Shards of Regneration

by Kasan Soulblade

Religion is a panel of fine stain glass window, but when that glass is broken it is among the shards that you must look. Each shard is a soul, and if you put them all together perhaps the truth will be seen and all illusions lifted.

8. variations

To my readers:

Sorry to leave you guys waiting so long, class, ect. has kept me busy. I hope this chapter makes up for the wait, lots of Kratos, so Kratos fans rejoice! I'm enjoying writing the sparing scenes, so expect a lot of them in this fic from here on out. There's another not-iin-game- ceilbration, a little more illaberation on the "code" and a few scenes inspired by a reviewers ccomment on my story DES. Anyways the 'way' the wings appear is significant for later chapters, it's a bit out of game but it links up a little with the DES story line. This chapter spans from the Angelic visitation to the very begining of the Ossa Trail, don't worry they actually will make it to Ossa... sometime in the chapter... it'll happen even if I have to have Kratos tie them on Noishe and drag them there... But be warned the events in Ossa will only be covered in part in this chapter, the other half will be the begining of the next chapter. As always I tweeked the Ossa scene a little, oh and I established a huge part of Colette's character in thie chapter (in reguards to her intellegence). Thanks to everyone who reads and double that thanks to anyone who reviews.

Kasan Soulblade

Reveiwer responses:

MoonCannon: Yeah, Lloyd is dead... Think of the training scene as Kratos payback on Lloyd.

Melody of Shadow: Thanks, I hope you find it worth the wait :)

FallenStarAngel: So I'm not alone in hating those boxes too! I plan on doing all the boxes, the skeleton warriors (though I will need to actually beat the one in Ossa so I can fight the others lol) and every side quest I can fit in this fic. I'm tossing around the idea of having the next box lure Zelos in with ummm pictures that he would really like... maybe have it slurp at his hair like spigettie? Anyway it's just ideas I have floating around that I'm going to try to use but the other characters are a looong way off from joining so it'll have to wait.

As for the Sage sibblings I based that off of myself. I'm a bibliophile(sp) and I imagine I'd fall for the box's ploy myself.

Thanks for your comments, and lots of added on scenes in this chapter, enjoy.

GameCubeGirl1: I don't start exactly where they wake up (I did that to avoid having to write down Remiel's speach word for word) so you wont see exactly what happens, but there should be enough Lloyd and Kratos interaction to please you.

MizzDarkness: He is... Kratos is that old... ouch I really need to find my handbook if I missed something that obvious... Yeah you aren't the only one asking for an update, not that I mind or anything, I'm going to try to get another chapter up before the second half of my summer classes start up, I haven't exactly found the right wavelength with my writing yet so it's going along a little slower then I'd like it to.

This may surprise you (then again it may not) I have detailed notes for all of the regeneration journey and some sketchy ones for the stuff that happens after. I also have all of the scenes with the final boss and the games ending... plus a 'true' ending that isn't as open ended. If I have time I may write a post game story concerning a prophecy that I'm going to be talking about in the River fiction(I haven't gotten around to updating that fic so it's not on this site yet) ... So it's going to got beyond the scope of the game (as far as I can get away with anyways) So no fears there is more to come.

InuKratosStan: Yeah I don't like annominous reviews, mainly because if a reveiwer asks a question that I can't answer without spoiling the game I can e-mail them the answer. Don't worry about the romance, it will be a little mushy, but not so much as I've seen in other fics. I am a very strong believer in realistic romance/love stories though I amdit the sweetness of both Colette and Lloyd will make clinging to that realism a little harder. They will have a full fleashed out relasionship, they wont just blindly dote on each other, and there will be a full three demension to thier relationship (ups and downs) ect. At least that's how I have it planned, you can tell me how I did when I'm done with the fic. :)

StarRibbon: NO it will NOT be a Kratos Raine fic... Kratos is far too... Damn can't go into that it will spoil the story. Let's just say that due to Kratos' history there is no way he is going to court someone. People, even those that hate each other can admire there foes physically, though that example is a little extream for Kratos and Raine's example... I think the terms of thier relationship will be a grudging friendship, or aquantinceship, and nothing more then that.

PaygeV: Read StarRibbon's review to know my stance on Kratos Rainve fics... And thank you for the praise, it all comes with tons and tons of practice. (That and playing the game so many times I have the synopsis memorized and am trying to fufill my monster list and get every title as ArchNavy would say I need to apply for a new life lol) I'll do my best to keep up the quality.

N1H0nJ1n: Can I say that your pen name is a pain in the tail to type? No offense or anything btw could you tell me in your next review if the "letter" by the H is a zero of a O, I can't tell with this font. Anyways, thank you for the praise, this fic is (in part) an attempt for me to polish up on my fighting scenes, I guess it's working! Thank you for the praise on keeping in the characters canon character... I swear every time I play and see my fic straying outside the bounds of the game I start nibbling my nails wondering if I am being loyal to the original ideas behind the game. It's nice to know I have yet to step too far out of bounds with the characters.

Serrated Darkness: Professional... trust me I'm not that good, check David Eddings, Mercedes Lackey, Maragaret Weis, or RA Salvatore, if you want really good writing! I will e-mail you your answers to your questions -it would spoil it for those not yet finished with the game- if I don't get to you in two days contact me via my e-mail because that means for some reaosn or another my account wont let the letters get through. I will say this however half of my skill comes from reading other peoples work (not those 'how to write books' the only one of those I've actually gained anything from was the "Rivian Codex" which was just a published reme of the authors world building notes) and the last half was from practice and comparing myself to several of my favorite authors.

Ms. Koon(e-mail reviewer): I finally used your "twig" and sword suggestion, thank you it helped make the back bone of this chapter.

Now on with the story!

Angles wings

Chapter 8

The peace of heaven seemed to pool around him much like those blue robes. The only other color besides blue on him was a spring green of his cleric's hat and the length of silk that hung around his shoulders as a symbolic yoke that he bore to better shoulder the burdens of being a guardian. He was her guardian, his golden hair that framed his blue eyes and that warm open face that looked so much like her own. He was still, so still, the only motion that came from him was his swan like wings of ghostly white. He smiled at her and she shyly smiled back and his wings gently fanned them both. His words were soft, those of love spoken between a father and child, yet there was something about his eyes that scared her a little bit. She shook off the feeling, she was unworthy for feeling doubt, fear, she forced those feelings back and waited patently. Light gathered in his hands, cold white light, like sun off of snow. It caught in his sky blue eyes, and he smiled a soft tender smile as that light surrounded him in a halo. She did her best not to squeak as her feet left the floor, as his power, the power of the angels lifted her from the floor. She stood on empty air, his wings brushed against her with every slow flap, and funny as it was they tickled a little bit. He reached out, the sleeve of his robe brushed against her face as his fingers gently traced a cross upon her fore head. Then he bent, kissed her between the eyes.

"I bestow the mark of Cruxis upon you my beloved daughter."

And though it was a whisper, it carried around the room, made the very shadows of the chamber shrink back from his light. That light that reached out with gentle hands and enveloped her. She shivered under his and the aura's touch, it was cold so cold... Was heaven this cold, this place of winter? She saw him frown ever so slightly, and she fought to control her shivers, fought to hide the pain the light was causing, and he smiled at her then.

He released her and with his touch the light disappeared as well. She felt a sharp pain in her back, a sharp stabbing pain that spread ice all through her veins and she gasped in response to these sensations.

She had this moment of disorientation as the world bobbed a bit, as she bobbed a bit in the air and for one second she was confused and a little scared.

Soft wings of pink brushed against his snowy white...

Her wings, those pink wings were hers...

"I await you at the next seal my Colette."

And with one last smile, a shockingly fierce gesture that put images of that cold light in her mind, he disappeared with a rain of white feathers.

Xxx xxx xxx xxx

He was made of light and feathers, a ghost with empty eyes. He smiled, brushed his lips against Colette and then came the light. It was supposed to be holy, beautiful, sacred, and he was supposed to be feeling these things. Certainly Raine and Genis looked awed, looked as if they were feeling these things.

Yet he couldn't, no didn't feel that at all. Had the iron tight grip on his arm let go for a second he would have ran and would not have stopped for anything in the world. All he could see was the red, the light, the dream. He shivered, was not ashamed of his fear as he lay in it's grasp. Later he'd think himself a coward, an idiot, not now though. He watched in horror as the white light wrapped around Colette, a horror he could explain and couldn't. He stared at the white light that had bits of all other colors around it's edges, he stared till his eyes watered and his head felt funny, he stared long after Raine and Genis had shielded their eyes and looked away. He wanted to look away but could not, would not abandon Colette, not to the light. Three orbs of soft pink light whispered around where he thought Colette was, all he could see now was the white and a shadow in that light. Faster and faster those orbs of pink flew, unraveling in their flight like balls of string under a cat's paw. The light faded and for one moment the pink light hung about Colette like a mist, then the mist swirled, stirred to a wind that did not touch Colette's clothes, that defied the wing beats of the green clad angel. The mist gathered, turned into six threads that spun around Colette then hesitated around her back. He watched as those threads thickened, they then shivered, twitched, and with a purpose that was unnerving slid through the air to hover an inch above Colette's tunic. His mouth went dry as the ends facing Colette's back thinned, grew sharp points, and the hand on his arm tightened. He managed not to cry out when those points dug into Colette's back, he managed not to get sick as red stained Colette's tunic, but had he not been supported by Kratos he would have collapsed when the pink light began to dig it's way into his oldest friend's flesh like a wolf ripping at it's prey. Then mercifully there was another flash of light and he could see nothing but dots in his vision. When his vision cleared Colette was alone, and with a grace of a feather drifting from the sky she landed on the stone floor. Her wings were the pink of sunset touching clouds, stars seemed to fall between the soft looking feathers. She smiled at them, did not notice the blood, did not seem to feel pain.

He was released, and he managed to make a smile pull on his lips. He was saved from having to say anything though, for Genis with a awe filled gasp ran to Colette and proving true to his blood showered her with questions.

Had they noticed the blood, no... Raine would have shown concern Genis would have signaled him, neither had done so, so they must not have seen the blood. He rubbed his arm, and looked to Kratos, good luck trying to figure what the guy was thinking, Lloyd could not breech the icy walls that covered the man's eyes.

"Thanks..." Lloyd flexed his fingers and hoped the tingling would die down.

Kratos only gave him a long brooding look and nodded. Lloyd watched with concern as Genis and Colette played with those pink wings, Genis laughed, hopping up and down in giddy joy as the wings fanned him and disappeared and reappeared in flashes of soft golden light. Colette, happy to make Genis so happy, smiled. They both were lost in their play, acting like children and had Lloyd not seen the blood he would have probably been right there with Genis. But the horror of what he had seen would not leave him, the horror made him for a short span a distant ghost of himself. So he stayed with Raine and Kratos as their conversation floated around him but did not touch him, and in his minds eye he could see those strands of pink dig into Colette's back like snakes burrowing into the sand. He shivered, and watched his closest friends play and was just grateful for the fact that the wings now did not seem to be hurting Colette, they seemed to be little more then mist and light. But on the other hand they only existed for a few seconds, winking in and out of existence with such speed maybe they did not have the time to turn solid and hurt Colette. He closed his eyes, shivered, and turned to the two adults.

"So then we're headed back to the city?"

"Yes," Raine was giving him a funny look, like she might now be noticing how pale he was. "That's the plan."

"Alright." Lloyd tried to shove his fear and horror down into that place he stuffed all his tears, and managed to do so. A slight smile, less shadowed then the first touched his lips. He asked about the sea, showed some enthusiasm about going by boat, yet both of them were frowning at him. Raine looked like she was going to ask him something Kratos' mouth opened looking like he was going to beat her to it...

He brushed past both adults, called out to Genis and Colette, and with a sigh they ceased their play and they went to the disk, their first step in leaving the temple… And had he been more aware, hadn't been trying to hide from his own thoughts, Lloyd would have heard the muttered word in elvish. He would have seen the slight rolling of Kratos' shoulders that so ill fit their conversation of supplies. Had he been thinking he would have seen the stiff nod on Raine's part, picked up the quick two taps of her staff on the stone and known then that they were talking about something that they did not wish him to know of.

But he didn't see, and didn't really care that Raine began to hover about him with poorly veiled concern. He failed to notice that Kratos picked up his pace and struck up a conversation with Colette about some obscure writ of Martel with a interested zeal so unlike him it would have made Lloyd blink had he seen it. Even Genis didn't see, so wound up by everything that had happened he missed all the hints in his exhaustion.

They had a code, a code within a code. Each person knew only a bit of the code, words for other people, signs for everyone else and each had covert signs for the others that they shared with only one other, but there were some signs Raine had not shared with her pupils, she had spent the long watch with Kratos teaching him some of those signs, had worked out a sketchy communication system between the two of them because both adults knew their charges very well. They knew that Colette would hide things and while Lloyd often grumbled about it he too was guilty of doing the same thing. Neither adult was so dense as to miss the shadows that seemed to gather in the brown black eyes of the young swordsman, nor did they miss the small wet lines along Colette's back.

Xxx xxx xxx xxx

Cold, so pale, it looked like ice, so cold it could have been part of an ice sculpture. Yet ice did not have a pulse, did not moan softly in pain, nor did it shake under her hands like Colette did. She held Colette, the child's small form rested against her, spasoming as the alien power ran through the fragile Chosen. Colette cried out in pain, a soft little mewing sound, and Raine held the girl tighter, as if in hope her touch would banish the chill. Perhaps it did, Colette sighed, and Raine could feel the shivering stop, could feel it die down. She looked up from her lone watch, she should have been keeping an eye out for bandit and monster but Colette's pained cries had made Raine forsake the world for a moment and hold her student while the pain of becoming an Angel fell upon her.

They were doing this to save the world, that's what she had told her pupils. Colette had said much the same thing, and together saying that line over and over they had managed to sooth Genis' fear, had persuaded Lloyd to swallow his anger. Lloyd had been angry, of all the responses Raine would have expected him anger was not one of them. She could have easily seen him as being paralyzed by fear of or for Colette's sickness, she could see him concerned, by his friends side to help in anyway he could. And yes, he had been all these things, Raine had to pry him away from Colette so that the poor girl could have some privacy. Yet underneath it there had been an anger, a frustration. Lloyd had managed to keep it caged in until Colette and Genis had supposedly fallen asleep, and then he had exploded. One sharp word from Raine had persuaded Lloyd not to yell, but he still did growl his doubts, his anger, at them, at the air, and through it all Colette had slept. Or rather she had faked sleep, for later that night when Colette had been in Raine's care she had cried, had leaned on the professor's orange tunic and cried in pain at Lloyd's total lack of faith.

"It's wrong, doesn't it feel off, weird, that she has to go through this!"

"Lloyd, hush, you'll wake her up!"

Gritting his teeth the fiery swordsman in properly colored garb sat, struggled with himself.

"It's hurting her, her own father's hurting her.

"It's part of her trial, her test..." Raine said in her most soothing and authoritive tone years of teaching had taught her how to use. "She knew it wasn't going to be easy, that there would be trials. This is one of those trials."

"It's not right." The boy huffed, starring at the fire that bathed his face in red.

"How so?" Raine countered, if she could keep Lloyd focused on the facts instead of his normal wild passion maybe, just maybe, she could see what was wrong and fix it. "How is it any different then a test a parent gives a child?"

"Parents don't hurt their children." Lloyd whispered, his face bathed in red light. "That angel hurt Colette..."

"Her father." Raine corrected, "he did not hurt her, he merely began the process that will turn Colette into what he is."

"Doesn't she have some sort of say in this!" Lloyd snapped, a black gloved hand on his shoulder kept him from standing.

"What choice is that? Stay as she is or let the world die, those are a very poor set of options. What person has the right to put themselves before the lives of every person that is ever will be before themselves, what kind of person would make the decision that they are more important then future of a world?

"It's not right!"

"It's reality." Kratos' voice was calm, cold, and that ice in his tone was caught in his eyes. "Ideals do not shape reality Lloyd. No matter how pure the thought, the intent, they do not allow you to escape consequence. I thought Iselia taught you that."

Lloyd had flinched and Raine had glared daggers at the man. He ignored them both, shifted around in his numerous bandages, then with a slow and obviously painful effort Kratos set up his blankets. Lloyd said nothing, his eyes were distant seeing none of them. Perhaps he was seeing Iselia in flames perhaps some other horror he had glimpsed at the camp.

"Kratos, you're right. It is reality, but I still don't like it."

"That's the thing about reality, like it or not it is as it will be." The older man sighed, tried to find some comfort under the blankets, and closed his eyes telling them without words he had nothing more to say to them for the night.

"He's not fully right Lloyd." Raine said to her dejected pupil. It was the first time in Riane's memory that there wasn't a smile or hope in his eyes. She wanted to know suddenly what he had seen and to take that sight away so that the pain on his normaly carefree face would fade away. And yet she couldn't take that pain away, it was part of growing up, they all had to face it sometime. "Ideals wont shield you from the consequence of your actions, but they have guilded some of the heros of Sylvarant like Mithos for example. They kept the ideals and the consequences of those ideals in mind and let them guild them to do acts of great good."

"The consequences of ideals... ideals..." Lloyd frowned, then looked up at her with somber brown eyes. "I promise I'll think about it..."

"Not tonight though, you need to sleep."

"Yes Auntie Sage..." Lloyd grinned at her, bringing back too her mind the young boy who was always late to her class, who would sleep standing with two buckets in his hands. "Wake me for next watch, or if Colette gets sicker or something..."

"She's not sick, her body is just adjusting to the angelic transformation."

Lloyd gave her a long unbelieving look, and suddenly a thought came to Raine, one she never would have expected.

"Lloyd, do you believe in any of this, in Martel, in the Angels, the ancient writings?" He shook his head and Raine frowned. "but you've seen Angels, for the Goddess sake your friends with Colette, the Chosen!"

"It's what she believes Professor, it's what she, you, and Genis, worship... I don't worship them, I don't have a choice in believing in them now that I've seen them and stuff, but how I feel about... that's different."

To Colette, whose life was her faith Lloyd's words had hurt her as nothing else could. Sighing Raine stroked Colette's hair, glad that the transformation's more deadly stages were running the tail end of thier course. She was just a little cold now, and the shivering had died an hour ago. The teacher looked up, at the stars, and more improtantly at the moon. A yawn nearly cracked her jaws, and absently she covered it with the back of her hand to spare the world the sight of all her teeth.

"Excuse me," She muttered, habit and manners made her say those words. With a sleepy grin she considered her delima, she could not get up without waking Colette, for the girl had pillowed her head on her mentor's lap and was snuggled against the teacher like a kitten. Yet someone was needed for next watch... Careful, slow, so not to wake the blonde child Raine picked up her staff and stretching both arm and wood she reached futily across the clearing to poke Lloyd. The boy had thoughlessly set himself by her dog, they were a tangle of paws and arms, a mess of fur and hair, convenetly just out of reach. If Lloyd would have favored the color green she would not for the life of her been able to tell where one started and the other ended in that tangle. While Genis and Kratos were in reach it seemed too cruel to wake them, they both were hurt, tired. Yet her only option was napping just a hairs width out of reach. Muttering a word that if she had heard any of her pupils use would have lead to a steady diet of soap for a month Raine snagged her packs with her ash covered staff. The wood served her well enough, she was able to get her personal belongings to her, but then the staff decided it had had enough. It broke with a sickening 'crack' and her items were deposeted into her lap by way of gravity.

Sighing Raine set aside the pieces of the staff that Kratos had all but forced her to buy, and opened her packs. Books on acient language, culture, history both modern and ancient, map she had fogotten to give to the mercenary, some clothes, some female items to deal with moon days, bandages, her notes on monsters, a comb, a packet of blank paper, some charcol sticks wrapped in fabric, a tightly sealed bottle of ink and a well cusioned feather quill pen, ah there it was! Lifting an erasser Raine considered the distance between herself and Lloyd, the classrooms distance was greater, so she had to adjust her aim a bit. She threw and a cloud of white floated around Lloyd. Coughing the boy's eyes snapped open, he looked around with eyes emptry of all intellegence, then seeing her and the erasser at his feet understanding came to him.

"Professor is class over?"

"Lloyd Irving," She whispered, so not to wake the others. "It's your turn for watch."

"Uh wa-" knowledge came, blushing the red clad boy whiped his face free of the chalk. "I'm up I'm up..." He started to scoot away from his dog, when Noishe, still lost in sleep, absently snaked his huge head around and chomped on Lloyd's belt. Or rather that's where he ment to bite down.

Raine winced in sympathy as Lloyd whimpered, then in a very tight and controled voice ordered the dog to let go of his rear. Now totally wake the dog let go of Lloyd with a quiet whine.

"I'll stand watch in a few minuetes." Lloyd opened his packs and after a moment of rumaging fished out a pair of stained pants. "I'll be over there." He pointed to a half totaled wall. Limping, hobling, and whispering several curse words the boy dragged himself away so he could tend to the massive gash in his clothes.

Noishe's liquid brown eyes seemed to overflow with an unspoken appologie, and that gaze followed her oldest pupil out of thier make shift camp.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

Small arms were wraped around his waist, the child clung to him as they rode on the most unlikely of horses. She was sleeping agian, seemed to need sleep a great deal, her head rested on his back, he could feel those long locks slide back and forth across his bare back. Well not so bare, bandages ran around his shoulder like a waterfall of tan, wound around his chest, and there as it cradled his wounds lost it's innocent brown hue. It was brown, a dull red-brown of dried blood but thank the gods not infected blood. He sighed as Colette even in her sleep snuggled against him and the dog at the same time. This was embaressing, ackward, and he would rather have been walking. Raine had been admandament, he was slowing them down, they needed to get to Triet, so he'd just have to be uncomfortable. Genis had not udnerstood why Kratos had not taken this in stride, did not understand why someone could be uncomfortable with Colette, he was too young to comprehend why, but he certainly wasn't letting that ignorence prevent him from teasing the mercenary about it. Lloyd was strangely quiet, had very little to do with the silver and green creature as possible, and Kratos had wondered what fight he had slept through last night. Noishe whinned, padded up to Lloyd oblivious to his two passengers for a time, his ears slicked back in chagrin and his eyes must have been filled with remorse. Lloyd only kept walking, did not turn to acknowledge his pet, and it was then the mercenary spied what had been bothering him. Lloyd walked with a very subtle limp, on reflection he realized Lloyd had been moving a little slow as they took down thier camp and had also ate breakfast with a slowness that ill suited him. Obviously something was wrong. Kratos tapped the furry shoulder, and that massive head perked up a bit.

"Hold for a second Noishe."

"Problem?" Raine called, struggling through the sands to get to them.

"I believe Lloyd is wounded."

Lloyd's face went red, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at his black clad companion.

"Well be in Triet soon so it's not a big deal."

"Yes, Lloyd took a small injury last night... it was an accident and it's something I can't heal." Seeing Kratos' icy glare Raine flushed. "It's somewhere I don't want ot heal alright?"

"You Colette stepped and landed on one of those green short cacti didn't you?" Genis teased.

"No..." Lloyd glared at his friend. "I did not fall on a caqu... whatever they're called."

"Hmmm A fire elemental cooked you in the temple on the rear and we didn't notice?"

"No! Would you let this drop already!"

"Oh I got it, you were bit by a monster!"

Lloyd looked away, his face taking a red tint.

"I don't want to talk about this.

"I'm getting warmer!" They began to walk again while Genis ran through ever monster he could think of asking if that spiece of monster had bit Lloyd on the rear. Suddenly he stopped, stared at Lloyd then at Noishe. Genis' eyes took on a wicked glimer as the knowldege came to him, and it was as if more anumition was handed to him in a ribbon covered basket.

"You got bit on the butt?" Genis crowed, laughing with a chear that contrasted his pale face and earlyer listless state. "By your dog, by Noishe?"

"Ye- I mean no!" Lloyd face nearly matched his tunic.

"Lloyd got bit on the butt!" Genis sang out, as if the sands would be interested in hearing his song. Raine's hand decended, silenced him mid word, and so justice was served. No other songs rang out over the elf lad, but he took delight in whispering it under his breath so that only Lloyd would hear, or huming it quietly. Rolling his eyes Kratos leaned into the green and silver dog. Ths snipping, all in play of course, went on and on. Finally sick and tired of being teased about it Lloyd countered with a story about how Genis had acidently fireball-ed the Mayor's apple tree. Raine decended on them both then at that point, and both youngsters were nursing headaches.

"It wasn't my fault!" Lloyd whinned, rubbing his head. "He was aiming at me and I ducked, what'd I do wrong?"

"You should have been mature enough to stop Genis, or moved your game else where insted of egging him on. Dodging fireballs practice, of all the sophmoric nonsense..."

Raine muttered to herself, rubbed her head as if she was nursing a headache, and took point. Meekly Genis joined her, Lloyd wasn't being as fun any more and saying the same joke over and over again had lost it's charm. So while walking by his sister Kratos could almost hear the small elf thinking up new ways to tease Lloyd and Noishe.

"I was only thirteen, sheesh, she's acting like I did something horrible!" Kratos stared at the boy and sighed, hearing the sound the Iselian groaned. "Oh not you too!"

"After what I saw of you in the temple I will say I am not surprised and leave it at that."

"Thanks... wait that didn't sound like a compliment..."

"It wasn't."

xxx xxx xxx xxx

Underfoot was not the term. Colette had awakened yet was horribly weak. Raine had more or less tied herself to the girls side and Genis' energy pettered out and he too was being supervised by his sister. Lloyd ran around fetching things and he was genuinly helpfull, but he was annoying. Or rather that's what Kratos gathered from the quiet sighs that were coming from the Iselian teacher. Finally she banned them both from the room, sateing it was 'too cramped' and the patients needed air to breath. Cooly closing the door on them Raine gave Lloyd a firm glare that said louder then any words they better not camp outside the door, then there was a soft click. That click of the lock sliding into place seemed like thunder in the silent hall.

"We were just kicked out..." Lloyd could not seem to deal with that thought, and Kratos just sighed.

He reached out, took the young man's shoulder and firmly steared the protesting swordsman out of the hall. They managed the stairs, though it was more of a struggle for Kratos then for Lloyd, and picked thier way to the room. Lloyd staggered to the bed, and with great care lowered himself onto the matress. The older human followed suit with a few soft curses. They both stared at the brick wall on the other side of the room, since there beds were less then five steps away from each other and the window was behind them both there was not even a active view. They both lay in silence, the pain of thier partialy healed wounds was too much to let either sleep.

"I'm bored." Lloyd said after ten minuetes. "I can't sleep, I hurt too much and I'm bored out of my skull."

"As am I." Kratos sighed.

"So what do bored mercenaries do?"

"Wallow in our boredom I guess."

"Ung I'm so bored I'm imagineing the whole wall as a giant hop-skip board and I'm playing myself."

"What side's winning?" Kratos asked, he poked at his bandages which mercefully covered enough of his scars so that no questions were asked, he would change them later tonight he decided.

"I can't tell, I keep forgeting what piece I moved so I have to keep restarting."

Another twnety minuetes passed, Lloyd proceeded to hum every song he had ever heard, hoping with music he could coax himself to sleep. A cunning ploy but all the songs Lloyd seemed to know were lively jigs and religious music. The former was too rousing and the latter was too loud to achieve the goal of making them sleepy.

"I'm out of music." Lloyd announced. "Your turn."

"My turn?" Kratos snorted, closed his eyes. "It is not my turn Lloyd, I am not participating in this foolishness. Just close your eyes, sleep will come eventually."

"Huh OK I guess I can tell myself storys... maybe I'll fall asleep or something. Once upon a time there was a man name Aska who fell in love with a woman who lived on the moon... and her name was Luna? Yeah I think that was the name... Anyways Aska loved Luna but Luna was sick-"

Kratos' had listened to the tale with a mix of humor and annoyence. At least until the name Aska came into it, his hands had clenched with that word. By the time the workds 'Luna was sick' had passed the young man's lips his face was pale, as pale as the moon and he had stiffened. The wounds throbbed due to the motion, set his whole body into painful seizure. He heard Lloyd curse, the young man's voice seemed to drift about him, something about Raine... That brought him back, he stilled his body with iron will and managed to supress his reaction so that it did not set him to shaking.

"I am fine, it's not serious..." The power of his voice and presence was enough to coax Lloyd to forsake his plan of fetching Raine.

"If you say so, but if you have another one I'm going, no matter what you say."

Kratos managed a slight smile, a glib promise that he would not have another fit anytime soon. Then taking a deep breath he closed his eyes, listened to Lloyd limp back to his bed and again seek solace from his pain on the matress. There was little solace for thier pain though, and absolutely none for the old wound Lloyd's innocent story had ripped open. An uncomfortable silence fell between the men, it was punctured by thier breath taken out in soft hisses of pain.

"Alright, are you going to tell me why you had that fit?"

He could have said that it was in his blood. That his mother had had a few and it had passed from her to him. He could have blamed the wounds, the stress. He closed his eyes and told the truth. The half of the truth that he felt would be safe for Lloyd to hear.

"When I was a child my mother would tell me that story, she told me stories over my crib and bed every night until the day she died."

Quiet, now the silentce was not even punctured by pained breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect."

"Looking back... I can see how she died..." Kratos surpressed another shiver, clenched his teeth so hard they ached. He let the tension in himself drain out like pus from an infected wound. "Continue."

"What!" Lloyd gasped, this time not in pain but total shock. "If it rips you up like that why should I continue?"

"Please... I'd like to hear your version of it." Kratos let out a slow breath, he turned and met those eyes that were so much like his own. "I need to hear it, all of it, and if you know others I would like to hear them as well. It has been a long time since anyone I know has ever told the old tales, and I'd like to hear them again."

"You know, you're the first person who hasn't screamed sac-roo-idge... You know what I'm trying to say... umm"

"Sacrilege?"

"That's it, that's the word, anyways isn't that wierd?"

"Almost the whole of the world believes and revears Martel as thier faith, those stories are the foundation of a totally different faith that has no conection to the Church. Most people would find anything that goes against Martel and her church to be insulting at the very least."

"People can be weird sometimes." Lloyd said, and Kratos let out a rueful laugh.

"And by that look you mean to say I am also wierd." Kratos smiled a small guarded smile that he could feel warm the ice in his eyes.

"You said it, not me."

Both men chuckled, more at ease now that the painfull moment had passed. At Kratos' prompting Lloyd found the thread of his tale and told that story along with a handfull of others. The door cracked open as Lloyd was winding up on a story about how three wind imps would steal the smallest things in all of the world and play with them in the sky. Raine came in and gave the two of them a look of shock, she was not expecting them to be getting on well. Nor was she expecting any tollerance on Kratos' part of Lloyd's endless chatter. As a matter of fact she had half expected to come in to see herself short a pupil.

"It's good to see you two getting on well." Raine commented, the afternoon sunlight was merciless in showing them just how drained she was.

"How's Colette!" Lloyd hopped to his feet, pain forgotten.

"She's fine, she and Genis are sleeping off the effects of my healing spells. I'm going to do what I can for Mr. Aurion then go to bed, and I'd appreciate it if you both left the others alone while I rest. Neither of them are quite up to visitors yet. Now then, luckly for you I can work through the bandages, so we wont need to strip you half naked Kratos." She looked at Lloyd pointedly and the boys with a grimace left the room.

The exam was cool, professional, and given in the most detatched means possible. Raine ordered him to get some sun light, take Lloyd with him, and not to strain himself too much by trying to kill oversized cats by himself. Basically get some exercise to work off the effects of the healing and make sure he kept Lloyd entertained and out of her hair. He sighed, growled that he was not Lloyd's caretaker, and she whirled on him in a manner that indicated he might just be on the recieving end of a Raine Storm. All he did was grip the hilt of his sword and stare at the woman, he waited, and her anger drained out of her swiftly. With half closed eyes she limped out of the room, looking utterly defeated and drained. Kratos said nothing more, merely worked on his tunic and picked his cloak up form where it lay on the floor. His wounds were totally healed, and the mana that ran through him made his head feel as if it were stuffed with cotten. He knew the best cure for that however, this was not the first time he'd had to been speed healed after all. He left the false night of the room, and with a handful of words indicated to Lloyd that they should eat something. Always happy to eat at least three times his weight in food a day Lloyd followed. He had two servings of the lunch, and finished Kratos' portion for him when the mercenary set it aside with it half empty.

"No," Kratos barked, when Lloyd started to go up and try to get his fourth bowlfull. "We will be sparring later so you will be eating nothing else until dinner."

"But..."

Kratos only nerrowed his eyes, and that was enough. Lloyd flinched, sighed, then set the plate aside.

"I'm still hungry." Lloyd groused.

"If you eat anymore you'll be spiting it back up after we are half way through the match. Come on, you mentioned a weapons shop, I for one would like to know where it is."

"Alright, hold up I'm comming."

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"No!" Lloyd gasped at the item in Kratos' hand. "I so could not ever pay you back for..."

"The journey, think of Colette, how can you expect her to remain safe if you throw rocks and use your fists against the monsters we encounter?"

Lloyd knew his mouth was hanging open, and he couldn't close it if he wanted to. It was official, more then official, Kratos was one of the coolest guys ever. With shaking hands he reached out, lifted the sheathed swords from the older man's grasp and hooked them onto his belt. He drew the left one, gave it a practice swing, spun it in his hands like a baton then sheathed it with a flourish. He did the same for the right blade, and fought down a shiver at the rasp of steel sliding into it's scabard. He'd heard that sound a thousand times, had heard the ring hammer on steel, or stone on steel, but he never imagined himself holding a steel sword, or using one.

"A good pick Sir, good for a youngun learning the craft. It's a goodly pair of blades it is, he'll grow with them that he will."

Kratos only stared at the merchent, who decided to shrink back behind his stall. Lifting his new shield and strapping it to his arm the mercenary put down a decent amount of gald on the counter and looked around the small wooden building.

"I will be back tomorrow or the day after to pick up the staff and spiked rings, if they aren't here or complete I will take my money back, and if my money has 'disappeared' I will take payment from you and know my price cuts to the bone."

The man nodded, his face so pale Lloyd half expected the poor guy to fall over dead.

"And if you aren't here I will take the pains to hunt you down..." Kratos tightened his grip on the man's tunic, gave it a slight twist and the man started turning blue. He managed to croak something satisfactory to Kratos' ears, because the mercenary let him go.

"Was that all really necissary?" Lloyd protested, looking back and feeling very guilty for letting Kratos bully the bald weapon smith.

"He tried to pick your pocket, he's lucky I decided gutting him would call too much attention to us. Why do you think I under paid him? He knows I saw what he did and he also knows that not only will I peel off his hide if he tries to short us in any way I will call the authorities onto him. Depending on the councils' mood he could lose his shop, or his hand." Kratos paused, watched a camel and it's accompanying silk merchant walk by with a air of someone who's seen a thousand silk merchants stroll by on wierd creatures every day of his life. "Both most likely, people in the wild areas such as the dessert tend to be a bit brutal when dolling out justice."

"Oh..." Lloyd stared at the massive lumpy creature with it's scrawny legs and wildly wide paws. It had a long face, a rich golden fur covered the whole of it. It's eyes were a dark liquid black that were flat and unfriendly. There was dark skinned person on top of it sat between those lumps, a false waterfall of deep blue hung around him. The tassles that hung like white flecks from an untamed stream contrased the orange and yellow shrounds that wrapped around the man. Kratos coughed, and Lloyd realized he'd been staring at the silk merchant and he in turn was being stared at a few people in the square.

"Trust me, they aren't worth the time, they're vicious tempered, violent, and completely untractable."

"What?"

"The cammel, I would personally stick with your friend Noishe as a form of transportation."

"I wasn't thinking about it..." Lloyd felt his face grow hoter then the rest of him, no mean feet in this weather. "Well not too seriously, but I mean wouldn't riding a camel be cool?"

"If you like saddle sores that are worse then those gained on a horse, then yes."

They walked through the city, seemed to be headed for the main gate.

"Hey why are we leaving?"

"Do you enjoy public humilation?" Kratos' eyes were dark filled with an intensity that made Lloyd wince. As they wandered around outside it seemed as if the old Kratos, the one he hated and had met in Iselia was slowly making a come back. He'd become quiet, withdrawn, and it took nothing short of a poke to make him respond to a question. His words were now totally all lecture, and Lloyd was getting really sick and tired of being treated like a little kid.

"Yeah I guess it would be bad for you if I kicked your tail in front of the town, who'd hire you then?"

Kratos' lip curled just a little in one corner, and he seemed ready to say something. Then like all the times before he stopped himself, and stared at Lloyd intently. Lloyd was getting used to that however, those stares picked up a lot but sometimes they told a lot too. So Lloyd met that gaze, and he was a bit worried when he saw something like humor in those eyes. And it was a humor that did not touch the man's face, it was not a warm humor, but one of ice and as sharp as steel.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

Sand boiled around him as a cloud, covered his already dusty clothes in a new layer of tan. He groaned, picked himself up from the earth and looked down at himself. He was covered, head to toe in sand, his dark red shirt was fadded, his pants a ghost of themselves. He could have layn against the scalding sands, could have blended in with them by now he was so dusty. He cradled his bruised arm, Kratos had disarmed him on the first pass told him what he was doing wrong and when Lloyd had made the same mistake firmly smacked him on the wrist with the flat of his sword. Lloyd had been smacked several times in various places. Once for over extending his thrust, another time for not hopping out of the way of Kratos' blade. The fight was at first half chase half fight, then as Lloyd ran out of energy for that they now stalked each other. He felt like his weapons were feelers, looking, poking, proding at Kratos' defenses trying to get through the wall of shield and blade. Kratos had been silent, besides giving instruction and correcting Lloyd's grip and stance Kratos had said nothing through what to him was just an exercise.

This was just an exercise, a sparring match and here he was tossing Lloyd around like a doll!

Still everytime he fell he got up, determined to do a little better, to last a little longer. He didn't whine or complain, though he did hurt in several places and was tired didn't say a word. He did do a lot of panting however, and did utter a few curses when Kratos hit a spot that he'd smacked before.

With a wince he found his feet, nothing was broke so he went at it again.

He slashed with his right sword, Kratos caught the attack with his shield, shoved against the blade with the metal plate strapped to his arm and sent it wide then. Seeing an opening Lloyd slashed with his left sword, a blow that would have made a thin line agianst the mercenary's belly. That sword was caught and rang out against the steel of Kratos' own sword. The merceanry held him like that, locked both of his arms in mid swing for a long moment to let Lloyd see what he was doing wrong, then with a growl shoved with both his arm. The sudden move made Lloyd's arms go wide, spread out, and without his sword at center he coud not block and if it was a real fight Kratos could have thrust his own sword into Lloyd's exposed body. He saw that, knew that, and perhaps seeing that knowledge in his student's eyes Kratos did not deliver a stinging swipe or bowl him over with his shield as he had before.

Or perhaps he saw what was going to happen.

Lloyd staggered a step back, it was on the tip of his tounge to ask what he did wrong but his legs gave a twitch. He took a step back to steady himself, and slipped in the sands.

This time Lloyd did not get up, he just lay and wallowed in his pain and panted. Enough, he decided, was enough. He'd been out here for hours getting tossed this way and that and was tired of it. He cracked an eye open, stared at the black boots with there dull blue buckles that were highlighted with red in the falling sun's last light.

"Enough," He croaked. "You win, you can sweep the floor with me blindfolded, I give. I don't know anything about swordsmanship, please don't kick me while I'm down."

Kratos said nothing, only stood over him. In concern, worry, smugness? Lloyd had no clue, he felt like he'd been on the bad end of a fight with Ivan and was expecting much the same treatment he got from the Mayor's son when he lost. He got nothing, Kratos said nothing, did nothing, except stare of course. Lloyd could feel his skin being pealed away by those intense eyes, could almost imagine Kratos digging in deeper looking at something below that, something that was the core of him. Lloyd found his feet, told his legs to twitch in thier own time and braved himself up to bend down and taking his swords from the sand. Kratos stooped down, picked up his swords and rolled the hilts over in his hands, a slight touch of his fingers and they turned over so that he was holding the cross bar of the hilt yet offering Lloyd the grip of the weapon. Surprised the Iselian took the swords from Kratos, and with much more reverence then he had shown on first recieving them slid them into thier respective sheaths.

Kratos only nodded, turned and began to walk back to Triet. He turned halfway down the hill, looked up at him and said one word, and in that word there was a world of meaning, of possibility, and depth.

"Tomorrow?"

Lloyd only could manage to nod, could he do this tomorrow, would he physically be up to it? He didn't know the answers, but there was something there, a need that he could all but feel in Kratos and in himself. It was that need that he nodded to. Seeing the gesture Kratos returned the nod then continued down the hill, back to the city. After a moment, when he lost sight of the mercenary's black clad form in the building shadows of night he too began the long walk that would lead him back to the others.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

He broke history that day, popping out of bed before sunrise. Snatching the room's sole candle Lloyd used the sorcerers ring to light it. He'd been up well past midnight adding to the last touched of the Professor's present, had slept for all of four hours. Luckly for him his room mate slept through all the frantic touch up carving. Now he was up, far too excited to sleep, he was just like a little kid during the autumn feast and gift exchange festival. That excitement made him restless, antsy, and he had the good sense to know that staying in the room with someone who was sleeping while he was antsy was not a good thing. Candle in hand to light the pre-dawn gloom he fumbled open his packs, fished out both of Raine's presents and Colette's gift. It was broken, the fine metle chain had been bent and the wooden centerpiece had a long jagged break that ran down it's center. He couldn't do anything for the chain yet, but he could remake the wooden part. Tucking the presents under his arm he stuck the hilt of his carving knife between his teeth, and with his other hand held candle and key. it took effort but he managed to slip out of the room without waking Kratos up. The inn was silent, no lights shone from under the cracks of the doors he passed. Shadows and furniture haunted the hall like dark ghosts, and he was acutely aware of how loud every foot fall was. He felt alone, though he knew everyone else was in thier rooms sleeping. Even the cook, who had to wake before everyone else to make breakfast for the help and guests was not up. By the candle light he navigated the empty halls, came to the main room and nearly tripped on the stupid thrown rug in the center of the room. Muttering a curse he kicked the rug, went to the door, and fumbled the key into the lock. There was a click, and the front door swung open under his touch. All the guests were given a key to slip in and out of the inn during all hours, a nessecity because the out house was outside. It wasn't the privys he was going to however,he was paying a visit to his oldest friend, to the one who he could alway go to anytime day or night, for any reason. Nightmare or joy, or childish whim, Lloyd was always welcome though he occasionaly grumbled at his visitor. Lloyd knew that he ment nothing by those grumbles. Anyways it wasn't totally pleasure he was making the visit for, it was a bit buisness too.

Blowing out the candle Lloyd slipped the stick of soft wax into his pocket, then thoughtfull locked the door behind him. He padded up the stairs and spent a moment admiring the stars and how thier light and the nights shadows turned the sands around him a soft violet. A few of the buildings around him sported soft golden eyes, some having lashes of soft fabric, other empty, and others still sporting siloettes of some lone person sitting in front of the glass. Pleased he wasn't crazy for waking up this early, after all ther people were up too, Lloyd picked his way across the sands to a familer squat yet oversized wooden boxes. One of the boxes guests glared at him, it's long gold furry face was as unfriendly as unfreindly got. Recalling Kratos' story about camel's spitting Lloyd hastily went around that pen, he walked along the handful of pens, annoying camels and horses, at least until he came to the stall that had not been Noishe's "room" last night.

"Moved you again huh Noshy?"

One green tip poked up, it was joined by another and a green tipped silver tail that wagged like nuts. There was a quiet whine and Noishe rose his head, first came the jagged looking ears that were as white as Remiel's wings save their bright green ends, then came that silver head with that rouge tuft of spring leaf hue.

"I told them to leave you alone, that you wouldn't bother any of the other guest's animals, but no one listens to me, sorry Noshy. I still can't get anyone else to believe that you're special, for a dog... You know what I mean."

Noishe bobbed up and down to convey that he more then understood, then cocked his head to the side seeing the small whistle in Lloyd's hand.

"Raines present, your present, the favors, remember?"

Noishe scruntched up his face, causeing his lips to curl. Most people would have thought Noishe was growling, or snarling but the mane didn't prick up, so it ment that his old friend was just thinking hard. It wasn't too unlike Lloyd's thinking face really. After a span Noishe barked, indicated that he remembered, then gave him a long questioning look.

"You wont mind if I stay here till sun up do you? I need someplace to carve and someone to talk to and well... everyone else is..."

Noishe only drapped his head over the side of the pen and pulled the slide bolt with his teeth. A small tap with a paw and the door swung open.

"Thanks Noshy!"

A dog couldn't smile, Riane said it was impossible, but Lloyd knew looking at Noishe's curled snout and lolled out tounge that Raine was wrong about that.

Curling up besides his dog, doing as he had done almost every night or morning of his life Lloyd leaned back into that furry back and picking up his knife went to work on his carving project.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Psst Colette wake up!" Genis hissed. Lloyd had left a note under the elf sibs door with a few symbols that Genis would recognize. At that quiet sound of paper whispering over stone Genis had woken up, Raine had slept through it all. But then she was really tired, still exhasted from healing him and Colette and Kratos. He waited as long as he could, then slipped to Colette's room and was now whispering under the door frame hoping she'd wake up. He slipped the paper back and forth to make racket in her room and maybe that's what did it. He wasn't too sure, because Colette opened the door and bonked him on the head with it by accident.

"Oww..." Rubbing his head the wizard smiled and waved Colette's appologie away.

"Genis, why are you up so early?"

"It's Raine's birthday remember?"

"Oh the Professor's birthday!" Colette smiled, she seemed OK but that didn't mean much of anything because she was so good about hiding when she felt sick. She was so good in fact that she fooled everyone on a regular basis. Still the excitement and happiness seemed unstrained and that was normally a good hint that Colette was feeling better. "Have you started making the cake?"

"I need some help..." Genis felt himself turning red. "I can't get to the flour, it's on the top shelf and I'm a little scared to get it actually..."

"Don't worry Genis, I'll help." Taking his hand in her own she began to lead him to the kitchen.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

Making her way down the stairs Raine Sage was surprised to see a knot of people hovering around the kitchen. She was garbed in her customary black pants and white tunic. Her jacket of rich orange and black highlights hung about her, rustled with every step, yet though it was early that quiet sound was drowned out by the murmurr of voices.

"Would you believe the Chosen is making breakfast for everyone!"

"And that table, it's got that cursed demon dog growling at everyone!"

"Kicked the cheif out of the kitchen..."

"That doesn't seem right, no ones' there but that short little silver haired fellow!"

"No I saw a swordsman inside too it's so chaotic!"

Groaning Raine realized exactly what was going on. The three had gotten themselves in trouble already and the cheif must of been making them work under him to pay off damages. Still it was strange, she should have heard either an explosion or Lloyd's plantive whines stating he didn't mean to stab the 'insert valuble object here', that he was just showing off and the object got in the way... She fought her way past the crouds and came on a sight that left her speachless. Colette with an apron of frilly pink around her form was running back and forth paper in hand taking customer's orders. The 'demon dog', was none other then Noishe, and he was sprawled out on a long table by the window, one of the beter more out of the way tables too and for all intents and purposes was taking a nap in the sunshine. There was a swordsman running around, his steel blades still strapped to his side clapped noisily as he ran from table to table with plates and bowls and fufilling those orders. And a very familier voice rang out from the kitchen.

"No no... That's too much pepper, give me that! Ung for a human who's paid to cook you can't cook very well. Out, out before I fireball you! Help Lloyd serve the food!"

A man in white ran away from the kitchen and those spikes of silver hair that poked out from the behind the counter bobbed off in the direction of the stove, Raine could almost imagine the annoyed grumbling. Suddenly she was not alone, the mercenary bulled his way through the knot of customers to stare in shock as his 'client' wandered amonst total strangers asking what they wanted for breakfast, rattling off the menu, and gleefully skipping off to leave more notes for Lloyd and Genis to paw through.

"Happy birthday Professor!" Colette chirped spoting her first. At her call Noishe perked up both his ears and cracked open an eye. Spoting her he flowed down from the table, every motion filled with purpose. She was then knocked off her feet and given a Noishe birthday face lick.

"What in the God's name is this?" Kratos managed, staring at the chaos of breakfast rush.

"Noishe, off I can't breath..."

With a councilary whine Noishe hopped off of the slender woman, and sat by her his tail slapping against the stone floor.

"Surprise!" Lloyd smiled, forsaking the customers. "We made you a cake but to use the oven we had to agree to make breakfast for everyone in the inn at least that's what the cheif said so..."

"Lloyd, the customers!" Genis hollered over the clatter of cockery and fire of the stove.

"Sorry, I'll tell you guys later, busy!"

With that he left the baffled adults, and Noishe firmly took Raine's sleeve in hand- er mouth- and guilded the woman to the table he had held for them. There on the table was an assortment of very strange items. Two books were wrapped in dyed parchment, a long slip of wood which sported several small notches and a slip of ribon woven in one of those notches, there was also mess of ribbons and string made into a symbol of the Goddess Martel. Lastly, right by her left hand lay a silver dog whistle that gleamed in the sun's light, it winked at her, the gesture mimiced by the huge dog that sat besides her. With a happy sigh Noishe plopped his head into her lap, and conveintly kept her from moving and pinning one of the children down and demanding an explaination for all of this.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

A cake covered in dark brown frosting, with an apple smile face stared up at her. She in turn stared at it and the three cheerful eyes of her students.

"You went through all this trouble for me?" Riane could feel her throat clog with tears.

"It wasn't a trouble at all!" Lloyd smiled at her. "You know how much I love carving, and a book mark was somehthing I've never carved before so it was just fun for me!"

"And I know you'd love those books on anchient languages!" Genis chimed in.

"But the whistle, no one explained that." She looked to the small silver item with curiosity.

"Oh Lloyd gave me that one year, it was only good for five calls though. You were lucky that Lloyd gave you twenty." Genis smiled. "Those five though they were good. Can I use it Lloyd, just to show her how it works?"

"Alright, go ahead." Lloyd was looking to the cake now, probably wondering when the Professor was going to take the first slice so he could take the second, and third slice for himself.

"I works like this!" Genis blew on it, and no sound came out, at least none that they could hear.

Noishe ghosted out of the empty kitchen, the whole dinning area was empty save for a surly chief who was having to clean up after the youngesters cooking. Still he'd never had so many customers so it seemed he was content to keep his mutterings to himself. He'd hung a sign stating that lunch would be ready in two hours and was now at work and endured having the massive dog follow him around puppy eyeing him for a treat. At the sound of the whistle though Nosihe left the man alone and padded up to Genis.

"This is just a practice round Noishe." Lloyd informed the huge dog, "so it doesn't count."

Noishe whinned, then turned to Genis and waited.

"Hmmm OK I got it. Fetch me my journal, a charcol piece for writing, and my book on the history of Triet."

"Bark!" Noishe went out of the room and they could all hear him hopping up the steps.

"Genis Nosihe can't..."

"Shh just wait Professor, Noishe'll surprise you." Lloyd grinned.

And a few moments later Noishe did return with the history book banalced on his head supported by his massive ears. On his second return trip he held in his teeth Genis' journal and the charcol piece had been jammed between the pages of the book. There wasn't so much as a drop of drool, and none of the pages were even scratched by the teeth.

"You know what's really fun though Sis, asking Noishe to fetch Lloyd, it's hilarious!"

"Why did you have to tell her that!"

"Because it's funny to watch and she should know about it!"

"Fetching Lloyd? I'll have to try that sometime." Raine siad, pocketed the whistle and made a point to ignore Lloyd's groan. "So what are we going to do today?"

"Well," Colette smiled, at her teacher. "Because it's your birthday why don't you decide Professor?"

She could feel Kratos' eyes on her, could almost here the man say that they needed to move on, time was wasting. A smile curled Raine's lips as she decided what should be done today.

"Colette, Genis could you draw up a list of what food and suplies we need, give it to Kratos and we'll be on our way."

"Should we pack Raine?"

"No," Raines grin curled into a full fledged smile. "We'll be in Triet for the day brousing the shops, but since Mr. Aurion finds it is so abhorent I imagine he will be grateful for the opratunity to do something practical. Oh and Lloyd gather all the laundry, you do know how to do laundry don't you Kratos?"

The mercenary made a strangled noise, as if he was about to protest.

"It's the Professor's birthday, and on birthdays were all supposed to do nice stuff! I bet Kratos doesn't mind one bit!" Colette chirped.

Kratos gave Raine a long flat look, he looked as if he was going to say something, struggled with himself, then with a sigh fell silent.

"All the laundry Professor?" Lloyd had a hesitant look, after all Raine had all but ordered him to fetch all of the girl's clothes.

"Lloyd a dress isn't going to grow teeth and bite you." Raine rolled her eyes at Lloyd's continued hesitance. "Oh sweet Martel I'll deal with sorting Colette clothing as well as mine, now scoot."

With a muttered. "A box grew teeth who's to say a dress wont." Lloyd darted off to do as ordered.

"Now before Lloyd gets back and eats half of the cake let's take our slices first."

"I knew there was a reason you sent him off!" Genis smiled, handed her the knife.

"Now just out of curiosity, what kind of cake is this?"

"Butter yellow cake with chocolate frosting with apple slices!" Colette informed her. "Genis said you liked the butter yellow cake, Lloyd says every cake should have chocolate on it, and I know you love apples so..."

"It sounds marviolous." Raine said, privatly wondering how long they had sat and argued before one of them said they should just do a little bit of everything and hope it tured out alright. "Genis could you bring the plates?"

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"I missed the cake?" It was almost a howl of anguish.

"Not all of it..." Colette meekly offered him the plate that housed the last skinny slice of cake. "I've never seen Genis eat so much cake, and he's been acting kind of funny since."

"Suger rush." Kratos growled, stuffing the last of the clothes Raine brought him into a basket. "She deserves it she should have reined him in sooner, now he's going to be hyper all day."

With a grunt the mercenary lifted the over flowing basket, and the soap decided to slide over the mountain of clothes and fall to the tiled floor of thier room. Snarling what was probably a profanity in that language Lloyd had heard Colette use, Kratos dropped the basket and picked up the soap. His face said louder then words that he was going to stick the thing on his knife and put the knife in his basket because the knife was far too heavy to roll out. Lloyd bent down, saved the soap and firmly stuffed it into one of his pants pocket that lay in the basket then rolled the pants into a ball so Kratos would better remember which one it was.

"I should have thought of that..." Kratos glared at the pair of pants, images of impaled soap were probably dancing in his head.

"You're probably just used to doing your clothes, when you do other people's you normally have a harder time keeping an eye on the soap."

"Humph." Kratos glared at the clothes, then slid the long list into his pocket. "I'll say this, never again will I let that woman manipulate me into this position."

"Mumph mum muph um!" Came the response from a chocolate stuffed mouth.

"Chew and swollow, then speak, I can't understand you."

"Next..." There was a gulp as the food half chewed went where it was suposed to go. "Next year get her a present, she wont make you work then." The last half of the slice of cake disappeared. Lloyd stuffed it into his mouth and gleefully chewed it, oblivious to the mercenary's disgust.

"Come on Lloyd let's go!" Seeing her freind was done eating Colette grabbed his sleeve.

"See ya later Kratos." With a smile Lloyd ran off with Colette.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

They came back with ribbons, not just a handful but enough so that his arms were loaded down. He hugged the bundle of fabric in his hands, and considered that things could have been worse. He could have been Noishe, who had so many ribbons woven into his fur that he now sported a false mane of the softest pink, blue, and greens.

"Whine..." Noishe looked like he was suffering. Children had run up to them asking to play with the fluffy lion, had tugged Noishe's tail and asked him to roar. Raine and Colette had found it cute, allowed it to continue and Lloyd dared not say anything. He might of wound up sporting a mane too. Seeing Lloyd's sympathetic gaze Noishe decided to milk his dilemia a little more. "Whiiine!"

"Oh hush, we're almost back." They were almost back to the inn. They had spent the whole day shopping, and it was then Lloyd came to see the most terrorfying sight in his sixteen years. Women shopping, two active, cheerful, woman who haggled over everything. They insisted that everything be "tried on", "tested", and it was Lloyd and Genis who became instant test subjects. "If I see another perfume shop or ribbon shop I'm going to scream."

"Bark!" Noishe sniffed him then sneezed.

"Oh shut up! I know it's bad don't rub it in!"

Raine and Colette went into the inn, wide smiles on thier faces, both pictures of female contentment.

It was all Genis could do to drag one foot in front of the other, his sugar rush had in fact fueled Raine and Colette to new hights of energy and Genis had ran out of suger induced stanama first. Lloyd knew without a doubt that Genis was going straight to bed, as a matter of fact that's all he could think about too. He dropped the ribbons off with the girls and when they asked Noishe to stay Lloyd winced in sympathy. Now armed with even more ribbons and more time on thier hands they both seemed intent to make Noishe into a walking ribbon stand. He left before Colette asked him to stay, throwing Nosihe not to the wolves, but to the girls with only a slight twing of guilt. He made his way to his room, and was surprised to see the mercenary leafing through a book while lying on his bed.

"You know you're going to fall asleep if you read while lying down."

"Unlikely." Kratos turned another page, he looked up from his reading to give the young swordsman a piercing look. "I take it from your state that we wont be sparring."

"I'm up to it...Just let me get this gunk off of me." Lloyd sighed. "Trust me staying here is not safe for either of us."

"How so?" There was no arrogence, only curiosity. It was weird, Kratos was so intellegent and here he was looking to Lloyd to explain something.

"When Noishe runs out of fur their going to be looking for more people to ribbon, at least that's what I know Colette'll do."

"Then being here would most definitly not be wise." Kratos looked just a mite nervious. "I'll meet you outside, and if you aren't at the main gate in fifteen minuetes I'll presume that they have taken you."

"And you'll save me, right?"

"I never siad I'd do that." Kratos closed the book, set it under his pillow. "I'll be waiting." And with that he went to the door. He paused, as if he was going to say something, then drew the soap from a pouch and tossed it in Lloyd's direction. "You'll be needing that if I'm any judge." Then with a whipser of sound, the pad of muffled foot falls, and the soft sigh of a cloak ghosting behind him, Kratos stepped out of Lloyd's range of sight.

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"Don't lock your arm when you thrust." Kratos sighed. "The point isn't to run the whole blade through someone but to put few inches in thier vitals."

"But what if it's something huge, like a dragon or something?"

"Lloyd if you ran into a dragon you would best be served to run, not fight."

"Like at the temple..." Lloyd growled. "I didn't do anything but run from that thing."

"What point is there in standing in a fight you know you can't win? You did the intellegent thing, clearly you were over matched, and your actions spared you pain and probably allowed you to keep your life."

"I ran like a chicken, a coward."

"Don't say those words so lightly, you do not know what true cowardence is." Kratos lifted his blade from it's relaxed position, telling Lloyd without words to expect an attack. The first time they'd done this Kratos had not announced he was going to attack and Lloyd had nursed a small nick in his shoulder because of it. He recalled Kratos' calm and utterly detached reply to Lloyd's loud out burst that Kratos had cheated.

It's not a game, there are no rules save that the winner lives and the loser dies. Would a foe announce there attack? Only the most stupid of fools would crow out that they are going to kill you, it's the tradmark of a novice swordsman, the arrogent barvo, and both beg for death everytime they anounce thier entrance with such stupidity as a challange or a war cry. Death is silent, still, and of stuff colder then ice, when doling it out one would best be served to folllow death's example.

Lloyd jumped back from the swipe, blocked the mercenary's attempt to bowl him over with a charge and smiled a bit in satisfaction at the ring of sword blocking shield. He skid back a few inches, managed to lock his legs so that the brunt of Kratos' charge was absorbed. Still the man could have kept shoving him back, could have with pure strength bowled him over. Kratos let him know that by his last shove that nearly sent Lloyd's legs out from under him. Yet what could he do? Nothing, there was no there way to counter that move save dodging and everytime he tried that he got smacked with the flat of Kratos' blade because he wasn't fast enough. He had to build up strength, but only time would give him that. Kratos took a few steps back, seemed to nod his ehad as if to agree with Lloyd's thoughts, then came in with a fast overhand slash from his blade. Lifting both his blades in a V Lloyd cuaght the blow, and winced as Kratos smashed his shield into his exposed belly. Winded the novice staggered back. There was a screech as Kratos wrenched his blade free from Lloyd's faultering defense, and he felt the blade hovering by his throat.

"Alright, what did I do wrong now?"

"You held it, only actors hold a pose with thier weapons or remain still so long. Just because a sword is tangled with your blade don't think the other hand's going to remain idle, that could have been a knife not my shield I lashed out with. As a matter of fact most bandits would carry a knife and sword combination rather then the shield and sword style I favor."

"How do you block and move at the same time?"

He was shown how. His habbit of charging straight into something was exposed, though never spoken of. Through defeat after defeat he came to realize that he was messing up because he always came straight at the mercenary. A quick side step after blocking the bulk of Kratos' swings and charges did wonders. Yet it wasn't only swords work he was learning, they talked between the clatter of steel, or rather Kratos asked questions and Lloyd managed a few one word replies. When Lloyd admited he couldn't continue Kratos sheathed his blade, signaling that he agreed with Lloyd's words, and they both say on a long rock panting. Alright Lloyd panted and fanned himself while Kratos took a sip of water and looked out on the golden expanse that was the dessert. Behind them the sun was begining to drift down behind the mountains. They sat in silence, watching threads of gold carried on the winds, pass over from dune to dune. Lloyd took a long pull from his water skin, the place was harsh but beautiful he decided. Still it made him ache, all the gold and brown made him ache for the soft greens of the forest. The young swordsman swallowed his pang of homesickness, shoved it down inside of him and resolved to just enjoy what was before him.

There were no words needed between them, they both remained silent watching the wild beauty of the dessert, each harboring thier own thoughts .

xxx xxx xxx xxx

"After all that sand, grass, even scraggly grass, makes me happy!"

"See what I mean." Genis said to Kratos in a conspiritoy manner. "Easy to please, easy to distract and with the attention span of a fish."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lloyd growled, catching something about a fish and not liking Genis' far too wide eyes.

"Nothing."

Kratos only rolled his eyes and waved at Lloyd as if to say it wasn't important. Muttering something under his breath that if Raine had heard would have garenteed a diet of soap for a year Lloyd leaned against one of the passes dull grey walls and worked off a boot. Rocks clattered out from the young man's shoes and Genis winced. Those rocks looked like they hurt a great deal. Slipping the boot back on Lloyd slipped off the other one and let it pour out a rain of sand and pebbles. The golden sands made a pool of color on the dull grey blue stone path. They had climbed hills of sharp jagged stones, had walked the pathless rock strewn mouth of Ossa trail. Noishe had whinned with every paw step, it seemed as if pouch boots were not enough to protect him from pain, but then after a few moments of climbing everyone was in pain. They all had bruises from the consequences of ill footing, every one's hands were scratched up from having to literally crawl up the steep hills, then of course were the nicks and bruises gained on the long frantic tumbles down the hills.

"It looks like no one's been by to clean up the rubble for a few decades." Raine muttered after a nasty fall. She smiled at Lloyd as the young man helped her to her feet. "Thank you dear. I should probably do something about your left hand, it looks like you've got a nasty cut."

"Eh it's not bad." Lloyd tucked the bleeding hand behind his back and away from Raine's sight. "I'm fine, really."

Kratos sighted, tried to catch sight of the injury as they moved on but was having no luck. After all his 'client' was providing enough problems that he barely had any time for anyone elses. She tripped with appaling regularity. And Raine would have to halt heal the girl, and then they'd move on. Finally, sick and tired of it all Kratos carried the girl in his arms through some of the more tricky patches of ground. Seeing Genis about to say something, and weary of the boy's humor Kratos ordered them to all be silent.

"This section is known for it's lack of stability, we best be silent until we pass it."

"I didn't hear anything about..." Raine began then catching his look fell quiet.

They traveled in merciful silence for a time, and as the path evened out and Lloyd began to perk up as he saw more grass. Deciding it was safe Kratos let Colette walk again.

A half hour later as the path began to gently slope upwords he felt a hand tug on his cloak. He turned, and the Chosen looked at him with a helpless need on her face. For a second he wondered why she didn't talk then remembered.

"It is safe to speak Chosen, we merely must be very quiet, what is the matter?"

He learned to never ask that question of Colette when she wore that expression ever again. Flushing the mercenary called to Raine and took the males off a ways to give them privacy. The woman returned, and Colette was almost as red as Lloyd's tunic, obviously she was very uncomfortable traveling with mostly men, not that he would blame her.

A long span, an uncomfortable span, then Genis and Lloyd aquired a crafty look that made Kratos' blood go cold. He'd seen that look, right before his initiation as a matter of fact...

Soon they took Colette, made a little huddle in the center of the path, and their muffled chatter made him very nervious.

"Goddess Martel don't let those three give me any more grey hairs today, please don't." That of course was Raine.

"Alright, you go first Colette." Lloyd anounced.

The children failed to note the tenseness in both adults. Failed to see Kratos' hand work his sword out a bit and failed to see Raine flex her fingers as if to warm them up for spell casting.

"OK I spy with my little eye..."

Feeling like the prime example of foolishness Kratos sheathed his sword. He listened with tolerant amusement as the children tried to fool each other, but the limited items to list in the path were making the game very hard. It seemed safe enough a past time, so he lagged behind a bit ad Noishe obligingly picked up the pace. They walked side by side, and Kratos discovered that he was in fact very good at the child's game of "I spy eye". He was an expert at allowing his eyes to roam the path ahead, searching for tracks and things subtly wrong, and it only took a small prompt of a hint to make his gaze snap onto the item that one of the children had noticed.

"I spy with my little eyes... something yellow!"

Well that was new, the children had gotten so desperate he'd found himself being the answer to thier game, in one case his hair had been an answer and the other his cape. He looked around and spied the answer. In the shadow of one of the knobly twisted and brittle looking trees was a flower of ghostly white. Bobbing up and down alongside that flower was a buterfly with sunflower pedal hued wings.

"The sun?" Genis asked.

"The flower?" Lloyd pointed to a weed on the other side of the trail.

Colette shook her head.

"This is a tricky one Colette." Raine frowned, lowered her head into her hands and gazed around the clearing trying to see.

Silence stretched on as they all continued to miss the butterfly.

"Oh I got it, your hair!"

"Nope, how can I see that silly?" Colette smiled at Lloyd who didn't seem to have heard the 'silly' comment.

"Like this, see?" Lloyd squashed one of the spikes of his hair down and pulled it forward until it dangled in his eyes. He nearly crossed his eyes trying to confurm that his hair was indeed a rich chestnut hue.

"The answer is the buterfly that is to the Chosen's left."

They all turned on him, all very shocked that he'd offered an answer and for all intent and purposes was now 'playing'. He was even more shocked then them, he had not ment to butt in having dubed his involvement in the game as foolish and disruptive. Indeed it seemed to be that, because they were all staring at him expectantly.

"It's your turn Kratos." Lloyd siad as the silence stretched out for an acward length.

"My.. turn?"

"Yeah, you got it right so you get to pick something!" Colette chirped.

"Ah... I see something green?"

Lloyd smiled when Kratos said that he had gotten it right, that the answer was indeed Noishe.

"Alright, I spy something red."

"Not again!" Genis groaned.

"This one's easy!" Colette smiled.

"What is your obsession with the color red?"

"It's your shirt." The three Iselian's said, and to Lloyd's laugh they knew that they got it all wrong.

"Oh I got it!" Colette walked to a red orb that was attached to a rod that in turn was stuck to the ground. "Is this-"

"Stop!" Barked a cold female voice. They all craned thier necks to see the woman standing on the ledge. He frowned, spoting the short kamodo like garment. It was deep purple, the hue suited a plum, and by the looks was made out of silk. As the woman looked down at them he noted that her black pants and knee high boots that hugged the flesh would have been scandulous in the conservative lands nearby. Which ment she was from somewhere else, from a distant land. Ice threaded his spine as he considered the implications of that outlandish garb and faint accent.

"Oh hello are you lost!"

Kratos sighed, this was the difficulty of traveling with an ignorant innocent child, she presumed everyone was a friend even when the tone made it obvious that the stranger was hostile.

"I am not lost!" Flared the young woman, she lept down from the ledge. Her pink ribbons that were wound around her waist, the over long ends flared out like flase wings. She landed with a grace of an acrobat, absently absorbing the shock of the fall with a half step. He was inpressed with the woman's skill as a tumbler, but kept that private. Slowly he worked his blade loose and took a few steps in the Chosen's direction. It was time yet again to earn his keep it seeemed.

"Is the chosen of mana among you?"

Purple eyes combed the group, settled on Colette. She knew already, so either she was very new at this assasin buisness or making absolutely sure she was getting the right mark.

"Yep, that's me!"

"Prepare to die!"

There was a flash of steel in the woman's hand and Kratos lept between Colette and the would be assassin sword and shield prepped to catch the thrown weapon. The woman did not throw the dagger, only charged. There was a muttered opps behind him, in his haste Kratos had shoved Colette down, and at that familier sound he tensed. There was a screech, metal nearly rusted shut gave way and there was a moment where everything seemed to freeze. Lloyd stood blades half out of thier sheaths one step behind the woman, Genis' fingers wove through the air, and Raine had dropped her packs to unsling her staff. Yet the assassin solved the problem for them by tumbling into the the pit with a wail. She was dedicated, Kratos did have to step aside for the dagger was thrown with very poor skill by the woman as she fell. There was a series of muffled "ouches" a few thuds, and then a long silence. As the children gathered around the pit Kratos picked up the golden hilted knife, admired the two interwined serpents that wre carved onto the hilt. He pocketed it before anyone else could spot it, deciding to ask Raine about it later since she seemed to be the most knowledgable of the various cultures and symbols that those cultures favored. He had a huch that if he showed to Colette the Chosen would have insisted on returning it, and that was not an agrument he wanted to go through with the child.

There conversation fell around him, yet he did not join in, merely observed. Raine gave voice to the thoughts he kept locked behind his teeth, yet still Colette and Genis continued with thier show of sympathy. They were fools all of them... no that was not right, they were idealists, holding onto thier values even as reality (in this case quite literaly) held a knife to them. By Lloyd's reaction it was catchy, and it was only more proof that he had a very long way to go with these children. He would not seem the villan, would offer nothing nor say nothing unless prompted. Let Riane take that place for once.

He kicked at a stone, stared at the hard ground thinking, planing, calculating... Satying here would be foolish, suicidal, the traction was poor and poor footing ment slowed reactions. What little he'd seen of the assasin's motions indicated that being slow was the same as being dead.

"We need to move on, and no playing, it would not be wise to lower out guards with an assassin about."

"You think she's alright then?" Colette asked, her concern made him clench his teeth on several stinging retorts, the first and formost starting out as "Are you stupid she's trying to kill you".

"She'll be back..." Yes those hard eyes made that promise a hundred times over.

As he walked, taking rear guard his mind mulled over something. The child's response. Could part of the angelic transformation be the complete deterioration of survival instinct? He shook his head, not quite beliving it. She was not unresponsive to the world, rather her responses were different. It wasn't arrogence, he could have scared that out of her with a few well worded tales or a sparring session. No, not arrogence, and not 'quite' stupidity. She wasn't dumb, nor was she totally innocent, look at her forays into the pranks that Lloyd and Genis concucted! Even reflecting on it made his stomach writh and brought the stench to Raine's cooking ot his mind. No it was something else... something subtle, different, it made her different from all of them. He frowned, lowered his guard a bit and thought, knowing that now he had an inkling of the idea he should not let it go untill he's chased it down. Her manner was much like that of a childs, he decided, a very young childs. Not knowing fear, not comprehending fear they went out into the world and learned it. They learned to avoid pain, like for example when a child learns the beauty of a fire and reaches for it a firm smack and barked word or a singe gained by the mis-adventure was normally enough to teach them caution. Yet she was not fearless, he had seen her concern, her worry for others.

What was it then?

It was conviction, the bone and blood deep conviction that every person ment good, was capable of good. It wasn't a belief, those changed with time and learning, it was not a thought which was even more flexable then a belief, and it transcended any vow, oath, or moral ever upheld. He was traveling, not with a child, but someone who was pure. Pure of evil intent, thought, and action, she could not would not understand it in others. And not understanding she could not expect or defend against any form of evil...

The weight of that revilation slammed home with a forse of a sword in the gut. It was so strong he stopped, and was aware suddenly of eyes on him. He looked up, the hints of what he had just learned still danced in his eyes, set the shadow within them to shaking... And his own eyes looked back, Lloyd saw and he realized. On some level Lloyd understood as Kratos understood the reality of the situation.

And what a dire reality that was. In a quest filled with evil, dedicated to the downfall of those who are evil incarnet there were dragging a pure child into it. There would be no way to shield her, not totally. And with every exposure of evil, every encounter, it would try her sanity and soul.

So it was decreed, ordered by the Angels, by the Gods of light and justice, that they sacrifice a child for the whole of the world.

Lowering his head, rage, fury, he boiled in his own hatred, it was so strong he could feel if course through his veins along with his blood. And if he could have had one of those who made that decree under his hands for ten seconds...

Those thoughts were dangerous, deadly, he dared not think them!

Yet he did, and could not, would not stop thinking them. Suddenly he was looking forward to the assassin's return. He gripped the hilt of his blade, caressed the handle as he would a lover's hand. Yes he was looking forward to seeing this would be assassin again. Very much so.