In the House of Arvis:

Terra awoke.

And she knew nothing. Her mind raced as she tried to remember the sequence of events that had drawn her here, yet nothing came to her. Had she even existed five minutes ago? Or had she simply come into being with the appearance of age? How old was she?

Her hair was green, and she was lying in a clean bed, falling around her. She did not recognize her clothes, but then she did not recognize anything. Out one window, she saw a chilly, clear morning, and there were books on the wall. Sitting up, Terra moved over to the books and read the titles;

'Is magic a myth?'

Yes. But a myth was not a lie, it was a reflection of reality that defines the future.

'The origin of dragons.'

Dragons were part of the world and had never fully gone away. They had always had a place, but that place had been failing.

'The founding of the Magitech Knights and their derivatives.'

Derivatives? Terra knew of the Magitech Knights, vaguely. It had a feeling to it, and she vaguely had a memory of cheering crowds. There had been several there and also numerous armored soldiers. Yet, she felt nothing at it. Either way, she didn't remember ever hearing about other kinds of Magitech Knights.

"You've had a busy day," said a voice.

Terra turned to the person in surprise. He was a short man with blonde hair and a balding head. He looked to have just entered with a pot of water which he placed down on an iron grate. It was boiling.

"Where am I?" asked Terra.

"In Narshe, I shouldn't go near any of the windows," said the man, standing up and taking off his gloves. "You only just attacked the place."

Terra could vaguely feel a sense of pain and sorrow in this place. How odd. There was an emotional frequency of despair all outside these walls, but they didn't quite seep in. Closing her eyes and reaching out with her feelings, she sensed death and a lot of it. Great carnage had washed over this place, killing people en masse. Yet there was also a mad joy remaining, a desire for death. Pride at the power to inflict injury and to sustain it, some of it was even among the victims.

And Terra, she was hated here. She could sense it.

"Why would you help me?" asked Terra.

"You were wearing this," Arvis said, and he drew up the broken fragments of a crown. Terra looked at it and felt a twinge of pain at the memory. Faces of screaming men as hands, were they her hands, burning them. "It was a slave crown; something meant to keep you in line. So you can't be held responsible for what you did out there. Unfortunately, the townsfolk might not see it that way.

"My name is Arvis."

"Why help me?" asked Terra, surprised. Arvis had taken a great risk by helping her, and she might well have killed people who knew her. This was not a rational choice at all, so why would he make it?

"Well, you are in need of help for one thing," said Arvis. "For another, I imagine you're not in a hurry to put a slave crown on your head again."

"No, I am not," said Terra. It was a statement of the obvious.

"Well, I might be able to help you then. Have some tea; it should help," said Arvis, taking a label and cup and pouring it in. "Careful, it is hot. I have milk if you want it."

"This is soothing," said Terra, sipping it and ignoring the heat.

"Well, it has certain magical properties. Or so we used to think," said Arvis sadly. "Many modern advancements claim that they are a result of chemical reactions. Ones' that are duplicated perfected from magic. For my part, I'll only believe that when I see a chemical duplicate and can't tell the difference."

"Is there something you want from me?" asked Terra, wondering if he had some agenda.

"No, not specifically," said Arvis. "At present, the only thing I want is you safely out of Narshe before you are hurt. I would take you out myself, but the front door is usually watched. We've a back door that leads out through the mines, but there are many guards there now.

"Many bodies are being cleared out of that place." He did want something, but he obviously had no intention of talking about it. In fact, he seemed to not be willing to press the matter on it.

Terra decided she ought to test things. Reaching out with her feelings, she sensed for the emotion of hate. As she did, she felt a lot of hatred, fear too, and it had been growing for years. Many people who dwelled in this place had come from other faraway lands seeking a new life. Many others were descended from those who had fled.

They fled the wars with the Gestahlian Empire. Some from the Empire, some from other lands. They held in living memory terrible conflicts that had scarred the land. They hurt them and others beyond her ability to conceive. And now, their sense of security was destroyed by her.

"They must hate me very much," said Terra.

"They hate what they think you are," said Arvis. "Do you have a name?"

"Terra," said Terra.

Arvis nodded. "Very well, I have soup nearly ready if you would like some. Then perhaps you can tell me a little bit about who you are and where you come from."

"I do not know," admitted Terra. "My memories are gone." And yet, she could reason. Why? Perhaps it was because she felt nothing for people. Terra did not feel anything about hurting those men; she remembered vaguely.

Nothing at all.

"Amnesia?" asked Arvis. "Yes, well, that is a common side effect of slave crowns. Suppressing the memories and will means it takes time for them to come back. Still, it isn't a natural sort of amnesia; it comes from a sort of magic.

"So it shouldn't be permenant. Seeing something you knew before might be helpful."

Magic.

What was magic if one were to rationally analyze it? A long time ago, magic had been all around us. Yet as people learned more, the world had shrunk around them, and magic had become mythical. Now the shadows that they feared were those cast by eachother.

"I'm not sure I want to.

"How will you get me out."

"A friend of mine is coming already; I've talked to him. His name is Locke," said Arvis.

"I remember something about a name like that," said Terra thoughtfully. "A thief... a thief who steals memories." Why had she said that? It was an idea she got from what was around her.

"He'd prefer the term expert treasure hunter," laughed Arvis. "And he doesn't steal memories, and you'd best not mention anything like that around him. That's an exaggeration of a rumor which was quite mistaken.

"Once he gets you out of here, well, I suppose that is up to you."

Terra considered what he was hiding from her. Then she thought about whether it mattered. "It does not matter what choice I make if I don't leave here alive."

"Yes, I suppose that is true. Thus far, we have been unnoticed," said Arvis. "Would you like some soup?"

Terra could not remember the last time she'd eaten. Actually, she could not remember ever eating at all. Why did people think the food was important? "Yes, of course."

And so it was that Terra found herself enjoying the hospitality of Arvis. As they ate, he spoke to her of many things. It seemed that Arvis was a representative of a coalition of merchant groups. They'd all set up and passed around information to ensure commerce kept going in the war.

"If a war is on, shouldn't you be fighting it?" asked Terra.

"Well, someone has to produce and carry the supplies that the nations use," said Arvis. "And even if you kept the supply lines, without an economy, there wouldn't be a world to rebuild after it ends. And we can hire out-of-work soldiers and mercenaries to carry shipments. We give them a reference for some other place.

"It's better if they earn their pay protecting supply lines and caravans than by preying on the weak."

He spoke of other things like the founding of Narshe, which had been originally a dwarven settlement. But that had been ages and ages ago, and now many weren't even certain the dwarves existed. No one knew where they had gone if they had gone anywhere. The mines were tended by men.

They were being replaced by machines made by Figaro castle. It had made the people of Narshe great amounts of money and saved lives. Yet adopting machines had also meant there was less need for people. Why have a dozen men with pickaxes when a single drill can do all that was needed faster?

Magic had disappeared a long time ago.

Now men were beginning to be afraid that they were disappearing.

Perhaps that was why magic was coming back, Terra thought.

"This is excellent soup," said Terra, truthfully as they cleaned up.

"I'm glad to hear it," said Arvis. "Now, in case you have to leave in a hurry, I have something for you." He stood up and got her a large pack, and handed it to her.

"What is it?" asked Terra in surprise.

"A pack filled with supplies mount for mountain climbing," said Arvis. "I also have a knife here for you. It is good for defense and rope, flint and tinder: that and a filled canteen.

"I'd keep that with you.

"I'm afraid someone may figure out what happened soon."

Terra nodded. Then, suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Arvis looked up to it, then back to her. "I'll get that. Stay here and out of sight."

Terra did so, and Arvis rushed off to the door. Opening it, he looked out to someone beyond. "Yes?"

"Arvis, what is going on here?" asked a man. "I heard a report that one of our guards took another up here, claiming that they were a Returner. However, they were clad in the uniform of the town guard, and some of ours have been found stripped. We also found the abandoned outfit of an Imperial Soldier.

"Are you holding someone here?"

"Holding is too strong a word, Captain," said Arvis. "They were under the influence of a slave crown."

"You mean to tell me that you are holding the Witch who did all this out here?" asked the man.

"She was nothing more than a glorified battering ram to the Empire," said Arvis.

"I don't think she was even conscious for any of it, and she remembers nothing anyway. Nor does she strike me as evil."

"You trust her?" asked the guard.

"A slave crown usually disrupts the chain of memories on whoever wears it," said Arvis. "It's a well-known principle. It was why King Edgar outlawed them for use on criminals or anyone else and why everyone else followed suit.

"Only the Empire uses them, and then only for high profile prisoners."

"Which means she is likely a deadly murderer even without the crown," said the guard in turn. Terra did not think she was walking out of here alive, at least not without a fight.

"We don't know that," said Arvis. "You and I both know the Empire would be only too happy to enslave an innocent person if they wanted their skills. Gestahl might ask as a courtesy, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. She was probably grabbed simply because she had the power of magic.

"For all we know, she's been wearing that crown for half her life.

"And we need her.

"We're not ready. The Empire has built up its forces, and Gestahl's diplomacy has divided us. King Edgar isn't going to invade anyone, but neither is he going to let us move forces through his terrain. And if we try to force the issue, we'll play into the Empire's hands.

"They already have Leo, Celes, and Kefka, to say nothing of Magitech and other powers.

"If the returners have access to a real magic user, we might actually stand a chance. I've spoken to the girl, and she does not strike me as evil or deceptive. We are in no position to turn away help when it has come to us. At the rate things are going, we're liable to lose the war before any real fighting happens.

"If we're going to throw away perfectly good magic so we can have revenge on her for something that was out of her control...

"We might as well just surrender to the Empire and be done with it."

"Arvis, this is a very rational argument you are making," replied Arvis. "Unfortunately, people, like magic, are not rational in nature. Your words are going to mean nothing to the families and friends of the hundreds who lie dead. Fifty Imperial soldiers and a couple of machines just stormed this city.

"They killed ten of us for every one that fell, and many of them died laughing.

"People are looking for a scapegoat.

"So I'll tell you what. I'm going to walk slowly over to the village hall and take my time organizing the burials and rebuilding. I will run your rational arguments past a council when I get there. A council of traumatized and vengeful people who have seen their home nearly burned.

"When I get back, I will have one of two things. Either a prisoner for execution or an empty building where there used to be a Returner outpost."

Returner? What did that name mean? It was something... were they enemies? They had probably once been enemies. Either way, Arvis paused. "If I'm still in the building, are you going to hang me? Or should I get out while I still can?"

"She's a witch and a murderous servant of the Empire," said the guard captain. "I'll just say you were her hostage, ensnared by dark magic. You might be able to re-establish relations in a bit if things go well. We'll need all the help we can get."

"Thank you," said Arvis, and he shut the door. "Well, I suppose we can't wait for Locke. Finish your meal, drink some water and go out that door. Cross the bridge and head through the tunnels. Take the first left in the mines and head down and wait there.

"Wait for Locke, but if you see guards, just run. You'll be better off getting lost and found later than caught here.

"Go. And remember to take a warm coat; there should be a fur one for you out there."

"Right," said Terra, and she wondered if there was anything else to say. Neither would likely see the other alive again. Chances were, Arvis had outlived his usefulness to her, and if they did meet again, no one would mind her rushing out. Both their lives depended on it.

She bowed her head. "Thank you."

And she hurried on out after drinking some more of the excellent tea. She stopped only to put on a fur coat that trailed behind her and pulled up the hood. Rushing out, Terra ran along the snowy path toward a bridge. As she did, however, Terra realized she'd be across it.

If she ran, whoever looked up would surely know who she was. But if she walked, they might know anyway, and she'd be vulnerable to arrows. So instead, Terra moved across the bridge as fast as she could manage. Crossing over it was difficult, for it swayed on the ropes and the handles moved.

"There she is! The Esper!" said someone below.

"Quick, cut her off in the mines!" said another.

So much for stealth.

Terra raced for the cave up ahead, the bridge swaying beneath her, so she nearly fell. The wind picked up, and she struggled to go on. Someone hurled a knife and shot past her cloak, but she made it onto the cliff, waded through the fallen snow. She got into the cave.

Of course, there was no question of waiting for Locke now. If Arvis had had any plan for getting across that bridge without being seen, it was too late for it. Racing into the cave, she found it dark within. The only lighting came from a series of dim torches. Raising a hand, she summoned a sphere of fire and made her way. She was obeying Arvis' instruction. Then she decided that heading toward the front doors would be a bad idea.

So instead, Terra took a passage leading into darkness. At the same time, she reached out with her feelings, trying to find the proper path. As she did, she sensed power here, real power. There was something ancient and terribly powerful here, several things.

At last, Terra came to the Magitech.

The broken remnants of the devices she had come in by were here. Their pilot's bodies were gone, but Terra remembered their names. Biggs and Wedge. They had been deadly effective men, ruthless, but not cruel. Vaguely she remembered another soldier nearby, wielding a particularly huge sword.

She wondered who he was and how he had come here.

"Here she is! After her!" said a voice from another tunnel.

Terra knew that she must run or perish. Sprinting into a nearby hall, guided by her feelings, she dispelled her fireball. Behind her, she saw three men following. Terra wondered if she could defeat them.

With a knife?

No, they had swords. She would need to use magic.

But to do so would make them right. Ordinarily, defending herself would be second nature. Yet they thought she was a monster and had good reason to do so. Even if she did not choose to do what she did, killing them would be wrong.

Was there such a thing as right and wrong?

In terms of physical existence, no. There was no physical reason one ought to do anything. Only what you could do and what you couldn't do.

So Terra ran.

She sprinted as quickly as she could, only to run into a dead end. She was looking at a straight wall now. Turning, she saw herself cornered. It was do or die; she must kill or be killed. Terra thought about blasting them as they advanced. She could burn them alive in moments and escape into the wilderness.

No one who understood the situation could say she had any other choice.

Right and wrong were like magic. They weren't physical.

But didn't that mean they only existed if you believed in them? And even if you wanted to believe in them, once you knew the trick, it wasn't magic anymore. What could one do in a world where good and evil did not exist?

Terra raised a hand to try and stop them and summoned a fireball. The men flinched back, their murderous thoughts replaced by fear. That bought Terra time, but what now. If she did nothing, they would attack her.

How do you live in a universe where good and evil do not exist?

There were three possible solutions Terra could come up with. One was to do whatever you wanted to get whatever you liked simply. For example, kill the person who annoyed you, set fire to villages for fun. Or just steal as much money as you can, murder when you want, and force yourself on who you want.

Or, Terra supposed she could commit suicide to save herself the pain. She doubted these men would be quick; they had blood on their minds. And if she killed one of them or tried to resist, she might wish she was dead before the end. She could return the unwanted gift of life that had been bestowed on her. It had been a truly miserable one, by all accounts, and she hadn't managed to do any good in it. Most of her time had been lived as a slave in one form or another. Or at least after she left home, where she'd lived near that water tower.

Who would care if she was dead? If anything, killing herself and preventing the Empire from getting her might do 'good.' At least insofar as such a thing existed. In any event, Terra did not feel attached to her life in any way. Neither did anyone else. Yet... Arvis' had obviously wanted her to live.

That was not an option, however. Not without killing these men, and that could get Arvis' killed.

So what now?

Resist.

Defy the universe. Draw a dagger and try to fend off four swordsmen until help unlooked for came to save her. The world was merciless and cruel; Terra could have mercy. She was doomed to death or depravity, but she would go down fighting. Her actions here might have no significance or meaning at all. It might even be that she would only hasten her death and others by her clinging to life and hope.

Yet her determination to uphold such principles would have meaning to her. In fact, it might bring meaning to others. In aiding them, she would find meaning for herself, even in a world of ruin. And she was raising her knife. Somehow, she must have looked very impressive, for the bladed opponents slowed their advance.

...Then again, if the universe truly had no sense of right and wrong, then she, as part of the universe, didn't. Whatever concepts of morality she might have were, at best personal preferences. And there was no real reason she couldn't just zing a fireball through these guys' heads and say, 'that's my answer.'

So the very ground upon which Terra was basing her whole arc crumbled beneath her feet.

Which in this case, was what happened in the real. The ground fell away, and Terra fell into darkness and hit the ground hard. Pain coursed through her as she saw the men look down the hole above, shrug, and then walk off.

It was...

Actually pretty funny.

Terra laughed a bit as she struggled to stand. And as she did, she heard another laugh, deepthroated and filled with nihilism, echoed around the contours of her mind. He might have been on the opposite side of the world, but Kefka was laughing with her. Then darkness took her and she remembered no more.