Hey there, sorry it's been a while. This was mostly because my fanfiction account seemed to have frozen over for a good while, nothing was working. Also, fair warning: this next chapter is a looong one, so I actually had to split it up into 2 parts. I'm not even sure if people are still reading this... Well, let me know through a review. With all of that said, enjoy!

Chapter 6

There Kratos was, alone in the throne room. As he eyed the rather simple stone seat, he couldn't help but wonder if this was Mithos his way of punishing him.

Derris-Kharlan did not offer much for distractions. It was a celestial body, stuck in between worlds that had been forcefully split apart ages ago, so the word solitary was indeed very fitting for it. Next to that, the main inhabitants were soulless angels, mere puppets dancing at Mithos his strings.

The Cruxis leader had an eye for unique kinds of punishments, preferring the mental approach. He loved to take his time watching his victims whittling themselves down with their own tortured minds.

It was clear to Kratos that Mithos did not trust him enough to let him guide the Chosen. He was afraid the man would leave them once again. After all, he had left Derris-Kharlan for 17 years. After abandoning Cruxis all together seventy years earlier, he came back without saying much of a word.

Even though he'd never admit it to anyone, it was too painful to address. He may be wearing one of the most powerful Exspheres ever made, which numbed any human 'inconvenience', it still did not ease the pain in his heart and mind.

As Kratos looked up at the stars that were so close he could almost touch them, he could not help thinking back. Try as he might to banish these memories, they will always come back to haunt him.

"I want you to oversee a new project." Mithos told him one day as he stood before him in his so-called throne room.

"You usually send angels or one of the grand cardinals to do this." Kratos remarked.

The Cruxis leader nodded. "Normally, that will suffice. However, this is a very special and precious one. I want one of my best and more importantly, my most trusted to oversee it."

Flattery done in his own unique way. Kratos had grown used to it after the many ages, so he just nodded.

"Who is running it and what is it called?"

"The one who almost gained the title of the leader of the Grand Cardinals." Mithos mused with a chuckle. "Pronyma managed to usurp it, just by a small margin. I think that is why he came up with this plan in the first place. He is Kvar and he calls it the Angelus project."

One of the Grand Cardinals. So, that was why Kratos was the one being sent. The Cruxis leader would not say it out loud, but very few people would be able to deal with them were they to become a problem. His old mentor was just the best choice if things went south.

"If you want all the details, you can ask the man himself."

Kratos knew better then to go against his student's wishes. Though he'd rather stayed off the Cardinals radar, and out of their business; it was not his scene to say the least.

"Desians are usually Yuan's business." He remarked.

Mithos nodded, resting his head against his fist. "Indeed, normally I would send him. However..." He trailed off, his eyes drifting to stare into the middle distance.

"However?" Kratos inquired when the silence took longer than he expected.

He let out a sigh and stood up, stepping towards him. He placed a hand on the red head's shoulder.

"Just do this for me, please."

It was a plea combined with a face that Kratos could not say no to. Mithos was very well aware of this.

"Very well. As you wish."

Bowing his head, Kratos wasted no time to get going. He knew exactly at which ranch he needed to be. He did not plan to go in as one of the four Seraphim, as he was not the kind to want that sort of attention. People tended to make things look way more promising than they actually were.

Just a run of the mill subordinate, checking up on things in the name of Cruxis. That was how he was going to spin it.

It felt like forever ago since he had last been on the surface. He only did so on occasion, mostly to prepare for the next Chosen. The sixth Chosen had just failed, so the next one needed to be made from the precious Mana lineage.

The Asgard human ranch was set among rocks and did not look like much on the surface. However, most of it was actually underground. It was set up as a research facility, so it did not have as many prisoners. Still, there were more than enough around.

Kratos spoke with one of the guards to explain why he was here. He was brought to a separate room, but Kvar was not in at the moment. All the better, really. It meant there was freedom to look into the research notes.

As the man had just started, not that much was there yet. But the basis was intriguing to say the least. Essentially, it was a new approach to making Cruxis crystals. The current process was long and asked for a lot of resources, one that took a lot of work and patience.

The notes mentioned it likely needed people with a special kind of resistance. The crystal needed a body that would be strong enough to withstand but also not fight to process. That was the theory at least. No doubt it will take time for Kvar to find the people that were best suited.

Well, this was the ideal way to combine his two missions. Kratos was to prepare for the next Chosen, who they aimed to set in a little town called Iselia. The ranch that was needed to overlook things was already being build.

Back and forth he went, but things did not sit right with him now he was seeing things so up close. The way Kvar handled the people for his project, it was inhumane. When Kratos went to report this to Mithos, he really did not get the reaction he had hoped for.

It reminded him so much of a moment not that long ago. Kratos had been guiding the previous Chosen on her journey but was ordered to come back to Derris-Kharlan when she had lost her mind. He and Yuan watched her from up high on a monitor, when she sacrificed herself in order to save one of her companions in a moment of clarity.

Mithos had walked in at that moment. Kratos expected him to see the connection, recognize the similarities between his own experience with Martel. But his expression remained emotionless, simply remarking that it would be a hassle to clean up the mess.

He was wearing the very same expression (or rather, lack thereof) at Kratos his report. So, he had to ask: "Do you really not care?"

"They are a sacrifice, a means to an end. It all wont matter, when the Age of Lifeless beings happens."

"Age of Lifeless beings?" The red-haired Seraphim echoed, raising a brow.

Kratos never was against any of Mithos his plans. He had always agreed and went along with everything. What Mithos went on to explain... that went too far, even for him.

The age of lifeless beings. The name still had the veteran warrior shivering. He did not agree with how humans mostly handled things, but this was taking things too far. To have everyone without emotion, for the sake of erasing discrimination. It felt like an excuse, for Mithos, to have everything under his control. He wanted to change them to be like those puppets of angels, just so they would all dance at his strings.

Adding to this, Mithos also spoke of a special Exsphere he called a 'crucible crystal', to transfer his consciousness into new bodies in order to extend his lifespan endlessly so. It was all madness.

Shaking his head, Kratos saw the confused look on the boy's face when he refused. Never before had he questioned him, or outright refused to take part in a plan. He really did not see what was wrong. It was that bad.

Was that their fault? The boy had forced himself into a man, just so he could be an impressive leader and more like a God. And yet all he and Yuan could do was try and pick up the pieces, trying to fill the void that Martel had left behind.

It's been a long time since Kratos and Yuan had seen eye to eye, but he was sure they'd agree that this was taking it to the extreme.

And talking, trying to rationalize and reason with him? It was like talking to a wall. Sadly, the boy took too much after his mentor. Yes, Kratos was able to see that and admit it was a bad thing.

He only saw one other option: to go away, give the boy time to think it over. Hopefully it would force him to a standstill and he would realize his mistake. Was it likely? Was he just being desperately hopeful? Maybe so.

Running away wasn't really the answer. Of course, Kratos knew this. Still, he took his distance, as he was not planning in being involved for some time. For how long? He was not too sure. Time will tell. Most likely, they'd find him and drag him back.

He would have to move from place to place but he did not mind too much. He could take back up the kind of work he started out with: offering himself as a mercenary. He deliberately chose to go to the declining world of Sylvarant, hoping that this way it would be harder for Cruxis to find him. They would not have the necessary mana to use their advanced tech.

For years, he traveled around, mostly taking on jobs that involved fighting monsters. Of course, he took on a disguise, not wanting any Desian or gods forbid Cruxis members, to recognize him. His work quickly gave him a title of great swordsman as he became a little bit of a celebrity. The kind of attention he did not want.

Yet he could not help himself. He needed to know how that awful project of Kvar was doing. From time to time, he snuck into the ranch, but each time he was a little too late; the person carrying it was either gone or dead.

It would be too great of a risk to just take everything down; it would surely get Kratos right back into Cruxis' hands. Honestly, he wasn't too sure what he could do. He had not been this alone for quite some time and he felt a little lost.

What was his place in this world, if he even still had one? Did he have the right to be there? He was just running away from the problem, really. How did that help anything?

Maybe he could sabotage the project, try to make it so that they would completely give up on it. At the very least, it would end the long list of subjects... victims.

Knowing his luck, no one would actually be there. Kratos wasn't sure why he still went to check. This thing had been years in the making for now. Yet, it did not seem to have harnessed any results. He wasn't sure if this was a good or a bad thing.

Kvar was a busy man; not once had he seen him around when sneaking in. All the better really. He was also very careful as he was sure there was a surveillance system.

To his surprise, there was a person in the holding cell this time. It was a young woman. She was wearing the typical prisoner garb as she was slumped on the cold, tile floor. Kratos spotted the red gem gleaming on the back of her left hand. It did not look freshly placed, as there no prominent veins or redness around it. She was not looking very well; her body seemed to have been rather roughed up and her skin was unnaturally pale. Her short, hazel brown hair looked dirty.

Before he knew it, he got inside the cell and knelt next to the unknown woman, placing two fingers against her neck to check for a heartbeat.

Her hand reached out instinctively, intending to grab his, but his reflexes outpaced hers; he effortlessly ensnared her hand in the blink of an eye. Wide, hazel brown eyes stared at him in surprise. Despite her physical appearance, the woman seemed alert and ready to fight.

"You are not a Desian... Who are you?" She wanted to know.

Demanding his name regardless of the situation. This woman was a fighter, that much was already clear. He wondered how she ended up in this place.

"You need not fear me, I am not with them. You can relax."

Her brown eyes looked him over with a mix of distrust and sarcasm. "Why are you here?"

"How has he been treating you?"

"Where did you even come from?"

"Are you in any pain?"

"Would you let go of me already."

The woman huffed when Kratos let go of her hand, who had been studying the project up close. It was red but rather dull, which was a good thing because it meant it was not actively sapping her life away.

"Have you been here for long? Are you from around here?"

"Now hold your horses, mister mysterious. You haven't answered any of my questions." She crossed her arms. "So, give me your name and I will give you mine."

Her pale, freckled face was right up in his as she looked at him intently. She backed away a little when she met with his intense, amber gaze.

"S-sorry. It's not often I get visitors. They are mostly Desian jerks, Kvar by far the worst of them all."

"I do not doubt that. My name is Kratos Aurion, and this visit is to stay between us, understood?"

She nodded to his words. "I'm... Oh, wow." Her eyes trailed off for a moment, her right hand touching the Exsphere.

"What is it?"

"I almost introduced myself by how he called me this whole time." She took a deep breath. "I was born in Luin. They took me to the ranch and conducted some tests. Something must have peeked that terrible man's interest. I have no clue how long I have been there. Months, maybe half a year?"

Shaking her head in effort to shake of the bad feelings, she went on to say: "He kept calling me 'host body A012' or 'the Angelus project.' But my real name is Anna, Anna Irving."

Kratos nodded, it sounded about right. Well, it was everything but 'right', really. "He hasn't been treating you well, has he?"

"Not really. A lot of testing, barely any food, he even makes me work. But I refuse to let that man break me."

When Anna looked back up into his eyes, he had to admit, he was quite taken by her look. It was one of strength, defiance. Maybe also some stubbornness in there. It was admirable she was keeping her head high given her surroundings.

"Has he told you anything about it?"

They both looked at the Exsphere as she raised up her hand. "Not really. Only that it is very important. He keeps saying how he doesnt want this one to fail. Makes me wonder how many poor people went before me."

Kratos thought better then to divulge that information. Sounds outside the research room, made him stand up. Anna did not have his sharp senses and asked what was going on.

"I need to go."

"Please, no!" She grabbed hold of the seam of his pants. "Don't leave me here with him. I beg of you."

He pulled himself loose, did not say a word and left the cell. Out of sight, he just used a bit of his mana to teleport away, towards Asgard where he'd been staying for a few days.

With a sigh, Kratos leaned against a rocky wall, running a hand through his hair. Just what was he doing? Here he was on the surface, trying to stay away from Cruxis, yet he still sticks his nose in their business. And still, he did not act on any of it. It has been years, nothing has changed. What was even the point then?

He had seen so many people suffering, victims of Exsphere's, the shortage of mana, of the whole system he had helped set up. Just sitting by wasn't going to change anything. Something needed to happen.

For almost a week, he lingered, staring at the steel and concrete building in the far distance, not sure what to do. Eventually, a group of men was gathering close by. They were armed with swords, looking ready to attack. Well, as best they could all things considered.

"We have to save them; friends and family are among the people they took!" One of the men spoke up.

"But we hardly have the tools, nor the manpower to face those Desians." Another spoke up, looking worried.

"We can't just sit idly by, that won't help! I'm not just going sit on my hands."

"We will die... just look at us. We don't stand a chance."

"I rather die trying than not doing anything at all! Hey, you." One of the man stepped towards Kratos, looking up to him. "You're a mercenary, right? Come with us."

The man's words, the determination in his eyes... It finally made Kratos come to a decision. He was going to save her. Taking away a promising project had to count for something, put in kink in their plans at the very least.

His eyes focused on the group of people, it was just about ten of them. They would serve as a perfect distraction. Most Desians were not that much of a challenge, so they could likely hold their own. He was not really planning on just taking everyone down inside; that would no doubt gain unwanted attention from above.

Teaming up with the brave individuals, they set up for an attack on the ranch. Take down the Desians and save its prisoners, that was the main goal. Kratos would have rather destroyed the whole ranch, but understood the people rather not take that risk.

With such an experienced fighter like Kratos by the group's side, it should be easy. The man even used an Exsphere (be it holding back because he did not want to betray himself), the Desians really did not stand a chance. One by one, prisoners were released.

Eventually, they came to the research rooms. No doubt Anna was still there and with any luck, Kvar wasn't.

"Go, take these prisoners back to Asgard." Kratos told the men.

"Isn't that the room where the leader is? You plan to go in all on your own?"

"No time for discussion, just go!"

Not willing to take unnecessary risk, the group just did what they were told. Kratos was set on getting Anna out of there, to stop this whole damned project from continuing any further.

The room looked the same. In the cell, he spotted the young woman. She looked even worse than last time. Pale, skinny, there were even bruises on her.

"Who are you?!"

Kvar was there, his unsettling dark and golden eyes glaring at the intruder.

"Kvar, open that cell, right this instant." Kratos stared right back at him, his sword at the ready.

"You have a lot of guts, barging in and demanding me to stop. You even seem to know of me. Do you really believe you can fight me, human?" He spit the last word.

The young woman needed help fast, that much was clear. Kratos could not effort to have a long battle with the Desian leader. He hated to play dirty, but there was little choice. Rushing forward with surprising speed, his blow would pack so much punch it left Kvar breathless in more ways than one.

As he needed time to recover from the pain and disbelieve, the Seraphim kept up his momentum as he picked up the woman. He held her in his arms much like a groom that would carry his bride over the threshold.

In any case, he had dealt a blow to Kvar, and not only in the physical sense. Maybe because he hoped make up for his own bad decisions and mistakes. Hah, he had a lot to make up for then.

This was not the time to dwindle; he could feel the woman in his arms was slowly slipping away from the world of the living. Hurrying into the woods nearby, Kratos knew it would take too long to go find help in towns, even when they were close by. He had to take a risk: use his magic to heal her.

After having made some distance, he placed the woman gently against a tree and rubbed his hands together. It had been a good while since he had last used magic. Next to that, the level of mana on this side was significantly lower, so it took longer and more effort to use it.

As the green hue of healing settled over the woman's body like a blanket, she stirred. Her eyes opened slightly, revealing her hazel brown eyes. They looked tired and slightly glazed as she tried to blink and process what was going on.

"Spare your strength." Kratos advised her quickly, hoping she would not panic.

The woman just slowly blinked, looking at the figure in front of her. "Have I died?" Her voice sounded raspy. Kratos could only imagine what she had been through.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because there is an angel before me." She answered slowly, closing her eyes after that because she was too tired to stay awake.

Kratos looked over his shoulders and there they were indeed: the blue, transparent wings he had been hiding for years now. Just using a bit of magic had them revealed? That wasn't good.

He shook his head and made the wings disappear. He knew they could not linger in this place and he had to get this poor woman proper help. Though he knew a lot, he was not really a doctor. Besides, it would be best to leave her in more capable hands.

Having done most of his healing, he lifted her up again, carrying her the same way as he hurried the leave the premises. He was sure she would be alright for the moment, but he could not risk taking her to any nearby town. It would just be a matter of time before the Desians would come and reclaim her.

What would be the next best place? A house of Salvation, of course. True, it was set up by the church of Martel, but last time he'd checked, it was not really run by members of Cruxis, or those loyal to them. Mostly, it would have a priest and a doctor, for the weary people that were hurt by attacks along their way. Be it by monsters, or people.

"Welcome to the house of Salvation..." The elderly man started his usual greeting, but quickly his smile faded as he recognized the situation. "Oh, there are beds upstairs, sir. You can lay the poor woman down there. I will call in our doctor."

Nodding, Kratos went up and did just that. The doctor must not have been far away, as he came in very quickly after. He gave a polite greeting and wasted no time to examine the woman.

When he saw her hand, or more specifically the Exsphere, a very serious expression crossed the doctor's face. He looked over at the red-haired man that had brought her in.

"She is from a ranch."

Kratos nodded.

"What happened?"

"We freed prisoners from the ranch, she was one of them."

"I see. You did a good thing. She seems to have been battered, but still in surprisingly good health for someone that is clearly malnourished. I cannot help with this, however." He eyed the Exsphere.

"I know. I just brought her here hoping she would be in better hands."

Having said this, Kratos turned away, planning to leave at that. The doctor opened his mouth, when at the same time a panicked call came from below.

"Desians! Desians are coming!"

They were already here? They worked fast. Since when were they this effective? The doctor stood up and barred the door, hoping that would at least keep them at bay for a little bit.

"Sir, I think you need to take her away from – huh?" As he turned back to face the man, he had disappeared, as well as the woman that was laying in the bed just a moment ago.

Kratos had taken her out the window. He had even taken some provisions, as the doctor did say she was malnourished. However, where could he go? He needed a place the Desians would not find so easily. He looked to the east, where the path would fade, a road rarely traveled. Who would want to go to a dreary mausoleum, after all.

That was where he took her. Using some of his clothing, he did his best to make it comfortable. The stone floors and cold surroundings were not very inviting, but it was safe. Anna came around while he was setting up a campfire.

"You... my savior."

"I merely did was what right. Here, you need to eat."

Bread was offered to begin with. She looked at it and in the silence that fell, her stomach could be heard rumbling. An embarrassed blush crossed her cheeks as she took the food.

"Normally, I am not the type to be the damsel in distress." She said as she started eating. "But still: thank you for getting me out of there."

Kratos just gave a silent nod as he set out the rest of the food he had taken along. It was strange. The smile she gave him, the look in her eyes. It gave him a strange and new feeling that was hard to describe. Like, a flutter?

The woman picked up more of the food to eat. She scrunched her nose as she picked out something which turned out to be a tomato.

"I may be starving, but I still refuse to eat those things."

A stubborn type then. "You should eat up."

After swallowing her bite, she huffed. "That terrible man really did not take care of me."

"Did he hit you?" Kratos inquired, looking at her bruises.

"No. He made me do hard, manual labor, which got me hurt." She shook her head. "I don't understand why."

Kratos had been readying a drink for her from his own flask, which was filled was fresh, spring water. The tin mug he reached out to her.

"Sir Aurion? Are you alright? You are quiet." She tilted her head at him.

Just what was he doing? No matter what, this young woman was doomed. The project was already on her. There was no crest in the world that would help her.

When Anna did not get any reaction, she cupped his face with her slim hands. "Kratos?"

This action snapped him out of his thoughts. He blinked as he pulled away, not used to that kind of gesture. "Apologies."

Her worried look went over him. "I get the feeling you know more about all of this. Please tell me?"

A sharp one too. "Please eat up and regain your strength."

Sighing, she continued eating. But Anna was not done talking. "They wouldn't tell me anything either. The Desians. Though, I don't blame them too much."

Tilting his head slightly, he looked at her. The small campfire he had set up provided warmth and light, caused long shadows in such a dark place.

"They are half-elves, right? Treated badly and discriminated against just for what's in their blood, which they cannot help. That being said, that doesn't excuse their horrible actions."

"You have a big heart." Kratos could not help to be reminded of Martel, as she had to same kind of attitude.

"We already have enough to worry about, with the decline of the world. I believe we should rather combine our strength to make sure the Chosen will succeed."

"You do realize that means fighting the Desians? They keep killing the Chosen."

It was not a complete lie. Whenever the Chosen did not have the right mana signature, Mithos would order to have her killed. This was mostly done by Desians or sometimes by members of Cruxis themselves. But for the last eight hundred years, the Renegades were the ones who foiled Mithos his plans, always being one step ahead. And they were not afraid to get their hands dirty.

"Stopping them does not have to mean we need to kill them."

He raised a brow at her for that. Picking back up the tin mug, he filled it again, passing it to Anna. She took it gladly and drank until it was empty once again. "Ah, I needed that."

Quietly, he reached over with his flask to refill it.

"You aren't much of a talker, huh? You must be a great fighter tho, getting that far into the Desian ranch." Her brown eyes looked at the sword that has been at his side this whole time.

"I am a mercenary."

"Essentially a sword for hire then. So, who tasked you to go to the ranch?"

"Actually, no one. At least, I did not ask for payment."

It was Anna's turn to have a curious look. Though in her case it was much more expressive. It was obvious she wore her heart on her sleeve.

"You did this out of the goodness of your own heart. How sweet."

Sweet? Did she really call him that? He was never called that before. Again, a silence set in as Anna continued eating.

"So, what happens now? I can't really go back home, can I?" She asked finally.

Kratos shook his head. Actually, he had been struggling with that question for a while. The project was fairly secretive, as it was Kvar's own pride and joy. It was rather strange he was yet to have any success with it. But through time, trial and error, you learn things. And Anna did say tests had been conducted on her. What if she was meant to be the first success? What would that even mean and what would it do to her? For once, he was completely in the dark, and he did not like it.

Anna cupped his face again and he retreated in the same way. "Sorry, you were off in your own world again. And I don't think it's good for you."

"Why do you figure that?"

"It makes you look so serious, almost old. Not a good look on such a handsome face."

Handsome. Another word he had not heard said to him before. What was this, what was she trying to do?

"To answer your question, I'd advise you not stay in one place for long. Maybe take on a disguise."

"You are suggesting I run, and keep running?"

"If you do not want to be subjected to more of their torture, yes."

Anna looked down at the mug in her hand. One could almost see the gears in her head turning. "In that case, I will go with you."

He blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"As a mercenary, you travel around all the time, right? You also know the way much better than me. Come on, please? I promise I will not be a burden. Give me a weapon and I will fight if I need to."

"Anna..."

"I'll pay you!"

Once again, he was stunned. Anna set down the mug and looked him in the eyes.

"I don't have any Gald at the moment, but I'll make it work somehow." She rubbed the back of her neck, not sure how'd she do this yet. "Please, I have nowhere to go and none to turn to."

"You could go with anyone else."

"I know. But you have good intentions. You saved me. Besides..." Anna bit her lip, and shook her head, deciding not to continue that thought.

Good intentions? If only she knew. Part of him was tempted to just tell her the truth, to scare her off. But as he looked at her, meeting with her hazel brown eyes, he found himself not able too. He let out a sigh as he nodded.

"Very well then. Be sure to eat up. Here." From his pack, Kratos retrieved a short sword he kept just in case he'd ever lose his main weapon.

With a bright smile, she took it by the hilt. "Thank you so much, sir Aurion!"

"...Just Kratos is fine."

She let out a slight chuckle. "Alright. Thank you again, Kratos. I will not let you down."

For the time being, Anna placed the sword next to her, as her main focus was food. She was quite ravenous for such a petite young woman. Then again, who knows how long the Desians had been starving her?

As the stack of food was diminishing, she looked at her savior. "Don't you need to eat something?"

Kratos just shook his head.

"But you just had to fight Desians, and carried me all this way. Don't think I've forgotten about the magic you used to heal me. Are you a half-elf? If you are, I really don't mind."

So, she was doubting what she had seen before, in regard to his wings. Again, he shook his head, but elaborated this time.

"I am human, I learned how to use magic some time ago."

Anna tilted her head curiously. "I didn't know we could do that."

"Well, it does have some requirements." Lifting up his right hand, he let the light of the campfire reflect on his Exsphere.

Leaning in, she studied it's cool blue color. She put her own hand next to it, to compare. The gem had a deep red hue. Her eyes went between the two a couple of times. "Why are they different in color?"

"Yours is fresher, for one."

"What else?" She looked back up at him.

Should he tell her? Kratos hesitated as he avoided her gaze, settling on the fire instead. With a stick he poked it to keep it going.

"Kratos, if you know something, please tell me. The truth lasts the longest."

"The question is more if you can bare it."

Anna leaned over, just so she could look him in the eyes again. Hers were surprisingly fierce and intense.

"It's better to have two sets of shoulders bearing a burden rather than one."

This woman really countered him with wisdom. That was usually what he did.

"Did I insult you? I did not mean to. I just always say what is on my mind. Better be open and honest, that's what I think."

"Doing things without thinking can be dangerous." Kratos commented.

"I know. Don't try to change the subject. Tell me."

Kratos let out a sigh and tapped at the golden rim that was around his Exsphere. "This is called a key crest. It serves as protection as the gem by itself has a bad effect on the human body. It makes you... sick."

Worry crossed her face as she studied hers up close. "I don't have that."

"No, and dwarfs are the only ones who are able to craft the proper protection." Not to mention it had to be rightly fitted to accommodate for the task and as this was a very secretive project, Kratos was not sure one would be made easily. He kept all of that to himself, however. "I have not heard of any dwarf sightings, however. They seem to have disappeared."

"Then, how did you get yours?"

"I took this from a Desian, years ago. They know they need the protection, so naturally it was already attached."

"And because this one is already on my skin, I need something different, right?"

Kratos nodded to her question.

"I still get the feeling you know more then you are letting on." She said, trying to look him straight in the eyes.

Instead of meeting hers, he stood up and looked around. "I will see if this place is safe to stay for the night. I suggest you rest up as you will need the energy. At dawn, we will be leaving."

Anna opened her mouth, ready to argue. It was literally cut short as he drew his sword and walked off without another word. All she could do was watch him disappear into the darkness.

By the time Kratos came back from his perimeter check – which confirmed the place was safe for the moment – Anna had fallen asleep.

The young woman had bundled up on the improvised bedding, having moved herself as close to the fire as possible. Still, it was obvious she was still cold as she was practically shivering. That prisoner garb did not offer any warmth.

Being as quiet as possible, Kratos took off his long overcoat and placed it over her gently. Wait, just what was he doing? All he planned on doing was save some people from the ranch, to stick it to the Desians, in hopes in making up for his sins. Just turn away, leave. That was all you had to do. You do not owe her anything.

Was that really true? For all the things he has done, the twisted plans Mithos made up and he never spoke up against. For over 3000 years, he just kept the boy that was his student from completely breaking and take everything with him. With all the power he held, that was a very real possibility and danger.

Anna was another victim, one of many. What did another one really matter, what would it really change? Well, for one, this was a very precious project. One Kvar had been working at for years. At the very least, it's putting a kink in his plan. Next to that, there is this saying. Even the smallest tremor can cause a great avalanche.

Having weighed his options, Kratos finally sat down across from Anna and prodded the fire in order to keep it going.