Star Ocean: Second Evolution (Part 2) - Cross Castle and Cross Cave
1Cross Castle
First go to the inn at the top left; a scene will play out and you'll be all rested up in the morning when you're done. Now resist the urge to go shopping and head north to the castle. Talk to the receptionist on the left; you'll then be able to explore the castle. It's largely symmetrical, so you can swap the directions I give you here (turn right into left and vice versa).
Go down the lower left staircase, then right a bit and up into the central room (the armory). Pick up the Leather Helm and Wooden Shield, then return to the main hall. Go up the upper left staircase, then head north. The door to the right leads to the throne room; talk to the soldier guarding it. Before going back, though, head left and up another staircase. Go into the left room (the Prince's room) to pick up 500 FOL. Now return to the main hall and talk to the left receptionist. Go up to the soldiers to start another scene. When you're done, the King will give you 600 FOL and your Passport to Clik.
Head down out of the castle. When you reach town you'll see a bit of entertainment. Go and watch it, and when you're done Celine will join your party. (Actually, you can choose if she should or not, but whichever choice you make, she'll join anyway. ^^;) Celine is THE quintessential magic user. She starts at Level 8 (probably way higher than either of the two heroes), and her current magic is useful for the immediate present (since the enemies are usually too slow to outrun it).
Before heading out, go left and into the weapon shop. Buy a Broad Sword, Banded Helm, Banded Mail, and Iron Greaves for Claude, and get Boots for Rena. Also stop by the Skill Guild and buy all three skill sets. You won't be using them just yet (save up your SP) but you'll need to get them sometime. Also, go down to the peddler to stock up on Blue and Blackberries if you really need them (you shouldn't). Before you leave Cross, go back and do a Private Action. You'll see a three-eyed man on the way to the castle. This is important if you ever want to get Opera in your party.
Your next destination is Cross Cave, to the east of Cross Castle (near the signpost).
Cross Cave
The enemies here are only nasty when they gang up on you. When Celine learns Ray, turn it off because it saps her MP quite fast.
Start by going north into the big black crack. Take the first left and follow it for a Blueberry, then go back right. Go up. Take the left path again, and follow it to the next screen for an Artemis Leaf and a Sweet Syrup. Go right, but this time take the top right path instead of bottom right (it saves a bit of time) to reach a room with a Cure Poison. Go up again for a room with two visible chests (with a ?MINERAL and Lavender) and one invisible one, hidden at the top of the black stone thingy in the middle of the room. It holds a ?JEWELRY.
First head up, then turn right at the crossroads to pick up a Tri-ball and Magic Canvas. Go back left and down, then head left twice. You'll see a chest with a Lavender, but to actually pick it up you have to circle up a bit and around. Now go north, then left for a Stink Gel and Sweet Syrup. Go back right, down, and go left for a ?ITEM (in a huge room). Go left again, then down past the red-carpet-looking thing into a room with a Cure Poison and Blackberry.
Return up and right. There's a passage downwards here inside a little indentation in the southern wall towards the right end of the screen. Follow it for a Feather Pen, 600 FOL, and a Resurrection Mist, then go back out. Go north through the door.
Examine the big green glowing thingy for a scene, after which the way east will be open. Save your game and go there. There are five chests here. The bottom left one holds the Ancient Writings, your goal. The top left box (the one actually resting on the star) is actually a boss fight. Although it's optional, I'd say go for it, because the bosses give great EXP and FOL and aren't all that tough. Be sure to turn Ray back on before you go for it, though, 'cause they're weak against it. They have 1500 HP each and there are two of them.
The other chests in the room have 700 FOL, a Heart Barriers, and a Green Beryl (fairly useless right now). Now you just have to make your way out. Go left (save again if you wish), then down twice, then right, then down all the way to exit.