Chapter VI: Chaos & Questions
The Akuren Princess: "Again, I am not sure who is to do the disclaimer for me today, for the fiction cannot go on if I do not have one."
Yggdrasill Martel: "What seems to be the matter my dearest authoress? Is there any way I could lend you a helping hand?"
The Akuren Princess: "Oh, Martel, I couldn't ask you the goddess reincarnate her-self to do such a task as this"
Yggdrasill Martel: "I want to help please, it is no trouble"
Before the authoress can say anything…
Yggdrasill Mithos: "You will not be doing anything for this "human" if I have anything to say about it"
Sage Raine: *smacks Mithos as she does when Genis verbally assaults the "human" * "That is enough young man" *grabbing him by his ear to prevent his escape*
Yggdrasill Mithos: "oww, let go Raine!" *struggling to get free and failing, reverting to his old ways of getting angry and losing his battle with patience* "DISSAPEAR!"
Sage Raine: *Speaking to Mithos* "That trick won't work on me mister" *Turning to Martel* "Martel, may I dish out punishment for your dearest little brother?
Yggdrasill Martel: "Of course, please do as you see fit, Miss Sage"
Sage Raine: *an evil glint appearing in her eyes, pulling him over her knee and start the brutal punishment on his behind*
Ka-Fai Yuan: "Martel, when you're ready to leave I'll be here" *leans up against tree, in the shade, the sun beaming down on him breaking through the trees, reading a book, looking sexy as hell, his hair flipped over his one shoulder, bangs in their usual position, glasses halfway down his nose, looking over the tops of them*
Yggdrasill Martel: The Akuren Princess does not own Tales of Symphonia. *Takes her leave with Yuan, his right hand entwined with her right, and his right his arm swept around her supporting her lower back in a protective manor*
The Akuren Princess: Thank you very much Martel *smiles* now on with the fic!
Akuren Airen's Point of View: Kratos's and Lloyden's house, Kratos's lap, fifteen minutes after the disappearance of Aurion Anna
I sat there shaking, crying and clinging to the solid being in front of me, Aurion Kratos. His wife Anna had delivered everything I needed to hear and more, and I was shaken by her grim news. There was a slim chance if one at all that I'd be able to return home…How was I going to fare, living in a world with not so complete strangers, away from my family and my life on Earth. I wasn't ready to be on my own, yeah I was twenty-three, but I hadn't even lived, and now I was in a world where monsters and Angels were real, and where the slightest slip up during an outing, could spell my immediate death.
I had no knowledge of sword play, and I doubt I could lift a sword. I carried the dagger that now was in the possession of Aurion Kratos, with me wherever I went, I could refine my skills a bit more with that but I was more the healer type like Miss Raine Sage.
I never liked hurting anyone in my previous life on earth, and I doubt it would change here much, even if my survival depended on it. I didn't even know if the others from the Regeneration-Reunification group were still alive.
What would my brothers who always nagged me for playing Tales of Symphonia say now, if they knew their precious little sister, was now trapped in the world of the game, which wasn't a game at all. I didn't even know if I was in a different dimension or how I crossed from my realm to this one.
With the thoughts of my family a fresh wave of tears wracked my frame and a sob escaped my lips which I had pressed tightly together. My body started shaking more violently and in turn, the man whose lap I was sitting in was gently rubbing my back with one hand. I could feel the warmth of it as he moved in slow soothing circles that started small and gradually grew larger the further from the center of my spine they went.
I leaned into him, burying my face into the crook of his neck, sobbing my eyes out. I couldn't control it, the overwhelming stress was slowly breaking who I was down, and the thoughts of my family utterly crushed my will. I couldn't have stopped the tears from flowing at that moment in time anyway, regardless of what I did.
I felt really bad for ruining Kratos's chance to salvage his shirt, but he didn't seem to even mind that it was beyond repair. His focus was solely on my well-being, placing mine above his own, and for the first time in my life, I felt loved, safe, protected. I had never felt that with anyone…
His hands came to a half from their circles, and he opted for pulling me more snugly to him, and then resumed his circles. I knew he felt my discomfort and was doing his best to keep me from falling apart even more than I already was. I was trying to keep myself together and it was slowly coming along, and when Kratos's arms tightened on my form I knew I'd be okay, he was going to be there with me, right by my side every step of my journey to find a way home, but I needed time to come to terms with everything.
Somehow I had to survive in this world, seeing as I had no way of knowing how to get home if that option was available I had to adapt to living here. I was trapped in the world of Symphonia, the cause of my predicament: one Aurion Anna. She may have thought she was saving her love from his own despair, but she didn't think of the consequences of her plan, and how it would affect the person she chose to tear away from their own family, that person being me.
I didn't blame her, Kratos was her world; as much as she was his, and she wanted him to be happy even after her death, he'd suffered enough that was for sure. At least shed left me a gift, in the form of one Aurion Kratos, the one being I had prayed for to be real, was given to me in the most awkward form, but given none the less.
I snuggled closer to the source of warmth, of the beings lap that I was currently occupying laying my head directly over his heart, which was beating in a slow and steady rhythm. His arms tightened around me, filling me with a sense of security, as I slipped into a sleep listening to his heart.
The throbbing on my back and arm had returned, and instead of fighting the sensations, I let unconsciousness take hold, my body going lax in his arms.
Aurion Kratos's Point of View
She hasn't stopped shaking in my arms, her tears are soaking my shirt, not that it matters to me. I still had my wings wrapped around us, blocking us from their eyes. I am sure they can hear her sobs and whimpers as they escape her lips, even as she tries to stifle them. However what surprised me is that all this was happening while she was fully unconscious in my arms, her body still reacting to the stressors long after her conscious faded into the black abyss.
I couldn't get upset with her weakness in this moment, my late wife had been the cause of her weakness, and had just dished out information that forever changed her world, and mine so it would seem.
So I held her, keeping her close, running circles along her back as I dove into my own mind. 'Anna, why would you do this?' 'I refuse to believe you would be so twisted as to steal an innocent from their home to save me, someone who sent you to your death with his own two hands' I seethed at these obnoxious thoughts, analyzing the situation and the reasons for Anna's behavior…
However, Anna was my world, and I couldn't see why she'd do such a thing, because she had, Miss Akuren was now suffering nearly the same fate I had suffered twenty-one years ago…losing her family to another being, a situation caused by a freak love for something unattainable...
My downfall was Anna, her downfall was me…fate was ruthless…and the situation involving Miss Akuren proved that history and fate repeated themselves in a ruthless, endless, eternal, circle…and destroyed people's lives and psyche's in the process…
Turning my attention from my own internal struggle, I looked down at the unconscious in my arms. Her head was slumped on my chest, ear over my heart. Her fists were still gripping the silk of my shirt, tears still leaking out of her eyes, a nightmare I had no doubts. I'd seen this with Lloyden shortly after I told him I was leaving and asked him to send me to Derris-Kharlan.
It was then I realized I was still being impaled by the spoons, and I pulled my wing down to eye level, brought my hand up and slowly and carefully slid them out of the places they were wedged so tightly into. They were almost all the way out, my body's defenses pushing them, and healing the damage the further it pushed the spoons out.
Blood oozed from the wounds as I removed them, feathers were displaced and fell to the floor, only to disappear when they made contact with the ground, new feathers automatically sprouted from the vacated spots. My wings were still comprised of mana, but were physically there, yet they disappeared when separated from my body or when coming into contact with another object.
The bone was throbbing in the places where it was healing, but that would fade soon I knew, so I ignored it, choosing not to send healing mana into it; I'd save it for Miss Akuren, who was still in quite a bit of pain I had no doubt. Her face contorting in what I assumed to be in pain or from her distress, I wasn't sure, but either way she was suffering.
I made a decision then, to bring her back to my room and allow her to rest. It would be more comfortable than my arms and she could heal without being jarred by my sudden movements.
Carefully unfolding my wings from around us, and folding them behind me, I slid one hand under her knees, the other under her arms supporting her back with my forearm. I stood then, stretching my legs and wings, which surprisingly had finished healing, and looked like there had never been a disruption within the feathers.
"Lloyden, Miss Brunel, I am taking Miss Akuren to rest in my room, Lloyden please call Miss Sage and then prepare rooms for them. I want to make sure Miss Akuren gets the proper treatment and is fully healed." He nodded, "Dad wait" I turned to my son, nodding for him to continue "What of Genis, Presea, and Regal?" I sighed at my sons stupidity "Prepare two rooms, Lloyden, for I am sure they will have no complaints about sleeping in the same bed" He nodded, still not catching my drift, and linked arms with Miss Brunel.
He then headed upstairs to prepare rooms, and I followed behind him, coming to a stop at the bottom, watching them as they ascended to the second level. I then stretched my wings, flapping them noiselessly, much like an owl in flight, and we ascended the stairs. I would have just walked up them, had I not wanted to jar the unconscious in my arms further. She needed this rest, needed to rejuvenate, and I didn't want to awaken her, or risk agitating her injuries further, by taking the stairs the normal way, so I hovered up them.
I gently touched down, opting to fold my wings behind me instead of sliding them back into place, I may need them again in the near future, and didn't want to experience the blood bath, or the pain that accompanied their appearance.
I hoped that the more that I used my wings, and the more I took them out and put them away, the amount of blood accompanying each of their appearances would gradually grow less and less until there was no blood. However, I feared that wasn't going to be the case, and there would be blood accompanying the appearance of my wings for here on out because they were not simply just mana any longer, they were solid entities.
I walked the rest of the way down the hall, turning into my room, and kicking the door shut quietly behind me. Crossing the room in a few strides, I untangled myself from her, laying her in the bed and covering her form with the blanket, gently brushing stray strands of hair out of her face.
I looked over to the fire and grimaced, it had gone out, and the logs completely burned, nothing remaining in the hearth but ashes…cold, grey, lifeless, ashes.
Sighing to myself I took one last look at the girl occupying my bed, then, crossed to the fireplace. Grabbing another bucket sitting beside the firewood in the nook in the wall, I gathered the ashes, cleaning the fireplace…while gagging on the dust, and removed it quickly from the room, placing it on the balcony with the other full bucket of ashes.
Yuan, if he had been there would have been laughing at me, my antics while dealing with the ashes was to say at the least, comical. I never had liked ashes in my four thousand years, and he relayed that information to Lord Yggdrasill, when we were on Derris-Kharlan. I could have killed Yuan that day, because for the next three thousand years, Mithos forced me to clean each and every one of the fireplaces adorning the walls of each room within the palace…
I shuddered at that memory, but continued on with the task at hand. Repeating the same process I had when I started the fire the first time around. It only took a moment to prepare then launch a controlled fireball spell at the gathered tinder. It took off with a roar, then died down to a crackle, before steadying out. I added a log to it, put the grate over it to prevent the house from going up in flames from a stray spark.
I returned to Miss Akuren's side, gently sitting on the side of the bed, running my fingers through her bangs and over her forehead. She was tossing slightly, her face still contorting, before sitting up, and screaming out in utter fear and panic, her eyes opening, and breathing heavy.
I reacted, pulling her to my chest, careful not to crush her, but whispering comforting words in her ear. She was crying again, I could feel her crystalline tears once again wetting my shirt. I restarted my circles on her back, cradling the back of her head in the palm of my other hand.
Her fingers dug into my shoulders, pain flashed, but I paid it no mind. I was focusing my whole being on the shattered girl in front of me. "Kratos…" she whispered, her voice utterly broken and low I almost missed it…almost…
"What is it Miss Akuren" my voice sounded, as soothing as I could possibly make it. "P…please d…don't…lll…leave…" I shushed her "I'm not going anywhere Miss Akuren, please relax so you can regain your strength" I felt her nod into my chest, her fingers still hadn't released my shoulders. However, her body had ceased shaking, and I took that as a good sign.
Moments passed, we remained in our "embrace" even though I was trying to soothe her and she was unintentionally hurting me, not that I minded it at all. A few more minutes of rubbing soothing circles on her back and cradling her to me, her fingers released their death hold on my shoulders. Her tears had stopped, and she looked up at me. It was the first time I'd seen her eyes…a piercing glacier blue stared back at me, a sea-foam green hue to them.
Martel were they gorgeous…they took my breath out of my lungs leaving me both unable to speak or breathe for a moment, all I could do was stare…
They were nothing like Anna's Warm, Inviting, Espresso Chocolate Brown ones, or my Piercing, Cold, Calculating, Cinnamon ones, and I found myself in that moment wondering why I hadn't seen them earlier. I figured it was because I was concentrating more on her health and well-being than her actual features. Which, was true for the most part, I will not deny that I looked at her in a way most guys would, however, I, unlike most, had control, and I forced myself to refocus on her injuries not her features.
She finally pulled away from me, and I allowed her to, even though I just wanted to hold her, never let her go. For some reason I was terrified that she would disappear much like Anna had and I would be left alone in this never ending life, once again.
When I was able to speak my voice was a bit raspy and I wasn't in full control, which was unusual, for I was always in control of my body. Then again I hadn't been in full control of my body since this whole mess started, and the changes were appearing more and more dramatic and becoming more noticeable by the change.
Her voice then caught me off guard, pulling my attention to her. "Do, do you think…I'll ever be able to return home?" she was looking at me with those eyes, a look that crushed the ice around my heart and soul, and awakened the lover that had been lost after I had killed Anna…
I wanted to sweep her off her feet and into my arms, forever hold her close, and protect her from anything. I had no answer for her, I didn't really know if she would be able to, but I supplied to her an answer, one that the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me Martel.
"I don't really know if you will be able to return home Miss Akuren, I will do anything and everything in my power to help you, however, if we are unable to find a way I promise you, I'll love, cherish, and forever keep you under my protection and walk by your side" She seemed agreeable with that answer, though I doubted her mind had put all the pieces together to see the exact things I was implicating to, and offering her. She then rested her head on my clavicle, whispering "Thank You…Kratos" whilst fighting back tears into my chest.
I in turn answered her, my voice soft as I wrapped my arms around her form once more, pulling her up, and then pressing my lips against her forehead in tender display of affection. Words of affection slipped easily from my lips, slightly startling me and stopping my heart for the briefest of moments before it regained its normal pattern.
"You are most welcome, Airen…"
It was the first time that I had ever used her real name…it felt like it was the right time to drop the honorifics, because like it or not, we were in this for the long haul, I knew it, and I knew she did too.
Lloyden came in shortly after, letting me know he and Miss Brunel were finished preparing the rooms that were needed for our guest that would be arriving shortly. "Dad" he peeked into my room to only back out the minute he laid his eyes upon us.
"It's alright Lloyden, come on in" my voice sounded through the silence of the room, and he nodded, taking one hesitant step into my territory.
He finally gathered the courage and walked in a bit more confidently. "We finished the rooms, we'd like you to inspect them for anything that we may have missed" he stated, looking a bit like a cornered rabbit. I nodded and unwound my arms from Airen's form, and pulling away to stand up.
Looking over my shoulder I spoke to her " I'll be back in a few moments Miss Akuren" I reverted back to my old world charm in front of my son, so he wouldn't be panicked at the thought that we were moving forward in our relationship so fast. Which we weren't so there was nothing to fear on his part, but knowing Lloyden, he'd over react to the situation at hand and blow it out of proportion, totally freak out and have a very hard time getting over it. I shook my head…
'Oh my son…where did you get your…' oh wait I already knew the answer. I sighed, then took a breath, and followed my son out the door, gently shutting over mine but not letting it "click" shut.
Lloyden showed me both rooms, how he and Miss Brunel had made the beds, tidied the rooms and reorganized them. I was pleasantly surprised, but I knew that this was all Miss Brunel's doing; my son was a packrat…
Satisfied that everything was in order, we returned to my door, Lloyden taking his leave back to his own room. When I turned back to my own, my eyes narrowed. The door was pushed open a bit further than where I'd left it on my departure, and I could feel Airen's panic overwhelming the room and spilling into the hallway.
I burst into the room, my wings, already out, propelling me into the room. The sight that greeted me was one that enraged me, and froze me floor for a heart stopping moment.
A veil of red fell over my eyes, blurring everything other than my target.
There, standing over the bed a figure I did not recognize, but what sent me into a mode of blood lust, was the blade glinting in the fire light, dripping with red, crystalline blood, Miss Akuren's blood to precise. At that moment I gave into the Angel of Death residing in me, allowing my instinct's to guide me instead of rational thought…the only thing on my mind was Miss Akuren's well-being, and the death of the one who had dared hurt her under my watch.
I couldn't feel the presence of the other being, meaning they must have masked it from being able to be sensed. I hadn't heard or felt Airen's distress, meaning they were powerful enough to mask someone else's presence as well as their own. Which meant the only reason I sensed her panic was because she'd overwhelmed their power, and they couldn't contain it.
I could see she was crying, tears trailing down her cheeks to pillow beneath her head. A gag in her mouth to prevent her from screaming out for help, oh Martel… I flew forward at that point; the figure darted away with lightning speed, their own wings ripping from their back, blood spattering the walls as they flicked them, it was then when I realized the color of them… dark blood red in color, and dripping in their own blood, making it a gruesome picture, and creating a mess that I would have to clean when this was behind us.
However, that did not matter as of right now; the only thing that mattered was the intruders head on the end of my sword, and the sating of my growing blood lust.
I gave chase, and they fled out the window, shattering the glass, I growled internally, 'Damn, I really liked that window too…' I pushed that from my mind, seeing as they shattered the glass on the way out, they must have used the door from my balcony to gain entrance, even though I was sure that I'd set it to lock behind the person upon entry, meaning that it was locked, but they must have picked it, or used a spell to disarm the lock.
I darted to Miss Akuren, my wings propelling me there faster than if I were to go on foot. I removed the gag, and then my eyes went wide in chaotic fear. Blood, her blood, it covered the bed, staining everything around her. She was gasping for air, tears blurring her vision, as her pupils tried and failed to focus in on my face…I wasn't sure how much shed actually lost, but judging by the volume on the bed, she didn't have long, my worst fear was now a reality, and I was powerless to help stop it, or do anything about it…
The crashing glass alerted Lloyden and Miss Brunel to the intruder, causing both of them to rush into the room from down the hallway. Lloyden in front, Miss Brunel behind him, his hand on his sword, wings at the ready blocking all threats to her. His body tensed as he surveyed the room, noting the damage, then locked eyes with me, slightly flinching at the feral look of hatred swirling within them.
I closed my eyes in concentration, breaking off eye contact with him, and began chanting the strongest healing spell that I could conjure, pouring a huge amount of mana behind it. My eyes snapped open, and I felt the mana leave my body as I called forth the spell.
"Healing Stream!" the spell leaving my palm and flowing over her body, but the wounds were so numerous and the spell took only the cuts and bruises away, but the deep stab puncture wounds remained. I was panicking, I hadn't panicked like this since I killed Anna…'Oh Martel, was I about to lose another person I held close to my heart?'
A knock sounded on the door downstairs, my son grabbing his fiancé and flying down the stairs to greet whoever was there. I only prayed that Airen was out of the woods…
Aurion-Irving Lloyden's Point of View: Downstairs
I heard the knock, and knew my father was in no shape what so ever to greet anyone, plus Miss Akuren looked pretty bad. I gave my father no choice other than to stay with her as I grabbed Colette and made my way downstairs. As we approached the door, my hand fell to my sword, the other spayed out to prevent Colette's advance. "Who's there?" my voice strong, which surprised me.
"Lloyd its Raine, Presea, Regal and me, let us in" I heard Genis call from the other side of the door. "Genis!" I called and yanked open the door so the four of them could enter. After they all had come into the front room of our house did I remember the situation upstairs. "Colette, get them situated, Professor! Come with me" I gave her no choice in the matter, grabbed her around her waist and hauled her against my chest, then taking off up the stairs through the house to my father's room where Miss Akuren lay seriously injured.
"Lloyd, where are we going, slow down!" the professor called to me, I ignored her complaints and plowed forwards, up the stairs, down the hall. One sharp left landed us into the room. Coming to a halt at the end of the bed I lowered her to the ground beside my father who was hovering over Miss Akuren protectively, his form slightly shaking, from crying, or mana exhaustion I didn't know, but I was putting my money on the second guess. I'd never seen my father cry, so it wasn't a valid guess.
"Kratos" I heard her say, but my father was in a very dark place, and most likely didn't hear her, she tried again a bit louder, and managed to catch his attention. Looking up at the professor, he said nothing, unable to speak, but the professor knew what was wrong, one look at the shape of the room told the story. She knelt at his side, looking at Miss Akuren's still form.
My father looked halfway caught between despair and being feral, his eyes were glowing cinnamon embers, with pain, confusion, and fury swirling in their depths. The stayed like that, eyes locked for a few moments, in which I presumed the professor to be analyzing the situation, and my father's eyes pleading with her to save the life before them.
That's when Colette brought the rest of the group into the room…
Sage Raine's Point of View – Kratos's Bedroom
I was grabbed by Lloyd the minute we entered the house, he pulled me into his arms, against his chest, his wings beating fiercely, lifting us up, and then we headed towards the upper level of the house. We flew fast, and I told him to slow down, but he ignored me, obviously something that needed my urgent attention was at our destination.
As soon as we were at the top of the stairs, he flew down the hall, then took a sharp left, and we were in the room. I took one look at the room, and as I did my initial scan, I saw Aurion, Kratos, my mouth went dry and my thoughts and emotions that I had thought buried away in my conscious, were now resurfacing with vengeance.
'Damn he looked good…a pair of black jeans, and a loose, yet tight in all the right places silk shirt, left unbuttoned…'
'Yes, I Sage Raine once thought of Aurion Kratos as a possible lover, which was until I found Bryant Regal. '
Refocusing on the task at hand, I attempted to try speaking to him, his form was huddled over a still form in the bed…he was shaking, not a good sign…
He didn't respond to my first attempt to speak to him, I tried a bit louder, and his head snapped towards me, the room told the story as did his haunted eyes, which were swirling with emotion, more than I'd ever seen on the Seraph in all the years that I've known him.
As I laid my eyes on the still form on his bed, I almost retched. It's not the first time that I'd seen someone hurt to that extent, but it was the worrisome haunted look on Aurion's normally stoic face that had me concerned. The situation was much worse than it seemed if he was upset.
He was leaning over her, her hand in his, blood spattering the bed and soaking almost everything around it. Glass lay shattered in crystalline shards all over the floor, obviously someone had been seriously hurt and there had been an assailant.
Genis and the others arrived soon, and I started an initial healing spell. It looked like he had done some advanced spells, the gashes that hadn't healed were bloody, still oozing blood and were deep. I closed my eyes, channeling my strongest single-target healing spell.
Snapping my eyes open I unleashed the gathered Mana, shouting "Heal".
The wounds closed, but I couldn't see the damage under the covers and my spell I'd focused on the visible ones. "Genis, Presea, could you clean up the glass, Colette, please gather a bowl of scalding water, towels, and close the curtains from the bedposts. "Yes, professor" was my answer from her, Genis and Presea were quiet but heard the glass being cleaned up and clinking in the bucket that they had found. "Regal, could you prepare some food?" He didn't answer but I heard him move off, his footfalls padding down the stairs getting fainter and fainter till I couldn't hear anything anymore.
Kratos had left, knowing he was of no use and only in the way, and I heard him call Lloyden to join him on the roof, guard detail I was sure. My final conclusion on the situation was this.
A pre-meditated, deliberate attack on someone precious to our Seraph, and I was going to do my best to heal them as much as I could.
I turned my attentions back to pulling the covers from her lower body and my gasp was audible, for her lower regions were a bloody mess, so much blood I couldn't see if there were punctures in her skin.
I took the rag Colette had gathered and with the warm water started on cleansing the blood from her still form. Once the blood was cleared I sent Colette out of the enclosure to help Genis and Presea with the cleanup of the shattered shards of the window pane.
It was only when she was gone that I called for the Seraph to join me. He was at my side in an instant, his eyes piercing into mine, demanding and questioning at the same time. I lowered my voice to just above a whisper "I found her like this, I haven't touched anything"
His eyes were icy and his voice seemingly stuck in his throat. When he was finally able to croak something out I had to strain to understand it. "Has she been…?" I knew what he was referring to, her panties were halfway down her thighs, and the nightgown she was dressed in was shredded from just below her breasts to the end of the gown.
Everything was exposed and I was grateful that I'd had Colette leave and that I'd had her shut the curtains around his bed where she lay, I would not want anyone to have to see this. I was an experienced healer and even I almost retched at the sight that befell my eyes.
I kept my voice low as I voiced my discoveries to him "I don't think she's been raped, but I think you caught him in the act. He nodded and I continued "He couldn't accomplish what he wanted to, so he violently attacked her abdomen, planning to destroy her reproductive system, and hoping he'd score in his random thrusts into her abdomen with his blade. He missed, thank Martel but there is some serious internal bleeding that I don't think I have enough mana after my heal spell to do anything…" My voice was somber, almost as if I was sentencing her to death, because I was unable to do anything to help her.
His face went perfectly emotionless, his eyes glowing embers of hatred for the person who did this to her, and some other unnamed emotion for the girl lying so still in his bed, swirling dangerously in their depths.
An Ethereal blue light radiated from him, surrounding him and blinding me momentarily, filling the enclosure with the same color light. His wings had unfurled, a wet sound accompanying their arrival, the sound much like the sound of wet paper being torn. These were wings that I had never seen on him, blood coating them and spattering myself and the three curtains surrounding us and before I had a chance to question it, he was screaming.
He was releasing his mana…all of his mana, in a last ditch attempt to save her.
"Mithos, Martel, Yuan!" he screamed as the house shook with the force of his mana release. Her body glowed, the wounds on the young woman in the bed healing right before my eyes. A flash of light and three ancient Seraphs were gracing the room, all three bursting into the small enclosure around the bed, concerned looks on all their faces.
Yggdrasill Martel, her eyes widening in sheer panic as she laid her eyes on bloody form of her Seraphim, was the first to speak "Kratos what is it my friend?" her voice calm and soothing, laying a hand on his arm. When that didn't work she opened her mouth and sang, an ethereal song, silver notes danced around him, bringing his mana down.
The house ceased in its violent shaking and as the light faded, Martel's song came to an end, but Aurion Kratos hit his knees, his mana entirely depleted…and I knew he was on deaths doorstep.
Ka-Fai Yuan, best friend to the dying Seraphim, caught him to his chest, his body glowing instantly and I could feel mana being forced into Kratos. A look crossed Yuan's face, one of shock and disbelief, something was very, very, wrong. It was then a flash of light hit my eyes forcing my hand to fly up to block the assault on my eyes, and squint to see.
Where Yggdrasill Mithos once stood in his fourteen year old form, now stood the ex-Cruxis leader, Lord Yggdrasill, a look of utter calm on his features but I was sure that inside he was panicking. He crossed to Yuan, taking Kratos's still form from him and began the process all over again. "You cannot die on us now, old friend" he whispered out, gritting his teeth and forcing his mana into Kratos.
'Holy Martel, Yggdrasill Mithos, the cold hearted, ex-Cruxis leader… actually CARED about the well-being of someone other than himself!
I heard Martel start to sing again, saw her body start glowing like Yuan's and Mithos's, but a sharp command from Yuan, forced her to stop. I wasn't sure of what I heard was what he said but what it sounded like was "the baby". Lloyden then entered the room, panicked by the sudden loss of his father's mana from the world. "DAD!" he shouted, his face twisted into a concerned look. A moment later an awkward silence permeated the room and enveloped its occupants.
I started to wonder if they were afraid to even speak…
Yuan was the next to speak. He had pulled Kratos into his arms bridal style, his voice was bit shaky from the Mana exertion, and he was pale but still able to stand under his own power, which amazed me...I'd never seen anyone do it to that extent and stand without collapsing. "He will be fine, Lloyden show me to a room where I can put him to recover." Lloyd instantly snapped out of it, and he led the way out of the room, Yuan following behind him, his best friend unconscious in his arms…
After Lloyd and Yuan had left the room the rest of us consisting of my younger brother Sage Genis, his lover Combatir Presea, Yggdrasill Martel, his brother Yggdrasill Mithos, and Colette were the only ones left. The shattered glass shards were completely picked up, and Genis was in the process of making another pane with sand and a well-controlled eruption spell.
Regal had come upstairs, a platter of sandwiches, and a basket of assorted bottled drinks he'd found in the Aurion fridge. As we waited for Lloyd to return we sat in total silence, and I found myself leaning into Regal for strength and security. He in turn, wrapped his arms around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. I was so lucky to have him, he understood me and I him, and regardless of our pasts, or race, we loved one another dearly.
My brother, Genis had secured Presea in his arms, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her hands lay over his, her Cruxis crystal still buried in the key crest in her neck, gleaming in the lights. Rodyle, that bastard, I was glad he was gone, even if he was a half-elf like Genis and I. Lloyd had created the key crest on her throat for her while on the regeneration/reunification journey. Thank Martel that it had worked as well as it had, or I don't know where my younger brother would be right now.
Colette remained alone, looking at the door where Lloyd had disappeared, waiting on him to return to her. Martel looked no better, fear for the Seraphim embedded in her features. Kratos was like a brother to her, and for four thousand years he protected her, before, and even after her death, until she was reborn, as her Angel of Death. I am sure that he would continue to protect her, now that she was reborn anew into this world.
I dove back into my thoughts at that point, the chaos of the last few minutes flashing in my mind. 'Kratos had done this one other time, just less dramatically, his wings, which were ethereal translucent segmented blue mana were now feathery, solid and a dark black or blood red in color, which I couldn't be sure. There was a girl on the bed seriously hurt, some unknown attacker at fault, why would our Seraphim, who was normally the most calm in the eye of any storm, level headed in any situation, most calculating, and cautious of us, do something as reckless, stupid, for a girl none of us had ever seen, or met during our travels between the two words before they were reunited and regenerated, or after such events had occurred?'
'Who was this girl, where did she come from, and what did she mean to Kratos…'
This was a situation I had no control over, and which was wracking my knowledgeable mind for answers that just were not there. Confused and confounded, yes…that is exactly the words that defined my brilliant mind at the moment…Aurion Kratos lay in a Coma like state, all because he released all his mana for a girl we'd never been privileged to meet, he would have some major explaining to do when he came to…
This was the Fourth time we'd almost lost him, once at the Tower of Salvation at the Holy Ground of Kharlan during Colette's journey, once at Origin's Seal in the Torrent Forest, and once outside Lloyd's adoptive father's home in Iselia's woods, after wed completed the Regeneration and Reunification.
It was then when Yggdrasill Mithos, still in his ex-Cruxis leader form turned to me and spoke. He was calm, but ever on alert, his wings remained out, and I could almost see the mana radiating off his body…this was not good…
"You are Sage Raine correct?" he questioned, I guess he sort of remembered me from before his death…he had almost out-right refused to harm either Genis or I in the tower, offering us a chance to join him in his Glory-To-The-Coming-Age-Of-Half-Elves power trip during the final battle.
I responded to him, snapping out of my thoughts, remembering at the last possible moment that he was still an Ancient Seraph and still could kill me with the flick of his wrist…
"Yes that is me, what do you need to know Lord Yggdrasill?" I didn't want to get killed so I figured that was the best way to word my words His response was nothing short of mind blowing…
"Call me Mithos, you and Genis are the same as I, Martel, and Yuan, so please don't throw on honorifics"
I was speechless, Yggdrasill Mithos, was being…was…being...civil… "Could you tell me what happened here Raine?" His eyes powerful and calling for an answer even though his voice was gentle, with a subtle under tone of his former demanding self.
I answered not sure of exactly what I was going to say, after all a four thousand year old Seraphim lord was questioning me, and I had no idea how to even respond to him…
I finally worked up a sentence in my mind and focused hard on getting the idea from my brain to my lips then forcing my lips to part so the unspoken words could pass unhindered by my lips. "I only arrived here shortly before you did, and I healed the young woman in the bed there. I am not sure under which circumstances in which she was injured, but I was compelled to help even though I have never met her, nor has your Seraphim ever mentioned her to any of us." "I do not know when she arrived or where she is from, nor his connection to her, however, it is quite apparent that she holds the utmost importance to Kratos…"
I took a breath in preparation for the next sentence...
"Your Seraph Kratos let out all his mana in an attempt to heal her, and I believe he was planning on dying for her, the reasoning is not quite clear…" "Lloyd can inform you much more that I myself could, I'm sure he will be back shortly."
We sat in silence then, and I moved to check on the unconscious in the bed, her wounds were extremely life threatening and I wanted to make sure the damage had been healed. I saw movement in my peripheral, Mithos had moved beside me, also inspecting the girl that had nearly caused one of his best and most trusted Seraphim's death.
"She's young, younger than Anna, I wonder what it is about this girl that holds him captive…?" His question went unanswered and again silence fell. I moved to peel back the covers to inspect the damage and just before my hand touched the covers I remembered that she hadn't been re-clothed yet. I went to turn him away but he was already upon her and there was nothing I could do to stop him from revealing her…
As the covers were pulled down my gasp was audible, what I thought was going to greet my eyes was nothing like what actually did. She was immaculate, her body perfect, healed, as if she was never harmed. "How…" I breathed out. I hadn't realized I had spoken anything until Mithos's gaze met my own. His eyes, shimmering and swirling with just as much confusion in their depths as mine were, but for a different reason than my own were.
He hadn't seen her in the condition she was in before his arrival, so he wouldn't know…
She was fully clothed, the nightgown she was in, I assume it was Anna's; I couldn't come up with another person whom Kratos would save clothes for. I didn't even know her name; neither of the stoic Aurion's gracing the room had spoken a name, or felt compelled to release such information at this point in time.
However, I still found myself wondering where she was from, how old she was, how she landed here in Symphonia and what was her purpose here, her purpose…, and what impact she would have in the Seraphim's life.
All I could do was wonder, for the only people who knew were Colette, Lloyd and the Seraphim himself, little did I know the person at fault hit close to home…
Lloyden's Point of View – His bedroom with Ka-Fai Yuan & Aurion Kratos
I led my Uncle to my room, a place where my father could relax and restore his mana. I'd only ever seen him release it one other time, at Origin's Seal in the Torrent Forest. As he laid my father on the bed, his face had an unreadable expression plastered upon it. I couldn't tell if it was anger, fear, confusion or a combination of two or all of them…
I watched silently as he brushed a few stray locks of my father's hair off his forehead and out of his eyes. Was his hair longer than it had been in the past few days? No, I'm positive, it was most definitely longer and a richer Auburn color than it had been. It was almost brilliant, compared to the dull color that it previously was, and those wings…when the hell did he acquire those?
Just what was going on with my father, maybe my uncle could explain to me what the hell was going on with him. I decided to ask it couldn't hurt, could it?
I was dead wrong, it could hurt, and my Uncle was in no mood to answer any questions. His best friend of over four thousand years had almost died again due to a human no less, and now laying in a bed with little to no life giving mana flowing within him.
"Lloyden, I do not know what is going on with your father, his appearance has changed, and he acted irrationally once again, driven again to the brink of madness by a mere "mortal" woman."
I heard the catch on mortal.
My Uncle continued on "However I don't blame him though, and I'm glad he did find Anna that day, for you were born and he was a happy, happy man for a few years, until the day in history that has forever haunted him to this very day…the death of your mother Anna, and the day he thought you had ` died falling down the cliff, the day your father broke, and became the cold hearted, perfectly emotionless, pawn to Lord Yggdrasill Mithos."
His eyes looked so haunted and he looked exhausted just retelling such a fate ridden story; however he continued on with his tale, even though it pained him to and recalling each detail was physically bringing him emotional trauma.
It must have been excruciating for all parties involved in such tragedy.
"It was the night your father acquired the title of "Angel of Death" he finished, laying a hand gently on my father forehead, brushing the bangs out of his pale face once again.
As he finished, I looked on, my mouth was agape; as he pushed more healing, life sustaining mana into my fathers motionless body The only reason that I knew he was alive was his chest rose and fell in shallow, trembling breaths… His eyes were closed, the cinnamon embers that normally pierced my being all the way to my soul, the eyes that compelled me to spill everything in my mind without him having to say a word…the eyes of my father which I wasn't sure would ever open again to see the light of day…
Never had I known the history behind my father, now I knew everything and more, of what I did and didn't need to know. I was at a loss for words; my brain seemed to cease functioning, my father lying so motionless in the bed before me, was a hero, traitor, friend, ally, enemy, Angel of Death, and most importantly, dad to me, the single most important being on the face of the earth. He knew my strengths, my weaknesses, what made me or broke me…my everything…
Now there was a chance I could lose him, a chance that I'd lose what was important, and whom I loved…A single tear fell down my cheek, followed by another and another, until I felt them flee from my eyes and I stood no chance of stopping the imminent flood from racing down my face.
A gentle touch on my sword sheath alerted me, forcing my eyes to fall to it. My father, a look of sorrow in his eyes, mouthed the words that I never thought I'd hear from him again…words I wished he never would after the last time I almost lost him…
"I am sorry Lloyden, forgive me, looks like I've failed to die once again" He closed his eyes then, but Yuan forced him to look at him, his sharp tongue cutting deep into my father's soul and holding him prisoner to those Icy-green eyes…
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FAILED TO DIE AGAIN!" he menacingly said, venom and hatred for those few words that escaped my fathers lips, voicing my thoughts as well even though I kept silent, listening to my Uncle verbally assault my father.
I thought he was going to go into the rant of mine from four years ago, when I beat into him in the Torrent Forest. After his brutal defeat at my blades, he released the Seal of Origin willingly from inside him and nearly lost his life then as well. He didn't though; he continued to speak in an icy voice, one that I was glad I was not the recipient of.
"What would Anna have said, if you had died in an attempt to save the innocents life, after she pulled that innocent from her own family just to allow you a chance at happiness and to lift the suffering that has been sentenced on your soul!" he took a breath then lit into my father with everything he had pent up within the last few moments…
"YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU COULD SAVE HER DOING WHAT YOU DID, AND WHAT IF YOU COULDN'T, EVEN IF YOUEXPENDED ALL YOUR MANA TO DO SO, AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET HERE SO QUICKLY?"
He didn't allow my father to speak. Just continued on his hell bent rant and unleashing his Ka-Fai iciness on his best friend and my father.
"YOU'D HAVE DIED, AND FOR WHAT, I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANYONE ELSE AFTER I JUST GOT THEM BACK, don't you get that…"
His voice softened at the end, and he averted his eyes from my father's piercing cinnamon that were filled with more emotion that I'd ever seen in them, and Yuan's lowered voice at the end of his rant, forced me to strain to hear the words he was speaking. Yuan was panting at the exertion of his verbal assault on my fathers and my ears, however, his voice never changed from its tone during his whole rant to my father on how stupid he was, but the deadly intent of Ka-Fai Yuan, my Uncle, was there, and my father knew he could not escape those sharp green eyes…
My father paled as he replayed his best friends words from a moment prior, oh yes Yuan knew, but I doubt he'd let the cat out of the bag as far as Martel and Mithos went, or so I hoped. "You…you knew…" my father whispered out, his voice cracking, as Yuan nodded once. "I am sorry, Lloyden, Yuan forgive me, I guess I forgot my vow to you both…" and with that he fell into a restless, seemingly painful, but rejuvenating sleep.
My Uncle let out a hiss of air once my father had fallen unconscious. The strain evident on his face, as he gazed at my father's still form, all that could be heard was our three steady heartbeats drowning out the surroundings in the room.
He quietly spoke catching my attention "Lloyden, would you please go inform lord Yggdrasill what exactly happened before we arrived, so he understands?" I nodded but my gaze never wavered off my father's pale face, catching his attention "I will stay here and watch over your father until he regains consciousness".
I heard myself speak, but my voice sounded off, like I was hearing myself from another's perspective "is he going to be okay?" as I stared back into the Emerald eyes of my Uncle, I could see the determination of his will swirling within their depths, and I knew he would never let my father go to the light without one hell of a fight with his will.
As if reading my mind, "Lloyden, I have bound my will to your father's as he has done with mine, I will not let him go, he will not leave this life unless he can conquer my will" "He is out of the woods, I will update you on his mana progress and such at a later time once a conscious state has been achieved. I heard myself voice a question, aware that I had asked it, but unaware at the same time, my mind wandering.
"Uncle Yuan, will you teach me how to transfer mana to another…?"
His face grew a bit pale, and he struggled to regain his normal composure before he swallowed and spoke "I will, but you must understand that it is a dangerous feat, and the slightest miscalculation in the transfer amount will cost you your life." I stood silent and he continued on "I do not want to expend anything more until your father is completely recovered and the severity of everything is out in the open, now please go to Lord Yggdrasill…"
His voice faltered at the end, almost unnoticeable to someone without angelic hearing but I caught the change; choosing to keep it to myself instead of shove his face in it, he'd just played a role in saving my father from the clutches of deaths grasps. Insulting the man or pointing out his flaws wouldn't be in my best interests, if it came down to the fight he would most definitely win, being the more experienced of us in both combat and in life.
I nodded, turning half way for the door before turning back to lay my eyes on my father, worry flashing before my Uncle sent me off. "He will be alright Lloyden, I swear on my soul" I nodded and headed out to the room, bracing myself, for soon I would be face to face, and toe to toe with one Lord Yggdrasill, just under different circumstances than in the "past", but regardless of what I was feeling, I had to deliver the story, he was going to keep his word, so I had to keep mine.
It was then when I realized that I had caught my Uncle off guard with my question of whether he would teach me how to transfer mana to another being like I'd seen him and Mithos do. I was tangling with my thoughts and realized that he was having some issues with calling Mithos "lord". I came to an abrupt halt outside the designated door…
I reached the door much faster than I had anticipated, not realizing that I had reached it so fast. I took a breath, calming myself before entering, immediately Colette was upon me, her form wrapped around mine, arms hugging tight, face buried in my chest, her form trembling with fear or excitement; I couldn't tell.
I wrapped my arms around her, and locked eyes with her as she gazed up from my chest; and without another conscious thought, I kissed her forehead, unaware, and not caring if anyone saw my display of affection, just knowing that it was needed at the moment.
"Ahem, if you two don't mind, I don't mean to break up your reunion, but I need to know what happened before Yuan, Martel, and I arrived and a status update on your father" A snide, rude, demanding, cruel, calculating and above all annoying voice invaded the silence that had enveloped Colette and I.
Yggdrasill Mithos in all his "glory" stood before us, his arm wrapped securely around his sister's backside, his rainbow mana wings stood proudly extending from his shoulder blades. He stood tall and imposing as ever as he spoke to me, and his words were a bit…pushy, but who could blame him, he had almost lost one of his companions of four thousand years.
I sheepishly rubbed the back of my head, drawing Colette to my left side, and I am sure that no one occupying the room missed the way my hand gripped the hilt of my sword, a trait I'd picked up from my father over the years of watching him. "Ah, sorry about that, I'll explain dad's status first if that is alright with you" he nodded and I continued "Yuan says he is out of the woods, and he will keep me updated when he comes out of the unconscious state"
His eyes glittered with his response, and then continued his questioning. "Can you explain, who this girl is, how is she related to your father, my Seraph, and why he would release all his mana in a last ditch effort to save her, I've never seen her around here and answers are needed, so do not lie to me son of Kratos" I swallowed, my mind in over drive, he still was a brat even though he was four thousand years older than me, still the same old Mithos…
"I will not lie to you, oh ex-leader of Cruxis, high and mighty one…" I drawled, not caring if I was disrespectful to him, after all he was in my home, and I wasn't and never would be "loyal" to the ex Cruxis leader, after he stole Colette from me on one to many occasions…
Mithos however, was not impressed by my lack of respect, his anger growing, as his teeth came together in an audible snap. "You, son of Kratos! Do not play games with me!" he shouted, his fourteen year old voice coming out of his Cruxis leader form was not impressive, and I fought not to snicker and to keep my face as stoic as my father was able to. Which might I add, did a hell of a job at impersonating him, if I must say so myself, DAD would have been proud.
I was bombarded with questions in the next few moments, now I knew what DAD went through with Colette and I, I'd have to remember that the next time we ganged up on him for answers. "Aurion, tell me what happened to this girl to cause my Seraphim to go out of control and almost kill himself to have a shot at saving!?"
"I just met her today as well, apparently DAD saved her and I do not know, I heard the glass shatter and saw he was covered in I don't know who's blood, and then the Professor Sage and my friends arrived, I don't know the extent of the damage or the actual details of the assault."
Mithos simply stared, not blinking, his arm tightened slightly on Martel, and even though his face was calm and serene, the internalization of the information I just dished to him must have been happening, that's all I could figure.
"What's next…" he managed to whisper out, the information clearly sinking in. "When the professor showed up the extent of the damage was revealed and that's when he called you three, and you…you know the rest…" I finished, my voice seeming to become strangled in my throat. Colette sensed my discomfort, laid her head on my shoulder, heavily leaning her body on mine, not that I minded it.
Mithos's voice sliced through the silence that had befallen our group again, redirecting my attention to his, our eyes locking above Colette's head. When he spoke his voice had dropped the edge it held earlier.
'I wonder if he figured he would get any respect from me'
"Do you have a room for Yuan, Martel and I to stay in while your father recovers?" I nodded my head and he then turned to the professor "Will you examine Martel for Yuan and I?" The professor nodded, and turned to me the question lingering in her eyes.
I immedialtly spoke, knowing that if she didn't receive a response, she'd probably lash out and kick me like she did in the Martel Temple that day.
"There's a room to the left of the one you and Regal and staying in, that isn't being used at the moment, you can use that one to examine Martel and then Yggdrasill, Uncle Yuan and Aunt Martel can stay in there together."
Professor Sage turned to Yggdrasill and spoke, her tone all healer and nothing but; her eyes contained a fire within them that I had not seen outside of being in an ancient ruins site.
"You will have to stay here while I examine your sister; I know you possess some healing skill, so please watch over "Anna's gift" to Kratos while I am gone"
He blankly nodded, replaying the words she spoke to him and then his eyes widened with realization. "That girl is…" he attempted to spit out, and failing miserably to do so.
The professor merely nodded her head in response to his inquiry, and walked slowly to where Martel was. Together they walked out the door and out of sight, the door making a soft "click" as it slipped into place.
Yggdrasill Mithos stood there un-responsive; mouth agape, as if what he was hearing wasn't what was meant, and that it couldn't be possible. I could see the gears turning in his mind, his face was stoic, but I am sure his mid was spinning in a chaotic storm of doubts and emotions.
We all knew it was the truth, for we had been there, Colette and I that is, but the professor had deduced whom she was on her own with her keen intellect, not surprising for her. I figured she would put the pieces of the puzzle together even without having all of them, I am sure the others were in shock as well brought upon them by the unveiling of the identity of the new person gracing our presence…
The Akuren Princess: Well that was drama filled…
Ka-Fai Yuan: My friend if you ever try that stunt again I will personally save you and then kill you myself!
Aurion Kratos: "Tch, try it Yuan you won't kill me, you can't kill me"
Ka-Fai Yuan: Oh yes I can *sticks out tongue*
Lord Yggdrasill: "If you touch him Yuan, I will slay you as well and then Martel and I will live as one..."
Ka-Fai Yuan: *hides behind Martel quivering, and peeking from behind her with the most serious face he can muster* "I am not afraid of you Mithos; I just want to hug Martel from behind, you can't have her she's mine!" *being very, very childish in this moment*
Aurion Kratos & Yggdrasill Mithos: *shakes heads in utter disbelief that their "four-thousand" year old Seraphim friend could be so childish*
Yggdrasill Martel: "Now boys play nicely! You're going to be Uncles and I don't want the baby to hear this violent nonsense" *Smiles a devilish, devious smile*
Aurion Kratos: *sensing the impending danger and reading the threat in her voice and smile* "As you wish, Lady Martel" *kneels*
Yggdrasill Mithos: Yuan you did what to my sister! *shifts into his older form and starts throwing attacks at Yuan while chasing him*
Ka-Fai Yuan: We've talked about this Lord Yggdrasill, I am still very afraid of you! *screams at the top of his lungs and runs, trying to avoid the attacks of a very angry Seraphim"
The Akuren Princess: *sighs* "Here we go again, until next time, Ja Ne!