Yo! Welcome and thank you for clicking to read this story. I hope you will fairly be entertained! :D
Before anyone starts spewing talk of 'Another school-fic? Psshh, that's so bleh!' or 'School-fic… Not much originality, eh?', I've had this idea down for roughly three years in the making and have gone through many sleepless nights for this. So I'd greatly appreciate it if you gave this story a chance.
Anyways, this is my very first fanfic ever, so I plan on putting a lot of effort into this to make this story a worthy one out of the many awesome stories that hold the Tales of Symphonia label so proudly. And besides, I'd rather not want to see my first project be the first 'failure' out of my works.
Well, I'm done rambling! Off to more important stuff.
Story Overview
Theme: To Reinvent Resonating Hearts. Re-live the days of Symphonia under a new light.
Full Summary: School - a word Lloyd Irving would rather not want to hear let alone go to such a place; however due to his coming of age, he must attend four years of mandatory courses at an academy as the world of Aselia permits it. By enormous luck, he manages with his poor grades to be selected to attend the most highest ranked academy in all of Aselia, Symphonia Academy. His talented childhood friends, Genis and Colette, on the other hand, get in with ease and join Lloyd on a journey of academic days. With their arrival, the city of Symphonia will surely not be the same peaceful city it once was.
Genre: School, Slice-of-Life, Drama, Friendship, Hints of Romance, Mild Humor, Action
Style: Novelistic
Point of View: Third-Person Omniscient
Main Protagonists: Lloyd Irving & Genis Sage
Current Arc: Freshman Year - 1st Semester
Pre-Reading Notes
Normal:
Present - Actions, "Dialogue", "Thoughts" , Sounds, Emphasis
Special:
Flashback - Actions, "Dialogue", "Thoughts", Sounds, Emphasis
In Battles - Incantations, Artes, Techs, Spells, Etc.
~ S.S.D. ~ marks the start of a new scene.
[Marks a new time and day.]
~ Intermission ~ At any time you reach these, feel free to take a breather or do as you please. I placed these here for you to take the opportunity to leave at a point where the story was most understandable to leave off from or start up from. And if you do leave and then decide to return and read where you left off, don't forget to use your hotkeys of the Control Button [Ctrl] plus the letter 'f' which will bring up a search menu. Just simply type in which intermission you left off of and it will take you there. So no more need for tedious scrolling. Also for my loyal reviewers that leave feedback, feel free to just leave open up the Comment Box before you read, and as you do read, simply fill out any thoughts you may have as you go. In this way, you won't forget what you wanted to tell me when you're at the end of the chapter. These intermissions will only appear in chapters with a lot of content and therefore are freakishly long.
* - Footnote for this at the end of the chapter in the Author's Note Time! section.
Disclaimer Time: I own nothing of Tales of Symphonia!
Enjoy! ;D
Ch. 1: Welcome to Symphonia!
Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of all mana, The Great Kharlan Tree. It gave life to all those around it and, to the unlucky few, power and lust. Mankind, with the newfound source of energy, clung to the tree for hope and protection. They leeched off its mana for their own accord regardless of the tree's well-being.
To this present day, mankind still lingers by the tree. Their foundation of livelihood centered around its base, Symphonia - the city of unity to man. People all across the world yearn to be apart of such peace. However, very few get the chance.
Symphonia - a city only fit for those worthy of such grace; that is what the humans and elves believed. So they limited the city from anyone whom wasn't of high nobility, holiness, or held 'potential'.
Unshaken and only longing for a better way of life, people kept visiting Symphonia's gates to prove they had potential. Yet, none knew of what potential they sought. One by one, each person was denied.
The founders, hearing their pleas, sent out a propaganda. "Those who seek a new life of grace in Symphonia will have their chance. A yearly scouting will determine whether one has the qualities of benefiting this city. People of all ages, especially those youthful, are urged to participate. Together we all will bring this world harmony." The city, keeping their word, erected an academy, Symphonia Academy - an educational system for the youth to attend in Symphonia to harness their skills and build their potential to bring the world harmony.
And to ensure the message of harmony, the administration and the city's leaders selected from the academy the Chosen, a group of young talented people who held potential. With the city's guidance, the Chosen would go yearly out across the world and unite it spiritually, thus unity would be brought to the lands.
That marked the beginning of the harmonization of the world as well as several young youths academic days.
~ S.S.D. ~
"Lloyd Irving, wake up! Lloyd!"
SMACK!
"Ow!" the young red-clad with blue overalls hollered on impact. He abruptly stood from his seat and thrashed his arms about his head, trying to fend off any other pursuing objects to his ever so spiky brunette head of his. In the midst of his thrashing, he froze, spotting his attacker in an aisle. The teen bent down to pick it up and, befuddled, stared at it. "A chalk board eraser? Just what in the world would've hit me with an eraser?" he thought.
Before the puzzled boy could ponder the true culprit to his dream's end, his gaze adverted from the eraser to the masses of people in front of him huddled behind their tall cushioned seats, some poking their heads into the aisle. Their eyes all shouting the words, "What the heck is wrong with this guy?" The red-clad spun himself around, and to no surprise, there was the same sight. Then it hit him almost like the eraser had.
The sounds of a rhythmic beating of metal, Cla-clunk! Cla-clunk! Cla-clunk!, flowed into his ears. The rows and rows of people in seats on the sides of a long carpeted aisle and the passing by greenery from outside the windows, it all finally made sense to him.
He was riding a train.
Uneasy from their stares, he did what he would always do when he was embarrassed. The teen rose a hand and rubbed the back of his head apologetically. His gaze was downward this time.
Luckily for him, his spot light soon ended once noticing a friend wave shyly to indicate where he sat. Taking the offer like a miracle gel on the brink of death, he quickly slid into his seat, gratefully smiling at his savior. It was a long-time childhood friend.
It had been twelve years ago since the two first met, and time does fly during childhood. The blond-haired klutz he knew as a mere child had grown up quite a bit. Her short, blond hair wasn't short anymore. It now cascaded gracefully from her shoulder down to her lower back. Her height was still small however - only coming up by his shoulder. She had a skinny, delicate frame. Still flat as an ironing board in the chest department, though it was barely noticeable due to her white robe garments that draped her. Her face shown of pure innocence to make up for it, her best quality.
The way her bright, sky-blue eyes were always filled with happiness and joy and how those eyes would have glints of light that would shine like the stars of the heavens, it always made his heart feel warm and invited. The way she would smile through any hardship, it gave him the strength to carry on as well. And her lips, how they ever so carefully would border that smile. But the smile she returned to him now was not one of her ordinary ones.
She beamed at him awkwardly as if it she were frightened, her sky-blue eyes darting back and forth from him to something off to her right. Not comprehensive the teen asked aloud, "Hey, Colette, what's wrong? You got something stuck in your eye?"
"Ehem," spat an unknown voice.
Slightly jumping up in his seat at the sound, he slowly directed his attention over to the source of the noise. An upon looking, he immediately regretted to. There sitting across from him was a stern faced woman with crossed arms, her stare almost demonic. One would think so at first glance that she was of the demon race especially upon seeing her silver hair and pointed-ears; however she wasn't. The woman across of him was an ordinary elf who just so happened to be pissed with him, quite clear with her piercing sapphire eyes. They were no where near like his childhood friend's gentle ones but they hid something within. Wisdom most definitely above all, yet he was missing something. Sadness possibly?
Unsure with his outcome, the teen's face reflected the frown of the woman's before him. Seeing this, the wise woman believing he had been mocking her immediately snapped once more, "Ehem!"
Shaken from his own thoughts the teen replied, "Oh, Professor Raine… is the train ride over with?"
The woman known as Raine sighed and paused briefly before speaking, "Honestly, Lloyd, how do you manage to fall asleep in less than ten minutes of my lecture?"
"Whoa, a new record!" Lloyd proudly smiling said while taking his hand, with an extended pointer finger, to rub underneath his nose horizontally back and forth. Then as if he was serious took that same hand and cradled his chin in a thinking pose, "Well, all I do remember doing was boarding the train this morning, getting excited with Colette and Genis about road-trippin' out of Iselia, and seeing the sites. I guess I passed out from getting bored of seeing the green grass, a tree, more green grass, another tree, a big brown boulder, green grass, and on occasion wandering boar and wolves. But I have to admit, it was pretty fun giving them crazy names with Colette." He ended off with a goofy smile.
Apparently the question wasn't meant to be answered. Raine was both displeased and not amused, still baring her crossed arms and demonic glare. This time around she added a little twist, sound effects by tapping her fingers of one hand up her arms in a wave motion.
Lloyd gulped, scared of the consequences of peeving-off Professor Raine to such an extent. Hoping it would help, he took the eraser he still grasped and held it out to her, the true culprit. "Heh-heh. It's yours, right, Professor?"
Silence. Raine didn't even give him a nod in approval. She simply snatched back her dusty chalk board eraser and placed it in her carry-on bag lying on the floor next to her, most likely filled with more school supplies or, how Lloyd now knew it as, her harmful arsenal of throw-able weapons.
"Oh, come on, Raine. At least give Lloyd some slack. He just got excepted into the top most ranked academy on all of Aselia just like the rest of us," came the voice of yet another savior.
Next to Raine by the window sat another silver-haired elf. He was Raine's younger brother and the youngest of the teen trio. He shared the same sapphire-blue eyes as his sister, yet his was more heartfelt and kind while still retaining that same wisdom but to a lesser extent. His face was still fairly childlike, adolescence not quite over. His build was lean but no true muscles. His height was near Colette's but a couple inches taller. He wore his signature blue shorts and blue jacket with white elven swirls, black long-sleeves that were folded to his elbows, and ankle cut shoes.
A thick book lowered in his hands, its cover reading, 'Mana of the World: The Great Kharlan Tree'. A big green tree was planted in the center.
"Yeah, Professor Raine," agreed Colette. "Lloyd accomplished something great."
"… For once in his life," the silver-haired boy murmured, rolling his eyes and raising the book back over his face.
Hearing him, Lloyd shouted, "Shut it, Genis!"
With a sigh, Raine gave in to them, "Fine, but always remember, I am being strict for a reason. The professors of Symphonia aren't so easy-going. They aren't willing to deal with kids who amble about doing as they please. I am just preparing you for what may come your way."
"Speaking of preparing," Raine said while picking up her bag and standing, "I must go and leave for the teacher's cabin. I expect you all to behave for the rest of the ride and when you get off. I don't need to hear news of three chaotic teens causing havoc in the city." She then walked off to her briefing.
As soon as she was gone, the three remaining teens heaved a sigh of relief at their professor's leave. The tension escaping from their lips.
"Man, that was a close one," Genis said, lowering his book yet again to face the brunette. "Lloyd, I'm starting to run out of ways to cover your butt in the thick of things. It's starting to become a big pain."
Hurt, Lloyd retorted, "Well, excuse me for having such wonderful dreams. A brother needs his sleep." A yawn seeped through his teeth. "Today's dream really was exciting."
"Really?" Genis asked. "Enough for you to be beaten out of it with a chalk board eraser? I swear she could've pulled something even more deadly from that tote bag of hers…" His own thoughts drifting off to the wonders of his sister's horrid supplies.
"Ooh!~ Lloyd, what was your dream?" Colette said, happily bouncing into their conversation.
Lloyd, placing his hands behind his head, recalled his dream world, "Well, you guys were in it with me and so was Professor. There were other people as well, but their faces were fuzzy so I couldn't tell who they were. Anyways, we were on this journey in two different worlds. We fought these crazy people with wings. After defeating them, I got this big ass purple sword and reunited the two worlds, saving them both and bringing that tree," he pointed to Genis' book, "to life."
"The Great Kharlan Tree?" Colette questioned. "But Professor Raine said that Martel brought that tree to life."
"And Raine was correct," Genis said, backing up his sister. "It says in this book that both Yggdrasill and Martel brought upon the Great Seed and planted it on Aselia, giving life to our world and ending the war between the factions; Sylvaranti and Tetheallans. It even delves deeper talking about the yearly spring blossoming, a rarity for outsiders."
"Tree blossoming? What is so rare about flowers on a tree?" Lloyd casually asked.
"You don't know about the Blossom Festival?" The two said simultaneously, both in shock.
"It's an event that occurs at the start of every spring," Colette explained. "The flower buds begin to blossom after dusk and the tree lights up with a golden light. Only the people of Symphonia see it since the city surrounds the Great Kharlan Tree, but now we can see it as well!" A gleeful smile appeared on her face.
"Wow, I never knew that. That must be an amazing sight!" Lloyd exclaimed, awestruck. "How'd you guys know about that anyway?"
"Reading," Genis flatly stated, "and I do recall my sis talking about it in her lecture, right, Colette?"
Colette nodded in response. "See. Not all lectures can be boring, Lloyd."
"Sorry, sleeping during anything educational is a hobby of mind," Lloyd said, shrugging.
A small squeal came from Colette, excitement was rising within her. "Oh, I just can't wait 'til the end of our freshman year! It'll be the best graduation seeing those shining flowers on the Great Kharlan Tree."
Lloyd said joining in, "Yeah, me too!"
"You're better off in that strange dream world of yours, Lloyd," Genis said, swinging his legs onto the now empty seat next to him and resting his back on the wall. "With the grades you get, you'd be among the students who will be attending night classes for failing."
"Shut up." A death glare shot Genis' way.
"Just saying," Genis replied honestly, raising the book to his face. "Oh, and you guys should get some shut eye by the way. We still have more three hours to go. Once we arrive there's going to be a welcoming speech to newcomers and freshmen, then we go settle down at the dormitories, so night." Genis placed the book on his face to block out the sunlight and crossed his arms. He began to fall asleep.
Lloyd groaned in thought, "More educational talk?"
"Don't worry, Lloyd. I'll help you pass your classes." Colette assured him with her well-known smile.
"Thanks, Colette." He too shut his eyes and began drifting off back to sleep.
~ S.S.D. ~
"Attention, all students and faculty! The train will be arriving in Symphonia in fifteen minutes. Please gather up any personal items before you leave. Have a nice day and enjoy the grace of Symphonia," the monotone announcer said over the intercom.
Fluttering his eyes open at the voice, Lloyd woke up, yawning. Sleep still rest in his bones, so he began to stretch his arms toward the overhanging luggage compartments above him. When he felt ready, he tried standing from his seat but something weighed him down.
Dumbfounded, Lloyd looked down on his lap to see a bushel of yellow. "What the…" the thought not reaching him yet, "Colette!" Bingo. He soon began struggling about, trying to free himself without waking her. He didn't succeed.
Defeated, Lloyd thought, "A few minutes more sleeping on my lap isn't gonna hurt me."
His eyes took in her facial features. "She's so heavenly when she sleeps." Without thinking, he brushed out of her face a lost blond strand and pushed it past her cheeks behind her ears. Her skin was so soft against his fingers. The warmth radiated from her face to his hand.
Swoosh!~ Clunk! went throughout the train, shutting down Lloyd's fixation on Colette. He instinctively poked his head out into the aisle. It had only been the restroom door opening and closing, yet Lloyd panicked. It wasn't the sound that freaked him, it was the person who was coming out of it.
Genis was casually making his way from the restroom back to his seat.
"Damn, I just had to jinx myself now didn't I?" he thought poking back into his seat. "If he sees this, he's seriously gonna hold it against me… That wouldn't hurt physically but it would mentally."
Looking back down at the sleeping figure, "Waking her up would be mean though…"
"No time for that! It's only her beauty sleep versus your hide!"
He listened to his internal self and shook her arm. "Hey, Colette. Come on, wake up!"
Thankfully she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him, "Gwood afternnn, Woyd…" Colette, obviously wrecked with tiredness, took a while to comprehend what position they were in like Lloyd had mere moments ago. "L-L-Lloyd!" she yelled as she shot up in her seat.
"I-I-I'm so, so sorry! So very sorry! I fell asleep and-" Colette's barrage of apologies seeming infinite.
"Colette, it's alright! Just calm down," Lloyd urged, his hands up gesturing a downward motion.
"I was so tired, so I guess I fell onto your lap! I-I didn't intend to stay there! I'm sorry!" Her eyes shut, afraid to hear his verdict. She waited but heard none. She blinked her eyes open and saw before her an awkward sight.
Genis had finally made his way to their row and stopped in front of the two, unknowing to make of Colette's cries. "Um, did I miss something here?"
"N-nothing at all!" Lloyd said a bit to fast.
"Okay…" Genis unsurely said. He made his way to his seat and picked up his book. "We have ten minutes left so let's start gathering our stuff alright?"
"F-fine!" "Y-yes, Genis!"
~ S.S.D. ~
Several hundred shoes pounded the stone pavement. All of them rushing out of the cramped train into the sunlight, their minds all set on a new lifestyle ahead of them. Lloyd and Colette were among them. They were one of the first to get out, avoiding the rush. The city of Symphonia was finally seen by their curious eyes. This time it wasn't a picture in a book.
Symphonia - the city of grace and harmony; that's what they called it. And the two began to see why. The buildings soared towards the sky as if connecting the heavens and the land. The orderly residents making their way about town, all wearing clothing of the nobles, scholars, priests or priestess, and academic genius. They all had to be rich. A fountain stood majestically before them. In the middle of it was a crystallized blue woman and her spiky fenrir stood protectively next to her. Water tricked from the center of the podium where the two statues stood on and fell into the pool underneath him. Symphonia was truly peaceful.
"The fountain… it's so beautiful," Colette marveled, trailing off in her own thoughts.
Lloyd amazed as well, walked up to where she stood. "She is and her fenrir looks cool as well."
Colette's eyes continued to bounce around, searching for something off in the distance. "I found it! There it is! The Great Kharlan Tree!" She pointed, bouncing on her heels all the while.
Beyond the bustling city skyscrapers, Lloyd saw something. It was luscious and green, standing out of the usual gray, white, and tan buildings. "Yeah, yeah, it is!"
"The tree looks like a weird, green cloud from here especially above all those buildings," she chuckled in glee.
Seeing her laugh, he began to laugh as well. Colette's joy was like a virus. He couldn't help but be happy. Their laughs erupted into the sky as they thought of how childish they were. It was as if they were a new born child seeing the sites of the world for the first time.
He started to think of back in the old days in Iselia, how small and naïve the three of them had been: Lloyd, Colette, and Genis. He yearned to re-live those days, but he knew he couldn't. At least he still had things left from his childhood. Them. Even though they all grew up - Genis now fifteen, Colette now sixteen, and Lloyd seventeen - their personalities never changed. Lloyd was glad for that. He welcomed changes like having the chance to live in such a massive city, but he enjoyed stability even more.
"Colette…"
"Yes, Lloyd?" Colette said, facing him.
A goofy grin appeared on his face, "Thanks for not changing."
"Same to you, Lloyd," she beamed back at him with a smile of her own. "And Lloyd, I'm really sorry about what happened on the train. I didn't mean to."
Lloyd walked up to her. His hand balled in to a fist, gently bonking her on the top of her head. "You dork," Lloyd said playfully. "What did I say before? I'm alright with it."
"… Sorry."
His balled hand opened, this time cradling her blond head. "Just stop saying sorry so much. One day someone's going to think you don't mean it if you keep repeating it. Either that or you're an annoying broken record."
"But, but…" Colette trying to protest. "Sorry."
Lloyd bent down to meet her line of site, allowing his hazel eyes to meet her blue ones. Their breathing could be felt by each other. A blush crept over Colette's cheeks for being so close.
"Colette," his voice serious yet soft and gentle.
"Goddess! ... People these days... No self-respect of others personal space," complained a familiar voice.
The voice had been Genis'. He got stuck with the other people in the rush out of the train, and he finally managed to squeeze out of there. Although he appeared to be struggling with his backpack a bit, plump with stuff from the bottom of the pack to up a foot above his head.
At the sight of his friend, Lloyd rose and retracted his hand back.
Genis stopped walking and bent down once he reached his friends. His hands resting on his knees. "I see how it is… You two just go off… enjoying the city… without me. I feel real loved," Genis sarcastically said, struggling to speak.
"My bad, Genis, I just really got excited about Symphonia," Lloyd apologized, feeling sorry about his friend being fatigued.
"Me too," Colette confessed.
Regaining his breath, Genis rose up, facing them. A determined look was on his face. "Well, don't go thinking you're going to easily leave me behind." Smiles surfaced on all of their faces.
"Well, what are we waiting for now?" exclaimed Colette, bursting with energy. "Symphonia Academy Auditorium here we come!" Her feet taking her down a random path.
"W-wait a second, Colette!" Genis said, scurrying after her. "The auditorium is eastbound, not west!"
With that Lloyd was left alone standing by the fountain. A breeze rushed at him, running through his brown hair and rustling past his clothing, trying to push him deeper into the city. He looked above him towards the sky; no clouds in sight. Nothing but clear blue skies and a welcoming air.
He knew it for certain.
"This is going to be one fun and exciting freshman year."
Author's Note Time!
Alright! Our lovable trio has finally made it to Symphonia and their academic days have begun to unfold.
Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, and, if ever possible, would kindly leave a review. Without them, I won't be able to continue. Feedback = Fuel to Write! xD
Also, I wonder if anyone is enjoying the snippets that are similar to scenes from the actual game and a tad bit of the OVA... (How many of them did you catch? ;D) I wanted to pay somewhat of a homage to the original so expect some familiar scenes to be changed school-style! They are pretty fun to incorporate, so I hope none of you will be bothered by them.
Now on to the Preview!
Preview:
Next time on Symphonian School Days...
The teen trio get free from the auditorium and are let loose upon the city. As they make their way to the dorms, scary stories are told and chills run through their veins, and the horror doesn't end there. At the dorms, Genis and Lloyd face their biggest worry... Dorm-mates. Just what kind of crazy are they bound to get as a year-long room partner?
Find out next chapter, 'Unsettling Settlements'!
Hope to see you next time! ;3