Once Landed

He lay under a tree at the very edge of the chocobo forest, knowing it would only be a matter of time before his seclusion was interrupted for one reason or another. After all, the chocobo forests were extremely popular for anyone with a bit of traveling to do, and there were quite a few homes grouped close to the waterfall north of Baron. When people finally began their long trek home from the wedding festival, they would begin to trip over him, lying under his tree, head well above his feet as he took his rest upon the natural incline.

He cast his eyes to the blue blue skies, the moon hanging high in the dusk sky, offset by the light orange sunset. Somehow it seemed less menacing, now that the evil had been cleansed from its core. He wondered vaguely if there were a group of heroes he could hire to cleanse himself, as well, and shook his head. It was not possible.

He sighed, listening to the cicadas in the trees, watching now the flitting insects that rose above the grass and dived back into it again as birds flew by. A particularly overconfident moth flew upwards as though to seek out the very sun itself, then bobbed back down. He pulled one of the more succulent reeds from the clump growing near at hand and began chewing on it, much the way he and Cecil had done as boys in the long hot summers they had known so well. He felt the kiss of a breeze rifling his shirt, and smiled ever so slightly. It was a relief to be out of the heavy armor, even if he felt naked here without it.

A familiar clop-clop sound was rising from a ways down the nearby road; he puzzled that it came from the direction of the homes in the north, rather than the castle of Baron. He hoped that they would not stop to make conversation, even as he watched the cloud of dust lifting, marking the traveler.

As the familiar sound of a horse and rider grew, he finally spied a particular green-haired woman riding his way. Though dressed in her wedding finery, she commanded the horse with the typical lack of court refinery he had grown to expect from her. Were she to stop now and act like the ladies from his court, he would wonder if she were herself. He smiled a bit to himself, trying to imagine the great Leviatan teaching her courtly manners, or the clumsy Asura instructing her on the proper way to curtsy.

She finally reined her horse to a stop in the road before him, and one beautiful green eyebrow arched in a picture of incredulity. She looked down at him for a few long moments before finally speaking.

“Kain. What are you doing here?” He sighed soundlessly.

“I am reflecting.”

“Not very well without your armor on,” she answered. “At the moment you’re just blending in with the ground, and the ground looks pretty depressed right about now.” She swung down from her horse with a lack of grace he would have expected; a girl who had never left her home village, who had never traveled except by foot, it was a marvel she could climb into the saddle. She did not say another thing, only took a seat on the incline beside him, and finally leaned back against the ground as he did, looking up at the sky. “Nice night,” she muttered after some time, and sighed in almost exactly the same way that he had.

“Yes.” He took the opportunity to examine her as a human being, instead of the strange flighty creature that had saved him so many times. Her dress, long, light green silk, was belted at the middle with golden cord, and her long, flowing hair tied with a golden ribbon. Her deep blue eyes shone in the fading light, and her slippers, dark green silk with leather soles, fit her narrow feet like gloves. She wore a whip at her hip, which she adjusted easily as only a master could.

“We don’t have nights like this in the Land of Summons,” she said softly. “There is no night, nor day there, and it doesn’t feel like time has moved until you leave. And suddenly your body has changed and your mind has changed. And even your heart is different.” She sighed again, then looked over at him. He knew it was no secret what afflicted him now, and that if anyone knew what had happened it was Rydia. “It is easier to heal so far away from the real world.” Kain heard the offer in her tone, but did not answer. After a few moments of silence she spoke once more. “I unearthed a book quite a few years ago… as I experienced them… and a great many heroes who need to heal after battle-” Kain raised a hand.

“I do not belong in the Land of Summons, Rydia.”

“But they would heal there! I am certain that an ache of the heart-“

“I am grateful,” Kain interrupted again. “But I can not live in a place without sky.” She sighed, knowing how true it was for the dragoon. She nodded a bit, after, though she did not speak. “Where is Edge?” Kain finally asked, concerned to see her alone so soon after their precipitous departure.

“Ah, he… Did not follow me,” she said softly. Kain well knew a woman’s voice, and did not speak of it, instead letting Rydia decide if she would continue to speak or not. After some silence, she did. “We… will not be married anytime in the near future.” In a voice that would soothe a startled animal, that would calm a crying child, he observed;

“You seemed so happy when you left.” She nodded.

“Yes. But… we spoke about it. He thought that I would accompany him to Eblan, and I can’t.” She looked over at Kain as though begging him to understand. “I can’t just abandon my people, any more than Edge can.” Kain nodded, soothing her with his ability to identify with her statement.

“The Village of Mist has been decimated. They need guidance.” She looked at him, her face blank.

“The Mistans are not my people any longer, Kain,” she said softly. “They have not been mine since my mother died, since I was five.” She shook her head. “No, the Summons are my people now, and they need me to continue my heritage. Without Summoners, they can’t pass between the worlds. They can’t use their magic; and without using their magic, they will die.” She shook her head again. “I have to train others. Mages or scribes or bards or anyone I can get my hands on; if they’ve the potential, I will teach them. I want Summoning to become as commonplace as black magic, as well revered as white. I want people to think nothing of bringing Asura to protect them, or Leviatan to see over their sea voyage. I want it to be so that the Summons have to decide between which Summoner they will answer.”

“Can you train these students in Eblan?” Kain asked, voice still calm and warm, still soothing. She seemed to respond well to his relaxing voice, most likely due to a lack of human exposure in her life. In some ways, she was a child yet.

“No, no. I’ll be using the five remaining survivors of the village fire to help in the instruction, and they are all old, or feeble. I can’t have them in among rambunctious ninja children, they’ll all be killed of fright within a month!” Kain smiled a little. “No. I have already asked Cecil for use of his old areas within the castle; we’ll be stationed where his men were before they were scattered or killed by the Imposter King.” Kain nodded. He had tried not to think of how many lives were cost in Baron in those days, least of all how few dragon knights remained. Unlike Rydia, however, there were no prospects left to draw from. A man was born with the fire within him that allowed him to Jump, and without that fire there was no method of training that could teach them. “Besides, when the new King of Baron has offered his deepest apologies and all offers at reparations on behalf of his people, it’s sort of hard not to accept.” She sighed. “Still, Edge…”

“You are willing to sacrifice your own heart for your mission?” Kain asked as though merely posing a question. Rydia shook her head.

“There isn’t an option. It is either fling myself after some prince with a kingdom and a life to rebuild, or let my people die out. I can’t have one and have the other, so I choose the lives of everyone I’ve loved.” She shrugged a little. “As much as it hurts to say it, it’s a simple choice, Kain.” Kain nodded. “And Edge… he took it so well, I mean. One minute he was talking about raising children and grandchildren and the Summoner/Ninja heritage they would bring to his kingdom’s monarchy, and the next he was nodding, all understanding, all quiet, as though I’d only told him I was out of potions!” She threw her hands up. She then proceeded to go on for some time about how Edge had acted as though it did not matter, tried to read into the situation, and made assumptions based on the man she had grown to know so well. Kain listened, letting her concerns ease his own; here was a young woman, well made and powerful, filled with pain and worry. He almost found himself offering to help her through her trials as she gathered her students in Baron, before he stopped and realized that regardless of her feelings, he could not stay. He would still leave.

“Perhaps some day, when you have trained a successor, you can retire and build a family and a life with him,” Kain offered, and she smiled. It was a very real possibility; after all, if she became impatient, she would merely ship someone off to the Land of Summons to live and learn firsthand, with all the time they would need. And while she was considering silently to herself all the joy she may yet have, Kain was envying her, considering all the joy he may never find.

The sun was almost set now, and a deep darkness was settling around them. He found himself straining for any sounds, now, since the goblins could easily sneak up on them both in such darkness. It occurred to him that he was unarmed, and that perhaps it was time for at least Rydia to head back to the castle where the lights were still blazing in the distance to guide them. Rydia readily agreed to his statement, and offered to ride double with him, and nodded when he graciously declined. She worried for him, but was gone, and that was the end of it.

Kain stood watching her leave in the almost-black, smelling the deep scents of summer evening, and wondering what he would do with himself. His cloak was warm about his shoulders and he was grateful, knowing that the summer’s night would be a cool one, and to a man much accustomed to heavy, cumbersome armor, he would be the colder for it.

He sat with himself for some time and found that he was more than enough company. At least he wouldn’t hurt himself, not intentionally. He thought of what he would do, and only knew that he could not leave without first retrieving his armor, or at least his spear. He thought for a few moments about what he would do after that and dismissed it as unimportant. After all, what did it matter? He may drift to any city on the planet, and one or two places that were not, and would find himself accepted. But where would he allow himself to drift?

“If I could offer my esteemed companion a pear?” Edge said softly, sitting beside Kain on the opposite side from where Rydia had been before. Kain, to his credit, did not jump, and did not curse, merely sat still until the surprise had passed and his heart had slowed. Edge held a basket in his hands, legs wrapped in a circle around it, and rifled for something to munch. “I pilfered it from the reception. You know, your people have invented new and weird ways to enjoy fruit.” He pulled out a particularly tasty swan carved from a strawberry, dipped in white chocolate with the “beak” dipped in dark chocolate. He examined it carefully. “The first one of these things I ate, I had no idea what was in it.” He grinned and offered one to Kain, who shook his head. “What about this thing?” He pulled out a small pastry covered in cherries. “I mean, I still don’t know what it is. But it’s not bad for soft, sweet foreign food. Is there anything you people don’t put sugar on?” Kain smiled just a little. “Is that why you are all so very pale? The sugar?”

“No, I don’t believe so.” Edge shrugged and pulled out a small bowl of tiny sandwiches.

“You stole all of those?”

“It’s not really stealing. I mean, they were put out for people to take for free, right? So I took some for free. It’s not stealing if they’re free.” He popped one in his mouth and made a face. “This isn’t meat. It’s meat spread.” He picked up another and sniffed at it.

“That is a particular favorite of our farmsmen.”

“Don’t tell me you enjoy this slop?” His eyebrows rose high into his hair. “It’s foul.” Kain shook his head a little, taking in Edge’s appearance. He wore black trimmed with silver, and many, many layers of cloth. His midnight hair pulled back tightly, his crazy bangs sticking up, and the ever-present mask of black silk tied back. The two silver earrings, each embedded with a single ruby, dangled in sharp contrast, and his long black cloak bore a silver clasp with the Eblan symbol. Kain wondered if Edge was comfortable under all of those layers in this summer evening. He watched Edge pick open one of the sandwiches and sneer at the interior.

“You are mad.” Edge placed the basket next to Kain gently on the yellow-green grass.

“For you, my lord.” He bowed while seated. “I think that if I must survive on the sustenance of your strange land, I will just have to make do with more of your pastries, and crystal sugars. I don’t doubt I’ll have one hell of a stomach ache before the night is out.” He pulled out small lumps of glassy sugar attached to one another that hung on a string. He took a bite, then yelped. “Ow! It’s hard!”

“It’s called ‘rock candy’ for a reason, and it’s mostly for children.” Edge looked at him intently while crunching on the candy that had come off into his mouth. “You are supposed to suck it.”

“Suck it? You designed a food that can’t be eaten? That’s diabolical!” Kain smiled just a little at the pained expression on his face. “When you come home with me, Kain, I will show you what food is. As it turns out, Baron is overstocked with grain, meal, salted beef, and a million other things that Eblan could most certainly do with to help us rebuild. And from a message I received from my Chancellor, there were enough of the livestock and fields left alone that once they had finally left the caves, my people were able to return to a semblance of normal lives almost immediately.” His eyes glittered. “Of course, once I return to the castle I’ll be able to finish rebuilding.”

“I’m glad things are going well for you.” Edge looked aghast.

“Not just me! The world!” He smiled. “We’re rebuilding, and everyone is benefiting. Even you are, you just don’t know it.” He leaned back into the incline, basket beside him. “Even me.” It was soft and thoughtful. Quite a few moments passed, the moon growing always in brightness, the stars amongst the sky.

“I am sorry,” Kain said quietly. Edge shrugged.

“It happens.” Kain was surprised; Edge had just proposed, only to be denied. How could any man think of such a heart-rending moment and say something so flippant and careless about it? “That’s why Eblan men learned long ago to give their heart to more than one person, though only pursue one at a time. That way, you can transfer your feelings and move on with little pain.” To Kain, this was easily the most blasphemous phrase he had ever heard from the indecent prince.

“I can’t fathom such a thing,” Kain said softly, eyes wide. Edge smiled at him.

“I know you can’t. You’re a knight.” He examined Kain’s face carefully. “You know, you should go without your helmet more often. I imagine you would not want for suitors for long.” Kain’s face showed his shock and surprise, and Edge grinned. “Don’t pretend that you would like to live your life alone, forever. No one’s that crazy. No one is that… pure.”

“What are you talking about?” Edge, like a wise predator, dropped the topic.

“Never mind. Look, let’s just get back. We’ve got to leave in the morning.”

“We?” Kain was surprised.

“Yes.” Edge stood, dusting off. “I took the liberty of having your entire room packed and placed on the ship my men will be using. While I told the Chancellor that an honor guard was not necessary, he insisted, using the excuse that Eblan should put a small show of arms in Baron in honor of the event. At least this way I can send back your things with them.” Kain was surprised, such that he said the first thing that came to mind.

“I thought I was to spend one day with you…” Edge waved his concerns away.

“Of course, of course. However, you cannot spend a day with the crowned prince if you do not have the appropriate rank.” Kain’s mouth opened just a little in surprise. “Don’t worry. You are attractive and strong. For precisely those two reasons, you will be popular in my court.” He grinned. “Ready?” He offered a hand up to Kain, who took it. “Let’s head back.”

The walk was silent, but comfortable. And Kain merely allowed himself the comfort of knowing that for now, he had no concerns. He tried to comprehend exactly what was happening, and exactly at what point his life had been appropriated, and how much it mattered. He was not very fond of the thought that Edge would play with his life; he had no intention of allowing this to happen.

Just before they arrived at the gate, Edge turned to face Kain.

“I want you to know that you have no choice. I told you before, I know you. You need a king to order you or you will be lost. So… I have your spear.” Kain turned to look at him, eyes cold, body frozen. “Yeaaah. I just wanted you to know that.” He walked into the castle, hair trailing in the air behind him.


Kain had tried to follow Edge but he was nowhere to be found inside the castle. He finally returned to his room in the old dragoon’s wing, only to find that all was, indeed, gone. He wondered how this could have happened, and how any man could dare to disarm another man during a royal wedding. As he thought about it, once he had clasped the maroon cloak with it’s cream velvet lining, he had sealed his doom. No man was to enter Kain’s personal apartments, and no man would dare to have done so during such a sacred event. Only one man was indecent enough to do so, and only a fool would have forgotten that he was always thinking of new and different ways to capture or ensnare his enemies; why would he stay his hand for a friend?

He wondered to himself, as he looked about, at how much these things could have meant to him. After all, he could still travel to the underworld and replace all of his Dragon armor with Diamond; diamond was far inferior, of course, but at his current strength only his allies could challenge him now, and why would they? Other than Edge, of course…

The thought of the spear, however, turned his stomach. He could not imagine another man holding such a well-wrought weapon, another man holding something that had sung inside of his very soul. He placed a bare hand on his forehead, trying hard to think of a way to retrieve it from Edge without showing weakness; he must be humble, but he could never be fragile, and to ask Edge for his spear would be both humble and fragile. He shook his head. How had Cecil let the guard become so lax? He shook his head again; only the weak would try to scapegoat the king on his wedding night.

At least, he reflected, Edge had left him his bed, looking at the warm blankets over the goose down mattress. He would need a good nights’ rest before the journey tomorrow.