Chapter 19: Friend or Foe?
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	"Yeah, that's a waterfall in front of us, Lola, but look on the
map... there's a glowing spot back in the tunnels, maybe we should check
it out."
	Kain merely nodded, remaining quite silent at Cecil's suggestion.
	"Hey, What's wrong, bud?"
	"Nothing...  Let's find out what that is."
	Not knowing what else to say, Cecil merely shrugged and led the
trio back into the tunnels through a previously unseen passage.
	The trio came to a halt minutes later in front of an ornately
carved door that was etched with runes, all glowing in an eerie green
light.
	"Nice artwork..."  Lola was astounded by the detail in the massive
massive steel door, and walked up to it, hoping to trace the runes with her
hands.
	"NO!  Don't touch them!"  Cecil dove at Lola, pulling her from near
the door, but unable to stop his own self from crashing against the portal.
	When his body touched the runes, green lightning crackled
throughout and around his body, followed by blazing blue flames as he fell
to the ground, burnt horribly.  On the door's surface, his outline was
traced in a sickly black sillouette.
	"Cecil!"  Kain jumped to his friend's aid, remembering the Phoebian
stone he carried.  He grabbed Cecil's Orb, and concentrated on the flame
spirit, hoping that perhaps the power could be used to heal as well as
destroy.  Energy seemed to flow into the stone from Cecil's words. The
effect was similar to a powerful Cure spell, and it seemed to recharge the
spirit.  Meanwhile, Lola sat dazed, unable to comprehend what had just
happened.
	"Yes, Kain, that is how I gain power," the flame spirit said to
the dragoon, "by feeding off of damaged flesh."
	Kain replied in an relieved tone, "Whatever floats your boat -
just glad your boat's our life preserver!"
	"Ka... Kain... is that you?"  Cecil's body was recovering somewhat,
but even as he healed, his skin radiated green and blue light.
	"Yeah, Cecil, you're gonna be okay, I cured you..."  Kain wasn't so
sure, but knew his friend needed reassuring, "How did you know that door
was dangerous?"
	"I... I didn't... good... guess, that's all... figured green runes
that radiated magic can't be... safe... unfortunately... I was right...
ohhh, DAMN, my body aches like I've just fallen off the Falcon or
something..."
	The pulsing still didn't stop.
	Kain looked around, trying to figure out how to help his friend.
He saw the area on the door where Cecil had hit it... it was devoid of all
magical runes.
	"Cecil, I got an idea.  You said this thing absorbs magic to power
the spells, right?"
	"Yeah..."
	Kain lifted Cecil's Orb, and touched it to the Paladin's glowing
body.  Within seconds, the energy was absorbed into the sphere.
	"Dang, Kain, I should have thought of that.  But I've never been
much of a mage.  If Rosa had been here" - Kain flinched unknowingly at
Rosa's name - "she would've known that.  I'm feeling better already... only
a migrane left...  How's Lola doin'?"
	Kain turned to find Lola standing up looking in horror at the
scorched sillouette of Cecil on the door.  "Tha... that would've been
m-me..."
	"Yeah, if Mr. Heroic over there hadn't decided that he'd rather
become a Crispy Critter."
	Cecil stood and dusted himself off.  "Hmm, ya think that orb would
work on the door?"
	"Worth a try, Cecil."
	Tracing the runes with the orb, the magical energy dissipated
quickly.  And with the last rune removed, the door crumbled to dust.
	Something stirred behind the dust, and Cecil drew his sword.
	A deep voice boomed, "None shall pass."
	When the dust cleared, the trio saw a massive man standing a full
six-foot-five.  He was garbed in tattered white robes that partly hid a
gleaming suit of pearl-like armor.  His face was hidden completely by means
of a matching pearl helm, and he also wore pearl boots and carried a pearl
shield.  Even his sword was of the same pearl material as the helm, boots,
and shield.
	The man, whoever he was, stood defensively with his sword poised.
	"Leave, before I am forced to make you."  The same deep voice
seemed to come from everywhere but the man's mouth.
	Behind the man, there was an eerie glow emanating from a green
crystal of the same illuminescence as the runes on the door.