The rest of the night passed fairly easily, and Agnea was happy for it. She was able to perform one last time at Montraine's Tavern, and La'mani held true to his word of not trying to stir up any trouble. Everyone from the backstreets cheered her on for one last time, and Agnea walked off the stage with a smile on her face and pride in her heart. She wished she could have stayed in New Delsta for longer, but she knew she was walking away in good conscience. She had brought great joy to the people of the city while she was there, and Agnea knew they would continue to enjoy themselves together in the future. Gil had promised to continue hosting shows even after she left town, and Agnea was trusting that she would have a great time when she saw them all come together to perform. 

After her final performance at Montraine's Tavern, Agnea celebrated with the rest of the travelers. She had kept an eye on Throné throughout the rest of the night, but Agnea was never able to truly convince the thief to open up. Agnea supposed she should have expected that. Out of everyone in the group, Throné was easily the most secretive, and Agnea had come to anticipate the thief's quiet demeanor. Somehow, Throné had even more to hide from the rest of the group than Osvald or Hikari, and those two were on the run from the authorities of Frigit Isle and Ku respectively. Throné remained a special case though, and Agnea could only hope that she was one day able to understand her. 

Agnea truly did want to find a way to get through to Throné. She wanted to assure Throné that everything would be alright and that they could take care of each other in the future. She knew it wasn't going to be that easy. If Throné didn't trust people, then Agnea was certain there was a reason for it, but she could still give it her all to try and help the thief to feel safe enough to open up. Throné was dealing with a lot, but she wasn't in it alone. She may have thought she had to face this by herself, but Agnea knew better than that. Sooner or later, Agnea would be able to prove to Throné that she could rely on the rest of the travelers. She was determined to do it. 

Agnea could at least figure out the vaguest of reasons behind Throné's behavior. Throné was afraid of something bad happening to Agnea, and the dancer was fully aware of what she was so scared of... Or at the very least, Agnea could put the pieces together in some way. Throné feared violence from the men who called New Delsta home. Agnea could tell by the pain in her eyes that she had been through something horrible at the hands of the men in the city, and that was the root of her protectiveness over Agnea. Throné didn't want her new friend to suffer as she once had. Agnea may not have known the details of what Throné was anxious about, but she knew Throné was acting in this way because she wanted to protect her. It was admirable how far Throné was willing to go to defend a girl she had only barely had the chance to know, and Agnea found herself looking up to Throné for it. She hoped she would be able to help people one day even if she wanted it to come in another form. 

Agnea knew that a lot of people thought of her as gullible and foolish. It was easy to see why they felt this way too even though she didn't want to admit it. She came from a small town that most people had never heard of, and Agnea knew that others did not understand how much of the world she had been isolated from as a result. However, she could say that a few people in her life had treated her poorly because of her hobby of dancing. She had received crude comments from men passing through Cropdale growing up, and the remarks only grew more common when she began to work at Gus' tavern. Agnea knew of the risks that came with being a woman, especially a woman who worked in fields like the performing arts. It was risky, and yet, Agnea wasn't going to let any men and their cruelty stop her from reaching her dreams. She would keep her head held high, and she would achieve stardom no matter what it took. 

And as she made her way closer to the end of her journey, Agnea would be grateful that Throné was there by her side. She was glad to have such a great group of friends, and Throné was no exception. Agnea may not have known much about Throné just yet, but she was certain the thief would talk about her history when she was ready. One day, Throné would give Agnea the chance to understand her, and Agnea was looking forward to it. Until then, she hoped she could be a source of joy and light in Throné's life. Perhaps it was a selfish thing to crave, but Agnea couldn't help wanting it. She wanted to make people smile, and she hoped the travelers were among the first people who she brought that overwhelming happiness to. 

When morning arrived, Agnea woke alongside the rest of her friends, and they all prepared to leave New Delsta. They had gathered their supplies for the journey to Montwise the day before, so they had no reason to linger in the city. Now that the sun was up, they had to start moving so they could make it to Montwise as soon as possible. Agnea was looking forward to it. She wished she could have stayed there in New Delsta to continue dancing at Montraine's Tavern, of course, but she was also looking forward to being able to do her part to help Hikari and the people of Ku. She would bring happiness to other people she had never met before, and she would help to end the war. Just as she had said to Hikari and Partitio had said the day before, their journeys truly weren't all that different. They may have had different ways of going about it, but they all wanted to bring happiness to the world, and Agnea knew this was one of the best ways she could have done it. 

Agnea and the other travelers started toward the entrance of New Delsta so they could get on the road, but much to her surprise, there were people waiting for them by the path. Gil was gathered alongside a few of the regulars from Montraine's Tavern, and Agnea smiled as she walked up to them. Gil wanted to see her off. He would miss her too, and it was clear in every action he took. 

Despite Gil's eagerness to talk to Agnea, he was not the first person to speak when the travelers arrived by the small crowd waiting for them. Instead, one of the other patrons at the tavern waved at Agnea before Gil could talk. "Don't be a stranger, Agnea!"

"Yeah. Come dance at the tavern anytime!" another patron agreed. 

Agnea nodded, pressing one hand to her chest. "Thank you, everyone."

Gil finally seemed to wrestle together the courage to speak, and he stepped toward Agnea as he pulled something out of his jacket. Agnea hadn't even noticed he was hiding something beneath the fabric of his jacket until after it had been exposed to the light. "I want you to have this, kid," Gil explained. "As a parting gift."

Agnea accepted the papers from Gil's hand, and her eyes widened as she realized just what they were. "Sheet music?"

Gil nodded, and a pride that had been dormant in his heart for years spread through his eyes. "I call it 'Song of Hope.' It's based on the song I played for you yesterday. I know it's not much, but I hope you get some use out of it."

"Are you sure, Gil?" Agnea asked. She could feel the love bleeding out through every handwritten note, and it seemed to melt through every ice she could have ever seen in her life. "This song..."

"It's the least I can give you after all you gave us," Gil assured her. He didn't elaborate beyond that, but Agnea didn't need him to. She knew what he was thinking. He hadn't written or played music in years, but Agnea had given him something to believe in again. Gil had never thought he would ever entertain the idea of making music after realizing he had no talent, but there he was, doing it again for the sake of Agnea. She had inspired him enough to make him want to go beyond that he had thought was possible for him. The song hadn't gained its name for nothing; it was hard evidence that Gil had found his hope again for the first time in years. 

Agnea smiled at the thought, and she pressed the sheet music against her chest like she thought that would give it an even more direct path to her heart. "Thank you, Gil! This song really is beautiful... I can feel the hope in every note. You truly are amazing, Gil."

Despite Agnea's praise, Gil disagreed, and he shook his head. "It's just the notes, unfortunately. The words wouldn't come to me," he explained. He had tried, and Agnea could see it on his face, but effort didn't always end with results, especially with all the rust that had settled on Gil's senses of composing in the last few years. 

But that just gave Agnea a new idea, and she cast him a bright smile. "Would you mind if I wrote them?" she asked eagerly. She had no experience with coming up with lyrics for a song, but she was on this journey so she could improve her skills. She was traveling because she wanted to push herself to become the best performer she could, and Agnea was determined to make something of herself with time. Right now, the best place to start felt like it was waiting for her in between the pages of Gil's 'Song of Hope.' "I think I might find some words as I go on my journey."

Gil's face glowed with a smile as he nodded. "I hope you do," he told her, and Agnea knew that he had been crossing his fingers and praying that she would choose to take up the mantle after his failure. He truly did have a kind heart, and Agnea admired it deeply. "I'd love to hear it when it's finished." Agnea nodded excitedly, and Gil opened a palm in her direction, clearly struck with an idea. "Say, kid... What did you feel when coming to this town?"

Where could Agnea even begin? New Delsta had taught her so much, and she knew she would carry its help and knowledge with her not only for the rest of her journey but the rest of her life. Agnea paused for only a moment to try and think through her words, but she gave up on it immediately. Gil wanted to hear her thoughts, and it didn't matter how disjointed they were as long as they were hers. "I felt... The worth of a dream. I felt how much you wanted to believe in your hopes even after the world tried to take that away from you. I felt the courage to rise again. I felt like I could stand up and fight in the face of injustice, and it was thrilling in so many ways. I felt... Pride. Unshakable pride. I felt all of the joy that you and the rest of the patrons at your tavern managed to find with each other. You went through so much, but you're still here together, and... It's inspiring." Agnea looked back down at the sheet music in her hands, her smile too strong for her to ever hope of minimizing it. "I want to put those feelings into the song. I'd like to experience all sorts of things on this journey and turn them into music. And I want to sing and dance to this song... And bring smiles to everyone's faces."

Agnea knew the world could be a dark place. Of course she knew that. Still, that was no reason to give up. There may have been darkness waiting around the corner, but there would always be a brilliant sunrise at the end of even the harshest of nights. If there was something she could do to remind other people of that, then she would always consider it a victory. Music was a unifying force like nothing else, and Agnea had learned it well over the course of her travels with her mother. Now, Cuani may have been gone, but Agnea was there to carry on the legacy that she had left behind. Agnea would bring light to every life she could, and she would prove to the world just how much worth joy could hold. 

"I know you can do it, kid," Gil assured her with a bright smile. Agnea could tell by the look in his eyes that he had hoped Agnea would want to transform her feelings toward New Delsta into lyrics for 'Song of Hope.' That was the reason he had posed the question in the first place. He wanted to lead her in the right direction. He may not have been able to compose the lyrics to the song himself, but he could certainly give her the chance to put together the pieces that would help her to write the words. There was no one he believed in more than Agnea when it came to the light of the future. "You're going to be a star someday."

"Gil..." Agnea could feel heat rushing into her cheeks, so rather than sit in that embarrassment, she stood up taller. "I could say the same to you." She rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, but before she could cry, she retreated again. Agnea waved after Gil and the rest of the patrons from Montraine's Tavern, and they returned the favor. The travelers followed after Agnea, and in a matter of moments, they were free of New Delsta. 

Agnea was glad she had been given the chance to return to the city. New Delsta truly was a dazzling place, and it had taught her more than she could ever hope to express in words... But she would transform it all into lyrics for Gil's song. She would take her admiration of Dolcinaea and her care for Gil and morph it into something that went beyond simple speech. Music was a power that should never be underestimated, and Agnea was going to make sure she brought light to the lives of everyone who heard her melodies. 

That was what it meant to be a star, and Agnea would do everything in her power to gleam like the night sky in the name of the people who needed the light most. 

~~~~~

In the darkness of the New Delsta theater, Dolcinaea sat in one of the chairs in the audience. She was watching as a few members of the stage crew rearranged the set for her performance that night. Dolcinaea was very particular about the setup of her stage, and she would not tolerate something being even slightly out of place. La'mani's fight with that dancer in the orange dress had forced the stage into a quick period of maintenance, and now, Dolcinaea's job was to ensure it was perfect before she began to sing once more. 

Beside Dolcinaea, her bodyguard--Veronica--approached her with a frown. Her dark purple hair was tied into a ponytail at the base of her neck, and her sleeves were rolled up to show off her notable muscles. That was just the way Dolcinaea liked to see Veronica: showing off exactly why she had been chosen to be the bodyguard to a continental superstar. "Why were you so kind to that dancer, Madam Dolcinaea?" Veronica questioned in between Dolcinaea handing out instructions of where to put certain props and set pieces on the stage. 

"Kind?" Dolcinaea scoffed, turning to face Veronica fully. "Perish the thought. That tavern is no threat to me." She pushed herself to her feet, adjusting her dress to ensure it rested perfectly all around her. "More importantly... Are things proceeding according to plan?"

Veronica nodded. "Yes, my lady."

Dolcinaea tossed one hand up by her face, sending the curls framing her right cheek bouncing wildly. "Ahaha... Music to my ears."

~~~~~

Once the travelers managed to get out of the reach of New Delsta, they began traveling up north toward the mountains once again. That was one thing Hikari had to say he was not looking forward to: traveling uphill. He was used to the ground all around him falling at the same level with very few variations. There were dunes in the deserts of Hinoeuma, of course, but the inclines were far less sharp than the mountains on the eastern continent. Hikari had found himself testing his endurance on the way up to Flamechurch, and it was only going to get more intense as he continued toward Montwise even higher up in the mountains. 

If nothing else, Hikari could say it was good training, and it could increase his stamina. He was going to need all the power he could get on his side if he was to challenge his brother, and one of the smallest ways for him to start was to ensure his body was prepared for the battle ahead. If that meant he had to march up countless mountains, then so be it. Hikari would be ready to face Mugen when the day finally arrived. He was certain the rest of his companions would be prepared for the battle to come too, especially if they had to go through taller mountains after this. 

Hikari still found himself oddly astounded by the fact that he had such a wonderful ensemble of friends by his side. They all knew he was the prince of a country at war, and yet, none of them had chosen to take this to the government of any of the towns they visited. Hikari was safe with them, and they were happy to do what they could to keep him safe. Hikari had thought when he first set off on his journey that he would only be able to count on the help of Kazan and Rai Mei, but instead, he had wound up with eight wonderful allies already. Even Mahina, an owl, was dedicated to stand by Hikari's side, and he greatly appreciated it. They were not an army, but they were just the group of friends that Hikari needed in his hour of need, and he was happy to have them. 

It was strange to think that he had almost wanted to push all of this away. For a brief time after he left behind Ku, he had thought it would be safer for him to push all people out of his life so they did not have to find themselves in danger from standing by his side. Hikari had seen what his kindness and presence had done to the people of Ku's castle town, and he couldn't bear the thought of such a horrible thing repeating... And yet, Hikari couldn't seem to turn away when kindness began to walk toward him in return. He loved people, and he wanted to do what he could to prove the world was a good place. It may not have always been easy to live in, but Hikari wanted to love it. He wanted to prove that it was worth it to care for other people and to accept care in return. 

Perhaps it was petty for Hikari to want to be with others. Perhaps it was his way of pushing back against Mugen by establishing his ideals as faulty in ways that no others could ever imagine. Mugen thought that connection with others made a person weak and that they would inevitably fall apart if they found a reason to place their faith in others. Hikari knew that was not the truth though. If there was a way for him to believe in others, then Hikari wanted to try it. He wanted to show what a beautiful place the world could be, and he was glad there were so many people willing to stand by him as he found a way to the end of this bloody path of war. 

"So... We're going to Montwise to meet with one of your friends," Ochette said, and Hikari realized that the young huntress had come to walk just beside him. Aside from Temenos, Ochette was handling the upward climb better than the rest of the travelers. Temenos was used to walking around in high mountains like this, and while Ochette did not have that prior experience, she had her boundless energy on her side, and it went a long way for her. "What's he like?"

"Kazan is..." Hikari paused before he could continue, unsure as to how he could define his friend's importance in his life. Kazan had been the strategist that led Ku to victory during the last war, but he was much more than that. He was a sharp man, but he hid many secrets from the people who stood alongside him. He was calculating, but he masked it all behind a smile that kept others from hurling any accusations in his direction. Kazan was prone to bad habits despite his tactical mind, and Hikari knew just how much he liked to overindulge in alcohol and other sources of relief after a major battle came to an end. 

"He was one of your friends during the previous war in Hinoeuma, yes?" Castti asked, and Hikari nodded. "I imagine he is either a powerful fighter or a smart tactician then... Or perhaps some combination of the two."

"He isn't a fighter. He did, however, map out many strategies that eventually led Ku to victory," Hikari replied, finding Castti's leading question a far better path to follow than trying to explain the vastness of Kazan's quirks in just a few words. "After the war came to an end, he decided to leave Ku behind, and he said that he was moving to Montwise for a slower life. I don't know what became of him after he decided to come here, but... I must admit that it intrigues me. I don't know why he would want to come to Montwise of all places, especially with how far away it is from his homeland. He's from Ku as well, I believe, and yet... He hasn't been back since the end of the last war."

"Perhaps he chose Montwise so he could study in the library there," Osvald suggested. He was in a much better state now than he had been back when the travelers first found him, and Hikari was glad the travelers decided to take some time to recuperate and gather their bearings in New Delsta. Osvald was stronger now than he would have been if they had just marched up to Montwise immediately, and he was much more talkative too... Not that he had ever been too talkative in the first place, but the difference was still enough for Hikari to notice it. "If he has an interest in strategy, then he may have wanted to study the texts in the library. There's something for everyone there."

"That could be it..." Hikari hummed, but he wasn't entirely sure of if that was correct. He didn't know if Kazan really had much to learn when it came to the world of strategies and tactics. Kazan was one of the most brilliant minds Ku had ever known, and Hikari had no idea if there was anything that a book could ever hope to teach him. 

But if Hikari was curious about why Kazan had chosen to move to Montwise after the war ended, then he supposed there was a solution fast approaching. When he got there, all he had to do was ask Kazan what was going on and why he had chosen to settle down in Montwise of all places. Hikari could only hope Kazan chose to answer him. At times, Kazan could be a bit... Eccentric, and Hikari could only hope he didn't find himself on the receiving end of any poor choices from Kazan. 

Though it wasn't as if Hikari knew how to gauge what was a good decision for Kazan or not. Kazan drank sometimes to the point of excess, but he seemed to have a strong grip on what it was that he wanted to do with his life, and Hikari admittedly struggled at times to get a read on what it was that was going through his head. He was going to keep trying, of course, but he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to fully get through the shell that Kazan had constructed around himself to block out the rest of the world. 

"He must be a really smart person if he was able to help end a war in the past," Agnea remarked. "I would love to talk to him even if it's just for a little bit. Being able to end a war and bring peace to so many people is a huge accomplishment!"

"I agree! I can't even begin to imagine how many people he was able to help with that," Partitio chimed in. "I'm sure he's a great man."

Hikari's face softened into a smile, and he nodded. "Kazan has done a lot for the people of Ku, and I don't know if I would ever be able to thank him enough... I hope he is willing to forgive me for wanting to bring him back into the fray with a new war though. If he came to Montwise with the hope of getting away from the conflict, then I fear I will be intruding on a peace that he has been looking forward to for much of his life." That was one thought that Hikari had always been tucking away into the back of his mind when it came to Kazan: why he had decided to leave. Ku finally found peace after years of war, and Kazan didn't even stick around long enough to see the nation thrive. He was gone very soon after the conflict ended, and Hikari found himself missing all of his friends as the days passed by. 

Kazan wasn't the only one Hikari missed, and as soon as the thought arrived in his mind, the prince's face began to fall. He was looking forward to seeing Kazan again, but he didn't know what he was supposed to do about Ritsu. Hikari had thought he would be able to get together his old team to put a stop to Mugen's machinations, but Ritsu... He had chosen to stand alongside Mugen instead of try to fight him. Hikari still didn't know how to handle that, and he didn't know if he would ever be able to find an answer for how he was meant to face Ritsu. They were the only two members of the group who had remained in Ku, and yet, it felt like they couldn't have possibly been farther apart. 

Hikari wasn't going to give up though. If there was even the slightest of chances that his old friend was still in there, then Hikari was going to try and fight to reach him. He was going to do what he could to break through Ritsu's shell and show him that there was something brighter waiting for him on the other end of this journey. Hikari didn't care what he had to do in order to set this right. He knew he would have to try. He was not a person to give up on his friends, and he refused to abandon Ritsu even when it seemed like Ritsu had abandoned him. 

"Hikari?"

Temenos' voice snapped Hikari out of his thoughts, and he blinked rapidly as he jolted his mind back into his body. "Sorry," Hikari said apologetically even though he wasn't entirely sure of what he was saying sorry for in the first place. "I suppose I got lost in my head for a moment."

"What are you thinking about?" Temenos asked, and that undying curiosity in his hear sparked up in his eyes once again. "You clearly have something on your mind. There's no need to hide it if you want to share."

Hikari hesitated for a long moment, wondering if he should even consider bringing up Ritsu. In many ways, it hurt too much to think about... But at the same time, Hikari knew that keeping it all to himself wasn't going to help at all. If he let his thoughts drown him, then he was never going to stand a chance of pulling himself together again. The rest of his friends were there because they wanted to support him. They believed in his cause, and Hikari wanted to show them that he believed in them too. 

So Hikari let out a slow breath, and he tried to soothe his racing heart. He hadn't realized just how agitated he could get at the thought of Ritsu until after he was already thinking about his friend, and he had to fight to keep himself calm. "I was thinking about one of the other friends I made during the old wars of Ku," Hikari explained, and the rest of the travelers looked at him in curiosity. "Before we get to Montwise, I want to tell you about all of them. Back in the day, there were four of us, and we all fought together. The other three are very dear to me even now. Their names are Ritsu, Kazan, and Rai Mei..."

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And there's the end of Agnea's chapter two! 

Since I was able to finish up the last scene near the beginning of the chapter, I dedicated the second half to transitioning into the next chapter: Hikari two. It's nice to get back in Hikari's head after all this time since it's been so long since we last saw him, and I missed him. I'll say it. I'm glad to be able to explore him again, and I'm looking forward to next chapter. 

I don't have all that much to say here, so... I'm going to end things here. Next time, we'll see Hikari's chapter two start. Until then, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is appreciated as always. Have a nice day, everyone!

-Digital