Gray. Life was an hourglass seeping with colorless and ironically lifeless sand, except the hourglass never ran out of sand for Kratos Aurion. As soon as one end emptied, the other began again for the immortal angel. The meaning of life had dulled as Kratos wasted away on Derris Kharlan, as he spent those years forgetting laughter and happiness, pain and anger, compassion and grief: as he spent those years forgetting what it meant to be human. Now, he lay, still wasting away with gray, empty eyes watching the uneventful, ever-unsurprising movements of the angels down on Welgaia. Yet, a flicker stirred from within him: his humanity.
Life had beaten and battered the seemingly untouchable angel, and the only emotion strong enough to move him also trapped him: guilt. Guilt and pity for his lost friend, Mithos, who for four thousand years delayed reuniting the two worlds he had split. Still, Mithos was searching for a way to revive his dead sister Martel. Mithos stood opposite Kratos, his back to him as he muttered to himself. Kratos had entered silently, but Mithos looked up immediately, his eyes wild as if he'd been stirred from a deep dream.
Mithos froze, but after second smiled warmly at his old companion, his teacher.
"Kratos." He said calmly, though his eyes showed pleasure at his old friend's company.
Kratos only nodded curtly, "Yggdrasiil. I have reports from Kvar that he is developing something known as the Angelus Project" He rolled his eyes amused at the thought of Kvar's groveling and scoffed.
Mithos seemed to laugh as well, though it was bitter. "That fool! I need not this silly project to make me stronger. Even if the project were to succeed, I doubt it would improve my skills greatly." He muttered arrogantly. "Let him continue his futile project though, as long as it keeps him busy and away from me. That irritating fool!" He sighed.
Kratos stayed, eyes downcast, and continued to say quickly, "Mithos, I have heard about this...plan of yours... For four thousand years, we have delayed reuniting the worlds so that you could revive Martel, but still, your plan has failed. Perhaps it is time to put the past behind us" He said gently, his hand on Mithos's shoulder. Mithos looked up momentarily, wide-eyed and unbelieving. "Martel is dead. Let us do as we intended and reunite the worlds. Do not go through with this madness." He cleared his throat and looked away, as if to turn from Mithos's inevitable fury.
"No!" Mithos clenched his fists with determination. "She's alive! Can't you feel it?" He shouted at Kratos. "She will be revived through any means necessary" He continued coldly. Kratos looked down on him with overwhelming guilt but knew that change was needed in this twisted system. Kratos only sighed in response.
Mithos continued, "And my plan is not madness. It is exactly as Martel wished! Discrimination will end. Half-elves will no longer be treated like filth" He said scornfully. "Do you not see? This is the only way! No emotion, no memory, no hate. People won't hate us anymore." He whispered, looking very much like the frightened 14 year old student Kratos knew from years ago. But that Mithos disappeared...long ago.
Kratos bore into Mithos's eyes and said firmly, "I will not stand by this madness Mithos." He walked away, half expecting uncontrollable rage from Mithos but nothing happened. He continued to walk away, while Mithos stood in hurt shock at the betrayal of his friend but still he whispered something Kratos did not hear.
Feeling no need to pursue Kratos in anger, Mithos only said solemnly and surely, "You'll be back."