*Please note: this story takes place after the final battle. All of Ramza's party did not die. Delita did marry Ovelia. And finally, Ramza and the rest of his party are staying at Igros Castle, where Delita and Ovelia are also residing. *
In her bedchamber, Agrias, a holy knight, lay shaking. She had been reliving the final battle over again in her dreams. Even though it was hard for the knight to admit it, she was scared that day. Scared of death and scared that she might lose… someone. And thus, the horrific battle was fought repeatedly in her nightmares, but instead of emerging victorious Agrias and her comrades were slain.
Agrias curled up in her sheets, her nightshirt clinging to her as a result of her cold sweat. Embarrassed at the way she was responding to little nightmare, she reminded herself that a holy knight should not be afraid of her dreams. After all, it was just a dream.
Deciding that she couldn't go back to sleep, Agrias rose out of her bed and looked out her window.
The late night view of the countryside was breathtaking. Hills reflected the moon's bright light ever so faintly while the stars seemed to dance in the dark sky. It was very calming to Agrias. Sighing, she began to get dressed. What she needed was to go and pray.
Ramza Beoulve awoke with an angry pain in his side. Giving a loud groan, he sat up in his bed. A wound that he had received in the final battle had broken open again and was spilling blood onto his sheets. The injury had simply refused to heal in spite of the attempts of Deacon to heal it. Deacon, one of the lands most accomplished priests, had used his most powerful cure spells on Ramza, but they had all failed miserably. Ramza often wondered why, but now the pain was too horrible to allow him any thought.
Grunting, the young knight reached over to his bedside table and seized his bottle of whiskey. He took a long burning drink and crawled out of his bed, vowing to find Deacon. Holding one hand against his oozing wound and the other hand against his foggy head, Ramza made his way to the church.
About five minutes later, Ramza was striving to open the door of the church. After exerting a great effort, he pushed his way though the door. Sighing deeply, Ramza scanned the church for Deacon.
Suddenly the door flew about and struck the knight square in the back, flinging him to the ground. Ramza landed in a heap and looked up to see Agrias looming above him. She was wearing a scowl on her tear streaked face.
"Ramza Beoulve," she said with a disgusted glare, "How dare you come into this church drunk!"
Ramza tried to comprehend Agrias's words, but the pain in his side was too much. Darkness took him and he slumped to the ground.
Agrias watched her companion as Deacon was treating him. As usual, Ramza's wound refused to heal completely, leaving the young knight fretting about her friend.
Deacon sighed and ran a hand though his light hair.
"I just don't get it," he muttered. Frustrated with his inability to treat his injured comrade, Deacon left Agrias alone by Ramza's bedside.
Agrias knelt by the bed and stared into her friend's wide-open eyes. He could not see her though; he was in too much pain for that. So she studied him and for the first time in a long while she was able to see what toll their adventures had taken on poor Ramza.
Ramza Beoulve was a fraction of his former self. His handsome boyish face had become incredibly gaunt and so had the rest of his body. His eyes had lost their former emerald luster and they now were sunk deeply into his head. He reeked of alcohol sweat, and vomit. Agrias decided that Ramza hadn't bathed in a couple of weeks. Stubble covered his face and his golden hair had turned a filthy shade of brown. Blood still oozed from his side and scars hid Ramza's cream colored skin from the world.
Agrias felt tears from in the corners of her eyes and she looked upon what a mess her leader had become. Everyone had become so horrible after the final battle. She felt anger welling up for deep within her. She slapped Ramza across the face. He twitched a little and slowly his eyes rolled toward Agrias and he stared at her.
Agrias was disgusted.
"Ramza, look at yourself. Dear God…" Her tears returned and one rolled down her cheek. "What has happened to you? You're a slob."
He opened his mouth in an attempt to speak and slurred a sentence at Agrias. Unable to understand him, she ignored him. His eyes slowly lost focus on her and he went into an apparent sleep.
Agrias continued to kneel by Ramza's side, asleep, until morning.
Bright and early as usual the trumpets sounded in the courtyard, interrupting any sleep a person may have been getting.
In his bedroom, Ramza woke up with a start and a hangover. He cursed bitterly and looked around his room for more whiskey. Instead, he found Agrias kneeling by his bedside. He couldn't remember a reason for her to be there, but that wasn't an odd feeling for him. For the past few month he hadn't been able to remember much of anything. Still confused, he nudged her gently. Her eyes snapped open and her hand went to her sword belt. He looked at her with much interest.
Agrias hadn't really changed since the last battle. Her blue eyes were a little more haunted and her face was just a tad paler, but Ramza knew enough about Agrias to realize that she would never carry her pain where the world could see it. No, her suffering was just behind those sharp eyes and judging face.
"What are you doing here, Agrias?"
She looked embarrassed.
"Um… I was just leaving. Remember that the banquet is today, Ramza. I'm sure Ovelia would love to have you grace her with your presence." Agrias's voice was full of ice.
Ramza blinked in puzzlement, Why'd she have to say something like that? He dismissed his thoughts.
"Um, sure. I'll be there."
"Sure you will." Agrias rolled her eyes in disbelief. She picked herself off the ground and sighed.
"I guess I'll see you later…right?"
Ramza nodded and Agrias was appeased and her left him lying there and went back to her room. Ramza sat up and began calculating. He took a couple a healing herbs to ease the pain of his hangover. Deciding that it would take a long time to prepare for a fancy banquet, Ramza rose and went to take a bath.
Hours later, Agrias was in her room attempting to squeeze into a dress that didn't want to fit her. She hated going to these castle functions, but it was the only way for her to catch up with all of her companions. Other than at the banquets, none of Agrias's friends interacted with each other. Most of them had become recluses, too consumed with their own depression to recognize anyone else's. Panting she finished pulling the evil piece of fabric over herself. After giving herself a quick check in the mirror, Agrias headed downstairs to the dining hall.
