I have a couple of special thanks before I get out of the way and let you read the chapter.

First, thanks to Kitty-Katz-Katz who beta read for chapters four through eight. (Which is the reason those chapters don't suck.)

Also, thanks to freakyanimegal456 for helping me come up with a new (and hopefully more interesting) summary.

Now have a chapter.

Chapter X: The Tower

At the center of the world

Stands a tower that reaches up into the heavens.

There you shall find your salvation.

-The Scriptures of Martel

Lloyd was sure he was seeing things. This couldn't possibly be real.

Standing next to Yggdrasill was a tall man with long auburn hair. He was wearing a strange blue and white outfit with leather straps. Lloyd had recognized his father immediately, even though he had not seen the older man in three years, and his head was filled with nothing but questions. What was Kratos doing here? Why was his dad with this Yggdrasill person? Yuan said Kratos had died - Kratos' letter had said he would have died if he had been found! Lloyd was overjoyed that his father was alive, but something was wrong. Kratos stayed silent, his head bowed slightly, his red eyes dull. Lloyd had never seen his father so submissive before, and it frightened him. What was going on?

"My lord - " Remiel began.

"I have no more need for you," Yggdrasill said to Remiel, cutting him off. "You are dismissed."

For a moment Remiel seemed about to object, but quickly remembered his place. He vanished in a flash of light.

Yggdrasill turned back to Yuan. "Yuan, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Yggdrasill again, his patience quickly wearing thin.

Yuan didn't say anything, trying to think of a way to escape alive. "I asked you a question, Yuan!" shouted Yggdrasill, his temper starting to rise dangerously. "What is the meaning of this? Why did you interrupt the Chosen's ritual?"

Yuan tightened his grip on his sword. There would be no way for him to talk his way out of this. The most he would be able to do is to escape with his life. "The Chosen is still incomplete, my lord," he glanced at the others out of the corner of his eye, why weren't they running yet? Didn't they realize what danger they were in? "She still must – "

"You're lying!" shouted Yggdrasill, suddenly angry. "The Chosen has a Key Crest! What have you done?"

Colette gasped, and touched the Key Crest on her neck; she had completely forgotten about it!

Yuan said nothing.

Yggdrasill was burning with rage. How dare Yuan get in the way! He needed this Chosen! He needed her to revive his sister!

"Aurion!"

Kratos' head snapped up when he heard his name, suddenly alert.

Yggdrasill smirked. "Kill the Chosen's companions. All of them."

Yuan swore, as Kratos drew his sword, a long orange blade shaped like fire. He leaped off the platform and ran straight at Yuan, who brought his sword up just in time to block what would have without a doubt have been a fatal blow.

Kratos jumped backwards, stepping out of the parry, but ready to attack again when he saw a weakness. Yuan did not give him an opening. He kept a careful eye on his enemy, watching for even the slightest sign that Kratos would strike again.

"Lloyd, I need you and the others to leave, now!" Yuan shouted, without taking his eyes off his opponent.

Lloyd didn't say anything. He had spent three years thinking his father dead, and now that it turned out this was false, Kratos was trying to kill them! What was going on? Why was he doing this? Why did he try to make Lloyd think he was dead? It didn't make any sense! Lloyd didn't want to have to fight his dad! This was all wrong!

"Why?" shouted Sheena, her spelled cards ready. "We can take him!"

"No you can't!" Yuan yelled, still unable to look up from his fight. "I can take care of myself, but you all need to leave! Just take the Chosen and go!"

Kratos took advantage of Yuan's momentary distraction and tried to slash at Yuan's legs. The half-elf jumped backwards, slicing down at Kratos, who nimbly sidestepped the blow.

"Lightning!"

"Guardian!"

A few sparks crackled on the green mana-shield, but they quickly winked out, their power gone. Kratos looked at Genis, who held his kendama defiantly in front of him, trying and failing to keep his hands from shaking. The little mage wasn't deterred by how pathetic his spell had been against the angel; he wasn't going to let Kratos kill his kinsman!

Yuan slashed at Kratos while he was distracted, but the angel easily blocked the blow. "I told you all to leave, NOW!" Yuan shouted, still exchanging vicious blows with his enemy. "Get out of here! I'll follow when I can!"

"But – !" Lloyd started.

"Lloyd, Yuan is right," Raine shouted, running to her brother. "We can't stay here. We need to run!"

Lloyd looked back at the dueling angels; he couldn't just leave! Not now!

His feet acted without consulting his brain; he ran at the two fighters, his swords raised, a wordless shout escaping him. Before he could think Kratos turned and struck his son.

Lloyd just barely managed to bring his guard up, but still went flying and landed hard and painfully on the floor several feet away with a shout of pain. He groaned, and when he looked up he almost stopped breathing when he saw the sword pointed at his throat.

Kratos raised his weapon, preparing for the final blow that would kill his son. His expression did not change.

"...Dad?"

Kratos suddenly looked pained, as if realizing when he was about to do, but his sword hand stayed steady.

Then Kratos whirled around, blocking another attack from Yuan.

"What part of 'run away' is giving you trouble, you STUPID BOY?!" Yuan shouted, his attention soon returning to his enemy.

Lloyd could only gape in horror; his father would have killed him, he knew it. His Dad would have killed him! But why? Why was his Dad suddenly acting like this?

"Lloyd!"

Sheena tugged on the boy's arm, trying to get his attention. "Lloyd, we have to get out of here!"

The boy snapped out of his daze, and without a clear thought in his head staggered to his feet with Sheena's help. They, Genis, Raine, and Colette turned to run for the warp pad, which would take them out of the Tower and out of this nightmare -

"You're not going anywhere!" Yggdrasill shouted when he saw his victims attempting to escape. He raised his arm, summoning into being a large violet sword. It hung suspended in the air like a great monolith. A shock wave of mana blasted out from the sword, striking and knocking over Lloyd and the others.

Yuan cursed, grimacing in pain; they were all going to die now, he knew it.

Kratos looked away.

Then a comet of light flew at Yggdrasill, bursting into a great explosion of white light as it struck the seraph. Yggdrasill shouted in surprise, raising his arm to create a barrier from the attack.

As soon as the light dissipated Yggdrasill opened his eyes, then shouted with rage. Half a dozen men in Desian uniforms has appeared in the time the seraph was blinded. They were running to Yggdrasill's fallen victims, helping them stand, and then taking them to the warp panel at the other end of the chamber. These were the Renegades, and they were evacuating the Chosen!

Yuan ignored the confused and dazed expressions on his 'companion's' faces as his men took them away. He had called the Renegades telling them his plan had gone awry before leaving for the Tower, and now that decision had saved his life. The half-elf glanced back over his shoulder, and saw Yggdrasill's face twist with rage. He knew now. Yuan was a traitor. The Renegade turned away from his former master, and followed his men and his companions through the warp panel.

Yggdrasill's face was contorted with rage, glaring at the place his seraph had been just a moment ago. "So... Yuan is with the Renegades...? How dare he betray me..." His fury dissipated quickly, replaced with simple irritation. "No matter, we will retrieve the Chosen in due time. It is time we left, Aurion."

Yggdrasill warped away in a flash of light, leaving behind only a few white-mana feathers, which quickly dissolved and were soon gone.

Kratos did not move, his gaze stayed on the place where Lloyd and the others had vanished. Then he closed his eyes and turned away, accepting this as the way things had to be.

He followed Yggdrasill, vanishing in a brief flash of white light.