Lloyd shiverred.

The snow was falling down as it always did in Flanoir, sticking to the ends of his hair and freezing his eyelashes. Rucksack on his back and swords in hand, Lloyd made his way over to the inn. His head was swimming with thoughts of his attempt to reach the Tower. Kratos and the others knew he was after the Aionis, so how he was going to get his hands on some completely stumped him. Not to mention he had lost full use of his left arm. Lloyd threw his rucksack and his swords towards the wall and chucked himself on the bed. He felt more guilty after the way he had treated Kratos than he had after he shunned Kate in Sybak.

'I drew my sword on my own father...' Lloyd brought his right hand up to his face and rubbed his temple, 'He was only trying to help me.'

You were only trying to help yourself.

Lloyd jumped at the voice he heard echoing around the room. He leapt off the bed and slowly walked towards where his weapons lay.

'Who's there?'

Kratos has been known to get involved in things which do not concern him, I know you were only trying to do the right thing by not telling him.

'No, really, this isn't funny now,' Lloyd's voice shook and he leaned against the wall to steady himself, his strength lacking, 'Where are you?'

I'm not in the room if that is what you are asking. On the contrary, I'm miles and miles above you, so you are quite safe.

'Huh?' Lloyd pressed his hand to the side of his temple to stiffle his headache, 'Yggdrasill?! Are you talking from Derris-Kharlan?'

We got there in the end. I know your mana is running low, but I figured you would work it out a bit quicker than that.

'Mana...running low? What...is this what's happening to me?'

You have my Cruxis Crystal. It is designed to take the mana from the host's body should it be worn without a key crest. Soon your body's mana supplies will be spent, and you shall be no more.

'But...my mom survived without a key crest. Your lying! This is just some kind of sick joke.'

Ah, I kid you not. Your mana levels are the highest I have ever seen on an inferior being. The Crystal has been trapped by that accursed key crest for so many years the process of exhausting your mana supply is moving at a VERY speedy pace indeed. Pity for you really, but great for me. Seems as though I can wait until you are out of the way, and then nobody will stop me regaining Martel's vessel.

'What?! Don't you dare touch Collette!'

Now, now. No need to get agressive is there? Not when I have the power to speed up or slow down this little process of yours. Let me demonstrate.

Lloyd cried out as the room before him fell into a purple blur. He stumbled and ended up kneeling beside the bed, struggling for air. His heart beat in his ears as he waited for the room to return to some kind of coherent focus.

'What did you just do?'

I drained some of your mana. I could drain all of it from you now, take that Chosen and be done with this 4000 year charade. I'm tired of living, Lloyd, tired of fighting to save someone that I love. Surely you can appreciate that?

'You can do what you like with me...' Lloyd coughed and pulled himself to his feet, 'but please, don't take Collette.'

I can't promise that I'm afraid. However, what I can promise is that if you do some small errands for me, I'll give you a key crest and then a chance for you to defend your dear, Collette.

'I'm not going to negotiate with you! What right do you have to take away her life?'

Lloyd lurched forward and fell to the ground again as Yggdrassil drained some more mana.

What right do you have to deny Martel of hers? Now, I'm only going to ask you once more. If you do some errands for me, I will give you the chance to defend her. Otherwise I just kill you now and take the girl for Martel. That also may mean sacrificing the lives of all of your other friends too, not to mention that traitor of a father. Looks like the young Aurion has a decision to make, doesn't it?

Lloyd scowled as he recovered from the mana drain. What choice did he have? It was not his right to sacrifice the lives of his friends that way.

'How do I know you will keep your promise?'

You don't. But then again, I don't think you are in the position to negotiate the terms of our little agreement, are you?

'Huh...' Lloyd laughed sarcastically, 'What is it you want me to do?'

Haha, you sound exactly like your father. You want a world without discrimination, just like me. Well now you can help deliver it. I need you to capture the first of 2 leaders who recently opposed the integration of half-elves; the Pope of Tethe'alla.

'The Pope?' Lloyd questioned, 'But Meltokio captured him themselves, didn't they? Those guards thought Collette was Spiritua reborn and-'

Come now, do you think I would let one of my main men in Tethe'alla be captured by his own people like that? No, I decieded it would be more fun to play a small game of cat and mouse with him. He was given some soldiers and I helped him escape the city. He now lives a life on the run and I want you to finish this little game of mine.

'You want me to kill him?!'

Oh, no no no. Just capture him. I think you just need a little taste of the power I have and the decisions I am forced to make day in, day out.

'I'm not strong enough to fight off the papal guard alone!' Lloyd shouted, trying to establish which decision was the right one to take, 'How do I know you are not just sending me to my death?'

I'll lend you some of my mana when you get there. You will be able to use one sword efficiently enough to dispose of the guard. Capture the pope alive and I will take it from there.

'But I would be working with the en-enemy...I...I would be helping Cruxis!' Lloyd stammered slightly over his words.

Ah, but did you not condemn the Pope for what he did to his daughter? Who is the evil one here? The line between good and evil is a blur, Lloyd, you must just make the decision that is the most right, even if it means sacrificing some others along the way. The Pope has done wrong, the half-elves have done nothing wrong. Surely sacrificing one man who has committed sin is more worthwile than allowing thousands of innocents to suffer to eternity?

Lloyd just sat in silence, eyelids closing and opening slowly as he tried to blink away the painful headache that was tormenting him.

Good. In the top drawer of the desk is something that may help you disguise your identity a little more. I hope it is useful to you, and more suited to your tastes than some of the other outfits my people wear. The Pope is hiding in the Ymir Forest. Make your way there, and I will contact you upon arrival.

Don't make a mistake.

Lloyd glared at the floor at the last comment from Yggdrassil. He picked himself up once more and staggered over to the desk by the window, opening it up to reveal a new set of clothes for him to wear. Inside was a pair of white baggy trousers, a white vest top and a small purple cloak that hung neatly behind him from his shoulders. Surprised, Lloyd changed into the outfit, shocked as to how light it was and how much of a far cry it was from any of the dwarven clothes he had ever worn before. At the bottom of the clothes pile in the drawer was a purple beanie hat, perfect to hide Lloyd's strikingly familiar chestnut brown hairstyle. He pulled it on and looked in the mirror, feeling wary of the familiar colour scheme for the first time.

Lloyd's thoughts drifted back to his friends, and in particular, Kratos, who he had so spectacularly shunned only hours previously. Now he was working with Yggdrasill in order to give himself a chance to protect Collette.

Don't make a mistake. The words echoed around Lloyd Irving's head as he pulled on his black boots, picked up his belonging and stepped out into the snowy streets of Flanoir.