Here is the next chapter. Thank you all again for the reviews, favorite, and follow. As always your feedback helps me make a stronger story.

Now, to the chapter.

Chapter 37: City of Devastation

"Stay away!" Lloyd yelled to an unknown force.

Someone chuckled darkly at him. "This should not hurt, in theory."

Lloyd felt a sharp pain run over his body as something cold and purple was pushed onto his hand. It felt like he was being ripped apart. He could barely breath and fought for each breath of air.

"This is indeed a find. Under the right conditions, you would be a prefect candidate for the Angelus Project. You would create a Cruxis Crystal that pales even host body A012," the voice said with delight.

What was this man talking about? Who was A012? What was this about the Angelus Project? Mom, where was his mom?

"I also feel that the Angelus Project is the key to awaking your dormant power," the voice spoke as it pressed the cold orb harder into his hand, burning it. He screamed and cried for mercy, but none came.

"Yes, that is perfect," the voice purred into his ear, sending chills down his spine. It was like the voice of a demon. Soon, he felt darkness overtake him. "Sleep well, boy," the voice mocked.

Lloyd shot awake and he attempted to fight off someone's strong hold.

"Lloyd, it's okay. You're having a bad dream," Colette's voice pieced through the fog of his mind.

It took Lloyd a few seconds to fully wake up and he looked up to see Colette's concern face. It didn't take him long to figured out what'd happened. "I...I had another nightmare."

Colette nodded sadly.

Lloyd sighed as he sat up. He ran a hand through his hair. "Man, I'm sick of these dreams."

Colette remained quiet for several seconds. "This dream was different. You didn't scream like before. You mostly just cried and whispered for your mother."

Lloyd blushed in embarrassment as he wiped his moist eyes.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Colette said in her usual gentle voice.

Lloyd unconsciously rubbed his exsphere, remembering the pain in his dream. The exsphere also seemed to react since it was burning, something that hadn't happened in years.

"Is your hand bothering you?" Colette asked as she took his right hand into her own.

Lloyd shook his head, blushing slight. "It's nothing." He looked around the camp. "What time is it?"

"It's a little past twelve," Colette answered.

Lloyd was surprised to hear this. "That late?"

Colette nodded. "Kratos gave everyone the day off. He said since we fought so hard yesterday and we have a long way to go to get back to Luin, we should rest for today."

Lloyd blinked several times. It looked like Kratos did have a heart.

"But he also said he wanted to see you after you've finished eating lunch," Colette added. "He said something about you not skipping training."

Lloyd gave a loud sighed. He should have figured. Kratos would always be Kratos.

After washing up in a nearby stream, Lloyd had a quick lunch made by Genis, thankfully. He didn't know if he could survive more of Raine's experimental cooking. Who mixed fried rice with chili and lemon anyway? He liked spicy food, but that dished nearly burnt his tongue off.

When he was finished, he went to meet Kratos, who was doing some training of his own not far from the stream.

"So, you're finally awake," Kratos stated neutrally.

Lloyd rubbed his head. He would never understand why waking up early was seen as such a virtue.

There was a long silence that past between the two.

"You finally know about the Chosen," Kratos stated simply.

Lloyd's eyes widened in shock. "You knew?"

"I have known for a while," Kratos admitted. "Her change in behavior was not hard to miss."

"Why didn't you tell me!?" Lloyd demanded angrily.

Kratos stopped practicing and turned to look at Lloyd with cold eyes. "Would you knowing the truth have changed anything?"

Lloyd was at a lost for words at the moment. "I...I could have done something. I could have comfort her in some way. I could have..."

"You could and can do nothing," Kratos spoke in a cold voice.

Lloyd sneered at his own helplessness. "I'm starting to wonder more and more about this. About this entire journey." He paced back and forward. More then ever, he needed to vent. "If this 'world regeneration' is really right."

"The Chosen is becoming an angel to regenerate the world," Kratos replied in his usual neutral tone. "Her current condition is a test. Remiel said that as well."

"How can you say something like that?" Lloyd hissed. "You don't even believe in the Goddess Martel, yet you're defending what is happening to Colette."

"I do believe in an upper power, even if it is not Martel," Kratos said. "Besides, the Chosen does not have to partake in the Regeneration Journey. Everything that has happened is by the Chosen's own will. She can turn a way at any time and there would be no one able to stop her, not even me."

"You know as well as I do that Colette would never abandon her duties or the people of this world!" Lloyd yelled.

"Exactly, which is why it is pointless to be anger at something you cannot change," Kratos said. "The Chosen has decided her fate and there is nothing you can do to change it."

Lloyd lowered his head. "I...I know I can't stop her. I...I just can't understand Martel. Why does she keep making people suffer? First the world with the Desians, and now Colette."

"It is futile to try to understand the nature of faith and belief," Kratos said. "The reason human suffering happens is a question older than time. The Church of Martel have its beliefs, the elves have theirs, so do the dwarves, and thousands of others who have no faith. The goal of life is to find your own truth and lived your life by it."

Lloyd looked at the older man as he stopped pacing. Kratos spoke a lot of truth. He may never understand the Church of Martel, but he could forge his own path.

"Lloyd, what do you believe in?" Kratos suddenly asked.

Lloyd was taken off-guard by the question. "What do you mean?"

"What do you believe in? I hear you talk about the things you do not believe such as the Church, but I hardly hear you speak of the things that motivates you," Kratos observed. "What compels you to pick up your swords and keep fighting?"

"I want to protect my friends," Lloyd answered in determination. "I want to protect Colette."

Kratos kept his face impassive. "Is that all?"

"What does that mean!?" Lloyd yelled, feeling his anger rise despite himself.

"Protecting something is good, but what happens if you no longer have anything to protect?" Kratos questioned. "What becomes of you if you somehow lose the ones you hold dear?"

"I won't lose anyone," Lloyd anwered in absolution. "I'll protect everyone with my swords."

Kratos was not pleased with Lloyd's answer. Lloyd's protective nature was a good thing and had served him well. However, that same protective, absolute nature could lead him down a very dark path, as it has done with Mithos. To ensure that does not happened, Lloyd needed more to believe in than just protecting everything. It was a lesson he should have taught Mithos.

"You have the mentality of a child, but you are still young," Kratos said as he lifted his sword. "We have talked enough. Let's begin the training."

Lloyd nodded as he took out his twin blades. Despite Kratos' words, he would protect Colette. Even from herself if necessary.

During Kratos and Lloyd's training session, Genis stood at camp catching up on his studies. He had allowed himself to fell behind in the last couple of weeks. Raine was more than happy to stay at the mausoleum for another day so she could examine all the artifacts that she found in and around the tomb.

"There's so much history here that it would take years to study it all," Raine cooed in full Ruin Mode as she looked over a vase with many carvings on it. "This is a rare valuable from Balacruf Dynasty. It even has the royal seal of the great King of Balacruf, Cleo III."

Genis was only half listening to all of this since he had other things on his mind.

"It's hard to believe that we've already broken three seals," Genis said, catching his sister's attention. "Only a few more and then Colette will be a true angel."

There was a flash of sadness that came across Raine's face, but Genis didn't see it since her back was turned to him. "Yes, the Journey of Regeneration is reaching its conclusion. However, we must not become complacence. Many trials still lay ahead and one wrong move could end everything."

"Like that assassin," Genis said.

Raine nodded as she turned around. "We were fortunate that Kratos was with us, otherwise Colette could had been killed."

"Honestly, we all would have died a long time ago without Kratos," Genis observed. "From the beginning he had been guarding and protecting us. It's like Martel herself sent him to be our guide."

"Yes..." Raine spoke slowly, putting down the vase.

Genis knew by Raine's tone that there was something on her mind. "Is it something about Kratos?"

"It is just that he is such a mystery. He came literally out of nowhere and saved the Chosen at the temple," Raine said. "He then offer his services so easily to protect Colette with no advance pay. That is extremely unusual for a mercenary given the nature of this job."

"What do you think he is?" Genis questioned.

Raine stared at the ground for several seconds. "I...I don't know."

Genis frowned. "I don't think he's a bad person. If he were a Fallen or something, he would have sold us out to the Desians a long time ago. Instead, he helped us kill one of the Grand Cardinals."

"True, but I still do not fully trust him," Raine admitted. "However, despite my feelings towards him, we have no choice but to rely on Kratos. As you say, we wouldn't last without him."

"But you trust him with Lloyd," Genis pointed out as the clashed of the two swordsmen training reached his ears.

"That is because I sense something from both of them," Raine stated. "I cannot really explain it, but I know that Kratos would never harm Lloyd. Besides, it is through Kratos' training that Lloyd has grown so strong. We will need Lloyd's strength for the future in rebuilding this world." She paused. "And to protect us from Kratos if the worse happens," she added mentally.

Genis was quiet for a few minutes. "Raine...do you think once the Desians are gone that things will change. I mean, that half-elves won't be discriminated anymore."

"There's no way to know," Raine attempted to answered neutrally.

Genis frowned. "I want to believe that things will get better, but what if the humans' hatred of us continues to live after the world is regenerated?"

Raine sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "That is highly likely. The discrimination of half-elves has never gotten better even after a successful regeneration."

Genis' shoulders slumped. "Then, what have been fighting for?"

"We must never give up hope," Raine said, although her voice sounded strain. "Maybe this time, we can make a different."

"But how will things be different this time?" Genis asked in frustration.

"We will not have the answer until the world is regenerated," Raine stated. "Until then, we must do everything within our power to make sure Colette succeeds. If she fails, it will not just be our future that ends."

Genis sighed. "I guess you're right. But...according to that assassin, not everyone will be saved."

"Yes, what she said was very strange," Raine said in a far-off voice.

"Raine, do you know something about her?" Genis asked bluntly.

Raine shook her head. "Nothing."

"Raine...you're not being truthful," Genis accused. "Why won't you tell me what's going on?"

"Because I really do not know," Raine answered honestly. "I have theories, but that is all they are. It is unwise to tell theories based on nothing but hunches and suspicions. Doing so opens the path to assumptions and many of histories greatest failures were the results of some bad assumptions."

"You can at least share them with me," Genis pushed.

Raine shook her head. "Not at the moment. Hopefully, we will find more about her in time."

Genis sighed in defeat. Raine could be so stingy at times.

Sheena groaned in pain as she limped into the city of Luin. The hiked back from the Balacruf Mausoleum was long, tiring, and not to mention humiliating. Twice, the Chosen had slipped through her grasp. Now, the Chosen had only two more seals to go before she became a full angle.

Dammit, this would have been so easy if that mercenary wasn't with them. Yeah, the younger swordsman was also strong, but he was nothing compare to that red-haired devil.

How exactly could that mercenary used magic anyway? He didn't seem to be a half-elf. The only other full-blooded human she knew that could use such powerful magic was that idiot Chosen.

"It's okay, Sheena," Corrine said in a gentle voice. "We can get them next time."

"You make it sound so easy," Sheena muttered. "I'm down to my last Guardian and I can't get close to the Chosen as long as that man's around."

Corrine frowned in thought. "Why don't we try bribing him? He is a mercenary and should have no loyalties towards her or her cause."

Sheena shook her head. "No, I've seen his eyes. That man, despite his line of work, has strong principles and convictions. He would never betray the Chosen for any price. We need another way to get around him."

"Maybe we may have to call your employer," Corrine suggested. "Surely, they can bring back up or something."

"I don't want do that yet," Sheena said quickly.

Her employer and his organization were not an understanding group of people. She doubted that they would kill her for her failure, they weren't that strict; but they would never forgive her either.

Her employer was a long time client of her clan and was also an important financial backer. His organization made up well over thirty percent of her clan's entire economy. Having him take his business elsewhere would greatly hurt her village. Not to mention the Chosen's success would destroy her world.

There was also the matter of pissing off the king and the Pope, the people who 'officially' hired her clan.

As important as all of those were, the real reason why she refused to ask for help was because of her pride. This was her chance to finally redeem herself. After ten years of guilt and shame, she thought this was her chance to finally make things right, even just a little. Her village may claim to have forgiven her, but she could see that look in their eyes. She could never show her face in Mizuho again if she failed.

"Miss, are you okay?" a man gasped when he saw Sheena limped into the city. "Who did this to you? Was it the Desians?"

Sheena was surprised by the man's concern. "Yeah. I ran into some bad luck with them." She could hardly tell him that she was beating up by the Chosen's group.

"You poor thing, come on," the man insisted as he led her into the inn. He practically knocked down the door. "Karen, we have another victim from the Desians!"

The innkeeper gasped when she saw Sheena's disheveled state. "What happened? Is she another escapee?"

"Doubt it. She's far too healthy," the man said. "The last group we got from the Ranch were all but dead when they got here."

A young boy, who was hiding behind the desk, came out to see what was going on. "That's Sheena!"

"Sheena?" Karen questioned as she checked Sheena's wound.

"Yeah, she's the lady who played with us last week," the boy said.

Karen nodded. "I see."

"It isn't anything serious," Sheena assured. "It's just a couple of cuts and bruises."

"Even small cuts can become infected," Karen said as she got a room key. "Take this room. It has an indoor bathroom which you can use to wash your wounds."

"I...I can't pay for this," Sheena stuttered. Truthfully, her funds were several stretched at the moment.

"It's free," Karen insisted as she forced the key into Sheena's hands.

Sheena was left completely baffled by the woman's kindness. "Why?"

The man turned to look at her. "Is our kindness that strange to you?"

"No...I didn't mean it like that..." Sheena stammered, trying to say something that didn't sound like an insult.

"It's rare these days for people to help each other when the Desians are involve," Karen said, barely hiding her anger. "Some even help the Desians hunt people down."

The man shook his head. "What a terrible world we live in."

The boy came around and began to pull Sheena. "I'll take you to your room."

Sheena was led upstairs and was taken into a large room that had a queen size bed and a fairly large bathroom. It was one of the best rooms that she had seen in Sylvarant. Most inns didn't have bathroom, not even community ones.

"This is your room," the boy said. "You're so lucky. This room isn't used often since most can't afford it."

Sheena said nothing for several seconds. "You said that they were other here from the Ranch?"

The boy nodded. "A couple of weeks ago, several prisoners managed to escape from the Ranch near here. They came here because they knew we wouldn't sell them out to the Desians."

"How did they escape?" Sheena asked.

She may have only passing knowledge of the Ranches, but she has seen enough to know that they were highly secured. Not to mention, most of the prisoners were half-dead and were in no shape to travel long distances.

The boy shrugged. "Don't know. We never ask."

"Huh, well thank you," Sheena said, putting a smile on her face.

"When you're well again, you can play with me and my friends again," the boy said with a huge grin.

"I would like that," Sheena replied as he watched the boy leave. Even though she didn't ask for it, a bath sounded heavenly right now.

She didn't waste a moment longer before running the bath water and spending more than a couple of hours soaking. When she was done, she walked out of the bathroom wearing a complimentary robe.

"Sheena, so this where you've been," Corrine said. He was currently relaxing on the bed.

"Hey, even I need a day off and I haven't had a decent room in weeks," Sheena said.

Corrine made himself more comfortable. "So, what's the plan now?"

"The Chosen should be coming here in a couple of days," Sheena said. "We just have to wait here until they come."

"And then?" Corrine questioned.

Sheena took a seat by the mirror and began to comb her long hair. "The Chosen will have to rest here before continuing her journey. Maybe I can assassinate the Chosen in her sleep and avoid her bodyguards altogether."

"That doesn't sound like you, Sheena," Corrine said with a deep frown.

"I know, but what choice do I have?" Sheena asked as she slammed her comb down in frustration. "I can't beat them in a head on in a fight. It maybe underhanded, but this is my last option."

Corrine sighed. "I know, but still..."

Sheena already knew what Corrine's was thinking. "You're worry about what will happened to this world if we succeed."

"I know this isn't our world but...people are dying, Sheena. This world is dying," Corrine said slowly.

Sheena closed her eyes. "I know."

Even a non-magic user like herself felt how low the mana was in this world. If this Chosen failed, Sylvarant would undoubtedly die. To save her world, she had to condemn this one to extinction, along with all its people. The mere thought of what would happen made her physically sick.

It was one thing to end one person's life for the good of others, but it was something different to be the one responsible for genocide. Didn't Tiga, the king, and the Pope know what they were asking of her? They couldn't possibly desire this. Well, the Pope…maybe, but certainly not Tiga and the king.

That wasn't even considering the immediate suffering, the Desians.

She unconsciously shivered at the thought of their name. They were indeed the personification of chaos as the elven word described. She had read that the Desians had invaded her own world over seven-hundred years ago. The Church and even Mizuho told complete horror stories of everything they'd done.

She once believed that the Desians were nothing more than just stories and myths told to justify people hatred towards half-elves. She now saw, however, that they were all too real and the simple stories of her childhood were real nightmares to these people.

She couldn't even imagine what it was like living in constant fear of them. Knowing that one night out of the blue that they could invade your town, ripped you from your home and family, and take you to a place that Sheena could only described as hell to suffer a slow death. How much had this world suffer?

"Sheena?" Corrine asked after she didn't respond to him.

Sheena quickly shook her head. "Sorry, kind of space out there."

"I was saying that it's strange at how strong this city is," Corrine said. "They took you, a complete stranger, in without a second thought. They even dare to hide prisoners from the Ranch."

Sheena smiled and nodded. "I guess hard times can bring out the best in people."

Sheena spent the day and most of the next relaxing, waiting for the Chosen's group to come to Luin. She knew she had a good head start since she could move faster over rougher terrain than them. They were traveling with two magic users who weren't as physically capable as the other members in the group.

"Hey Sheena, did you hear about Palmacosta?" the boy, who Sheena learned was named Bobby, asked.

"What about Palmacosta?" Sheena asked, trying to remember what city that was.

"Word just reached us that the Chosen's group destroyed the Desians in that area over three weeks ago," Bobby said excitedly. "The Chosen is really fighting against the Desians!"

Sheena heard rumors of the Chosen invading the Palmacosta Ranch, but news traveled slowly in Sylvarant since almost everything was learned from word of mouth. Apparently, this world had no central network. Nonetheless, it was nice to know that the rumors were true. At least one part of the world was freed from the Desians' hold.

A man near her laughed as he drunk his cider. "Soon, all of us will be free of those Desians! This Chosen will succeed, I can feel it."

"I wonder what the Chosen is like?' Bobby wondered out loud.

"You don't know what the Chosen looks like?" Sheena asked in surprise. In Tethe'alla, everyone and their dog knew who the Chosen was.

Bobby shook his head. "No. No one has seen the Chosen outside of her village and the Church."

"It's to protect her identity," the man spoke up. "We don't want the Desians knowing who the Chosen is so they can kill her."

Sheena nodded, understanding their concern.

Bobby suddenly turned towards Sheena. "Do you think the Chosen will destroy the Ranch around here, too?"

"It's impossible to say," Sheena shrugged. "I would assume it would be easier and faster to get rid of the Desians by completed the regeneration journey."

The man nodded sadly. "True, until Martel awakening, none of us will be truly safe from them no matter how many Ranches the Chosen destroys."

Sheena turned her eyes away from them. "They all depend on the Chosen so much and I have to kill her. Isn't there another way?"

"I hope the Chosen succeeds soon so my dad will come home," Bobby spoke in a somber tone, losing his cheerfulness.

"Your dad was taken to the Ranch?" Sheena asked sadly.

Bobby nodded. He wiped away some tears. "He was taken there just this season. Dad's strong, so he must be still alive. I was hoping he came back with the other prisoners."

Sheena wasn't sure what to say to that.

It was a tragedy that Bobby's story was the same for so many people. She learned since she's been here that everyone had lost someone to the Ranch and the Desians. How could Martel allow such an injustice?

Before Sheena could contemplate this longer a frantic man came running across the street. It was like he was fire.

"THE DESIANS ARE COME! THE DESIANS ARE COMING!" the man screamed at the top of his lungs as he kept running down the road.

The man next to Sheena immediately stood up. "It's too early for a raid. They must be after the prisoners from the Ranch."

"We need to hide the prisoners!" someone yelled.

A woman shook her head as she stared into the distance. "That won't work. Kvar is with them."

The air was sucked out of the street when people heard this. It was like they heard death itself was coming.

"Kvar? They must be serious," someone whispered in terror.

"Who's Kvar?" Sheena asked in confusion.

"The boss of the Ranch and one of the cruelest Desians in existence," a man answered. "If he's with them, they're not just here to search the town. They're going to destroy it."

"What!?" Sheena yelled in horror. "You got to be kidding me!?"

"Get out of town!" the man ordered as he pushed Sheena. "Since you fought against them, they will kill you on sight."

"Sheena," Corrine whispered. He already knew what Sheena would do.

"I'm not running," Sheena growled. "I can't just leave you here to die."

"You..." Before he could say anything further a flame arrow hit the inn. "Dammit, it's starting!"

"Get all the women and children out of here!" someone ordered over the growing roar of the fire.

More arrows came flying out of the sky, hitting the house and even some people. Complete chaos erupted as homes burned, turning the sky black.

Sheena ran to the back gate, knowing that was where the Desians would come, given the direction of the attack.

"Damn those Desians," Sheena growled. "Do you think I'll let you get away with this?"

When she reached the rear entrance, she was greeted by a legion of Desians.

"Stop right there!" Sheena yelled as she took out her paper cards.

"Look, some human is actually going to stand up to us," one of the Desians mocked. "And it's a girl to boot."

Sheena growled. "Don't underestimate me because of my gender." She jumped into the air. "Power Seal!" she screamed as a hail of paper hit the Desians, badly cutting them.

"You bitch!" a Desian yelled as he attempted to shot her with an arrow.

He was too slow and Sheena easily countered him by doing a swooping kick, knocking him off-balance. She finished him off by using her paper to slit his throat.

A mage attempted to cast fireball, but Corrine was right there and bite the man deeply on his neck, causing him to scream in pain.

"Serpent Seal!" Sheena yelled as she disabled several more Desians.

A group of them attempted to take her back, but she seemed to disappear.

"Where...?" one of the Desians started to ask.

He didn't have the chance to finish before Sheena landed on his head and twisted his neck with her legs. Before his partner could react, Sheena gutted him with her cards.

Another group of Desians charged her, but she was able to hold her own against each new wave. Whenever she was injured, she recouped the damaged by using her Life Seal. By the time a few minutes past, several bodies surrounded her.

"How sad it is that my men can't handled a single girl," a cold voice stated.

Sheena looked up to see a tall man with blond hair and slanted eyes staring at her. She could feel his evil aura, which made her shiver.

"I take it that you're Kvar," Sheena said as she pointed one of her cards at him.

"How amusing, so the little insect has heard of me." Kvar glanced over Sheena's clothes and smirked. "I see, you are no ordinary worm. You are a ninja from Mizuho. My, you are a long way from home."

Sheena went into a fighting stance. So, the Desians knew about Tethe'alla. She wasn't sure how that was possible, but she didn't care at that moment. "Leave now and I'll let you live."

Kvar chuckled. "An inferior being like you threatens me? Do not get cocky because you managed to kill a couple of cockroaches."

At that moment, several people holding weapon came to Sheena's aid.

"Sheena, leave now!" one of them yelled. "This is our fight."

Sheena shook her head. "I'm already in this too deep to just let you all defend for yourselves. I will protect this town even if it cost me my life."

"And that is exactly what it is going to cost you," Kvar said as he lifted up his staff. Lightning began to surround him and he glowed with power. "Lightning Strike!" he yelled as three lightning bolts struck in succession, hitting the entire group.

Sheena screamed as she felt the lightning rip through her body. Before she could regain her bearings, Kvar appeared in front of her.

"A specimen like you would be great for my research, but I have my eyes on a much bigger subject." Kvar raised his staff. "You can just die.

Without another word, he stabbed Sheena casually through her midsection with his staff.

"Sheena!" Corrine screamed in horror.

Kvar lifted Sheena's body off the ground and threw her like trash into the nearby lake. Without a second thought, Corrine jumped into the water, following his mistress.

"That is one annoyance out of the way," Kvar said as he wiped his staff.

"You monster..." one of the still conscious villagers growled.

Kvar turned towards the soldiers who were just entering the city. "Take them all to the Ranch. If any resist, kill them."

"Yes, Lord Kvar!" they yelled as they went to gather the survivors.

"Just you wait!" a villager yelled defiantly as a Desian lifted them off the ground. "The Chosen is coming and has already taken out one in your ranks. You Desians' days are number!"

Kvar smirked. "The Chosen."

"That's right!" the village yelled at the Grand Cardinal. "The Chosen will come to your Ranch and will pass judgment on you, just as she did Magnius!"

Kvar walked up to the villager and lifted their chin with his staff. He glared into the poor soul's eyes and smirked. "You silly inferior being, that is exactly what I'm counting on."

Our favorite scumbag Grand Cardinal makes his grand appearance in this story. It's been a couple years since I've written Kvar and he is just as wicked as remember. There will be some slight liberties taken from the game. Nothing too major, but will be some references to my other stories, especially Cruxis Chronicle. You should still be able to follow along even if you haven't read them, so don't worry. Just wanted to give a warning.

Anyway, until next chapter.