Shadows and Death

Dear, Diary,
 
"The Ancient Ruins is a long but, mostly, straightforward dungeon. The biggest thing to note is that enemies multiple why you attack them. Every time Triton and I swung our swords, most of our opponents would just blob into a copy of it. Xander and Drew didn't have such problems, though. I guess if you destroy them at the atomic level, they just up and die. Unei occasionally casts hate or holy, but it wasn't really needed.

When we first arrived, the adamantite was still blocking our path. Unei, though, told us that dream stones destroy anything they touch in the real world. It's a multi dimensional thing... She shattered all three boulders in our way with ease! On the other side, and down a ways, was a small city all the survivors had built up, waiting for rescue to arrive. There's an inn, weapons shops, armor peddlers, and a bazaar. How bizarre? Oddly enough, you can just buy a Defender Sword here... But, like I said, nothing down here is scary. Odd, yes, but quickly dispatched with a little more effort than we usually put in. I'm really starting to feel like legends now! In time, we reached the bottom and climbed a long rope ladder. We arrived at the Invincible! Unei, somehow, knows her way around. She told us about the ghost people selling us magic, weapons, armor, and sundries. Fat Chocobo was summoned, and there's even an inn here. Most importantly, there are two moogles. One has our mail, and the other is an artist of two varieties.

Before she left, Unei told us to go to a cave far to the north of Amor. That is where the Earth Fang lies. She then went off to speak to Doga, who we're supposed to talk to after this. The cave, in question, is located in a very annoying spot. We need to navigate the Invincible across several mountain ranges and through the valleys. A part of me wonders if this is natural? Anyway, we make it through the maze and come to the Cave of Shadows. There's a dark knight near the entrance, who tells us about his home, Falgabrand. Apparently, this is a training place for them! But how'd he get here!? Inside the cave are more monsters similar to ones in the Ancient Cave. They're quite a bit stronger, though, and we run into a minor issue. Drew and Xander, usually, take care of their target, but Triton and I have problems. Nothing overwhelming, but it sure was mildly tedious. A little ways down the place, we run into another dark knight. This one isn't doing so hot. They hand Triton their blade and informs us that this sword is strong against enemies down here. Dark knight was a job granted to us by the Water Crystal, but we couldn't figure out how to make it work. It seems they're uniquely set up for a task like this. Triton wanted to test it out. It seemed to work for him, but I kinda prefer him as a knight. I really like knowing he can defend us and even cast cure if we need it. Dark knights sacrifice themselves to do damage. I just feel more vulnerable now. But that's for a therapist!

The Cave of Shadows is a maze that shouldn't be very hard. However, many areas contain no light. We're walking into pitch black and can't see a thing. Any time a wall might change direction means we're knocking our face into the rock. It's seven floors deep, too. The only treasure along the way makes a dark knight insanely defensibly strong. Maybe knights aren't that tanky after all? But, in time, we make it to the bottom! We cross a bridge and see the Earth Fangs just chilling. We pick it up with no hassle until yet another voice from nowhere yells at us. Something about eternal sleep or something...

Hecatoncheir is a tall, lean dude. He's also kinda weak. We just kinda wailed away on him. I had to cast Cura/ga a few times because he hits pretty hard. Honestly, he was just kinda there. Who was the guy? We teleport out and return to Doga's Manor, which means we need to travel back across the mountain maze, to the Ancient Ruins, pick up the Nautalis, and fly to the otherside of the world. I miss the Floating Continent!

Inside the house, the voices of our old friends talk to us. They tell us they've found the Key to Eureka, but we need to enter this magic circle to get it. Inside is a peaceful grotto. Even the weak mobs can't interrupt the flow of the water down here. There's not much to talk about, but I really didn't like what was at the bottom.
 
Unei and Doga tell us about the Forbidden Land of Eureka and how to get there. The problem is, their lifeforce is to go into the key to make it work. That means we have to kill our friends?! I couldn't! I wouldn't! Or, at least, if I had a choice. Doga attacked us first. He turned himself into a terrible monster. Is this another power of Noah!? His magic hurt, but he was pretty fragile. Afterwards, Unei did the same with a similar outcome. Did they let us win? Both of them told us that, while their bodies may die, the spirits will live on. Doga gifted us the Eureka key and faded away. I don't know what to say; I'm dumbfounded. Why did it have to be like this? And what did they mean by "save Xande"?

The only place else to go was the Syrcus Tower..."