Chapter 3
Lloyd returned to the house having searched the trails for any sign of Genis or Mithos. He figured that they would find their way back eventually. Right now his concerns were for Collette. He had been so worried about her once he had first learned of her condition. He remembered how she had remained silent for so long about her "problem". He just hoped that Altessa had been able to completely cure her.
He darted through the door way into the room where the rest of the party was waiting.
"Collette," Lloyd called out.
"Lloyd calm down," commented Raine in her stern manner.
"Professor, is Collette alright?"
"Yes Lloyd, she is fine. She needs her rest now."
Lloyd let out a sigh, deciding that it would be best for Colette's sake to leave her be.
"Lloyd, why don't you have a seat. I'm sure Altessa will tell us if anything happens," commented Sheena.
Lloyd walked over to one of the chairs and sat down.
The minutes seemed to slowly drag on as everyone waited in a dead silence for word from Altessa. Raine stood absorbed in a book. She always was a practical person, taking whatever time she could to study something. Sheena just stood up against the wall tapping her foot, while trying to keep her distance from Zelos. Presea wandered about the room curiously examining each crevice.
The group was startled by a loud crash as Yuan burst through the doorway. Everyone shot up at the sight of Yuan barging into the room.
"Lloyd you must come to the Tower of Salvation! It's urgent!"
"What is it?"
"There's no time to explain."
Collette stumbled into the room a flustered look on her face, as she panted heavily.
"I'm going too."
"Collette, you are in no condition to go anywhere. You should stay and get your rest", commented Raine.
"It is my duty as the chosen to help the world in whatever way I can."
"Collette, the Professor is right, you really need to get some rest. Beside, it won't be safe to bring you along in your condition," Lloyd asserted.
"Actually it would be best if she came along," commented Yuan.
"But…"
"Oh, don't worry Lloyd. I wouldn't let anything happen to my precious little hunny."
Lloyd's was about to yell at Zelos for his badly timed antics, but Sheena was already chewing him out.
"Zelos! This is not the time for you games. This is a serious matter. If you could get your mind off of women for just one second."
"Whoa, calm down there Sheena."
"Hurry, we must go there quickly," commented Yuan impatiently.
"Beside it would be more safe for Colette to come with us. Yggdrasil has already destroyed Odette, who knows what he would do if he found Colette here?"
"Alright, Colette can come along," Lloyd said giving in.
The group began to move out the door toward the Rheiards, as Raine started calling out for Genis.
The group stopped looking back to Raine.
"Where did that kid get to?"
"Tabatha said that he went somewhere with Mithos."
Raine made a slight growl as she mumbled a few words.
"I guess I'll have to stay and wait for him," Raine said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, but he's going to get it when I find him."
The group got onto the Rheiards and took off toward the Tower of Salvation.
Mithos looked to the small form of this young half-elf he had called "friend". He lay upon his side on the ground, blood pooling on the floor, tainting the pure sterile environment of Welgaia, and soiling Mithos' boots as he stood there looking down. Genis looked so peaceful lying there upon the ground.
"Goodbye friend," Mithos said before turning away and proceeding down the hallway.
He silently proceeded down the corridor vacantly staring ahead.
Kratos stood up against the wall glancing at Mithos as he walked by. He noted the blood stains on both Mithos' hand and his boots, but just remained silent. As Mithos passed Kratos stood up and began to follow him down the corridor. The two of them walked in silence, not even acknowledging one another.
Pronyma came rushing down the hall.
"Lord Yggdrasil the intruders have entered the tower." Stated Pronyma in her typical militaristic style.
Mithos just walked past her not giving any heed to her words. The cold emotionless expression remained upon his face as he continued down the hall.
"Lord Ygggdrasil?"
"Why don't you send some of the soldiers Pronyma? It would seem that Lord Yggdrasil does not want to be disturbed." Kratos said in his usual cold manner.
Pronyma gave a spiteful glance at Kratos before turning and walking off to give the order.
"Is something troubling you Mithos?" Kratos asked of his long time pupil and friend.
Mithos walked on silently for a short distance.
"Kratos, what should a person do to those whom he trusted, when they betray that person's trust?"
"That is something you must answer for yourself?"
Mithos took a few more steps and stopped in his tracks. He held up his blood stained hand looking it over.
"Kratos, do you think that the world needs to be changed?"
"Mithos, you know that I am always here for you. As a friend and mentor."
"A friend…"
Kratos stood there watching as Mithos continued down the hall looking at his hand.
"Friend," Mithos silently stated to himself, toying with the word as he proceeded on.
Kratos stopped watching Mithos proceed down the hallway. He turned back toward where Mithos had come from, wondering where the bloodstains had come from. As he proceeded down the hallway he came upon the small form of the half-elf boy lying upon the floor in a pool of blood. He took a few steps toward the unmoving form. He leaned down and gathered the small form in his arms.
"Genis," he stated in a stoic manner, the words floating off his tongue like mist rising from a cold river.