A Tainted Mind leads to a Betraying Heart
Author's Notes: Once again sorry for the delay but here's the newest chapter.
Disclaimer: (see previous chapters)
Chapter 4 – A Mysterious New FoeMorning soon came and Lloyd upon realizing he had once again overslept quickly made his bed, packed up, changed clothes, and bolted out of the room and eventually through the front door of the Chief's home.
"…Sheena, sorry…I overslept." Apologized Lloyd as he gasped for his lost air when he reached where the young woman stood. Then out of respect he bowed his head a bit.
Sheena heard Lloyd and turned to face him, "Heh, don't worry about it Lloyd if anything I too overslept a bit." Said Sheena with a small laugh.
"Guess my habits are rubbing off on you, huh." Lloyd smirked afterwards and Sheena simply laughed at her best friend's comment. Lloyd as well joined in causing the two friends to share a good-hearted laugh with one another.
After a minute their laugher died down and Lloyd decided to ask Sheena a question.
"So what are you doing out here and by any chance have you seen my Dad?"
"Well actually I just happen to be waiting for Kratos. He's in there." Sheena pointed at the building in front of her. It just so happen to be the weapon shop that had been built within the past three years replacing the small stand from before.
Kratos emerged a few seconds later adjusting his new long sword that hung around his side. His attire as well seemed to be in perfect condition. Finally he slipped his left arm through his new shield's handle and rested it around the upper part of his arm.
"Sheena, Lloyd good to see the two of you up already. Are you all set?" asked Kratos.
Lloyd glanced at Sheena for a second before the young summoner spoke up.
"Yup, I got us a bunch of healing and helping items from Grandpa so I'm all set…don't know about Lloyd though."
Sheena gave Lloyd a playful smirk that caused the young swordsman to raise an eyebrow at her.
"Haha very funny Sheena well I'm ready since I don't carry much and I'm sure Noishe will be waiting at the entrance for us." Stated Lloyd as he flung a small clothing filled bag over his shoulder.
"Well then we should make our leave then." Said Kratos.
"But not before you say goodbye to me, Sheena." Said a voice from behind both Sheena and Lloyd.
Sheena then turn on heel as she saw her grandfather, Tiga, and Orochi walking toward the trio.
"Huh, oh of course I won't Grandpa." Sheena then gave her Grandfather a loving hug and thanked him for everything.
"It was no problem Sheena." The chief then turned his attention to Lloyd, "Now Lloyd my Granddaughter's safety rests in your hands please watch over her and protect her, do you understand."
Lloyd eyed the Chief for a second before he nodded.
"Of course I understand Chief Igaguri I promise I'll bring back Sheena safely to you and everyone else here in Mizuho. I'll protect her no matter what the cost." Stated Lloyd rather boldly and confidently.
After hearing Lloyd's promise Sheena couldn't help but blush at his words. 'He's willing to protect me no matter what happens to him…Lloyd…' The young summoner then flashed a kind smile at Lloyd but unfortunately he didn't see it.
"Please be careful you three and I hope you find the people responsible for your father's attack, Lloyd." Said Tiga.
"Thanks for the concern and yeah I plan on making the people that went after Dad pay, no one harms my family or friends and gets away with it. We'll find who did it and as a bonus I'll stop that rogue ninja Kuchinawa."
"Yes my brother must be stopped at all costs, what he has done is unacceptable and must be punished…though I'm not sure if death is the right means." Stated Orochi with a deep sigh.
"Don't worry Orochi we didn't allow him to kill himself last time and we'll do it again if needed, I know there still has to be some good in him. We just have to find it." Said Sheena with a smile.
Orochi kindly bowed at Sheena for her words.
"Well guess this is goodbye for now, take care of yourselves." Said Lloyd.
"Yes thank you for everything but there is still the possibility that this village may be attacked considering last night's conflicts. So please be on guard and with that Lloyd, Sheena if you two are ready?" asked Kratos.
"Yup lets go Dad…lets go visit Mom." Answered Lloyd. Both Kratos and Sheena then nodded in agreement.
Soon afterwards the trio waved at the villagers as they exited the village and just as Lloyd had said met up with Noishe.
Noishe "whined" happily at the trio even more so at Kratos. Smiling Kratos walked up to him and petted his head slightly.
"It's been a while hasn't it Noishe."
Noishe "whined" a response and licked Kratos' hand slightly and quickly.
'Heh, still as playful as ever.' Thought Kratos with a gentle smile on his face.
About an hour later the group found themselves passing near the entrance to the Gaoracchia Forest.
They were currently headed to Ozette, the small village that was the home to their comrade and dear friend Presea Combatir. For Lloyd had decided that it would be best to visit Presea, since the village was near by and only a hour or two away, before heading straight to Dirk's.
The trio hoped to meet with her and not only catch up on the times but inform her of the threat on Kratos. Lloyd also wander if she would be home since last he had heard she was still working with Regal and his company, but he was sure she would have to visit her home that was also her father's resting place from time to time.
But as they passed they were unaware that a figure stood in the nearby trees watching the group waiting to make a move…
As they continued on their way Lloyd and Sheena were conversing to themselves and Kratos walked by Noishe's side quietly, allowing the youths to speak freely with themselves without distractions. Suddenly he felt a surge of Mana head straight at them.
"Lloyd, Sheena look out!" Yelled out Kratos, as he yelled Noishe rushed to one side to escape from harm, upon releasing his wings he dashed forward and took both Lloyd and Sheena in his arms and away from their current location just as a powerful bolt landed and fried the land.
"What the hell…thanks Dad." Said Lloyd gasping as Kratos placed both he and Sheena down.
"Woah! Um yeah thank you Kratos." Sheena then bowed humbly at the swordsman.
"Just what was that?" asked Lloyd with a look of pure confusion.
"I believe a bolt made of pure Mana energy." Answered Kratos as the scanned the surrounding area.
"You mean just like in your attack "Judgment"?" Asked Lloyd.
"Yes just like that."
"Heh took you long enough to realize it, Lloyd." Mocked a voice from within the forest.
"What? Who are you…show yourself!" Demanded Lloyd.
"I think not, Lloyd…not just yet anyway. Ah Kratos…I'm surprised to see you're still alive. I was certain you would be dead by now."
Kratos' eyes narrowed at the voice's words all the while he held the hilt of his sword ready to pull it out at a moment's notice.
Lloyd on the other hand was less patient and with a flick of the wrist brought one of his swords into his right hand. He then charged blindly into the forest.
"Lloyd!" yelled out Sheena with concern.
"Damn…" grumbled Kratos as he took off after his hot headed son.
"Noishe please stay here, okay." Commanded Sheena to which she received a "bark" of agreement from Noishe. Sheena then ran into the forest in hopes of reuniting with the Aurions…
Meanwhile inside the forest Lloyd began to randomly hack away at several random trees as he tried as best he could to follow the voice.
"Hahahaha as hot headed as usual huh Lloyd. You haven't changed one bit. But unfortunately for you you'll never find me."
"Shut it, and just how do you know of me and my Dad?" growled Lloyd who was becoming more and more angered with his mystery opponent. He then decided to use his "Fierce Demon Fang" tech to destroy several trees in a row in hopes of striking his enemy.
"Heh, just put it this way. I know more about you, your father, and the summoner Sheena than you know about me."
"Oh yeah is that so, guess I'm going to have to beat the info out of you…take this, Tiger Blade."
Lloyd double slashed a nearby branch, where he had seen a bit of movement, but unfortunately the figure quickly leaped to another nearby. Add to that the figure was still hidden by the deep shadows cast by all the surroundings.
'Damn I still can't see him to well.' Cursed Lloyd in his mind.
"Not bad Lloyd…I see you are still a powerful swordsman…"
A flash of light sparkled for a moment before the figure formed a ball of energy in his right hand.
"But you are still no match for me!"
Within the next second the ball was released and made a beeline toward Lloyd. The attack was quicker then the swordsman expected and he rushed to deflect the attack with his sword, but Lloyd quickly realized that it was perhaps too late…
But lucky for the young man Kratos appeared at the last second deflecting the attack with his own sword.
Lloyd stood frozen for a second before he realized that his father had saved him once more.
"Huh…Dad…Thanks." Gasped Lloyd before he took a deep breath.
"Of course…but get ready incase of another attack." Replied Kratos with a serious and focused look on his face.
"So Kratos saves his son once more. Heh how touching." Mocked the figure.
"Enough of these games, who are you? Why are you after us and most of all how do you know who we are?" demanded Kratos pointing his sword at the figure.
"Like father like son I guess…" The figure then hopped off a tree branch and began to walk a bit toward them.
The figure stopped several feet in front of the Aurions; appearing to be a young male of average built and near Lloyd's height but wore a tight white robe that cloaked his features and attire.
Both Kratos and Lloyd stood in shock for a while at the young man before them. For it seemed that the only visible feature was the lower part of his light skinned face but his hair and eyes were still hidden by the robe's hood.
"What the hell? Just who exactly are you?" asked a surprised and equally confused Lloyd.
An evil yet cocky smile formed on the young man's face.
"I told you Lloyd, I know many things about you but you know nothing about me."
As the young man spoke Kratos noticed the Cruxis Crystal embedded into the male's right hand.
"A Cruxis Crystal" mumbled Kratos. Lloyd heard his father's words and focused on the same place that Kratos stared at and sure enough saw the crystal.
The young man noticed the stares and to their surprise grinned at them.
"I see you noticed and I'm sure you know what it is." He said as he showed off his crystal. "Let's just say that with this on me not even the mighty Kratos Aurion stands a chance against me." He smirked at his own words, despite the cold glares he was receiving from Kratos and Lloyd.
"Shall we test my words Kratos?"
"Don't do it Dad this guy might be setting you up." Stated Lloyd.
Kratos just stared at the young man, who without a doubt had an incredible power within him. He could feel the Mana flow from the crystal and the young man's own Mana aura seemed to match that of the crystal.
'This one is no doubt a high class Mage or at the very least some type of Mana user, his aura alone speaks volumes of his power.' Thought Kratos.
Suddenly without warning Sheena came running through the woods relived that she had caught up with the Aurions. At first she was happy to see her friends without any injuries, but stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing their mysterious attacker.
"Ah who is that…?"
The young man smiled darkly and without warning shot a beam of compressed energy from his finger straight at her.
"Sheena! Get out of the way! " Yelled out Lloyd as he ran to her in hopes of protecting her from harm.
Despite hearing his words Sheena could not move an inch of her body, her fear had gotten the best of her and weighted her to the ground.
Kratos as well ran in hopes of saving as he had done earlier, but ultimately it was Lloyd who got to Sheena first.
Desperate to protect her at any cost Lloyd tossed himself in front of her.
"No Lloyd!" yelled Sheena as her senses came back thus allowing her to notice Lloyd's noble sacrifice.
But Sheena's yell would ultimately fall on deaf ears as Lloyd took the beam head on and yelled out in pain because of it.
"Lloyd!" yelled Sheena with tears in, and leaving, her eyes.
"It's…okay…I'm…fine…" sputtered out Lloyd with a cough of blood.
Lloyd then fell to knees clutching his bleeding chest as his blood left the rather large wound. Lloyd coughed up a bit more of his blood before his brown eyes rolled to the back of his head causing him passed out and collapse onto the ground motionless staining it a crimson color.
"Lloyd! Damn you!" yelled out Kratos as he turned and leaped at the young man.
The young man seemed unfazed even as Kratos came down on him sword in hand.
"Lightning Strike" yelled out the young man as he extended his left hand.
Kratos stopped dead in his tracks as a triple assault of lightning struck the ground near him.
"Guardian" yelled out Kratos and the familiar greenish orb protected the seraphim from damage.
But before Kratos could launch a counter attack the mysterious young man leaped away back into the shadows.
"Not bad Kratos guess you haven't lost your touch as well. But I would check up on your son…if he is still alive that is." With a laugh the young man then disappeared in a flash.
Kratos gave a death glare at the spot that the mysterious youth had stood just a few seconds ago before turning to check up on his injured son.
As Kratos made his way back to Lloyd and Sheena he noticed that he summoner was on her knees holding Lloyd's head near her chest the wound from his own chest clearly visible. All the while tears of sadness left her eyes at a rapid rate.
Lloyd had and still was losing a large amount of blood from his injury. So much so that Sheena's attire began to be stained by it but even with this she still continued to gently shake him and continued to yell out his name but unfortunately would get no response.
By this time she had finally noticed Kratos rushing to their side. Sheena then called out to the elder man with a tear stained face.
"Kratos…Lloyd's not moving…"
A.N. Yup as you may have already guess this a just a teaser of the new villian, and yes I know another cliffy but just as before it is needed for plot andI know the fic has been serious for the most part but there is some Lloyd/Sheenacoming in the next chapter. Also don't forget to please read and review. See ya next chapter.