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

Path of Ascension

Chapter 9

Lloyd watched as one of the Papal Knight re-entered the room where he, the pink haired girl, and Zelos had been thrown with the Researchers from before. He knew that they were both half-elves and now so did Zelos. "He probably thinks that all half-elves are beneath him. How little humanity has changed over the last four thousand years.", he thought sadly.

Listening in the Knights' conversation he heard the smaller Knight say, "There's been a change in plans. Since those two half-elves can use magic we must keep them under heavy guard..."

The bulkier Knight replied, "But we don't have any spare forces. What do you intend to do about that?"

Lloyd knew that Zelos couldn't hear the conversation between the Knights, but he was willing to bet that the two Researchers could. "I love having enhanced hearing. It beats dull human senses easily.", he thought to himself turning his attention back to the Papal Knights.

"We'll return to the bridge and call for reinforcements. As for the Chosen and the brat in red...Just keep them both locked down here in the basement.", said the lead Knight.

Being referred to a 'the brat in red' struck a nerve with Lloyd and he crushed a slab of rock with his bare hand. He saw the two Knights turn a suspicious look towards him and he said, "What? That stone's just really brittle. You don't think that I could break really strong stone like that, do you?"

Watching the boy for a few more minutes the Knights went back to their discussion. Kate walked up to the Knights and asked, "What's going? Why are these three down here?"

Both Knights glared at the half-elf and one said, "Don't speak to us, half-elf. Be quiet and continue with your work." After that the lead Knight left and another replaced him leaving just two to watch over the prisoners, but both seemed more interested in talking about a recent battle in the Colosseum.

Kate brushed the human off while Zelos seemed to think nothing of it. The Summon Spirit knew that Zelos was raised that way, but it still caused his blood to boil just seeing such a heartless display from a race he once believed in so strongly. "How the mighty have fallen.", he thought while he heard Kate address both swordsmen, "You two are now criminals? If you were fortunate enough to be born human, then you shouldn't have thrown it away like this. Many half-elves would trade anything for your old status."

The brunette swordsman replied, "We really didn't do anything. And besides...I would rather be a half-elf like you than a soulless bastard like them." He knew that he was pushing both Knights since they could hear him, so he just continued, "I wasn't raised to discriminate against any race. I was taught better than that and I'm proud of it."

Kate smiled and thought to herself, "Maybe there's hope for Tethe'alla yet."

Zelos interrupted saying, "Not entirely true...about our actions I mean. We did try to go back to Sylvarant after all."

The Summon Spirit glared at Zelos causing the taller teen to squirm beneath his piercing stare. It's one of the few things that Origin was able to do while he was bound inside of Kratos, learn to make effective faces. Kate and O'Brian smirked knowing what the red clothed swordsman was doing.

When Kate moved to get Lloyd to stop torturing Zelos she saw the pink haired girl and walked towards her. "Presea? You're Presea! Why are you here!"

Lloyd had never thought to ask for the girl's name and felt embarrassed because of his rude behavior. He turned back to Kate and asked, "Do you know Presea or something?" He knew that she must be familiar with the girl, but didn't know anything more than that. Kate started to grasp for words which surprised Lloyd.

Having even less tact than Lloyd Zelos said, "A half-elf in the Imperial Research Academy is acquainted with a human child? Now there's something that you don't see everyday. It's very strange."

Lloyd smacked him in the back of the head again and demanded, "Why's that?" This guy's superiority complex was really starting to rub the Summon Spirit the wrong way and as history has shown that is never a good thing. When Efreet was angry he nearly destroyed the area now known as the Triet Desert. "Yeah, he's the reason why it's a desert. And I ended getting the blame for it. (Imitating Maxwell) You're the King of the Summon Spirits and it's your responsibility to keep a tight leash on those that serve under you." He was so sick of Maxwell always talking down to him and lecturing him. Not wanting to risk his powers going haywire on him he turned his attention back to Zelos who was waving a hand in front of Lloyd's face. "Huh? Oh, sorry. You were saying?"

The red haired swordsman growled at the younger teen's short attention span. "Well now that you're listening again...half-elves are treated like garbage in this world. These guys are never allowed to leave their labs...ever. Never mind that, what I want to know is how a half-elf knows Presea?"

Both men turned to Kate who answered, "...She's my team's research sample. You see we've been doing research in order to make Cruxis Crystals inside the human body. Theoretically they are no different than Exspheres. The need to be allowed to slowly feed on..."

Lloyd cut her off before Kate could go on. "Wh...what! That's the same way the Desians make Exspheres!", he felt his temper rising and could hear the seething hatred he now had for this woman in his voice, "How can you treat people like that?"

Kate got angry that a human would speak to her like that after everything that she's been through because of them. "...I could ask you the exact same question. How can humans treat us half-elves as they do?"

Narrowing his eyes the incomplete Summon Spirit growled slowly, "I treat them the same as everyone else. To me their is no difference between the lives of humans, elves, and half-elves. So don't get all high and mighty on me you hateful bitch."

A new voice cut in just as the two remaining to Knights dropped to the floor. "He isn't from Tethe'alla. He's a strange one who was raised in Sylvarant with half-elves and a dwarf. So you see he really has never had any exposure to that kind of prejudices." Near Lloyd Corrine appeared along with Sheena in a puff of smoke. "Did ya miss me?", she asked playfully until she noticed Zelos. "..."

"Sheena is something wrong? You look like you're about to wipe out an entire army by yourself.", said Lloyd before he followed her gaze to the Chosen of Tethe'alla. "Oh shit! Sheena please don't kill him just yet. I need his help unfortunately.", he thought seeing the ninja all but foaming at the mouth. He decided that it was best to divert her attention elsewhere before there was bloodshed, "How did you know what happened? Where are Genis and Raine?"

Snapping out of her trance she looked at Lloyd and felt something familiar about him. Her eyes widened as she realized the reason why he suddenly felt so familiar to her.

Knowing that she'd stumbled across his secret the Summon Spirit spoke to Sheena telepathically, "Sheena please settle down and I'll explain. As I'm sure you can tell I'm a Summon Spirit, but you can't tell anyone. Too many people will die if you do."

"What? How are talking to me like this? How can I hear your voice?", replied the Ninja confused with the Summon Spirit's power.

"It's telepathy.", Lloyd answered shortly. He stared at her with those big brown eyes knowing that it would soften her just a little.

"Oh, ok. And don't worry I'll keep your secret, but I have two questions for you.", said Sheena as she watched Lloyd. Seconds later when he nodded said asked her questions. "First question...does Raine and Genis know the truth about you? And the second is, which Summon Spirit are you?"

"No Raine and Genis don't know. It's hard to explain, but I just recently found out myself...well I remembered who I am. As for which Summon Spirit I am...I can't tell you that. I'm afraid that the answer to that question would freak you out way too much.", he said patting her on the shoulder. "Where did these clowns take my two half-elven friends?"

"Oh right, they are being taken to Meltokio. If we are going to go after them, then we should get going now.", said the ninja recovering from her shock. Just a short time ago this strange huma...Summon Spirit appeared to be a normal human with a strange upbringing, but now she knows that he's actually an extremely power Spirit if the telepathy is any indication.

Kate still didn't believe what was going on and demanded, "Are you planning on running away?"

Sheena slapped her and barked, "No, we're not. We are going to save his friends. Are you going to try to stop us?" She had a card drawn, but kept it concealed until the half-elf gave the wrong answer.

Lloyd had had enough of that woman, "Our friends Sheena, our friends. And we don't have time for this." He turned to Kate and said in a deadly tone, "If you're going to get in our way, then we'll just have to beat you quickly. I won't fail any of my friends again. So what's it gonna be?"

Zelos butted in saying, "Yes Miss Half-elf, what will it be? Here's one of the few humans in this world trying to save his half-elf best friend and his sister."

O'Brian moved next to his wife and said, "We know that Raine and Genis are half-elves and both seem to trust this boy completely. We also know that they were arrested and will be put to death if we stop them."

Knowing the truth in her husband's words the half-elf turned back to Lloyd and said, "Fine. I'll let you go as long as you promise that once you've saved your friends, you will come back here. If Raine and Genis vouch for you willingly...I'll release Presea from her experiment."

Lloyd nodded and said, "You've got a deal. Lets go Zelos, Sheena."

Kate and O'Brian lead them to a secret tunnel that lead outside of the institute and watched as the teens left. "I'm sorry O'Brian for the way that I acted. It's just so hard to trust humans after..."

He walked up to her and pulled her body into his. "It's ok. I understand all too well. You did need that slap however, then again I've needed one myself every so often. People like those youngsters change the world and give us all hope for a brighter future."

On the way out of the city they grabbed Colette's soulless body and made a break for the exit. Outside of the city Lloyd and Sheena were running side by side with Zelos, Colette, and Presea trailing behind them. "Man! I still can't believe that you slapped her like that. Way to go Sheena."

The ninja blushed and muttered, "It was nothing. She didn't have a right to say those things to you." She noticed the look her was giving her and she knew that he'd seen her blushing. "No, no. Bad Sheena. He likes Colette, not you...but maybe there's hope."

As they ran towards the bridge where the two half-elves would be shortly if not already an explosion rocked the ground throwing them backwards. Sheena looked up to see a man with blue hair staring down at them. "He's got wings...he's an angel or maybe a devil in disguise.", thought the ninja.

"I've come for Origin.", said Yuan as he hovered over the group. He knew Origin was somewhere below him, but he couldn't sense where exactly. "Ah, so you're still alive Lloyd. Unfortunately for you I have no further use for you.", said the angel as he raised his hand charging up a bolt of mana.

"NOT SO FAST YUAN!", came a new voice to the battleground. Coming up behind the blue haired angel was someone that Lloyd really didn't want to see again...alive at least.

"Well Kratos it's so good to see you again, but you'll have to excuse me. I have a Summon Spirit to collect.", said Yuan brushing off the other angel. He released the bolt knowing that his old friend would do anything to protect Lloyd now that he was back.

It would've worked if Kratos had seen Lloyd, but the teen was still trying to get back up from the tangled lump he and Sheena were currently in. He would've been up faster except the position they were in offered him 'new views' of Sheena. Let it be said that even if he was a Summon Spirit he was still in the body of a teenager and had the hormones to prove it.

"What are you doing?', asked Kratos after the second explosion hide the people below from view. The angel saw Yuan's surprised face and didn't know what kind of game he was playing at until he saw the dust clear. In front of him was the one person other than his wife that Kratos thought that he'd never see again. "Lloyd?", he whispered so low that neither Yuan nor Lloyd heard it, but Sheena was able to read his lips and knew what he'd said.

Yuan figured out that Kratos must not have seen the brunette earlier, but now that the former human knew Lloyd was ok Yuan had the advantage. "Here's my proposal for you...Leave Origin to me and I'll let the boy live. Try to stop me from forming a pact with Origin and I'll kill Lloyd."

Sheena knew that the Summon Spirit they were talking about was actually Lloyd, but when the pieces of the puzzle came together...to say that she was surprised was a severe understatement. "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THIS IDIOT IS ORIGIN? THE KING OF THE SUMMON SPIRITS?", she thought to herself trying to find another possibility. "Maybe he just knows where Origin is or something? He can't be Origin, right?"

"Sorry to break it to you, but they are right. I am Origin...but I'm not complete. I'll explain after we've saved Raine and Genis...not to mention ourselves.", called Lloyd telepathically. He breathed a sigh of relief when Sheena nodded, but he couldn't help feeling insulted that she thought of him as an idiot. Was it really that hard to believe that he's Origin?

In the air Kratos sensed for Origin, but could only tell that he was below them. The mercenary knew that Yuan wouldn't hesitate to kill Lloyd if he stepped in to claim Origin first. "I can't lose you again Lloyd. I'm sorry Anna...but I don't know what to do." He was stuck between choosing to save Lloyd's life or the world and it was a decision that was impossible for him to make. "Anna please help me.", he thought begging for divine intervention so that he could 'have his cake and eat it too.'

Yuan laughed seeing Kratos so completely helpless and afraid. "I never thought that I'd see fear on his face again after all these centuries. Go on Kratos...choose to save your own blood. It's the only choice for you to make if you want to keep your sanity."