Author's notes: Yes, I am back with another chapter of my new story Chosen Path. I actually have two chapter's fully written, not including this one, so I'm actually working on chapter five, and I want it to stay that way. This way, the updates should be fairly regular at least, with minor editing before I actually post. I'm not going to make any promises on that though. Anyway, it will probably be a bit slow until we get to chapter five, that's when things will start to pick up.
Disclaimer:I don't own Tales of Symphonia (almost said Fire Emblem again).
Chapter 2: Worlds Collide
"Marvelous!" Miss Sage cried as they entered the inner chamber where the oracle would be conveyed.
Kratos frowned at that; Yuan noted, and he rather much doubted that it was because he thought she was being disrespectful in the house of the 'goddess'. He had noticed the way the man grew irritated very time someone referred to him by title.
Yuan mulled over this as a light shone and a winged figure descended from 'heaven'. Yuan watched Remiel with disinterest as he spoke to the Chosen One. He had seen many such 'wonders' several times over to have both the Chosen and Remiel's lines memorized by heart. Though, for him, that was hardly considered impressive.
"I humbly, accept this task," he heard the deep voice of the new Chosen reply to Remiel's speech with the standard response to the 'angel'.
Sometimes a Chosen would go out of his way to be overly polite, however that certainly didn't seem like something Kratos would do. The fact that he cared little for the Church of Martel did nothing to help in that regard either. Yuan didn't blame him.
"Chosen One," Remiel called. "Stand forth and receive the blessings of Cruxis." As the angel said this, a light shined and a green, emerald-like Cruxis Crystal appeared and attached itself to the base of Kratos's neck.
Yuan saw the way he grimaced, the only sign that he felt any pain. A man who hated the church as much as Kratos… Would he actually do this for the sake of the world that had forced this role on him? Kratos couldn't have been as naïve as the children who had been in his position so many times over.
Yuan wondered just how far he would be willing to go before he finally killed himself. Would he make it to the tower of mana? Or would he die before Triet? Would he release the first seal before giving up?
"We of Cruxis Bless this event and bestow upon this world the Tower of Salvation," Remiel stated. If one looked out the window you could see a large tower that stretched higher than any eye could see, appear from nowhere.
The Tower of False Salvation, as Yuan referred to it as, oh so sarcastically. The Journey of Regeneration did little good in actuality. It was sham, but nothing else could be done about it. Or, so people thought.
"The next seal lies in the desert. Release the seal in that distant land," the 'angel' instructed as he floated back up to 'heaven'.
The minute the angel was gone Raine turned to look over at Kratos. The strange gem was attached directly beneath his throat, and it shined with an unnatural light. The elf came a little closer to Kratos, never taking her eyes off the stone.
"Marvelous!" she cried as she made to examine the gem. "This strange stone seems to indicate you as the Chosen One," Raine murmured to herself. "Given the circumstances, it will likely continue its development during the Journey of Regeneration and is even possibly Cruxis's method of transforming a human into an angel. I simply must come with you and track its growth over the course of the journey! This is wonderful!" the half-elf finished, a strange light in her eye.
Kratos inched a little closer toward Yuan, and eyed the near frantic half-elf warily. Yuan sighed. The Chosen One, though he hated being referred to by his title, stared at her in no small amount of shock.
"I could tell she was insensitive, but this…" he muttered quietly to himself.
"Miss Sage," Yuan spoke up coolly. "I suggest you leave Kratos alone so we can leave."
Raine snapped out of her temporary loss of sanity and looked over at him just as he was about to step on the warp pad. "Right, right. I apologize for that," She responded politely, bowing.
Kratos didn't grace her with a response and merely followed Yuan out of the room. Raine glared where he formerly was. "Just who does he think he is?" she muttered to herself as she also used the warp to leave.
"Come on Colette, what's the hold-up?" Lloyd asked his friend as she once again lagged behind the two boys.
Colette looked up at him from beneath sweat soaked bangs. "I'm sorry Lloyd. I'm just tired is all," she said with a smile.
"Well hurry up or we're gonna leave without you!" Lloyd called back teasingly.
"Well that's rude," Genis snorted. "Colette's a girl, Lloyd. She's more delicate than you!" the younger Sage sibling rebuked.
Lloyd sighed. "Fine. I'm sorry Colette," the boy in red called back to his childhood friend.
"That's okay Lloyd!" Colette chirped cheerfully. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble," she looked down shamefaced as she finally caught up with them.
Lloyd stared over at her. "Stop apologizing you dork." He teased.
"Heehee, Sorry," she murmured, giggling slightly.
"Hey, guys look!" Genis yelled excitedly as he pointed to something ahead. "There's the temple. Now we finally get to see the Chosen!"
Lloyd and Colette instantly brightened at this news. "That's great! Let's go guys!" Lloyd said laughingly as he started to run up the steps.
"L-Lloyd," Genis stuttered. "Wait for us!"
The two ran up after Lloyd just in time to see the boy in red run into an older man with auburn hair. "Oof!" Lloyd grunted as he was knocked onto his back. The other man was thrown slightly off balance but he managed to retain his footing.
"Lloyd!" Colette yelled in worry. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine Colette, it's just that…" the boy began.
"Lloyd, Genis, Colette! I thought I told you to stay and study," Raine said, rather displeased if the look on her face was anything to go by. "Just what in the name of Martel are you three doing here?" she glared down at them.
"I assume these are your students?" A blue haired man asked as he came up from behind them. "Rather disobedient aren't they?"
"Your name is Lloyd?" The voice of the first man rose above all others.
Endnotes: Hehe, finally meeting up with the Chosen's group. And Lloyd ran right into him, quite the impression I dare say so myself, but I don't think Kratos minds too much though.