After what seemed like hours of weaving their way through the dark tunnels and slipping uneasily around corners, the travelers glimpsed a small crack of sunlight peering at them…Rydia instantly shouted and pointed them in the right direction…To Cecil's surprise she navigated her way through the tunnels well…and before they knew it, they stumbled wearily onto the sand of the beach…

"Ohhhhh…"

Edward breathed deeply and dropped to the sand.

"The sun…it's wonderful to feel the sun again!"

"--And the fresh air!"

The greenish tinge of Rydia's hair sparkled in the fading sunlight...and her eyes twinkled happily.

Cecil nodded but glanced around in apprehension…he held his hand to his eyes, blocking out the sun's rays, and scanned the shore.

"Is the hovercraft still here?"

All three turned to look…Edward sighed with relief as Rydia pointed gleefully at the craft, still nestled in the rocks of the shallows.

"Come on!"

Rydia grabbed Edward's hand in excitement and tried to urge the prince onward.

"We have to help Rosa!"

"Oh yes --"

Edward allowed the girl to drag him to his feet.

"--Though I fear we have been away for too long…"

Cecil felt his eyes on him, so he shook his head.

"Rosa's…okay --"

He started toward the shore.

"--She's… a strong person…"

He stared at the waves rolling upon the shore…

"I promised her that I'd come back to help her --"

Cecil closed his eyes…but…sometimes that's not enough…a promise? It means nothing…

"--She'll be waiting…"

He turned to the others with a decisive nod. Rydia grabbed Edward's hand and skipped beside him, nearly dragging him toward the hovercraft on the shore of the gulf of Damcyan. As they approached the hovercraft, the little girl insisted that she navigate them to the desert of Kaipo; Cecil hurriedly claimed that he would drive the craft on the return trip. Rydia pouted for only a moment; her spirits weren't dampened in the least, and she sat cross-legged on the floor of the hovercraft, singing to herself and sometimes urging the prince of Damcyan to join her. Edward politely declined and stared thoughtfully out the window.

When his eyes fell on the ruined castle of Damcyan, he felt that his breath were taken away for a moment…Over the hum of the engine and the propellers, he spoke in a quivering voice:

"It is strange…how something looks so different…from the outside…"

He paused.

"It feels as if I have only seen it from the inside…"

Cecil nodded, knowing all too well what Edward meant…

"Sometimes…it's best if you step away from something…and look at it…the way other people see it…"

Cecil gazed at the waves through the window…his words pained him…why did I even say it? It only reminds me of myself…

"It is difficult --" Edward stated with a nod. "--Because it is often frightening to imagine what you might see…"

Cecil said nothing…he found himself almost hating the prince for speaking…he's talking to me I know he is…no…calm down you dumb bastard…he doesn't know how I feel…or anything about me…

Well…now it sounds like he knows more about me than he thinks…Cecil didn't speak anything else aloud, but Rydia gladly continued the conversation:

"I'm ready to see Rosa again!"

She bolted to Cecil's side.

"How far away is Kaipo?"

Cecil wished she wouldn't stand so near the steering wheel…he thought she might decide to help him…

"Do you see the land up ahead?"

He indicated the sandy landscape that the hovercraft was quickly approaching. Rydia nodded, pushing against him to get a better view.

"That's the Kaipo Desert --" Cecil revealed. "--Kaipo is in the Kaipo Desert…"

"Yippee!"

The little girl leaped with joy and dashed to Edward, who was basking in his moment of silence away from her.

"We're almost there, Edward!"

He smiled half-heartedly and nodded. Rydia crouched next to him, suddenly serious.

"Rosa's real pretty, Edward --" she whispered; then with a glance at Cecil: "She's Cecil's girlfriend!"

Rydia giggled and Cecil blushed…Edward just nodded thoughtfully.

"How sweet…"

He was thinking of Anna…his own love…but they were not going to cure her…they were not going to see her in Kaipo…she was dead…he would never see her again…He wanted to quit thinking about her because it depressed him…He could almost imagine her whispering to him…

"Look!"

Rydia's voice interrupted his thoughts and for once he was relieved.

"We're flying over sand instead of water!"

Edward looked from the window in concern. Sure enough, the craft was flying over the sand, stirring up clouds of dust behind them.

"Cecil --"

Edward raised himself from his seat on the floor and approached Cecil.

"--Will it not damage the hovercraft to fly over the desert?"

Cecil held the wheel tightly.

"I hope not --" he shrugged, knowing that his answer was rather nonchalant. "--Otherwise we're in trouble…"

"Well, it matters little now --"

Edward's voice was trembling with relief and excitement…

"--We have arrived!"

The hovercraft descended into the sand with a numbing jolt and the people of the small town gaped at the vehicle resting in the sand.

Rydia cradled the sand ruby tightly in her little hands as she climbed from the hovercraft. Cecil and Edward hurried behind her…Cecil knew what would happen if she tried to take matters into her own hand…he nearly laughed…she's a little girl…why am I afraid of what she'll do?

Rydia rushed to the door of the elderly couple's house and pounded loudly.

"Rydia!"

Edward dashed behind her anxiously.

"They may not --"

The door opened slowly and the face of the old woman appeared…She stared suspiciously at Edward but when she caught sight of Rydia her eyes lit up.

"Oh dear…It's you!"

She disappeared from the doorway and her voice shouted down the hall:

"Aidin! It's the little girl with the pretty hair!"

Her face reappeared once again and Rydia displayed the sand ruby proudly.

"We brought the sand ruby to Rosa!"

The old woman looked at Edward and Cecil and she opened the door wider.

"Come in! I'm so sorry for making you wait!"

She backed up, inviting them, and turned to the hallway again:

"--and they've brought the sand ruby!"

Cecil heard the muffled voice of the elderly man as he walked through the dark hallway. As they approached the small room they could see the old man stooped over near a desk, a candle perched on top.

At last in the semi-darkness he saw Rosa lying in the bed…he rushed to her side…Her cheeks were pale and her lips had faded to a sickly ashen color…Her eyes shimmered dully as Cecil kneeled beside the bed, and even in her sickness the blue irises of her eyes were brilliant.

She weakly extended her hand to him, and spoke, her voice hoarse from the fever..

"Cecil…you've come back…"

He clutched her hand and held it to his chest.

"Rosa, I promised I'd come back with the sand ruby!"

He indicated the stone in Rydia's hand.

"You know I never break my promises…it's here!"

I never break promises to you, he corrected himself bitterly…Despite her suffering and pain, Rosa smiled…

"I couldn't doubt you, Cecil…even when I thought it was…hopeless…"

She started coughing feverishly and Cecil stood in concern.

"I was…afraid...when I heard…about…the earthquake…in the Mist valley…"

A brief coughing spell interrupted her.

"--Word spread…that…there…were no survivors…"

She drew a deep shaky breath before continuing:

"I continued to believe…that…somehow…you --"

Rosa couldn't speak anymore for her incessant coughing fit. Cecil knew exactly what she was going to say…My God, Rosa…It's like Kain said…it'll take more than this to bring me down…Cecil gripped her hand earnestly…

"I'm here now Rosa!"

Then he lowered his eyes…it dawned on him…she had spoken of the Mist Valley…she didn't know…

"Rosa…I...in Mist --"

He slowly pulled the horned helmet from his head and Rosa noticed a tiny single tear glimmer in the corner of his eye…

"Oh no…"

She understands…Cecil closed his eyes…she always knows before I tell her…she knows about Kain…the village…and if for some reason she didn't know…well…

"Ms. Rosa..?"

Rydia suddenly stepped forward…for once Cecil was relieved for her to speak for him…anything she said would sound much better than anything he would try to say…

"Cecil saved my life in the earthquake…"

The little girl looked at the floor sadly. Rosa gazed at Cecil, her eyes sparkling dully.

"Cecil --"

"I...could...see…him, Rosa --"

Cecil turned away hastily…he clenched his fist.

"--I saw him…through…the smoke and…flames --"

Suddenly he was angry at himself…Now you see? There's no excuse…

"--But it was too late!"

Cecil bowed his head, shaking it regretfully…What an excuse…'it was too late…' Would Kain understand?

"You saved…this…girl --" Rosa stated amid a coughing fit. "You might…have…been -"

Her voice trailed off…Cecil understood…

"-But…smoke? Flames?"

Cecil glanced at her as she studied him curiously.

"--I …don't understand…"

Cecil squeezed her hand tightly.

"The message…do you remember the message we were going to deliver…to Mist?"

Rosa nodded, confused.

"You never knew…what…it was…did you?"

He shook his head vehemently.

"I didn't know but I should have!"

He dropped his eyes to the floor again.

"As soon as I unsealed the scroll…"

God, he was living it over again…the unsealing…then…

"As soon as I unsealed it there was so much fire!"

His words rushed out, and he was exhausted after he said them. Anything so I don't have to think about it…I'll tell the story so you can be there instead of me…He put his hand over his face wearily…Rosa said nothing…

"There was so much damn fire!"

Rosa clutched his hand sympathetically.

"--But we didn't know!"

Cecil squeezed his eyes shut tightly but a tear escaped…look at me…crying like a child…

"We didn't know!"

Cecil released Rosa's hand and furiously leaped to his feet.

"But her mother --"

He indicated Rydia, who looked away shyly as Rosa gazed at her.

"--Her mother knew! Somehow her mother knew!"

And we didn't know it was her mother and we killed her…his mind screamed at him…he drew a deep breath…Cecil dropped to Rosa's side again…

"Her mother prayed for help to protect the village but it wasn't enough --"

His voice sounded defeated…he bit his lip, nearly drawing blood…

"It wasn't enough, Rosa…"

Cecil pressed his forehead against the quilt on her bed. Rosa could say nothing…she closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow. Rydia stood beside Edward, her head lying against his arm, and he had one arm draped around her thin shoulders…

"Why would…the king do something…so…heartless..?"

Cecil spoke at last…of course the only thing he could do was ask a question…there were so many to ask…why not start somewhere?

"Even with the crystal of…Mysidia --"

He shook his head hopelessly.

"--It's something else I can't understand!"

And don't want to try to understand…Rosa sighed wearily…

"He seems to not have a heart anymore --"

She finally lifted her head again…

"--But it's strange…"

Her voice trailed off and Cecil watched her intently.

"What? What's strange?"

She turned to him, an odd frown on her face.

"A few days after you and…Kain…left for Mist…another man came to King Odin hoping to be one of the Red Wings --"

After another brief coughing spell she continued:

"--The man, Golbez, seems to --"

"Golbez? "

Cecil echoed in astonishment.

"You've heard of…Golbez?"

Rosa nodded in confusion…she raised herself up in the bed a bit higher to speak:

"He became the Captain of the Red Wings after you were…dismissed…"

Cecil gave a scornful laugh…a strange laugh…I was that replaceable…

"I guess Baigan is still chief of Guards…"

Cecil believed the thought would be somewhat relieving…Baigan…the stupid bastard…he didn't even get his wish…

"I think --" Rosa paused to clear her throat…she also needed to choose her words carefully…"--Golbez has a lot to do with…what's been happening…"

Her cough seemed to worsen…she was pale and exhausted from the fever…Cecil glanced at the old man, who was busily flaking away pieces of the sand ruby…Cecil turned back to Rosa, thinking about her words.

"What has been happening?!"

He gazed at the White Robe as if she could tell him the answer. He wished to God that anyone could tell him the answer…

"If Golbez is behind this --" Cecil allowed his voice to trail off…what? What would happen if Golbez were behind this?

"I think…he's using the strength…of the Red Wings…to capture the crystals--"

Rosa lay back on the pillow with a weak sigh.

"--For what reason, I don't know…"

So we're back where we started Cecil thought dismally…No one knows anything…even I don't…I haven't known what was happening since the beginning…when it started…in Mysidia…

There was a long moment of awkward silence marred only by a slight rustling as Rydia sat on the floor. The old man still bustled about at his desk with the sand ruby, and Cecil considered insisting for him to hurry with the medicine.

"If he's searching for the…crystals --"

Rosa broke the silence.

"--then there are three more to get, right?"

"Two --"

Edward finally spoke…Rosa turned to him painfully…

"There are only two crystal left…the crystal of Fire has already...been…taken…"

He looked away sadly.

"The nation of Damcyan fell at Golbez's hands…"

Rosa stared at him in shock…she had obviously not known this, Cecil realized…

"--It was an…unexpected…attack…" Edward continued in a gloomy voice. "--We did not...stand…a…chance…"

Cecil stood quickly from his position beside the bed.

"He's Prince Edward of Damcyan --"

Cecil indicated the prince…

"--He was --"

"But I shall never hold the title anymore…" Edward sighed, unable to mask his pain and grief. He covered his face with his hands and knelt beside Rydia. Cecil watched him for a moment and realized that he would not speak anymore about Damcyan…and its downfall…the Knight turned to Rosa as she started coughing violently again…

"Ahhh…"

The old man finally made his presence known as he approached the bed.

"...Here it is!"

He carried a mug of steaming liquid to Rosa...

"It is medicine…prepared with the sand ruby…"

The old man gently placed it into her hands.

"It will cool the heat of the fever and ease the cough…"

Rosa nodded graciously and took a small sip…

"It's bitter…" she stated with a short laugh…the old man nodded…

"A bitter drink makes great medicine," the old man chuckled to himself…he turned and started down the hall, humming softly to himself…

Rosa took another sip…it was a bit better than the first…she glanced at Cecil…

"They've been so kind to me," she said a little regretfully. "I don't know how I'll ever repay them…"

Cecil hardly heard her words as he shook his head, his forehead creased deep in thought.

"This still doesn't make sense to me…"

Rosa watched him then spoke, her voice much stronger than it had been…

"Golbez has the crystals of Water and Fire --" she frowned. "--That means --"

"Fabul --"

Edward supplied the word for her and she nodded.

"--His next target will be the nation of Fabul…for the Crystal of Air…"

Cecil rose quickly.

"But how do we know for sure?"

Golbez could turn anywhere Cecil added…and with Baron he'll get exactly what he wants…Edward shook his head ruefully…

"Though the intentions of Golbez are unclear, his path for seeking the crystals is not --"

He shrugged…

"--He will strike Fabul next…"

No one chose to contradict his remark…Cecil nodded…

"That's where we have to go…to warn them…"

Edward gazed up quickly…the light in his eyes showed that he agreed whole-heartedly…

"What if he's already got their crystal?"

It was Rydia's voice…Cecil whirled around, glaring at the little girl maliciously…God, all of a sudden he wished she would leave …he wished she weren't there to say those stupid things…to bring up something that was on his own mind but he was too afraid to say…There was a moment of awkward silence…Edward stared at the floor…Rosa gazed into the mug of hot liquid she held in her hands…Finally Cecil knew it was up to him to say something…anything…

"All we can do is hope that we're not too late --"

Before he could say what he was really thinking he turned to Rosa, who coughed slightly.

"Rosa, you need to rest tonight…tomorrow Edward and I'll go to Fabul…"

Edward rested against the wall as Cecil spoke but he leaned forward after Fabul was mentioned.

"Even with the hovercraft we will still have to travel through Mt. Hobs --"

He leaned back again.

"--It is full of treacherous cliffs and snow and thick walls of ice…"

The prince bowed his head.

"We will never pass through…"

Cecil clenched his fists angrily.

"I have no choice but to try!"

Did you hear me? he wanted to scream at them…I said I have no other choice…I have to do this…

"Couldn’t you go back to Baron and wait for --"

"I won't sit back and wait for the Red Wings to kill anyone else!"

He knew his tone was quite harsh so he looked away…when he spoke again it was soft…bitter…

"I have to finish what I started in Mysidia --"

He turned to the others.

"If no one wants to join me --"

"I can't say no," Edward stated shortly. "I have nothing more to…lose…"

Rosa began coughing again and she continued until the old woman appeared in the room once more…She carried an armload of quilts…

"All of you are welcome to stay here tonight --"

Cecil started to protest, but she cut him off.

"Don't you say a word, dear…"

The old woman tossed the blankets onto the floor and busily arranged them into makeshift beds.

"I'm not about to let you go out into the night --"

She stood with her hands on her hips.

"--It's just not hospitable!"

Cecil shook his head in defeat.

"I really wish there were some way for us to repay you…"

"Oh mercy dear!"

She chuckled merrily to herself.

"We enjoy having some company every now and then --"

She spread the last blanket across the floor and winked at Cecil.

"--Me and my husband get tired of hearing each other's voice!"

Rosa started coughing again, and the old woman turned to her in concern.

"How are you feeling, dear?"

Rosa managed a weak smile.

"I think I'm recovering…a little at a time…"

The old woman nodded.

"Well, that's the best way to do it!"

She studied Rosa closely.

"Hmmm…your color is coming back a bit…maybe you'll be well by morning --"

The old woman started toward the darkening hall.

"--I suppose I should get in bed myself…I can't stay up late like you youngsters!"

Before Cecil could thank her, the woman bustled out the door and disappeared. Cecil glanced down at the floor where Rydia had already bundled up in the blankets…the steady rising and falling of the bundle indicated that she was sound asleep…

"Cecil --"

Rosa cleared her throat.

"--You should get some rest too…We have to leave early in the --"

"We?"

Cecil gaped at her, startled.

"Rosa, you need to stay here and rest --"

"Cecil!"

Her eyes opened wide.

"…I'm a White Robe…"

She coughed again.

"You know you'll need me!"

Her cough worsened and Cecil scowled at her.

"Rosa, listen to you! You're not well yet! You had the desert fever for God's sake!"

He crossed his arms over his chest.

"You can't just get up and leave before you recover!"

"Cecil --"

Rosa gazed at him intently.

"--There's nowhere for me to go if you leave! Where can I go?"

She didn't give him a chance to reply.

"I can't go to Baron, Cecil…You know that…"

She shook her head.

"It's the only home I've ever had…"

Rosa gazed at Cecil earnestly.

"Just let me come with you…"

She started coughing again, and she was forced to lie back in the bed, exhausted. Cecil was about to protest but he didn't…for some god-forsaken reason he didn't argue…instead he sighed hopelessly…

"Rosa --"

He didn't even attempt to hide the tremor of his voice.

"--I know…you won't be able to go…back to Baron…"

There was something else to say…there had to be something else to say to convince her…

"Cecil --"

Edward spoke before Cecil could say anything…the prince spoke calmly…thoughtfully…

"--Just let her come with us…"

The tone of his voice angered Cecil…How could he sit there and say it'll be okay if Rosa comes with me? Cecil spun around to the prince, his eyes flashing:

"There's no place in this for her!"

A pained look passed across Rosa's face but Cecil didn't care…he would hurt her if he had to…so she wouldn't want to come with him…he would hurt her before someone else could…

"It was never meant to be the place for the former captain of the Red Wings --" Edward stated matter-of-factly…regretfully…"--Or a prince of a castle that will never stand again…or an innocent little girl who is the only person left in this cruel world with the power of the summoners…"

Edward lowered his eyes to the floor.

"--I am afraid it has become the place for everyone…"

Cecil stared at the flickering flame on the candle for a long time without a word…everyone was right…everyone knew what was going on…except him…they all knew what this had come to…

…The place for everyone…

"Rosa --"

Cecil at last spoke, his voice barely audible.

"--If you really want to go, I can't stop you…And I won't try to talk you out of it --"

He stepped close to her.

"--But I swear to God I'll do what I can to protect you…"

Rosa laid her head back on the pillow…she didn't look relieved or comforted by his decision about allowing her to go with him to Fabul…But she was relieved to know that he'd be there the entire time…

"Cecil…you have the heart of a saint…"

Cecil said nothing as he sat down heavily on the floor where a quilt had been spread out…he rested his head on the floor quietly…

"But I still wear the armor of a dark knight…"

...And it's what separates me from you, Rosa…it's a burden…what made me want to wear this armor and helmet and the double-cross of Baron? He heard Rosa shift slightly in the bed and a quick puff of breath followed. The light of the candle immediately disappeared, leaving only the light of the moon peering into the small room.

"Good night, Cecil…"

Rosa's soft voice floated down…Cecil stared at the moon as it shone through the window…

"Good night…"

He hardly heard the sound of his own voice as he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep…