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Game Summary Part II: Tethe'alla
Part I here.
Part III here.
Renegade Base & Fooji Mountains
Lloyd wakes up and tries to ask Colette if she’s okay, but the others tell him she won’t respond at all. Raine brings his attention to the fact that they’re at the Renegade Base in the Triet Desert where Lloyd was brought before. She summarizes the situation, telling him the Renegades oppose the Desians and suggesting that Cruxis and the Desians may be the same organization based on what Yggdrasill said. She also concludes that Kratos probably joined them to make sure that Colette didn’t stray from the journey of regeneration, and Lloyd is furious about being deceived the whole time. One of the Renegades brings the group to Yuan and Botta, who confirm some of their new findings and also drop some novel bombshells: Cruxis operates the Church of Martel in the open, while the Desians are a subordinate organization that operates behind the scenes of Cruxis; angels are half-elves that evolved using Cruxis Crystals, special types of Exspheres; and Yggdrasill created the two worlds. Lloyd wants to know why the Renegades saved them when they tried to kill Colette before. Yuan and Botta explain that their goal is to stop Martel’s revival and hence they tried to kill Colette, but now that she completed the angel transformation, they wouldn’t dare try to harm her since only goal is self-preservation. Yuan then proclaims that they no longer need the Chosen but do need Lloyd; Lloyd demands to know why but Yuan is done explaining and tells his men to grab them. Lloyd lashes out and Yuan collapses, prompting Botta to mention that it’s the wound from Hima and Lloyd realizes Yuan was the one who tried to assassinate Kratos. Sheena urges Lloyd to stop dawdling and summons her artificial Summon Spirit, Corrine, to hold off the Renegades while they escape.
During their escape, they wonder why Martel needs a vessel, since that seems to imply that she doesn’t have a body. Raine suggests that since Colette’s body is living without her heart, the opposite might also be possible. Lloyd, still reeling from everything that’s happened, wants to save Colette but nobody is sure what to do. Raine starts asking Sheena about her Exsphere, and Sheena explains that she got it from the Renegades, who brought the technology to Tethe’alla where it is mainly used in machines. The Renegades also gave Tethe’alla the information about the two worlds and told the King and Pope to assassinate Sylvarant’s Chosen in order to save Tethe’alla. Raine then suggests they go to Tethe’alla since Colette’s condition is caused by the Cruxis Crystal and Tethe’alla may know more; Sheena agrees since the Cruxis Crystal of Tethe’alla’s Chosen is under study. Lloyd takes a moment to wonder why Martel’s vessel hasn’t been completed when there have been so many Chosens, but since there are so many unknown answers, he wants to focus on saving Colette for the time being. Raine asks Sheena how to get to Tethe’alla; crafts called Rheairds, stored somewhere on the base, can travel through a distortion in space between the two worlds. The group searches the base for the Rheairds, which they ride to cross through to Tethe’alla. However, when they arrive, the Rheairds suddenly lose power and Sheena realizes that because the seals were released Sylvarant, the mana in Tethe’alla has decreased and can no longer sustain the Rheairds, so they crash.
They crash on top of the Fooji Mountains, though manage to avoid destroying the Rheairds. Raine suggests that Volt’s lightning could be used to power them, but Sheena protests that she hasn’t yet made a pact with Volt. They then notice that the Tower of Salvation is also present in Tethe’alla since it appears in the flourishing world and they wonder if there are two towers. They begin comparing history: in both cases, the tower lies on the Holy Ground of Kharlan, and both worlds have records and relics from when the hero Mithos brought the ancient kings there to sign a peace treaty. After arguing a little about whether or not one world’s must be fake, they decide to get going. Raine puzzles over Kratos some more; she had originally found it suspicious that he knew too much, but also says that she thought there was a gentleness in the way he spoke to Lloyd. Sheena agrees that he didn’t seem cold-hearted at the Asgard Human Ranch, but there isn’t anything more they know right now. Sheena decides that they should head for Meltokio, the centre of Tethe’alla where the king lives.
Meltokio & Grand Tethe'alla Bridge
At the entrance to Meltokio, Sheena parts gives them a letter for the king and says she needs to leave to report her failure to assassinate the Chosen to her Chief. The Imperial Research Academy is under the control of the royal family, so they must get the king’s help. Sheena departs, and the group enters the city to look around. Colette kicks away a dog that approaches her, and a man (Rodyle, though they don’t know him yet) laughs her as he passes by. Afterwards, she bumps into Zelos who tries to hit on her, but she tosses him several feet away. He recovers surprisingly quickly and lands on his feet. Lloyd asks him who he is, but he doesn’t want to talk to guys and moves onto Raine, who tells him to give his name before she’ll give hers. He’s surprised that they don’t know who he is, but his posse of girls hurries him to get going, so he takes off. Raine notes that he had an Exsphere.
They ask the guards at the castle to let them meet the king, but the king is apparently ill and refusing audiences. The guards simply recommend that they ask the priests of the Church of Martel to ensure that they pray for his recovery as soon as possible, as they are preparing for a prayer ritual. Lloyd decides they might as well head for the church; the guards change shift as they leave. In the church, they overhear the priest telling Presea to bring a log of sacred wood to the castle for the prayer ritual and that the prayers will take place in the royal chamber. Lloyd sees that she also has an Exsphere. He then comes up with the idea to ask Presea to let them carry the sacred wood so that they can get into the castle. Raine agrees that they can at least try talking to her. Outside the church, Presea is talking to a man (Vharley) who is assigning her next job; the man then mentions that he needs to report to Rodyle. After he leaves, the group approaches Presea. She seems to ignore them at first, but Raine and Lloyd explain that Colette’s life depends on it, and finally tells them to carry the log. However, Lloyd and Genis find it much too heavy, so she carries it and the others follow. The guards had changed shift, so they don’t recognize the group, and trust when Presea says that they’re helping her since she hardly ever speaks.
They make it into the castle, and Presea accompanies them for the time being since Raine notes that it would look suspicious if she left without them. Lloyd and Raine deceive the guard at the royal chamber by claiming that the Pope asked them to help with the prayer ritual; Lloyd knocks him out when he turns to the door to ask the Pope, and they break in. They find Zelos inside, who the Pope addresses as Chosen. Raine says that he’s Tethe’alla’s Chosen, which makes the Pope and Zelos suspicious and they ask if the group is from Sylvarant. Lloyd says they are and that he has a letter from Sheena; Zelos wants to know how they know Sheena but the king wants to see the letter. The king then asks them to wait elsewhere, so they are shown to a different room. It seems that they wait for quite a while, and Raine suspects the king might have them killed. Genis worries about Presea and apologizes for getting her involved, though she doesn’t respond. The Pope then returns with some knights and Zelos confirms that they want to save Sylvarant’s Chosen using Tethe’alla’s technology. The Pope opposes the plan and orders the knights to apprehend them, but between Colette’s strength and the group’s Exspheres, the few knights are easily overpowered. Raine then proposes a deal: since Colette lost her soul because she became an angel to save Sylvarant, Sylvarant will not be saved and Tethe’alla will be safe if she doesn’t become an angel. Zelos, too, realizes that would be in Tethe’alla’s interests. The Pope claims that Raine would then be abandoning Sylvarant and she says she doesn’t care, since their current priority is to save Colette. Lloyd agrees, but the Pope still seems hesitant, so Zelos volunteers to keep tabs on them and prevent them from returning to Sylvarant, since that would keep them from completing the regeneration anyway. The Pope agrees to let them travel Tethe’alla under this condition, and so Zelos has them wait at the Martel Cathedral while he reports to the king.
Introductions are made in the cathedral, where Presea reveals that she’s from Ozette. Zelos calls the group uncivilized barbarians but then says that he went ahead and contacted the Imperial Research Academy for them. Raine says they can free Presea now, but Zelos suggests she stick with them for a while since the academy in Sybak and Ozette are on the same continent.
In order to get to Sybak, they have to cross the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge. Zelos tries to impress them by declaring that the bridge is powered by 3000 Exspheres, but that only horrifies the group since they know that Exspheres are made from human lives. They tell Zelos the truth, but he seems to get over it quickly. Lloyd asks about Zelos’ and Presea’s Exspheres; Zelos says he got his from the Renegades but Presea gives no answer. While they cross the bridge, Raine brings up that the name Ozette sounds familiar to her, but Lloyd just replies that she’s thinking of Colette since he thinks they sound similar. Zelos points out that Colette and Presea seem similar since neither of them really smile or make other expressions.
Sybak
Presea speaks up when they enter Sybak to say that she hates the city and wants them to hurry to Ozette. The others apologize and promise to be quick. A scientist who received word from Zelos earlier greets them at the Imperial Research Academy and talks about research done on Zelos’ Cruxis Crystal. He believes Cruxis Crystals are evolved Exspheres and describes both as lifeless beings, to Raine’s surprise. He says they are like parasites fusing with other life forms and that they cause the host body’s mana to lose balance and go out of control if there is no Key Crest, which is why those people turn into monsters. The scientist believes that, since the Cruxis Crystal is similar, Colette is suffering from parasitic infection by the crystal. Raine goes on to guess that the process of releasing the seals may promote the Chosen’s fusion with the Cruxis Crystal, which she finds fascinating. Zelos therefore suggests that Colette might return to normal with a Key Crest, and the scientist agrees, though they aren’t sure where to find one. In a bazaar outside the academy, though, Lloyd spots a Key Crest and Zelos makes the vendor give it to them by using his title of Chosen.
They return to the Academy so Lloyd can borrow a lab to fix it, and he attaches it to the necklace he finally finished as Colette’s late birthday present. However, when he puts it on Colette, it doesn’t appear to have any effect. Raine suggests that they ask Dirk for help, which would mean returning to Sylvarant, and Zelos protests since he’s along to prevent that. They coerce by saying that he’s kind to girls and it’s for Colette, so he reluctantly agrees. The Papal Knights abruptly show up and proclaim that they overheard, branding Zelos and the group as traitors against Tethe’alla. He comments on their convenient timing and they respond that they were under orders to watch him for suspicions of plotting against the throne; Zelos finds this amusing. The knights restrain the group and begin taking biological samples; Lloyd asks what they’re doing, and Zelos says that it’s because of the caste system and because some half-elves look identical to humans. The knights interrupt to say they have a match with Raine and Genis, meaning the two are not pure-blooded elves as they have claimed, but half-elves. Raine admits that it’s true since they can’t hide it now. The knights declare that they have engaged in caste deception and all half-elven criminals are executed without exception. Lloyd protests, saying that even if they’re half-elves, they’re better people than the knights, but the knights order them taken away. Since half-elves can use magic, the knights want to keep them under heavy guard and decide to head back to the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge to call for reinforcements while Lloyd and the others are ordered to be locked in the basement of the academy.
The Papal Knights and academy scientist order the half-elves in the basement to hold Lloyd and the others as criminals until they return, then leave and lock the door. Presea tells the half-elves to get away and is recognized by Kate. Zelos finds it strange that the two know each other, since half-elves of the Imperial Research Academy are never permitted to leave their labs. Lloyd thinks that’s insane, but Zelos brushes it off to have his question answered. Kate explains that Presea is their research sample to create a Cruxis Crystal by letting an Exsphere slowly feed on her body. Lloyd demands to know how she can treat people that why; Kate asks in kind how humans like Lloyd can treat half-elves the way they do. Lloyd declares that he doesn’t treat humans and half-elves any differently. At that moment, Sheena appears and tells them that Genis and Raine are being taken to Meltokio and that they can save them if they leave now. Kate demands to know if they’re going to escape. Zelos tells her that Lloyd wants to save his half-elf best friend, and although Kate thinks it’s a trick, one of the other half-elves comments that he did hear some half-elves were arrested. Lloyd, saying there’s no time, is willing to fight his way through, but Kate reveals a hidden exit and tells him that if what he says is true and he brings his half-elf friends back with him, she’ll release Presea from the experiment. As Sheena tries to hurry things along, Zelos asks who ordered the experiment on Presea; Kate tries to avoid the question, and he concludes that it was the Pope. Lloyd hurries him along and they escape the lab.
Grand Tethe’alla Bridge & Fooji Mountains
They hurry for the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge, and Sheena warns them that it’s a drawbridge so there will be nothing they can do if the knights raise the bridge on them. The knights are just exiting the other side with Raine and Genis and begin to raise the drawbridge as the others approach; Lloyd declares that they’ll have to jump it and Zelos protests, but Presea decides to continue. They try to jump across the gap as the bridge goes up, but Colette is the only one who makes it due to her angel wings and the others plunge towards the sea. Sheena summons Undine to save them, and she gets them to the other side safely. Presea reminds them to continue after their rescue and they defeat the knights holding Raine and Genis, who are surprised the others came to rescue them. Lloyd says it’s because they’re his friends, even if they’re half-elves.
Genis asks why Sheena is there, and she says she has orders from her Chief to observe their activities. Zelos elaborates that they’re trying to decide who to side with. The group trusts Sheena in any case, so Lloyd suggests that they get her to form a pact with Volt so they can take the Rheairds back to Sylvarant. Sheena appears to panic over Volt, but Zelos interjects that since Volt’s temple is back on the other side of the bridge and currently cut off, they might as well pick up the Rheairds first and that he has a ‘secret weapon’ to carry them.
Back at the summit of the Fooji Mountains, Zelos asks the others to come over to him so he can show them his secret. But then a trap catches everyone but Colette in a circular field, and Yuan declares that he set the trap. Yuan orders his Renegades to retrieve the Rheairds and tells Lloyd that he’s his. Pronyma, leader of the Five Desian Grand Cardinals, shows up. Yuan wants to know why she’s there since the Desians are supposed to be wreaking havoc on the declining world, and she says that she’s there on Yggdrasill’s orders to retrieve the Chosen. Yuan agrees as long as he can take Lloyd, which Pronyma has no problems with. She tries to remove the Key Crest from Colette’s Cruxis Crystal, but Colette suddenly awakens again and won’t let her take away Lloyd’s gift. While everyone is shocked, she knocks Pronyma away, but then trips over a device that breaks the trap, releasing the others. They take on Pronyma and defeat her; Lloyd wants to continue and fight Yuan as well, but is suddenly stopped by the intervention of Kratos. He says Yuan has been summoned by Yggdrasill and that he will not be taking the Chosen due to the toxicosis. Yuan sprouts angel wings as well and takes off, and Kratos starts questioning Lloyd’s decision in coming to Tethe’alla. Once Lloyd is fired up and determined to change the two world’s system, Kratos leaves with Pronyma.
Raine points out that they no longer need to head back to Sylvarant immediately since Colette has regained her soul, and Lloyd declares that they should now search for a way to save both worlds. Colette agrees, but Genis reminds them that they’ve been dragging Presea around, which makes Zelos remember they’re supposed to bring her to Kate. Sheena says they could use her contacts in Meltokio for help getting across the bridge, so Zelos says he’ll get them into Meltokio even though they’re fugitives.
Meltokio Sewers, Elemental Research Laboratory, & Sybak
The guards won’t let them through the front gate of Meltokio, so Zelos shows them to the underground sewer. However, the find the door inside locked, and Raine thinks that someone may have suspected they would come this way. They find a way through the sewers but are attacked by some criminals who say that the Pope promised to lighten their sentences if they got rid of the people from Sylvarant. The criminals are easily defeated, but then another man in handcuffs (Regal) jumps on Zelos from above and threatens to kill him. Presea rushes the man, who is momentarily stunned when he seems to recognize her, and pushes him back. He decides to retreat for the time being.
Once inside the city, Sheena brings them to the Elemental Research Laboratory. There, she’s greeted by Kuchinawa from Mizuho, who says that he’s on a secret mission. Sheena goes to talk to some of the half-elves at the laboratory, who suggest crossing the sea on an Elemental Cargo (EC), an Exsphere-powered transport vehicle that normally moves cargo across land. They believe that if Sheena powers it with Undine, the EC can travel across the water. The group is reluctant, but the half-elves point out that the bridge is closed, they don’t have identification to use a ship, and there are other half-elves in their group, so they have no other choice. Zelos says they can rest at his mansion while the EC is prepared. In the morning, Colette thinks she slept funny since her shoulder is stiff, but says she’s okay. They return to the lab, where the half-elves tell them that Kuchinawa already took the EC ahead to an artificial beach next to the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge. They also get a Wing Pack that can store the EC.
They meet Kuchinawa by the bridge and try using the Wing Pack; Raine feels like she’s seen it before. Kuchinawa ushers them on their way to Sybak and gives Sheena a protective charm. She successfully summons Undine to propel them over the water.
At the entrance to Sybak, they run into Kratos who says he has no intention of fighting in the city. He tells Colette to remove the Key Crest if she wants to live, but she refuses, and he leaves without further confrontations. They return through the hidden passage to the Imperial Research Academy to see Kate and prove that Lloyd is friends with half-elves. Raine asks Kate about the project Presea is involved in, and Kate calls it the Angelus Project, which Lloyd remembers as the same one his mother was in. She explains that Presea’s Exsphere has a special Key Crest that delays the Exsphere’s parasitic process from days to years, which is responsible for Presea’s suppressed heart and can cause the Exsphere to mutate into a Cruxis Crystal, at which point Presea will die; she also says the experiment was ordered by the Pope. Kate keeps her promise by telling them to see a dwarf named Altessa past Gaoracchia Forest if they want to save Presea. They decide to do so, and Lloyd and Raine wonder if the Pope has a connection to the Desians.
Gaoracchia Forest, Mizuho, & Ozette
Some Papal Knights are waiting at the entrance of the forest; the group defeats them, but decides to hurry to Altessa’s place before reinforcements arrive. Colette eventually hears the sounds of lots of footsteps and clinking armour from the direction of the forest leading to Altessa, so Sheena sends Corrine to scout. Regal drops in on them again but claims that he doesn’t want to fight, but rather wants to speak to Presea. He seems to grow angry when he sees the Exsphere on Presea, saying she’s another victim, and Lloyd and Genis grow worried over her. A fight breaks out, and Regal ends up unconscious. Raine proposes they take him prisoner for the time being, and Corrine returns to warn them that lots of soldiers are approaching. Since the Papal Knights were also at the entrance to the forest, Sheena decides there’s no choice but to take them to Mizuho. Colette still has her angel strength and carries Regal for them.
Orochi, Kuchinawa’s brother, meets them at Mizuho’s entrance and demands to know whey Sheena brought outsides. She briefly explains; he tells her to come with him and have the others wait outside the Chief’s house. Regal wakes up and they warn him not to try anything, which he accepts. Vice-Chief Tiga then calls for them and explains that Mizuho faces persecution from the Tethe’alla royal family since Sheena failed the assassination. He asks what Lloyd plans to do in Tethe’alla, and Lloyd declares that he wants to save both worlds and prevent more victims, and that if Yggdrasill made the world, then there must be a way to change it. Tiga says he sounds like the hero Mithos, and offers the aid of Mizuho’s information network under the condition that the people of Mizuho can move to Sylvarant if both worlds can be saved. He assigns Sheena to continue accompanying them, this time as Mizuho’s representative, and says they’ll work on locating the Rheairds.
While they wait, they talk to Regal a bit more to get his name, and Zelos suggests they have Regal fight with them since he plans to stick around until he can talk to Presea anyway. Genis protests, but Raine agrees, and Regal accepts the proposal. Orochi then lets them know that the forest is currently clear, so they decide to head for Altessa. Presea wants to go home, though, so they’ll go to Ozette first. On the way, Lloyd asks Regal why he’s keeping his handcuffs on and he says they’re the symbol of his crime.
They travel through Gaoracchia Forest to Ozette, a forested village where the locals are particularly hostile to half-elves. Presea runs off when they enter the village and they find her receiving orders from Rodyle in front of her house. Genis tries to tell her that they need to make a Key Crest for her, but she tells him she needs to work. Rodyle says that only Presea can retrieve the sacred wood used in the church’s rituals. After he departs, Raine says that she noticed he’s a half-elf, and Lloyd remembers they saw him in Meltokio, too. Regal wants to talk with Presea, so they go inside her house but are overwhelmed by an awful smell; they then find a decomposing body in a bed, and Raine says that because of the Exsphere, Presea doesn’t even realize the person is dead. The others don’t want to leave Presea there, but Raine advises against trying to force Presea to leave and says they should go see Altessa about the Key Crest themselves. Colette stumbles as they leave Ozette, but she says she’s fine.
Altessa’s House, Toize Valley Mine, & Ozette
They are greeted by a sort of robot girl, Tabatha, who brings them to Altessa. As soon as Lloyd mentions Presea, though, Altessa orders them to leave since he wants nothing more to do with her. Tabatha privately explains that it’s because Altessa regrets his involvement with the project, and that if they want to save Presea, they should search for inhibitor ore to make her a proper Key Crest. Altessa realizes Tabatha is still talking with them and orders her to stop and for the others to leave. Outside, Regal explains that he can show them the way to an Exsphere mine in the mountains where they can find the ore, since he wants to help Presea. Lloyd and Raine question his concern about Presea, but he says they have no relation, and Lloyd decides it’s fine for Regal to continue with them. Suspicious, Zelos privately tries to question Regal about his identity, but Regal just ignores him. Zelos knows that the only mine in the area is the Toize Valley Mine, which is owned by the Lezareno Company in Altamira.
At the mine, Regal is concerned when the find the guard system out of control, the result of someone already trying to force their way in. Lloyd’s grand plan is to simply bust it up further so they can get through, which they do. Regal shows them the way to the inhibitor ore, claiming he worked in the mine before, at which Zelos scoffs to himself. Raine appears somewhat suspicious as well, but doesn’t question him. They find the inhibitor ore, and Lloyd thinks he can make a working Key Crest if he carves the charm directly into it, though he wants Dirk or Altessa to make a proper one at some point. As they head back for the mine entrance, they run into Vharley, who Regal recognizes. Zelos also knows him as an Exsphere broker. Regal demands to know why the Pope has allowed him to stay free, and declares he’ll punish Vharley himself if the Pope won’t arrest him. Vharley calls Regal a murderer and takes off. Regal admits that he was imprisoned for committing murder but won’t explain any further to the others; although surprised, they allow him to stay with them for a little longer.
Returning to Ozette, they find the Papal Knights who want to capture Colette waiting for them. The knights are defeated, but Colette suddenly collapses in pain and Raine observes that she has a high fever but has no idea what’s causing it. Presea asks them to leave it to her, and Raine hesitantly agrees, but then Presea attacks to make everyone clear away from Colette. Rodyle praises her, and he has dragons that take Colette. Sheena summons Corrine to stop Presea from leaving with them, and Rodyle finally introduces himself as one of the Desian Grand Cardinals before departing on his dragons with Colette. With no way to stop or follow them right now, for the time being, Lloyd attaches the Key Crest to Presea, who regains her awareness—including realizing that her father is dead.
Later, after Presea’s father has been buried, Presea explains that she remembers most of what happened and that she received the Exsphere from Vharley so that she could wield an axe in her sick father’s place. Vharley introduced her to Rodyle, and she was taken to the Research Academy in Sybak for the experiment ordered by the Pope. Regal asks if she has an older sister, which she denies. Raine instead asks if she has any other family; Presea answers that her younger sister left to go into service for a nobleman and her mother died when she was a child. Zelos observes that she is still a child, though. She asks to come along with the group since she was responsible for Colette’s capture; Regal also still wants to accompany them, saying his fate is linked to their enemy. The group agrees, although Raine says she opposes it but knew it would turn out like this anyway. Kratos then shows up, observing that they’ve lost the Chosen. He says that Rodyle is acting on his own and not following Cruxis’ orders. He also claims that Colette is useless and that Rodyle will have no choice but to abandon her, but Lloyd is still determined to rescue her. Kratos then suggests he find the Rheairds, which the people of Mizuho have probably located by now, and search the eastern skies. He then departs and although Lloyd is confused, Zelos says they might as well make use of him. Sheena agrees and they head for Mizuho again.
Mizuho & Temple of Lightning
They meet with Tiga in Mizuho and, just like Kratos said, he tells them the Rheairds have just been located. However, they still have no way to power the Rheairds, so Tiga tells Sheena that she must make a pact with Volt. She immediately says she can’t and runs out, upset. Tiga explains that Sheena failed to make a pact with Volt in the past, which is why their Chief is in a coma. Zelos says that a quarter of Mizuho’s population died in the incident. Lloyd goes to talk to Sheena and tries to encourage her by saying that they won’t die since Sheena’s succeeded in summoning spirits now, and that he’ll fight Volt even if she does fail. She agrees to try, though she’s still worried; Corrine vows to protect her, but she doesn’t think he’s capable of it. Tiga says he’ll send Orochi along later to tell them where to find the Rheairds, so they set out for the Temple of Lightning.
There is no Oracle Stone at the temple and they easily get in even without Colette; Raine points out that since this is the flourishing world, it probably isn’t functioning as a seal at that moment. They make it to the altar, which Sheena approaches. Volt appears in response to her, but she panics when she can’t understand his speech. Raine, however, is able to translate that Volt, too, has a pact with Mithos, meaning Mithos was able to travel between both worlds. Volt says that although his pact with Mithos is broken, he doesn’t want to make a new one and no longer wants to deal with people. Sheena tries to insist, but then Volt goes berserk and attacks, blowing them all away from the altar. He comes at Sheena, but Corrine jumps in the way of the attack and is fatally electrocuted. Corrine encourages Sheena to try the pact again with his dying breath, and then he fades and leaves behind only his bell. Lloyd also urges Sheena to try again so that she’ll no longer be haunted by Volt, and she makes her stand. They manage to defeat him, and he decides to agree to Sheena’s vow.
When the pact is made, Undine appears and announces that the mana link between her and Volt has been severed because it is the first time that spirits have been simultaneously awake in both worlds. Based on this, the group believes that forming pacts with all of the spirits in Sylvarant and Tethe’alla, and subsequently severing the mana links that flow between the two worlds, will split the worlds apart so that they no longer compete for mana. They consider this as a method to save both worlds.
They meet Orochi at the entrance to the temple, who congratulates Sheena on her success. He tells them that the Rheairds were located undersea in a fjord-like area covered in ice. He says that the people from Mizuho will make preparations to infiltrate the Renegade Base there, and the others head out as well.
Renegade Base & Rescuing Colette
They meet Orochi at the entrance to the base, where the current guard on duty is one of Mizuho’s spies that infiltrated the Renegades. He lets them in; Zelos vanishes for a few moments and then returns with an excuse about looking around for traps, and Orochi gives them directions to the hangar. He also warns that the Rheairds likely won’t be able to travel to Sylvarant, since the dimensional transfer system needs a special energy charge from the base. When they reach the hangar, they find a trap: Yuan and Botta are waiting for them. However, the group defeats them, and Yuan marvels that Lloyd’s Exsphere is evolving. They’re interrupted by the shaking of an earthquake, and take the opportunity to get the Rheairds. Botta wonders if the earthquake means a mana link has been broken, and Yuan orders the Renegades to investigate. When asked about the Rheairds, he says that their “little friend” can tell them the location at any time.
Lloyd’s group searches the skies as Kratos advised, and they find a small landmass floating in the sky. Colette is imprisoned there, but she warns them as they approach that it’s a trap. Rodyle is waiting and Presea attacks him, but his form vanishes and reappears and Raine realizes that it’s an illusion/projection. Rodyle says they can have Colette back since she’s useless, cryptically stating that he now knows why Yggdrasill left her alone. He summons his dragons to attack the group; the dragons are defeated, but they’re then caught in a trap caused by the magic circle under Colette and are unable to move. Colette blames herself, but Presea disagrees and struggles forward to break the imprisonment and release everyone. The landmass collapses into the sea and they escape on the Rheairds. Regal questions why Rodyle wanted Colette; she says that he wanted to use her Cruxis Crystal to power his Mana Cannon but that hers wouldn’t work for some reason. Presea wakes up again, and Regal mutters something about her resembling someone. They decide to get under way with forming pacts with all of the Summon Spirits; Lloyd asks Raine’s opinion but she seems distracted.
Temple of Earth, Temple of Ice, Ozette, & Altessa’s House
The pact is made with Gnome at the Temple of Earth, after which they head for Flanoir to look for Celsius. The Temple of Ice is located not far from the city, and they form the pact with Celsius there. Both Celsius and Gnome were also previously bound to Mithos.
After they exit the temple, they see an enormous bolt of lightning in the sky in the direction of Ozette, towards which they hurry. They find the village being razed to the ground by fire. They locate one living person, a boy, who they take to the area near Presea’s house, which escaped the fire. The boy explains that the lightning rained down on the village and then angels attacked. He identifies himself as Mithos saying he lived on the outskirts of the village, and Genis recognizes him as a half-elf. Altessa shows up in the village to see what happened since he spotted the lightning, and is shocked when he sees that Presea regained her awareness. He wonders if Ozette’s destruction was punishment for failing the experiment but then takes off. They decide to follow him and encourage Mithos to come along.
They catch up with Altessa at his house, where he tells them he was a craftsman for Cruxis. When he began to hate the work he did, he hid in Ozette but was discovered by Rodyle, who forced him to participate in the experiment on Presea. Rodyle, however, was planning to revolt against Cruxis, so Altessa believes Ozette’s destruction was punishment for that. Although Presea is angry with him, she follows the group into his home when they decide to get as much information about Cruxis as they can.
Altessa tells them that Cruxis is made up almost entirely of half-elves, with many dwarves also working for them. Cruxis’ objectives are to begin an Age of Half-Elves and to revive Martel by fusing her soul with the Chosen. Exspheres and Cruxis Crystals awaken when stimulated by fear, suffering, and combat, and so the Desians deliberately put the Chosen in danger in order to facilitate the angel transformation. In addition, he knows that Rodyle is constructing a Mana Cannon in Sylvarant. He also confirms that he heard Yggdrasill anchored the two worlds together via four mana links and placed the Great Seed between them. Mithos reminds Lloyd that the Great Seed is what they call the soul of the hero Mithos. Genis wonders why the same legend exists in both Sylvarant and Tethe’alla; Altessa suggests that it’s possible to travel between the two worlds at their poles and that the ancient Mithos may have done so. Raine then brings up the possibility that the Ancient War may have actually been fought between Sylvarant and Tethe’alla, and that the Holy Ground of Kharlan, where Mithos formed the truce, may be one of those poles. Regal mentions a legend in Altamira about something called the Otherworldly Gate, which he says may be the other pole. Colette asks more about the Great Seed, but Altessa only knows that Yggdrasill declared it more important than his own life. Altessa lets them stay for the night and also says that Mithos can stay with him. Genis declares that he’ll be Mithos’ friend as well.
In the morning, Lloyd is abruptly woken by Colette who tells him that Raine is missing. She had left a note that she wanted something to investigate; Tabatha says she saw a Rheaird headed south, which Regal notes as the direction to Altamira. They decide to follow her, with Mithos also coming along, and Altessa gives Presea a proper Key Crest before they leave.
Altamira & Otherworldly Gate
At the entrance to Altamira, Regal claims he’ll wait outside but won’t say why. A man in the city, George, mistakes Presea for a girl named Alicia, but Presea says that Alicia is her sister. George says that Alicia passed away several years ago during an incident while she was in service to the noble Bryant family. George won’t talk about the incident but asks them to visit Alicia’s grave in the Sky Terrace of the Lezareno Company headquarters. They visit the Sky Terrace but find an Exsphere embedded in Alicia’s grave. A transparent Alicia then appears in front of the grave to talk to them, explaining that her soul exists in the Exsphere but her consciousness will soon be gone, and that the Exsphere killed her body. Alicia asks Presea to find the Bryant noble that she served, saying that he killed her, but she is unable to further explain and fades away. Presea vows to find Alicia’s killer. On the way out of the building, they overhear some employees mentioning the Otherworldly Gate and ask about it; they explain that it’s just east of the island but that legends say it will open on a full moon and suck anyone there into Sylvarant. They decide to see if Raine is there and meet back up with Regal as they exit the city.
They make it to the gate by night, with a full moon overhead, and find Raine there. Raine finally explains that she had caught sight of the gate when they rescued Colette and couldn’t get it out of her mind; she and Genis were born in Heimdall, the secret village of elves, and that they were eventually abandoned at the gate when Genis was a newborn, meaning they were both originally from Tethe’alla before they ended up in Sylvarant. Kuchinawa then shows up to say that he wants to avenge his parents’ death, for which he blames Sheena, who failed her first attempt at the pact with Volt but is now making pacts with all of the Summon Spirits. He has a large number of Papal Knights with him and they surround the group; Sheena tries to make a deal with Kuchinawa to let him kill her and have the others go free, but then the Otherworldly Gate opens, so Zelos grabs Sheena and runs in, with the others following. They end up back in Sylvarant, on the outskirts of Palmacosta. They want to know what the Desians are up to but are worried about Mithos, so they decide to ask Neil at the Palmacosta government to look him for a while.
Part III here.
Renegade Base & Fooji Mountains
Lloyd wakes up and tries to ask Colette if she’s okay, but the others tell him she won’t respond at all. Raine brings his attention to the fact that they’re at the Renegade Base in the Triet Desert where Lloyd was brought before. She summarizes the situation, telling him the Renegades oppose the Desians and suggesting that Cruxis and the Desians may be the same organization based on what Yggdrasill said. She also concludes that Kratos probably joined them to make sure that Colette didn’t stray from the journey of regeneration, and Lloyd is furious about being deceived the whole time. One of the Renegades brings the group to Yuan and Botta, who confirm some of their new findings and also drop some novel bombshells: Cruxis operates the Church of Martel in the open, while the Desians are a subordinate organization that operates behind the scenes of Cruxis; angels are half-elves that evolved using Cruxis Crystals, special types of Exspheres; and Yggdrasill created the two worlds. Lloyd wants to know why the Renegades saved them when they tried to kill Colette before. Yuan and Botta explain that their goal is to stop Martel’s revival and hence they tried to kill Colette, but now that she completed the angel transformation, they wouldn’t dare try to harm her since only goal is self-preservation. Yuan then proclaims that they no longer need the Chosen but do need Lloyd; Lloyd demands to know why but Yuan is done explaining and tells his men to grab them. Lloyd lashes out and Yuan collapses, prompting Botta to mention that it’s the wound from Hima and Lloyd realizes Yuan was the one who tried to assassinate Kratos. Sheena urges Lloyd to stop dawdling and summons her artificial Summon Spirit, Corrine, to hold off the Renegades while they escape.
During their escape, they wonder why Martel needs a vessel, since that seems to imply that she doesn’t have a body. Raine suggests that since Colette’s body is living without her heart, the opposite might also be possible. Lloyd, still reeling from everything that’s happened, wants to save Colette but nobody is sure what to do. Raine starts asking Sheena about her Exsphere, and Sheena explains that she got it from the Renegades, who brought the technology to Tethe’alla where it is mainly used in machines. The Renegades also gave Tethe’alla the information about the two worlds and told the King and Pope to assassinate Sylvarant’s Chosen in order to save Tethe’alla. Raine then suggests they go to Tethe’alla since Colette’s condition is caused by the Cruxis Crystal and Tethe’alla may know more; Sheena agrees since the Cruxis Crystal of Tethe’alla’s Chosen is under study. Lloyd takes a moment to wonder why Martel’s vessel hasn’t been completed when there have been so many Chosens, but since there are so many unknown answers, he wants to focus on saving Colette for the time being. Raine asks Sheena how to get to Tethe’alla; crafts called Rheairds, stored somewhere on the base, can travel through a distortion in space between the two worlds. The group searches the base for the Rheairds, which they ride to cross through to Tethe’alla. However, when they arrive, the Rheairds suddenly lose power and Sheena realizes that because the seals were released Sylvarant, the mana in Tethe’alla has decreased and can no longer sustain the Rheairds, so they crash.
They crash on top of the Fooji Mountains, though manage to avoid destroying the Rheairds. Raine suggests that Volt’s lightning could be used to power them, but Sheena protests that she hasn’t yet made a pact with Volt. They then notice that the Tower of Salvation is also present in Tethe’alla since it appears in the flourishing world and they wonder if there are two towers. They begin comparing history: in both cases, the tower lies on the Holy Ground of Kharlan, and both worlds have records and relics from when the hero Mithos brought the ancient kings there to sign a peace treaty. After arguing a little about whether or not one world’s must be fake, they decide to get going. Raine puzzles over Kratos some more; she had originally found it suspicious that he knew too much, but also says that she thought there was a gentleness in the way he spoke to Lloyd. Sheena agrees that he didn’t seem cold-hearted at the Asgard Human Ranch, but there isn’t anything more they know right now. Sheena decides that they should head for Meltokio, the centre of Tethe’alla where the king lives.
Meltokio & Grand Tethe'alla Bridge
At the entrance to Meltokio, Sheena parts gives them a letter for the king and says she needs to leave to report her failure to assassinate the Chosen to her Chief. The Imperial Research Academy is under the control of the royal family, so they must get the king’s help. Sheena departs, and the group enters the city to look around. Colette kicks away a dog that approaches her, and a man (Rodyle, though they don’t know him yet) laughs her as he passes by. Afterwards, she bumps into Zelos who tries to hit on her, but she tosses him several feet away. He recovers surprisingly quickly and lands on his feet. Lloyd asks him who he is, but he doesn’t want to talk to guys and moves onto Raine, who tells him to give his name before she’ll give hers. He’s surprised that they don’t know who he is, but his posse of girls hurries him to get going, so he takes off. Raine notes that he had an Exsphere.
They ask the guards at the castle to let them meet the king, but the king is apparently ill and refusing audiences. The guards simply recommend that they ask the priests of the Church of Martel to ensure that they pray for his recovery as soon as possible, as they are preparing for a prayer ritual. Lloyd decides they might as well head for the church; the guards change shift as they leave. In the church, they overhear the priest telling Presea to bring a log of sacred wood to the castle for the prayer ritual and that the prayers will take place in the royal chamber. Lloyd sees that she also has an Exsphere. He then comes up with the idea to ask Presea to let them carry the sacred wood so that they can get into the castle. Raine agrees that they can at least try talking to her. Outside the church, Presea is talking to a man (Vharley) who is assigning her next job; the man then mentions that he needs to report to Rodyle. After he leaves, the group approaches Presea. She seems to ignore them at first, but Raine and Lloyd explain that Colette’s life depends on it, and finally tells them to carry the log. However, Lloyd and Genis find it much too heavy, so she carries it and the others follow. The guards had changed shift, so they don’t recognize the group, and trust when Presea says that they’re helping her since she hardly ever speaks.
They make it into the castle, and Presea accompanies them for the time being since Raine notes that it would look suspicious if she left without them. Lloyd and Raine deceive the guard at the royal chamber by claiming that the Pope asked them to help with the prayer ritual; Lloyd knocks him out when he turns to the door to ask the Pope, and they break in. They find Zelos inside, who the Pope addresses as Chosen. Raine says that he’s Tethe’alla’s Chosen, which makes the Pope and Zelos suspicious and they ask if the group is from Sylvarant. Lloyd says they are and that he has a letter from Sheena; Zelos wants to know how they know Sheena but the king wants to see the letter. The king then asks them to wait elsewhere, so they are shown to a different room. It seems that they wait for quite a while, and Raine suspects the king might have them killed. Genis worries about Presea and apologizes for getting her involved, though she doesn’t respond. The Pope then returns with some knights and Zelos confirms that they want to save Sylvarant’s Chosen using Tethe’alla’s technology. The Pope opposes the plan and orders the knights to apprehend them, but between Colette’s strength and the group’s Exspheres, the few knights are easily overpowered. Raine then proposes a deal: since Colette lost her soul because she became an angel to save Sylvarant, Sylvarant will not be saved and Tethe’alla will be safe if she doesn’t become an angel. Zelos, too, realizes that would be in Tethe’alla’s interests. The Pope claims that Raine would then be abandoning Sylvarant and she says she doesn’t care, since their current priority is to save Colette. Lloyd agrees, but the Pope still seems hesitant, so Zelos volunteers to keep tabs on them and prevent them from returning to Sylvarant, since that would keep them from completing the regeneration anyway. The Pope agrees to let them travel Tethe’alla under this condition, and so Zelos has them wait at the Martel Cathedral while he reports to the king.
Introductions are made in the cathedral, where Presea reveals that she’s from Ozette. Zelos calls the group uncivilized barbarians but then says that he went ahead and contacted the Imperial Research Academy for them. Raine says they can free Presea now, but Zelos suggests she stick with them for a while since the academy in Sybak and Ozette are on the same continent.
In order to get to Sybak, they have to cross the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge. Zelos tries to impress them by declaring that the bridge is powered by 3000 Exspheres, but that only horrifies the group since they know that Exspheres are made from human lives. They tell Zelos the truth, but he seems to get over it quickly. Lloyd asks about Zelos’ and Presea’s Exspheres; Zelos says he got his from the Renegades but Presea gives no answer. While they cross the bridge, Raine brings up that the name Ozette sounds familiar to her, but Lloyd just replies that she’s thinking of Colette since he thinks they sound similar. Zelos points out that Colette and Presea seem similar since neither of them really smile or make other expressions.
Sybak
Presea speaks up when they enter Sybak to say that she hates the city and wants them to hurry to Ozette. The others apologize and promise to be quick. A scientist who received word from Zelos earlier greets them at the Imperial Research Academy and talks about research done on Zelos’ Cruxis Crystal. He believes Cruxis Crystals are evolved Exspheres and describes both as lifeless beings, to Raine’s surprise. He says they are like parasites fusing with other life forms and that they cause the host body’s mana to lose balance and go out of control if there is no Key Crest, which is why those people turn into monsters. The scientist believes that, since the Cruxis Crystal is similar, Colette is suffering from parasitic infection by the crystal. Raine goes on to guess that the process of releasing the seals may promote the Chosen’s fusion with the Cruxis Crystal, which she finds fascinating. Zelos therefore suggests that Colette might return to normal with a Key Crest, and the scientist agrees, though they aren’t sure where to find one. In a bazaar outside the academy, though, Lloyd spots a Key Crest and Zelos makes the vendor give it to them by using his title of Chosen.
They return to the Academy so Lloyd can borrow a lab to fix it, and he attaches it to the necklace he finally finished as Colette’s late birthday present. However, when he puts it on Colette, it doesn’t appear to have any effect. Raine suggests that they ask Dirk for help, which would mean returning to Sylvarant, and Zelos protests since he’s along to prevent that. They coerce by saying that he’s kind to girls and it’s for Colette, so he reluctantly agrees. The Papal Knights abruptly show up and proclaim that they overheard, branding Zelos and the group as traitors against Tethe’alla. He comments on their convenient timing and they respond that they were under orders to watch him for suspicions of plotting against the throne; Zelos finds this amusing. The knights restrain the group and begin taking biological samples; Lloyd asks what they’re doing, and Zelos says that it’s because of the caste system and because some half-elves look identical to humans. The knights interrupt to say they have a match with Raine and Genis, meaning the two are not pure-blooded elves as they have claimed, but half-elves. Raine admits that it’s true since they can’t hide it now. The knights declare that they have engaged in caste deception and all half-elven criminals are executed without exception. Lloyd protests, saying that even if they’re half-elves, they’re better people than the knights, but the knights order them taken away. Since half-elves can use magic, the knights want to keep them under heavy guard and decide to head back to the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge to call for reinforcements while Lloyd and the others are ordered to be locked in the basement of the academy.
The Papal Knights and academy scientist order the half-elves in the basement to hold Lloyd and the others as criminals until they return, then leave and lock the door. Presea tells the half-elves to get away and is recognized by Kate. Zelos finds it strange that the two know each other, since half-elves of the Imperial Research Academy are never permitted to leave their labs. Lloyd thinks that’s insane, but Zelos brushes it off to have his question answered. Kate explains that Presea is their research sample to create a Cruxis Crystal by letting an Exsphere slowly feed on her body. Lloyd demands to know how she can treat people that why; Kate asks in kind how humans like Lloyd can treat half-elves the way they do. Lloyd declares that he doesn’t treat humans and half-elves any differently. At that moment, Sheena appears and tells them that Genis and Raine are being taken to Meltokio and that they can save them if they leave now. Kate demands to know if they’re going to escape. Zelos tells her that Lloyd wants to save his half-elf best friend, and although Kate thinks it’s a trick, one of the other half-elves comments that he did hear some half-elves were arrested. Lloyd, saying there’s no time, is willing to fight his way through, but Kate reveals a hidden exit and tells him that if what he says is true and he brings his half-elf friends back with him, she’ll release Presea from the experiment. As Sheena tries to hurry things along, Zelos asks who ordered the experiment on Presea; Kate tries to avoid the question, and he concludes that it was the Pope. Lloyd hurries him along and they escape the lab.
Grand Tethe’alla Bridge & Fooji Mountains
They hurry for the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge, and Sheena warns them that it’s a drawbridge so there will be nothing they can do if the knights raise the bridge on them. The knights are just exiting the other side with Raine and Genis and begin to raise the drawbridge as the others approach; Lloyd declares that they’ll have to jump it and Zelos protests, but Presea decides to continue. They try to jump across the gap as the bridge goes up, but Colette is the only one who makes it due to her angel wings and the others plunge towards the sea. Sheena summons Undine to save them, and she gets them to the other side safely. Presea reminds them to continue after their rescue and they defeat the knights holding Raine and Genis, who are surprised the others came to rescue them. Lloyd says it’s because they’re his friends, even if they’re half-elves.
Genis asks why Sheena is there, and she says she has orders from her Chief to observe their activities. Zelos elaborates that they’re trying to decide who to side with. The group trusts Sheena in any case, so Lloyd suggests that they get her to form a pact with Volt so they can take the Rheairds back to Sylvarant. Sheena appears to panic over Volt, but Zelos interjects that since Volt’s temple is back on the other side of the bridge and currently cut off, they might as well pick up the Rheairds first and that he has a ‘secret weapon’ to carry them.
Back at the summit of the Fooji Mountains, Zelos asks the others to come over to him so he can show them his secret. But then a trap catches everyone but Colette in a circular field, and Yuan declares that he set the trap. Yuan orders his Renegades to retrieve the Rheairds and tells Lloyd that he’s his. Pronyma, leader of the Five Desian Grand Cardinals, shows up. Yuan wants to know why she’s there since the Desians are supposed to be wreaking havoc on the declining world, and she says that she’s there on Yggdrasill’s orders to retrieve the Chosen. Yuan agrees as long as he can take Lloyd, which Pronyma has no problems with. She tries to remove the Key Crest from Colette’s Cruxis Crystal, but Colette suddenly awakens again and won’t let her take away Lloyd’s gift. While everyone is shocked, she knocks Pronyma away, but then trips over a device that breaks the trap, releasing the others. They take on Pronyma and defeat her; Lloyd wants to continue and fight Yuan as well, but is suddenly stopped by the intervention of Kratos. He says Yuan has been summoned by Yggdrasill and that he will not be taking the Chosen due to the toxicosis. Yuan sprouts angel wings as well and takes off, and Kratos starts questioning Lloyd’s decision in coming to Tethe’alla. Once Lloyd is fired up and determined to change the two world’s system, Kratos leaves with Pronyma.
Raine points out that they no longer need to head back to Sylvarant immediately since Colette has regained her soul, and Lloyd declares that they should now search for a way to save both worlds. Colette agrees, but Genis reminds them that they’ve been dragging Presea around, which makes Zelos remember they’re supposed to bring her to Kate. Sheena says they could use her contacts in Meltokio for help getting across the bridge, so Zelos says he’ll get them into Meltokio even though they’re fugitives.
Meltokio Sewers, Elemental Research Laboratory, & Sybak
The guards won’t let them through the front gate of Meltokio, so Zelos shows them to the underground sewer. However, the find the door inside locked, and Raine thinks that someone may have suspected they would come this way. They find a way through the sewers but are attacked by some criminals who say that the Pope promised to lighten their sentences if they got rid of the people from Sylvarant. The criminals are easily defeated, but then another man in handcuffs (Regal) jumps on Zelos from above and threatens to kill him. Presea rushes the man, who is momentarily stunned when he seems to recognize her, and pushes him back. He decides to retreat for the time being.
Once inside the city, Sheena brings them to the Elemental Research Laboratory. There, she’s greeted by Kuchinawa from Mizuho, who says that he’s on a secret mission. Sheena goes to talk to some of the half-elves at the laboratory, who suggest crossing the sea on an Elemental Cargo (EC), an Exsphere-powered transport vehicle that normally moves cargo across land. They believe that if Sheena powers it with Undine, the EC can travel across the water. The group is reluctant, but the half-elves point out that the bridge is closed, they don’t have identification to use a ship, and there are other half-elves in their group, so they have no other choice. Zelos says they can rest at his mansion while the EC is prepared. In the morning, Colette thinks she slept funny since her shoulder is stiff, but says she’s okay. They return to the lab, where the half-elves tell them that Kuchinawa already took the EC ahead to an artificial beach next to the Grand Tethe’alla Bridge. They also get a Wing Pack that can store the EC.
They meet Kuchinawa by the bridge and try using the Wing Pack; Raine feels like she’s seen it before. Kuchinawa ushers them on their way to Sybak and gives Sheena a protective charm. She successfully summons Undine to propel them over the water.
At the entrance to Sybak, they run into Kratos who says he has no intention of fighting in the city. He tells Colette to remove the Key Crest if she wants to live, but she refuses, and he leaves without further confrontations. They return through the hidden passage to the Imperial Research Academy to see Kate and prove that Lloyd is friends with half-elves. Raine asks Kate about the project Presea is involved in, and Kate calls it the Angelus Project, which Lloyd remembers as the same one his mother was in. She explains that Presea’s Exsphere has a special Key Crest that delays the Exsphere’s parasitic process from days to years, which is responsible for Presea’s suppressed heart and can cause the Exsphere to mutate into a Cruxis Crystal, at which point Presea will die; she also says the experiment was ordered by the Pope. Kate keeps her promise by telling them to see a dwarf named Altessa past Gaoracchia Forest if they want to save Presea. They decide to do so, and Lloyd and Raine wonder if the Pope has a connection to the Desians.
Gaoracchia Forest, Mizuho, & Ozette
Some Papal Knights are waiting at the entrance of the forest; the group defeats them, but decides to hurry to Altessa’s place before reinforcements arrive. Colette eventually hears the sounds of lots of footsteps and clinking armour from the direction of the forest leading to Altessa, so Sheena sends Corrine to scout. Regal drops in on them again but claims that he doesn’t want to fight, but rather wants to speak to Presea. He seems to grow angry when he sees the Exsphere on Presea, saying she’s another victim, and Lloyd and Genis grow worried over her. A fight breaks out, and Regal ends up unconscious. Raine proposes they take him prisoner for the time being, and Corrine returns to warn them that lots of soldiers are approaching. Since the Papal Knights were also at the entrance to the forest, Sheena decides there’s no choice but to take them to Mizuho. Colette still has her angel strength and carries Regal for them.
Orochi, Kuchinawa’s brother, meets them at Mizuho’s entrance and demands to know whey Sheena brought outsides. She briefly explains; he tells her to come with him and have the others wait outside the Chief’s house. Regal wakes up and they warn him not to try anything, which he accepts. Vice-Chief Tiga then calls for them and explains that Mizuho faces persecution from the Tethe’alla royal family since Sheena failed the assassination. He asks what Lloyd plans to do in Tethe’alla, and Lloyd declares that he wants to save both worlds and prevent more victims, and that if Yggdrasill made the world, then there must be a way to change it. Tiga says he sounds like the hero Mithos, and offers the aid of Mizuho’s information network under the condition that the people of Mizuho can move to Sylvarant if both worlds can be saved. He assigns Sheena to continue accompanying them, this time as Mizuho’s representative, and says they’ll work on locating the Rheairds.
While they wait, they talk to Regal a bit more to get his name, and Zelos suggests they have Regal fight with them since he plans to stick around until he can talk to Presea anyway. Genis protests, but Raine agrees, and Regal accepts the proposal. Orochi then lets them know that the forest is currently clear, so they decide to head for Altessa. Presea wants to go home, though, so they’ll go to Ozette first. On the way, Lloyd asks Regal why he’s keeping his handcuffs on and he says they’re the symbol of his crime.
They travel through Gaoracchia Forest to Ozette, a forested village where the locals are particularly hostile to half-elves. Presea runs off when they enter the village and they find her receiving orders from Rodyle in front of her house. Genis tries to tell her that they need to make a Key Crest for her, but she tells him she needs to work. Rodyle says that only Presea can retrieve the sacred wood used in the church’s rituals. After he departs, Raine says that she noticed he’s a half-elf, and Lloyd remembers they saw him in Meltokio, too. Regal wants to talk with Presea, so they go inside her house but are overwhelmed by an awful smell; they then find a decomposing body in a bed, and Raine says that because of the Exsphere, Presea doesn’t even realize the person is dead. The others don’t want to leave Presea there, but Raine advises against trying to force Presea to leave and says they should go see Altessa about the Key Crest themselves. Colette stumbles as they leave Ozette, but she says she’s fine.
Altessa’s House, Toize Valley Mine, & Ozette
They are greeted by a sort of robot girl, Tabatha, who brings them to Altessa. As soon as Lloyd mentions Presea, though, Altessa orders them to leave since he wants nothing more to do with her. Tabatha privately explains that it’s because Altessa regrets his involvement with the project, and that if they want to save Presea, they should search for inhibitor ore to make her a proper Key Crest. Altessa realizes Tabatha is still talking with them and orders her to stop and for the others to leave. Outside, Regal explains that he can show them the way to an Exsphere mine in the mountains where they can find the ore, since he wants to help Presea. Lloyd and Raine question his concern about Presea, but he says they have no relation, and Lloyd decides it’s fine for Regal to continue with them. Suspicious, Zelos privately tries to question Regal about his identity, but Regal just ignores him. Zelos knows that the only mine in the area is the Toize Valley Mine, which is owned by the Lezareno Company in Altamira.
At the mine, Regal is concerned when the find the guard system out of control, the result of someone already trying to force their way in. Lloyd’s grand plan is to simply bust it up further so they can get through, which they do. Regal shows them the way to the inhibitor ore, claiming he worked in the mine before, at which Zelos scoffs to himself. Raine appears somewhat suspicious as well, but doesn’t question him. They find the inhibitor ore, and Lloyd thinks he can make a working Key Crest if he carves the charm directly into it, though he wants Dirk or Altessa to make a proper one at some point. As they head back for the mine entrance, they run into Vharley, who Regal recognizes. Zelos also knows him as an Exsphere broker. Regal demands to know why the Pope has allowed him to stay free, and declares he’ll punish Vharley himself if the Pope won’t arrest him. Vharley calls Regal a murderer and takes off. Regal admits that he was imprisoned for committing murder but won’t explain any further to the others; although surprised, they allow him to stay with them for a little longer.
Returning to Ozette, they find the Papal Knights who want to capture Colette waiting for them. The knights are defeated, but Colette suddenly collapses in pain and Raine observes that she has a high fever but has no idea what’s causing it. Presea asks them to leave it to her, and Raine hesitantly agrees, but then Presea attacks to make everyone clear away from Colette. Rodyle praises her, and he has dragons that take Colette. Sheena summons Corrine to stop Presea from leaving with them, and Rodyle finally introduces himself as one of the Desian Grand Cardinals before departing on his dragons with Colette. With no way to stop or follow them right now, for the time being, Lloyd attaches the Key Crest to Presea, who regains her awareness—including realizing that her father is dead.
Later, after Presea’s father has been buried, Presea explains that she remembers most of what happened and that she received the Exsphere from Vharley so that she could wield an axe in her sick father’s place. Vharley introduced her to Rodyle, and she was taken to the Research Academy in Sybak for the experiment ordered by the Pope. Regal asks if she has an older sister, which she denies. Raine instead asks if she has any other family; Presea answers that her younger sister left to go into service for a nobleman and her mother died when she was a child. Zelos observes that she is still a child, though. She asks to come along with the group since she was responsible for Colette’s capture; Regal also still wants to accompany them, saying his fate is linked to their enemy. The group agrees, although Raine says she opposes it but knew it would turn out like this anyway. Kratos then shows up, observing that they’ve lost the Chosen. He says that Rodyle is acting on his own and not following Cruxis’ orders. He also claims that Colette is useless and that Rodyle will have no choice but to abandon her, but Lloyd is still determined to rescue her. Kratos then suggests he find the Rheairds, which the people of Mizuho have probably located by now, and search the eastern skies. He then departs and although Lloyd is confused, Zelos says they might as well make use of him. Sheena agrees and they head for Mizuho again.
Mizuho & Temple of Lightning
They meet with Tiga in Mizuho and, just like Kratos said, he tells them the Rheairds have just been located. However, they still have no way to power the Rheairds, so Tiga tells Sheena that she must make a pact with Volt. She immediately says she can’t and runs out, upset. Tiga explains that Sheena failed to make a pact with Volt in the past, which is why their Chief is in a coma. Zelos says that a quarter of Mizuho’s population died in the incident. Lloyd goes to talk to Sheena and tries to encourage her by saying that they won’t die since Sheena’s succeeded in summoning spirits now, and that he’ll fight Volt even if she does fail. She agrees to try, though she’s still worried; Corrine vows to protect her, but she doesn’t think he’s capable of it. Tiga says he’ll send Orochi along later to tell them where to find the Rheairds, so they set out for the Temple of Lightning.
There is no Oracle Stone at the temple and they easily get in even without Colette; Raine points out that since this is the flourishing world, it probably isn’t functioning as a seal at that moment. They make it to the altar, which Sheena approaches. Volt appears in response to her, but she panics when she can’t understand his speech. Raine, however, is able to translate that Volt, too, has a pact with Mithos, meaning Mithos was able to travel between both worlds. Volt says that although his pact with Mithos is broken, he doesn’t want to make a new one and no longer wants to deal with people. Sheena tries to insist, but then Volt goes berserk and attacks, blowing them all away from the altar. He comes at Sheena, but Corrine jumps in the way of the attack and is fatally electrocuted. Corrine encourages Sheena to try the pact again with his dying breath, and then he fades and leaves behind only his bell. Lloyd also urges Sheena to try again so that she’ll no longer be haunted by Volt, and she makes her stand. They manage to defeat him, and he decides to agree to Sheena’s vow.
When the pact is made, Undine appears and announces that the mana link between her and Volt has been severed because it is the first time that spirits have been simultaneously awake in both worlds. Based on this, the group believes that forming pacts with all of the spirits in Sylvarant and Tethe’alla, and subsequently severing the mana links that flow between the two worlds, will split the worlds apart so that they no longer compete for mana. They consider this as a method to save both worlds.
They meet Orochi at the entrance to the temple, who congratulates Sheena on her success. He tells them that the Rheairds were located undersea in a fjord-like area covered in ice. He says that the people from Mizuho will make preparations to infiltrate the Renegade Base there, and the others head out as well.
Renegade Base & Rescuing Colette
They meet Orochi at the entrance to the base, where the current guard on duty is one of Mizuho’s spies that infiltrated the Renegades. He lets them in; Zelos vanishes for a few moments and then returns with an excuse about looking around for traps, and Orochi gives them directions to the hangar. He also warns that the Rheairds likely won’t be able to travel to Sylvarant, since the dimensional transfer system needs a special energy charge from the base. When they reach the hangar, they find a trap: Yuan and Botta are waiting for them. However, the group defeats them, and Yuan marvels that Lloyd’s Exsphere is evolving. They’re interrupted by the shaking of an earthquake, and take the opportunity to get the Rheairds. Botta wonders if the earthquake means a mana link has been broken, and Yuan orders the Renegades to investigate. When asked about the Rheairds, he says that their “little friend” can tell them the location at any time.
Lloyd’s group searches the skies as Kratos advised, and they find a small landmass floating in the sky. Colette is imprisoned there, but she warns them as they approach that it’s a trap. Rodyle is waiting and Presea attacks him, but his form vanishes and reappears and Raine realizes that it’s an illusion/projection. Rodyle says they can have Colette back since she’s useless, cryptically stating that he now knows why Yggdrasill left her alone. He summons his dragons to attack the group; the dragons are defeated, but they’re then caught in a trap caused by the magic circle under Colette and are unable to move. Colette blames herself, but Presea disagrees and struggles forward to break the imprisonment and release everyone. The landmass collapses into the sea and they escape on the Rheairds. Regal questions why Rodyle wanted Colette; she says that he wanted to use her Cruxis Crystal to power his Mana Cannon but that hers wouldn’t work for some reason. Presea wakes up again, and Regal mutters something about her resembling someone. They decide to get under way with forming pacts with all of the Summon Spirits; Lloyd asks Raine’s opinion but she seems distracted.
Temple of Earth, Temple of Ice, Ozette, & Altessa’s House
The pact is made with Gnome at the Temple of Earth, after which they head for Flanoir to look for Celsius. The Temple of Ice is located not far from the city, and they form the pact with Celsius there. Both Celsius and Gnome were also previously bound to Mithos.
After they exit the temple, they see an enormous bolt of lightning in the sky in the direction of Ozette, towards which they hurry. They find the village being razed to the ground by fire. They locate one living person, a boy, who they take to the area near Presea’s house, which escaped the fire. The boy explains that the lightning rained down on the village and then angels attacked. He identifies himself as Mithos saying he lived on the outskirts of the village, and Genis recognizes him as a half-elf. Altessa shows up in the village to see what happened since he spotted the lightning, and is shocked when he sees that Presea regained her awareness. He wonders if Ozette’s destruction was punishment for failing the experiment but then takes off. They decide to follow him and encourage Mithos to come along.
They catch up with Altessa at his house, where he tells them he was a craftsman for Cruxis. When he began to hate the work he did, he hid in Ozette but was discovered by Rodyle, who forced him to participate in the experiment on Presea. Rodyle, however, was planning to revolt against Cruxis, so Altessa believes Ozette’s destruction was punishment for that. Although Presea is angry with him, she follows the group into his home when they decide to get as much information about Cruxis as they can.
Altessa tells them that Cruxis is made up almost entirely of half-elves, with many dwarves also working for them. Cruxis’ objectives are to begin an Age of Half-Elves and to revive Martel by fusing her soul with the Chosen. Exspheres and Cruxis Crystals awaken when stimulated by fear, suffering, and combat, and so the Desians deliberately put the Chosen in danger in order to facilitate the angel transformation. In addition, he knows that Rodyle is constructing a Mana Cannon in Sylvarant. He also confirms that he heard Yggdrasill anchored the two worlds together via four mana links and placed the Great Seed between them. Mithos reminds Lloyd that the Great Seed is what they call the soul of the hero Mithos. Genis wonders why the same legend exists in both Sylvarant and Tethe’alla; Altessa suggests that it’s possible to travel between the two worlds at their poles and that the ancient Mithos may have done so. Raine then brings up the possibility that the Ancient War may have actually been fought between Sylvarant and Tethe’alla, and that the Holy Ground of Kharlan, where Mithos formed the truce, may be one of those poles. Regal mentions a legend in Altamira about something called the Otherworldly Gate, which he says may be the other pole. Colette asks more about the Great Seed, but Altessa only knows that Yggdrasill declared it more important than his own life. Altessa lets them stay for the night and also says that Mithos can stay with him. Genis declares that he’ll be Mithos’ friend as well.
In the morning, Lloyd is abruptly woken by Colette who tells him that Raine is missing. She had left a note that she wanted something to investigate; Tabatha says she saw a Rheaird headed south, which Regal notes as the direction to Altamira. They decide to follow her, with Mithos also coming along, and Altessa gives Presea a proper Key Crest before they leave.
Altamira & Otherworldly Gate
At the entrance to Altamira, Regal claims he’ll wait outside but won’t say why. A man in the city, George, mistakes Presea for a girl named Alicia, but Presea says that Alicia is her sister. George says that Alicia passed away several years ago during an incident while she was in service to the noble Bryant family. George won’t talk about the incident but asks them to visit Alicia’s grave in the Sky Terrace of the Lezareno Company headquarters. They visit the Sky Terrace but find an Exsphere embedded in Alicia’s grave. A transparent Alicia then appears in front of the grave to talk to them, explaining that her soul exists in the Exsphere but her consciousness will soon be gone, and that the Exsphere killed her body. Alicia asks Presea to find the Bryant noble that she served, saying that he killed her, but she is unable to further explain and fades away. Presea vows to find Alicia’s killer. On the way out of the building, they overhear some employees mentioning the Otherworldly Gate and ask about it; they explain that it’s just east of the island but that legends say it will open on a full moon and suck anyone there into Sylvarant. They decide to see if Raine is there and meet back up with Regal as they exit the city.
They make it to the gate by night, with a full moon overhead, and find Raine there. Raine finally explains that she had caught sight of the gate when they rescued Colette and couldn’t get it out of her mind; she and Genis were born in Heimdall, the secret village of elves, and that they were eventually abandoned at the gate when Genis was a newborn, meaning they were both originally from Tethe’alla before they ended up in Sylvarant. Kuchinawa then shows up to say that he wants to avenge his parents’ death, for which he blames Sheena, who failed her first attempt at the pact with Volt but is now making pacts with all of the Summon Spirits. He has a large number of Papal Knights with him and they surround the group; Sheena tries to make a deal with Kuchinawa to let him kill her and have the others go free, but then the Otherworldly Gate opens, so Zelos grabs Sheena and runs in, with the others following. They end up back in Sylvarant, on the outskirts of Palmacosta. They want to know what the Desians are up to but are worried about Mithos, so they decide to ask Neil at the Palmacosta government to look him for a while.