Thank you everyone who reviewed. It sounds like people like this story, so I'll keep going. (Except I'm scared I'll end up disappointing everyone... T.T)
There's a time lapse between the prologue and this chapter. Just in case that isn't obvious to someone.
Disclaimer: Holy Spork does not own Tales of Symphonia, its characters, plot line, or locations.
Chapter I: The Oracle
And onto you on the day of prophecy,
There will come an angel of judgment,
Who will come down from heaven in a divine light.
He shall light the way for the Chosen of Mana,
And bring salvation to all the lands of the Goddess.
-The Scriptures of Martel, 8:26
"Wow! It's really bright!"Lloyd sighed and Genis shook his head in shame. Colette did have a... unique way of thinking.
They had come to the Martel Temple after a dying pastor came to their schoolhouse to tell the Chosen that Desians had raided the temple. Of course their response was to leave the village and head directly for the temple, they couldn't just stay when they knew people were in trouble! The first thing they had seen upon approaching the building was the pillar of light, proclaiming that it was the time of the oracle, which rose up from the temple into the sky. When Colette saw it, she declared that the light was bright.
"I think I can hear shouts!" said Genis, "We have to hurry!"
There were cries of pain and the clatter of steel weapons coming from the top of the stairs that led to the temple. The three children ran up the steps without regard to personal safety. There were people in danger, and they were going to help!
When they reached the top of the stairs, they found a group of five Desians, four grunts and their leader in a gray robe and spiked black hair. Strewn over the ground were the bodies of the priests, their white robes shredded and stained with dark blood. The Desians had formed a semi-circle around a small old woman, her back to the stone wall of the temple. The Desians had their weapons drawn, blades still red from their previous kills.
"Where is the Chosen?" demanded the lead Desian.
Phaidra took a step backwards into the stone wall, keeping a wary eye on the Desians. She spotted Colette and the others as they reached the top of the stairs, and called out, "Run Chosen!"
This was a poor decision, for the lead Desian and his soldiers saw the Chosen and her friends, who had their feeble weapons at the ready.
"Lord Botta! There she is!" said one of the Desians, pointing.
The lead Desian smirked, "Kill her!"
The other Desians ran forward, yelling at their pray. Genis prepared a spell as Colette threw her chakrams and Lloyd blocked a blow from the nearest Desian. He barely missed decapitation, ducking under a second sword that had seemed to magically come into existence near his head. Genis' spell was interrupted, as he had to stumble back as a Desian swiped at him. Colette's rings were swatted effortlessly out of the air, and the three children found themselves surrounded. Things had not gone as they had planned.
Then one of the Desians screamed in pain and fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding arm. The others stepped back, their weapons at the ready.
The one who had wounded the Desian held his own steel sword at the others, clearly ready to fight them if necessary. This man was clearly one who was able, and willing, to take a life. His black and blue leather and chain mail armor marked him as a warrior. His long blue hair was held back in a ponytail, to keep his hair out of his green eyes. Something glittered on the man's left hand, and Lloyd saw what he recognized as an Exsphere and Key Crest.
Lloyd could only stare at the stranger.
"Who are – ?"
The stranger looked over his shoulder at Lloyd and his friends, "Stay back," he ordered. He returned his attention to the Desians. He pointed his sword at them, giving them a glare that just seemed to dare them to try to fight him.
Botta, gave the stranger a nervous glance, but seemed to quickly reach a decision.
"Retreat!" he shouted. The blue-haired stranger stood still, his sword still at the ready, as the Desians fled the temple. Botta seemed to glance back uncertainly at the stranger before following his men.
"That was... easy..." said Lloyd, staring after the retreating Desians, "I mean, the guy didn't even have to really do anything..."
The new stranger turned to look at the children. The look on his face suggested he was not impressed by what he saw. "Is everyone all right? ...At least no one seems to have died," he added with mild disdain.
Lloyd look at the stranger's left hand again. Yes, that was definitely an Exsphere and Key Crest. Lloyd knew this from experience, as he had his own Exsphere and Key Crest on the back of his own left hand, hidden under a white bandage. Though the stranger's looked a little different from Lloyd's Exsphere.
Phaidra gently closed the eyes of the last dead priest, clasped her hands and whispered a small prayer for the dead man's soul. She bowed her head, a last respect to the priest, and then she stood up. Burying her grief for the dead men, Phaidra slowly approached the blue-haired stranger, grateful for his help but still cautious after the attack, "I thank you for saving the Chosen," she said, bowing her head slightly.
"I see..." the stranger looked back at the children, "Which one of you is the Chosen?"
"Oh, that's me!" said Colette, raising her hand as if Professor Sage had asked the class a question, "Oh, and these are my friends, Genis and Lloyd!" she added, when she felt that her friends were being left out.
The stranger did not seem impressed.
"My name is Yuan," said the blue-haired man, "I am a mercenary, and for a suitable sum, I will guard the Chosen."
"She doesn't need you!" protested Lloyd, "We'll be here to protect her!"
Yuan wrinkled his nose, as if he had smelled something foul, "I highly doubt that," he said, "Considering that you were easily defeated by the Desians, I doubt you could manage the trials inside the temple."
Lloyd seethed with rage, but Phaidra spoke up before he could explode, "I would be grateful if you could protect Colette. We will discuss your sum after you return her safely to the village."
Yuan nodded, "Very well." He returned his attention to a furious Lloyd and an indignant Genis, "You two should skip back home to mommy and daddy. This is no place for children."
"What did you say?!" shouted Lloyd.
"You heard me," Yuan frowned at Lloyd, "Go home."
"Um... Mr. Yuan, sir," started Colette anxiously, "Can Lloyd come along? I get nervous without him."
Yuan sighed, "Fine," he said, resigned to his fate, "But if these two die while inside the temple, I won't take any responsibility for it." He turned on his heel and walked into the temple without so much as a backwards glance to make sure that the others were following.
"Thanks for getting that guy off my back," said Lloyd to Colette.
She smiled, "It's the truth!"
The three children walked into the temple after Yuan. As soon as they stepped out of the noonday sunlight, the air grew cold and damp. Little sunlight filtered through the narrow windows, and what light did come in was almost gray, making the large chamber inside even less friendly.
"It's kinda dark in here," commented Lloyd, "Is it always this gloomy?"
"Sometimes," admitted Colette.
"Perhaps it has something to do with the trial," suggested Genis.
"Monsters will now be inhabiting this temple," Yuan stated, "Summoned by the angels as a trial for the Chosen One."
"Monsters?!" Lloyd shouted, "Why would the angels want Colette to fight monsters?!"
Yuan frowned, "Didn't you realize what you were getting yourself into, boy?" he snapped, "The Chosen must face a trial, it is a part of becoming a Chosen. Of course, if the monsters frighten you, you can always run home."
Genis seemed uncertain, but Lloyd unsheathed his wooden swords, and stomped off down a random passageway, to show that he wasn't scared at all.
Yuan sighed, "The way we want is the other way."
Lloyd ran back, red with anger and embarrassment.
The pathway that Yuan had meant turned out to be blocked. There was a transparent barrier of mana in the way, white lights spinning across the surface.
"What is it?" Lloyd asked, as he reached out to poke it.
"It's a barrier, clearly," Yuan said, "If you touch it, you will likely get shocked."
Lloyd pulled his hand away as quickly as anatomically possible.
"We will have to find a way to get past the barrier," Yuan said, stating what was now obvious, "Chosen, do you know of a way?"
Colette thought for a moment, and then chirped, "The Sorcerer's Ring! It's supposed to be somewhere deep in the temple."
"Then we will have to fetch it."
Yuan left, and walked down another passage.
"Hey!" Lloyd shouted, "That was where I had gone – aw, man."
They followed, Lloyd sulky after his humiliation via Yuan. The party encountered their first monsters shortly after entering the dark hallway.
Two short creatures blocked the way. Their eye stalks stretched out to look at the strange group of humans.
"Slimes," said Yuan, obviously bored, "They're gelatinous. Strike them between their eye stalks to kill them."
"Right!" Lloyd had ignored Yuan, and instead slashed at the slime. His weapon went right through the creature's body, the two halves immediately rejoining. Lloyd blinked, "Huh?"
"Between the eyes stalks looks like this," said Yuan, waving a hand at the other slime, who was pinned to the floor by Yuan's sword, its body limp, "It's not that hard."
The slime leaped feebly at Lloyd, who jumped back in alarm. He drove his sword into the slime's jelly body. The creature shuddered, vibrating the sword, and then it became still. Lloyd grinned. When Lloyd tried to remove his sword from the slime, he found that it was suck.
Yuan watched as Lloyd struggled to pull his wooden weapon out of the slime's body.
"Lloyd, are your swords skills self-taught?" Yuan asked.
"I can use my swords just fine!" said Lloyd rudely, giving his sword another yank which finally freed it from the slime.
Yuan sniffed, coming to his own conclusion, "That explains a lot..."
"Hey!" Lloyd shouted, "What's that supposed to mean?!"
The mercenary sighed. "What I meant was that your technique is amateurish," he paused, and then asked, "Why do you use two swords? Swords were not designed to be used in pairs."
"Well..." Lloyd grinned, proud of his logic. Genis stuck his fingers in his ears; he had heard this explanation before, and every time he did, he thought he lost some brain cells.
"If the power of one sword equals 100," started Lloyd, "Then two swords equals 200!" he finished, puffing out his chest with pride. He deflated when Yuan did not show equal enthusiasm. "Why are you giving me that pitying look?!"
"One can only wonder..." Yuan shook his head, "You should at least learn the basics."
"I have learned the basics!" fumed Lloyd.
"...Just don't get your face gnawed off."
Yuan adjusted his grip on his own sword and continued down the hall, alert for any threat.
"I hate that guy," growled Lloyd. He and the others followed without complaint. There were many monsters after the slimes, but Lloyd and the others had hit their stride, and defeated them with surprisingly little trouble. All the while, Yuan observed Lloyd and his friends fighting, for reasons he kept to himself. He seemed to be thinking of something, but when asked, denied it outright, and said that hey had to progress further and faster.
After several more monsters, a few golems, a simple puzzle, and a short discussion about history and magic, the group found the Sorcerer's Ring deep inside the Temple. They returned to the first room, and discovered that the ring's fire could dissolve the barrier. There was rejoicing among the younger members of the group.
They discovered a purple warp bad beyond the barrier. "It likely leads to the upper floor of the temple," Yuan said, "That is where the oracle will be."
The panel would only let them go one at a time, so it took a moment for them to all arrive at the top floor. It was a much smaller room, with a stranger, circular apparatus in the middle. Almost at the same time, they looked up at the painted ceiling, which told the story of the first Chosen.
A pulsating white light floated down from the ceiling, a soft hum coming from the orb. Then it blew outwards, temporarily blinding everyone in the room. When they regained their sight, an angel was floating where the light had once been. He looked like a man with blond, blue-eyed man with a green robe, similar to what the priests wore. His wings were feathery and pure white, light reflecting off the soft feathers as his wings flapped gently.
"I am Remiel," said the angel in a calm, authoritative voice, "I am an angel of judgment, here to guide the Colette, the seventh Chosen, on her journey to regenerate the world, and to awaken the Goddess Martel." He raised his hand, his palm toward Colette. A red light that he had held in his hand floated down to Colette. It touched her neck, and materialized into a small red gem that had planted itself at her collarbone.
"From this moment, Colette becomes the Chosen of Regeneration," declared Remiel, "We of Cruxis bless this even, and bestow the Tower of Salvation upon Sylvarant."
He pointed his arm to the nearest window. The group looked out and, in the distance, very faintly, they could see the shape of a tower that had to end, that stretched out into the clouds. It reached on forever and ever and ever. It was the symbol of their salvation.
Remiel looked down at Colette with a gentle smile, "Go to the seals in distant lands, and unlock the seals that guard the Tower of Salvation. With each seal you unlock, we will grant you the power of the angels. Do you accept this burden?"
Colette nodded, her face resolute, "I humbly accept this task."
"Very good," Remiel nodded, "The first seal lies in the southern desert. Offer your prayers in that distant land."
"I will."
Remiel's wing beats quickened a little as he started to fly back towards the ceiling.
"Wait!" Colette called out, "Are you really... my... father?"
The rumors had been around for as long as she could remember. Chosens were supposed to be descended from angels. So wouldn't it make sense if Colette's father was an angel? Colette had never been sure herself. She loved Frank like a father, he had raised her after all, but she still wanted to know for sure...
Remiel smiled a warm smile, "Take care, my beloved daughter."
Colette gasped, but before she could say anything more, a white light engulfed Remiel's body, and when it faded, the angel was gone. Colette clasped her hands as if in prayer, and smiled to herself.
"It is time to leave, Chosen," said Yuan, interrupting her thoughts. He waited, while Colette walked over to the warp pad, and vanished. Yuan quickly followed suit.
"Wow! So that was an angel!" Genis was jumping up and down, "That was amazing! And he's Colette's father!"
"Yeah..." Lloyd was still staring at the space Remiel had occupied before he had vanished. There seemed to be something on Lloyd's mind.
"Hey, Lloyd, you okay?" Genis poked his friend's shoulder. This seemed to shake him out of whatever state he had been in.
"Oh, I'm just fine," Lloyd grinned, "Let's go after Colette!"
"Okay!"
Genis ran to the warp panel and vanished. Lloyd looked back at the ceiling.
"That was an angel? But he didn't look..."
Lloyd sighed, shrugged, and stepped on the warp panel himself.
When he caught up with Genis on the lower floor, he found what the little mage had discovered, and he had a similar reaction: disbelief.
It was their teacher, Raine, standing in the middle of the cavern-like space. Though her back was too them, they could hear her giggling like a schoolgirl, occasionally purring "Marvelous!" to herself.
Genis decided it was time to speak up.
"Raine?"
This was a mistake, as Raine heard them call her. "Lloyd! Genis! I told you two to stay in class!"
They exchanged frightened glances, they had completely forgotten about class.
Raine walked over to them, looking like the goddess of thunder about to destroy a hapless village.
Later, Raine had to almost carry the boys back to Iselia. They were remarkably silent on the walk back home. When they arrived at the gate, Raine had ordered the boys back to the schoolhouse, to work on some extra assignments she gave them off the top of her head as a punishment for leaving the village. With groans, they slumped off to the schoolhouse. Raine sighed, she doubted that they would stay there long, not with all the excitement of the Chosen's journey permeating Iselia.
The mayor had called a meeting, at Colette's home, to discuss the Chosen's journey. As the resident healer of the village, Raine was entitled to come. In addition, she wanted to keep an eye on that Yuan man.
Yuan was civil and professional to the mayor, Frank, Phaidra, and Raine. He was unlike the kinds of mercenaries she had heard of or encountered before. He did not seem to be a brainless brute whose only talent was in swinging a sword. Neither was he a drunk who would just as likely take advantage of his clients as actually attempt to protect them.
Raine watched Yuan carefully, appraising the strange man as the meeting continued. It seemed too convenient to her that a mysterious mercenary who was willing to help the Chosen would pop out of nowhere and save Genis and the others. Did this man have an ulterior motive? He was good with a blade, she would not deny that, but she would not trust him alone with Colette. Of course Raine would go with Colette as well, but she had the feeling that, if he wanted to, Yuan could probably overpower them both. Raine did not want to put her faith in such a stranger, but there seemed to be little choice. A swordsman could protect Colette from most dangers, something that Raine, while reluctant to admit it, even to herself, would probably not be able to do on her own.
Yuan seemed to be able to tell what Raine was thinking, for he looked in her direction. He quickly looked away as the mayor started to speak again.
"It is settled then," the mayor declared, after the short discussion, "The protection of the Chosen with go to Raine and Yuan."
The door to the Brunel's home opened and Lloyd and Genis came in. It was clear to everyone in the room that they had been listening in.
"Hey, were you guys talking about the world regeneration journey just now?" Lloyd asked casually.
"Yes, we were," said Phaidra, frowning a little.
"I wanna come too!" said Lloyd enthusiastically, "I wanna come and see Colette become and angel, and save the world!"
"If Raine's going, then I'm gonna come too!" proclaimed Genis, straightening his back to try to make up for his lack of height.
"That is out of the question," said Raine, "The regeneration journey will be long and dangerous. It is no place for children."
"I agree with Raine," said the Phairdra, "I'm sorry Lloyd, but I don't think you will be able to come."
"I disagree."
Everyone turned to Yuan, surprised. Yuan raised an eyebrow when he saw the disbelief on the other's faces, "I was surprised, but both Lloyd and Genis have the potential for some power, though they also have the potential to be nuisances. As the Chosen's journey is so important, I feel that she will need all the help she can get. Though if Lloyd or Genis get in the way, I will send them home without a second chance. And if I remember correctly, Chosen," he turned to Colette, "You get nervous when Lloyd is not around?"
Colette glanced anxiously at Lloyd. Lloyd looked hurt at her uncertainty.
"...Do you deny it?" Yuan asked, not taking his eyes off the Chosen.
"N-no," Colette said shyly, "But..."
"It's settled then," Yuan stood up, "You boys had better be ready tomorrow when we leave. If you are late or fall behind, we will not wait." Then he left the room without another word, leaving a vacuum behind.
Colette tried to fill it when she said, "Wow, I can't believe that I'm finally going to go on the journey! I'm going to fulfill my purpose and save the world! For everyone!"
Raine sighed, and stood up, and left the children alone so they could talk before Colette would have to leave on her important journey. The other adults followed suit shortly after.
"What do you think it'll be like, becoming an angel?" Genis asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet, "Will you get wings like Remiel's?"
"He's my father, so I guess that would make sense," mused the Chosen.
"Oh! I almost forgot!"
Colette and Lloyd looked at Genis as he started to mine in his pockets for something. Then he took out a small bag and handed it to Colette. "Happy birthday!" he chirped, "I baked you some cookies!"
"Oh, thank you so much!" Colette gratefully accepted the cookies, "I love your cookies!"
Genis grinned mischievously up at Lloyd, "Your turn. Didn't you say you were going to make her a necklace?"
"Uh..." Lloyd hesitated, "I left it at home. But that's okay, 'cause I can give it to you tomorrow!"
Colette seemed nervous, and started to fidget with the bag that held Genis' gift.
"Hey, Lloyd," Colette started quietly, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Genis, sensing that a very personal discussion was going to follow, discretely left the house, leaving the other two alone.
"Sure," Lloyd nodded, "Is something wrong?"
She shook her head. She walked over to a window and looked out at the blue sky beyond. "I can't believe it! I'm really the daughter of an angel!"
"But you're still you," Lloyd walked over to Colette's side, "It doesn't matter who your father is, or even if you have two of them! You're still you."
"Thanks, Lloyd," she said cheerfully. She looked out the window again, then back at him. "We're leaving at noon tomorrow."
"For the journey?!" Lloyd asked excitedly. Colette nodded. "Yes! We're gonna go save the world together!"
Colette smiled, but said nothing. Lloyd looked out the window, "Oh man, the sun's gonna set soon. That means I've got to get home. But I'll see you tomorrow!" He waved happy farewell, and left the house, the door making a soft thud as it closed behind him. Colette watched him go, and when he was gone, she looked down guiltily at her feet.
Outside, Lloyd had found Yuan leaning against the wall of the house. Yuan was surveying the dirt path that led to the house, as if expecting Desian troops to walk up to the house.
"What are you doing?" Lloyd demanded.
Yuan gave Lloyd a bored look, "Protecting the Chosen. Why do you want to come on the regeneration journey?"
"Huh?" Lloyd was surprised by the sudden question, "Because I want to help Colette save the world!"
"Hm..." Yuan closed his eyes, and was silent for a moment. "What time did the Chosen tell you we were leaving?"
Lloyd blinked. "Huh? Uh... noon."
"I see..." Yuan seemed to consider something, "Come to the Chosen's home at six o'clock tomorrow. We have a lot of preparing for the journey to do, and if you wish to join us, you will have to help with that preparation."
"S-six o'clock?!" Lloyd panicked, "That's really really early!"
Yuan frowned. "This isn't a vacation," Yuan chided, "So stop acting like this is a pleasure trip."
With that, he straightened up and left Lloyd alone. Lloyd was fuming.
"Arrogant bastard..." he muttered angrily to himself.
"You and Yuan fighting again?"
Lloyd glared at Genis, who had sneaked up behind him. Genis was smirking, but the smile faded as he looked off in the direction Yuan had left. "I dunno, but there's something about him that bothers me," said Genis, "I mean, why'd he let us come with Colette? I'm happy we're allowed to, but he seemed so okay with it, and after he tried to get rid of us at the temple."
This puzzled Lloyd too. Why would someone like Yuan allow Genis and Lloyd to come along? As a show of good faith? To keep the Chosen happy? Some other reason?
"... I don't get it," groaned Lloyd at last, what brain power he had spent, "Man, I hate that Yuan guy..."
Genis smirked, "That's just because he's better than you."
"Shut it Genis!"
There was a sulky silence after this minor argument.
"Hey, Lloyd, are you heading back home?" Genis asked out of the blue.
Lloyd shrugged, "I guess. It looks like the sun's gonna set soon."
"I should get home too, before Raine slaps me for staying out late," muttered Genis.
"Have fun!" teased Lloyd as Genis walked off in the direction of his home. With a small excitement in his heart, knowing that soon he would see Colette become and angel and save the world, he too, headed for home.
A/N: BEHOLD, I AM J.J. ABRAMS, FOR I GIVE YOU MANY QUESTIONS, BUT NO ANSWERS! MWAHA!
Okay, I'm not J.J. Abrams. If I were clever enough to come up with something like Cloverfield or Lost, I wouldn't be writing fan fiction. And I do plan on actually providing some answers occasionally.
For some reason, Yuan was ridiculously hard to write. And just in case you didn't catch, Yuan isn't wearing his usual armor now. I'm not sure I made that really clear...
As always, reviews are very much appreciated. Reviews make me very happy.
Edited on 3/7/08 - Cleaned up, fixed part with Remiel, and removed part with Mithos and Martel.
