"Welcome travelers, to the Shrine of Rekos!" the priest at the gates to the shrine announced.

Zelgadis said nothing, he just tried to keep his face hidden under his hood and mask. Kleo stepped forward.

"Thank you. We've come a long way. We would be greatly obliged if you could lend us shelter for the time being,"

"Of cour--" the priest began in a friendly tone but then froze upon seeing who the woman that had approached him was, "Y-You again? I thought I'd lost you back in that city! Dammit! Why the hell are you here, Kleo?"

"Huh? You know me?" Kleo asked surprised. She studied the priest for a moment. He had long brown hair that was tied into a rather long ponytail. He wore a miter that under the evening sun cast a shadow over his face making his features unintelligible. His long blue habit covered any physical features that might've been able to be seen.

"Wait a minute--" Kleo commanded in an annoyed tone. Zelgadis just watched the whole situation with amused curiosity. Kleo leaned close to the priest and sniffed him.

"Alcohol. . .sake. . ." she commented. The priest began sweating nervously; a large sweat drop slowly fell down the side of his head.

Kleo's next action was unexpected by either Zelgadis or the priest. She stepped back, then suddenly swung her arm forward and slapped the priest with enough force to knock him to the ground.

"Dammit! I should be the one asking questions, Stein! What the hell are YOU doing here?!" she inquired forcefully as she stood with her hands on her hips.

"I work here!" Stein defensively informed her.

"You? Work? That's a laugh. . ." Kleo replied, "Who'd you steal the priest's clothes off of?"

"I feel so sad. . ." Stein commented sarcastically as he stood again, "My own sister doesn't love me. . ."

"Why the hell should I? You never do any work! All you do is gamble, steal, and cause problems for Mother and me!"

Zelgadis approached and interrupted. "You're Kleo's brother?"

Stein stood straight and saluted Zelgadis. He began rattling off a list of stats in a happy and friendly tone. "That's correct! Stein Remm, age 16, height 5' 11", weight 140 lbs., eyes brown, hair brown, blood type O, orientation--"

"Whoa! I think that's getting a little too personal. That'll be enough info for now," Zelgadis interrupted, "So you're Kleo's younger brother. . .you look older than 16."

Stein smiled, "See, sis? I told you alcohol does wonders! And who might you be sir?"

"I'm just a friend of Kleo's,"

Stein scoffed, "A friend of Kleo's? I never would've thought that Kleo had friends. . ."

"Shut the hell up you little fiend!" Kleo shouted, "You're no better than Father was--"

Kleo slapped a hand across her mouth, and then tried to remedy her last statement. "Stein. . .I'm so sorry! I-I wasn't thinking. . ."

Stein's attitude of carelessness and fun was replaced by an expression that represented true offense. He scowled at Kleo and turned around. While walking into the entrance of the shrine he shouted something back at his sister that Zelgadis didn't recognize.

"What did he just say?" Zelgadis asked.

"He called me 'Hundin'. . ." Kleo replied sorrowfully, "It means 'bitch.'"

"I see you have some family problems," Zelgadis commented, "Can I help in any way?"

"No, don't get yourself involved. Just. . .just please leave me alone for a little while. You should probably leave Stein alone too," Kleo said while entering the shrine.

Zelgadis stood alone in front of the entrance for a few minutes longer. He gazed back at the path that lead up to the shrine. Well, "path" probably isn't the best thing to call it. The way Zelgadis and Kleo had come was through a large desert. The shrine itself was built upon a gigantic oasis. The hot evening sun shone down upon the shrine's entrance.

"Amusing that they built such a huge community in a desert out in the middle of nowhere. . ." Zelgadis commented to himself while gazing at the statues of a silver serpent and golden wolf that decorated the entrance.

The shrine wasn't actually a "shrine" per say. It was a whole community city, the center of which was the actual shrine. The entire community was deeply religious and faithful to the Ryuzoku gods, Ceiphied in particular. They also held deep respect for Rekos, the martyr for whom the shrine was entitled.

"It's too hot out here," Zelgadis muttered as he followed the path Kleo and Stein had taken into the city.

Terra pondered back to the scene. She had watched the whole spectacle with mild amusement. She found people holding hostilities towards each other to be oddly amusing.

"So this boy Stein likes me?" she mused, "Hmm, if only he knew."

Terra paced back and forth along the banks of the small lake-like oasis in the center of the city that was the supply of life for the community. Down the perimeter of the oasis families were playing with their children, couples were taking romantic strolls in the evening sun, and then there was Terra. She waited, but she was growing impatient. She needed Sierra to enact the next step.

"I knew I was going to be here before her, but I hope I don't have to wait long. This place bothers me. . .I have vague memories of it. . .but. . .I guess the symbiotic relationship is having odd affects on my mind,"

"Waiting for someone?" a voice from behind Terra inquired.

"What? Who are you?" Terra asked as she spun around.

In front of her stood a man wearing a tan cloak with red-jeweled clasp. He attempted to cover his facial features with a hood and mask, but Terra could tell that his hair was wiry and his skin resembled stone. A sudden rage built up inside of Terra, but she kept it under control and maintained a dignified posture. The man leaned close to Terra's face and observed her glass-like skin and onyx hair. Terra moved her hood closer around her in an attempt to conceal her features.

"We've very much alike, you and I," the man commented, "Are you a chimera as well?"

"Chimera? Me? No, I'm. . .I'm just. . .my problems are not your concern,"

The man smirked and lowered his mask and hood.

"I'm willing to reveal the hideousness of my body," the man gave a half-smile, "My name is Zelgadis Greywords."

"Yes, I know," Terra commented without thinking.

"You do? How? I don't believe we've ever met," Zelgadis asked suspiciously.

"I-I saw you with Toshi and Kleo back in the last town," Terra lied.

"Then you know Toshi and Kleo?"

"Umm, I. . .uhh, that is. . ."

"Who are you?" Zelgadis commanded forcefully.

Terra lowered her head and sighed. "I might as well come clean. I'm Terra. Terra Nels Rada,"

Zelgadis raised an eyebrow for more than one reason. The mention of the familiar surname brought back memories, memories of days long past where his true happiness lay.

"Nels Rada. . ." Zelgadis thoughtfully muttered, "I didn't know that Sylphiel ever had children. You're her granddaughter, right?"

"Sylphiel?" Terra asked questioningly before she could even stop to think about the implications of saying it.

"You don't know your own grandmother's name?"

"Oh! No! That's not what I meant! Yes, I know my grandmother!" Terra sweated lightly as she gave the alibi.

"Hmm, Terra. . ." Zelgadis began pacing in circles around Terra. Terra stood stone still waiting nervously for the chimera to finish his inspection.

"You're also the woman who was possessed by Ruby-Eye Shabranigdo, correct?" Zelgadis asked while placing a hand over the hilt of his sword.

"I-I. . ." Terra stammered.

"I heard the story from Toshi. You're the blind friend of Sierra who was possessed by the Mazoku Lord. I was also briefly introduced to Sierra in the last town. But I must say that you seem quite human for someone possessed by Shabranigdo. I remember when I fought against Rezo. He lost his humanity almost immediately after the resurrection, yet you hold on to your sanity. Why?"

"I. . .I don't know," Terra replied, "But when Sierra gets here she can help me in a procedure that will remove the Mazoku Lord from my body. That's why I'm here,"

"Why wait? Can't someone else help in the procedure? How about me?" Zelgadis pressed as he narrowed his eyes dangerously. He didn't move his hand off of his sword.

"No, it can only be Sierra. The procedure requires the help of someone the patient is emotionally attached to. Sierra is pretty much a sister to me, so I think she best fits the requirements,"

"I see. That makes sense," Zelgadis commented as he removed his hand from his sword, "I apologize for my hostility. You can't be too careful with someone who's possessed my a Mazoku, you know."

"Yes, I know. It's alright, I'm not offended."

"It's getting late," Zelgadis observed as the shadows along the ground were nearly twice the length of a man's height, "I going to my room. I hope everything goes well for you. If I see Sierra I'll tell her you're here. Good night."

Zelgadis walked off towards the guest dormitories. Terra stayed standing near the water and watched him go. She narrowed her empty eyes dangerously and stared at him in hatred.

The main prayer hall of the Shrine of Rekos was almost empty. Only a few people kneeled upon the floor of the gigantic hall. The rug down the center of the room lead to an alter upon which sat a statue of the Flare Dragon Ceiphied. Stein kneeled alone in prayer towards one of the back corners of the hall. His head was bowed and his miter removed. The sound of footsteps from his side caused him to turn and look. Kleo stood next to him. After a few minutes of silence she too took the kneeling position.

"How does this work? I've never prayed before," she asked her brother.

"Simple. You just tell your hopes and fears to the Ryuzoku and it'll help calm your nerves. If you pray hard enough they might answer your prayers as well,"

"I see," Kleo said as she closed her eyes and bowed her head.

A few moments passed and not a word was passed between the two. Then after a few more minutes Stein spoke.

"How is Mother?" he asked quietly.

"She's doing well considering the whole situation. Father's dead, but I suppose that's a positive side to things. Mother must be having a hard time living alone in the North, not to mention the fact that she worries about you,"

"She still gives a shit about me?" Stein chuckled, "I never would've thought that. I suspected that you and Mother stopped caring about me after I did all those robberies and ran away from home a couple years ago."

"It's not that easy to forget about your son, even if his is a thief and an alcoholic," Kleo informed him.

"I wouldn't know," Stein replied.

"Why are you here, Stein?"

"Like I said, I work here. Well, that's not entirely true. I'm a priest in training,"

"You? A priest? I never would've thought it,"

"Yeah, I'm learning the history of our world. My future position is record-keeper of the shrine,"

Kleo thought that amusing. They hadn't seen each other in two years yet their interests had evolved in similar manners. Kleo studied history under a professor at Ebonheim until she was expelled, and Stein studied history under a priest.

"Of course, you're still taking time off every now and then to have a little fun, ja?" Kleo teasingly referred to their last meeting when Stein had seemed like his old thieving and gambling self.

"Ja, ich mache veil spaß hier," Stein smiled, but then became quite serious, "But. . .sometimes I do miss you and Mother."

Kleo was silent for a moment. She took a deep breath and then decided to ask the question she was hoping she could avoid.

"Stein. . .why did you leave home?"

Stein was silent.

"Things have been so much better ever sense Father died--"

"Don't mention him! Don't mention that bastard to me! I want to forget about him more than anything else in the world! Even if he is gone now, the memories are too painful!" Stein spoke a bit too loud, drawing the attention of a few other people in the prayer hall. Kleo and Stein attempted to look innocent and the attentions of the onlookers soon strayed away from the siblings.

"Are the memories so painful that you can't even live with us in the home where he used to be?" Kleo asked.

"Yes. I hate him more than anything else in the world," Stein whispered angrily.

"I hate him too. . ."

"Why did he have to be so good to us, Kleo? If he had been a bastard his whole life than I wouldn't have grown to love him. . .and it wouldn't have hurt so much when he changed,"

Kleo was silent for a moment longer, then she smiled happily and said, "Let's talk about other things, okay? We've been apart for two years now, there must some news to tell each other."

"Umm, okay, uhhh, well," Stein scratched his chin as he pondered a moment, "Well. . .I met a girl I really like. . ."

"You? I never thought you the romantic type,"

"Well, yeah. I've changed in the time since I was at home. Anyway, her name is Terra. It's a really pretty name, don't you think?"

Kleo froze, "Her name is Terra?"

"Yeah. She's really cute, and she can even see despite the fact that she's blind," Stein seemed proud to announce the object of his desire, but his happiness changed as he noticed that Kleo stopped smiling, "Something wrong, Kleo?"

Kleo was again silent.

"I know that she's four years older than I am, but y'know what they say: 'Love knows no limitations,' right? Is there something wrong with that, Kleo?" Stein asked curiously.

"N-no! Nothing's wrong! Well. . .actually. . .I do think it seems a little premature to be admiring her when you don't really know what she's like. . ." Kleo stuttered while forcing a smile, "So do you know where this Terra is?"

"What? You want to meet her? Sorry, she's not here right now. A few weeks ago the Blade Dancers were dispatched to try to recover an item stolen from the shrine. Besides. . .well. . .she doesn't actually know that I like her. . .we haven't talked much,"

"I see," Kleo muttered. She couldn't bring herself to tell Stein what had happened to Terra. How would he take it? Would he grieve? Would he believe her? What do you tell a person when their love has become a demon?

"How about you? Have you seen Azgin since that. . .one time?" Stein put a brief pause in his words because he knew he was slowly treading back to the subject of their Father.

Kleo shook her head, "Ever since Father threw him out of our house I haven't had the courage to try to talk to him. I haven't tried to look for another boyfriend either."

"Well. . .you and he sorta were asking for it. . ." Stein risked stating.

"Shut up! You just don't understand since you're a kid!" Kleo stated defensively.

"I may have been at the time, but I'm not a kid anymore! Besides, you were only fifteen at the time!" Stein countered.

"Let's just drop the subject, okay?" Kleo asked.

"Oh? Trying to be evasive now, are we?"

"Ob du sprichst mehr, ich werde dich schlagen," Kleo warned.

"Okay, okay! I'll drop the subject,"

"Right," Kleo stated while standing, "It's getting late. I'm going to bed. I guess we can talk more tomorrow."

Kleo turned for the exit and began to leave. When she was a few steps away from the door, Stein called for her to stop. Kleo turned to face her brother.

"I still think you're a bitch," he informed her while smiling broadly.

"Yeah, I know," Kleo smiled back, then left.