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Chapter 18

Larsa had absolutely no idea how long it was before he finally woke up, but he knew that it was in his best interests that he keep his eyes closed for a moment and pretend to still be asleep as he felt Catherine kneeling beside his bed, his shoulder wet with her tears.

He took a moment to register his surroundings and regain the feeling in his limbs. He twitched slightly as he felt the silk covers on his bare skin and realized that he felt miraculously fine, even though he remembered being in excruciating pain not long ago with a five foot long blade driven through his stomach and a poison that tore through his system like liquid fire. Larsa took in a deep breath and smiled as he felt the clean air flow through him, his entire system feeling refreshed and ready for a new day. He was very surprised to find that he felt extremely good. Not only had Kira healed him but she'd done a whole lot more, it almost felt as if she'd removed all the tension from his system and somehow completely de-stressed him. He felt like new and without really thinking he sat up straight and opened his eyes, a wide grin on his face.

"Larsa!" Catherine shouted suddenly as he sat up straight and looked at her. "Oh Larsa!" Larsa barely had time to say good morning as she tackled him to the sheets once more, her arms wrapping around him tightly in a bear hug for a brief moment before she suddenly exploded off him again and nearly screamed, "Oh my God I'm so sorry! Are you hurt still! Are you in pain? Did I make it worse?"

"Catherine! Catherine whoa there slow down will you?" Larsa said with a smile as he held her shoulders to keep her steady and looked into her eyes. "Hey I'm fine ok. In fact, I've never been better."

Catherine sighed slightly, and collapsed to her knees again by his bed and said, "Oh Larsa. I was so worried and scared...I ...I thought I'd lost you..." Larsa heard the tears in her voice and sighed before he slid down to the floor beside her and gathered her up into his arms.

"It's ok, I'm fine now, you've nothing to worry about." they sat there for a long time as Catherine cried into Larsa's chest, her arms wrapped around him as her small hands buried themselves in his hair.

Larsa looked down as Catherine sniffed heavily, the flow of her tears seeming to finally slow as she looked up at him and said, "I can't believe...I can't believe that Kira would've been capable of such a thing. Basch told me everything, all the details, how many died, how many are seriously injured. That girl is dangerous Larsa, you can't..."

"Catherine stop." Larsa said holding up a hand to stop her as he sighed and closed his eyes, trying to think of how best he was going to explain this to her. "Catherine, do you honestly believe that Kira did all that with her conscious mind?" Catherine blinked slightly, surprised by his words. "Kira most likely had no idea what she was doing, she had absolutely no control. If you found out that your father was murdered and you knew who murdered him and that same person had also murdered your only child, wouldn't you be angry? Wouldn't you want revenge? If you had the power to destroy him, wouldn't you?"

Catherine gasped slightly and stared up at Larsa with huge sad eyes that now held almost less than half the innocence they had before. Catherine did not answer, she could not. She had absolutely no idea how to respond to that scenario.

Catherine suddenly shook her head and said, "But...but how can you justify what she has done? Even with those circumstance...Larsa She tried to kill you!"

"She did no such thing! I intervened of my own accord and paid the price. In fact I'm not even sure why I bothered to save Rossi considering he is the cause of all this!" Larsa said angrily more to himself than to Catherine. "But the fact of the matter is that she regained her sense and came back to save me and now I'm in tip top shape. Kira is probably of somewhere beating herself up for what she has done. I can only imagine what sort of accusations and revelations are running through her mind if her mind is even working at all. With all that's been thrust upon her I wouldn't be surprised if she was driven mad!"

"But...but Larsa...Kira tried to kill your acting Head of State, and in the process she nearly killed you! And all of this in the pursuit of revenge? I don't understand how you can even try to justify these actions!" Catherine said as she stared up at Larsa with angry eyes, not understanding why he was trying so hard to convince her that Kira is not in the wrong here.

"Catherine listen to me. Kira is a good person and unlike you and I, she is not used to the rigours of politics and an aristocratic life where people are killed for sport and lives are nothing but bargaining chips. There was no possible way she could have understood the consequences if she were to kill the acting Head of State, or worse me, the Crown Prince, ignoring of course the fact that she attempted this without conscious thought or action." Larsa paused and saw the sceptical look on Catherine face and frowned, "I'm willing to bet my very title and throne that Kira find out about Old Dalan's death and seconds later found herself standing before House Solidor Castle, her mind shattered and her heart bleeding. There was no plan, no conscious thought, no reasoning, no thought of the consequences to follow. All that mattered to her enraged heart was that her father's death and Tihana's as well be avenged. And even that notion was not hers, fore I know Kira, she would sooner choose negotiation or some diplomatic solution, but the news about her father would've shaken her greatly and tore from her a beast she'd worked tireless to keep shackled within."

Catherine did a slight double take and said, "beast within? Larsa what are you talking about?"

Larsa gave a hard look and said, "Remember when I told you that Kira was special." Catherine almost grimaced but nodded all the same. "Well, Kira is a very special person indeed, but it is a dangerous speciality that she has. She told me once that her father told her that her mother was supposed to help her control it, but her mother died when she was only five years old and so she was left the fend for herself. Kira has an immense power inside of her, a dangerous power that could run away with her if she is not careful. No one understands it, not even Kira herself, but what she did finally understand after years of living in fear of herself and the strange power she held, was that it must be kept secret and dormant. Through out her entire life she worked hard to ensure that it was kept in check and that it did not overwhelm her."

Catherine looked confused and shook her head slightly before saying, "But...I don't understand...just what is this power she holds anyway?"

"There is no way to really definite her power. She is simply far more adapt so to speak when it comes to dealing with magick and crystal and stones, even myst as well. Sort of like the Viera, only she is much stronger and she cannot control the full extent of that power. She once told me that when she was young, she was afraid to use magicks any at all, afraid she might lose control and reek havoc. Old Dalan told me that her mother had said she would help her learn to control her power and that she would explain everything her in due, but alas, Kira's mother died when she was only five and left her to fend for herself. She worked through out her entire life to keep her powers under control soon she began to delve into it and withdraw some of that power for better use, as you have seen with her uncanny teleportation skills. Kira never talks about it much, I think she is ashamed of it, as out of character as that is for her but she did tell me once that in her younger years, just a few months after her mother's death, she found herself wishing that she had never existed, wishing that she never had this power, even wishing for death. She said she would rather suffer through all of these things than to lose control again. Thankfully at that time she was too small to cause terrible damage, but because of her abnormality she couldn't make friends and even her own father kept his distance from her. There has only ever been one other time in which she had lost control after she'd learned to reign in her powers, and as I've told you, to this day she has nightmares about that night, and now she will dream of this morning and she will cry a river's worth again for the lives she mistakenly took. Kira is far more burdened than you could imagine and she does not deserve the grievances you are giving her."

Catherine stared at Larsa as she listened to him, shocked slightly by his story, by Kira's story. Catherine looked up at Larsa and saw a fire burning in his eyes, boring into her, willing her to understand what he was saying and she sighed. She wanted to cry again. She wanted to cry because she could see it. She could see right through him. Why else would he be trying so hard, so desperately to get her to understand, to ensure that her name was clear, that the blame was not hers? Why else would he defend the very person that nearly killed him merely hours ago? "You really do love her don't you?"

Larsa looked slightly taken aback before he sighed and looked Catherine deep in the eyes before he said, "Yes, I do."

Catherine briefly closed her eyes as she felt her heart twinge at his words, the pain racking her body. "And you'd do anything for her wouldn't you?"

"Yes..."

Catherine cringed again and then looked up Larsa sharply, her eyes brimming with tears and she said, "Why? I don't understand why!"

Larsa sighed and looked away from her for a moment then said, "I can't...I can't expla-"

"That's not what I meant!" Catherine cut in suddenly, "Why did you agree to marry me if you're in love with Kira?" her tears were flowing freely now and she could feel her heart hamming in her chest.

Larsa again looked taken aback by her words and smiled slightly at her before he reached out and pulled her towards him, hugging her tightly. Catherine had a right mind to pull away but she couldn't, she loved him too much to pass up any opportunity to be this close to him. "Catherine, I am to be King tomorrow." he paused and she felt him sigh against her. "I am to be King tomorrow, so if today I cannot make the necessary sacrifices to serve my country and my people, then how can I hope to be the leader that my people need? To reinstate the Galtean Alliance Treaty was a brilliant idea and I commend your father for it, but we both know that there is absolutely no way the rest of Ivalice would agree without some shocking event to bring them to their senses, an event such as the union of Archadian and Rossarian heirs. Archadia and Rossaria have been at war with each other for decades and only my father and your father ever broke the monotony of continuous war by developing a friendship, however short lived, and through that friendship another was born, our friendship, and through our union, the endless age of war between our nations would cease and we would be able to show all of Ivalice that an age of peace is within our reach.

"Whether or not we like the arrangement is not of consequence. I have long since come to terms with that fact."

` Catherine stared up at Larsa sorrowfully and sniffed before she said, "that's...that's not fair."

Larsa almost laughed. "Life isn't fair Catherine. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"It's no use Fran, we might as well just sit here and wait for Kira to come back out and help us out of here. I'm sure if she could manoeuvre around in that tunnel then she could help us out." Balthier said as he collapsed unto the very rock he had been sitting on when they first came across Kira in the small cave just outside the entrance to that very mysterious hall they'd lost Kira in. They had tried to find their way back out of the cave and into the Subterra of the Pharos but only ended up walking in circles and finding themselves back in the cave. It was almost as if something didn't want them to leave. They were trapped.

"Perhaps we should try the tunnel again. Now that Kira is there, perhaps we will be allowed to enter." Fran said as she stood in front of the huge door which had locked itself once again.

"Ah perhaps perhaps, but you see Fran, I don't think that door would see fit to allow us in without Kira." and as if the Gods themselves had heard him, Balthier found himself suddenly staring into Kira's face. She had suddenly materialized in front of him. Balthier nearly fell of the rock as he stared at Kira, her sudden appearance shocking him. He had no idea she could teleport without a teleport crystal, but soon it was not her sudden appearance that was bothering him so much as the expression on her face.

"Kira...Kira what is wrong child?" Fran too noticed the girls despair and put a comforting hand on the girls shoulder. Kira looked up at Fran and suddenly burst into tears, wrapping her arms around the Viera's middle and burying her face into her chest as she cried. Balthier stood up then and shot a questioning glance at Fran who merely shrugged as she continued to comfort Kira as words began to tumble form her lips, jumbled and incoherent as she tried to tell them everything that had happened that day all at once.

"Hush child, calm yourself and tell us what has happened to you." Fran said gently to her as she wiped the tears from her wet face and took note of her bloody state, the way her clothes were torn and blood stained, how small wounds all over her body were caked over with blood and she had multiple angry bruises all along her body.

"here, take this you'll feel better." Balthier said as he opened a bottle of tonic for her and helped her drink it before he moved her to his rock to sit down.

After the few long minutes Kira took to calm down, she proceeded to tell Balthier and Fran everything she knew.

"Well it all began when Catherine came that day when Larsa and I were planning to go out for a hunt. She came along and caused some complications and so I tried to teleport us to Rabanastre but we ended up on the Ridorana Cataract and were attacked by the very monster we were hunting. We were running away and fell through a hole and that's where I first met Sulendii."

"Sulendii?" Fran asked curiously.

"I'll get to that in a bit. After that, Larsa had to recover from a curse and we left to vanquish the hunt. When we came back, Old Dalan was having some trouble so I went to deal with it. When everything calmed down, and I actually realized that Larsa wasn't there the whole time he appeared. He told me that he was going to marry Catherine. I supported the idea..sort of but I think I may have hurt him a little with my reaction, but anyway. We met again the next month and left to vanquish another hunt." Kira paused for a moment, remembering how they raced through the Sochen Cave Palace and slept together peacefully under the stars. Kira shook herself out of her reverie and continued, hitching slightly on her words as she recalled what happened next. "After the hunt we returned to Low Town and for some reason Catherine was there, and Old Dalan was having another attack. We tried hard to calm him down, gave him medication just the same as we always did, but nothing worked and he was gone before we knew it." Kira sniffed slightly then shook her head and continued, "The next Larsa got a letter from Basch saying that he'd better hurry back to Archadia before the Senate did something stupid. So Larsa left, but before he left...we had a bit of a...well not a fight...but it was uncomfortable and I had to leave. I couldn't stay there, so I went to the Ridorana Cataract and mourned the loss of my father. I found something there, with a key that he had given me. It was what ultimately lead me here, but I had to wait before I could follow the trail so I dawdled by climbing the Pharos. When I reached the top I received a letter from Larsa telling me about the first raid in Low Town. I became livid and immediately teleported to Low Town where I found everything in chaos. A second and more violent raid was in progress and...and..." Kira took a deep breath, sniffed, shook her head then said finally, "and Tihana was killed." She heard the two of them gasp and closed her eyes briefly before continuing. "I almost lost control and cleaned up the streets as best as I could without any further casualties and then I was told that they were after me and so I decided to hide out here so as to prevent any more damage being dealt to the town and its people. After I mourner the death of my daughter..." she choked slightly again, "I followed the trail that daddy's key led me too and I found this place."

"And that's where we come in and also where we lost you. What happened to you after we lost you in there?" Balthier asked with an arched brow.

Kira nodded and said, "Yes I'm getting to that. I followed the path and realized too late that I'd lost you two and you won't believe what I'd found. I found a secret lair so to speak where the very same man I told you about, Sulendii whom I'd met on the Ridorana Cataract about a month before told me about an ancient civilisation called Jagd whose people who were called Druids guarded and worshipped the Cryst. He told me that the Druids had made an imitation Cryst and placed high atop the Pharos to be displayed to all Ivalice to show that they were not hoarding the power of the Cryst while they kept the real Cryst here under the Pharos to keep it safe." Kira did not stop to register the suddenly sceptical expressions on both Balthier and Fran's faces. "He also told me that I was a descendant of the Druids and that he and the Cryst had been waiting for me to appear before them." Still she ignored their scepticism as Balthier involuntarily scoffed at her. "He told me all about how Jagd was wiped from the face of Ivalice. It was through civil war and Archadia had played a big role in her demise but completely cut their ties with Jagd when everything went out the window and denied ever having anything to do with it. Sulendii told me of how it was because of the Archadian, of how if it weren't for them then things may have turned out differently and Jagd could still be standing today. He then told me that..." Kira took a breath, feeling her mouth starting to go dry from all the talking before she continued. "He told me that the Archadian Senate had murdered my father." Balthier and Fran both looked shocked, virtually scandalized as they absorbed this last piece of information. "Of course I didn't believe it at first and he teleported me to Low Town to see for myself, and there I found an empty vial of Archadian poison." Kira shook her head slightly and sighed. She placed her head into her hands, her body rigid, shaking slightly with the memory of what happened next, the souvenirs still fresh and burning all over her body. "I...I lost it. Completely lost it. I don't even remember what happened, all I remember is teleporting myself to the front gate House Solidor Palace and then I woke up to Larsa's voice telling me that I needed to stop. When my eyes focused..." Kira sniffed back tears as she remembered the horror of watching Larsa slide off her blade, the wound ghastly as it bled him out. "I saw... I saw that I had...some how in the chaos I had..." Kira was choking on the words and could hardly breath as the fullness of what she nearly did hit her. Tears streamed down her face again and she hugged herself tightly, trying desperately to keep her heart from exploding within her it felt like it would.

Fran knelt beside her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It is alright child, you don't have to worry, whatever it is you have done, it was not your fault. You can tell us."

Kira looked over at Fran and scoffed. She sniffed however and took a deep, ragged breath and finally said, "I had stabbed Larsa with a poisoned blade." She did not wait for them to register just what she'd said in their minds before she continued. "I was too shocked to do anything at the time and so I carted away by guards while they took Larsa to the infirmary. I knew however, that if I didn't get to him soon then he'd no doubt die of the poison. I was the only one that could help him but I was too week to fight off the guards and I'd used up all my teleport stones."

"Wait, wait, wait...before you go any further, just how did you end up stabbing Larsa? I'm positive that even in that state you could've differentiated between innocents and villains."

"He got in the way. I was trying to kill Caligula Rossi." Kira said simply before she continued. "as they were walking with me to the dungeons, I decided that I had no choice and I focused hard, for all I know I very nearly killed myself with the effort, but I managed to teleport to Larsa's side and I healed him and teleported back her where I met up with you guys. I don't know exactly what happened or how many died in the incident, or even for how long it went on."

Fran sighed softly beside Kira and gathered her in her arms before saying, "Do not worry child. Whatever you have done, it was not of your accord and you cannot be blamed for it. Those who are to be blamed are the ones who would evoke such a response from you." Kira smiled up at Fran softly through watery eyes and rest her head against her ample breast, ensuring not to scratch herself on her tough armour.

"Well...let's say that I were to believe your story here...in its entirety," Balthier said with a thoughtful look on his face Kira glared up at him. He dared to even imply that she was lying? Why the hell would she make up a story like that? "There is one thing that would bother me. Even if I do believe this story of Druids and Jagd and this Cryst...I would still like to see proof. I myself, and Fran as well, whitnessed the destruction of the Sun Cryst at the top of the Pharos and I find it very hard to believe that another lies beneath this very structure that could possibly hold even more power then the Sun Cryst that I am familiar with. I find it very hard to believe that such a thing could just be sleeping peacefully below us right now."

"It's not sleeping and I can take you to it right now if you want." Kira stood up then and moved to the door, automatically placing her palm to its surface and opening it.

"The last time we tried to follow you in it redirected our progress, forbidding us from entry." Fran said as they stood just outside the hall.

"Not this time. This time you're with me." Kira said firmly as she continued to walk along the corridor. "oh and Fran, let me know if the myst bothers you."

As they began to walk down the long myst free corridor, Fran turned to Kira and asked, "Kira, I would like it if you could tell us about these Druids. If you are not Hume, but in fact a Druid, then I would like to understand better the nature of your race."

"Yes please enlighten us." Kira frowned slightly as she couldn't miss the lightly sarcastic tone in Balthier's voice.

"Well, the Druids were the original protectors of the Cryst. They had a special ability where they could communicate with magical items such as The Cryst, crystals, magic stones and even the myst itself. We were very proficient in the use of these items and were respected and revered by many as a very powerful people. Magic came naturally to us, it was our culture and our life, that's why I am so good with magicks."

"Yes, yes that does patch up a few holes here and there..." Balthier said nonchalantly.

"there's a dark side though. I don't know if this is the norm or if its just me and my lack of training, but it is possible to lose control over your powers and they will run wild and rampant seeking to fulfil the person deepest darkest desire. For example, my darkest desire at the moment is to murder Caligula for everything he has put me and my people through, and so, when I lost control..."

Balthier and Fran nodded in understanding and Balthier said, "So in short every Druid has this great ability, this tremendous power, but they have to learn to properly control it?"

"Yes I suppose that's about it." Kira said they came upon the door to the labyrinth of stairs. Kira nonchalantly placed her hand on the door and it opened, revealing the dazzling beauty of the room.

Kira heard Balthier whistle and smiled when he said, "Well... I'd like to get in touch with their interior decorator."

They walked quietly for a while until finally Fran broke the silence with an enquiry. "I am surprised, there is so much myst yet it is so, calming and warm. I have never experienced this before." Fran said as they descended further into the labyrinth, myst almost completely fogging their vision.

"Indeed, I can hardly find my feet much less proper footing. Are you certain you know your bearings Kira?" Balthier asked sceptically and Kira sighed slightly.

"I'm positive. Judging by the thickness of the myst we're almost there." Kira kept walking and exclaimed in triumph as they suddenly burst into the myst free hall. Both Fran and Balthier stopped as they found themselves suddenly free of myst.

"Kira...?" Balthier began questioningly but Kira just turned to him, smiled and pointed upwards. Balthier quirked a brow but looked up anyway and said, "Ah...that's interesting..." as he stared up at the ceiling of myst just above his head.

Fran too had marvelled at the roof of myst above them but nudged Balthier as she caught sight of Kira descending the rest of the stairs and heading towards a door a little ways into the wide hall.

Kira waited for them by the door while it opened slowly, myst swirling slowly out of the room as it did. Once they reached the door, Kira stepped in before them and called out, "Sulendii, are you here?"

Balthier raised one delicate eyebrow and glanced over at Fran but found that she was completely entrance by something, her eyes locked and her mouth slightly agape. Slightly taken aback by the expression on Fran's face, Balthier was about to make a rude suggestion when someone replied to Kira's call. "I see you have returned."

Balthier looked up to see the strangest, prettiest man he'd ever seen in his life, but he hardly had time to study him before he took note of the gargantuan crystal sitting pretty behind him. At this point both Balthier and Fran seemed to have more or less the same expression.

Sulendii took a quick glance at Kira's guests before he turned back to Kira. Kira looked up at Sulendii with very shameful eyes and was about to say something but he delicately lifted a hand to stop her and said, "We are aware of what you have done and you have already been forgiven. It was likely my own lack of proper judgement that lead to this unfortunate turn of events. I should've known that you would be unable to handle the sudden news of your father's murder alone. Forgive me."

Kira seemed completely taken aback as she stood staring at Sulendii as he bowed gracefully to her. Before Kira could formulate a suitable reply in her mind, however, Sulendii went on to what he must've deemed more pressing matters. "As it stands however, we are now forced into action. The occurrence of recent events has proven to me that the Archadian Senate is indeed on the move and will most likely come looking for you Kira. We do not know exactly what it is they want from you but we are almost positive that it has to do with the Cryst."

Kira was suddenly knocked back into reality and she furrowed her brow and said, "But how could they even know about the Cryst?"

"That is a question you and I both would like the answer to, but I cannot see any other reason as to why they would be searching for you so fervently." Sulendii said urgently.

"So hang on just a moment here. You're trying to tell us that the Archadian Senate, just about one hundred thirty four miles away from here, is hunting Kira, in order to get this crystal...no doubt for it's incredible power. Oui?" Balthier said as he stood akimbo facing Sulendii who also turned to face him.

"That is correct. Please do not ask any more questions for you now know no less than I do, except that we most definitely cannot allow the Archadian Senate to get their hands on the Cryst. They are not Druidian, so they will not know how to use it, they will destroy all of Ivalice along with themselves should they attempt."

"Then what should we do The cryst would most likely be safer here than anywhere else..."

"No, you must take the Cryst. It is not safe here by itself."

"but it's not by itself, you're here..." Kira sounded confused, she didn't understand how after all those years the Cryst was suddenly no longer be safe here.

"No I am not. My purpose has been served, I have lead you to the cryst and taught you all I can, so now it is up to you to protect it." Sulendii said as he turned to the cryst and placed his hand on it's surface.

Kira looked flabbergasted and confused, even though she understood perfectly what he meant. "Wait...wait you mean you're... you're going to die now?" She could feel tears welling up behind her eyes. She didn't understand why he had to die, why he had to leave her so suddenly especially now with all that's happening? Why did he have to leave her? Why was she now subjected to being the Last Druid in Ivalice?

"Kira, you have nothing to fear, the cryst will teach you everything I could not and will be your source of guidance and support when you need it. I will always be here with you, inside the Cryst. You must protect the Cryst at all times Kira, never let it leave your sight. Do not be afraid, and remember that once you have the Cryst, you will never be alone. We will be with you always." Sulendii said with a smile before a bright light engulfed him and the Cryst. Balthier, Fran and Kira instinctively shielded their eyes from the blinding light and when they returned their gaze to the scene, the Cryst and Sulendii were replaced by a thin silver chain with a much, much smaller version of the cryst attached to it.

Kira moved forward and plucked the heavy crystal from the floor and draped the Necklace over her head and let it fall against her chest. Its warm weight fluttered against her slightly, as if it were alive. Kira looked down at the Cryst and frowned slightly before she nodded to herself and decided to accept the duty placed upon her as the Last Druid.

Kira turned to Balthier and Fran and said, "I'm going to need reliable intel on the Archadian Senate. Care to help out?"

Fran glanced at Balthier who caught her eye and smirked. "Depends, what do you need to know?"

OoOoO

To be Continued...