The Way Back

Crowley: <(Oh? Are we finally there?)>

*Crowley hears people talking outside.*

Crowley: <Kelphy... isn't that the girl that has what we came for?>

Kentaro:<Interesting.>

"Two tickets to Alda."

Kentaro:<Oh, right. That too.>

~Kari & Kentaro~

Ticket Lady: <Second class tickets to capital Alda cost 300 Gald each, please.>

=====
~Creed, Derek & Crowley~

Crone: <I suppose I can do that, but we'll have to make haste, me and Sir Creed still have quite the journey ahead of us from here.>

*And so Crone leads them out of the aerodrome. The city is a lot like Sephira, except covered in snow. Instead of clay brick houses painted in different colors and classical stone palace seen in capital Sephira, this city's houses are mostly built of stone bricks with ebony roofs and the palace is all in white stone with blue details.*

Spade: <Yes.>

Fat Bandit: <We follow'em?>

=====
~Lucien~

*He can't seem to find her. He arrives at a fork up ahead. To the left he can see smoke rising up in the distance, and to the right the path heads down another cliff and apparently towards the ocean.*

*Crowley sighs with relief.*

Crowley: <Finally. Let's get the hell out of here!>

*Crowley quickly kicks open the lid and it goes tumbling into the sky and lands next to the crate.*

Derek: <Wow... it's really cold here. Let's get to the palace, shall we?>

*Kentaro hands the lady six-hundred Gald.*

~Kari & Kentaro~

Ticket Lady: <Thank you, have a nice trip!>

*Soon, they're sitting in an airship headed to capital Alda.*

Jade Rabbit: <This is so great.>

=====
~Creed & Derek~

*Crone leads down some street in the palace's direction.*

Crone: <...I apologize for having destroyed your palace.>

=====
~Crowley~

*The Blonde Thiefess and Spade hop out of the crate. They hear groaning sounds coming from another crate and it bursts, pieces of wood flying everywhere. The Fat Bandit stands up and smiles broadly.*

Spade: <Let's go.>

*Spade runs towards the exit.*

*Crowley quickly follows Spade.*

*The two are sitting rather awkwardly. Kentaro's tapping his fingers on the arm rest.*

"My home country is beautiful isn't?" Creed said with pride.

---

Lucien goes to investigate the ocean first.

Derek: <No harm done...>

~Kari & Kentaro~

*The rabbit hops onto Kentaro's lap.*

Jade Rabbit: <Were you actualy considering that deadly cottage offer?>

=====

~Derek, Creed & Crowley~

*They arrive at the palace's main entrance, where a couple Aldanian soldiers wave at Creed before noticing Derek and abruptly bowing to him. Crowley and the gang are following them closely.*

Crone: <We must continue on our way now. Best of luck, Your Highness.>

=====
~Lucien~

*The path nears the ocean but then straights up to a cave entrance near sea level, the waves rustling over the rocks.*

Kentaro:<Somewhat. Fifty percent off on a cottage does sound nice.>

Derek: <Thanks. I'll need it.>

*He enters the palace and takes a deep breath.*

Crowley: <Guards, guards, guards.... how are we going to get past this without fighting, I wonder?>

*Crowley puts his right hand in his right pocket.*

"Indeed, good luck Derek" Creed cat smiles before waving.

---

Lucien makes a mental note of the cave and goes back to go the other way.

~Kari & Kentaro~

Jade Rabbit: <...Right. So this means you like cottages?>

*The rabbit stares at him, occasionally glancing at Kari.*

=====
~Derek~

*It's a really pretty palace, with lots of crystal decorations. A lot more delicately decorated than his own was, and with several paintings on the walls of the entrance hall, one of which features a smilling 6 year old Kelphy that reminds him of Ella.*

=====
~Crowley~

Spade: <Taking on a whole palace wouldn't be very wise.>

Blonde Thiefess: <We'll be so quick to steal the thing they won't even have time to fully notice our presence.>

Spade: <Seems unlikely.>

=====
~Creed~

*They arrive at a tall mansion and Crone walks into its gardens and takes a key out of his pocket, opening its door.*

Crone: <Please wait here. I'll make it fast.>

*He steps in. Minutes later, a luxurious carriage pulled by two white horses being conducted by none other than Crone shows up around the back and exits the house. Crone motions Creed to ride next to him.*

=====
~Lucien~

*As he's walking down the left path, arrows start raining upon him.*

Shadow hands catch the arrows and he pulls out the crest again. "I'm here on official business."

---

"... did you have to pick something so... fruity?"

*Derek shivers as he passes the picture.*

Derek: <Lady Kelphy, are you here?>

Crowley: <One of us is going to need to be a decoy...>

*Crowley digs deeper into his pocket.*

Kentaro:<It's cheap housing and the hunting thing sound kind of fun.>

*He glances over to Kari.*

Kentaro:<At least I think so.>

~Kari & Kentaro~

Jade Rabbit: <...Okay.>

*After a while they arrive at capital Alda's aerodrome.*

=====
~Derek~

Kelphy: <Master Derek!>

*She's standing at the top of a wide staircase, back to wearing a long blue dress and a silver tiara, her long hair braided around a low bun.*

=====
~Crowley~

Blonde Thiefess: <Well... the rest of the gang should be here soon and...Aww, fine.>

*She strolls down the street and sticks her tongue out at the palace guards. They seem annoyed, but don't really react until she pulls a long bronze rapier out of her mouth and points it at them, then proceeding to leap onto the roof and runs off. Each of the two guards runs in a different direction around the palace to try and block her way down, thus leaving the entrance clear.*

=====
~Creed~

*Crone ignores his remark. After he rides on, they venture out of the capital and one of its many surrounding frozen plains, towards the Northwest.*

=====
~Lucien~

*The guards on the watch towers seem extremely annoyed but cease their attack and order the large wooden gates be opened to allow Lucien access through the large wooden wall surrounding the village.*

*Kentaro picks up the Jade Rabbit and the two depart from the airship.*

*Derek smiles brightly, then begins walking up the stairs.*

Derek: <I've been sent here to give you this.>

*He takes out the message from his pocket.*

Lucien walks in making sure his crest is on display but keeping his head low all the same.

---

Creed remains silent and feeling uneasy about the ride.