Chapter XIV—The Blade of Lunaria
The small company of five headed east across the green valley, and passed once more through the dense foliage. They left the cathedral and its nightmares behind. No one in this unlikely fellowship seemed to share anything in common. All walked paths of different lives, but each held together by the destiny of the queen.
Then suddenly, Queen Leene broke from the path and turned around to gaze back at the cathedral. Her eyes looked worried.
"Is something wrong, your majesty?" Crono asked. Leene shook her golden hair, and her words softly floated. "I knew in my heart that building felt evil. I shall have it destroyed on the morrow and rid our land of one more memory of the Dark Lord." Then she quickly walked to catch up to Frog and the chancellor.
Luca raised his eyebrows and glanced at Crono. "I guess that answers our earlier question."
Crono gazed once more at the cathedral from the hills, and watched as one of its banners detached from the pole and whisked away into the sea. "How symbolic." He waited until the banner disappeared from sight. "The destruction of the cathedral. Leene did that."
Luca shrugged. "Can't blame her. Such a beautiful church, but if someone held me captive there for days, I'd have it demolished by the most expedient means at hand. Now that I know what once lurked there, I'm glad it won't exist in our time."
"Maybe some good will come of its destruction," Crono said. "Our people might build another village somewhere in that valley. Oh, we should suggest that to the queen!"
Luca fiercely grabbed his arm, and his eyes wolfishly darkened. "Crono, do me a favor. Keep your thoughts to yourself before you erase us from existence. We've already changed enough, too much for my obsessive-compulsive nature. Don't express your ideas to anyone. What if your little dream village gets built and my family lives there in the future? If either of our families ends up with a home outside Truce, we will never meet. And boom, another paradox. So keep your mouth shut on this journey and try not to interfere with these poor peoples' lives."
Crono could not believe how much further Luca could see, glasses or no glasses.
Eager to reach Darkwood Forest on the safe paths, the small company climbed a stretch of hills and vast grasslands. Or, as Frog would say, they must avoid the shadowed gloom, lest the creatures of the dark feast upon the unwary! The little mystic led them the entire way without saying a word to anyone, even the queen. He seemed to forget people surrounded him, and Crono wondered if Frog even considered him his friend.
Frog abruptly entered a secret passage through trees so tightly entwined Crono and Luca would have never thought to try passing through them. At the end of it, the mystic simply cut apart a thick screen of bushes to reveal a road that stretched away into a new land. Despite everyone's surprise, Frog wordlessly led them ahead. Crono and Luca had bypassed these trees many times in their lives, but neither ever noticed the secret pathway that led into a segment of the cliffs. They passed waterfalls that cascaded down hundreds of feet of towering mountain rock, then crossed through a stretch of forest spreading away before them. The canopy of leaves clung to the previous night's rainfall, and songbirds rose to twitter that no danger marked the path ahead.
Droplets of morning dew glistened silver on each tiny leaf as the rising sun lit a warm fire in each soul. Frog led without stopping, and his eyes stayed cautious of hidden dangers and creatures of the deep forest. He demonstrated to be as immersed in the woodland shadows and their shimmering ponds as the water creature he resembled.
The chancellor proved as much an enigma as Frog. Crono worried for him at first due to his age. But the old man had no trouble with the hike, and he traveled as though youth never left him. Even more striking, he held magic in the staff he carried. When they reached a dark tunnel concealed in the cliffs behind a waterfall, he ignited a glowing sphere of blue light from his staff and held it aloft. The powerful blaze flared outward and radiated, but it did not burn or emit smoke. Only a few steps behind Frog, the chancellor drove away the shadows and mist, and lit the entirety of the tunnel from beginning to end. Blue and silver luminosity spread through the darkness.
But Crono and Luca would not soon forget the strangest event of all. When the company arrived at the end of the tunnel, they could find no way to cross to the cliffs that led to the heights of Guardia Castle. A bottomless chasm dropped hundreds of feet into the earth and separated them from their goal. The old man paused, whispered in an unfamiliar language, then pulled free a rainbow from out of the waterfall beside them. With a wave of his ancient hands, he sent the ethereal ribbons across the gorge, and created a bridge of iridescent light. Crono and Luca gaped at the spectacle, and watched as the slender threads of color extended in length and broadened to the size of a bridge. The light shot out and hardened like stone, then sprang to life in multiple hues.
The old man seemed to sense Crono and Luca's hesitation to cross, and assured them of its safety. The bridge still appeared as a rainbow to the boys, and Crono imagined Luca's skeptical mind would have difficulty grasping its reality. Crono knew Luca felt comfortable around tangible science rather than invisible sorcery. Crono himself feared if they stepped onto the light they would surely fall through and plummet to their death hundreds of feet below. But no premonitions came to pass, and Crono's and Luca's courage grew with every step toward the other side. As Crono crossed, he noticed his village in the faraway distance and memories of home captured his vision. A mystic, a mage, a queen, a scientist and a warrior. This odd alliance passed through the land softer than the lavender eyes that watched them from a crystal. The bridge of light proved as sturdy as iron as the five allies made their way over the gorge and descended into Darkwood Forest.
Crono suddenly felt sad that he would never see these people again and wished he could spend more time here. But he belonged beyond the forbidden light of time's doorway. He and Luca must leave. Crono still feared the image of himself fighting for Guardia on Zenan Bridge.
But even more haunting and striking of all, he suddenly realized part of him truly wished to stay in the Middle Ages.
They emerged from Darkwood Forest and followed the stone roadway that led to Guardia Castle. Before they reached the gates of the fortress, the guards who patrolled the palace grounds and barracks high above spied Crono, Luca, Frog, the chancellor and the queen. Excitement flared all across the castle grounds as the gateway to Guardia Castle opened and mounted knights stormed out like a typhoon. They carried healers on the backs of their steeds, customarily greeted the chancellor and the queen and inquired if they had suffered any major injuries. The maidens inspected the queen, who assured them that she had been well protected. The knights helped Leene astride their mounts and escorted the queen and her allies the rest of the distance to Guardia castle.
When they entered the fortress, Leene gave commands that her saviors were to be fed, washed, and healed of all injuries. After bathing, resting and feasting like kings, Frog, Crono and Luca appeared before King Guardia in the throne room. The audience consisted of the chancellor, who stood beside the king, and various knights, who knelt with their heads bowed in respect. Soldiers bordered the edges of the flowing royal carpet that the three heroes followed to stand before the king. Torchlight flared from brackets on the walls, and illuminated the colorful tapestries and majestic lion flags above. Pillars of silver and gold supported the polished stone balcony of jeweled rails where castle musicians blew horns to announce the arrival of the three expected guests.
The king stood high on the dais where the throne sat. "Crono Zenan, remain standing. In the Kingdom of Guardia, you bow to no one." The king descended the dais and came to kneel before Crono. "Words cannot describe the depth of gratitude I hold for each of you heroes for rescuing my wife. I can grant you any wish, a small reparation of the suffering you have experienced at my misguided command. Captain Evanheart told me everything. I apologize to you, Sir Luca Devir and Sir Crono Zenan. My men sought you for the wrong reasons, to have you burned alive at the stake for false allegiance to this land when I myself was at fault." Then he rose and reached out his arms as his silver-blue robes and crown shimmered in the firelight. "But the gods preserved your lives and kept you whole and for this I am glad. Nothing I can give will ever fully pay for your service to this kingdom. Your astonishing victories have extended hope to all in this dark hour. I thank you and avow myself eternally in your debt."
Frog placed a hand over his chest with golden downcast eyes. "Nay that praise be mine. For victory rose as surely as the dawn, but not for myself. Hope would yet tarry under shadow if not for the courage of these young men. Empty and unforgiven doth my heart remain, for my oath faltered as a weakly shield. Verily, my failures endangered the queen, and remorse dwells within me to the end of my days."
"Frog . . ." Queen Leene began, but Frog sadly shook his head.
"Nay my life bless and grace the allegiance of Guardia. The power to save her life nay be found if not for Sir Luca's wisdom which unveiled the mysteries of the cathedral and the divinity of Crono's swordplay that induced the death of the Yakra. Had we never met under the stars of destiny, nay that this dawn glow."
"You're too hard on yourself, Frog," Crono stated. "You saved my life. And if you hadn't been there to show us the way, we would have never found the strength to go on." Crono placed a firm grip on Frog's shoulder. "An army of lions led by a sheep can be defeated by a lion who leads an army of sheep. In this, Frog, you played the lion." Crono released his grip.
Frog turned his back to the king and queen. "Never hath I belonged anywhere. I must depart. My humblest apologies, my dear queen. Mine eyes bereft the right to behold this castle." He suddenly glanced at Crono. "I wish . . . that thee and I could hath met at another time, my friend. Thou remind me of him most. . . . Farewell."
Then, slowly, Frog trudged down the red velvet carpet, parted the imperial doors, and disappeared.
"Should we go after him?" Crono ventured, but the king shook his head no.
"Leave him be, Sir Zenan. Nothing we can say will console him. It pains us, though, that he thinks of himself in such a way. Despite his makeup, we all know him as a brave and noble man."
Luca bowed before the King and Queen of Guardia. "Majesties, we must take our leave. May this fine kingdom prosper across the centuries! Farewell."
Then Queen Leene rose to her feet, and her blue eyes filled with concern. "You would part with no gifts?"
Luca greedily grinned. A king could give them anything.
But Crono shook his head no. "I believe we received what we came for, your majesty. We wanted only to see you returned home safely again."
"But surely, I must insist on this offer, Sir Zenan. It would sadden me greatly to have you risk your lives for my sake when you receive nothing in return." She gazed at Crono again. Her eyes distantly drifted as if into a dream. Suddenly, she turned to whisper in her husband's ear.
Surprise appeared on the king's face, and he looked uncertain. "But Leene, we cannot give him that! It rejected and nearly killed the last one who touched it. What if it doesn't glow in his hand!" King Guardia glanced down at the two young heroes from where he had returned to the dais. He sighed. "Because my wife considers you a great hero, Crono Zenan, I shall grant you a mighty gift. Chancellor, my friend, bring forth Lunaria." Everyone gawked, even the knights.
For a few moments, the mage simply stared at the king and then quietly chatted with him. "You wish to present it to Sir Crono, then? My Lord, it has harmed men who dared touch it before. How will this time be different?"
The king glanced down at Crono. "I believe him worthy enough. Leene thinks highly of him. Lunaria has never known another holder in the past. Heavens part way and light shines from a place the world has never seen. Maybe Crono fulfills Cyrus' prophecy. And please fetch the black cloak, the one that bears the mark of the crimson lion."
"Kingly gifts," the old man acknowledged.
"Gifts of a king," Lord Guardia corrected. The old man bowed before he left the room. A few moments later, he returned and presented the king with a leather scabbard and a black garment folded in his arms. The king slowly took the latter and pulled free a swirling cloak that shimmered as spectrally as a black mirror. It appeared so deeply shadowed even torchlight could not touch its night-pitch fabric. Thin and gossamer as spiderwebs, the cloak bore crimson streaks that resembled flames on its edges. The brooch of a red lion fastened the cloak in place. The king seemed honored to mantle the cape around Crono's neck. He then secured it across Crono's broad shoulders before he stepped back to admire him.
Crono touched the mysterious brooch. "What is this, your majesty?"
The king's thoughtful expression did not change. "An enchanted garment known as the Cloak of Mirrodin, a magic of the night that Lord Cyrus once prized. Only two exist of its kind. And I present this one to you, Crono Zenan." The king touched Crono's shoulder as his hand dropped to the red lion brooch, and caressed the secret of its magic. "When you wear the hood, no light will ever touch you. The cloak will shield you from unwanted eyes. As thin as it may seem, it will keep you warm even on the coldest winter nights. So long as it remains on your shoulders, you can swim through a sea of ice and never feel cold. A rare gift. How else could Cyrus fight in the glacial presence of the Dark Lord? Pull it on. Try it out."
Crono hesitated, then pulled the hood over his face. Instantly Crono became only edges, black lining, and a mere reflection of his own shadow. Everything that signified his identity turned as transparent as night. Neither the light of torch or sun could touch him with the hood drawn over his head. Even though everyone could still make out his shape, he remained invisible to eyes that did not know to look for him.
Crono opened up the hood and returned to his physical multicolored form. "Thank you, your majesty," Crono calmly said, but the depths of the sea could not compare to his excited gratification. "But you mentioned something earlier about this gift that caught my attention. You said the Mirrodin Cloak has a brother. I bear this one, but who holds the second?"
The king and queen uncomfortably glanced at each other. Then Leene stepped forward to gaze into Crono's eyes. "You must understand, child. We shall never bring back the second cloak into this kingdom. It belongs to a traitor of this castle. This betrayer helped murder Cyrus the night he wore that cloak. And today, that man still wears its brother."
Her words sent chills down Crono's spine. "Who is this man?"
The queen straightened. "A soldier once, a long time ago, but no more. He became Magus' greatest assassin. He exploits the same power of the cloak you carry. His name is Slash, the last swordsman of legend after he assassinated the others and stole their titles."
Everybody went silent for a time. Crono and Luca had heard the name in Frog's brief description of Magus' three partisans.
The king nodded to the chancellor to give Crono his final gift. "Bring forth Lunaria."
The old man complied and presented Crono a scabbard with an azure blue handle as vibrant as the skyline. Within rested a sword which glimmered like a galaxy of stars all summoned together to form the shining blade. Emblazoned on the blade's surface shone red and black runes that wreathed the weapon in a swirl of thorns similar to the cloak's crimson flames. The symbol of its power, the lion insignia, twinkled where the blade began. When Crono swung the sword, a flash of blue light streaked in crescent moons that cut into the atmosphere.
Suddenly the sword flared outward as brilliant blue flames sprang to life and burned into Crono's hand and merged with him. At first, the onlookers must have thought the blade rejected its holder. But Crono remained unharmed as he held the sword aloft.
Immediately the king's face lit up and he clapped his hands and laughed. "By the grace of the gods, you were right, Leene! I never thought it . . . Crono is the one! We have found the lost holder of the Lunaria Blade!"
The flames died down a few seconds later, and the blade remained silver as Crono held it before his eyes once more in wonder.
"My boy, Cyrus once carried this sword," the king stated. "Before he left to fight the Dark Lord, he said if we ever found one of his swords again, we should give it to a man who makes black heavens part and brings light from a place where the sun does not rise. We never found Cyrus' body or his second blade, the Masamune, but we found Lunaria quite easily because of its light. We call it Lunaria because when the moon no longer shines in the night, the blade will bring azure light at the whim of its holder and guide the way forward. Sharper than the claws of dragons it has vanquished, but as light and beautiful as the moonglow from which it takes its name, no better sword exists in the Land of Guardia. We never thought Cyrus' blade would be given to a boy. It serves you now, Crono Zenan. Use it well."
The king touched Crono's shoulder. "Draw it only when battle comes to you and when light no longer shines across your path. Ah, I almost forgot! It does bear one final power. When the scabbard in which it rests attaches to the belt of its keeper, the blade cannot be seen or felt by his enemies. When inside its sheath, it appears as if you truly hold no weapon."
Crono nodded in understanding as he promised himself to remember King Guardia's words. He hooked the scabbard onto his leather belt, then secured his old weapon across his back. Suddenly Lunaria vanished and utterly disappeared from everyone's sight.
"No way," Crono said as he reached for the invisible spot on his body, and felt the smooth metal with his hand. Astonished now, he pulled free the sword and there it appeared just as seeable once more. He laughed in surprise, then slid the sword back into the now visible scabbard, and they both faded again.
"And what gifts would Sir Luca desire from a king?" Queen Leene asked the young inventor. "Name anything at all and it will be yours."
Luca shrugged. "I want one thing. Tell every brave soldier fighting in this war that Queen Leene has been returned safely to the castle. Make sure every knight knows the truth of this."
The king and queen slowly nodded and seemed confused at the strange request. But Crono understood Luca's reasons. If the soldiers never hear of the queen's rescue, it might shatter the outcome of humans ever winning the war.
"Sir Luca, your request shall be carried out at once," King Guardia stated. "As for your gift, I do believe we have something. Chancellor, retrieve the silver flask."
The old man bowed. "At once, my king. I'll have it in just a moment." He snapped his fingers and a gleaming silver flask instantly appeared in his hand. He brought it over to Luca, who took the item. Made entirely of silver and jewels, the polished and smooth flask softly shimmered. On both sides of its surface glittered rubies that shaped the mark of the red lion.
Before Luca could respond, the king spoke. "Sir Luca, we call this artifact Everflow. As you may have guessed, this portable canteen carries water. But not just ordinary water. No, the liquid inside never runs out. Just as its name suggests, it will eternally yield fresh spring water. It could refill the sea and never empty, and has been known to cure the sick."
Luca bowed and stepped back to stand next to Crono again.
The king placed his hand over his heart and lowered his head. "Both of you shall be held in highest respect. You may come and go as you please. Food, drink and beds in the knights' quarters shall always be open to you. May the gods bless you on your journey homeward."
Crono and Luca turned and headed for the doorway. Then Crono glanced back at the king. "Your majesty, I have one last question. Who was Lord Cyrus? Everywhere I walk in this land, I hear his name. But it's always half whispered. I never truly understood his identity."
"The greatest warrior that ever lived," the king replied. "He died long ago after fighting the Dark Lord." The king gazed down at the floor as if to hide a profound sadness. "Glenn Deragon stood with him that day."
A long moment of silence ensued before Crono spoke. "Who's Glenn Deragon?"
The king looked into his eyes. "He left this room not long ago and led you to save Queen Leene. Glenn Deragon is Frog's true name." Crono gaped, but the king answered Crono's biggest question. "Yes, Glenn we once called him. He was a man once, in fact. But he has forsaken his name because of his new form. He lives with what Magus turned him into and what he believes he failed to do in his mortal shape. Now cursed with a frog's form and his manner of speaking."
"Magus did this to him?" Luca repeated. "Just like the chapel maidens in the cathedral. Magus transformed him. That explains why he fights for humans."
The king nodded. "I believe no true mystic ever took that path. But indeed, Glenn Deragon assumed the mystic form but not the mystic heart. No magic in the world can rewrite the human heart. The night Magus killed Cyrus and cast him off the mountain, something strange happened. The Dark Lord spared Glenn. He actually showed mercy and allowed him to leave that place and never return. I've not the faintest clue why someone so heartless would spare life. As a boy, Glenn apprenticed with Lord Cyrus and it took us some time to truly recognize this frog character as Glenn when he returned. Even in his form, Glenn still serves our people as Cyrus would want him to. But a greater ambition guides his heart, though he may try to hide it. If you haven't noticed, the scar on Frog's left palm comes from him spilling his own blood and swearing he would avenge Cyrus by killing Magus."
The chancellor stepped forward. His gold and green robes shimmered as vibrantly as his strange youthful eyes. "So then, this leaves just one last mystery for us. The identity of that girl we found in the mountains. The young lady looked so much like our queen, but we still have no idea as to where she came from."
"Damn!" Luca exclaimed. "I forgot about Nadia!" Everyone except Crono frowned in confusion. "Where did she disappear, Crono? What room?"
Crono curiously studied him. "Why does it matter? Shouldn't she already be back in our . . ." (He caught himself before saying "time.") "Homeland?"
Luca adjusted his glasses. "Initially, I thought that as well. But it wouldn't make any sense, considering the events. She should be asleep in the place you last saw her."
Crono strode over to one of the doors and peered out. "That way. I last saw her in the queen's room."
Queen Leene's eyes brightened. "Oh! I discovered her asleep on my bedroom floor hours ago and had her carried to the servant quarters. It's far down the right wing as you exit this room. Poor dear. You should see if she's awake now."
On hearing this, Crono bolted out of the throne room and disappeared down the halls.
Luca rolled his eyes and bowed to the King and Queen of Guardia. "Majesties, I sense this is where we take our leave. Goodbye!" Instantly Luca pivoted and chased after Crono, and left the king and queen amused and reflecting on the days of their own youth.
"Do you think we will ever see them again?" Queen Leene quietly asked.
The king nodded. "In time," he stated. "In time."