Conflictions of the Mind
-Chapter Ten-
The Hole

-

There's something missing from my life
Cuts me open like a knife
It leaves me vulnerable
I have this disease
I shake like an incurable
God help me please

-

As the time passed, it occurred to Genis that he really didn't care who won or lost.

He didn't trust Kratos; he knew that Raine and the others didn't either, despite them joining up with him.

'I know one thing.. I don't want this world destroyed. Some way.. I'll make sure that it won't be..'

At the very least, he preferred that the battle would end. From what he could see, Raine had somehow succeeded in destroying one of the Exbones that had been pestering her; she was attacking the other without much luck.

If he had been in the battle, he would of course have backed her up. Yet without his exsphere and his weapon, he was useless, powerless. He wasn't even close enough to give her eye contact; something that he knew she would have appreciated.

He stared down at the cuffs binding his wrists; he could feel the mana surging through them. Secondary mana, charged with electricity. It would zap anyone attempting to remove them. Anyone who didn't know the proper way, perhaps. He couldn't decipher how they had been made; perhaps his sister would figure it out. If he allowed her to even get close enough. He couldn't tell if they perhaps zapped the mana away from other people if they attempted to interfere. Forcystus hadn't really explained the properties..

..And this was voluntary, wasn't it? For a moment he felt uncomfortable. The weight seemed to return to the cuffs. Perhaps all the pondering he was doing about them made them feel heavier. He couldn't channel mana, let alone remove the bonds from his wrists. However, the secondary mana would not hurt him.. Soon it would harmonize with the mana inside his body if he allowed it. If perhaps, he could let go, and become stronger.

Except that he wasn't strong. He was weak. He closed his eyes, squeezing his hands into fists.

That's when the crash startled him.

-

From where she was located in the battle, she could not see what it was that caused the sound of metal slamming against metal. Not that Raine had the opportunity to turn her head to look; the thing she was fighting was giving almost as good as it got, and she didn't have much of an opportunity to charge a healing spell.

She knew full well that Kratos was far too busy with the 'dance' with Forcystus to have a chance to offer any more assistance; but that was well. They both had their hands full, and to lose concentration at this point would be detrimental.

Concentration.. that's when she remembered it. The extra crystal; the special one. She never of course did get the opportunity to analyze it. It did help her focus herself mentally; perhaps it would aid her in battle as well.

No matter how long the thought seems to take, the actual speed of the action and thought combined can take less than half a minute.. seconds, even, once a decision is made. With one hand, the battling with the Exbone continued; the other reaching into her pocket-not so much as a conscious action, still more automatic-closing around the crystal.

She felt a familiar flash of blindness, and stumbled backwards, her hand releasing the crystal back into her pocket as she blocked the onslaught of the Exbone with her staff. Faintly, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and groaned inwardly. "One fight after another.."

"Sword rain! Beta!" A familiar voice cried out, and suddenly the Exbone fell at her feet and evaporated before her. "Professor!"

"Lloyd?" Blinking in surprise as the blindness cleared, Raine could now see that there were two new additions to this fight; thankfully not more Desian recruits, as she had expected. There was no time to talk now; though she was somewhat relieved that the two had shown up when they did. She could sense the harmonization of their exspheres as she let herself focus on a spell. "Light! Photon!"

"Omega Tempest!" She heard Lloyd's voice over the others even as they all attacked simultaneously. She could feel the binding pull of the exspheres as they resonated with power. She could even feel strength from the crystal in her pocket.

"Now, Lloyd!" Raine cried out, raising her staff once more.

"Photon Tempest!" They chorused as one; the young swordmaster flipping forwards and striking the Desian leader several times while ensconced in a bright light.

Smiling with some smugness at the effect of the spell on Forcystus, Raine turned her head away from the battle for a moment to glance over to where her brother had been. He was still standing there, though he wasn't watching them now. She almost wanted to step away from the battle then, to try to talk to him.. though she knew that the others would need her healing.

Now that she wasn't battling, it occurred to her how weak

(drained)

she was suddenly feeling herself. Having battled two of those Exbones single handedly without much healing didn't seem too overwhelming at the time.. then again, it was likely the adrenaline rush of battle wearing off.

Despite the fact that he was battling three people at once, Forcystus managed to flip backwards out of the ring and land neatly on his feet.

"We've got to stop the spell!" She saw Regal and the others regroup to gang back up on the Desian Leader. Who was just too quick for them.

"Wind blade!"

Not realizing it was aimed directly at her, Raine was unable to block it in time, and her eyes widened in surprise before she slumped to the ground with a sickening thud.

"I'm.. sorry.."

"I have you.." Regal ran over to her side and knelt, attempting to prepare a healing spell of his own. Though it didn't seem to work; soon the whole world faded and went dark.

-

"You're gonna pay!" Lloyd's voice rang out. He was answered by a laugh from Forcystus, though neither side let up in their attack. The Desian didn't even seem fazed by the blows hitting him.. or else he was just very good at hiding it.

It had only taken two expert kicks from Regal to open the grate; the third sent the entire cover of the hidden shaft to the floor. The former convict had landed neatly on his feet, almost catlike, from the jump down. Not as dexterous, Lloyd landed on his head, though his exsphere allowed him to bounce quickly back up to his feet, as if he hadn't fallen so unceremoniously.

The first thing to greet their eyes, of course, was the battle taking place not too far away from where they had landed. Naturally, Lloyd's priority was to run forwards to assist them; he wouldn't ask any questions until afterwards.

Regal was wary of leaping directly into a battle, though he was prepared for it; it was the sounds of which that had alerted him to the direction to lead Lloyd in while navigating the air shafts.

Now that they were involved in the fighting, Regal naturally aided all that he could; though it was clear that once Lloyd joined Kratos, those two would be able to handle the Desian by cooperating with one another.

His attempt to revive Raine failing once more, the Duke grimaced, though waited patiently off to the side to avoid hitting either of the duo with one of his lethal kicks. Their swords were fast, and their attacks harmonized as they cried them out as one.

Forcystus dropped to one knee, head down as he panted, his strength finally exhausted at last. "..Ugh.. im..possible.."

Lloyd still held his swords pointed at the leader threateningly. "You.. do you even have any idea what we are trying to accomplish? A world of peace. Fighting just leads to more fighting."

Forcystus lifted his head, his dark eyes glittering furiously. "Do you have any idea who you are fighting, boy? Your pathetic ideals will never work in the real world." He stood up completely. Kratos drew his sword once more, though the Desian merely laughed, and took a step backwards.

The trio watched in horror as the man disappeared, plummeting into the pit. They did not hear him hit the bottom. Regal winced, and quickly turned his head away before moving back over to Raine's side.

Lloyd followed Kratos over to the computers, frowning with dismay at the advanced technology. "I don't have a clue what any of this stuff does."

"I'll handle this." Kratos replied, his tone almost dry as he picked up where he left off with the decoding of the machine.

"You sure are handy with everything-swordsmanship, magic, even operating machines." Lloyd's tone was awestruck as he watched over the man's shoulder.

"I've lived a little longer than most humans."

"Lived longer?" Lloyd pondered this term uncertainly. "So you're a half-elf too? But then again, he called you human, earlier..."

Kratos shook his head. "Focus on what's important. We must stop the Giant Tree."

"Y...yeah." The young man blinked, and shook his head, turning away from Kratos. "Regal, is Professor Sage okay?"

The Duke glanced upwards from where he was kneeling over the fallen woman. "She took a nasty bump to the head, but I think she'll be all right once we get out of this place."

"I've just turned the teleporter back on," Kratos spoke calmly; his quiet voice seeming loud in the chamber. "The mana flow has been switched over. I suggest that we gather the Sage siblings and exit as soon as possible."

Regal raised an eyebrow, though followed the traitor's gaze. A small person was standing there, watching them, an accusing look in his eyes. "..It's Genis?"

"Genis! You're okay!" Lloyd sounded relieved as he helped lift Raine into Regal's arms. she was light, as the Duke had expected her to be, before rushing over to his best-friend's side.

Genis seemed startled. "..L-Lloyd. So you.. defeated him."

"Yeah." The boy smiled sheepishly. "Quite a crash landing, but we're here to save-" Lloyd's voice broke off as he noticed the cuffs binding the young mage's wrists; something that Regal had only noticed in just that moment as well.

The young mage flinched away. "Don't touch them. You'll get hurt." His blue eyes flitted around, from Lloyd, to Kratos, to finally land on Regal. "..What did you do to my sister?"

Lloyd, Regal and Kratos exchanged looks. Kratos' expression was grim. "We have to leave now. If there are any questions about loyalty, let them be exchanged outdoors."

The seraphim stepped onto the warp circle and teleported away before their eyes.

-

After spooning up some seconds of the stew for the freed prisoners, Colette sighed and looked around the compound. Something didn't feel right. It was.. too quiet. Some renegades had joined them, waiting somewhat impatiently with a radio set up to contact Yuan when the transfer was set up, though there had been no word from the others inside.

"You look sad, my little angel. Anything I can do to cheer you up?" The blonde lifted her head to see the concerned expression in Zelos' face.

"Ah.. it's fine. I was just.." She blinked a little, somewhat startled. "I thought you were talking to the Renegades.."

The red-haired chosen smiled slightly. "I was just seeing if we could perhaps send a few of us inside and make sure that everything is going to plan," he tossed his hair nonchalantly. "However, they say that it hasn't been as long as it feels, so we'll give it a few more minutes."

"I see." Colette smiled a bit herself.

"Something else still bothering you? We can talk if you want." Zelos put his foot up on a rock and leaned on his bent knee. "Not much else we can do, you know."

The girl nodded. "You're right. I like talking to you, Zelos. You're fun, you know. I think we have a lot that we can learn from one another."

Zelos laughed. "I don't know so much about that. Though who wouldn't enjoy talking to the great Zelos?" He posed comically, causing the younger girl to start giggling almost uncontrollably. "What? What! It's true, isn't it?"

"Oh, Zelos. You're so funny!"

Colette continued to giggle. It was true, for her at least. Despite that she didn't understand what he joked about most of the time. It was as if besides Lloyd and Genis, there was someone that she had even more common with than before.

The redhead just studied her and shook his head, laughing himself. Laughter was contagious, of course.

-

Her conversation with Chocolat long past, Presea continued to walk around on her own, surveying the area. The laughter of her companions reached her, and her eyebrows raised slightly. Laughter was still something that was alien to her.

Besides, there were more important things to do. At least she could stay alert. She hefted the tomahawk in her right hand, then her left, finding a comfortable grip for it. The laughter faded as Zelos and Colette rushed past her; Presea blinked slightly, turning around to look.

"Lloyd! I'm so glad you're safe!" The blonde girl gushed, throwing her arms excitedly around him, as Kratos walked past and over to the group of renegades. The boy was not expecting that, and he stumbled back a little.

"All we need to do now is contact Sheena." He glanced towards Kratos, who gave him a nod, stepping aside to let Lloyd set up the signal. Colette let go of him them, and looked past him. Presea did as well, watching as the people behind Lloyd stepped away from the gate.

She could see Regal.. and Genis, just in front of him, his head low.. The girl frowned, her gaze flickering to his wrists questionly. They were bound in a similar fashion to Regal's.. it was unnerving.

"Genis, what happened?" Colette was the first to ask, as she rushed over to the half-elven boy's side. He lifted his head and looked at her blankly, though then his gaze shifted until he was looking Presea in the eye.

Presea shuddered involuntarily, quickly looking away. There was something haunting about that gaze; yet something eerily familiar within that emptiness that she couldn't place.

Zelos stepped forwards. "Well, well. You two can be twins now. Where did you get the fancy bracelets, little buddy?"

"Zelos," Regal said, his voice low. "I would advise you not to provoke him."

The redhead stepped back, waving his arms apologetically. "Whatever you say, man! And what's wrong with her highness? Want me to take her?"

Regal sighed. "Very well. It'll likely be easier for you to carry her anyway.. though she'll wake up on her own soon enough. We should get to a village, at least.."

"But.. the only place around here is.. Iselia." Colette remarked quietly.

"Iselia?" Genis spoke suddenly, startling them all; Presea nearly lost her grip on her axe, but recovered. "Lloyd and I were banished! We can't go there!"

Colette shook her fists in front of her. "We can, and we must! Besides, I'm the Chosen. It'll be okay.. I think.. besides, everyone here needs a place to go." She looked around at the group. "..Right?"

"Are things.. taken care of?" Regal asked quietly, as he carefully handed Raine over to Zelos.

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah." He looked towards Colette and Presea. "It's done.."

Presea nodded, though remained quiet, her concerned gaze going over to Genis once more. "Genis does not feel.. welcome, in Iselia. Is this truly.. a good plan?"

Kratos walked over to them. "We have no choice. The Chosen should go back to her village to see her family. The people of the ranch need somewhere to go. And.. decisions, need to be made."

Presea glanced to Lloyd, who was shaking his head. "It's my fault that we got banished... perhaps the two of us should head to my Dad's place, while you guys gather information. What do you think?"

Colette frowned, but looked to everyone else for an answer. "Yeah! We can talk to the mayor and say that there's no more danger, so there is no reason for Lloyd and Genis to be banished anymore!"

"That might be more difficult than you think, Colette." Kratos spoke slowly. "If you think that will work, then Sheena will meet us in Iselia as planned, and once things have settled, I suppose you will go see Dirk for other reasons."

Lloyd looked over at Genis. "Is that.. okay with you?"

Genis tilted his head down. "I.. whatever.. you think is best."

Presea frowned at him, but didn't say anything. Words were not something that came to her easily, and she knew it was not her task to cheer the young boy up again. If anyone could figure out what was wrong with him in the first place.. she closed her eyes.

-

They were at Dirk's house, now. The walk there was reasonably short and quiet, considering the slow pace that Genis was moving at. The sky hadn't changed much, despite their actions, though the earthquake didn't seem to do much damage to the area around Dirk's house.

There was tension in the air, though Genis didn't quite know what to say to his best friend or his Dwarven father; there was simply too much still circling in his mind.

There are too many sides fighting one another. It's impossible to truly pick one that is right for the world, right for everyone.. but more importantly, for the right people. The good humans are few; the good half-elves even fewer.

He had requested to have some time to himself upon arriving at the house; he noticed the reluctance in Lloyd's expression, and the final nod.

Smells of Dirk's cooking drifted up from below, but Genis remained on the bed, lying face-up, his shackled arms resting on his chest. Feeling confident that he was alone, he closed his eyes and let the tears that he had been holding back fall at last.

"I wish it were different, sis.. I wish I could have grown up around people who were the same as us.. and we're different. I can't go back to the only place I knew as home because of a mistake.."

He turned to his side to muffle the sounds of his sobs, and kept his eyes closed, his mind drifting to the events of his past.. and questioned his ability of having a future.

At least he had a symbol of his punishment now..