The path to the valley of Mist was shorter than both Cecil and Kain had imagined, they managed to keep themselves entertained by slaying the small beasts they encountered and reminiscing over the past times that they had when they were younger. Cecil couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness that settled in his stomach every time they fought a battle. It wasn't that he was afraid; it was the feeling of an omen, that something bad was ready to happen.

Finally they reached the opening of the mountain, the area known as Mist Cave. They entered, and continued over the rickety bridges and soft dirt. A slight fog surrounded their ankles, making it nearly impossible for the two knights of Baron to see where they were stepping. The monsters were easily slain by Kain's dragoon lance and Cecil's sword. All was going well, the mission was easy.

"TURN BACK!" a voice screamed out, causing Cecil and Kain to jump in surprise.

They both looked curiously around the cave and then at each other, wondering where the shout had come from. "What? Who's there?" Cecil called out, and both of them waited as the wind blew the fog around their feet. The mist was beginning to grow.

"LEAVE AT ONCE!" the same voice screeched, and Kain and Cecil froze in their tracks, waiting to see if anything would happen. The voice continued to yell," KNIGHTS OF BARON! LEAVE AT ONCE OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!"

Cecil and Kain were now at the end of the cave, they could see the exit to the outside and see the sunshine that was beating onto the world. They both made steps forward, but before they could exit, the voice screamed at them again.

"TURN BACK AND NO HARM WILL BEFALL YOU."

Kain scoffed. "This is ridiculous," he said, and began to exit the cave. Cecil didn't move, he waited to see what his friend's fate would be. "We have to get to Mist. We can't turn back!" Kain protested as he left the cave.

"So be it," the voice whispered, and with that the mist grew so that it was unbearably difficult to see, and Kain was slammed back from the entrance of the cave. Out of the mist, the shape of a dragon was formed, and it let out a piercing scream that chilled the air and made their blood run cold. Kain quickly pulled out his lance, and launched himself into the air.

Cecil also withdrew his sword, staring at the dragon's silhouette in front of him. He ran towards the dragon and slashed at it, not being able to see because of all the mist. He knew he had hit something when the dragon began to scream.

Kain suddenly landed beside him, the spiked end of his lance embedded in the dragon's neck. Smiling proudly, Kain thrust the lance out of the dragon, and both the knights stared in wonder as the dragon's figure began to turn into more and more mist, finally fading away into the air.

"Well, that was easy enough!" Kain grinned at Cecil, who managed to give him a smile back. "Let's go then. We have to get to Mist so we can get back, and you can be made the Captain of the Red Wings again!"

With that the two men hurried out of the cave, and continued on to the village of Mist.

----------

Finally the town of Mist was visible. Cecil and Kain entered, gathering themselves some looks from the villagers that were wandering the streets. Suddenly Cecil felt a heat on his fingers, and he looked at his hand to see the Bomb Ring on his ring finger glowing and admitting a strange heat. He took it off his finger, and held it up so that Kain could see. "It's glowing," he stated, looking at Kain, wondering what the strange glowing meant.

Suddenly, several bombs were released from the ring, and they descended upon the city of Mist. Cecil gasped and dropped the ring in surprise, while him and Kain could only look on as the bombs inflicted destruction upon the former beautiful city. Within seconds, the city was only a mass of flames.

"This is why he sent us here?" Cecil could feel his voice breaking as he gazed upon the city. Again, he had been a murderer. Again he had caused suffering to many. Cecil dropped to his knees, to weak to stand.

Kain didn't know what to say, he could only stand with his mouth slightly open in shock. Now he understood what Cecil had felt after the mission yesterday. Now he understood what it was like to be a murderer. "We've destroyed the entire village," he said flatly, just to fill the dead air.

Cecil put his head in his hands, shaking his head back and forth. "Why? Why would he make us do something like this? WHY?" he yelled.

"Mommy! No!"

Both Cecil and Kain turned around in surprise as they heard the voice of a young girl screaming out and sobbing. Cecil still felt paralyzed by his murders, but Kain ran to the girls side.

The girl was very young, still only a child. She had short and curly green hair, and big brown eyes. Those eyes were filled with tears and overflowed onto her pale cheeks. She was crouching by the body of a woman, who Kain assumed was her mother. Kain crouched down beside the girl so that he was on her level.

The girl gazed at him with watery eyes. "My mommy's dragon died…" the girl sniffled before continuing. "And because of that…my mommy died too!" she broke out into more sobs.

Cecil raised his head from where he was still kneeling on the ground. Suddenly he rushed over to the girl, his eyes wide and filled with pain. "What?" he asked in a whisper, looking at Kain as if for some kind of answer.

Kain shrugged. "I've heard of people with the power to summon monsters…summoners they are called," he told Cecil.

Cecil let his head process the information as a hollow look came over his pale face. "Then…we are the ones responsible for killing her mother. Because we killed the dragon." Cecil could only hang his head in shame. How was it that he could wreak so much havoc in not even two days?

The girl glared at Cecil and Kain with fire in her eyes. "YOU killed my mommy's dragon?" she looked livid, but still had the tears of sadness in her eyes.

"We…we didn't know that would happen…" Cecil tried to protest weakly, but it was in vain.

Kain sighed. "So that was the king's wish. To annihilate every summoner in this village…damn," Kain cursed softly, looking around at the flames and damage that overtook Mist.

"This can't be," Cecil heard his voice crack again, hanging his head low in sadness and in shame.

Kain stood up, glaring down at Cecil. "I'm afraid it is. I'm also afraid we're going to have to get rid of this girl, too," he told his friend sternly.

Cecil stood up as well. "What? Kain, you can't be serious! She's only a child!" Cecil's sadness was replaced by anger that Kain could even think of such a horrible thing. After all they had already done…

Kain raised one eyebrow and looked at Cecil in surprise. "You would dare to defy the king?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Yes!" Cecil burst out angrily. "I refuse to continue any more slaughter in the king's name. I won't do it, Kain!" the two stared at each other for a moment, but finally Kain smiled.

"I knew you'd say that, Cecil. But don't worry, I'm on your side with this."

"You are? Then you will join me?"

Kain nodded. "Of course. I owe the king so much, but I can't disgrace the names of the dragoons. But we will need allies if we are to oppose the mightiest kingdom in the land," Kain looked off into the air, thinking. "We have to do it for Rosa, as well."

Cecil put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Thank you, Kain," he said quietly.

Kain shrugged Cecil's hand off and turned away from him. "Save it, Cecil. This isn't for your sake. This place is dangerous. We'd better get going." Kain began to stride away, but Cecil stayed behind.

Cecil looked down at the small girl that had been looking back and forth from him to Kain, her eyes fearful of the dark knight and the dragoon. "We can't just leave her here, Kain," Cecil said, gesturing to the girl. We'll have to take her with us." Cecil knelt down so that he was on the child's level. "It's alright. We won't hurt you," he said to her, holding out his hand. "You're going to have to come with us, okay?"

"No!" the girl yelled at him, scurrying away from Cecil's outstretched hand in fear and anger. "Go away! I hate you! You killed my mother!" she cried, glaring at both Cecil and Kain.

Kain sighed impatiently. "We don't have time for this! You have to come with us, NOW."

"No!" she yelled again, and she raised her hands together, a faint yellow glow beginning to emit from them. The girl closed her eyes for a moment as Cecil and Kain watched her, wondering what she was doing. When she opened her eyes, she screamed, "TITAN!" and a strong-looking figure of a man had appeared before Cecil and Kain. The huge giant of a man banged his fist against the ground, and with that bang the ground was cracked open. The earthquakes that followed were tremendous, knocking Kain and Cecil to the ground.

The houses began to shudder and fall where they hadn't already been burned to the ground. The earthquakes grew and grew in power, and before Cecil knew what was happening it had gotten to be too much, and he collapsed on the ground in pain, passing out.

----------

Cecil suddenly awoke with a start to find himself sprawled on the ground, leaves and twigs stuck in his hair. His head ached as he sat up and tried to gather himself, wiping the dirt from his armor. He looked around, and saw the same little girl from Mysidia lying on the ground near him, and he instantly stood up, looking around for his friend. "Kain? Kain!" he yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth to make his voice louder. "Kain?" he yelled again, but there was no answer.

He looked down at the girl who was lying unconscious, obviously exhausted from the strength used to summon the monster she had. "Thank goodness you're safe," he told her, even though he knew that she couldn't hear him. Cecil looked to the sunny sky. "I have to get her out of here…Kain, I pray that you are alive and safe."

Cecil lifted the girl in his arms, surprised at how light she was. He saw what looked like the silhouette of houses in the near distance, and walked towards that silhouette. When he got closer he could see that it was a small town in middle of a desert, a small lake of water next to it. The town was Kaipo, the desert oasis.

Cecil ran through the town with the girl in his arms, looking to find the Inn. When he had entered the town's Inn the Inn Keeper looked up from his paperwork, a bright smile on his face. "Welcome!" Instantly his smile faded as he saw the girl in Cecil's arms. He peered at her with a worried look. "She looks pale? Is she all right?" Without waiting for Cecil's answer, the Inn Keeper waved at a bed in the corner. "Get her to bed, and quickly! You can rest here free of charge!"

Nodding his thanks and giving the Inn Keeper a small smile, Cecil walked over to the bed that had been indicated to him and laid the girl down. Almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, she began to stir. Her eyes opened and looked around, but when she saw Cecil the curious look was replaced with one of hatred.

Cecil attempted to strike a conversation with her. He smiled, "Hey. My name's Cecil. What's yours?" he asked her, trying to maintain a pleasant face and voice.

The girl just glared at him, not saying a word.

Cecil didn't know what to do now. He just sat there, meeting the girl's angry gaze. "Um…I'm sorry about your mother. I didn't know about the dragon. I hope that you can forgive me," he didn't want to plead with the girl but Cecil was beginning to feel desperate as she continued to sit and stare at him. "Well…I guess I can understand that you just can't forgive me. But…will you at least let me protect you from harm?" he asked, tapping her on the shoulder.

She continued to sit there, staring at Cecil, and moved away so that he couldn't touch her again. She turned her face to the wall.

Cecil shrugged. "Fine," he said, mostly to himself than to her. Night was beginning to fall outside the Inn windows, so Cecil just lay down on his bed to rest, hoping that in the morning the young girl would be more responsive and that he could at least find out who she was.