.hackBARON
Her body felt suddenly light as the auroma of coffee entered her nostrils. She felt herself float back down onto the bed as she opened her eyes. The ceiling was blurry at first but her sight adjusted quickly. She didn't think her character's body in the game would react the same way her body did in real life. How realistic this game was.
"So you're finally awake?" a distant voice said. Rydia's eyes darted to her right. It was a white mage in training. She walked around, her white robe fitting around her body perfectly. Rydia lifted her head, gazing at the woman's derriere. Then her sight lifted from it to the steaming cup of coffee. The woman walked around, treating other patients asking the same question, or making the same comment over and over again. Another non-playable character. At least she knew how to care for her patients. That mattered more than making good conversation.
Lifting her hand to her head she slowly sat up. Then a real doctor appeared in the room. He stood next to her bed and looked down at her.
Rydia's eyes met his as she rubbed the top of her head.
"You've suffered the least injuries yet you slept the longest." he said with a smile. "I suppose it was more of a mental strain, rather than a physical one."
"How're my--"
"Oh they're fine. Ace of the Caracal is still in bed, being cared for by Celestial Being."
"What about Rose?"
"She's somewhere in the castle. She said she had to think about a few things. Speaking of those few things, she said that she wanted to wait for you to recover before she made a report to his highness."
"Why wait for me? She could've made a report while I was out. She had Celes with her, wouldn't that be enough for a witness to the event?"
"I don't know why she wanted to wait for you. But she said it if weren't for you, your party wouldn't have made it out alive."
Looking down at the sheet over her thighs she let her eyes close as she let it all sink it. What was that monster? A handsome man suddenly bursting into an acidic monster? And a Lunarian one on top of that?
Speaking to the King made her feel very self-conscious once again. What if he were like this Golbez those three were talking about? What if he didn't like newbies? What if he didn't want to listen to her story? She let all these doubts fill her head as she suddenly sighed. Everything that weighed on her chest began to melt down her body. Rydia expelled all the negative energy and could almost feel it oozing over the sides of the bed. It finally disappeared.
"Are you feeling all right, Miss Rydia?"
"Yes." she said, opening her eyes, "Yes, I feel fine. Where is Ace and Celestial Being?"
"In another room just down the hall. You'll find it on the left side."
"Thank you."
.f.a.l.s.e.d.e.f.e.n.s.e.
Opening the door to the room, Rydia gazed it. It was a private room, just a cot and cabinet. Rydia assumed it had healing herbs and different medical supplies within. Looking down at the cot she noticed Celes kneeling beside it. She sounded as though she were sobbing. Stepping into the room she closed the door silently behind her. Walking toward the cot she gazed down at Ace, whom was asleep though appeared to be in pain.
"So they've bandaged up his wounds and everything?" Rydia asked quietly.
"Yeah, but they still have yet to find a cure."
"Cure for what?"
"The poison that was in that acid."
"There was poison?"
"What do you think..?" Celes sneered with a
sniffle then looked back down at Ace.
She held his hand and sighed, sniffing again. "If only I were a
white wizard.. Maybe I could help with the pain.."
Rydia opened her mouth, then shut it without saying anything. This was something Celestial Being had to deal with on her own. Ace was a close friend of hers and she had to handle this alone. Not that Rydia wouldn't be there to console her, but she had the feeling Celes didn't want consolence. Especially not from her.
Closing the door behind her, Rydia walked down the hall. She tried to think about the situation. It wasn't her problem, was it? How would she deal with it? Surely there's nothing this newbie could do about it, right? It wasn't something she was involved in. There was nothing she could do about it. But she was there in that forest. She was there just as scared as her party members. She was there fighting with them. She was involved.
There had to have been something she could do about this.
Rydia walked through the cavern behind Ace. She looked as scared as any girl could be. When Ace realized her and Celes were tired, he suggested they set up camp at the nearest save point. There they built a fire. Celes was sound asleep and Rydia had her sleeping bag wrapped around her.
"You're scared, huh?" Ace asked with a smile, carving something out of wood. Rydia nodded slowly, a little ashamed.
"Don't feel ashamed about it. There's nothing to be ashamed of because when you're scared, you know that there's something out there that can harm you. But when you're scared of something unknown, that's when faith comes in." A small chunk of wood fell from the carving as he continued, "When you have faith in yourself, that's when you become aware of what you're capable of. And when you're aware of yourself, you'll know what's weaker than you. So you won't be as afraid."
Rydia nodded slowly, staring into the fire. She knew if she looked him in the face she would blush. He was so inspiring.
"And don't you dare back down on what you believe to be right. I should hope by now you know what right from wrong is, correct?"
Rydia acknowledged this with an "Mmm. Hmm."
"Good. 'Cause no matter what, you fight for what you believe is the right thing for all parties involved. What would hurt the least people, or at least what would be best for all whose interest is involve. Don't be afraid to stand up to authorities, because most of the time these authorities are corrupt. They're only looking out for themselves. They don't care about you or me. Do you understand?"
Rydia nodded, looking down at the ground. She yawned.
"You better rest up your character. We have a long ways to go before we meet up with Rose again, okay?"
Looking up, Rydia noticed Rose pacing back and forth on the landing above her. Walking up the stairs she tried to say something but Rose immediately knew it was her.
"I know Ace is in bad shape, but since Celes won't budge from that room you're the only witness that's available to attend the meeting." She suddenly stopped and turned to Rydia. "You know what this means right?"
"It's like going to court?"
"No, no, no." Rose shook her head. "It's more like a business meeting. Just medieval style."
"We won't get our heads chopped off if we say the wrong thing, right?"
The woman just laughed. Rydia was relieved to see a smile on her face. She had seemed so worried beforehand.
They stood infront of the double doors waiting in the small room. Someone cracked them open and said to the girls: "His highness will see you now."
"Thank you, Beigan." Rose smiled and nodded, walking through the now open doors. Rydia just stared at Beigan as she followed closely behind Rose.
"Don't worry. He's a non-playable character. He won't suddenly turn on us in the middle of the storyline."
"Oh. . ." Rydia felt safer hearing this. She turned toward the King, standing in the middle of the red carpet next to Rose. Koyie knelt down, bowing her head. Seeing this, Rydia did the same thing, just a little clumsier. Cecil stood up from his seat and walked down the stairs slowly. He eyed them and stopped infront of them.
"You may speak." he said softly.
Rose raised her head as she nodded to him and began to explain. It took several minutes for her to report the entire story. He just nodded and replied every now and then. It seemed he really understood. He was unlike any king Rydia had met. She watched him walk back and forth every now and then, trying to keep her face covered by her hair. She didn't want to appear rude by staring.
"Is that all?" he asked as Rose finished the story.
"Yes."
"I'll send two troops of soldiers down there in the morn." He said nonchalantly, walking back toward his throne. He wanted time to think about this. His simple "I'll do this in the morning" answer seemed a little cold to Rydia. Who did he think he was? Those soldiers will be killed! They don't know what they're fighting against. Plus, they didn't know the monster's weaknesses. Rose didn't even tell him about the scent of Lunarian blood. He was just going to make a decision like that?
"But your highness!" She bursted out, "Do you really think two groups of soldiers stand a chance against this thing? You don't even know its weakness! How do you suppo--"
Rose covered Rydia's mouth and stood up in apology for her rudeness.
"Wh-what she means your highness is. . . Maybe people who are experienced with the beast should handle it. Or atleast go with the troups. It's apparently weak against ice but strong against physical attacks."
"Oh?" he asked, turning toward them, "And why didn't you say this in your report?"
"I didn't think you'd be so sudden in your decision, your highness."
"If it's weak against elemental attacks then--"
"You're highness, it absorbs electricity."
Cecil sighed patiently, then said, "Then we'll send mages down there who know upper level water and ice spells. Until then I'm unsure of what to do. We have to keep that thing in that forest. Heaven forbid that thing leaves and attacks elsewhere."
"But what if--"
"Are you questioning my judgement?"
"N-no, sir." She said kneeling back down.
"I'll send three troops an a troop of mages in the morn. Until then you are dismissed."
"Thank you, your highness." The girl arose from their spot as the king walked toward the balcony. They were led out of the throne room by Beigan. Rydia blushed the entire way out. Never had she thought she had the nerve to speak out of turn. It was funny though, since she was known as 'the newb with no gall.' Boy, did she break out of her name quickly.
The very next morning, Rydia and Rose gathered to watch the troops off outside of Baron. The King stood at a podium and re-explained the mission objectives. After his long speech, Golbez made the same speech. Rydia couldn't understand why people did that. Did they really think these people were all that dense? Looking among the crowd Rydia saw a guy picking his nose and another chugging down a bottle of liquor. With a sweatdrop, her attention went back to Cid's speech.
"What's up with their choice in soldiers?" Rydia whispered to Rose.
"They didn't have much time training this group."
"Don't they even know anything about the monster?"
"I don't know. Cecil wouldn't tell me."
"What about the troops? Didn't he even see them in training?"
"Nah, these are the groups Golbez hired. He's trying to prove his point about newbies."
"Talk about prejudice."
"This'll just allow him to preech more and more about how newbies will be responsible for the fall of Baron."
"Sounds like he'll be the one responsible for it. With the way he's handling things."
"Yeah, I still don't understand why he let Golbez have control of the military."
"Oh, hey," Rydia asked, "Why aren't we down there with the soldiers?"
Rose crossed her arms, apparently unhappy. "We weren't added to the mission."
"Why not?"
"It's a political conspiracy."
"Like the X-Files?"
"No.." Rose started sounding impatient, "A political conspiracy. As if someone had preplanned this. Someone with enough motivation. Someone who wants those soldiers to die by the dozens today."
"To prove a point, right?"
"He wouldn't . . ." Rose dropped her arms.
"Who wouldn't?"
"C'mon, let's go." Koyie commanded, running down the small set of stairs toward the King's podium. Rydia followed behind quickly, but they were slow getting there. Slow because of the large crowd. They had to go through different officers and onlookers before they could make it.
By the time they'd gotten there Cecil had left for the castle. Golbez stood there and sneered down at them. Rose felt a chill run down her spine. Her scalp tightened as she walked around the podium. The Golbez she knew would never.. Not the Paladin. Perhaps as a Dark Knight he wouldn't have any qualms about sacrificing hundreds of people for some evil purpose. But Golbez the Paladin was humourous and warm hearted, right?
They walked toward the entrance of the castle, crowds of people in the village saying goodbye to their fellow soldiers. As they entered the doorway they were pushed back by soldiers.
"Off limits." One said as Golbez walked past them.
"Learn your place." he said coldy, walking past them into the castle. He didn't seem to recognize Rose. Someone he was supposedly close to. She felt rejected. Ignored. She felt angry.
"Let me in there! I have to speak to the king."
"I'm sorry ma'am. This area is blocked off until further notice."
"Shit..." She turned around and walked past Rydia angrily.
"What do we do now?"
"We return to the village and wait for a response. In the meantime we can check up on Celes and Ace. They need to know what's going on."
