Sorry for being so late. I was gone for most of the day today. Nonetheless, thanks for the review and hits and thanks to oursolemnhour49 for rereading this chapter.

Onward to the story.


Chapter 44: Dirk


Yuan impatiently paced across his office floor as he waited for Botta to return. There were a lot of thoughts going through his head, given today's events. It would appear that once again Kratos was testing his morality. This was what he had been planning for the entire time; now Kratos had to cast doubt over him. He really hated that man.

"Lord Yuan, what brings you here?" Botta asked as he entered the room. He still had some cuts and bruises from his fight at the Ranch, but he was not badly injured.

"I need you to find a dwarf that is not under the control of Cruxis," Yuan said bluntly, stopping his pacing.

Botta's eyes narrowed. "It is for Kratos, isn't it?"

"Anna is dying. The seal that once kept her exsphere in check is gone," Yuan said.

"I see," Botta said. He remained silent for a moment. "It will not be easy. Cruxis has been keeping a tight hold on all the dwarves on both sides."

"But it is not impossible," Yuan said casually. "Otherwise, we wouldn't exist."

Botta nodded. "I will do all I can. But may I ask, what suddenly gave you this change of heart?"

Yuan closed his eyes and lowered his head. "A friend asked for my help."

Botta didn't need to ask anything more as he gave a short nod. "We will begin the search now." He then left the room and Yuan to his thoughts.

For the next two months, the Renegades devoted all its resources to finding a dwarf. Yuan kept himself busy with his Cruxis duties and kept his ears opened for any reports about Kratos or Kvar. So far everything had been quiet and calm on both fronts. Even Mithos was unusually calm on the subject. Then again with the entire Chosen's journey only a few years away, he had other things to prepare for. It was something to be thankful for, since Mithos' attention was diverted and that gave him less time to order Yuan around.

Nonetheless, Yuan was starting to get worried. Anna did not have that much time left and they still were unable to locate a dwarf. Maybe Mithos' arrogance had not been misplaced in this case. He knew Kratos would eventually need a dwarf and covered all his bases. At this moment, Cruxis had the advantage.

The stalemate, however, appeared to had ended when he got a call from Botta. Mithos was so busy with his own duties that Yuan was able to fly down to Sylvarant without coming up with a convincing excuse.

To assure he was not followed, however, he met Botta on the Ossa Trail. Given that it was close to winter now, few people dare to travel that road. The area was narrow and steep, which made it a death trap when ice formed. Even the Desians would be settling in by this time.

Yuan landed gracefully as he looked around the road. The gray winter clouds blocked the sun, given the area a forbidding feeling. He could see his breath in the air.

"Over here, Lord Yuan," Botta called. He was hidden within a mine entrance and he slowly stepped out of the shadows. He was not wearing his traditional short sleeve armor. He was now wearing a somewhat thick brown winter coat with long white pants. It was easy for Yuan to forget that this type of weather affected others.

"Did you find one?" Yuan questioned.

Botta nodded. "We have been able to confirm a location of a dwarf just twenty-four hours ago. It has really been by luck that our sources found him."

"Where is this dwarf located?" Yuan asked

"He is found within a forest right next to Iselia," Botta said.

Yuan flinched in surprise. "Near Iselia? Are you serious?"

Botta chuckled. "Wish I wasn't. He has been literally hiding under Cruxis' nose. He actually does work for the people of that town and maintains the temple."

"I find it hard to believe that Cruxis is unaware of him," Yuan said in disbelief.

"We had our spies checked Forcystus' records and there is no mention of this dwarf in his data banks. It could be that Forcystus does not keep track of too many actives within Iselia because of the treaty," Botta said.

Yuan shook his head. "Unbelievable. What is this dwarf's name?"

"Dirk," Botta answered. "We have been unable to find anything else about him."

"That name doesn't ring any bells, so he never worked for Cruxis," Yuan said. "Most likely he emerged from the underground fairly recently, which is why there is no record of him."

"What do you want to do?" Botta asked. "The only other dwarf that we know of is Altessa and he is working for Rodyle."

"Altessa is too risky," Yuan said dismissively. "Not to mention trying to sneak them into Tethe'alla has its own difficulties."

"Then we send them to Dirk," Botta concluded.

"I will tell them," Yuan said. "We need to get back our focus on our own mission. Especially if we are forced to destroy the Chosen."

"Understood," Botta said.

Yuan opened up his wings and took flight towards the city of Triet. The flight was not too long considering that the Ossa Trail was only a couple miles from it. What Yuan never got used to was the fact that Triet was not even a fraction of the size it used to be at its peak.

As he had predicted millennia ago, the once-great city never recovered from Efreet's attack. What was once only the first-third of the city was now the entire city. The shrine they once had worshipped was not even part of the city anymore. It was now a near-forgotten relic of the past that only those who cared about the Chosen's journey knew about. It was a real tragedy, but nothing lasted forever. All great civilizations were destined to someday fall and have another rise in their place. It was just the way nature worked, but it was something else to actually see it happening before your eyes.

He landed a little outside the city and casually walked in. Even during the winter, the desert was still very hot, although the weather was more bearable since it didn't reached into the hundreds. He opened up his senses to see if Kratos had arrived here. He really was not in the mood to wait days for them to arrive.

Luckily, he could sense Kratos' mana in the distance. At least something was easy around here. He made his way towards the mana and was able to quickly find Kratos standing by a stall with several horses. Kratos' shoulders stiffened as he turned around to face his former friend.

"I take it you were able to find a dwarf?" Kratos asked neutrally, although Yuan could hear the faint excitement in his voice.

"Just a little while ago," Yuan said.

Kratos nodded. "Who is this dwarf?"

"His name is Dirk," Yuan said casually. "He doesn't appear in any of Cruxis' data banks so we know nothing of him. However, my sources have been able to pinpoint his location to a forest next to Iselia."

Kratos' eyes widened. "Iselia?"

Yuan smirked in amusement. "Indeed, just a couple miles away from Forcystus' Ranch."

Kratos shook his head. "That is only a couple days' walk from here. It would seem fate has finally sided with us."

"Fate has nothing to do with it," Yuan snorted.

"We will leave at first light," Kratos said. "Once Anna has her key crest, I will fulfill my end of the bargain."

Yuan still had mixed feelings about this deal. He still had not figured out how to resolve it without taking Kratos' life. It was best not to think about it until the moment came.

"Do whatever you wish," were what Yuan chose as his words as he left.

Kratos could barely contain himself as he practically ran to his room to see Anna. He had feared that Yuan might not make it in time, but there was finally a light at the end of this darkness. She would be saved.

He went up the stairs and walked quietly into the hotel room. Lloyd was playing with a stack of blocks and beamed happily when he saw Kratos.

"Daddy!" Lloyd exclaimed as he ran to his father's arms. Kratos happily picked up his son and swung him around.

Lloyd had managed to completely physically recover from his ordeal at the Ranch. He still, however, had mental scars from the incident. He had waking nightmares that would hunt him at night and he couldn't stand to sleep by himself. His father prayed that Lloyd would be able to overcome his fears someday. He would hate for Kvar's cruelty to haunt Lloyd for the rest of his life.

Anna looked over from the desk she was sitting at and gave Kratos a weak smile. Her health had greatly deteriorated over the last couple of months. Her eyes and cheeks were sunken in, her skin was pallid, and even her hair was thinner. She had cut it again since it broke so easily.

Kratos put Lloyd down and walked over to his wife. "I have news. We have found a dwarf."

Anna did not look happy by the news. He supposed she wouldn't be since she knew of the deal he struck with Yuan. He didn't want to tell her originally, but she knew something had happened that night. It took almost two weeks, but she managed to get the truth out of him. She somehow had that effect on him.

"Once I am saved, then what?" Anna asked almost bitterly.

"You know what will happen next," Kratos said slowly.

"So, that's it?" Anna asked with heat. "You are just going to go and die?"

Kratos sighed. "I made a promise to Yuan. The only way for him to make a pact with Origin is to break his seal. The seal I placed over him can only be broken with my life. There is no other way around it."

"There must be another way. Otherwise, what have we been working for all these years?" Anna questioned.

"With my death, Yuan will use the Eternal Sword to defeat Cruxis and free both worlds. That has been our main goal the entire time."

"Our main goal was to defeat Cruxis so we can live happily as a family," Anna corrected him.

"And you will," Kratos argued.

"That means all of us!" Anna all but yelled. "We will never be a complete family again without you. How can you make such a deal without thinking of us?"

"I was thinking of you. Which is why I am willing to give up everything so you can live," Kratos said. "Lloyd needs you far more than me."

Anna shook her head. "He needs both his parents."

"I am tainted, Anna," Kratos said as he looked at Lloyd. "Look at what has happened to Lloyd because of my sins. With my death, I will serve a higher purpose than I would staying alive."

Anna shook her head. "No, you're taking the easy way out. There has to be another way."

"Sometimes there is no other way," Kratos said. "Anna, you have to accept that there are no easy answers in this life. You have to sacrifice something in order to achieve the greater good."

"Funny, didn't you say it was that way of thinking that created Cruxis in the first place?" Anna shot back.

Kratos paused as he heard those words. The ends justified the means. Weren't those his words to Mithos that he took to heart? Now he was once again repeating them in ordered to justify his own death.

"It is too late now. I made the deal with Yuan already," Kratos chose to say instead.

"Then I won't go," Anna said stubbornly.

Kratos' eyes narrowed. "Then you are choosing death yourself to prove a point."

Anna glared at Kratos. "Well, you chose to die yourself. Then I have the right to make the same choice."

"Stop acting childish," Kratos said harshly.

Anna stood up so fast from her chair that she knocked it over. "No, I am making a stand. I refused to let you die over some stupid deal you've made!"

"Mommy, daddy, please don't fight," a voice whimpered. They both stopped what they were doing and stared at their son, who was near tears. "Please don't fight anymore." He began to sniffle and tears began to come down his wide eyes.

Anna ran towards her son and embraced him. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." He began to kiss his tears away. "Don't cry, we weren't fighting." She rocked him back and forward to calm Lloyd down.

Kratos stared at the scene and put a shaky hand on the desk. He hated himself for causing them such pain. He was hurting everything he held dear. But what other choice did he have?

"Anna, Lloyd needs you," Kratos all but whispered. "You have to go to Iselia in order to get well again. If not for your sake, then for Lloyd's."

Anna stared down at her son who was slowly calming down. She knew Kratos was right. She was being incredibly selfish with her remarks. But, she couldn't stand the thought of losing Kratos. There had to be another way. She would be damned if she allowed Yuan to take Kratos' life. But she had to think about herself for the moment.

"You're right," Anna said slowly. "When do we leave?"

"First thing in the morning," Kratos answered. "It would take at least three days to reach Iselia."

Anna nodded. "All right then."

The day passed slowly as they prepared for their journey. It took over three years, but Anna would soon be free of her exsphere and the grip of Cruxis. Kratos patted Noishe as he stood out his stall.

"This is the moment we have been working for," Kratos said to his old friend. "I don't know how all this will end, but if anything happens to me, please look after Anna and Lloyd."

"Whine, bark," Noishe said.

"I can't be too sure Yuan would be that generous. He has been working towards his own ends for a long time too."

"Bark, whine, whine," Noishe said.

Kratos sighed. "Although you maybe old, I think you maybe wrong on this. Friendship does not conquer over everything. Otherwise things would have never ended up this way."

"Hi, daddy!" Lloyd exclaimed as he stepped outside.

Kratos turned towards his son. "Lloyd, why are you out?" Obviously, Anna had falling asleep and his energetic son took it as his time to escape.

"I wanted to see the stars," Lloyd said as he looked up into the open sky. The clouds had parted and the stars could be clearly seen.

Kratos gave a small smile. One of the few things Lloyd had inherited from him was his love for astronomy. Since the day Lloyd had learned to talk, he always loved going out star-watching. This had caused Anna quite a bit of grief since it made Lloyd stay up past his bedtime.

He walked over towards Lloyd and lifted him up to his shoulders. This caused the young boy to giggle. Although he should punished Lloyd for sneaking off, moments like this were far and few in-between. Especially since this maybe the last time he would get a chance to do this.

"Look daddy, that the star of Sylph!" Lloyd exclaimed.

"That's right, Lloyd. Those who are born under that star are said to be swift and as fast as the wind. They also represent change and independence. They are also flighty and kind of clumsy," Kratos said, causing Lloyd to giggle. He had to thank Yuan for letting him read all his books on spirit symbols. It had some similarities to his own faith.

He didn't want, however, to push Lloyd into his own beliefs like his father tried to do with him. He wanted Lloyd to find his own path in the world and his own beliefs. Even if he did believed destiny was unchangeable, it didn't mean Lloyd had to think the same way.

"What star was I born under, daddy?" Lloyd suddenly asked.

"You were born under the mighty star of Efreet just as I was," Kratos answered. "The star of Efreet represents power and courage. Those who are born under that star are said to carry the flame of courage. It can also mean destruction and chaos if not properly controlled."

Sadly, the latter appeared to apply to him more and more. He had done nothing in his life but spread destruction and chaos by allowing Cruxis to exist. Not to mention the role he played in the Kharlan War.

"What about mommy?" Lloyd continued to ask.

Kratos could feel a lump formed in his throat. "Your mommy was born under the sign of Aska. Those born under Aska are said to bring order and fight against injustice. They are destined to protect the world." He paused for a second before he could continue. There was a part that Martel never told them. "However, they can also become blinded by their light and become misguided. The light of Aska represents order."

"But they fight against evil, right?" Lloyd asked in a childish voice. "That sounds like mommy."

Kratos gave a small smile. "It does indeed, Lloyd." It would also describe Mithos perfectly, especially the last part.

"You and mommy are alike," Lloyd added. "You both are light."

The funny thing about that statement was that was the reason why Aska and Efreet go together. Both were light and fire. After all, Aska was the sun, which was the hottest fire.

"Indeed Lloyd, indeed," Kratos said as they both continue to star into the sky.


Yuan was more than a little annoyed that Mithos decided to call a meeting. He was in the middle in some other business and didn't have the patience to deal with the little man-child. However he really couldn't refuse, since he had to stay on Mithos' good side for the time being.

He transported into the throne room and was surprised to see Kvar there. Usually none of the Desians, not even the Grand Cardinals, were allowed to come to Derris-Kharlan. Pronyma was the one exception.

"Lord Yuan, it is good to see you again," Kvar greeted him.

Yuan decided to ignore the narrow-eyed man. "What is going on?"

Mithos smiled. "Kvar had located Kratos. From what he said, Kratos is heading towards Iselia to reach a dwarf."

Yuan felt his heart stall in his chest. He was, however, able to keep a neutral face. "And how does he know that?"

Kvar chuckled. "A couple months ago before I was able to capture that Angelus, I got a message from Forcystus. He was able to locate a dwarf that was not registered in the Cruxis' data bank. It was only by accident that Forcystus even came across him."

Yuan raised an eyebrow. "And he told you?"

"As a personal favor." Kvar waved his hand. "I told him not to register that dwarf and instead float a rumor about his existence."

"Why would you even do something like this?" Yuan asked. Although he could guess the answer.

"I knew Kratos had some kind of connection with the Renegades, which is how he managed to escape me so many times. The fact that they knew so much about where their son was and the Renegades happen to appear to help proves it. So I knew that eventually the Renegades' network would find the location of that dwarf and leak it to Kratos," Kvar explained.

"Is that why you let them escape the Ranch?" Yuan asked.

"Exactly," Kvar laughed. "The entire reason for the kidnapping was to lure them to the Ranch and forced that host body to used her seal to remove that boy's faulty exsphere. Once that seal was gone, the exsphere was allowed to finally drained the remainder energy from her body."

Mithos laughed. "A nearly perfect plan. I must give you credit for your ruthlessness"

Yuan couldn't believe how foolish he had been. How could he not have seen through Kvar's plan? Kvar had played both Kratos and him for fools.

"The Angelus Project should be near completion now," Kvar said. "And Kratos is heading straight towards my trap. I am here to ask for permission to have temporary control of Forcystus' Ranch."

Mithos tapped his fingers. "Usually I don't take such requests. Especially when you have had so many chances in the past."

"This is a sure win, Lord Yggdrasill," Kvar said. "I can promise you that I will have Kratos, the Angelus Project, and the Angelus all within your hand in the next couple of days."

A few minutes went by before Mithos nodded. "Very well, Kvar. But, this is your very last chance. If you fail this time, nothing will save you from my wrath."

Kvar bowed. "You have my word, Lord Yggdrasill." He then turned and walked away.

"It would seem my investment has paid off," Mithos said. "Although I don't know how deep Kratos' connections with the Renegades are, we will find out once we have captured him."

Yuan could feel his hand tighten into a ball. There was nothing he could do to help Kratos. If he tipped him off now, he would give himself away and everything he had been working for would be destroyed. He couldn't afford to do that and sacrifice the Renegades for a former friend.

He could only pray that Kratos would find a way out of this. Although a deep part of him told him that they won't be so lucky this time. Martel, please protect them.


Things really don't look good for Anna and Kratos. They just can't help but being played by Kvar. On a brighter note, the star scene was inspire by a panel from the Tales of Symphonia manga. It was just so touching that I had to put it into my story.

Anyway, until next time.