Author's note: This fic is rated T for language, battle scenes, probably alcohol at some point, and I'm not sure what else yet. Nothing too different from what's in the game, though.

Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss or any of the rest of the Tales series. Namco owns them.


Chapter 1

Undineday, Gnome-Decan 27, ND2019 – 10:00am local time (Daath)

Florian was unaware at first that Anise had entered the library because he was so fascinated by the graphic novel he was reading. It was full of action and adventure, unlike the mathematics textbook open on the table in front of him. Florian wished that he could go on adventures too, like Anise and her friends had last year.

"Oh, Florian!" Anise's scolding voice behind him made him flinch. "You've been reading comic books again instead of studying, haven't you!"

"I-I'm sorry, Anise. But math is so boring! I'd rather study history, or art, or something else. Anything but math!" Florian whined.

Off to the side, he heard someone giggle. Annoyed, he turned to see who was laughing at him. It was Tear. Florian jumped up from his chair, excited. "Oh, Tear! You've come to visit again!"

"Hello Florian," Tear said with a smile. Her voice was warm, with no hint of disapproval at his slacking off. Florian smiled back.

"You know you're supposed to be studying right now instead of reading comics," Anise continued. "When are you going to take your schoolwork seriously?"

A rebellious feeling welled up in Florian's chest. "Maybe I won't ever," he challenged Anise. "Can't I work on my history homework some more? I love history. It's like a big, long storybook, only it's for real! It's a story that actually happened, here in our own world, a long time ago. Amazing people and places—"

Anise sighed in resignation. "Okay, Florian, how about this. You can have the rest of the day off from studying since Tear is here to visit us. But tomorrow, no comic books!"

"Aww..." Florian pouted, but the prospect of visiting with Tear was even better than reading. As much as Florian enjoyed reading, he loved spending time with friends even more. "Okay, fine. You win, Anise."

"Florian! This isn't supposed to be a fight!"

"What kind of comics were you reading, Florian?" Tear inquired, obviously trying to direct the conversation away from Florian's study habits, or lack of them.

Florian brightened. "The Heroes of Regeneration: Volume 5 – Derris Kharlan. And they're called graphic novels, not comics," he added austerely. Anise gave him a Look, which Florian ignored.

"Oh, I used to love that series when I was young," Tear said, sounding wistful.

"There's a sequel series, you know: The Heroes of Space and Time. It's set in the same world four thousand years later," Florian went on, encouraged.

"There is? I'd like to read them. Are they here in this library?"

"Tear!" Anise sounded indignant. "You're not helping!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Anise."

"Ugh... well, whatever," Anise said, clearly annoyed at both of her friends.

One of the librarians, who had appeared without any of them noticing, tapped Anise on the shoulder. "Anise, please keep your voice down in the library. Or better yet, you three, take your conversation somewhere else," she suggested, a hint of sternness in her voice. "It's good to see you again, Tear. Florian, put that comic book back where you found it, please."

"Graphic novel. Graphic novel, damn it," Florian muttered, as he picked up the book and headed toward the shelf where it belonged.

"Now, now, Florian, watch your language," chided the librarian. Florian scowled as he retreated.

"When did he learn to swear like that?" he heard Tear ask Anise.

"Ummmmm..."

"Anise, you should be more careful."

"Sorry. But you know, reforming the Order has been frustrating. No one wants to—"

"Girls..." said the librarian in a warning tone.

"Oops!" said Anise.

"My apologies, ma'am," said Tear, just as Florian returned.

The three friends hastily exited the library. "Where should we go to talk?" Tear asked.

"How about my family's room? Mama and Papa are busy working, so there's nobody there right now," Anise replied.

"No, I want to go outside," Florian argued. "It's such a beautiful day."

Anise shook her head. "There are some things I want to tell Tear that I don't want anyone overhearing. Sorry, Florian."

"Awwww, come on!" Florian wheedled.

"It's all right, Florian," Tear soothed. "We can go outside later today. There's plenty of time."

There was a brief pause, and then—

"I know what we can do!" Anise exclaimed. "Florian, let's play hide-and-seek. You go find a hiding place while I talk to Tear. With as much time as that will take, I bet you can find a really, really good one."

"Yay! Hide-and-seek!" Florian cheered. He loved playing hide-and-seek. The huge cathedral had dozens of good hiding spots. "See you later, Anise!"

"Later, Florian!" Anise called after him as he ran for the main staircase.


Everyone in the cathedral knew about the main library, but fewer knew that there was another library containing the Fon Master's own private collection. Florian dashed down the wide stairway. Down, and down, and down some more...

"Florian, be careful, you'll trip!" a cantor called as he ran past. Florian pretended not to hear her. As he reached the door at the bottom of the stairs, he paused to catch his breath. I made it, he thought. Now I just have to find a hiding place.

Inside the dark library, Florian looked around. He could hide under furniture, or behind a bookshelf, or maybe even...!

He had heard rumors of a secret passageway somewhere in this library. He didn't know where it led, but he was sure Anise wouldn't look for him there. A secret passageway has to be in one of the walls. That's only logical, he thought. But the walls are all covered in bookcases. So it has to be behind a bookcase...

Florian examined the bookcases around the perimeter of the room. There! Faint tracks on the dusty carpet revealed the shelf with the passageway. But how did someone access it? He felt along the edges of the shelf with his fingertips. Aha! he thought as something clicked. The entire section of shelves slid downward, revealing a door. Eagerly, he rushed through it, without even thinking about how the open shelf section would make it obvious where he had gone.

The door led to only a dead end, Florian saw with disappointment. A small, square, empty room with nothing in it—except for a large fonic glyph on the floor. Oh! Florian thought. I wonder where this goes? There are other fonic glyphs in this cathedral that all lead to different places.

He hesitated for a moment. Maybe I'm not supposed to know about this. Anise might get mad at me. But his curiosity was greater than his fear of a scolding, even from Anise.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped onto the glyph and activated it.