Ramus yelled over his shoulder as he ran to find Alex, "I guess I'll see the two of you later. Bye for now." He then crossed the bridge and ran up the stairs leading to Dyne's Memorial.
"Well," said Luna to Hiro, "shall we go to the springs and practice?"
"Sure," replied Hiro.
The two of them walked out of town and headed a little ways east to the Burg Springs.
"Do you mind if I ask you where you got that pendant?" Luna asked Hiro when they arrived at the springs.
"No," replied Hiro, fingering Lucia's pendant, "I don't mind. It was given to me by someone who means the world to me."
"What's her name?" asked Luna.
"Her name is Lucia," replied Hiro.
"Lucia?" repeated Luna, "I wonder why that name seems so familiar to me." She shook her head. "I guess it can't mean that much to me or I'd have remembered by now." Luna looked at Hiro. "Do you mind if we pick some flowers before we start practicing?"
"No," answered Hiro, "I don't mind." He followed her through some trees until they reached a clearing several feet in.
After a few minutes of picking flowers the two of them heard the voices of Alex and Nall.
"I guess we should join them before they wonder where we are," said Luna. She picked up her basket of flowers and walked out of the woods.
"Good morning Alex," she said when she stepped out of the woods, "you're late again." Luna then giggled. "Did Ramus ever find you? He seemed real anxious to track you down. But then he's probably hatching another hair-brained scheme. Well, anyway, let's just practice our song for the festival." She then looked at Hiro. "Would you like to practice with us?" she asked him.
"No," replied Hiro, "I think I'll just head back to Burg. So I'll see you later." He then walked away from the three of them.
"Bye Hiro," they said together as he left.
He walked into town and was greeted by an excited Ramus. "Hey Hiro," he called out, "Alex and I are going to the white dragon's cave in a few minutes. Do you want to come with us?"
"Sure," Hiro replied.
"Great," said Ramus, "meet us at the entrance to town in ten minutes."
Hiro watched Ramus head back to his home, then he entered the weapon shop to buy himself a sword since his was one thousand years in the future and on the Blue Star to boot.
"May I help you?" the shopkeeper asked Hiro.
"Yes," replied Hiro, "I'd like to buy that sword on the wall there." Hiro pointed to a sword hanging on the right side of the door.
"Very good choice," said the shopkeeper as he took the sword down. "That will be fifty silver pieces."
Hiro reached into his pocket and paid for the sword. He then went and bought three Althena herbs from the item shop next door. He then walked towards the entrance to town.
"Luna's coming too," said Ramus as Hiro approached them, "I hope you don't mind."
Hiro looked at Luna and shook his head. "No," he answered, "I don't mind at all."
"Okay then," said Alex, "shall we go?"
The four of them headed out of town and headed north, skirting around the mountains. They then headed south. After an hour of walking they stood in front of the cave. They looked at each other, nodded their heads and walked inside only to be stopped by a huge wall of ice blocking the way.
"Well, I guess we can't go any futher," said Alex.
"No!" yelled Ramus, "I refuse to give up that diamond I heard about! Wait! My father has a fire ring back at the house. I bet it would work on the ice."
The four of them left the cave and made their way back to Burg, where Ramus got the ring. They then walked back to the cave.
"Here goes nothing," said Ramus as he held up the ring. A flame shot out of it and melted the ice. Then it disintegrated in his hand.
The four of them made their way down to the third level of the cave and entered the dragon's lair. As Alex, Nall, Luna, and Ramus approached the white Hiro stepped back into the shadows, hoping not to be spotted.
"Greetings travelers," said the white dragon in a booming voice, "I am Quark, Tetrarch of the dragon tribe. You are the first adventurers to visit me in a long time. Your mission must be urgent."
Quark looked at them. "You there," he said to Luna, "do I know you?"
"Are you talking to me?" asked Luna.
"Yes," replied Quark, "I feel as though our souls are intertwined. I guess it's just my age though."
"Quark," said Ramus, "we've come for the dragon diamond."
Quark shook his head. "Why do people treasure things like this?" he said as he handed it to Ramus. He then spotted Hiro hiding in the shadows. "You there," he said, "why don't you come out and join your friends?"
Hiro stepped out of the shadows and walked towards Quark.
"Where did you get that pendant your wearing boy?" Quark asked him.
"Lucia gave it to me," replied Hiro.
Quark looked at Alex, Luna, and Ramus. "Do you mind leaving your friend and I alone for a few minutes?" he asked them.
"No," they said, "we don't mind." They turned and walked out of Quark's lair.