Allergies and a Harp
by Maelstra
4 - Where's Damcyan, Anyway?
Kain came to, an unknown period of time later, lying on his back under the hot, hot sun. "Aaagh!" He sat up quickly, and dug in his bag for an herb that he could put on his sunburned face. Stupid mountain with no shade! What was I thinking, to . . . Huh? Kain's hand bumped his helmet as he smeared plant-goo on his lobster-red face. "When did I put this on?" He glanced at his arms, and finally noticed he was wearing the rest of the armor as well. What? How did it . . . ? And, why's it so pale? Previously, the helmet and armor had been a deep, dark mediterranean blue – now, it had somehow changed to a light, aquamarine. "The armor looks like . . . new. But, how?"
Finally, Kain remembered: mysterious tablet, fighting his mirror-self, Golbez's voice in his head, and a new quest. "I survived! Yeah-hay!" Kain indulged himself by doing a victory sign. He considered a moment. "Does this mean I'm now a Paladin – or Paladin-Dragoon, technically? I guess it did purify my armor and all, just like Cecil. That's pretty cool." Then, Kain groaned, remembering. "But now, I've gotta go find some 'legendary' Harp of Self-Control. Then, what do I do once I find it? Golbez said I've got to play the Song of Strength – but, I don't know anything about music! Cecil says I couldn't carry a tune in a caldron!" Oh well, I guess I'll worry about that later.
"First things first! I've got to get off this mountain, before I go crazy and start talking to myself all the time!" It would be nice if I had someone else to talk to. But . . . no. This quest is something I have to do alone.
So, Kain went back down the mountain. He was very gratified to see that the journey down was much easier than the journey up had been, since becoming a Paladin-Dragon Knight had evidently increased his fighting strength and stamina. That and he was actually moving faster because he already knew the path he needed to take. So, before very long, Kain happily got himself to the bottom of Mount Ordeals.
After spending a couple of hours trying to hitch a ride on one of the vulture-like Zuus (Kain tried to jump on top of them, then hang on, but all he got for his attempts were several hard falls), Kain gave up on any idea of a shortcut and decided to just try to get back to Mysidia before he used up his last three potions. Kain had no idea how long he had spent on the peak of Mount Ordeals, but his injuries were almost completely healed, severe as they had been. Though it was now late afternoon, and he had begun his trial at dawn, Kain suspected that at least one day had passed inbetween.
Only his ruminations and an occasional monster kept Kain company as he walked the long, tedious path back to Mysidia. Dark was falling by the time the lamps of the city could be seen on the horizon. Still Kain continued walking until a myriad of stars had appeared overhead. His intention was to keep walking until he reached the city, but finally the stiffness building up in his not-totally-healed muscles persuaded him otherwise. Slowly, respectfully, he removed his purified helmet and armor, and stowed it in a large traveling pack. The forest slept in silence aside from the rhythmic drone of night insects. Kain looked deeply once more, for good measure, into all the shadows surrounding him, then wrapped his blanket around him and curled up at the foot of a large tree. Almost immediately the blackness of dreams enfolded him.