Disclaimer: I don't own Tales of Symphonia. It belongs to the fine folks at Namco.

A/N: AU fic. This came partially out of frustration because there are no Forcystus fanfics, partially because of a quote from ToS and because I love the "what if"'s. Be warned lots of spoilers. I mean it's about Cruxis and Desians afterall.

No Noishe in this one. Just some help for Seles.

The Good Aurion
Chapter XXXV: Finding Help and Trouble

They evaded Noishe long enough to make it to Sybak. The two stopped within walking distance and Lloyd pulled in his wings. Forcystus floated for a moment before landing completely and turned to Lloyd. "That's it, is it?"

Lloyd turned to the city still holding Seles close to his chest. "Yeah. The Imperial Academy is in Sybak. It's the best place her to get treated."

Forcystus groaned to himself and looked over at Seles then to Lloyd. "I suppose, it is."

The city itself was bustling. It was midday and probably close to lunch and so many of the inhabitants were away from their posts. Almost all of the people on the streets were scholars rushing around most with their noses in a book. Some carefully held their tomes open with one hand and something to eat with the other. Lloyd tried his best to avoid running into anyone while holding Seles. Forcystus looked around trying to stay close to Lloyd only made difficult by the crowd. "How are we going to find anything?"

Lloyd moaned to himself. That was fantastic question. He didn't know a thing about the layout of the city. The only Tethe'allan city he had actually visited was Meltokio and that was only once with his father before he was assigned to Forcystus's ranch. "Maybe we could ask a scholar." Forcystus was about to stop the young human but it was too late. Lloyd nudged a human scholar. His hands were full of books and he had a dazed look on his face. "Excuse me."

The scholar seemed to snap out of the trance he was in and peered out from behind his book. "Good Lord!"

"Yes, she's hurt. I want to take her to the Academy. I think they could help her there."

The scholar nodded quickly. The look on his face was heavy with concern. Whatever apathy appeared on his face earlier had faded away completely. "Yes, I work at the Academy. I'll take you right away and get you someone."

Lloyd smiled and turned his head over his shoulder. "Forcystus."

The half elf nodded and hurried over to Lloyd who followed the scholar. The scholar was moving surprisingly quickly for carrying so many book and especially for the sheer number of people he had to avoid. The scholar hurried himself done a narrow road that ran along the seashore and followed an iron gate. Lloyd followed as closely as possible without doing any harm to Seles who was still lying motionless in his arms against his chest. Forcystus followed right behind him keeping an eye on the young girl in case Lloyd were to trip as he rushed himself along to keep up with the academic.

They followed the dockside for a ways. The road was cobblestoned and still just as crowded as it was outside of the walkway. Forcystus moved closer to Lloyd. The young human turned his head to see a rather nervous look on his friend's face. "What is it?"

The hero paused for a moment. "I sense mana from nearby. There are half elves somewhere around here." He said it quietly making sure only Lloyd could hear.

Lloyd was suddenly struck with the notion that all of the scholars who were out were human. He had been too busy with the rush to notice but it was very clear now. Lloyd brushed it off. "They're probably in the Academy. Maybe someone didn't leave for lunch." he comment didn't seem to ease the half elf. Lloyd hurried himself right to the side of the scholar. "Is the Academy close?"

The scholar turned his head. His glasses wobbled on his nose being slightly too large for the human who wore them. "Yes! The Academy is right there. If you go in, they'll see you right away." He adjusted his books into one arm. "You just go in through the main lobby and you turn left at the fossilized dragon." He said gesturing for Lloyd. "The third door in that corridor is for medical students. They never take their lunch breaks. They should help you."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

The scholar smiled and nodded. "I hope she's all right." He said before turning back down the walkway to the main square.

Lloyd turned around quickly toward the Academy and headed up the stairs. The building was several stories with a large stairway leading to the main entrance. Various scholars and students were sitting around the stairs, writing notes and reading their tomes. It seemed almost impossible to disturb them. Lloyd had to push his way past several of the academics and they didn't so much as look up from their business at hand. Forcystus opened the door for the young human as he tried to figure a way to do it on his own while holding Seles.

They entered the main lobby: a large room with a sweeping staircase, a desk attended by sometime of receptionist, and a fossilized dragon as corridors sprang from all directions. Students filed by every so often as professors did the same sorting through their lesson plans. Lloyd felt himself get a bit excited.

He had never attended any school. He was taught entirely by father in Welgaia. There were of course lesson plans, most arranged by father, Lord Yggdrasil and Lord Yuan to find what was best. He knew that they had all agreed on the basic courses: mathematics, magic, history, magi-technics, astronomy, the angelic and human languages, and government. The others were

pushed through by one of the three. He knew that Lord Yuan had forced in cultural study and art. He always insisted when he was younger that he had a gift for making things with his hands. Lord Yggdrasil had demanded that he have Martalian religious study and exsphere study. He didn't remember the two classes being followed that carefully by his father. It seemed odd now that his father would defy Lord Yggdrasil in such a minor way. He knew that most of his father suggestions were ignored or considered too trivial but he did push through with one: swordsmanship. He practiced every other day with a sword from the time he was ten onward.

He never felt he had missed anything growing up under his father's tutelage. He never felt lonely being in class by himself. But seeing the school made him wonder what it was like to be with others your own age. The angels of Welgaia had not been much for companions and though he had his father, Lord Yuan and Forcystus, there was no one for him his own age.

He looked down at Seles. He needed to get her to the medical faculty. He turned left at the skeleton and began to quickly follow the hall.

"Wait, there!" Lloyd and Forcystus stopped and turned their head. Behind them was a human set on the heavy side in a uniform. "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?"

Lloyd groaned. He was holding an unconscious girl and running down a hall. Where did he think he was going? "She's hurt. I'm taking her to the medical ward."

The man frowned. "Alright but you'll have to be registered there."

"Fine, whatever you want."

The man lead them to the medical ward where Seles was taken by the students and they began to check her for what was wrong. Lloyd let out a sigh of relief and closed his eyes for a moment. "Ow!" He felt a needle prick on the side of his neck. Lloyd turned to see a scholar had use some type of device on his neck. "What was that!?!"

"Nothing to get upset about. It's a standard test. It should be done in a moment. Just procedure."

Forcystus was rubbing his neck where they had pricked him as well.

"What are you testing for?" Lloyd asked eyeing the people checking Seles.

"It's a standard test to deter..." The attendant paused and stared at the small machine. "Did you?"

"Just the girl and the man. The boy is testing negative."

"Move the two to the basement. I'll have been picked up later."

Lloyd snapped out of his seat. "What's going on? Where are you taking them!?!"

"Relax young man, you aren't in any trouble." The attendant said calmly. "You've been traveling with two half elves. We're taking them to the basement level. I'm sure you weren't aware."

Lloyd clenched his fists as he watch Forcystus and Seles being forced out of the small room. "Of course, I know! They're my friends!"

The attendant gave him an annoyed look. "Please sir, I don't think you understood. You've come in with a pair of half elves." Lloyd snarled and ran off after Seles and Forcystus. "Wait!"

Lloyd ran out of the room and after the guards escorting his friends. Three were needed to handle Forcystus who struggling against the large muscled humans. Lloyd could tell he didn't want to use magic on them. He knew why. He was worried. Neither of them knew what would handle to him if he were to attack someone in Tethe'alla. "Where are you taking them!?!" Lloyd continued to protest as his friends were taken lower into the Academy. The guards seemed to pretend that he wasn't even there. They finally stopped in front of a bolted metal door. The guard shoved Seles into Forcystus's arms and pushed the half elf into the room. As they were about to close the door, Lloyd drew his sword and wedged it into stop it from closing. "You may not be listening to me. But they're my friends and she needs help! I'm going in with them!!"

Before he knew it, Lloyd was thrown in with the rest of them as the guard muttered something about 'punks' and slammed the door. Lloyd looked around. It was a cellar. The door was heavy metal that was without any doubt bolted on the other side. Tables and bookcases lined the walls covered with beakers, books and tools. Even from a distance, Lloyd could tell it was magitechnical research. A large table was set in the middle of room almost as a centerpoint. Finally all around in the room were researchers most with pointed ears and colorful hair, in short, half elves. Lloyd rushed over to Forcystus who was still holding Seles in his arms. He seemed to be trying to find his bearings as much as Lloyd in this place.

He moved to approach him.

"What are you doing down here?"

Lloyd turned quickly in the direction of the voice. A woman was approaching him. She wore a robe, the same type as the others, small glasses, hair tightly tied back and a rather displeased look on her face. Lloyd knew immediately that she was half elf. He smiled and put his hand out for her. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was just going to see if my friends were all right. That guard dragged them off after..."

The woman glared. "That was an identification test. That you passed. Why are you down here?"

She seemed more angry this time. "I... My friend needs help. She was hurt during a fight..."

The other half elves were glaring as well now. "This isn't any place to play. Get out of here."

Forcystus snarled. "Leave him alone!"

The half elves quickly turned to Forcystus. Lloyd watched them for a moment as there gaze moved from his face to this arm then back again. Their expressions changed slightly. Though still defensive, they were now more open in their mannerisms.

"This girl collapsed after a battle. She's a quarter elf but failed that test upstairs. Can you examine her?"

The woman walked over to Forcystus and motioned for him as she moved things off of the large table. "This way. I don't see how she failed the test. It's designed specifically for the detection of half elves. It doesn't normally fail."

Lloyd approached as the woman began to check Seles. Forcystus stepped over slightly to let Lloyd in. "Is she going to be all right?"

They remained silent as they checked her and the others returned to their work.

Lloyd felt a lump in his throat. He had to be honest, he didn't like being ignored. Some of members of Cruxis had been angry with him before and the desian had even been rude and sometimes attacked him early on at the ranch but he was never treated like he wasn't there. Forcystus didn't seem to like it. "You could at least answer him. He's worried about her."

The woman turned to Forcystus. Her face was slightly red. "The young girl appears to suffer from chronic fatigue. It seems that if she exerts herself too much she simply collapses. It could be quite damaging if she were to continuously push herself." The woman paused looking away from Forcystus hoping that he didn't see that she was blushing. "I think it's a side effect of her bloodline. She seems to be one of the unlucky child of mana."

Lloyd couldn't help but think of Kilia and Kvar when she said that. So Seles had a condition as well. He felt a bit guilty that he hadn't noticed. Sometimes it was more than skin deep he supposed. He wondered if the others had conditions besides the deformities as well. He would have to ask Kvar when he got back.

Reviews, comments and ideas are always welcome. Thank you for reading.