A/N: It has been over 2 years since the last time I wrote a chapter. School and work combined left me almost no time to even try to write anything. I decided to pick this up again, because I remembered I truly enjoyed it. Reading it over again, I realized I made lots of, not only grammatical mistakes, but lots of story mistakes with the names of characters and such. I couldn't edit any of that now even if I wanted to so I hope it is not so much of a bother. My punctuation and grammar still isn't great, but again I hope that doesn't take away from my story. Anyways! I hope you enjoy this shorter chapter as the next one will be rolling out soon.

Chapter 9: Quest Continues

After Ridley felt well enough to walk or her own strength again, they decided to leave and head towards Olacion first since it was the closest with the Thieves guild being all the way on the other side of town. It was already pretty dark since the duel took a lot out of Ridley. She was still upset about what had happened and wasn't talking to Jack. He tried to make some kind of idle talk, but she would simply not respond to anything he would say. She would look away from him and try to walk ahead of him. If Jack tried to catch up to her then she would simply speed up so he gave up on his pursuit rather quickly. He figured he just needed to give her some time to cool down. Also so he can sort out his own feelings. If he had been on the opposite side and someone had kissed Ridley…the person would either be a dead man or wish they was dead so Jack could understand to a degree what Ridley was feeling. He was just lucky Alicia is fast so she could avoid any deathblows coming from Ridley. He was attracted to Alicia physically, extremely attracted, but beyond that he couldn't say he loved her not knowing her long. He was also very attracted to Ridley physically, and he did love her and risk a great deal for her. He let people call him a traitor among other things just to be there to protect her. She even got the Adele stamp of approval which surprised him the most. His head felt like it was about to burst and stopped walking for a second just to focus and clear his mind.

Ridley was doing a great deal of thinking herself. She was wondering if Jack truly cared for her in the way she did for him, or if it was in a sibling way like he cared for his sister. She couldn't stand the thought of that being true and it made her heart ache and also get kind of angry at this simple minded idiot. She was also kind of angry at Al the steward, for messing up her chance earlier. She was angry the most at Alicia though. She respected her as a warrior no doubt, but she had a feeling she knew she had feelings for Jack, and to continue to do such a thing made Ridley's blood boil. If she was only a little slower she would make her pay, so her being fast was the only thing keeping her alive Ridley thought to herself. She realized that she couldn't hear Jack's footsteps behind her anymore, and when she looked back she saw he was way behind her with his arms folded across his chest, eyes closes, and head tilted to the side slightly as if he was thinking really hard about something; if it was possible for him to have any deep thoughts anyways. She didn't want to speak to him, but something bigger than them was happening with their entire race at stake so they didn't have time for childish moments no matter how badly she wanted one.

"If you are done having a little moment back there, we have an important job to do. Unless you decided you don't care if our race gets wiped out." Ridley called back with a bit of attitude. She continued walking forward when she saw Jack running up to her with a bit of a smile on his face. They had just reached the front of Olacion when Jack finally caught up. "I've actually never been inside of here before. If the warriors here are like Clive then I don't know how much help they can be."

"Actually, a few warriors here are pretty good. I met this member named Rocky that challenged me to a duel that actually gave me a run for my money. This was awhile ago, but he was on a completely different level compared to Clive. Although, I hear Kain, the head priest and leader of Olacion, is the best one here naturally."

"Did somebody call my name?" said a low goofy sounding country voice coming from behind the two. They froze for a second before slowly turning around to be greeted by Clive's face who looks at the two confusingly. When he sees their faces his confusion turns into happiness as he walks up to them with a smile. "Well what do ya know? I haven't seen you since the first mission the guild sent me on." He said looking at Ridley then turned to Jack who was exchanging awkward smiles with him. "And I haven't seen you Jack since the last time you called me out to help you on a mission for the warrior's guild. I'm glad the whole traitor situation was cleared out with the two of ya cause I don't think I'd stand much of a chance if we had to fight." Then his smile disappeared from his face and the look of confusion returned. "What were ya saying my name for though…something about levels?"

"Don't worry about it Clive, it wasn't a big deal honestly." Jack interrupted. Clive looked at him for a second then the smile returned the face as if he had completely forgot what was on his mind.

"Anyways!" Clive said excitedly, "What are y'all doing round these parts?"

"Didn't Kain say anything to the guild?" asked Ridley, "We are here to recruit warriors."

"Recruit warriors? For what? I just got back from a mission not too long ago. I barely heard about the two of you being cleared from all charges." Clive looking more confused than before while asking. Jack and Ridley give him the short version of the story told at the castle with all the leaders in the room. Clive listens, but they are not too sure if he fully comprehends the situation they are explaining to him. As they finish they look at him and it seems his head is spinning trying to process all the information. He takes a second to process everything and then inhales and exhales loudly. "Man, sounds like a heap of trouble is coming our way this time huh?" He says this with his usual smile so they aren't sure if he actually fully understood.

"Yea" Jack said, "We are in it pretty deep right now. That is why we are on our way to Kain to see if there are any priests in Olacion that can help us."

"Well as it happens to be, I am on my way to report to him this very moment so you are welcomed to come along." Clive said not breaking his smile. The two agree and follow Clive inside into the main sanctuary where Kain was at the altar, but not alone. Standing beside him was not only his bodyguard Achilles, but the short old man Godwin, that is the mentor to Miranda the feisty healer/fighter, and the owl from the Vareth Magic Institute Ray C. Ross, who happens to be the president of the Vareth Magic Institute. Achilles is the first to acknowledge them since the other three seemed to have been engrossed into their conversation. As they get closer the three finally notice them as Clive walks up to Kain. Clive reports his mission, which seemed to be another low level mission that he is use to handling. As they are talking the other two speak up.

"Well look who came in! The boy that helped Miranda train some, and got her to give me a little breather instead of chasing me all over town." Godwin said in an old, but polite manner.

"It has been awhile Jack! Was getting use to you rounding around the college so much that seeing you not there was almost a bit lonely." Ray C. Ross said with a bit of a wing flutter.

"It has been a while you two." Jack said excited to see some more familiar faces. He looks at Ridley who most likely hadn't met any of these people. "This is my…friend Ridley!" he chokes on it not knowing how to correctly state their relationship towards each other.

Ridley ignores the embarrassment Jack is causing, and introduces herself politely to them. "I am Ridley Silverlake, pleased to meet you." She says this with a small bow. They return the gesture with a slight bow as well. As this is going on Clive and Kain are finishing up.

"Thank you very much Clive. You may go and enjoy the rest of your day now." Kain says in a young, but strong way.

"It was no biggie as per usual. I'm just happy I can be of use. Anyways I'll be going then!" He says a quick goodbye to Jack and Ridley before leaving them to their important task.

"So" Kain started to say, "I'm sure we know what you are doing here at this point."

"Yes" Ridley said, "Do you have a recommendation on which of your priests is the most capable of using such physical demanding power."

Kain stops to think for a second, "Could I see this power for myself before I make my decision?"

"Of course" Jack said with no hesitation. He goes to pull out his sword and even puts in his father's blue orb which causes him to glow suddenly. He goes to hand it to Kain and it slips from his hands to the floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Kain exclaimed, "I got surprised by the pressure of the sword."

"It is okay" Jack says nervously. He bends down to pick up the sword when Ray C. Ross is already on the floor staring at it.

"What a curious glow…" Ray begins to say as he touches the orb. His whole body starts to glow a strong white aura, and when it finally calms down you finally see a young man no older than twenty five staring down at his body as if it was his first time seeing such a thing.