HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
So I've just got into Fullmetal Alchemist... And that has a Roy, too ^^ Although drastically different from mine, thankfully. Does anyone else think that Ed needs a hug? *huggles Ed*
General notice - Forcystus does not have a Cruxis Crystal, I am well aware of how wrong that would be *chuckles* But you'll all just have to wait a while for the explanations ^^ *cackles evilly like a witch when you look away*
Yes, yes I do mean Muse the band. They are, in fact, immense. Expect oneshots that I will write when I'm supposed to be revising *hides*
PP18 - I applied for Biochemistry, but they rejected me *sulks* but then again, the other candidates all went to schools where you have to pay and had been taught loads more than me, so what can you do? I want to go to Sheffield anyway ^^
Hee, Kratty won't be coming to get him. And it's more than Forcy's life's worth to even give Lloyd a clue ^^
Sorry if Yuan's appearence isn't substantial enough for you people. Perhaps, if I have time and can distract myself from Bleach and FMA, I'll write a oneshot about him
Disclaimer: Still don't own.
Oh, and freaky, I fixed the plothole ^^ Enjoy.
Chapter eleven: Progress and hindrance
If Roy was surprised when Forcystus brought an enthusiastic-looking Lloyd into the control room, he didn't show it. He did, however, protest when Forcystus told him to teach Lloyd about how the machines work.
"Sir, are you sure that's wise? He'll be out of here like a shot if he can work these!" He protested. Forcystus shook his head.
"Only I know the passcode for the security fields, and besides, it's got a bionic coding in there. He won't be able to disable them and he can't get through them without a chip. Just teach him, give the poor kid something to do." Lloyd looked at him pleadingly. He would have rather had Forcystus teach him, because the Cardinal had a way of making things interesting for him, but something was better than nothing. He had to learn enough to allow him to steal a Rheaird. He had to get free!
"…If you insist, Sir," Roy replied reluctantly. Lloyd sat on the closest chair as the Desian started to teach him about computers. Lloyd noted that he missed out how they actually worked inside and just told him how to operate them. Lloyd was quite pleased to know that the "go" button was actually a go button, just with a more technical name, and he got the basics quite quickly. He had to be nudged a few times by Roy when the monotony of learning started to get to him, but he paid close enough attention to get a grasp of it. Really, though, it got boring fast. He noticed Forcystus look over and shake his head with a slight smile every time Roy poked him and told him to listen, and that was quite embarrassing, and that motivated Lloyd to learn more than even the need to escape. He would wipe that smirk off the Cardinal's face, and he would get out.
"Lloyd…" Forcystus' voice shook his out of a half-slumber.
"Whn?" He murmured, and Forcystus laughed.
"See, Roy? Fast asleep. Lloyd, we have to go now."
"Was listening," he mumbled sleepily. "Heard every word." He rubbed a hand over his eyes.
"Then you can repeat it to me as we walk back," Forcystus replied, clearly amused, and Lloyd stood up, mostly awake now. "Come on, Lloyd. If you spend too much time out of your cell the rumours only spread, you know."
"I'm not your pet," Lloyd muttered under his breath automatically. Forcystus laughed.
"I know that. Come on, I don't have all day." Lloyd nodded and was quickly by his side, on hand in his pocket on the feather. He thought it was strange how one little thing could cause such fear in the Cardinal's eyes. Cruxis… Cruxis caused this fear.
The journey of Regeneration seals the Desians away… But then, the legend goes, the hero Mithos formed a pact with the Goddess Martel and gave his life to seal away the Desians. But if there were no Desians to seal, what did Mithos give his life for? And if Martel isn't real… No, Forcystus did say she exists. He isn't afraid of the journey of the Chosen, in fact, they are part of it. They help the Chosen become an angel by harassing her… So they mustn't be sealed away by it, otherwise they'd fear it. Oh, wait! Forcystus said that time that he hoped he got the Sybak Ranch when they moved… They must just go to the world that will start to fall into decline! Pleased with his deduction, he looked up at Forcystus. "What did the hero Mithos do?" He asked. Forcystus stopped moving, as though shocked by the sudden question.
"…The hero Mithos?" He murmured. "Why do you ask that?" Lloyd gave him a look.
"Well, the legend says that the hero Mithos formed a pact with the Goddess Martel and gave his life to seal the Desians and end the war, much like the journey of the Chosen does now. But if you're not sealed away and if the Desians didn't even exist until after the war, what did he do? Is he just… A legend?" Forcystus shook his head.
"Mithos did exist," he replied. "And he was a summoner. What Mithos did, however, was draw up the peace treaty and convince both sides to sign it, which ended the war. Since your side no longer knows of Tethe'alla, it has been changed to a war with the Desians so that it makes more sense. The hero Mithos…" He broke off and frowned, running one hand through his hair absently. "I believe he died for a cause," he murmured. "He was betrayed by humans."
"I thought he was human?" Lloyd replied. "We've got a picture in the school of him with angel wings, and the Goddess Martel. There's two armies at the bottom."
"He was a half-elf," Forcystus replied. "Does that shock you? Well, I am fairly certain of it. After he managed to bring peace to the warring sides, neither wanted him, because of his race. We always were fiercely hated, even four thousand years ago. I think he died to save the world from losing the tree, or something similar." He sighed, and Lloyd could see that he was still pale. He felt a bit bad for exhausting him so during their training. "No-one wants us. The elven side because they don't want to encourage human hatred, and they are fiercely jealous of their home anyway. And the human side doesn't want us because we're so different. Imagine, a human who loves an elf has a half-elven child. That child will never grow old, they will never see them grow old, that child can see things in the air they can't, that child can use magic, an unknown art. Of course you would be frightened, push the child away." Lloyd looked at him.
"Did your parents?" He asked. Forcystus shook his head.
"Both of my parents… Were half-elves," he replied. "Most half-elves are from two half-elves marrying these days. No-one wants anything to do with any other race any more."
"What about a half-elf and a human? Or a half-elf and an elf? What would happen then?" Lloyd asked, and Forcystus looked as though he was starting to get sick of the constant questioning.
"Then they would appear to be either human or elf, depending on which race was with the half-elf. Certainly, any summoners, or any humans who can use arts which depend on manipulation of mana, will have had an elf, and therefore a half-elf, in their family at some point in the past. The lineage of the Chosen is also carefully controlled to make sure the marriages are all to those with a little elven blood in them, so that the Cruxis Crystal doesn't kill them." He sighed. "Do you think that is something for a human to be ashamed of?" He asked Lloyd, who shook his head vehemently.
"Family is family, no matter how far in the past or what race," he replied. "Besides, what race an ancestor is isn't something you should be ashamed of at all. If I had a half-elf in my family I'd be quite happy, actually. I'd quite like to be able to use magic." Forcystus laughed.
"I would be quite worried if you could," he replied. Lloyd frowned, trying to work out if that was a compliment or an insult, eventually settling on the latter and glaring at Forcystus, who just laughed again. "You're a rare human, Lloyd," he told him. "Most people would deny any trace of half-elves in their past. Quite vehemently." Lloyd shrugged.
"That's their loss, then, isn't it?" He replied. "If people could get along we'd have no need for wars, no need for Ranches, the world wouldn't have had to be… Split in the first place."
"People will never get along," Forcystus murmured. "Here we are." They had come to a halt outside Lloyd's cell.
"…Thanks," he murmured. Forcystus frowned.
"For what?" He asked. Lloyd looked at the floor, a bit embarrassed.
"For… For asking Roy to teach me, a-and for answering my questions," he replied. "I didn't think you would, that's… All." Forcystus laughed.
"If they aren't so nosy that they would put myself or my Ranch in danger, I am quite happy to answer what you ask," he replied. "There's no harm in you knowing." He waited until Lloyd was properly in the cell before shutting and locking it. "Sometimes, Lloyd, you go too far. Bear that in mind." He turned and left.
How am I supposed to know how far too far is? Half the time the questions aren't even all that bad… Lloyd wondered, frustrated.
Forcystus didn't appear for the whole of the next day, but that didn't worry Lloyd. Forcystus often left him alone for a day or so, he had things to do. What did worry Lloyd was the poisonous looks the Desians kept giving him, as though he were responsible for some heinous crime but they couldn't do anything about it. Lloyd just sat in his cell and took the looks, not having much other option. He had the feather out in his hand, smoothing the separate little bits out, making it look more like a feather and not a mess he'd had stuck in his pocket. It was giving off a soft glow, which bathed the cell in a gentle light, and it put Lloyd more at ease. The glow reminded him of something, something he couldn't quite place, but that he associated with comfort and safety. He did remember Forcystus' words, not to show the feather to anyone else, no matter what, and he hid it back in his pocket every time a Desian came past. It irritated him that he still didn't really know where it came from, because Forcystus had never really confirmed his suspicions.
"…Lord Forcystus says it'll pass, though, so if he's sure…" At the sound of voices, the feather was instantly away. Lloyd hoped it was food, he hadn't had any that morning.
"It's that filthy inferior he's so attached to, I reckon. Dirty thing's given our Lord some nasty disease," a second Desian was saying. Lloyd froze. Forcystus was ill? No… It had to be whatever was making him act funny in front of Kvar, and had made him so weak yesterday.
"I wouldn't question Lord Forcystus' judgement. He's had orders from Cruxis, you know. That might be why." The two Desians came into view, one carrying a tray. One of them gave Lloyd a hateful look, but the other just indicated the monitor with a nod of his head, keeping hold of the tray. "L025, right?" He asked, and Lloyd nodded quickly.
"I-Is something wrong with Lord Forcystus?" He asked as the door opened. The trayless Desian glared.
"…Sort of," the other replied, putting the tray down. "That's all you're getting, you'd better appreciate it, inferior."
"Yessir," Lloyd replied, playing it safe so that the food wasn't taken away. The first Desian rolled his eyes.
"Keep away from it, it's probably diseased," he muttered. Lloyd ignored the comment, preferring to concentrate on the food.
"Lord Forcystus has had it almost a month now. If it was the inferior's fault then he would have got sick before. Use your head," the other one snapped. Lloyd was still steadfastly ignoring being called 'the inferior'. It worked better that way. The food was pretty good, too, which helped.
"Still think he shouldn't spend so much time around some little inferior like this," the first muttered. "What's so good about it anyway?" The second shrugged.
Ignore them. Food. Concentrate on the food, Lloyd told himself.
"He likes it enough to spend time with it. Are you questioning the will of Lord Forcystus?" The second replied. "If he wants a pet, he can have a pet."
"I'm not a pet," Lloyd mumbled. That was the one thing that really got to him. Both Desians looked at him.
"What did you say, inferior being?" The first spat. Lloyd swallowed.
"Um… I'm not a pet… Sir…" He replied. The second one laughed aloud.
"Oh, sure. Lord Forcystus takes real good care of you, little human insect. He wouldn't otherwise. Kharlan only knows why he's taken such a liking to you, but trust me…" Lloyd didn't hear the rest of the sentence, the full meaning of the word 'pet' finally coming home to him. That was why Kvar wanted him. That was what they thought Forcystus… He shuddered. Martel, no. No, no no no. Forcystus surely didn't think… "Are you listening to me, human?" The Desian spat, hitting Lloyd out of his horror.
"I-I'm sorry… Sir…" Lloyd stammered out, feeling numb. Forcystus hadn't even told him that…
Oh Martel, he'd told Kvar that…
"You'd better be. You done?" Lloyd nodded numbly. For some reason he'd lost his appetite. "You should be glad Lord Forcystus has ordered us to keep an eye on you, else you'd be getting very little. I hope you're grateful, human."
"Yes, sir," Lloyd replied, not even looking at them. The Desian made a derisive noise and nodded to the other, and they both walked out and locked his cell again. Lloyd sat there in silence, in shock, for a long time, before the end of day call snapped him out of his horror. Shaking his head – it was surely dark outside, even if the lights were constantly on inside the Ranch – he absently felt in his pocket for the Lens, and pulled out the feather with it. Smiling slightly, he smoothed it out again and put it next to him on the only other feature of the cell – a small table – then held the Lens up to the light and thought of Forcystus.
Ill appeared to be an understatement. Forcystus was on the floor, clawing at the walls, shouting at a large number of Desians to just leave him the hell alone, and Roy was trying to keep order. Lloyd noticed with a start that there was blood on the floor, although there were no apparent wounds from Forcystus. He was shouting so loudly it was echoing in his cell, despite the reduced volume. Lloyd wondered if there was a way of making it quieter.
"Get out! Out! You aren't… Argh… Helping!" Forcystus screamed out, his voice full of anger and pain. "OUT!"
"Do as Lord Forcystus says!" Roy snapped. The Desians backed off a little, but there was clearly a lot of concern for Forcystus. Lloyd noticed that the bangle on his wrist was glowing white.
"It'll… Pass, it'll pass. Get out!" Forcystus yelled out. Eventually, the Desians left, and Forcystus was left to claw at the floor with only Roy for company.
"Sir, if…" The Desian started, but Forcystus shook his head mutely, clenching his fists.
"It'll… Pass…" He replied, his face deathly white. "Urgh… Go check… On Lloyd… For me… Please," he managed. Roy looked concerned, and Lloyd bit his lip. "Please…. Argh!" He doubled up in pain, looking at Roy. "They'll… Most likely… Blame him. I can't… Be doing… With him being… Harmed. Lord Aurion…" Roy nodded slowly.
"…As much as I dislike leaving you in this state, my Lord, I will do as you say," he replied. Lloyd picked up the feather, looked at it and held it in his hand.
Please get better, Forcystus. You're all that's keeping me from being a Desian's plaything, or… Belonging to Kvar. The feather glowed white softly, and through the Lens he could see Forcystus relax slightly, his breathing evening out and his fists unclenching.
"…Lloyd… I told you not to use that… Thing…" He murmured, chuckling softly. "…Lloyd…" Lloyd looked in shock from the feather to Forcystus again. "…Please… Don't judge me… I never wanted for you… To be here… I… Can't…" The Cardinal's eyes closed as he fell into unconsciousness. Lloyd lowered the Lens, confused.
Never wanted me to be here? He thought. He was the one that brought me to this place! Remembering belatedly that Forcystus had told Roy to check on him, he quickly put the Lens back in his pocket, keeping hold of the feather. Something about it had made Forcystus better… Slightly. And Lloyd didn't wish the sort of pain he had clearly been in on anyone, not even a Desian… Well, perhaps Kvar. But he was a special case.
"L025? You there?" Roy called.
"My name's Lloyd," the boy muttered sulkily, unwillingly putting the feather back into his pocket.
"So you are." Roy walked into view. "Not been hassled, have you?" Lloyd shook his head. "Good. Lord Forcystus asked me to check on you."
"What's wrong with him?" He asked, going up to the bars of the cell. Roy laughed.
"Titles… Lloyd," he reprimanded. Lloyd looked at the floor. Forcystus only ever insisted when there were other Desians around, or when he was angry. "Lord Forcystus will be just fine, it is a minor affliction. It will pass. Even Grand Cardinals can catch illnesses, you know." Lloyd kept his gaze locked on the floor, wondering why everyone seemed to love lying to him. It wasn't fair! He never lied to them! Well, apart from to Forcystus, and that was only a few times…
"…I don't believe you," he mumbled. "…And I think you should go and check on Forcystus." Roy made a noise of protest.
"Lord Forcystus!" He insisted. Lloyd looked at him.
"Still think you should," he replied. Strangely, Roy cursed and ran off. Lloyd looked at the monitor. Forcystus was out of it, Roy was distracted…
He typed in the code.
A quick test of the Sorcerer's Ring revealed that it had reverted back to its original function. That was just fine with Lloyd, and he knocked out an unsuspecting Desian swordsman and stole his sword, then did the same with the next one he came across. Feeling considerably more confident, Lloyd headed for the exit, cursing profusely when he came across a security field.
…I've learnt some curses from Forcystus at least, he thought wryly, locating the nearest control panel. …Please work… He stuck his sword into it and pulled down. An alarm set itself off and the security field went decidedly off. Grinning, Lloyd ran for it. Now, to locate the Rheairds…
He so nearly found them. However, he was distracted by the sound of Forcystus screaming, and detoured. Why, he didn't really know, but the only time he could ever remember hearing someone screaming like that was in the nightmares he had about his mother's death.
Lloyd rushed in, swords out, and hacked at the nearest thing to him, a man dressed in Desian uniform who was clearly not expecting the attack. He spun around and drew a sword at lightning speed, defending Lloyd's second attack masterfully. Lloyd could see strands of blue hair escaping from the helmet.
"And just… Who the hell are you?" He asked, looking confused. "A human?"
"L-Lloyd?" Forcystus choked out, on the floor. Now there was a definite source of blood.
"I don't know who you are, but you are staying the hell away from Forcystus," Lloyd growled at the man, who simply laughed.
"Lloyd. I see. Well, I do not see the need to introduce myself to a miserable little creature like you," he muttered. Lloyd growled and charged at him, slashing out, managing to cause him at least some hassle even if he didn't land a blow on him. Forcystus was struggling to his feet.
"…You set off the alarms, you little toerag," he muttered. Lloyd ignored him, concentrating on the more obvious threat of the man with the sword. "Lloyd, he's a Renegade. Watch out, he'll have magic."
"Tch, you! Why didn't you just die?" the blue-haired man complained, jumping backwards with surprising agility. A glance at the monitor told him that Desians were running towards the control room. "…It seems I have overstayed my welcome. Desian! Your time is running short," he growled. Forcystus shrugged, apparently not worried despite an open wound in his side. "And Lloyd… Next time we meet, you're mine," he added to the boy, who charged at him, only to find himself slashing at empty air as the man disappeared. Lloyd paused, confused.
"Ugh…" Forcystus was examining the wound. "…Renegades. I'm not going to ask you where you got the swords, Lloyd. I am sure I will be hearing about it from some of my guards in future." Lloyd looked at him sheepishly, his brain telling him to run and find the Rheairds, but his legs not responding.
"Lord Forcystus!" A guard called, rushing in, several other Desians behind him. With only Forcystus and a weapon-wielding Lloyd in the room and Forcystus wounded, they jumped to the first conclusion, unfortunately for Lloyd, who found himself restrained, swords confiscated and arms held behind his back.
"Wait, wait! Put the human down!" Forcystus intervened, before Lloyd's arm was twisted so far it broke. "I'm just fine, and Lloyd did not attack me, despite what you think." The Desians kept a hold on Lloyd, but stopped breaking his arm.
"Sir?" One asked.
"Bloody Renegades again. I want all the surveillance footage reviewed, I want it found out just how the Renegades managed to get in. Geez, I spend one day out of action and this is what happens? Prisoners escape and Renegades attack me? You're all useless, I should have you all fired, or executed, or… Or both! Lloyd was more use than you!" Forcystus ranted, making his way over to the monitor and pressing a few buttons until the alarms shut down. "And I said put Lloyd down." Lloyd was quickly released, and he ran over to Forcystus rather than stay near the Desians who had nearly broken his arm.
"Milord, you're hurt," one Desian noticed. Forcystus rolled his eyes.
"It's nothing. I'm fine. Dismissed, go sort out the problem and have some Renegades executed, it'll improve my mood no end." The Desians glanced at each other, shrugged, saluted and filed out. Forcystus swore colourfully, one hand going to his side.
"…You're hurt…" Lloyd murmured. Forcystus laughed.
"Trust me, Lloyd, this is nothing," he replied. Lloyd noted that he didn't get thanked for saving the Cardinal's life. "I suspect you were trying to escape, yes?" Lloyd nodded slowly. There was no point trying to deny it, there was plenty of proof on the cameras. "…Then why come here?" Forcystus asked, watching Lloyd carefully. The teen sighed.
"I… Heard you screaming… I dunno, some… Instinct just… I had to save you," he admitted, going red. Not a pet, not a pet, not a pet… He felt foolish, the reason had sounded stupid even as he said it… Strangely, Forcystus didn't ridicule him, he just smiled slightly.
"…Thank you," he murmured, wincing and swearing again as pain flared up in his side. Lloyd did a double take. He'd just… Been thanked? By Forcystus? The Cardinal went over to a drawer, one hand still on his side, and eventually produced an Apple Gel, which he swiftly applied to his wound. Lloyd watched him, still confused. "I'm willing to let your escape attempt slide this once, purely because without it I would likely be dead, but I will have to take extra precautions. You are not going to get out again; you've caused enough trouble with your running around already…"
"What's this I hear, Forcystus, about angels?" Came a voice from the holograph. Lloyd turned with Forcystus, the Cardinal adding several curses. He did not exactly look in a good state.
"Pronyma. How delightful of you to be concerned," he remarked, a fake smile on his face.
Pronyma? He hates her…Lloyd remembered.
"However, I think you will find that there are no angels at my Ranch, only an annoyingly large Renegade infestation which I will be dealing with shortly," Forcystus continued. Pronyma was looking at Lloyd, and he backed away slightly so that her view of him was obscured by Forcystus.
"Who is that?" She asked. Forcystus was still muttering a string of curses under his breath, but Lloyd doubted that Pronyma could hear them.
"No-one," he replied. "Do me a favour and get your nose out of my business and go suck up to Lord Yggdrasill, why don't you?" Lloyd cowered at the force of her glare, even though it wasn't directed at him.
"Forcystus, I have had just about enough of your insubordinance!" She spat. Forcystus laughed.
"It's the truth," he muttered. "I'm so glad you're concerned for my health after the Renegade attack," he added more loudly. "Do you have a reason for trying to ruin my day more or did you just fancy a chat?" Pronyma glared more fiercely, and Lloyd wondered how Forcystus could just stand there and take it.
"Lord Yggdrasill has ordered me to investigate you. There have been a lot of disturbances at your Ranch lately, and we are concerned," she replied. He noted the snide smile that appeared on Forcystus' face at the 'we'.
"How delightful," he replied sarcastically. "I hope you provide better company than Kvar is all I can say. But do me a favour and let me clear out the insects first, I might accidentally clean you out with them if you don't." The look on Pronyma's face could have melted stone.
"…You have two days, Forcystus. No more!" She replied, glancing at his side with disdain. "Glory to Lord Yggdrasill." Forcystus twitched.
"Glory to our Lord and the age of Half-elves," he replied, swearing profusely in the direction of the monitor when Pronyma had disappeared from it. "Infuriating woman!" He muttered. "I'd like to tie her up and leave her out in the forest for the animals to eat! And I'd hope it would be one of those irritating Giant Bugs, just to insult her!" Lloyd took a step away from him. "The nerve of her! Little slut! She has no right to demand and do as she pleases! We're both Cardinals!" He paused, noting Lloyd's fear. "…That is Lady Pronyma, leader of the Grand Cardinals… By the way," he told him. Lloyd nodded slowly. "Ow… I think I may have to heal this before it becomes a problem… I've no magic left at all; this morning drained me completely…" He glanced at Lloyd. "Are you hurt?" Lloyd shook his head. He might not have been able to inflict any damage on the mystery assailant, but he hadn't taken a hit himself, either. He was quite proud of that. "…Good. Come with me." Lloyd nodded.
Not a pet, I am not a pet, he told himself as he followed Forcystus.
"Lord Forcystus! That wound… Are you ok?" A female Desian, apparently a nurse, fretted as he entered the infirmary with Lloyd in tow.
"Fine, just out of magic," he replied. "So I'd appreciate it if you healed it."
"O-of course, my Lord!" The Desian replied, instantly going up to him and using First Aid. Forcystus watched the wound close, noting the hole in his clothing and the bloodstain with irritation.
"…This hasn't been my day," he decided. The nurse looked up at Lloyd.
"…Is the… Human… In need of healing?" She asked. Lloyd flinched at the tone of voice as she said 'human'. More proof of how much his race was hated, not that he needed it. Forcystus shook his head.
"No. He is just fine. My thanks." The nurse blushed. Clearly Forcystus was popular amongst the women of the Ranch for more than one reason. "Come, Lloyd. We have some trash to clear out." Lloyd looked at the floor.
I am not a pet. And… He's going to execute Renegades… Isn't he?
"Don't dawdle, Lloyd," he snapped, and Lloyd nodded and rushed to catch up. Forcystus lead him back to the control room, and Lloyd noticed him wince at the sight of his own blood. Roy was in there, sorting out the monitors.
"Milord! I was concerned…" He murmured. Forcystus sighed.
"Hopefully that will be the last of today's… Events," he replied. "I am just fine. However, this mess will need cleaning, get someone on it. And if I find a Renegade in this base they are dead, understood?" Roy nodded, and Lloyd winced. "Lloyd… Thank you for earlier," Forcystus added softly. Lloyd's hand instantly went to the Magic Lens, afraid the Cardinal would take it away. "…I'm not angry… You saved me a lot of pain and inconvenience. For once, your stubbornness has actually been of use."
"Milord, I do not know how a Renegade managed to get all the way to the control room, but I assure you…"
"Don't worry, Roy. Lloyd decided to do some tinkering with the security fields with a borrowed sword, didn't you, Lloyd?" Forcystus explained, and Lloyd looked at the floor and mumbled an apology. Roy raised his eyebrows.
"He's more trouble that he's worth, milord, if you ask me," he remarked. Lloyd glared at him.
"Not true! I saved Forcystus twice, so there," he protested. Forcystus put a hand on his shoulder to quieten him.
"Be that as it may, orders are orders," he replied. "And he speaks the truth. If not for him prying this morning, I would have been easy prey for the Renegades." Lloyd hung his head, reminded that he'd disobeyed. Roy shrugged.
"I'll get someone to clean up the blood, Sir. You are not hurt?" Forcystus shook his head.
"I'll take Lloyd back to his cell. Pronyma is kindly paying us a visit soon. Make sure the Ranch is spotless, I want no reason for her to go to Lord Yggdrasill, understood?" Roy saluted and nodded.
"Everything will be sorted presently, sir," he responded. Forcystus smiled slightly.
"Good. Come on, Lloyd." He walked out of the room, Lloyd following obediently.
"Forcystus…" He started once they neared his cell.
"Hm?" He asked, pausing to unlock the cell. Lloyd bit his lip.
"Kvar… Kvar doesn't want me as… As a pet, does he?" He asked.
"Lord Kvar, Lloyd," Forcystus reprimanded. "…And I'd be lying if I said no… I'm sorry. I guess my guards have been a little loose with their tongues?" Lloyd hesitated.
"Well… They seem certain I'm… Your pet…" He murmured. "They seem to think you're too… Attached to me for it to be anything else… And then I realised just what it meant, and I know how Kvar was looking at me… It scared me. At first I thought he'd recognised me, but…" Forcystus sighed.
"…Lloyd, you are safe in this Ranch. You will be no-one's pet, I despise the very thought. They simply need an excuse for why I treat you like a hum… Like a person," he replied. "We'll see what happens. I know Pronyma is coming, but she neither knows nor cares for the Angelus Project, so I can find a way to hide you… But it will be… Hard on you." He sighed. "I shall speak to you about it tomorrow. Alright?" Lloyd nodded and walked into the cell resignedly, Forcystus not letting him watch him with the code. It was only once he'd left that Lloyd realised that he hadn't corrected him once for only using his name.
What could it mean…?
A/N - Next time on Cruxis TV, Forcystus gets a visit from Pronyma!
Only (hopefully) one and a half more chapters until Lloyd's escape ^^ And I promise all secrets will be revealed (and Lloyd will get his wings) before the group leave Sylvarant.