Chapter 2

Scene: Hours later at the Renegade base in the Triet Desert.

"Ugh...where am I?" Genis looked around the room to see his sister Raine, the Summoner Sheena, and the now angel Colette.

After having spoken Raine looked up towards her sibling and moved towards him with a sad smile on her face. Genis gets out of the bed and moves to Colette expecting some kind of response from her. Colette does not respond and he hears Sheena try to speak. "...she doesn't respond to anything we say." It's then he notices the lack of his best friend Lloyd.

"Where's Lloyd?" the young half-elf turned his sister hoping he was ok, but realized very quickly that something was very wrong when his sister looked down at her feet. He then looked to the ninja intending to ask her the same question, but she had turned away before he could open his mouth to speak. He did notice a she had a single tear fall down the cheek. The grim reality of what must have happened set in as he started to cry eventually being joined by his sister and Sheena's silent sobs.

After a few minutes of crying Raine managed to regain some composure before trying to change the subject and tilted her brother's face towards her. "Genis, do you remeber this place? We're in the Triet Desert. Remember? This is the base where... Lloyd... was held captive before." She didn't mean to, but she stuttered when she said her late student's name.

The little boy pulled himself together somewhat before answering her. "...The Desian Base?"

At this time Sheena entered the conversation. "These guys aren't Desians."

Seeing the confused look on the younger Sage's face the elder attempted to claify, "Why don't we go over everything we know about the situation as it stands now. First, our current situation. Kratos seems to take orders from other angel that appeared in the Tower of Salvation named Yggdrasill. First...Lloyd... was.. sobs ...and then when we were also about to be... killed in the Tower of Salvation, we were rescued by the organization on this base that resembles the Desians. They call themselves the Renegades."

The young boy took a moment to process this information and couldn't help but notice how Raine refused to say anything about Lloyd. He took that too mean it was still too soon for her to talk about even though he wanted to know exactly what happened. "So these people call themselves Renegades and not Desians? Okay, please go on."

The scholar tried to smile, but failed. "It seems the Renegades oppose the Desians. They probably have a reason for intentionally trying to look like Desians."

He wondered out loud, "We were saved by an organization called Renegades that looks like the Desians. So what about that bastard...Kratos?" he spat with as much venom on his tongue as possible saying that vile name.

"Yggdrasill said some things in the Tower of Salvation...Now this is purely conjecture, but Cruxis, holy beings worshipped by the Church of Martel, and teh Desians may in face be the same organization." the scholar theorized.

Genis was shocked by his sister's theory, "...whoa, wait...what! How could that be possible!"

Before he could go on his guardian again spoke "Little brother, hear me out. If we think of the Desians as a part of Cruxis, or perhaps their pawns, everything makes sense. Remeber one of the Desian Five Grand Cardinals said that their boss was Yggdrasill and Yggdrasill said that he was the leader of Cruxis and the Desians when he appeared before us."

Quickly picking up on where his sister was going with this. "If the Desians and Cruxis are the same, then Kratos? You said he obeyed Yggdrasill's orders. So then he must be...", he questioned.

"...That's right, he's our enemy! He deceived us! He admitted it himself. He's one of Cruxis' Four Seraphim!" the angry Summoner spat. Both noticed her eye start to twitch knowing from experience that the would be assassin only does this when she's severly pissed off.

Raine continued, "Kratos is likely a subordinate of Yggdrasill. He probably joined us to make sure 'The Chosen' didn't stray from the journey to regenerate the world. " Immediately after Raine finished her brother said to himself more than anyone, "...so we were deceived from the very beginning. By Remiel, Cruxis, even Kratos!"

Before anyone could say another word the doors to their room flew open and five Renegade soldiers marched in. "Ah, you're awake. Then please, come with me to the next room. Our leader awaits you.", barked one man.

The four of them cautiously walked to the next room wondering whom they were about to meet and why the Renegades saved them. Upon entering the room they were greeted by a blue-haired man with a cape, "So, you're all finally awake."

The ninja glared at the Renegade's leader causing him to laugh before Genis asked, "Are you the Renegades?"

The man looked at the youngest member of the group and smiled at him. Not a amused or arrogant smile, but a friendly smile. "Correct. We're an underground resistance dedicated to fighting the Desians...or rather, Cruxis."

A voice from behind them spoke and they immediately recognized him as Botta, "Cruxis controls the Church of Martel in the open, and operates the Desians from behind the scenes. The Desians are a subordinate organization within Cruxis." None of them trusted him but didn't dwell on it for too long.

"The Church of Martel is nothing more than an instrument created by Cruxis in order to rule the world. Those who call themselves angels are half-elves, who've evolved by using a special type of Exsphere called Cruxis Crystals. They aren't gods or anything of the sort. Of course, the Church of Martel and the Chosen know nothing about that." the blue-haired man spoke again.

The native of Tethe'alla was suprised by this revelation and couldn't contain herself, "They're half-elves, too?"

Botta nodded, "Yes. Some of the Desians, as well as Cruxis and ourselves, are half-elves."

The Mizuhoean absent mindedly mumble aloud, "...what is Cruxis trying to do? Are they doing all of this just to rule the world?"

The Renegade's leader cast her an annoyed look and snapped, "Do you intend to have us explain everything? How about using your own head a little." The response she gave was turning a fierce glared at him causing two of the soldiers still in the room to step back quickly.

The man cast both soldiers a scolding look before Raine spoke, "Do they wish to revive the Goddess Martel? They send oracles to those of the mana lineage and control their marriages to create Chosens who become the vessel. It seems meaninglessly drawn out and complicated."

Botta looked at the intellectual pleased at how quickly she made the connections. "Well, well. I'm impressed."

Before she could follow Sheena's earlier example the Renegades Leader spoke again, "There is another world beyond Sylvarant that competes for mana."

The youngest present quickly nodded and stated, "Tethe'alla."

Sheena who was still glaring at the blue-haired man suprised most of the room's occupants when she shouted, "Who the hell are you?"

The iritating man's eyes sparkled with amusement letting Sheena know he'd known she would crack. "If you must know my name is Yuan. And you are Sheena Fujibayashi..." he turned, "Genis Sage" and finally to the teacher, "and you are the brains of this pitiful group...Raine Sage." They were suprised this man knew their names. "Now that introductions are out of the way back to the important matters."

"The one who created this twisted world was Cruxis' leader, Yggdrasill.", The man now known as Yuan spoke.

"Impossible! No one can create a world like that!" Genis shouted in total disbelief.

Yuan turned his cold eyes to the younger Sage and said, "If that's what you believe, then our conversation ends here."

The elder Sage keeping her level head stops him just as he's about to leave, "...Wait. If Yggdrasill was the one that created the two worlds himself, what can you possibly hope to do against someone like that?"

"And that's not all you tried to kill Colette and the rest of us. You're certainly not on our side. Yet for some reason, you saved us. Why?" her little brother added moving closer to her.

Their host gave them a twisted smirk before he started shaking his head. "...You're not as stupid as I thought."

The aggressive woman responded before the others could, "EXCUSE ME!"

The aggrivating man closed his eyes not bothering to look her way. "...Our goal is to stop Martel's revival. Therefore, the Chosen, who would become her vessel, was an obstacle." spoke Botta moving towards the group slowly. Yuan then opened his eyes and said, "Unfortunately, the Chosen completed the angel transformation. The Chosen is now a lethal weapon whose only goal is self-preservation. We wouldn't dare lay a hand on her. But recently we found the key to stop Martel's resurrection. We no longer need the Chosen!" glancing at Colette.

"...What!" was Sheena's response while the other two just look confused.

Botta cringed before he moved around the group to whisper something into his leader's ear. Having superior hearing than humans both Sages managed to catch one word which further confused them..."Lloyd". Immediately after speaking Botta moved back only to be backhanded by Yuan, "You idiot! How could you let that to happen!" Botta immediately started begging for forgiveness.

Raine whispered to Sheena what she'd heard causing the summoner to squeak. Both men looked at her while Genis slapped his forehead and shook his head. Before the elder half-elf could stop her Sheena demanded, "Lloyd! What's so special about him?"

Yuan glared at her and stated coldly, "That's none of your concern! You and your friends no longer have any value." He glanced at his soldiers and gave a nod causing the soldiers to pull out their weapons on the group. The group quickly put their backs to each other and Sheena kicked the little worm as he approached with his men.

He kneeled on the floor clutching his side. "Ugh!"

His soldiers quickly surrounded him as one of them shouted "Lord Yuan!"

Before the soldiers could seek retribution on Sheena the second in command stopped them, "No! It's his wound from Hima!"

Still holding his side Yuan said to no one in particular, "Kratos...How many times must you get in my way!"

"Wound from Hima?" echoed through the minds of the three before the four of them took off. The Mizuhoean quickly summoned Corrine to slow the Renegade soldiers down. As the group made their way through the base Sheena suggested the group head to Tethe'alla and visit the Imperial Research Academy. "They are studying Exspheres and may know something about Cruxis Crystals as well."

The Sages were both sold as this may get at least one member of their group back. Genis looked at her as they ran and asked, "Does Tethe'alla have a chosen?" He immediately regretted his words when Sheena's eye began to twitch again.

"Unfortunately", she said through gritted teeth, "The world regeneration ritual is carried out in Tethe'alla as well. The Church of Martel exists, too."

Raine listening in on the two added while glancing back at Colette who still followed them, "If they've been carrying out the regeneration that many times, why hasn't Martel's vessel been completed yet?" Then she began to speculate again, "Perhaps those corpses lined up in the Tower of Salvation were...No, never mind."

The other woman tried to comfort her, "Your right. There are too many things that we don't know: Cruxis' objective, the Renegades, the method to save Colette...so let's just do what we can for now...it's off to Tethe'alla?" She was happy when silver haired woman nodded.

Sheena told Raine and Genis about how to travel between the two worlds, "My understanding is that you can travel to Tethe'alla by passing through a distortion in space. As far as I know, crafts called Rheairds are the only things that can do that. Following me...I think I know where they are." Minutes and many guards later the group found the Rheairds and the summoner rushed them onto the vehicles, "Hurry! Or they'll catch us!" Moments later the group took off through the now open hatch in the side of the base.

The shortest party memeber happily shouted, "Tethe'alla...here we come!" as the Rheairds vanished.

In a small forest near a shrine a figure moans as it starts to awaken. The young male opens his brown eyes to look around and uses both hands to lift himself off the ground. The figure moves one arm his hand to rub his head when he notices both hands are still holding him up. Looking at the hand in front of him and glancing down he sees he now has four arms and hands before letting out string of curses. He starts to panick as he can tell his four arms are all real and attached to him. Then he remembers his dream or what he thought was a dream.

-Flashback Begins-

There is immense pain in his chest as he wakes. The boy looks down at where he knew he had been struck and saw the wound almost completely healed, even the blood on his body had flowed back into him. From the pain he knew he was still alive and not in heaven, "Sorry mom...guess I won't be joining you just yet."

He started to stand up as he felt his muscles begin to spasm. There was indescribable pain in his shoulders extending down both arms and to the middle of his chest. He struggled to take his shirt off to survey any damage he was unaware of. Once the shirt was off the pain lessened a little before spiking again as he felt like his shoulders and arms were trying to split. He watched in horror as his arms split to form two more arms just before the pain caused him to lose conciusness.

-Flashback Ends-

Surveying his arms and shoulders he noticed his shoulders now twice as thick as they had been before. Cautiously using one hand presssing down on one shoulder he felt that his shoulders had thickened and were connected to both arms, then checked the other side for the same results. He was worried that his rear arms might lack flexibility or have caused his front arms that loss, so he experimented a little to find his rear arms even more flexible than his front arms and perfect for defending himself from a rear attack. Glancing down at his body again he was suprised to see his muscles were now well defined and demonstrating power with every movement. He was never the vain type but other than the four-arm thing the ladies would love him.

Then upon remembering he was stuck like this he began to panick again. Then he heard a strong, commanding voice, "Do not worry so." Quickly he searched the forest around him and the shrine behind him. He found no one there and began to question his sanity when the voice spoke again. "Your not insane...now stop that!" The boy realized the owner of this voice must be able to read his mind. "Exactly my boy."

The boy asked out loud, "Who are you?"

The voice chuckled before answering, "I am a part of you." Then paused a moment before continuing, "I've been a part of you for a long time. I stepped in during your fight and saved you." This was not the answer he wanted to hear and he was certain this voice knew it. "Patience young one...all will be revealed in time. For now I suggest you learn how to fight." He became very annoyed hearing this as he already knew how to fight. "I agree you have some skill fighting, but not with four arms...it's different from what you are used to. I can link my mind with you to help you, but you must master this on your own."

Seeing no other option he opened his mind up to the foreign being before catching a glimpse of a man with deep blue eyes and should-length blonde hair staring at him. Immediately his mind was filled with knowledge on how to use his extra arms. To him it was like receiving distorted knowledge or perhaps...distorted memories?

Moments passed by before the knowledge ended and he knew he could control his knew arms, but would require practice before he'd be able to defend himself at his best once more. "Before I leave young one...I have one more thing for you. Use mana in your body...picture it in your mind and then transform it into weapons for yourself." The boy annoyed at being called young one again thought back to the voice "Old timer" before following his instructions. He tried and failed to do anything, but being himself he was not about to give up. He quickly tried again and again for three and a half hours before he finally decided to rest a bit.

He could already hear the voice's disappointment and was determined that after a short rest he would follow the instruction or die trying...again...or almost dying anways. The sun was starting to go down and he decided he needed to eat something. He made a fire using nearby materials and pulled out what little food he had. He quickly inhaled his sandwich and knew it would have to be enough for now. Reaching for his shirt he realized he would have to have tailored or get a new shirt as his thickened shoulders and extra arms could easily rip through such material and that was his favorite shirt. Before he could get depressed about his situation he heard a noise in the forest. It was a deep, loud roar. He knew it was so kind of monster and knew that even if he put out the fire the beast would sniff him out. He tried to create the weapons from the voice's instructions, but again failed. Looking around for something to defend himself with he grabbed two burning limbs out of the fire and two sturdy sticks he found nearby.

He knew his current weapons would do little good, but what choice did he have. He waited patiently for the beast to show itself. He heard and saw trees start to fall down and knew where the beast would strike. The beast quickly approached the fire and in the light the boy could see he was fighting a young dragon slightly bigger than him. But something about this dragon disturbed him, like how the dragon had bloodshot eyes and was exuding a threatening aura. The dragon quickly spotted the boy and charged him forcing the boy to defend himself. Strike the beast with two of the sticks and shoving one of the burning limbs in the dragon's face the beast moved back, but not before swinging his tail around and throwing the pitiful creature that dare strike him into the woods. When he was hit it caused him to drop most of his weapons leaving him with one thick stick.

The dragon blasted fire into the forest trying to hit the boy and managed to burn the boy's right arms before he could dodge. Cringing in the pain the struggled to get up as the dragon lauched another attack using his claws to pin the boy down while he tried to eat the boy. The boy managed to stop the dragon from eating him by shoving the limb into the dragons mouth, but the dragon snapped it off and moved its head towards its prey again. The beast started to open its mouth as it prepared to feast when the boy under his claws took the stick and stabbed the dragon in the eye with the sharp point the dragon had created when he'd snapped the stick. The dragon howled in pain and buried its claws deeper before moving off the boy. Taking advantage of his new freedom the boy moved out from under the dragon. The dragon recovered somewhat and prepared to torched this poor fool.

"I...I am...I am LLOYD IRVINE! AND I WON'T DIE HERE!", he shouted. Then in his mind he was able to picture the weapons perfectly and to his suprise the weapons formed in each hand. His front hands wielded to powerful swords while his rear hand now wielded staff weapons. Each one different, but obviously powerful. Lloyd charged the dragon causing it to delay it's attack giving Lloyd a clear shot at it. Using the full might of his new weapons he stabbed and sliced the dragon to peaces with rediculous ease. When he finished blood was all over him and his weapons, but then the dragon's body and bloody just faded away like it had never been there. Lloyd would have thought just that if not for the destruction of his campsite and his wounds.

Now he began to wonder how he was going to get back to Colette and how his friends would react to his predicament. It was then he decided he wouldn't tell them about he strange tranformation as he looked down at his blades and staffs. He'd have to come up with some way to hide his 'condition' from them, maybe hide his extra arms inside his shirt. Whatever he had to do he'd cross that bridge later...for now he wanted food and sleep.