Emeralda shuffled along behind the rabbit girl and the others with her, pulled along by the man who had been giving them orders the whole time. He wouldn't let her go, even when she tried to pull her hand out of his grip, so she just followed along silently, knowing that trying to talk to them wouldn't do anything to change things.

At least it was different. Instead of being closed off and dark, or red, like the lab was, it was very bright, with the sun shining through huge windows in the ceiling and brightly colored posters and holograms along some of the walls. It was a city, just like the one Kim and Elly had lived in, but something about it seemed very unnatural to her. It looked like it would be fun to explore, but she wouldn't want to be there very long.

It all seemed so very empty to her. The people looked just like the ones she had seen at home, when Elly was teling her about the war......

Finally, she couldn't keep quiet. She wanted to get out of this place. "Where are we going?" She asked, tugging her arm a bit to get the man's attention.

He looked down at her, his inherantly pleasant face soured by a cast of frustration. That's what it looked like, anyway. He said something to her in a language that seemed slightly familiar, and nodded ahead, casting her another glance before simply ignoring her again.

Some of the words were familiar, even though they were butchered, garbled like what she had heard at the hospital with Elly, when she had tried to talk to a radiation patient...... "Level" and "castle" or something kind of like it had been in the sentence. She thought she had heard something about science, or scientist, like what Kim had been called, but she wasn't sure.

She was only sure of one thing -- she wanted to go home.

She disappeared.

Krelian sighed, watching the readouts from the Flagship as they scrolled down, reporting failure after failure. He had better find a way to recapture Elly. We cannot afford to lose her now...... But Dominia would succeed, if Ramsus could not. Even he had to admit, between them they were a force to be reckoned with.

Too bad Ramsus refused to accept her help.

He switched the screen off before the report could complete itself, setting the system to record it for later reference. Such things were below his notice, really. He had an interest in the girl, and certainly the Animus that were starting to gather about her and her companion, but he had no desire to gaze upon their faces. Some were too depressingly familiar...... while others incited emotions he could not afford to deal with.

Lacan's face was already emblazoned upon his memory; what need did he have to look upon his reincarnation?

The door opened and closed behind him. The sounds of several pairs of feet rang on the metal floor. Sighing again, though more quietly, Krelian turned to acknowledge his visitors.

A most unusual group stood before him, lead by two girls he assumed were the current Premiers of the Element class. Stein waited behind them, clutching the wrist of a dark, willowy child. Her head was crowned with the thickest shock of hair he had ever seen, shining emerald in sharp contrast to her deep tan skin. She was swathed in a set of clothing three sizes too big; it was impossible to deduce much about her in a glance. Krelian blinked curiously, a spark of interest breaking through the monotony of the day.

The Wind Element stepped forward, elbowing her partner just as she looked ready to speak. "This is what we found in the city," she said without preamble. "We followed them like you said, and they lead us to the room with this kid inside."

Krelian nodded, turning his gaze back to the odd little girl. "Do you have any idea who she is, or any clues as to her history? Finding a living being who dates back to the Zeobiom Era is not exactly commonplace, you understand." A hint of sarcasm escaped with his last statement, but he kept his features neutral. The girl didn't notice.

Perhaps it would be best for him to take a short break from his study; such a slip just wasn't normal. It was inexcusable. What if he lost control before the Ministry? Showing weakness to them was like opening one's veins in a stream swarming with pirahnas. And he couldn't afford that! It was too early to erase them just yet......

"Elly took her out of a nanoreactor. I assume she has something to do with that, but I couldn't tell without the right equipment."

"That's fine." Krelian gestured impatiently, and Stein came forward, pulling their discovery along with him. "Does she speak?"

"Emo Zeboia. Wa ne tibi." The girl spoke before Stein could answer, staring at Krelian with deep golden eyes not unlike Kahr's. Sorrow was etched on her face clearly, and great frustration as well.

Her eyes...... The rest of the room dropped out of focus, leaving him staring at the little girl, an indefinable feeling creeping over him. There was something achingly familiar about those eyes...... He crouched down, bringing his eyes level with hers. He did not change his expression, but he softened his voice, touched by her gaze and disturbed at the same time. "Do you have a name?"

She blinked and stared at him for a moment, as if she were mulling over the question. Finally, haltingly, she piped up. "Mae...... Emerada."

Emerada...... Or was it Emeralda? Her accent seemed to flatten words, and draw them out.

He would have given a fortune to know Zebonese, in that moment. What an intriguing little girl...... She had stepped right out of the past and into his hands. She might just make a worthy project......

"Okay, Emeralda......" Krelian held out his hand, keeping his gaze steady with hers. Some of the frustration leaked out of her eyes, but the sorrow intensified, if anything. Sorrow that touched a chord in his heart he had buried long ago...... a chord that must remain buried at all costs......

She took his hand, pulling away from Stein. "Ware seboa ne? Wi ne goa sehe?"

Krelian took his gaze from hers, severing the brief connection with her sorrow. Didn't he already have enough to last ten lifetimes? "Come along now......"

What was it? Kahr?

Like the sorrow of an angel who has seen too much...... His thoughts paused, turning that thought over, linking it with a memory -- one of the precious few he still cherished.

Yes. An angel......


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