Book II: Leaving the West

Chapter VIII: The Chosen's Trial

"Remember the angel's words. The angel transformation process requires her to overcome a trial. Rather than taking her to a doctor, it would be best to let her rest here."

They camped at a nearby oasis that night. Among the shrubs, along the shore of the clear cool water, a fire was lit and Colette lay down to rest. Genis made a fine dinner of curry; Lloyd said it was missing something, and Genis was surprised that Lloyd was correct about something for once. Kratos once again, volunteered for the night watch, and Aberos settled down to smoke his pipe. Raine poked the fire with a look of inquiry and concern on her face. All was quiet as the Chosen and her group lay down to rest for the night.

Lloyd kneeled by Colette, who was lying near the fire. He noticed the expression on Raine's face, and decided to ask. "Something wrong Professor? Are you wondering about Colette's condition?"

Raine had been staring into the fire, heeding little to what surrounded her. Acknowledging Lloyd, she broke from her trance. "No, not about Colette's condition. I'm wondering why a lot of researchers mix pure science and magitechnology."

"Huh?" Lloyd said his usual reply to anything that came out of the Professor's mouth.

"The power of magic that is at the rot of magitechnology has never been proved by science," Raine trailed off again, starting to slip off into another trance. "But still they..."

"Uh, Professor..."

"Yes Lloyd?"

"Aren't you going to question why you're talking to someone who has no clue as to what you're talking about?"

"Lloyd!"

"Wh-what?" The teen swordsman stuttered.

"That's a very good question," explained Raine. "I'm basically straightening out my thoughts regarding the question by talking to someone."

Lloyd rubbed the back of his head. "So, you're just going to keep on talking aren't you?" he sighed. Another lecture he wouldn't understand.

After few minutes of the Professor's lecturing, Aberos was butted in. "Well, I hate to interrupt this educational speech, but..."

"Although it could be because some don't know the distinct difference between the two, although there are some similar characteristics..." Raine trailed off, glancing at Aberos. "Oh, sorry about that. I guess I got caught up in the moment again. I believe as Kratos said, we should scout the coast. Remiel said the next Seal is across the sea."

"Hmm, yes," Aberos said. He snuffed out his pipe and put it within his robes. "There are many fishing villages along the coast, but few have ships willing to make it these days across the sea. Our best bet is to find one to take us to Palmacosta."

"Then, we should head to Izoold," added Kratos. "They have many fine ships there. I'm sure one could passage us to Palmacosta."

"That would require us to make go over the mountains, on the Ossa Trail," said Raine.

"That trail is exceedingly perilous these days," warned Aberos. "Many monsters roam its paths, and even more in the mine passages underneath it."

"But we won't be going under it," replied Kratos. "We will be going over."

"Still, I have heard talk of demons slaughtering travelers on that path." Aberos clarified. "I've heard talk of a Sword Dancer."

"That's ridiculous!" said Kratos. "Sword Dancers are nothing but a tale to frighten children."

"Sword Dancers? What are those?" asked Lloyd.

"Nothing Lloyd," Raine replied with emphasis on the first word. She glared at Aberos. "There's no reason to concern them with something that doesn't exist!"

"Fine, fine," Aberos waved his hand. "But if we see one, don't say I didn't warn you."

The Wanderer earned another glare from Raine before she calmed down. "Don't worry," she said plainly. "I won't."

There was silence for a few minutes, leaving the crackling of the fire the loudest one for the moment. Raine once again stared into the fire, Genis yawned and lay down by his sister. Kratos leaned against rock, preparing himself for the night watch. Aberos sat cross-legged; he may have no longer been smoking his pipe, but he wasn't tired just yet. But then, Colette stirred.

She groaned at first, before her eyes fluttered open. Lloyd was already at her side. "Hey, you OK?"

Her blue orbs looked up at Lloyd. "Yeah, I'm fine...at least I think I'm fine."

"Do you want something to eat?"

The Chosen coughed. "No, no I don't feel like eating right now."

"Oh, ok. Genis cooked, just to let you know..." his trailed off. "Oh wait!" Lloyd reached for something in his pocket. "Wait a minute, I've got your present!" He presented the wooden necklace in his hand, though it was cracked and snapped in several places. "Oh no...it broke."

"That's OK," Colette smiled. "You can always make me another one."

"Yeah, I promise to make you another one before this Journey is over!"

Colette gave him another smile before going into another coughing fit.

"You sure you don't want anything to eat, or drink?"

"No, I'm fine, really. I'm just going to go for a walk is all." She got up.

"Are you sure?" asked Lloyd, looking up at her. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I just want to be alone for a little while." Colette started walking away from the fire.

"Don't wander too far," Raine warned. "We can't afford to lose you."

"I won't!" Colette assured the Professor.

Lloyd stared after her as she disappeared into the darkness. Even a few minutes later, when all was silent and Colette a very good distance out of earshot, his gaze remained.

Before Genis butted in. "Ha-ha, you got rejected!" he said in singsong.

"Shut up Genis!" Lloyd snapped, and his gaze left the path where Colette had gone in favor of glaring at his best friend.

But the Moon was silent, and no answers would be given for quite some time yet.

The group left the next morning at dawn. Lloyd woke, finding Colette sleeping a few feet away. She apparently came back sometime last night. All was packed up, and they were on their way.

As they walked, the sun rose ahead of providing a blinding glare. Aberos said it would get better as the day wore on, though he was not disturbed by it due to his hat. They walked on for some time, around mid-morning or so, they broke the silence that had engulfed them since the day began. Lloyd and Genis had many questions about Colette's new wings and apparent new angel abilities. The boys asked and prodded, wanting to see the wings again, but Raine slapped them, saying that Colette was still recovering from the trial of the prior night. Aberos too, was curious about the entire process, and intrigued by angels and Remiel. Raine nearly whacked him too, missing narrowly and only getting his hat on the receiving end instead.

They stopped at noon, for a lunch and break of sandwiches. It was the hottest part of the day, and Lloyd complained on how hot it was. Genis however was perfectly fine in his clothes, for they were made for hot summer weather, although Spring itself was not entirely through.

"How are you going to stand it when gets colder Genis?" asked Lloyd in the sweltering heat.

"Oh, I'm sure we'll be done the Journey by then," Genis answered with a smirk on his face. "I mean we can't be going that slowly."

"Whatever," muttered Lloyd as he lay on his back in the heat. "Aberos, how can you stand the heat in those robes?" he asked the Wanderer who had his head bowed low, his arms crossed (or at least tried to, the sling was in the way) as well as his legs.

"Hm?" Aberos' head perked up. "These robes are made to ventilate heat out when it's hot and keep the heat in when it's cold."

"But how?"

"I would say magic, except it isn't, it's simply the physics of it all." grinned the Wanderer.

"Ugh!" moaned Lloyd.

"Of course they do allow fluidity during battle for magic," continued Aberos. "Maybe not as much as Genis' shorts, but I was tripping over them when I first started wearing them."

vWhen was that Mr. Wanderer?" The Chosen asked.

"Oh, many years ago," answered Aberos. "Back before I joined the Wanderers."

"And when was that?" Now Raine was in the conversation.

"Ten, maybe fifteen years ago if memory serves correctly."

"You're not that old." Genis pointed out.

"Yes well, when you've been through as much as I have..."

"Which probably isn't that much."

"You know, to most it probably looks like you're crossing-dressing," Lloyd pointed out bluntly.

Now this earned laughs from everyone in the group, even Raine, who hardly ever laughed (ruin mania excluded) and even Kratos held a grin. They enjoyed a rousing laugh, even Aberos; the butt of the joke gave one or two.

The Wanderer simply retorted in the following fashion. "You'll get yours Lloyd."

He continued. "Anyways, to the simple-minded it might look like that, but to those of intelligence they are robes."

"Well, that rules Lloyd out right away," Genis chuckled.

"Hey! I can be smart when I want to!" Lloyd protested.

"Really now?" asked Genis. "This should be interesting. Come on Lloyd, be smart for us."

"Well, uh...you got to give me something to be smart about!"

"Fine then, I will. Raine?"

"Lloyd wants to prove his intelligence huh?" Raine looked up from going over inventory of her pack. "Let's see, what would prove it?"

C'mon, give me something easy, something easy! thought Lloyd. Something from PE or Art...but not-

"History." stated Professor Sage.

"Aw, c'mon Professor!" whined Lloyd. "You know I really suck at History..."

"You only don't fall asleep during Gym and Art class," replied Raine. "Those hardly mark intelligence."

Lloyd groaned. "Oh, man!"

"Stop your moaning," said Raine curtly. "You wanted this, so you're getting it."

"But Professor!"

"No butts, or I'll be kicking yours."

The teen swordsman opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. "Psst, Genis," he whispered out of the corner of his mouth. "Would she actually do that?"

"I have no idea." his friend whispered back.

"Uh...erm... oh fine," Lloyd conceded. "What's the question?"

"Good, your at least showing some mental maturity," Raine said plainly. "Alright here's your question: State the historical background of the Triet Ruins."

"Just so you know Lloyd, those are the ruins we just left." said Genis.

"That's easy!" said Lloyd in an overconfident tone. "It's um...uh..." His confidence deserted him. "Can I have another question?"

"Ugh," said Raine dejectedly. "I am extremely disappointed in you Lloyd. Genis?"

"The Triet Ruins were the location of the capital of a great old civilization, dating back before the Balacruf Dynasty." Genis answered. "It's primarily known as being the place where Efreet, Summon Spirit of Fire, first came, sometime after the end of the Balacruf Dynasty."

"Very good Genis," nodded Raine. "It was rumored that the ancient civilization first fell when the Balacruf civilization invaded. Possibly the fact that it's reaches stretched across the globe, full of ethnic diversity, that this was the Dynasty's down fall."

"Perhaps it would be wise to skip the lesson and get going," The mercenary butted in. "I would like to get to Triet before nightfall."

"Yeah, that's a good idea, to sleep in a real bed." Lloyd rose quickly, stretching.

"You're just trying to get out of the lecture!" argued Raine, standing up. She had wanted to go on about the Balacruf Dynasty.

"He's right for once Raine," Aberos said, using his staff to get on his feet. "We can make it to Triet before long if we hurry."

"Oh...but at least I can lecture you on the way."

"Professor Sage," said Colette. "Can't we just wait until we actually get to Asgard? I'm sure we'll eventually go there."

"Well, I mean we could. All right, I'll wait to give you the lesson until Asgard." Raine agreed to the Chosen's suggestion.

And so the Chosen and her group proceeded onward. The day was filled with jokes and pranks from Lloyd and Genis, severe reprimanding from Raine, cryptic advice from Kratos, giggles from Colette, and Aberos who tried to stay out of the way of everything; though couldn't help laughing when a desert beetle found its way into Raine's hair. The day went on and so did they, passing through the desert at a walk, making their way through searing heat on blistering toes. The sun beat down upon them with mercy, Lloyd was the only one who complained. There were several incidents where a mirage flicked into reality in front of Lloyd's eyes. He was hot and thirsty from a long afternoon of walking; the sun was sinking in the west and the Professor refused to give him water until they reached Triet. So, from a distance an illusion materialized as great oasis. Lloyd, over eager and ignoring the warnings of his friends, ran to it and jump in the cooling waters only to be greeted with a mouth of sand. He was very annoyed and discouraged after that.

As the sun went down and temperatures began to drop, Triet and its sandstone walls came into view. The group passed into town and Lloyd headed straight for the inn. The others did not argue with his decision. Getting three rooms (One for Kratos, Aberos and Lloyd, another for Raine and Genis, the last for Colette) they settled down for the night and drifted into peaceful slumber.

The next day dawned without wind and stiff stale air ruled over the desert. Combining with the hot arid air, and subtracting a cooling breeze left traveling conditions less then hospitable. But they pressed on despite the conditions of the doldrums. It was four-day journey to the Ossa Trail, and Raine and Kratos wished to get to the coast quickly, not wasting time. But it was difficult to rush in the desert. The heat was starting to get to everyone; Aberos included, even with his robes designed to ventilate heat as he claimed. At the end of the first day from Triet, everyone was sweating buckets and welcome the rest and cool of night.

"Perhaps it would be better if we traveled at night?" proposed Raine.

"Although it would be easier on us," Kratos explained. "It's too late to change now, it was probably something we should have done in Triet."

"Oh well, nothing we can do about it now," said Aberos. "We're three days from the Trail, no sense wasting time for that now. It should get cooler in around two days, by then we're reaching the edge of the desert."

Lloyd and Genis lay on their backs, even Genis with his shorts tired from the intense heat.

"Oh man, today was brutal," muttered Lloyd.

"I told you that enthusiasm wouldn't last." Genis replied.

"Yeah, well, it'll come back once we're out of this heat..." he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"At least we can rest."

"Wrong," Aberos' face appeared in their vision. "Genis, I'm going to train you in magic a little bit more. You need to be properly trained."

"But, I can cast magic,"

"But how much do you actually know?" the Wanderer shot back. "Books can teach you one thing, living, breathing, beings can teach you more. Now come, up on your feet. I won't be able to do as much until this arm is healed, but, I can teach you some."

Genis groaned, but complied.

"Now then, what do you know about magic?"

"Well, I know how to cast it, the different types, how to learn and practice new spells." answered Genis.

"Do you know how magic works?" persisted Aberos.

"No, not really. Aside from that it uses mana..."

Aberos sighed and shook his head. "So, you don't even know that...oh well, no matter, before I can teach you magic, you must know how it works. This stage will take awhile, for it needs to be imprinted in your head, it is very important. But, you seem bright for your age. Maybe we'll get through this first stage fast. Let's go back to camp, I was planning on a practical lesson, but you need to prepare to learn."

They rested and ate the meal Kratos prepared (with Colette helping, Lloyd kept Raine out of it).

The next morning they continued onwards. There was a large plateau to their left now; some miles away on the other side of it was that Desian base. The heat assailed them that day as well with renewed strength. They met enemies, yes, but no Desians. No, they met monsters. Large crows assailed them, and sand worms of immense strength. They tired quickly in these battles and barely made it out alive without overheating themselves. At noon, they collapsed on the sand, panting and sweat beading down in large clumps.

"Is anyone... whew, hungry?" asked Raine. She kneeled with one foot on the ground and the other under her.

"Not really..." replied Lloyd. "I don't think even I could eat."

"Ugh, I don't even feel like making anything..." Genis fell on his back.

"You know, it's bad not eat anything," Raine said, trying to get in a lesson. "I'll make us some sandwiches or something..."

"You know what Professor? I'd rather just not eat..." Lloyd clutched his stomach just thinking about consuming Raine's food.

"Nethertheless, it's still best if we rest." said Kratos. He seemed unaffected by the heat, no sweat, or slouching from the humidity.

"How can you not be exhausted by this heat?" said Lloyd incredously.

"I am used to temperatures, while you have stayed in the Iselia region your whole life." Kratos answered calmly.

"Now wait a minute there, Kratos," Aberos took off his hat and sweat glistened his shaggy hair and short beard. "I'm several years old then you at the least, I think I should be more unaffected then you and I'm sweating like a dog here!"

"Perhaps I have simply acclimated myself with more intense training then-,"

"That's bull-,"

WHACK!

"There are minors around!" cried Raine. "Watch your language, both of you."

"Humph," Kratos grunted. "I did not say anything."

"That doesn't matter," Raine, reprimanded the two. "There are still children!"

Aberos rubbed the back of his head gingerly, still sore from Raine's slap and sighed. "Fine, fine. No more intense swearing around the kids."

"Good. Now, we really should rest a bit more." Raine advised them.

"But this is so boring...and hot..." whined Lloyd.

"Well, that enthusiasm didn't last too long," Genis, joked. "Little longer then we predicted but still within the estimate."

"Still, if you want something to do while we rest our heated and tired bones," Aberos started. "I can begin explaining how magic works."

"I tried to explain it to Genis once," said Raine, recalling a memory. "Bur he didn't have much interest at the time. Imagine my surprise when he found that kendama and started firing fireballs across the kitchen table."

"Come on Raine, give me a break here," argued Genis. "I was six years old when you tried to teach me."

"What's this? Did Genis not find interest in something educational?" Lloyd quipped, his heat exhaustion soon forgotten.

"Shut up Lloyd," Genis replied. "I'm surprised you even knew the word educational."

"Hey, I pay attention in class sometimes," said Lloyd. "It was what, our vocabulary words from like what two weeks ago?"

"It was two years ago Lloyd." The Sage siblings said in unison.

"Well, that explains why I didn't recognize any of the words on the last test." Lloyd grinned sheepishly.

"Lloyd, didn't you even pay attention when Colette tutored you?" Raine asked.

"Uh..."

"Lloyd! So that's why you failed the test!" Colette frowned.

"Well, the thing is..."

"And not because of Colette's job of a tutor like I thought..." The Professor mused.

"Um..."

"You lied!" The Chosen now rounded on him, the white chakrams flashed as she swung them in front of Lloyd's face.

"Help..." The teen swordsman said meekly.

Aberos sighed and intervened. He coughed, clearing his throat and began the explanation. "Magic is simply mana divided into its basic elemental forms, combined with elvish blood and hammered into different forms. The main elements are-,"

"I think it's best that we take this lecture on the road," stated Kratos. "We have to go now, or risk making little progress before night fall."

"What? Or all right, Kratos is right. I'll explain as we walk."

The Wanderer held up an unevenly tanned finger. "Aska is for the Sun's light," another finger went up. "Luna is for the moon's light. Since we on this earth obviously receive light from those two sources, there is a summon spirit for each. Aska for Day and Luna for Night." His fingers went down.

"Wouldn't Shadow fit accordingly better?" asked Raine.

"Yes, but we're looking for the moon's light, and which source we receive light from here," Aberos answered. "Luna doesn't represent darkness, but the light we get during the night. It's easy to question these things."

"That makes sense, I guess," said Colette quietly. "Where are the summon spirits found?"

"At the altars we've been going to," said Aberos. "Which is why Genis and I feel powerful mana when we near one of them; because they are the ones that convert mana into magic users. Since we are spell casters after all, it only comes natural with practicing magic."

"What about my healing arts?" Raine said, clearly intrigued by something she didn't know.

"That is different," Aberos closed his eyes. "The healing arts fall under the element of light. You cannot feel the powerful mana because your magic is restricted to just one of the elements, while Genis and I falls under every category. Although as a pure blood elf, you should be able to learn both sides of magic, the offensive and defensive. Only half-elves are subjected to learning one."

"Oh, right. I knew that," said Raine. "Genis and I thought it easier to only learn one kind, the other sibling could back us up."

Aberos turned and walked backwards, peering closely into Raine's eyes. Seemingly satisfied, he turned back to the front of the road. "True, it would increase the power of the spells."

"Whew," Raine sighed. "Close one."

"I'm sorry, didn't quite catch that, what did you say?"

"Nothing," Raine said quickly. "Just thinking out loud is all."

"Good," Aberos nodded, his head bobbing up and down. "Good. Anyway, it is possible to summon the Summon Spirits, hence the name, but summoning was lost long ago."

"It is believed to have been lost to this world during the fall of the Balacruf Dynasty." Kratos said.

"That's correct," commented Raine.

"Aw, that's too bad, I would have liked to use one in battle."

"Summoning is really just casting a spell on a large scale," said Aberos. "However only one with blood of the elves can summon. That lad is the only remaining knowledge we have of summoning."

"Unfortunately," Raine added, a slightly depressed note in her voice.

"Indeed." Agreed Aberos. "And that is the end of the lesson for today. I hope you've paid attention lad, it'll come in handy when I teach you some spells tomorrow."

"Ooh! Can we try them out?" said Genis who looked as if he wanted to jump up and down with excitement and elation.

"Out of battle? Unfortunately no." Aberos' eyebrows notched. "The mana is too thin to waste, and we don't need to rush ourselves anymore."

"Aw..."

They camped that night, Genis proddingthe green-clad Wanderer with questions about spells. Aberos obliged and answered most of them. The rest, he left for Genis to wonder as he passed into a dream world only a child could imagine.

The next day was much like the ones prior. Hot, humid, full of sweat and grimy skin. And once again they pressed onwards. Kratos calculated they would reach the start of the Ossa Trail by the afternoon. Already by mid morning green fertile hills and slopes greeted them. Desert still had a tight grip for the most part, and trees were nonexistent. Genis pestered Aberos to teach him the moves at lunch, and Aberos did say yes, but wouldn't get the chance. By noon, the blue-misted horizon of the Ossa Mountains greeted them, a small path made of loose white stone led up the trail.

Aberos breathed a long breath. "We're here," he said. "Out of the desert."

"Whew," Lloyd said in relief. "No more heat."

"But how long will it take us to get across the mountains?" asked Raine.

"Taking the Trail? About a full day's journey give or take. We can reach the very summit of the Trail a little before sundown. This is the only route over the Ossa Mountains. Be on your guard for bandits."

"Or assassins wearing purple and pink with red ribbons," Lloyd joked.

"Never joke about an assassin," Kratos said stoically proceeding up the Trail. "Especially when they're wearing pink."

He left the others and a line of strange looks behind him.

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