Copyright: I own nothing

"What happened?"

"We found a straggling desian..."

"Straggler?" Genis asked, a shadow from the attack in Iselia present on his face, "Was he alone?"

"No, he was a survivor from his unit." Lloyd assured the young elf, "A group of desians have camped out in this area and were attacked by a woman and a traitor in their ranks. The messenger barely escaped alive..."

"Lloyd...persuaded him to speak about the situation." Raine went on, "But when we let him go...he tried to get the drop on me and..."

"I had to kill him," Lloyd finished, hanging his head when Colette nodded sadly, "Wish there was another way...but there wasn't..."

"What are you apologizing for?" Genis asked, "They're desians, who cares if they die."

"Genis... nobody ever deserves to die-"

"Did you forget about Iselia? About the Mayor? About Raine or Marble-" Genis stopped, realizing that his words weren't helping, "Sorry...I'm just not...as strong as you are..."

"Strong?" Colette inquired, "What do you mean?"

"I can't forgive them for what happened..." Genis admitted with clenched hands, "I know that it's not right but...every time I think about them, I just want them to die. Die for all of the people that they've hurt, killed and to die in a way that pays them back for all of the injustices that they've done...I know that it won't bring anyone who died back...but I just can't forget..."

"There's a difference between forgiving and forgetting." Kratos consoled the young elf, "But in times of conflict, the line between both can be muddled. Hard decisions will have to made for our own survival..."

"Right...wonder what's in there?"

"Plenty." Kratos answered, bringing the group's attention to the entrance to the Ruins, "Even without the desians and their opponents, the temple is guarded with various traps designed to puzzle anyone who enter without initiation into the angelic language or this temple's history. Then there are the creatures who will be guarding the seal."

"Since this is the Fire Seal..." Lloyd thought out loud, "Hey Genis, do you know a lot of water spells?"

"A few, why?"

"I figured that we should know what we have that can capitalize on their weaknesses," Lloyd explained as Raine raised an eyebrow, "What? Isn't fire weak against water? Doesn't that still work with magic?"

"Technically yes," Raine agreed, "But Genis' spells may not be strong enough to face tougher opponents without support."

"Goes without saying-" Genis was stopped when his sister slapped the top of his head, "Ow! What was that for?"

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you Genis."

"But we will also need to strengthen our defense." Kratos pointed out, "How many defensive skills and spells do you all know?"

"Uh-"

"Based on my observations, none." Kratos answered for Lloyd, "Otherwise, Raine wouldn't have lost her arm in Iselia-"

"Hey! Don't talk about my sister like that-"

"Harsh as he sounds, he's telling the truth." Raine agreed, moving her hand over the stump that used to be her right arm, "We need to learn to protect ourselves or else you'll all end up like I have."

"So how will we do that?"

"I happen to know these skills myself," Kratos explained, "If you'll allow me a few hours to teach you, these aren't at all hard to learn."

"Please..." The wounded desian begged while a quiet figure marched towards her, "I beg of you...don't take advantage of me!"

"Why would I?" The Prisoner asked as he kicked the desian's head with enough force to knock off the unconscious soldier's helmet, "A woman? These desians employ women in their ranks?"

"Got something against women there?" Sheena asked while she held another desian in a death-grip that slowly drained him of air before his face turned completely blue and he fell still, "Cause one saved your life."

"I don't have a problem with women who can handle themselves." The Prisoner answered while he rummaged through the desian's gear, "I have a problem with women who are recruited for the sake of it and then become a burden themselves."

"Guess we agree on that." Sheena ducked when an unsheathed sword flew past her and she caught it with her left hand before its point hit Corrine, "Watch where you throw those!"

"Thanks Sheena!"

"Anytime Corrine..."

"They call this a sword?" The Prisoner asked as he tossed aside another sword, hitting another fallen desian who gasped in pain and then fell silent while blood drained from his open mouth, "Quality has taken a back seat of late."

"You're in Sylvarant." Sheena explained, "The mana here is limited compared to my world, so the people here don't have access to many resources."

"This must be the brat's doing..." The Prisoner figured when he stood up, "You know, it really is people like him and these "desians" that damage the sympathetic plight of the half-elves."

"Huh?" Sheena was starting to get a bad feeling from this released prisoner, "Got a problem with half-elves?"

"Just the one's who've had me here enduring a fate worse than death." The Prisoner answered, "Life is cruel, why stand still and cry that it is so? Then again, the brat is doing something."

"So you know about Yggdrassial?"

"Know about him?" The Prisoner chuckled, "He put me here in the first place. Punishment for my unforgivable sin."

"Glad that I got you out then," Sheena answered when another question came to mind, "What did you do?"

"Does it matter?" The Prisoner asked, "The desian's had an armory here somewhere, let's find it."

"Picky about your clothes now?"

"I'm actually thankful that I have any at all." If only for modesty's sake, Sheena agreed...even though the brief view was decent, "All I need is an adequate sword, maybe their commanding officer has one."

"What about that sword on your belt?"

"A smart warrior always has a spare when his previous weapon breaks."

"Guess that's smart," Sheena agreed, "Do you know how long that they've been here?"

"I've been boiling alive inside of a well of magma," The Prisoner pointed out, "What makes you think that I know that?"

"Just asking." A put-off Sheena shot back, "Then, you'll take me to Efreet."

"Lot of good that it'll do you." The Prisoner stated, "You said so yourself, the brat's cycle has this world in the pits. Which means that the Summon Spirits are inactive until this world's Chosen opens their seals."

"So we're supposed to wait until then? Hold on...these desians are waiting for the Chosen!"

"There they are!" The two intruders looked down the hallway to see a band of desians running towards them, "Filthy humans!" The band of half a dozen desians charged with swords brandished, unaware of their sealed fates. The first two were cut down by a swift slash from the Intruder, the middle two were kicked into the hallway walls where the ninja from Mizuho dealt a single pointed chop into their necks that caused their heads to pale before they gasped for air and died.

The last two turned around and fled to avoid the fates of their fellows.

"Where did these fools learn to fight?"

"Learn?" Sheena asked stupendously, "That's the problem, most of them are just here for numbers. Pick them off in small groups and they're easy."

"You've explored these ruins for a while? Then you're leading for now...what is your name?"

"Now you ask?" Sheena asked humorously, though the humor flew over the man's head, "It's Sheena, Sheena of Mizuho."

"And I am Kyros Theron." The prisoner introduced himself, "Now lead, I'll follow."

"Adequate." Kratos sheathed his sword while Lloyd wiped off his brow, "I believe that we've spent enough time, you'll have to practice on your own."

"Fair enough," Lloyd agreed, while the session lasted less than an hour, the ease of the spell allowed the surprisingly quick Lloyd to get the hang of the Guardian ability, "Besides, it sounds like we could become really creative with this skill."

"How so?"

"Because it takes minimal mana to even use." Lloyd explained to an intrigued and impressed Raine, "So...we could conjoin them with other skills and spells to both block an enemy and still attack them?"

"An odd idea...and very risky," Raine noted, "But it would be useful."

"Just don't risk your life to test a theory, Lloyd." Kratos sternly warned, "Shall we proceed, Colette?"

"Of course!" Colette said, becoming a little nervous under an inspecting look from Raine, "What?"

"I never asked earlier, but where did you get that necklace?"

"This?" Colette held her pendant in front of the awed Professor, "Lloyd gave it to me."

"A Rune Crest..." Raine said to herself, "It looks remarkably well-made, did you do this by yourself Lloyd?"

"I had help from my dad."

"Don't be modest Lloyd, you worked hard on this too."

"Thanks Colette, wonder how many desians are in there?"

"Don't let up men!" The Desian captain shouted amidst the chaos, "Keep them away from the chamber!"

"Nice try, but no," Kyros said while he parried a desian soldier and stabbed his blade through the man's neck, "Impel!" A pulse of mana flared forward from Kyros' blade, impacting a desian immediately behind his victim and causing the man to slam into the ground face first.

"Is that a sealing skill?" Sheena slapped a charm onto a spearman and slapped it, causing the desian fly into a wall, "Looks like you've got some moves, Kyros."

"I've had my share of travels and trials." Kyros said before released the grip on his still lodged sword and threw both hands out before an incoming fireball, "Repel!" Mana flared in front of the man, creating a triangular barrier that the fireball impacted on as the force of the blast knocked Kyros down.

"You alright?" Sheena flipped over to Kyros and threw a Life Seal onto the man, "Here!"

"Thanks, still a little rusty," Kyros said in gratitude as he stood up and pointed an open palm at the desian mage that had attacked him, "Repress!" Mana flared out of the palm and hit the man's staff, creating a series of small tendrils that wrapped around the man's arms before they faded into his skin.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" The captain demanded of the mage, whose arms bleed everytime he attempted to summon mana until he collapsed onto the floor in pain, "What did you do to him?"

"Magic tends to let you cheat a great deal..." Kyros stated as he charged at the captain, who attempted to use the disabled mage as a shield. Kyros stabbed his sword through the man's chest and managed to glance the captain before letting go of the sword's handle while he slapped it, "I don't like that." He caught the man's overhand slash and held the captain in place as an unseeable burst of mana fired out of blade embedded through the mage and blasted off the man's legs.

"You won't get away with this human!"

"Actually, no one else will remember this so...yes I will." Kyros answered as he pressed his boot down on the captain's head, raised up and slammed down, causing the man's skull to break upon the hard floor and spill out it's contents, "Shame...isn't it?"

"Lets see...the Seal Chamber is in this direction..." Sheena recalled, unaffected by the gasping reach of her last victim, "And then there's this chamber..."

"It's useless to us right now."

"Still nice to know where it is for afterwards."

"You sure you want to wait until then?" Theron asked while he drew out the sword from the mage's body and also collected the captain's sword, "This is all part of the brat's cycle..."

"Then how else will we awaken Efreet?"

"Anyway where the brat doesn't win."

"Then give them a break!" Sheena shouted, causing Theron to raise his brow with interest, "This Chosen that's coming up...somethings supposed to be different about her. I'm not sure what, but I say we wait and find out."

"Fine."

"What's wrong sis?" Walking through the corridors of the Triet Ruins, Genis noticed how tame his sister was acting. Her mania mood had ended somewhat quicker than usual, "We're in the ruins of Triet! What was this place?"

"A kingdom from the Great Mana War," Raine answered, "Back then, the kingdoms were city-states that warred with one another dominance and honor. It's theorized that these kingdoms had some sort of competition amongst their princes and generals. Whatever this contest was, the winner's kingdom became ruler of the others for a set period of time."

"Then what happened to Triet?

"Legend has it that it was destroyed." Kratos added, "According to that legend, Triet had over-stayed their stay in the seat of lordship and refused others a chance to pass on that title. So the General and Prince of a kingdom called Maxwell gathered an alliance and marched on Treit, killed its kings and left the city abandoned. Forever standing as an example to those who violated the honor of the land."

"It must've been hard to defeat," Lloyd commented, "This place is still relatively intact even after thousands of years. If it lasts this long against the effects of time, then how strong was the alliance that defeated it?"

"That is something that we may never know," Raine lamented, "Records and evidence concerning the Kingdom of Maxwell or it's leader or it's allies were lost during the war."

"And so history is written by the winner," Genis heard Lloyd say out loud, "What?"

"You mean by whoever destroyed Maxwell and it's allies?"

"That has to be it, right?" Lloyd asked, "How better to defeat your enemy than to erase all evidence that they ever existed? Then generations descended from that kingdom will never know any different than what the victor told them."

"A valid speculation Lloyd..." Raine agreed before muttering to herself, "He's different from before..."

"Is it that necklace?" Genis asked, having noted his sisters subtle suspicion of Lloyd since Iselia, "What did you call it? A Rune Cres...Rune Crest..."

"A Rune Crest is a specialized key crest," Raine explained to her brother, "It's a legendary item, but it's based on the design for an advanced exspheres that allowed a user to more safely control high-level exspheres."

"Alright?" Genis knew about the legends, but how would Lloyd have made one if that necklace really is a Rune Crest? Furthermore, why give it to someone whose about to become an angel? "But Colette doesn't have an exsphere at all. So why would Lloyd give Colette a key crest?"

"Maybe he doesn't know that it is a key crest." Raine speculated, "Or maybe he figured that Colette would eventually come across one during her journey and made it so that she could safely use it."

"But why would she need an exsphere at all?" Genis asked, taking his sister's que to be careful and not let Lloyd hear them, "I thought angels could use advanced mana powers without an exsphere..."

"Perhaps Lloyd isn't aware of this."

"Guys?" Lloyd asked, bringing attention to Genis as to how far ahead he and Colette were, "Everything alright back there?"

"We're fine Lloyd!" Genis shouted as he ran to catch up while Raine took her time, "But...uh...have you ever heard of a Rune Crest?"

"Rune Crest?" Lloyd repeated to himself, "What about it?"

"So you didn't know...forget it, let's just keep going-"

"Avalanche!" An overhead voice shouted, causing the ruins to shake. The ceiling cracked and gave way, allowing a cascade of debris and rock to fall upon the heroes. Lloyd pushed Colette forward before he leapt back to Kratos who erected a guardian shield in conjuction with Raine and Genis' barriers.

"Colette!" Lloyd shouted once the debris stopped falling,

"Lloyd!" Colette called from the other side, allowing the group to sign in relief, "I'm alright! What about all of you?"

"We're fine..." Raine answered while she inspected the wall that stood before them, "But we'll have to find another way around to the chamber."

"Go on ahead and release the seal!"

"What?" Raine couldn't believe that Lloyd was saying this, "Lloyd, don't be foolish! How do you know that nothing else is between Colette and the Seal?"

"I don't...but if we make her wait her for us then the desians in the temple will find and kill her."

"You raise a good point," Raine admitted, though Genis saw suspicion in Raine's eyes, "Just be careful Colette, we'll do what we can here."

"Alright..." A worried Colette called out, "You'll be there though, right?"

"Of course we will!" Lloyd cried out, "I promise."

"How sweet..." Genis turned to where a desian with an ornate helmet and shoulder pads dropped from the ceiling, surrounded by a group of similarly armed desians, "So you're the ones who injured Forcystus?"

"In the flesh." Genis answered, "Nervous or something?"

"That means the intruders aren't with them-"

"Quiet!" The apparent leader said to his comrade, "Surrender your exsphere boy and we'll allow your friends to live."

"What about Lloyd?"

"He assaulted a Grand Cardinal, young kinsman," The leader answered Genis, "Do you really believe that we'll let him get away with that?"

"I honestly don't care if you try."

"I hope everyone is alright..." Colette said to herself as the sounds of battle grew more faded the further into the chamber she walked, "I don't know if I can do this...alone..."

"Colette!" Colette heard apart of herself reprimand her, "Stop being afraid! You have to release this seal!"

"But why?" Colette asked, "The only reason I was doing that was as the Chosen. I'm not that person anymore."

"Says who?"

"Says me! The Chosen is a lie! I won't be part of that anymore!"

"You may reject being the pawn of another, but don't let someone else's lies compromise who you are! Is that any better than giving in? Has your love for your father and grandmother changed?"

"No..."

"Has your love for your friends changed?"

"No..."

"Lloyd?"

"Yes..." Colette confessed, "Now that I know the truth, I want to put my hand into his and live out our lives together. As the Chosen of Mana, I couldn't risk leaving him hurt after I sacrificed myself. But now, I don't have to do that and I can walk side by side with Lloyd to find another way!"

"Good Colette." Colette felt a smile grow on her face when she finally approached a hall with stairs leading up to the alter in the center, "Now come on, you have a seal to release."

"Right..." Colette decided, but stopped when she felt her birthday pendant begin to glow, "Lloyd's necklace...what's...going on?"

"You'll understand at the alter." Deciding to listen to herself, Colette walked up the alter and knelt down to pray. She chanted words that she had memorized since she was a child, but she didn't pray to a goddess that she knew to be false, but simply prayed. Prayed for Lloyd, prayed for Genis, Raine, Kratos, her family, those who sought to oppress or kill her, for Cruxis, and finally, someone who she had prayed for since she was a child.

Herself.

"It is done," Colette didn't blink as a pillar of light beamed down into the chamber with a small orb of brighter light descending through it before it grew more bright and sent out a blinding flash. When the flash was gone, Colette was standing before a winged man in green robes, "Remiel."

"Chosen of Mana..." Remiel greeted formally, motioning for Colette to rise to her feet, "You have done well and have passed now to your first seal..."

"Thank you...my lord..."

"It is I who should thank you, the Goddess smiles upon your actions my dear." Remiel warmly smiled while Colette waited for her trial to begin, "Now rejoice and receive the blessing of Cruxis."

"What of my trial?"

"You have already passed it my child," Remiel explained, "By coming here and defeating the Desian Cardinal, even choosing exile to save a friend, you have proven your worth as a Chosen of Mana."

"I have?"

"Yes," Remiel answered, "Normally, you would be tested here. But the goddess has waived the requirement for this first seal and shall now bestow your blessing."

"Thank you, my lord...But I do not deserve such a blessing. It was not I who defeated the Desian Cardinal-"

"It was you who lead the defense of your village and did you not choose exile to protect your friend?"

"I did." Colette bowed down her head and held her breath, "Goddess' Will be done."

"So shall it be," Remiel decreed as the chamber was bathed in white light, "Now rejoice and receive the blessing of Cruxis."

"Yes Lord Remiel-" Colette shuddered as she felt Cruxis' blessing flow through her body. It's touch was always said to be warm and welcoming, all Colette felt was a shuddering cold. A restrictive rope that wrapped around her bones and poured immense pain into her blood...it was trying to focus all over her body...what would it take first?

Would she lose the ability to taste the kiss of a lover?

Would she be unable to close her eyes and drift into dreams of rest and joy?

Would this blessing cut out her tongue?

Maybe Cruxis would just stop torturing her and take her soul right there?

Or worst, it would cause her to never feel someone hold her hand?

Then it stopped.

"What's this?" Remiel asked in confusion while Colette stood and looked upon her glowing necklace, "A Rune Crest? What blasphemy is this?"

"My necklace..." Colette muttered amazed that her silent prayer was answered, "It was a gift for my birthday-"

"Silence!" Remiel shouted with venom, taking Colette by surprise with his demeanor as he flew down and grabbed the necklace, "This item has diverted the focus of your heart, Chosen One. I sense an impure presence from it which blocks your blessing as the Chosen-" Remiel's eyes widened with shock when he saw a pair of purple, butterfly wings spring from Colette's back.

"You mean these?" Colette asked while her wings fluttered behind her, "You didn't think anyone would ever find out?"

"Find out what?"

"That the goddess...is a lie." Colette answered, "You're just using me to continue a cycle of suffering that you and Cruxis have orchestrated for thousands of years! Did you believe that you could go through with this lie?"

"Lie?" Remiel chuckled and put on his fatherly facade, "I see that the influence of that "Lloyd" has indeed clouded your faith-"

"DWARVEN VOW NUMBER ELEVEN! LYING IS THE PATH TO THIEVERY!" Colette shouted as she grabbed Remiel's hand and forced the stunned angel to let go, "I won't play the part as your sacrificial roast! I won't take part in a system that harms thousands of people!"

"And what is the alternative?" Remiel asked while holding his stiffened hand, "Whether the goddess is real or not, the Chosen of Regeneration is the only one who can restore mana to your world. So either remove that blasphemous item or suffer the judgement of Cruxis."

"No."

"You selfish...selfish little girl-" Remiel shouted when a Ring Blade flew past his face before it circled back to Colette and left Remiel with bleeding gash in his face, "How dare you...you dare strike against a messenger of Cruxis?"

"Yes." Colette caught the ring without looking, "You may have defined my life until now, but that changes now! I am Colette Brunel...my father is Frank Brunel from the town of Iselia. I will be the guide of truth, justice and love for the people of Sylvarant...that is what I am chosen to do."

"And who chose this destiny for you?"

"I did."

"Then in the name of Cruxis..." Remiel rose back into the air and drew a golden bow from his robes, "Prepare to be burned by the flames of divine judgement!"

Author's Notes:

Some of you will probably notice the distinct lack of puzzles in this dungeon or any mention of the Sorceror's Ring yet...to be perfectly honest with you...

This was intentional.

I hated the puzzle sections of the dungeons, they just felt like an unnecessary tack-on designed to pad out the level and distract from the kickass story and battles. Plus, how do these places even maintain the mana necessary for these complex traps and puzzles anyway? At least the Tethe'alla one's kind of made sense as each puzzle had you actually alter the environment according to the element that you were dealing with. Sylvarant...feels more like a time-waster, especially the first one.

Plus, this story is more character and story driven anyway, so trying to add in the puzzles would be unnecessary padding at best or distractions at worst.