Me: Hehe, I love cliffhangers.
Sheena: You realize that if this continues to be successful, you could rule the world.
Me: Muhahahahahaha! It's all falling into my plan…
Zelos: Hehe, get me a hot girlfriend, please.
Me: Muhahaha! I worked like hell on the last one. Ready…? BEGIN!
Chapter 10: A Reason to Live
"Noishe, why did you come after me?" Lloyd lay on the beach leaning against the large dog, his eyes partly closed, scratches covering his body. He had covered some with makeshift bandages.
But Noishe could only reply with a soft whine.
Lloyd let out a small sigh, curling up next to Noishe. "You may not be human, but who cares? You'll do." After a long yawn, Lloyd fell asleep against the large dog.
While this was going on, in the ruined town of Luin, Raine had set up a sort of temporary hospital ward inside the old inn. The heavily bandaged Kratos lay on an old sofa with a few blood stained blankets covering him. Colette sat in a corner letting Raine bandage her wounds. Colette had a slight depressed look on her face as Lloyd had given away her secret. Meanwhile Sheena watched the soup while Genis called Noishe's name out, looking for the dog.
"Colette, why didn't you tell us?' asked the worried professor. "We didn't know how much you were suffering."
"I know, I know,' whispered Colette, looking Raine in the eye. "But I knew that you would worry if I told you and I wanted to have this journey be mildly fun."
"You know this is serious,' said Raine, placing her staff on Colette's other shoulder. A white light grew from the tip. "After all, how will you know when a wound is nearly deadly?"
"I'm sorry," whispered Colette.
"Don't worry about Lloyd,' said Raine bandaging Colette's other shoulder. "You're a good person."
"I'm sorry," whispered Colette again.
Meanwhile, Genis was searching outside in the city. "Noishe! Noishe!" he called out, looking behind statues and under bridges for the dog. But there wasn't even a footprint to be found. "Noishe?" He was getting worried about the dog, where could he be? What if a monster had found him? What if he didn't get anything to eat?
But why would Noishe run away? Hadn't he been happy with them? Where would he run away? Then, Genis remembered the longhaired boy and how Noishe had been friendly with him. Had the boy stolen him? What would he do to Noishe?
Genis collapsed against a bridge pots, holding his head in his hands. Why had things gone so bad? He hadn't got along with Lloyd but he didn't think that he would attack Kratos and Colette like that. He had thought, deep down inside of him, that there was a small probability that Lloyd was a good person. But he had seen him fight; that Lloyd didn't hesitate to use complete inhuman ways to get what he wanted.
Genis suddenly felt very afraid for Colette. She had this monster after her and he seemed even more of a threat than the Desians. Was he even a part of the Desians or just a mercenary? And he seemed to completely hate Kratos and Colette, not just because they were with the chosen but as if he had hated them for his entire life.
Noishe could take care of himself but Genis had left the wounded Colette with only Raine and Sheena to guard her. Before he knew that he could count on Kratos but now he realized that if Colette were attacked then she would need all the protection she could have. Turning around, Genis sprinted back to the ruined inn.
Sheena didn't feel like she could eat anything after seeing what happen in the human ranch. What had made Lloyd attack Kratos like that? She had seen him angry before, but that time she was terrified of what would happen to them. And what was wrong with his eyes? What sort of human eyes turned yellow and red? Colette was sitting across from her against a tree. Her eyes that were usually happy were trying to cry. Indeed Sheena didn't know if they could succeed with Kratos on the verge of death.
A white sheet hung in the doorway of the wrecked in where Kratos lay. Most of the sheets in Luin had at least several drops of blood on them. With a small movement, the sheet fluttered revealing Raine walking out. Colette leapt over to her, desperate about Kratos.
"Is…he going to be okay?" she asked desperately.
"It's like I said before,' said Raine looking down into Colette's eyes. "He could heal, but he has no will to live. If this continues, there's nothing we can do."
Suddenly, Sheena heard rapid footsteps behind her. Swinging around, she saw Genis sprinting towards them. "Is everything okay?" he shouted.
"I-I'm not sure," said Colette, covering her eyes with her arms, yet unable to cry. "Wh-wh-what if he dies?"
Why is he like this? Thought Sheena. Kratos can't be like this. Without truly thinking, she entered the inn. She sat against the wall, facing Kratos. "Kratos, I don't know why you're doing this,' she said, still not really thinking. "But I know what it's like being hated. And it may hurt, but it's nothing to die for.
"Lloyd has anger inside of him; I think we all know that. And I don't know whether you really killed his parents, but I don't think that all his rage is from that. He is also angry how his life is. And I know he hurt you, but if you give in, his rage will only increase and continue killing until he becomes a demon who can't stop killing at all. And for that, you have to live. You have to live for the sake of Lloyd. And you can't die, because if you die, then there will be no hope for us, ever. Even if Colette regenerates this world, there will still be no hope if Lloyd continues like this."
Sheena stood up. She couldn't tell if this had affected Kratos or not. But she knew that there was nothing else she could say or do for him. She walked out, knowing that either she had helped or made the situation worse.
"Colette, will you be alright?" asked Genis. After all, Colette couldn't eat or sleep.
"Oh, I'll be all right,' said Colette, staring into the fire sadly. "After all, Spiritua went through the same if not worse."
"But how do you know that you'll be all right?" asked Genis.
"I don't,' said Colette, looking across to Genis with a sad smile on her face. "But you don't get anywhere worrying about life. If you worry too much, you don't have the confidence to do anything at all. Live your life without regrets Genis."
Suddenly, Raine walked out from the inn. She looked considerably better. "Kratos is…getting better."
"Oh thank goodness!" shouted Colette, looking happier.
"Yeah," said Genis, looking happier as well. "Hey the soups done, let's eat!"
Lloyd awoke with a start. Noishe's breathing reacted to his sudden movements but soon calmed down once again. What had that been? He left Noishe at walked out onto the sand.
It had been that nightmare again. The one with his father and Sheena dying had come again. Why did it keep on coming? Lloyd splashed seawater in his face. Sheena would never know about the past, never. So why were these dreams haunting him? He fell, face down onto the sand and started pounding it with his fist.
"Lloyd!"
"Yes Yuan?" It had been a while since Yuan had last called. But he sensed it had something to do with the fact that the chosen had completed the tower of Mana. Lloyd would soon find out that he was right.
"The chosen is heading to the tower of Salvation tomorrow!" came Yuan's voice. "You have to kill her before she completes the seal! Botta will meet up with you!"
"Understood!" said Lloyd. He heard Yuan turn off. So, it had gotten down to this. This meant that he would have go to the tower, where Yggdrasil would be. Man, he hoped he wouldn't have to fight the leader of Cruxis.
"Lloyd!" shouted Botta. He stood with several ready to fight renegades. "The chosen is inside, we have to hurry."
"Damn it all," whispered Lloyd, who had a feeling that they would be too late. Completely running past the renegades, he sprinted up the stairs into the tower, the renegades following behind him. Through the steps they entered a hall with a see-through floor. Lloyd only glanced slightly at the coffins and hurried on. He was too used to death to notice them anymore than that. With the renegades close behind, he leapt onto the warp pad.
They entered into a larger room with a pedestal in the center. Lying around the pedestal were Sheena, Genis, and Raine. Standing on the pedestal was Colette, Kratos, and a blonde haired man who Lloyd assumed was Yggdrasil. Colette's eyes were red and her wings were out. Damn, thought Lloyd. She's in that form.
"Damn it," swore Botta. "The chosen's already become an angel. We have no choice, we're taking her back alive."
"And who is this person who wants her?" demanded the blonde.
"Damn you Kratos," whispered Lloyd, his eyes changing color. "You'll die in this damned place!"
Shit, thought Botta. If Lloyd fights both of them, he'll die here. Yuan won't stand for it.
Lloyd slashed back the blonde's attacks with the use of his swords while the renegades grabbed Colette. As soon as the renegades had her, Lloyd started to prepare for battle. "Damn it Lloyd!" shouted Botta, pulling him back. "Don't die in this hell!" Lloyd attempted to throw off Botta, however, his trial was in vain and all he could do was give Kratos a look that could kill the dead.
What the? Thought Kratos, looking at Lloyd. The ponytail, the clothes, could it be? He continued thinking these thoughts as Lloyd was dragged out with the other renegades.
"Renegades," spat the blonde. "As irritating as ever. Still, it is of little consequence; Kratos, let us leave." As the last words came out of his mouth, he slowly vanished into a ball of light.
"Raised by the renegades," whispered Kratos, gazing at the spot where Lloyd had been. "But those clothes… I'm going to have a talk with Yuan. Don't die Lloyd." Soon he too had disapeared into a ball of light, flying upwards, feathers flying about.
"I see," said Yuan, looking at his desk rather than at Lloyd and Botta. "So you were too late?"
"I'm sorry sir," said Botta. "I was responsible."
"It doesn't matter who was responsible and who isn't," said Yuan calmly. "Where can they go? After all, the technology that can save the chosen isn't in Sylvarant."
"But it's in Tethe'alla," said Botta.
"Hm, and that Sheena girl is from Tethe'alla," whispered Yuan. "If they go to Tethe'alla, then they may be able to save Colette."
"But how do we know she won't try to return to Cruxis?" asked Botta. "After all, if it weren't for her companions, she would have sacrificed herself to Cruxis."
"So we should have someone watch her close up," said Yuan, looking about. "After all, if we watch her from a distance again, we can't find out any plans."
"Last time we knew where they were going," said Botta, as if hinting at something. "After all, we have connections to Cruxis and knew the journey of regeneration. But this time, we have no idea where they're heading."
"Lloyd," said Yuan, looking at his own hands rather than Lloyd's eyes. "You have already accompanied the chosen, correct?" When Lloyd nodded, Yuan continued. "Then they may have a little trust left for you. So, I assume you have no objections?"
The old Lloyd, before Yuan's lessons, may have objected. But instead, Lloyd nodded slightly. I'll just have to come up with some excuse, he thought. I'll say that I was trying to kill Kratos because I knew about him being with Cruxis. But now I'll have to get ready to go to Tethe'alla.
"Botta," said Yuan when Lloyd was out of earshot. "I have to return to Derris Kharlan. Kratos has asked a discussion with me, so our little secret may be out. If that's true, try to make sure that no one from Cruxis has a talk with Lloyd or anything like that. Kratos will try to get Lloyd back, but from my tales of Kratos, hopefully that will be next to impossible."
I really don't like where this is going, thought Botta. If Kratos knows the truth and Yggdrasil does as well, then there isn't much that can be done about Lloyd. Yggdrasil has the eternal sword, so then he may be able to have evidence that Lloyd will not be able to reject. I may not be involved, yet I still fear for how Lloyd will be affected. "I'll do whatever I can," was all that Botta could say.
"Good," said Yuan, his turquoise wings flying out. "Watch after the base while I'm gone." In a flash of light, Yuan vanished, feathers flying about.
Botta sighed. "Yuan, I don't know how much trouble you've gotten yourself in, but I know one thing; when this secret is out, heads will roll."
Me: kKnd of a short chapter, but hey Kratos isn't dead! Puffballs are seen in the background doing the "Yay! Kratos isn't dead!" dance. But what does Kratos want with Yuan? And whom will Lloyd meet first? And why hasn't my ramen boiled yet? These questions will be answered next time!