Author's note: Welcome to my rewritten version of Tales of Symhonia. Since this is a rewrite of the original story, there will be some changes.
First off, I try to keep the group as small as possible. Tales of Symphonia has a huge problem with the size of the group. Name one thing Regal and Presea do outside of their story arc with Alicia. Err… How about then Regal tries to kill Colette, joins the group and then saves Lloyd from some angels and Presea helps kidnapping and then saves Colette? Exactly! These are the only things they do. Those two could easily pass as side characters and, honestly, I think they would be better as such. If Sheena didn't make the pacts with the Summon Spirits she would fall under the same category. Zelos as well. If he wasn't a spy for both Cruxis and the Renegades he would be a side character. And don't get me started on the Sage siblings.
So yeah… Here are the first changes: Genis, Sheena and Presea are already dead, Regal is just a side character, Zelos will be in the group but he gets more screen time. This means the size of the group will be downgraded to a number of six characters at most!
Oh and Pronyma doesn't exist. I just couldn't work her into the story. So yeah… The Grand Cardinals are a group of four half-elves.
Every other change in the story will not be spoilered.
Before the story starts there is one other thing I must say. We are in the section where the group (Lloyd, Colette, Kratos and Raine) had broken the first seal and are now climbing up the Ossa Trail.
I don't own anything except for my OCs.
Act I Sylvarant; Chapter 1 – The assassin
Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree that was the source of mana. A war, however, caused this tree to wither away, and a hero's life was sacrificed in order to take its place. Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens. The goddess left the angels with this edict: "You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed." The angels bore the Chosen One, who headed towards the tower that reached up unto the heavens. And that marked the beginning of the regeneration of the world.
However, no one knew this story, I am going to tell you. It was lost in history like the separation of the world from a hero and the reuniting of the world from the son of the hero's teacher then kingdoms were attacked by the Demon King Dhaos. This story happened a long time ago. You decide if it really happened or not. But I want to listen to it from the beginning to the very end:
Once upon a time, there existed a Clan. It was once a graceful member of society. You might have heard about this Clan before… However, it was uncertain if this Clan even existed. Evidences about them were scattered like leaves in the season of autumn. But sometimes a human could use magic without elven blood. No one knew why. There is, however, a possible explanation. Those humans were descendants of this Clan.
A war forced the members of said Clan to scatter over the world and then the world was divided only a few members were alive. Nearly all remaining members of the Clan swore to never mention their Clan's name for they feared the new religion of the Goddess Martel.
Still… They were out there. The surviving members of the Eclipse Clan.
Lloyd noticed that something was wrong with Colette. After they broke the first seal she started to like green pepper. But that didn't cause his worry. His friend hasn't eaten so much lately. If she was going to fulfil her journey to save the world she should eat more. But he couldn't force her to eat.
Lloyd's eyes scanned through the area. They were currently climbing up a mountain. He just hoped that the monsters weren't too strong or that they could climb without intervention from the Desians. He was still a little bit nervous because of his kidnapping from this weird blue-haired half-elf and his subordinates. Still… There was something familiar about this particular half-elf as well as the brown-haired, masculine one. It wasn't about their behaviour but rather their voices. He thought for a moment that he had heard those voices before. However, he couldn't quite place it. Either way… This was ridiculous. Those half-elves were clearly wanting his special exsphere. But what was so special about it anyway?
The young man sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. This was so infuriating! Not only because of their strange behaviour and wanting his exsphere but also because he somehow recognized those two half-elves. Maybe he met them before he was adopted by Dirk? Hm… This could actually be. Maybe they were after him before he met Dirk. Yeah… This must be it and-
"Pay attention." Kratos scolded him.
"I am sorry. It's just… I can't get this one half-elf out of my head." he replied.
"You mean the big one with the brown hair?" asked Colette.
"Yeah… I don't know why… but he seemed familiar, somehow… Hm…"
"You are just imagining things." the mercenary said.
"I don't think so… I am sure that I have met him before." Lloyd grumbled. "And I don't mean then he attacked us at the Temple of Martel two weeks ago."
"Really? Maybe he was in Iselia before?" the Chosen questioned.
"No, Colette. He would have been chased out. But it is most likely that Lloyd actually met him then he was younger. The memories of toddlers aren't really good. Voices, places and even people… They can forget them." Raine explained.
"Yeah… I don't even remember the looks of my parents… Come to think of it… I wonder how they looked like." the young man replied.
"I don't remember my parents as well. The only family I remember was Genis… But as you already know he passed away three years ago during this terrible flu." the teacher sighed.
Raine once had a younger brother named Genis. They both came to Iselia five years ago in order to live there happily. However, there was a terrible flu which costed several people's life including that of Raine's younger brother Genis. If he hadn't died he would certainly accompany them. Thinking about this made the teacher sad. At least he died happily in Iselia and didn't experience much discrimination.
"I remember… I was so afraid that my father would die as well…" Colette remembered while shuddering.
Despite Frank being not really her father, as it was the angel Remiel, the Chosen loved him dearly. He raised her as his own daughter.
"Dad didn't let me to Iselia because of this flu." Lloyd continued. "I was so furious about that! My best friend died because of this flu and I couldn't even be there for him! Sometimes I miss Genis. He was such a good friend." he then turned to Kratos and asked him: "Do you have lost a friend as well, Kratos?"
This caught the mercenary off guard. The group never questioned him about his past before. And he didn't want to answer this question. But then again… he wanted to open a little bit up to his three traveling companions. Besides they would probably get suspicious if he didn't tell them at least something from his past. He could leave out certain details.
"Yes, I have. I once was a good friend with a half-elf. She was… very calm and collected. She cared about others and endured every pain with a smile." he replied.
"What happened to her?" asked Colette.
"She was… murdered by a human." Kratos answered.
"I am kind of surprised you had a half-elf friend." Lloyd said somewhat astonished.
"Is that a problem? I used to travel with three half-elves."
Noishe whined at this remark. And then he whined even louder as he saw some monsters ahead. He ducked his head and wanted to run away but thought otherwise because Lloyd was here. His human friend drew out his swords and immediately ran towards those monsters. Within the first seconds the boy defeated some of the monsters. The rest were defeated by Raine who casted Aqua Edge and by Kratos who pierced the biggest monster with his sword.
Lloyd was proud that he had defeated the most monsters. For him it was a sign that he had grown stronger. Just a little more… Just a little more and he could avenge his mother who was killed by the Desians. The young man put a gloved finger over his blue Exsphere. He smiled as he felt the familiar warmth of the special jewel. It happened all the time then he touched it and it had become a habit of his.
Suddenly he bumped into someone. Cursing loudly, he noticed that he had run into Kratos' back. He already had his hand on the hilt on his sword while he stood ready. Raine herself also prepared for something and pulled Colette behind her. The Chosen squeaked by the sudden motion. Lloyd narrowed his eyes before he noticed a woman in the uniforms of a Desian. She stood on a cliff and had her arms intertwined in front of her chest.
"A Desian?" he exclaimed in shock. "How did you find us so easily?!"
The Desian remained quiet and looked between the group until her gaze fell onto Colette. She jumped from the cliff to the ground and immediately rushed towards Raine. She, on the other hand, summoned her staff and wanted to hit her with the large end of it. She swung out, only to find her weapon to be blocked by a sword. The Desian jumped back before she rushed forwards with a swift kick. Raine also managed to block that but the moment wood met iron the enemy disappeared in front of her. Raine's brows furrowed in confusion. No one could just disappear. It has to be an Arte or a Technique from the Desian.
A sound echoed through the valley as two swords clashed together. The teacher spun around only to see Colette and Kratos. The latter had blocked the incoming attack meant for the Chosen's head. He didn't make any sounds while the enemy jumped backwards again. She distanced herself further and eventually glanced to Lloyd. Her gaze was held on him for about a minute before she shook her head. Raising her sword again she rushed towards Kratos and clashed with him one more time.
She escaped his sword to the side but was met with a Demon Fang from Lloyd. She got to her knees and grimaced slightly. The Desian straightened up again and began to mumble some words in the ancient elven language. Meanwhile she had crossed her arms in front of her body and runes built under her feet. With uncrossing her arms she released a lance from the sky onto the group. Raine pushed Colette out of the way. She wasn't able to perform Force Field as the lance came too fast. Kratos managed to build up his defence with Guardian, however, he didn't anticipate that the Desian performed another spell which summoned a lance, this time however made of darkness. The lance sent him to the ground and he coughed slightly.
The enemy rushed towards Colette and wanted to bring her down with the now reappearing sword. Lloyd stepped in front of her ready to protect his childhood friend. The Desian smiled then they clashed their weapons together. Lloyd slashed his right sword onto the enemy but she easily blocked the attack. Each slash was blocked by her with ease. Then he was wide open she grabbed his left wrist and held the entire arm into the air before she hit her knee into his gut two times. Lloyd lurched forwards and coughed as he rolled himself onto the ground trying to catch his breath.
"Col… Colette! Get away… from… her…!" he managed to warn her between his coughs.
Colette let out a scream as the Desian ran towards her. She released her wings and flew several feet backwards. Then she landed the enemy was right in front of her. She already swung her sword out… But Colette lost somehow her footing and came crashing down to the ground. She heard a click and right before the Desian could do anything, a hole beneath her feet opened and she fell into it. A surprised scream escaped her throat as she was plunged into the depths.
Colette's eyes widened at the realisation of what she had done. She knelt beside the hole and called after her:
"I am sooooo sorry, assassin! I didn't mean to."
"I don't think you should apologize to her, Colette… She tried to kill you." Lloyd said. "But what a lousy assassin. She fell into a hole!"
The teenager laughed while his childhood friend apologized yet again to the assassin. Meanwhile Raine remained quiet and narrowed her eyes. The Desian was far stronger than she anticipated. Maybe she was a Grand Cardinal. No… Those half-elves usually didn't fight alone. Raine was sure that the assassin was rather strong. She pulled off magic so easily and could fight with a sword.
"We should continue." Kratos said coldly.
"What?" exclaimed Lloyd. "Colette was nearly murdered! Shouldn't we stay here to rest?"
"No. We should leave the Ossa Trail as soon as possible. The assassin might catch up with us."
"Fine… But I wonder who she was…"
Meanwhile in an underground room the assassin took her helmet off and sighed. She shook her head in order to let her silver hair fall to her shoulders. Her dark-grey eyes scanned her surroundings. She was certainly in a mine. The rails on the ground and a cart which missed a wheel told her that. Another sigh escaped her throat. She had her… She nearly had her. But the Chosen was very lucky. She just wished that she had noticed the hole a little bit earlier. But she was too focused on killing her than paying attention to the surroundings.
A crackling noise rang out. She looked down and touched a little device no bigger than her thumb nail which was attached to the inside of her collar. She pressed her finger to it.
"How was it going? Did you manage to kill her?" asked a male voice her.
"No. She got lucky. Then I wanted to deal the finishing blow she tripped and opened a hole. I fell into the hole." she replied.
"Are you alright? Have you broken something? Should I come to get you? Wait there you are. I'll-"
"No, I am fine, brother." she interrupted him annoyed. "I landed on something soft. You really should stop worrying over me so much. I am a grown-up."
"But-"
"No! I can take care of myself."
"That's exactly what I am worried about. Despite your age, you are still very childish. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Brother!" she protested. "I am 45 years old! You can let me go!"
"And such behaviour get you killed."
"Stop treating me like I am a 10-year-old child! I repeat: I am 45 years old!"
"Stop saying that! You are my little sister! Let me take care of you!"
"Fine~!" she complied. "But that doesn't mean I'll stop following the Chosen One. I will kill her."
"What?! You come back this instant!" he ordered.
"You aren't our mother, you know that?"
"By Origin, Scarlett Eclipse! I am responsible for you! If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be even here!" her brother raged.
"Stop bringing this point! I know that we wouldn't be alive if they hadn't found us twenty-five years ago!" she replied and ended the call.
She gave a heavy sigh. Her brother was sometimes so difficult. Why didn't he let her go? She wasn't a child anymore! She passed her childhood then she was fourteen and started to work as a maid! Shaking her head, she stood up.
It would be difficult to follow the Chosen's group if she was dressed like a Desian. Pulling out her regular clothes from her wing bag, she hurried to change herself because she didn't want to waste any more time in this hole. After she had finished, Scarlett nodded and headed out in order to follow the Chosen's group.