Dycedarg heard the loud shout and it scared him. He was ready to draw his sword to defend the castle. He soon recognized the voice though. His youngest brother, Ramza. Dycedarg smiled. He was glad to finally have him home for a while. It'd been nearly a month since Ramza's last visit home. Suddenly Ramza burst into the door. He looked exhausted.
"Brother!" Ramza said standing before him.
"Well, well, well. Look at you…" Dycedarg said smiling. "Well, come here, runt." Dycedarg said. He embraced his brother and his brother embraced him back.
"It's been far too long little brother."
"It has." The separated and Dycedarg motioned for him to sit down. At that moment two more young men came in. Once, Dycedarg recognized. It was Ramza's good friend Delita. Dycedarg had a lot of respect for that boy. The second was a skinny blonde headed kid that didn't look like he was around the area.
"Oh! Sorry brother. That's Algus, of the Limberry Aegis Knights. He's a cadet, like us. He's been sent to assist in the rescuing of the Marquis. Thieves killed his other comrades. He is the only survivor." Ramza said.
Algus walked over and shook Dycedarg's hand. Dycedarg shook it back.
"Well, how would you boys like a nice glass of wine?" Dycedarg asked reaching for the cabinet.
"I would love some, thank you." Algus responded.
"Me as well." Added Delita.
"What kind?" Ramza asked. Dycedarg held up the bottle.
"Forty years aged, I wouldn't miss this if I were you." Dycedarg said getting out four wine goblets.
"Alright but not so much." Ramza replied. They sat down as Dycedarg poured the wine. He poured his last and then sat down to join them.
"…I hear that you beat the first troops. I'm proud to be your brother. The senior statesman spoke highly of you. You are truly descended from Beoulves." Dycedarg said.
"Thank you." Ramza replied somewhat dryly.
"Aren't you happy?" Dycedarg asked.
"Oh, yes, I am. Thank you for the kind words…you might have heard about the enemy attacking Elmdor's carriage and kidnapping him. What would you have us do?" Ramza said trying to change the subject.
"I've already had Zalbag send out a search party. They'll probably demand a ransom…if he's still alive." Dycedarg said darkly.
"Highness. Please let me have 100 soldiers!" Algus said suddenly standing. Dycedarg met eyes with him coldly, saying nothing.
"I beg you. Let me avenge my comrades murder!" Algus added.
"I said it's taken care of. Didn't you hear me? Gallione isn't any place for you. Let us handle it." Dycedarg said flatly.
"B..ut!" Algus started.
"Think of your rank, Algus! Have you forgotten you are just a soldier without the rank of knighthood?" Dycedarg corrected. Usually it took a lot to aggravate Dycedarg. He was a very tolerant man. Especially having to help raise such a wild card like Ramza. This, skinny little punk was getting on his nerves.
"Urrrrgh…" Algus huffed. Dycedarg left it at that.
"I want you to guard Igros Castle. It shouldn't be so difficult. "Danger" probably won't get this far." Dycedarg said to Ramza. Ramza nodded as he forced down another glass of wine.
"Well, then, if it's okay. I'd like to go say hello to Alma." Ramza said. Dycedarg waved his hand and dismissed him. The other two followed his example.
"She's at the fountain. If she's not she'll be there soon with Zalbag and Teta." Dycedarg said as they left. Dycedarg got up and looked out the window. The guilt would haunt him everyday.
"Father…I'm sorry. At least I did it for some gain and not out of pure spite." He said.
Ramza led the others to the fountain. It was a nice little place to go and relax. Especially on the concrete bridge that let the stream run through. The fountain drained one steam into another that led to a river further down that led to the ocean. Ramza had many times, when he was a child, thrown messages in bottles into the fountain stream and wondered that if by some chance someone would find his bottle with a message inside and perhaps reply. He smiled at thoughts of his happy childhood. Memories that he was so very fond of. Ramza was never the same since his father's death. He tried so hard to be the mature, grown up man that his brothers wanted him to be.
Upon crossing the bridge, Ramza and Delita turned around when they realized that Algus had stopped. He had been very sullen since the conversation with Dycedarg. Algus picked up a pebble and tossed it into the stream. It made a quiet splash as it sunk in the gentle current.
"…My family was once respected like the Beoulves. My grandfather was captured during the Fifty Year War…
"He sold his friends out to the enemy to save himself. But, as he left the castle, he got stabbed in the back by a cadet just like myself. One of grandfather's friends managed to escape and spread the story around. Of course my father didn't believe it, but everyone else did, they deserted him…
"…Rank…Dycedarg would never meet with someone like me…" Algus explained. Ramza felt for his new friend. He understood what it was like to be treated as if you didn't really matter. Then, a familiar voice could be heard.
"Delita!" The three young men looked across the fountain and sure enough, on the other side was Delita's younger sister, Teta.
"Teta!" Delita exclaimed in reply. He looked overjoyed. After Teta came Zalbag, Ramza's older brother and then Alma, his younger sister.
"Brother Ramza. You came back." Alma said smiling broadly. It was Ramza's turn to be overjoyed.
"Alma! Zalbag!" He shouted. As they approached Ramza smiled even wider. He was happy to be in the presence of his two favorite siblings. Dycedarg was much too old to be any involvement in Ramza's life, even Zalbag was quite a bit older but Ramza found himself closer to Zalbag and Alma than Dycedarg. But, he was especially close to Alma. Alma and he had the same mother. They looked alike too, both with bright blonde hair that was kind of wavy and wild. They were both tall and slender yet with some definite shape about them. Dycedarg and Zalbag both had red hair like their mother. They resembled Balbanes too, but the red hair was from their mother.
"Long time no see, brother." Ramza added as they were eye to eye. He embraced both of them one by one.
"I heard how you beat the thieves in Gariland. That's worthy of a Beoulve. I'm sure father would've been please with you." Zalbag said to him. Ramza kept his smile but he was frowning on the inside. Why did everything have to be about nobility and honor and being worthy to carry the Beoulve name?
"…Thank you." Ramza managed. Zalbag seemed to be holding in a laugh as his smile widened.
"Heh…haven't changed a bit. You don't like that much eh? Delita, you look good. I heard about your role also. Just look how happy Teta is." Delita frowned when Zalbag pointed to Teta.
"Teta, I'm sorry. We must go." He said to her apologetically.
"Don't worry about me. Just take care of yourself." Teta responded.
"Don't worry I'll come back safely…so be a good girl. Well then, let's go Algus." Delita said after embracing Teta.
"I must go as well, I have a battle to win." Said Zalbag walking away in another direction.
"I'll pray for your victory…" Said Ramza.
"Thank you. Take care." He said and then he was gone. Now only Ramza and Alma remained. Feeling awkward, Ramza started to catch up with the others.
"What Teta said is not true. Actually…" Alma trailed off.
"Something wrong with Teta?" Asked Ramza.
"She has been picked on at school because of her rank." Ramza didn't say anything.
"Sorry…I shouldn't have worried you like that. Teta will be OK. I'll be there for her. Trust me." Alma reassured.
"I'm not worried. But don't you overdo it." Ramza said.
"You're the one going too far to meet their expectations. Just be yourself and don't be restricted by your name." Alma returned.
"You sound like our mother." Ramza said. He chuckled and then walked away. Soon he was out of Alma's sight. She worried about him so. Every time he went on a dangerous mission she feared for him. She wouldn't be able to bear losing her brother…not Ramza.
"Ramza…" She said in thought of him as the wind began to blow.
"Ramza…do you really think that this is such a good idea?" Delita was worried. He always wanted to do what was right and he always wanted to do it by the book. Ramza admired his obedience but wished he had a sense of adventure.
"Relax, Delita. It will be fine. Do you really want to stay and guard the castle?" Ramza asked.
"…No but…" Delita started to speak but Algus cut him off.
"Delita, he's absolutely right. I know I'd tell you different in most other situations but I heard a wise man say that 'one who does exactly what he's told, unconditionally, is obedient and loyal…but lacks superior vision.'"
"It's just to Dorter Trade City…we can take the shortcut through Sweegy Woods." Ramza offered.
"Well, I guess if we take a shortcut…" Delita said.
"Sweegy Woods…aren't there monsters there?" Algus said, suddenly looking like he would change his mind.
"What's the matter, Algus…you're not afraid are you?" Ramza said. He put just enough stress in the words so that they would be taunting and intimidating.
"No! I mean…no I'm not scared…let's go through Sweegy Woods." Algus didn't look too happy. Ramza was glad that he wouldn't have to hear his whines. Ramza grinned at that and the three boys went to find the rest of the platoon to join them. Ramza was in charge so not everyone would be punished…just him. He didn't care though…nothing seemed to bother him in those days.
And, so they arrived at Sweegy Woods. The woods weren't very big. It was maybe a whole square mile of nothing but swamp and forest. Ramza had been through the place many a time and yes, had run into some monsters on occasions. Mostly wild Chocobos and Goblins and an occasional Bomb or Red Panther. Those monsters didn't scare him.
"Well, you see Algus…you don't have to worry there's…damn…" Ramza started to say that there were no monsters and that he wouldn't have to worry but at that moment, a group of monsters advanced together and looked like they were ready to defend their territory.
"What rotten luck. Meeting monsters in a place like this!" Algus exclaimed getting out his crossbow.
"Don't gripe Algus. It's better than guarding a castle." Delita had meant to be sarcastic but Algus, of course, took it seriously.
"This is a matter of life and death. How can you say that?" Algus was definitely scared. He used the anger and aggravation to hide it. Ramza knew that the two of them would argue about it for a while before they had enough sense in their head to start fighting. Everyone else in the platoon readied his or her weapons.
"Enough! Here the come!!" Ramza exclaimed. So, now they were engaged in yet another battle. They had quite o few right in a row it seemed. Ramza didn't mind though, battle exhilarated him back then. It was mostly a group of Goblins and one Black Goblin. His fur was black so therefore he was known as the Black Goblin. He was stronger than the others were. There was also a wild Chocobo and a Bomb. A Bomb was a red creature that was made with the pure essence of fire. The Bombs were known to be very mean and violent.
"Go for the Bomb first!" Delita had wise battle words. Ramza was close to saying that very thing upon that moment. Algus took aim. His arrow flew from where he was straight between the Bomb's eyes. It screamed a fiery, ferocious scream and began to advance. Algus fired another arrow. His arrow flew and hit the thing directly in its right eye. It most have hit something vital because the bomb exploded with heat. The Goblins around him were engulfed in flames. Some died instantly and what few lived were soaked in the Bombs oil.
The rest of the enemies were easy to kill. They were very much wounded from the Bomb's explosion.
"Well…" Algus said taking heavy breaths.
"Just through this forest, and we're almost to Dorter." Ramza said as he began to walk onward.