Out of Time: Rydia's Tale
AN:Thanks to those who have reviewed. I've got another chapter for you. Enjoy! And please R&R again for me!
Chapter 1:
She was in a bed. A soft, warm bed. Rydia moaned softly. It had all been a dream. Soon, her mother would come in and wake her up, then they would eat breakfast. Nothing had happened.
"Are you all right?" asked a man's voice. She opened her eyes. One of the dark armoured men was standing over her bed. "You're safe now, little one." She felt tears in her eyes. It was real. Her mother was gone. "I can't ask you to forgive me," he began softly. "I didn't mean to kill your mother. I thought the Dragon was just another monster." She turned away from him. He had killed her mother!
Then why did he save her?
The man gave a sigh.
"Wake me up if you need anything, little one," he said. He sounded so kind... but he had killed her mother. She wasn't about to talk to him, to let him know that she appreciated being saved. . . because she wasn't sure if she did or not. Her mother, her village. Everything she had ever known, ever loved, was gone. She turned her face into her pillow and sobbed quietly.
"I want my mama," she whispered. "Mommy. Why did you have to go?"
She heard a thud. Rydia looked up. Soldiers came barging in the in. There were four of them. The dark man jumped out of bed and put himself between her and them.
"Cecil, the King has ordered that all the Callers of Mist be destroyed. They are a threat to the Kingdom of Baron."
"She's a child," Cecil replied, drawing his sword. Rydia shivered when she saw it. It was a Dark Sword. Cecil was a Dark Knight!
"Stand aside, Cecil."
"Never. I would die first."
"Pity you feel that way. But your wish can be granted. Get him."
"Yes sir," three of them responded in unison.
Rydia watched, terrified, as the Dark Knight Cecil took on the other four men. He would be killed! And then they would kill her! But why was he protecting her, risking his life for her? Maybe he wasn't such a bad person after all. Maybe he HAD thought that the Mist Dragon was a regular monster.
Cecil defeated the soldiers. He knocked them all out then the leader ran away, taking his beaten men with him. Rydia sat up.
"You protected me," she whispered, amazed.
"It's wrong to kill people, especially children. I swore I'd never again follow such an order." He sat at the edge of her bed. "My name is Cecil." She hesitated.
"I'm Rydia," she replied at last. She felt a sob bubble up inside her. She collapsed into his arms. He hugged her gently as she cried. She was glad that she had opened up to him. At least he was there to comfort her. There was no one else.
Cecil woke her up early the next morning.
"Rydia, I'm not too sure what's going to happen, where I'm going to go. But it could be dangerous for you. I might try and find you a family to stay with, if you'd like."
"It will be dangerous for me anywhere," Rydia replied softly. "That evil King wants me dead. At least you can protect me from them."
"Then, I guess we had better get you some armour." He eyed her. "Not that you could wear much of it anyway. Oh well. Let's go, Rydia."
Rydia followed after Cecil, keeping close to him. Kaipo was much larger then her village, and she knew no one here.
"Did you hear? About the girl from Baron?" said a young man talking with his friend. Cecil froze, and Rydia collided with him. He whirled to the youths.
"From Baron?" he demanded. "Do you know who she is?"
"A white wizard," the youth cried, backing up. "She is very ill."
"Where is she?"
"The house in the north east corner."
Cecil ran off. Rydia ran after Cecil, huffing as she tried to keep up with the older man.
"Cecil!" she cried. "Cecil wait for me!" Cecil reversed, and came back for her, sweeping her up into his arms. "Who is this white wizard?" she asked.
"Rosa," he replied, puffing out the name. He put her on the ground and opened the door. An old woman greeted him.
"How can I help you, Sir Knight?" She looked them over. "Your daughter ill?"
"My daughter?" He looked over at Rydia in surprise. "No, not at all. I'm from Baron. I-I think you may have one of my friends here."
"The girl is up there. She is very ill." She stepped aside. "Go on in." Cecil ran through the small house. Rydia smiled at the old woman.
"He must care for her greatly, to rush like that," the old woman muttered. "Come on in, little one."
"I wanna know how he runs with all that on!" Rydia replied, trying to smile. That was as much as she could muster.
"Would you like some tea, child?"
"Sure," Rydia replied. She heard someone muttering.
"Cecil! Don't leave me, Cecil!" Curious, Rydia went up to see what was going on. Cecil held the woman's hand.
"I'll be back, Rosa, love, I promise," he said, stroking her matted strawberry blond hair.
"Rydia, come on. We're heading after the Sand Ruby. I'm not losing her!"
The two of them trudged through the dessert. They had a long way to go. Cecil killed any and all monsters that came after them, and Rydia helped as much as she could. She even managed to figure out a few spells along the way. But Cecil hardly talked. He was focussed on saving Rosa.
Rydia ducked behind Cecil as they approached the cave. It was so dark inside.
"Rydia, can you light a fire for me?" Cecil asked as he began to bundle up torches. Rydia stared at him for a moment.
"N-no," she replied softly, feeling the tears building up behind her eyes. "Cecil, please don't make me." He turned back to her, pulling his helmet off.
"Oh, kiddo, I'm sorry. Come here." He gave her a quick hug. "I didn't think. But I can be pretty stupid sometimes."
"You're not stupid," she replied, smiling a little.
"Well, I'm certainly not a wizard."
"Not all wizards are smart," Rydia stuck her chin up. "But all Callers are." He gave her a lopsided grin.
They had just started into the cave when they heard the voice of an old man. Thunder shook the cave, and three monsters fell dead at the old man's feet. He sat down on the wooden bridge, fanning himself with his hand.
"Are you all right, sir?" Cecil called, trotting up to him. Rydia followed behind, examining the old man. She staggered back in surprise. She could feel power crackling around him, just under the surface of his wrinkled, sad face.
"I'm fine," the old man bristled. His steely eyes followed Cecil. The Dark Knight smiled in a friendly way. "You carry the Dark Sword? Then perhaps you would consider helping me. My daughter ran away with a Bard. I am afraid for her. I am on my way to Damcyan."
"I have a friend who is ill in Kaipo. Damcyan's on the way to the Antlion's den. I'll help you until we reach the Kingdom of Damcyan."
"Thank you, kind sir." The old man crocked his head. "This girl, she is a caller?"
"My name is Rydia. I'm from Mist." Rydia held out her hand to shake the old man's hand. He smiled, and his steely eyes softened.
"You have great potential, Rydia of Mist." He rose. "Shall we go?"