To Achieve Salvation

by Bookworm776

A year after the regeneration, the world is full of changes. But only for some. To Zelos, it seems that things are the same as before. But when a problem emerges that threatens the stability of the fragile new world, Zelos must rejoin his former companions to find a solution and achieve his own salvation. Post-game. Not Phantasia or Dawn of the New World compliant.

7. Interlude 1

To Achieve Salvation

Part 2—Hunger

Interlude 1

He lost his appetite at the temple of lightening. No one had noticed. They were focused on Sheena, comforting her and lending her their strength, so of course they didn't see Zelos' slight flinching and tense expression as the pain hit.

He had heard about Colette's experience and gleaned some of the particulars from his involvement with Cruxis, so he had expected pain. However, no amount of information could have prepared him for this. This was beyond pain—this was sheer agony. Tiny, sharp blades clawed at his insides, tearing him apart bit by bit. He could feel an empty, gaping hole opening up from within himself, and it felt as though his very life was draining away.

Despite the torment on his body, he had kept up appearances the rest of the day, acting like his usual obnoxious self while attempting to cheer up Sheena. As they lay down to rest that night, Zelos had found himself saddled with night watch and lacked the energy to complain. The group, exhausted by the day's events, had silently eaten their meal and fallen into a deep sleep, Sheena's rest every so often punctuated by a fitful moan.

He watched them, silent and still, the pain encompassing him. He had attempted to eat a bite of the food, but found he could not keep it down. Although the chosen knew it wouldn't work, the small part of him that had hoped that this was all some sort of crazy nightmare died. He had simply faked his meal, drawing no attention to himself, and sat on the edge of the camp.

How had Colette remained so strong throughout all of this? How had she kept her sanity while feeling her humanity fading away? To him, her strength was even more proof of how worthless he was as a chosen. He wanted to scream. He wanted to yell. He wanted to cry, but he remained silent. He had to. He was Yggdrasil's secret weapon, a future angel to be unleashed to cripple the party when they least expected it. No one could know.

A small part of him hoped that they would figure it out. That one day they would notice that he wasn't eating, or that he had gotten no sleep. That they would put two and two together and realize the pain he was in. But he knew that would never happen. He was too good an actor, and these people didn't really care about him. They saw him as the idiot chosen; nothing more, nothing less.

But that didn't stop him from wishing things were different.