Chapter 5

Natural introductions

Rydia sat down near a rock formation at the feet of the former entrance to the Underworld which was now just a big mountain. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to get in telepatical contact with Queen Asura or King Leviathan. It was pretty much the way she used for calling lower monsters to aid her in battle. But today nothing seemed to work. She had changed her sitting place five times during the last hours, trying if various places would help her in getting contact with the Underworld due to their different magical energies.

After a while Rydia's eyes flashed open again. She just couldn't concentrate.

"I shouldn't have come here, anyway... I am pretty useless..."

Behind her, she heard the cracking of twigs.

"Hey Rydia! Here you are!" Edge shouted, grinning as usual.

As he heard the summoner sigh, he added quickly: "I hope I do not have interrupted you again..."

"No, you haven't - somehow nothing works today. I thought that being near the entrance would help contacting the others, but it seems even to work less... I wish I knew why..."

Tired, she dropped her head between her knees.

"Oh..." Edge sat down on the ground next to her. "I had a hard day, too. Cecil and I walked between rubble, dust and dirt all day, interviewing the survivors of the earthquake... It was pretty depressing..."

Rydia frowned. She wondered if anything really could depress the ninja...

"And then there was this little girl who said that she'd seen a big, dark man in the woods and know what? Hah - Cecil and Yang went into the woods to search for him... Can you believe this!?" Edge let himself fall back to ground with a laugh and looked in the muddy and gray sky. "Hey Rydia... Do you think Cecil has had to much stress lately? I mean running after a child's fantasy is pretty dumb, don't you think?"

"Maybe..." Rydia mumbled between her knees, "But he normally has a good feeling concerning what is important and what not... Maybe the girl really saw something..."

"Uh... Maybe..." Edge mumbled, not wanting to anger her. Besides she was right -- Cecil had a sense for such things.

For a moment both said there without speaking a word.

After a while Edge cleared his throat: "Err, Rydia?"

"Yes?"

"Sorry for what I said yesterday..."

Rydia raised her head and looked at him, surprised. "Oh that... It's... alright..." she said. It was a lie as it wasn't alright at all, but since she knew how hard apologizing was for the young ninja she didn't want to discourage him. Besides, she was much too tired for another quarrel.

"Is it really alright?" Edge asked carefully.

"Yes... I wasn't in a good mood, too..." she said to console him.

"Yep - right..." Edge grinned.

"Right? What do you mean with that?!"

"I mean that you can behave pretty childish and stubborn when you--" Edge wanted to add "when you're angry, but you're looking real sweet then..." but he didn't get that far.

"Childish?" Rydia said loudly. Her fatigue had disappeared completely. "If anyone here is a child; it's you!"

"No... Wait! Let me end the sentence..." Edge frowned. "But hey, wait! I am not childish! I am a king!"

"Oh what a fine King! If Chamberlain wasn't there you would hang around all day and your Kingdom would lie in shambles!" the caller snapped.

"That's not true! Take that back!"

"No!" Rydia started to sulk and wrinkled her snub nose.

"At once! Take it back!" Edge sounded hurt, although he liked Rydia when she looked like that.

"No! 'Cause it is the truth!" retorted the caller.

"Hey - can't you two be a bit quieter? It's hard to concentrate with such a fuss!" a male voice suddenly said, loudly.

Edge pushed himself in a sitting position at once and looked around. Near a tree not far away a man in expensive looking clothes was standing. In one hand he held a large wooden staff with an emerald at top. His hair was clipped short and was green like Rydia's -as well as his robe and cloak. Two green and sparkling eyes in a handsome face were looking amused at the two young people before them and the thin lips of the man were curved in a smile.

"Sorry if I have frightened you, but you really were a bit too loud..." His voice had a clear and intelligent tone.

Edge started to mutter, but was cut short by Rydia.

"Sorry if we have interrupted you..."

She stood up and approached the man, ignoring Edge's skeptical look.

"I am Rydia of Mist and this guy back there is..."

"Hey! I can introduce myself!" the ninja muttered and was at her side at once, fearing that Rydia in her rage might introduce him not "properly".

"I am King Edge of Eblan, master Ninja and one of the five heroes of the battle against Zeromus!" he said proudly. As a King he always liked the introductions best. "And who are you to dare to interrupt us in our doing?" he added for a dramatic effect.

Rydia rolled her eyes and looked at the traveler, apologizing "Ignore him... He's always like that..."

"Hey..."

The traveler started to laugh quietly... It was a youngish laugh, making it hard to say how old he was. "Oh - it's alright! Lady Rydia, your majesty..." He bowed slightly. "I am Kieran of Devonshire, mage and scholar..."

Rydia clapped her hands together: "A mage? I am a mag— I mean… I can use magic, too... This is so exciting! Don't you think so Edge?" Since Tellah's death she had hardly met wizards who could cast magic as advanced as hers.

"Mmm... If you say so..." Edge muttered. Even though the fellow had called him "your majesty", he didn't like him.

Kieran smiled. "So - what are a pretty magic user and the famous King of Eblan doing in the wilderness like this?" Rydia giggled.

"You're asking pretty many questions..." Edge snapped.

"Edge!" Rydia hissed. "He's only trying to be polite!"

The wizard was still smiling. "Oh, if your friend feels bothered by my questions I must apologize again: It may be true that I am asking too much, but I guess this is just my nature..."

"Wow! He's so polite!" Rydia was fascinated. "But... but no... Surely you may ask... We're here together with Cecil, I mean with King Cecil of Baron and King Yang of Fabul to examine the earthquake at Agart..." she said with haste.

"Oh - so you, My Lady must be the one of the five heroes, too - the beautiful summoner Rydia... Forgive my ignorance..." He bowed again and flashed a charming, but not impudent smile at Rydia.

Rydia blushed. "Hey - have you heard how he called me?" She whispered to Edge. The Ninja just grunted.

"And what are you doing here?" he asked dryly, making it very clear that he was not interested at all in Kieran's answer.

"Oh, me? I am examining the earthquake, too, ordered by the council of Silvera...If I may I'd like very much to meet your friends... Maybe we could share our informations?" the young man replied.

"Yes! Surely!" Rydia beamed at him.

"Hey - now wait! We do not know this man!" Edge hissed.

Kieran looked at him, friendly. "Is there something wrong?"

"Yes... You said we broke your concentration... What were you concentrating on?" the ninja asked.

"Oh... that... I... I was testing if the magical fluctuation in the ether have changed due to the earthquake..." Kieran suddenly seemed nervous.

"Hmm..." Edge looked at him skeptically.

"It's difficult to explain..." The man gave a help searching look to Rydia.

The caller smiled: "It's alright! Come on Edge, don't be so unfriendly. Wizards always have their little secrets..." She winked at Kieran. "I think Cecil and the others will be happy for any help they can get..."

Rydia nudged the Ninja in the side and then set up her sweetest smile: "Pleeaasse..."

"Yes... Yes... Alright..." the ninja sighed - he couldn't possibly deny Rydia anything.

"Great!" the girl laughed. "You lead on Edge - I'll follow with Sir Kieran - we sure can exchange some magic knowledge!" The handsome man bowed and offered her his arm: "If I may, Lady Rydia... By the way, please call me Kieran..."

Rydia giggled and took his arm. "And you can call me Rydia! Edge, what are you waiting for? Soon it will be dark!"

The ninja snorted angrily and lead the way.