Mr.Who2123: Poor group…well, after that exciting thriller of a chapter…we are winding down to a filler of a chapter. …OMG that rhymed!
Kratos: (Sigh) You kind of get used to her stupidity after awhile. Well, anyways, she doesn't own Tales of Symphonia.
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There was a grieving silence surrounding the group as they huddled around the single source of light and heat for miles. Each stared into that fire, seeing different images, yet looking at the same thing. The bright orange flames danced, creating moving shadows across everyone's forlorn faces. The wood crackled and broke under the intense heat occasionally, but there was never a reaction from the group as they were each filled with deep thought.
Anna was tired, and rested on her husband's shoulder, eventually falling asleep and leaving the three Seraphim to look about each other, still grieved. Moving himself slightly so Anna's head was on his chest, he sighed, but it was barely audible.
"What are we going to do? We are at stagnation as it is," Yuan voiced, looking down at his clasped hands. The thumbs moved idly as he began to recall the old times he had with Martel; a sad, nostalgic smile came upon his face.
"I couldn't kill him…even after it took all the mana from every animal in a mile radius…I'm just not strong enough," Sanaro added, though he seemed to talk more to himself than the others. Kratos looked to his friend with a fierce glare.
"Sanaro, everyone fails at one point or another, that's a given. What matters most in life is how you deal with those failures, so stop your complaining," he snapped. Sanaro's head went up to look at Kratos' fierce glare, and the former spy faltered his gaze.
"Alright," he replied, repressing a deep sigh. Yuan continued to look into the fire, seeing himself and Martel so happy, and seeing all their ambitions, and then those ambitions and goals was suddenly shut away when she had died. Yuan chanced a glance at Kratos, watching him put an arm around her waist so he could embrace her as they sat together.
"Kratos," Yuan suddenly began, looking from the bright flames to look his friend in the eyes. He was given answer by the acknowledgement in his dark eyes, and the blue haired Seraph continued. "I want you and Anna to settle while Sanaro and I finish saving the world. Martel and I…we never had a chance to settle down, and I greatly regret it…so I don't want you to make the same mistake."
Kratos looked deep into his friend's blue eyes, and understood he was right. The surly Seraph could see the remorse and knowledge kept inside of him, and Kratos agreed with a nod.
"Just make sure that you get me when you're almost done," Kratos said. Looking over to Sanaro, he saw a smile and a nod from him, accepting the new plan.
"We will," he added, to emphasize his uplifted spirit and acceptance of the new plan. "And we'll kill Yggdrasil once and for all." Yuan nodded with his accomplice, and then the campsite became silent once more. However, the dark and pernicious quietness had dispersed, and an air of hope surrounded them all, including the formerly saddened Sanaro. And unlike the former silence, this new one ended early, when Yuan came with a question.
"Where are you going to settle, Kratos?" he asked. The strong, bright orange flames had died to a deep and bright crimson, and the fire had downsized quite a bit. Looking east, Sanaro noticed the sun was close to lifting up out of the mountains.
"I want to go near Lake Umacy…no one ever goes there, and it is such an unperturbed area," he replied, reclining his head to look at the stars. The twinkling dots were faltering in the presence of the approaching sunlight, and were beginning to disappear in thin air.
There was no response to the Seraph's answer, as they silently waited for dawn to come.
A piercing scream filled the Seraphs' ears, as they each covered them and winced at the noise. The source of this sound was no other than Anna, writhing in pain. Kratos quickly began to cradle her in his arms, unsure of what to do. With his sharp eyes, the Seraph noticed the Cruxis Crystal was furthering its effect on the poor woman's body. Yuan and Sanaro looked to their friend in horror as the screaming ended and Anna's contorted face began serene once more.
"Her Cruxis Crystal is taking effect," Sanaro whispered. Yuan nodded, and Kratos was at a loss for words. He just kept holding his wife tightly in his arms, cursing the crystal which pained her so.
"We have to do something about it," Yuan added, looking sidelong to Sanaro, who looked back at him with an air of fear and shock.
"We need a Rune Crest…we can't take any chances if she had a normal Key Crest on her," Sanaro added. "But where can we find a capable dwarf?"
"And things were beginning to get better!" Kratos yelled, his eyes glistening with moisture as he continued to cradle her, his head against her and his hand caressing her long, brown hair. It was truly a sorrowful sight, and Sanaro had to look down in fear of being caught with tears in his eyes as well.
"Cold the dwarf you know in Sylverant make it?" Yuan asked, hope glistening in his eyes. Sanaro shook his head, which was still pointed to the dirt floor.
"I bet that ring itself was the most he could do at his skill level," he replied sadly.
"Anna…please don't die," Kratos muttered softly, and silently, dawn came upon the group as they stared into the dying embers of the flames.
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Pronyma walked tirelessly back and forth, watching the medical angels in their work. They had to use a constant Healing Circle around the Cruxis leader to keep his mana from running out and killing him in an instant. This healing circle was sustained by five angels as three more used their abilities to fix organs and seal skin back to normal without having any scars show when they finished. It was a grueling job, due to the need of full concentration and machine scrutiny. If there was one mess up in the fixing of an organ, it could easily burst of dysfunction in any given time.
Pronyma finally trudged to her leader, observing the work carefully with her sharp eyes.
Her face was one of deep anxiety for her leader, as she observed the dismantled body.
Who could make a move this powerful without the Eternal Sword? She wondered, as she didn't know about Sanaro, who Yggdrasil kept secret to everyone except himself. What if he doesn't win against the betrayers? Her mouth turned into a hard pressed smile at her thoughts.
Yggdrasil would have killed me if he heard that, she added. Slowly, Pronyma stepped back from her leader, and left for the dungeon. Walking quickly, the Desian group leader opened the hidden black door on the stone wall. Her shoes made loud echoes against the floor which was not padded with its usual thick and embroidered fabric.
"I'm going to get rid of these betrayers by myself," she said softly, and turned right to a particular cell. "Altessa." The name she voiced was much louder than the softer she had made before, and. It was added to the echoes she created with her feet.
Opening the gate lock, she peered inside, her eyes barely making out a figure in the inky blackness. She stepped forward, grinning maliciously.
"So, dwarf, I want you to tell me everything you know about Kratos, or I'll kill you here and now," she said to the figure. Her arms folded across her chest, she waited. Passed by were a few minutes off silence, and Pronyma frowned. Lifting a hand, she produced a bit of light magic. There, in the cell…was not Altessa, but a pillow placed on the bench to look like it was the dwarf. Cursing, Pronyma slammed the gate closed and ran out the cell.
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Altessa was inching alongside the cut stone walls of Derris Kharlan, his feet moving to the left as he approached a large set of stairs. So far, he was good, but he knew in a matter of time, discovery of his escape would be known.
Oh, and how right was that dwarf…just as he was out of sight and hopping down the stairs, Pronyma burst from the dungeon, her face full of rage.
"Get the escaped dwarf!" she screamed. Of course, Altessa heard this statement, and hopped quite a bit faster. He scrambled for the warp pad when he reached the bottom, and entered the door that held it. Inside, there was a large machine and an active warp pad in the middle of the room. Quickly stepping on it, he set his coordinates for Ozette and let the mana powered machine take him.
They would never suspect that I would return to my home, he thought, a grin on his face. Wiping his brow, he sighted in relief, and disappeared the next instant. Just as he left, Pronyma entered the room, her face still contorted with rage. Looking about the room with a glance, she slammed the door and continued to search for the dwarf, but her search had already become in vain.
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Mr.Who2123: Just like I said, it's just a filler. Well, at least it's over with now!
Kratos: Please review.