The gate to the elven village of Heimdall was heavily guarded. Two elves stood at the entrance, spears in hand.

"Why do they look so pissed off?" Sheena muttered to Lloyd.

"Maybe they've had a bad day," he offered.

"I'll try to take care of this," Raine said, but the worry was apparent on her face. "I doubt… I doubt it will go well."

"Why?" Lloyd asked, but she had already approached the two guards. She stepped up and began to talk to them, gesticulating appealingly.

The elves spoke in a language Lloyd couldn't understand, but he could still tell they weren't happy to see him. For all Lloyd could understand, Raine seemed like she was being reasonable and polite, but the elves only brandished their spears at her, shouting angrily.

"What are they saying?" Lloyd asked her, but she only stared forward, expressionless.

One of the elf guards turned to Lloyd. "No half-breeds," he said. "Not allowed."

Sheena and Zelos looked at one another. "Um," Sheena started. "I think you're mistaken."

"They're not," Raine answered. The two, wide-eyed, recoiled in unison, but Raine seemed unfazed by their reaction. "Do what you will with that information."

"That's bullshit!" Lloyd shouted. "Raine was born here, you can't just refuse to let her in. She hasn't done anything to you."

"It's all right, Lloyd," Raine sighed. "If our blood is a detriment to our cause, then Genis and I will stay here."

"Sis…" Genis hung his head and began to pick at his nails nervously.

The guards glanced at one another, then at Lloyd. They muttered something in elvish, but he heard his name repeated. One guard motioned to the other to go into the village, then approached Lloyd. "You are the son of Kratos?" he asked.

"Uh. Yeah."

"The elder has granted you and your companions passage. However. It failed to be mentioned that you had mixed blood with you."

"Maybe because that's not important." Lloyd grit his teeth. "What is wrong with you?"

The guard frowned. Likely he didn't understand. "The elder will send his word."

While they waited for the other elf to return, Raine faced her companions, held Genis close to her, and closed her eyes passively, as if expecting some sort of punishment. "I hope you can forgive us for failing to disclose our race to you," she said.

"Well… that's okay," Sheena replied, a little unsure of herself. "I can hardly blame you, really."

"I've known forever," Colette smiled. "You can't keep secrets from these ears."

Zelos, red-faced, seemed to be the only one who was overtly unhappy about this. "You, uh, don't happen to remember my joke, about the… um… 'a mercenary, a priest of Martel, and a half-elf walk into a bar' one, did you?"

Genis nodded. "It was pretty offensive."

"Not to mention revolting," Raine put in.

"Why didn't you tell me! My goddess, no wonder you guys were a tough crowd. Jeez, well…" Zelos rubbed the back of his neck, thinking hard. "Well… you guys are all right, I guess. I can… live with it."

Raine snorted with both derision and a little relief. "I'm glad."

An unbearably awkward silence followed, until the elven guard returned and cut it mercifully short. "The elder says they may pass. He has given his word, even if they have chosen to disrespect our customs."

Lloyd clenched his fists. "Disrespect my ass," he muttered quietly, half-hoping they'd hear him.

The village was small, eerily quiet, and smelled like fresh rain. The houses were low to the ground and covered in straw, arranged on fertile plots, shaded by trees. It was an intriguing, lovely place, but Lloyd didn't have time to explore it before he was forcibly escorted to the house of the elder. A tiny, ancient man sat on the floor, and barely lifted his wrinkled face to greet them when they came in. He whispered to one of his hunched assistants in that strange language, and she nodded. She stood and sized up their party, frowning.

"He says you are to stay the night here before you enter the Treant. He requests that you do not allow the half-bloods to leave their lodging. They will disturb the villagers and disrupt our lifestyle." Lloyd turned to see Raine's expression melt into sadness. When he again faced the elder, he hoped he didn't look too pissed off. "We will lead you to your place of rest," the elf continued. "You are to enter the forest come morning." She nodded her head and led them outside, across the small village and to a building that might've been an inn, but had none of the conventional human amenities.

The building consisted of one large room, with small mats lined up against the wall in lieu of beds. A narrow doorway led to what he figured might've been some sort of lavatory facility. He crept across the silent room and dropped his stuff on the farthest mat, scratching his head. He guessed the elves weren't exactly sticklers for privacy, but he didn't mind too much.

Colette lay her pack next to his, and sat on her flat pillow, crossing her legs. She folded her hands in her lap, and Lloyd stared at them for a moment. Her disease had made its way past her wrists, and he took a moment to reach down and touch her scaly skin, marveling at how quickly it had spread.

It began to rain late in the afternoon. The evening wore on, and they all sat in silence, listening to the patter of raindrops on the roof. Sometime before dark, an elven servant entered and placed before them a sparse and unappealing meal of dried fruits and dense bread. He nodded to them and left again without saying a word.

"Come and eat, Raine," Lloyd said, but she was plastered to the window, staring out at the village enveloped in grey mist.

"Come here, Genis, I want to show you something," she said quietly. Genis sighed and got up, walking to her side and staring out. "Over there, behind that big tree, you see that building? The small one with the roof caved in."

"Yeah, I see it," Genis said.

"That's where we used to live. That's where you were born."

Genis pushed himself up to the window, and the siblings stayed there, staring, fogging it with their breath.

"Hey, you guys," Lloyd said quietly, and they turned around. "If you want… you know, to go out there, I won't tell anyone. I'll keep guard. We can do it later tonight, when the town is asleep."

Raine shook her head. "I appreciate it, Lloyd, I really do. But the world comes first. We come later. If we have to stay inside so the elves will let us release Origin's seal, then so be it. We will return here after the world is at peace."

Lloyd sighed. "All right. I'm not gonna argue. But don't think that it means I'm okay with them cooping you up in here."

"Well, they can live vicariously through me," Zelos said, standing. "It's getting a little crowded in here, so I'm gonna go explore for a bit.

"In the rain?" Sheena asked.

"Yup. See ya." Zelos slammed the door behind him.

Lloyd, Colette and Sheena looked at one another, but said nothing. They finished their meal, lit a few oil lamps after the sun set, and huddled against the wet chill. Rain drummed against the roof and the window, distorting the grayish shadows of the evening.

"So, sis," Genis started, almost shyly. "What do you remember about this place?"

"Not very much," she answered. Genis looked disappointed, and she continued. "I remember you. I remember our mother's face, and the elder. I remember… the cruelty of the other children. And I remember our mother coming to my rescue. More than once." Raine lowered her head. "But I can't… I don't know if I truly remember these things, or if they were mentioned in Virginia's diary, and I've only internalized them. Memories… are fragile things, Genis. They're not always to be trusted. Some are true, some are false. Most are both."

"Well, what do you remember that wasn't in our mother's diary?"

"Well… there was a small tree in her yard, I remember… she told me she planted it on the day I was born. She planted a few flowers around it, and never mentioned it again." Raine shrugged. "I don't think she was very sentimental about her garden."

Genis laughed. "So you think it's grown now?"

"It's right out in front of the house. Go have another look if you want."

"I can't see it from here."

"Well," Raine offered, "instead of endangering ourselves now, we could simply stop by after we release the seal."

"Oh yeah," Genis said. "We'd be on our way out of here anyway, so it wouldn't matter if any elves found us and gave us the boot."

"Exactly."

"And Sheena and I will protect you if they try anything funny," Lloyd said.

"Thanks, you guys," Genis said.

"So, Colette, how is the skin doing?" Sheena asked.

The Chosen shrugged. The scales had almost made their way to the edges of her eyes, but she had not yet lost any movement in her face. "Sometimes it's hard to move my elbow, but it doesn't hurt too badly."

"Gods, what a lot in life you got," Sheena sighed. "Everything's out to kill you: first me, then the Regeneration journey, now this."

"It's just what happens, I guess," Colette almost smiled. "It's one of the risks of being a Chosen."

"Speaking of Chosens," Sheena said, leaning back and folding her hands behind her head. "Where's that idiot Zelos gone off to?"

"I suppose we might've scared him off, being half-elves," Raine said. "But honestly, he's known us long enough that I should hope it wouldn't change anything."

"It shouldn't," Sheena said. "Whatever. He's an ass anyway. If he runs off because you guys are half-elves, then good riddance."

"He's been out there for a long time," Lloyd said. He hoped that Zelos wasn't off flirting with elf ladies, but he had a nagging suspicion that this was exactly what he was up to. Lloyd got to his feet. "I'll go look for him."

"Don't. It's pouring out there," Genis said.

"Yeah, he isn't worth getting wet over," Sheena said.

Lloyd frowned. He might have to concede that Zelos wasn't worth it, but he couldn't help but want to find out what the man was up to. He shook his head and opened the door, despite the protests of his companions. He stepped out into the rain, and shut the door behind him.

He tried to think up a place he would go if he were Zelos. As far as Lloyd knew, there were no bars or brothels or dinner clubs or theaters in the near vicinity, so that would make the search a lot harder. He supposed any one direction was just as good as the next, and started the search.

He didn't need to wander very far, since by the time he reached the edge of the village, Zelos was on his way back in. Lloyd wondered what business he had out there, and figured it was just probably another one of his trysts.

When Lloyd approached him, he saw that he was hiding something small under his jacket, trying to keep it out of the rain.

"Zelos," he said, and the Chosen smiled guiltily at him. "What on earth are you doing?" Zelos shrugged. "And what are you carrying?"

"Oh, this? Um, just flowers. For Raine, you know, as an apology for that joke. And all the other jokes. And everything."

Lloyd leaned forward and glanced at the bundle of plants that Zelos so carefully held under his jacket. "Those are weeds."

"Oh, um, well, if you must know… I have a bit of a smoking habit."

"Figures." That would explain why he was trying to keep them dry. Lloyd sighed a little and supposed this was probably one of the more harmless vices that Zelos had. Lloyd had once tried smoking in the alley behind the Academy, and it hadn't been tobacco. He hadn't really enjoyed it then; it had made him feel sluggish and a little nauseous, but Lloyd thought he might be able to use a good escape right now. "So, can I smoke with you?"

Zelos looked taken aback. "Lloyd! I didn't have you pinned as that kind of guy. You strike me as more of a binge drinker. But yeah. You can smoke with me sometime. Not this stuff, though. This could tranquilize a horse. Not for the faint of heart, for sure. Don't worry, though. I'll get you a little something-something later on." He winked and started heading back toward their abode, Lloyd in tow. "I know this guy in Altamira who has the best stuff on the market. On the planet, probably. Yup, only the best for the Chosen and his bud." When they reached the house, Zelos hesitated. "So… don't tell the others, all right? I don't want anyone to get all judgmental about it."

"Sure thing," Lloyd said, unconvinced. He was surprised that Zelos wouldn't invite Sheena to their illicit smoking session, since they seemed to do everything together, especially in these past few weeks. But as long as Zelos wasn't doing anything horribly wrong, he didn't see the issue with keeping his little habit a secret. Goddess knew he had worse ones.

"Lloyd," Zelos said as he placed his hand on the door handle.

"What?"

The Chosen tucked the little weed into his pocket before lowering his gaze. "Nothing."

"All right, then. Weirdo."

Lloyd opened the door and retreated into the dry, warm light of the small building. Zelos followed and closed the door behind him, shutting out the darkness and the rain.


Yuan stared into the screen, heart in his throat. The little dots of his soldiers scurried like ants, rushing to load the dismantled cannon onto the warship. Getting the dreadnaught to the remote island ranch had been hell, he didn't want to imagine how hard it would be to get it back out again. And with Desians crawling about the place—not to mention a few contingents of angels—it would only get harder.

He clenched his fists. "Come on," he muttered at the tiny soldiers on the other side of the screen. "Hurry, before more of them come."

Retrieving the mana cannon had gone well, until it hadn't. The fortress in the sea had been difficult to infiltrate, but they had managed to wrest it successfully from Rodyle, with a little help. The true test had come when they had to get a warship big enough for the cannon through the Desian-occupied waters in one piece. And it didn't help that backup came in the form of Mithos' holy legions.

The outer wall of the former ranch had been breached that morning, and angels flooded the lower levels. The Renegades had managed to barricade themselves in the control center, and had recently retaken the docking bay in order to load the cannon onto the warship. But they all knew they couldn't hold out for long. They were desperately outnumbered and Mithos had sent wave after wave of angelic battalions, wearing them down and picking them off one by one, until only a fraction of their original force remained.

Yuan grit his teeth and watched the screen, arms shaking. They were running out of time. Their fortifications were due to fall any day now, and the process of dismantling and loading had been taking so long…

He was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't notice a tall, elegant figure appear behind him. He didn't notice it approach, feet floating a few inches off the ground. He didn't know he wasn't alone until the figure spoke in a cruel, soft voice.

"Hello, Yuan."

Yuan didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He froze, not daring to move. His eyes darted back and forth, from the screen to the buttons surrounding it, back to the screen. He swiftly considered his only two options. He could order the Renegades to keep loading the cannon onto the warship and try to escape before angels descended on them, or he could tell them to scatter, to save themselves, to give up the cannon in exchange for their lives. He desperately weighed the two, trying to measure gains and losses, slaughter and escape.

He quickly reached out and nearly smashed a button on the side of the screen. "Abort!" he shouted into the microphone. "Abort! Make for escape—"

He didn't have time to finish his command before he was struck on the side of the head. His vision blurred and he flew into the wall, barely landing on his feet. He reached out his arm and tried to summon his weapon, but Mithos was already there, extending a hand, light and power bursting at the tips of his fingers.

An explosion of light hit Yuan's stomach and he stumbled sideways. Mithos raised his hand again, summoning a stream of power, and blasted a smoldering hole in the wall where Yuan had just been. The unmistakable scent of burnt hair filled the room, and Yuan dodged once more, outrunning the spells that Mithos threw again and again.

"I find it so terribly funny you think you can get away with this," Mithos said, chasing him across the room. "You always were an arrogant little swine."

Yuan jumped aside as a pillar of light burst into the floor before him, melting the metal. His muscles were on fire, his vision was blurry, he was still reeling from that solid smash to the side of the head. He swung his arm and threw a spell back at Mithos, but the boy dodged it easily, flashing him a wide smile.

"I don't want to play this anymore, Yuan," Yggdrasill said, raising his hands and summoning a wave of air. He threw his arms downward, and Yuan was pushed back into the computer's interface, smashing glass and bending metal under his aching back. He crumpled to the floor, trying to pull himself up, but he couldn't find the strength. The boy stood over him, laying a foot on his shoulder.

"Where is he?" Mithos growled.

"Who?"

Mithos kicked Yuan across the face, and he saw blood fly onto the metal floor. "Kratos. Where the hell is Kratos? You have him, don't you?"

"No," Yuan answered, and got another kick to the face.

"Then where did he go?" Mithos demanded.

"Damned if I know," Yuan groaned, weaving a spell in his fingers, where Mithos couldn't see. He reached up and cast it, and his opponent flew into the opposite wall with a pained cry.

Yuan tried to get to his feet, but he only managed to tremble to one knee. He was just too weak, worn down from holding the fort. And Mithos, well, he had never been stronger. The boy recovered and made his way across the room to him, angrier than before, and raised his hands. Yuan lifted his arms in defense, but it didn't help when the impact of the spell hit him. Fire tore through his veins, burning every inch of his insides, searing his bones. Yuan couldn't help the cry that rose in his throat. Mithos bent over him, kicking his ribs, his neck, his chest. Yuan curled on his side, agony rushing through him.

"Where the hell is he, Yuan?" A kick for each syllable now: "Where. Is. He?"

Yuan struggled to catch his breath. Just tell him, his agonized body said. Don't you dare tell him, his mind replied. "He… he went… to find his son."

Mithos ceased his pummeling and leaned over Yuan. He turned him over with his foot. "Where?" he asked.

"A…" Yuan thought for a moment, head burning. "A… Asgard."

"You don't sound so sure of that." Mithos put a knee on Yuan's chest and leaned in, sending pangs of sharp pain through his ribs.

"I'm… not. They… move around."

"Dammit!" Mithos screamed, and stomped downward, onto Yuan's stomach. He curled in tortured spasms, coughing and clutching his abdomen. "I'm gonna kill that little prick! I'm gonna kill him! Thinks he has the gall to just take Kratos. I'm gonna rip him apart…"

And before Yuan could take a breath, Mithos was on him again, pinning him down. He wrapped his hands around his neck and Yuan's sight blurred, a grayish haze creeping in from the edge of his vision. He gasped, clawing at Mithos, trying to push him off, but the fingers around his throat only gripped tighter.

Right when Yuan was ready to give up, to go limp and let the darkness swallow him, Mithos let go. "Ha!" he roared with delight. "You think I was gonna kill you fast? Don't count on it. The game's no fun if it ends early."

Yuan wheezed, sight slowly returning. A hot streak of blood trickled down the side of his face and into his ear. Mithos leaned over him, grabbing his hand and pulling it upward. "I've always hated this thing," the boy said, isolating his ring finger and pulling at it. "You don't really deserve it, though. Maybe I'll keep it."

No, Yuan thought. Not that.

"Damn," Mithos grunted, struggling to pull his ring off his finger. "Maybe I'll just have to cut the whole thing off."

Yuan groaned, trying to wrestle his hand back. Mithos struggled with it a moment longer, but managed to pull the ring off in a small spray of slippery blood. Eventually Mithos stood, ring in hand, grinning. He looked it over before glancing back down to Yuan.

"Try not to die while I'm gone. I'll be back to finish our game." Mithos laughed and gave him a parting kick to the ribs. He slunk back into the silvery shadows, disappearing with a rush of white light.

When he was sure he was alone, Yuan dared to breathe again. Every intake of air sent pangs of agony through him, but after a few minutes of lying there and gasping shallowly, he grabbed the debris nearest to him and used it to pull himself up into a sitting position. He could barely move his head, and his legs felt like two crumbling, useless rocks.

Martel, he thought miserably. Have mercy on the little bastard when I send him to you. Yuan closed his eyes and told himself to get up.

What would Botta think if he saw you sitting here, limp as a willow branch? Get your ass up, get up, I know it hurts, but you have work left to do. You have a seal to break, a world to fix. Get up, you bastard. Kratos will be at Origin's shrine soon, if he isn't already. You'll be late. You'll be too late.

No, I need rest.

Get up.

Just a little rest.

Yuan leaned back and lifted his head, laying it against the metal surface of what was left of the ranch's computer interface. Yes, just a little rest, he thought. Then I'll get up, then I'll do what needs to be done. I will find them, I will save Kratos, and the world. I will save everyone.

A pool of blood formed below him, but he didn't notice it. He closed his eyes.

Just a little rest.

Then…

Rest.