A/N: Fight scenes aren't my forte as I cannot describe them as elegantly as some other writers do theirs but I'll do my best.
As the sun rose the next morning, Rosa got up and did her usual morning routine before dressing in her dark knight armor and armed herself. She made sure to grab everything she could possibly need including extra provisions and/or gil for the journey ahead then left the tower. As Rosa made her way through the castle's corridors, she saw Kain making his way towards her already dressed and ready to go.
"Shall we, then, Rosa?"
"I'll be counting on you, my friend."
"Then you've nothing to fear."
The two soon departed from the castle as the soldiers saw them off.
And so the dark knight Rosa, stripped of her command of the Red Wings, set out for the distant Valley of the Mist. Together with Kain, commander of the Dragoons, she would pursue a faceless quarry – and a chance for redemption. The advent of the airship had marked the realization of mankind's most ancient dream. But man is a creature seldom sated, and he was quick to dream anew. With the unparalleled might of the Red Wings, Baron's military soon reigned supreme.
Why, then, does its king now seek the Crystals? And why have fearsome monsters suddenly begun to overrun the once calm land? If the crystals know, they share no answers – only their pure and silent light.
Rosa and Kain stopped at Baron castle town to buy some provisions to stock up on supplies for the journey ahead. Once they finished up with their business, the knights left town. A chocobo forest sat to the southwest of Baron located next to a mountain range below a desert. Of course that meant that both the dark knight and dragoon had to cross on foot to get there, and so they did. Using some gysahl greens they found in the forest, Kain and Rosa managed to befriend a couple and rode them past a river all the way to the Mist Cave.
Rosa and Kain began traversing the eerie Mist Cave leading to their next destination of Mist Village. As they made it through a portion of the cave, a ghastly voice spoke to them and lacked an echo. A light mist hung in the air but seemed to grow thick the further the knights traveled inward.
"Leave this place," the voice warned as it echoed throughout the cavern.
"Who's there!?" Rosa demanded as she and Kain drew their weapons, looking around to see if there was anyone else in the cave with them.
"Return whence you came."
"That voice – could it be the Eidolon?" The dragoon asked aloud, though particularly to no one.
"Knights of Baron..."
"You know who we are?"
"Leave at once, and no harm will befall you. I will abide no further trespass."
However, this didn't sit well with Kain as he demanded whoever behind the voice in the cave to reveal themselves.
"You mean to ignore my warning?" The voice asked, surprised that these two knights were being stubborn and not heeding its words. Usually, anyone who tried traveling through the cave would turn tail and flee after hearing the disembodied voice, but not these two it seemed.
"We must deliver this ring to the village of Mist beyond!" Rosa said determinedly.
"So be it."
Soon, all or most of the mist lingering in the air began to gather which didn't go unnoticed by the dragoon. It then coalesced to form a dragonlike shape before turning into the Mist Dragon itself. The Eidolon let out a ferocious roar as if to intimidate the warriors who were not unfazed by the roaring. The Dragon lunged at Rosa with blinding speed making her raise her shield to block the oncoming attack. The head of the great Eidolon struck her shield with enough force to push her back some before exploding into a cloud of mist. The dark knight couldn't help but shiver as she felt the chill of the mist seep into her armor.
Rosa saw Kain strike at the misty silhouette that had just attacked him only to get hit with a chilling mist cloud for his efforts.
"We cannot strike at the mist as there's nothing to hit!" Rosa cried. "It's like striking at an invisible target."
She bent her knees as she readied herself. Rosa drew upon her own lifeforce, channeling it into darkness then thrusted her equally dark blade into the misty cloud itself. That proved to be a bad idea as both she and Kain were struck again. The knights were unsure of what to do next as every time they hit the mist cloud, it would counter their every move. It almost felt like an unwinnable battle as if King Odin had sent them to their deaths as punishment for questioning his motives, their weapons doing absolutely nothing to the creature.
The mist then formed back into a dragon, giving them the edge they needed. Thinking on his feet, Kain told his companion to distract the Dragon before jumping into the air. Not needing to be told twice, she began provoking it to focus its attention on her. It advanced on the dark knight again, trying to bash her with its head only for Rosa to dodge instead of blocking it with her shield this time. Taking advantage of the situation, the dragoon struck the beast causing it to howl in pain. In a fit a rage, the Mist Dragon shot a blast of freezing cold mist at him in retaliation.
"I think I hit it that time!" Kain said as he fell beside Rosa while she began channeling darkness into her blade once more. "Wait until it takes the dragon form then strike!"
"We need to end this soon or it's going to freeze us to death," Rosa said tightly against the chattering of her teeth.
"Aye," Kain answered. "Though it seems a shame, to see a dragon in the flesh only to slay it."
Rosa didn't even try to block this time and sent the darkness loose from her blade, the Eidolon roaring in pain as it was hit. Phantom pain trembled within her very core from Rosa using her own vitality as a source of magical energy. The dragon blasted them again but the mist lacked the chilling bite it had previously. The knights stood ready again, Rosa was breathing a bit heavily but she was otherwise fine.
"Are you well, Rosa?" Kain called.
"Yes, but not for long," Rosa answered.
The mist swirled again as the dragoon jumped in the air a second time. Rosa straightened herself up then banged her shield once more to get the Eidolon's attention on her. The dragon charged just Rosa raised her shield to block the attack before Kain struck his target. His spear was lodged in the Dragon's back for a moment before the Eidolon dispersed into misty particles that scattered throughout the cave, not even a silhouette remained of the mighty Mist Dragon.
Kain's feet landed with a tunk on the rocky ground as he stood beside Rosa. Adrenaline was still rushing through her veins as she put away her sword and shield. The dark knight sat at the exit to catch her breath as she waited for the adrenaline to wear off. Once she got her breathing under control, Rosa and Kain stepped out of the cave to rest for the night as they were a bit worn down from the previous battle.
The next day Rosa and Kain arrived at the Village of Mist. Upon their arrival, however, the ring they carried with them released a powerful foe within it.
"The ring!" Rosa exclaimed as a bunch of bombs surged forth from the Carnelian Signet and decimated the village.
Fires erupted everywhere burning whatever they came in contact with, the smoke dyeing the bright sky a deep orange. Some people ran around screaming like chickens with their heads cut off, while others tried putting out the fires and defeating the leftover bombs without detonating them. Anyone else either bravely or stupidly ran into the burning houses to search for survivors or died trying. The knights couldn't help feeling horrified at the carnage they unleashed upon this poor town, especially Rosa as she couldn't believe at what they just did.
"This is what we were sent to do?"
"He wished this village torched," Kain said grimly as he and Rosa saw the carnage they had wrought.
"But why? WHY!"
Both the dark knight and dragoon hear crying somewhere to see a green haired child crying over her mother.
"Mother, you can't die!" She wailed. "Just because your dragon did..."
Rosa frowned before Kain spoke up as the girl continued to cry her eyes out.
"I've heard of their lot. Men who can conjure Eidolons – summoners."
Realization seem to hit the dark knight like a ton of bricks crashing on top of her as she didn't realize that killing an Eidolon meant also doing the same to its summoner. When they killed the Mist Dragon they inadvertently murdered this girl's mother who was its summoner, thereby depriving this poor child of her parent.
"Then the dragon we slew was her mother's?"
The girl gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief at what she just heard. "You – you're the ones who killed her dragon?"
"Forgive us," Rosa apologized sincerely, her voice laced with remorse. "We'd no idea this would happen to your mother."
"His Majesty sent us to eliminate every last one of these people," the dragoon piped up, making his companion shake her head.
"No..."
"Foul work, to be sure. But we'll need to kill the girl as well."
Rosa's and the girl's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates after hearing what Kain said just now.
"Kain!"
"It's her or us, Rosa."
"She's a child!"
"You'd betray your king? Your very own father?"
"Betray him?" The dark knight shook her head furiously, "Any man who'd wish for this is no king of mine, let alone father."
Kain smirked, seeming satisfied with her answer. "I thought you might say that."
"Then...?"
"I owe His Majesty much, but not so much I'd soil the Dragoons' name in his."
Rosa looked hopeful, "Then you're with me?"
"Baron's army is the mightiest in the world," Kain said. "Our fight means nothing if we remain alone. We must treat with other nations, share what we've seen. And Cecil – he must share out fight."
"And he will. Thank you."
"I'm not doing this for you."
She couldn't help but blink at him, "Huh?"
The dragoon turned towards the girl, "Quickly, we mustn't linger here! What of the girl?"
"Come, it's not safe here. Take my hand."
Rosa extended her hand out to the girl only for her to shake her head and reject it fiercely.
"No!" She yelled.
Kain scoffed in annoyance at the child's antics, "We're wasting time. Use force if you must."
"Stay away!"
She started to run away with Rosa calling after her to wait but instead screamed at the older female as well as the dragoon.
"Leave me alone! I HATE YOU!"
The girl summoned forth the Eidolon Titan who tore the land apart with his huge fists, creating a massive landslide and newly formed mountains that separated Mist from the rest of the valley. Rosa and the girl collapsed on the other side of the crevice that was created while Kain landed possibly elsewhere. Rosa groaned as she awoke and checked to see if the girl had a pulse. Luckily for the dark knight, she did and the older female couldn't help the relieved sigh that slipped from her.
"She's alive. Thank goodness!" Rosa exclaimed. She then looked around for her companion, "Kain? Kain! Hmm... Well, I cannot stay here. I need to take this girl someplace safe. Forgive me, Kain!"
She decided that the unconscious girl by her side was her top priority and that she'd find Kain later. For a moment she wished that Cecil was with her, but quickly reminded herself that as long as he was home he was safe and sound back in Baron. She didn't have time to worry about that as this girl needed help now.
The dark knight picked the child up in her arms and carried her through what appeared to be a desert until she reached the oasis settled within it. Of course if there was an oasis in the desert then there was a town either nearby or built around it. Once she made it into the city proper, the first thing Rosa did was head for the inn. There was a middle-aged man standing behind the counter, presumably the innkeeper.
"Hail, traveler!" The innkeeper kindly greeted the dark knight until he saw the young summoner in her arms. "Oh, my! I've not seen a child so pale! Please, get her to a bed. You needn't worry about payment."
Rosa gave a courteous nod, "My pardons."
She laid the girl to rest in one of the beds and watched over her as the hours slipped by. Mid afternoon turning into evening and eventually night. Sometime later, the girl awoke to find herself in the inn with Rosa.
"You've woken," Rosa said just the girl turned away, refusing to speak to her after what took place earlier in the day. The poor child had been traumatized by having both her mother killed and her village burned down by one of the people responsible for it. One of whom was sitting in this very room with her.
"You still haven't told me your name."
Silence.
Rosa sighed, knowing that she wouldn't get anywhere with this. "I won't ask you to forgive me. It's my fault you lost your mother. But, please... at least allow me to take you someplace safe."
Even more silence.
She sighed again then looked out the window, noticing how late it was before turning in for the night. The little girl had fallen asleep too possibly tired from the day's events. So Rosa in the meantime, removed her armor to reveal a plain undershirt and shorts underneath that allowed free movement of her legs. She packed her armor away but kept her sword and shield by her side in case of an emergency then climbed into bed. Later in the night, some troops of Baron had entered the inn, possibly looking for Rosa. The general smirked when he spotted her resting in one of the beds, having woken up from the noise.
"It seems we've found you, Lady Rosa!" The general said then noticed the green haired girl in another bed.
Rosa got up and pleaded with him, "Please, you must listen! His Majesty–"
"Our orders come directly from His Majesty's own mouth," he cut her off mid sentence. "Surrender the girl, and he will pardon all you've done. The inhabitants of Mist represent a threat to us all. They must not be allowed to live!"
"What?"
The girl looked shocked then at Rosa in disbelief, somewhat expecting the older female to hand her over to the guards but she was just as wide eyed as the younger female herself. What Rosa did next surprised her and everyone else however.
"Stand aside!" The general demanded.
Rosa refused with a shake of her head, "I think I'd rather not!"
She drew her blade even though she didn't want to fight her countrymen. But she couldn't hand the summoner over to them, not after revealing that King Odin wanted her dead. So Rosa went on the defensive, dodging a strike aimed for her but still making sure they didn't get towards her unlikely companion. They'd have to go through the dark knight first and Rosa was not going to let that happen by a long shot. She had to make this quick without any bloodshed and risk waking up the innkeeper or anyone else sleeping in the Kaipo inn. Even in just an undershirt and shorts, Rosa was just as formidable with a sword and shield as she was normally in her usual attire.
Meanwhile the little summoner girl watched as Rosa fought the Baronian soldiers. At first, she thought that the older female was going to hand her over to them until after hearing what they were going to do to her. Rosa was fighting tooth and nail to keep the soldiers away from her, and she was going to keep it that way. After knocking two of the soldiers out cold, the dark knight pointed her sword at the general's throat.
"Take your men and leave this place at once," Rosa said coldly, her normally stern but gentle eyes glaring daggers at the man. If looks could kill, he would've died where he stood. "Return to Baron and no more harm will come to you or them while you still yet live."
He gulped and did immediately what he was told, scooping his men up from the floor and scurried out of the inn. Rosa watched them like a hawk then put away her sword and shield just as they left. The girl stepped out of bed as soon as she turned to her.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," she apologized, prompting Rosa to shake her head again.
She kneeled to her level before putting a hand on her shoulder, "You've nothing to apologize for. It is I who've wronged you, and apologies cannot right the things I've done."
"But... you protected me."
Rosa was silent at this before the girl spoke again and introduced herself as Rydia.
"Alright, Rydia. Now that the soldiers are gone, why don't you get some rest. You've had a long day."
The dark knight stood up and sat on the edge of her bed just as Rydia jumped back on her own. The two girls rest for the night and head out in the morning. During their trek of the town, Rosa heard rumors of a fallen traveler from Baron, and decides to investigate one of the houses.
"We found that poor young child collapsed outside of the village, completely incoherent," an elderly woman said. "Seems to have succumbed to desert fever on the way from Baron, the little dear. Keeps mumbling the name Rosa over and over."
Rosa looked past the woman to find none other than Cecil sick in bed, gasping quietly then ran over to him, "Cecil! Oh, Cecil..."
His face was drained of most of its color while a damp, white towel sat on his forehead, nearly blending in with his hair. Beads or sweat formed on his scrunched up face. Cecil's brows were furrowed as he mumbled in his sleep, possibly from the fever that plagued him.
"Rosa..." Cecil moaned in his sleep, still completely out of it, "Please, Rosa... Be alive!"
"What's wrong with him?" Rydia asked the old man.
The old man who stood watch over him walked over to her, "Desert fever can be cured by exposure to the light of a Damcyan sand pearl. Obtaining one, however, is no simple task. They can only be found within a cave where an antlion dwells."
"I'll find one and return here as soon as possible," Rosa said, having now learned of a remedy to cure Cecil, and plans to locate it.
"Be careful, young lady. In order to get to the antlion's cave, you'll have to travel through the underground waterway to get to Damcyan and proceed from there."
"Understood," she nodded then began heading for the door with this information in mind. "Come, Rydia."
"Will Cecil be okay?" Rydia asked with concern.
"He will be once we get a sand pearl, until then he must stay strong and so should we."
Rosa and Rydia now make for Damcyan but to do so, they'd have to cross the desert to get through a cave. Rydia's magic and summoning skills came in handy to ward off the creatures dwelling in the desert. Rosa couldn't help think that she would be very proficient in magic if given enough practice and time, being one of the greatest summoners the world has ever known. As they approached the cave, Rosa briefly considered tossing the child in there, settling on not doing so in case of monsters, or bandits. Once inside the cave, she took a quick look around for monsters before setting Rydia down.
The summoner pointed at a figure guarding a bridge right as the Dark Knight was going to rest against a cave wall. "There's an old man over there."
"An old man?"
"Should we go talk to him?" Rydia asked curiously.
"I think we should. He's blocking the way anyway," Rosa replied as she walking over while keeping Rydia near her, just in case this man is one of those monsters she's been fretting over.
She tapped an armored boot on the wooden planks to test if they were stable or not. Since her foot didn't crash through the old wood, she assumed it was safe before taking Rydia's hand and walked to the old man standing at the other bridge. As they got closer, they could hear him muttering something about a filthy bard and his daughter.
"Excuse me, sir," Rosa spoke up to get the old man's attention.
The old man rushed over to her, "You, knight! You wield the dark sword, do you not? I beg you, lend me your aid!"
"What's happened?"
"My daughter Anna was tricked by a silver-tongued bard," the man explained. "He's taken her to Damcyan Castle. I fear I've little time. I sense something sinister."
"Anna, you said? Then you must be Tellah!"
"The very same!" Tellah nodded. "I came in pursuit of my daughter, but I cannot get through the waterway. A great monster lurks in the lake beyond, and it will not let me past. The devil is strong, I warn you. My magic alone is no match for it. But perhaps with your dark sword as well we might defeat it!"
He turned to Rydia, "And this girl! A summoner, is she not? And one with quite some potential, from the looks of it."
"We need to reach Damcyan, too."
"Then the choice is made for us! Let us make haste."
Water got in her armor and in her boots and soaked them. At least she could hold Rydia above her head to keep her from getting soaked herself. And at least she wasn't wearing many thick robes that got heavier and heavier as they waded through the water.
"There should be a safe room somewhere, it would be wise for us to rest for the night." Tellah suggested as Rosa and Rydia helped him out of the water.
Eventually they took a break and rested for the impending battle ahead.
"We can rest here," Tellah said once the party found a safe area. "The magic field cast by these circles keeps monsters at bay. Remain within, and you are safe. You can use tents and cottages within these circles. We'll use my tent here. We need to recover our strength before we face that beast."
A fire is made, and later that night the three of them surround it.
"Asleep already," Tellah said as he observed the sleeping Rydia. "She must have been exhausted. That child – where is she from?"
"She is a summoner from the village of Mist," Rosa replied, her helmet removed which now rested beside her on the bedroll.
"Indeed. Then my eyes were not mistaken. She has great potential. With practice and training, she should be able to master many spells. Such a darling little face, too. She reminds me of my Anna, when she was young."
"Your daughter?"
Tellah nodded, "My one and only. Deceived by some wandering bard, and whisked away to Damcyan... All because I refused to give them my blessing. And you? What need drives you to Damcyan?"
Rosa turned her gaze to the fire, "A friend of mine is suffering from desert fever in Kaipo."
"I see. And you seek a sand pearl. Then haste drives you as well. Even my magic could not avail you against the foe you face."
"The monster of the lake, what manner of creature is it?"
He narrowed his own gaze at her, "A vicious one, with eight massive, writhing tentacles. But if we are to save your friend and my Anna, we must find a way to slay it. I pray these premonitions of mine are only an old man's fretting, but if they prove true, our time is short."
With nothing else said between the two adults they turn in for the night to prepare themselves for the day's journey tomorrow. As morning came the now group of three got ready and continued through the passage until they came across the exit.
"From here we must travel outside for a time," the old sage remarked. "The monster dwells at the base of the waterfall beyond. It may be wise to pitch another tent outside and rest before we face him."
It was around late afternoon when the group stepped outside of the cave on their way to Damcyan, the desert kingdom. After some more walking Tellah, Rosa and Rydia set up another tent for the time being with both adults keeping watch for any monsters nearby. By the next morning, they were on their feet again and walking through the cave when the trio came across a large waterfall.
"There's no turning back from here," Tellah said. "The beast awaits us down below."
"So how do we get down?" Rydia asked as she looked around to see no way to the bottom.
"We jump." Tellah replied casually.
"What?!"
Tellah looked over the edge of the waterfall, "It is the only way down. You're in the hands of a dark knight, child, I'm sure we will all get down safely."
Rosa peered over, not entirely sure she could make it with a child and an old man in tow.
"You're a sage right?" She asked.
"Yes I am. Why?" Tellah responded.
"Then you know white magic?"
"Of course, everyone should know basic white magic."
"Try casting Float. I'm sure I could make it if I were by myself, but I have Rydia with me, and I'm not so sure you would survive by yourself."
"Oh. You see. The thing is." Tellah stumbled over his words.
Rosa looked at the sage curiously, "What is it?"
Silence hung in the air for a few moments before Tellah jumped down the waterfall ahead of them.
"See you two down there."
"Tellah wait!" Rosa yelled after him just until Rydia started pulling her closer to the edge of the waterfall to follow him.
She could only sigh before picking the girl up and jumping down to catch up to where Tellah was. Her grip tightened around Rydia as she screamed down the falls.
"Brace yourself!" The dark knight yelled over the sound of rushing water and a screaming child.
The monster was right there below them, Tellah was waiting on Rosa before engaging with it.
"Ready yourselves. There he is! It's an octomammoth!"
Rosa set Rydia down before drawing her sword and shield then aimed for the beast, the edge of the blade landing in the Octomammoth. It let out a loud screech just as she backed away towards Rydia to Tellah.
"Alright, you two use you Thunder spells, while I'll get in close!" Rosa said, charging at the beast again.
The tentacles attacked and prevented her from getting to the head, so she decided they had to be the first to go. She used her shield to block as they lashed out to hit her with deadly accuracy before slashing at the tentacles like a hot knife through butter. With the tentacles out of the way Rosa made her way to the head, but more tentacles intercepted them.
"Excellent!" Tellah praised as he and the summoner had their Thunder spells ready. "The beast is weakening! But don't be lulled into thinking we've won. A wounded beast is a dangerous one!"
The dark knight night stood back while the two mages threw an onslaught of lightning magic at the beast, frying it. As soon as they stopped, Rosa channeled darkness into her blade then unleashed it onto the Octomammoth which finished it off for good. It curled up and stopped moving, blood seeping into the water from its still bleeding wounds and dyeing the water red. It seems that the monsters or any other unsavory things would have a meal to feast on later.
"We've done it! Damcyan is just beyond this waterfall!" Tellah cheered.
"We would have had to defeat it regardless if we wanted to get to Damcyan." Rosa responded.
"That was amazing Miss Rosa!" Rydia added, wading through the water to get to her, and she quickly picked her up into her arms.
"It was nothing."
With the Octomammoth defeated the three moved out of the waterway forward towards Damcyan.
As the group moved closer to Damcyan, a swift airship attack from the Red Wings decimated the desert castle. After the attack on Damcyan, Rosa, Tellah and Rydia rushed to the center of the castle to search for survivors only to find bodies of fallen soldiers and civilians laying around. Parts of the castle walls had crumbled away in the attack as dust and rubble littered the floor along with the bodies. They spotted Anna, Tellah's daughter, lying ever so still on the dusty ground of the castle's second floor.
"Anna!?" Tellah cried as he ran over to her. "Oh, Anna!"
A finely dressed man is at her side in seconds before the old sage turned on him, eyes clouded with fury.
"You – you're that bard! You're the one responsible for this!"
The bard begged as he raised his hands in front of himself. "No! Please–"
Like any enraged father, Tellah raised his staff and began hitting the younger man with rage in his heart as any normal father would if something were to happen to his child.
"You spoony bard!"
The poor bard raised his hands over his face to shield it from Tellah's staff, "Please, things are not as you believe!"
"I see quite well how they are!"
"I beg you, hear my words!"
"Choke on your words!"
"Please, I implore you!"
"Know this pain – Anna's pain!"
"But, Anna and I–"
"Edward, Father... Please, stop this," Anna weakly interrupted to get her father and lover to stop fighting.
It seemed to work as the two stopped immediately and Tellah ran over to his daughter's side, cradling her in his lap.
"Oh, Anna! There's life left in you yet!" Tellah said gratefully as he held Anna in his arms.
"Father..." Anna spoke up weakly. "Edward – He is the prince of Damcyan. He disguised himself as a bard to avoid attention. Forgive me, Father, for running off with him. Edward... I'm in love with him, Father. But I could not stay without my father's blessing. I was about to return, when..."
"The Red Wings laid siege to us, led by a man named Golbez," Edward finished for her.
That seemed to get Rosa's attention as she perked up at the mention of both Baron and now this mysterious figure by the name of Golbez.
"Golbez?"
"Yes," the prince replied. "A figure clad in armor of deepest night – his strength beyond that of mortal man."
"And the Red Wings' purpose?" She inquired further, hoping to get more information out of him.
"Our Crystal – and then they rained fire upon us. I lost my mother and father. Then Anna tried to shield me from their arrows..."
Tellah was in disbelief for what his daughter did but now understood why she willingly put her life on the line to save Edward's.
"You love this man that much?"
"Father, please... forgive me," Anna apologized, her breathing becoming more and more labored. "I was so... selfish. Edward... I... love you."
Anna's eyes closed for the final time as her body fell limp and she breathed her last breath. It appeared that her injuries were too severe to survive the attack. Even if she did, Anna wouldn't have long to live as she would eventually die from her wounds along with the blood loss. It was inevitable which left both prince and father devastated at her passing and called her name. Tellah then turned back to Edward, albeit less violently this time to inquire about Golbez besides Rosa.
"This... Golbez. Tell me more of him."
"I've heard he came to Baron only recently. It seems he is using the Red Wings to steal Crystals..."
The prince then rubbed at his eyes as tears began to spill from them.
The old sage huffed at the display, "Tears do not bring back the dead, boy! Anna's death must be avenged. I'll find this Golbez!"
Rosa put a hand to on Tellah's shoulder to stop him just as he got up to leave, "Tellah! Not alone!"
"She was not your daughter!" He barked, enraged that his one and only daughter was now gone. "Her killer will die by my hand."
He shrugged off her arm then shoved his way past Rosa as he stormed out of the castle, hellbent on getting after Golbez. Edward continued to cry over his lost love prompting Rydia to chastise him for it.
"Coward," she frowned, causing Edward to look up at her in surprise. "You're a man, aren't you? A grown man! Stop crying. I have."
"Rydia..." Rosa couldn't help feeling in awe of Rydia's mental strength. She was a child who didn't have much time to grieve after Rosa and Kain killed her mother but she willed herself not to. She was trying to be brave by putting on a front even though she felt the opposite on the inside.
"You're right," Edward admitted. "I'm nothing but a coward, just as you say. That's why I'm just going to stay at Anna's side. It doesn't matter anymore... Nothing does!"
Having had enough of the pitiful display of the prince's blubbering, Rosa grabbed Edward's collar in her fist and smacked him across the face before tearing into him as well.
"You're not the only one who's grieving. Anna would not wish to see you fawning like a fool. Please – I've desperate need of your help right now."
Edward looked at both dark knight and summoner, "But, how could I help you?"
"My name is Rosa," Rosa replied curtly. "A friend of mine has taken ill with desert fever in Kaipo, and needs a sand pearl if he is to live. And for that, I've need of your aid."
"You need... my aid."
"I do. Cecil's life depends on it. I beg you."
"This man you speak of... he means a great deal to you, doesn't he? As Anna did... as Anna did to me. In a cave far to the east dwells a monstrous creature known as an antlion. The pearls you seek form from the fluid the beast secretes as it lays its eggs in the sand. There is no overland route to its den.
"We must cross the northern shoals to get there. A hovercraft is docked here. With it we can reach the creature's cave. It can bear us across the surf to Kaipo as well. Come. We must hurry."
After having a means to cross the Damcyan Desert to get a sand pearl, Rydia and Rosa make their way out of the room while Edward lingered a moment longer to say his farewells.
"Farewell, my love."
He spared one final glance towards Anna's corpse then turned away to catch up with Rosa and Rydia who were now making their way out of the castle.