Chapter 2
Utter darkness. Kain wasn't sure of the exact moment when the sensation of falling, the sharpness of his pain and the swirling darkness became one but it felt like it had lasted an eternity. He believed he was dead or perhaps beyond death if it was possible. It came as quite a shock when the weird sensations stopped and he was able to open his eyes.
He could not see anything at first because his eyes were blurred by bloody dust. The detestable mixture brought water to his eyes and eventually he spotted a white figure leaning over him. At first he thought it was some sort of undead spirit but when he intensified his focus he found that it was a young man dressed in white robes. Kain identified the clothing straight away as that worn by white mages with its signature red triangular patterning and white hood. The man could have easily been identified as a girl, with his long auburn locks and elfin-like facial features. He had a purple staff strapped to his back and was grinning sympathetically at Kain.
"Looks like you've taken a fall," he said eventually, holding out a long slender hand for Kain to grasp.
Kain hesitated shortly before gripping it and allowing himself to be hauled up. He groaned in pain as the realisation of his injuries dawned upon him.
"You were in quite a state, very lucky that I turned up actually. I have managed to bind the broken limbs as they were literally shattered into pieces but I'm afraid you're going to need to come back with me to Mysidia for full treatment. I'm all tired out from training to carry out any more spells."
"Thank you but I do not ask for help from you," Kain tried to walk but immediately collapsed back to the ground.
"You have no choice, monsters swarm these parts and when nightfall descends, if the monsters won't rip you to shreds then you will freeze to death."
Kain pondered his options for a moment before allowing the white mage to assist him back to Mysidia, a village to the west of his training ground of Mount Ordeals.
The wizard village was peaceful and calm as they entered; Kain's armoured upper limb around the stranger's neck while the stranger supported him by gripping him around his waist. Blood and sweat ran freely down Kain's face as they hobbled to the nearest house. A black mage sitting outside, whose face was mysteriously shrouded in darkness, wearing pointy yellow headgear and sapphire robes glared at them as they went inside.
"I think I have a fan," Kain muttered sarcastically.
"Don't worry about him, he just wishes he looked as battle worthy as you," the stranger grinned. "You can rest here for tonight and I can heal your wounds tomorrow. Oh and by the way my name is Bos Lukka."
"Thank you, Lukka, my name is... Kay." And without another word Kain collapsed on the bed and fell into a slumber.
Kain awoke the next day to find that he had been stripped of his armour and that he was now wearing purple robes. He got up from his bed to find that he could very much walk and picked up his armour from where it rested under the table and put it on. He strolled outside to find Lukka standing there as if he was waiting for him.
"I feel healed, I owe you my life," Kain gave a slight bow.
"It's no worries, good training for me, if I'm to become a white mage anyway. I'm actually about to leave for an underground cavern not far from here. A rare herb has been found but the second group who went to harvest it have not returned. The elder has ordered me to go and find survivors and heal them if necessary before retrieving the herb."
"Allow me to assist you," Kain said unhooking his two headed lance.
"I hoped you would say that."
The underground cavern was just north of Mysidia. Despite his injuries Kain had been disappointed that they had not been troubled by any fiends as he was eager to see his new companion's fighting skills. The underground cavern, though, provided almost immediately a chance to examine each other's skills. Still within sight of the cavern's entrance a hideous looking creature turned the corner. At first Kain had thought they were to be attacked by a giant snake but as more of the creature emerged it became clear that the snake was only a third of the problem.
"Chimera. Hate them. Can't believe the bastards come in gigantic sizes," Lukka spat on the ground and aimed his purple staff.
"Do not dither too long," and with that Kain launched forward, thrusting his lance tip through the yellow forehead of the lion head.
Blood splattered on his armour as he ripped his lance out and jumped back to avoid a ravenous bite by the snake. Lukka grinned before darting forward and whacking the snake head so hard it slammed into the ground and rebounded back up. He then aimed his staff at Kain, closed his eyes and concentrated. The chimera grunted as if insulted by the assumption that it would wait for Lukka to finish the spell. It charged forward suddenly towards him but Kain jumped in front, stabbing the already bloody lion head once again. He felt a warm glow as the shell spell took effect and nodded a thanks to Lukka who grinned back.
Kain spun into the air but as he was halfway to the roof of the cavern he all of a sudden felt heavy as a ferociously cold ice took over his body freezing it to stone. He fell to the ground hard, the ice around him smashing to bits but he felt like his body had been smashed along with it. He cast an eye at Lukka who was wincing from the pain of the chimera's ice elemetal damage but he did not dwell on his pain too long. He raised his staff above his head resulting in a warm green glow surrounding both of them and immediately he felt as if he was back to full health. He spun his lance fast so that it became a blur before throwing it at the chimera. It sliced the goat and snake head clean off leaving only bloody stubs.
The Chimera ran at him, enraged about losing its two heads, without his lance Kain hesitated and it knocked him to the floor and pinned him down with its gigantic paws. As the remaining head went to bite him he dug his elbow spikes into the creature's neck and jerked aggressively to the right, splitting the creature's neck open. It collapsed on top of him with a sigh.
"That was a fight, eh?" Lukka chuckled. "Shall we proceed deeper?"
"That sounds like a good plan, should I also move this gigantic chimera's body from me with the power of my mind?"
As they proceeded deeper into the cavern a grim picture began to emerge. The dim cavern's walls were splashed in blood. It was not long before they came across the corpse of a black mage leaned against the wall—what was left of him. Lukka stopped and bowed his head and for the first time since Kain had met him he was not smiling, instead he was weeping silently; his hands clasped in prayer. Kain did not cry. It was not that he didn't feel sadness it was just that after all the wrongs he had committed, the people he had hurt and the friends he had seen die he had no more tears left to spare. When Lukka had finished praying they carried on deeper into the cavern passing more dismembered corpses the deeper they went in. Eventually they came across the herb, Kain suppressed a frenzied giggle when he saw it. It was so small, so delicate and insignificant and yet so many had needlessly suffered to obtain it. And not just the mages. Travelling through the cavern had reminded him of how he had journeyed with Cecil to retrieve the crystals that were stolen; the times of warmth from their brotherly friendship and the times of guilt from his betrayals.
By the time they returned to Mysidia night had fallen over the village and people had either gone to the inn or gone home. The few wizards that were out did not need to ask about the cavern as they read from their faces. A few black mages bowed their heads, their yellow hats almost tumbling off their heads to the floor. The two men were also silent as any attempt from Lukka to engage Kain in conversation had resulted in monosyllabic answers.
"I need a stiff drink," Lukka sighed. "I trust you will meet me in the inn, I must discuss my findings with the elder and pray for the lost ones."
"I should probably just book a room for the night, I must return to my training at Mount Ordeals,"
"Oh no you don't, I know nothing about you, a tipple of ale and the sweet charms of women will loosen that tongue. Something troubles you I can tell, us mages have a nose for such things," and Lukka walked away before Kain could protest.
