Just for the record, I'm not going to focus on every spell (Symphonian or Potterean) that the characters suddenly learn. I'm mainly doing it a lot right now because it's the beginning, and Harry, Ginny and Luna are just starting out. They will be learning in the background, though there will be some stuff I will teach them.
Also for the record I have my own interpretations of the Symphonian world, it should be fine but for the record some of it is my own interpretation of events relating to history, culture, politics etc.
Please enjoy the chapter.
Warning: There is a minor reference to sexual violence. – Use of strong language is on par with the Symphonia series.
The Author would like to express his thanks to the Aselia Wiki and the Harry Potter Wiki for aiding him and so many other fanfiction authors.
Into the Desert
Harry, Colette, Kratos and Raine made their way south of Iselia in the direction of the Triet Desert. The road was long and unending, but they walked on anyway. It would take weeks to reach Triet City and neither Harry nor Colette were used to long-distance travelling on foot.
Colette began to slow down as she looked into the sky.
"Chosen, please keep up the pace." Said Kratos, noticing her fall behind.
"Sorry." Said Colette.
"It's Noon isn't it?" Said Harry.
Colette looked at him and nodded. Lloyd would know that she has lied to him by now. Harry was also conscious of the fact that Ginny and Luna would have gotten his messages by now.
"How are your timekeeping skills coming along Harry?" Asked Colette.
Harry smirked. "Bloody terrible." He had been able to find a working watch on the train carriage. Unfortunately, Sylvarant had its own sun and its own orbital patterns. The days were several hours longer. Luna estimated that the days were between 4 and 5 hours longer than on Earth. It had taken Harry and the girls a lot of effort to adjust to the new timescale. Up until last night Harry was still not Managing, but since equipping the Exsphere he found that his body had energy reserves like it never had before.
"Be on your Guard enemies are coming." Said Kratos warningly.
Harry sighed, drew out his wand and his sword and prepared for battle, the tenth one since they first left Iselia.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
It was a pack of bandits. Two men armed with knives, an Archer and a Spell Caster.
Harry found himself locked in battle with one of the knife holders. Harry may have lacked experience but the Exsphere, combined with the fact his sword was a great deal longer, meant that the robber stood no chance.
"Azure Edge!" Incanted Harry. His Sword sent a large energy wave that impacted the hapless fool who sought to challenge him.
Harry then charged forward and, with expert ambidexterity he had not possessed until recently, he juggled the sword and his wand between his hands as he slashed at his opponent.
He was about to follow through with the only Arte he knew when he felt magic course through his body and he knew that he'd just learned a new technique.
"Cerberus Strike!" With his wand resting in his right hand, Harry tossed it into the air and then hit his opponent with three strikes of his fist, before catching his stick of holly and phoenix feather.
The thief was in a daze now and staggered back at Harry's attack. He made an attempt to charge forward but Harry was ready for him. "Reducto!"
The spell left Harry's wand and impacted the assailants ribcage at point blank range. He heard the bones crunch and saw the life go from person's eyes as he stood victorious. Kratos had taken care of the other knifeman and the sorcerer while Colette and Raine had taken care of the archer. The battle was over.
"You're getting used to this." Said Kratos.
"Yeah." Said Harry simply, as he looked over the man he just killed. "Do you ever get used to this feeling?"
Kratos surveyed Harry. "It never goes away, but that is not a bad thing. One should consider every life they take in battle. If you make an error, then you must decide for yourself what atonement is required, or if there was no better way. Of course, others may choose to make that judgement upon you themselves, even act upon it."
"It was them or us." Said Harry. "I'm not wrong am I?"
"I cannot answer that for you." Said Kratos. "You must decide for yourself."
Harry nodded. It was an ambush and a life or death situation. But he had still taken a life. It was not his first, not even his first that day.
"I pray for the lives I have taken." Said Colette. "I ask Martel to forgive me for ending those lives and hope that she will take care of them in the afterlife."
Harry felt a bit awkward. He was not a religious person, not even after meeting that angel, he felt uneasy taking comfort from something he barely understood.
"I use logic." Said Raine. "As you said, it was them or us. I will not allow their misguidance to affect me. It's their fault they are dead."
Colette gasped… "Professor?" The Chosen looked scandalized.
"My way is not for everyone." Said Raine simply.
"We should get going." Said Kratos. "You have to find your own answers Harry. If you don't, you can lose yourself. But I assure you that if you continue on this journey, you will see more death. That is the world we live in."
The party continued moving on. Harry was involved in several more fights that day. In the end he thought about Ginny and Luna, and his friends back on Earth and that he was doing this for them. He was not out to hurt or kill people, he would however defend himself against any attack and do anything for his friends. That had been the case with the troll, the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secret. It had also been the case at the Martel Temple, the Desians who attacked them were a threat to him and his friends, there was no other way.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Lloyd, Genis, Ginny and Luna were significantly further behind, which wasn't surprising since they hadn't left until after the events in Iselia had finished. Their group were over half a day behind and by the time the sun was beginning to set, they could see firelight from the village in the distance.
"Huh?" Said Lloyd as he caught site of something.
"What's that?" Said Ginny.
On approaching they discovered it was a caravan.
"Wh… who are you?" Said a woman.
"I'm Lloyd." Said Lloyd in his usual friendly manner. "Sorry we wondered who was over here."
"Oh, well it's just me at the moment." Said the Woman. "I'm Sarah. Are you all on a pilgrimage?"
"We're…" Began Genis.
"Pilgrimage?" Said Lloyd. "Yeah I guess you could say that."
"That is quite admirable for someone so young." Said Sarah approvingly. "Do you wish to rest here tonight, I could use the company?"
"We don't want to impose." Said Luna.
"Not at all. Please make yourselves at home."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"We should stop to make camp here." Said Kratos.
They were in a clearing of a wooded section just off the main road some fifty miles from the village of Iselia and unknowingly twenty-five miles from where Noah's Caravan had made camp.
"Agreed." Said Raine. "If my memories serve me correctly, there should be a stream just beyond those rocks."
"You are correct." Said Kratos. "I will remain here with the Chosen. Harry, go and top up our water supply from the stream. Raine, go and collect some firewood."
"I don't think that's necessary." Said Harry.
"We've been walking all day and it's about to get dark. Enlighten me, why is it not necessary to ensure we are warm and hydrated?" Said Kratos, building himself up for scolding Harry.
"We do." Said Harry. "But I brought this." He held up his wand, then lifted up his nearly empty gourd of water and pointed the tip inside. "Aguamenti!"
The gourd filled to the brim and Colette started clapping.
"I can fill all our gourds and bottles." Said Harry. "As for the fire."
Harry reached into his bag and pulled out five jam jars, one significantly large, placing them on the ground.
He placed the large jar where the fireplace would ideally be located, then pointed his wand inside.
"Incendio!"
Fire streamed out of Harry's wand into the jar, forming a small flame.
"Engorgio!"
The flame grew in size to about the same intensity any traveller would want their fireplace to be at.
"I can also put smaller flames in each of these." Harry indicated the smaller jam jars. "We can each sleep next to one."
"Very resourceful." Said Kratos, he actually seemed highly impressed.
"I must concur." Said Raine. "We have not used magic to such a convenience in this world."
Harry looked awkwardly at the ground, he never got this kind of praise normally, save for Quidditch.
Unfortunately this was not going to be a luxury travel experience, everyone forgot to object when Raine offered to cook. When she wasn't looking, Harry sneakily gobbled up the last of the Chocolate Frogs he'd scavenged from the carriage.
"For those of you who haven't travelled before, one of us needs to stand guard while the others sleep." Said Kratos. "We'll take it in turns, one person shall do the first half of the night and another the second half."
"I think you and I should take both watches tonight." Said Raine. "We've actually done this before."
"Very well." Said Kratos.
Unfortunately, Harry discovered that just because he wasn't on the night shift it didn't mean he could just get to sleep. The ground was rough and while the fires provided warmth, probably more warmth than Kratos' firewood option, it was still cold. Additionally they were woken up thrice throughout the night. First by a hungry wolves, then by a group of bandits and finally by a monster that looked like a giant grass hopper followed by two giant wasps with poisonous stings. At the end of the last battle, Harry got poisoned.
"Drink this." Said Raine handing him a bottle.
Harry downed the contents. "Wow, I wish I had this back at Hogwarts. What is it?"
"A Panacea Bottle." Said Raine. "It's a magic potion that can cure virtually any ailment in your system."
"Even Basilisk poison?" Said Harry.
"I do not know of the Basilisk on your world, but the petrification and the poison caused by Basilisks of this world can all be cured with a Panacea Bottle." Said Raine.
Harry's eyes widened.
"Do you not have anything like that on your world?" Said Kratos.
"No." Said Harry. "Well that's not true the Muggle World, that's the Non-Magical, part of our society has things like antibiotics and penicillin that can heal a whole load of stuff. But in the Magical World, there is no wonder drug like penicillin or Panacea Bottles. Every curable disease has specific potions or spells that heal you. Though things like Pepper-Up potions are good for colds, flu and fever. But they're more of a remedy."
By this point in the night… there was no night and the sun was rising, bring with it a cool frost. Everyone huddled closer to the warm jam jars and Colette set about boiling some water for tea.
"We should get going soon." Said Kratos. "We have a long way to go, and we'll all feel much better once we get to Triet."
"Agreed." Said Harry. "How long do you think it will take us?"
"If we can keep up a good pace? Three weeks." Said Kratos.
Harry felt any joy that was left in him die at that declaration.
"However we should be able to make the House of Salvation in half that time." Said Raine.
"The what?" Said Harry.
"The Houses of Salvation are roadside Inns that exist on the roads between major towns. They're there to offer shelter to travellers." Said Colette.
"Isn't there anything else between here and Triet?" Said Harry.
"No." Said Kratos.
"There used to be long ago." Said Raine. "But since the world's Mana has depleted, the land is dying. Nothing between Iselia and Triet is worth anything. Of course if we had a carriage we could get to Triet much faster. But that also creates new problems."
"Like what?" Asked Colette.
"All of the previous Chosens travelled by them." Said Kratos. "Carriages are a very rare luxury these days, everyone opposed to salvation would target one."
"Walking makes us less noticeable." Said Raine. "Also harder to track, our footprints are just one among many. Carriage's leave behind wheel tracks, horse prints and of course excrement."
"Right." Said Harry. "I guess we'd better get going."
"Yes that would be wise." Said Kratos.
Just at that moment a group of thieves jumped out "YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE!"
"To the road ahead." Sighed Harry, drawing out his sword. "Azure Edge!"
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Twenty miles to the North, Lloyd's party too were under attack. Though not by bandits.
"I hate ladybirds." Growled Ginny. She swung her spear again and again against the oversized bugs, as her friends too fought against their own bug opponents. To her irritation, despite the fact her skill with the spear had improved greatly in twenty-four hours she'd wielded one, Luna seemed to be adapting to her bow much quicker.
The addition of Exspheres had done wonders for the girls combat skills. The same was true for Genis. He had been a skilled duellist as any wizard three years older than him in Hogwarts. But the Exsphere was greatly advancing Genis' combat skills as well as the number of artes he was learning. Of course none of them were at the level Lloyd were, that boy's skills exceeded everyone's.
But Ginny was going to do her best. Any of her brothers… well maybe not Percy… but most of her brothers would seek to improve themselves in a fight. So would she.
"Sonic Spear!" With that burst of encouragement, she launched her first Arte into the oversize ladybird knocking it dead to the ground.
Luna too, at that moment learnt her new arte "Piercing Line!" A single powerful arrow was fired and bore right through the bug.
"Way to go girls." Said Genis holding his thumb up, his opponent lying in a burning ruin a few feet away. "Your first artes."
"Thank You Genis." Said Luna. "I hope I will learn more than that, it's not that much different from my usual attacks."
"What she said." Remarked Ginny. Though her magical attack looked not to dissimilar to her normal attacks, it felt different. It felt a lot like when she cast magic with her wand, what was particularly unusual though was that she wasn't using a wand.
"It must seem strange." Said Genis looking at Ginny regarding her weapon.
"It does a bit." Said Ginny. "This magic, it's very different to anything on Earth."
"I wonder how Harry's progressing?" Pondered Luna.
"I don't." Ginny growled.
Luna smiled at Ginny. "We'll find him again."
"Damn right we will." Said Ginny. "And he's going to get it."
Genis and Lloyd looked at each other, Ginny was taking this a bit more personally than either of them were. True Harry had told a barefaced lie to Ginny, but Colette had also told one to Lloyd. He wondered why he wasn't as angry and hurt. Then again, people had been telling him for months, years even he would never be able to go with Colette. At one point he came to live with that fact, but when he learnt what the Desians did to his mother, that changed everything. Lloyd may have been banished from Iselia, but he was on his way out regardless. He wanted nothing to do with that Peace Treaty.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"Are you ever going to write to your friends?" Asked Colette.
"Maybe when we get to Triet." Said Harry. Though he knew his excuses were wearing thin, they were only just halfway there, despite being on the road for ten days now, and it would take at least as long to reach the city.
"Harry." Said Colette.
"Look, she'll be pretty pissed off." Said Harry. "If you want, I'm sure Hedwig will deliver Lloyd a letter."
Colette shook her head. "When you put it that way, it's easier to understand."
"What?" Questioned Harry. "Oh… you lied to Lloyd as well."
"I suppose it would make sense to write letters when we've reached Triet. We'll have had time to relax and recuperate." Said Colette.
"Yeah. I really don't want to write something in between fighting bandits." Said Harry. "Speaking of which, shouldn't we be stopping somewhere to make camp? There's not much sun?"
Kratos turned round. "We're nearly at the House of Salvation." He said. "We should be their within the hour."
Harry felt his spirit lift at Kratos' declaration. After over a week on the road, a real bed, no matter how basic would be hugely welcome.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
The facilities at the House of Salvation were pretty basic. The building was essentially a small dome consisting of a two floors. The ground floor was designated for praying. There was a statue of the Goddesses Martel, crowned with what looked like a diamond, overlooking the floor space and several people were praying whilst a pastor stood by the statue overseeing the room.
The party bypassed the praying and went straight to the First Floor, where they paid an old lady the fee for spending the night.
Before bedtime, they were each given bread and a simple meat stew. It wasn't the best food in the world, but it was welcome. Kratos insisted that someone had to keep guard whilst the others slept. It was Harry's turn for the second part of the night and his for the first.
It was only half a night, but Harry was immensely grateful for the rest on a very simple mattress on the floor.
The morning after, they allowed themselves the small pleasure of having someone else provide them with food. Then they were invited to pray. Harry felt a bit awkward but he kept his head down and got on with it.
After that they once more continued on the road south.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
No one in Ginny's party had travelled this way before. Well Genis had, but he couldn't remember, he was young at the time and focused more on the idea of a home than the route he was going. As such they were a bit put out when, three hours after setting off, they found the House of Salvation.
"We can't stay here." Said Genis. "There is another fourteen hours in the day that can be used to travel. Let's not forget that we're trying to get to catch up with Colette and the others."
"But can't we stay for a little bit?" Said Ginny. "At least for lunch?"
"Lunch is served in an hour." Said the elderly lady who was responsible for domestic duties.
"Well, we could ask if anyone's seen Colette or Harry or the others in the meantime." Said Lloyd.
But no one knew that the Chosen had come through the settlement. It never occurred to the group that Harry's group wouldn't want to draw attention to the fact that they were the Chosen group. Genis, bless his soul, lost thirty minutes of his life talking to some old hermit about Guidepost Monuments.
After eating lunch at the House, they move on towards the desert.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Two nights after visiting the House of Salvation, Harry and Colette's group camped out on the edge of the Triet Desert.
"It should take us just under a week to reach the city." Said Kratos. "We'll be relying on your magic Harry. During the day, the heat of the desert air can match the inside of a lit furnace, and at night it isn't much better."
The Boy-Who-Lived-On-Earth-Once-Upon-A-Time nodded. Over the last two weeks, he and Kratos had established a certain respect for one another. Harry suspected that Kratos thought he would kick up a fuss by this stage, particularly after being woken up at the House of Salvation half way through the night. But Harry had had to put up with growing up as the nephew of Vernon and Petunia Dursley was not going to complain about sleeping in places that were at worst just as bad as his cupboard under the stairs. This journey was difficult and hard, but he would make do.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
On the twentieth day, since leaving Iselia, Lloyd and Ginny's group had spent most of the last week in the desert of Triet. They had no way of knowing but they had averaged a gap of between fifteen and twenty miles behind Harry's group.
"According to the map, Triet city isn't much further." Said Luna. "But it's still four hours walk, it will get dark long before then."
"Man I can't believe how hot this place is." Said Lloyd. "Why is it like this?"
"Well according to legend there is a gate that leads to Efreet. The Summon Spirit of Fire. The heat is due to his influence." Said Genis.
"Summon Spirit?" Question Ginny.
"Oh right." Said Genis. "Summon Spirits Manage the Mana Seals which the Chosen is supposed to release. Unfortunately the seals are protected by Guardians that suppress the spirit's power and keep Mana from revitalising the land. The spirits guard our world and have direct influence over its environment. Efreet is the Summon Spirit of Fire, he is supposed to in this area that's why it's so hot."
"So wait does that mean…" Said Lloyd.
"Yeah." Said Genis. "The gate to Efreet, a ruined city that is said to have been destroyed by his rage, is somewhere around here and that is likely where Colette will be going. To defeat the Guardian and meet the angel Remiel again."
"Do you have any idea where these ruins are?" Said Ginny.
"No. But they are pretty popular, so someone in the city should be able to give us directions." Said Genis.
"Who knows, Colette and the others might be spending the night in Triet now, we might catch them in the morning." Said Lloyd.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
While Ginny's group were setting up camp just under twenty miles to the north, Harry's group entered Triet: The Dessert Oasis. The settlement was a bit of a mess. The Desians had attacked the city merely a few days ago and held a public execution in the plaza. A few of the buildings were in a state of ruin.
"I suggest we head straight to the Inn." Said Kratos. "We need to secure rooms, this is the only settlement for miles around."
They secured two rooms at the Inn, one for the boys and one for the girls.
While there was still time, Kratos took Harry to the local bazaar. "That sword has proven you competent up until now, but I think you would be suited better to more than just a crude blade."
Harry looked at his weapon and had to agree. The sword had been taken from a Desian that attacked the Martel Temple.
"I kind of wish I still had the sword of Gryffindor." Said Harry.
"The sword with which you slayed the giant serpent?" Inquired Kratos.
"That's the one." Said Harry. "I don't know why, it's probably just my ego getting away with me but I felt really… connected with that thing."
"The magic that you wield is much more complex than anything I have seen in this world. Perhaps you are connected." Said Kratos. "In any case, even in this world, warriors form bonds with their weapons that drift into the realms of magic."
"It doesn't matter much now." Said Harry. "I left the sword behind, Dumbledore put it on display in his office."
After nearly an hour, Harry left the brand new owner of a sword much better suited to him. The blacksmith he bought it from gave him a discounted price in exchange for the Desian sword, apparently it could be melted down and recycled.
Meanwhile, Raine and Collette were talking with some of the locals nearby and within eyesight of the bazaar.
"The ruins you're referring to are about half a day's walk to the west." Said a man standing next to a house that definitely hadn't been vandalized by the Desians or damaged in any way. "That's assuming you can make it, the desert s pretty dangerous, especially around that area."
"I think we can…" began Raine.
"Wha!" Cried out Colette all of a sudden, she lost her balance and fell forward. The House in which she fell against was no longer lacking any qualities of disrepair as it had mere minutes previously.
"Colette?" Cried out Harry rushing to her aid, Kratos just behind her.
"My wall!" cried the man in shock.
"Chosen One are you alright?" Said Kratos.
The shocked man looked on in perplexion. "Ch… Chosen? You're the Chosen?"
Colette got up from the wall in which she had created her image in. "Oh… oh Dear." Lamented Colette.
"I got it." Said Harry, smiling fondly at his blond haired friend. "Reparo!"
Harry's incantation quickly fixed the hole back to its original form, much to the disappointment of the man of which it belonged to.
"Oh no that would have become the number one attraction of the town." Lamented the man.
"What?" Said Harry.
"Oh Chosen of Regeneration may I ask a most gracious favour?" Said the man.
"Sure." Said Colette smiling, always happy to spontaneously please people, random or otherwise.
"Fall over again."
"What?" Colette blinked.
"Please I desire an image of you like the one this gentleman just defied me of. Fall over and create a mess. Please?" Said the man.
Harry's mind shut down. While Colette proceeded to fall down a number of times and create moderate destruction, none of which could obviously be attributed to the Chosen of Regeneration, the Boy-Who-Lived tried to imagine if people in the magical world would desire a Harry-shaped hole in a wall just as much. Of course Harry didn't have Colette's particular talent for clumsiness so he would never know.
He was brought out of his musing by the sound of a vase breaking.
"No. That was my mothers." Lamented the wall-owner.
Harry decided enough was enough, they were drawing a crowd, Kratos was getting annoyed and Raine was sighing more than she did the last time Lloyd sat a history test.
"Reparo!" He incanted. The vase repaired itself.
"Oh thank you good sir." Said the wall-owner. "Now Chosen if you could just fall forward a…"
"Enough!" Snapped Harry. He pointed his wand at the wall where Colette had first fallen. "Finite Incantatum!"
The repair work he did on the wall cancelled itself out and the image of Colette returned.
"Oh it's just like the one created by the chosen." Said the man.
"It's the same one." Said Harry. "I just reversed my magic."
While several Triet citizens converged on the image like middle-aged witches on Gilderoy Lockhart, the group tried to make their way to the inn unnoticed. A task with which they were partially successful.
"Excuse me young sir?" Said a man.
"What!" Said Harry, a little irritated by what had just happened.
"That trick you did on the wall could you…" He indicated his ruined house.
Harry felt his heart clench at the sight of the person's ruined house.
"The Desians did this." He said sadly.
"That's horrible." Said Harry. "There's even bloodstains."
"My daughter's, she was inside. She's fine though, just a few cuts." Said the man. "Doctors in the desert need to know how to treat exposed blood, the sand can be very dangerous…"
"That's true." Said Raine.
Harry took his wand back out and pointed. "Reparo!"
The debris shifted about for a few seconds then fell back to the ground. The building was too large for a simple repairing charm.
The man looked crestfallen. "Thank you for trying." He said, his voice beginning to croak.
But Harry wasn't finished. He concentrated his Mana into his Exsphere just like he was casting an Arte. The gem imbedded in his hand lit up with the magic that Harry was summoning. He then aimed his wand again. "Reparo Totalum!"
The largest chunks of the ruined house came to life and violently floated back to the positions they originally resided. Then millions and millions of dust particles that originally made up the structure of the house flew in and took up their positions. Within a minute the shack was restored, as good as the day it was built.
Those not distracted by the Colette-shaped hole in the wall gathered round in amazed awe.
"Incredible." Stated the man in awe. "Thank you so much."
Harry in the meantime was panting. "Wow, that was rough." He felt his legs give way and he fell to his knees.
"Harry!" Said Colette helping back to his feet and having him lean against her.
"It seems you used up considerably more magic than you are used to." Said Raine.
"You will get used to it in time." Said Kratos. "But I think we'd better get you back to the Inn and rest. I will take your turn guarding tonight."
"Sorry." Harry ground out. "I hope this gets easier."
"It will take a few tries." Said Kratos. "I recommend you and I experiment with this later. In the meantime you need rest, an orange gel would not hurt either."
"Orange Gel?" Said Harry deliriously.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Harry slept like a log in his and Kratos' room until the sun was just rising over the desert city. They had a few minutes until breakfast was organized so he started writing his letter to Ginny. He didn't manage to finish it though so he put it in his pocket and readied himself for another trek across the desert.
Once Raine confirmed Harry to be in a fit and healthy state, the group left and headed west for the Seal of Fire.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Less than two hours after Harry's group left, Ginny and her group arrived in the city.
"Holy Gwenog Jones, this place is so boiling." Growled Ginny. "I hope Harry's not here, I don't have the strength to beat him up."
"I'm sure Harry and…" Luna began but she and Ginny stopped their conversation at the sight of Genis and Lloyd in front of them.
"Quick hide." Exclaimed Genis quietly. Both he and Lloyd were using Noishe for cover. The girls looked ahead and saw a group of Desians converged in the plaza.
The four of them used the rather confused canine to negotiate their way to the stables relatively unseen by the Desians. A few people, mainly children, seemed to notice what they were doing but chose to disregard their actions in relation to the Desians. The four of them could hear what the soldiers were saying from behind Noishe.
"Orders from Lord Forcystus. A human is on loose with an Exsphere, his identification code is unknown. Form a search of this area, he is to be apprehended on sight." Said the lead Desian.
"What does he look like?" Asked one of the other soldiers.
"His likeness and description are on the wanted posters." Said the commander. "We're counting on you."
"Yes sir."
The Desians spread out through the city. The Commander went straight to a bill board by the inn and then left to aid his men.
"Man this is insane." Said Lloyd. "Wanted posters and cordons."
"We need to find Colette and Raine, they can help us." Said Genis.
"But I thought we were looking for Colette so we could help protect her?" Said Lloyd.
"We are, but I think we're going to need some help." Said Ginny.
"Besides which I think they would prefer to find out about what happened from us rather than through Desian messages." Said Genis.
"Fine." Said Lloyd.
"I also want to take a look at this picture." Said Genis.
The group went over to the board and looked at a very badly drawn image of Lloyd.
"Oh my god am I really that ugly?" Said Lloyd in horror.
"I must admit I think they pronounced your chin a bit much." Said Luna.
"And your hair." Said Ginny.
"And your eyes." Said Luna.
"Your teeth." Said Ginny.
Lloyd turned to glare at the girls who both burst into giggles.
"It's great." Said Genis. "With this picture they'll never recognise you."
"I hope you're right." Said Ginny. "It may not be a very good picture but it's not totally unrecognisable as Lloyd."
"So wait I am ugly?" Said Lloyd.
"Come on let's go looking for Colette." Said Genis, putting everyone back on task.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"We're making good progress." Said Kratos. "If the directions we received are right the ruins should be in this area."
"Should being the relevant word there." Remarked Harry.
Harry's party had been travelling non-stop since that morning. The desert was vast and expansive. Finding the Seal of Fire was not easy, it was like looking for the Chamber of Secrets, unless you knew where it was, you weren't going to find it that easy.
Right now they were taking a break. Harry spent a few minutes trying to do a cooling charm, but gave up as the spell in question was obviously too advanced for him. So he refilled everyone's gourds with water via his wand then finished his letter to Ginny.
"Hedwig!" Harry called.
His owl landed next to him looking a little worse for wear. Snowy owls on Earth tended to nest in the far north of the planet, near the Arctic Circle for the most part, and were used to a tundra climate. Therefore the desert was far from ideal.
"Sorry girl." Said Harry. "Feel free to stay with Ginny for a few weeks, Iselia's much nicer than here."
Hedwig allowed her master to attach the letter to her leg.
"Colette do you want to send Lloyd a letter?"
"No that's alright. I'll write to him once I've met my father again, I'm sure he'd want to hear about that." Said the Chosen.
Harry personally suspected that Lloyd and the others would prefer to hear more about Colette than Remiel.
For a while they just sat somewhat uncomfortably in the desert, drinking water and trying not to let the sun get to them. Unfortunately there was nothing for miles around and that meant no shade and more than a few predators that wanted a piece of them.
"According to the position of the sun, we're approximately in this location somewhere." Said Raine. "Unfortunately the ruins we're looking for are not exactly marked, they could be five miles away or fifty, and we're not entirely sure of the direction."
"I recommend we spend the next three days looking for the ruins then head back to Triet to rest before resuming our search." Said Kratos.
"Agreed." Said Raine.
"It's a pity we don't have a plane." Said Harry.
"What's a plane?" Said Colette.
"Transport from my world." Said Harry. "An aeroplane, it's basically something that can fly you from one place to another. It's in the Muggle world of course, they've conceived ones that fly halfway round the planet without needing to stop for fuel. We could use one of those now, to fly over the desert to search for the Seal."
"But you're a wizard." Said Colette. "And you have a broom, you don't need a plane to fly."
Harry's jaw dropped. "I'm an idiot. A complete idiot."
He had completely forgotten that he'd brought his Nimbus 2000 with him, he disconnected it from his rucksack and then mounted. "I'll take a quick look around."
"Can that thing really fly?" Said Kratos.
"He claims it can, but I've yet to see…" Raine trailed off but stopped as Harry started.
It had been months and months since Harry had taken off on his broomstick, not since the cancelled Quidditch match against Hufflepuff. Being back in the air brought a renewed joy to him, there was a lot he didn't miss about Earth, but this was something he really loved. Whilst in the air, he couldn't help pull a few aerial stunts. But he Managed refocus on his task after a minute.
It was strangely easier to fly much higher on Sylvarant than it was on Earth. He half expected to encounter crosswinds, or thin and difficult to breath air. But it was only slightly windier and slightly colder than on the surface, the latter of which was actually welcomed considering the surface was a desert. His time in the air was not very long, after a few more minutes of search he touched down.
"I think I found it." Said Harry. "But the place looks… well ruined…"
"That sounds like what we're looking for." Said Kratos. "I must confess surprise that you have something that can fly."
"This." Said Harry. "They're quite common in the Magical World, there's a sport called Quidditch, I'm very good at it, we play it on these."
"What of these non-magical flight methods you mentioned?" Said Raine. "Planes?"
"They're very different. They're mechanical, they actually sound a little similar to some of these magi-technology transports you mentioned in school, only they run off of fuel… oil rather than magic, magic in our world tends to corrupt and ruin technology." Said Harry.
"Fascinating." Said Raine. "Should you ever find a way home, I would like to visit this world off yours."
"I don't know if it would be a two-way trip." Said Harry. "What about your brother. I know if I had… wait isn't that your brother…"
Everyone turned to look where Harry indicated. Sure enough Genis was riding like hell on the back of Noishe.
Raine ran forward to meet her brother. "Genis you fool, what in the name of Martel do you think you're doing here?"
"Lloyd… Ginny… Luna…" Genis ground out… "They've been kidnapped… by Desians… there's a base… to the east of Triet."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Lloyd, Genis, Ginny and Luna did not spend long looking around Triet. They were conscious of being spotted by the Desians. However the sight of a Colette shaped hole was encouraging as was a thoroughly irritating visit to the Fortune Teller.
"We desire to know where Col… Where the Chosen went." Said Lloyd.
The Fortune Teller closed her eyes and seemed to be in some kind of trance. Then the irritating bit "I understand that will be 100 Gald."
"That's expensive." Said Lloyd quietly.
"More like extortionate." Mutter Ginny.
"Did you say something?" Said the lady with the crystal ball.
The group paid her 100 Gald.
"Thank you. The Chosen is headed for a city that was destroyed by a great hellfire." Said the Fortune Teller.
"Is that true?" Said Genis, a modicum of amazement developing within the young elf.
"The Chosen said so herself, so there's no doubt." Remarked the woman carelessly.
After that exchange, they hurriedly made their way to the plaza and the exit.
"Halt!" Came a voice from behind them. They turned to see two Desians in the plaza approaching them. "Aren't you the guy on that wanted poster over there?"
As the Desian was talking, two of his other comrades trotted over, the Triet citizens meanwhile moved rapidly away from what would very likely escalate into a fight.
"Let's see." Said One of the Desians who glanced over at the picture. "It sure looks like him."
"Hey Lloyd, they're saying you're handsome." Remarked Genis.
"Oh Man, stupid poster." Grumbled Lloyd.
"I guess you can't go anywhere with your likeness plaster everywhere like that." Sneered the Desian, completely unaware that he was irritating Lloyd more and more.
"You're really starting to piss me off." Growled Lloyd angrily.
"Take him." Ordered the senior officer.
Quick as a flash, Luna had her bow out and targeted the archer "Piercing Line!" a single power arrow hit the overly smug crossbowman in the face. The other three sprang rapidly to action and charged the Desians.
"Thunder Lance!" Cried out Ginny. She swung her spear upwards from below and knocked a Desian armed with a whip into the air. Once he was a few feet off the ground a lightning strike came out of nowhere and delivered the finishing blow.
The swordsman Lloyd encountered faired even less well. It took merely a few slashes followed by "Tiger Blade!" The immense strength of Lloyd's attack meant that the soldier didn't last long.
All that remained was a single spell caster, who was rapidly trying to get a magic attack out to support his comrades. But he was not as fast as Genis.
"Aqua Edge!" The spell-caster survived but he got knocked to the ground by the attack and everyone nearby could hear his arm break. He now found himself surrounded by hostile forces all of whom had the will and ability to kill him, so he ran.
"Heh! The Desians are no match for us." Said Lloyd smugly.
"Don't drop your guard." Said Genis seriously.
"But they're so pitiful." Remarked Lloyd.
However as that remark left his lips he was suddenly stuck by a bolt of electricity in the back.
"Lloyd!" Shouted Ginny.
The three remaining members of the group turned to see a large number of Desians approaching them. There were too many to take out without Lloyd to help them.
"Please… don't hurt us." Pleaded Genis.
Ginny too felt scared, "Where's Harry?" The last time they were up against difficult odds, the Vidarr at the Martel Temple, it had been Harry's courage and perseverance that saved them.
With too many people to fight, they surrendered and were escorted to the Sylvarant Base.
On arrival, they carried Lloyd into the base and took the girls with them. They considered Genis fellow kin for some reason and decided to let him go.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"Keep calm Harry, keep calm." The words kept echoing round his head, but it wasn't working. Harry was in a state of near panic and it was taking all his self-control to try and focus on the situation.
Genis had just finished explaining everything that had happened since leaving Iselia.
"You are a fool Genis." Growled Raine. "What were you thinking, visiting the Ranch, I would have thought this something Lloyd would do but…"
"Ginny and Luna weren't banished." Said Harry.
"What no…" Trailed off Genis, a bit scared of everyone around him.
"Good then I can get them back. They'll be safe in the village." Said Harry.
"What?" Said Genis. "You can't…"
"This base is the far side of Triet from here correct." Said Harry, not really paying attention.
"Yes but…"
"Then you will guide me." He said. Harry mounted his broom. "Genis get on behind me, we're going to rescue Lloyd.
"Stop right there." Said Kratos.
"No they're in danger." Said Harry.
"And they'll be in even greater danger if you just rush into the base." Said Kratos.
"But we need to save them." Said Colette.
"We'll start by heading straight there, by foot." Said Kratos. "I've travelled these parts before and I know of this base, it is not a ranch but there is a garrison. We need to be careful."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Ginny and Luna had everything but the clothes they wore taken from them, before they were shoved in a holding cell with Lloyd's unconscious form.
"Is Lloyd alright?" Asked Ginny.
"It would appear that the electric bolt was some kind of Stunning Charm, he should recover soon." Said Luna.
"Why didn't they take Genis in, why let him go?" Said Ginny.
"Because they don't consider him a threat or an enemy." Said Luna. "We're humans, as is Lloyd, Genis is not."
"But I thought that Half-Elves hate Elves and Humans." Said Ginny.
"They might think he is a Half-Elf." Said Luna. "He does look different, but Half-Elves seem to have more in common with Elves than Humans. Maybe Desians are more open to Elves than some Half-Elves."
"Maybe." Said Ginny. "Still at least with him free, he can go to Harry and the others for help."
The two girls sat in the cell for several hours before Lloyd began to stir.
"Ow!" he groaned out slowly and quietly.
"Lloyd are you alright?" Whispered Ginny.
"I… think so…" He ground out.
In the distance they suddenly heard two of the Desians talking.
"If that's the case, then that Lloyd Irving can expect a swift execution." Laughed one of them.
"What about the human girls?" Said the other.
"Don't know, Lord Botta apparently has some grudge against them for what happened the other week. Depends on what Lord…"
But that Desian was cut off by another soldier coming in. "Lord Botta wants to talk to you."
"Alright."
After the two soldiers left, they were left with only one prison guard patrolling the cells.
"We need to get out of here." Said Lloyd. "We can't wait for the others to rescue us, not if what that Desian said is true."
"But how." Said Ginny. "We've no weapons, they cleaned us out before locking us in here."
"Not everything." Said Lloyd, holding up his hand with the Sorcerers Ring attached.
Ginny's eyes widened. "Lloyd that guard has keys." She said.
"Leave it to me." Remarked Lloyd.
The Desian guard largely ignored his prisoners and kept patrolling in front of their cell.
Lloyd discretely aimed through the bars and when the moment came, he fired the Sorcerers Ring and knocked the Desian out. Reaching through the bars, he then dragged the Desian by his nearby arm towards the prison cell until Ginny could reach the keys. One minute later they were out of the cell.
Conveniently, the Desians had rather idiotically left all their equipment in a chest near the cells and the three of them quickly rearmed.
"Alright." Said Lloyd. "Let's find a way out of here."
The girls nodded and followed Lloyd right around a corner where they promptly encountered two Desian soldiers.
"Who are you?" Demanded one of them.
"Uh-oh!" Said Lloyd lamely.
"Pr… prisoner escaping?" Called out his colleague.
Ginny and Lloyd looked at each other for a half second then they each charged at a soldier.
"Sonic Thrust!"
"Sonic Spear!"
Both soldiers fell quickly, but an alarm sounded.
"Uh-oh!" Said Ginny. "I think that's for us."
"Come on we'd better get out of here." Said Lloyd.
The three of them ran into the next room. They heard noise up ahead but managed to hide underneath a large apparatus and the soldiers walked passed unable to find them.
Unfortunately the soldiers left the room locking the door behind them, they also left some robotic armed guards called Raybits to patrol the area.
"I think we should kill those machines." Said Ginny.
"No. The Desians used them to open the locked door." Said Luna. "We need to as well."
"But they used that weird lightning bolt." Said Lloyd. "How're we supposed to get one?"
"The Desians have Sorcerers Rings as well." Said Luna. "Perhaps we can modify ours to fire electricity like theirs."
"How though?" Said Lloyd.
"Well this apparatus we've been hiding under seems to have a slot for the Sorcerers Ring." Remarked Luna.
With Sorcerers ring changed they easily, made their way through the door. Unfortunately they had to fight several Desians and Raybits to get through the base, the latter type of enemy was difficult to defend against.
"What is this room?" Said Ginny. "Rheaird Hanger?" Both words were completely alien to a girl who grew up in the Wizarding World.
The three of them went inside and found a ton of machines.
"Any idea what these things do?" Asked Ginny.
"None whatsoever." Said Lloyd. "We really need the Professor, Magi-Technology is her thing."
"It is rather perplexing, that the Desians have all this advanced technology but the rest of the world does not." Said Luna.
"Yeah, it's because using Magi-Technology is dangerous to the environment." Said Lloyd. "That's one of the reasons the Desians are bad, they're damaging the world. But I have to say that the Desians here seem a little different to the ones that attacked Iselia."
"I must agree. They seem the same but…" Luna trailed off.
"There are no prisoners here, at least not like at the Ranch." Said Ginny. "Also something's different about the uniform. It looks, well cheap."
"Cheap?" Said Lloyd.
"It looks more like an imitation of the Desian uniform than anything else." Said Luna. "Also the weapons they use here are less varied. It's mainly swordsmen, not many others. Though those robots are unusual."
"Just who are these Desians? Said Lloyd. "It doesn't matter, this isn't the way out. We need to find the exit."
The three of them proceeded back through the halls and eventually came across a door that looked like the exit. But they couldn't open it.
"Alohamora!" Tried Ginny. It didn't work, the lock was electronic. "Bugger!"
"We'll have to try and find another way out." Said Lloyd. "Let's go upstairs."
After pressing some buttons and firing the Sorcerers Ring at some docile power generators, they managed to unlock the door leading upstairs.
When they got upstairs they walked partway down a corridor before they were spotted by a patrol. On impulse they ran for it and ducked into a nearby office.
"Few that was close." Said Lloyd.
"And just who the hell are all of you?" Came a voice surprising the three of them.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"Demon Fang!"
"Azure Edge!"
The two sentries guarding the doors to the base collapsed under the attacks from Harry and Kratos.
"How do we get in?" Said Harry.
"These men guard the door, they should have a key." Said Raine logically.
"Found it." Called Genis.
The others turned to see him holding a cardkey.
They used it to get inside the base. But once they were all inside, alarms started blaring, the door sealed behind them and Desians poured in from up ahead.
"Surrender yourselves at once!" Cried out one of the soldiers.
Genis, having felt irritably useless from his capture, resolved to act first.
"Aqua Edge!"
The water bodies left his Kendama and ploughed through the centre of the soldiers. The Desians, realising that their offer was not wanted, charged with intent to kill. Unfortunately, they would not have been able to defeat Kratos even if he was on his own. There were no survivors.
"This gate is sealed shut." Said Raine. "If I can find somewhere to access the mainframe I should be able to disable it."
They didn't have to go far, they made it to the next room before Raine ran over to an interface.
"This may take a minute, go on without me." Said Raine.
"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Said Harry.
"I will. I'm blocking all the Desians from reaching this location." Said Raine, punching a few buttons. "I'm also pinning more down further inside the base. Hang on."
Raine began pressing more buttons. "Lloyd and the girls are not far. Just up those stairs and in an office on the left. Go, I'll work on the door."
Harry led the way, Colette not far behind.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Lloyd, Ginny and Luna all turned around in surprise to see a really big man with blue hair and navy blue cape. He raised his hand and began charging an electric bolt much like the Desians in the base had been using.
After a moment, Lloyd realises that the man asked him a question.
"Gimme your name and I'll give you mine!"
"Hahahahah!" Chuckled the man. "You have guts, I'll give you that. But I see no reason to introduce myself to the likes of you."
"What a coincidence." Said Lloyd cheerfully. "Because I don't see the need to introduce myself to a moron who doesn't realise how pathetic he is."
"Why you little…"
The man was about to fire, when Lloyd lifted his arm up in defence. Suddenly he recoiled in shock.
"An Exsphere? You're Lloyd?"
"And if I am?" Said Lloyd.
The man seemed to regain his senses.
"I see the resemblance." He commented.
"Resemblance?" Said Luna. "Do you know one of Lloyd's relatives?"
The man turned to look at her. Using an apparent opening, Lloyd swung his sword at him, but by the time the blade had been released from its sheath, the man was halfway across the room. He was fast.
In readiness for battle, Ginny took out her spear and Luna drew an arrow into her bow. But then the alarm started going off. The man they encountered seemed rather interested.
Then an unwelcomely familiar face came in flanked by ten Desians.
"Sir!" Said Botta "We have word that the Chosen's group has entered the facility."
"Hey, you're the bastard that tried to kill us back at the Temple." Shouted Ginny.
"Hmm…" Remarked Botta. "I take it you're Lloyd Irving? Now this is interesting."
"Botta." Barked the blue haired man. "I'm leaving. Our plans will be ruined if he sees me."
"What of the Chosen?" Said Botta.
"I'll leave that to you." The blue haired man left and Lloyd, Ginny and Luna found themselves cornered by Botta and his men.
Then suddenly Harry, Colette, Genis and Kratos rushed into the room.
"Lloyd? Are you alright?" Said Colette in relief.
"He looks fine." Remarked Kratos.
"Ginny, Luna?" Said Harry.
The girls didn't say anything, but they seemed alive and fine, Desians notwithstanding.
"Perfect timing, I'll take care of everyone at once." Boasted Botta.
Harry thought that a little overambitious of the Desian Lieutenant, regardless though he ran straight for the man. His initial strike was easily deflected and one swipe from Botta knocked Harry back.
One of the other soldiers moved to cut Harry down, but Ginny threw her spear into his back and he fell forward, landing but an inch from his chosen opponent. Harry looked into Ginny's eyes and nodded. Regardless of feelings, this was the time for them to cooperate.
Harry turned to face Botta again. The man charge him down.
"Rock Breaker!"
Harry suddenly felt his face pelted with rocks. But weeks of fighting and killing had toughened him up. He absorbed the attack then unleashed several furious swipes at Botta followed by an Arte of his own.
"Destruction Field!"
Botta was knocked back a little, but the sheer force Harry had to unleash in order to accomplish that took the breath out of him. Botta recovered and then slammed his large sword into him again.
Harry was knocked to the floor, Botta charged at him again so Harry rolled in order to avoid being stabbed. He stopped, taking a crouched position.
"Azure Edge!"
But Botta blocked that attack. Worse still another soldier took an interest in Harry and came at him with a large hammer. He blocked the attacks of the hammer wielder, but as he did so he was heavily aware that he was vulnerable to more attacks from the leading Desian. Nevertheless, Harry cut down the Desian and turned to face Botta again. The man was charging at him with his massive sword held high. Only intervention from Kratos saved Harry's life.
The Mercenary met Botta's sword with his own, standing between him and Harry.
"Leave him to me." Said Kratos.
"Thanks." Said Harry. He then ran for another Desian who was bearing down on Genis.
Botta was powerful, but Kratos' skill with a sword was unmatched. The other soldiers fell quickly, but Botta was still standing and still fighting.
Both men remained calm as the swords clashed and both moved with impressive skill, but it was clear who the superior warrior was. Kratos successfully parried off the Desian's attack then struck his wrist.
Botta dropped his sword in pain. Seeing that Kratos and the others had him surrounded, he did the only thing he could.
"I underestimated your abilities." He said, almost respectfully.
The man then fled from the room.
There was silence for a few seconds, then a voice caught their attention.
"Isn't this a…" Raine trailed off, she had just caught up with everyone and taken interest in the sword Botta dropped.
"Professor you're here too?"
Raine looked to her student. "Oh Lloyd, Genis told us all what happened."
"Yes he did." Said Harry glaring at Ginny.
"It would appear we have some more company on this trip." Said Raine.
Harry looked in surprise at the Professor. "What… no…"
Ginny knew what Harry was about to say. "We are not going back Harry. We've made our decision."
"Like hell…." Harry began, but Kratos got irritated.
"We can save this chitchat for later." Snapped the Mercenary.
"Right." Said Raine. "I've unlocked the door, so I suggest we take this back to town."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
On the way back to Triet, it was difficult to tell who was angrier, Harry or Ginny. The fact that they had to escape the Desian Base and the shear heat of the desert meant that they didn't have the time or the energy to argue or fight over it. So they kept quiet for now, but no one was in any doubt as to what would happen when they got back to the city.
In the meantime, the Sylvaranti members of the party also took stock of their situation. Genis and Raine were walking up ahead, Raine's arm was around her brother's shoulder. None of the others could hear what was being said, but it was obvious what they were discussing.
Kratos in the meantime, took this opportunity to speak with Lloyd.
"About that battle." Said the mercenary.
"Are you going to tell me I got in the way?" Said Lloyd, that was the sort of thing he expected from Kratos.
"You weren't bad, it looks like you've improved a little." Said Kratos.
"Oh?" Said Lloyd interestedly.
"But you mustn't get complacent, there are a great many enemies out there and you do not stand a chance if you don't stop and consider your abilities with the blade seriously." Said Kratos.
"I… I know." Said Lloyd, his recent capture by the Desians evident in his mind.
"Let us head back." Said Kratos, not wanting to talk anymore.
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"You're going back to the village." Said Harry resolutely.
"Like hell I am." Snapped Ginny.
"You are. Both of you." Said Harry. "Your mother would never forgive me if I let you…"
"What mother would or would not do is irrelevant." Said Ginny. "She's not here, it's only me. You have no right to tell me what to do. I can't believe you lied to me."
Harry was now squaring off against Ginny in the Triet Inn lobby. Luna too had been deceived but was merely watching from the side. Ginny was directing her full rage at Harry, any of her brothers would have been scared to death by this stage. Harry on the other hand was not a Weasley, he had grown up fearing a different kind of temper, a kind he no longer feared because it was so far away.
"I'm not your brother or your husband Ginny. I can lie to you if I want." Said Harry.
"What the hell does that mean?" Shouted Ginny. "When is it ever ok to lie?"
"I did it to protect you." Snapped Harry. "Do you realise how much danger you put yourselves in by coming this far?"
"Safe?" Said Ginny incredulously. "The village was attacked by Desians just before you and the others left and… oh yeah less than a day later, they attacked again. Only by fighting did Luna, Lloyd, Genis and I survive. There is no safe place in this world. The Desians will attack the village again, they'll manufacture some excuse, Iselia is not the safe haven you imagine it to be."
Luna at this point decided to join the discussion, though she spoke much more calmly. "This whole world is dangerous. Both of us would feel considerably safer with you and the others."
Harry glared at the blond girl.
"You know it's true." Said Ginny, her voice calmed somewhat. "You can fight with us and that way we can protect each other, it's better this way."
"You two are so stupid." Snapped Harry.
"WHAT?" Said Ginny, the volume of her voice jumping a few dozen decibels.
"We are not just travelling for the sake of it, we're on a journey where we will be constantly at risk of monsters, bandits and Desians. Furthermore Raine told me Colette is to face up against tests that are designed to test her limits and the limits of everyone who travels with her. Whatever the dangers of Iselia, this is far, far worse." Said Harry.
"It's our risk to take." Said Luna.
"No it's not." Said Harry. "You're both going back to the village tomorrow."
With that, he turned and walked towards the room he was sharing with Lloyd and Kratos.
"We are not going back." Said Ginny following him. "And a selfish brat like you is not going to stop us from going on this journey as well."
"This discussion is over Ginevra, you're going back like it or not." Said Harry, still walking away and not looking at either girl.
"You uncaring bastard." Snapped Ginny. "You can't tell us what to do, you don't know the first thing about this world, yet you think it's alright just to order us about as if you know better than us. You who have been in stupid and dangerous situations constantly for two years now. You wouldn't be so insistent if it was your precious Ron and Hermione doing this with you, you don't care about putting them in danger and you don't care about me and…"
But Ginny's rant was cut off sharply as Harry turned around, grabbed her and pushed her up against a wall.
"DON'T…" Harry punctuated so hard that Ginny felt overcome with shock. "EVER… SAY… I DON'T… CARE! You have no idea what Ron, Hermione and I have been up to. None of it was by choice, most of it nearly got us killed. Trolls, Giant Spiders, Baby Dragons, Voldemort himself. That's just what you don't know. I care about them and I care about you and Luna. If you want to stay and get poisoned by a snake, killed by a Desian or raped by a bandit, that's fine. But it's all on you, because now I really don't care."
Harry marched into the room he was sharing with Lloyd and Kratos then slammed the door behind him.
Ginny stayed against the wall for a few more seconds before Luna stood next to her. "Well at least he's not going to try and send us back now."
Ginny's eyes suddenly became tearful. "Why doesn't he care?"
Luna put an arm round her friend and escorted her to the bedroom they were sharing with Colette. "He does care, just not the same way we do."
"What?" Said Ginny.
Luna shut the door behind them and sat Ginny on her bed, then she sat opposite on her own.
"Harry has always faced the threat up front." Said Luna. "Think of all those things he's told us. He may have forgotten but he has told us of the troll, the baby dragon, the three-headed dog and everything else."
"Yeah, he does it with Ron and Hermione." Said Ginny. "Never with me."
"He was always in the lead." Said Luna. "He led your brother to the troll in order to save Hermione. He led the chase after Quirrell and Voldemort, he led your brother to the spiders nest. Each time he put himself on the line, I think he hates putting others in danger."
"But he's not putting us in danger." Said Ginny.
"I think in his mind, by allowing us to join this quest, he is." Said Luna. "Harry needs to learn that we have a right to put ourselves on the line."
"What are the chances of him doing that?" Said Ginny.
"I don't know." Said Luna. "That is really up to him. Maybe once we go a little further on this journey he will come to understand."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
After dinner that night, everyone met up in Genis and Raine's room where they discussed what had been happening since the two halves of the party separated, Harry and the girls were deliberately ignoring each other.
"So in other words these Exspheres are amplifiers that awaken our dormant abilities?" Said Raine, a dreamy look forming on her face. "I wonder if I can use one too."
"That would be difficult." Said Kratos. "Equipping an Exsphere that lacks a Key Crest is dangerous, otherwise they're harmful to the body. The Exsphere that is attached to that sword does not have one, therefore it would be dangerous to attach it."
"Can't we just make a Key Crest?" Said Colette.
"A Key Crest is made by processing inhibitor ore and engraving it with a charm to control the Exsphere that it is attached to." Said Kratos.
"Yeah Kratos is right." Said Lloyd. "If the charm was the only issue, I could make it myself, but without inhibitor ore…"
"Well is there any inhibitor ore amongst these materials?" Said Raine. Everyone turned to see her rummaging through a pile of various items.
"Raine did you bring all this stuff from our house?" Said Genis.
"Of course." Said Raine, semi-absentmindedly. "This is a holy vase from the Balacruf Mausoleum, this is a jewelled sword from the Martel Temple, this is a priest's crown from the Asgard Ruins, this is yellow ore from the Hima mines."
"What the… it's all junk." Said Lloyd.
Unfortunately, that comment brought Raine out of her archaeological daze and directed a fury towards Lloyd. "What was that?"
While the Professor bore down on a terrified Lloyd, Kratos noticed something in the pile of materials Raine had looked out, bent down and picked it up.
"This is…" He trailed off getting everyone's attention.
"Oh that?" Said Raine. "I picked that up outside the Iselia Ranch. It was engraved with Angelic writing so I took it with me."
Lloyd moved passed the Raine and went straight up to Kratos. "Professor this is a Key Crest." He said, recognising the sample of ore and the markings on it.
"It's damaged." Said Kratos, "The charm is more than half worn off, it's unusable like this."
Lloyd held his hand out. Unsure where the boy was going, Kratos nonetheless handed the accessory over. "I can fix this." Said Lloyd. "Don't worry Professor, you can equip this by tomorrow."
"Oh really? That would be wonderful." Said Raine excitedly. "Please don't trouble yourself to much Lloyd."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"You brought a lot of books." Said Lloyd looking up from his work on the Key Crest.
Harry looked to Lloyd. He sat on his bead and sorting through the books he'd brought from the train carriage.
"Our magic can't just be learnt by instinct." Said Harry. "We have to first know a spell exists, and then learn how to cast it."
"So basically you have to do tons of research?" Said Lloyd.
"Yeah, I did say Hogwarts was a school of magic right?" Said Harry.
"Well yeah, I just figured…" Lloyd trailed off.
"It's not that different from what Professor Sage makes you do." Said Harry. "In fact in a lot of ways it's harder."
"No way." Said Lloyd, clearly not believing Harry.
"No it's true." Said Harry. "Research is only half the work. Each and every spell takes practice and you rarely get one right the first time. Most take a week to learn and when I was at school we learnt one new spell for each class that involved casting magic. Not all spells are easy to learn, some take months. There are still spells I learnt in my First Year that I still can't get completely right, but I'm not far off. Hogwarts is really tough. But it's not the best magic school for nothing."
"Well whatever." Said Lloyd.
"Lloyd do you ever take studying seriously?" Asked Kratos.
"Yeah I do… it's just… boring." Said Lloyd.
"You need an Hermione." Said Harry. "She's like the Genis of Earth, you know only less of a smartass and more of a nag. She could really force us to do out studying."
"This is… your friend?" Said Kratos.
"My best friend, well one of them, I have two." Said Harry. "She has her quirks but I love her for them."
"Hmm." Said Kratos.
"So anyway, why are you sorting books." Said Lloyd.
"Ginny and Luna are a year behind me at school, they don't know all the spells I do. I'm looking through these to see if I can find anything they should be learning. Do ghosts leave behind ectoplasm in this world?" Said Harry.
"Uh…" Lloyd trailed off.
"Yes." Said Kratos, seeming irritated by Lloyd's lack of knowledge.
"Ok, then they should learn the Skurge Charm, also with all these enemies about the Freezing Charm should be useful too." Said Harry.
"Well that's this finished." Said Lloyd lifting up the Key Crest.
"Already?" Said Harry.
"Yeah, once you learn how to do Dwarven Charms, it's really easy." Said Lloyd. "It's getting the ore that's the problem. I'll go and give this to the Professor."
Lloyd left the room.
Harry looked to Kratos, the man actually seemed impressed with Lloyd.
"So I take it Lloyd's just done something amazing?" Said Harry.
Kratos looked to him. "Dwarven technology is highly complicated. Many men, elves and half-elves have tried to emulate their craftsmanship, none have succeeded despite years of practice. For a human to be able to do what Lloyd does is… extraordinary."
"So have you ever tried using Dwarven techniques?" Asked Harry.
Kratos stood up from his bed. "I'm going for some air." He closed the door behind him.
Harry snorted "I guess that's a yes then."
ORACLE2PHOENIX
"Professor you're still awake." Said Lloyd, as he entered the Sage's room.
"Yes I've been organising the data we collected on monsters." Said Raine. "And what about you, isn't it a little late for you to be up?"
"I was working on fixing the Key Crest." Said Lloyd.
"Thank you, but we have a long journey ahead of us. I don't mind if it takes a little while to fix." Said Raine.
"So… does that mean I can come with you…" Said Lloyd, asking for clarification.
Raine smirked. "Wasn't that your intention from the beginning? Stop pretending, anyway Harry has allowed Ginny and Luna come as well. I'm in no position to refuse you."
Lloyd frowned. "You heard that as well huh?"
Raine nodded. "Harry is heavily worried about them. Whatever happened in Iselia, I can vouch for the fact that many places in this world will be much more dangerous, including this place. Unlike you and Harry, those girls do not have much experience in a fight."
"Then isn't it time they learnt?" Said Lloyd. "You weren't there Professor, the Desians are very dangerous. If the girls don't learn how to fight they'll be in even greater danger, in or out of Iselia."
Raine nodded. "They're going to need our support Lloyd. All three of them."
Lloyd nodded.
"Anyway, you should probably get some sleep." Said Raine. "Did you come for anything in particular?"
"Oh yeah. I fixed the Key Crest, so here take it." Remembered Lloyd. He handed over the Exsphere that was now mounted on a lump of inhibitor ore.
"You finished it already, Thank you Lloyd." Raine took the crystal. "So this is an Exsphere?"
"Ask Genis how to use it." Said Lloyd.
He made for the door. But at the last second he turned and looked back at his teacher.
"Professor I'm sorry." He said lamely.
"About what?" Said Raine.
"I dragged Genis into this." Said Lloyd.
"Oh that." Said Raine simply.
"Things wound up like this because I tried to save someone at the Ranch without thinking things through." Said Lloyd.
"Do you regret what you've done?" Said Raine.
"I don't know." Said Lloyd.
"What you did was morally correct, but it was against the law." Said Raine. "You can't change the past but you can change who you are now and who you are going to be in the future."
Lloyd looked from Raine to her brother Genis. The young elf had slept through their whole conversation.
"He really cares for you." Said Raine, noticing Lloyd looking at her brother.
"Yeah." Said Lloyd.
"Regardless of your actions, Genis too broke the rules by going to the Ranch." Said Raine.
"He stood by me and got evicted because of his stance." Said Lloyd.
"Like I said, he cares about you." Said Raine. "You have no idea how happy he became when you and Colette made him your friend. I think in a strange way, this situation makes him feel more at ease."
"Being on the run and having no home to return to?" Said Lloyd, perhaps a little tactlessly.
"Being with his friends and collaborating with them to make a better world." Said Raine. "Now that the four of you are here, I think the journey has truly begun."
Lloyd smiled. "I'll leave you now Professor. Have a good night."
"Good night Lloyd." Said Raine.
Once the door was shut. Raine gazed down at her brand new toy in with crazed obsession.
"So this is an Exsphere?" She whispered excitedly. "MAERVELOUS!"
ORACLE2PHOENIX
Lloyd stepped out of Genis and Raine's room. As he did so, he saw Kratos make his way outside. Curious, Lloyd decided to see what he was doing.
As it turned out, he was visiting Noishe.
"Whoa!" Said Lloyd in surprise. As he had approached the mercenary, Kratos had drawn his sword and held it to Lloyd's throat.
"Lloyd? You startled me." Said the Mercenary simply.
"St… startled isn't the word I'd use." Replied Lloyd.
"It would be wise not to sneak up behind me." Said Kratos, sheathing his sword and turning back to Noishe the dog.
"I won't." Said Lloyd. He then noticed Kratos' interest in his dog. "Do you like animals?"
"No…" Said Kratos. "Not particularly."
"Well Noishe seems to like you, he normally doesn't get on with strangers."
"Lloyd." Said Kratos suddenly, then stopping.
"What?" Said Lloyd, in confusion.
There were several seconds of silence, then Kratos said "Your swordsmanship is unrefined, you should focus a little more on eliminating your vulnerabilities." Kratos began walking back towards the inn. "If you wish to help the Chosen that is."
Lloyd starred at Kratos' back in astonishment. When the mercenary re-entered the inn, Lloyd growled out. "Just because he's a little better than me he thinks he gets to boss me about." Lloyd was silent for a few seconds then said. "Well a lot better than me. Dammit."
I put a lot into this chapter and yet I put only a little, at least that's how I feel. This is what I mean by my own interpretations of the Symphonian Universe, there is no united government, just towns with mayors and militias, or in Palmacosta's case a Governor-General. These governments are not very secure and the societies are under constant pressure from Desian attacks, famine, drought and monsters. That's why Harry is so adamant the girls stay in Iselia, because I would imagine that much the rest of the world is dangerous, especially for women.
Please review.