When Cecil regained consciousness once more, he was aware of more than one person surrounding him. He kept his eyes closed for fear of alerting his captors that he was awake, and instead focused on the sounds around him. He heard a distant bubbling of lava and a shuffle, and the sensation of raw power reached him. He immediately knew he was at the Edge of Madness, in the presence of Chaos.
"You want me to awaken his darkness?" the god asked.
"Yes," Golbez answered simply.
"Hmmmm," Chaos grumbled, shifting his weight in his throne. "For what purpose?"
"It is . . . an experiment of sorts. As my memories return, I remember a certain . . . power that I had before I was summoned. I'd like to test it."
"That can't be true!" Cecil thought. "Even if he was trying to betray us, he would never-"
"Plus, not only would we gain a valuable ally," Golbez bribed, "but we would also have a source of information. He is trusted by Cosmos and her warriors. He could gather knowledge for us and share it. Not to mention his power. Especially with conflicting strengths."
Cecil opened his eyes and glanced at Golbez, whose helmet gave nothing away. He shifted his eyes to Chaos, only to meet the god's glowing, hate-filled eyes evenly. Cecil could see the Chaos's calculations: Advantages versus disadvantages? A cover for betrayal of some sort? What power could be measured in Cecil? What could he gain? Chaos held the cold gaze until Cecil looked away.
"And what are your plans with him? Why do you 'experiment' so?" Chaos asked, tapping the tips of his fingers together.
"He will be the one to cause the destruction of Cosmos, if all goes well."
"How is it he will accomplish this?" Chaos's new, flattened tone and bored expression told Cecil he was unconvinced.
"Don't think for one minute he believes you," Cecil thought spitefully. "Nor do I."
Golbez replied smoothly, "I suppose if it succeeds, you will see." Chaos narrowed his eyes. He expected a bit more information than what Golbez was providing. "As for why, my brother bested me in battle in previous cycles, and I want revenge-"
"'Revenge'?" Chaos asked incredulously, leaning forward in his throne. "You must think me simple! Either that, or YOU are the simple one, believing the lies that are fed to you, Purified or otherwise! I've seen more cycles than you could know! I've seen the comings and goings of countless warriors! I've studied their 'styles', shall we say. Discovered their musings. And I've been around you long enough to know that someone else's words are coming from your mouth!"
"Purified?" Cecil thought. "So he didn't exactly betray us." Despite his situation, that was a wonderful relief. Of course if Golbez was Purified he would want to attack.
Chaos paused, glancing at Cecil. He sat back more calmly. "There is a rat among us. Whether you smell it or not, there is. You're a fool if you think the rat's intentions stop where he says they do, large one. Why you're assisting him I cannot fathom, but I can sense you harbor no love for him. So know this:" Chaos sat up a little straighter, "his supposed kindness, or whatever it was that drew you to him when you awoke in this cycle, is nothing more than an illusion. A ploy. The moment he is finished with you, he will dispose of you like the pawn you are. He plans the same for myself." Chaos let our a long, slow, growling chuckle. "As soon as this cycle is finished, be his plans for Cosmos successful or otherwise, his time in this conflict is at an end. I will ensure he does not return. He's been too often a nuisance. I cannot be sure if you are aiding him, or if he is just putting ideas into your head that you are pursuing. But you would be wise to not become too entangled in his schemes. If they bring you to cross me, it will be the end of you as well. I only keep you now through all these cycles because you were always quiet, and I always liked you. Past traitor or not." Standing from his throne, Chaos stomped over to Cecil. "Still, another pawn of the dark should be where he belongs: submerged in the dark."
Cecil glared up at Chaos in defiance. "I'll never succumb to the darkness." Whatever they were planning to do to him, that part of him was gone. He repented; he was a Paladin now. No longer would his Dark Knight harm innocent people on behalf of someone else.
Chaos stared down at him for a few moments. As though he read Cecil's mind, his eyes narrowed, and his lips curled up into a sneer. "We'll see. Cosmos returned your dark powers to you when she called you. Obviously, the roots are still embedded in your heart.
"STAND!" Chaos ordered him, so violently he flinched. For a terrifying moment he nearly obeyed, but a small twinge of defiance still lingered. He stayed where he was on the ground of the Edge of Madness.
"I do not answer to you, monster."
Chaos grabbed a fistful of his cape, much as Golbez had done, and picked him up as though he weighed nothing. He pulled back and threw Cecil back into the wall. He cried out, slipping from the wall, and before he fell to the ground, Chaos dropped to all fours and pounded over to him. He grabbed Cecil by the throat and slid him back up the wall.
Cecil clutched at Chaos's wrists in an attempt to lesson the pressure on his airways, but Chaos only gripped his neck tighter. With one of his arms he opened his palm, and a red and black flame grew in his hand. He sneered down at Cecil.
"Why do you scrabble desperately to maintain this weak grip on your 'light' when it is so easily snuffed out by the slightest touch of darkness?" He touched the small flame to Cecil's chest, and it absorbed into him. Cecil gasped in painful surprise, but the noise was cut short into a grimace of pain as the dark flame sunk right into his heart. It seared his chest with blistering pain, hatred, every form of rage, jealousy, every negative emotion, ripping through and gutting him of everything honorable. He could feel the raging, scorching inferno fester and spread from his heart to the rest of his body. The burning agony was unbearable, but no matter how he squirmed the flame grew and engulfed him, singing his skin and bones. His grip tightened around Chaos' arm until his knuckles were white and his nails bit into Chaos' skin, and he bit his lip. He refused to scream through the heat and burning of his heart. The god only smiled sadistically.
The dark purple hue of his Dark Knight once again bled through the Paladin, spreading the cloak of black over his whole body and over his face where the helmet formed over his features. They were no relief from the heat.
Then he lost consciousness.
Chaos nodded approvingly. "His darkness has indeed been drawn forth." He dropped Cecil, who landed in a crouch and straightened up facing Golbez. "He is yours to command. IF you can manage control over him. If it is weak, he WILL fight."
Of course, just what Golbez warned the Emperor about. The strength of the connection. "Is he aware of what is happening around him?"
"You may have control of him when you please. Otherwise, he will be in his right mind. Let me reiterate: I care not what he does, or what you do with him. I care not if he destroys Cosmos, or if he does not. She will eventually meet her end regardless. But if you so much as THINK of using him against me, or coming after me on behalf of the Emperor . . . " Chaos let the threat trail off, and instead held up the same flames he used on Cecil. He clenched his fist around it and Cecil collapsed instantly. He writhed on the ground screaming and seizing in unmeasurable, indisputable pain. Chaos unclenched his fist and Cecil uncoiled, relaxing with a huge sigh of relief, chest rising and falling rapidly.
Golbez didn't reply. He didn't need to. Chaos knew he got the message. He grabbed hold of Cecil and hoisted him up to his feet, disappearing to find the Emperor.