Ohmigosh, an update! Wahoo! M'kay, I expect tons of reviews from you guys! (wishes) Especially since I have my e-mail up and running again; that means replies for you all! (grins)
Le gasp! The first offensive title chapter! You know what that means…(wink wink)
…not really, but it's finally something other than Kratos: "Rawr, I'm angry!" and Raine: "I shouldn't need to heal you, hobo!"
…something like that.
I don't own Tales of Symphonia. If I did, there would be a unison attack that only angels like Kratos and Colette could do. "Heaven's light!"
"Help is on the way…Nurse!" Raine called for what may have been the thousandth time in the time span of twenty minutes. Her large pool of mana was slowly depleting; she knew she couldn't keep up the constant healing spells.
Once again, her student Lloyd had foolishly accepted the Swordsmaster's challenge, without even thinking once of the condition they were in. Persea, Regal, and Sheena were unable to move due to harsh poisoning, much less fight; while poor Genis was exhausted from the constant battling through the Iselia forest.
Though how one grew tired by battling weak monsters was beyond the professor's understanding.
Kratos and Lloyd weren't faring well either. It seemed for every slash they delivered, the monstrous skeleton would counter hundred-fold. The only things keeping the two swordsmen from the brink of death were the Healing Circles, Nurses, and First Aids the half elf sent.
But, to Raine's growing terror, it wasn't going to be enough.
"Gak!" Lloyd flew a couple of meters from another of the Swordmaster's strikes, landing harshly on his back.
"Lloyd!" Kratos roared, pausing in his attacks to run and check on his son. The twin swordsman easily picked himself back up, brushing off his father's concern.
But unfortunately, that flash of worry gave the elite from the underworld the time to begin chanting a spell. The dull white circle that encased it only lasted a mere moment before shinning abruptly, blinding everyone.
Raine, recognizing the spell from her little brother, gave a loud shout of warning, "Watch out! It's Meteor Storm!!"
No sooner as the forewarning rang, giant fiery boulders fell from the heavens, creating large craters in their wake. Raine danced around the blistering heat that fell, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the many chunks of rock. Miraculously, the wounded of their party that couldn't move were untouched by the horrible display of power.
It's only aiming for the attackers! The professor gasped, watching Lloyd and Kratos struggle to avoid the shower of meteors directly intended for them. The brunette jumped back and forth to evade, while the auburn haired man ran from spot to spot, effectively dodging the spell.
But the shower continued to fall, with the Swordmaster constantly chanting the same mantra over and over again.
They can't keep it up…Raine firmly grasped her beautifully decorated staff, chanting a well known and memorized spell. "Light…" Even as she said it in concentration, the silver haired woman saw that the large skeleton regarded her mildly. I'll show you how much of a threat I can be…"Photon!"
The monster gave a deafening screech as the light magic shot through it from within. The attack successfully distracted the Swordmaster, stopping the downpour of flaming rocks.
"So that's its weakness…" the professor murmured to herself, already preparing another light attack. Of course…its element is darkness. "Ray!" She shoved her staff high above the air, seeing her attack was an accomplishment in hurting the monster more.
The rain of light beams hissed through the Swordmaster with ease, causing the monster in turn to swat blindly in the general direction of the magic user. Its swords grazed narrowly by Raine, who had taken extra measures to move out of the way. She jumped from where she was standing, only to have a sword replace her spot.
Get away…get away…Raine continued to run from the skeleton, almost regretting showing the monster her potential. "Anyone want to help!?" She cried irritably, searching for the two swordsmen she oh-so-needed then.
"Demon fang!"
"Double Demon Fang!"
The two attacks were called in unison; the shock waves slamming into the creature. It howled only for a moment before turning around to face the nuisances it knew as 'red one' and 'purple one'.
'Purple one', known to everyone else as Kratos, dashed quickly to the right; at the same time as Lloyd, the 'red one', sped to the left, encircling the great monster. They distracted it while Raine quietly slipped father away to continue her support.
"Here!" The professor threw a lemon gel towards Lloyd, who caught it and gratefully accepted with a quick 'Thanks'. Raine then turned to Kratos with a mantra on her lips, "Are you okay? First Aid!"
"Humph…" Kratos smirked despite the cold response he gave. I knew she wasn't useless…Still, despite all the healing, the seraph was beginning to tire, and he could sense that Lloyd was as well. We must end this quickly! "Follow it up!" the purple clad man called, earning everyone's attention. He slashed at the creature then placed all his weight into thrusting his sword, "Super Lighting Blade!" A blot of lighting added to the ferocity of the driving force.
"Rising Falcon!" Lloyd jumped in a slashed in one fell swoop.
Raine, seeing the opportunity, lifted her staff. "Photon!" She cried, watching in grim satisfaction that the monster seemed to have taken more injury with her attack. Kratos then caught her eye, and they both nodded in silent understanding. "Get ready…" the half elf converted her light mana to surround Kratos, "Now!"
The swordsman took not a second hesitation as he charged straight into the monster, running clean through with his sword. The light that had encased the seraph exploded within the monster, critically damaging it.
The Swordmaster at last fell for the final time.
"Enemies deserve no mercy," Kratos sheathed his silver sword, the air of arrogance almost tangible around his head.
"Wow! Professor, Kratos…that was awesome!" Lloyd bounced from side to side, never witnessing such a combination before. "What was that?"
Raine glanced at the swordsman, unsure what the attack was herself. It reminded me of Photon Tempest, but…
"Plasma Blade," Kratos answered causally, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. A sly grin formed on his lips as he saw the matching bewildered expressions, "Surely you had heard of it before?"
"No," the brunette replied bluntly before running in the direction of Genis to brag about what he got to see while the young half elf was dazed.
Raine shrugged as she laid her staff on the ground to rest," I never heard of it before," She offered, seeing how Kratos seemed somewhat disheartened by his son's lack of interest.
"Hm...yes," Kratos grunted a bit off handedly "Someone taught me that technique."
The professor instantly felt something tug at her. "Someone important?" the half elf asked tactfully, not quite aware of the nagging voice in her head.
The seraph was quiet for a moment "You could say that," He answered finally, waving the subject away with a gesture of his gloved hand. A couple moments of silence passed.
"Was it Martel?"
"Yes," Kratos avoided eye contact with the perspective teacher. "…She was a good friend."
"But you wished it was more," Raine had to hide a smile with the spluttering denials the auburn haired man said while blushing badly. So that's where Lloyd gets it from…
Recovering quickly though, Kratos replied in a quiet voice, "She had Yuan," He smiled bitterly, "then I had Anna." The swordsman chose that moment to look at his son, who was playfully poking Genis' head. "And she left me with a healthy boy…"
"Not a boy any longer," Raine pointed out delicately, moved by the usually cold man's display of emotion.
"Humph. I suppose…" Kratos chuckled softly, raising a brow to the silver haired woman. "Then there's you."
"Me?" Raine asked dumbly blinking in question, "What about me?"
The purple clad man merely smiled mysteriously, leaning close to the half elf's pointed ear and whispering, "Thank you for your help."
Raine felt all her blood rushing to her face feeling the swordsman's warm breath wash over her sensitive ear. She shifted uncomfortably with the close contact, but the half elf refused to move. It felt…nice.
Kratos straightened out promptly enough, maybe too hastily, and turned away to query Regal about the prospect of camping early; leaving Raine a little more than bewildered.
What was that all about?
Ahh…the OoCness, it burrrrrns usssss…Oh well. The "Kratos having a crush on Martel" bit? You can ignore that; I just wanted Kratos to be even more angsty! If that's even possible…Sad, but true!
Does anyone wonder where Colette is at? Don't worry, I didn't forget her on accident; according to this timeline, she's waiting to be rescued from Mithos' Tower. Ha, don't tell me I'm the only one that did sidequests when I should've been saving Colette. (laughs)