The cavern was dimly lit by torches that cast shadows all over the walls. In the distant chambers, one could hear the sounds of steel as two armies clashed, but here in this outer chamber, the numbers were smaller, and the stakes higher as four young soldiers confronted perhaps the greatest warrior the world had ever seen, and all in this dimly lit chamber. And from some unseen place a lone spectator was watching the events unfold. The four soldiers clad in mail approached him. It looked almost as if there was fear in their eyes despite the fact that they outnumbered him four to one. None of the men seemed inclined to make the first strike.

Their enemy stood griping his great-sword with both hands. He brandished it, ever keeping watch on his enemies. He looked into their eyes, he sensed their fear. He felt nothing for them. He would show them no mercy. The man looked fascinatingly imposing considering the fact that he appeared as though he couldn't have been more than twenty two years old when he was in reality thirty three. Perhaps it was the silver armor that he wore, or the look in his Nordic blue eyes. Maybe it was his long black hair which gave him the presence of a well groomed nobleman. But one could make no mistake about it, he had the presence of power, and he carried it gracefully.

The young knight began to brandish his weapon again, swinging it over each shoulder with two hands in a figure eight. He was obviously a great swordsman. He handled the blade with finesse and yet with power and authority at the same time.

The four opposing soldiers didn't even realize that he had attacked until it was to late. With a flash he was upon him. He swung his blade in a mighty arc skewering the first soldier through his mail suit. He turned just in time to block the second soldier's blade which was being brought down over his head. He held the over head block with one hand on his steel. With the other he withdrew one of his two mythril daggers, and quickly slit the soldiers throat.

In the same motion he used to slit the throat, he wield and threw the dagger directly into the third man's eye. The soldier shrieked in pain immediately dropping his weapon which hit the ground with a loud noise. The knight leapt upon the screaming man, and withdrew his dagger from the eye. Looking over his shoulder, he saw it. The fourth soldier had thrown his sword and it was on target. Quicker than he could even think he grabbed the injured soldier, and cast him in the path of the blade while diving out of the way. The long sword pierced the man right through the heart, and with a scream of pain, he fell down dead.

Realizing that he had missed his target, the final soldier dove towards his dead colleague, and griped the handle of his weapon, but just as he did so he felt the boot come down on his arm, and cold steel on the side of his neck.

"Now you don't really want to do that do you?" He heard the voice say.

Looking up, he saw a pair of bright Nordic blue eyes staring into his own. It was him. He was face to face with the living legend. He'd heard it said, but never believed it. Now he had no choice but to believe it. This man was truly unstoppable.

"You want to live don't you?" the soft deep voice continued. "Get up." He said withdrawing the blade from the side of the young soldier's neck, and motioning for him to rise. "Go on get up." the calm voice repeated.

The soldier obeyed, and slowly, ever so slowly rose to his feet. All the while, he looked into those blue eyes, knowing that they held the key to his fate. He made it to his feet, but nothing happened. He was still alive. He could see the carnage of his comrades laying around. The knight could have easily dispatched him into the abyss as well. Why hadn't he.

The thoughts ran through the young soldiers head, but they were soon interrupted by the Knight's words. "Interesting move you pulled back there." he said with a smile. "You almost caught me off guard. And that's hard to do. Funny thing, that move was something risky, something daring, something stupid. And also, something I would have done."

The man searched the knight's eyes. He tried to put together exactly where this conversation was going, but he just couldn't figure it out.

"Every battle I've faced since entering these cliffs has been to the death, no one has survived my blade. Perhaps, that is because I'm as blood thirsty as I've been portrayed, or perhaps it is because those who attack me leave me no other alternative." He paused, and looked at this young soldier. He couldn't have been more than fifteen. It was that way with many of these groups of troops. The Sorcerer was cold to engage children of this age in wars such as this.

"It pains me every time I destroy life with Iron Cross." The knight said motioning to his massive blade which he carried so easily in his hands. The blade was exotically crafted, with a magnificent cross at the bottom of the hilt, and featuring cross engravings all the way down the length of the titanium blade. "This blade was made to promote peace, not to fight war. However, the time comes where war arises, and with war comes death. And in the face of death, at times one must kill or be killed. That sir, is why I have drawn the blood of so many.

At times good men must fight for what is right, despite the danger. I fight for the world, and for the sorceress. I fight for freedom, and peace. You , I must think do not know why you fight. Most likely it is the blind following of orders.

I see strength in you, and that is why I have preserved you. I now give you a choice. A choice between life and death, and you may choose but one thing. Are you ready to make that choice?" The knight finished.

The boy soldier stared at the knight. What could he possibly do. There was no escaping the wrath of the Demon Knight. He'd been told that since his childhood. Surely, he would die today by those same vengeful hands. He had no choice but to make whatever choice it was that this fearless knight gave him, and accept it with dignity. It was this trait which separated him from the others under the Sorcerers army. He would do his best, and accept when he had reached his limit. That is why he learned so much, because he could admit when he didn't know what to do, and thus he was teachable. Now was the time for him to take what he felt was sure to be live's final challenge, and he would do so now with honor, and dignity.

"Yes Sir Knight, I'll make your choice." He said with calmness, and confidence.

"Good, Good." He began. "Then here is your choice. You have been no doubt taught about me. About my hatred, and how I show no mercy in battle. You've heard of the minions I've defeated, and the battles my armies have won. You've been told that to confront me is to die at the hands of a blade called Dragon's Cross. To defy me a means to a quick end. Now, I give you a choice to believe that, and to try one last time to overthrow me man to man, or, you can choose to find out for yourself, and come with me, and be my disciple.

The choice is up to you. It's true that perhaps I am just toying with you, perhaps I want to have fun with you, to wait till you turn your back, and then bury my steel into your back. I won't tell you anything, you must decide that on your own. The choice is yours. So, what shall it be, faith, or furry?"

The choices were fairly simple. One way led to sure death, for there was never a man no matter how skilled who fought the Sorceress Knight and survived. The other way he was sure led to death as well, for it was a known fact that the sorceress knight took no prisoners.

With two choices spread out before him, he was now forced to choose. With nothing to go on, but what he had been told, it was not as easy a choice as it at first glance seemed. On the one hand, he could challenge him, and die honorably while fighting, on the other he could trust someone who no one from his people had ever trusted before except one, the renegade sorceress Clarity.

For a few moments he looked into the knights eyes. Face to face with the destroyer, the leader of men. He looked deeply into the Nordic blue sea that was his eyes. They were smooth as glass, and deep. To his surprise, however, he found no malice there. He didn't feel threatened. How could that be? The most feared man in the world was before him, and yet he was not afraid. He thought about his life. He thought about his impending death. He thought about the parents he never knew, and the things he wished he had done. A tear came to his eye as he pondered. He was so young, and there was so much this world had to offer, and yet, he would most likely never taste of the fruit thereof. He wanted to break down, but he didn't. He looked into the Knight's eyes and said with all confidence. "I'll follow you."

He knelt down at the knight's feet and bowed his head admitting defeat, and throwing himself at the mercy of the one who held his life in his hands.

"You have chosen wisely." The knight said obviously pleased. "Rise to your feet. Tell me son, what is your name?" He asked, as he placed Dragon's Cross back into his sheath.

The boy rose slowly and looked at the knight. He felt more alive than ever before. It's been said that the being on the brink of death is when you truly find out the meaning of life. He looked into the eyes of the one who had just spared him, and said. "Sir, my name is Leonhart, Devon Leonhart."

"Leonhart eh? Well young Leonhart, my name is Jason Starlight. You have chosen to follow me. Pay close attention to the things I teach you, and you will be a proud warrior one day. Here my apprentice, I want you to have this." He took from around his neck the chain he was wearing. It bore the head of a lion on it. "Keep this with you all the time, and when the time comes, I will teach you how to use it."

Starlight then bid for young Leonhart to follow him. "Let us prepare the way for the sorceress. Come my Clarity, come." When he finished speaking, a Young woman walked through the door. She was extremely beautiful. She had long black hair. The smile on her face was increasingly gorgeous. She walked with confidence, power, and grace. She walked directly towards Devon Leonhart, and said. "Hello my friend, we've been waiting for you."

Then she turned with a jerk and saw the hidden onlooker. "Who are you?" she asked pleasantly. The two others in the room were looking as well, but saw nothing.

The onlooker was shell shocked. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Rinoa" he said, "Is it you? Rinoa"

*********

Squall Leonhart awoke with a jerk in a cold sweat. He stared into space for a moment trying to take in where he was at. He finally remembered his surroundings and came to his senses again.

"You ok man?" he heard Delea Dreden's voice ask. "You were tossing and turning like crazy, and then you started mumbling something just before you woke up. You had us kinda worried. Bad dream?"

"No, not exactly bad.... more like um... Weird" Squall stated. "Where are we?" He asked.
"Were somewhere in the ocean nearing the Centra continent. We're submerged now, so we're out of sight out of mind." Rider spoke up.

"Good, well let's hurry up." Squall said. "I've got to find out about these cliffs."



**********

The line of bubbles came to a halt somewhere off shore, but the man in black continued to advance. Orion had rallied the troops back to their ready positions. And they stood waiting.

With a simple move of his hands the man in black caused the bubbles to submerge back into the sea. Then he began to speak.

"Soon we will have Leonhart. Soon Tralen shall return." then he disappeared without a trace.