A/N- For some reason, I can't edit my last chapter. But, when I can, I'll fix where I spelled 'mercenary' wrong and where I forgot to put the t in Mithos.

Thanks for the nice reviews! When I wrote the part where Yggdrasill flips out on Kratos, I actually forgot what Yggdrasill said in the game about calling him Mithos...oops. So, I'm just going to say that Kratos was forbidden to use Yggdrasill's real name after he left Cruxis the first time. I think that'll work...

Again, this isn't as long as I would've liked, but I've been sick. Plus, have you ever tried to write during a tornado? I didn't think so.

Yuan's words were still ringing in Kratos' ears when he reached Tethe'alla. It hurt him that Yuan had blamed him for Martel's death. It was even worse that he still hadn't forgiven him. It wasn't as if he hadn't tried to apologize. He'd been trying to apologize for centuries. He missed Yuan. But he still wasn't going to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness for something that wasn't completely his fault in the first place.

When Martel was killed, I... No. He didn't want to think about it.

Walking down the path towards his destination, he found himself lost in his memories.

Martel was the kindest person he had ever seen. She had been running here and there in the small house all day, doing housework and cooking. She was obviously very busy, but she still found the time to bring Kratos a mug of water and some fruit for lunch.

She had basically forced him to stay for another day, while the rain was coming down in torrents. But no matter how much he offered, she refused to let him help her with her work.

So, feeling bored and rather useless, Kratos sat in the corner. After a while, he got up and paced. He was restless. He wasn't the type to sit around while everyone else was working.

Yet, there he was. The woman seemed happy to have a guest. The child was indifferent. But the man, Yuan, didn't seem to enjoy Kratos' company at all.

Like Kratos, Yuan didn't say much. Infact, Kratos had not heard him speak all day. He had a suspicion that Yuan simply didn't want to speak to a human.

Later, as Martel was serving dinner, Yuan started a conversation that quickly became uncomfortable for Kratos.

"So," he said. "What is your connection to the War?"

Martel gave him a look, as if telling him to mind his manners.

"There isn't one," Kratos said simply.

"Really?" Yuan said. "Then what is it that you do?"

"I am a mercenary."

"Oh? I find it hard to believe that a mercenary would have no involvement in the War."

"I am not a soldier," Kratos said calmly. "I work for whoever pays me. I work very hard at not getting involved in this War."

Yuan stared at him for a long moment. Then he said, "Have you ever killed a half-elf?"

Kratos was startled. Apparently, Martel was as well.

"Yuan! That's enough! Not every human spends their life hunting our kind!"

Yuan glared at Kratos. "Humans are all the same," he growled. He got up and left the room.

Kratos stared after him. "I--"

"No," said Martel. "Yuan is...He just...Don't let his words get to you."

There was an awkward silence. Then, "Have you ever killed one of us?"

"No, I haven't. I've been asked, but I refused. Unlike most humans, I do not look down upon or hate half-elves. I believe that they have a right to live just as everyone else does."

"I see. Then I shall apologize for Yuan," she said, looking troubled. "He has a great...erm...dislike for humans. You see, Yuan and I have known each other since we were children. His parents were killed by a mob of humans. His older sister raised him and his brother until she fell ill and passed away. His brother went to fight in the War, but was apparently killed. Yuan has led a hard life, but he is very kind. But the only humans he has ever met have been murderers or soldiers and none of them have been civil to us. So he believes that the entire human race is that way, even though I'm trying to persuade everyone otherwise..."

"Are you a teacher?" Kratos asked.

"Of a sort. I'm also a bit of a preacher, I suppose. I want to live to see a world where everyone, no matter what race, can get along. So I talk about this world, my vision, to everyone I meet."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"No. I believe that words have power. I think if I speak, people will listen. Even if they don't like what I say, I believe that they will at least think about my words. And perhaps they will realize what is wrong with the world. And then, maybe, they will work to change it as well."

"You are very brave."

"No. I am merely trying to do my duty as a person. If you want bravery, look to people like my mother."

"Your mother?"

"Yes. An elven woman who held her head high while raising two half-elven children alone in these troubled times."

"Where is your mother?"

"She...died. She fell ill during the winter when Mithos was very small and died in her sleep. As young as he was, Mithos took it very hard. I-I'm the only family he has now."

"Do you worry about him?"

"Of course! I worry about him every day. He tells me not to. He says 'Martel, I am grown up.' But he's not. He's only six. If something should...if something should happen to me, I know Yuan would take care of him, but Mithos is rather attached to me, as I am to him. I don't think he would be the same if I...well, if I died."

"Yet you still talk about unity to two races who hate each other."

"No. I talk about unity mainly to other half-elves. It is because of Mithos that I don't preach to pure bloods. I am scared for him. I don't think I would mind if I was killed while doing what I believe I should do, but I don't think if someone killed me that they would stop with me."

"You think they would kill Mithos too?"

"Yes. And even Yuan if they could."

"What if you had protection? Would you preach to the pure bloods then?"

"I...I would certainly try. Wait, are you offering your services?"

"I suppose I am."

"Why?"

"Because, I believe in what you are trying to do. And I think you are very brave. I also see that compared to you, I am a coward. I sit by the sidelines, watching the horrible things that are happening, consoling myself by telling myself that there is nothing that I can do about it.

And yet, here I see a person who has a family and is still trying to do her part to change the way this world is. I admire that. And I want to help."

Martel smiled. "I...thank you. I will talk to Yuan and Mithos about it tomorrow."

"There won't be any need to talk to me about it." This came from a voice in the doorway. "I've been listening to you both talking," said Yuan. "And...if Kratos wants to help me protect you...if it will allow you to spread your beliefs to the world, then I'm okay with it."

Yuan looked at Kratos. "And I am sorry for how I treated you earlier. It wasn't right."

"Its okay. I know how humans treat half-elves. That's why I want to help put an end to it."

But it had never really ended, had it? No, the level discrimination and hate was just as bad, if not worse, than it was back then. To make matters worse, people were being sacrificed to stop it. And Mithos... As the years wore on, Kratos found himself thinking more and more that Mithos was just being selfish. That, after almost 4,000 years, Mithos Yggdrasill was still just a little boy who wanted his sister back.

But still, Kratos served under him. He was still obeying the orders of a child that he had taught. Now, he had gone so far as to betray the trust of his own flesh and blood, his only child. But what haunted Kratos more than anything was the fear that by continuing his life doing the things he was doing now, he was also betraying the only person he had ever really felt true love for-- Anna.