To Achieve Salvation

Part 1—Changes

Introduction: The World had Changed

The world had changed, they said.

Zelos knew this better than anyone, although it often seemed like nothing was different. Walking through the streets of Meltokio in the early morning light, it was as though the events of a year ago had never occurred. The streets of the rich were as opulent as ever, displaying the prosperity of the elite. The nobles lined the wealthy avenues, mingling with the occasional pompous priest and working hard to avoid the servants scampering about on their errands. The poor were languishing in the lower depths of the city, out of sight and mind to those above. Of course, half-elves were nowhere to be seen, being the object of every inhabitant's scorn.

Each person the Chosen passed stared at him. The nobles all scrabbled for his attention, and Zelos replied with a respectful nod to the men and a flirtatious wink to the ladies, every look attached with his signature smirk. The priests huffed at him, displaying their disgust, which Zelos responded to by increasing the intensity of his flirting. The servants bowed their heads in respect and then scurried off, but not before he greeted the ladies with a devilish smile, making some of the noble women's faces sour with jealousy.

Zelos continued the short route, heading back to his mansion after an early-morning meeting with the king and church over some matter or another. As usual, he had not gotten a word in due to the vicious infighting that plagued Meltokian politics. Reaching the front steps, he nodded a silent greeting towards Sebastian, who had opened the door. He walked up the stairs and disappeared into his room.

The world had changed, they said.

Then why was so much the same? The class and racial divides, the corrupted church, the ineffective king—and the Chosen One was still caught in the middle.

A year. It had been a year since the split worlds were reunited and the true nature of the twisted systems they lived with had been exposed, yet Zelos Wilder was still the Tethe'allan Chosen of Mana.

The other members of his group had gone on to do great things. Lloyd and Colette were running across the world, destroying all the exspheres they could find. Raine and Genis alternated studying at Sybak and traveling to promote the acceptance of half-elves. Regal had finally removed his handcuffs and had once again taken control of the Lezarano Corporation, becoming a respected leader and using his company's vast resources to help rebuild the worlds. Presea had taken it upon herself to restore Ozette, with much assistance from Regal and the occasional stammering help of Genis. Sheena was busy as well. After catching up with her grandfather in wake of so many years apart, the summoner began training to become the future chief of Mizuho.

And what had Zelos done?

Well, he had made Sheena the peace ambassador to Sylvarant, to which the indignant successor replied with an acceptance to the king and a scathing personal letter to Zelos. And after that? Really, nothing. He had pushed strongly to clean up the church, but the institution was in so much chaos that his pleas had fallen on deaf and frantic ears. The chosen had also advocated for some of the more restrictive measures against half-elves to be removed, but the king would hear none of it. The royal leader was under enough pressure with the worlds suddenly being thrust back together and was now faced with the new challenge of having to give up the power source of cheap, abundant exspheres. But what Zelos had pushed the most tirelessly for was the one thing met with universal disdain: the abolishment of the chosen system. The church had responded to his proposal with an uproar. They claimed that the world was too fragile for them to upset the balance any more. In reality, Zelos had suspected that they feared losing their influence upon state affairs. The young man also presumed that the king would not mind getting rid of the chosen system; after all, Zelos was only a threat to his power. However, the ruler would not risk the wrath of the church with the world in such a delicate state. He, too, had refused Zelos' request.

After shutting the door to his large room, Zelos closed his eyes and sighed. The meeting that morning had been atrocious. Amidst the usual petty bickering, he had made yet another attempt to consider the idea of revamping the church (and the chosen system along with it) only to be met with the furious disagreement of everyone in attendance. After that, he was forced to sit through another three hours of unproductive squabbling only for the meeting to be adjourned without the slightest hint of progress.

Meandering over to his dresser, he approached the full-length mirror that sat beside it. Staring at his reflection, he watched as his grinning mask disappeared, leaving behind his true melancholy self.

The world had changed.

Then why did he still feel so empty?

Zelos had been broken for a long time. The events of his life had left him hollow and bitter, his grinning countenance an empty, obnoxious facade to hide the hurt that lay beneath. His adopted persona served to keep others at an arm's length, even those he cared for. Every other companion he had traveled with had made peace with their past, confronting their demons and using the pain to make them stronger. He had hoped that the quest to unite the worlds might do the same for him, but he was mistaken. If anything, he felt more torn up inside and alone than before. How was that even possible?

A faint knocking at his door interrupted his brooding. Shaking off his depressive stupor, he slid his pleasant mask back upon his face and opened the door, revealing the perfectly-postured Sebastian.

" 'Sup, Sebastian?" Zelos asked, leaning casually against the door frame. He twirled a strand of his flaming red hair around his fingers in an absent-minded manner.

"Master Zelos," the butler stated, prim and proper as ever, "The tailor has just arrived. He requests that you allow him to make the final adjustments to your outfit for the celebration this evening."

Oh. While lost in his thoughts, Zelos had forgotten the most talked about topic of the past few weeks among the nobility. There was a grand banquet being held to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the world's reunification. All of the most important people of Tethe'alla were invited, as well as some of the key officials of Sylvarant and the regeneration group themselves. It was another power-play of the king in guise of a celebration.

"Sure. I'll be down in a sec," replied Zelos in his flippant tone. He kept his outward appearance neutral, but he was inwardly groaning at the thought of attending yet another of the nobility's ceaseless celebrations. Not to mention that he would have to face his accomplished former companions with his lackluster post-regeneration achievements. Couldn't a guy catch a break?

"Master Zelos?" Sebastian inquired, "Are you alright?" His normally passive voice betrayed a hint of concern.

Crap. Zelos had been distracted by his bitter inner monologue for longer than he'd thought. Time to do damage control.

"No, I'm fine," the Chosen drawled. "Just busy thinking about all the hunnies I get to charm tonight."

"Of course, sir," the manservant replied, not looking convinced but choosing to drop the subject. He turned around and made his way back to the lower level.

After watching Sebastian's head disappear down the stairwell, Zelos dropped his mask once more, the bitterness souring his features. For a moment his eyes went blank, reflecting the hollowness that pervaded his soul.

The world had changed, they said.

Then why was everything the same?

Author's Note: This is the first story I have ever written, so I hope it will be passable. I am planning on this being a multi-chapter story split into six or so brief arcs. This story is post-game, and disregards Phantasia and Dawn of the New World.