Good lord, it has been nearly two years since my last update. Sorry once again for the long break between chapters, but that is life. As promised, I will finished this story even if I'm the only one reading it. To those who are still around, thank you again.
Now, onward to the story.
Chapter 60: Gaoracchia Forest
Morning quickly came and Lloyd felt like he was heaven. Despite being wanted, this was the first time since he left Sylvarant that he slept in a bed and not in his sleeping roll. He had nearly forgotten how nice it was. Not to mentioned, this was the most comfortable bed that he had ever slept in.
He also never thought he would enjoy a bath so much. He always hated them, but after all that walking and crawling through a sewer, he needed one. Now, he felt refreshed and ready to take on the world. Even his clothes were clean and fresh for the first time since forever since Sebastian personally washed them last night.
Breakfast was also something. He was still partly full from eating all that lobster and steak last night, but it was hard to resist eating until his stomach hurt with all the food spread across the table like a buffet. Seriously, there was enough food here to feed a town.
What was more welcoming was Colette, who happily ate everything on her plate, especially the fruit basket. No wondered Zelos was so spoiled and popular. He would be too if this was life.
"I hope all my hunnies enjoyed their stay," Zelos said as he pushed away his plate. "I know it isn't as fancy as usual, but I do my best to please."
"This isn't as fancy as usual!?" Genis exclaimed in disbelief. "I think I saw more food last night than I ever have in my entire life."
Colette smiled. "You're so lucky, Zelos."
Zelos laughed as he waved his hand. "It's nothing, really. We are just used to having a lot of guests over."
Lloyd looked at Colette from across the table and noticed something odd. Her neck was tilted slightly to the right. She also looked very uncomfortable. "Colette, what's wrong?"
Colette gave him a reassuring smile. "Hmm? I think I slept wrong. My shoulder feels stiff."
"Are you alright?" Lloyd asked in concern.
Colette laughed. "Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Lloyd asked.
"Don't worry my sweet little angel. I know a masseuse who can take those kinks right out of you," Zelos said with a huge grin. "If you want, I can even do it. Women say my fingers can work magic."
Sheena sneered at him. "I swear, there's something wrong with you."
Colette shook her head, at least she tried to. "No, I'm okay. We need to go to the lab soon."
Raine finished her coffee. "I think they should be ready by now. We have already stayed too long in this city."
"You guys are so stiffs. You need to lighting up," Zelos said.
"We can't. We need to go see Kate so she can save Presea," Genis insisted. He glanced at the girl who had hardly eating anything at all.
"Yeah, we should get going." Lloyd got up, with some effect. He definitely ate too much.
With everyone ready, they made their way back to the Elemental Research Laboratory. When they entered the researcher from yesterday was already waiting for them.
"Welcome back. Everything's ready," the researcher said.
"Where's the EC?" Sheena asked in resignation.
"Kuchinawa carried it away already," the researcher answered.
Sheena was shocked by this. "Kuchinawa got it?"
Now it was the researcher's turned to be surprised. "What? I thought Kuchinawa had talked to you about it, but I guess he didn't. Go to the artificial beach on the right side of the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge. Kuchinawa should be waiting there. Also, take this with you." He held out his hand and gave Lloyd a little traveling pack. It was so smell it could fit in his pocket.
"What's this?" Lloyd asked.
"What do you mean, what's this? It's a wing pack. You store the EC in it," the researcher explained with some frustration.
Lloyd was lost. "In this?! Is the Elemental Cargo that small!?"
Zelos chuckled. "Ah, I see. They don't have wing packs in Sylvarant. Man, you guys are a bunch of country folks!"
Lloyd gave Zelos an annoyed look. "Gee, sorry!"
Zelos laughed louder. "Don't get mad, now." He patted Lloyd's back. "I'll show you how to use it later. Come on, let's get going."
"Wait just a second. Come on out, Corrine!" Sheena yelled as she summoned Corrine.
The little fox summon spirit appeared on the floor.
"We're going to be gone for a while. Say goodbye to everyone. It's alright, they aren't going to do any more weird experiments on you," Sheena assured.
The researcher smiled. "Corrine, how have you been? Look after Sheena for us."
Corrine growled at him. "I hate this place! I have Sheena, so I won't be lonely."
"Corrine, don't talk like that," Sheena scolded.
Corrine was silent for several seconds, still glaring at the researcher. "...Goodbye." He vanished in a puffed of smoke.
The researcher sighed. "I guess Corrine still hates us…"
Sheena rubbed the back of her head. "I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay. We did run some painful experiments on him, even if they were to his benefice," the researcher said with a note of sadness. "Maybe someday he's understand."
"We be better get going," Lloyd said. "Especially since the gate is still closed so we have to take the sewer again."
Genis moaned. "Not again."
"Might as well suck it up. Shouldn't be nearly so bad if we don't get jumped again," Zelos said.
Between leaving the Elemental Research Laboratory and going through the sewer for the second time, it took the group nearly two hours before they were off to the Grand Tethe'alla Bridge. Everyone was still in good spirits since they got plenty of rest and food. Although, Lloyd couldn't helped with the monster attacks since he was still too full from breakfast.
After a few more hours, they were at the bridge that was still drawn up and had several guards posted. They carefully avoided them and found the area where Kuchinawa was waiting. Although, it seemed the red ninja went into an area that was closed off.
"It is locked," Presea observed as he pulled on the door. She lifted her axe to break it.
Lloyd quickly stopped her. "I'll take care of it." He reached into his tool kit on his wrist and pulled out his lock pick. He went to work on the lock and after only a few seconds, he pushed the door opened. "There we go."
Colette smiled. "Lloyd, you're amazing!"
Lloyd blushed at the compliment.
"At least he's useful for certain things," Genis teased.
"His face loses out to mine, though," Zelos said.
Lloyd side-eyed Zelos. "What has my face got to do with anything!?"
Sheena, Colette, and Genis snickered.
"You can see the bridge," Raine suddenly said, getting their attention.
The moved to get a better view and they saw dozens and dozens of containers embedded into the bridge.
"Are those decoration looking things exspheres?" Colette asked for everyone.
"That's right, Colette. That bridge is operated by exspheres," Zelos stated.
Colette put her hand together. "It's a bit gross looking."
Zelos nodded. "It certainly is grotesque. Although, knowing where exspheres come from, I'm not sure it's appropriate to describe them that way."
Colette lowered her head in shame. "You're right..."
Lloyd looked at his own exsphere. Despite being disgusted that this...crystal contained his mother's life, he could never see it as gross. He actually found it pretty, especially compared to all other exspheres he has seen. In fact, it seemed even prettier lately. Especially since it was glowing more.
He was knocked out of his musing as the group began to walked down the metal stairway. After going down several flights, they reached a steel dock where Kuchinawa awaited them. He was standing next to boat that was in the water.
"It took you long enough," Kuchinawa scolded before pointed at the boat. "This is the EC."
"Okay, Lloyd. Try using that pack you just got," Zelos said.
Lloyd nodded as he took out the wing pack. There was several small buttons on it. "Let's see...like this?" He pressed one of the buttons and the EC shrunk and got sucked into the wing pack. It was like a magic trick. Lloyd's mouth dropped.
"Wow! That's incredible!" Colette exclaimed in shock and amazement.
Genis was practically jumping up and down. "Wow! How does it work!?"
Raine frowned, not surprised like the others. "Why do I…feel like I've seen this before?"
"Professor?" Presea questioned.
She quickly shook her head. "Ah...nothing."
Zelos smirked, enjoying their amusement. "See, it fits inside."
"It disappeared! It's amazing! This is so cool! Let's try bringing it back out," Lloyd said like a little kid with a new toy.
He pressed another button and the EC reappeared again in the water at its full sized.
"Wow! It came back out!" Lloyd yelled. This was the coolest thing ever.
"Wow!" both Colette and Genis cheered.
Kuchinawa wasn't amused by any of this. "That's enough goofing around. How about getting on your way?"
Lloyd was still too happy to noticed Kuchinawa's impatience. "Yeah. Alright. I can't wait to make use of this EC! This is great!"
"You know you'll just get bored with it in no time," Genis pointed out.
Colette clapped her hands. "Yay, we get to go out to sea!"
Raine groaned. "We're going to sea, aren't we…"
"We're going to sea," Presea confirmed.
Sheena pumped her fist. "Let's get going, then. Off to Sybak!"
"Sheena, take this with you," Kuchinawa suddenly said, tossing something at Sheena.
She easily caught it. "A protective charm?"
Kuchinawa nodded. "Yes. Be careful!"
Sheena smiled, touched by her friend's concern for her. "I will." She put the charm and her pocked and started her summons. "Undine!"
The Summon Spirit of Water appeared before them.
"I need you to use you powers to push this EC," Sheena said.
Undine nodded. "Done."
They got on the boat and they were soon moving. Thanks to Undine, a trip that would had taken them a day by sea was done in least than two hours. From where they docked, it took a little under an hour to reached Sybak. When they arrived in the city, they saw someone very unexpected.
"Kratos!" Lloyd exclaimed in shock when he saw the man.
He was right at the entrance in his white Cruxis armor. He stared coldly down at him, almost like it was beneath him to even acknowledge his existence. It was very much like the first time they met.
Colette looked between the two men. It was like all those months of bonding just disappeared.
"Are you trying to take Colette away!?" Lloyd shouted, unsheathing his swords.
Kratos continued to looked down his nose at him. "I have no intention of fighting you inside the city."
Before Lloyd could blinked, a flash a light got his attention. He saw it coming, but was too slow to act. Kratos had taking out one of his swords and hit him on the side. Thankfully, Kratos chose to used the flat side of his blade.
Still, Lloyd was sent crashing to the ground, groaning in pain. If it wasn't for his chainmail, several of ribs would have been broken and he would have been dead if that was the sharpened end.
"Lloyd!" Colette exclaimed, rushing to his side.
Sheena stepped forward, ready to attack Kratos if he move again.
Genis also got his kendama out, ready to cast his most powerful spell, despite the danger of people getting hit.
Zelos watched stoically, wanting to see what the Seraphim would do.
Presea stood in place, sensing she stood no chance against Kratos.
Raine cast First Aid on Lloyd, healing the damaged to his bruised ribs.
"You still lack the skills to defeat me," Kratos informed as he sheathed his sword.
Lloyd growled as he stood back up with Colette's help. "Don't insult me!"
"I merely speak the truth," Kratos replied in a bored tone.
Lloyd growled louder, feeling his old jealousy, anger, and resentment towards Kratos returning.
Colette gently put a hand on his arm to keep him from charging the man.
Kratos walked past Lloyd and looked directly at Colette. "Chosen One. If you wish to live, you must remove that worthless key crest."
Colette looked at her former guardian. Her eyes were filled with sadness, but also an aura of defiant. "No. I'm never taking it off. Lloyd gave this to me."
Kratos stared at her for a moment before turning away. "Foolish sentiments." He left without another word.
It took the group several seconds to relax.
"He wasn't after Colette?" Genis asked, not sure what just happened. If he wasn't after Colette, why was he even here?
Zelos snorted. "Man, what an arrogant SOB. Talking as if he knows everything."
"While we're on the subject of ways of talking, why don'tcha do something about the vulgar language?" Sheena suddenly cut him off.
Zelos laughed, amused that his language caused Sheena to get mad.
Raine walked up to Lloyd, who was still fuming about what happened. "Lloyd, we must go see this Kate person."
Having his mind focused on something else, Lloyd slowly calmed down. "Yeah. Let's get going."
Raine nodded, although she was quite confused by Kratos' behavior. When they met on the Fooji Mountain he seemed...sympathetic towards Lloyd, even supporting him in his own way. Now, he seemed to have purposely demean Lloyd. Why? Was he trying to get him angry on purpose to make him careless?
In either case, she better keep an eye out. It wouldn't do anyone any good to have Lloyd do something reckless. Especially since, for better and worse, he was now their leader. Losing him would break the entire team, which was already on the fragile side. It was more important than ever for her to keep him grounded.
The group proceeded to the lab, trying not to make a scene since guards were still walking about. To avoid being caught, they used the secret passageway shown to them by Kate.
When they got downstairs the lab was pretty much the same. Kate was there with her assistant doing work.
Kate turned when she heard the dresser moved and was shocked to see them again. "It's you!"
"We saved our friends and came back with Presea just like we promised," Lloyd said, giving Kate a clear view of Genis and Raine.
She scanned them carefully, searching their mana for any signs of deception. It only took her seconds to realized the truth. "Yes, you're right. The strange mana produced by the fusion of elven and human blood. You really do have half-elf friends."
Genis didn't like how she phased her sentence. She made them sound unnatural.
"I've heard the story. Presea's creating a Cruxis Crystal inside her body?" Raine asked, getting to the point.
Kate nodded. "Yes, that's correct. We call it the Angelus Project."
This got everyone in the Sylvarant's group, including Sheena's, attention.
"The Angelus Project!?" Lloyd exclaimed once he found his voice. "That's…the project my mom was involved in."
Zelos narrowed his eyes. He knew there was a connection.
Presea became upset hearing that name and ran to the back of the room with her back turned.
"The exsphere itself is nothing special," Kate explained. "It just has a special key crest placed on it. This key crest delays the exsphere's parasitic process, which can take place over a few days or up to several decades. It seems this can cause exspheres to mutate into Cruxis Crystals."
Lloyd visibly winced. Did that happened to his mom? Did she have her life slowly eating away by her exsphere over a period of decades like Presea? He rubbed his exsphere, as if hoping it would answer.
"Is the parasitic infection of the exsphere the reason why Presea's emotional response is so subdued?" Raine asked, attempting to remained as emotionlessly distance as possible.
Genis looked at Colette. "So she's just like Colette."
Colette lowered her head. She wouldn't wished her fate on anyone. Being locked away within yourself being unable to think or even move on your own. "If we leave Presea like this, what will happen to her?"
"When the parasitic process is complete she will die," Kate answered bluntly.
This made almost everyone gasped.
"That's horrible! Please save her! What did she ever do to you!?" Genis pleaded and ranted at the same time.
Kate gave Genis a look of pity. "Nothing. She hasn't done anything. She just matched in the compatibility test."
Lloyd shook his head. Kate was starting to sound like Kvar. "You promised. You're going to save her, right?"
Kate nodded. "Yes, I know. You didn't discriminate against half-elves. I'll keep my promise."
"Kate! Are you sure?! If you do that, you'll…" Kata's assistant started.
"A promise is a promise," Kate replied in absolution. "In order to save Presea, speak to a dwarf named Altessa who lives deep in Gaoracchia Forest."
"There are dwarves in this world too!?" Lloyd exclaimed before he realized how silly that statement was. Of course they were dwarves here. Dwarves were the ones who made key crests.
Still, it was extremely rare to hear about a dwarf being above ground. He only knew of his dad and he didn't know of anyone else who made the trip to the surface. At least, his dad never told him about others.
"Yes. He and I participated in this experiment by the order of the Pope," Kata said.
Zelos groaned. "Sheesh, not that pathetic old man again."
"Don't call him a pathetic old man!" Kate shouted, breaking her normal calm demeanor.
Everyone stared at her.
"Oh, my. That's unusual, a half-elf siding with the Pope," Zelos mused, eying Kate suspiciously. Could the rumors be true?
Kate quickly composed herself. "I'm…not siding with him. Anyway, have Altessa repair Presea's key crest."
"Lloyd, can't you fix this?" Colette asked.
Lloyd hummed as he walked to Presea, who was still standing in the corner. He knelt so he could get a better look at her key crest. It looks normal enough. It even had the proper engravings. The metal felt a little lighter than what he was used to for a key crest, but that could just be a different in density.
"To be honest, I can't even tell the difference between this and a normal key crest," Lloyd said as he stood up. "It'd probably be faster to search for that dwarf, Altessa."
Sheena crossed her arms. "Then it's settled. Shall we head for Gaoracchia Forest?"
"Yeah, though could there be a connection between the Pope and the Desians?" Lloyd wondered.
"Yes, I'm wondering about that too," Raine said. "All this couldn't be a coincidence."
"But the Angelus Project was Kvar's thing right, and he despised humans," Genis countered. "He would never help a human like the Pope."
"And despite being the same project, there are differences between Presea and my mom," Lloyd noted. "My exsphere is blue, while Presea's is red like any other exsphere. Kvar also made it a point to say that my mom didn't have a key crest at all."
"Perhaps whoever's helping the Pope wasn't Kvar. Rather another Desian who has access to the same research and decided to go a different route," Raine mused.
"Well, standing here and guessing won't help," Zelos said. "For now, let's focus on getting Presea better."
"For once, I agree with Zelos," Genis said.
Zelos glare at him. "What do you mean for once?"
"Yeah, you're right. Hopefully, Altessa can shred more light on all of this," Lloyd said.
The group took the secret passaged out and heading straight out of the city.
"It sucks being wanted," Genis sighed. "We can't even resupply."
"Don't worry. I'm sure we find some little hamlet that won't recognize us," Zelos assured.
"So, where is Gaoracchia Forest?" Lloyd asked.
"It is only an hour from where we are," Sheena said.
Lloyd looked at the sky. With all the traveling they did it was already late in the afternoon. "Hopefully we can make it to Altessa before sundown."
"I don't think that will be a problem, but you're right to be concern," Sheena said. "Gaoracchia Forest is no place to be at night."
"It's that bad?" Genis asked in concern.
"There are some powerful monsters that comes out at night there," Sheena replied. "It's also hard to see given that the forest is dark even during the day."
"How pleasant," Genis said in a deadpan voice.
"If the worse happens, I can use my magic to light the way," Raine said. "Although, let's try not to let that happen."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
As Sheena said, it only took them about an hour to reached the entrance of Gaoracchia Forest. It was just as dark as Sheena warned them too. The sun all but disappeared as they walked deeper into the forest.
"This place is creepy," Lloyd said. This was nothing like the forest he grew up in back home.
"Wow! It's dark!" Colette exclaimed.
"Colette, you're awfully cheery," Zelos mused in good humor.
Colette giggled and blushed. "Sorry." She suddenly stopped laughing.
This got Lloyd's attention. "Colette, what's wrong?"
Not even a second after he asked that question, several Papal Knights seemed to come out of nowhere.
Zelos was very annoyed to see them. "Dammit. You follow me even here. You're some persistence jerks I'll give you that."
Sheena took out her cards. "Were they waited for us or something?"
"Zelos, the Chosen. You are in the way of the Pope," one of the knights stated bluntly.
Zelos chuckled. "I've known that since I was a kid. Subtly isn't that guy's virtue."
The knights pointed their axes at Zelos. "Then that makes things simple. It is time for you to die."
Zelos smirked. "That's if you can kill me." He quickly unsheathed his sword. "Grave Blade!"
He released a wave of sharpened earth at the Papal Knights, knocking them off balance. This was the others' cue to attack.
Presea took the lead, viciously slamming her axe into one of the knights, actually slicing through his armor and hitting flesh. The man screamed in agony as blood poured from the opened wound.
"Ray!" Raine shouted, bringing down a hail of light on the knights.
"Thunder Blade!" Genis shouted, frying several more knights.
Presea saw an opened and began to spin around. "Lightning Punishment!" Her attack wiped out two Papal Knights at once.
Genis blushed. He actually did a union attack with Presea.
Lloyd was fighting two Papal Knights at once. They weren't too much trouble since their huge axes made them slow and predictable.
"Beast!" Lloyd shouted, knocking one of the knights over.
"Angel Feathers!" Colette yelled, knocking the other knight off his feet. She then threw several chakrams at the knight Lloyd was fighting, catching him off guard.
Lloyd used that moment to finished him with a Sword Rain Alpa.
Although Sheena couldn't harm the knights like the others, she used her cards to blind them by covering their eye holes.
Once they were disable, Zelos charged in to finished them. "Demon Spear!" He impaled one of the knights and then used a Super Lightning Blade to finished the other.
Soon all the Papal Knights were defeated.
Lloyd sheathed his swords. "That wasn't too bad."
"As much as I would like to pat myself on the back for being awesome, these losers were just scoots. The real muscle could be hiding somewhere in this forest," Zelos warned.
"Then we need to move before reinforcement come," Lloyd stated.
"But where?" Sheena asked.
"Perhaps Altessa's place?" Colette meekly suggested.
Lloyd nodded. "Exactly."
They quickly got moving again, keeping their eyes and ears opened for anymore attacks. At the same time they couldn't move too quickly since the forest was like a mazed and it was easy to get lost. The fading sunlight didn't help either.
"The Gaoracchia Forest used to be just a normal forest a long time ago," Zelos suddenly said, breaking the tense silence that fell upon the group.
Genis looked up in interest. "Oh, really?"
"But then, one day, a thief hid a stolen treasure deep in the forest," Zelos continued.
"Treasure?... What kind of treasure?" Lloyd asked, getting interested as well.
"It was a jewel worth several billion gald," Zelos said. "So anyway, he slaughtered everyone who came looking for it."
Genis' eyes widened in horror and shock. "Whoa... That's horrible..."
"Over time, the forest became stained with blood, transforming into a cursed place, haunted by the lingering resentment of the people killed here," Zelos spoke in a low voice, closed to a whisper.
Now Lloyd was starting to get freaked out. "Ugh... Are you serious?"
Genis laughed nervously. "You're just trying to scare us... right?"
Zelos gave a smile that was very uncanny for him. "Even now, when travelers enter the forest, the thief's ghost comes to kill them. And the ones he killed also seek to increase their numbers..."
This was more than enough for Genis and Lloyd and they both ran ahead of Zelos, completely freakout.
Zelos laughed at their reaction. "Sheesh, not even three-year-olds believe stories like that these days."
Sheena came behind him and smacked him upside the head. "Really? Don't go scaring them like that."
"Sheesh, it was just an old ghost story. I didn't think they would take that stuff seriously," Zelos said, rubbing his sore head.
"The people of Sylvarant are more superstitious than us," Sheena scolded. "Of course they're more likely to believe that ridiculous story."
"Sorry, sorry, didn't know," Zelos said before smiling. "But I must say, you're very protective of them. Especially Lloyd."
Sheena blushed. "What do you mean by that?"
Zelos' grin got wider. "I see how you look at him."
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Sheena yelled before she walked ahead of him.
"Sheesh, Lloyd has two hunnies on him and he doesn't even know it. I guess complete indifferent does have it perks," Zelos mused.
Outside of a few monster attacks, the rest of the walk was fairly peaceful. Since most of the monsters here were weak to light, Raine and Colette did most of the heavy lifting in battle.
During their walked, Colette suddenly stopped and looked down one of the paths. "I hear something…footsteps from far away…"
Zelos stopped to look. "I don't hear anything."
"Colette still has her angel senses," Raine said in realization.
"There're definitely footsteps. Also, the sound of clinking armor. There are lots of them. It's coming from that direction," Colette went on.
"That can't be good. Altessa lives over there," Lloyd said, very annoyed at this point. "Could it be more of the same guys from earlier?"
Sheena summoned Corrine. "Corrine, scoot ahead in that direction." She pointed.
Corrine nodded and ran ahead of the group.
They waited for several minutes with only the sounds of the forest giving any noise. That peace was shattered when someone suddenly jumped down from the trees.
They turned to see a very familiar blue-haired man in handcuffs.
"That's the guy from the Meltokio sewer!" Genis exclaimed.
Zelos rubbed his forehead. "Man, it's just one thing after another with the Pope! Am I really that much of a problem to him?"
"I do not wish to fight you. I just want to speak with that girl," the convict assured.
Lloyd was surprised by the request. "With Presea?"
Genis growled. "You've got to be kidding! Or did you forget that you tried to kill us?"
"I cannot speak for any others, however, I, at least, never intended to take your lives," the convict stated. "My orders were to retrieve a girl named Colette."
"Me?" Colette questioned.
He turned towards Presea. "I will do you no harm. Presea…is her name, correct? Please let me speak with her." His eyes suddenly widened in both recognition and anger. "An exsphere!? You are yet another victim!?" He approached Presea, seeming ready to grabbed her exsphere.
Presea took her axe out and nearly split the man in half.
"Presea's in danger!" Genis yelled with his kendama ready.
Lloyd unsheathed his swords. "I don't know what the heck is going on, but we have to stop this guy!"
The convict stared at all of them. "Looks like we have no choice but to fight." He charged Lloyd. "Crescent Kick!"
He did an upper kicked that knocked Lloyd cleaned into the air. He jumped and slammed Lloyd into the ground with a dive kick.
"Lloyd!" Colette screamed before she began to chant. "O' holy one, cast thy purifying light upon this corrupt soul... light of judgment! Judgment!"
Light rained from the heavens, hitting the convict.
"First Aid!" Zelos shouted, healing the damaged done to Lloyd.
"Acuteness!" Raine yelled, enchanting Lloyd, Zelos, Colette, and Presea's weapons. She quickly chanted another spell. "Field Barrier!" Force fields engulfed the group.
"Thanks Professor," Lloyd said as he stood up.
"Devastation!" Presea yelled, sending chucks of earth at the convict.
He dodged and charged Zelos and Lloyd.
"Oh no you don't, Ice Tornado!" Genis yelled as he sent a twister of ice at the convict.
He evaded that too, although he was hit by pieces of ice. That didn't stop him from doing a dive kick on Zelos, and hitting him several times with Spin Kick.
Zelos growled. "No one hits the face, Victory Light Spear!"
The convict dodged at the last second, but his shirt was torn.
"Omega Tempest!" Lloyd shouted as he jumped into the air, hitting the convict several times. Somehow, he managed to assure all that all the cuts were shallow.
"Damn, he's as nimble as a cat!" Lloyd complained.
"Mirage Seal Pinion!" Sheena yelled as she hit the convict with her paper, cutting him across his body.
"Punishment!" Presea spun around, attempted to cut the convict in pieces.
He kicked the axe in mid-spin, managing to redirect her.
Genis chanted another spell. It seemed like overkill, but this was a good chance to test a new advance spell. "May the merciless embrace of frost take you, Absolute!"
Jagged ice formed and exploded on the convict, causing him to cry and reel in pain.
Sheena was there to threw more paper at him, attempting to take him down before he could recover.
The convict was able to pull himself together enough to avoid the onslaught of paper. He charged forward and viciously kicked Sheena in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
"Oh no you didn't!" Zelos yelled as he ran forward. "Thunder Blade!"
The sword of lightning missed the convict, but he still got a nasty shock from the aftermath.
Within seconds of that attack, the convict and Zelos were in a duel. Zelos attempted to slashed the convict, but he was able to blocked and countered all of Zelos' attacks thanks to his steel leg guards. They appeared evenly matched, but Zelos was having a hard time since the convict kicked like a horse on top of being fast.
Colette quickly intervened by throwing her chakrams at the convict. When they hit, lightning actually struck him.
Zelos saw his chance. "Super Sonic Thrust!" He thrust his sword.
Lloyd also saw the opportunity. "Hurricane Thrust!"
They hit at the same time, leaving a giant 'X' on the convicts chest.
Before the convict fell, Presea moved in for the finisher. "Resolute Infliction!"
She hit the convict twice, sending him flying up before he crashed into the ground. Somehow, she avoided making a fatal hit, but the convict was bleeding badly and was unconscious.
Lloyd rubbed his head and cringed. That was kinda overkill.
Presea moved in to chopped the man's head off. Lloyd acted quick to stop her.
"There's no need to take his life. He can't harm you," Lloyd assured.
Presea slowly put the axe down, staring blankly at the man.
Raine stepped forward and casted Heal on the convict, keeping him from bleeding out. "He sounds like he has reasons for his actions. Perhaps we should take him prisoner? I'm sure he has much to tell us."
Lloyd nodded. Besides, he wouldn't last long out here by himself with those injures, even if Raine mended the worst of it.
Corrine chose this moment to return. "Sheena! There were a lot of soldiers and they're all coming this way! Run away, quickly!"
"Looks like Colette was right," Sheena said in worry.
"The footsteps…keep getting louder," Colette whispered.
"And since we just fought this guy, we're in no shape to deal with an entire army," Lloyd said as he glanced at the convict. For one person, he fought like demon. Despite being healed, his face still hurt.
"Uhh…shouldn't we get out of here?" Zelos suggested.
"But the Papal Knights are waiting for us if we go back," Lloyd said.
Sheena bit her lips. There was only option left to them. "It looks like we have no choice. I'll take you to the village of Mizuho."
Zelos looked at her in surprise. "Whoa there, Sheena. Isn't Mizuho a hidden village, kept secret from outsiders?"
"But we'll be trapped from both sides if we don't do something. There's nothing we can do but take shelter in the village," Sheena said, also not very happy with their current choice.
"Okay," Lloyd said as he looked at Sheena. "Please show us the way, Sheena."
Sheena turned towards Zelos. "Hey, Zelos, carry the big guy for us."
Zelos wasn't too happy being reduced to the muscle, but did what he was told. At least attempted. The convict weighted a ton. No wondered he kicked like a mule. He was about as heavy as one.
"Me?! You want me to carry this ogre by myself? Are you kidding me?" Zelos complained, unable to budged the guy.
"Here, I'll help. Zelos will have a hard time by himself," Colette volunteered.
Zelos stood up and smiled. "Aww, you're so nice, Colette! We Chosens have to look out for each other, right?"
Colette nodded. "Yeah!"
She walked over to pick the convict up. Like she was lifting a pillow, she picked the guy up with one arm.
Lloyd, Genis, and Zelos were shocked by this.
Lloyd's mouth was literally dropped opened. Colette was always strong, breaking through walls and all, but she never had this much strength.
"Oh, he's lighter then I thought. I can carry him myself," Colette said as she shifted the convict so she could carry him more comfortably.
Zelos laughed nervously. "I see..."
Raine sighed. "Men are so useless these days."
Lloyd, Genis, and Zelos lowered their heads. It was a shameful day for them.
"Come on, we need to go!" Sheena yelled, reminded them of the immediate danger.
The group moved, on their way to the Mystical Village of Mizuho.
I do hate I tend to break during transition chapters where nothing much happens, but we're nearing Mizuho at least.
Until next time, please take care.
