Presea walked into the backroom with Altessa, feeling slightly uneasy. I remember this room, she thought, it's where he experimented on me.

"Please take a seat," Altessa instructed, shutting the door. As Presea laid down on the table, she shoved all of her feelings away and went back to the emotionless, numb person she was just a little time ago. Altessa brought over a tray of something she didn't dare look at, knowing that if she did mental images would flood her mind.

"I am terribly sorry, Presea. I am sorry for putting this cursed crystal on you," The dwarf apologized. Presea shook her head.

"Don't be, Altessa. I admit at first I was angry, but now I realize many good things have come out of it. I got a chance to help regenerate and fix the world, as well as the chance to meet Genis," she told him, keeping her face emotionless and staring at the ceiling. Altessa brought many wires with little suction cups attached to the ends of them and placed them on Presea's temples, neck, and the area of her chest that showed above the neckline of her dress. She felt a warmth inside, around the area of her crystal. Closing her eyes, Presea let Altessa work.

"Mana levels are slightly higher than normal," Altessa mumbled. Mana was the force of life, it flowed in everyone. Colette for example had a huge amount because she was supposed to be a vessel for Martel, a goddess, but Lloyd had saved her. Presea tried not to gasp as she felt something sharp prick her finger.

"Sorry, but I need a blood test," the dwarf explained. Presea nodded, keeping her eyes shut. She had no idea how long she laid there, enduring various tests. The only way to keep calm was to think of Genis. Think of his unusual silver hair, his bright blue eyes, his soft lips...how she wished he was here with her. Sighing, she returned to reliving moments with him until Altessa jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Presea. Presea. Presea!" he called. She snapped her eyes open.

"Sorry," the ax-girl apologized. Altessa offered her a hand, which she accepted and slid off the table. Opening the door with a creak, she could barely make out the rest of her friends sitting on the ground, trying to keep busy. Genis was the first to look up and he immediately got to his feet. Presea tried to walk over calmly, but she ached to run over and leap into his arms. Keeping an even pace, she slowly made her way over to Genis, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder. He brought his arms around her in a similar way and bent one arm so he could stroke her hair. It was all Presea could do to keep from crying. The way they just fit together in an embrace like they were made for each other made her certain that there was no one else for her. She felt Genis turn his head slightly away from resting on hers to something else. He's probably listening to Altessa, she guessed. Presea didn't care if she was going to die, all that mattered was the boy in her arms. Genis would live extremely long because he was a half elf, and if she survived this her cruxis crystal would slow her growth enough to stay with him just as long. Made for each other, she thought, I'm the only human who will get to live as long as him. Faintly, she heard Altessa's voice.

"Presea will be okay. It seems the worst is over with, and if she experiences any pain at all again let her rest for a day or two so it can subside. Her cuts will heal quicker than most gashes that deep, as long as she doesn't over exert herself." Genis sighed deeply in relief, and she tightened her grip slightly. A tear leaked out, and she hoped Genis didn't notice. Her face was still covered in his shoulder, so Presea didn't think anyone else would see. Unfortunately, Genis did notice and he pulled her face away from his so he could look at her. Presea, unfazed by this, decided to look him straight in his blue eyes so Genis could figure out what he was going to do. No point in hiding it now, she thought. Genis raised his eyebrows slightly and she did her best to keep her face blank. Much to her surprise, the half elf scooped her up into his arms bridal style, and Presea wrapped her own arms around his neck and hid her face back into his shoulder. Everyone else was too busy talking to Altessa so no one noticed the little scene, and even when Genis walked over and joined them no one seemed to pay attention. Lloyd thank Altessa and Raine was recording the information the dwarf was giving her about Presea's condition.

"Fascinating!" the professor would murmur time to time. The group left Altessa's place, thanking him again before taking flight. Only Presea was silent as she rode with Genis again. She was leaning against him, keeping her arms tight around him and her forehead pressed against his back. Her eyes were hollow and sad, but Genis couldn't see because he was flying the rheiard. Painful, painful memories floated around Presea's head. The flashback of when Presea was being experimented on brought back a flood of her most sorrowful memories. When she woke from her cruxis crystal state, the first thing she saw was her dead father. Also, going to Altamira and finding out her sister had died as well, and her hometown of Ozette being burned to the ground.....Presea had to squeeze her eyes shut to stop the hot tears from escaping. When they landed, she opened her eyes, the terrible memories still fresh in her mind.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"In Sylvarant, right outside the Iselia Ranch," Lloyd answered with a slight wince. Colette went over and wrapped her arms around him to offer comfort. A ranch is a place where the Desians, evil soldiers who capture people to farm expheres on, take the people to kill and grow to the gems.

"Why here?" Presea questioned, knowing this is not a place they would've picked on purpose.

"Because no one could stand a moment more doing nothing on one those rheiards," Sheena explained before jumping straight into a perfectly balanced one-handed handstand. All of a sudden, Presea got a bad feeling. A very bad feeling. She knew something was wrong, but she didn't know what.

"Lloyd, we must get out of here," she said, eyes wide.

"Why?" the brunette swordsman replied, stretching.

"I have a bad feeling," Presea announced, suddenly feeling very dizzy. Stumbling, she dropped to her hands and knees with her head spinning.

"Presea, I think this is the after effects of your crystal incident. Altessa mentioned you may experience sudden dizziness," Raine explained, motioning with her hand for Genis to stay back. Her vision went in and out of fuzzy and clear.

"Raine....listen. We...we...must leave...now," Presea tried, her eyelids feeling heavy. Genis couldn't stand back and let nothing happen. He ignored Raine and ran after her, feeling her forehead.

"Raine, she's burning up!" he exclaimed, frightened.

"Genis...go," she managed. It was then the Desians ambushed them.

"Everybody, run!" Lloyd yelled. I...I can't, Presea thought, I'm too...dizzy.

"Zelos, Sheena, Lloyd, Raine, anybody! We can't leave Presea!" Genis shouted, trying to beat back some of the Desians by himself. Regal came sprinting back into the ever closer crowd of Desians. After gathering up the pink-haired girl, he realized they were trapped.

"Regal, listen to me. I'm going to open up a hole, and then we run. Got it?" Genis said before preparing to cast. Regal nodded.

"Gravity Well!" he shouted, and Regal took off. The man did not stop running until he was out safely with Presea.

"Where's Genis?" Lloyd asked, and Raine gasped. Looking far out into the distance she could barely make out a small boy being beaten by Desians.

"No," she whispered, dropping to her knees. No...it can't be...not Genis, Presea thought before slipping into unconsciousness.

*********************************

Muhahaha cliffhanger:) I got everything planned out, so don't worry about it too much, but just enough to keep you interested, kay?:) Thank you so much for reading, and please vote, fan, and comment! Love and darkness,

BE