We're so one chapter away from leaving Luin! WOOT!!!!
Hehehe…wings, why do I love angels? WINGS!!! Yoshi is a very happy authoress right about now. Oh, and for those of you who like a little blood, I tried to add some of that to the mixture too. Oh, and I hate Magnar, he doesn't have a lot of developed character. Like none at all it's annoying.
Disclaimer: I cannot honestly say that I own Tales of Symphonia in any way, shape, or form.
ON WITH THE STORY!!!!
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"If Marta Lualdi does not turn herself over we will destroy Luin!"
The words of the Gold-clad knight still echoed around in the bitter winter air, would the Church of Martel go so far to control Ratatosk's Core that they would destroy Luin? And more importantly, at least in Kratos' opinion, was Lloyd really the one who gave the command?
The prospects were horrible.
"W-what are we going to do?" cried Emil, "We can't let them destroy Luin!"
"But we can't let them take Ratatosk's Core!"
"You want Luin to turn into the next Palmacosta?"
The implications of Emil's words hung in the air, if they left, Luin would be destroyed; burned and pillaged, its people murdered. However, handing over Marta, not to mention the Core, would put not only Marta herself in danger but if the Core was lost, who knew what the Church of Martel would do with it? Kratos knew the Church all too well; he had been at its head for four thousand years. No, they could not let this happen.
"Both of you, stop fighting," hissed Kratos, "the answer is simple, we go in and fight-."
"But they have an army!"
"So do we, of monsters, if they do not flee at the sight of monsters attacking at the command of men, then we shall cut them down while they are still in shock."
"O-okay, Kratos," Marta looked worried now, "we'll wait here… you go get the… monsters. We still have an hour, that's what the man said."
"Right, I'll be back in ten minutes, don't do anything stupid, come find me if there are problems."
"Okay, you be careful too…"
Why did Kratos have the feeling that Marta was trying to get rid of him?
He dashed deeper into the woods; he would have to run around the town, an interesting feat to complete in ten minutes, perhaps one could make it around once but back as well? It should take any normal person half an hour to do this, the simple solution? Wings.
He stretched, knowing full well that he had not taken the appendages out in far too long, that they would repay him with a bloody vengeance; still, the need was there. He ceased running and stood in the woods for a moment, every part of his body forcing itself to relax, preparing for the release. Kratos felt a sharp pain in his shoulders and then a cool, content feeling, a good pain, like stretching a sore muscle.
The feeling was accompanied by the sound of ripping flesh and a tingling, almost tickling, feeling of a sticky liquid running down his back.
The blue-black wings let off a silver light as he stretched them, they created what little light there was to see by; night had fallen, the stars appearing in the sky. Anyone who saw him would have been under the delusion, if only for a moment, that one of the stars had fallen from the cosmos. He splayed the new appendages and leapt from the ground, glancing down for a moment to see a pool of red, sticky blood reflecting the light from his wings.
Kratos whisked through the trees, the wind blowing his auburn hair from his eyes. Around him, the sounds of leaves shaking in the wind his wings stirred around him. Kratos weaved expertly between the trees; four thousand years of practice had taught him the fastest ways to avoid trees. Even in the dark, he could maneuver seemingly effortlessly through the dark forest.
He landed delicately, regretting pulling his wings back into himself, their release was refreshing but terrifying the monsters would not be in his best interest. He glanced back as his wings returned to their resting place in his back, noting coldly the quickly drying blood that clung to his clothes, not to mention the slits the wings had created in his clothing. He would have to find an explanation, or fix it before anyone noticed.
Another price paid for not bringing his wings out; they became more… solid, if he neglected them, they would become a part of him, not just mana. Granted they already were a part of him, but more so than they already were. An angel was a very… complicated creature.
The monsters, Sophie, Nero, Eon, Tut, Isho, and Lithos were seated around a tiny fire that Kratos had prepared for the night; he had hoped that it would last until he could return this evening, though not under these circumstances. Nero was talking quietly with Isho, Emil's imp, Tut and Lithos were trying to please Eon, who was apparently missing sleeping with Marta and found it "too cold". Sophie was sitting just outside the small ring of firelight, fiddling with her fingers; there had been something wrong with her since they had left the cave. Under normal circumstances Kratos would have checked with her, but there had been no time.
He purposely walked loudly into the makeshift campsite so as not to frighten any of them. His own monsters would never attack him, but Isho and Lithos still did not quite trust him. Bright ones, those two.
"Master," Tut jumped up at Kratos' arrival, "is something wrong?"
"…" he nodded at the wolf, "Yes, thank-you Tut, we need all of you, Marta and Emil are in danger." At Emil's name Lithos and Isho were on their feet, Kratos could sense worry radiating from the both of them.
"Oh, great," muttered Nero, "we have to save your guys' tails again." By the imp's tone, Kratos had the feeling that if she could, she would be rolling her eyes.
"If you don't mind," hissed Kratos, "we should be going."
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The run back to where Kratos had left Marta and Emil was maddeningly long for both he and the monsters. Lithos and Isho were tense and on edge the entire run, but when their arrived back, the small forest clearing was empty. Kratos was horror-struck, what if they had been captured, or run off? On his watch too… Damn, what had they been thinking? How could he have just left them there, they were not even that far from Luin, they could so easily been found and dragged back, executed by now even…
"I smell them! They went this way, Marta first, then Emil and Lord Tenebrae," barked Tut from across the clearing. Kratos glanced over and froze: his stomach dropping.
They headed back to Luin.
..................
They were still in the forest when the screams started: the terrified crying of children, the screams of women, shouts of men. The smell of smoke erupted in his nostrils, with it came the sound of fire, burning cracking… The Church of Martel was setting fire to the town.
Kratos forced his legs to move faster.
Good Gods, what have they done?
The town flamed orange and red in the night; his fault, it was his fault; if they had not created that damn Church none of this would have happened. Anna's hometown… the town they had rebuilt, poured funds into. Everything was, quite literally, going up in flames. It looked like a Desian attack: vicious, bloodthirsty…
He and the monsters tore into town, his sword slicing through the sentries posted to keep him, or anyone else who wanted to help the "renegade" town, out. He needed only to step across the singed bridge to see his charges; Marta forced into a kneeling position in front of the man in gold armor, Emil, his eyes glowing red with Ratatosk's power, sword out slashing through the guards that came after him.
Kratos and the monsters' entrance caused a surprised silence from all present, it was not every day that one saw a man charge in, followed by six little monsters nonetheless, to save the day. Emil recovered fastest; regaining his composure and practically ripping through a guard's neck with his sword.
"You get these dim-wits," hissed Emil, "that one's mine." Kratos had the feeling that he would not want to be the commander knight at that moment. He and the six little minions charged into battle.
"You cannot defeat us," shouted the knight, "we will show you the divine wrath of the Goddess Martel!"
"Shut up!" shouted Emil, "I don't want to hear this crap anymore!" Kratos watched silently as he dodged two guards; one was taken down by Nero, the other by Tut. Isho and Lithos growled and swiped at anyone who got too close.
Kratos expected to see Emil stick his sword through the man's gut, the sword, he imagined, was sharp enough to do so. What he did not expect was that Emil would toss aside the weapon and went at the man with his fists, laughing as he did so.
Marta's eyes widened, a soft horrified gasp escaped her lips, "Emil, Emil that's enough!" The Knight of Ratatosk did not heed her words. "Emil, please!"
"…" Eventually, Emil took a step back looking at his handiwork; the man was bleeding and broken; sickly purple and black bruises were blooming across the bits of skin that Kratos could see. His armor had been cracked in more than one place and it, too, was covered in the man's red blood. "How's that for you "divine punishment"?" growled Emil.
The boy's fists were, too, covered in blood; and not all of it was the blood of his enemy. His knuckles were ripped from slamming into the hard armor; skin clumped around his fingers and blood fell freely, mingling, as it hit the ground, with the blood of the mangled man before him.
Marta's eyes were wide, distorted by horror. She still knelt where she had been forced down by the men that lay in pools of their own blood around her. Kratos stepped from his own circle of corpses and offered his hand to the young girl, gently helping her to her feet. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged tightly, crying. Slowly, Kratos slipped his arms around the girl and gave her a comforting squeeze. A mutual understanding developed between them; all was forgiven from both parties.
"I-I…" Emil had returned to himself, he was looking at his victim, who whimpered and flinched away from the innocent green gaze. "What have I done?"
That was when one of the knights, a lackey of the broken man before them, came upon the scene. "W-what the hell?!" The question seemed so… blunt after what had just happened. "Sir?"
"Get me out of here you fool!" croaked the leader.
The man stepped forward, weapon pointed at Kratos' chest, assuming that he was the leader of the party.
"T-tell your… creatures to step aside and let us through, we'll retreat from this town…for now."
Kratos was not in the mood for more killing, he could sense that Marta could not take much more, "You know that it would be almost effortless for me to slit your throat, you would not even realize what had happened until you reached hell." The words were just that; words. An empty threat, but the best offence was sometimes to simply terrify the enemy into submission.
"I-I-."
"Get out."
"What?"
"Get out, take your commander and get out."
"But-?"
"You heard him, get out, now!" Marta was suddenly screaming, horror turned to anger as she turned hatred and fury written across her face. The man was running with his commander over his shoulder faster than any human, in Kratos' opinion, should be able to run.
"M-Marta?" whimpered Emil; he was obviously terrified of her turning for him next, "L-let's go…" The girl nodded, she was either unwilling to speak to the boy, or afraid she would start yelling again.
"Emil, let's return to your home, I think we all need a good night's rest."
"S-shouldn't we talk to the Mayor first?"
"… Marta, is that alright with you?" Kratos was concerned about the girl.
"Y-yes, we should talk to him, I'll be fine." But she still stumbled as she walked, eventually Eon bounced into her arms, his familiar presence helping to calm her.
The part of Luin that they Mayor resided in was the least touched, and the farthest in; the three of them, and their monsters were forced to parade, covered in blood through the town. Tenebrae, at least, kept himself invisible to the human eye; apparently following Marta and Emil on their suicide mission instead of coming to get Kratos had been his brilliant idea.
Everywhere they went they received suspicious looks and hostile glares. Emil approached someone he apparently knew and inquired about the state of their part of town. "E-Emil!" the girl was obviously flustered, "I um… y-you should." Her eyes continually strayed down to his bloodied hands, "Just go, Emil, please, just leave me alone!" She ran back into the singed house. Kratos and Marta watched with worried expressions. There was no way that, if Emil did not want to travel with them, he would be able to settle down as he had been before…
Emil did not meet either of their eyes as he passed by them, gaze forward, "Let's go."
They Mayor resided above an item shop his family ran; but outside they were stopped by an angry red-faced man and a gaunt woman standing outside.
"Uncle Alba, Aunt Flora!" Emil, apparently, recognized them.
"Emil…" Flora's voice was deep and mournful.
"You stay away you little Demon!" shouted Alba.
"How dare you?" the question erupted from both Kratos and Marta.
"He is your nephew!" shouted Kratos, Marta silenced herself, allowing Kratos his anger, "How could you be so cruel to your family?" The pair was silent as they watched the strange man explode at them, "He is your flesh and blood, he looks up to you and you treat him like dirt, what kind of disgusting example does that set for him?"
Kratos finished, panting; what he would do to have Lloyd back, no secrets among them, and here they were treating their charge as if he was a monster…
"Y-you shouldn't tell another man wha-," Alba was cut off as Kratos gracefully whisked by him into the shop.
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"So that's what happened…" whispered the Mayor, they had been given tea when they had arrived; the Mayor had not stopped apologizing for not listening to Emil as they told their tale. "I don't know what to say…"
"I think first and foremost that Emil needs a place to stay."
"Actually, I was going to ask Emil if he would be willing to go and find Lloyd so as to find out what is going on. The Lloyd I used to know would never do this, so if he would be as kind as to so…"
"So that is how you are going to save Emil from the peoples' hatred," stated Marta coldly.
"I see…" murmured Kratos.
"I'll go, I don't want to stay here," and with those words Emil quit the room.
"I'm sorry Emil…" the Mayor whispered as Marta ran after Emil.
"Mayor, I have yet to discuss this with Marta, but I would assume that it would be no problem if we brought Emil with us on our journey."
"Thank you; keep him safe, I hope that one day he can return, but until that day-."
"Until that Day I'll watch over him."
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THANK GODDESS THAT'S OVER!
They are out of Luin! Yeah!
Next chapter, character building, and maybe, maybe Asgard.
R&R
~M.Y.