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This picks up with Lloyd's group just leaving Palmacosta. Enjoy!
I don't own TOS.
((LLOYD POV))
The training must have worn me out, because for once I didn't dream – nothing good but nothing bad, either.
"Lloyd, get up." Kratos shook my shoulder. I sat up, yawning and stretching down to pet Noishe. "Morning."
Genis yawned. "Morning. I'm gonna miss sleeping in a real bed."
I groaned. "Don't remind me."
We got dressed and followed Kratos out and downstairs into the lobby, where Colette and the Professor were waiting.
"Lloyd." Colette hugged me. "All better?"
"Yeah, thanks." I smiled.
The Professor nodded. "Let's go."
We left the Inn, everyone else eating breakfast as we went while I looked around the awakening city, petting Noishe.
"How far is it to the Peak?" I asked.
The Professor frowned. "According to the map in the Academy, it's a two days' journey to a House of Salvation and another day after that before we'll reach Hakonesia Peak."
"At least it's not the desert!" Colette chirped.
"That's true." Genis agreed.
"Just remember to pace yourselves – we don't want anyone collapsing." Kratos warned.
"Yeah, yeah. This'll be fun!" I grinned.
Genis rolled his eyes. "You're getting too excited…"
I stuck out my tongue. "Am not!"
We left the city and took the path, meeting a few travelers on the way but they left us alone.
"Whoah! Look!" I said, pointing ahead of us.
"What? I don't see anything!" Genis exclaimed.
"Right there! It's coming right at us – just keep watching!" I yelled.
Kratos squinted, drawing his blade. "Insect monsters."
Everyone drew their weapons, and I heard the Professor gasp once she caught sigh of them.
"It's so big!" Colette exclaimed suddenly.
"And they're fast!" Genis added
I grinned. "Yeah. Looks like there's three of them – they're so red! And look at their wings!"
Kratos glanced at me. "They are monsters, Lloyd. We will have to kill them."
"I know." I said. "Hey, can I try fighting them while flying?"
"Hmph." Kratos snorted.
"C'mon, please!" I begged.
"This area is wide open to attacks from all sides. However, it would be good practice…" Kratos reluctantly said.
"Yes! Thanks!" I took out my wings and shot into the sky.
"Lloyd Irving, be careful!" The Professor shouted after me.
They were close enough now that Genis and the Professor were casting and Colette could use her long range attacks.
Kratos moved in front of them, slashing at the bugs when they dived at my friends but otherwise was limited in his attacks.
I shouted and flipped in the sky, loving the rush of the wind.
"Lloyd, you can fly leisurely later. Take them out!" Kratos yelled.
I grinned and saluted him, shooting to the nearest bug, slashing. This close up, I could see black spots on their red shells.
"Sonic Thrust!" I propelled forward, stabbing one of the insects clean through. It shrieked and fell to the ground, Kratos making quick work of it.
I rounded and came up behind another one, wings sparkling in the sunlight. "Hurricane Thrust!" The bug was knocked around in the air, but a few of the currents affected me, too, so my hits missed. Note to self – no air attacks while actually in the air.
Huh, I wonder… "Demon Fang!"
Mana shot out and sliced the bug in two. "Cool!" I grinned.
Turning midair to face the last bug, I gripped my swords and yelled, "Tempest!". Spinning through the air, I managed to slash the bug and wound it enough for it to drop to the ground. I kept spinning and it took a few seconds for me to get myself back in control, wings fluttering and heart pounding.
Kratos finished off the insect. "That's enough. Land."
I reluctantly nodded and started in a lazy decent. There was a whistling sound and I turned just as an arrow pierced my wing.
I shouted in pain, dropping in the air. Everyone below me was shouting but I ignored them, focusing on not plummeting out of the sky. Another arrow flew at me, and I managed to pull Guardian up, the arrow bouncing off the bubble harmlessly as my good wing worked extra to keep me in the air. Turning, I looked at the damage: the arrow had pierced the middle of my wings where the feathers were thickest and had gotten stuck half-in, half-out.
Lurching, I let myself drop to the ground, stumbling as my feet hit the soil. Immediately, my friends surrounded me, Kratos and the Professor inspecting my wound.
The Professor cautiously touched the arrow and a twinge of pain shot through my body.
"Shit! Dammit! Ah, Goddess, fuck!" I cursed, arms shaking.
"Lloyd." Kratos said calmly, forcing me to look at him. "Sheath your swords before you accidentally cut someone."
I nodded, gritting my teeth and sheathing my blades. He frowned at the arrow, then look back at me.
"It seems it was just someone traveling, not someone after you as the Chosen. They must have thought you were another flying monster." The Professor said.
"Lloyd, you gonna be okay?" Genis asked worriedly.
Noishe whined.
"Keep watch." The Professor said sternly. Reluctantly, Colette and Genis turned back to scanning the landscape.
The Professor turned to Kratos. "It's embedded deep."
Kratos nodded. "We have to remove it in order to heal the damage."
The Professor blanched.
"Listen to me, Lloyd. The arrow is stuck in the thickest part of your wing. We need to pull it out so we can heal you. It will hurt, but you need to stay still. Do you understand?"
"Shit! Just do it already!" I snapped.
Kratos nodded. "Professor Raine, I'm going to need you to brace him."
The Professor nodded tightly.
"Lloyd, can you kneel? It will give me a better angle." Kratos said.
I dropped to my knees, hands clenching the fabric of my pants tightly. I squeezed my eyes closed as the Professor knelt in front of me, holding my shoulders.
I felt Kratos move to my side and I tensed. Suddenly, he snapped one end of the arrow off and I jerked in the Professor's hold, cursing.
"Lloyd…" Colette murmured.
"I'm going to pull it out and immediately cast First Aid." Kratos said, carefully gripping the wooden rod through my wing.
I sucked in a deep breath and Kratos pulled. I choked on a shout, tears springing to my eyes.
"First Aid!" Kratos said, and warm mana centered on the wound. The pain faded to a dull ache and then vanished almost completely. I let out a sigh and opened my eyes.
The Professor studied me intently. "Are you all right?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
Kratos fingered the sealed wound, sending a small tingle through my body. "Using your wings will likely pull on this spot until it fully heals. No more flying until it does, understood?"
"Yeah. I got it." I pulled my wings in and stood up. Colette immediately hugged me.
"Lloyd!" She cried.
"Hey, I'm fine." I said, patting her back.
She pulled back and smiled. Genis smacked my shoulder.
"Idiot! Be more careful!" He yelled.
"I know, jeez. Sorry to worry you." I said.
He snorted.
"Well, now that that is over, let's get going." The Professor said, dusting herself off.
I nodded.
"Lloyd." Kratos said as we started walking and I petted Noishe to let him know I was okay.
"Yeah?" I glanced at him.
"You're flying was a little sloppy. Even though you managed to block the second attack, you should have been able to avoid the first. Do not block out your surroundings in a battle." He said sternly.
"Hey! You try fighting while flying, or flying with a freakin' arrow in your wing!" I growled.
He merely raised an eyebrow at me. "You have many improvements to make before you'll become as strong as you hope to be."
"Dammit! You think you're just so great and know everything, don't you?" I muttered angrily.
"Hmph. Grow stronger, Lloyd." Kratos said before quickening his pace to join the Professor in the front of the group.
I grumbled. "Fine, I will!"
Noishe whined and I petted him. "Arrogant bastard. But he's right. Dammit."
We kept walking and walking and walking and soon the sight of the grass and the trees became just as boring to look at as the desert sand had been.
Around noon, the Professor let us stop for a rest and we gladly sat down, everyone else eating lunch while I just lay back in the grass and closed my eyes, resting.
All too soon we were back on the road, Colette, Genis, and I playing a game of who could guess what we were looking at, although it quickly got repetitive and we gave it up.
The sun started setting and I could hear the running water of a river.
"Hey, Professor?" I called.
"Yes, Lloyd?" She answered.
"Didn't you say halfway to the House of Salvation is a river? Is that where we're stopping for the night?" I asked.
"Yes, the river is our goal for tonight. Why?" She asked curiously.
I grinned. "I can hear running water."
"We're almost there!" Colette exclaimed happily.
"Thank Goddess." Genis sighed.
The sun was almost gone from the sky by the time we actually reached the river, and everyone was happy to take off our packs and sit down for a moment.
"I will get some firewood." Kratos said, walking away from where we had collapsed onto the ground.
I rolled my eyes but pushed myself up.
"C'mon, we gotta get out our blankets and stuff." I said, talking mine out of my pack.
Genis groaned, but as soon as the Professor gave him a meaningful look, he was pulling out his stuff, too.
Kratos had a fire going and Colette was cooking spaghetti. The Professor was showing some book to Genis and I was lying with Noishe, looking up at the stars as they appeared in the night sky.
The food was done and everyone was eating when I sat up. "So who's the night watch?"
"Kratos and I will take turns, like we've done in the past. You three need your sleep." The Professor said.
I frowned. "But you need sleep, too! I'll do a shift!"
The Professor shook her head. "No, Lloyd. You, above all of us, need your sleep."
"I'm taking a shift." I said stubbornly. "So what if I'm the Chosen? More people taking turns means shorter shifts."
"Hey! I can do a shift, too!" Genis said.
"Me too!" Colette added.
The Professor sighed. "You are children, we can't let you stay up like that or you won't be able to make it as far tomorrow."
"But – " Genis started.
"Don't protest, Genis. You know you're tired from the walking today. We have just as far to go tomorrow." The Professor said firmly.
Genis frowned but nodded, dropping it. Colette stared at her plate.
"Right, so I'll take the first shift." I said.
"Lloyd, I thought I made myself clear – you three will not be the night watch. Kratos and I can handle it." The Professor said.
"I'm not even tired, Professor! I'm stronger than I was before I released the seal." I protested.
"I agree that children should not take a shift as night watch." Kratos said. "However, the Chosen is not exactly a child. If he wants to do it, let him do it."
I smiled. "Thanks, Kratos!"
"But you must be alert during your shift. If we get ambushed because you fell asleep, you put the lives of those you care about in jeopardy." Kratos warned.
I nodded. "I know. I'll be awake, I promise!"
The Professor sighed. "Fine. But consider this your trial. If you're over tired tomorrow, you won't be night watch again."
"Okay. Thanks, Professor." I said.
Genis looked at me funny. "Why do you even want to do it? Don't you want to sleep?"
I shrugged. "Like I said, I'm not that tired."
"Wow, Lloyd! You're amazing!" Colette said, smiling.
"Heh, nah…" I said, hand behind my head.
"Hmph." Kratos snorted.
"All right then. Let's go to sleep. Lloyd, do you want the first shift?" The Professor asked.
"Sure." I said.
She nodded. "Wake me in four hours, then. Kratos, do you mind having the last shift?"
"No." Kratos answered, setting up his blanket.
The Professor nodded. "All right then."
It got quiet and slowly everyone's breathing evened out. The fire had died down to glowing embers. Noishe laid his head on his paws and I rubbed his head.
Whispering softly enough that I knew no one could hear me, I said: "Noishe, you don't have to stay up with me."
Noishe just tilted his head to look at me and whine softly in the back of his throat.
I smiled. "Thanks, Noishe."
I looked up at the stars, watching as the night sky got darker as it became later. I wasn't really thinking about anything, and yet thinking about everything.
Finally, I yawned, scanning our surroundings once more as I'd been doing for the past few hours. Deeming it time for the Professor's turn, I crawled to her sleeping form and gently shook her shoulder.
She started, sitting up and looking around.
"It's your turn." I whispered.
She nodded sleepily and poked at the smoldering fire. Satisfied she was up, I crawled back over to my blanket by Noishe and lay down, falling asleep almost instantly.
Scrunching up my face, I cracked my eyes open.
"Ack, ew, Noishe, stop!" I laughed, sitting up and pushing the big dog away.
Genis laughed. "I can't believe Noishe actually did it!"
I petted the whining dog. "Genis! You told him to lick me?"
Genis smirked. "You needed to wake up."
"I think it's cute! Noishe loves you." Colette said smiling.
I smiled back. "Yeah." Giving Noishe one last pet, I stood and packed up.
Kratos was surveying the landscape. The Professor looked around and nodded.
"Everyone ready?" She asked.
After a chorus of yes's, she nodded and headed for the small wooden bridge stretching across the river, all of us right behind her.
"Did you sleep okay, Lloyd?" Colette asked.
I nodded. "Yup!"
Genis looked at me. "I'm still tired and I didn't stay up as night watch!"
I stuck my tongue out at him. "I guess I'm just better than you!"
Genis snorted. "Not even in your dreams."
"Hey!" I smacked his shoulder.
"All right, enough." The Professor said.
The sun rose in the sky as we walked. Around noon, the Professor deemed it time to take a break and we all moved a little of the path and sat in the grass. There was slight breeze and it felt good blowing through my hair. Leaning back on my hands, I watched my friends dig in to lunch – I could smell the food and yet I only noticed the smell when I looked at my friends eating – I was ignoring the smell since I couldn't eat it anyway.
"Man, are we almost there?" Genis complained rubbing his calves.
"A little over halfway – we should reach the House of Salvation just before dusk." The Professor said.
Genis groaned.
"Hey, at least it's not the desert!" I said.
"True." He responded.
"And the wind is blowing and the grass is so green and pretty!" Colette added.
I smiled and shook my head.
"Let's go." Kratos said, standing up. We all got up and started walking.
Walking… is really boring. There's nothing to do and you run out of things to talk about really, really quickly.
Finally, as the sun started to set, I could see the House of Salvation up ahead. By now, Genis was dragging his feet a little, and it made me remember that was younger and shorter than me so he probably was pretty tired.
"I can see it!" Genis suddenly exclaimed.
I rolled my eyes. "I've been staring at it for like ten minutes!"
"We can't all have angel powers like you!" Genis retorted.
I chuckled. "You're just jealous."
We walked into the courtyard and through the wooden doors.
"Welcome, travelers!" A priest said, walking over to us.
The Professor smiled at him. "Hello. We are looking for rooms for the night."
"Of course, of course! We welcome all travelers, and as we are supported by the grand Cathedral of Palmacosta, we have the luxury of offering our rooms for free. Please, follow me." The priest said, heading up a flight of stairs.
We followed him up and he passed the first few rooms, heading to the ones on the very ends.
"These rooms have more than one bed in them, and I think they'll suit your group better." The priest explained.
The Professor nodded. "Thank you."
The priest smiled. "May the Goddess grant you rest." He turned and left, and we all filed into one of the rooms. It was small but managed to fit three beds in it.
"Boys and girls?" I asked, and the Professor nodded.
"Noishe can sleep in our room, since Colette and I only need two beds and we can push the third into a corner to give him more room." She explained.
Noishe whined.
Kratos, Genis, and I put our packs on our respective beds, and I sat down to sharpen my blades while everyone else ate dinner.
"Does it bother you?" Genis asked suddenly.
"Huh?" I looked up from my swords.
"Does it bother you when we eat?" He asked.
"Not really. I kinda don't really notice, anymore." I said with a shrug.
"Oh." Genis said, going back to his meal as I returned to my blades. I looked at Kratos and gestured to his blade, and he nodded, so I sharpened his, too.
"All right." The Professor said, standing and cleaning up. "We'll see you in the morning. Come with us, Noishe."
"Night!" Colette chirped as Noishe whined, getting dragged out of the room by the Professor.
I got ready for bed, sighing as I lie down.
"Ahh, sleeping outside can never beat the feeling of sleeping in a bed." Genis said.
I smirked. "Yeah."
"Go to sleep." Kratos said.
I closed my eyes and surprisingly fell asleep right away.
Something touched my shoulder and I bolted upright and swung out blindly.
Kratos easily caught my fist. "Lloyd."
I looked around wildly, but whatever had been attacking me in my dreams was gone.
"Wow, Lloyd. Spaz much?" Genis snorted.
I turned to glare at him as Kratos dropped my fist. Turned back to Kratos, I apologized.
"It's fine. Get dressed – we're having breakfast in the girls' room." He said.
I got up and got dressed, the dream disappearing. I didn't even remember what I'd been dreaming about, all I remember is that it had been… bad.
We headed into the next room and Noishe immediately maneuvered over to me, whining. I smiled and petted him.
"Good morning!" Colette grinned.
"I've made breakfast." The Professor said.
For once, I was really, really glad I didn't need to eat anymore.
"I'm gonna go downstairs and check it out." I said.
The Professor frowned. "Be careful. And don't leave the building."
"I will be." I said, petting Noishe before slipping out the door alone.
I wandered down the stairs and into the main room, the one with the altar. I stopped in the doorway, noticing a familiar figure in purple on her knees, praying.
"…alla will suffer, too! Please, help me find a way to save everyone!" She prayed.
Taking a chance, I stepped forward a little. "What are you praying for?"
She sprang up and whirled to face me. "I was… I was praying to save everyone…
"Huh. That's a nice thought! I know I'm not exactly experienced as the Chosen, but I swear I'm gonna do my best to regenerate the world." I said.
"That won't save everyone! I'm trying to kill you, why are you just standing there talking to me?" She asked, obviously confused and frustrated.
I shrugged. "You seem like a good person – I bet we could talk it out instead of fighting, Ms. Assassin."
"…Sheena. My name is Sheena." She muttered.
I grinned. "Nice to meet you, Sheena! You were praying to save everyone – I want to save everyone, too! I'm sure we can work this out."
She glared at me. "I was also praying that I'd be able to kill you. Forget this, I swear – you'd better be ready next time!" She disappeared in another puff of smoke.
"How does she keep doing that?" I said, frustrated. I ran a hand through my hair before giving up trying to think about it and just accepting that the Professor was right and she had to have some kind of magical transportation ability.
I walked to the altar and noticed a small statue of a girl with wings. The plaque at her feet said it was Spiritua, the first Chosen.
I knelt where Sheena just was and said my own prayer. "Please, let me get this right and not screw it up."
I stood up when I heard everyone coming down the stairs, pretending to be admiring the statue.
"There you are Lloyd." The Professor said, walking over.
I smiled at her. "Yeah. We heading to the Peak?"
The priest from the night before entered the room. "Did you sleep well? And did I hear you are going to the Peak? Do you know you'll need passes?"
"We already have passes, thank you. We are actually going there because we heard that an old man who lives there has the Book of Regeneration." The Professor explained.
"Koton? But why would he have the Book, and why would you want to look at it? It's written in angelic." The priest said.
The Professor glanced at Kratos and then at me. I nodded, knowing she what she wanted to tell him.
"We are the Chosen's group – Lloyd is the Chosen One. We hoped to read about the seals in the Book." The Professor explained.
The priest's eyes widened. "My apologies, Chosen One, for not recognizing you!"
"It's fine, I promise." I said.
The priest calmed, but then frowned. "Koton is not known for his willingness to share his treasures. I fear even if you tell him you are the Chosen One, he will not allow you to view the Book freely."
"Hmm…" The Professor frowned, then her eyes lit up as she spied the statue on the altar.
"Is that a replica of Spiritua?" She asked.
"Uh, yes. It's the only Spiritua statue the Church of Martel has." The priest answered, now flustered as well as confused.
"I wonder… Do you think we could borrow that to appease this Koton? It's for the Regeneration." The Professor said.
"Oh… Ah… I don't… Let me get the head priest." The priest said before fleeing the room.
Genis snorted but a look from the Professor quieted him.
The priest walked back in, leading another priest behind him.
"I'm the head priest here. You say you… want the Spiritua statue?" This new priest said.
The Professor nodded. "I realize it's a rather brazen request, but it is for the world regeneration."
"You are the Chosen One?" The head priest asked me.
Not knowing whether to be relieved he didn't just take my word for it like Dorr had done with the imposters or be irritated at having to constantly prove that yes, I am trying to help, I pulled out my wings and nodded.
The head priest managed to not react, but the regular priest looked caught between awe and wanting to throw up. I almost felt bad for the guy.
"Please fulfill our request." I said.
The head priest nodded. "Very well. We cannot deny the Chosen One – give them the statue."
"F-forgive me!" The priest stuttered. Oh jeez, was he really going to throw up?
"This statue… I… it's fake!" The priest blurted out.
"What?" The head priest asked, stunned.
"I had taken it with me on my pilgrimage to Thoda Geyser, as our laws dictate, but I was so moved by the geyser that I… dropped it in!" The priest explained, hanging his head.
"Where did you get the fake from? I didn't even notice a difference!" The head priest exclaimed.
"A dwarf near Iselia made it."
"That's Dirk!" Genis said.
The Professor nodded. "Yes, I would expect such great craftsmanship from him.
"Dad…" I murmured, staring at the fake statue and shaking my head. "What kind of jobs are you doing?"
"He did a really good job!" Colette smiled.
"Yeah." I said, feeling proud of him.
"Why did you take the statue with you?" The Professor asked.
"It's our policy – it is made with precious gems, so we take it with us on pilgrimages to protect it from thieves." The head priest explained.
"What shall we do now? Try exchanging the fake?" Kratos asked.
The Professor shook her head. "If this Koton is a true historian, he'll recognize it as a fake right away. It's good, but the gems aren't real."
"We could go get the real one." I suggested.
"You want to go all the way to Thoda Geyser to get something that fell into the geyser itself?" The Professor asked, incredulous.
"Actually, it fell onto a small rock outcropping near the geyser." The priest said.
I nodded. "I'll go get."
"Geyser's erupt with boiling hot water, it's too dangerous!" The Professor said.
Genis snorted. "You're so stupid, Lloyd. I bet you didn't even know that about geysers."
"Shut it, Genis!" I snapped, thinking.
"We just need to think of a way to stop the geyser…" Colette said.
"I've heard that the Thoda geyser has a short eruption cycle." Kratos said.
"Is it possible to seal it with something?" The Professor thought aloud.
"That's it! Genis, you could seal it with magic!" I said, smiling.
"How?" Genis asked.
"I don't know, you're the mage. Cover it with ice or something." I said.
"Hmm, that might work. Okay, I'll try!" Genis said.
"Yay! Dwarven vow #1: Work together for a peaceful world!" Colette chirped.
I rolled my eyes. "Not those again…"
Genis laughed. "Don't let Dirk hear you say that! Besides, the Dwarven vows are pretty much the only things you've ever managed to memorize."
I scowled at him.
"I apologize for causing the Chosen One trouble." The priest suddenly said, bowing to me.
"Ah, really. It's fine." I said awkwardly.
"If we are to reach the Thoda docks before nightfall, we should get going." Kratos said.
The Professor nodded. "Yes. Thank you very much."
"We will always aid the Chosen One." The head priest said.
I smiled and we left the House of Salvation, turning east to take the path that the Professor and Kratos said leads to the Thoda docks.
So, what'd you think? Next chapter is Sheena!
Review? :D