Nearly three years before…having attained the highest rank of Heavenly Knight, brave Balbanes was facing his last days.

The attitude was solemn and sad in the Beoulve residence. Sitting in his bed was the near dead Balbanes Beoulve. He had fought hard in the Fifty Year war but had been sick, bedridden for the past three years. Standing around his bed were, his eldest son, Dycedarg, his youngest daughter, Alma. His other son, Zalbag. Only Ramza was absent.

"How goes…the battle?" Balbanes managed to speak.

"Through swift action we were able to recover Limberry. It's only a matter of time before the Ordalia army leaves Zeltennia. Don't worry." Zalbag reassured him.

"The secret messenger sent to Count Lenario has returned. Count Lenario has agreed to your plan." Dycedarg added.

"Good…then, at last…this long war…will finally come to an end…" Balbanes was trailing off.

"Father…" Alma was in tears.

"Don't cry…my daughter…" Balbanes too was in tears.

"Where is Ramza? Just when we need him most!" Zalbag was upset. Getting angry was his only solution to keep from breaking down and crying like Alma. Dycedarg didn't seem to be as upset.

"Dycedarg, Zalbag…my beloved sons…take care of Ramza. He maybe your half brother but he is my own flesh…" Balbanes began to speak and suddenly, someone could be heard scaling the stair noisily. Ramza burst into the door.

"Father!!" Ramza yelled.

"Lower your voice." Dycedarg scolded.

"I'm glad you came…let me…look at you…" Balbanes said. He was getting closer. Ramza stood right beside him.

"It has been a long time…you've become a fine man…you start the academy in spring, don't you? Listen, Ramza…A Beoulve has served the royal family for generations. The warrior spirit is in us. Never shame your name…never tolerate injustice…living true to your heart is the warrior's way…the Beoulve way." Balbanes said.

"I understand, father…" Ramza was going to crumble.

"Delita's a good boy. He should serve you well…I've asked the dean to accept him into the academy. It shocked the dean a bit. He will serve you well…treat him well…" Balbanes was fading.

"Y, yes….father…" Ramza was in tears now.

"Take good care of Alma…Become a fine knight…Ramza." Were the last words that he said before he fell into eternal sleep…

About seven months later, springtime…Delita's name appears for the first time a year before the Lion War broke out…

…Many soldiers who returned from the war had no jobs, little money and even less loyalty to the crown. Many heroes and wizards came out of there. At that time robbery and murder were commonplace in Ivalice…

…And Gariland, the place where I was stationed…was no exception…

Gallione Military Academy

There were eight of them in the room. They were all talking about the latest news. They were all cadets. Just barely sixteen, the minimal age limit. Perhaps some were a little older but for the most part they were just pups. Ramza and Delita stood facing each other in the rear row on the left side.

"I heard another wagon bound for Igros was attacked." Said a cadet to the far right corner of the room.

"Must have been the Death Corps…" a female cadet said from behind him in reply. Ramza was troubled. There shouldn't have been so much commotion going on among the cadets, even with Larg and Goltana fighting. It just wasn't normal. Delita looked just as puzzled.

"Something's starting…know anything Delita?" Ramza asked. Delita, being a commoner got word around the street. Ramza, being a noble, wasn't exactly liked by the majority of commoners. Delita was an exception though. They were close, like brothers. In fact Ramza felt closer to Delita than he ever did Dycedarg or Zalbag.

"No…but I can guess." Delita said. He seemed content that Ramza was speaking to him.

"What do you mean?" Ramza was again puzzled.

"Prince Larg's coming to town." Delita said.

"Prince Larg? Why?"

"Not only Larg, but Marquis Elmdor of Limberry too." Delita added.

"That's news! It's not an official visit, is it?" Ramza wondered.

"There are danger zones everywhere in Ivalice. The Hokuten Knights are in full operation, but suffering from a shortage of men." Delita explained.

"So, they need us cadets." Ramza added as he began to catch on. Suddenly the captain's voice could be heard.

"Everyone fall in!" They got into formation. He continued to talk. "You have a mission! As you know, barbarians are rapidly increasing in Gallione. The traitorous Death Corps detests the royal family. We cannot overlook them.

"We will begin exterminating these traitors. By order of our Master, Larg's knights stationed at Igros Castle and man other groups will participate. Your duty is to support the flank. Specifically you'll go to Igros and help guard it." He seemed to have finished his speech.

Then, a female knight came in and whispered something in the captain's ear. He jolted with surprise.

"Cadets, ready your swords! A gang of tortured thieves is trying to sneak into this town. We'll begin preparations now to keep them out of town! Come with me! This is the frontline of operations! That's all! Prepare immediately!" As he finished the cadets began to gather their armor and weapons. Ramza picked up his sword. He was glad to be wielding a sword that was given to him by his father. It made him feel like a real Beoulve. He followed the captain. He knew this battle would probably be exhilarating.

As they approached the town Ramza could see the thieves. They all looked thin, unhealthy and violent. Like every other person in Ivalice those days they were armed. Their leader caught site of them. Ramza, Delita, and four other cadets with them stood in the way of the only exit of the town. If the thieves wanted through, they'd have to go through them.

"What's this? Just a bunch of kids! What luck! Okay, all we have to do is kill these kids! Then we can escape! Don't you worry! We'll kill every one of you!" Said the leader. Ramza brandished his sword. He was ready for battle. This was his first but he'd trained long and hard as a Beoulve for such a day as this.

"Ramza, watch out! Don't rush them!" Delita warned. Ramza hated it when Delita treated him like a child.

"Stop patronizing me Delita! I'm also a Beoulve!!" Ramza said.

"Beoulve?! THE Beoulve family!? So, you must be cadets from the military academy! Snot nosed little nobles!!" The thief leader looked as if he were even more ready to kill.

"Silence! Surrender or die in obscurity!!" Ramza taunted.

"What can a bunch of kids like you do? Buncha spoiled punks like you'll never beat us!!" He said. Immediately after his words the two teams collided. The sound of steal clashing against steel echoed through the street. Ramza thrust his sword into one of the thieves pulled it out and brought the blade down like an axe on his head. His enemy was instantly killed. His body lay on the ground, motionless. Delita's blade met a female thief's neck. Her head was easily removed. The leader thief thrust his knife into one of the cadets. It was a female cadet, her name was Rebecca. She cried out in surprise and pain. He began to continuously stab her in the chest and stomach. Ramza watched as she hit the ground not moving, eyes closed. He was filled with anger.

He ran as fast as he could for the leader. One of the thieves stood in his way. Ramza knocked him down and rammed a dagger, drawn from his boot into the fallen's heart. He continued his way to the leader. The leader was now trying to make gashes on Delita so he could stab him. Swipe after swipe Delita dodged. Ramza had reached him now. Swinging sideways, he slammed his sword's blade into the leader's gut. He could feel skin and tissue give way. He slid his sword out made the slice deeper and more lethal. Delita finished him off, putting him out of his pain. The other cadets, tired, bloody and bashed had finished the rest of the thieves.

"Why do you continue committing acts like robbery? You wouldn't have died this way if you had led an honest life." Ramza felt a sudden empathy and sadness for the poor souls. Oh well, he was just doing his job.

Delita looked even more torn up than Ramza felt. His thought used to ease the guilt was that he was doing his duty as a Hokuten cadet.

"Let's go to Igros, Delita." Ramza said. "What do you think is the best route?"

"Mandalia Plains is the quickest way. It cuts right across so we head straight to Igros." He answered. They took care of the bodies and cleaned themselves up. Ramza often wondered why war even existed. Why such an ugly thing would be tolerated. His father explained to him once, that it is often necessary to fight and kill as long as it is for a just cause. Never tolerate injustice. Ramza had made a pact to himself that he would keep his father's last will and testament.

"Well then, let's go." Ramza said flatly.