-A fanart celebrating the ToS OVA, the upcoming ToS2, and the inclusion of Lloyd in Soul Calibur Legends (which should be here tomorrow! I pre-ordered. ^_^ )

This is the spawn of massive Lloyd fandom and incessantly listening to the Armageddon theme music (It's BEAUTIFUL. Check it out sometime ).

*Warning: Below contains massive video-game loving cheeseyness, references to faith, and general serious talk*

There isn't really much *deep* symbolism in this picture, but what there is basically conveys my pride that after four years of being around, Tales of Symphonia, and Lloyd specifically, are still affecting people's lives and still continuing to remain active fandoms (new games, anime, etc), even after it all seemingly "died" for a while. I think Lloyd took the "don't die" seriously, and thank God for it.

But this is what I find most amazing...

I've read countless writings (a handfull here on deviantART) over the last year or so by people testifying how Lloyd Irving, fictional video-game protagonist, has changed their lives for the better. Incredible statements have been made about this character and his effects on real people; People coming to faith, or at least learning to accept themselves and others, simple things like being cheered up, or more monumental things like rediscovering, or discovering for the first time their ideals.

Whatever the case, and as cheesey and corny as this sounds, reading these sorts of things and seeing beautiful artwork of Lloyd makes me so proud to be a Symphonia fan. It also makes me proud to be a Christian, because it is one of my strongest beliefs that God works through our interests, through fiction, to save lives that may not have been saved otherwise. Whether you share this belief or not is up to you, and I certainly have no problem with other ideas and faiths.

In any case, that's my little speech. Long Live ToS!

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