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Summary Aesir
The major rewrite of "Relapse of the Ancient War". A few decades after the Regeneration Journey, the world was covered in strange darkness as Lloyd Irving and his wife disappeared. While all hope is almost lost, One day Lloyd's child accidentally encountered a mysterious man named Kratos Aurion who mysteriously appeared out of nowhere. But despite the oddities, with this man he embarked a journey to find his missing family. Even if they have to against the devilish hellhounds, judgmental white elves, corrupted summon spirits, and the ancient deities: the Aesir…
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What changed from the previous story (skip it if you wish):
- Every darn thing… I did mention that previously I had about 3 alternative prolog, even this one got a major change so it's about 4 alternative…
- I don't like how Tynan came out on the previous story. He's more like a know-it-all emo brat. Since the first I made him, he's not supposed to be 'normal. But then again he's still a kid. So even if he was mentally adult, he still acting like a kid.
- The title…my real life friend said cruelly that the previous title was infuriatingly boring. I just realized that based on my work we strictly must catch the simplest title. On one of the alternative had been Tales of Chronos…and sadly it's been used, though it's not exactly Chronos but it's the same thing. We scroll down and suddenly I said, "It was about the Norse gods, Aesir". She said, "Why not that name? Aesir?" That's how I changed it.
- I need to be consistent with the story…if I want to base on Norse. So there's no more story about the Jewish angels. There's still some, but I changed it slightly this prologue more to "Tales of Phantasia" related.
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Hail clan of Aesir, children of the great Odin.
There are those who were sacrificed in Ragnarok war and to those who survived.
Hail to the elves the clan who help the gods, arrived from Derris Kharlan Comet.
Hail to Vidar, the next ruler after Odin, the one who planted the first world tree that brought life to the world.
Hail to the world tree which people know as the tree from Derris Kharlan
Which its real name is still unknown…
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Chapter 1: King of a Star
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His name was Kratos Aurion.
…or at least that was what the people of the comet of Derris Kharlan remembered about him.
For eons, the people there had lived in Derris Kharlan. Even they were no longer aware of what they were. Some say they're half-elves, some legends claimed that they were once angels who were evolved greatly over the years, and whatever legends they have. Their true history had slowly vanished. The old generations had long gone, replaced by newer generations with brighter and revolutionary thoughts, no longer the mindless souls like their ancestors.
There were so many changes in Derris Kharlan, except for the man named Kratos Aurion.
Very little people knew about this man's being.
Kratos Aurion was the ruler of Derris Kharlan for as long they remembered. He was an immortal…of course, whereas people slowly die, Kratos still appeared as he was from now until tomorrow, for he could not age. Before the new generations were born, he already existed. Another speculated that he was an angel, because some people witnessed wings sprouting from his back. They were strange yet beautiful blue wings with an inhuman glow.
One absurd theory said that he was a human. It was considered a fable because…for as long as the people of Derris Kharlan knew, humans have a short term life, barely a century. Maybe he is a god, a fitting role for such a divine existence. Though so, he did not want people to think of him as such. He did not create the world, nor manipulate the cosmos to do so. Although his minds and rules had helped the Derris Kharlan people, he claimed that it was a duty, nothing more. Yet, until now he tried not to take advantage of his people's trust.
The Lord of Derris Kharlan was how most people thought him as. He had strange reddish untidy hair with blood colored eyes. Kratos was a stoic, powerful, undefeatable, refined being, who only existed long enough to rule over this world.
His reign over the Derris Kharlan lasted until one fateful day. A sane residence of Derris Kharlan would never question Kratos' authority, since his presence's purpose is to preserve the life in this comet. However, one particular man, named Bandi began to doubt Kratos' existence. He heard there was a tree that supplied the mana flow inside the Lord's palace, in time he began to be obsessed with it. Soon, General Bandi led mass of soldiers and scientists, creating weapons that corrupted the mana to offend Kratos' govern.
On that day, Kratos Aurion ran in the middle of the fire caused by explosion. Some people of his palace had died. None of them expected a destructive machine blow the palace, their bodies scattered on the floor he walked upon. He and his soldiers had evacuated the survivors inside the core of the palace, where the mana tree resided.
While scanning for any survivors, Kratos spotted one of his noted servants. A librarian boy named Dhaos fainted trapped by the fallen doors. With his strength he freed the boy from the debris. When he observed that Dhaos had a minor bleeding from an injury to his head, Kratos took a piece of a red cloth from a torn curtain nearby the window, peeling it into the right size and bandaging it to his head.
"L-Lord Kratos!" Dhaos realized his rescuer, "I…what happened?"
"We're in the middle of the war, Dhaos." Unlike his other people, Dhaos understand that word. People of Derris Kharlan had always had a stable government; they barely know anything about war. Dhaos was a clever and curious one who read too many books in the palace's library.
Kratos suddenly ordered, "Go to the main of the palace and shelter yourself there."
"What are you going to do, Lord Kratos?" Dhaos was one of Kratos' most loyal workers. He was concerned of his Lord's safety.
"Most of my men had fallen. I'm the only one who can defeat our attacker."
"But, my Lord-!"
"That's an order, Dhaos."
The boy hesitated once but then he ran quickly to the most heavily guarded room in that palace. Before this war, the place was out of boundaries and only Kratos have the privilege to enter. He was not alone. Soon few people who avoided the war entered the room with him as well. He saw Kratos ran to the other direction when the gate closed. Deep in Dhaoos' mind he had strange feeling that this would be the last time he saw his Lord…
When the shelter was closed, Kratos and his surviving soldiers were the only ones left.
Kratos took out his most valuable item, a mysterious golden pocket watch... Even though knowing the time was useless at this situation, that object gave him an unexplainable peaceful feeling. After that, he closed his pocket watch shoveling it inside his pocket and unsheathed out his sword. Quietly but hastily he ran to one of the giant weapon machine. One of his soldiers reported that the weapon create darkness, a dangerous vortex of no returning.
He saw it finally. That machine created a mass of darkness; storm emerged from inside of it, swallowing every environment nearby.
He was soon engulfed by the darkness...
Million light-years from that place, a boy named Tynan awoke from his dreams.
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Tynan needed to blink once, twice, a few times to adjust to his surroundings. It was not easy telling the differences between dreams and reality. Oddly enough, while most people forget their fragment projections of memories, Tynan often remembered his dream. A few seconds later, he had realized his surroundings. He was sitting beside a window with his sleeping sister beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Don't sleep again… We're almost reaching our destination." a voice ordered from across his seat.
When Tynan scanned his surroundings more, the clearer it became. He and his sister were riding a public airship with their current guardian: Genis Sage. He was the one who sat across Tynan, suggesting him gently not to sleep. He hadn't moved his head from his book. Violet eyes directed carefully to his special book, sometimes to Tynan and his sister.
"Where are we?" Tynan asked groggily, he had trouble on getting awake. It was one of the slacking habits which he inherited from his father.
"Near Iselia, 7 minutes away… Tynan, were you having a dream again?"
"Y-yeah…"
This time Genis lowered his old book and frowning, "Was it a nightmare?"
"No, it's neutral. It's just… I thought you said that dreams are supposed to be memory fragment. But this dream is so…surreal."
"Tell me…" Genis spoke while fixing his glasses. After years went by from researching too much from books his eyesight was worsen.
"I had a dream… There was a man who ruled over a star. He saved a boy, he told him to go to the shelter, and then he faced his enemy alone…"
"Tynan, it's your memory fragment. I know ever since your parent's disappearance, it's been hard for you, but…"
Tynan's stomach clenched. He realized it's the same scenario on how he lost his father. Drowning his emotion slowly, he calmed down and continued.
"No, I… I don't think it's my Dad."
Genis titled his head, "Are you sure it's not Lloyd Irving, your father?"
"No, he…had red hair, very bright red hair." Tynan spoke again, "…he had blue wings. I guess he's an angel. But…he had red eyes like Dad."
Genis hadn't replied. When Tynan looked up to him he was freezing. He mumbled something but it was almost inaudible to Tynan. It was more like he's mumbling to himself, "I don't understand how you could describe him that well… You've never met him, it's impossible…"
"Impossible for what?"
Genis shook his head, "No… I'm just thinking too much. So…what happened to this man?"
Tynan looked up, as if he would gain his answer by doing so, "There's a war. He tried save his people and defended them alone. The enemy shot something and he was soon swallowed by darkness."
He saw Genis bit his lip slightly anxious. He was soon distracted by a bell heard from the airship. This public airship was one of their most famous magitechnology. Genis, who was the architect of this machine, had the privilege to ride it anytime he wanted. On this case he needed it regularly to escort his best friend's children to different places.
"It seemed we're getting near Iselia." Genis pondered. After that he gazed briefly to his friend's children. Now Tynan's younger sister had awakened because of that bell.
"Rise and shine, Annalise." Genis spoke gently, "We're going back to your home."
Annalise had a temporary light tantrum. She also attempted to snuggle back to her brother, if only he hadn't prevented her from doing that.
"Now, Tynan…" Genis asked the boy, "We're going to visit your grandfather, Frank."
"Are we going to our house?"
"Yes, you see… It is supposed to be Marta's turn to take care of you. But lately she's been busy so her turn will be delayed. You remember Marta right?"
"Yeah, I remember Mrs. Marta. Her family took us in few days ago. She must've been busy because now she's the ambassador of Sylvarant."
"Thing's never been easy." Genis sighed, "It has been better than after both of the worlds were united. Even now, both people from Sylvarant and Tethe'alla still don't completely trust each other. Marta had to finish many cases. After it's done, she'll pick you up immediately. Let's say about…few days."
Tynan nodded once. After that he gazed at the view outside the window. Things had been quiet once more, even Genis returned to his book.
Ever since three months ago this had been his and his sister's regulation. Tynan had been used to this routine: moving from places to places not settling more than two weeks. He was used to this kind of nomadic days ever since Annalise can walk by her own feet. The first reason was because Lloyd Irving, Tynan's father, was an adventurous man. He often brought his family to see the unified world, experiencing and questing different places.
Three years ago a strange mass of darkness emerged during nightfall. They came only at night and vanished when the sun set. Many people reported missing or harmed because of demons, emerging from that dark mass. No one was sure what those demon creatures were called. Since then, less people dared to venture outside their hometown during night. Now, Tynan and his sister weren't travelling anymore. However they travelled again three months ago for a different reason. Lloyd and Colette had been missing since three months ago. They've been lost by that darkness…
"Tynan, don't be hopeless… I know there should be an explanation on why Lloyd and Colette disappeared. In the mean time we can't afford losing any of his relatives."
"You said that you and all of his friends are trying to find him. Some people say he died."
"Don't think of that. People don't know your father well…" Genis frowned his eyebrows, "I and the others refuse to believe that Lloyd and Colette died. Maybe they have difficulties that they can't return home. We are trying our best Tynan, we're not giving up."
He is having doubts... The thought inside of Tynan's head was telling him that. But he had no heart to deny his current guardian…
There were few peculiar things that everyone should know about Tynan, starting with his father. All of Lloyd Irving's families…Well, let's just say they're not common. Lloyd Irving was a well-known hero, respected and feared by both of worlds in Aselia. He was once just a normal outcast boy living in a decent village. Then from one incredible journey with his mother, he had reunited the two separated worlds. There were some rumors that he wasn't 'fully' a human being. Other than he was adopted by a Dwarf, no rumors about Lloyd's abnormal being was assured.
Tynan's mother was an angel, or once a human with artificial wings. Other than her past popularity as the chosen she lived happily with her family and her husband. From her appearance, Tynan's little sister seemed normal. Normal five year old children should be able to speak fluently, but that was a different case for Annalise. She had a strange ability to communicate with any living creatures, humans, monsters and elves…perhaps it was inherited from her mother. However, because of that ability, she refused to talk with words, believing that words can hurt.
As their first child, Tynan was almost considered to be a normal ten year old boy. He had dark hair with abnormal red wine eyes he inherited from his father. But despite his strange eye color, that was the least of his problem compared to his 'strange thoughts'. Ever since he was a little, Tynan could read thoughts. It was not exactly mind reading. It was more like his eyes and thoughts saw things more honestly. He could feel people's emotions; from that ability he could tell if people were being dishonest. He can see different things that weren't seen by normal humans such as people who were supposed to be dead…
The worst of all he can sense dying people…
When he was little, Tynan didn't understand that this ability frightened people, until his first day of school. The teachers avoided him, most of the kids would be afraid of him. His father, Lloyd, didn't care; he loved his child no less. His mother always comforted him despite how other people ill-treated him. His sister was naïve and didn't see what was so scary about her brother.
That small family was his perfect world…and now two of them were taken from him. Ever since then, Tynan had been blaming himself. Day by day he lived in different places with his father's different friends, Genis was one of them. They just lost two of their friends, they feared for the children's safety. None of the Symphonian eight heroes blamed him, but Tynan's other sense informed him that they're losing hope.
Tynan was also sensing Genis had returned to his book. It was one of Genis' attempts to avoid Tynan's uneasiness.
"What are you reading?" Tynan scanned the book.
It was old, filled with many torn pages and almost completely detached from the cover. Tynan had the right to be amused, because to see Genis with old books were rare sight. Genis loved new inventions, futuristic ideas, revolutionary thoughts, not looking back at the past. It was more of Genis' sister who favored ancient items.
Genis looked at his godchild through his glasses, "It was one of the old records from Derris Kharlan. This one is about the legend of the gods who ruled this land a long time ago…"
"A long time ago? Even longer than Mithos' tyranny?"
Genis grimaced. Tynan was one of the few people who knew the truth behind Cruxis, "Yes, even longer than Mithos' tyranny."
"Why are you studying those?"
"Because it contains the few records of the Aesir, one of the god's tribe…"
"Aesir…?" Tynan raised an eyebrow. For some strange reason he felt that word was familiar.
"I learned of it from this book..." Genis sighed as he took off his glasses and gazed at his godchild more seriously, "Mainly because the word 'Aesir' was your father's last word before he disappeared. I wish I know why he said that. Your father has never had any interest in history. On top of that, the Aesir had very few and rare records since their legends were ancient, almost forgotten. Even some of us wouldn't know that word if Lloyd hadn't said it."
"I…I wish I know why he disappeared."
"Perhaps, it is a code…" Genis sighed, "So is your memory, perhaps?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's true that dreams are fragments of your memory." Genis woke Tynan from his deep thoughts, "But Tynan…your thoughts are different. Perhaps it was telling you something?"
"Telling me what?"
Genis titled his head, "Well, for once you had a dream other than those nightmares about your parents' disappearance. Perhaps something will happen… Oh, we've arrived."
Indeed, the airship blew another whistle and strange noises. When Tynan seeked the view outside of the window he can see this airship was landing.
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It wasn't that long to reach Tynan's grandfather, Frank. He was now the father of Iselia replacing his deceased mother. Now he left his busy obligation to take care both of his grandchildren. The old man was now living in the empty house where Lloyd Irving lived. After a brief greeting and comforting hugs, Tynan trudged upstairs and throw himself to the bed, feeling exhausted. He got up for a while to check on what his sister was doing, it was his responsibility as the older brother. Annalise was playing on the lower ground with Frank's vases, she favored those Iselia red bushy flowers. Unfortunately he heard Genis' conversation with Frank nearby the room. They had not realized Tynan's presence.
"…still no sign of Lloyd and my daughter?"
"Unfortunately, no." Genis sighed, "This is so weird. Lloyd and Colette don't like leaving their kids too long. I'm worried of them, Annalise is crying less and less lately. Tynan accepted their disappearance from the start, but I don't think he's taking that very well."
"…How is he?"
"He's still blaming himself… Poor kid, he often has nightmares…"
Tynan's eyes misted when he heard that. He soon saw his backpack near the stairs and silently took it. He took it back to the bedroom. Since he hadn't calm down, Tynan took a picture of his family, frozen in times. After he put it carefully on the small table near the bed, his head hit the pillow.
His heart was aching and Tynan almost couldn't take it anymore. When he drifted into sleep, he wondered if he would have another nightmare. But instead having the torturing past about his parent's disappearance, he was hoping to dream of that King of the star once again…
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He heard dripping…
Water dripping…cold environment and strange tranquility washed his heart.
When Kratos Aurion opened his eyes he saw clear night skies with millions of stars surrounding him. At first he thought he had died, but if he died he was not suppose to feel cold. When he sat, he realized that he was laying in a shallow lake. He stood up and watched the endless horizon, millions stars as the sky, the lake as shallow as the ground.
"The darkness had engulfed you." A voice said behind him.
Kratos abruptly turned back to see another presence beside him. There's a giant tree planted in the middle of that place and a woman sat on the tree. The woman had thick flowing green hair length down to her waist. She had strange tree branches sprouting from the back of her hair like a crown. She had massive wings and wore an oversized skirt, on her hand held a magic staff.
"Lady Norn…" Kratos quickly kneeled before her, "Forgive me, I had failed."
"No, you did not fail me, Kratos." Norn floated away from the tree so she was on the ground with Kratos, "The enemy had been using the black hole. You were swallowed by the vortex. I realized that he should be stopped at once. By using the supply energy I drained the mana out of his machine. But I had no authority to take his life, so General Bandi lived. For now he will not do any harm for a few years, I presume."
"So…I died?"
"Not entirely. The people who sheltered in my tree had prayed deeply for you and your men's safety. As the summon spirit of the Derris Kharlan mana tree I had the ability to control time and spaces. I pulled you and the survivors out of the vortex. But you…however, can no longer live in this place."
"Technically, I died." Kratos stated the obvious fact.
Norn smiled, "Death is not the end, Kratos. It is just a beginning of a new journey. To save your life requires a balance in nature. I will revert your life."
"What do you mean by 'revert'?"
Norn swung her long staff once again as she explained, "I had the authority to bend time and dimension. I will bring you back to the place before you swore your oath to be my guardian. Though the other cosmos regulation requests your presence, it will be a few years after that."
"I will return a few millennia before I made a pact with you. I understand, but where is the place which my presence is required?"
Norn smiled warmly, and then she answered, "Since you've been faithfully guarding my tree, I will grant your wish as my gratitude."
"My wish?"
"You wished to return home…"
Kratos had not spoken for few minutes. Returning home had not crossed in his mind before, "I…would be grateful. But who will guard you?"
"Not to worry…" Norn closed her eyes, "I saw a promising candidate to replace you."
"Who?"
"It was the little boy whom you saved not too long ago."
"Dhaos?" Kratos was confused, "He is just a little boy. The task will be too much for him."
"I am the summon spirit of the mana tree in Derris Kharlan. I can see potential further in the future or how the fate entwined. Dhaos was the best of the best. You should believe his potential." Norn then formed a necklace. "Give this to him as a sign of my pact and tell him the name of the tree…"
"Very well." Kratos took the necklace.
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Dhaos was asleep with the rest of the exhausted survivors near the giant roots of the mana tree. The war had ended as soon as the mana tree glowed abnormally. Nevertheless he had not seen any sign of his Lord. He suddenly felt a hand feathered his wavy blond hair. As he opened his eyes he saw their missing auburn haired Lord.
"Lord Kra-!" Dhaos almost exclaimed in relief but his Lord put a hand on his mouth silencing him.
So Dhaos obeyed and carefully without waking the others, he stood further to his Lord.
He then declared, "I will leave Derris Kharlan."
Dhaos titled his head in confusion, "Will you return?"
Kratos shook his head, looking to the upper branch of the giant mana tree as if he was looking for answers.
"But why?"
"My task here is done. I can no longer remain in this world."
"But who will guard this mana tree?"
"The summon spirit had chosen you."
"Why…?"
"I do not know. But in time, you will have that potential to replace me."
"I…will try my best, Lord Kratos."
Kratos kneeled in front of the boy placing the necklace which was given from Norn. He gently checked the temporary red garment bandage on Dhaos' head. Feeling satisfied that the boy was unharmed, he stepped back carefully.
"The name of the tree…is Laeradr. The summon spirit's name who lived in it, is Norn. Farewell, Dhaos."
Dhaos witnessed his Lord's departure as he sprouted his wings. Once Kratos lifted on the air he dematerialized and vanished…
That was the last time he saw the Lord, and Dhaos was glad he was the last to witness his departure…
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When Kratos returned to that previous place, the starry sky and glowing shallow lake, he had realized what this place was. This was the heart of Norn, the place where she gathered prayers from the people of Derris Kharlan.
Norn appeared once more and raised her staff. She was ready to transport Kratos to where he belongs.
"It is not your time to die, Kratos." Norn informed, "So I will send you to another dimension, your home. However that world has changed, but when your world was almost destroyed, you must remember that my family is the last key."
"If I may ask, who is your family?" Kratos asked with a slight confusion. He had known that Norn was the summon spirit. Summon Spirit shouldn't have any relatives.
"My name as a summon spirit is Norn." She declared, "I was born from the prayers of the original people of Derris Kharlan. My soul materialized from a woman who died in attempt to plant my tree."
The circle where Kratos stood was glowing. The moment before Kratos disappeared; Norn revealed her most shocking truth.
"The woman was a light elf named Verdandi, the goddess of present. She was also known as Verdandi Yggdrasil, the mother of Mithos and Martel."
Kratos' eyes widened when he realized her resemblance with Martel and then he was drifting into another world…
"Farewell…my guardian."
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TBC
Review. please.
- All hail to Iris Irine for beta-reading it.
- Norn and Dhaos was respectably came from Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon.
- There is a slight confusion on how old is Kratos since he was there until Dhaos exist. He wasn't aged that much. In physics, time doesn't exist in the wandering comet. Even though it's been few years in Aselia, it might be a day in Derris Kharlan... Anyway let's just forget Physics and we all agreed that Norn DID have the ability to revive life as she did with the heroes *spoilers*Dio and Mel *spoilers* in Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon. Hope you understand that.