A Heroes Tale
A History of the Kharlan War
Translated by Raine and Genis Sage.
Commentary: Everyone Else
( Genis says " Yeah Sis and I do all the work, and they get to have all the fun, typical")
I do not own TOS all characters are the property of NAMCO
I unfortunately don't have this stuff on hard copy so if some of the months and years change please forgive me.
Thank all reviewers for your comments. Remember this is only a translation of ancient texts. The Kratos of the modern TOS is I think a very much different person from the idealistic young man that he had to have been to undertake that original journey with Martel, Yuan and Mithos.( The Kharlan War was equivalent to our WW2, and half elves were persecuted severely, If Kratos was a typical mercenary he would not have taken on 3 half elf children in the middle of a war. He could have landed in jail, or worse for harboring half elves.) It was Martel who held the three males together on that first journey much as, Collette was the binding force on the journey 4,000 years later. When Martel died Mithos, Yuan, and Kratos lost that part of them that was able to hope for a better future, or to implement their old dreams.( Of course their Cruxis Crystals helped this process as well.) I think that Kratos, only began to heal from that loss when he met Anna, and they had Lloyd. Yuan healed when he realized that Mithos' dream of reviving Martel was doomed to failure, and he started the Renegades .I don't think Mithos had a chance, I think that in truth he was dead from the minute his sister died. It was only his body that died at the end of the game.
After the Reunion of the Worlds: 7923
Lloyd: Dad what were you like when you were younger?
Kratos: "I was a lot like you but, remember that I had already fought in a war, and seen friends die horribly. By the time I was your age I had already lost 2 older brothers, and all of my friends in the Kharlan War. I didn't find new friends until I met three half elf children in the elven village of Heimdall. Why don't you read the diary Professor Sage and Genis are translating. Let Mithos' words tell you what I was like then."
Lloyd: "Aww Dad why do you and Raine make me read books all the time? I hate reading. ….."
Kratos: "Because, Mithos, Yuan, and Martel knew me better back then, than I knew myself. Read the diary Lloyd."
Lloyd: "Any other time you, and the professor would be totally ticked that I read someone else's diary. "
Kratos: "You keep a diary (bemused eyebrow lift) Humphh, I didn't think that you could write that well."
Lloyd: (Aims pillow at Kratos)" Daaad I'm not stupid !"
Kratos: " :Lloyd I don't think you are stupid. You just have never struck me as a person who expresses their self in words. "
Lloyd: "I actually started keeping one after Collette and I got married. I don't want to forget anything if anything tragic happens to Collette, or the kids. Like with you and mom. "
Raine: "Lloyd you used tragic properly in a sentence I am so proud of you."
Kratos: " Lloyd the world is a different place now I do not think that you need fear for losing Collette in the same way as I feared losing your mother. She does after bear a Cruxis Crystal, as do you , Your children have inherited all of the angelic powers that the two of you possess. Don't worry son"
Lloyd: Okay Dad, I know that it will be all right.
Chapter 3: Efreet, The First Pact
Mayna 6, 3923
Today we are leaving to make my first pact. The pact with Efreet the summon spirit of fire. I am kind of afraid. What if I cannot survive the test. Sis insisted on bringing Yuan with us. I am happy they are engaged but does he have to go everywhere with us. Sis says it is because we will need a experienced Warlock with us. Well if that is Yuan than I am a dwarf. Kratos is coming along as our bodyguard. As a generals' son he has diplomatic immunity in all the lands of Mana. So, he will be able to protect us from physical attacks without all of us landing in a work camp, or experimental lab. ( Kratos " Those were terrible places where they took all prisoners of war e.g. whoever whatever country you were in disliked that week, and performed terrible experiments on them. Little did we know that the research they were doing would lead to Cruxis.) I think this is going to be interesting. I have never seen the desert.( I still hate it though) Yuan says it is really hot, and I will be bored after five minutes just like I was with my art lessons. I don't care if he approves or not. We will need lots of power if we are gong to stop the War, and save the tree. The only powers left like that are the Summon Spirits. Martel says that they are Mana itself, and that if the Tree dies without blossoming they will die to. I think that is so sad. I wish Mommy and Father could be in Triet to see me make the oath of the pact. Sis says that they probably are watching but I don't know if there is anything after you die. Maybe you are just dead.
Mayna 9th 3923 On the Road
It has been three hard days journey from Heimdall to the Port at Altamira. From here we will take ship to Izzoold in the land of Sylvarant. Kratos has alternate identities set up for us since the discrimination against half elves is much worse in Sylvarant than in Tethe"Allla. I am his apprentice Toad (Ugghh how I hate that name.) Yuan is his loyal manservant( he doesn't cook or iron clothes but Kratos says that is beside the point). Martel is his doxy ( Whatever that is ) I think Altamira is so cool . Kratos paid for all of us to attend a play yesterday. It was a mystery involving the Katz Explorers, and a Missing fishing boat. Even with all that is going on Kratos, and Yuan still want me to practice both my magical skills, and my swordsmanship. Kratos says my offensive techniques still need refining, and my defense is weak.( Lloyd says " I think this sounds familiar, Kratos really needs to refine his teaching methods, and work on his delivery. He hasn't changed his lecture in 4,004 years, and it's a little old.") Yuan taught me to use Icicle, and Tornado yesterday, and made me practice until I collapsed. Sis yelled, and Kratos looked at her and said that if she was going to leave my weapons training, and magical training to him, and Yuan than she had lost the right to say anything about how they taught me. He also said that he did not send people out into battle without the ability to protect themselves. That it was unfair for Sis to expect him, or Yuan to grieve any less if I died fighting Efreet since I had to fight him in order to win the right of pact. I was very mad at Kratos for saying that, and wanted to yell at him, and tell him that he was an unfeeling jerk for making Sis cry but, Yuan held me back, and told me that Kratos may not have been all that tactful, but it was something Sis needed to hear. I guess he is right. If we are going to make pacts with all of the Summon Spirits, and use their power to stop the War than we have to face the reality of death. If I can't protect myself I make the others weaker because they have to take care of me. I may be a child but, this war has made it so we all have to grow up way to fast. Sis tries to protect me too much, and if she does that it will make us a liability when it comes to fights. I need to protect both of us by becoming a better fighter. Sometimes you have to fight to protect what you believe in. I believe in peace, and people not hating each other.
Mayna 11th 3023
Well we finally reached Izzoold . The sea voyage was terrible. There was a storm because of all the changes in the mana flows. Martel became terribly sick, and Yuan spent most of the voyage taking care of her. I like boats. The first thing I did was ask the captain to show me how the boat worked. It is so cool. This boat operates using mana to power the engine. He showed me the engine room, and everything. I got to go up on the crows nest, and you could see almost all the way to Sylvarant. The captain doesn't ate half elves. He is a friend of Kratos' from school. I have a lesson from Yuan in an hour on dealing with creatures that relate to the element of fire. Phoenixes are really scary but, cool. Sis is just worried that I will get burned but, Yuan says there is a gel that I can put on my skin to protect me from fire. He says Kratos will go out to the shops and see if they have any later this afternoon. We can't really go out because people might notice we are half elves. It is not so noticeable in my features but, Sis and Yuan have obviously elven features, and would be in extreme danger. Sylvarant is worse than Tethe' Alla when it comes to discriminating against half elves. They use us to perform scientific experiments on. It is so mean. Kratos says that he will give me my next weapons lesson as soon as we get out of town. Sis says that I will probably get more experience fighting monsters anyways. The monsters have gotten worse due to the mana shortages. Sis knows this because as a Mana Guardian her life force is tied to that of the Great Tree. She says that one good thing has happened. The Great Tree is growing a seed. It will be ready in about four years. If we are lucky we can pact with all of the summon spirits, and stop the War by then so that the knew tree will not die as a seedling because there is no love in the world. I hope we can do it . With Sis having her life bound to the Tree if we fail, and the seed dies she will die with it .
Mayna 13th 3923
We are traveling on the path from Izoold to the Triet Desert. Kratos says that we must stay cloaked until we are off this path . There is a mine that uses half elf slaves, and if we are captured we will be used as slaves in the mines till we die . I am scared I don't want anything to happen to my sister. Kratos says we will be having a cold camp until Triet. This is because there are wandering groups of bandits in the area. They assume if you have enough mana to start a fire that you will have money as well. Beef jerky for dinner again, better than Sis's cooking I guess. Kratos says that Sis and I need to sleep close. The desert gets cold at night, and since we can't have a fire body heat will be the only thing keeping us warm.
Kratos says that there is a skeleton warrior up the pass a little ways that should prove a good test of how far both my magical, and weapons skills have come since I started them. I think I need a new kendama though. My old one is now weaker than my magical skills, and will fail me if we get caught up in a fight. Kratos says that I do not need the kendama to focus my magic, but I find my kendama to be amusing so I will continue to use it.( Kratos 7923" Mithos had not yet learned to focus his magic through the power of his will alone. Also, his father had purchased the kendama, and there were sentimental attachments involved in whether or not he used a kendama or not.") Besides my Father gave it to me for my birthday before he dies. I won't give it up, won't, won't, won't.
Mayna 14th 3923
That skull monster was so cool. He dropped something after we defeated him called the Yata Mirror. Kratos says that it will help raise our defense if someone wears it. We made it through the Ossa Trail. Why or why did we have to do this during the early summer? Kratos says we will be able to set up a fire at the camp tonight. He says he will make us some beef stew. No tomatoes of course, Kratos hates tomatoes. I am so hungry I could eat a horse ( "We actually did eat horse a couple of times on that Journey, Martel hated it , of course she didn't like meat much anyways. She had a tender heart when it came to animals." Yuan 7923) Kratos says not to worry, I won't have to eat horse. This stew will in fact have beef in it. Sis is giving me that look that says I have stayed up way to late writing in my diary, and need to go to sleep. She carries a healers staff now, and it really hurts when she hits you over the head with it. I am going to sleep now. Mommy, Father wherever you are I love you.
Mayna 15th 3923
Shopping in Triet. This town has more shops than Izoold. Kratos wishes to take me out and buy me a new sword since all I brought with me other than my kendama are my wooden practice swords. They just won't do against Efreet. Yuan has disappeared muttering something about a customizer, and an engagement ring for Martel. Sis has gone shopping she says she needs to renew her supply of gels, and to by clothes more suited to the deserts instead of the forests. Girls really like shopping for some strange reason. I only go when I am forced to (e.g. all my clothes don't fit. Maybe I will see if there are some other kids to play with. Kratos says that this town has a high half elf population and it should be safe for me to play outside for awhile. Sis will recruit me to shop if I don't escape soon. I'd rather eat bugs.
I got caught trying to play outside by Sis. She is making me shop, and says that I too need new clothes. I hate shopping I yell at Sis. Oww I got smacked. She says I can play with the other half elf kids tonight after supper if I behave. Kratos is going with us, and we will stop at the weapons shop on the way to the armor and clothing shop to get my sword. I want some new books to. I ran out of stuff to read half way to Izoold. I want a new mystery novel. Perhaps one by Devor Karvathon. He writes really good books for boys my age.
Cool I got a new sword. Kratos calls it a Hydra Dagger. Yuan says that since Undine, and Efreet are opposites it should work well in the battle against him. You should see the ring he got sis. It is braided mythril, and gold, and has roses engraved on with their initials intertwined. He spent every gald he had on Sis's engagement ring. It made her so happy she even kissed him in public, and that usually are not that affectionate in front of strangers. I think I can trust him now to take care of her although he is still obnoxious to me sometimes. Kratos says that the reason for that is Yuan's being an only child. He is not used to children younger than himself. ( Yuan speaks " Martel was always better dealing with Mithos than either Kratos or I. We all did the best we could however to insure that Mithos had as much of a normal childhood as was possible under the circumstances."7923)
I made a new friend. Her name is Kai, and she is half elven to. I asked Kratos if we could bring her with us since she has no parents, and no where to go. She is really pretty. She has blue hair a shade or two lighter than Yuan's, and silver eyes. She is really smart and knows a lot about the monsters around here. Kratos says he will think about it, and in the meantime she can stay with us. She does not fight very well so Kratos says even if we do bring her back to Heimdall with us that she may not make the trip to Efreets' lair with us. It is to dangerous.
Mayna 16th 3923
This morning Kratos woke us up very early. The innkeeper told him that the Sylvarant Army was on the way to round up all the half elves in town. He had a hiding place for us in his basement in some secret tunnels. We hid and hid all day. We could hear a lot of screaming, and the sound of weapons going off. Kratos went out this afternoon to look for Kai, and he found her body at the town morgue. She had been beaten to death, and then dismembered. I hate the humans that did that too my friends. When I have the power to command all the Summon Spirits they will pay. She was my first real friend, and we would have had her safe in Heimdall in only a few days. It is so unfair.
Mayna 17th 3923
It is time for me to make my first pact. I am really scared but Kratos says that if I am in any real danger he will move in to defend me. Sis , and Yuan will be at the back spell casting. I am to use my sword primarily because my magic is fire and light based, and will have little effect on Efreet.
6:00 p.m.
I did it I made the pact with Efreet. We finally defeated him when he went to attack Sis, and Yuan went crazy casting water based spells at him. I hit about 50 times with my Hydra dagger, and Sis had to use so many life bottles on Kratos it wasn't funny. For such and expert swordsman he doesn't hold back much in battle. When it was over Efreet looked at me and told me to make my pact. I looked at him and said that I wished to use his power to create a world where there was no more war, and the Kharlan Tree could grow strong and have all the love it needed. To create a world with less discrimination so that half elves like Kai did not have to die because they were blamed for all of the bad things that happened in the world. A world where half elves would not be forced to choose one heritage over the other. If it kills me I will do this for Kai, for Mommy and Father , for Sis, and for everyone who has suffered because of this stupid war. Sis is calling me , She has been working on healing everyone's burns, and it is my turn now. I am glad because it hurts a lot. Tomorrow we head up the Ossa Trail, and back to Heimdall from Izoold.