Destruction Preventer: Lunar Salvation

Destruction Preventer: Lunar Salvation
Chapter 6 - Damcyan, Part 2


Golbez swiftly disembarked the airship. In his hand, he held the Fire Crystal of Damcyan. This day had been a good one; the attack on Damcyan had not failed, and its royalty wouldn't live to tell the tale. The soldiers admitted that the prince – a young man posing as a bard – was still alive, but according to stories, the man was not a threat.

He spotted a figure on the docks. Kain waited for him, casually resting on the outer wall. Golbez strolled to him. Face hidden by his helmet, he grinned. Pictures of Kain, naked on his back, ran through his head. He savored the images of that young face, flustered with desire, as he came to a full stop.

If today had been good, tonight would be even better.

"We may have a problem, Golbez."

The warlock quirked a silver brow. "What is it, Kain?"

"The lead airship engineer and inventor, Cid Pollendina, says he will not repair the airships if used for war. He's ordered his crew to stop working as well."

Golbez dismissed it with a wave. "Take the crew in your own hand, Kain. As for Cid, show him what's coming if he keeps up with this circus. Have him visit his own prison cell."

Kain nodded. "Yes, m'Lord."

This earned him another, wider grin.

"Meet me in my room tonight. I believe you're familiar with the western tower."

Kain nodded. Of course he knew about it; he had visited Cecil countless times.

~

"Ah, here it is. Come, come."

Cecil and Rydia walked to the hovercraft; neither of them had been on one in their lives. The child looked at the machine in awe, while Cecil posed his gloved hand on its wooden surface. "How fast does it go?" he inquired, captivated. The Baron army could use some-...

Come to think of it, it might be better this way right now.

"I'm not familiar with its technical details. I can pilot it, but could not repair it if I wanted to."

"Like airships and I," Cecil admitted. Cid and his crew were the real engineers behind them. "I'd love to learn how to use it."

Edward's face lit up briefly. He felt useful, for once in his life. "My pleasure..." He held a hand out, at a complete loss.

"Cecil," the knight stated. "And this is Rydia."

The blond man smiled. "Alright then, climb aboard. It's fairly easy to maneuver it... there are three levers: forward, backward and hover. You use the wheel to change directions; press on the hover lever when you have gained enough speed."

Cecil nodded and settled himself at the wheel. He pressed the first lever down – the engine roared. There was small problem, however...

"That's the backwards lever."

"..."

~

Twenty minutes later, two of them stood in front of the Antlion's Den. Edward helped the summoner out of the hovercraft, and amazingly took lead of the small team.

It wouldn't last.

The moment they stepped into the cave, a flurry of bats flew straight to them. Cecil drew his sword and slashed a few in two, while Rydia froze them to death. The beasts fell to the ground and shattered under their feet; it made the poor prince sick to his stomach.

Through an exit in the back of this main cavern, they entered another. Some fighter red Goblins, Domovois, threw them odd glances before drawing their sword. They were taken care of with very few Blizzard spells and hits. Even Edward used his harp to lull them to sleep.

The path led them back into the main room. Cecil stopped in his tracks, assessed his position, and moved on.

They wound up back in the second room. Cecil's brows knitted again in minor confusion, yet kept the pace up. As long as Edward wasn't telling him to not go in a specific direction, he kept moving.

After many turns, doors, stairs, dead ends and sand traps, Cecil heard exactly what he wanted.

"It's... it's in the next cave..." Edward's nervous voice was but a whisper.

Cecil glanced at the prince and restrained himself from smacking him again. He understood Edward was more of a lover than a fighter, but still.

They made it to a large cavern without another bat attack. Over the years, the Antlion had dug within the cave, exposing layer after layer after layer. Their descent was smooth, only interrupted twice by yellow jelly monsters – flans. They bore their name well. They also burned very easily, while physical attacks from Cecil were deflected and left the flans grinning.

Awkward, awkward beasts.

"Here. This is where the Antlion lays its eggs – she secretes a lubricant as she does so, which mixes with sand and solidifies over a short time in the shape of a pearl. Hence its name." Edward took a deep breath and walked to a large hole. From his point of view, Cecil discerned a few eggs... as well as a giant ant, which Edward promptly ignored.

Coming from a man who felt sick at the sounds of a few bats been slaughtered, and hid from jellies, as well as turtles... such behavior left Cecil bewildered.

"See how easy it is?" Edward took a big pearl in his hand, and immediately jumped out of the way. The Antlion's mandibles were in the sand where the prince had stood two seconds ago.

"I... I promptly retract my statement, though I don't understand what's going on. They don't usually attack humans..."

The mandibles came lunging at them again. Instead of running away, Cecil stabbed at one. The Antlion winced, yet charged at him. He gave a shot at another stab, but for its weight, the monster was quick and evaded.

It backed off a few feet when Rydia cast a Blizzard spell. The Antlion was about to charge at the tiny mage, but Edward lifted her up by the armpits and flung her away from danger.

Rydia and Edward had now become the giant ant's target. It sent its mandibles after them, which allowed Cecil to strike its neck once. The Antlion shook its head, and tossed Cecil a few feet away. He landed on his side and winced. Ignoring the pain in his right side, he attempted another hit.

He noticed something strange; it only attacked after Rydia had cast her spell. He motioned her to do it again. The girl obeyed, and Cecil took another hit. He gave it another chance and slashed at the head.

Its eyes flashed white. He was flung backwards.

Rydia cast again, and Cecil braced himself.  Nothing.

"Keep it up, Rydia!"

She nodded and cast again. And again. In the back line, Edward did not have much to do. However, when the monster's eyes flashed red, he took a stab for the team. Nothing major, but it had the prince cowering a split second after.

From the corner of his eyes, Cecil watched as Edward took his harp out and chanted something – he couldn't understand anything, not with the beast roaring in his ears. But he did feel slightly invigorated. The song released a burst of energy, and he found himself hitting the Antlion again.

The large bug didn't even bother with him and sought comfort in the sand surrounding itself. Cecil struck again, and unleashed a wave of dark energy.

In one last fetid croak, the Antlion fell to the ground. It wasn't dead, but weakened majorly. He grabbed a sand pearl and immediately withdrew from its area.

Edward bit his lower lip and reached for Rydia's hand. He pulled her away from the beast, toward Cecil. "This is... this is nearly impossible! Antlions never harm humans..."

"They obviously do now," Cecil stated as he shook sand off his armor. He could feel some inside, on his back. Uncomfortable, but bearable. "It's not the first harmless beast turned hostile... something is going on. Now, we're better out of here before it regains strength. I believe it's grown overprotective of her eggs."

The prince looked at his companions. They weren't hurt, but he didn't want to take more chances. "I have something to help us out..." He fetched a strange, round object and tossed it on the ground.

A thick fog surrounded them. Cecil's spun his head around. The smoke bomb was an item he would have attributed to the Eblan tribe – if they were still alive today. Rydia stood beside him, green eyes wide in awe.

He closed his eyes for a split second.

The next thing he knew, he was outside. He had felt no movement, no pain... "What was it?"

"Let's call it an emergency exit."

Cecil forced himself to shake the unfamiliar feeling away. He nodded and made his way toward the hovercraft, holding his hand out to help Rydia inside.

"Quick, we have to go back to Kaipo."

~

The hovercraft crossed the desert as easily as it did the sea, and they quickly got to Kaipo via a western pathway. By then, the sun set slowly, casting an odd orange glow on the small oasis town. Cecil wasted no time and practically ran to the house Rosa had spent the day, sand pearl in hand. Edward and Rydia trailed off behind him.

The knight stopped at the doorstep. He gulped hard and knocked on the door. The elderly woman greeted him for the second time. "So you got yer 'ands on the cure, young man?"

Cecil nodded and showed her the pearl.

She nudged him. "Go see 'er."

He didn't need to be told twice. Cecil headed to the back of the house, and knelt by his friend's bed. She was still in her delirious fever. However, the moment he took the pearl out, her body stopped shaking. Her shallow, raspy breathing slowly became regular. Her skin, flustered by the fever, returned to a healthy rosy shade.

All of it in the span of a mere two minutes.

A pair of blue-green eyes opened slowly. "Cecil... I knew you'd come..." Her voice was soft as well, still weakened by the high fever she had been pulled through. "Thank you..." Rosa smiled and turned her gaze to the small group gathered around her bed.

"Rydia and Edward helped me get the pearl. Without them..." He let those words trail. "And don't forget your caretakers."

"Thank you as well." She bowed her head, a genuine smile across her lips.

The elder woman looked at them, stern. "Now you rest. All of you. I'll 'ead off with the three of you – Lady stays 'ere for now! - and I'll 'ave the innkeeper let you stay for free! You all deserve it."

In tow with the woman, they left for the small inn.

Rydia didn't stay awake for more than ten minutes after their arrival. Cecil thought about waking her up so she could shower and eat, but he was stopped by Edward. "She's only a child. I can guarantee, however, that she will be up early tomorrow... perhaps before us."

"Keep an eye on her. I'll make use of the facilities in that case. I won't be gone long." Edward nodded back and sat by the young girl's bed.

As he exited the room, he heard the prince play a soft melody with his lute.

If only Anna had not died, Cecil was sure he'd have found the perfect family for Rydia.

~

Darkness enveloped him; more from the loss of his beloved than the night itself. He sat by the window and looked at the stars. Occasionally, his green eyes drifted to the two frames asleep on their respective beds. Rydia slept as peacefully as any child after a long day of play. Cecil stirred and groaned every now and then, yet didn't wake up.

Awkward teammates: a little but powerful summoner, and a man as feminine as himself, only much more courageous than he would ever be.

Unable to sleep, Edward got to his feet, put on his robes and headed outside. He didn't want to wake either of them. He needed comfort no one could offer at this moment.

"Anna..."

He stopped by the oasis's shore and sat on a rock, letting his feet dangle in the water. After a short moment of reflection, he drew his lute out and plucked at its strings, a melody he had played and played for Anna. She never tired of it.

Dear gods, how he missed her. And he would never see her again, hear her voice or feel her skin. Emotions suddenly surged; Edward felt the tears well up in his eyes. He wished he was as strong as Cecil and that he could have protected Anna. He felt incredibly helpless, weak, useless.

"I am so lost without you..."

And it only doubled when he saw the monster coming out of the water. A slimy bipedal reptile headed straight toward him... and he was alone.

"Back off!" he ordered, knowing well it wouldn't listen. His breathing grew sharp, and he trembled from head to toe.

"Edward..."

He shut the voice out – or rather, tried to. But it called to him again.

"Edward...!"

So close yet so far. Was he imagining this, or was... she reaching out to him?

"Anna...?" he dared asking, his eyes fixed on the water in front of him. Though blurry, he could see her; her red hair, hazel eyes, that yellow dress she loved...

"Be brave, my love..."

He crossed the desert for her. Surely...

"You are stronger than you think, Edward. Believe in yourself!"

Easier said than done, but it wouldn't hurt to try it out – or would it?. For her, he would have done anything. 'Except protect her... I'm such a coward!'

Enough running away, enough hiding. Edward stared at the sahagin. He would bring the beast down on his own. Cecil was right. Anna wouldn't want him to stay in such a state forever. His harp replaced the lute in his hand, and he simply played. It enraged the beast, but Edward refused to relent, even the only thing he wanted to do was run back in the inn, wake Cecil up and ask the knight to kill it.

On second thought... what creature should be allowed to live and not enjoy music?

So he played. If the sahagin hated music, he'd be happy to kill it off.

The reptile fell to the ground. In relief, Edward dropped to his knees. He was shaking, on the verge of tears, but Anna's words came back to him: he was stronger than he had thought. "Anna...! I... I did it. Please let this be a horrible nightmare..."

"I can only be with you for a few moments, Edward, for I must join the spirit..."

He let his harp fall to the ground. "Don't leave me!" he pleaded, his face turned to the woman's translucent image.

She spoke again, as soft as she ever was. "Be brave, Edward. Golbez cannot be allowed to possess the Crystals. You gave me your love; now share this gift with the whole world."

Had he been less sane, he probably would have thrown himself at the water just to be with her. "Anna... I will try my best not to fail you again."

Anna smiled at him one last time – a honest, warm and loving smile.

But as she disappeared into the starlit skies, Edward did not cry. He picked his instrument up and made it back to the inn. He saw Anna one more time, he could now sleep.

~

"I'm going with you."

Cecil's jaw dropped. She just had escaped death, and yet she wanted to tag along to his next destination? Had the woman gone mad? "Rosa, you must recover..."

She gave him the same exact stare he gave Kain and her on a nearly daily basis.

He couldn't fight a woman... "Ugh..."

"They told me you had died in Mist. That's why I came here." Her brows furrowed sadly. She had truly been worried for him.

"I'm sorry, Rosa..." She was his friend. He never wanted her in this situation. She had caught desert fever by his fault. "I must ask one thing... have you heard of a man named Golbez?"

The young woman propped herself up. He offered his arm, but she managed on her own. "The King hired him as your replacement the same day you were reported as dead. His behavior has changed even more since you left... Golbez may be manipulating him. Something leads me to believe he wants the Crystals for himself, all four of them. By now he has two: the Water Crystal from Mysidia, and the Fire Crystal from Damcyan. Which means he won't hesitate to go for Fabul or Troia."

Cecil blinked a few times, absorbing the information. "Let's head to Fabul. It's the closest one after Damcyan, no doubt he'll head there next. We can take the hovercraft to Mount Hobbs and walk from there."

"I'm afraid it won't be as easy as you think..." Edward stated. "The mountains are protected by a very thick layer of ice. I've never heard of anyone making it through."

Rosa's eyes landed on Rydia. "She's a summoner from Mist. She surely knows how to cast a Fire spell."

The child shook her head and looked away. "No... I can't..."

"Haven't you learned it?" Rosa questioned, unaware of the girl's background. "It's the most elementary spell."

Cecil threw a glance at the blond woman. Don't insist. But his features softened right away. "Rosa... you're in no condition to come with us."

"I won't be a burden, Cecil. I'm a white mage." She looked at him square in the eyes, determined.

"She wants to be with you..."

Cecil turned his head to face Edward; the man's voice was a whisper.

He really couldn't argue with a woman... or with another man for that matter. Plus, Rydia could use some feminine presence. With a sigh, he dropped his shoulders in defeat. "Alright. But at the first sign of-"

"Cecil, I'll be fine," the woman repeated as she got out of her bed. She stood up without help and grabbed her staff; she didn't need to lean on it to walk. "Let's go, shall we?"

~

The day had been good, and it indeed was about to get better.

Golbez was out of the throne room, where he had handed the Fire Crystal from Damcyan to the King. He hated to separate himself from it, but he had little choice if he wanted his plan to succeed. Damcyan had given him little to no problems. He wasn't expecting his attack on Fabul to go the same way.

Cecil, the white mage, the summoner from Mist and the Damcyan prince must have figured it out by now. This time, he would need heavier backup. Tomorrow morning he would leave even earlier and set decoys around Fabul Castle. It was simple and could be easily done if he reached the area before the change of the guards. Even soldiers needed sleep.

Sleep, food, and some sexual relief.

He knew already who waited for him for the latter. He had matters to settle with Kain first, but he'd make it quick enough so they'd have time together.

He climbed up the stairs to his room, nearly salivating in anticipation. He pushed the door open and stood there, eyeing his prize. His Kain.

"Tomorrow, you'll be coming with me to Fabul."

The boy's face lit up. Golbez knew he longed for a fight; he was a soldier, a killing machine, though not extremely bloodthirsty. A behavior he felt he could change. "Cecil will be there, along with Rosa."

On the bed, Kain remained quiet. The warlock was tempted tempted to join him already, to claim his body for the second time. Visions of a cum-covered young man danced in front of him, nothing more than his imagination.

Or perhaps, more suitable, a vision of the near future.

He shook it off. "Intelligence reports that Cecil already in Kaipo. She fell to desert fever, but he went through a Damcyan royal and got his hand on the cure." Golbez assessed the youth's reaction, hoping for a flicker of envy, of hatred.

Kain's blue-gray eyes barely reflected emotions; Golbez resumed his spiel. "He saved her. Would he have done the same for you?"

The boy slowly nodded.

"Are you sure?"

Those blue-gray eyes turned to him. He could read doubt on his features.

And Golbez went on. "He always had a soft spot for her. And you know as well she returns these feelings. How badly she wants to be with him. How she clings to him, visits him at night. How he asks her out to dinner. How they hold hands-"

"Enough."

Under his helmet, Golbez smirked. He had struck where it had hurt. "You can't win over her. But I'll tell you something, Kain..." He sat on the bed, letting his clawed hand delicately trail – as much as he could – over the youth's naked leg. "You want the both of the them to suffer, no?"

Kain nodded again.

"You don't want him to be with anyone else if he isn't with you, no?"

Another nod.

"Then I suggest you kill him."

Silence settled in the room. Golbez removed his gloves, his fingers now running over Kain's skin. He watched as Kain tilted his head, his eyes going from left to right as if he visualized the whole picture. The answer was not disappointing. "And I will."

"Good boy." The fingers went all the way up to Kain's crotch.