Once upon a time, there was a giant tree that was the source of all mana. A war, however, caused this tree to wither, and a hero's life was sacrificed to take its place. Some other stuff happened and this became the beginning of the regeneration of the world.
"Lloyd Irving, wake up."
A woman's voice emitted throughout a diminutive classroom. A teenage male was standing in the back, his eyes firmly shut. The lady who had called out to him hastened toward him, the sun illuminating her silver hair through the considerable windows. She produced an eraser from her robes and tossed it across the room, striking Lloyd in the face.
"Holy sh-!" Lloyd said, jerking his head up. "Oh, Professor Raine. Is class over?"
Raine sighed and turned around, walking back toward the chalkboard. "Genis, how about you answer this one?"
"Yes, Raine," a young boy replied, standing up. The same bright, silver hair as his sister's sheltered his head. "It is a journey to seal the Desians. Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the world will be regenerated and the Goddess will awaken."
"That's not what I asked," Raine snapped. "Colette, how about you answer?"
"Yes ma'am," said a blond girl, standing up. "It depends on how strong the dog's teeth are and how much the man weighs at the given time."
"That is correct," Raine smiled. "Honestly, Genis, you are a disgrace of a sister..."
"I'm a dude," Genis muttered.
"Now, Lloyd," Raine said. "Tell us about the Chosen's journey of regeneration."
"Hmm..." said Lloyd. "It is a journey to seal the Desians. Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the world will be regenerated and the Goddess will awaken."
"That's exactly right!" exclaimed Raine, astonished. "I'm so proud to have such a good student in the class!" Genis looked outraged.
"That's what's up," said Lloyd. "The last Chosen failed, right?"
"Yes," said Raine.
"Is it because he couldn't keep up with the endeavors demanded of the Chosen?"
"That is one theory," Raine replied. "Another possible reason is that the last Chosen was a golden retriever and couldn't accept the body of Martel. Now, for the next question..."
Suddenly, a light shone in through the window, blinding the classroom.
"Settle down!" Raine said. "It's going to be okay! It looks like the oracle has been conveyed. Calm yourself! EVERYONE, DON'T PANIC! IT'S ONLY THE ORACLE!"
"Professor, no one is saying anything," said Lloyd.
"You guys, stay right here. I'll go to the temple and check if it was the oracle," announced Raine, as though a giant flashing light could be anything else. "Stay here and study by yourselves." She bolted out of the classroom.
There was a lengthy pause. "So," said Lloyd. "Why are we the only three in this class?"
"Who knows?" asked Genis.
"Genis, aren't you like twelve?" Lloyd inquired, confused. "Shouldn't we be in like...later classes?"
"I failed Chosen History One," said Colette, frowning.
"Oh, me too, that class was bullsh-"
"LLOYD!" yelled Genis.
"What? It was! I always get confused on whether the Chosen is the hero who will save the world or a three-pronged instrument used to get rid of leaves."
"That second one is a rake!" said Genis. "Come on, Lloyd! We studied this! You're such an idiot..."
"You're lucky you're a girl, or I would hit you right now," Lloyd murmured.
"I'M NOT A GIRL!" Genis shrieked.
"What was that?"
"Ah...nothing..."
Lloyd flung himself up from his seat and headed toward the exit. "I'm bored."
"Wait, Lloyd." Genis stood up and walked toward the exit as well. "Raine said to study here by ourselves...where are you going?"
"I'm really curious about this world regeneration thing," said Lloyd. "You're coming too, right?" he added, turning toward Colette.
"Sure, why not," said Colette, standing up and walking toward them.
"Nobody tell that we're leaving," said Lloyd to the empty classroom.
"Lloyd, we have to stay! Raine will get mad! We have to study and-"
"Dwarven vow number twenty-seven: Genis, shut your ass up."
"YOU JUST MADE THAT UP!"
Lloyd, Genis and Colette traversed away from the school and toward the entrance to the village. They noticed that the town seemed to be mostly empty.
"Where'd everyone go?" Lloyd asked.
"Everyone!" a voice echoed from within a building as a blond man stepped out from a house that probably wasn't even his.
"Everyone?" repeated Genis.
"That's us," Lloyd informed him.
"I know that..."
"Father!" Colette hollered. "What are you doing in that house? And where's Grandmother?"
"She's at the temple," the man stated. "Either me or your grandmother could've gone but I was deemed too fragile."
"Then we're going too," said Lloyd.
"But...it's too dangerous!" Colette's dad said.
"Don't worry, we'll-"
"Well alright," the man interrupted. "Good luck to you all. And Colette...I'm sure you'll do fine."
"You're not coming, Father?"
"Are you kidding? The Desians attacked! I'll die over there! Best of luck to you though." The man retreated back into the house and an audible "who are you?" could be heard from the inside.
Lloyd turned toward the entrance of the village and spotted a bouncing skull darting toward them.
"A monster," Genis identified it.
"Nice one, Captain Obvious," said Lloyd.
"Thanks, Lieutenant LOSER!" Genis retorted. "Oh snap, what now?"
"We have to defeat it!" insisted Colette.
"'We' means 'me', right?" Lloyd asked.
"Yep."
"Figures."
Lloyd dashed forward, retrieving two wooden swords and swung his arm as he got close to the skull. The blade slashed the skull, knocking it onto the ground.
"You're so strong, Lloyd!" Colette said, entranced as Lloyd withdrew his swords.
"Yeah, but I owe it all to this thing." Lloyd glanced at a glowing blue sphere on his arm.
"Ah, that's right," Genis observed. "Your exsphere. It amplifies your dormant abilities and brings out your maximum combat strengths."
"It's not just your exsphere, Lloyd!" Colette said. "It's also that that skull was weak as hell."
"Ah, well, anyway...to the temple!"
The temple was located only a few miles away from the town. It was monumental and spawned several blue rays of light into the air from the top. Multiple staircases lead up to the entrance, where some guys in helmets were conversing with an old lady.
"So this is the temple," Lloyd deduced. "Look at that light..."
"It's really bright!" Colette astutely observed.
"Wait...isn't that?" Genis glared up at the staircase.
An elderly man was limping down the stairs, clutching his side. "Ch-Chosen..." he said weakly.
"Oh no!"
"The Desians...attacked..." he gasped. "I regret that I will not...be able to...protect...the Ch—OOF!" the man tripped on a stair and rolled down into a dark abyss.
"We have to make them pay for this," Lloyd said indignantly. "Come on!" The three headed up the staircases and reached the top.
Three men in helmets as well as a tall half-elf with dark hair were cornering an old lady.
"Where is the Chosen?" asked the half-elf.
"I don't know," said the old lady, backing up.
"Lord Botta, she's not telling us!" reported one of the henchmen.
"Yes, I effing know that," said Botta, gritting his teeth.
"Chosen one! Run away!" the old lady screamed.
Botta and his henchmen turned around and saw Lloyd, Genis, and Colette reach the top of the staircase.
"Thanks Phaidra," said Lloyd. "You just totally blew our cover."
"Grandmother!" Colette hollered anxiously. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Phaidra replied. "But please, escape! You're in danger!"
"Get them!" yelled one of Botta's subordinates.
The desians sprinted toward the three, who engaged them in combat. Lloyd withdrew his wooden swords, slashing one of them; Colette pulled out her chakram, striking another; and Genis sent fireballs soaring toward the enemies. All three of them were hit and began running away.
"You three...are going to die!" An enormous Desian dropped down from a tree, falling on the top of the staircase and shaking the ground.
"Where the hell were they keeping him?" asked Genis.
"We had him hide there and say that line for when you showed up," said Botta. "It took him forever to memorize the script."
"A script?"
"Well, actually, he was just supposed to say 'you' because we only expected the Chosen to show up," explained Botta. "We're amazed at how well he improvised."
"Thank you," said the giant.
"I won't let you Desians get away with anything!" Lloyd threatened.
Botta's subordinates roared with laughter. "Desians?"
"They think we're Desians..."
"Aren't you?" Lloyd asked.
"No, we intentionally dress up like Desians to learn of their plans," one of the soldiers said.
"Then why the hell is it funny that we believe you?"
"I...um...DIE!"
The giant soldier stepped toward the three, swinging an enormous medieval flail.
"Let's go!" Lloyd dashed across the ground and leaped toward the giant, preparing to swing his sword, but suddenly, the flail struck his stomach, sending him crashing toward the ground. "Gah!"
"You think you can beat me?" the giant said, grimacing. "They don't call me random underling number twenty for nothing. DIE!" He lifted his flail and swung it toward Lloyd, who closed his eyes.
"Damn..."
Next, a slash was heard and the giant groaned, falling back. In front of Lloyd stood yet another man. He had long, brown hair that covered one eye and a purple cape. His blade was drawn.
"Who...who are you?" Lloyd asked.
"Get out of the way," the man demanded, rushing forward. He slashed the giant, who had made one last attempt to recover.
"I never thought you'd show up," said Botta, shocked. "Retreat!" He and his soldiers jetted down the staircase. "You haven't seen the last of me!"
"Wow," said Colette. "This guy is really sexy!"
"I agree," said Genis.
"He's okay...I guess," said Lloyd, enviously.
"Is everyone alright?" the man asked. "Hmm...no one seems to be hurt."
Lloyd looked at his arm and noticed a circular object protruding from the surface. "An exsphere..."
"Chosen one," said Phaidra, frowning. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of help..."
"I see," said the man. "So this girl is the next Chosen."
"That's right," said Colette.
He paused. "Once upon a time, there was a giant tree...in my pants," he added, winking at Colette.
"Oh...wow," said Colette, flushed.
He smiled. "A war how, however caused this tree to wither."
"...What?" asked Colette, repulsed.
"What?" the man said defensively.
"Chosen, you have to undergo the trial now," Phaidra asserted. "But the priests that were supposed to accompany you fell at the hands of the Desians..."
"Then I'll take on the job of protecting Colette," Lloyd offered.
"Lloyd?" Phaidra turned to him. "I would be uneasy with just you..."
"Your name is Lloyd?" the man with the purple cape asked.
"Yeah, but who are you to ask for my name?"
"I am Kratos, a mercenary. As long as you can pay me, I will accept the job of protecting the Chosen."
"I have no choice," said Phaidra. "My asshole of a son is sitting at home watching the farming channel, no doubt."
"It's a deal then," said Kratos.
"I'm going too," said Lloyd.
"You'll get in the way. Be a good boy and go home."
"Dwarven vow number twenty-seven: I'm going too!"
"Wait," said Genis. "I thought that dwarven vow was 'Genis, shut your ass up'?"
"Genis, shut your ass up."
"Fine..."
A few minutes later found Lloyd, Genis, Colette, and Kratos in the temple, sauntering across the floor.
"So this is what the inside of the temple is like," Colette noted.
"Haven't you been here before like a hundred times?"
"Yeah, but it seems different somehow."
"So you forgot?
"Yeah."
Suddenly, a beam of light shone down from the ceiling and a golden sphere descended toward the floor. Next, the light expanded and took on the shape of a blond man with large, white wings. He smiled at them with a disturbing grin that suggested a tendency to molest small children.
"What is that?" Lloyd asked.
"An angel, I would assume," Kratos replied.
"I am Remiel," the angel spoke. "I am here to guard Colette across the world on her path to become an angel. Unlock the seals that guard the Tower of Salvation and climb its stairs to heaven in distant lands."
"So...wait," said Genis. "Colette's going to become an angel?"
"Yes, young lady," Remiel answered.
"I'M A DUDE!" Genis shrieked.
"So...are you really my father?" Colette looked at the angel in awe.
"No," said Remiel. "Now head south to the Seal of Fire...my daughter. I shall await you there."
Remiel vanished.
"Wow, Colette's going to become an angel!" Lloyd said excitedly.
Kratos turned to them. "We'll be heading back now."
"We'll be there in a bit," said Lloyd.
Kratos and Colette headed to the exit of the temple to begin the journey of world regeneration.