A.N: Hi. Sorry for the delay with updating but I didn't manage to finish this chapter in time for monday (in fact I had, like, 2 pages written at that point) as I've been busy with uni work and personal commitments.

Now as a note, this is my last week at home, so I'll be going back to uni on sunday, meaning updates are going to become sparse again. However, the term is only about 7 weeks so I should back to regular updates after that. I'll try and get a lot done during the weeks I'm back in uni anyway because we're drawing close to the end and I'm quite eager to get this finished.

Anyway, thanks again for reviews, and I hope this chapter is up to scratch.

Enjoy!

Family Matters

When Raine woke it was not, as she expected it to be, morning. Or at least, not morning in the sense of the sun having risen. In fact the room was so dark, as she cracked an eye open, that she could barely see.

Sighing she made a movement to get up. Her throat was sore, her mouth dry, and even the small movement of lifting her head off pillow made her feel nauseous. She let her head fall back onto the pillow, swallowing in an attempt to ease her throat. It didn't work and she closed her eyes, wondering just what the sudden affliction of ailments was caused by.

She breathed slowly as she thought about it, trying to stave off the nausea, when a noise caught her attention. Her ears snapped to the sound, suddenly straining to catch it again, identify it. It didn't repeat itself and she began to relax when a new sound came into play…the soft whirr of electricity…and a sudden grunt from Lloyd.

He panted a moment later. "My…my body…I can't move!"

It took all her will not to jump up at the moment and demand to know what was going on, but she kept silent, pressed to the bed, trying to keep her breathing even.

"Do you want to meet your father?"

That low almost huskily quality to the new voice could only mean it was Yuan speaking, and against her better judgement, she cracked an eye open cautiously. It was indeed the Renegade leader, standing over Lloyd, a ball of electricity paralysing the boy.

"What have you done with my dad?!"

Raine frowned. She was sure Yuan had his reasons to do this, but that wasn't what was concerning her. The fact that Lloyd had just shouted and no-one in the room had even stirred, except her, was slightly more worrying. She doubted Yuan would cause the boy any real harm…at this point anyway.

The half-elf backed off and teleported himself from the room a moment later, leaving Lloyd to stare after him, confused and able to move again. Frowning, the boy got up and slid from the bed, glancing once over the rooms' occupants and strapping on his swords before heading outside. Raine followed quietly, watching as he left through the front door. She stopped at the window, peering out from inside.

Lloyd took in a breath as he left and Raine could just make out a renegade soldier standing by the door. Kratos and Yuan stood ahead of them, the taller man flanked by another two renegade soldiers.

"Kratos! The Renegades and Cruxis are enemies, aren't they?! So why?…" Lloyd wittered.

"Quiet," Yuan scolded, before turning away from the boy and tapping his chin thoughtfully "Of course, the drug should have everyone sleeping soundly."

Drug…so that was why nobody had woken except her. She had barely eaten anything at dinner so had only taken a little of the drug in, which had caused her nausea earlier. But it brought up a new question…how had Yuan gotten the drug into the food? It could only have been Altessa, Tabatha or whoever else had helped them out to prepare the food. She didn't recall who but she did remember Zelos being rather pushy about Lloyd in particular eating.

"Drug?!" Lloyd questioned, but it shook it off a moment later, clearly having more pressing issues on his mind "Where's my dad? If you've done anything to my dad, I'll tear every last one of you to pieces!"

"Now, now, is that the way to act when you're about to meet your father for the first time?"

Raine frowned. Yuan was obviously going to reveal to Lloyd that Kratos was his father…but for what purpose?

"So it was you," Kratos murmured lowly, staring hard at Yuan "You were the assassin who tried to kill me at Hima." He sounded almost…hurt by the suggestion.

Yuan, on the other hand, shrugged it off, ignoring the point completely.

"Kratos. If you value your son's life at all, do as we say."

"What are you…talking about?" Lloyd asked and Raine rolled her eyes.

"Release Origin's seal. Otherwise, Lloyd will die right here." Yuan commanded, staring straight at the other seraph.

Kratos' only reaction was to look up at his son and then back to Yuan. Raine wasn't sure whether to be angry at him for the lack of reaction, or commend him for it.

"No…" Lloyd breathed, having finally joined the dots. Raine swallowed thickly. She could hear the anguish in his voice in just that one word, but it was Kratos' reaction she was interested in. Lloyd's reaction was a given.

"Kratos can't be my dad," Lloyd protested "I can't believe that… I won't believe that!" he shook his head viciously.

Kratos' face remained impassive, but she noted the way he took in a breath, his dark eyes on his son. Yuan snorted and shook his head.

"How does it feel to have your own son reject you like that?"

Raine felt a sudden pang of hatred for Yuan but she supposed he had his reasons. Still…rubbing in an issue as sensitive as your child not accepting you…

Kratos, to his credit, did nothing but snort and change his gaze back to Yuan, his expression melding into something resembling faint distaste as he looked at him.

"I guess from your attitude, you don't plan on releasing Origin…" Yuan drawled. Kratos lifted an eyebrow in agreement. "If that's the way it's going to be, then you'll just have to die!"

Raine took a breath at the words…she knew Yuan would do whatever it took to get what he wanted done and killing Kratos wasn't beyond him.

In response to his leader's threat, one of the guards beside Lloyd pressed the tip of his blade to Lloyd's neck, looking to Kratos as the boy let out a noise of distress. Kratos straightened in response, lifting his head and looking over at his son, lips parting slightly.

"One move and your son dies!" The soldier threatened.

Yuan turned back to Kratos, approaching him slowly, head tilted as he seemed to study him.

"You changed once you got a family. Just like that time fifteen years ago. When Anna was transformed into a monster, you lost your ability to fight back."

Kratos narrowed his eyes at the blue haired man, mouth pressing into a grim line.

"If she hadn't been together with you, she would have never turned out like that. Such an unfortunate woman."

Lloyd finally lost it, shoving the guards out of the way as Kratos' face contorted, the expression of hatred suddenly disappearing as he noticed his son kicked, the boy falling to the ground and landing heavily. He pushed himself back up immediately, stalking towards Yuan, the spitting-image of his father as he growled out;

"Don't mock my mom!"

Yuan turned at the sounds of Lloyd's approaching voice, facing him just in time to see the teen wrenching his blade free. The seraph sidestepped the attack easily, lifting a hand and conjuring a ball of electricity to strike Lloyd with.

Raine watched, heart rising in her throat as the scene unfolded, watching Kratos' expression change into something akin to distress as he saw Yuan lift his hand to his son. In a heartbeat he was moving, dashing into the path of the electricity. It hit him squarely in the back, his face contorting in an expression of pain as he fell to his knees. Yuan took a step back in surprise.

"Kratos?" Lloyd asked, surprise evident in his voice and Raine had to admit, she was somewhat startled that he had made such a brash move and that he had made a choice at all.

"Are you alright?" Kratos asked, looking up into his son's face, smiling softly as he looked up at him, his voice quiet but warm "Good."

A second later, the seraph's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed onto the rocky ground, head lolling to the side. Yuan stared down at him, his expression disbelieving and Raine swallowed thickly, hoping that the attack had only knocked him out.

Raine straightened, her mind made up. She always observed, never intervened and here Kratos, as stubborn as he was had just performed an out of character act…so couldn't she help her student as he let out a guttural scream of anguish, clutching his head in his hands. Resting her hand on the door handle she turned at a noise beside her, finding Colette at her elbow. Nodding at her, she pushed her way outside, she and Colette instantly being confronted with blades.

"Lloyd?" Colette asked as Raine looked over the scene, unable to take her eyes off Kratos. "What's wrong? What's going on?!"

"What am I…what am I supposed to believe?!"

"Lloyd, calm down." Raine stated calmly.

"It's not true!" he shouted "Kratos can't be… The man who betrayed us and made you suffer, he couldn't possibly be…my dad."

"Lloyd, don't lose sight of who you are," Colette urged "No matter who your parents are, no matter your background, you're still you!"

A somewhat obvious statement, Raine thought, but likely the sort of thing that would get through to him. The boy had to realise that just because his father was the last person he wished it to be, it didn't change who he himself was.

"I'm…me?"

"You're the one who told me that no matter what I look like, even if I become an angel, I'm still me…and don't forget, Kratos saved you."

Lloyd turned, looking to Raine, for her mature guidance in the matter. She nodded, signalling her agreement and Lloyd let a smile tug at the corner of his lips.

"Yeah, you're right."

The boy turned back to the man, approaching him and kneeling down to look into his face.

"Thanks."

Kratos, apparently still partly conscious, let out a breath in response.

"But I still can't call you Dad."

Colette sighed. "Lloyd…"

He ignored her, looking his father in the face as he continued to speak. "I hate what you…what Cruxis does." He corrected.

"Too many people have died. People from Sylvarant, people from Tethe'alla…Desians and Renegades and members of Cruxis… They're all victims. I refuse to accept the idea that it's ok to sacrifice people for a cause. It's not ok to lose your life. No life should be born for the sole purpose of dying. I won't sacrifice the world to save Colette. I'm not giving up until I find a way for everyone to live."

Kratos remained silent and still, Yuan looking down at the two, the harshness in his face seeming to have melted slightly. At least, until a voice announced itself.

"Wow, that was an amazingly corny speech. Congratulations."

Raine started. It sounded like Mithos. A moment later the young half-elf appeared in the doorway, his face less cordial than usual.

"Mithos?" Lloyd questioned, looking at boy over his shoulder before standing.

The blonde boy shoved his way past Colette and Raine, suddenly conjuring up a ball of energy in his hand, killing the two renegades guarding them, before turning to the two that had been guarding Kratos. Yuan took a step back, horror and disbelief playing over his face as he looked at the boy. Mithos turned his gaze on Yuan, lifting his hand to him, firing a shot that knocked the half-elf into the air. He collapsed heavily onto bare dirt, a cloud of it rising around him.

"Did you think I didn't notice what was going on?" Mithos asked, his voice holding contempt as he spoke, striding away from Raine and Colette. "How pathetic. I had Pronyma keep tabs on Kratos, since it seemed he was leaking information to Lloyd's group."

"Damn it! Yggdrasill!" Yuan cursed as he lifted his head "How the hell did you find out?"

Yggdrasill? Did Yuan know Mithos somehow?

"What?!" Lloyd barked.

"That was a pretty amusing scheme you had going," Mithos answered Yuan, striding towards him as the others stood aghast at his behaviour "Hard to believe those filthy Renegades that were always getting in my way were actually led by you. If it weren't for my sister's wishes to spare your life, I'd kill you right now."

A hard kick to Yuan's unprotected stomach followed the words and he nearly folded with the pain, a grunt escaping him, drowned out a moment later by Mithos' manic laughter and the onslaught of blows to his abdomen.

"Stop it!" Lloyd ordered, watching the act of cruelty "Wh…what are you?…"

He was interrupted by the door to Altessa's house opening, Genis, Presea, Altessa and Tabatha rushing out. Mithos' foot dropped to the floor and Yuan let out a grunt in relief, crawling away from the boy.

"What's going on?!" Altessa demanded.

Genis shook his head as he came to stand by Raine's side, looking at Mithos with distress.

"Mithos…so it's true…"

Raine looked down to her brother. What was true?

"What's true?" Mithos asked "That you shouldn't have trusted me? Good guess, Genis. Because I didn't trust you either!"

He spun fully a second later, releasing an attack that shot past the Sage siblings, aiming at Presea. Raine spun to look at the girl, just in time to see Altessa throw himself into the path of the attack. Just as Kratos had done for Lloyd. Altessa fell to the ground, unmoving. Raine collapsed to her knees beside him a moment later, trying to staunch the blood flow from his chest.

Tabatha looked at Mithos with confusion written over her mechanical features. "Mithos…saved me…"

"Shut up!!" He growled between clenched teeth, releasing a flurry of attacks at her. She flew back, slamming into the door and sliding down, lying prone on the floor.

"Mithos…saved…me…Mithos…"

"How could you do that?!" Raine shouted to the boy. The guiltless display of cruelty was something she couldn't understand, not in this way. Yuan…he had betrayed him, that was understandable if not acceptable but Tabatha and Altessa? "You even risked your life to save her!"

"Mithos, why?" Genis asked, his voice wavering under the threat of tears "Why are you doing this? How could you hurt Tabatha and Altessa? You got along so well with them!"

"Tabatha!" Mithos spat "That doll looks so disturbingly like my sister… I never could stand her! She's a failed vessel who couldn't accept my sister's soul! Just looking at her makes me sick!"

Raine's eyes narrowed but Lloyd strode looked to Mithos.

"You little bastard! How dare you betray my best friend!" A second later he was wrenching his blades free, throwing a demon fang at Mithos. It hit him, sending him stumbling back.

"Lloyd, stop!" Genis called "Please! You're both my friends!"

The world seemed to stand still to Raine as she took in that scene in that second. Altessa lay on the ground beside her, her hands pressed to his chest, soaking in his blood as the grey beard turned dark red with it. Tabatha lay a few metres from them, her mechanical body jerking, random words and syllables escaping lips as if she were having a fit. Mithos, the boy she had thought was trustworthy, glared at Lloyd with utter hatred, holding a hand to his chest, in pain and wounded. In the distance, Yuan lay on his side, curled up and gasping for breath, his eyes narrowed in pain and hatred. And in the centre of the entire scene lay Kratos on his back, unmoving, eyes closed.

Above them the sky was clear and pristine. Dark and studded with stars…perfect and beautiful.

The professor's spell of looking over the scene was broken a second later by the sudden appearance of the that Desian woman, Pronyma.

She approached Mithos.

"Lord Yggdrasill, your wounds are not yet healed. Please leave this to the angels."

Mithos straightened, nodding and transforming into his adult form, his childish voice throwing the body of a grown man.

"Alright." He agreed.

He disappeared in a flash of light, glaring around at the group as he did so, taking Kratos with him as Pronyma followed them back to Derris-Kharlan. Three low level angels appeared in their place and Lloyd, Genis, Colette and Presea threw themselves into battle against them.

Raine turned from Altessa, glancing to Tabatha, dashing into the house to retrieve her staff, leaving a bloody handprint on the wooden door, Regal waking and rushing out with her.

When she returned to the outside, the angels had been dispatched as she fell beside Altessa, holding her staff over him, casting healing spells. Genis, Colette and Presea rejoining her but unable to do anything to help. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lloyd approach Yuan, crouching down beside the man who was clutching his stomach.

"You planned to form the pact with Origin and use the Eternal Sword." Lloyd stated, and Raine looked over to the two. Yuan was pushing himself up into a crouch.

"And then, we would use the Mana Cannon to destroy that infernal tower, allowing the Great Seed to sprout. That was our plan. Upon learning of your existence from a Desian insider. I was certain I would be able to force Kratos to participate." Yuan finished.

"You…didn't approve of Mithos' Age of Half-elves?"

Yuan shook his head, his expression softening slightly as he thought of Martel.

"That plan was the result of a twisted perception of Martel's last wish. It's not what she truly desired. She said she wanted to see a world free from discrimination."

The half-elf shook his head before standing. Lloyd put his hands out in concern.

"You shouldn't move."

"No, there's no time. I must evacuate the Renegades before they are killed by Yggdrasill."

Lloyd nodded as the man began to walk away slowly, before calling out to him again.

"Is Kratos really the only one who can release Origin's seal?"

"Yes. The seal will be released upon freeing the mana from his body."

"If he does that, he's likely to lose his life." Regal commented.

"Kratos'…life… Are you saying we have to trade his life in order to get the Eternal Sword?!"

Yuan turned to meet the boy squarely in the eye with his own gaze "Lloyd. You won't be able to use the Eternal Sword. It does not require the power of a summoner. You must merely be acknowledged by Origin. However, there is one thing you cannot do anything about."

"What do you mean? Yggdrasill…Mithos said that, too."

"Only half-elves can wield it. That sword was created by Origin for Mithos."

Before Lloyd could say another word the Renegade leader nodded to the group, pulling his wings out and taking to the air, his flight somewhat less steady that usual.

Lloyd shook his head, traipsing back over to the rest of the group, his face drawn in thought and worry. It was as he approached that Altessa opened his eyes, looking at the boy as he drew near.

"Lloyd…"

"Don't talk," Lloyd replied automatically "Don't push yourself." His voice sounded hollow as he spoke.

"Altessa saved me! Please, Professor! Please save him!" Colette begged.

"I'm doing everything I can." She answered steadily, pulling more strongly on the mana to form a healing spell.

It was only when she had stopped the steady blood flow that she stood and backed away, motioning for Regal to move him inside. The former convict lifted the dwarf easily, carrying himself inside the house and to his bed. Raine staggered inside wearily, looking back to the sky outside. She wasn't sure how long they had been outside but she felt utterly exhausted as she washed the blood from her hands.

The best thing the group could do now was try and get as much rest as possible and keep an eye on Altessa until the morning and she grudgingly let Regal push her back to a bed whilst he went to check on Altessa. Raine frowned as she entered the room. The others were climbing into bed, Sheena leaving to join Regal in his vigil over Altessa but Zelos…was still sound asleep and seemed to have been for the entire ordeal. Shaking her head, she crawled into bed, her mind full of worry over Lloyd and Altessa…

--

The sun was in the sky when Raine forced herself to leave her bed and check on Altessa. The dwarf was alive but far from stable and she cast another spell over him as Regal and Sheena left to rouse the others. They met outside the house, waiting anxiously for news of the dwarf.

"Is Altessa…going to be all right?" Presea asked.

"I managed to administer first aid using the Unicorn Horn, but we should bring a doctor as soon as we can." She answered.

"Yeah, unlike us, Altessa isn't using an Exsphere. Healing arts won't be very effective." Zelos added. Raine turned a suspicious gaze on him. Apparently someone had briefed him on what had happened over the course of the night.

"I know a good doctor. We called him from Flanoir when our chief suffered a serious injury." Sheena answered.

"I'll stay and watch over Altessa." Presea suggested, her voice tight with worry. Raine agreed. Altessa shouldn't be alone in his condition.

Lloyd nodded "Alright…So, Flanoir, huh? Let's go."

--

The trip to Flanoir seemed to last about two seconds, although the sun's position factually informed the group that it had, in fact, been a few hours.

Snow swirled around them in its usual haze as they descended towards the snowy city, touching down outside the city walls before packing the rheairds away and heading inside. It was only once they were within the walls that they noticed that Zelos was not among the group. Raine frowned, a seemingly common expression to grace her face these days. But what was he up to now? She was getting the distinct impression that Zelos was not what he seemed. The mysterious midnight meeting he had had with someone not long after they had met, the way he had wandered off in the Renegade's Flanoir base and now this…

Still, they had other things to worry about for the moment, such as getting that doctor to Altessa. She would confront Tethe'alla's Chosen when he had resurfaced.

They climbed the steps up to the doctor's clinic, Sheena boldly leading the way, rubbing her arms to keep herself warm as she made her way through the city. It was as they were approaching the desired building that a familiar flame of carmine red hair came into view, so bright amongst the pale snow that Raine wondered how the chosen didn't try and cover himself from sticking out so much. But then…that was never Zelos' style.

However, standing alone in the middle of a crowded city, and seemingly speaking to himself wasn't his usual style either.

Lloyd walked up to the other male, tapping him on the shoulder, but Raine swore she heard the word 'Aionis' among the red-heads mutterings.

"Lloyd, you're late!" Zelos stated as the boy tapped him on the shoulder "The hospital's right here. Come on, hurry up."

He pointed to the door and Raine, lifting an eyebrow at the man, followed the two inside, the rest of the group squeezing their way in as Sheena addressed the doctor.

"It's an emergency! We have someone who's about to die." She was shouting, arms flailing as she explained to the physician.

"Oh, my, it sounds like things aren't quiet and peaceful."

"Stop standing there chatting and hurry up and get ready to go!" Lloyd snapped, clearly not happy with the man's flippant attitude.

"It'll cost you." He responded flatly.

"How can you talk about money at a time like this?!"

"We'll pay anything! So please, hurry…" Sheena urged. Time was not exactly on their side and there was only Presea watching over Altessa.

"Let's make it payment upon success. First, I need to see the patient. Travel expenses and hazard pay will be billed separately."

"Fine! Whatever!" Lloyd interrupted again, his motions becoming somewhat frantic.

"Then please give me an escort. Let's see…the three of you will be good." The doctor stated, gesturing to Genis, Sheena and Regal.

"We'll borrow the rheairds for a bit." Genis stated before leaving with the others. Raine lifted an eyebrow at the fact that she had not been asked to go…but then, she was of no more use now…and she could rather do with some time to sit and reflect…and to speak to Lloyd and Zelos. In fact…the arrangements had worked out quite nicely.

Lloyd watched the others leave with bemusement. "Uh…ok….we'll just wait here."

"Ah come on, we'll go get some rooms at the hotel and chill for the day, bud." Zelos stated, slapping Lloyd in the arm before walking out into the snow. Raine followed the man slowly, Lloyd and Colette following behind her. Snowflakes settled onto her hair and eyelashes instantly as she stepped outside into the white swirls and she shook her head, dislodging them as they headed for the Olive Village to book their rooms and for a hot meal.

--

Light was fading from the sky when Raine, having napped and eaten a decent meal, finally decided it was time to speak with Lloyd and Zelos. Both males had disappeared some time ago, Lloyd understandably distracted by the events of last night and Zelos…well she would have assumed that he was chatting up some poor naïve girl, were it not for his recent behaviour.

Rising from the armchair she had been sitting in, she headed for Lloyd's stay room. The fact that everyone now knew the man was Lloyd's father made no difference to her but Lloyd was still shaken up. She supposed, knowing a little more about the man, it was her job to try and help put the boy at ease.

Heading out of her room and locking it behind her, she paced down the corridor, knocking on Lloyd's door when she came across it. Knocking on it, she waited for an answer, but received none. Trying the door handle, she found the room to be locked and frowned, instead trying Zelos' and finding it in the same state. With both males out, she tried Colette's room, finding the girl to be inside, drawing a picture of a puppy.

"Oh, Professor!" she turned to the teacher.

"Colette…have you seen Lloyd and Zelos?"

"Of course. Lloyd's my friend and Zelos is the chosen."

"No…Colette I mean, have you seen them recently, do you know where they are?"

"Oh. Yes, they said they were going out for a walk to look at the snow."

"I see. Thank you."

"Professor!" Colette called as the half-elf turned to leave.

"Yes, Colette?"

"…Do you think Lloyd's ok?"

"I'm sure he will be. He just needs some time to adjust to the knowledge."

"But…I don't think it makes a difference…and I think, despite everything…Mr. Kratos is a good person."

Raine smiled. "Perhaps you're right…I'm going to find Lloyd and try and speak to him. I'll be back in a little while, Colette."

She closed the door behind her as she left, heading down the light corridors with the dark wood floors, walking downstairs and out into the dark night. Mana lamps cast orange glows over soft white snow and Raine drew her coat tighter about her against the chill as she began to walk through the city. There was almost no one outside and so it was when she heard voices, muffled by the falling snow, she knew she had found the two males. They were standing upon the balcony just in front of the cathedral, staring out across the city together.

"Don't make fun of what I'm saying. Tomorrow, once we're sure that Altessa is ok, I'm going to challenge Mithos to a final battle. But if that's the way you feel, I'll be too worried to bring you along." Lloyd was saying, an edge to his voice as he spoke.

"You're going to fight? Do you really think you can unite the worlds?" Zelos asked.

"I can and I will. I'm not going to run away."

"All right, all right, I hear ya. I swear, your fervent enthusiasm is enough to melt all the snow in Flanoir. …I'm in. I guess I'll give this not running away thing a shot."

"Once the world is at peace, you can run away all you like."

"Gee, thanks," Zelos snarked, turning away from Lloyd "Man, I can't believe I'm joining the weaker side. This isn't like me at all."

Lloyd, having just caught Zelos' words frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, just talking to myself. Anyway, I'm going back. It's way too cold out here." Zelos stated.

"I'm…going to stay out here for a while." Lloyd murmured and Zelos headed off, leaving him alone to think.

Raine sighed. Zelos' comment really did mean she would have to talk to him, but something compelled her to stay and speak to the boy first. She loitered beneath the balcony for a moment, mentally preparing the points she wanted to make to the boy and she was about to step out and join him, when a familiar voice stopped her.

"Lloyd."

Kratos. The man had, somehow, made his way up to his son without the woman noticing. She stilled beneath the balcony. It really wasn't the sort of talk she should listen to…but if Kratos talked to Lloyd, it meant she might not have to.

It seemed a positive start that the boy accepted Kratos' presence seemingly without as problem.

"Did you know I was your son the whole time?" he asked as his father approached.

"I realized it when I found Anna's grave at your house."

"How did Mom die? You know, don't you?"

Kratos paused for a moment and she wondered if he was letting any emotions slip across his face in that moment.

"Like Presea, Anna was a research subject of the Angelus Project. They were trying to create a Cruxis Crystal inside her body. When I learned of Mithos' plan to create an Age of Lifeless Beings, I turned against him and descended upon this land, where I met Anna."

Lloyd made a musing noise.

"After meeting Anna, I realized my mistake in believing that accepting Mithos' vision would be the fastest route to reunite the worlds. I began to search for a way for a human to wield the Eternal Sword."

"So you can unite the worlds?" Understanding was beginning to seep into Lloyd's voice, an inkling that his father wasn't quite as bad a man as he had originally thought. Kratos acted on his own will and reasons, hidden behind the guise of serving Mithos' will.

"However, Anna and I were pursued by Cruxis. We travelled from place to place, and when you were born, with you as well, but we were finally caught by Kvar."

"And then Mom was turned into a monster…"

"Her Exsphere was removed," Kratos explained "Lacking a Key Crest, the mana in her body went out of control, and she turned into a monster…When it tried to devour you, Noishe protected you, and Anna regained control of herself…momentarily."

"Noishe saved me?"

"That's probably when Noishe became sensitive to monsters. Noishe and Anna are both wounded… Your mother begged me to kill her."

His voice dropped, sorrow and hatred sliding into his voice as he spoke.

"I've heard enough." Lloyd warned, knowing where the conversation was going.

"Anna went out of control again and turned on you. Then I…" Kratos continued on, ignoring Lloyd's warning, his voice picking up in speed and emotion as he no doubt envisaged that day in his mind once again. Raine wondered how many times those scenes had played through his head.

"That's enough!" Lloyd snapped, voice raising in anger.

"I…killed her." the older man finished, letting his voice drop again, the shame so evident that Raine herself thought she might be able to feel it.

"I said, that's enough!" Lloyd's voice was just as thick with emotion as his father's now, grief and anger colouring it. No child wanted to hear about their parent's death, especially in such a cruel twist.

"After that, Kvar attacked, then you and Noishe fell down the cliff along with the Exsphere. …I fought off Kvar and his men, and descended the cliff, but all that was left were the Desian corpses, half-eaten by monsters. …I thought there was no way you could still be alive." His voice finally broke with the emotions driving his words, and Raine could hear the snow crunch as one of the males shifted their weight uncomfortably.

"Is that when you returned to Cruxis?" Lloyd asked tentatively.

The question seemed to focus Kratos' attention again, distracting him from the painful memories, for when he spoke again, there was the familiar purpose and authority in his voice.

"I am the Origin seal itself. Since killing me would break the seal, Yggdrasill couldn't just leave me alone."

"And you were ok with that? Even though you opposed what he was doing?!"

"Everything felt meaningless." Kratos answered.

It was the kind of phrase that would normally have Raine seething, such a petty emotion driven answer…weak-willed and weak-minded…but she suddenly thought of her mother. The desolation she had felt after facing the woman who she felt had abandoned her…how she felt that she could simply not move for thoughts and emotions for a while. True that in the end she had managed to get up, where Kratos never seemed to have, but…she had not been as reliant on her mother as she had thought. Anna, on the other hand, was probably the only source of true love and support that Kratos had had in centuries…she couldn't really blame him for it, even if she knew it was wrong.

"Mithos said he would reunite the worlds as soon as Martel was revived. I came to think that as long as the land would return to normal, that would be enough… Until I met you."

"Me?" Lloyd asked.

"You remind me of Mithos. Just like you, Mithos was desperately trying to save the world. He didn't give up. No matter how much he was oppressed, he was hopeful…until the day Martel was killed."

"A hero…that's what people called him."

"Yes, but there is a clear difference between you and Mithos… You realize that you are capable of making mistakes. Or rather, if you make a mistake, you are capable of acknowledging it. That takes courage. Mithos, as well as I…were unable to do that."

"The courage to acknowledge one's mistakes…"

"We were incapable of correcting our flawed path. We gave up on correcting our mistakes. You didn't give up."

"If you feel that way, then you must have realized it by now! Mistakes can be corrected. It's not too late. Let's look for a way to release Origin without sacrificing your life…together."

"I still have something I must do. Until I am able to entrust it to you, I cannot fight alongside you."

"Something you have to do?"

"The Eternal Sword. Until I am able to entrust it to you…do not die, Lloyd."

The voices trailed off and snow crunched beneath boots as one of the two, most likely Kratos, began to walk away. He stopped when Lloyd called to him.

"Kratos! Where are you going?"

"Do not allow Yggdrasill to continue as he pleases. He is capable of sacrificing any number of lives. Stop Yggdrasill…stop Mithos…before Colette is taken from you again."

The footsteps started off again and Raine retreated into the shadows as Kratos headed down past her hiding place. She took in a breath, it seemed that she wouldn't be needing to speak to Lloyd about Kratos after all. Lingering in the shadows for a moment, she waited until she heard Lloyd leave the balcony before she thought about heading back. She didn't want him to think she didn't trust him to come out here on his…or that she had been eavesdropping on his private conversations.

Once she was sure he had walked far enough away for her to begin her own walk back without being noticed, she opened her eyes and stepped out of the shadows on to the soft, freshly fallen snow…only to find her way blocked by Kratos' imposing figure.

Hope it was good. Next chapter will see a lot more of the Kratos and Raine interaction as well as all the exciting Zelos' reveally bits (and maybe some other revelations). I'm not sure how many more chapters there are left but I'm guessing...4-ish but we'll have to see how the writing takes me.

Once again, hope you enjoyed it :)