Kratos found the Brunels huddled on their front steps. Their house was remarkably unscathed, but it did not hide the blood spattered on the dusty ground nor did it hide the bodies splayed around it. The village had apparently given its all to protect the world's savior, and Kratos vowed not to let their payment be voided.

He stepped slowly through the carnage, carefully avoiding every body, Desian or Iselian. A battlefield was sacred ground; to tread so lightly upon the fallen was to ignore the effort that had been put forth. Kratos stopped not more than three feet away from the girl.

"Colette." Her name hung in the space between them.

She looked up with tear-stained eyes, carefully disentangling herself from the arms of her father and grandmother. "I'm sorry, Mr. Aurion."

"There is nothing to apologize for."

"Are you alright?" He could feel her eyes drifting over the dark stains on his shirt and the dried blood on his lip. Only someone exceptional would be able to look away from such trauma and destruction and ask another after their own well-being. He commended her silently: strong, indeed.

"I am alive," Kratos said in a wry tone. "And that is 'alright' for me."

Colette smiled weakly for him. "That's good." She stood up and brushed herself off. "We were very worried about you," she said matter-of-factly.

Her grandmother spoke up: "Sir Aurion, what happened?"

"Cardinal Forcystus and I…disagreed," Kratos said. He had slipped into his habit of keeping his face unreadable and his voice a monotone. "But he has left now."

He could feel the unasked question probing deeper in the air, but thankfully the Brunels decided to not capitalize on their curiosity.

"The Professor's at the schoolhouse healing people," Colette suddenly said. "In case you were wondering where she was."

"Do you think she will be done within an hour or so?"

"I don't think so." The girl blinked as realization set in. "Oh…"

"Yes, another change in plans. We have no time to waste."

And now it was her father's turn to speak. "Wait, Sir Aurion, are you sure this is a good idea? The village…Iselia is…"

"We cannot afford to linger," Kratos said firmly even though his heart suddenly felt heavy. "The Desians could return any day; the longer your daughter stays here, the more dangerous it will be for her. I doubt Forcystus in particular will be so benevolent to Iselia in the future."

"I see," Frank said softly. He turned to his daughter. "Colette…"

The Chosen pulled her father close. "Don't worry; I'll be fine. I know everyone will be rooting for me. Thank you so much."

Does she know? Kratos wondered. Does she know what awaits her at the end of this journey? Do they know?

"Make us proud, Colette," Phaidra said. She looked at Kratos. "Keep her safe, Sir Aurion."

Kratos nodded. "Of course." He extended a hand to Colette.

The Chosen of Sylvarant took one last look at her family, knowing full well that this would probably the last time she would see them, and then turned away to face Kratos.

"I'm ready," she said. She took his offered hand and walked through the maze of death, only tripping once.

Frank watched his daughter fade from his vision before turning away with a heavy sigh. Someone needed to tell Raine.


Lloyd had finally given in to his last resort plans: a trip to the archives. The goal was to so utterly immerse himself in some text (that he'd probably read about six times already) that he'd forget about time and look up from said text some six hours later. Then it would be lunch, and then it would be…something else.

The young swordsman growled in frustration and slammed the door behind him as he set off toward the stacks of books and hopefully an escape.

"Well maybe first I'll read those supply logs from the Kharlan War- haven't looked at those in a while- and then next something on Summon Spirits…" Lloyd mumbled his reading list to himself as he opened his stride: the path to Derris Kharlan's extensive library was ingrained in his feet's subconscious; they would know what turns to make out of habit. "Maybe Exspheres instead?"

Supply logs and research diatribes both made for questionable reading, but that was what one was driven to out of sheer boredom. To be honest, Lloyd found some enjoyment in reading through records and lists: his imagination (which no one else seemed to have) allowed him to dream up some situation where he had received this list and in the same gesture some form of responsibility. Lives and success were in his hands; now, what would he do? Only fifteen barrels of salted pork left for an army of ten thousand? Well, solving that issue would mean having to look up the flora and fauna of the region. In short, it was all a game in which he pitted his brain (which worked most of the time) against the problems of the ancient world- the world of his father.

His hand found the worn handle of the door to the library, and the lock gave as he opened the door and walked in. Once inside, Lloyd heaved a sigh of relief: hardly anyone ever came down here. Lifeless angels had no use for the dusty annals of the past, and he'd rarely seen Yggdrasil prowling the shelves. Here he could be by himself and not have to deal with the cold world outside.

Lloyd smiled at the gilt-edged volumes waiting for him. "Hey, what's up, guys?"

Now to find that supply list…


It did not take very long for Genis to catch up with them. Kratos and Colette had barely left the village gates when the half-elf boy had sprinted up to them, heavily out of breath.

"Genis!" Colette exclaimed, naturally warming to her friend.

"Don't…leave…without me," Genis managed to wheeze, bent double though he was. "…won't let you!"

Kratos frowned. "And what do you think you're doing?"

Genis straightened up. "I'm coming with you!"

"That's wonderful!" Colette exclaimed.

The seraph could not help but notice how cheery Colette had gotten. This was unfortunate: they couldn't afford to drag Genis around. "Tell me why," he ordered.

"Because I want to," Genis said emphatically.

"That's hardly a good reason." Kratos nailed him with a look he'd often used on Lloyd when he was misbehaving.

Genis gulped. "Uh…well…"

Kratos merely raised an eyebrow in response.

Finally the boy owned up in a garbled string of words: "It's all my fault that the village got destroyed and everyone who's still alive really hates me now and Raine tried to tell them and me both that it wasn't all my fault but it really was and now I've got to make it up to them and I think—"

"Slow down," Kratos said. "Neither of us can understand a word you're saying."

Genis stared at the ground in front of him. "Basically, I got tossed out."

"What?" Colette was staring at her friend in abject shock. "Tossed you out? But you ran here!"

Kratos bit back a groan. "Tossed out as in 'banished'."

"Banished? Banished? Wait…banished?" The Chosen's eyes grew as wide as plates. "Oh no…Genis!"

"Well, I did kind of start things by visiting the ranch…" Genis said, keeping his eyes firmly on the interesting patch of grass in front of him.

"Oh no, that's terrible! I know- we'll go back right now and I'll talk to them. They can't banish you!"

"No, don't!" The half-elf burst out. When both Kratos and Colette stared at him he backed up nervously. "Well, you know, I feel like I need to do something to make it up to them before I come back, and if you stick up for me, they'll all think I'm just hiding behind you- which I won't let myself do!"

"I wonder," Kratos remarked (mostly to himself), "is it pride that drives you?"

"…what?" Genis blinked.

Kratos froze and realized that he now had two pairs of questioning eyes trained on him. "Nothing." He turned to Colette, eager to redirect attention. "I will leave the decision-making up to you."

"Wow, really?"

"You are the Chosen. I'm meant to defer to you."

"Oh. Well, um, in that case…both Kratos and I would be more than happy to let you come with us, Genis!"

"Wow, thanks, Colette! I promise I won't be a hassle!"

Kratos interrupted their celebration. "Does your sister know about this?"

Genis's cheery mood suddenly turned somber. "She understood," he said, and there was no need for any other words.

The seraph sighed and gestured toward the open road. "Very well, let us proceed."


Lloyd was currently reading his fifth battle account when suddenly his stomach growled, loudly. He tried to ignore it and press on: any distraction would cause him to regain a sense of time, which he was currently trying to distance himself from. Unfortunately, his body felt otherwise: Lloyd winced as his stomach turned to a series of gurgles to make its point.

"Aw man…" He set the volume aside, dropping it onto the stack next to him, and stretched before standing up shakily. How much time had passed? He'd read through nearly six books; his average was about one every hour (alright, they were only fifty pages or so…). It wasn't too bad of an effort.

Stomach still groaning pathetically, Lloyd dragged himself reluctantly out of the archives and back to his room. So, Chef Aurion, what's on the menu today? Oh! Protein burgers? Gee, I haven't had those for the past five days straight.

He wrenched the door open, flicked on the lights…and nearly gave himself a heart attack.

"Holy shit!"

Yggdrasil, sitting serenely at the Aurion kitchen table, regarded the nails on his right hand for a moment before looking at Lloyd. "That's an excellent way to greet people," he drawled.

Lloyd inched into the room, closing the door behind him. "Sorry, uh…sir."

Yggdrasil laughed. "The boy has manners!"

In the face of mocking, Lloyd let his formality slip. "Hey, I'm not some heathen or something! Geez…"

The blond half-elf continued to chuckle. "And a vocabulary!"

And that was about all young Aurion could take. "Alright, wonderful, I can speak properly," he said hotly. "Now what the hell are you sitting in my kitchen for?"

The look Yggdrasil sent him told Lloyd that he had used the wrong tone. "What was that?" he demanded.

"Why are you here?"

"Because we need to have a little talk," Yggdrasil said silkily. "Now sit down, son of Kratos."

Lloyd slid slowly into the opposite seat. "I have a name, you know," he said.

Yggdrasil ignored him. "You don't have to sit like someone's poured ice water down your back."

"Sorry," Lloyd muttered as he relaxed.

The half-elf leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "Now I'm sure you're wondering two things: how I got in and what's so important that I would actually deem it necessary to talk to you."

"Yeah…"

"To address your first question: that's none of your business. To address your second: I would think you smart enough to figure that out yourself, although I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't." Yggdrasil smiled lazily. It gave him the appearance of a fox licking its chops as it peered into the unlocked chicken coop.

"It's about my dad—er, Kratos."

"So sure?" Yggdrasil watched as Lloyd jumped and opened his mouth to second-guess himself. He laughed airily. "No, no, you are correct, boy. This is about your father."

"And what about him? He hasn't talked to me since you left, if that's what you wanted to know. It's only been a day or so."

Yggdrasil frowned. "Only a day, and your father's already managed to nearly burn down an entire town and almost kill a Cardinal. Tell me, boy, where does your father- my knight- get these bizarre destructive tendencies?"

Lloyd honestly didn't know. He was as equally surprised as Yggdrasil to know that Kratos, of all people, had been causing mayhem, because Kratos just wasn't that kind of guy. Wanton destruction was the realm of roadside bandits, not of a knight whose values were still stuck in four thousand-plus years Before Lloyd. "You got me on that one," he admitted.

The leader of Cruxis's eyes grew dangerous. "Don't play around. I know you had a hand in this, even if you weren't aware of it."

Lloyd could not believe the unfairness of this. "Hey, I didn't tell him to do anything like this! All I told him before he left was to get serious and not end up dead! I mean, come on!"

Yggdrasil sighed. "There are other ways of changing a man's heart, boy. Did you ever ask him, perhaps, about leaving Derris Kharlan? I know you've certainly asked Yuan, and if you've asked that idiot, you've most certainly asked your father."

"Well, all I said was that I wanted to see the two worlds for once. I wasn't telling him to rebel or anything. It would have been like…like a field trip or something."

Yggdrasil laughed again, silvery tones falling harshly on Lloyd's ears. "The innocence of youth- how we all wish we had that still." He leaned in closer until blond strands brushed against Lloyd's cheek. The boy shuddered and pulled away. "Don't be ridiculous," he hissed.

Lloyd flinched and looked away. "Look, I…"

"I don't want to hear any excuses." Yggdrasil reached over and grabbed Lloyd's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "Understand this well, son of Kratos: if you so much as twitch out of line, I swear I will never even let you dream. As for your father…"

The mention of Kratos caused Lloyd to flare up; he jerked himself out of Yggdrasil's grasp. "If you do anything to my dad, I swear I'll—!"

Yggdrasil chuckled. "You'll do what? Hurt me? Don't be so stupid. You're entirely human, boy." He stood up. "And it seems I have nothing more to say to you."

Lloyd didn't say anything, content to sit in his chair seething.

The corners of Yggdrasil's mouth turned up into a cat-like smile. "Yes, that's right. Hate me. Maybe when you're stronger- if you become stronger- we can play a game called control. Until then, leave the power in the hands of real men." Parting words delivered, the leader of Cruxis vanished.

Lloyd remained glaring at the spot where Yggdrasil had been only seconds ago. "God damn it."


Since their departure, Kratos had taken over the position of de facto leader of the World Regeneration Party: both Colette and Genis expressed a deep trust in his decision-making abilities. His first decision had been to stop for the night in Triet: everyone had had a long day of rapid emotional extremes and (at least for the 'kids') their first taste of actual battle, which had mostly consisted of Kratos mowing through monsters mechanically before their eyes, but for sheltered village kids, that was battle enough.

"The seal can wait for tomorrow," he told them at the inn. "It is best to proceed in a way that will allow us to finish the journey, rather than burn out halfway through."

They accepted his advice without complaining, both of them tottering off to their own room and leaving him in silence in his own.

Kratos tried to sit down as normally as possible on the bed, but ended up nearly falling onto it. What he needed was a shower or a bath and a change of clothes, considering that his current ensemble was sticking to him thanks to compounded layers of sweat and blood. He eased his shirt off, taking care to avoid the half-healed gash in his side, and tossed it unceremoniously somewhere to the side. Almost instantaneously there was feeling of undeniable freedom.

The seraph took stock: aside from the monstrosity on his side Forcystus had delivered hardly any damage; the fence he had crashed into had been a worse foe. Kratos ran a cautious hand down his shoulder blade and winced as fingers ran over half-opened scratches. He closed his eyes and cast First Aid, feeling the skin close up underneath. He exhaled slowly…oh gods, he wanted to sleep. He might be an angel now, but even angels had their limits, and he had been moving from battle to battle all day without any regard for himself. His head sunk lower and lower as his breathing slowed. He could fall asleep sitting up and still be perfectly happy.

"Is this some sort of bizarre night ritual for you?"

Kratos's eyes shot open as his head whipped around to face the person who had just entered through the lone window in the room.

"Pronyma." Someone had made a speedy report.

The Cardinal did not bother to acknowledge him in return. "I see I've caught Lord Aurion at an uncompromising time once again."

The seraph looked briefly down at his bare chest and then back at the Desian. "Assume what you like."

Pronyma moved further into the room. "You'll be happy to know that Lord Yggdrasil has taken a great interest in your recent actions."

Is she content to ignore everything I say? "No doubt with your prodding."

"No, he decided of his own accord," Pronyma said, tossing her hair. "Essentially, he wishes you to know that he will not continue to tolerate such foolish behavior and that you and the Chosen must continue to make sufficient progress each day toward world regeneration."

"Imagine that," Kratos said wryly. "How exactly does he intend to enforce this? Ah- no, I see." He waved a hand at Pronyma. "He's made you my overseer. No wonder you came back so quickly."

"I'm glad to see that your wits are still about you."

"As they always are." Kratos sighed. "And here I was expecting Yggdrasil to understand that an older man than he does not require a guardian."

"You've hardly proven that." Pronyma frowned.

"And that matter doesn't concern you," Kratos snapped. "Now what else is new? Or did you come here simply to gloat?"

Pronyma looked affronted, but he knew it was mostly because he had seen straight through her. "I am just making sure that you are aware of your situation, Lord Aurion. Lord Yggdrasil has promised grave consequences if you compromise this journey in any other fashion."

"Tell me something I don't know," Kratos said. "You can leave."

"I'll be watching you," Pronyma warned.

"I understand," Kratos affirmed dully.

In one fluid movement the Cardinal had covered the distance between them, and Kratos didn't even have time to object before one finely-manicured hand planted itself firmly in his chest, pushing him down onto the bed.

"No," she breathed, hair falling into Kratos's face as she tried to loom over him, "I don't think you do."

"Get out," Kratos snarled, reaching up to shove her off.

The Cardinal caught him by the wrist and held fast. "Don't move, Lord Aurion, unless you want your sword hand ruined."

It was an uncompromising situation, and Kratos cursed himself for letting his guard down far enough for Pronyma to get her way. "You are here just to gloat," he observed, knowing full well that it was not the answer his captor was looking for.

She rewarded him by tightening her fingers, causing his wrist to crack ominously. "I want the seal of fire released by tomorrow night," she said, indifferent to the slight expression of pain that crossed his face.

"As you wish."

"Say it like you mean it. I don't think you understand the magnitude of this task."

Kratos frowned. "Pronyma, I think you will find that I am one of those rare people who hold to their word. I promised Yggdrasil I would ensure the Chosen's success; you hardly need force me to carry out my own intentions."

Pronyma merely sniffed and released his wrist. "We'll see how truthful you are, Lord Aurion. You may have sworn your loyalty once over, but you have yet to prove your integrity."

Kratos eased himself into a sitting position. "And they do say that deeds speak louder than words. Wait until tomorrow and judge for yourself."

The Cardinal brushed herself off, picked up his shirt, and threw it at him. "Make yourself decent," she spat in farewell before exiting the way she had entered.

"…tch." Kratos sat there for a few more seconds before flopping back fully onto the bed, shirt forgotten as it slid to the floor. Within a few seconds he was out like a light.


Yggdrasil's expression was growing darker and darker with each word that Cardinal Rodyle spoke.

"The Renegades are utterly impeding progress," the Cardinal said in a long-suffering voice. "Inhibitor ore shipments are constantly going missing thanks to their influence; I fear that soon Tethe'alla will completely fall under their sway. They have the King's ear, I hear."

"How?" Yggdrasil growled.

"Word has it that they have some wealthy benefactor- one who could even supersede the power of the Church itself."

The blond half-elf grimaced. "Madness…how can Yuan assure me that 'things are running smoothly' in Tethe'alla?"

"Sir, this will sound completely heretical, and you must forgive me; I hope I do not presume too much—"

"If it's important, out with it!" Yggdrasil yelled. There was a terrible feeling in his gut that this was something accurate.

"—perhaps it is Lord Yuan himself who is the leader of the Renegades?"

Yggdrasil froze. "Yuan…the leader of the Renegades?"

"If you must know," Rodyle continued, "I see him often in Meltokio. I presumed he was there for higher business than I, but one never knows…"

"That bastard." Yggdrasil slammed a fist down on the chair, causing it to crack.

"It is only a hypothesis, my lord."

"No, this fits perfectly. Everything…all his idiotic requests…telling me everything is going fine…Renegades in Iselia…bastard!" Yggdrasil was shaking and clearly hyper-ventilating. "He played me for a fool!"

Rodyle, in his infinite wisdom, sensed that this was an appropriate time to exit. "That is all, my lord," he said quickly, the hologram disappearing in a flash.

Yggdrasil seethed. Bad news, bad news everywhere and not one drop of mercy to go with it. He had always suspected Yuan of foul play, and even now he could not deal with him because there was no concrete evidence. His sister's fiancé was not without intelligence- this, Yggdrasil would give him- and therefore perfectly capable of wiggling his way out of this entire affair.

No, Yggdrasil would need to catch his fellow seraph in the act, and to do that he would need to keep Yuan nearby. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer," it was said.

A shaking finger pressed a button on the desk in front of him.

"Yes, Lord Yggdrasil?" The voice of some lesser angel filtered through the speaker.

"Inform Lord Yuan that I wish him to stay indefinitely in Derris Kharlan until I have further orders for him. I am taking control of the Tethe'alla situation myself; Lord Yuan is not to leave without my permission. There will be no objections. Understood?"

"It will be done," the voice intoned before the crackle of the speaker was cut off and Yggdrasil was left, as always, alone.


A tired Kratos does not a polite Kratos make.

Also, Shirtless!Kratos was not inserted for shameless fan service. Not at all.

AND I SWEAR I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT RAINE. Great things will be coming from her later, yup.

One final note: yours truly is departing on a school trip to France next Tuesday and thus will be prevented from posting the next chapter on time. Just to give you all a heads up!