Breath of Fire III: Of Gods and Dragons
Chapter Fourteen: Inner Conflicts
Written by Estrelita Farr
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Ryu grew restless as two more days passed, hoping and hoping that the ship would arrive soon, but his wait was futile as there was simply no sign of the ship. He felt despaired to the point that fishing could no longer help him to relax, and he felt rather edgy, even as he stared into the distant surface of the sea.
The answers to his numerous questions about the Brood were so close, yet so far away…
After a while, though, he stood up, stretching. "I guess sitting here just like this wouldn't help… I wonder where the others are."
With that, Ryu started walking around Rhapala in search of his companions, stopping once only to watch a fisherman reel in the biggest fish he had ever seen. However, even though he had searched the whole of the town area, he simply could not find them.
"Hm, that's strange… where are they?" he muttered to himself, standing on a large wooden box to get a better view of the place, but they were still not anywhere in sight. "…maybe Beyd and Shadis know where they are?"
He set out towards their usual spot on the wharf, but as soon as he arrived there, he saw that all of his companions were there, crowded around the couple as though great news were given out.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked curiously as he joined them.
Nina turned to face him immediately. "Ryu! I was looking for you! Where were you?"
"Never mind that now!" Momo cried, obviously excited. "Ryu! We've got a way east now!"
Ryu blinked, thinking that he had heard it wrong. "What?"
"It's true!" the princess confirmed, excited as well. "Beyd and Shadis helped us out!"
Beyd smiled. "It's still not enough to repay you all for what you've done for us."
Shadis nodded, beaming. "But I'm glad we're able to help somehow!"
"Wait, hold on!" Ryu shook his head, still confused. "I thought you said the road's blocked and the ship's not back?"
"Yeah, we did, but there's another road that only authorised Guild members can use, and it goes through the volcano!"
There was silence for a while, as Ryu's companions watched him digest the information. Then, his eyes grew wide.
"T-through the volcano?" he finally exclaimed. "Won't that be dangerous?"
The bookkeeper nodded. "But I'm sure that since you're able to get rid of the monsters in the lighthouse, you won't have much trouble at all!"
"A long time ago we used to take that road to the eastern lands, before the road around the volcano existed," Shadis explained. "If our sailors could do it, I'm sure you could as well!"
"If you so wish, mayhap we could depart this very minute," Garr answered, his eyes twinkling.
Ryu's eyes gleamed. "This very minute?"
Momo grinned. "Well, the sooner we get to the eastern lands, the sooner I get to see what machines they have there!"
"Let's go, let's go!" Nina cried, laughing.
"Pukkiiii!" the onion shouted, jumping about.
The winged man turned towards Beyd and Shadis. "I thank you for your assistance."
"Oh, not at all," Beyd said. "Thank you for all your help!"
"Godspeed!" Shadis told them. "Be sure to visit us whenever you're in town!"
"We will!" Nina promised, smiling. "Good luck to both of you!"
And, with that, the group then prepared to leave the lively port town of Rhapala, continuing on towards their destination.
Ryu, his heart no longer despaired, gazed determinedly towards the northern mountains.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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Even with their enthusiasm, they only reached Mt. Zublo a day and a half later, so they were glad when the stone staircase at the base the volcano finally loomed into view. The sky was already a great golden hue by the time they arrived, and so they decided to stop there for the night.
"It'll be… really hot in the volcano, won't it?" Nina asked over dinner, with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Undoubtedly," Garr answered calmly. "I am quite accustomed to the heat, and I believe Ryu will be affected not as he is one of the Dragonkin…" He gazed at the girls. "I worry for you, and Peco as well."
Ryu nodded. "Yeah, I'm a little worried too…"
"But we don't have a choice, do we?" the younger girl stated. "If we need to reach Angel Tower, we'll have to go through the volcano… and you do want to learn about the Dragons, don't you?"
"I do, but…"
"We'll be fine as long as we rush through!" Momo said, making a forward hand gesture. "Zoom! Like the wind! If the sailors can do it, then why can't we?"
"That's right!" Nina grinned as well. "So don't worry about us, you two!"
Ryu felt uncertain, but could not find the words to counter them. "…okay."
After that they resumed eating dinner in silence, while Momo returned to the book that she was reading, with Peco sleeping soundly against her leg and Honey leaning against the onion, looking as though she was asleep.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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When midnight had long passed, Ryu woke up with a start. He sat up straight in the dark tent, wondering what woke him up, but as his companions were all asleep, none of them would be the culprit. Maybe it was a dream that stirred him from his sleep?
He sighed softly as he lowered himself under the covers once more, but the moment he did, he suddenly felt as though something was calling him with an inaudible cry. His ears picked up nothing, his eyes saw only darkness; and yet his whole body felt the call, and the strong desire to answer the summon rose inside him.
He obeyed, only partially aware of stepping over his sleeping friends, walking out into the darkness of the night.
It was a warm and peaceful night, perfect for a short stroll. The call continued to reach out to him, leading him away from the camp site, and it grew stronger with every step he took towards it. It took him a full two minutes to climb the stone staircase at the base of Mt. Zublo and arrive at great double doors.
Beyond the doors were a stone room built into the interior of the volcano, and the first thing he saw in the room was the familiar stone statue of a Dragon, sitting majestically on a pedestal, its wings folded neatly behind it. Once again, like the first time he saw this statue at Mt. Glaus, a name came to his mind.
Lord Ladon…?
All of a sudden, a recognisable male voice replied, "Heh, I see you still come when I call you, Ryu."
The boy jumped in surprise, searching around for the owner of the voice, but he saw no one in sight.
Was it just his imagination…?
He had heard the voice before, several times so far. Yet, until now, he didn't know who it was… one day, he would solve the mystery.
With that, he resumed looking around the room.
The floor was decorated with green bricks, while the dark walls with lit torches, but at the opposite end of the room, however, a grey stone wall stood, with strange characters carved into it. Despite the fact that Ryu could not understand the characters at all, he could not help but feel that he had seen them somewhere before, as though he had forgotten how to read them…
He walked over to the stone wall, running a hand over the carved characters, an unconscious thought entering his mind.
The… Cave of Ages…
Suddenly, various memories flashed across his mind, one after another; memories of a woman with great sorcery, and memories of a man dressed in golden robes…
"Ladon! What did you do to Ryu?" a female voice yelled in the memory.
"It's nothing too horrifying, Deis, I assure you…" the same male voice, the one that Ryu had heard earlier, answered, then its owner sighed tiredly. "He won't wake up for a long time, that's all."
The woman's voice rose. "But you'll grow weaker, won't you?"
"There's nothing to be done about that. But…" Ladon paused for a moment. "…don't you trust him?"
"I… I do, of course, but…"
"Then trust me on this, Deis. I believe that Ryu will indeed save us all from this terrible ordeal… he's that sort of person, after all."
She chuckled lightly, but with a heavy tone. "Yes, he sure is…"
Pain suddenly shot through Ryu's head, forcing him to sink to his knees with one hand at the side of his head. Upon hearing the voices of Ladon and Deis, his mind was now filled with even more questions than before, even more confused than when he had first woken up in Rei and Teepo's cabin in Cedar Woods.
But one question among all of them stood out significantly, and it was one question that would not be easily answered.
"Who… am I…?" he whispered.
Only the howl of a distant wolf replied him.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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The interior of the volcano was brightly lit by numerous pools of lava, its crimson light showing between pieces of solidified basalt. There was a distinct rocky path, uncovered by lava, that allowed travellers to cross over to the other side of the mountain, but infested with monsters.
The Lava Men, humanoid creatures made of lava, were very difficult to cut through with blades, but Nina easily solved that by freezing them with Ice spells, allowing Momo and even Peco to shatter them like glass. Three-feet-tall purple reptiles, simply known as Lizards, were very swift, not to mention nippy, but were no match for Ryu's greatly improving swordsmanship and agility. Then there were the Lizard Men, gigantic blue lizards, brandishing a gleaming scimitar and well-guarded with armour and a shield, whose strength Garr could easily match. These monsters were not too much of a concern.
However, the heat was. It was truly unbearable; much, much hotter than they had anticipated. Peco did not want to enter at first, staying as far as he could from the entrance of the volcano, but after much persuading, he followed them faithfully in the end.
"Gee, it's really hot in here, isn't it?" Momo remarked, fanning herself furiously with her cap.
"Yeah, it is," Nina said, shaking her head. "It's so much hotter than I thought it would be…" She turned towards Garr. "How long will it take us to get to the exit?"
"Perhaps two hours, at our current pace," the Dragon-like man stated.
"That long…?"
"Unfortunately."
Ryu kept his eyes focused on the ground as he walked, not entirely aware of the conversation. He kept remembering the flashback he had the night before, and each time the memory replayed itself in his mind, a dull pain ached at the side of his head.
"Ryu…?" Nina called, concerned. "Are you… okay?"
"H-huh?" He looked up at her. "Oh, I'm fine, don't worry…" He shook his head. "But are you okay? You're sweating terribly…"
"Oh, it's just really hot, that's all." She smiled, trying to reassure him.
He then glanced at the other girl. "Momo's just as bad…" He reached into his bag to pull out their water container to offer to the girls, but the water had become so hot that it was completely undrinkable.
"Pukyu…" Peco moaned as he slowed to a stop.
"Peco, are you all right?" Nina knelt beside the onion. "Are you hurt?"
Garr knelt down as well, observing Peco's condition. "Mayhap he tires."
"I think so too," Momo agreed. "Onions aren't able to grow in this kind of temperature, and since Peco's a walking, bouncing onion…"
The boy approached them, worried. "Why don't I just transform and fly us all out of here? I can fly outside, over the blocked path around the mountain."
The winged man nodded. "A plausible idea, though I believe you can carry me not."
He sighed softly. "Yeah, that's that problem…"
"However, I will be all right alone." He stood up, his massive form towering over the others. "We shall meet outside."
Ryu nodded. "Okay, be careful, Garr."
"Wait!" Nina cried. "We haven't agreed to anything yet!"
"That's right!" Momo joined in.
"Nina, Momo…" The boy sighed again. "There's no time to argue about this, okay? I've to take at least Peco to a cooler place."
"Oh, right…" The princess shook her head. "Sorry…"
"Don't be." He smiled. "I just want all of you to be safe, not in a dangerous place like this."
With that statement, his mind willed the transformation of his body. In a burst of light and a magical dark sphere, the golden scales of the Trygon gleamed, wings spread in eagerness to fly.
Ryu was glad that there was hardly any trace of anger or violence this time.
Momo beamed. "Thanks, Ryu."
He gave a low growl in reply, as he flattened himself on the ground so that the girls would be able to climb onto his broad back. Nine climbed up first, with Honey sitting on her shoulder, while Momo picked their onion companion and climbed up behind her. Once they were securely seated on the Dragon's back, he straightened slowly.
Then, with a farewell growl to Garr, he took off into the air as gently as possible.
"Be careful, Garr!" the princess shouted.
He merely nodded.
And all four of them disappeared through the cavern entrance.
Now alone, Garr did not immediately move, despite knowing he had a long ways more to go. Instead, he stayed where he was silently, as though contemplating.
"He flaunts not his power; his only purpose to protect." Uncertainty flickered across his eyes. "I wonder… I wonder if…"
He clenched his fists as he reaffirmed his resolve.
"No. I must complete the task bestowed upon me. Regardless of my thoughts…"
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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The sky was a clear blue colour, with white clouds floating lazily in the air, the sun shining merrily down onto the dry ground of the Rhapala region. Smoke rose from the mouth of the volcano, signifying its activity, and a trail of cooled lava ran from its peak to the sea, blocking the stone path in the process.
He had been there for a long time… four hundred years? Five? He had lost count after exactly three hundred and eleven years; his mind was not as sharp as it was before. He had always been waiting there, waiting and waiting for someone who he wasn't sure would turn up.
But life certainly wasn't dull.
Once upon a time, the path through the volcano had a traveller passing through every other day. People no longer used it, however, but then he was able to pass the time chatting with the senile – or perhaps actually sane? – old man who moved in decades ago with his pet lava serpents. If it wasn't that, there were always the mindless brawls of the volcano monsters; these creatures could never pass a day without crying, yelling or fighting each other.
Except, during the most recent eruption, he had been forcefully tossed out of the lava like a person discarding trash, buried within the lava when it cooled.
Life was never dull.
Of course, there were times he wondered if he had wasted his time waiting.
When he was alive, he was once a Protector; a person given the task of protecting the Chosen One from harm as the latter completed his quest. But, as fate would have it, he was born as a Protector in times of peace.
The Destined One, whose very quest was to battle against their millennia-long enemy, would only appear during war.
So there he was, a Protector without the Chosen One to protect.
He spent his living years training, regardless, and protecting the young and the elderly from harm. But there was still that burning feeling, the unfulfilled desire to complete his task as the Protector. Even after he had died, even after his great body had turned into chrysm, he still waited for the Destined One.
Until today, when he could feel his presence. Surely this was the one he had been waiting for, for his aura was distinguishable. Already his very spirit was tingling with partial fulfilment; at least he finally knew his wait hadn't been wasted.
And there he was; a small boy. With electric blue hair that was the Destined One's known trait, azure eyes that focused right at him and one hand to reach out gingerly to touch the surface of the chrysm crystal.
He smiled. He was glad, for he knew he would finally be free of the cage that had held him prisoner for centuries.
The boy must have felt his gladness too, for he could feel his surprise.
"I have been waiting for you, my lord. It is my destiny as a Protector to aid you in your battle. Though little of my power remained, will you still accept it?"
Years of yearning filled his heart; yearning to complete his quest, yearning for the sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. Even if the boy could not hear his words, surely he could feel his emotions.
And the Destined One nodded, a smile forming on his lips.
Yes. You don't have to be imprisoned here anymore. You're free.
Joy filled his heart, the heart that had been yearning.
A great burst of light engulfed them as the spirit joined the Chosen One, giving all his remaining power to the latter.
Then, within the blink of an eye, the boy was no more, and in his place was a colossal Dragon. Instead of the elegant, long-necked ones like the Force Dragon, this Dragon form was more oval in shape, like a rock-shelled tortoise with four massive horns spreading upwards at its sides, except the green and yellow "shell" was its scales. While its fangs were sharp, they were not made for biting; the very size of its body was a good enough indicator of strength.
The spirit within him, the Dragon form's owner, then spoke.
"Behemoth; my Dragon form, my lord. Please use it as you will."
The Destined One was satisfied. He took on another Dragon form – the Trygon – and waited for his companions to climb onto his back before taking off into the air, continuing their journey to their destination.
The Behemoth's spirit settled down within him, and found that there were two others as well. One merely smiled and shook his hand amicably, while the other glared at him in hostility.
He smiled.
Already three Protectors had gathered. It would be inevitable that they would one day be at war.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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The Urkan region was similar to the Rhapala region – consisting mostly of beige rocks and sand – but unlike the latter, this region had even more mountains, with one stone path winding between huge crevasses, and the exit of Mt. Zublo connected to the highest point of this path. In the east, a settlement stood on the distant horizon, seemingly isolated from all civilisation as it sat among all the mountains. Beyond that was a tall temple made of brown stone, which gave a definite ancient look.
And there… there, in Angel Tower, the young boy would finally learn of his brethrens, finally learn the answers to his questions.
However, despite the fact that the settlement (which Garr referred to as Urkan Tapa) was within sighting range, the group spent two days travelling on the mountain path that wound between the crevasses. It was rather frightening having to walk so high up with space just barely enough for all of them to walk side-by-side, but Nina was not afraid at all, for she knew that Ryu would rescue her the moment she fell.
After Garr had rejoined them outside the exit of Mt. Zublo, somehow he seemed even quieter than before. Yes, the others had already known that he was the calm, quiet sort, with a manner of speech differing from theirs, but his silence now became rather unnerving, sending a tensed feeling into the atmosphere and the others a wave of a strange foreboding feeling… it was as though he knew a terrible truth that was kept away from the others.
But they respected him. They did not question him.
Urkan Tapa did not consist of separate houses as the other towns and cities did, but instead had one huge building that seemed as if it was built untidily with giant brown blocks, where each block was a home to one family. However, they were placed in such a way that in order to reach the top level, one would have to use ladders and staircases located in many of the residents' homes.
The residents of the settlement, dressed in robe-like clothes of a similar design, seemed to know Garr, for they clasped their hands together whenever he neared them. They seemed to be truly religious people, bowing to Garr as though he was a God himself, but he merely walked past them without even a glance at them, leading his companions through a series of rooms, ladders and stairs towards the top of the settlement.
One such room was a sermon hall, with a priest standing atop a high pedestal, his arms spread.
"The Goddess is always with us," his clear voice reaching out to the villagers kneeling below. "She teaches us that we must fight evil wherever we find it …"
Ryu shivered and turned away, forcing the voice out of his head. He felt rather uncomfortable, as though he was something these people detested…
Further up from the sermon hall, they came into a brightly lit room where there was a statue of a winged man, with an appearance very similar to Garr except for the way his face was shaped – he was massive and muscular, had huge bat-like wings, wore an ancient uniform similar to the one Garr was wearing, and wielded a large halberd with one hand.
"Hey, Garr," Momo called, stopping in front of it. "This statue looks just like you… is it a statue of your brother or something?"
Their large companion paused, seeming as though hesitating, but then just continued on to another staircase without answering her.
She gazed after him, then shook her head. "Did I… say something wrong?"
"I don't think so…" Nina answered.
Ryu felt concerned as he stared onto Garr's back; the winged man seemed rather uncertain about something, as though he had many questions on his mind, as though this place had reminded him of something he wished to forget.
Eventually, they arrived at a large hall, where an old man in grey robes sat meditating on a raised platform lined with a piece of cloth. He sat knowledgeable, like an old sage, but what caught Ryu's attention were his eyes – they stared forward, glassy and dull… was this person blind?
This seemed to be the person Garr was looking for, for he knelt in front of him with his head bowed in respect.
At first, the old man did not seem to realise that someone entered the room. However, he was the first to speak. "…is that you, Guardian Garr?" His voice was wheezy, but still held a firm determination.
Guardian…? Ryu thought bewilderedly.
"Yes, it is I, Patriarch Sudama…" Garr bowed his head in respect. "I have returned."
Sudama smiled kindly. "Welcome back, I hope that you have been well?"
He just nodded, quite unable to voice out the questions he had.
"Good, good." His head turned towards Garr, yet his eyes stared forward, unmoving. "Have you made up your mind to join your comrades?"
"I… suppose so…" There was much hesitation in his voice.
"So it is true, then; there is no more evil in this world. I suppose your intuition was wrong…" The Patriarch shook his head slowly, closing his eyes. "The time has come for you to enter your long sleep now, Guardian Garr."
His eyes were focused on the floor.
"Go to the tower and pay your respect to our Goddess before the great sleep." Sudama looked up slowly. "I will tell the watchmen that you are coming."
"Thank you, Patriarch."
He smiled again. "Farewell, Guardian Garr. May the Goddess be with you on your journey."
"…farewell."
With that, Garr stood up straight and turned, walking straight out of the room without as much as a glance at his companions, as if he was in a hurry to leave. He strode on in this manner all the way to the settlement gates, forcing the others to run in order to catch up to his long strides, but Ryu soon outran him and stopped in front of him, trying to catch his attention.
"Garr…" He shook his head, his eyes pleading. "Please tell us what's going on."
The winged man did not reply, averting his eyes.
"Please, Garr," Nina said, standing beside the boy.
Silently, he walked around them and headed out of the gates, but then he slowed to a stop and glanced over a shoulder at them. "…I shall explain tonight."
"You mean it?" Momo asked hopefully.
"Yes, that I do."
With that, Garr continued out of the gates, and Ryu sighed softly as he watched him.
He's… hiding something…
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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As soon as dinner was over that night, everyone gathered around the campfire, their eyes focused on Garr as they waited for his explanation. They had to be patient, though, for he still remained silent for a long time, seemingly hesitating.
"Garr…" Nina called, looking up at the huge figure of her companion. "You can trust us, we're your friends…"
The winged man shook his head slowly. "No, it is not because I trust you not that I withhold my explanation…"
"Then why don't you tell us?" Momo asked. "Whatever it is, we can take it."
"…all right." The Guardian took a deep breath, then gazed into the fire. "Though our looks differ, I am one of them… I, too, am an Urkan."
"I see." Ryu shook his head. "But that person earlier called you a Guardian…"
He nodded. "Yes, I am a Guardian. A Guardian is what Urkan warriors are called, tasked to protect our people from evil and harm." He looked at each of his companions in turn. "The only Guardian remaining is I, for only I feel evil still exists."
The princess thought for a moment. "Um, what kind of evil?"
"Aught and all that can and will threaten our very existence." Then, he straightened. "That is all I will yet tell you… the rest you will come to understand once we reach Angel Tower." There was certain finality in his voice that told them he would not tell them anymore.
They sighed softly, disappointed with this rather short explanation, but they did not pressure him further. First Momo entered the tent, then Peco and Honey, followed by Nina, but just as Ryu was about to do the same, the Guardian spoke again.
"And… about what you have been told… that you may die…"
Ryu stopped, puzzled and yet afraid, but said nothing as their backs faced each other.
He shook his head. "No… never mind. You will understand once we arrive at Angel Tower…"
"…all right."
With that, the boy joined the others in the tent, his mind whirling with questions and confusion.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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That night, Ryu found that was quite unable to sleep. He tossed and turned, often finding himself staring at the dark ceiling of the tent and thinking of Angel Tower.
This is it… I'll finally find out about myself…
He was looking forward to entering Angel Tower, yet part of him dreaded going there… Why was it that he felt as though something bad would happen? Why was it that he felt that he would once again be separated from his friends, just like the time when he was first attacked by Balio and Sunder?
He sighed softly and sat up, deciding to take a walk before attempting to sleep again, but it was only then that he realised that Nina was not at her usual sleeping spot in the tent. He began to panic – did something happen to her?
To his relief, he found her just outside, sitting on medium-sized rock with her eyes focused on Angel Tower that stood some distance away. Her back was towards her so he could not see her expression, but he went to her side, sitting beside her.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, turning towards her, but he trailed off when he saw that she was crying, with tears sliding down her cheeks. "Nina? What's wrong…?"
"Oh, Ryu!" she cried, suddenly throwing her arms around him.
He was startled. "N-Nina?"
"I… I'm scared!" she sobbed. "What if something happens to you tomorrow? What if you die?"
"Nina… I…" He put a hand on her shoulder, not quite knowing what to say.
She shook her head quickly. "I don't want you to die! I don't want you to leave me all alone!"
For some reason, he did not feel terribly despaired or afraid, unlike the first time Garr mentioned that he would die. He smiled at her, trying to reassure her. "Nina, I won't die tomorrow, that's a promise."
It took a while for the princess to calm down, but gradually she did, looking up at him as she sniffed. "R-really…?"
"Yes, I promise. I won't ever leave you alone if I can help it."
"I… okay…" She tried to smile, wiping her tears. "I trust you, Ryu."
"I trust you too." He nodded, still smiling. "You should go and sleep now, you'll feel better, and you'll need your strength for when we climb the tower tomorrow."
She nodded as well and stood up from the rock, slowly walking back to the tent. Before she entered, though, she stopped for a moment, looking over a shoulder at him, smiled slightly and then went inside.
Ryu turned back towards Angel Tower, his own eyes focused on it. He had felt strong earlier, so he was able to reassure his companion… but now? The foreboding feeling had returned, this time stronger than before.
And he had no idea why.
"Lord Ladon… please give me strength…" he unconsciously muttered.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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As seen from the distance, Angel Tower was built with brown bricks, shaped like a pyramid with three sets of stairs leading to the top, where a large slab of stone with unknown carved characters stood. Garr led them up the nearest staircase, past the Urkan watchmen, but instead of heading to the top, he soon detoured to a ledge about halfway up the stairs and entered a large doorway there.
The interior of the temple, however, was different as the walls and floors were made of green and grey bricks rather than brown ones like the exterior, with strange characters and patterns decorating the walls in a repeated pattern. Torches above them dimly lit the halls, the air was musty, and everything was covered in a thick layer of dust… clearly no one had been in this holy site for a long time.
And they began downwards, towards the lowest floor deep underground.
However, the further Garr led them, the more nervous Ryu grew. Yes, he had yearned for answers – questions as to who he was, why he had woken up without memories, and why he was the only Dragon left. Where had his brethrens gone? Why had they been branded as villains, destructive monsters aiming to destroy the world?
Yet, there was this unexplainable feeling deep in his heart… sorrow? Despair? Foreboding? Yes, that was it. A foreboding feeling. A sense of dread that made him longing to turn and run away from the truth he sought for… but why? He had done nothing wrong, he had only wanted to learn the truth of his past…
I'm scared, I guess… even after I promised Nina that I wouldn't die here…
But he knew that was not it. It was beyond fear… a foreboding feeling.
Something had happened here in the past. Something relating to his ancestors.
And something would happen down here.
Then, abruptly, Garr stopped, causing the other four to bump forcefully into him.
"Whoa!" Momo exclaimed as they disentangled themselves. "What is it, Garr?"
"We have arrived," was the quiet answer.
Taking a step from behind the winged man for a better look, Ryu peered into the darkness beyond. There was a wide stairway that led to a lower floor, but he could not see beyond the first few steps. However, even as he gazed forward, his heart felt as heavy as a rock.
This was it. The place that was giving him that foreboding feeling… that something bad would happen.
"This is… the place?" he asked uncertainly.
"Yes." Garr turned slowly, facing the others with a look of calm resolve. A look that somehow sent a chill down Ryu's spine. "…but pray allow Ryu and I to continue on our own."
"Why?" Nina immediately protested. "Why can't we go too?"
"Nina…" The boy shook his head.
Momo put a hand on the princess' shoulder. "Nina… I'm sure Garr has his reasons."
Garr's eyes narrowed with what seemed like regret. "Forgive me." Then, he turned to walk down the staircase.
"I'm sorry, Nina…" Ryu said regretfully, but inwardly, he agreed with his larger companion. She would be better off not seeing whatever it is that lay in store for them.
He spun around and was about to take a step downwards when Nina grabbed his arm.
"Ryu! I… I-I…" She trailed off, as if she had no idea what she had wanted to say.
He faced her once more and assured her gently, "Don't worry, I won't die here. If something really happens to me that we're separated… I'll gradually return to you." He smiled. "I promise."
"I… I…" She looked like she was holding back tears.
Gently, he put a hand on her shoulder. "Nina, you told me you wanted to be stronger for me… please be strong, okay?"
She gradually looked up, trying to smile between her tears. "O-okay, I will…"
"That's good." Ryu nodded, stepping away. "I promise I'll return, and I don't intend to break it." And, with one final smile, he turned and headed down the staircase.
"Good luck!" Momo said cheerfully after him. "We'll be waiting here!"
Nina sank to her knees, her tearful eyes gazing at his back as he disappeared into the darkness, despair taking over her heart.
She felt as though she had just seen his last smile.
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-o-o-o-o-o-
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At the bottom of this particularly long staircase was an enormous room, with a huge green pyramid-like monument right in the centre, and at each of its four sides was a slab of stone. Ryu shivered – for some reason this place made him feel terrified, as though there was a fearful power here…
"Cast your eyes upon these stone tablets," Garr instructed, in a voice that was devoid of emotion.
Ryu realised that something was amiss with the Guardian, but he did not argue and obeyed. The four slabs actually had inscriptions carved into them, and the first three he read said:
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Guardian Gaist
234
Guardian Gaw
198
Guardian Gatz
201
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He shivered again as he headed towards the last slab. "T-these are the names of your comrades, aren't they?"
Garr did not answer.
The boy then stopped in front of the fourth and final stone slab, and leaned over closely as he read the name on it.
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Guardian Garr
299
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He turned nervously to face his large companion. "G-Garr?"
"Your eyes deceive you not," the Dragon-like man said quietly. "These are but the names of us Guardians."
The boy gazed at him, feeling more and more nervous… he wished he could run away, leaving all this behind him… but he had to hear the truth. The truth he had sought for so long…
But nothing would have prepared him for what he would hear next.
Garr turned away. "…us Dragon slayers."
Ryu froze.
"The number below my name…" he continued, gesturing towards the stone slabs. "…a great many Dragons whose lives taken by my blade, in the great war."
He staggered back, away from him and the stone slab, his eyes wide with shock.
Dragon… slayers…?
He began to tremble.
The reason I'm going to die… is because he's going to kill me…
His heel touched the edge of the floor and he spun around in reflex. Before him, wisps floated upward from the darkness, illuminating the room slightly…
…and what he saw made him collapse weakly to his knees.
Dragon skeletons.
Hundreds of them.
He stared at them, his eyes wide, his heart hoping desperately that it was only a dream.
M-my family… no… t-this can't be…
The wisps from the skeletons floated all over the room, and Garr ignored them as he continued speaking, "Ryu, allow me to tell you the answer you sought. What happened to the Brood…"
"No!" Ryu cried, slamming his hands over his ears as images of flames and blood tore across his mind, sharp pain surging through his head. "I don't want to hear it!"
"Five hundred years ago," he went on, a blank expression on his face as he stepped away from the boy. "The savage and malevolent Brood sought control of the world. The fierce war continued for a hundred years…"
More flashes of images of death.
"No!" Ryu was doubled over now, his eyes shut tightly to endure the pain. "It's wrong!"
"The Dragonkin were strong… powerful… but our mighty Goddess bestowed upon us her holy power, thus turning us into her Guardians. Victory is but ours to claim." Garr took a deep breath. "Many a year had passed since the Brood were defeated… and their bones lay here, forgotten by all but us Urkans."
By now, the boy no longer had the strength to even shout. "S-stop…!"
He spun around, his hand gripping the pole of his halberd tightly, his eyes hard. "Ryu… you are the last of the Dragonkin. Once your breath leaves you…" Abruptly, he raised his weapon high above his head, getting into his battle stance. "…I will see my task completed!"
"N-no… Garr…!"
Remorse flashed across Garr's eyes, but he recomposed himself as he cried, "Prepare yourself!"
He charged forward, his great blade ready to strike him, but Ryu, who was still doubled over in pain, did not move. The halberd stabbed towards him, ready to slice through his heart… but the moment it was only inches from him, suddenly the wisps that were floating around gathered in front of him, and the spirits of the Protectors – the Force Dragon, the Trygon and the Behemoth – resonated furiously within him.
A strong barrier of light formed like a physical shield before him, forcing the weapon back.
"W-what manner of sorcery is this?" Garr exclaimed.
The wisps separated again, circling around Ryu. The pain in his head already subsided, he slowly stood up again, albeit a little shakily, with despair showing plainly on his face.
"Garr! Don't!" He shook his head. "I don't want to fight you!"
"Transform!" the winged man commanded, a little too harshly, with a hint of despair in his voice. "Will you not defend yourself?"
"You know why I won't turn into a Dragon, Garr! I won't ever use it other than to protect!"
"It pains me to hurt a defenceless opponent, Ryu, especially one I have learned to trust… however!" He twirled his spear once. "I live for but one purpose; to destroy all evil known as the Brood!" Once more he rushed forward with a loud battle cry, his halberd coated with great crimson flames.
Ryu, his confused mind unable to choose between protecting himself by hurting and letting himself be killed, stayed rooted on the spot as he stared wide-eyed at the burning blade.
Fear then struck his heart, and his instincts overwhelmed his mind.
In one swift movement, he pulled out his sword and slashed once.
There was a flash of light from him as a great roar that echoed through the room. Then a powerful force, formed in the shape of a Dragon by the wisps, slammed into Garr, sending his weapon spinning across the ground several feet away. It was strong, much stronger than he had fathomed, and it forced him back against the stone tablet that had his name.
"Ugh…" Garr groaned, shaking his head. "Though fully unleashed not, my power compares not to yours…" He gazed up at the dark ceiling of the room. "It is as I suspect… we were, from the beginning, far outmatched by the true power of the Brood… but… why…?" He turned his eyes on Ryu again, golden eyes that were filled with desperation. "Why did the Dragons resign to death by our blades…?"
The boy, gasping for breath, did not answer as he stared in horror at what he had done.
"N-no… I…" His sword fell to the floor with a loud clang. "I-I don't want to…"
"What?" Garr gazed upon him in disbelief. "Why will you take not my life?"
"I don't want to!" Ryu shook his head quickly, despairingly. "I know in reality you don't want to do this; you're only doing it because your duty forces you to!" He took a step forward. "You're my friend! Someone I could and have trusted! If you wanted to kill me, you would've already done it from the start instead of helping me!"
"Ryu…" Shaking his head, his voice grew hard. "No, you are far mistaken. If you restrain your weapon now, then I shall not! I will claim your life!"
"I don't care! I… I…!" Tears formed in his eyes. "I don't want to kill anyone! Especially not someone I trust!"
Then, the wisps that had been circling around Ryu took on a larger shape that both the boy and the Guardian knew too well.
Dragons.
Spirit of the dead Dragons, their transparent forms floating above Ryu.
Garr gasped, his eyes wide. "Spirits… of the Brood…"
They growled.
"Why will you not kill him, Lord Ryu?" a loud booming voice came from one of the spirits.
"He is our hated enemy!" another cried.
"Avenge your brethrens, Lord Ryu!" a third yelled.
"No!" the boy shouted, covering his ears. He shook his head, shutting his eyes tightly. "I don't want to kill him!"
"He's not your enemy, Ryu!" Ladon's voice rang across the room. "Don't listen to them!"
The Protectors resonated in agreement.
The dead Dragons, however, already had their minds set on their revenge on the Guardian. All of them began shouting at once, all demanding for Garr's death.
"Death to all our enemies!"
"Avenge us, Lord Ryu!"
"He will kill you if you do not do it now!"
"KILL HIM!"
"Ryu! No!" Ladon shouted again.
"Kill him! Kill him!" all the spirits chanted together, their voice angry. "KILL HIM! NOW!"
It was too much for Ryu's young mind to take.
He screamed loudly, his hands grabbing his head in pain, and shone a dazzling light that blinded everyone. A bright pillar of light then shot upward into the air, forcing the spirits back, but when the light dimmed enough to others to see, the boy was hovering in mid-air, encased in a sphere of light.
His eyes, glassy and expressionless, turned golden. His hair, dancing in the magical wind, shone a glorious golden colour.
He disappeared in a flash of light that was accompanied with a great roar that shook the tower.
And in his place was a truly magnificent Dragon.
An elegant Dragon, a graceful Dragon. Its serpentine neck and tail arched like a snake, its horns glowed like a golden crimson jewel. Its muscular body shone its own brilliant golden light, its legs made for speed on land and its wings for air. Its wings, a golden limb tipped with a great golden crimson claw, attached to a pair of feathered wings made entirely of shining light.
And its blue jewel-like eyes – Ryu's blue eyes – stared forward blankly.
Garr gazed at it in shock and disbelief, his mouth open, for he had only heard of this great Dragon in stories told by his old comrades who had long died.
"Kaiser… Dragon…"
The Dragon was calm, hovering in the air as though he was leisurely passing time.
Then, instantly, rage burned in his eyes, and he roared ferociously skyward.
Now uncontrollable, the Kaiser Dragon soared upwards, crashing into the ceiling of the room as he disappeared in another flash of light. The ground rumbled as the ceiling collapsed, gigantic boulders came crashing down onto the floor.
The Guardian, already weakened, was instantly unconscious when a slab of stone broke on his head.
And Nina, who came running down after hearing a loud roar, was just in time to see the glowing form of the Kaiser Dragon disappearing into the darkness above.
"No! Ryu!" she cried into the collapsing ceiling. "Ryu! You promised you wouldn't leave me alone!" She sobbed, sinking to her knees, and then screamed loudly. "RYUUUUUU!"
However, the only reply she received was the distant roar of a Dragon.
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End of Chapter Fourteen.
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Author's Note:
Darn, by the time I reach this chapter, Garr's English is getting more and more modern, rather than partial Elizabethan as I originally intended… I underestimated the language. o_o
And thanks to Ryu bringing the girls out of the volcano and around it instead of through it, we won't see the battle against the crazy old man and the two serpents at the end of Mt. Zublo. Garr can handle them alone, anyway. xP
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Review Replies for Chapter Thirteen:
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To RedemptionWarrior:
Thanks, I'm glad you find the end to Beyd's battle funny!
The Dolphin's personality is confusing to me, actually. I wasn't sure to make him the secretly-cowardly tough guy or the type to be super confident in his strength... and in the end I took the former. Would the latter be better? x_x
Thanks for the review!
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To Jonathan Priest:
Thanks for thinking so highly of my writing!
Seeing how I don't live in either America or Australia and the fact I didn't do much reading on their dialects (which was just me being lazy, I know x_x), I wasn't sure which dialect my scene came out with in the end. I just combined both parts from the game script and hoped for the best. xP
Thanks for the review!
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To Airess Byrd:
Thanks! Beyd's saga was a good time to make it light-hearted, ridiculous and funny, seeing how I usually have this tendency to make a story too serious. I really don't know what Sinkar (Shadis' father) see in that ridiculous bonehead of a sailor; Zig's just way too noob!
Garr is pro, too. Not just in my writing, but in the game itself too. xP
Thanks for the review!
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To Nina Windia:
Thanks! Though sadly, I've no idea how to divide the two parts to include both English dialects in the novelisation itself… or maybe there's a way that I haven't seen yet. x_x
Thanks for reviewing!
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To Confused and Creeped out reade:
I'm inclined to think the lizard is the real thing, not a statue, and I think it's a monster with one mind and two bodies. Disgusting, I know…
After you defeat Gazer (that's the boss' name, by the way), the faerie that appears said, "Now what are we supposed to do? After we went to all the trouble to get Gazer to guard it…" So I assume it's a monster the faeries planted there.
But thanks for the compliment and the review!