Things you need to know before reading this chapter:
- Character thinking
Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss
Chapter 9: The True Mastermind
The Float Project, the system through which the entire surface of the world was raised into the sky using the Sephiroth Trees as pillars, was put into effect roughly two thousand years ago, in order to keep the miasma confined below the surface. However, many people were left behind in the Qliphoth, also dubbed as the 'Lower Shell', to suffer from the miasma.
Yulia City, named after Yulia Jue, the rescuer of the people from the miasma, was the only city in Qliphoth. A barrier was erected at the border of the city to keep the poison gas from entering the city and affecting the health of the people living in it.
Also known as the Watchers' Home, Yulia City was a part of the Order of Lorelei, though its existence was only known to a few. The job of the watcher was to observe and record the events in the Outer Lands and to make sure that nothing deviated from the Score.
It seems Evenos is taking his time. Teodoro Grants, the Mayor of Yulia City and the Highest Watcher, thought as he stood before the glass panel in the conference room overlooking the whole city, his hands clasped behind his back.
I wonder what our guest's reception will be? … is it really a good idea to involve a being that is not of this world? Teodoro mused.
He turned away from the glass panel and walked back to his own seat in the conference room. He sat down and let his gaze fall onto the book sitting on the table before him.
Although the book was very old, it was very well kept and apart from the pages that was starting to yellow, nothing gave away the old age of the book. The book had no title and it didn't have any special feature to distinguish it from other books. It looked like a normal notebook, the kind that you wouldn't remember it after you took your eyes off it.
However, there was a reason to the book's plain appearance. It was to avoid people thinking it as something valuable and took a peek at its content. The only reason Teodoro knew that this book was in fact anything but normal was that this book was treated as a secret heirloom that was passed down from the previous Mayor to the next Mayor of Yulia City.
I think I will make sure that nothing goes wrong one final time while waiting for them to arrive. He thought and picked up the book.
Carefully turning over the front cover, Teodoro started skimming through its contents for the thirtieth time or so since the book was passed to him from his predecessor when he became the Mayor of Yulia City and the Highest Watcher of the Order of Lorelei.
It was three hours before dawn when Kratos and Evenos left Mt. Zaleho. Despite his appearance, Evenos was already in his sixties and long distance travel was never an old man's forte, much less travelling in the dead of night, when most people were sleeping.
It would be much better if they were to travel after the elderly Fon Master rested. Kratos had suggested Evenos to rest for the night and meet up at the entrance of Daath later or to set up camp somewhere so that he could rest.
However, Evenos stated that since this little trip of his was a secret, he couldn't afford to meet up with Kratos later for fear of being discovered by his Fon Master Guardian or members of the Order. He also said that they need to make haste and that if he was found to be missing, it would cause panic in the Order and search parties would be sent after him.
"Then how about this: either we set up camp here and let you rest as our progress would be slower if you insist to go on like this, or I carry you on my back."
Feeling slightly intimidated by the no-nonsense look on Kratos, Evenos finally decided to take a small nap before continuing their journey.
They found a place to set up camp and Kratos told Evenos that he would wake him up at dawn, which would be about two and a half hours later.
I wonder what this world has in stall for me? Kratos mused as he stared at the sleeping form of Evenos before him.
At least I don't have to blindly search for clues relating to Derris Kharlan anymore. He thought and looked up at the stars.
Judging from our previous conversation, it seems that Derris Kharlan, no, I am being dragged here through means that still eludes me to help with their plan. A plan similar to the Journey of Regeneration, where the Chosen embarks on a journey to break the curse of either Sylvarant or Tethe'alla. He started reminiscing the last Journey of Regeneration he participated back in his home world.
Except that this time there won't be another organisation like Cruxis behind all this and worlds vying with each other for energy to sustain life, but a prophecy that people are too reliant on, even to the point of being manipulated by it and becoming puppet with no free will.
His reminiscing was brought to an abrupt stop as a small beep was emitted from one of the hidden pockets in his garb. He walked away from Evenos and fished out the wing pack that was emitting the noise. He then took out a small radio unit from the wing pack.
"Report." He said to the unit after switching it on.
"Yes. Lord Kratos." Replied a monotonous voice from the radio. "Unit A patrolling the lower realms of Derris Kharlan was attacked by the monsters resided there, two angels sustained damage and are recovering. Unit B patrolling Welgaia reported that nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Unit C patrolling the castle of Vinheim also reported that nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The calculations by the main computer have not differed from twenty four hours ago and Derris Kharlan is still set on its orbiting path."
Although I still don't know how, I do know why Derris Kharlan is trapped here. I might as well call off the patrols, especially the one in the lower realm. I could also reduce the frequency of hearing the status report of Derris Kharlan now that I have a brief idea of what is going on. He thought and glanced over in Eveno's direction. Or soon anyway.
"Call back the units, there is no need to patrol around anymore. Unless something significant like the death of one of the angels occur, you only need to report to me the calculations of the core system. I would also like to hear the status report of Derris Kharlan once a week instead of everyday from now on."
"Yes. Lord Kratos."
"Good. You are dismissed." And with that, Kratos turned off the radio unit and put it back into the wing pack.
He went back to his previous position and waited for dawn to come. After about an hour, he woke Evenos up.
"I think it is time that I explain to you about the Watchers of the Order of Lorelei." The Fon Master said after they broke camp and resumed their trip.
Evenos then told Kratos of the Float Project, the project proposed by Yulia, that was written in the Score, Yulia City, the city founded by Yulia, that consisted of people that were left behind in the Qliphoth and the Watchers that resided in Yulia City.
By the time they reached Aramis Spring, Evenos had also informed Kratos of the House of Fende that was founded by Yulia and her husband Freyr Albert, who was the first Fon Master, and the House of Gardios that was founded Albert's half-brother Walter Sigmund, who was the first Fon Master Guardian.
He also told him how the House of Fende was to become the guardians of the seventh fonstone and the House of Gardios guardians of the House of Fende, and how the positions of both families were reversed in order to veil the truth about both families' histories, leading to the Fende family becoming the protectors of the Gardios nobility of Hod.
"There is a Fonic circle used for transport, called the Yulia Road, in the deepest part of Aramis Spring. Yulia Road is connected to Yulia City. We will be using it to go to Yulia City." Evenos explained as they entered the cavern in Aramis Spring.
"I think I have covered enough background material on Yulia's legacy, now let me tell you about the planet's memory. Tell me, how much do you know about the origin of the Score?"
"I know that the Score is a result of Yulia using the Seventh Fonons as a means of reading the planet's memory to determine the future."
Evenos nodded at Kratos' answer and proceeded to further elaborate on the topic.
"The planet's memory, made up of memory particles, is the record of the entire life of the planet, from its creation through to its destruction. All lives in Auldrant are destined to follow the planet's memory."
"You are telling me that no matter what people do to resist the Score, the planet will retain its own memories and will proceed accordingly and they will eventually arrive at the same conclusion as the planet's memory."
"That is correct. Your analysing skill yet again amazes me. To think someone as young as you, who had only started studying about our world recently, could deduce the truth in such a short amount of time. I am glad you are one of the chosen ones of Lorelei."
So not even the Score, or should I say the planet's memory, know all the secrets about me. I can see why they require the assistance of an outsider. Kratos thought, feeling slightly relieved at hearing Evenos' choice of word to describe him.
Teodoro had just finished rereading the book when the door to the conference room creaked open. He closed the book before standing up and regarded his guests.
One of them was a man with white and grey streaked brown hair in a blue robe, he carried a golden staff which was shaped like a tuning fork at one end. He also had a golden necklace that bore a symbol with the same shape as his staff's end.
The other one was a man with wild red hair in a purple outfit and matching gloves and boots. He wore two belts, also with matching colour, over his suit. A sword in its sheath were strapped at his waist.
"Greetings, Teodoro, and our guest here is Kratos Aurion." Evenos called out as he entered the conference room.
The red headed man nodded towards him.
"Greetings, Evenos and Kratos, visitor from another world." Teodoro said as he nodded towards the two men before him.
"Please take a seat." He gestured the two seats nearest to him.
Teodoro sat down once the other two men had taken their seat.
"So where to start?" Teodoro asked as he clasped his hands before him on the table.
"You could start by telling me how you managed to lock a planet's course to circle Auldrant."
"I am afraid I couldn't answer you that, at least not in technical terms. From my understanding, it has something to do with the Planetary Storm, which I assume you have read about before." Teodoro paused at that.
Kratos nodded. "The particles that were emitted from the core and circulate around Auldrant's outer atmosphere before returning to the core of this planet."
"Lorelei controls the activity of the Planetary Storm, I presume he did something to its circulation, thus changing the course of your planet."
"If memory serves, you also asked me before about the ability of being able to read the Score you gained." Evenos said after Teodoro finished his explanation.
"I told you all would be explained in due time. However, similar to your previous question, this is the doing of Lorelei. Since neither of us is a scientist or an expert Fonist, we won't be able to fully answer this question too. I have once heard about creating a pseudo Seventh Fonist by injecting Seventh Fonon into a person, but then it might cause contamination and mutation to both their body and mind."
"If anything were to happen to you, it would have already happened. I also don't think Lorelei would just do something like that if he knows it will cause you any permanent damage." Evenos added when he saw the slightly worried look on Kratos.
"So I would need to confront Lorelei, a scientist or someone who exiles in Fonic Artes if I am to get my answers." Kratos paused and pondered his next words.
"From what I gather, the reason I am here is because you need someone who is not limited by the planet's memory to overthrow the Score and protect the world from the terrible fate as foretold by it."
"That is correct." Teodoro answered and held up the book he had been reading while waiting for the arrival of Kratos and Evenos.
"This book here was written by Yulia Jue a few years after she carved the Score onto the seven fonstones." He paused and glanced over at Evenos.
"I have covered all the basic information with him." Evenos said when he noticed Teodoro's gaze on him.
He nodded at Evenos' words and continued, "In this book are Yulia's theory about deviating from the planet's memory and a draft plan to steer the people away from the Score. Due to its content, the existence of it is only known to the Fon Master and the Highest Watcher, same as the seventh fonstone."
"As I have told you back in the volcano, other than you, the other chosens of Lorelei are Light of the Sacred Flame, The One Who Would Seize Glory and the Remnant of the Sacred Flame. The four of you, each following a different path, will be the keys to free the world of the Score. Do you know-"
"Wait, Evenos, there is something we need to clarify first." Teodoro said, cutting off the Fon Master.
The Mayor then closed his eyes and inhaled and exhaled deeply. He opened his eyes and held his gaze with Kratos.
"Before we continue this conversation, we would like to hear your decision. Will you, someone not of this world, assist us to prevent the crisis that would befall Auldrant if we let the people here continue to live under the Score's hold?"
Silence reigned over the room after Teodoro finished his question. After a while, Kratos broke his gaze with Teodoro and looked at Evenos. He then closed his eyes to think about it.
So this time I would become a chosen one that will help in breaking the curse of this world. How ironic, I, the one that protected the Chosens during the Journey of Regenerations and guided them to their death in my own world, am to become the chosen one that leads the people to peace in another world. He thought as he remembered the time when he went undercover as a mercenary escorting the Chosens of both Tethe'alla and Sylvarant.
I had thought that drifting in the darkness of space with the other lifeless angels, victims of Mithos' project of the age of lifeless being, would be my only penance. I bet both Lloyd and Anna would be glad to know that after all that had happened, I get to have another chance to help out others. A chance to redeem myself through rescuing people... no, this is not only a penance, this means much more to me than that. This is...
He paused his thought and opened his eyes. With a fierce look of determination in his eyes, he told the two elderly men of his decision.
"I was once a knight that took pride in protecting the others, not only those that resided in my country, but all that were in need of help."
This is a chance for me to do what I have always wanted to do when I left the Kingdom of Tethe'alla with Mithos and Martel to end the Kharlan War all those years ago.
"Although I am no longer a knight nor a resident of this world, I would gladly offer my help..." No, even before I became a full-fledged knight, it has always been my dream... "to create a better future for all."
Evenos smiled widely at Kratos' declaration while Teodoro offered him a slight smile.
"Thank you, warrior from another world." Teodoro said and inclined his head slightly towards Kratos.
"You only recently arrived in this world, you don't have the responsibility to help, yet you, a stranger to this world, choose to extend a helping hand to this world and all those that reside in it. Thank you, Kratos Aurion, Dawn of Strength, you are a true gentleman that is worthy of the title of knighthood. Your help is much appreciated." Evenos said. He followed Teodoro's example and tipped his head towards Kratos.
"Now, where was I? ...ah yes, do you know the truth behind Hod's destruction? And the kind of soldiers that Malkuth employed during the last war?" Evenos asked.
"An artificial hyperresonance generated by a Fomicry subject, The One Who Would Seize Glory, if my citation of the Score was correct. I heard that Malkuth used replicas for military purpose." Kratos answered.
"That is correct. However, although Hod's destruction and Fomicry are written in the Score, we couldn't find any information on the replicas created." Evenos said.
"You want to use Fomicry to create replicas that aren't bound by the Score." Kratos deduced.
"Yes and no. The replicas created using Fomicry are not foretold by the Score. Therefore, even Yulia didn't know the details of it. I told you that this book only contains theories and a draft plan. The plan is very crude, in fact, details of the plan are near non-existent. We only know bits and pieces about it." Teodoro said.
"What we do know is that one of the chosen ones we mentioned, Remnant of the Sacred Flame, is not recorded in any of the fonstones. We think that he or she maybe a replica created using Fomicry. Asch translates to Remnant of the Sacred Flame in Ancient Ispanian language. Judging from the name, we are guessing that he may be a replica of Luke, Light of the Sacred Flame." Evenos said.
"If Asch is indeed Luke's replica, then that makes him outside the binding of the Score. If that is the case, Luke, someone that is within the Score's prediction, is required for this plan. What of The One Who Would Seize Glory?" Kratos asked after thinking through the information he was told.
"We are not sure of his role in it yet. However, Evenos think that Vandesdelca, which translates to The One Who Would Seize Glory, would be the one to lead the plan to erase the Score. He said that Vandesdelca's hatred towards the Score that foretold the destruction of Hod by his own hands is going to be the trigger." There was a tinge of sadness in Teodoro's tone as he informed Kratos of Evenos' deduction.
Noticing the Mayor's sorrow, Evenos decided that was is time to end this conversation.
"It is getting late and although I told my Fon Master Guardian that I would be working all day and don't want to be disturbed, it will only be a matter of time before someone noticed that I am gone. We would have to continue this discussion at a later time." Evenos said and started to get up from his seat.
Then, turning his head towards Kratos, he said, "I trust you will be escorting me back to Daath."
Kratos nodded and also got up from his seat.
"Wait." Teodoro took out a book from his pocket and gave it to Kratos. "Take this with you. It is a copy of Yulia's notebook, I have also written down the Planet Score in the seventh fonstone in it. Please read through it when you have time."
Kratos accepted the book, gave one final nod towards Teodoro and left the conference room after Evenos.
"What will you do from now on?" Evenos asked Kratos. They were at the entrance of the secret pathway that connected Mt. Zaleho to Daathic Cathedral.
"There are still a lot of things in this world that I don't know yet. However, for the time being, I think the most important thing for me to do is read through it so I could have a better understanding of what is required of me." Kratos replied and held up the book Teodoro gave him.
"I also haven't had the time to check out the archives of the Order of Lorelei yet, I think I shall rectify it after I finished this book."
He then glanced at the Fon Master. "Unless you reckon that I won't find anything useful there, after all the information you have already given me."
"No, have a look at the records there by all means. I am sure you will find something interesting." Evenos said.
"Which is?"
"I am not implying anything. Even I myself haven't had the time to read through all the records there. I just think that you might find something useful."
"Very well, I shall check it out when I have the time." Kratos turned around and started walking away from the Fon Master.
"Wait, if you don't have other things to do after that, I have a suggestion for you." Evenos called after the retreating back of Kratos.
Kratos stopped walking and turned his head slightly towards Evenos' direction.
"You could become an Oracle Knight in Daath."
Kratos thought about it for a while. "Is there any specific reason for me to do so?"
"The One Who Would Seize Glory, Vandesdelca Musto Fende, is Teodoro's adopted grandson. He was one of the protectors of the seventh fonstone in Hod before its destruction. After the destruction of Hod, he joined the Order of Lorelei and became an Oracle Knight."
"Someone who hated the Score would never willingly join the organisation that works towards its fulfilment, unless they are planning something else. That's why you think that he would be the one to start the plan to overturn the Score, and you want me to keep an eye on him." Kratos said.
"Yes."
"I will see what I could do." Kratos said, ending the conversation, and left Evenos.
Author's Note:
This chapter was hard to write... Anyway, I have finally got all the explanations out! Well, not all, but the remaining ones would be easier to write, or so I hope...
I have uploaded a one-shot prequel to this fic, A Hollow Life, it is set 2 years before FI and is about Kratos and Yuan's final conversation, the reason I said it's a prequel and not just a normal TOS fanfic is because there will be some parts of this story in the chapters to come that will be explained in this prequel.
Thanks DeathhunterAshi again for your review! Though there is something I need to clarify: Evenos is the Fon Master before the original Ion, not the original of the replica Ion Luke and the others met in the game.
Uploaded on 7 July 2012. Edited on 4 April 2013.