Disclaimer: See the Prologue

Chapter 3

Restoration of Spirit and Recovery

Raine sighed as she gently tended to her brother's injuries. The boy hadn't spoken a word to her or anyone else since they had arrived back in Luin the previous night. She finally asked him, "Genis…is there something you need to talk about?"

Genis shrugged and answered, sniffling a bit, "Not…really."

Raine hugged him gently, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I failed to protect you and for all that has happened."

Genis sobbed quietly into his sister's shoulder, then told her between sobs, "its okay…sis. What happened…wasn't your fault."

Kratos walked in silently at that moment, then added, "He's right, Raine. You've got to stop blaming yourself."

Raine sighed and nodded, "I know you're right, it's just that I feel bad about all of it. It makes me sick to think of what Shanna did. Genis didn't deserve to be treated like that. Nor did she really seem the type that hated half-elves, unlike Hexa."

Kratos nodded, "I agree, however, Genis is the more important one at the moment." He walked over and knelt down, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Genis pulled out of Raine's embrace and shrugged off Kratos's hand, "It's not like I'm dying or anything. It was a terrible thing that happened, but you don't have to dance on eggshells around me. Sheesh!" He stormed out of the room with tears of both anger and pain in his eyes.

Lloyd had been standing outside of the door and had heard everything. Sighing, he turned and made to follow Genis, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

Kratos told Lloyd, "Leave him be, Lloyd. There are some things that Genis is better left alone with."

Lloyd turned to look at his father, "But this isn't one of those things! Like Sheena said, we're his friends and whether he realizes it or not, Genis is gonna need us. I'm going to him now, Dad, so let go of me."

Kratos sighed and nodded, releasing Lloyd's shoulder, "I can see there's no stopping you. Just bear in mind that he may not say a lot to you. Raine and I could barely get him to say anything."

Lloyd told him, "That's because all he's done for the past 12 hours is talk about what happened. I think that what he needs now is to listen to loving and supporting words from all of us."

Raine nodded, "You're probably right, Lloyd. He'll also need encouraging words, though. Shanna also broke his spirit."

Lloyd responded, "I know that. I have an idea how we can all contribute to fixing that though. (A/N: Wow…Lloyd had an idea! XD) Sheena, Regal, and I can give him the encouragement he needs. Raine, you and Presea can tell him how much he's still loved and everything. Dad, you can tell him anything supportive that you want to say to him. That way, he can know that he's got plenty of support from more than one source. No offense, Raine."

Raine gave a small smile and shrugged, "None taken. So, then, who wants to talk to Genis first?"

Kratos answered, "You and Presea should speak to him first. You two mean the most to him, after all. Sheena, Regal, and Lloyd can go after you two, and I will speak to him last."

Raine nodded, "All right, I'll go find Presea and we will talk to him." She found Presea on the balcony, watching the people of Luin as they went about their daily business below her, "Presea? Can I ask you something?"

Presea turned and looked up at Raine, nodding her head, "Yes, you may."

Raine said, "Well, I was talking to Lloyd and Kratos a few minutes ago and we decided that it would be best if you and I were to talk to Genis, to let him know that he's still loved. So, will you?"

Presea gave a small smile and nodded, "Yes, I will."

Raine smiled back, "Then let's go and talk to him."

The two women found Genis sitting in a chair inside the inn, in the lobby. He was crying his eyes out and the innkeeper was trying to console him.

Presea told the woman, "We will take it from here, miss. You can go back to your duties."

The woman nodded, "Thank you, little girl." She got up and went back to the front desk.

Presea went to sit next to Genis, ignoring the 'little girl' comment. She gave him a gentle hug and told him quietly, "I…I love you, Genis, and always will. No matter what happens."

Genis looked at her and gave a small smile, the first he had in days, "I…I—I love you too, Presea." He sniffled again and began crying once more.

Raine sighed and walked over to the two. She told Genis, "I love you too, Genis, but obviously in a different way than Presea. I'll never abandon you."

Genis looked up at his sister and nodded, tears still streaming down his face, "Yeah, you too, sis."

Raine knelt down and hugged Genis, who returned the embrace.

Genis was starting to feel better, but he still felt slightly discouraged. He got up and went upstairs.

Raine sighed then smiled a little bit, remembering that Kratos and Lloyd had 'sneaked' upstairs earlier by flying in through the window. Sheena and Regal were also upstairs. Genis would not be left alone with his pain.

Sheena was the first to speak to Genis once she, Regal and Lloyd were all in the room, "Hey, Genis. None of what happened is your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."

Lloyd nodded, "Yeah, and don't think you're worthless or dirty because that happened. You're not. You're the best friend a guy could ask for." He smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Genis gulped a bit then nodded, "Thanks, Lloyd…" He got up and hugged his best friend, tears in his eyes, "You're my best friend, too."

Regal added, "Genis, you must never think of yourself as worth any less than you are. We all care about you and what happens to you. You're worth more than any precious jewel."

Genis smiled at Regal, releasing Lloyd as he looked up at the Bryant, "Thank you, Regal, Sheena, and Lloyd. I was feeling pretty lousy." He got slightly angry and said, "I wanna use Meteor Storm on Hexa for what she made Shanna do to me." (A/N: This is an inside joke, so if you don't get it, that's okay. Reader who brought this on, you know who you are. 'Genis cast Meteor storm in his sleep?' Does that ring a bell?)

Lloyd sighed, "Yeah, we're pretty mad about it too. Why don't you go talk to my dad really fast? He has a few things that he wants to say to you too."

Genis nodded and left the room, nearly running into Kratos, who was standing just outside of the door. Blinking, he stopped just short and told Kratos, "Oh, hi. You…wanted to talk to me?"

Kratos answered the question, "Yes, I did. Let's go outside."

Genis finished, "Okay."

The two headed outside of the inn, stopping at the fountain near the outskirts of Luin.

Kratos finally spoke, "Genis…I have only a few things to say to you. First and foremost, this was not your fault. Secondly, even if it may not seem like it at times, Raine, Lloyd, I, and all of the others will always be there to back you up in whatever you do. Lastly, I think you must deal with this in your own way."

Genis gave a small smile then went up to Kratos and hugged him around the waist, "Thanks, Kratos. That really means a lot. Is it too much for me to ask for some space?"

Kratos shook his head, tentatively returning Genis's embrace with one arm, "Not at all." He released the half-elven boy, who also let go, and went back to the inn, leaving Genis alone at the fountain.

Lloyd greeted Kratos when he came in the door, "Hey, Kratos. Where's Genis?"

Kratos responded, "He is at the fountain. He requested some space."

Lloyd sighed, "Dad…are you sure it's okay to leave him alone like that? I mean, I really don't think we should…he needs to know that he's not alone, especially after what just happened…"

Kratos touched Lloyd's arm, comfortingly, "He knows, Lloyd. Trust me on this. He'll come to us when he's ready. We mustn't force the issue, or he'll just pull away from us all together."

Lloyd replied, "I guess you're right. I'm just so angry about all of it. Why did it have to be Genis of all people?" He started to get very upset.

Kratos sighed, collecting his disgruntled teenage son into his arms, in a loose hug, "I don't know, Lloyd. I guess that fate is just fickle sometimes."

Colette walked in just then, "I hate to break up a father-son moment, guys, but Genis is back and he wants to talk to all of us."

Kratos nodded, "Thank you, Colette." He slowly released Lloyd from his embrace.

Lloyd responded, wiping a couple of angry tears from his eyes, lifting his head from Kratos's chest, and looking over at Colette, "Coming Colette. Thanks."

Colette nodded and soon went back downstairs.

Kratos and Lloyd followed her.

Genis began to speak once everyone was in the lobby, "I…umm, just wanted to say thank you all for the support and everything. I don't know what…" He trailed off, starting to cry a bit, but he managed to finish his sentence "I'd do without all of you."

He then broke down crying.

Raine was the first to get up and go over to him, sitting next to him and letting him cry onto her shoulder. Though no words were spoken, one could tell that it was going to be a long night for the Sage siblings.

Presea walked over to them and stood in front of the couch, taking Genis's free hand and squeezing it gently. She was helping Genis too, lending him her strength by just being there to hold his hand.

Lloyd went up to stand behind the couch, placing a hand on Genis's right shoulder. He simply told him, "We'll never leave you, Genis. Ever."

Regal also went over. He stood to the left of Raine, "My strength is yours for as long as you need it."

Kratos walked up behind the couch as well, standing next to Lloyd and placing his hand on Genis's other shoulder, saying nothing.

Sheena went and stood to the right of Genis, "I'm here for you, Genis."

Genis gulped, finally collecting himself enough to speak, "Thank you, everyone…" He collapsed onto Raine's lap, having worn himself out crying.

Lloyd looked at Raine, "Is he…going to be all right, Professor?"

Raine smiled, a real smile this time, "Yes, Lloyd. His spirit is slowly beginning to mend. We should all get to bed though. It's getting rather late. Good night, everyone." She picked up Genis and went up to a room.

Kratos paid the innkeeper for three rooms. He would sleep in the same room as Lloyd and Regal. Sheena, Presea, and Colette would also share a room, and the Sage siblings would obviously share a room.

Everyone went to their rooms and went to bed.

A/N: Yay! Chapter 3 is done! Stay tuned for Chapter 4.