Lloyd made some good points, but he was worrying just a little too much about it in this case. “That’s if there is someone crazy enough to steal it from me. Most of the people here know me and what I am like, they’ll know I’ve let you borrow it for a good reason.” if he had trusted someone enough to hand that over then the person holding it was also trustworthy. The fact was that all the researchers here knew that Jude was a Rieze Maxian. If someone did steal his ID, they wouldn’t get far and would likely regret it in the long run.
“Torbalan Highroad.” Jude repeated, for their sake. “It’s the only way to get to the next city from here.” even if Lloyd couldn’t remember the name in the end, there really was only one way to get to Trigleph from here, and even without that cities name? Trigleph was the only nearby city when it came to Helioborg. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be careful. I’m tougher than I look.” it was true! “The same goes for you too.” being careful that is.
With the younger going the opposite direction to find where the exspheres had been taken, it wasn’t long until he was at the door to the quarantine area, faced with two guards who were not so eager to let him take such a dangerous bio-weapon into his own hands. “Guys… come on. You know I’m not planning to use it, I saw what those things could do.” making a pleading motion. Even though he was a Rieze Maxian, Jude was known as someone that could be trusted, he always had everyone in mind– heck his work was just that.
“Doctor Mathis, I understand what you are saying, but with the dangers these possess I can’t just give them to you. Surely you can understand that.” as the other quickly added on. “N-Not that we want to refuse you or anything..! We’re just doing our jobs…” feeling bad that he had also decline the young researcher. Jude sighed, because he promised Lloyd he would get these… He needed them to cave in, no matter what… Maybe honesty would work here?
So honesty it was. “Look I… I don’t know how to say this, but those items do pose a danger to this whole world. I’ve already spoken with Rowen and the Elympian government is already dealing with this matter and taking it very seriously.” he started, as both of the guards looked at each other. “As in… Prime Minister Rowen!?” one said, as they other returned. “A-And they know already!?” Jude only nodded in response, and then smiled. The two of them paled as they forgot Jude had a lot of connections, if they refused him when he was already clearly a big part of this case already. “We… uhhh…”
“I’m asking you because I already have a way of disposing them and I’ve been tasked with doing that, so I need to get these so I can fulfil my task. You… don’t want me to tell Rowen and Chancellor Marcia that I wasn’t able to get them do you?” looking away innocently, it was a brutal move, but he knew it would work here and… he was telling the truth, mostly. “N-No! Not at all! Please don’t! We don’t want to lose our jobs!” as the second lastly said. “We’ll let you in! None of this ever happened..! Okay?” both of them standing aside as the door opened. Works every time. Though he did feel guilty for pushing those buttons.
The exspheres were gathered in a small pouch of sorts, something he was glad for as he didn’t want to risk touching something so dangerous. Especially after Lloyd had warned him so much about it. Walking out of the quarantine and away from the now, slightly terrified guards, he made his way to the promised point. Jude had figured Lloyd would have waited around the gates of Helioborg that went out to Torbalan… before going out to fight the monsters… but his new friend ventured out just a little further.
“He was injured too… This is why I wanted to heal him.” shaking his head, his new companion was the stubborn type. The dedication he had towards this was astounding, and he could really admire that, but if you lost your life because you were too stubborn… Then you would never reach your goal. There had to be a line drawn somewhere, though… he could understand those feelings. Jude would be a hypocrite to preach it, even if he thought it. He never practised it himself after all. He was just as bad.
Fighting the monsters in Torbalan was something Jude tried to avoid unless he had no choice. Vouching to just run past most and only take out the persistent ones. Even then a good kick in the right place was normally enough to send them running away. Soon enough, he had caught up with the other as he knelt down next to him. “You know… I didn’t expect you to come this far without me. I did say we should get you patched up. You’re really stubborn, aren’t you?” well, it was a good thing he was here then.
“Let me see it?” as he moved Lloyd’s hand away gently to get a better look at it. “…you’re lucky, if this was any deeper you’d have a serious problem on your hands.” but that was enough for the analysis, as he hovered both of his hands over the injury and closed his eyes. Focusing carefully as he begun casting a steady stream of healing artes to close up the damage. “Now I can do this the hard way and use artes to find out, or you can tell me all the damage you’ve received up until this point and I’ll heal you as best as I can.” there was no sense in chasing after this criminal any further in such a state.
lloyd was understandably glad to see jude in the distance, because he wasn’t so certain he could have survived the rest of the walk through the torbalan highroad. he removed his hand from the cut which had stopped bleeding, mustering up a small, almost apologetic smile as jude scolded him. he deserved it, probably. ❛ sorry, i wasn’t planning on going out too far, just far enough so you’d still see me, ❜ lloyd said. his red suit made him quite the eyesore. the brunet glanced away, hoping to catch sight of the dealer, maybe, in case he’d actually caught up to him. he’d been too driven to stop and wait.
❛ that’s what people say, actually, heh... ❜ lloyd knew his friends would vouch for that. professor sage had always fussed about his ambitions getting ahead of him all the time, and it seemed it was true especially now when he didn’t have them stopping him. he allowed jude to heal him, honestly a little surprised that the other male could do so many things like summon spirits, fight, and heal. the only person he knew who could do all of those things was his dad, and... kratos wasn’t exactly a normal person. ❛ you could use healing artes, too? that’s amazing, jude, ❜ he smiled.
lloyd had some light bruising all over his torso, a dried cut on the side of his head, and a fresh one on the corner of his lips. thankfully, he hadn’t sustained any critical injuries but the gash under his ribs for jude to heal. traveling alone definitely had its ups and downs, the latter being that he couldn’t rely on anyone to heal him when he got injured. he also had to be his own source of income, so when odd jobs ran low, he often had to let things heal over on their own and camp outside, rather than inside an inn. he’d learned a lot about adventuring on his own, though, and jude had caught him at a rather vulnerable moment during his travels.
he rubbed his forearm across his busted lower lip and wiped off what little blood was still on his chin. ❛ thanks, i think some rest later tonight would help, ❜ lloyd said, not wanting to get any more sidetracked about their mission than they already had. he got up, his hand rummaging through his pockets for jude’s identification card that he figured he should return now so he wouldn’t forget later. ❛ did you get the exspheres? ❜ lloyd had already collected one that some woman on the outskirts of the city had been admiring. trying to find them was like a dangerous easter egg hunt at this point, if easter eggs could implode if mishandled. he hoped jude had gotten through the other workers, because lloyd was dying to hear some good news right about now...
lloyd glanced at his side where a patch had been torn from his top, revealing a sliver of bare skin where it had healed over. it was too bad healing artes or gels didn’t really sew clothing together...
❛ worry about me some more and i’d think you were my dad, ❜ lloyd chuckled. he already had two of those and didn’t need another one. he briefly thought of kratos, and wondered if his dad was watching him from his home in derris-kharlan right now. was this world visible from where kratos stayed? he glanced towards the darkening sky, his expression a bit contemplative. lloyd felt a bit homesick, for his companions, his home on the outskirts of iselia, and even his two dads.
❛ do you think you could help me fix my rheiard when all of this is done? ❜ lloyd asked, though he admittedly felt bad about asking for jude’s help again. but it seemed his friend from this world was his last lifeline when it came to returning home to sylvarant. he started to walk in the direction of trigleph, remembering what one of the citizens had told him about its location. ❛ you’re really my only way back, if i have any hope for fixing my rheiard. ❜
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