Chapter XVI: The Hero Appears
Lucca pulled the others back a bit as they walked to Toma's place. "Listen," she whispered. "We stay one night, all right? But then it's back to work. No Hero."
"Why not?" Nadia replied, a little too loudly. The others shushed her.
"I don't have time for this… listen, it doesn't matter if there's a Hero or if there's not, our mission doesn't change at all!"
"But there is a Hero!"
"Yeah," Chrono added. "I remember it too, Lucca."
"The Hero was fictional, all right? The only reason people think he existed is because of a stupid prophecy that people thought came true 400 years ago… today. No one saw the Hero defeat Magus. No one saw him after the War. In fact, very few people saw him at all."
"That's not true," Nadia growled. "Lots of people saw."
Chrono cut them off. "Lucca! I don't care what the history books say anymore. You even said they changed. How do we know the Hero doesn't exist in this new history we created?"
"I've read both, remember?"
There was a pause as Lucca's words sank in. Then Robo spoke up. "Miss Lucca – "
"I told you not to call me that."
"Sorry, but Chrono is right. We have seen history change around us, and we have seen every detail of it, far more than what the historians know. Would it be more logical, then, to trust in what happens before us instead of in people who will not be born for 350 more years? After all, it was our devotion to keeping history unchanged that caused us to nearly destroy the future in the first place."
Lucca seemed at a loss for words. "Fine. You win. We'll check it out. But if I'm right, you all owe me big."
She and Robo picked up their pace until they were even with Toma and Mama. Nadia was about to go, but Chrono stopped her. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you look like you haven't slept in days. You don't look so… you. Are you just tired from… you know…"
"I'm fine."
"No you're not."
Chrono didn't noticed the others had stopped, and he walked right into Lucca. "Hey!" He apologized quickly.
They were standing in front of a small house – a cabin, really. It was only one story. Instead of windows, there were square holes in the logs, and instead of a door there was a rectangular hole with a curtain draped in front. Why they draped a curtain in the door, and not over the windows, Chrono couldn't tell. He guessed there was nothing inside worth stealing, at least not anymore. What was most startling to him, though, was the fact that such a famous man from history had to deal with these living conditions. This was Toma's house? Toma, the famous explorer and discoverer of ancient artifacts?
With a flip of her wrist, Toma's mother motioned for them to follow her inside. But they didn't get within ten feet of the door before about six people burst out to meet them – all of them staring at Toma. The explorer's face turned white. "Son!" the tallest man cried, rushing to embrace him. Toma didn't look comfortable in his father's arms, and he looked less comfortable knowing the others had crowded around and were waiting for their turn. "How fortunate you should return today, when your sister and her family are all here to see the Hero! Two miracles in one day!" Next in line must have been the sister, for she had Toma's large build and seemed just as uncomfortable with all the display of affection. Alongside her was a thin, clean-cut man and three young girls, all of whom wore expressions of shock. Oh, and they all had to look up to see his face.
After the brief introduction, everyone was led into the house. Chrono was surprised, to say the least, that the inside was in such good condition. Granted, it was a bit darker because there was less sunlight, and so his vision wasn't as clear. But the tablecloth looked clean and white (or gray) and the table was already set with stone plates and silverware. There were two pitchers filled with water, though Chrono had to admit the water didn't look very fresh and clean. And the table was only set for seven.
"We'll make room," Toma's father said as he noticed everyone's faces. "I'll prepare some mats in the other room. But Toma, for you – my seat at the head of the table!" Toma smiled politely as his father proudly pulled the chair out and gestured. The other family members sat themselves around the table, all save the brother-in-law, who graciously volunteered to be seated in the other room. Then Toma's father turned to his guests, whom he had seen but never really noticed until now. Chrono, Nadia, and Lucca didn't bother him as much as Robo. The excited expression just washed off his face, though he tried to still appear cordial. He rubbed a balding head and gestured to the other room, and watched Robo in fascination as the machine walked out with the others.
"That is amazing. Toma, does your friend ever remove his armor?"
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Chrono had to admit – he found the meal the most satisfying he had ever had since leaving home. Perhaps it was because this was the safest place he had had a meal. It definitely wasn't because the food was excellent. When it came to culinary skills, Chrono never thought higher of anyone than his own mother anyway.
But thinking about home only made him feel empty again. When would he see his home again – and would it look the same? Everything felt so different now. He saw each second, each moment, in a new way. Now he noticed things, things about life, things about himself, where a year ago he would have gone on ignoring. He thought of his home again, and how he had moved out on his own. Did his mother feel the same way about him that he felt about her? Maybe she had thought she'd never see him again at one point.
He felt his eyes getting a bit watery, so he wiped them with his sleeve and turned his attention back to the food.
"Are you sleepy already?" Chrono looked up. It was the brother-in-law.
"No, no… well, actually, a little. I had a busy day yesterday."
"What?" the other man bellowed, looking indignant all of a sudden. "I never heard of such a stoic! I would imagine any man who had fought against a skeletal monster would bravely admit that he were exhausted! I know if I had crossed my lot with that army of the mystics, and I had come out standing, I would be shouting to the world 'I am weary, I am short of blood, for I have spilled it all on the corpses of my enemies!' and I would have them all look at me, scratched up from head to toe. My prize would be my wounds, you know, and I'd make sure every scar was saved in the annals of Guardia. People would say 'look, that's where he was sliced by a mystic sword. All because he stood bravely for his King.' Sometimes I wish I were still a soldier."
Chrono just grimaced.
"No? Well, you're every bit as stoic as that fool Toma makes you out to be. I had thought he was lying when he talked about you. I hope you know he does that to everybody."
"I can't say I know the man."
"Good. He's a lot of fun and handy when there's work to be done. But he can't be trusted. It can't be helped, I suppose. He got it into his head that his home was in the woods or something, and just disappeared. He comes back today talking about war, and the Hero, and some Shell or treasure he's been obsessing about ever since he got into ancient writings and myths." With that, he went right back to eating his food. Chrono noticed his table manners was glad to see that somebody in the family seemed cultured.
The meal went on in silence for a while. Or at least, no one in the room said anything. But the commotion in the dining room was enough that Chrono was sure his mother could hear it, all the way in the future. And then he started thinking about his mother again, and how she stayed up for three days while he was in prison, waiting for him to be released, and her face when he returned… so he changed the subject.
"Tell me about this Hero," he began. "I mean, have you seen him?"
"No, but I've heard," was all the other man said.
"Okay. What have you heard?"
He seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I don't like him. He may be a hero, but I have to admit I'm skeptical. I've read all the prophecies, too, so don't try to quote them. I'll tell you – and don't tell my wife now – he's a fake."
Chrono shot a glance at Lucca, across the room. She just looked back in puzzlement. "So then," he continued, "he's going to be here?"
"Yes. Tomorrow. My wife is going, but I'm not. If he's the real Hero, I want to see him paraded through the streets with Magus's bloodied head in his hands. Sorry – I don't really want to see that. You understand me nonetheless?"
"Sure. I was just thinking anyway – if I could see him myself."
"If you want – but you'll have to be at the main road early. The main street will be full of men and women long before the 'Hero' makes his glorious appearance. Now if you will excuse me, I require more wine. Oh, sorry, I am mistaken – water. Glad to have met you, sir…"
"Chrono."
"Hm. The name is familiar to me. I can't imagine why. Mine will not be to you, though – Marco. See? Not a glimmer of recognition. Good-night, Sir Chrono." Marco gave him a nod and then made his way to the dining room.
As soon as he was gone, Robo came and sat next to Chrono. "I did not want to interrupt, but I am becoming… what is the right word… bored. Yes, the ladies are not in the mood to talk, so I have had to play popular songs from the 800s to myself. I memorized them all when I lived at Lucca's. Some of them are surprisingly intricate."
"That's wonderful, Robo," Chrono said half-interestedly.
"Have you decided what we will do about the Hero? Sorry, but I overheard you talking about him."
"Yes. If we want to see him, we'll have to get up early and go to the main road. That's all I know."
"Certainly. I can wake you all at an appointed time. Say, a little after dawn?"
"Sure." Chrono played with the meat on his plate a little bit. "Listen, I'm done for today. Let's get back to the inn and get ready. We'll have to be asleep pretty early for tomorrow."
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The next morning came far too quickly. And still the "street" was overcrowded with people. Who were they going to see, a hero or an icon? They were all jabbering amongst themselves, each guessing when the fabled man would arrive, how he would be hailed, how he would walk, talk, look, act. Chrono couldn't hear anyone who had the same opinion. But even with all the disagreement, the people were so friendly to one another. Something about the times brought them together. Or, Chrono couldn't help but think, finally they have a reason to be friendly.
He focused his attention back on his friends, who appeared to be asleep on their feet. Nadia was the most tired of all, having been up far too early due to a bad dream. Her sagging eyes were closed and all her limbs were limp, and she rested her head on Lucca, who was not exactly thrilled to be a headrest. But then, Lucca wasn't exactly thrilled with anything that morning. She had already mentioned several times that they shouldn't even be here – they should be continuing their mission – there was no more time, and so on and so on. Of course everyone else kept saying "this is our mission." She wouldn't listen, though, until Robo spoke to her. Lucca still registered shock every time Robo would out-think her, as if he had somehow betrayed her. The fact that she had taught Robo everything and encouraged him to learn made the "betrayal" more like poetic justice in Chrono's mind.
"It is nearly noon time," Robo blurted. The others hardly heard him, so he repeated his observation. "We have been standing here for four hours. I may not require nourishment and rest, but you do. How much longer will the Hero wait?"
It turned out Robo's comment was uncannily timed. For the moment he was silent, there was a stir in the crowd a little farther up the path. Then a hush, and a trumpet blast. Or rather, a trumpet squeak. The musicians were new recruits, obviously. But everyone gasped with delight as if a battle cry had been played. Then there were shrieks and yelps of admiration – which were immediately drowned out by dead silence. Chrono craned his neck, but couldn't see what the sudden silence was about. The Hero was still far down the road. But he could hear something shouted across the way:
And when the darkness falls,
And evil comes to destroy the earth,
There will come from the South,
A man who will be called a hero,
He will have around his neck the medallion of the Sun
To prove he is who was called,
And in his hand will be a sword of fire
To strike the enemy and undo him forever.
Lucca choked back bitter laughter. "Now we have that out of the way. What do they do, scream the prophecy everywhere the Hero goes?"
Chrono just kept craning his neck until finally he could make out the figures in the distance. In the lead, the one who had likely been "prophesying," was a thin, bony, balding man. He carried himself upright, his pointed nose piercing the air – the same nose he had apparently shouted through. How he managed to be heard from so far away was a mystery. But he could certainly be seen. He wore brightly colored, laced clothes which cost more gold than the king himself could likely afford. And on his feet – two frightening yellow pointed shoes. Surprising that such a clean set of clothes could hold such a dirty-looking man.
But that man wasn't what surprised Chrono the most. Now he looked to the figure on the man's right. More accurately, he looked to the man's right and slightly downwards, for the person on the side was almost half as tall.
It was a boy! This Hero was a little boy!
He was wrapped so thick in royal cloths that almost his whole face was covered. Chrono could see a mess of black hair, black eyes (they could have been brown, but the boy wasn't close enough yet for Chrono to tell), and then red cloth all the way down. Pinned to the cloth was what could only have been the medallion spoken of in the prophecy. No wonder they said it was "of the Sun." The medal reflected light so well it nearly blinded the whole crowd. It was almost enough for Chrono to have believed in the boy right then… except for the "sword of fire." The boy was holding a sword that was really on fire. He held it at great length from his body, though he tried to act as if he was totally in control of the flames and was ready to fight if mystics suddenly appeared.
"That's real subtle," Lucca groaned loud enough for everyone to hear. Then, to Chrono, "see? There's your blessed 'Hero.' This is a waste of time. Let's get out of here."
Just then the man in the fancy clothes stopped the procession. Everything was close enough for Chrono to see. There were several people in the line, each of whom had royal dress. Very tacky royal dress. And behind them was a horse-drawn wagon, which also pulled a raised wooden platform. The fancy man got on this platform and began to speak.
"Behold! The Hero!" The words sounded profane coming out of him. "Do you not take my word seriously?" Yes. "So the Hero is a child! Did someone say to you 'the Hero must be of an age'? No! Only that he would be a man – and this child has become a man today!" He paused as if expecting a cheer. His audience only waited. "Before you is the fulfillment of thousands upon thousands of years of prophecy. Behold the boy! His youthfulness will save us all, for he has yet to see failure! And he will never see failure! It is not the Guardian Army that will save us, nay, nor the King, nor God, nor man, nor beast – but this boy! But I bring an urgent request before you. For though he is valiant, the boy is unprepared for the challenge that awaits him. He has the medallion. And he has the sword. But will that be enough to take on the great sorcerer that is Magus? No. I petition you – no, I urge you – to join me… and the boy. Follow us and follow him to victory! He requires your support, and your names shall all be remembered in the sacred Book as the ones who gave all to serve the greatest cause in history! Hail the Hero!"
Now the crowd cheered, and with no restraint. Chrono and Lucca both plugged their ears, and Nadia perked up finally as if given an electric shock. Robo just twisted his head around, either because he did not understand, or more likely because he understood everything perfectly.
"I can't take any more of this – " Lucca screeched over the crowd, but Chrono missed the last few words. He was probably fortunate for that.
"Isn't that the real prophecy though?"
"Sure. Word for word. But honestly, Chrono, it's so vague that it could apply to anybody. And the prophecy comes from thousands of years ago."
"Yes, but he does have the medal!"
"Which was forged a few hundred years ago and changed ownership many, many times during the period in which we know about it. The hero could have been whoever this kid got it from, or whoever gets it next. Oh, and the prophecy says 'sword of fire,' not 'sword on fire.' How stupid do they think we are?"
"Very! So it's a hoax. I'm sure we can find out more. I vote we stick with the Hero's troupe and follow him around. See what he does. We just might, you know, get another clue."
"Then we'll vote when we get back to the inn tonight. But you know I'm already going to say no."
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Nadia and Robo said yes.
"Not fair," Lucca muttered sardonically. "We'll follow the Hero, then, to his untimely demise, if we have to?"
"No, not at all," Robo replied, totally serious. "We are merely going to study the Hero and analyze how the history fits in with our plan. After all, you are the one most interested in keeping history in balance. We are simply trying to keep that balance."
She just held up her hands in mock surrender. "You're right, you're right, you're always right."
"Thank you. I studied a lot while you housed me."
"So," Chrono interjected, desperate for a change of pace. "We'll get up nice and early again tomorrow, and trek with the… er, 'Hero' and his converts, on his little route south to Porre. Shouldn't be so bad. We were going there already, anyway. Now we'll have company."
"Yes. A child wielding a flaming sword. Enthralling."
"Come on, Lucca. You could at least pretend it's an adventure."
"Not funny. Not funny anymore."
There was a profound silence as everyone remembered the recent battle. Will we ever get over it? "Never mind. I'm ready for bed if you are." After another full meal at Toma's, he could think of nothing but sleep.
"Good night, then." Lucca went to her bed and was immediately out. Robo just went to one of the chairs by the window and stared, deep in thought. Nadia didn't move, though.
"Nadia? Are you all right?" Chrono remembered she hadn't said two words all night. "I mean, are you really sure?"
"Yes. I'm fine," was the curt response.
"No, you're not."
"Just don't talk to me." And with that she hopped in bed.
Chrono remembered hearing crying sometime during the night.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yay! The quickest update in a LONG time.
Anyway, concern no. 1: The prophecy. Yes, for those of you who know the game (if you don't, just skip this part), I tried to make this sound like it came from long, long ago. Like the Kingdom of Zeal long ago. I think it could draw some interesting parallels. So it had to be a little more vague than the game (actually there is no prophecy in the game - only a legend), which basically said the Hero appeared and had the Hero medal. No one says what the thing looks like. I looked at the Square Art, but I'm not too sure if I want to go that way - after all, what is the likelihood of only one of those being forged, and it being forged with no knowledge of the prophecy?
So, long story short, I'm worried about the language of "medallion of the Sun." Since I haven't yet described what's on the medal, I can still choose between an actual medal with a sun on it, or a medal so bright it's like the sun, or, if I want to be real obscure, a medal made of the Sun Stone itself (people from Zeal would have thought the medallion to be the third one anyway). And the sword of fire is poetic, but also - I hope I don't give away too much of my plans - implies the look and color of the sword. The Masamune is made of a bright red rock... and there is also one other weapon later on that is Red. Okay, let that one stir around in the noodle for a while.
Concern no. 2: Fiona and Marco. The only thing I've really changed so far is I brought Marco back earlier (oh, and I put him in Toma's family). Don't ask about my logic for this. It was all quite random... but the reason for all this family stuff is for Chrono and the gang to develop a relationship with Toma (for the Rainbow Shell, of course) and Fiona/Marco (for the Sunken Desert and Campfire sequence). And because I don't have a clue how those later sequences will go, these earlier scenes seem sort of unrelated to the story. At least to me. You can just write off on how confused you were as to the relevance of this chapter.
That's all I want to talk about. Just thank me I was in the mood to write so quickly and put off studying. I will blame you guys for any bad grades I get.