Patrick: This is it, it seems.
Crytos: This city is Clana?
Patrick: Yes.

Nar.: Crytos looked up. From the gates, a drab gray castle could be seen above the cottages and stores. Crytos and Patrick passed through the gates with little trouble. They entered onto a busy city street. The street was lined with shops of all kinds. Little children ran about playing while their parents talked or shopped. A feeling of peacefulness befell them almost immediately.

Crytos: So where does this John live?
Patrick: In the northern part of the city� not far from Calia�s home.
Crytos: Well, let�s go about acquiring a house�
Patrick: There�s actually a lot free not far from John�s house if you want to move your house there.
Crytos: I think I will�

Nar.: That was how it happened. Crytos acquired the lot and had his house moved there shortly after we arrived in Clana. A week or two after settling in, Crytos had his first encounter with John�

Nar.: The sun was shining on a crisp winter morning. The snow covered the ground with a blanket of white. Patrick had decided not to accompany Crytos on his morning walk, in favor of working on his, then, almost completed transporter. Crytos had left early that day and was halfway down the road when he heard laughter. He dismissed it almost immediately as he turned his face to the sun and took a deep breath. Suddenly, a snowball hit him I the face. He hadn�t seen it coming, and looked around to see if the culprit was still around. Indeed, he was. A faerie walked up to him. He was dressed in jeans and a dark blue winter coat. Behind him, a girl with shoulder length brown hair peered over his shoulder.

Faerie: Hey, I�m sorry about that. Calia doesn�t have the world�s best aim.

Nar.: At the sound of Calia�s name, Crytos looked up at the girl. She hit the faerie for his last statement and smiled.

Faerie: My name�s John. You must be the new member of our community. This is Calia.
Crytos: Nice to meet you. My name�s Crytos. (thinking) This girl is Calia? She looks almost nothing like I remember her�
John: Where is it that you are staying in our fine town?
Crytos: Not far from here, in yonder cottage.
John: Really? I do not live far from here. You must come over and visit sometime.
Crytos: Indeed, I shall.
Calia: Have I seen you somewhere before?
Crytos: I do not believe so�

Nar.: Crytos was amazed by her speaking abilities. He noted how melodic her voice seemed to be and the slight accent that still lingered from learning speech from Lilith.

Crytos: Calia, are you not from around here? You seem to have some type of a foreign accent.
Calia: I am sir, but my mother has not lived here all her life. I learned to speak from her.
Crytos: And you mother is�?

Nar.: Calia�s eyes started to tear and John put a reassuring hand around her shoulders.

John: Her mother just recently passed away�
Crytos: Oh� Forgive me�
John: You are not from around here. Where�s your hometown?
Crytos: I�m visiting a friend in Clana. His name is Patrick� do you know him?
John: I do not believe so.
Crytos: Come, you must meet me friend.

Nar.: Crytos lead John and Calia to his cottage. He opened the door of the cottage, and since he did not see Patrick, he told them to wait in the living room while he went to find him.

Nar.: Crytos came through the back door of the cottage after looking outside for Patrick. He had been outside for some time, and it showed. The little gnome�s hair was wind-blown and his cheeks were bright red from the cold.

Patrick: How was your walk?
Crytos: They�re here.
Patrick: What? Who?
Crytos: Not quite according to plan. It took a lot less persuasion than I had anticipated. Too trusting these folk are.
Patrick: Why are you making everything sound so sinister? The only mystery is who we are. Life will just get a bit more complicated. Think of walking up to a complete stranger and saying, �We created you.�
Crytos: Yes, but she does have support for when she receives the news. John is quite the protective friend.

Nar.: At this point, Patrick had just added the final part to the transporter, and his thoughts had drowned out what Crytos had just said. He flipped a few switches, and to his dismay, nothing happened.

Patrick: (curses) What could I have done wrong?
Crytos: Power source. You�re missing the power crystal.
Patrick: Hmmm� and those would be in the Ether. Dammit.
Crytos: Watch your language, there are children present.
Patrick: Oh. Right. Calia�s here. Let me go greet her.

Nar.: Patrick got up off the stool he was sitting on and worked his way into the living room. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard the voices of Calia and John.

Calia: Why did you let him bring you here that easily? What if they�re axe murderers or something?
John: I don�t know really. I suppose something about him makes me trust him.
Calia: I hope you�re right. I�m not in the mood today.
John: Is this a first?
Calia: Well, there�s a first for everything is there not? (smiles)
John: (smiles back) I suppose there is� how about this perhaps�?

Nar.: Patrick waited a few minutes, and then he walked in. Calia had her head resting on John�s shoulder with her eyes closed. His heart leapt as he beheld her for the first time in person. This was the first time since her disappearance. She looked very peaceful. John looked up at Patrick. He lifted his chin from its resting place on Calia�s head. His eyes met Patrick�s. They stared at each other in silence. Then, John spoke.

John: You� I�ve seen you before.
Patrick: Probably. I�ve been living here for quite some time.

Nar.: Patrick looked at Calia again. She was awake now, and studying Patrick and Crytos, who had walked up behind him.

Calia: Excuse me, my friend. I am Calia Ballard, daughter of Lilith Jacques. This is John Duerk of the Mistfield Shire.

Nar.: Patrick started at Calia�s introduction. A look of shock overtook his features, which won him a confused look from Calia.

Calia: Is something wrong, milord?
Patrick: Milord? Uh� (flustered) No� no� nothing�s wrong, I was just thinking of something else� (extends hand) I am Patrick Ba� uh� Ballard of the Cyberian Skyes�

Nar.: Now it was Calia�s turn to be surprised. Thoughts of her mother�s last words rushed through her head� �Crytos and Patrick� Who would have thought?� Calia and Crytos began to speak at the same time�

Calia: Did you�
Crytos: There�s something�

Nar.: Both paused, looking at each other.

Crytos: Go ahead.
Calia: Um�.Did you know my mother?

Nar.: Patrick and Crytos looked at each other and then back at Calia.

Patrick: Well�the truth is�
Crytos: Please do not be too alarmed.
Patrick: We knew your mother�in fact you�re kind of my daughter�
Calia: You�re my father?
Patrick: Uh�well�
Crytos: We both are.