The crystal shed its light silently.

Cecil let the immaculate glow wash over him, hunting down the doubts gnawing at his mind. It was if, bathed in radiance, he could hear the voice of his father as it was in the temple all those years ago. He drew a breath. That meeting was too brief and he'd not had the chance to cherish it, not knowing it for what it was at the time.

In the distance..."Kain won't drink me under this year!"

A smile touched the paladin's lips, his eyes flittering open, bright in the cadence. From where he stood a hundred Cecils stared back him, reflections in the mirrors of the floor, walls and ceiling. Here, in the crystal room the paladin could forget, if but for a moment, of being a husband, a hero and a king.

A response..."You say that every year and every year it's him standing over your body."

The paladin's boots made little sound as he turned to leave. His brief melancholy was soon to be drowned in responsibilities, camaraderie and good mead. It was the same way every year, as the five Heroes of the Crystals returned to Baron to celebrate their victory over Zeromus. And while Cecil enjoyed the time with his friends, this day always brought into stark relief the thoughts of his lunar family and his own overwhelming duties.

Cecil cast a glance to the crystal once more, determined to use its beauty to banish his frustrations.

The crystal shed its darkness silently.

Darkness? Like an elecfish caught on a line, the paladin twitched. He peered curiously at the crystal, thinking himself mistaken. No, no mistake. Darkness seeped into the facets of the jewel, dulling its brilliant sheen an ugly gray. He took a step towards the crystal. If the crystal that always shed light was darkened what could that possibly mean?

The crystal...Bring me the crystal...

Cecil shook his head, pondering where that came from.A hand on his arm jostled the paladin and he half-turned to see Rosa. Her lovely brown eyes glittered. "Come, my love. Things are almost ready for the party."

"But...the crystal..."

His wife titled her head. "What about it?"

Lifting a finger, Cecil pointed to the crystal, following it with his own eyes. But his lips parted again to see that there was not a sign of the shadows that had, moments ago, infected the crystal. Had he visited the Crystal Room so often that the paladin saw shadows from his mind? Voices in his mind...?

Sighing, Cecil offered no resistance as Rosa dragged him out of the chamber.