Genis sat up on his sleeping-mat, staring at Colette by the light of the campfire. As soon as they'd exited Balacruf after completing the seal, she'd fallen ill again. Now, she lay there motionless, with no indication she was awake, but her mana told a different story: roiling, active. Maybe she was just anxious and having trouble falling asleep. But...

He couldn't help but think of how this was the second time now that she'd collapsed after a seal. Unbidden, his mind returned again to the questions Rai had casually raised. If this process was right, good - heavenly, even - then why did it feel so...wrong?

On the mat to his other side, there was a shuffling noise. He turned to face Lloyd, who was now sitting up as well, hair mussed but no hint of sleep in his eyes either. "You, too?" his friend whispered, and Genis nodded, then got up from the mat without further preamble, walking softly away from the camp. He could hear that after a pause, Lloyd followed.

"You're worried about Colette too, huh?" Lloyd murmured after a moment, as they walked slowly together until they reached the nearby lake. Genis sat down on a large log and Lloyd took a place beside him, bracing his hands on the wood and leaning back to stare over the moonlit water.

"Of course," Genis said, belatedly. "I mean...I know it's part of the process. Everything she's going through now, though...it just makes me think. Rai's right - what do we really know about the Regeneration, anyway?"

Lloyd's gloved fingers scraped the wood of the log. "Yeah," he said tightly. "I just...hate all this. Barely knowing what's going on...how much evil there is in the world, and we're just waiting for Colette to...to take it on herself...to get sicker and sicker, and change her own body more, if these first two seals have shown us anything."

"Exactly." Genis shook his head. "It's obvious there's more to it than we know. And...you must know this even better than I do, Lloyd - that Colette knows more than we know. But she won't tell us. Whether it's to protect us, or..." He stopped, uncertain of the alternative.

"But how does Rai know?" Lloyd burst suddenly. He turned to look at Genis, shaking his head. "Genis, I just - " He seemed to struggle with himself. "Fighting, taking action - it's something I know how to do. But dealing with all this, not knowing what's even going on..." His gaze looked almost desperate. "I don't get why he doesn't tell us."

"You know I've tried to get him to open up before," Genis sighed. "Lloyd, I think at this point, if anyone has a chance of getting him to tell the truth...it's you."

Colette heard her coming before she saw her - soft footfalls she never would have heard before, but now stood out, a pitter-patter that had purpose, coming closer and closer to their group. She made herself keep walking without reacting, even as she automatically scanned the forest. A moment later, a purple-clad figure emerged, dashing straight for them, and Colette relaxed. It was Sheena!

She stopped, raising a hand to wave cheerfully. "Sheena!" Her voice trailed off before she could continue as she realized that the girl wasn't reacting, just racing straight for Colette, a steely glint in her eyes, her cards held deftly in her hands. Wait…

Even before the cold realization had hit her, Lloyd was already there, blurring in front of her faster than she'd realized he could move, parrying Sheena's blow and sending her tumbling backwards, where she rolled to her feet several feet away, scowling. Colette swallowed painfully.

"What are you doing?!" Lloyd snapped, mirroring her own thoughts.

Sheena didn't even respond, racing forward again, but this time Kratos was the one to intercept, sending her skidding backwards effortlessly and forcing her to brace her palms on the ground, vaulting herself instantly back to her feet. Lloyd made a frustrated, angry noise as he dashed forward himself, this time launching his own attack, and for a few frantic moments Sheena was on the back foot, managing to dodge as Lloyd and Kratos fought synergistically and Genis fired off spells. Colette couldn't bring herself to join them.

The battle, furious as it was, ended faster than Colette could even finish processing the moment, Sheena panting and dusty, leaping backwards to put distance between herself and the two furious swordsmen. It was then that Colette spoke.

"Sheena," she said. Her voice was soft, but she saw that the other girl had heard, glancing up, her dark eyes unreadable. "What's wrong? How can I help?"

Pure shock showed in the mysterious girl's eyes, then anger. "What are you talking about?" she snapped. "I'm - I'm trying to kill you, don't you get it? Why are you - you should hate me!"

If you think death scares me at this point…She shoved away the uncharacteristic thought, letting herself smile gently, wistfully instead. "I know you're kind, Sheena. I saw it when you helped us at the ranch. You put your own self in danger to save the prisoners. So…really…what can we do to help? I'm sure we can all figure this out together!"

"I - what - " Sheena straightened, her cards held limply at her sides. "No, we can't. Whether we want to or not. The Regeneration isn't good for everyone, you know!"

Colette felt like all the air had been sucked out of her and forced herself to take in a long breath. "What do you mean?" Her voice was too calm, too cheerful, but she couldn't help it - that was just her default when she had nothing else to give.

Sheena's eyes were shadowed now, like she'd already said too much. "Never mind. But I will try again. Prepare yourself! And stop thinking of me as a friend!" Before anyone could say anything else, she'd fled, melting into the forest as quickly as she'd arrived. Lloyd and Kratos lowered their swords, staring after her.

AN: Short one, I know. Bit of a calm before the storm…If you're reading, consider leaving a review to let me know what you think! Thanks for stopping by.