Start Date: March 25, 2022
Windwillow
Final Fantasy IV
Chapter Fifteen
The party had escaped the underworld, and now were en route to Baron. According to King Leviathan, the Eidolon Odin was there, somewhere. All Cecil felt was a growing resentment at having been denied such knowledge by the man who'd raised him. What was he hiding?
Scene One
The Falcon and her crew picked up and deposited a team of engineers with a rescue party from Fabul, complete with soldiers, at the Enterprise. Afterwards, they returned to Baron and went about trying to find the Eidolon Odin.
Their search produced nothing. Combing the castle from top to bottom, they found no hidden chambers or sealed doors. Every ladder was accounted for, and each waterway searched thoroughly. It seemed there was nothing to be found.
"Maybe he was wrong," huffed Edge. "I don't see any hidden lairs here."
Rydia shook her head.
"The King wouldn't lie to us. There has to be somewhere else."
Rosa sighed.
"We've examined every door, wall, and chamber. The possibility that he was mistaken is... Well, it isn't out of the question."
Rydia shook her head vehemently.
"He wouldn't lie! There has to be something we're missing!"
She turned to Cecil.
"Right, Cecil?"
There was no response, only a vacant stare on his face as he looked at his hand.
"Cecil...?"
He remembered the Feymarch. When Leviathan had revealed Odin's existence he seemed apprehensive, still hiding something. Slowly looking at the diamond etched on his palm, a thought came to him.
"It must be..." he murmured.
Rosa cocked her head.
"Must be what?"
Cecil turned on his heel.
"There's an empty hallway near my chambers. I remember seeing this mark there once..."
As he rushed down the corridor, Edge sighed.
"Sure, don't tell us anything; just run off. Jerk..."
Scene Two
Cecil's chambers in the west tower were high above, but the area in question lay right at the entrance to the tower. As he approached, Cecil saw a small, golden diamond at the end of an empty corridor. There was nothing there but that strange diamond.
He lay his hand on the diamond, and a rumbling occurred. The wall seemed to dissolve, revealing a passageway downwards. As his friends caught up, Cecil clenched his fist.
"What was he hiding...?"
Down and down the stairs they went, finding themselves at a solid steel door. Edge examined it carefully, finding no handle or latch.
"I don't get it!" he groaned. "Someone didn't want us to open the damn thing."
Silently, Cecil drew his sword. He stared at the door and at the Mythgraven Blade. As a bright light burst from his hand and ran to the blade, he reared back and swung. The blow cut straight through the door and rent it in two.
As the door split in two, the party stood in stunned silence. Cecil sheathed his sword, took a deep breath, and stepped through the gateway. The party followed, though they couldn't match his pace.
What lay beyond was a massive chamber, decorated with silver and gold and pillars of solid steel. At the back was a massive throne, and above it lay the scabbard of a brilliant, shining gold longsword.
"Whoa!" gasped Edge. "Someone hid this place...?"
Rosa shook her head.
"I don't understand why... His Majesty never said a word about why a hidden chamber would be in the castle. Have you heard of it, Cecil?"
Cecil slowly shook his head. Rydia eyed the sword above the throne.
"Look!" she breathed. "That sword is beautiful!"
Edge nodded.
"Family heirloom? Might be why they hid something here..."
Silently, Cecil stared at the sword. He felt a calling from it, a beckoning. Slowly he began to walk towards it, but as he reached out his hand he pulled it back to avoid being skewered by a massive spear. He jumped back and drew his sword.
"What is this?!" he shouted.
Slowly a large shadow figure began to form on the throne. Cecil tightened his grip.
"And what are YOU...?"
The shadow condensed into a huge, ten foot tall human with a horned helmet and gold armor. It was well-muscled, biceps flexing through the armor. As its cape swept back, the sight of a deep-eyed face stared back at Cecil.
"Who are you?" he asked. "Why are you here?"
With a smile, the figure leaned back in its throne.
"Why are YOU here?"
Cecil's blood ran cold. He knew that voice, one he'd heard since he was a child. It may have been deep and rumbling, but he knew it. His grip faltered and he fell to one knee. As he crouched he lay the Mythgraven Blade before him and bowed his head.
"You... Your... Majesty...?!"
The figure nodded.
"Odin the Reaper," he boomed. "The King of Baron."
Rosa stepped forward, shaking her head.
"That's impossible! His Majesty was murdered!"
Odin shook his head.
"In death have I gained great power, my dear. It is by death that my strength was awakened, my true form given shape once more."
Rydia gasped.
"Wait... Wait! The Eidolon Odin... The Eidolon that King Leviathan talked of...?!"
Rosa swallowed hard.
"... was the same man who found and raised Cecil. But how can this be...?!"
Cecil bowed his head further.
"Please, Your Grace!" he begged. "Please, the truth! Tell me!"
Odin sighed.
"The truth is that I am Odin, Eidolon of Death. I am the lost king of Baron, slain by a demon and revived as a god."
Edge's jaw dropped.
"What the... WHAT?!"
Odin reclined in his throne.
"Once, long ago I chose to abandon the Feymarch. I chose to wear the flesh of man, to live amongst him as naught more than his neighbor. Mine was a curious mind, always dreaming of life as a mortal. One day, I abandoned my name and took residence as a human. Here, somehow, even now they worshipped me. And thus did I become a King."
Cecil paused.
"So... Have you lied to me of your affection, as well as your identity?"
Odin shook his head.
"When I found you abandoned, I felt love. A love I feel even to this day. Do not gainsay the bond between us, nor forget the times we shared. Ours is a love that is pure and true."
Rosa stepped back, shocked.
"Y-Your... His Majesty truly loved the boy he raised... This... man... I sense the purity of his love..."
She dropped to her knees.
"I've felt such affection from one man before now. The King is... truly..."
Odin nodded grimly.
"A King stripped of his crown and flesh. I am the man who ruled Baron for decades and he who raised this man to be what he is. This is me, Cecil."
Cecil clenched his fist.
"But... Cagnazzo... How could he have slain an Eidolon?!"
Odin sighed.
"Eidolons sleep, and then did he strike with dagger in hand. I had no way to defend myself."
Rydia sighed.
"This is... a lot to take in."
Edge nodded.
"If I knew my old man was a god, I'd be a bit shocked too. Cecil must be feeling something we can't even imagine..."
Cecil narrowed his eyes. So, the archfiend at struck Odin as he slept. There was no other way an Eidolon could fall to a mere demon. The hatred he felt before for Cagnazzo grew with a fury he didn't expect.
"So..." he whispered. "Why did you never tell me...?"
Odin held his head.
"Perhaps I should have, but there was no reason to say. What time would be right to speak of this truth, in the midst of the life we shared? When could it ever be relevant?"
Cecil sighed. He had a point. Knowing His Majesty was an Eidolon would not have changed his feelings for the man. The subject simply never came up.
"I see..." he sighed. "Then, I am satisfied. I am satisfied and honored to once again be before you, Milord."
Rydia nodded.
"Well, uh... Back to why we came? The King asked us to find you so that I could learn to summon you."
Odin cocked his head.
"And he would disturb me why?"
Cecil sighed.
"Bahamut is in danger..."
Odin's face contorted.
"Tell me what has happened, all of it."
Scene Three
After telling Odin of what had transpired, the Eidolon reclined back in his chair, pensive.
"He would tame a god?" he murmured. "Preposterous. Bahamut would turn him to dust! There must be another reason why he wants to reach the moon."
Edge cocked his head.
"And, uh... Any idea what that might be?"
Odin shook his head.
"No... I know nothing of his true motives. Only speculation."
Rydia slowly inched forward.
"So, Your Majesty? Could I be given the privilege to summon you?"
Odin stared at her coldly.
"Not until I am bested."
Rydia drew her whip.
"Then, we must battle."
Odin shook his head. He pointed at Cecil.
"No. I must battle Cecil, one-on-one. Should he defeat me, I shall grant you my service."
Cecil's head jerked up.
"You want to battle me?! Why? Should you not test the summoner who would call you?"
Odin sighed.
"She is of fine stock. That is not my concern. My only wish is to see how much you have grown. Show me the man you have become."
He tightened his fist.
"Bare steel against me and we shall decide your fates!"
Rosa paused.
"I... don't like the way You said that, Milord."
Odin nodded.
"Defeat me in three minutes and you win. Otherwise, I shall slaughter you all at the end of that time."
Cecil gnashed his teeth.
"Are you joking with me?!" he shouted angrily, losing his knightly composure. "You would threaten THEM to get to ME?!"
Odin leaned back in his throne.
"And how would you stop me? Their lives mean nothing to me. Only yours, Cecil."
Cecil bit his lip, hard enough to draw blood.
"Your Grace...!"
Odin shook his head.
"Those are my terms. Take it, or leave your heads at my feet."
Slowly, Cecil clutched the Mythgraven Blade. He rose steadily, painfully, with his very being screaming in quiet anguish. To think it would come to this...?
He drew his sword in both hands and brandished it, tears in his eyes. He nodded.
Odin's hand stretched out and grabbed his spear, and as he tore it from the ground he rose to meet his foster son, eyes locked. He shouldered the weapon slowly, gripping it tightly.
"Words are unnecessary. Show me your resolve with your blade."
A tense silence ruled, with no one speaking and none but barely breathing. The full ramifications were clear: If Cecil failed to slay his father, they all would die. Everything came down to his sword and Odin's spear.
In a violent instance they struck. Both sword and spear locked against one another, each side pushing with all their might. The shockwave produced blew everyone back to their seats, knocking the wind from them.
Cecil's sword danced wildly, each strike flowing from one to the next. Odin stood and parried, silently matching his swings. He quickly twisted his wrist and flicked Cecil away, knocking the paladin back.
But Cecil drove his heel to the ground, righting himself. He clutched his sword tightly and lunged with blade outstretched. A shining light emerged from the tip of the blade, and as he ran his hand along it a blinding light coated it.
His sword clashed with Odin's spear, again and again. As Odin parried, he slowly began to drive Cecil back. He thrust his spear and knocked the paladin to his knees. Odin twirled his weapon with a violent wind.
"You have one minute..."
Cecil's grip tightened enough to draw blood. He screamed and lunged, sword straight before him. The light of the blade extended into a huge silver pillar, shining with golden streaks and tinged with flecks of the rainbow.
With all his might, he swung it down and met Odin's spear. It met the spear and broke it, the wave piercing Odin and severing his right arm at the shoulder. As Odin fell back, Cecil gave a loud scream.
His sword straightened, and he thrust mightily. The blade pierced the Eidolon's chest, struck it, and blew Odin back into the throne. As the throne burst to pieces, Cecil shed a tear and loosed a sob.
To everyone's surprise, the Eidolon's body immediately reformed. As he fell back to the wall, Odin pressed back and stopped himself cold. The shockwave cracked the walls and shattered several pillars, and as it subsided both warriors rose to meet each other's gaze.
Silently, they both smiled with tears in their eyes. Odin lowered himself to one knee.
"I yield," he said quietly. "The victory is yours, my son."
Cecil's cape flickered with the wind, and as it fell to his feet he sheathed his sword. He fell to one knee and lay the Mythgraven Blade at his feet.
"You've my thanks, Milord. I've never felt as fulfilled as I do now."
He lowered his head.
"I... love you, Milord."
Odin smiled softly.
"And I, you," he murmured. "My son..."
Scene Four
In the aftermath, the party slowly staggered to their feet. Silence reigned, until Cecil quietly rose to his feet and clutched his sword. Odin rose as well, his hand moving steadily to the sword above his throne. He clutched it tight and tossed it, and Cecil caught it as he dropped the Mythgraven Blade.
"The Holy Sword Excalibur I now gift to you," he said. "And you, young summoner; to you I offer my blade."
Rydia's face lit up. She smiled brightly.
"Thank you!" she gasped, bowing her head.
Odin's eyes reflected emotion that really couldn't be described. Happiness, pride... Something like it but deeper, a father's bond with his son.
"Son, I am proud of you!" gasped Odin. "Your strength has grown beyond what I could ever suspect..."
Cecil's eyes brimmed with tears. Slowly he wiped them away and examined the Excalibur closely. It was painted gold but seemed stronger than any steel he'd seen; even gripping it he felt the holiness within the blade.
He turned to Odin and fell to one knee. There were no words from the others; it was what it was.
After a long period the party recovered, and Odin reclined on his throne with pride on his face. He and Cecil exchanged glances and smiled.
"Go."
Cecil nodded.
"I will."
And thus, they left Baron for Mysidia.