Chapter 1: Drifting
Terra sighed and put the roses down on top of the headstone. She closed her eyes and remembered the shadowy figure who, while he was so mysterious, still showed a pure heart. Kneeling down, she silently read the inscription to herself.
A man few knew about and even fewer knew. But this one thing we do know: you are both a hero and a friend. SHADOW.
As Terra finished reading the inscription, she pictured in her mind the always-dark man. The never talked much, but she remembered twice in which he had mumbled in his sleep. Once in Thamasa after saving him from the monsters of the Veldt, and again after retrieving him at the Coliseum, he had spoke in his dreams of a man named Barram and some girl he had entrusted to another. She tried to think of who this Barram might be, but could think of nothing. Suddenly, she remembered him bluntly telling her that he had no emotions on the ferry to Thamasa. But...there had been something in his voice, some emotion. Sadness.
Setzer walked up and put a single black rose on top of the gravestone. He looked around, only to see the wreckage of Kefka's Tower. "He wanted to go this way." Setzer said quietly. "Remember what he said at the Coliseum? He though that fighting was the only thing he was good at doing. And for him to die after his greatest fight ever.well, this is how he would've wanted it."
Terra only nodded sadly. I know, but.of all of us, I got the feeling he wanted the world to be peaceful again. In those last moments, while we were fighting with Kefka, he muttered something as he threw that edged star. He had muttered, "I won't run away, and I won't let you break her." Do you know who he was talking about?"
Setzer shook his head. "Sorry, but no.if you were to ask anyone, I'd say ask Cyan. Though Sabin most certainly spent more time with him, Cyan knows the heart of a warrior better. Maybe he can explain some things. Besides, the anniversary is coming up in a month or so, and both Cyan and Gau should be stopping by Figaro Castle. Speaking of which, we'd better get going. They're going to submerge at sunset today to pick up Relm at Jidoor. She's been working on that unfinished painting Owzer bought and she doesn't want to stay the night there alone.
Terra nodded again. "Alright."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
***** *****
"We're here. Nikeah." Clyde said. "If you don't mind, I'll be collecting my money and shoving off now."
"Don't be ridiculous." Dave said, snorting. "I'm paying you for escort service to Figaro Castle, not to a ship that'll take me to South Figaro. There's no telling what might attack us in the cave. And besides, after that nasty storm two days ago, who knows what'll happen at the sea?"
"I figure you might." Clyde growled. They had been traveling for two days, and neither of them had revealed to the other any information about their past. What Clyde did find out was that monsters of this world must've been migrating to Serpent's Trench instead of the Veldt now, because they had been attacked almost consistently since they set off. And each time it was Clyde that fought them all back; it seemed that fool Dave could do nothing to protect himself. It was amazing that he had gotten to Tzen to begin with.
"Fish! Get'cher fish here!" a loud merchant called out, echoed by several others selling various products. "Fine steel weapons! Mined straight outta Narshe! Steel blades, at the lowest prices!"
Clyde shook his head. "This place has only become more populated since Kefka's death. What with it's trade to South Figaro and a constant supply of Figaro's machinery, this should be the biggest city in the world one day."
Dave only nodded. "Lets just get to a ship and head off. I want to reach Figaro Castle soon."
Clyde paused and stared at Dave for a little bit. "What's your hurry? You won't be able to get in anyways. The first anniversary of Kefka's death is coming up soon, and every town in the world will be celebrating, even towns like Zozo."
Dave frowned. "But the anniversary is a month off. Surely they aren't already preparing?"
Clyde laughed. "The king if Figaro and his brother are heros, not to mention the sorceress Terra lives there. It'll be having the greatest celebration in the world.
Dave frowned again. "Well, damn. Still, we need to be getting over there. Ah, there's the ship coming in now! Let's get going."
Dave practically dragged Clyde behind him, pretending to ignore the constant cursing coming from the man.
Terra sighed and put the roses down on top of the headstone. She closed her eyes and remembered the shadowy figure who, while he was so mysterious, still showed a pure heart. Kneeling down, she silently read the inscription to herself.
A man few knew about and even fewer knew. But this one thing we do know: you are both a hero and a friend. SHADOW.
As Terra finished reading the inscription, she pictured in her mind the always-dark man. The never talked much, but she remembered twice in which he had mumbled in his sleep. Once in Thamasa after saving him from the monsters of the Veldt, and again after retrieving him at the Coliseum, he had spoke in his dreams of a man named Barram and some girl he had entrusted to another. She tried to think of who this Barram might be, but could think of nothing. Suddenly, she remembered him bluntly telling her that he had no emotions on the ferry to Thamasa. But...there had been something in his voice, some emotion. Sadness.
Setzer walked up and put a single black rose on top of the gravestone. He looked around, only to see the wreckage of Kefka's Tower. "He wanted to go this way." Setzer said quietly. "Remember what he said at the Coliseum? He though that fighting was the only thing he was good at doing. And for him to die after his greatest fight ever.well, this is how he would've wanted it."
Terra only nodded sadly. I know, but.of all of us, I got the feeling he wanted the world to be peaceful again. In those last moments, while we were fighting with Kefka, he muttered something as he threw that edged star. He had muttered, "I won't run away, and I won't let you break her." Do you know who he was talking about?"
Setzer shook his head. "Sorry, but no.if you were to ask anyone, I'd say ask Cyan. Though Sabin most certainly spent more time with him, Cyan knows the heart of a warrior better. Maybe he can explain some things. Besides, the anniversary is coming up in a month or so, and both Cyan and Gau should be stopping by Figaro Castle. Speaking of which, we'd better get going. They're going to submerge at sunset today to pick up Relm at Jidoor. She's been working on that unfinished painting Owzer bought and she doesn't want to stay the night there alone.
Terra nodded again. "Alright."
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
***** *****
"We're here. Nikeah." Clyde said. "If you don't mind, I'll be collecting my money and shoving off now."
"Don't be ridiculous." Dave said, snorting. "I'm paying you for escort service to Figaro Castle, not to a ship that'll take me to South Figaro. There's no telling what might attack us in the cave. And besides, after that nasty storm two days ago, who knows what'll happen at the sea?"
"I figure you might." Clyde growled. They had been traveling for two days, and neither of them had revealed to the other any information about their past. What Clyde did find out was that monsters of this world must've been migrating to Serpent's Trench instead of the Veldt now, because they had been attacked almost consistently since they set off. And each time it was Clyde that fought them all back; it seemed that fool Dave could do nothing to protect himself. It was amazing that he had gotten to Tzen to begin with.
"Fish! Get'cher fish here!" a loud merchant called out, echoed by several others selling various products. "Fine steel weapons! Mined straight outta Narshe! Steel blades, at the lowest prices!"
Clyde shook his head. "This place has only become more populated since Kefka's death. What with it's trade to South Figaro and a constant supply of Figaro's machinery, this should be the biggest city in the world one day."
Dave only nodded. "Lets just get to a ship and head off. I want to reach Figaro Castle soon."
Clyde paused and stared at Dave for a little bit. "What's your hurry? You won't be able to get in anyways. The first anniversary of Kefka's death is coming up soon, and every town in the world will be celebrating, even towns like Zozo."
Dave frowned. "But the anniversary is a month off. Surely they aren't already preparing?"
Clyde laughed. "The king if Figaro and his brother are heros, not to mention the sorceress Terra lives there. It'll be having the greatest celebration in the world.
Dave frowned again. "Well, damn. Still, we need to be getting over there. Ah, there's the ship coming in now! Let's get going."
Dave practically dragged Clyde behind him, pretending to ignore the constant cursing coming from the man.