Howdy! Before I start writing and telling you what I do and do not own I will answer some questions. It was pointed out to me that I sort of ignored Aonis. To be honest I forgot. I didn't think I'd have to go over game scripts until I reached Martel and Mithos… But never fear! I think I've come up with something, I do have an idea. I MUST MAKE UP FOR MY FAILURE. Also speaking of Martel and Mithos I was asked when they would finally make an appearance. I think I may have mentioned before that I'm going to make that in to another story. That way I can advertise it as adventure and such. To be more specific, I have planned out seven more chapters until this story ends and I move onto that one. This number is subject to change, depending on whether or not what I planned for each chapter is long enough or to long. On this same note if anyone has got good title ideas for this sequel thing feel free to make suggestions. I hate coming up with titles. I don't own Tales of Symphonia, if I did I wouldn't have forgotten about Aonis. Also I apologize for taking so long to update. I'm slogging through two research papers.
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As planned the boys began to sneak out to practice their magic. Every day they would stay late in the library and hide just before it closed. Since the dorms were all on the other side of the school that's where the halls were patrolled. Although Kratos was pretty sure that the school policy was that if you were skilled enough to sneak out then more power to you. Gettting back was just as easy, by the time they were done everyone else was in bed. Yuan had devoted himself to thunder heart and soul. No other magic seemed to interest him at all. Kratos was amazed that after all those years Yuan still looked up to his brother.
Kratos on the other hand had taken a different route. He practiced a wider variety spells. When he first started this it was by choice. He did want to command more then one element. But in just their second week of training he discovered that was all he could do. When Yuan asked him to try the spell Thunder Blade, Kratos discovered he couldn't. No matter how hard he tried nothing would happen.
" Heh, looks like only real half elves can do the strong magic," Yuan said proudly, giving Kratos a superior look.
" I…I…I… have a test tomorrow, let's get back I need to sleep," Kratos said.
" Yeah right! What's it on then," Yuan asked raising and eyebrow.
" How to defeat magic," Kratos answered crossly.
" Hmpphh…" Yuan grumbled, but he followed his friend anyway.
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One morning Kratos found himself in his training class far earlier than normal. He yawned sleepily and wondered what the school could have possibly deemed more important than science class. Despite his hatred of science he wished he were there. It was much easier to sleep in a desk then out on the training field. He and Yuan had been out particularly late the previous evening, as he had accidentally set Yuan's shirt on fire.
" Are we keeping you awake Aurion?" Kratos snapped immediately to attention as General Everard came over to him.
" Sorry sir!"
" Alright men," General Everard shouted, addressing his troop of boys, " Today we start something new. This is probably the most important thing you will be learning all year so pay attention." The general put out a hand dramatically and a slave behind him handed him a sword.
" Today you learn to use a sword. The sword is the human's greatest weapon. You must learn to wield one if you expect to survive in battle. Now I need a volunteer to help me demonstrate a few attacks." Many boys raised their hands eagerly. Ready to show the skills they had practiced with their fathers.
" Aurion, how about you?" Everard said holding another sword out to Kratos. Kratos stared up at Everard with terror in his eyes. Kratos had never held a sword in his life. However he gave his training master a determined glare and took the sword. It was heavy, as untrained as he was he knew the sword was to big for him. It was made for a full grown man, not someone his height. He walked alongside the general to the middle of the training field dragging the sword behind him. The two turned to face each other, and Kratos wondered briefly whether General Everard disliked him enough to kill him.
" Now men, this is how you swing a sword," The general swung his sword down in Kratos's direction. Part of Kratos knew Everard would stop the sword before it hit, part of him knew Everard would never harm his buddy's son, but the other part was terrified, the other part had to do something. Mustering all his strength Kratos swung the sword and intercepted Everard's swing with a mighty clang.
There was silence on the court all the boys stood waiting, Kratos watched Everard. What would he do, Kratos was sure he would be furious, but he instead he looked interested. Everard swung his sword again this time coming from the side, once again Kratos deflected. Again, and again and again, and every time Kratos felt a terrified anger rise in him and he defended himself.
" Well I'll be damned. Looks like your not so much of a wimp. Maybe you're not such a shame to your name after all. Alright men practice some basic swings. Follow after me. Kratos get with the group you've got to learn these too."
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" Yuan you'll never believe it,"
" Kratos, wait"
" Yuan, I'm good at something!"
" Hold up,"
" Something that involves moving!"
" I have to tell you something"
" I'm good with swords. Innate skill, I come by it naturally!"
" KRATOS LISTEN. I'VE GOT BAD NEWS!"
" What," Kratos asked sounding concerned.
" You got a letter from your dad. He's coming to visit," Yuan answered holding out a piece of paper.
" Why is that bad? He's gonna be so proud when he hears I'm good at swords!" Kratos said taking the letter into the bathroom to read as he brushed his teeth.
" Fat chance," Yuan said so that Kratos couldn't hear him. He watched his friend sadly, wondering what it would take for him friend to realize there was nothing he could do to make his father proud.
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The next few weeks before General Aurion's arrival passed in a tizzy. The entire school was a buzz, excited that such a hero was coming to their school. Yuan found himself wondering how they could like General Aurion so much and still ignore his son. Kratos however was far to busy to notice. Kratos had become obsessed with sword fighting. He practiced all day and then at night while Yuan practiced magic. He was exhausting himself.
The more Yuan watched Kratos the angrier he got. Kratos wasn't doing this for himself, Yuan was sure. Kratos, Kratos who loved reading enough to risk his life to spread the joy, was hardly reading. He had stopped doing his math homework entirely. All he did was train with the hope that his father would pay attention to him. Yuan found himself hating General Aurion for Kratos.
Eventually the day arrived and all the boys lined up outside to greet the soldiers who fought for them. General Aurion road on a horse followed by his soldiers all marching in lock step. The boys saluted him and General Aurion gave them an approving nod. He climbed of his horse to greet Everard with a clap on the back. Kratos tried desperately to get a look at his father but discovered he was far to short. He and the rest of the freshmen were the farthest back, behind their upperclassmen.
" Why don't you greet your future soldiers, Aurion," Everard said with a gesture to the boys. Kratos had to stop himself from responding, as he had become so use to responding to his last name.
" I will be here only briefly, but I hope to see a good group of soldiers. You are the future leaders of our armies, do not let me down!" General Aurion shouted and the boys cheered in response.
" Alright men, get back to your classes. My fellow General and I will be coming around to see you at work. You are all dismissed except for you Aurion, you stay." Everard ordered.
" I would think that was obvious," General Aurion said raising an eyebrow.
" No I mean the little one. Kratos!" Kratos hurried to comply. He walked over in his most dignified manner.
" Yes Sir?"
" I thought perhaps you'd like to see you son Aurion. Let's call it a parent teacher conference." General Aurion looked down at his son and then back at his coworker.
" Go on," was all he said. Kratos looked up at the adults curiously. It was awkward standing there watching them. He couldn't figure out their relationship. They seemed friendly at some points, but they also seemed to dislike one another. Everard, seemed to know that this would make General Aurion awkward. At the moment his father was glaring at Everard who was looking back with a sly smile.
" He's doing very well. His grades aren't bad, in fact his English, history, and strategy were very good up until late. But recently we've discovered he's quite good with swords. I know when I met him at your parties he didn't look like much. So I thought you'd like to know," Everard told him. General Aurion looked down at his son in mild surprise. He reached out a hand and patted him carefully on the head.
" Everard, there is something I need to tell you about. I have brought more then soldiers with me. I have a surprise to announce at dinner tonight. I want whatever press possible there. I want it in newspapers, pamphlets, and essays. There is a very important message I want to send to our enemies," General Aurion said suddenly to Everard. His teacher looked as surprised as Kratos felt.
" I'll be right on it," Everard responded with a quick nod, and hurried off leaving the to Aurions alone together. There was an awkward silence.
" I hope to see your grades back up," said the General and he exited in to the school building.
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Yuan talked excitedly to Kratos as they walked to the dining hall the afternoon. Kratos had spent all afternoon in the dorm, not saying much and never going to class. It had taken a long time for Yuan to break the silence, when he did however Kratos had had some interesting news.
" If it helps any, I think you look pretty cool with a sword," He had told his friend. It hadn't been hard to guess the reason for Kratos's mood. The human had immediately smiled, and thanked his friend.
" Oh, I completely forgot! My dad's going to announce something big at dinner tonight. He was telling Everard to get some journalists and stuff," He had piped up. From then till now the boys had been guessing what it could possibly be.
" I think it's has to be some top secret new weapon," Kratos said to Yuan.
" More likely he's found a way to solve his baldness problem," The half-elf answered with a straight face. Kratos failed at stifling a laugh.
The dining hall was bustling, there were many journalists ready to spread this news to the masses, and the students were watching them intently. The tables had been pushed closer to the walls and a little platform had been put up in the middle of the room. General Aurion stood on the platform looking rather pleased with the little buzz he had caused. Kratos looked sadly at his father and then sat at a nearby table. Yuan leaned against the wall, as there were no extra seats that night. When at last everyone had arrived General Aurion raised his hand for silence.
" Your school is very lucky. In the next week you will get to witness many exciting things. The human army has acquired some rather interesting things recently. Most of them have been already been handled, however two remain. Bring them out boys!" General Aurion said grandly. As Kratos mused over the fact that Everard called his boys men, and General Aurion called his men boys, he was jerked from his thoughts.
Two soldiers were bringing out a half-elf. Nearly everyone in the hall began jeering, but Kratos couldn't even take his eyes of the man. He walked with dignity, as if somehow resigned to this fate, and yet refusing to give Aurion the pleasure of his anger. He had piercing eyes and he set them on General Aurion the entire time.
" This is a so-called general of the half-elf army. Although no such an army can be so organized as to have generals. He has caused us a great deal of trouble but we have him at last. You students will have the pleasure of watching his public execution at the end of the week. I hope you all enjoy it."
There was a roar from the crowd. Boys were stomping their feet and whooping, journalists were writing hurriedly on slips of paper. Kratos felt strange in the crowd, as if he had become so distant from them that he could no longer understand the way they thought.
" But boys that isn't the most exciting thing for you. On the day before "The Generals" execution there will be a tournament of swords," General Aurion smiled as his crowd broke into new cheers. " Not yet boys you haven't even seen the prize yet." Immediately the boys shut up.
Behind General Aurion came two more soldiers carrying between them a massive weapon. It was a double-bladed weapon, large and threatening looking. The half-elf on stage turned away from it.
" This belonged to " The General's" friend. Poor soul fought bravely for his officer. Unfortunately he didn't quite make it," General Aurion laughed as he finished speaking. The boys cheered again laughing along with their hero.
" Don't you dare laugh at him. You scum! You'll never be half the man he was!" The half-elf shouted. Aurion smacked him with the side of his blade, and the malnourished prisoner fell.
" Take him away," He said glaring. The boys cheered, and immediately went to their dinners. Talking and laughing joyously with one another. Kratos couldn't take it anymore. He got up and left. Out in the hallway he turned around and found himself facing a pale looking Yuan.
" Are you alright? Yuan what's wrong?"
" That weapon, it's my brother's."
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Was that a lame way of making up for my failure? I don't want to use aonis or anything until Martel and Mithos show up, but Kratos ahs to teach Mithos. So he had to already now some magic. Mastery can come with the rock. It's like the demo version of a computer program. Please give me a break. I mean Sheena says she can summon because she must have had some elves way back in her family tree. She says that on the Sheena path right, RIGHT? Okay I'll stop obsessing over this, just gotta tread carefully from here on out. Oh, yeah does anyone no what Yuan's weapon is called. I saw somewhere that it's called a swallow, but I don't know.
