Book II: Leaving the West

Chapter VII: Playing with Fire

Lloyd was a very sound sleeper. You won’t find a heavier sleeper anywhere else. He was the last one to awake at the inn, and when he did, he was realized he was late.

“Oh, crap!” he muttered, as he scrambled from his bed and into his clothes. He sprinted outside, into the arms of his very angered party members.

“I say we give him five more minutes,” said Raine. They stood in the town circle. “After that we leave him here.”

“No!” Colette shook her head. “We can’t just leave Lloyd here!”

“We’re late as it is already,” said Kratos. “And-oh look. Here he is.”

“Sorry I’m late every-…what?” Lloyd said as he approached them.

They all gave him annoyed looks.

“Your late.” Raine told him plainly. “For that, you can carry my pack today.” She shoved her large pack into Lloyd’s hands.

“Aw, professor!” whined Lloyd. “Why do I have to?”

“You need to learn to be punctual.” Raine scolded him. “Next time, we’ll leave you.”

“Cut me some slack professor Geez, it was only-”

“If you intend to travel with us, you must learn to wake up on time. Maybe this will motivate you.”

Lloyd looked at everyone else pleadingly. They gave him the same glare Raine did.

“Fine…” he groaned in defeat. “I’ll carry the stupid pack.”

“Good,” said Raine. “You can do until we get to the ruins.”

“Aw, man!”

“Way to go Lloyd,” said Genis sarcastically.

“Well, if we’re done here, we need to be off.” Aberos butted in. “It’s a two day walk to the ruins, and we’re wasting time.”

The next day, the left at dawn, and reached the ruins an hour later.

The ruins themselves was simply a large carved mound of rock, with a path that ran to it, in between pairs of crumbled pillars. Most of the pillars were long gone, but a few stuck up from the ground a short few feet.

Lloyd leaned against a crumbled pillar. He wiped some sweat from his forehead. “Whew…it’s so hot. I can barely stand the heat.”

Genis smiled smugly. “See Lloyd? You’re already worn out, and we’ve barely not even in the ruins yet.”

“But I’m so sick of this desert.”

Raine glanced around, eyeing the ruins with an excited gleam in her eyes. “Oh, it should be quite cool in the ruins. They appear to be underground.”

“Well…ok, I guess.” Lloyd muttered.

Colette started to giggle, but then gasped as she saw something on the ruin mound. “Oh! Professor! Look!” She pointed.

Raine looked where Colette directed her. “Oh, you’re right! Just look at that slab covering the entrance!” She ran up to the mound, kneeling by its side and started feeling the rock. “It’s clearly a different composition then the stone surrounding it. HAHAHAHA! Just as I thought it would be. "This is polycarbonate, developed during the Ancient War to defend against magic! Oh it was thought to have run out years ago! Yet here is some on what most people would call a useless rock! HAHAHAHA! Feel the smooth surface it’s wondrous!”

Everyone looked at Genis. “Is she always like this?” Kratos asked.

“Yeah Genis,” added Lloyd. “Is she?”

The elf boy sighed and shrugged. “I’ve been trying so hard to hide it too…”

“Well, she certainly has Archeological Mania,” noted Aberos. He approached Raine, tapping her shoulder. “Raine, if we could get on with the thing on the mound?”

The Archeological Maniac looked up to the small pedestal and impression on the mound next to the slab. She got back on her feet and examined it closely. “Hm…the lettering is old, difficult to read.”

There was an insignia on the pedestal that held it up. “Hey! That’s my family’s crest!” Colette pointed out. “A white dove with angel wings, carrying the Cruxis Crystal with a white rose behind it.”

Raine poked the insignia. “Obviously, stone does not have color,” she returned to the top of the slab with the depression. “At any rate it reads ‘Oracle Stone’. Colette, place your hand here, it should open the slab and reveal the entrance.”

“Really?” Lloyd asked. “How does it do that?”

“This stone has been imbued with magic to identify the Chosen. There’s no question about it. If the slab opens, Colette is the Chosen?”

Lloyd uneasily glanced at a somewhat ecstatic Colette. Well, at least she’ll be happy either way. But I know Colette would be much happier leading a normal life.

“Well, go on,” he prodded Colette. “Go for it.”

Colette gave him a nod and walked towards the Oracle Stone. With a trembling hand, she placed her hand on the depression. It glowed beneath her hand with a blue hue, and after a faint rumbling, the stone slab slid back.

“I did it! I’m the Chosen after all!” she cried happily.

Lloyd put on a smile, a rather fake one, and patted her on the back. “Alright! You’re the Chosen after all! Now you can save the world.”

The Chosen looked at him. “Uh-huh.” She seemed elated too, but her eyes told a different tale.

Aberos strode towards the darkened entrance, peering down its length cautiously. A putrid air coughed out with an unpleasant smell of dead stale air. “Quite smelly,” he commented. “And too. Be on your guard. There seems to be a lack of light, and unpleasant things oft grace the dark.”

Kratos drew his blade slowly. “Arm yourselves,” he ordered, with a slight tint of anger in his voice.

Aberos took a whiff. “Against the smell?” he joked. “For that there is no defense. But ah, my staff, thank you Raine.” He willingly took his weapon.

Lloyd drew one of duel swords, Colette tossed her double chakrams, Genis switched his kendama between hands, and Raine gripped her staff.

“Right, let’s go one by one in single file. I’ll go first.” Kratos descended swiftly down the steps.

Lloyd followed after him, as did Genis, Colette, Raine and Aberos in that order.

The steps descended deep into the ruins. Step upon step, ever so slowly, the musty smell remained, wafting in their nostrils. Still, they proceeded as their quest dictated; whether they liked it or not. And most of the party preferred the not. It went smooth, the descent, even with the light gone. No one tripped, slipped or fell. Until, of course, Lloyd ruined their good fortune.

“Wow Colette,” Lloyd’s voice echoed off the narrow slant of stairs. “You haven’t tripped once!”

“Yup,” the blonde Chosen replied in the dark. “I think it might have been just a phase-oh-ah!” The klutz chosen slipped on a step, and fell to her back, where she grabbed the person behind her, Raine, who also grabbed the person behind her, namely Aberos.

There was a great commotion as they all fell, tumbling down the stairs like dominos. They were lucky when they hit the bottom, that no one was impaled on Lloyd or Kratos’ drawn swords. Raine didn’t have that kind of power to heal someone, by then they would be as good as dead.

“Everyone OK?” Lloyd asked to the darkness.

“Yeah.”

“I’ve had better days.”

“Yes.”

“I think no one’s injured.”

“Sorry, I’m sorry! It’s all my fault!”

“Colette, calm down it’s ok,” Lloyd assured her. “You got us down here faster after all.”

“I did?” came Colette’s meek voice.

“Yeah, you did.” He wished he could at least see her to tell her that.

“If we’re done falling down stairs, can someone please remove their foot from my head?” asked Genis.”

“Oops, sorry!” Colette tried to move her foot, but whacked someone else.

“Watch it lass, I only got one of those!”

“Sorry Aberos!”

WHACK!”

“Ow!”

“Sorry!”

WHACK!”

“Ouch!”

“I’m so sorry!”

WHACK!”

“Just stop moving will you?”Lloyd shouted. “Colette, try to get to the wall without stepping on anyone.”

“Not a good idea ,” Kratos said. “This place may not have walls. Look, we’ll just have to stand up where we are.”

“Is anyone on top of anyone?” asked Lloyd.

“I’m pretty sure Colette handled that already,” answered Genis. “There’s no one digging their foot into my head.”

“Or my back.”

“Or my chest.”

“Or my…whatever.”

“Look, let’s speed this up by just stand up,” suggested Aberos. “I’ll go first, then help the person nearest me, and so on and so forth. Now then,” The Wanderer get on his knees and regained his footing. “Now you Raine.”

He extended his hand out to the elvish woman. She took it and was soon shakily on her feet.

“Genis,” Raine addressed her brother, dragging him up by the arm.

“Colette,” Genis groped in the dark for the Chosen’s hand, before finding it and helping her up.

“Now Lloyd,” Colette grabbed Lloyd’s hand, pulling.

“Whoa, watch it Colette. You might yank it out its socket.” Lloyd joked. “And now, Kratos-,”

“I’m already standing up.” came the mercenary’s answer.

“Oh…well, what next Professor?”

“There seems to be something glowing over there,” Raine pointed out.

Indeed there was a faint red glow in a rather square shape. It was a little taller the height of an average man, yet it looked like it could hardly accommodate someone of immense girth.

“If I’m correct, it’s a doorway, which should lead to the site of the ruins of an ancient city.” Raine explained. “That city is where Efreet is said to have first arrived in Sylverant.”

“The Summon Spirit of Fire.” murmured Colette.

“Yes,” said Raine. “It is said the city was obliterated from the Spirit’s heat when it arrived. We should see some stone ruins, but the lava and monsters is the greatest danger to watch out for.”

“Lava?”

The professor took a step forward. “Yes, lava. Thank Efreet’s heat for that.” She took another step, her boots made a clear sound on the stone. She took another step and then:

Fires leaped up from their brackets on each side of the stone hall. It’s ceiling above was lost in it’s vastness but the hall with it’s pillars sculpted masterfully from the walls, some half crumbling with time eating away at the hard rock. Flames in black iron brackets and braziers lit the hall, each one being place ten feet or so from each other.

“Well…that was surprising,” said Lloyd.

“At least we can see now,” Raine, sighed a breath of relief. At least Kratos was wrong about their possibly being a bottomless pit instead of walls.

Aberos made a point of this. He walked over to one of the pillars and said, “Right Kratos,” he joked. “There’s definitely a bottomless pit here.” He rapped his knuckles on the wall. “See; Nothing to worry about. You’ve got to take it easy sometimes, and be less paranoid.” He rapped on the rock solid stone again.

There was a slight cracking noise, and a horrible wail accompanied it. From some unearthly hole it sounded, evil and full of malice and hatred for all things above. For it came within the earth, lived in it and lived on the long dead city which Efreet destroyed. Devouring the carcasses of those long dead. For it was not a test of the Chosen, not the Guardian of the Seal, but an evil creature from the depths of the earth and vaults of eternity.

It came then, bursting from the wall, cracking stone flying everywhere. It came then, felling the pillar of which Aberos had knocked. It came then, hideous, with a black carapace, and pincers, sharper then any knife, and two claws for which to snap and tear at its prey. It came then, with a venomous stinger reared above its head, evil it looked, twisted, begetting death and meals for this terrible creature. It came then, in the form of a large black scorpion, with eyes blacker then the carapace it bore, cold, unforgiving and always looked towards the next meal. It came then to bring death to the Chosen and her group, it came then looking towards the Chosen as its next meal!

When the black scorpion sprang from the rock, Aberos was tossed aside like a limp wet sack. Hurtled to the ground, he lay groaning on his back. His hat lay sprawled not far from his head, and his staff only a few inches nigh of his hand. The black scorpion chose to attack him first, it’s poisonous stinger, full of lethal venom crashing down upon his head. He rolled away, grabbing his hate and placing it on his head again, not a moment too soon. It’s tail, with its poisoned tip smashed the ground and retracted, leaving a large crack and hole in the stone floor. The lethal arachnid turned on Aberos once again, but the Wanderer was ready. His staff was back in his hand and it crackled to life with magic and energy.

And another foe was at hand for the scorpion. Kratos was there; in front of his pincers he swung his sword, and warding off the insect’s hungry mouth. The scorpion and all its swarthiness lunged at the mercenary; but Kratos was ready. He held his sword against the terrible mouth and its pincers could not pierce the firm metal of the mercenary’s blade. The dreadful tail came down again, this time for Kratos, for it’s first prey it had lost. It struck, three times, Kratos jumped back towards three times, and each time it failed to hit and was greeted with stone instead of flesh. But now Kratos was backed up against the wall and the scorpion had the upper hand. For while the dark pincers were being held off with the sword the stinger readied itself to strike. It arched back, took aim and sprung. But instead of getting near its prey, the scorpion reeled back in pain and staggered towards the ruined city.

For its first prey, Aberos had gone unchecked for a little while, a little while too long. Aberos had been creeping under the scorpion’s underside, trying to go undetected by the great insect’s rapid movements. It proved a difficult task; the scorpion moved quickly with swift speed but at last it settled down a bit and Aberos was able to start casting a spell. After a brief series of words, lightning erupted from the gem and struck the soft underbelly of the scorpion. It blared its terrible voice, and retreated back further down the tunnel, away from the great stairs. Aberos emerged from the underside of the beast as it passed; he clutched his pointed cap on his head and turned to the others.

“I don’t think we were expecting that!” he panted. But Kratos rushed past him, in chase of the great insect.

“Come! We can’t delay here!” he shouted. We’ve got it on the ropes, let’s hope we can finish it off now!” The mercenary tarried no more and ran down the hall.

During the fighting, Lloyd stayed behind, incase Kratos fell, to be Colette’s final defense. Now he advanced with the others, his dual swords drawn, pursuing the large beast. Raine had stayed behind as well, to heal if someone was stung or grievously wounded. Genis, whose spells would prove ineffective from a distance (Raine wouldn’t dare let him get any closer) stayed behind too, but followed Lloyd and Raine with Colette.

The scorpion backed off now, off to the entrance, the fallen gate of the dead city. The path split off into three ways. One went straight into the city (hence the glow they saw earlier); two more went left and right. It was a huge beehive-like dome, intricately carved, with crumbled sculptures of people in their every day life on each tier. Pretty to look at, Raine would have certainly loved to examine the statues, given a chance. But the chance was not to be given, for a few of the scorpion’s legs now landed on some tiers, smashing them into mutilation.

But now the scorpion had caught its second wind and it was back from possible defeat. Already its stinger was stinging at the enemies that assailed it. Kratos sprung back and forward again to counter the claws and pincers. But it was no use, for its body was backed up against the dome, and the horrible tail was in a raised position, always ready to strike again. And so Kratos backed away, and the scorpion roared, confident it had won and its prey would perish. But it held back as well, fearful and planning the next maneuver.

“I can’t harm it!” exclaimed Kratos. Sweat ran down his forehead and he wiped it on his sleeve. “It’s too well defended. I can’t get in close with the way it’s standing.”

Aberos gritted his teeth. “Genis and I won’t be able to injure it with spells either. Let’s face it; if we can’t get to it’s underside, we can’t kill it.”

“Hmm, it seems to be learning from what we do,” pondered Raine. “Or maybe it was just lucky the way the entire structure of this place turned out to be. I would love to dissect its brain and learn its functions.”

“Ah, Raine. Let’s save that for later, OK?” Genis said. He was turning the wheels in his childhood intellectual mind. “Do you think we could just force it back more? Until it smashed through the dome and maybe pushed it into the lava?”

Raine gasped. “You want to further destroy these precious pieces of history? I expected that from Lloyd!”

SMACK!

“Owowowowow!” Genis cowered from his older sister’s rage. “Raine, what do you care more? The ruins that have been dead for centuries or your life?”

Raine groaned for a minute, teetering over the options. “Oh...you’re right.” She admitted dejectedly. “But can it work?”

Aberos stroked his beard. “It could possibly, if we hit it with enough sufficient force at the same time. It would take the combined abilities of Genis and I, but yes Raine; it could work.”

The Wanderer pulled the elf boy to the side. “Alright Genis, this was your idea, so what spell would work best?”

Genis tilted his head to the side his thumb underneath his chin. He took a good hard look at the scorpion, slashing, gnawing, and biting. “Well, since we more or less have it on the ropes…I think…actually if you know Stone Blast, you can weaken the rock while I force it back with lightning or an ice spell.”

Aberos glanced at the rock beehive-like dome. “That dome is looking mighty sturdy for just a weak Stone Blast. Kratos!” He called the mercenary. “You know some magic right?”

“Yes,” answered Kratos. “Some like First Aid, and-”

“Do you know Stone Blast?”

“Hmm, I believe I do, it’s rather weak.”

“As long as you’ve got the basic level of it, we can beat this thing.” The Wanderer told the mercenary. “Here’s the game plan, you and I will weaken the dome by Stone Blasting it. That should give Genis enough of an edge to push that thing through rock and hopefully through the lava.”

“That could work…” Kratos agreed.

“Good, start casting the spell, Genis,” Aberos readied his staff, not taking his eyes of the scorpion. “Be ready to throw an ice spell at it.”

“Right,” came the elf boy’s reply.

CLACK CLACK CLACK! Aberos pounded his wooden staff on the stone floor. The gem crackled with white power as Aberos began the casting of a spell. “Kratos, you ready?”

“Yes, and you?” The mercenary’s fist glowed with the same white aura as Aberos’ staff.

“As always, cast it, now!”

Kratos punched the air at the scorpion while Aberos jabbed the air with his staff at the great beast as well. Two white balls of spells bounded past the beast and dug into the rock. The scorpion shrugged it off as a failed attack and shrieked again, ready to strike at its prey. But it never got the chance. For the dome it rested on did the equivalent of an explosion. The rock it rested on flew from its steady structure and started to crack and fall. Already the scorpion was close to falling through it, smashing through the old relic, but quite yet. It attempted to get off the rock before it fell through, but Genis wouldn’t allow it. He swung his kendama high over his head, the ball carrying the spell and with a sharp lash the spell was flying over their heads at the angered and surprised arachnid. It was forced through the rock, and the dome collapsed, great dirt and dust, stone and boulder alike falling from above. Then all went calm and there was a very large opening where the dome should have been and through the kicked up dusty fog, they could see the black shell of the scorpion. They were safe, if only for a few moments.

Kratos and Aberos breathed sighs of relief. If the plan had not worked, they were dinner for the huge insect. But the sigh was short-lived, for the scorpion was still writhing and plotting beyond the veiled smoke in the ruined city itself. Kratos and Aberos slowly advanced, hoping the scorpion wouldn’t assail them before they could pass through the dome.

It didn’t. And they gave the thumbs-up sign to the others who cautiously made the way through. It was the edge of a stone tiled platform, suspended hundreds of feet above boiling magma and lava. The scorpion dangled on its last lifeline near the edge, its tail just went over the rock. But it was as furious as ever, though it is on its final leg. It snapped it’s large, dark claws, but Kratos swatted them away with his sword, and blocked them with his shield. So at last it became desperate for survival.

“Kratos, any suggestions on what to do?” asked Aberos.

“Would another Stone Blast work?” suggested the mercenary.

“It might, we need to get it closer to the edge though.”

“I see no need for that.” He had already been casting the spell behind his back and now unleashed it. The force drew the scorpion even closer to the edge, a few rocks were cast downwards into the lava far below.

“Right, it’ll work. Genis! You know Stone Blast, right? Good! Fire away at the rock below the beast!”

Over the course of several minutes, multiple white auras blasted away at the rock and soon the scorpion careened over the edge tumbling below.

“Whew,” Aberos sighed. “Is it over?”

Kratos strode towards the edge, his sword still in his hand and peeked over. A black claw that swiped at him greeted him. The scorpion was still alive and its legs and second claw held on for life at large rocky outcroppings. Kratos swung his sword at the beast’s claw, colliding in the claw itself. Sparks flew like rain and light ignited Kratos’ face. The beast was dead by a long shot yet.

“Oh we haven’t the time for this!” growled Aberos. He glanced upwards and was rewarded with several large stalactites. “Genis!” he pointed upwards. “You see those? Do you think a Stone Blast would send on of those down on the beast?”

“Yeah, it might work! Hang on, let me do the mental calculations…” He drew numbers in the air and diagrams in the dirt nearby. At last he said. “Hit the one I do.”

Aberos nodded.

His staff surged with life and magical energy again, as did Genis’ kendama. The elf boy swung it high overhead before slinging the white spells at the stalactite directly overhead the scorpion. Aberos too shot his spell at the stalactite, and a white glow sliced the overhanging rock’s base. Downwards it came, like the spring showers, but ever so slowly it seemed to fall. All time and reality seemed to slow down for a few single precious moments.

“Kratos!” Someone yelled as a warning and the mercenary looked up and so did the scorpion. Kratos leaped back as the stalactite met the black scorpion. The great beast fell, it’s underside up, and the large stalactite smote it as it fell and at last the great beast lay dead in the pits of death. Even after, the scorpion’s wails echoed off the cavern’s walls and made its way to the outside world where a passing gale made it lost to time forever.

Aberos laughed and clapped. “Oh thank Martel, we’re done with that beast.” He wiped the sweat that had started to beat down his face, his cheeks flushed and red. “Whew…ha ha ha, it’s dead. And we’ve not even begun to explore this place.”

Kratos watched the lava below bubble, and then a wave passed over it and the scorpion laid slain in the depths. He too chuckled and said. “Well…that was a bit off-track. That wasn’t even the creature that guards the alter.”

“No it wasn’t,” said Raine. She too now came over to the edge. “That was a scavenger after the city was ruined. I guess that’s what happened to explorers who tried to explore this ruin. At least it’s dead now and we can continue onwards.”

They now looked upon the ancient ruins across the gap where the insect had fallen. Even from the distance at which they were at, it was easy to see how the city was constructed through the ruin buildings. Homes, shops, the great stone buildings were set on huge stone pillars, large enough to accommodate a large house. The roads were stone walkways elevated by some unknown magic, but the walkways had long descended many feet below. Every so often there were insets, but they were empty, void of any clue.

But Raine had the answer already, or least a theory. “I think I know how this works…” she erased Genis’ equations and drew a diagram of the city’s layout. “According to the books I’ve read, the city has one road leading through the city in a sort of square-spiral shape. At the end of the road, in the center, I think it’s a temple of Martel. That should be where the altar where Colette prays resides.”

“Oh good, this one seems easy to get to.” Colette chirped.

“Don’t get too cocky,” warned the Professor. “There’s still the Guardian, the first Test of the Chosen, at the end.”

“Aw…” Colette’s smile turned to a frown, but Lloyd tried to cheer her up.

“Don’t worry Colette,” he said to her. “I’ll be there to protect you!”

“Um…thank you!”

“Wow Lloyd,” commented Genis. “That was nearly as sappy as dwarven vow #7 was it? Goodness and Love will always win…”

“Shut up Genis…” was Lloyd’s rather lame reply.

“Well Raine, this all very well and good,” started Aberos. “But how do we get across, into the city?”

“The books stated, that the bridge into the ancient city will ‘grow out of the rock of old.’ It was rather cryptic about it.” Raine explained. “It didn’t say what triggers the effect, but I do have an idea.”

“Do tell.”

Raine pointed to an inset below the main gate to the city. “I believe that’s a torch holder. The people of this city were greatly attuned with fire, so if we light it I think the bridge would appear.”

“But wouldn’t that give invaders a way into the city?” asked Kratos. “Any mage could conjure a fire ball and light it.”

“No,” Raine shook her head. “It was a special flame, different from magic.”

“Unless we have some sort of relic like that, we’re stuck.” Genis said depressed.

Lloyd scratched his head before saying something. “Would the fireballs from the Sorcerer’s Ring work?”

“Lloyd! You never returned that to the Martel Temple?” screeched Raine. “You stole it!”

SMACK!

“Professor!”

SMACK!

“Now hold on a minute there, Raine,” Aberos held her wrist from slapping Lloyd. “This may be what we need to proceed. Give it a try Lloyd. We have nothing to lose at this point, only to gain.”

Raine scowled, but gave in. “Fine, but if it doesn’t work, when we get back, I’m giving you detention for life!”

Lloyd chuckled nervously and sighed. “Well, here goes nothing.” He aim the ring’s gem at the inset, and thought; Fireball… A red ball of flame spurted from the ring and magnificently flew into the inset where it kept alight. There was a great rumbling and a wide stone slab emerged from under the city’s gate and connected with the other side.

“This makes me wonder,” Raine thought out loud. “If in the ancient world, these rings were more common…”

“Could be, perhaps we’ll find out on this journey.” Aberos said. “Now, would you like to enter this city and get the job done?”

Raine nodded and they crossed the bridge into the city.

To say the least, the journey to the city center was uneventful. The process of lighting the insets became apparently frequent. It made up most of their journey following the main road, unless of course they found treasure. Some golden jewelry, rusty armor and other trinkets, but the most important was the Mumei. The Mumei was a new pair of dual swords for Lloyd; Kratos said that the blades were made for slashing and thrusting. There was another rare important item in the ruins. A Life Bottle. Raine said it would revive whoever in combat, but there was only enough for two, maybe three people. Nonetheless, it would aid them in the upcoming battle.

So at last, the arches and crumbled spires of the temple of Martel stood before them in all its ruined grandeur. It was made of a light grey stone with red stone as roofing. Much unlike the charcoal black stones that made up the paths and the brown sandy stone that made up the homes. The large stone double doors were heaped at the entrance, so one could see beyond into the temple.

“Well, here it is,” said Raine. “There should be a teleportation pad inside, transporting you to the alter Colette.”

“I’m ready!” the Chosen put on a mask of determination and bravery.

“Good,” Kratos said. “There shouldn’t be any monsters inside, but I’ll go first. Chosen get behind me, Raine behind the Chosen, then the rest of you can decide amongst yourselves.” He climbed over the debris of the doors and entered the temple; Collette and Raine followed after him.

“Is it just me, or do I feel kind of left out there?” said Lloyd.

“It’s probably just you,” Genis and Aberos said in unison walking past him. He stood there looking stupidly into space for a few moments before Aberos called him in.

“Come lad, let’s go!”

He rushed into the temple after that.

“Step carefully,” Kratos warned. “A loose step could send you into the lava.”

“We’ll try to avoid it and keep it off our minds.” replied Aberos.

They made their way to the space between the benches and the podium. “Ok,” Raine commanded. “Everyone split up, but remain in pairs. That pad should be around here somewhere.”

Everyone nodded. Kratos went off to comb the seats; Lloyd and Genis followed him, going down the aisle checking under benches. Raine stayed near Colette who was standing on the podium checking out a tome written in the angelic language. Aberos attempted in climb into the one of the balconies, but the stairs crumbled and he fell down on his face.

Colette flipped through the old tome slowly. It was cracked, filled with dust and mites, but still legible by her standards. She attempted a reading, but stamped her foot down when she didn’t know the words. I should know this…why can’t I recall the words?

The blonde Chosen never found the answer out for a flashing light came from below her feet and she was gone. Naturally the flash illuminated the whole room and captured the attention of her teammates. Five heads turned, expecting Colette to be there, but when she wasn’t, feared the worst.

“Why did Colette go?” Lloyd demanded, running over.

“I don’t know,” Raine said, concerned. “She was just there, but then that flash and she was gone.”

“Perhaps she found the teleport pad?” Kratos offered.

“Or maybe something took her!” said Lloyd, thinking drastically.

“I don’t think so Lloyd,” Genis had disappeared behind the podium, where Colette had been standing minute before. He rubbed the spot over with his hand, wiping away the dust and scarce rocks that had settled there. He was rewarded with a blue spot, the size of an average person set on some purple base. “Found it! Colette did find, and unwittingly activate, the teleport pad!”

Raine breathed deep. “Good, it was just another clumsy move.”

Lloyd laughed. “I wonder if its good or bad that Colette is such a klutz?”

“This entire room is built with magitechnology!” she cried. “Fantastic! Just look at it!” She hurried to the altar, examining closely. Colette was right behind her, ready to offer her prayers. But it was not to be so soon.

There was a distant rumbling then a great a growl and the altar glowed with a red aura.

“I feel…” Genis started.

“Great and powerful Mana…” Aberos finished.

“Raine! Chosen! Get away from there!” Kratos dragged them away just as a great beast leaped form the altar. It was great wildcat, although twice the size of a normal one, with a terrifying red coat and spikes that ran down its back. Great fangs spurted from its mouth, and wild yellow eyes it sported above. Two smaller ones appeared besides as well to accompany its superior in the fight ahead.

“What is it?” Genis asked, terrified.

“It’s the Ktugach and its two Ktugachling!” screamed Colette.

There was a great sounding of metal blades upon leather sheathes. “Lloyd!” Kratos ordered. “We’ll handle the big one, Aberos! Take care of the two smaller ones with Raine and Genis.”

“Right!” Lloyd advanced forward with Kratos facing the large Ktugach. It snarled at them, bearing great fangs and impressive row of teeth. It took a swipe at them with its claws bared at its paws. It and Kratos and Lloyd stepped back. It pushed forward for a bite, but was greeted with metal instead of flesh. Lloyd whacked a few times on top of its head and it withdrew, hoping to craft a new plan.

Meanwhile the two Ktugachlings backed Raine, Genis, Aberos and Colette into a corner. They growled and hoped to scare the rest of the group, but they didn’t falter. They undertook the same attacks as the Ktugach but failed to do so. Their snarls and snaps were created with large blocks of ice hurled at them. Aberos and Genis did a high-five. The icicle spell had worked. The Ktugachlings backed away a few steps; a grave mistake, for this allowed their prey more room to move. Colette sidled to the side and bit and took out her chakrams. She swung them around her wrists like bracelets before unleashing them. Around they twirled in the air and crashed into their targets’ necks. They whimpered like abused puppies before snarling again. The Ktugachlings jumped at them, but a swing from Genis’ kendama gave them doubts of their confidence.

But no they had a new attack. They became spitting fireballs at Genis, Raine, Aberos and Colette. They missed for the most part, one even grazed Aberos’ pointed hat setting it afire. After some very frustrating moments stamping the flames out, the hat went back on his head and the battle resumed. The Ktugachlings once again fired the flames at the group, but they missed entirely. Now, tired, worn down, they began to stutter and stagger. And at last, the Chosen’s group had the upper hand. The spells Aberos and Genis shot increased now, until at last the Ktugachlings sputtered black blood and died.

The fight with the Ktugach had been raging now for a good while. Kratos and Lloyd had managed to inflict some wounds in the Ktugach, and received some scratches in return. But now the whole group advanced on the withering animal. But it still had one more trick up its sleeve, as cornered animals always do. It stood up on it’s front legs, it’s back now raised its back to the ground. Then the spikes, which grew from the beasts, back, shot out of it and whizzed at the group. Two narrowly missed Genis and Raine, one Lloyd hacked in two with his swords and the last hit Aberos’ shoulder. The Wanderer flew back and landed face up, his face contorted in pain as Raine administered first aid.

The beast was on its last leg now, it opened its mouth for a great roar but Kratos had something different in mind. When the mouth opened to lunge and snap, Kratos stabbed the Ktugach in the mouth and in that way it died. The corpses of the Ktugach and the Ktugachlings disappeared and Colette was free to approach the altar in prayer.

“Hey Aberos, you OK?” asked Lloyd. Weapons were put away now and the spike was now being extracted from the Wanderer’s shoulder.

“Fine lad, fine.” His face twisted as the spike was removed. Raine used healing magic on it, best she could, but the wound still needed to be bandaged and his arm put in a sling.

“The wound should fully heal in a week,” Raine directed. “Just try and stay off it. It’s going to take awhile to get used to it.”

“Eh, I’m a fast healer Raine.” Aberos stood and brushed the Professor off.

“That’s what Lloyd says, you should see where he ends up.”

“Can Colette just make the prayer now?” asked Genis.

“Oh very well, go ahead Colette,” said Raine.

“Um right.” Colette kneeled before the altar and clasped her hands in prayer. “Oh Goddess Martel, great protector and nurturer of the earth, grant me they strength!”

There was a glowing ball of light and distantly within you could see the faint outline of some winged creature…but soon the light faded and a light bright as the sun shone overhead, the light came from an orb of light, more holy then the altar descended and a green robed angel with blonde hair and blue eyes appeared. It was Remiel, the angel messenger most of the group met back at the Martel Temple, and Colette’s supposed father. To Raine and Aberos, this was a first time viewing.

“Colette, my dear daughter,” said Remiel grandly. “You have done well and defeated the Ktugach, Guardian of the Seal.”

“Thank…you…. father…” the words seemed hesitant coming from Colette.

“The guardian of the seal has fallen, and the first seal has been released. Efreet will surely awaken soon.” Remiel continued. “In the name of Cruxis, I shall grant you the power of the angels.”

“Thank you my Lord.”

Remiel extended his hand and purple light enveloped Colette. Two beautiful translucent sprouted form her back like grass.

Remiel rose a few more feet. “The angel transformation process will not be without pain. Yet, it is but for one night. Be strong and endure.”

“I humbly accept this trial.” Colette stood.

“The next seal lies far to the east beyond the sea. Offer your prayers at altar.”

“Yes Lord Remiel.”

The angel disappeared.

“Colette has wings!” Lloyd exclaimed.

“Uh-huh,” Colette said in a proud tone. “I can put them away too.” The wings faded from her back.

“Cool!” Genis jumped.

“Now isn’t that something?” Aberos commented.

“Hey, didn’t Remiel say the next altar is across the sea?” Lloyd clarified. “That means we get to sail on a ship! Haha I can’t wait!”

“I wonder if there are any ships sailing with the way things are right now.” Raine wondered.

“We should head to the coast and see what we can find.” said Kratos.

Genis and Colette had been playing with her newfound angel wings.

“Come on you two! Stop playing! It’s long way back to the entrance!” scolded Lloyd.

“At least the scorpion is gone this time.”

As they walked out into the outside world the sun was fading fast.

“We spent the whole day there,” muttered Lloyd.

“We could probably make some distance today,” said Aberos. “Cut some time off tomorrow’s journey.”

“Well let’s go!” said Colette, her spirits high. She galloped down the steps and fell.

“Heh, you feel again you dork,” Lloyd teased.

“Lloyd, I don’t think she tripped.” Aberos said.

“What? That can’t be.” He crouched down and shook the Chosen. “C’mon Colette. Stop joking around.” Colette didn’t budge. “Colette? Colette!”

“I told you lad, she fainted.”

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