Alliances
Raine stood on the pier of the artificial beach that ran alongside the beginning of the Grand Tethe'alla bridge, frowning at the technology that had just been displayed to her, watching as the elemental cargo that was to carry them across the sea disappeared into a small bag that Lloyd was holding.
There was some strange sense of familiarity that she had with that technology, as if there was some memory of it in the far corners of her mind, previously unaccessed. Now the, the images were stirring thoughts and feelings that she didn't completely recognise…but how could she have these memories if she had not experienced it herself?
"See, it fits inside." Zelos announced, watching as Lloyd all but bounced with excitement.
"It disappeared! It's amazing! This is so cool! Let's try bringing it back out."
He held up the bag and the ship suddenly materialised in front of them again, bobbing serenely on the water as if nothing had ever happened. The action was met with astonished cries from the younger members of the Sylvarant team. Raine and the remainder of the group, including Kuchinawa who stood in front of them, shook their heads.
"…That's enough goofing around." Kuchinawa snapped. "How about getting on your way?"
Lloyd ceased all movement suddenly, save to turn his head to look at Kuchinawa.
"Yeah. All right. I can't wait to make use of this EC! This is great!"
"We're going to sea, aren't we…" Raine murmured, swallowing thickly and looking nervously at the bobbing craft. Sure, it was more sturdily built than the washtubs they had used to travel to Thoda Island…but it was still a craft not made to float. A craft made out of metal…and they were using an untried, untested method of moving within it. This was dangerous and foolhardy and Raine swallowed thickly again. Now, more than other, she wished she had someone who made her feel safe with her.
"Let's get going, then. Off to Sybak!" Sheena announced.
Zelos dashed forwards, leading the way on board as Sheena approached Kuchinawa. Raine loitered behind the rest of the as they boarded until there was no one left except herself and Sheena.
"Yo Professor! What's the hold up?" Zelos called, staring up at the woman through the hatch in the top.
"Uh…n…nothing. I was just uh…." She swallowed again "Are we sure this craft is safe?"
"Oh come on, Professor! We wouldn't be using it if it wasn't. Besides, we have no other way of getting across. Unless you wanna swim."
"A-alright, alright, I'm coming."
She took a steadying breath before stepping up to the hatch, peering down into Zelos' face. The Chosen grinned and extended his hand, letting her take it and helping her down into the body of the ship. She made her way to a shelf to sit down as soon as possible, watching as Sheena jumped down and closed the hatch firmly behind her.
Raine closed her eyes, willing the journey to be over as quickly as possible. Inevitably, it dragged but Sheena was soon announcing their arrival. The professor dashed to the hatch, clambering out as quickly as possible. She had felt she was suffocating inside that cramped cabin, and the fresh, free air was refreshing. She took several deep breaths as the rest of the group assembled behind her.
"Raine? Are you ok?"
She turned upon hearing her name, finding Genis to be standing beside her, concern playing across his young face.
"I'm fine, Genis."
"You sure?"
"Yes." She answered shortly, before looking to her brother, giving him a light, reassuring smile. The boy nodded, obviously taking the hint that she didn't want to linger on her unease and he turned his gaze back to the other as they piled up.
"Hey guys, c'mon! Let's get to Sybak!"
Lloyd pulled himself out the hatch. "What's the hurry, Genis?"
The boy's eyes, as expected, strayed to Presea. "We need to help Presea get back home…the sooner we get back to Sybak, the sooner we can do that."
Raine smiled, feeling her mood lift a fraction as she turned to look out across the landscape. Genis was quickly becoming infatuated with the girl and she found his naivety rather endearing. In fact she had heard from Zelos how yesterday, her younger brother had complimented the girl. With Presea in her current state it had, of course, fallen through, but still….the attempt had been sweet. She only hoped the boy didn't end up getting hurt as she herself had.
"Alright, hunnybuns! Let's get to Sybak!" Zelos announced, bouncing forward to take the lead with Lloyd, guiding them back to the academic city.
--
The noise from Sybak could be heard from some distance away and Raine felt her mood lighten with the promise of being in a learning environment, the one situation she was at home in. Perhaps, aside from meeting with this Kate woman, they would be able to linger for a while, even if it was only for them to take lunch. The library had been simply fascinating.
They made their way in at a steady pace, Zelos and Lloyd in the lead, the rest of the group surrounding Raine, chatting quietly…and then the talking stopped. And so did the walking. Raine stepped out to the side of the group, wondering just what the hold-up was…and she instantly regretted the move.
"Kratos!" Lloyd spat, pushing Colette behind himself as if he could actually protect her. "Are you trying to take Colette away?!"
Raine watched the boy as he wrenched his swords free. Kratos lifted a disdainful eyebrow and Raine felt her mouth curve down sourly.
"…I have no intention of fighting you inside the city." Kratos stated. Raine blinked, hearing a metallic rasp and clang and when she opened her eyes, Lloyd sat on the floor, unarmed. His mouth hung open in shock before snapping shut, his eyes blazing with anger as he looked up at the older man.
Kratos sheathed his sword, arms folding over his chest. "You still lack the skills to defeat me."
Raine's stomach constricted in anger for the boy who sat at Kratos' feet. How could he humiliate his own son so? Or was he just doing it to try and force Lloyd to improve his skills?
She suddenly realised that she knew very little about Kratos' true nature. While it was true that she should have realised that after his betrayal, part of her thought that she had understood how his mind worked, why he did what he did. She thought she knew some of his mind, but now she thought, she was just as blind as the others. Apparently, his revelations to her about Anna, about Lloyd, had counted for nothing.
Lloyd staggered to his feet, holding his arm, as if it had been jarred when Kratos had disarmed him.
Her hand strayed to her shoulder, tracing along the thin scratch again. It had closed since two days ago, but it still stung slightly at her touch.
"Don't insult me!" Lloyd spat, glaring at the older man. Kratos remained as neutral as ever.
"I merely speak the truth." The seraph stated, before strolling away from Lloyd, passing the rest of the group. He halted when he came to Colette, looking down at her as she stood just in front of Raine.
"Chosen One. If you wish to live, you must remove that worthless Key Crest."
"…No." Colette stated and Raine thought it was the first time that she had heard the girl deny someone of something, especially someone so powerful, who wielded so much authority.
"I'm never taking it off. Lloyd gave this to me."
Kratos' eyes narrowed at the defiance. "…Foolish sentiments."
He turned away from the girl and Raine lifted her own eyes to the man's face, sure that the statement hadn't only been in reference to Colette. From the way his eyes met her own blue gaze, it was probably the case and she glared back at him firmly, trying to avoid looking away from the intensity of his brown eyes, her anger giving her strength.
He broke the gaze first, turning away as he continued on his way out of the city, as if Raine wasn't worth his time. Her stomach twisted with anger and sorrow.
Genis stared after the man as the group twisted to watch the retreating figure. "He wasn't after Colette?"
Zelos snorted, his face contorted slightly with distaste.
"Man, what an arrogant SOB. Talking as if he knows everything…"
Raine gave the Chosen a sharp, warning glare in response, her mood at an all time low…or an all time high on the irritation front. Kratos' reappearance had riled her, but that part of her that had longed to approach him again to speak to him, to reason with him in an attempt to understand and perhaps convert him, to have him by her side, travelling with them to save the world once more…it jumped to the man's defence. Zelos didn't even know the guy, and even though she understood that Kratos often gave off the impression of being an arrogant jerk at first…it still didn't give him the right to speak about people like that.
"While we're on the subject of ways of talking," Sheena growled, turning to Zelos. She had caught Raine's gaze and for whatever reason Raine was pissed off with the Chosen, it gave her backup for her own point. "why don'tcha do something about the vulgar language?"
Zelos merely sniggered to himself, ignoring the young woman's words. Raine shook her head and turned to Lloyd. She didn't want to remain here to think about Kratos and besides, whether he was around or not, they had their own agenda to complete.
"Anyway, Lloyd, we must go see this Kate person."
Lloyd nodded in agreement, bending over to collect his dropped blades and sheathing them before leading the group through the city and academy, down into the dank basement where Kate spent all her time. Raine frowned at the conditions as they descended, not understanding why the half-elves that lived here tolerated such conditions. But then she supposed, here they had food and shelter provided which was a lot more than other half-elves may have had.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, pushing through the heavy wooden doors and into the dark basement. A woman dressed in a white coat spun at the sound, looking to the arrivals, recognition and surprise flitting across her face.
"…It's you!"
"We've saved our friends and came back with Presea just like we promised." Lloyd stated, gesturing behind him to the rest of the group.
Kate's eyes scanned the group slowly, coming to rest on Raine and her brother and she slowly nodded.
"…Yes, you're right. The strange mana produced by the fusion of elven and human blood… You really do have half-elf friends."
"I've heard the story," Raine announced, stepping forwards to face the other half-elf "Presea's creating a Cruxis Crystal inside her body?"
Kate nodded. "That's correct. We call it the Angelus Project."
Raine felt her own eyebrows lift as surprise ran across the faces of the Sylvarant team.
"The Angelus Project! That's…the Project my Mom was involved in." Lloyd stated, glancing back to Presea, his eyes softening as he began to understand just what the project entailed. How much suffering his own mother had gone through. Raine shook her head. Kratos had seen this too…he had been up close and personal with it and she wondered how much suffering he had gone through to see what his lover had experienced.
Presea shied away, walking to the back of the room and huddling into a corner, away from the half-elf who had inflicted this upon her.
Raine listened as Kate explained the method of creating Cruxis Crystals. It seemed that it was not the exsphere itself, but the type of key crest placed upon it that dictated its development.
"Is the parasitic infection of the Exsphere the reason why Presea's emotional response is so subdued?"
Kate didn't answer, but Genis reached the same conclusion as Raine within seconds.
"So she's just like Colette."
Colette looked backed to the girl, grief on her face. "If we leave Presea like this, what will happen to her?"
"When the parasitic process is complete…" Kate paused, reading the faces of the people present "she will die."
"That's horrible!" Genis spat, glaring at the woman, fists clenching "What did she ever do to you?!"
"Nothing. She hasn't done anything. She just matched in the compatibility test." Kate answered meekly.
"You're going to save her, right?" Lloyd demanded "You promised."
Kate nodded "Yes. I know. You didn't discriminate against half-elves…I'll keep my promise."
Another half-elf looked up to her superior sharply.
"Kate! Are you sure?! If you do that, you'll…"
"A promise is a promise," Kate answered before turning back to Lloyd "In order to save Presea, speak to a dwarf named Altessa who lives deep in Gaoracchia Forest."
"There are dwarves in this world, too?!"
"Yes. He and I participated in this experiment by the order of the Pope."
Zelos rolled his eyes and tutted loudly. "Sheesh, not that pathetic old man again."
"Don't call him a pathetic old man!" Kate protested, eyes narrowing behind her spectacles.
"Oh, my. That's unusual, a half-elf siding with the Pope."
"…I'm…not siding with him. Anyway, have Altessa repair Presea's Key Crest." Kate mumbled, turning away from the group and back to whatever it was she had been working on before.
"Then it's settled. Shall we head for Gaoracchia Forest?" Sheena asked, looking around the group.
"Yeah," Lloyd nodded "…though could there be a connection between the Pope and the Desians?"
Raine smiled, impressed that Lloyd had, for once, managed to put two ideas together to form a theory.
"Yes, I'm wondering about that, too."
The boy smiled back lightly before turning back to the rest of the group. "Let's get going then."
They turned from Kate, leaving the room by the way they had come in, keeping an eye out for people that might see them leaving and report them to the authorities.
Once clear of the academy, they headed straight out of the city, steering northwest to the distant darkness of the Gaoracchia forest.
--
Kratos settled himself down into the comfortable chair that sat in front of his desk in his personal chambers in Cruxis' stronghold, setting the small object he had received from the academy upon it, scrutinizing it from a distance.
This substance…it was part of a set of objects that would, hopefully, change the world. If only he could get the rest of the required materials. And if only he would stop running into Lloyd's group and having his thoughts scattered like the seeds of a dandelion clock caught in the wind.
Each time he met them, it was as if the group conspired to throw him off course. Even Colette had began to do it too…blatantly ignoring his advice and actively throwing it back at him in front of the group, showing him up. And she had been so meek when travelling with him. But then, he supposed he couldn't blame her after all he had inflicted upon her in the name of Cruxis. Just as he couldn't blame Raine for the stern glare she had given him, the flaring anger and hatred in that gaze that had been directed solely at him. It was just what he had been hoping for from her…but he still couldn't shake the feeling of hurt when he had held her gaze, but it was comforting to know she was holding up enough to meet and hold his gaze. She was still strong despite everything that was being thrown at her and that was more than he could have ever hoped for. It was one of the elements that had drawn him to her, the quietly active rebelliousness of her nature. Held in, but present.
Standing, he rolled his shoulders, pulling the belt that held his sword from about his hips, slowly pulling the weapon free of its sheath and examining the blade. There were nicks and scratches over a formerly pristine surface, acutely defining the age of it and he ran a finger down its length, finding the freshest nick where he had struck Lloyd's blades out of his hands.
He shook his head at the memories of his son's behaviour. He was still so reckless, so irresponsible and immature, and he could only hope that the coming journey would make him realise the realities he had to face if he wanted to achieve his goals. Like taking on his own father, for example, whether he realised that's who it was or not. It was irrelevant in the grand scheme, but if Lloyd couldn't beat him, he didn't have a hope in hell of saving the world. Yggdrasill would beat him to a pulp. He just hoped his words would spur Lloyd into some kind of action in improving his skills and focusing on his goals instead of growing bored. Saving the world was no mean feat and it would take all of the boy's skill and energy to keep his group on track. The only thing Kratos could do to help that now was to give the party hints, so that they didn't end up stumbling around blindly, unaware of what they were doing.
Sighing he placed the blade on the desk, letting his head fall into his hands, fingers tangling in his own hair. A knock at the door made his head jerk up and he looked over to it, pulling his hands from his hair and breathing softly, hiding the item on his desk in a drawer.
"Yes?"
The door swung open slowly, revealing Yuan standing behind it and the half-elf stepped inside quickly, letting the door click shut behind him, his face stern.
"Where have you been all morning? I've been looking for you."
"The surface. Why?"
"Lord Yggdrasill wants to speak with you."
"In regards to what?"
Yuan shrugged. "He didn't say, but I got the distinct impression that the longer you keep him waiting, the more unpleasant he's going to make that meeting on you."
Kratos snorted.
"Scoff if you wish, Kratos, but just remember…it may not be you who pays the price, but Lloyd. If you want your son to remain in one piece, you might want consider being a bit more compliant for a while."
The darker haired seraph turned a dark glare on the other man. "I'm aware."
"Then act like it. Speaking of which, what are they up to?"
"As far as I can tell…wandering around the world trying to find some purpose."
"Useful."
"Either way, as long as we keep an eye on the Chosens to see whether either of them become useful again that's all we should be concerned about for the moment. Now, if you'll excuse me," Kratos stood, belting his sword on again "I shall go and see Yggdrasill."
Yuan snorted. "As you wish." He turned and left the room, watching Kratos walk away once he had closed the door behind him.
The smaller seraph shook his head. Kratos was letting his control slip. He shouldn't have referred to their Lord by his name alone, not that Yuan was going to let the overlord know that he had done that but still…if he didn't watch himself, he was going to end up in serious trouble. Yggdrasill was already keeping an eye on Kratos based on the fact that his son was involved and no matter what Kratos claimed, Yuan knew that the two months spent travelling with the teen had affected him.
He had come back…different. There was a spark of defiance in his eyes now when he looked at his superior, a sense that he didn't agree completely with his plans and ideals anymore. He was fortunate that Yuan wasn't completely on Yggdrasill's side either. Not that anyone knew that…other than the Renegades and Lloyd's little band of do-gooders. But he wasn't about to let anyone else know…that would be particularly stupid.
Still…he wondered just how much of an effect Lloyd had had on his father…and whether it was just Lloyd that was the cause of the subtle changes in Kratos' behaviour.
He spent all his time between Yggdrasill's meetings and missions either on the surface on errands of his own, or sitting in his room, doing nothing but thinking. Usually, you would walk into the seraph's room and he would be pouring through some book or other but now…now he just sat and thought.
Yuan shook his head. The behaviour vaguely resembled that of when Kratos had lost Anna and he wondered if perhaps the man had found someone on the surface that he held some affection for. He hoped not, for both of them but he made a note to scrutinise the group more thoroughly the next time he saw them. If it was the case, he might just be able to pick out which of them it was…surely she wouldn't be too hard to pick out.
With another shake of his head, Yuan turned, heading for his own quarters, wondering just what Kratos was getting himself into this time.
--
Raine sighed as they settled onto the ground in a patch of bright sunlight, taking a break for lunch. They were deep within the Gaoracchia forest and had been for a few hours, making their way steadily deeper through the thick flora.
If she was honest, the forest gave her a sense of unease. The lack of light and the closeness of the air gave the impression of being continuously smothered. The adrenaline from the fights they had engaged in didn't help either. It was only serving to make them all flighty and nervous, even Zelos, whom had previously teased Lloyd and Genis about being scared of the fake ghost story he had made up. As far as they were all concerned, the sooner they got out of the damned forest, the better. Te run in with the Papal knights at the entrance had done nothing to help settle the atmosphere and the group ate quickly under the thick black boughs of trees, continually looking up to the patch of bright blue sky for reassurance.
Once rested, they packed up quickly and quickly made their way east, dispatching ghost like monsters that seemed to be under the powers of a necromancer. Whispers and groans sounded at them from the trees and it was a relief when the plants finally began to thin, a few extra shafts of light hitting the ground in erratic patches.
They had just entered a particularly clear area when Colette stopped abruptly beside Lloyd. The rest of the group followed suit as a worried expression crossed Colette's face and she looked up one of the two dark paths ahead of them.
"I hear something…footsteps from far away…" Colette informed the rest of the group, her voice all but a whisper.
"I don't hear anything." Zelos shrugged and Raine shook her head in despair of Zelos' flippant nature. "Colette still has her angel senses."
"They're definitely footsteps. Also, the sound of clinking armour. There are lots of them. It's coming from that direction." She nodded to the northern path.
"That can't be good. Altessa lives over there. Could it be more of the same guys from earlier?" Lloyd asked, looking to the rest of the group for guidance. Raine nodded idly, presuming that it would still be the Papal knights. It sounded about right from Colette's description.
"I'll send Corrine out to scout." Sheena stated, summoning the spirit and he disappeared promptly up the track that Colette was facing.
There was tense silence held in the air for a moment and Raine took a deep breath, awaiting the outcome of Corrine's scouting mission…and then the rustle of branches and the thud of something landing heavily on the ground made the group spin and look to the source.
The convict. It was the leader of the convicts that had attacked them in the Meltokio sewers. The group backed up a step as he stood to his full height, towering over even Zelos who was the current tallest in the group.
The Chosen shook his head, recognising the man, instantly drawing connections.
"Man, it's just one thing after another with the Pope! Am I really that much of a problem to him?"
"I do not wish to fight you," the man stated, his voice gruff and hoarse, quietened in the thick air of the forest. "I just want to speak with that girl." His eyes locked onto Presea, just as he had done in the sewer.
"With Presea?" Lloyd turned his head to look at the curiously. Genis, on the other hand, was not about to take such a placid view of the situation.
"You've got to be kidding! Or did you forget that you tried to kill us?"
The man shook his head. "I cannot speak for any others, however, I, at least, never intended to take your lives. My orders were to retrieve a girl named Colette."
Colette looked to the convict curiously. "…Me?"
"I will do you no harm," he insisted quietly "Presea…is her name, correct? Please let me speak with her." He took a few steps towards the girl and Raine quickly looked over to Zelos and Sheena, noticing that they too were growing cautious, hands subtly moving to grasp at weapons.
Raine's hands tightened around her staff as she heard the man make a comment about the 'victims of exspheres' and she found the fact that he considered someone who possessed an exsphere to be a victim. Most people would be envious of the power that an exsphere could bestow upon it user…and, she noticed, he wasn't using one himself.
The man continued to approach Presea, lowering himself slightly so that he could look into her face more easily, bound hands beginning to move towards her and she suddenly recoiled, wrenching her axe free. The man jumped away alarmed and the next thing Raine knew, they were attacking the man.
He was fast and strong…incredibly so for a mere human…and one who used only their feet to fight. His attacks consisted of a series of furious kicks and spins and never once did his hands do anything more than reach out to steady himself. He was so strong, in fact, that Raine could practically see the bruises forming on skin the second his foot made contact with one of the fighters and she found herself taxed to cast enough healing and defensive spells in time to stop them from being completely obliterated by him. In the end, it was only their sheer number that overthrew him and a hard slam over the head from Presea with her axe rendered him unconscious. He fell to the floor limply, his breathing steady.
Raine exhaled slowly after the intensity of the fight.
"He sounds like he has reasons for his actions," she stated, looking at him. He was a dangerous foe and they would do well to keep an eye on him. "Perhaps we should take him prisoner? I'm sure he has much to tell us."
Indeed, with him involved with the Pope, there was a lot that they could potentially learn from him. There were a few hesitant nods from the rest of the group before the patter of paws on earth and the high squeak of a voice alerted them to the fact that Corrine had returned.
"Sheena! There were a lot of soldiers and they're all coming this way! Run away, quickly!"
"The footsteps…keep getting louder." Colette commented, looking anxiously at the path. Zelos shared the look.
"Uhh…shouldn't we get out of here?"
"But the Papal Knights are waiting for us if we go back." Lloyd pointed out. They were trapped from both sides…and they didn't know where the other path would take them…but even if they took it, they still needed a place to lay low until the knights stopped searching for them.
Sheena darted a look about th"e faces of the group before groaning quietly, desperation and hesitance evident in her voice as she spoke.
"It looks like we have no choice. I'll take you to the village of Mizuho."
Zelos snapped his head to her immediately. "Whoa there, Sheena. Isn't Mizuho a hidden village, kept secret from outsiders?"
"But we'll be trapped from both sides if we don't do something. There's nothing we can do but take shelter in the village."
Lloyd, for once, saw sense and decided not to protest. "Ok. Please show us the way, Sheena."
Sheena nodded before looking back to Zelos, teasingly.
"Hey, Zelos, carry the big guy for us."
Zelos lifted an eyebrow, looking down at the huge form as he approached. He crouched down, slipping his arms beneath his torso and tugged upwards. It had little effect other than to make the body shift upwards an inch and it was clear there was no chance of him lifting him.
"You want me to carry this ogre by myself? Are you kidding me?"
Colette stepped forwards smiling. "Here, I'll help. Zelos will have a hard time by himself."
"Aww, you're so nice, Colette! We Chosens have to look out for each other, right?"
Colette nodded cheerily as Zelos freed his hands from the unconscious body and the girl stepped forwards, lifting him easily with one hand.
"Oh, he's light then I thought. I can carry him myself." Colette smiled cheerfully and Zelos' face before adopting a look of embarrassed astonishment and he laughed nervously.
Raine shook her head in despair, thinking back to Genis and Lloyd not being able to move the sacred wood that Presea had carried so easily.
"Men are so useless these days."
Either they were loyal and completely useless, or the best thing that would ever happen to you…but they would end up leaving you in the end.
Sheena turned to them anxiously, apparently not quite as interested in the current topic as the rest of the group.
"Come on, we need to go!"
The nodded in agreement and Sheena quickly dashed past them, motioning for them to follow, leading them down the southern path. About half way down it, they turned, picking out a narrow dirt path between trees that would be otherwise invisible to the untrained eye.
They hurried down the path, among the trees and after a few minutes the trees began to thin further, giving way to flat grass land…and there, in the distance was a small village nestled at the foot of the mountains. The mystical village of Mizuho.
--
Mizuho was small and quaint, more a hamlet than a village and it was certainly smaller than Iselia. A handful of straw thatched houses stood around the village, crops growing in sparse patches around the edges of the villages, animals standing amongst them or wandering about the village unchecked.
Rustic was the only word Raine could think of describe it best as she observed the small stream that ran past a shrine and through the centre of the village.
Heads turned as the group entered the village, shock playing across the faces of the inhabitants as the strangers, led by Sheena, walked forwards nervously.
One of the men, dressed in full Mizuho battle dress, rushed forwards, anger blazing in his eyes.
"Sheena! What is the meaning of this? How could you bring outsiders into the village?!"
"I'm prepared to accept my punishment. Inform the Vice-Chief. I've brought the travellers from Sylvarant" Sheena answered, head held high as she addressed the man.
Dark eyes turned upon them. "From Sylvarant? You are from the dying world of Sylvarant?"
"Well, except for me." Zelos answered flippantly. Raine resisted the urge to smack him as she would Genis.
"I see," the man mused, pausing before turning his gaze back to his fellow ninja "Sheena, come with me. The rest of you, wait in front of the Chief's house."
Sheena nodded, following the man to the large house at the back of the village. Raine watched them go quietly, wondering just how much trouble Sheena was going to be in for her breaking of the rules and she made a move to follow her when the man Colette had placed on the floor groan quietly.
A moment later, her pulled himself up to sit on his haunches, his eyes running over the group encircling him wearily.
"Oh…he's awake." Colette noted watching as the man staggered to his feet. Raine once again was hit by his sheer size. He was a full foot taller than her, the top of her head just managing to reach the join between arm and shoulder.
Blue eyes cleared slightly as he stood. "Wh…where am I?"
"You're our prisoner. Don't try anything funny." Lloyd snapped warningly. The man's eyes narrowed a fraction.
"I like to think that I'm smart enough not to start trouble when I don't understand the situation."
"Lloyd, we should go and see if the Chief is ready to speak with us." Raine reminded him and the boy nodded, looking about the village as he turned and guided them to the house at the back.
The man from earlier, Orochi, was standing guard outside and he quickly informed them that the Vice-Chief was ready to see them. They entered immediately, the low voice of the man inside allowing them to approach.
Once in the room, they settled on the floor in front of the man and Sheena, Raine's eyes straying to a bed in the corner for a split second.
"Our leader, Chief Igaguri, is ill. I, the Vice-Chief, Tiga, shall speak on his behalf," Tiga called the groups attention to him. "Because Sheena failed to kill you, we, the people of Mizuho, now faces persecution from the Tethe'alla Royal Family and the Church of Martel."
Lloyd tilted his head. "Is that true?"
Tiga nodded. "At least from what I've heard. Now I have a question. People of Sylvarant, what do you plan to do in Tethe'alla, the land of your enemies?"
"I've been thinking about that for a long time," Lloyd answered quickly "Someone asked me why I came all the way to Tethe'alla…what it is that I want to do."
Raine's thoughts immediately flicked back to the Fooji mountains, just three days ago and she realised that they had only been in Tethe'alla for a week. It seemed longer, somehow…lie it was an age ago that Kratos had betrayed them because she was tired of feeling this way towards him. Loving and hating, always loving and hating him.
Lloyd was continuing with his answer and a smile tugged at Tiga's mouth.
"You are an idealist. The worlds of Tethe'alla and Sylvarant flourish only by victimizing the others. So long as that structure remains the same, anything you say is mere sophistry."
Lloyd stood up abruptly and Raine felt a sudden worry that he was about to say or do something ridiculously brash and stupid.
"Then we need to change that structure! This world was made by that Yggdrasill guy, right?! If a human or elf built this, then we should be able to change it as well!"
Raine smiled to herself. It may have been idealistic, but Lloyd had a point. Tiga laughed softly and kindly at the boy.
"You speak like the hero, Mithos. He was a sublime idealist. He ended the Ancient War by insisting there was a way for the two warring countries to coexist in peace. Are you saying you can become the next Mithos?"
"I'm not Mithos. I want to save the two worlds my way, with the help of my friends."
"In other words, you aren't worried about following past methods," Tiga paused, appearing to take a moment to think "Well then, we shall search for a new path as well."
Sheena jumped to her feet. "Vice-Chief, do you mean…"
He nodded. "Yes. We will use our information network to aid you. In return, when the path of prosperity for both worlds has been found, we wish to move our people to Sylvarant."
Lloyd looked uneasy at the man's request. "But I don't have any right to decide something like that."
"All we need is for you to aid us in our move."
Lloyd turned back to them, scanning the faces of his group, looking for reassurance. "Is everyone ok with us joining forces with the people of Mizuho?"
Each of them, with exception of the convict and Presea, agreed and Lloyd grinned, turning back to Tiga and informing him of the situation. Tiga quickly accepted and ordered Sheena to accompany and aid the group.
It was only Zelos who threw up an obstacle and Raine had to admit that she was quite impressed that he managed to think of it.
"But Tiga, you sure you wanna turn the Royals and the Church against you like that?"
"How about if I ask you?" The vice-chief replied easily "Given a choice between the forces which wish to sacrifice one of the worlds, and the force that wishes to preserve both worlds, which would you side with?"
"I'd like to say, "the one that's likely to win," but I suppose I'd want to help the side that wants to preserve both worlds."
Raine lifted an eyebrow at the comment. 'the one that's likely to win'? Did that mean he thought they were the winning side or was he just taking the moral high ground, regardless of their chances? If she was honest, it didn't seem like a very Zelos-esque thing to do…there was nothing in it for him.
"The first thing we shall do is devote all our resources to locating the Rheairds. Fortunately, it appears that Sheena attached a guardian to the Rheairds, so we should be able to locate them shortly." Tiga continued gand Raine felt her mood lift a little. They finally had a plan of action and the path ahead of them seemed to be cleared a little. If that could happen with her emotions, she'd be on a winning road.
Lloyd thanked him quietly and they turned and left the house, clustering together outside to discuss what was going to happen now…more specifically, what they were going to do with the man who had attacked them. Lloyd turned to him.
"What's your name?"
"…Regal." The man answered shortly.
"Regal, huh? I'm sorry, but we're gonna have to keep you prisoner for a bit longer."
"Lloyd," Zelos called, looking the man up and down. "How about lettin' pops here fight, too?"
"Even though he might betray us?" Genis protested, glaring at the man who had to be at least three time his size.
"He has business with Presea, right? Then, he's not going to try anything before he gets a chance to speak with her, you know?"
"Actually, that's not a bad idea." Raine stated, looking over at Zelos. It seemed he could use his head properly from time to time.
Genis protested loudly and she shrugged at him. He was going to have to learn not to let his emotions get in the way of progress. If the man was a useful ally, they should make use of him, regardless of whether they liked him or not.
"…Well?" Lloyd asked, "Will you fight alongside us for now?"
Regal took a moment to think about it before agreeing. "All right. I swear upon my good name, and these shackles that bind me, I shall not betray you."
"If you do anything even the slightest bit suspicious, I'll burn you to a crisp, got it?" Genis warned. The man lifted an eyebrow but nodded, a little patronisingly.
"Well, then, welcome to our group, Regal!" Colette greeted, smiling at the man warmly.
With yet another member added and the path clear ahead of them, for the moment, they turned and left the village of Mizuho. The next step…to find Altessa and save Presea.
A.N: Hope it was enjoyable.
Reviews greatly appreciated as always.
Since I won't update before Christmas Day:
Merry Christmas! Have a good one :)