Rating: T for now, rating will change to M in later chapters.

Genre: Game, Action/Adventure, A/U.

Status: Work In Progress.

Chapter: Prologue.

Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership of any of the characters of Tales of Symphonia. The game and requisite characters are the property of Namco. I am just using them for a fiction of my own creation. Any original characters, Summon Spirits, plot devices, the Elyrian Seraphim, the Elyrian language, spells, Seraphic Crystals and Seraphic Key Crests are my own creations. This fiction was inspired by the imaginative and excellent Tales of Symphonia Trilogy of Alaia Skyhawk.

Summary: This fiction follows the story of Tales of Symphonia; but there are dissimilarities. This fiction begins a week before the Chosen of Regeneration commences her journey. Ailia Irving, twin sister of Lloyd Irving, has been the recipient of peculiar dreams. Within them; a mystifying, feminine voice tells her the restoration of the Giant Tree is imminent. The power of a mysterious Spirit stirs throughout Sylvarant. During the journey to restore the world; Ailia begins to change, into something not seen upon Sylvarant for millennia; a being that could assist Collete and Lloyd in unifying the two worlds and regenerating the Kharlan Tree. Yuan, Leader of the Renegades know what she could be. He also has suspicions concerning her brother. He is after both of the Irving children for various reasons. Throughout the journey of World Restoration; the history of a forgotten race finally comes to light; a race that vanished from living memory when the Tree of Mana withered. Secrets are revealed, one that has connections to the enigmatic past of Lloyd and Ailia.

Tales of Symphonia

Act 0: The Lesser Conclave of Spirits and the Elyrians

~:O:~

Legend has told of the Tree of Mana was responsible for the creation of life upon Symphonia. The Tree did indeed exist, emanating infinite Mana throughout the world of Symphonia. Fruit hung amongst its lofty branches, shimmering with the vibrancy of life. Thousands of years passed and the one by one, the fruit fell, various forms of life emerging to fill Symphonia with their presence. The Eldest children of the Tree were the Summon Spirits; each one had governance over a solitary aspect of nature. The protozoans were the second, a constantly evolving form of life that thrived on Symphonia. Elves and Humans were the next races to be born. The Elves and Humans thrived; building civilizations. But the Tree still held fruit within its branches. More races were birthed. The Ethereal Dragons; capable of telepathic communication with other intelligent forms of life. The noble Spirit Cats, great felines who could channel magic as fully as any Elf. They were just as intelligent as an Elf or Human. Because of their close connections to the Tree of Mana; these beings were known as the Mana Tribes. But their nature was misunderstood. They became reclusive in nature; hiding themselves away within the wild places.

With the passing of centuries; more Summon Spirits emerged, younger than those of the Elder Spirits by several thousand years. They claimed governance over aspects that were not represented by the Elder Spirits. The first was Elyr; who influenced the powers of magic. She came to be known as the Shining Lady. She was also the oldest of the Lesser Summon Spirits. As more elves and half elves learned the laws of utilizing magic for miscellaneous functions; her powers increased. Minerva; the Summon Spirit of Wisdom appeared soon after; the second of the Lesser Spirits to be born from the life giving potentiality of the Tree of Mana. Chronos; the Summon Spirit of Time, was the third to emerge. Artemis; the Summon Spirit of Soul, was the fourth of the Lesser Spirits. The Elder Spirits noticed the presence of the younger Spirits and allowed them to join their number. The Conclaves of the Summon Spirits were created at this period in history; one for each rank of Spirits.

Gradually knowledge of their existence spread throughout the world. Shrines were erected in honour of Minerva, Chronos and Sulis. In time summoners sought them out to form pacts. Elyr did not wish for a temple or shrine to be dedicated in her honour; nor would she allow the formation of pacts with any summoner that sought her out for just such a purpose. Wherever magic or Mana lingered or was called upon for a working; Elyr felt she was being honoured. But the Tree of Mana still held one solitary fruit suspended from within its branches; that was reaching completion; one that would soon fall and reveal a new being.

The shimmering fruit fell; exposing what was within. A new race now walked the world of Symphonia. They appeared to be human, but flew through the skies, driven by iridescent wings of magic. This new race began to look for a purpose for their existence, but being different from the other races born of the Tree; they were mistrusted and driven from the lands they tried to settle upon. Elyr; the ruling Spirit of the Lesser Conclave noticed these unusual journeyers, ever searching for a place to call their own. Elyr spoke with Minerva, who allowed them to settle near her shrine, located high up within the mountains near the region that would later be known as the Kingdom of Balacruf.

Elyr revealed the knowledge of the Eternal Circle to the travellers. They took her name in gratitude for finding them a place where they could dwell freely, without harming anyone; to freely explore their emergent talents. There were individuals amongst the Elyrians who chose to follow the precepts of the other three Spirits of the Lesser Conclave. History would now know these beings as the Elyrians or Elyrian Seraphim. Their cities were known as Aeries; being built high amongst the mountaintops. Teleportation platforms were established for those who could not fly to enter the cities freely.

The Elyrian Seraphim despite seeming to be human in appearance; were disparate from their human kin. When the force of the Life Stream began to filter through their blood; physical alterations began to occur. Upon reaching a certain age; their eyes would change to a deep emerald green in hue. The symbol of the Eternal Circle appeared upon their skin; glowing with the innate radiance of Mana, at the base of the neck. The differences in their mental nature became noticeable as their civilization matured in knowledge under the blessings of the Lesser Conclave. They honoured the beliefs of the Eternal Circle; that every living being, Human, Elves, Dwarves, Ethereal Dragons, Spirit Cats, also those in-between, were intertwined with each other. That life and death were interlinked within an endless cycle. That every living, vibrant spirit were in turn connected to a spiritual nexus called the Life Stream; ever flowing with Mana. This mystical network was rooted within the Tree of Mana; a full and complete cycle; Mana and magic ever flowing outwards and inwards; the Eternal Circle.

An Elyrian Seraph could sense the strong links binding the Tree and the planet together. They were also capable of detecting the more fragile bindings between the various races that dwelled within the world. Once the Elyrians had learned to fully merge with the Eternal Circle; various gifts began to awaken within them. Healing, the ability to forge Mana into a form of power known as Crystal Sorcery, the gift of touching the living soul of another through Elantyr. The greatest gift they learned; under the tutelage of the Lesser Summon Spirits was the capability to wield magic.

In time, the Elves learned of the presence of the Elyrians. When the Elven Elders took note of the work the Elyrians were undertaking; assisting those that required it or protecting the Mana tribes, also ensuring that the Tree of Mana was safe from threat, the Elves decided to provide further tutelage within the arts of magic to the Elyrian Seraphim. The Elyrians gladly accepted the lessoning the Elves imparted to them; as it would assist them in furthering their honouring of the precepts passed down to them from Elyr, the Shining Maiden.

Precepts of Elyr:

Assist those in need; harming none.

Serve the Summon Spirits with reverence and grace.

Impart understanding of the Mana Tribes to those who do not know their true nature.

Protect the Tree of Mana; that which granted Symphonia life.

Deep bonds of friendship were formed between the two races; who each revered the Tree of Mana in disparate ways. Soon the offspring of the Elyrian Seraphim were sent to the elves in Heimdall for tutoring in more than just the principles of magic. By channelling the Life Stream and Mana energy together; potent spells were discovered. These spells were called Elyrian Magic. Utilizing the lessons learned under the guidance of the elves, Elyrians managed to couple magic and the energy of the Life Stream into crystalline forms known as Lore and Seraphic Crystals. The Lore Crystals granted normal humans the capability to use low to midlevel magic, also extending their lifespan by several centuries. They were known as Lore Crystal Users.

The Seraphic Crystals were more powerful in the scope of gifts awakened in the recipient. Their lifespan was lengthened to one paralleling that of an Elyrian. Gifts of magic were also awakened, to use the low, mid and high level spells; along with the gift of flight. But the ability to sense and merge with the Life Stream was a gift that belonged to the Elyrians alone. Not all individuals were compatible with the Seraphic Crystals. Many Elves, intrigued by the Elyrian Spells, bonded with the Seraphic Crystals; living alongside the Elyrians within their mountain cities. An Elyrian Oracle foresaw the demise of the Tree of Mana. They tried to intervene when hostilities between two neighbouring Kingdoms escalated. When their warnings went unheeded; the Elyrians began to plan in secret; for a means to save the Tree.

Then the War began. Mithos the Hero and his companions managed to forge a peace treaty between the two participating Kingdoms; in an attempt to save the Tree of Mana. But any action came too late. The Tree withered away; leaving behind a solitary Seed, aglow with the latent promise of Mana. Before the Elyrians had a chance to retrieve it; the Seed vanished. Fearing reprisal; the Elyrians departed their cities, taking with them any Lore Crystal and Seraphic Crystal Users with them. No-one knew where they journeyed to. No indication of their final destination was left.

The Lesser Conclave vacated their shrines, departing into the depths of Symphonia. Elyr was the last to leave. As Elyr departed, she gave voice to what would be known as Elyr's Promise:

'Summoned into the light of the Holy Tree by the First of my Children,

The powers of the Holy Tree shall be eternal,

Casting its grace and blessing of Mana throughout the unified world.'

Elyr's Promise passed beyond the fragile reminiscence of mortal recollection. Any knowledge of Elyr's existence faded from human memory. The Elyrian Seraphim vanished; never to be seen or heard from again. Yet vague hints still remained; on the world of Sylvarant, occasionally unearthed within ruins or located upon mosaics within Asgard: the City of Ruins. A myth referencing their vanished civilization was still spoken of, passed down from one generation to the next.

The Shining Race

Thus the Elyrians were born from the shelter of the Tree of Mana. Elyr, the Summon Spirit of Magic, the Shining Lady, taught them to intertwine their soul's essence with the Eternal Circle. In her honour they took her name; calling themselves the Elyrian Seraphim. Connected to the world through the Sacred Balance; they traversed the skies of Symphonia upon radiant, crystalline wings. They pledged to protect the Mana Tribes from the persecution of those who would not understand them for what they are.

The Elyrians vowed to uphold the entirety of their lives in perpetual service to the Greater and Lesser Summon Spirits; to protect the Tree which granted them their lives and powers. They were friend to elvenkind; learning the arts of magic and healing. But with the inexplicable demise of the Tree of Mana; their civilization vanished. Nearly all trace of them fell from human knowledge; until only the elves knew they had existed at all.

Remnants of their language were often found upon ancient monuments. All of the script was undecipherable to both human and elven scholars. But there was one phrase that was repeated endlessly; often accompanied by beautiful murals and mosaics. This phrase was found carved upon crystalline stele located throughout the entirety of the lands.

'Fiea Shyria du Shen tirhin lanna feia Yilan.'

Nestled beneath the words, inset within the earthen, marred surface was an insignia. The endless round device that represented the Sacred Balance was displayed in shimmering gems; glittering with the fire of Mana. Within the Sacred Balance; an ankh; but the import of the second symbol was unfathomable. That was an enigma which would remain unsolved for many years.