Note: Second part of the prologue here! We'll get started in the First Act next time, only it'll be from the perspective of different characters.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy it!
Descent
Troia
"He can't be serious," the young blonde woman thought, still garbed in her white robes from training, having yet to remove them for the night. Lo and behold, after waiting for what felt to be weeks, a letter from Baron finally made its way to Troia. Even more, it was from Cecil himself!
Yet the news he had to tell was anything but expected.
"He must be mistaken," she mused aloud, reading the letter over the lit candle. "The King…he must mean something else. He has to. There's no way that he could be seriously suggesting…?"
A knock at the door drew her attention away, the blonde realized she had been caught.
"Rosa?" one of the wards of the Training Grounds spoke up, a brunette woman in her mid-thirties and bearing a candle of her own when she opened the door. "I distinctly remember the Head Mistress saying that it was lights out for all students," she grinned. "And I believe that includes you."
The younger White Mage in training sighed. "Sorry," she said. "It's just that I received this letter today from a friend back in Baron,"
"Baron, you say?" the ward questioned.
"Yes, that's right," Rosa answered. "Why?"
"Oh, it's nothing to concern you with," the older woman relayed to her. Still, the King's recent behavior and the growing tension in border regulations perhaps warranted some council from the Epots. "Still, from how much you've spoken of those two young men from your homeland, I thought you would be pleased to receive a notice from at least one of them."
"Normally, I would," Rosa confessed. "But the news Cecil's given me here is…" she paused.
"Is what, dear?"
"...perhaps it's best if you read it for yourself."
Taking the suggestion, the ward took the note and looked over its contents by the light of the candle. At first, she wasn't too certain as to why young Rosa was so concerned, yet as she continued, she too found herself plagued with uncertainty.
"He always said he wanted to be a knight," Rosa sighed. "I just…didn't think it would be one such as this."
The Next Day
Baron
"A Dark Knight," she mused as she traveled through the small patch of woods outside of the kingdom's barriers, blackberries having freshly matured to perfection in the secret spot only she knew of. "Of all things, the King cannot be serious."
Indeed, even when Cecil had confirmed it was all true, Madame Harvey was almost tempted to march into the Castle herself and demand an audience with George that very second. Of course, upon reaching the gates, the trip from her home to there had cooled her down enough to allow her to see that such a tactic would most likely do her no good.
But still, her requests to speak to His Majesty had been denied time and time again, and, so far, Cecil had just begun his training in the ways of that enigmatic yet foreboding rank.
Cecil Harvey, her Cecil, not a knight in gleaming armor or a soldier of light, yet one that now belonged and would soon know the ways of a path that intentionally shielded itself away from the light.
The Dark Knight, or as it was called in some nations, such as Mysidia, the Warmage, was a branch of warriors that the Kingdom of Baron possessed, yet they were a more recent addition and one met with extreme caution. The "job" in itself was, at first, the same as that of a normal knight or even a standard soldier, for their role was the same in that of defending the land, as well as the King. However, this brand of knights held a rigorous training regime that tested the bodies of those who dared join them. As well as their minds.
She had never seen one herself, yet Madame Harvey, from what she learned during her brief stay in Mysidia in her youth, knew that the Dark Knights and those of their ilk made use of weapons and magic associated with wicked powers and evil, or so the stories went. In truth, a Dark Knight was simply one who could control these very things, not so much allow them to bend them to their will. On the contrary, the Dark Knights were told to be completely removed from any sense of emotion, without ties or connection to anything outside of themselves or their duty, should they have one assigned to them.
It was the complete opposite of everything she had initially envisioned for her Cecil, much less what she had believed the King himself would envision.
"This can't do," the woman thought aloud, finally finding a patch of berries to pick and throw in the small basket she brought with her. "I have to stop this," she began picking, already planning out what she would do to counter this development. The boy would be in training in but a few more weeks. "The King, George, he must hear me. He must!" Madame Harvey sighed. "Just what has been happening as of late?"
It was then that she felt it.
A shift in the air.
The chirping insects and birds went deathly silent, along with every other animal in the vicinity making themselves scarce if they could. She wasn't alone.
After a few apprehensive moments, the woman turned around to find no one in sight, let alone any hint of a monster. Yet still, there was a lingering feeling of dread that hung in the air, the fresh berries not exactly as appetizing now. Never mind, she could just make do with what she had. It would be enough.
"That's what I'll do," she thought aloud. "I'll bake Cecil's favorite bread, and we'll sit down and have a talk about all this," she sighed, trying to calm her nerves as she began to try and make her way back to Baron without drawing too much attention. "And then…then George will have to hear me. He…?" She then paused, spotting a figure in the distance, far enough to where she could entirely distinguish their features, yet she could see enough to where she could vaguely make out a familiar shape. "Hello?" she called out. "George? Is that you?"
Indeed, it seemed to resemble her old friend, the once young Prince, yet that then brought the question as to what he was doing outside the castle, let alone outside Baron's barriers.
Before she managed to get a single word out, the shape transformed before her, twisting into something that was far from human, yet not entirely animal either. Rather, it was some sickening mixture of both man and beast, the creature presenting her with a twisted smile before it lunged, closing the distance between them quickly.
Madame Harvey didn't even get the chance to run.
A Month Later
Finally, at long last, she was home.
While she had enjoyed her time in Troia, Rosa was happy to return to Baron, her mother, Kain, and Cecil.
Cecil…
The young man had been on her mind ever since she received his first letter detailing the path the King recommended for him to take, his announcement of becoming a Dark Knight. Even more so when the letter proved to be the only one she would get, the young man had not responded to her since then. At first, she had feared the worst, wondering if perhaps something had happened, or maybe the harsh regiment was too extreme for the young man to handle.
Of course, upon discovering the answer, her fears soon became false hopes and desperate clingings to far more favorable scenarios. Alas, reality had seen fit to be especially cruel in this case. Especially upon hearing more news when arriving at her home.
"Wh-What…?" Rosa stammered, barely able to believe what had just reached her ears.
"As much as I wish it weren't so, it's true," Joanna, her mother, solemnly relayed to her. "Madame Harvey is dead."
The blonde White Mage in training gazed down at the floor, green eyes wide and filled with terrible comprehension. "When did this happen?" she questioned her sole remaining parent. "How long was it until she was discovered?"
Joanna sighed. "It was by the end of the evening that someone found her outside of the town's gates," she answered. "According to the King's Guard, the…damage done to her person was the result of an animal attack, perhaps some wolves hunting for deer, or a bear that was foraging for the same berries she was."
The young blonde woman bit her lip. Then, an idea came to her. "Has anyone suspected monsters?" she asked. "Baron has had issues with hoards of Goblins over the years, right?"
"True," Joanna answered. "Yet, the wounds found don't match that of Goblin weapons or teeth and claws," she then paused, the recounting of surveying the poor woman's injuries still fresh in her mind. "The beast that took her from this world…it was large," the older woman bit her lip. "Large in size, in mouth, everything."
Rosa decided it was perhaps best not to speak of Madame Harvey's unfortunate passing any longer. Still, there was something she did want to know. "Where is Cecil?" she asked her mother.
"He should be out of training soon," Joanna answered. "Although, I should warn you-"
"Thank you, Mother! I'll be back soon!"
"Rosa, wait!"
Unfortunately for Joanna, the girl was too fast, rushing out the door and making her way to the training grounds of Baron Castle, the blonde woman closing her eyes in worry.
"...he's not exactly the same young man you knew before you left."
Baron Castle
While the incident regarding the attack chilled Rosa to a degree, her journey toward the Castle from town was quick. She made sure to stay on the road and keep to the open areas. So far, no sign of any feral animals or monsters. Still, while she was thankful to be traveling without incident, this only brought to mind what could've happened regarding Madame Harvey in the forest.
The entire ordeal made no sense, especially considering how sharp and eagle-eyed the kingdom's soldiers were. Someone had to have seen something, they must have! The only question was, who, and even more, why were they hiding it?
Regardless, her trip had been successful, the towering structure before her, hopefully holding the answers she sought.
Making her way to the outer grounds, the young woman looked around for any sign of the ivory-haired young man, finding no one until she noticed a figure surveying their weapon over in the eastern corner, dressed in armor of blue and helmet sporting a telltale draconic appearance.
"Kain?"
The Dragoon heard his name spoken and turned, seeing the young White Mage approaching him, her white and red attire signifying both her chosen field and the time she had currently spent putting into mastering it. "Rosa," he uttered, surprised yet nonetheless receptive to her presence. "When did you get here?"
"I arrived a few hours ago," the blonde answered. "I thought the ship from Troia to here would never arrive," she sighed, remembering the lengthy trip from the two countries and back. "But," she paused, biting her lip. "I…heard what happened regarding…"
"Regarding?" Kain questioned. A few moments of silence allowed him to finally understand what she was referring to. "Oh," he turned his head as if trying to look away from something unpleasant. "Yes, that."
Rosa shifted her gaze from the young Dragon to the door leading further into the Castle, wondering if perhaps she would have a better chance looking inside. Still, she didn't want to just leave Kain hanging. "Did you see anything?" she inquired. "Or hear any details?"
Kain raised a brow. "What all have you heard?" he asked.
"I know that it occurred in the forest nearby," Rosa relayed to him. "And that no one can seem to decide just what sort of animal was responsible for the injuries done to the body."
Kain lightened his lips, gripping the handle of his spear. "Indeed, it is bizarre," he answered. "Shame. Madame Harvey was a pleasant lady."
Indeed, Rosa thought, wishing that she had perhaps given a better goodbye to the woman before she had left for Troia. Still, there was one, burning question that emerged the moment she heard the dreadful news. "How has Cecil been taking this?"
Silence fell in between them both, Rosa wondering if she had pried too much, and Kain on how he should exactly answer. Unfortunately, neither of them got the chance, as the doors leading into the Castle opened, revealing another figure around Kain's height and build, yet clad in far darker, blacker armor.
No, she thought. It couldn't be…?
The figure was about to pass by, yet halted upon realizing just who was before him. He gave a small glance at Kain, then to Rosa, who was able to see that the bottom half of his face was visible, but his eyes were hidden beneath a dark helmet that appeared to block out any source of light.
He stared at her, in turn, unsure of just what was going through the young man's head when he saw her. Then, at last, he spoke. "...it's good that you're back."
With that, he left, leaving the young woman with a deathly chilling dread growing in her chest.
Later
"And he hasn't been the same since," Rosa relayed, a stout man garbed in a pink and blue jumpsuit continuing to tinker away at the great airship. Although this wasn't to say he was paying her no mind. On the contrary, he heard every word the woman said.
"Well, I'll admit, it was a bit hard on the kid when the lady caring for him died," the bearded technician and engineer observed outwardly. "But so far, all he's been doing is following orders of the King."
"That's just it, Cid! I don't know if what the King is doing is right!" Rosa declared, cupping a hand over her mouth upon realizing what she had just said.
"It's all right, little lady," the airship builder assured her. "There's no one here to hear you simply express yourself. Still," he continued. "I'll admit that His Majesty has been behaving a little erratically as of late," he pondered aloud. "True, while Baron's been no slouch regarding its military prowess, it seems that expanding and increasing our forces is all that seems to be on his mind."
"Exactly," Rosa added. "None of which fit with His Majesty or his policies," she explained. "He always put the safety of his people first, yes, yet not at the potential expense of our neighbors," she bit her lip, looking up at the night sky, the double moonrise that had been there since she was a young girl. "And now, there's talk of potential interest in the possessions of the other nations, as well as theories of how they're secretly plotting against us all."
Cid was silent on this for a few moments, contemplating all that he had heard. "Maybe," he admitted, unsure of whether or not any of it was true. "Then again, maybe not," he added. "Ultimately, Rosa, there's only such much folks like us can do," he told her. "Like it or not, we aren't rulers of this country, let alone anywhere near high-ranking."
"Yes, I know. But still, regarding those within our reach," Rosa sighed. "There must be something that we can do," her green eyes centered on the two moons, two particular figures on her mind at the moment. "There must be…"
Training Grounds
Thrust.
Slash.
Leap.
Downward thrust.
Stab.
Draw back.
Repeat.
This basic routine served to allow the young Dragoon to slip into the perfect state to hone and perfect his skills, the imaginary enemy before him falling due to his precise and direct strikes to weak and vulnerable areas.
Then, he stopped, sensing that, at that moment, he wasn't alone.
"You didn't even notice I was here for some time now," a familiar voice chided him. "How can you hope to be the future Leader of the Dragoons if you can't detect what's around you?"
Kain narrowed his eyes, turning to see an armored Cecil standing a short distance away, the Dark Blade of his Corps clasped tightly in his hand. "I know how to carry myself in a battle," the Dragoon told his visitor. "I don't need any observation from you."
Cecil was silent for a short time as if contemplating which step to take next. As if he were torn on what to do now, hesitant even. "Then maybe you wouldn't mind proving it then."
The young soldier gripped his spear's handle. "Are you challenging me?" he questioned, taken aback by the young man's confrontational attitude. Nonetheless, if he wished it…
"That depends," Cecil answered, steadily getting into a fighting stance, his darkly-powered weapon charging up with its namesake energy, channeled by the young man's own emotions. "Are you ready and willing enough to take one?"
Gardens
"Huh, I didn't know they had planted these." Rosa mused aloud, green eyes scanning over the flowerbeds and blossoming plants, all vibrant, gorgeous colors that were further complimented by the pale moonlight shining down from above.
Still, while she tried to distract herself with one of her favorite pastimes, Rosa found flowers and any other occupants of the Castle Gardens to be the last things on her mind at the moment. While speaking with Cid had alieved her of some of her worries, she found that the man could be a little too optimistic at times.
"This all ties back to Cecil being a Dark Knight, doesn't it?" she remembered him asking before she left, silence falling between them for a short while.
The blonde then sighed, letting her eyes close. "I think it does," she answered, as she had done to the engineer not too long ago. "And, dare I say it," she paused, wondering if it was safe to speak such a thing aloud here, in what was usually her sanctuary. "I think the King intends for him to go further down this road."
Just then, she heard a noise in the distance. Then, it grew into a clatter. Soon, she could identify voices among the clangs and clashes of metal and magic, recognizing the sounds immediately. Rising from the stone bench, Rosa rushed by, navigating her way through the maze-like garden as quickly as she could, the sounds of battle seemingly growing in intensity the further she went along.
She barely even noticed that the gardener had taken to adding a new addition to the overall area.
A small selection of pure white roses glistened in the moon's gentle light.
Training Grounds
"Come on! Is that all you got?!"
Kain didn't respond, only thrusting his spear forward, missing by barely a few inches. Cecil responded with a strike from his own sword, forcing the Dragoon to block the attack with his own weapon, bringing the two to a standstill. The two young armored men struggled against the other's strength, yet each was determined to pass it, one way or another.
"The next in line to command the Dragoons? With feeble power such as this?"
Kain gritted his teeth, the energy radiating off of the other young man quite intense and imposing, not to mention somewhat suffocating. It was as if his very essence was being forced outward, his entire being encased in the very same darkness as his armor.
Was this the true power of the Dark Knight?
Regardless, Kain couldn't fall to Cecil, of all people! He refused to! He fought back against the other soldier of Baron, leaping into the air and delivering a brutal blow from above, forcing Cecil to roll to the side and dodge! Still, this was far from satisfactory for Kain, having pure intent to show his rival just who would indeed be the next one to lead the Dragoons of the Kingdom!
"Stop!"
Unbeknownst to either of the young men, an outside party invited themselves into the battle, watching the skirmish from afar as the two young men continued to fight. Simply going in would potentially get herself caught in the fray, yet still, she had to do something! At least enough of an action to cause a distraction!
Just then, the young blonde woman noticed a nearby bow off to the side, the quiver accompanying it still possessing a few arrows.
Cecil and Kain continued their bout, weapons clashing and armored fists colliding with each other when able, yet still, neither young man admitted to the other that they were the better. Nothing but grunts and hot-blooded cries rang out throughout the entire grounds, the two battering each other up quite roughly despite the protection covering their muscled forms. The two continued on, going further and further until one of them would surely fall within the next few blows.
The question was, which one would it be?
Both soldiers dashed forward, determined to discover the answer for themselves, yet neither got the chance to deliver the final move.
A lone arrow pierced the ground between them, forcing both young men to stop dead in their tracks, their battle coming to an abrupt and sudden end. The two looked to see the interloper, she possessing a bow and a tearful look in her eye as if what she had just seen had broken her heart.
The fever and heat of battle had all but been snuffed out, cold and dreadful realization having taken its place, alerting everyone of just how cold the night wind had suddenly become.
Rosa turned her attention to the Dark Knight, lowering her bow and reaching out for him with an extended hand. "Cecil…"
The young man said nothing, backing away from her reach for a few steps. Then, without a second's hesitation, he rushed off from the grounds, leaving the White Mage and Dragoon on their lonesome.
"Cecil!" Rosa called out, desperate for him to heed her plea, yet her voice fell on deaf ears as he continued running, his legs carrying him far from the Training Grounds, far from the Castle, far from anywhere near anyone.
What had he done?
Forest Outside Baron
He was only doing what his King requested of him.
It was all necessary for the good of Baron.
The job of a Dark Knight was a taxing field, yet by His Majesty's decree, he was needed.
How could he refuse?
How could he refuse the man that was practically his father?
…especially now that the woman he called "mother" was resting beneath the tree before him?
Despite what had happened and the state she had been found in, Cecil Harvey wasn't deterred from venturing into the depths of the woods outside of the Castle and town, knowing nowhere else to go but here. Monsters and wild beasts, he could deal with. For now, he just needed to be alone, isolated from everyone else.
Even her.
"Rosa…"
The forest was a favorite location of his when he was just a child, the ivory-haired boy spending hours exploring the expansive greenery and dense woodland all around him, from discovering new spots where berries grew to make bread and jams to battling imaginary monsters and demons with a wooden sword and shield. Cecil couldn't count the times he had spent reliving the old tales he had heard from both the library or Madame Harvey herself, pretending to be whatever great warrior of legend he fancied that day.
Some days it was the virtuous Warrior of Light who had helped restore the world along with his companions long ago, others, he was the war orphan turned freedom fighter Firion, who was a prime contributor to the Wild Rose Rebellion that took down the growing Empire of Palamecia, taking down a seemingly unstoppable force with ancient powers that dated back to even before the days of the Warrior of Light. Of course, sometimes Kain and Rosa would be involved in these games, the former mostly out of a desire to try and rival the other boy. Nevertheless, their company always served to enrich the experience, the forest becoming their private playground where their young minds reigned supreme and dominated all around them.
Yet the end of the day, when their sessions finished, wasn't all bad, for Madame Harvey always had a hot meal waiting for the young boy at home, as well as a warm bed to conjure up dreams in. All of that seemed like a distant dream now, he felt that the young boy and the young man were completely different people. Someone that the woman resting underneath the old willow tree wouldn't even recognize if she could see him now.
"Cecil?"
The young man turned, a familiar feminine voice reaching his ears. He rose from his place, the rustling of bushes alerting him that someone was approaching. From the foliage emerged Rosa, the young woman relieved to find him safe and sound. She ran to him while Kain hung close behind, watching her.
"Thank the Cosmos that you're all right!" the blonde proclaimed. Then, she noticed the small headstone nestled at the foot of the tree, reading the name chiseled on the surface. "Oh. This is…"
The Dark Knight nodded. "Please, don't tell the King about it," he pleaded with her. "No one knows it's here but me, and, well, now you two, I suppose."
The young woman was confused. "Why would you not want the King to know?" she inquired. "After all, wasn't Madame Harvey one of his most trusted confidants?"
"...it's not in the nature of a Dark Knight to let grief rule him."
Rosa paused at what she heard. "What?"
"That's what he told me," Cecil answered. "His Majesty, when Madame Harvey was…discovered," he told her. "And, it is true. What he wishes for me, I must learn when to reign in and release my emotions. But…" he bit his lip, lowering his head. "Tonight…I took everyone out on the wrong person."
Rosa glanced back at Kain, who had partially hidden himself behind another tree. "He's already forgiven you if that's what you're wondering," she told Cecil. "It's been some time since his parents departed from this world too. He understands what it's like."
"It still doesn't make it right."
"No, but you can always correct it," she assured him. "Staring now, if you want."
She gestured to behind her, Kain emerging from his hiding place, facing Cecil, yet not with aggression. Rather, a sense of understanding. The young man immediately felt immense guilt, wishing to openly express such to the Dragoon, yet still, he held back, remembering His Majesty's words.
Still, even if he was going to make things right with Kain, Cecil couldn't help but wonder:
What would Madame Harvey think of him now?
Note: Somewhat shorter here, but the next official beginning of the game is what the next chapter is based on! I just wanted to cover some of the backstory for some of the main characters before we set off.
Please read and review! Thank you!