Author's Notes

I do not own Tales of Symphonia, and there is a MASSIVE SPOILER WARNING for those who haven't beaten the game.

Okay, I own Trevor, Zach, and Julianna, and please, don't kill me! Enjoy!


ONE MORE DAY

Chapter 3: The Tale

Zelos wasn't sure what drove him out into this weather. Holding an umbrella, he walked through the city streets, trying to think of where the girl of Mizuho could have gone. And she had run off into the rain no less, so now he would have to face those devil spawn that were only a few degrees away from the snow. He shook the thought from his head as he walked, trying to think about Sheena. She was already in plenty danger just being who she was. A child of Mizuho was like sneaking a half-elf into the king's bedroom—unforgivable. So here he was, out in the rain, looking for the girl of his dreams, someone who was truly unwanted here, much like himself.

Sure, every woman within two feet of his brilliance swooned upon his fresh smile, but every single man in this city hated him with a passion. Why he was still living in Meltokio even now made him wonder. WHY? The shopkeepers closed their doors when he came close. Husbands held their wives and children closer behind suddenly shut blinds as his presence was announced. His red hair was even secretly gossiped about. There were men who were worse than WOMEN when it came to that. They'd tell little boys that red hair meant you were a troublemaker. They'd never love him, and he was wasting his time trying to change that. Unfortunately, the last rumor had a nasty side-effect on one little boy that Zelos had only seen from time to time. He'd often seen him walking to school covered with bruises.

"Hello Chosen," a scruffy voice said, as Zelos turned to see that it had indeed been that little boy. What perfect timing. He had lost the summoner girl in this rain, and now he had come face to face with the results of his lechery.

"What's up Zach my man?" Zelos asked cheerfully. Poor boy was out here again, and it seemed he was sporting several new injuries. Too bad his First Aid didn't work well on people without exspheres.

"The kids still think I'm a monster in disguise," the little red-headed boy, Zach, replied sadly, the scruff in his voice dropping some. Zelos noted that the kid didn't have an umbrella.

"Where's your umbrella little dude?"

"Mom can't afford one."

Not wanting the little boy to catch something on his walk, Zelos held out his.

"Here, for you. I'm looking for someone, but I can just go to the store and get another. You seem to need it more than I do!" Zelos replied warmly. "Just make sure you take care of it, all right?"

He could be a nice guy! He cared about Zach's fate! He didn't want the child to become depressed just because he would never have everything in life that he wanted. Somehow, he figured that in the age that Zach would grow up in, they'd all fear those with red hair. Curse his lechery! So he figured, why not show the kindness now, so that Zach would learn to show it to others later in life?

"Really, I can have this?" Zach asked, his dark eyes lighting up his scrawny face. Zelos nodded. "I promise to take good care of it Chosen! I promise!"

The boy jumped for joy as Zelos released the umbrella to his hands. As he stood, he watched the boy skip off to school.

"I hope the men don't take that from you too," Zelos muttered. Now without an umbrella, he continued his search in the rain, hoping to find her at some sort of Mizuho hangout… wherever they may be at.


"Welcome back," the woman said thoughtfully. Sheena held her head as she sat up.

"Where am I?"

"You're in the middle of the slums," the man replied sternly. She took the moment to look around. It was a small, empty, dirty place, with only the couch that she lay on and a table with a small china set. Everything looked aged, rugged. The woman, however, was young and vibrant, even with her tattered apparel, whereas the man looked aged beyond his years in a noble's outfit.

"Trevor! Don't be so harsh!" the woman said, as the man, Trevor, shrugged. The woman turned back to Sheena. "Don't mind him. He really doesn't mean it the way he says it."

"What happened?" Sheena asked now.

"We found you unconscious in the mud outside the door," Trevor said harshly.

"Trevor!" the woman exclaimed again. "I'm so sorry. I haven't introduced myself. This is Trevor, a noble in the house of Lynch, and I am Julianna, a half-elf."

"A what?" Sheena asked, jumping some.

"Don't speak like that!" Trevor roared, as Sheena was taken aback. "Julianna, you are more than—never mind."

Julianna began to giggle.

"Yes Trevor, I do know," Julianna replied. "However, it is rude to introduce myself otherwise."

"Am I missing something here?" Sheena asked, confused.

"You are a child of Mizuho. What are you doing trying to wander around so aimlessly in the rain?" Trevor asked, changing the subject. Sheena's head fell, as she felt the tears coming to her eyes. She wiped them away quickly, but more came in their place. Like the rain, the teardrops struck the ground beneath her. A hand came on her shoulder, and she embraced the woman who she had just met.

"There, there," she whispered softly. "It's okay, child of Mizuho."

"Why? Why must the Chosen of Mana—"

"Damn him! Did he touch you?" Trevor shouted, as Sheena jumped in Juliana's arms. She was held closer. "Did that bastard of a man rape you?"

"Trevor!" Juliana said sternly. Sheena's eyes welled up more, out of fear of this brutish, outspoken noble of the house of Lynch. "You're scaring her."

The noble quickly composed himself, and moved towards the back corner of the house.

"Sorry. But that bastard of a man deserves to die, Chosen of Mana or not," Trevor explained in a forced, calm tone. She slowed her tears as best she could, as Julianna smiled.

"See? Everything's all right," she said. Her voice faltered. "At least for you, it will be."

"What's the matter with you?" Sheena asked.

"It's a rather sad tale, however, I don't think it'd be wise to tell given your state of mind," Juliana replied, looking towards the window, which was more of a hole in the wall. A pale green fabric covered this hole, as the rain leaked down the wall and to the ground below, where a dingy towel had been placed. Sheena shook her head.

"I'm more than willing to listen, if you are more than willing to be a shoulder to cry on," she replied. The woman before her smiled warmly, and Sheena noticed that Trevor shifted uncomfortably.

"Trevor and I," Juliana started, but looked down now. Her face looked pained, distraught.

"We're in love," Trevor finally said, as Sheena jumped back. "However, the moment you tell anyone outside this room, I will find a way to kill you, child of Mizuho."

Sheena took this as an idle threat, but she could see the fire in the man's eyes. He would try if she did. However, she was an assassin, not a scout. Whatever she learned didn't have to go back to Mizuho's Intelligence Network, unless she felt it necessary. At this point, nothing seemed useful to her.

"Trevor!" Juliana said, her face crimson. She smiled weakly. "However, as much as we are in love, we cannot be together. As you know, there are strict half-elf restriction laws, and Trevor's father is a firm supporter of all of them. To know that his son loves a half-elf would make his father disown him, and then his social status would be destroyed. I have nothing to lose in exchange, so—so—"

"It's okay," Sheena said. Although she wasn't overwhelmed with joy that the man could fall for a half-elf, she didn't seem to piss Sheena off like most half-elves in the past. "I think I understand. You love him enough that you're willing to share no public part of his life, and he loves you enough to help you in any way he can, without being seen. You know, it kind of reminds me of the relationship between people and guardian spirits. They truly care about us, but they can do nothing straightforward to show us this concern that they hold. So instead, they send small miracles throughout our lives to enjoy, and we will always remain grateful for it."

Silence reigned, as the three stayed in their awkward triangle. Julianna was quiet, now staring at the sand on the floor. Trevor was looking to Sheena, as Sheena was smiling, trying to comfort the two lovers never meant to be.

"You truly are a child of Mizuho," Trevor said finally. Sheena wondered if this man could have been the one to have written the note on the Chosen's ceiling.