Author Note: So begins Book Two: Platinum Shadow. I'm very excited about this one because it was always my favorite disc of the game. So much room for character development! Enjoy!

"This heat is absolutely unbearable," moaned Haschel. "I don't know how I ever came here before. Or how anyone lives here. Or breathes here. I think my throat might catch fire soon."

"It's not that bad," laughed Dart.

"Okay, Mr. Fire Dragoon," Haschel scorned. "Tell us how you're impervious to heat one more time, please."

Dart smirked and Haschel scowled at him.

"It shouldn't be too much longer until we get there, right?" inserted Shana from farther back in their column of horses.

"Yes, not long at all," replied Albert, his back impossibly straight as he rode along. "I would guess that we should arrive in Fletz in only a couple hours."

"Good, then we can stay the night in an inn that's also swelteringly hot," muttered Haschel. "Sweat through the night and wake up drenched."

"That sounds like a tough time," said Dart. "Thank the gods I don't have to deal with that."

"Oh, shut up," spat Haschel.

There was a pause where two chuckles could be heard.

"At least we have the king boy over here to get some air moving for us," added Haschel, a clear cry for help.

"'King boy'?" muttered Albert.

"If we ever find the other two dragoons," interrupted Rose, "we may have a fix for that problem."

Haschel rolled his eyes. "For Dart being a narcissist? I don't think any amount of dragoon power will fix that."

"The heat problem," she said scornfully.

"What do you mean, 'the other two dragoons'?" inserted Albert. "Are you implying that there are other dragoons already out in the world?"

Rose nodded. "Most likely. Dragoon spirits are attracted to each other. And there are five of us together now. We'll probably run into the last two at some point soon."

"And how will that make it cooler?" asked Shana.

"Much like how Dart can make things warmer, the blue sea dragoon can cool things off."

"Would that be the dragoon over the realm of water?" asked the king.

"Yes," replied Rose.

"That'll be interesting," mumbled Dart. Then more loudly, "We all came together pretty fast. I wonder how long it will take for the others."

"Whoever this new dragoon is, they're my new favorite person," said Haschel. "I say we find them as soon as possible."

"I agree," said Albert. "But in the meantime, perhaps I can be of some assistance."

A second later, a wind whipped up, blowing at them from the south and carrying with it slightly cooler temperatures. At the very least, it was enough to lift the sweat from their brows.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Haschel. "At least somebody knows how to be considerate." He turned a critical eye on Rose, which was met with the fiercest of scowls.

Dart chuckled and then grew somber. To any passing traveler, this group would have seemed like a happy circle of friends, chiding and teasing each other. But an underlying tension was hidden just beneath the surface. The past couple months had been strained at best, and they still hadn't recovered from all the terrible things that had happened in Bale. Behind every glance from Haschel, Dart saw a subtle amount of disdain. Even Albert couldn't hide his curious and nervous glances among the group. And Dart hadn't made eye contact with Shana for more than a second or two since they'd left Bale.

As a matter of fact, Dart couldn't look at Shana at all without feeling guilt settle into his stomach. Even now, he glanced behind him only to find her eyeing her hands in her lap, looking melancholy. A heavy weight came to sit on his heart as he looked down at his own hands, fingers wrapped tightly around the reins of his horse, knuckles white with tension.

Almost two weeks ago, they'd left Bale and headed south, nearly making their way all the way to Lohan before turning sharply northwest. Here, the Western Mountains had been cut in half by a broad but shallow river trying to make its way to the Bay of Aquaria, running southeast until it finally emptied into the ocean right at the border between Serdio and Tiberoa. Long ago, the countries had worked long and hard to form an accessible trade route through the mountain pass, treacherous though it could be in the wrong weather. For what seemed like weeks, but was only six days, they'd followed the winding path, working its way around every curve and meander that the river had to offer. Luckily, the path was well-worn and well-maintained to promote trade between the two countries, and the weather worked in their favor to deliver them safely through the mountains.

As the plains of southern Tiberoa neared, the river bent its way north into the Western Mountains – now to their east – where it was fed by melting snow and rain. Instead, the party left the river and headed west, following the remnants of the mountains on their left until they disappeared altogether, giving way to a lush grassland that spanned as far as the eye could see. The road became smoother, and their spirits lifted. However, another day's travel pushed them into a typical Tiberoan summer heat wave. The rain-loving grasses gave way to more drought-tolerant bushes, and the sun began to beat down on them with a fury that Serdio never experienced except in the far southern reaches.

And this brought with it a hailstorm of Haschel's complaining, which went on for the better part of an hour before he finally tired of it.

As they continued their trek west, watching the terrain grow more and more hilly, Dart considered Rose's words. Were there really two other dragoons out there? If so, where were they? How would they find them? He thought of Greham and Doel. Would more people have to die as the dragoons clashed? Or would they simply join the cause as Rose had?

For some time, Dart mulled this over, eventually tuning out Haschel's voice. He considered what kinds of people these dragoons might be, and whether they would disturb their group equilibrium. At this, he almost laughed. Maybe it would be best if it were disturbed. But then again, the idea of a newcomer was not one that Dart relished. Strained as his relationships currently were, he knew these people and he was comfortable with them – for the most part. He didn't like new variables, especially when he still had so far to go to heal what he'd broken.

"Is that it?" Haschel finally asked, squinting into the distance.

Looking up, Dart saw of what he spoke. Rocky hills, not quite big enough to be mountains, stood on the horizon, and nestled against them was a brilliantly white city. Tiny it was, still over a league off, but already Dart was impressed with it. From what he could make out, it seemed that the city was surrounded by a great wall, white as snow, lavishly reflecting the afternoon sunlight.

"Yes, that is Fletz," replied Albert with an air of accomplishment.

"It's beautiful," remarked Shana.

As they neared the city, Dart was able to make out a few more details. The forty-foot walls were made of shining white limestone, though the top was rimmed with a brilliantly blue polished stone façade. Across the parapet strolled a surprising number of soldiers, all sporting blue and silver armor and tall spears. Where the road met the wall, there was a massive metal gate, closed, with two guards posted just inside. The rest of the city was obscured, but Dart could just make out the gleam of the ocean from beyond it.

But of all this, most striking to Dart was the castle looming behind and above Fletz. Built into a rocky hill face, the castle stood tall, unconcerned with the passing of years as it stood constant watch over the land. Shining in the sunlight were two tall spires, proud and strong, stretching up so far that Dart thought they might have touched the clouds had there been any that day. He wondered what it would be like to gaze out at the land, or the ocean behind the city, from that vantage point. For just a moment, he imagined standing there with Shana, arm wrapped around her shoulders as they gazed out in awe. He swallowed and dropped his gaze.

"Look at the castle!" said Shana excitedly.

"Yes, it—" began Albert.

"The Twin Castle," interrupted Haschel. Everyone turned to him in surprise. "So named because of the twin spires, obviously." He glanced around at them. "What? I've been here before. That's not something I've ever hidden."

"When?" asked Albert, almost affronted by the challenge to his knowledge.

Haschel shrugged. "A few years ago. Or is it… Maybe fifteen or so? I've lost count, but I came through more than once searching for my daughter."

"I see…"

"Have you been here?"

Quickly regaining his composure, Albert lifted his shoulders once more and replied, "Once, many years ago. My father and I came to visit the king. I was only a boy at the time."

"So you can get us into that big, probably well-furnished castle?" said Haschel.

"Yes, I could. But we have no need to enter the castle, and I will not reveal my identity."

"Aw, come on, Your Highness. It's not really extortion or anything. You're a king!"

"Being a king makes me no better than any civilian. And besides, I am eager to see what interesting things we might find in the city!"

Haschel rolled his eyes but stayed silent as they continued their trek south toward the city gates. Excitement eased its way across the group as Fletz drew ever closer, until at last they stood before the gate. It seemed taller up close, and Dart was shocked and a little anxious to see several more guards rush over to meet them. And instead of warm smiles, they all wore grim, suspicious expressions. They lined up on the other side of the plaited metal and hefted their spears threateningly.

Without preamble, the guard in front called out, "Who are you? And what business do you have in our city?"

"We are but travelers from Serdio," announced Albert. "We wish to visit Fletz on our way to Donau, and rest before the next leg of our journey."

"And what business takes you to Donau?" called out the gruff voice of another guard. Dart exchanged a concerned glance with Haschel; something was off. No guards would be this stringent upon meeting strangers, whether from another country or not. They needed to play it safe.

Albert faltered slightly, clearly not having expected such intense questioning at the city gates. Spurring his horse forward, Dart fell in line with Albert and spoke up.

"Merchant business," he said. "We have a potential client in Donau."

"Merchants? You from Lohan?"

Dart nodded. "We were excited by the prospect of branching out to a different country and thought we'd see some sights along the way. It's our first time in Tiberoa."

Albert caught Dart's eye, and Dart gave the slightest of nods in reassurance.

Several of the guards gathered and whispered among themselves, but Dart managed to catch snippets of their conversation. They seemed to be debating the verity of their statements, casting several glances to their weapons. Nobody should be this anxious about a few people from Serdio, thought Dart.

After a long minute, the men separated and turned back to Dart and Albert.

"Very well. You may enter. But cause any trouble and you'll be thrown out. No trial."

"Thank you," muttered Albert skeptically as a guard called to someone out of sight. Presently, a grinding noise rang out, and the gate began to rise to clear their path into the city. Albert led their group inside, but before they could enter the city proper, three of the guards made a line to stop them, the first one stepping forward.

"We'll take your horses and care for them at the city stables," he said, his voice strangely abrasive.

The group paused, and Dart sensed the trepidation in his companions. He admitted that this was strange, the guards demanding their horses before they could even enter the city. But he also understood their need to keep a low profile; he glanced to Albert and Haschel before swinging down from Luna and offering the reins.

"Thank you," he said, uncomfortable but submissive as the guard took them and waited expectantly for the rest.

After a pause and several more nervous glances, Albert, Haschel, Shana, and Rose all dismounted and relinquished their horses, Rose's black horse standing out in the yellow and brown herd. Two of the guards led off the horses, and the other turned to give them a curt bow and walked off.

"What is it with this city?" asked Haschel once the guard was out of earshot. "It wasn't this stuck up last time I was here."

"If Lloyd's been here, I'd say it's pretty self-explanatory," muttered Dart, mostly to himself, though Haschel heard anyway.

"You think one guy coming into town made them behave like that?"

Dart shrugged. "For all we know, he's been here wreaking havoc all over Tiberoa for months. Look what he did to Serdio."

"Hm," thought Albert aloud. "It is certainly true that he can cause some considerable damage to a country, but I would also note that he managed to do everything in Serdio out of the spotlight. It was not until the end of the Serdian War that anyone realized his involvement."

"It may not be that direct or loud, but I bet that Lloyd has something to do with why those guards are so on edge," said Dart stalwartly. He glanced to Shana for support, but she dropped her gaze as soon as their eyes met. Dart's jaw stiffened and he looked down.

"Standing here arguing about it won't get us anywhere," said Rose. "Let's actually go into town and see if we can find anything out for certain."

The party murmured in agreement, and they turned to follow the street deeper into the heart of Fletz.

Somehow, Dart had been expecting this city to be something similar to Bale, but he found this to be far from true. Fletz had the same stately air about it as Bale, but almost everything else was different. Instead of that tawny sandstone, all the buildings in Fletz were made of the same white stone as the outer wall, and they all had that same brilliant turquoise decorating the frames of doors and windows. The houses were more open to the hotter air, with many having flat roofs with tables and chairs placed on them. Dart noted many families resting atop their houses, sipping tea or water, laughing or talking.

More than the structures, the people, too, were different. Their skin was much darker than that of Serdians, no doubt to better accommodate the harsh sunlight, and they seemed more cheerful. At least, they did at first glance. Among their own, the people of Fletz laughed and smiled. But whenever the party of dragoons was spotted, expressions shifted instantly to ones of fear or suspicion. Dart shot many a glance to his companions, all of whom seemed to understand that this coupled with their strange reception at the gate did not bode well.

The streets were busy, but not unbearably packed like Lohan had been. The group meandered to and fro through the sparse crowd, following the main street until at last they came to what appeared to be the town square. At least, the road widened into an almost circular shape as it branched off into several different directions. The group paused, and Dart glanced around nervously, hoping for sudden inspiration to lead them to their destination. He was uncomfortable at the unfamiliarity, and it didn't help that the townspeople kept glancing at them nervously, giving the group a wide berth as they made their way about.

"Are we going to stand here forever or actually go somewhere?" said Rose.

"I am simply trying to remember where it is that I would like to go," replied Albert, his voice somewhat distant as he shuffled through his old memories.

"If you take that street," inserted Haschel as he pointed to the right, "and follow it and then take a left, there's a nice pub where we could take a break and figure some things out."

"And what are we to do there?" challenged Albert.

Haschel shrugged. "Ask around. Lots of people go in and out of there, so if Lloyd left a footprint, it would be a good place to start."

Nodding in defeat, Albert said, "Very well. Lead the way."

As Haschel took the lead, Dart dared another glance back to Shana, who seemed uncomfortable, her arms crossed and her eyes staring fixedly at the ground. Rose stood guard beside her, solemn as ever, arms also crossed but head raised proudly.

Before he could stop himself, he spoke up and said, "Shana? Are you alright?"

Turning to him in surprise, she nodded hurriedly and flashed a forced smile, saying, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay," he mumbled, forcing himself away to follow Albert's sweeping cloak down the street.

The crowds grew thicker as they grew closer to the tavern that Haschel had promised them, and Dart found himself weaving in and out of people rushing in the opposite direction. Once, someone bumped his left arm, and an aching pain shot itself up to his shoulder. Gasping, he cradled the bandaged arm in front of his chest, praying that nothing else would disturb it.

The wound he'd received from Rose almost two months ago still hadn't healed. He would change out the bandage every four days or so, but it never seemed to get any better. It still festered and stank like it had that first day he'd awoken in Indels Castle. But every time he'd almost asked Shana to heal it for him, he was reminded of the reason Rose had cut him. And so it persisted.

Often he would think of their main objective – to find Lloyd and reclaim the Moon Gem – but his vision of justice and revenge was clouded by a doubt that he would be able to hold his own with such a detriment to his mobility. If it hurt this much to be brushed across the arm by a stranger, how much worse would the forceful jarring of a swordfight be?

Struggling to push aside these thoughts, Dart focused on Albert's sweeping footsteps before him. For whatever reason, the king hadn't been able to completely set aside his kingship and still wore the forest green cloak of Basil over his light leather armor. And across his back was secured a decorated lance. Thankfully, it wasn't gilt or flashy, but it was obviously of superior quality, heralding Albert's importance. The king had deposited Lavitz's old lance in a shadow box in the castle to honor the fallen hero as best he could, and for that Dart was grateful. But he wasn't so sure about this replacement, either.

Still, he followed that quality lance for several minutes before they finally arrived at their destination: a bustling building with a sign labeling it "The Astronomer's Brew." Noting the constellation splayed across the sign in tiny silver dots, Dart followed Haschel's directed footsteps into the tavern and was immediately assaulted by a cacophony of noise. He recoiled, but continued forward.

The room was large and overcrowded, with empty seats sparsely scattered about. A bar to the left housed at least twenty patrons, and thirty tables another hundred or so. Without so much as a pause, Haschel charged in, spotted an empty table, and fought through the throng to reach it, gesturing for the rest to follow suit. They did so, and as they gathered around, Haschel spoke, nearly shouting over the din.

"You guys enjoy yourselves and do some investigating here, and I'll do my investigations over at the bar," he said, eyes focused intently on the far wall.

Following his gaze, Dart saw two women sitting on stools, drinks in hand. He guessed that they were probably a decade or less older than himself, and he turned back to Haschel with a raised eyebrow.

"Going hunting, are we?" he asked with a grin.

"Haschel!" scolded Shana.

Rolling his eyes, Haschel turned back to them and said, "All will be consensual, don't you fret. I'm a grown man, and I can make my own decisions, thank you very much." And with that, he left, strutting his way over to the bar.

Sitting, Dart kept his eyes on Haschel and marveled at the ease with which he inserted himself into their conversation. Within a minute, both girls were laughing and flashing flirtatious smiles at him, despite the obvious age difference.

"How does he do that?" wondered Dart aloud.

"I am unsure," muttered Albert, now sitting across from Dart. "I wonder if women are naturally more attracted to older men because of their life experience. They would probably be more accomplished and driven than men of their own age."

"I'm not so sure it's experience with life that they want," smirked Dart as one of the girls placed her hand on Haschel's arm.

"What do you mean? Do they assume that he is more financially secure because of his age?"

Dart opened his mouth to explain, but decided better of it and said, "Never mind."

They sat in silence for some time, all except Rose glancing around, almost expecting something interesting to happen. For a few minutes, Dart kept an eye on Haschel, but lost interest as no real ground was gained. Eventually, a frustrated waitress came by and took a drink order, only to take another ten minutes to return with four flagons of ale. Dart tried not to complain; the bar was nearly filled to capacity.

Slowly, Dart became less and less aware of the world around him. The excessive noise pushed him to retreat into his own mind, where some semblance of calm could be found. Unbidden in this labyrinth of memory, Shana's face came to him, pale and streaked with blood. He closed his eyes, as if wincing in pain, before seeking out a kinder recollection. He forced himself to remember a conversation he'd had with Rose in Indels Castle as they both admired the tapestry depicting the history of the Dragon Campaign.

He could see it now in his mind's eye: winged people on both sides, perpetually locked in a bloody war. On the left, serpent-like dragons of every hue breathed terror and fire, the dragoons at their front, and on the right, powerful winglies threatened with authoritative bursts of magic. Dart had caught Rose staring at it one day and decided to ask about it. She'd revealed little more than he already knew, only that the dragoons had fought the winglies in an epic war that eventually ended in the fall of the wingly empire. However, she had remarked on the notable absence of the virage, the creatures the winglies had used to fight dragons.

"You know..." came Shana's voice, interrupting his reverie from the opposite corner of the table. "We're not doing such a great job of gathering information."

"I have been studying the intricacies of the groups of people around us," replied Albert, almost indignantly. "And I believe that I have gathered some good information."

"So you've found Lloyd?" said Rose flatly, eyeing Albert unamused.

"Of course not," he said, waving away her sarcasm. "But I may be able to pinpoint certain individuals who would be helpful to our cause. Perhaps if we could maneuver a way near their table, we could strike up a conversation-"

"Hang on," interrupted Shana. "There's an easier way to do this."

Dart sighed quietly in relief. Albert's plan seemed exhausting and implausible.

"We just need to ask her," continued Shana, gesturing to her left. The others followed her gaze to see a talkative woman currently in an animated conversation with a patron, hands waving about to emphasize her points. Her bright yellow outfit contrasted everyone else in the room, as if she needed an extra way to draw attention to herself.

"Why?" asked Dart, giving the woman a critical eye, not in the least bit eager to be forced into a conversation with someone so extroverted.

"She knows everyone, and everyone knows her. She would know if someone with platinum hair rolled into town because she would have heard about it somehow."

"Quite observant, Shana," said Albert. "We just need to call her over."

"How?" argued Dart skeptically. "She's clearly busy."

"So we wait for her to come to us."

With a frustrated sigh, Dart conceded and began to watch the woman as they waited. What Shana had claimed seemed to prove true. The woman was engaged in an intensive conversation at one table, and it took an exasperating twenty minutes for her to leave it. Albert and Dart both tried to catch her eye, but to no avail as she moved to a different table and quickly struck up another conversation.

"This is going to take forever," complained Dart, but Shana shot him an irritated glance. He looked down.

After another fifteen minutes, the two men tried once more and were finally successful, attracting the attention of the woman, who approached with a beaming smile.

"Well, what do we have here?" she asked. "Are you lot from out o' town?" She glanced eagerly around the table.

"Yeah, we're from-" started Dart.

"Wait!" interrupted the woman. "Let me guess..." She began looking them over with a discerning eye. "Drab clothing, pale as can be! You must be from Serdio."

"Indeed, we are," said Albert. "My name is Albert, and these are my companions: Dart, Shana, and Rose." He gestured to each of them. "And that fellow having a conversation near the bar is also in our group."

Suddenly laughing, the woman said, "Oh, Haschel? That sly old man!" She shook her head. "My name's Kaffi, and I'm here to take care of you. Now!" Suddenly, she pulled up an empty chair from a nearby table and sat down next to Shana. "You're newcomers, so there must be some things that you're dying to know about this city! Allow me to give you an introduction."

"Actually-" Dart tried again.

Ignoring him completely, Kaffi continued animatedly, hands waving about in various gestures.

"You have come to the single greatest city in Tiberoa, and probably all of Endiness. We have a rich culture, and an interesting history. But! The single greatest thing about Fletz is that this is the hub of all astronomy. Anything you've ever learned about stars came from this very town. And that's because we worship the stars! We believe that they watch over us as they drift across the sky. So naturally, we put a lot of effort into understanding them and charting their courses. Some people have even learned to communicate with stars and see the future!"

"How does that work?" asked Shana, brow furrowed.

"I dunno," shrugged Kaffi. "But I know a few people who can do it."

"That sounds quite intriguing," inserted Albert. "I would like to learn more about how this is possible. Are these people accurate with their predictions?"

"Oh, yes," said Kaffi, nodding seriously. "I have one friend who was able to pinpoint to the day when his wife would go into labor."

"Is there someone in the city that we could visit who might be able to give us more information?"

Dart cast Albert an irritated glance, but he didn't seem to notice as he watched Kaffi eagerly for her response.

"Loads! We have lots of astrologers. But you have to be careful because not all of them are genuine. Some just try to make it seem all mystic to draw in the tourists. But lucky for you all, you have me to guide you the right way."

"Hang on," said Dart, finally annoyed enough to speak up. "We're not here to learn about stars."

Kaffi's countenance visibly fell, and Albert scowled at him. Dart shrugged, as if to say, "What?"

"I guess there are other reasons to come to Fletz… But, maybe I can still help you. What do you wanna know?"

"We are looking for someone," said Albert with a frown. "He is quite distinctive, and we were wondering if perhaps you might have noticed him coming through town."

"What's he like?"

"Tall, platinum-colored hair," said Dart. "His name is Lloyd."

"Lloyd, huh? Sounds... way less interesting than stars." Kaffi chuckled. "But unfortunately, I don't think I've heard anything about a man by that name. Which means, he probably isn't in this town."

Fighting a heavy sigh of frustration, Dart said, "Are you sure? Could you ask around for us?"

"If I don't know, ain't nobody knows, and that's a fact," announced Kaffi proudly.

"Very well," said Albert dismally. "Thank you for your assistance."

Heart sinking, Dart dropped his gaze to the foamy beverage before him. He wasn't sure why he'd thought it would be that easy, but he'd been hoping that it would be. Although his inner rage had subsided since Bale, he still grew angry at the thought of Lloyd. He was no longer driven by revenge, but justice.

At least, that's what he told himself.

In any event, he knew that he would be happy to find Lloyd and put an end to his miserable, murderous existence.

"I may not know about this Lloyd character," said Kaffi cheerfully, "but if you're still interested in stars, I can point you somewhere promising!" She beamed at them, as if this bit of information was enough to clear away all their frustration.

Not even bothering to look up, Dart was surprised when Shana asked, "Where?"

"Naturally, there are countless astronomers in Fletz, but I will only point you to the very best! There's a man who lives just down the street from here – the lead astronomer for the king. He can give you more information than anyone else, and he loves having visitors!"

"What makes him such a prestigious astronomer?" asked Albert.

"He has a gift for it. He's accomplished more in his young life than most of the oldest astronomers in Fletz. Studied stars and the Moon That Never Sets since he was little. He charted several new constellations and even invented a more powerful telescope that can see even really dim stars in the right conditions, which means he has the most advanced and complete star charts in the world. And!" She leaned forward suddenly and dropped her voice. "His new project is really exciting. He's currently looking into a connection between the moon and the..." Her face turned thoughtful. "Oh, man, what is it called? The dark... No. The Black... the Black Whatchamacallit."

Shana and Albert were surprised, but Dart and Rose had their attention snagged in a mere second as both their eyes snapped up to Kaffi.

"The Black Monster?" asked Dart incredulously.

"Yeah, that's it!" said Kaffi. "He's been pulling from archives all over Endiness to figure stuff out. You should go talk to him about it!"

"That sounds most intriguing," said Albert, his voice somewhat distant. "We may just do that."

Dart, Shana, and Albert exchanged a meaningful glance as Kaffi looked past their table to the bar.

"I think my boss is about to come back," she whispered, making her voice nearly imperceptible in the busy room. "I should probably get back to serving drinks before he fires me."

And with that, she stood, swung her chair back to the neighboring table, and began walking away.

"Wait!" called Dart, and Kaffi stopped and turned, waiting expectantly. "Where is this guy? What's his name?"

"Oh! Right." Kaffi returned, her infectious grin returning with her. "His name is Fester, and if you go that way down the road-" she gestured to one side "-take a left across the bridge, and then his house is on the right. The one with the big telescope on the roof. Can't miss it!"

"Thank you!" said Shana as Kaffi bounced away toward the bar.

"We should go," announced Dart, his eagerness spilling out of him as his leg started to bounce beneath the table.

"Looks like we have to extricate Haschel first," muttered Rose, nodding over toward the bar.

Dart, Shana, and Albert all looked over to see Haschel, not with the two women from before, but with Kaffi. The two were deeply engaged in conversation, clearly familiar with each other, smiles and emotional glances flitting between them.

"Looks like Haschel found somebody else to harass," mumbled Dart.

"That's not quite harassment," said Rose.

"Not at all," agreed Shana as Kaffi laughed loudly and placed her hand on Haschel's chest.

"Fascinating," said Albert.

"Wait," stammered Dart. "What is going on?"

Just then, Haschel glanced over to their table, noting all their gazes and making quick motions to leave. Kaffi leaned forward and kissed him lightly as she placed a hand on his neck. A second later, she pulled away and rushed off, throwing one more mischievous look behind her as she went.

"What was that?" asked Dart wildly.

Haschel turned away from the bar with a boyish grin on his face as he made his way through the maze of tables and approached them.

"They must know each other," commented Albert.

"I'd say more than that," said Rose.

All four of them watched Haschel intently as he walked up to the table, cheeks flushed despite his relaxed stance.

"Find out anything?" asked Haschel casually.

"You-" began Dart.

"Nothing about Lloyd," interrupted Shana. "But we may have found a lead on the Black Monster."

"Intriguing!" replied Haschel. "Shall we go follow it up then? You can fill me in on the way."

Once more, Dart tried to insert a statement about Kaffi, but a warning glance from Shana silenced him.

"That sounds like an excellent plan," nodded Albert, and they all stood and headed for the door, leaving their nearly untouched drinks for someone else to clean up. Dart felt a small twinge of guilt, but his desire to learn more about the Black Monster was more than enough to overcome it.

As they meandered down the street, he imagined what this astronomer might say. What kind of tie could a demon have to the moon? He didn't recall anything strange about the moon when the monster had attacked Neet all those years ago. As far as he knew, the Black Monster was nothing more than a blood-thirsty creature that wreaked havoc upon the cities of humans for fun.

For so long, he'd hunted the foul beast. He'd searched every nook and cranny of the eastern wilds in hopes of finding any sign of it, but nothing had come up. With Neet being farther north than Seles, he'd thought that traveling north would take him closer to his abandoned home, but no one had ever heard of it before. Sometimes, it felt like Neet had only existed in his memory, or that it was merely a distant dream. But when he closed his eyes, he could still taste the chill winter air, smell the fire in the distance, and hear the paralyzing screams.

His heart raced at the possibility of learning more after eighteen years of ignorance.

As they marched down the street, his mind tuned out the distant voices of the others remarking on the city as he retreated within himself. His mind raced with possibilities of what they might learn – what the Black Monster looked like, what sort of creature it was, or why it went on murdering rampages. Perhaps he would finally be able to make sense of what had happened that night that his world had changed so drastically.

"Dart," muttered Rose next to him, drawing his attention back to reality.

Glancing up, he noticed that the group had turned left to go across the bridge that Kaffi had mentioned, leaving him heading past it. He wasn't sure when, but at some point the street had met up with a stream, the clear water rushing down a stone-walled trench, heading for the northwestern edge of the city – toward the ocean. They'd been following it for some time, but now the road branched, a dazzling white and blue bridge traversing the small river. An archway stood proudly across the edge, and splayed across the top were the words: St. Claire Bridge.

As he turned toward the archway, Dart stopped in his tracks, eyes fixed on the name.

"Claire," he muttered under his breath.

It had been so long since he'd heard that name. By whatever chance, he'd never met another soul who went by it, and now something about it struck him. Perhaps it was a name native to the western countries, but to him, it carried a sense of safety. And yet, also one of terror. The last time he'd heard that name, it had been in the middle of flames engulfing his hometown.

"Dart?" came Shana's voice ahead of him.

Dropping his eyes, he saw all four of his companions watching him, and he grew instantly uncomfortable.

"Um," he stammered, trying to find words to explain himself.

"What is it?" prodded Shana.

Trying to ignore the strange way she was looking at him, he pointed weakly up to the arch and said, "Claire. It's… my mom's name."

"Oh, yeah," said Haschel suddenly as Albert and Shana drew near to read the arch. "St. Claire Bridge, right?"

Dart nodded.

"I remember finding this years ago," he continued. "I had about that same look on my face, too. Crazy how things work out!"

"What do you mean?"

"Claire is my daughter's name, too!" Very nearly bouncing on his toes, Haschel walked up to Dart and lightly punched his shoulder. "Maybe there's some kind of connection between us that we didn't know about!"

For a moment, Dart stood in silence and stared at Haschel, trying to comprehend what he was implying. Just how likely was it that Haschel's daughter and Dart's mother would have the same name? Were they the same person? That seemed incredibly unlikely, and instinctively, Dart began to search Haschel's face for any evidence of this.

"Don't be silly," said Rose.

"Yeah, I don't know…" said Dart hesitantly.

"Indeed, the chances that both Claire's are, in fact, one and the same Claire are astronomical," said Albert. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that as many as a hundred thousand women could have been named Claire in the time frame of the birth of Haschel's daughter. It is statistically more likely that they are two different women rather than the same."

"…What he said."

"Aw, come on!" complained Haschel. "Let a man dream!"

"Just look at you," stated Rose. "You two look nothing alike. There's absolutely no family resemblance."

"Shana, you haven't weighed in yet," said Haschel in an irritated voice. "What do you think?"

He swung around to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Dart and watched Shana expectantly. Trying to put on a vaguely apologetic face, Dart attempted a smile as Shana's eyes darted back and forth between them.

Eventually, she sighed in defeat and said, "You have completely different features. I'm sorry, Haschel."

"Fine!" said Haschel, throwing his hands up. "We're not related. Forgive me for trying to spread a little familial love."

Hanging his head in mock sorrow, he charged ahead across the bridge, and Shana laughed and followed him, patting him on the back in comfort, though not without a quick glance back at Dart. Rose followed shortly after them.

"Dart, are you alright?" asked the king, lingering behind with a concerned eye.

Something twisted inside Dart as he watched Shana walk away. He knew that, in a different time, this was when she would reach out and make sure that he wasn't overwhelmed. She would touch his shoulder and try to carry his pain with him. And yet, she continued down the bridge, keeping a close eye on Haschel instead.

He knew that they'd gotten close since their stay in Bale, and Dart hadn't tried to interfere with any relationship that may have strengthened between them. Although the thought had crossed his mind, he wouldn't dream of trying to drive a wedge between friends. But now, the guilt that followed him, constantly waiting for a moment to strike, was an impossible weight on his heart.

"No," he said hopelessly, not bothering to try to hide his sorrow. He was pretty sure that everyone knew about it anyway. Without so much as a glance at Albert, he walked forward across the bridge, head hanging low as a million thoughts and feelings swirled around inside him.

As many times as he'd revisited that moment atop Hellena Prison, he'd visited that room in Lohan a thousand more.

Everything felt chaotic. It was as if everything was crumbling around him despite everything that had happened. Despite their victories in the Serdian War, despite the unified nation, and despite Dart's direct involvement in all this good, his life was filled with nothing but dark chaos. Not only had he lost Lavitz, but he'd lost Shana. Despite her constant presence, the one reliable person in his life since his parents' death was now gone.

"Dart," said Albert's voice, but Dart ignored it and continued forward.

Only a few short minutes later, they arrived at their destination. As they approached the house, Dart eyed the roof, on which sat a sizeable telescope. It was so big, in fact, that he fancied it to be at least eight feet taller than he was should he stand next to it, and he was unsure as to whether he'd be able to touch his fingers together if he wrapped his arms around it. Glancing up, he noticed that the telescope was aimed directly at the moon, hanging brightly in the sky above them despite the still-intense daylight.

As the group gathered near the door, they all turned to Dart expectantly.

"What?" he asked, trying to stay focused on the purpose of their visit, even as Shana's eyes sat trained on him.

"Go up and knock," said Haschel, as if it were obvious what he'd intended.

"Why me?"

Albert stepped forward and interrupted Haschel's reply, saying, "You are the one with the closest ties to the Black Monster. It is only fitting that you lead us in this search for information regarding the beast."

Logical, as Albert always was.

"Right," muttered Dart, before turning awkwardly toward the door. "Do I just knock?"

"He has a doorbell!" announced Shana, pointing at a rope hanging to the left of the door.

Nodding, Dart took a few steps forward, his heart racing unexpectedly.

What was he hoping to find? If this Fester knew a location for the Black Monster, would he abandon their current quest and go hunt it down? If he waited too long, would he miss his chance? If he left, would the rest of the dragoons even care? Suddenly, he regretted their decision to come here. Perhaps he had been rash, jumping into this too quickly. Perhaps they needed more time. They could go find an inn and stay the night, then return the next day with clearer heads.

As these thoughts flew through Dart's mind, he heard the others shuffle up to the door, and Dart sensed someone standing behind him.

"Whatever we may find," whispered Albert, just barely loud enough for Dart to hear, "we are with you."

Dart clenched his jaw as he reached for the rope. Albert's words had brought a realization that, though he'd damaged some of his relationships, his friends were still his friends. They stood behind him now in silent support, knowing full well that he was the only one who needed this information. They had collectively set aside their own objectives for their journey into Tiberoa to help him with his own journey. Even if he'd hurt Shana so deeply, that did not mean that she did not care about him.

He pulled sharply down, a bell ringing clearly through the door. It was met only with silence.

Slightly frustrated, Dart tugged again, and the bell called once more for attention. This time, only a moment later, a muffled voice shouted to them.

"One moment!" it cried.

After a good deal of shuffling and something heavy hitting the floor, footsteps finally approached the door. It swung inward, revealing a tall man with dark skin wearing a loose robe over a free-flowing tunic and shorts. His eyes sparked with intelligence and a curiosity that Dart had never seen in anyone except the king of Serdio now standing behind him. His lean face was cloaked with a shadow of a beard, and as he took in the five strangers on his doorstep, surprise filled his features.

"H-hello," he stammered before drawing himself up and hastily tying his robe. "Uh, what can I do for you?"

"Fester?" asked Dart, almost as surprised as the man before him.

"Yes, that's me," replied Fester, his eyes darting rapidly among them and lingering for a moment on Dart's sword. "Listen, I don't want any trouble. I doubt anything I have would interest you, and I don't keep money in my house."

"Um… That's not… why we're here…"

Fester's eyes turned suspicious. "What, then, is your purpose?"

"We were told that you're an astronomer who's been studying the moon, and we wanted to ask you some questions," said Dart cautiously, wondering what had put the man on edge.

"Please do not be alarmed," inserted Albert. "We only mean to gather information. If now is a bad time, we can always return at a later date."

Some level of understanding crossed Fester's face, and he said, "I see! This is as good a time as any, I'd daresay. May I ask who sent you?"

"Her name was Kaffi," replied Dart.

At this, Fester's shoulders relaxed, and he grinned. "I guess if Kaffi told you to come here, you must not be so bad. Please, come in!"

He ushered them inside, and Dart awkwardly stepped through the doorway and glanced around. The main room had several tables along the wall opposite them and a desk in the corner, and a comfortable-looking couch sat to Dart's left. However, nearly every surface was covered with parchment. The couch had what Dart supposed were star charts in neat piles in every seat, the tables had countless piles of writing, and even the floor had short, organized stacks here and there. Opposite the couch, several mounds of parchment were splayed out in a circular pattern around a spot of bare floor.

"I do apologize for the mess," muttered Fester as he rushed around to remove stacks from the couch and floor. "I got a new shipment of archives the day before yesterday, and the past two days have had me knee-deep in investigation. I even forgot to shave!" He forced out a chuckle, merely a strained attempt to alleviate the awkward tension in the room.

As soon as the couch and most of the floor were bare, Fester turned to them and smiled hospitably.

"Please be seated on the couch, and I will go in the other room and grab a couple extra chairs for us!" he announced, clearly frazzled at their sudden arrival.

"Oh, let me help you with that!" said Albert kindly, and he followed Fester into the other room, making idle chatter the whole way. Dart turned to Rose, Shana, and Haschel.

"Wooow," said Haschel slowly. "I'm genuinely concerned for that man's mental health."

"He's an astronomer," said Shana, sitting slowly on the middle of the couch. "It would make sense that he has so many things sitting around."

Rose said nothing, but sat on the far side of the couch while Haschel plopped down in the last seat.

Shrugging, Dart said, "I guess with genius comes a certain level of… eccentricity."

"Ooh, big words coming out of you now," teased Haschel. "Who exactly are you trying to impress? His Majesty is in the other room."

Dart put on his best unamused face just as Fester and Albert returned, each carrying a heavy wooden chair. After placing his adjacent to the couch, Fester turned to them and said, "You two gentlemen sit, and I will go make some tea. Then I will answer all the questions you may have!" And with that, he rushed out once more, presently sending clinking noises back through the doorway as he found a teapot.

Albert and Dart sat, and the group waited for several minutes as Fester rushed about in the other room trying to gather snacks for them. More than once, Dart considered getting up to help, but got the profound impression that Fester would much rather prepare by himself. Still, he grew impatient as they sat in an uncomfortable silence.

At last, Fester returned, wearing more presentable clothing – a tighter shirt with a vest and leather pants – and bearing a tray with a large teapot, six teacups, and several muffins, which he set on a side table. Then pouring tea into each cup, he handed them out to each guest as they introduced themselves before pouring some for himself.

"Now," he said as he took a seat in his desk chair and glanced around at each of them. "What exactly would you like to know?"

Lifting the cup to his face, Dart sniffed the tea. As expected, it smelled like leaves. He'd never been one to enjoy tea, although occasionally he found that putting enough sugar or cream in it might make it tolerable. But he knew the importance of being a gracious guest and took a sip. He had to fight every instinct in his body not to make a disgusted face as the leaf-water filled his mouth, and he swallowed quickly, supremely disappointed that the flavor did not leave with the liquid. Slowly, he lowered the cup once more until it sat in his hands, there to stay for the remainder of their visit.

"We were told," began Albert, "that you have started a new branch of study recently, and we were hoping that you would be able to discuss that with us. We are most curious to learn of your findings."

"Are you referring to my research into the Moon That Never Sets and the Black Monster?"

"Yes, exactly!"

"Very well…" muttered Fester as he collected his thoughts. "I must admit, I find it strange that anyone is interested in this. If I may ask, is there a particular reason that you are asking after this research?"

Shana, Haschel, and Albert turned to Dart, expecting him to decide whether he wanted to answer that question. He almost considered brushing it aside, but then thought better of it.

"My parents were killed by the Black Monster eighteen years ago," he said as shock and intrigue filled Fester's features. "I've been hunting it for years now, but I haven't managed to find any new information on it."

Dart glanced around nervously. Shana and Haschel had dropped their gazes to their laps, and Albert had turned his attention back to Fester. But Rose had her eyes trained on Dart, an unreadable expression on her face. With a jolt, he realized that she'd never been around before when he had discussed this with the others. This was her first time to hear of his tragic past. He gave her a small apologetic smile, hoping she'd understand that he'd never meant to leave her out. She blinked in response, her jaw tightening as an emotion that Dart could not identify filled her eyes.

"Fascinating," said Fester, drawing Dart's attention away from Rose. "So you're from Neet, then. Do you remember anything about the monster?"

"No." Dart shook his head. "I never saw it. I only survived because my parents hid me outside the village."

"And they could not hide themselves?"

For a brief moment, he saw his parents again, the blazing village behind them. His father hugging his mother before running back into the inferno. Dart closed his eyes.

"They made sure I was safe and then went back to try to help everyone else. They didn't make it out."

"I am terribly sorry," said Fester kindly, shaking his head in sympathy. "It is indeed unfortunate that this happened to you, but I think we are all grateful that you made it out alive."

Dart gave a weak smile before fixing his gaze on the disgusting tea in his lap. He wasn't enjoying being the center of attention, and he hoped that the conversation would turn from him soon.

"I see why you would be intrigued in this matter," continued Fester. "I myself have no ties to the Black Monster, but I came across an interesting piece of information a few months ago. As you may well know, one of the outlying villages in Tiberoa, not far from here, was attacked by the Black Monster almost three hundred fifty years ago."

"Really?" asked Albert incredulously. "I was not aware of this."

"Yes, it's a famous legend now. They say that a couple there had incurred the wrath of the gods, and they sent the Black Monster to destroy them and their family for their sins. Of course, that is merely Tiberoan legend. The more widely accepted legend ties to the Black Monster to the Moon Child."

"Moon Child?" asked Haschel.

"Ah," exclaimed Fester. "I suppose it is more myth than legend now. Most of the old history books speak of a Moon Child, a blessing in human form given by the gods. It is said that every one-hundred-eight years, the gods send this Moon Child to the world to give a blessing to us, but the Black Monster hunts it down and kills it. Some say the Black Monster is merely an evil creature that despises the Moon Child, and others say that it is merely the personification of the evil of humanity. But I do believe, Dart, that your tale proves the second false. The Black Monster is real, and it has been wreaking havoc on us for centuries."

"Minister Noish said that it's existed since the Dragon Campaign," said Shana.

"Yes, there are also some who believe that. Many that I've spoken to believe that it is a vengeful wingly seeking justice for their fall at the end of the war, but there is no real evidence to support that claim."

"And what do you believe, Mr. Fester?" asked Albert.

"I cannot say for sure," he said. "I have been researching old historical texts—" he gestured at the many stacks of parchment around the room "—for any evidence of what the Black Monster is or why it appears."

"Have you found anything?" asked Dart, hesitantly eager.

"I haven't found what I've been looking for, no," replied Fester. "But the interesting thing about all the accounts of the attack on Tiberoa is that they all mention the moon actually turning colors just before it happened. I found this interesting because the old legend mentions this when it speaks of the coming Moon Child. An old nursery rhyme in a long-forgotten dialect says:

Count one hundred eight years
And when the Moon That Never Sets glows red,
The Moon Child descends to the earth
To fill the world with holy bliss.

So I realized that if the Moon Child or the Black Monster really did exist, perhaps the moon changing colors is a real event as well. I've been searching historical documents for months now trying to find evidence of this. And sure enough, I did."

Springing from his seat, Fester scanned over the tables and thumbed through pieces of parchment before finally finding what he wanted. Grabbing the parchment, he came back to his seat and showed them a list that he had compiled. The first column had several dates listed, and the second mentioned several locations. Dart's heart skipped a beat when he saw Neet written on the first line.

"This is a list of the last eight attacks. In each case, the historian or an astronomer mentioned the moon turning blood red just a few days before a village or sometimes a major city was attacked and very nearly destroyed. Sometimes there were ten or fewer casualties, and others there were thousands. The locations seem to be random as well. The only thing that is consistent is that it happens every hundred-eight years, and the moon turns red just before."

"So…" said Dart. "What you're saying is…"

"The moon doesn't herald the coming of the Moon Child, or some blessing on the world. The Moon Child is nothing more than a myth. The moon heralds the spawning of destruction and fear – that is, the Black Monster."

Dart scanned the list once more, quickly estimating the time between the events. Sure enough, they were always one-hundred-eight years apart, give or take a few months. The names of the villages and cities he didn't recognize except for Neet. He guessed that the locations had been either completely destroyed or renamed over the centuries.

"So there's no pattern," he said numbly. "There's no reason for it?"

"I can't say for sure that there is no purpose for the Black Monster's attacks," said Fester. "But as of yet, I have not found it." He watched Dart for a moment. "I'm sorry if this is not the information you were hoping to find."

"No, it's…" He struggled to find the right words. "It's more than I've found for eighteen years. Thank you."

"I wish that I knew more about it," said Fester as he got up to replace the document. "I've been studying this for months, and this is all I've been able to find. It seems substantial to me, but unfortunately, the best way to test it is to wait another ninety years or so to see if it happens again."

"It happened last time," announced Haschel. All eyes turned to him, and he looked around at them. "I barely remember it because it was so long ago, but it had to have been close to eighteen years. I remember that the moon turned red for a few days. Everyone panicked a little bit and lots of people thought the world was going to end."

"Ah, yes!" cried Albert. "I remember that year! I had a difficult time quelling fears of that very thing."

"Yes, I distinctly remember it, and I believe I recorded the event in my journals," said Fester. "The astronomer community was hard pressed to come up with an explanation, which we could not give."

"Do you remember it, Dart?" asked Albert.

Fester, Haschel, and Albert all watched him eagerly while Rose worked her jaw in the corner. Shana, however, was watching Dart with concern instead of interest, and once more, Dart marveled at her ability to read him. For the briefest of moments, he soaked in the care in her eyes, wishing that it would never disappear like he knew that it would.

"No," he said. "I don't remember much from that time."

"I guess you are younger than us," laughed Albert.

"Though not by much!" said Haschel.

"Mr. Fester," interrupted Shana. "Thank you so much for telling us all this, but we really should leave you be soon so that you can keep working. We'd hate to take up any more of your time."

She spoke sweetly and sincerely, but Dart knew that she was trying to rescue him. He watched her for a moment in gratitude while Fester replied.

"Yes, of course! You must have other things to do. Surely you didn't come all the way to Tiberoa just to talk to me!" He laughed as he stood, silently inviting the others to do the same. "Where are you all staying?"

Finally catching Shana's eye, Dart mouthed, Thank you, to which she replied with a small smile. His heart beat just a little faster as she turned to listen to Albert's reply.

"We have not found an inn yet, but we will go ask around. It would be most helpful if you could point us in the right direction!"

"Actually," said Fester, "most of the inns aren't accepting patrons from Serdio right now."

"Oh."

"But why don't you all stay here for the night?"

Fester looked around at them happily, clearly eager for company, and Dart couldn't help but take another glance at the endless stacks of paper strewn around them.

"Well—" he began.

"That would be most kind of you!" exclaimed Albert, interrupting Dart. "We would be most happy to compensate you for such hospitality."

"There is no need for that!" said Fester, waving his hand. "I have enjoyed having you all here, and it has been a while since I've had such riveting discussions."

Still holding a full cup of tea, Dart looked down and swirled it sadly.

"Guess that settles it," he muttered.

Later that evening, Dart found himself seeking isolation and made his way to the roof. Like almost all the houses in Fletz, a stairwell led up into the fresh air, and Dart was happy to find no one else there, even on the adjacent houses. He walked to the center, ignoring the giant telescope to his left, and looked out at the city, twinkling with tiny firelights.

There, in the quiet of the night, Dart felt at peace. Mostly. Something about this place was eerily comforting. The moon shone brightly overhead, occasionally obscured by a passing cloud. The sounds of Fletz were muted and distant up here, though here and there a round of laughter managed to reach his ears from the nearby tavern. Distant crickets and cicadas chirped, sure signs of the summer in full swing around them.

With a sigh, Dart shifted and lay himself down on the roof, gazing up at the moon and stars high above him. He stared fixedly at that bright blue and silver orb, ever gazing down at the world.

The Moon That Never Sets… thought Dart, recalling Fester's words. Dart had never considered the oddity of a moon that didn't move across the sky. After all, this was the only moon he'd ever known. But now that he really thought about it, it did seem strange that the stars would move across the sky, but the moon would stay in the same place, day or night. Everything else moved; why not the moon?

And was the moon really a herald of destruction, as Fester had suggested? Had the Black Monster's attack on Neet been no more than happenstance? Had Dart and his family simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time?

A bitterness rose within him at this thought, as well as a tear that ran down the side of his face until it burned away. He needed more information. He needed to know why the Black Monster would do such a thing.

He recalled Albert's, Haschel's, and Fester's comments about the moon's color eighteen years ago. It seemed impossible that it had really happened, and yet, they all seemed to remember it. With a sigh, Dart stretched back with his jaded memory, cautiously stepping into that chaotic world of fire and death as he tried to recall the distant days before the attack. And yet, he could remember nothing. With a sigh, he closed his eyes in frustration. Why did human memory have to be so unreliable?

But then a rush of heat flowed out of his dragoon spirit, sprawling across his chest and startling him. With the warmth came a faint memory. He remembered walking through the woods, the snow coming up to his ankles. He had been so cold, so very cold that even now he shivered in the middle of a summer's night. But back then, something had saved him. The dragoon spirit had… flashed.

Instantly, he grabbed it and pulled it out of its pouch, eyeing it closely. It glowed dully, casting about a soft red light, a subtle heat accompanying it.

"Did you… save my life?" he asked it. Immediately, he felt foolish for speaking to a gem. Rolling his eyes at himself, he went to put it back, but just then, it flashed more brightly. Once, and then again, sending a soothing warmth into his fingers.

Glancing up at the moon, Dart saw something he'd seen at a much younger age. For just a moment, he was no longer on a roof in the middle of Fletz, but lying on the snow in the middle of a forest. Above him were sparse conifer branches, but far above them glowed a blood-red moon.

He gasped, and the world became Fletz once more. The moon had changed colors before the attack.

"Why are you telling me this?" he whispered to the dragoon spirit.

Of course, it didn't respond. But it did confirm one thing: Fester had spoken true. The red glow of the moon heralded the coming of the Black Monster.

A soft rapping of knuckles on stone rang out somewhere nearby. Gasping, Dart jumped, a light pulse of fire flashing out from him for a moment before he looked down to see Rose making her way onto the roof. He sat up.

"Don't scare me like that," scolded Dart.

"Sorry," muttered Rose with a distracted expression as she stopped to stand at the top of the stairs.

"Why did you come up here?"

She shrugged. "Thought you could use some company."

Chuckling, he replied, "Since when have you wanted to keep me company?"

Rolling her eyes, Rose walked to the edge of the roof and stood, watching the city rest before her. There was a pause, and for a moment Dart considered joining her, but then decided to stay. He leaned back on his palms before grunting as the weight hit his left arm, and he pulled it back, leaning forward and cradling it.

"How's your arm?" prodded Rose.

"Fine," he mumbled.

"Still lying to me, I see."

He sighed. "It hurts," he admitted.

"As expected."

Pursing his lips, he eyed the back of her head. Why would she ask if she already knew the answer?

"Will it ever heal?" he asked.

"Probably not by itself."

Great, he thought scornfully. How am I supposed to fight Lloyd like this? Looking down, he fingered the bandage lightly, feeling that death-like ache spring up wherever he touched it. Somewhere inside him, he understood that all he needed was Shana's healing magic, but whenever he considered asking for her help, that image of her pale, lifeless body stopped him in his tracks. After what he'd done to her, he didn't deserve her help.

Glancing up to Rose, he was somewhat startled by her unusually stiff features. Something was off, although he couldn't decide what it was.

"Dart, I'm…" she began.

He narrowed his eyes at her. It wasn't like her to hesitate like this.

After a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes and said, "I'm sorry about your parents."

Dart blinked. "Thanks? But… It's okay. I've kind of gotten over it."

Opening her eyes, she turned her head slightly toward him, as if to hear better. After a long pause, she asked, "Have you?"

"I mean… Nobody ever fully recovers from losing their parents."

"How would you say your life has changed since their deaths?"

"Rose, why are you asking me this?" he stalled. While he was quite curious and befuddled as to why Rose was suddenly asking him about his parents, he also did not feel like reliving that traumatic day any more than he already had.

Once again, she was silent for a time before finally speaking.

"You're right. It's not my place. I apologize for the intrusion."

"No," he said hastily. "That's not what I meant. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, but we had more pressing matters at hand."

He waited for a reply. It was clear that Rose was warring with herself over something; he supposed that she wasn't yet relaxed with the idea of comforting him.

"You said your parents hid you," she finally said. "Where?"

"Inside a tree," he replied. "There was a fallen tree outside the village, and they told me to stay there and not come out."

"I see…"

"Listen, I'm okay," he assured her. "I've been processing this for eighteen years."

"Right," she said, turning back toward the stairs. "I'll leave you to it, then."

And with that, she disappeared.

"Bye, Rose," he muttered, waving into the emptiness. "Glad you came to visit. Have a good night."

Sighing, he lay back down, being careful not to hit his arm. Rose really was a mystery, and he wasn't sure that he would ever solve her. But he was grateful that she cared enough to say something to him. Perhaps they were really friends after all.