Lloyd Irving: The Tired Teenaged Swordsman.

"Lloyd Irving, wake up!" shouts the professor as she launches her piece of white chalk towards the student, smacking him in the head.

"Gah! Oh Professor Raine, Is class over?" Lloyd asks tiredly. The silver haired professor sighs in response.

"How do you manage to sleep standing?" She asks disappointedly and walks away. "Never mind. Let's have someone else answer the question. Genis, how about you?"

"Yes, Raine." The silver haired boy stands up from his seat. "Mithos, the hero, brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Ground of Kharlan." He says with confidence.

"Correct. Afterwards, Mithos, the hero, formed a pact with the Goddess Martel to seal away the Desians whom caused the war." The professor paces around the classroom.

"But the Desians came back and are now causing everyone to suffer!" Lloyd interrupts loudly.

"We covered that in class last time, remember? When the Seals weaken the Desians reappear. Just like they have now."

"I-I knew that. I-I just forgot."

"Today is the day of prophecy. It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Mana will receive an oracle from the Goddess Martel. Now, Chosen One, Colette."

The golden haired girl stood up from her seat. "Yes, ma'am."

"Tell us about the journey of world regeneration."

"It is a journey to seal the Desians. Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the Summon Spirits that protect the world awaken, and the mana is restored." Says the blonde student informally.

"Correct. I suppose we should expect the Chosen herself to know the answer to that one. Mana depletion is the cause of the current food shortage and droughts. It is said that this occurs because the Desians consume vast amounts of mana in their human ranches."

Colette turns and smiles brightly towards Lloyd.

"The Chosen's journey has two purposes - -to revive mana as well as defeat the Desians. Now, for the next question- -" The professor suddenly gets interrupted by a miraculous shining light bursting through the wooden windows of the schoolhouse.

"Wh-what was that!?" Lloyd shouts in a panic.

"That's- -" The chosen stutters.

"Settle down. It would seem that the time for the oracle has come. I will go check on the chapel. Everyone, stay here and study on your own. Understood?" The professor begins to leave in a hurry.

"Professor! I'll go with you!" says the chosen standing from her seat.

"No, Colette, If it is the oracle, the priests will come here for you." The professor responds quickly. "Wait here with everyone else." She says as she leaves the room.

"Yes ma'am."

Lloyd walks across the wooden schoolhouse filled with excited whispering students.

"Why do you keep sticking your nose in things, Lloyd? You sure are a glutton for punishment. Then again, you go through the western forest every day to come to the village even though you hate to study. So I guess a lot of things you do don't make a lot of sense." Says Lily.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Lloyd angrily walks away as the student continues talking with her friend.

"I wonder if that light had anything to do with the oracle." Lloyd thinks to himself as he continues to walk towards Genis.

"During class, Raine said that when the oracle comes, the Cruxis Crystal enshrined in the altar shines. So that light must have been emitted by- -the Cruxis Crystal at the temple." Genis says before he continues to peer outside the window.

"Lloyd! Where are you going? Don't tell me you're sneaking out! Raine will get mad!" Genis shouts frustrated.

"I'm really curious to find out what really happens to Colette when she receives the oracle." Lloyd responds calmly. "They always talk about the Chosen of Regeneration and the Day of Prophecy. But no one tells us what really happens."

"But my sister said to stay and study by ourselves..!"

"It's research."

"That's just an excuse!" Genis points angrily.

"So? An excuse is an excuse, right? Don't be so stuffy. You're coming too, right? We're best friends, after all!"

Genis forms a worried expression.

"Collete, want to come along too?" Lloyd speaks from across the room.

"Huh? Um. Okay." Colette responds. "So where to?"

"Where else!? That light! You're directly involved in all of this. Aren't you curious?" Lloyd says puzzled.

"Hmm. Are you curious about it?"

"Of course!"

"Okay, then I'll be curious about it too."

"See? Dwarven Vow #4: Don't depend on others. Walk on your own two legs. Let's go to the temple!"

Genis groans. "Not the Dwarven Vows again. You always use those when you need an excuse!"

Genis and Colette follow Lloyd outside of the schoolhouse. The tall wooden flag post next to the door holds a red cloth flag engraved with the town's name, Iselia.

"What's going on? It's awfully quiet." Lloyd questions.

Genis looks around confused. "Where did everyone go?"

"Colette!" A worried voice suddenly appears.

"Father!" Colette pleads.

"Frank!" Genis points to the blond haired man now in front of the three.

"Thank goodness you're safe." The worried father says relieved.

"Frank, what happened to everyone in the village?"

"They're all hiding. The Desians invaded the village just a short while ago. Thankfully, no one was hurt. They passed through the village and headed for the temple."

"Why?! Iselia has a non-aggression treaty with the Desians!"

"You mean the agreement where they don't attack the village as long as we leave the human ranch alone?" Lloyd remarks in.

Colette worriedly holds her hands up to her chest. "Yes. Grandmother said it's to protect me. Oh! Where's Grandmother?"

"Phaidra is in the temple preparing for the ritual."

A worried expression grows on Lloyd's face. "Phaidra's in the temple? But that's where the Desians- -"

"The priests are there with her. There's no need to worry." Frank interrupts. "Now. Colette- -"

"I know. I promise to fulfill my duty as the Chosen." Colette says reassuringly.

"Good luck, Colette. Lloyd, Genis, You two should go on home."

"I'm worried about letting Colette go by herself. I'll go with her to the temple." Lloyd announces confidently.

"Me, too." Genis jumps in.

"But- -all right. Thank you." Frank agrees. "I'll wait at the house. Come back immediately if anything happens."

Frank walks away back in the direction he came from. The three continue to search through the village. Lloyd suddenly stops and walks into the nearest shop.

"Welcome to Halo! I'm Dan, let me know if you need anything." The kind shop owner greets the three as they begin to walk in.

Lloyd gazes at the items on display. Apple gels, orange gels, life bottles, magic lenses, and kinds of weapons are sitting neatly on the counter top. Lloyd has heard about these items from his father and in class several times before. Apple gels heal injuries, orange gels increase mana amount, magic lenses can show extra information about opponents, and life bottles can recover a person's health after losing the majority of it. Gels and bottles are meant to be consumed yet they have a somewhat bitter taste to Lloyd.

"I don't think we need anything right now, thanks." Lloyd says to the shop owner.

"Alright, come again!" The shop owner responds happily.

Just about as the three begin to leave the village through the back exit, a strange skeleton head figure suddenly appears from the trees!

"Whoa, it's a monster!"

"I thought the northern region where the temple is located was a sanctuary!" Genis yells fearfully. "Why are they- -"

"It must be part of the trial. Martel's trial involves battling monsters." Colette informs quietly.

"We don't have time to talk! Let's get this thing!" Lloyd shouts.

Lloyd quickly pulls his wooden double katanas from his leather guards attached to his belt. He charges towards the monster opponent and begins to stab through its skull recklessly.

"Lloyd runs very fast!" Colette thinks to herself before she's brought back to reality and throws her circular boomerang like weapons at the monster's head. It cuts through the monster just as it was about to hit Lloyd.

Genis stomps his foot and holds up his kendama in the air as he begins to cast a spell. "Fire ball!" He shouts as giant balls of red flame fly through the air towards the monster.

The monster groans loud in pain as he throws his arm towards Lloyd, attempting to slash through him. Lloyd blocks his attack with his sword and installs one last slash at the evil opponent.

The monster quickly falls down to the ground, eventually dissolving into ash that floats up slowly up into the air.

"I was just warming up!" Lloyd shouts nonchalantly as he swings his swords back into their guard in style. "That was easy."

"You're amazing Lloyd!" Colette yells in victory.

"Ah, well, I owe it to this thing though." Lloyd motions to his gloved hand with a tan bandage carefully wrapped around the center of it,

"Ah, that's right. The Exsphere." Genis agrees.

"Yeah. It's designed for combat and brings out my maximum strength." Lloyd explains. "Without this thing, I'd be nothing."

"But you're still strong, Lloyd!" Colette pleads as she smiles brightly towards Lloyd.

"Yeah. At least his sword skills are good."

"What do you mean, at least!?" Lloyd shouts angrily.

Suddenly, two ghosts and two zombie monsters jump from the bushes and scream loudly at the three students.

"There's another one! Let's go, you two!" Lloyd shouts.

"Wait Lloyd! The Professor said magic is more effective than physical attacks against non-physical and spiritual monsters." Colette explains quickly.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Okay then. I'll leave the Ghost to Genis. He is the magic user after all. I'll go for the zombie!" He yells ready for action.

The three quickly finish off the two monsters, carefully switching opponents from time to time. Not including Lloyd however. Lloyd has a very reckless way of fighting and tends to not think or strategize in battle. Or in his daily life.

"Carefully deciding an opponent in battle is especially important when saving an ally that's in trouble." Colette happily explains.

"We have to be careful." Genis agrees.

"Let's go to the temple!" Lloyd says as they exit the village.