Chapter 7: The Confrontation and the Heroine
Rosa let out a soft yawn as she struggled to keep her eyes open and on the clock in Cecil's room. She, Kain, and Cecil were all waiting for the clock to strike midnight so that they could make their descent to the southern forest to begin their hunt. Instead of being worried about getting in trouble at home, Rosa's mind was filled with the day's events. Kain had surprised them at lunch by joining them for the rest of the day, and Cid even gave them all a real ride in the airship, one that lasted for hours, with lots of sight-seeing. She leaned back on Cecil's bed and idly drifted her gaze over to Cecil and Kain, who were going through their belongings to find a map of some sort. Rosa suddenly wondered if she were making a mistake. Surely, her mother was worried sick about her... How selfish she was not to think of that before...all she could think about was herself and being with Cecil!
"Cecil..." Rosa began, thinking that maybe she should just have them walk her home, but when he looked over at her with those perfect blue eyes, she suddenly felt her little Cecil-resistance wall crumble to nothing.
What is wrong with me?? Rosa closed her eyes and brought a hand to her forehead.
"Rosa?" Cecil asked. "Did you say my name?"
"Uhh... I have to go to the powder room!" Rosa exclaimed, and Cecil raised his eyebrows.
"You don't know where it is?" Cecil asked, with a look on his face that clearly read: "What a loser!" Rosa cringed at her stupidity.
"Actually, I was hoping I could use yours..." She muttered in reply.
"That room isn't suited for girls." Kain joked, and Cecil turned red. "Let me take you down the hall and..."
"Oh no thanks, I'll find it myself." Rosa jumped up. "Thanks anyway, Kain!" Kain and Cecil both looked at her as she left the room and broke into a run down the hallway.
"Oh man..." Rosa mumured to herself. She found the power room at the end of the hall, and went inside, shutting the door behind her. The candles in the room were very dim, so Rosa could barely see when she looked into the mirror. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and sighed, reaching up to touch the image in the mirror.
"Look at yourself..." Rosa trailed off. "You stupid girl... your cheeks are bright red...your eyes are wide...still a little pink from being upset before..." Rosa shook her head. "And you're not even one tenth the beauty your mother is..." Rosa turned her back on her reflection and looked up at the ceiling. "How did I think that Cecil would like a girl like me? I've never had a boyfriend before...I...." Rosa clapped her hand over her mouth and blinked. Did she want Cecil to like her? Of course she did...Because she liked him too...
"Rosa?" Someone asked from outside the door. Rosa jumped and opened the door, only to see Cecil himself.
"Are you done?" Cecil asked. "We're gonna go."
"Yes!" Rosa replied. Cecil held up her bow and quiver of arrows, which she took, and slung on her back. Kain was waiting not too far away, a long spear in his hand. And Cecil had his sword as well....
The three quietly slipped out of Baron Castle through a back entrance that Cecil and Kain knew about, and as soon as they had left the city limits, Cecil and Kain emerged into conversation.
"That was too easy!" Kain smiled.
"Well, I'm surprised that the back entrance wasn't being guarded." Cecil replied thoughtfully. "How odd of King Baron to let down on castle security like that, especially since we have the airships now."
"Eh, what he does is his concern, right?" Kain asked, and looked to Rosa. Rosa blinked and shrugged. She didn't quite know what to think about anything reguarding Baron.
"So, after this summer, you two are going to military school?" Rosa asked, changing the subject.
"Yep." Cecil replied. "Then, before we know it, we'll really be apart of Baron's army!"
"Why do you two want to fight so badly?" Rosa asked worriedly. "I don't understand..."
"I want to be a Dragoon like my father." Kain explained. "When he was my age, he was already training hard because he chose this path, just like his father did. It's sort of a family ritual, I suppose."
"Why isn't your father here to help you...?" Rosa asked.
"He died...in battle a long time ago...When I was three." Kain replied, a touch of sadness in his voice. "I never quite knew him but...King Baron said he did. That's why he adopted me after my dad had died. As soon as I was old enough to understand about my father's life and death as a Dragoon, I knew that I wanted to follow the same path. I would have it no other way."
"What of your mother though?" Rosa pressed on.
"She died giving birth to me." Kain said. "So I didn't know her either. King Baron said she was a lovely woman though."
"I'm sorry..." Rosa said. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable asking all that."
"Nah..." Kain shook his head. "Not many people really care enough to ask, you know? So thanks."
"Oh...well you're welcome." Rosa said, blushing slightly. "But what about you Cecil? Is it because you don't want to be without your friend?"
"No." Cecil said cooly. "It's not really like that at all."
"..." Rosa shook her head and looked back out towards the direction they were traveling. However, Cecil did not stop speaking as she thought he would have.
"I was adopted by the king when I was two, around the same time Kain was." Cecil said. "I never knew my mom and dad though. I can't remember them at all. And it seems like no one else knew who they were either, which just makes things for me more difficult. Anyway, as I grew up, I was exposed to the life of a soldier more than anything else. It inspired me greatly...and the soldiers didn't seem to have such complicated lives. When Baron asked me to attempt to master the Dark Sword because of my abilities that had developed from training, I couldn't say no. After all, I owed him for my life and did want to gain more respect for my name. Maybe...if someone out there who knew my parents heard of me, Cecil, the Dark Knight of Baron, they would come to me and tell me about them. I would do anything to know something..." Cecil looked up at the sky and took in a deep breath from saying so much so fast.
".....Oh Cecil..." Rosa sighed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "So that's why you both want to fight. It makes sense now." But really, to her, some of it still didn't. It was almost like their lives were being driven by those of the past, long forgotten. And that was where she couldn't see the sense of it all. New generations born unto the planet only to be cursed with carrying out the same tasks of those who had died before them carrying those tasks out as well...
"Well why wouldn't it make sense anyway?" Cecil demanded, and Rosa widened her eyes at his sudden tone change, most definately not wanting to explain her reasoning to him. Her hesitation to truly express herself was a result of her mother's coaching of lady-like etiquette all her life, and it was something she had not managed to get over yet, especially now, as it was not any normal person she was talking to--It was Cecil, whose name held more significance to Rosa at that moment then she cared to admit or was able to explain.
"I don't know." Rosa said finally, feeling very uncomfortable. "I suppose I would have to be in your shoes to fully comprehend it, that's all." Cecil gave her a look made from pure sarcasm and let out a bitter laugh.
"Yeah, and you would enjoy that."
Rosa took in a sharp breath and cursed herself for her attempt at holding any conversation with him. He may of been sweet back when he offered to take care of her for the day, but it was like he was back to his normal self again, with the changing of day to night. If it wasn't for her fear of being hunted down and eaten by some fiendish beast, Rosa would have made her trek home alone at that very moment.
However, the mood seemed to lift considerably when the group made it to the small woods south of Baron. Loud callings of the flying beast called the Eagle (not the same type of Eagle most are familiar with, mind you) were echoing against the night sky from their nests high in the trees. Sting Rats scampered from sight into the brush, and Rosa knew from her studying of local monsters from White Magic Class that they were regrouping so that they could hide from their enemies and make a sneak attack. This made Rosa very nervous indeed.
"Check that out!" Kain exclaimed and pointed as a small tribe of wicked little creatures called Imps scampered about, jumping down from trees and popping out from dark hiding places. They were all either weilding small knives or searching the ground for sticks, making nasty little hissing noises and squeaky war calls. They were determined to block the group from proceeding any further in the forest, for some reason or another.
"They're going to attack!" Cecil said, and unsheathed his sword. It was a beautifully dark blade that shimmered in the little moonlight they had- The blade was small and the color of a very dark gray, but looked as sleek and deadly as any other weapon Rosa had ever laid eyes on.
"The Dark Sword..." She murmured to herself, almost entranced by it. Her father too, had once held a blade like that. However, she was interrupted by the sound of Kain making a flying leap in the air with his spear in hand, and crashing down upon an Imp, devastating it before it could even raise it's knife. With a little thump, it hit the ground and a few moments later, disappeared in a flash of purple light.
"Ta-da!" Kain grinned as he leaped back to Rosa's side and winked. "I've been practicing, you know."
"I can tell!" Rosa exclaimed. "I don't know anyone who can jump like that!"
"Um, excuse me, but I'm not dispatching this entire group myself." Cecil said lamely as he drove his sword through the stomach of another Imp and kicked the stunned fiend away, his foot forcing it back so that the blade withdrew itself from the body.
"Wonder what they're hiding?" Kain asked excitedly as he swung his spear and took down a third Imp, as if it were nothing.
"Something good, I bet!" Cecil grinned. "Come on Rosa, this is what we came here for!" Rosa gulped and raised her bow and arrow, preparing to aim.
"...Alrighty!" Rosa called, and released her arrow, letting it sail through the air straight into the heart of an Imp in the back of the tribe. It let out an ear-piercing screech and fell to the forest floor, defeated instantly. Rosa grinned and jumped in the air. "The first thing I have managed to hit all week!" Cecil looked back at her admiringly, making her turn red, not that you could tell in the darkness.
"I'm impressed..." He trailed off, and suddenly ducked as Kain leaped over him, driving his spear into an Imp sneaking up on Cecil.
"Booya!" Kain shouted, making Rosa giggle at his sillyness. Even Cecil was laughing and patting Kain on the back as a way of saying thanks for 'saving' him. With all three commrades working together, the tribe of Imps was decimated in under 2 minutes, and their path was cleared. Cecil and Kain rushed ahead, with Rosa right on their heals. Now in the spirit of things, Rosa didn't even flinch when she saw a Sting Rat come flying at her from it's hiding place in a tall bush. Her reflexes as quick as lightening, she pulled out another arrow from the quiver on her back and took aim, releasing her deadly shot right between the eyes of the monster. It cried out and fell to the ground from mid-air, fading into nothingness a moment later.
I feel...powerful... Rosa thought, feeling proud of her abilities for the first time. She also couldn't help but get excited over how impressed Kain and Cecil were. Rosa decided that her choice to join Cecil and Kain in their practice hunting had not been such a poor idea after all!
After a few more short battles with Imps, who were seemingly running around everywhere, Cecil, Kain, and Rosa reached a small clearing within the forest where the moonlight was particullarly strong, and illuminated everything within their sight. There, lying on the ground, half-buried in grass and dirt, was a glittering something. Cecil kneeled down and picked it up, and let it dangle from his hands.
"What's that?" Kain asked, but Rosa knew.
"It's a crystal tiara." Rosa said, and took it from Cecil for a moment to examen it. It was a very beautiful tiara, the kind that rested around your forehead. It was made out of shining crystal that sparkled in the moonlight, and the clasp that was to be hidden under the wearer's hair was even finely crafted with silver that looked a little dull, but could be polished up in no time. It looked as if it were crafted exclusively for one person in the world by a very talented jeweler, but somehow, it had ended up here, a bit dirty and wet. Rosa handed it back to Cecil, who pocketed it.
"This will sell really well back in Baron!" Cecil smiled, and Kain nodded approvingly.
"But I wonder how it got in the woods?" Rosa questioned. "I mean, I think that the type of person who would wear something as expensive as that would not be walking about in the woods."
"Yeah, and they don't even make this kind of stuff in Baron." Kain added. "It sort of looks like a Toroian design."
"Makes it all the more valuable." Cecil said, and stood up, brushing off his knees. "I wasn't expecting to get good hunting practice and treasure! You think we should go home now?"
"I am a bit sleepy." Rosa said, and yawned right then as if to add more effect to her words.
"Are you gonna go home or stay at the palace?" Cecil asked, and Rosa thought about it for the moment.
"I had best go home." Rosa finally replied. "I imagine my mother is worried sick."
"Alright, lets head back then." Kain said. The group was just about to turn around and walk back on the path they took to the wood's clearing when a wicked screech ripped through the entire forest, making Rosa cry out and cover her ears.
"What the hell?!" Kain cried, and looked about, trying to figure out what had made the noise.
"Everyone, get down!" Cecil shouted, and before Rosa knew what was happening, he had pulled her down with him to the cold ground, keeping his arm around her so that she couldn't get up. Rosa felt a shiver run through her spine as a chilling wind suddenly blew over their backsides along with another loud screech. As soon as Cecil let up on her, Rosa sat up and looked towards the sky, where she saw the most horrible thing she could imagine hovering right above them- A pale green winged monster with boney, small, gray wings and a pair of long, skinny arms that each contained three massive claws at each end. However, the most frightening thing, no doubt, was the creature's face, which contained a big mouth full of grinning yellow teeth and one giant, watery eyeball that took up the whole top half of it's head, peering down at them.
"Ahhhhh!" Kain cried, and nearly fell back down to the ground again after he had just stood up and recovered from throwing himself down from before.
"It's a Float Eye!" Cecil said, and cringed as the Float Eye opened it's mouth and screamed loudly, making any of the Eagle monsters that were in the trees flutter off to a safer and quieter place.
"What is a Float Eye doing here?" Rosa moaned. "Don't they live in the Northern Region???"
"I bet we just stole it's treasure that it bummed off one of it's victims up north!" Kain cried, and held up his spear. "We won't be able to run from it! If it is in a chase, it will use sound waves to paralyze the prey, and then we'll all be in trouble!"
"So let us fight!" Cecil exclaimed, and once again, withdrew the Dark Sword. As he poised himself into an attack position, Kain wasted no time and took a flying leap towards the creature, spear pointed and ready.
"Kain, watch out!" Rosa cried, but it was too late. Kain did not notice that the monster had been eyeing Kain in particular, and it suddenly let out a screech attack that was so powerful, the soundwaves could actually be seen rippling through the air as they struck Kain. Kain cried out in pain and flew backwards until he smashed into a tree and slowly sunk to the ground, unconscious.
"Kain!!!" Rosa cried, and ran to his side, gently taking him into her arms. "Oh God, oh God, what do I do!?"
"Hurry up and use the spell of Life!" Cecil shouted to her. "It should wake him up!"
"Life?!" Rosa cried, and felt tears come to her eyes. "I--I don't know that spell!!!"
"WHAT?!" Cecil's voice got high mid-what as the Float Eye swooped down to attack, but missed as Cecil jumped out of the way. "What kind of White Wizard are you?!" Rosa bit her lower lip and tried to keep herself from heaving any sobs. The tenseness of the situation, Kain's critical need of healing, and Cecil's anger had formed into a bitter club that seemed to crush whatever majestic spirit she might of had left that was keeping her from bursting into tears like she really wanted. However, she knew that she could never forgive herself if she just sat there and cried while Cecil finished off the monster by himself.
"Hold on Kain!" Rosa whispered, and slowly got to her feet, her knees feeling weak and wobbly like those of a newborn colt. Cecil staggered back from the Float Eye, which was relentlessly throwing itself at him, and nearly tripped and fell backwards. At the last minute, Rosa managed to dash to his side and catch him before he hit the ground.
"Are you ok?" Rosa asked worriedly. "Go hide! I'll strike it down!"
"No way!" Cecil protested. It was then that Rosa noticed he had a long cut going down the side of his face, dripping with crimson blood. "You'll never be able to aim quick enough!"
"You're hurt though..." Rosa shook her head and proceeded to drag Cecil away to safetly by Kain. However, he stopped her by reaching out to grab her arm, squeazing tightly. Rosa let out a scream and let go, and Cecil scrambled back to his feet, holding his blade out in front of him, one finger poised right at the tip of the blade, and his other hand holding the hilt.
"Rosa, cast Cure after I attack!" Cecil directed. "I'm going to release a Dark attack that drains my power so that I can strike the Float Eye critically!"
"Wait, Cecil, STOP!" Rosa cried, remembering she couldn't cast Cure either. But it was too late. Cecil closed his eyes and muttered a few uncomprehendable words under his breath. The blade of his sword began to emit a dark blue color, and Cecil's body soon follwed suit. The energy began to run down from his arms, legs, and head into the blade. A moment later, the energy began to crackle with charged energy, almost as if it were dark electricity, and flew from the blade in multiple short waves, striking at the Float Eye all at once. The monster let out a pained cry and fell to the ground, bouncing up a bit after it struck. Cecil moaned and collapsed to his knees, his hand grasping at his chest over his heart.
"Hurry...!" He cried hoarsely. But before Rosa could even explain that she didn't know how to cure Cecil, the Float Eye growled and slowly began to hover back off the ground. Cecil's attack had only stunned it! It opened it's mouth, prepared to use a soundwave attack that would surely finish Cecil off in his weakened state.
"Nooooo!" Rosa cried. Deciding that she indeed did not have enough time to load her bow and aim it, she instead ran towards the Float Eye and took a mightly leap, easily landing on it since it was not too high off the ground. Cecil gasped as Rosa beat at the Float Eye's left wing with her fist, hoping to cause it to break. Her intentions came through, and the tender wing snapped under her fist's brutal beating upon it. She could feel the Float Eye's teeth grazing at her leg, but she had no time to worry about that. It fell to the ground again with another thump, whimpering in pain over it's shattered wing. Rosa remained on top of the Float Eye and quickly reached back to her quiver, grabbing an arrow. She raised it high into the air, ready to plunge it down into the massive eye of the Float Eye when it suddenly got it's wits back and clasped it's jaws right over her right leg. Rosa screamed in agonizing pain as the jaws of the monster released her leg and chomped down again,
creating a whole new set of teeth holes and a whole new wave of pain. Rosa could feel the wetness of the blood drip all down her leg and into the boot on her right foot. A wave of weakness and sickness came over her as she struggled to keep her vision straight and her head up. All of a sudden, she wanted to close her eyes and sleep so very badly...
"ROSA!" Cecil screamed, and struggled to crawl towards her and the Float Eye. Rosa's slowly closing eyes shot open again when she heard Cecil call her name. She suddenly remembered where she was and what she needed to do. Weakly raising her arrow again, she let out a small cry of disgust and plunged it into the squirming Float Eye's eye. The Float Eye howled in pain and with it's last ounce of strength, threw Rosa off of it before dissolving into nothingness. Rosa screamed and hit the ground face first into a patch of cool grass. However, she could now feel warm blood dripping down from her head and onto her cheek. It was almost...soothing. Focusing on it made Rosa forget all about the throbbing pains in her leg. She smiled softly to herself, thinking only of how she had saved Cecil and Kain as she closed her eyes and let the warm darkness wrap itself around her broken body.
Rosa let out a soft yawn as she struggled to keep her eyes open and on the clock in Cecil's room. She, Kain, and Cecil were all waiting for the clock to strike midnight so that they could make their descent to the southern forest to begin their hunt. Instead of being worried about getting in trouble at home, Rosa's mind was filled with the day's events. Kain had surprised them at lunch by joining them for the rest of the day, and Cid even gave them all a real ride in the airship, one that lasted for hours, with lots of sight-seeing. She leaned back on Cecil's bed and idly drifted her gaze over to Cecil and Kain, who were going through their belongings to find a map of some sort. Rosa suddenly wondered if she were making a mistake. Surely, her mother was worried sick about her... How selfish she was not to think of that before...all she could think about was herself and being with Cecil!
"Cecil..." Rosa began, thinking that maybe she should just have them walk her home, but when he looked over at her with those perfect blue eyes, she suddenly felt her little Cecil-resistance wall crumble to nothing.
What is wrong with me?? Rosa closed her eyes and brought a hand to her forehead.
"Rosa?" Cecil asked. "Did you say my name?"
"Uhh... I have to go to the powder room!" Rosa exclaimed, and Cecil raised his eyebrows.
"You don't know where it is?" Cecil asked, with a look on his face that clearly read: "What a loser!" Rosa cringed at her stupidity.
"Actually, I was hoping I could use yours..." She muttered in reply.
"That room isn't suited for girls." Kain joked, and Cecil turned red. "Let me take you down the hall and..."
"Oh no thanks, I'll find it myself." Rosa jumped up. "Thanks anyway, Kain!" Kain and Cecil both looked at her as she left the room and broke into a run down the hallway.
"Oh man..." Rosa mumured to herself. She found the power room at the end of the hall, and went inside, shutting the door behind her. The candles in the room were very dim, so Rosa could barely see when she looked into the mirror. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and sighed, reaching up to touch the image in the mirror.
"Look at yourself..." Rosa trailed off. "You stupid girl... your cheeks are bright red...your eyes are wide...still a little pink from being upset before..." Rosa shook her head. "And you're not even one tenth the beauty your mother is..." Rosa turned her back on her reflection and looked up at the ceiling. "How did I think that Cecil would like a girl like me? I've never had a boyfriend before...I...." Rosa clapped her hand over her mouth and blinked. Did she want Cecil to like her? Of course she did...Because she liked him too...
"Rosa?" Someone asked from outside the door. Rosa jumped and opened the door, only to see Cecil himself.
"Are you done?" Cecil asked. "We're gonna go."
"Yes!" Rosa replied. Cecil held up her bow and quiver of arrows, which she took, and slung on her back. Kain was waiting not too far away, a long spear in his hand. And Cecil had his sword as well....
The three quietly slipped out of Baron Castle through a back entrance that Cecil and Kain knew about, and as soon as they had left the city limits, Cecil and Kain emerged into conversation.
"That was too easy!" Kain smiled.
"Well, I'm surprised that the back entrance wasn't being guarded." Cecil replied thoughtfully. "How odd of King Baron to let down on castle security like that, especially since we have the airships now."
"Eh, what he does is his concern, right?" Kain asked, and looked to Rosa. Rosa blinked and shrugged. She didn't quite know what to think about anything reguarding Baron.
"So, after this summer, you two are going to military school?" Rosa asked, changing the subject.
"Yep." Cecil replied. "Then, before we know it, we'll really be apart of Baron's army!"
"Why do you two want to fight so badly?" Rosa asked worriedly. "I don't understand..."
"I want to be a Dragoon like my father." Kain explained. "When he was my age, he was already training hard because he chose this path, just like his father did. It's sort of a family ritual, I suppose."
"Why isn't your father here to help you...?" Rosa asked.
"He died...in battle a long time ago...When I was three." Kain replied, a touch of sadness in his voice. "I never quite knew him but...King Baron said he did. That's why he adopted me after my dad had died. As soon as I was old enough to understand about my father's life and death as a Dragoon, I knew that I wanted to follow the same path. I would have it no other way."
"What of your mother though?" Rosa pressed on.
"She died giving birth to me." Kain said. "So I didn't know her either. King Baron said she was a lovely woman though."
"I'm sorry..." Rosa said. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable asking all that."
"Nah..." Kain shook his head. "Not many people really care enough to ask, you know? So thanks."
"Oh...well you're welcome." Rosa said, blushing slightly. "But what about you Cecil? Is it because you don't want to be without your friend?"
"No." Cecil said cooly. "It's not really like that at all."
"..." Rosa shook her head and looked back out towards the direction they were traveling. However, Cecil did not stop speaking as she thought he would have.
"I was adopted by the king when I was two, around the same time Kain was." Cecil said. "I never knew my mom and dad though. I can't remember them at all. And it seems like no one else knew who they were either, which just makes things for me more difficult. Anyway, as I grew up, I was exposed to the life of a soldier more than anything else. It inspired me greatly...and the soldiers didn't seem to have such complicated lives. When Baron asked me to attempt to master the Dark Sword because of my abilities that had developed from training, I couldn't say no. After all, I owed him for my life and did want to gain more respect for my name. Maybe...if someone out there who knew my parents heard of me, Cecil, the Dark Knight of Baron, they would come to me and tell me about them. I would do anything to know something..." Cecil looked up at the sky and took in a deep breath from saying so much so fast.
".....Oh Cecil..." Rosa sighed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "So that's why you both want to fight. It makes sense now." But really, to her, some of it still didn't. It was almost like their lives were being driven by those of the past, long forgotten. And that was where she couldn't see the sense of it all. New generations born unto the planet only to be cursed with carrying out the same tasks of those who had died before them carrying those tasks out as well...
"Well why wouldn't it make sense anyway?" Cecil demanded, and Rosa widened her eyes at his sudden tone change, most definately not wanting to explain her reasoning to him. Her hesitation to truly express herself was a result of her mother's coaching of lady-like etiquette all her life, and it was something she had not managed to get over yet, especially now, as it was not any normal person she was talking to--It was Cecil, whose name held more significance to Rosa at that moment then she cared to admit or was able to explain.
"I don't know." Rosa said finally, feeling very uncomfortable. "I suppose I would have to be in your shoes to fully comprehend it, that's all." Cecil gave her a look made from pure sarcasm and let out a bitter laugh.
"Yeah, and you would enjoy that."
Rosa took in a sharp breath and cursed herself for her attempt at holding any conversation with him. He may of been sweet back when he offered to take care of her for the day, but it was like he was back to his normal self again, with the changing of day to night. If it wasn't for her fear of being hunted down and eaten by some fiendish beast, Rosa would have made her trek home alone at that very moment.
However, the mood seemed to lift considerably when the group made it to the small woods south of Baron. Loud callings of the flying beast called the Eagle (not the same type of Eagle most are familiar with, mind you) were echoing against the night sky from their nests high in the trees. Sting Rats scampered from sight into the brush, and Rosa knew from her studying of local monsters from White Magic Class that they were regrouping so that they could hide from their enemies and make a sneak attack. This made Rosa very nervous indeed.
"Check that out!" Kain exclaimed and pointed as a small tribe of wicked little creatures called Imps scampered about, jumping down from trees and popping out from dark hiding places. They were all either weilding small knives or searching the ground for sticks, making nasty little hissing noises and squeaky war calls. They were determined to block the group from proceeding any further in the forest, for some reason or another.
"They're going to attack!" Cecil said, and unsheathed his sword. It was a beautifully dark blade that shimmered in the little moonlight they had- The blade was small and the color of a very dark gray, but looked as sleek and deadly as any other weapon Rosa had ever laid eyes on.
"The Dark Sword..." She murmured to herself, almost entranced by it. Her father too, had once held a blade like that. However, she was interrupted by the sound of Kain making a flying leap in the air with his spear in hand, and crashing down upon an Imp, devastating it before it could even raise it's knife. With a little thump, it hit the ground and a few moments later, disappeared in a flash of purple light.
"Ta-da!" Kain grinned as he leaped back to Rosa's side and winked. "I've been practicing, you know."
"I can tell!" Rosa exclaimed. "I don't know anyone who can jump like that!"
"Um, excuse me, but I'm not dispatching this entire group myself." Cecil said lamely as he drove his sword through the stomach of another Imp and kicked the stunned fiend away, his foot forcing it back so that the blade withdrew itself from the body.
"Wonder what they're hiding?" Kain asked excitedly as he swung his spear and took down a third Imp, as if it were nothing.
"Something good, I bet!" Cecil grinned. "Come on Rosa, this is what we came here for!" Rosa gulped and raised her bow and arrow, preparing to aim.
"...Alrighty!" Rosa called, and released her arrow, letting it sail through the air straight into the heart of an Imp in the back of the tribe. It let out an ear-piercing screech and fell to the forest floor, defeated instantly. Rosa grinned and jumped in the air. "The first thing I have managed to hit all week!" Cecil looked back at her admiringly, making her turn red, not that you could tell in the darkness.
"I'm impressed..." He trailed off, and suddenly ducked as Kain leaped over him, driving his spear into an Imp sneaking up on Cecil.
"Booya!" Kain shouted, making Rosa giggle at his sillyness. Even Cecil was laughing and patting Kain on the back as a way of saying thanks for 'saving' him. With all three commrades working together, the tribe of Imps was decimated in under 2 minutes, and their path was cleared. Cecil and Kain rushed ahead, with Rosa right on their heals. Now in the spirit of things, Rosa didn't even flinch when she saw a Sting Rat come flying at her from it's hiding place in a tall bush. Her reflexes as quick as lightening, she pulled out another arrow from the quiver on her back and took aim, releasing her deadly shot right between the eyes of the monster. It cried out and fell to the ground from mid-air, fading into nothingness a moment later.
I feel...powerful... Rosa thought, feeling proud of her abilities for the first time. She also couldn't help but get excited over how impressed Kain and Cecil were. Rosa decided that her choice to join Cecil and Kain in their practice hunting had not been such a poor idea after all!
After a few more short battles with Imps, who were seemingly running around everywhere, Cecil, Kain, and Rosa reached a small clearing within the forest where the moonlight was particullarly strong, and illuminated everything within their sight. There, lying on the ground, half-buried in grass and dirt, was a glittering something. Cecil kneeled down and picked it up, and let it dangle from his hands.
"What's that?" Kain asked, but Rosa knew.
"It's a crystal tiara." Rosa said, and took it from Cecil for a moment to examen it. It was a very beautiful tiara, the kind that rested around your forehead. It was made out of shining crystal that sparkled in the moonlight, and the clasp that was to be hidden under the wearer's hair was even finely crafted with silver that looked a little dull, but could be polished up in no time. It looked as if it were crafted exclusively for one person in the world by a very talented jeweler, but somehow, it had ended up here, a bit dirty and wet. Rosa handed it back to Cecil, who pocketed it.
"This will sell really well back in Baron!" Cecil smiled, and Kain nodded approvingly.
"But I wonder how it got in the woods?" Rosa questioned. "I mean, I think that the type of person who would wear something as expensive as that would not be walking about in the woods."
"Yeah, and they don't even make this kind of stuff in Baron." Kain added. "It sort of looks like a Toroian design."
"Makes it all the more valuable." Cecil said, and stood up, brushing off his knees. "I wasn't expecting to get good hunting practice and treasure! You think we should go home now?"
"I am a bit sleepy." Rosa said, and yawned right then as if to add more effect to her words.
"Are you gonna go home or stay at the palace?" Cecil asked, and Rosa thought about it for the moment.
"I had best go home." Rosa finally replied. "I imagine my mother is worried sick."
"Alright, lets head back then." Kain said. The group was just about to turn around and walk back on the path they took to the wood's clearing when a wicked screech ripped through the entire forest, making Rosa cry out and cover her ears.
"What the hell?!" Kain cried, and looked about, trying to figure out what had made the noise.
"Everyone, get down!" Cecil shouted, and before Rosa knew what was happening, he had pulled her down with him to the cold ground, keeping his arm around her so that she couldn't get up. Rosa felt a shiver run through her spine as a chilling wind suddenly blew over their backsides along with another loud screech. As soon as Cecil let up on her, Rosa sat up and looked towards the sky, where she saw the most horrible thing she could imagine hovering right above them- A pale green winged monster with boney, small, gray wings and a pair of long, skinny arms that each contained three massive claws at each end. However, the most frightening thing, no doubt, was the creature's face, which contained a big mouth full of grinning yellow teeth and one giant, watery eyeball that took up the whole top half of it's head, peering down at them.
"Ahhhhh!" Kain cried, and nearly fell back down to the ground again after he had just stood up and recovered from throwing himself down from before.
"It's a Float Eye!" Cecil said, and cringed as the Float Eye opened it's mouth and screamed loudly, making any of the Eagle monsters that were in the trees flutter off to a safer and quieter place.
"What is a Float Eye doing here?" Rosa moaned. "Don't they live in the Northern Region???"
"I bet we just stole it's treasure that it bummed off one of it's victims up north!" Kain cried, and held up his spear. "We won't be able to run from it! If it is in a chase, it will use sound waves to paralyze the prey, and then we'll all be in trouble!"
"So let us fight!" Cecil exclaimed, and once again, withdrew the Dark Sword. As he poised himself into an attack position, Kain wasted no time and took a flying leap towards the creature, spear pointed and ready.
"Kain, watch out!" Rosa cried, but it was too late. Kain did not notice that the monster had been eyeing Kain in particular, and it suddenly let out a screech attack that was so powerful, the soundwaves could actually be seen rippling through the air as they struck Kain. Kain cried out in pain and flew backwards until he smashed into a tree and slowly sunk to the ground, unconscious.
"Kain!!!" Rosa cried, and ran to his side, gently taking him into her arms. "Oh God, oh God, what do I do!?"
"Hurry up and use the spell of Life!" Cecil shouted to her. "It should wake him up!"
"Life?!" Rosa cried, and felt tears come to her eyes. "I--I don't know that spell!!!"
"WHAT?!" Cecil's voice got high mid-what as the Float Eye swooped down to attack, but missed as Cecil jumped out of the way. "What kind of White Wizard are you?!" Rosa bit her lower lip and tried to keep herself from heaving any sobs. The tenseness of the situation, Kain's critical need of healing, and Cecil's anger had formed into a bitter club that seemed to crush whatever majestic spirit she might of had left that was keeping her from bursting into tears like she really wanted. However, she knew that she could never forgive herself if she just sat there and cried while Cecil finished off the monster by himself.
"Hold on Kain!" Rosa whispered, and slowly got to her feet, her knees feeling weak and wobbly like those of a newborn colt. Cecil staggered back from the Float Eye, which was relentlessly throwing itself at him, and nearly tripped and fell backwards. At the last minute, Rosa managed to dash to his side and catch him before he hit the ground.
"Are you ok?" Rosa asked worriedly. "Go hide! I'll strike it down!"
"No way!" Cecil protested. It was then that Rosa noticed he had a long cut going down the side of his face, dripping with crimson blood. "You'll never be able to aim quick enough!"
"You're hurt though..." Rosa shook her head and proceeded to drag Cecil away to safetly by Kain. However, he stopped her by reaching out to grab her arm, squeazing tightly. Rosa let out a scream and let go, and Cecil scrambled back to his feet, holding his blade out in front of him, one finger poised right at the tip of the blade, and his other hand holding the hilt.
"Rosa, cast Cure after I attack!" Cecil directed. "I'm going to release a Dark attack that drains my power so that I can strike the Float Eye critically!"
"Wait, Cecil, STOP!" Rosa cried, remembering she couldn't cast Cure either. But it was too late. Cecil closed his eyes and muttered a few uncomprehendable words under his breath. The blade of his sword began to emit a dark blue color, and Cecil's body soon follwed suit. The energy began to run down from his arms, legs, and head into the blade. A moment later, the energy began to crackle with charged energy, almost as if it were dark electricity, and flew from the blade in multiple short waves, striking at the Float Eye all at once. The monster let out a pained cry and fell to the ground, bouncing up a bit after it struck. Cecil moaned and collapsed to his knees, his hand grasping at his chest over his heart.
"Hurry...!" He cried hoarsely. But before Rosa could even explain that she didn't know how to cure Cecil, the Float Eye growled and slowly began to hover back off the ground. Cecil's attack had only stunned it! It opened it's mouth, prepared to use a soundwave attack that would surely finish Cecil off in his weakened state.
"Nooooo!" Rosa cried. Deciding that she indeed did not have enough time to load her bow and aim it, she instead ran towards the Float Eye and took a mightly leap, easily landing on it since it was not too high off the ground. Cecil gasped as Rosa beat at the Float Eye's left wing with her fist, hoping to cause it to break. Her intentions came through, and the tender wing snapped under her fist's brutal beating upon it. She could feel the Float Eye's teeth grazing at her leg, but she had no time to worry about that. It fell to the ground again with another thump, whimpering in pain over it's shattered wing. Rosa remained on top of the Float Eye and quickly reached back to her quiver, grabbing an arrow. She raised it high into the air, ready to plunge it down into the massive eye of the Float Eye when it suddenly got it's wits back and clasped it's jaws right over her right leg. Rosa screamed in agonizing pain as the jaws of the monster released her leg and chomped down again,
creating a whole new set of teeth holes and a whole new wave of pain. Rosa could feel the wetness of the blood drip all down her leg and into the boot on her right foot. A wave of weakness and sickness came over her as she struggled to keep her vision straight and her head up. All of a sudden, she wanted to close her eyes and sleep so very badly...
"ROSA!" Cecil screamed, and struggled to crawl towards her and the Float Eye. Rosa's slowly closing eyes shot open again when she heard Cecil call her name. She suddenly remembered where she was and what she needed to do. Weakly raising her arrow again, she let out a small cry of disgust and plunged it into the squirming Float Eye's eye. The Float Eye howled in pain and with it's last ounce of strength, threw Rosa off of it before dissolving into nothingness. Rosa screamed and hit the ground face first into a patch of cool grass. However, she could now feel warm blood dripping down from her head and onto her cheek. It was almost...soothing. Focusing on it made Rosa forget all about the throbbing pains in her leg. She smiled softly to herself, thinking only of how she had saved Cecil and Kain as she closed her eyes and let the warm darkness wrap itself around her broken body.
