Chapter 42 Shit Hits Fan

Raine paced her cell room.

Damn! She'd let her guard down. Why did she have to go alone to get Guy a small present? Or would it have mattered if she'd dragged Noelle or Ginji along with her? It was too late to know.

A cantor and several Oracle Knights took her into custody. Her cooperation spared her from getting hurt so far, but how long would that last? How would she ever get out of here? No one knew where to look for her. No one even knew she was missing. Well, maybe Class M would miss her, but they'd have no idea where she could be and no one to ask. She had no choice but to comply, lest they would've killed her as soon as they left Sheridan.

Now she found herself in a study hall that had been converted into a storage room with bookcases full of books, and crates and boxes piled throughout. The room had no windows and only one door and was lit by several small fontech candles. Normally she wouldn't mind being imprisoned with shelves upon shelves of books; for a prison, it had rather nice accommodations, but a prison would've felt less forbidding. The people who threw her in here had power.

She also noticed an empty weapons rack next to the door and a dish cupboard had been hastily cleaned out prior to her arrival. The cupboard door hung open and the drawers were removed. They didn't want her to have access to any potential weapons, but if she really wanted to, she had plenty of options for making a shank or knocking out a guard. The paintings on the wall or standing against the pile of crates, for example, likely offered biting pieces of nailed wood she could use.

She could use but didn't dare.

After a quick rifling through her bag, they decided to let her keep it, but they took her staff, and that left her feeling more vulnerable than ever. Raine knew she just plain didn't have the skills to take them all on by herself, even if she had her staff.

Several times, she sat down on a wooden chair at one of the tables, but her shivering body refused to let her rest. Rather, she eroded a nervous path along the bookcases that ringed the two tables and the waist-high bookcase between them. As she walked, her eyes followed the edge of the fretted designs on the carpets that covered the tan floor tiles.

What were the knights going to do with her?

So far, all they'd done was bring her into the depths of what looked like a cathedral and keep her there. She spent most of the time pacing or sleeping in places until she decided the carpet was the most comfortable place to be. The rest of the time, she tried focusing on studying the fonic writing, but she just couldn't concentrate and wound up pacing or sleeping some more. Who knew how long she'd been here already, but counting the meals, it had been several days at least. The only visitors she'd had were soldiers bringing food and drink and replacing the chamber pot, but that didn't stop her from nearly panicking each time she heard the lock turn. One of these times, the visitor wouldn't be a salubrious guest.

Ugh, she needed to get off of this planet before Van could finish what he started!

The lock turned.

Oh, no! She'd just been fed a couple hours ago. Oh, Martel, don't say this was it!

She ran to the back of the center bookcase. If this time was like any other, there would be several knights standing in the hallway. Forcing an exit would be a bad idea.

The door opened and Grand Maestro Mohs entered the room with four knights, two of whom stayed by the door. Mohs locked eye contact with her, stopping Raine in her tracks. Finally, she could be still, even if it was fear that caused it.

Sure enough, she could barely make out more knights in the hallway just before the door closed, but where it was Mohs… what did that mean for her survival?

When he first walked in, he wore a frown. Then a grin spread across his face when he looked at her, probably enjoying her obvious fear. He was definitely the one in power and they both knew it. The way he stood relaxed and smug, she fully expected his first words to be a nasty lording over her just to be sure she felt his power.

"Good afternoon," Mohs said, politely. She stared back. That couldn't be a good sign. "I trust the men didn't hurt you?" She barely shook her head, not taking her eyes off of him. He nodded, finally breaking the initial eye contact. "Good. Don't worry. You can have a seat." He gestured to one of the chairs but Raine merely glanced at it before she returned to watching Mohs. After the animosity she'd seen in him before, she didn't trust his show of decorum. This had to be an act. "Relax. I am not malicious." He paused, waiting for her to speak, but she refused. Instead, she stepped back towards the table at the back of the room. He continued, obviously pleased. "I wondered about you when none of the Scorers had heard or read your name before. I merely brought you here to ask you if you know what's going on and why."

"Don't mince words. You brought me here to interrogate me." She blindly grasped behind her for anything to steady herself until she found a chair at the table and gripped the back of it. So long as the bookcase and the other tables, something was between them, she felt at least some semblance of safety. But that wouldn't last. Not with this man.

"You're not a criminal here," Mohs said. At least not yet, Raine thought. And probably so long as she complied. "I am merely curious about your circumstances. It's a new phenomenon, finding someone who isn't in the Score." Oh crap! She knew it! Planet's memory, be damned. She was screwed. No, maybe there was another way to look at this. He pulled the nearest chair from the front table, presumably to sit, but he didn't. He stood next to it. "Come now, there's no need to be shy."

Raine wasn't fooled by his demeanor for a minute. She knew what he was really like. She saw him back at Baticul when Luke interrupted their meeting. But not playing along would bring out his nasty side that she knew was there. What should she say?

"You… can't find me in the Score?"

His eyes narrowed as a quick flash of contempt betrayed him. Mohs didn't believe her. And why should he? She'd been on Auldrant long enough to know she didn't belong here. He masked his contempt with another smile. "That's right. There are no records of a Raine Sage in the Kimlasca, Daath, or Malkuth censuses and you are nowhere to be found."

"An alias."

He shook his head and clapped the back of the chair. "No, I don't think so. I chose to have them read the Goodwill Ambassador's journey to Akzeriuth and everyone in the party was accounted for, everyone except for you." He paused, watching her. "Please don't try to lie. This doesn't have to turn ugly." Don't try to lie…? Raine gulped. He knew she was a liar. How did he know?

"Maybe you aren't looking in the right places," she said. The Score, after all, was massive. How could he prove she wasn't in it? "I mean, how explicitly does it state details?"

"Depends on how much you're willing to read," Mohs said. "We've read quite extensively and you weren't mentioned anywhere. You were missing from the Score regarding Saint Binah as well."

"Or is it about how much you magnify the Score for details?" She asked, remembering what Guy and Legretta had said about how people use it for what to wear and eat. Surely, that implied much more reading than simply the big picture.

"Yes, I suppose so," he said. "It's like reading a book and seeing what is supposed to happen, but the book is a prediction, not fantasy."

"Sounds useful."

Mohs nodded and studied her some more. He still didn't know why she wasn't in the Score, and Raine had a feeling he wouldn't leave without an answer. Likely without the correct answer. What would she say? Flat-out telling him the truth wouldn't be any safer than a lie, not with the true head of this organization following the Score so closely. Mohs turned to one of his guards. "Test her."

Crap! Crap! Crap!

Raine fled to the other end of the rear table to keep it between her and the guard, but the guard simply held up what looked like a small box with a sensor antenna and directed it at her. When he didn't get an answer right away, he stepped closer, but he wasn't worried about touching her to get results. What were they testing for?

"Her fonon frequency is way too weak. I've never seen anything like this..." He looked to Mohs, whose frown deepened. "In fact, it's picking up strange readings."

"Weak fonon frequency?" Mohs looked at the readout himself and then back to Raine. "Why would that be?" You mean she had a fonon reading at all? What was that about? They should only be picking up on mana readings. Although she'd been eating food for quite a while now, meals made of fonons. Maybe the ingested fonons gave off a vague reading? Either way, there was no way to hide what was going on.

"It should be answer enough that I'm not in the Score."

"Oh?" He checked the readout again, but the man holding the machine lowered his hands. He lifted his visor and whispered something to Mohs. Mohs's eyes sharpened, trained specifically on her. Her mouth went dry.

"Just tell me the truth. Where are you from?"

She hesitated, knowing it wouldn't help her to lie about that. Even claiming to be a replica here would mean nothing. He clearly came here prepared. There were no other options for it, but the truth froze in her throat. Raine had to say something. "N-nowhere you've heard of I'm sure."

The wrinkle in his forehead told her that he thought she was lying. There it was again. The contempt. Mohs was definitely one of those people who hated being lied to, but there wasn't help for it, not this time.

He stared at her, studying her as he thought it through, the meaning in her words. As the head of the native religion, he had to know of almost everywhere on this planet. So where could she have come from that he hadn't heard of? He was no doubt running his mind through all of the known cities, landmarks, and all of the planet's features to find somewhere he might not know about. Raine knew it wouldn't take long for him to realize that he knew of every continent on this planet and she wouldn't even confirm one of them as home. Sure enough, lost in thought, he seemed to stumble upon an answer.

"Perhaps that would explain it…." The more he considered it, the more his face softened with understanding, and as she watched, she noticed the confusion melting away. His eyes lit up. He understood. Her breathing became unstable.

"Yes, actually that does explain what she said." She? Who was he talking about? What did she say? Mohs returned his attention to her. In that moment, Raine felt it, an apprehension of what would surely come now. This is what she feared the most, a native realizing that she didn't belong here. What would he do now?

His response wasn't immediate. He simply stared, watching her, probably deciding how best to handle this situation now that he understood it. He had no way of knowing where she came from or how she got here, but handling her presence required special care, Raine knew that. She had expected no less from Tethe'alla if they ever figured out she was from Sylvarant. Finally, Mohs spoke though it was mostly to himself.

"I wondered about you when none of the Scorers had heard or read your name before." Mohs frowned and as he walked closer to her, he held out a hand. She didn't take it for how far away as he was. She was sure his gesture was more of a point. "I'm sorry to say that there's a problem with your presence here."

"Oh?" Raine began to lose her resolve. "A-and what sort of problem is that?"

"Just that, our world must follow the Score. It can't do that if someone not in the Score interferes. You've already lied to me once about your intentions." She didn't like the sound of this. Mouth gaping open, she shook her head no, and murmured, "I didn't." But he continued, "I tested you and you lied."

"Tested? What do you mean?" Was that the machine was for? No, that was just silly.

"I told King Ingobert VI that you would be a good ally for Luke's party—" Guy was right! Raine realized. "—and when you said you wanted to go to Belkend anyway, I thought you understood the importance of the Score. You certainly took your time coming like you promised. No wonder… You went with Luke to Akzeriuth anyway."

"Not because I wanted to. They-they blocked off the port! I couldn't leave, not safely anyway."

Mohs ignored her. "Initially, I wasn't sure it mattered, considering what was suppose to happen there." Oh, man, Raine was right about that, too?! They knew what was going to happen at Akzeriuth and sent all those people to their deaths. What about the ambassador's party? Were they meant to die, too? Or maybe they weren't worried about them because they knew they would survive…?

"Is that why you went with Luke after all?" Mohs asked. "You knew what was going to happen and you went to intervene so that no one would die?"

That's what he feared! He thought she would do something to screw up the Score. So, did that mean something changed? Or was he just mad because she went anyway? She shook her head. "No, I just wanted to survive. Why would I go somewhere that I know will be destroyed? I went with people who knew me so I—"

"I cannot allow you to continue derailing the Score." Continue…? Oh, no…. Mohs gave her a grave expression and she understood. They would kill her to make sure she couldn't again interfere. But what did she change?! What happened that so irreparably changed their score?

"Wait, please, I didn't intend any harm! There has to be another way."

"Perhaps you can be persuaded to leave."

"I can easily be persuaded," she pled in fast speech, "I'm—someone is helping me, I can leave and you won't have to worry about me interfering with your Score, please give me a chance to leave. I swear I'll go."

"Is that so?"

"You know I'm not from Auldrant," she whispered, "you don't want to be responsible for my death, you don't have to resort to murder."

"I don't care about that." His tone was level, not angry, but she heard the malice in it as if he'd just screamed at her. He meant it. That much was clear. Slowly, his peaceful façade was fading. Before long, he wouldn't hold himself back. "Your existence interferes with the Score." Mohs paused to consider his options. What would he do? Raine had to think fast. What would help him decide to give her time?

"The Score is the most precious thing on this planet, I can see that," Raine said. "Its value cannot be overstated, and its importance is above any individual life. If I know what is supposed to happen, then I can help ensure it does instead of blindly interfering with it and causing further derailment. Please, that way I can have the time I need to vacate and I won't do something that changes the outcome again. You did say you're not malicious. Please give me the chance to show you that I'm not either. Show the mercy you're claiming to have."

Mohs nodded, understanding. "I can show mercy." He was willing to give her time, right? Maybe?

At least, it began to sound possible…. He folded his hands behind his back and turned around to pace the room. "Though, if the world strays from the Score, I'll know that you are responsible. The Score has been right about everything… that is until you came along." Damn it! How could she convince him that she wasn't a threat?!

"I had no control over that. I'm only trying to get home. Please, if you just let me repair the Rheaird, I'll fly away and disappear. You won't ever see me again."

Mohs considered her words. She could tell he didn't quite believe her, especially given her vague response and apt for lying. But it shouldn't matter whether she lied or not. He was, after all, the most powerful person in the Order and could have anyone and everyone hunt her down and get rid of her. Would that be enough to convince him?

"How does it work?" He asked suddenly.

"I don't know. I stole it."

"From whom?"

"The people who built it," Raine said as if the answer was too obvious to ask for. "They caught us, and we used them to escape their base. That's all I know about them, I swear."

"You don't know those people?"

"They were Sheena's enemies, but I don't know who they are." The lie heated her skin. She prayed it wasn't visible. "They, like you, just took us into custody believing us to be a threat, just because we were with Sheena." More lies. To tell them anything else would be so dangerous. "I promise I'm not a threat to anyone. It's all a misunderstanding."

"Where is your Rheaird now?"

Raine held her breath. Telling the truth... No, that's such a bad idea. "I crashed it."

Mohs studied her, his hands behind his back. "Then why go to Sheridan?" He asked in a simple, light voice. So, he thought he'd try to ensnare her in a lie. She steeled herself. That wasn't going to happen.

"I'm not a mechanic and I know nothing about flying machines. I need someone who knows something about machines to help me repair mine. When I heard they are working on a flying machine, well, it seemed like a natural decision."

He nodded. "It's true, they have a flying machine. Though I noticed," he smiled poison at her, coming closer. He kept his distance like Guy did, moving to ensure the table was between them. Raine gasped. He was afraid of her! As much as she feared him, by the looks of his body language. Something about that steadied her. "You didn't tell me where your Rheaird is."

Calm down, Raine, she thought to herself. There was still a way out of this. He was listening and she still had some cards to hold. But where should she tell them the Rheaird was? She didn't want to tell the truth, but she also wanted to keep in mind how Class M had promised to pick it up for her. She didn't want them intercepted or bothered. Then she remembered something. The Rotelro Bridge went out and few people knew who did it. Jade and Ion had both told her that. "I-I crashed into the Rotelro Bridge."

"That was you?" Mohs asked. "You destroyed that bridge?"

"It was an accident!"

"Why did you lie about going to Belkend?"

"I didn't lie! I thought I would find my brother in Belkend and I realized from talking with His Majesty that he wasn't there. He never was. I went with Luke because I knew him and I needed to get my bearings after finding out I wasn't where I thought I was." A thought occurred to her, but she didn't acknowledge it. She needed to get out of this situation first.

"Hm."

"Please, if you give me a chance, I can leave Auldrant. I won't affect the Score any further. I have no desire to interfere."

"Can I trust that?" Mohs sneered. Uh oh. Raine inhaled a sharp breath. He finally dropped the civility. "You said you were going to Belkend and instead you somehow saved Luke's life and derailed the Score. How do I know you'll do what you say you will?" Technically, it was Tear that actually saved Luke's life, indeed she saved them all, but trying to convince him of that was pointless. Especially now that he was getting angry. At the very least, she now knew what changed.

"How was I supposed to know he was—" But even if she did know… would she have followed through with going? They went thinking they were going to save the people of Akzeriuth, not with the idea that anyone would—. She shook her head. Now wasn't the time to think about that.

Wait. She had more cards than she thought. She added, "Think about this: What will you do when someone comes looking for me and then they find out I'm dead?" Mohs finally broke his composure. Apparently he hadn't considered this. He didn't have to know it was a bluff. No one knew she was here. They only knew she was missing. But the Order knew about Genis, right? She couldn't remember if Mohs knew, but even if he didn't, it was possible Van said something to him about her brother. How slim was that possibility? If they were working together, it could actually be likely.

"If I can't leave, my brother will come looking for me." Though she hoped Genis never would. If he showed up here…. No! Focus! "We are very well connected. Sheena only has to ask the king for help, and if I am dead, you might face an invasion and certainly that won't be good for the Score, correct? The Rheaird is just one example of the technology we have. You don't want to see what else we can do."

Mohs didn't like the sounds of that either. He frowned as he thought about it. Yes, this was the thread to pull. Raine tried not to smile as she sensed the situation change in her favor. "I've seen the technology that you have. Ours is much greater as evidenced by my ability to come here at all. My people will come looking for me. When they can't find me at home, they'll be forced to search for other options. They'll come here. What would happen with the Score then? But if you let me go, I can tell them anything you want. I can prevent them from coming here. They won't be interested in something they don't know about and certainly have no reason to look for. I promise you, my brother will keep looking for me no matter what and if he finds out I was here and then killed, it won't surprise me to see him use the king's might against you. Remember, Sheena is close with the king. That's how I knew I didn't belong here."

He stood silent, staring at her, and no doubt wondering if she spoke the truth. Go ahead, Mohs, weigh the options. You know I'm right.

Judging from the defeat creeping into his eyes, Raine knew she at minimum saved her own life. For now. Surely, he would let her go. He had to. Her argument was sound. Watching him slow his pace and wring his hands behind his back, his fidgeting, Raine held her breath. With his back to her, it was hard to know what he was thinking exactly, but he had to know her threat was real. Those odds were pitiful, she was sure, but that made it even more critical to bluff her way into freedom. Then she saw a small slump in Mohs's shoulders.

Yes! Raine knew in that moment that she'd won.

Until he faced her again with a large smirk. He had realized something and Raine knew she wasn't going to like it.

"You should atone for what you've done."

Meaning what? Raine didn't say anything but simply waited for clarification. Mohs returned to walking about the room without looking at her. Sure enough, "Luke should've died."

"It wasn't me—" He held up a hand to interrupt. He didn't want to hear any excuses. Forget about excuses anyway. "I can't do anything about Luke—" Again, he raised his hand. This time, he took his time in making her sit with the discomfort of not knowing what was on his mind. He paced until he was satisfied she would be obedient and listen.

Then, in a low, slow voice, he said, "Why of course you can."

Raine felt the blood drain from her face. No, he didn't mean that…. She didn't have to say for a word for him to nod and acknowledge his intentions.

"Luke and Natalia are still alive." Mohs pointed at her. "It's all your fault for saving them! You stopped things from happening that should have happened. But you can correct this." He paused. No! Raine shook her head in disbelief. He wouldn't…. "If you truly wish to put things to rights, you would kill the one who should've already died, the one who didn't die because of your interference."

He wouldn't really make her do that, right? That would mean he wanted her to kill… which one? Luke? He was the only one mentioned when Tear read the Score about going to Akzeriuth… Who else was supposed to die? Jade, Natalia, and Anise? Was she even capable of that? "Please don't make me betray them."

"It's your choice," Mohs said. "You can have plenty of time to reach Sheridan, or I can kill you here and worry about them later."

Meaning… if they don't die, Mohs will try to have them killed… "Please, don't make me do that. I promise, I-I-I won't stand in the way of the Score. I just need time."

"Perhaps I wasn't clear," Mohs said, slowing his speech as if that would help her understanding. "If you want a chance to fix up your flying machine, you will agree to correct your mistake, or you will never leave this cathedral alive."

Raine froze. That was certainly clear enough. She nodded slowly. If she didn't agree to kill them herself, Mohs would kill them instead… starting with her. Right now. "I just want to go home," Raine insisted. "But I can't leave this planet if you won't let me try."

"Of course." After a moment, he added, "returning home is your biggest priority. Nothing should mean more than returning to your brother… Genis, was it? It seems a small price to pay to take the life of a man who should've already died." Luke….

"My freedom or an invasion…" Raine replied. "That's also a small price to maintain a status quo between worlds."

He considered this and she felt a faint glimmer of hope. If he thought she would indeed kill Luke, he might let her go on that premise of allowing her a chance to do so. Then she can hurry to Sheridan, get the Rheaird fixed, and get the hell out of here.

"Very well," Mohs said. She wanted to breathe in relief, but she couldn't. Mohs faced her as he paced and she watched him carefully. Was he being genuine about this? She couldn't tell. "The world must go according to the Score and if it doesn't, we won't receive our promised prosperity. You see the value." She nodded and muttered "absolutely" as if saying it louder would change his mind. "We've come to an agreement. You have already contacted Class M about the Rheaird. They can take the time to repair it. While they do, you will track down Luke and kill him."

For the first time since her capture, her heart stopped. It wasn't because she was a half-elf... The prophecies they followed so devoutly didn't mention her at all and they blamed her because it didn't go as it should? Her mouth went dry. "U-understood." When he found out she had no intention of following through, well, she'd deal with that when the time comes.

"It's really this simple. If you interfere again, our deal is void, and we will manage the invasion if it ever comes. If they have any decency as a human race, they will understand that a heretic is poisonous to a functioning society. If they don't, well, it's their lives to lose." He paused to take a deep breath. "However, I doubt your life is so precious to them that it would be worth sacrificing all of the people they'd have to bring to win a war against us. They might have the technology, but we have the manpower." Raine deflated. He'd seen through her bluff. Genis might care that much, but how could Sheena convince a king to save the life of a half-elf?

"You seem sincere." Raine met his eyes. What did he mean by that? "I will give you a chance to leave if you will correct your mistake. You're right that knowing the Score can help you avoid derailing it further, so I will tell you. The Score predicted a war between Malkuth and Kimlasca. The war is based upon the deaths of the Kimlascan princess and the Goodwill Ambassador and their deaths are all that's needed. If things go as they should, you only need worry about Luke." Just Luke…? Wait, didn't he say that he thought Natalia was alive, too?

"Just Luke, correct? Why none of the others?"

"The others don't matter." Then he smirked again. "Not that you could kill the Necromancer by yourself anyway." Raine ignored the jibe, but rather cherished that finally she could breathe. If she couldn't get the Rheaird repaired in time, at least she could buy herself some more time.

If she had to. Only if she had to.

Before she could thank him for the chance to leave, there was a knock on the door. He ignored it. Mohs continued instead, "See to it that we can truly start this war, and I will give you time to fix up your flying machine. But if the war starts and he's still alive, then you've run out of time."

Those words sucked the air out of the room. She felt her chest tighten again. That would mean… if she didn't kill Luke before the war started, Mohs would retaliate.

And he could…. All it would take was telling every member of the Order what she looked like and anyone could find her the moment she stepped into town.

Mohs stared at her for a moment before finally calling for the person to enter. It was a woman with blond hair, the one from Deo Pass, Legretta from the God-Generals. Raine felt too numb to acknowledge her.

"Sir, I have a report." Legretta glanced at Raine. "What is that woman doing here?"

"Ignore her. I'll come back for her later." Mohs waved his hand. "Come, let's hear the report." All four knights followed him out of the room with Legretta, and the door closed. She heard the lock click and finally, she felt in control of herself even as she stood shivering and terrified.

Mohs hadn't outright released her, but he did make a deal. Would he keep it? He had to if he wanted to avoid an invasion. That threat was real. The machines the Renegades had negated losing lives to Mohs's men, but Raine felt sure the Renegades wouldn't spare them for her sake. If Mohs was being genuine, he should release her at some point; he couldn't afford to keep her here.

But something else bothered her. She arrived in Belkend with Luke's party and she didn't see any of the Oracle Knights. But they were there in Sheridan after she arrived. How did they know to look for her in Sheridan? When the journey to Akzeriuth started, she said she wanted to meet her brother in Belkend. If Mohs wanted to catch up to her, he would've done it then, when the party left the port and headed for town. Raine gave them a perfect opportunity when she didn't go with them, instead staying at Port Belkend.

So how did Mohs know she went to Sheridan? She tried to think back to who would know who might've told him. Did Legretta perhaps overhear somehow? Or Ion say something? No. Raine realized suddenly. It was Tear. Tear was Mohs's subordinate and would see no reason not to tell him something like this, especially because she trusted him and was so convinced that Mohs didn't want war. Mohs did mention "she" told him something. Tear must've been in correspondence! Except when would she have? When did Raine first say she was going to Sheridan? She couldn't remember, but it must have been around that time. Once they arrived in Akzeriuth, Tear would not have had a chance.

One thing that struck her was that he only wanted her to kill Luke. Just Luke. Out of how many people who survived that stint in Akzeriuth? Why would Luke be the only one who was supposed to die? Tear made sense because Van tried to save her, according to Asch. But it was possible Mohs had a hand in saving her as well, by having her taken away from the others. What about Anise? She was Ion's guardian and Van only mentioned saving Ion until he realized he had to save Asch. Or even Natalia? Where Kimlasca wanted to start a war, losing Luke and Natalia would've certainly given them what they needed to make it happen.

So why just Luke? Either Natalia wasn't supposed to die or something else was going on that it wasn't necessary to kill her, too. Which meant the war would hinge only on Luke's death. Something about that didn't feel right. Raine didn't have enough facts for a proper conjecture, but she did know one thing: She had to run.

Staying here would guarantee she would either be imprisoned until Genis came for her and demanded someone find his sister or until Mohs decided not to wait anymore and killed her. It's possible Mohs was the kind of man who would keep his promise, but she doubted it, simply because a man like him was dealing with a liar himself. How could he be truly placated with a promise to kill someone when Raine had no intention of wasting precious time on keeping it? He had to know that, or at least suspect it, right?

Or was he banking on her willingness to do anything for a chance to go home? Would she go that far if she had to?

Why not? It happened before…. No, she had to find a way out on her own.

How could she escape, though?

There were guards all over this cathedral and she walked for a long time through this maze of hallways, doors, and walkways when they first brought her here. They didn't even bother to cover her face, and no wonder. There were so many turns and doors that she lost track. She might be able to work her way out if she were clever enough. Right now, that was her only option.

Raine carefully pulled the staples out of the picture frames and straightened them to form picks. Step one, complete. Then she pressed her ear against the door. The guards waiting out there were talking. She peered through the keyhole to see them standing there, one of them sitting on the floor with his back to her. Three, maybe?

"Hey… what's that?"

"What are you talking about?"

"What the—what are they doing here?!"

"Never mind that, let's get rid of them!"

A gong resonated through the massive room outside and all three of the guards left. This was it, this was the time. She worked the lock, but she wasn't as good at it as Lloyd was. It turned out, she didn't have to be.

[No changes]

The Watchers' Home, Yulia City

I met Teodoro and heard an unbelievable truth.

The collapse of Akzeriuth was written in Yulia's Score, and happened because it was destined to.

And not only that. The destruction of Malkuth's Hod Island, which led to the biggest war in recent years, was likewise part of Yulia's Score.

So the people of Yulia City knew about both disasters ahead of time, and simply let the people of both towns die. Even Tear, who knew that Hod's fate was written in the Score, hadn't known that it had simply been allowed to be destroyed in order to fulfill the Score. She seemed pretty shocked to hear that.

Unlike Tear, Master Van did know the truth about Hod. Teodoro said that although he hated it at first, he's come to be a fine watcher, working as a member of the Order of Lorelei to ensure that the world follows Yulia's Score. The Order of Lorelei itself is simply the presence of Yulia City in the outer Lands, dedicated to directing the world along the path written in Yulia's Score toward the prosperity that the Score foretells. So the Order of Lorelei and Yulia City are connected at the top.

A new war between Malkuth and Kimlasca is also written in the Score, and that's why Grand Maestro Mohs was trying to start a war, in order to follow the Score. Even Master Van's using me to destroy Akzeriuth was for the purpose of the Score. It all comes down to Yulia's Score. If the Score does promise a prosperous future, that's nice...but is that a reason to let people living now die?

When we asked about St. Binah falling, Teodoro said flatly that it was impossible, because the Score doesn't mention it. If we were still worried, he said, we could use the Yulia Road, a fonic circle used for transport, to return to the outer Lands and see for ourselves. I headed back with Tear to her house to make preparations for departure.

While we were getting our things packed, Tear told me a little bit about her past.

She said that both she and Master Van were originally from Hod Island, on the Outer Lands. When Hod was destroyed, it fell into the Qliphoth much like Akzeriuth did. That time, Master Van used Yulia's fonic hymn to survive, and the two of them were taken in and raised by Teodoro.

Contrary to what Teodoro was saying before, Master Van had always hated the Score, and one day Tear overheard him saying he was going to destroy the inhabitants of the outer Lands.

That's why Tear had decided to follow Master Van and stop him, even at the cost of her own life. The duty of looking for the Seventh Fonstone was likewise just a convenient excuse to stay near Master Van. It looks like I've misunderstood her all this time. What a stupid idiot I was...

We finished preparing for our return to the Outer Lands, and headed for the Yulia Road to check up on St. Binah.

The Yulia Road leads to a place on the Padamiyan continent called Aramis Spring. Padamiya is also where Daath, the Order of Lorelei's headquarters, is located. We entered the fonic glyph and returned to the Outer Lands.

The New Journey's Flavor

The other end of the Yulia Road was a spring nestled in a small valley. We arrived in an instant... Fonic artes really are incredible. At any rate, we'd better hurry out through the nearby cave.

Guy really was waiting for me in the cave. I was really glad to see him...but I'm not the real Luke, after all. I wonder if Guy's okay with that... He said not to put myself down, but...I can't help worrying. Not that worrying about that will get me anywhere. I have to get him to accept me as I am now. First we'd better hurry out of this place.

When we reached the cave's exit, Jade showed up.

But unlike Guy, Jade hadn't come here to wait for me. He was here to ask for Guy's help to rescue Natalia and Ion, who had been captured by Grand Maestro Mohs. He treated me like I was just in the way. I didn't like it, but I guess I can't blame him, given the way I used to be. Tear told me that it's not easy to regain trust once I've lost it.

...Yeah, she's got a point. And besides, I don't have time for self-pity right now. We have to check up on St. Binah, and a war could start too. Ion and Natalia should be willing to help with both problems. It's time to head for Daath to rescue them.

On the way to Daath is a place called the Fourth Monument Hill. The whole city of Daath is visible from the top of the hill. So that's where Natalia and Ion are being held... Jade said Anise is in Daath, trying to figure out where they are. I guess we'll be rejoining her once we arrive.

Daath, Headquarters of the Order of Lorelei

We rejoined Anise in Daath, and she had discovered that Natalia and Ion were being held in the underground Oracle Headquarters. Outsiders aren't allowed to enter, so Tear is going to try and sneak us in as purported witnesses to the discovery of the Seventh Fonstone. First we have to see Maestro Tritheim to obtain a pass to enter the Oracle Headquarters.

We succeeded in fooling Tritheim and obtaining a pass to the Oracle Headquarters. Okay, let's head underground.

Worrying About the War

On the way, we overheard Mohs and Legretta talking. It sounds like a war really is about to start. We'd better find Natalia and Ion fast so we can stop it.

A/N: Hi, Ya'll!

I'm so excited to finally share this chapter with you! I hope it was worth the wait. =^-^=

43 just needs a few more tweaks. I think I'll post that one February 11. It's not as much of a cliffhanger because if you know Abyss at all, you have a strong idea what happens next, but there are a couple of things I want to make sure make sense before posting it.

Until then, I hope your weekend is awesome and that things go well for you! Stay amazing, and thank you all for your support!

EDIT 2024.02.11: I'm sorry. It looks like it'll be another week. Last week wasn't what I hoped and 43 suffered for it. I'm hoping this week will be better. Thank you for your patience! :)

~~Kat =^-^=