Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.

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AN: Hello, greetings, and salutations! Yeah, I didn't update last week cuz I didn't get the chance to go to the library. (shrugs) All well. My sister gave me wind up sushi. No, that is not a joke. She really did. It's just wrong... and freaking funny. How I wish I was joking about the wind up toy she gave me. Ha! She really did.

Why am I even talking about this? I dunno. To fill up the AN's spot or something? Right-o.

Guh, what a chapter. This was really hard to piece together. I only hope that it is easy to read. Dang, I’m having a hard time following it and I wrote the damn thing. All well.

Okay here's the next chapter! Enjoy.

“You seem to be having a problem with Ryu and his companions,” Legence said.

Gideon was once again in his secret chambers underneath the heart of the palace. He had gone there to meditate and dwell on the recent events, when Legence appeared out of nowhere. Now he was forced to listen to the winged man.

Gideon slowly turned his attention from the statue of Valerie to Legence. The last thing that he needed was for that man to point out his short fallings.

“Nothing that the Swords cannot take care of,” Gideon said.

“Transell and Counsei have both failed to retrieve the Goddess Keys,” Legence pointed out. “Dante hasn’t even moved out yet to check out Worent for the Key.”

“I know that,” Gideon said.

“And to make matters worse, Aaron might have gained a Key,” Legence said as he started to pace around the darkened room. Torchlight flickered off his face wildly, creating a sinister look on his face.

“I hear that you have captured the one that will become the Sword of Wind,” Gideon said.

“It has been a challenge, but she has been turned and will obey your every order, my liege,” Legence said. He stopped pacing and turned his attention to Gideon.

“Good. I want you to send her and Transell to Angel Tower,” Gideon said.

“Why there?” Legence asked.

“Because, Angel Tower is a painful reminder for my race. I want that eye sore obliterated. Do what ever you have to do, I just want it destroyed,” Gideon said.

“There is something else, isn’t there?” Legence asked.

“Yes. I have a feeling that a Goddess Key is there. Ryu will be going there soon enough. When he does, lure him out and here to Dragnier. I don’t care what you have to do, just do it,” And with that, Gideon walked over to the exit and walked out of the room.

Legence smiled to himself. He knew exactly what he needed to do in order to get the prodigal son out in the open. Besides, he needed to eliminate that woman that had touched him. She knew too much if she found out about Nunnally so easily.

Soon, they would all die.

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Getting to the Urkan Tapa was a breeze with Jin, Manna, and Yuki teleporting everyone. It had been ten years since Ryu had last step foot in the holy city of the Urkan faith. Over five hundred years since his past self had stepped foot into the city.

Both times he had almost bitten the bullet and died. Due to outside forces, however, he had survived. It was all a part of being the Destined Child, after all.

Ryu, however, was not really thinking about any of that at the moment. He was more focused on the young woman beside him that currently had her hand intertwined with his. Ryu was more or less on cloud nine when he and Nina had finally broke down and confessed their feelings for each other.

Who knew that Wyatt’s speech would be a good motivator? He just hoped that the vertically challenged redhead would keep his opinions to himself from now on. He certainly did not want a repeat as to what happened.

“So, how hard will it be to get past the guard?” Wyatt asked, his question all but shattering the blissful silence.

“We’re old friends of Garr’s,” Yuki said.

Nina and Ryu nodded in response. How could they forget their adventures with Garr, the babysitter of Destiny! Someone was really going to have to beam Yuki over the head for her habit of naming things.

Jin and Manna merely sighed. They too knew Garr, but it was for a different reason than Ryu, Yuki, and Nina. Jin had more than enough experiences with the sharp end of Garr’s halberd to need any reminders.

Yuki glanced over at Jin in confusion. “Something wrong Jin?”

Jin merely shook his head. “Ah, nothing to be concerned with,” Jin said.

The group finally made their way to the base of Angel Tower. Two guards dressed in the uniform of an acolyte, armed with halberds, were standing on either side of the main entrance of the Tower. Many tourists were entering and exiting the building. Jin gave the group a sideways grin and motioned for them to follow him.

“Okay, listen up. We are here on a field trip if anyone asks. Ryu and Yuki, let me do the talking,” Jin said.

Ryu and Yuki looked annoyed. “And once again with us…” Ryu muttered. “What, don’t you think that we are responsible enough to talk or something?”

Manna turned her head and looked back at the two. “Ryu, remember what you are. If they find out, they will have you arrested… or worse. Yuki… Yuki is just…”

“Annoying and immature?” Wyatt added. “A complete moron? An evolved idiot? A… HEY?!”

Yuki growled and grabbed Wyatt up by the collar of his coat. “Shut up, you oompa-loompa reject.”

Manna rolled her eyes. “I was going to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, that Jin was just messing with Yuki,” Manna said through gritted teeth. “Yuki, put him down, you are attracting attention.”

Yuki grimaced as she dropped Wyatt. The boy fell flat on his rump. He grumbled as he stood up.

Nina looked up at the Tower. “So, are we going in?”

Jin nodded. “Yes, if you children are quite done, we will get this show on the road.”

Yuki, Ryu, and Wyatt gave Jin an annoyed look. Nina giggled and Manna just rolled her eyes. Jin grinned to himself and motioned for the group to follow him.

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Ten years ago, Molly Stephens was asked by the prince of the Dragon Clan for her assistance. She was to give him information and return, she would be allowed to accompany him. Of course, after he left Collosia, she lost track of him. Soon after, he was reported dead.

Dragnier’s authorities had questioned Molly, but she didn’t know anything about Demus’ death. Annoyed and severally confused, she had returned to Crete and continued teaching. Something bothered her, though. The king had named a foreigner his heir shortly after the reported death of his eldest son. She didn’t know what to make of it, nor did she really care.

History was her calling, after all. She had quit her job as a middle school history teacher a while ago and had taken up archeology and the study of ancient ruins. That was why she was at Angel Tower. She wanted to know more about the ancient Tower and what secrets it held.

She did not, however, thing she would ever run into her former student at such a place. Nor did she think that she would run into that man there, either. Sure enough, walking into the main lobby was Dr. Jin Uzuki and Miyuki Uzuki.

Dr. Uzuki had been a major pain in her side for years. The man had been invited to several debates on ancient history due to his unique view on things. He was well accredited as a major authority on the subject of ancient history and that which pertained to the Destined Cycles.

Molly merely thought he was just a heathen.

Jin merely said that she was welcomed to her opinion and had walked off before the Grassrunner could continue the argument.

Molly growled slightly under her breath as she watched Jin and Yuki walk by. Jin glanced up and spotted Molly seated on one of the chairs in the lobby. He smiled and waved at the former teacher. Molly stood up and grabbed up her book that she had been reading at started to walk off in the opposite direction of Jin and his companions.

“Ah, hey Teach!” Yuki yelled, waving her arms in the air. Jin face palmed and rolled his eyes.

Molly turned around on her heels and glared at Yuki. “Ah, Ms. Uzuki,” Molly said begrudgingly. “What… exactly are you and your brother doing here?”

Yuki grinned. “Ah… we’re on a field trip!” Yuki giggled. Nina and Ryu glanced at Yuki like she had lost her ever-loving mind. Wyatt snickered and Manna merely stood behind them with her arms crossed.

“A field trip,” Molly repeated like she couldn’t believe that Yuki had just said that.

“Yup! Right Jin?” Yuki gave her brother a sideways glance.

“Hn,” Jin said, actually at a loss as to how to answer his hyperactive sister. This was exactly why he wanted her to shut up and let him do the talking.

Manna walked forward and extended her and to Molly. “Hello, we are with the Wyndian National Historical Society.”

“Oh?” Molly asked. “Is that so? Then, who are you?”

“Manna Sphere,” Manna said. “I am the head researcher and this is my assistant, Ziggy,” Manna pointed to Ryu, who gave her a bewildered look. Apparently, Yuki had told Manna about her nickname for Ryu.

“Oh really?” Molly asked. “How come I have never heard of you?”

“We just started a few weeks ago,” Manna explained. She pushed past Molly. “Now, if you will excuse us, come Ziggy, we have a meeting with Garland.”

Ryu pointed dumbly to himself before running off after Manna. Jin smiled and shrugged and followed Manna. Yuki, Nina, and Wyatt looked at their companions and then back to each other. They too shrugged, before running off after Manna.

Molly was left standing in the middle of the lobby confused. What had just happened?

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“And that is why you guys should not talk,” Manna said darkly.

“Ah, but come ON!” Yuki argued. “How was I suppose to know that she would go all bitch on us?”

“Just keep your mouths shut. How hard of a concept is that for you?” Jin muttered.

The group had managed to weasel past Molly and anyone else that had questioned their being there. Yuki had let Manna and Jin do all the talking and had finally convinced the priesthood to let them pass.

Their main goal was to see Garr, after all. Jin and Manna explained that Garr probably already knew that they were there. If not from the sheer power that radiated from the group, then by the loud ruckus that Yuki and the rest of them had put on.

Jin was beginning to wonder if this was how Garr felt when he was watching over Ryu, Nina, and Yuki. From what he had heard, they were quite possibly the army of darkness. And that was saying a lot, especially if it was coming from a Guardian.

Nina followed after Ryu and the others. She couldn’t quite place it, but something felt off. There was something if the air. If she remembered her studies correctly, Angel Tower used to be known as Spyre, then shortly after that Sky Tower. The place was where all the weather was supposable controlled. It was the original place where the Sky Key was kept, before it was moved to Miliené’s Temple.

There was something that went off in the back of Nina’s mind. She jerked around and spotted a blue and pink figure dart around the corner. Nina shook her head. What was that? Everything in her was telling her to follow that blur. Nina tugged on Ryu’s gloved hand and pointed towards the hallway where the figure had gone.

Ryu cleared his throat and the rest of the party turned and looked at the two. Nina explained what she had seen and made the suggestion that they follow it. Jin gave Nina and odd look, but nodded his head nonetheless.

“Why not?” Jin asked. “We might find something of interest.”

And with that, the six of them headed off down the hallway, with Nina in the lead. There was something that was racing in the back of Nina’s mind that told her that if she didn’t hurry, she would regret it. Nina took off in a sprint and almost ran past the half-opened door that was down at the end of the hallway.

Someone poked their head out of the cracked door. Nina jerked around and spotted the young girl that had just opened the door. The girl was small for her apparent age; she looked to be about thirteen or fourteen. Nina figured that the girl stood at five foot, maybe five one. She was dressed in a pink and purple sectioned dress and had elbow length gloves on her arms. She had shoulder length blue hair that was held back by a golden tiara. She also had giant sunset colored wings protruding from her shoulder blades.

Nina froze in her tracks. Ryu finally caught up with Nina, but had stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the young girl. The girl stood and looked at Ryu and Nina for a long moment. Neither party knew what to do. They just stood and stared at each other.

“M-mina…?” Ryu finally croaked out.

The young girl said nothing. She turned her back to the two and walked back into the room. Ryu and Nina stared at each other and nodded. The two walked into the room, Nina going first, then followed by Ryu.

Nina stopped in her tracks for the second time that day. She looked around the room and noticed that it was some kind of bedroom. The large bed in the middle of the room was what clued her on. What got her attention, however, was the young man with spiky blond hair that was currently occupying the bed.

Nina cautiously walked over to the bed and looked down at its occupant. She noticed that the young man was grimacing in his sleep and was having a difficult time breathing. She leaned forward and placed her hand on his forehead.

“Nina?” Ryu asked as he walked over to where Nina was standing. “Hey, isn’t that…”

“Strife?” Nina asked in confusion. The man did not answer. She turned back around and looked at the young girl. “What is going on here?”

“Nina?” Yuki asked as she and the others walked into the room.

Nina looked over past Yuki and looked at Jin with a pleading look. Jin caught the look and walked over to where Nina was standing. Nina took a step back as Jin started to examine Strife.

Yuki, Wyatt, and Manna walked over to where Ryu and the girl were standing. Manna’s mouth opened slightly in surprise when she saw the young girl. She quickly closed it before anyone spotted her surprised expression. The girl bowed her head and then looked at the assembled party.

“I was afraid that you would not make it in time,” the girl said in a quiet and calm voice. “He was already quite sick when he arrived here, but no one knew how to treat him. He’s dying and no one can figure out why.”

“I know,” Jin said calmly when he finished examining Strife. He grimaced and glanced over at Nina and the young girl. “He’s got Xeon poisoning. It’s curable, but he’s had such a large dosage of it. A normal Wyndian would have been dead by now…”

“Jin, what are you getting at?” Nina asked.

“But… he’s a hybrid,” Jin said as he took a closer look at Strife. “If I’m not mistaken, he’s half dragon clanner… that’s what is keeping him from completely succumbing to the poisoning.”

“What…” Nina asked. “Jin… what are you talking about?”

Jin turned to the girl. “I can make an antidote. Can you get these ingredients for me?” and with that, Jin started to list off what he would need. The girl nodded her head and quickly left the room.

Jin turned his attention to Nina. “No one knows that it was Xeon poisoning because that plant was suppose to have gone extinct over a 1,000 years ago. Someone must have been able to regrow it…”

“Jin? What do you mean that Strife’s a dragon,” Nina said.

“Hn?” Jin was pulled out of his musings. “Oh, well yes. It’s just what I said. Strife’s a dragon. Eh, I think he’s fourth generation. Good thing, too. I was afraid we were dealing with another case of Cysmoison for a second there.”

“Why didn’t he ever tell me?” Nina muttered to herself.

The girl opened the door and walked in, carrying an armful of herbs and bottles. She handed them off to Jin, who nodded thanks and started to mix an antidote. The girl looked at Nina.

“Who… are you?” Nina asked.

The girl smiled. “I am Princess Mina Windia, Avatar of the Great Bird,” the girl said. She pulled out something from her dress. It was a key. “And holder of the Sky Key.”

“Got it,” Jin said. He finished mixing the ingredients and force-fed the antidote to Strife. Strife tried to fight the concoction, but was unable to. Jin grinned in triumph and turned to Nina. “He should be fine now.”

Nina nodded. “Thank you, Jin.”

Jin merely waved her off. “Not a problem.”

Ryu scratched the back of his head. “Okay, all of this is fine and dandy, but could someone tell me what the hell is going on here?! I mean, Nina’s bodyguard is a dragon and a supposed dead member of Windia’s royalty is staring right at us! What is going on here?!”

Mina gave Ryu a solemn look. “I was hoping that you would have been able to meet with Garr before meeting with me,” Mina stopped and clutched the Key tightly in her hands. “But, that man was getting worse by the moment. I knew if I didn’t get you right away, he would die.”

Nina smiled. “Thank you, Princess. Now, I think that Garr has some explaining to do. Where is he?”

“I will go get him,” Mina said. And with that, she exited the room.

When she left, Yuki turned and looked at the group. “First Molly, Strife, and now Mina,” Yuki said with a shrug. “Who else are we going to run into?”

“Don’t say that…” Wyatt muttered darkly. “There’s no telling.”

 

To be continued…