A/N:
Hello again!
The journey continues as Lloyd and Genis try to track down Colette, Lloyd makes a new acquaintance and Kratos tries his best not to act like a worried dad.
As they journeyed south, the climate changed. The air was suddenly a lot hotter and different plants grew here, until they finally reached the desert. Sand as far as they could see, and mountains in the distance...
"Why does it have to be so hot?", Lloyd groused as they slowly made their way across the dunes.
Genis rolled his eyes. "If you wouldn't always fall asleep during classes, you'd know that this is caused by the Summon Spirit Efreet, who lives in the area around Triet. Being the Summon Spirit of Fire, he has a huge impact on this area. That's why there is a desert to begin with."
"I don't always sleep in class", Lloyd grumbled. "I'm good at sports. And arts."
Lloyd had no idea for how long they had been walking when Noishe suddenly whined. The next moment, he sped away across the dunes and vanished from sight.
"What's with him? Are there monsters about?", Lloyd asked, confused.
"I don't know, but let's stay on guard."
Only a few minutes later, a Desian patrol of three men appeared.
"Hey, isn't that the fugitive criminal Nr. E-027, Lloyd Irving?"
"Let's see."
One of them produced a "wanted" poster from his pocked.
"Yes, it's him! Get him!"
Lloyd cursed and dropped his rucksack, then, he drew his swords. Genis had already prepared a spell while the Desians had been debating, which allowed him to strike first. Lloyd attacked. His Exsphere glowed blue, and he felt stronger than ever. The Desians didn't last long.
"I'm supposed to look like that?!", Lloyd asked in disbelief, picking up the poster.
"Well, look at it that way – they won't find you. Probably. But still, we should be more careful."
"Why? They were so pathetic..."
The next moment, something hit him in the back. Lloyd saw bolts of lightning flashing around his body and felt a strange numbness overcoming him. Then, everything went black.
Startled and afraid, Genis stared at the Desians moving slowly towards them. One of them bent down to check Lloyd's pulse.
"Nice shot. He's out cold."
"What about this one here?", one of the others asked.
"The boss only wants Lloyd", the third replied.
"I-I didn't want to come!", Genis whimpered, faking sobs. "Lloyd forced m-me t-to... I'm scared..."
"All right, stop it. As a fellow kinsman, we'll let you go."
Genis froze, then, he hurried to thank the men. He grabbed his stuff and made a run for it. Hidden behind a dune, he watched the Desians carry Lloyd away.
A soft whine told him Noishe had returned.
"Noishe, it's very important that you find Colette and the others. Then we can rescue Lloyd together!"
He went to retrieve Lloyd's rucksack and followed the dog across the dunes.
When Lloyd opened his eyes, he noticed that he was lying on the hard and cold floor of a prison cell. Behind the barred door was a desolate corridor that was lit by a strange, cold light that didn't flicker. Lloyd slowly got to his feet and peered out of the cell. There were no guards in sight, so he examined the lock more closely. It was nothing special, and he had it open within no time. When he left the cell, he noticed to his dismay that his rucksack, as well as his swords, were gone. And without them, he wouldn't get far.
Lloyd padded down the corridor and found himself in front of a door that had no handle. It took him a while to find the mechanism that opened it.
What kind of technology is this? Who are those Desians, and why do they need my Exsphere? But those Desians here are different from the ones who attacked Iselia, I think...
Cautiously, Lloyd continued on his way and finally reached a storeroom full of Exspheres.
He stopped dead.
Well, they most certainly have enough of those.
Then, he noticed something else. His swords were hanging from one of the shelves. Grinning, Lloyd took them and closed the belts around his waist.
"Hey! Sound the alarm! The guy in red broke out!"
"Lloyd Irving?"
"Yes! The boss'll kill us if he gets away! Find him!"
Not good...
Lloyd dashed down the length of the room, away from the voices. There was another door at the far end. Lloyd opened it, rushed through, down a corridor, through another door and stopped dead, surprised.
This room was unlike any other he'd seen so far. It was richly decorated and furnished, carpets covering the floor. Lloyd heard the sound of the door closing again.
"And just who the hell are you?"
Lloyd spun around. A man was standing next to the door he had come in through – Lloyd had been in such a rush he had completely failed to notice him. His long turquoise hair was tied into a low ponytail, and his green eyes fixed Lloyd with a cold stare.
"Give me your name and I shall give you mine", Lloyd replied.
The man moved closer, an energy ball appearing over his right palm. Lloyd retreated one step.
"I have no intention of introducing myself to a miserable creature!"
"Oh, what a coincidence! Because I have no intention of introducing myself either to a moron who doesn't even realise how pathetic he is!"
"You little - "
Angrily, the man turned his palm, so it faced Lloyd. Instinctively, he raised his Exsphere to shield himself.
Surprised, the stranger let the ball disappear.
"You're – Lloyd?"
"What if I am?"
The man moved closer to get a better look at him. "Yes, I see the resemblance."
"What resemblance?", Lloyd asked, confused.
The Desian couldn't be possibly talking about Dirk. However, Lloyd got no reply, for another man entered the room – Botta.
"Lord Yuan, we've received reports that the Chosen and her group have infiltrated the facility."
"Then I'll leave the rest to you, Botta. Our plans would be ruined if he sees me here." Yuan turned and headed for the door, then, he stopped and looked back. "Lloyd, next time we meet, you'll be mine. Just you wait."
It sounded like a threat. As the door closed behind Yuan, Botta turned to look at Lloyd.
"Do you even realise how much trouble you've caused me? Why couldn't you just stay in your cell? It really makes no difference in the end."
Lloyd didn't know how to respond to that.
A spell smashed open the door through which Botta had entered. Kratos stormed into the room, sword drawn, his eyes flashing. Genis, Raine and Colette followed.
"Lloyd!"
Colette was clearly relieved to see him.
A sudden movement to his left drew Lloyd's attention. Botta charged, a crescent-shaped weapon in his hand. With a jump, Kratos crossed the room and blocked Botta's attack, shielding Lloyd. The impact was so enormous that Botta's weapon broke. Botta jumped backwards, cursing. He cast a spell in Kratos' direction, dropped the hilt of his now useless weapon, and left the room. Kratos deflected the attack with a magical barrier. Then, he sheathed his sword and turned to face Lloyd. His glance was just the same as Lloyd remembered. Displeased and cross.
"Lloyd!"
Colette rushed forwards and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm so glad you're safe! When Genis told us the Desians had kidnapped you..."
"Save the chit-chat for later!", Kratos interrupted. "We need to get out of here."
The children hurried to follow Kratos. Raine, however, stooped down to collect the remains of Botta's weapon.
"Is this an Exsphere?", she asked Lloyd as they hurried to follow Kratos.
"Yes. I suppose you could use it – but only if we can get a Key Crest somewhere."
"Genis mentioned that the Desians were after your Exsphere."
"Yeah... they burned down the entire village just to get their hands on it! And so the mayor exiled me. And what's even better, that Forcystus guy said he'd hunt me down."
"So, the Desians now have yet another reason to come after us."
"I'm sorry. But without that thing, I wouldn't have made it this far..."
None of the others noticed the angry look Kratos gave Lloyd – although it was actually aimed at the Exsphere.
This cursed thing... I'd love to smash it to pieces. But then Lloyd wouldn't stand a chance...
Luckily, they managed to escape from the base without any major problems. Noishe was waiting for them outside, standing guard over Lloyd's rucksack. Overjoyed, Lloyd rushed over to hug his dog.
"We were just on our way to the Temple of Fire when Noishe and Genis found us", Raine explained.
"So, if we hurry, we should be able to deal with the Seal of Fire today!", Lloyd replied excitedly.
Kratos snorted softly. "That depends on what we will find there, and how we deal with it."
"Don't be so pessimistic!"
"I'm not pessimistic, I'm realistic. That's a fundamental difference."
Lloyd made a face as soon as Kratos wasn't looking.
He's so arrogant and conceited, I really hate that!
They were now approaching the remains of an ancient city. The ruins fitted rather well into the desolate desert. As they started looking for the entrance, Raine suddenly became jumpy, while Noishe immediately went to find a good hiding place and refused to come out again, despite all of Lloyd's coaxing.
"Monsters?", Genis asked.
"If this is like the temple, then yes", Lloyd replied.
"This is going to be a nuisance", Kratos said.
"What is?", Lloyd asked.
"Ah, nothing. Anyway, it would be a good idea to learn techniques to protect yourselves."
"You mean like the shield you used earlier?", he asked curiously.
"Correct."
"But I thought only those with elven blood can use magic", Lloyd replied, confused.
"So only Genis and the Professor can learn it", Colette concluded.
"The Cruxis Crystal grants you magical powers, so you should be able to learn it", Kratos replied. "As for Lloyd – we'll have to try."
Kratos spent the next 30 minutes teaching them how to shield effectively. Lloyd was surprised to see he could actually do it.
"Do you have elven blood?", Colette asked with a tilt of her head.
"How should I know? I never knew anything about my parents... But it might be possible, I guess."
"I've heard that sometimes, half-elves have children with humans", Raine said cautiously. "Even marriages happen on occasion."
"Really?", Genis asked. "I never heard about that..."
"They're likely to keep it quiet. Those humans are often considered traitors and the whole family has to suffer, not just the half-elf..."
"Yes... that is true", Kratos said quietly.
As they moved on, Colette spotted a strange stone.
"Is this the seal? There's my family's crest on it", she said.
"Fantastic!", Raine exclaimed.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Look at the slab covering the entrance! It's clearly of a different composition than the surrounding stone!" She examined it closely, then let out a laugh. "It's just as I thought! This is polycarbonate, developed during the Ancient War to defend against magic!" She dropped to her knees, her staff clattering onto the cobblestones. "Oh, feel the smooth surface! It's wondrous!"
Even Kratos looked surprised at her unusual behaviour.
"Is she always like this?", he asked Genis.
"Is she?", Lloyd pressed when Genis hesitated.
Genis heaved a sigh. "And I've been trying so hard to hide it, too..."
Raine didn't seem to have heard them, but went over to Colette to examine the stone she had spotted earlier.
"It reads 'oracle stone'. Colette, place your hand here – that should reveal the entrance. This stone is enchanted with magic designed to identify the chosen. There is no question about it."
Colette did as instructed, and the slab covering the entrance slid aside, revealing steps leading downwards.
The inside of the temple was even hotter than the outside. Lava covered most of the interior, and they had to be careful where to walk. The footing was treacherous, too, and parts of the floor had crumbled away.
After what seemed ages, thanks to countless battles against monsters, they finally reached the warper that transported them to the seal. Lloyd was really glad that with Raine, they had another healer in the group.
"This is it", Colette whispered. "The Seal of Fire."
"I feel – mana!", Genis exclaimed.
The next moment, flames burst from the seal, taking the form of a huge dog-shaped monster. It had claws, fangs and lots of spikes on its back.
Lloyd drew his swords and wanted to attack, but Kratos restrained him.
"Wait for the enemy to attack with magic first."
"Victory goes to who strikes first!"
"Do you use your head for thinking at all?! When the enemy attacks, try to get behind him in one bound. Genis, you support us with magic, Raine, you protect the Chosen. Got it?"
"Right!"
The monster spat a huge fireball at them. Lloyd and Kratos dodged, while Raine deflected the attack. The two swordsmen ran in different directions, as to confuse their enemy.
"Icicle!", Genis shouted.
The spell proved effective, and the guardian halted for a moment. Lloyd used this to strike. The beast whirled round and hit Lloyd with its tail, throwing him across the room. Genis used another spell while Kratos stood his ground. Lloyd jumped to his feet and started another attack.
Genis yelped as he got hit by a spell, and Raine prepared a healing spell. Lloyd and Kratos attacked at the same time.
It seemed to take forever, but finally, they had defeated the guardian. It burst into tiny red sparks.
Colette stepped in front of the altar and folded her hands.
"O Goddess Martel, great protector and nurturer of the earth, please grant me thy strength."
Steam leaked out of the seal and the shape of a strange creature appeared above it. Moments later, red light filled the room.
"Mana!", Genis called.
More light from above filled the room and then, Remiel appeared.
"Well done, my daughter. In the name of Cruxis, I grant you the power of the angels."
"Thank you, father."
Four rays of light, red, blue, green and white, descended onto Colette. The next moment, wings grew from her back. They seemed to be made of light and ranged in colour from pink to lilac.
"The angel transformation will not be without pain, yet it will be for only one night. Be strong and endure."
"I humbly accept this trial."
"Very good. The next seal lies far to the east, across the sea. I shall await you there, my beloved daughter Colette."
Remiel disappeared again. Genis and Lloyd ran over to Colette to take a closer look at her wings. Laughing, Colette flew a round across the room.
Raine produced a map from her bundle and unfolded it. Kratos had no trouble looking over her shoulder.
"Somewhere over here", she said, pointing to a spot on the map.
"We'll have to take a ship from Izoold to Palmacosta", Kratos stated.
Raine gasped. "A ship? Wouldn't it be better if we travelled by land?"
Kratos gave her a piercing look. "Are you scared of water?"
However, Raine didn't need to answer to that, as Colette suddenly collapsed.
"Colette!", Genis yelled, startled.
Raine hurried over to check her, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry, she's just fainted."
"Let's head for Triet, it's the nearest town", Kratos decided.
No one objected. Kratos lifted Colette into his arms, and they left the temple.
To everyone's great relief, Colette regained consciousness even before they reached Triet. Though she was still pale, she could walk on her own. Remembering the necklace, Lloyd pulled it out of his pocket, only to find that it was broken.
"Oh no... I'm sorry, Colette. I'll make you a new one, I promise."
"Don't worry about it. I'll wait."
Suddenly, Lloyd noticed that Kratos had moved to his side.
"So the Desians killed your mother?", he asked quietly.
"Yeah... until recently, I thought it had been an accident."
"So your father is most likely dead, too."
"Probably. I know nothing of him."
"Well, ignorance is no crime. But – the Desians also took your life."
Lloyd gave him a surprised look. "Are you talking about the village? That was my fault. And I'm going to make up for it by helping Colette."
Kratos looked thoughtful. "So, it's no use looking away and trying to run from one's mistakes..."
"Er – what?"
"Nothing. I already said too much."
"You know, talking to you is kinda wearing me out."
Kratos humphed, but made no further comment.
In Triet, they checked in at the inn. Colette had a room to herself, Genis and Raine got the second and Lloyd and Kratos shared the third.
The town was very different from Iselia – the houses were built from a yellow-ish rock, they had flat rooftops and small windows. The people of Triet relied heavily on the water they drew from the oasis.
Lloyd had found an old Key Crest among the things Raine collected. However, the charm carved into it wasn't good, and he had to carve it anew. While he worked, he had a feeling that Kratos was watching him closely.
It's probably the first time he sees this, after all, there aren't that many dwarves about.
It took Lloyd a while, but finally, he was done. He decided to give the Key Crest to Raine right away.
"Don't stay up too long, you'll need your strength tomorrow!", Kratos called after him.
Lloyd rolled his eyes and shut the door with a little more force than strictly necessary.
"Professor, I'm done. You can attach your Exsphere right away; I'll show you how to use it tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lloyd. You really are good at those things. I only wished you were this dedicated when it comes to studying..."
"Well, I want to learn those things, so..."
"In other words, your marks are so horribly bad because you put no effort into studying."
Lloyd grinned. "Exactly. Good night, Professor."
As he left the room, which lay on the first floor, he noticed Kratos, who was just exiting the building.
Where's he going at a time like this? I'd better follow him. He might be up to something...
As Lloyd climbed the stairs leading from the door up to the street, he spotted Kratos, who was standing next to the shelter under which Noishe ought to sleep – just that he was awake.
As Lloyd approached, Kratos suddenly whirled around, drawing his sword. The blade stopped only inches from Lloyd's throat.
"Whoa!"
Lloyd froze. Kratos' eyes widened slightly in recognition.
"Lloyd. Sorry to have startled you."
He withdrew the blade.
"'Startled' isn't the word."
"You shouldn't stand behind me."
"I won't."
Kratos put his sword away. Noishe barked and Lloyd reached out to stroke his snout.
"Do you like animals?", he asked Kratos.
"No, not particularly."
"Well, Noishe seems quite comfortable around you, and he usually doesn't like strangers."
"I once had a pet – long ago."
"Really?"
"Lloyd..."
Lloyd turned to face him.
"What? What are you staring at me like that for?", he asked, suddenly uneasy.
"Your swordsmanship is crude and unrefined. You should focus a little more on eliminating your vulnerabilities. If you care about your life."
Kratos turned and just left a stunned Lloyd behind.
What's with him? Just because he's a little better than me, he has to talk like he knows everything! Well, a lot better than me... damn!
Fuming, Lloyd returned to his room.
By the time Lloyd entered, Kratos had already removed his cape, boots and sword and stretched out on his bed. He knew that he had not only angered Lloyd but hurt him as well. Without even looking at him, the boy went over to his bed, dropped his swords and boots onto the floor and pulled off his gloves, jacket and trousers.
I have no other choice... Lloyd has to become stronger if he wants to live through this. He has to become stronger than me, or else I'll be forced to kill him... Unless I manage to shake him off again. But this boy has a talent for getting himself into trouble. And he's not supposed to like me.
Kratos knew that this kind of behaviour was the only way to hide his feelings. But it would be hard – and painful.
"I can feel him."
Alice was standing on a rock, her eyes closed, and seemed to be listening to something only she could hear. Moonlight caressed her body and to Aodhan she seemed more beautiful than ever.
The name "Silmea" really befits her. I wonder what Lloyd is like... is he her opposite, the other half of the whole piece? I hope we'll meet him soon.
"Do you know where he is?", he asked his companion.
"In Triet. And he's pretty furious."
"You can sense his emotions over such a distance?"
"Yes, but they are very vague. Looks like I'll have to practice that... But I believe he's mad at Dad."
"Well, that's just great. Do you know why?"
"No. He's rather tired, so I doubt he'll think about it much."
"I see. What a pity."
As Aodhan scanned the area, he spotted a Desian patrol heading south. He knew there was a town in that direction, Palmacosta.
Alice had seen the Desians as well. A wicked smile appeared on her face.
"What are you plotting?", Aodhan asked warily.
"I'll leave a sign. Hide yourself, but don't interfere unless you absolutely have to. I want to know how strong I really am."
During their stay at Triet, Genis screamed the entire inn awake. And, even though Lloyd and Genis had both acted like everything was fine the day before, Kratos could tell that the events in Iselia had traumatised them.
No wonder.
When he and Noishe had tracked them down and asked them to help him save Lloyd, Genis had only given them a brief summary of what had happened. He had also taken all the blame for the Desian's attack on the village. Kratos had not been pleased with this development at all. His son had been supposed to stay at home and, more importantly, out of trouble.
They had questioned Lloyd later, and he had corroborated Genis' story, while also shouldering part of the blame – just because it had been Genis' idea didn't mean that Lloyd hadn't actively participated. He had refused to see himself as blameless.
Kratos had been impressed by their candour. Neither had tried to push the blame on someone else, not even the Desians. Remarkable for two kids their age.
Genis' episode visibly shook Lloyd, who spent what felt like an eternity sitting on his bed, his eyes empty and devoid of the warmth and sparkle they had held before.
Eventually, he lay back down without acknowledging Kratos at all. Kratos wasn't sure he was disappointed or relieved – on the one hand, he would have liked to offer support, on the other, he and Lloyd barely knew each other and Kratos wouldn't even know where to start. Especially given their rocky relationship so far.
And, if he was being honest, Kratos wasn't sure he was the best person to offer advice on something like this.
The next morning, they left Triet and headed east, aiming to cross the mountain range separating the Triet Desert from Izoold via the Ossa Trail. However, progress was slow due to the mountains being infested with monsters, the rough terrain and a landslide that had taken out the road.
Genis and Kratos tried their best to clear a path, but Genis was still very inexperienced as a mage and Kratos had only ever learned how to use magic for combat, so all they could do was fling dirt and rocks skyward. Lloyd scoured the surroundings for anything he could use as a shovel, but to no avail, and so he was forced to watch alongside Raine and Colette.
"Lloyd, relax. We'll get through eventually", Raine said when she noticed his agitation.
"I know that", Lloyd snapped. "I just wish we could be there yet. Stupid landslide."
"Lloyd!"
"Sorry, Professor."
Genis cast a worried glance in Lloyd's direction, giving the impression that this wasn't normal behaviour for Lloyd. Granted, he had been impatient and whiny before, but he had never snapped at anyone. It was worrying.
The delays they suffered on the trail forced them to spend the night in the mountains. Kratos tried to find them a secure spot to set up camp in and checked their surroundings to make sure there were no immediate threats around.
That night, both Lloyd and Genis had nightmares. Neither had, so far, voiced what was troubling them, and now they were huddled up together under a blanket, trying to offer comfort to each other. Genis was crying silently while Lloyd rested his chin on the younger boy's head.
Kratos felt his gut twist.
The following morning, both Lloyd and Genis were pale and had dark shadows underneath their eyes. They still tried to act like nothing was wrong, but it was much less believable than it had been previously.
It was hard to watch, and not just because one of them was his son. Genis had lost someone he had cared about greatly, and he was younger than Mithos had been, back then. Not to mention that facing an Exbeluba was a harrowing experience in itself. Kratos knew that better than most.
Colette was trying her hardest to cheer the boys up, telling stories about her travels with Raine and Kratos, including an anecdote on how she had managed to fall through a wall in Triet. Kratos used the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Raine.
"I think we should talk to them", he said without preamble.
"I'm not sure it will do much good", she replied, her manner cool and detached as always. "They will have to learn to accept what happened. I'm not certain we could make things better if we talked about it."
"True, but we won't know unless we try. I never wanted them along in the first place, but now that they are here, it is our duty as adults to make sure they are up to the challenges we face as a team. We can't have them hamper our progress, or endanger the rest of us. And if their nightmares persist, all of us are bound to lose a lot of sleep."
"Good point. Very well, we'll talk to them when we take a break the next time."
The need for a break soon arose – Genis was getting progressively more tired, and Raine ordered a short rest. The three kids gratefully plopped down onto the ground, and Kratos exchanged a look with their teacher.
"Genis, Lloyd, we need to talk about what happened in Iselia", Raine said, sitting down opposite the boys, followed by Kratos.
Lloyd immediately ducked his head, as though fearing a rebuke. Kratos felt his gut twist again when he remembered Genis' outrage over how the villagers had treated Lloyd. The boy was clearly expecting similar treatment from him and Raine.
"What you did was not wrong, at least from a moral standpoint. Any decent person ought to have responded the way you did when faced with such cruelty. Your actions proved that you both are compassionate and have a strong sense of morality."
"I sense a large 'but' coming", Genis muttered.
"Indeed", Kratos said, no humour in his voice. "No matter your intentions, what you did was against the law – you violated a treaty – and the repercussions of your actions were devastating."
"We just – I thought that it wouldn't matter any more, since the Desians had already violated the treaty and attacked the temple", Genis replied quietly. "Besides, I'd visited M-Marble many times before, and they'd never spotted me."
"There's something I still don't get", Lloyd said, crossing his arms. "Forcystus seemed to find it funny that we thought he had been after Colette. He seemed genuinely surprised, from what I could tell."
"Could the men who attacked the temple have come from a different Human Ranch?", Colette wondered.
"It's possible. If those Desians were, indeed, not from the Iselia ranch, it makes this whole situation even more tragic", Raine replied.
Kratos decided not to comment. The "Desians" attacking the temple had clearly been Renegades – the Desians were, naturally, not supposed to kill the Chosen. Having a non-aggression treaty with Iselia had made Forcystus' work easier, in a way.
Genis and Lloyd didn't appear to feel much better after hearing that.
"So – what do we do about this now?", Genis asked, dejected. "If that is true, then a lot of people died because we made some stupid choices."
"Do you regret helping Marble?", Kratos asked.
"No", Genis replied instantly, looking up. "I don't, and I'd help her again in an instant. Though I'd probably try and go better about it next time."
"Good. I'm afraid I can't tell you what to do – trauma and grief are difficult things to deal with, and every person needs to find their own method, since people respond to them in different ways. Some go insane. Others deal with it fairly well. Some others hate themselves."
"Why would anyone hate themselves?", Lloyd asked, confused.
Kratos didn't know how to answer that.
"Something else bothers me", Genis said. "How did they know it was Lloyd who was at the ranch? I'm pretty sure the guards didn't see our faces."
"Yeah", Lloyd agreed. "It's also weird that they went looking for me in Iselia, and decided to drag the entire village into this. It's not like I actually live there. I am, apparently, just 'an outsider raised by a dwarf'."
"Ugh. Reminds me why I hate humans, again."
"Genis!"
"Sorry, sis."
"Magi-technology seems a likely answer to your first question", Kratos said. "Human Ranches are highly fortified, to keep people from getting in – or out. It's possible that they were able to identify Lloyd that way. As for your other question – Iselia enjoyed peace due to the treaty, but everywhere else, the Desians terrorise the people. They don't usually go as far as to kill people indiscriminately, but they extort money and rob caravans. Public executions also happen frequently. Forcystus was probably just waiting for an excuse to attack Iselia, and he might have felt provoked by your actions – this seems to be the only logical explanation for his violent response."
"Maybe", Lloyd replied. "But apparently, he had also suspected that I might have an Exsphere – he said that mine was from some weird project and that they had been looking for it."
The others considered this. Kratos, meanwhile, was wondering, not for the first time, if Forcystus had informed Mithos that Lloyd was alive. He didn't know if he wanted him to or not – theoretically, Mithos could put a stop to the hunt for Lloyd since he was Kratos' son, but he might just as well decide that it would be better to remove him before he could become a "distraction" to Kratos – if he knew that Kratos was aware of their relation at all. After all, Forcystus couldn't know that Kratos had figured it out. But the problem with madmen was that they tended to be very unpredictable – and Kratos had no idea which way Mithos would swing.
"Still, torching an entire village just to get their hands on one single Exsphere seems very excessive", Genis said.
"I don't think we will be able to figure out their motives anytime soon", Raine said. "I suggest not dwelling on it for now. We can only speculate, and that will get us nowhere."
"I agree", Kratos stated.
"So – you're not angry with us for what happened at Iselia?", Genis asked tentatively.
"No", his sister replied. "I am still angry that you disobeyed me and went to the temple – but if you hadn't, Colette might have been killed. From that moment onwards, things seem to have spiralled out of control. I will say that I think that your actions at the ranch were reckless and ill-planned, but I can't blame you for what you did. You already understand the gravity of what has happened, and I don't think I need to punish you on top of that. You both have a heavy burden to carry. I pray that you will both learn from this."
"I will. I swear", Lloyd replied.
"That's all I can ask", she replied. "Also, the next time we stock up on medicines, I'll try and find some herbs that'll help you two sleep. You will need your strength."
"Thanks, Professor."
They reached Izoold at dusk and took a ship – despite Raine's protests – to Palmacosta. Thanks to the herbs Raine had bought in Izoold, Genis and Lloyd were able to enjoy the voyage. Colette was delighted that they were feeling better, and the three friends used the "free" time to relax and play games. Kratos quietly sat nearby, watching them, Noishe curled up next to him. Raine locked herself up inside her cabin and announced that she would not be coming out for the entirety of the trip.
Two days later, they reached the town. Not only was Palmacosta the biggest town in all of Sylvarant, it even had an army. The city was ruled by a man called Governor General Dorr and was home to a famous university.
Kratos challenged Lloyd to a fight, and Lloyd accepted eagerly. But no matter how hard he tried, he never managed to land even a single blow. Kratos parried with ease, then, he suddenly broke through Lloyd's defence. Again, his swordpoint stopped inches away from Lloyd's throat. Lloyd gasped.
"Rest for a bit."
Kratos turned away and sat down on the edge of the fountain that had been erected in the middle of the plaza. Lloyd pulled off his gloves and splashed water on his face.
"I really hate to admit it, but you're strong. Tough, and used to fighting... Would you train me?"
Kratos looked up. "For what purpose?"
"Sorry?"
"Why do you wish to become stronger? To avenge your mother?"
"It's true that I hate the Desians... but now, this is for Colette. I want to become stronger so I can protect her."
"If that is how you feel... then you might be able to do it."
Kratos got up and made his way back to the hotel. Grinning, Lloyd followed.
About half an hour later Kratos went for a walk around town to clear his head a little. As he passed by the university, he glanced at the notifications hung to the outer wall. One of them caught his eye.
Alice Lænnea – Student of the Century
At first, Kratos thought he'd misread. This just couldn't be possible... He went over to the poster to read through the text, but found little information about the actual person, just her marks and achievements.
He hailed a professor who was headed his way.
"Excuse me, but this Alice – is she really that good?"
"Yes, she's a prodigy – incredibly talented, intelligent and hungry for knowledge. We haven't had a student like her those past 100 years. I especially liked her dissertation."
"What did she write about?"
"Discrimination. Its origins and how we could make the world a better place ourselves. A fascinating piece of work. We asked her to hold lectures about that topic, too. She was here just a few days ago."
I already had a feeling that she is an idealist. Then again, I shouldn't begrudge her that – I was one, once, too.
It bothered him a little that she had been so close – but if she had left, she couldn't know they were here.
"Could I have a look at this dissertation?"
"Of course. Alice expressed her wish that as many people as possible read it."
Kratos followed the professor inside. They entered a large hall that was full of paintings of important scholars and scientists. The professor pointed at one that was relatively new.
"That's her."
Kratos couldn't fail to recognise her. Alice was wearing the typical black robes of a scholar and the hat graduates wore. In her right hand she was holding a scroll of parchment. Kratos could also see a ring, but the artist hadn't spent too much work on it. His focus had been on her face, her eyes especially.
The professor handed Kratos a thin booklet. He opened it and began to read.
Alice had written in a good style. It was easy to understand and precise. Her arguments were coherent as well and Kratos had to agree with her on several points. One caught his eye.
"Discrimination comes from people's hearts, if we are too weak to accept those who are different."
That is a good line. She seems to know what she is talking about.
Her final remark also caught his attention.
"In order to change the world, we'll have to change ourselves first."
Only someone very young can speak that way – someone who hasn't made any mistakes yet or done something to feel ashamed of.
Kratos handed the book back, thanked the professor and made his way back to the hotel.
"Have you heard? The Angel of Death struck again!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I saw it myself!"
Lloyd stopped to listen, his curiosity sparked.
"The Angel of Death? Who's that?", Lloyd asked.
"Well, she's an angel. For some time now, she's been attacking Desian patrols around this area. There are hardly ever any survivors, I suppose that's how she got her name. No one knows who she really is. Today, she wiped out a group of 15 on her own. No survivors."
"She has to be awfully strong", Lloyd mused, awed.
"Yes, she is! I didn't want to get too close, so I watched from a distance. Her fighting skills are brilliant, and her magic... I've never seen anything like that."
"Now that the Chosen One has left on the Journey of World Regeneration, surely the world will be saved!"
Kratos led the group north, trying to hide his worries. No angel he knew had a nickname like that. It could be possible that Mithos had an angel trained in secret, but why would he let her loose on his own men? That didn't make any sense.
I need to find out who that woman is, and from whom she's receiving her orders.
After half an hour, they reached the scene of the fight between the angel and the Desians. Desian corpses were everywhere, but that mysterious woman was nowhere to be seen.
The battle had left devastating traces – there were rocks strewn about, and the ground had been ripped open in places. Kratos could also detect the lingering traces of water magic, and light – which wasn't a surprise, given that the Desians had been fighting an angel.
However, Kratos couldn't tell if the traces had been left by the angel, or the Desians – Desian patrols usually included at least one magic user and/or healer, since it gave them a clear advantage in a fight against non-magic users – and they did encounter the odd human who could use magic. Kratos wasn't one of a kind.
Lloyd was mostly interested in footprints and other signs that people had been fighting in close quarters, while the siblings were studying the traces left by magic. Both of them agreed that some high-level spells had been used here, spells neither of them could use. Genis got inspired by this to study magic more earnestly than he had before, while Raine was worried.
Eventually, the companions realised that they were not going to be able to figure out much more than they already had, and so they continued on their journey. However, Kratos couldn't shake the thoughts on this mysterious angel from his mind.
A/N:
The game never addresses the emotional impact the events in Iselia must've had on Genis and Lloyd, and it recently occurred to me that I should, at least, mention it somewhere. I had a pretty solid idea of what I wanted to write, but finding a good spot for it turned out to be tricky. In the end, I decided to stretch their time on the Ossa Trail with a conveniently placed landslide (we know that landslides do happen in this area canonically, so that works in my favour), forcing them to spend more time on the road. This scene was added during the final round of editing.
Alice is the child who resembles Kratos most both in looks and characters, and one thing they share is that they don't mince words and get straight to the point. It's interesting, if you think about it, that Alice acts in a way very similar to Kratos, given that he wasn't around most of her life and she couldn't emulate his behaviour.
I'm skipping most of the events in Palmacosta (and Asgard) since they don't necessarily contribute something to the plot – and I really don't think Kratos needs the extra trauma of seeing another Exbeluba. The one in his memories is enough.
One of the best things in the game is a victory conversation between Genis, Colette and Kratos:
Genis & Colette: Our weapons are love and justice –
Kratos: * sighs dramatically * Hope…
Poor Kratos got roped into this by the kids.
A note on travelling:
Sadly, the maps of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla don't tell us how big the respective continents are, wherefore it is impossible to calculate how long it would take people to get from A to B. As a result, travelling time will always be given in weeks, though that can mean anything from a few weeks to several months. The map can be used to estimate which routes may take more time than others.
Lloyd and his friends have to walk everywhere most of the time, so they spend quite a long time on the road.
Girlfriend Commentary
"Yes, I see the resemblance." (so did I, Yuan… so did I… tihi)
Kratos stormed into the room, sword drawn, his eyes flashing. (angry dad mode activated)
His glance was just the same as Lloyd remembered. Displeased and cross. (It's a pity Lloyd isn't more observant, because I am pretty sure that there are other emotions flickering in the depths of his eyes)
Lloyd made a face as soon as Kratos wasn't looking. (Perfect image of a teenage son in the middle of puberty)
"Are you talking about the village? That was my fault. And I'm going to make up for it by helping Colette." (No, he means your life with your parents when everything was fine)
"Don't stay up too long, you'll need your strength tomorrow!", Kratos called after him.(Kratos, your dad energy is showing)
"I once had a pet – long ago." (Yeah… once… long ago… totally wasn't this one… Seriously, Kratos is so lucky his son is as dumb as he is, anyone else would have figured this out by now.)
Just because he's a little better than me (yeah, Lloyd, "a little better" keep telling yourself that), he has to talk like he knows everything!
Fuming, Lloyd returned to his room. (hihi, one of my fave scenes)
Kratos knew that this kind of behaviour was the only way to hide his feelings. (Kratos, you are not hiding your feelings… You aren't being subtle at all)
Genis and Kratos tried their best to clear a path, but Genis was still very inexperienced as a mage and Kratos had only ever learned how to use magic for combat, so all they could do was fling dirt and rocks skyward. (lol)
Neither had, so far, voiced what was troubling them, and now they were huddled up together under a blanket, trying to offer comfort to each other. (awww) Genis was crying silently while Lloyd rested his chin on the younger boy's head.(all of the hugs! Give them all of the hugs! Doctor's orders! Hugs must be given!)
"Still, torching an entire village just to get their hands on one single Exsphere seems very excessive", Genis said. (Yeah, NO FUCKING SHIT!)
In her right hand she was holding a scroll of parchment. Kratos could also see a ring, (Oh shit, hihi) but the artist hadn't spent too much work on it.
"Have you heard? The Angel of Death (oh, I wonder who that is, hihi) struck again!"
No angel he knew had a nickname like that. (haha, I can't wait for him to lose his shit later)
Kratos wasn't one of a kind. (aww, stop it Kratos, you definitely are 3)