Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia


"Hello, Kratos. I see your skills have improved," Mark said.

Seeing his old comrade alive again, Kratos felt shaken by surprise. Since the death of his mother, he had closed in on himself, keeping his emotions and feelings hidden beneath a neutral countenance. No matter what happened, his face would not betray his emotions. Now, after eight years, the set expression that his face had grown used to broke. His mouth gaped open as he stared at the man standing in front of him. "Mark…" Kratos whispered.

"Yes, Kratos. It is me," the half-elf gave a chuckle. "I would like to know certain things. Who are these two that you travel with? Why is it that I can sense an aura of magic around you and yet you don't emit any of the energy that comes from aonis? Where is your mother? What are you doing out here? It seems that much has happened since… we parted ways."

"It is a long tale."

"Heh," Mark chuckled again. Kratos had always kept to himself, and now it seemed that he had grown even more isolated. He would not let him hide too much. "It is not good to dwell too much on the past, Kratos. To learn from it and to share it is beneficial, but to brood on it can lead to trouble. Besides, a long night like this is perfect for telling a long tale."

"I see your point. However, the same can be said about another matter, Mark. There is a lot that you have to tell as well. You emit the mana of a half-elf, and yet you look like a human. Your mana is also about half a decade younger than mine we seem to be the same age. You don't seem to have grown any older in all this time. And lastly, how are you alive? I believe that, too, is a long tale."

"Indeed. However, I wish to hear your story before I tell you mine."


Kratos picked his way down the hill toward Izoold. He could've descended without any trouble, but Mithos and Martel were unused to such travel and he did his best to find the easiest path for them to walk on. The rocks shifted and slipped away often, and though Martel seemed to have a very strong talent for healing, Kratos did not want her wasting too much mana on bruises and cuts caused by carelessness; she'd need her energy to heal them from the frequent monster attacks.

It seemed that the number of belligerent creatures roaming the land had began to multiply. Where Kratos had fought only a handful of monsters during a day's journey, now he had to face dozens of them. To add more onto the trouble, Mithos was too tired from his single-blow sparring match the day before and was unable to assist his master in any of the battles. Kratos himself was tired as well, having spent the entire night recounting his past few years to Mark, the only person who seemed not to be having any trouble.

Turning his attention back towards the task at hand, Kratos noticed that they would probably be entering the port town of Izoold before sunset. There, he planned on getting a ride on a ship to Palmacosta. Interestingly, Mark had tagged along saying that he was heading the same way. Kratos hadn't objected; it was nice to be with an old friend again, and besides, having an unexhausted double-bladed sword-wielder helped out greatly. The two Yggdrasill kids hadn't shown any hesitance at accepting him once Mark had been introduced to them. Mithos rather admired him for his strength and startlingly strong lightning magic. Martel, though normally talkative, seemed a little shy around him.

"Master Kratos," Mithos' weary voice broke into Kratos' reminiscences as the young apprenticed tried his best to run down towards his teacher. "Mr. Mark was wondering if it was time for him to switch positions with you."

"…" Kratos gave his silent assent as he slowly followed Mithos back. Mark took the lead and began to direct the group down the mountain as Kratos fell back and watched the rear of the traveling party. As the trek continued, the human once again fell lost into his thoughts of the past, trudging along, effortlessly slaughtering any monster that dared to come too close.


With a sigh, Kratos sat down on a crate and placed his sheathed Crystal Sword across his lap. He had been secretly fearing that he would get seasick, but he came to find the swaying of the boat he was on to be rather comforting. He leaned back against the side of the ship and looked straight up into the cloudless sky. He turned and stared to the east, with the sun's dying rays framing him from behind. Water rolled on for as he could see, a giant carpet of turquoise being shaken and flicked up and down by the tireless wind. A few seagulls roamed the sky, but they began to fall back as the ship sailed farther away from the coast. He sat there, not only enjoying the view but also keeping himself alert for any sight of people approaching.

Soon, as the last rays of light faded away, Mark walked up behind the swordsman. Sensing the half-elven mana with a very strong inclination towards electric, Kratos asked without turning around, "How is Martel?"

"She seems to have gotten a little bit better. Mithos is with her right now." Mark answered, coming beside his friend and staring out into the darkness with him. Unlike Kratos, Martel had been very excited about traveling by ship. She'd jumped up and down on the docks as if she was half her age until she accidentally knocked her brother off the pier. Seeing his anger when he came out soaking wet with his straw-colored hair plastered to his face had calmed her euphoria down somewhat; however, she was left laughing as he attempted an "Indignation" spell and fell over back into the sea again by slipping on the wet wood.

Her good mood didn't last; it changed just as the ship set out. She began feeling dizzy and nauseous, and soon, she was lying on a cot below-decks with a bucket beside her. Since she was sick, another healer had to be chosen to watch over her and help lessen her illness. Kratos, having only practiced his destructive magic and not healing, was unable to aid her very much. Mithos was in a similar position. Mark, however, seemed to excel at recovery mana. He wasn't near as good as Martel, but he wasn't as bad as Mithos or Kratos either. So he had been chosen to minister to her. Martel, however, tried very hard to fight against the idea. She seemed very troubled at the thought of having him keep watch over her. Because of this, Mark decided to leave her in her brother's care once he had performed a few of the stronger mending spells. This way, Mithos would also get some practice in using mana in a constructive fashion.

"I see Martel managed to get you to leave quite soon," Kratos commented, slightly shifting his eyes to observe the half-elf's reaction.

"It seems so," Mark replied, keeping his face empty.

"It would be better for her if she didn't resist your recovery mana. She normally isn't this timid around people."

"It is her choice."

"Either way," Kratos spoke, remembering an earlier conversation, "it is time you told me your story."

"I suppose it is," Mark murmured, pondering where to start his tale. However, before he could begin, a swishing sound cut through the silent night air, disrupting the rhythmic splashing of the waves. Sensing danger, Kratos and Mark both leapt in opposite directions as a spinning starfish crashed onto the deck between them. Before they could react, a green roper, a creature made of sponge with multiple vines sticking out of it, came up the side of the ship. Turning around, Kratos noticed an octoslime approaching from the opposite side of the ship.

"What is THAT?" Mark exclaimed, looking out at the sea. Following his gaze, Kratos found himself staring at a giant moving shape that proved to be indiscernible in the dark. All he could tell was that it would not be a good idea to pass the boat close to whatever it was.

Drawing his weapon, Kratos decided to head to the helm of the ship. His first priority was to inform the captain of the danger out at sea and get him to steer the ship clear of the large being. Mark took his double-blade and rushed for the door leading down to the hold of the ship. His task was to alert Mithos of the danger and to help protect the passengers aboard the ship.

Kratos spun on his toes and rushed across the wooden deck. A starfish appeared in front of him, flinging itself at him. He ducked under it as he passed through while he held his sword up, slicing it neatly in half. He brought his sword to point directly in front of him and charged it with lightning magic as he stabbed it deep into a green roper unleashing a "Lightning Blade" technique. Continuing his dash down the length of the ship, Kratos came to face an octoslime. The monster towered over him, being twice his size. As Kratos slashed at it, it used its hardened head to block the blow. Hopping back and out of the range of its tentacles, Kratos cast a "Thunder Blade" spell, spearing the monster with a strong charge of electricity. He continued his sprint as the shocked monster dissipated into wisps of mana.

As Kratos climbed up the ladder and came face to face with the captain, he found that the man had already noticed the danger in the sea and had adjusted the rudder in an attempt to avoid it. However, the large creature seemed to still be approaching. It was faster than they were.

"Kratos, what's going on?" Mark called out as he reemerged onto the deck of the ship. "Mithos and I have taken care of all the monsters down below. The boy's exhausted."

"No I'm not," Mithos' rasping voice barely reached Kratos. "I can still help with the monsters up here. I mean it, Master."

"We have to hurry, Mark, Mithos," Kratos ordered as he leapt down from the raised portion of the ship's fore. "There's no way we can avoid meeting with that large monster, so all we can do is make sure that there won't be any monsters on deck to distract us when it arrives."

Nodding, all three of them turned in slightly different directions and began chanting spells to clear the deck. However, a sudden splash alerted them as a giant tentacle rose out the sea right beside the ship. With a crash, it landed on the deck and wrapped itself around the ship, shaking it. It seemed that the creature hadn't been too far away.

"That's a kraken!" Mark uttered in awe, staring up at it. "The legendary sea monster!"

Kratos rushed forward, hacking at its tentacle with his Crystal Sword. Meanwhile, Mithos launched a "Spark Wave" spell at the monster itself. "Mark!" Kratos yelled, bringing the half-elf out of his reverie. However, before anyone could do anything, the kraken sent another tentacle out of the water, this time aimed at one of its assailants. With a scream, Mithos was pulled violently off the deck and dragged into the sea.


Wow... I'm finally done with this chapter...

Sorry for the (very) long wait. I got really busy with college since the summer semester was coming to a close and had multiple projects, essays, and exams due. Now that I'm relatively free for a couple of weeks, I'll try my best to write a little more often.

Hope you enjoy this chapter. I'm sorry if it's not very good. I just got done with my last final so I'm feeling rather tired. I don't really know how good this chapter is since I just wrote it all in one go in an attempt to get the idea down. Make sure you review it and let me know how I did.

Also, once again, chapter names are most welcome, as is a better summary for my story. Give me whatever ideas you have, even if you don't think they're very good (I just might like them).