"Ah, You must be Lord Tarius!" The Lindblum guard, stationed by the lift leading to the Regent's office, greeted him with a courteous bow, his voice enveloped in a veneer of false warmth.
"Indeed, I am." Tarius offered a warm smile, though within the depths of his eyes, a chilling calculation lurked. He halted a few steps from the guard, his gaze sweeping over the soldier in silent appraisal.
"Would you care for a sumptuous meal or a guided tour of our magnificent castle before your meeting with the Regent?" The guard extended the offer, gesturing towards the ornate hallways on the right, his tone carrying a subtle hint of insistence. "We have even arranged opulent suites, tailored for esteemed visitors like yourself."
"Lindblum's reputation for hospitality is well-deserved," Tarius chuckled softly, his eyes lingering momentarily on the lavish surroundings. "Yet, regrettably, I must decline." His refusal was offered in politeness, but an unspoken tension hung in the air, as though a perilous game had just commenced.
The guard maintained his fixed smile, but beneath it, a current of unease coursed. He cleared his throat, attempting to conceal his discomfort. "Of course, my lord. If you are certain," he responded, his voice tinged with trepidation. He stepped aside, permitting Tarius to approach the lift.
Tarius nodded, his smile unwavering, yet his eyes harboring something far more ominous. "Indeed, I am quite certain," he replied, his words bearing an unsettling weight. "Duty, as you know, affords little room for indulgence." Deliberately, he entered the waiting lift, and its doors closed with a disquieting finality.
As the lift slowly ascended toward the Regent's office, an uncanny sense of foreboding seemed to infiltrate the very walls of the castle. The Lindblum guard watched the lift's ascent, a gnawing apprehension settling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something undeniably amiss about Lord Tarius and this encounter. Then again, perhaps it was merely a signal that he needed a respite from his post. Fortunately, his replacement would be arriving any moment now.
A few hours later…
"Please, I must speak to the Regent!" Ramza's voice echoed through the grand hall inside Lindblum Castle as he confronted the guards barring his way to the lift.
"Only those with permission may use the lift," one of the guards responded with an air of indifference, their duty seemingly a monotonous routine.
"Then, I implore you, relay to the Regent that someone seeks an audience with him—an urgent matter that cannot wait!" Ramza implored, struggling to maintain his composure. He had always been a paragon of courtesy, perhaps even excessively so, but his patience was wearing thin. He had been attempting to reach the Regent for nearly an hour, and every passing minute seemed to weigh heavier on his conscience. "Will you truly stand here idle, knowing that by aiding me, you may save not only his life but countless others?"
The guard sighed, relenting under the weight of Ramza's appeal. "Very well," he grumbled. "Wait here. I'll go inform the Regent."
"Thank you, but please, make haste!" Ramza urged, his impatience palpable. He could only hope that this delay hadn't cost him more precious time than he could afford. As he waited, each minute felt like an eternity. Finally, after what seemed like an interminable wait, the guard returned.
"The Regent will see you now," he announced tersely. Without another word, Ramza brushed past the guard and stepped into the waiting lift, fervently hoping he wouldn't get lost on the way to his destination. Fortunately, the path was straightforward, and soon he stood before Regent Cid.
"My guard informed me that you have a matter of importance to discuss," the Regent inquired, his gaze penetrating. "Is it related to the rumors circulating about the strange creatures in the plains?"
"Well... Yes, it very well could, your highness," Ramza responded, taken aback by the Regent's question.
"Please, no need to be so formal. You may call me Cid. What is your name? I do not believe we have ever met," the Regent replied, extending a hand in a gesture of warmth as he approached.
"Indeed, we have not. My name is Ramza," he replied, grasping the offered hand briefly. "As you may have already guessed, I am not a local, though I'm afraid pinpointing my origin would be quite the challenge. As for why I'm here, I wish I could find gentler words to convey this, but there is a grave danger looming. If you do not make preparations, the very fabric of your kingdom, including your own life, is at risk, and I fear that would be only the beginning."
Regent Cid's expression shifted from curiosity to a deep concern. "I confess, I have felt an unsettling unease in recent months. Even before the Mist War ended, I feared that achieving peace might be too fragile. However, to imagine disaster striking so swiftly seems almost inconceivable. Nonetheless, I have learned the value of humility over the years. Do you possess any evidence to substantiate your claims?"
Ramza's face fell as he glanced at his empty hands, then back at the Regent. "No," he admitted reluctantly.
"Is there anything else you can tell me?" Cid inquired, his tone polite but with a hint of frustration. Ramza sensed that he had to take the risk of revealing more to make the Regent believe the dire news he had brought. "Alright, I will do my best to recount everything, but I must warn you, it is difficult to believe, and I request utmost discretion."
Cid nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Speak freely; I shall keep your confidence."
Ramza paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. "My full name is Ramza Beoulve. My dear friend Rasler and I find ourselves here because a powerful magical seal was broken. We didn't create the seal; it was far older, perhaps tens of thousands of years old, even in our time."
Cid's brows furrowed with deepening concern. "What was the purpose of this seal, and what caused its rupture?" He leaned in, eager to unravel the mysteries surrounding Ramza's alarming revelation.
"It seals the gateway to the Underworld. Some have called it Hell, though I believe it to be a different realm altogether. During my time, when our lands were known as Ivalice, that seal had also been broken," Ramza explained, his voice tinged with anguish. "We didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. We managed to push through most of the invading forces while the survivors rallied and fought back. Utilizing objects of immense power, we eventually defeated those controlling the armies. Tragically, by then, there were few of us left, and we discovered too late that the fiends could not be truly vanquished—not by any weapon we possessed at the time. So, we hastened to reach the gateway, battling the same fiends once more on our way. My sister… and the woman I loved..." Ramza's voice faltered, and he took a moment to regain his composure. "Rasler and I were the only ones who reached the portal. When we sealed the gateway, we sealed ourselves along with it, to guard against its reawakening."
Cid remained silent, gazing out of a high window over the fields beyond the castle walls. "It seems we have little choice but to prepare for war immediately."
Ramza blinked, taken aback by Cid's response. "You... believe me, even though I have no tangible proof?"
"Do not mistake my intent," Cid replied, turning to face Ramza. "I do not plan to take any action that would endanger my people or potentially offend other kingdoms. I'm merely heeding the warning you've given us as a credible threat. If it proves false, it will serve as valuable training. Besides, I doubt you would have come here without a valid reason. I've encountered many individuals, some of dubious character, but their contributions have shaped Lindblum into what it is today."
Ramza smiled gratefully. "I apologize, but it's been a long time since events unfolded favorably without struggle. I appreciate your trust, and I'll provide any details you seek as accurately as possible."
Regent Cid stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "Tell me about these 'objects of immeasurable power' you used to seal the gateway."
"They were called the Zodiac Stones," Ramza replied after a moment's pause. "Each one appeared unique but possessed the ability to grant the deepest desires of its wielder. Individually, they were potent and perilous, but when united, they held a power that could rival the divine."
Cid's expression grew more concerned. "Is it conceivable to gather all twelve of them again?"
Ramza shook his head. "No, the circumstances then were vastly different..."
The Regent sighed and approached the door. "Very well, for now, let's set that idea aside and focus on what we can achieve. If everything you say holds true, it's prudent to warn Burmecia as well. I'll dispatch a messenger swiftly."
"Pardon my forwardness, but I believe it would be best if I personally delivered the warning to Burmecia," Ramza suggested as he followed Cid through the door.
"Take the lift to the lower floor. The new trolley line will bring you closer to Burmecia than the grotto route, and a guard there will assist with any supplies you require," Cid agreed with a smile.
Ramza nodded and bowed respectfully before stepping onto the lift. "Thank you, once again, for your understanding and assistance."
As the blond-haired man vanished beneath the descending gates of the lift, Cid returned to the throne room and quietly closed the ornate doors behind him. With a heavy sigh, he reached into the inner lining of his robe and retrieved a pink stone, cradling it in his hand. "Is everything that man said true, I wonder..." he mused aloud, his voice carrying a weight of uncertainty.
….
The rains showed no signs of relenting, mercilessly pelting the trodden path until it became a quagmire of mud. If the deluge wasn't bad enough, the wind accompanied it, a wicked assailant that seemed determined to test Ramza's resolve. The tattered tent he had been carrying had been torn to ribbons by the elements, leaving him with no option but to soldier on with unwavering determination. His boots, once relatively clean and well taken care of, were now caked in muck up past the ankles.
In the distance, the remnants of Cleyra stood as a haunting silhouette, while the pale grey walls of Burmecia blended seamlessly into the mountain. Though unseen, he knew he'd reach it within a day, unless the unpredictable weather intervened, as it was inclined to do.
"Surely, this tempest cannot be natural!" Ramza exclaimed, battling to shield his face from the wind and rain's onslaught. His clothes clung to him like a second skin, and the chill of the storm gnawed at his bones. "Ever since we arrived, there has been an unsettling presence about this place..." He raised a hand to his forehead, attempting to discern any abnormality in the saturated landscape, but everything appeared pale and distorted by the ceaseless downpour. "Where are the monsters? Even a well-trodden path like this should attract at least a few feeble creatures in search of sustenance. Could the rain have driven them off?"
As if in response to his inquiry, the ground beneath him began to tremble.
"What's happening?" Ramza muttered to himself, struggling to maintain his footing on the slippery terrain. He let out a grunt of surprise as something emerged from the mire a few yards ahead, transforming from an amorphous mound into a creature resembling a golem with dark, unfeeling eyes, its body seemingly composed entirely of dark mud. "Though I sought signs of monsters, that was hardly an invitation!" Ramza declared, drawing his sword as he braced for the impending confrontation.
The mud creature swung its massive, dripping arm at Ramza, who struggled with every step to evade the attack. Each attempt to pull his feet from the clinging mud was met with stubborn resistance, but the creature's sluggish movements allowed him to break free and dodge its assault. Ramza, panting and mud-smeared, swung his sword at what he presumed to be the creature's head, only to watch his blade become hopelessly embedded in the ever-shifting mud that composed the creature. With a determined effort, he wrenched his sword free, hastily retreating from the approaching menace. "Damn! My weapon is useless! Perhaps if I can solidify the mud, I can harm it!" he muttered to himself, recalling the incantations he needed. Gathering his magical energies, he cast Blizzard.
The air around him seemed to pop, and the rain was frozen in mid-descent as the spell's force took hold. In a matter of moments, the mud creature was encased in ice, rendered immobile and unresponsive.
Cautiously, Ramza approached the frozen creature, extending the tip of his sword to touch the ice. He expected resistance, but to his surprise, the ice shattered instantly, disintegrating the creature within. There were no signs of it attempting to reform. "Huh?" he mused, a mixture of astonishment and relief washing over him. "That was far less formidable than I had anticipated. Perhaps my magic has grown stronger?"
Ramza sheathed his sword and scanned his surroundings, his spirits momentarily lifted despite the relentless rain. However, his sense of relief was short-lived. His smile faded, replaced by a look of concern as he noticed that the creature he had just vanquished was no longer a solitary menace. Dozens more were now materializing from the sodden earth. "Why can't it ever just be straightforward?" Ramza muttered with a sigh, trying to prepare himself for the arduous battle ahead.
As Ramza pressed on through the relentless mud, he realized that his only recourse was to engage only with the mud golems directly obstructing his path while fleeing from the rest. With each step, his legs burned from the effort of slogging through the muck. He found himself assailed by these "Mud Golems," as he had dubbed them, every few feet, and it seemed they just kept coming! Ramza cast spell after spell in a desperate bid to reach the safety of Burmecia, but as he approached the city's imposing walls, he could sense that his magical reserves had been entirely depleted.
He cursed his own oversight, regretting his refusal of the guard's offer of an ether. He had never anticipated needing to utilize his magic before reaching Burmecia, but now he would pay dearly for his lack of foresight. Frustration and exhaustion bore down heavily on him as he faced the formidable walls of the city, devoid of the magic he so sorely needed to defend himself against the relentless onslaught of the Mud Golems. Even with his best defensive tactics, the golems had stayed constantly within striking distance. It would only be a matter of time before he was cornered, and he would be forced to use the stone... But he simply could not afford to risk using it. The price that came with using the stone was far greater than just having the enemy know its whereabouts. Rasler had been far too careless in bringing the boy back to life. He understood why he had done it, but surely it would haunt him in ways only their great power could. To the best of his knowledge, all the stones had been lost and scattered, save for the ones they possessed.
Individually, their true power was far more than any man should possess, but together they had all of the power of the divine. They had been forced to use that power once... It had been enough to seal away the evil and save the world, but the cost they had had to pay...
"No!" he thought, his inner turmoil waging a battle as fierce as the one before him. He couldn't afford to use it yet, not now. So, he kept pushing forward, slashing at the creatures even though he knew it was pointless. With each slash, even if he cut off one of their mud limbs, they continued to grow back in only a short moment. This continued until standing became a struggle, and his arms shook from merely holding his blade. "Ugh! I've no choice!" he yelled, reaching into a pouch at his waist to retrieve the stone that he had wished so desperately not to use.
As he grasped the stone and willed himself to finally use it, a spear seemingly made of air itself crashed into one of the golems before him. The second golem suddenly turned to ice and just as quickly, shattered into a thousand fragments. Then, as if falling from the sky itself, a rat-like woman covered in red stood before him, followed by a companion in a purple cloak with long curly hair that seemed to defy the weather.
"You looked like you could use a little help," the red-garbed woman smirked, her eyes sparkling with an air of confidence. "What do you say we get out of here while we can?"
"Gods, you must be the one called Freya! To say I am happy to see you would be an understatement!" Ramza replied apologetically as Freya and her companion, Learie, helped dispatch the remaining Mud Golems.
"You seem to know who I am," Freya began, her lance piercing through another golem. "But who are you? And where did these creatures come from?"
"My name is Ramza," he answered, dodging a golem's clumsy attack, "As for where these creatures originated, that's a tale best saved until we reach safety!"
"Agreed." Freya nodded. "Leave the fighting to Learie and me; we'll help you get to Burmecia in no time!"
When they finally reached the city, they turned to look and see how many golems were still following them, but there was no trace that there had been any golems at all save for the loose dark mud that covered the plains. "Why did they just stop?" Ramza wondered aloud.
"I was hoping you would be able to tell me," Freya replied. "Until a few days ago, I had never seen anything like them before."
"Neither have I," Learie offered, her expression grim. "I've only recently returned to Burmecia after adventuring for the last few years, but the only thing that I've seen similar were the sand golems at the base of Cleyra, but all of their power came from a crystal, and these don't have one."
"I'm afraid I have never seen their like either," Ramza added, still trying to catch his breath after the long struggle through the mud. "If I haven't said so already, thank you both for your help; things were beginning to look bleak."
Freya continued to study him for a moment, her gaze sharp and contemplative. "I can't say I've ever heard of you, Ramza, but you do seem very capable in a fight. Are you from around here?"
As they continued the conversation, they walked to a nearby shelter to have some protection from the relentless rain. "No, I'm… from a place very far from here," Ramza explained cryptically. "Regrettably, I can't tell you exactly where I came from, at least not yet. Just know that I am not your enemy."
Freya continued to study him for a moment. "Can you at least tell me why you've come here?"
"Regent Cid sent me to warn Burmecia of a great threat coming, I believe those creatures were a small part of it, but undoubtedly much stronger foes are coming. I cannot say how I know this without sounding crazy, but a few thousand years ago, before this world was first called Gaia and before a world changing catastrophe happened, it went by another name."
He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "At that time, the world truly almost ended. Much of it was destroyed, and entire continents were changed or destroyed altogether. After a long struggle, even though the darkness that caused it was not destroyed, it was able to be sealed away."
Freya and Learie exchanged glances, their expressions grave as they absorbed this astonishing information. "I'm not sure what exactly caused the seal to finally break," Ramza continued, "but from what I've learned, I am certain that the events that occurred during the Mist War played a large part in it."
"Where is this seal?" Freya asked, her voice laced with urgency.
"That took a long while to determine but based on what ive seen in Lindblum and many of the other surrounding areas, it must be in Alexandria." He answered. "Is there a section of the city far older than the rest?"
Freya's eyes widened in realization. "There is… the lower levels of the castle! We must warn Garnet and the others!"
Ramza shook his head. "My friend, whom I trust, should be there already, though I fear even he may be too late. I think at this point, our best course of action is to speak with the king of Burmecia."
"Then let's not waste time," Freya replied resolutely and hurriedly led him toward the palace. Ramza groaned at the rain but followed after her. Learie trailed close behind, seemingly unperturbed by the downpour as though she barely noticed it.
"Does the downpour truly not bother you?" He asked incredulously, wiping his bangs from his face.
"To some it is of course a bother, but to me it feels like home." She replied with a bashful smile.
Upon their arrival, it didn't take long for Ramza, Freya, and Learie to secure an audience with the newly appointed monarch, Lord Ulrich. He had taken the throne in place of the not-yet-of-age Prince Puck. Ramza reiterated to the king everything he had previously told Freya, and she recounted her experiences in the fields as well. Ulrich, his brow furrowed with concern, began to speak.
"I, as well as many others, trust Freya with our lives," Ulrich began. "So, I'm inclined to believe that you're telling the truth. However, what can we hope to do against an army of fiends? Our forces were all but wiped out when Brahne and her black mages destroyed Cleyra and most of our kingdom! We scarcely have enough people left to rebuild!"
Ramza looked at the king with a mournful expression. "If we all were to join forces within the walls of Lindblum, we may yet be able to resist them when they do come."
"I don't know if it will do any good," Freya remarked, "but anything is better than sitting and waiting for another disaster. Is there anything at all you can tell me that might help us?" Ulrich asked Ramza.
Ramza explained to the king what he could about the nature of the creatures, the seal, and the impending threat. He withheld only a few crucial details. He spoke of the seal that had once closed the gateway to the Underworld, its history, and the powerful stones used to aid in sealing the evil away. "It's not that we don't believe you," Freya said, sensing the king's skepticism. "But how do you know all of this? I suspect I know the answer already, but please tell us. If we are to trust you, you must trust us as well."
Ramza lowered his gaze to the ground before giving his reply. "I know it is the truth because I was there. Rasler and I were the ones who closed the seal. If I am to be honest, even though I knew the cost it would demand, that is the day I died. I lost everything I once held dear. Please accept my words as truth, for I could not bear for others to suffer the same fate as my dear sister and the woman I treasured above myself."
Freya expressed her empathy, understanding the pain of losing loved ones all too well.
"What happened to these stones of power you spoke of?" Ulrich inquired, shifting the conversation.
"I'm afraid I cannot say," Ramza replied quickly.
"Cannot say or won't say? If you do not trust us," the King remarked, motioning to Freya, "how then can we be expected to trust you?"
Ramza frowned, contemplating his response for a few moments before replying. "I cannot say what happened to all of them, only that I know the whereabouts of one of them. It's hidden somewhere safe, though I dare not reveal its location for fear of who might be listening. I suspect many of the others may be in the Underworld itself, while some may also be hidden in plain sight, even in places such as this one. While I do not know where they are, the stones seem to draw toward each other, so we should be able to find them, or at least the Lucavi that come from them."
"I see," Ulrich mused thoughtfully. "Is it possible, then, that someone has already collected some of them?"
"Well, yes, I believe anything is possible," Ramza replied. "Why do you ask?"
"These stones, what would you say would happen if a ruler were to use one to better their kingdom?" the monarch asked cryptically.
"That things would not go the way they originally believed. Such a ruler might have the best of intentions at first and truly use it in a way that benefits everyone. Still, eventually their greed, no matter how small, would be brought to light. Soon after everything they once held dear would no doubt be laid to ruin. Such is the inner darkness of all of us and these endeavor to bring out our worst qualities." Ramza replied, his tone dark and solemn as he studied Ulrich closely. "I pray you are not that ruler hoping to better his kingdom."
Ulrich sighed bitterly. "I turned it down because I still hold a distrust of humans bearing 'gifts.' I fear turning down Tarius's offer for a stone of great and divine power may spell ruin for us all."
Ramza's eyes widened with realization. "Tarius? I have heard that name once before... It can only mean that—" He was cut off as he gasped suddenly. "The portal to the Underworld has already been opened!"