Hi guys! Chapter's a little late this week but that's FINE! Because I think it's the second-longest chapter yet. So that makes it better, yes? I hope so
I only have one week of school left before coursework stops eating me and it's the easter holidays. Hoorah for the holidays! Howeverrrr... I have no electricity for half of Saturday this weekend. How much does that suck?
Special Mention must go to my super-awesome beta, freakyanimegirl, who spotted a... slight plothole *shifty look* in this chapter, which I've fixed. I Will Update My Plot Notes In Future. Thankyou XD
Woo, six reviews! ^^ I love you guys ^^
Serenity Rains - thankyou for the long review ^^ Good point about Genis... He is complex, I think all of the half-elves especially seem to be. That's one thing I always loved about ToS - the people were real, they didn't fit stereotypes (much *cough*). As for writing it - it's not 100% spur-of-the-moment, I know where I want to go with it and what's going to happen, but a lot of the smaller parts are spontaneous. So it's kinda half and half.
The. Reaper. Game - thinks your name is a web address Firstly - I typo'd. It's a Rune Crest. I'm very sorry if that confused anyone
DotNW has your OTP in it? I didn't really look into it much... I don't have a Wii and it's not coming out over in good old England anyway, sooo... All I did was save pictures of Yuan in his suit I am that shallow. What is your OTP?
(If they DID do a backstory game, it would spit on my story like a lot of plot elements from DotNW did. I kept Yuan's name, sure, but he's not from Asgard in this fic. In fact, I had to edit one plot point because of his name... Stupid extra plot details that I actually like but mess up my story...)
Kirimori - by hand feathers, I mean like Yggdrasill has, those feathers between the fingers? They're kinda hard to describe. No, Kratos doesn't know how much Lloyd knows, he wouldn't be all that pleased if he did XD And if I do repeat words, it's probably because I stopped then started writing in between the sentences. I have to squeeze in writing in between schoolwork/coursework right now - I'm in my final year of non-University education and it's nearly exam season y'see...
Symphoniafan - only because he'd be a tad surpirsed to learn that a certain mercenary is actually an angel XD But about Forcystus - he never says anything by accident. Ever. Those hints are all purposeful XD
Skeddadle-san - Hee hee, thanks. Well, it IS true that all the sexy boys have wings XD And since Freaky is my beta, I know allll about the wing obsession XXD
Likeaglintoflight - It's not the same as Colette's AT, he was just using that as a comparison for Lloyd to understand. He's suffering from it because he's kept his wings forcefully hidden for a good nintey percent of his life, and his body isn't designed to cope with that, so he... Bleeds, kinda. That's why kis wings are tipped with blood :S Good times ^^
The feather he gave to Lloyd was white, I promise you XD Kratos' are blue, Colette's are pink, Yuan's are pink-blue, Zelos are Orange, Yggy's are Purple (or raaaiiiinbows, depending...) and Lloyd's are also white. For reference, like. Lloyd has one of Colette's and one of Forcy's... I think... But he's going to have a whole collection before the end of the fic XD
(Did I miss out an angel in there?)
Disclaimer for the hell of it: All I own is an imagination, Namco owns the game that I put it to use on. Unfortunately because then they go and do things like make Yuan come from Asgard (grr... I made Yuan and Kratos come from Heimdall and Mithos and Martel from someplace else... And I don't care what Namco say, it's the truth!)
Chapter six: False spirits
"Raine," Forcystus started the next morning as she finished checking Colette over.
"You're fit to travel," she decided, before turning to Forcystus. "Yes?"
"I need to have a word with you," he told her. "Bring your map." Raine frowned slightly, but stood up and followed Forcystus away.
"What is it?" She asked eventually.
"Map. Spread it out," he told her. She frowned.
"You have no right to order me around," she informed him bluntly. He sighed, running one hand through his hair in a stressed way.
"Look, I'm trying to help," he told her. "Spread the map out and I'll save you a journey." Raine looked cnfused, but did as he asked anyway.
"There," she remarked. "One map." Forcystus sighed.
"The Seal of Wind is here," he told her, pointing to the Balacruf Mausoleum. "This is the Seal of Light. And you know fire and water now."
"The Tower of Mana…" Raine murmured slowly. "…And the Balacruf Mausoleum." She looked up at him. "How do you know this? You're a Desian."
"Exactly," Forcystus replied sadly. "Look, it's… Complicated. Suffice to say that I know what I'm talking about." Raine looked dubious.
"…So we didn't need that statue, then," she remarked. "I will trust that your information is accurate for now… But! If you are wrong…" Forcystus looked affronted at that, folding his arms as she folded up the map.
"I am not lying to you," he replied. "I have nothing to gain from lying to you. I am on your side now, surely you must know that?"
"You are the one who said you would go back to being a Desian," Raine retorted. Forcystus winced.
"…The circumstances surrounding who I am and what I do are also complicated," he murmured. "Oh, but one thing. There's a special tablet that you need to access the Oracle Stone at the Balacruf Mausoleum. I believe they keep it in Asgard, but…"
"Then that shall be our next stop," she decided. "Via the House of Salvation, to give them their statue back, of course." Forcystus smiled slightly.
"Oh, of course," he agreed.
"There's been a slight change of plan," Raine told the group once they were ready to leave. "We're going to the House of Salvation today as planned, but the day after we will proceed straight to Asgard. Forcystus has given me all the information we need to find the Seals."
"Told you," Lloyd told Kratos triumphantly, sticking his tongue out at the mercenary. Kratos shook his head in despair at his antics.
"Colette, I would like you to ride on Noishe today," Raine added. "Just in case the Toxicosis returns." Colette looked disappointed at that.
"But, Professor, I'm fine, really!" She protested. Raine shook her head.
"No buts," she replied firmly. "You're going on Noishe."
The Priests at the House of Salvation were very welcoming, if abashed, when they returned. They were also highly surprised when Lloyd offered them the Spiritua Statue.
"But, Chosen, we thought you needed that?" The Priest asked, confused.
"The situation has changed," Raine responded. "We have overcome the problem that we needed the Statue for by another method. Please, feel free to display the true statue again."
"You can put the one my dad made upstairs," Lloyd suggested helpfully. Kratos flinched.
"Perhaps…" The Head Priest mused. "Yes, I like that idea! Thank you so much, Chosen and companions. We are indebted to you."
"Nah, it was nothing," Lloyd told them affably. "We needed to go to the Geyser anyway, right, Forcystus?"
"Mmm," Forcystus agreed, clearly not liking having the attention turned on him.
"Oh, is this a new companion?" The Priest asked. "You are most welcome at our House of Salvation, most welcome!" Forcystus chuckled.
"I'm sure," he replied. "I'm sure."
They started out towards Hakonesia Peak the next day, Colette still designated to Noishe. She accepted it this time, but still seemed a little guilty about not walking with the others.
Kratos had been accosted by Lloyd, who was quizzing him in an enthusiastic manner about all sorts of things that Kratos didn't particularly want to be asked about, so Forcystus was walking at the back of the group with the half-elven siblings.
"…You're awful quiet," Genis remarked as they walked. Forcystus glanced at him.
"Is that so?" He murmured. "You're awful observant." Genis winced at having his wording turned on him.
"Well…" He started, before shaking his head. "What did you do to Lloyd in the Ranch?" Forcystus looked a little taken aback at the sudden question.
"What?" He asked, confused. "Nothing whatsoever, besides teach him a few things. He was a prisoner. I… Stuck him in a cell and left him there, for the most part. Why? Do you think I harmed him?" Genis shook his head slowly.
"He trusts you too much for that… But it's just… You're a Desian…" He reasoned, confused. Forcystus gave him a look.
"Is every Desian automatically evil?" He asked the young magician. "Some have no choice, you know. It's either be a Desian or be hunted down like an animal by the humans." Genis sighed.
"I just… It's something everyone seems to believe, that it's all the fault of the Desians… Of the half-elves. Everything that's wrong…" Raine gave her brother a careful look, and he stopped. Forcystus nodded.
"Indeed. No matter where you go, we're filthy," he replied. "I am evil, I suppose, in your opinion of the word at least. I've caused a lot of suffering." Genis bit his lip. "I would imagine living in Iselia was nice for you," he continued. "I apologise, I believe my incompetent and rather foolish soldiers burned your house down."
"And tried to kill me," Genis muttered, clearly sore about that. Forcystus shrugged.
"It's because they're idiots," he replied. "I do not believe they understood the word 'no' in the sentence 'no burning things'. Really, I ask you. The education level in my Ranch seems to be quite abysmally poor. If they cannot understand one third of my sentences…"
"You still call the Ranch 'yours'," Raine observed. "Would you go back?" Forcystus nodded.
"Of course," he replied. "It's mine. I'm a Grand Cardinal." Genis and Raine both gave him looks that could have burned. "Oh… Ouch," he remarked. "I'm sorry, was that not the answer you wanted?" Raine sighed irritably.
"You don't make things any easier on yourself," she remarked, frustrated. Forcystus shrugged absently, clearly unconcerned.
"I'm hated automatically, you know, on account of the race thing," he told them. "What's to be gained by lying? I am a Desian, and if I'm not killed I'll be dragged back there eventually." He sighed, running one hand through his hair. "I do doubt I'll see my Ranch again, however. I'm on the run now!" He laughed slightly. "Only way out of this for me now is death, I would think. Or the joys of Derris-Kharlan."
"Derris… Kharlan?" Genis asked slowly, having never heard of the place before – an unusual occurrence for him. Forcystus nodded.
"Indeed," he replied. "It is where the leader of the Desians dwells. Not a place for respectable people I will say, not wishing any offense on Lord Yggdrasill."
"Why treat him with such respect?" Raine asked softly. Forcystus shook his head slowly.
"…Because I dare not do differently," he replied. Raine sighed, looking over her shoulder to check for monsters.
"…Well… Maybe," she murmured. "And… Thank you," she added, looking at him. Forcystus smiled at her.
"Whatever for?" He asked. "Elves associating with half-elves, my, whatever next!" He shook his head softly. "Heimdall… Such an antisocial place…" Raine gave him a shocked look, but he fell silent and said nothing more no matter how the pair harassed him.
"Do you have a Road Pass?" The guards demanded as the group approached the mountain pass. Lloyd was about to protest, but Kratos silenced him, producing a pass.
"Chocolat dropped it," he informed him softly. "I thought it would be wise to pick it up." The guard examined it.
"You may proceed," he decided with a nod.
"Good journey to you!" The other guard added. Lloyd walked through muttering about extortionate prices and using people, but they got to the other side of the pass without incident.
"Asgard's round here somewhere, right?" Lloyd asked Forcystus, who nodded.
"Behind the mountain there. The Ranch is up there." He pointed, and Lloyd narrowed his eyes in hatred, as did Kratos, not that any of them noticed the latter. "Promise me you won't do anything… Rash, please, Lloyd," the half-elf requested. Lloyd was still glaring.
"Oh, I won't do anything rash…" He started. Forcystus grabbed his shoulders.
"Listen to me, Lloyd," he insisted. "You must. Not. Go. Near. The Ranch. Understood?" Lloyd started to protest, but Forcystus shook his head. "No, Lloyd. It would be a stupid risk, and unnecessary. Don't court trouble, Lloyd, or death. Kvar would kill you like that!" He snapped his fingers. "No matter how… Obsessed he was with you. He wants that Exsphere, and the minute he finds out who you are, he would take it. If Judgement will be brought down on him, he will bring it upon himself. Please, leave the Ranch. Promise me." Lloyd looked at him, at the worry in his eyes.
"…I promise," he agreed softly, although the lie hurt him. I'm sorry, Forcystus, but… I can't just leave him be after all he's done… Kratos watched him, not saying a word, as Forcystus nodded, satisfied.
"Thank you," he replied. "It is not that I wish to deny you the revenge you seek, I am simply…"
"Worried about me?" Lloyd finished; an impish grin on his face. "I know. I'll be careful." Forcystus sighed, shaking his head slightly in exasperation.
"…Humans," he murmured. "So stubborn." Lloyd smiled at him.
"Of course," he replied proudly.
The group received a few looks as they walked into Asgard, which wasn't surprising as they were quite a mixed group.
"It's been a while since I've been here, you can tell," Forcystus remarked to Lloyd softly. The teen frowned.
"What d'you mean?" He asked. Forcystus laughed softly.
"No-one seems to be giving me evil looks," he replied. "It's because I'm not obviously a half-elf. I can pass for an elf, me." He glanced up, looking up through the town at the huge stone stairs at the opposite end. "Some half-elves can pass for human, too. Although often if anyone finds out the truth, the consequences are grave. Still, it's often worth it." Colette was looking around at the many stone bridges in awe, and Genis had taken an interest in the caves and was asking Raine if they could go and look at them.
"What's in the caves?" Lloyd asked, distracted from the conversation. "Anything cool?"
"Cave paintings, apparently," Raine replied, consulting a guidebook. "I don't see why a little educational visit wouldn't be appropriate. Follow me, everyone."
"…She's treating this like a field trip," Forcystus remarked softly to Kratos, who sighed softly.
"It is the teacher in her," he responded. "Besides, the children need some guidance." Forcystus nodded slightly, agreeing absently.
The cave on the upper part of the town depicted women dancing around a tree, with a summon spirit of some sort in the sky above them.
"This could be something to do with the ritual!" Raine exclaimed happily, instantly getting out her notebook. Forcystus and Kratos exchanged glances.
"Is it the tree?" He asked quietly. Kratos inclined his head.
"I believe so," he responded. "I will have to ask Yuan in the future. He is much more well-versed in this than I ever was." Forcystus nodded.
"I would imagine so," he agreed quietly as Lloyd asked the people in the cave about the murals.
"There's almost no traces of this ancient civilisation left," one man lamented. "It's almost like they've been intentionally erased by someone!"
"Who'd do something like that?" Lloyd disagreed. Kratos sighed softly.
"…Let us go," he suggested. "We are here for a reason, not to dawdle around looking at ruins." Lloyd's face fell, but Raine nodded.
"There is another ruin…" She started, but Kratos shook his head.
"The quicker we are done here, the quicker we can proceed to the ruin," he replied curtly.
"Geez, lighten up, it's not the end of the world if we visit a couple of ruins," Lloyd muttered. Kratos raised an eyebrow.
"I'm surprised you're taking an active interest," he responded. "Normally the very mention of history makes you turn tail and flee." Lloyd scowled.
"Shut up," he muttered, having no suitable retort for that.
As they were about to walk out, Forcystus held out a hand to stop them.
"Trouble at twelve o'clock," he muttered. Kratos made a noise of surprise.
"Yuan?" He murmured softly. The blue haired man Forcystus was looking at was stood on the edge of an overhanging, broken stone bridge, looking out at the mountain opposite.
"Who's that?" Lloyd asked confused. Forcystus bit his lip slightly.
"Shall we call him a 'friend' of mine?" He replied softly.
"He's Cruxis?" Lloyd repeated, surprised. "Desian?" Forcystus winced
"Keep your voice down, else he'll-" He started
"Hear you?" The man cut in, turning around. Lloyd's hands went to his swords. "I'm not deaf, you know." He walked over to them. "Do you have some particular reason to be discussing me behind my back?" He glanced at Forcystus and Lloyd, not looking at Kratos, who remained silent.
"Oh, you know, just remarking on how good a friend you've been to us lately… Lord Yuan," Forcystus replied amiably. Yuan fixed him with a cold look.
"Since your person is not high on my list of people to be around, I would suggest you shut up," he told him. "I have no tolerance for people like you, Desian." Forcystus winced as a few heads turned.
"Ex-Desian," Lloyd corrected him helpfully.
"Who are you?" Raine demanded. Yuan's gaze went to her, and she met it.
"I am Yuan Ka'Fai," he responded. "Not that it is any business of yours."
"Certainly not my business, not with all the time you spent helping around the Ranch," Forcystus remarked, almost idly. Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Did I? I don't remember doing anything of the sort," he responded. "I wouldn't be seen dead near a Human Ranch." Kratos was watching him carefully now, and Yuan at last looked up to meet his gaze. "In fact, I don't believe we've met, save for my… acquaintance with Forcystus here."
"Then pray remove yourself," Kratos requested. "We have no business with you, and do not need you disturbing our journey. If you wish to speak with Forcystus, do it elsewhere." Yuan laughed.
"I believe they began the conversation from this place," he responded. "Whilst I have no quarrel with you…?"
"Kratos," the mercenary supplied.
"Whilst I have no quarrel with you, Kratos, your half-elven friend seems set to start one," Yuan finished. Forcystus chuckled at that.
"Well, if all you're going to do is stand there and come up with insults that are, quite frankly, of rather poor standard, we must be going," he decided. "It was ever such a pleasure seeing you again." Yuan glared.
"The feeling is mutual, Desian," he replied tersely.
"Ex-Desian," Lloyd repeated, deciding that he must not have heard the first time. Yuan made an amused noise.
"Good luck on your journey, Chosen," he told her. "May Sylvarant flourish." With that, he turned and walked away, clearly unhappy about the impromptu meeting.
"…Can we go see the Ruins?" Genis asked hopefully. Kratos made a frustrated noise.
"If we must," he responded, and Genis made a happy noise and ran in their direction.
"The Asgard Ruins!" Raine exclaimed as they reached the steps up to the dais, running up them like someone obsessed. Genis sighed in despair, and Kratos shook his head slowly. Clearly they had seen this before.
"…Do we really have to go up there with her?" Genis asked, and Kratos nodded curtly, not verbally replying. Colette smiled at him encouragingly, and the group made their way up the stairs.
"Lloyd, state the historical background of this ruin," Raine demanded when they were all in front of the stone dais. Lloyd frowned, thinking hard, but after much deliberation it seemed that he hadn't borrowed/learned that particular set of notes.
"Um…" He murmured. "Er, well, let's see…" Forcystus laughed softly.
"It's the Temple where the human king of Asgard about three thousand years ago, Cleo III, held a ritual that offered a sacrifice to… I think it was Sylph… To stop a storm that had been raging for a week without surcease," he informed him. Lloyd nodded, although it was clear he hadn't a clue.
"Uh, yeah, that," he told Raine with a smile. Raine looked despairing.
"Gah!" She exclaimed. "Have you learned nothing these past years? What do you even do during lessons?!"
"Uh, well I learned PE and art, and…" Lloyd started in his defence. Raine shook her head in utter disbelief. Kratos had a frown on his face, too.
"Never mind!" She exclaimed. Genis shot him a sympathetic look as Raine went over to the ruin itself and started examining it. "What perfect form…" She murmured in awe, her notebook out in an instant. "This delicate curve is said to represent the flight of the summon spirit of wind through the sky…" She ran her hand over it as she said it. "In addition, it is said that the stone is infused with a large volume of mana, and at night…"
"One would assume that the mana from whatever was sealed in or used to seal it would be the cause of that," Forcystus cut in. Lloyd groaned, having been deserted by all his companions who for some reason found the ruin interesting, and he wandered off around it. Forcystus was engaged in a heated discussion with Raine about the origin of the material used to carve the dais, which was loud enough to be heard even from the other side of it.
"Right, Linar. This is my 'breaker'," a voice sounded, and Lloyd frowned and peered around the side of the dais to see a half-elf and a human stood by a strange-looking contraption. "We can use the bomb to destroy this thing!" Lloyd gasped. They were going to destroy it? Even he wouldn't go that far, and he found ruins deathly boring!
"But… Harley… This is a valuable remnant of the Balacruf Dynasty!" The human protested. Lloyd vaguely remembered Forcystus mentioning the word 'Balacruf' before. "We can't just destroy it!"
"What?" The half-elf replied, shocked. "But, Linar… Aisha may be killed! Can you just stand by and let that happen?" Lloyd didn't know who Aisha was, but he decided that he couldn't just let them activate a bomb with Raine and the others around the other side.
"What are you doing?" He demanded, approaching them. They both froze.
"Who are you?" Harley demanded, looking defensive. Linar was panicked.
"It's… It's not what you think!" He assured Lloyd hurriedly. "We weren't trying to destroy the ruin at all!" The sound of Raine's lecture/argument with Forcystus from the other side of the ruin suddenly ceased, and Lloyd winced. He hadn't meant to bring Raine down on them. There was the sound of her footsteps on the dais echoing, and she appeared on the other side, hands on her hips, one of the scariest looks Lloyd had ever seen on her face.
"What did you just say?" She demanded in an icy voice.
"Oh… Professor… Uh… These guys said they were planning to destroy the stage…" Lloyd murmured, deciding that the truth was best in the face of Ruin Mode Raine. She was almost radiating anger.
"And you call yourselves human beings?!" She demanded. Lloyd noted the half-elf look affronted, and also slightly afraid. Raine kicked the surprised Linar to the floor, following up with an almost unblockable kick on Harley, who ended up on the floor despite his attempts to resist it. Lloyd winced.
"I am a half-elf!" Harley protested as he got up. Raine glared at him.
"And what does that have to do with anything?" She demanded. Lloyd nodded slightly. She was quite right. "You have no idea of the importance of this ruin!" She jabbed her hand down to indicate her point, and knocked the switch on the 'breaker' down, and all three winced in unison. "Now, listen…" Lloyd winced, realising she was going to give the lecture.
"Professor…." He started. Raine glared at him.
"If you've any questions I'll take them after the lecture," she told him curtly. Lloyd was certain he could hear ticking.
"Professor, you activated the bomb…" He tried, and Raine glared.
"I said if you've any ques… Tions…" She trailed off, realising what Lloyd had said and turning to look at the bomb. "…What?"
"Lady, you flipped the switch!" Harley yelled at her, earning himself another kick that sent him sprawling.
"Don't try to put the blame on someone else!" She snapped as he got up.
"That doesn't matter!" Lloyd protested, exasperated. "Is there a disarm?"
"Of course not," the half-elf retorted, glaring at him.
"Don't act like you're proud of it!" Raine insisted, kicking him down for a third time. Lloyd winced inwardly and knelt by the bomb.
"I'll just disarm it myself…" He murmured, examining the wiring and setting to work on it. Within a minute he had the bomb in pieces at his feet.
"…That's pretty good… It was supposed to be unstoppable…" Harley conceded, apparently none the worse for his kickings. Lloyd got up, angry.
"You shouldn't build stuff you can't control!" He insisted. Raine was examining the Ruin, a frown on her face.
"Well, the ruin's unharmed…" She murmured.
"Hey! You there!" A voice called, and they all turned to see an old man approach with a younger man at his side. "Trespassing up here is forbidden!" Harley and Linar looked at each other.
"The mayor…" Linar murmured.
"Run!" Harley decided, and they both ran for it. Lloyd looked very much as though he wanted to follow.
"Professor…" He started.
"But, I haven't had time to study the structure…" She started, but Lloyd grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
"Just come on!" He insisted, pulling her away from the ruin and down to Asgard proper, where the rest of their group was waiting, Forcystus with an almost-frown on his face.
"Well, well," he remarked. "Did you manage to escape the mayor?"
"Who were those two?" Lloyd wondered aloud. "Yeah, we're good…"
"What were they trying to do?" Colette inquired,
"Destroy the ruin," Lloyd replied. "Something about a girl being sacrificed…?" Forcystus frowned.
"The ruin isn't supposed to be used for sacrificial purposes," he remarked. "It was built to seal in a dangerous creature, using Sylph's power to suppress its strength."
"We mustn't allow such a threat to a valuable historical structure to continue," Raine decided. "We must find out more about this…"
"Have we the time?" Kratos asked pointedly. "We are here for the Balacruf tablet, not to chase around after false spirits."
"We can't just leave them!" Colette protested. Forcystus sighed.
"Let's see what we can find out," he compromised. "It may well lead us to the tablet."
"…As you wish," Kratos agreed wearily, and they set off for the housing quarter.
They found the house they wanted after quizzing a group of children who were playing hide and seek. Raine didn't even knock, she just went straight in, and Lloyd noticed a young woman who looked a little like Linar with Harley and Linar when they entered.
"Get out!" Harley insisted as they walked in. Raine glared him down, Ruin-Mode still in full force. The girl glanced at them worriedly.
"Harley, stop it, please," she requested. "This is my house." Harley sighed, defeated. "I… Understand that you were the ones who stopped Harley and my brother… Thank you," she told the group with a sad smile. Forcystus glanced at Harley, who glared at him.
"I'm not sure 'stopped' is the best way to put it," Kratos murmured. Lloyd hid a smile.
"They got in our way," Harley muttered irritably. Aisha frowned at him, and Raine looked as though she was having to forcibly restrain herself from hitting the poor half-elf again.
"It doesn't matter what you call it…" Aisha murmured. "The people of the city are the ones who would suffer if you had succeeded…" Harley glared at her, looking as though he didn't give a toss about the citizens of Asgard.
"But you'll be sacrificed!" He protested.
"Sacrificed?" Lloyd asked, confused.
"It's a ritual in honour of the summon spirit of wind," Harley told them with a sigh, running one hand through his hair. "Originally it was just a dance, but this idiot started messing with the dais… Now this summon spirit of wind-thing is awake and demanding sacrifices… Aisha was chosen for the ritual…"
"It can't be the Summon Spirit of Wind," Forcystus cut in. "That is the Sylph, there are three of them and their Seal resides in the Balacruf Ruins."
"Well, then, what is it, if you're so smart?" Harley demanded.
"Most likely the monster that the dais was designed to seal in," Forcystus responded. "The seal has been there for a long time. It could well have weakened and allowed this monster to break through."
"So it's not a summon?" Linar asked, intrigued. Forcystus shook his head.
"It can't be," he replied. "All summons have a trial before they can be reached. Unless you count climbing all those stairs as a trial…"
"Oh… I may have weakened the seal…" Linar realised glumly. "When I took that tablet out of the indent on the back of the dais…" The group exchanged glances.
"…Tablet?" Kratos inquired. Linar nodded.
"Yes, it has ancient writing on it, and-"
"Oh, shut up!" Harley cut in angrily. "Aisha will be sacrificed to the summon spirit tonight! Now get out!" Lloyd sighed.
"Let's go, Professor," he suggested, and they left, Forcystus nodding to Harley as he left, receiving a glare from the other half-elf in return.
"So, what do we need to do?" Forcystus asked. "We need the tablet, but we can't ignore the plight of these people…"
"If we prevent the sacrifice, do you think they'll give us the tablet?" Lloyd suggested. "It would help the whole city if we got rid of this monster thing…" Kratos nodded.
"It seems like a reasonable solution," he responded. "The only problem is convincing the townspeople to prevent the sacrificial dance taking place."
"Or perhaps not," Raine mused. "I could take the place of this girl. Would that work, do you think?"
"I don't see why not," Forcystus responded. "If you, Kratos and Colette go and try to convince Aisha to switch places with you, Lloyd, Genis and I will tackle the mayor."
"Let's do it!" Genis agreed enthusiastically. Raine nodded.
"We will meet back here," she told him, and they split up and went their separate ways.
Forcystus, Lloyd and Genis walked over to the steps, where a sulky-looking mayor was stood.
"What do you lot want?" He demanded. "We've had enough trouble without you adding to it!"
"Peace," Forcystus suggested. "We're not here to argue with you. We have a suggestion."
"What sort of suggestion?" The mayor demanded. "If you think I'm letting you up on the dais after what happened earlier-"
"Not that!" Lloyd assured him. "We were just wondering if iy would be possible to… Maybe switch who did the ritual dance?" The Mayor looked at him like he was mad.
"You want to be the dancer?" He asked. Lloyd looked put out.
"No, of course not!" He replied. "'Cause I can't be the dancer, can I? It's got to be a girl, right?"
"…Exactly…" The Mayor replied. Forcystus sighed in exasperation.
"We were thinking that maybe my older sister could be the dancer," Genis explained helpfully. "She knows all the risks and she thinks she might be able to stop it terrorising the town! She's gone to ask Aisha if it's ok, so…" The Mayor harrumphed.
"Well, it's not my fault if she gets herself killed. She can do what she likes," he replied. "But don't think that means I'll let you up on the dais!"
"Success!" Lloyd cheered, hi-fiving Genis. "Let's go tell the Professor!"
Raine wasn't at the meeting place, so they continued on to Aisha's house, where Raine was talking to said human.
"It's not right for you to have to take my place…" She murmured, clearly unhappy about the whole thing.
"Don't worry about it," Raine replied dismissively.
"We convinced the Mayor," Genis reported faithfully. "Are you sure about this, sis?" She nodded.
"I'll be just fine with these three as bodyguards," she assured him, indicating Lloyd, Forcystus and Kratos, who all looked at each other. It was clear they had no choice in the matter.
"Uh… Sure," Lloyd murmured weakly.
"Now then, if you'll excuse me, I am going to change," Raine told them. "Go up to the Dais and I'll meet you there." The group nodded, filing out of Aisha's house as ordered.
"…I can see why she's a teacher," Forcystus murmured. "She's got the perfect attitude for it." Genis glared at him, but Kratos chuckled softly under his breath, Lloyd just looked nonplussed.
"Er… Yeah?" He offered. Forcystus laughed at him kindly.
"Never mind," he murmured as they left. The Mayor glared at them as they reached the steps, but glanced at Kratos and seemed much less inclined to argue, for some reason. They walked up the stairs, and Forcystus wandered over to the dais. "…There's no way there's any polycarbonate in this, the shape's all wrong, I don't know where she gets her ideas from, seriously…" He started, musing.
"Forcystus… Please, stop," Lloyd begged. Kratos sighed. Lloyd was clearly a hopeless case.
Raine arrived shortly after the sun had set, decked out in the ritual clothes, and she walked onto the platform. Lloyd saw her frown slightly as she restrained the urge to reach for her notepad, and she began to dance. Lloyd noticed Forcystus watching her, wondering if he was just interested. The look on his face wasn't one the teen had seen before.
Raine came to a halt in the centre of the dais, and a symbol appeared on the stone and a creature with a scythe instead of a lower body materialised through the mana.
"That is most definitely not Sylph!" Forcystus told Lloyd, and all three swordsmen jumped up onto the dais. Raine stood back as the creature demanded a sacrifice, getting out a Magic Lens despite having no apparent pockets to produce one from. It just showed how good Raine could be at improvising.
Lloyd couldn't help but feel like a spare part for the first half of the fight, as Forcystus and Kratos seemed to be able to fight like one person. Lloyd was also the only one without magic of any sort, which left him feeling a little left out. Raine was also employing Photon to lend a hand at regular intervals, but after a while Forcystus and Kratos changed their tactics to better accommodate the still-learning Lloyd. In the end, it was also Lloyd who struck the decisive blow, cleaving the creature neatly in two.
"Excellent, Lloyd!" Forcystus congratulated as Linar ran up onto the platform.
"Fantastic, Raine! You're fantastic!" He exclaimed. Raine laughed slightly.
"Well, it was hardly a challenging opponent," she replied. "Especially not for these boys." Kratos and Forcystus glanced at each other. Neither of them really qualified for the word 'boy' any more, but for some reason, neither wanted to argue with Raine about it right then. "Now then, I believe I asked to have a look at that Tablet of yours…?" Linar nodded, handing it over, and Raine examined it. "There's ancient Balacruf writing transcribed on it…" She murmured. "We must go and translate it!" She insisted, and Linar nodded enthusiastically, the two heading off for his sister's house instantly. Forcystus watched them go with a frown.
"Translating it is highly unnecessary for it to be used…" Kratos protested to the empty space where they had been.
"Wow… They're really alike…" Lloyd murmured, slightly scared by the similarity.
"Ah, lay off the pair. I've always been interested to learn that language myself, but never had the time," Forcystus told Kratos affably. Kratos gave him a glare.
"Still, it is irrelevant."
"Whatever's on it, I'm sure Raine and Linar will find out…" Lloyd decided uncertainly, clearly not over-enthused by the prospect. "Besides, it's the middle of the night. We can hardly leave for the Mausoleum now." Kratos made a frustrated noise.
"True, but it is highly unnecessary to waste time so…" He muttered.
"What's three half-elves doing with a group of humans, anyway?" Harley asked Forcystus, intrigued.
"N-no, you're wrong," Genis corrected quickly. "Raine and I are elves!" Harley frowned.
"No, your mana…"
"They're elves," Forcystus told him curtly. "Pay attention." Harley frowned.
"Oh… Right… Sorry, I guess I… Wasn't looking?" He hazarded. Genis looked away, but Lloyd went over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"We should probably go get some rest," he suggested. Genis started, not having expected that, but he added.
"Um... Y-yeah," he replied. Forcystus was frowning.
"If the Seal has been in place since the last time Sylvarant flourished…" he started, frowning unhappily about something. Harley gave him a quizzical look.
"You're a half-elf," he murmured. Forcystus nodded.
"Indeed," he replied. "Why Asgard, Harley? It's not exactly known for being friendly to our kind." Harley sighed.
"I was born here, you know. And I don't want to leave Aisha on her own; else Linar will just let the town walk all over her…" Forcystus nodded.
"Being a Desian isn't for you, I suppose," he murmured. Lloyd, Genis and Colette had left already, but Kratos was lingering, listening in despite being too far away for that to be possible. Harley glared.
"I'm not evil," he spat. "Are you a Desian? You'd better not be a Desian!" Forcystus held up his hands as if to ward him off.
"Ex-Desian," he replied. "And I certainly have no intention of bringing the Asgard Ranch down on you. That would not be fair, and besides, I hate Kvar. My name's Forcystus." He held out his hand, and Harley shook it uncertainly.
"…I guess you know I'm Harley…" He murmured. "Why'd you quit?" Forcystus laughed.
"Unusual circumstances involving Lloyd. If I'd stayed he would have been hurt, and I couldn't have that. He's quite special, for a human, you know. Doesn't hate our race at all." Harley frowned.
"Why did you say they were elves?" He asked. "If he accepts half-elves?" Forcystus sighed.
"Well, he's one person. I don't know about Colette. Besides, if they want to be thought of as elves, they have the right to. If the town found out, well…" Harley nodded.
"…I guess," he murmured. "I guess I misjudged you. You're brave, admitting what you are. If I had a chance I would never have said…" Forcystus laughed.
"Haven't a choice," he remarked absently. "I should go, or else I'll have Lloyd coming back to fetch me. He worries needlessly. Such a foolish teen. Good luck with your life," he told Harley, walking away. Harley watched him go, and saw Kratos murmur a few words to him as he approached, the half-elf waving it away without apparent worry.
"Kratos, Forcystus!" Lloyd greeted when they arrived at the Hotel they were staying in. "I was about to go look for you." Kratos sighed.
"Lloyd, you needn't keep such close track of us," he told the teen. "I think you will find we can look after ourselves."
"Overconfidence breeds carelessness," Lloyd shot back, making Forcystus laugh.
"Very true," he replied. "And I think I will turn in." Kratos nodded.
"Lloyd, I am going to train now, if you wish to accompany me," he offered. Lloyd looked slightly dubious.
"At this time of night?" He asked. Kratos just stood there. "Ah, yeah… I'll come," Lloyd murmured eventually, and Kratos nodded curtly and walked out, Lloyd following him with a yawn. Seriously, does he never get tired? He's worse than Colette for actually getting sleep, but he is actually never tired. Weird.
Kratos led them out of Asgard into the woods by the city, then drew his sword.
"Show me what you've learned so far," he offered. Lloyd nodded, drawing his swords, determined to prove himself.
It took Kratos all of thirty seconds to floor him.
"Ah, jeez, Kratos, would it kill you to show a little mercy?" He complained, struggling to his feet. Kratos gave him an unamused look.
"When the time comes, I won't have the leeway to protect you. You must protect yourself," he told the teen. "And you do not appear to be very good at that."
"How can you be so much better than me?" Lloyd wondered, irritated. "You've only got, what, ten years on me?" Kratos looked troubled.
"…Perhaps a little more," he murmured. "But they make quite the difference. You leave yourself wide open. Did Forcystus ever tell you that?" Lloyd hung his head. The half-elf had mentioned it a few times, but it seemed his efforts to correct it had come to nothing.
"I tried to make it better… How's this?" He took up a fighting stance. Kratos shook his head curtly.
"It is mostly because you fight with two swords. That isn't the way a sword was designed to be used. You make things incredibly difficult for yourself." Lloyd frowned.
"Well, I reckoned, two swords means twice the power… Right?" He asked. Kratos shook his head in despair, laughing softly. "Wh-what? Why are you acting like that?" Lloyd demanded, affronted. Kratos looked up at him, clearly amused.
"That logic is false," he replied. "But, you have learned this way, so I suppose you will have to stick to it. Pass me a sword." Uncertainly, Lloyd passed one of his swords over, and Kratos spent the next half an hour patiently teaching the young swordsman how to hold his weapons in a way that wouldn't leave him prone to being hit.
Genis woke him the next morning.
"Hey, Lloyd, you still sleeping?" He remarked. Lloyd opened his eyes wearily.
"Huh? 'S morning?" He mumbled. "I've on'y been 'sleep 'n hoouurr…" He rubbed his eyes. "Wha's wrong?" Genis sighed, shaking his head.
"Raine's not back yet. We were going to go fetch her," he told him.
"You're joking…" Lloyd murmured, pulling himself out of bed. Genis shook his head.
"Nah-ah. She's conducting research with Linar… Still. You coming?" Lloyd nodded, pulling his red jacket and gloves on.
"How does Kratos cope…?" He wondered aloud. "That man must be superhuman or something…" Genis shrugged.
"Just come on!" He insisted, and Lloyd nodded and followed him into the foyer, where Kratos was stood seemingly none the worse the wear for his lack of sleep the night before. Lloyd glared at him sullenly, and the mercenary met his gaze and laughed softly under his breath, which only served to irritate Lloyd further.
"Nice to see you're finally up," Forcystus remarked. Lloyd glared at him, too. "Seems we can head off now. Is she often this hard to tear away from research?"
"…Worse…" Genis lamented. Lloyd sighed.
"Let's just go," he murmured, lack of sleep showing through. Kratos gave him a careful look.
"You must learn to cope with less sleep than normal," he told him. Lloyd groaned.
"How do you manage?" He wondered aloud. "You never seem to sleep at all!"
"I sleep enough to function," Kratos replied curtly. Forcystus gave them both a strange look. "You had enough sleep last night. I did not work you any later than I would have kept anyone else. Stop being so sulky."
"Sure thing, dad," Lloyd snapped irritably, annoyed by the constant reprimands. Kratos looked away slightly, unwilling to show the emotion in his eyes that one simple sentence could cause him.
"…Just do as I said," he muttered, stalking out of the Hotel. Forcystus raised his eyebrows.
"…Did I hit a nerve?" Lloyd asked, confused. Colette bit her lip.
"Maybe… Something bad…" She started, but Forcystus walked towards the door.
"Let's go, else Kratos will leave us behind," he cut in, before a deep discussion about parents and children ensued, which he wasn't certain he'd be able to stand. Lloyd nodded, and the group followed after Kratos to Aisha's house.
"Ah, good timing. I just finished deciphering it," Raine commented, looking up as they all filed in.
"She's amazing!" Linar exclaimed. "The writing is highly complex, but it took her no time at all to decipher!" Lloyd and Genis exchanged knowing looks.
"…Looks like Raine just gained another fan," Genis remarked.
"Yeah, she's quite the catch, huh?" Lloyd replied with a grin. Forcystus frowned as Genis nodded, and Raine smacked the latter.
"The monster we faced was the calamity that terrorised the Balacruf Empire aeons ago," she continued to the group.
"The king at that time used Sylph to seal it away," Linar added.
"And used this Tablet, which we know allows entry to the Temple Sylph is Sealed at, to enhance the protection Sylph offered," Raine finished.
"I can't wait to see what the summon spirit looks like," Lloyd enthused. "We're going today, right?"
"Once we are finished here, we shall be leaving," Kratos agreed.
"Now we can finally continue regenerating the world!" Colette remarked, just as enthusiastic as Lloyd. Aisha gave them a careful look.
"Say… What were your reasons for coming here?" She asked. Kratos made a slight noise.
"We should get moving," he decided curtly, turning and walking out. Forcystus sighed and followed him out, despite Aisha trying to ask again. Lloyd glanced at Colette, and he and Genis headed out.
"Please take care," Colette told them all with a bright smile, following the two boys. Raine sighed, shaking her head.
"I will be borrowing this, if you don't mind," she told Linar, indicating the tablet. Linar shook his head.
"Not at all. Please do. Keep it, in fact!" he replied, and Raine nodded and left, Harley watching her carefully as she left.
"Elf… Yeah, right…" He murmured.
The group set off along the path to the northeast, in fairly good spirits, although Raine was still a little irritated that Forcystus seemed to know more than she did about one of her favourite areas of expertise. They were deep in conversation about the Asgard Ruin, and Lloyd, who was normally friendly with the half-elf, was keeping a wide berth.
"I don't see what's so interesting about some old slab of rock anyway," he remarked to Kratos, who was being as quiet as usual.
"…Different people appreciate different things," he replied in a low voice, not looking at Lloyd but out at the horizon, on alert for monsters. Lloyd sighed.
"But they're just boring bits of rock!" He exclaimed. Kratos sighed.
"They have a very important history regarding Sylvarant," he replied. "And the seals are, of course, necessary." Lloyd made an irritated noise.
"I just don't get how they can be so… Interested," he told Kratos. "I mean, sure they're important, but I'd want to just go through a seal then leave, not spend hours arguing about what sort of rock this bit of wall is made of and how old this particular stone is and… All that other stuff." Kratos laughed softly.
"As I said, different people appreciate different things," he replied. Lloyd bit his lip and looked at the floor.
"Um, Kratos…" He started. The mercenary looked at him then. "I'm… Sorry about earlier… What I said. I didn't think it'd be as bad… I mean, I should have thought about it, 'cause I don't really…" Kratos cut him off with a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up.
"Do not worry about it," he replied. "It is… Alright." Lloyd sighed.
"I didn't mean to make you angry…" He murmured. Kratos sighed.
"I wasn't angry, I was…" He started, shaking his head. "It does not matter. You were tired, I appreciate that. Forget that it happened." Lloyd smiled slightly.
"…I'm sorry," he repeated. "I'm… Pretty good at making mistakes, huh?" Kratos laughed softly, looking up at the horizon again.
"But, you realise that you have, and you make amends for them," he replied. "That is a rare quality in people." He sighed softly. "The ability to acknowledge where one has made a mistake, and even try to correct it… It is a quality that is sorely lacking where it is most needed." Lloyd shrugged.
"I… Guess…" He murmured, glancing over at Raine and Forcystus. "Geez, are they still going on about the same rock?" Kratos smiled slightly, amused. "I mean, seriously, it's just a rock…" Lloyd murmured. "…Are we going all the way to the seal place now?" Kratos shook his head.
"No, it is too far to walk," he replied. "We will be stopping at the House of Salvation that is further up this path." He pointed in the direction. "That should be about half a day's walk, but it will likely take us another half-day to reach the mausoleum itself." Lloyd nodded.
"You sure know your way around Sylvarant well," he remarked. Kratos nodded.
"I have… Been around a lot. It is a part of my… Work," he replied. Lloyd nodded.
"Yeah, I guess being a mercenary will take you all over, huh?" He remarked. Kratos made an unhappy noise. "Say, how much do you get paid?" Kratos frowned.
"It varies with each job. Why?" He replied. "Are you thinking of becoming a mercenary?" Lloyd shook his head.
"Nah, I want to be a blacksmith, like my dad," he replied, not noticing the almost imperceptible hurt in Kratos' eyes. "I just wanted to know how much difference there was, you know?" Kratos nodded.
"I… See," he murmured. Lloyd smiled at him.
"And when I've got enough money, I want to build a boat and sail around the world," he told Kratos, who smiled.
"…You have a dream, then. That is good," he replied. Lloyd grinned.
"You can come on my boat, too, if you want," he offered. Kratos smiled; warmth in his eyes for a change.
"As much as I would like to, I highly doubt it would be possible," he replied. "Although, I hope you get the chance to achieve your dream." Lloyd looked up at him.
"Why couldn't you?" He asked. "You should have a break from being a mercenary! Come on, you know you want to!" Kratos laughed softly.
"Lloyd, if, by the end of this journey, you still want me to sail with you, come and find me once you have your boat," he replied. "And I would be more than happy to." Lloyd nodded.
"That's the spirit!" He replied. "I'll sail around Sylvarant until I find you. And then you can come sail with me. Promise?" Kratos made a soft amused noise.
"Yes, you have my word," he replied. …So stubborn… Just like Anna… Lloyd wandered off; talking to himself about boats and money, and Kratos watched him go with a kind smile. My son…
"That's an unusually kind look for you, Kratos," Raine remarked. Kratos looked up sharply. He hadn't even realised they had stopped talking! Lloyd was making him let his guard down…
"I have no idea what you mean," he replied curtly. Forcystus laughed.
"Leave the man, Miss Sage," he advised. "You know what he's like." Raine gave him a searching look, but shrugged and turned back to talk to Forcystus about some ruin or another.
She suspects me of something…Kratos realised. …It can't be helped. I only wish Lloyd was a little less trusting… I do not want to hurt him as I will have to at the end of this journey…
A/N - We all know that Lloyd is bound to do something rash near the Asgard Ranch, so if I were Forcy I wouldn't be getting my hopes up.
R&R please ^^