CHAPTER 36
UNTIMELY DEPARTURE
"So, that's what's happened..." Ovelia said as the party headed towards the gateway back to the land of the living.
"I'm afraid so..." Ramza said. "I'm sorry I don't have better news."
"I know Delita didn't mean to kill me..." Ovelia said. "...But what he's become now..."
"Do you still love him?" Agrias asked.
"I did once..." Ovelia said. "But now, I'm not so sure..."
"Whatever," Cinna said. "Hey, we got your buddy back, so this quest is officially over! Let's go back to Fello City and PARTY!"
"That does sound like a good-" Mustadio started to say. Suddenly, he stopped talking as the party emerged from the gateway and it closed up behind them.
Delita knelt with his back turned to them, sobbing uncontrollably. The shattered remains of ZomTeta lay in the corner, Delita's Chaos Blade buried in them. "Why?... Why?..." he sobbed.
"...Delita?..." Ramza asked.
When he heard Ramza's voice, Delita stopped crying. He turned around with pure hatred in his eyes. "You..." he hissed. "You did this to me..."
"D-Delita?..." Ovelia stammered.
"Stop trying to blame everything on Ramza!" Rafa scolded. "None of this is his fault!"
"Oh, yes it is..." Delita growled as he stood up and grabbed his sword. "He made me murder my sister for his own greedy desires..."
"Ramza brought me back, Delita," Ovelia said. "Can't we talk this out?..."
"So, you're alive, my dear..." Delita said, a sickly smile appearing on his face. to take the throne back? Well, you're not getting it..."
"Delita?" Alma asked. "You're starting to scare me..."
Quick as a flash, Delita whipped his sword out. With a horrible shriek he threw it straight towards Ovelia.
"LOOK OUT!!!" Cinna yelled. Ovelia fearfully closed her eyes and braced herself.
Time slowed down as Delita's Chaos Blade thrust itself into Cinna's front and bloodlessly shot out the back. Cinna, with a surprised expression on his face, sank to his knees, and then fell over on his side.
"...CINNA!!!" Ramza yelled.
"Cinna..." Meliadoul gasped as ran to his side and cradled his head in her arms.
"Fool," Delita snorted. "Getting in the way of my revenge..."
"YOU!!!" Ramza yelled, charging at Delita with his sword drawn. Now Delita was on the defensive as Ramza slashed at him furiously as they ran around the temple.
After about three minutes, Delita slipped on a rock and went crashing to the floor. He rolled over to see Ramza's sword pointed right at his throat. Ramza's eyes were glaring straight into Delita's soul in such an accusing way that Delita suddenly remembered what fear was.
That fear didn't last very long, though. He smirked at Ramza. "Go on and kill me," he snickered. "You'll still be a heretic and a fugitive. Killing me won't change anything."
"...And if I don't kill you?" Ramza asked.
"...That won't change anything either," Delita said after a moment's hesitation.
"You don't believe that," Ramza said, throwing his sword to the ground. "This battle is over. Go home!"
Delita was quite surprised at this response, but he decided it could be used to his advantage. "How foolish of you to let me go, Ramza," Delita sneered. "You know that I'll send troops against you again!"
"And again, and again, and again..." Ramza said softly. "Until all your troops and all my friends are gone, and there's nothing left but hatred... Go home, Delita. And never come back to Zeratul."
"I... You... Urgh..." Delita stuttered. Finally, he just bit his lip and slowly started to leave the temple. At the exit, he turned to Ovelia. "Are you coming?" he asked.
Ovelia, who was trying to find some way to help Cinna, glared up at Delita. "...Go home," she said coldly.
Sorrowful tears welled up in Delita's eyes as he turned around and plodded out of the temple. Ramza sheathed his sword and ran to Cinna's side.
"Cinna, be strong," Ramza said. "You'll make it!"
"No, Ramza," Cinna said. "This is it for me... Heh heh heh..."
"Don't die, Cinna," Meliadoul sobbed. "We've just begun to know each other..."
"Keep cool, Mel..." Cinna said. "I'll always be... around..."
"Cinna..." Ramza said.
"We went on a lot of adventures together, Ramza," Cinna chuckled. "You always were first to go everywhere... but it looks like I'm the first to embark on THIS adventure..."
Ramza could hear his friends grieving in their own ways behind him- Rafa was crying softly on Malak's shoulder, Cloud was wiping his eyes with a handkerchief, Worker No.8 had put his hands together in a sign of peace and prayer.
"Remember to give that song to Cress..." Cinna said as he looked up at Ramza. "Oh... So sleepy now... Must rest..."
"Cinna..." Malak said as he stepped forward. Cinna weakly turned his head to face Malak. Tears began to well up in Malak's eyes as he gave Cinna a thumbs up. "Stay cool... dude," he said softly.
"...Ah... ha.... ha... ha..." Cinna laughed quietly. "There's hope for you yet, Malak..."
Malak cracked a sad smile. Meliadoul stroked his hair gently. "It's not like that," she sniffed. "I was really nasty to you throughout this trip, and I'm so sorry, Cinna... I acted like that because I... I..."
"Oh..." Cinna whispered, his mouth forming into one last smile. "That... Well... That changes everything. Look to the sky at night, Mel. I'll be shinin' a star for ya..."
Just then, the familiar gleam in Cinna's eyes faded, and he fell silent. His head softly fell back on Meliadoul's lap. Everyone quieted and stayed silent for some time.
"...I guess you really loved him," Orlandu said as he put his hand on Meliadoul's shoulder.
"Yes..." Meliadoul sighed sadly as she ran her fingers over Cinna's dead face. "I guess I'll never find out why now..."