In the days that followed Cecil's departure, Kain found Baron Castle suddenly claustrophobic and too crowded. Around every corner was a new guard; they seemed to be watching him, either with their anonymous helmets or with blank, impassive expressions – both were impossible to interpret. Kain had a strange feeling that the whole castle had eyes on him and could not seem to shake it.
With the Dragoon troops ready and on standby, Kain himself had very little to do but watch the sky for returning airships. He spent most of his days on the roof, trying to catch flashes of red in distant clouds.
In the early evening of the third day, before the sun started its westward descent, Kain sat on Cecil's roof, his long legs dangling off the edge. The sky above was a perfect blue, with no deceptive clouds for airships to hide behind. Kain felt an inexplicable urge, deep in the muscles of his legs, to Jump – away from Baron and whatever mess Cecil was bringing home with him. But his heart kept him grounded, the weight of his promise to Rosa to support and protect Cecil anchoring him in place.
You could do so much, the wind seemed to whisper, if only you could shed your shackles and follow your desires.
"Kain?" Rosa's soft voice called out, breaking Kain's reverie. He glanced over to see her pulling herself up onto the roof. "I thought you might be up here," she said with a bright smile that usually would have eased some of Kain's anxiety, but he found the tension in him too tightly strung to be easily alleviated, even by Rosa's gentle presence.
He offered her a weak smile as she crouched low and made her way over to him, less sure on the slanted roof than Kain. She settled in to sit beside him, also letting her legs hang off the edge. She did not wear her white mage robes today, instead wearing practical trousers and a tunic; it reminded Kain of their time as children and he desperately longed for the simplicity of those years.
They said nothing for a long while, with only the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees' branches, crinkling dry leaves as it passed through.
"Where's Marion?" Rosa finally asked, surprising Kain with the question. "I haven't seen her in town recently."
"Picking up a delivery of iron from the mountains," Kain replied gruffly, his voice feeling stiff with disuse. Baron had a series of mines along its northern mountain border shared with Troia, rich with iron deposits. Marion had left just prior to Cecil's mission, with only a brief note slipped under Kain's door to explain her sudden absence.
"Demand's going up?" Rosa asked, trying to keep the tone casual and conversational.
"Seems so," Kain replied, but did not offer anything more. Silence fell between them once more, but this time it seemed strained and awkward.
Rosa cleared her throat, then shifted, angling to look sideways at Kain. "What will we do once Cecil returns?"
"What is there to do?" Kain asked instead of answering; he felt the heavy weight of her gaze on him but did not look her way, still staring into the sky. "What can we do? Cecil will obey His Majesty's orders, even if that drags us into an unnecessary war."
Rosa said nothing; the wind picked up her long hair, throwing it wildly around. She brushed it away from her face, then gathered it to the side. "And if that happens?" she asked after too long in silence. "Will you send your dragoons into war?"
Her question touched on the very thing Kain did not want to think about. "I don't know," Kain answered, as honestly as he could. Finally, he glanced at Rosa, and found her watching him, blue eyes full of concern. "Do I follow orders as commanded or abandon my post and flee Baron in protest as a deserter?"
"I would leave with you," Rosa said softly, almost too quiet for Kain to hear.
"You would?" Kain asked, surprised by her admission. "And what about Cecil?"
The question made Rosa uncomfortable; she looked away and would not meet his eyes as she replied, "We could convince him to come with us." Then, she added more quietly, "And if he refuses, we could just go ourselves."
"Rosa…" Kain started to say, but found he had no words to follow.
"We could start over," Rosa said, and there was a hopefulness in the words that Kain found too tempting to ignore. "We could go to Kaipo and figure it out from there." She reached over, taking Kain's hand in hers, her fingers and palm feeling warm and soft as she squeezed his fingers. "Without Baron, or my mother, or…" she hesitated a moment, then continued, "… or anything else in our way."
Rosa seemed suddenly too close, and Kain was too aware of her. A slight breeze carried the perfume of her hair toward him, and he felt himself tensing in response. He wanted to let go of her hand, to shift away from her, to get away from his best friend's paramour but found himself unable to move.
"You're Cecil's," Kain said abruptly, as if saying it out loud would make it more true and finally convince both Rosa and his heart.
Rosa frowned. "I do not belong to anyone but myself," she said.
"I know that, but—" Kain started to say, but something caught his peripheral vision and he looked away from her, seeing a distinctive flash of red in the distant sky. "Is that…?" Kain started to ask; he pulled his hand from Rosa's, and she did not fight to hold on.
The red dots became more distinct, and Kain could see the fin of each red wing against the blue sky. The Red Wings were approaching, and quickly.
"Cecil," Rosa announced, sounding breathless. "Are you going to go?"
"Of course," Kain answered, surprised by the question – why wouldn't he? "Cecil will report to King Odin first. I'll wait for him outside the throne room. No matter what happened on the mission or what's going to happen next, the three of us will figure it out."
"What if Cecil doesn't want our help?" Rosa asked, the question sounding small and unsure. "What if he turns both of us away?"
The idea of Cecil not needing or wanting them anymore made Kain's heart ache – would Cecil ever really turn them away? Kain had always hated Cecil's dark knight training and skills but was simultaneously grateful it made Cecil need them both. Would there ever come a day when Cecil wouldn't? Could he find peace elsewhere?
The airships drew closer, and Kain could now hear their roaring engines and see the wild frenzy of winds they created in the erratic rippling of grass in the surrounding plains around Baron.
"We must help him, whether he wants it or not," Kain said, pulling his legs up from the roof's edge. "You'll be needed in the infirmary in case there's any wounded. Try and learn what you can about what happened." Kain stood, then settled into a crouch, preparing to Jump.
"Meet me tonight?" Rosa asked. "We'll figure out what to do next, together."
"Together," Kain repeated and was rewarded with Rosa's relieved smile.
Kain left Rosa behind on Cecil's roof, Jumping down from the tower to the castle's main roof. He moved along, stepping lightly but swiftly, wanting to get to the airship bay before the ships landed and docked.
Kain arrived just as the first ship, Cecil's own airship, the Scarlet Prelude, finished its landing. The crew moved strangely on the deck, as if mechanical, going through the rote motions of preparing the ship for deboarding. With the gangway lowered, Kain now spotted Cecil in his black armor, as he crossed from the ship to the dock.
Captain Baigan waited on the other side. Kain was too far to hear the conversation, only saw the slump of Cecil's shoulders as he spoke. What weighed on him so heavily, Kain wondered, as Baigan led Cecil into the castle.
Once they were inside, Kain ran back along the roof, then jumped down into the training yard. From there, he found a door to the inside, following the familiar hallways inward toward the throne room. He arrived just behind Baigan and Cecil, watching their backs as they entered the throne room, the wide double doors left open.
Kain looked around, surprised to see no other guards standing on duty. Not quite believing in his luck, he lingered by the door, out of sight, hoping the voices would carry enough to be heard.
"Have you some other matter to discuss?" Odin's voice boomed, full of accusation.
"Our king has granted you your leave, and yet you would trouble him further?" Baigan asked, sounding outraged.
"I know it is not my place to ask, Your Majesty, and I pray you can forgive my indiscretion," Cecil spoke quickly, the words tumbling out of him. "But what is it you aim to do?" The question made Kain's heart skip a beat – it seemed impossible that Cecil would ever second guess King Odin, but here Cecil was, surprising Kain again. "Your ways are not as they once were," Cecil continued, sounding mournful. "My men's hearts grow heavy with misgiving."
"As does yours?" Odin asked in a low tone; it reminded Kain of a crouched animal, ready to strike, just waiting for their prey to misstep.
"Your Majesty, no, I would never doubt," Cecil protested, voice full of hurt. It gutted Kain to hear, knowing how much Cecil struggled and strived to keep the king happy.
"Do you take me for a fool, Cecil? Do you think your treasonous whisperings escape my ears?" Odin asked but did not pause to let Cecil answer. "After all I've done for you, Cecil..." Odin shook his head, in sad disbelief. "You wound me. This is most unfortunate, but I can place no trust in one who offers none in return. I hereby relieve you of command of the Red Wings."
"My liege!" Cecil cried out.
"You will go now of the Valley of Mist instead," Odin continued, ignoring Cecil's protest. "There is a task I would have you do. A phantom creature haunts the borders of that land – the Eidolon of Mist. You will slay it and deliver this ring to the village that lies beyond - they will know its meaning." There was no kindness or pity in Odin, his voice hard and demanding. "Be gone at first light on the morrow."
"Your Majesty!" Kain could bear no more, knowing how much Odin's rejection would crush Cecil. He wanted to run and shout his protest but forced himself to walk in slowly and to fight any emotion in his voice. Cecil turned to see him approach, and with his helmet's visor pushed up, Kain saw the relief on Cecil's face. The sight of it strengthened Kain's resolve.
Kain stopped, standing shoulder to shoulder next to Cecil. "I beg you, my liege, reconsider!" Kain said, hoping to glimpse some humanity left in Odin. "You know Cecil would not betray you!" After all Cecil had done, how could King Odin doubt him now? After countless wounds and scars, endless nights of hollowing sorrow and doubt, ceaseless pain to be endured – what more could Odin ask of Cecil?
"Ah, Kain. I was not aware this matter concerned you," King Odin spoke casually, as if Kain's outburst wasn't a massive overstep in protocol. "But as you seem so eager to protect your friend, let your lance accompany his blade on the road to Mist."
"Your Majesty-!" Cecil protested, looking horrified.
"I've no more words. Take the ring and begone, while my mood is yet fair!" Odin boomed his command, passing the ring off to a guard, who descended the stairs down from the throne, handing off the ring to Cecil.
"My liege!" Cecil tried one last time, but the guards flanking the throne came down the stairs, stepping forward to push Kain and Cecil back, crowding them both out of the room. The giant double doors were shut, slamming closed in their faces.
"Kain, forgive me," Cecil said softly, full of shame. "I did not mean to draw you into this."
"What's to forgive?" Kain said, trying to sound light. "We'll slay this Eidolon of his and all will be forgotten." It would be like their childhood games, full of danger and intrigue, but conquerable together, Kain told himself. "You'll be commanding the Red Wings again before you know it."
"Kain..." Cecil looked aside at Kain, eyes shining with gratitude, a shadow of a smile ghosting his mouth.
"You must be tired from Mysidia, no? Leave the preparations to me and get yourself some rest," Kain offered, desperate to alleviate more of Cecil's worries. He wanted to ask more about Mysidia but knew enough to realize it had caused a deep wound in Cecil, one that would be better suited to Rosa. She could coax this out of him, with her gentle presence and thoughtfulness. They would switch off as Cecil needed, as they did in the early days of his dark knight training, as they always did.
"Thank you," Cecil said, not quite smiling yet but looking less tortured. Still, his dark knight armor looked especially heavy as he walked away.
A dozen errands sprang to mind, all necessary before their departure tomorrow morning. The solarium, a bright point of sun and sky in the middle of the dark castle, served as a popular gathering place for Baron's Dragoon troops, and Kain found several of them gathered there.
Kain was in the middle of explaining the unexpected mission to them, and what would need to be done in his absence, when, to Kain's surprise, Cecil entered the solarium. He still wore his dark knight armor, looking like a terrible shadow in the bright, cheerful room.
"What is it?" Kain asked, as he approached Cecil, speaking quietly as to not be overhead by his dragoons.
"This is all my doing," Cecil said, sounding morose. "Forgive me."
"I told you, there's nothing to forgive," Kain said, wishing Cecil would hate himself just a little less. "What's wrong? It isn't like you to act like this."
"I did not train in the way of the dark sword so I could steal from innocents, Kain," Cecil said, admitting more about the Mysidia mission than Kain expected him to. "I trained because His Majesty asked it of me."
"You mustn't blame yourself for the orders you were given," Kain said quietly, casting an unsure glance around them, worried someone might overhear. "Our king had his reason, I'm sure of it."
"I envy you, Kain," Cecil murmured, so soft Kain almost did not hear, his eyes looking far away and lost.
"Don't overthink things, Cecil. You need to keep your wits about you," Kain replied, wondering what would compel Cecil to be envious, when Cecil had everything Kain did not. What was left to envy? "Or do you mean to send me off against the Eidolon alone?" Kain tried to sound lighthearted, to poke at Cecil as he always did, to prompt some witty retort from Cecil.
"Of course not," Cecil said, his voice neutral, not rising to Kain's bait.
"We leave early on the morrow," Kain said, sounding resigned. "Best get some sleep."
Wordlessly, Cecil left, his shoulders still slumped. Kain watched him go, hoping Rosa would fare better.
Kain waited, perched on castle's roof, watching the tower's door for any moving shadows. He knew Rosa less by sight and more by recognizing the distinct scrape of her shoes on the ground, having her own unique step and gait.
Kain jumped down from the roof; he did not wear his armor and landed soundlessly beside Rosa.
Startled by Kain's unexpected presence, Rosa jumped, then relaxed when she saw him.
"What did Cecil tell you?" Kain asked, without preamble.
"He told me nothing," Rosa said, her voice sounding fraught with emotion. "He wouldn't even look at me. He…" Rosa looked up to the darkening sky, struggling to find the right words. "The Red Wings attacked Mysidia, stole their Water Crystal, and killed innocent mages." Then, more quietly, she added, "Under Cecil's command."
"How do you know this?" Kain asked, afraid to believe her.
"They brought back prisoners of war," Rosa replied, still not looking his way. "Mysidian mages who tried to stop the Red Wings from stealing the Crystal. I treated them in the infirmary before they were taken to the dungeons. And they're the lucky ones – others were slain outright." Rosa put her face in her hands, her next words muffled. "Kain, I knew these mages! I worked side by side with them, they weren't our enemy. What is Baron doing? And more importantly, what is Cecil doing?"
"I don't know," Kain admitted quietly, not knowing what words might soothe her.
"And now you two are off to slay a mysterious Eidolon, while Baron's war machine keeps churning." She looked up from her hands, and Kain was surprised by the shine of tears in her eyes. "What will you two do without me?"
"Exactly what His Majesty commands," Kain said, trying to sound certain and reassuring. "After we return to Mist, all will be well again."
"And if it's not?" Rosa asked, pressing on the uncomfortable topic Kain was trying to avoid. "What if something happens to you while you're gone? To Cecil? What if Baron declares open war?"
"If something happens," Kain said, slowly inhaling, trying to feel steady. "Then we'll do as you said, we'll all go to Kaipo."
"But if you can't get there—"
"Then I'll meet you in Damcyan, or Fabul, or Troia," Kain spoke over her, feeling suddenly inspired. He took her hand in his, and the gesture made her step closer. "Or anywhere else. Wherever you go, I'll find you, and we'll all be together. No matter what might happen."
"Do you promise?" Rosa asked, sounding small.
"I promise," Kain said, his heart seized with his old possessiveness – of her, of Cecil, of their shared relationship, wanting to protect it from all that might mean them harm. His thumb brushed the underside of her wrist, and he felt her fluttering pulse there; he pressed in, and her pulse jumped wildly beneath.
"Don't," Rosa pleaded, but did not withdraw from him. "Do not be cruel and torment me like this. You want me to be with Cecil, yet you still watch me with desire and longing. My heart cannot bear it anymore. You keep me perpetually trapped and it is unfair. How can I move on if you won't let me?"
"I don't know how," Kain admitted. He gripped her wrist, and tugged her in closer, and was not surprised when she moved in willingly. Only inches apart, she peered up at him, watching him cautiously; he saw the rise and fall of her chest as she carefully breathed, as if she were prey who had scented danger on the wind. But why wasn't she running, Kain wondered, then pushed aside the thought. It gave him the same feeling of superiority of whenever he bested Cecil in fighting or at a task, only this had a dark, greedy current in it that was too tempting to ignore.
"You need to let me go," Rosa said softly. "It is, as you have said countless times, for the best."
"I am too selfish," Kain said as he touched her jaw, angling her face upward. "I want too many things. You must tell me no."
"My heart will not let me," Rosa admitted, and Kain realized she was waiting for him. He leaned down and brushed a light kiss against her mouth, then heard her trembling exhale in response. "Bring Cecil back to me," she said, lips moving against his as she spoke, their breath mingling. "Can you do that? If I asked you?"
"Anything," Kain replied, not bothered by her mention of Cecil, without a spike of jealousy or resentment, knowing she asked because it was what she needed of him. His hand at her jaw drifted, skimming down her neck, then settling lightly around the column of her throat. Like her wrist before, he felt her pulse there, only now it hammered heavily against his palm. "I would do anything for you."
"Then go," Rosa said, swallowing hard. She turned her head aside, color high in her cheeks. "And do not make our parting harder than it needs to be."
Kain might have ignored her, kissing her again, and again, until she forgot all her protests, but there was a nearby rattle of armor, the telltale sound of a guard on the move, bringing Kain back to reality. He released Rosa, stepping back from her, putting needed space between them. "I'll go," he said stiffly. "And I'll bring him back to you."
"Thank you," Rosa said with a relieved exhale, but by his words or his movement away, Kain was not sure. The clink of armor sounded closer now. "Go, so you can be ready for tomorrow."
"Do not wait for us at the gate," Kain told her as he backed up further, settling into a slight crouch. "It will only make it difficult for Cecil." He hesitated, then added, "And me." He did not wait for her response before taking off, Jumping back up to the roof, into the cool arms of the wind to try and calm his pounding heart.
What am I doing? he asked himself, knowing he was playing a dangerous game with Rosa, but he found it hard to care, only encouraged by the excited fear in her eyes. He wondered if Rosa ever gave Cecil the same look but somehow doubted it, the possibility making him smirk.
Sleep eluded him, long into the late hours of the night, finding only a few fitful hours before dawn crested the eastern horizon. Kain rose, dressed himself, then donned his armor, the task made somehow easier knowing he would be standing shoulder to shoulder with Cecil, fighting together. Kain gathered a few provisions, then went to the castle's front gate.
Kain did not wait long, Cecil arriving only minutes later.
"Shall we, then, Cecil?" Kain asked, as Cecil approached.
"I'll be counting on you, my friend," Cecil replied, and Kain could hear genuine gratitude in his words.
"Then you've nothing to fear," Kain said, Cecil's faith in him making him stand taller, feeling somehow stronger by it. No matter the danger, Kain would step between it and Cecil, protecting him always.
Together, they left the castle.