[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Lloyd may notice a niggling 'communication' sensation from his exsphere, not entirely unlike an expectant ellipse.)
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: (Lloyd's- obviously confused by this as he stops whatever he was doing at the moment- he's taking the moment to try and focus on the Exsphere to see if he can figure out what's going on with it, or who did that.)
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (And now that he's fairly certain he has Lloyd's attention:) Good evening, Lloyd. Lovely night, isn't it?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: .... uh... yes. It is... what do you want, Yggdrasill?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Oh, it's nothing special. A trifle, really. I just heard something interesting earlier, and was wondering if you could confirm it for me.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ...I don't like where this is going.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill laughs.) Now, it's just a rumor, mind you.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: But I understand that you need a Mana Fragment.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Might there be a grain of truth to this?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: (Lloyd sounds dead serious) ....where'd you hear this?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (pleasantly) Just through the grapevine. May I assume from your reply that it *is* true?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: (Lloyd's answer sounds tense.) Maybe.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill tsks.) You must be quite distressed if it is. After all, if you need a Mana Fragment, you must know that there's only one place where you can get it.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I'll find another way. I already stole one from you to begin with. I'll give you a break this time around.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Yes, but this time you won't have Zelos skulking around stealing Mana Fragments--or Kratos and Presea saving your otherwise doomed friends--on your behalf.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Again- I'll find something else. I can probably find something that has a similar ability to the Mana Fragment. This /is/ Videoland, afterall.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Oh, I'm sure if you looked long and hard enough, you could find a reasonable facsimile.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: But is that a risk you really want to take?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: After all...it's not as if you have an infinite amount of time.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: And don't think that I can't! (He pauses- it seems that he's faltered on that next portion.)
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill chuckles.)
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Just shut up. I can do this. I don't need you egging me on.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: You know, Lloyd, I find it amusing how you claim you'll find a different way to save the worlds, but you continue to rely on others for help. And while you waste time spinning your wheels fruitlessly...the people you're *trying* to save just slip closer and closer to the brink.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: If you wait too long, they'll slip through your fingers before you've even begun to work out an answer.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: In the end, you can't do anything on your own, can you?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Not at the Tower of Salvation...
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: ...and not for the Chosen, either.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: So what if I have to ask for help? My friends are here to help me.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: And what if one day, they aren't?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I'll just do it myself. Simple enough.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I can find a way to do it.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: You *say* that, but do you actually have any idea what you would *do*?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Depends on the situation.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: And do you have any idea what you're going to do now?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Sure. Why would I tell you, though?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill chuckles nastily.) You're lying.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: You have no idea what you're going to do to get a replacement for that Mana Fragment.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: And you're frightened of returning to the Tower of Salvation, aren't you...?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Why do you care, anyway?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ...of course not! I just know that it would be stupid to go there by myself.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill just laughs knowingly.) And why...? Why might you think, Lloyd?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: None of your business. Why don't you just buzz off, anyway? What are you getting from talking to me?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Why, Lloyd, I would have thought the answer to that would be so simple that even *you* would have caught on by now.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (tsk) That should teach me to overestimate your intelligence.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Ngh. Just go away, okay?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Do you really want me to--when I could *give* you what you're seeking?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Why should I trust you to give it to me anyway?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Because you don't have any other choice.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Or are you saying that your promise to the Chosen was an empty one?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ...how do you know about that...?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: The poor girl--her /boyfriend/ isn't very reliable, is he.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Shut up!
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I can take care of this JUST fine!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Can you, really?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Yes! I can!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: No. You can't.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: And you know it.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: It'd be counterproductive if I made a deal with /you/ to help Colette anyway.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: I have no use for a Chosen whose body has turned to crystal. In a way, we both benefit.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ......
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (silkily) Wouldn't you say?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I don't need /your/ help!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Who else can you turn to?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I know plenty of people!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: None of whom know enough to help you.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: How do YOU know that?!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill just laughs.)
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ...and stop laughing. And leave me alone!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: So you *don't* want a Mana Fragment?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: And here I was willing to make a deal with you, too.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: But if you say so...
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ....
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Good night, Lloyd--and good luck on finding a facsimile before the Chosen wastes away.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: I'm sure you'll manage...*something*.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: (Lloyd remains quiet for a bit before he sounds smug at this point.) Don't worry. I will. Like I said. I don't need your help.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (lightly) Good to hear.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: WHich means you won't be getting anything out of this.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Oh, really?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Hell, you're making it sound /very/ tempting to just march into that damned tower of yours to beat you up and take one myself.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Feel free to try.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Actually, no, do it.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: (Lloyd hehs - he doesn't say anything else, tho.)
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: I'll be sure to set up a special welcome just for you.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: And you can watch it fail.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Why would it fail when you won't have anyone to sacrifice their lives for you?
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Because I'm not poisoned this time. You forget- I was weaker then. I've learned a lot and I think I'm quite a bit stronger than I was then.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (laugh) Oh, you *think*, do you.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ANd no one sacrificed their lives, you know.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: I don't /think/. I /know/.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: If Kratos and Presea hadn't been there, they would have.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: ...
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: This time, you don't have traitors working the other side to your benefit.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: And?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill tsks.) Pitiful. Your bravado is matched only by your naivete.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Whatever. Think what you want to think.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill only laughs.) Good night, Lloyd.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Sleep well...
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Don't worry! I will!
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (Yggdrasill laughs again, saying nothing. It sounds positively evil.)
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: Well then, if you say so, it must be true. I won't worry at /all/.
[Radio] Lloyd Irving radios Yggdrasill: Of course it's true.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Lloyd Irving: (echoes) Of course.


Tower of Salvation
The inside of the Tower of Salvation begins with a long set of stairs through a swirling gyre, which has spirals of a rather cryptic thing in the distance: coffins. At the top of these stairs is a great dais, with a platform on a higher portion.
The center piece of this room is a blue orb, inscribed with magitechnology and runes, and the blue-red Eternal Sword sheathed therein. Distinctive pillars are placed at each cardinal direction of the circular room, except at south, where the stairway ends. Those who can may teleport into the depths of the Tower, to the City of Angels known as Welgaia.
This part of the Tower, clearly far above the atmosphere of either world, is an area of amazing technology and is inhabited by white winged angels of Cruxis. Even deeper inside of it lay the gateway to the castle of Lord Yggdrasill, the infamous and sealed away Vinheim.
Contents:
Lloyd Irving
Yggdrasill


        The Tower of Salvation. An endless tower rising up into the heavens, so very tall its end cannot be seen from the ground, or even a mile or two up into the air... Defended by lasers, powerful shields, angels, and the Eternal Sword, it is a stronghold that has lasted four thousand years, unmoving, inpenetrable without the necessary keys.
        And Lloyd thinks he can just waltz in, grab a Mana Fragment, and go out? He really *is* a baka.
        But Yggdrasill knows that the son of Kratos stands no chance, *especially* not alone, so he'll allow it. He'll even let the entrance there so he can get inside with minimal fuss--because he's such a hospitable man like that, see?
        But he doesn't activate the transport system leading beyond the chamber of the Eternal Sword. Because he's not *that* hospitable. He's going to be making a point here, and for that end, he waits patiently for the boy to show up. That's not the *only* thing he's doing, of course...but when Lloyd shows up, Yggdrasill will know it. And he'll be there to greet him...personally. Isn't he nice?

Lloyd pauses as he finds himself at the stairs leading to the entrance of the Tower. He feels a surge of fear in the back of his mind, and he fists both hands... but... he does know that he did say he's come to kick in Yggy's face. That's just why he's here. ...that and get the Mana Fragment.
Of COURSE there's that side of Lloyd that's telling him that what he's doing is completely and absolutely incredibly stupid...
...but then the other side (the one that seems to have told the 'logic' side to go away, mind you) tells himself that he needs to do this. He did promise Colette, afterall.
And that's the side that wins (as always, unfortunately). This is why Lloyd is here. However, he can't seem to bring himself to take that first step for a moment. He has fear keeping him from moving that foot forward. At least, until he takes a deep breath and finally manages to shake himself out of it for the time being. Especially after he tells himself that everyone doesn't need to endanger themselves here. ...it's rather unfortunate, though, that Yggdrasill's words to the boy repeat in his mind after this thought, however.
But Lloyd doesn't stop. He knows that if he stops the ascent up the stairs, he won't be able to start again. He is, afterall, staring down something that still brings nightmares to him when he thinks about the last time he's been here.
...but he can't let that stop him. 'It's okay to be afraid, just don't let your fears keep you from doing what you think is right,' is what he's always telling Genis... right?
The same old process of going through the entry area of the Tower is as it was in the past. The coffins and everything circling around. Lloyd keeps himself from looking out to them. What he's done to this point is that he's finally found himself to where the steps lead up to the raised platform. Though his dark eyes lock onto the Eternal Sword for a brief moment, and memories from the attack on the ranch filter through- he manages to push it aside and focus on what needs to be done now.
...which is interrupted as Lloyd finds that... well... the ground's not glowing.
He steps there for a second, then looks upwards. "...."
...this is when it sinks in that, well... this is a bit of a dead end.

        Oh, Lloyd. In situations like these, that fear you feel gripping your chest with fingers of ice is your rational side's way of telling you this is a /stupid idea don't do it/. But Lloyd wouldn't be Lloyd if he didn't do stupid things, did he? Yggdrasill still suspects he took that from his mother. Kratos can be dense, but he's not an *idiot*. Even now, he maintains some respect for his former companion.
        But respect for his son? Well--perhaps a bit. Lloyd does hold fast to his convictions, even if he's not completely sure of them, and Yggdrasill does have to admit that that is...admirable, in some respects. For the boy to actually come, alone, as he threatened, to the Tower of Salvation. That takes guts. It also takes idiocy. Yggdrasill minds very little either way. He goaded the boy into coming for, among other things, the purposes of teaching the whelp a lesson he won't soon forget.
        Pity the boy has the attention span of a *gnat*.
        The High Seraph of Cruxis watches the chamber of the Eternal Sword carefully as Lloyd makes his way inside. Cautiously, he's grimly pleased to see, and he tilts his head slightly as he observes the boy's regard of the Eternal Sword. Hmm. ...Yggdrasill doesn't flat-out *smirk*, though, until he sees Lloyd stare upwards, and realize--hey, there's kind of no going any further than this. Feeling as smug as he pleases, he lets the boy dangle on the end of that realization for a while before actually going down there to greet him. How does it feel, knowing that that there's nothing he can do if no one lets him in to play?

Slowly, the boy looks around the area for a moment... though he manages to keep his anger at himself in check. He feels stupid for not recalling this point of the Tower, and... wonders just what to do at this point. Might as well... well, actually... leave.
Lloyd doesn't even bother with the stairs at this point. He starts around the platform and takes a jump, landing not too far from the Eternal Sword's resting point. He does give pause, recalling the things he was told about the weapon, 'lacking the right' and other details of that sort. This leaves the kid to frown a bit, knowing that if he could take it, this would be dealt with right then and right then. Though he also remembers Kratos telling him that if he held onto the blade any longer, it probably would have killed him.
The kid fists his hands at this point, and turns to start ahead- time to head back to the entrance. Don't let the shiney sword take your attention from what you need to do. You need to find out about the Mana Fragment, anyway, and how to handle Colette's situation, Lloyd.
Though, he does pause, taking the stairs into account again. The front door was left wide open.... this sends the kid to look back at the entrance, and rethink what Yggdrasill had said to him earlier...
This seems to come across, belatedly, as a sign to get the hell outta Dodge. If this was Dodge, which it isn't, so... it's only something akin to that. The boy in red promptly takes a step forward to hurry towards the exit- now that pieces are coming together over what this is...

        Where's your conviction now, boy? Yggdrasill laughs soundlessly as he watches Lloyd stare around, realizing that for all his boasting and promising, there is absolutely nothing he can do. Sadly, leaving it at that is not an option; the boy is so /dense/ that he simply won't pick up on a lesson that subtle. He strums his fingers briefly, standing up...and noticing how it seems to dawn on Lloyd how suspicious it is for him to have gotten in so easily, but not have any way to advance forward...
        Oh, what fools these mortals be. Yggdrasill is gone in an instant, and in the chamber of the Eternal Sword, his voice rings out smoothly. "Leaving so soon, Lloyd? What happened to marching in and just taking a Mana Fragment?"
        And then he appears, glittering mana wings flapping gently, on the opposite side of the dais. Sure, Lloyd, you can leave--you've just got to go through Yggdrasill to do it. He looks like he's in a good mood, too! He's smiling, after all. Never mind that it's lopsided and he's got an unpleasant glitter to his eyes. The point is, he's smiling, and that's a good sign, right? Smiles are always good! So getting out will *totally* be just as easy as getting in had been.
        ...You are so screwed.

Conviction? Uh. Yeah. Let's not talk about that for the time being...? Okay? :D
The kid stops abruptly as he sees the blond seraph before him. He takes a slow breath at this point before he smiles slightly. "Thank you for coming to me. It makes it easier than figuring out how I'm going to break in."
Hiding behind an air of 'confidence', Lloyd is scrambling for a way to get himself out of this situation. That smile, afterall, is downright terrifying. He's the bug that fell into the spider's web, so to speak. This is just what the kid was kicking himself over a bit ago.

        There's no point in kicking yourself over doing something stupid if you're just going to do it again and again. But then, to be fair, Yggdrasill *did* bait the hell out of him last night. Still--the High Seraph is of the opinion that, even if someone lays out a trap, it's the victim's own fault for not having the foresight to avoid it. Therefore, this entire situation is entirely Lloyd's fault. It's very convenient logic and it suits him perfectly.
        Yggdrasill smiles back at Lloyd, and the way those green eyes bore into him--even *with* that air of confidence, the boy must feel very vulnerable. Like the Seraph knows exactly what he's thinking, exactly what he's feeling. Like no matter what kind of front he puts up, Yggdrasill sees clearly past it. "You're quite welcome, Lloyd. After all, there's no way you could have come to *me*. So...you are here. I am here." He spreads his arms out wide, baring his chest in what might seem to be an act of leaving himself vulnerable. "You have the opportunity you desired. Now what are you going to *do* with it? Will you seize it? Or will you run like a craven coward? Show me your convictions, Lloyd. Show me what makes you believe you can hope to stand up against me!"
        No. Let's talk about convictions. Right now.

Alright. You want to talk about convictions?
Lloyd quickly fists his hands. He tenses upon hearing Yggdrasill's words, fisting both hands. The kid still doesn't take the move to draw his weapons, however. And despite it being a mistake, any regrets he had before are now long gone. Now that he sees the seraph ahead of him, there's quite a bit of anger welling up inside; it's not enough to completely quash the insecurities in the back of the boy's mind, but at least he's able to push it aside for the time being.
"Of course, I've got a reason for being here." Lloyd states quite simply. He pauses to relax and cross his arms, closing his eyes. "I told you all about it last night, so...! I shall be here to do /just that/."
That should be your warning, Yggy, dear... Because this is when Lloyd uncrosses his arms and bursts forward in a surprising amount of speed, though that's due to his Exsphere, the gem glimmering slightly as he draws on its power. He lowers one hand to his side, and rather than drawing one of his swords, he actually fists his hand and reaches out to fling a punch at the seraph.
Okay, so he's probably much better off using his swords, but... for some reason, punching the bastard after that 'friendly' exchange' last night sounds like it'd feel /far/ better.

        Why, certainly. That's what we're all here for, isn't it?
        As for Lloyd's reasons for being here--well, Yggdrasill already knows all about them. He focuses on the brunet standing before him, railing against him much like a mouse might do against a lion. He's prepared for an attack--in fact, he's expecting it, *inviting* it--and he maintains a slick, smirking visage, seemingly just standing there *waiting* for Lloyd to run up and punch him in the face--
        Until, as the boy throws a fist, he swiftly dodges to the side, grabs the boy by the wrist, spins him around, and flips him onto the floor none too gently.
        It's better than into another pillar, at least.
        Yggdrasill flits back, keeping himself positioned between Lloyd and the exit. Now his arms are crossed over his chest, but his superior demeanor hasn't changed any. "Do what, now?"

There's a shout- a cry of surprise as Lloyd's flipped and slams to the ground at Yggdrasill's feet. He shifts, pain running through his back, wincing. Fingers open wide as he pushes against the cold floor, and he looks up to Yggdrasill standing over him, his eyebrows furrowing in frustration.
The boy doesn't move too much more. Not much of a chance to get up at this point. He does reach over to rub his wrist painfully. He grimaces before he mutters a bit.
"Gimme a second chance, I'll eventually catch you to where you can't do that..."

        Yggdrasill laughs cruelly at Lloyd's reply. "A second chance? When in the *real* world do you think you'll be given a 'second chance' at anything of importance? For that matter..." And here he floats down a little lower, just enough so that his feet are level with the swordsman's eyes, "...what makes you think I'll allow you to leave here alive to even *take* a second chance?" His foot lashes out then at the boy's face, striking it just below the temple--despite his words, the Seraph doesn't *really* want Lloyd dead. At least, not yet. This is quickly followed up by another kick to Lloyd's ribs, with enough force to send him sprawling several feet away, and before the boy can recover, Yggdrasill will approach again to smash the heel of his foot in the small of Lloyd's back.
        "You are a fool to challenge me, Lloyd," Yggdrasill declares, his tone oozing smug self-confidence. "Why do you even bother? Even *you* must know that you can't--" Another kick, partly to accentuate his point and partly because the ones before felt *so* good "--do anything to stand up against me. It's quite pathetic, really. If you were not spawned from his own seed, I would never understand why Kratos bothers to pin any hope on the likes of *you*."
        And, because having Lloyd helpless and in the palm of his hand--or under the flat of his foot, as the case may be--is just so *thrilling*, Yggdrasill laughs, once again pinning the boy to the floor. "I was once Kratos' pupil--did you know that, Lloyd? He taught me how to handle and use a sword, and I daresay I learned the best he had from him. He was once a great man--one I admired and respected." His apparent mood swiftly blackens, like a summer storm, and snapping a foot out at Lloyd again, Yggdrasill snarls, "Then you and your mother *ruined* him--he's a /coward/ now, soft and ineffective. No, he's been a coward for years! But the two of you drew out the *worst* in him, and now he's just like the rest of /your/ kind. Just another filthy inferior being! And then you--*you* presume to know /anything/ about the way these worlds work, that you can *possibly* find a *different* way to say them. Do you think that if there *were* another way, we would not have found it by now?"
        Yggdrasill flutters down onto the ground now, kneeling next to the abused boy and grabbing him by the hair, snapping his head back roughly. "Your idealism /sickens/ me," he hisses, green eyes glittering malevolently. "It's nothing but an engine for you to do nothing but criticize what you find distasteful without bothering to actually suggest anything of *value* to replace it. You have been given so much, and yet you choose to *fritter it away*, not even UNDERSTANDING what you have. In the end, despite the nobility of your blood and the power at your fingertips, you are nothing, Lloyd. /Nothing/."

There's a sharp cry of pain as Lloyd finds Yggdrasill's foot in his ribs- this causes the kid to be knocked off to the side and he lies there, his arms wrapped around his sides. He breaths a gasping breath for a moment before he starts to make an attempt to stand, when he finds the foot smashed into his back. This time, there are no words spared. He won't be giving Yggdrasill the pleasure of hearing his pain for the moment. He sets his palms against the ground, trying to even draw on his Exsphere so that he may be able to push himself up, despite the Seraph's strength.
Lloyd doesn't answer Yggdrasill's taunting. He flinches, biting his lip at the second kick. Keep yourself quiet! Don't give him that sort of satisfaction! You won't let him do this to you! His fingers curl and tense, but he attempts to keep himself from hitting the ground entirely, keeping his focus on the Exsphere even so that he may not even let a single bit of that burst of strength fade. He can't let it fall apart. It has to keep him going. Even with Yggdrasill's foot against his back, this only pushes the boy into trying to defy the leader of Cruxis that much more.
"Kratos is still a great person. His mind hasn't been twisted by whatever turned you this way. He must have seen some reason to have wanted to teach you. He must have seen some promise." Those words are hissed. "I respect him! I am actually /proud/ to call him my father!" Those last words are shouted out before that next kick can come in. He curls underneath it, letting his fear turn into anger and determination to keep this from going on.
Both hands are planted to the ground suddenly, feeling the foot leave his back. "I will fix these worlds! I won't let this continue! It's not fair to let one world live at the expense of ano-gyh." Lloyd's interruption is timed perfectly by Yggdrasill pulling his head back by his hair. Brown eyes focus straight on the Seraph's green, as his hands are pulled away from the ground, losing whatever 'footing' (if you can call it that) he once had. "I've actually been doing something to keep from harming /everyone/. If something's impossible, it just mean you haven't looked hard enough...!" He hisses those words out, though the look of determination is fading- his hands are scrambling to his sides, fingers dragging along the floor. He doesn't break his even gaze with Yggdrasill through this terrifying few moments that almost feel like an eternity- he keeps his breathing even... and states softly, "I'm only nothing in your eyes, Yggdrasill. I've taken action- I don't know it's the right one, because apparently no one knows how to do what I'm trying to accomplish. I bet that you don't either. That's why you have the worlds sharing each other's mana. Because you couldn't find anything better."
It may not be for the best that he's just... running with what he's saying. He's totally not thinking his words or his situation out before saying what's on his mind.
Oh well... it wouldn't be Lloyd if he did, now would it?

        Somehow, even though it was so satisfying at first just to throw the annoying whelp around *his* Tower, with none of the boy's wretched friends to help him--just the Seraph and the swordsman--it's soured. His entire feeling of superiority, of control, has been compromised by the sheer irritation of whipping the boy around and still not receiving the pleasure of at least a gasp of pain or two. That sheer *stubbornness* is such an eyesore--and certainly not in the least because it strikes a chord within Yggdrasill himself. There is a world of difference between the two of them; they aren't going to be similar in any way.
        At least, not in any way that he cannot use to his advantage in undermining Lloyd's morale.
        And that presumptuousness... "You have no way of knowing and no way of comprehending what gave birth to Cruxis and the current system of mana exchange," Yggdrasill murmurs silkily, his tone quieter but far more dangerous for it. "And you have no way of comprehending the history between myself and the father you respect so much--not that the respect of a wretch as shameless as *you* means anything."
        He flits up into the air then, but without relinquishing his hold on Lloyd's hair. This means that both men are brought into midair, with Yggdrasill holding Lloyd at arm's length with a disgusted sneer marring his features, as if he were handling a sack of raw garbage. To the half-elf, there may be little difference. He considers, briefly, addressing Lloyd's accusation that he doesn't know a way to save both worlds properly either...then decides it's not worth telling the boy that, if he can have Martel back, Yggdrasill doesn't care if all of reality withers away into dust. This shallow wretch just cannot comprehend the depth of his feelings. Like father, like son, he muses bitterly.
        "I exist," the Seraph says softly, "at the pinnacle of this world, you foolish boy. It moves because I will it to; it shakes at my wrath. If you are nothing in *my* eyes, then that is the same as being nothing at all. But it is of little consequence. This is not why you came, nor is it why I have indulged you--is it?"
        A return of that smile, all razors wrapped in silk. If Lloyd struggles enough, he might be able to break free of Yggdrasill's hold--otherwise, the Seraph will merely toss him unceremoniously onto the floor. The blond man gazes at him with clear distaste for several seconds, folding his arms over his chest. "I still have what you need. Out of *respect* for who your father once was, I am willing to make a deal with you--even now." And a smirk jabs into his cheek, those green eyes never leaving the stubborn teenager.
        "...but for a price."

Lloyd grimaces as he's pulled from the ground. He takes a slow breath, his feet scrambling to get some foothold, but failing at that as he's lifted from the ground. He lets his eyes try to fall to the ground, but... he has no choice than to look at the seraph. There is pain in his eyes, despite his determination to not make a single sound. He tightens his fists and just stares back. He takes a slow breath, though, and smiles faintly. "Think what you want. I do respect him, and that's what's important. He's had a lot of important things to teach me since I've met him- and more than just swordsmanship. I'm wondering how much of his lessons you remember or have even taken to heart."
Thankfully for Yggdrasill, he doesn't have much chance to continue, as eventually, Lloyd manages to scramble his feet across the floor... he can reclaim his footing, and begin the attempt to break free, but find himself also thrown to the ground. He tumbles to the side and lies there for a bit until he starts to push himself up to sit again. He reaches up with a hand to rub the back of his head, muttering something about the seraph and his ego.... though its barely intelligable. "Everyone has some value in this world. They shouldn't be worthless because /you/ say they are. I feel that I can do something here- and I /am/ going to do something. I'm going to make a change for the better. Whether you think I'm capable of it or not."
He begins to move and start to attempt to stand at this point. "I don't want to deal with you. I can still get what I need without your help."

        What right does Lloyd have to lecture him on right or wrong, on what has value in this world, and on what is important? "You make the foolish assumption in that he was a capable teacher in anything *but* swordsmanship," Yggdrasill tells the swordsman coldly. "Ask him yourself; even Kratos will admit how badly he bungled his duties as a mentor." He'll do it while criticizing Yggdrasill, but he will still admit it.
        But the Seraph is deadly calm now, like a subterranean lake, even if he is disdainful of the gentle idealist. He listens, then shakes his head in unsurprised disbelief. "Do you even *listen* to yourself talk, I wonder?" he muses aloud. "'Something,' 'something'--what good is conviction if it's so unfocused?"
        Lifting one hand, Yggdrasill begins to inspect his fingernails in wordless insult of Lloyd, allowing him to stand--if he can. "You know you are incapable of taking it from me by force, and you have no leads on where else to find a substitute. What's more, it's been a long time since you began your search... The Chosen may not be completely crystallized yet, but if she gets past a certain point, it won't *matter* if the process is complete or not. Do you even know anything about her affliction?"
        Yggdrasill narrows his eyes, letting them slide from his fingertips to the boy before him. "I imagine you've already heard part of it from Kratos; how else would you know to search for a Mana Fragment? But did he tell you that the process, although slow, if not treated, is inevitably deadly? There were two other Chosen in the history of Cruxis who also suffered from it. They were both dead within three months." A faint smirk. "And Colette has been enduring it for *how* long, now...?"
        But then Yggdrasill's visage slips back into bored disdain, and he flips his hand upwards, palm curved towards his shoulder to hide the glowing mana collected there. "But I tire of you, Lloyd. There have been scores of Chosen before Colette, and there will be scores after her. It makes little difference to me if you are foolish enough not to take advantage of my *gracious* generosity due to your own bloated pride; *I* am not the one who will suffer for it."
        And then, Yggdrasill stretches out his hand and fires the orb of holy power directly at Lloyd's chest. It's not meant to kill, merely cripple--to make Lloyd feel in his very bones just how helpless he is.

The kid keeps his eyes to the ground as he stands... Though he eventually looks ahead to Yggdrasill. "...don't /you/ ever listen to /yourself/ speak?" He takes a deep breath and takes a step forward. "And Colette will make it through! I promised her! My promises hold good. I won't let her continue through this, and I won't let it kill her. I won't let you keep sacrificing people for whatever you're trying to accomplish! That's no fair! No one needs to be born just to be a sacrifice!"
Lloyd lowers his head at this point, fisting his hands and clenching his teeth. "...and how do you know? How?!" He calls out sharply towards Yggdrasill. It's rather unfortunat that he doesn't have the opportunity to make any other requests or statements on this situation. He finds himself struck directly into the chest. The kid has no chance of fighting against the strength of the blast sent in his direction either. This sends him skidding across the ground, leaving his arms and legs numb.
He takes a slow breath at this point, letting his fingers slide across the slick ground; trying to focus is hard... but this doesn't exactly mean he's quite given up on his attempts to move, as futile as they may be. The influx of power that slammed through him is leaving his body in a 'short circuited' state, so to speak. Almost akin to being struck by a very powerful stun gun or something of the like. Thus the inability to get his body to fully respond to him.
"Don't think... don't think that this means you've won..."
Stubborn to the end, though, isn't he?

        Kratos was never this unreasonable--at least not until recently. How pitiful when even *grown men* are not exempt from bad influence. This must be another thing Lloyd inherited from his insufferable mother.
        Yggdrasill is too dignified to roll his eyes, so he merely laughs unpleasantly. "Of course," he says scornfully. "And the tides will come to a halt because you *say* so." The implication may be lost on the thick-headed boy, however... Not that Yggdrasill is inclined to care anymore. He's tired of dealing with the boy, and although he's sure Lloyd must acknowledge the truth of his words, quite frankly, it's gotten to be so much of a chore with so little visible effect that he can't be bothered any longer. If Lloyd is going to refuse him, fine; let whatever happens to the Chosen be on his head.
        Yggdrasill ignores Lloyd's demands on how he knows altogether. As if he's going to *tell* him how he knows. 'Oh yes, I've infiltrated your group and wormed into your heart by use of my alternate form of Mithos. Everything you say in front of him, you say in front of me. At this rate, you'll become my best informant on your affairs!' Uh, yeah, /no/.
        As Lloyd twitches, trying to move to little avail, and spouts out one more line of tripe...Yggdrasill narrows his green eyes, then touches down onto the floor. His footsteps are leisurely and measured. With the boy paralyzed like that, it's highly unlikely that he'll be able to fight back as the seraph grabs his shoulder, holds him upright, lays his other hand flat on his chest just over his heartbeat...and then lean his face in so close to Lloyd's that all they can see of each other is their eyes.
        "And what if I kill you right here and now?" he whispers, expression cold and unforgiving. "Will I have won then?"
        Without waiting for a reply, the Seraph draws back, then digs his fingers into Lloyd's jacket, lifting him into the air again. It must be a frighteningly empty, cold sensation as he blips out of reality and then back in again with Yggdrasill as he teleports outside, at the top of the stairs leading into the Tower of Salvation. The blond man again pitches the boy to the ground, this time farther, with more strength, and in an arc. Maybe Lloyd will bounce when he hits the ground.

[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Kratos Aurion: (A thrum of exsphere communication) Kratos. Are you listening?
[Radio] Kratos Aurion radios Yggdrasill: --Yes.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Kratos Aurion: Good.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Kratos Aurion: Come peel your boy off my lawn.
[Radio] Kratos Aurion radios Yggdrasill: What did you do to him?
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Kratos Aurion: What does that matter?
[Radio] Kratos Aurion radios Yggdrasill: Kratos snaps, "Quite a bit! Answer me."
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Kratos Aurion: Yggdrasill chuckles nastily. "We just had a little chat."
[Radio] Kratos Aurion radios Yggdrasill: ...ugh.
[Radio] Kratos Aurion radios Yggdrasill: For your own sake, you would do well to not interfere when I arrive.
[Radio] Yggdrasill radios Kratos Aurion: (Yggdrasill snorts.) For *my* own sake? Kratos, you should feel grateful. I didn't *have* to spare him, and I *certainly* didn't have to tell *you* to drag his carcass out of my sight.

The boy breathes quietly, keeping his gaze level with Yggdrasill. If he could, he'd be making the attempt to say something... he only remains quiet until he closes his eyes. "Say what you will. You seem so eager to make a deal- why would you want to kill me, all things considered...?" He allows a faint grin, but it vanishes quickly as he finds himself in more pain once he's hefted from the ground and teleported away. He closes his eyes, feeling that cold rush run through his body. Feeling it after losing the ability to move, to try to do much... it's just...
He doesn't have the chance to say a word. Once he's tossed into the air, he slams to the ground much like a ragdoll, tumbling along to the ground until he's lying on his back, staring up at the sky, the pain finally beginning to crack through the facade he had going through this whole time. He's trying so desperately hard to bite it back, but... it just hurts. A lot. The longer it takes, the weaker he feels with holding this back.
He lets his dark eyes stare blankly towards the sky for a bit until he closes them eventually. It's getting to be more and more difficult to keep his eyes open after that horrible jolt earlier....

Fortunately for Kratos, he had some prior warning - and through some luck, had been on Tethe'alla when he heard from Yggdrasill. It may have been a taunt, and it certainly doesn't do much for the former Seraph's anger. However, he can be grateful that Yggdrasill is proud enough to incite him, instead of letting him find a grave later.
His Rheaird circles in, then comes downward, landing smoothly nearby. He scans the nearby area, before spotting the red-clad boy. His teeth grit together, and he rushes forward, stopping by Lloyd's side.
"Lloyd." His voice is calm; the only signs of panic are the hurriedness with which he speaks and how quickly his eyes dart about, from Lloyd and to Yggdrasill. He narrows his brown eyes angrily at the Lord of Cruxis, one hand falling to his sword. "Hold on just a moment. I will take you out of here."

        It would be so easy just to kill him then and there. Yes, Yggdrasill had been interested in cutting a deal with the boy--but he grossly overestimates his value, to the point where the Seraph finds it pointless to even bother to correct him. Let him believe that the seraph *can't* acquire what he desires through other means. The graveyards are filled with men who thought they couldn't be replaced, after all.
        But there's a certain sick pleasure in calling Kratos out here, to make him see what he reduced his /beloved/ son to without so much as receiving a scratch in return. Thus, Yggdrasill merely stares impassively at the brunet as he rolls to a halt and watches him, glancing up only when his former companion arrives. He does not move from where he stands, merely floating haughtily in midair with arms folded over his chest. Even when Kratos dismounts and rushes over to his son's side, then glares at him, the Lord of Cruxis does little more then smirk coldly at him--even if the temptation is there to lift a hand and call down judgment upon them both. Filthy... The father and the son are both filthy. Seeing Kratos fret over Lloyd's form also does surprisingly little to better his mood.
        Yggdrasill would have thought he would have enjoyed seeing his former friend in distress. Somehow, instead, it just fuels his frigid rage.

Lloyd is no longer too much aware of what's happened- where Yggdrasill is now. He blinks his eyes open slowly, looking to Kratos. He takes a slow breath then lets his dark eyes trail along to where the Lord of Cruxis stands currently. The boy says nothing in response, but allows himself to smile faintly- from something. It's probably not too hard to guess. The Exsphere is flickering madly. He may not be strong enough to speak, but... it certainly takes far less focus to listen.
He lets his eyes begin to drift shut again, however- the voices from his friends in the back of his mind seem to be keeping him there for the most part. He allows his fingers to drag in the grass he's lying on, trying to find some focus to keep him there and conscious. - perhaps, perhaps it's his best friend yelling at him on vanishing. ...he just needs to stay coherent- he's going to attempt to help in his escape, at least. ...somehow. Don't ask how, but somehow.

If looks could kill, Yggdrasill would likely drop dead from the icy glare given to him by Kratos. He takes his hand fron the hilt of Endymion after a moment, then kneels down beside Lloyd. If Mithos were to make a move, he would have done it by now - or so the rust-haired man tells himself.
"Just hold on for a moment," he says quietly. He picks Lloyd up, carefully, and then stands up. He looks back at Yggdrasill, and then steps backward slowly - keeping his eyes on the High Seraph the entire time.

        Aid in the escape...? How amusing. Yggdrasill only called Kratos here to collect the garbage from his lawn. As he told the former seraph, he did not have to spare Lloyd's life, nor did he have to call Kratos here to rush him away. Even if the sight of his former mentor edging his son away so fearfully angers Yggdrasill, there is a certain grim satisfaction in how obviously Kratos hates him, mistrusts him, fears him-- It's just as it should be. Kratos is just like any other human being now--just another inferior being.
        Now completely ignoring Lloyd, Yggdrasill keeps his green eyes locked on Kratos' all the while, that smirk frozen in place, as if to say, 'I could destroy both of you any time I pleased. The only reason I don't is because I would rather see you suffer.'

Lloyd is conscious, this much is obvious by the fact that his hands is moving slightly to try to keep a hold of his father's arm as he's picked up. He lets his eyes opens somewhat. He slumps against the seraph, letting his eyes slip closed again. He feels his body trying to just go limp, but... he doesn't want to rest entirely- however... while he was fighting common sense for most of the night, this time, he doesn't think he will much longer. Rest is something he needs- that and it's probably best that he doesn't even try to answer any questions about why he was at the Tower in the first place. Not until he thinks about what to say...

Kratos won't ask now; he certainly will later. He backs up as he watches Yggdrasill, until some distance is between them - enough, he hopes, to avoid any sudden attacks. He taps his Wing Pack, drawing his Rheaird out. The man hops onto it, then rests Lloyd across it.
He glares one last time, before taking up to the skies.

        How much more heatedly would Kratos glare if he knew why Lloyd had come to the Tower of Salvation to begin with? Yggdrasill cannot be sure if the boy will confide in his father about the promise he made, nor is he sure that he hasn't already. But then...that's what sweet, innocent little Mithos is for, isn't he...? Once Kratos has taken to the skies, Yggdrasill turns his back on him, re-entering the Tower of Salvation--but it would be a mistake to assume that he's going to *remain* there.