Entering the throne room felt like approaching the executioner's block. With each step, Kain had to resist the urge to swallow hard, his throat feeling tight and constrained against an imagined noose squeezing around his neck.

Richard strode ahead. The sight of his father's back should have been a comfort, but it only added to Kain's confusion and anxiety – what would King Odin say? Odin had obviously forgiven Richard's desertion, and whatever else had happened on the doomed airship, and allowed Richard to come back to Baron now. What did that mean for Kain? And more importantly, what did that mean for the Dragoons?

Outside the throne room, Richard paused, glancing back at Kain. Richard wore his helmet, the visor down, his expression anonymous behind the black scaled dragon helm. "Ready?" Richard asked, his voice low and muffled.

"Yes," Kain answered, trying to sound confident and feeling anything but.

"Remember the end goal, Kain," Richard said, clapping a hand to Kain's shoulder. Kain couldn't tell if the gesture of camaraderie was genuine or forced. "Soon, we'll rule the skies together."

It was strange to Kain, then, to realize in all his fantasies of flying free, he had never imagined his father by his side, despite Richard also being a dragoon and ostensibly sharing Kain's love of the sky and wind. "Together," Kain repeated, but the word tasted bitter on his tongue. He had said it too often to Rosa and Cecil; it felt insincere to offer it to anyone else.

Despite Kain's doubts, together, they stepped through the big double doors into the throne room. Their guard escort remained behind, two of the guards pulling the doors closed with a dull thud. Richard lifted his visor; the gesture told Kain that while Richard was still cautious about his identity around other soldiers, he seemed to trust everyone in this room.

Inside, Kain expected to find King Odin alone, as he usually did when taking sensitive reports, but Barbariccia stood to one side of the throne, while a tall figure in black horned armor stood on the other. Barbariccia offered a smile as the two dragoons approached, but Kain was jealously unsure whom it was for.

"Your Majesty," Kain said, going to one knee in a kneel. Beside him, Richard hesitated, and in Kain's peripheral he saw Richard frowned. Richard quickly mastered himself, however, and mimicked Kain's kneel, though it was less fluid and seemed awkward, like Richard had not performed the gesture in too long.

"Commander Highwind," King Odin said, with an odd sort of smile that showed his white teeth. "Welcome back home."

"Thank you, sir," Kain said, rising back up. "I've come to give report on the Mist mission."

Surprisingly, Odin made a dismissive gesture. "No need. Barbariccia has already informed me. Now, we must focus on the next steps."

This seemed so unlike the King Odin he knew that Kain was caught off guard. "Sir?" he said, with a dozen questions packed in the single word address.

"You have misgivings," Odin said, and it was a statement, not a question. He glanced at Richard and a look was exchanged between them, although Kain could not guess its meaning. "Was I right to suspect Cecil has turned traitor?" Odin's eyes returned to Kain, but now they were narrowed, and a frown creased Odin's mouth, deep in his beard. "Has his treason also spread to you? Do you not trust your liege lord? Is that why the summoner child still lives, not by chance but by your misguided mercy?"

"Sir…" Kain began to protest, but it was too close to the truth for him to truly deny.

The figure in black armor stepped closer, placing an arm on Odin's arm. He leaned in closer, his deep voice in a low murmur, "Perhaps I could explain things more effectively to Commander Highwind." Strangely, Kain sensed it was not a request, having the tone of command.

Odin blinked, his angry expression resetting to neutral. He offered a bland smile to Kain. "Lord Golbez, take Commander Highwind and… explain things." He folded his hands together, fingers laced together. "Perhaps once Commander Highwind understands the stakes, he will appreciate our tactics."

Were dragons worth this? Kain wondered, and the greedy part of his heart cried out in the affirmative.

"Come along, Commander Highwind," Golbez said, stepping down from the throne's platform, his boots clicking on the stairs. As he passed both Richard and Kain, Golbez did not glance back to see if Kain followed, and Kain had the impression that Golbez was used to being immediately obeyed.

Still, Kain hesitated.

Richard turned to Kain, his expression softening with sympathy. "Lord Golbez offers much wisdom and opportunity. You would do well to listen to him carefully and open your mind." He paused a moment, then added, "Trust me."

Kain stood on the top of the roof, peering over the edge with palpable uncertainty, highlighted by fear.

"You have dragoon's blood in your veins!" Richard called out from the ground, "You'll land soundly."

"How do you know that?" young Kain asked, full of trepidation. "What if I don't?"

"Trust me," Richard said, cracking a grin. "As I trusted my father, and he his father before him."

Strengthened by his father's belief in him, Kain took a deep breath, and jumped.

"I trust you," Kain said, desperate to be that faithful child again, hoping that by saying it, he could convince himself it was true. Kain fell in line behind Golbez as he exited the throne room.


Kain was not sure where he expected Golbez to take him, but it was not to King Odin's private quarters. Kain had only ever been to the king's study once when Odin had made his dark knight proposal. Now, he walked through the apartment's large hallway, into a new room.

It was larger than most rooms in the castle, mostly empty, a sandy circle in its middle. At the other end were racks of various weapons and shields, and several benches lined the walls. It was an indoor sparring pit, the realization hit Kain, closely followed by another – this was where Cecil had his dark knight training. Although the sand was clean now, Kain could still smell old blood in the air, the effect making him shudder with unexpected dread.

Golbez strode through the room to its opposite end. "I find the best measure of a man is muscle against muscle." With his back to Kain, he pulled his helmet free from his head and set it aside. "Fight me, Commander Highwind, and we shall learn who the other truly is."

This is madness, Kain thought, feeling strangely giddy, like this was a huge joke he hadn't been let in in. But in the next moment, Golbez turned to face Kain, looking up at him as he unstrapped a gauntlet and Kain's heart nearly stopped in his chest.

How could someone else look so much like Cecil? Kain had always thought of Cecil as oddly unique, resembling no one else, locally born or foreign. But now Golbez was before him, defying that expectation. Golbez's hair and eyes were an eerily similar gray, though a few shades darker, like the shadowy side of Cecil's bright moon. Was this another off shoot of the Harvey family tree, and if so, what was Odin's relationship with that family that he elevated the Harvey men to such positions of prestige and power?

Kain wondered this all, staring dumbly at Golbez.

"Commander Highwind," Golbez said Kain's name like a summon, abruptly breaking Kain's dazed stupor. If Golbez looked even a little bit like Cecil, his mannerisms and speech were markedly different. It felt uncomfortable even looking at Golbez, like he wore another's ill-fitting clothes and it embarrassed Kain to witness. The effect made Kain look away, abruptly dropping his eyes to the floor.

Without thinking about it, Kain pulled off his helmet, setting it aside. He suddenly found he wanted to fight, as if that would fix the wrongness Kain saw in Golbez, as if his fists could make Golbez look less like Cecil. The darkest part of him knew that there would be a twisted triumph in hurting someone who looked like Cecil, but Kain would not admit that to himself.

Apparently satisfied by Kain's compliance, Golbez said nothing else. In near silence, they finished unarmoring themselves, with Kain refusing to look Golbez's way. His eyes were still on the floor as he walked to the sand circle, standing opposite Golbez. When Golbez said nothing, standing still as a statue, Kain was finally compelled to look up and meet the familiar gray gaze.

"You enjoy being better than other people, don't you Kain?" Golbez said. Both the question and use of his name made Kain feel oddly exposed, as if Golbez already knew everything about him even before their fight. What, if anything, had Richard told Golbez about Kain? "Show me how you're better than me," Golbez prompted, bringing his fists up in front of him, knees sinking into a defensive stance.

Kain didn't need more than that, swinging out his fist; it connected easily with Golbez's jaw with a sickening thud, sending Golbez staggering back with the force of the blow – he had not been expecting it, Kain guessed, by the brief surprise on his face. Golbez straightened, holding his jaw in his hand, and spit out a mouthful of blood. "Does that make you feel better?" Golbez asked, his teeth showing red as he spoke; the sight of it satisfied Kain in a way he had never felt before.

"Yes," Kain admitted gruffly, pulling his fists back up, ready to strike again.

"What else do you want?" Golbez asked as he also raised his fists. "What else does the world owe you?"

"Nothing," Kain grunted, wildly throwing another punch. This time, Golbez dodged it easily, ducking to the side.

"Everyone desires," Golbez countered with his own punch, but Kain had his arm up to block. "What keeps you up at night? What power do you covet? What do you long for but lack?"

The onslaught of uncomfortable questions made Kain shy back, putting distance between him and Golbez. He thought of his father's promise, of skies so blue his eyes hurt, of air so clean it had never been in another's lungs, of the liberty to go wherever one wanted, astride a fearsome and loyal companion who would fight alongside him and never leave him behind.

"A dragon," Kain said abruptly, looking anywhere but at Golbez, wishing he weren't here.

"Too easy," Golbez replied, not advancing or retreating, but fists still up. "That's what Richard wants – what you think you should want. What do you want?"

"I don't know!" Kain shouted, then lunged forward, with open hands, wanting nothing more than to drag Golbez to the ground and punch him until he stopped asking strange questions. Kain hated Golbez with an intensity that overwhelmed Kain, drowning out all other thoughts. Kain did not get far, however. A strange shiver ran through him, abruptly stopping him in his tracks.

What do you want? A new voice whispered across Kain's mind.

Kain fell to his knees with an agonized groan, holding his head between his hands. Months later, when asked about the experience of being under Golbez's mind control, Kain would beg off the question. Most assumed he just did not want to talk about it, but the truth was he could not accurately describe what happened to him or what it felt like. It was like having a full cup and pouring more liquid in; slicing a knife through an animal's pelt, exposing the skin and fat layers below; a thundering headache between the temples, threatening dim vision and dizziness; it was both like and unlike so many different things that Kain would never have words for it.

Internally, Kain scrambled for defenses he didn't know how to use, tucking away his thoughts in the small parts of his mind, hiding himself. He felt an insidious tugging at the edges of his attention, something trying to sneak in, but Kain shrugged it aside.

Kain was so distracted he did not feel Golbez's fingers in his hair, dragging his head upward. It wasn't until Golbez's fist struck his cheek and sent him sprawling to the ground that Kain became aware of his physical body again. He sucked in air sharply between his teeth, hissing in pain. He staggered to his feet, fists up, ready to defend himself.

When Golbez struck again, Kain was prepared, catching Golbez's arm in his hand. Anger animated his muscles, making him feel bigger and stronger, driven by the need to see more of Golbez's blood. He drew his other hand back, making a fist, and prepared to throw his whole shoulder into the punch on Golbez's face.

Do you enjoy being superior? the voice inside Kain's mind asked, the words poking tiny knives into the back of Kain's skull. Kain released Golbez and stumbled back, doubling over. He held his head in his hands, feeling like his skull might crack open and his brain would leak out all over the sandy floor.

Let me in, Kain, the voice insisted, I could offer you so much…

An image came to Kain's mind, of him striding through the halls of Baron, in shining, resplendent new armor. The dragon helm was done in white and blue, its reptilian fringe in a contrasting red. There was a regalness to this dragon armor that Kain had never seen before. Just as he had that thought, Kain's fantasy-self entered the throne room, striding confidently forward. But he did not bow or kneel before any figure, instead, went to the throne and sat. Muffled from outside was a loud, trumpeting bellow. But it was not the familiar sound of an airship's engines, instead sounding like the roar of a…

"No!" Kain shouted back, although out loud. He pushed aside the mental image, refusing to think on it further. If he could keep all his desires hidden, then they couldn't be dragged out and used against him. As he had that determined thought, Golbez picked Kain's head back up, forcing him to look up. Golbez raised his other hand, then struck Kain across the face in a teeth-rattling back-handed blow.

Kain raised his hands up, trying to protect his face from another attack, when he felt another sharp needle digging into psyche.

Wouldn't it be nice? The voice said, offering another picture for Kain – Cecil knelt before the throne, eyes averted, waiting for Kain to gesture him forward, so he could offer report on another successful mission…

As Kain tried to block out the thought, Golbez struck again, his knuckles cracking loud against Kain's nose. It was then he had the sick realization what Golbez's goal was – Kain could not defend both his mind and his body at the same time. If he fought Golbez in the flesh, then his mind was open for the insidious probing; if he defended his mind, his body was vulnerable. Kain had to choose which was more important to protect.

As Golbez kicked Kain's legs out from underneath him, Kain tried to keep his arms up around his head; he was aware of each subsequent blow in a vague way, but the pain seemed distant as he turned inward.

The battle inside was more important, Kain decided, chasing away the tempting images that were presented to him, banishing them to the back of his mind, refusing to think about them. He ignored the long line of new hopeful recruits, eager to meet their Dragoon King, all wanting a taste of the sky; he ignored his father's approving nod and Barbariccia's inviting look; he ignored the gathered crowd of Baron citizens, biding him farewell with enthusiastic waves, eager for a glimpse as Kain mounted his dragon and flew away, awe and admiration in their eyes.

Kain did not know how long Golbez beat him, only faintly aware of each punch and kick, of the blood he could taste on each labored inhale, of his vision dimming as his eye swelled over.

It would be so much easier if you just told me what you wanted, the voice told him.

No, Kain protested, though weakly now. He lay curled on his side, half of his face pressed into the sand, his nose streaming blood, each breath punctuated with a wheeze. Before he could stop the thought, he wondered what Rosa would say when saw him, if she'd have the same tenderness she always had for Cecil when he was injured, if she would touch him in the same careful way.

It was this thought that the darkness within him finally seized on, wrenching it free from Kain. It turned the thought over, inspecting it closely. Is this what you desire? It asked, sounding curious. You desire what another has?

It rifled through Kain's memory, looking through and discarding them aside, seeking where the germ of jealousy had first germinated.

"Don't think you can be friends with me," Kain spat, then turned away dismissively, but continued in a mutter, "Just because the king treats you like you're special."

"What did you say?" Finally, there was some emotion in Cecil, a new anger making his voice go high. Kain heard the steps as Cecil quickly approached.

Kain turned to meet Cecil. "Want a fight, do you?" Cecil stopped short before Kain, but had his fists raised up. "What's a soft, spoiled little boy like you going to do to me?" Kain asked, drawing his own fists up.

"I'm not spoiled!" Cecil protested, looking somehow both hurt and angry.

Kain lunged forward and grabbed Cecil by a handful of his shirt, while raising his other hand in a fist over Cecil's head. "Talk back to me, will you?" As the taller and older of the two boys, Kain loomed over Cecil. This was a new feeling for Kain, this satisfaction of being better than someone. He was surprised to find how much he liked it.

"You want to be better than Cecil." It was Golbez who spoke this time, the words sounding strange in Kain's ringing ears. "You want all he has, and more."

Kain did not have the strength to deny it, either in his mind or out loud, only offering a groan in reply as he tried to push himself up off the floor. His arms felt rubbery beneath his weight, barely holding himself up.

"You could have that, you know," Golbez said, almost conversationally, as he offered Kain a hand. "I could strip Cecil of his title and give it to you. You could take his place as Odin's heir and his woman as your queen."

Kain looked up at Golbez and his outstretched hand, squinting through one eye swollen shut.

It wouldn't hurt just to listen…

He could listen, Kain suddenly decided, mistaking it for his own organic thought.

"How?" Kain asked, struggling to shape the word without moving his mouth; it throbbed with pain, making him more aware of his new injuries. Kain took Golbez's outstretched hand, using the leverage to pull himself to his feet. He swayed uncertainly for a moment, as he regained his equilibrium. He vaguely knew he should still be fighting Golbez, but the idea made him so damn tired. And didn't Richard advise him to have an open mind?

"Help me gather the Crystals," Golbez said, a strange new awe in his words. "They are the key to immense power, far beyond anything ever seen before. With them, we can reshape the world under a new vision."

In his mind, Kain now saw Rosa standing under the willow trees of Highwind Manor, looking around at the beauty that surrounded her, not knowing how it paled in comparison to her. She shielded her eyes to look up into the sky, a great shadow passing over her. A blue and white dragon flew overhead, long and sinuous, graceful as it sliced through the air. The sun winked over something metallic on the dragon's back, and the vision clarified, a figure astride the dragon.

"Can you do that?" Golbez's question brought Kain back to the present, and he saw Golbez's eyes intent on him. "Redesign the world with me, the way it should be – with the strong leading the way."

Briefly, Kain saw Cecil, at the helm of an airship, the wind teasing his hair loose, looking over his shoulder, not knowing how his smile could make Kain's heart skip a beat. Hastily, Kain stuffed that vision aside, not wanting Golbez or his darkness to find it.

"Yes," Kain said through clenched teeth, desperate for Golbez not to pry further into him, not wanting to reveal any more secrets or shame. His mind huddled in on itself, just not wanting to hurt anymore, and as he did, more darkness crept in. It circled around Kain's core, sinking barbed needles into the sensitive parts of his psyche.

"Go to the infirmary," Golbez said, and once again, it was spoken like a command. "And see if your pretty white mage treats you the same as this Cecil." When Kain looked aside, embarrassed, Golbez continued, "Then, come to me, and I'll tell you how you can be better."

The words were in his mouth before Kain could think about them. "Yes, Master."