Disclaimer: "Tales of Symphonia", "Forcystus" and all related characters and names are copyright of Namco.

The Great Desian Hero

Chapter 1 - Fleeing

He knew his right eye was blinking. Why he couldn't see the blinking? Running around, lost in a maze of dirt and burning debris. The taste of blood on his mouth. And the memory of the all too familiar self of his father lying lifeless across the deserted streets.

Calls for help and mercy along with the fatal shrieks of those who had shared his childhood reached his ears. He didn't want to, but he pictured all the different ways in which those once friendly faces will twist in their agony.

There she was! He called for her and she answered, tears in their eyes. Not knowing when, how or why she stopped and he was falling. The dirt that entered his mouth drowned the yell coming from his throat and the place where his right eye should be stung in a wave of pain. He called for her help, somehow his legs denied to move. Terrified, he cried a single word when she spun around and ran, leaving him behind.

"Mom!"

His body gave a slight jump at the time he opened his crimson colored eye. By sheer routine he searched with his left hand for the feeling of the cold hilt that was always at his side. Feeling the cold surface he searched for the half-elf let out a sigh. The nightmare, it was already a part of him. Such images didn't disturb him, in fact, he was grateful that he was able to relive them over and over and over again.

Humans… can never be trusted.

Squirming a bit under the sheets he closed his crimson eye, waiting for the bliss of sleep.

Sousei, a village populated only by half-elves, was just one among a group of small half-elven populations hiding in the depths of the forest south of the Fooji Mountains. Counting with just a bit more than 15 inhabitants this tiny community was experiencing a time of fear and uncertainty. The Sun wasn't even up in the sky and the half-elves were already packing everything they could with an urged pace. Just a few hours ago, when the sky was still dotted with stars, a short message from one of the neighboring villages came.

Armed humans in sight-

Rumor had been that the King of Meltokio was assembling a "Half-Elf Extermination" unit. Such sayings were ignored by the half-elves in the beginning; they hadn't done anything to disrupt the life of Meltokio nor even dared to go near the Imperial City. But recent events showed that those rumors were not to be taken lightly.

Ranging from small incidents like groups of humans throwing trash inside the forest while shouting things like "stupid, filthy creatures", "Half-elves beasts" and such, to more threatening happenings like finding half-elves lost days ago beaten half to death on the outskirts of the forest. In fact, the villages would have been raided a long time ago if these peaceful and shy villagers hadn't got the support of a large band of half-elves that could be considered as "a little more than simple bandits".

The leader of such group was now among the people of Sousei, lending a helping hand in any task he could. When asked for his name he will only answer "I forgot" thus, those who followed him had agreed to call him Forcystus in honor of an ancient elven hero. The Forcystus of legend had saved his people by facing and controlling monstrous gusts of wind in order to fight one of the first dragons in the world, at least, that's how the story goes.

"Forcystus!" by reflex the green haired half-elf searched for the source of the voice. Quickly recognizing the face of one of his close friends he called him back "Here! Gouten!" a tall, muscular man with short silver hair looked around before spotting him. In brief they were side to side, Forcystus looking upwards and Gouten downwards to actually meet eye to eye.

"Forcystus, I need to talk to you, it's important." With a reluctant look Forcystus called for someone to take the packages he was holding and followed his friend into the nearby woods.

"A hundred? Are you sure?" the silver haired man nodded slowly before talking "That almost leaves us with a 1-on-1" the other man's face lightened up just to frown a few seconds later "They are too few, something isn't right." Gouten nodded again "That's exactly what I thought."

Focusing his lone crimson orb in the purple pair glinting ahead he asked "A trap, you mean?" Gouten kneeled on the grass picking some small stones and sticks that were lying nearby. "Most likely. Look..." The other half-elf sat down beside him "This is Meltokio…" he put a large stone on the grass. Putting some sticks a little away of the first rock he signaled them "…these are the Fooji Mountains…" another rock on the left side of the sticks "…We are here…" then, he buried another stick on the ground "… and finally…" Gouten drew a line with the stick "… This is the coast."

Taking a deep breath the 560 years old half-elf looked at his companion "We've had a few quarrels with them. They should have a good idea about our number by now. That's why I think the soldiers we have spotted here…" he signaled a part of the improvised map where the south of Meltokio should be "… aren't their full force." Forcystus' eye widened in realization "A pincer attack…" he trailed off.

"I'm pretty sure about that." Gouten signaled a wide curve following the tiny version of the Fooji Continent's coast and mountain range "They will cut our escape route through the south. I doubt they cross the Fooji Mountains; that will wear down their troops. They may be more but we have magic. They aren't going to take unnecessary risks." Both half-elves stood up, keeping silent until the younger one spoke.

"The other villages—

"I got word of them a short while ago; they are already heading to the rendezvous point. The only village that still needs to be on its way is this one."

"How many of them do you think we will be facing" Forcystus looked more concerned by the minute.

Frowning briefly Gouten answered "I will say around three hundreds. But that's just my opinion on the matter." The old half-elf spat to the ground after saying this, like if his saliva was signing an unseen suicide note.

After some thinking Forcystus spoke again, this time with resolution in his voice "Send Touga a message, and tell her to evacuate the villagers through the Fooji Mountains as soon as the villagers of Sousei join her." Gouten looked concerned "Even with a headstart. The villagers will not be able to move as fast as the soldiers can through the mountain range." Forcystus nodded "I know. I and the half of our forces will remain here and try to gain as much time as we can."

The idea was insane! Roughly 60 half-elves against 300 trained and better armed humans. Victory was unreachable. Even so, the purple eyes glinted with anticipation. "I understand. That seems to be the best thing we can do right now." He put a hand on the smaller half-elf's shoulder "But I will stay to fight alongside you too."

The plan was simple, to wait for the humans to enter the forest and then attack them from the distance. If done right, it would give the illusion that there are more than 60 half-elves in the forest.

Hiding behind a tree, sword in hand, Forcystus waited. The hours passed slowly and the tension was rising. A sound that seemed a cricket's was heard and Forcystus answered it whistling the same call.

From behind some bushes a young black haired half-elf appeared. He whispered "Artea has spotted them on the south front, just as Gouten said" Forcystus looked around, waiting for a human to pop up in front of him at any second. "How many?" the other half-elf moved his head in a negative manner. "We are not sure. Artea believes—.

An explosion in the distance interrupted him. Both half-elves watched how a smoke column appeared on the southern sky at the same time that another detonation was heard up north.

"Cannons! They brought cannons!" the black haired young man exclaimed, not believing his eyes. "Go back to your post!" Forcystus ordered him. The other nodded before sprinting through the same way he came "Edamus!" Hearing his name the runner stopped and turned around "…Sir?"

Forcystus spoke softly "…Be careful" Edamus nodded with renewed confidence "I will… Sir" Then, he disappeared among the trees, not knowing that that would be the last gentle words he would hear.

"Lighting!"

Surging from the palm of his hand the electrical bolt was shot upwards, intercepting a flaming cannonball. The cannonball exploded in the air. Its flaming fragments now raining upon the retreating half-elves and burning trees, bushes and grass.

He had made a mistake, never suspecting that the humans will bring this kind of weapons just to erase a few, small half-elven communities.

What we have done for them to hate us this much?

A nearby explosion knocked Gouten out of his feet. His back would have been cut by the stones on the forest floor if he hadn't his shield strapped on his back. Rushing to his feet he heard the voice of one of his companions

"They are coming!"

A sea of steel was all he could see.

The wind hissed next to his ear. Desperate, he ran for cover behind a tree, the sound of arrows cutting the air followed his steps. Forcystus could hear the crossbow being reloaded by expert hands. Taking a deep breath Forcystus focused, in a few seconds a green gust was enveloping the blade of his sword.

It happened so fast, the arrows being shot and the sword propelling a blade of wind forward. The one who died never had a chance to scream. Watching satisfyingly at the broken arrows on the floor and the bloody body lying on the grass Forcystus failed to notice the second crossbowman at his right side. The side where he lacked an eye.

Gouten reached a clearing gasping for air. What had been once green around him was now crimson red. The flames were consuming all of the forest.

Metal footsteps were approaching. Gouten coughed while trying to laugh. First the cannons, now this! From between the burning trees a man in white armor appeared.

The "man" (Gouten couldn't see if there was really a human being under the armor) was twice the size of an already tall human. The marble white armor that covered all of his body was only adorned with Fooji's Royal Crest on the chest area. Even though the armor looked heavy it seemed that the one under it was able to move freely. The eyes of such being remained unseen under the helmet. The only visible human feature of the knight was the waist long silver hair cascading over his back.

The weapon of the knight was not less impressive, a broad sword almost as big as its owner and five times broader than the average sword. Nonetheless a heavy weapon that the knight was able to swing around with terrifying ease.

Sporting just his old and torn clothes Gouten readied the items that he had on his back, a strong metal shield and a broad sword, preparing himself to do battle.

Forcystus stopped his crazy race against the ever growing flame tongues. Leaning his back against a nearby tree, he checked the wound on his right shoulder where and arrowhead had been a few minutes ago. While trying to bandage the bound with a piece of his shirt Forcystus heard footsteps cracking the dry sticks near him.

Both sides drew their weapons, one a sword, the other a bow and arrow.

"Artea, you okay!" Forcystus lowered his weapon at the sight of the blond hair hanging from a ponytail, happy to know that one of his friends was still alive. The young half-elven archer pretty much mimicked the actions and words of relief of the green haired one.

After the brief reunion Forcystus questioned her.

"Humans, I haven't seen any for a while. How about you?"

The blonde ponytail moved to one side, then the other. "It seems they never entered the forest. After starting the fire only a few of their men came." Forcystus frowned "It could be that they were aware of our plans to escape." He thought aloud. Even with the heat around them Artea managed to give her features a pale look.

"You… you think so?" Forcystus tried to look at her in the most reassuringly way he could "It could also be that they think the fire will kill us all. Anyway, we've got to hurry and catch up with Touga. There's nothing more left for us to do here." The girl nodded "Okay."

Something pressing against his heart forced Forcystus to speak "By the way, have you seen Gouten?" Artea looked at him with a concerned expression on her face "We… We were fighting together. But a little after the fire started a huge man in white armor attacked us and we got separated." After hearing those words Forcystus' heart was enveloped by an ominous feeling.

"Artea, go on ahead without me. The others should be on their way by now. I'll go look for Gouten. Don't wait for me."

With that he ran toward the way Artea came. Not giving a chance for his friend to speak her mind.

His body slammed against a trunk. Making him spit blood and drop his sword. Among the blurs he was seeing he was able to distinguish the giant white-clad man raising his sword.

"Air blade!"

The blade of air struck the knight squarely on a side and dragged him toward the edge of the clearing with a loud metallic noise.

"Don't worry Gouten, I'm here." The older half-elf fought back against the one who was trying to help him. "Forcystus! What are you doing here!" He spat angrily. Shocked, the other half-elf spoke "What's wrong with you? I've come to help you." Gouten shook his head, not even trying to get up "He will catch up with us and kill us."

"He?" Forcystus looked puzzled. With a trembling hand Gouten pointed the place where the knight had disappeared "Don't worry about him Gouten, he's dead. I killed him." His confidence broke when he heard the sound of armor moving.

A baffled expression crossed his face "But I—

"He's wearing a… magic armor. A simple spell like that will not do any good, believe me… I have tried."

Forcystus didn't know why but he was shaking in fear when the white figure stood up, clearly undamaged.

"Run, Forcystus!" The sense returned to him. Angrily, he faced his friend "What are you saying! I… I can't just go and leave you behind like this…" Forcystus kneeled beside him, barely noticing the magic circle appearing under them "…I owe you. You saved me before, remember?"

Gouten countered with a look that mimicked the one of a caring father "Consider that debt paid. I was a… coward, always being pushed around. But, during… these last 50 years… I learned a lot from you. You taught me what… what the courage to fight really is like." Forcystus shook his head, trying to fight back the tears that were already rolling down his cheek.

"Please Forcystus, run."

A last look. And he was gone.

Sighing in relief Gouten released his spell.

"Indignation!"

When he stopped running the burning forest was lost on the horizon. He didn't dare to look back. He fell to his knees. Hiding his face in his hands, Forcystus cried.

A hand on his shoulder rocked him gently. "Forcystus" a soft voice called for him. He lifted his tear-stained face finding Artea's blue gaze on him. Behind her a few others survivors were coming to him.

"Let's go" She said, almost a whisper. He nodded.

They couldn't see it. But a river of blood bathed the stones and dirt in front of them.