Hi! I was looking for him, too. AND I heard he was in the cave with Crossel AND when I went there he wasn't. Ok. Leave the Eternal Sphere. A short cut scene will play. Then, when you go back to the cave where you fought Crossel, you'll find Albel there. You'll have to fight him. After you defeat him you'll hve the choice to take him with you. WARNING: if you took Pippita with you you CANNOT get him back. Sorry, you're screwed.

When I got Albel back, he wasn't there. I was at the Kirlsla Training Fasility. He was at the very top floor where the arena was. I don't think I had to fight him. He just, showed up, and after Crossel helped beat the living crap out of airships and I was on the whatever ya call it, he decided to stay. Also, if you do the scene at the hotel in Peterny, (You have to stay the night), that's supposed to make him stay too.