*
Chris awoke in a cold sweat. He had a nightmare that one should not normally experience. For some odd reason, he could not recall the whole dream�only fragments. He remember a man wiping the blood off of a sword, another sword of the same length still imbedded in another�s body, and the sick smile across the man�s face. He began headed out of the house, if one could call it that, to get some fresh air, but at the last moment before he got up he noticed the girl sleeping on his chest. Chris carefully maneuvered himself out of her reach and slipped outside. Once he got out into the open plains of Mandalia, he let out a sigh. I suppose that returning to sleep would be a waste as the sun is almost in rise. Perhaps all they plan to train us in today is a few techniques�easy enough, Chris thought.
�Ah, up so early young master? Perhaps it is thy wish to begin the training early?�
Chris quickly turned around, his hand instinctively going to his left waist to retrieve his sword, even though it wasn�t there. �Orlandu, don�t sneak up on me like that!� He said a little exasperated.
�I believe I�ll leave the sneaking to Spencer. So, what brings you out here at such a time, young one? I believe I advised you and the others to get some rest.�
�I just had a nightmare, is all�� Chris hesitated to continue, �I have this premonition of things to come�and I do not think it will be an easy thing to overcome.�
Orlandu nodded his head in understanding and said, �Many a night those who live on the battlefield are awakened by signs of the future. More often than not, those are just recurring thoughts that wish to cloud one�s mind. Pay no heed to it; you must try to block out the negative thoughts that might hinder one�s battles.� Orlandu saw the understanding and compliant face that the youth held on his face and dropped the subject. �Anyway, you should sharpen your sword�well, I�ll see that you receive another one, as it appears that Ramza has �discarded� yours,� the swordsman said with a chuckle. He went inside carrying the bucket of water he had obviously left for. Chris just turned around and stared at the now rising sun.
*
Ryan awoke at the sound of coffee brewing. He rose to find that Orlandu was brewing said coffee. The old man turned his head to acknowledge Ryan�s awakening. Ryan nodded in his direction as to accept the offer of a cup once it was ready. He looked around the room and saw Rosa lying on the floor staring at the ceiling. Laine was sitting at a chair reading a book on Black Magic. The ninja and the summoner were readying their belongings. Meanwhile, Ramza was shining his sword, Agrias was sleeping soundly, and Leigh was just sitting in thought. Ryan noticed that Chris was nowhere to be seen, but Ramza caught his look and motioned outside. Ryan nodded and started towards the door, making one last note of Leigh�s physical qualities, trying to gather an excuse as to why to leave her behind. He didn�t want Chris to be distracted throughout the fighting. So, naturally, explaining to him that his little girlfriend would be exactly that and an encumbrance seemed the way to go. He had already discussed it with Ramza the night before when everyone else had faded into dreamland. Ryan decided that it would be best to tell Chris himself�rather than let Ramza do it, as he was already on shaky terms with Chris.
Ryan walked outside to find Chris sitting on a rock, staring at the horizon�or rather, past it, as if looking to the future. Ryan took a breath and spoke, �You know�uh�� As Ryan stuttered, Chris turned around, meeting Ryan�s black eyes with a blank stare. Ryan persevered, �I don�t think that, wherever we are bound, that Leigh should accompany us.� There, he said it. Chris�s expression remained the same he just nodded. Well�that was simple. Now I won�t have to worry about getting killed because my love-struck pal here doesn�t have my back.
*
Chris watched Ryan walk back inside�he didn�t tell him why he agreed to Leigh staying behind. It was because the man in his dream�was himself.
*
Ryan walked back inside the shelter to find Agrias waiting for him. �What is it? Is something wrong?� Ryan inquired�he didn�t imagine that the beautiful knight would want to talk to him. She seemed like a cynical introvert sometimes. He wondered if it was about what Ramza and he discussed. Agrias brought him to a far corner and explained the situation.
�Ryan, Ramza informed me of what the two of you planned. I believe that it can be easily arranged.�
�Oh? How is that?�
�I discussed the plan with Cid and Ramza, they believe that Alyssa and I should accompany Leigh to Dorter; it is an easy town to become lost in, we can lie low there.�
�Why is lying low importa-�
�Because it would serve to reassure Chris that she would be safe. Spencer will have enough trouble training him, as he is a ninja, not a brute force warrior. Chris must learn to focus his mind, and thinking about his little girlfriend would not help the situa-�
�I am well aware of that�but isn�t Dorter a trade city? Would the bustle be a good thing for her? She seems to be preoccupied with her own thoughts.�
�Do not worry yourself. We have a contact that is a mercenary currently operating in Dorter. He also has a girlfriend that knows the easiest ways to avoid the hustle and bustle of the crowd,� Agrias was starting to become exasperated with explaining every detail to Ryan.
�I guess that sounds good. What could be so important that you all need to stay aloof?�
�Glabados knows me well�Dorter is also known as a hooligan town. Glabados is not welcome there.�
�Well, that is reassuring. Chris has, for some reason, already agreed with the idea. I don�t understand, if he lov-�
Agrias interrupted him with a harsh glare; �You cannot possibly understand their situation so do not attempt to analyze it. He is putting her first. Odds are, his mind is more at rest now on the subject than ever. He knows that the feelings are shared, nothing is more comforting than that. He will be able to focus once you assure him that she is safe. He will be comforted by the fact that she will be waiting for him when he returns. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say.� Agrias then proceeded in Alyssa�s direction.
I suppose the hottie is right�who am I to discuss matters of the heart?
*
Agrias alerted Alyssa of the plans. The summoner nodded and whispered something to Spencer and touched her fingers to her lips and then to his mask, then she followed behind Agrias. Ramza handed Agrias a sack of provisions as she passed him, and resumed drinking his coffee. Ryan had just sat down with Ramza to discuss training schedules. Agrias walked over to Leigh and began to open her mouth when the girl spoke.
�I�m ready to go now, I know that we�re leaving. I guess I�ll just take a moment to say goodbye,� that said, she went over and hugged Laine and Rosa, who had been making breakfast as they had complained about being hungry. She then whispered something to Ryan, which Ramza made out as a �take care of him� of some sorts and smiled a little. Leigh briefly bowed to Ramza, but couldn�t see Orlandu anywhere. Agrias and Alyssa began to walk out of the entrance but parted as Cid entered, with Chris trailing him.
�I thought it would be a good idea to fetch this one before you left.� He stated briefly.
I hate good-byes, Chris thought, but it is for her protection�and Agrias is with her. His thoughts were interrupted by Ryan�s voice.
�Are you two gonna kiss or what?�
Leigh actually cracked a smile at the comment and went up to Chris and gave him a quick kiss. Simple and clean. Not just because they were in public, but because they both knew that they were not at that point in the relationship thing, not that they actually knew what point they were at, but all the same. Chris just smiled at her and stepped aside to let them pass.
So it�s a goodbye�so what? As long as I know there will be another hello, then I�m okay with it. Right now, I need to focus on learning to fight like these guys. Then, maybe I can do the protecting.