The forests of eastern Fiore were eerily quiet that morning, the only sounds coming from the occasional gust of wind. But deeper within the winding wood, there was another sound. The sound of someone walking. The only person currently present in the forest was Abby Copperfield. Abby was a petite young lady of 21, clad in a dark blue jacket and skirt, with a green bandana around her slender neck. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, as to keep it from getting caught by stray branches. She stopped for a moment to inspect a map she had been carrying. She stared at the red circle marking her destination. "Should just be a few more miles," she said, rolling the map back up. She continued down for about a mile more, uninterrupted, before she noticed an odd figure just a ways ahead. It was not until she had walked further, closer to the figure, that she could make out features. It was a man, around her age, dressed in a light brown hooded trenchcoat. She would've noticed more about him, had her eye not immediately drawn to the profusely bleeding wound in his side. Abby wasted no time, rushing to the man's side and shaking him. "Sir! Sir! Say something, please!" No response. She felt for a pulse. There, but barely. He needed treatment, and he needed it immediately. Thankfully, Abby had planned for the eventuality of her being injured, and had a medical kit on her person.

After several minutes of treating the wound with medicinal herbs and minor healing wards, the man was finally stable enough for Abby to breathe easy. Abby looked to the horizon, which held her destination. There was no way she was carrying this man all the way there, nor was there the slightest possibility that she would carry him the many miles back to the nearest town. And she couldn't very well leave the guy here. She huffed and pouted, sitting on a large root and placing her chin in her hands. With luck, he would wake up soon.

Abby had fallen asleep where she sat around two hours ago, and it had grown dark by the time she woke up. What had awoken her was the sound of her charge groaning and stirring, signifying he was waking up. Abby scrambled down to his side, where she more closely inspected his face. One might've been able to call this man handsome, were that his face not laced with scars and minor burns. One scar stood out in particular, running down the right side of his face and over his right eye like a canyon in his skin. As his pale blue eyes opened, she noted that the right eye was a glass prosthetic, yet moved and dilated like a normal eye. His eyes stopped on hers, and the two gazed for exactly ten seconds. Finally, the man broke the silence with a groan of frustration. "Dammit all," he said in a voice surprisingly smooth, given his appearance. "I really am dead, aren't I?" He put a hand to his face, rubbing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I would think not," said Abby, who pulled her head back.

The man forced himself into an upright cross legged position and stared at her. "And why not?"

Abby blinked and smiled a bit. "Well, I saved you. You're lucky I found you when I did. Any longer, you'd be dead."

He glared at her. "And did it ever occur to you that that was the plan?"

"What?"

The man waved it off. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter now. I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Douglas Murdoch, yours?" Douglas offered Abby his hand with a smile.

Abby smiled back and took his offered hand. "Abby. Abby Copperfield. Can you walk?"

Douglas rose to his feet as if he hadn't been stabbed at all. "Reasonably," he said. "Pain and I are comfortable in each other's company. As I'm sure you can tell." He gestured to his face with his hand.

"Good," said Abby, who also stood. "Well, I mean, not good, just that you can walk back to the village on your own, I need to get going. It was nice meeting you though." Abby briskly walked back down the path. She had wasted enough time. However, the sound of footsteps behind her said that she was being followed. "Um, town is the other way." she turned and told Douglas, who was ten paces behind her.

"I can see it in your eyes," he replied. "You have somewhere important to be, and something important to do. You saved my life, so the least I can do in return is aid you, ma'am."

"Really, you don't owe me anything," Abby said as stern as she could muster. "Now then, I-"

"The longer we spend arguing about my debt to you, the more sun we lose. And something tells me you don't want to lose any more. So what say you just accept my help for now and kick me out once it is done?"

Abby sighed, and it was her turn to pinch the bridge of her nose. He reminded her a bit too much of someone she knew. "Fine! But there's a chance there'll be trouble, so you best be able to handle yourself in a fight."

Douglas shrugged. "I dabble." Douglas caught up to Abby and the two continued through the forest.

Another few miles later, they came upon a hill overlooking Abby's destination. It was a castle. One that must have been thousands of years old, yet appeared completely untouched by time. "Fascinating," Douglas said under his breath. He turned to Abby, noting the fierce determination with which she glared at the castle in question. "I'm guessing this is our destination?"

"Yes," said Abby. "Well, to be honest, I'm not here for the castle. We're looking for the ones inside."

"Mmhm," Douglas replied, looking back to the castle to study the outside for an alternate way in. "Assault or rescue?"

"Rescue. Four targets, two extras that might be a problem."

Douglas nodded. "So, shall we take the front door? Because I'm having trouble finding another way in."

"I've been here on my own before, and there hasn't been anyone else in the castle, so we should be able to take the front." Abby stood up, followed by Douglas.

"Lead the way, ma'am." Douglas gestured to the path leading downhill to the castle. Abby nodded and walked briskly down the path. Douglas followed close behind her. "So, how did you find this castle? It looks as though it was built thousands of years ago."

"I didn't find it, some friends of mine did. The first time we came here, I was forced to leave them behind. Now, I'm here to get them out."

The strain in Abby's voice was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. "That's all I need to know, if you don't want to talk about it anymore, it's alright," Douglas said.

Abby turned to Douglas and smiled. "Thanks."

Douglas smiled back. "Anytime. Now then, I think we've kept your friends waiting long enough."

Abby sighed. "Yeah. Too long."

Soon, the two were staring down the large wooden doors of the castle. Douglas turned to Abby with a smirk. "Shall I knock, ma'am?" he asked.

Abby giggled. "If you think you can handle it."

Douglas wound up a kick and struck the door with all his might. The mighty wooden doors flew off their hinges and flew down the main hall of the castle as if they were made of paper. "Not bad, not bad at all," said Abby.

Douglas gave a curt bow. "I aim to please, ma'am." He gestured to the doorway for Abby to go in first. Abby obliged and entered the castle. The familiar atmosphere sent a chill down her spine as the memories flooded back.

Onee-chan, Amina, everybody, I'm finally here. Just wait a little bit longer… Her determination renewed, Abby and her new companion ventured further into the castle.