Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia or any of it characters.

Path of Ascension

Chapter 5

Lloyd stared eagerly at Origin awaiting whatever information he may have, but was slightly disappointed when the being gave a saddened look instead. "Please understand that this is a very serious matter. What you are about to learn will change your life forever. DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY!", the blonde cautioned.

"Funny...I heard the same thing from the Elder back at the village. I understand that there will be reprecusions for my answers, but have to know the truth.", the boy pleaded. He was already tired of people saying that even though in reality only two people have said that to him, but they didn't understand how he felt. Here he is formerly a normal human boy with nothing special about...now he's got an extra set of arms, can summon weapons from pure mana, he had far more mana in his body than even an elf had, and he had developed a strong desire to go around shirtless all in the last few days. Damn it he wanted answers and he wanted them now, before any other freaky things happened to him.

Origin had watched the boy before his spirit and knew everything he was thinking. "To think I used to be like that...", he thought absent mindedly. "Irvine! If you are truely ready then we shall begin."

Finally he was getting somewhere! The teen moved closer to the spirit as he waited anxiously for those answers. "About time too..." the boy thought with a self-satisfied look on his face.

"Let's start from the beginning shall we.", the spirit began as both men sat down on a nearby log. "Long ago Kratos sealed me away using a powerful seal that I have never seen before. In order to break that seal I used a power we Summon Spirits possess..." he paused letting the swordsman absorb the information, "That power allows us to 'incarnate' ourselves into human bodies. Sort of like reincarnation except without centuries in between and the memory loss."

A little confused the smaller of the two asked, "So you were betrayed by Kratos too?"

Origin scolded Lloyd, "Kratos isn't everything. Your overlooking the 'Big Picture' here." He shook his head wondering if he should just come out and say it. No...he couldn't do that, it could destroy the promising young man if he wasn't careful. "As I said I was able to incarnate a part of myself into a human body."

He was really trying to understand where the older being was going, "So how's that tie in with my transformation?"

The Summon Spirit was sure that the boy was on some level already in denial, but he contiued regardless since he had already come this far, "The part of myself that escaped Kratos' seal was born into the body of a young, male mortal...named Lloyd Irvine." He knew he had just dropped the nuclear variety bombshell on his mortal self and knew that this was the critical point.

"So...I'm you...But that can't be. I'm me.", he rambled starting to sound a bit crazed. "I know I'm me. Your lying...You turned me into this...for some kind of sick game." he accused the blonde. He stopped as he had his arms caught by Origin when he took a swing at him.

The sorrow filled entity hugged his counterpart trying to comfort him the best he could. Of course he would never show such sentiments around other people, but this wasn't other people...Lloyd was truely a small portion of himself. "It's ok. I knew this would be hard for you, but I also know that you of all people can deal with it. You are a part of me after all.", he said trying to make the teen smile once more.

"If what...what your saying is true, then everything I know about myself is a lie.", spoke the broken human. His tone was so full of pain and sadness.

Attempting to alleviate some of the swordsman's pain he corrected, "No. You were born Lloyd Irvine, son of Anna Irvine. The only thing that's changed is that you now know you are something much more than just a human. You are the 'King of the Summon Spirits'."

Hearing his new title he lifted his head and looked his counterpart in the eyes. In them he could see that the spirit was truely telling him the truth about all of this and truely believed he was capable of handling it. "I'm the 'King of the Summon Spirits', huh? Does that mean I have all these cool powers?", he finished beginning to sound excited again.

The wiser being couldn't help but chuckle out loud as he remembered that he used to behave in same manner when he was much younger. His father Maxwell would always be on his case for the chaos he would cause the humans and elves of this world. Maxwell was someone he didn't like to think about since he always seemed to be talking down to Origin. Quickly he stopped his train of thought and said, "Yes you do have powers...uh magics if you will, but most of your...no our power and knowledge is still sealed within Kratos. The good news is he can't use any of it since it is tuned specifically to our spiritual presence."

Relieved the teen replied, "Good that's one less thing to worry about. Wait a second! You were that voice I heard when I woke up after my transformation!" Now he finally knew who he had been talking to and what he meant.

Somewhat amused at how slow Lloyd could be Origin informed him, "Yes I am indeed the one whom you spoke to. You should know that I've also been aware of everything you have thought and felt...like how you." He could help but smirk when the boy glanced down at his bare chest, "Yes we've grown quite fond of walking around like this. Your already getting used to it."

Lloyd hated to admit it, but his other half was right. He did like the strange change in his personality even the old Lloyd was far too immodest to do as he was now. Now he had his well sculped chest and abs only display for the world to see. The muscles in his arms while not huge clearly contained enormous strength.

The other's face and tone became somewhat harsh as he went on, "We must find a way to break that seal so that we can become complete again. Only then will you be able to hide yourself as a human or show your true self as Origin." He knew they must be prepared for anything since Kratos had somehow managed to contain someone as powerful as himself. In a softer tone he said, "When Kratos stabbed you in the tower he triggered an awakening. Our awakening. Some of our memories and power returned to us, but now I'm afraid my time like this has come to an end. I cannot remain seperate from you now that you accept what you are, I shall merge with you beginning your true restoration."

As Origin concluded his sentence he turned into a transparent mass of mana that flew into Lloyd. The swordsman doubled over in intense pain as his body absorbed the missing part of himself. He saw memories of himself as Origin in the past giving a sword to some shadow covered figure. He remembered his strong dislike of his father Maxwell and other seeemingly random memories. After sometime had passed he felt the pain die down as it was replaced with a feeling of enormous power and knowledge that he'd had long ago, "It's begun. I'm coming for ya Kratos."

Meanwhile in Welgaia the leader of Cruxis felt the enormous surge of mana. He recognized the signature, but couldn't believe that it was possible. "Kratos must have ended his life or perhaps Pronyma delt with him.", he said smugly, "That takes care of that loose end. Now I have to move quickly to reseal that troublesome spirit." The angel hovered over to a communications terminal and sent a transmission to Pronyma.

"Yes my Lord?", she greeted her master.

"I need you back here now that Kratos is no more.", he informed her. To his suprise the leader of the five Desian Grand Cardinals returned a questioning gaze, "You did kill Kratos, right?" His subject shook her head and that's when he really began to sweat. "Kratos assured me that there is no way Origin could escape that seal on his own." he thought to himself. He quickly ordered Pronyma to return to him regardless with Kratos in tow.

Pronyma approached the subject of her master's current situation, "Lord Kratos...Lord Yggdrasill sent me to fetch you. Come we me, Now!"

The seraphim had a suspicion that the woman in front of him had been keeping tabs on him and he knew he must be careful otherwise he would die before he could set things right. In his usual unemotional voice he said, "I'm busy right now. If it's urgent you handle it. Don't bother me with trivial matters and I'm sure Yggdrasill would agree."

She knew he was intentionally pushing her buttons, but she would not let him have to satisfaction of knowing that he had succedded. "This is an urgent matter that only you could handle. That is why you will come with me."

His curiousity had been piqued, "What could possibly require my presence?" The angel knew that for Yggdrasill to need him that badly something big must have happened.

Getting irritated with the human-turned-angel she told him what Yggdrasill had told her before he ended the transmission, "It would seem that Origin has escaped your seal."

"Impossible!", the mercenary countered, "The only way for the seal to be broken is for me to die and release all the mana contained within my body. No other way exists for that blood seal to be broken." "What kind of fool does Yggdrasill take me for?...No matter if something has happened I should at the very least appear to still be a loyal servant." the angel thought. With that Kratos rechecked his seal finding it intact, but when he reached out with his enchanced senses he briefly felt what could only have been Origin off in the distance. "How is this possible?", he mentally questioned himself before heading in that direction.

Back in the Torrent forest the incomplete summon spirit stood he decided to put his quest to eliminate Kratos on hold for now, "I have to save Colette first, then I'll deal with you." Lloyd knew that he couldn't let the others find out about his predicament because of the danger it could put them in. Secretly however he was also afraid that his friends would reject him because of what he is and how he looked right now.

As the teen began his journey back to the elf village he noticed that all the monsters he had fight through before were keeping their distance. Not like they were terrified of him just more like they knew who he was and respected him. It was a pleasant however brief distraction from the conflict within his own heart. Though he may not have let on his feelings he truely did love Colette and would do anything for her. "Now what will she say about me?...Probably get away from me you four-armed freak.", as he mentally tortured himself. He was disgusted at himself for believing 'his' angel would ever react like that, but the fear just wouldn't disperse.

The swordsman began to think about his other friends the Professor and Genis. He knew there was something off about those two and now he knew what it was, but he wouldn't tell them that he had discovered their secret. No he would wait until they were ready to tell him themselves and then he would let them know that he had already known.

As he neared the forest edge he again began to think back to his father Maxwell and how strict the older spirit had always been on him. Maxwell would point out every flaw Origin had and force him to overcome it. Also during his training with his powers and duties as a summon spirit his father had always made him practice vigirously until everything was perfect. To the young man he had always felt as though his father held absolutely no emotional attachment to his children at all. "I really shouldn't be thinking these things...I just had a bastard of a father! CASE CLOSED!" he snapped at the forest surrounding him.

Back in the village the Elder and Ayena felt a massive surge of mana appear out of nowhere. "He found his answers I see.", spoke the head elf. He was concerned about the future and knew a lot would be riding on his guest. "Hopefully he will overcome the trials ahead.", he thought.

Ayena wasn't sure what was going on and truth be told she didn't think that she really wanted to know. "Good luck Lloyd...with whatever the future holds for you."

The two elves stood side by side awaiting the return of their unexpected visitor.