At Cecil's behest, the crew stopped at the nearby traveler's circle for the rest of the day. Tellah felt restless, but as it was the first time Porom had needed a phoenix down in a rather traumatic fashion, it was a reasonable ask. The wounds disappeared, but the memory remained - the first one always did. As mature as Porom was, it was a heavy burden to ask a child to process alone on a dangerous journey.

They were right to wait; as soon as the tent was set, Porom took her bedroll and crawled inside. Palom joined his older sister, avoiding eye contact with the men as he wrapped an arm around her. Cecil and Tellah spent the initial hours of rest outside of the tent in silence: where Cecil gingerly studied his new armor and weapon in curiosity, Tellah closed his eyes in meditation, looking within himself to study his new spell. Excitement buzzed under Tellah's skin at the thought of using it, though he regarded it reverently, knowing the magnitude of its use. He would use it at the perfect moment and not a single second sooner.

Palom eventually left Porom within the tent, joining the men around the fireplace. Disturbed at the silence due to Palom's uncharacteristically pensive mood, Cecil asked how he was.

"I'm fine, but Porom-" Palom started.

Palom sighed. He scratched at the back of his right hand with his left roughly.

"She seemed okay at the summit, in the room, and now-" Palom's head dropped. "I don't know how to help."

"Is she asleep?" Cecil asked, propping his hand behind him to look into the tent.

When Palom shook his head, Cecil slipped inside. Cecil's gentle voice carried back to them, and they heard Porom shakily respond. Tellah stood, offering a hand to Palom. The conversation in the tent was growing personal, and Tellah thought their eavesdropping may be too intrusive for Porom to open up if they stuck around. Palom took his hand and stood.

"Where are we going?" Palom asked, not moving from the campfire.

Tellah was halfway out of the traveler's circle.

"We're going to kill zombies," Tellah said.

He heard rapid footsteps behind him as Palom caught up. They'd hardly turned away from the site before the familiar shuffles and groans of the undead reached their ears. They fell into a rhythm of casting fire; when a zombie managed to bite or scratch them, Tellah was quick to heal their wounds. During a moment of peace, Palom quietly spoke up.

"I want to be a sage," he said to Tellah, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "A sage like you."

Tellah leaned on his staff, rubbing his beard as he regarded Palom.

"I thought you wanted to be better than me," Tellah responded.

Palom looked at him with disenchanted eyes.

"I can't if I put Porom at risk over the dumbest reasons," Palom said.

Palom actually did care, and more than that, Tellah realized, the child was willing to admit it. Palom was just a ten year old boy, discovering the vastness of his ability and potential - and he let that get to his head. A faint image of Gale's disgusted expression, reprimanding Tellah as a teen for similar, foolish decisions swam through his thoughts. Here Tellah had been, treating Palom the same way. Couldn't he offer Palom the same grace he yearned for all those years ago?

"Porom made her choice," Tellah said.

"Huh?" Palom was caught off guard.

Tellah turned back to him, lifting his staff and pointing to camp with it.

"She decided to save you out of her own accord. She knew in that split second what it meant," Tellah said. "Now you need to decide how to make it up to her. Will you sit there and mope for your mistakes, or will you better yourself to protect her?"

"Better myself," Palom said quickly. "Next time, I'll have her back like she has mine!"

He jabbed his thumb to his chest, determination swelling his chest with pride.

"Good," Tellah said, turning to walk. "That's what I wanted to hear. Let's go back to camp."

As the tent came into sight, and Porom and Cecil sitting outside, Tellah stopped. Palom followed suit, regarding the sage with curiosity as he twiddled the rod in his chubby hands.

"I'm sorry," Tellah said, "for what I told you earlier."

Tellah looked at the ground, his brows furrowing.

"It was uncalled for; Cecil was right. I didn't want to see either of you die a pointless death, and I took out my frustrations on you. If anything happens to you two, it's on us - the adults - to be responsible."

Palom shrugged, twirling his rod. Embers blew out of the red crystal in the rod's tip in a glowing red trail, drawing designs in the air that faded to ash.

"It's okay. I did bite off more than I could chew," Palom said. "Sometimes calling me an idiot is the only way to get me to listen."

Tellah exhaled forcefully through his nose, a tight lipped smile on his face.

"Me too, kid," Tellah said, lighter with Palom's forgiveness.

Cecil nodded at the mages as they approached. Porom blew quietly at her steaming mug, sitting cross legged across from Cecil.

"Porom, how are you doing?" Tellah asked.

Porom smiled, bringing the cup to her lips.

"I'll be okay," she said, shifting slightly to let Palom and Tellah find a seat around the fire.

Palom took a seat next to Porom and stole the drink, taking a large swig.

"Palom, you drank most of it!" Porom whined.

"You can have the rest," Palom said, holding it out for her.

She smacked his leg and sighed, a small pout on her face as she took it back. Tellah sat next to Cecil.

"Paladins-they're holy warriors, right?" Cecil asked. He watched the firelight bounce along his new blade, the reflection somehow warmer than the deep vermillion of the flames.

"That's what I've heard," Tellah said.

Tellah read the text along the engraved blade, absentmindedly rubbing his sore back.

"That poem looks familiar," Tellah said.

"What, this?" Cecil asked, handing the sword to Tellah.

The sword was heavier than Tellah expected; he lifted it and turned it towards the light, reading the rest of the glittering, golden words. The diction was outdated, indicating it was written by ancestors long gone, likely from a time when man had yet to discover Firaga, and Tellah found himself struggling to discern its meaning.

"The Mysidian prophecy," Tellah said, the last line catching his eye and opening a flood of memories of boring analyses of historical text.

"The what?" Cecil asked, resting his arms against his knees.

"The prophecy," Tellah repeated. "I don't remember much of it - It was a fairy tale to me. Minwu will know more, certainly."

Cecil tapped his fingers against one of his forearms, eyes fixated on the blade.

"I don't know why…" Cecil started, shifting a bit on the ground.

Tellah waited for him to finish. Cecil opened and shut his mouth a few times, unsure of how to finish his sentence.

"I think I can cast magic now," Cecil said. "I feel it, but I don't know how to…pull it out."

All three mages regarded Cecil quietly. It would be surprising if true; they'd never felt an ounce of magic in him before…and yet….

"As a holy warrior, do you think yourself capable of white magic?" Tellah finally asked.

Cecil nodded slowly.

"It's like…" Cecil paused. "…an aura. I can feel it buzzing in all three of you and myself."

He looked at Porom, who was no longer as grim as she had been hours earlier.

"It's most like yours," he told her.

Tellah leaned forward, propping his elbow on a bent knee. A paladin capable of white magic by nature of his devotion? Especially one who had conquered the darkness within…why not?

"We should test it out," Tellah mused.

Porom stood, and without skipping a beat, lifted Palom's rod and swung hard on her brother's head. The hollow knock rang loudly as embers exploded above his head, and Tellah shamefully held back a laugh at the comical sound.

"Yeowch!" Palom cried, rubbing his head. "Porom-"

"You deserved it!" Porom said.

Palom shut up.

"And you can't cast white magic, you can't guide Cecil. Out of all of us, you're the perfect test subject," she added.

She turned to Cecil, who eyed the weapon in her hand with mild trepidation. She set the fire rod down.

"Try to heal that," she said, pointing at the glowing red egg sticking out of Palom's forehead. "Do you know the words to Cure?"

Cecil shook his head. Porom explained the basics of white magic to Cecil with the finesse of an experienced teacher. She was patient; when Cecil made an error, she was quick to correct but never grew irritated. Once she was satisfied with his recitations, she guided Cecil on casting the most basic skill of any white mage's repertoire. Tellah was impressed at how well Porom taught, and how quickly Cecil learned. Unfortunately, when Cecil attempted to cast Cure with textbook perfect movements and words, no magic filled the air, and the bump remained on Palom's forehead.

"I suppose I was wrong," Cecil said, dropping his hands after his last attempt.

"Darling, I think you've practiced enough now," Tellah said, not bearing to see his daughter fail any longer.

He pushed down the wooden rod he'd bought Anna. She glanced up at him, and when she said nothing, Tellah knew she was thinking the same thing he was:

Anna cannot cast magic.

"I don't want to be a mage anymore," Anna said. "It's too much work."

Tellah knew this was a lie but didn't dare to refute it. She had been so excited when she saw him carrying the rod home all those weeks ago, badgering him to teach her everyday when she'd come home from instruction.

"Of course," Tellah said, bending down to hug Anna.

She pretended she didn't see him, shoving the rod into his hand and walking away, towards the house.

"I think I'll nap now. I'm really tired," Anna said.

Tellah sighed, looking at the magical instrument in his hands. The rod glowed in his hands in the way it refused to for Anna. He should've known this was how it would end, for he'd not sensed magic in her at all. He'd hoped, genuinely believed her magic would be dormant and needed only a push or two to come out. After all, Anna always lit up when the villagers told her stories of Tellah, the Great Sage of Mysidia, the Hero of Kaipo…

Tellah had failed her. A pang of guilt struck him when he went home hours later, after giving Anna the space she needed and selling the rod so she wouldn't have to see it anymore, and she was still in bed, her pillow on the ground and damp with all the tears of broken dreams and ruthless truths.

Porom lay a hand on Cecil's forearm. She shut her eyes and shook her head.

"There's magic in you," she said. "Maybe it's still dormant. We need to be patient."

Cecil turned to Tellah for confirmation, who hadn't said a word since he first proposed teaching Cecil magic. Tellah shrugged.

"You'd be the first paladin to appear in a very long time," Tellah told him. "There's no guidebook to how these things work."

Tellah lazily raised a hand in Palom's direction, and white sparks showered the young boy's forehead, leaving behind smooth, undamaged flesh.

"I'm going to bed," Palom grumpily muttered, crawling through the tent flaps.

"Oh, come now, Palom. I didn't hit you that hard-" Porom started, following Palom inside.

"They're interesting," Cecil said, laughing as he sat down.

"Remind me not to anger Porom," Tellah said, shaking his head in amusement.

Cecil rubbed his palms against his thighs, absentmindedly gazing at the flames. Tellah had been admiring the view of the glittering night sky when Cecil spoke up.

"Is Meteor going to kill you?"

Tellah let out a deep breath, a soft sigh grumbling in his throat.

"Yes," Tellah said honestly.

Cecil followed his gaze. Somewhere to their right, crickets chirped loudly in near unison.

"And you're sure that this is the right way to honor Anna?" Cecil asked.

A shooting star zoomed across the sky, gone as quickly as it had come. Tellah could sense where it was going, where it had been. Was that the work of Meteor? Was he now in tune with each stray celestial body aimlessly wandering the heavens above?

"I'm not," Tellah admitted.

Cecil tilted his head towards Tellah. Tellah still faced the sky.

"I don't see an alternative," Tellah said. "What is there left for an old man like me to do?"

"There is plenty left if you looked. Think of all the good you could do if you stuck around to train the next generations of mages in Mysidia," Cecil said, standing. "Have a good night, Tellah. We'll continue at day break."

Tellah grunted in affirmation and was soon left alone. A breeze blew the smoke from the fire across Tellah's sight, obscuring his view of the sky with gray smoke

She decided to save you out of her own accord. She knew in that split second what it meant.

He'd spoken about Porom, of course, but the words rang true for Anna, too. Anna was a grown woman, one who made the choice to leave Kaipo for love like her mother so long ago. She'd wanted to come back to Kaipo, and she would've had Golbez not intervened. When Claire died under Tellah's care, did her parents blame him so?

Tellah would've deserved it if they did. Claire's death was a consequence of his heroism, an act of retaliation for his hand in the matters that led to Gale's downfall. Anna's was not. Not for Edward. If she hadn't willfully stepped in the path of the incoming arrows, she likely would've survived.

Cecil said Edward traveled with him to save Fabul, and was to go to Baron with Cecil before Edward's untimely death. Edward was atoning for a death that he hadn't caused out of love for Anna, for her love that saved him that fateful day. He died doing so. Where was the justice? Why had Tellah survived, and not Anna or Edward?

"Oh, Anna. I miss you so…" he whispered, letting the universe hear the thought he'd thought so often.

If Anna heard him, she did not answer.

When Tellah awoke the next morning, his joints ached something horrible. He could scarcely move without his body screaming at him to stop. His vision turned white when he did shift, and as he raised his arm he felt the tightness of his previously loose robes against his swollen limb. He gritted his teeth, trying to stay quiet.

It was clear: Meteor didn't agree with his body. He fumbled through the words to Cure, and the sparks exploded all over his body. He cast it again.

"Sir Tellah, are you okay?" Porom asked.

She'd been lying on her side but sat up to face him. Her hair was matted on one side, and her eyes were still glazed from sleep. She rubbed at one eye with a closed fist, reaching for her staff with the other.

"It's nothing, just old people aches," he said, trying to keep his voice light.

She rolled out from under her blankets and inspected Tellah's limbs. When she pressed down on his elbows, he inhaled sharply. Cecil twitched in his sleep. Porom looked up at Tellah doubtfully.

"Can you walk?" Porom asked in a hushed voice.

"Yes," Tellah said.

He cast Cure again, hoping the light wouldn't wake up anyone else. Alarm spread through Porom's face as she watched his limbs return to normal.

"It's everywhere, Sir Tellah..." she trailed off.

"Don't tell the others," Tellah said quickly. "Promise me."

Porom said nothing. It was unfair to ask her, but Tellah's best chance at getting near Golbez was to stick with this party. Would Cecil, with his new, divine mandate to do only good, allow Tellah to walk to his death if he bore a constant reminder of the consequences of Meteor?

"Up already?" Cecil asked as he sat up, yawning.

"I'm ready to go when you are," Tellah responded.

Tellah kept his expression as neutral as possible as he stood, opting to straighten up one vertebrae at a time to lessen the pain. Porom watched him, nearly flinching as Tellah walked past her. Cecil tilted his head.

"What's wrong, Porom?" Cecil asked.

"It's nothing, Cecil," she answered quickly.

He smiled at her, stretching his limbs.

"Remember what I told you," Cecil said, waiting for her smile before he carried his armor outside to dress.

"Thank you," Tellah whispered.

Porom shook her head, disappointment evident in her expression. Tellah gingerly lifted his travel cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders, unable to lift his arms high enough to put it on properly. Porom nudged Palom with her foot.

"The cat ate it!" Palom shouted as he sat up from a deep sleep. "What?"

"Wake up, it's time to go," Porom said, throwing his rod in his lap.

Tellah had hoped that the malady from the morning was over, but as they descended the mountain, he could feel every bone in his lower body beg for rest. A few times he cast Cure discreetly to keep it at bay. At this rate, would it be possible for him to continue these long travels?

"You've returned - and a dark knight no longer!"

The Elder of Mysidia regarded Cecil with reverence, his eyes shining brighter than Cecil's armor. Porom and Palom chimed into the discussion excitedly. They talked over one another, with Palom raising Cecil's cape for Minwu to see. Tellah stayed back, preferring to stand near the door frame.

It indeed took a few days for Cecil's magic to work. It was only once Porom and Tellah had run out of magic and left Palom injured that Cecil had been able to cast white magic. Porom and Tellah were excited for this development, and taught Cecil as many spells as they knew to see what he was capable of casting. It wasn't much, but as he continued practicing, his abilities grew stronger. Out of curiosity, Palom tried to teach Cecil Fire, but Cecil could not cast, try as he might. They surmised that Cecil was a holy warrior indeed, only capable of white magic.

Porom stood between Minwu and Cecil, and Tellah watched her speak with a liveliness he'd missed since they killed Scarmiglione, telling Minwu of Cecil's magic. It had taken Porom a few days to open up, but as they finally left the mountain and made the arduous trek through the Mysidian forest, she started behaving normally, reprimanding Palom when he started making trouble with a vigor that Tellah found he'd missed.

Cecil handed his sword over to Minwu, who read aloud the prophecy for everyone in the room. When he finished, he paused, letting the weight of the legend's words hang in the air. As Minwu offered the blade back with wide smile, Cecil gathered the nerve to ask the question that had plagued him since he was teleported to the hall.

"The light on the mountain called me its son. Whose was the voice I heard?"

Minwu pondered Cecil's words, his gaze searching the floor for answers but finding none.

"I do not know what the light you saw was, nor do I know what the legend foretells…" he started.

Minwu's eyes wrinkled as he concentrated. There was a sadness that plagued Tellah upon seeing the elder so tired. The stress had affected Minwu in a way he hadn't seen even during the worst of Gale's tenure as Elder. The vitality Tellah recalled was gone - in its stead was a pain that pulled Minwu down. The war had not been kind to Minwu - then again, was war ever?

"All I know is that we Mysidians have been told for generations to pray for its realization. To pray - and to trust in the one who bears the hallowed light," Minwu said, smiling at Cecil. "I believe that one may be you."

I'll be damned, Tellah thought. Cecil looked doubtful, but according to the near religious fervor people like Minwu held for the prophecy, he would be the most likely candidate. Tellah took a deep breath and stepped forward. Minwu's eyes met his, sparking with recognition of his long lost friend.

"Then all that remains is to put an end to Golbez, as quickly as we can!" Tellah said.

Minwu lifted his robes, stepping closer to see Tellah up close.

"Oh Tellah!" Minwu said. His voice was warm and friendly. "Is that truly you?"

"It has been ages, my friend," Tellah said. He reciprocated Minwu's warmth, relieved to see his friend in good health, despite the circumstances…

Tellah hadn't seen Minwu since Claire's funeral, after which Minwu became overwhelmed with his duties to Mysidia, and Tellah became overwhelmed with his duties to Anna. Time had taken its toll on the two men, and Tellah wished they'd met under better conditions.

"We met Tellah on the mountain," Porom said to Minwu.

"He learned Meteor up there!" Palom added.

Minwu gave him a cautious look.

"Meteor? Then what is happening now must be of a magnitude great enough to shatter even those ancient seals," he said.

Minwu had left the second question unasked: why did you succeed where Gale failed?

"It would seem so. And now I have the means to avenge Anna," Tellah said.

Minwu blinked. "Avenge her?"

Tellah paced back and forth. He reached the desk he'd helped Minwu carry into the tower so long ago and rapped his knuckles against the solid wood.

"Golbez killed her. And now I will do the same to him!" Tellah said.

Minwu sighed, a hand reaching for Tellah's shoulder.

"Tellah, my friend…" Minwu said.

Tellah glared at him, daring him to offer any pity. Minwu pulled his hand back.

"Let hatred drive your thoughts, and it will be your undoing. Meteor would destroy you if you tried to use it now."

Tellah scoffed. Meteor was already trying to kill him, if his need for constant healing was any indicator.

"If I should die, so be it! What he's done must not go unpunished," Tellah said.

Minwu fixed him with a stare that bore into his soul. He didn't expect anything less from arguably the last person living who knew him well.

"Stubborn as ever, I see. You've not changed a bit," Minwu said.

"Nor you," Tellah said.

Coming from anyone else, Tellah would've gotten angry. If Tellah hadn't known that Minwu cared about him, he would've thought him sanctimonious, but that wasn't Minwu's nature. Minwu smiled at him, then waved an open palm to Cecil.

"But young Cecil has become a paladin now! If the two of you work together, you just might have a chance," Minwu said.

"But if we are to face Golbez, we'll need an airship. We must go to Baron," Cecil responded.

Minwu nodded. "Very well. I will reopen the entrance to the Devil's Road. As a paladin, you should be able to walk it safely. I will retire to the Tower of Prayer, and pray for your success."

Minwu walked around his table and sat in his chair, leaning back and touching the fingerpads of each hand against each other. "Go now. The fate of the world rests in your hands!"

Cecil bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you."

Minwu turned his attention to the twins.

"Palom! Porom!"

Porom straightened up, giving Minwu her full attention. Palom played with his braid.

"You need accompany Cecil no more," Minwu said.

Palom dropped his braid.

"Your work is done," Minwu finished.

Porom opened her mouth to speak, but Palom cut her off.

"No it isn't! You told us to help him, didn't you? To see things through to the end," Palom said.

Porom pressed her palms against Minwu's desk, leaning on tip toes across the desk.

"Please, Elder, let us go, too!" she pleaded.

"Oh, you two…" Minwu laughed, shaking his head. "Very well. The light on Mount Ordeals accepted you as well. This may very well be your destiny. I cannot leave Mysidia, but perhaps you can aid Cecil and Tellah where I cannot."

The twins high fived, and Minwu turned to Cecil and Tellah, his expression serious.

"You'll look after them, won't you?" Minwu asked.

"But, they're only-" Cecil started.

Palom put his hands on his hips.

"Only what? You've seen what we can do!" Palom bragged.

"Well, you have, haven't you?" Porom asked.

"Tellah will be there, too," Minwu pointed out.

"Then I suppose there's no reason to object," Cecil said, relenting.

Palom celebrated, and Porom reprimanded him even as she smiled.

Minwu pointed them to the Devil's Road and offered encouragement. As the twins and Cecil exited, Minwu called for Tellah to stay.

"Meteor is already killing you, isn't it?" Minwu asked as the door closed behind Cecil.

Tellah froze, unsure of what to say. Minwu shook his head and continued.

"I can feel the turmoil, more so when I touched you," he said.

Tellah hung his head. He shouldn't have been surprised that Minwu figured it out.

"I'm healing myself perpetually to keep the damage at bay," Tellah finally said.

Minwu rubbed his hand down the lower half of his face, stopping at his chin as he exhaled loudly. He came up to Tellah, lifting his hands in a plea.

"At least let me inspect you," Minwu said, his blue eyes piercing Tellah.

Tellah grumbled as he offered his own hands to his friend. Minwu took them and shut his eyes, casting Libra on Tellah. Minwu threw himself back a few feet, nearly crashing into his desk from the shock.

"Crystals," Minwu whispered.

"What is it?" Tellah asked urgently, alarmed by his reaction.

Minwu took a moment to speak, unable to look at Tellah in the eyes.

"You've a month left," Minwu said. "Maximum."

"Then I have a month to hunt down Golbez," Tellah said, crossing his arms. "I've not changed my mind."

"Would you be able to hunt down Golbez if you're bedridden?" Minwu asked pointedly. "I can tell your magic is the only thing that's keeping you walking."

"I'll manage," Tellah said, shrugging.

Minwu ignored him, digging through the drawers of his desk and setting down several potion ingredients on the tabletop.

"What are you doing?" Tellah said, eyeing all of the ingredients.

Tellah's stomach twisted at the sight of a root that tasted how he imagined an orge's foot would. Minwu pulled out a mortar and pestle, grinding everything including the dreaded root. He sprinkled the powder into a Hi-Potion, turning it into murky swamp water.

"Drink," Minwu said, handing it to Tellah.

Tellah pinched his nose and swallowed the entire thing in one gulp. He coughed, feeling the medicine take hold and giving him a chance to bend his fingers with ease.

"Oh…" Tellah said, relieved. "Thank you."

Minwu watched him, stroking his beard quietly and saying nothing.

"What is it?" Tellah asked.

"Do you remember the day I moved into this office?" Minwu asked.

"…Yes," Tellah said, surprised to find that he did.

"Elder of Mysidia at 35?" Tellah asked.

He whistled as he watched the Mysidians bustle below the office window like busy ants. Minwu chuckled, absentmindedly touching the crest on his new robes as he leaned back on the bare desk. The fire in the hearth crackled. The office had been stripped of all of Gale's belongings, suitable for a new elder to come in and make it their own.

"I would've felt honored had it happened under different circumstances," Minwu said. "Not to mention the remaining few members of the Order did elect you first."

Tellah waved away the thought as he picked out a tome from the crate near him. He admired the professional binding, its stiff leather holding a lifetime's worth of knowledge within. It was meticulously cared for; though it looked new, Tellah remembered the day Minwu had purchased it early into their apprenticeship. It looked as loved as each of the dozens of other books stacked neatly inside. Normally, he would wonder how many books a person had actually read cover to cover from their personal library; in Minwu's case, the question was how many times?

"After all of this, I'd be glad to never come back. The Order seems to think power is what makes a great leader, and that's how we got into this mess. I disagree, it should be precisely those who didn't want any power who take the responsibility," Tellah said.

"That, and Claire, of course," Minwu said, giving him a knowing glance. He took the book from Tellah's outstretched hand. "Still as spoony as the day you met her."

"Perhaps," Tellah said, reaching down for another book. He thought of Lydia's secret and quickly pushed it from his mind. "Do you think Baron will let us use the Devil's Road again, now that it's over?"

Minwu passed a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Ah, yes. We need to discuss that."

Minwu's tone was one Tellah had grown familiar with. Tellah nearly dropped the book.

"No."

"I haven't asked you anything yet," said Minwu indignantly.

"You didn't have to. I know you well enough to know what you'll ask. I'm letting you know I don't want to be involved in this anymore," Tellah said, setting the book on the table and crossing his arms.

Minwu stood upright, and Tellah craned his neck to meet his eyes, nearly forgetting how much taller Minwu was than him. He hated when Minwu reminded him of their height difference, even if it hadn't intimidated him for years now.

"You've been involved the entire time. Do this, and you'll have my word that I won't ask you for any more help on the matter," Minwu said.

Tellah groaned.

"I'd do it myself, but Lydia seems to be avoiding me," Minwu added quietly.

Tellah felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He started reaching for excuses.

"The outside world has done enough to Mist, and as guardian she's the elder until they decide upon a new one. I don't think you should take her evasion personally," Tellah rambled.

Minwu studied Tellah with a hardened expression, and for a moment Tellah was worried he would (rightfully) challenge what he said. Minwu's shoulders sagged, and he walked around the table to sit in his chair.

"I hope you're right," Minwu said. "I need you to go back, and offer-" He reached into a drawer to pull out two scrolls. "-our apologies, and intent to correct Mysidia's mistakes to both Mist and Baron."

Tellah picked up the scrolls and dropped them into his pack.

"Is reopening the Devil's Road on there, at least?" Tellah asked.

Minwu rolled his eyes.

"Yes. Take a seat, I want to be fully transparent with you on our asks," Minwu said.

"Those who didn't want any power should take the responsibility," Minwu said. "Those were the words you used."

Tellah scoffed.

"I don't want power, I want vengeance," Tellah countered.

"Is that so different, Tellah?" Minwu asked, his voice infuriatingly calm compared to Tellah's. "When you asked for Meteor, you asked for power."

"What do you know of it? There's a greater good to accomplish, too," Tellah said. "Incidentally, the cause aligns with my desires."

Minwu resigned, throwing his hands in the air.

"Fine, I thought I'd try one last time to help you see reason," Minwu said. "I have but one last suggestion to make: whatever unfinished business you have, make an effort to resolve it."

Tellah looked down. He was glad he hadn't stopped by Minwu's office prior to Mt. Ordeals to reveal Lydia's secret - he wouldn't have been able to bear having to tell Minwu about Rydia's death now. No, it was best Minwu never knew at all. A feeling of hypocrisy wormed it's way through Tellah, leaving him confused. Minwu leaned forward, trying to catch Tellah's eye.

"Did you have any with me?" Minwu asked, concerned.

Tellah shook his head, scowling.

"Vengeance is all that's left to me," he said, turning to leave. "Farewell, Minwu."

"Farewell, friend."

It was the last thing Minwu would ever say to Tellah.

Tellah made his way to the Devil's Road, where he was surprised to find Cecil, Palom, and Porom still waiting at the stairs.

"We figured it'd be best for the veteran to go first," Porom said, smiling.

Tellah shrugged.

"Very well," Tellah said, stepping on the circle.

As a once long term resident of Mysidia, Tellah had traveled the Devil's Road many times. So many times, in fact, that the journey stopped taking a toll on him prior to moving to Kaipo. They always said it was a heavy cost - and at first, it was. Truly. The first time, Tellah found himself crawling on the ground in Baron after appearing at the exit portal, and Minwu had to drag him around for an hour until he recovered. It wasn't a physical toll, per sé, but a mental one.

It was like traveling through the Devil's Road gave it permission to search your mind for your darkest fears, your most hidden secrets, and then use them against you as you made your way through.

Naturally, in Tellah's youth, his journey was a common one for ambitious mages: riddled with fear of failure and lack of power. He was afraid to find himself impotent, and have to return to a homestead life. His journey usually took him through a dirt road, with his limbs falling off one by one, where a small, dying village awaited his benign torso.

What Tellah didn't expect this time, as he stepped through the green, swaying portal on the floor, was to find himself in an abandoned mineshaft. Somewhere far away he could hear groundwater dripping off of stalactites, and beneath his feet were corroded rail tracks with missing planks and fragmented metal beams.

Tellah sighed, accepting that with the turn of time, he had in fact become a different person, and the Devil's Road was responding accordingly. He didn't know how long of a walk it would be, or what the Road would conjure up. Way ahead of him, past the visibility of the lone light source that was the torch in his hand, was only darkness. Behind was more of the same. There were small trails branching off from the main mine shaft, but he knew nothing good would come from exploring. Off he went, letting his light guide his careful steps.

It was a short-lived time of silence and peace he enjoyed on this walk before he spotted something ahead. It swished like a ribbon, faintly visible to his old eyes. Tellah stopped, and the swishing stopped with him. He shut his eyes, focusing on his hearing, but only heard the crackle of his torch and the dripping of water. As he started walking again, he heard the swishing restart.

Tellah steeled his resolve and hurried forward, determined to see what mocked him so. The thing rushed too, and due to his frustration and fear of the unknown, Tellah found himself compelled to cast Fire, and he sent the flames shooting up on the ceiling towards the source of sound.

It was not a ribbon. It was the hoop skirt of a long canary yellow dress, and it's owner rushed ahead as the light reached her. Her brunette hair swung wildly with every step she took.

"Anna!" Tellah shouted after her.

He knew it was a trick of the Road, of course, but he'd take even a false image of her if it meant he could see his precious Anna again.

"Anna!" Tellah repeated.

She did not stop. Tellah cast Haste on himself, desperate to see the face he was beginning to forget. He sped up, but Anna did, too. She leapt over a larger, damaged rail, and something dropped from her hands and clattered, the loud ringing so painful in Tellah's ears. He stopped to see what it was, gasping for air. An empty bird cage gleamed in the light, its door busted open from the drop.

Tellah picked it up gingerly, afraid of what it meant. He heard breathing in front of him, and Tellah slowly raised the torch up to see. First came the polished black boots, then the satin dress he'd been chasing like a moth to a flame, and finally, Anna's shoulders and head. She had her eyes closed, her expression neutral.

"Why did you run?" Tellah asked her, a tenderness in his voice he reserved only for her.

She was a statue.

Tellah absorbed his daughter's appearance, praying that he could remember every facial feature, every line and curve that came from him and Claire. She opened her eyes, and Tellah quivered.

They were pitch black. Her head tilted clockwise and counterclockwise, as though stuck to a rotating disk. She opened her mouth, and chirped at him like a bird, her head bobbing with each chirp in an egregious dance to unfamiliar bird song. Tellah was startled frozen, but as shock turned to horror, he pushed her aside and ran away from her to the end of the tunnel with rubbery legs, threatening to give out at any moment. He heard her footsteps matching rhythm with his, the chirping nonstop in his ear.

His heart was pounding painfully as he came to a solid rock wall. The chirping stopped when he touched it with a numb hand. He turned slowly. Anna was sprawled on the ground, blood stains on her dress, laying exactly as she had when he set eyes on her in Damcyan. Her mouth twitched.

"Don't go…Father…" she rasped. "Stay..."

Rage bubbled beneath his skin, and Meteor was dangerously slipping out of his grasp.

"I can't…I won't..!" Tellah shrieked, fighting to suppress the anger.

He pressed his back against the rock wall when she stood, her head hanging to her chest. She began swaying towards him, her hands outstretched for a hug.

"Let's go home, Father…"

The wall disappeared, and he fell back, landing on a flat stone floor with a rough oof. Green portal lines hovered around him. He crawled out and used the wall as a crutch to stand, his heartrate finally slowing. He was hardly back on his feet whenn Palom and Porom stumbled through. Tellah pulled each twin up by their arms. He shook the last image of Anna out of his head as the twins stood to the side with him.

"Palom! You almost died in my journey!" Porom said tearfully, squeezing her brother.

Palom returned the hug.

"I'd almost died in my journey, too!" Palom said.

Porom tilted her head.

"Wait, wasn't I in yours?" she asked, sounding hurt.

Palom didn't have the opportunity to respond, for Cecil crashed into the room, falling on hands and knees as he materialized. He took shuddering breaths, his face pale and his palms leaving moist prints on the ground when he stood.

"Cecil," Tellah said, shaking Cecil's shoulder. "It wasn't real. None of it."

Cecil said nothing for a few seconds, his eyes glazed in heavy thought.

"I must save Rosa," he finally said, looking at Tellah.

Tellah smiled at him reassuringly.

"You will," Tellah said.

Cecil nodded, striding to the door and unlocking it with a click. There was a guard asleep beside the door, a set of stairs to their left, and the exit to the dimly lit building straight ahead. Cecil turned to the crew and pressed a finger to his lips, then slowly walked through to minimize the clinging of his armor. The mages were able to sneak past more easily, as they hardly had any noisy equipment on their bodies.

They stepped out into the afternoon sun, shading their eyes to adjust to the brightness. The town was eerily silent: though the housing was more crowded than Kaipo's, with hardly any space to squeeze between each building, there was hardly anyone to be seen. Smoke was coming out of the inn's chimney, but the familiar bustle of town was not there.

"Welcome to Baron," Cecil said, not bothering to hide the sadness in his voice.

A/N: This chapter took forever :( either way, I finished my first draft of the next chapter, so it should be posted sooner than this one was once I make my edits/proofread!