A/N: Hey! Me again! For those of you who played the game, some events coming up may seem really familiar. Also, another time skip! Edward just turned eighteen. Above is the CG-rendering of Edward.
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I came of age two days ago. Last night I packed a leather traveling bag. I put in a pouch of 4000 gil, extra clothes, a bedroll, some food, and two flasks of water. And my harp and lute, of course. I hoped it would be enough supplies to at least get me to Kaipo. Otherwise...there would be a few issues, now wouldn't there? After I collected everything I would need, I slung my bag over my shoulder, and went to look for my parents. They were both talking to the smith in our armory.

"...yes, that should do well..." I heard Father say.

"Ahem." They stopped talking and looked at me. "Mother, Father," I began, unsure what to say. Father stopped me.

"We know, Edward. You're eighteen now. We knew you would be leaving soon."

"You have our blessing to leave these walls," Mother told me. "You've learned all you can from our books; you will only learn more by seeing the world for yourself."

"And you can defend yourself now," my father added. I shuddered in my mind. I still don't want to be in any battles...

"We have a gift for you," Mother said kindly. Father took a package from the smith. I unwrapped the package. It was a dagger with a silver blade. The blade was so bright it was almost blue. I ran my finger across the flat of the blade. It was cold and icy.

"It's an ice dagger," Father explained. "We know you can cast magic from your harp, but we still think it would be best if you had a weapon that you could physically attack with-"

"Should you be silenced," Mother finished for him. "It's element is ice, so its also strong against most desert monsters. Still, should you see a Sand Worm; run until you've reached safety."

"Thank you," I said softly as Mother embraced me.

"Be safe," she whispered. "You should use the hovercraft since you know how to operate it. The underground waterway is only a one-way path from Kaipo to here." I nod. As she backed away, Father clasped my hand.

"Be careful, Son. I expect you to come back alive. Without you, Damcyan has no heir," he warned me.

"Understood," I said curtly. We shook. Mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. I tucked the dagger in my belt and turned to leave. Father called out to me as I was leaving.

"Edward!" I looked back. "Kristoff told us you don't want people to treat you like a prince while you travel." I looked down. "There's nothing wrong with that, Edward." My head came back up. He wasn't disturbed? I kept listening.

"Kristoff told me that he had a disguise for you to wear outside of Damcyan. He left it up in your bed chamber for you."

"Thank you, Father!" I rushed to my room.

Sure enough, a package wrapped in brown parchment lay on my bed. I unwrapped it.

The packet contained orange trousers, a red tunic with feathers, and a red, feathered cap-similar to the hat the old woman gave me as a child. I quickly changed into the new clothing out of my robes with the Damcyan seal flared on the sides. I looked into a mirror, and gasped.

I looked completely different. The tunic fit perfectly, and I looked similarly to the minstrels I had seen. The feathered cap shaded my face, yet I could still clearly see my green eyes reflecting back at me. Locks of blonde hair rippled out from under the cap. The breeches complimented the tunic nicely. I looked again. Yes, no one would mistake me for a prince like this...

A scroll was at the bottom of the package. What's this? I began reading.

Edward-
You'll likely be leaving soon, and as promised, here is the disguise. You'll be dressed as a bard. Technically, it isn't a lie. You want to travel, and play music. That's what a bard does. You'll just secretly be a prince as well. Don't worry, you won't need a fake name. As I'm sure your parents told you; please be careful. Good luck on your journey!
~Kristoff
P.S. Try and find a nice girl, and bring her home with you so you can marry her. We'll all be waiting for your return.

I folded the letter before tucking it in my bag. I closed my eyes and smiled. I took a deep breath, and walked through the secret passage that would take me outside the walls of Damcyan.
Soon, I will see for myself what lies beyond the desert principality of Damcyan. I wonder though...if that friend I met so long ago, if her home is still in Kaipo...