Gnothi Se Auton

-Act I-

The Trine Prophecy

A Final Fantasy IV Story

By SpacemanSpiff

Chapter XIII

In Vino Veritas

Scene 1 – Mysidia Village

Stepping outside into the bright, midday sun, Cecil saw a village bustling with activity as the Mysidians went about their daily lives. He lifted a hand over his eyes as they adjusted to the vivid splashes of sunlight that beamed from every surface. It was a beautiful, clear day, with various exotic plants and potted flowers sprinkled throughout the village peeking around sandstone corners, climbing up bamboo lattice walls, lush and vibrant after the rain just before sunrise that morning. The smell of potent potions wafted from the alchemist's shop, and the sound of children playing outside the orphanage reminded Cecil that despite the efforts of the dark forces that had once waylaid this pleasant life, it had carried on.

Behind him stood the Mysidian Abbey, the building that surrounded the Tower of Prayers like a stone guardian. It was an imposing sandstone edifice, despite the lack of extravagant trimmings. What caught the eye were the waves of shaded sedimentary layers drawn across the walls and arches with elegant strokes of nature's paintbrush. The smooth, angled archways seemed to bow humbly with open doors welcoming into libraries, studies, classrooms, and deeper within, the Great Crystal Chamber. How Baron had desecrated these holy halls so many years ago, Cecil would never forget. But he felt confident now that that was never the person he truly was, that the dark flame once within him had been thoroughly snuffed out. Seeing the Mysidians return to their faith and practice of magics was inspiring, and he smiled as his eyes fully adjusted to the light so that he could see the world clearly laid out before him. He turned his head gently to his shoulder as he felt the hand of the Elder land softly upon it.

"He waits for you by the well in the southeast corner of the village," the Elder spoke with a hint of excitement. Cecil imagined that the Elder had foreseen this reunion, but he pushed that out of his mind to focus on the moment. He turned his eyes in the direction of the well, seeing the top of the winch and its wooden frame down a dirt path on the other side of the town square. A large oak tree stood just beyond that, like a magnificent hand reaching over the great wall that lined the village perimeter. There were too many people to see the well itself, or anyone that might be waiting for him there.

"Thank you, Elder," Cecil replied as he took his first steps away from the Abbey down the path towards something he wasn't entirely sure he was prepared for. The Elder watched as the Paladin King strode with slow confidence into the swirling mass of townsfolk, a knowing smile lifting his long beard slightly.

As Cecil parted the crowd, the path before him revealed more and more: the smooth cobblestones arranged in a gray, dimpled cylinder; a glint of blue light reflected from a crystal spear leaning against the wall of the well; a strong man bent over a wash basin near the well, scrubbing the wear of travel from his armored body. When he was within earshot, Cecil could hear the splash of sponge dropping into the basin followed by drips of cool well water as it was lifted to the warm, sun-kissed steel. The sponge was then dropped for the last time as the man dipped both of his hands into the water like a cup and splashed some upon his face before reaching for a damp rag to wipe the filth away. Cecil stopped next to the well, glancing briefly at the spear and dragon's head helmet, shining bright with renewal. His attention was drawn away when the man finally acknowledged his presence, never turning to face him, hands still resting on the edge of the basin.

"Cecil…" Kain spoke with the same emotionless tone that had been entrained in him over the last two years of solitude. Cecil noticed that he seemed to catch himself, a slight shake of his head and a brief sigh. It was clearly an uncomfortable moment for him, but he tried to sound a bit happier with his next words. "I'm…glad you came."

"I'm glad you're here, too, Kain" Cecil responded, hoping the words sounded as genuine as he felt them in his heart. The silence between them that followed filtered out all of the ambience, as though the village around them had vanished. Kain finally stood upright and turned to face the man he had once called a friend, a rival, a mortal enemy.

Cecil could see the anxiety of this conflict in his bold, blue eyes, despite the dragon knight's stone-set face, the strong jaw freckled with sun-bleached stubble on his tanned skin. A trail of water ran down the side of his cheek from his dampened blonde hair, swept back to curve down to his shoulders. Cecil had always been able to see through the layers; no matter how hard Kain tried, his hardened exterior always betrayed his life's wounds.

Nothing was said for some time, the two men simply staring at each other across the wind-swept space, leaf-litter crawling across the grass at their feet. Kain's face never changed, but Cecil couldn't help letting a smile break out before taking a step forward and extending a welcoming hand. Kain's eyes diverted to the offering, pondering its implications before reaching out and accepting it with a firm grip, the feel of his leathery skin against Cecil's soft palm a strange sensation, both alien and comforting.

Another moment of awkward silence pursued them as they stood with hands locked, until Cecil unexpectedly pulled hard, drawing Kain into an embrace. Cecil couldn't help but close his eyes as the emotions began welling up, so much pent up expectation of their reunion coursing through him. Kain was still wide-eyed with surprise, feeling Cecil's arm around him leaving him somewhat unsettled. But he reluctantly gave in and put his arm around him with a quick pat on the shoulder before trying to step back. Cecil allowed him to retreat, and they once again stood before each other, eyes speaking words that were never said.

"Kain, I…" Cecil stammered as he struggled to pull anything out to break the silence. "I don't know what to say. It has been so long."

"Yes, it has…" Kain replied, giving no indication that he had any way of moving the conversation forward. He nervously shifted his weight and reached his hand up to rub the back of his neck, as though something rather important was itching to burst from him. He could only manage a sarcastic response. "Unfortunately, my penchant for maintaining conversation has not improved since we last met."

"Ah, I see…" Cecil said with a humorous smile. "Well, I suppose I can't ask for too much too soon. Just getting to see you is a most pleasant surprise."

"For me, as well," Kain responded stoically. "I have…many things to tell you."

"Well don't say them all at once," Cecil joked, trying to get some kind of response from Kain's stagnant face. Cecil could tell he had something to say, but was cautiously calculating the words to ensure they came out right. This had become a part of his persona, Cecil had realized, after he was finally freed from Golbez's dark magic, as he struggled to cope with thoughts that undoubtedly still haunted him to this day.

"Hmm…" Kain grumbled a bit as he glanced away before a slight smile crept into the corner of his cheek. Cecil wondered what he was thinking. "Perhaps…"

"Perhaps what?" Cecil asked with excited impatience.

"Do the Knighthoods of Baron still subscribe to the Probos Inceptivus?" Kain asked, turning to look at Cecil once more, his sly smile still stretched upon his lips. Cecil's eyebrow quirked with intrigue.

In Baron, young recruits to the various orders all go through an unspoken rite of passage called the Probos Inceptivus, although now it was simply called The Proving. While not officially sanctioned by the military leadership, it was a tradition that had become fully naturalized in the initiation process. All soldiers had to prove themselves in basic strength and agility exercises to even be considered for training in one of the military branches, but once within the ranks one had to prove themselves to their new brethren before they could be accepted socially into their circles. Indeed, most recruits would be denied any kind of verbal acknowledgment without going through The Proving.

To reach this unspoken inner circle, a new recruit would have to openly challenge a superior in hand-to-hand combat; the higher the rank, the greater the respect if the recruit could best him or her. Cecil and Kain had both challenged the highest-ranking commanding officer of their respective guilds in hopes of garnering the respect and notoriety of all within the kingdom. Cecil had succeeded where Kain had failed, a fact that the dragon knight had allowed to burn in the recesses of his envy for far too long.

"They do," Cecil responded with a knowing grin. "Are you extending a challenge?"

"I am," Kain replied, finally showing a smile that Cecil felt he had not seen in much longer than two years. "First to the ground or brought to a knee. Shall I remove my armor to make it easier for you?"

"Keep it," Cecil parried the remark, still smiling as he removed his cape from his pauldrons and began to stretch his arms. "I don't want to hear any excuses when you're lying flat on your back in a few moments."

Cecil knew well enough that Kain was looking for some avenue of reconnection, something to break the tension and allow their conversation to begin flowing naturally. It seemed fitting that two knights long parted should rely on tradition to begin rebuilding the bonds of brotherhood. But Cecil also knew that he was at a serious disadvantage in this particular skirmish. While Kain had obviously been rigorously training for the last two years, Cecil had been busy playing politics, finding less and less time to steal away for his own fitness regimen. The dragon knight's armor would indeed make it more difficult to bring him to the ground, but Cecil hoped that his own lack of bulky plates would grant him the agility to compensate. Cecil's ornamental breastplate was light and thin, his only other armor being a pair of grieves over his leather boots and vambraces over his forearms, both made of polished ivory and gold. His pure silk vestments were tucked tightly in neat folds beneath the armor, its shimmering silver matching the curtain of his hair, glinting in the sunlight.

Kain knew well enough that Cecil was ill-prepared for this, but was pleased to see his enthusiasm for the fight. He could feel the muscles in his lean build warming up as he tensed and released, his body feeling light as a feather. As he watched Cecil stretch, he noticed immediately how slow and disorganized the Paladin King's muscles moved, how far he had fallen from his peak condition during the war. But he also knew that Cecil was still physically stronger, being slightly taller and much heavier with his broad warrior's frame. He also remembered vividly that Cecil had once been considered a legend in close-quarters combat, and that he could utilize many maneuvers for felling opponents. The extra weight from his armor would give him the advantage, especially since he had become so comfortable within it, but Kain could not take this challenge lightly, for he knew that Cecil would not take it easy on him. Kain grinned as Cecil finally finished warming up and assumed a defensive stance, legs arched, hands held out in front of him as though he would grapple the air.

"You seem eager to fall at my feet, Cecil," Kain jokingly threatened, still grinning. Cecil just huffed with a friendly chuckle, shaking his head with a smile in kind.

"We'll see."

Cecil sprang forth quickly, hoping to catch Kain off guard as he reeled back his right arm to deliver a stunning blow. What he couldn't have foreseen was the dragon knight's incredible agility, as Kain easily sidestepped the lunging Paladin, who nearly wound up face first in the wash basin. He caught himself and quickly spun around to see Kain still grinning, a look of confidence that Cecil suddenly felt the urge to wipe off of the man's face.

Kain then bent his knees quickly before taking to the air, his fingers intertwined as he brought his hands together above his head, preparing to swing them down like a hammer. Cecil was just quick enough to dash out of the way as Kain's forceful blow split the wash basin in half in a wet explosion of soil and splinter. The crack of the wood was not unlike a tree being felled in the woods, and the commotion was beginning to draw the attention of the townsfolk, as well as Cecil's royal guards making rounds through the village.

"Halt! You there!" yelled one of the guards, brandishing his sword as he huffed in his heavy bronze armor. "No one threatens the King of Baron! Surrender now or—"

"As you were, Commander Serranis!" Cecil commanded, holding out a hand to stop the guards from approaching further. "This man intends me no harm. We are simply…getting reacquainted."

The guards looked perplexed as they shifted their gaze back and forth from Cecil to Kain, wondering what type of game was at play here. Cecil gave the Commander a smile and a nod, insisting that they be on their way. The guards reluctantly sheathed their blades, but not before flashing haughty smirks in Kain's direction as they turned away. The guards quickly found themselves facing down a throng of curious Mysidians, and they instinctively began their crowd control procedures, trying to disperse the mob and get them back to whatever they were doing.

"I see the Royal Guard are still as arrogant and eager to prove as I remember," Kain commented sarcastically.

"Eager for action of any kind, really," Cecil admitted. "Two years of peace gets rather tedious for the soldiers."

"Shall we continue?" asked Kain, sun shining in hundreds of water droplets splattered across his armor.

"Absolutely," Cecil replied as he resumed his battle stance. "But let us try to keep the property damage to a minimum, shall we?"

"I make no promises," Kain shot back before dashing towards Cecil with the swiftness of a sparrow. Cecil was caught this time, realizing he had no hope of evading the clash, so he instead bared down and stood his ground. Their palms met with a furious smack, and despite Cecil's back leg digging into the dirt, he was still pushed back several feet. With their arms locked, each man pushing with everything they had against the other, they found themselves in a stalemate. They both stared confidently at each other as the muscles throughout their bodies rippled, cocky grins mirrored between them. But beads of sweat soon began cropping up on Cecil's face as his stamina quickly drained whereas Kain appeared steadfast and calm. Normally, Cecil would have easily overpowered Kain in this situation, but it quickly became obvious that things had changed over the years.

Cecil had to think fast, for one of his few advantages had seemingly dissipated, and all he had left were the hand-to-hand tactics he could remember. He still knew he had the weight advantage over the dragon knight, and so he released his grip with his right hand, which caused Kain to lurch forward. Cecil took the moment of surprise to throw his hips into Kain's midsection, trying to launch him over his shoulder. What he didn't count on was Kain's quick reflexes as he leapt over him, elegantly twisting in midair to land steadily several feet in front of him, still wearing that smug grin. Cecil was beginning to breathe a little heavier, yet Kain showed no signs of exhaustion.

"Do you need a break, Cecil?" Kain asked, playing war of the mind just as much as the battle at hand.

"And give you the satisfaction? Not a chance!"

Cecil dashed at the dragon knight once more, drawing his fist back again to try and land a hit. Kain prepared to take the blow, but was surprised when Cecil changed course and slid to try and take his legs out from under him. He was only successful at swiping one of Kain's legs, and though the dragon knight was momentarily off his balance, he was quick to regain it as he spun around on the ball of his foot and seized the opportunity to catch Cecil with his back turned. Kain's right arm reached under Cecil's and wrapped around his chest to the left shoulder. His left hand had Cecil's left arm pinned behind his back. In this position, Kain could easily drop the Paladin King to his knees, but instead he brought his head right next to Cecil's as he whispered a few last words.

"Nice move, Cecil. Glad to see you haven't completely lost your…"

The sentence was never finished, for Kain had become distracted by the brilliant glowing object that had been wrenched from beneath Cecil's breastplate. It was mesmerizing how it oscillated with Cecil's heartbeat, which Kain could feel in the pulse within the wrist his fingers were wrapped tightly around.

Cecil didn't bother to ask for the rest of the thought as he wriggled his left arm free and swung his elbow into Kain's side. Cecil ignored the searing pain shooting through his arm from the powerful impact against the steel, for it was enough to stagger the dragon knight and free him from his grip. He spun around quickly, swinging his fist cleanly into Kain's jaw, a spray of water thrown from the dragon knight's hair as his head jerked from the blow. Cecil tried to swing his foot into Kain's knee before he recovered, but again his speed in battle betrayed him. Kain had already anticipated the move and lifted his leg out of the way as he swiveled on his heel before ducking low and sweeping Cecil's legs out from under him.

Cecil had a moment of surrealism, where he lost touch with gravity and was treated to a moment of weightlessness. The breeze curled its fingers beneath him, and the world began to tilt against him. With a clumsy, exhausted thump, like a farmer dropping a sack of potatoes, Cecil landed on his back splayed out like a rag doll. The tickle of grass licked his ears and the flare of sunlight blinded him. A shadow suddenly eclipsed the sun's glaring disk, and when Cecil's eyes focused, he saw Kain's irritating grin once again, and a hand extended for him to grab. Despite the pain that pricked his nerves all over, Cecil just smiled and laughed as he reached out and took Kain's hand, leaving the feathered embrace of the ground as he was lifted quickly to his feet.

"You have grown soft and slow on the throne, Cecil," said Kain, steadying the Paladin King as he rediscovered his feet.

"How good of you to notice," Cecil joked, brushing off the bits of dried leaves that had clung to his vestments. "That is the closest thing I've had to a battle in two years. My wars seem to exist purely on paper now."

"Perhaps we should begin a training regimen," Kain suggested, his face taking on a bit more of a serious tone.

"For what?" Cecil asked, eyebrow raised incredulously.

"To prepare for the impending threat to this world," Kain answered earnestly. Cecil was startled by the admission, and he paused to search the dragon knight's face for some hint of jest. When he found nothing but stark truth, it only led to frustration.

"Did the Elder put you up to this?" Cecil asked with sudden irritation. "Did he bring you here to convince me to fight for his new prophecy?"

"I have come on my own volition," Kain replied, taken aback and equally irritated at being pegged as someone's messenger. "I have learned that I have a purpose, that you have a pur—"

"I don't want to hear it," Cecil interrupted, shaking his head and waving his hand as if to shoo away the words. He walked away from Kain, back towards the well. He only made it a few steps before he turned back with a look of restrained anger. "You know what I've learned, Kain?"

Kain's face had returned to hardened stone, a face that Cecil realized was a barrier to hide the emotions stirring within his heart. The lack of response did not dissuade Cecil from continuing his rant.

"I've learned that there are more important things in one's life than war," Cecil began, his voice like gentle thunder. "I have the entire people of Baron looking up to me to manage their livelihood, a country that either stands or crumbles in the palms of my hands."

"This goes beyond politics, Cecil," Kain interjected.

"I'm not finished," Cecil responded sternly. "I have also learned that above all else, one's family is the most important thing in life. I have a family, Kain. The woman I came here to see? That is my mother."

That got Kain's attention, as his eyes went wide in one of the first moments of true emotion that Cecil had received from him.

"Your…mother?" Kain could barely get the words out from the shock.

"Indeed," said Cecil. "She is not well, and I am devoted to staying here through her final days. I have learned so much of myself from her, so much about a family that I never even knew I had. I will not be forced into some fate-driven legacy to save this world again, Kain. I know now that I control my own destiny, and if I'm going to risk leaving my country and my family behind, it is going to be a decision that I make."

"You…have changed, Cecil," Kain commented, his stark face looking a bit sadder than before. "I came here because I thought that I was doing the right thing. It has taken me a long time to accept that you have always been on the right side of every battle, Cecil, that you are somehow destined to maintain the balance of this world. I spent the last two years on Mount Ordeals searching for the light that you found there, with hope that it would show me some way that we could…be on the right side together again…."

Kain had let a great deal of his mind spill out all at once, more than Cecil had heard from him in years. Cecil was surprised at how revealing Kain was allowing himself to be at this moment, and it softened his features a bit as he felt the resounding conflict in his voice. He immediately regretted his overreaction, losing his patience from the overwhelming upheaval of his identity stirring within him, and he imagined the man before him was just as overwhelmed simply by attempting this conversation. Kain's eyes spoke volumes of this to the man reflected in them, and the dragon knight's voice seemed defeated and frustrated.

"But now you say you are not chosen for this? That you may choose no side at all? How have we once again come to be on opposite ends of the table?"

"I know this is hard for you to understand, Kain. Life has been anything but easy since the war…for all of us," Cecil replied, his eyes now full of remorse. "You were not the only wandering soul searching for explanations, or looking for guidance, or reaching for hope. I have always felt like this was not my fate, but I followed the path before me because I saw no other road to take. Now I know that I am free to choose whatever path I wish, that I am not chained down by prophecy."

"How can you know this?"

"Because of this," Cecil said as he grabbed his crystal pendant to hold it out before him, the silver chain tensed against the back of his neck. "This crystal, this…gift…was given to me by my true parents after I was born. It has shown me a life that I was never able to have. Now I have a chance to find that peace of mind again with a new family. Though my mother will soon be gone, my brothers are still out there."

"Brothers?" Kain questioned, wondering if Cecil had misspoken or was simply referring to the Lunarians, in general. "Golbez is unimaginably far from here, Cecil. What gives you hope that he will return?"

"Because he said we would meet again," Cecil replied sincerely. "And I trust his word."

Kain wanted to berate Cecil for trusting the word of such a man, the thought of Golbez's dark manipulation over his mind still causing him to seethe inside. He wanted to tell Cecil that if he ever saw that man again he would likely kill him, no matter that Golbez had also been under the influence of another being. The feelings were still too raw, too painful. His face remained static, showing none of this to Cecil.

"But while I'm waiting I have another brother to find," Cecil continued. Kain's eyes showed intrigue. The leaves of a nearby oak tree rustled in the wind, blowing a streak of blonde hair across his unflinching face. "He is somewhere on this planet, and I will do whatever it takes to find him."

"Perhaps I can…" Kain began, his words faltering a bit as he seemed to struggle against the weight of the olive branch he was trying to offer. He tried to relax, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before opening them to the expectant Paladin King. "Perhaps I can help you look for him. I have honed my tracking skills over the years."

"I'd like that," Cecil finally let his smile return, gladly accepting Kain's offer of assistance. Just knowing that he was trying to do the right thing was enough for him. "But for now, let us start making up for lost time. Would you care to join me in the tavern for a flagon of mead?"

"You know well enough that Mysidian mead is little more than chocobo piss," Kain replied with a reluctant grin, to which Cecil couldn't help but laugh. Kain began making his way towards the well to pick up his spear and helm still resting peacefully on its edge.

"I also know that we've been getting regular orders here for barrels of our finest whiskey," Cecil hinted with a smile as the dragon knight walked past him. Kain didn't acknowledge it.

"I do not wish to intrude. You should spend what time you have with your mother. I have other things that I can attend to in the meantime." Kain replied as he reached for his spear, tucking it gently behind his steel wing. A memory flashed through his mind of the last time he saw his own mother: tear streaked cheeks, adolescent rage, hands clasped around lifeless fingers as she faded ever so slowly into an endless slumber. His next words carried genuine feeling. "Family comes first."

"I consider you to be family, as well, Kain," Cecil pleaded to Kain's cold shoulder, his unyielding eyes cast down into the well. "We grew up together, much like brothers. We were practically inseparable. I'd like to think that, now that the war is over, we can find some way to return to the way we were."

"This is proving more difficult than I had anticipated," Kain confessed, shutting his eyes as he considered his words carefully. He then reached for his helmet and held it in his hands, just staring at it, as though it would somehow give him the words he wanted to say. "For a long time, I thought there was no way you could help me. I'm still not sure if you can, Cecil. Are we fooling ourselves to believe that we could reestablish the bond we once shared?"

"I am always willing to try," Cecil offered after a moment of silence, placing his warm hand on Kain's shoulder. Kain glanced at the light-skinned fingers perched on the rough-worn steel for a moment before turning his eyes back to the dark pit of the well. He could see dark ripples at the bottom, radiating from the drips of the bucket at the top of the winch. He felt them as if they were falling within his own heart.

Dripping. Radiating. Darkness.

"I should go," Kain replied as he placed the dragon upon his head and turned to walk away, making his way past the broken basin, the sound of fractured wood cracking underfoot.

"What are you so afraid of, Kain?" Cecil called after him. This stopped Kain in his tracks, but he kept his back turned. Cecil could see his posture deflate in a sigh, the dragon's head bending towards the ground. "Are you afraid that you don't deserve to be a part of our lives anymore? That you don't deserve our forgiveness?"

Kain did not respond, nor did he turn to face Cecil. The silence was filled with heartache and unbearable tension. Cecil knew that Kain was hiding an immense amount of pain, seeing through the wall of armor that contained his fear of letting go. Cecil gave one last desperate attempt to break through.

"For what it's worth, I forgiv—"

"Don't!" Kain spun around with a shout, the menacing stare of his dragon helm boring holes of heated agony into Cecil's charity. He was breathing deeply, trying to cool the flames that burned inside, his grimace clearly showing that Cecil had touched the most tender wound. "Do not offer me anything that I have not asked for!"

Kain suddenly realized he was still shouting, and he shook his head with a loud, exhausted sigh before steadying his vision on a crumpled leaf at his feet. Its shriveled veins were impressed like etchings on the fragile brown skin, several squared off chips missing from the edges. He turned his eyes back to the man he had once called his best friend, his brother, his saving grace.

"When I am ready…" Kain began with a more collected, yet saddened voice, his penetrating blue eyes locked onto Cecil's. "When I feel that I have earned the right…I will ask for your forgiveness. I do not intend to abandon you again. I will return this evening, and we may speak more of this. But this will take time, Cecil. I still do not fully trust myself, nor should you trust me so freely. What I can promise you is that I will make any sacrifice necessary to regain my honor. All I ask in return is that I am allowed to walk this path at my own pace. I beg of you to respect these wishes."

A single, stray cloud wandered into the sun's path, casting a mild shadow over the two men standing in the corner of the village. Nothing was said as the emotions were weighed and measured, words seemingly incapable of bridging the gap that still existed between them. What Kain didn't see was the pain that Cecil was hiding, for hearing the truth finally spilled from the dragon knight's lips was a rush of emotion he couldn't have possibly anticipated. It pained him to see Kain's struggle, and it pained him even more to be held at arm's length from it. But he had come this far. He had made the effort to share himself again, and for now, that would have to suffice.

"I understand," Cecil finally spoke, holding back the urge to continue drilling down into Kain's emotional bunker. His voice quivered slightly. "And I will honor your terms."

"Thank you, Cecil," Kain responded with a slight bow of his head. "I will find you upon my return."

With that, Kain turned away and sprinted for the south wall of the village, leaping in a powerful bound, easily clearing the parapet. In a breath of wind he was gone, leaving Cecil to stand alone, the momentary shade peeling away from his surroundings as the cloud moved to reveal the shining sun, the gleam of a few solemn tears framing his cheeks.