A/N: Thank you to Tyler, musicfreak16 and Eevetta for reviewing. :D I'm so happy my story isn't total crap! Haha, anyway, I was encouraged enough that I decided to post chapter 2.
mf16: yes, rest assured there won't be a Kratos/Brit pairing. That'd be kinda creepy, since she's Lloyd's age, and Kratos is Lloyd's dad...XD
Things are still going bit slow, but the story will pick up soon. She won't go too long without her memory, don't worry. ;D
10/17/12 EDIT: Fixed up this chapter! Conversations should be more realistic and in-character now. I'm working to revamp the hell out of Kratos because he's not enough of a douchebag early on! Hurrhurr. The next two chapters are gonna be a bitch, but I WILL PREVAIL!
After four long days, Colette and the others returned. I was inwardly relieved; I knew they probably had more important things to be doing, and I had worried that they might decide not to come back after all. I greeted them all with a smile, but Lloyd seemed oddly downhearted.
As the other four went about the process of preparing some dinner, I approached him.
"…Lloyd?" I hesitated, trying to overcome a sudden feeling of shyness. "What's wrong? Were you able to rescue that Chocolat person?"
He shook his head slowly. "No…Chocolat was taken to another human ranch. She didn't want to be rescued…"
"…Human ranch?" I faltered, confused. Was that something to do with the Desians? Ranches were for raising livestock, weren't they? That didn't mean…it couldn't possibly mean what I thought it meant, could it?
Lloyd gave me a look of surprise, and then averted his gaze. "So you don't remember what those are either. Or the Desians."
I gave him an expectant look, hoping he would explain. If it was that important, then I needed to know. In reply he turned to Raine, who was arranging some supplies on a nearby table.
"Hey, Professor, we're just going on a quick walk."
"All right. Don't wander too far; dinner will be finished soon," she said.
Lloyd nodded and motioned for me to walk with him. I quickly caught up, unnerved by the way Kratos was watching us as we left. Was it really that serious, what Lloyd was about to tell me? I didn't like the way this was adding up.
Wanting to break the silence, I attempted to give him a place to start. "So, um…I tried asking about the Desians around here, but the priests wouldn't say much. Are they really that terrible?"
Lloyd's eyes narrowed and his lips turned down in a grim frown. "Yeah."
"Who are they?"
"Half-elves," he replied, shoving his hands in his pockets as we walked. "They have bases all over Sylvarant and all they ever do is terrorize innocent people."
"What about human ranches?" I pressed.
"It's exactly what it sounds like. They're monsters—they imprison people and treat them like cattle. They think they're better than us, like they can do whatever they want and just get away with it!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing. "It's…it's what happened to my mom. My mother is dead because of the Desians. I was only three…she died saving me."
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. The pain in his eyes was clear as day. I wasn't sure if I had a mother, but I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone.
He shook his head, suddenly looking tired. "You don't need to apologize."
"So…why didn't Chocolat want to be rescued?" I changed the subject, knowing his late mother was probably an uncomfortable thing for him to talk about.
This road was no better; I saw Lloyd's shoulders slump. "Back in Iselia, my hometown, there was a human ranch. I tried to save Marble, Chocolat's grandmother…but because I got caught, the Desians turned her into a monster. I…I had to kill her. That's why Chocolat hates me."
Monsters and human ranches…this whole thing sounded crazy, like when I had learned about the Journey of Regeneration. But the serious look on Lloyd's face said it all—he was telling the truth. Why would he lie about something like this? Still, though…knowing how dangerous this place really was…was kind of scary.
"That's not really fair," I said quietly.
His brow furrowed. "Why not? I killed Marble with my own two hands."
"Do you think she would've preferred to live on as a monster?"
"It's still my fault that she was turned into one in the first place," Lloyd sighed. "I tried to stop her from being whipped…she might've been okay if they hadn't seen me. But I rushed into the situation like an idiot…she died because of it."
I just shook my head. Why was it Lloyd's fault for standing up like that? I knew I would've been too scared to do anything, and I would've let it happen. How did cowardice make me the better person? That was stupid!
"It's wrong to stand by and do nothing, though," I said, frowning. "I…I guess you could have done it differently, but…how can Chocolat say she would've done any different if she had seen her grandmother getting whipped?" I bit my lip. "And besides that…what if you had stood by and they had ended up killing her then?"
"Brittany…"
"Nothing's going to change if everyone tries to lie low so the Desians don't come after them," I said quietly. "I think…I think it was brave of you to do that, even if it turned out badly. You shouldn't hate yourself for wanting to help people."
"…Thanks." He smiled sadly. "But…that doesn't change the fact that Marble died. Either way…I've learned that I have to live with that guilt. I have to bear the burden of all the lives that were lost because of me."
I looked up at the stars, trying to imagine what he must be feeling. The thought of that kind of guilt…I couldn't fathom it.
"…Then make up for the time they lost," I said. "Help Colette regenerate the world and make it a peaceful place for people like Chocolat to live."
"Yeah. I won't give up on her yet."
We were quiet for a moment, both of us staring up at the night sky. Crickets chirped around us as a soft breeze rustled the grass at our feet.
"Did you remember anything while we were gone?" he asked suddenly.
"No," I replied. "But I did try to learn a little more about Sylvarant from the priests here. I thought some of the information might ring a bell."
"Right," he said, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah, you just mentioned the world regeneration. So how'd all that go, then?"
I shook my head. "Nothing really helped. I was a little surprised to find out about Colette, though."
He grinned. "Pretty cool, right? She's got wings and everything." Then he faltered, seeming to remember something. "Oh, right, Remiel! Maybe we can get him to restore your memory! He's an angel, after all."
"An angel?" My eyes widened. The thought of actually meeting one…maybe if I saw one in the flesh, I might be able to believe all of the fantastical stories I was being told.
"Remiel serves the purpose of granting the Chosen her angelic powers. He isn't there to take requests, Lloyd." Kratos interrupted us, walking up.
Lloyd frowned, obviously frustrated with the new arrival's words. "But it's just one little thing! Angels are supposed to be good and all-powerful, right? Why can't he help just this once?"
"If her memory does not come back to her soon, the fastest way to restore it would be to have Colette regenerate the world. Then you can ask her to do it herself." Kratos said.
"Yeah...I guess." Lloyd's cheer dissipated. "What're you doing out here anyway, Kratos?"
"Dinner was ready ten minutes ago." The man gave Lloyd a mildly annoyed look.
"Oh, uh…right." Lloyd suddenly looked sheepish.
The three of us walked back together in relative silence. Kratos didn't seem to be in a mood that encouraged conversation.
The next morning, we sat around in a rough circle and discussed our plans. Lloyd, Colette and Genis were all for me coming along. I really wanted to go with them, but I remained quiet; the decision wasn't up to me, and I didn't want them to feel like I was imposing.
They were going to cross a mountain pass and head for a town called Asgard, ever closer to the Tower of Salvation.
"Come on, Professor," Lloyd said. "Let's at least take her to Asgard! It's not like she'll be in a lot of danger. We aren't near any Desian ranches right now."
"Maybe we can get her to see a doctor in Asgard," Colette said.
"Exactly!" Lloyd said. "Besides, we can't just leave her here in the middle of nowhere when she has amnesia!"
"…I agree with Lloyd and Colette," Genis said. "Judging from where we found her, she might be from either Asgard or Palmacosta. We might even be able to find someone who knows her."
Finally, the Professor sighed. "You have a point. All right, I'm not opposed to taking Brittany along for now."
"No further than Asgard," Kratos said firmly. The authority in his tone earned him a glare from Genis' sister.
"Kratos…" Lloyd scowled.
"Remember that I was initially opposed to taking you along as well," Kratos said, his eyes hard. "This is not a journey for children or civilians to undertake. We would only be endangering her by bringing her with us."
Lloyd's eyes narrowed at the word children, and I saw his fists clench. It took him a moment to regain his composure, but when he did he turned his head away with a huff and focused on nothing in particular. Kratos leaned back, having won the battle of wills.
Despite that little episode, I found myself sighing with relief. I was going to a real town…that was still a step forward.
The next six days were spent solely walking, just to reach the mountain pass that led to Asgard. I deduced that whatever life I had led before this amnesia, it had not been an overly athletic one. I was exhausted. In order to distract myself from my sore muscles, I attempted to learn a little more about everyone I was traveling with.
Lloyd, I found, was the easiest for me to talk to. Though he had a bit of a temper when Kratos was concerned, around me he was friendly and easygoing. Ever since our little talk at the House of Salvation, chatting with him had been natural.
Genis was younger than me, but mature for his age and very bright. He was Raine's younger brother, and they were both elves. He was nice enough, though admittedly a little bit harder to talk to.
I did get him to tell me about Exspheres, though—they were the strange gems that everyone in the group wore. The Desians, apparently, were the ones who created and used them. The one Genis used had belonged to Marble; Lloyd told me about how an Exsphere could turn an person into a monster if it didn't have a Key Crest to balance out its effect on the body. With a Key Crest, an Exsphere enhanced a person's strength a great deal. That explained the unnatural stamina everyone in the group seemed to have.
Genis, Lloyd, Colette and I all got along well. I spent several afternoons trying to learn how to use Genis's weapon, an odd thing called a kendama. I couldn't quite get the hang of it, but Colette and Lloyd had about as much luck. Genis seemed to find this greatly entertaining, until someone lost control of the weapon and it knocked Raine in the back of the head. She held on to it for us for a while after that.
On the sixth day we camped out at the foot of the mountain pass, sitting around a roaring campfire. I spoke quietly to Colette, who couldn't seem to sleep. Her strength amazed me; even as she told me of the harsh trials she and the others had undergone, she kept a cheerful smile on her face. Eventually I grew concerned. Was that smile real, or was she just putting on a brave face for the others' benefit?
"Doesn't it scare you at all? Becoming an angel, I mean."
Colette's positive attitude wasn't fazed. "Well, I guess it does a little," she admitted, "but then I think about how I'm giving hope to all the suffering people of Sylvarant, and I feel better."
Was she for real? That was incredible. Maybe selflessness was an inherent quality that Chosens possessed. I admired her for it; I wasn't sure what I would've done if I had been her position. I guess only people with such pure thoughts and intentions were capable of becoming a being as holy as an angel.
We continued on to the other side of the pass, and I took it upon myself to speak to the Professor this time. She was pleasant enough, mature and grown up. Raine was also rather blunt, saying the harsh truth rather than sugarcoating it. I knew it was only for the benefit of the other person. It was actually sort of refreshing.
Finally, I found that Kratos was the only one I hadn't tried speaking with. I told myself I would talk to him as soon as the opportunity presented itself, because I found myself unable to simply walk up to him and start a conversation. He was a mercenary hired for Colette's protection; this meant he was the strongest out of all of us, as well as the most intimidating.
"If you try too hard, you aren't going to remember anything. There's no use in brooding." Ah, it seemed Kratos had solved my problem for me. His words startled me into a laugh, and he raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Did I say something funny?"
I shook my head, calming down. "No, it's not that. Your assumption just wasn't anywhere close to what I was really thinking."
"What was it, then?"
I decided to tell him the truth, feeling braver now that we were actually speaking. "I was thinking about how you were the only one I haven't really talked to yet."
He cocked an eyebrow. "How convenient."
We slowed down for a moment, seeing that the others were lagging behind; Colette had tripped again. I frowned slightly, contemplating her as we resumed. "Where is the next seal that you're all headed to, anyway?"
"We aren't entirely certain just yet," he replied. "It may very well be in Asgard."
"And after that?" My brow furrowed. I really had no idea what this whole Journey of Regeneration really entailed.
Kratos was unreadable. "After that will be two more seals, and the world regeneration. The details…are they truly any of your concern? You should focus more on what you are going to do when we reach Asgard."
…Yeah, Kratos was definitely the hardest to talk to. He immediately made it obvious that my curiosity was unwelcome.
"You really don't trust me, do you?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"No. But it is my job not to trust you," he replied. "The safety of the Chosen is my top priority. It isn't personal."
Not personal…even so, his words stung a little. I didn't know why I cared what he thought; it was probably because these were the only people I had right now, and I wanted them to like me. Unfortunately, I doubted someone like Kratos would ever see me as anything more than a nuisance.
A bit of annoyance seeped through. I suddenly understood why Lloyd was so temperamental around this guy. I hadn't done anything wrong, so couldn't he at least refrain from giving me those cold looks?
"Yeah, well…who are you to talk about trust, anyway? I thought mercenaries sold talent, not their loyalty."
Kratos' expression didn't change. "Hmph…a valid point."
That was it? He wasn't even going to get defensive or anything? What the in the world did he mean by—
"Hey, you guys, wait up!" Lloyd interrupted our conversation, running over to us. He bent over, panting. "Man, you walk way too fast! Everyone's falling behind!"
I cocked my head to the side, confused. I couldn't recall walking any faster than I did normally; I would've noticed the difference if Kratos had picked up the pace.
Raine caught up as well, smacking Lloyd on the back of the head. "I apologize for slowing you down. We were doing fine until Lloyd started goofing off." She was holding Genis's kendama again.
"I just wanted to see if I could do it this time!" He whined, rubbing his head. I had to suppress a laugh, glad to leave the solemn mood behind.
"Everyone, look!" Colette pointed ahead of us, an expression of delight on her face. We looked ahead as well; a town that could be none other than Asgard was visible, off in the distance. It was settled between two cliffs, looking almost picturesque. Lloyd suddenly forgot his pain, looking up eagerly.
"It's Asgard! C'mon, let's go! I wonder what it's like? I can't wait!" Now he ran on ahead, gesturing for us to follow.
"I hope you can maintain that enthusiasm..." Kratos was watching Lloyd with a mildly exasperated expression.
"Is he always like that?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. Lloyd was already standing off in the distance, waiting for us impatiently.
"More often than not," the mercenary replied.
"Knowing Lloyd, he'll be bored with the town before we even get a chance to look around." Genis remarked, rolling his eyes.
Everyone moved to follow Lloyd; I fell back and let Kratos take the lead, thinking to myself as we walked. Asgard, huh…hopefully I would find the answers I needed there.
A/N: I bet the kendama incident brought a certain Z-skit to mind! XD
Okay, this chapter wasn't exactly long either, but I figured I'd better pace myself if I post this often.
When Brit regains her memory, she'll have more of a personality...the way I look at it is, your memories greatly influence the way you act, so right now she isn't sure how she would normally act. The writing should take on more of a personality too, eventually.
Reviews would be much appreciated! :3