Ruby soothes Hiro's wounds and looks into his half closed eyes, hoping to be able to take away some of the pain, but she knew deep within her heart that the only way to ease Hiro's pain was to rescue Lucia.
"How can I possibly fight against the child of he who controlled the Goddess?" Ruby asks herself. "Even Hiro and Lucia couldn't harm her."
Nall had broken Ruby's thought when he had materialized dead in front of her. He attempted to speak, but Ruby had brained him for startling her.
Not surprised, Nall shrugs it off (despite the giant knot on his head!) and approaches Hiro.
"Hiro, I've found a deal of information pertaining to Southerland and the Goddess' Paradise as well."
"Goddess'... Paradise?" asks Hiro.
"Yeah," states Nall. "I'll take it from the beginning. There's a legend of a place in the heavens where only Goddesses live. It is sheltered off from the outside world by means of an unknown stone guarded by four shrine maidens and the Mother Goddess herself."
"A land inhabited by only Goddesses," states Gwyn. "This place must be the Goddess' Paradise."
"Correct," answers Nall. "Or Southerland for short. And it seems that our Goddess Althena was a resident of Southerland as well."
"Then could Visions possibly be telling the truth?" asks Ruby. "Could Althena really be..."
"I don't know for sure," states Nall. "But I kind of hope so. I haven't seen Luna ever since her mortal body... passed... away..."
Nall pauses to wipe away a tear as Hiro asks if any men had been to Southerland before.
"Other than the eleven shrine knights," states Nall. "I doubt it. No other man, or woman for that matter, knows the means to get there."
"Shrine Knights?" asks Gwyn.
"Yes," answers Nall. "Wiegraf Folles, Izlude Tingel, Viscera Cheyenne, Delita Hyral, Ghaleon, Darshu Schnider, Slayzer Drasle, Leon Magus, Himura Kenshin, Zalbag Beoulve, and Dark Fact. The only men to inhabit Southerland."
"GHALEON?!" screams Hiro and Ruby. "How... can he..."
"These are records from over one thousand years ago," states Nall. "Maybe before Ghaleon met Dragonmaster Dyne."
"What about these Shrine Maidens and Shrine Knights?" asks Hiro. "Lest we meet them in our quest to rescue Lucia?"
Miria Ausa arrives at the carnival and asks around for the whereabouts of the dancer Jean.
Jean was in the dressing tent trying out her brand new outfit when Miria entered.
"Wha... Mrs. Ausa!! Fancy meeting you here! "
"It's nice to meet you too, Miss Jean," greets Miria, looking at Jean's fetching outfit. "Is this your...normal everyday attire?"
Jean blushes as she swings her fan to cover her exposed cleavage. "Uhh... No, not really! How's Lemina doing these days?"
By the look in Miria's eyes, Jean instantly knew that she had asked the wrong question.
"She's... barely alive," sighs Miria. "All due to a woman named Visions."
"Dear me," worried Jean. "What happened to her?"
"Twisted neck and severe lacerations," sighs Miria. "Visions claims to be Ghaleon's daughter. Whether she is or not, she's just as full of power and hatred as he once was. Please, will you help us to stop her?"
"Of course I will," answers Jean. "Let's head to Larpa village where Ronfar, Mauri, and Leo are living. I'm sure that they'll help as well."
Jean changes her clothes and informs the carnival master of the situations and where she was headed. He wishes her luck and returns to her the Blue Dragon Crest, which he had held onto for her.
Jean kisses him good bye, then she and Miria were soon on their way.