“It's almost perfect.” She wandered about the little forest, a grand smile on her beautiful face. She could light up the night itself and never know it. “It’s... How did you know I wanted a garden?”

“It’s hard not to know. It’s all you ever talk about, my queen.” The maid answered, disregarding the obvious swell in her friend's abdomen. The laughs of a little one would soon fill the secret, exotic forest, held away in shadows from curious eyes. “You talk about it when you are awake and when you are sleeping.” Then in a less elated tone, “I’m sure the king will enjoy it as well.”

The woman smiled, rubbing her stomach. “No, he’s not for the little things...” She trailed off when realizing the real intention of her friend's mentioning. “Oh, come now, Asana. No reason to be bitter. He’s just...a warrior.”

“They’re all that way I suppose. It's just that he’s from--”

“I know very well where he is from, Asana.” The queen’s pretty face creased in a frown. “But he's on our side now. As he will be for all time.” The queen seated herself beneath a large oak tree, breathing in the smell of the sweet flowers and dewed grass. It was perfect. Just what she wanted: her own little garden to get lost in.

Asana peered into her longtime friend and ruler's eyes, her own unsure image reflecting back at her. “Do you truly believe that, my queen?”

She looked up at her comrade, those large purple orbs full of what was already known. “I have to.” She whispered.

***

King Cecil of Baron laid stretched out on his back, his eyes open and staring at nothing but the ceiling above. He had done this every night, and with each passing day it seemed to grow like that of a habit. Sometimes he no longer realized he was actually doing this; watching that bare, white ceiling as if something of immense importance was planted there and if he was to look away, it would be lost to time forever. But it was not the significance of this wall that caused him to stare intently at its coated surface, it was the memories and dreams of what once was. Memories of a time not long ago when he was with his ally, his best comrade, Kain Highwind.

This Dragoon Knight wasn’t just any friend, he was more a brother to Cecil. They had known each other since before either dared to remember, and this was the reason he stood awake every night. He was the reason Cecil glared at that vacant wall above him and his wife, Rosa. But it was Rosa, the woman he loved, who had forced these friends apart initially, for Kain too had fallen smitten with her. So the Dragoon Knight left them alone in peace, so they could live the life that the Dragoon could only dream of.

Is this what it comes down to now? Dreams? Cecil sighed softly so as not to wake Rosa. I can only dream of a world where all was like it once was, Kain... The Paladin turned his head idly towards his window. The moon watched Cecil with one vast eye--eternally vacant and forever full at the same time. But this serene night was of little comfort to this king. And he could endure it no longer; the cool winds as they blew a drift the laced curtains, bringing back with their every toss the thoughts of the past. He threw the sheets aside and placed both feet on the cold, uncarpeted floor. He flinched, surprised at how icy it was.

Where Kain had went to was told to no one and what would become of him was now as unknown as the days to come. The Dragoon had been so quiet on the way back from their last battle together. They had saved the world. And it was the night the Crystal Wars ended, but still he had remained eerily silent. Kain disappeared into the shadows around him, not even bothering to cast a glance back to his comrades.

Six months to the day... I should have seen it. I should have known by the way he was acting... I thought he was just relieved it was over. But all he was doing was simply bidding us farewell. What I fool I was...

Cecil paced the wooden frame until his feet’s own rhythm began to aggravate him. He stopped by the window. The crisp air of the full mooned night blew into his room, setting back his silver tinted hair from his face. I can’t leave it like this, Kain. I have to find you. You’re out there. Somewhere... Rosa shifted slightly in the bed. Her soft breathing drew his attention to her. He desired to search for his lost friend, but Rosa...

Rosa was against Cecil traveling through out the world just to find this mysterious man, who had became nothing more than the very shadows of this calm night. She believed that Kain should be left alone to straighten out his life to his liking. But Cecil, as usual, refused to listen to the feminine voice of reason. While as much as he persisted in this idea, he knew somewhere in the back of his deepest thoughts, it could be a possibility that Kain wanted nothing to do with the Paladin King. Cecil tore his gaze from his wife and back to the window.

I will find you Kain. I promised you that much... The Paladin dressed quickly in his suit of armor--polished only recently to rid it of the dents and scratches from fights long gone--and made his way down to the basement of the Castle of Baron.

On the way down the cobblestone steps, Cecil forethought good allies to aid him with this idea. In a group it would be simple searching for a man that could very well be anywhere as opposed to it being done alone. Rydia... Cecil thought, watching the orange light from the torches as it played over the stones of the steps, covering them both in its glow. She fought with me in the past... The Caller Rydia was now in the Land of the Summoned Monsters and had been so for this time. Cid. Cid was always up for an adventure and was a loyal and true friend to Cecil. Edge. Cecil smiled at that thought. The King of Eblan was experienced in years and showed this well when engaged in combat, though his manners left much to be desired. There--a perfect team. All that was left now was to gather them. That sounded vastly simple compared to the reality, but Cecil was not one to be broken down by the impossible. He knew what he had to do for his friend and nothing, man nor inanimate object, would stand in his way.

The one to find without walking very far would be Cid. Cecil would have traveled to Baron City to track him down in his house, if it were not for Cid always working late in the engine room. For once, he was grateful the man overworked.

“Cid?” Cecil called as he now sprinted down the lengthy staircase of the basement. When the call went unanswered, Cecil became more persistent and briskly passed the whale of a ship, Falcon, to where Cid was. Louder now, he tried again, “Cid!”

The engineer spun around from his hunched over position near the bow of the ship. “Don’t do that!” The stocky man's voice echoed in the vast room. Cid shuddered at his own loud tone, louder than intended. “You know how old I’m gettin', Cecil.” A slight smirk edged his lips. Cid could never call Cecil by his proper title as king. For one, Cecil didn’t want him to, and Cid had known him since before he had ever become ruler.

Cecil smiled faintly, but it would be as faint as the moon‘s light. “Sorry, Cid, but I need your help.”

Less intrigued by the question then why Cecil was actually here, Cid simply shrugged. “With what?” He went back to fixing the ship before bothering to wait for the king's response.

Cecil bit his lower lip. It was as if saying the Dragoon‘s name brought back a wave of uneasy feelings for him and his kingdom. After a long while, he finally said, “I want to find Kain and I need your assistance.” The Paladin waited for Cid to scoff and then tell him what he knew the middle-aged man would say, but it soon became obvious Cid hadn’t been listening. Cecil leaned over the side of the airship to where Cid now was. “Can you at least pretend to be interested in what I have to say?”

In a cool, offhand tone, the engineer promptly responded to his king. “Cecil, you know I’m always willin' to help, but Kain should be left alone. It was his choice to leave and you should respect his decision.” Cid stood up to face Cecil, a friendly hand now resting upon the Paladin's shoulder. “I know you miss him, but you gotta leave him alone.”

Cecil breathed out a sigh of indifference and answered, “Fine.”

“Fine your gonna leave him alone or fine your gonna do it yourself?” Cid asked with a raised brow, his face creasing with his smile.

Cecil grinned as soon as those words left the man’s lips. You always knew me better than that, didn‘t you? Cecil shook his head and what little smile was upon his face left. “Neither. I’m going to gather allies to aid me.”

“With me out how many ‘allies’ do you have left?”

“Two...”

“Who's crazy enough to help you?” Cid chuckled to himself as he continued on with his work. “I know Rosa is against you goin' after Kain.”

Cecil watched him work with wonder. So is this why you work? To get away from everything? From your daughter as well? In an uncanny way, Cecil envied Cid and his way of escape from the world; all through his work. He answered while trying to mask the disappointment in his voice, “so I‘m now forced into convincing my wife to go because you won‘t abide by my ideas?”

“Don’t take it personal, kid.” Cid’s voice answered now from somewhere beneath the ship.

“The only way to escape, right, Cid?” Cecil spoke silently, knowing well Cid didn't hear him through all of the noise he and his tools were making. Cecil turned away without another word spoken.

Personal? It’s just the person I knew all my life... He scoffed mentally as he went back upstairs. If he won’t help, Rosa has to. As he opened his chamber door, his wife was already awake and sitting upon their bed, her nightgown spread out in a circle of lace and silk on the sheets around her. She looked up at him, pondering to herself whether to be angered or worried. She knew exactly why Cecil had left the room so late at night, for he did it usually every night.

Looking as if she found her choice, she stood up. But she didn’t bother to walk over to him, she was waiting for him to come to her. “Where were you going?” She inquired, looking at his armor and trying her best to keep her voice and facade neutral.

Cecil smiled inwardly, but would not dare to on his lips. You always worry. Can you ever, just for once, trust in my decisions? “I went to see Cid.” He paused, as if wanting her to answer in her own protecting way. “I’m going after Kain.” Rosa looked to protest but Cecil cut her off, not wanting her to speak, at least until he finished, “I know you don’t want me finding him, but he’s my brother. I’m tired of losing sleep over this.” His eyes and his armor sparkled slightly under the moon's glow.

He always sparkled and Rosa imagined an angel must do the very same. This thought caused her face to soften and she smiled slightly. “Cecil, we’ve been over this so many times. It was Kain’s choice to leave. You shouldn’t feel like you drove him away. It wasn’t your fault.” She was about to add something to her usual speech when Cecil turned around to face her, not wanting her to finished that sentence with the words he knew she was to say.

“I just want to know if he’s okay. Then I’ll leave him alone.” Cecil breathed out a long breath of unstable air. By now, you should know I would do almost anything to find him, as I would do for you. He reached out and touched her soft cheek with curled fingers. “Will you help me?”

Rosa watched him in silence, almost as if she was battling her own demons. Kain was a trusted ally to them both, though he had done many things to force them to believe otherwise. Still, he tried hard to redeem himself. And what would it say about her if she turned her back on someone they both cared for?

Rosa gave him that look, that modest glance of compliance. She rose from off the bed, bringing her arms around her husband and watching his gentle, worried eyes. Her own eyes danced with some amusement. “For you I will do anything, my king.”

Kain stood with one foot resting on a small, flat rock and his other leg straight down besides it. He leaned over on his knee, allowing the cool air of morning to surround him, blowing through his longish, onyx hair. He was out on the spot he claimed now as his own; one of the thresholds on Mount Ordeals. He did this more than he cared to count, gazing out onto the Earth below him as if he had been promoted to guardian of the world. Out on the beautiful land he took in the splendor all around him. Like any other warrior, Kain never really bothered to appreciate the little things, but standing over this world alone gave him much needed time to think over many things. One being the life he once had.

Kain had been practicing excessively, taking on difficult tasks and challenges with each passing breath in hopes to become a mere shred of what his father had been. He didn‘t lie to himself, not anymore. Living up to his father‘s standers as a warrior was a difficult mission to be dealt. But he promised himself that he would go on fighting and intended to keep this vow true, no matter how long it would take. Every now and then, Kain could see the town of Mysidia from his place on the mountain, whenever the thick clouds of Mount Ordeals wasn't blocking the view. It looked so warm, so inviting.

And from time to time Kain would accept this warmness and went to Mysidia, usually just for the supplies he needed and to see the friends he had made. Breathing in the crisp mountain air, Kain decided he would do that very thing. He headed down the mountain’s path like he did on so many occasions beforehand. The inhabitants of the wizards’ village were now used to seeing Kain and all knew him by name if not by face. Of course supplies not only meant the essentials, but it also entailed stopping by the tavern and making his usual conversation with the Black Wizard, Valzer.

Valzer was only twenty-four, but had completed his training and had been the first in his class. He was proud of his choice in wizardry, for his father had been a Black Wizard as well, even if he admitted that his heart was never truly in it. And every now and then, Valzer would try to get Kain to show interest in magic. But it went without reward most of the time. Valzer was an unusual wizard with a bizarre sense of humor. He always wore his blue wizard’s garments, open to reveal his shirt and pants beneath (and was the only wizard who wore causal clothes under his robes). His brown eyes reflected Kain’s image as he neared and his smile was surrounded by a week’s growth of beard. Both of the men then decided to go into the saloon together and take a table in the back; Valzer soon left for the bar to grab a some spirits.

“Guess who's looking for you,” Valzer said as he scooped up the mugs in his hands and began to return to their table. Kain smiled slightly. It was so typical for Valzer to start the conversation before he had even made it back to where the Dragoon was. Handing his companion a mug of ale, he sat down across from Kain.

“Who?” Kain raised one dark brow of fascination, trying his best to seem nonchalant. But Valzer already knew who Kain wanted that 'someone' to be, so he strung him along for amusement.

“Well, I can't be sure, but... Let me see...if I can remember...”

“Decca?” Kain almost spat that out a little too hurriedly and lost his offhand facade sooner than Valzer had expected.

“Who?” Valzer smirked as he raised his glass to thirsty lips. When Kain sighed, the wizard realized his friend had caught on to him, so he simply laughed. “All right, it wasn‘t Decca.”

“Oh.” Kain managed to say before shifting in his seat and dismissing his thwarted expression.

“But this girl did stop by the courtyard and started to talk to our favorite elf. From what I overheard she was asking for you by name, so I’m supposing you know her." Valzer rubbed his eyes (apparently he had been up all night reading his magic books again). "She was shorter than you and she looked really haggard, like she had been in a battle or something. A lot of green--”

“Rydia?” Kain questioned, more to himself then to his buddy. “How did she find me...?”

“I knew you knew her.” Valzer pointed to him with his glass. “I’m a little worried about her.”

“Why? What did she say?”

“She only asked for you, that’s all, but she looked so frightened. I don’t think I ever saw anyone with such fear on their face. She was shaky too; looking as if she had just come from the Crystal Wars.“ Valzer watched Kain attentively, knowing well Kain was in that war. Then, to lighten the mood, “is she your girlfriend or something? I wouldn't say anything to Decca about that...” He took another long drink.

Kain smiled at that. In fact, just about any mentioning of the elf's name caused a smile from him. “No. She’s just an old friend. Did she say where she was going?”

“I told you, she only asked for you and then left. Like I said, she was talking to Decca. If you can find her, ask her about it.” If indeed. Valzer looked at him through the clear-glass bottom of his cup. Kain stood up in silence. “Where are you going now?” Valzer backed out his chair as if to follow.

“I have to find Decca.” Kain simply said, dropping a few gold coins on their table. They fell with a clinking rhythm, almost like a song, one after the other and Valzer watched them like he was hypnotized by their twirling. “Drinks on me, Valz.”

“Good luck, man.” Valzer nodded to where the warrior had been, but Kain had already swung the saloon doors open and stepped outside.

Kain scanned the little area around the bar for his other friend. It would be a challenge to find Decca. She came and left with the wind, much like any elf he suspected, searching for her own little adventure. But always searching. Once when Kain had came to the town, he asked her why she seemed to forever seek this dream. She would merely give one of her mischievous smiles and say nothing. But Kain would see in her large emerald eyes that she was determined to catch this certain dream. Bumping a few people out of his way, Kain noticed Decca in the crowd and pulled her aside the first chance he had, so as to not to lose her in the group of hunters. Apparently, she had just came back with her hunting party.

“Kain? Drinking with Valzer again?” The elf smiled up at him, obviously smelling the lingering scent of spirits on him.

Gazing into her eyes caused him to smile somewhat. He was sure if he could see himself now that he would know just how stupid of a grin he was sporting. Unbeknownst to her, but she could make him feel things that he thought to be lost in the Crystal Wars. It was almost like this new life was worth the pain and suffering he had endured in order to obtain it. Once he realized Decca had been standing there impatiently waiting for a response, he stammered, "Uh, you know, the usual..."

“Something wrong?” Decca noticed his awkward expression. Kain thought her to be at least nineteen, although her real age was unknown to him. Her frosty pink hair fell far below her slender, but strong shoulders, and were never enough to hide her long and pointed ears. Though It was a well-known fact that Decca was indeed an elf, she had strange gray-blue skin. It was abnormal, for elves didn‘t have this shade of flesh, at least none Kain had heard of.

From what Kain learned from Valzer, Decca had been raised by Valzer’s family since he had stumbled upon her as a child, wandering about the Forest of Mysidia. From that day on Decca had been accepted by the townspeople as one of their own, and they never had asked of her past. But if they were to ever have inquired, Decca would have no answers for them. She remembered nothing. She still had a normal childhood and never bothered to asked of what once was. Decca studied in the arts of healing and combat magic, but her love of the forests caused her to wander off and disappear for days at a time.

“I’m looking for someone who was talking with you earlier today--a girl. A lot of green?” Kain could see his reflection in her emerald eyes--he looked distorted, strange.

Decca was nodding with his every word, yet her mind was venturing to something else. He‘s so handsome... All that black... She smiled almost hypnotically. “What?”

“Are you listening to me?” His voice broke through her thoughts. Apparently Kain had been babbling on about something or someone.

Decca blinked quickly. She didn’t appreciate being snatched from her fantasy world and back to Mysidia. “Yes. I’m always listening to you--what did you say?”

“I’m looking for a girl. Rydia?”

Decca nodded and craned her head back towards the courtyard in Mysidia. “I was talking with her over there. Why?”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“No, I don't think she did,” Decca said, bringing her shoulders up to form a shrug. “Poor girl. I hope she's okay. She didn't look too well.”

“Thanks anyway.” Kain smiled, showing a line of white teeth. “I guess I’ll just have to find her myself. Looks like we both have our own little quests.”

Decca grinned and leaned her head playfully to the side, her hair falling quickly off of her shoulders, like water tumbling over a hill of rocks. “Who said I had a quest?”

Then what are you looking for, little elf...? Kain nodded in silent agreement. He knew better than to argue with her. Kain couldn’t help but feel his lips lift into a smile every time she began to prove him wrong. Now and then he longed for knowledge of which she did not know. Perhaps it would help her better in her quest to find whatever it was she searched for.

Kain wanted to reach out to touch her face, but he merely shook his head instead, his hair thrashing his cheeks. “See you around, Decca.”

“You say goodbye so solemn, as if it will be the last time we meet.” She crossed her arms before her chest, her quiver full of but a few arrows making noise as they bumped against one another.

“In this world, you never know.” He said quitely as he turned in the direction of the Mysidian Forest and began to walk along its dirt path. It peeked out from its location on the ground surrounded by the lush emerald trees. He had no need to prepare, for all his weapons were with him. He had but to walk to whatever without much preparation.

Valzer had left the tavern in search for Kain some time ago and now came up behind Decca, resting a hand upon her back, as if to stop her assortment of weaponry from making any sound. “He doesn’t know what he’s doing, does he?”

“Does he ever?” Decca watched with fixed eyes on their friend, walking along in the distance. “Come on,” Decca said softly, pulling Valzer along by the cuff of his sleeve.

Valzer didn't bother to pull away from her, though. “What? Where are we going?”

“After him.” Decca pointed to Kain now entering the forest; the tree trunks shaped shimmering images of caverns around him. She knew Kain would most certainly get lost in that particular forest. Many did. Smiling to herself, Decca strung her bow over her shoulder and alongside her quiver before following.