. He was with General Cecille, and he was cold to me, as always.

He seemed to be concerned about Master Van. Something worries me about that...

When we reached the drawing room, Natalia was there, just back from seeing Mother.

I haven't seen her in a while, but she was playing the proper lady as always. When I think about the fact that I'm engaged to her, it really gets me down. But Natalia told me something that startled me-apparently, my disappearance is being blamed on Master Van kidnapping me, and he might even be executed for it. No way! It's Tear's fault! I asked Natalia to talk to Uncle about it, and she told me to remember how I proposed to her as a kid. How am I supposed to remember that?

Anyway, Natalia went back to the castle to talk to Uncle. I hope Master Van will be okay...

When I went to see Mother, she was really happy that I'd come home. I wish Father was even half as nice.

Apparently Mother thought my disappearance was some kind of plot, but she seemed relieved when Tear apologized for the incident.

Well, I've visited Mother, and I've seen Natalia... Might as well go get some rest.

When I returned to my room, Ion, Jade and Anise all said they were going back to the castle. Guy has some kind of report to make too, and even Tear finally left. It's been a long time since I was alone. Finally I can get some good rest in my own bed. Tomorrow I may be stuck in the manor, but for now all I want is rest.

A/N: Ya'll are SO AMAZING! Thank you for such kind comments. I knew how much I loved this story, but seeing how much you guys enjoy it too gives me a ton of purrs.

So yeah! We got a Genis update. Kind of small, but it's a snapshot of where they're at. :) Plus this chapter was getting a little long, though I get the feeling no one minds that. I really don't want to wait too long for the next chapter because it's one of my absolute favorites (okay, like top 5...) that I'm super excited to share, so you might have another update coming in the next few days (without promising 100% that it will happen). But I really, really, really want ya'll to see it. =^-^= Just a few tweaks and it should be ready.

~~Kat =^-^=