((A/N: Nine reviews! Wow! I haven't had that many for a Serenity chapter in a long time! Thanks everyone!))
Chapter twenty-eight, Kratos' P.O.V.
Fate.
I don't know how long it took for me to pull myself together. All I know is that Yuan held me as long as it took, running a hand through my hair. It was stupid, really, for me to break down like that when it was him who had suffered so much. I couldn't help it though. I was just too tired and relieved.
"Are you fit to explain now?" Yuan asked, just as I was about to doze off in his arms.
"Hm…" My eyes slowly opened, though I did not sit up again. "What do want to know?" I asked, not sure where I was supposed to start.
"What exactly happened in Torent forest? After I was shot down, I mean."
I stiffened. Only natural he'd pick the toughest question to begin with…
"It was Yggdrasill. He took you, because you were the only one who could wield the Eternal Sword at the time." I began, a bitter taste in my mouth. "By the time we arrived in Welgaia to save you, it was too late."
"Too late?" he enquired, slightly confused.
"He'd broken your soul, using the Transdimensional chamber." I was barely aware of my fingers digging deeper into his shirt.
"… I see."
"We took you back to the base, but you did not heal. It was almost like you'd died inside. Meanwhile, Yggdrasill destroyed Triet base-"
"He did what?" Yuan exclaimed angrily, his sharp voice drowning out my own. He cast a quick look around, apparently confirming that he was Flanoir right now.
"There weren't many casualties, but it's still a great loss." I sighed deeply.
"Indeed." Yuan shifted his hold on me slightly, before changing the subject. "So… How did you get the Eternal Sword?"
"We asked a dwarf from Iselia to create an Eternal Ring. Origin then confirmed that with it, a human could wield the Eternal Sword. After a few months of training, we went to the Tower of Salvation to retrieve the sword and encountered Yggdrasill there." I paused for a moment, allowing the information to sink in. "We nearly defeated him, but Pronyma decided to jump in at the last moment."
"Pronyma?" Yuan repeated, and even though I didn't see his face I knew he was raising an eyebrow.
"She sacrificed her own life to protect him. Yggdrasill escaped and we currently have no idea where he is." I said through gritted teeth. In a way, it felt like Yggdrasill won the battle.
"Well, that doesn't matter. He can't run forever, right? Besides, we have his source of power, which should give us a major advantage." Yuan said hopefully. A small silence followed. "So… Who's the kid?"
I immediately stiffened in his arms, staring blankly ahead. When I thought the first question was the hardest, I was wrong. There was no avoiding answering him now. Even if I held back information, the name alone would betray who Lloyd really was. All I could do was hope that he would go easy on me.
"My son."
The next morning, I was sitting behind my desk, absentmindedly twirling a pencil. Yuan had barely said anything about Lloyd, deciding almost immediately that he was tired and had to get some sleep. I hadn't seen him since. Respecting the fact that he'd probably want to let the news sink in by himself, I'd voluntarily fallen asleep in my chair in the office instead of my own bed.
My muscles ached like hell. Then again, I had nobody to blame but myself. Or perhaps I should blame my fate. The fate that after fifteen years, my son suddenly returned from the dead.
A sharp beep rang through the office, signifying that someone was standing in the hallway, hoping to be granted entry. A doorbell inside the building, if you will.
Yawning tiredly, my hand strayed to the button that opened the door. Botta entered, a slightly anxious expression on his face. He immediately moved to stand in front of my desk, saluting in a far too formal way. Either he was extremely serious about his job, or I was extremely intimidating.
"At ease." I said dully.
"Sir, I'm afraid I have some distressing news." He began, shuffling his feet uneasily. "We just received word that the chosen of Sylvarant started her journey of regeneration."
"What?" I sat up sharply, snapping out of my dazed state. "What about the oracle?"
"The oracle continued as planned, apparently. The chosen received her crystal and is headed for the ruins in Triet to release the first seal."
I leaned forward, resting my head on my hand as I thought deeply. With Yggdrasill gone, Cruxis should be in disarray. Did someone forget to inform the angel who would perform the oracle? Or did Yggdrasill secretly decide to start the journey, even under circumstances such as this? Who was responsible for setting the journey's events in motion? Why even bother, for that matter? It made no sense.
"Yggdrasill… What are you up to…?" I muttered, staring ahead blankly.
"Uhm… Your orders, sir?" Botta pressed.
"We will wait and see for now. We need to avoid killing the chosen if possible." I frowned lightly, sitting back in my chair again as I crossed my arms.
"Very well."
"You're excused." I gave a short wave of my hand, signalling that Botta was free to go.
The half-elf gave another sharp salute, his eyes straying to the bedroom door for a moment before he turned and left the room. As I watched him go I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his head. He'd known Yuan for quite a long time now and was probably worried for his health as well. Trust ran deeper between fellow half-elves and this organisation was made up almost entirely of just that. After fifteen years, I still hadn't been accepted as a leader, but I probably had my fate to blame for that as well.
