A/N: WOAH! Chapter 20 only reached 800 words? Seriously?! Man...I'll make it up to you guys! This chapter will be super long!

As they stepped out of the temple, Colette collapsed, panting heavily.

"Colette!" everyone cried, rushing over to her and kneeling down.

Raine did a quick check-over, then sat back on her heels, looking worried.

"It's this angel thing again. I think I'll have to call it Angel Toxicosis..."

"Names don't matter. Kratos, where's a good spot for camp?" snapped Clara, biting her lip.

"This way," he replied, leading them away from the temple. They quickly set up camp, making sure Colette was comfortable, and Raine began mixing some medicines that would hopefully make her feel better.

Lloyd generally hung at the edge of the camp, watching them as they went about their business. He was pretty much useless, as much as he didn't like to admit it, and sighed. Hearing Noishe behind him, he turned, looking at the large dog-like creature.

"Stay with her tonight, Noishe. She needs you more than me," he murmured.

Clara glanced up, then held back a gasp, staring at the blue gem with gold plating around it that was just visible through the rip. Eyes flickering to Kratos, she realised he'd seen as well. She almost stood up and confronted him, then figured he must have a reason for hiding it, so remained sitting and continued with her job of stirring the food Genis had prepared.

The night wore on, eventually everyone falling asleep. Colette was still awake, lying curled against Noishe's side. The warmth was comforting, and was the only reason she hadn't moved yet. Glancing up, she saw Lloyd rise. He glanced at the others, checking they were asleep, and she quickly closed her eyes, evening her breathing to make it look like she was asleep. As he turned back, she opened her eyes and watched him pull off first his jacket, then his shirt.

Her eyes widened.

The Cruxis crystal on his back was obvious, a dark blue that matched the night sky. The gold that spread out from it crept down to his midback, curling in an intricate design that resembled a pair of wings.

Lloyd reached into his pack, pulling out some thread and a needle, and began to sow up the tears on his jacket and shirt. Colette continued to stare at the crystal on his back.

'Why does Lloyd have a Cruxis crystal? Only angels have them...unless Lloyd is an angel? A guardian angel? But he's never used any angelic powers...'

Finally, she figured it would be better to ask him directly. Taking a deep breath, she sat up.

Lloyd's reaction was instantaneous. He scrambled back, hitting a tree and groaning as he banged his head against it. His shirt lay discarded on the floor, but Colette ignored it.

"Lloyd? Why do you have a Cruxis crystal?" she asked bluntly, with none of her usual stumbling.

Lloyd blinked, looking confused. "What's a Cruxis crystal?" he asked.

Colette stood up and walked over to him, kneeling down beside him. He flinched slightly, drawing away, and she hesitated.

"...It's the stone on your back," she said finally.

Lloyd reached up, fingering the dark blue stone with dark eyes.

"...I don't know why I have it. It's been there for as long as I can remember," he murmured.

"And the Key Crest around it?"

"The gold stuff? My mentor gave it to me. Said it would grow with the growth of my stone, and when it finally stopped, my powers would be complete."

"Has it stopped?"

"Not yet. It doesn't do it very often, but it still does it."

Colette frowned, taking in this information.

"Please, I'd prefer if you didn't tell anyone else. My mentor always said to keep it hidden, said that some people would do anything to get their hands on it. I can't risk that," Lloyd pleaded her.

Colette smiled gently. "Of course, Lloyd. I understand," she replied soothingly. Lloyd nodded, cautiously grabbing his shirt and continuing sowing it.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Much better. I think we'll be able to continue tomorrow."

"Well, if you need to rest at all, just tell us. There's no rush."

Colette nodded, drawing away. She went back over to Noishe, curling up against him.

"Good night, Lloyd."

"Night Colette."

"We should stop off at Luin first. It would be better to restock our supplies before attempting the Tower of Mana, in case it does turn out to be a seal," Kratos said one evening as they drew closer to their destination.

"We could all do with a good night's rest on proper beds anyway," Raine agreed, smiling at the kids.

"I think Noishe needs rest the most, Professor!" Colette giggled, patting the panting 'puppy's head. He gave a half-hearted bark in reply, giving Lloyd a quick glance and winking before picking up the pace, prancing ahead with his head held high and tail wagging excitedly.

"W-Woah! How do you ride him, Lloyd?!" demanded Genis, who was trying to desperately keep a grip.

"He's less temperamental, is how," Lloyd replied with a smirk.

"Well tell him to stop! I'm going to fall off in a sec!"

Lloyd rolled his eyes. "Come on Noishe, stop it. They're not nearly as versed in your ways as I am," he said to the gleeful dog, who gave a whine then stopped, head and tail drooped. He was now panting even heavier now.

"And that's what you get for dancing around like an idiot," Clara scolded the white and green protozoan. Noishe growled, but it lacked bite.

"Alright guys, ride is over. Noishe's conked."

The two kids slid from his back, Colette patting his head and saying he was a 'good doggy' before skipping ahead, humming to herself.

"Goddess knows how she manages to keep up this enthusiasm, especially with how much she trips," Raine sighed.

"Hey guys, look! Luin's right ahead!" Colette giggled from ahead.

"Finally," groaned Clara and Genis at the same time, putting an extra spring in their step.

"Hey Noishe, I'll race you to town," Lloyd challenged. Noishe looked at him like he was mad.

"Oh! I'll race, Lloyd!" Colette chirped.

"Sure! Ready..set...go!" he yelled, starting to run. Colette chased after him, her lazy half-skip, half-jog not getting her anywhere much faster than walking.

They'd barely walked ten steps, and Lloyd was already almost at the town entrance, when Noishe's ears pricked up and he gave a guttural growl before barking loudly at Lloyd. Lloyd heard and stopped, turning in confusion, swords drawn at the warning but eyes not seeing the danger.

"Noishe? What's up?" asked Genis, confused. Noishe continued to growl, ears flat back, punctuating them with high barks. He wanted Lloyd back with them, where he was safer, but either the boy didn't hear or didn't understand as he remained where he was. They were closer now, almost within reach.

And then they saw the smoke.

Lloyd finished his cursory sweep, turned back to face them. His swords were lowered, guard down.

"Seriously Noishe, what's wrong with you? There's nothing..."

He didn't finish his sentence, dragged to the ground by Noishe hauling on his collar and then Kratos lunging overhead, stabbing the Desian that had been about to stab him through the heart. A slight amount of blood dribbled from his mouth, and he gave one choked cry before slumping to the ground, eyes wide and unseeing.

"Keep your guard up, Lloyd. Someone has attacked Luin," Kratos growled, and it was obviously by the dead man at his feet who that 'someone' was.

"Why would they attack Luin?" asked Clara, a little worried. There seemed no good reason, the villagers were hardly a threat, unless...

"Someone must have spotted us, sent word to the Desians. They expect us to retaliate," Kratos growled.

"What should we do?" asked Raine quietly, concern glittering in her eyes.

"Professionally, I would avoid them. If they are after us, we should do the opposite." Seeing them start to open their mouth's, to protest, he held up a hand. "On the other hand, I have a personal vendetta against the Cardinal, Kvar, so I will allow you to decide what we do," he finished.

The group looked at each other. Each considered the ideas and options they had, what they wanted to do, what would be best to do. Finally, they each came to their own conclusions.

"We go in," was Clara, Lloyd and Colette's immediate response. Genis and Raine, who had been about to suggest otherwise, felt protests die in their throat. Against two of the most stubborn in their group? They weren't winning that argument.

"Fine, but we should rest first. We can't help anyone if we are all exhausted," Raine replied firmly.

"We should see if we can salvage any supplies from the wreckage," Lloyd said.

"Alright then, Lloyd, Clara, that's your job. Kratos, you're helping me find a place to stay. Genis, stay with Colette and guard her. Noishe will stay with you, so if a Desian comes, just run and find us," Raine said. Everyone nodded, accepting their roles without grumbling, then moved off in different directions.

A/N: Oh yeah, meant to mention that...I'm doing Tower of Mana after Kvar's Ranch because I reeeally want to get Clara, Kratos and Lloyd having the proper family relationship I have planned out...so the next 'Journey of Regeneration' boss won't be until after that. And then we'll be heading back to Palmacosta, which I have now discovered is the actual first seal, not Ktugach.

But hey, I'm just following a walkthrough, I've never even played Symphonia before.

Review?