For a third time, the Light Warriors approached the majestic Coneria Castle. The guards greeted the returning heroes, but Michael quickly asked for an audience with the king. Within minutes, the four again stood before King Daniel and Queen Jane. Michael presented them the key to the Conerian treasury, unopened for four centuries. The king offered them anything they wanted from the treasury and ordered the captain of the guard to lead them there.
Cadoc opened the door. A cloud of dust appeared, then quickly settled, revealing the treasury was actually an armory. Most of the weapons and armor were decorative: glimmering golden swords, plate mail of shining silver, pikes with intricate glass tips, and such like that would be more of a liability than an asset in battle. Resisting the temptation to rob the friendly treasury blind, Michael kept a few silverish weapons and pieces of armor that he recognized as mythril, one of hardest metals in the world.
Aiko looked around the room as well, trying to find magical artifacts he could make use of. In a decaying wooden box, Aiko saw a strange black powder. What was that? Thinking back to the basic alchemy Alister taught him, Aiko recognized it. The name of the substance didn't occur to him, but the black mage knew it was a powerful explosive. Aiko took an empty potion beaker, filled it with powder, and stored the beaker inside his robes.
The noble warriors left the dungeon and headed toward the castle's exit. However, as they left the castle, they ran into two people they never wanted to see again. In the entranceway of the castle stood a man garbed in a feathered red cap and faded maroon cloak. Beside him stood one dressed in a simple leather tunic. Alan the red mage and Jacob the thief of the Sun Warriors were back.
"Well, it looks like the Light Warriors are still around," said the thief as duo was approached by the Light Warriors. "If it's okay with you, I would rather not fight with you," Jacob said as he noticed Michael going for his sword.
Cadoc was suspicious. These people were trying to kill them when they met in ElfLand, but now they decide they want to be friends? Something wasn't right here.
"Where's your leader?" asked Logan. "The summoner?"
The red mage nodded. "Ramesh? He's resting in the inn in town." Alan bowed his head. "You must forgive us for our actions in ElfLand. Our leader Ramesh is..."
"An idiot," finished the thief. "But he is a mighty summoner. We need him."
"You don't seriously think he can save the world?" Michael asked with disbelief.
"We'll leave that to you Light Warriors," Alan answered, looking back at Michael. "We have our own quests. I think it best that we depart as allies."
At that moment, a group of soldiers ran past the six warriors. "What's wrong?" asked Cadoc to one of the hurried soldiers.
The solder, short of breath, gasped out a few words. "Attack... Monsters...Toward Coneria..."
"We have to get to the king's room!" Logan yelled, running after the soldiers. The others Light Warriors, along with Alan and Jacob, followed her. The six rushed through corridors and up stone staircases until they reached the regal chamber.
"What?!" yelled King Daniel. "Light Warriors! Come with me!" The king, with the warriors behind him, hurried up a flight of stairs in the royal chamber to the top of the battlements.
"It's over," said the ruler with despair. He gazed at the huge army advancing against the castle. Ogres and hundreds upon hundreds of imps marched relentlessly toward Coneria. "There's no hope."
"Your Majesty!" implored Cadoc. "You have to stand up against them!"
"Why? The Conerian army barely numbers a hundred. What chance do we stand?"
"What do you have to gain my surrendering?" asked Aiko coldly. "These are monsters. They don't negotiate. They won't accept a surrender or respect a white flag. They kill."
King Daniel raised his head. "It may be hopeless, but we can't give up." He turned to his aide. "Deploy the cavalry and the light infantry to meet the attack. Keep the heavy infantry inside the town as a last line of defense."
"We shall fight as well!" volunteered Michael.
The king turned again to face the warriors. "You will not go onto the battlefield. Coneria needs you six as a last defense."
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Cadoc.
Alan called to the king and his aide as the two made their way to the stairs. "In the inn in town there's a man in green robes named Ramesh. Ask him to help you."
"It's time," Michael uttered as he sheathed his sword. "I will fight beside the soldiers in the city."
"As will I," joined Logan.
"I'll do what I can," Jacob offered.
"We can't leave the castle undefended," pointed out the red mage. "The rest of us should stay in the castle." Cadoc and Aiko agreed to stay with him, and the six parted ways.
From the top of the castle's tower Cadoc, Aiko, and Alan watched as the battle began. Columns of red and gold marched forward against the endless hoards of monsters. The Conerian forces, though they may have been courageous and well-trained, were obviously outnumbered.
Without warning, the earth beneath the enemy army split open. In a matter of seconds, a gigantic rift tore open the ground, and a hundred imps plummeted to their deaths in the magma below.
From the pit rose a hideous creature; half-man, half-beast. The horrible thing had dark red skin the color of blood and fiery red hair. It had the body of man except for the claw-like hands and feet, but a beastly head, more fitting a wolf than anything else, and curved black horns protruding from the top. What was this demon?
"Ifrit," whispered Aiko. "Ramesh has unleashed Ifrit..."
"We must get inside!" yelled Alan. "Ramesh's summons are not to be reckoned with!"
Michael watched from his vantage point atop the city walls as Ifrit began the attack. From the flames below rose a giant sphere of molten rock. Ifrit rose into the sky, taking the burning globe with it. Ifrit summoned flames from all around him, then slammed the molten rock toward the ground. The fireball landed in the middle of the enemy ranks, incinerating many upon impact and sending out flames that scorched many more.
Cadoc, Aiko, and Alan walked through the corridors of the castle. Aiko noticed something strange as they passed through a section lit only by torches. Small wisps of energy began gathering in one place. Within seconds, the mass of energy formed an errie smoke-colored portal in the air. From this portal stepped something strange. It was covered entirely in pale gray robes, not a bit flesh showing. Before the form could react, Aiko hurled a blast of fire its way, reducing it to cinders.
"What's going on?" demanded Cadoc.
Aiko whirled around to see another gray portal appearing. "An invasion," said the mage coldly. "The enemy lured all the guards out of the castle, then sent their mages directly inside..."
"We have to do something!" urged Alan, looking at Aiko.
Aiko tried to think of something, but he couldn't concentrate. Invasion... He shook his head. "Cadoc... go help the royal family. Alan... come with me. We have to kill as many of them as we can." Cadoc saluted him, then ran toward the throne room.
Aiko and Alan charged the nearest gray mage. The figure sent a bolt of lightning at Aiko. He quickly dodged it, and responded by sending a flurry of ice a the enemy. The shards struck the gray-robed wizard, paralyzing it with cold. Alan took his sword and sliced his target longways across the stomach. It slumped over, lifeless.
The two mages fought their way through the second floor of castle, slaying all the pale-robed figures that dared appear. Aiko blocked everything else from his mind, concentrating his entire being into sending streams of fire, ice, or lighting at anything in gray robes. Alan did triple duty, wielding a longsword in his left hand and using his right hand for black and white magic spells.
Trance-like, Aiko sent a gray figure beside him up into flames. The red mage fired a spark of lightning into one figure as he decapitated another. Before the two, the gray wizards fell in masses, but they were vastly outnumbered and began to tire. Finally, the gray troops completely encircled Aiko and Alan. The two put their backs to each other.
"Aiko!" yelled Alan. "We're surrounded! Now what?" Aiko said nothing.
The enemy mages at the front of the horde all released storms of ice at their two targets in the center. Aiko yelled a fire spell and a stream of fire shot from Aiko's hands. The heat neutralized the ice, and the black mage began using his hands to control the blaze. At the black mage's gesture, the jet of flames formed itself into a ring around Logan and Alan. Aiko slammed his hands together, and the flames shot outward, lighting the robes out the enemy around them aflame.
"Finish them off," panted Aiko, his magic too depleted for him to do anything. Aiko looked over his defeated foes as he waited for Alan to destroy. Suddenly, one of the gray wizards stood to their feet. It looked straight at Aiko, and let loose a lightning blot straight at his forehead, and Aiko could remember no more.
Cadoc fought his way through the gray cloaked ones, using his fists to deliver lethal blows before they could target him. He only hoped that the royalty decided to hide in Princess Sara's room, where he was headed. If not, he didn't know if he could fight his way through to wherever they were.
In Princess Sara's room, King Daniel stood firm against the gray wizard in front of him. "I do not care if I die. You are not touching my daughter!" The monarch grabbed a sword off the wall: Coneria's Scepter, the ancient katana of the royal family. King Daniel, relying on what bit of fencing he knew, charged the gray being. Just before the katana sliced the figure in two, a diamond of ice struck King Daniel in two. The king fell backwards, and the katana flew out his hands, landing at the feet of Princess Sara.
Sara, out of anger or desperation, picked the blade up off the ground. Awkwardly holding the katana with both hands, the princess took a battle stance against the enemy wizard. Perhaps it was her fate to die, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight.
At that moment, the door of the room burst open. Standing in the doorway was a man that Sara recognized very well. He had dirty blonde hair and a black belt tied around his robes. One of the Light Warriors had arrived.
"Sara! Now!" yelled the monk.
Seizing the opportunity, Sara attacked her distracted opponent. She swung the sword in a wide arc, managing to slash the wizard only in the legs. As it bent over in pain, Cadoc rushed and delivered a few swift uppercuts. The gray from slumped over lifeless.
"Are you okay?" asked the monk.
"I... I'm fine." Sara managed to say. "Thank you," she said, and placed the royal sword back on the wall.
"I didn't know you could use a sword, Princess."
"I can't," she said. "That was just a lucky swing."
Cadoc pulled a healing potion from inside his robe. "Are you injured?"
"No. But my father..."
Cadoc quickly knelt down and gave the king draught of the clear liquid in the vial. King Daniel shook his head, and Cadoc helped him to this feet.
King Daniel bowed his head. "Thank you. I am yet again in your debt."
Outside, a totally different battle raged. From the city gates, Michael watched the chaos. Even with the aid of the terrible Ifrit under Ramesh's control, the Conerians were at a severe disadvantage. Though they were valiant fighters, the sheer numbers of the imps and ogres assaulting them overwhelmed them. Finally, a wave of imps broke the Conerian lines and charged the Gates of Coneria.
"They're coming!" Michael took his mythril sword and readied himself for battle. With him stood the heavy Conerian guards, armed with axes, as well a thief armed with a dagger and a white mage prepared to heal the wounded.
"Get ready!" The wooden gate of Coneria shook violently, then collapsed inward, allowing a horde of imps to pour into the city. Their high-pitched cries were heard throughout the town as the Conerian defenders rushed to meet them.
Michael led the charge into the fray. He attacked the first imp he came to, slashing it twice in the arms before splitting its head open. Two imps leaped at Michael. The first one was impaled in the chest by Michael's sword, and the other was bludgeoned by a shield of mythril and fell unconscious.
Michael slew imp after imp, but he was simply overran. Twenty imps attacked him at once, their daggers piercing his exposed arms and making him yell out in pain. The thief Jacob came to Michael's defense, stabbing the distracted monsters in the back with blinding speed, while a Conerian with a battle axe cleaved in two an imp going for Michael's neck.
Within a few minutes, the carnage was over. Two hundred imps lay in a pool of blood on the streets as well as ten of Coneria's forty troops. The first wave of attackers was destroyed, but how long could the defenders last against this? Logan murmured healing spells, and a wave of green light fell over the defenders, restoring their strength. The next wave of the light healed them fully, and they prepared for the next assault.
A hundred more imps charged through the city gates, backed by company of ogres. Michael charged the enemy lines again, hacking one imp's head off, slashing another across the chest, and stabbing the next in the next. Having cut a bloody swathe through the imps, he found himself dealing with ogres.
One of the great gray ogres swung at Michael with its club. Michael rolled out of the way and stabbed the lumbering brute in the chest. The sword drew blood, but the ogre kept moving. A pair of ogres came at Michael from the side aiming to kill him with their bare hands. Michael's reason failed him, and he charged the giants. One fell over when a sword removed half of a leg, but the other slammed both fists into Michael, sending, him tumbling backwards. He lost consciousness as lay sprawled out on the ground.
"Michael! No!" Logan gripped her staff tightly in her hand, and she rushed into the chaos to save the fallen warrior. She made her way as quickly as possibly through the carnage and blood of the battlefield. When an imp tried to attack her, she swung the staff with all her strength, killing it with a single blow to the head.
Finally, Logan reached her fallen friend. She knelt down to help him, and saw looming over her an ogre, ready to kill her as well. Her staff was of no use against this monster. Thinking quickly, she cast a spell.
"Harm!"
The ogre was not undead, so the spell of course could not kill it. However, the white light of the spell went straight into the ogre's eyes, temporarily blinding it. As it stumbled backwards, Logan began pulling the wounded Michael to safety.
"Cure!"
Michael's eyes opened. "Logan?"
"Michael! Can you walk?"
Michael rose of his own power, and began walking as quickly as could in his still-injured state away from the ogres with Logan toward the center of the town.
"Pull back, you fools!" came a loud, desperate voice from well behind the lines. Michael glimpsed the summoner Ramesh standing on the roof of a house, his green robe blowing in the wind and arms raised heavenwards, commanding Ifrit. The Conerians still battling the ogres obeyed and dashed to the center of the town.
Over the city hung the bestial Ifrit, a terrible sight to behold. It opened its mouth and a stream of flame came forth, coming down on the ogres from above. The monsters were simply incinerated, leaving only ashes after the flames dissipated.
Another group of imps and ogres set on destruction poured into the city. Imps with lit torches began tossing them into houses, sending all that inside up in blazes. Ogres simply bashed the stone houses in, destroying them and anything or anyone inside.
Ifrit summoned a fireball and knocked it toward a group of ogres. The bubbling ball of rock and magma hit the ground, destroying the ogres and leaving only a crater where a house should have been.
Unopposed, Ifrit slaughtered the enemy. Dead bodies of imps and ogres, lay on the streets of Coneria. The twelve remaining defenders of Coneria watched in horror as Ifrit descended, and stood its two feet to slay the last of the ogres. An ogre rammed its club into Ifrit's chest, which barely seemed to affect the terrible thing. The beast respond by grabbing the ogres with both claws and simply ripping the ogre in two. Ifrit turned and felled two at one with swipes from both claws. The final ogre was burned in an instant with a blast of fire from the mouth of the beast.
Ramesh stumbled. He threw down his arms and hung his head. Ifrit hovered over the pit from where it came. The demon lowered itself back down into the molten liquid, and the rift closed. The green-clad mage then collapsed.
Michael, Cadoc, Logan, Aiko, Alan, and Jacob knelt before King Daniel. "So, though Coneria has suffered great losses, it is due to you that we have survived. In the name of Coneria, I confer upon all of thee the title of knight."
Sir Michael looked up. "Your Majesty, I don't deserve this title. The one who saved the town was Ramesh and the monster he summoned."
King Daniel put his hand on his chin. "Yes, he is truly the one to thank for our lives. But all you, you fought valiantly for a city that isn't even your own. Coneria owes much to you warriors." The warriors rose to their feet. "Do as you please. Feel free to rest here as long as you like."
Michael saw Cadoc sitting on the ground in the courtyard of the castle cross-legged. "Deep in the thought, are you Cadoc?" asked Michael as he walked past.
Cadoc stood up. "I was doing some thinking, yes. I was thinking about our quest. Come with me."
Michael followed Cadoc into Coneria City, and he took a look at the town. Many places where houses once stood only white chunks of rubble remained. People walked back and forth in the town, some now without a home and some now without a family. In the center of town, a white-haired priest led the prayers for the fallen Conerian soldiers as their families gathered to pay their last respects. The once-green grass of the town was now scorched brown by the fire of Ifrit, and the sky taking on the reddish hue of evening made the whole town seem ruined.
Michael turned away. "It's horrible. The Fiends, we have to make them pay."
Cadoc nodded slowly. "Yes, this is terrible. It's our job as Light Warriors to keep this from ever happening again. We have to go kill the Fiends now."
Michael looked at Cadoc in shock. "Now? We were barely able to defend Coneria, and that's with that demon Ramesh controlled on our side."
"That's true," the monk said. "But I don't think we have a choice. If we try to train, that'll give the enemy time to become more powerful. And what's stopping the enemy from attacking again? Who'll be next? ElfLand? Onrac? My hometown? Yours?"
Michael nodded, and his hand unconsciously reached for his sword. "You're right. Tomorrow, we leave on our journey to revive the Orbs."
Aiko walked into the Coneria Inn, and the pretty young innkeeper offered him a free room at the inn as part of her thanks to the Light Warriors.
"I'm just looking for Ramesh."
"The green mage fellow? He collapsed after the battle, and I brought him in to rest in the room to the left over there."
Aiko walked into Ramesh's room. The summoner lay stretched out on the bed. When he heard the black mage enter the room, he turned over to look him in the eye.
"Ah, the so-called Light Warrior comes. Why are you here?"
"I just want to talk."
"Ask and you shall know."
Aiko straightened his black robes. "What is summoning magic like?"
Something in Ramesh's face changed. "Summoning is true power. Summoning a force greater than any human being could ever hope to be then bending it to your will. Wielding the ancient forces themselves as weapons makes you unstoppable."
"The summons... I already have at my command Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, and Leviathan. Two still remain unlearned to me. Bahamut, King of Dragons, and another, ancient and powerful beyond imagination, whose name is unknown to me. With these I shall smash the Fiends and myself bring peace unto the world."
Aiko could not help but look at Ramesh's face. The raw power of summons changed Ramesh. Aiko understood the summoner, though his reasoning sounded like the words of a madman. Power, true power, was going to be the key to defeating the Fiends. In power he could be secure, and only in power could he trust. He knew that all too well.
Aiko knew the best course of action was to appease this madman as to not make himself an enemy whose power may rival the fiends themselves. "Let us depart as allies. You continue your way of saving the world, and we Light Warriors will continue ours."
"Very well. Do as you will."
Logan sat reading the holy book in silence until she was approached by the red mage Alan. She shut the book and stood to face him.
"Ah, Logan. I've been looking for you. I have something for you." Alan handed a folded bundle of white cloth to Logan. "This is a robe I received when I studied white magic, long ago. I hope you'll get more use out of it than I have."
Logan unfolded the new robe, then looked down at her own tattered robe. This new robe was untainted, while the old one was ripped and torn in many places. However, this new robe at the bottom hem had a pattern of crimson red, unlike her robe that she knew to be pure white. Looking down at her own robe, there was a corresponding circle of dried red blood around the bottom hem.
"Is something wrong?" asked Alan.
"No, no. Thank you for the robe." Alan turned to walk away, then Logan called out to him. "Alan, thank you for fighting beside us. I've heard you are skilled not only in magic of both schools but also swordfighting. We Light Warriors would be honored to have you join us in our quest. You would be a great help to us."
"Aye, I would be." Alan shook his head. "But I can't go with you. I'm going with Ramesh for a reason." Alan removed his hat, revealing his slivery hair. "My daughter, last year she fell ill of some disease the monks can't cure. There's only one thing in the world that can help her: the Archangel's Bell. Ramesh has to find this as part of his supposed quest to obtain the ultimate summon. I need to use him to get to the bell."
"So you see, I can't go with you. Even if I could save the world, it wouldn't mean anything if I don't have my daughter. Call me selfish..."
Logan shook her head. "Saving your daughter isn't selfish. I hope we'll meet again sometime, Alan."
Alan bowed to Logan. "Likewise." The red mage turned around and left the library.
Cadoc stood at the city gates, gazing at the sinking sun to the west. A woman in an elegant red silk dress walked up to him.
"Princess Sara? What are you doing here?"
"Just walking. Will you walk with me?"
"Why not?"
The monk and the princess walked side-by-side out of the city gates. At Sara's prompting, he recounted to her the Light Warriors' tale thus far. The two walked until the sun was barely visible over the horizon while Cadoc told his tale.
"After we cured the Elf Prince, we set sail back to Coneria. That's when... Well, you know the rest as well as I do."
"Well, I never thanked you for saving me the second time." Sara gave Cadoc another kiss on the cheek. He blushed slightly, not out of embarrassment so much as out of surprise. "How was that?"
Cadoc looked Sara in the eyes and smiled. "You never cease to amaze me, Sara." He took her soft white hand and gently kissed it.
"You're no disappointment yourself, Sir Cadoc. It's a pity you're a monk."
"Excuse me?"
Sara gave him a puzzled look. "You took a vow of chastity as monk, right?"
"No. I'm actually a self-taught monk. I taught myself martial arts and discipline out of some old monastic books in my village church. I never took any vow of chastity."
She smiled. "So there's hope for you becoming Prince Cadoc yet."
Cadoc couldn't help himself, and started laughing. "Moving a little fast, don't you think?"
Sara shook her head. "Either way, I had something I wanted to give you. Where did I put it again?" Sara reached down the front of her dress, and she noticed Cadoc smiling.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, I just supposed you were going to ask me to get it for you."
Sara herself blushed, then smiled. She stuck her chest forward. "Well... since you offered..." Sara reached down her dress again and pulled out a simple silver flute. "This is for you."
Cadoc examined the shining instrument. "Thank you. What's this for?"
"Just because. It's old family heirloom. They say it has mystical powers to dispel evil. Do you know how to play?"
"Not very well. I'll be sure to practice with it." Cadoc tucked the flute under his belt. 'We need to get back to the castle. Everyone's going to be worried about you."
"If you desire my strength, you must pay a price."
- Yojimbo, FFX
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Thank you for taking the time to read this far. I'd appreciate it if you take the time to review this story. I appreciate all input, including criticism. If you have a better quote from a Final Fantasy game to go at the end of a chapter, just tell me in a review.
Cadoc opened the door. A cloud of dust appeared, then quickly settled, revealing the treasury was actually an armory. Most of the weapons and armor were decorative: glimmering golden swords, plate mail of shining silver, pikes with intricate glass tips, and such like that would be more of a liability than an asset in battle. Resisting the temptation to rob the friendly treasury blind, Michael kept a few silverish weapons and pieces of armor that he recognized as mythril, one of hardest metals in the world.
Aiko looked around the room as well, trying to find magical artifacts he could make use of. In a decaying wooden box, Aiko saw a strange black powder. What was that? Thinking back to the basic alchemy Alister taught him, Aiko recognized it. The name of the substance didn't occur to him, but the black mage knew it was a powerful explosive. Aiko took an empty potion beaker, filled it with powder, and stored the beaker inside his robes.
The noble warriors left the dungeon and headed toward the castle's exit. However, as they left the castle, they ran into two people they never wanted to see again. In the entranceway of the castle stood a man garbed in a feathered red cap and faded maroon cloak. Beside him stood one dressed in a simple leather tunic. Alan the red mage and Jacob the thief of the Sun Warriors were back.
"Well, it looks like the Light Warriors are still around," said the thief as duo was approached by the Light Warriors. "If it's okay with you, I would rather not fight with you," Jacob said as he noticed Michael going for his sword.
Cadoc was suspicious. These people were trying to kill them when they met in ElfLand, but now they decide they want to be friends? Something wasn't right here.
"Where's your leader?" asked Logan. "The summoner?"
The red mage nodded. "Ramesh? He's resting in the inn in town." Alan bowed his head. "You must forgive us for our actions in ElfLand. Our leader Ramesh is..."
"An idiot," finished the thief. "But he is a mighty summoner. We need him."
"You don't seriously think he can save the world?" Michael asked with disbelief.
"We'll leave that to you Light Warriors," Alan answered, looking back at Michael. "We have our own quests. I think it best that we depart as allies."
At that moment, a group of soldiers ran past the six warriors. "What's wrong?" asked Cadoc to one of the hurried soldiers.
The solder, short of breath, gasped out a few words. "Attack... Monsters...Toward Coneria..."
"We have to get to the king's room!" Logan yelled, running after the soldiers. The others Light Warriors, along with Alan and Jacob, followed her. The six rushed through corridors and up stone staircases until they reached the regal chamber.
"What?!" yelled King Daniel. "Light Warriors! Come with me!" The king, with the warriors behind him, hurried up a flight of stairs in the royal chamber to the top of the battlements.
"It's over," said the ruler with despair. He gazed at the huge army advancing against the castle. Ogres and hundreds upon hundreds of imps marched relentlessly toward Coneria. "There's no hope."
"Your Majesty!" implored Cadoc. "You have to stand up against them!"
"Why? The Conerian army barely numbers a hundred. What chance do we stand?"
"What do you have to gain my surrendering?" asked Aiko coldly. "These are monsters. They don't negotiate. They won't accept a surrender or respect a white flag. They kill."
King Daniel raised his head. "It may be hopeless, but we can't give up." He turned to his aide. "Deploy the cavalry and the light infantry to meet the attack. Keep the heavy infantry inside the town as a last line of defense."
"We shall fight as well!" volunteered Michael.
The king turned again to face the warriors. "You will not go onto the battlefield. Coneria needs you six as a last defense."
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Cadoc.
Alan called to the king and his aide as the two made their way to the stairs. "In the inn in town there's a man in green robes named Ramesh. Ask him to help you."
"It's time," Michael uttered as he sheathed his sword. "I will fight beside the soldiers in the city."
"As will I," joined Logan.
"I'll do what I can," Jacob offered.
"We can't leave the castle undefended," pointed out the red mage. "The rest of us should stay in the castle." Cadoc and Aiko agreed to stay with him, and the six parted ways.
From the top of the castle's tower Cadoc, Aiko, and Alan watched as the battle began. Columns of red and gold marched forward against the endless hoards of monsters. The Conerian forces, though they may have been courageous and well-trained, were obviously outnumbered.
Without warning, the earth beneath the enemy army split open. In a matter of seconds, a gigantic rift tore open the ground, and a hundred imps plummeted to their deaths in the magma below.
From the pit rose a hideous creature; half-man, half-beast. The horrible thing had dark red skin the color of blood and fiery red hair. It had the body of man except for the claw-like hands and feet, but a beastly head, more fitting a wolf than anything else, and curved black horns protruding from the top. What was this demon?
"Ifrit," whispered Aiko. "Ramesh has unleashed Ifrit..."
"We must get inside!" yelled Alan. "Ramesh's summons are not to be reckoned with!"
Michael watched from his vantage point atop the city walls as Ifrit began the attack. From the flames below rose a giant sphere of molten rock. Ifrit rose into the sky, taking the burning globe with it. Ifrit summoned flames from all around him, then slammed the molten rock toward the ground. The fireball landed in the middle of the enemy ranks, incinerating many upon impact and sending out flames that scorched many more.
Cadoc, Aiko, and Alan walked through the corridors of the castle. Aiko noticed something strange as they passed through a section lit only by torches. Small wisps of energy began gathering in one place. Within seconds, the mass of energy formed an errie smoke-colored portal in the air. From this portal stepped something strange. It was covered entirely in pale gray robes, not a bit flesh showing. Before the form could react, Aiko hurled a blast of fire its way, reducing it to cinders.
"What's going on?" demanded Cadoc.
Aiko whirled around to see another gray portal appearing. "An invasion," said the mage coldly. "The enemy lured all the guards out of the castle, then sent their mages directly inside..."
"We have to do something!" urged Alan, looking at Aiko.
Aiko tried to think of something, but he couldn't concentrate. Invasion... He shook his head. "Cadoc... go help the royal family. Alan... come with me. We have to kill as many of them as we can." Cadoc saluted him, then ran toward the throne room.
Aiko and Alan charged the nearest gray mage. The figure sent a bolt of lightning at Aiko. He quickly dodged it, and responded by sending a flurry of ice a the enemy. The shards struck the gray-robed wizard, paralyzing it with cold. Alan took his sword and sliced his target longways across the stomach. It slumped over, lifeless.
The two mages fought their way through the second floor of castle, slaying all the pale-robed figures that dared appear. Aiko blocked everything else from his mind, concentrating his entire being into sending streams of fire, ice, or lighting at anything in gray robes. Alan did triple duty, wielding a longsword in his left hand and using his right hand for black and white magic spells.
Trance-like, Aiko sent a gray figure beside him up into flames. The red mage fired a spark of lightning into one figure as he decapitated another. Before the two, the gray wizards fell in masses, but they were vastly outnumbered and began to tire. Finally, the gray troops completely encircled Aiko and Alan. The two put their backs to each other.
"Aiko!" yelled Alan. "We're surrounded! Now what?" Aiko said nothing.
The enemy mages at the front of the horde all released storms of ice at their two targets in the center. Aiko yelled a fire spell and a stream of fire shot from Aiko's hands. The heat neutralized the ice, and the black mage began using his hands to control the blaze. At the black mage's gesture, the jet of flames formed itself into a ring around Logan and Alan. Aiko slammed his hands together, and the flames shot outward, lighting the robes out the enemy around them aflame.
"Finish them off," panted Aiko, his magic too depleted for him to do anything. Aiko looked over his defeated foes as he waited for Alan to destroy. Suddenly, one of the gray wizards stood to their feet. It looked straight at Aiko, and let loose a lightning blot straight at his forehead, and Aiko could remember no more.
Cadoc fought his way through the gray cloaked ones, using his fists to deliver lethal blows before they could target him. He only hoped that the royalty decided to hide in Princess Sara's room, where he was headed. If not, he didn't know if he could fight his way through to wherever they were.
In Princess Sara's room, King Daniel stood firm against the gray wizard in front of him. "I do not care if I die. You are not touching my daughter!" The monarch grabbed a sword off the wall: Coneria's Scepter, the ancient katana of the royal family. King Daniel, relying on what bit of fencing he knew, charged the gray being. Just before the katana sliced the figure in two, a diamond of ice struck King Daniel in two. The king fell backwards, and the katana flew out his hands, landing at the feet of Princess Sara.
Sara, out of anger or desperation, picked the blade up off the ground. Awkwardly holding the katana with both hands, the princess took a battle stance against the enemy wizard. Perhaps it was her fate to die, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight.
At that moment, the door of the room burst open. Standing in the doorway was a man that Sara recognized very well. He had dirty blonde hair and a black belt tied around his robes. One of the Light Warriors had arrived.
"Sara! Now!" yelled the monk.
Seizing the opportunity, Sara attacked her distracted opponent. She swung the sword in a wide arc, managing to slash the wizard only in the legs. As it bent over in pain, Cadoc rushed and delivered a few swift uppercuts. The gray from slumped over lifeless.
"Are you okay?" asked the monk.
"I... I'm fine." Sara managed to say. "Thank you," she said, and placed the royal sword back on the wall.
"I didn't know you could use a sword, Princess."
"I can't," she said. "That was just a lucky swing."
Cadoc pulled a healing potion from inside his robe. "Are you injured?"
"No. But my father..."
Cadoc quickly knelt down and gave the king draught of the clear liquid in the vial. King Daniel shook his head, and Cadoc helped him to this feet.
King Daniel bowed his head. "Thank you. I am yet again in your debt."
Outside, a totally different battle raged. From the city gates, Michael watched the chaos. Even with the aid of the terrible Ifrit under Ramesh's control, the Conerians were at a severe disadvantage. Though they were valiant fighters, the sheer numbers of the imps and ogres assaulting them overwhelmed them. Finally, a wave of imps broke the Conerian lines and charged the Gates of Coneria.
"They're coming!" Michael took his mythril sword and readied himself for battle. With him stood the heavy Conerian guards, armed with axes, as well a thief armed with a dagger and a white mage prepared to heal the wounded.
"Get ready!" The wooden gate of Coneria shook violently, then collapsed inward, allowing a horde of imps to pour into the city. Their high-pitched cries were heard throughout the town as the Conerian defenders rushed to meet them.
Michael led the charge into the fray. He attacked the first imp he came to, slashing it twice in the arms before splitting its head open. Two imps leaped at Michael. The first one was impaled in the chest by Michael's sword, and the other was bludgeoned by a shield of mythril and fell unconscious.
Michael slew imp after imp, but he was simply overran. Twenty imps attacked him at once, their daggers piercing his exposed arms and making him yell out in pain. The thief Jacob came to Michael's defense, stabbing the distracted monsters in the back with blinding speed, while a Conerian with a battle axe cleaved in two an imp going for Michael's neck.
Within a few minutes, the carnage was over. Two hundred imps lay in a pool of blood on the streets as well as ten of Coneria's forty troops. The first wave of attackers was destroyed, but how long could the defenders last against this? Logan murmured healing spells, and a wave of green light fell over the defenders, restoring their strength. The next wave of the light healed them fully, and they prepared for the next assault.
A hundred more imps charged through the city gates, backed by company of ogres. Michael charged the enemy lines again, hacking one imp's head off, slashing another across the chest, and stabbing the next in the next. Having cut a bloody swathe through the imps, he found himself dealing with ogres.
One of the great gray ogres swung at Michael with its club. Michael rolled out of the way and stabbed the lumbering brute in the chest. The sword drew blood, but the ogre kept moving. A pair of ogres came at Michael from the side aiming to kill him with their bare hands. Michael's reason failed him, and he charged the giants. One fell over when a sword removed half of a leg, but the other slammed both fists into Michael, sending, him tumbling backwards. He lost consciousness as lay sprawled out on the ground.
"Michael! No!" Logan gripped her staff tightly in her hand, and she rushed into the chaos to save the fallen warrior. She made her way as quickly as possibly through the carnage and blood of the battlefield. When an imp tried to attack her, she swung the staff with all her strength, killing it with a single blow to the head.
Finally, Logan reached her fallen friend. She knelt down to help him, and saw looming over her an ogre, ready to kill her as well. Her staff was of no use against this monster. Thinking quickly, she cast a spell.
"Harm!"
The ogre was not undead, so the spell of course could not kill it. However, the white light of the spell went straight into the ogre's eyes, temporarily blinding it. As it stumbled backwards, Logan began pulling the wounded Michael to safety.
"Cure!"
Michael's eyes opened. "Logan?"
"Michael! Can you walk?"
Michael rose of his own power, and began walking as quickly as could in his still-injured state away from the ogres with Logan toward the center of the town.
"Pull back, you fools!" came a loud, desperate voice from well behind the lines. Michael glimpsed the summoner Ramesh standing on the roof of a house, his green robe blowing in the wind and arms raised heavenwards, commanding Ifrit. The Conerians still battling the ogres obeyed and dashed to the center of the town.
Over the city hung the bestial Ifrit, a terrible sight to behold. It opened its mouth and a stream of flame came forth, coming down on the ogres from above. The monsters were simply incinerated, leaving only ashes after the flames dissipated.
Another group of imps and ogres set on destruction poured into the city. Imps with lit torches began tossing them into houses, sending all that inside up in blazes. Ogres simply bashed the stone houses in, destroying them and anything or anyone inside.
Ifrit summoned a fireball and knocked it toward a group of ogres. The bubbling ball of rock and magma hit the ground, destroying the ogres and leaving only a crater where a house should have been.
Unopposed, Ifrit slaughtered the enemy. Dead bodies of imps and ogres, lay on the streets of Coneria. The twelve remaining defenders of Coneria watched in horror as Ifrit descended, and stood its two feet to slay the last of the ogres. An ogre rammed its club into Ifrit's chest, which barely seemed to affect the terrible thing. The beast respond by grabbing the ogres with both claws and simply ripping the ogre in two. Ifrit turned and felled two at one with swipes from both claws. The final ogre was burned in an instant with a blast of fire from the mouth of the beast.
Ramesh stumbled. He threw down his arms and hung his head. Ifrit hovered over the pit from where it came. The demon lowered itself back down into the molten liquid, and the rift closed. The green-clad mage then collapsed.
Michael, Cadoc, Logan, Aiko, Alan, and Jacob knelt before King Daniel. "So, though Coneria has suffered great losses, it is due to you that we have survived. In the name of Coneria, I confer upon all of thee the title of knight."
Sir Michael looked up. "Your Majesty, I don't deserve this title. The one who saved the town was Ramesh and the monster he summoned."
King Daniel put his hand on his chin. "Yes, he is truly the one to thank for our lives. But all you, you fought valiantly for a city that isn't even your own. Coneria owes much to you warriors." The warriors rose to their feet. "Do as you please. Feel free to rest here as long as you like."
Michael saw Cadoc sitting on the ground in the courtyard of the castle cross-legged. "Deep in the thought, are you Cadoc?" asked Michael as he walked past.
Cadoc stood up. "I was doing some thinking, yes. I was thinking about our quest. Come with me."
Michael followed Cadoc into Coneria City, and he took a look at the town. Many places where houses once stood only white chunks of rubble remained. People walked back and forth in the town, some now without a home and some now without a family. In the center of town, a white-haired priest led the prayers for the fallen Conerian soldiers as their families gathered to pay their last respects. The once-green grass of the town was now scorched brown by the fire of Ifrit, and the sky taking on the reddish hue of evening made the whole town seem ruined.
Michael turned away. "It's horrible. The Fiends, we have to make them pay."
Cadoc nodded slowly. "Yes, this is terrible. It's our job as Light Warriors to keep this from ever happening again. We have to go kill the Fiends now."
Michael looked at Cadoc in shock. "Now? We were barely able to defend Coneria, and that's with that demon Ramesh controlled on our side."
"That's true," the monk said. "But I don't think we have a choice. If we try to train, that'll give the enemy time to become more powerful. And what's stopping the enemy from attacking again? Who'll be next? ElfLand? Onrac? My hometown? Yours?"
Michael nodded, and his hand unconsciously reached for his sword. "You're right. Tomorrow, we leave on our journey to revive the Orbs."
Aiko walked into the Coneria Inn, and the pretty young innkeeper offered him a free room at the inn as part of her thanks to the Light Warriors.
"I'm just looking for Ramesh."
"The green mage fellow? He collapsed after the battle, and I brought him in to rest in the room to the left over there."
Aiko walked into Ramesh's room. The summoner lay stretched out on the bed. When he heard the black mage enter the room, he turned over to look him in the eye.
"Ah, the so-called Light Warrior comes. Why are you here?"
"I just want to talk."
"Ask and you shall know."
Aiko straightened his black robes. "What is summoning magic like?"
Something in Ramesh's face changed. "Summoning is true power. Summoning a force greater than any human being could ever hope to be then bending it to your will. Wielding the ancient forces themselves as weapons makes you unstoppable."
"The summons... I already have at my command Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, and Leviathan. Two still remain unlearned to me. Bahamut, King of Dragons, and another, ancient and powerful beyond imagination, whose name is unknown to me. With these I shall smash the Fiends and myself bring peace unto the world."
Aiko could not help but look at Ramesh's face. The raw power of summons changed Ramesh. Aiko understood the summoner, though his reasoning sounded like the words of a madman. Power, true power, was going to be the key to defeating the Fiends. In power he could be secure, and only in power could he trust. He knew that all too well.
Aiko knew the best course of action was to appease this madman as to not make himself an enemy whose power may rival the fiends themselves. "Let us depart as allies. You continue your way of saving the world, and we Light Warriors will continue ours."
"Very well. Do as you will."
Logan sat reading the holy book in silence until she was approached by the red mage Alan. She shut the book and stood to face him.
"Ah, Logan. I've been looking for you. I have something for you." Alan handed a folded bundle of white cloth to Logan. "This is a robe I received when I studied white magic, long ago. I hope you'll get more use out of it than I have."
Logan unfolded the new robe, then looked down at her own tattered robe. This new robe was untainted, while the old one was ripped and torn in many places. However, this new robe at the bottom hem had a pattern of crimson red, unlike her robe that she knew to be pure white. Looking down at her own robe, there was a corresponding circle of dried red blood around the bottom hem.
"Is something wrong?" asked Alan.
"No, no. Thank you for the robe." Alan turned to walk away, then Logan called out to him. "Alan, thank you for fighting beside us. I've heard you are skilled not only in magic of both schools but also swordfighting. We Light Warriors would be honored to have you join us in our quest. You would be a great help to us."
"Aye, I would be." Alan shook his head. "But I can't go with you. I'm going with Ramesh for a reason." Alan removed his hat, revealing his slivery hair. "My daughter, last year she fell ill of some disease the monks can't cure. There's only one thing in the world that can help her: the Archangel's Bell. Ramesh has to find this as part of his supposed quest to obtain the ultimate summon. I need to use him to get to the bell."
"So you see, I can't go with you. Even if I could save the world, it wouldn't mean anything if I don't have my daughter. Call me selfish..."
Logan shook her head. "Saving your daughter isn't selfish. I hope we'll meet again sometime, Alan."
Alan bowed to Logan. "Likewise." The red mage turned around and left the library.
Cadoc stood at the city gates, gazing at the sinking sun to the west. A woman in an elegant red silk dress walked up to him.
"Princess Sara? What are you doing here?"
"Just walking. Will you walk with me?"
"Why not?"
The monk and the princess walked side-by-side out of the city gates. At Sara's prompting, he recounted to her the Light Warriors' tale thus far. The two walked until the sun was barely visible over the horizon while Cadoc told his tale.
"After we cured the Elf Prince, we set sail back to Coneria. That's when... Well, you know the rest as well as I do."
"Well, I never thanked you for saving me the second time." Sara gave Cadoc another kiss on the cheek. He blushed slightly, not out of embarrassment so much as out of surprise. "How was that?"
Cadoc looked Sara in the eyes and smiled. "You never cease to amaze me, Sara." He took her soft white hand and gently kissed it.
"You're no disappointment yourself, Sir Cadoc. It's a pity you're a monk."
"Excuse me?"
Sara gave him a puzzled look. "You took a vow of chastity as monk, right?"
"No. I'm actually a self-taught monk. I taught myself martial arts and discipline out of some old monastic books in my village church. I never took any vow of chastity."
She smiled. "So there's hope for you becoming Prince Cadoc yet."
Cadoc couldn't help himself, and started laughing. "Moving a little fast, don't you think?"
Sara shook her head. "Either way, I had something I wanted to give you. Where did I put it again?" Sara reached down the front of her dress, and she noticed Cadoc smiling.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, I just supposed you were going to ask me to get it for you."
Sara herself blushed, then smiled. She stuck her chest forward. "Well... since you offered..." Sara reached down her dress again and pulled out a simple silver flute. "This is for you."
Cadoc examined the shining instrument. "Thank you. What's this for?"
"Just because. It's old family heirloom. They say it has mystical powers to dispel evil. Do you know how to play?"
"Not very well. I'll be sure to practice with it." Cadoc tucked the flute under his belt. 'We need to get back to the castle. Everyone's going to be worried about you."
"If you desire my strength, you must pay a price."
- Yojimbo, FFX
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Thank you for taking the time to read this far. I'd appreciate it if you take the time to review this story. I appreciate all input, including criticism. If you have a better quote from a Final Fantasy game to go at the end of a chapter, just tell me in a review.