(A/N) Sorry for the late update, I'm so busy. I worked hard to get this one out not toooo late, so I'm sorry again! Anyway, read and review if you want!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot, and even that is vaguely covered in the game, so please don't sue me!

Chapter 24

The modest boat rocked gently with five last-minute passengers lazing about the deck. The waves lapped against the wooden siding below and created a steady rhythm that put Kratos' mind at ease. Several of the others situated their supplies and were beginning to drift off despite the brightness to the sky. The sun had burned away any lingering remnants of fog, and Kratos was fully awake. The shoreline faded into the bluish hue on the horizon and was replaced with an all-encompassing flatness of glossy dark color.

He'd thought that everyone was sleeping portside, which was precisely why he leaned over the sturdy railings on the opposite half of the boat. He could be alone at long last.

"What are you doing?" An exhausted drawl pricked behind him. He sighed. Apparently everyone but the blonde child behind him had clocked out. Obviously he made no move to respond, and unless the kid was daft, Mithos would understand why.

"Are you ignoring me?" Mithos tried again, and Kratos spared him a bland look as he temporarily lumped him in the borderline-daft category. Lightly he shook his head in mild irritation. The boy was at least some version of company. Being left to one's thoughts- especially his own, could be a poor path to follow right about now. Mithos yawned once and slouched heavily on his forearms. The boy was so short that only the top of his head could peer over the the railing. Despite easily being on the verge of slumber, Mithos was pointedly staying awake at his side. Mithos' fuzzy azure eyes kept a hint of their keenness as he doggedly pinned his gaze on the flowing seascape. Sensing the appraisal he was subject to by the red-haired human, Mithos met the questioning russet eyes.

"I figured it's gotta be pretty boring while people sleep," his voice retained a degree of wariness, "for you anyways." Kratos' brow creased in thought. Had the kid had an about-face in terms of attitude? He thought it was clear that the half-elf disliked him from the start. In answer to the statement, he shrugged noncommittally.

"I guess you'd have gotten used to it by now."

Kratos felt his shoulders relax a bit. The quiet that enveloped them was a breezy one. He might even dare to say the boy was good company when he didn't speak. When the halfling's breathing evened out, Kratos noticed the child's eyes fluttering shut. Either sleeping or about to, Kratos fleetingly admired his stubbornness. His own eyes drifted shut momentarily in thought.

He wasn't sure whether or not he could condone bringing the others along, but he had no say in the matter at this point. The bigger picture he could no longer ignore was Tethe'allan politics. Perhaps when they returned, he'd catch a scrap or two of information regarding Nyx and whatever this new military counsel was. From what he'd overheard with Yuan, things were very different from when he'd left them. There might be a point where he'd have to step in again, unfortunately. He could only hide for so long before it all caught up to him. He saw the war at yet another stalemate after Sylvarant managed to get their hands on Tethe'allan magitechnology. Either way, the future promised action.

When Yuan awoke he found the sky darkened and the air cooled. He stretched his arms and arched his back as he took in his surroundings. The rough panels covering the deck were in constant pivot as the boat lurched from side to side, and the sails were at full mast to catch the ample winds stirring across the waves. It was evening and the sun was setting to the west in a glorious display of color. He stood while adjusting his center of balance and quickly picked out Kratos across the ship. Easily he set course for the Tethe'allan, navigating around boxes and the occasional sailor, but only to stop right behind him.

The little half-elf boy was leaning at Kratos' side, not touching, but lounging against the balustrade in a sort of peaceful silence. That was a surprise. After blinking a couple times at the strangeness of the sight, he joined his companion overlooking the waters. Kratos must've known he was there, because a simple statement was offered in greeting, scratched on the ever-present pad of paper.

'He's asleep.' Yuan did a double-take on the blonde boy, leaning enough over the edge to find that the kid's eyes were, indeed, shut.

"Standing up?" Yuan muttered as his eyes were drawn back to the deep reds and oranges painted across the sky.

'Quite a feat, I know.' Kratos responded in kind, mind clearly elsewhere. Yuan exhaled softly and watched the sky as his friend gathered his thoughts. These kinds of pauses were always followed by something enlightening. The pen twisted aggravatingly slowly against the pad.

'Yuan, remember when I talked to you about stopping the War completely?' His patience rewarded, Yuan trained his teal orbs on Kratos with rapt intensity.

"Kind of hard to forget when you back it up with a suicide attempt," Yuan smirked at the spark of irritation that stormed across the crimson eyes before dying out.

'Regardless, any one person can't do it. It's impossible for any minority opposed to it to garner support without aid of an outside force.' His expression was stony and ponderous as he wrote, 'I wouldn't condone a blind search for power, but these Summon Spirits...' Kratos' hand stalled and Yuan caught on immediately.

"You think we can use them to stop the fighting?" The kernel of an idea was already rapidly germinating into something he couldn't keep track of. Kratos continued.

'Though I'm not sure how one would go about doing it, I believe their power is above that of either country's military. If we could ask for their assistance in this matter, then a complete crisis might be avoided.' Yuan frowned in thought. The tactical approach was logical, but it would involve various moving parts he had to consider.

"But-" The main problem struck him, though Kratos beat him to the issue, directing Yuan's attention to another scrawled sentence.

'We would need to involve Mithos.' His dislike for the prospect was revealed in the grimness in the set of his mouth.

"Volt was powerful." Yuan agreed quietly, "Though I'd need to see Mithos call him back before even considering asking the kid." A short nod and then weighty silence followed before the last of the gleaming disk dipped below the horizon. A deep indigo sky soon lit up with a stunning display of shining jewels. Kratos did not shift from his stoic immobility, but instead cocked his head back to get a better view of the heavens. Yuan was reminded of how many other times they'd stood just like this.

"So all the times you've been counting stars, you've been awake all night?" Yuan left his tone neutral, albeit strained. Kratos' auburn locks tipped in acknowledgement and Yuan felt a sudden chill. Suppressing a shiver, he played it off, "How high did you get?" Kratos mouth quirked up in a half-smile and a short moment later, Yuan made out the words he'd written.

'I usually get to about 36,000 before you wake or the sky lightens.' Yuan read it twice before deciding he had seen the number correctly the first time. He merely snorted as reply, though.

"You need a hobby." The narrowing of his friend's eyes communicated what he wasn't saying. The mixture of annoyed amusement relayed That was my hobby, idiot. Yuan bristled, but smiled nevertheless as another figure approached them from behind.

"Good morning," Martel joked as she purposefully held up a faintly glowing lantern. The light sources were dotted about the boat for obvious reasons, but the overall effect was one of a bleak quiet despite the general awareness of most of the sailors and passengers. The woman's expression was one of refreshed vitality, and in Yuan's opinion, positively radiant. A short puzzled expression crossed her face as Mithos did not turn to greet her like Kratos and Yuan had.

"He's not up just yet." Yuan scratched the back of his neck sheepishly as the oblivious boy remained upright when Martel prodded him. She let out half of a melodic laugh and shook her head.

"Apparently not." She agreed while examining the sky for herself. It really was the only spectacle, and breathtaking at that.

Whatever expression, or semblance of it, that had previously been on Kratos' face was banished without a trace, and Yuan could practically feel the reserve radiating off of him. Kratos never opened up to people he didn't know, that was clear as day in any case. He barely ever opened up to Yuan. A small huff of exasperation crossed Yuan's lips and he gestured for Martel and himself to take a walk. Kratos wasn't going to contribute much to conversation, especially considering his situation. Yuan was proactive when it came to avoiding awkwardness. A cautionary glance at the human revealed no malice in the motion, and Yuan fell into step with Martel as the embarked on what was sure to be a short walk.

When he thought they'd gotten out of earshot, he gave Martel an apologetic glance.

"Sorry, he has trust-issues. It would've been uncomfortable." Martel quirked a curious green eyebrow.

"But he trusts you?" Her eyes were bright in the darkness, and Yuan knew the question should have sounded prying, but in her voice it came across as pure and easy-going. The thought made Yuan's brows furrow in confusion. Kratos did trust him, right? As of late, he wasn't so sure. Martel caught on to the slight discomfort and gave a short smile. "Sorry. Not my business." Yuan stiffened. That was what Kratos always said.

"No, it's fine." He tried to look at it logically, "I'm a little bent out of shape considering all of the things he doesn't tell me, that I don't remember all of the things he does." The words were out before Yuan even thought about how true they were, "Yes, I'm certain he trusts me." Now self-assured, Yuan's eyes were drawn back to Martel's peaceful expression.

"That much is obvious just from watching you interact with each other." Her footsteps slowed as she trained a confident look on him he couldn't decipher- a didactic and guiding look.

"Well, then why did you ask if he trusted me?" Yuan snapped back. He had approached the whole ordeal in an attempt to avoid awkward conversation- yet he had ended up pouring out insecurity. Martel shrugged and continued her now half completed circuit around the boat.

"You needed to hear your own answer." Yuan felt his face flush unexpectedly, and he was glad she wasn't facing him. Were his worries so transparent that everyone knew? Surely not Kratos, too? He jumped into step again before he was left behind.

"Maybe I did." he conceded in partial defeat. She must be perceptive, then, to pick up on such subtleties between them. Maybe she could provide some insight on the whole 'Kratos-situation' as well.

"If you knew that-" he decided to screw avoiding uncomfortable topics, "then what do you figure Kratos needs to hear?" Something needed to be resolved on that playing field. He was getting worried, and his friend was getting more distant by the day. Martel flashed a white smile with a half-laugh.

"Kratos? I have no earthly clue. He's impossible to read." Yuan's face fell slightly, before he realized what that must say about himself. "You, on the other hand-" Martel said it first, "are like an open book. Your emotions live on your face, no matter how much you try to hide them." He scowled.

"Th- they do not!" he stammered defensively, earning yet another chuckle from her. Absently he noted she laughed a lot, before they were back upon Kratos, and the now bleary-eyed Mithos. Kratos gave him a piercing glare that told Yuan he may have heard part or all of the quiet conversation across the boat. When Martel stepped to her brother and ruffled his hair, there was now no one between Kratos and himself. Anger rolled off of the Tethe'allan like the shadow of a dark cloud- impossible at this time of night.

"Damn your enhanced hearing." Yuan muttered. He couldn't catch a break. Kratos made no move to respond, but just leaned against the railing with his arms crossed menacingly. Yuan took a step back and raised his arms in a placating gesture.

"So when I say 'trust-issues', really, I mean..." His voice trailed off uncertainly. If looks could kill- Mana help him.

Passing another full day on the ship was painfully uneventful in Mithos opinion. Martel, Xilia, and Yuan were easily contented with lounging about the deck during the day, or assisting the sailors. After the first long recovery he'd had, he was utterly restless. Was he just supposed to wait around? Sure the view was interesting for the first half-hour, but he was running low on entertainment. The vessel was small in comparison with the boat they had taken to the mainland the first time. Or maybe he was just younger and it looked bigger. Whatever.

The point was- it was boring.

Thank all that was holy, they said Kharlan was only a couple hours off. He didn't know if he could handle a boat ride longer than a day or two. It was good that they only had to cross the thinnest region of sea, a strait really, between the main continent and the enormous island of Kharlan. Still, he had two hours to burn. He stood from his supine position that had him looking up at the spotless sky and decided to go in search of Kratos. He hadn't seen the man for the better part of the day, and how far could he have gone on such a small ship? A jolt to his step, Mithos scoured the deck- he seldom went below due to the musty scent and claustrophobic quarters.

Passing Yuan, who still looked remarkably tired, Mithos stopped. Yuan looked up from his hands. Clearly he had been in thought.

"Hey, Yuan, have you seen Kratos around?" Yuan blinked once before his lip curled up in a smile.

"Well, yes." Mithos waited for more, but evidently he didn't plan on elaborating.

"Where?" He twitched slightly.

"Check the bow, that's where I saw him last." Yuan lost interest in the conversation, it seemed, but Mithos turned on his heel and headed to the front of the boat. He didn't really know what was up with that character- Martel was much more adept at getting to know people than he was. He was only seeking out Kratos because he was curious. Sure enough, as Yuan had said, the red head had his feet hanging over the edge as he sat on the most precarious of surfaces. The water split where the nose cut through the white foam, and spray misted up as the boat shot across the water.

Every time Mithos came across the man he was looking despondently into the distance like he was now.

Whatever the case, Mithos found Kratos' spot much more entertaining than his own. As such, he wordlessly climbed onto the forward pulpit and dangled his feet over the side as well, swinging them idly as he waited for Kharlan to come into sight.

When a hazy blob on the horizon slowly began to grow, he sighed in relief. He would have to remain cooped up on this ship for only a little longer. Kratos seemed to exhale slightly as well in appreciation, pulling his legs up and standing to get his things together. As he pulled on his greaves, Mithos' eyes were drawn to his leather sheath that lay against the guardrail, upright and noble. Kratos clearly caught him looking, and hefted the sheath from its resting place.

Fastening it to his belt, he unsheathed the shining metal and twirled it once before angling the hilt towards Mithos with a faintly encouraging look on his face. Mithos blinked once.

"You want me to try it?" He asked dubiously, but still longingly sized up the sharp metal. Kratos gave a short nod and Mithos reached for the hilt with both hands. Letting the weight fall into his hands, he was surprised with how heavy it felt in comparison to how easy Kratos made carrying it look. He pulled it up vertically and adjusted his grip experimentally. Kratos nudged his hands until the knuckles lined up before stepping back.

Mithos hoisted the blade into a test swing and felt a smile blossom as the air whistled around it. His hands were a little unsteady, but Kratos' sword was spectacularly balanced. It was fantastic. After a couple more swings, Mithos realized how foolish he must look. Uncertainly, he met the intense stare Kratos was fixing him with. He could read it at all.

"Ah, thanks." He uncomfortably handed the gleaming weapon back to its rightful owner and averted his gaze. Even if Kratos could talk at the moment, Mithos wasn't sure he would've said anything. He was all of a sudden too aware of the silence that crept back upon them. The sword was sheathed at his side in an instant, and the swordsman gave him an unreadable nod before turning away. As Mithos looked upon the horizon, he found they were making good time. Kratos had probably gone to find the others.

"If we cut straight east from Yggdrasil, we'll pass through the Holy Grounds and run straight along Heimdall. I'm sure there's an impact site in that region." Martel explained as they all relished the feeling of land under their feet and the stability that followed. Kratos understood her reasoning; Heimdall was secluded just beyond a mountainous region littered with craters that had long ago become valleys. The Great Tree lay in beautifully untouched forest, but turmoil seemed to have befallen the other half of the continent.

They began what Martel had assured them would be a short walk to Yggdrasil, her hometown. For some reason, Mithos was following him around like a lost puppy. Perhaps allowing him to borrow his sword had not been such a great idea, Mana knew Kratos was terrible with kids. Yuan wasn't helping much either, he looked amused with whatever turn of events would cause the blonde boy to trail behind him so closely. Stoic as always, he'd not allow Yuan to get the better of him. A famous Aurion glare later, Yuan stopped smirking and the walk commenced in silence.

Xilia seemed blissfully quiet for once, in Kratos' opinion. She had spoken little since their departure, and she seemed suspiciously deep in thought. He wouldn't push it though, it wasn't something he had a right to intrude upon.

Eventually they broke out of the forested area they had been travelling in, foreign only in the unusual vines that draped across the canopy and twisted along the tree trunks and the ground like the web of a gigantic spider. The flatness of the territory was evident now, but the most magnificent of views was also the most terrifying.

They all stood immobile in shock at the ghastly sight that met them. What was definitely the Great Tree towered over the browning tree line ahead, over a small town that was surely Yggdrasil. The fabled Tree of Mana protruded like a graying and dying arm of death- its withered branches were bare and spotted with austere patches of parasitic black. The whorls and spirals of the trunk looked sickly instead of grand, and polluted instead of pure. Even at this distance, Kratos could feel the illness of the divine plant in the volatile mana structure.

"It's dying." Mithos looked wide eyed and astonished with the prospect. Kratos was still examining the mana of the area and gave a visible start when he realized. Things were so much worse than he thought. Yuan gave him a look of horrified unease.

"What is it?" The half-elf didn't really appear as if he desired to know, but Kratos almost frantically yanked out the forgotten pad of paper. His hand didn't tremble when he wrote, though.

"The tree is absorbing mana, not giving it." Yuan read aloud, teal eyes enlarging at the second realization.

"Impossible!" Xilia muttered, but her own eyes were fixedly examining the dying trees.

"No, he's right," Martel visibly shuddered as she felt what Kratos had, "Maybe it's trying to save itself?" Everyone's voices sounded unsure and shivered with something akin to dread. It looked as if the symbol of death had replaced that of life. They quickened their pace to the village.

The quaint buildings were squat and low, but a sturdy wood. The sun was full overhead, but the vegetation looked devastated. Kratos was eerily reminded of how Ossa Trail looked when they'd passed through the border region. Mana deprivation caused the grass and leafy debris to crunch under foot. Kratos grimaced slightly at the extent of the damage. How could the Great Tree be feeding off of the land instead of nourishing it?

When they were well within the town's territory, and still hadn't seen anyone, Martel voiced her concern.

"Where are they? It's awfully quiet." Kratos had to agree. No people bustled about the barren village. The houses were riddled with the signs of a hasty escape- laundry lay in piles and doors swung idly on their hinges when a wind blew by. Whatever happened happened relatively quickly. Kratos could postulate a guess for the cause. It was a subtle change, but he knew to be wary. An oppressive force was tugging and pulling at his mana. It was near imperceptible, but dangerous. Kratos could tell Yuan felt it too by the restless manner he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

Then they found the first body.

She was an old woman, a human and therefore unable to sense her dwindling mana supply before it was too late. Kratos was about to kneel down to where she lay sprawled across the doorstep to a decrepit home in order to check her pulse- but then he realized what folly would be in the act. He wouldn't be able to feel it.

Yuan checked briefly and shook his head gravely. Kratos watched detached as Mithos' lips parted in tacit horror and his skin paled. The boy had not seen death. Regrettably, he had now, and the air stunk heavily of it. Xilia could not watch the body for long.

"It's likely that they relocated as soon as they found out what was happening." She pursed her lips grimly as Mithos crouched in grotesque interest to examine the corpse. His brashness was replaced with something infinitely more fragile and childlike.

"Do you think dad's okay?" Mithos' voice cracked midway as his big blue eyes held Martel's own green ones as if they were his lifeline. Where Kratos expected empty words of comfort, there were none.

"I don't know, Mithos." Martel shook her head, remarkably calm and focused given the state of her hometown. Kratos admitted silently that she may be stronger than he had thought. Standing tall and resolute, she braved on.

"We have no idea where the survivors could've gone, and right now we have no way of knowing. Our best choice of action is to do what we came to do, and then return and warn Meltokio of the damage. The government can't be ignorant of a problem such as this." A couple blank stares were pinned on her, but Kratos nodded. Destination was her coping mechanism, and he understood it perfectly.

Inwardly he cursed his inability to speak and penned a contribution to the tenuous conversation.

"It would be wisest to give the Great Tree the widest berth possible due to the circumstances." He hated it when Yuan read his words aloud, but everyone got the point. They were headed somewhere.

"True." Xilia conceded, "If the Tree has reversed the mana flow it is probably because of the new weapons that have been draining the border regions. If we could bring the worldly mana back into equilibrium, perhaps the Tree would return to normal." She speculated as they began to walk through the village again.

"Another thing to bring up in Meltokio," Yuan muttered darkly as they were swallowed up by the forest again, one that felt and looked more sinister and dead than the other. The wintry branches crisscrossed over their heads, but did nothing to obscure the midday light. In this way it was a desolate and dismal region that bent around the Yggdrasil.

"I'm positive there's a substantial crater site just beyond this stretch of woods. It should take us until nightfall, but we'll get there soon." Martel's tone was tight and distant in comparison to her warm mannerisms before.

Through the dead branches, Kratos could see the sickly figure of the Tree of Mana looming over the landscape. They had passed the threshold. The world was cracking under the pressure of the war, and now either humanity would give, or the world would.

(A/N) A little anticlimactic, I know, things'll pick up next chap! Hope you enjoyed, and thank you all for sticking with this story!

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