Rai stared out over the shimmering water, his eyes distant. His toes skimmed the water as he absently swung his legs back and forth over the edge of the dock, and the sea air was cool and briny. This secluded portion of the docks was far removed from the main ones, a small fishing area behind some storage-houses, and there wasn't another soul in sight.

Just the way he liked it.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Things felt like they were getting more and more muddled every day. It was hard to keep sight of what his goals were even supposed to be, anymore. Was he meant to try and keep the party on track? Was there even something above and beyond he could do? And now there was all this stuff he had to deal with about his own mental stability. How could he possibly work on integrating W? He barely knew where to start.

Maybe channel some of Lloyd when you're interacting with him, Akira suggested unexpectedly from where he'd been long silent. Rai started a little and narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Can't read my thoughts…right.

Hey, is that what you're focusing on? I'm trying to help you.

Rai rolled his eyes and decided to let it go for now. Yes, well. I suppose I can try that. This is just all very strange. It has to be magical in some way.

It definitely is, Akira agreed. I don't think a human could have split their mind apart in precisely the way you have. This is above and beyond what I knew of in my previous life. I think slowly you have to try to think back and gather information so that you can regain your memories. That could be ultimately the only way you can make yourself whole again.

Setting that aside…Rai looked absently at his palms, inspecting the gauntlet on his right hand, now slightly battle-worn. Is there something I'm supposed to be doing right now? Trying to steer the party in the right direction?

There was a pause while Akira thought. Well, he said finally, you seem to be pretty on track in terms of the Regeneration. You have the Book already and they're planning to set out for the seals. But the other thing you'll have to make sure happens is…well, destroying the Desian ranches. That just kind of…happened to go that way, in the game. It wasn't part of the group's goals.

Rai sighed, the memories coming back to him. Right - Magnius was supposed to attack Palmacosta, kidnap Chocolat, and spur the party to go rescue her. Then they were meant to have a confrontation with Magnius, kill him, and end up destroying the entire ranch. Not doing that would be a huge departure.

We're supposed to get news of that when…Rai furrowed his brow, trying to remember. When we're at Hakonesia Peak, right?

Technically, yes. I'm not sure if the timing is still right for that, though.

Rai sighed. If that didn't happen, maybe he'd have to make up something or come up with some other reason why they needed to go back to Palmacosta.

He tensed suddenly, his hands clenching on the edge of the dock. Someone's coming. A moment later, he relaxed as he recognized the mana signature.

"Father," he said, neutrally, as Kratos lowered himself to the docks beside him. There was silence for a few beats.

"Are you alright?" Kratos murmured finally. There was something in his voice Rai couldn't quite place. He hesitated.

"I will be. I just have some…less than perfect memories of this place," he said finally. Kratos seemed to accept this.

"I'm sorry, my son," he said quietly, after another pause. Rai couldn't help but feel taken aback. This wasn't like Kratos. It took him several more moments of frantic mental searching to remember what the angel was probably apologizing for.

"It's fine," he said wearily. "I'm too tired to keep up any kind of grudge right now. Yeah, it turned out Yuan's actually my - " It was hard to say, for some reason. " - father," he continued by force of will, "but…I can understand why you never told me. Abandoning me in Palmacosta is less understandable, but I've known about that for a while now." He didn't meet Kratos's eyes, so he couldn't see the mercenary's expression.

"He does care for you, you know," Kratos replied finally. His voice was still quiet and subdued. "Even if he doesn't quite understand it himself." The mercenary let out a quiet, bitter chuckle, again seeming very uncharacteristic. "I don't envy you, Rai. Both your fathers are ancient, un-aging, probably somewhat insane angels."

Rai wasn't sure what to say to that. Laughter didn't seem quite appropriate. "Yes, well - I suppose I'll have to manage," he said. Finally turning to look at Kratos, whose expression was now unreadable, he continued, "On another note — did you make any progress on that favor I asked of you?"

Kratos hesitated. His hand seemed to twitch slightly towards his pocket, so quickly that Rai wasn't sure if he'd imagined it.

"Some," he said haltingly. "But…Rai…have you spoken to Yuan about the effects of the transformation?"

"Not yet," Rai admitted. "What progress?"

Kratos sighed, looking out over the water and resting an arm on one knee. "Well - I may have managed to obtain a Cruxis Crystal for you…"

Rai's heart sped up automatically and he took a deep breath, trying to clamp down on his excitement. "But?"

"But it doesn't have a key crest. In theory, any key crest can be effective even for a Cruxis Crystal, but…depending on the particular crystal, and the particular wielder, sometimes strange things can happen. The most effective way would be to have a Dwarf custom-make an appropriate crest." Kratos shook his head. "Rai - how much do you know about Exspheres?"

Rai hesitated. "Not very much," he admitted finally. He considered whether to say more, then decided against it, opting to simply continue to stare out over the water. It took several more long moments, but eventually his patience was rewarded.

"I have something to admit to you," Kratos said finally. "…I - I was not completely truthful with you when we spoke about the angel transformation last time."

Now this was not something Rai had expected. He let his eyebrows rise, not bothering to hide his surprise. "Oh?"

Kratos shook his head, his auburn eyes fluttering shut for a moment before he opened them again and fixed his gaze firmly on Rai's. "I worry about you undergoing the transformation, Rai, if I'm honest. I didn't want you to take it lightly."

"…Okay," Rai said carefully, after a pause. "But?"

Another sigh from the Seraph. "…I ask, as I did before, that you speak to Yuan about this matter first. Not only is he a half-elf, as you are, but he is also much closer and more familiar with the experimentation that has been done."

Rai nodded. He knew better than to waste his time arguing. "I'll talk to him first, then."

There was another silence. This one lasted for quite some time, and Rai was just about ready to get to his feet to leave when Kratos spoke again. "Would you like to spar?"

Kratos's fist crashed into Rai's guard for the umpteenth time, sending the half-elf tumbling back into the dirt. Rai rolled onto his feet, staggering slightly, and couldn't help himself from glaring at the older man.

"Why are you being so - "

He had meant to ask why the Seraph seemed to be going so hard on him, but Kratos had already blurred into motion, his training sword whistling through the air. Rai growled and barely managed to duck under the blow, twisting and bringing his own blade around in an arcing attack, but the seraph easily deflected and kicked under Rai's feet, sending him sprawling once more.

This time Rai struggled trying to get back up, panting. He was covered in dust and he could feel his clothes sticking to him uncomfortably. How long had they been going at this?

Kratos was giving him a strange, measuring look. "Is that the best you can do?"

Rai couldn't even bring himself to be angry. He was still terrible at close combat, especially when compared to a thousand year-old seraph. But why was -

Several things happened at once in the next moment. Kratos was suddenly on him, far faster than a human would be able to perceive, and the blow was aimed directly for Rai's throat, the gleam in his eyes suddenly fierce. At the same time, Rai's head exploded in agony as he felt the alien sensation of Akira forcefully taking over his limbs without his having expected it. Rai's body back flipped out of the way and landed in a stance that was unfamiliar to him. He tried to talk, but realized he didn't have control of his vocal cords.

Kratos was giving him an intense, steely stare, advancing slowly. "So. You can fight, then. Which makes me wonder, as I have before, where you learned this style and why you go to such lengths to hide it?"

Akira, let go of me!

What if he tries to kill us again? his other self snapped. I am not in the mood to die again, whether that means going back into oblivion or waking up in another annoying brat's body.

He won't! He was just trying to prove some sort of point -

He stopped as Kratos attacked again and Akira countered, twisting Rai's body in unfamiliar ways and expertly handling the training sword they were wielding. The next few moments were a blur as Rai tried and failed to fully keep track of what was going on. It ended with Kratos managing to kick Rai in the chest, driving the breath out of him and sending him flying. He found himself staring up at the sky, dazed, and gasped for breath. Then he realized he had control of himself again. The shock must have loosened Akira's hold.

Kratos was above him, extending a hand. After a moment's hesitation, Rai took it and allowed the other to pull him to his feet, breathing heavily.

"Honestly," Rai managed after a moment, "I really couldn't say. My memory isn't all there. Most of the time I can barely fight other than using magic, but there are moments when something just…comes over me. I don't have much else to tell you."

There was still a suspicious gleam in Kratos's eyes, but he shook his head. "Then what is it you want me to teach you?"

"Just carry on as you have been," Rai insisted. "The me that…has these skills…is inaccessible to me most of the time. I have to be able to fight without that."

Kratos was quiet for a few moments. Then he sighed and clapped a hand on Rai's shoulder. "Fine. But you need to talk to Yuan before I'll even entertain any more questions about the transformation."

He walked off, leaving Rai to stare after him in bemusement.

"How do you fight, anyway?"

Aalissi blinked at the sudden question. She was having a hard time figuring the asker out - a strange swordsman he was, dressed in red suspenders and gravity-defying hair. He was pleasant enough now, in contrast to her initial impression of him.

"How?" she echoed, turning to face him from where she'd been perusing defensive gear at a shady stall.

He shrugged and leaned back against the wall, gesturing at the fan on her back. "Doesn't seem very dangerous."

She reached out with her mana and could sense only guarded curiosity from him. The answer would be obvious enough regardless the moment he saw her fight. "It's a magical artifact - it helps me channel my mana."

His brow furrowed. "Wouldn't it be more useful to have something that could - you know - actually deal damage itself, as well?"

Aalissi had to hide her grin at that. Well, she couldn't answer everything for him. Instead of answering the question, she turned back to the stall.

"Hey, no need to be all secretive. I'm just making conversation." His voice had moved closer to her now, and she could see out of the corner of her eye that he'd joined her at the stall, running his hand through some of the trinkets. "Huh. This is an interesting ring…"

There was silence between them for a short while, and then Lloyd burst out with another question, as though unable to help himself. "So…how was it that you and Rai met the other day, anyway?"

Somehow she'd expected his name to come up. "He was having some…trouble with the local townsfolk," she said, picking up the ring Lloyd had been examining. Surprisingly, she could feel a faint trickle of mana coming from the gem. "I lent him a hand."

Lloyd lowered his voice. "I should have known. Why is it always that?"

She glanced over at his shadowed face. "That?"

He shook his head, a few strands of brown hair falling into his eyes. She noticed his fingers tighten on the edge of the stall where he'd braced his hands. "Discrimination. That's always what it is. Everywhere we've traveled it's what we've seen - people not able to be individuals, or see others for who they are - it's all about whether you're a human, or a half-elf, or…" He trailed off. "It's so frustrating."

"It comes from fear," she pointed out. "Have you noticed a different air here?"

Lloyd laughed a little bit, mirthlessly, and pushed the heel of one hand against his forehead, swiping his hair back. "You know, I have. If anything, even though there's a larger air of hope here, there also seems to be even more outward hatred towards half-elves."

As though to illustrate the words, there was suddenly a commotion at a nearby stall. They both looked over reflexively. A slender man, cloaked, stood across from the merchant manning the stall. The merchant's harsh words rang across the marketplace. "I told you, leave! We don't serve your kind here."

The man raised his head as though to speak, but before he could, somebody nearby had darted forward. He leaped to the side instantly, despite it being completely out of his field of vision, but not before the person had managed to snag a finger on his cloak, and the hood fell back, revealing his features. Long violet hair cascaded down his back, and his pointed ears were adorned with jewel-encrusted rings. There were some gasps of dismay from the crowd. "A half-elf!"

Before Aalissi realized what was happening, Lloyd had already stepped forward, putting himself in the center of the ring of people. He extended a hand to the cloaked stranger. "Lloyd Irving. Good to meet you."

The stranger had already replaced his hood, carefully tucking the last strands of his vibrant hair back underneath. He shook Lloyd's hand and inclined his head in greeting, but did not provide his name in return. Lloyd seemed unfazed by this. The next moment, the two of them were walking back towards the stall where Aalissi still stood. Ripples of displeasure reverberated through the crowd, but nobody seemed to want to draw too much attention to themselves, and after a few moments the scrutiny seemed to subside, with passersby slowly returning to their shopping.

"Thank you," the stranger said to Lloyd, who was already shaking his head.

"Don't worry about it. Seriously, anti-half-elf sentiment seems to be worse in this place than anything I've seen. Are you from around here?"

"Not quite," the half-elf said. "I've been traveling quite a bit as of late."

"And your name?" Aalissi inquired. "Mine is Aalissi."

He turned his attention to her for the first time, and she saw the moment when he realized what she was, his violet eyes widening, though he made no comment. "Pleased to meet your acquaintance, my lady. I am Alai."

As she allowed him to take her hand, she saw Genis moving towards them from a nearby stall. His mouth opened as if to say something to Lloyd, and then on noticing the stranger, seemed to freeze and stop a moment. His mana thrummed with shock, sending alarm bells through Aalissi, and it was all she could do not to jerk her hand away from Alai's.

The oddity lasted only a split second, and then the moment seemed to have passed, and if she hadn't known better, she'd almost have wondered if she'd been imagining things. "Hello," Genis said, brightly enough. Alai inclined his head in return.

"I am pleased to meet so many of my fellow countrymen," he said smoothly, and Aalissi thought she saw Genis's smile falter for a moment.

"Are you in need of lodging? I can show you to the inn," the young half-elf offered. Alai smiled back at him.

"That would be wonderful, though I'm sorry to trouble you."

Lloyd was glancing back and forth between the two, seeming a little bemused. "Ah - I can - "

"Don't worry, Lloyd - I'll take care of it. You just finish up the shopping!" Genis had already turned on his heel back in the direction of the inn, throwing the words back over his shoulder cheerily, and Alai had melted into step with him immediately. She stared as the two disappeared into the crowd, unsure what to make of the situation.

"Was it just me, or did the two seem to know each other?" Lloyd asked slowly, after a few moments.

Aalissi shook her head slowly, not sure what to say. "I…there seemed to be something off, that is for certain. But I didn't sense any malice from the stranger."

Lloyd seemed to relax a bit at that, though why, she wasn't sure. "Well - I guess I'll have to ask Genis about it later."

There was something very familiar about the scene that morning - the party all trudging down a long path across a grassy field, a House of Salvation barely visible on the far edge of the horizon as their destination for that day. At least this time, the others weren't chirping away incessantly as they had been on that day that now seemed so long ago, when they had been on their way to the very first House. On second thought, though, Rai wasn't sure this was much better. A more somber air seemed to hang over the party, and nobody was speaking too much. Raine and Kratos brought up the lead of the party, but they didn't seem to keen on interacting. Colette followed, Aalissi keeping in step with her, and Lloyd following not far behind. Genis and Rai brought up the rear.

"Rai", Genis said quietly after a moment. "Did you feel it? How…off everything felt back in Palmacosta. There was just something strange about it all."

"Like what?" Rai pushed, trying not to give away too much in his voice. He vaguely remembered that the mayor of the town had been pretending to resist the Desians while actually working for them, but it was hard to recall much more detail than that. If only Akira was more help, but as always, the annoying voice was hard to find when he was most needed. Ever since the struggle over Rai's body when they had sparred with Kratos, Akira had been disgruntled and silent.

"Well - it seems like the townspeople are pretty emboldened against the Desians. Forming militias, thinking that their leader - Dorr - is going to somehow lead them in battle against them. But if that were really the case…would the Desians really be complacent about it?" Genis shook his head. "More than that - even if they are serious, there's no way those townsfolk can win…"

Rai remained quiet, and after a few more paces Genis continued, "There's something else, too. Something I…I heard…" He swallowed and glanced around. The rest of the party were a little ways ahead. "Someone warned me that the Desians might be, well…planning a raid. But they were hinting that our party might be their true goal."

"Who told you that?"

Genis wasn't looking at him. "Just…I don't know. A half-elf I didn't know. He was pretty cryptic about it."

Obviously, his brother was hiding something, but it might be better not to press the matter.

Still, what to even do with this information? Did he need to convince the party to travel back to Palmacosta so that they could be there for the Desian raid? But… No. It was all starting to come back to him. Dorr – the Desians – had wanted them to be lured to the ranch. That had been the whole reason why Chocolat was kidnapped in the first place. So… Even if he did nothing in response to this, shouldn't things still play out in the correct manner?

Even if something within Rai felt uneasy about the whole thing, he continued walking, taking no action, and the party continued on towards the House of Salvation.

Author Note: As you can see, I can't promise great regularity with these uploads...However, I'm planning to continue with this story. If anyone wants to see it through to the end, I welcome you on that journey with me. Comments are welcome.