Lea: Ok, this time we're going to do something a little different.
Lloyd: Really? What's that?
Lea: Link get's to do the disclaimer!
Link: What the? Where am I?
Lloyd: What! No fair! I want to do it!
Lea: Link, please do the disclaimer!
Link: Lea Andrews doesn't own anything. So there!
Lloyd: Waahh! I wanted to do it!
Lea: Quit crying. You can do it next time!
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Kratos and Lyn finally made it to Triet as the sun started to set in the bold west. Kratos hardly said a word, and it really started to annoy Lyn. Ever since they left Ossa Trail, Lyn's been feeling weird and has been feeling differently about things, and she doesn't know why. For some reason, she felt like Kratos is hiding something, and she wanted to know what it was. Lyn tried to hold it back, but failed as they entered the desert city of Triet.
"Kratos? Why are you so quiet? You've hardly said anything this whole time. Is there something on your mind." Lyn asked.
"No. It's nothing." He lied, looking away.
"Oh…" Lyn sighed. He's lying. But what can I say? What could bother him so… Wait, Yuan said something about resembling someone. Miss, Oh, what was her name? Something with an "m" She pondered, following Kratos to the inn Miro… Mirry… Mira! That what it was! Mira! She had just entered the room, and Kratos tossed off his sword and threw it on his bed as usual. I took a deep breath and asked.
"Kratos, who is Mira?" Kratos didn't move. His back was to Lyn, but he didn't move. Lyn was starting to get scarred, after all, he was at least 10 years older then her. "Um… Yuan said I resembled her before he gave me the job. Is that what's bothering you?" Kratos still said nothing. She couldn't even see him breathing. "Are you ok?" She stuttered walking over to him. She started to lay a had on his shoulder, but he grabbed her arm. Then he let go, looked at her, and sighed.
"Well, you do seem exactly like her, but it's not you that's bothering me. It's her." He sighed. "Mira was a good friend of mine and Yuan's. She was… a genius."
"Really? What happened to her?"
"… She died…"
"Oh, I'm sorry…"
"Lyn, I have a question. If I said I was to rise like a phoenix, what would you think of?"
"Um, well, I don't know. The only thing I know about it that they burst into flames and then die. After that, a new phoenix is born from the ashes. It is said that they are exactly like the previous phoenix, except that they don't keep the memories. It's a symbol of rebirth. Why?"
"Just curious." He sighed. So that's what she meant. She knew she was going to die. It's the same as the phoenix bursting into flames. Mira died, and Lyn came later. Then, Lyn is Mira, but Lyn doesn't know it. They seem so different though. Of course, that is to be expected. Mira was the powerful Mana Goddess and the wind princess, but Lyn is an orphan who's lived with abuse all of her life, yet can smile. It's strange, but I think I like Lyn better.
One thing still bothers me though. If everything is returned except for memories, Lyn is capable of using all the powers Mira could. That could destroy Mithos Yggdrasill's plans. After all, Mira did create the expheres, angel powers, summoning, magic, mana powers, rituals, sword styles and much more. Lyn doesn't know anything now, but if she gained that knowledge, she could destroy everything that took 4,000 years to create! Well, that's to say if Lyn would. But even so, where would Mira hide all of that knowledge? "…"
"Kratos?"
"Yes."
"Oh, nothing… Thanks for trusting me."
"…" Kratos sighed, "Lyn, get your sleep."
"Ok." She sighed, crawling into her bed. Kratos just stared at the stars. When it was about midnight, Kratos walked out of the room. Lyn was then woken by an unpleasant cold breeze crawling up her spine. She got up and realized Kratos was gone. She got up and walked toward his bed when she heard talking from outside the window.
"Get rid of her? Why? I thought you wanted her to accompany me on the Journey of Regeneration."
"Why'd you think that?"
"Um, because you had Yuan hire her, it would give the chosen someone to talk to instead of nagging me, and she can somewhat handle a blade and basic magic."
"Well, the truth is that Yuan and I were just doing it as a bet to see if you would fall in love. It wasn't until later that we realized who she really was. All of the seals, the summon spirit bonds, and our mana powers depended on large amount of mana. Let's face it, it seems impossible but she's her. She fights the same, casts spells the same, has the same mana type and amount, and looks the same. It's ok if she goes into the sealed rooms, but if she takes one step into the Tower of Salvation, all of mana supporting the place could go wild. Yuan and I canceled our bet, but now you have to get rid of her before she even learns about the journey."
"A BET!!! ...As you wish... I'll get rid of her… I really wish you didn't put me in such a position though. How will I tell her?"
"Just tell her… well, you could just say that her job is done when you reach Isalia. She's already been paid in advance."
"Since you say so, I will…" Lyn could hardly believe her ears. She didn't understand what they were talking about, but she knew that she would be alone again. I'm… I'm going to be alone again? I thought, maybe I could stay with him, to learn more. But then again, I was only to be a guide. I should have seen this coming.
"You heard, didn't you? That was… my new boss and old friend…"
"Yeah… I guess I kinda got carried away. I thought I would… travel with you more. You know, see the world and learn how to live by the road, to be a mercenary. I guess I was wrong."
"Well, maybe I'll see you again some time. All you really have to worry about it getting another job. You're about as good as most mercenaries are, so you could buy yourself out as an escort. You could even go as far as to become a bounty hunter if you wanted to. You should be fine on your own…"
"Yeah, I know… but I still feel like I will miss you. Even though… we don't really talk much, I fell as if we've know each other for a long time. It's strange."
"Yes, it would seem…" Kratos turned away, "You really should be getting your sleep."
"But, you don't sleep. You don't eat either. Nor do you flinch or feel pain when I hit you by accident at practice. I thought it was just me and I tried to ignore it, but I just can't shake the feeling. It's just not… not normal. It as if you're not even human…" Lyn looked at him, but he would not face her. "I'm sorry. It must be me. I shouldn't have brought it up." She sighed and went to bed.
Kratos looked at her as she went to sleep, but said nothing. So she's noticed…should I tell her? No. There would be no point… Kratos thought, looking at her crawl up into a ball, sleeping softly like a little girl. She's cute when she does that, but I really shouldn't be thinking of things like that. Kratos sighed and stared at the stars.
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Morning came, and they were off again towards Iselia. Lyn started to get a headache ever since they left Triet, but didn't say anything to Kratos. When they were almost out of the desert, Lyn's head rang with pain.
"Lyn, are you ok?" asked Kratos, as Lyn started to slow down, holding her head. Lyn collapsed, and Kratos was barely able to catch her. "Lyn!" he yelled. Silence took him. The Valley of Twin Snakes is close to here, she could…" A sand storm started to pick up. "No, I can't do that. That place and Mira's mana is probably what's causing it. I'll just have to manage." He sighed, picking Lyn up and heading towards the House of Salvation, depending on his angel power of sight and strength.
"Well, things could be worse." He thought, leaving the sand storm and running across the plain. "At least we made better time then I thought. It was about noon when he reached the House of Salvation, but Lyn showed little sign of recovery. Everyone stared at Kratos, but he just walked in the door, pretending to ignore everyone. He finally decided to ask the priest for help, even though he would never normally do that.
"Sir." He started, "Can you help her? She collapsed on the way out of Triet." The priests looked at Kratos's calm face and nodded. A few acolytes took her away, and Kratos followed, sitting in the back of the room. After an hour of the priests fretting over what was wrong, they walked over to Kratos.
"Um… she's suffering from heat exhaustion. She should be fine by tomorrow." the priest lied. Kratos stared and walked over to Lyn.
"Ok, well I better be off then. I promised I would bring her to Iselia. Her cousin, I believe, is the chosen of mana." Kratos lied, but no one caught on. He left and walked towards Isalia, and later set up camp. He leaned against a rock, exhausted because Lyn had been unconsciously absorbing his mana to recover. He tried to let go of her, but she had latched onto his purple suit. Instead, he held her to his chest and stared at the stars.
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It was about midnight when she had finally come to. Lyn slowly opened her eyes and felt his heart beating slowly. Lyn could feel her cheeks flushing when she looked up to see his eyes, shining like the stars against his fiery auburn hair. "Kra… Kratos?" she stuttered.
"You collapsed on the outskirts of Triet desert. Now, we are about an hour's walk from Iselia." He said. Lyn quickly let go and stuttered.
"I'm sorry." She got of his chest, but he just stared at the stars. Suddenly, Lyn felt cold and started shivering.
"Is something the matter?" Kratos asked, still watching the stars.
"It suddenly got cold." Lyn shivered.
"Well, it could be that you haven't eaten all day and lack the energy. I'll make you something. In the mean time, warm yourself up. I don't want to get a cold." Kratos said, pulling out a pan and two eggs. Then he made her an omelet and handed her some water.
"Thanks" she smiled, eating. Kratos said nothing. He just returned to his rock and looked at the stars once more.
"Kratos." She asked when she was finished, "What do you think about when you look at the stars?"
"Huh?" Kratos looked back at her, "Nothing much. Memories, plans, desires, and anything on my mind really. They just seem to… to put me at ease for some reason. Yet they can also be used for navigation and helping you when you get lost"
"Really?" Lyn asked.
"Yes. You see that one? That's Polaris."
"Where?"
"Come here and I'll point it out to you." He said. Lyn got up and sat next to him. "See that star? That's the north star, Polaris."
"Wow…"
"And there is the Big Dipper, and there is Orion."
"I see." Lyn smiled.
"So if you get lost, just remember Polaris always points north."
"Ok," Lyn yawned, "Wow I'm getting s.l.e.e.p.y…" She yawned and fell asleep on Kratos's shoulder. Kratos sighed, She almost seems like the child I never had… She would… She would be about as old as Lloyd would be… Maybe in a few years, she would be identical to Mira… Life is far harsher then we ever thought, but you knew this would happen. Oh how I wish... Kratos looked back at the stars as a shooting star flew bye…
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Lea: I hope you like the story!
Lloyd: Please review so I can do the disclaimer next chapter!
Lea: Yep, next chapter, Lloyd, Genis, Raine, and Collette make their appearance!
Kratos: Oh dear God, Why me?