Rebirth of a Holy Dragoon
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy.
Notes: *stifles a laugh and just stares at the camera with one of those if-looks-could-kill expressions* Hi~ Nice to see you~
Warnings: If you read my material, you know what to expect. Can't stop, won't stop.
FIC START!
Chapter Sixty-five
Kain waited until he heard complete silence before he went anywhere near the sacred chamber where the Wind Crystal was kept. His Uncle Cid had left to the hospital to recover his cousin, and that wasn't going to be a very long outing. This was his chance. Now that there were no nagging servants to bother him, he was able to quickly slip through the hidden door that led to the secret door that led to the real reason why the Highwind family was blessed as much as it was. Many on the outside of the family believed it was because of their high prestige within the government - leading the Warriors of the Water gave them immense political power, not to mention their connection with Leviathan himself. The only light inside the chamber glimmered from the crystal itself, which was a pale green - the color of a cure spell's aura that reminded him of a gentle breeze comforting him on a workout after a sweaty summer afternoon. The door closed behind him on its own, clicking to signal it was closed all the way. He glanced behind him for a moment, now unable to see the exit of the chamber. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. But after turning to face the crystal, he choked down his fear, and headed deeper, closer to the magical artifact that he didn't quite understand completely.
Something about being in here alone gave him a sense of nostalgia. He couldn't exactly remember why, as he'd never been in the presence of a crystal on his own. He could hear voices telling him not to go any closer to the crystal. I am not going to steal it, he thought back at those voices. I just want to ask why it has taken away my ability to ride the wind. Why would anyone think that?
It hovered off the floor, always rotating and keeping its position. The crystal was as tall as a person, maybe even taller. He couldn't quite tell exactly how much it towered over him, only that it did. When Kain looked at himself, he could see the pale green glow tint his clothing and his skin. There were swirls of energy that circled around its circumference at the same level of his feet, and the energy wound up the sides of the crystal before fading back into darkness.
"Oh, wind crystal," he said, bowing his head respectfully. "I come to you alone to seek answers that I cannot find anywhere else. I know we only see you during the family ceremonies, but-" A stream of energy flowed out to him from the crystal. He reached up to touch it, letting it lace between his fingers and around the back of his hand, feeling something akin to a soothing touch against his skin. It reminded him of his mother, and how much he missed her. "-huh?"
"Young dragoon," Kain heard a voice speaking. He looked around the room for a moment to see if anyone else was in there. For a moment he feared that damn Bunansa kid had snuck in here somehow. But that voice didn't sound like a person he knew. "What troubles you?"
"I know that you, O wind crystal, give us in the family the ability to ride the wind," Kain tried to explain himself as formally as possible to the crystal itself, not the weird voice, as he was afraid of being turned away for not being formal. "I wish to know why you have taken away your blessing. I... If I am not worthy, I wish to know what I can do to become worthy again."
"The Crystal does not give the ability to ride the wind," the voice replied.
"I'm trying to talk to the crystal..." Kain muttered, annoyed at the voice.
"What leads you to believe this is not the crystal replying?" the voice asked.
Kain cocked his head to the side, shaking his head. "There is so much I do not understand..."
"On that, you are correct, young dragoon."
The crystal glowed that much more intensely, becoming so bright that Kain had to put his hands up to protect his face. When the light faded enough to allow him to see, he looked back up at the crystal and let out a gasp. There was a vision in the crystal's center, a magical projection of sorts. A man, wearing very obviously dragoon style armor. "What?" he asked. "What is this?"
"This is who you are," the voice replied.
Kain stared up at the vision. While the armor was similar to that of what his father wore, this was more ornate. He noticed the spear in the vision's hand was much different. And while his father had gloved hands, his were bare - though his fingernails were painted dark to match his armor. He had seen this image before, but he had a hard time remember exactly where. That's when he remembered his dear cousin, which reminded him of the dreams he'd been having about them being older and living in some other world beyond the barrier, and... he blinked a few times. "I have seen this before... in my dreams..."
"You have."
"...great crystal, forgive me, but I do not have much time. Please. I beseech you for answers before I am caught in here when I'm not supposed to be... Why have you taken away my blessing?"
"The crystal does not give the ability to ride the wind," the voice repeated. "That is something that comes from within yourself."
"We are taught from a young age that it is because of you that-"
"The crystal does not give the power to ride the wind." It repeated. "It is your own power that gifts you that ability."
"But, then... why can I not do it as I was able to before?"
"The crystal does not give the power to ride the wind."
"...I came here for that exact answer. I need to be able to ride the wind!" Kain said, becoming increasingly impatient at the situation. He didn't really know what the crystal was, but he was annoyed at it.
"Look inside yourself, young dragoon. Your wounds have hindered you more than any other being ever could. You need time to heal as much as your cousin does."
"I am not the one that was rendered nearly blind."
"And yet, you are, to the problems you face. Even with all the magical power that flows within the crystal, it cannot heal your guilt. It cannot heal your need to mourn. It cannot just magically take away those emotional burdens that inhibit you."
Kain felt his entire body slump with his body weight, closing his eyes hopelessly. "I... just wish to protect that which is most precious to me. How can I do that if I'm unable to fight? I am a dragoon, and the entire basis of that is being able to Jump."
"Again. You are wrong. You may be a dragoon, but the entire basis of being a dragoon is not being able to Jump."
"But. Then. What is it?!" Kain shouted, lashing out. He had so much pent up frustration and anger towards the world and himself that he didn't know what to do with it, and this constant being slammed down was enough to push him over the edge completely. The desperation built within his entire being. It seemed as if the entire world he knew was crumbling around at his feet, and he had no idea how to manage it.
The crystal's energies flowed along the floor and circled around his feet. Even though he was pent up with all sorts of negative emotions, the breeze the crystal provided seemed to soothe him in the moment. He felt tears stream down his cheeks as he watched the swirling faint magic envelop him. It was the first time he really cried since he found out his father was murdered. " The energy swirled about his entire body, brushing his long blonde hair around. Kain looked back up at the crystal, looking at that image of himself. For a moment, he thought he saw the vision wearing another set of armor, of a much lighter color with his face and hair fully exposed. But then it went back to the traditional draconic armor. What exactly was that? He started to turn around to leave, because this was getting him no closer to what he needed, and he'd be punished for coming in here on his own if he was caught. But, that's when the image of himself turned and looked at him, causing him to stop completely.
"Dry your eyes." This voice was different from the one that was speaking before. Was... was that what he sounded like? Was his voice really with that deep? "Do not lose yourself in this desperation."
"...how am I supposed to do that?" Turned out, his voice wasn't exactly that deep, but it wouldn't be that far of a stretch to believe that would be his voice when he was older. Kain came here to talk to the crystal for answers, but he was speaking to himself in the future... or something...? He was more confused than anything, and he tended to be so sure of what was real and what wasn't. Perhaps, he thought, this was a manifestation of the crystal's power. Not much was known about the power or the will of the crystal, since Ricard Highwind forbade research into it, only told those in the family to protect it. Was it something that harnessed the power of divinity?
"Focus on what is truly important."
"My father said that so often, and I always paid attention to what he said was important... I never once made a decision on my own."
"Now that he is gone," the Kain in the crystal said, "You must stand on your own two feet, Kain Highwind. Regardless if you can ride the wind."
"I must protect the ones I love," Kain said. "I have been raised to be a dragoon, it is the only way I know how to fight. I can't stand on my own if I can't defend myself."
"Not all battles are with weapons."
By the time Cid made his way to her room in the hospital, Canti was sitting up and awake. He had all ready spoken with Leviathan about maintaining her vision check up routines and other things to be aware of. All that was left was to take her home. Her friends had left. She kept adjusting the glasses that sat upon the bridge of her nose. It would take a lot of getting used to. He stuck his head in the room, his eyebrows furrowed upward with parental concern. "Baby girl?" he asked, causing her to look up from the pattern of tiles on the floor.
"Papa," she greeted him happily, but it wasn't as excited as he was used to her being. Her calmness almost surprised him.
"...I had a whole speech prepared for you," he said, walking in. "I was going to tell you how goddess-damned stupid it was for you to go running into enemy territory like that." Cid watched her as she climbed off the bed, appearing to be sorry all ready. Her body language conveyed more than enough. "But, honestly, I'm just so relieved to see you alive."
"I'm not," she muttered, adjusting the glasses yet again. That expression made it clear that exactly how annoyed she was over them being there.
"That's too bad," he said, coming to her side. He ruffled her hair a bit and they shared an embrace. "So. A few days of letting your eyes rest, and you'll be going back to Garden."
"Are you sure?" Canti asked. "Life just... goes back to normal, after... everything?!"
"Pumpkin, what-"
"Your brother, Kain's father, was murdered!" she shrieked at him. "How can you just..."
"The man that hurt you and Kain, and killed Richard, is in custody," Cid said. "You don't have to worry about that. He can't hurt anyone anymore-"
"Even if he wasn't always getting along with you, he was still my uncle," she said, fighting back tears. "He still took care of me like I was his own whenever you were too busy with work. He still accepted me as family even though he didn't have to."
"Richard loved you as he loved Kain," he said, bending down. "And I know, you're angry. I am, too. But... there's nothing more that we can do, now that the bastard's been caught." Cid looked into her eyes through her lenses. He could see them clearer than before, as the lenses made them seem larger than they actually were. "Come on. We should go home."
"Our home on Junon Street is gone now, though..."
"Yes. We're fixing up the Highwind Manor and make it into our home."
"I'm... kinda surprised that Kain didn't come with you," she said, looking over at the door. That felt odd. He had always been a force to support her through the years. When she ran off to do something stupid, he went with her. He didn't even try to stop her.
"I offered to bring him, but... he's torn up inside over the fact that he let you get hurt. He's shouldered so much guilt, he doesn't know how to handle himself. Poor kid." He put his hand on her head. "You all ready to go?"
"I don't have anything to take home with me, except my glasses. So. Yeah. Let's go."
