Those Left Behind
Story #2: What Have You Accomplished, Sir Izlude Tingel?
A Final Fantasy Tactics fanfic
By Tenshi no Ai
I don't own the characters and locations in the game that are presented in this work, Square-Enix does.
I'm absolutely sure that we'll be reunited again.'
-Chapter 11
-0-
Izlude Tingel was a knight.He wasn't terribly skillful, or experienced, or even very good. He couldn't use a sword to its fullest potential because he kept over-adjusting his balance after every swing. There was something a bit off with his eyesight, which didn't help with the shortness of distance necessary to adequately wield a sword. Although he was a very passionate and determined young man, that didn't translate to anything more than being good at following orders.
He had been named as an elite knight of the Murond sect of the Shrine Knights just a little over three months before, in early October. And in those three months, there had been a significant increase in the number of comparisons between him and his elder sister Meliadoul. Despite the four and a half years between their ages, which no one ever took into account when comparing their respective skill levels, Izlude felt much younger than her in every aspect. She was a Divine Knight, a warrior of God, brave and intelligent. He was a Knight Blade who couldn't even use a knight sword.
I don't even -know- what a Knight Blade is, he grumbled to himself as he left his morning practice. The old, grizzled Divine Knight that ran the practice always focused on the young knight's lack of ability with a sword. And then he always tells Father or Melia about it...I can't stand it.
In his depression, Izlude wandered through Murond Holy Place, unable to see the beauty of the falling snowflakes that twirled prettily around the island. All he could focus on was his own failure as a knight.
As a Tingel.
The Tingel family was not of noble blood. As his father had stated more than once, they didn't need such an empty title. They were warriors of God, acting out in His Name. They had more important things to do than to play at political plots and dinner parties. They were...
--We have much to owe the Lord and our Savior, the holy Ajora. The least we can do is spread their intentions for Ivalice in Their Name--
...special.
Melia can do it, she can do anything, he thought glumly, kicking at a small pebble. He missed. She does everything right the first time around. She could even hit that pebble. I'm worthless compared to her.
It was the only truth he knew.
He reached the dormitory for the Shrine Knights, wearily unlacing his boots as he climbed up the stairs to the floor that his room was in. His room was no different than any other knight's, even if his father was their leader. It was small and possessed a bed, dresser-drawers, and a window that looked out into the courtyard that separated the soldier dorms from the clergy's and others employed by the Church. The only thing that was different compared to most other rooms was the large spear resting against the wall to the right of his bed. He rather liked learning the skills of a lancer, even if the sword-wielding knights scoffed at the so-called cowardliness of jumping at an enemy from a safe distance away.
--Well, what do they know? To be a great warrior, we must have proficiency with different weapons. That's what separates us from regular knights--
Izlude could always count on his sister to try to cheer him up, though he hadn't pointed out that she might have been defending her own skills with the spear and crossbow as well. But he was grateful for her support. She was the only one he could ever depend on now.
There used to be another before, but...huh? Izlude noticed there was a small note lying on his bed. There was really only one person that ever contacted him outside of practice, and he cringed at what that meant even as his hands reached for the paper. How could she already know?
Come to my room. -M'
He sighed. It didn't matter how, only that she did. Now he was going to face another lecture. So, like the brave warrior that he was, he tightened up his boots and left his room, already resigned to his fate.
-0-
Meliadoul Tingel was a true knight. Although she took up swordplay at a relatively late age for a member of a knight family, at around eight or so, she quickly advanced in the ranks. She was a regular knight at fourteen, a Holy Knight at eighteen, and finally a Divine Knight at twenty. As far as the ranks in the Shrine Knights went, she was at the top of the warrior jobs. A credit to her gender, a pure and devout knight who held the words of God in her heart, she was beloved and honored by both the knights and the clergy.Even with all the accolades placed at her armored feet, her younger brother found it impossible to hate her.
But am I jealous? He couldn't help but ponder as he trudged over to her room. For the true elite knights of the Shrine Knights, the Temple and Divine Knights, their main perk was that their rooms were on the lower floors. Newbies such as Izlude had the questionable pleasure of rooms high in the dormitory, complete with lots and lots of stairs to climb. It's hard to be jealous of Melia...she's just so amazing. It's just...sometimes I wish she weren't my sister.
As he descended down the endless amount of stairs, other knights passed him by without a word of greeting. Izlude noticed that higher ranked knights only found him worth their attention when he was in the company of his sister and his father. This was something that didn't bother him all that much though, as he realized at a young age that those who would only choose for their company their superiors weren't worth associating with.
At least, this was what he told himself.
He almost danced in joy when he hit the ground floor, though his mood quickly turned somber once he remembered that he was going to get a lecture. He could already hear it in his mind: what it meant to be a Tingel, the honor in being born into such an esteemed family, how he needed to try even harder in the face of this awesome responsibility...
I'm sick of it.
Izlude sighed as he reached his sister's door. Knocking once, he immediately heard her voice from the other side. Who is it?
Melia, it's me, he answered, wondering why she even bothered to ask. No one else would dare disturb the great Meliadoul Tingel while she was in her quarters.
Come in already, then. Izlude lightly bit at his lower lip while he tried to gauge her current mood from that answer. Steeling himself, he entered her room.
One thing must be said about Meliadoul. Despite her pure and chaste ways, which were considered to be very feminine qualities, she was also currently the only female Divine Knight. Because of this, she tended to cover up any signs of femininity due to some insecurities she had about how the male knights viewed her. She wanted to be treated like every other knight, not like a fragile flower or worse yet, despised for any weaknesses even as she climbed the knight hierarchy. At twelve, she chopped off her long hair and wore the same heavy armor as any other male. When puberty set in, she wore thick dresses designed to hide budding breasts and slender curves.
The slender curves remained slender to this very day. The budding breasts blossomed.
Izlude was a shy young man. He walked in, emitted a strangled cry at the rear view of his sister finishing the binding up of her bountiful chest, then ran out while slamming the door behind him. A few minutes later, Meliadoul walked out of her room, now clad in a beige long-sleeved tunic with a heavy forest green dress draped over her form. By the easy way she moved, it was obvious she was wearing pants underneath the dress. Good morning to you, she said sweetly.
Despite the glowing reputation she had, her brother knew of her cruel sense of humor.
Izlude scowled, turning his head away from Meliadoul's beatific smile. Aren't you supposed to be a modest, delicate woman? That's what everyone says, you know.
The Divine Knight's smile hardened. I don't like being called Her good cheer returned. I just wanted to shock you into loosening up. You probably came down here thinking I was going to give you some long, heavy-handed lecture! She laughed easily. She always seemed to when she was around her brother.
Izlude looked down, embarrassed that she had found him out so easily. Meliadoul glanced at him, her laughter quickly dying as a slightly hurt look blanketed her face.
You really thought that, didn't you? Izlude kept his eyes downcast. That's...after everything we've gone through together, you actually think I'm overbearing. That's...
The young man felt horrible. She was right! They were the closest of siblings, and here he was wallowing in his jealousy and annoyance at their respective roles. It wasn't her fault she was so wonderfully skilled, after all. Melia, I'm sorry, I didn't mean... he glanced over at her and his sincere words of apology died in his throat.
She was grinning at him.
Disgusted, he turned his face away from her again. You shouldn't play with people's feelings.
Oh, Izlude, you're just so easy to tease. She touched his shoulder and he jerked away, the scowl from early back with a vengeance. The younger sibling had always taken things to heart more than one should. Hey, don't act like that. I honestly did want to talk to you. You shouldn't take things so seriously.
...You never take me seriously, Meliadoul, he said quietly, and it was the usage of her full given name that tipped her off into realizing that maybe she had gone too far this time.
Casually, she looped her arm around her brother's. I take you seriously, Izlude. I know you don't like it when I tease you, but if I don't have the chance to unwind by being silly, I'd go mad. You're the only person I could ever show that side to.
I know, he said tonelessly. But...it's just, right now...
Things are difficult for you, right?
...Well, not really... Even though he was very comfortable with confiding with her, the subject was hitting a little too close to home. It's, you know, just some things that I'll work out by myself.
Maybe.
Meliadoul watched her younger brother's face, his words being too vague for her to comment on. Izlude's feelings always showed on his face, which didn't help with his trying to be a better knight. The enemy that could be read has already lost, after all.
Izlude was accustomed to losing.
She halted their walk, gently stopping him beside her. He glanced at her face, dark brown eyes curious at this sudden development. Slowly, she removed her arm from her brother's, her hands going up to her collarbone. she started, her lips one thin line on her face, are you going through a crisis of faith right now?
Melia, what...? Izlude frowned, not liking the question one bit. He fully believed in God. To think otherwise would mean that there was no point, no purpose in the life he and his family led.
I have complete faith...
With a blank look on her face, she reached out towards him with her right hand, pressing the tip of her index finger against his chest. You don't believe in yourself.
In that moment, he hated her a little for bringing this truth out into the calm atmosphere that surrounding the holy island.
If you don't believe in yourself, how can you ever say with complete certainty that you have faith in God? He brought you, me, all of us into this world, and your lack of inner faith in who you are means that you don't have faith in the plan that God has for you. When she turned her face away from him, he was mesmerized by the solemnity of her profile. Have you ever had faith?
A cold wind blew then, accented by the countless white flakes drifting in the cloudy morning skies.
--We both have to try our hardest to reach our dreams and become great people in our own minds--
I was really going to, I really wanted to...but you're gone.
Izlude's face went blank as he stared off into the distance.
Who do I fulfill the promise to now?
His sister put something around his neck and he blinked, the current reality coming into view again. Melia, what's this? He held up the end of the chain as far as it would go away from his face, his eyes widening as the upside-down sign of the Glabados Church became somewhat focused. This is Mother's--
Yes, it is, she interrupted, grasping the hand that held the small relic. Mother willed it to the both of us. It's helped me through my problems, and now it'll help you through yours. Affectionately, she reached up and patted him on the head, grinning as he made a face and pulled away. And please, come to me if you're having problems. I'm still your big sis Melia, right?
Yeah, that's true. Izlude smiled. He always felt like he could learn something from his sister, and right now he truly appreciated it. Nah, from here you look like short sis Melia, he laughed as she playfully swatted him on the shoulder, which was where her head went up to after he hit his growth spurt a while ago.
He laughed, but on the inside he knew he needed something more than emotional support. Even if it was from his beloved sister, it wasn't enough.
But where am I going to find faith in myself?
-0-
The next day found Izlude leaving from a very different sort of practice. It wasn't mandatory like all his battle practices were, but it was one he truly liked. After his yearly visit to Bervenia in Pantora forty-seven, back when the war was in its dying phase, he started going down into the bookrooms of Murond to read. He hadn't found anything interesting to read back then, but writing in ancient Ivalician became a lot easier once he could fluently read it. He stopped his sporadic visits to the bookrooms at the end of that year, however.He still had his returned letter with the terse note stating that the intended receiver had died.
But in the summer of the next year, he was able to stop in Dorter while on his annual trip. He picked up several books on the legends of Ivalice and the young teenager was easily transported to a world of brave heroes and heroines, of fanciful monsters and cunning villains. Though the Ivalice in the legends and the Ivalice he lived in weren't all that different, he could still experience a sense of complete escapism from his father's apathy towards him and his sister's excellence that always overshadowed anything he did. An active imagination that had been repressed from childhood onwards fully bloomed then, and from then on he always made sure to have some time to himself each week so that he could explore those times that were better than his own.
In those times, Izlude could've become a hero.
Holding his worn anthologies under one arm as he walked out of the building that held the bookrooms, as it wasn't good to be found lounging in his room in the late morning, he heard his name being called. This normally wouldn't have surprised him if it wasn't for the fact that it hadn't been his sister's voice that he had heard. He turned, noticing that Rofel Wodring and Kletian Drowa were walking up to him. He smiled at this. They were the closest things to friends for the young man. Sir Rofel, Sir Kletian, how was the mission? He asked when they were within hearing distance.
Eh, same as always. Boring, tiring, and completely not worth our time, Kletian said, smirking all the while. He was a Shrine Knight in name only, for his physical skills were just average. However, his knowledge of magic earned him the title of Sorcerer', and he was allowed to wear the armor of an elite knight of Murond. He wore it now, along with the gray cloth that showed his rank as a magician, suggesting that they had only returned just now. But, we go where your father asks us to go, he continued, shrugging in that cool and confident manner of his.
Rofel, the hood of his own blue surcoat down to reveal short brown hair, smiled a little at Izlude. And while doing so, he complained the whole way there, while we were there, and as we returned. So much for complete fealty to our commander. They laughed while Kletian managed to look chagrined.
I prefer being home instead of sleeping in a snowdrift, Kletian countered to his mentor, a long-standing familiarity within his words. Rofel and Kletian were from the same small town in Fovoham. Murond's a lot better than Zeltennia any day. Anyway, how's Meliadoul?
Izlude arched an eyebrow at this. He'd heard rumors that the sorcerer liked his sister in a way that was decidedly not platonic. But, contrary to popular opinion, their father was not going to be the main obstacle in Meliadoul's love life. She's doing well. She should be at practice right now, if you want to see her.
Kletian dropped his smirk. That's okay, I'll talk to her later, he wasn't the best at swordplay. Meliadoul was, and she never lowered her skill level for another's sake. Oh, you'll want to listen to this, it's pretty interesting.
What's that?
When Rofel and I stopped at Gariland's bar before taking the boat over, we heard this rumor. It seems like there's some horrible monster that roams throughout Ivalice, killing humans and monsters in one blow.
Wow, really? Izlude perked up at this. For some odd reason, he felt he had read this before. How does it do that?
Kletian's smirk was back as he started getting warmed up. That's the amazing thing. It seems to have complete command of the essential elements--fire, ice, and lightning. Or, at least, that's what they figure from its victims. No one who has ever hunted this monster has ever lived to talk about it.
Then...how do they know about it? Izlude asked, a small sense of skepticism holding back a torrent of awe.
See, there's actually a whole tribe of master hunters in Limberry that swear to have seen it, but they refuse to hunt it. They call it a Holy Dragon' because it was actually healed by a blow from a Holy Lance, Kletian answered, the spark of an idea now in his hazel-green eyes. Izlude, why don't you go and hunt it?
Rofel said, a warning tone in his voice. His protégé glanced at him with an unreadable expression before turning back to the teenager and slipping on that smirk again.
Izlude wanted to. He wanted to badly. To face off against the monster harming innocent--or at least foolhardy--citizens of his homeland, bravely defeating it and being known as a hero for his skill was the stuff of legends. Good legends, at that. Heroism sparked in his blood, the blood of legendary knights and noble men and women. True nobles, not the aristocrats who would dare compliment themselves by using the word.
He could become a hero. After all, he had the bloodline, the skills...
he shook his head, clearing his mind of the pipe dreams that swarmed around it, what makes you think that I'll fare any better than those before me? After all, people who've trained as hunters have died to this monster.
Frowning a bit, Kletian looked at Rofel for help. After all, the teenager had a point there, didn't he? The elder man saw the look in his friend's eyes and recalled all the times he had helped young Drowa. There were a lot of times. Izlude, you are a knight. Furthermore, you are a knight who uses lancer skills. You may not know this, but a long time ago a lancer was known as a dragon knight' or dragoon', the only type of knight that could efficiently dispose of a dragon with ease.
Slowly, Izlude nodded. I see.
I can do this. After all, I'm a knight.
His dark eyes dulled at the thought.
But I'm not a very good one.
Is something wrong? Rofel studied the odd look crossing the young man's face.
Maybe it's time I found out if I'm really cut out to be a knight. I need to see for myself...
A sincere smile spread across Izlude's face as he looked at the two elite knights. No. Thank you Sir Kletian, Sir Rofel. I needed something like this. He walked away, heading towards his room. He needed to plan how he was going to leave Murond, tell his sister...
He frowned at that thought. Maybe it was for the best if he didn't.
-0-
Rofel Wodring looked at his hometown friend, irritation blooming on his face. Why did you do that? Do you honestly think Meliadoul is going to be impressed by the fact that you've sent off her brother to die?
I feel sorry for that kid, Kletian Drowa remarked, his words condescending when he wasn't even a decade older than Izlude Tingel. Maybe it's time he needs to get out from under her wing.
The elder knight sighed. That's true. She is rather overprotective. But remember, you've just sent out one of the Zodiac Braves in search of a rumor.
Kletian swept a gauntleted hand through his hair, doubt plainly showing on his youthful face. Yeah, but it honestly didn't sound like one. If it's true, then we'll see what happens. I just thought some practical experience out on the field would be better than being screamed at here.
If the rumor's true, the Holy Dragon would be a lot more than just a practical experience', Rofel sighed. And what are you going to tell your lady love'?
...Not a damn thing, the younger man said after a long moment of silence, I really like her, God knows how much, but she needs to realize that her brother's one of us now.
The two elite Shrine Knights started walking again, but not before Kletian saw his mentor nod in understanding. They were good friends, but they were also knights. No matter the bonds that connected two warriors, being a dependable knight came first. It had to. In Ivalice, there was always a war brewing, especially in times of peace. With the holy Zodiac stones emerging from Vormav Tingel's search, it was clear that a war was approaching.
There was a war on the horizon, and all of God's knights had to be ready for it.
-0-
On the first day of the first year of Elria, the first year of peace after the bloody war now dubbed The Fifty Year War', Izlude Tingel stood at the bow of the ship that would take him to Gariland. At sixteen years of age, he was going on his first trip by himself to Ivalice's mainland. In the past, he had been accompanied by Meliadoul and his father, usually to their family home in Bervenia. Once they had detoured in Lionel and it had been the happiest trip he had ever taken. Now, he was by himself, all to hunt down a dragon.He hadn't told his sister where he was going, or even that he was.
This was his time to prove himself.
The trip was a short one, and soon Izlude found himself at the small dock that connected with Magic City Gariland. Hefting up his favorite spear in one hand and his small bag of supplies in the other, he walked off the ship and entered the town, a steady excitement rolling in the pit of his stomach.
Gariland was a relatively large town, well known for the Hokuten academy that had proudly stood here for centuries. There were always large amounts of children and teenagers running around, and as a result most adults choose to live in other, tamer parts of the Gallionne region. As the town was basically a training center for knights, no one gave Izlude a second glance. He wasn't in full Shrine Knight regalia, considering that he wasn't on a mission, but the lanky teenager still sported golden epaulieres over the shoulders of his long-sleeved gray tunic. Also over the tunic was the long dark green surcoat from his Shrine Knight armor, and just after the plain brown belt it had slits along the sides. Under the dangling lengths of the surcoat were simple gray pants, covered at the knees and below with golden genuilliers and greaves over dark brown buskins. His legs were a lot stronger than his arms, as evidenced by the black-colored leather armguards and gloves instead of golden vambraces and gauntlets.
But if I'm going to wear that much of my armor, I might as well have taken it all, Izlude thought to himself as he looked around the town, instantly charmed by the quaint houses and the townspeople. But this isn't Shrine Knight business. This is my business.
For once, this is my life.
The thought bolstered the young man, and he began to walk with more spring in his step. Hm, I need a map of Ivalice...and something to eat, he added as his stomach growled. He had chosen to leave on the first boat out, his preemptive attempt to avoid Meliadoul at the cafeteria. He was lucky enough that he was allowed a month away from Murond. Probably because they don't need someone like me slowing everyone down.
Ah, I'm doing it again. Focus! Heroes don't angst and belittle themselves at every opportunity, they take action!
With this, he strode to the center of the town, looking around for the local bar. In the distance he could see Gariland Magic Academy and remembered that Kletian had graduated from this school with near-perfect scores. Too bad Father doesn't care for us to learn magic. I would've liked to attend a school, instead of having boring tutors that were never satisfied with my work. Izlude sighed at these thoughts. He was just too accustomed to focusing on the bad things in his life.
As he walked up to the school, hoping that he could borrow a map from their library or get directions to the general store, he noticed a group of people walking towards him. They seemed to be cadets ready to graduate, something he could deduce from the military-like way most of them were walking. There was a blond teenager in front, wearing clothes of blue and gold as well as boots that reached above the knees. Despite Izlude's excellent long-range vision, he had trouble deciphering if said blonde was a male or female. However, it was easy to see that this person was an aristocrat. Next to that person, there was a brunet male in red leather armor. Huh...if they're cadets, then they should know where the stores and such are around here...wonder if they'll immediately notice I'm a commoner...
When Izlude neared the group of cadets he raised his left hand, which was holding his bag of supplies, in greeting. Excuse me, but I've just arrived here. Would you happen to know where the general store is?
Oh, of course, the blond answered in a friendly matter. Now Izlude could tell that this was a male, though the close up was blurry with his far-sighted vision. If you go up this street to the academy and then turn right, there's a small district of stores just before the exit to Sweegy. That's where to get the best equipment, anyway, the boy fiddled with his ponytail as he gave Izlude an appraising look, though, it seems you don't need that. You're a knight, aren't you?
Suddenly, Izlude felt a surge of pride. Yes, from Murond. And you all are to be of the Hokuten?
The blond nodded, a slight hesitation glimmering in his eyes that Izlude himself had often seen in the mirror. Well, that's just how it is. Pardon me, but we have a mission to head to.
Oh, of course, the taller teenager nodded, thanks for the directions. He turned away and began heading to the school. Well, he's nice for a noble. Looks like he's my age. I don't see many people like me in Murond. I wonder what it's like...
However it was truly like to have peers the same age as him, it sounded welcome at the moment.
A half an hour later found him at the local bar, sitting at the counter and dividing his attention between a mug of ale and a grease-laden meat pie. He was enjoying both equally--though the ale was drier than he preferred--and he especially liked how the food tasted like it had flavor. Murond's cafeteria served bland vegetables, bland bread, and bland stews. Only during a holiday was not-so-bland meat served, a homage to the diet Saint Ajora had once adhered to. It seemed like every time he went to the mainland, he found something there was better than Murond's take on it.
Refill your glass? The bartender asked, gesturing to the empty mug next to Izlude's plate.
Yeah. Local beer this time, please.
How old are you?
Izlude answered, mildly insulted. Shrugging nonchalantly, the brawny-looking bartender acquiesced, placing the refilled glass back in its original place. The teenager reached for it, taking a sip and wishing he could take back that action as soon as he did so. The bartender laughed heartily at the young man's expression.
See, I wasn't tryin' to insult you, but if you were older you'd know that Gallionne beer's like drinking cold piss. The darker stuff's good, but it's best to just stay away, the barkeep laughed a bit more at Izlude's face after his analogy, sayin' that, what d'ya really want?
Thinking over the array of liquor he had tried already, thanks to Meliadoul's social drinking inclinations and the fact he was the only one she was really social with, he smiled at the expectant bartender. Fovoham beer. After all, it was still daytime.
Hm, maybe you do know something after all, the older man commented as he fixed up a new glass. A knight, ain'cha? Not a lot of people too fond o' them these days, what with the war an' all.
I can imagine, Izlude said, accepting the new mug and taking a large gulp of the frothy liquor, I'm just a hunter for now. I'm looking for a monster called the Holy Dragon'.
Nodding at this, the barkeep wrung out his hands. Yep, heard o' that one. Strange beast. Last sightin' over in Fovoham. Killed a whole pack o' hunters, must've been about ten or so. Least, that's how the rumor goes.
The young knight was shocked at the beast's wanton killing. Well, as a knight it's my duty to help others, or die trying.
The bartender let out a short bark of laughter. Is that so? Not easy to find a knight like that these days. Just over an hour ago a pack of renegade squires tried to raid the town. Had ta send cadets after them. Desperate times when we're relying on cadets to protect a town built for knights.
Yeah, I guess it kind of is. There has to be something that can save Ivalice from all this. I mean, the war's ended.
That's what you think, kid. We need a true leader, but that's not gonna happen, not while the nobles squabble over themselves.
Izlude shook his head in sympathy. It's sad, but maybe taking down that monster will help some people, even if it's just a little, he said as he pulled out some coin gil and plunked it onto the bar, thanks for the information. Grabbing the spear that leaned against the bar next to him, the Knight Blade left the bar and, after a quick consultation of his new map, began to head towards Fovoham.
-0-
In the Goland area of southern Lesalia, it snowed at the slightest provocation. Was it raining in Lesalia Imperial Capital? Then, the weather around Goland Coal City had to show it up. Will it be sunny in the capital today? Then God forbid that any travelers heading south from Lesalia should pass through the laborers' town with nary a snowflake on their mantles. Lesalia was lightly gloomy, Goland's skies were permanently blotted out with ever-darkening clouds.Somehow, it was the perfect mirror for the feelings the pampered nobles of Lesalia and the work-worn miners of Goland held for each other.
It was wintertime in Ivalice, and Izlude knew that he would be traipsing around the mainland. He was very warm and snug in the few layers he wore...or, he was when he was in southern Ivalice. Now that he was heading up through Lesalia region to Fovoham, he was starting to think that an extra cloak would've been helpful as well. And a blanket, too. He had been forced into ditching his tent after hail pelted holes in it when he spent the night in Zeklaus Desert.
Now he trudged steadily through the falling snow and the snow that reached up to the middle of his shins, using his spear as a sort of walking staff. He hadn't a clue where he was now. It was completely dark, save for the drifting flakes that served to only deter him. He badly wanted to go through his bag, which he had strapped to his back while he clung to his spear, and take out his lantern and map. Even though he wore thick gloves, the fingers inside them were numb. If he let go of his cherished weapon now, there was no telling if he could manipulate his fingers to grasp it again.
So he walked on endlessly through the unforgiving night.
After a long time--he couldn't guess how long as his higher thinking functions in his mind had been steadily shutting down--his steel hawk-like eyes caught sight of a light in the distance. A tent...light...there has to be someone there...please let there be... Using reserves of willpower he hadn't know ever existed, he dragged himself through the increasing amount of snow tightly packed on the ground. As the light became closer and closer, the tent began to look more and more blurry. My vision...no...still far...away...
Cold...
The blurriness melted together, and soon even the snowflakes were as dark as the pitch-black night as he fell forward, his face smashing into the soft snow. Izlude's grip tightened on the spear though, and he began to try and drag his body through the smothering snow, using the spear like some bizarre handhold. Struggling to keep his head up, numb lips managed to let a few words out. Please help...can't die...ye--
His head fell back into the white field, the spear still upright like an elongated tombstone.
-0-
Kletian Drowa was reasonably sure he was in love with Meliadoul Tingel.After all, she was kind. She didn't mock him for being an average swordsman; instead, she strove to help him overcome this deficiency. After a few times of being helped', he realized that maybe it was better he stayed at his current level with the sword. Also, she was intelligent. They spoke of the war--he brought up social problems, she referred to strategic maneuvers--and of God. The heavenly father was a cornerstone in both their lives, and they could spend hours talking about how they felt influenced by both God and Saint Ajora. Kletian felt that they were a natural complement in their battle skills, what with him being a powerful mage and she a brutally precise warrior.
And finally, from what he could tell, she had a great figure. Her thick dresses and heavy armor hid a lot, but going to school at both Lesalia Imperial Academy and Gariland Magic Academy had given him a knack for determining a woman's shape even with all those bothersome raiments. But going further in that train of thought would be uncouth, Kletian thought, especially since this is Murond. But we're not in church right now, so...
Kletian, are you listening?
He quickly turned to her, pinning an interested look onto his face. Of course I am, Meliadoul. I was just gazing at the waves. As you were saying?
She looked at his face for a long moment, the moon illuminating her pale face while accentuating the darkness of her hair. It was windy at Murond's shores, and her chin-length hair had been tossed around for the better part of an hour now, giving her a decidedly childish appearance. Though she's only a few years younger than me, he smiled mentally, his eyes noticing a strand of hair that stuck to the corner of her reddened lips. Lucky hair. He would've moved to casually brush it away, but he was afraid she'd take it the wrong way and break his hand. There was always that possibility with her. I was saying, she said finally, looking away and focusing on the black waves that crashed along the rocky cliffs they sat on, maybe I did something wrong while looking after Izlude. He used to tell me everything, and now this...
Kletian sighed mentally. Izlude, Izlude, Izlude, it's always about Izlude. He understood what it was like to be completely devoted to one person. To him, Rofel Wodring was that person. Although Rofel had left their small town in order to join an independent group that fought in the Fifty Year War while Kletian had been but a small child, they'd had a well-established written correspondence. It was because of Rofel that he attended Lesalia's military academy, and when Rofel wrote that he was quitting the war and going to be part of the Shrine Knights of Murond, Kletian had quickly switched gears and transferred to Gariland. And, in his opinion, it was all worth it to fight alongside his mentor, his friend, and to have Rofel look at him as something of a peer now.
--Meliadoul Tingel? I don't know...maybe you shouldn't aim so high--
Mentally, Kletian soured at the first piece of advice Rofel had for him. Well, what does he know? I don't see -him- with a wife. And, for sure, Meliadoul was going to marry him, sooner or later. He couldn't care less if she was next in line for the position of commander of the Murond sect of Shrine Knights, he wanted her. Soon he planned on asking Vormav Tingel for the right to court her, and if he could get up the nerve to do that then he definitely deserved her hand.
...Maybe he resents me. He never said anything about it, of course--that's just how he is--but maybe he feels inadequate compared to me. I really wish he'd...
But all that would have to wait until Izlude came back.
He turned to her. Hey, don't worry. Izlude's one of us, I'm sure he'll be okay.
That's not the point, she sighed, I just thought we were close enough that he could tell me anything, and his running off on private business', according to the assignment office, really... Raising her gaze from the dark waves to the mostly clear sky above, the expression on her face was blank except for the sadness within her dark eyes. Does being a knight mean that I have to be a lone rock in the waves?
No, of course not, he moved up closer to her, hesitating a moment before reaching out and fitting his hand over one of hers, as knights, we forge bonds of comradeship with each other naturally. A lone knight can only die alone, but together we're capable of the most impossible feats. A war isn't fought by one person on each side, but rather with masses of like-minded people, he brought his other hand over and held her hand between his own, wishing that they weren't wearing gloves, we're at our strongest together.
That's how I feel...we can depend on each other...
She looked at him, a gentleness to her face that he'd never noticed until now. But Izlude doesn't seem to believe that we're all together in this. He seems to think that he's lagging behind.
I know...I've noticed, Kletian earnestly replied, that's why I told him about the dragon...
...Oh...uh...dammit...
She was staring at him now, the softness that had been present just a moment ago making a hasty retreat.
He couldn't lie to her. How could he? He was a knight, if only by association, and a true knight never ran away. I told Izlude about a rumor I heard after my last mission, about a rampaging dragon that was terrorizing the mainland.
Calmly, she removed her hands from his, brushing them off against her lap as if they were now filthy. He couldn't see her face, bowed as it was, as she stood up and turned away from him. Is...that so?
Shit. He winced at the tone of her voice, grating and low like stepping on crumbled glass. There has to be some way to alleviate this situation... He stood up and gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Meliadoul, lis--
Her fist flew at him before he could even react, a vicious backhanded blow that jerked his entire body to the right. Indeed, he was lucky that she hit him with her left hand, as it was weaker and the edge of the cliff was to his left. It was a testament to his physical constitution that he hadn't been knocked off his feet, only stumbling back at her immense strength. Touching his left cheek, he grimaced at the sickly, rapid throbbing that arose at his touch. he snarled, glaring at her still form and her dark eyes, what the hell gives you the right to hit me?
The Divine Knight merely stared at him coldly. Do not use the Lord's name in vain, Sir Drowa. Spitting hatefully on the ground instead of saying his title would've instilled the same effect that her tone created. And let me promise you this: I will do much worse to you if something should happen to my brother.
And maybe that's your problem, Meliadoul, he spat back, it's your fault that Izlude would rather leave Murond secretly instead of confiding in his wonderful big sister.
The step she took towards him was no less than threatening. Is there something you want to say?
I know how much you love your brother, but he's a knight now. He has to learn how to take care of himself, instead of having his sister run interference on damn near everything! I don't want to have my life depend on a kid that doesn't have any confidence because he's sheltered, and I won't have you risk my, or anybody else's life because of your overprotective qualities! He took several deep breaths, something Rofel had always advised for calming oneself down, searching for some sort of understanding in Meliadoul's face. There was none. I told him about the rumor. Yes, it's my fault. But he went anyway. That should tell you something.
Even your brother wants to grow up, so let him.
Her eyes were still cold as she stared at him for a long moment, her lips slightly parted and revealing clenched teeth. Don't talk to me about what my brother wants or needs. You sent Izlude searching for either a baseless rumor or a deadly monster. Kletian narrowed his eyes at this, unable to retort as it was the complete truth. And I will warn you now that, whatever fate befalls my brother will fall upon your head as well. And... her lips twitched before she shook her head, ...never mind, with that, she walked away, heading back to the compound of Murond.
He watched her go. That was all he could do.
--Do you honestly think Meliadoul is going to be impressed by the fact that you've sent off her brother to die?--
No, but doesn't it count that I was thinking of what was best for him? Doesn't it?
Kletian already knew the answer to that. He had known as soon as he glimpsed the icy, pulsating fury in her dark eyes. He had been reasonably sure that he loved her, but that look, her demeanor...
Slowly, reluctantly, he began the lonely walk back.
-0-
It was warm.Izlude Tingel woke up slowly, warmth seeping through his numb body. he gasped, wincing as cold joints thawed enough to move. His dark brown eyes opened, and the first thing he saw was the brilliant orange and yellow of the roaring fire in front of him. Biting his lip, the pain immediately jolted his mind into full wakefulness and he moved stiffly, pushing himself into a sitting position.
That was when he noticed the man sitting on the other side of the fire.
Um, hello, Izlude said, then quickly--or quickly as he could manage--looked at his surroundings. It was a good-sized tent, circular in shape. Oh! Um...
Where am I?
The man smiled, though it looked a bit tired to Izlude's eyes. Hello there. It's nice to see that you really are alive. He gestured to the fire, saying, There's food on the sticks, if you want it.
Oh, thank you, the adolescent looked down and noticed sticks planted in the dry ground, chunks of meat having been stabbed through on them. He eagerly grabbed one, then remembered that he was a guest and tried vainly not to gnaw too much on the meat. Somehow, it still tasted better than anything in Murond. Excuse me, how did I end up here? Izlude asked respectfully.
Well, when I looked out, I saw a spear standing out in the distance. It wasn't there before, so I decided to check it out, the man explained kindly, that was pretty smart.
I...did something? Izlude smiled reflexively, reaching for another stick. Oh, well, I don't really remember it, what with the passing out and all. I'm just grateful you found me. I kind of didn't think I was really going to make it, he realized that he was starting to babble and focused on the meat. The man didn't reply, but he seemed to be listening. So, ah, are you a hunter?
The man shifted, his blond hair almost gold in the firelight. Yes. And you?
...Yeah, I'm a hunter too, actually. There was something odd about the man in Izlude's eyes. First, he was dressed a lot like a knight, though he'd never seen a uniform like that from all the militaries he'd been forced to study. The second were the man's eyes, but he wasn't sure why. I'm hunting this monster called the Holy Dragon'.
...Is that so? The question was casual, but the way the man's eyes had flickered from the fire to Izlude's face for a bare second was anything but. It seems a lot of people are these days.
Certainly Izlude had heard a lot about the victim count the monster had racked up when he was in Dorter. So I hear. They're even forming huge groups now.
She's gaining quite the notoriety.
... 'She'?
The man's eyes stayed on Izlude's face a second longer this time. Those eyes...is it a trick of the light? Excuse me?
...You said Izlude pointed out, wondering if he should have in the first place, I thought that monsters didn't have genders?
Hm, I suppose. This hunter wasn't like any other the teenager had met before. He certainly was a lot quieter than most of them were. It's probably because I knew her before that I can't help it.
Knew her before'...? That must mean... So, you've survived the dragon?
Raking a hand through his hair, the man seemed reluctant as he stared into the fire. Ah, well...one could say that.
Oh...so that's it. It's personal, like a rematch, but...
Izlude was normally not a selfish person. There was no particular reason for this, it just didn't seem worth the energy to demand that something was his, only his. There were a lot of people suffering during the war, and he was taught that it was right and proper to give, not to take. After all, he wasn't a noble. So, he preferred to not complain about what he didn't have and gave what he did.
But he wanted the claim of the dragon's hide.
If he couldn't successfully hunt down the dragon, what right did he have to claim himself a knight of the Tingel name? He'd wanted to be a hero, someone who was worth something. Was he fated to live out his dreams through written legends?
Have you heard anything about where the dragon is lurking now?
No, have you?
Maybe I've been turned around during the snowstorm, but I was really heading towards Gallionne. That's...that's where the current rumor places it.
He was going to hunt the dragon. Only him.
The blond was more than receptive to Izlude's lie, a sincere smile spreading on his face. Would you like to find her together? It's safer that way.
Ah, no. Already the Shrine Knight was feeling guilty. I need to stock up some supplies in Goland anyway, and I wouldn't want to hold you up.
Soon the man suggested that they turn in for the night. They slept within the safety of the tent, and the only thing that kept the teenager from blurting out that he had been lying was an old axiom that his father often said. He chanted it in his mind, to the steady beat of his heart.
The end justifies the means.'
...Even so, I still don't feel right about it...
-0-
The forest was dark, even if the sun was out in northern Lesalia. Izlude Tingel stood at the entrance to the ancient wood and pondered whether or not he should enter it. There was another road that led into Fovoham, but his map explicitly showed that the fastest route was through the forest. But I'm sick of fighting skeletons and tree people, he frowned, staring into the darkness within.That was when the screams rang through the woods.
He immediately dropped down into the proper fighting position, his spear out in front of him. There was a gunshot, then another scream, raw and shrill, from deep inside the forest. I have to help whoever's in there! This was the only thought in Izlude's mind as he ran into the woods, trampling through the thick undergrowth. One more scream echoed hauntingly before a deep silence settled upon the place.
Oh God, please don't let me be too late to help, I--!!
There were bodies strewn everywhere. Most of them were intact; these were the human ones. Izlude counted four such corpses, all of them looking as if they had an encounter with a wizard with a penchant for pyromania. From what he could tell from what was left of their clothing, they were hunters who used guns. At least, that was probably what the melted chunk of metal that bonded with one man's hand might have been once. The other bodies had been ripped apart, chocobos both of them, and they were missing enough parts to signify that they had been a monster's latest meal.
By the Holy Saint, what sort of creature could've done this...
He knew. It was hard for him to be convinced otherwise.
This was what the Holy Dragon was capable of.
There was a trail of blood, purplish-red in color, that led away from the bodies. Izlude followed it, his grip tightening on his spear with each step he took. He didn't have to go too far before he entered a clearing, light penetrating through the canopy of leaves that otherwise sheltered the interior of the forest. A hulking monster stood on the other side of the clearing, walking away from the bloody massacre. At the Knight Blade's mediated footsteps it turned around, blankly staring at the boy with its reddish eyes.
It was a gigantic monster with a hide the same purple as the descending twilight, a shade brighter than the royal purple surcoat Izlude's father wore as the leader of the Shrine Knights. Its underbelly was by contrast a lime green color, as were the claws that jutted out of its immense feet. Large wings hung uselessly at the sides of its broad anterior, and with his excellent long-range vision he could see jagged scars on them. A wound bled freely on one of its forelegs, the same color as the trail he had followed.
Here it was, the legendary Holy Dragon of Ivalice.
--Izlude, your penmanship is becoming very nice--
Izlude frowned, shaking his head to clear the thought. Why would I think of her now...I can't let myself become distracted! He ran towards the dragon, who reared up at his reckless charge and opened its mouth. Just as the giant stream of fire rushed towards him, he jumped, powerful leg muscles like a well-tightened spring as he flew towards the canopy that separated him from the vast blue sky. As he began to descend, he aimed the spear directly at the top of the dragon's skull, slightly surprised as the monster merely stared up at him.
--Should I call you Sir Izlude', then?--
As he listened to the voice in his memory, he drifted off target. He tried to correct himself, but by then the dragon took one step to the left--completely out of his range now--and all Izlude could count on was the fact that he could always jump away--
--BOMP--
The Holy Dragon headbutted the young knight just as he was about to touch the ground and he went flying across the clearing. Out of pure instinct, he thrust the spear right next to his right side and behind him, nearly disemboweling himself in his haste.
--DNN--
The entire spearhead split into an innocent tree, fully embedded into the sturdy plant. Hesitantly, Izlude glanced behind him, dark eyes widening as he saw how close he had been to bruising--or breaking--his back. Landing on his feet, his knees wobbling slightly, he yanked his spear out of the tree and turned around, his chest throbbing painfully from the dragon's counterattack. Oh no, the dragon's still-- He spun around and into a defensive stance, fully expecting the monster to be right in front of him with jaws open wide and an inferno hurtling out between them.
But the Holy Dragon was still on the other side of the clearing, watching him carefully.
What? But it had the chance, so why...?
--Alright then, I would be honored to have a brother like you--
No, no...what is this? Why do I keep thinking of her now?
Panting heavily in his stressed state, he stared hard at the monster.
--Yes, but on one condition: we both have to try our hardest to reach our dreams and become great people in our own minds--
But...she's dead. She's been dead for years. That's what the note said, she's dead!
Miss Reis...can't be...
It had to be a mistake. Maybe his mind had gotten rattled when the dragon--that monster, he consoled himself--had hit him. It was just a monster, a dangerous, vicious, brutal freak of nature that
--No one who has ever hunted this monster has ever lived to talk about it--
killed and killed
--Killed a whole pack o' hunters, must've been about ten or so--
without remorse, and....and...
--I'm hunting for something called the Holy Dragon'.
...Is that so? It seems a lot of people are these days--
And all the times he had heard about it killing, the victim was always a hunter. Not farmers, or knights, or cadets. It was always killing hunters.
There were a lot of hunters after the Holy Dragon's precious hide.
But that doesn't prove anything! Izlude argued with himself, still glaring at the still creature. It may just be protecting itself, I can sympathize, but what does it have to do with -her-?
--It's probably because I knew her before that I can't help it--
That man. The hunter who dressed like a knight, the one with the eyes that appeared almost red-orange in the firelight...he knew, didn't he? He knew the dragon as a she', a female in a species that had no sexes.
A knight with red eyes.
Father...mentioned something once, about a Temple Knight with the same...that summer. Wasn't he the leader of the knights in Lionel...?
--We're friends--
Oh God, Izlude whispered, eyes and mouth wide open as he stared at the Holy Dragon, are you...really...? He took a step towards the dragon, who shifted its weight warningly at his approach. No, I won't hurt you, I promise. Lowering his spear to the ground slowly, he began to walk towards the monster again. It allowed him to approach it then, peering at him almost benignly through dull pinkish-red eyes.
No monster would allow a human to walk up to it, even if that human dropped its weapon. What monster could trust a human that much, considering how often humans hunted?
But the Holy Dragon merely watched him as he stood right in front of its snout and stared into its eyes.
Heavenly Father above us... Y-you...you're really her, aren't you... the teenager murmured in subdued awe, you're Miss Reis.
It felt right to say that, somehow.
Overcome by his feelings, he looked down and spotted her leg wound. Though it was blurry to Izlude, he could see how grievous it was. Miss Reis, that's a terrible wound... he began to say, crouching down to examine it. She instinctively reared back and he held up his hands in a placating manner, exclaiming, No, no, I don't mean you any harm! If I can help it, I would never willingly harm you. At this, she calmed down again and allowed him to look at the injury.
Hm, this isn't too bad. Izlude reached over his shoulder to the small bag of items he had taken to tying onto his back for easier travel, taking out two potions. The blue liquid inside the thick bottles gleamed, and Izlude congratulated himself on his thorough preparation. Opening the bottles, he poured the potions onto the wound, which quickly closed up in a matter of seconds. There, now you're perfectly fine, he smiled at her as he stood up. Well, not -perfectly- so... Except now we have to figure out how to get you back into your original shape. To be honest, I like it a lot more.
Holy Dragon Reis merely tilted her head to the side, which the adolescent took to mean some sort of agreement. Well, maybe a wizard back in Murond can help dispel this...curse. How did you end up this way, anyway? Huh, the man who runs the daily ship won't like this, but I'll make him understand, I'll make them all understand. I'm sure Melia would help...well, after a bit of convincing. Hm, well...hey! While he had been thinking of a solution, she had taken the opportunity to walk away from him. It surprised him that she could move so quietly. Miss Reis! Come back!
She stopped, glancing at him for a moment before moving again. All he could do was watch as she disappeared into the darkness that the forest had more than an adequate share of. After all, he wasn't going to tell a dragon what she could or couldn't do, even if she had once been the beautiful woman who had helped him.
She helped me so much...but I'm not the one that can -really- help her, am I?
Nodding once at this thought, he turned around and walked over to his spear. Quelling the wave of sadness at being useless to help her, he started to make his way out of the forest, towards the one person whom he knew could.
And maybe, if I'm lucky, he won't hurt me too much for tricking him...
-0-
Ivalice was the home of freak weather patterns. Even the isle of Murond was subject to sudden lightning storms in the middle of May, snowstorms in August, and heat waves in January. For once, though, the snowstorm that flattened southern Ivalice was meteorologically correct for the second week of January, if not a wee bit more vicious than the residents would have preferred.Izlude dragged himself through the snowed-in streets of Gariland, thoroughly annoyed at the capricious nature of the weather. It was as if God had the same sense of humor as his own sister did, which at once horrified and embarrassed the younger sibling. No, I shouldn't think of it that way. God is good, God is great, this is just a test...oh, please let him be here, I don't want to walk to Igros...
Somehow, he managed to throw his body into the bar, using his spear to steady himself. No one in the crowded establishment noticed, or for that matter cared. Straightening himself, he scoured the place for a blonde man wearing a cape. Oh, there he is. The man was sitting at a corner table by himself, staring into a mostly-empty mug. Hm, I don't think he's noticed me. Already feeling the full burnt of the guilt he had carried each day after lying to the man, he took a deep breath and approached the table.
The man looked up from his mug, an eyebrow twitching as he appeared to recognize Izlude. Oh, you.
...Eh... I apologize for my actions, I was wrong in deceiving you. Through the years, Izlude had become very good at the technique of the apology. As he had learned, one should state their apology for the specific action and no less. After all, he did have some pride.
Did you find her? The hunter asked, brushing aside the apology. The Knight Blade noticed that the man had a strong grip on his mug and started worrying.
...I see. Izlude wondered if it was just his imagination, or was the glass actually cracking? Was she a difficult opponent?
Very much so, Oh God, he really is breaking the mug, but I-I didn't...
The man glanced up at the boy, the dimness of the bar making his eyes merely some vague dark color. Excuse me? he asked politely. That probably frightened the younger knight more than anything else. He'd never seen a polite angry person before.
I didn't hurt her. Taking his considerable courage and focusing on it, Izlude stared directly at the man, I could never hurt Miss Reis.
Dark red eyes widened for just a second before the hunter scrutinized the teenager more closely. How do you know her, if I may ask?
You shouldn't sound so polite when you're glaring at me. I came by Lionel the summer she was there. She tutored me...she was really kind to me. We wrote letters to each other, until...I heard she had died. The old feelings that had arisen the moment he read that note rose up again, a wave that quickly sank back into the stormy ocean that was Izlude's natural emotional state.
The man was showing no recollection in his expression. Izlude wasn't sure if it had been too long for the hunter to remember, or that Miss Reis had never mentioned to the man her correspondence with the teenager. He wasn't sure which was worse, either.
I'm Vormav Tingel's son, Izlude, he clarified, not liking the facial tic that occurred on the hunter's face after he stated his father's name. And you're Miss Reis' friend, Sir Kad--
I'm just a hunter now, far from a knight these days, the man interrupted, standing up and looking down at the shorter knight. Do you know which direction she went?
East, I believe, Izlude answered, wondering why anyone would want to separate themselves from their knighthood, especially if they were once an elite knight for the Glabados faith. But, you're not going in this weather, are you? he asked in surprise as the hunter headed towards the door.
You've already made me lose a lot of time, Sir Izlude, the man commented, smiling when Izlude reddened in embarrassment. But to come back and apologize...that takes a lot of courage and integrity. That's more than anyone can claim these days, he turned around, hesitating a moment. When Reis is back to being herself, we'll come visit. Goodbye, and with that, he walked away, exiting the bar.
I'll be looking forward to that. Izlude closed his eyes. But before then...
--We both have to try our hardest to reach our dreams and become great people in our own minds--
I still have our promise to fulfill.
-0-
Every afternoon in the month of January, Meliadoul Tingel went out to the north port and waited for the last ship to arrive. She knew her brother too well to expect him to come on the morning ship, even if that was the one he left on in the first place. If Izlude was going to come back to Murond, he would do it on the last ship because she had a lot of free time in the evenings and he would want to apologize. Although he had a nature like that of any other boy, he was prone to feelings of extreme guilt and a willingness to apologize in order to maintain good feelings. This was something their father had beaten into him.But he never laid a single hand on me, she thought, watching the waves throw themselves at Murond's shores, never to discipline me. And after Mother's death he never hugged me again. We didn't just lose a mother that day...
She shook her head at the course her thoughts were taking. Vormav Tingel was a good father to his children. But after his wife's death, he started becoming more of their commander than their father. Perfectly understandable. We're a knight family, after all. She chuckled, though the sound was hollow to her own ears. I just wanted Izlude to feel a bit...a bit like Mother was still here, somehow.
I wonder if I failed.
Behind Meliadoul's perfectly constructed armor of steel, she was still something of the delicate girl that only wanted to learn swordplay so that her brother wouldn't be lonely. Then she had grown to love the feel of a hilt in her hand, the sound of her blade hitting home. She felt herself grow, improving with every swing not just her physical skills, but her mental focus as well. The love she had for God, the honor it was to be one of His knights intermingled with her father's expectations. She was going to be one of the best knights Murond, no, Ivalice would have to offer. She had the ambition and the skill for it, and it was so easy for her to climb the ranks.
But somewhere, I left Izlude behind. Somewhere, my mind switched from keeping Izlude company to protecting Izlude. It's only natural when everyone else is leaving, but...
Kletian Drowa's words had hurt. They hurt in a way she had never felt before, not even when her mother had died and the world changed in ways it shouldn't have. She knew he was correct, that she was being too overprotective, that Izlude had to grow on his own and become an excellent knight in his own right, but...
I'm afraid. He could die on a mission at any time. Or maybe...maybe he'd leave me the same way Father has.
This was her fatal secret, the one she could never to reveal to anyone, much less herself. It scared her to be all alone. When she was a child, there were so many people that surrounded her, but as she grew older she became lonelier. The more her body changed, the more the people in her life began to leave. She was praised by her peers, but what did that matter in the end? They weren't her friends, much less her family.
They weren't the people she loved.
But, while she knew Kletian's words to be the truth, she didn't like them at all. Those words were the only thing holding her back from going to the mainland and finding her brother, however much she really wanted to. No, she would wait for Izlude to come home. Once that happened, she would try in the future to be understanding and to give Izlude his space. She would practice and pray for longer hours in order not to smother her brother.
And she'd be lonelier for it in the end.
But at least we'll be knights together. He'll go on his missions and I'll go on mine, and when we see each other again I'll tease him endlessly because he's still my dear little brother. We'll get drunk and talk into the night whenever we can, just like always.
Yeah, that sounds good.
Today was the last day of Izlude's month-long vacation'. If he didn't arrive on today's evening ship, she was going to calmly go to her room, grab her Save the Queen, and kill that sorcerer who sent her brother on a fool's mission. The punishment she would receive didn't matter, not next to fulfilling divine justice.
In the end, Meliadoul's love was more dangerous than any sort of hatred.
The ship was coming in. She stood rigidly, wishing she had Izlude's oddly strong far-sighted vision. The sea breeze drifted past her form, only stirring the hood of her dark green surcoat, the mark of a knight in training, no matter their actual rank. She was in complete armor, fully prepared on extracting revenge should her brother not be on the incoming ship.
After an excruciatingly long time for the Divine Knight, the ship docked at the tiny port and a few people stepped off the ship. They were all knights, and a couple of them greeted her in a respectful tone before heading towards the small compound that was the Glabados faith's main headquarters.
The last person, who made a couple' into a few' slowly walked up to her. Hello, Melia.
Okay, no acting like an overly concerned parent. Hi, Izlude. It's been awhile.
He looked down, his short hair being ruffled by the breeze. I'm sorry.
You...had to do it, the words were hard to get out, but as soon as she did, she felt a strange sort of peace, I understand, though I wish you'd let me know before you left.
I know. That's what I'm apologizing for. He was holding a medium-sized box in his hands, and now he handed it to her. Here. I made a lot of money hunting, so I wanted to get you something for...for putting up with my selfishness.
She took it, surprised at the heaviness of the oak box. Don't worry about it, she said lightly, sliding the lid back. Inside were many varieties of liquor, and judging by the labels of some of them--like that nice bottle of Fovoham whiskey, she noted--they were all her favorites. You must've made a lot of money. Did you find that Holy Dragon' or whatever you went off to find?
...I did, but it's sort of a long story, he fidgeted before smiling sheepishly, I'm going to go to my room. I kind of want to be alone right now. Um...let's have a sword practice tomorrow, too. He waved once before walking away, leaving Meliadoul on the port. She took a deep breath, a delayed feeling of joy spreading through her body.
Yeah, that...that went well. Let's keep it up, Meliadoul.
-0-
The few letters he had were scattered on his bed. It was too dark to read them, but knowing that they were there, that they were concrete evidence of her existence at one point was good enough.Why did they say she was dead? Someone had to have known...I don't think Sir Kadmus would've turned her into a dragon, so...
Izlude didn't think he really wanted to know, though. It was enough that she was alive.
I almost killed her in order to make myself feel more like a knight.
He felt ashamed. Even though he truly doubted he could've been the one to successfully hunt down the Holy Dragon, it was the intent, the willingness, the idea that to be a good knight meant to be drenched in the blood of his enemies...
What was I thinking? That's not God's way at all. I should be emulating Him, not falling into those base actions. After all, I'm one of His knights.
I'm a Zodiac Brave.
He picked up the palm-sized blue stone resting in the middle of his bed. It was cool to the touch, and in the dark of his room he could do no more than to lightly trace the symbol engraved in its center.
The symbol of Pisces.
Last year, he and his sister had been called into the High Priest's office and made to pick the stones they wished to be the new braves for. Meliadoul had graciously allowed Izlude to go first, and this was the stone he had picked for himself.
When he had read the official notice of Reis Dular's death, he had noticed that she had been--was a Pisces.
But now, everything was much clearer to him. Now that he found out that she was alive, he could keep the promise they had made, the promise that bound them as siblings. He was going to master the sword like any other knight. With the help of the other braves, he would save Ivalice and make it into God's promised land, just like Saint Ajora had once claimed of the country. There were so many possibilities in life, and Izlude Tingel was going to make sure that Ivalice had the very best one in its future.
Or die trying.
-End-
I really like Izlude and Meliadoul...and I can't forget Kletian as well! These three Shrine Knights make up half my list of my favorite FFT characters, so I had to show them off here. Each of them show an interesting quality: single-mindedness. Izlude's all for helping Ivalice, Meliadoul screams from a rooftop you killed Izlude, now die!', and Kletian is all about proving himself to Rofel. However, between Izlude I'm-going-to-Jump-at-you-with-a-sword-even-though-it's-the-spear-that-gives-the-damage-bonus-for-that-skill' Tingel and Kletian I'm-going-to-have-an-uber-group-of-ninja-and-samurai-and-time-mages,-but-I'm-going-to-stand-in-front-of-them-and-charge-Dark-Holy-for-ten-turns-on-my-first-turn-without-moving' Drowa, I can't help but think that the Shrine Knights are long on passion, but regrettably short on tactical skills. Ah, well, that's part of their charm.
I find that the most interesting relationships in the game happen to be between siblings. Considering that there are eight different brother/sister pairs, not to talk of elder brothers (including Dycedarg's :)), we get the idea that family is the most important bond in the game (though some people --coughMalakandDycedargcough-- are pretty bad siblings overall). What makes the relationship between Meliadoul and Izlude so interesting is that she's the only confirmed older sister, and consequently there are lots of little role-reversals that enhance who they are.
- Despite the four and a half years between their ages...' I can't find any single source that seems wholly reliable on FFT ages. What I plan on doing is playing the game straight through and find out the real age differences, and then making the necessary changes.
- Knight Blade' -- Night Blade'. FFT, for all your mistranslating needs!
-The description of Izlude in Gariland is from this absolutely beautiful Japanese fanart I found while looking for Reis art. I would put it up on my author's page (along with the immensely beautiful watercolor of Reis I found on that same site), but that's very disrespectful to the artist so...I'm sorry.
-I wrote twenty-something pages of Izlude wielding a spear before I found out via GameFAQ's FFT board that he uses a sword in his battle. Because it's annoying to change all the references, he keeps his spear.
Reviewers!
Thanks, anon, I changed the note in that story as soon as I read your review.
Hey, Mavina, do you think I could let go of anything having to do with WHW so soon? I had to keep writing.
Man, Luna...you're pretty cruel. I've been trying to find a way to get to the East Coast just to see Hyde...but I'm poor, so I'm going to lock myself up in my room and play Roentgen', 666', and the two Laruku CDs that came out this year. You've made me a sad fangirl, lemme tell ya. Um, anyway, review...I wasn't sure how everyone was going to view the stuff about Alazlam and his interactions with his students/assistants. I wondered if I overloaded the story, so I really felt better after seeing your review. Then I felt horrible about the Otakon thing, so it all evens out!
Yo, The Burning Misery...yeah, decided to go down the same hour I was going to post up the story. Good thing I didn't, I guess. Heh, I thought that Queklain was the easiest. Velius...now that guy's a bastard.
It's sad to say, but I frequently research' the game. I lurk the FFT board at GameFAQs, and I can read enough Japanese to look up information on this one site that has everything in the game in the original Japanese text. Oh, and my PS2 is right next to my computer. Hm, Reis and Buremonda info in the game? The only places in the game that you find out about Buremonda is in the description of the scene Reis' curse' and Reis and Beowulf's Brave Story entries. Reis' past...um, that's all me trying to justify why the game says this or that. I still don't believe anyone's enough of an idiot to turn the person they hate most into a frigging holy dragon, of all things. And don't call yourself slow, I'm pretty slow myself if it doesn't have to do with writing.
What you pointed out was interesting. In the epilogue, Draclau explicitly states that Buremonda wants me to declare you a heretic', which caused Beowulf to think about taking up the charge. However, then I realized that my date in the story's journal was off by lots of days, so I'm just going to thank you for the correction.
Heh...I don't see how I'm hinting Tingel' for this story when I posted up the story title. But no, Chieko's diary is just a loose end that I may or may not tie up one day.
...Ah, this is a little long, isn't it? Well, for the review on Predator, it's set at some random time after Reis recovers her human body. I put up a small note at the end because I'm sure that others were confused as well.
Ooh! Kumusta, Toastyann! Though I know you never read the notes, I'm going to answer anyway. I'm really happy you liked the story and the concluding chapters so much, it means a lot to me! You don't have to explain about the too slow for you' thing, you've already explained it to me once in an email. And please, take your time to tell me what you think about the last chapters and the epilogue. That makes it better. :)
I considered placing Those Left Behind in its own story file, but I decided against it when I realized how interconnected this little series is to Within Holy Walls. It's as much for everyone's convenience as much as mine to simply attach these stories to WHW so that anyone willing to can easily look for a reference to a chapter without having to switch story files or anything like that.
Comparing my writing to Mitsuda's music is one of the highest compliments I have ever received as a writer. I adore his compositions, from Chrono Trigger to Xenogears to Chrono Cross (which is the absolute best game soundtrack I own), and I often listen to them while writing. So, thank you.
Hey, Hawk of Death! Somehow, I have a feeling you've been reading this for days. I'm glad you like it so much, and I honestly hope that my renditions of Izlude and Meliadoul are good enough for you! Good luck with your story, too, I always enjoy reading it.
Thank you for reading! Incidently, I have another FFT fic, Predator, that I'd like to hear some more opinions about. I'm always looking to improve, no matter the story!
Those Left Behind, third story: Orpheus' Dilemma or The Love That Transcended Life' (8/09)