Seravine - Chapter Seven
Important Note 12/2/04:
Hullo, folks. I apologize for the three-week wait, but, as much I as I like the idea of rolling out a new chapter every week or two, the current state of affairs at school and real life has basically pushed me to the point where I have to put the story on hold until around December 15th or so. I apologize for this, but, seeing as how my teachers seemingly thought it a fan-freaking-tastic idea to assign a total of six projects due next week, I will have absolutely no time for anything resembling entertainment and/or sleeping for these next few weeks. Add to that the semester exams I'll have to take starting next week and the week after that, and, well, to be blunt, I simply don't have time to even really think about Seravine, and, as such, I'm afraid it'll be possibly longer than a month until chapter eight makes an appearance.
Again, my apologies for the extended wait. On the bright side, shortly after December 15th is the beginning of Christmas Break - otherwise known as two glorious weeks of freedom, and, subsequently, a great opportunity to return to the story. With that in mind, I can promise that I will do everything in my power to make chapter eight worth the inevitable weight, and long, too, for that matter. Expect some fun, ladies and gentlemen - we've only just passed the halfway point in the story and I promise what is to come is going to be a hell of a ride.
grin
See you around the 15th - here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
- Matt
Author's Note: I suppose I should really have some nifty excuse here, but, after working on this chapter two days straight, you'll excuse me if I'm a bit drained. : ) My apologies for the longer-than-normal wait; if you must know, I've had an ungodly amount of homework as of lates, basically to the point where I wasn't even able to look at this and truly to write until about three days ago. So, needless to say, this chapter is a tad bit late.
On a lighter note, here's another edition of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, entirely for your benefit!
The Good: Long chapter. Dialogue. Romance-ish things. (Possible) foreshadowing. Oh, and the Reunion finally occurs!
The Bad: Hardly any action. Hopefully you won't mind a truly dialogue-oriented chapter; I tried, admittedly, to think of some way to throw some action in there, but, for those of you who are easily bored, please make it through this. You'll enjoy the next chapters, I assure you.
The Ugly: This was, without a doubt, the hardest chapter to write thus far. And, naturally, I hate it, but if I went into all of the reasons why it's likely you would be rather bored. So read the chapter instead! It's equally uneventful, I suppose.
Now, for the reviews:
Kitten Kisses ( x 6!) - Thank you for the reviews! I'm very glad you're enjoying what you've read thus far. To answer your question concerning the couple: it was actually Genis/Presea, not Lloyd/Colette, as I've been trying to work a romance triangle into this that concerns those two characters. Apparently I need to work on it, heh. Oh well. And, regarding the characters, everyone makes an appearance this chapter, with emphasis particularly on the Idiot Chosen! Please let me know if I was able to correctly write his character; it was harder than I had intended, so I'm uncertain if I've nailed his character down just yet. Thanks again!
jellybeanz225 -Your idea was one I had initially considered, actually, and then eventually scrapped as it wouldn't have worked well in the plot. Good to see you liked what I used instead! My apologies for the wait; hopefully this chapter will (somehow) make up for it. Thanks again!
FireEdge - I'm glad you loved the ending. Hopefully you'll enjoy this one too. In regards to Richard, well, I shan't say much, as I wouldn't want to reveal too much into the plot, but, seeing as how you enjoy his scenes, I daresay you'll appreciate what is soon to come. : ) Thanks for reading!
Avari, wind seer - Thank you for the compliments, particularly on the romance portions. I wasn't exactly pleased with those, you see, so it really helps to read that they weren't very awful. : ) Thank you for reading.
Im that one guy - "I find it amazing how you manage to keep the characters so believable" Thank you! This chapter, hopefully, continues that winning streak, but please let me know if you feel I'm a bit off when it comes to the characters. As for the connection my SN has to the story...well, I wish I had thought of that. I've been using ObsidianIdeals for quite some time now, far before I had even begun to plan Seravine, so while the connections you noticed certainly weren't intentional, they are a tad creepy. : ) And, yes, you are completely nuts. Congratulations! I cracked long, long ago. : )
That's about it, I believe. A word of warning regarding romance (hopefully I won't have to keep saying this): one couple in the triangle is emphasized quite a bit in this chapter, but, as always there is still quite a bit in the plot to go, so if you're dead-set on one pairing rather than the other, try not to have your hopes lifted/destroyed.
Oh, and one more thing. I've been contemplating lowering this to a PG-13 rating, given that I've been told it hasn't quite earned its 'R' rating just yet. Any opinions on this? The story will, eventually, take a much darker tone, enough that I would think the 'R' would be justified, but, until then, any comments on whether I should lower it would be very much appreciated.
And, as always, please review!
Thanks for reading!
oOo
He wondered how long it would last.
They were all laughing, and talking, smiling, even, and it was little more than some grand facade, really, some magnificent charade, the sort of game for those long mornings with only the memories and the rain. There was a time -- was it really so long ago? -- when Lloyd would have joined them, would have been amidst it all, would have been arguing with Genis or maybe making sly comments about Raine's cooking, so bright, so content, and so easily taking it all for granted.
A meeting, Raine had said.
Lloyd wasn't much in the mood for talking.
He was very much regretting his lack of sleep; something akin to a headache was rolling and roaring about his skull, something akin to that ever-familiar buzzing tearing along the edge of his mind, and those damnable bandages still remained, wound ever-so tightly across his chest.It would be another day or two, apparently, before they could be safely removed, and Lloyd had decided, grumpily,that that was quite possibly the least inspiring thing Raine had ever said. And even now they were entirely a nuisance, cutting into his skin -- andeverything was loud, much too loud, and Lloyd brought his hands to his forehead, settling his elbows lightly atop the desk, closing his eyes and trying his very best to simply drown it all out. He could see, from the very corner of his eyes, that they were watching.
He couldn't help but wonder what they expected. So much had happened -- and he was so damn tired of it all, so unbelievably exhausted of this whole affair, and, naturally, there was absolutely no way to say it, no way to tell the lot of them that he wanted only a few moments to smile, maybe, a few minutes to cry, just one chance to sit back and take it all in. Imagine that, Lloyd thought, somewhat wryly, not bothering to hide his smirk. Lloyd Irving taking the time to think things through. And it was entirely true; he had so many questions, now, so many hows and whos and why, and there was that nagging thought, too, that maybe if he had only stopped to think, had only paused at least one long moment to pay attention, so much pain and so much suffering might have been averted.
And it was already too late. That was, perhaps, the worst part about it, the simple truth to the matter that it was much too late for these doubts, much too late for these questions, and all he could do now was remember, maybe even forget, and, when it all came to a close, and when everything was said and done, regret.
"Lloyd?"
Shaken, he lifted his head free of his hands, finding his companions -- his friends -- watching in a plain silence. They were all there, all but one, sitting so primly and so ridiculously behind the low-slung desks, each looking remarkably out of place and somehow very much at ease. "I'm fine," Lloyd said, quietly, gazing at them in turn, almost perturbed at how easily the lie came to his lips.
"You look tired," Regal said, somewhat needlessly, still managing to look entirely majestic behind the cramped wooden desk, his legs stretched primly and quite properly out into the row. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his arms settled lightly against his chest, something like concern playing at the corners of his eyes.
"I'm fine," Lloyd said, again, knowing that not a single one of them believed him, refusing to acknowledge the shrewd touch to the professor's smile. He supposed he should have felt indignant, really, maybe even angry at the disbelief so clearly written across their faces, but, with a sigh, he dropped his gaze back to the table, feeling much too tired to even bother. "Why are we waiting?" he asked, hoping to break the thick silence that crept up behind his words.
"Zelos has yet to grace us with his presence," Raine said, briskly, settling her spectacles high atop her nose and turning with a look of mild indignation towards door. "It would seem some people never change," she added, almost irritably, leaning with a sigh against the teacher's podium she had so instinctively moved to stand behind. It made sense, in a thoroughly frightening way; Raine, the undisputed and self-appointed leader for the meeting, was clearly in her element, slipping easily into her infamous passion for teaching.
"Oh, Zelos has changed," Sheena said, lightly, sitting completely atop her desk in a distinctively Sheena way, her legs crossed and a familiar smirk tugging at her lips. "Grown up, on the other hand...." She let the words trail to silence, sighing, and then leaned back with a grin, using a row of her cards as a fan. Lloyd caught her eye and couldn't help but smile, very much pleased to see her looking hardly worse for wear after the previous day's events.
He'd made it a point to look precisely everywhere but the window; a certain fog had fallen thickly in and around Iselia, crowding around each building in turn, almost but not quite stealing the destruction from view. There was hardly a hopeful word for it all -- again, Iselia was destroyed, and again, it would have to be rebuilt, though Lloyd could not help but wonder how long this would go on, how long this strange cycle would continue, when it forever seemed that at this turn and that the fire again would only come rolling forth, bringing to the town once more to ashes.
"Oh, be nice," Colette said, frowning, from her perch on a nearby desk, still managing to look and happy and relatively displeased at the same time. "Mr. Zelos told me this morning -- "
"Where's the thief?"
All at once an uncomfortable silence fell across the room; Lloyd, now at least partially interested, glanced towards the doorway, fully expecting and still somewhat surprised to see a thoroughly miffed Zelos, hands on hips, at the entrance to the classroom. The Chosen, the very picture of displeased, was wearing his grandest imitation of a glare, drawing his eyes slowly across the room, settling at last on Genis, the younger boy, for his part, wearing an expression of utmost innocence.
"Who ate it?" Zelos asked, quite emphatically, settling his arms atop his chest and tapping a foot with manifest impatience. He looked a delicate mix between anger and indignation, dramatic in every sense of the word, and Lloyd was torn between quiet laughter and curiosity, eventually deciding the latter of the two to be at least marginally safer.
"Ate what?" he asked, blinking, not in the least bit bothered by the exasperated look that settled cleanly across the other man's face.
"My ice cream! The entire carton -- gone!" Zelos said the last word with an almost entertaining sort of despair, matched only by an equally entertaining gesture, wearing a sense of such grand tragedy and seeming for all the world completely serious in his trauma. Slowly, he stepped from the doorway, moving with a hunter's grace, giving the collected group a shrewd glare as he gradually circled around to an empty desk. Still looking entirely displeased, he settled onto the seat with ease, propping his feet up and seeming to be entirely oblivious to the danger lurking in Raine's eyes.
Lloyd turned his head, a bit, forcing himself not to laugh, thoroughly sympathetic and yet thoroughly entertained by the classic petrified look that had settled across Genis's face. The younger boy was nearly squirming, his eyes darting this way and that, looking for that one moment like just a kid again -- and then Lloyd felt that familiar circle of guilt cross his mind, taking a tight grip to his heart, tearing the chuckles entirely from his throat. When -- when had Genis changed? When had he lost that last grasp of his childhood, that last day of the laughter and the sun, taking such burden and such shame on his small -- young -- shoulders?
When did I change?
Genis and Sheena and Colette and -- they were all so very young, and, then again, so very old, with their scars and their smiles and the thought that maybe this would end someday, that maybe there was such a thing called peace, so fragile, so lost, and, maybe, their only hope, just beyond their reach.
What can I do?
It seemed such an important thing, such a powerful question to ask, and all at once Lloyd felt so terrible and so free; there was a certain liberty to the question, a certain sense of recognition, perhaps that nagging idea that this really wasn't anything new, that maybe he could recognize it, if only he took a moment to look. He had asked that question, once before, with the answer so open and so clear, and again he brought the words to his lips, letting them linger just on the tip of his tongue. Perhaps it was too soon -- he needed time, yes, time to puzzle it all out, time to think about Dad and Kratos and Chocolat and everything, and slowly, he blinked, rubbing at his eyes, brushing almost fiercely at the lone tear that was threatening to fall.
It had been so long since he had cried, so long since had even let himself think of it -- and a warm picture floated to the front of his mind, the sensation of kneeling in her arms beneath the midnight sky, crying, once, perhaps for the last time, simply letting it all go the only way he knew. Lloyd glanced up, slowly, shaking free of his thoughts, and was genuinely surprised to see Sheena looking directly at him, her eyes bright and questioning. He simply smiled, shaking his head, and, on a whim, placed a hand over his heart, mouthing the words that sprung easily to his lips.
Our little secret.
Her eyes widened and she blushed, the corners of her mouth turning up into a small grin, and Lloyd turned away with his own smile, feeling a certain lightness to his thoughts and something resembling satisfaction lifting -- for at least one long moment -- that burden from his shoulders.
"Enough!" Raine's voice cut sharply across the classroom, throwing the group to silence, and Lloyd turned to see the Professor descend slowly from behind the podium, moving to stand in the very center of the circle of desks, wearing an expression of cold exasperation. "Zelos, Genis -- save your argument for another time. There are more important matters we must discuss."
Zelos, though looking visibly affronted, recovered remarkably quickly. "Ah, but Raine, my cool beauty -- surely you agree that the brat should keep his fat fingers to himself?" And, with a victorious smirk, the Chosen settled back into his chair, feet still propped jauntily atop a nearby desk.
"That's not fair! Come on, Sis, how was I supposed to know it was his?" Genis, on the contrary, appeared quite angry, the first tendrils of magic twirling and twisting around his fingertips. He sat down only upon receiving one of Raine's trademark glares, sinking into his seat with a sigh, murmuring beneath his breath and drumming his fingers with an almost violent cadence atop the wood.
Regal, looking torn between exasperation and amusement, merely arched an eyebrow, turning to his side. "And what do you think, Presea?" he asked, for the young girl looked deep in concentration, a certain terseness to the normally placid look set along her face.
"I believe," Presea said, slowly, thoughtfully, lifting her eyes from the floor, "that men lack common sense." And, that said, she nodded, seemingly content with her decision, settling into her chair with the hint of that rare Presea smile tugging at her lips.
Zelos winced. "Harsh, Presea," he said, bringing a hand to his heart and adopting an injured expression. "You wound me."
Genis, rather surprisingly, nodded in complete agreement. "That hurts," he said, with an indignant emphasis, though still with the twinge of a blush across his cheeks as Presea turned in his direction. "It's mainly just Zelos," he added, helpfully, perhaps recognizing his greatest mistake in actually agreeing with what the Idiot Chosen had said.
"No harm in telling the truth, boys," Sheena said, brightly, wearing a smug grin that gave perfectly the appearance of being entirely much too honest. "So what do we need to talk about, Raine?" she asked, turning towards the professor, the woman in question having taken to rubbing at her temples with what appeared to be a mounting despair.
"Thank you, Sheena," Raine said, the familiar combination of exhaustion and exasperation reflected quite well in her voice. "We need to discuss Iselia." Slowly, her hands fell, and she let her eyes travel the length of the room, settling at last on Lloyd, who sighed, guessing exactly what was coming. "As I'm sure most of you have noticed, a good portion of it has been destroyed."
"Oh, Professor," Colette said, somewhat abruptly, turning from the window. "Has the meeting started?" She blinked and looked pleasantly about, smiling, apparently having heard absolutely nothing of what had just been said. "I was just thinking -- "
" -- about me? Oh, Colette!" And, for one long and thoroughly disturbing moment, something akin to hearts could be seen shining oh-so brightly in Zelos's eyes.
Lloyd could only sigh. "Something tells me we should have started before he got here." And, ignoring the indignant look that flashed across Zelos's face, he leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms, focusing his attention, at least for the moment, on Raine. "Iselia needs to be rebuilt," he continued, not even bothering to gesture towards the window, where the fog still leapt and curled around the rubble. "We need to figure out who'll do it. Oh, and who'll pay for it, too."
Raine looked rather impressed. "Yes, that's true, Lloyd. I'm glad to see you're thinking ahead, for once."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Lloyd said, dryly, not exactly keen on where he knew the conversation would eventually turn, and, appropriately, somewhat bent on avoiding the subject for as long as possible. "I'm not sure about you guys, but I still have a lot of Gald left. I could help pay for it."
Regal shook his head. "The Lezareno Company would be more than willing to sponsor the construction. There should be no need for you to empty your pockets, Lloyd," he said, kindly. "And workers can be hired with ease."
"That's nice and all," Genis cut in, frowning, "but shouldn't we ask the villagers? I mean, maybe they don't even want to live here anymore, after -- " he fell quiet, then, his eyes falling to the floor, and gradually he sighed, the sound of it soon fading to a lone silence.
"How is she?" Colette asked, somewhat abruptly, and Lloyd turned to see that strange hint of sadness to his friend's eyes, the once vibrant smile now twisted with sorrow. "Can she -- no, when will she able to walk again?" Colette looked uncharacteristically pessimistic with the question.
"I don't know," Raine said, quietly, her usual disapproving expression temporarily relaxed. "All we can do is wait, I suppose." The professor glanced up, then, and Lloyd met her eyes, knowing she was requesting, silently, that he ask the question, that he bring to words the thought that had taken to lurking around the girl's very name.
Lloyd sighed, letting his eyes fall shut for that one moment, trying his best not to slip too deeply into his guilt. "Is Chocolat safe here?" It was a simple question, really, and still he hated asking it, already having a decent idea as to the answer.
"She won't transform again, will she?" Sheena asked, her brow furrowed, staring intently towards Raine. "You cured her, didn't you?"
Raine simply nodded. "Yes, she is cured. Chocolat no longer poses a danger to anyone here." She turned, then, towards Genis, who had sunk his head into his hands, looking unusually depressed. "Genis?" she asked, quietly, though the affection was still quite clear behind the words.
The half-elf said nothing, at first, still staring intently at the desktop, and Lloyd knew instinctively what his friend was seeing, what pain his friend was reliving through the memories playing across his mind. "The villagers," Genis said, softly, still refusing to raise his head. "They won't want her here, will they?"
"The probability is low," Presea remarked, looking for all the world as calm and collected as only she could be, though there was a certain sadness to the way her words hung long and alone upon the air.
"Oh," Sheena said, softly, understanding, perhaps, for only the first time. She frowned, thoughtfully, taking a card and playing it easily between her fingers, only gradually seeming to come to a decision. "Where can she go? Mizuho would take her in, if need be."
Regal, who had taken to rubbing gently at thepale flesh of his wrists, turned towards Raine and shook his head. "I would think Ozette would be the best place for her. It's likely her mother would want to see her."
"That's probably the best option," Raine agreed, moving to settle herself back behind her podium. "Though I do not know how her mother would react upon hearing the story. I assume Chocolat did not tell anyone of her condition." She said the last word softly, and, for one long second, her eyes were so very far away, seeing, perhaps, only a memory, some quaint recollection that set her lips to a cold thin line.
Zelos, who had remained remarkably quiet to that point, spoke first, slouching a bit in his char. "Maybe we should let Chocolat decide, you know, instead of planning it all out for her." He glanced at each member of the group in turn, silently, and, with no flagrant opposition nor volunteers for the idea, shrugged and made to stand. "I guess I could ask."
Colette stood first, shaking her head, and, for that one moment, blocked the one view of the window, cutting Iselia from view. "I'll do it! I've been wanting to talk to her, actually." And, that said, she moved for the door, stepping around the desks with a strange gracefulness and slipping out of the room with nary a sound.
"That was...strange," Presea said, plainly, though still looking entirely unfazed, rather as if Colette's sudden departure was nothing but ordinary.
Lloyd had to nod his own agreement, sinking even further into his chair, finding himself once more entirely confused. He supposed she was still indeed a bit miffed after last night, likely for the reasons he still didn't quite know, and he was almost tempted to go after her until Zelos spoke once again, a rare look seriousness settled onto his face.
"Someone's going to have to take her to wherever she wants to go. If she's heading for Ozette, that's easy, since we have the ferry, though we can't let her go alone." Zelos shot a not-so subtle look towards Regal. "Any volunteers?"
"I suppose I'd be the best for the job," Regal said, lightly, "particularly if she decides on Ozette. Will anyone be joining me?" The question simply lingered, tossed this way and that upon the air, andRegal only looked down to the white skin in and around his wrists, something of a brief smile flickering across his lips.
Lloyd glanced to and fro across the group in the resulting silence. He was fairly certain he would not be attending; the idea of having to explain Chocolat's injuries to her mother was a bit terrifying, given his involvement in the matter, and the very thought of it struck much too closely to that time, so long ago, with Marble, that time with a singular guilt he had still not quite managed to push away.
"I'll go," Presea said, standing and moving, somewhat hesitantly, towards Regal's desk. "I would like to see Ozette again." She showed a small smile, a true, genuine Presea smile, meeting Regal's eyes, and Lloyd was struck rather suddenly with the strange fire to the older man's relieved grin. It looks like she really forgave him. He couldn't help but smile; it was such a nice thought, really, that the past could be forgotten, and, perhaps, even accepted -- maybe there's hope after all.
Genis, too, seemingly on a whim, stood and moved to stand near Regal's desk. "I -- I'm going too." He turned to Lloyd for a moment, flashing a jaunty grin, and then nodded, seemingly pleased with his decision. "There's something I need to do," he said, a tad mysteriously, though his chin was set and he glanced almost defiantly towards his sister, perhaps expecting some form of opposition.
Raine, unexpectedly, only smiled. "You won't be leaving too soon, Genis. Chocolat needs at least a few more days to rest." And, with that matter settled, and Genis admittedly subdued, she turned back towards Zelos, who had begun to wear an inexplicably depressing look. "Zelos? What's wrong?"
The Chosen in question pitched a heavy sigh. "Does this mean I have to help rebuild?"
Lloyd did not need to look to see Sheena roll her eyes. "Something tells me you've never done a decent day of work in your life," she said, not-so pleasantly, crossing her arms and adopting her classic disapproving stance. "Look at Lloyd! He's not complaining."
Lloyd quickly moved to protest, noting the challenging look that flared to Zelos's eyes, but it was Raine who spoke first, her words forestalling any argument and, in Lloyd's opinion, changing the subject entirely for the worst. "Actually, Lloyd, I was wondering if you would allow me to see that jewel of yours."
All at once a thick silence draped itself about the classroom; sighing, Lloyd lifted the bag free from his waist, regretting, for once, that he had opted to tuck it into his belt. With hardly a word he tossed it towards Raine, watching as she caught it deftly in one hand and dumped its contents into her palm.
There was that buzzing again -- the tenuous roar springing to life the moment the jewel fell free, the thing sitting so black against the pale skin of her hand. It looked plain, there, almost nondescript in every way, but Raine lifted it easily between two fingers, holding it towards the window, and through the light Lloyd could see quite clearly the dancing fire frolicking just beneath the surface of the gem. Determined, he kept his hands balled tightly at his sides, wincing at the pain along his skull and yet refusing to give in to the touch of nausea that swept so freely around his stomach.
It was a bit different this time; there was the roaring, yes, and the buzzing and the rolling and the pain, but there was a strange screaming, too, high and piercing, and Lloyd thought he could almost hear words, then, some odd and fragile distinction to the noise. He had the feeling that he should have known it, whatever it was, maybe even recognize it, but he could hardly make any sense of it, could hardly grasp the few words tossed about in the midst of the chaos.
"What's that, Lloyd?" Genis asked, curiously, edging closer to his sister, the puzzlement drawn easily atop his face. "Is that yours?" He reached for it, bringing one hand closer to the black, almost pouting when Raine swept her hand away and gave him a pointed look to said quite plainly to sit down.
Lloyd bit tightly at his lip, lowering his face towards the floor, struggling to push away the mounting pain that had settled just at the very front of his mind. "Yeah," he managed, determinedly looking everywhere but the jewel, which had seemed to grow even darker since he had last laid eyes upon it. "Found it."
"Where?" Raine asked, quietly, from somewhere up above, and Lloyd lifted his eyes only a bit to see her still holding the jewel up towards the window, where the mists forever writhed just outside the glass. "It appears to be anything but an ordinary stone," she said, thoughtfully, again with a look of naked curiosity.
"Gaoracchia," Lloyd said, tersely, moving at last to drop his head into his hands, catching one last look at his friends -- and instantly regretting the word as soon as he saw a look of hurt flitter briefly across Sheena's face. He hadn't told her, then, so very long ago, when he had escaped the storm, and Lloyd nearly groaned aloud, knowing it was yet another mistake he would have to tackle when it all came to a close.
"Ga -- Gaoracchia?" Zelos, seemingly recovered from his depression, bolted upright in his chair, turning his eyes away from the gem. "You've heard the story, right? About the thief and the jewel and the forest and -- "
"Yes," Raine said, smoothly, not looking at all perturbed by the picture of fright that had settled cleanly upon the Chosen's face. "You told us of it once, Zelos, and I still think it little more than a legend." She brought the jewel closer to her eye, inspecting it carefully. "And I doubt this is worth nearly as much Gald as it would need to be."
Zelos, for his part, appeared hardly convinced in the face of her cool logic. "But Raine, just because it's a legend, you know, doesn't make it not true." He shrugged quite gamely. "Yeah, some parts of it may be off, but a lot of people believe in it. How else would Gaoracchia be so -- " here, he shuddered, " -- ugly?"
"He has a point," Sheena said, with obvious reluctance. "There's always the chance, I guess." She seemed intent on completely ignoring the bright grins Zelos sent her way.
Genis gave a mighty shrug. "But what's the point, anyway? It's just a jewel -- nothing more, nothing less, right?" He glanced towards Lloyd, an eyebrow arched, perhaps expecting such a simple answer, though, for awhile, there was only silence.
Lloyd, head still in his hands, did not move to look up. "There's something about it," he said, at last, hardly aware of the dark silence, mindful only of the roaring piercing across his skull. "Something strange. It helped me, yesterday, during the -- " he trailed off, somewhat lamely, unsure if he wanted to continue. He had never really thought of it, until now, of how the jewel had lifted him to his feet and given him such a strange strength; there was something special about the thing, obviously, maybe something he should have guessed, though, if he was to be completely honest with himself, he had the feeling that it was a bit late for questions.
Presea spoke, suddenly, her soft voice carrying easily through his thoughts. "Lloyd?"
It was so odd -- there was a certain inflection to her a voice, a concern he had only rarely heard, and Lloyd was entirely unsure, again, of what they expected, of what he was supposed to say. He wanted to tell them everything; he had never been the type to keep things inside, really, to wear his heart anywhere but his sleeve, but there was this strange feeling, somehow, someway, that said, quite simply, that he should wait, should hold his tongue for at least a little longer.
And there was that one thought, too, that he knew he could never tell anyone, not even those he held so close. He felt so alone; that was the only word for it, and a terrible one at that, but it said everything and more of how he was feeling, of how he was losing at last that warm picture he had always kept close to his heart. It was no great thing, this one simple image in his mind, a glimpse of his friends, his family, and the laughter, and it was fading, now -- he knew they would always be there, he knew they would always be with him, but he had to wonder, at times, if he would always be there for them, if he would be able to return the favor. Where are you, Kratos? There was a painful clench around his heart.I need you, dad.
"The Storyteller," Regal said, quietly, and Lloyd pushed aside his worries, that buzzing and that fear, to glance upwards and try to pay attention. "He knows quite a bit of the history of the world; perhaps he would know something of this jewel?"
Sheena nodded. "That's a good idea. And we could always ask Mizuho, too." She glanced toward Lloyd, something akin to concern set deep into her eyes. "What do you think, Lloyd?"
Lloyd gave her a tired smile. "I think," he said, blinking as the buzzing kicked up in volume, "that the Storyteller would be our best bet." And quite suddenly the roaring was fading, the nausea all at once dwindling to nothing, and he sighed, heavily, feeling incredibly drained and incredibly relieved. Curious, he looked towards Raine -- and found that shrewd touch to her smile once again, that knowing look as she closed the small bag, tucking the gem out of sight, and tossed it towards him.
"We'll leave in three days," Raine said, decisively, sweeping her gaze across the classroom. "Regal, Genis, Presea -- you'll take Chocolat wherever she wishes to go. The rest of us shall head for the Latheon Gorge." She gave a distinct frown. "And climb the mountain once again."
"Oh, hell," Zelos said, miserably, dropping his head to the desk. "Why didn't we just keep the Rheiards?" And, apparently not waiting for answer, he went on, waving his hands quite expressively above his head. "Renegades piss me off, you know? Why'd they even want them back?"
Regal merely chuckled. "Walking is fine exercise, I'll have you know. It strengthens the body and mind."
Genis had a thoroughly evil grin. "That explains a few things."
"Brat," Zelos muttered, somewhat indistinctly, his head still perched heavily against the desk.
The classroom door opened, somewhat abruptly, and Colette stepped into the room, looking very chipper. "Ozette it is," she said brightly, clapping her hands together, a classic Colette gesture in every sense of the word. "She's very excited." The inevitable question came much too soon. "What did I miss?'
Lloyd hooked a thumb in Raine's direction and sighed, slouching back in his chair, closing his eyes, intent on relaxing at least for the moment.
"You tell her, Raine."
oOo
Laying in the grass, Lloyd had decided, was really a wonderful thing; he could scarce remember the last time he'd been able to just fling himself down and relax, letting the touch of green wrap itself around his skin, and, if he was lucky, watch the stars stretched out into the horizon. And that was exactly what he needed, what he had been looking forward to the entire day, the one opportunity to push it all away and think about everything and nothing in particular.
It wouldn't be long, he knew, before he would have to sit up, dust himself off, and head back inside, likely to scrounge about for as much sleep as he could manage in the waning midnight. And that was okay; for this one moment, for these few hours he had for himself, there was only the grass and the moon and the stars and, when he closed his eyes and simply listened, the wind amongst the trees.
"Hey."
Lloyd leaned his head back a bit and grinned. "Hello."
Sheena was there, standing a bit to his side, looking shy and pale and curious, scuffing her feet against the grass. "What are you doing?" she asked, softly.
He simply shrugged. "Not much, I guess," he said, lightly, and on a whim moved to pat the grass beside him. "Take a seat. I don't mind the company." He was, somehow, in an extraordinarily good mood, and, for at least the moment, he really didn't give a damn as to why.
"I don't want to bother you," Sheena said, hesitantly, averting her eyes a bit. But, as Lloyd merely arched an eyebrow and patted the earth once again, she gave him a small grin, rolling her eyes. "Fine. You win."
"Much better," Lloyd said, brightly, as she moved to lay beside him, mimicking his own posture and laying her arms behind her head. He was trying in vain to ignore the fact that their elbows were touching when a few words sprung almost unexpectedly to his lips. "I'm sorry." He waited, momentarily, for a response, turning to face her. "About Gaoracchia," he added, quietly, feeling a bit foolish.
"It's okay," she said, eventually, turning to look at him, wearing a warm smile. "I forgive you."
"That's good," he said, secretly very relieved, and, admittedly, a bit flustered with the fire in her eyes. He had been expecting her to be angry; Sheena had a bit of a temper at times, to put it nicely, and he was appropriately quite amazed that she hadn't at least held a grudge for a few days.
"I'm sorry, too," Sheena said, lowly, beginning to turn away, the very picture of regret drawn clearly atop her pretty face. Biting gently at her lip, she plucked a blade of grass and twirled it delicately between her fingers, still refusing to meet his eyes.
"Why?'
Sheena tossed the grass aside and sighed. "Yesterday. With Chocolat. I should have prevented her from doing so much damage to y -- to Iselia."
Lloyd did not miss the slight catch to her voice. "It's fine," he said, choosing his words most carefully. "The town can be rebuilt and no one was hurt too badly." He paused a moment before finishing, taking the opportunity to give her a long glance. "I'm fine, too."
"I thought," Sheena said, so quietly he could only barely hear, "that you had died." She looked torn between embarrassment and concern, and, for that one long moment, Lloyd was thrown an entire day back into the past, his mind wandering to a similar time, a similar place, and, kneeling there with Sheena amidst the fire in Iselia, the exact same words.
Lloyd said nothing, at first, settling further back into the grass, letting the cool blades brush against his skin. "So did I," he admitted, with reluctance, closing his eyes as the memory of the pain -- the memory of the fire -- swept into his mind. He wanted, desperately, to say that it was okay now, that he would be just fine in a few days, that she really shouldn't worry about him.
He was always a terrible liar.
"I couldn't summon," Sheena said, even more quietly than before, so that Lloyd found himself scooting closer just to hear. "I don't know why. I tried, but -- I just couldn't."
Lloyd, somewhat surprised, could only watch as she ducked her head and blinked, raising a hand to brush fiercely at her eyes. He knew, without a doubt, how difficult it was for her to say these things, how arduous it was to simply open up, and, again choosing his words with the utmost care, he spoke softly, his voice cutting gently into the night air. "Have you talked to Raine about it?"
"No," Sheena said, simply, shaking her head. "I don't want them to know."
He was about to ask why -- and then he saw her sigh, using both hands to rub gently at her eyes, and in an instant he had a fair idea as to the answer. "You know," he said, sitting up, struck with his newfound wisdom, "I'm not your friend because you can summon." He barely noticed that their legs were all but touching.
Sheena frowned, cocking her head to the side, for once meeting his gaze straight on. "What do you mean?"
Lloyd gave her a bright smile. "Exactly what I said. I know you think your life is important because you can summon -- but that isn't true. You're Sheena Fujibayashi first, and, after that, my friend, and then maybe the summoner." A grimace broke into his grand logic. "I don't think I'm ever going to try to pronounce your last name ever again."
She laughed, then, the sound soft and lilting, and she sunk further back into the grass, breaking into a lovely grin. Lloyd watched her, smiling, with that content feeling he had all but forgotten in the past weeks. It was miraculous, really, how much lighter he felt, how brighter everything seemed in the midst of the night. Yes, he knew it wouldn't last -- there were too many questions and too many doubts, now, but, so long as the night wore on, he could enjoy it, and, with that thought in mind, plopped back down beside her, simply listening to the sound of her quiet laughter lifting off on the wind.
"Thank you," she said, a few moments later, the words falling gently against the grass. "I guess I needed that."
Lloyd merely shrugged. "You're welcome."
They laid there for a long while, Lloyd stretching and settling further into the grass, paying little mind to anything but the stars draped so neatly overhead.
"Do you miss him?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I guess, with everything that's happened, I really wish he was here." He was hesitant to admit that he missed Kratos, and there was even this nagging thought, too, from the very corners of his mind, a lone voice that said in only the plainest terms his father might be dead. "I hope he's still alive."
Sheena gave a rather un-ladylike snort from his side. "Kratos? Dead? Not likely." Her confidence was infectious.
Lloyd smiled. That was one thing he would always have to remember; no matter what troubles might come, no matter what pain he would have to endure, he would always have his friends, the ones he held close. He could only hope he would be able to return the favor; he knew, without a doubt, that he had made many mistakes in his life, had enough regrets for two lifetimes over, but perhaps the most tragic fault of all was the simplest, the one that had steadily grown to haunt him in the darkest seconds of the day.
"I'll always be there," he murmured, so quietly, and for one moment he could almost believe it. It was such a simple promise, such an easy thing to say, and, maybe, when it all came to a close, one he could keep, one he could remember when he came at last to the end of the road.
Sheena nudged him gently. "Did you say something?"
Lloyd smiled. "Nope."
He turned his eyes skyward, up to the stars, and, for that one moment, they were the brightest he had ever seen them.
"Thanks, Sheena."