~~~===~~~
Chapter Ten: Rushing towards Oblivion
~~~===~~~
"Fire," Rubicant said quietly, igniting a pile of firewood that Callista had just brought in. The three of us were between Mysidia and Mount Ordeals, our first night on the road. Rydia had returned to Baron just as I got back from Mist, Bahamut's power to travel vast distances carrying her across the world in a matter of minutes. She had brought news of Dragonheart's defeat at Eblan, and a request for Cid and his engineers to help rebuild the castle again. Cid left after a token complaint about Edge not being able to take care of anything on his own, but everybody knew he was as glad as the rest of us that Dragonheart had been beaten back. After they'd left again, I had asked Porom if she'd mind sharing a trip on the Serpent Road. After all - the more that thing was used in a day, the hungrier for life it seemed to get. Keeping it to one trip every few days was the safest way to use it, and I couldn't wait before heading back.
That was when I'd picked up my two traveling companions. Rubicant insisted on coming with me - something about having business of his own in the area. And Callista refused to leave Rubicant without at least two people around him at all times. Whatever the 'bad blood' was between them, it must have been very bad. I could understand Edge feeling that way - he still blamed Rubicant for his parent's deaths - but what did Callista have against him? Unfortunately, the only way besides asking her seemed to be looking through that book she was constantly writing in. And I wasn't ready to do either of those yet.
So here I was, traveling to Mount Ordeals for the second time in my life, this time honestly seeking some sort of revelation. And I was traveling with two friends who seemed to hate each other passionately. Maybe the gods were punishing me for my past transgressions. At least, if they were, they seemed to think I should be able to eat well while I suffered. With that thought, I finished cleaning one of the fish I'd caught earlier, and set it aside to cook for dinner later on..
***
"So, Kain, I've heard you're a hero of the Crystal War," Callista said, trying to make some conversation while we ate. I chuckled at that, for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was that I'd just remembered that I actually hadn't discussed that with her ever before, not in any detail.
"Hero might not be the best term for it," I said. "I did a lot of things that I shouldn't have, and just happened to be on the right side when everything was over."
"That's how most heroes get that way," she countered. "I'll admit that I can't count the number of heroes who never failed in some way, but that's only because there aren't any to count."
"Yes," I replied with a sigh, "but how many heroes fought on the wrong side for most of the war?" She shrugged.
"Right and wrong are determined by the survivors. The Rune Knights would be remembered as villains if the alliance between the Dark Knights and Paladins hadn't gone sour, or if the Dragon Knights had been destroyed as well. All sides had their flaws, and their virtues."
"You speak as if you remember that time," I said with a chuckle.
"You don't," she asked, looking at me curiously. Suddenly, her eyes flashed in fear, despite her quick laughter. "I'm just joking," she said. "I must have read about it somewhere." I shrugged and finished my fish, using a piece of hardtack to wipe up the last of the juice from the small metal pan I was eating from. I remembered a time when I'd had to use pieces of my armor for cooking - back during King Odin's reign, during my survival training. Fortunately I didn't have to do that any more - dragon scale armor, while harder to damage than the armor I'd worn back then, wasn't suited for use as anything but armor.
"So just what did you do during the war," she asked again.
"I'd rather not talk about it," I said, swallowing a lump in my throat as I looked at Rubicant and
remembered the time at Zot again.
"Kain, we've all done things we're not proud of," he said, somehow knowing what I was thinking. "You're not the only one who has to deal with memories you'd rather not have." Callista scowled at him, though I couldn't tell why. Probably something to do with their problems.
"So why don't we share stories, good or bad," she said, smiling again as she looked at me. "After all, can't be any worse than suffering in silence, can it? I'll go first, if you'd like." I couldn't take it any more. If she wouldn't take a hint, then I'd just have to go somewhere else.
"I have to go wash my things," I said quickly, standing and starting towards the shore, hoping she wouldn't follow me.
Damn, this was going to be a long trip.
~~~===~~~
"Wonder what his problem is," Callista said, frowning.
"His 'problem' is that you don't have the sense to shut up when somebody doesn't want to talk about something," I growled. If I'd still had my powers, I'd have been smoldering where I was sitting. As it was, I could only glare at her.
"It's not like he really did anything wrong. If he had, I'm sure somebody would have dealt with him by now," she said, leaning back against a tree.
"For once, I agree with you - he didn't do anything wrong of his own accord. Unfortunately, he's convinced that the only way he could have been controlled was by having a part of him that wanted to do those things. And even if he was willing to accept the truth, there's a big difference between knowing you didn't really do anything wrong, and not feeling guilty for the people harmed by your mistakes."
"He should count his blessings. There's something to be said for being able to remember where you've gone wrong."
"So you have learned something over the millennia."
"Yeah," she said, scowling at me again. "I've learned that I never should have let you into my head."
"Remember this, Lady Fairwind. You didn't just let me, you asked me to. And I warned you of the possible consequences. My conscience is clear of your 'affliction.' You brought it upon yourself."
"Do you know what I've gone through, Rubicant? Do you know what's happened to me because of your 'help?' Maybe if you did, you'd at least take mercy on me and end it."
"You know the rules. You can't die while my soul exists on the same world as yours. I warned you about that, too. But if you're so eager to die, then why don't you just kill me here?" I sat and watched her reaction, honestly surprised that she didn't take me up on the offer. "So be it. You'll just have to wait until something else kills me. Look on the bright side, though. Until my status as a Fiend is restored, it's much easier to kill me than it used to be." She was quiet for a moment, trying to come up with some sort of retort. But she really didn't have anything, I knew that much. How do you find a scapegoat when the person you were planning on using just offered you everything you've wanted?
"Anyone with a shred of decency," she hissed at me, "would at least feel some regret for what you did to me. For the families I can't remember, for the children I may have abandoned without knowing it, for the friends who couldn't understand it when I didn't know who they were. You think you're not a Fiend anymore? You haven't changed a bit, Rubicant - there's a hell of a lot that a real human would feel sorry for. At least a human who had a conscience." With that, she crossed her arms and looked away from me. I just chuckled, hiding the deep wound her words had just re-opened.
"So, this is what you've been reduced to? Where's your razor-wit now, Lady Fairwind?" I stood, and picked up our dishes.
"Where do you think you're going," she asked as I picked up her pan.
"I'm going to go wash these, and see if I can find Kain. He might be able to deal with any of the
creatures of these woods easily enough, but I'd rather he didn't get lost off by himself."
"Don't be gone too long," she warned me.
"I'm touched - I didn't think you cared," I said, a sarcastic tone to my voice.
"I don't," she deadpanned. "I just don't trust you to be out there on your own for too long." Sighing, I walked off into the forest, hoping that Kain hadn't gone too far away from the camp.
~~~===~~~
I was just finishing washing my pan when Rubicant walked up to me quietly.
"I'm sorry for Callista's lack of.social graces, I suppose would be the term."
"Not your fault, Rubicant. She doesn't know what it's like to have something you want to forget that desperately."
"In a way, it is my fault. It's a long story, but it's connected to our.problems."
"What happened between the two of you," I asked as he started washing his dishes.
"She asked me to do something for her, I refused because of the risks involved. She told me she didn't care about risks and made me do it anyways. She blames me for the consequences, says I should have held out longer before 'helping' her." I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"Great. So she thinks you're in the wrong for doing what she wanted, and you think she's in the wrong for wanting it?"
"Hardly. Just for making me do it to her - I understand her motivation perfectly. She doesn't
remember it any more, but she was in quite a bit of pain at the time. Willing to do anything to end that pain - and so she threatened to end it if I didn't. What I did was, arguably, far more merciful than letting her take matters into her own hand. I'd rather not discuss the exact details, though. She made me promise not to, unless she allowed it."
"Just what were you two, when all this happened? It sounds like you were fairly close."
"Comrades in arms, of a sort. She was, and still is, a fine warrior. Remember that, Kain - those two blades are capable of wreaking havoc, in her hands."
"I'll keep it in mind. Though I doubt they'll ever be used against us, she seems to be incredibly loyal to people she considers friends. She was willing to risk taking Rydia on single-handedly to keep me from being captured."
"Only to a point, Kain," Rubicant said quietly. "Anybody can be turned against friends, with the right persuasion." I winced mentally, remembering the look on Cecil's face as I nearly killed him at Fabul, and later when I stole the Dark Crystal from him at the entrance to the Sealed Cave. "Hell," Rubicant continued, "I've turned against family for what they've done."
"Do you regret doing that? Turning on them?"
"Not for a moment. Scarmiglione tried to stab me in the back a few days ago, and he was the only one who ever had anything but my hatred. He was a twisted bastard, but at least he never tried to control me like the others did. Caignazzo used to take perverse delight in terrifying me, considered it excellent practice for when he ruled a kingdom of his own. And Valvalis." I saw his shudder as he remembered what she had done to him - and I knew why. After all, she'd done most of the same things to me. I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Valvalis drove you away. That's when you learned to be a Rune Knight, wasn't it? I've recognized your training since the War ended." Rubicant nodded, and swallowed a lump in his throat.
"Don't know why they took me in, really, but they saved my life when they did. The training they gave me was enough to make me more powerful than the others. Gave me the strength to fight off Valvalis and boil Caignazzo into nothingness, if I wanted."
"That means they saved my life too," I said quietly. "You know that Valvalis would have killed me if it weren't for you. She was rather pissed off about what happened at Zot, so when Golbez turned me over to her 'tender mercies' at the Giant of Babil, she was rougher than usual. Said that if it weren't for you, she'd have thrown me into the reactor core." Rubicant scowled.
"Just remember, Kain, you did manage to beat her at Zot. She was angry because you were strong enough to best her, even if you did need help to do it. If you had to fight her now, you could beat her again."
"Valvalis isn't what bothers me about Zot, Rubicant. I deserved what she did to me, though I wish she'd just finished the job and killed me rather than dragging it out."
"Nobody deserves that, Kain," he said firmly. I shrugged.
"Doesn't matter now. The scars are gone and the memories are all that are left. And the ones
involving her aren't the worst ones. The worst ones involve Scarmiglione." Rubicant nodded knowingly. I wondered just how much he knew about what had happened - just how much he had seen himself. It couldn't be too much - he was able to deal with what happened to Rosa much more easily than with what happened to me. And she'd been a prisoner - his honor would normally have demanded that she not be harmed. Strange, how he didn't seem to care about what had happened to her, but he was willing to kill over what had happened to me - a traitor and spy. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he'd dealt with Valvalis himself.
"Well," I said when he was finished with his dishes, "we should get some sleep. We've got a long day's climb ahead of us tomorrow."
"That we do," Rubicant replied with a nod. "That we do.."
~~~===~~~
Valvalis ended her spell, relishing the scream as the battered frog-man plummeted to the ground. It had been too long since she had been allowed to pillage without direction or cause - too long since she had wreaked havoc for its own sake. Now, with her new powers, and Dragonheart's loss of control, she was free to enjoy herself. Unfortunately for Mythril Town, it was the first town she had come across that she knew would be mostly defenseless.
"Who else wishes to face me," she shouted, laughing maniacally as the citizens cowered in fear. Pig-men, frog-men, tiny-men, humans, dwarves - all were the same to the Fiend of Wind. All were toys for her to play with, discard, or break as she saw fit. A few had tried to fight her, felt it was worth the risk of their own lives to try and save the lives of their families. Indeed, most had escaped the Fiend's wrath, fleeing into the forests where it would take her much longer to find them. But she would have the time to do so - assuming she didn't just level the forest and destroy them with it.
But, for now, she was going to enjoy herself. She turned her gaze to the armory of the city, where Cecil and his allies had purchased the armor that had preserved their pathetic lives during their first encounter. Perfect. With a flick of her wrist, Valvalis sent a howling blast of wind crashing into the building, tearing it to splinters and sending hundreds of mythril blades, plates, gauntlets, and helms flying through the air. On a whim, she flew into the maelstrom of armaments, selecting a number of the most attractive pieces before they were turned into scrap metal, and changing in mid-air. Then, gleaming metal now adorning her figure, she returned to the business of leveling the tiny village..
All the while, from the forests, those who had fled watched in horror as family and friends were torn apart by the monster. A piglet cried, only to be hushed quickly by its mother. She tried to turn away, hoping to find some place to run to that was safer than this. But she was transfixed by the magnificent apocalypse that Valvalis had brought upon them.
"The world is ending," she thought, clutching her child to her chest. "The world is ending, and we are to be witnesses to it. What use is there in running?" Any further thoughts were ended as a stray plank flew from the unnatural tornado, impaling her against a tree. Her child struck the ground, miraculously spared by a last-second twist that took it from the plank's path. One of the frog-men picked it up, and started to run. Maybe there was no way to escape forever - but at least death could be postponed. Carefully putting the piglet into the last boat that was left, he started to row for Mysidia. There were a handful of other boats, only trade vessels really, bound for the same place. Each captain was thinking the same thing:
"Maybe there, where the mages are strong and the heroes of Baron can be reached in an instant - maybe there we can find some savior.."
~~~===~~~
"We have arrived at Torrenz, Sire," Scarmiglione said, bowing to Dragonheart as he walked into the antechamber. "Are you sure that you wish to delay before speaking with the Lord and Lady?" Dragonheart stood and stretched his stiff body - dimension shifting always left him tired and worn out, but it was the only way to get between the various realms of his masters.
"Are you questioning my orders?"
"Merely ensuring that I understood them properly," Scarmiglione replied smoothly as the dark knight walked towards him.
"Then you did. Whenever I spend a significant period of time away from my protectorate, rebels attempt to throw off the reigns of the Lord and Lady. If I go to Them without first taking steps to stamp out any rebellions, it reflects poorly on my devotion to my duties." The Fiend of Earth nodded, and decided that this was a good time to ask his real question.
"With your permission, Lord Dragonheart, I wish to accompany you to your protectorate, perhaps even into the presence of the Lord and Lady?"
"Why," the dark knight asked suspiciously.
"Surely it would help you to destroy and demoralize these rebels if they saw that your servants were so powerful, and realized that you must be more powerful still. As for why I wish to meet the Lord and Lady - They are like gods of darkness, truly the Masters of all that I have worshipped for millennia. To meet them would be quite an honor."
"You're right, it would be. One that I'm not sure you have earned. However, if you are of use to me in dealing with any rebels below, then I will think about it."
"Thank you, Master," Scarmiglione said as Dragonheart walked out of the room and towards the teleportation chamber. The Fiend of Earth smiled evilly as he turned and followed. Things were going exactly according to his plan.
And to think Caignazzo had said it wouldn't work..
~~~===~~~
Valvalis sighed contentedly as she lounged among the shattered remains of Mythril Isle. The only things left were the mountains that resisted even her heightened powers - hundreds of trees had been uprooted and cast into the ocean, Mythril Town was a fond memory, and even the mine on the nearby island had been collapsed, all by the Fiend of Wind's new might. And it seemed like the more she did, the more powerful she became.
Now, what city was next? A moment's thought brought Mysidia to mind - the home of enough strong mages to actually make it a challenge. The thought of actually having a real battle sent a tingle of excitement down Valvalis' spine, and she rose high into the air, starting off towards Mysidia.
"But what about Rubicant," she wondered. "I sensed him briefly - I wonder where he's gone too. Perhaps he's there." Suddenly, her mind was filled with images of the weeks she had spent tormenting Kain, and the years that Rubicant had been her slave. She knew what that meant - both of them were near. But what would they be doing this far from Baron?
Of course - Rubicant would have had Kain go to Mount Ordeals in a sorry attempt to relieve the poor dragoon's guilt. The fools - they were too damn predictable. Well, they'd just have to be taught a lesson, wouldn't they? Besides - what better challenge than her two favorite playthings?
With that thought, Valvalis changed her course, making her way towards Mount Ordeals. Perhaps a little derivative of Scarmiglione's approach, but she had the power to make it work.
This was shaping up to be a fine day indeed..
~~~===~~~
End of Legacy of Kain Chapter 10: Rushing towards Oblivion
~~~===~~~
Chapter Ten: Rushing towards Oblivion
~~~===~~~
"Fire," Rubicant said quietly, igniting a pile of firewood that Callista had just brought in. The three of us were between Mysidia and Mount Ordeals, our first night on the road. Rydia had returned to Baron just as I got back from Mist, Bahamut's power to travel vast distances carrying her across the world in a matter of minutes. She had brought news of Dragonheart's defeat at Eblan, and a request for Cid and his engineers to help rebuild the castle again. Cid left after a token complaint about Edge not being able to take care of anything on his own, but everybody knew he was as glad as the rest of us that Dragonheart had been beaten back. After they'd left again, I had asked Porom if she'd mind sharing a trip on the Serpent Road. After all - the more that thing was used in a day, the hungrier for life it seemed to get. Keeping it to one trip every few days was the safest way to use it, and I couldn't wait before heading back.
That was when I'd picked up my two traveling companions. Rubicant insisted on coming with me - something about having business of his own in the area. And Callista refused to leave Rubicant without at least two people around him at all times. Whatever the 'bad blood' was between them, it must have been very bad. I could understand Edge feeling that way - he still blamed Rubicant for his parent's deaths - but what did Callista have against him? Unfortunately, the only way besides asking her seemed to be looking through that book she was constantly writing in. And I wasn't ready to do either of those yet.
So here I was, traveling to Mount Ordeals for the second time in my life, this time honestly seeking some sort of revelation. And I was traveling with two friends who seemed to hate each other passionately. Maybe the gods were punishing me for my past transgressions. At least, if they were, they seemed to think I should be able to eat well while I suffered. With that thought, I finished cleaning one of the fish I'd caught earlier, and set it aside to cook for dinner later on..
***
"So, Kain, I've heard you're a hero of the Crystal War," Callista said, trying to make some conversation while we ate. I chuckled at that, for a number of reasons. Not the least of which was that I'd just remembered that I actually hadn't discussed that with her ever before, not in any detail.
"Hero might not be the best term for it," I said. "I did a lot of things that I shouldn't have, and just happened to be on the right side when everything was over."
"That's how most heroes get that way," she countered. "I'll admit that I can't count the number of heroes who never failed in some way, but that's only because there aren't any to count."
"Yes," I replied with a sigh, "but how many heroes fought on the wrong side for most of the war?" She shrugged.
"Right and wrong are determined by the survivors. The Rune Knights would be remembered as villains if the alliance between the Dark Knights and Paladins hadn't gone sour, or if the Dragon Knights had been destroyed as well. All sides had their flaws, and their virtues."
"You speak as if you remember that time," I said with a chuckle.
"You don't," she asked, looking at me curiously. Suddenly, her eyes flashed in fear, despite her quick laughter. "I'm just joking," she said. "I must have read about it somewhere." I shrugged and finished my fish, using a piece of hardtack to wipe up the last of the juice from the small metal pan I was eating from. I remembered a time when I'd had to use pieces of my armor for cooking - back during King Odin's reign, during my survival training. Fortunately I didn't have to do that any more - dragon scale armor, while harder to damage than the armor I'd worn back then, wasn't suited for use as anything but armor.
"So just what did you do during the war," she asked again.
"I'd rather not talk about it," I said, swallowing a lump in my throat as I looked at Rubicant and
remembered the time at Zot again.
"Kain, we've all done things we're not proud of," he said, somehow knowing what I was thinking. "You're not the only one who has to deal with memories you'd rather not have." Callista scowled at him, though I couldn't tell why. Probably something to do with their problems.
"So why don't we share stories, good or bad," she said, smiling again as she looked at me. "After all, can't be any worse than suffering in silence, can it? I'll go first, if you'd like." I couldn't take it any more. If she wouldn't take a hint, then I'd just have to go somewhere else.
"I have to go wash my things," I said quickly, standing and starting towards the shore, hoping she wouldn't follow me.
Damn, this was going to be a long trip.
~~~===~~~
"Wonder what his problem is," Callista said, frowning.
"His 'problem' is that you don't have the sense to shut up when somebody doesn't want to talk about something," I growled. If I'd still had my powers, I'd have been smoldering where I was sitting. As it was, I could only glare at her.
"It's not like he really did anything wrong. If he had, I'm sure somebody would have dealt with him by now," she said, leaning back against a tree.
"For once, I agree with you - he didn't do anything wrong of his own accord. Unfortunately, he's convinced that the only way he could have been controlled was by having a part of him that wanted to do those things. And even if he was willing to accept the truth, there's a big difference between knowing you didn't really do anything wrong, and not feeling guilty for the people harmed by your mistakes."
"He should count his blessings. There's something to be said for being able to remember where you've gone wrong."
"So you have learned something over the millennia."
"Yeah," she said, scowling at me again. "I've learned that I never should have let you into my head."
"Remember this, Lady Fairwind. You didn't just let me, you asked me to. And I warned you of the possible consequences. My conscience is clear of your 'affliction.' You brought it upon yourself."
"Do you know what I've gone through, Rubicant? Do you know what's happened to me because of your 'help?' Maybe if you did, you'd at least take mercy on me and end it."
"You know the rules. You can't die while my soul exists on the same world as yours. I warned you about that, too. But if you're so eager to die, then why don't you just kill me here?" I sat and watched her reaction, honestly surprised that she didn't take me up on the offer. "So be it. You'll just have to wait until something else kills me. Look on the bright side, though. Until my status as a Fiend is restored, it's much easier to kill me than it used to be." She was quiet for a moment, trying to come up with some sort of retort. But she really didn't have anything, I knew that much. How do you find a scapegoat when the person you were planning on using just offered you everything you've wanted?
"Anyone with a shred of decency," she hissed at me, "would at least feel some regret for what you did to me. For the families I can't remember, for the children I may have abandoned without knowing it, for the friends who couldn't understand it when I didn't know who they were. You think you're not a Fiend anymore? You haven't changed a bit, Rubicant - there's a hell of a lot that a real human would feel sorry for. At least a human who had a conscience." With that, she crossed her arms and looked away from me. I just chuckled, hiding the deep wound her words had just re-opened.
"So, this is what you've been reduced to? Where's your razor-wit now, Lady Fairwind?" I stood, and picked up our dishes.
"Where do you think you're going," she asked as I picked up her pan.
"I'm going to go wash these, and see if I can find Kain. He might be able to deal with any of the
creatures of these woods easily enough, but I'd rather he didn't get lost off by himself."
"Don't be gone too long," she warned me.
"I'm touched - I didn't think you cared," I said, a sarcastic tone to my voice.
"I don't," she deadpanned. "I just don't trust you to be out there on your own for too long." Sighing, I walked off into the forest, hoping that Kain hadn't gone too far away from the camp.
~~~===~~~
I was just finishing washing my pan when Rubicant walked up to me quietly.
"I'm sorry for Callista's lack of.social graces, I suppose would be the term."
"Not your fault, Rubicant. She doesn't know what it's like to have something you want to forget that desperately."
"In a way, it is my fault. It's a long story, but it's connected to our.problems."
"What happened between the two of you," I asked as he started washing his dishes.
"She asked me to do something for her, I refused because of the risks involved. She told me she didn't care about risks and made me do it anyways. She blames me for the consequences, says I should have held out longer before 'helping' her." I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"Great. So she thinks you're in the wrong for doing what she wanted, and you think she's in the wrong for wanting it?"
"Hardly. Just for making me do it to her - I understand her motivation perfectly. She doesn't
remember it any more, but she was in quite a bit of pain at the time. Willing to do anything to end that pain - and so she threatened to end it if I didn't. What I did was, arguably, far more merciful than letting her take matters into her own hand. I'd rather not discuss the exact details, though. She made me promise not to, unless she allowed it."
"Just what were you two, when all this happened? It sounds like you were fairly close."
"Comrades in arms, of a sort. She was, and still is, a fine warrior. Remember that, Kain - those two blades are capable of wreaking havoc, in her hands."
"I'll keep it in mind. Though I doubt they'll ever be used against us, she seems to be incredibly loyal to people she considers friends. She was willing to risk taking Rydia on single-handedly to keep me from being captured."
"Only to a point, Kain," Rubicant said quietly. "Anybody can be turned against friends, with the right persuasion." I winced mentally, remembering the look on Cecil's face as I nearly killed him at Fabul, and later when I stole the Dark Crystal from him at the entrance to the Sealed Cave. "Hell," Rubicant continued, "I've turned against family for what they've done."
"Do you regret doing that? Turning on them?"
"Not for a moment. Scarmiglione tried to stab me in the back a few days ago, and he was the only one who ever had anything but my hatred. He was a twisted bastard, but at least he never tried to control me like the others did. Caignazzo used to take perverse delight in terrifying me, considered it excellent practice for when he ruled a kingdom of his own. And Valvalis." I saw his shudder as he remembered what she had done to him - and I knew why. After all, she'd done most of the same things to me. I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Valvalis drove you away. That's when you learned to be a Rune Knight, wasn't it? I've recognized your training since the War ended." Rubicant nodded, and swallowed a lump in his throat.
"Don't know why they took me in, really, but they saved my life when they did. The training they gave me was enough to make me more powerful than the others. Gave me the strength to fight off Valvalis and boil Caignazzo into nothingness, if I wanted."
"That means they saved my life too," I said quietly. "You know that Valvalis would have killed me if it weren't for you. She was rather pissed off about what happened at Zot, so when Golbez turned me over to her 'tender mercies' at the Giant of Babil, she was rougher than usual. Said that if it weren't for you, she'd have thrown me into the reactor core." Rubicant scowled.
"Just remember, Kain, you did manage to beat her at Zot. She was angry because you were strong enough to best her, even if you did need help to do it. If you had to fight her now, you could beat her again."
"Valvalis isn't what bothers me about Zot, Rubicant. I deserved what she did to me, though I wish she'd just finished the job and killed me rather than dragging it out."
"Nobody deserves that, Kain," he said firmly. I shrugged.
"Doesn't matter now. The scars are gone and the memories are all that are left. And the ones
involving her aren't the worst ones. The worst ones involve Scarmiglione." Rubicant nodded knowingly. I wondered just how much he knew about what had happened - just how much he had seen himself. It couldn't be too much - he was able to deal with what happened to Rosa much more easily than with what happened to me. And she'd been a prisoner - his honor would normally have demanded that she not be harmed. Strange, how he didn't seem to care about what had happened to her, but he was willing to kill over what had happened to me - a traitor and spy. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he'd dealt with Valvalis himself.
"Well," I said when he was finished with his dishes, "we should get some sleep. We've got a long day's climb ahead of us tomorrow."
"That we do," Rubicant replied with a nod. "That we do.."
~~~===~~~
Valvalis ended her spell, relishing the scream as the battered frog-man plummeted to the ground. It had been too long since she had been allowed to pillage without direction or cause - too long since she had wreaked havoc for its own sake. Now, with her new powers, and Dragonheart's loss of control, she was free to enjoy herself. Unfortunately for Mythril Town, it was the first town she had come across that she knew would be mostly defenseless.
"Who else wishes to face me," she shouted, laughing maniacally as the citizens cowered in fear. Pig-men, frog-men, tiny-men, humans, dwarves - all were the same to the Fiend of Wind. All were toys for her to play with, discard, or break as she saw fit. A few had tried to fight her, felt it was worth the risk of their own lives to try and save the lives of their families. Indeed, most had escaped the Fiend's wrath, fleeing into the forests where it would take her much longer to find them. But she would have the time to do so - assuming she didn't just level the forest and destroy them with it.
But, for now, she was going to enjoy herself. She turned her gaze to the armory of the city, where Cecil and his allies had purchased the armor that had preserved their pathetic lives during their first encounter. Perfect. With a flick of her wrist, Valvalis sent a howling blast of wind crashing into the building, tearing it to splinters and sending hundreds of mythril blades, plates, gauntlets, and helms flying through the air. On a whim, she flew into the maelstrom of armaments, selecting a number of the most attractive pieces before they were turned into scrap metal, and changing in mid-air. Then, gleaming metal now adorning her figure, she returned to the business of leveling the tiny village..
All the while, from the forests, those who had fled watched in horror as family and friends were torn apart by the monster. A piglet cried, only to be hushed quickly by its mother. She tried to turn away, hoping to find some place to run to that was safer than this. But she was transfixed by the magnificent apocalypse that Valvalis had brought upon them.
"The world is ending," she thought, clutching her child to her chest. "The world is ending, and we are to be witnesses to it. What use is there in running?" Any further thoughts were ended as a stray plank flew from the unnatural tornado, impaling her against a tree. Her child struck the ground, miraculously spared by a last-second twist that took it from the plank's path. One of the frog-men picked it up, and started to run. Maybe there was no way to escape forever - but at least death could be postponed. Carefully putting the piglet into the last boat that was left, he started to row for Mysidia. There were a handful of other boats, only trade vessels really, bound for the same place. Each captain was thinking the same thing:
"Maybe there, where the mages are strong and the heroes of Baron can be reached in an instant - maybe there we can find some savior.."
~~~===~~~
"We have arrived at Torrenz, Sire," Scarmiglione said, bowing to Dragonheart as he walked into the antechamber. "Are you sure that you wish to delay before speaking with the Lord and Lady?" Dragonheart stood and stretched his stiff body - dimension shifting always left him tired and worn out, but it was the only way to get between the various realms of his masters.
"Are you questioning my orders?"
"Merely ensuring that I understood them properly," Scarmiglione replied smoothly as the dark knight walked towards him.
"Then you did. Whenever I spend a significant period of time away from my protectorate, rebels attempt to throw off the reigns of the Lord and Lady. If I go to Them without first taking steps to stamp out any rebellions, it reflects poorly on my devotion to my duties." The Fiend of Earth nodded, and decided that this was a good time to ask his real question.
"With your permission, Lord Dragonheart, I wish to accompany you to your protectorate, perhaps even into the presence of the Lord and Lady?"
"Why," the dark knight asked suspiciously.
"Surely it would help you to destroy and demoralize these rebels if they saw that your servants were so powerful, and realized that you must be more powerful still. As for why I wish to meet the Lord and Lady - They are like gods of darkness, truly the Masters of all that I have worshipped for millennia. To meet them would be quite an honor."
"You're right, it would be. One that I'm not sure you have earned. However, if you are of use to me in dealing with any rebels below, then I will think about it."
"Thank you, Master," Scarmiglione said as Dragonheart walked out of the room and towards the teleportation chamber. The Fiend of Earth smiled evilly as he turned and followed. Things were going exactly according to his plan.
And to think Caignazzo had said it wouldn't work..
~~~===~~~
Valvalis sighed contentedly as she lounged among the shattered remains of Mythril Isle. The only things left were the mountains that resisted even her heightened powers - hundreds of trees had been uprooted and cast into the ocean, Mythril Town was a fond memory, and even the mine on the nearby island had been collapsed, all by the Fiend of Wind's new might. And it seemed like the more she did, the more powerful she became.
Now, what city was next? A moment's thought brought Mysidia to mind - the home of enough strong mages to actually make it a challenge. The thought of actually having a real battle sent a tingle of excitement down Valvalis' spine, and she rose high into the air, starting off towards Mysidia.
"But what about Rubicant," she wondered. "I sensed him briefly - I wonder where he's gone too. Perhaps he's there." Suddenly, her mind was filled with images of the weeks she had spent tormenting Kain, and the years that Rubicant had been her slave. She knew what that meant - both of them were near. But what would they be doing this far from Baron?
Of course - Rubicant would have had Kain go to Mount Ordeals in a sorry attempt to relieve the poor dragoon's guilt. The fools - they were too damn predictable. Well, they'd just have to be taught a lesson, wouldn't they? Besides - what better challenge than her two favorite playthings?
With that thought, Valvalis changed her course, making her way towards Mount Ordeals. Perhaps a little derivative of Scarmiglione's approach, but she had the power to make it work.
This was shaping up to be a fine day indeed..
~~~===~~~
End of Legacy of Kain Chapter 10: Rushing towards Oblivion
~~~===~~~