The Gamer

By DarkerLink

Note: I do not own any of the characters or other things from the game.

Chapter 1

Lloyd looked back at the empty space that had been occupied by the girl so few seconds ago. Nothing there hinted that she had been there, grass was untouched and only the wind whispered through the gap. The girl, a brunette with hair long down her back and wearing clothes that seemed outlandish and strange, had appeared for the first time a while ago, before Collette had seen the oracle. That seemed like a lifetime ago.

Lloyd thought back. The first time he had seen her had been in the school in their village Iselia. He had been in class, resting his eyes when he had been startled by a board rubber aimed by his teacher, the Professor. When no-one seemed to believe that he had actually been awake, even when he was standing up! Lloyd looked around the classroom (carefully or else the Professor would notice) and then saw her for the first time.

She stood in the back of the classroom, her pale, insubstantial form against the wall. She was looking at him quietly, a silent chuckle on her lips. She seemed like a shadow, a dream so much that Lloyd wondered whether he had been asleep after all, had been and still was dreaming. Her brown hair lay in trestles down her back, long and thick. Her pale skin was luminous and her eyes were a startlingly pure green. She stayed there but no-one seemed to notice her. The lesson went on and on but the image of the girl stayed in his mind. After a lull in the voices that droned on around him, Lloyd looked around at the space by the wall that the girl had occupied. It was empty.

Lloyd had put that vision out of his mind, thinking it was due to the mind-numbingly boring lesson that was occurring round him. However this idea was soon dashed. He felt eyes on him again and looked behind. Sure enough there was the girl. She still stood behind, but with an expression of excitement and anticipation. There was a flash of light, that came through the window.

The class leapt out of their seats. The time of the oracle was here.

Collette saw the light and her stomach rolled. It was time. The time that she had been born for, the time when her journey that could either save the world, or if she failed, the whole world might suffer. The responsibility that she would have to bear weighed down her shoulders so that she was hunched her shoulders only to straighten them as she realised how many people were depending on her to save them. She would not let them down. She would not fail!

The Professor, Raine Sage, looked at the class and sighed. There would be no more history for the day. Looking at all of the class, Raine noticed a pained expression on the face of the Chosen, Collette. The expression quickly was put under a mask but Raine understood her anxiety. So much depended on this blonde haired girl. She sighed, as the class started whispering to each other.

"Settle down, class. It seems that the time of the oracle has come. I will ga and check the chapel. Everyone," as she gave a hard look at Lloyd and her brother, Genis, who looked ready to argue, "stay here and study on your own. Understand?" She doubted that anyone would, but at least they would not openly disobey her which would stop people following her to the chapel. Collette, however, stood up.

"I'll go with you!"

Raine looked at her nervous face, worried about the pressure that was on the girl.

"No, Collette," she said gently, "If it is the oracle, the priests will come here for you. Wait here with everyone else.

Disappointment but relief on her face, Collette agreed.

The girl stood and watched the drama unfold. As she pressed against the wall, although she could not feel the rough texture of the paint, she could see the whole room. She watched the different expressions play across everyone's faces with dread mixing with excitement and hope. She herself was full of the infectious hope, although she did not fully understand what the 'oracle' was…

Lloyd suddenly felt cold, as though he was not alone. The girl from before had disappeared physically 'like a ghost' he thought, but still he could feel her, as if she shared his body and consciousness. The feeling passed and he got up to leave.

Genis couldn't believe his eyes! His friend had clearly heard what it was that his sister had said, and she was not one that you should cross! Knowing that he had to stop his friend before he got into more trouble, Genis shouted, "Lloyd! Where are you going? Don't tell me your sneaking out! Raine will get mad!"

Lloyd gave his friend an amused grin.

"I'm really curious to find out what really happens when Collette receives the oracle." Lloyd grimaced. "They always talk about the Chosen of Regeneration and the Day of Prophesy, but no-one tells us what really happens!"

Genis was also fired with curiosity at the idea of the oracle, but he was also more 'acquainted' with his sister's methods of discipline…Knowing his friend would think that he was whining, he tried , "But my sister said to stay and study by ourselves…"

"Okay, fine. Sheesh..." Lloyd was predictably annoyed, but did actually listen to his friend who tried to justify it. "Honestly, Lloyd. It's not pretty when Raine gets mad."

A glance told Genis that his friend was annoyed by the excuses, and also disappointed that he would not be able to see Collette 'in action'. "Man... I was really looking forward to seeing what happens with the oracle."

The discussion stopped as one of the Pastors of the chapel stumbled through the door, with a desperate look in his eyes. He glanced through the room and gasps out "Chosen one!" Collette stands in shock for a moment, and then runs over to him. She plucks at his sleeve saying "Pastor?"

The whole class watched the scene unfold, including the insubstantial girl who, having withdrawn from Lloyd, sat in the furthest corner of the room. She also had worry in her eyes, and was saddened at what was happening.

The pastor explained what had happened. Apparently, at this critical time, the Desians at the ranch nearby had broken the non-aggression treaty that had been set up to keep the Chosen safe. They had attacked the chapel where the Chosen was to receive the oracle. The pastor finished off by whispering "Chosen one… hurry… receive the oracle…" As Collette nodded her agreement, the pastor seemed to be more at peace.

"Please… be careful… I regret that I was unable to… pro… tect… the …Cho…"

At this the pastor's body relaxed into the limp lifelessness of death.

Sobbing, Collette called out "Pastor… Please hang on!" but Lloyd, his eyes stinging, carefully helped Collette up. In the soft voice of sympathy, he gently said, "It's no good… He's gone."

"No!"

Collette headed for the door, muttering "I'm going…" to the silent room. Genis however stopped her, reminding her that there were Desians outside…

Lloyd was worried for his friend, Collette. She tried so hard to be the Chosen that sometimes she seemed to forget that she was herself and that she had the right to her own life. She felt that because of her duty, there was no time that she could live for herself and actually have fun. She was nervous, that he could tell from under her mask, nervous and scared. He could understand this; for she would need to save the entire world and the last Chosen had failed, paying with her life. However what he couldn't understand was that she didn't seem to trust anyone enough to talk to them about her feelings. He had to be honest, it hurt a little thinking that she didn't trust him as much as he trusted her, but he kept his frustration private, thinking that telling anyone would make the problem worse.

Collette was frustrated. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt, especially her friends, Lloyd and Genis, the only ones who didn't treat her as if she was made of glass, mainly Lloyd, the only one who ever made her feel safe…

"I'm going too."

Lloyd said this with a definite tone, brooking no argument. Almost in the same way as Professor Raine would, Lloyd quoted "Dwarven Vow #1: Let's all work together for a peaceful world. Let's go!"

"Wait, I'm going too!" shouted Genis. He couldn't let his friends go off into danger without him!

Collette looked at her friends. They were so brave to help her when they didn't need to, brave to go into danger for her. She hoped that she could be as good people as the two before her. All she could stammer was a "Thanks, both of you," so faint that she wasn't sure her friends could really hear her.

Lloyd heard.

The girl watched through it all. She felt that she knew all of the characters, measured up their strength, not in fighting but in the determination and the loyalty of them. Especially Lloyd. Somehow she had made a connection with the stubborn boy, almost as if he could see her. She thought that at one point he had looked round at her and looked at her directly, but that must have been her imagination…