Notes: A continuation the 'Travels of a Ryassophore' one-shot series. I would suggest reading the stories previous to get a basic gist of how this'll be going, and it's certainly needed by this point.

Warnings: This story contains various plot devices, and if it ends up being continued/finished... There is genderbending and there will be slash. While it will not be hardcore anything (a kiss and hug at most, surely), be forewarned. Any criticisms of this or flames will be looked at and promptly posted for others to mock at.

Finally, any reviews are appreciated, especially those which contain constructive criticism. Thank you!

Finally, the next to last chapter!

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The Capitol of God

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Truth

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/Travels of a Ryassophore/

The Ryassophore and the girl walked straight through the night, eyes staring straight ahead, afraid that they might see something if they turned back. They traveled in silence, held so only in a heavy sort of determination. Sometime during the night, after the moon set, the salt had transitioned into a sandy rock that shifted underfoot. Even so, the two continued onward.

After what felt like hours and hours, the horizon began to brighten with the promise of day; dark oranges and reds pushed back the blue and purple of night until, when the sun finally peeked onto the landscape, the eastern sky was a deep crimson.

It was then, upon reaching the top of a stoney hill that Al first saw it.

"Look..." His words were weary and soft, his hand raised in gesture towards it. "We've made it... It should only be... another hour's walk from the... looks of it..."

Cloe managed a tired smile and reached out to hold the hand he had lifted in her own. "We should rest for a moment..." She gave a soft, dry laugh. "It wouldn't look very good if you walked in too exhausted to speak." The smile melted into a concerned frown. "Just for a little while won't make you late, will it?"

Al turned to her, his smile quickly fading. "I... No, it shouldn't." He gave a full-body shiver and bent over some against the rock. He laughed. "I'm sorry, suddenly, my stomach is hurting... Just thinking about it..."

"About what?" She placed her hand delicately on his back and gently guided him to sit down. "Are you just nervous, or is it from all the traveling?" There was a pause before she frowned, concern on her face, and added, "Or is it because of Erin and the village...?"

The man winced at the boy's name and turned away. "No, it's... it's nothing."

"It's obviously not..."

The man was silent for a long moment before finally speaking softly. "Do you feel guilty? For just abandoning him?"

The girl blinked at the question before responding in turn. "How could I not? We should have let him come with us... but, I wonder if they would have killed us and him for bringing him to their village?" She looked at the red morning sky thoughtfully. " As terrible as I feel... I can't think of anything that we could have done different..."

He was still for a moment, taking in a deep breath and releasing it. "Right. That's right." He started to rise. "Come on. We're too close to stop now."

Cloe didn't seem to accept that it was nothing by the frown lingering on her lips, but didn't push it any further and followed alongside him. "If you're just nervous, it's okay." She smiled reassuringly. "I would be, too, if I were in your place. I mean, how long have you been wanting to do this, you know?"

Al laughed softly. "How long indeed." He lifted his head and smiled softly at her. "Alright then. Let's go."

Cloe brightened some at his smile. "It's going to be okay." She clasped her hand around his and gave it a comforting squeeze. The smile faltered some on Cloe's face, but when the woman looked ahead of them again and said after a small sigh, "I can't understand your god... why they would let bad things happen to that woman and her village, or to Erin and his..."

There was a long pause before Al began to walk forward. "Come on."

The traveling was easy, as the ground beneath them was more solid, the sand giving way to dark red clay. It was hardened, cracked in several places, and between the earth and sky, there was a red tinge to all. Even the tall rock wall before them was not immune, and the yellow stone was turned orange by the tint. The wall was high and thick, surrounding the city before disappearing into a sharp cliff face that backed and surrounded the metropolis.

Anticipation rising with every step, it rose to a near-peak when the two travelers reached the front gate. A lone guard glanced them over from his post by the front, but said nothing and didn't impede on their entrance. Al was about to comment on the little amount of effort it took to enter the Holy capitol.

Once inside, the air was stifled and crowded from all the people rushing about through the streets. Cries of haggling and prices filled the air the further Al and Cloe walked, pushing their way through the bustling clumps of buyers and seller and Holy men and children and soldiers. Ahead of them, the main street twisted and led straight to the cliff that jutted out from the ground, slate grey and cleanly-cut. As they continued, the people grew less and less, and the path grew smaller and smaller, thinner and thinner. Finally, it ended at a series of steps that led up the side of the cliff and into a tall, narrow doorway.

Neither of the two spoke as they climbed the short, squat steps to the door. There, waiting for them was a small girl in plain white garb. Her hair was cut short to her shoulders, and was as white as her gown. "Good morn." She said demurely, lowering her head to the two. "You are here for your audience with the Great Schema, are you not?"

Al nodded solemnly, not trusting himself to speak as his stomach was twisting itself into knots.

The white-haired girl laughed. "Alright. Follow the hall and enter. You," She paused to look at Cloe with a curious smile. "You are not allowed in, but I will take you to a room to wait."

As the girl gestured to the side, Al waved at Cloe's retreating form until she disappeared into another room. As soon as he was alone, the smile dropped as heavily as his hand. Taking in a deep, trembling breath, the man hugged himself, trying to stop the shudders that wouldn't stop. Ever since seeing the city, and realizing that his calling had come at long last.

Al took a step forward towards the large, plainly-cut doors and faltered. Shaking his head, he continued on slowly, step by step. His foot-steps echoed behind him, making him wonder if this was the right thing. What if he was wrong?

No. He wasn't. This was right. This was what he had to do.

With one final deep breath, he pushed on the doors. They creaked lowly into a low-ceilinged room, at the center of which was a beam of light pouring from the the ceiling. In the middle of the light was a man. He was tall and thin, his face heavily wrinkled.

"You." The voice was steady and firm. "You have come for your test?"

The time was at hand. The man known as Al forced a smile as he suddenly felt very, very calm. Almost laughably so. "Yes." He said, putting his foot forward. "It is time for our judgement."

Meanwhile, the shrine girl sat Cloe down in the side-room, on a lavishly cushioned leaning couch. "You have traveled for a long while, haven't you?" She offered a tray of small foods and drinks. "Does the Ryassophore know of your curse? That you are not in your true shape?"

Cloe choked some in the middle of a sip of one of the offered drinks. She turned her head to cough a bit before looking back up at the girl. "E-eh...? How did..." She did her best to smile despite her confusion and shook her head. "No, he doesn't, but it's not important, so there's no need to mention it to him, please..."

"Would you like to turn back? I can, if you want." The girl flopped down on the couch beside her. "That's my specialty, breaking curses... Or blessings, depending on how you look at them."

Cloe's eyes widened. "Is that true?! It would be--" She paused, the excitement fading. "Ah, I don't know... on one hand, it would be nice to return to normal, but I..." There was another pause. Her head dropped some to stare at her lap. "... he doesn't remember me, so I don't care, I suppose. At least as a woman, I can stay with him until he's tired of me. I don't know the way home, and if I return to normal, then I'd be alone and lost." She looked back up, smiling. "I'll have to decline your offer for now."

"Well, it'll stand until you want it. I'm living in Saint Mercy's Hostel in the corner of town, so feel free to come by." The girl bent over to get herself a small snack and leaned back, trying to make conversation. "So, how did it happen?"

Cloe offered a soft laugh. She nibbled on a cracker idly before starting, "I made a wish to be with the person I love." Her head tilted lightly to the side. "But when my real name came up, I tried to get information about... well, myself, he replied..." There was a small pause where her eyes closed. "... 'Who?'" Her eyes opened halfway. "I suppose I was being foolish when I thought that loving him meant that it'd automatically work out for the best."

The smaller girl laughed. "Maybe he's just trying to play hard to get. Some guys are like that, you know." She was just reaching for another small snack when there was a loud cry in the background. She jerked up and was about to start to the door when a tall man in plain brown robes ran in.

"You! Get out!" He gestured at the two roughly.

"Wha-what's going on!" The shrine girl raised a wavering hand.

"There's been an explosion in the Great Schema's room! You have to leave in case any more of the monastery collapses!"

The color left Cloe's cheeks and she stood, the cracker in her hand falling to the floor. "A-an explosion?" She started forward, wobbling at first, before she stumbled and grabbed the front of the man's robes and looked up at him with angered eyes, despite her trembling. "Where's Al?!"

"W-who?"

Cloe tightened her grip. "The Ryassophore who was with your great whatever! Agh!" She let go and pushed against his chest to get him out of her way as she pushed past him and ran out despite any calls for her to do otherwise, and hurried to try and find him. "Al!" she called, not sure of where to go, especially with the damage from the explosion that Kristen assumes would have made some things collapse. "If you hear me, grunt or something!"

Despite the chances otherwise, there was a soft groaning laugh from the far corner, shielded from view by both the dust that had yet to settle and a small section of a large stone door. When the girl stepped closer, holding her sleeve over her mouth, Al's voice called out in a muffled way. "You need to get out... Don't come over here."

Cloe frowned into her sleeve and took a couple steps forward while she tried to peer through the dust. "Why not?! If you're trapped, I--" She coughed as some rubble shifted, stirring up more dust into her face. "-- I'll get you out!"

There was a similar flurry of coughing from Al as there was the sounds of running as monks ran past into the Great Schema's room. "No, you need to get out before they find me... You need to escape while you can."

"Find you... escape..." Her eyes widened slightly, but she refused to believe what she was thinking. "If you stay in here, the building might collapse on you!" She stubbornly took another step forward. "If we hurry now, we can make it safely outside!"

As she neared, it was easier to see the man. He lay on the floor, his face covered by an arm as he slowly pulled himself forward with his other. Some ruddy brown liquid was streaked out behind him, a long trail that disappeared in the dust. At the sight of her, he tried to pull back. "N-no! You mustn't be seen with me!"

"Why not?!" She stared at the liquid in concern before tearing her gaze to look back at him. "How hurt are you?!" She closed the distance between them and leaned down, reaching out to try to touch him. "Al, why are you acting like this?"

Al tried to retract from her, though it only caused pain to shoot up from his leg and side. "Can't you just let me die!" He winced up at her, tears running down his cheek in dusty trails. "If I escape, then they'll just execute me later!" He turned his head away, trying to burrow into his elbow. "Just let me die."

Cloe sat there in stunned silence for a brief moment before she jerked her head away. "Why did you do this?" she asked softly, coughing a bit from the dust.

"I was told to." He started to laugh, but it turned into a long choking rasp. "Now, with the instigators gone, the war in the south can finally end..."

"I... I see." She moved to sit with her back against the wall, gingerly lifting his head and placing it in her lap. "Then I have no choice, if it's what you w-want..." She trembled lightly as she tried to keep her composure, though tears fell down her cheeks and landed on his. "But I don't think I like it very much that you kept this a se-secret from me." She choked a bit and raised a hand to cover her mouth and to catch her tears before they fell.

Al's face twisted in sadness as he tried to look up at her. "Please, Cole. Please go. I don't want you to get hurt from this too."

Cloe's eyes blinked open and wide. "So you do know?" She laughed bitterly. "Then that saves me the time of explaining things..." She took one of his hands in hers and lifted it, kissing his fingertips gently before closing her eyes again. "If I leave you now then both of us will be all alone." She tightened her grip, briefly, on his hand. "I made a wish to be with you, so that's just what's going to happen." Though she managed to keep her voice relatively steady, her trembling was obvious from her shaking hand holding his.

"I'm sorry, Cole." Al buried his head so he wouldn't have to look at her. "I hadn't known for sure until just a few days ago, but... I... I'm sorry that I've gotten you in all of this." He pulled himself forward, kicking slightly with his good leg, pushing himself closer. "I'm so sorry."

Cloe shook her head. "I've had more fun since we were reacquainted than I'd have if I never made the wish." She smiled lightly and let go of his hand to touch his cheek gently. "At least let me see you. You owe me that much for not telling me in advance and bringing me along, and all..."

"I meant to lose you at Erin's village, but... I thought perhaps it wouldn't hurt to wait longer, and then..." He cleared his throat as a set of footprints came close. Cries of mourning had slowly ceased from the Great Schema's room as the dead man's corpse was collected for later interment. It would only be a matter of time before they began to look for the perpetrator. "Perhaps it would have been best if you had been left there. At least you might get mercy there."

"Ye wouldn't've." Erin muttered through a dirty piece of clothe as he looked down at the two. "I'd 'eard the 'splosion, but I'd 'oped ye weren't in 'ere..."

"Erin!" Al's eyes lolled wildly. "Take Cole and leave, please! Get her out!"

"Y-You!" Cloe moved Al so that she could slip out from underneath him, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around Erin's neck in a tight embrace, laughing cheerfully, albeit softly. "How are you... oh, forget it!" She, still with her arms wrapped around him, pulled back and turned just enough to look down at Al for a brief moment of thoughtful silence. Her gaze returned to him, a gentle smile on her lips. "You're not going to leave him behind, are you?"

He frowned at her, disentangling himself from her and bent down. "'Course not." He rolled Al over, which illicited a rather pained gasp from the man, and scooped him up against his chest. "Come on. This place don't look too good from the outside." He started forward in a hurried pace. "Come on. I've got a room at a hostel. There's a girl tha's stayin' there that knows some healin'"

The tall boy didn't wait for a response from the girl before darting out of the cliff-monastery. They mingled with the thin stream of people, both whole and injured, that wandered slowly down the broad steps. Soldiers had begun to rush past them, pushing aside those in their way as they rushed into the monastery's open entrance. The dust was finally beginning to settle, now replaced by thin wisps of smoke that trailed up into the air.

Finally, the trio reached the ground and Erin glanced down at the man in his arms. Al had long fallen out of consciousness.

"Come on." The boy gestured to the side of the main street. "It's t' the side, by the wall." He shifted Al somewhat, making the man whimper softly. "I figure that the other 'ealers are gonna be busy with everyone, so this seems best, yeah?"

Cloe nodded and followed alongside him, looking down at Al with worry. "I hope this girl knows how to tend to his wounds... it's not something I know very well." She chewed on her lower lip, then jerked her head back up at him, offering a light smile. "You'll have to tell me how you got here once all of this is over, though."

"Mm."

They pushed through the crowd that was growing to watch as small sections of the cliff collapsed before their eyes. It wasn't very long before they reached the building Erin had meant. The area about them was vastly silent and empty. As the boy carried Al into the hostel, he was greet by the white-haired shrine girl from before.

"Erin!" She cried as she rushed over. "You've brought one of the hurt! I wanted to stay and help, but they kept telling me to go home."

Cloe's eyes widened at the sight of the girl. "Y-you!" She smiled, filled with hope, and looked between Al and her. "Ah, how wonderful it is to see you..." A soft laugh escaped her and she leaned against the wall. "I hope you don't need me..." Her knees, which had been trembling slightly, finally buckled and she slid down the wall into a sitting positon. "... I feel very tired now that we've stopped moving."

The shrine-girl managed to smile at Cloe, though it was weak and crooked. "We can deal with that later. Now..." she turned her gaze onto Erin. "Go lay him down in the bed in that room over there. I'll get my kit."

With that, she was off, running up the set of stairs in the corner. She was quickly back, joining Erin in the bedroom before kicking him out, the door shutting behind him.

The boy stared at the shut door for a moment before frowning and shuffling over to silently slump down next to Cloe.

Cloe leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay," she said softly as she closed her eyes. "but I'm sorry. I don't have any excuse for why we didn't come back and try to warn you all."

Erin laughed humorlessly and lifted an arm to wrap around her shoulders. "I didn't find out 'til yesterday." He shifted slightly to get more comfortable. "Pa told me that they didn't need me to harvest, so I'd decided to ride on out, so I could surprise ye when ye arrived at the city. I took a route tha' bypassed the salt fields." He paused and looked down at the girl. "I hadn't told ye of it 'cause ye'd said ye wanted t' see the salt flats."

Cloe paused, turning her head to frown up at him. "I can't describe how much I hate salt flats... but I can say that I really, really, really hate them."

The boy laughed weakly. "I ne'er knew tha' village was shrinking because o' us. I'd jus' thought that they... I don't know..."

Cloe could only reach up to pat his shoulder, feeling slightly guilty that she felt more worried about Al than Erin's hometown. There was a pause before she looked at the door, concern on her face, and mumbled, "I wonder if Al really is a Ryassophore, though..."

Now it was Erin's turn to question. "What do ye mean?"

"If he is, then he'll be in trouble, because I don't think there's a way for her to tend to his wounds without seeing his bare skin." She sighed. "It's some silly rule that Ryassophores are supposed to follow, something about being virginal and all..." Another sigh. "I don't remember it very well anymore, to be honest."

"Tha's somethin' I've been meanin' t' ask ye..." Erin trailed off for a moment. "What happened up there. I didn't think t' ask ye at the time, but now that I think o' it..."

Cloe was silent for a good few minutes, shifting uncomfortably. "I don't know the exact details, but I don't understand the inexact ones, either... so I don't know how much help I can be." She shifted again. "It's something to do with him being told to take out the Great Schema regarding the war..."

"The Southern one?"

The girl nodded.

"Oh..." The boy nodded slowly before sighing. "Everything's happened so fast."

The girl could only nod in turn. Both could only stare ahead silently, both feeling weary for different reasons.

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After some time, the door opened and the white-haired shrine girl peeked out at the two. "He's all sewn up..."

Cloe wobbled to her feet and made her way over to the girl, reaching out and embracing her. "Thank you," she whispered into the pale locks of hair before letting go and giving a weak smile. "Is it okay to come in? I'd like to see him for a moment..."

"Actually..." She laid a hand on Cloe's arm. "Do you want the curse gone first? It won't take but a moment. It's a simple affair, nothing terribly complex. A simple pixie's magic."

Cloe winced some and turned her head to the side. "I suppose it makes sense, seeing as he already knew..." She trailed off uncertainly, but gave a small nod. "It'll be weird... ah!" She looked down at herself. "Do you think I'll still be wearing a dress?" Her head jerked to look over at Erin, then at the girl. "Just in case, can we do it in another room?" She laughed nervously. "I don't know how all this uncursing business works, but I'd rather be safe..."

The shrine girl laughed a tinkly sort of laugh and nodded. "Of course. Come this way." She led the other girl into a separate room, shutting the door behind them. "Well, then. I'll close my eyes, just in case the clothes were part of the change, alright? Now then." She closed her eyes as she had said and laid her hands on both of Cloe's shoulders before mumbling something under her breath continuously.

There was a very loud pop and a window rattled due to air displacement. Cloe's entire body suddenly glowed with a light shimmer of the gold that almost seemed to pulse from her before detaching and floating down like pixie dust to the floor, where it collected in little piles of ordinary dustpiles. As glow fell away in greater and bigger chunks, it revealed Cole in Cloe's place, graciously wearing the clothes he had been before the whole mess started.

His right pantleg, however, was torn at the hem, just as Cloe's dress had been torn, but he was otherwise back to his normal self. He pulled away some and looked at his hands. They were no longer thin and delicate, nor were his arms. That was as far as he looked before he smiled and placed his hands on the girl's shoulders. "It's weird," he said with a boyish grin. "to 'ear a man's voice, an' all..." There was a momentary pause as he sighed and crossed his arms over his chest, turning to look at the wall with a frown. "Why did everythin' have t'go back to the way it were? I wouldn't min' talkin' all refined an' stuff, 'cept as a guy..."

"There you are!" The white-haired girl peeked up at Cole's chest through her fingers to see if he was clothed. Confirming that he was, indeed, clothed. "Come, I think Erin is a little anxious."

Outside, the boy managed to look up and wolf-whistle wearily as the two came in. "Lookin' good." He grinned, though his eyes remained tired-looking.

Cole flushed lightly and turned his head to the side, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck. "Ehh, I dunno, I think I was a little better when I were a girl, an' all..." He paused as his gaze turned to the door that led to the room Al was in, then down at the girl. "Can we see 'im now?"

The girl nodded. "I'll keep watch, to keep anyone who comes in out."

Erin's grin grew the two half-ran to the door. "Ye talk funny, ye know?"

Cole grinned back at him and offered a light shrug. "Never knew anyone who could talk well 'nough for it t'matter, so I never bothered t'improve, or anythin'." His hand rested on the doorknob and, hesitantly, he turned it to open the door and he peeked inside. He chewed his lip, withdrew from the door, and did his best to grin up at Erin. "You go first, since yer the one that got 'im 'ere and saved 'is life, an' all."

The boy shrugged, strolling on in, reaching back to hold the door open for Cole.

Inside, a bed leaned against the wall, a small wardrobe beside it with an empty vase. In the bed, on his stomach, Al stared ahead somewhat dazedly. His eyes wobbled for a moment before they focused on Cole. "You're... normal..." He frowned at his words. "My, that didn't come out right..."

Cole crouched down to be more at level with Al, though he turned his head some to avoid looking directly at him. "It's nothin'..." He sheepishly looked at him just enough to make eye contact, albeit barely. "... 'ow're ya feelin'?" He winced and avoided his gaze again. "Nah, don't answer that, ya shouldn't be talkin'." Staring at the floor, he nervously twiddled his thumbs. "I'm sorry for not doin' anythin' an' just near lettin' ya die like that..." He looked up at Erin helplessly, then back at the floor.

"Ye warm 'nough?" The boy offered. "Want another blanket?"

"No..." Al shifted his shoulder. "Though, could you maybe pull this one off? I'm a little too warm, really."

Erin oblidged him, slipping it down to his waist. When this uncovered not only bare skin, but a long intricately embroidered tattoo that ran down the length of the small of Al's back, disappearing below his waist and under the sheets.

Cole caught sight of the tattoo, he looked directly at Al and moved toward the bed some, sitting on his knees as he got a better look at it. Gently, he reached out to trace the nearest part of it with his fingertip, but recoiled the hand before making contact and looked down at Al instead. "What's... why do you have this tattoo?"

Al rumbled with laughter before he winced at the pain it caused. "I suppose there's no need to ignore it now... It marks me as a member of the Bruder. It's a secret band of men determined to end the war through the north. I was charged with assassinating the Great Schema, which would have been a great hinder to the north." Throughout his speech, he paused for breath.

"So ye are a southerner... and no Holy man, yeah?"

Al's smile was weak. "Correct, I'm sorry for misleading you all as I have. I've been traveling for a year to get here to complete my mission, not to advance in any monkhood ranks. Ever since the war destroyed my town, I've been waiting for revenge... Sadly, I don't feel near as content as I thought I would..."

Cole grinned lightly. "It was a good cover... no one can deny that, I don't think..." He stood and brushed off his knees. "Ya need to get yer rest. When yer feelin' better, ya can explain a couple of other things." Feeling nervous again, he slid his hands into his pockets to keep from fidgeting and turned toward the door to leave.

Erin raised a brow as he shut the door behind them. "Ye can stay with me, if ye want... My rooms just upstairs."

From the desk, the girl poked her head up. "I don't know if dinner will happen tonight with everything's that going on... Er, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt..."

"No worries, Ten." Erin tossed her a grin, which looked to resolve her nervous look.

Cole lifted his head to look up at Erin, then at the staircase. "Yeah, that's fine... as long as I'm not intrudin' or anythin'. I don't wanna be in the way."

"No worries, man!" He clapped Cole on the back once or twice. "I figure we all need some sleep after all this."

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It was early the next morning, the sun still hours away from rising, when there was a knock at the door. Erin sat up, slumping forward before staring at the door blankly before falling back down into bed, curling onto his side.

Another hesitant knock.

When there was no response, Ten stuck in her head. Looking around, the shrine girl found Cole's still form on the bed. She started to whisper his name, but remembered she'd yet to know it. "Mister Erin's Friend..." she called out softly. "Are you awake?"

Cole rolled over to look up at her through half-lidded eyes. "Uhhh..." He sat up some and rubbed at his eyes, mumbling through a soft yawn, "... what do ya need?"

Slowly, she opened the door a bit more. "Your hurt friend, Al... He's awake, and... he's more responsive, if you wanted... I thought maybe you'd want to know and if you..." She broke off, biting her lower lip.

Cole snapped awake and quietly slid out of bed after a momentary hesitation, glancing at Erin before following the girl out the door and downstairs. "Do ya think it's okay?" he asked, pausing halfway down the stairs. "I mean, I don't wanna rush things an' make 'im worse again..."

"He was asking for you." She shrugged helplessly and pointed at the door.

"Is that so..." Cole smiled at her. "Thank you." He took a small breath to try and calm his nervous and knocked on the door softly before opening it. "'ey..." He leaned in to look at Al. "... 'ow're ya feelin'?" Quietly, he stepped in all the way, shut the door behind him, and walked over to the bed to crouch down beside it.

Al smiled at him. "I wish I could lay on my back, but I'm as well as can be expected..." He paused and sighed softly. "Would... Would you lay down with me?" The man clenched his eyes shut in embarrassment. "M-maybe we could talk or something."

Cole's cheeks turned a light reddish hue and he rubbed the back of his neck, grinning at the floor. "If ya want, I will, but I don't mind sittin' on the floor, if ya'd rather..."

"I... I don't want you to feel... uncomfortable, or anything..." Al went silent. "And I've even woken you up this early. I'm sorry."

Cole chuckled and carefully climbed onto the bed, stretching out on his stomach beside Al, careful not to touch him for fear of hurting him. "I've been up earlier for worse reasons." He closed his eyes, resting his chin on his arm. "Was there anythin' specific ya wanted to talk about, or..." He trailed off uncertainly.

Slowly, the man moved his hand to lay on Cole's, hesitantly in case he was shaken off. "I... I was just wanting to say that I would answer any questions."

Cole blinked his eyes open, startled at the touch. He stared at the hand for a brief moment before turning his over to hold Al's hand as best as he could. "Mm..." His cheeks remained reddish-pink in color. "I... well..." His eyes closed again, his voice softening with uncertainty. "... 'cause yer still alive, an' all, does that mean that ya have t'go back an' get a new mission...?"

"I was supposed to die with my mission, so I'm as good as gone for all that matters." He closed his eyes and took in a long deep breath. "I suppose I'm free to do what I wish now, provided I never get caught for what I did."

"So now ya can go back to that guy ya were talkin' about back then?" He turned his head to smile somewhat curiously at him. "Or was that jus' another one of yer stories..."

"I..." Al laughed softly. "I don't know if he'd like me if he knew how terrible I really was."

Cole shrugged as best he could, the smile turning into a boyish grin. "If he doesn't, then he's not the right guy, don't ya think?"

"I don't know, I think it might be hard to beleive that a man would let me stay with him after I told him who I was and what I had done." The man paused thoughtfully. "After all, it wouldn't be out of the question for him to reject me outright; killing one of the most powerful and spiritual man in the world..."

Cole gave Al's hand a reassuring squeeze. "When ya've rested and are able, we can start travellin' and find out..." He paused to look over at him again. "... but what do ya mean, who ya are? Ryassophore or member of some secret organ'zation, yer still the same guy. Jus' had a different goal in life."

"So... you don't care that I'm an assassin, or is it because the situation hasn't quite sunk in yet?"

"I'm jus' glad yer alive, no thanks to me." He sighed and turned his head away to stare at the wall. "I should'a least tried," he muttered, frowning despite the wall's apathy toward him. "I'm sorry."

Al shifted some to butt his head against the back of Cole's. "It's not your fault, so don't worry about it anymore. Come, we still have a few hours to rest before morning. That way I'll heal faster, and you can get supplies for our trip back." He paused. "Is it cold in your town this time of year?"

Cole hummed thoughtfully. "It's ne'er really cold or hot, to be honest... but it's usu'lly colder than I guess normal would be. The only real seasonal difference would be how humid or dry the air is... an' it's pro'lly dry by this time of the cycle, unless the tide came in early, or somethin'..."

"Then perhaps I should get a jacket."

"Eh?" He turned his head back to look down at him, frowning curiously. "Nah, yer not gettin' rid of me that easily, Al." He grinned again. "I want t'meet this guy o'yers..." The grin faded some. "Oh, is 'e from there?" There was a pause as he went silent and tried to remember who Al had interacted with during his stay.

"You know him very well, actually." The man paused for a moment. "And Al isn't my real name. My real name is Elya, but you can still call me Al. I've answered to it long enough."

"Elya?" He furrowed his brow, distracted from his thoughts. "Why did ya need t'use a fake name?"

"Because, according to the war registries, Elya of Peat is a war refugee turned terrorist, as well as connected to the Bruder group. It's not exactly the most common name, even from my home." Al broke off in a yawn.

Cole nodded slowly before he smiled and gave Al's hand another reassuring squeeze. "I'll call ya Elya, then, since it's yer name an' all." He nestled his face against his arm and closed his eyes. "Don't push yerself so hard and jus' rest, 'kay?"

"Alright." Al let himself close his eyes as the room fell into soft, warmly dark silence.

The room fell into pre-dawn silence, the darkness surrounding them warmly with the softly sweet promises of slumber. Both were on the verge of sleep, when Al spoke again, his words slightly muffled by sleep.

"It's you. The one that I like is you."

Cole, who had been thinking about Al's visit over and over, stared at him in baffled disbelief. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes as he tried to reason with himself and ignore his pounding heart. Fairly certain he had simply misheard, he decided he'd test him later just to be certain, and allowed himself to join him in sleeping...

/from the traveling diary of a wandering Ryassophore/

...to be continued as we please (signed, kris-et-dan)