Hello and welcome back to Heart, Soul and Sword. I apologize to any I've annoyed by my lateness, but I have simply had too many things to do and Fanfiction got sideboarded as a result.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Heart, Soul and Sword

Chapter II – Duel

It's about noon. Lloyd, Colette and I are on our way back to Iselia to get a few things in order before the Exsphere Purge (As I've begun to call it.) We haven't encountered any monsters, which is a good thing as well as a bad thing. The former because I am not very confident in my swordsmanship, fencing lessons at home aside, and a bad thing because flying on the Rheairds gets old a lot faster than you might think. Don't get me wrong, I love to fly and the Rheairds are cool and all, but I get bored really fast.

I amused myself by sketching new swords on a computerized tablet not unlike those tablet PC's that you can flip around and write on. (Rheaird on auto, by the way.) I had found it strapped across my back. I hadn't noticed before, but then again, I had been falling from the sky then, so sue me if I wasn't paying that much attention to my appearance at that moment.

Colette giggled, and I looked up from my work to see what was going on.

The two of them, (Lloyd and Colette) were flying and had apparently made eye contact. Colette was blushing, and I couldn't help but chuckle at their little "moment".

"Oh come on, get a room or something!" I said jokingly, laughing as they blushed.

We flew on.

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"So," I asked a short time later, "What is everyone else going to do? I don't think that it would take all eight of you…well, nine, counting me…to destroy the exspheres."

"Well, Dad is going to go back to Derris-Kharlan and jettison the exspheres there.." said Lloyd. I could see that it was bothering him that Kratos was leaving, so I didn't press the issue.

"When you say 'Dad', you mean the man with red hair and purple armor?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's Kratos." He said, nodding.

"Sheena, the ninja in purple, is going to go back to her village. She's supposed to become chief, and she needs to be with her people." Said Colette cheerily.

"And the silver-haired half-elves?" I asked, knowing full well.

"Genis and the Professor are going to travel the world and preach for an end to discrimination." Said Lloyd.

"Hm. In that case, I wish them luck. That is sorely needed by this world, but I know many aren't going to accept that. They're too prejudiced to change easily." I mused.

"Some people just can't seem to realize that there's more to people than their race. They can't see that not all half-elves are Desians. I hope they succeed." Said Lloyd.

"I've never felt that half-elves are inferior to humans in any way. There were several in my home village until…" I trailed off, the visions of destruction flashing through my head again. Strange that I have such intense feelings for things I know nearly nothing about…I suppose it's my "other self" reacting…this is very strange stuff, that's for sure.

"Until what, Rythiel?" asked Colette, concerned by my silence.

"My village was destroyed by Cruxis." I said, unexpected venom tainting my words.

"Oh…I'm so sorry," said Colette, her eyes downcast.

"That's all right, you don't have to be sorry." I said, "There's nothing you could have done."

Lloyd was looking off into the distance, a strange expression on his face.

The remainder of our journey passed in silence, broken only by the sound of engines.

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We arrived in Iselia around what I supposed was two o'clock. I couldn't tell time by the sun, and I didn't have a watch. Not that it mattered anyways. Lloyd and I stood together in the center of town, with Colette just left for her own house.

"Where are you staying, Rythiel?" asked Lloyd.

"I figured I'd get a room at the inn or something. I hadn't put much thought into it," I admitted, shrugging.

"Why don't you come and stay at my house?" he asked, "That way you won't have to spend any money, and we can plan for the journey."

"Sounds good to me, my friend!" I said. We hopped on the Rheairds and flew over the Iselia forest, landing in the clearing in his front yard. With a soft 'zloop' the Rheairds shrunk down into the wingpack, and we entered his house.

"Hey Dads, I'm home!" called Lloyd as he opened the door.

" 'Ello there, Lloyd!" said Dirk, turning away from his glowing forge. "Who's yer friend?"

"My name is Rythiel." I said. "Pleased to meet you at last."

"Me name's Dirk. And whaddya mean 'at last'?" he said.

"I've heard a lot about your skill as a smith and craftsman." I said.

"Thankee." He said, smiling, "He'll be stayin' here a couple days?" he asked Lloyd.

"Yes…he's going to accompany Colette and me on our next journey." Lloyd replied.

"Are you sure that is wise?" asked Kratos, appearing from nowhere behind me.

"AAAH!" I cried, falling forward in surprise. I stood up and dusted myself off. "Don't DO that!"

Kratos merely chuckled.

"What do you mean, Dad?" asked Lloyd.

"We just met him yesterday, and you have no knowledge of his skills. He might be more of a burden than a help." said Kratos.

I was miffed, but I also knew he could very well be right.

"What do you want to do? Duel me?" I asked sarcastically.

"Precisely." The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Oh." I said. Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap! I've got to duel Kratos! Fool! Look what you've gotten yourself into now!

"Let's go, Rythiel." He said, almost smirking. I swear, that guy can read minds!

We stepped outside and faced each other. Kratos was the epitome of calm, while I was on the verge of collapsing in terror.

Please, Exsphere, don't let me down now…

"Draw, and we'll begin." Said Kratos. He looked at me steadily, as if to gauge my worth.

Kratos unsheathed the Last Fencer, and I unhooked my Uchuubato. I cracked it in whip-mode once before solidified it into a three-and-a-half foot blade. Dropping into en garde, I readied myself for the onslaught.

Lloyd was apparently our referee. "Combatants ready…go!"

Kratos charged, quick as lightning. I was expecting his trademark Double Demon Fang, but I was wrong. He made a fast downward slash toward my head, which I blocked with a horizontal parry. The force behind it vibrated through the blade and shook my arm. I riposted toward his right side, but his sword was there faster than my eye could follow. His blade flashed to my exposed left arm, but I threw myself to the side and brought my blade up toward his leg as I slid along the ground. He countered easily, and then jumped back, his hands making casting motions. I reverted to whip form and slung the now seven-foot chain-whip at his head. With fluid grace, he slipped under it. I twisted the hilt, and the weighted whip curved in its flight and came at him from behind. It just skimmed his leg, ripping the fabric but not harming him.

"Grave!" he cried. The first spike thrust up, slicing a gash in my arm. I cried out, but reacted quickly enough to jump off the spire to avoid the coming four. As they erupted from the ground, I leapt at Kratos. My seven-foot whip became a seven-foot sword as I brought it down on him. He countered, but the force of the impact made him stagger slightly. I landed, breathing hard, and drew back the completely into the hilt. Relying on memories of Rythiel's travels, I concentrated. I envisioned a rushing stream, and then focused its power into the hilt of the weapon. A flowing blade of water surged from the hilt, its cohesive stream bending with my will. I charged.

"Water Style Technique! Waveblade!" I yelled, for reasons beyond me. Kratos moved to counter, but the water blade continued unhindered. I slashed across his torso, ripping through the purple armor and cutting a mild gash on his chest.

He grunted and swept his leg around, knocking my legs out from beneath me. I landed heavily on the grass, my weapon fell from my grasp as the air fled my lungs. In an eyeblink, Kratos had his foot on my chest and his swordpoint at my throat.

"Match over." He whispered. "You pass."

I fainted.

Well, there you have it. Chapter two. Please review, I really need some feedback on this story. I also need to warn you. I have a very busy two months ahead of me, so both my stories will be updating even more slowly than normal. Please understand before you complain, but this really can't be helped. I will continue to write and update as much as my limited schedule allows.

Thank you for understanding,

Zoray Zorial