Part V: Leaving Kaipo

Cecil was waiting for her at the entrance of the home. The elderly couple was with him, giving him food for the journey and expressing their concerns. When Rydia wandered up, the old woman bent down and hugged her.

"Be careful, young one. It's a wild, untamed world out there."

Rydia stared up at her in surprise and then shyly smiled back. She wasn't used to being spontaneously hugged.

"Remember, go north and east until you find a pass between the mountains. Then you'll know if you're going in the right direction. The cave entrance is at the end of the pass, very hard to miss. If you have any trouble, use this…."

Rydia tried to see what it was, but ultimately failed.

"An eagle's eye?" Cecil asked.

"Yes, it can help you see your way, but I recommend using it only when you absolutely must."

Rydia gazed up at the old man and his kind, but weathered face. "Excuse me," she piped in, "What were those books in your….'study'?"

"Did you have a look at them, young lady?"

She nodded hesitantly, not sure if her looking at them was a good or bad thing yet.

"Those are ancient music tomes. Bards write down their songs in them, and illustrate what the song is supposed to do with elaborate pictures. Those songs were for charming beasts. They were given to me by a bard who used to frequent these parts not too long ago. I haven't seen him lately though…"

"A bard," Rydia wondered out loud, "So this bard would come through and sing for you?"

The old man laughed at her. "Yes, but not only did he sing for us, he'd play his harp as well! He was such a brilliant musician. It's a shame really..."

"What is?"

"Rydia, we really need to—" Cecil tried to interrupt.

"You see, he stole the heart of a sage's daughter, and the two of them ran off together. The girl's father was furious and chased after them, and we haven't seen any of them for many months. There hasn't been any music here for quite some time, and he always played his most beautiful tunes whenever Anna was here."

Rydia tried to imagine what such beautiful music would sound like, but ended up scrunching up her nose and giving up. She didn't really know what music was supposed to sound like anyway. There hadn't been too much of it in Mist.

"Thank you for keeping us here for the night. I appreciate everything, and please, take good care of Rosa until we come back."

"You are very welcome. May your travels go well and no harm fall to you. I will do my best for the girl."

Cecil led the way from the house and once again they wandered through the village. Thankfully, no one else was awake, so there was no one around to whisper behind their backs or stare at Rydia's green hair. She gladly walked with her head up for a change, and took in everything around her without having to worry.

They quietly exited the village gate, shutting it firmly behind them and stepping out into the cool desert morning air.

Rydia kicked some sand with her booted foot.

"This way," Cecil said, skirting the village.

Rydia followed behind him, trying to build up the nerve to ask him the question she'd decided she wanted to know the answer for the night before. She ended up finding herself asking a different question entirely.

"Who is she?"

Cecil turned and all she could see were the dark caverns for eyes in his helmet. "What?"

"Who is she, the girl in the bed?"

"Her name is Rosa. She's a friend of mine."

"Just a friend?" she asked, cocking her head.

He paused again. "A very good friend."

When he turned back around, she smiled. He looooooooves her, she realized, even if he didn't say it. She was getting used to figuring out what kind of expression he was making behind his helmet. It was a fun guessing game she had devised….When he paused it was because he was thinking about saying something but trying to find a way to lie about it.

She almost giggled.

"She and I grew up together," Cecil added a few minutes later without facing her. "We've known each other for a very long time—along with Kain."

"Who's Kain?"

"He's…I don't know. He was a friend, but now I'm not so sure. It doesn't matter right now, Rydia, you'll probably never meet him."

"You don't think you'll see him again?"

"I don't think you'll see him. Rydia, when I find someplace safe, somewhere where Baron can't find you, I'm having you stay there. It's too dangerous for you to come with me. I am an enemy of the most powerful country in the world. They will never stop coming after me, and I won't risk your life for my decision to defy the king."

Rydia stopped walking and immediately hardened her innocent face. "I'm going with you. The whole way. I've made up my mind about it, and nothing you can say will change it. I want to know why my mother really died—why my village was burned down. I am the last of the summoners, so I'm going to find out, and go with you to the end!" she said, stamping her foot down for emphasis.

Cecil appeared stunned. At least he stopped moving for a few minutes to stare at her through his helmet. Rydia tried to make herself seem as tough and bold as she could.

As he stared down at her, suddenly his attention shifted and he shouted. "Rydia, get down!"

She immediately fell face first into the sand, and felt a whoosh of air go past her.

She glanced up to see a huge mothlike creature flying overhead. It was bigger than she was and had patterns on its wings that looked like eyes. She saw Cecil go for his sword, the wicked black blade that had killed the three guards in the inn, and jumped to her feet. She ran past the moth and stood behind Cecil, hoping that the moth had nothing to do with her.

Cecil charged the moth and swung at it with his sword, only to have it gracefully flit away from him and float higher into the air where he couldn't reach it. It stretched out its wings and a strange powder drifted on the air to where they were both standing.

"Rydia, I can't see anything. Reach into the sack and pull out the eyedrops."

Rydia rummaged through the bag and tried to find the bottle labeled "eye drops". It was a small vile with a long narrow opening and she quickly handed it to Cecil who opened it and dropped the liquid into his eyes. Once he could see again, his sword was back up and ready.

He charged once more, and this time, clove the moth in two. It fell to the ground a mess of powder and dust.

"Is it…dead?" Rydia asked.

"Safe to say," Cecil replied, as he went to the moth's remains and plucked something from beneath its crumpled wings.

"What is that?"

"A potion. When a monster dies it usually drops something it's been carrying for awhile. Usually it's something that it confiscates from other travelers, and sometimes it can turn out to be something useful."

"A monster? How can you tell if it's a good monster or a bad monster though?"

"A bad or good monster? I've never seen a good monster, but if it attacks you, chances are it's bad."

"Oh, I see," Rydia replied quietly.

"Rydia, do you know how to use that bow?" Cecil asked, changing subjects.

She pulled it off of her back and held it out, shaking her head. "I've never used a weapon before. How does it work?"

Cecil looked down at her. Rydia wished he would take off his helmet so she could really know what he was thinking. She figured he was probably amused, but couldn't quite tell.

"Take the quiver. Now take out an arrow," he instructed.

Rydia held the arrow up for inspection.

"Now with these two fingers…." he began, and when she had trouble, stooped down and helped her.

Finally! She thought once the arrow was nocked.

"Good. Pull the string back and keep your left arm straight."

Her right arm wobbled as she pulled back the string. When she couldn't hold it anymore, she released it and the arrow jumped off the bow and landed about ten feet away.

She narrowed her eyes at it and went to pick it up. She thought she heard a chuckle.

"Is it always this hard?" she asked.

"No. With practice, you'll get better."

She thought for a moment.

"Will we ever have to fight people? Not just monsters, but people?"

Cecil walked away from her and put his hands on his hips.

"I hope not, Rydia, I really hope not."

"And we might have to fight if we go on?"

"I'm sorry, Rydia, I didn't want to involve you in all this--"

"Oh, stop it! We have to save Rosa now. That's more important than anything else, right? And I'm helping," she announced and sprinted off in front of him. But suddenly she stopped and turned around sheepishly.

"Which way's north?"