CHAPTER THREE: I'LL BE

Kyle was back in the Main Hall, impatiently waiting for Jessica to get back. It was already late at night, and there was no sign of her. He knew she could handle herself, but where could she have gone that would take all day? He racked his brains trying to anticipate what kind of surprise she could possibly have in store for him. Jessica's unpredictability kept things interesting most of the time, but other times, it just drove him nuts.

Finally, Jessica glided back into the room. "I'm back!" she sang triumphantly. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and darted right by him.

Kyle grinned with relief that she was back, but was still a bit on his guard. She was obviously up to something. "Where'd you run off to?"

"Vane," she said.

"Vane? What the heck were you doing there?"

"I told you, I had a surprise for you."

Kyle groaned. He hated when people strung him along like this – especially Jessica, because she was so good at it. "So what's the surprise?"

"I met someone in Vane today who knows where the Dragon's Graveyard is, and he's agreed to help us find it," Jessica answered matter-of-factly.

Kyle gaped. "You did WHAT?"

Quickly, Jessica told him about her meeting with Mia and Sarek. "Sarek says he knows exactly where and how to find the Dragon's Graveyard, and he's coming with us to help! We even have a map and instructions, detailing every step of the journey!"

"Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Wait a minute! What's this 'we' stuff? When did I agree to go? And why are we going to the Dragon's Graveyard anyway? Why would I want to do that?"

"Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to complete your father's last adventure? Well, now's your chance!"

Kyle looked uncomfortable. "That was just talk, Jess. You know that I promised my dad I wouldn't go looking for it!" "Come on, Kyle. Ever since Gryffin disappeared, you've wanted to find on the Dragon's Graveyard. You said it yourself that you wished he could have died with a perfect record. If you find the temple and make it back, you'll have done it for him! Gryffin's perfect record will be preserved through you!" Kyle closed his eyes, trying to sort this out. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that a way had been found to actually get to the Graveyard. "Jess, didn't it ever occur to you that there's a reason I never went after the Dragon's Graveyard myself? Yeah, I'd love to be able to make it back from the temple loaded with Dragon Diamonds, but like I keep telling you, Dad made me promise not to!"

"Oh, please. Like you've never broken a promise before."

Kyle sighed heavily. "It's different this time, Jess."

"Why? Why are you making excuses? We have the opportunity of a lifetime here!"

Should I tell her now? Kyle wondered. Should I finally tell her why I stayed behind that one time? I've been hiding it for four years, and I'm tired of holding it back. But I don't need to lay a guilt trip on her before we're about to get married.

He turned away from her. "Look, I gave my word and I swore an oath. He didn't want me to go to the Dragon's Graveyard, with him or without him, and that's that."

Jessica grabbed his arm and pulled him back towards her. "He also wanted you to make your own future, and not let him stand in your way. And you've succeeded! Look at what you've become since then! You're Kyle of Nanza, the guy who cleaned up Nanza single-handedly! You're the youngest champion of the Kherev Swordmaster Tournament! You're one of the Heroes who defeated Ghaleon! You fought for the right to determine your own destiny, remember?"

Man, she really knows which buttons to push. "I know, but…"

"Think of the glory," Jessica purred, pressing the attack. "The fame! Not only will you be remembered as the guy who beat Ghaleon, but also as the man who did the impossible! They'll be toasting to you in bars and banquet halls across Lunar for years to come! Kyle of Nanza, Lunar's boldest, greatest adventurer!"

"You're serious," Kyle said, seeing her all-too familiar determined expression. "You really want to find the Dragon's Graveyard."

"With you," Jessica replied. "I want to share this adventure with you. You want to complete your father's last adventure. I want you to finally forgive yourself. And between the two of us, and with Sarek on our side, we can handle anything that gets in our way!"

It was working. Kyle's willpower was weakening, the temptation to head off towards the Graveyard greater than ever before. All of his life, he'd dreamed of great adventures, and here was the greatest adventure of all time staring him in the face. Could he let a few reluctant words stand in his way? He flashed his trademark grin at her, and his eyes gleamed with the prospect of adventure, fortune, and eternal glory. Facing danger, defying the odds, achieving the impossible, with the woman of my dreams by my side. How can I say no?

-x-x-x-

Half an hour later, Kyle and Jessica went to Master Mel's office. Kyle wasn't too happy about what they were about to do, but there was no alternative. It embarrassed him that after all this time, he was still intimidated by Jessica's father.

"Let me do the talking," Jessica whispered.

"I was going to," Kyle answered. "Do we really have to do this?"

Jessica nodded solemnly. "I can't just abandon my dad and run off. Especially when there's a chance we might not come back."

You mean like I abandoned mine?Kyle thought bitterly.

Mel was sitting at his desk, grumbling something about "bureaucratic nonsense" as he filled out some documents. He looked up and grinned when he saw Jessica. "Well, aren't you a welcome sight for these weary eyes!" he exclaimed with a hearty laugh. The warmth of his smile faded slightly when he saw Kyle.

"Hi Daddy," Jessica said timidly. "We need to tell you something."

Something in Jessica's tone made Mel anxious. He glanced at Kyle, looked over to the axe mounted on his wall – the very same axe he had used throughout his pirating days – and back at Kyle. "Is everything all right?" he asked in a tone that made Kyle feel very uneasy.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Jessica answered. "Kyle and I need to go…somewhere. We might…be gone a long time, and we wanted to let you know so that you don't worry."

"So? You've run off on adventures before and come back okay. What's the big deal about this one?" He glared at Kyle suspiciously. "Where ya goin', anyway?"

Jessica took a deep breath. "The Dragon's Graveyard."

Mel's pen dropped from his hand. "No."

"Daddy…"

"NO! Forget it!" he roared, rising furiously from his desk. "No way I'm lettin' my only child set off on a damned suicide mission! Ye're not goin'!"

"Daddy, you don't understand…!"

"Ye're right! I don't understand why ye'd wanna throw yer life away chasing after a bloody fairy tale! Ye're getting' married in a few month's time to this rascal whose finally turned respectable, and you wanna throw it all away? Damned right I don't understand! You're not goin', and that's final!"

"You can't stop us, Dad!" Jessica shouted. "You just said you knew we can take care of ourselves! We stopped the Magic Emperor, remember? We fought Royce, Xenobia, and Ghaleon, and we beat them all! Kyle even fought the Black Dragon, for Althena's sake! What, you don't think we're up to it?"

"It's not that, Jessica," Mel said heavily. For the first time that Kyle could remember, Mel looked like a tired old man. "I know what you two can do, and I'm proud of you for it. You and Kyle are both heroes to me. But there's nothing heroic about risking yer neck just for a thrill!"

"This isn't a thrill, Daddy," Jessica said quietly. "I'm doing this to help Kyle."

Mel glared at Kyle. "What's she talkin' about?"

Kyle broke into a cold sweat as he watched Mel's expression turn even darker as Jessica explained. Great. Just great. He's pissed, and he's gonna take it out on me. He'll probably think it was my idea, he won't let us go, and he'll break me in half for even suggesting putting his only daughter in that kind of danger.

"Please, Daddy," Jessica begged. "You remember how Kyle helped save you from Xenobia. The least you can do is let us honor his father and let us finish his last mission."

For a long time after Jessica finished, Mel said nothing. His brow was furrowed, and Kyle could see he was deeply troubled. Can't say I blame him. If I was as overprotective as Mel, I probably wouldn't want my only kid going off on a possible suicide mission.

When Mel finally spoke, his voice was slightly strained. "All right. If ye're really dead set on this, I won't stand in yer way. I know how important family can be to a man. And I'm glad ta hear Sarek's goin' with ya. I remember him from the old days. He's a good man, and a tough old codger. But don't take any unnecessary risks, okay? Nobody knows what kind o' dangers are waitin' for ya. As tough as you two are, ye're not invincible. Neither is Sarek, for all of his power. Still, I stand by what I said. If this is really somethin' you have to do…you have my blessing, and may Althena watch over you."

Mel's grim scowl suddenly gave way to a crafty grin. "In fact, Dyne and I once wanted to find the Graveyard ourselves, back in the day, but Ghaleon and Lemia talked us out of it. They said that even if we could find the bloody thing, it would be sacrilege ta plunder it. But I've often wondered what would've happened if Dyne and I had gone for it, especially after he became Dragonmaster. Just another 'what if' for an old man to think about."

He looked at Jessica, and gave her a proud smile. "And if anyone has to find the bloody thing and return to tell the tale, my daughter and future son-in-law can! Is there anything I can do to help?"

Jessica grinned, and thought for a second. "Maybe get us a ship?"

Mel gave another hearty laugh. "I've got just the ship for ya – the Darkfire. Me and the other Four Heroes sailed all over Lunar on that thing. I still keep it in runnin' order, for old time's sake. And she's at your command. Think you can handle her, Kyle?"

"Me?" stammered Kyle, completely unprepared for Mel's offer. "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Mel chuckled, amused by Kyle's reaction. "The Darkfire was the ship of heroes once, and I'd like it ta be again. I promised to give it to my future son-in-law as a gift, hoping she'd marry a fine, adventurous lad. And ye've certainly proven yourself to be that! A bit rough around the edges, but still a hearty lad! Consider her to be a wedding present from me to you!"

Kyle was absolutely flabbergasted, until it finally sunk in what Mel was doing. There was more going on here than Mel giving him a ship. He was placing his trust in Kyle to protect his daughter and bring her back safely. Considering their past relationship, Kyle was moved by Mel's offer. "I don't know what to say…"

"Maybe 'thank you?'" Jessica whispered crossly.

"I was getting to that!"

"Ha! There's no need fer that, lad!" Mel chortled. "Some things don't need ta be said! Now you two run along. I'll arrange for supplies for your trip, and make sure the Darkfire is all set ta go! It shouldn't take more than a week!"

Jessica's eyes were shining as she raced towards Mel and gave him a fierce hug. "Thank you, Daddy!"

"Anything for my Jessica," Mel said gently, although with a touch of sorrow. Jessica released Mel, and breezed out of the room. Kyle was about to follow her, when Mel stopped him. "I'd like ta have a few words with you, Kyle."

Kyle nodded weakly as he faced Mel. Something in Mel's tone worried him.

Mel paced back and forth, as if trying to figure out how to say what was on his mind. Finally, he said "The hunt for The Dragon's Graveyard claimed your father, boy. I've never been one of yer biggest admirers, but I'd rather not see it become a family tradition. Especially for Jessica's sake."

"Yeah, me either," Kyle said flippantly, trying to ease the tension.

Mel glared at him. "This is nothin' to joke about, boy. I'm bein' serious. Your father had his reasons for not wantin' you to go. I don't know what they were, but they must've been good ones to keep you behind, knowin' what a scrapper ye've always been. So I've gotta ask ya - do you really think you let your dad down by not followin' him to the Graveyard if he didn't want you to go in the first place?"

"We were a team," Kyle replied testily. "He shouldn't have died alone, while I stayed safely in Nanza. My place was at his side."

Mel softened somewhat. "Yeah, I see what you mean. But ya have to understand what it's like for me ta let my kid go off and put her neck on the line like this. Jessica's all that I have left, Kyle. Without her, I'll be alone. And of course, Jessica's a special girl. She really is one of a kind. I couldn't bear it if anything were to happen to her."

"I know that. Neither could I," Kyle said solemnly. It struck him that this was the first time he and Mel were having a real conversation with each other, and he tried not to let himself think it would be the last.

"Then is this really somethin' worth risking your necks over? I never got the chance to know Gryffin all that well, but if he was anything like the stories I've heard, I'm sure he'd be proud of ya. You don't need to prove anything to him. Especially by dyin' for him."

"I'm not out to prove anything to him," Kyle said. "But it's just something I have to do. He left a broken record behind, and I want to fix it. Besides, no matter what anyone tells me, I can't stop thinking that I let him down by not going with him, and I guess this is my way of making it up to him."

"I can respect that," Mel answered with a curt nod. "And I guess it would be useless to try an' separate you and Jessica. Just be careful out there."

"Don't worry about it," Kyle said, his smile confident. "I'm not going to let anything happen to her."

"Well, I'm glad ta hear that," Mel growled as he suddenly seized Kyle by the collar, his eyes suddenly simmering as they stared directly into Kyle's. "Because if anything does happen to my little girl, ye'd better pray it happens to you too. Otherwise, I'm gonna track ya down, no matter where ya hide or how long it takes, and I'm gonna introduce ya to me old axe up there. And then ye'll learn the hard way how I got the nickname 'Hell Mel.' Do we understand each other?"

Kyle managed to squeak out a reply that indicated he understood.

"Good. Now get goin'. You have a trip to prepare for."

Kyle bowed awkwardly to the governor, and bolted from the room. Jessica was waiting for him, an amused expression on her face. "You know, I still find it funny how freaked out you can get every time you talk with my dad."

"Freaked out?" Kyle squealed. "Did you not hear his little "you're gonna learn why they call me Hell Mel' routine?"

Jessica snickered. "He was just messing around with you. He really does like you, Kyle. Would he trust you with my safety on the way to the temple if he didn't? Or would he give you his old ship? He just worries about me, like any father does."

"My dad never seemed to," Kyle said quietly. "Since I was a little kid, Dad never worried about me. He always treated me like he knew I was gonna be okay, whatever happened. That was the best thing about him, being able to trust me like that."

"Fathers seem to be more protective with their daughters than sons. Besides, your dad let you be who you wanted to be. I think I was always jealous of you for that. I always felt like I had to pretend with my dad, because I thought he wanted me to be the perfect lady. I didn't think he'd know I could take care of myself." The last part of Jessica's reply had a remorseful tone, for she had often regretted the many secrets she had kept from Master Mel, always trying to live up to an ideal that never existed, never realizing her father always would have accepted her as she was.

"I think he knew what kind of person you really were deep down, Jess," Kyle said. "I did. I could tell from the first day I met you."

"Really?" said Jessica softly.

"Of course I could," said Kyle, draping her arm around Jessica. "That's why I fell for you in the first place. You were spirited, independent…different from any other girl I'd ever known."

Jessica raised her eyebrows skeptically. "You were ten years old when you met me. How many women could you have possible known by then?"

Kyle grinned. "You'd be surprised."

"I'd rather not be," Jessica said. She then shook her head and laughed. "I can't believe you sill remember that day."

"How could I forget?" Kyle said with his most charming smile. "It was one of the best days of my life."

-x-x-x-

Nine years ago…

"Dad, are we there yet?" Kyle asked Gryffin for what must have been the hundredth time. They had been walking for several hours, and his feet were killing him.

"Not yet. But it shouldn't be too much longer."

"You said that five minutes ago!" Kyle groaned.

Gryffin laughed. "Five minutes isn't a heck of a lot of time, you know. Just be patient. Besides, the longer you wait for something, the better it is when you finally get it."

Kyle nodded, and tried to think of something else to take his mind off their destination. But all he could think about was the city of Meribia. Gryffin had taken Kyle on many "business trips" before, but never had he traveled to any place like Meribia. He hoped it would be as exciting as he'd heard. His mind raced with all the stories about the city that he'd heard from travelers.

Although it had always been the Katarina Zone's chief port, Meribia had blossomed into the most prominent city on Lunar over the past few years, mostly due to the efforts of its governor, Master "Hell Mel" de Alkirk, the legendary pirate Hero. Mel had opened the city to everyone, striking down laws that discriminated against beast-men and foreigners. His free trade policies encouraged merchants of every sort to set up shop in Meribia, and all of them had prospered. Working with Lemia Ausa, another of the Four Heroes, he'd set up a section of the city called Black Rose Street, where mages could keep a closer eye on the world outside of Vane. To protect the commerce and population of Meribia, he had ruthlessly hunted down his former fellow pirates who preyed upon merchant vessels, to the point where no pirate even dared sail so much as a fishing boat in Meribian waters.

"There it is, Kyle!" his father suddenly announced. "Meribia!"

Kyle rubbed his eyes as he gazed upon the magnificent city far ahead, hardly able to believe his eyes. In the distance, Meribia seemed to shimmer like a precious stone, sprawled over the distant landscape. Even Gryffin seemed impressed, and Kyle knew that didn't happen easily.

"It sure has changed over the years…" Gryffin whispered, his cheerful expression now slightly pained.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Gryffin replied, a sad expression on his face. "It's just that seeing Meribia after all this time…it just brings back some bad memories, that's all."

Kyle wanted to ask his father if he was thinking about the Heresy War, but decided not to. Talking about the war and his mom always made his father unhappy. In an attempt to shake him out of it, Kyle nudged his father. "Race you to the gates."

Slowly, Gryffin's face lightened at Kyle's challenge, finally breaking out into hearty laughter. "First you're complaining about how tired you are, and now you wanna race? We still have quite a bit of ground to cover!"

"I got a second wind," Kyle replied with a daring smile. "Of course if you're not up to it…"

Gryffin snickered. "I'll be dead before I ever turn away from any challenge! Especially from my own son!"

Kyle and Gryffin assumed the starting position. "Ready…set…GO!"

The two of them bolted across the plains, charging towards Meribia. Kyle's eagerness to see Meribia sped him on, and he wore lightweight clothing, while his father wore leather armor and a heavy broadsword harnessed to his back. But Gryffin had learned to move fast while encumbered, and he had a lot of strength in his long legs, so it remained a close race throughout. As soon as one gained an advantage, the other would inch ahead.

Moments later, they were closing in on the city gates, with Gryffin in the lead. Kyle surged forward, giving it every last bit of energy he had into it. If Dad wants to beat me, he's gonna have to work for it! he thought to himself. With the last of their strength, father and son dived as they crossed through the city gates, slamming into the pavement of the streets. They both lay on the ground for a few seconds, trying to catch their breaths.

As they did so, Kyle slowly looked up into the face of a young, somewhat surprised soldier. Kyle gave him a lopsided grin and asked, "Who won?"

The soldier chuckled. "It was a close race, young sir. But your father won by an inch."

"Ha! Still got it!" Gryffin exclaimed, finally getting to his feet.

The guard offered Kyle a hand, but Kyle shook his head, standing up on his own. As he did so, he looked around in astonishment as he finally saw the city of Meribia in all its splendor. He'd never been very good at putting words to his feelings, and this was even more difficult. Instead, he just stood there gaping.

"Welcome to Meribia, good sirs!" the soldier said with a friendly salute. "Is this your first time here?"

"It's my son's first time," Gryffin replied. "I've been here before, but not since the Heresy War."

The sentry nodded, appearing slightly apprehensive as he glanced at Gryffin's battle gear. "And what brings you to our fair city?"

"Business."

The soldier looked at Gryffin curiously, then drew back in shock. "I know you! You're Gryffin of Nanza!"

Gryffin flashed a grin. "In the flesh, kid."

The soldier swallowed nervously. "You're not planning to…you know…use that weapon in town, are you?"

Gryffin clapped the man on the shoulder with a chuckle. "Relax, soldier boy! I'm not here to wreak havoc on your fair city, or murder any of your local citizens! I'm just looking for work. The mercenary business is an honest one: at least when you're dealing with me."

The soldier nodded, somewhat reassured. Gryffin was known for his exceptional combat and drinking prowess, but also for his integrity. "Sorry, sir. Just doing my duty. Governor de Alkirk doesn't like trouble in this city."

"And I don't like causing trouble."

The guard gave him a polite – and relieved – smile. "In that case, I won't take up any more of your time. Enjoy your visit."

"Thanks. By the way, any idea where I could turn up some job leads?"

The guard thought for a second. "I guess your best bet would be to try the Hero's Haven, our most famous tavern. It used to be the First Mate, but they changed the name in honor of the Four Heroes. Lots of folks go there, rich or poor. It's just a few buildings down, to your right. You're bound to run into somebody looking for a bodyguard." He gave Gryffin a wink. "And you can also get a good drink there, too."

Gryffin grinned widely. "I could use a good drink right about now. Thanks for the help."

"My pleasure, sir. Good luck." The soldier bowed to Kyle. "And have fun in our fair city, young master!"

Kyle merely nodded to the guard as he stared at the city around him, trying to take in everything at once. He wanted to look all around the town, but knew that Gryffin would prefer to get business over with first, just to get it out of the way.

They arrived at the tavern after a quick walk, and refreshed themselves over some roast lamb, freshly baked bread, and a pitcher of beer. After their meal, Gryffin said to Kyle, "I'm going to be a while, and I know you're gonna be bored just sitting here while I'm trying to round up some customers. So why don't you take a look around the city, and I'll meet you by the fountain in…say, two hours?"

Kyle bolted out of his chair. "Seriously? I can look around by myself?"

"Of course. You're ten years old. You don't need me to hold your hand anymore." He tossed Kyle a pouch of silver coins. "Don't spend it all in one place."

"Wow! Thanks, Dad!" Kyle gave his father a quick hug, then scampered out the door. Gryffin laughed to himself as he watched his son run out of the tavern, took a final drink, and then began looking for customers.

Meanwhile, Kyle was darting all over town, trying to see as much as he could as quickly as he could – the shops, the houses, the docks. The money his father had given him was begging to be spent, and Kyle dropped in on all of the merchants, looking for stuff to buy. Within moments, a heavy steel dagger with a long blade was at his side, and he was polishing off some sugar pastries he had treated himself to. He had also bought a burgundy cloak with an ornate silver clasp as a gift for his father.

After a while, the initial eagerness of seeing Meribia had worn off, and now Kyle was walking down the streets at a much slower pace, trying to take in more of the details. He grinned at the pretty girls and young women who passed by, all of whom blushed and smiled back. Back in Nanza, all of the girls his age had crushes on him – something he took a lot of pride in.

In the distance, he could make out the mansion of Governor "Hell Mel" de Alkirk. His father had told him that Mel had an open door policy, and would see anyone who wanted to meet him. Natural curiosity kicking in, he began to head for the mansion, hoping for a chance to meet Governor Mel.

As he approached, he passed by a group of kids probably a couple of years younger than he was, playing tag by a large marble fountain in the center of the city square. Kyle hadn't played tag in a long time, thinking it a little kid's game – and he hated to be thought of as a little kid – but he still stopped to watch for a bit.

That was when he saw the girl.

She was extraordinarily pretty, but that wasn't what drew his attention. She was different somehow, not just from her playmates, but from any of the other girls he'd ever seen. She was energetic, spirited, and...untamed. That was the only word for it. Her honey-blond hair flowed behind her in a wild mane, her bright blue eyes had a lively spark to them as she ran after her playmates: all of whom were boys. She had an amazing smile, so full of laughter and energy. Her pointed ears and a couple of stripes on her face marked her as one of the beast-men, which made her beauty even more exotic. She moved so fluidly, with the grace of a cat. Kyle couldn't help but just stand there and watch, completely captivated.

The girl suddenly stopped and noticed him staring at her. She looked back, not moving for a moment, smiling strangely. She then scampered over to him. "Hi! What's your name?"

For some reason, Kyle felt strangely uneasy. He couldn't understand why – he'd never been nervous around girls before. "Um…Kyle," he finally managed to say.

"My name's Jessica! Wanna play tag?" she asked eagerly.

Kyle hesitated. As intrigued as he was with the girl, he wasn't sure if he was willing to run around like an idiot chasing after a bunch of kids because of her. "Thanks, but I'm just watching."

"Come on! It'll be fun!" Jessica pleaded, obviously not willing to let him off the hook. "Please?"

"But I'm too big to play with you guys!" Kyle protested. "You wouldn't stand a chance against me!"

Jessica's cheerful smile suddenly turned into an offended glare. "I bet you're just scared to lose to a girl!" she snapped.

Immediately Kyle set down his souvenirs on the ground, and stormed into the midst of the other players. He didn't care how ridiculous he'd look. Nobody was going to call him a coward and get away with it – not even a pretty little girl. Jessica followed close behind him, looking just as determined to put Kyle in his place. The other kids cleared way, leaving Kyle and Jessica facing off against each other.

"So who's it?" Kyle asked.

Jessica grinned. "Me. Don't let me catch you."

Kyle sneered at her. "Don't worry. I won't."

Jessica suddenly sprang forward, almost catching Kyle by surprise with her speed. He barely dodged, and sensing her behind him, he began to run as fast as he could. But Jessica was in hot pursuit, and had no trouble catching up to him. With a swipe of her hand, her fingers raked across Kyle's back. Kyle stumbled to a halt, amazed that the girl had actually managed to tag him. Amazed and annoyed.

"My turn," he said gruffly, his pride hurt.

Jessica gave a quick nod and bolted away. Now Kyle was the one chasing her, giving it everything he had. But no matter how quickly he ran, the girl kept going faster. This only made Kyle mad, and he doubled his efforts – to no avail.

They ran through the city, past the merchant stalls, through alleyways, and almost bowling over a panhandler. Jessica's catlike grace allowed her to duck and dodge through any obstacle in her path. Kyle, blind to everything except Jessica, charged after her relentlessly, not caring who or what got in his way. But it soon seemed like he was catching up. He gave it all he had and pushed himself to go even faster. His arm outstretched, he was just about to tag her shoulder…

All of a sudden, he was tackled to the ground from behind and held in a steel-like grip. The attack was so sudden, it left him completely disoriented. He could vaguely hear someone else calling to his attacker, "Hold him! Don't let him escape!"

Then the battle instincts Gryffin had taught him finally kicked in, and Kyle jerked his head back very suddenly. He ended up banging his head against something metal – probably the rim of a helmet – but he heard a grunt of pain as well. It felt like he'd nailed his attacker in the face, possibly even breaking his nose in the process. The man loosened his grip enough for Kyle to break out, but his arms were immediately seized – by two of the Meribian guards! He then noticed that the first attacker, the one he had head-butted, was also wore the armor and coat-of-arms of a Meribian soldier.

The first guard got up off the ground, wiped the blood from his broken nose, and gave Kyle a furious glare. "I'm gonna teach you a lesson you'll never forget, you little brat!" he growled, drawing his sword.

"What the hell's going on?" Kyle demanded, struggling against the sentries. "What did I do?"

Before he could get an answer, Jessica had angrily marched up to the guards. "Leave him alone! We were just playing tag!"

To Kyle's surprise, the guards seemed to recognize her. They immediately released Kyle, and saluted the girl. "Lady Jessica!" one of the guards said. "Our sincerest apologies. We didn't know this boy was a friend of yours. We thought he meant you harm of some sort."

"If he wanted to hurt me, I could've stopped him!" Jessica snapped. She then pointed to Kyle. "He's the one you should apologize to, not me!"

The guards were thoroughly embarrassed, and saluted Kyle as well, muttering an apology for their rough treatment of him. Kyle only scowled at them, furious at the way they had embarrassed him in front of the girl.

Jessica apparently noticed that he was upset, and she trotted up to him. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he mumbled. Something about her concern made her feel better, and his anger faded. "Thanks for getting them to back off. How'd you get them to do that?"

"They work for my daddy!" Jessica said proudly.

"Your daddy? But they're…" Kyle's face turned suddenly pale. "Is your dad Governor Mel?"

Jessica nodded vigorously, beaming with pride.

Hoo boy, Kyle thought to himself. No wonder those guards went nuts. I'd better scram before her dad shows up. If the guards are over-protective, imagine what someone like Governor Mel would do if he thought I was bugging his daughter.

"Well," Kyle said awkwardly, "it was nice meeting you. I'll see you around." He flashed a grin, then decided to head back to the fountain.

"Wait!" cried Jessica, trotting after him. "I wanna talk to you! You're more fun than all the other boys around here."

"I am? Really?" Kyle grinned, before realizing how ridiculous he must look. Snap out of it, dummy! You can't act like a dork in front of a girl! "Um…I mean…of course I am! Fun is what I do best!"

Jessica giggled. "So where are you from?"

"Nanza."

"Nanza?" Jessica squealed with excitement. "I've always wanted to go there! But my daddy says I can't. He said it's a bad place with lots of mean people. But you're not a mean person, are you?"

Kyle hesitated, not sure how to answer. "Um…I don't think so."

Jessica looked carefully at him. "Me either."

Kyle couldn't help laughing. "How can you tell? You've only known me for a few minutes."

Jessica shrugged. "I dunno. I just know." She pointed to the purple tattoo on Kyle's left arm. "What's that?"

"It's our family name in Khavod script. It says 'Jor-dan.' Dad has one just like it, and I got one myself."

Jessica's eyes widened with amazement. "Khavod? Is your dad a Knight?"

"He used to be, but now he's a mercenary. That's why we're in Meribia - he's hoping to get some work here."

"And what about your mommy?"

Kyle shrugged offhandedly. "She's been dead since I was about two. Killed in the Heresy War. I don't remember her that well."

"Oh," Jessica said, her expression turning sad. "My mom's gone too. But I still remember her."

"Um…sorry about that," Kyle said rather awkwardly.

"It's okay," Jessica said. "So it's just you and your Dad? Does he know you're all by yourself?"

"Of course!" Kyle said, smiling boldly. "Why shouldn't I be?"

Jessica looked surprised. "And he doesn't worry?"

"Nah. He knows I can take care of myself."

"I wish my daddy knew that," Jessica mumbled gloomily. "He thinks I always need protecting. Even when I go into the city by myself, the guards are always watching me. They're always making such a big fuss over me! Always worrying I'm gonna get hurt or kidnapped or something silly like that! They don't let me be tough like I really am!"

"I guess that's your dad's way of caring for you," Kyle said with a shrug, but without conviction. He didn't like the idea of Jessica's father keeping her on such a short leash. If Gryffin was like that to him, he'd never be able to stand it.

"Yeah, I know," she grumbled. "But it's no fun being watched all the time! I only get to have fun when I'm in the city! The guards are always around making a big deal about everything! And whenever I'm at home, I have to pretend I'm the 'perfect little lady' just like Mommy was, because that's what he wants me to be."

"So what do you want to be?"

Jessica shrugged. "I dunno. But I don't wanna just sit around wearing pretty dresses and staying in my room. I wanna travel, go on adventures, see the world! Every day, I go to the docks and look at the ships sailing away. I think about where they're going and what it would be like to go with them." She grinned mischievously. "And it's the only place I can hide from Daddy's guards, with all the big boxes around!"

Before Kyle had a chance to reply, he saw Gryffin approach. Kyle suddenly realized they were back at the fountain already, and that it must have already been two hours.

"There you are," Gryffin said. "I was wondering if you were gonna keep me waiting." He then noticed Jessica, and he gave Kyle an amused look. "So who's your friend?"

Jessica stepped up to Gryffin and curtseyed like a perfect princess. "My name is Jessica. Pleased to meet you."

Gryffin chuckled and bowed in return. "Gryffin of Nanza. The pleasure's all mine."

Kyle was astounded at Jessica's behavior, and not just by her sudden switch into a polite young lady. Everyone else he'd ever known was always intimidated by his father, but not Jessica. She'd marched right up to him without batting an eye. I guess when your father is Hell Mel de Alkirk, that's a tough act to beat.

"So did you get a job?" Kyle asked his father, just to say something.

Gryffin smiled and dangled a heavy purse. "Sure did! A couple of craftsmen are heading to Lyton to sell some handmade musical instruments, and I get a hundred kevesim for watching their backs. It shouldn't take more than a week. But they're about to take off, so we should get going."

Kyle's eyes gleamed at the thought of adventure, but he wasn't ready to say goodbye to Jessica yet. "Dad…do we have to leave right away?"

Gryffin glanced at Jessica, realizing why his son wasn't in a hurry to leave. "Well, I guess you've got a few minutes to say goodbye to your friend. I'll give you some privacy."

As Gryffin strode away, Kyle turned to Jessica. "Well…I guess I'll be off."

"You're lucky," Jessica sighed. "You get to go on adventures with your dad while I'm stuck here with a bunch of boring girls and silly boys. I had fun today with you."

Kyle chuckled. "Yeah, me too. Even though you beat me at tag and I got jumped by the guards."

Jessica tried to smile, but she looked very unhappy. "Will I see you again?"

Goddess, I hope so. "Maybe. Dad will probably come back here for more work."

Jessica brightened a bit at the news. "Great! Maybe next time we can have a rematch!"

Kyle gave her his most dashing grin. "Deal. Shake on it?"

They shook hands, and Kyle felt a slight tingle as he touched her. They looked at each other for what seemed a long time, not saying a word. Then Kyle remembered that his father was waiting. "Well…'bye," he said with a small wave.

"Bye," Jessica replied sadly.

Kyle gave her an awkward smile, and then walked back to his father, stopping to retrieve his souvenirs. "Okay, I'm ready to go."

"Alrighty. Let's head out. My client's waiting outside the city." He bowed again to Jessica. "Nice meeting you, young lady. Until next time!"

As they walked towards the city gates, Kyle kept looking back at Jessica, who was still standing there, watching them leave. Gryffin noticed the look on his face and smiled. "She's cute, isn't she?"

Kyle only nodded in response, which made Gryffin smile even wider. "You've got good taste, son. There's something special about that girl."

Again, Kyle nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts completely focused on Jessica. Gryffin raised an eyebrow at his son's silence and laughed. No girl had ever been able to make Kyle clam up. If Kyle liked a girl, he'd be knocking himself out showing off in front of them, or boasting about how great he was. But none of them had ever succeeded in getting him to shut up. Not even the excitement of a new adventure was enough to shake him out of it.

"Chin up, kid," he said. "We'll be back here in a week, as soon as this mission's over, and you'll have plenty of time to hang out with her."

Kyle's eyes lit up eagerly at his father's words. "Really?"

"Really."

-x-x-x-

True to his word, Gryffin and Kyle returned to Meribia a week later, the assignment completed without incident. Kyle had spent the entire time thinking about Jessica, and he was impatient to return to Meribia and see her again. The lack of monsters or bandits along the way had made it a boring trip, and only increased Kyle's impatience.

When the city was once again in sight, Kyle bolted towards it, unable to wait any longer. He charged through the city gates, towards the town square where they'd first met, through all the alleyways, but there was no sign of her.

Maybe she's not out today, he thought to himself. I guess it was a long shot – wait a minute! The docks! She said she likes to see ships sailing off without the guards watching her!

He ran towards the docks, hoping against hope. His heart leaped for joy as he saw her standing near a stack of crates…and turned cold when he saw her being pushed to the ground by a large boy.

"Not so high and mighty without your bodyguards around, are you, freak?" the boy was shouting.

Jessica struggled to her feet, fighting back the tears. The bully kept laughing at her as he pushed her down again. "What are you gonna do now, cry? Awww, poor widdle baby! Maybe this'll teach you to stay in the pet store where you belong, like the rest of you beast-men!"

Kyle was seething with fury. The look of pain and humiliation on Jessica's face angered him even more. He stormed over to them, determined to teach the bully a lesson he'd never forget. "Leave her alone!" he roared.

The boy looked at Kyle and scowled. He sauntered over to him, wearing his best tough guy expressions. To Kyle, he looked ridiculous, and he did his best not to laugh. He knew the type – all talk, no guts. Man, I am so going to enjoy this, he thought to himself.

"Who the hell are you, shrimp?" the boy demanded.

Kyle merely grinned at him. "Kyle of Nanza. And you're in big trouble."

The bully looked slightly unnerved by Kyle's bravado, even though he was taller and much bulkier. Still, he put on his best sneer and tried to intimidate Kyle. "And what are you gonna do, you little punk? You gonna tell yourdaddy?"

"I don't need to," Kyle said with an arrogant sneer of his own. "I can take you down all by myself without even trying."

The boy attempted to push Kyle away, but Kyle grabbed his wrists and flipped him to the ground with one rapid move. The bully stumbled to his feet and put up a boxing stance, and jabbed at the air. Kyle gave him a "you've-got-to-be-kidding" look, and sent him sprawling to the ground with a haymaker to the jaw.

"I'd stay down if I were you," Kyle said mockingly, striking a dramatic pose for Jessica's benefit.

Again the boy got to his feet and charged towards Kyle, but Kyle intercepted him, grabbing a shoulder, and he slammed his knee into the bully's stomach. The bully dropped to the ground, sobbing and gasping for breath. Kyle stomped on his chest, pinning him down with his leg. "Had enough?"

The bully nodded weakly, sniffling.

"Good. Now listen up. You ever come near Jessica again, I'll find out about it. I'll find you down and I'll break you in half. Get it?"

"Yeah…g-got it..."

"Good. Now get outta here."

The bully nodded and stumbled away, still sniveling. Kyle then turned his attention to Jessica, who was lying on the ground. He helped her to her feet, bracing her with his arm, and wiped the dirt off her face with his bandana. She was very quiet, and she was breathing very slowly. Kyle wondered if she was seriously hurt. "Jessica? Are you okay?"

Jessica silently stared at Kyle, her face pale and her eyes brimming with tears. She was quivering slightly.

"Jess, it's me, Kyle. Remember me? We met a week ago and we played tag? Hello?"

Jessica still didn't respond, as if she was in a trance of some sort, and it was worrying Kyle. "Jess? Come on, talk to me. Are you okay?"

For a moment, Jessica remained silent. Suddenly, she buried her face in his shoulder and began to cry wildly. "It's not fair!" she wailed, pounding her fists against Kyle's shoulder. "I hate it when boys make me cry! I'm not supposed to cry! I'm supposed to be tougher than that!"

Kyle held her tightly, trying to calm her down. It felt good to be able to hold her like this and comfort her. "It's okay, Jess," he said softly. "It's okay. I'm here now. He's not gonna bother you anymore."

Jessica looked into his eyes, tears still running down her cheeks. He gave her a tender smile and slowly wiped her tears away with his hand.

"Don't worry," he said quietly. "Nobody's gonna make you cry ever again. I promise."

Slowly, Jessica smiled back. "Does this mean you're my hero now?" she said softly.

Kyle grinned. "Yeah, you bet! Whenever you need a hero, just look for me!"

"I never had a hero before," Jessica whispered.

"I've never been someone's hero before," Kyle replied. "It's kinda cool."

-x-x-x-

"Seems like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?" Jessica said. "It's sometimes hard to believe we were ever that young."

They had wandered outside, by the fountain where they'd first met. It was late at night now, and the Blue Star hovered overhead, bathing the city in soft azure light, and giving the fountain an ethereal glow. Kyle knew how much Jessica loved to walk around this part of Meribia at night. She'd always thought of it as very romantic.

Meanwhile, he had to talk Jessica out of this adventure. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, he was once again brooding over the promise he'd made to his father. He had made an oath never to go after the Dragon's Graveyard, and he intended to keep it. Of course, Jessica couldn't understand that, not realizing why he'd agreed to stay behind. But that was something she could never know.

"Look, Jess," Kyle said after a long silence. "I appreciate what you're trying to do for me. I really do. But we don't need to find the Graveyard. We don't need to risk our entire future on a treasure hunt. Why are you pushing me into this?"

"Because you do need to do this. You're determined to keep punishing yourself, and you need to redeem yourself in your own eyes. And I think this adventure is probably the way to do it."

"But why do you need to do it? This is my problem, not yours. Why do you have to risk your neck because I've got a chip on my shoulder?"

Jessica wrapped his arm around his shoulders. "Because it's tough facing this kind of thing alone, Kyle. And besides, we stick together, remember? We're not just boyfriend and girlfriend – we're friends. We watch each other's backs."

"That's a weird switch," Kyle said with a smirk. "The guy's supposed to save the girl, not the other way around. I'm supposed to be the hero around here!"

Jessica swatted him playfully on the back of the head. "Spoken like a true chauvinist pig."

"Yeah. But I'm your chauvinist pig."

"Kyle, I'm impressed. You've finally learned how to pronounce 'chauvinist.'"

"Hey, I hear it all the time from you. I had to figure it out sooner or later."

Jessica laughed, and then looked deeply into his dark eyes. "You've always been my hero, Kyle. And you always will be. Now let me be yours. Let me help you make things right."

Kyle said nothing, but took Jessica in his arms and gave her a deep, passionate kiss. Never had he been more in love with her than he was at this moment. You really are something special, Jess. After everything we've been through, all our rough spots, you're still going above and beyond to help me out. What did I do to deserve someone like you? How did I get to be so lucky?

She pulled away from him, but gently ran her hand down his arm as she moved away. "I'm heading back to the mansion. I think you have some thinking to do. You've had a lot to deal with today. I'll be waiting for you."

Kyle's eyes fixated on her as she walked away. Not only was Jessica a sweet and caring person, but she was also easily the best-looking woman on Lunar. And she was all his. Hail to the king, baby.

When she disappeared from sight, Kyle began pacing by the fountain, trying to deal with the past couple of hours. From what Jessica had told him, this guy Sarek had actually found the secret that would take them to the Dragon's Graveyard and back again. They wouldn't be able to take any of the Diamonds, but that was okay. A curse from the Goddess didn't sound like something he'd enjoy. What was really important was that the impossible quest was suddenly no longer impossible. An opportunity like this might never come again. Best of all, Jessica would be there with him to share his moment of glory.

This is everything I ever wanted. So why do I feel like I oughtta turn my back on it? Why is this one promise I made to my dad so important? I hardly ever keep any of my promises, even to Jessica and my dad. So what would be so different about doing it again?

Because it was his last promise…his dying wish. How can I ignore it and treat it like it's nothing?

He then remembered another vow he had made to Gryffin, long ago when he was a child. "I want you to promise that you won't let anything get in the way of what you want, whatever that is. Not even me. Okay?"

Okay, Dad. I promise. At least that's one I'll still be able to keep.