Two
Kratos' Warning
"Look, he's waking up!" Raine exclaimed.
Lloyd quickly looked over to his father, who was lying under a blanket on a bed at Raine and Genis' house.
As they had for the last five years, Lloyd, Colette, Genis, Raine, Sheena, Zelos, Presea and Regal had gathered for a reunion in Iselia. The day before everyone was expected to arrive, Lloyd had taken a trip to the ruins of the Iselia Human Ranch. He had found Kratos at the brink of death and taken him back to Dirk's house. Later that day, Raine and Genis had returned home from Palmacosta and had immediately taken Kratos into their care.
Raine had been appalled by the horrible wounds and amount of blood loss Kratos had experienced, and she had quickly thrown off his clothes and bandaged him expertly. She had added her own healing powers to the herbs and bandages, which relieved Lloyd. Kratos had been sleeping for two days straight now, and everyone was gathered at the Sage's home.
Slowly but surely, Kratos sat upright. He moaned in pain and Raine quickly propped a pillow for him to lean his head on. He put his head back and slowly forced his eyes open. He sighed and looked around with obvious effort.
"Dad!" Lloyd exclaimed, and before he could help himself he jumped from his seat and hugged his father. Kratos seemed surprised at first, but slowly hugged his son back.
"It is good to see you," he coughed out.
"Kratos… I thought you were at Derris-Kharlan. What are you doing here?" Genis inquired.
"I…" everyone could tell that Kratos was having difficulty remembering. "There was something I needed to tell you…"
"It may be the medication, Kratos," Raine explained. "I had to put an anesthetic on you because you were tossing and turning in your sleep and I was afraid you would hurt yourself."
"What's an ana—ane…?" Lloyd was having trouble remembering the word Raine had used.
Genis rolled his eyes. "It's a drug that makes people sleep," he explained.
"Oh…" Lloyd trailed off.
"But Raine, will Kratos remember in time?" Sheena asked.
"Most likely. The effects are different on everyone," Raine answered. "In the mean time, Kratos, you should rest."
"No!" Kratos said suddenly. "I cannot go back to sleep…"
"Then can you try and remember why the hell you left Derris-Kharlan?" Zelos asked firmly.
"It was something… something horrible," Kratos shook his head.
"Dad, are you OK?" Lloyd asked.
"I'm fine, Lloyd," the warrior answered stubbornly. "Perhaps something to drink would be nice," he seemed almost back to himself despite the heavy drugging.
"I will go make some tea," Presea got off her chair and walked towards the kitchen.
"Uh… I'll help!" Genis jumped off his seat and followed Presea.
Lloyd rolled his eyes.
"This is very troubling," Regal said after a long time. "No small thing could have made you leave your post at Derris-Kharlan… correct Kratos?"
"I am sure I will remember soon enough," Kratos answered absentmindedly. "Where is my sword?" he asked suddenly.
It was Colette who answered. "I put it with Lloyds'."
"You did what!" Raine exclaimed. "Martel help us to find it in that mess of blades. I wouldn't be surprised if you still haven't neatened out all of those twin blades," she shot a menacing glare at Lloyd.
"Hehe…"
"Sorry," Colette looked down. "I guess I wasn't thinking…"
"It's ok, Colette," Sheena cut in. "Kratos, if you want it, Zelos and I can go look for it."
"Yes, please, Sheena. That would be appreciated…"
"Why does your blade hold such importance to you?" Regal interrogated.
"I feel that the blade will help me remember what I have forgotten," Kratos answered coldly.
"Don't start, you two," Raine glared at Kratos and Regal. Regal did not have a tendency to trust people, especially when they attacked his friends… even if Kratos was Lloyd's father, Regal was suspicious of him.
"Kratos, are you going to stay?" Colette asked.
"I don't know," the angel answered. "Perhaps if I remembered more clearly…"
"Well, dad, maybe when you feel a bit better we could duel?" Lloyd changed the subject. The more they lingered on the subject of why Kratos had left Derris-Kharlan the more Lloyd felt uneasy.
"Of course, we can see who's senses are dulled more from five years of idleness," Kratos almost grinned. Almost.
At that moment, the four who had left returned. Presea handed out the tea while Genis held the tray, and Kratos drank deeply from his cup. Lloyd was more intent on seeing his father's blade, which he had not seen for five years. Sheena held it almost reverently, for this blade had wrought much in its lifetime.
"Aah, my sword," Kratos whispered. He put his cup down, and all of them watched intently as he took the blade.
Lloyd stared as the blade passed from Sheena's hand to his father's, whose eyes were now closed as he held the blade. Keeping his eyes shut, Kratos unsheathed the sword and held it out, and then opened his eyes. His hand shuddered, and Lloyd feared he was going to drop the sword onto himself. He made as if to get up, but Kratos waved him to sit, and began to speak.
"My blade serves as my memory, and has told me what I have forgotten. Lloyd, my son," at this moment he looked directly at Lloyd and acted as if no one else was in the room. "Heed my words: you must flee. The Ancient Lich Hethzera approaches. He has taken Derris-Kharlan and holds evil plans…"
"Impossible!" Raine cut in. "Hethzera is a myth and nothing more. And at any rate, legends say that Martel locked him away in a prison to forever wander the cosmos."
Kratos was annoyed at being interrupted, but he continued on as if Raine had not spoken. "I have fought the Lich, my son, and know that he is invincible. No power can stop him!"
"Bull!" Lloyd jumped up. "We stopped Mithos and we can stop this guy!"
"No, you mustn't try, Lloyd. Hethzera was the master of Mithos, and he spoke of some seed that would fulfill his prophecy. He said that Derris-Kharlan held dark and ancient powers, and he said that the worlds would perish beneath him!"
"I won't allow it!" Colette was also standing. "Even though my Regeneration quest is over, I'm still the Chosen, and I said I'd protect this land!"
"I'm with you, Colette. We'll see how tough this Lich thingy is," Lloyd added.
Kratos sighed. "I have warned you, my son. Hethzera the Lich rides upon Derris-Kharlan and will arrive at the worlds soon. If you wish to try and stand against him, you must devise a plan."
After awhile Sheena spoke. "Hey, Zelos, doesn't the Royal Library in Meltokio hold a bunch of volumes about Hethzera?"
"Yeah that's what I was thinking," Zelos replied.
"Oh don't lie," Sheena growled. "And stop looking at me!"
Zelos looked like he was about to say something, but Regal cut in. "Are these volumes open to the public?"
"No, only a selected few are allowed to look at them," the Tethe'allan Chosen answered.
"Look," Raine said. "This is impossible! The Lich is a myth meant to scare little children!"
Presea shook her head. "What could make Kratos leave Derris-Kharlan but the appearance of some evil?" she asked.
"I believe him, Raine," Genis looked his sister right in the eye.
"I speak the truth whether you believe me or not, but I must again warn you to not fight this beast," Kratos said. "I would not leave Derris-Kharlan unless the worlds were in grave danger."
Lloyd shook his head. "I swore to Martel I would stop anything that tried to harm our world," he said. "And I'm going to kill this guy."
Kratos sighed.
Raine rolled her eyes. "Very well… These volumes on Hethzera most likely hold ancient information about him," she said. "Some of us should go to Tethe'alla and get a hold of some of these books. Zelos, I assume you can gain access to them?"
"I'm the Chosen, I can do whatever I want, isn't that right Sheena?" Zelos winked at the ninja.
"No that's not right now stop thinking that!" Sheena roared. "But I agree, a few of us should go to Tethe'alla. Raine you should come to decode any cryptic things. Zelos has to go, and I will too. Anyone else want to volunteer?"
"I'll go," Regal said. "That leaves Presea, Lloyd, Colette, Genis and Kratos here. But what are they to do?"
Kratos sighed deeply. "If this is something you have all truly set your hearts on—"
"It is," Lloyd cut in firmly.
Kratos nodded and continued. "Then we must journey to the Great Tree. No doubt, Hethzera will attempt to cripple the tree to kill our worlds."
"So it's settled then?" Genis asked.
Raine nodded. "I suppose so. Zelos, Sheena and Regal, we have to pack. Lloyd, Colette, Genis, and Kratos… be careful…"
They nodded as the four left the room.
"Well I gotta get some practice in before we leave, right?" Lloyd quickly left the room.
"Uh… us too!" Genis grabbed Colette and Presea by the hand and dragged them out of the room, leaving Kratos alone.
"I tried to warn them," Kratos shook his head. "Why did my son have to be the most stubborn person in the world?" he sighed. "Now we're all plunging face-first into our doom… and Lloyd doesn't even care…" Kratos closed his eyes and got up; he was feeling quite a bit better. He dressed and picked up his sword. "Well if I'm going to die, I may as well die with a blade in my hand and blood on my blade…"
Hethzera watched with delight as Derris-Kharlan grew closer to Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. Soon the Great Tree would be dead, the worlds would be crippled, and Martel would bow before him. The Lich laughed his evil laugh and hissed, "The time draws near… The prophecy will be fulfilled."