Kratos startled Yuan with a laugh, a bitter laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. Kratos shook his head as he stared at his former friend and ally. If he were the same, guiltless Kratos of years past, he would have jumped at Yggdrasill's orders, but those days were gone.
"What is so amusing may I ask?" Yuan demanded.
"The fact that you're still soft enough to swallow Yggdrasill's beliefs and live as his lapdog," Kratos said. "I thought you were smarter than that. Or do you just long for his emotionless world to escape your own pain?"
Yuan shook his head. "Your time among the mortals has softened your brain. You forget: I have no guilt. I feel no pain. Emotion is for the weak."
"I'm certain that if Martel were still alive, she'd tell me different."
Yuan raised his hand and a ball of energy flew at Kratos. Kratos dodged it easily and withdrew his sword. "I struck a nerve."
"The angelus project is almost ready. Kvar says his equipment should be finished soon. Yggdrasill is giving you a choice: return freely."
"Or what?" Kratos asked.
"Or you dig your own grave." Yuan turned on his heel and was gone in a flash.
"You can tell Mithos that I am not as content to serve a guilty conscience as you." Kratos muttered aloud to the spot where Yuan had vanished.
A loud growl made him spin around, sword raised, ready to attack. Behind him was a large green and white…thing. It was crouched low on all fours ready to pounce. Carefully Kratos advanced to strike the animal down before it could kill him. As long as he was quiet- CRUNCH!
A twig snapped loudly somewhere in the woods. The animal pounced leaping for Kratos's throat.
"Demon Fang!" Kratos shouted.
"Barrier!" cried another voice, female. The spell was reflected back at Kratos, who just managed to get out of the way. He jumped high in the air and cried "RISING FALCON!"
"BEAST!" The spell hit him full on before he could collide with his target. He was thrown backward through the air. He flipped over to take the fall on his hands before jumping back up to face his opponent.
It was Anna.
"Sorry, but I couldn't let you attack my dog." she said with a grin.
Kratos stared at the animal who was wagging it's tail happily as Anna scratched it's enormous ears. "Dog?"
"Yup. I rescued him from Desians on my first operation back when I was twelve. They tested exspheres on him, causing him to mutate. But exspheres don't kill animals or alter their personality, just mutate the genetic code causing their body to change."
"You certainly are knowledgeable," Kratos replied. "If somewhat lacking in experience."
"Umm…call me crazy, but I think I just stomped you."
"I was distracted by your strange dog." Kratos pointed out.
"And I used that to my advantage," Anna said simply.
"Kind of reckless to hide behind a distraction." Kratos said
"A warrior uses any resource available." Anna replied with a smug smile.
"Are you implying that you are a warrior?"
"I imply nothing. I'm saying flat out, yes I am a warrior."
"A warrior would not have let a group of Desians get the better of him."
"You're right, unless she made a small miscalculation due to overconfidence."
"Overconfidence can be deadly."
"As your minimal defeat just displayed, right?"
Kratos opened his mouth to retort, but was at a loss of what to say, for the first time in his life at that. He had to admire this girl's spirit.
"Touché," Kratos surrendered. "But don't think you've won the war, just the battle."
"I look forward to future battles," Anna said with a bow of her head. "That's why I am here as a matter of fact." Her smile vanished to be replaced by complete sincerity. "Do you honestly and truly wish to become an assassin?"
"Indeed I do," Kratos answered.
"Then tonight at midnight, your trial will begin."
"What is required of me in this trial?" Kratos asked.
"You shall see." Anna said with a hint of a smile. "Just be ready and pray to Martel for luck." She turned away and said, her voice very smug, "You'll need it."
"You did what!" Ahmond barked and Denise moaned in pain at his loud voice.
"I have set Kratos's Trial for tonight at midnight.' Anna said. "And you, my friend, will do your part."
"And if I refuse? Ahmond asked.
"Well you know the penalty is death," Anna said waving her hand disinterestedly. "But I know you won't."
"Why wouldn't I?" Ahmond said. "You wouldn't kill me…right away," he added lamely.
"Well, three reasons." Anna said crossing her arms. "1- You don't want to die. 2-You're in Kratos's debt for saving Denise 3- You want the chance to fight him."
"Very true," Ahmond said with an evil grin.
"Not to mention, since Denise is out of commission, you get to pick one of the fourwho will test him, and you can choose anyone." Anna grinned.
Ahmond sneered again.. "I think you know who I'll pick."
"Seeing as how Sei is already involved, yes I do know," Anna said. Sei was the third top Jalisa assassin. He also happened to have healing powers that he could use in battle, which made him difficult to defeat.
"Well Anna, looks like you get to participate in yet another Trial!" Denise groaned from her bed. Ahmond stroked her hair back from her head and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hopefully, this time there won't be any traitors," Anna muttered.
"Nah!"Denise said, "You can trust Sei and Ahmond," she reassured Anna. "They don't crave power as Felicity did."
"Yeah, I know."
"Ahmond said you ran into her," Denise said. Despite her weakened state, you could hear the hesitancy in her voice. But it did no good. Ahmond let out a howl of fury and whipped out his sword and drove it into the wall of the sick house where he left it, quivering slightly.
"Ahmond, she'll pay," Anna said resting her hand on his shoulder. She felt so wretched and so guilty, for had it not been for Felicity, Ahmnod's brother would still be alive.
Anna had three older brother's: Adam was the oldest, followed by Edric and Samuel, all three of which had perished in the Desian's attack on Jalisa, the same night Anna's parents died. Felicity and Anna alone of the family had survived.
Ahmond's younger brother, Jason, turned twelve the week Anna was named leader and native born Jalisa assassins took their Trial at twelve, though it was slightly different for initiates. Natives had to defeat the youngest qualified member of the leading family in non-death combat. If they lost, they had to reapply when they turned sixteen. Felicity was two years Anna's junior, being sixteen. She had qualified as an assassin just four months before her family was slain, having failed to defeat Anna when she was twelve, therefore Jason was to fight Felicity.
Felicity had always resented Anna for her defeat those years ago. She fought ruthlessly against Jason, determined to defeat him, yet failed. Jason had her on the ground at sword point in defeat. Anna ordered him to standdown and Felicity to rise and bow in defeat. Jason withdrew and awaited Felicity's resignation, which she gave begrudgingly. When Jason turned to Anna to take the oath, Felicity struck him from behind killing him where he stood. She fled Jalisa thereafter, with Anna, Denise, and especially Ahmond, vowing her death.
"Ahmond…I swear to you," Anna whispered. "She will pay."
"I have to kill her, I have to kill her!" Ahmond moaned in emotional agony.
"You mustn't regret you're desire for revenge!" Denise soothed.
Ahmond looked up, flames burning in his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was low and deadly.
"I don't."
A sound shook Kratos from his pesive wonderings about Anna and the Jalisa clan. Looking out of the small window of the hut, he saw a flickering of orange light: fire.
He raced outside, sword drawn ready to strike but stopped dead at the sight before his eyes. No less than 30 hooded figures had formed a gapless circle around his hut, each holding a torch and staff. As he watched, the circle parted and another hooded figure came forward.
"State your name, novitiate," said a familiar male voice.
Kratos relaxed a bit, assuming this must be the beginning ofthe Trial, but did not lower his sword. "Kratos Aurion."
"Novitiate Kratos Aurion, are you ready to begin the Trial of Jalisa?"
"Yes," Kratos sheathed his sword. "I am."
"Then follow to the village of Asilaj, where you will face the ultimate challenge, novitiate."
I HAVE RETURNED! MWAHAHAHAHA! Sorry the update took so long, but thanks for waiting patiently. I hope you enjoy it and I'm now back on track with updates now. look out for chapter 6 and Kratos's Trial! Read and review and as always ENJOY!