Note: This is going to be yet another 'where are they now' chapter, as in, checking in on side characters and what they're doing in the meanwhile, as things like that will be important in the long run.

Rest assured, I don't plan to make these exceptionally long; it's just to give the side people something to do and show some development for them, as, in the game, they mostly remain off-screen. Who knows how much could be happening there? Granted, this is to give brief intervals between the journey and fights, but I still feel it's essential to the story.

That said, here's a look at the side characters of this journey.

Catching Up 2

Kingdom of Altena

He knew it.

Somewhere in his gut, he knew it. He knew that it would soon be time. However, all that mattered to him was to make sure that it was who he intended it to be and no one else. He would do anything and everything in his power to make sure of that.

"You wished to see me, Jose?" a young, male voice asked, a blonde young man coming down the stairs in the teacher's study.

"Yes, indeed, Victor." the bearded sage answered, grabbing a nearby candle and dripping some wax on the envelope at his desk, sealing it.

"Jose?" the old man in question just sighed and furrowed his brows, seemingly deep in thought.

"Victor," Jose finally said after a long moment of tense silence. "I have a task for you," he told his student with a seriousness that seemed dire, even for a strict man such as himself. He then handed him the envelope. "I need you to take this letter to your princess."

"Angela?" Victor questioned, surveying the envelope in his hand. "But...but she's gone. And where she is, who knows?"

Jose sighed. "I'm more than aware of that," he answered. "Yet she must get this note," he explained, looking at the young man with serious eyes. "And for you to take it to her."

Victor was puzzled. "Me? But…" he then paused. "Jose, what's going on-"

"You must leave." Jose interrupted him. "You must leave this place as soon as you can."

Victor was caught off guard, eyes widening in shock. "When did this come up all the sudden-"

"Victor, you know as well as I do that our Queen intends to go through this ritual to release the Mana Stone's power." The old sorcerer interrupted again. "And to do that, she needs a blood sacrifice."

Victor bit his lip. "I'm...aware of that." a chill ran up his spine. "That's...why you and I made sure the princess could escape."

"But you also are aware that it won't stop Her Highness. Nor Koren." Jose's expression darkened as he spoke. "How…" he muttered under his breath. "How could you? Especially when you began as a…", he trailed off, his fists clenching to the point his knuckles turned white. "There's little time." He shoved the letter in the younger man's hand. "You must find her," he told Victor. "Find her, and make sure that she reads this."

"Jose, what's going on-"

"You must be stealthy. Perhaps even more so than before. Your absence before you sent Angela off has already been noted, so there may be some extra guards at the castle gates."

Victor didn't know what to say. All of this was happening so fast. "Jose," he began, not liking where this was going. "If I can ask...why are you talking as if I'm doing this alone?" Jose only looked down at the table. "Jose...Jose, answer me. Please."

"...just go."

"Jose-"

"Go!" the old man rose from his chair. "Go! Leave, now!" he bellowed. "While Koren is away, you must go! Give this to Angela! Her life, and yours, may depend upon it!"

"And what about yours?!"

Jose didn't answer. "Just go," he repeated.

"Please."

"GO!"

Victor immediately left through the upper exit, standing on the stone bridge that connected the eastern and western parts of the castle, leaning over the edge and releasing heavy breaths from the sprint he had done. Had he just had such a conversation? With his teacher of all people? He...he was mistaken. This...this couldn't be happening. It couldn't be! And yet...he saw it happen. His Princess, Valda's daughter, was to be taken away and made to offer her very life, which would be torn away from her by terrible magic. True, she was currently being hunted for this exact purpose, yet as Jose said, it seemed the Queen had no intention of simply not going through with the ritual due to her daughter being gone.

Jose's words were valid. If not her, then it'd be someone else. Yet could he do it? Could he leave the older man here? Ultimately, it seemed he would have to decide soon. For if Valda was willing to sacrifice her child, any of them could be a candidate if she wasn't found.

Wendel

His condition wasn't improving.

It seemed to grow worse with each passing day.

"This isn't good." Henry thought, musing outside of Priest of Light's quarters; some other healers were currently tending to him. He heard the sound of an older woman sniffling from inside the room and turned to see her emerge, wiping at her downcast eye. "How is he?" Henry questioned, though such a question was perhaps unnecessary.

"Not well." the old nun wept, trying to keep her tears at bay. "He just keeps getting sicker and sicker."

He didn't wish to say it, but by now, it was a question that had been gnawing at his mind since the older man collapsed. "Do you believe he's going to-"

"No!" the nun interrupted. "No! How...how dare you! How dare you suggest something like that!" she said, enraged. Then she calmed down, a stricken expression crossing her features as she realized what she had said.

"I'm sorry, dear Brother Henry. Forgive me, please." she sighed, going to a nearby window and opening it, allowing the fresh air outside to seep into the temple, the air inside far too tense and constricting for her. Perhaps everyone else too. "I...I just don't know what to do. No one does." she stammered, biting her lip. "He...he just won't heal. No matter what we do, his condition just won't improve."

Henry said nothing, though he suspected everyone knew well of the possibility that His Eminence wouldn't make it. But, as if the spell he had cast wasn't enough, it couldn't be denied that the man was quite old. Even the most senior priests and nuns here were younger than his eminence. But then, something came to the young man's mind. "What about 'him'?"

"Him? Who do you mean?" the older woman questioned, but then it dawned on her. "Oh...you mean Heath?"

"There's none as skilled as he is," Henry said. "Even at his young age, he far outclasses all of us. If I may be so bold, dear sister."

"No offense taken." the nun answered. "Indeed, I agree with your assessment." She sighed, looking out towards the city, which was still being repaired due to the attack by the beastmen. "But...even if that is the case, then that doesn't improve our situation. If what dear Charlotte said was true, he is far beyond our reach. And even if he wasn't whisked away, there was no way he could get past the barrier. Not without some sort of power that could rival His Eminence's."

Indeed. While no one wished to say, it seemed that all their efforts would be for nothing. And even more, it was due to the small amount of lifeforce left to the Priest of Light that the barrier still stood at all. If he died, then they would again be vulnerable to attack. And unlike before, there would be no fending it off.

Nevarl

The two didn't speak for a good while. Since the young boy's arrival, she and he had kept to themselves. Occasionally, she would call out to her father in a nearby cell, though, as always, he was unresponsive. This caused her to fear the worst, yet she couldn't allow her mind to go there. Not now. She had to hold onto something. Anything. Perhaps, she thought, starting a conversation with her newly acquired cellmate would distract her, if only for a moment. "So, you're a prince?" the blue-haired young woman questioned, still trying to comprehend that she not only wasn't alone in her cell anymore but that her company was someone so unsettlingly young.

"Uh-huh." the boy answered. "Prince Elliot of Laurent," he replied. "And who are you? Are you a Princess here?"

"Princess?" she said, surprised. "Well...no. I suppose one could say that, as my father is someone rather important, but we don't usually have titles like that around here." She then grew solemn. "And even if I were, it wouldn't mean anything now."

Elliot felt a little uncomfortable and was eager to change the subject. "So...what's your name?"

"Jessica," she responded.

"That old man...he's your father, isn't he?" she nodded. "Is he...ok?"

She sighed, bringing her knees to her chest. "In body only," she said. "And even then, who knows how long that'll last." She lowered her head, taking full fists of her torn dress in her hands. "I can't believe any of this is happening…" she murmured.

Elliot was torn on what to do, fiddling with his hands. "H-Hey." he began, approaching her. "Hey, it...it's ok."

"N-No, it's not…." Jessica sniffed, not in any mood to hear any meaningless encouragement.

Elliot sighed. "Well...ok. No. No, it's not. I'm sorry."

"N-No. I'm sorry." the older young woman answered. "Oh, look at me," she said. "Here I am falling to pieces while a boy half my age is keeping his wits." Indeed, she felt ashamed of herself, yet she couldn't think of what else to do. She gripped the choker around her throat, cursing that damned witch's name in her mind.

"Hey, I'm not THAT young." Elliot protested. Then, he looked at her neck. "What's that?"

"Huh?" Jessica was puzzled until Elliot pointed to the object of interest. "Oh." her hands trembled. "Let's just say, putting it on was the worst mistake of my life." then, a particular thief came to mind. "Well...second worst."

"What is it?" Elliot questioned. "I mean...it's not my thing, but," he reached forward. "It's pretty, I guess-"

"Don't touch-" Jessica began, yet the boy's hand touched the choker, the effects of it instant. Immediately, she felt the metal tightening around her throat, cutting off her air as she fell to the ground clutching her neck.

"GAH!" Elliots hollered, backing up against the bars of the cell. But his panic rose, even more, when he began to comprehend what was happening. "H-Hey! Hey, somebody! Help! Help! She's choking!" on what, he didn't know, yet such things weren't exactly his concern right now. "Help!" Suddenly, a low growl responded to his cries; he immediately began to regret calling at all.

"Oh, calm yourself." A low, familiar male voice suddenly said, a pale-skinned, caped man coming to Elliot and Jessica's cell. "She won't die. Not right now, at least. This is just a measure to make sure that she doesn't get comfortable with that fact." as if those words were a trigger, the choker began to loosen and expand; Jessica was allowed to take in air, her chest heaving and beads of sweat trailing down her face. "Now then…" the vampire-looking man began again, eyeing the still heaving young woman. "Are we going to be good and not take off Isabella's present?" Jessica only responded with an exasperated sigh, far too tired to do anything more.

"Hey, you!" Malocchio turned to Elliot, who lost some courage upon the man's red eyes meeting his own. "What'd you do to her?" he demanded, albeit very meekly.

"I did nothing." the vampiric man answered. "The necklace's enchantment makes sure it isn't removed." He eyed said necklace or the flesh underneath—tanned, soft, porous flesh. Rest assured though, dear Princess of Nevarl, he thought. It will be removed eventually. And when it is…, he couldn't help but lick his lips. He was rife with anticipation about where it was killing him. There she was, right in front of him, and yet he couldn't satisfy his cravings. Almost all the female members of the guild had fallen to his fangs, yet knowing her importance in his partner's plot only made the blue-haired young woman even more desirable in his eyes.

"Well...take it off!" Elliot demanded.

"Oh, that's not possible for me," Malocchio answered. "Dear Isabella gave her that gift; should she wish to be rid of it, only Isabella herself can do that."

"Then...then make her do it!" the boy retorted. Suddenly, the boy was seized by the collar of his torn, raggedy shirt, the pale-skinned man's grip firm and unable to break.

"W-Wait!" Jessica pleaded. "Stop!"

"Let me make one thing clear to both of you." Malocchio began, red eyes glowing with anger. "You only live because one higher than I wills it so." his gaze seemed to burn Elliot's skin, only giving Jessica a passing glance. "Yet don't believe that this exempts you from any retaliation. All that is required is that you continue breathing. Any bruises left from any means of…' discipline' matter not. Just as long as you remain alive." he then eyed Jessica. "And even then, that time is limited. So count your blessings while you can."

What blessings? The young woman thought. Then, the vampiric man left them, Elliot looking over at Jessica.

"Are you ok?"

Jessica only sighed, touching the cursed object around her throat. It tightened somewhat, yet it loosened its grip when it was clear she wasn't going to try and remove it. "No," she admitted.

Elliot rubbed the back of his head, uncomfortably shifting. "I'm sorry."

The young woman shook her head. "No, I'm sorry." She then went to him. "Look at me. Sitting here crying while you're-"

"Hey, it's...it's ok." the boy said. "I mean...you're scared. But, of course, you're going to cry."

"But surely you're afraid too," Jessica said. "You must be. I mean, a little boy like yourself…."

Elliot was silent for a moment. "N-No," he answered. "I...I'm not." he was hesitant in his answer, as if he were attempting to convince himself that he wasn't fearful of what was happening. As if a pair of invisible eyes were watching him and judging his behavior. "I'm not lying. I promise."

"Ok, ok, I believe you," Jessica told him, seeing his growing discomfort. But still, she thought, what could he possibly be here for? A young boy like him?

"If only big sis were here…" she heard him say quietly, though not enough to where Jessica didn't listen. But she wasn't going to ask any more of the boy. Both she and he needed some moment's peace.

Ruins of Astoria

The day passed, and it was soon going to be night. Soon, the transformation would begin.

"So, where to now?" Molar questioned hesitantly, his commander far from being in any mood for any questions. But given the situation, the beastman found that he needed to ask. Ludgar said nothing for some time, Molar growing nervous that he would receive a blow to the face. Yet, surprisingly, his question was answered.

"Same as before." the blonde beastman said. "Half of us will head to Altena. The other shall remain here, waiting for the barrier to dispel."

"When?"

"As soon as you're ready to move out," he growled, continuing to look out at the lake. Sensing that was all he would get out of him, Molar made himself scarce.

Seeing a nearby plank of charred wood, Ludgar took hold of it and threw it out into the large body of water, though he had already done this to several objects, and not one of them could curb his current frustration. So close...they were so damned close! And now it was all taken away from them. Wendel, Jadd, everything! And even more, that little bastard princeling had something to do with it all! He should've taken care of him back in Wendel!

So why didn't you?

Ludgar went still. There were...other factors at play when we invaded. He reasoned. The Priest was our main target. Without him, the city would be defenseless.

Yet you could've taken him out there. The beastman said nothing, the inner voice continuing to argue with him. And you could've taken him out in Jadd.

"Shut up."

Yet you stayed your hand.

"SHUT UP!" his voice echoed throughout the ruins of Astoria, a few beastmen looking at him, surprised at the sudden outburst. Though upon seeing Ludgar's furious eyes, they immediately looked away and went back to their business. "What the hell do you know?" he snarled under his breath. "Damn it, listen to me. Talking to myself like some sort of madman." Still, the question remained in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to banish it. Irritating as it was, it was true. He HAD, indirectly or not, spared the princeling's life.

And he had a few reasons as to why going through his head. But none of them mattered. The time they were together mattered not. Time mattered not. There were no connections between them, whether superficial or deeper (of which they were not, he told himself). Who cared if he knew who he was when he was first born? Everyone was alerted that the Gauser had a son, and talk of how the child might not have been the late Queen's began to spread. Who cared if the king assigned him as a training partner to perhaps try and shape his son into something worthy of his father's lineage? He was given the task because of that damned pup making the princeling so soft. He was the perfect one for the job! Years that the two had known of each other's existence and time begrudgingly spent together...no. No, it mattered not. None of it did. After all, this was now war. And the princeling was an enemy.

"You've been given everything." he snarled to himself. "Everything…" he then clenched his fist. "Next time...I swear. You won't escape me. I swear by the Goddess Herself." he would end that princeling...and he wouldn't hesitate next time.

He wouldn't….right?

A Short Distance Away

"How do you feel?" Fureddie questioned one of his comrades, who had just had his soul returned to his body.

"I...I'm not entirely sure," he answered. "What exactly happened?"

"You just...got knocked on the head, was all," Fureddie answered. "But does anything feel strange? Like...shakes or anything?"

"No. Nothing like that. Why?" the other beastman questioned, curious as to why his friend was asking so many questions.

"Nothing." The two were currently at the entrance to the Cascade Cavern, having tried to enter, only to be blasted back by the barrier. "There's no way we're getting through that."

"Then what about Ludgar? What'll we tell him?"

Fureddie grew tense, knowing that their commander wouldn't take this news well. "Nothing else to tell him but that we need to wait longer." He answered. "Though...it's not like it's the end of the world. That old guy can't hold the barrier up forever. Like that jester said, his life force or whatever is weak."

"True." the other beastman replied. "No one can survive that for long." he then looked to the entrance of the cave, then he paused.

"Hm?" Fureddie tilted his head. "What is it?"

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That!" The other beastman was quiet, his comrade, in turn, trying to hear what the other was supposedly hearing. Then, seemingly from nowhere, something came up.

Come… it was a voice. Come up… low and smooth; it appeared to be coming from inside the cavern upon further observation. 'Come up…'

"Huh?" Fureddie asked. "Hello?"

My temple...come up…

Both Fureddie and his friend looked to each other, then to the entrance. Then, to the other's surprise, Fureddie seemed to reach forward towards the entrance, seemingly compelled to go inside. "Fureddie?" the beastman asked, yet he noticed the other's once vibrant eyes grow dull and glassy. "Fureddie?" he gave him a good shake, yet this didn't seem to rouse him from whatever state he was currently in. Instead, Fureddie reached closer to the entrance of the cavern. Closer, closer, closer…

"GAH!" he was propelled back, landing on his back. The force of his landing brought him back to his senses; he saw his friend over him.

"Are you all right?"

"What…" Fureddie groaned. "What happened?" he lifted himself, his friend looking at the entrance to the cavern.

"I think we should stay away from this place for a while," he said, not even wishing to look into the darkened entrance for too long. "The sun's about to go down. We'll need to have our strength up for the hunt."

"R-Right." With that, confused as he was, Fureddie went off with his comrade away from the cave entrance, unaware that a pair of eyes were watching them.

"Well, well...looks like they're becoming more active," Goremand said, concealed by thickened bushes. He surveyed the one beastman that he had struck in Jadd. "Count your blessings, furry freak. If I hadn't returned your soul, you would've rotted away in mere hours." That aside, the more significant issue was that, to his delight, despite not being released, a certain being concealed up high was already making itself known. The Master would be pleased to hear this.

And even more, the Priest wouldn't last much longer with that young man in their possession.

Jadd

The gates were sealed up, no one leaving anything to chance in case the beastmen tried to get back in. The ablest men were watching from the walls to see if any might try to reenter the city, and, in case that happened, the koropokkurs had left several traps that had yet to be spring. Given the ever-lingering possibility, Domperi and his troupe scouted the city and surrounding land to ensure any beastmen would be detected well in advance,

Given the ever lingering possibility, Domperi and his troupe scouted the city to keep any beastmen out. However, given that the entrance to Wendel was sealed off to all but themselves, there was little reason for them to dawdle here. Still, there was no harm in being too careful.

Nestled in one of the many guest rooms in the Mayor's mansion, which was now open for any who needed a place to stay, Mik and Ralph were settled in together while Elisa had joined the night watch, rolling pin at the ready.

"There." one of the koropokkurs suddenly said. "There it is again. That voice."

One of the men standing watch was puzzled. "What voice?"

"Don't you hear it?" the small humanoid asked. "It's talking right now!"

The men and Elisa listened in, unable to hear anything. At least, at first. Then, one of the men indeed began to hear something. "Yeah. I hear it," he said. "It's saying…." Suddenly, he stopped, his body growing slack.

"Hey, are you all right?" the red-haired woman questioned, yet he began to make his way towards the gate. "Where are you going? Hey!" he was going over to the drawbridge, his hand reaching for the lever to lower it. "Wait, what are you doing?!"

Other men leaped forward to stop him, one delivering a blow to his head to keep him from pulling the lever. "GAH! W-What?" he stammered, looking around as if he had just woken up. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Elisa questioned. "You were about to open the gates to the city!"

The man looked to lever, then to the several others pinning him down. "I...Was I? Wait…" he then listened. "It's gone."

"What is?" one of the men holding him down questioned, clearly confused.

"The voice," he answered. "It...I can't hear it anymore."

Elisa was just as puzzled as everyone else, though she pressed further. "What was it saying?"

"I...I can't remember now." the man confessed. "But...but it sounded so...soothing. Like whoever was speaking, I wanted to follow them."

No one knew what to make of it. The koropokkurs looked at each other, Domperi's expression growing grim. "What do you think, boss?"

The head of their tribe only remained silent, rubbing his chin. This isn't good. He thought. We might've won the town back… he then looked in the direction of Wendel, seeing the immense mountain that Cascade Cavern traveled through in the distance. But soon, we might be wishing for something as mild as beastmen….

Duskmoon Forest

It had just meant to be a routine walk through the woods. Get herself and her Coco out for a small run, then go back to Mintas and have a hearty meal. Yet the relatively good mood Anati had come crashing down upon seeing it. At first, she didn't, couldn't, believe what she had seen. But then, she dismounted from her Chocobo to survey the scene for herself. From a distance, of course.

Yet sure enough, to her shock, there it was.

A band of Howlers seemingly standing over a fresh kill, blood covering their snouts as they tore and split whatever poor creature they had caught into several pieces. To the beastwoman's surprise, they then just took off. Coco nudged her as if to ask what she would do; next, the bird's rider got atop her mount for protection before approaching the scene.

The howlers scampered off, knowing well that not even they could challenge the might of the beastmen. Or perhaps they still had some sense in them, as a few approached Anati as if sizing her up before scampering off into the bush. When she got to what they were so eagerly tearing apart, she was shocked at what lay before her. It was a common Rabite, freshly killed. That wasn't what shocked Anati, as such was the way for all in Ferolia, even predators such as themselves. No, what caught her off guard was that there appeared to be still a good deal of meat left on the carcass. Howlers were fierce, only a level below beastmen in strength, yet they were not wasteful. Anything they caught, they made use of all that they could. This Rabite appeared to be killed just for the sake of it.

'What in the world is this?' she thought, pushing some of her blue hair out of her face. Indeed, while she hadn't been out in the woods much lately, it seemed that the local wildlife had begun to act strangely. More aggressive than usual based on what she had heard from others in Mintas. Even the simple act of going out and picking berries had become considerably risky, so instead of one, a small band of two or three would go out to do anything, and hunting required a whole party in case of the worst.

"Kweah!?"

Anati looked back, seeing her mount growing restless. "Coco?" she went to the Chocobo, holding onto her. "Coco, what?" it was then that she felt it too. It was fleeting, and just for a second, yet something seized her. Just for mere seconds, everything went red. Her blood boiled, her eyes widened, and the urge to go to that Rabite and rip and tear everything else out of its already ravaged form because she could. Once everything was burning, she was in a cold sweat at the sheer intensity of the sudden burst of emotion that overcame her. Suffice to say, she was both disgusted and terrified at what had happened.

She said nothing more, leaping onto Coco and rushing back to Mintas, not planning on coming back to the forest anytime soon.

Note: The voices that the beastmen and those in Jadd hear will be addressed much later, as it has something to do with the Benevodons and what's going on in Ferolia. I have big plans for those guys, so stay tuned for that, even if it's a long way away.

That said, the next part is where, I suppose you could say, the journey 'officially' begins. Sorry if it took too long, as I admit, I write at a slow burn pace. Yet here's hoping I've kept you entertained long enough to keep you guys wanting more.

Hope to see you next time!