"In the name of our goddess", the man on top of the stairs shouted. "I, as the king of Tethe'alla will expose of this fake chosen!"
"That's not true!"
A young boy, forced on his knees by some soldiers, struggled to stand up, but was forced down with a blow on the back of his head. He gasped in pain, shaking in contemplation of his certain death.
"Silence faker", the king shouted again. A woman in the back of the crowd tried to force her way to the front, however it was impossible to break through. Deciding not to raise too much attention she turned around, choosing the other road above the rooftops. Once there, there was no more reason to hide under the bright white cloak whose hood covered her head and hid her face.
"I'm not a faker! This IS my crystal!", the boy tried to argue again. His voice shook just as much as his body.
"And it is indeed false. You claimed the title of chosen, but you are not of pure blood!"
The king slowly walked his way down to the boy, his sword in his hands.
"I shall grand you some last words before I will perform justice on your soul."
The boy looked up to the king in silence, then lowered his head.
"No last words? Fine then." His voice lowered down, the king faced the guards. "Turn him around."
As soon as the boy was turned to face the crowd, he looked over to some protesting people. The rest was just shouting at him. "Faker" they called him. "cadger" and "imposter". It made tears running down his face. The people he loved so much were defying him, hating him. He looked up into the heavens, closed his eyes.
"Holy Martel", he shouted. "Please forgive them. They've done nothing wrong. Please help me save this world!"
The expected hit never came. Instead the crowd went quiet and the boy heard the king gasp behind him. The guards who held him down the whole time backed away, their faces changed between anger and fear. He quickly turned around and saw a white figure holding the king's hand with the sword back. Moreover, this person had some blue, shining wings on its back. The kings expression seemed slipped.
"Who... who are you?"
Instead of answering, the angel threw the king against one of the guards with ease and the sword fell to her feet in the process. Then, she turned to face the boy, pulled him on his feet and removed the hood.
"Dearest Chosen of Tethe'alla", she began, her voice loud and clear. "We of Cruxis bless you. I was sent to guard the holy bloodline. My name is Spiritua."
The boy was still unable to talk, but the king already got up and the angel turned to face him.
"But he is..."
"No one", Spiritua interrupted. "is allowed to threaten the Chosen. There is no excuse for such a crime." While she walked up to the king, her hand began to glow, the glow grew bigger until it formed a blade. Some of the shine was dancing around the blade as if it was alive. "Traitors will be eliminated..."
Pronyma watched the other woman closely as they stood inside the elevator which lead through the tower of salvation to Welgaia. Why was her beloved Lord just so into her? She couldn't understand. That wasn't the woman he was after a few weeks ago. This was someone different, just an empty shell of her former self. Pronyma had watched as Lord Yggdrasill told her stories about their past and she believed in all of them up until now. However, the grand cardinal noticed that she took over a lot of her Lord's character traits. Right now, she had her eyes closed and seemed lost in thoughts.
"Milady?" No answer. "Lady Raine!" The elevator already stopped, but the half-elf didn't seem to notice. At least not until both of them heard an oh so familiar voice.
"Sister!" Lord Yggdrasill walked up to them and Raine looked up, smiled a bit. Pronyma decided not to talk and keep her head down while she was around her beloved Lord.
"Mithos. I am sorry it took me so long. I was..."
The blonde angel interrupted her by pulling her close and hugging her. He nearly knocked the breath out of her while doing that.
"Don't EVER go off like that again", he said while resting his head against her shoulder. Mithos was in his older form, but this didn't stop him from caring for his sister. He felt her resting her hands against his neck and slowly stroking his hair afterward. He lowered his voice before he continued talking. "I was worried. Something could have happened to you."
"I returned safely, did I not? There is no need to worry anymore."
Mithos pulled back a little so he could look in her eyes, stayed silent for a few seconds.
"But why didn't you tell me what happened?"
"What do you mean? I did..."
"Yuan attacked you and I didn't know any of this. Why didn't you send anyone?"
"I figured it was not necessary. I did send someone to Forcystus after all."
He looked at her, sighed a little. Actually he was just glad that she was back. Back in one piece that is.
"Until I tell otherwise, you will stay in Vinheim."
Raine didn't seem very pleased with it, but smiled after she stared at him for a long time.
"As you wish, Mithos."
As Zelos entered the house again, the others were already wide awake and seemed to be panicking.
"What happened?", he asked Sheena, who was closest to him and who looked out the window. She looked over to him, slightly pale.
"Zelos! Where the hell were you? Raine is gone again!"
The Chosen stayed quiet, crossed his arms.
"I know. And she won't come back." Almost everyone turned around to Zelos screaming 'What?' while doing so. "Ah come on. Don't look at me like that. Did you actually think she would stay? Don't make me laugh."
Immediately Lloyd was in front of him, pulling him close by gripping his vest.
"If you have anything to do with this, Zelos, then..."
"Then what? You're going to hit me? Just to let you know, I am NOT responsible, okay!" Letting him go, Lloyd walked back a few steps, but still every one of them stared at him. "She was fooling us the whole time. So there's no reason to be mad at me."
"What the hell are you talking about?", Sheena asked with a raised voiced. "She's our friend! She couldn't..."
"She killed the pope, she lied to us and she made us look like complete idiots. Also she reported everything we did back to Yggdrasill through Pronyma. The two of them just left town."
Zelos heard how Genis started crying. "I don't believe that! She's my sister! Raine doesn't do stuff like that!"
"You better believe it, twerp."
They all became quiet and just Genis sobs broke the silence here and there. Colette knelt down to Genis, trying to comfort him while she herself had tears in her eyes. The chosen also saw Lloyd clench his fists and forcing back some tears.
"Damn it."
"So tell me", her brother started while they wandered through the hallways of Vinheim. "What happened while you were gone? You barely sent any massages."
Raine had to smile a little. His concern about her flattered her a little. It was really amusing to see how he treasured her like the most precious thing in the world while the woman, Pronyma, who walked a little behind her, tried everything just to get his attention. All she had to do was to smile at Mithos to make him look at her like she was a goddess herself. Maybe he was oversensitive when it came to her, but this made this game more amusing.
"I am truly sorry about that, brother, but there was no way to contact you while I was around these humans." She lay one hand on her chin as she started to think where to start. "Well as you already know, Yuan tried to attack me back in the church in Meltokio. However, I do not think he was quite serious about it."
"Why is that?"
"He did not fight properly. Also he did behave strangely." She let one of the mana-rings appear around her wrist, watched it closely. "As soon as he saw these, he fled."
"As long as you are save, I don't care. I will punish him for what he did."
As soon as Yuan was found that was. Since he ordered his remaining Grand Cardinals to keep an eye on his beloved sister, he lost track of Yuan and Kratos, but most likely the two of them were somewhere together, plotting against him like they did for such a long time.
"Mithos?" Raine made him jump a bit as she carefully brushed back a few of the long, blonde bangs of his hair. "Do not think too hard and let us just relax a little. You need it as well as I do."
"I guess you're right...", he said. "We could go into the gardens."
She smiled at him and he felt how he instantly felt warmer. That smile washed away every regret he might have had.
"Agreed."
Together they walked down the hallway, Pronyma still following them, until they reached a door deep within the castle. Mithos turned around.
"You have permission to leave", he said to the Grand Cardinal. She bowed a little, clearly not pleased with the situation. What did she expect? A thanks? Foolish woman. However this was not important at that moment. Together with Raine he entered the gardens, a paradise beyond believe. The gigantic room seemed endless and was filled with all kind of old, new, exotic and common plants. Mithos first made this room to save the rare plants from getting extinguished during the wars and the first years after. From time to time he returned to this room with a new plant, mostly flowers, so the room was filled with a heavy scent and the colorful surrounding made this room the most comfortable in all Dherris Kharland. Yet, no one except for a few selected angels and himself were permitted here and the angels only to keep the plants from dying.
"Mithos? I would like to ask you something", Raine suddenly said as they slowly walked between some old trees, down a small alley.
"What is it, dear sister?"
"It is about Zelos. I do not understand his role in your plan."
"He is nothing but a puppet, dearest."
They sat down between some flowers in the soft grass and Mithos changed into his younger form. After doing so, he lay his head in her lap, watched her as her eyes scanned the garden for every detail. It made him laugh a bit.
"You don't need to memorize all of this, sister. You are not in enemy territory."
"I know. But this is so beautiful", she answered, smiling softly at him and stroke his hair. With a soft sigh he closed his eyes so he could enjoy everything she gave him. It had been a long time since he was able to feel because the world had made him dull and emotionless throughout the years. But with her at that very moment, he felt happy, even though it was not real. For him, nothing was any more, so he accepted the fake. Just the love he felt for his sister was true and important.
"You always liked this place a lot."
"I did?"
"Yes. When we traveled around we always had to stop when you saw some pretty flowers. So I made you this garden. You said you loved the smell."
"I see. Well the scent is truly enjoyable and the garden very beautiful."
"Thank you. Everything for you, sis. I just want to be the best brother." He looked up at her.
"I could not wish for a better brother", she said and smiled at him. Time and time again he felt the warmth rushing through his body.
Carefully, the half-elf petted her little brother's hair, leaned against the tree and sighed a little. She would be stuck here for some time until Mithos changed his mind, but who was she to argue with him? He maybe was her brother, but at the same time, he was her master and the only one she could trust.
"Raine?", the blonde suddenly said and looked up to her. "What do you think about Lloyd and his companions?"
She looked at him in silence, thought for a second. They were really charming and friendly, but that disgusted her a lot. The only one she kind of felt connected to was the small half-elf, Genis as far as she remembered. However he preferred his human friends over everything else.
"They are just a bunch of dreamers and nobodies. Nothing too threatening. Speaking of nobodies, why did you let Zelos travel with the group? He seems to get some wrong ideas."
"Zelos is nothing but a traitor. He even betrays himself. Maybe we should get rid of him soon."
"Oh my. Why so harsh, brother? Maybe he could proof useful."
He looked at her in surprise. "How is that?"
"Right now, he is nothing but a dog on a leash." She smiled and looked up into the artificial sun. "And I would like to keep him as a pet if you do not mind."
"A... pet? Why? He is just a human!" Mithos got up, looked at her in shock. She expected such a reaction, yet she just smiled over to him.
"There there, Mithos. It is because he is human I would like to keep him. He follows every order I give him. Look at it as... keepsake once we are finished here." Mithos stayed silent. "Well you can think about it. But you would make me really happy."
Saying that, she knew she won. Mithos would never ever deny her any wish she had. Yet he still looked quite angry down into the grass, so she decided to change the subject.
"I remembered something while Pronyma and I were traveling over here."
"What? You do?" The little half-elf looked at her in surprise.
"At least I think I do. It is quite absurd really. I remember being called Spiritua." Mithos chuckled a little. "Why are you laughing?"
"I was just wondering when you would remember. Spiritua was the second name we gave you while you were amongst this pathetic mortals."
"But... why?"
"Spiritua is an old elvish name and means savior. I thought it is quite fitting for your job."
"Leading the people back to the right path and believing in our goddess Martel."
"Yes. I am just glad that we are soon able to stop this pitiful masquerade."
"So what are the next steps?"
"You just stay here and let me do some work myself."
Raine sighed. "You know I do not like being locked up."
"It will not be for long." Ne knelt down beside her, carefully took her hand and smiled at her. "You still have to relearn how to control your mana. I still feel it leaking. As soon you can manage to seal off your mana we can finally judge this fools. Starting with the group of the failed chosen."
Back at the Renegade's base, Kratos finally managed to stand straight again. Due his angelic powers it took him a lot less time to regain his strength than a mere mortal. Since a part of his clothes was burned or ripped thanks to Raine's little outburst at Palmacosta, he asked Yuan to borrow him some clothes. However the only fitting outfit they found was Yuan's old cruxis-uniform since Kratos refused to take one of the Renegade's armor. It was quite similar to Kratos' own uniform, but it had some extra, silver armor pieces with some rubies on them on the shoulders as well as a deep blue cloak. Also the trousers were not separated into two pieces. Instead it was one, deep blue one with bright blue and white stripes on the sides. A brown belt with a silver buckle shaped like angel wings held them into place. The upper part was pretty much the same as his own uniform.
After changing the mercenary entered Yuan's room. The half-elf sat at the table over some documents, Botta by his side. Kratos never understood why Yuan trusted Botta that much, but he was fine with that. With a silent motion, Yuan sent the brown-haired half-elf out the room so they were able to talk in private.
"How do you feel?", the blue haired man asked and leaned back in his chair. Kratos walked over.
"Fine. Were you able to find anything out?"
"It seems it is as we expected. Also Pronyma took her back to the tower of salvation. I suppose Mithos will not let her out again until he turned her over completely. And it pretty much foils every plan we had."
"What about Zelos?"
"My men were not able to get that slippy bastard. He went back before they could catch up to him. I still wonder why he went outside." Yuan closed his eyes and thought for a second. The mercenary walked over to the window and looked outside into the desert. "What are you going to do now?"
"Someone needs to explain Lloyd and the others what is going on. They may be the only ones who are able to stop the two of them before it ends in a catastrophe again", Kratos said in a lowered voice and looked over to his friend.
"Do you really think you can do it?", Yuan asked after a while, looking straight into the others eyes.
"They will hate me. But it is not the first time I'm the bad guy..."
"That's not what I mean." Kratos raised his eyebrows and looked a bit confused. "I mean are you able to do it? To fight her if necessary?"
The human stayed silent, looked down on his feet.
"If I have to protect this world and my son, I guess I have no choice."
Yuan got up from his chair. "I will accompany you. No one knows her better than I do. Let us just hope you are doing the right thing. And that you are strong enough."
"... I hope so as well."
The remaining members of Lloyd's group were still scattered throughout Zelos' mansion after none of them was able to get some rest after Zelos' sudden confession about Raine. Colette and Presea tried to comfort Genis upstairs who locked himself inside one of the guestrooms. Lloyd was in the garden, hitting his head against the cold wall and cursing silently. Zelos could also hear him crying. Regal went outside on the balcony, but it was easy to tell that he was shocked as well. The red-haired chosen was in the library, sat on a couch and leaned his head against his hand. He stared down on the floor. Finally, he hit a dead end. There was no way to turn back, no way to get Raine back. If he believed in Pronyma's words, she was gone for good and was replaced by Mithos' new sister. And if he went on, not only his own life, also his friend's and more importantly his sister's was in danger, too. He could neither oppose, nor join Cruxis, the Renegades or his friends. It was all his fault and he was overflown by regret, a complete new feeling for him.
Sheena came inside and sat down beside him, silently. For a few minutes which seemed like an eternity, none of them said a word until Sheena finally broke the heavy cloud.
"How do you know she betrayed us?"
Zelos closed his eyes, sighed a bit. His voice was more monotonous than he intended it to be. "I followed her when she left the mansion. She met Pronyma on one of the rooftops and they talked a while about the pope's murder and that she should return to Mithos."
Again, silence fell over them while both of them stared at the bookshelves across the room. Sheena had nothing to answer and nothing to say. Although she did have questions and a lot of them, too. The one she wanted to ask the most she didn't dare to ask. It was just not her style.
"Sheena", Zelos suddenly said and the assassin almost jumped. She looked over to him and her eyes were locked into the deep blue ones of his. "I need you to do me a favor."
"What is it?", she asked, feeling her heart beat up to her throat. Zelos never asked her for anything, so this was a first.
"I... I need you to do something for me. You need to watch and take care of my sister for me."
"Seles? But why? You know she hates me." The black-haired girl blinked. Indeed Seles hated her more than anything else, most likely because she was able to spend more time with Zelos than his little sister was.
"I know. But you know I trust you. And in case something happens to me..."
She interrupted him.
"Woh wait. What are you planning?" Silence. "Zelos? Tell me. It can't be good when you're behaving that way." Silence again. Instead the red-haired chosen got up and walked over to the window.
"I'm going to join Cruxis."
"Wha-..." These words hit her hard and she was unable to form straight sentences for a few seconds and started babbling something senseless. After she forced herself to think straight, easier said than done because her temper was taking over again, she stood up, walked over to him. Just as he turned around to face her, she smacked him hard and Zelos stumbled back a few steps.
"Are you crazy?", she cried, tears forming in her eyes. She didn't care if she could be heard at that moment. "You can't betray us! Also Mithos will kill you!"
Zelos laughed a little. He expected such a reaction, but he hasn't been prepared for it. He lowered his head, held his red cheek and closed his eyes.
"That's the only thing I can do right? And if I have to fall on my knees and beg for mercy, than fine."
"Why?"
"I guess there's no other choice."
"That's not what I asked! Why Zelos?"
He could hear her voice break and he didn't dare to look at his old friend.
"As I said. There's no other choice. We're stuck right now. This may be the only way to get Raine back." Sheena didn't answer, so he looked up. He couldn't see her crying and her sobbing just supported his bad feeling even more. Slowly he pulled her into his arms and the oh so proud assassin pressed her head against his chest, lay her hands on his back and gripped him tightly. He felt the pain run through his body once more due to the marks Raine left earlier. It caused him to stiff a little.
"Don't go", he heard the smaller female whisper.
"I need to."
"Why? Why you?"
"Do you expect anyone else to do it?"
"We can think of something."
"There is no other option."
"B-But..."
"Sheena. I'm thankful for everything you did for me. However..." She looked up at him and he carefully wiped away one tear. "No 'buts' okay? I have to do this."
Finally, they let go of each other and stared in each others eyes for nearly an eternity.
"...What do you expect me to tell the others?"
Zelos scratched his head and chuckled a little.
"You tell me. You'll think of something."
"And your sister?"
"...Tell her I'm sorry." Sheena just started to speak again, obviously getting angry again, but he showed her to stop. "Please. You know I trust you. You're the best friend I ever had."
Maybe the only one.
He walked past her to the door, ready to leave and maybe never return as he was stopped by her once more.
"You never answered me...", she said loudly, turned around and looked at him. Still he could hear her voice shaking and he knew she was crying. "Why are you doing this?"
"I..." He sighed. "I'm keeping a promise."
"What promise?"
"The promise I gave Raine back in Sybak."
"So you..."
"This whole situation is all my fault. I'll get her back and she'll surely explain everything to you. Just wait until then okay?" He turned and gave her a smile.
Sheena could feel her tears running down her cheeks again. She feared something like that happened and she knew somehow. It has been just the way the two always looked at each other. Even if they never touched each other while someone was around, it had always been these hidden glances that she saw in the corner of her eye. Also that smile of his. That smile that was only meant for someone special. Once he looked at her this way, but she had been too blind at this time to realize it back then. The assassin still couldn't understand why he was doing this to himself and to her, but there was no way she could stop him from running after the half-elf. Raine being a half-elf made the whole situation even more confusing. Zelos was famous for disliking half-elves, and now...
The only thing she was able to do was to let him go, although it pained her. It would surely leave an invisible scar.
In Vinheim, Yggdrasill and Raine had already left the gardens and went back into the main hall where the great seed was located. Both of them knew they had no time to waste if they wanted to achieve their goals. More like Mithos' goal that was, yet Raine was supporting every part of it. After all it was not like she had anything better to do anyway. Their life was eternal and all that was left to do was to somehow amuse themselves until the end of days. So why not settle some unfinished business and get a little revenge while doing so? Also there was still a lesson to be taught to both the humans and elves alike.
"So what are we going to do now?", the silver-haired angel asked while she sat down on the armrest of Mithos' throne, her favorite spot after what her brother told her. However it was pretty uncomfortable, but she was close to her brother and it was the best place to overlook their minions, there was no other word for that pathetic creatures that came in with their heads down, when they were about to bore them with senseless statistics and information. Speaking of minions, Pronyma was still missing after Mithos told her to leave them before the gardens.
"We, my dear sister, are going to wait some more. Let us just enjoy how Lloyd and his little group of unworthy fools will react once they find out you are back here with me. Also I still need to wait for Forcystus to report back."
"On what matter?"
"You know why."
He leaned his head against her shoulder and Raine softly stroke the shining blonde hair.
"And what are we going to do about Yuan and the Renegades? They will never ever surrender."
"I know. They will die with the worlds as soon as we leave here. And for Yuan and Kratos... we will just kill them the next time they show their faces."
The woman sighed softly. She expected as much. Slowly she got up and looked over to her brother and smiled softly.
"Well as long as we wait, I will go and take a shower." She saw the confused look on her brothers face and laughed softly. "Just because I can not feel does not mean I do not enjoy a hot bath."
He smiled at her.
"Alright. I will send the angels after you if I need you."
Finally in the bathtub, Raine sighed a little as she let herself sink into the hot water up to her shoulders. She could not feel hot or cold, but she could feel the thick steam, with a little help of some herbs and flowers, clear her mind. Because of said herbs, the water was not clear. Instead it had a soft green color, underlined by the strict white porcelain of the bathroom. It was Raine's private bathroom, but this made it even more gigantic. She had a whole part of the east wing of the castle for herself, containing a bedroom, a bathroom and two separated living rooms on the upper floor and the library she shared with the high members of Cruxis just below it. The library itself already took three floors in order to contain all the ancient scripts, forbidden books, researching and teachings of the church of Martel in it. The 'newer' books, containing novels, fantasy books, rhymes and a lot of books you just read in order to let time past quicker, were located in the west-wing of the castle, while both libraries were connected through a small passageway directly above the room before the throne room. Both wings of the castle directly mirrored each other, so it was not surprising that Mithos' private rooms were above the library in the west wing.
Slowly the silver-haired angel let her slim fingers run through the water, enjoying the soft sound it made. Fascinating how something so simple as water was able to wash off the stress she had earlier and relax her muscles. She pushed her index finger and her thumb together, still fascinated by how the herbs and the water made her skin soft and slick when she noticed a small white line just below the outer side of her thumb. It was still just barely noticeable on her reddened skin, but she noticed it immediately. After examining it more closely, she concluded that it was indeed a thin scar, but not thicker as a hair. On normal circumstances, she would have never noticed it. The scar went from the side of her thumb all the way down to her wrist, however it was surely not a cut. More like the remaining of a burn. Now how did she get that? Not that she was angry about it or that she should have cared, but it bothered her for some reason. It made her feel uncomfortable just seeing this. Maybe she would ask Mithos about it as soon as she found the time to do so.
A knock on the door nearly made her jump out of the water.
"Lady Raine?" Pronyma. "Lord Yggdrasill sends me. He..."
"Come in when talking to me", Raine ordered and the Grand Cardinal entered the steam-filled room. She blushed as soon as she noticed that the other half-elf was still sitting naked in the bathtub. Seeing her act like she never saw a female body before was quite amusing to her. "What is it?"
"L-Lord Yggdrasill requests you in the hall of the great seed."
"Did he say why?"
"I suppose it's about the chosen..."
"Sylverant's chosen? What about her?"
"No. Not her. Tethe'alla's. He arrived a few minutes ago at the tower and was captured immediately."
"So that is why you were gone earlier."
"Yes, Mylady."
"Fine. I will be there in a minute." Raine took one of the white towels as she got up and wrapped it around her body. While doing so she noticed Pronyma turning around. "Oh and Pronyma. I prefer my pet being unharmed. Tell my brother I will be very displeased if I find a scratch on him."
"As you wish."
Pronyma went out the room and the silver-haired half-elf growled a little. What was Zelos doing? She did not expect him this early. Well that would not stop her from taking advantage of it. Thinking of her new pet made her smile.
