Lloyd: You took longer to start this chapter after your last update. Is this one going to wind up taking several months as well to finish?

Me: Lloooooyd… I'm trying, okay? I wanted to reunite you three with the rest of the group. I also want to finish this story before I'm thirty. Provided this story will have been going on for almost twenty years at that point, but hey, it'll be done. Shouldn't you be encouraging me instead of hassling me?

Lloyd: I'm just motivating you to prove me wrong.

Kratos: Children. I swear, you two haven't changed a bit from the first iteration of this story ten years ago. My apprentice does not own Tales of Symphonia.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter Twenty-Six: Oppression of the Waning World

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." – Robert Kennedy.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Lloyd inhaled deeply as he stoked the campfire, attempting to revive the embers so the group could cook lunch. Upon reaching Izoold with their limited funds, the trio had decided to set up camp not far from the outskirts of the port town to conserve their gald for food and supplies. Several days had passed since they had initially set up the campsite, and Corrine in particular was concerned upon the lack of news or arrival of the rest of their group. Lloyd assured the small spirit that if anything was wrong, Sheena would have summoned him to help and then report back to them.

Finding a glowing ember in the ash, Lloyd leaned in closer to blow on it. As the flow consumed the entire charcoal, the brunet added the tinder he'd collected, which quickly caught aflame, spreading to the surround half-burned firewood. "So what's for lunch today Genis?" The shinobi asked his young mage counterpart. Corrine jolted up from where he laid by the fire.

"I can feel Sheena's presence!" The fox exclaimed. "They aren't very far now! They'll be here soon. I'm gonna go meet them and bring them back here." Before Lloyd could say anything in protest, Corrine disappeared in a puff of smoke. A small smile curled onto the teen's lips. He understood the summon spirit's excitement all too well.

"Well, I guess we should make enough for them too." Genis stated from where he sat rummaging through their supplies. "Lloyd, could you go to town and pick up some more ingredients? I'll start cooking with what we have until you get back." Lloyd nodded.

"Sure. Hey, Noishe. Wanna give me a ride?" The teen asked. Noishe's ears flapped idly as he stood before trotting over to his owner. Lloyd rubbed the giant beast's muzzle as Genis dug into their pack, coming up with a piece of paper and their gald pouch. The mage quickly scribbled on it before handing both to Lloyd.

"There. That should make enough for everyone." The mage told him confidently. Lloyd slipped the list into the pouch before securing it to his obi belt. The teen placed a hand on Noishe before vaulting onto his back. The giant dog turned his head to look at his passenger.

"We won't be long. Let's go to town, Noishe." Lloyd commanded. Having already made the trip a few times, Noishe turned on his own and set off at a gallop for Izoold. The teen sat easily to his mount's smooth gate, easily maintaining balance with one hand. They reached the port town's entrance relatively quickly, and Noishe slowed to a walk. On their first visit to the city, the trio had left Noishe at the gate as they went in to look for the rest of their companions. Upon leaving, they found a crowd gathered curiously around the giant creature. Now, as Noishe padded through the town with Lloyd on his back, no one threw them a second glance.

Lloyd dismounted as they reached the market place, loosening the gald pouch enough to remove the list. After glancing it over, the teen set off for the produce outpost, Noishe trailing along behind him. The merchant at the stall quickly recognized Lloyd as he approached, greeting him as he took the list. It did not take the merchant long to assemble the contents of the list into a makeshift burlap sack, exchanging it with the teen for gald. The shinobi slung the strap over his shoulder before hopping back up on Noishe.

As their camp came back into sight, Lloyd noticed several more people around the fire. He couldn't help the smile as a weight the teen wasn't even aware of lifted from his chest. He'd been away from Selean for longer periods while on missions for the king, but since she'd brought them to Mizuho, Lloyd had never been away from his kunoichi partner. With the weight of what had happened in Iselia upon him, the shinobi had yet to notice the impact of her absence.

At the same time, he would not have traded anything for the looks on their faces as he finally drew close enough to catch their attention from the group's conversation. Both girls jumped to their feet, smiling ear to ear, as Noishe came to a stop. Selean ran over as Lloyd dismounted, barely giving her brother's feet time to hit the ground before throwing herself at him. Noishe trotted on, oblivious to his master's predicament. Lloyd, however, managed to catch himself without the beast's help. "Lloyd!" The auburn haired girl cried. "I'm so glad you're okay! It took Corrine so long to come back, so I got worried that—"

Selean cut off as Lloyd placed a hand on her head. "I missed you too." The teen smiled. "I didn't even think about how Corrine normally comes back to you every day while Sheena and I are out on a mission." The brunette looked up at said raven-haired kunoichi. She returned Lloyd's smile, but Selean erupted before she got the chance to say anything.

"Oh, guess what we found while you were gone?" The young kunoichi exclaimed as she pulled away, excitement shining in her left eye. Just like Sheena, she did not give Lloyd the chance to respond. "We found a unicorn trapped at the bottom of a lake! So we're gonna find Undine so Sheena can make a pact with her and we can free it. Then I'm gonna make a pact with the unicorn." Lloyd's eyes widened slightly.

"A unicorn? That's so cool! But can you actually make a pact with it?" Lloyd asked. Selean shrugged.

"I made a pact with a phoenix. Why not a unicorn?" Lloyd shrugged as well. Though both Sheena and Selean had had the ability to summon for years now, the shinobi did not know how the pacts worked. "Oh, do you remember how Raine said she would teach us while we travelled together? She started giving me lessons, and she's so smart. She's taught me how to read and write, and she's teaching me math now. Anna's a really good teacher too. She's had Kratos help her teach me to use my kamas better since they're similar to her hookswords. I bet Kratos would teach you if you asked him. He's so good. Even with Anna's help, I can't even touch him." As Selean paused to take a breath, her eyes widened. "Sorry. I've not even asked you how everything went and how you're feeling."

"I've been wondering how everything went as soon as I noticed Genis had an Exsphere." Raine commented. Genis dropped the ladle into the pot of stew he'd been stirring, eyes going blank as his body stiffened. Though Lloyd and Taiyo had nothing to drop, they had the same blank eyed, body stiffening reaction, previous smiles getting wiped instantly from their faces. "I suspected it wasn't pleasant. Care to tell us what happened?"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"I see." Raine muttered as the trio finished their joint explanation of the events at Iselia. Though Genis had finished and served the beef stew he had cooked, it went largely untouched as they told their story. "I'm sorry my brother put you in that situation, Lloyd." The teen's eyebrows knitted together.

"Why are you apologizing?" He asked the healer.

"Genis knew better than to go to the Ranch. But he talked you, an outsider to the villager, into breaking the treaty the village had with the Desians. And now, you have an even bigger target on your back because of my brother's foolish actions." Raine explained coldly. Genis was unable to look at her.

"We just wanted to save Marble. She didn't do anything wrong." The young mage said through gritted teeth, his voice cracking. Hot tears pooled in his blue eyes.

"That may be true, but if your sentiment hadn't of gotten the best of you, she may have lived long enough for Colette to regenerate the world and seal the Desians away. Neither her nor any of the villagers would have died if you hadn't broken the treaty." Though her words cut through the thin dam holding the younger elf's tears back, her voice remained calm and controlled.

"How can you just say that?" Lloyd demanded, his free hand balling into a fist. "Aren't you guys on a journey to save this world? If you can't save one person suffering in front of you, how do you expect to save everyone?"

"Is saving one life worth sacrificing countless others?" Raine countered. Lloyd averted his gaze.

"Well…"

"Enough." Kratos finally cut in. "What's done is done. Arguing will do nothing to change it. It would be wise to focus on the events at hand rather than the ones we cannot change." Lloyd and Raine fell silent at that, leaving the atmosphere of the group awkward and heavy as they finished their lunch. It was not until they had cleaned and packed up camp that anyone spoke up again.

"So why did you guys come back here?" Taiyo asked them. "We already released the Fire Seal. I thought the plan was to go to Palmacosta."

"Our destination is still Palmacosta. The only way to get there from Asgard is through Hakonesia peak, but we cannot afford the passes. Our only option is to find a ship in Izoold." Kratos informed him.

"We might have to wait then. I didn't notice any passenger ships while I was there earlier." Lloyd told them.

"We'll just have to ask around when we get there, I suppose. Even if there are no ships going out today, we have little choice but to wait for the next one." Raine sighed. After agreeing, the group set off for the not so distant town, filling the time with idle conversation of the more positive events that took place during their separation.

A little over an hour later, the group reconvened in front of the in. After their initial inspection of the port, which revealed no apparent passenger ships, they split up to ask around the port town for the next ship. Lloyd stood next to Sheena, a smug smile on his face and letter in hand as Raine, Genis, and Colette, the last missing group, joined them. The shinobi held the paper up for all to see. "We have a ride to Palmacosta." He grinned. "We can leave whenever you guys are ready."

"Are those tickets?" Raine inquired. Lloyd shook his head.

"No. There's only one guy in town right now with a ship that's actually going out, and he's crazy for the woman who lives in that house." The teen jerked his thumb over his shoulder to point out a nearby house. "But she's apparently in love with another guy who skipped town for Luin. So she got the first guy to agree to take us to Palmacosta so we could deliver this letter for her. It took some back and forth, but it worked out in the end." Colette frowned.

"I feel so bad for that man though. Is it okay to use him like this?" The angel asked. Beside her, Genis shrugged.

"I'm not sure. But we really don't have any other options. If the guy that we're taking this letter skipped town, then that means the guy taking us to Palmacosta still has a chance, right?" He said. Colette's blue eyes lit up as she smiled again.

"Oh, I get it. The second guy probably isn't coming back, so when the guy with the ship comes back, the lady will appreciate his efforts so much that she'll give him a chance. So in the end, everyone will be happy." The blonde concluded. A small smile spread through across most of the group's face.

"Um, sure." Genis muttered, doing his best to keep from laughing at the Chosen's wild assumptions. Colette clasped her hands together, her smile widening further.

"Okay, so is everyone ready to get on the ship then?"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Late that Night

Taking off on the ship had been quite the adventure. It surprised everyone how quickly Raine's composure unraveled as she set foot on the boarding plank. Though she hid it well, the more observant members of the group were able to notice her trembling slightly. Just as she had made it to the ship itself, a small wave bumped the vessel, leaving Raine to scream as she lost her balance, grasping for the edge of the boat. When the group expressed their concern, she quickly brushed it off as just being startled that she was about to fall off the boat before quickly retreating below the deck.

That had been several hours ago, and now only Lloyd remained on the deck. The teen leaned against the bow of the ship, gazing out at the horizon. The sea was calm, and the night sky was incredibly clear. The stars shone with an abnormal brilliance, themselves providing more than enough light to illuminate the night even with the new moon. The view struck the shinobi as comfortingly familiar, but he could not attach it to any particular memory.

"You're up late." Lloyd jumped, spinning around to find Kratos only a few feet away. He let out a sigh of relief. He had not heard the mercenary approach.

"Yeah." Lloyd agreed, turning back toward the bow. Kratos came into his peripheral vision, leaning on the plank of wood as well. "The stars are beautiful tonight. Did you come to look at them too?"

"I noticed you were missing. With everything that's happened recently, I imagine you have a lot on your mind." Kratos responded. Lloyd sighed.

"Yeah. This is the first chance I've really had to be alone and think. What Anna said before we fought Kvar about not letting her negative emotions show and affect everyone else made a lot of sense, so I've kept everything off my mind to keep Genis and Taiyo in a better mood." The teen explained.

"That was a mature decision." Kratos commended. Lloyd looked over at the purple clad mercenary.

"You think so?" The shinobi asked, surprised.

"Yes. You are older and stronger than they are, so even though they haven't known you long, they undoubtedly looked to you for strength. It was wise for you to maintain your composure. However, it is not wise to run from your thoughts." The older man explained. Lloyd sighed again.

"I know." He said. Lloyd remained silent for a moment as he attempted to gather his thoughts. Kratos made no effort to move or fill the silence. "To be honest, I'm still not sure what I should even be feeling right now. Selean said the same thing after we fought Kvar. Part of me wants to check in with her about how she's doing, but it's been so long since she's been this happy and enthusiastic that I don't want to risk damaging that." Lloyd took another deep breath before looking over at the stoic mercenary. "By killing Kvar, we avenged our parents."

Kratos looked down at the sea, his long auburn bangs curtaining his face. "Kvar said that your father killed your mother. Can you truly say you have avenged her death?" The man asked quietly.

"Even now that I know what happened, I don't blame Dad for killing Mom. Kvar was the one that put him in the situation where he had to. He was the one responsible for Mom's death, not my Dad." Lloyd stated. Kratos still did not look back up at the teen.

"Indeed. I apologize. That was a foolish question." The mercenary said.

"Don't worry about it. But that's something else that I've struggled not to think about. Kvar said he turned Mom into a monster, and then Dad killed her. I can't imagine what that must have been like. Back in Iselia, they turned Genis' friend into one of those monsters, and it was tough to fight even without knowing what it really was. But Dad watched Mom go through that, and then had to fight her. There's so much about my parents that I don't know. I feel like the Desians just keep throwing more and more in my face. When will I be able to stop saying 'I didn't know'?" Kratos looked back up at the teen, his usually stoic face unreadable.

"Not knowing isn't a crime. Humans are far too powerless to know everything. The true crime is remaining complacent in the fact that you are ignorant." The mercenary said, a foreign gentleness to his voice.

"Maybe you're right." Lloyd agreed before his hands clenched into fists. "Still… I was five years old when the Desians killed my parents. I feel so ashamed that I still don't really know anything about them. I can't even remember what they look like. They died protecting us, and I can't even remember their faces. I'm a horrible son."

"Your parents would only care that you are alive and well. They still love you even if you know nothing about them. Your safety is more than enough for them." Kratos told him firmly. "They would not wish to see you admonishing yourself over something you have no control over." Lloyd just stared at the mercenary, caught completely off guard by his words.

"I wonder if you're right." The teen finally said. "I hope so. I hope they're at peace now."

"Oh, you guys are up too?" The pair turned to find Colette hovering above the stairway, her pink wings shimmering brightly.

"Yeah." Lloyd responded. "We both just needed some fresh air."

"Me too. I'm still a little sea sick from earlier." The blonde grinned sheepishly, closing her eyes.

"I'm going to go back in and get some rest. You two should do the same." Kratos stated as he strode forward, quickly disappearing beneath the deck. Colette glided over, landing next to Lloyd before putting her wings away. Lloyd never averted his gaze, which prompted a smile and small giggle from the blonde Chosen.

"Everyone else was sleeping, and I didn't want to trip and wake them up. So I just flew up here." Colette explained. Lloyd laughed, turning away from her back to the sea.

"That's not what surprised me. Aren't you nervous at all being up here alone with me? Sure, we made an alliance, but we were trying to kill you, remember?" Lloyd asked.

"Why should I be nervous? We're friends now. Everything before was just a misunderstanding, I'm sure. I trust you, Lloyd." Colette responded.

"You're really strong, Colette. I don't know many people who could do this journey and remain as optimistic and happy as you are with people trying to kill them." A cool breeze blew in from the water, sending a shiver through Lloyd. The teen crossed his arms, rubbing his bare biceps. "Wow, I didn't realize how cold it was."

"Is it?" Colette inquired, tilting her head. "I don't feel cold." Lloyd turned back toward the blonde.

"It's probably where I've just been out here for a while. I think I'm gonna go back in now too. Don't stay out too long, okay?" Lloyd said.

"I won't, I promise."

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Three Days Later, Around Midday

"It's so nice to be back on solid ground." Raine sighed as they walked through the port.

"I agree. The boat ride was fun, but I get so motion sick on things like that." Colette added.

"Well, we made it to Palmacosta. Now what do we do?" Lloyd wondered.

"I noticed we were low on supplies when I cooked this morning." Anna stated. "Maybe we should stop at a shop to restock and ask for information there."

"That's not a bad idea." Raine, at the head of the group, came to a sudden stop, turning to face the rest of the group. "I'm not sure what the town's situation is concerning the Desians, but in light of recent events, I think it would be wise not to draw attention to ourselves. Even if we run into the Desians, we can't risk the lives of the people of the city to interfere with their actions. Understood?" The healer's gaze leveled on her younger brother and Lloyd as she spoke, as if there were any doubt who her statement mainly addressed.

The teen gritted his teeth, but Raine did not give him a chance to get a word in edgewise before she continued on. They were quickly surrounded by the bustling commotion of the city, effectively cutting off further discussion relevant to the Desians. The younger portion of the group fueled most of the conversation held, oohing and aahing at the ornate buildings and giant ships visible from town in the harbor until they came to a sign announcing a shop. The unintelligible shouting from within the building, even with the door shut, brought the group to a halt.

Colette folded her hands, tilting her head forward slightly. "I can make out what they're saying." She announced. "It just sounds like some customers aren't happy with the prices and want them lowered. He's making really low offers."

"I think we'll be able to go in still. Maybe he'll stop harassing the shop keeper if someone else is in there." Anna suggested.

"Oh, that's a good idea. Let's go in." Colette agreed, reaching for the doorknob and quickly twisting it open.

"Be careful not to get drawn into the dispute." Raine warned the blonde as she walked in.

"Oh please!" A woman's voice cried as they filed in. The multiple display stands and shelves blocked the group's view of the front counter. "There's no way anyone would sell these to you at a price that low! Either pay what we're asking or get out." At the front of the store, the group caught sight of the back of two Desian soldiers across from a brunette teen in a yellow dress. While most of them were reluctant, the group quickly ducked behind a shelf before they could be noticed.

"You're lucky we're willing to pay even that much from a rundown dump like this. We could just destroy the place and take everything." One of the soldiers sneered.

"I don't need to hear that from a bunch of filthy Desians!" The girl snapped. "I'm not going to sell one single gel to the likes of you!" Lloyd looked at his companions, getting met with several wide-eyed look of shocks equal to his own. Raine held a finger up to her lips, silently ordering them to remain silent.

"Chocolat, stop! That's no way to talk to our customers." Another woman scolded.

"But mom! These are the same monsters that took Grandma away. You don't honestly expect me to just give them what they want, do you?" The girl retorted.

"You've got some nerve talkin' to us like that, little girl." The first Desian interrupted. "Keep it up, and we can't guarantee what will happen to you or this city."

"Just try it!" The girl taunted. "As long as Governor-General Dorr is around, we'll never submit to the likes of you!" The clinking of armor rang through the small shop as the shink of an unsheathing sword pierced the air. Lloyd's hand instantly found the hilt of his own sword as he spun around.

"You little—" Sheena caught Lloyd's shoulder as he attempted to round the corner of the shelf the group hid behind.

"Stop!" The other soldier yelled. Sheena felt Lloyd relax beneath her grip. "We'll exceed our quota for this year. We'll need permission from Lord Magnius to go any further." Lloyd took a few steps back as the first Desian's sword returned to its sheath.

"Humph."

"Depending on Lord Magnius' mood, you may or may not be able to keep that pretty little head of yours." The second soldier threatened. The group heard the footsteps of the soldiers as they turned away.

"Governor-General Dorr will never let it happened!" Chocolat yelled as the soldiers arrived next the shelves hiding the group. They paused for a moment, but continued on without another word. Lloyd was the first to approach the counter as the door shut behind the Desians. The girl behind the counter did not acknowledge him as she sighed, turning to face the older brunette on the staircase behind her. "Well then, I guess I should be off to work now, Mom."

"Please be careful." The blue-clad woman begged as her daughter rounded the counter, passing the group without a word as she left. The older woman sighed as she finished descending the stairs. "I'm sorry you had to see that. It must have been frightening for you to see. Unfortunately, that happens often here. But please, relax and have a look around. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes. Um, do you know where we could find information about the Journey of Regeneration? We're looking for the next seal, but we don't know where to go." Colette explained.

"Hm… I've heard rumors that Governor-General Dorr has a family heirloom that is of value to the Chosen of Regeneration. Even if the rumors aren't true, he should be able to direct you to someone else who can help." The woman took a deep breath. "So are you the Chosen then?" Colette smiled warmly.

"Yes." She answered simply. The brunette behind the counter bowed her head.

"Thank you, Chosen One, for working to complete your journey." Colette's eyes widened as she waved her hands in front of her.

"No, don't mention it. I'm just doing my part to help everyone." The blonde explained. The woman smiled at her.

"Well, is there anything else I can help you with." She asked again.

"Yes. We need to restock our supplies." Raine stated. "Do you have…"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"There." Lloyd said, pointing to a large building on the north side of the town plaza. "That has to be the one she was talking about."

"How can you tell? All these bug buildings look the same. It's just like M—" Selean cut off as Kirona dug a claw into her shoulder. Sheena immediately cut in, overlapping the end of the younger girl's sentence.

"Yeah, Luin was bigger than what you're used to as well." The kunoichi lamely covered. The two received some questioning looks from the Sylvarant part of the group, but Lloyd missed it, continuing on as if Sheena hadn't spoken.

"I can see the top of an ax on both sides of the door. That means guards, right? What other building would need guards?" The shinobi concluded.

"It's worth checking out." Kratos agreed. "At the very least, they should be able to direct us to the right place if that isn't it." So they made their way through the interspersed crowds to the building. Just as Lloyd predicted, two armored guards stood to either side of the giant doors. They straightened up as the group got closer.

"Is this Governor-General Dorr's office?" Colette asked them as they got within ear shot.

"Yes." One of the guards responded. "Do you have business with him?"

"Yes. We are travelers, and we heard he may have information that could aid us in our journey." Kratos explained.

"Ah. Governor-General Dorr always welcomes travelers. He is in. You may proceed." The other guard responded. Colette thanked them as they pulled the doors open, allowing the group to file in.

A large U-shaped desk occupied the center of the room, behind which a blond haired and raven haired man sat, a small blonde girl standing behind them. The blond looked up as the door shut. The man studied them for a moment before smiling. "Greetings, travelers! We welcome you to Palmacosta, just as Martel teaches. May she bless your journey. Are you passing through on a pilgrimage? Where do you travel from?" The man asked.

"Oh, we're from Iselia." Colette responded, returning his smile. "I guess we kind of are on a pilgrimage." Taiyo looked at the angel, raising an eyebrow.

"Does the Journey of World Regeneration really count as a pilgrimage?" He asked her.

"World Regeneration?..." The blond man muttered.

"Yeah, Colette," Genis gestured to the angel, "here is the Chosen. The Tower of Salvation is visible from here, right?" The man's smile faded as he turned his gaze back to Colette.

"So you're saying that you're the Chosen?" He reiterated.

"Um, yes. It seems to be that way anyway." Colette confirmed. The raven haired man turned toward the blond, a grim expression overcoming his face.

"Governor-General Dorr…" He muttered. Dorr nodded, and the clinking of armor sounded from the other side of the room.

"The Chosen was here weeks ago! How dare you defile her name! Guard, arrest them! These criminals must be turned over to the church at once!" Dorr yelled. The group spun around, finding themselves trapped by a wall of ax wielding guards. Though Lloyd, hand already firmly grasping his sword, caught Sheena's warning glare as she slipped her hand in her obi, Selean did not. With one of the axes mere inches away from her, she drew her kamas.

"Are you guys crazy?" Selean asked, crossing her weapons in front of her. "Colette is just trying to save you. Why would you even think about doing this?" Anna made a move toward the younger girl, but they were packed in too tight for it to get her anywhere.

"Didn't you hear Governor-General Dorr?" The guard growled, thrusting his ax toward the auburn-haired kunoichi. "Do not defile the name of Chosen!" Selean easily posted his attack, but with nowhere to redirect the momentum, she stumbled back, Kirona unable to counter the momentum to keep her upright. She collided forcefully with Colette, who fell back a step before drawing her wings to catch both herself and the younger girl.

"Are you okay?" Colette quickly asked. Selean nodded as the little girl behind the desk gasped.

"Father, look!" She cried. "She has wings. They're so beautiful! She's like an angel!" Dorr gasped as well.

"Men, lower your weapons!" The raven haired man ordered. They did so slowly, retreating a few steps. "This girl is without a doubt the real Chosen! There's no mistaking the angel wings on your back. Please forgive our insolence, Chosen one."

Colette's wings disappeared as she spun around. "Um, please, it's okay. People tell me I'm not very Chosen-like a lot, so it's okay." Colette assured them.

"But, Neil, this means…" Dorr gasped. "This means the Chosen we gave the Book of Regeneration to was an imposter."

"What do you mean an imposter? What did you give them? What's going on?" Lloyd demanded.

"The Book of Regeneration is a detailed record of Spiritua's Journey. It's my family's heirloom and the only document to contain a detailed record of the Journey of Regeneration. A group came by about two weeks ago claiming to be the Chosen's group and requested it. Neil had received news that you were heading this way, so naturally we thought they were you and gave it to them." Dorr explained.

"A detailed record of the Regeneration Journey? That would tell us exactly where the seals are!" Genis exclaimed. Raine crossed her arms, scowling at the blond.

"And you said that you just handed this valuable artifact over to a group claiming to be the Chosen without any proof? Unbelievable!" Raine snapped. The men looked away from her.

"I'm terribly sorry. I wish we had found out where they were going so we could help you." Neil said, bowing his head.

"Do you remember what it said?" Lloyd asked them. Dorr shook his head.

"No. It wasn't written in a language I can read." Dorr confessed. "However, if you like, we can help you search for where the imposter's group went so you can find them and get the book. We can even help find someone that can read it.

"It seems we have little other choice than to accept your offer. We have no further leads on the location of the next seal." Raine told him. Dorr nodded.

"Very well. Neil, go to the inn and arrange rooms for them. I'll start asking around for the imposter's whereabouts. In the meantime, please make yourselves at home in the city."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Lloyd: Another unfinished two parter that you're putting up late, huh?

Me: *flails* I tried so hard to get this up on time, but time wizards are screwing with my life and my outlines are turning out much longer chapters than I anticipate. I know this one was a bit shorter than the last several updates, but I wanted to put at least something up, and with how long this chapter looks like it's going to be, this seemed like the best place to stop it.

Lloyd: I suppose it's something, at least.

Me: Exactly. Also, I ran into a dilemma while writing this. For simplicity's sake in the end, I went with what you see, but I couldn't decide to do this timeline this way, or make it to where Cocoa's execution already happened and Chocolat was taken to the Ranch before they got there since they took the "hard path" and logically would have missed these events. I actually did this with the Fake Chosen group. Care you take us out Kratos?

Kratos: The fan art contest from before her hiatus is still going on. There are three more places that need won. Review or PM to request details. Also, there is a poll in her profile for a future event in this story. Please review. Any and all feedback and suggestions are welcome to help improve this story.

Next Time: Oppression of the Waning World Part Two