AUTHOR's NOTE: Ohayo, minna-san! Here's the next chapter to ETERNAL BONDS!
Anyway, I want to say a special thank to all of you who have been paitent with my continual absence. I don't mean for it to happen, I swear. But sometimes school and other things love to get in my way. I would've had this up last week, but that was when I had my finals. And I'm happy to let you know.. I passed with flying colors! =3
And I want to send out another special thank you to everyone who has sent me reviews: DG aka Demon Gurl, Little pocketmouse, AnimeCrazy88, and Rodeospinkz. Your comments mean so much to me! I hope you will continue to review!
Now, onto the story!
(PS: many thanks to you DG for catching my little slip on character description. I'll work hard on fixing that.)
*~*
I sighed in contentment as I listened to the gentle tapping of the rain on my bedroom window, lying on my stomach while reading the research papers I had received earlier from Professor Raine.
However, as I turned it from page to page, scanning it was blank eyes, my mind wasn't on the papers. Rather, it was playing back my most current memory from earlier today, when Colette had departed.
(FLASHBACK)
I could distantly hear the slapping of my padded feet as I ran down the hall, intent on catching up with the blond girl before I missed the chance to say goodbye.
I opened the hall door the moment I reached it and continued to run, hurrying across the lobby room and leaving the wooden door ajar.
' Ah, there she is!' It wasn't very hard to spot her amongst the others, with the bright colored head of hers.
" Colette–!" The Chosen turned upon hearing her name being called out, and her face broke out into a wide smile.
" Bev!" The younger girl threw her arms around me and hugged tightly the moment I got close enough. I stumbled a bit, thrown of balance from the sudden embrace. Yeah, I was startled, alright. I wasn't expecting this sort of thing, even from someone as kind
(and happy-go-lucky) as Colette.
" Whoa, Colette. Let the poor girl breath." Selena chuckled in amusement as she joined us. The younger blond, realizing her mistake, immediately released me and started on of her ever-lasting string of apologies.
" It's alright, it's alright." I reassured the frantic girl. " I just heard from Taka that you'll be leaving today, so I came as fast as I could." I smiled shyly. " I really enjoyed meeting you. Even if we've only known each other for a short time."
Colette paused mid-way in one of her apologetic bows, and looked up at me with a surprised expression, but it slowly gave way to a genuine smile.
" Me too." She hugged me again, this time more carefully, and I returned it. " I'm glad you appeared in our world, even it sounds selfish. Because of that, I was able to meet you."
Selena smiled softly at the scene before her, her emerald eyes glazed her with wistfulness. " Saddening, isn't it?" The blond elf turned to acknowledge her fellow healer as the woman joined her in standing against the school fence. " When Colette finally made her first female best friend, it's around the time of her departure.." Raine Sage sighed out, then shook her head. " It's just sad and pitiful."
" Colette." The Chosen and I released each other and turned, facing the Professor with a questioning expression.
" It's about time to leave." Professor Sage stated in somewhat of a grave
manner. " Have you finished with your goodbyes? Kratos is waiting for us at the southern entrance."
Colette nodded solemnly in reply, giving me one last sad smile before she turned and hurried away to say one last farewell to her father and grandmother, who were both standing not to far away.
" I suppose this goodbye for me as well." Raine murmured, bringing my attention back to her. " I too, wish I had more time. You would've made a great student."
I felt my face heat up ever so slightly from embrassment of her compliment, making her chuckle.
" Here." The healer reached behind her for a brief moment and pulled out what looked like a tan envolpe, you know, those tall ones that most office people use to send important papers and such.
" I'm giving you my research. It's not a lot to go on, but.." She gazed at me with a soft, but serious expression. "..I know you're a smart girl. I shall pray for your success in returning home safely."
" And I too, shall pray for the regeneration to be a success." I replied back with a nod.
Raine smiled sadly, just as Colette had did before, and turned to leave. But before she took more then three steps, she stopped adurptly and turned to face me again.
" I know this may be a selfish request, but.." She paused for moment. " Please, watch over Lloyd and Genis in your remaining time here."
' Whoa, that's deep..' I stared at her with a startled expression. Heck, anyone would be surprised if your favorite character asked you a personal favor!
Finally, I composed myself and straightened my profile. "..Of course!" I exclaimed cheerfully with a smile. " They're still my best friends, after all."
Selena left her post on the fence and joined me in watching as the other villagers gathered to say their goodbyes as well to the young Chosen. But she stood more in front of me then beside me, so she was oblivious to the secret smile the made it's appearance on my face.
' See you soon, Colette...'
(END OF FLASHBACK)
' Hmm..' I rested my chin on the palm of my hand and stared out the window in thought. ' I didn't see Lloyd there at all. So I guess it's alright to assume that she told him what time she was leaving when she chased after him. That scene where you learn it's Colette birthday..'
BANG!!
My mind blanked briefly in the few seconds the likely explosion from outside rocked the inn, shocked more then anything as I fell off my bed from surprise, taking a few papers with me.
" Ow.." I rubbed my now sore backside tenderly. This was a hard wooden floor, not carpeted like home. Why do I keep forgetting that little detail?
' What the hell was that?' I thought with much disbelief as I picked up the scattered papers from the floor and bed, knowing Selena would wail on me if she saw this mess.
I paused, the answer dawning on me in a matter of moments. ' Don't tell me..!' I hastily stuffed the papers in my massager back for later review and hurried over to the window, less mindful of the rain the smacked me in the face as I threw open the window, and more concentrated on what was happening outside.
' Wha..?!' In the distance, faintly but surely, I spotted what looked like a burning house. Soon, other houses joined the game.
' Those damn bastards!' My mind seethed, referring to the desians who had come to retaliate on Lloyd for intruding on their ranch. I never heard the hurriedfootsteps, growing louder with each passing second as they came closer.
" Beverly!!" Selena called out as she threw open the door, for once not paying attention as it banged against the wall from such force.
" Selena?" I turned to face my caretaker, my bangs dripping and my face damp from the rain that had blown my way. Now that I was focused on reality once more, I noticed all of the noise going on downstairs as it echoed into my room.
" Get your things!" The elf barked, most likely referring to my weapon, the sliver bow Dirk had given me which I had nicknamed Akiva (Hebrew Translation: To Protect).
" Be quick about it, Taka has already left to help the villagers!"
And with that, the elven woman turned heel and disappeared from the doorway, her footsteps echoing off the walls yet again as she got further away.
' Help? Not hide?' I tilted my head in confusion. In this kind of scenario, the guardian would charge into the character's room, ordering them to gather their things and hide a quick as possible.
' Ah, I'll think about it later!' I shook my head furiously to rid it of anymore distracting thoughts as I ran out the door after Selena, slipped my bow and quiver over my shoulder in the process.
By the time I had reached outside, the village had just become a scene of utter chaos: more houses were burning like a big torch since the last time I looked, while the villagers tried to flee to safety, all the while being pressed by a desian or two.
' It just had to storm, didn't it?' I grumbled inwardly while pushing my wet bangs away from my face. ' With all this rain coming down, it cuts my visibility in half! I won't get a good shot on anything in this weather!'
" Someone! Help, please!"
' That sounded pretty close.' I scanned around for the source of the cry, my heart beat picking up due to all the tension in the air.
Finally, I was able to spot the problem: not to far on my left, a young village woman not much older then my sister (who's in her twenty's) vainly pressed herself against the wall of a house, her back foolishly bared to her attacker, a monster that looked like a giant prymantis.
' It must've slipped through the village barrier in all the confusion!' I concluded. The way the barrier worked, was if it's caster mantained a sense of peace and balance.
' But since Raine is gone, and given the situation..' I thought grimly while knocking back two arrows at a time. ' I really shouldn't be so surprised.'
The young woman hugged the precious bundle that was her son to her chest as tightly as she could, peering over her shoulder fearfully at the face of her soon-be killer. The bug monster let out what sounded like a screech of triumph, and brought down it's twin scythes at once.
' No..!' She squeezed her eyes shut and turned away, awaiting for the tearing pain that was sure to come..
..But never did.
Instead, the insect let out a wail of pain and collapsed to the ground so heavily, it made the earth tremble. Shocked at the sudden turn of events, the village woman slowly got to her feet, which still trembled with the after effects of her fear, and turned to face the dazed creature.
' How..?' The woman stared at the unmoving carcass with wary eyes, and caught movement out of the corner of her left one.
" You.." Needless to say, she was speechless. How could such a young thing such as this girl who had appeared before, take down a gigantic monster like this one? From a better prospective, she didn't look any older then eighteen, maybe younger.
" Are you alright?" I asked the woman through my panting, keeping a careful eye on the big bug. ' Damn, I missed it's vital point!'
" Th-Thank you–"
" Not yet," I cut her off, eyes narrowed with anticapation as the began to rise to it's feet, making the young mother whimper and shrink against the house again.
' This time..' I drew a single arrow and drew it back on Akiva, aiming as best as I could through the endless torrent of rain that obscured my vision.
Furious with the interruption of it's meal, the prymantis roared out and brandished it's scythes angrily, challanging it's attacker to a duel of death.
I released the arrow, which headed straight towards where the creature's heart should be located. But the arrow was cut in half with a single swipe from the bug, while the other scythe beared down right at me.
' Crap..!' Heart lodged in my throat, I spun around and barely had time to wrap an arm around the villager and her child before the scythe plunged into the earth deeply, right where it's target was mere seconds ago.
' That was a close one..' I grunted, wasting no time in pushing myself up from my position on top of the mother and son (basically I grabbed them both and threw ourselves out of the way as far as I could) and getting up to face the raging monster.
It was struggling to free it's scythe from the earthy prison, making sounds that sounded very similar to a bird in pain. Vainly it tried to turn and lash at me with it's other arm, hissing adding in with its pained cries as it tried as hard as it could to reach me.
I drew another single arrow while inhaling at the same time, letting out my breath slowly as I drew the arrow back and once again aimed for it's heart area.
' Please God...' Was the thought the rain through my mind as I drew the arrow back tighter. ' Guide my hand..!'
The second the monster was sucessfully able to free itself was the same moment I released the arrow, a single word running through my mind as I watched the arrowhead begin to glow white as it had done earlier before, when I had shot at the assassin.
But this time, a light aura surrounded the arrow as it gained speed and flew towards it's intended target. (Think of Kagome's Sacred Arrow from Inuyasha. But with a silvery aura instead of pink.)
' Holy Arrow..'
The young mother watched with astoundment as the light arrow struck the monster the very moment it turned to attack; but instead of the arrow striking the chest, it blasted it's way through like a energy beam.
The bug monster let out a single chocked cry before falling to the ground in a bloody heap, never to move again.
I blew out a huff of exhaustion, slumping ever so slightly before recovering my stance. But as I made shoulder my bow..
BOOM!!
" Another one..?!" I cursed, mentally abusing myself for getting into this type of situation in the first place as I spotted the tower of smoke rising from the middle of the village, the plaza.
I turned to the young mother who was also staring at the smoke tower, horror reflecting in her eyes as she clutched her child to her.
" Hey, listen!" I snapped my fingers in front of her face to get her attention; she switched her scared gaze to me, her trembling shoulders signaling how much her fright was taking hold.
I sighed for what seemed the hundredth time and placed a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder, trying to calm her.
" I want you to run along the back of those houses," I stated in a firm tone, indicating a line of untouched houses to our right. " It'll take you to the inn with a lesser chance of being caught. Stay there until this dies down, alright?" Giving the villager a slight push in that direction, I presented her with a reassuring smile before I turned and ran towards the village plaza as fast as my legs could carry me.
The woman started towards the inn with eagerness flowing through her veins, but for some unknown reason, stopped behind the first house in the line of undamaged buildings and peeked out, watching her young savior head off into more danger.
'...............................'
*~*
In all the years of her battle and danger experience, Selena Olathe never felt more winded and exhausted in her life; Maybe it was because they had little time to prepare for this invasion, or maybe it was a lot harder protecting others instead of Taka and herself.
Whatever the reason was, it seemed almost meaningless at the moment as she blocked all three swords that had intended to skewer her at once; years of fighting on the battlefield enabled her to push them away effortlessly with her trusted spear, Sestuna, and then cut clean through them with a powerful upper cut.
Selena spun Setsuna around a couple of times in the air to clear all traces of blood before she rested the bottom of her weapon on the muddy ground, her heaving chest indicating how much this non-stop battling was taking a toll on her.
A nearby whimper made the elf turn to look behind her; the group of villagers she had rounded up into the plaza (which included the Mayor), were all looking at her with wide, terror-filled eyes.
The blond forced a tired but reassuring smile to show to the civilians; She really couldn't blame how the humans were acting. To have your village suddenly attacked by your greatest fear.. Was something unbearable.
Familar footsteps alerted her to the approaching presence from the rear. A simple glance without turning her head told her it was her husband, Taka, his giant double-edged
sword (Eclipse) in hand.
" Is that all of them?" Selena had to raise her voice a little louder then usual to be heard over the loud torrent of rain. Her husband nodded tiredly as he came to a stop at her said, shealthing Eclipse on his back.
" Yes, I've gone around the village twice now." Taka replied while pushing his wet bangs away from his face. " I saw Bev directing a small group of to the inn. They should be fine."
' Then that must mean Beverly is heading here next.' Selena concluded to herself with a nod. ' I just hope she lies low and doesn't run into–' But the rest of that thought was cut off adurptly when she felt a powerful wave of energy heading directly towards them at an incredible speed.
" Shield, defend!" The elf called out, summoning her mana to assemble a wall of protection around them. And just in time, for seconds after those words left her mouth that uncomfortable energy barreled right into the barrier that now surrounded them.
Behind her she heard the villagers gasp and some even let out small screams of fear, and to her right she distantly heard Taka drawing Eclipse once more.
Selena felt her eyes narrow as she recongnized her had just attacked her, and was now boldly walking forward to show himself.
At first glance you would see a tall man, probabley around six feet, with a unique profile. His hair was short and spiked out to the sides, and retained the color like the grass beneath their feet.
" Hey." That one word came out terse and commanding, making all of the villagers grouped stiffen in fear.
" Y-Yes?" It had been the Mayor who had answered, pale in the face from assessing the seriousness of the situation.
The emerald-haired man kept his right hand balled in a fist, as if he were preparing himself for a fight. " Where's the kid who's got the Exsphere on his left hand?" He demanded in a rather dangerous tone.
*~*
" AQUA EDGE!"
Just as it's name implied, thin but powerful disks of water appeared at the wave of Genis's hand and smacked into a couple desians with a strong impact.
Unfortuntely this enraged his fellow companions as one of them charged at the exhausted young elf, intending to due some serious damage in return. Genis squeezed his eyes shut when he knew he had know way to avoid the swing, and waited for the pain that would surely follow.
But it never came.
Instead a loud clang rang out over the sound of falling rain; the young mage opened one eye, and let his mouth drop open in a gape of surprise at who had defended him:
The young human struggled to keep the assailant back, teeth grinding together as she summoned all her strength to push the desian back.
' Bev!' Genis felt a little bit shocked; from what he had learned from his new friend a couple days back, this girl before him seem to absolutely hated violence. Her soaking wet clothes indicated that she had been out in the rain for more then five minutes. What has she been doing..?
A shout from Dirk nearby snapped Genis back into reality of the current situation.
" Don't use the power of that Exsphere!" The dwarf called out to his adoptive son, who was currently struggling to overpower his opponet.
" This isn't–" Lloyd lashed out one of his legs, kicking the desian back to break the stalamite and cut down on him with a powerful swing. "–the time to be saying that!"
His enemy defeated, the duo swordsman casted a distracted eye around the area, and spotted his other female friend a few feet away; I fired a few arrows at incoming desians before turning around to block a lethal swipe from another, repeating this process again and again.
Dirk's enormous hand enclosed around a desian's head tightly. " It's my blacksmith's intuition." He growled, throwing the half-elf into another of his comrade nearby, knocking the both of them to the ground.
Meanwhile, I found myself getting exhausted, not to mention a little dizzy. Was it because I've been out in the rain for so long?
" Lloyd, Genis!" I called out, raising my voice so I could be heard over the falling rain. " Most of the villagers have been gathered at the village plaza! But I saw a big energy explosion occur from that same direction as well. I worried something might've happened to Selena and the others!"
I grabbed the arm of my enemy and yanked him forward, bringing my own arm down and slamming my elbow on his neck and effectively knocking him out. It was something my friend Samantha had taught me incase I ever ran into trouble.
" Leave this to me." Lloyd's father ordered, seeing the two boys heasite. " Go with the young lady and get the villagers."
" Got it!" He and Genis shared a glance, nodding together before they ran off after their female companion.
Once his son and his friends disappeared from sight, Dirk turned back to face the small group of desians that still remained, the corners of his lips turning into a smirk.
" Now.. I hope you've guys have prepared yourself!"
*~*
Not much later I found myself standing beside the panting Lloyd, obviously out breath from all the running as he glared at the strange man in front of him.
" Desian!" He growled. Genis also felt himself staring angrily at the group of assasilants. How dare they do this without warning!
" Quit barking, you inferior being!" The man drawled, his unhindered crimson eye fixated on the young human before him. " I am Forcystus. A superior half-elf, and Master to all you humans!" He grinned maliciously as well as haughtily. " Your owner!"
Lloyd's scowl deepened after hearing that last statement. " Shut up!" He snapped, hands tightening on the hilts of his swords.
This only served to amuse Forcystus though, and with a nod of his head, several swords were pointed directly at the small groups of villagers.
Genis gasped out of fear for the villagers; While at the same time I felt anger well up inside me at a dangerous level, hand gripping the bow so tightly the knuckles turned white.
" Don't worry, I'll still play with you." The half-elf spoke, amusement present in his voice. " But, you two alone."
Two? I felt the shock as Forcystus directed his gaze in my direction. " That's quite a expression you got there, girlie." I felt a shiver ran down my spine.
" If you want to blame anyone for what's happened to the village.." He lifted and pointing his gun arm right at me, invoking gasps of surprise from the villagers, including Lloyd and Genis. "..Blame yourself!"
' Wha..' I literally felt all the color drain from my face. ' What..?'
The splashing of footsteps among the muddy ground brought me back to reality; I forced my head up and locked eyes with, not the desian leader, but Lloyd. The duo swordsman gave a reassuring smile before facing the enemy before us again.
" Stop saying such lies, desian!" Lloyd spat angrily, pointing a sword in the older half-elf's direction. Pulling it back, he let out a battle cry and charged at his enemy; Forcystus dodged Lloyd's first sword and blocked the second with his machine arm before knocking the young man back.
Then the green-haired man crouched, grinding his feet against the muddy ground before launching himself into a run at an amazing speed.
The teen tried to slash at him again, but his sword clashed off the machine gun and Lloyd took a direct hit from a powerful spin-kick that sent him flying and tumbling along the watery grounds. I clenched my hands and had to forcefully restrain myself from jumping in. Unlike Lloyd, I wasn't taught how to fight battles like these. I would only hinder him and most likely, get myself killed.
The red-clad swordsman looked up with a curse to see Forcystus right in front of him, nailing him in the stomach with a punch that had him crashing painfully into a store shed nearby.
" Lloyd!" Genis cried out in alarm, fearful for his best friend's state.
The smoke cleared, revealing Lloyd smashed against the wooden wall, cringing in pain from the whiplash of that last attack.
" Show me the exsphere's powers!" The desian leader demanded, stepping closer.
" Exsphere..?" Lloyd repeated in a weak whisper.
" What's the matter, is that all you've got?" Forcystus taunted cruelly.
If it hadn't of been for the protection the leather gloves provided for my hands, I was sure my nails (which were pretty damn long a sharp) would've punctured the skin of my palms because of all the pressure I was applieing to them out of anger. The thing that happened next made Genis and I both gasp.
" Dammnit..!" Lloyd swore, his gem glowing from underneth the bandages that kept it out of sight. The light grew more and more bright until it tore from it's imprisonment.
Now it was my turn as I muttered a curse and ran over to Lloyd's side, gripping his exsphere equipped hand so my hand covered the glowing gem. I was unaware though, that my sapphire cross, the one I've had ever since I was a child, began to glow a dim and unearthly light upon contact.
" Lloyd, please calm down." I begged quietly. " Don't get mad over what he's saying. You'll just be playing into his hands if you attack in this state."
The brunette swordsman drew a ragged breath and, very slowly, exhaled. After several tense moments, Lloyd's exsphere's light began to fade and settle down, just as it's user did. Forcystus, enraged beyond thought, pointed his machine gun arm right at me as I helped Lloyd over to our small elven friend.
" Wench..!" He snarled lowly.
I took my own sweet time in lowering Lloyd carefully to the ground, ignoring the wrathful half-elf behind me as I inspected the duo swordsman.
"..Nothing life threatening." I murmured to the worried elf on Lloyd's other side. " But he'll most likely be feeling the brunt of his wounds in the morning." To put it simply, the brunette was in for a world of pain tommorow.
The sound of a click told me that something had loaded itself in the chamber of the gun, but I had yet to turn around and face the desian leader.
" Pointing a weapon at your opponet when their back is turned is a dirty move, Forcystus." Selena stated in a flat tone while pulling Genis back with her and out of harm's way.
" You know, I never understood you and your wife, Taka." The half-elf drawled, completely ignoring the female's comment and addressing the silent elf as though they were having an everyday casual conversation. " You could've chosen a life of peace and comfort. But yet you not only aid these inferior beings, you live among them as if you were one yourself!" Forcystus's disgust for my guardian was evident to anyone who heard, as he made no attempt to hide it.
Taka said nothing at first, wrapping a long-fingered hand around my upper arm in a firm grip and drawing me away from the injured and dazed swordsman as well.
" Well, someone has to look out for this inferior beings." The weapon-smith repiled finally in a somewhat sarcastic tone.
I clamped a hand over my mouth to prevent the snickers that welled and itched in my throat from escaping. Ooh, ouch. That was the first time I heard the quiet elf mock someone.
The desian leader scowled heavily at Taka, his gun arm shaking from all the rage he was most likely feeling from the insult.
" Oh well." Forcystus lowered his arm gun dismissively, his other hand on his hip. " It's really none of my buisness what you blood traitors do. If you want to die with these human scum–" Once again he pointed his machine gun, but this time, it was aimed right at the weakened Lloyd. " –Then go right ahead!"
Instead of the mana he usually adaptted to in battle, the machine began to gather light within itself.
' Shimatta..!' I thought wildly as my body jerked itself out of Taka's slackened grip and made a dash for the duo swordsman. ' This isn't what happened in the game! This.. This is all wrong!' I skidded to a stop in front of the boy, kicking up excess mud and water in the process.
I flung my arms out defensively, but just as the word " Stop!" Left my mouth, Forcystus's machine had already fired, and the mana beam was heading directly for Lloyd and I.
At that instant however, the collision of the mana beam and the girl created a bright flash, blinding anyone and everyone in sight or in the area.
*~
' Bev..'
I felt my eyelids pry themselves open accordingly at my name being called out. ' Ah, bright..' I winced when the first thing that flooded my vision was an intense bright light.
' Beverly..'
Eyes still half open and heavy, I tilted my head to the side. There, standing tall and commanding, was a male figure made entirely out of pure light. But before I could discern the man's idenity, my vision blurred again before giving out to the welcoming darkness.
" I will always watch over you, my beloved daughter..."
*~
Meanwhile, every villager felt their jaw drop in either astonishment or in pure amazement. Taka, Selena, and Genis watched from the sidelines, eyes widened with disbelief. Lloyd, who was now concious and fully aware of his surroundings, looked up at his new friend with a dumbfounded expression and a slack mouth.
"..........!"
Snapping out of my dream trance, it didn't take more then a couple of seconds to realize where I was again: I had jumped in front of Lloyd to, not only protect him, but to keep the storyline on track as well.
' Is my necklace.. Floating?!' Indeed it was. It, along with my ring (given to me by my father on my 17th birthday), were shining an unearthly white.
" YOU WILL NOT TOUCH THIS CHILD!!"
A man and woman's voice rang out in unison, using a thunderous voice that had the villagers shaking and rooted to the spot where they were standing like a deer in headlights.
Snapping out of his stupdor, Lloyd took this chance to push himself to his feet, wobbling slightly from the lack of strength to hold himself up.
' Not here..' His mind raced wildly, slowly bringing his swords up in front of him. His red-brown eyes widened as the mana pushed foreward ever so slightly.
' I can't die here!!'
Unbeknownst to him and the rest of us, his exsphere shone, a sacred flame beginning to burn within the gem itself as if spurred on by it's owner's emotions.
Aiding my keepsakes, a thin jolt of light shot out of the sphere and tore through the harmful mana, completely tearing it assaunder and rendering it useless.
Surprised by his own exsphere's actions, the swordsman lifted his sphere equipped hand and stared at it with wonder and amazement.
But it didn't stop there.
With another great flash from the crystal, another beam light that was greater then the one seconds before jumped into the air, soaring the skies with astonishing speed until it dove again..
..Right for Forcystus himself.
The desian leader let out a horrifying scream of pain as the light assaulted his entire body, as if he was being torn from the inside out.
The light died soon enough, leaving the half-elf to fall to his knees and use his hands to support him.
" Such power.." He whispered aloud to himself. " Wonderful..!"
He then turned his attention back to the teen as he attempted to push himself up. " Don't forget.. As long as you carry that exsphere.. We will always be after you." And with that last threat, Forcystus collapsed to the muddy ground beneath him, seemingly lifeless.
I turned and stared at my friend with pity. Things.. Would only get more harder from here on out. For Lloyd, and for me as well.
*~*
The next day, Lloyd found himself kneeling in front of his mother, Anna's, grave. He stared at it for several moments of silence, before standing up and shouldering his knapsack.
" Well then, Mom." He started. " I'll be on my way."
" You've got some nerve to leave without telling your parent." A voice spoke suddenly from behind him.
Already knowing it had been his father, Lloyd showed no surprise as he turned around to face the dwarf.
" Those guys.. Attacked the village because they were after this." He murmured, covering the mention sphere with his other hand. " If I stay in the village, I'll cause trouble for everyone."
Dirk narrowed his eyes knowingly, and threw the covered bundle he had been holding to his adopted son. " A parting gift."
Lloyd looked at his father curiously before untying the string and pulling out the object, which turned out to be newly crafted twin swords.
" Whether it becomes a 'good' or a 'bad' power is all up to the one who uses it." The dwarf continued as his son looked at the swords in awe. " I'm sure you can use that gem the right way because.." A cocky grin appeared on Dirk's face. " Because you're my kid!" He finished with a boast.
Lloyd stared it his father, startled by the statment. " Dad.." He whispered, before smiling sadly yet happily.
" Come back after you've done what you've set out to do." Dirk requested gruffly. " Even though we are not related by blood, you can always call this place your 'home'." Touched by his adoptive father's words, it the emotions became to much for him and he began to, what it looked like, crying, while Dirk just grinned happily. Once he was finished, the brunette-swordsman wiped the last stray tears from his eyes and held his new weapons up again to look it. " These are amazing!" Lloyd commented excitedly. " Your best forge.. With these, I'll never be alone no matter where I go!"
" HEY!!"
Dirk turned around and Lloyd leaned around him to see his best friend, Genis Sage, stumbling over to them with a heavy not to mention huge bag he was carrying.
" Lloyd, you were planning to leave without me, were you?" Although he seemed to be reprimending the boy, he had a wide grin on his face.
" I'll be going along with you as well." I added, stepping from behind Genis and startling them both.
" Selena and Taka are sending me to Luin to stay with a companion of their's until everything has settled down. So you can count on my support as well for awhile."
Knowing he was blessed to have such friends, the duo swordsman smiled softly and lifted his head towards the sun.
' Wait for me Colette.. I'll catch up to you right away.'
*~*
Author's note:
Aw.. Isn't that sweet? I always loved the devotion he has to Colette. Well peoples, we're finally out of Iselia! Sorry it took (counts the chapters) a chapter and a half to move it along. Next chapter they'll be traveling through Triet Desert, get captured by desians, and finally meet up with Colette! ^_^
Oh yeah, one more thing:
I've set up a deadline for myself to get these chapters up. Seeing as I'm always so busy, I figured a deadline should help. And that deadline.. Is on Monday. So every Monday I should have a new update.
Has anyone seen my sister Mandillin's notice? She finally started writing again! I bet all you Zelda friends are happy. I pretty sure she should have one chapter up by tommorow.
Jya ne!
PS: Again, sorry for the late chapter. I've had finals last week, but I managed to pass them all (after studying my ass off.) So with them out of the way, I should a little more free time.