"Come on Novus we're leaving." Said Jack as he strode out of the Room towards the door. He grabbed his sword and equipment from the pile it was thrown in. "DAMMIT WOMAN!!!" Yelled Jack as he untangled his things. "WILL YOU HURRY THE HELL UP NOVUS." Bellowed Jack As he Opened the door.

"WAIT!!!" Yelled Gretchen as calmly as she could muster. "There is something you must know!!!"

Novus stands up, and starts walking towards the door as Gretchen finishes yelling, and he walks past her, and is shoved back hard enough he falls to his ass a few feet away, looking suprised at what she did, but just slows stands up, quietly, and looks at her, knowing he cant get past

Jack turned around knowing that if Gretchen had stopped him from leaving then there was a damn good reason. He put down his equipment and went to the liquor cabinet and grabbed three shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey. He poured himself a shot and waited as Gretchen walked in and sat down behind the Bar.

"There is a great and terrible evil out there," Gretchen said as she snatched the shot from Jacks hand just before he got it to his mouth. "Why, thank you jack." She said as she downed the shot in one gulp.

Novus looks around the room while Jack and Gretchen are conversing and drinking. Jack looks at Novus and offers him some. "No thanks, i dont drink" novus simpley declines, and then he takes a few steps forward and trips, not watching how he was walking, and lands with a loud thud on the ground, making Both them laugh. "ow..." Novus groans and looks up at a Shining Silver sword leaning against the wall. the sword was unlike anything Novus has seen, and looks at Gretchen "What is this sword?" Novus asks as he stands up and grabs it, holding it up, and there is a small click sound as the sword sort of ejects another sword up into the air, and Novus grabs it as it comes down, and looks kinda wide eyed at it, as he is holding two swords now, both look identical. "Uhm.." is all novus says.

Gretchen looked up at the sound of the swords separating and smiled. "Hehehehe well isnt that just interesting." Said Gretchen as she poured them all a drink. "You have been chosen, Boy." She waved him to come to the table and sit with them. "You are destined great power, Of which only few are granted." She looked at Jacks dark eyes. "You are to become a Breaker, One of the Worlds Guardians." she drank her shot as Jack began to speak. "Those who bear the sword, Shall find peace in guarding the Weak from Great and powerful Evil, They are said to appear when the Universe is in great peril." Said Jack as he drank his shot. "Gretchen, tell us what you know. Why is this all happening?"

Gretchen looked at Jack in amazement. " Jack do you not know of you actions?" She said quietly. "For years you have wandered the earth cursed because you made a deal with the Deities." Jack looked down in shame. "How did you know of my pact?" asked Jack quietly as he poured himself another shot and downed it.

"You cannot hide your true self from Gretchen," She said softly. "I know many things of the world. I know of the Stone of Truth that you used to unlock the gates between worlds. Something only a person of Race could do. Thats what the gods needed you for. They gave you the strength to avenge your wife. and you agreed to unleash the ties that bind." Said Gretchen as she sat backwards. "The Stone of Truth, is a powerful Magical tool. It not only unlocks the gates, but unlocks ones soul. The stone reveals to the user their true selves allowing them to mend their wounds that have been afflicted upon their soul." Continued Gretchen.

"You had completed your pact to the gods, a few months ago. So the stone began to heal your wounded soul. Then you faced Sephiroth, I know not what he needs the Stone for but when he ripped it from you, he severed the magic that the stone had enveloped upon you. Breaking your curse." Said Gretchen as she took a shot. "I fear for this world and all of the worlds. for there is an evil out there that the gods even fear."

"So Jack isnt cursed anymore?" Novus asks as He reattaches the swords together and looks at it for a little while "a breaker.." Novus states quietly and then sits it back in its spot and walks over, siting down in the chair gretchen motioned me to. "And what does.. Sephiroth have to do with this also? Is he the great evil..?" Novus states, whincing lightly at a small headache that just popped up. "And what does this all have to deal with me?" He asks kinda bluntly.

"I know not of what the future has in store for you. I only know what has happened. I wish I could tell you more but Im afraid I cannot." Said Gretchen as she stood up and went to the window. Jack followed her, and whispered something in her ear. " I sense that the Pharos at Ridorana, shall shed some light upon what you seek." Said Gretchen as looked out the window and ignored Jack.

Novus looks over at the two as they look at the window, then turns and starts gathering his stuff. Out of nowhere Gretchen booms "BOY! Your a breaker, drop that damn bow!" Gretchen walks over and picks up the sword from before and hands it to Novus, snatching away his bow "This is the Fenrir, it is a slightly powerful Break Sword, I bet it will do good for your first sword as a breaker." she states rather nicely, and then turns and walks out of the room, Novus looks at the sword and then then gets hit with a sheath for the sword, which Gretchen just tossed at Novus from the other room. "Uhm.. thanks.." Novus states as he ties up the sheath and then he spins the sword alil, getting a feel for it before he sheathes it up and looks at Jack. "I guess we're ready"

"Oh and Jack." said Gretchen as she walked into the room and unleashes a rather powerful lightning spell hitting Jack Knocking him off his feet. "IF you ever call me an old hag again. I'll kill you." Said Gretchen as she walked off humming. "Take care now." Giggled Gretchen

Jack stood up and brushed himself off. He looked at Novus who was staring at him "Just what the hell are you looking at." said Jack as he grabbed his equipment and the bottle of Whiskey. and walked out the door. "Well come on then." Yelled Jack.

To BE CONTINUED IN THE PHAROS AT RIDORANA: THE DEEPENING DARKNESS