Chapter Text
“Lloyd….Lloyd wake up….Lloyd Aurion wake up.” His mothers voice gently called while shaking him. “Your father will be getting back soon. If you want to see him before classes start you need to get up now.” she urged.
He groaned and rolled over “I’m up….I’m up I promise.” Sleep was nice but he had not seen his father in two weeks as he had been escorting pilgrims through the Triet Desert but he would be returning today and he usually got back early.
He dragged himself out of bed after his mother left the room and dressed. Dad coming home normally meant fresh baked pancakes and today was no exception. On the way out of his room he grabbed a small carving he had made for his father at his apprenticeship with Dirk the town Dwarf.
He bounded down the stairs then practically jumped into his seat at the table. “Is he home yet?” he asked his mother as she was putting the pancakes on the table.
“Not yet but soon I am sure. You should eat though I don’t want you to waste time waiting on your father again and have to eat on the way to school. Last time you got syrup in Noshie’s fur and it took ages to come out.” This mother hummed while passing him the plate of pancakes.
“Okay fine.” He grumbled moving food onto his plate and digging in. “What do you think he is bringing us this time?”
“Hopefully, some manners chew, swallow, then speak Lloyd.”
“Sorry mom” he mumbled “It’s just-”
“I know I’m excited too. Finish your breakfast. I will let you know if I see him coming.”
“You should eat too mom.” he chided her.
“I don’t have school soon so I can eat when your father gets here.” she smirked.
“That’s not FAAAAAIR can’t I skip today Professor Sage knows Dad is coming back today. She will understand.”
“School is important Lloyd. You will have all day after school to spend time with your father. Besides, don't forget that today is Oracle Day. You wouldn’t want to miss your friends big day would you?”
“OH MAN I FORGOT” he cried he had been so caught up making the carving for his dad he had forgotten about Collete’s Birthday entirely.
She chuckled “I take it you plan on going to school then.”
“Yeah…I can’t miss today anyway Professor Sage would kill me. Man where is Dad I have to leave soon.” he wined
“Hmmm…it is getting pretty late, maybe something delayed him.” she said, starting to worry Kratos was never this late, something must have happened on his way back. “You should head into town.”
“But Mom….”
“I know but you wouldn’t want to be late right? Genis and Collete are going to be waiting on you and your father will be here when you get back.”
Begrudgingly he got up from the table. “Come on Noshie…” he called as he started his walk to town. When he was younger his parents would walk him to town but now that he was older and could fend off the low level monsters between their house and the town he preferred to walk alone.
Genis was waiting for him by the gate when he got to town. “What took you so long? We are almost late for class!”
“I was waiting for my dad. He is supposed to be getting in this morning.”
“Oh right I forgot that was today. He probably got caught up or something. We should hurry before we are really late and Rain gets mad.”
Class was dull and boring so Lloyd found himself drifting off thinking about the Oracle and about his father. In all the years Lloyd had been going to school his dad had never been late. He found himself zoning out worrying about what might have happened to his dad. Of course that meant he wasn’t paying attention to the lesson and was moved to the back of the class as a punishment. When he still wasn’t paying attention Professor Sage threw an eraser at him.
“LLOYD AURION WAKE UP!”
“I’m not asleep.” he grumbled.
“Then answer the question.”
“I….Uhhhh forgot….” honestly he hadn’t heard the question.
“Fine, let's have someone else answer. Genis?” Professor Sage stated as she moved on with her lesson. Not long after there was a blinding light that interrupted her speech.
The entire class erupted in whispers before they were calmed down by Professor Sage “Alright everyone calm down. I am going to go to the temple to check it out. Stay here and study independently.”
“Professor shouldn’t I come with you?” Colette asked, standing up.
“No Colette if that was the Oracle then the priests will come get you. It is best you wait here for them.” Professor Sage dismissed then left the building.
Lloyd huffed studying was his least favorite pastime especially when he could be spending time with his father. “This sucks.” He groaned as he sat down next to Genis and put his head on the desk. “I want to see the Oracle.”
“You want to do anything other than studying Lloyd.”
“Well yeah but aren’t you curious too?” he asked
“Yeah…” Genis admitted “But sis said to stay here so-” he was cut off by the sound of someone screaming. They turned to see a bloodied Priest dragging his way into the classroom.
Lloyd rushed over to the man. The priest gasped “Chosen…you must….the Oracle….” before he lost consciousness.
“Oh no!” Colette cried “Is he going to be okay?”
Lloyd checked his pulse then slammed his fist into the wall “He’s gone….” he bit his lip then steeled himself “Come on Colette lets go to the temple.”
“But Professor Sage said-”
“The Priests are dead. No one else is coming but you still have to get the Oracle. I’ll make sure you do even if I have to get you there myself.”
“Hey what about your dad isn’t he in town?” Genis asked
He shook his head “He hadn’t gotten back before I left for class and if he was here now he would have come here when he saw the light.” he stated before looking at Colette “Do you trust me?”
She nodded.
“Then lets go get the Oracle together.”
“O-Okay” she said then smiled.
The journey to the Temple was pretty easy, none of the monsters much stronger than what he fought daily on his way to school everyday. It wasn’t until they got to the temple that things got complicated. Desians were attacking the temple and attempting to force their way through Colette's Grandmother. The first group was easy to take down but after them was a massive man with a spinning cannonball. Lloyd was quickly realizing that he was out matched but there was no way he was giving up. The next moments happened in a flash. The man threw his weapon at Lloyd who was too bruised and tired to move out of the way in time.
‘I’m so sorry dad’ he thought as he closed his eyes waiting for the blow to come but it never did. He peaked his eyes open and saw his dad standing in front of him blocking the blow.