I do not own Legend of Dragoon or any of the characters.
Explanations
"I suppose I owe everyone an explanation," Cade said, sitting on a table in the cellar.
They were hiding in the ruins of the village of Seles, Dart and Shana's home that was razed to the ground when Shana was kidnapped before Cade met them, starting the journey Dart and the others were on. So far, hardly anyone had spoken since Lavitz died the day before. It had been a long trip from Hellena to Seles, despite only being a few hours away walking.
"You're not human," Dart said. "That's what you said."
"That's half right," Cade said. "I'm half human, on my father's side, but my mother was a Wingly."
"A Wingly?" Albert asked. "The race that once ruled all others? They still exist?"
"Some do," Cade said. "And most of them still hate and fear humanity, ever since the war. My mother was one of very few who didn't, and she was banished for leaving her home to be with a human she fell in love with. He died, but she eventually fell for another and had me. She trained me to fight and to wield my magic, then before I left on my journey, she taught me to transfer magic, either by stealing it from another Wingly, thereby killing them, or to give my own to another, thereby killing myself. She gave me her magic in order to make me stronger, as one final gift to aid me on my journey, and so that I would have nothing to hold me back on the journey."
"Why hide it?" Dart asked.
"Because humans fear those with powers they don't understand," Cade said. "I learned that the hard way growing up when my mother and I were driven out of two separate towns because someone found out I had magic."
"I see," Dart nodded.
"That's terrible," Shana said.
"That's life," Cade shrugged.
"You don't seem very surprised by him being a Wingly, Rose," Dart said.
"Well, for one thing, he used magic and flew during the fight against that prison's warden," Rose said. "However, even before that, I knew what he was. He told me in Lohan."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Dart asked.
"Because it wasn't my place," Rose said. "And because it changes nothing. Whether he's a human or a Wingly, he's still a good man."
Cade couldn't help but smile slightly at the compliment.
"I finally understand," Albert said, standing. "When you all visited Bale, those of you who were there, Lavitz told me he had finally found someone he could call friends. I finally understand why. Dart, Shana, Haschel, Rose, and Cade...Lavitz was my most loyal knight, and my strongest, and at the same time he was my precious friend. He was a great guy. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for helping Lavitz, and thank you for saving me."
Everyone was silent for a long few moments.
"He was out of luck," Rose finally said. "I didn't know he had the Dragon Buster. If I had known, I would have stopped Lavitz."
"Dragon Buster?" Dart asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Lloyd's sword," Cade said. "The one with the flaming blade. My mother once told me about it. It's a weapon created by the ancient Winglies during the Dragon Campaign. A sword made especially to slay dragons, and by the same power, Dragoons. Against that weapon, a Dragoon's armor is useless. You might as well not be wearing any armor at all."
Lloyd," Dart snarled, clenching his fists. "What sort of plot is he weaving?"
After a moment, he let out a long sigh, and forced himself to relax. Everyone fell silent for a few moments before Albert broke the silence.
"I suppose...I should probably tell you about what Lloyd took from me," Albert said.
Everyone turned toward him instantly as he sat down. Everyone else made themselves comfortable as well.
"The story goes back eleven thousand years," Albert said. "Winglies who ruled the earth were defeated in the Dragon Campaign and disappeared, though obviously they yet survive. However, their sacred objects were scattered around the world. Each contained within it the power of the ancient Winglies, which only they could use. One of them was handed down in Serdio, and it has been sealed inside the body of each crowned heir because of the fear that its power could bring evil. That sacred object is the secret treasure of Serdio, which has been taken. The Moon Gem."
"Where did Lloyd find out about it?" Rose asked.
"I was foolish," Albert said. "I bought his intelligence and employed him as an advisor. Most likely, he was loyal to Imperial Sandora."
"That's right," Rose agreed. "Once he obtains the secret treasure, he is crowned heir of Serdio both in name and reality. The birth of the Conqueror King Doel. That would be the end of Basil."
"His majesty Albert is still alive!" Dart said. "The war is not over yet! Basil is not finished!"
"What is a king to do if he does not have a castle to go back to, and a large force to protect him?" Rose asked.
"He gets a new castle," Cade said, everyone turning to him. "I've heard the Black Castle of Kazas is rather spacious."
"The Black Castle?" Albert asked. "But that's where..." He trailed off, eyes widening slowly. "I have no great force."
"What greater force is there than four Dragoons, a Wingly, and a master of martial arts?" Cade asked.
"You're right," Albert nodded. "We still have a chance."
"It's a daring strategy," Rose said. "But it's not bad."
"Let's do it!" Shana nodded.
"We can do it if we fight together," Dart agreed.
"I will also lend you my fist," Haschel said.
"I will show them how well I learned to wield a lance from Lavitz," Albert said firmly.
"Lavitz, we won't let your death be in vain!" Dart declared.
"We should rest before we go," Cade said. "We've been up for two days now, and we had several battles in that time."
"He's right," Rose agreed. "We might not get much of a chance to rest again until this is over."
The others all nodded in agreement and looked around before each picked a place on the floor to rest. As they did, Cade walked up the stairs to the surface, looking around before closing the doors and sitting just below them, drawing his sword and running his fingers along it, glowing runes appearing along the blade in his fingers' wake, then fading a few seconds later.
"That's a durability enchantment, right?" Rose asked.
"This way, it won't be able to lose it edge, even if I never clean it, the blade will never rust, and it will be much harder to break," Cade said.
"Why didn't you do that with your last one?" Rose asked.
"I didn't think of it," Cade said. "I hadn't realized at the time that I'd be fighting living statues, crystals, and trying to block Fruegel's club."
Rose nodded. "How's your head?"
"It healed with the rest of my wounds," Cade said. "I didn't realize you were able to heal people."
"It's not healing so much as forceful life transference," Rose said. "It's the same concept as stealing another Wingly's magic, from what you've told me, except that instead of increasing your power, it just heals you."
Cade nodded, smiling. "Still, you saved my life. Thank you."
"Yes, well...I couldn't just let you die to some dog," Rose said. "That would have been the most pointless ending you could have had. I told you, I'm interested to see if you're able to achieve your goals."
Cade smiled. "I will. You have my word, I'll find a way to ease your pain."
Rose sighed softly, but Cade's eyes widened as the corners of her lips tugged up slightly into a small, barely-recognizable smile, though compared to her usual bored scowl, it was practically hysterical laughter.
"You don't know how long it's been since someone's payed me even the slightest attention," Rose said.
"Oh my...god," Cade breathed.
"What?" Rose asked.
"You have...the most beautiful smile I've ever seen," Cade said, his own smile returning. "You're so..." He shook his head. "There aren't even words."
Rose's smile grew slightly, before she forced her face back to neutral. "You really don't ever quit."
"Never," Cade smiled. "I'll never give up on you. Especially now that I know how beautiful even a small smile is when it's yours."
Rose shook her head. "Back to the more important topic. Lloyd. Is he..."
"Yeah," Cade nodded, his own smile vanishing. "He's most likely also a Wingly. I don't know any other way he could have gotten the Dragon Buster from the Forest of Winglies, or how else he'd be able to just vanish after jumping out of the window."
Rose nodded. "I thought as much."
Cade sighed, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. We'll deal with him when the time comes. And now that everyone knows my secret, I don't have to hold back anymore."
"You seemed to be holding back less in Hellena," Rose said.
"I figured something a little closer to my actual abilities would be more useful," Cade said.
"You were right," Rose said. "Though you still got careless and sloppy against Fruegel."
"Yeah, that was not my finest hour," Cade grimaced. "Thank you again, by the way. You saved my life."
"I wish you'd stop acting like it meant anything special," Rose said.
"If nothing else, it meant you didn't want me to die," Cade said. "Now I have more time to make you smile."
Rose shook her head. "Get some rest. You've got to be tired too."
Cade nodded, leaning against the wall, and quickly drifted off to sleep. As he did, Rose watched him for a moment before sighing and raising her hand to her face for a moment as she tried to still her mind. Finally, she sat a few steps below him, leaning against the wall as well, and allowed herself to also sleep.
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