[Thread; Closed]

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Characters: Kain and Rydia
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Kain is taking out his angst on the local monsters, Rydia is on her way to visit the city.
Location: Somewhere outside of Alexandria
Date: May, 1803... I assume before Rydia meeting with Golbez
Warnings: IDK. Kain, maybe? XD

Golbez's arrival was more than enough motivation for Kain to move on from this city. He'd remained there a while for its resemblance to his home kingdom, but now it was becoming less appealing. Besides, he'd meant what he'd said before about needing to try out his newly acquired spear on fiercer enemies. He'd gotten too used to the monsters here. Time to find new challenges to test himself against.

But before he fully left the area, more training. It was an especially intense session he was putting himself through. But for as much as he was pushing himself, it was doubtful he would wear down soon. At the moment, he was fighting his way through a group of local monsters. Kain leapt high above them and brought Gungnir down to tear through them.

Every strike he made was fiercer than it needed to be. As if by cutting down physical enemies, he could also cut away the past. Wishful thinking. Golbez was a reminder of what he'd done, of being controlled, of the level he'd sunk to... a reminder of how foolishly he'd let himself be ruled by darkness.

Comments

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Kain nodded, agreeing with that sentiment. He was much too connected to Baron to give it up entirely. Even with his self-imposed exile, he still had full intentions of returning there. Someday.

His expression grew thoughtful. The mist seemed a mystery in itself... "Perhaps it holds some connection. There's nothing else here that's as promising... " But the question remained, how?

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"Not yet, anyway. The local gossip has it that the mist only returned recently, started at or close to the time that Sky People arrived. I don't know if that means it caused this or is a byproduct or what, but it seems too coincidental to be ignored." Rydia frowned in thought, barely noticing the city enlarging on the horizon as they approached. "Part of the reason I came back was to see what other links there might be on this continent and why it's so much thicker here."

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"There must be good reason." Kain thought about that a little, but it was still just as much a mystery to him. He glanced at the city ahead and wondered whether or not Golbez was in the vicinity. Even if he was, he could surely still be avoided... "If a reason for the mist can be found, perhaps it will also provide us with a means to return home... eventually. But I doubt it will prove so simple."

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

At that, the summoner nodded with a wry smile. "When is it ever simple? If it was, we wouldn't have been here this long. But, we'll manage. I know we will."

She fell silent, then gave in to testing the waters with her next comment. "I'm going to see our homeworld newcomer soon."

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

They had no choice but to manage. As much as Kain would have it otherwise, and be back home in solitary training...

He slowed pace, nearly stopping altogether when Rydia brought up the subject he'd been avoiding. A startled expression passed across his face, before returning to his usual deliberate calm. "...Oh." He seemed not to want to say anything else, lapsing into silence a moment. "Alone?" ...No, what was he thinking? Golbez wasn't the dominating, evil figure he'd been controlled by. Not anymore. Even so... it gave him a hint of unease to think of Rydia seeking him out on her own.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia nodded, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I didn't think I'd get anyone to go with me. Cecil's probably brooding in Treno with Rosa and the twins are skittish." And Edge...was Edge, who was actually pretty indifferent to Golbez's arrival. "Don't tell me you're interested in volunteering?"

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

She was right, of course, that it seemed unlikely she'd convince the others to come. Well... someone probably had to explain things to the... new arrival. But still. Kain wouldn't mind ignoring his presence all together.

"...I'll pass on that opportunity." He frowned deeply. "If you encounter any trouble..."

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"If you'll be nearby, I'm sure you'll find out." Rydia shook her head, doubting that she would have any trouble from Golbez, but on the off-chance that she was wrong, Cecil's brother was highly skilled in black magic. Likely, any hostilities would devastate the surrounding area.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"Right, well... be cautious. People don't always arrive from the same points in time. What if he's from a time... earlier... than expected?" But it was a very unlikely possibility. Kain knew he would have found out right away if Golbez was from some time when possessed. No doubt he would have called out to him and commanded him to his side were that the case. "...Your judgment is sound, though. I'll trust it."

Would he ever trust Golbez? He wasn't sure. He'd certainly take Cecil and everyone else's opinions into consideration, but it would be hard to move past a lot of things. All of this was just making him frustrated again, and another several rounds of monster slaying might be in order.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Kain had a legitimate point and Rydia looked thoughtful. "He could be...but would Zemus be powerful enough to maintain that kind of control from another world? Golbez certainly didn't talk the same way he did while Zemus had a hold over him. Besides...either way, we'd need to know. And thank you."

She smiled, pleased that Kain trusted her judgment enough. He of all people should know that she didn't trust blindly, and she didn't know. If Golbez didn't behave as she thought he should, she would leave--and warn everyone. Her gut instinct told her that wouldn't be the case, though.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Kain nodded, still less than in a good mood, but not about to get into the details with Rydia. The last he wanted was to change her mind on his behalf. She didn't hold the same grudges against Golbez that he did, after all... and rightly so. He'd never controlled her...

"Better you find out, in that case." He hesitated, adding, "...Regardless of what happens... I don't believe I'll want to willingly meet with him anytime soon. If ever."

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia nodded. "I don't expect you to...and if I'm right about him, he wouldn't either. Gaia should be big enough for the both of you, especially if there's no dire external threat at work." If there was...well, the summoner thought they'd just have to deal, somehow. Teamwork was more important than issues, at least if they wanted to stay alive.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

It should be, she was right about that much. Kain would just have to continue to remain well away from wherever Golbez was. It shouldn't be too hard. He didn't even want to consider ever needing to work closely together with him. "Fine, then... Good luck with that."