The next morning Aeris seemed slightly anxious about going into the Gaoracchia Forest. "Are you alright?" Cloud asked taking on a serious tone. "I'm fine… Y'know it's just I'm a little nervous the Gasoraccia Forest is supposed to be cursed…" she said. Cloud wasn't convinced but he wouldn't pry. When asked he said, "It's bad manners… If I'm anything I'm a gentleman…" "Sure you are…" Zelos would joke.
The Gaoracchia Forest seemed deceptively peaceful as Vyse pointed out. "Peaceful? Huh? How's this for peaceful; a thief once stole a treasure so valuable that after he died his spirit would kill anyone who entered this forest. Their spirits became angry so they now seek vengeance on the living and attack anyone who enters the forest," Zelos explained, "Now does that sound peaceful to you?" "A normal day for a pirate…" Vyse said carelessly. "Vyse, look out! DOUBLE DEMON FANG!" Lloyd shouted as a monster appeared behind Vyse.
The attack didn't seem to phase the monster at all. Vyse turned around to face it and then shouted out, "Light of the moon, grant me thy strength; MOONSTONE CANNON!" When the dust cleared there was nothing left of the monster and Vyse was huffing and puffing from mana exhaustion. "What happened to the monster?" Zelos asked surprised. "There's nothing left of it…" Vyse said still breathing hard. Vyse started to rub his hands. "Vyse, you burned yourself! How did you burn yourself?" Fina shrieked as she knelt down next to Vyse. "You used up all your mana didn't you?" Cloud asked. "A little bit… I'll be fine…" Vyse said finally catching his breath as he stood up. "What about your hands, you could be seriously burned!" Fina asked worriedly. "Don't worry, I'm fine…" Vyse continued to deny.
"From this point on your walking up front, Vyse," Lloyd said in a commanding voice. "I don't have the mana to do that attack again!" Vyse yelled. "That's why your walking up front…" Lloyd told him. The others could see the sibling rivalry flaring up again. Genis shoved Zelos between them, expecting them to hurt him. They didn't, though they just ignored one another. For some unknown reason it reminded Sheena of the arguments that Cloud and Kratos were always having while they were in Sylveraunt. The mention of Kratos's name always made Cloud, Lloyd, or Vyse angry. Not wanting to elevate the situation she kept silent. At this point even Zelos knew to keep quiet. The forest was quiet as well, but Cloud sensed something.
He wasn't the only one, Aeris and Colette could feel something unusual as well. Another monster attack this time Cloud halted the attack by using. "Gaia, spirit of the planet, blow the winds of devastation; FINISHING TOUCH!" he called out. The enemy was lifted up by winds and didn't come back down, almost as if the winds had completely consumed them. Cloud didn't stop to question he kept his sword drawn and put his arm out to signal to everyone not to move. The monster fell down and landed in front of Cloud then it rushed towards him. "SONIC THRUST!" Cloud shouted thrusting his sword into the beast causing it to fall in front of him. It faded away, leaving no trace of its presence. Cloud then gave his Buster Sword a quick spin and shiethed it.
Eventually through a lot of fights with local monsters the group came to the end of the forest, but the path forked, there was a faded signpost. "What's it say?" Lloyd asked Zelos. "I dunno' I can't read it, it's too faded…" Zelos sighed. "Footsteps…" Colette said, "I hear footsteps approaching…" "Who would be foolish enough to come into this forest after us?" Aeris asked. "Who knows…" Cloud replied thoughtfully. "CORRINE!" Sheena shouted. As she did the small creature appeared. "Go check out the footsteps for us, Corrine…" Sheena asked. "Ok!" squeaked the little Summon Spirit as he ran off. It took a few minutes but eventually he came back. "There are people in green armor heading this way, Sheena…" Noishe growled at something behind the group. "Hush, Noishe!" Vyse said crossly. "I think they were Papal Knights!" Corrine continued. "Hmm, there's only one thing I can do then… I've gotta' take you guys to Mizuho…" Sheena sighed. "Uh, question?" Zelos started. "No, Zelos, I will not go out with you!" Sheena yelled. "Not that!" Zelos yelled back, "I just wanna' know isn't Mizuho like this secretive village, they don't take kindly to unwelcome company do they?" "Zelos finds a brain…" Fina laughed. Sheena laughed at Fina's witticism too, then decided to answer, "I may let them kill you, but the rest of us will be my guests…" "So mean…" Zelos whined. "Oh stop cowering, she's not going to let anyone kill you, it's called a joke genius…" Cloud yelled.
"Let's go, I'm tired of this forest…" Vyse complained. "I think I'm just about tired of all this whining…" Raine said in a tired and aggravated voice. Just as they were about to leave the blue-haired convict from the sewers of Meltokio appeared to them. "I don't want to cause any of you any trouble. I just want to talk to Presea…" he explained. He approached Presea but she pulled out her axe and screamed, "Stay away!" "Presea's in trouble!" Genis shouted. Cloud knew the convicts intentions and so did Aeris so they chose to sit the fight out. When it was over the convict lay unconscious on the ground before them. "What should we do with him, Lloyd?" Genis asked. "Let's take him prisoner…" Lloyd replied. Vyse considered it heavily before putting in his thoughts, "Good idea we could find out what he wants later…" "He wants to talk to Presea…" Cloud interrupted. Before anyone else could say anything Cloud continued, "I'm a Cetra, which means telepath, I can hear thoughts as if they've been spoken…"
The village of Mizuho was small and quaint. It hardly seemed to Cloud like the village of skillful ninja warriors that Sheena had been practically bragging about. Nevertheless, it was a place to rest and get something to eat. Everyone's stomachs growled reminding them of the mortal need of all creatures, food. "Uh, I'm sure that the Vice-Chief can have some food made for us…" Sheena laughed nervously. "Sheena your back?" a man dressed in blue asked. He looked rather like Kuchinawa, which is what made Zelos angry. "Orochi, let everyone know I brought the travelers from Sylveraunt…" she told him. "I see…" he said and quickly departed. "Are you sure we're safe?" Vyse asked. "Of course, the people here welcome our friends and guests…" she replied. Orochi came back to the group, "The vice-chief wants to talk to you all…" Orochi told them. Cloud was silent for a moment then said, "Arigato…" Then he walked off with the rest of the group leaving Orochi to wonder how the blonde stranger knew the Mizuho word for 'thank you'.
The vice-chief was a very reasonable man. "Am I to understand you could not accomplish your mission, because you became friends with Sylveraunt's Chosen?" he asked. "If you cannot accept that, then I offer this explanation; Lloyd saved her life, she owes him what's called a life-debt…" Cloud explained calmly. "I understand both explanations… The people of Mizuho wish to move to Sylveraunt as it is… What is your intention though?" the vice-chief responded. Lloyd now spoke, "I want to get rid of the system where someone must be sacrificed for peace. I think that every life has meaning! Every life regardless of heritage; whether they are human, elf, half-elf, Cetra, everyone has a right to life…" "A very good philosophy, young man. I am inclined to agree with you… You have the support of the Mizuho information network," he said.
After leaving Vyse had a question, "What's so special about the Mizuho information network?" "Are you kidding me? The Mizuho information network is the largest network of intelligence gathering in Tethe'alla!" Sheena declared. Cloud seemed to be pondering something. "He acted pretty strange when he heard you mention Cetra… I think it would be wise not to mention that to anymore of our potential allies, Lloyd…" Cloud said still deep in thought. "Alright…" Lloyd agreed.
