Chapter 5
Anger
If Kratos had the ability to ever feel tired, it would have been prominent now. He had been working nonstop for the last two years. And that was not even because Mithos wished for it. It was also his distraction.
He would never openly admit this, however. He wanted to get his son out, out of the cell and out of Cruxis' grasp. Most importantly, out of Mithos his reach.
Sadly, Kratos was in no position to do that. And it was all his own fault, really. Oh, Anna, I'm so sorry. Because of my weakness, I doomed you both.
To divert from these thoughts, he buried himself in his work. There was enough to do, regarding the perpetration of the Chosen's journey. He didn't forget to look into finding a keycrest, either. His best bet was in the prospering world, having not one, but two very promising places of research.
The first choice was Sybak. Meltokio was not really Kratos his taste, for more than one reason. Hierarchy, prying eyes, the Chosen. He was still young, but the way he was treated an acted, rubbed Kratos the wrong way.
Sybak was very promising, but sadly still just at the start of things. They were mostly investigating normal exspheres, and any other research was top secret. Of course, Kratos had connections, things you needed even if you were ages old. But it slowed the progress. It seemed the facility was very weary, even with their own personnel. This was understandable, but still annoying.
It was pretty standard procedure that he and Yuan worked on different locations. Maybe it was even deliberate. The two avoided each other like the plague, showing nothing of the friendship they once had. It was long dead after all. Just like Martel.
Kratos sighed at this thought, while appearing on the comet where her body was kept. The high level of mana would have felt pressing, if he wasn't used to it already.
This place was called home, but it wasn't to him. Now, he resented it even more. He just wanted this all over and done with, so that he, so that they all could finally have their peace.
"Lord Kratos." A green haired, wildly adorned lady bowed her head in greeting. Pronyma, the leader of the five grand cardinals.
All Kratos did was slightly narrow his eyes. "What brings you here, Pronyma?"
"Reports from the ranches for our great leader, my lord. I hear you've been quite busy. Are you now done with your obligations?"
"One is never done with lord Yggdrasil around," was all the Seraphim said, before walking on. He knew the man in question wanted to see him. Better to get it over and done with.
Yggdrasil sat in his throne, clearly already expecting him. A light, mischievous smile was on his face as his eyes glinted.
"Welcome back, Kratos. I trust everything went well?"
"Of course." A stilted bow, just to keep up costumes.
"You are right on time. It is time to train that insignificant puppy of yours. I hope for your sake he learns quick. This is strictly training, Kratos. Nothing else." He gave the Serpahim a cold, warning glare. "No semantics. There will be eyes on you."
Of course, there will be. Kratos did not share this scuff and just nodded.
"You can use one of the free rooms." Yggdrasil waved him off dismissively. He will get the wanted reaction out of him, it was just a matter of time.
Kratos headed towards the cells, hoping to find his son in one piece. He had to keep a straight face, one that was unreadable as ever.
Lloyd was fumbling with paper, seemingly trying to fold a shape out of it. That's right, his father thought. The boy has a short attention span, and gets easily bored. Besides that, he was pretty creative. That was obvious from looking around the cell. And that he was no neat freak like his father, rather quite the opposite.
When the glass door opened up, a pair of brown colored eyes flared up. Kratos expected to see anger, or even fear in those eyes. But instead, they glinted. This was paired with a wide smile and before the Seraphim knew it, his legs were embraced.
Lloyd was reaching up to close to his hips now, so the boy certainly grew. The unruly brown hair had gotten longer as well, and Kratos noted the boy really needed a haircut.
But he was really taken aback, that he got this kind of greeting. This kind of happiness and cheer, he didn't deserve it, not at all.
"You're back! I have missed you! Oh, thank you for Noishe! He is right there." Lloyd said peppy, pointing to the improvised mattress with a heap of blankets and said stuffed animal.
The boy continued talking, but Kratos had tuned him out already, staring at something else. He reached out, taking hold of his son's left wrist. The small hand was wrapped with improvised bandages made out of ripped clothing.
His mouth became a thin line, his free hand moving over, taking of this wrapping. The gem gleamed in the artificial lighting of the cell, having a slightly red hue.
Lloyd winced at the action of his father. That area still was very sensitive. He didn't know what this gem was or what it did. Only that it had hurt. He was scared of it, so he just wrapped it, to no see it.
The boy had missed company. The angels weren't really that, even though he tried talking to them, every time. The blond man, who 'gave' him the gem, only showed up once and he spoke in riddles. Finally, his father came back! Lloyd had no clue how much time it has been. But it didn't matter, he was here.
A hand rested on his head. Lloyd looked up, but his father's face was stoic, without expression. Was he not happy to see him?
"Come with me. We train, after which I will have to speak to someone."
"Train? W..."
"No questions, Lloyd. Come now, if you ever want out of here, you do as I say." Kratos said evenly.
His son was full of questions of course, but decided to listen. He did remember what Yggdrasil said to him, after all. They took an elevator in the main building. To outsiders, this place looked completely empty, all of the rooms unused. But it was an illusion. Kratos pressed the hidden button. Full racks of weapons folder out of one of the walls. Kratos walked up to it, picking out a sword, inspecting it for a moment.
"All these weapons are meant for direct assault and rather close combat. Swords, axes, daggers, and so on. It is important to pick one and stick with it, specialize yourself in fighting with it. So, really consider your weapon of choice."
Kratos explained it all with a leveled voice, as if he was a teacher, instead of the boy's father. Lloyd looked from all the sharp weapons up at him.
"Weapons? I-I'm only five." He said it with a shaky and tear-filled voice.
It was understandable, really. Here Kratos was, being hard on his own son for no real reason in his eyes. Poor kid was stuck in a cell, bored and scared at the same time. Full of questions which he won't get answers to.
Kratos looked at the exsphere again, now on top of his boy's left hand. It was mocking him. No, he was. Yggdrassil sure as hell was not getting away with this. Did he really think he had him with this? This gave him all the more reason to plan against him. The sympathy of being his former mentor, was quickly dwindling.
"If you want to survive, you must get strong. Do you understand me?" He had an intense look in his eyes when he looked down at his son.
Lloyd stepped back because of this, wanting to shake no, but nodded yes instead.
"Good. Make your choice."
Shakily, on the verge of tears, the boy turned to the rack full of very sharp and dangerous weapons. Scared and intimidated, he pulled out two short swords, one in each hand.
"You are thinking of duel wielding? That isn't easy. You will be more open for counter attacks."
"But it's twice as effective." Lloyd stuttered. His father raised his brow.
"I suppose it can work for you, seeing you are ambidextrous."
"Ambi...wah?" The boy just utterly failed at this tong twister.
"No matter. Let us just get down to the basics."
Kratos could work with this, even if he mostly fought with a sword and shield and sometimes a two-handed sword. Dual wielding was something rare. But if you had good talent, well you could end up a great fighter. Maybe he was a bit byes, this was his one and only son after all. He wanted to give him the best possible chance.
He had failed to fight and protect the ones he loved. He wanted Lloyd to be strong, so he won't have to go through the same thing.
It was to be expected for this training to not be easy. A lot of emotion came from the kid. Frustration mostly, which was understandable. He cried, when he fell and hurt his knee. Sure, he was a child, but also the type of person to wear his emotions on his sleeve. And that wasn't always easy, or wise.
It was so obvious Lloyd wanted to say things, ask questions. But his father didn't allow for this, almost literally cutting him off. When the training session was done, Lloyd was beat, driven far by his father.
Kratos put the two swords back, after which he let the weapon racks fold away. "Get up, you need to walk to your cell."
Lloyd showed the biggest puppy eyes, looking up at his father. He reached out his arms. "Please, carry me."
A tug at his heart. No matter how he tried to deny, to push away and set up walls, his son was able to break through it all. With a sigh, Kratos picked his boy up in his arms. Lloyd pressed against him, holding on to his shoulders in an attempt to hug him.
Nothing was said on the way back to the cell. The kid was laid on the bed, and even tugged in, with his stuffed animal right next to him. Kratos had to resist doing a really fatherly thing. He did not kiss his son on the forehead as he used to do, but instead just stood up and left the cell, letting it close behind him.
Lloyd was already asleep anyway, it didn't matter. Also, Kratos needed to straighten himself out, and confront Mithos. The half elf in question was still in his throne room, listening to the report from Pronyma. He didn't look very interested.
When Kratos stepped in, Mithos held up a hand, for the woman to be quiet. Pronyma did so right away, glancing at the man stepping forward and passed her.
"Leave us, Pronyma."
"Ah, of course, my lord Yggdrasil." She bowed her head, turning around and leaving the rock where the throne was located on.
Kratos only stopped very close to the Cruxis leader, glaring at him. "What in the world did you do to my son?"
It was clear he was holding in; the man was practically fuming with anger. Mithos only smiled at this.
"I merely held up my end of our agreement. The boy is five now, and so now he bears the exsphere, as you asked me to wait for. I am a patient man, but not with a snotty little kid like him. Honestly, he's more hassle then he's worth. I do not like you questioning me, Kratos. This is no place for a child."
Kratos balled his fist, as if he was considering striking him. It didn't happen, of course. He knew it would be a waste of effort and a risk all at the same time.
"Numbing him with the exsphere, that is your answer?"
"Of course, it is. This is about compromise. You want him to be alive, I need him to be useful. Do you understand?"
"Yes. But you agreed I was allowed to find a keycrest."
"It is not to later for that." Mithos shrugged. "As long as you keep doing your part in the plan, the boy will live. That is the agreement. Remember, he is only still around because I allow him too."
Kratos narrowed his eyes at this statement. It sounded like a threat, but it was stated ever so calmly. He wanted to hit him so badly, but that wouldn't help anything. It won't take away the damned exsphere, it won't change the situation.
"Fine. But know the kind of game you are playing, can be a very risky one. You might end up without allies."
He stepped back and walked away, still clenching his fist. I will find that keycrest. I will make sure you get out of here, Lloyd. You won't be another victim, this I swear.
