Chapter 2
Lloyd set up camp and got ready for bed. He was EXHAUSTED! How he would love to have a real bed to sleep in, but the ground would do. He had gotten use to it over the years. Lloyd kicked back and made some curry. He took out his swords. Lloyd had grown quite skilled in weapon making and had forged himself a set of swords. His swords were then blessed by Martel and the Great Tree. They held the power of the gods themselves. They were the most powerful swords the world had ever seen. Lloyd admired them and cleaned them a bit before putting them back in their sheaths. Lloyd lay down, using Noishe for a pillow and gazed at the stars. It was easy to spot Derris-Kharlan. It was the biggest in the sky and it was bright purple. Lloyd could remember how he had rescued the world from becoming life-less beings and having to live on that planet. Kratos was there now.
"Dad, stay strong. I will send for you one day and you can come live here, with me. I will see you again, one day." Lloyd doze off and fell into a deep sleep. Then, Lloyd began to dream. He was in a field; bodies were everywhere. There was an eerie feeling to the place. It was dark, dreary and foggy; the air was heavy with the smell of blood. There were two hills on either side of the field. One was white and one black. Lloyd stood on a wall in between the two hills. A few steps from him was a key. In front of the key were three doors. One door was in favor of the white hill and one door in favor of the white hill. They had beautiful markings with angelic words written on them. They both offered Lloyd things and made him promises. The third door was plain. It had no special markings and no extravagant designs, no gifts, no promises. It was just a door. Lloyd went to pick up the key. Lloyd heard a loud noise. He woke with a start and opened his eyes. Noishe leapt up and Lloyd's head hit the ground. Noishe growled at something in the darkness. Lloyd wanted to think about the dream and what it could mean, but there was no time. He had to see what was in the dark. Was it another monster? No threat. Or was it something more? Then a man in royal armor jumped out of the bushes. Lloyd recognized them, it was one of the Papal knights, in league with the Pope.
"If you come with us Lloyd Irving, your life will be spared," said the leader of the trio.
"And if I refuse?"
replied Lloyd. He attacked. There was no way he would go down without
a fight. Plus, a few knights would be no problem for a swordsman with
Lloyd's skill. Lloyd went after the weaker two first. He struck at
the knight's chest; his blow was blocked. Lloyd saw an axe from
another attacker coming straight for his head. Lloyd ducked, turned
and drove his sword through the knight's armor, delivering a
critical wound. Lloyd went after the first knight again. Lloyd
parried the axe of the strongest knight and kept going after his
first target. The knight swung his axe at
Lloyd. Lloyd jumped
over the axe and attacked the knight with rising falcon. One knight
down, two to go. Lloyd went after the knight he had injured before.
The knight turned to fight. Lloyd delivered a hunting beast to sting
his enemy, followed by a sonic thrust to finish him off. It was only
Lloyd and the strongest knight now.
"You are stronger then you look. I have a message for you Lloyd Irving. Come quietly and you will live to hear it."
"Not likely," replied Lloyd. Lloyd ran after the knight. He jumped in the air and struck at the knight. The knight blocked his attack and retaliated with a mighty swing of his axe. Lloyd dodged it and struck at the knight's leg. His swords made contact with armor and pierced through and into flesh. He raised his mighty swords and struck, piercing through to his heart. The knight collapsed and looked at Lloyd, gasping for breath. The knight began to say something.
"The message…is from the Pope…He has…your friends…Genis and …Raine," the knight trailed off and tried to catch his breath. Lloyd grew angry. What would the Pope do with them? Why did he want them? Questions grew in his head.
"Tell me more! What else do you have to say!"
"The Pope…requests…your presence…to discuss…matters of interest…Go to him…if you value…your friend's lives…Also…al…so…" The knight's eyes rolled back into his head and he let out his last breath. Lloyd became enraged! The Pope had his friends and was going to kill them!
"Also! Also what!" Lloyd grabbed the knight and shook him violently. Lloyd let go and sat to himself thinking. Why did the Pope have his friends? What did he want with him? Lloyd knew that the Pope hated half-elves but thought it would all change once the world was reunited and once Cruxis was gone. There was only one way to find out these questions. Lloyd would have to go to see the Pope in Meltokio.