The Way Back

Crowley: <I wonder what that is...>

*Crowley motions toward the tower.*

Derek: <To Alda, I suppose. We'll see if anything new has happened.>

*Kentaro lays there staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.*

[What an ugly color scheme.]

*Kari sits up and takes her glasses off a nightable and puts them on before looking over to Kentaro.*

"Good morning."

Kentaro:<And a good morning to you too.>

~Kari & Kentaro~

*A maid knocks on the door.*

Maid: <Good morning Master Kentaro and Lady Kari. Will you be coming downstairs for breakfast?>

=====
~Derek~

*The pilot nods and gets on the wheel. The Jade Rabbit hops around Derek.*

Jade Rabbit; <Worst. Trip. Ever. I had all kinds of ugly nightmares with that Canupus.>

=====
~Creed~

Fahren: <Ah, good--oh, someone's headed towards here.>

*He stands there with his eyes closed for a second before walking to the window to spot a large group of people walking towards the tower.*

=====
~Crowley~

Spade: <Did you not hear a word of what I said? The elven wizard we are looking for lives in the crimson tower at the Sephiran coast.>

=====
~Lucien~

*Allina slowly opens her blue eyes and starts yawning. She rolls over, facing Lucien, and widens her eyes, smiling broadly. She sits up.*

Allina: <Lucien! I don't... remember what happened after I fell into the ocean...>

Derek: <It was tame, for the most part. Or in the process of being tamed. Nothing to worry about.>

*He pats the rabbit on the head.*

"I dove in after you then Shadow possessed you and then decided to be smug. We worked it out. Sort of. Aera should be waiting with the ship." Lucien stands and offers his hand to help Allina up.

---

"Indeed it does" Creed says as he looks out the window.

Kentaro:<Yes?>

[I wish they'd stop calling me Master Kentaro. It's so weird.]

"Yes."

*Crowley sighs*

Crowley: <Hey, I can't help it. I'm really tired right now.>

~Kari, Kentaro & Kelphy~

*Kelphy is sitting alone at the table downstairs, close to falling asleep on a piece of cake.*

=====
~Derek~

Jade Rabbit: <Where did you go after the lab tour? I was looking around after raiding the kitchen but couldn't find you. Ended up sleeping here on the airship.>

=====
~Creed & Crowley~

*They arrive at the tower's door. Only Crowley's squad goes up the spiral staircase leading to the wooden door to Fahren's house. It's a large circular room that is something like a mixture of a bedroom, a library and a lab, with several bookcases and tables covered in colorful potions and stuff of the like around, a small bed, a smaller table with food, and a desk at the center, at which a very old and short man is sitting. He has a very hunched back, which only makes him look shorter. He stands at around half the height of the average man, and has white hair and a long beard that goes down to his feet, ending in a small braid tied with a red string. He has a very wrinkled face, with small dark green eyes, and long pointy ears. His skin is somewhat yellow-ish, and he is wearing oversized red robes. He smiles to the group. A little boy with silver hair is lying on the bed sleeping and a young man with long red hair tied in a braid wearing noble clothing is standing by the wizard.*

Fahren: <And who would you be?>

=====
~Lucien & Allina~

Allina: <Oh... well, that's great. Thank you for saving my life.>

*She takes his hand and gets up.*

Allina: <But... I don't think we shoulg go back just yet.>

Derek: <I got a bite to eat and came back. Not much else.>

"Why do you say that?" Lucien asked.

---

Creed looks at them, "What brings you people to Fahren's tower?"

Kentaro:<Hello.>

"Good morning."

Crowley: <Name's Crowley.>

*Crowley says nothing more and reaches into his pocket, digging out the necklace and dangling it in front of Fahren.*

~Kari, Kentaro & Kelphy~

*She widens her eyes and shakes her head away from the plate before looking up at Kari and Kentaro and smiling.*

Kelphy: <...Good morning! P-Please, have a seat and eat anything you like.>

*There are all sorts of different breakfast foods on the table that I won't bother listing.*

=====
~Derek~

Jade Rabbit: <Sounds boring.>

*The ship shakes violently again, hurling everyone around. The pilot hits his head and is knocked unconscious. A large shadow flies past the front of the airship at great speed.*

=====
~Creed & Crowley~

*Creed immediately recognizes the blue gem with a silver horse carved on it as being Kelphy's.*

Fahren: <Oh, isn't that an interesting piece of jewelry... it looks rather familiar though.>

*He steps forward and runs one of his long yellow fingers with long nails across the side of the gem.*

Fahren: <Ah, my memory isn't what it used to be.>

=====
~Lucien & Allina~

Allina: <I think... I think you have unfinished business with someone on this island.>

*She jerks her head towards the entrance. Lin is slowly walking into the cave.*

Allina: <I should leave.>

*Allina heads out.*

*The two just sit awkwardly quiet.*

[We've been invited here or something and she's horribly timid. But free food is free food.]

Kentaro:<Thanks.>

*Kentaro goes about putting some stuff on a plate.*

Derek: <What the hell is that!?>

*He turns to the Jade Rabbit.*

Derek: <Try to get control of the ship. I'm gonna go see what that thing was.>

"Indeed I do but I knew she'd find me before I left" Lucien waved to Lin. "I got what I came for" he smiled warmly.

---

Creed's sword is instantly at Crowley's neck. "How did you get Princess Kelphy's necklace!? Answer now or I will have to start slicing necks!"

*A slight grin rises across Crowley's face.*

Crowley: <If you want my honest answer, me and my group stole it. Problem?>

~Kari, Kentaro & Kelphy~

*Kelphy puts the map on the table and stares at it.*

Kelphy: <I don't get that the red crescent moon symbol means...>

=====
~Derek~

Jade Rabbit: <What?!>

*The rabbit tries to hop onto the wheel and fails miserably because it immediately turns, knocking him down. There is a ladder leading up to the usual airship roof hatch nearby.*

=====
~Creed & Crowley~

*Fahren widens his eyes and steps back.*

Fahren: <But of course! The famous pendant that belonged to Alda Colsun, founder of Alda. Well...>

*He looks from Creed, to Crowley, Spade, the sleeping boy and then the necklace.*

Fahren: <You aren't fighting in my house.>

*He waves a hand and the scenery distorts around them. Creed, Crowley, Spade, the fat bandit and the blonde thiefess are now all standing atop a tall wide and flat rock that could very well be a mountain whose upper half was chopped clean off. It's in the middle of the ocean, and the sky is pink, with clouds that emanate a blue and yellow aura floating about.*

Fat Bandit: <Is MAGIC!>

Blonde Thiefess: <Yes, fatso, it's magic. Now, what the hell is going on?>

=====
~Lucien & Allina~

*She stares at him blankly.*

Lin: <Who is that girl?>

"A friend of mine from the mainland" Lucien answers honestly. "She saved me from a monster here and has been traveling with the same group as I have."

---

"Give that necklace back thief!"

Kentaro:<Sorry, I don't know it means either.>

"I don't think I do either."

*Crowley looks around in awe at the environment shifting around.*

Crowley: <What the hell...>

*Crowley hears the other boy barking orders at him.*

Crowley: <No can do.>

*Crowley puts the necklace back into his pocket.*

Derek: <Never mind!>

*He runs for the ladder and begins climbing, then reaches up to knock the hatch open.*

~Kari, Kentaro & Kelphy~

Kelphy: <No, that's all right. I should probably just stop caring about a several hundred year olded folder. What will you two be doing today?>

=====
~Derek~

*Once up there, he sees an Ala Negra (see Monsterpedia, rank 5) flying around. Upon seing him, it makes a turn for the ship and dives down towards it.*

=====
~Creed & Crowley~

*Several daggers made of fire fly down from the sky towards Creed. The blonde thiefess opens her mouth and the hilt of a bronze rapier slides out. She pulls the sword out of her throat and points it at Creed. The fat bandit just stands there.*

=====
~Lucien & Allina~

Lin: <A friend? That doesn't sound like you.>

"I found a place where I finally belong. I've gotten to see the world through eyes unclouded by bias and hate. The world beyond this tiny island is nice. Someday you should go out and see it too Lin."

---

Creed just breaths and a wall of cold wind blasts all of the attacks and all of them back. His eyes have noticeably changed color to an icy blue and are aglow. "You don't want to mess with me not only because of my duty as a member of the royal knights but as one of Lady Kelphy's friends. Return the necklace or you'll be sorry, ."