A/N: Not much to say except I'll make something to drink or eat soon. Preferably coffee. Mmmmm~
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Part XIV: Altessa
--
Given the little bout of trouble with the Papal Knights they had in the forest, Emil, Aster, and Richter were a bit surprised when they arrived within Sybak's city limits first--presumably. They assumed so because Lloyd's group was nowhere in sight. This Titan confirmed with a scent check.
"Well," Richter said, arms folded, "since we have a bit of time, why don't we go put Aster through his paces a Knight of Ratatosk?"
"Yeah," Emil smirked. "We don't have any earth elemental monsters yet. Why don't we try our luck?"
Aster was not dulled by either of their remarks. "Okay, then. Lead the way, Mr. Senior Knight!"
"Will do!"
As they spread out, Richter with Ripplescale and Titan nearest the city (Emil wanted Leste to get some more practice), Emil studied Aster curiously. The researcher didn't seem to notice, so intent was he on observing their surroundings for an impending monster attack. Leste's harpy song was bound to attract something sometime.
Well, we don't really use magic, but ...
What's up?
Does our power give Aster the ability to use magic?
Yeah, if he wants to. Marta wanted to be able to help people, and so our power manifested within her as healing artes and light elemental attack magic.
Really ... I wonder what kind of magic Aster wants to use.
We can talk to him about it later. Earth would be appropriate, considering his patron Centurion, but it's really his choice.
I doubt he'd object to at least starting with the earth element. It'd help him with earth type monsters, and he'd get closer to Solum.
Yeah. This can wait until after he makes a pact, right?
Yeah.
"Emil, stand back!" Aster unlocked the blades of his spinner, feet spread shoulder width apart in anticipation of an attack. Leste's song turned from just abstract melodies into the casting of a spell; Turbulence. Shadows splayed in the sunlight, and from the brush near the forest burst--
Emil blinked. "A ... Filofilia?"
It was an earth elemental monster, but ...
Damn. Talk about anticlimactic.
Well, it's better than nothing ...
...
I guess ... ?
Aster's enthusiasm was not diminished in the least. If anything, it seemed to only grow. He charged the little plant creature, dodging a wide leaf-arm. In the end, to subdue it, he only had to punt it around with a few well-aimed kicks. If he used his spinner, he undoubtedly would have sliced it to ribbons. When it was dizzy, Aster went ahead and called upon Solum to use the pact magic.
Solum's crest, identical to Ratatosk's but for the color, appeared under the plant monster. Aster's fingertips glowed the color of earth magic, deep brown with golden edges winking in the sunlight. The flows of mana was clearly new to Aster, but he wasn't Sybak's best and brightest for nothing. In next to no time, the magic was complete, and the Filofilia proceeded to rub against Aster's leg, like an affectionate cat.
Aster giggled, locking the blades on his spinner, stroking the monster behind what he presumed was its ear.
"Emil, Leste," Aster said, picking up the Filofilia in his arms, "this is Arbor. Say hello!"
-
They didn't have any monster grimoires but for First Aid and Recover, so Arbor learned those before the two Knights of Ratatosk resumed their hunt for earth elemental monsters. It would have been much, much easier if they were in or near the Temple of Earth, but there was nothing they could do about that.
The second monster to join Aster's ranks was a spider named Quartz. The eight legged monster seemed rather reluctant to leave its home, though Emil was able to relieve its concerns by telling it (a female), that it would live a while longer yet, for if it stayed home, met a charming male, and ended up laying eggs later, it would die. The exact reason why some monsters died right after giving birth, no exception, was a mystery even to Ratatosk.
So, you don't know why lady spiders die after they lay eggs?
No, I don't. I only gave shape to the monsters; I don't decide where they fit in their niches. That's up to the Centurions and Origin.
Does Solum know why--?
Maybe, maybe not. Solum's the Centurion who views the most beautiful moment in life as its fragility is apparent even as it survives through newer generations.
...
Heh, freaky, I know.
Well, he is the Centurion of Earth. Only he would fully understand geological time.
They spent too much time out in the wilderness, even if Aster succeeded in making two monster pacts. By the time they returned to the city, they found the outer limit occupied by Lloyd and his friends, with Richter hanging out near the border next to the wilds, waiting for Emil and Aster to return. As Richter got acquainted with Arbor and Quartz, Emil headed into the city. Why hadn't Lloyd's group waited for them?
The reason was apparent in the form of a person, a man crowned with red hair, clad in dark purple armor, with a two handed sword belted to his side. He was speaking with Lloyd and Colette at the head of the group--Lloyd looking hotheaded as always, prepared to draw his sword. With a start, Emil recognized the man. He pushed his way through the mass of people, apologizing to Raine, Zelos, and Genis.
The man was talking to Colette.
"--ish to live, you must remove that worthless Key Crest."
For the first time in Emil's memory, Colette looked angry, genuinely angry.
"No." She said, her voice hard. "I'm never taking it off. Lloyd gave this to me."
"Foolish sentiments." The swordsman made to leave, but, broken wrist and all, Emil stood in his way.
"You--I know you. You can't be--Kratos?"
Time seemed to stop. Lloyd had the most incredulous look on his face, as if to ask Emil, "You know this heartless bastard?" Kratos of course had a look of pure confusion on his face. It took a few moments of shared eye contact before his one visible eye went wide, and his lips parted in shock.
"This mana--this can't be--you should be ... no ..." Kratos was very stunned himself.
Wait--he can sense mana? Isn't he human?
He ingested Aionis, a legendary ore found only on Derris-Kharlan, the Great Motherland of the elves.
Emil's throat went tight and dry, like sandpaper. He clenched the fist of his left hand, the one whose wrist was unbroken and whole.
Kratos's voice was stony, hard. Cold. "How ... are you here? Do you remember us? All of us?"
What does he mean?
Lemme handle this.
Well, okay, but ...
Green eyes darkened to blood red, and even with a broken wrist tied in a splint, Ratatosk managed to look intimidating. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Kratos. There were a number of things he wanted to say to Kratos, but he had no wish to blow his cover before Lloyd and his friends. Lloyd would play his part, Ratatosk would his.
"Kratos Aurion." Ratatosk's voice was low. Lloyd and the others wouldn't hear, except Colette. "How does it feel to be out and about, Mr. angel of Cruxis?"
Kratos regained his normal stoic expression. " ... I take it you're the reason the Cruxis System's alarms have been going off nonstop?"
Ratatosk smirked, glad to have made this stony human uncomfortable. "We spirits don't take well to betrayal, Kratos. Tree spirits even less. It'll take some time, but I'm regaining my power, little by little. And ... I've already got a new Knight."
Kratos's brow shot straight up. "What? When did this happen!?"
"Just now." The summon spirit couldn't keep the satisfaction out of his voice. "He's only a human, but with time, his power will grow, as does mine. I also already awakened a Centurion. Solum, if you remember him correctly."
"The only aspects of the Cruxis System your Centurions affect is the Monster Distribution System." Kratos said. "It is of little consequence. Not like the mana links."
"So, what do you have to say for yourself? You do know what will happen to you and your precious Seraphim friends when I fully regain my power, right?"
Kratos did not reply right away. After a hefty silence, he said, "It is not just you we betrayed. I'm well aware that we've made enemies of the entire world. I don't know about Yuan or Mithos, but I'm definitely prepared to pay the price. I have only one thing to ask of you."
Ratatosk quirked a brow. "And that is?"
"Just leave me be until I can entrust it to Lloyd."
"It?"
"You know of which I speak. The object which allowed this twisted world to exist."
"Ah-hah. I gotcha."
The object which allowed this twisted world to exist? What does he mean?
It's a magic sword, created by Origin specifically for Mithos the Hero.
Uh-huh ...
Tch. Origin made a foolish move there. Why would he make something so powerful for a mere mortal, even if he ended the Kharlan War?
You'd have to ask Origin for that, I guess.
Of course.
Ratatosk folded his arms, still not looking very happy. How would one be happy to see one of the people who betrayed him, abused his power, and stuck him in a seal for four thousand years? He sighed, shaking his head.
"I can't make any promises ... Once I awaken my Centurions, all bets are off."
Kratos nodded. "I couldn't ask for anything more."
With that, Kratos left the city.
--
Once more, the monsters, including the newest additions, were to wait outside the city while their masters amused themselves with whatever business they had to attend to. It was in the bazaar as Emil haggled for Key Crests that Lloyd managed to corner him under the pretense of separating good quality Key Crests from bad ones.
"Emil--how do you know Kratos?"
Damn. Of course; they all had been watching most intently when it appeared they did nothing more than stare each other down. Emil found himself fervently hoping Lloyd hadn't heard anything of the conversation. He shrugged.
"The first time I saw him ..." He rifled through the mortal Emil's memories of Palmacosta, "Was when Magnius was attacking the city."
"Ah." Lloyd said, picking up one Key Crest, examining the angelic language carved on the inhibitor ore. "Yeah, he made a big show of running up to Magnius, slicing his side open and saying something like, 'respect the wishes of the Chosen.' Hmph."
Had Lloyd always borne this animosity toward Kratos? According to Yuan at the World Tree, Kratos had been one of Lloyd's companions ... and friends. But how far back did the "had been" stretch? The way Lloyd had looked at Kratos, among everyone else, they would have been enemies. Were they? In Emil's memory of life in Palmacosta, at that incident where Magnius attacked, Lloyd had not attacked Kratos. Instead, he ignored the older man in favor of attacking Magnius. So, had they been friends when they were in Palmacosta?
Emil decided to just change the subject. There was too little he himself knew about Kratos, although Ratatosk appeared to know him quite well. Ratatosk had said that Kratos, along with the man's friends, had betrayed him. Tree spirits don't take well to betrayal, Ratatosk had said. Did that mean--did Kratos form a pact with Ratatosk? If so, what kind of pact?
"Palmacosta was the first time I saw you, too. Of course I didn't know who you were, but I thought you were amazing for standing up to the Desians like that."
Instead of smiling at the compliment, Lloyd's eyes went dark, distant, as he thought.
"So you really are from Sylvarant ..." he said softly.
"Y-yeah."
Man, what's with Lloyd? He's acting like he did after the Blood Purge.
He was more at ease with all of you after we remembered who we were.
That was true. Lloyd had been more cheerful. He had gotten along with everybody, including Emil and Marta, who may have felt lingering resentment toward him for the Blood Purge, even if he had been innocent all along. The fact remained it was Lloyd's form that attacked the city. The memory of him slicing down innocent people was forever etched in their minds.
Then Lloyd's voice broke his thoughts.
"I'm sorry, Emil. Even though we talked in Zelos's mansion, the thought you were really a Sylvaranti was hard to accept."
First impressions were everything. Now it went both ways, for Emil and Lloyd. Emil's first impression of Lloyd was the ruthless man who killed his own people despite the fact he had helped save both Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. In this altered timeline, Lloyd's first impression of Emil was the twin brother of a Tethe'allan scientist who wanted his hands on a soulless Colette.
So the rift between Sylvaranti and Tethe'allans really was so deep.
The whole of the Tethe'alla might know of Sylvarant's existence, Ratatosk's voice echoed, but Sylvarant as of now has no idea that Tethe'alla even exists.
How would you know?
The worlds are split. Tethe'alla knows of Sylvarant because they investigated the Otherworldly Gate. Right now, only Tethe'alla has that prejudice against Sylvarant.
No, that's not necessarily true. Remember how Lloyd treated us when he thought we were Tethe'allan?
Ah, that's where you're wrong. Would Lloyd have acted that way if he didn't think Colette were in danger?
That made Emil giggle. You're doing it again.
Wha--doing what?
Being nice.
What--I am not!
You so are.
In case you didn't notice, I just threatened Kratos.
Well, I'm not so sure I'd trust someone, either, if they betrayed me.
Ah-hah. What about Richter, then?
Hey--!
"What're you smiling about?" Lloyd's voice broke Emil's little mental debate. "I mean, I still couldn't believe you're really Sylvaranti until now ... how does that make you happy?"
Uh-oh.
I keep telling you to pay attention.
Emil ignored that last little jibe in favor of focusing on Lloyd. This was a simple mishap that could be easily fixed. Still smiling, he said,
"I'm just happy that you believe me at all." Not that it wasn't true.
That threw Lloyd off guard. After a moment's pause, as if considering what Emil said, his mouth slowly turned upward in a long smile. He pressed some Gald into the hands of the bazaar seller before depositing something in Emil's own hand.
As the brunette swordsman grinned, Emil thought, Now that's the Lloyd I know.
His question answered, Lloyd said a farewell ("See you later!"), ambling off to his other companions, who were doing some shopping of their own in the form of equipment, medicines, and food. Watching Lloyd go, Emil opened his hand.
Glimmering in the dying sunlight was a Key Crest.
-
It was extremely weird to be in Sybak, and not be in Aster's room. Given that they weren't ready just yet to submit themselves to the Academy and suffer the consequences of their actions, they holed themselves up in the inn along with Lloyd's group, a hefty sum of Gald ensuring the innkeeper kept his mouth shut. The inn Emil remembered going to when he first visited Sybak two years later was far too cramped for ten people--only one room, and only two beds! So they found a more comfortable, roomier inn a little deeper in the city.
It wasn't that different from Meltokio's inn, except it had one more room. It would be a tight squeeze with the four women of Lloyd's group sharing a room and the remaining three men (or man to be in Genis's case) sharing another, but it would work. Emil, Richter, and Aster had the last room to themselves.
"Here," Emil said, up-endng a small leather bag on the tiny round table, "I don't much about Key Crests, so Lloyd helped pick them out. They should work once we actually get some Exspheres." He refrained from mentioning that he would have little need of an Exsphere.
"They're pretty small," Aster commented, examining his in the lamplight. "The ones Lloyd and his friends were wearing were bigger."
"Yeah," Richter agreed. "But I don't think that should affect how they restrain an Exsphere's parasitic process."
"I dunno," Aster replied doubtfully. "I can see angelic language carved on this, but it's all cramped together. What if this can't make an Exsphere safe to wear?"
A little irritably, Emil said, "It's the best we have right now. Do you have any bright ideas how to get better ones?"
Equally as irritably, perhaps even more, Richter shot back, "Actually, I do. There's a dwarf that lives here in Tethe'alla. His name is Altessa. If we find him, he could make some real Key Crests for us. They'll be more reliable than these little trinkets."
That made Emil pause. Slowly, he asked Richter, "You know a dwarf? I thought they're pretty rare."
Of course, Emil had nothing to back up this claim except his memories of growing up in Sylvarant. There were half-elves aplenty thanks to the Desians, but elves themselves were scant, and not just because their village was in Tethe'alla. Just like elves, there must be dwarves in Sylvarant, but they must not make themselves apparent.
Are you sure you're remembering correctly?
What do you mean?
Lloyd's dad, Dirk. He's a dwarf. You two talked about it in Zelos's mansion.
I know that. I've even heard of him in Palmacosta, too. But it seems like Dirk's the only dwarf anybody knows in Sylvarant.
"They are," Richter agreed, his irritable demeanor evaporated. "Because they live underground. Our mines are we what we consider deep, but they're nowhere near deep enough to reach any other dwarves. Our tunnels have barely scratched the surface of their domain."
"Then," Emil quirked a brow, "How do you know a dwarf? Dirk lives on the surface in Sylvarant because he raised Lloyd."
The atmosphere in the room became very dim, even though the lights were still on. Richter always had that stoic look on his face, but Aster, the most unnaturally cheerful person Emil had ever met (even more so than Colette), had a deep frown; his eyes were studying the Key Crest in his hands, but blankly. Emil blinked, confused. What had he said wrong?
"You saw that girl with Lloyd," Richter said slowly, "Presea?"
"Yeah." Emil replied. "She's always so quiet. She doesn't really talk much."
Again, the horrible silence.
"Never mind that." Aster finally said. "Altessa lives in a mountainside, but in a dwelling close to the surface. He told us before that in the early days of dwarvish civilization, they lived in dwellings carved out of the surface of mountains and foothills. As they worked metals and minerals more and more, they went deeper and deeper in order to find better materials to ply their craft, until they developed the intense network of tunnels they live in today."
"Really? Wow." Emil let out a low whistle. "Has anybody ever been in a dwarf tunnel?"
Aster shook his head. "Only those closest to the surface, and that's dangerously deep by human mining standards. Elves even less; they like to live in forests."
"Anyway," Richter said, "If we can't find that Exsphere broker, Altessa's the only one who can give us some Exspheres. Though I don't imagine he'll just smile and give us all we ask for. I don't know about the other dwarves, but Altessa's not the most gracious person I've ever known."
They continued to talk about this well after nightfall, not just about dwarves, but also of the Exspheres soon to belong to them. Aster made a great joke of asking Emil and Richter where they planned to wear their Key Crests and Exspheres. Emil had stuttered and answered that it was most likely going to be on his hand, like Lloyd, while Richter had just retorted that it was none of Aster's business. But even through the laughing he and Aster had done at Richter's expense, both he and Ratatosk shared a disturbing thought.
Both Richter and Aster were hiding something.