To say the least, Mika was stunned at what she had just heard from within 
Father Lambert's room.  And she was even more unnerved as she saw the masked man 
known as Siegvin leaving.  Luckily, she had hidden herself so that he did not see
her as he made his departure.  Now even a ten year old girl knows not to barge 
into a room after such plotting has occurred, so Mika waited for a few minutes 
before knocking on Father Lambert's door.  "Excuse me, Father Lambert?" Mika 
inquired, using as innocent a tone as she could.
        "What do you..., you're that child that the Dragoons brought back, what do 
you want?"
        "If you will excuse my presence, Father Lambert, Father Onias asked me to 
retrieve the Thousand Year Journey and he said that you knew where it was."
        "What does he want with..., Never mind.  I believe that it is..." Father 
Lambert turned around, checked the shelves behind him, and soon pulled a large, 
dusty book from the wall.  "...here. This is what Father Onias sent you to get."
        "Thank you very much, Father Lambert.  Now if you will excuse me."
        Father Lambert nodded, and Mika made her way back to the library slightly 
faster than her normal pace.  Shortly after she had left, Father Lambert mused,
"She seemed a bit more polite than she did, shortly after she arrived here. 
hmmm..."

=================================================================================


                              FINAL FANTASY LEGACY
                              Knights of the Round

                            Started by Brian Stricklin
                      This chapter by Andrew "Fatman" Bentley

                         Chapter Four: Quests and Legends

=================================================================================

        Meanwhile, in the woods near Tienne, Davin and Marcine have almost gained 
proficiency with chocobo riding. Syeria was getting tired of one of them falling 
off the large yellow birds every so often.   Syeria thought to herself "At least 
they haven't fallen off for nearly thirty min..."  THUMP.  Sighing heavily, she 
turned her chocobo around to watch Marcine climb back on her bird once again.
        "Sorry, but I'm still trying to get the hang of riding these things."  
Marcine apologized.
        "It's ok, we should get to the edge of town about dusk."  Syeria estimated. 
"By the way, Davin, I never asked you about your sword.  It's quite unusual; I've 
never seen one quite like it before."
        "From what I was told, the blacksmith that fashioned this sword, made a set 
of three, every one identical in every way, which was for some distant ancestor 
of mine.  The set of three was so that three generations of my family could fight 
together.  The first was for his father, the second was for him, and the third 
was for his son.  I was told that all three fought together against some large 
beast that was terrorizing their village.  Anyway, the swords have been passed 
down through the males of my family for many generations.  That is part of the 
reason, that I was so protective of my sword when you suggested taking it earlier."
        "While you're in such a talkative mood, why was Mika not with your parents?" 
Marcine inquired.
        "It's a bit of a long story."  Davin replied.
        "We still have some time until we get near Tienne." Syeria offered, 
interested in his past and in the girl they were going to rescue.
        "Ok.  We call each other brother and sister, but we're not really related."
        "You're not?"  Marcine looked shocked.
        "It was about two years ago, the village where I lived was attacked.  My 
family went to try to protect our village, telling me to go hide in the woods.  I 
had a good hiding spot in the woods that I had known about for years, so I went 
there and fell asleep waiting for the carnage to end.  I never saw who or what 
attacked us, but the entire town was reduced to rubble.   When dawn finally came,
I went back to see if I could find out what happened.  Amidst the rubble, I heard 
a faint crying.   Investigating, I found Mika huddled in a corner of what was 
left of her home just sitting there softly sobbing.  When she saw me, she ran and 
grabbed me still softly crying.  It took me an hour or two to calm her down, and 
after I did she told me what she remembered.   She had heard screaming which woke 
her up from her sleep.  She couldn't find her family, so she ran outside to see 
what she could.  But she was so scared, and the village was already ablaze, so she 
ran towards the woods.  After the fires had subsided, she slowly went back to what 
was left of her home.  Too tired to do anything else, she just huddled in a corner 
and just sat there sobbing until I found her a few hours later."
        "Unbelievable..." was all Marcine could say.
        "I then went about the unpleasant job of searching the rest of the town for 
survivors and checking to see if I knew who the dead were.  I found no one else 
alive near the village, but neither Mika's parents nor my own were among the 
deceased.  So we agreed then that we would stay together until we found our 
parents.  Slowly, we just started calling each other brother and sister, since we 
were the only family left that either of us had left that we knew of.  First we 
made our way to Tienne, and I was able to get a small place to stay there for her 
and enrolled her in alchemy school there.  Since then I have been traveling to 
find out what happened to our parents, every so often returning to stay with her 
making sure she is still ok and give her some leftover gil I had.  I had just 
come back to Tienne when I met you, Marcine."
        Davin's two female traveling companions solemnly took in his tale.  After 
a long silence Syeria said, "Well, we had better get her so the two of you can 
find your families.  Davin, look over there.  We're almost to Tienne.  I think we
should rest up here a bit so we can decide how we're going to get her out of 
there."
        "Say, Syeria, could you go into town and try to find out where the Dragoons 
took Mika?  It would help us out a lot." Davin inquired.
        "Yes, since some guards might recognize Davin or myself.  I've lived there 
all my life so they'd recognize me quickly."  Marcine responded.
        "All right.  I'll leave the chocobos here with you, and come back here as 
soon as I find out what I can."

=================================================================================

        Father Onias was waiting for Mika's return almost anxiously.  Upon entering 
the room, she closed the door behind her and handed him the book.  "Ah, thank you 
child, for bringing me this tome." Father Onias said.  "Now let me impart to you 
this important knowledge that should be known by all who wish to befriend those 
who might dabble with magics."
        "Excuse me, Father Onias, but there is something very important that I 
must tell you."
        "Whatever it is, It can wait a few minutes.  I will tell you this important 
tell first, then you may tell me what you think is so important."
        Mika realized that he would not listen until he had imparted the story to 
her, so she would just listen so that she could tell him that his life was in 
danger.  Father Onias opened the book, and told her, "This is written in the 
ancient language of the Manakyr.  Thus only after many years of training are 
priests taught this language.  This will let you know why the church has banned 
the use of magic."
        "...Long ago shortly after the founding of Tienne and the church, a young 
maiden named Clea- she was about the age that Marcine is now- was discovered to 
have the ability to use magic.  She used these powers to benefit the townspeople.
Seeing how this was helping Tienne and the inhabitants as well, the church 
hierarchy gathered and discussed Clea and her abilities.  There were some who 
feared her and her powers, but since she was benefiting the town so much, the 
church condoned her actions and allowed her to teach others her special 
knowledge.  This event is considered the beginnings of the Manakyr Empire.
        "For many years, Clea increased the numbers of her followers as they 
practiced and perfected their unnatural abilities.  During this time, they were 
at peace with others and the church tolerated them.  But all of this changed 
with Darovan.  As a young child, Darovan was amazed at magical abilities.  As he 
grew, he spent all of his time studying and learning all the spells that he could.
Showing more potential than any other person she had ever seen, Clea decided to 
personally tutor Darovan.  Some might have noticed that Darovan's thirst for more 
knowledge seemed unquenchable, but no one said anything about it.  Feeling that 
he had learned all he could from Clea and still wanting to learn more, Darovan 
set off on a quest to find more spells.  It is not recorded where Darovan went 
in his years of traveling, but his return brought about the beginning of the end 
of the Manakyr.
        "Darovan returned to Tienne different than when he left.  He announced that 
he had discovered his destiny during his quest.  He declared that the Manakyr 
should rule the world with their powers, and that he should rule the Manakyr 
with his superior powers.  Another young mage jumped up to reprimand him.  But 
Darovan had a response for him.  The words of the spell Darovan performed are not 
recorded within this tome, but it is said that the young mage was instantaneously 
disintegrated.  Seeing that Darovan had access to powers that had never before 
been witnessed, the Manakyr were in shock.  Clea was the only one who dared to 
oppose him.  The two then commenced with what the Manakyr refer to as 'The Mage Duel.'  
        "Clea had some of her people warn the rest of the townspeople to stay 
indoors.  The normally busy town square quickly emptied and was silent as 
Darovan and Clea faced each other.  As before the words of their spells is not 
recorded, but the results were devastating.  Elemental spells were thrown back 
and forth quickly and often.  Despite Darovan's overwhelming new powers, Clea 
with her experience was able to keep up with Darovan.  Darovan was overconfident 
and it showed as Clea slowly beat him down.  But Darovan had a reason to be 
extremely confident, for he had a trump card:  a calling.  Clea grew only slightly 
worried as the entire sky turned dark as ominous cloud circled overhead, then 
she became puzzled as Darovan disappeared.  But when the fearsome creature 
descended from the heavens, Clea knew that she was in serious trouble.  This 
dragon-like monster flew low to the ground and then this Bahumut opened its 
mouth, releasing a beam of energy that ended the duel.  As the sky cleared 
and Darovan reappeared, all could see the results of this battle.  Most of the 
town was now rubble with many casualties, innocent townspeople, of this attack.  
All that was left of Clea was a scorched outline on the ground.  And Darovan was 
standing there reveling in the fact that he had defeated his former teacher.
        "Most of the Manakyr then followed Darovan as he left the remains of Tienne 
in order to conquer the world.  Those that stayed wanted to help rebuild Tienne 
and protect it from the menace of Darovan.  But the church would have no part of 
the Manakyr anymore.  Realizing the mistake they had made in the first place, the 
church elders forbid the use of magic.  They allowed the remaining Manakyr to 
either depart in peace, never to return; or to perish.  Given this choice, they 
left, never again to see Tienne.  Once they had left, the church confiscated all 
scrolls they left behind so that no others could learn this evil.  Rebuilding 
Tienne was a slow process, but with the threat of Darovan and his followers 
lingering, the church had to do something.  The church then founded the order of 
Dragoon Knights, giving them as their primary task: the defeat of the Manakyr 
Empire, as Darovan now refereed to his followers.
        "There were many conflicts between the Dragoons and the Manakyr, every one a 
bloody battle with many casualties on both sides.  But Darovan was never captured 
or killed.  As many years passed, Darovan's Manakyr empire slowly decreased in 
size; while the Dragoon Knights were always gaining more troops as more and more 
towns were being terrorized by the empire.  For over five hundred years the 
empire constantly attacked in effort to take over the world.  And seemingly 
Darovan still lived through all this time through the use of his arcane knowledge,
which he apparently did not share with the rest of his empire.  The empire's power
slowly eroded, but still menaced the world.
        "About six hundred eighty years after the death of Clea, the secret of 
Darovan's longevity was discovered.  By chance, a nearby shepherd caught a glimpse 
of a battle between Darovan and some Dragoons.  Dragoon Knights were dying by the 
score, but they still advanced.  Then the shepherd became the first living witness 
of the secret of Darovan's longevity.  Darovan was cornered by a group of Dragoons, 
and was done for... until he showed his trump card.  With his dying breath he 
summoned the Phoenix.  The shepherd had heard about a phoenix before in legends, 
but seeing a red sun glowing above where the battle was taking place and then the 
large red bird appearing, caused him to stare in amazement.  Unfolding its mighty 
wings, the Phoenix released its power consuming the remaining Dragoons and 
restoring Darovan to life.  Had not that shepherd been far away, he would have 
been killed as well; but his skin was badly burned.  He lived long enough to 
relate his story to some newly arriving Dragoons before succumbing to the effects 
of the Phoenix.  
        "Now the church had to come up with a way to permanently defeat Darovan 
without killing him.  For in killing Darovan, he could release the power of the 
Phoenix dealing with his attackers while reviving himself.  It took another two 
hundred years before the solution was discovered.  Testing it on captured members 
of the Manakyr empire, the church elders became convinced of its capabilities of 
dealing with Darovan.  The encased members of the empire became what is known now 
as The Sinner's Wall.  Giving the Dragoon Knights new hope, they continued their 
war with renewed vigor.  It did take another six score years and a bit of luck to 
capture Darovan.   One of Darovan's trusted aides began to feel remorse for the 
deeds he and the rest of the empire had done.  He decided to turn Darovan over to
the church in order to atone for their deeds.  Telling some Dragoons his plans, he 
led them to the sleeping Darovan and, after removing Darovan's protections, 
drugged him for them.  The triumphant Dragoons led Darovan and his aide to Tienne.
There Darovan was placed in the Sinner's Wall, along with his aide.  Finally the 
evil of Darovan came to an end. Thus the Thousand Year Journey of the Manakyr 
Empire came to an end where it started, here in Tienne."
        Mika interrupted, "But were all of Darovan's followers killed?"
        "No, my child, there are likely still more of them out there, even to this 
day.  That is why the Dragoon Knights are still around.  They are here to protect 
the church, Tienne, and the Sinner's Wall.  So you see, my child, that is why the 
church forbids the use of magic.  Once someone starts down that road, then the 
entire world could end up in torment like it did in those days."
        Mika had become totally engrossed in the story and thought on these words 
for a while.  "So you're not allowing magic to benefit people in the chance that 
someone might use magic to cause destruction?"
        "That is correct.  I feel that this knowledge should be passed on to every 
generation so that the mistakes made by our forefathers might not be repeated."
        Suddenly, Mika remembered her important message.  "Father Onias, when I 
went to get that book from Father Lambert, I heard Father Lambert talking with 
someone about killing you!"
        Father Onias made no reply to this announcement, but Mika heard a response.
"I thought I saw someone hiding as I left Father Lambert."  The masked man 
emerged from the shadows suddenly appearing next to the dead body of Father 
Onias.  "I wanted to hear that story one last time before I rid him from this 
world."  Mika was about to scream when Siegvin started, "Scream little girl, and 
I'll kill you here and now.  I don't really care to kill children, but I will if 
they interfere with my plans.  Leave this place now without drawing attention to 
what has happened here and you shall live."  And with that, Siegvin disappeared 
into the shadows once more.  Having no other alternative, Mika quickly but 
silently fled the room.  Seeing the opportunity, she also decided to try to flee 
the castle.  Siegvin grinned underneath his mask.  "My plan is working out 
nicely."

=================================================================================

        Syeria was enjoying being in Tienne.  See decided that the best way to find 
out where Mika was, as well as the fun way, would be to go to the local pub and 
offer drinks to some of the soldiers to loosen their lips.  After having no luck 
in finding Mika, but downing several ales, Syeria entered another bar.  But this 
bar had a frequent guest known as Cheney.  Since he was sitting alone, she walked 
up to him and offered to buy him an ale.  "Well, if you're buyin', I'm drinkin'." 
was his reply.
        After paying for two ales with money she had "obtained" from one of the 
previous bar's patrons, she asked, "I thought I saw some Dragoons bring a young 
girl into town today... do you know what she might have done?"
        "Well, I might know, but I might not should say..."  Cheney took a hard 
look down at the glass of ale in front of him.  "It's been a long day, so I guess 
it won't hurt to take a good drink."   After downing the ale, Syeria asked the 
bartender for another ale for Cheney.  "Missie, you sure seem to know how hard a 
day this man's had...  I guess I could tell you what happened."  Syeria leaned 
slightly forward in anticipation.  "Ah, that Mika is full of life.  I hope that 
she is treated well.  I mean she did heal Kyle's wounds and all."
        "Where did they take that poor girl?" Syeria asked.
        "Why, we took her to Tienne Castle, of course.  Then that Father Onias 
demanded that she not be punished and she should be left in his care.  Such a 
jovial priest, that Father Onias is."  
        "Would you like one more ale before I leave, it is getting late and I 
really should get a room at the inn?"
        "No, thank you, missie.  This old hunter is heading for bed as well.  
Good night."  With that Cheney finished his ale, got up, and slowly staggered 
out of the establishment and toward his residence.  Entering the dark street,
Cheney mused, "I hope that young lass gets back with her family."
        With the information she had needed, Syeria left the bar and went to do a 
quick recon of the castle.

=================================================================================

        Mika was dashing through hall within the castle now, trying to find the way 
out.  Surprisingly, no guards had attempted to stop her yet.  In fact, she had 
not seen any guards around.  Finally making her way out of the castle, she bumped 
into a familiar Dragoon.
        "Mika!?! What are you doing out here?"
        It was Kyle.  Fearing capture and Siegvin, who might be watching her even 
now, Mika took off as fast as she could.  Kyle was startled by this, and it took 
him a brief moment before he took up chase after her.  He had paused to wonder 
why he saw no guards around at the moment, and also decided not to call for them 
since he could easily catch one small girl.
        Luckily for Mika, Syeria just happened to be checking out the castle as 
Mika ran outside with Kyle chasing her and yelling her name.  Syeria surmised 
that the chasee was Mika, Davin's sister, so that would make the chaser the 
enemy.  Just as Kyle was about to pass where she was hiding, Syeria tripped Kyle 
and followed Mika.  It took but a moment for the Dragoon to regain his footing, 
but that was all that was needed for the two females to get out of sight.  What 
made him worry the most was, where were all the guards?

=================================================================================

        Syeria ran up behind Mika, and told her, "Mika, follow me if you want to 
get to Davin."  Mika was uneasy about trusting this woman, but she had helped her 
escape from Kyle, so Mika followed her out of Tienne.  As promised, Syeria lead 
Mika right to where she had left Davin, Marcine, and the chocobos.  
        "Brother!" Mika exclaimed as she saw Davin.
        "Mika!  How'd you get here?"  Then Davin saw Syeria returning as well.
        Mika and Syeria related their tales of Mika's time in Tienne Castle and her 
escape.
        "Father Lambert said he was sending 'REAL' assassins after you two besides 
that Siegvin guy that murdered Father Onias."  Mika repeated.
        "Well, I guess we had better get as far away from here as we can, and soon.
But it is getting late, should we camp here for the night?"  Davin asked.
        "Let's go a little bit further away from Tienne first."  Syeria remarked. 
"That way, there will be less chances of unannounced visitors for us before dawn."
        They all agreed and made their way further into the woods outside of Tienne.

=================================================================================

        Meanwhile, Kyle had returned to the castle, where he still failed to find 
any guards.  After a few futile minutes of searching for any on-duty guards, Kyle 
went to awaken his father.   
        "Colonel?"
        The only response Kyle received was a loud snore.
        "Father?"  Kyle looked closer to see that his father was in a deep sleep.  
Since Kyle knew that his father was a light sleeper, he thought about the idea 
that this sleep was definitely unnatural.  "But who would put all of the guards 
to sleep?  I doubt that young girl could have done it, or she would have tried it 
on Cheney and I that night in the woods."

=================================================================================

        The quartet on the run had settled down to get some needed sleep in a 
clearing they had found some distance from Tienne.  After a few hours, Davin was 
awakened by the chocobos warking very loudly.  Davin got up and quickly awakened 
the others, for the promised assassins had found them.  Marcine, Syeria, and Mika 
were able to quickly arise and prepare for the upcoming battle, before the 
assassins could make their move.
        Above this all hidden within the trees, Siegvin was watching them with 
great interest.  He was glad that he put all of the guards to sleep so Mika could 
lead him to his intended targets.  He paid particular interest in Davin's sword.
"Yes, my plan is proceeding nicely." he said to himself.  "This battle should be
most... enlightening."

=================================================================================  

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Well that was a fun ride.  Not too bad for my first try at a full fanfic.  Thanks 
go to Roe, Phoebe, Ardweden, Steph, and Reela k'Dor for pre-reading, and to Brian
Stricklin for starting off this great fanfic.  Hope everyone enjoys reading this
part as much as I did writing it.  If you want to let me know how I did, email me
at abentley@shaman.cs.nlu.edu