"Zelos, are you sure you don't want me to paint your portrait?" Relm asked him in a sweet voice. Her eyes grew large, sparkling brown like diamonds. Painting was her only past time. Painting people's portraits was her kind of fun, unlike playing outside with the other children. Relm painted things in perfect detail, like pictures taken from a camera. Some families even asked her to make picture albums to keep their memories concealed within.
Zelos grinned at her and winked in a secret sort of way. Relm was almost sure he would say, "It's a secret" again! It was hard for her to even ask him a simple question without getting that reply. Zelos then turned with a flap of his black cape and continued up the stairs to his room, whistling joyfully in his usual good spirits.
Strago grunted from the corner of his mouth after drinking a sip of hot apple tea in the kitchen. Sun was peering down on him from the window and he was sweating hard. The country apple smell poured through the rest of the living room, arousing Relm into the kitchen to taste the fine fragrance.
"I swear he's a trouble-maker... He's probably giving you bad ideas!" Strago said persistently. Relm giggled as she walked to his side at the kitchen table. She poured herself a cup of tea and settled herself down on the chair to paint. Relm laid down her canvas on the table and began painting the view from the kitchen window in all colors, trying not to spill paint on the table. The canvas was large and it was squishing Relm between the wall and the table. She straightened it and leaned over it, brush in hand.
"He is not, Grandpa! Don't over-worry yourself," Relm replied while looking down at the finely started painting. The sun was sparkling in the east like a precious jewel in the afternoon sunlight. Forest trees dotted the far-stretched landscape in all shades of green. It was a lovely scene to draw.
"I shouldn't have invited him to stay with us!" Strago continued. Relm sighed with impatience.
"Why did you let him then?" She asked in a childish voice. He shrugged his shoulders and sipped his tea once more.
"Probably because when you give me the puppy eyes I have to do as you say. It's a special charm of yours," Strago replied simply. Relm smiled at herself admiringly. It was true that she could charm anyone into giving her what she wanted. Her angelic eyes and convincing voice was enough to charm anyone.
"Don't be so grumpy! He's a nice guy," Relm stated sweetly. Strago slowly nodded. He paused and then stood to go for his usual afternoon nap. Strago was growing old and weak. It was best for him to rest through tiring hours. He brushed Relm's long curls away from her crystal brown eyes. Blue and yellow paint was smudged all over face with some of it on the tips of her blonde hair.
"You have your mother's eyes," he said in a somewhat depressed voice. They both sighed and Strago left back up the stairs to his bedroom.
"Come on, Relm. It is just striking midnight," Zelos said hastily. Relm quickly nodded. She slipped under the bristly tree bushes over to Zelos' side. It was cold at this hour in Thamasa and smoke was arising from each of their breaths. The moon was giving off just enough light to see through the woods into the deaths of the monster lands.
"I know! Grandpa will kill if he finds out I'm out this late," Relm said in a loud voice. Zelos turned to her and directed her hush with his finger to his lips.
"You better be quiet then or he'll catch you!" Zelos replied. He began to giggle. "And that isn't even mentioning all the tricks you've been playing in town. I bet that one old guy is going to be upset that you painted his cat's butt blue," he continued. Relm began to laugh.
"Hey that was funny! I can't wait to see the look on the Elder's face when he comes out and sees that his house is painted pink! Oh, and that really richy kid on the end of town!" She gasped for air between giggles. " Just wait until he sees that I painted the words: "Jerk, brat, snot, richy, and don't come here for fear of fires, all over his house and windows!" Relm cried.
"That was a good one Relm-chan!" Zelos said happily. She nodded excitedly and led him further into the woods.
"We have monsters on Final Fantasy, but none like the ones you explain that are on your continent. They don't teleport or use black magic unless they're espers," Relm said. "Do you hunt Mazokus, Zelos-san?" Relm asked in an innocent voice. Zelos gritted his teeth from laughter then straightened to look serious and persistent.
"Of course! I can't let them get away with what they do! It would be dangerous for them to be roaming your continent instead of mine! But I am looking for certain ones who just happened to have escaped me last time. You know, like ones with spiky, light blue hair with bandanas," he said trying not to sound stupid. "He looks like a human," he added. Relm sighed.
"He'll be easy to spot. No one on Final Fantasy have weird colors of hair unless they're espers so don't worry," Relm replied. "It's odd that you have purple hair, Zelos-san..." She continued in a weary voice. Zelos cringed.
"Well, people on my continent people have all kinds of hair colors," Zelos stated. Relm laughed with rosy red cheeks.
"Cool! Maybe we should head back home. I don't see any Mazokus hiding out here. Besides we've already played our practical jokes and it's cold out!" Relm exclaimed. Zelos giggled and nodded as they turned back toward the town.
Relm shivered and pulled her cape tightly around herself. Zelos grinned and offered her his cape. She blushed and accepted it. She took the cape in her hand to attach it around her neck. Relm was shorter than Zelos and the cape dragged on the ground. She pulled it up from tripping. It was warm inside; Relm snuggled further into the fabric.
"You know, Grandpa says that you're actually an enemy in some disguise... But you can bet I don't believe that one bit! You're my best friend and you always will be!" She said happily. Relm grasped Zelos's arm and continued to walk to Thamasa close at his side. Zelos smiled down on her. He was good with kids her age and a sucker for them too. The Beast Master had always told him he was a fool for it but he couldn't help it.
When they arrived at the house they soundly slipped through the back door. Relm stumbled in the darkness and was incredibly tired. Zelos led her up the stairs and into their room. When Zelos arrived at the house Relm said she wanted to sleep in his room. Since she used the puppy eyes Strago moved into the guestroom while Zelos took Strago's bed and Relm slept in her usual place beside him.
Zelos gently placed her on the bed and she looked adorable huddled up in the covers. Zelos couldn't help but smile as he walked over to his bed from her bed.
"Good night, Zelos-san..." Relm whispered in a sleepy voice. He slipped into bed and said good night back in reply. "Can I call you Big brother?" Relm asked sweetly. Zelos grinned in the darkness and nodded. Relm joyfully smiled to herself and then was lulled to a silent sleep.
"What is with you Relm?" The elder asked the small girl who sat across from him at his coffee table. "You seem to act like you've done something wrong and then act so star struck for hours," he continued. The elder poured her a cup of steaming hot tea politely and offered it to her. Relm wearily took it in her hands. It was very hot and she quickly thrust it back down on the saucer before it burned her hands. She sighed.
"I haven't done anything, honored one," Relm said innocently hardly able to hold back her laughter. She didn't want to make it obvious that she was the culprit. "I do understand that your house was vandalized last night, that's terrible!"
The elder grunted grudgingly
"I wouldn't ever accuse a sweet thing like you of something like that. Kids these days have no appreciation! Does anyone realize how much money it will cost me to re-paint this house? Just because I am an elder doesn't mean I have money to throw around on getting my home painted the correct color!" He blabbed on. Relm giggled. He sounded just like her grandfather.
"How could they?" Relm went along remembering her laughter before entering the home. The house looked ridiculous while painted pink. Relm couldn't see it the night before in the darkness but now it was hilarious.
"Really! I'll find out who did it! I know it wouldn't be someone as cute and sweet as you. But still I wanted to invite you over to talk about who it might be and work something out for you to paint my portrait," the elder said. Relm straightened and tried to smile but it was hard not give herself away. But like he said, he would never accuse little old her of doing anything.
"Well, I'll do anything possible to help," she offered politely. The elder grinned at her joyfully.
"So polite and proper just like your mother! I see Strago has raised you well, Relm-chan," he paused. "Anyway, I would like to know a little more about this Zelos lad who is currently staying at your house," the elder stated.
"Oh, he's not intending to stay for much longer, sir. He's just visiting for awhile and looking around Thamasa," Relm said trying to cover for her "big brother". The elder sighed.
" Has there been anything strange about him that you've noticed, dear?" He asked in a bribing voice. Relm looked confused. Was he catching on about Zelos being a trickster already? He was her best friend and she'd do anything to cover for him. Especially since she helped him commit the crimes.
"No, sir..." She answered slowly. The elder got a suspicious look in his eye.
"Explain the time when he arrived and your present life with him please," he urged. Relm's cheeks puffed up in anger. That was her family's personal business but obeying the elder's rules was permitted heavily in Thamasa. If you didn't do as you were told you could be exiled from town. The knights of the magi were very strict. But still Zelos kept most of his secrets to himself though Relm would now be forced to tell everything she knew.
"Well, about two weeks ago I was out painting in the country side a few miles from here. It was a lovely day to paint the forestland and all was silent and peaceful. Then I saw him arise from the trees, seeming to be searching for something. He asked me where he was and to take him to the closet town," Relm paused thinking of all the details. "I brought Zelos home with me and let him dine with grandfather and I. He said he came from the other continent across the world. I hear it's known as the island of the great slayers.
"Zelos hunts a tribe of rebel beasts known as Mazokus, or monsters. He heard that some of them had escaped over to The New World and Final Fantasy. Therefore he rushed here to vanquish them to restore peace to us. He travels around the village in search of them often but hasn't found a trace yet. Zelos told me that they teleport and all look too different to identify. Some even look like humans except with odd hair colors," Relm explained. She reached for her cool tea and took a long sip. The elder paused in thought.
"Interesting... We'll be on the look for them. We don't get many people with weird hair colors around here," he said. "Go on."
"I can assure you he is very decent and kind. Grandpa has moved into the guestroom and Zelos took his bed for awhile. I've gotten to know him very well in that amount of time. He is polite and very good with children," Relm added almost laughing at all her lies about Zelos being a perfect, well-mannered boy.
"Well, if he is good with you then I suppose there is nothing to accuse him of. You say he's decent and kind so..." The elder stopped and sighed. "Well, then, dear, when would you like to come over and paint my portrait?" He asked. Relm finished off the last of her tea. She set the cup down from her lips that revealed a smile that was as sweet as honey.
"Tomorrow, my respected sir?" Relm asked in a ladylike voice. Acting so proper and polite was so hard for her to do in front of the elder. Always saying midevil poetry lines and advanced vocabulary was hard for her to balance.
"Very well be, my dear," the elder replied happily. He offered her his hand and she politely shook it. "You are excused m'lady," he said in a sarcastic voice. He laughed and Relm laughed along to make herself look good. She slowly rose from the table and exited the large house. While outside she wanted to shout out that she hated him but her conscience objected. She grunted and headed home.
Rain pounded on the roof of the house mercilessly. Strago sat in the living room chair with his face buried in a thick book of ancient magi history. Zelos sat at the window watching the darkness cast a shadow over Thamasa. Rain was pouring harshly over the town with thunder rumbling in the east skies.
"So much lovely weather and now this!" Strago complained to Zelos. His eyes were almost forcing him to sleep from the lulling sound of the rain. He tipped over a bit and then straightened and continued to read. Zelos turned and faced him from the window.
"Yeah, it's really coming down," he said in a happy voice. Strago grunted.
"Is it just me or are you always happy?" He asked in a grumpy voice. "It doesn't matter to you whether the skies have gone black, if it's raining, or gloomy seasons of the year or anything!" He continued. Zelos giggled and gazed around the room.
"Where is Relm-chan?" He asked. Strago lifted his book back up to his face.
"Well, autumn is on its way. I'm assuming she went in the basement to get her warmer, cold weather clothes," he replied.
Zelos silently jumped down from the window ceil and approached the stairs to accompany her. Hanging around with grumpy old Strago while he was tried was like fighting a war. The two usually never got along. Zelos always just pulled Relm along somewhere else away from him to play or do practical jokes. Strago hated it as each day passed. Relm was seen less and less with her new playmate. As many times as he tried to convince her to get a friend her age she refused. Those two almost were at war.
He quietly crept down, hoping to jump out and scare her at the foot of the stairs. Instead he heard little sobs of depression echo through the dusty basement. He wearily walked down still keeping silent. Zelos hid behind a nearby wall and peered out at the sobbing Relm. Spider webs fell in his face and he brushed them away. All sorts of bugs roamed around the walls and floor. The only light was Relm's lantern and it was hard to see.
A large book was huddled in her arms with a small gold chest beside her. Her eyes were gleaming as she gazed down on the book, which was covered with old dust. Zelos wanted to cough from all the dust but that would give him away. Zelos thought the book to be a photo album.
"Mother..." She whispered to herself. Tears rolled down her cheeks and onto the book. Relm slowly closed the album and set it down with the rest of the books. She lifted the chest with trembling hands and tears rolling down her cheeks. She opened it to reveal a shining ring exactly resembling the one on her finger.
"Why did you leave me all alone so long ago?" She seemed to ask it. "Leave me all alone with only grandfather? If only I knew what you're doing now..."
Zelos eyed her closely. Her eyes were completely forlorn and depressed. He knew then what "Big Brother" meant. Relm had no close relatives from her own generation. From her view Zelos was her new family member. Her big brother. A warm feeling struck his Mazoku heart for a moment and he felt like crying... Because he could see into the soul of this sad girl who acted so happy and carefree. Because she saw into his heart and painted the soul of a trickster.
Zelos slowly roused from the wall and walked to Relm's side on the floor. He dropped down beside her and held her comfortingly in his arms. Relm sobbed loudly and grasped his body tightly.
"You don't know how much you really mean to me Zelos... I love you so much just like you were my big brother... Please tell me you never have to go back home to your continent!" Relm cried between sobs of tears.
"It's time to take action," The low, evil said within the gloomy room. Moonlight poured through the windows giving just enough light to see the three figures huddled together in a circle. A grunt echoed through the room.
"So... What have you done to the plans so far?" Valgarb asked Kefka beside him. Kefka sighed.
"I've sent Jirasu to the north. He's going to Nikeah. That's the information base of the world. All sorts of news pours into there from all over Final Fantasy and other continents. He'll be our spy," Kefka explained. Kurabos grunted.
"How absurd! I wanted to go too! Hey, there aren't talking foxes on Final Fantasy! Jirasu will give us away!" He exclaimed. Kefka shook his head.
"Here in the South things are very simple. But up north there are all sorts of odd creatures: Talking wolves, humans with green skin even! Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Kefka paused. "I've been ruling the empire for a long time. Relax," he continued. Valgarb sighed.
"It's still dangerous to let that idiot out on his own," Valgarb muttered. Kefka laughed.
"Don't worry... We'll something to lure all them down here at once we have the right information and plans to do so... "