Radical Dreamers

by Geniasis

Three thieves, one Frozen Flame in the mansion of an aristocrat. But not everything is as it appears. For their quest will reveal a past that they don't remember, and old wrongs will be righted.

2. Le Trésor Interdit

If I owned this I'd be rich. But I don't so I'm not

Le Trésor Interdit

"Boy, did her information help. I thought the perimeter's counterspell would be quite a problem."

Kid's braid sways gently from side to side in the cool nighttime breeze.

So far, we've managed to slip through the magical shield network undetected and sneak into Lynx's domain. Still,
this inner region can make for some pretty rought travel.

Kid, Magil, and I comprise this party of three...

It's been something like three years since Kid and I met.
Back then I was a drifter, wandering wherever my music led me. During my stay in the remote town of Regiorra, I ended up running into a girl who later joined me, leading to the beginning of all this.

That girl was Kid...

Kid is a thief, of course

Not even seventeen years old, already she's widely renowned as a top professional. To make matters worse,
she's cute, devilishly stylish, and has a sparkling personality. And boy can she cook...if you ask her, that is.

Well, to be completey honest, she has her share of problems as well. She likes to think of herself as a kind of Robin Hood, stealing from the rih and giving to the poor, but that's just not the case.

At times her sharp tounge can get the best of her,
viciously lashing out at anyone who stands in her way.
She exaggerates every other word, and sometimes lies outright... and as for listening to other people, well,
forget it.

When it comes to money, well, I've never met anyone greedier in my life. Her relentless pursuit of wealth is ironic, considering she's a nomad, like me...

I don't know, maybe I'm being too hard on her. She has her good points, too. She can really shine sometimes,
when she wants too...

Glancing back over my shoulder, I notice a sillhouette silently emerge from the grove.

Magil...

This associate of Kid's is known to us only as 'Magil of the Shadows'

I know next to nothing about him, except for the fact that he somehow knew Kid before I came into the picture.

A high-class magician of some sort, he looks to be about thirty. He usually keeps to himself, though.

The top half of his face is covered with a mask at all times. I've never even seen what he really looks like.

At times, it seems as though I'm hanging around someone from another world -- traveling with this pack is definitely an interesting experience.

Kid's quiet about her past too, but it's like I know her entire life story compared to how little I know about Magil.

From time to time I find myself wondering who he is,
where he came from, and so on. I'd ask Kid, but I get the impression she knows as little about him as I do.

You might be wondering, how did I end up where I am now? Well, there's a lot of reasons, I suppose.

I guess you could say that life doesn't always go how you plan.

Suddenly, Kid comes to an abrupt stop.

"Seems someone wants to say hello."

Out of a nearby thicket, two shimmering eyes catch my attention . Whatever it is, it's staring at me sliently.

After a few moments, a few more pairs of eyes appear.
They seem to be surveying the area.

A deep feline growl breaks the uncomfortable silence,
and I realize we're being hunted by a pack of feral cats.

A few of the figures slowly approach from behind the trees. I look behind me, only to see that they've already encircled us.

A few more slowly creep in, now totaling about ten...

Chills run down my spine. In a daze I clumsily unsheathe my knife, grasping it tightly as I bite my lip.

Kid stands ready with an air of composure.

"Careful, mate. These buggers are prolly rabid."

The growling increases, now a constant rumble all around us.

Their yellow eyes shimmer like jack-o-lanterns while saliva drips from their snarling jaws.

The middle one's stomach gurgles as its eyes widen, fixed directly on me.

"Looks like we ain't gettin' outta this one without a fight!"

I slash viciously at a nearby cat.

Startled, it leaps back with incredible reflexes. I stay my ground, not getting any closer to the beast.

Hearing a howl, I know I've hit my mark.

licking its wound, the animal recovers after a moment of pain.

I ready my knife, waiting for my next chance to attack.

"Serge, behind ya!!"

I turn around to see that I'm now face to face with a pair of those ravenous yellow eyes.

There's no time!!

I suck as the lunges and snaps at me. I smell the bloody odor of the cat's breath as it passes overhead.
Just as I think it's past me, I feel its back claws dig into my back!

Scrambling out of the way, I manage to shove my knife upwards, planting it deep within the animal's belly!!

The sound of death can heard as the cat falls to the ground before me, barely moving.

Almost delirious, I lose balance and fall to my knees.
Rolling over, I manage to shake off the confusion before any of the other cats can get any closer to me.

I take a deep breath and try to tighten my grip on my knife, now slippery with sweat.

Then, out of nowhere, Kid flashes across my field of vision, landing a direct hit onto a cat beside me!

The cat screeches in pain as Kid pins it to the ground,
stomping and kicking it with all her rage! Without a moment's delay, she boots the animal up underneath its jaw. It moves no more.

All of a sudden, the crazed atmosphere gives way to a war cry behind me!

I whip around to see Magil's inferno spell setting a cat's head ablaze! It jumps up, screeching and howling in madness before running away wildly. In confusion, it runs directly into a tree and knocks itself out cold.

I look around, and see that only one of the pack hasn't been taken care of yet. As Kid and I start to close in on the beast, it bolts, fearing for its life.

"Well that was some workout, eh mate?" says Kid,
coming towards me as she tends to her arm.

I take a deep breath as I look around, trying not to step on too many of the bodies.

I'll admit I was a little worried back there at times, but nothing to serious happened.

I try talking to Magil, despite knowing how'll he'll react.

"Are you all right?"

With an expressionless face he looks down at me blankly.

"You need not worry about me."

Wow, the affection is just overflowing from that guy.

However, I probably shouldn't start complaining now.
We've still got a long way to go... We haven't even set foot inside Viper Manor yet.

Kid glances over at me, seeming eager as ever, ready to tackle what's next. "Ya gonna hang around all night or what, mate?"

"No way, let's go."

"Hey, c'mere."

Trying to ignore my aches and pains, I head over towards kid.

"Good job back there, mate."

She comes closer. I can see the reflection of the moon in her eyes, as she gives me a warm, comforting smile

"But c'mon, we can't just stand around all night! There's treasure waitin' to be found!"

I'm still lost in her eyes as she starts to set off...

Magil continues behind her without a hitch.

I hurry to catch up behind the two. In a place like this,
getting seperated would be a bad idea...

We continue to make our way through this natural labyrinth of wood and rock. Somewhere, quietly waiting within this huge forest, Viper Manor beckons us. Deep within lies the treasure we've come for.

Lord Lynx, as he's formally known, is an aristocrat who governs the Regionna outlands. From the way Kid talks he's apparently an old adversary of hers.

Tonight, our goal is Lord Lynx's most prized possession a scarlet jewel known as the Frozen Flame.

Besides being priceless, some say this beautiful stone harbors some sort of mystical power.

They say many people have sought after the Flame, but none have been victorious in stealing it. Viper Manor has claimed many lives...

...But we will succeed

We pride ourselves on making the impossible possible.
Besides, the way Kid talks about Lynx sometimes, it sounds like she's got an awfully personal vendetta against him.

We can't lose... We've come too far to lose.

And so, after having spent countless hours crossing this dreary, lonesome forest, the silhouette of a towering mansion finally comes into view through the trees.

"We made it!" Kid shouts. "Yer days are numbered,
Lynx!"

We quickly make our move, quietly dashing out from behind a thicket. Once at the mansion wall, we creep stealthily along the perimeter, searching for an entry point.

After a short while, we come upon a terrace near a garden which looks relatively inviting

It doesn't look like there are any guards on patrol. Still,
the mansion gives off a strange sort of morbid feeling.
It's as quiet as death.

Magil gazes up at the towering fortress. "We can enter into the west wing from here. There's no need to look elsewhere."

"Okay, let's go!" Kid says, jumping over the terrace handrail.

"Halt!" shouts Magil from behind, staring at Kid. "Our goal is the Frozen Flame, not vengeance on Lord Lynx.
Remember this, Kid."

"Aye, no prob," she says, glancing over her shoulder.

"Ain't gonna be nothin' to it... like takin' candy from a baby. We'll be outta here before that slimey rat knows what hit him! Yeah, ya low-down, good-for-nothin'
bastard, I'll make you pay!!"

There she goes again...

"C'mon, I'm gettin' tired of waitin' around!" she yells,
before bolting into the mansion.

Magil shakes his head in silence as I chase after Kid,
already deep inside.

The darkness engulfs me...

Passages extend to the left and right. Wherever we turn,
darkness awaits...

"Let's try the left passage."

As though, we're inside a gigantic snake, the passageway twists and turns, stretching deeper and deeper into the mansion

We now stand in almost complete and utter darkness.
Just a trace of moonlight manages to illuminate the path.
I stop for a moment, and realize it's now completely silent. I feel as though we're being watched silently by every single being in this dreadful house.

Taking a deep breath, I move on...

And I set my foot down slyly. With the stealth of a cat yet a valiently composed, Kid follows behind in stride.
Drifting in and out of the shadows, the macabre figure of Magil looks out from behind.

The weaver of Fate has surely by now taken notice of us, cradling us carefully in her arms...

After a while, the path splits into three directions. To the left, is a descendinding staircase, while the path on the right extends into darkness. Another passageway lies ahead...

As I start to slowly descend the stairs in the dim light, I stretch my hands out in front of me to try and feel for something. However, all I'm greeted with is the moist feeling of these frimy stone walls.

We've decended the staircase. To the left, lies a huge stone archway, and to the right we can see a narrow path twisting into the darkness.

The passageway on the right makes a sharp turn to the right,
before strching on through this subterranean maze...

Before long, we're greeted with a beautifully ornate set of doors on the right. Strange... there's a distinct smell of flowers coming from here.

We come to a comfortably decorated room. Small trinkets have been placed on the desk and shelves, adding some charm. The owner of this room has obviously gone to great lengths to try and bring a somewhat graceful lifestyle into this otherwise dark mansion. Still, the room seems to carry an unsettling stillness with it.

The letter on the desk and the warm teacup hint of a woman living here. However, after searching the room, no one is found.

All we find are various odds and ends: a beautifully arranged set of flowers, a white handkerchief carelessly tossed aside, a small bottle of perfume, and so on.
Although this stuff adds atmosphere to the room, none of it is really worth anything to us.

Kid also seems to feel this way, disregarding most of the stuff in here. She picks up a small box, decorated with a serpentine coat of arms. However, like the rest of the items in here, it looks like it's of little worth to us.

I open up the dresser.

All sorts of differently colored garments have been placed in the drawer. Frills, lace, and just about every color of lingerie...

"Wonder what kinda dress is this," Kid mutters, holding up a silk garment from the bottom of the drawer.
Examining the dress, I can see she's fascinated with it.

"I've never worn anything like this before," she says running her hands across the fine floral lace.

She slides the dress down her shirt, and pulls it up over her shoulders. After a moment or two of shuffling around, she undoes her shirt and I see her wearing nothing but the silk dress. She looks as graceful as a fairy with it on.

"Wow, look at me... I'm a lovely maiden! Not a scrap of roughage on me!"

"None whatsoever... a perfect fit!"

"Aw, Serge... quit teasin'!" says Kid, blushing.

"C'mon, let's go," she says after a while, putting her old clothes back on with a smile on her face.

From here, the passageway streches to the right and left.
Heading right will take us further into darkness, while turning left will take us back to the staircase.

After a little while, the dark passageway ends at a polished, robust set of doors.

Kid crinkles her nose in digust. "Somethin's strange about this place... it don't feel right, mate. Prolly just my imgaination though, heh..."

Standing here in the cold darkness, Kid's hollow laugh does nothing but add to my fear.

These are apparently Lynx's quarters. No one seems to be here, however.

"We're right on top of ya now, Lynx! Say yer prayers,
ya bastard!"

Looking around, it's a very dilapidated room. Furniture is thrown about in all directions, and almost nothing matches. Taking a look at the room as a whole, there's no sense of harmony whatsoever. It's very suggestive of a chaotic mind.

"Okay, looks like we gotta search through this mess."
There's a cluttered desk, a painting that's hanging unevenly on the far wall, and pitcher on a side table,
among other things.

In one corner of the room stands a tall, curious object of some sort. A scarlet cloth has been placed over it,
covering it up.

As I slowly reach my hand out to uncover it, Magil suddenly says, "Please avoid reckless intereference."

Taking his advice, I return my hand to my side.

However, the cloth suddebly starts to fall off on its own.

"I didn't touch it, I swear!"

"What, did it just leap off all by itself?" Kid asks, rolling her eyes.

A large mirror has been uncovered. Fancifully decorated,
it looks to be a high-priced arabesque antique.

"I got a bad feelin' about this..."

Then, all of a sudden..

The reflection of the Venus statue opens its eyes, staring at us through the mirror!

"Is there something you seek?" the statue's reflection asks, in a soft womanly voice.

The voice seems to be coming from the statue in front of me, but only the mirror's reflection seems to be moving.

"it... it can talk!"

"It is a mirror of Whispers," Magil says, examining it closely.

"What is it though?"

"It is a looking glass that harbors a living spirit. The sprit is free to roam throughout nearby mirrors, able to see into our everyday lives. They are known to be quite wise. Is there anything you wish to ask?"

Wow... a million question come to mind...

"What in blazes are ya askin' about me for!?" Kid shouts with a red face

"Very well," the statues reflection says.

Ignoring Kid, who's slapping and pulling me, I focus on the mirror

The reflection of the statue begins to ripple a little.
Gradually, the mirror fades into darkness.

Before long, the jet black surface of the mirror is filled with what looks like Regionna. One by one, shadows of tree's, houses, and people materialize...

The mirror focuses in on a young woman, surrounded by small children. The children are dirty and poorly dressed,
but they're all smiling and playing happily nonetheless.

Then, abruptly, the building they're in bursts into flames. Armed troops are all around. Everyone scrambles for a way out, but...

Against her will, the young woman is abducted. The children, however, meet a much darker fate...

Time passes. After the fire has burnt the building to the ground, the mirror shifts focus to a small girl covered in soot, crying behind the charred remains her home. She lets loose a bloodcurdling scream into the open sky, as her right eye narrows like a cat's...

"Stop!!!" Kid shouts.

I look back to the mirror, but the image has already started to fade...

Squeezing her hand into a fist, Kid slumps downard.
The room is silent.

"Kid... I'm sorry..."

"Let's go," Kid says abruptly, heading towards the door.

"Wait! Wait for me, Kid!" I shout as I chase after her.

Heading back, we travel through the passageway, eager to shake this feeling of dread.

After walking a ways, we come to a beautilfully decorated set of doors on the left.

This is Riddel's room.

Continuing on through the pasaage, eventually we come to a branch.

We see an upwards staircase on the left, as well as a stone archway directly ahead.

I follow Kid up the narrow set of stairs, hoping not to lose my balance...

We've ascended the staircase. In front of us, paths extend in three directions. To the left lies a dark corridor,
and the right path leads out to the terrace. This path also continues on ahead...

We head down the path. After a while, it ends at a stained wooden door.

"Guess this's the study."

This huge room is faintly lit by the moonlight, shining in through a tall window. In the back of the room stands a large, ornately decorated desk.

Row after row of bookshelves house thousands of thick,
dusty books. A painting is hung on the rear wall, sharing space with various exotic curios.

I walk over and open a drawer in the mahogany desk.

The drawers contain writing materials and documents,
arranged in an orderly fashion. Infortunately, they don't seem to contain anything worth mentioning.

But then, a small picture in the drawer catches my eye. It's a portrait of a friendly-looking girl with a faint smile on her face.

I hold it up, wondering who it could be...

"It's prolly Lynx's adopted daughter," Kid says, looking over my shoulder with her nose crinkled. "...Pedophile."

Suddenly, we start to hear footsteps coming this way.
Though they aren't that loud, they boom like thunder in the night.

Kid and I jump up. Magil swiftly conceals himself in the nearby shadows.

Kid and I scurry down underneath the desk. Curling up, I wrap her up in my arms.

"Hmph... smaller than I though."

"What? Hey I..."

The door opens with a sudden creak. We sit motionless without making a peep.

The quivering the light of a candle spreads in from the doorway. Soon after, a hand holding a candlestick comes into view from behind the door.

Tightening, I nervously hold my breath.

When I look down, my heart skips a beat. With Kid's lips right in front of me, I feel myself starting to lose control.
So full... and pink... and glossy...

My heart starts pounding faster and faster. I force myself to stop staring and shut my eyes tight.

Whoever opened the door doesn't seem to have any intention of entering the room.

"Mmmh... thought I heard something. No reason for anybody to be in here though, since the Master is away.
Still, with those Porre southerners on the move, it's never too safe to be sorry...."

The door closes softly, covering the room in darkness once again. For a while we wait, not moving an inch.

The footsteps echo away into the distance.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I can't stop thinking about how great she smells...

"Hey, how long are you gonna stick to me like that?"
Kid asks, blowing into my ear. "Huh? Uh... I mean... sorry!"

I quickly get up, bumping my head against the desk with a loud bang.

I crawl out, rubbing my head.

"Man, that stings."

Kid comes out next. Crouching, she looks me over and says, "Ya goof... you arrite?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"So, Porre is up to something," Magil says quietly,
emerging from the shadows.

Porre is a large country governing the southern continent. I hear it's a pretty well developed and fairly properous place. But what would they be after in these outlands? Sure not the Frozen Flame...?

No matter how valuable it may be, in the end it's just a jewel... a piece of rock. How valuable could it really be?

We leave the study, retracing our steps through the dark passageway. Finally, the passage come to a three-way branch.

There's a descending staircase in front of us, in addition to passageways on the right and left. The one on the left will take us back towards the terrace,

After continuing in through the passage for a while,
the terrace comes into view on the right. I take a deep breath of the fresh evening air, hoping to calm my senses.

We make our way down the dimly lit passageway. After a few moments, we come to an old, dusty door on the right. Kid quetly presses her ear against the door.

"Quiet as a church mouse. No one's there, mate."

"What's with all this junk? Must be a storeroom or somethin'..."

It seems like this is the inner mechanics of a clock tower.
However, the gears look old and rusted, and cogs are spinnning randomly without connecting up with their proper teeth. I doubt the clock's still in use today; the room seems to be currently used as a storage area.

A large object catches my attention, off in a far corner of the room. It's too dark over there to see what it is,
though.

"Do not touch anything out of the ordinary," Magil says abruptly, sending a sudden shock down my spine.

However, just as he says this, I see Kid emerge from the shadows, dragging the large object out into the middle of the room.

It's a large antique sword of some kind.

"We've got no use for that old thing, Kid. All it'll do is slow us down. Besides, we probably wouldn't even get much money for it."

"Hmph. I reckon it's worth a lot to the right buyer, like an antique collector or somebody..."

Sulking, Kid quietly lays the sword down.

"What do you want?"

I look around, startled. That was definitely not any of our voices.

Kid and Magil immediately take a position, focusing their attention towards the source of the voice.

"Who's there!?"

A figure suddenly appears out of the darkness. It seems to be a short old woman with a large hood over her head.
Although fully covered, it's obvious she's quite old.

"Aw, it's just some old hag," Kid says. Magil's sharp gaze on the woman remains unchanged, however.

"Heh, heh... what an energetic young lady. You haven't come here this late in the evening to drop in on some friends, I'd imagine..."

I glance at Kid.

"Perhaps you have some score to settle with Master Lynx...?"

My heart jumps...

This is definitely not good. Will she warn the rest of them about us?

Kid's eyes narrow. "If we did have a score to settle with that bastard, what's it to you.

"Heh... just as I expected."

The old woman cackles in amusement.

"Children... they're always so interesting like that. So imaginative, yet so predictable."

"What're you talkin' about, old lady?"

"Oh, it's already been four or five years, I would gather.
According to what I was told, one night a young thief came to the manor, looking for trouble... The thief was a little girl, about ten years old."

Suprised, I glance at Kid. There's a trace of an ice-like radiance in her eyes. Staring at her makes me feel like it's suddenly dropped below freezing in here.

Unfazed, the old woman continues her story...

"The girl was an orphan. She set off to face Master Lynx all alone, hoping to avenge the girl who had cared for her like a big sister.

But, after all, she was all alone. Outnumbered and overpowered, she was eventually defeated and captured by Master Lynx's henchmen...

As an ally, Master Lynx can be quite an asset. However,
as an enemy, he can be one of the most fearsome men alive. If not for a friend who sneaked in and secretly rescued her, she surely would have perished.

From what I've heard, this mysterious figure who could allegedly slip in and out of the shadows was the subject of many whispers throughout the manor, long after this incident had come to pass."

"The inhabitants of Viper Manor don't condem the unfortunate, because no on can win all the time.
However, from time to time, the Goddess of Fate has been known to cast down those who have too much good luck,
throwing the cogs of time out of order. It's not wise to try and stand against fate, continuing to repeat one's mistakes time and time again."

The old woman continues, staring straight at Kid, smiling weetly. "If you want to steal the jewel, and if you really want to beat him, you too must give up your most valued posession, Kid. As long as you cling to it, the hands of your clock will never budge. They'll stay frozen, trapped in the distant past..."

"...Who the bloody hell is this old hag...!?"

"Me? Oh, just an old lady...pay me no mind. Thank you for listening to this old maid for such a long time. I certainly hope I haven't delayed you at all. But before you leave, which one of you..."

With that, the old woman looksin my direction.

"Ah, yes. You look like you've got a bit of a scrape there. Won't you let me have a look at it?"

What should I do? I don't know whether to be petrified or comforted by all this...

The old woman clasps her hands together. Bowing her head, she mumbles a few words in a low tone.

Suddenly. a gentle pale blue light surrounds my body,
filling me with a strange warmth!

"Wow... llok at that!"

My wounds are being healed before my eyes! It feels as though there's some sort of soft music being played all around me, putting me into a strange serenity.

When I come around, the woman is gone.

"Hello? Lady?" says Kid, relentlessly looking around.
However, there's no trace of her. All signs of her presence are gone.

"Wonder what was up with that old hag..."
Looking around, I can't help but wonder what she was talking about, with all that talk about a prized possession and everything.

"Let's get our arses outta here! This place givin' me the creeps!" says Kid all of a sudden, already heading for the door.

"Hey, wait up."

As I catch up with Kid, she gives me a friendly poke in the ribs. "Hmph, ain't no fair you were the only one who got healed."

From here, the passageway stretches to the right and left. The right path continues on into the mansion, while heading to the left will take us to the terrace.

Proceeding ahead on the path, we've come to a staircase going up, and... a firm-looking set of doors on the left.

"There better be treasure here. The smell of gold's thick in the air, mate."

"Hmph, just like I though... locked," Kid says after jiggling the handle. Frustrated, she kicks the door.

"This might slow us down, but sure as bloddy 'ell won't keep us out!"

"Well, unless we find the key, there's nothing we can do,
Kid."

"Let's get to it then. I bet Lynx's got it stashed up in his room somewhere, the bastard..."

unable to do anything, we leave to look elsewhere.

With Kid in the lead, we ascend the narrow staircase...

The cracked stone stairs seem to endlessly twist upwards. It feels like we're heading up to a scaffold to be executed...

Atop the staircase, an old but solid door waits for us sliently. This damp place fulls me with a feeling of dread.

"There's a faint voice comin' from the other side of the door," says Kid. I fear the worst.

"Maybe we should check somewhere else..." I say.

"What'sa matter, ya chicken?" she says whil glancing at me, but I can tell by the sound of her voice that she isn't feeling much better about this than I am. There's something wrong about this place, and we all know it...

It's a small room, one you'd find in a stone tower. It's empty, and I can't find a single window in it.

"What the hell kinda room is this?"

Although she's trying to hide it, I notice a shiver running down Kid's spine.

"There may be something of use here. Let us search more closely," Magil says quietly.

"Ya really think we'll find somethin'? Hrmf..."

Kid proceeds to the middle of the room, while I examine the walls and floor.

The stone floor is filled with countless scratches, covered by splotches of a dry dark ink.

"Hey Magil, would you come over here please? Something is carved into the wall here. I think it's an inscription of some sort..."

Magil kneels down in front of the wall and examines the writing. Looking closer at it, it appears to be written in blood.

"Indeed. This text has been worn down with age. Most of it is unreadable."

Here's what I can make out"

...won't las... mu... onger.
...cia Dragoons.... nee...he encha.
awor... order to... ...proof...

Without any warning, the door slams shut! We stand up,
taken by suprise!

Then suddenly, a low rumbling starts to fill the room!

"What's happening!?" Kid shouts, looking around frantically.

"What's that above us!?"

"What now? There's no time to lose!"

Kid flies like an arrow, ramming against the door!

Her small body bounces back -- the door is far too heavy!

"Bollocks!"

Magil streaks across the room like a hurricane, dashing against the solid oak!

The door creaks, but hold tight!

My turn.

I ram into the door with all my strength!

"Aaarrgh!"

A heavy shock shoots through my body, but the door doesn't budge an inch!

The rumbling continues to get louder and louder,
reminding us of the rusty blades, eager to greet us!

"Serge! Magil! Come on, together!"

Th three of us start to ram against the door simultaneously with all our strength!

The door hinge gives! We stumble outside, barely escaping certain death!

Behind us, we hear the gut-wrenching sounds of the blades metting the stone floor. I watch the morbid scene in a daze, gasping huge breaths of air.

Finally, the grinding sound fades away. It seems the ceiling has stopped.

"Damn that Lynx, toyin' with us like that..."

"So, this is the torture chamber. I wonder how many of the Acacia Dragoons it has claimed," Magil whispers.

"Who?" I ask.

"The Acacia Dragoons. They were once an elite force serving General Viper, a powerful man who used to rule the western territory of Gerzbuehle. They were defeated more than ten years ago, by the very hands of Lord Lynx. By the looks of things, we have apparently found their resting place."

"Eh, who cares," says Kid as she stands up. "Gernals and Knights and everything, it sounds like some old bedtime story."

Magil shrugs his shoulders in silence as we start down the stairs, eager to get away from this awful place.

With Kid leading the way, we descend the stairs...

At the bottom of the staircase a quite sturdy looking door stands on the right. The hallway also continues on ahead, which will take us back towards the terrace.

After a little while, we end up back at Lynx's quarters.
Oh man, I can feel Kid's blood boiling from here.

"Lynx's quarters... I sure hope that key's in here somewhere."

"Bet that mirror could tell us where it is!" Kid says,
removing its large silk cloth.

The dark mirror looms before us like a still lake on a moonless evening.

"Is there something you wish to know?" the Venus statue's reflection asks.

"If you know where the key to the treasure vault is,
could you please tell us?"

The mirror's surface begins to ripple. The whirling smoke soon takes shape into a picture of a large room,
decorated with rows and rows of books.

In a beautiful womanly voice, the mirros responds, "The key you seek, as you see before you, rests within this room. Towards the rear of this great sanctuary of knowledge, within a large purple book, you will find the item you so desire."

The image slowly fades, and returns to a normal reflection.

"The spirit has apparently moved to another mirror,"
Magil says.

"Okay, let's head for the study!"

As I head for the door, I suddenly get the feeling I'm being watched. I come to stop and look around.

Then, suddenly, a faint whisper reaches my ears. "...Be careful, they know..."

Whose voice was that? It wasn't any of ours...

The mirror... it wouldn't double-cross us, would it?

Kid heads out the door, bolting down the corridor. I frantically chase after her, easily as eager as she is.

Heading back, we travel through the passageway, eager to shake this feeling of dread.

After walking a ways, we come to a beautifully decorated set of doors on the left.

Continuing on through the passage, we eventually come to a branch.

We see an upwards staircase on the left, as well as a stone archway directly ahead.

I follow Kid up the narrow set of stairs, hoping not to lose my balance...

Just ahead of me, I bump into Kid, who's come to a complete stop.

"Somthin's wrong, mate."

I stop my breath, trying to listen for anything.

Then, out of the darkness... "Clunk... clunk... clunk..."

Something's ahead of us on the path. Whatever it is, it's coming for us.

I nervously unsheathe my knife, trying to ignore my anxiety for this inevitable confrontation, now only moments away!

"It's a skeleton!!"

Quick, what do we do!?

The skeleton takes a step forward with its sword in hand!

Just as Magil begins to move in on it, it raises its arms overhead. Staring at him with a strange look in its eyes,
Magil suddenly stops dead in his tracks!

"Magil! Snap out of it!" I shout, but his eyes are totally glazed over, completely unawhere of his situation! What am I going to do!?

I start to bolt towards the gruesome creature!

Avoiding a deadly slash by its rusty sword, I aim a kick for the skeleton's mid-section!

And with that, the skeleton breaks in two, toppling down to the ground as I carefully back away!

As the skull hits the ground, it shatters into countless pieces!

"What was up with you back there!?" Kid shouts at Magil, her eyes firmly planted on him. "Snap out of it already!"

Magil blinks a few times, dazed. He seems to be all right now.

I really think I'm a starting to get the hang of this whole fighting thing. I'm barely hurt at all!

"You got a thing or two to learn, but yer gettin' there,
mate."

Kid's mischevious eyes sparkle as I glance at her for a moment in the dim moonlight.

I set off down the corridor with her, ready for what's next.

We head down the path. After a while, it ends at a stained wooden door. This is the study, I think...

"Okay! Time to find that key!" Kid says as she steps into the center of the room, surrounded by row after row of books.

"Where did that crazy mirror say we could find it? Hey,
Serge, pay attention when I'm talkin' to ya!"

"Huh? I thought you remembered which one it was..."

"So which is it?"

"Hmmm... I'm pretty sure it's that purple book over there... I think..."

"Which one? Oh, I see it."

Kid pulls out a purple book, towards the bottom of the shelves. I watch closely as she opens it up. Flipping through the pages, suddenly an old brass key falls out of the book, hitting the ground with a clank!

"All right! The key!!"

Throwing the book aside, Kid bends down and grabs the key. Her eyes light up as she stares at it in her hands. We race out of the study, eager to see what awaits us in the vault.

Magil follows behind a moment later, after returning the book to the shelf.

We leave the study, retracing our steps through the dark passageway. Finally, the passage comes to a three-way branch.

Proceeding ahead on the paths, we back to the firm-looking set of doors, the Treasury.

"It better open now," says Kid, putting the key we found into the lock.

As the lock clicks, we're suddenly showered in all colors of light!

"Must been and enchanted lock... Whatever's on the other side of this door's gotta be good!"

The heavy doors open, slowly...

Inside the room, I gasp at the awesome spectacle laid out before our eyes.

Despite the sparse light, a brimming mountain of silver,
gold, and other precious-looking artifacts shimmer and twinkle throughout this huge treasure vault. Kid is almost drooling at the sight. But to be fair, a sight like this would captivate most people...

Enourmous heaps of riches are piled before our eyes, in amounts most people will probably never see in their entire lives. It looks to be authentic...

"Remember, our goal is the Flame. Do not waste time with frivolities," says Magil flatly.

"Jeez, I told ya, I know..."

Regardless of Magil's warning, Kid can't help but be taken aback. She gawks at the room's contents in awe,
until...

"Hey, what's that? In the back, on that pedestal..."

There, a palm-sized jewel radiates a pale crimson light,
resting patienty behind the other treasure. It looks as though it's a roaring flame that's somehow been frozen in time...

The Frozen Flame!!

As Magil glide over towards the pedestal, I nervously call out

"Be careful... we can't afford falling into a trap."

"Hmph, fine," Kid frustratedly says, glancing back at the door. "Just remember we're short on time!"

After investigating the pedestal for a little while.
"Serge was correct. It does seem to be trapped."

Magil steps back, mumbling something in a low voice while placing his hand near the base of the pedestal.

Slowly an inscription begins to emerge on its surface,
shining brightly for a moment.

Serge's party got the Frozen Flame!!

Whew... we did it! With a sigh of relief, I turn towards Magil. He's looking intently at the Flame.

"Way to go, Magil! All right, let's..."
Suddenly, the gem shatters into a thousand pieces in Magil's head!

"It's a fake. Indeed, that fiend Lynx would never have left the real Flame in a place like this."

"Damn..."

Suddenly, an alarm bell rings out! The room lights up,
and heavy metal bars fall in front of the door!

Our only exit is blocked!

I look around, only to see Kid holding a fancy crown,
suddenlt realizing what she's done...

Serge's party got the Golden Crown!!

"That, that dimwitted dingo!!" I say to myself.

Suddenly, out of the corners of the room, four mechanical birds suddenly come to life!

"INTRUDER ALERT!! INTRUDER ALERT!!"

Their loud metallic screeching only adds to my unesasiness!

"It doesn't look like it will open," says Magil. checking the iron bars in front of the door.

But, before Magil can even finish his sentence, we start to hear deep, snarling voices, somewhere outside the room...

"Which way is coming from?" a heavy voice asks.

"Sounds like the treasure vault's alarm to me."

The voices continue to get louder and louder as we stand motionless inside the room. We silently gawk at each other, hoping any one of us will have some sort of plan.

Kid hides herself under a mountain of a gold coins.

"Quick, hide, mate!"

I frantically look around the room.

There! Over in the far corner, there's an empty treasure chest behind a post. I dash over towards it, climb in, and close the lid.

"Looks like there's no one here, boss."

"That's strange. No one's ever been able to escape this old thing..."

Softly opening the lid of the chest, I take a peek outside through the small crack and see five goblins, bedecked in armor, having unlocked the iron bars and standing just a few feet from me.

They looka round the room restlessly, peeking into the shadows. Eventually, one of them raises his head to speak.

"Maybe a rat set it off. The cook was complaining about rats just the other day."

"Rats? Are you trying to tell me a rat set off the trap?" a fat goblin questions the other with a doubtful face.

And, with that... "Squeak... squeak, squeak," comes from the corner, over by where Kid's hiding...

Taken aback, the goblins stop moving, and look at each other. After a little while, the chief slowly strokes his chin and says, "No, actually, wasn't it stray cats that the cook was complaining about?"

"...Meow, meow," comes the voice a second time.

Again, the goblins glance at each other. "That's strange, what I heard was that it was a vicious Heckran that raided the pantry, I think."

Not a peep this time... I can only picture Kid racking her brain, trying to think of what Heckran sounds like...

"Just as I thought -- a thief," says one of the guards.
But, just as they start to approach...

"he... Hekeikekekekeke...heke, hekeike, ranranran!"

"Oh, well then, it certainly is a Heckran! Without a doubt!" one of them says, exchanging a smile with the others.

"Well, that's pretty frightening then. Come one, let's get out of here."

The pack begins to file out of the treasure vault.

But then, suddenly, the goblins all spring on the pile of gold!

"Well, what do we have here?"

"Hey! Get yer hands off me, ya slimy freaks!" Kid says,
struggling to break free.

"Slimy? A thief like yourself isn't in much of a position to criticize!" one of them hollers at her.

Kicking herself free of their grasp, Kid inches back into the corner of the room. The goblins start to corner her off, laughing to themselves...

I quietly sneak out of my hiding place and unsheathe my knife. Taking on an enitre troupe of armed goblins is a lost cause, even for Kid.

What should I do? Frankly I'm in a quandary...

I've got to save her.

Yeah, I can't abandon my friends, especially at a time like this.

Gripping my knife tightly, I charge into the center of the room, shouting, "Hey, you stupid oafs!"

They all turn around, stating at me blankly for a moment, before their expressions turn to rage.

"You just came out here to die. Didn't you, little man."

Gulp...

"You really want us to trample over your head that badly? Well, I suppose we can accommodate you," the goblin boss says, giving a deep laugh.

Without a moment's hesitation, Kids shouts back. "Don't think you can easily pick a fight with the like of the great Kid and get away with it!!"

"Wait a minute, so you're the elusive Kid?" the boss asks, as its eyes softly narrow. "How sweet this is.
Perhaps if I deliver your head to Lord Lynx, he'll give me a nice reward..."

The boss goblin takes its morning star from its side. The huge iron ball jangles down to the floor.

"Please don't confuse us with just any ordinary goblins.
Striking fear into the hearts of men everywhere, we are Lynx's Elite Security Force, the fearsome Magical Gobbler Team!"

"If ya got time to sput off all that nonsense, then ya sure got enough time to get yer arses kicked!" Kid shouts, exploding with a fierce roundhouse kick!

The goblins teeters and staggers, dizzied by the brunt of her attack!

"Let's get 'em, boys! Start with that little twerp over there!"

Metal balls begin to swing around, swishing through the air with deadly speed!

"Jet Gobbler Attack! Now!"

Sliding across the floor like the wind, the goblins simultaneously rush us!

A side shot from the goblin's morning star slices through the air!

I try to dodge, but...

Intense pain shoots into my side! I hit the floor with a tremendous thud!

"Serge! Get up!!"

Hearing Kid's words, I somehow totter to my feet,
cradling my wounded stomach.

I can't let myself falter now... I've got stay focused!

Another huge Iron ball whizzes through the air, swinging down towards me!

As quickly as I can, I roll over an try to dodge the attack!

Yes! The iron ball smashes into the floor, sending sparks flying everywhere!

It misses me by a hairs breadth. I frantically scramble away from the weapon.

Looking up, all I see is a goblin coming at me head on,
ready to bash its weapon into my skull!!

I feel the gust of wind from the metal ball as it closely grazes by me!

Somehow, I manage to dodge safely! However, I fall off balance and hit the ground with a thud.

Beside me, an arrow of light jumps out from Magil's fingertips, instantly pulverizing the goblin!

The goblin topples to the ground, half vaporized. Magil stares at it with his ever-present eyes of steel as his dark cape flaps in the breeze.

I see another iron ball coming at me.

I've got to think of a better strategy than just standing around! I quickly put my weight onto the goblin,
trying to force it off balance!

Unfazed, the goblin moves only a little as I collide with it.
I, however, bump off and tumble to the ground!

"Aaarrgh!" I scream as the goblin kicks me in the ribs!

Another muderous goblin...

Frantically parrying the goblin's attack, I try to lunge with my knife...

However, before I can do anything, the goblin snaps me up in its thick arms and smashes me as hard as it can into the floor!

My mind goes completely blank from the shock.

Kid comes to my aid, delivering a lightning-quick strike to one of the goblins!

"What's the matter, huh!? Where's yer Magical Gobbler skills now, or watever ya call it?"

The goblin can't help but collapse onto the floor in pain.
Kid boots it in the jaw before backing away for her next attack.

"Quit screwin' around, Serge! Keep an eye on yer own trouble!"

Another huge iron ball...I'm ready

I dodge it just like before. They're ready, coming head on.

Just then, I start to hear an odd howling noise from behind me. I turn around to see Magil's Black Wind spell streaking out from his fingertips, transforming in midair into a countless number of razors! They fly like homing missiles into one of goblins, cutting it to shreds!

"H, how can a human have such power? Who are you?
Aaauughh!!"

The goblin shrieks in fear as its body is effortlessly torn to pieces! Magil's expression remains unchanged as he silenty surveys the scene, looking for his next target.

"Long live Lord Lynx! Glory to the Magical Gobblers!"
says the last of the goblins as it comes crashing to the ground in a bloody mess!

Phew... that's the last of them.

"Easy... easy," says Kid, wiping some sweat off her brow.

"Dammit Serge, yer such a loon, thikin' you could rescue me from those goons like that. Heh, it worked out pretty well though, eh mate?"

"We must be on our way," Magil says. "There's no way of knowing who else knows we're here now."

"I know. that bastard's causin' us too much trouble..."

"They said they were Lynx's personal guards, yeah? They might have some valuable stuff on 'em..." but before she finishes speaking, Kid starts to search through the head goblin's clothes.

Sheesh, there's really no need to be such a scavenger...

"Hey, what's this?" she says, removing a small metal object from the goblin's pocket. It's a hand-shaped medallion of some sort, covered in archaic-looking symbols.

"It's a key," Magil says, walking over toward us. "These markings suggest it unlocks a certain magical seal."

"Wow... well, their loss," says Kid, casually putting the plate in her pocket.

"Dammit, they don't have any other good stuff. Cheap goblins...."

She stands up and looks around, sighing. "It'd be a waste to leave all this loot behind, though!"

"We can always come back for it later, Kid."

Kid turns around and grins. "Yeah, yer right. Okay, let's go. The night won't last forever."

From the treasure vault, paths extend to the left and right. The right path proceeds back towards the terrace,
while an ascending staircase lies to the left.

After a while, the path splits into three directions. To the left is a descending staircase, while the path on the righ extends into darkness. Another passageway lies ahead...

We wen't down the all-to-familiar stairs.

Peeping in from the arched entranceway, Kid looks astonished. "Wow, look at this! I heard about these things, they're called atriums."

A large fountain sits in the center of this beautiful room. Looking across the way, another archway similar to this one leads off into darkness.

"Whoa, cold!" Kid exclaims, taking her hand out of the water.

Coming to her side, I kneel down and peer into the pond.
Leaning over the beautiful marble edge, I too feel the chilly water.

From deep beneath the surface, a number of fish start to swim toward us.

"These buggers look expensive..."

I can't seem to see the bottom of the pond. I wonder how deep it is...

the fish are a little restless, splashing here and there.
Suddenly, Kid tugs at my arm, jerking my hand out of the water. Before I can ask why, one of the fish leaps out, snapping out at me.

We scramble to our feet and take a few steps back from the fountain.

Many other fish soon follow, jumping out of th water,
snapping at us. A few land outside of the pond. I kick one of them into a corner. Watching it violently squirm around, it appears to be a piranha.

More and more of them emerge from the apparently bottomless depth.

Having gotten a fresh scent of game, the piranhas start to splash around more viciously now, getting water everywhere.

I wonder how many of these things could be in there...It looks like there are more and more of them emerging every second

Suddenly, a dark red liquid starts to erupt from the fountain! Kid leaps back at once. I'm shocked as well,
staring dumbfoundedly at the erupting fountain...

The gushing red liquid shoots higher and higher! The water level in the pond rapidly rises, taking on a disgusting red hue!

Before long, the water level has started to overflow onto the floor! A bead of sweat rolls down my brow as I realize that the room is about to fill with water!

We might be able to make it to a safe distance before the pirhanas reach us. Quick, what do we do?

"Come on, we're outnumbered!"

Splashing through the water, we turn back, heading for the passageway from where we came.

However, a few of them manage to sink their teeth into met before I can get away!"

I kick off the last remaining few as I bolt out of this vile room!

"Phew... what a close call."

"That rat bastard... Whatever trick he's got up his sleeve,
it won't stop us for long. We're comin' for ya, Lynx!"

While resting on a wall to tend to my wounds, I look up and notice something out of the ordinary.

"Hey, was this here before...?"

Carved into the wall, a large marble sculpture of an intimidating face stares down at us coldly.

It looks as though it's been sculpted by a fine artisan.
It's very detailed -- its features are beautifully etched and barely eroded.

"It's a Mouth of Truth," Magil says.

"A what?"

"A Mouth of Truth. The legend is that if you are given to lying, a Mouth of Truth will know it if you put your hands into its mouth."

"Oh, what a hard idea," Kid says, rolling her eyes.

"Let's see you do it," I say.

Kid looks up worried, but seeing Magil looking at her,
feels a resolve and tentatively puts her hands in the mouth.

However, after a few seconds, nothing seems to be happening.

"Hey, whaddaya know, guess I passed the test!"

Hmm... that can't be all there is to it...

Ah! I know.

"Kid, how many pounds do you weigh?"

"A hundred anf four! Err..."

Kid suddenly takes on a worried look, but before she can remove her hands, the marble set of teeth clamps down onto her wrists!

"Hey, ya stupid face! What's goin' on!?"

The white marble teeth gnaw from side to side, becoming stained with red!

"Dammit, lemme go!!"

Magil calmly offers and explanation from behind us.

"Without saying something truthful to the best of one's ability, a Mouth of Truth will never let go."

Not hearing him at all, Kid kicks the stone face in a fit of anger.

"Lemme go, ya stupid face! I swear I'm gonna knock yer teeth in!!"

Then, as swiftly as it closed, the mouth opens!

I crouch down to Kid, who's kneeling on the floor,
rubbing her wrists.

"Wow, I guess you weren't lying about knocking its teeth in..."

"'Course not, mate... I showed 'im good. Bloody stone face..."

"You didn't put anything inside the mouth, did you,
Kid?" Magil asks.

"What're ya talkin' about? No...!"

I walk over beside Magil and peer into the mouth. There,
behind its teeth, is a large pink tongue. I think there's some sort of an indentation in it, but I can't be sure -
it's really far back in there.

"Maybe it wants us to put something on its tongue.
maybe that's the real test."

Kid begins taking out her things. From in her pockets,
under her shoes, and out of her hair, she gathers all sorts of personal effects. She streches the pile of trinkets held in her hands out to me, smiling innocently.

Guess it's my turn to face the test. As long as Kid's safe, I'm happy, I suppose.

Wondering what the Mouth of Truth could possibly want,
I reach for one of her accessories...

I take the hand-shaped plate. Its strange, contorted symbols give me a headache just by looking at them.
Nervously, I reach in and place it onto the tongue...

It's a perfect fit!

Sliding it into place, I quickly remove my hand and back away a few steps. The huge white eyes start moving around slowly, and a slight vibration can be felt from behind the wall.

Something's happening... something big. I just wish I knew whether it's good or bad.

An odd sound escapes from the Mouth of Truth as its eyes continue to roll.

I want to make a run for it. However, I look over and see the ever-fearless expression in Kid's eyes, and stay my ground.

"Uh... um...."

Suddenly, the marble sculpture stops moving. I stare at it, wondering what's going on.

Then, its tongue starts to roll around inside its mouth,
while its eyes tilt further and further upwards until its pupils disappear underneath its eyelids.

We hear the plate sliding down its throar, vanishing into the deep, dark depths of the mansion!

"Wh, what's happening?"

"Apparently a pious being such as this may roll its eyes from time to time."

The simple fact that Magil tried to make a joke just there makes me stop and forget where I am for a second.

"All that's gonna happen is yer gonna lose another one of my things. I coulda got a lot of cash for that," Kid says regrettably.

Suddenly, over by the atrium, we start to hear some sort of a latch being opened. And then, moments later,
the sound of water draining echoes throughout the corridor!

Taking a few steps towards the atrium, I see the red water has formed into a whirlpool and is flowing down into the pond. The piranhas are being washed away!

"What'sa matter, lil fishies? Not enough water? Aw.
playtime's over, ya nasty buggers."

"Come on, I'm dying to see what's past that fountain!"

Having crossed through the atrium, eventually we come to a split in the path. We can either go left or right from here.

After a bit of walking, we come to an old-looking door with a brass handle.

"Dammit, another locked door."

"I don't get it, there's no smell of gold or nothin'."

"This leads to Viper Manor's catacombs," says Magil hesitantly.

...He's right. Standing here in silence, I realize there's a faint scent of death on the air. And then, putting my ear to the door, I start to hear deep, tortured moans from far beyond...

I jump back, looking at the door. "Ummm.... let's try somewhere else."

Heading away from the catacombs, we eventually come to a split. Turning right heads back to the atrium, while ahead of us, I can see nothing but a dark, stone corridor, leading off into darkness...

We slowly walk down the stairs, taking us deep below ground. It's as though we're descending further and further into an endless abyss...

Once we reach the bottom, we come to another split. We can go left or right, but boths paths look equally dismal.

After a little ways, we're presented with a sturdy set of doors.

A wooden plaque has been hung above the door frame.
Only one word is written on it -- ARMORY

"Armory, eh. The key to the catacombs has gotta be in here."

Kid places her ear on the door. "Not a peep."

Someone is here, however.

With a book in hand, a single goblin sits in a chair,
humming to itself. A sweet aroma fills the room,
presumably from the teacup sitting on the table before it.

There's something different about this goblin. It doesn't seem hostile in the least.

Looking up from its book, it examines us from behind its bifocals.

"Ah, welcome. It's rare to have visitors all the way down here."

"Too bead we're not guests!" Kid shouts. "If you wanna live, tell us where the key to the catacombs is!"

And with that, Kid takes her knife and thrusts it into the desk, slicing through the tablecloth.

The goblin remains docile.

"Ah, you must be the elusive Kid. I so wanted to see you with my own eyes. We've all heard so much about you..."

But before it can finish its sentence, Kid grabs the knife and hurls it through the air.

The goblin sets it book down, now unreadable due to the seven-inch blade protruding through it. It removes the knife and places it on the table.

"Your reputations precedes you. You are quite a radical young lady. Nevertheless, it's a shame... I wanted to see how that nocel ended up."

"Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Esmeld,"
it says, offering a simple introduction.

"Please, I do hate to keep my guests standing at bay,
Come, sit, and we shall converse over tea."

My first though is that it's poisoned. Despite my converns, Magil sits down.

Trusting Magil, I sit down next to him. Surely he's got something up his sleeve.

Looking at Kid, she truly doesn't want anything to do with this. She remains standing, keeping a vigilant eye on Esmeld.

Black tea is set for three at the table.

"Ah, there we are."

After a moment, Magil takes the teacup, and brings it slowly yo his mouth. He takes a sip, and then sets the cup back on the table.

Esmeld smiles.

"Ah, Himalayan Chimpanzee. I've not had this belnd in quite some time," Magil says.

"I see you are a gentleman of fine taste. I will have you know, not many of my visitors have known of this type of black tea."

Listening to their banter, I stare at my cup.

Could it really be poisoned...? Picking up the teacup, I bring it close to my mouth. It doesn't smell so bad...

"Delcious!" I exclaim. I've never had anything like this before...

I loosen up a bit, sitting back in my chair.

Wait a sec, what's going on? My wounds, they're being healed!

Looking over towards Kid, she seems to be enjoying it as well.

"So, let's get down to business. Certainly the key to the catacombs has to be around somewhere. Whether I remember where it is, however... that's a different story."

"I enjoy chatting with the many types of visitors that we have in the mansion. Surely, as an adventurer, you must have plenty of interesting stories to tell."

Adding to this, he looks in my direction with a smile.

"I look highly on unique stories, and have been known to reward such storytellers..."

Staring down at the dark liquid before me, I start to rack my brain for a really good story...

Okay, I've got it!

On one particular evening, a small girl walked through a dark, dreary forest.

The girl suddenly came across a large beetle. Taking it back to her home, the girl painted the beetle from head to toe with a shiny golden paint.

"Hmmmm.... a fine beginning, perhaps. Is that all?"

"No! Umm..."

I repeated what I had so far.

The next morning, the girl went to town the sell the beetle.

Claiming it was a good luck beetle, she showed it to many travelers, and eventually sold it for an outrageous sum of money!"

"Yeah, Serge... and I'll bet the girl's name was Kid, wasn't it."

From beside me, chills run down my spine as I hear Kid question me in her coldest tone.

"I made it up, Kid..." I whisper to her. Maybe she really did so something like that in the past. Glancing at her, I see her eyes start to cloud over.

Then, suddenly, she starts choking me, wrapping both her hands around my neck!

"How do you know all this!?" Kid yells, strangling me!

From behind me, I see Esmeld pull out one of his tea bags,
Noticing it, she suddenly forgets all about me, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the tea.

"Perhaps some of my precious black tea leaves can be used to prevent against ruckus in here."

Kid immediately snatches the tea bag.

"...It was a fairly entertaing story. I am a giblin of my word, and as such, I shall give you the key." he says,
knocking on a certain spot at a nearvy wall. A secret compartment opens, from where he takes the key!

Headin away from the Armory, we come upon an upwards staircase on the right. This passage also continues on ahead...

After a little while, the passage ends at a small door. "Hey, I smell home cookin'..."

"Oh, it's just a small kitchen."

"For the servants, probably," I add.

I look around the tiny room. There's a sink, pots and pans, and a bunch of food in the cupboards. A rat hangs in a cage off in a corner, but aside from that, it's a pretty average kitchen.

Kid walks over to a deep saucepan and peers inside.

"Mmm... smells fresh. Want some grub, Serge?"

"Uhh, sure..."

I timidly peer into the saucepan. It looks like some sort of stew. Using the ladle on the stove, I reach in and take a big scoop...

"Mmmm, delicious!"

Kid looks at me again. After a moment of hesitation, she comes over. "Quit hoggin' it all for yerself, mate!" she says, taking the ladle and sniffing the warm mixture.

"Want some, Magil?"

"No, thank you."

We take some bowls from the shelves, and serve ourselves some more.

As we eat more and more, the stew's warmth flows all through us! I feel great!

But then, all of a sudden, a quiet shrill voice echoes out.
It seems to be coming from over by the cage. "Ah, what an independent young land... are all the boys wearing braids these days?"

I stop and look at Kid.

"Who's there!?"

Looking over in the direction of the voice, we see nothing but the single rat. It stares at us with its small, beady eyes...

"Ah, excuse me... you're a girl, not a boy."

It looks like Kid can't decide whether to be puzzled or infuriated by all this. But just between you and me, I don't think this is the first time her personality has led someone to think she's a guy...

At any rate, the brown rat continues. "Listen, please,
kind humans! I am trapped withing a most unfortunate situation. While on my way to the kitchen this morning to bring home some food for my mother, goblins seized me and trapped my here in this cage! Unless I can escape, I am to be a side-dish for their next meal!"

A side-dish...?

Listening to the rat, Kid walks over to the sink.

"Please, you must help me! My desperately ill mother awaits my return!" the rat pleads, its eyes twinkling in the light.

However, I look over towards Kid. She's over by the sink,
her face getting redder and redder...

"Stupid rat! Don't even know a lday when ya see one!"
Kid yells, stomping out of the kitchen.

"Oh, young lady... I did not mean to..."

With Kid gone, the rat turns towards me. "Brother... help me..."

"I understand."

I open the cage door. The rat quickly scurries out.

"Heh, heh," the rat laughs, as a strange smile comes over its face. "You really are a bunch of fools."

Spitting out those words, the rat suddenly starts to tremble, before rapidly growing in size, growing larger and larger by the second!

It's a gryphon!!

"Stupid human. You're just in time for lunch! My mother's that is!"

"Dammit Serge, yea walked right into its trap!!"

Oh man... what was I thinking?

The gryphon rises up onto its hind legs, screeching and flapping its huge wings! Suddenly, its sharp talons swoop down at us!

I frantically try to dodge the beast, hoping to avoid those terrifying three-inch claws. I manage to avoid its blow, but I'm now cornered into the back of them room!

As it inches near me for a strike, it rises up onto its hind legs once again, this time even higher than before!

However, in a moment of blind luck, the gryphon suddenly loses balance on the slippery floor and comes crashing to the ground!

"Urrghhh..."

Wow, talk about close calls... I let out a breath of relief as I stand over the gryphon, wondering what to do next.

"So ya ugly little rat... now who's stupid?"

"Uhh.... wait! Please, I beg you, kind, beautiful human girl!!"

"I am aware of valued information! If you promise to spare my life, I will tell you a special secret of the mansion!"

"I dunno... you lied already, ya bugger... I'd rather just kill ya and have it be over with," Kid says, taking a step closer.

"Kid, let us hear what he has to say," Magil says,
coming between them. Kid pauses for a second, and then steps back.

"Th, thank you!"

"That woulda been fun..." Kid says shrugging.

"One day, you too may find yourselves within my situation, caged in on all sides! If such a fate comes to pass, remember these directions, and your lives shall be spared!

Right three steps.
Left two steps.
Right two steps.
And then you'll see!"

No sooner than it says this, the gryphon transforms back into a rat, scurrying off into a crack in the wall.

"I sure hope sparin, that thing was worth it. Who knows when it'll sneak up on us next..."

Before long, we come to an ascending staircase on the left. The passageway also continues on ahead...

We head up the narrow stairwell with Kid leading the way.

Coming to the top, we're faced with a dimly lit corridor.
We head down it, quietly making our steps...

Continuing on through the passage, eventually we come to a branch.

If we turn left, we'll be taken back to the atrium.
Heading straight through will take us to the catacombs.

After a bit of walking, we come to an old-looking door with a brass handle.

"Okay, the goblin's key should open this door," Kid says, putting the key into the lock.

With a click, the door unlocks. The door opens with a deep creak...

Damp air creeps up from below. Peering into the dark,
decrepit place, I wonder how I ever got talked into coming to a place like this...

We find ourselves in a long hallway, flanked on both sides by rows of countless jail cells. The cold iron bars stretch on in front of us endlessly...

One... Two...

A quiet, sobbing voice seems to be coming from the third cell on the right.

I peer around the corner into the cell. In this dim, damp space, an old man sits in solitude, quietly mumbling to himself.

"Hey, Mister..."

"Everyone.. and it was all because of me. Every last one of the Dragoons... Miss Riddel... even the General...! Forgive me... please..."

Ignoring us, the old man continues to mutter, staring at the floor as he rocks back and forth.

"Hey, can ya hear me?" Kid says, shaking the bars a little.

"He will not hear a thing. He has constructed a wall around himself," Magil says.

"What do you mean?" I ask Magil.

"A wall, used for shielding one's mind from reality. After being exposed to horrific events, tremendous amounts of pain and guilt has this effect on a person. He has made a safe world inside his own mind, where he retreats into.
From there, he refuses to acknowledge anything he does not want to admit."

I notice that talking about this has given Magil a sort of sad, lost look in his face. Noticing my glance, he quickly turns away from me.

Strange... Magil somehow reminded me of Kid just then.

When Magil turns back, his usual blank expression has returned.

"Does this make sense to you, Serge?"

"Yeah, it does..."

Magil continues, looking at Kid and me. "We rarely see the walls we're trapped within. However, given time, some can come to understand and possibly even break free of these shortcomings... I......"

I wait for Magil to finish, but he doesn't end up saying anything. I'd ask, but... oh well.

The mind... Revealing itself to itself...

"We can't help this old geezer. Let's get back to work,"
Kid says, already heading for the door.

"Wait, Kid," Magil calls out.

"Somehow or another, we may yet find a way into this man's mind."

"What good'll that do?"

"Didn't you hear what he was talking about? The Dragoons, Riddel, General Viper..."

"Aw, he's prollu just into old folklore or somethin'..." Kid says, returning to the door.

"I have a feeling his knowledge will prove to be useful.
Certainly he has heard something of importance concerning our situation," Magil says.

"Well, I guess we oughta help the old bloke out with his troubles while we're here. What do ya say we do?" Kid asks.

"Somehow, we have to put an end to this..."

"Huh!?" Kid says, looking up. "You got a problem with me!?"

"Eh!? N, no... that's not what I meant..."

But before I can explain, Kid's fist suddenly flies into my face!

Narrowly avoiding the blow, I look up to see Magil starting to speak again.

"We must find a way to reach beyond his wall. For every locked door, there exists a key, so to speak. We will never make any progress with this man until we know what lies in his past."

"What are you talkin' about, a key?" Kid asks.

"I do not know either," Magil answers.

"However, there is at least one person in Viper Manor who does."

"...Riddel!"

"Indeed."

Leaving the endless rows of cells behind, we head back to the passageway.

Heading away from the catacombs, we eventually come to a split. Turning right heads back to the atrium, while proceeding straight through will take us to a downward staircase.

After heading down the dark, dingy passageway for a while, eventually I start to smell the pungent odor of dead fish...

We return to the atrium.

Ahead of us, we see another archway which will take us back to an upwards staircase, and eventually Lynx's and Riddel's quarters.

We come to a branch after a ways. To our right lies a staircase going up, while the start of a dark passageway is directly ahead.

We proceed through the dark passageway...

Before long, we're greeted with a beautifully ornate set of doors on the right. These are the quarters of Riddel,
Lynx's adopted daughter.

We come to a comfortably decorated room. Small trinkets have been placed on the desk and shelves, adding some charm. The owner of this room has obviously gone to great lenghts to try and bring a somewhat graceful lifestyle into this otherwise dark mansion. Still, the room seems to carry an unsettling stillness with it.

"Is someone there?"

I instantly hide behind the door, trying to figure out where that voice came from. It sounded like a girl, but it wasn't Kid...

It's Lynx's adopted daughter, Riddel! It has to be her!

"Odd... I could have sworn I heard someone come in," she says. Apparently she hasn't seen us yet...

What do we do? I keep myself hidden behind the door.

Suddenly, Kid bolts out from behind a chair! She silently comes up behind Riddel, putting a knife to her throat!

"We've come for the Frozen Flame -- where is it!!" Kid yells in a low, strict voice.

"Kid... there's no need to be like that," I say, trying to calm her down.

"Quiet, Serge!"

Riddel giggles at the two of us.

"What's so funny!!!" Kid says in a tight tone.

"Oh, come one, you can't be thieves -- you're far too noisy!"

"I wouldn't be sayin' such things if I was you!"

"Well then, go ahead and cut me."

At that moment, I picture in my head Riddel collapsing with a blue face, smeared in blood.

"Kid, look at her. She's not going to hurt us."

"Dammit... all right! Still, don't think I'm not keeping an eye on ya!"

"The feeling is mutual," Riddel says.

"Don't worry, we're not your enemies. We're not after your power," I say to Riddel, trying to keep cool.

"We've just come to talk. If there's anything you could tell us about the Frozen Flame, or perhaps the Acacia Dragoons..."

Hearing these words, a somber look comes over Riddel's face. After a moment, she begins to speak...

"The Frozen Flame... it was kept in a kingdom to the north for centuries, legend has it...

With its subtle, mysterious power, it allegedly could guide people to those who sought it, or so I have heard.

At the time of that kingdom's downfall, it was seized from its resting place. Passed from hand to hand, finally it came into the posession of my father, General Viper.

Lynx approached my father as a friend, years ago.
Blindly trusting him, my father was taken advantage of by Lynx, unable to realize his true intentions...

And so, on that fateful day, struck down by his alleged friend, my father was robbed, and left for dead..."

Averting her eyes, Riddel buries her face in her hands.

I didn't know... I didn't know Lynx was behind all this at the time he took me into custody. I was just a child...

That cursed rock, I didn't know anything about it, and I don't want to! I don't want to have anything to do with it!!

I want nothing more than to see this all come to an end," she says with tears in her eyes.

I'm taken aback, hearing these words.

Suddenly, Magil comes forward to speak. "Do you know of the old man who currently is locked away in the catacombs?"

"That traitor! Because of him, my father... my dear Zorander...!!"

"Please, Miss..."

Turning her back on us, Riddel pauses. After a moment,
she turns around, letting out a deep sigh.

"...Yes, I know the man of whom you speak."

"He is an Acacia Dragoon, is he not?" Magil asks.

"He was, before he spent countless days and nights locked up in the toorture chamber, losing his mind as well as identity in the process...

I remember the day they removed him from that dreadful room, beaten within an inch of his life..."

"The torture chamber you speak of, it is the room upstairs with the trap ceiling, correct?"

Riddel nods silently.

"Perhaps we may find a clue to his past there," says Magil.

I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this...

"If you must search that room, be sure you have the Einlanzer with you before you do."

"Eye-what?" Kid asks.

"It is a holy white sword, created long ago by ancient sages along with its demonic brother, the Masamune.

It was the Acacia Dragoons' most prized weapon. It once glided through the air in Zorander's hand, shimmering like a star...

Now, however, the Dragoons are all but extinct, and the sword has been stored somewhere in this mansion, as though it was some sort of trivial memento...

It is much more than a common sword, though. Shielded by its magical enchanment, its bearer will be protected against many forms of evil."

Thinking of those memories of days long gone, again Riddel hangs her head in sadness. "I wish I could be more of a help to you. I apologize..."

"New, that was plenty!" Kid says, heading out of the room.

"But... I wish I was more powerful, like you people,"
Riddel says, biting her lip.

Stopping in the doorway, Kid looks over her shoulder.
"Strength didn't get us her. Power comes from believing in yerself!"

"I... I see. I wish you luck."

As she heads out of the room, Kid mutters, "Hope it ain't bad luck..."

From here, the passageway streches to the right and left.

Heading to the right will take us to Lynx's quarters,
while turning left will take us back to th ascending staircase.

Continuing on through the passage, eventually we come to a branch.

We see an upwards staircase on the left, as well as a stone archway directly ahead.

I follow Kid up the narrow set of stairs, hoping not to lose my balance...

We make our way down the dimly lit passageway. After a few moments, we come to an old, dusty door on the right. This is the clock tower storeroom, if I remember correctly...

The room is quiet except for the sounds of the gears.
There's no sign of the hooded lady anywhere.

We rush over towards the sword. Looking down at it,
Magil starts to speak.

"This may be what we're looking for. By the looks of it,
this sword could be the fabled holy Einlanzer, or perhaps the demonic Masamune..."

"Wow Magil, you know about the Masamune?"

"..............."

"Did ya ever know its owner?"

"..........Yes."

"Was he yer mate?"

"........"

"So he was one of yer enemies then?"

"........No."

"Hmm... well, hey Serge, take this thing!"

"Huh...?"

"Come one, ya don't expect a fair maiden like me to carry this bulky thing all over the place, do ya? Well?"

I grit my teeth and remind myself it would get me absolutely nowhere to argue with her...

So, I go to Kid's side, and pick up the sword, just as I was told to.

"Oof!"

Jeez, it's heavy...!

"Okay, let's get our arses to that bloody torture chamber! I can almost smell the Frozen Flame from here!"

I follow Kid out of the room, dragging the heavy sword.

We come the old, stoic-looking door, waiting for us silently atop the staircase.

I look up, remembering the deadly ceiling. I'm definitely not going to repeat the mistake of overstaying my welcome here, especially after hearing what Riddel had to say.

Somewhere inside this room, there has to be something that will bring that old man back... but what?

"Just as I though," Magil says dryly, examining the cracks in the floor.

Kid and I walk over, kneeling down where he's at.

Between the of cracks between the floor's stones,
there's a thick, smelly, butter-like substance that's been jammed into it, among the stains of blood.

Without warning, the door suddenly slams shut!

"It's started again!"

"Okay, what do we do!?"

"We hafta use the sword somehow!!" Kid yells, her voice almost inaudible thanks to the ceiling's deafening screeching.

"But how...!?"

With as much power as I can muster, I lift the heavy sword up and plunge it down into a crack in the center of the floor!

A huge jolt runs through the room! Bolts of light scatter in all four directions from the sword, running along the floor, then up the walls!

Reaching the ceiling, the deadly contraption groans, and them come to a halt!

Exhausted and relieved, I collapse to the floor.

After a minute, I catch my breath and open my eyes.

Strange... now that I take another look at the inscription we found earlier, there's a certain stone just beside it that doesn't seem to have any cement around it...

We walk over to it. Kid tugs on it and finds that it's loose.

Removing the have stone, a dim glistening light can be seen from far within the hole. Kid reaches in, and carefully removes the shimmering object.

A beautifully decorated gold ring sits in the palm of her hand! It's adorned with a slender set of leaves, like those of a fern, decorated with five small rubies around it.

"The Acacian coat of arms," Magil says.

Kid tries the ring on, but strangely enough, it doesn't seem to fit on any of her fingers.

"This ring must mean something to the old man. We could use it to break through his wall, couldn't we?" I excitedly ask Magil, already knowing the answer.

He nods in silence. Yeah, this has to be it!

Abandoning the Einlanzer, now proudly standing upright like a beacon of light amidst this dismal room, we hurry out of the torture chamber, hopefully never to return again.

With Kid leading the way, we descend the stairs...

Suddenly, Kid comes to a stop.

"Somethin' ain't right..."

Hearing this, I immediately unsheathe my knife. I try to look ahead and behind, but all I can see is darkness.

Wait, what was that? Up ahead, it looked like part of the wall moved! Yeah, right there -- one of the square tiles is moving right in front of eyes!

Wait a second, that's not a tile at all... it's armor!

"Hey over there, Mister G-o-b-l-i-n!!" Kid shouts. Come on, Kid... It looks awfully big...

Having been discovered, the massive goblin squares off with it, coming out into full view.

Uh oh... It's got friends.

Two steps of footsteps behind me make me realize they amount to four in all. I keep my focus on the two in front of me, while Magil turns to face the rear.

How could things so large camouflage themselves so well...

Readying my knife, I set my sigh on the goblins before me. They've certainly got us in a pinch -- they've already blocked off all the escape routes in this tight corridor.
We'll have to fight our way out of this one!

Magil begins to confront the rear pack while Kid rushes the front two, knife in hand.

I rush out with her, hurling myself into action!

One of the goblins whips its morning star out, swinging its spiked iron ball down at me!

Whoa!! I nearly miss it, leaping to the side at the last possible second! It comes crashing down, shattering the stone floor under it into a cloud of dust!

Beside me, Kid leaps nimbly into the air, dodging a close attack! The scene here has been reduced through the air, thick wih the dusty haze of a shattered stone flooring!

Looking over towards Kid, a glimmer of light flashes before me. And therem in front of us, a knife has suddenly been implanted deep into a goblin's left eye!

Writhing in pain, the goblin hits the ground. I try not to look at it, keeping myself focused on the fight.

There's no doubt, 'Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee are words she lives by, here in the thick of combat.
Withour a single problem handling herself, Kid's truly a natural.

Another one of the goblins draws near soon after,
already wildly swinging its morning star above its head!

That's right! If Kid can do it, So can I!

On the verge of the attack, I confront the goblin with my knife ready!

It hurls its mornong star down at me! I leap to the side,
thinking to myself it's now or never!

The goblin is busy trying to bring its morning star out of the rubble, leaving me wide open for my attack.

I hurl my knife at it as hard as I can!

All right! I did it! A wave of adrenaline runs through my body as I watch the goblin scream in agony, with my knife sticking out of its right eye!

"Wow, mate... Did you do that!?"

Kid's praise rings through me, filling me with a rush of power.

"Now quit standin' around! We're fightin' here!!"

Dammit, I was just...

"Get over here and fight, mate!"

She's right. I leap back into the frenzy, just as the goblin painfully pulls the knife out of its eye and tosses it aside.

In a desperate attempt to get my weapon back I make a dive for the knife over in the far corner. But now, the goblin's all but cornered me off!

Picking the ball anc chain up off the floor, the ferocious goblin starts to charge me, screaming at the top of its lungs!

I chuck my knife at the goblin, sending it spinning through the air, aimed directly for its face.

Oh, gross... The knife's been planted deep into the goblin's left eye. It growls in pain, desperately trying to remove the thing from its skull.

Seeing an opportunity, I quickly bolt towards the towering beast, slipping by its side and snatching its mace!

the goblin turns its bloody head towards me as it pulls the dagger out of its eye, tossing the puny weapon aside. Aiming for its face again, I swing the heavy weapon outward!

A horrible sound echos throughout the corridor as the goblin's face is turned into a putrid mess. With its skull utterly shattered the hulking beast falls to the floor,
dead.

That seems to be the last of them. Looking around, I straighten my shirt, and let out a deep breath.

"Phew... you okay, mate?"

"Yeah, I'm not bad. I've got some bruises her and there,
but nothing too serious. You?"

"Aw, are you kidding;? I kicked that thing's arse so bad,
it didn't even have time to say its prayers!"

Yeah, we did pretty good back there, didn't we...

"You got a thing or two to learn, but yer gettin' there,
mate."

Kid's mischievous eyes soarkle as I glance at her for a moment in the dim moonlight.

I set off down the corridor with her, ready for what's next.

"Wait a sec, what's that?"

I bend down and pick up a a small leather sack. Looking inside, I find a small bottle filled with a clear liquid.

"Well, go on, mate! You found it, you drink it!"

I hesitantly gulp the potion...

Oh, wow! I feel great! It's making my wounds heal as fast as lightning!

"Want some, Kid? Oh, sorry, it's all gone..."

Back to the catacombs...

No matter how many times I return here, I don't think I'll ever get any more used to this place...

We return to the old man. Magil walks up to the cell and grasps the iron bars. He positions his feet, and starts to pull away at the bars with an incredible intensity.

Afer a moment, the bars start to bend like taffy!

Magil enter first through the newly-created opening.

Kid follows, kneeling down before the mumbling old man.
Putting her hands on the old man's shoulders, Kid tries to looks into his eyes, but he continues to stare at the floor. Frustrated, she starts to shout at hin, shaking him vigorously. "C'mon, old fella! Get up!!"

The old man's head shakes back and forth lke a ragdoll's, but his eyes remain averted,

I come between Kid and the old man. Kid looks at me with straightforward eyes. "Don't get in the way, Serge."

"Kid... look at him, Isay. "Being agitated is the last thing he needs right now."

"Hrmph! After I'm done with 'im, this old geezer's gonna be brimmin' with old stories!"

As Kid shifts her weight onto her other knee, suddenly the Acacian ring falls out og her pocket. It falls down to the ground, bouncing once, twice, three times...

...And comes to a stop right before the old man's eyes.

Trying to get Kid to calm down, I signal for her to look over to the man, who's now smiling faintly...

"The ring..." he says in a voice so quiet it's barely audible.

However, his eyes quickly return to their murky state.
"Finally, my allies... you have returned. Because of me, the Frozen Flame was seized, and I have desecrated the name of the Acacia Dragoons. I am the only one left... but, you have returned..."

Ah, Merkid, Zorander... now that we are once again reunited, let us all head back to Staik lake..."

"Jeez! Listen, Mister! The Frozen Flame, where is it!? Any small hint will help! Come on!!"

"Frozen... Flame...?" the old man asks. A warm smile streask across his face.

"Ah... my dear Miss Riddel... I have not seen you in quite some time. Surely you have not forgotten the secret entranceway?"

"Uhh, yeah... ya think you could tell me about that again, gramps?" Kid asks, trying to sound as ladylike as possible.

"In the ballroom... third candlestick on the left..."

Kid hugs the old man, ecstatic. And so, he resumes his mumbling, in that distant, shuddering voice...

"Please forgive me, for your father... I beg you, Riddel.
The Dragoons..."

"It's high time for you to bust on outta here, old man,"
Kid says, pointing to the bent iron bars. However, he once again refuses to look up.

"Come on... we've done all we can do here. He's got to walk through these bars himself."

"Thanks, old timer..."

After a while, the dark passageway ends at a polished, robust set of doors.

Lynx's quarters... Oh man, I can feel Kid's blood boiling from here.

"Lynx!!"

What? Lynx is here!? I rush into the room behind Kid,
unsheathing my knife in a flash of adrenaline.

"Where is he!?"

Beside me, Kid says, "Gotcha."

"Tee hee... were ya scared?" she asks, giggling.

"Oh sheesh... don't do that to me, heh..."

"Has Lord Lynx returned to the room?" A high alto voice asks.

Kid and I glance at each other, giggling. "No, he isn't here right now."

"Ah, Master Serge. Is there something I can answer for you?" the statue asks in a pleasant voice. "Or, perhaps,
you'd be interested in this lovely gift I have for you?"

"Huh? A gift?"

"Only a modest token of my appreciation for you and your comrades. I present you with a personal invitation into the Realm of the Looking Glass, if you are interested."

"Wow, really?"

"Yes, but we must hurry. Time is of the essence."

I look towards the dark, rippling surface of the mirror.
Slowly, I reach my hand out towards it.

It feels lke my hand is being submerged in water, passing straight into the mirror...

Suddenly, there's a a slight pull. I try to retract my arm,
but the harder I pull, the further I seem to be getting drawn in...

"Master Serge! Take your hand out, quickly!!"

Just then, a crack streaks across the mirror!

"What's... going on!?"

Amidst my struggling, I see a crack start to streak down the mirror's glass...

"Save yourself Master Serge... Please, before I am forced to consume you..."

"What!?"

Kid starts pulling with me, despite the increasing force drawing me in! I'm now up to my shoulder in this thing!

"On the count of three," I yell!

"One, two, three!!"

We tumble backwards, falling onto the couch. I look at my arm in a daze. It's fine.

Shaking myself off, I return to the mirror, now even more cracked since I last saw it.

"Lynx planned to seal you all in the mirror," the statue says, sobbing.

Each time it speaks, another crack seems to be running into it!

"This isn't all... I had alerted Lord Lynx of your presence,
long before you had known of me..."

"Why?"

"Lynx has already taken away everything I have..."

"He refused to allow me to leave Viper Manor, coercing me to be the mansion's eyes and ears, promising he would someday set me free..."

Hanging her head low, the venus statue speaks in a quiet, solemn voice.

"However, it was simply another one of Lord Lynx's schemes. No freedom is worth stealing another's for. I would rather destroy myself than become another murderer..."

As yet another another crack appears, a large piece of the mirror breaks off, falling to the ground.

"No.... don't...!" I yell, grasping the mirror!

A huge crack streaks across the entire mirror,
preventing me from seeing almost any of the statue...

The statue's lips can be seen moving faintly from beyond the now heavily cracked mirror, but no words can be heard...

CRASH

I silently bend down and gather up all the shards.
Putting them on the desk, I look into the kaleidoscope of reflections...

"Serge...?" from behind me, I hear Kid's voice.

"Let's go, mate..."

As I leave the room, I quietly look over my shoulder,
looking at the smashed mirror. I stop for a second,
hoping to hear a voice, but...

All I hear is silence.

We continue through the passageway, up the stairs before the atrium, and to the left. After a while we arrive at a beautifully decorated set of double doors.

A countless number of candles spectacularly illuminate this huge room.

An old-fashioned grandfather clock stands on the right,
ticking away with a morbid stillness.

I step into the center of the hall, looking upwards at the oil canvases shimmering in the low light.

"Okay, third one the left," Kid says quietly.

"One... two... three. Here we go..."

As Kid slowly pushes against the candlestick, it starts to move slowly.

"Wh, what's going on...!?" I stammer, trying to brace myself.

"This entire room is slowly sinking into the ground,"
Magil says.

The ballroom is sinking? All of it...!?

Suddenly, the room starts to fall much faster! Chills run down my spine as I look around, seeing the paintings smacking against the walls and the candles dropping to the floor!

As I start to get used to the sinking sensations, my heart fills with a violent mixture of anxiety, expectation, and hope. What awaits us at the bottom?

The Frozen Flame...

Could it really be down here? Is this our adventure's end? What if we actually take it into our hands...?

Kid... Magil... I wonder what they're feeling right now...

As the room continues to sink underground like an elevator to Hell, I start to hear Kid speak in a soft, meek voice...

"...Sometimes... ...sometimes, I do struggle to win, even when I know I've already lost, just like that lady said.
Why do I do that?"

Looking over at her, I realize this isn't the Kid I usuallyy see. There, a faint, shy smile can be seen across her face.

Suddenly, I feel something so powerful go through me, it feels like a wave of fire, surging through my heart.

"Don't worry, we can't lose, there's no doubt!"

"Whatever," Kid says beneath her breath, smiling faintly.
"Sayings like those never made much sense to me. There's never a case where there ain't a doubt. Not a single one.
But... thanks, mate."

She looks towards me with a meek smile. Looking at her, I realize there could never be another girl like her in the entire world, ever...

The shy laugh she sported a moment ago has reverted into a sort of mysterious gaze. As I stare at her, she asks me, "Hey, what's up with you all of a sudden?"

"Nothing... you just looked like a different person there for a second."

"Really...?" she says in astonishment, tilting her head.

"It's probably because of the Frozen Flame. We're getting close." Magil says. His low, rumbling voice causes the shadows of the room to tremble.

"What do ya mean?" Kid asks with a wrinkled brow.

"Look inside of yourself and you will find the answer,
Kid. The struggle for your catharsis is upon you..."

"What in the world are ya talkin' about...?"

Suddenly, a metallic grinding sound can be heard from all around us!

The room comes to a stop, swaying a bit.

"Guess this's our stop," Kid says with a hollow laugh.

I stand motionles, staring at Kid and Magil in the dim,
flikering luminescence.

Suddenly, the organ comes to life!

Lokking back towards the monstrous thing, no one is even near it! Nevertheless, it continues to play its strange, twisted tune, the keys and pedals moving wildly on their own!

"Sounds like a funeral march. Heh, Just kiddin'..."

Bad joke, Kid.

"All right! Let's do this!" Kid says, taking a deep breath as she heads for the door.

I glance at Magil, nodding my head as we follow her out.

"It's a funeral march, all right! Lynx's, that is!"

We start down the long, dark path in front of us.

The air down here carries a thick stench of death.
Somewhere, further down this passageway, Lynx's subterranean hideout swaits.

Kid's got a strange look on her face. I can't imagine what must be going through her head right now. Magil,
on the other hand... I can never read him. But still, we usually talk a little, lightening things up... but right now,
nobody's making a sound.

I try to offer some conversation, hoping to avoid the increasing tension.

"So, what really is this Frozen Flame thing?"

...No response.

Just as I start to think no one is going to answer, Magil starts to speak, his low voice echoing throughout the stone corridor.

"It was said to be a gem which soothes all scars,
granting eternal life to its owner...

...Or so people believed.

The Frozen Flame is more than just an object. It's not of this world.

It descended from the heavens long ago, part of a huge meteorite.

Once, there lived a people who sought to harness its power, hoping to tap into their yet unknown potential.
And so, it became a treasure of great importance and dreams.

However, whether a gift which bestows power is actually a blessing or a curse, is another question altogether,

Since the birth of humanity, at least one entire race has fallen because of it. These people once built a great thriving metropolis with its power, but now, all knowledge of this era has been completely lost within the ssands of time."

A faint feeling of distress comes across Magil's voice,
throughout his speech.

"But then, how do you know about all this?" I ask.

Again, no answer.

Kepping slient, I continues walking. Our footsteps once again become the only sound filling this dark path...

"Well, whether any of that's true or not, it'll all lead us to the same place. Say yer prayers, Lynx! We're comin for ya! That's all I know, and that's plenty!"

The Frozen Flame... what in the world could Lynx see in that mysterious rock...?

Flooded with thoughts, I pause for a moment to take a deep breath and calm myself.

Continuing on a moment later, I feel as though I'm a bit more at peace...

Suddenly, Magil comes to a stop. "Do not move."

"Huh...?"

Kid and I look around suspiciously. Around us, bones are scattered in all directions. Many of them have been cut cleanly in half.

Looking around more, amidst the dim light I start to see that that the walls have been splattered with blood.

Then suddenly, a trace of light catches my eye from behind.

There's a bolt of electricity approaching us, sparkling like a lit fuse on the ground.

Coming within a few feet of us, the spark splits off into two, forming a circle around us. Once the circle is complete, an odd glow starts to shine at our feet! Then,
from where the sparks had traced, light shoots upwards,
forming a wall of light all around us!

"It's a Devil Circle!"

We try to move, but we find ourselves caught within the rays of light!

With the scalding, noise winds whirling all around us, all I see are rays of shimmering light in every direction I look!

"Wh, what do I do? I can't see anything in all this light!"

Magil grabs me by the shoulder and returns me to the center of the circle. Thankfully, he seems to be able to see just fine; his mask is probably shielding his eyes from the radiance.

"There is always a way out of a Devil Circle -- we must find the gaps to walk through!"

"If you say so...!"

Suddenly, Kid's elbow grazes one of the walls!

Sparks scatter in all directions! She instantly snaps her arm back, wincing in pain!

Unable to see any gaps whatsoever, I hesitantly start to make my way towards the blinding wall of light...

"Come on, to the right a little...!"

"There! Come on, now!"

From where we stand, a small gap in the wall can be seen all of a sudden. Holding my breath, I leap into it with my arms shielding my face!

All right! We made it through!!

However, I open my eyes only to see even more of these glimmering wall swirling before us!

"We've got to go to the left a little..!"

"There! Come on, now!"

Same story...

"To the right, slowly...!"

We made it!

I scurry away from the bloodcurdling thing as fast as I can. Looking back, I see it vanish instantly dies down as well, and all the dust and grime that was blowing around falls back to the floor in a flash. Everything has returned to a quiet stillness. Too quiet.

And so, heading down the hallway further and further,
eventually...

"At last..."

Kid steps toward the mighty set of doors, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Beyond this door... the Frozen Flame..."

From behind his mask, Magil's eyes let loose a cool radiance.

"Okay... let's go!" Kid says eagerly, grasping the handle.

"Whoa..."

This cavern sprawls out to great lengths before our eyes. A forgotton world, hidden deep below ground...

And, with a scarlet radiance, a single small gem shimmers in the darkness.

The Frozen Flame!

"Finally, we're here!"

The jewel shimmers warmly, almost as if it's responding to Kid's voice...

Taking a few steps into the moist cavern, Magil whispers,
"Remarkable... intact ruins of the lost Magical Kingdom."

Just as I start to ask Magil what he means, a taunting laugh can be heard from high above us.

"Lynx!!"

Kid immediately pulls out her knife and hurls it through the air with all her might!

As it approcahes Lynx, he easily swats it out of the way,
almost too quickly for me to see!

"Always the same... such a savage little girl. Can't you give a gentleman an honest greeting?"

"You bastard!!" Kid interrupts.

"And what have we here... the notorious shadow walker. I wouldn't be trying anything like last time, if I were you."

Beside me, I see Magil come to a stop.

Lord Lynx...

Viper Manor's deadly owner...

The very same man who murdered Kid's sister, deceived Riddel's father, and eradicated the Acacia Dragoons...

"Welcome back, Kdi. I see you have successfully taken the bait, gluttonous as ever."

"What...!?" Kid says hesitantly, taking a step back.

Lynx stares down at her with those frighteningly piercing eye of his.

"You see, Kid, I brought you here because of the rock you carry."

"Which rock?"

"Surely you remember, the one you received from your sister, all those years ago... the priceless keepsake you carry with you dearly, even now...

The Chrono Trigger!!"

"How'd ya know about that...?"

Kid's gaze returns to a scowl.

"No matter... we're here for the Frozen Flame! Yer finsihers, ya bastard!"

"Ah yes, toss your little threats around. But remember,
no matter how many times you think you have won, I have generously demonstrated how gravely you are mistaken."

And with that, Lynx unsheathes a beautiful golden sabre.

"Previously I've overlooked doing away with you, letting you scurry on with your pathetic little life. However, this time, I may not be so generous..."

Kid takes another step back, glaring at Lynx as he approaches.

"Lynx!! Ya murderer, I'll never forgive you for Lucca... This ends here and now!!"

And so, Kid leaps into the air in a fit of rage, aiming a kick between Lynx's eyes!

However, just as she reaches him, he swiftly dodges!

Kid stands there, wondering how she could have missed.
Beside her, Lynx laughs, taunting her!

Jumping up once again, Kid lets loose a fierce kick!

Skimming the tip of his nose, her kick cuts through nothing but air!

In a parry attack, Lynx sends his razor-sharp golden sabre through the air!

But Kid's already leapt back. The two face each other,
only a few feet apart.

"If only you had been a bit faster, Kid," Lynx says,
smiling.

All of a sudden, a line of red streaks across Kid's face!

"Kid...!?"

Wiping off the blood, Kid angrily rushes Lynx in a flash through the air!

Effortlessly dodging, Lynx drives the sword into her back as soon as she lands!

Kid bends back in alarming pain!

Somehow staying on her feet, she stumbles back and readies herself to charge again!

"Stupid little brat...!!"

Lynx lands an elbow onto Kid's shoulder, knocking her clear down to the ground!

I feel her pain from the pit of my stomach, as I start to see blood trickling from her lips...

"What's wrong, little girl!?"

Once again, Kid tries to lash out at Lynx, but he easily kicks her, sending her back onto a pile of rubble!

Lynx then looks upward, focusing his concentration on the ceiling. As I look up, I see a number of rocks have come dislodged from the cavern, tumbling down onto her!

"Kid...!!"

I call out as I start to rush over to her! However, just as soon as I start to, I see Magil's already there. He's streaked across the shadows, putting himself between Lynx and Kid!

Saying nothing, Lynx shoots a thread of white light out of his fingertips!

The threadlike substance entangles Magil, binding his feet totgether. He hits the ground with a thud!

In a dazzling radiance, a countless number of threads fly out from Lynx's fingertips! They immobilize Magil completely, leaving only his head visible!

"How does that feel, shadow walker? Have you felt my web start to drain your life energy yet?" Lynx says,
smiling ominously.

"Grrrrr...!!"

Kid... Magil... What am I going to do!?

"Kid...!!"

She looks over towards me. With blood trickling from her mouth, she only moves a little.

"Kid... are you all right?"

She lies there motionless, wincing painfully.

"...Serge..."

"It's okay, Kid! I'm here for you!"

"How kind... however, I think you should be more concerned with you own well being, young man!"

An icy chill runs down my spine as I hear the evil voice behind me. I stand up and turn around...

"So you, whoever you are. Opposing me is quite useless,
as you obviously have seen."

And in a flash, Lynx grabs me by the neck!

He strangles me with his long, disgusting fingers!

"Urrghh...!!"

Then, he starts to lift me up by my neck! Struggling for air, I painfully hang there, unable to tear myself free of his powerful grip!

"Look, Kid. Look at your pathetic little companion suffering. You can make this all stop, if you want."

With blood dripping from her lips, Kid opens one of her eyes. Painfully gasping and coughing, she lifts here head up to us.

She still wants to get up, but she's hurt far too badly.

"Serge...!!"

"Hand over the Chrono Trigger, Kid. Little do you know,
but that rock is actually a tiny, condensed universe.
When combined with the Frozen Flame, it gains the power to bend space-time, allowing its owner to reshape history. This all could have never happened, if you merely wish it..."

Saying this, Lynx looks toward me, expressionless.

"And what about you, young man? Perhaps you know where the Chrono Trigger is?" he asks, tightening his grip!

"...Serge...!!"

"What are you going to do, Kid? Can you afford to let this little boy die without helping? How will if feel to have his blood on your hands?"

As Lynx grasps tighter and tighter, I find myself starting to lose it...

Lynx's face becomes a blur...

Suddenly, Kid's voice snaps me back to attention!

"I'm sorry Serge...!! Wh, what should I do?"

"Don't... don't do it...!"

Consciousness... fading...

"Stop!! The stone... here!"

Lynx looks over to Kid. His eyes light up as his hands loosen around my neck.

Abandoning me, Lynx rushes over to her side.

"Here it is, Lynx..."

Kid reaches into her pcoket. Lynx draws closer.

Despite being drained of nearly all strength, Kid manages to whip her knife out, fiercely slashing at Lynx!

Screaming viciously, Lynx falls back, cradling his mangled face! Blood starts to trickle down from between his fingers!

"You...!!"

Lynx staggers to his feet, keeping his right hand on the wound.

"I will have such fun killing you all...!!"

With as much power as she can muster, Kid kicks at Lynx, sweeping him off his feet!

"Hah!"

Spitting blood, Kid coughs a little, but still, a smile manages to come through her agony.

"K... Kid..."

I run over towards her, still feeling the burning grip on my neck.

Lynx turns to Kid, staring at her with his cold, evil gaze.

"Child, you shall beg for death soon enough. Every flavor of pain shall be yours. Prepare to join Lucca!!"

Hearing this, Kid's eyes slowly open, and catch sight od Lynx. A red-hot gaze burns in her eyes. Slowly, she rises to her feet!

A shimmering light suddenly spurts out of the Frozen Flame!

At the same time, a golden light bursts out of Kid's chest!!

Swirling around her, the light rises up, spreading outward in a glistening spiral!

"Wh, what is this...!?" Lynx gasps.

Kid's voice calls out from deep withing the shower of light... "You will not win, Lynx!!"

She trembles, her eyes flowing with red tears.

And then, a single voice can be heard. It's a deep,
profound voice... the voice of undeniable honesty and truth.

Long ago, in a far off kingdom, lived a girl. Because of her power, the kingdom had come to and end, crumbling under its own weight. Many became engulfed in the temporal vortex that was created, never to be heard from again...

...But not the girl. She lived on, enduring a much sadder fate... Running from her past and fearing her future, she wanted nothing more than to be swallowed up in the surging waves of the vortex of time...

Hating what she'd done,
refusing what she'd said or heard,
to simply continue living was her curse.

But the stone,
It had other plans for her...

Turning back the hands of her clock,
scattering her memories,
she was granted another chance.

Since the precious stone was in her posession,
she carried with her all its will and power.

And so, she was born into this era,
returning to reality as a mere infant...

And with that, the fragments of the shattered Chrono Trigger fall to the ground softly.

The cavern before us slowly starts to come apart,
bending inward and outwards like a tear in reality, until we are completely removed from its existence...

A single girl's voice resounds in the darkness...

"Please...

This dark energy...

Make it stop!"

Losing all sense of reality and presence, I become engulfed in this realm, drifting aimlessly through the ages...

The world flows, time dissolves, and people live and die... I can see it all within this mysterious ocean...

The origin of time... Every one of life's tranquillities is here...

I can see myself as a babay, crying at my mother's side,
where she gives a warm, proud grin...

I can see myself as an old man, softly smiling, knowing that death will come soon.

Infinite version of myself extend like ghosts throughout this endless corridor of time...

Everywhere I look, I see another life, another era... In this unfolded existence, I see countless lives, and countless dreams.

Resting in eternity,

A kind voice calls out to me...

A single song...

...Kid!

..Kid!!

Can you hear my voice?
...Kid...!?

Answer me, Kid.
Please...

Who?
Who's calling my name...

"......Serge...? Wh, where is this...?"

"Kid!? You're here!!"

"That song... that beautiful song... it was Lucca's favorite..."

Kid softly smiles, closing her eyes. I can see she can't help but shed a few tears for this long lost reminiscence.

This song is actually something I composed in my earlier years, back when I was still a musician. Kid seems to be very fond of it...

"You called out to m, Serge. You called my name. Thank you. You won't leave me, will you?"

"I'm here for you, Kid."

"It all makes so much sense now... I know who I am,
Serge... I know what I'm here for."

"Let's go back now, okay? I'm ready."

"Urrrgh...!"

Lynx has pinned Kid to the ground!

"And now, you see your death!"

What do I do?

Lynx will have to get through me if he wants to get to Kid!

"Oh, will get to put you both out of your misery at once?"

Lynx raises his sabre overhead, ready to plunge it into us!

"I wouldn't do that if I was you."

Quickly turning my head, I look in the direction of the voice.

"You...!?"

There, under a large hood, stands the old woman from before!

"So, Vera. Looks like Porre coudn't keep their hands out of this after all," says Lynx, flatly.

"Good to see you again, Master Lynx. Seems you've seen better days..."

The old lady... she's from Porre?

"The Frozen Flame, we will take custody of it now. It seems none of you can decide on who the rightful owner should be."

The old lady gives a small signal, and dozens of armed troops rush out from behind her, securing the cavern.

"I will not forget this, Vera!" Lynx shouts, floating up into the air.

Brimming with hatred, Lynx's glance turns to us. "And you! You will see death by my hand!"

Saying this, Lynx vanishes into this air!

The soldiers untie Magil, and start heading towards us.

The old woman gazes down on us from under her hood.
"I believe you all ought to come with us."

Looking up, I notice the armed soldiers have swarmed around us, with their weapons ready!

Seeing this, Magil instantly waves his hands in the air,
calling out some sort of incantation! "Darkness, Envelop under my command!"

Suddenly, all light in the cavern is put out! It's now or never!

"Quickly, Serge!!"

I grab on to Magil, who'se holding Kid. Together, we flee the cavern, vanishing into the darkness!

Led by Magil, we make our way out of the mansion...

Back in the forest, we see the search party's torches here and there, hunting for us. Their militant barking can be heard as they continue to get closer and closer to us.

We stop behind a tree for a moment or two, catching our breath. I look down to Kid, who's taken quite a beating...

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, mate... fine."

"We're completely surrounded," Says Magil. "We must be on our way."

Looking around, I suddenly see torches all around us,
starting to close in.

Kid suddenly lifts her head up. "Go, Serge... save yerself.
The troupe is only after Magil and me. If they find you alone, they'll let ya go."

"Wh, what are you talking about!? I can't leave you now!
Not like this!"

"I told ya I'll be fine, mate..."

"But...!"

"Don't worry. I remember now, Serge... who I used to be,
long ago..." she says staring up into the night sky.

Seeing the reflection of a hundred thousand stars in her eyes, I can't help but be taken in by that lonely, on in a million expression of hers...

"Kid..."

"Don't worry, I'm okay... I'll see ya again," she says with a smile. "Someday, I know I'll see ya again... without a doubt."

She softly closes her eyes. "Lucca's Chrono Trigger was lost... we couldn't even get our hands on the Frozen Flame... but, it's okay... it's all okay, because tonight, in my heart, a shiny new treasure was born, Serge... the single most valuable unstealable treasure in the entire world."

Saying this, Kid stares firmly at me with those eyes of hers... those bold, straight, honest eyes.

"Knowing who I am... It's bigger than all this... bigger than Lynx, bigger than the Frozen Flame... and, nothing can take that away... not as long as I'm alive..."

At this moment, listening to her under the starry night sky, I find myself wanting nothing more than to be here with her right now. Staring into her eyes, I only wish time could stop right at this instant...

"Goodbue, Serge... thank you..."

And with that, Kid turns her back to me and disappears into the darkness.

"Kid...!"

"Don't follow me! Please, don't follow me..."

Unable to control my feelings, I start to rush after her however, a shadow abruptly blocks my path. It's Magil.

He slowly shakes his head, a sorrowful look in his eyes...

With that, his shadowy figure draws back, dissolving into the darkness.

"Magil!?"

"Kid!!"

Kid!
Kid...

And so, the curtain closes on another tale. However,
another time, after the spotlight had faded from Kid,
Magil, and Riddel...

...In another place and another time... a similar band of adventurers had come forth, equally unsuspecting of their other selves, and life went on as they strode out into the great unknown.

But, that's a story for another day. For now, I shall put down my pen."

As I softly close my grandfather's diary, I hear my mother's voice call to me from downstairs.

"Didn't you hear me? Your friend is here!"

I turn around, already knowing who it is. My door opens quite energetically, where I see a strangely nostalgic girl barge in.

"Serge! We found some ruins of an old mansion up in northern Kitsune Forest today! Come on, let's go exploring!"

The End

For you CT fans, you should already know this but... Kid is Schala reincarnated, Magil is Magus having located Schala while time traveling, and Serge is just Serge. What's in the next chapters? No, not part of the main storyline, alternate ones. See where it all could have gone.