Alatette and Kharlan

"Hello again, Kharlan." Alatette greeted, speaking the name with a sneer. The figure in the jewel didn't answer, but she didn't care. Why would a sleeping angel answer anyone? Certainly not to those who prayed to him for guidance and protection and blessings. How could anyone hold an angel in reverence when that angel did nothing but sleep while people suffered?

"Can you hear anything, Kharlan?" Alatette asked in disdain, "Can you see with your 'holy' power? Or do you just not care about anything but yourself?" She paced back and forth, glaring at the redhead held suspended within the crystal. "I suppose you don't, considering you'd rather use your power to stay asleep inside this miserable jewel instead of face Lord Dreysere."

She stopped and leaned forward, eyes narrowed as she gazed up at the angel's face. He almost looked like he was hurt by her words. "Oh... did I make you feel bad, Kharlan?" Alatette cooed mockingly before suddenly punching the jewel, "Then imagine how I feel!"

The memories came unbidden, flashes of her brave and kind husband smiling at her, promising to return and start a family with her at the end of his military term, then the messenger that reported in a somber voice how he would never return. Her grief and anguish consumed her, turning to outrage and hatred towards the deity that her husband had prayed to for protection.

Kharlan had ignored those prayers, hadn't he?

"You let him die, you miserable excuse for an angel!" Alatette screamed, hot tears running down her face as she pounded her fists over the surface of the crystal, "He believed in you, prayed to you, trusted you, and you did nothing but sleep while he suffered and died far from me!"

Chips and bits of crystal fell sparkling to the floor as she kicked and punched the crystal, venting her fury as she did each time she was alone with the Kharlan Crystal. "How can you call yourself an angel?! You're weak! Angels should be powerful and strong and aware of the world!" she yelled. She stepped back, breathing hard before smiling cruelly, pushing her hair back into place. "This is why I changed religions. You're too weak; Derris should be the one true Angel of Creation! Derris, who can bring destruction to his enemies with the power of his voice. Derris, who is legendary in combat, in war, and bringing the strong to stand over the weak." she preached proudly and reached out to scratch her nails down the surface of the crystal.

"When Derris frees you, I will be there to run my husband's blade through that pretty heart of yours." Alatette sneered, "And you will feel the pain I felt the day my husband died. And all the power you have will be given to Derris, and a glorious new age will come to Symphonia. Derris will become our angel, our leader, a god for Symphonia!" She turned her nose up and began to walk away, firing one last shot over her shoulder at the sleeping angel. "We don't need someone like you when we will soon have Derris."

Alatette walked out, her need for vengeance sated for the moment.