Tales of Symphonia Story, Tethe'alla Chronicles (3)

QUIZ START: Lloyd put the Key Crest on Colette...and it didn't work.
"How is it?" asked Genis,
"It doesn't seem to work..." Lloyd admitted sadly.
"How about asking Dirk for help?" suggested the Professor,
"But...Dirks in Sylvarant." you say,
"Yeah. And the Rheairds are out of fuel..." Genis added
"Maybe the people here at the Academy might know of a way." Lloyd suggested
"Hey, hey, hey! Wait just a moment!" Zelos said "Aren't you forgetting something? I'm here to keep tabs on you! I can't let you go back to Sylvarant!"
"Well then, just come along with us, oh compassionate Chosen One." Lloyd responded,
"...What? Are you serious?"
"Your kind to girls, right?" asked Raine
"Yeah its to save Colette. And I'm sure Aura wants you to help. You'll keep quiet about it for us, right?" asked Genis.
"Well..." Zelos started. Raine elbowed you in the side.
"Zelos," you ask. You give him a crestfallen face, and make yourself look hopeless, "Please, Zelos...will you help us?" you asked. He turn his head away, a look of utter defeat on his face,
"Dammit," he admitted "You cheated!! You know I can't say 'no' to a beautiful maiden like you!" a satisfied smile crossed your lips *I win...* you think.
"Okay then. All we need now is fuel." Lloyd said.

When two knights showed up, blocking the exit,
"Chosen. We heard what you said just now." one said *Oh no...* "We herby declare you and your companions to be traitors attempting to destroy Tethe'alla."
"...Humph. Well that was perfect timing Mr. Papal Knight." Zelos responded,
"Its by the Popes orders. We are to watch you for suspicions of plotting against the throne."
"...Heh. Now thats amusing. I'm the one whose plotting against the throne?"
"Restrain them and take a sample. Don't touch the angel. If you approach her carelessly she will kill you." the cut your arm, and take a sample of your blood
"Ow! Hey!!!" you exclaim, you mutter a spell, then say "First Aid." the cut vanishes. They do the same for all the others,
"What are you doing?!" demanded Lloyd
"Criminals undergo biological tests before they are arrested." Zelos told him, "Its because of the caste system here. Some half-elves don't look any different from humans. Its necessary to detect them."

When suddenly a guard exclaimed,
"...S...sir! We found a match!" he was checking Professor Raines blood.
"Genis! Professor!" Lloyd exclaimed,
"...So your half-elves!" the Guard said.
"...Half-elves? ...Is that true?" asked Zelos,
"...Thats right." Raine said.
"Raine!" Genis asked,
"Theres no point in trying to hide it now..." she responded,
"These pathetic half-elves have engaged in shameless caste Deception." said a guard.
"Don't call them pathetic!!" you say "So what if the Professor and Genis are half-elves? They're good people!"
"Yeah!" Lloyd agreed "They're much better people than you!"
"I don't know what its like in your world." Zelos told you both. "But over here half-elves are at the bottom of the caste system."
"Half-elves guilty of crimes are all executed without exception." a guard said,
"Thats insane!" Lloyd exclaimed,
"This 'Caste System' isn't fair!! You have no right to do that!!" you add,
"Take them away." the two guards bind Raines and Genis' hands, and take them away.
"Professor! Genis!" Lloyd yelled.
"Change in plans. Half-elves can use magic, so we must keep them under heavy guard..." said a Papal Knight.
"We don't have any spare forces." said the other
"We'll return to the bridge and call for reinforcements. As for the Chosen and the others...Just lock them up in the basement or something." And your all thrown in the basement.

There were research materials, and two people down there.
"...Whose there?!" asked the woman. Her name was Kate
"Don't speak to us, half-elf. Be quiet and continue your work." said a Knight,
"Don't talk to her like that!" you order. So what if you didn't know her? People had no right to treat half-elves this way,
"Silence." the knight demanded,
"They are criminals. Hold them here until we return for them." said the Scientist from before. Then they left.
"Criminals...if you've had the good fortune of being born human, don't throw it away like that..." Kate said,
"W...we haven't done anything!" Lloyd said, his hands were bound as well,
"Well, you did try to go back to Sylvarant." Zelos argued,
"Sh...Shut up!"
"...You." Kate looked at you. "Why...Why did you stand up for me?"
"People have no right to treat half-elves like this. You haven't done anything wrong!" you say "Your just different! Thats not a crime...! At least...not the way I see it..."
"..." it looked like that was the first time a human had been nice to her.

Kate took a step forward, and Presea turned her back to her,
"...Ah...Get away..." she said,
"...Presea?" asked Kate "You're Presea! Why are you here?!"
"You know Presea?" asked Lloyd,
"Ah...I...she's..." stuttered the half-elf
"A half-elf in the Imperial research Academy is acquainted with a human child? Thats strange." Zelos commented.
"Why?" you ask.
"I told you. Half-elves are treated like garbage in this world. The half-elves that work at the Imperial Research Academy never leave their labs...ever." he explained,
"Thats awful...!" you tell him,
"Yeah..." Lloyd agreed.
"Lets put it aside for now. How does a half-elf that can never leave here know Presea?"
"...This child is my teams research sample." Kate said
"Research?" asked Lloyd "What kind of research?"
"Research to manufacture Cruxis Crystals inside the human body." she explained simply.
"Y-...You can make Cruxis Crystals?" you ask
"Yes. Theoretically, they are no different than Exspheres-- Ah..." she noticed your Exsphere. "I-...I'm surprised you don't know this. Seeing as how you have a Cruxis Crystal."

"!?" everyone stiffened. "Wh-what?! No! This is just an Exsphere!" you argue, pressing your right hand to the base of your neck, and covering your 'Exsphere' with your other hand, "Why would I have a...No. It's an exsphere... "
"Ah--...Well...By allowing them to slowly feed on a human body--" she continued,
"Wh-what?!" asked Lloyd. Kate got jumped, worriedly. "Thats the same way Desians made Exspheres! Is Aura in danger too?!"
"N-no...her Cruxis Crystal seems to be under control...B-but... Desians? What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying how can you treat people that way?!" asked Lloyd,
"...I could ask you the exact same thing." Kate said. When you come in, ignoring what she said earlier,
"Lloyd, think about it. Half-elves have to go through worse than we do. Maybe 1 out of 200, people are test subjects for this Exsphere. Maybe even less people, like 1 out of 100,000 or something. But every half-elf gets persecuted even if they haven't done anything wrong."
"...Yeah..." Lloyd agreed reluctantly, "You're right..."
"Why...Why do you continue to show kindness to someone like me?" Kate asked
"Because I think your a normal person. You're just different. And nobody wants to take the time to understand you or get to know you." you tell her "I mean...I'm different too..."
"Yeah!" Lloyd agreed "Me and Aura treat half-elves the same as everyone else. Theres no difference between the lives of humans and half-elves!"

Then you hear a familiar voice say,
"...They aren't from Tethe'alla."