Chapter 5 Con.

"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."

"Thank you, my lord." Remiel gives Colette the power of the angels. Colette's back then reveals angel wings and she ascend in midair.

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

"I humbly accept this trial."

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

"Yes, Lord Remiel," Colette replied just before Remiel vanished from the scene.

"I shall await you at the next seal, the Chosen of

Regeneration, my beloved daughter, Colette," Remiel's voice announced to the group. Colette descends to the floor and stands on a surface.

"Colette…has wings!" Lloyd spoke in amazement.

"Uh-huh, and look, I can put them away, too." Colette told them, putting her angel wings away right afterwards.

"Oh, wow! That's so cool!" Genis said happily jumping up and down.

"Here, look, look!" Colette continuously flapped her angel wings as Genis enjoyed it.

Ignoring Colette and Genis, Raine started trying to figure out how they were going to reach the next seal. "I should have known this journey would take us across the ocean."

"What's wrong, Professor Sage?"

"Oh, no-nothing's wrong," she responded uneasily. "Now where is he?" Raine demanded, seeing as Kratos was nowhere near them.

"Hurry up. We must go to Izoold."

"Izoold? Where is—?"

"It's a fishing village on the other side of the Ossa Trail. We need to go there because it's the only place with boats on this part of Sylvarant." Raine explained as she turned toward Colette and her little brother. "Come you two, let's get going."

The two turned to face their companions as they stopped what they were doing. "Okay," they answered in unison, sad that they had to stop playing with Colette's new wings.

The five of them left the ruins, Kratos at the back, Raine in front. Not even back to Triet, Colette fell to her knees. "Professor Sage!" Lloyd worriedly ran over to help her.

"Colette! Are you okay?"

"I'm…fine…"

"You don't look fine at all! Your face is completely white!" Genis stated, disagreeing with her. "It's all my fault. I got carried away and kept making her pull her wings in and out."

Lloyd shook his head, "I don't think that has anything to do with it…"

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

"Wait," Kratos began, "I suggest you not move her."

"Why not?" Lloyd questioned as both he and Genis looked back at Kratos.

"Yeah, don't you care if the person you're supposed to be protecting dies?" Genis joined in on Lloyd's side.

"That's not it," Kratos retorted calmly. "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."

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

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

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

Raine walked over to Kratos, talked for a little while, started arguing with him, and then she came so close to shouting her opinion, but instead tried to slap him across his face. Kratos stopped her hand from touching him with just a simple wave of his hand. She sighed, turned back and walked away, trying as hard as possible not to have Genis cast "Aqua Edge" at Kratos. "Where should we stay for the night, Kratos?" she questioned venomously. "Since it's obvious you know more about this than the Chosen."

"I wouldn't say that was true, Miss Sage," Kratos countered. "Come, the Chosen needs to rest."

That night, they all rested around the campfire. Once again, Genis and Colette fell asleep first and Noishe stayed near both Lloyd and Kratos. "So we're going to go across the sea, huh? Cool!"

"I'm surprised you've been able to hold your own up until now," Kratos stated, causing Lloyd to glance over at him as he said "surprised".

"I would've died long ago if it wasn't for you healing me," he countered, complementing the mercenary's skills.

"Heh, you've forgotten your teacher heals as well."

"Yeah, but she focuses more on Colette and Genis than she does on me," Lloyd pointed out a bit sourly.

Kratos got up, walked over—passing Lloyd—over to Noishe, and commented, "That may be that she has more faith in your abilities and believes you can defend yourself better than your friends."

"Yeah, well…" Lloyd started awkwardly, a hand behind his head, then wondered as it lowered. "Then why do you bother helping me?"

"Doesn't someone need to?" Kratos left, leaving Lloyd with Noishe as long as his last question hanging over the young double-swordsman's head.

Why does he always confuse me like that? Lloyd wondered. "Hey, Noishe, can you tell me something of which he talks to you about?"

Growl…

"Okay, okay, I'll stop asking!" Lloyd said defensively, waving his hands between Noishe and himself. "Just…does he talk about me at all?" Noishe bent down and licked his master's face a couple time. This caused Lloyd to tilt back, away from his dog. "Noishe…no! Stop it, Noishe!"

Suddenly, Noishe froze where he stood. "What's wrong, Noishe?" Lloyd asked, straightening back up to a sitting position. "What's bothering you?" Ever since he froze, Noishe had begun shaking furiously and whining loudly. "Noishe? What's wrong with you?" What does "they're coming" mean? I don't—? Ah! Maybe he'll know.

Lloyd jumped to his feet and silently ran over to the campsite toward Kratos. "Kratos!" he said urgently as he ran.

Kratos glanced up at Lloyd, turning only his head, looking as if he were ready ro continue on. "What is it?"

"Noishe. He's just standing there in one place, shaking for some reason."

"Why come to me? I thought you hated me."

"Wha—? I need help with taking care of Noishe," he pleaded. "He keeps repeating the same thing over and over again."

Kratos stood up from his position as look out. "What is it he's saying?"

"He keeps repeating…'they're coming'. Whatever that means."

"I will go see him," Kratos stated calmly. "You stay here and keep watch while I'm not here."

"But I want—"

"You want someone to ambush us? Stay here." After giving his orders once more, Kratos started off in the direction Lloyd had come. "I trust you won't mess this up."

"Kratos, wait! I—" Lloyd started before getting cut off By Kratos.

"No. I nee to aid Noishe as quickly as possible…Isn't that why you came to get me?"

He left Lloyd to his thoughts. The boy sat down just as Kratos had—one leg folded beneath the other—silent for a while. I want to know why Noishe trusts you so much. Why he'll tell you stuff I say, but not tell me what you say.