Van: Hey, just in case you didn't see it, I changed chapter 9. Thank you for pointing it out.
Thanks to everyone else for reviews. I saw some people wanted to give me suggestions, and if you want to you can send it to my email.
Tales of Symphonia: The Releasing Orb
Chapter 10 'Freeing Regal'
Sybak was basically the same city of intellectuals. Students roamed the streets in their free time muttering calculations and theories. The only difference was that the Research Academy had merged with Kastus's corporation. More technology guiros had showed up, which only increased the mumbling in the city.
The group walked by the students, and Lloyd watched them, "I hate this city! I can't follow what anyone says." He continued to try and listen to conversation between two research students.
"Our studies have shown that the ormus mineral connects the realms of the spiritual and physical."
"I don't believe one bit of your quantum coherence. I prefer the bio-lab. It is a concrete study that has been going on for years."
"No your mistaken! Alchemy is the Research Academy's next vast step!" Lloyd was rubbing his head as he walked away from the arguing students.
At the research academy Yuan was escorted by a group of researchers into a separate lab. The rest were led to a waiting room. It was empty, and Lloyd felt extremely relieved. He was sick of listening to nerds babble about things he couldn't follow.
Lloyd sat snoring on a chair. The analysis was taking longer than he expected, and the research academy had long since become boring to him. Colette and Kane sat talking next to each other. Colette was still confused on their current situation, so she asked Kane if he would review it for her.
Yuan finally walked in, and Lloyd awoke with a snort, "It's about time!"
"I was correct in my assumptions. This Exsphere does indeed contain Magnius's soul."
"Yuan... you were in there FOREVER, and when you come out you only say two sentences?"
"Lloyd, the analysis of an Exsphere is not a simple task!" Yuan handed Lloyd the Exsphere for him to take care of.
"Yeah, well I'm going to the inn. It's late, and you woke me up." When they got outside of the academy Yuan turned and started walking in another direction. Kane was the only one that had noticed.
"Yuan, where are you going? I believe Lloyd said he wanted to stay at the inn."
"I will be there in a little while. I am going to inform Kastus of our discoveries." They nodded and walked on towards the inn.
It wasn't but five minutes later that Yuan arrived at the inn.
"Hello Yuan!" Colette greeted him, "That was quick. What happened?"
"He isn't in Sybak. The guards said he left his office early this morning."
"Oh, okay." Colette looked like something was bugging her. "Can we go see Regal tomorrow? I'm sorry if it's trouble for you, but I am really worried about him."
"Yes of course. Is Kane and Lloyd already asleep?"
"Yes. Your room is right over there."
"Thank you... you should be getting some sleep too. It's been a hard day." Yuan retreated to his room and Colette to hers.
They left early in the morning with Altamira as their destination. Everything was the same until they reached the Lerenezo headquarters.
"Master Bryant wishes to see no one. He has requested that he turn everyone away that asks for an audience." The guard moved to block their way onto the elevator.
"What? You have got to be joking!"
"Lloyd, calm down." Yuan seemed like he expected as much for the reason of Regal's previous behavior. "Could you tell him that we have arrived? Surely he would not decline us."
"He asked that we do not let your group in specifically." A second guard walked up to them.
"What? No that is not like Regal!" Colette felt scared, and her voice was cracking.
"Let us through." Lloyd turned. He was surprised to hear that come out of Kane's mouth. "You must see a difference in you president, and instead of helping him you turn your face from the truth." The guards looked like they had been slapped with such an accusation.
"Nevertheless, he did request that we not let anyone through." The guard stood staring at his feet in shame.
"Wait... can you help him?" The other guard spoke.
"Yes! We are his friends!" Colette was getting emotional and defensive, and when the guards finally stepped out of their way she was the first to run on the elevator. The guards mentioned he was on the terrace.
The rest stepped on the elevator and waited as it progressed to the top floor. "Be prepared." Yuan had interrupted their silence, "We might have to fight him if he is being controlled by an Exsphere."
They arrived at the top and saw Regal looking out on the city from a platform. He didn't look at them, but continued to look out at his city, "I see you got through my guards."
"They let us through. They were worried about you. We are too." Lloyd took a couple steps closer to him. Regal turned around to face them. His eyes were still clouded, and he stared down at the group.
"Stay away from me, or you will regret it." Lloyd tried to object and stepped nearer to him, but Regal reacted to this quickly. He jumped high in the air and kicked Lloyd down, pinning him under his powerful greaves. Yuan drew his swallow and ran straight at Regal to get his attention away from Lloyd. Colette moved to the back of the group. Her feelings were torn as she watched her companions fight their old comrade. Regal clearly was getting the best of Lloyd, who was using his anger for power which only made him clumsy.
"First Aid!" Kane called. He could not get into any of the fighting. He was to busy healing Lloyd because he would not pull back. "Lloyd, get control of yourself! First Aid!"
"This needs to be done a little more strategically..." Yuan called as he put himself in between Lloyd and Regal. Kane snuck behind Regal, and pulled out his silver daggers. He slashed him from behind, and Regal's attention was turned towards him. Kane nodded at the other two to make sure they understood his plan. They took turns distracting Regal to let the others deal out damage from behind. Regal caught on to this, but they formed a circle around him so the there was no way for him to take them all on at the same time. Soon exhaustion set in and his strength left him.
Regal stood bent over and defeated. His long hair was hanging over his shoulders. Lloyd noticed something glowing on the back of his neck. He reached in his pocket and moved behind Regal. He held the orb in his hand, and he lifted it over Regal as he muttered something to himself. The Exsphere removed itself from the back of Regal's neck and disappeared into the orb.
"...What?" Regal looked up at the people standing around him. His eyes had returned to normal. He collapsed, and looked up at Lloyd, "I am sorry. I could not control my actions."
"... I am getting a strange signal from the Rheairds." Yuan was holding a beeping object in his hands. "Lloyd and Kane, please explain the situation to Master Bryant." He turned and walked to the elevator.
In turn Lloyd and Kane explained what they knew about the Exspheres and the Desians. Regal was silent and listened to there story without interrupting with questions.
"I see. A man approached me also. However, I do not believe I was being possessed by another... soul. It was more like I could hear a voice in my head telling me what I was to do, and any action it spoke of I obeyed. I could see everything I did, but I could not control my actions."
"So Yuan was right. Someone is using the Exspheres to possess people or use them to control the behaviors of others. So this must mean there is no way of knowing who is in their right mind and who..." Kane was cut short, because Yuan had returned. He looked out of breath.
"The King... has contacted us... wishing us to go to Meltokio immediately!"
"Did it sound like he was in trouble?" Yuan nodded at Kane, "Damn..."
"Do you want to come with us?" Lloyd had turned to speak to Regal. Colette seemed to be excited with Lloyd's suggestion.
"I have already made a mess here. I need to clean up the damage I have done in Altamira. Please, contact me if you need anything."
"If you're sure... alright, let's go to Meltokio!" Before the elevator moved Lloyd yelled a last request, "Take care of yourself Regal!"