A/N: Special thanks to Baby Kat Snophlake for many wonderful, useful reviews thus far. Thanks also to guest reviewer Silver – it's very encouraging to know that you're reading and enjoying this story. I actually came up with the idea for it a few years ago, but it took a while to get my act together enough to start writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss.
Chapter 15
Sylphday, Gnome-Decan 42, ND2019 – 12:15pm local time (Tataroo Valley)
Florian stifled a yelp as his foot slipped off the fallen log he was using to cross the stream. He landed in the cold water with a loud splash. The voices on the breeze giggled.
"Stop laughing," he said irritably, as he picked himself up and waded the rest of the way across. "It's not funny!"
Tee hee hee! Yes it is! Come on, Innocent One, hurry!
"I'm coming," he replied. "Which way do I go now?"
Follow us, Innocent One! We will guide you!
The breeze ruffled Florian's hair, playing with the tassels on his headdress. Florian turned so that the tassels blew forward, away from his face. That way, he thought. Follow the wind. Gripping Anise's dagger tightly with his left hand and holding the sheath in his right, he made his way uphill along the rocky cliffs.
There were monsters, but whenever one got close to Florian, the breeze seemed to shoo it away. Florian was grateful, yet he was slightly uneasy. What is this breeze? Who are these voices? Why am I being called...again?
He didn't dare ask aloud. This time, I won't screw up, he thought fiercely. I'm going to find out who wants me and why. If I don't, Engeve could be destroyed. He had only read about Engeve in a geography book, but he knew it was an important village. He just couldn't recall why it was important. Well, it's important to Colonel Jade, and he's my friend. That's good enough for me.
"How much...farther...is it?" Florian asked the breeze. He was beginning to get out of breath.
Not far! Not far! Come, hurry!
"I'm hurrying!" Florian said hastily. He didn't want to make the voices angry, but he was getting tired. He was also starting to worry about what Anise would think of him for running off on his own. The path wound upward and around, and up some more.
He felt guilty for leaving his friends behind without telling them about the voices, but he was afraid they wouldn't believe him. No one else had seemed to hear the wind whispering help us, help us, help us... Innocent One, Innocent One, help us...
Crossing the stream again, above a small waterfall, Florian was relieved to see the path begin to lead downhill. Unfortunately, a large monster was blocking the way. It was brown, vaguely person-shaped, and made of stone. The breeze rushed at it, but the monster didn't budge. Instead, it lumbered toward Florian.
Florian swallowed hard and took a deep breath. I can do this, he told himself.
That's a Stone Golem, the voices chorused. It's strong, but it's slow. Dodge its attacks, then run past it. Don't try to fight it!
Florian nodded. "Okay. Here goes!"
The golem swung one arm at Florian. He jumped sideways to avoid it. The golem spun around, both arms out, and Florian ducked under them just barely in time. Now he was on the other side of the monster. Obeying the voices' advice, Florian bolted down the path, but he tripped over a tree root and went sprawling. As he scrambled to get up, the golem lurched after him.
"Now what do I do?!" Florian shouted, as he found his footing and staggered forward.
This way! This way! The breeze tugged at Florian's robes. You're almost there!
Was it his imagination, or was there a faint green glow in the air? Florian wasn't sure, and at the moment he didn't care. The only important thing right now was to escape from the golem and follow the voices.
Rounding a corner, Florian stopped short. A group of Filifolia was gathering in front of him. He glanced back; the golem was still following him. With cliffs to his left and deep water to his right, there was nowhere to run. He was trapped.
The breeze puffed at the Filifolia, scattering them, but they quickly regrouped. The breeze scattered them again, crying, Innocent One, you're nearly there! The doorway, get to the doorway!
"Doorway?" Florian gasped. "Where?"
Over there! The breeze blew toward a hole in the cliff wall.
One of the Filifolia took advantage of the opening and hopped toward Florian, launching itself at him in a spin attack. Florian slashed wildly with Anise's dagger, but the monster's leafy antennae were longer than his arm, and he was knocked backwards.
He landed hard on his rear end. "Ow!" he cried.
Three more Filifolia bounced toward Florian. Suddenly the breeze swirled away upward.
Don't just stand there, Imperial Jewel! Help him!
"Huh?" said Florian.
Above him, a familiar voice chanted, "O roar of the earth, bring forth the fangs of the mighty dragon... Ground Dasher!"