The wind blew through the area that crumbled around them, the devastation of the war being all that remained of the once lush and vibrant earth. Kratos and Steven stood there, silent for some time, as the wind brushed their hair to and fro before Kratos finally broke the silence. "What's troubling you?" he asked as Steven stood there, the creaking sound of leather being heard when Steven's hands tightened into fists. His anger was readily apparent, and though Kratos had noticed it he said nothing of it. "As if you don't already know..." he stated flatly causing Kratos to turn and look at him, hand on the connection between his sword and belt. "That isn't why I asked Steven, holding things like this inside of you will only serve to hinder and harm you. You're no good to Lady Martel like this, so again..what's troubling you?" Kratos asked, his tone unchanging as his eyes bore hard into Steven's form. "I'm about to have to walk, Lady Martel, someone who is like a sister to me, to her death to save a world that doesn't deserve to even know of her radiance. Is that what you want to hear? That I'm suffering at the prospect of even more loss despite what I've went through already!?" Steven snapped as he looked to Kratos. His body language, speech, tone, it all bespoke blind rage and unearthly pain, all which Kratos was familiar with. "And what would you do to change it Steven? Would you have her suffer in silence knowing that those she cared for now lie dead or bleeding and close to death on this field? Would you have her live with the fact that she'd done nothing to change the outcome? To preserve that which she held dear?" he asked knowing that he was prodding a powder keg of emotions.
Steven didn't hesitate, swinging his right fist hard as Kratos simply leaned back to dodge the ill aimed punch, thought Steven was already on the move, digging his feet into the earth as he tackled Kratos to the ground and knocked him off his feet. Kratos made no attempt to resist, instead allowing himself to be taken down as Steven began to rain blow after blow down on him. He laid there, allowing himself to be hit, as Steven began to cry. His punches became weaker, his blows missing their mark, and it was then that Kratos pushed him off and stood up dusing his robes off. It looked like he hadn't even been touched, a benefit to being an angel as he felt no pain from anything less than a mortal wound. "Look Steven I get it...you're hurt, but this isn't about you." he said as Steven began to shake and cry uncontrollably. "YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND YOU EMOTIONLESS BASTARD!" he yelled at him, "MY MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER, EVERYTHING I KNEW WAS LOST TO THIS FORSAKEN WAR BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T CO-EXIST WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE THE ANGELS JUST HAD TO BE SUPERIOR TO THE HUMANS!" he continued, picking himself up off the ground and stumbling to his feet. "My life was finally back where it used to be, I had a family, people that I could trust...that I love with every bit of who I am, and now...I have to condemn one to their death just so the humans who destroyed themselves in the first place can have a second chance at power, so that they can live...my beloved sister must die..." Steven said now sobbing and out of breath. Kratos simply stood there looking at him, his face a dull, expressionless mask. What Steven didn't know, however, was that Kratos too was suffering as his mind went to Martel, and thoughts of what she meant to him began to surface in his mind back to when they first met.
Two individuals were thrown out of a village one green haired women and the other a blonde haired male. "ENOUGH Of your crap Mithos, The humans will end up destroying us! I should've know that someone who holds the blood of humans would show sympathy for them." The voice of the elder stated as the young man who had been thrown to the ground coughed a little bit as the green haired women slowly helped him up, however, she quickly glared at the elder and if looks could kill. the elder would be dead that much was for certain. "But if we just talked with the humans-" The blonde haired kid stated. "ENOUGH MITHOS YGGDRASIL!" The elder roared and was about to go in and smack Mithos as the young man flinched and was expecting a slap but, when a slap didn't occur he looked up to see another young blonde haired male having grabbed the elders hand. It was a man with blonde hair, a sword to the right of his belt, a shield on his back that looked like a shade of purple. A blue coat of some kind and black pants with his hand grasped firmly on the elders hand. "Is this what the eleven Village has come to?! Exiling people just because they're different?!" The man growled. "Robinson! I thought I told you last time to keep you and your kind away from our village?!" the elder snapped. "And since when have I ever given a damn about what you have to say Elder, hmph not that you even deserve that title!" the young man growled.
"I have more say than a arrogant old elder who refuses to change with the times! There is a war draining Mana from our world left and right and all you can think about is your hatred for humans?!" The man asked. "Don't lecture me Steven! This is the very reason you were banished from this village as well!" The Elder snapped as the young man finally snapped back handing the so called elder back into his cronies as the elder held his cheek. "You..." the elder growled. "Its no wonder I didn't become upset when I was banished all those years ago, you haven't changed a damn bit!" Steven growled. "Just take him and go if your wishing to save him Steven!" The Elder snapped as Steven humphed. "Oh I will, and when we return you will see the error of your ways IF I HAVE TO FORCE IT INTO YOU ELDER!" Steven snapped as Steven stormed off as Martel and Mithos slowly got up looking towards the elder who humphed as they followed after him.
Once they were out of range from the Village the young man leaned against a tree. "Uh thank you Mr." Martel started as Steven humphed. "Robinson, Steven Robinson don't get the wrong idea, I didn't come to save you, I'm getting a group together with my friends Kratos and Yuan to put an end to this war that's it, you just saved me the trouble of having to go all the way to the capital." Steven stated as Martel smiled, one thing she knew above everything was she knew how to read someone's true nature. "Hey, Kid." Steven stated as Mithos jumped up. "Uh yes?" He asked. "How well can you wield a sword?" Steven asked. "Er I just started like a couple of days ago." Mithos answered honestly as Steven humphed. "Looks like we got a long road ahead of us, well than be prepared your going to be getting trained by Kratos, and Martel, I'll be teaching you how to use some more advanced spells for the journey." Steven explained.
"I don't know..." Martel stated. "Look Martel, based on your body language you don't like to fight do you?" Steven asked causing Martel to shake her head sadly. "Not really..." She muttered. "Look Martel..." Steven said bending down to her level. "The world the way it is now, people are constantly fighting for the Supply of Mana so its going to be once we leave this forest, its going to be kill or be killed, if you don't learn to fight you may become a liability." Steven explained. "STEVEN!" Mitos snapped but Martel shook her head to stop Mithos from snapping. "No...Brother...he's right...this world...its not how it once was..." Martel explained. "Sister..." Mithos muttered. "We will be heading out soon. But first we have one last thing to find." Steven explained. "What's that?" Mithos asked. "Someone with the ability to access summon arts." Steven explained as Martel and Mithos's eyes widened. "Wait Steven! Mithos can!" Martel said causing Steven to look at Martel in confusion. "Wha? Since when?" Steven asked. "It wasn't much but I was able to briefly tap into Efreet's power, I don't have a pact with him but..." Mithos started. "I see...Grab your things we leave than." Steven stated as Martel and Mithos followed him out of the forest.