Baelfael: I'm sorry these chapters are taking so long. The thing is, one of my best friends, whom I love very much, has been having a lot of problems at home. And I shouldn't have to tell you all that she takes a higher priority than my stories. Her problems aren't over, but she has frequent reprieves, and now happen to be one of them.

With that said, this doesn't mean it's not going to happen in the future. Updates are going to be random and sometimes short. I have every intention of finishing this fiction, but my friends take priority. I apoligize once again.

Chapter 10 : The Seal of Water

"It's a... washtub?"

"Yep, it's a washtub..."

"Washtubs, hmm..."

"Wow! This looks like it'll be fun!"

"...Is this even safe to use?"

The Chosen's Group had said their goodbyes to everyone in Palmacosta and had continued on their original journey. Everyone had been wondering what to when Leon suddenly remembered that they were looking for the Spiritua Statue.

The events transpired as followed...

"Really, I can't thank all of you enough." Dorr said, raised in his bed and hugging Kilia to himself.

"Then don't thank us," Leon rudely said, "and instead promise to really help the people of this city from now on."

"Yes. I promise I'll do my utmost to help everyone of this city." Dorr seriously told them. "And also, Neil told me everything that happened. If you find out where Chocolat is being held, call for me. The entire Palmacosta regiment will be behind you."

"Thank you." Lloyd nodded politely at Dorr. "C'mon everyone; there's someone else we need to see."

Everyone exited the Marble's, after explaining everything to Cacao. Lloyd and Genis had grim faces as they walked out. Leon looked back at them. He finally understood why their hometown was such a touchy subject to them. Lloyd and Genis were found at the Human Ranch and eventually traced back to the village. And because of their interference, a pact between the Desians and the town was broken, and the Desians immediately attacked.

Although the true reason for it was because they were after Lloyd's special Exsphere. Lloyd and Genis both admited that they knew nothing more than that, or why Lloyd's exsphere was special, for that matter. The only thing they knew was that the horrible monster they that they had slain was actually Marble, a living human being somehow corrupted by the Desians.

"You two," Leon's sarcastic voice broke them out of their trance, "if you keep sulking like that, your face will stay that way."

"Leon..."

"Okay, so you made a mistake. Understandable. People make mistakes and they pick themselves up afterwards. It's always been that way and it always will."

"But--"

"Uh uh, you aren't going to win this time, Genis." Leon sighed and looked forward. "All right, if you really feel that bad about it, then just help Colette regenerate the world. It won't make up for it completely, but it's the closest thing, right?"

"...You really have a way of lightening people up." Lloyd dryly commented. There was a hint of a grin tugging on his lips.

"I'll say. If I had my way, we'd be taking a vacation right now." Leon reckoned, looking up at the sky. Now that I mention it, a vacation does sound nice, and everyone needs one right about now. Leon looked back and forth between his comrades. Lloyd and Genis need some distraction, Raine needs to loosen up a bit, Colette is so nervous that she's barely eating, and Kratos is... Kratos.

Leon shook his head. Though I really shouldn't be thinking about a getaway right now. We're on a very important mission. Still, these guys need a break. I wonder where we could go to relax? Theres always the House of... Salvation...

"AH!" Leon had suddenly shouted.

"What!? What's wrong, Leon?" Colette was startled by his sudden shout.

"Did you hurt yourself?" Raine asked, although not as suprised as everyone else.

"Is there an enemy?" Lloyd questioned, inching for his swords.

"I just remembered! Koton has the Book of Regeneration and the only way to look at it is to bring him a Spiritua statue!"

"...Well, yeah." Lloyd simply replied.

"Isn't that obvious?" Genis retorted.

"What? So I was the only one who forgot?"

"Yes."

Leon wasn't quite sure how they all answered at the same time.

"You say you…want the Spiritua Statue?" The priests' voice contained puzzlement.

"I know it's a brazen request. But it's for the world regeneration." Lloyd explained.

"Please, Father."

Colette sure has a lot of Father's to deal with, Leon thought wryily.

The Chosen's group had once again set out for the House of Salvation between Palmacosta and Hakonesia Peak. They had entered and the aide had fetched the Grand Priest from upstairs.

"If the Chosen asks, we will of course not hesitate to lend our aid." The Grand Priest turned towards his aide. "...Bring the statue here."

However, the aide did not move. Everyone looked at him and stared. Very soon, the nervousness was too powerful and he bowed down. "M…my most humble apologies!" When the group only raised their eyebrows at him, he continued. "This Spiritua Statue is actually a fake I had placed here."

The Grand Priest was the most shocked out of all of them. "What? What are you talking about?"

"I lost the real Spiritua Statue during the pilgrimage a year ago." The aide looked down ashamedly.

"The pilgrimage is the Church of Martel's spiritual training journey, right?" Lloyd cut in. "Why would you take the statue along with you?"

"Please, Red." Leon interupted him. "Like they would leave something that valuable unattended."

"That's right." The Grand Priest nodded towards the thief. "The halo on the head of the Spiritua Statue is made of diamond. We always take it with us when we go out on pilgrimages in order to protect it from thieves."

Everyone took a brief moment to look back at Leon. Leon shrugged like it had nothing to do with him.

The Aide continued on. "On the trip last year, I followed that custom as usual and brought the

Spiritua Statue with me to Thoda Island." He started to push his index fingers together like a child would do. "But there, I accidentally dropped it into the geyser..."

Lloyd, who had a short temper, nearly exploded on the man. "...Why did you have to take it to a place like that?!"

He actually placed his open palms in front of his face in defense. "I am terribly sorry. I was so moved upon seeing the geyser for the first time..." When no one decided to pity him, he continued on. "By the time I realized it, the statue had fallen onto the rocks on the other side of the geyser. Desperate, I paid a visit to a dwarf who lives in Iselia and had him make something just like it."

"Oh, that'd be Dirk." Genis pointed out. Leon remembered hearing about Dirk from the two earlier.

Raine walked over to the fake statue and looked at it closely. She nodded and turned towards everyone else. "It's very good work. Just what I'd expect from Dirk."

Lloyd facepalmmed. "...Dad. Just what kind of jobs are you doing?"

"Well then, what shall we do now?" Kratos interjected. He looked at Leon and asked him. "Do you think the fake will fool that old man?"

Leon walked over to the statue as well and also peered over it quickly. He shook his head. "It's well-made, but there's no way he'll mistake it for the real mc-coy." He turned around and grinned smugly. "I should know; I've tried."

Everyone glared at Leon once again. Colette then had an idea.

"Um…um…How about if we go get the real one?"

It sounded logical, but for some reason Raine objected. "...Y...you want to go all the way to Thoda Island?" She turned towards the priest for confirmation. "And on top of that, the rocky area is on the other side of the geyser, correct?"

"Y...yes." Said priest was still feeling guilty.

Everyone paused for a moment to let the info sink in. "The problem is the geyser." Lloyd pointed out. "Even I'll pass on getting hit with boiling water."

"Oh, my, Lloyd." Raine sounded ecstatic, looking at her pupil. "You remembered that a geyser erupts with boiling water. I'm so proud!"

"Lloyd, you're amazing!" Colette cheered.

"Of course." Lloyd was predictably wiping his nose with his finger. "Everyone knows that."

Genis grinned as he looked back at Lloyd. "I bet you just guessed..."

Lloyd actually colored, telling everyone that Genis hit the nail on the head. "Sh... shut up..."

Nobody noticed the smirk that appeared on Kratos' face. But Leon actually heard the mercenary snort.

Colette looked down in thought. "If only we could stop the geyser..."

However, Kratos dismissed the idea. "I've heard that the eruption cycle of the Thoda Island geyser is quite short."

"Mother Nature doesn't stop, even for the Chosen." Leon pointed out.

"Even so," Raine pondered, still looking a bit green, "I wonder if we can seal it with something."

Then the unthinkable happened: Lloyd thought up a brilliant idea. "That's it! We'll just have Genis seal it with magic."

Genis was skeptical, but interested. "Magic? How?"

Lloyd shrugged. "Like cover it with ice or something."

Genis grinned. "Okay! I'll give it a try. You'd better be grateful!"

Lloyd grinned as well and pumped his fist into the air. "Dwarven Vow #1: Let's all work together for a peaceful world. We're counting on you, Mr. Genius Magician."

And so they set their sights east and traveled past the remains of the Human Ranch. They had reached the dock and payed for their trip (Leon insisted on revealing Colette to avoid paying, but she refused to do so). Which leads us to the present events...

"I…I'm going to wait here. Go on ahead without me." Raine's hesitant voice broke the silence.

Everyone looked back towards her. No one but Leon and Kratos had skeptical looks on their face.

"What's wrong, Professor Sage?" Lloyd asked her.

Raine turned slightly away. "N…nothing. I'm not getting in that thing."

Leon raised an eyebrow and turned to look at their ride. It wasn't in the best shape, but he suspected that there was more to it. "Well, I admit that it's not my first choice, but we payed for them."

Colette nodded. "It looks fun! Come on, let's get in!"

"Yeah, Raine!"

"...AHH!"

They froze in response to the shriek, by reflex. They all looked upon her with shocked faces. "...Ahh?" Lloyd wondered. He turned his body to face hers. "Professor Sage…are you…afraid of water or something?"

Raine felt horribly embarrassed. Not only because of the attention she was getting but because her block-head of a student had hit the nail on the head in one try. No! I'll just have to try and cover it up! "I…I was just starting to say, "Ahh, this should be fun!""

As if to prove it, she steeled herself and seemingly got onto one of the rafts very calmly. She was shaking from head to boots from it. Silently wishing that someone would help her.

One person noticed this plight and decided to do something about it. Said samaritan walked over to Genis. "Hey, Genis. I think you'd be better off going with Red."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because your sister is looking a bit under the weather. And I don't think I can trust you to row well."

"..." Genis paused a while before speaking. "...Alright. I'll go get Kratos and--"

"I don't think that'll work. He'll just insist on going with Colette, since he has to 'protect the Chosen' and all."

"Oh, right. But that only leaves..." Genis made a face.

"Hey, relax! I promise I'll look out for her, alright?"

"...Fine. But the minute I think that you're up to something..."

"Alright, I get the idea. Jeez, I was right. You are overprotective."

"HEY!"

The little mage never got to say any more as Leon quickly walked over to the tub and softly got in next to Raine. "Okay, Prof! You just sit back and enjoy yourself! Leave the driving to me!"

ULP. "I... believe I'll take you up... on your offer..."

Leon started to row towards the island in the distance. It was a fair ways away, so the trip was likely going to take a while. Leon rowed the boat slowly and steadily, making the ride as comfortable as possible.

"I'm curious, Prof. Why do you want to keep the fact that you can't swim a secret?"

He heard a gasp behind him, but deteriorated into a gulp. "I... I can swim!"

"Okay, but it's obvious you have a fear of water." Leon concentrated on rowing the boat forward, keeping up with the others.

"Ooohh... You've figured it out..."

"It's nothing to be ashamed about. I have a weakness too, you know."

"You mean... that you can't read?"

Leon was slightly shocked, but was half expecting it. "You knew?"

"You couldn't read th-" Raine paused for a moment to inhale sharply. "...The numbered lock on the door. That was my first clue."

"Ah, I see."

"Why can't you read?"

"My father is the one who taught me everything I know. Either he couldn't read either, or he felt that I didn't need to know."

"ULP... I... see..." Raine outright collapsed right there.

"Hey, relax Prof. I'll get us there in no time."

And, as he promised, they had eventually reached the island without a hitch. Leon slowly helped Raine out of the tub and onto the dock. She breathed deeply, in and out on all fours. "We've... finally... arrived..."

Colette pulled out a grin. She faced her favourite companion. "That was fun, wasn't it Lloyd?"

"Not for us." Genis sighed, looking at his boat buddy. "Sea water came in and I thought it was going to sink!"

Lloyd looked back with a slight sneer. "Well, sorry if I've never riden a washtub before."

Kratos grunted, agreeing. "...That was a rare experience."

"No kidding." Leon said. "How many people can claim they crossed the ocean in a washtub?"

Everyone walked up the rocky path and spotted a large burst of water into the air. All of the younger members rushed towards the fence surrounding the geyser. Raine walked next to them and read over the sign. It took a couple of minutes before another geyser rushed upwards.

"Wow!" Lloyd and Colette were both amazed by the natural wonder.

"Lloyd," Genis started, going into a lecture, "a geyser is a type of hot spring that periodically erupts with boiling water and water vapor."

"Y... yeah. I knew that."

Leon looked on as Genis explained geysers to Lloyd unsuccessfully.

"Hmm..." Colette made a sound staring at a sign far away from the geyser.

Kratos turned to her. "What is it, Chosen?"

Colette, although responding to Kratos, still stared at the sign in thought. "That sign... over on that lookout platform..."

"What about it?" Leon walked next to the two.

"It looks kind of familiar..." Colette shrugged. "Maybe it's just my imagination."

"Come on now, everyone." Raine called out from on top of the lookout platform. "Let's fetch the statue and head back. I can see it from up here."

Everyone walked up the stairs to the top and looked across the geyser. On a jagged rock was the Spiritua Statue, all the way on the other side of the giant hole. Another large burst of vapor reminded everybody of the danger.

"Alright, Genis." Lloyd stretched his legs. "I'll go and grab the statue. You stop the geyser."

Genis nodded. "All I have to do is to stop it with my magic, right?"

"Yeah. While it's stopped, I'll go down there along the rocky parts and get the statue."

"The ice I can make will.." Genis thought for a moment. He looked back up to Lloyd. "Well, it's just an estimate, but I don't think it'll last more than about 30 seconds."

"Gotcha." Lloyd stepped up to the ledge as Genis prepared to cast his 'Icicle' spell.

"Lloyd, be careful. Don't do anything dangerous." Colette warned him, with her hands in a prayer like always.

"Even my healing arts have their limits," Raine said.

"You have a bad habit of getting cocky. Be careful." Kratos also warned.

"Red. Don't get yourself killed." Leon was less than supportive.

"Okay. You ready, Lloyd?" At the nod of his best friend, Genis came forward and readied his Kendama. "Icicle!" He waved it towards the geyser and instantly a very jagged form of ice covered it.

"Alright! Here I go!" Lloyd shouted, and promptly jumped off of the cliff and onto the icescape. He nimbly kicked off of a pointed figure and secured footing on another flatter one. He kept this up and eventually reached the rock the Statue was perched on.

Leon bent over and poked Genis in the sides. "Hey, Genis? You said that the ice would hold for about 30 seconds, right?"

"Yeah. And?"

"Well, he got over there just fine in under that time." Leon pointed out. "But how is he going to get back?"

"..."

CRACK!

"Ah, hell."

"Lloyd!"

A blur of yellow and white ran in front of Leon and jumped off the cliff. Colette brought her wings out and flew over to Lloyd swiftly. Lloyd lifted his hands into the air and Colette grabbed them lifting Lloyd into the air. She struggled to carry him over, but did so quickly. Several cracks had appeared in the ice already and was threatening to burst.

Luckily, they both made it over the ice without trouble. Colette set Lloyd down onto the cliff and dropped down next to him. The geyser spouted open, breaking apart the ice and leaving it strewn everywhere.

"Oh, man... That was close." Lloyd turned to his right, facing Colette from the ground. "Thanks, Colette."

"No problem, Lloyd!" she replied cheerfully.

Leon, although secretly thankful that both of them were alright, was perplexed. Huh. You'd think she'd be at least out of breath from carrying Red across.

"That was dangerous, you two." Raine scolded them. "Especially you, Colette! Putting yourself at risk, even for Lloyd, is out of the question! Kratos or Leon could've easily rescued him!"

"So, what, we're expendable?" Leon muttered with a distasteful look.

"The Chosen always comes first. We will sacrifice our lives for the Regeneration, if need be." Kratos stated.

"Huh. You keep saying you're a mercenary and such, but you certainly don't act like one." Leon observed, hoping to observe a change in Krato's face. There was none. And what's this 'we' stuff? Sure, I'll save Colette if she's in trouble, but self-sacrifice is still sacrifice.

... ... you ... yet?

...The hell? Leon looked around the moment he heard the disfigured voice. It echoed loudly in his mind, as if he could hear it, but was so distorted he could barely think the words themselves. What is this? This is so similar... Like that night I fought that giant monster. Just imagining the creature sent a shiver throughout his whole body. ...Does that mean there's another one nearby?

... hear ...? Leon... .. .. r o ... E...

Now the only things appearing were static and letters. Leon couldn't place reality in front of him anymore. His mind was attracted to this entity that sought his attention. But how am I supposed to understand?

..H... U ... ..M ...A ..N .

H-U-M-A-N. Human? What is it trying to say?

...E ...X ..O...

E-X-O. Exo? Exo what?

... S ..O ..U... L...

S-O-U-L. Soul? What is he trying to say?!

..L . ..E... ..O ... N.

Leon? What about me? Leon?

Leon?

"Leon?"

His eye snapped open and winced at the bright light. Oh, right. I'm in front of the geyser with everyone. ...How long was I thinking like that. Looking around, he found that everybody was looking at him, some of them concerned.

"Are you okay, Leon? I didn't figure you the type to space out." Lloyd questioned him, head tilted a little in confusion.

"Yeah, that's your job." Leon heard Genis from behind the swordsman, but apparently Llyod didn't hear him.

"Oh, ah, it's nothing. Just sleeping."

Everyone was staring at him again. It's become so often that it's really a habit at this point. "Sleeping? While standing up?" Lloyd didn't seem to believe it.

"Why are you so suprised? You do it all the time in school!" Genis countered.

"I never thought I'd find another useless student..." Raine muttered, cradling her head with her free hand.

"Hey, that's nothing. I can also sleep with my eye open. It's pretty mandatory for a thief." Leon shrugged. He walked over to Lloyd. "But enough of that. How ya doing, Red? Still alive?"

"As you can see. No thanks to you,"

"Aw, Red, you kidder!" Leon gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. However, Lloyd managed to get his feet tangled with each other and he fell backward, towards the sign right next to the cliff.

CRASH!

"Lloyd!"

"Lloyd?"

"Red? You okay?"

"I'm fine, again no thanks to you!" He shouted at the blonde, lost all his tension and laid back. Then he noticed something blocking the sun, a small alter in the shape of a tower. "Wait a minute..."

"Is that..."

"An oracle stone."

"Yep, it is. Nice find, Red."

The stone activation altar, same as the one at the Triet Ruins, was standing before them, previously hidden by the signs. (Although, if one walked around to the other side of the signs, they would've just as easily discovered it.)

Colette's eyes widened and she smiled. "That must be why it looked so familiar!"

Raine's eyes also lit up, but most would see a mischievious gleam in them. "So this is the Seal of Water!"

Lloyd wasn't taking the information well. "Aww... this stinks. I didn't even need to get the statue!"

Colette smiled, eyes closed in high arcs. "Cheer up, Lloyd. Just think of it as giving you the opportunity to have fun riding in the washtubs."

Lloyd sighed, but grinned to her soon after. "...Yeah, I guess."

"Lloyd! Let's hurry on inside! Come on, Colette!" Genis practically dragged her over to the oracle stone, being impatiant.

"Okay then, I'll try putting my hand on the stone. Here we go!" Colette announced and promptly placed her hand on the stone.

If he had watched, he would've witnessed a wall crumbling away, revealing a hidden passage on the other side of the cliffside, and a bridge of light forming from the cliff they were standing next to.

But he didn't, because his attention was elsewhere.

"Kratos."

"I know. It's her."

They were talking of course about the female assassin, Sheena. She was reading the notes about the waterfall, not really doing much to hide her presence. Then again, hiding in a crowd is the best way to hide... "What should we do? No, actually, I have an idea. Follow those guys in, I'll take caboose."

"...Will you be alright on your own, if it comes to that?"

"I'll be fine. If I can give her that injury," he said, referring to the bandage around her shoulder, "then I should have no problems. Besides, I don't think she's noticed us yet."

"Yet she's sure to see the bridge. Let's hurry."

Everyone else was already crossing the bridge at this point, and that's when Sheena noticed them. She narrowed her eyes and searched for a way to them. Seeing the cliff, and the last two men walking up the bridge, she dashed towards it.

Leon momentarily paused, ready to bring out Balisong, when...

"Bark, Bark!"

Both parties were suprised by the loud yelps. Noishe, in all his green and gray fur, stood between Sheena and her little friend, Leon and Kratos.

"...I'll be. Noishe is dependable on occasion." Leon muttered. He looked up at Kratos, and the both nodded, running into the cavern, the bridge connecting to it disappearing.

Sheena, who observed the scene, grinded her teeth. (Don't do this, kids! It's bad for your teeth, and it makes you snore!) "Grr! I'll get you next time for sure!"

Noishe howls, probably in victory.

The small animal with Sheena sighed, and talked, amazingly. "Why does this weird animal block the way?!"

"Grr!"

Once inside, both Kratos and Leon looked back at the entrance. The bridge was gone, and as nimble as the assassin was, there was no way she could reach the entrance without getting burned. Lloyd stopped ahead and saw them looking back. "What's wrong?"

"...It looks like that girl didn't make it inside." Kratos muttered, turning towards him.

Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "What girl?"

Leon sighed. "C'mon, Red. The girl. Sheena. She's trying to kill Colette, right?"

Lloyd stiffened and shock presented itself. "She followed us?!" However, all he got were disappointed looks.

"You didn't notice?"

Caught off guard by them saying it bluntly, Lloyd turned hsi head away. "I... I was busy thinking and stuff."

Kratos grumbled something inaudable. "Never let your guard down, ever. Asuming, of course, you want to survive."

Lloyd, in a mix of jealousy and slight depression, retorted. "Oh, yes, of course, you're SOOO perfect." Lloyd huffed. "You'd never screw up."

Instead of the indifferent lecturing he expected, Lloyd was mildly suprised when Kratos lowered his head slightly. "Even I make mistakes." His eyes closed. "I made a terrible one..."

Lloyd tilted his head. "What?"

The mercenary's eyes snapped open, like he was brought out of a trance. He waved his hand in front of his face, signalling for disinterest. "...Nothing. I shouldn't have said that." He started past Lloyd.

Lloyd barely noticed that Kratos once again muttered something as he went past.

"Forgive you? What?" Lloyd scratched one of his eyebrows. "You don't make any sense sometimes." He just finished saying that sentence when he felt a slap on his back.

"Ah, don't mind him too much." Leon grinned. "What he said was true, though. Carelessness breeds disaster. So, before we start a fight between teammates..." He pointed his finger forward, "...how about we catch up to them first?"

Lloyd followed the finger and saw the rest of the group already descending a set of stairs at the other end. Both boys ran to catch up with them.

The caves of the Seal of Water were dark and misty, creating an eerie feeling inside the cave. Old architecture is seen deeper within the cave and every walkway is surrounded by water.

"Uuuu..."

One of the teammates didn't find this place to her liking.

"Hey Prof, you ok?"

"Uuuuh... I thought things would be fine if we were inside a cave, but..."

"You can't really expect it to be the Seal of Water if it didn't have water, huh?"

"Uuuu... You're not helping, Leon..."

"Oh, uh, sorry." A brief pause, and then... "Hey, I know! Just concentrate on all the ruins around you! Sure! There's one over there, there's some interesting buildings off in the distance, and look! There's even one underwater!"

"...UUUHH!"

"Okay, okay! I get it! I'm not helping. I'll see what Red's up to."

Leon walked over to Lloyd, who was staring at the Spiritua Statue near Kratos and Colette. He held it up to what little light there was in the cavern.

"It has excellent craftsmenship, I'll give it that. It's so detailed."

Lloyd noticed Leon staring at the statue over his shoulder. "Yeah. It seems even better than the work that Dad does."

Leon stopped breathing. "Yeah, that diamond sure is something. Must be worth a fortune."

That's what you were interested in?! Lloyd glared but dropped it. He decided to speak what was really on his mind. "Say, this Spiritua woman the statues are made after, she saved the world, right?"

Colette, who was propped up against a pillar, came off it and nodded. "That's right. Thanks to Spiritua, the world was filled with mana and the people were saved. And Spiritua was guided into heaven."

Lloyd's eyebrows furrowed. "If she already saved the world back then why is everyone suffering now with mana shortages and the Desians?"

"The world stopped receiving its blessing, because the Tower of Salvation disappeared..." Colette continued to smile. "...That's what I was taught, anyway."

Raine, who decided to take Leon's earlier advice, walked up to the group. "Heh, Lloyd, are you actually studying?"

Lloyd shrugged. "Not really. It's just been bugging me. I just thought, since it's a tower, someone has to have made it, and someone has to be doing something with it. You know?"

"That's a good point." Leon said, sitting down. "I suppose the angels know where it is, but the fact is, it disappears and without it bad things happen." He yawns for a while. "How does one tower make such a difference, anyway?"

"Maybe angels like Remiel are providing us with mana through it..." Colette suggested.

"I see what you mean..." Raine placed her fingers under her chin in thought. "That's a fascinating subject. Up until now, we've simply thought of the Tower of Salvation as nothing more than a symbol of salvation, but..."

"In the end," Kratos interjected, "the only way we'll find the answer is to complete the salvation of the world."

"When you become an angel, I wonder if you'll go to the Tower of Salvation, too?" Lloyd wondered out loud to Colette. "If that's the case, we should just ask you after you go." He grinned to her. "I'm looking forward to your stories!"

"Okay... sure."

Lloyd seemed oblivious, but Leon spotted the hesitance on Colette's face. ...And was that pain from Raine's reaction?

Once the traps and puzzles were taken care of, the Chosen's Group entered the teleport and exited onto a small shrine in the middle of an underground lake. They all appeared one after another and looked around.

"This place is all dark and humid." Lloyd complained. "Let's hurry up and get out of here."

"...We must release the seal first." Kratos pointed out as he approached.

"I know that."

They all start to move towards the seal. They stop when Genis looks at the seal intently. "I feel... mana welling up..." He turned towards the rest of the group. "It's the same as the Seal of Fire."

Suddenly, the water inside the seal started to bubble. The bursts became very frequent and more violent, until three monsters emerged. Two of them looked similar; both looked like finned mermaids complete with mini harps in their grasp and dangling lights from their hair. Called Amphitra, the both of them hovered above the ground.

However, the last monster stood twice as tall as either of them, and had a more monstrous appearance. Having mouths for her hands and wiggling appendages that looked strangely like hair, and had a dorsel fin-like tail. This was the seal's guardian, Adulocia.

"These guys don't seem as dangerous as the last ones!" Lloyd shouted, readying his swords.

"Their weakness in strength is probably backed up by spells, Lloyd!" Genis pointed out from behind in the rear.

"Lloyd, Leon. You two and I will take the front lines and keep them from reaching the Sages. Genis, cast thunder magic on them as much as possible, but keep mana available should something happen. Raine, if we aren't in need of medical aid, concentrate on protective spells. The Chosen will stay in between and damage the monsters from behind us."

"Alright!"

"I understand!"

"You got it!"

With that, everyone charged into their respectful positions. Lloyd and Leon took on the twin Amphitras while Kratos faced off with Adulocia itself.

Engaging Lloyd, the Amphitra violently waved its tailfin at Lloyd, smacking him in the face once before he blocked the rest of the blows himself. He pulled back and immediatly swung both of his swords upwards, hitting the monster and sending her into the air.

Immediatly, a small lightning bolt struck the still airborne monster, sending it plummeting to the ground in a smouldering heap. Lloyd grinned and gave a thumbs up backwards, hoping Genis caught it.

Leon, however, had no means to defend against the Amphitras attack, and was forced to instead dodge or parry the blows. The wind rushing past his face told him how dangerous the blows would be, should they connect.

With no other choice, Leon took a big leap backward away from the amphibic creature and pulled out a spare dagger. "Here's a new one! Shade Dagger!" Gripping the dagger inbetween his fingers, he flung it at the Amphitra, slicing one of its sides with it.

But the moment the dagger hit the ground, it dulled black and disappeared. Then, almost as if it had never left, had reappeared in Leon's fingers. Angered, the Amphitra rose up...

"Angel Feather!"

...But was immediatly bombarded with all four feathered chakrams and fell down to the stoned earth. Leon grinned as he high-fived Colette.

Kratos wasn't having much difficulty either. If anything, the guardian of the seal was only mildly annoying because of the bubbles produced by the mouths on the hands. Having taken enough abuse from the monster, Kratos thrust his body forward, colliding his shield with Adulocia.

The guardian recoiled and that was all he needed. Taking his sword, he slashed at its open defence, forcing it back even more. Kratos, following Leon's example, took a leap back to gain distance. Then, he began to chant.

"Gods of might, transform your rage into power! Thunder Blade!"

It was over. The blade made of pure energy appeared above Kratos' head and pierced the monster through the stomach, finishing it off. Adulocia struggled for a moment or two, but fell silent and collapsed onto the blade. Then, it started to melt, its appearance degrading further as it formed a pool of liquid on the stones beneath everyones feet.

Even the Amphitras, although beaten and burned, were melting away into water themselves. After the slow melting lasting a minute or two, all of the forms finally collapsed and only water remained. Immediatly afterward, the altar raised and water circled around it. Several small fountains also spouted water. Then the water calmed and the altar lowered itself, revealing a glowing blue light.

A collective sigh ran through everyone. It was over, and another seal would be released. Colette walked up to the altar as the words from her father were spoken.

"Chosen of Regeneration... You have done well in reaching this far. Now, offer your prayers at the altar."

Colette nodded, determinded. "...Yes!" She walked up to it and clasped both hands together, praying. "Oh Goddess Martel, great protector and nurturer of the earth, grant me thy strength!"

She released her angel wings and lightly floated into the air. Still praying, Colette watched as the glowing blue light scattered itself and eventually disappeared. Soon after, the white glowing orb that was Remiel descended and revealed himself.

"You have done well, Chosen One, Colette. The second seal is now released."

Colette smiled and bowed in midair. "Thank you, Father."

"..." Remiel seemed to pause for a moment, looking over the party like before. Once he did, he turned back to Colette. "Accept this blessing from Cruxis. I hereby grant you additional angelic power."

Colette seemed confused by Remiel's cold attitude. "...Ah... Father?..."

She never recieved her answer, as the four colored lights descended again and entered Colette, this time glowing blue from the resonence.

"The next seal lies far north, in a place that gazes upon the end. Offer your prayers at the altar in that distant land."

Being worried, she tried to talk to him. "Father, have I done something to displease you?"

Slightly shocked, Remiel simply closed his eyes. "...It matters not. All that is needed is for you to become an angel." Remiel started to float upwards as he continued to speak. "I will be waiting for you at the next seal. Colette... my daughter. Hurry and become a true angel. Do not disappoint me..." The next instant, Remiel disappeared as a blinding light.

Genis, unimpressed by Remiels choice of words, spoke his mind. "What's up with him? He always talks like he's so important."

Predictably, Raine smacked Genis upside his head and demanded he apologize, but Colette said it was alright. "Father... Remiel really does sound like that."

Lloyd shrugged, uninterested either way. "Well, shall we get going to the next seal?... Although, he was confusing as usual."

"We'll get the Book of Regeneration with the statue, so it isn't that bad, is it?"

"Yeah..." Lloyd paused for a moment when he noticed something strange. "Hey, Leon? What's so funny?"

"Huh?"

"You're grinning."

"I am?" A quick feel of his gloved hand told him that he was, in fact, grinning.

"If you ask me, it's almost a border-line smirk." Raine pointed out.

"Huh." Leon was stumped. "The thing is, I don't know why. I guess I just feel like grinning all of a sudden."

"You're weird, Leon." Genis stated, again getting a smack from his older sister. "Ow!"

"We're done here." Kratos turned towards the teleport. "It's time to leave."

The group silently followed him and disappeared from the shrine.

"That's no good, Remiel. You nearly lost your cool."

The lighting in the room was practically non-existant, but Remiel easily recognized the owner of the voice. "I... apoligize, Lord Loki. However, just seeing that punk grinning at me..."

The other man, Loki, tapped his finger on his chin. "Hmm... He has been showing impressive ability as of late. Perhaps its finally time to test him." Loki started to leave the room.

"Ah... Lord Loki... where are you going?" Remiel seemed... cautious around this man.

"Oh, I'm just going to visit an old friend, that's all." And with that, the man disappeared from the room.

Chapter End.

Baelfael: Finally, tenth chapter UP!

Leon: This one was kinda boring. All you did was add a few things.

Baelfael: Shut it. All stories need chapters like this to make the other ones more interesting!

Leon: Whatever you say.

Baelfael: In any case, look forward to the next chapter! It's a Leon exclusive, with snippits of his past. Make sure you don't miss it!