Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia or any of the charactes contained therein
"Bossy Kratos…" Yuan grumbled as he lifted the shovel he held and slammed it down into the dirt once more. "Why does he get to skip off and head out to town while we slave away here?"
"So that he can get us supplies for our journey without getting caught," Mithos retorted, putting more emphasis on the second part. He lifted his own shovel and slammed it down when Yuan swung his own over his shoulder, dropping the dirt onto the floor of the hotel room.
"So what?" Yuan replied, ignoring the reference to his recent escape. "Do you like being left back to dig?"
"Of course not," Mithos conceded, then decided to quip back at the blue-haired half-elf, "but someone has to stay back to watch over you."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Yuan asked indignantly as he struck again with his shovel a little harder than previously.
"Oh, I'm not saying you'd steal our things and run off on us or something. All I'm saying is that I have to make sure you don't end up attracting too much unwanted attention."
"I see," Yuan replied sarcastically. "And I wonder who it was that got caught trying to steal a map?"
However, contrary to his normal behavior in Kratos' absence, Mithos remained silent. Yuan looked up in surprise after tossing away the latest shovel of dirt and found the boy looking up in an unusually pensive manner. Following his gaze, Yuan's sight came to rest on Martel and he couldn't help but let it linger on her face a for a short while before he tore his gaze away and brought it back to the hole he was supposed to be deepening. Mithos, however, kept watching his sister as she sorted through the extra supplies Kratos had brought earlier that day and prepared a meal for the two diggers.
While lifting his next shovel of dirt from the hole, Yuan deliberately brought the shovel into Mithos' line of sight, silently reminding the boy of the task at hand without questioning him about his thoughts.
Realizing Yuan's message but not its deliberateness, Mithos went back to aiding his blue-haired companion though his mind still mulled over the same thoughts. He kept seeing the times when he traveled with only Kratos and Martel. His sister would always be smiling and her smile would widen whenever either Kratos or Mithos would return from scouting, searching for food, or any other activity. However, she would always smile a little more warmly and for her brother. Mithos knew that Martel was very grateful to Kratos for all that he had done, but the smile she gave him wasn't as warm as the smile that Mithos received. And yet, Mithos felt troubled. He'd noticed it when they returned to the inn on the previous day. Martel hadn't smiled at him first when he'd entered; she had a worried look on her face until Yuan entered, and it was he who she smiled at first.
Kratos roamed the streets of Palmacosta listening to the gossip floating around. He'd finished purchasing the last of the supplies he believed they'd need and was now seeking some information that he personally wished to know. He could've easily retrieved it from any of the terminals located around town, but doing that would most likely bring the city guards down on him. His use of one on the past day had probably already sent them searching for him.
As he walked past a shop selling small trinkets, the shopkeeper caught his attention. The man didn't look anything out of the ordinary, but he was wearing a ring made with a special ore that was only found within the Sylvarant territory in Iselia. He approached the man and looked around at his wares as if he was a customer. Then, Kratos turned to faced the man and acted surprised.
"That's an interesting ring," he commented.
The man looked down at his hand and saw what Kratos was talking about. "Ah, this Iselian ring? Yes… quite a lucky buy it was. I do believe I was one of the last people to have gotten my hands on this prize, what with Iselia now being under Tetheallan rule and all." The man sighed, then continued on, "do you really thing Sylvarant will be able to take it back?" Not waiting for an answer, the man continued on, "Not a chance. Sylvarant just cannot handle that 'Fenrir.' Were he not the one guarding the city, I'm sure we'd manage to get back the city using the new Ex-Squad."
"Fenrir?" Kratos asked, confused.
"Oh? Mystar Wilder, Archmage of Tethealla's forces and wielder of the mighty Vorpal blade. I thought everyone would know him…"
"The nickname was unfamiliar to me," Kratos simply replied. "And what is this Ex-Squad?"
"Ah, yes, the Ex-Squad. Only just heard about myself, actually. It seems that Sylvarant has begun to mass produce the exspheres and their corresponding key crests. With our enhanced troops, we're stronger than ever. If only we'd still had General Odin with us, we'd defeat Tethealla for sure. But as things stand, the Vorpal Blade still manages to push us back."
"Thank you," Kratos broke in, unwilling to let the man continue indefinitely. He handed him a few gald, showing him a little orb that colorfully glowed with magitechnology that he'd picked up and then walked off.
"Take care!" The man called out from behind him, as Kratos decided to head back to the inn. He'd found out what he'd wanted to: Mystar Wilder was in Iselia. Once Kratos had managed to finish this quest to Thoda for Yuan, he'd head after Wilder and avenge his mother. However, what he'd just heard was disturbing him. Mystar Wilder was holding back a squad of exsphere-enhanced soldier. Kratos recalled his own sparring match against Yuan and thought about the great powers that the Cruxis Crystal had bestowed upon the half-elf. He knew that exspheres were weaker, but even a single person with an exsphere would be able to slaughter an army of people without any. And if the Archmage of Tethealla could deal with a squadron of exsphere-users, then he must be very strong; too strong for Kratos.
Kratos looked up and noticed that he'd arrived back at the hotel. He entered into the lobby and walked past, heading down the hallway and arrived at the room he'd rented. He listened intently and was pleased to notice that the sound of shovels could only barely be heard. He knocked on the door, waited until the sounds ceased, then entered as Martel opened the door and let him in.
Stepping in, the human dropped the final bag of supplies that he'd gathered next to one of the beds and then stepped over to a hole in the floor. He looked down to find Mithos and Yuan looking up at him, a grin on both their faces.
"We're at the tunnel, Kratos," Yuan announced. "All we need to do is break away into the metal pipe and we're in."
"We're done digging!" Mithos exclaimed. He reached out to grab hold of the sides of the hole and pulled himself up as Yuan followed, both covered in dirt.
Martel came up to all three and brought them some food. "So how are we going to break into the metal pipe?" She asked.
"Mithos and I will handle it," Kratos replied.
"Same thing that you did to the floor?" Yuan asked, receiving a nod from Kratos. "I'll pitch in, then. The boy's too tired from digging; you should give him a rest," he added, resulting in Martel smiling gratefully at him for saving her brother from the extra work.
"No, I'll handle it," Mithos interrupted him, having noticed Martel's smile. "We don't need your help, Yuan."
"If that is how you will take this task, then I shall have Yuan help me," Kratos responded to Mithos. "I picked you in order to improve your endurance, not because I did not need Yuan's help."
"I'm sorry," Mithos begrudgingly muttered to Yuan upon receiving a meaningful look from his sister. Then he got up and took his place above the hole, waiting for Kratos to stand opposite him. However, the human remained sitting where he was.
"Yuan is right," Kratos answered Mithos' questioning look, "you are tired, just as he is, and just as I am. I suggest we clean up, eat some food, and then handle the pipe.
Yuan spent his mana holding up an electrical field to mask sounds around Kratos and Mithos as the two broke the pipe. Mithos peppered it with "Fireball" spells, weakening the metal while Kratos struck the heated portions with "Stone Blast" leaving punctures in the pipe. Eventually, when enough of the metal was cut away both Kratos and Mithos struck the top of the pipe with a "Wind blade" spell, knocking a hole into the top of the pipeline as the piece they'd cut out fell into the pipe with a splash.
Seeing them finish, Yuan dismissed the electrical field and picked up his pack from the floor. Kratos too picked his pack up while Martel, already holding her pack, handed Mithos his. All of them approached the hole and lowered themselves into the sewage pipe, gingerly entering the dirty and smelly path. Silently, they began walking along the pipe, each of them concentrating on keeping as much of the air outside their lungs as they could. Unable to talk without taking in more of the stench-filled air then absolutely necessary, all four of them retreated into their own thoughts.
Mithos thought about his sister. Martel had always been there for him, and he knew that she would never leave him. She loved him and had cared for him in the place of their departed mother. No matter what happened, she had never abandoned him, and he knew that she never would. He had her attention all the time and wanted to keep it that way. At first, he'd disliked it whenever she did anything for Kratos, but he didn't really mind, since he knew that she was acting out of gratefulness, and not only for her own life, but for his as well. However, he didn't understand why she should have anything to do with Yuan. The half-elf had told them himself that he had once been a heartless murderer. He'd been the cause of many of their troubles. It had been him that lured the Kraken to them, and it had been for him that they were traveling through this forsaken pipeline. Not understanding why his sister was acting the way she was, Mithos sighed, only to regret it direly as he nearly fainted from the reeking air that assaulted his senses.
Yuan nearly laughed seeing Mithos' near loss of consciousness but managed to stop himself before he made the same mistake. The little kid amused him, at least when he wasn't irritating him. His sister, though, left Yuan stunned and unable to even gather his thoughts together. Reminding himself of where he was and of the consequences that Mithos' sigh had brought him, Yuan decided not to think about Martel in order to keep his mind about him. Instead, his thoughts turned to Kratos.
The human amazed Yuan. He'd lost his dad at an early age and then watched his mother killed before his own eyes, unable to stop it. Yuan had never known how it felt to have parents, but he had seen how hard Kratos had worked to help his mother when he'd found out that she was ill, and even after his ceaseless effort, he'd had to suffer losing her. And yet, Kratos did not let it show on himself at all. He never mentioned his parents or what happened to them and just pushed on stoically. But Yuan had seen other such people before, though rarely humans. Elves and half-elves were more often patient and forbearing. However, what truly set Kratos apart was the company that he traveled with and the way he dealt with the different races. He was a human, and yet, here he was, a companion to three half-elves. Whenever he dealt with humans, he would be no different than he was when dealing with Elves. Even more stunning, though, was that he was the same when dealing with half-elves, and this, more than anything surprised Yuan. Kratos was different from everyone else; he was special.
Kratos, meanwhile, had his thoughts on a certain artifact softly pulsing with a lonely energy from within the pack he carried. His father had died with a Cruxis Crystal; a Cruxis Crystal that Kratos now held. If what Seraphim Yggdrasill had told him was true, which he did not doubt it was, then that Crystal would have absorbed his father's mana and it would still be present within the enhancer. If he were to put the Crystal on, perhaps he would be able to feel his father within himself, like meeting him and embracing him after so many years. Kratos pulled his mind away from such thoughts and reminded himself of what Yuan had told him.
The Cruxis Crystal brought with it a complete lack of sleep and hunger, but it also brought a tiredness that could not be shaken off. And yet, the powers that the Crystal held were undeniable. His own match against Yuan had more than proved that the Cruxis Crystal more than accomplished the purpose that it was made for. A person wearing one could tear through armies of not only humans, but even Elves, and not have trouble escaping unscathed. With such power, Kratos could definitely match and defeat Mystar Wilder. All he had to do was use the Cruxis Crystal.
Suddenly, the human yanked his mind away, horrified at the thoughts that had been going through his head. He'd decided from the things that Seraphim and Yuan had told him that he would not use the Cruxis Crystals, and yet his mind had not only considered doing that, but had almost decided to follow through right then and there. Kratos mused over this new development. It seemed that the Cruxis Crystals not only affected those wearing them, but they even managed to call out to those carrying them.
Suddenly, a slight twinge passed through Kratos. He felt as thought a significant part of him had felt a sudden, strong pain, but the rest of him had been perfectly fine. Looking around, he noticed that Mithos had fallen to his knees, teeth grinding together. Beyond him, Yuan and bent over, using the wall to hold himself off the ground as slight electric sparks flew from his body. Then, Kratos looked to his side to find Martel laying on the ground, unconscious with a look of utter horror on her face.
Sorry for the long delay. Now that summer is here, I should be able to update much faster now. I've even added tentative dates to my profile page for upcoming chapters, so you should have a pretty good idea of how long you have to wait for the next chapter (which shouldn't be too long for the next few chapters until university starts again).
Anyway, this chapter had a lot more thought and conversation and no action at all, so it was a bit of a departure from my usual writing. I'm pretty happy with all the information I managed to get across here, but I'm not sure about the characterization and clarity, so I'd like to know how well I did on that.
And, as always, names for any chapters that don't have them already are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to review! (not many people seem to do that...)