***Pre-Story Notes***
Yay, the story is chugging along. I'm discontent with the last chapter, but yeah. . . I'm too lazy, meh.
In a Nutshell: Yet another nighttime talk. . .
Oh yes, it also covers the Zirekile Falls battle.
By the way, if you though Chapter 04 looked weird, it was because FanFiction.Net did not preserve my '. . .'s. I'm reposting that chapter so if you feel like it, go back and read it again, and hopefully it'll be less confusing.
***Pre-Story Notes***
Chapter 02-05 "Crimson Crescendo" (Chapter Two: The Manipulator and the Subservient, Scene 05)
***January 2nd, Year 2. East of Araguay Woods***
Ramza and Agrias' campsite.
Surprised at her own actions, Agrias helped Ramza set up their portion of the camp. The chocobo were not allowed to roam, and they nestled near each other. Lavian and Alicia had declined their offer to sleep near them, citing reasons that they did not need to be kept awake by Ramza and Agrias' 'chattering'. The other two mercenaries were awake, laying low, but alert; they would not sleep tonight, but would serve as the watch.
"My troops could've taken the second watch," Agrias remarked as she lay back, already in her blanket on the ground. "We are used to little sleep. Rad and Gafgarion would be too tired tomorrow."
Ramza shook his head. "No. . . if we catch Delita tomorrow," he quickly amended his statement after seeing Agrias' left eyebrow arch, "when we catch him tomorrow, and there is a fight, sleep is of little use to those two. . ."
"They enjoy the hunt," Agrias said, identifying Ramza's implication. "Its of no surprise. Highly unprofessional. . ."
"If what we do is unprofessional, Agrias, why have you not voiced your complaint?" Ramza asked, bringing up a topic that had been bothering him. "You are our principal. If we fail, war is inevitable."
"Because I need him, and people like Gafgarion are better left unfettered. . ."
"Like he was in the war?" Ramza countered.
Agrias reined in the outburst that threatened to rip itself free from her throat. "If you are implying that I am willingly using an evil for my gain, then yes!" she said in a low tone. "Stop beating around the bush and hit me with your truth Ramza. I think we respect each other that much. You seem to be committed to my cause, and I understand that, yet you don't display much concern."
"Neither have you. If Ovelia is secured by Goltana at Bethla Garrison on Limberry's border, war erupts to tear Ivalice apart. Yet, we are operating without any," Ramza emphasized, "support. None at all. I understand that there is little point now, and in the time that it takes to raise the 'rescue' party needed, Ovelia will either be hostage, or dead."
"If you point out the obvious Ramza, you should have something to expand upon, something I don't already know. . ."
"It isn't just practicality is it?" Ramza asked her gently, opposing the hard edge in Agrias' own words. "Its your pride. . ."
"Argue something more relevant to the situation," Agrias replied tersely. "Pride is something we all have."
"I'm afraid too. . ." Ramza told her. "So much responsibility is upon us six. . . if we fail, Ivalice will tear itself apart." He met her deflection with his own rebuff.
"I would be amazed that you haven't pointed out the futility of so much destruction over the loss of one mortal person if I didn't know you were of noble descent Ramza. I don't know which family you came from in Gallione, but you have 'Hokuten' written all over you, at least before Balbanes handed down command to his pompous son, Dycedarg." Agrias collected herself. "I'm sorry if I snapped at you, but the things you've said, no matter which tone they are spoken in, they will spark my ire."
"If I apologize, it would be hollow and serve to annoy you even more."
Agrias shook her head at Ramza's statement. "Yes, and I require Gafgarion, because as bloodthirsty as he seems, he too cares about Ivalice. I know he will do what he thinks is good for this country. I just don't know how much blood he'll spill in doing so. . ."
Ramza too, was lying on the ground, staring up at the sky. There were no stars about tonight, even though there was no human-caused light nearby. The scarlet moon was almost glorious in its contrast to the dark blue night sky. "Do you believe in omens," he said, pointing up at the sky.
"I believe in St. Ajora," Agrias repeated automatically.
"So you do believe in omens then," Ramza finished.
"Would you stop changing the subject?" Agrias asked him, "Even if it does relate, please, stop being so nebulous."
"You complain about me pointing out the obvious."
"There's a difference between saying what I already know and being direct!" Agrias turned her head to look at her companion. "Don't claim that you cannot tell the difference."
"I don't know enough about you."
Agrias did not let Ramza escape her moonlight inquisition with that comment. "You have to have some assumptions about me. What kept you from acting on them?"
"I did not want to risk anything. . ."
"Risk?" Now Agrias was confused even more. "What could you stand to risk with me, except my annoyance for dancing around me every time I want a direct answer? You've acted independently enough before," Agrias pointed out. "Why can't you do that now?"
Ramza raised his head from where it reclined on the grass that served as his mattress. He stretched his neck, popping some of his bones with a series of light snaps that made Agrias' skin crawl. "You're asking me questions I can't answer. . ." he told her.
Surprised at her own reaction, which was nothing, Agrias just sighed. "True, any answer you gave me would've been suspect. You can still try. . ." she remarked, her reply halfhearted.
"Lady Agrias," Lavian spoke, her form on the ground masked by the darkness as was laid down. "Pardon my interruption of your and Ramza's discussion, but we cannot sleep."
"Stuff it! Both of you. . ." Alicia groaned, blunt in her complaint.
Agrias ignored the insubordination, more annoyed at Ramza's chuckling. "I apologize," she said, "we'll try to be more discreet. . ."
"Hopeless," Alicia muttered, and no more was said from the other two knights.
Agrias sat up as she heard rustling coming toward her in the grass. She knew it came from Ramza's direction, and that only worried her more. Somehow, she resisted the instinct to go for her sword, easily within arm's reach, hidden underneath her beddings. "What do you want?" she whispered, almost annoyed.
"You're not being very clear in what you want either. . ." Ramza whispered back.
"You're going to get wet lying on the grass," she lectured him. Her eyes having adjusted to the dark, her night vision was still poor, but she could make out the form of Ramza, lying on his front, his face just a handspan away from hers. "You have on concept of personal space, do you?" she continued.
Ramza shrugged in apology, and she could see him wince -she saw the light refracted in his eyes disappear as he did so- as he noticed it created more rustling noises.
"Its fine," Agrias whispered quickly as Ramza lifted himself up on his forearms to shuffle back. "Again Ramza, its because you're not telling me everything. You're doing this for the good of Ivalice, that I can understand. You're doing this because you feel its just, that I can understand. But you, even with your capacity to do all this, you can't bring yourself to be free. . ."
"Can you?" Ramza whispered back, softly, slowly.
Agrias settled back down to recline on her right side, looking down upon Ramza, who craned his neck up to maintain eye contact. The reflections of the blood-red moon in his eyes bothered her, even though she knew she had the superior position. "Now, what do you mean by that?"
"You want to help me?" Ramza told her, confused.
Agrias blinked, but she held her tongue. She considered her reply, flustered at her companion, not wanting to have an outburst. "Why wouldn't I?" she asked him.
"This isn't your problem. . . and I killed-"
"Don't," Agrias told him bluntly. "I made you promise me, not until Princess Ovelia is safe. After we, after all of us are safe somewhere, Lesalia, Lionel, anywhere but Limberry or Zeltennia!" Agrias whispered passionately.
"I'm sorry for burdening you. . ."
"Would you stop apologizing?" Agrias told him. It was her turn to look up as Ramza scooted over and sat himself down, leaning back on his hands. "Well?"
Ramza simply shrugged, not looking back at her, but tilting his chin up towards the patch of sky he observed. Oddly enough, it was the stars he focused on, not the blood moon. "I don't think you would like to talk about what may happen."
Agrias grunted. "It'll come soon enough, I don't see the purpose of being wound up unnecessarily. I will be prepared, that is enough." Somewhat annoyed, and uncomfortable at Ramza's position, Agrias sat up again, and still on her beddings, imitated his posture, tucking her knees in towards herself, hugging them closed, and resting her chin down on them. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm too anxious to go to sleep."
"Mind if I kept you company?" Ramza asked her.
"Its your loss," Agrias told him, falsity in her voice. It was she who was disappointed when Ramza chose not to reply. For a moment, fearing that she had offended Ramza, she looked over to see his reaction. Casually, he stared up into the night sky, her remark either forgiven, ignored, or even snubbed. (If you can't beat them. . .) she thought, resigning herself to mimic what the boy did, staring up to see watch the same patch of sky as the boy, trying to lose herself into the stars. (Like watching a clock. . . but. . . nicer) Agrias admitted.
Marking midnight as the sun marked the afternoon, the blood red moon rose to take its crowning position in the sky, invading the tranquil sea of stars that Agrias tried immerse herself in.
*** January 3rd, Year 2. East of Araguay Woods
Dawn came only too slowly to Agrias. Allowing herself to sit on the ground, her calves on either side of her, Agrias reclined in her favorite position. It only made her wait less antagonizing. The dark blue sky she favored faded with the crimson moon, which faded to its dusty shades as began to sink, its crescendo over, as the resolution of that night began to commence. She began to focus, not putting herself in some mental state, but simply to think about what she must do, and most importantly, why she must do them.
The time where thought would be a detriment was soon in coming, and Agrias satiated her desire to ponder what was in her mind, loose bits of whims and concerns, forgetting for just a moment the overwhelming purpose she was committed to fulfilling. She wanted to declare that she would be willing to do anything, bear any burden, pay any price, but Agrias had seen reality, had seen it in war, proven true time and time again. (Maybe the truth is something everyone does know. . .) Agrias admitted, (Its just a matter of admitting it).
Losing count of the times she glanced over to look at the boy who was at her side, Agrias opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. There was so much to say between them, so much she wanted to know of him. For some reason, she felt drawn to the boy. Worried for his safety, curious as to how he was connected to her, through duty, through crisis, and through their consciences. She felt that those weren't the only reasons why. Yet another complexity Agrias did not want in her life, yet something she felt would distract her in a manner she might not just mind.
Growing disgruntled at the interruption of whatever serenity she had found, Agrias once again directed her gaze to the sky. Somehow, the grayish blue dawn did not please her. Seeing gray, even if it came before the light, was not something she had always liked. To her, it heralded darkness, an omen she did not want in face of what today would bring. She did not need a reminder that life grows dark before it gets light.
The sun had yet to crest the mountains to the east. Agrias took another scan of her surroundings, ignoring Ramza as he gazed at her. Lavian and Alicia were still asleep, while she saw Gafgarion's brown helmet poking out from behind a rock that he had sat behind. Again she wondered at the nature of her 'allies'. Rad still stood guard, even though he had stayed alert during the whole night, disturbing her with his forays, now he seemed just as energetic as always.
His own 'patrols' had bothered her. It was the prelude to a hunt in her eyes, as she had kept track, uncomfortably, of where he was as he stalked through the tall grass, disappearing from sight, and only the excitement he radiated gave away where he was. Agrias found that she could tell where the mercenary was just by the malevolence he gave off was disturbing to her. A useful ability, but one she wished she never had cause to learn, even if she had used it to save herself and those under her command before.
The two chocobo were also asleep, and she smiled at the sight of them, where they were nestled down, the baggage chocobo whose name she never learned cooped like a sitting hen, while Boco sat on the ground, his legs splayed forwards, and his head moving slowly in his sleep. Quickly, Agrias let the smile die before it had fully developed, feeling awkward.
Finally her gaze fell onto Ramza, and she frowned, noticing him in turn staring into her eyes. She did not feel frustration at the lack of communication, wishing that she could prolong this moment, yet another escape from her duty, as pleasant as it was. Not simply pleasant, but justified. Somehow, it felt. . . proper, was the word that came to her mind.
Agrias felt a little numb, and a little fatigue. This had culminated in what she had come to call the 'haze;' when she was caught in the urge to retire in slumber, but refused to give in, for her anxieties and pent-up excitement would not allow her respite. She wasn't as functional as she would've been with a good night's sleep, but she would've taken the haze over a night of tumultuous 'rest' that would render her even more fatigue when she awoke. Even with the dull ache and fatigue that resided in the edges of her conciousness, Agrias savored the amplified focus that she felt; focus that fatigue and stress can bring to such sharpness. It was another ability she wished she had never acquired.
Somehow, she knew that Ramza also went through the haze.
Ramza broke their staring contest, and Agrias sighed. He opened his mouth to yawn, swallowing the saliva that had built up his mouth. He yawned, looking peacefully weary. She wondered why he had such a soft smile in his face, untouched by sadness, regret, or even contemplation; a simple smile, open, sincere, satisfied.
The peace was broken for her when Alicia stirred, talking in her sleep, obviously beginning to waken. Rad stopped his pacing and gazed over at the direction of her knights, and Agrias felt distrust. Then, Gafgarion stood from where had had sat against the rock, turning to gaze over at Agrias. In his eyes was a challenge. Friendly or not, Agrias felt that she did not need this at this moment, on this day.
She caught Ramza's head playfully cock to the side as he tried to lock onto her eyes again. Regretfully, Agrias refused the respite he offered her. Taking a breath, she said her first words to him that morning. "Evanescence," she said softly, almost sadly, surprised that her own voice sounded sleepy, yet warm and. . . satisfied. With her left hand, she slowly waved her fingers in a sequence, making a slight sweep, indicating the passing night and the solitude and serenity it gave her.
Ramza blinked, easily understanding what she meant even as he lacked words to reply. Taking the initiative, he rose, wobbling slightly on his legs, causing Agrias' smile to transform into a smirk, before he sorely waddled over to her. Agrias giggled as Ramza almost fell over when she took his hand as he helped her stand up.
Taking a look once more at the ridges to the east, Agrias sighed as she brought her left hand back to herself. "Such a sad word."
***
Zirekile Area
The pursuit had taken precedence over everything else, and this was reflected in everyone's conduct. Alicia and Lavian had risen readily, and preparations were swift. Few words were exchanged, few were needed. This day was one two days in coming, days in which they had each thought to themselves what would be required.
Though they knew it to be tiresome and exhaustive, for the most part they could only worry, and now, in the execution of their mission, most everything else was rendered insignificant. Even the chocobos took up the tempo of their human companions.
In a quick march, the group quickly made their way to the rocky foothills before the mountains. The terrain was rough, but with the addition of Boco to their baggage handling, it wasn't so harsh as everyone carried minimal equipment. Armor was still worn, weapons were still equipped, but no one carried any supplies save Alicia, and even then, she had taken the precaution of adding the spare chemist's satchel on the lightly-burdened Boco.
Agrias and Ramza were almost eager in their drive, leading the group, while Rad grimly kept pace, with Gafgarion somehow kept up, looking nonplussed as he easily managed the terrain.
Talk had been minimal, limited only to essential communications as they hiked up the steadily worsening ground. Everyone was prepared. Six on one, and the one was hampered by a hostage. Yet, the hostage was everything, the only reason they were putting themselves through this; all this hell, all this hardship -and the potential for only more of the same torment if they failed, over one person: Ovelia. What was truly incredulous was that no one questioned this, not even the mercenaries.
***
The idea of multiple parties had been considered, and discarded. With Princess Ovelia, her captor had only one route open to him outside of the beaten path, which is why they had chosen path which went around to the higher passes, since the lower passes were controlled by friendly forces. The irony was that those same friendly forces could not be called upon.
The idea of time was something they cared little of as they continued to trek towards Zirekile Falls. Reaching one of the planned waypoints, the group expected to hear the sound of the waterfall. What they heard did resemble the soft turmoil, only with a metallic tone. . . that and the sound of voices. . . angry voices.
Of all of them, it was Gafgarion who reacted first, and in a burst of speed, ably traversed the rock terrain, up alongside the stream that came down from the mountains. Following closely were Ramza and Rad, while Agrias and her knights struggled to keep up. Even with the frenzy, Agrias kept herself in control and in the rear, making sure the others' approaches were solid and some order was present. The chocobo were left behind, the baggage chocobo settling itself by the stream, watching the humans dispassionately, while Boco hesitated, and finally began to follow the Holy Knight.
If something could go wrong, it would.
Not simply could, but would, bringing one to question why such things were so.
As it was, their approach kept them at a disadvantage as they continued to trek upwards, nearing the crossing point of the small stream at the base of Zirekile Falls.
Like it or not, they were about to engage in battle by interrupting one already in progress.
***
Bursting onto the scene, the six humans and lone chocobo were at the bottom of the falls, still on the west side of the stream, which became a river that led to the ocean. Up on the embankment next to the angled cliff that the waterfall cascaded down were several knights. Two on the west bank, and three on the right.
These were ignored by Agrias, who had eyes only for what those caught in between; Princess Ovelia, and Delita, together on the ladder bridge that linked the two banks. The fact that the captor had his sword drawn further stirred the anger Agrias felt. It was only the fact that it was directed away from Ovelia and towards the three knights on the right that kept her from breaking out in a charge.
Somehow, it was obvious, others had gotten to Delita and the princess first, and it wasn't bandits, it was another knight order; ones wearing the familiar emblem of the white lion, that of the Hokuten.
There was a standoff as the newcomers entered the field, albeit on low ground. Gafgarion was the first to the level ground the bridge spanned. Weapons had already been drawn, and Agrias took measure of her situation, either to rush under the bridge in the stream, or to try and fight her way up the embankment with the rest.
"Princess Ovelia!!" Agrias called out, excitement taking over, knowing that their presence was already known.
Standing unsteadily in the middle of the ladder bridge, Ovelia cried back, "Agrias!!"
Gafgarion only snorted, facing off the two Hokuten knights, who somehow let him hold his ground, as if to bait the rest the rest of the group up to their level.
One of the knights spoke to him. "Great, here comes a crowd!" he cursed. "Gafgraion! Kill them!" Taking a look down at a fallen Hokuten knightm he continued. "And do it now!"
Casually, Gafgarion smiled, and turned to face the others below him. "Don't know what's going on, but its in the contract!"
Immediately, the odds have twisted. What would have been a confusing three-way battle was still the same, except in the balance of numbers. Immediately, the three knights consolidated, even though Agrias wanted nothing more than to charge after Ovelia. They quickly got some distance away from Rad, as well as Lavian beginning to face off Ramza, who eyed the trio, looking upon them with the intensity they had seen him direct against his foes.
It was a still a stalemate, but someone had yet to break the peace.
The situation was already known, but Agrias asked, wanting to buy time, "Gafgarion, are you betraying us?" It was rhetorical.
In return, Gafgarion replied in a pragmatic fashion. "Betraying you?" he began. "C'mon, this is business." He swept his free left hand to indicate Ramza and Rad. "Our job is to kidnap the princess 'unharmed'." He smirked as Agrias almost broke her resolve and charged. "The job," he clarified, "is to kill you all and keep things quiet!"
"What are you getting at?" Refusing to allow herself to even look at Ramza, Agrias continued to stall, trying to think of what she could do, desperate with the anger that realization of futility could bring about. She could drag it on for so long before all she was reduced to was to take as many with her. Death or Glory -neither were an option for her; only fulfilling her duty while acquitting her conscience. "The kidnapping's a sham?"
The words meant little to her. The time to think over them and glean their significance would come later. . . should she live.
Gafgarion laughed as he sidestepped over to the ledge, looking down on them. "The princess is in the way!" he pointed out. "The prince should be next in line. If she's alive there'll be nothing but trouble!"
Had Agrias been thinking about it, she would have found the irony in his words. Gafgarion was loyal to Ivalice, but that did not entail loyalty to the Princess.
Delita looked back over at them, joining in. "Since you're going to die," he remarked in a grim, yet still cynical fashion, "I'll let you help me. . ." he paused. "If the princess' kidnapped and killed by Goltana, they'll be rid of her and his rivals." He turned his head, looking over at Ramza. "I'm sure that's how Prince Large wrote that scenario. No, Dycedarg probably wrote it. Don't you agree, Ramza?"
Alicia and Lavian turned to look at each other, angry themselves. They were about to potentially meet their fates, and yet this exchange was going on. Yet, it was taking up time that they could use to savor the rest of their lives. Wordlessly, they confirmed their conspiracy between them.
Gafgarion was flanked by the two Hokuten Knights on the west bank. "Right, Ramza. Let's get them all!"
As Ramza ducked low, Lavian brought her shield forward, already readying her own counterattack. The boy dug his left hand into small cliff face, and heaving his right leg over the ledge's edge, brought himself up to Gafgarion's level, swiping upwards as he rose, forcing the Dark Knight back.
"Another helpless sacrifice. . ." Ramza told him, continuing to drive the Dark Knight back, "No more!" he growled out, his voice lacking the intimidating effect, "There must not be any more victims like Teta!"
As Ramza leapt up and began to fight Gafgarion, Agrias felt a small amount of relief. She saw Delita freeze at Ramza's declaration, but ignored it as he did not follow up with any action except to charge across the eastern end of his bridge as Ovelia broke to the left. Meaning, Agrias would drive forwards, even if she had to fight the foundling river's current.
With a grunt, and a nudge of her head, Alicia and Lavian followed Ramza as they ran up the natural ramp to the embankment. Committing most of her force to the boy, Agrias met Rad's furious rush.
Ducking to the right, she extend her shield to smite the mercenary squire's sword, unable to bring hers own to thrust into him. She broke away, unable to launch her own counterattack in the mercenary's aggressive drive. Then, Boco came to her assistance. The chocobo, ignored, attacked who it deemed to be threatening Agrias.
Rad died, still driving forwards, forcing Agrias back, as his cranium was caved in by the impact of Boco's massive beak. Agrias ignored Rad's falling corpse even as his face split and fell apart, as if Boco had shattered a grotesque human mask he had worn.
Knowing that the situation would bottleneck up on land, Agrias chose to run under the bridge, towards the small waterfall, where she would begin her climb. Surprised, Agrias was almost bowled over as Boco continued his own rush, ducking his head under her legs. Her shield and sword flailed aside, Agrias was kept on simply by Boco's determination. The chocobo had anticipated her, and was taking her there himself. Launched into the air as Boco hopped up to the embankment past the bridge, Agrias landed unsteadily, Boco supporting her back with his head as he made his own descent.
Agrias didn't question it, but chose to engage the enemy knights. She was now between them and Ovelia.
Surprised, she found that the only one actively fighting Ramza was Gafgarion. The two Hokuten knights with him seemed reluctant to engage the boy, instead focusing their attention on dealing with her.
Leaving Ramza to his own fate against Gafgarion, Agrias took on her opponents with the bloodied Boco beside her. Alicia and Lavian were there to support him. . . she hoped.
Delita had fought himself a foothold on the east bank. The three knights there attempted to close with him as he released the same torrent from the heavens with similar techniques to Agrias.
Grimly, Agrias noted the abilities of Ovelia's kidnapper, filing them as a point of concern when she would kill him in turn. Channeling the bloodlust that flared within her, Agrias allowed her conscience to ebb, discarding it in the heat of battle.
Forced back by the three knights, though Delita dashed one down to his death on the rocky stream below, he retreated back to the bridge, his plate mail broken, visible seams appearing in his gold-hued armor.
Both Ramza and Gafgarion had taken damage. Gafgarion did not even bother with his Dark Sword abilities, forced to the rudimentary fundamentals of swordsmanship: kill him before he kills you. In the same manner as Rad, Ramza drove in towards him with a seemingly insane determination, refusing to give Gafgarion the room to perform anything special. Still, he took some hits as he pressed his attack, his bronze armor dented, pierced, and cracked. It was outrageous to the point that once Ramza had actually used his open left hand to palm Gafgarion's own sword across himself, and only that fact that the Dark Knight retreated into a run kept the swordfight into a brawl.
"Delita!" Ramza yelled, "you're alive!" as he ran after Gafgarion, with Lavian moving up to support Agrias while Alicia tried to render medical aid to him.
Delita shouted back as he fought one knight on the bridge, "Imagine meeting you here! Are your brothers sill running your life?" he quipped, seemingly jocular, his face a mask of vicious excitement.
The sound of coherent dialogue over the battlefield blunted Agrias' concentration. The battle being fought sword to sword, neither side given any room, base instincts and tendencies were coming to the fore as the participants proved that they could not keep up with the tempo the battle demanded.
"Who knows? They never tell me anything!" Ramza gasped out, continuing to pursue Gafgarion, who now waded back into the melee. "But, uh," Ramza grunted as Gafgarion pressed his own counter assault, driving his own assault to blunt Ramza's reckless offensive, "Delita, are you party to their plot?"
As the three knights of the Atskascha Royal Family -The Order of St. Konoe- held their own against the two knights of the Hokuten on the west bank, Agrias felt anger sweep through her. (Damn him! He's not violating his words; but damn him nonetheless for making the attempt!). The three knights were finally reunited with their ward, and they were attempting to fulfill their duty. Ovelia had backed away into a nook of the embankment by the waterfall, shivering in her travel-dirtied white and red robes as she stood with her back to the damp stone cliff face, beginning to shiver, from both the shock of the battle being fought in front of her -for her, and the water that sprayed onto her.
"Don't be foolish!" Delita cried out, turning around and breaking away from the other two Hokuten knights. The leading knight kept pace with him, refusing to allow Delita to sever the bridge and drop his partner down to the rocky stream below that had already claimed one comrade. "I'm here to save the princess!" he declared, "To protect her from those who are exploiting her!"
Agrias allowed herself a moment to take a sideglance at Ovelia as her own opponent strafed to the left, tightening a spiral around her. She held her line, refusing to allow him through her towards her liege. Agrias realized that Ovelia was watching Delita. . .
(There!) Agrias exulted, battering her opponent unconscious as they closed within the range of their own swords, smashing the pommel cap of her sword down on the knight's clavicle, causing him to flinch, and she continued to knout his bare forehead, causing him to collapse.
Lavian had lost, and she lay on her side, hyperventilating as she examined the gash in her breastplate's side, beginning to panic. It was a pitched battle, and the knight that subdued her chose not to grant quarter and instead raised his left boot to smash down onto her exposed head.
Only that Alicia had prepared another one of her own grenades and lobbed it at him, causing the knight, clad in his linen, leathers, and mithril, to burn. Having no other resort, the knight went towards the stream, but in doing so, he plowed through Alicia, dashing her in along with himself off the embankment. Agrias only gave a cursory glance over the embankment,
Ovelia just looked on, watching as both ally and enemy fall, one by one, attrition, lethality and friction taking them all; all over her.
Boco had done his best to participate in protecting Agrias, but he was helpless against the armored Hokuten, and the ground was too limited for him to serve as a platform. Still, he knelt by Lavian, sheltering the agonized knight under his wing, where he cast his own curative ability, healing herself and him. Settling to her knees, the fallen knight pointed over the embankment's lip and Boco followed, hopping down to the stream to find Alicia, dead or alive.
Gafgarion now threw in his own words, forcing Ramza to back off, having wounded the younger mercenary by slashing a thin line down the boy's left forearm. "Don't lie to me!" he snarled, directing his anger at the one they had pursued for two days. "You were hired too, weren't you?" he tossed out, using this time to leech Ramza's health and infuse it to himself using the Night Sword technique. "You were hired to kidnap her for money!" he accused, Ramza's 'betrayal' and innocence feeding his anger, "Don't play dumb!"
Both of Delita's opponents were across the bridge, and forced the knight back, bringing him ever closer to where Agrias screened Ovelia and the incapacitated Lavian. From the hostile glare Agrias directed at him, Delita expect little help unless he endangered the princess as he was doing so now by retreating. "No, I'm not like you. It's not for the money!" Delita threw back, having his own sword shattered by the Hokuten knight he attempted to bludgeon.
Gafgarion laughed, pursuing Ramza down the embankment to where they were when the battle began. "Then who's getting in my way?" he cried out, caught up in his bloodlust as sought to cut Ramza down. "A kid who heard the plot and decided to save her for justice?" he mocked both young men. "Who hired you?" he challenged, saying his words to Ramza, but intending them for the kidnapper. "Who told you about the plan? Talk!" he demanded, as if demanding Ramza's surrender.
"None of your business!" Delita cried, backpedaling as the two Hokuten knights closed on him.
"What are you?" Ovelia called out to him, nervously. "Ally or enemy?" The only emotion that pierced the numbness that she felt was a point of distressed confusion.
"Human, just like you!"
Agrias debated when she would launch her own offensive, hoping to have the Hokuten finish off the kidnapper and in turn she would slay them. (Do as little work and accomplish as much as possible) she thought, pleased, though her conscience showed her own concern. Taking a moment to check on the status of the princess, Agrias saw a strange expression in her face. (Damn. . . no, of all things, no!) she raged, as she realized what she must do for her ward. Darting forward, she threw herself in twain the two Hokuten knights, who were closing slowly on Delita, expecting her to come in as she did.
Taking up the slack, Lavian stood unsteadily, holding her sword in both hands, taking her senior's place.
Ramza felt himself being pressured, unable to break away as Gafgarion continued to force him back, and feeling cornered, he reacted, meeting advance with his own rush. One more hit would subdue him. He had not taken enough physical damage, yet Gafgarion had sapped enough of his physical energy that Ramza knew that if there was another exchange, he would be the worst for it.
The exchange occurred. Again, Ramza pawed Gafgarion's weapon across the Dark Knight and thrust in from a high angle with his own mithril sword. Gafgarion deflected the sword somewhat with his shield, but it still connected with his arm, forcing him to bend back as the blade became stuck in his pauldron, having pierced it and tearing into the muscles it protected. "Dammit!" he cried. It was then that he hurled his shield at Ramza, who was unable to dodge or to blunt the impact of the curved kite- shield, stunning him as the boy sought to cover himself in his daze. Being disarmed, having an arm disabled, he chose to escape, leaving the final two Hokuten knights to their fates.
Ramza chose to let him go, unable to focus on anything outside of his immediate vicinity.
Knowing there was no other option, Agrias and Delita allowed the last Hokuten knight to withdraw; his partner had been slain when Delita picked up a fallen sword from one of the dead Hokuten and closed in on him along with Agrias. Fighting a desperate man was folly, as he had everything to lose.
The battle was over, and as soon as the last Hokuten fled after Gafgarion, Agrias slammed into Delita, bowling the wounded kidnapper over, disarming him and kicking his weapon away. Having had the wind knocked out of him, he lay there, back arched, struggling to breath. She stood over him, far enough away that he wouldn't be able to lash out at her. Then, she sheathed her weapon and walked away, towards Ovelia.
Within her eyes was a challenge, a promise of a delayed reckoning, Ramza saw. Waving over at the two women, Ramza went over down the earthen incline down to the stream to look for survivors.
Feeling torment, Agrias blocked Ovelia's way as the princess began to tentatively make her way towards her kidnapper. With a stern nod, Agrias expressed her opinion of the situation.
No one dared question her authority. Not her subordinate, not her liege, and certainly not Delita, who lay there, still staring into the sky, trying to find his breath.
*** To be continued ***
***Author's Notes***
I need to regroup and assess my writing again. I feel as if I'm slipping. The battle sequence was so off and rushed since I did not want to go into detail about it. Note, the emphasis of the story is CHARACTER INTERACTION not the battles.
The Agrias 'wake' sequence was a favorite of mine in this chapter, since it was just plain introspection and observation. Some of her thoughts are revealed, and hey, the 'Boss Lady' needs some time to unwind somewhat.
The turn-out rate of chapters might suffer since the steam is running out, since I do NOT like writing battle sequences since to do them properly would incur so much detail AND I am limited to the dialogue in the game, which is limited and AWKWARD at best:
Come on, why would people TALK in a pitched battle?!
Oh yes, I cut the battle scene short, since I only used about two- thirds of the full dialogue of the story.
As to Alicia's grenades. . . think of them as Fire Balls. It makes sense since chemists throw concoctions, and I assume those Fire Balls are chemical mixtures in themselves (plus chemists ARE the prerequisite jobs for the Black Mage classes).
The day isn't over yet, expect another chapter to handle that department. I cut it short now since the chapter was beginning to drag and was growing far too diluted (too much pointless text in proportion to actual story and detail).
***Author's Notes***
***Reader's Response Corner***
Um, thank you for all the support ^_^.
I feel as if I'm struggling in several portions, and that might cause me to pause (not stop. . . no, its going to have to be a on-the-fly reformation) or slow down for a bit.
I'm caught between making the story flow fast, or going into Oh-So- Good (!) detail. . . its been a compromise to this point, but I believe I need to get a solid doctrine down pretty soon.
Covering Ramza's personality. Well, consider it, he's gone into hiding, he's questioning who he is, no damn wonder he's so contradicting and reluctant to share his inner views. Still, he's reaching out, to Agrias of all people. . .
Don't consider Ramza and Agrias as respective Heroine and Anti-Hero figures. . . just remember Delita's best quote. They are human figures, and as such, I am trying to give them depth outside of the plot.
On the bright side, Agrias still hasn't throttled him for being the way he is!
Questions?
Comments?
Rants?
Just float them on over.
***Reader's Response Corner***
Yay, the story is chugging along. I'm discontent with the last chapter, but yeah. . . I'm too lazy, meh.
In a Nutshell: Yet another nighttime talk. . .
Oh yes, it also covers the Zirekile Falls battle.
By the way, if you though Chapter 04 looked weird, it was because FanFiction.Net did not preserve my '. . .'s. I'm reposting that chapter so if you feel like it, go back and read it again, and hopefully it'll be less confusing.
***Pre-Story Notes***
Chapter 02-05 "Crimson Crescendo" (Chapter Two: The Manipulator and the Subservient, Scene 05)
***January 2nd, Year 2. East of Araguay Woods***
Ramza and Agrias' campsite.
Surprised at her own actions, Agrias helped Ramza set up their portion of the camp. The chocobo were not allowed to roam, and they nestled near each other. Lavian and Alicia had declined their offer to sleep near them, citing reasons that they did not need to be kept awake by Ramza and Agrias' 'chattering'. The other two mercenaries were awake, laying low, but alert; they would not sleep tonight, but would serve as the watch.
"My troops could've taken the second watch," Agrias remarked as she lay back, already in her blanket on the ground. "We are used to little sleep. Rad and Gafgarion would be too tired tomorrow."
Ramza shook his head. "No. . . if we catch Delita tomorrow," he quickly amended his statement after seeing Agrias' left eyebrow arch, "when we catch him tomorrow, and there is a fight, sleep is of little use to those two. . ."
"They enjoy the hunt," Agrias said, identifying Ramza's implication. "Its of no surprise. Highly unprofessional. . ."
"If what we do is unprofessional, Agrias, why have you not voiced your complaint?" Ramza asked, bringing up a topic that had been bothering him. "You are our principal. If we fail, war is inevitable."
"Because I need him, and people like Gafgarion are better left unfettered. . ."
"Like he was in the war?" Ramza countered.
Agrias reined in the outburst that threatened to rip itself free from her throat. "If you are implying that I am willingly using an evil for my gain, then yes!" she said in a low tone. "Stop beating around the bush and hit me with your truth Ramza. I think we respect each other that much. You seem to be committed to my cause, and I understand that, yet you don't display much concern."
"Neither have you. If Ovelia is secured by Goltana at Bethla Garrison on Limberry's border, war erupts to tear Ivalice apart. Yet, we are operating without any," Ramza emphasized, "support. None at all. I understand that there is little point now, and in the time that it takes to raise the 'rescue' party needed, Ovelia will either be hostage, or dead."
"If you point out the obvious Ramza, you should have something to expand upon, something I don't already know. . ."
"It isn't just practicality is it?" Ramza asked her gently, opposing the hard edge in Agrias' own words. "Its your pride. . ."
"Argue something more relevant to the situation," Agrias replied tersely. "Pride is something we all have."
"I'm afraid too. . ." Ramza told her. "So much responsibility is upon us six. . . if we fail, Ivalice will tear itself apart." He met her deflection with his own rebuff.
"I would be amazed that you haven't pointed out the futility of so much destruction over the loss of one mortal person if I didn't know you were of noble descent Ramza. I don't know which family you came from in Gallione, but you have 'Hokuten' written all over you, at least before Balbanes handed down command to his pompous son, Dycedarg." Agrias collected herself. "I'm sorry if I snapped at you, but the things you've said, no matter which tone they are spoken in, they will spark my ire."
"If I apologize, it would be hollow and serve to annoy you even more."
Agrias shook her head at Ramza's statement. "Yes, and I require Gafgarion, because as bloodthirsty as he seems, he too cares about Ivalice. I know he will do what he thinks is good for this country. I just don't know how much blood he'll spill in doing so. . ."
Ramza too, was lying on the ground, staring up at the sky. There were no stars about tonight, even though there was no human-caused light nearby. The scarlet moon was almost glorious in its contrast to the dark blue night sky. "Do you believe in omens," he said, pointing up at the sky.
"I believe in St. Ajora," Agrias repeated automatically.
"So you do believe in omens then," Ramza finished.
"Would you stop changing the subject?" Agrias asked him, "Even if it does relate, please, stop being so nebulous."
"You complain about me pointing out the obvious."
"There's a difference between saying what I already know and being direct!" Agrias turned her head to look at her companion. "Don't claim that you cannot tell the difference."
"I don't know enough about you."
Agrias did not let Ramza escape her moonlight inquisition with that comment. "You have to have some assumptions about me. What kept you from acting on them?"
"I did not want to risk anything. . ."
"Risk?" Now Agrias was confused even more. "What could you stand to risk with me, except my annoyance for dancing around me every time I want a direct answer? You've acted independently enough before," Agrias pointed out. "Why can't you do that now?"
Ramza raised his head from where it reclined on the grass that served as his mattress. He stretched his neck, popping some of his bones with a series of light snaps that made Agrias' skin crawl. "You're asking me questions I can't answer. . ." he told her.
Surprised at her own reaction, which was nothing, Agrias just sighed. "True, any answer you gave me would've been suspect. You can still try. . ." she remarked, her reply halfhearted.
"Lady Agrias," Lavian spoke, her form on the ground masked by the darkness as was laid down. "Pardon my interruption of your and Ramza's discussion, but we cannot sleep."
"Stuff it! Both of you. . ." Alicia groaned, blunt in her complaint.
Agrias ignored the insubordination, more annoyed at Ramza's chuckling. "I apologize," she said, "we'll try to be more discreet. . ."
"Hopeless," Alicia muttered, and no more was said from the other two knights.
Agrias sat up as she heard rustling coming toward her in the grass. She knew it came from Ramza's direction, and that only worried her more. Somehow, she resisted the instinct to go for her sword, easily within arm's reach, hidden underneath her beddings. "What do you want?" she whispered, almost annoyed.
"You're not being very clear in what you want either. . ." Ramza whispered back.
"You're going to get wet lying on the grass," she lectured him. Her eyes having adjusted to the dark, her night vision was still poor, but she could make out the form of Ramza, lying on his front, his face just a handspan away from hers. "You have on concept of personal space, do you?" she continued.
Ramza shrugged in apology, and she could see him wince -she saw the light refracted in his eyes disappear as he did so- as he noticed it created more rustling noises.
"Its fine," Agrias whispered quickly as Ramza lifted himself up on his forearms to shuffle back. "Again Ramza, its because you're not telling me everything. You're doing this for the good of Ivalice, that I can understand. You're doing this because you feel its just, that I can understand. But you, even with your capacity to do all this, you can't bring yourself to be free. . ."
"Can you?" Ramza whispered back, softly, slowly.
Agrias settled back down to recline on her right side, looking down upon Ramza, who craned his neck up to maintain eye contact. The reflections of the blood-red moon in his eyes bothered her, even though she knew she had the superior position. "Now, what do you mean by that?"
"You want to help me?" Ramza told her, confused.
Agrias blinked, but she held her tongue. She considered her reply, flustered at her companion, not wanting to have an outburst. "Why wouldn't I?" she asked him.
"This isn't your problem. . . and I killed-"
"Don't," Agrias told him bluntly. "I made you promise me, not until Princess Ovelia is safe. After we, after all of us are safe somewhere, Lesalia, Lionel, anywhere but Limberry or Zeltennia!" Agrias whispered passionately.
"I'm sorry for burdening you. . ."
"Would you stop apologizing?" Agrias told him. It was her turn to look up as Ramza scooted over and sat himself down, leaning back on his hands. "Well?"
Ramza simply shrugged, not looking back at her, but tilting his chin up towards the patch of sky he observed. Oddly enough, it was the stars he focused on, not the blood moon. "I don't think you would like to talk about what may happen."
Agrias grunted. "It'll come soon enough, I don't see the purpose of being wound up unnecessarily. I will be prepared, that is enough." Somewhat annoyed, and uncomfortable at Ramza's position, Agrias sat up again, and still on her beddings, imitated his posture, tucking her knees in towards herself, hugging them closed, and resting her chin down on them. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm too anxious to go to sleep."
"Mind if I kept you company?" Ramza asked her.
"Its your loss," Agrias told him, falsity in her voice. It was she who was disappointed when Ramza chose not to reply. For a moment, fearing that she had offended Ramza, she looked over to see his reaction. Casually, he stared up into the night sky, her remark either forgiven, ignored, or even snubbed. (If you can't beat them. . .) she thought, resigning herself to mimic what the boy did, staring up to see watch the same patch of sky as the boy, trying to lose herself into the stars. (Like watching a clock. . . but. . . nicer) Agrias admitted.
Marking midnight as the sun marked the afternoon, the blood red moon rose to take its crowning position in the sky, invading the tranquil sea of stars that Agrias tried immerse herself in.
*** January 3rd, Year 2. East of Araguay Woods
Dawn came only too slowly to Agrias. Allowing herself to sit on the ground, her calves on either side of her, Agrias reclined in her favorite position. It only made her wait less antagonizing. The dark blue sky she favored faded with the crimson moon, which faded to its dusty shades as began to sink, its crescendo over, as the resolution of that night began to commence. She began to focus, not putting herself in some mental state, but simply to think about what she must do, and most importantly, why she must do them.
The time where thought would be a detriment was soon in coming, and Agrias satiated her desire to ponder what was in her mind, loose bits of whims and concerns, forgetting for just a moment the overwhelming purpose she was committed to fulfilling. She wanted to declare that she would be willing to do anything, bear any burden, pay any price, but Agrias had seen reality, had seen it in war, proven true time and time again. (Maybe the truth is something everyone does know. . .) Agrias admitted, (Its just a matter of admitting it).
Losing count of the times she glanced over to look at the boy who was at her side, Agrias opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again. There was so much to say between them, so much she wanted to know of him. For some reason, she felt drawn to the boy. Worried for his safety, curious as to how he was connected to her, through duty, through crisis, and through their consciences. She felt that those weren't the only reasons why. Yet another complexity Agrias did not want in her life, yet something she felt would distract her in a manner she might not just mind.
Growing disgruntled at the interruption of whatever serenity she had found, Agrias once again directed her gaze to the sky. Somehow, the grayish blue dawn did not please her. Seeing gray, even if it came before the light, was not something she had always liked. To her, it heralded darkness, an omen she did not want in face of what today would bring. She did not need a reminder that life grows dark before it gets light.
The sun had yet to crest the mountains to the east. Agrias took another scan of her surroundings, ignoring Ramza as he gazed at her. Lavian and Alicia were still asleep, while she saw Gafgarion's brown helmet poking out from behind a rock that he had sat behind. Again she wondered at the nature of her 'allies'. Rad still stood guard, even though he had stayed alert during the whole night, disturbing her with his forays, now he seemed just as energetic as always.
His own 'patrols' had bothered her. It was the prelude to a hunt in her eyes, as she had kept track, uncomfortably, of where he was as he stalked through the tall grass, disappearing from sight, and only the excitement he radiated gave away where he was. Agrias found that she could tell where the mercenary was just by the malevolence he gave off was disturbing to her. A useful ability, but one she wished she never had cause to learn, even if she had used it to save herself and those under her command before.
The two chocobo were also asleep, and she smiled at the sight of them, where they were nestled down, the baggage chocobo whose name she never learned cooped like a sitting hen, while Boco sat on the ground, his legs splayed forwards, and his head moving slowly in his sleep. Quickly, Agrias let the smile die before it had fully developed, feeling awkward.
Finally her gaze fell onto Ramza, and she frowned, noticing him in turn staring into her eyes. She did not feel frustration at the lack of communication, wishing that she could prolong this moment, yet another escape from her duty, as pleasant as it was. Not simply pleasant, but justified. Somehow, it felt. . . proper, was the word that came to her mind.
Agrias felt a little numb, and a little fatigue. This had culminated in what she had come to call the 'haze;' when she was caught in the urge to retire in slumber, but refused to give in, for her anxieties and pent-up excitement would not allow her respite. She wasn't as functional as she would've been with a good night's sleep, but she would've taken the haze over a night of tumultuous 'rest' that would render her even more fatigue when she awoke. Even with the dull ache and fatigue that resided in the edges of her conciousness, Agrias savored the amplified focus that she felt; focus that fatigue and stress can bring to such sharpness. It was another ability she wished she had never acquired.
Somehow, she knew that Ramza also went through the haze.
Ramza broke their staring contest, and Agrias sighed. He opened his mouth to yawn, swallowing the saliva that had built up his mouth. He yawned, looking peacefully weary. She wondered why he had such a soft smile in his face, untouched by sadness, regret, or even contemplation; a simple smile, open, sincere, satisfied.
The peace was broken for her when Alicia stirred, talking in her sleep, obviously beginning to waken. Rad stopped his pacing and gazed over at the direction of her knights, and Agrias felt distrust. Then, Gafgarion stood from where had had sat against the rock, turning to gaze over at Agrias. In his eyes was a challenge. Friendly or not, Agrias felt that she did not need this at this moment, on this day.
She caught Ramza's head playfully cock to the side as he tried to lock onto her eyes again. Regretfully, Agrias refused the respite he offered her. Taking a breath, she said her first words to him that morning. "Evanescence," she said softly, almost sadly, surprised that her own voice sounded sleepy, yet warm and. . . satisfied. With her left hand, she slowly waved her fingers in a sequence, making a slight sweep, indicating the passing night and the solitude and serenity it gave her.
Ramza blinked, easily understanding what she meant even as he lacked words to reply. Taking the initiative, he rose, wobbling slightly on his legs, causing Agrias' smile to transform into a smirk, before he sorely waddled over to her. Agrias giggled as Ramza almost fell over when she took his hand as he helped her stand up.
Taking a look once more at the ridges to the east, Agrias sighed as she brought her left hand back to herself. "Such a sad word."
***
Zirekile Area
The pursuit had taken precedence over everything else, and this was reflected in everyone's conduct. Alicia and Lavian had risen readily, and preparations were swift. Few words were exchanged, few were needed. This day was one two days in coming, days in which they had each thought to themselves what would be required.
Though they knew it to be tiresome and exhaustive, for the most part they could only worry, and now, in the execution of their mission, most everything else was rendered insignificant. Even the chocobos took up the tempo of their human companions.
In a quick march, the group quickly made their way to the rocky foothills before the mountains. The terrain was rough, but with the addition of Boco to their baggage handling, it wasn't so harsh as everyone carried minimal equipment. Armor was still worn, weapons were still equipped, but no one carried any supplies save Alicia, and even then, she had taken the precaution of adding the spare chemist's satchel on the lightly-burdened Boco.
Agrias and Ramza were almost eager in their drive, leading the group, while Rad grimly kept pace, with Gafgarion somehow kept up, looking nonplussed as he easily managed the terrain.
Talk had been minimal, limited only to essential communications as they hiked up the steadily worsening ground. Everyone was prepared. Six on one, and the one was hampered by a hostage. Yet, the hostage was everything, the only reason they were putting themselves through this; all this hell, all this hardship -and the potential for only more of the same torment if they failed, over one person: Ovelia. What was truly incredulous was that no one questioned this, not even the mercenaries.
***
The idea of multiple parties had been considered, and discarded. With Princess Ovelia, her captor had only one route open to him outside of the beaten path, which is why they had chosen path which went around to the higher passes, since the lower passes were controlled by friendly forces. The irony was that those same friendly forces could not be called upon.
The idea of time was something they cared little of as they continued to trek towards Zirekile Falls. Reaching one of the planned waypoints, the group expected to hear the sound of the waterfall. What they heard did resemble the soft turmoil, only with a metallic tone. . . that and the sound of voices. . . angry voices.
Of all of them, it was Gafgarion who reacted first, and in a burst of speed, ably traversed the rock terrain, up alongside the stream that came down from the mountains. Following closely were Ramza and Rad, while Agrias and her knights struggled to keep up. Even with the frenzy, Agrias kept herself in control and in the rear, making sure the others' approaches were solid and some order was present. The chocobo were left behind, the baggage chocobo settling itself by the stream, watching the humans dispassionately, while Boco hesitated, and finally began to follow the Holy Knight.
If something could go wrong, it would.
Not simply could, but would, bringing one to question why such things were so.
As it was, their approach kept them at a disadvantage as they continued to trek upwards, nearing the crossing point of the small stream at the base of Zirekile Falls.
Like it or not, they were about to engage in battle by interrupting one already in progress.
***
Bursting onto the scene, the six humans and lone chocobo were at the bottom of the falls, still on the west side of the stream, which became a river that led to the ocean. Up on the embankment next to the angled cliff that the waterfall cascaded down were several knights. Two on the west bank, and three on the right.
These were ignored by Agrias, who had eyes only for what those caught in between; Princess Ovelia, and Delita, together on the ladder bridge that linked the two banks. The fact that the captor had his sword drawn further stirred the anger Agrias felt. It was only the fact that it was directed away from Ovelia and towards the three knights on the right that kept her from breaking out in a charge.
Somehow, it was obvious, others had gotten to Delita and the princess first, and it wasn't bandits, it was another knight order; ones wearing the familiar emblem of the white lion, that of the Hokuten.
There was a standoff as the newcomers entered the field, albeit on low ground. Gafgarion was the first to the level ground the bridge spanned. Weapons had already been drawn, and Agrias took measure of her situation, either to rush under the bridge in the stream, or to try and fight her way up the embankment with the rest.
"Princess Ovelia!!" Agrias called out, excitement taking over, knowing that their presence was already known.
Standing unsteadily in the middle of the ladder bridge, Ovelia cried back, "Agrias!!"
Gafgarion only snorted, facing off the two Hokuten knights, who somehow let him hold his ground, as if to bait the rest the rest of the group up to their level.
One of the knights spoke to him. "Great, here comes a crowd!" he cursed. "Gafgraion! Kill them!" Taking a look down at a fallen Hokuten knightm he continued. "And do it now!"
Casually, Gafgarion smiled, and turned to face the others below him. "Don't know what's going on, but its in the contract!"
Immediately, the odds have twisted. What would have been a confusing three-way battle was still the same, except in the balance of numbers. Immediately, the three knights consolidated, even though Agrias wanted nothing more than to charge after Ovelia. They quickly got some distance away from Rad, as well as Lavian beginning to face off Ramza, who eyed the trio, looking upon them with the intensity they had seen him direct against his foes.
It was a still a stalemate, but someone had yet to break the peace.
The situation was already known, but Agrias asked, wanting to buy time, "Gafgarion, are you betraying us?" It was rhetorical.
In return, Gafgarion replied in a pragmatic fashion. "Betraying you?" he began. "C'mon, this is business." He swept his free left hand to indicate Ramza and Rad. "Our job is to kidnap the princess 'unharmed'." He smirked as Agrias almost broke her resolve and charged. "The job," he clarified, "is to kill you all and keep things quiet!"
"What are you getting at?" Refusing to allow herself to even look at Ramza, Agrias continued to stall, trying to think of what she could do, desperate with the anger that realization of futility could bring about. She could drag it on for so long before all she was reduced to was to take as many with her. Death or Glory -neither were an option for her; only fulfilling her duty while acquitting her conscience. "The kidnapping's a sham?"
The words meant little to her. The time to think over them and glean their significance would come later. . . should she live.
Gafgarion laughed as he sidestepped over to the ledge, looking down on them. "The princess is in the way!" he pointed out. "The prince should be next in line. If she's alive there'll be nothing but trouble!"
Had Agrias been thinking about it, she would have found the irony in his words. Gafgarion was loyal to Ivalice, but that did not entail loyalty to the Princess.
Delita looked back over at them, joining in. "Since you're going to die," he remarked in a grim, yet still cynical fashion, "I'll let you help me. . ." he paused. "If the princess' kidnapped and killed by Goltana, they'll be rid of her and his rivals." He turned his head, looking over at Ramza. "I'm sure that's how Prince Large wrote that scenario. No, Dycedarg probably wrote it. Don't you agree, Ramza?"
Alicia and Lavian turned to look at each other, angry themselves. They were about to potentially meet their fates, and yet this exchange was going on. Yet, it was taking up time that they could use to savor the rest of their lives. Wordlessly, they confirmed their conspiracy between them.
Gafgarion was flanked by the two Hokuten Knights on the west bank. "Right, Ramza. Let's get them all!"
As Ramza ducked low, Lavian brought her shield forward, already readying her own counterattack. The boy dug his left hand into small cliff face, and heaving his right leg over the ledge's edge, brought himself up to Gafgarion's level, swiping upwards as he rose, forcing the Dark Knight back.
"Another helpless sacrifice. . ." Ramza told him, continuing to drive the Dark Knight back, "No more!" he growled out, his voice lacking the intimidating effect, "There must not be any more victims like Teta!"
As Ramza leapt up and began to fight Gafgarion, Agrias felt a small amount of relief. She saw Delita freeze at Ramza's declaration, but ignored it as he did not follow up with any action except to charge across the eastern end of his bridge as Ovelia broke to the left. Meaning, Agrias would drive forwards, even if she had to fight the foundling river's current.
With a grunt, and a nudge of her head, Alicia and Lavian followed Ramza as they ran up the natural ramp to the embankment. Committing most of her force to the boy, Agrias met Rad's furious rush.
Ducking to the right, she extend her shield to smite the mercenary squire's sword, unable to bring hers own to thrust into him. She broke away, unable to launch her own counterattack in the mercenary's aggressive drive. Then, Boco came to her assistance. The chocobo, ignored, attacked who it deemed to be threatening Agrias.
Rad died, still driving forwards, forcing Agrias back, as his cranium was caved in by the impact of Boco's massive beak. Agrias ignored Rad's falling corpse even as his face split and fell apart, as if Boco had shattered a grotesque human mask he had worn.
Knowing that the situation would bottleneck up on land, Agrias chose to run under the bridge, towards the small waterfall, where she would begin her climb. Surprised, Agrias was almost bowled over as Boco continued his own rush, ducking his head under her legs. Her shield and sword flailed aside, Agrias was kept on simply by Boco's determination. The chocobo had anticipated her, and was taking her there himself. Launched into the air as Boco hopped up to the embankment past the bridge, Agrias landed unsteadily, Boco supporting her back with his head as he made his own descent.
Agrias didn't question it, but chose to engage the enemy knights. She was now between them and Ovelia.
Surprised, she found that the only one actively fighting Ramza was Gafgarion. The two Hokuten knights with him seemed reluctant to engage the boy, instead focusing their attention on dealing with her.
Leaving Ramza to his own fate against Gafgarion, Agrias took on her opponents with the bloodied Boco beside her. Alicia and Lavian were there to support him. . . she hoped.
Delita had fought himself a foothold on the east bank. The three knights there attempted to close with him as he released the same torrent from the heavens with similar techniques to Agrias.
Grimly, Agrias noted the abilities of Ovelia's kidnapper, filing them as a point of concern when she would kill him in turn. Channeling the bloodlust that flared within her, Agrias allowed her conscience to ebb, discarding it in the heat of battle.
Forced back by the three knights, though Delita dashed one down to his death on the rocky stream below, he retreated back to the bridge, his plate mail broken, visible seams appearing in his gold-hued armor.
Both Ramza and Gafgarion had taken damage. Gafgarion did not even bother with his Dark Sword abilities, forced to the rudimentary fundamentals of swordsmanship: kill him before he kills you. In the same manner as Rad, Ramza drove in towards him with a seemingly insane determination, refusing to give Gafgarion the room to perform anything special. Still, he took some hits as he pressed his attack, his bronze armor dented, pierced, and cracked. It was outrageous to the point that once Ramza had actually used his open left hand to palm Gafgarion's own sword across himself, and only that fact that the Dark Knight retreated into a run kept the swordfight into a brawl.
"Delita!" Ramza yelled, "you're alive!" as he ran after Gafgarion, with Lavian moving up to support Agrias while Alicia tried to render medical aid to him.
Delita shouted back as he fought one knight on the bridge, "Imagine meeting you here! Are your brothers sill running your life?" he quipped, seemingly jocular, his face a mask of vicious excitement.
The sound of coherent dialogue over the battlefield blunted Agrias' concentration. The battle being fought sword to sword, neither side given any room, base instincts and tendencies were coming to the fore as the participants proved that they could not keep up with the tempo the battle demanded.
"Who knows? They never tell me anything!" Ramza gasped out, continuing to pursue Gafgarion, who now waded back into the melee. "But, uh," Ramza grunted as Gafgarion pressed his own counter assault, driving his own assault to blunt Ramza's reckless offensive, "Delita, are you party to their plot?"
As the three knights of the Atskascha Royal Family -The Order of St. Konoe- held their own against the two knights of the Hokuten on the west bank, Agrias felt anger sweep through her. (Damn him! He's not violating his words; but damn him nonetheless for making the attempt!). The three knights were finally reunited with their ward, and they were attempting to fulfill their duty. Ovelia had backed away into a nook of the embankment by the waterfall, shivering in her travel-dirtied white and red robes as she stood with her back to the damp stone cliff face, beginning to shiver, from both the shock of the battle being fought in front of her -for her, and the water that sprayed onto her.
"Don't be foolish!" Delita cried out, turning around and breaking away from the other two Hokuten knights. The leading knight kept pace with him, refusing to allow Delita to sever the bridge and drop his partner down to the rocky stream below that had already claimed one comrade. "I'm here to save the princess!" he declared, "To protect her from those who are exploiting her!"
Agrias allowed herself a moment to take a sideglance at Ovelia as her own opponent strafed to the left, tightening a spiral around her. She held her line, refusing to allow him through her towards her liege. Agrias realized that Ovelia was watching Delita. . .
(There!) Agrias exulted, battering her opponent unconscious as they closed within the range of their own swords, smashing the pommel cap of her sword down on the knight's clavicle, causing him to flinch, and she continued to knout his bare forehead, causing him to collapse.
Lavian had lost, and she lay on her side, hyperventilating as she examined the gash in her breastplate's side, beginning to panic. It was a pitched battle, and the knight that subdued her chose not to grant quarter and instead raised his left boot to smash down onto her exposed head.
Only that Alicia had prepared another one of her own grenades and lobbed it at him, causing the knight, clad in his linen, leathers, and mithril, to burn. Having no other resort, the knight went towards the stream, but in doing so, he plowed through Alicia, dashing her in along with himself off the embankment. Agrias only gave a cursory glance over the embankment,
Ovelia just looked on, watching as both ally and enemy fall, one by one, attrition, lethality and friction taking them all; all over her.
Boco had done his best to participate in protecting Agrias, but he was helpless against the armored Hokuten, and the ground was too limited for him to serve as a platform. Still, he knelt by Lavian, sheltering the agonized knight under his wing, where he cast his own curative ability, healing herself and him. Settling to her knees, the fallen knight pointed over the embankment's lip and Boco followed, hopping down to the stream to find Alicia, dead or alive.
Gafgarion now threw in his own words, forcing Ramza to back off, having wounded the younger mercenary by slashing a thin line down the boy's left forearm. "Don't lie to me!" he snarled, directing his anger at the one they had pursued for two days. "You were hired too, weren't you?" he tossed out, using this time to leech Ramza's health and infuse it to himself using the Night Sword technique. "You were hired to kidnap her for money!" he accused, Ramza's 'betrayal' and innocence feeding his anger, "Don't play dumb!"
Both of Delita's opponents were across the bridge, and forced the knight back, bringing him ever closer to where Agrias screened Ovelia and the incapacitated Lavian. From the hostile glare Agrias directed at him, Delita expect little help unless he endangered the princess as he was doing so now by retreating. "No, I'm not like you. It's not for the money!" Delita threw back, having his own sword shattered by the Hokuten knight he attempted to bludgeon.
Gafgarion laughed, pursuing Ramza down the embankment to where they were when the battle began. "Then who's getting in my way?" he cried out, caught up in his bloodlust as sought to cut Ramza down. "A kid who heard the plot and decided to save her for justice?" he mocked both young men. "Who hired you?" he challenged, saying his words to Ramza, but intending them for the kidnapper. "Who told you about the plan? Talk!" he demanded, as if demanding Ramza's surrender.
"None of your business!" Delita cried, backpedaling as the two Hokuten knights closed on him.
"What are you?" Ovelia called out to him, nervously. "Ally or enemy?" The only emotion that pierced the numbness that she felt was a point of distressed confusion.
"Human, just like you!"
Agrias debated when she would launch her own offensive, hoping to have the Hokuten finish off the kidnapper and in turn she would slay them. (Do as little work and accomplish as much as possible) she thought, pleased, though her conscience showed her own concern. Taking a moment to check on the status of the princess, Agrias saw a strange expression in her face. (Damn. . . no, of all things, no!) she raged, as she realized what she must do for her ward. Darting forward, she threw herself in twain the two Hokuten knights, who were closing slowly on Delita, expecting her to come in as she did.
Taking up the slack, Lavian stood unsteadily, holding her sword in both hands, taking her senior's place.
Ramza felt himself being pressured, unable to break away as Gafgarion continued to force him back, and feeling cornered, he reacted, meeting advance with his own rush. One more hit would subdue him. He had not taken enough physical damage, yet Gafgarion had sapped enough of his physical energy that Ramza knew that if there was another exchange, he would be the worst for it.
The exchange occurred. Again, Ramza pawed Gafgarion's weapon across the Dark Knight and thrust in from a high angle with his own mithril sword. Gafgarion deflected the sword somewhat with his shield, but it still connected with his arm, forcing him to bend back as the blade became stuck in his pauldron, having pierced it and tearing into the muscles it protected. "Dammit!" he cried. It was then that he hurled his shield at Ramza, who was unable to dodge or to blunt the impact of the curved kite- shield, stunning him as the boy sought to cover himself in his daze. Being disarmed, having an arm disabled, he chose to escape, leaving the final two Hokuten knights to their fates.
Ramza chose to let him go, unable to focus on anything outside of his immediate vicinity.
Knowing there was no other option, Agrias and Delita allowed the last Hokuten knight to withdraw; his partner had been slain when Delita picked up a fallen sword from one of the dead Hokuten and closed in on him along with Agrias. Fighting a desperate man was folly, as he had everything to lose.
The battle was over, and as soon as the last Hokuten fled after Gafgarion, Agrias slammed into Delita, bowling the wounded kidnapper over, disarming him and kicking his weapon away. Having had the wind knocked out of him, he lay there, back arched, struggling to breath. She stood over him, far enough away that he wouldn't be able to lash out at her. Then, she sheathed her weapon and walked away, towards Ovelia.
Within her eyes was a challenge, a promise of a delayed reckoning, Ramza saw. Waving over at the two women, Ramza went over down the earthen incline down to the stream to look for survivors.
Feeling torment, Agrias blocked Ovelia's way as the princess began to tentatively make her way towards her kidnapper. With a stern nod, Agrias expressed her opinion of the situation.
No one dared question her authority. Not her subordinate, not her liege, and certainly not Delita, who lay there, still staring into the sky, trying to find his breath.
*** To be continued ***
***Author's Notes***
I need to regroup and assess my writing again. I feel as if I'm slipping. The battle sequence was so off and rushed since I did not want to go into detail about it. Note, the emphasis of the story is CHARACTER INTERACTION not the battles.
The Agrias 'wake' sequence was a favorite of mine in this chapter, since it was just plain introspection and observation. Some of her thoughts are revealed, and hey, the 'Boss Lady' needs some time to unwind somewhat.
The turn-out rate of chapters might suffer since the steam is running out, since I do NOT like writing battle sequences since to do them properly would incur so much detail AND I am limited to the dialogue in the game, which is limited and AWKWARD at best:
Come on, why would people TALK in a pitched battle?!
Oh yes, I cut the battle scene short, since I only used about two- thirds of the full dialogue of the story.
As to Alicia's grenades. . . think of them as Fire Balls. It makes sense since chemists throw concoctions, and I assume those Fire Balls are chemical mixtures in themselves (plus chemists ARE the prerequisite jobs for the Black Mage classes).
The day isn't over yet, expect another chapter to handle that department. I cut it short now since the chapter was beginning to drag and was growing far too diluted (too much pointless text in proportion to actual story and detail).
***Author's Notes***
***Reader's Response Corner***
Um, thank you for all the support ^_^.
I feel as if I'm struggling in several portions, and that might cause me to pause (not stop. . . no, its going to have to be a on-the-fly reformation) or slow down for a bit.
I'm caught between making the story flow fast, or going into Oh-So- Good (!) detail. . . its been a compromise to this point, but I believe I need to get a solid doctrine down pretty soon.
Covering Ramza's personality. Well, consider it, he's gone into hiding, he's questioning who he is, no damn wonder he's so contradicting and reluctant to share his inner views. Still, he's reaching out, to Agrias of all people. . .
Don't consider Ramza and Agrias as respective Heroine and Anti-Hero figures. . . just remember Delita's best quote. They are human figures, and as such, I am trying to give them depth outside of the plot.
On the bright side, Agrias still hasn't throttled him for being the way he is!
Questions?
Comments?
Rants?
Just float them on over.
***Reader's Response Corner***