Chapter 1: Virtue

Straw colored locks danced around wildly as a woman traipsed the raging sandstorm currently engulfing Triet Desert. Evelyn wore a wry smile on her face, thinking back to why she was even here in the first place: Her race. Finding a job was difficult enough as it was- people finding out that she was a half-elf made it even harder. But, as she had already figured, life was difficult- half-elf or not. There was no sense in bitching about that…especially when more important things were on her mind.

Over the clang of her own sword on her belt, Evie's sensitive ears picked up the distinct sounds of clanging metal: a battle was under way. Curious nature getting the better of her, Evie sprinted beyond the sand dune obstructing her view of the scene.

A group of five companions had their hands full with a gang of thieves and monsters. It was obvious to say that they were outnumbered.

Off to the side, away from the battle a good distance, was a young white haired mage. He was obviously busy chanting to cast a spell; unbeknownst to him, though, there was a thug advancing on him from behind, his weapon raised high.

"Genis! Look out!" One of the boy's companions hollered. Genis had just finished casting his spell,

"Pancake time! Stalagmite!" he shouted. Genis turned and saw what his friend had been warning him about. There was no time to shield himself with and his red clad friend was making a mad dash towards the smaller boy. Both of them knew that he would never make it in time.

The young mage braced himself for the crude pain of cold steel puncturing the warm flesh. When the pain never came, Genis looked up, seeing the one who had shielded him; She held the man's blade between her gloved hands, and she swiftly kicked the man to the ground with enough force to drop an elephant. Throwing the blade away from herself, the woman removed her foot from the dead Thug's chest. Evie saw the look of wonder the group was casting her from her peripheral vision. She turned to watch as another mage walked up and crouched next to the younger one, "Genis, are you alright?" she asked him.

"Yeah, Raine, I'm fine," he began, then he nodded his head toward Evie, "Thanks to her."

The older mage, Raine, looked at me cautiously, but replied all the same, "Thank you for saving my brother. Now, tell us who you are and what your business is here."

"My name is Evelyn Raines, and as for my business, I have none as of yet."

"Why did you come to my brother's aid?" she inquired tartly.

"He is a child, and…" she got a sharp look from Raine, and a downcast look from Genis.

"You may despise me for my race, but I can't bring myself to allow harm to come to any child." Evie finished calmly, awaiting the threatening glares she knew she would receive.

"Hi! I'm Lloyd!" Greeted the red clad swordsman, walking up to the blonde, "And this is the Professor, Colette, Kratos and the one you just saved is Genis!" he finished, pointing to each of his companions.

"You're a half- elf?" Raine asked, giving Evie a wary eye, Kratos, who had been listening intently, had his hand at his sword, ready to strike.

"I am."

Kratos' grip tensed.

It was then that Evie noticed that the other blonde, Colette, was embossed with…

"I see you're the Chosen of Mana?" Raine eyed her more cautiously.

"Yes, that's right! I'm going to do my best to regenerate the world." Stated the younger blonde.

"I see where your concerns come from." Evie stated, nodding towards Kratos and Raine, "But, I don't have any reason to want to kill the Chosen."

"Then you should come with us! You could help us release the seals. We're on our way to the seal of fire now!" Lloyd stated.

"Lloyd…" Raine began.

"Yes! That would be fun!" Colette exclaimed, smiling a bright smile.

"…If the Chosen wishes it, then I have no objections." Kratos added gruffly.

"Sorry, Raine, but she did save my life, without any hesitation. She can't be that bad!" Genis said, as he began edging away from his sister.

"Alright, but we can't just pick up people and have them joining our group all the time. I'll be keeping my eye on you." Raine said, turning towards Evie as she said the last part.

"I suppose I could come…I'm sure I'll find work eventually…" Evie sighed, clutching at the locket around her neck.

"Yeah!" came the shouts from the younger group members.


Z-Skit: Evie's Weapons

"Hey Evie," Lloyd began,

"Hm?" the girl turned her head toward the red clad boy.

"What kind of weapon do you use?"

"…"

"I mean, do you just punch and kick people like you did back there or…"

"I'm a little skilled in swordplay…I use projectiles quite a bit…"

"Projectiles? What kind of projectiles?" Lloyd asked, tilting his head in confusion. Without the blonde woman noticing, Lloyd turned to Genis,

"What's a projectile?"

"Yeah, that has me curious, too." Genis piped up, shaking his head and ignoring Lloyd's question.

The blonde woman smirked, "Throwing knives, mostly. Though I prefer hand-to-hand combat…"

"What else? I wanna know!" shouted Lloyd.

"… When the time comes, then I will show you. You don't want me to waste my mana, do you?"

"No. Hey, you have an exsphere, too!"

"Yes,"

"Where'd you get yours?" Lloyd asked, making Evie's eyed widen.

"That's it… no more questions, now." Evie stalked to the other part of the group, walking in sync with Kratos.

"Look what you did Lloyd, you upset her!" Genis scolded, walking up to Raine and staying in-between her and Evie.

"What'd I say?" Lloyd pondered to himself.


"Ah, so hot! Man, I'm beat!" Lloyd complained, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Evie brushed her fingers through her hair in an attempt to cool off her head a bit.

"See? You're already worn out." Genis berated slightly frowning at his older friend.

Lloyd continued his complaining, "I'm sick of this desert."

Noishe whined, granting himself everyone's attention.

"What's wrong, Noishe?" Lloyd asked, concerned for his… dog.

"Be on your guard, there are enemies about!" Kratos' warning was short lived, as a small group of monsters charged at them.

The battled that ensued was rather easy and the only thing Evie had a chance to do was kick the fire element around a bit. Not, that enthralling.

"This is going to be a nuisance." The auburn haired swordsman sighed.

"What is?" Lloyd inquired of the man, tilting his head to the side like a puppy.

"Ah, nothing. Anyway, it would be a good idea for you to learn

techniques to protect yourself." Kratos continued.

"Are you talking about self-defense training?" Colette asked with a sparkle in her eye.

"Something like that. Techniques to raise your defense during battles.

I'll show you how it's done. Once you grasp the theory, the rest should be easy."

Lloyd, Kratos and Evie had decided on learning 'Guardian', Colette learned 'Damage Guard', and the Sage siblings learned 'Forcefield'.

"Okay! I don't really get it, but I already feel stronger! I can't wait

to try it out!" Lloyd said excitedly hopping up and down on the balls of his feet.

"I think you're just imagining things…" Genis sighed, shaking his head.

"Hmm, what happened to Noishe?" Raine wondered aloud.

Lloyd looked surprised for a second, then looked around to find the animal gone. "You're right. He's gone. Ah, man, he's run off again."

"He's probably nervous about the monsters. I think it would be best not

to count on Noishe in places with monsters around." Kratos said, matter-of-factly.

Lloyd gave the older swordsman a disgruntled look and Evie laghued. 'Boys.' She thought.

After the group had gained their bearings, they continued to the entrance of the Ruins, where Colette examined the pedestal at the top of the staircase.

"Say, is this the seal? It has my family's crest on it…" The young blonde wondered aloud.

Raine gave an exasperated sigh, her eyes formed hearts, "Fantastic!"

Everyone glanced at the female Sage who looked at the slab in complete an utter fascination.

"Look at this slab covering the entrance! It's clearly of a different composition than the surrounding stone!" she cooed.

Raine continued to look at the slab, admiring the texture.

"Hahahaha! It's just as I thought!" she muttered to herself.

Raine crouched down and felt the slab's surface.

"This is polycarbonate, developed during the Ancient War to defend against magic! Oh, feel the smooth surface! It's wondrous!" she reveled, earning concerned glances from the rest of the group.

"…Is she always like this?" Kratos inquired, staring at Genis who gave an embarrassed sigh, Raine was still looking over the entrance.

"…Is she?" Lloyd asked the mage, amusedly.

Genis sighed "…I've been trying so hard to hide it, too."

Evie raised her brow. Still staring at the woman, she just laughed a little. Perhaps when she finally got home, Raine could impart some knowledge on…Evie's face saddened before she shook her head free of thoughts. 'No, I have to keep thinking positive...if not for me, for their sakes…' she thought to herself.

Reading the markings on the pedestal, Raine furrowed her brow,

"Hmm? This depression…it reads, 'oracle stone.' Colette, place your hand here. That should reveal the entrance." She stated, her eyes going temporarily back to normal.

"Really?" Lloyd asked, still slightly amused with what he had just seen his professor do.

"This stone is enchanted with magic designed to identify the Chosen. There's no question about it." The white haired woman stated with her knowledge, crossing her arms adamantly across her chest.

Colette placed her right hand on the pedestal and the entry way opened.

"It opened! Wow! I guess I'm really the Chosen after all!" Colette stated, oblivious to her obvious statement.

"Yes, I think we all know that already." Lloyd replied, slightly annoyed at his blonde friend. Evie placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and he glanced up at her. Evie smiled at him.

"Okay! Now it's getting exciting! Let's hurry up and go inside!" Lloyd exclaimed, jumping at the chance to explore.

"…I hope you'll be able to maintain that enthusiasm." Kratos stated skeptically.

After a while of solving puzzles and fighting monsters, The Chosen's group eventually reached the seal room.

"This place is also built with magitechnology! Absolutely fantastic!" guess who.

As the group approached the seal, it began to glow, sensing Colette's mana signature.

"Ahh! What the?…" Genis called out, clearly startled.

"Genis! Stay calm. Cast your water spells." Evie commanded, crouching into a defensive position in front of Colette.

Evie removed her sword from its sheath. Releasing a small amount of mana into the blade, she began chanting her own spell.

"Ready? Aqua Edge!" Genis shouted, attacking the Ktugatchling.

"Heavenly torrent, Rip asunder! Blessed Drops!" Evie shouted, substantially wounding all three while Lloyd executed a 'Tempest' and killed one of the Ktugatchlings.

Raine healed Lloyd as he was hit down by the Ktugatch with 'First Aid', and Genis executed another 'Aqua Edge' killing the other Ktugatchling. The Ktugatch was now pretty weak. While Kratos was defending Colette from the Ktugatch's spiked tail, both Lloyd and Evie charged the beast,

"Tempest!" Lloyd shouted, hurling himself over the monster, continually slicing it with his swords.

"Crescent Strike!" Evie sliced the beast across the face and Colette dispatched it with a perfectly timed Ray Thrust.

"You weren't that impressive," The blonde mage taunted, sheathing her sword.

The seal opened as Evie finished her taunt and a red glowing energy appeared.

"You, the Chosen of Regeneration. Offer your prayers at the altar." Came Remiel's voice from the heavens.

"…Yes, my lord." The young blonde replied, approaching the altar and praying "Oh Goddess Martel, great protector and nurturer of the earth, grant me

thy strength!"

The seal broke and a light from above appeared and revealed Remiel, angel of Cruxis.

"Colette, my dear daughter, you have done well." Remiel stated to Colette.

"Thank you…Fa…ther." The girl replied.

"Her father?" Evie whispered to Kratos, who was standing beside her. He just gave a stiff nod.

"The guardian of the seal has fallen, and the first seal has been released. Efreet will surely awaken soon. In the name of Cruxis, I shall grant you the power of the angels." Remiel bellowed.

"Thank you, my lord."

Remiel granted Colette the power of the angels and Colette's wings were released. She hovered in midair before the angel.

"The angel transformation will not be without pain. Yet, it is but for one night. Be strong and endure." He told Colette.

Colette nodded "I humbly accept this trial."

"The next seal lies far to the east, across the sea. Offer your prayers at that altar." The angel informed the group.

"Yes, Lord Remiel." Colette bowed her head.

Remiel vanished from the altar, returning to Cruxis.

"I shall await you at the next seal, the Chosen of Regeneration, my beloved daughter, Colette." Remiel's voice boomed throughout the temple.

Colette descended to the floor and stood upon the surface of the altar.

Lloyd gasped "Colette…has wings!"

The young blonde chosen nodded "Uh-huh, and look, I can put them away, too." The wings disappeared from her back.

"Oh, wow! That's so cool!" Genis gushed with enthusiasm.

"Here, look, look!" Colette toyed with Genis.

Colette continuously flapped her angel wings for Genis to enjoy.

Lloyd looked to Raine and Kratos "He said the next place is across the sea! That

means we get to sail on a ship! Haha! I can't wait!"

Raine pondered "A ship…hmm. I wonder if there are any ships sailing with the way things are right now."

"We should head to the coast to see what we can find." Kratos provided.

Evie added, "If this Journey is to be completed soon, we should leave as soon as possible."

Lloyd glanced at Colette and Genis who were still playing around. "Okay you two, we get it already. That's enough."

Colette and Genis stopped goofing around, and blushed in mild embarrassment.

"Okay." They replied to the red clad boy simultaneously.

Evie and the group head toward the exit of Triet Ruins, with Genis trailing right in front of her. Outside, Colette suddenly collapsed and fell to her knees, panting slightly.

"Colette! Are you okay?" Lloyd shouted in concern, rushing to her side.

Colette managed to get out an "I'm…fine…"

Genis looked worried; he glanced quickly up at Evie who looked down to him, a small soothing smile on her face. "You don't look fine at all! Your face is completely white! It's all my fault. I got carried away and kept making her pull her wings in and out."

"I don't think that has anything to do with it…" Evie stated, Lloyd nodding in agreement.

Raine stated worriedly, "Now's not the time for that! Her lips are turning purple. We must get her to a doctor in the city immediately."

"Wait. It's best not to move her." Kratos interrupted the mage's movements.

"Why?" Lloyd asked incredulously.

"Remember the angel's words. The angel transformation process requires her to overcome a trial. Rather than taking her to a doctor, it would be best to let her rest here." Kratos answered Lloyd.

Colette apologized "I'm…okay. I'll be fine after a little rest. I'm sorry to cause so much

trouble…"

"Stop apologizing all the time, you dork! It's not as if you can help it. You were suddenly turned into an angel." The young swordsman told her.

Colette sighed, "You're right…I'm sorry."

Lloyd sighed as well, "Well, anyway…let's set up camp before it gets dark."

After camp was set up, Lloyd went to talk to Kratos.

"Your Exsphere has an unusual color." The auburn haired man told him.

"It does seem to be a little different from yours and the others. By the way, why do you have an Exsphere?"

"I took one from a Desian. I heard that the Desians force the humans at the ranch to make them." He replied to the boy.

"So that's why Marble had an Exsphere, too… I wonder what Evie's reason is…"

The blonde looked up and Kratos caught her glance, her eyes begged 'please don't ask.'

Kratos strayed from Lloyd's line of questioning, "Is it all right if I ask you something as well?"

"Oh…okay. Sure." Lloyd responded, surprised.

"Why were you raised by a dwarf?"

"Dad found me collapsed in the forest along with Mom and Noishe. Although, what really happened was that we were attacked by Desians."

Kratos held still for a moment, "…I see. From the sound of that, your father is probably not alive either."

"…Probably not."

Kratos laid out Lloyd's life, "So the Desians are responsible for the deaths of your parents… Your life has been completely torn apart by them."

"Huh?" Lloyd raised an eyebrow questioning the older man.

"Your mother was killed and then you were chased out of your village."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Lloyd complied.

"…People are…hopelessly powerless." Kratos muttered to both him and Lloyd, although Evie had overheard it.

"Yes, they are. But you can't blame others for that weakness. That's why I'm going to grow stronger. I'm going to become powerful and defeat the Desians." Lloyd stated with confidence.

"…I see. Then, no matter what awaits ahead, you must not forget that determination." Kratos told him.

Lloyd thought for a moment "…Why am I talking to you about this, anyway?"

Lloyd went over to talk to Genis about dinner.

"Hey, how was the tofu curry?" Genis asked, awaiting an answer from his older friend.

Lloyd replied with "It was missing something."

Genis retorted in a surprised manner, "Wow, I'm surprised you noticed. But yeah, I didn't have all the ingredients."

"What do you mean, 'surprised'?"

"Ah, sorry. I mean, I didn't expect to hear you say that." Genis reworded his statement.

"That's the same thing!"

"It would have been perfect if I had some Kirima fruit." Genis revealed.

"Oh? You're the one that made this?" Lloyd inquired.

"Of course." He stated, rather proud of himself.

"I thought it was the Professor."

Raine turned to face Lloyd.

"Oh, will you try my cooking next time, Lloyd?" the professor asked expectantly.

"If you want to live, you'd better not." Genis warned him.

There was a brief pause in which Raine gave Genis a glare, mean enough that you'd be dead if you weren't already 6 feet under.

"But it's true…" Genis stated meekly. Raine ignored her younger sibling a spoke to Lloyd,

"It seems Colette's felling better now."

"…Yeah. It looks like becoming an angel is pretty rough."

"Yes. I wonder if her biological structure is changing." The woman asked, restraining herself from going into maniac mode.

"Bio…what?"

Lloyd earned a giggle from Evie, who was leaning back on her hands, her head tilted downward to look at him.

"Ah…in other words, I wonder if she's becoming a different kind of life form." Raine continued, glancing briefly at Colette.

"Colette is Colette." Lloyd stated, his tone not wavering.

"…Yes, you're right. You always point out the truth." She said, regretting her statement a little.

"Ah, well…" Lloyd blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.

Genis added, "It's because he lives only by instinct."

Lloyd gave his friend an annoyed look and went over to talk with Colette.

Lloyd began searching his pockets, "Oh yeah. I know it's kind of late now, but here's your birthday present…"

Lloyd gave the necklace to Colette.

Colette looked downtrodden, "…Oh no, it's broken."

Lloyd looked puzzled. "I wonder when it broke?… I'm sorry, I'll make you a new one."

Colette smiled, "Thanks…and…I'm sorry that I keep causing trouble for you."

Lloyd responded, "Don't worry about it. By the way, you haven't been eating at all. Are

you still feeling sick?"

"No, I'm fine. I just…don't…seem to have much of an appetite." The young blonde admonished, Evie taking in the whole scene from her peripheral vision.

"You won't be able to keep up your strength if you don't eat." He scolded her.

"…I know, you're right." Colette coughed a couple of times and Evie gave Raine a worried glance.

"Lloyd, don't push her." Raine intervened, getting the other half-elf's intention.

"Colette is delicate, unlike you." Genis reminded the swordsman.

Lloyd gained some offense from Genis' statement and said playfully, "Shut it! I'm sorry, Colette."

"No, no, I'm okay… I'm really sorry for worrying you." Colette reassured.

"I'm going to go for a little walk." Colette addressed the group.

"Want me to come?" Lloyd asked, concerned about his childhood friend going off by herself.

"Thanks, but…I'll be fine by myself." Colette told him hurriedly.

After Colette left for her walk, Genis teased, "Ha-ha, you got re-ject-ed."

Lloyd got angry, "Hey, shut up, Genis!"

Evie turned away, and walked to sit next to Kratos after everyone else had gone to sleep.

"Do you mind?" she asked him before she sat down. He ushered her to sit.

"Why did you react that way to Lloyd's questioning of your exsphere, if you don't mind me asking," The purple clad man asked, seemingly worried. 'Why am I worried about her?' he thought to himself.

Evie froze, and glared at him momentarily.

"I can understand if you don't want to talk about it," he began.

"It…brings back bad memories…I suppose you could say I was betrayed by the people I trusted the most…sort of a civil uprising, where I used to live." She responded, choosing her words carefully, her eyes held tears that she willed not to fall.

Some of her tears escaped her will though, and she started sobbing silently to herself.

"It happened five years ago…unfortunately my family paid the price for it." she drifted off, opening her locket and glancing down at the photographs.

"… I am sorry for awakening such horrible memories, I, as well as the others were just curious."

"No, that's fine," she wiped at her tears, "I don't think there's any other thing that could have prevented it. You must just keep moving forward. The important thing is, I'm alive and so is he…"

"…You should sleep now." Kratos replied, receiving as an answer,

"I think I'll take the night watch also, if you don't object," Evie stared off on another direction. 'What is it with her that makes me feel like this' Kratos asked himself.


Super revamped Chapter 1!

Whaaaaat? A different plotline? What's with the locket? And who are "they" that Evie referred to?

Tell me what you think!