Rhea read the letter a second time, her eyebrows frowned in what could be perceived as both worry and curiosity. Her mind, so focused she was on the written letter, that she did not notice Pearl approaching her in the orchid.
The young Jumi smiled at the vision that was the two-bladed warrior sitting near Trent's large roots. As always, the mystic aura that surrounded Rhea caused a sense of comfort and strength for those near her, and the Guardian felt glad to see her think about something other than Larc's visit three days ago.
"Is it bad news?" she asked, her voice but a whisper in the wind.
The warrior was startled, baffled how she had not sensed the Jumi's presence. She folded the letter carefully as she rose to her feet.
"I don't know. It's from Daena… She's asking me to come visit her in Gato." Rhea eyed Pearl. "Says it's urgent."
Pearl understood what it meant for Rhea. Her friend needed her and it wasn't like Rhea was the sort of person to turn her back on a friend. Or anyone in need for that matter. At least, Pearl didn't think so. "It's ok, I promise not to leave the house."
The female warrior shook her head and smiled. Pear hadn't seen her smile since the unwanted visit.
"Actually, I was thinking we could all go to Gato. You haven't left Domina in a while, so a quick trip couldn't hurt. I'm sure Bud and Lisa will also agree."
The young Jumi clasped her hands in delight. "Oh! I would love to go!"
Rhea walked over to Pearl and rested a hand on the shorter girl's shoulder. "Then let's go, we'll use the twin's teleport thing to get there fast. There's no need for us to pack."
Pearl tilted her head to the side. "Shouldn't we bring gifts?"
Rhea shook her head. "It's not like we haven't seen in other in a long time. Besides, me and Daena are good friends, we help each other out when needed. Our friendship isn't based on those superfluous things."
Pearl pondered upon her words, as the two walked to where they knew the twins to be – The workshop. They had been trying to recreate 'the exploding coloring show' they saw during their field trip in Duma desert. Much to Rhea's disapproval. It didn't take much to convince them either, and before they knew it, the group was inside the magical circle filled with runes, as a bright and uncomfortable light engulfed them.
It took but a flash of a moment and they arrived inside one of the sanctuary's the nuns of Gato agreed to provide them for the teleport. Rhea held herself against the nearest wall, as Pearl fell to her knees with both hands in her mouth. The room was spinning around them.
"Oh!" Lisa seemed to realize something when looking at them. "You might feel dizzy and nauseous from the teleport. The first trips aren't easy on the body and mind."
"That information could've been useful before travelling!" Rhea yelled, but felt lightheaded in doing so. "You two, get a nun to help us."
They did as such and three of the Gato nuns went to assist them. They sat them on a chair and provided each with a glass of water that clearly had something mixed inside.
Once Rhea's vision returned to normal, she rose to her feet, testing her balance. "Thanks for that. Daena called me here, do you know where she is?"
"Daena is training on the caves bellow Gato." One of the nuns answered.
Rhea simply nodded before turning to Pearl and the twins. "I'll go talk to her. You guys want to come?"
Bud rested his arms behind his head. "Lisa wants to know more about a few antidotes and I need some ingredients for other projects."
"So, you two stay with the nuns, got it. How about you, Pearl?"
The small girl grabbed the hem of her dress, a feeling of uncertainty as to what she should answer. "I… I guess I would like to go with you… If that's ok."
Rhea walked over to the young Jumi, placing both hands on her shoulders and forcing the girl to eye her. "Pearl, let's get one thing straight between us. You're your own person, you understand? You may ask for mine or Elazul's opinion or views on certain matters, but your feelings are important as well, you understand? It's ok to express yourself."
Pearl replied with a simple shy nod. The two-bladed warrior spoke of feelings, Pearl wondered how much she understood how hard that concept was for the Jumi race. Perhaps, it was hard to understand when a Jumi like Elazul roamed around clearly speaking his mind and not handling well his anger. And it wasn't like the Jumi had no feelings… only they were numb.
She followed the two-bladed warrior outside and almost barged into her. Pearl traced Rhea's gaze to an upper level with many houses.
"Was that, Escad?"
Pearl's question assured Rhea she hadn't imagine it. "Could be. He did want to come here. Thought he'd be done by now. Let's talk to Daena first."
The two walked all the way to the south of Gato. There was a labyrinth of caves where one could easily get lost into, and Rhea knew she would find Daena inside. In the caves, they could hear the feline warrior's intense training. They followed the grunts further within, until they found Daena deep in the interior of a chamber kicking and punching the air in a series of flowed movements.
In a series of kicks, Daena noticed the two by the entrance. "Rhea! You came!"
Rhea smiled as she walked to her friend, greeting her with a firm hand shake. "I got here as soon as I received your letter. You seemed more worried than usual."
The delight in Daena's face vanished just as quickly as it came when she saw Rhea. She walked to a corner to grab a worn-out towel and dry most of the sweat from her fur. "Things… are about to take a turn for the worst my friend." She turned to face the two-bladed warrior, and Rhea could see the tears building up in her eyes. "Have you heard of the Paladin Escad?"
Rhea and Pearl eyed one another, giving away that they both knew whom Daena spoke of.
The feline monk smirked poorly. "He's Matilda's old friend, and it seems like he finally made it back. He's in Matilda's chamber's, I… don't have the courage to confront him, but could I ask you to just please keep an eye?"
Rhea signed. "I've already met Escad a while ago. He told me you used to be friends." She rested a hand in one of her blades while gazing at Daena, to assure her where her loyalty was. "Yet, you only refer to him as 'Matilda's friend'. Do you not trust him?"
The sadness in Daena's eyes was almost too unbearable to watch. How a proud, strong monk was rendered helpless by her past. "The story pains me Rhea… Perhaps one day I'll tell you, but not right now."
The warrior rose a hand in understanding. "Say no more. I'm starting to appreciate why you and me got along so well. I'll visit Matilda with Escad."
A s mile found its way back into the feline's face. "Thank you. Escad will only be granted entrance by the nuns upon your arrival."
Rhea left, followed by Pearl. As a Jumi, Rhea's interaction with Daena baffled her. How could the two understand and trust each other so much by saying so little? She comprehended the many layers and complexity of emotions – she knew what fear, doubt or even trust were and she even knew she could express them, despise being something that, depending on the emotion, didn't come naturally. She understood the concept, still, lately her core had been processing a new kind of emotion to her – it was happiness, she had no doubt it was. What she couldn't figure out was if seeing Rhea living with the twins, her friendship with Daena or when she visited Rachel's family in Domina made her happy, or that happiness belonged to Rhea herself.
Both reached the two large doors where Matilda was guarded. There, Escad, ever so elegant and poised, waited for them.
"Daena knew you would come." He began. "Can't say I'm not annoyed for needing an escort to see an old friend, when another is seemingly afraid of ghosts."
"I'm sorry. I'm really not judging either of you, but Daena did ask for this favor and so I must oblige."
The Holly Knight smiled. "I'm angry, but truthfully I am happy she found a good friend to trust."
His words, so sincere and so filled with pain, made Rhea's heart sink. What tragedy had fallen upon those three friends?
Four nuns stepped aside when Escad approached the doors with Rhea promptly behind him. Pearl had not been given permission to enter and so she waited outside. As for Rhea and Escad, their reaction had been the same when their eyes laid upon the frail looking, old body that was Matilda – utter astonishment.
The Holly Knight stepped closer to the seemingly dying body that was his friend Matilda. He stared her down in disbelief, eventually holding her hand on his own.
The woman's eyes opened. It took her a minute to recognize the man before her. "Oh, Escad…" a river of tears streamed down her wrinkled face. "You are alive…!"
"Matilda…" there was pain in Escad's voice. "It's been only ten years since I went to the Underworld. How is it possible that you've aged so much?"
The elder looking woman couldn't contain her tears. "It has been only ten years since I lost two precious friends… you and…"
Escad released her hand abruptly, turning his back as if refusing accept that that was how his friend now looked like. "…Irwin? Stop thinking about that Demon. He took away your elemental powers to fuel his own ambitions." Rhea noticed his hands trembling in tight fists by his side. "It is his fault that you've aged so much, isn't it?"
"Don't say that. I'm not as unhappy as you think."
Rhea didn't expect such a snappy defense from Matilda. If she were to guess, then the woman was very much delusional about her own situation. Perhaps it was true that she wasn't as unhappy as she seemed, but still, unhappy.
Escad, still refusing to look in Matilda's way, walked towards Rhea, stopping in front of her. "Matilda is the head Priestess here, and a Demon is trying to kill her." Both warriors locked eyes with one another. "I have been learned the way of the sword of Olbohn. It is the Wisdom's will to kill that Demon. Still, I could use another sharp blade by my side."
Rhea's eyes widened at the invitation. She didn't know what to say. Matilda's panicked voice saved her from answering.
"Escad… I am overjoyed to know both of you are alive. Isn't that enough?"
The Holly Knight mustered the courage to face her again. "I'm warning you… Beware of him."
Escad stormed out of the temple past Rhea. She decided not to go after him. Matilda raised both hands to her face and continued her ballad of sorrow. Rhea also left.
The two-bladed warrior still stood by the large doors that led to Matilda's chambers. Pearl had been excused to be with the twins while Rhea waited. It took until the sun began to turn orange in the horizon, but her visitor arrived.
Daena wore a determined expression on her, she had been meditating aside from training. "Do you want to know about Irwin?"
"I would love to hear both sides, please."
The feline sat on the same step as her friend. Her legs stretched forward as she took in a deep breath from the fresh air. "Irwin, Escad, Matilda and I grew up together. Matilda was born into a family of Priests, and Escad in a family of Knights. My family has served the temple as warriors. Irwin has Demon's blood in him, but that's all we know. But no one in this world cares about what race you are. Of course, Matilda acted the same around Escad and Irwin. Escad didn't like that at all, so he tried to kill Irwin in the mines. But it was Escad who ended up falling into the Underworld." Daena shot a furious look towards Rhea. "Irwin is not the one who started this, it's Escad!"
Rhea listened carefully to Daena's tale. "Now I know your side of the story." She said while raising to her feet.
Daena shook her head. "I thought now you knew both sides."
The two-bladed warrior eyed her friend quizzically. "I said I would love to hear both sides. Now I have yours. Escad did not tell me much, unlike what you might think." Rhea began walking away, but stopping herself to confront Daena once again. "I remember your conversation with Gaeus, Daena. Your concern about a dying friend… It's Matilda, isn't it?" The Monk did not reply but lowered her head. "You are a good, loyal friend. You are doing whatever Matilda wishes because you care for her that much." Rhea, once again, began to walk away. "Don't let that loyalty blind you… As it did me, once upon a time."
Rhea walked aimlessly for a while, until she decided to walk south once again for the training caves. The sun was only but a few minutes away from fully setting in the horizon and there, enjoying the same scenery, she found Escad seemingly a bit more relaxed.
He was sitting above a large boulder. Rhea approached said boulder ever so silently and leaned against it. Both said nothing, both enjoying the soft breeze as the sun finally set with the promise of a new day around the corner.
Escad sighed. "We don't get to see these in the Underworld."
He meant it as a light-hearted joke, only Rhea felt sad for him. He leaped down from the boulder, also leaning next to her. A bit too close, Rhea noticed.
"It's quite the tangled web, isn't it?" She asked.
The Knight seemed confused. "What is?"
Rhea eyed him, noticing how beautiful his face was. "All of this. We have two Wisdoms urging the kill of this Demon, yet, two other people say Irwin needs to be saved."
With arms folded in front of him, Rhea thought Escad pondered on rather or not he should tell his version of the story. "To be fair, I also want him dead, so it's three against two." He turned around to face her. Ever so gently, he reached out to grab her right hand. A gesture that made Rhea's body suddenly very warm. "I asked you to help me, but under no circumstances I want you to feel obligated to help. I understand if there is conflict within you."
Rhea thank the Goddess for the dim light that now surrounded them. She was sure to be as red as a tomato. "I was right when I met you, wasn't I?" She smiled tenderly. "I drag problems into my life."
Escad laughed, and so did she. He leaned in closer.
"Come what may, however long. I'm glad our paths crossed."
Rhea's heart was beating frantically as his face approached hers. It had been so long since anyone paid her that kind of attention. Did she wanted to be kissed by Escad? She couldn't answer her own question, but she admitted to herself the attention felt good.
She could feel his breath on her, she could practically taste his lips on hers. So, why weren't they kissing? She slowly opened her eyes, to find a pair of emerald ones filled with sorrow.
Escad, instead, took her hand to his lips and kissed it. "No, that wouldn't be fair on either of us…"
There was so much sadness in him, that Rhea felt utter helplessness standing there, she still allowed for him to hold her hand.
"Matilda!"
Daena's shriek echoed in the mountains, prompting both warriors to let go of each other and reach the hilt of their swords instead. They spotted Daena running frantically towards them. Rhea never saw her so disorientated.
"Rhea, oh Rhea! Matilda is gone!"
The feline fell on her hands and knees near them. Rhea noticed Escad tensing up beside her.
"Daena…" she reached a hand to help her friend back up. "Take a breath. Tell us what happened."
Daena seemed to finally notice Escad. She averted his gaze. "Escad… I…" she bit her bottom lip.
The Holly Knight shook his head. "I'm positive it wasn't your fault. Tell us what you saw, Daena. Do you believe she is in the area?"
How odd, Daena wore the same saddened expression as Escad.
"An impostor dressed as one of the nuns, entered the chambers. It said it was taking Matilda for their Lord and teleported away." She eyed Rhea. "Bud and Lisa were able to trace the magic back to these caves. Please… Help me look for Matilda!"
There was but only the need for a firm nod, and the party of three were off inside the caves. They ran into a few nuns, Daena yelling for them to seal off the exits. The caves were a maze, but with Daena's help, they searched far and wide, only to no avail.
"The impostor might be hiding, waiting for us to leave."
Daena followed Escad's train of thought. "There's a sealed meditation room we haven't searched. Could the impostor be hiding there?"
Escad raised an eyebrow. "It's sealed? How are we supposed to open that?"
"Also, how did this impostor get inside a sealed room?" Rhea asked.
Daena sighed, sounding a bit annoyed. "The enemy used magic to kidnap Matilda. I just have a gut feeling it got inside if it's gifted in the magic arts."
Escad folded his arms. "A gut feeling it is then. Lead the way."
The party reached said area, and sure enough, Matilda's body was laying at a distant corner. The kidnapper, still dressed as one of Gato's nuns, laughed.
"You didn't even realize this was a trap!" it said.
By now, Daena had lost all control on her emotions. "What do you mean, 'this was a trap'? I'm going to beat you to a pulp, even the Lord of the Underworld won't know what to do with you!"
The impostor laughed as black smoke covered the area. From the thick fume emerged a being that much resembled a white colored genie with a red cloth for a tail.
Escad gasped. "It's Spriggan… careful with his magic!"
The monk and the two-bladed warrior sprung forward with perfect coordination. Daena whirled her nunchaku toward the enemy's torso, while Rhea leaped high for a strike. Again, the foe laughed, creating three indistinguishable copies of itself for evasion. Both Rhea and Daena struck the air.
The Holly Knight caught up to them. "Don't be so reckless! He's a magical being for Goddess's sake!"
Rhea threw him an amused look. "Then how do you suggest we approach him?"
Escad scanned his surroundings, a focused expression on him. "It won't be easy, but whatever you do, do not go near his red cloth. It will bind you with a sleeping spell."
The monk warrior hissed. "Just great… we have to avoid something that is literally floating beneath and around him. I never fought a magical being before, how do they fight?"
As if to answer her question, Spriggan chanted a spell and the party was engulfed inside a massive dark ball. Rhea lost her breath, her entire body seemed to be squished into an impossible proportion. Her vision blurred as she fell on her knees gasping for air. The sphere dissipated and she could breathe again. She and the others were on the ground panting and fighting with all their might not to lose consciousness.
"They fight dirty…" Escad managed to say. He rose back on his feet, broad sword in hand. "Listen… we have little chance with a direct assault even with our number advantage."
"What do you have in mind?" Daena asked, still struggling to regain her breathing.
The Holly Knight smiled. "We fight dirty as well."
Spriggan shot a series of beams that the party evaded with ease. Daena ran to his left, while Rhea to his right. The creature noticed that the Knight stood in place in front of him. The two-bladed warrior leaped up high, getting the creature's full attention. She threw both her daggers and to Spriggan's amusement, they aimed nowhere near his torso. Only, unbeknownst to him, that was not the area she aimed for. The creature's red cloth was now pinned to the ground, before it could even retaliate, the monk tossed her nunchaku, wrapping Spriggan's arms tight. It had now realized they used a pincer attack on him, and to his demise, the Holly Knight ran forward, piercing his broadsword across the creature's heart. There was a loud shriek that echoed before the creature dissipated in black smoke. Leaving behind the weapons that bested him.
There was heavy breathing filling the caves. When Rhea picked up her weapons, she saw Escad with Matilda in his arms, and she knew, there was so much more to that tale that neither Escad nor Daena wanted to share.
The group returned to Matilda's chambers, where she rested again. The air felt heavy with silence and sorrow, but Rhea knew that it was the sight of a frail, oldened Matilda that made Escad aim for the door and leave.
"Escad…" Matilda pleaded. "Please listen to me."
Daena reached out to her. "No, Matilda. You should rest, so I'll say it."
The Priestess rose a hand that ordered Daena to back away. "No, I will." She turned her head with great effort to meet Escad's gaze. "Escad… I did not want to give up my freedom to become a Priestess. Irwin only wanted to free me of a life bound by rules."
"Wake-up, Matilda!" Escad growled. "Stop letting the Demon do this to you! Did you ever consider how Irwin will use the powers he took from you!?"
Irwin might've been the one referred to as a Demon, but Escad's expression at the moment resembled one all the same.
"That's enough, Escad!" Daena intervened. "And you, Matilda… you need to rest."
They all heard the door being opened. "You never took me seriously, even when we were children. But I'm not going to let the Demon gain any more power!" Escad left, slamming the door shut.
"Only the heavenly silence comforts me…" Matilda whispered, a tear falling down her face.
Daena looked away. "Don't say such a thing…"
A/N: Well… long time no read! So, after hearing the announcement for the remaster of one of my favorite RPG games, I came back to this fic. I realized I still knew exactly what I had in mind in terms of story and my own plot. So, I wrote this chapter as I felt reinspired :) I should write at least two more chapters, but we'll see if I ever do finish this – just being honest. Until then, this chapter is a little longer than the previous ones and I do hope you enjoy!