Golbez spoke not a word. He simply sat holding the girl’s hand in his, tracks of tears on his face. His grief was silent. But the air hung heavy with the tragedy of death and triumph of one girl’s sacrifice.

She loved him so much that she gave her life to protect him.

No one had known how deep Joran’s feelings had been. Maybe not even Golbez himself. But the bitter tears that the Master Wizard cried were tears of a heart that had learned to love in return… even if he had not recognized it himself.

It was very hard to see the Dark Lord in him now.

That’s when he realized she wasn’t looking at the people. But rather the strange happenings in the air around them. Cecil’s eyes could make it out, nearly imperceptible at first – a stream of silvery mists that rose from the still form of the Lunar girl. Something about it left a chill over his body.

The way that Sparrow was responding told him that it couldn’t mean something good.

“No..! Lucci… don’t!” the black-winged girl rushed past the group. Her eyes searched the shadows of the core as she turned around and around. Her voice was cracked and weathered with unexpected sorrow of her own.

By now, even Golbez had noticed the strange silver mist. His upturned face did not register understanding. Just confusion. Grasping for a last moment of hope that something may save Joran yet.

But it did not.

Instead, more silver mist began to billow into the chamber, seeping from between the cracks of the stone. It crept along the floors. Weighted the air with murky thickness. And where it touched flesh, left the feeling of cold death.

“Cecil..!” he heard Rosa’s alarmed call.

The Paladin lifted his head, squinting. There was something forming where the mists were gathering the thickest.  The shape of a tall, winged man. It left his mouth dry, breath catching in his lungs. His mind reeled as the reality around him blurred in his vision.

Just like my dream…

The dream where he had watched Baron burn. The dream where he had witnessed the death of his brother at the hand of the winged stranger.

Was that… a dream of the…

Cecil had connected the name to the image, though he wasn’t sure how he knew. Something within him responded to the misty figure. Something deeper than instinct or knowledge.

Dark Sygnus?

The dark shape solidified as the last of the silvery light broke away from Joran’s body, drawn into the winged man. Features began to form. Sharp and cold — silver eyes and long silver hair. Wings the color of winter’s frost. A slender black blade strapped over one shoulder that bore a darkness so thick that it seemed to drink away the light.

Luccious…

The Dark Sygnus took a slow step forward, his eyes focusing on the group before him. Unconsciously, Cecil felt himself moving forward as well. A Paladin putting himself between the enemy and his companions.

Golbez is in no shape to take this battle right now. And despite what Sparrow has told us, there is still no sign of a Sygnus on our side.

As the young king drew the shimmer of his holy blade, Luccious’ gaze fell heavy upon him. Instantly, it felt like all the breath had been sucked from his lungs. His body grew numb and icy cold. The grip on his blade felt weaker, arm shaking as if it was all he could do to keep hold of his sword.

It feels like… facing Zeromus all over again.

The mists swelled around him, clinging damply to the surface of his armor. Sights. Sounds. Sensations. Everything was muted and distant. He was slowly being swallowed up by the eerie white.

I don’t even know how to bring Sygnus out… if it’s true that Sygnus really is the only thing that can face Luccious.

The Dark Sygnus’s lips curled upwards, watching him with a hint of amusement. There was no pleasure in the amusement. Just the flat, emotionless look of one that had seen too much.

I can’t move!

Luccious’s silver eyes held a vacant, dead gleam to them. Like one who was viewing the world through the haze of nightmare. A nightmare that Cecil felt descending upon him. He could feel his doubts gripping him. Choking him. The cold mist filling his senses with a deep, terrible dread.

He could hear the slow scrape of Luccious’ long, dark blade being drawn.

I can’t…!

That’s when another voice broke in. The Paladin could see the small winged girl rush forward, shifting through the wall of white.  His first instinct was to reach forward and pull the girl out of harm’s way. But she seemed to be having less issue keeping control of her limbs than he was.

“Lucci… finally! I’m here!” Sparrow had placed herself between the Dark Sygnus and all others. There was no fear in the way she stood. Only a wavering familiarity – as if the tall silver-haired man had been someone she had once known, but she was not certain if she knew him anymore.

Luccious’ face did not register anything at the sight of her. He simply pulled his blade clean from the scabbard.

“It’s me. It’s Suzume!” the girl reached out with both tiny hands.

His silver eyes observed her for a moment. Then his focus shifted past the girl, back upon Cecil. “Sygnus-Half… you must be the other…”

“Lucci!!” Sparrow demanded, seeing that she was not keeping his attention. “You can’t have forgotten me!”

The Dark Sygnus paused, his intent gaze bearing down upon the winged girl. She shivered for a moment despite the determination that lined her face. Her palms were still outstretched towards him, a motion of longing and pain.

She earned one gruff word from him, “Move.”

Then he began to stride forward again, to walk right past her.

“You have to remember!” her voice rose an octave in desperation. “You can’t fight here! This is a trap! Zazo is trying to lure the Sygni together to destroy each other! You MUST listen to me!”’

“It doesn’t matter,” Luccious told her.

“Yes it does!!” tears sprang up in her dark eyes. “Everything I’ve done was to find you again! Now that I have, I don’t want you to die!”

The Dark Sygnus remained unmoved. But the fierce power of his will had shifted, the concentration pulled away from Cecil as Luccious struggled with the words of the pleading winged girl. As if there really was something more going on behind the cold silver eyes.

It was enough for the Paladin to get his bearings. His hand gripped the blade, his limbs coming under his own control again. The mists had thined out and he could feel the presence of his companions somewhere behind him.

That’s when everything happened. So fast. So little time.

Seeing that she was getting no response to her verbal pleas, Sparrow reached out. Caught Luccious’ sword arm around the wrist. Doing everything she could to hold his attention. To make him listen.

A tiny dark shadow struggling against the huge silver light.

But there was something more feral in him than the girl had accounted for. Luccious lifted his arm. Just an effortless snap of his wrist sent Sparrow sprawling back. She gave a piteous cry as he cast her away and turned with his blade drawn ready.

Cecil didn’t know if the Dark Sygnus was going to strike the girl. He never would know what the winged man had in mind at that second. Because all the instincts of a warrior and Paladin kicked in and he found himself lunging forward, his holy blade swinging. Attempting to intercept anything that Luccious might do to the child.

A shout of dismay rang from his companions. They had not expected Cecil to attempt to strike at the Dark Sygnus alone.

But if something should happen to me… then… Golbez might become the Sygnus…

Luccious’ raw strength was astounding. As Cecil brought his sword down on the long slender blade, the Dark Sygnus did not flinch. It was like slashing the stone of an ancient mountain. He was fighting a force that had existed so much longer than he had… a force that was determined to conquer and remain.

This is not good!

Luccious flipped his blade back, meeting Cecil’s second swing with a look of pointed disdain. Almost disappointment. The one swing sent the Paladin reeling back with a force that was more than just physical. He fought to keep his feet underneath himself.

Still, he was driven hard, down to his knees.

In that moment, he heard someone calling his name.

Rosa!

It was so distant, muted by the swelling white mists that poured in from all directions.

I’ve got to get up!

The flash of the long blade disoriented him, like coming face to face with the heart of a furious nova.

Defend yourself, Cecil!

His limbs were dragging.

You can’t let him do this!

He wasn’t fast enough.

Move! Move!

The whistle of Luccious’ blade filled his ears. It grew louder. And louder. And louder. A swing suspended in slow time. A twisting of his senses.

There was nothing but a haze of white in his vision.

Then suddenly, a large looming shape leapt before him.

“Cecil!” It was Golbez’s voice. Raspy. Broken with grief.

Cecil could only stare up as his brother lunged forward with both arms outstretched. His face was desperate, straining with all the strength that he had left. Fighting to protect him.

The Master Wizard buckled back as his body took the blade. The dark tip sunk through his stomach, bursting out through his back.

Luccious’ momentum was unbroken. Only focused as he drove the sword further.

Cecil’s cry of dismay broke off as pain exploded through his chest. He gave a choked gasp. The shaft of blood-stained metal plunged downward, stealing his last breath.

Then everything fell dark and silent.