Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia

Chapter Ten: The Truth

Kratos stepped out of the shadows and walked over to her, looking alert.

''Your instincts have gotten better,'' He said.

''The only time they're off is when I'm very weak. Like when you found me,'' She said.

He walked over to her. "I think you owe me some answers."

She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them. "Yes, I believe I do." she turned towards the direction of the campsite. "Let's go back near the campsite. We shouldn't leave the others without a guard."

Kratos nodded and they walked together in silence. Crystal's mind was racing. The truth was dangerous to someone in her position. But her debt to Kratos and the others was starting to outweigh the consequences. Besides that, Crystal was growing tired of lying, and there was little she could say now that Kratos had seen her wings.

''So…you are going to tell me the truth this time?'' Kratos asked, interrupting her thoughts.

''Yes.''

The silence between them remained until the campsite came into view. Crystal walked to a large tree trunk and slid down her back into a sitting position against it. She felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her and let out a sigh. Kratos sat next to her and watched her closely.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. ''You thought I was lying about the story I told you and Raine and the others. You were right. It's all a lie."

"You do not have amnesia?"

"No. Not at all. All my memories are clear." She laughed and Kratos could hear a bitter edge in her laugh. "Sometimes they're so clear I wish I did have amnesia." She looked at him straight on now. "The truth is crazy. It's going to sound ridiculous and I don't even know if you will believe me. But I think I owe you the truth no matter what you think.'' Kratos nodded so she said it. "I'm from another world. I'm from Veluna.

''You mean world from the story Genis, Colette and you told in Raine's class?'' Kratos asked. ''It's also said that the beings there are called Guardians. Angel-like beings.''

''That's right.''

''So you are a Guardian?''

''Yes. Guardians are exactly like humans with a few biological differences. We live longer and age slower than humans. The reason we are called Guardians is because Veluna is a society that watches over all other planets in this universe. We cannot stop wars between clans or countries, but we can prevent major occurrences that would lead to a planet's destruction. Or try to at least."

"How do you manage that?"

"With advanced technology that allows us to monitor the events in the worlds and stop those who wish to bring an end to it. Do you remember the rest of the story of Midina and Rinoa?"

He nodded.

"Well…Midina is my ancestor."

Kratos eyes flickered with interest and surprise. "What?"

"Midina Sundrith was the Queen of Light and enemy of Rinoa." Crystal's eyes seemed to glow slightly, even in the darkness as she spoke. "My name is Crystal Sundrith."

Kratos' eyes widened a little. "How is that…possible?"

"It is fact. Just now you saw my wings, my powers over light, and my enemies. Rinoa's followers. Now, in order for you to understand, you must hear my story." She looked at Kratos intently. There was a trace of disbelief in his eyes. "Please," she said. She gently touched his knee, pleading. "Please keep an open mind. I know it sounds crazy. But I swear on my life, it's the truth."

Kratos looked at her and nodded. She took a breath.

''In my land there was once a great man named Aaron Sundrith. He was my father as well as king of the land. I was in training to be a princess and take over the kingdom. My white wings were apparently a sign that I was to inherit true land when I turned 21. My father and mother ensured I was kept safe. They were loving but protective. I had no friends. I had three siblings, but my eldest sister had left our planet, my younger sister was too little to play with, and my older brother was always with his friends or training to be knight. I spent most of my childhood alone, playing in the gardens of the palace alone. Then one day, while I was making flower crowns, Yuan walked into the garden."

Kratos brow furrowed. "Yuan?"

"Remember that day outside the Palmacosta ranch when I attacked the guy with blue hair? That's Yuan. I despise him."

"So, you knew him before you came here."

"Yes, he was in the kingdom. He started to talk to me and complemented my craftwork. He started to come everyday we he told me about other lands. I told him about my father never teaching me how weald a sword and he became my teacher. I was…so happy to have a friend that I never thought much of the questions he asked. Like what the palace was like and how many guards my father had. I was young and foolish. He always brought me a blue lily that he said grew near his home. For a year it went on and I saw him everyday. Then…I turned fourteen.''

She sighed and continued. ''It was on my birthday. My family threw me a small party. My mother had learned of my friendship with Yuan, and invited him. I was so happy that day, surrounded by the people I cared about most. I blew out the candles on my cake and at that moment the lights went out. A small gasp and a thud could be heard but I couldn't see through the darkness. The lights went back on. And my father lay in a pool of crimson, with a single blue Lily on his chest. He was dead. I looked around…and Yuan was gone.''

Kratos, stayed silent while Crystal went on.

''The next year we held a memorial for my father in the kingdoms chapel. Again, the lights went out and that day my mother died the same way. Another image I'll never forget: a slash to her heart with blood spilling out and another blue lily lying on her chest. My older brother helped me find out were the blue lily grows. It was on a planet of darkness called Yami, the original home of the famed Rinoa. That year my brother died in the blink of an eye." Her voice shook slightly. "I…I turned my back on him for a second and then he screamed. I looked and he had dropped to the floor, bleeding. He told me to stay safe. That day was also my birthday…the day I turned sixteen."

Crystal hugged herself. "You cannot imagine…what a nightmare it was. I felt like I was being ripped apart and yet, I was never the one to suffer or die. It was always the ones around me. A day before I turned seventeen I ran away from the kingdom with my younger sister, desperate to spare her fate. But we were caught. Yuan chased us through the woods. He caught me first and flung me aside. The impact broke my ribs. Then he caught my sister and…"

Her voice caught. She hung her head and bit her lip. "Yuen walked over to me, as calm as if we had been in the palace gardens. He used a paralyzing charm to restrain me and told me he was working under my family's greatest enemy, Rinoa. She had somehow broken free after all that time and was targeting me. He told me I had the sacred power of light that hadn't been passed down for four thousand years. He also said that Rinoa would stop at nothing to rip me apart mentally and drive me insane. She might never kill me as long as she can torture me, keep me from my powers. He left a blue lily on my chest and walked away."

"On my eighteenth birthday all my remaining blood relations were killed. On my nineteenth birthday Rinoa invaded my land, killed my people, and took over Veluna. I ended up here because a friend of my father, whom had managed to stay alive all these years, forced me into a transporter that was still in development. It can, send anything to another planet through a wave of mana. That's why it probable looked like a comet crashed when I came down here."

Crystal took a breath, determined not to cry. "The transporter freezes a person in whatever state they were in when they entered. I was injured badly from the war so it kept me frozen in time until it smashed open when you and the others found me. But I have seen the dates on newspapers here and…time has passed."

Kratos stared into the bonfire as he spoke. "So how much time has passed since you left your planet?"

"About five years. It seems like yesterday to me, and I seem to still just be nineteen. But if I hadn't been frozen, I would be twenty-four by now."

Crystal hugged herself tighter. Her body was shaking violently. The night had turned chilly, but that wasn't what caused her tremors. It was the images of the violence she witnessed, the blood spilled from each member of her family. The images had haunted her dreams every night, and now they were fresh again, with the retelling of her life.

Kratos seemed lost in thought, absorbing Crystal's story. He turned his head towards her, but his gaze was down. "I am…so sorry."

Crystal shook her head. "There is no need. Pain is pain, and there's nothing I can do about it except bite my tong and bare it. I am so…pitiful."

Kratos watched her stony expression and noticed her shaking body. He unclasped his cape and draped it around her. She looked at him in surprise at the chivalrous gesture.

''…T-thank you,'' She said somewhat awkwardly.

"You seem to do more the simply bare it," he said looking at her with garnet eyes.

Crystal stared at the ground, clutching at the cape around her. "What do you mean?"

"The way you fight. Your determination. You don't just bare it. You move forward with it."

"I just…want to do something good. I have caused so many to-" she couldn't say it.

"You have saved so many since you came to Sylverant. What about the Palmacosta ranch? Those people were grateful to be free of Magnius."

"That was a group effort."

"And aren't you part of the group?"

Crystal looked at him for a moment and realized he was actually trying to be gentle with her. Maybe even cheer her up. She looked down to hide her small smile. "Yeah I guess I am, huh?"

The two remained silent for a moment. Kratos looked up at the stars. ''You shall be very helpful in future battles. To think, you haven't even been using all of your power, have you?''

She gave him a sideways glance. ''No, I haven't. I…suppose I should tell the others the truth too, right?''

''It is your decision. I would advise you to tell them at least part of the truth, however.''

''Kratos?''

''Yes?''

''I know I haven't known you very long but…can I ask a favor?''

''What is it?''

''I would like the others to know but…will you…tell them the summarized version for me?''

''Wouldn't you like to tell them yourself?''

''I would but…I don't think I can…'' Her voice started to quiver.

Kratos looked at her. ''I understand. I will tell them.''

''Th-thank you.''

''Would you like to sleep?'' he asked.

Crystal shook her head.

''Suit yourself.''

They stayed silent for a moment. Kratos watched the sky, and Crystal watched the flicker of the campfire. There was something else she wanted to ask, but she felt a little ashamed.

''Kratos?''

''Hm?''

''Can I stay on night watch with you?''

''If you wish.''

Crystal stayed under the cape he had put around her. It was warm and soft, and somehow familiar. She felt safe for the first time in days, sitting with Kratos under the night sky. As painful as her story was to tell, she felt lighter now that someone else knew. After a while she felt her eyes grow heavy.

Kratos remained silent and thought about what Crystal told him. He knew that planet. He had been there he was sure of it. But he still couldn't remember the memory that had been tugging at his mind ever since he met the small brunette beside him.

He felt something warm against his chest that shook his thoughts. Crystal had fallen into his arms, quite literally, and was breathing slow and peaceful breaths. She had fallen asleep. Foolish girl, He thought. She should have just gone to sleep by the fire. He covered her more securely with the cape, and wrapped his arms around her. She seemed very small. He patted her silky, brown hair. You are foolish. But not pitiful.