Author's note: At the end of the game when Lloyd did one last task with the Eternal sword, and then it disappeared (this is only my opinion) I assumed that his angel powers disappeared with it. However, since someone mentioned it I have thought about it, and I want to bring back both the Eternal sword (with his ice and fire blades merging together again) and his angel powers (through his mom's exsphere) in a later chapters. Bear with me tell then, thank you all.
Tales of Symphonia; The Releasing Orb
Chapter 2 'Watchers in the Forest'
Thick foliage grew all about the two travelers. They found themselves tangled in masses of vines, and it was as if the plants were bars holding them in an earthy prison. Lloyd began to cut through the plant life, but soon became weary. They had been walking around in the heat for the majority of the day, and had an occasional battle with smaller fiends. The day was over, and evening was beginning to stretch its arms across the forest.
"We could have made it to Dirk's house if we didn't stop to see Phaidra." Lloyd's weariness was making him irritable.
"I'm sorry. But Grandma did give us some good supplies. Look on the bright side it's more time that we get to spend with each other!" Colette clapped her hands together and smiled, but in her exticment she fell over. Lloyd stopped to help her up, he had gotten use to this kind of behavior.
"Ha ha, same old Colette." After helping her up he looked around for a place to rest. "We had better stop in this clearing for tonight. I'll build us a fire." They began to gather dried sticks into a small pile. Soon a comfortable fire was made. The two laid down next to the fire, and gazed at the star covered sky.
"Colette, you know what is kind of funny? Anytime I look at the sky I think of my dad."
"Kratos?"
"Yeah. Do you... think he is lonely up there alone?" The more emotional side of Lloyd was beginning to break through, "You know, I miss him. I wish we could have spent more time together before he left. It's weird but anytime I get like this I think about how he is looking down on Symphonia. I know he is watching me and thinking about me, just like I am thinking about him. I know it's stupid..."
"It's not Lloyd! I know Kratos thinks about you! I'm sure he wishes he could be here with you everyday. Don't you think so?"
"Yeah... He is always with me, and he is always protecting me too," Lloyd pulled out his blade wreathed in flame that Kratos had given him his voice was now a whisper, "with this."
They sat in silence for awhile lingering on thoughts of the past, and the loved ones they missed. It had been months sense they had seen their old companions. Out of their group Lloyd missed Genis, his best friend, the most. Genis and Raine had continued their adventures by exploring the new world, and trying to help end the discrimination of those between humans and elves. They had not sent word to anyone in Iselia on their success.
"Lloyd... did you hear that? It came from that direction... voices I think." Colette sat up and was looking into the trees, her body became rigid.
"Huh? Uh no actually I didn't hear anything. Wait..." Soon Lloyd too could hear distant voices in the direction Colette had mentioned. "That's around the area of the old Iselia human ranch... I thought the ranches had been abandoned, hadn't they? Hey Colette, do you think you could fly in a tree to get a better look? I would do it myself but... you know," Colette immediately understood, and flew up to a large tree to scout. "Don't get seen Colette!" Lloyd paused a moment to listen, but the voices were too far to make out distinct words, "So, what do you see?"
"Firelight. It's really far off but I can see about seven figures... wait... is he pointing? Lloyd! Put the fire out! They see the smoke and are looking this way!" Lloyd scrambled around to grab a blanket and began smothering the fire, Colette had joined him for she too was beginning to panic. "They put their fire out too Lloyd, what do we do? Why are people at the ranch again?"
"Let's move, my dad's house isn't to far off, so let's just try to give one last push of energy to make it through the woods. His house is the safest place I can think of to go right now, those guys might be moving this way... I sure have a bad feeling about this, but hey, maybe they're just campers!..." Lloyd thought about this for a minute, and concluded no one in their right mind would camp in front of an abandoned human ranch. "Come on, let's go!"
With one last sprint of energy Lloyd and Colette ran through the woods, and arrived at Dirk's house no more than ten minutes later. The travelers' strength waned when they arrived at his porch. As soon as they were each offered a bed, sleep crept over their exhausted bodies. By morning Lloyd was revitalized enough to give Dirk an explanation for their unusual arrival.
"Your right when you say that the ranch was supposed to be abandoned... hmm this is strange indeed. I myself haven't noticed anything, but I haven't been watching very close either. I can have Chester keep an eye out if you would like." Dirk turned to look at his new apprentice. He was a small half elf boy, but Dirk saw that he had great potential in the craftsmen's art. "Oh, Lloyd, I've been working on something for you." Out of his pocket he pulled a black marble sphere, "I call it the Releasing orb." Dirk placed it into Lloyd's open palm, and watched him as he eyed it curiously.
"I can feel... an energy pulsing from it... what does it do?"
"That my boy is going to make your trip a whole lot easier! That orb is the safest way to release an Exsphere from someone's body. Key crest or no key crest, it'll be a lot easier than attempting to release it anyother way. You have to be careful though. Those without the key crests just might be harmed no matter how you release their body from the jewel."
"This is great!" Lloyd was so excited, he started to look for something to use it on. "Thanks dad! But how do you use it?"
"Well, you hold that orb above the Exsphere, and close your eyes. Allow its energy to flow through your body, and finally command that the parasite release itself from the host body. Ah, amazing thing this is, it will even store the Exspheres you find by holding the two stones together. This allows the Exsphere to be absorbed into the Orb. Just be careful, that is a fragile stone. It took me two months to craft it, and I don't think you want to be waiting another two if you break it!"
"Yeah, of course I will keep it safe!" Lloyd eyed the stone. Of course in no time he would probably get bored with it. "Oh, and I would really appreciate it if you and Chester would keep a watch on the ranch while I'm gone... Colette you're up!" Colette came through the guest room door. She looked ready to go, but rather ruffled up.
"I'm sorry! I tried to hurry to get ready this morning, but I guess I still woke up late. I was just so tired yesterday, and I slept pretty heavy. Have you been awake a long time Lloyd? You should have woken me up! I'm so sorry!"
"Don't apologize. You couldn't help that you were tired."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry"
"...Some things never change." Lloyd thought to himself. "Well, since your ready to head out, then let's be on our way! Thanks again dad, bye Chester!" The two headed out of Dirk's house, this time to really start their journey.
"Colette, I need to do one more thing before we leave." Lloyd walked around the back of the house where a lovely little garden had grown. He brushed aside some of the plants that were overgrown, and found the headstone of his mother. "Bye mom. I'm going to go on an adventure to free the people trapped just like you." He looked at his own wrist and studied the Exsphere that contained his mother's soul, "Just a little longer mom, please help me... Once I finish this journey, I promise I will set you free. Until that time comes, please give me your power to strengthen my own." Lloyd pulled out his father's sword, "I am going to use this too for a little bit longer. I will return it, bye mom." He turned to face Colette, who stood there smiling at him.
"I have a favor to ask Lloyd..."
"You want to visit the Iselia ranch don't you?" Her eyes glowed and her smile widened at their similar thoughts, "Yeah, I was planning to ask you if we could check it out. Well, to the forest again!"