Ch4-2: The Meeting of Nations
Golbez Benjamin Ya…
The last echoes of his name lingered before fading away.
Their faces reflected in shock, as if the warning bells of Baron had just sounded across the city. All eyes had unerringly turned towards the doorway and adhered instantly to the tall, white-haired man.
The rulers of the Nations… The Heroes of the Crystal Wars…
King Yang Fang Leiden of Fabul. King Edward Chris von Muir of Damcyan. Elder Maximillian of Mysidia. King Edge Geraldine of Eblan.
They were all once my enemies…
Ben’s chest tightened in apprehension, his breath forcing itself between his lips in a low rasping sound. The insides of his palms began to sweat as the weight of the stares fell down upon his shoulders. In the pressing silence, he could hear the drumming of his heart. His face grew absolutely emotionless.
I knew it was a mistake to come here. They’d all sooner see me dead than…
“Well?!” Cid’s ruddy voice broke through the silence, a no-nonsense demand. “You two gonna stand there all day or are we gonna get on with this infernal claptrap?”
Even Edge seemed somewhat taken aback at the engineer’s reprimand. The ninja shot a steely warning scowl towards the Half-Lunar before readjusting his collar and striding towards an empty seat on the far side of the meeting table.
There’s still time… still time to get out… still time to try to find Incrytan without them. I tried to tell Uncle Fu that the humans would cause trouble. Why did he have to insist that we—
“Brother…”
The single word cut through the tension like a heated blade. Ben lifted his chin and peered across the room. Eyes growing wide, he did a double take.
Cecil had become a whole different person.
Dressed in his finest regal garb, green eyes sharp and piercing, the Paladin King of Baron stood firmly at the head of the meeting table. From the way the light caught and reflected off the ruby-gemmed crown to the air in which the young ruler held himself – everything spoke of a measured and absolute command.
This was a bad, bad, bad idea…
The inside of Ben’s mouth grew dry, his feet weighing him down leadenly. The sight of his Paladin-brother standing there, surrounded by the very men and women that had fought him to near-death only half a decade ago filled the Half-Lunar with a dull, mind-pounding dread.
I shouldn’t be here…
Everything within him screamed in warning. A cadence of fear swept his thoughts.
I should never have come back…
Somehow, it was as if Cecil knew. As if he could see straight through the emotionless mask that the wizard had painted upon his face.
There was something within the Paladin’s expression that was stressed… yet deeply concerned. The king lifted one hand regally, motioning to the open seat to his left side. It seemed like a safe place — in the far corner between Cecil and FuSoYa.
“Brother, come sit beside me.”
Ben’s mouth opened soundlessly, all thoughts of desperation stopping short at the power of the soft-spoken statement. Cecil’s companions had turned their attention towards the Paladin, watching his actions in quiet interest.
Placing one foot in front of the other, Ben strode over the cold expanse of stone floor, past the curious and condemning eyes. Chase trotted along in front of him and pulled the seat out upon the wizard’s approach.
The Half-Lunar hesitated.
The Page gave him a quick, encouraging smile. He pulled the chair out further.
Ben peered over at Cecil. The young king’s face reflected a hint of encouragement as well. Ever so slightly, the Paladin nodded.
Cecil… really wants me at his side? Even in front of all of his friends?
Quietly, Ben took his seat and pulled it up to the table.
Rosa beamed warmly at the two of them.
FuSoYa muttered an impatient grunt, “It is about time, boy…”
Chase patted Ben quickly on the shoulder. Then the boy withdrew to sit on one of the wooden benches along the back side of the room.
After clearing his throat, Yang spoke up quietly, “Welcome to the Meeting of Nations, Master Golbez. It is an honor for us to have you.”
The Half-Lunar blinked down the table at the older man. He seemed sincere enough, despite the oddity of the words.
Yang had been a Fabulian Monk the last time Ben had seen him. Now he was King of Fabul. So the story went with the majority of Cecil’s companions. The Crystal War had left very few who were directly involved with it unchanged.
“Thank you…” Ben found his voice while stumbling over his words. “But… please… just call me Ben.”
“Ben..?” Yang echoed slowly.
Edward’s face was uncertain.
“I’ll call you something, alright,” Edge simply snarled.
Ben froze as the hostility level of the room grew tenfold. His green eyes shifted towards where the ninja sat bristling.
This one is going to be a problem, I see…
“King Edge,” the Elder’s voice held a quiet warning to it. “That would not be wise…”
“No, I guess not,” Edge’s tone grew quickly submissive as he peered down towards the surface of the table.
Cecil let out a long, relieved breath.
“But since when did I ever give a damn about that?” the ninja barked fiercely. “Cecil! What the hell are you doing letting this murdering bastard into Baron — much less one of our meetings? Have you lost your mind?”
Ben’s mouth dropped open. As did everyone else’s in the room.
I take that back… this one is going to be a BIG problem.
“Edge!” Rosa hissed sharply. “He is Cecil’s brother!”
“Yes… of course.” Edge turned a glance towards the Paladin, “But, let’s face it… Cecil, your brother is a murdering bastard.”
Ben’s brows dipped sharply as his eyes narrowed. Unknowingly, his teeth bared as he bit back the retorts that sprang to his mind.
This guy just doesn’t know when to stop, does he?
Cecil’s face had grown red with his own suppressed anger, fists clamped like vices along the arms of his chair. Ben was more than a little surprised to see that the Paladin’s expression was one of brotherly defense.
Even Kain was looking a bit put out. “Listen, we’re not here to throw cheap insults at each other.”
“Oh yeah. That’s right. You would defend him,” Edge’s tone was cold and suggestive.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” The Dragoon slowly got to his feet, glaring down the table. Kain’s eyes had grown steely, one fist balled tightly at his side.
“Oh… nothing. Why?” The ninja got to his feet with a you-know-very-well-what-that-meant look.
“Kain,” Cecil’s voice was low and strained. “Please…”
Cid gave a short barking order. “The both of you! Sit down!”
Edge shut his mouth with an audible click. His eyes darted around the table, taking in the fact that disapproval hung heavily around him. With a glowering grumble, the Eblanian king flopped back down in his seat.
The Dragoon snarled a few quick words under his breath before following suit.
“Are you finished yet?” FuSoYa shot Edge his sharpest glare.
The ninja seemed to take notice of the Lunarian for the first time. He sunk back into his chair in response.
“Good,” the sage turned his attention towards Cecil and nodded. “Let us begin.”
“Pardon me for interrupting…” Edward’s voice trilled in a shaky manner. “But aren’t we missing someone?”
“Yeah,” Edge blurted quickly. “Where’s Rydia!”
All eyes turned on him.
“I… I… mean…” the ninja gave a nervous laugh. “You know how she is. She hates being left out of things.”
“Rydia was called to this meeting,” Cecil assured the group. “However, Master Leviathan sent word back with my messenger. It seems she is out on a training mission with one of her students and will not be returning for a few more days. He promised to get word to her as quickly as possible about the meeting.”
“So… you mean… we’re not going to wait for her?”
“No, Edge. We don’t have that sort of time.”
“What could be so important that—“
“I assure you,” FuSoYa cut in quickly. It was obvious that the ninja was pushing him to the end of his patience. “It is that important.”
“What of the Clerics of Troia?” Yang questioned quietly.
“I’ve sent word to them as well,” Cecil nodded. “But no answer has come back yet. I assume there’s been some sort of hold up. I’m sure a representative will be arriving any day now.”
“Leave it to a woman to take her time,” Edge grumbled.
Ben frowned.
These people can’t even agree to disagree… how am I supposed to rely on them? By the time they’re done arguing, all the cities of the Blue Planet will have faced the same fate as Mysidia.
“Well, one way or another, we have to begin.” Cecil urged, his words matching Ben’s thoughts ironically well. The Paladin fidgeted his fingers along the edge of the table before looking up again. “It has been five years since the end of the Crystal War.”
Silence fell upon the room as all eyes turned toward the head of the table. It was just a simply stated fact. But the tone of Cecil’s voice spoke volumes of things to come.
“Many things have changed since then. Namely… ourselves. Our positions. Some of us are now kings.” The Paladin peered around at his comrades, finally pausing upon his brother, “Others of us have walked the path of struggling transformation, coming from very far away to be here today. But despite who we are and where we have come from… one thing remains constant between us – the desire to protect and serve the people of the Blue Planet.”
As his green eyes locked with Cecil’s, Ben felt a strange stirring within him. It was suddenly hard to breathe.
“Needless to say,” Cecil pulled his gaze away. “We have some rather alarming news.”
“Okay… let’s hear it,” Edge frowned, leaning forward.
The Paladin nodded, turning toward the Mysidian Elder. “We’ll start with Mysidia.”
The Elder rose from his seat with a long somber look at the gathering around the table. Finally, after finding his thoughts, he began. His words were clear and to the point, descriptions perceptive and accurate. Piece by piece he described the crisis of the Mysidian refugees, the events that led up to the destruction of the Crystal of Water and the release of the Elemental Dragon upon the two cities.
The room fell to thoughtful silence after the Elder finished and took his seat.
Finally, the Damcyan king spoke. “I was wondering why Baron was in such a state. I noticed something was terribly wrong when we came in for a landing. And the wounded mages that were in the hall… must be the ones from Mysidia.”
“But how was the creature of the Crystal destroyed? Isn’t something like that nearly impossible to defeat?” Yang mused.
“Master Golbez aided in the destruction of the Elemental Dragon,” Rosa answered quickly. There was a slightly defensive hint to her voice.
Ben blinked over at the young queen curiously. She seemed unmoved as the rest of the gathering gave her a similar look.
“I see,” Yang’s words were warm with approval. “Well done.”
“Hrm,” Edward’s face also reflected deep thought.
“Awww… give me a break. For all you know, the monster was probably working for Golbez!” Edge scoffed.
“King Edge…” Yang turned slowly, a firm expression on his face. “Do not judge others before you give them their rightful time.”
The ninja fell into a brooding silence. When he next opened his mouth, his words came out filled with bristling anger. “Rightful time? As if he deserves rightful time!”
Cecil began to object only to find himself cut off with a torrent of fiery rage.
“No! You listen to me!” Edge jabbed a finger sharply at the Paladin. “Have you forgotten? I haven’t! I remember the sight of my kingdom torn to rubble around my feet. I remember the cries of the innocent people as the fires destroyed everything – everything – I have ever known! Have you forgotten the Darkness that brought it? Has your memory erased the things he has done?”
Jerking back, Ben lowered his eyes. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides as frustration and anger began to boil within him.
“It was this man! This… this… monster!” The ninja demanded, “Cecil… you know his evil! Why?”
The Paladin stared, looking taken aback.
“Hen-pecked boy!” Cid muttered. “You don’t have a clear thought in your head. Sit down before you hurt yourself!”
“So, Cid… you are on his side, too?” Edge retorted.
“This isn’t a game! There are no sides!” Kain shook his head sharply.
“Indeed,” Cecil agreed quietly. “What’s come to pass should be laid to rest. Especially if it endangers your ability to defend the future.”
“Hey! I’m not one to back down from a fight… but I know when I’m being led to destruction! You must all be under his spell!” The ninja spat, his anger sparking as his eyes fell heavily upon Ben. “Well, Lunar, I don’t care how powerful you are! You expect us to just forget the death… and the…the…”
He choked for a moment, then continued.
“Well, I can’t forget and I damn well won’t forgive! You whine and say it was not your fault – ‘Pity me! I was under Zemus’ control! I couldn’t help it!’ ” Edge mocked. “Well, sucks for you! But, if you think you can just waltz in here and dis–“
“ENOUGH!”
A sharp crack of tension paralyzed the air as the light of the room fell dim at the power of the command. Ben found himself on his feet, a furious snarl transforming his face. His palms slammed down upon the wooden table so hard that the entire structure quivered.
Cecil’s mouth fell open.
“YOU!” Ben roared, pointing a furious finger at Edge. “SIT!”
Edge was roughly pushed down into his seat by an unseen hand.
Everyone else drew back.
The Half-Lunar paused, gathering his thoughts before lashing out once again, “I can’t believe that you could just stand by and let your world be cast into darkness once more… The danger spreads while you sit here and argue about who did what and what they did to whom and who you want dead!”
Edge looked as if he wanted to speak, his mouth twisting into a snarl.
“Don’t you dare!” Ben growled with a sharp warning tone.
The ninja swallowed and hunched back in his chair, remaining silent.
“It isn’t by my choice that I am here. I came to get my Crystal,” the Half-Lunar muttered grimly. “I did not come here to be insulted and jeered at. It is obvious that I will get no help here since you cannot decide what you want to do… even when the danger is plainly placed before you. Therefore, I will now take matters into my own hands.”
Cecil looked horrified as his brother rose from the table to walk away. Ben could not stand to feel the pressure of the pained gaze at his back. His steps towards the door began to increase in speed.
–Darkstar…–
Ben turned on one heel as the word echoed through his mind in rebounding angles. He froze as prickles raced over his skin. The room continued to darken… though this time, it wasn’t at his will.
Rather, it was something else… something that was manifesting in a transparent form upon the meeting table.
This sent everyone on their feet, scrambling away to the sides of the room in apprehension. Cecil cast a quick, accusing glance at his brother, only to realize that Ben’s expression was just as mystified as everyone else’s.
Chase gave a high-pitched squeak before rushing over to cling to the wizard’s waist.
“Dark wizardry!” Edge hissed.
“No…” Rosa backed away a step, blue eyes wide. “This is something… different…”
The form shifted, light and darkness twisting in a strange harmony. First there came one hand… then another… as the outline of a body sifted into view. A tiny face appeared, framed with dark flowing hair and dotted with little-girl eyes that seemed to gaze into eternity. She hovered there, hands folded calmly as if she was upheld by a breeze that no one else could feel.
The depths of her gaze darkened, focusing upon Ben. It felt as if she could tear apart the secrets of his soul with a single glance.
–Darkstar.–
The Half-Lunar let out a low gasp. “Who… are you?”
— The Sygnus must become whole. You cannot desert the light of your counterpart or your quest will surely fail.–
Ben blinked. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
— The one that has been lost must return to the land of the waking light.–
Slowly, the wizard took a step forward, one hand lifting up. “What? What has been lost? Is it Incrytan you’re talking about? Do you know where it is?”
A tiny smile flickered over the girl’s pale face.
As Ben’s fingers brushed past the flow of energy, the image of the child rippled. He drew his hand away with a hiss, only to find it was too late. The air shifted and flickered as the vision scattered into a spray of sparkling dust that vanished upon meeting the table top.
Shaken, the Half-Lunar took a step back.
Silence hung heavy as the room slowly regained its light. Everyone’s attention was still fixed upon the spot in which the girl’s image had been.
Edge’s voice finally broke the silence, “Okay… what the hell was that all about?”
“I’m not sure,” Ben finally answered. His voice was very low. “But something tells me things have just gotten a lot more complicated than we’d like them to be.”