"… After Yggdrasil was defeated, I remained on Derris-Kharlan as it departed from this world. I knew fully well that I would never see my son again, or anyone else, for that matter. Yet that is the path I chose, and I still stand by my decision."

Gwin had been completely silent during the entire time Kratos had been speaking. He had almost thought her to be asleep, when she asked, "So why is it you're here now?"

His face grew grave, and his voice became a whisper. "That is the part I have never told anyone before in complete truth. There was another that traveled with us to put an end to the war. Rhine… She knew of dark, taboo magic, but she used it only to help people. Yet the darkness overtook her, and her lust for power could not be quenched. Mithos exiled her to the far reaches of space, to sleep for eternity. He did not have the heart to kill her, nor did I.

"Derris-Kharlan, as you know, was made of massive pieces of solidified mana. When she came in contact with such an enormous energy source, she absorbed it and came back to life. I managed to escape, but just barely. Now, I must defeat Rhine… I must kill her, to finally end this."

"I see. I… shall accompany you."

"No! It is far too dangerous."

"You forget; I was an angel of Cruxis. I am more than capable of defending myself." Her eyes shone with a determined light, and he knew she would not back down. He had seen that same light in the eyes of his son…

"Humph. I guess that's fine then."

"Thank you. I swear I won't be a burden."

Once again there was silence, until Kratos spoke. "What are your reasons for joining Cruxis?"

"I… wanted to be accepted. Cruxis was made up of mainly half-elves, so I figured that they wouldn't mind one more outcast. Sometimes I didn't agree with their goals or methods, but it was better than being shunned for the rest of my life."

"Are you not a half-elf?"

"No… I'm not sure what I am. I have no memories of a childhood, nor of any family."

"I see… You must have had a hard life."

"Yes…" Gwin did not wish to describe the loneliness and pain of her existence to the swordsman.

"So you are alone in this world, as am I. Forever damned to carry the sins of my past as I wander aimlessly throughout life… I know what it means to be truly alone."

Hot, silent tears began to drip down Gwin's face. "How can you keep saying you're alone!" she finally cried out. Kratos looked over at the crying girl in surprise. "You have friends you can trust, and a son… And if that's not good enough, you have me! If anyone is truly alone, it would be me… even though it hurts, and sometimes I think life has no meaning, I still push on… no matter how much I wish I could end it! So… so…" she started to sob. Kratos gently put his arm around her shaking shoulders. "Someone once told me, 'Just by existing, your life has value.' I guess I've never fully realized that… until now. So thank you. Thank you for reminding me I am not alone."

Together, Gwin and Kratos continued to travel towards Rhine's old stronghold. Kratos assumed that she would wait until she was fully recovered to put any plans into motion, but they would have to hurry.

"Tomorrow, we will have to fight Rhine. Her base lies just beyond the edge of the forest," Kratos told Gwin as she sat next to him by the small fire. "Even if she isn't at full strength, I'm afraid she may be more powerful than you or I combined." Gwin sat silently. She looked over at him as he stared into the dancing flames. The firelight gracefully illuminated his face, and the breeze toyed with his hair. The longer she looked, the more she wanted to reach out to him, to hold him, to feel his warmth against her skin. Yet…

"Why do you hesitate?" asked Kratos quietly. "Are you afraid of rejection?" Gwin nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm terribly afraid. And… I swore to you I would not be a burden." She set her head upon her knees, unwilling to meet his gaze. His arms wrapped around her, and she looked up in surprise as he drew her close. "You are not alone. It's been so long since I've held someone like this… Let me hold you just a little bit longer…" Gwin lay against him, safely enclosed in his warm embrace. She was happier than she had ever felt before, even though she could tell Kratos was still thinking only of Anna.

"This place… the air is full of malevolence and hate. It's smothering me," said Gwin quietly as they walked through the dark stone halls of Rhine's castle-like home. "Yes, I can feel it too… She should be just a little farther in." They entered a large round room, where the feeling intensified. "My head… there's a sound in my head… it hurts," Gwin said. "She's here," Kratos said quickly. "Rhine, I have come to defeat you. For your own sake, you never should have awakened."

"Kratos, you always have talked too much," came the icy reply. A magic circle suddenly flared into life, trapping Kratos within its boundaries. Gwin could only watch in horror as energy raced through his body, causing him to cry out in pain. "Gwin," he finally managed to spit out, "run! Go to Dirk's house, near Iselia Forest… Augh! Hurry!"

He slowly sank to his knees and lay motionless. Gwin stood silently, rooted to the spot.

"Kratos? Are you…?"

There was no reply. Trembling, she could do nothing but run, run out of that horrific place, away from the nightmare, all the while hating herself for running away.

Once again, I don't own Tales of Symphonia. If I did, there would be a sequel based off of this fanfiction. However, I do "own" Gwin, Rhine (pronounced reen), and those mentioned in the previous chapters.