The Eternal Hymn: Prelude to Silence

Bump. Gimme moar votes!

For possibly the first time in your very long life, you decide to play it safe. As much as you want to retrieve your sword, or at least try to, you're on a strict time limit, and this little trip has already taken far longer than expected. And besides, the goal of this mission isn't to kill Malphas, but recruit him. All you need is something to defend yourself with; you really don't feel like fighting with your bare hands. Ena's Elthunder tome will be enough for now.

"I'm in your hands teach," you say with a sight grin. "But just go over the basics, all right? Nothing too fancy."

Ena nods, removing the gold and brown tome from the folds of her cloak. She hands it to you, then takes a few steps back. A brief look of hesitation crosses her beautiful features, but it quickly fades and she draws her sword. "As you wish, Key. But we don't have time for normal training. You're going to have to learn by fire, and I'm not going to hold back! Ready yourself!"

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*Kryian gained a Weapon Level!*

It doesn't take you long to get the hang of it, though you aren't sure if that's because you're a quick study, or you just don't want to die. After everything is all said and done, you realize It's probably the latter.

"Holy Goddess you weren't joking," you breathe in exasperation, leaning back against the wall for support. Your body hurts like hell all over again, but at least you're somewhat competent with magic now. "You really weren't holding back."

Ena gives you an odd look that's halfway down the road between amusement and admiration. "I told you I wouldn't. I'm a woman of my word, Kryian. Anything less would have been a disservice to you."

My, my... Always so serious. She makes you look like your clown of a brother, and that's saying something. Ena suddenly sits down with her back to you, and removes a Vulnerary from the pouch at her waist. She shrugs her cloak over her shoulders and pulls the left side of her white tunic down, exposing her bare shoulder. You notice the new burn mark there, and turn away to give her some privacy.

"Sorry about that," you say under your breath, sighing. This is precisely why I don't like training with others...

Ena finishes applying the Vulnerary without so much as a hiss, and she rises to her feet, shaking her head. "Don't apologize. I'm fine. Laguz are creatures of magic, Kryian. We always have been. Most of us have simply forgotten that fact. We've forgotten how we were born. It's no surprise you're a natural."

That's true... The first Laguz were born through the wildest and most primal of magics. It makes sense that all Laguz, to some extent, possess a small degree of magic... Perhaps some more so than others.

"We should go, Kryian. Malphas's chamber isn't that far now."

She begins walking away, and you turn. For a long moment, you simply stand there and watch. It feels like you're just now seeing her for the first time. Ena Godfreid... The more I learn about you, the more mysterious you seem... I can't shake this feeling I have... Why are you really following me? Because you can't turn a blind eye to those in need? Because you want to help save Canaan? Nothing about you makes any sense to me... What are you really after?

She stops and turns back towards you, and her lips curve into a small, knowing smile. "You coming? Surely you wouldn't leave a girl all on her own in a place like this."

You shake yourself out of your thoughts, and follow after her. "I'm coming, I'm coming... Don't trip over your tail."

One way or another, I have a hunch I'll find out soon... I can't wait.

"Ena, left!"

Ena hastily obeys your order without the slightest hint of hesitation, nimbly swerving towards the left wall, just as a giant axe slams into the stone stairs, sending a shower of sparks skyward. Ena wastes little time retaliating, swinging her sword across the statue's exposed side in a vicious arc. Ena's blade cleaves through the solid stone like a dagger through warm butter, and in a single fluid motion, she walks right past the wounded sentinel and effortlessly intercepts its companion, swatting away its javelin like a gnat. You chant a quick incantation under your breath, and while rough, it still gets the job done. A powerful bolt of lightning strikes the first sentinel from the blue, collapsing it into a pile of dust, just as Ena slashes the legs out from under the second. Realizing the battle is done, you store the tome back in your pack and walk down to her. Ena retrieves her sword from the statue's chest and turns to you as you approach.

"Those were the guardians you mentioned before?" You ask skeptically, looking down at the two piles of dust at your feet. They certainly didn't seem like much...

Ena nods, casually wiping the dust off her sword with her cloak. "Yes, though it appears their power has waned greatly over the years." She gives you a quick once over, which makes you raise an eyebrow. "I don't see any burn marks or smoking appendages. That's good."

You begin to roll your eyes, until you realize she's being serious. You stare at her, mouth agape, and she gives a slight smile. "What? Don't look at me like that. Real battle is very different from practice, and you've only had one practice session. Not to mention it was only a few minutes long. Even the wisest Sages can mispronounce a syllable or two in the heat of battle. And close your mouth. You're drooling."

You merely shake your head and sigh. "I may not be wise or a Sage Ena, but I'm not a blubbering recruit either. I've seen my fair share of battles, and I'm well past getting flustered." Your expression softens, and you smile. "But thank you for your concern. You know... You have the reflexes of a Dancer. Maybe it's a bit close-minded of me, but I thought most dragons were giant brutes. But you're the exact opposite. The limber way you move, your skill with a blade... You remind me more of a Swordmaster than anything else."

Her smile widens. "Well, I'm not like most dragons. And I haven't always been a strategist-for-hire, you know. But thank you for the compliment. Are you ready to move on? We can probably expect more statues ahead, and possibly more undead, so we'll need to be prepared for battle. I can give you a few more pointers on tomes and the like, if you wish."

That only makes you more curious about her past... But now isn't the time. You shake your head again. "No, I have the hand of it now. And we've been down here long enough already. I want to find Malphas as quickly as possible, and get out."

Ena inclines her head in agreement and turns away, but not before you catch an odd look cross her face. Was that... disappointment?

"I understand. Follow me and stay close. It's going to get darker before it gets brighter."

And with the passage to the treasure room blocked off, you don't have many options for a light source... The way back to the surface is blocked as well, but you can worry about that after recruiting Ena's legendary mentor. It's highly likely he'll know an alternate route, and if he doesn't, well... He can fly, after all.

You take the Elthunder tome back out of your pack, hold it at the ready, and follow Ena in silence.

Bumpity bump.

C3

Focus on keeping enemies away from the energy point, using pillars for cover when necessary, while also trying to topple other pillars near the wights whenever the opening to do that is better than attacking them directly.