Tales of Crimson Tears Chapter Eight: The Journey Begins

Wow chapter eight already up? Thats an accomplishment for me XD Enjoy!

Lloyd took a deep breath and slowly made his way towards the village, then paused. He could see Arnold from here. Arnold was one of the townspeople who stood guard at the entrance to the village and he took his job wayyy too seriously. Once he had even prevented Lloyd from entering the village on the suspicions that he might be a Desian spy. He had even threatened to attack Lloyd if he didn't prove he wasn't an "evil Desian spy!" Thankfully, the situation had been resolved when Raine showed up and since then Arnold had been on duty less often. Lloyd sighed. "It totally figures that today of all days Arnie would be on duty..." He muttered under his breath.

After a moment Lloyd continued on. Arnie or no Arnie he had to get into the village. Stealthily he hurried towards the village. Ignoring the branches the slapped him as they returned to their original positions, Lloyd did his best to remain unnoticed. Arnie might be a little off his rocker but it was rumored he could hear a pin drop from across a room. That was probably the reason he had gotten the watch guard job in the first place. If you're planning on getting into that village your going to need some kind of distraction. I bet if you fired the cannon a few feet off to the side it would distract the guard long enough for you to get in. Forcystus suggested.

"That'd be the perfect plan if I knew how to work this thing." Lloyd lifted the cannon into the air a bit, looking at it. Sunlight glinted off of it, reflecting onto the leaves surrounding it.

Well fine then I'll teach you how to use it. After all, I don't want any battles we get into to be as messy as the last one. Lloyd rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah." He absent mindedly plucked a few more wolf hairs off the cannon. "Not my fault I don't know how it works. I'm a swordsman, not a...cannon guy." Since he was apparently going to be taught how to work the thing, he wasn't going to be getting into the village at that moment and so sat down. "Explain away."

Well first of all I'll teach you the stances. You better go farther away from the village so you don't get caught. Oblidging, Lloyd moved to where Arnie and the other guard, John, wouldn't see or hear him. Now first of all, when working with a cannon your best defense is a strong offense. Lloyd nodded, trying not to think of this as another lecture. Of course, that was a little difficult as Forcystus' explaination wasn't exactly interesting to listen to. The straight facts and nothing else but despite that he managed to make it to the end.

"So I hold it like this..." He held the cannon horizontally to his chest.

Yeah. That way your chest is protected from a frontal attack. You can also swing it quickly to face whatever direction you need. As for attacking you need to concentrate, charge your mana into a condensed ball and then use the cannon to fire and aim it. Lloyd blinked, this completely lost on him.

"Wha?" He tilted his head. "I don't understand." Forcystus sighed and muttered out something that sounded like it would be an insult. "How do you charge up mana?"

Concentrate.

"On what?" Lloyd asked.

On yo-MY mana. Think of it like energy flowing through your body, If you can catch the thread of it then you will be able to manipulate it as you so desire. Once you have that accomplished, imagine it flowing through your arm and to the cannon. If your successful the meter on the side of the cannon will start to fill up. While it's doing that make the mana form a ball inside the cannon. As soon as the meter is full, release the mana and BOOM! you just fired. Got it?

"Uh..." Lloyd blinked. "I...think so...?"

Good. Now try it out on that dead tree over there. Lloyd turned towards said tree and pointed the cannon at the tree.

"Whoa!" As he had begun concentrating, the eye patch over Forcystus' left eye had zoomed in on the intended target. Startled, Lloyd moved a few steps back.

Calm down. That's just to help you ensure you don't miss. Slowly, Lloyd raised the cannon again, trying to get used to the fact that his left eye had a close up on the tree but his right eye was viewing it from farther back. The result of that was rather dizzying and confusing. Shaking his head, Lloyd did his best to ignore it and concentrated on the tree. He quickly reviewed what Forcystus had told him then put that knowledge to use. Lloyd did his best to find the thread of the energy Forcystus had spoken of.

A few seconds later he had found it but quickly lost it. He tried again and this time was able to hold onto it. Feeling slightly giddy he imagined the thread going through his arm and into the cannon. His efforts were rewarded as the meter slowly began to fill up. Ignoring the tree for a moment he tilted his arm so he could watch it's progress. As it neared the end the process began to speed up. Spreading his legs apart a bit, Lloyd braced himself and aimed at the tree. He was totally unprepared however for the strength of the blast and as the cannon fired the recoil knocked him off his feet. "Ah! You didn't warn me about that part!" Lloyd yelped as he got up. The dead tree had been obliderated where it had been hit.

Oh sorry. I forget to tell you about that part. There was a faint trace of smugness in Forcystus' voice. Oh well, at least now you know. Lloyd narrowed his eyes in annoyance but said nothing.

"Let's head to the village already..." He muttered a bit darkly. Casting a final glance at the tree Lloyd jogged back the way he came. Arnie was still there, looking around alertly for any sign of Desians. Willing the plan to work as neatly as Forcystus had laid it out, Lloyd aimed the cannon, concentrated and fired, hitting the fence a few feet from where Arnie is. Arnie leapt into the air with a frightened yowl and then warily looked around. Spotting the damaged fence, he and John jogged over to investigate it. Seeing the chance Lloyd darted towards the village entrance and ran for the trees to the side of Ella's house. He made it just as Arnie and John retook their positions at the entrance, discussing what they thought had just happened. Clinging to the side of the village, Lloyd looked around. The afternoon was early and warm, meaning that not many villagers had gotten outside. That meant the streets were fairly deserted so as long as he was careful he shouldn't get caught.

Not bad kid. Forcystus commented, in a way that almost sounded like a compliment. Then he ruined it by adding, For a inferior being of course. Lloyd rolled his eyes, a bit irked but too busy looking for his body thief to say anything. School should have started so he quickly and silently made his way towards the school building. He could hear Raine saying something about Desians and the Journey of Regeneration. Making his way to the hallway window he peered in. His eyes narrowed as he spotted his body thief sitting his seat, looking bored but paying attention. He could also see Colette and he bit his-Forcystus'-lip in worry for her. He didn't know if his body thief was planning to hurt them but he trusted his about as far as he could throw an entire mountain.

"Never mind. Let's have someone else answer the question. Genis, how about you?" Raine was teaching and standing at the front of the class as usual. Genis stood up and nodded,

"Yes, Raine." Raine stood by her desk as she waited for Genis to begin.

"Mithos, the hero, brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Ground of Kharlan." Raine nodded in approval at Genis' answer.

"Correct. Afterwards, Mithos, the hero, formed a pact with the Goddess Martel to seal away the Desians whom caused the war. When the Seal weakens the Desians reappear. Just like they have now. Today is the Day of Prophecy. It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Mana will receive an oracle from the Goddess Martel. Now, Chosen One…Colette." At hearing her name spoken, Colette quickly stood up and looked over at Raine.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Tell us about the journey of world regeneration."

"It is a journey to seal the Desians. Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the Summon Spirits that protect the world awaken, and mana is restored." Colette recited from memory. Raine nodded again.

"Correct. I suppose we should expect the Chosen herself to know the answer to that one. Mana depletion is the cause of the current food shortages and droughts. It is said that this occurs because the Desians consume vast amounts of mana in their human ranches." Colette turned to look at the fake Lloyd briefly and then turned around again.

"The Chosen's journey has two purposes—to revive mana as well as defeat the Desians. Now, for the next question—" Suddenly, a bright light illuminated the room, drawing everyone's attention to it.

"Wh…what was that?!" The class uneasily shifted in their seats, bursting out into murmurs and whispers.

"That's…" Colette looked at where the light as originating from.

"Settle down. It would seem that the time for the oracle has come. I will go and check on the chapel. Everyone, stay here and study on your own. Understood?" Raine headed towards the door and Lloyd ducked just in time to avoid being seen, his heart pounding.

"Professor! I'll go with you!" Colette ran over to Raine.

"No, Colette. If it is the oracle, the priests will come here for you. Wait here with everyone else." Raine headed out the door, towards the temple.

"Yes, ma'am..." A bit dejectedly Colette headed back towards her seat. Peering in again Lloyd watched his body thief warily, ready to spring into action should he try to hurt anyone. However, as he heard someone approaching he quickly ducked again. As he heard the person speak his eyes widened in shock.

"C-Chosen One!" The pastor rasped out weakly. Colette and Genis ran over to him in worry.

"A-are you okay!?" Colette knelt beside him. Weakly, the Pastor looked up at Colette, dying from the wounds inflicted upon him.

"The Desians attacked the temple…" At this Forcystus' eyes widened.

What!? That isn't true, I mobilized no such action!

"Wait, Iselia has a non-aggression treaty with the Desians." Genis spoke up. Colette nodded, looking down at the Pastor sadly.

"Yes…Grandmother said it was to protect me…"

"I don't…know why, but they have broken the treaty… Chosen One…hurry…receive the oracle…" The Pastor's voice was getting weaker and he closed his eyes. "I will." Colette nodded sadly but determinedly. The dying Pastor looked up at Colette one last time.

"Please…be careful… I regret that I was…unable to…pro…tect…the…Cho…" His eyes slide shut and he slumped. Colette's eyes widened in horror.

"Pastor, hang on!" She shouted desperately but he was already gone. Gently, Genis helped her to stand up.

"It's too late Colette, he's gone." He said softly, trying to comfort her. Meanwhile, the Fake Lloyd was looking out the window in a disinterested manner. What happened to the people of this pitiful village did not concern him nor did he care in the slightest. He would actually have preferred for them not to live at all, so to make his search easier. Colette was quiet for a moment.

"...I'm going to go to the temple. I have to recieve the oracle." She stood up.

"But Colette, Raine said to-" Colette looked over at Genis steadily and he shut up.

"...I'll go with you." Genis turned around to face Lloyd. "What about you Lloyd? What are you going to do?" Startled, the Fake Lloyd looked up, considered his options and then nodded.

"I will also go with you guys." He got up and walked over to where Genis and Colette were standing. "Lets go. We can't let the Desians get away with this." He said in a calm voice and Genis again was stabbed by a suspicion something was wrong with Lloyd. He hadn't reacted at all to the Pastor's death and he hadn't gotten all excited when the light first showed. Colette nodded, currently too preoccupied to notice Lloyd's strange behavior.

"Lets go then." Quickly, the three of them exited the building and headed towards the temple. Lloyd waited for a few seconds and then stood up, peering around the side of the building.

If I find out some idiot went and attacked the village without my permission I'll murder them! Forcystus raged. Hurry up and get to the bottom of all this! He shouted at Lloyd, fuming. Lloyd nodded distractedly, filled with sorrow at the Pastor's death and concern for Colette. After making sure he wouldn't be seen, Lloyd ran towards the temple, hoping he could get there before anything happened. As he neared the temple he could hear sounds of battle...

Haha I hope you enjoyed it ^_^ I wasn't exactly sure about the details of Forcystus' cannon so sorry if I messed up on any of it...Please comment and review~