As promised, the next chapter is up and ready. Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows. After such a long break, I am happy that people still care about this story. Thank you for sticking along with me and hopefully there will not be another delay, at least one not as long.

Now to the chapter.


Chapter 23: Spiritua Statue


The day passed slowly as Lloyd lay on his bed. Despite not sleeping for almost a day, he still didn't feel like sleeping. He was still anxious from fighting the Desians and recalling everything that had happened.

He couldn't help but wondered if there was more he could have done to save those people in the square. Although he may have saved Cacao's life, dozens of people were still murdered. Worse yet, their lives would have likely been spared if he had allowed Cacao to be killed.

Maybe Kratos and Raine were right that he shouldn't have gotten involved. The words from the Mayor also came back into his mind.

Yet, he still felt no real regret about what he did. If allowed to do all over again, he could never sat back and allowed the Desians to have their way. He still would have looked for a way to stop them.

This was all the Desians' fault. If they weren't allowed to exist, none of this would have happened to begin with. He swore in the square that he would destroy the entire Ranch and he had every intention in following through with his promise. Goddess Martel or not, he would bring down his swords onto the Desians.

"Lloyd, are you okay?" a soft voice asked.

Lloyd turned on his bed to see Colette looking at him with a concern look on her face. "I'm fine."

Colette walked slowly towards his bed and sat down at the edge of it. "You've been up here all day."

"I'm just too tired to sleep, that's all," Lloyd said with a small smile. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Lloyd, is what you said in the plaza true?" Colette suddenly asked. "Do you really want to destroy all the Desians?"

Lloyd gave her a stone-face expression. "The Desians has done nothing but terrible things to people. I can't accept that such evil is allowed to exist unpunished."

"But it isn't our place to judge," Colette said. "It is only the Goddess Martel who can bring final judgment upon the Desians."

"The Goddess Martel hasn't done anything except sleep so far!" Lloyd yelled in anger. He knew by Colette's expression that he gone too far. He, however, couldn't take back those words since that was how he truly felt.

"Even in her sleep, the Goddess Martel see and hear everything. She knows your pain Lloyd," Colette said as she put her hands over her heart. "She wouldn't want you to lose your soul to the Desians."

Lloyd blinked in confusion. "Lose my soul?"

"That's what happens to people who give in to their darkest desires and abandon the teachings of Martel," Colette said. "It is written that is the first step in becoming one of the Fallen."

Lloyd frowned. "I would never become one of the Desians. I will do everything within my power to stop them."

Colette stared at Lloyd for a moment. "You have a good heart, Lloyd. I don't want you to lose it in your anger."

"I have no intentions in losing myself," Lloyd said.

Colette gave him a strange look, but said nothing more.

Lloyd got the impression that Colette didn't quite believe him. He shouldn't be too surprised since Colette had a habit of worrying about his soul and salvation. It was just one of those things that they would never see eye to eye on.

Kratos chose that moment to walk into the room. "We will be leaving in about thirty minutes."

Colette nodded. "Okay."

Kratos glanced over the two of them for a moment before he finally walked out.

True to Kratos' words, they were out of the inn on time and on their way to Cacao's shop. The streets were fairly empty since people were still recovering from the Desians' raid. It seemed like the life been drained out of the city and there was now a cloud of darkness in the air. In the end, it appeared the Desians got what they wanted. They had paralyzed the city with fear.

Within another ten minutes, they were standing outside the door of the item shop. Raine politely knocked at the door and waited for someone to answer. A lock clicked from the inside and Chocolat appeared as she opened the door.

"Oh, I'm glad you could make it," Chocolat said humbly as she completely opened the door.

"How have you been?" Genis asked.

"Busy trying to get my mom comfortable," Chocolat answered. "She's doing much better and the doctor said she should be able to walk again within a couple of months."

"That's great news!" Genis exclaimed happily.

"I'm so happy for her," Colette said with a wide smile.

Chocolat lowered her head. "I don't know how happy I should be given how the rest of the city has suffered. Several people I know lost at least one love one in today's raid."

"You should always count your personally blessings," Kratos said. "One should never feel regret for good fortunes."

Chocolat shook her head. "Forgive me, you came over here to eat and here I am keeping everyone outside. Please, come in."

She stepped aside and he took everyone upstairs. Above the store was a nice size apartment with an open living room that connected to the kitchen and two bedrooms on the other side.

Cacao smiled kindly at them from her place from the kitchen. She was currently in a wheelchair. "I'm please to see you were able to make it. I didn't have the chance to thank you personally."

Lloyd shook his head. "It really was nothing."

"Don't say that!" Chocolat exclaimed, startling Lloyd. "I don't know what I would have done if they'd murdered my mom as well."

"As well?" Genis asked.

Cacao lowered her eyes. "My husband volunteered in Governor-General Dorr's army." She paused for a moment as she recollected herself. "He was killed in a battle against the Desians about a month ago. My mother was also taken to the Ranch around that same time."

"It was grandma that originally founded our shop," Chocolat chimed in.

Genis felt his heart beat faster. He glanced at Lloyd who obviously had the same fear. "Your grandmother, is that who the store is named after?"

Chocolat nodded. "Yeah."

Genis felt sick and he was certain that Lloyd felt the same way. So, his suspicions were correct all along. He felt the urged to run out of the store and never look back.

Kratos could only stare silently at the two boys. This was going to be awkward dinner.

"We have to protect this place, not just for ourselves, but also for grandma's sake for when she returns," Chocolat said with complete certainty, not noticing the awkward silence among the group.

Lloyd gave a forced smile. "Yeah...I'm sure she would be proud of you..."

"We should move on from such a sad subject." Cacao said, wiping her eyes. "We had enough sad times for today."

Chocolat nodded. "Mother's right. Please have a sit. Dinner will be ready soon."

They spent most of the night talking as they ate the wonderful food Cacao prepared for them. Lloyd and Genis managed to push back their unnerving discovery and tried to enjoy themselves as much as possible.

"You guys better get going soon. I can't stay up too late because I have to get ready for the next Asgard pilgrimage," Chocolat said as she looked at the clock on the wall. She got up from her seat and started to collect the dishes.

"Asgard pilgrimage?" Lloyd questioned.

"I work at the Church of Martel Travel Agency," Chocolat explained. "But I really don't believe in Martel."

Lloyd was surprised about how casually she made such a statement. Even he wasn't that blunt with strangers, especially when it came to matters about the Church. He glanced at Colette as she looked over Chocolat with a mix of disappointment and sadness. He knew that look all too well.

"Chocolat, how can you say such a thing!? Especially in front of the Chosen," Cacao exclaimed in embarrassment. From the looks of it, she hasn't always been a nonbeliever.

"I know, I know. I'm grateful for the Chosen," Chocolat said before she slammed the dishes into the sink. She refused to face her mother. "But Martel didn't protect dad or grandma. Even this time, it wasn't Martel, but the Chosen and her companions that saved you and the city."

"Chocolat..." Cacao started in disappointment.

"How can anyone believe in a Goddess that sleeps while we suffer?" Chocolat asked in frustration.

Lloyd frowned when he heard the words that he always asked himself about Martel.

It was obvious that Chocolat at one point believed in Martel, but lost her faith through the harshness of the Desians. For some reason, that made Lloyd feel sadder then empowered to find another like him. Maybe because it was more of a lost of innocents than a realization.

"I understand, but I still think Martel exists," Colette spoke in a soft voice.

Chocolat turned around to look at the Colette. Her eyes for a moment were filled with hope. In her hearts of hearts, she truly wanted to believe in Martel again.

"She exists inside you, me, and all people of the world," Colette continued. "Even in the darkest of time, we must never lose faith."

Chocolat's eyes softened as she wiped some tears from her eyes. "Well, if the Chosen says so then I'll at least try to believe."

"Are there really people that would want to go on a trip right after what just happened here today?" Lloyd asked, not wanting to dwell on the question of faith anymore.

"It's after events like these that both those with and without faith feel the need to go on a journey in search of salvation," Kratos spoke in a far off tone.

"That pretty much sums it up," Chocolat said.

"We should be going then," Raine said as she stood up. "Thank you for inviting us."

"Whenever you need anything, please come back," Cacao said. "It will be my treat."

"Yeah...thanks," Genis said slowly, wanting to get as far away as possible.

They escorted themselves out and made their way back towards the inn.

"Genis, why are you so distracted?" Raine asked once they were far enough from the shop.

"Oh, it's nothing," Genis said quickly.

Raine shook her head. "Both you and Lloyd had been acting strange since we left the store."

"Well..." Genis muttered.

Lloyd lowered his head in guilt. "Chocolat's grandmother..."

"It is the same Marble you met at the Ranch." Kratos stated neutrally.

Lloyd's eyes widen in surprise. "How did you guess?"

"Marble isn't a common name." Kratos said. Although he would never say it to them, he knew of the relation since Genis' exsphere had a similar aura to both Chocolat and Cacao.

Colette gasped. "That's mean...we should tell them."

"I...can't," Lloyd murmured. "How can I tell them that I killed their love one?"

"You didn't kill Marble, the Desians did," Raine said sternly. "Besides, it is cruel to allow them to think that their love one is still alive and will return home someday. They deserved to have some peace."

Lloyd sighed. He rubbed his hand through his hair. "I know that...but..."

"We can tell them once we return from the next seal," Colette suggested. She knew both Lloyd and Genis needed time to collect themselves.

"Yeah, we can tell them then," Genis said eagerly.

Raine shook her head. "Very well."

"It is for the best. After today's events, they couldn't take more bad news," Kratos said.

The rest of the night was peaceful and Lloyd was eventually able to fall into a restless sleep. His slumber ended all too soon, however, when he was awoken by Kratos for their daily training sessions.

As usual they went into a field outside the city where Kratos would plummeted him into the ground.

It really did suck to get so badly beating by Kratos, but he knew this was the way to becoming stronger. This was the way to preventing another Iselia. This was the way to become powerful enough to stand up against the Desians and defeat them. All the pain would be worth it in the end if it meant that there would be no more victims like Marble.

Once the training session was over, they made their way back to the inn for a quick breakfast and by ten in the morning, they were once again on the road.

The group was quiet at first since they were still reflecting on yesterday's occurrences. As the day went on, however, the group's mood did become brighter and they began to talk more. Lloyd, Colette, and Genis even began to play games as they walked.

By the late afternoon, they were within reached of the House of Salvation by the coast. When the building came into sight, a loud howl greeted them. Lloyd smiled as he looked into the distance and saw Noishe running towards them.

The happy dog immediately jumped Lloyd, giving him plenty of kisses as he stood on his hind legs, nearly knocking Lloyd over.

"Wow, you were actually able to understand Kratos," Lloyd praised as he patted Noishe.

Noishe barked several times.

"I have to say, that dog is smarted than I thought," Raine stated in wondered.

"Noishe is a smart doggy," Colette said happily as she rubbed Noishe's back.

"Let's keep moving," Kratos ordered, wanting to reached the House of Salvation before the sun completely goes down.

Within another two hours, they were at the door of the House of Salvation. There were only a few other travelers in the areas since the location was so remote. When they went inside, they saw two priests looking over the guests and greeting everyone.

The older of the two looked up at them and smiled. "Welcome travelers. May Martel keep and protect you. Rest your weary soul in her embrace."

Raine walked up the eldest priest and bowed humbly before him. "Excuse us, but we have a request to ask in the name of the Chosen."

"The Chosen!?" the younger priest exclaimed.

Colette walked up to the two and bowed. "That would be me."

"It's to you that we should be bowing before," the eldest priest said humbly. "What is it that the Chosen needs from us?"

"We are of need of your Spiritua Statue," Raine said, getting right to the point.

Both priest looked at each in surprise. "The Spiritua Statue?"

"I know it's a brazen request, but it's for the world regeneration," Lloyd stated. As he said those words, he did noticed that the younger priest appeared to be sweating more and he couldn't remained still.

"Wow Lloyd, you know what brazen means," Genis teased.

Lloyd glared at the elf. "Shut up, Genis!"

"Please, Father," Colette asked gently as she put her hands together.

"If the Chosen asks, we will of course not hesitate to lend our aid," the eldest priest said as he turned towards the other priest. "Bring the statue to the Chosen."

The younger priest stood still for several seconds before he broke down in tears. "M…my most humble apologies!"

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

"What have you done?" the eldest priest demanded.

"This...this Spiritua Statue is actually a fake I had placed here," the priest confessed.

The eldest priest's eyes widen in shock. "What are you talking about!?"

The priest turned his eyes away, unable to look at his superior. "I lost the real Spiritua Statue during the pilgrimage a year ago."

Lloyd slapped his hand over his forehead. "Why would you take the statue along with you?"

The eldest priest sighed in frustration. "The halo on the head of the Spiritua Statue is made of diamond. We always take it with us when we go out on pilgrimages in order to protect it from thieves."

"Makes sense," Kratos said. Although, couldn't one of the priests just stay behind to guard it?

"On the trip last year, I followed that custom as usual and brought the Spiritua Statue with me to Thoda Island," the priest continued. "But there, I accidentally dropped it into the geyser."

Genis' mouth dropped. "You dropped it into the geyser!?"

"Okay, I can understand why you took the Spiritua Statue on the pilgrimage, but why did you take that statue anywhere near the geyser?" Lloyd asked, not believing what he was hearing.

"I am terribly sorry," the priest muttered in shame. "I was so moved upon seeing the geyser for the first time. By the time I realized it, the statue had fallen onto the rocks on the other side of the geyser." He began to tap his fingers together. "Desperate, I paid a visit to a dwarf who lives in Iselia and had him make something just like it."

"Dad!?" Lloyd exclaimed in surprise.

Raine walked up to the statue and looked over it carefully. "It's very good work. I couldn't tell it was fake at first glance. Just what I'd expect from Dirk."

"Dad, just what kind of jobs are you doing?" Lloyd muttered to himself.

A part of him wondered if his dad was doing anything illegal if he had no qualms with making a replicate of a holy object.

"Well then, what shall we do now?" Kratos asked casually. There was always something. "Do you think the fake will fool that old man?"

Raine pulled away from the statue and folded her arms in thought. "That doesn't seem likely. It's well-built, but it's still a fake, as is the diamond."

"As much as a perv that Koton guy is, he does know his stuff." Genis grudgingly admitted.

"Um…um…how about if we go get the real one?" Colette asked.

For a second, Raine's entire demeanor shook. "Y…you want to go all the way to Thoda Island?" She quickly pulled herself together. "And on top of that, the rocky area is on the other side of the geyser."

"Forget the rocks, the problem is the geyser," Lloyd said, folding his arms. "I'll past on getting hit with boiling water. That stuff stings."

"Oh my, you remembered that a geyser erupts with boiling water!" Raine exclaimed happily. "I'm so proud!"

Colette also clapped happily. "Lloyd, you're amazing!"

Lloyd puffed his chest in pride. "Oh course, everyone knows that."

Genis rolled his eyes. "I bet you just guessed."

Lloyd immediately lost his luster. "Shut up!"

"If only we could stop the geyser," Colette said, her eyes becoming downcast.

"I've heard that the eruption cycle of the Thoda Island geyser is quite short," Kratos stated.

"I wonder if we can seal it with something?" Raine asked mostly to himself. "I suppose we won't know until we get there."

Kratos had to hold back a sigh. At this rate, this journey wouldn't end until next year.

"How do we even reach the geyser?" Genis asked.

"We have boats here that we use to travel to the island," the elder priest said. "You are more than welcome to use them."

"I guess that's the best we can do," Lloyd sighed.

Raine looked weak on her knees, but managed to hold it together.

"I ask the Chosen's forgiveness for my carelessness," the priest said.

"Oh, it wasn't your fault," Colette said. "I have more than my share clumsy moments."

"Please stay here as long as you like," the elder priest said. "It's the least we can do."

"Thank you very much," Colette said humbly.

"We shall rest here until morning then," Kratos said as they made their way upstairs.


"Dammit all!" Magnius cursed as he made his way through his Ranch. His voice echoed across the steel walls. "Why did the Chosen have to be there of all times!?"

"Well, we did receive reports that the Chosen was within the city limits," a Desian, who was walking beside Magnius, said. "But our spies told us that they left for Hakonesia Peak days ago. They must have somehow found out about our raid."

Magnius growled. "Couldn't that agent from Cruxis keep the Chosen out of trouble? Now the entire city will be harder to control."

"If the Chosen succeeds on her journey, wouldn't that be a minor point?" the Desian asked.

"That's is hardly the point!" Magnius yelled as he entered his main control room. "Leave me!"

The Desian gave him a quick salute before he left for the transporter. Magnius sat heavily on his chair as he tried to forget the events of the other day.

At that moment, his hologram suddenly turned on. "Magnius, looked like you had a rough day."

Magnius looked to see Rodyle staring smugly at him. "I have no patient to deal with you today."

"Now, now, there is no need for that," Rodyle said in his usual smooth voice. "Tell me, what happened?"

"The Chosen stuck her nose where it didn't belong," Magnius growled as he slammed his fist into his chair. "Worse yet, I can't act as long as she's in my territory. Could be weeks before she breaks the Seal of Water and moves on to the Asgard region."

Rodyle didn't speak for a couple of seconds. "I see, so you didn't get the order."

Magnius looked up. "What order?"

"It just came from Cruxis a short time ago," Rodyle said. "The Chosen is to be killed on sight."

"Wh...what?" Magnius stuttered in shock. He nearly fell out of his chair "When did this happen?"

"I don't know the details, but apparently the Chosen has falling out of favor with Lord Yggdrasill," Rodyle stated. "He has ordered the Chosen to be killed and her Cruxis Crystal returned to him."

"Strange, the agent that protects the Chosen doesn't seems to be aware of this," Magnius said, completely baffled by this news.

"To ensure the agent keeps the trust of the Chosen he isn't allowed any contact with Cruxis," Rodyle explained. "So, naturally, he wouldn't be aware of the current order."

Magnius let out a loud growled. "Dammit! If I had known this, I could have killed the Chosen in Palmacosta!"

Rodyle chuckled. "Too bad. I guess Kvar or I will get the prize of the Chosen's head."

"Don't act so cheeky," Magnius said. He smirked. "I have the perfect plan to lure the Chosen right into my hands."

"Oh?" Rodyle asked.

"Tell Lord Yggdrasill that I will have the Chosen's heart and the Cruxis Crystal in his hands by the end of the week," Magnius said as he turned off the hologram. He rubbed his hands together in glee as the thought of vengeance filled his mind. He pushed a button on his chair. "Open a communication line with Dorr."

Within a couple of minutes the hologram reactivated and Dorr's image appeared. "Magnius, you shouldn't be calling me so soon. The city is still in an uproar from your latest raid."

Magnius snorted. "Don't tell me what to do, Dorr. You owe me for the lost of my men that your soldiers killed. You were supposed to keep your soldiers out of the city for the entire day."

"It couldn't be help!" Dorr defended. "My men saw the commotion from the training field. There was nothing I could do the stop them."

Magnius glared at Dorr for a moment before he relaxed his posture. "No matter. I'll just collect it from your monthly fee, which is coming up in a couple of days."

Dorr's fists clenched, but he said nothing.

"But that isn't why I called you," Magnius said, getting to the matter at hand. "I have another task for you."

"Again!?" Dorr exclaimed.

"Don't worry, this one is simple," Magnius chuckled. "I want you help me lure the Chosen to my Ranch."

Dorr's eyes hardened. "So, you plan to kill the Chosen."

"Exactly," Magnius said with a huge grin.

Dorr was silent for a couple of seconds before answering. "What...what do you want me to do?"

"I need you to find me a proper lure," Magnius said. "Someone the Chosen cares deeply about that she would come running here to save."

"Surely, no such person could be within Palmacosta," Dorr stated.

"The Chosen came running back from Hakonesia Peak to defend the city," Magnius said with heat. "The Chosen wouldn't had come if there wasn't someone she held dear within that backwater city of yours."

Dorr paused in thought. "It had to be the person you were planning to execute, Cacao. Her daughter, Chocolat, just left today to guide a pilgrims."

"Aw, the Asgard Pilgrims," Magnius noted with glee. "That's exactly what I need."

"Is there anything else?" Dorr asked, barely hiding his revulsion.

Magnius leaned back into his chair. "When I capture that tour guide, you're to give a message to the Chosen. Tell her that your army plan to launch a full attack against the Ranch in order to save the girl and you want her to assist you."

Dorr's eyes widen in horror. "But...but if I do that, the militia would be slaughtered!"

"Let's just call it part of your debt," Magnius said smugly. "Unless you've changed your mind about wanting to save your dear wife."

Dorr's mouth opened and closed several times before he lowered his head in defeat. "Very well."

"Good boy," Magnius said almost cheerfully. "I look forward to your report, Governor-General."

He turned off the hologram and pushed another button on his chair. "Get a unit ready and prepare to move within the next hour. I want them to intercept the Asgard Pilgrims and capture a tour guide by the name of Chocolat."

"Yes sir," a voice said on the other end.

He turned off the communicator and began to look over the files he had on Chocolat. It was best to arm himself with any information he had on this woman that the Chosen had befriended.

After he scanned through some data, Magnius paused as he read a certain report. His eyes widened for a moment as he reread the information several times.

Magnius started to laugh madly. "This is too rich! What are the chances of her being that woman's granddaughter?"


We're almost at the second seal and we get a scene with the bad guys where we can see Magnius being a bastard. Not to mention Rodyle playing Magnius as a fool. Good stuff overall. Until next chapter.