Rydia

Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot-blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Must be strangely exciting
To watch the stoic squirm
Must be somewhat heartening
To watch a burly shepherd
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
But this is not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

I don't think you unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate.

"Uninvited" By Alanis Morrissette
(Seemed to be something Rydia would say to Edge anyway.)

Rydia's life began as most tradgedies do.  Born to a Caller in the village of Mist, it was assumed that eventually she too would become one.  She bore all the immediate traits of a child possessing such powers.  Her early childhood was peaceful, almost pastoral.  Her mother was loved by almost everyone, and Rydia was considered an apple that had not fallen too far from the tree.

Then came Cecil and Kain.

It began without warning, Rydia's mother collapsing into the street, writhing in terrible agony. The Mist Dragon she had summoned to protect the village had been defeated, and the backlash took her life.  Rydia barely had time to react before the village was suddenly in flames, everything destroyed.  In one terrible moment she had lost everything she ever knew or held dear.  She feared she was the last villager still alive, until Cecil and Kain became visible and she rushed toward them, praying they would help her.  The bitter truth, however, was that they were instead responsible for the destruction.  They killed the Mist Dragon.  They killed her mother.  They brought the package that had burned Mist to the ground.  And then... they had the gall to change their minds and want to protect her!  Rydia's hatred and anger seethed and she summoned forth a Titan, though her small abilities were unable to control the power of such a creature.  The resulting earthquake rendered her unconcious.

When she awoke, she found that Cecil had taken her from Mist, and seemed truly remorseful for the pain he had caused her.  Realizing that a heart of gold rested beneath the armor of a Dark Knight, Rydia forgave him, and joined the cause of righting the wrongs in Cecil's quest.  Though often she felt stifled and overprotected, she gave what little she had when needed.  Yet, she didn't realize that she was the last living Caller, not until Leviathan came for her, swallowing her before dragging her down into the depths of a world undescribable by human eyes.  The Land of Summoned Creatures.

Rydia's time here was spent learning the art of her craft.  The Queen realized that as the last, Rydia would have no true teacher, and no way to increase her abilities, and had her brought to these hallowed lands in order to preserve contact between her world and the land of the humans.  Rydia learned more then just how to Summon, she became friends with the creatures, learning respect for them and their lives.  These were not magickal constructs, they had feelings and personalities and her powers should never be taken lightly.

Time flowed differently also, and but an hour to Cecil's party was a day to Rydia.  By the time the Queen felt she was ready to re-enter the human lands, she had grown from a young child into a young woman.  The Queen warned her that a greater evil was afoot, and bid her to rejoin with Cecil and company to defeat it. 

When it all ended, Rydia returned to Baron and stayed there after Cecil and Rosa's wedding.  With Mist in ruins, she had no home to return to, and instead made Baron her new home.  Sometimes, she felt lost, now uncertain what this world held for her, or what she would do now.  Prince Edge sometimes made an attempt to woo her, but she rebuffed him.  So many had been lost while fighting Zeromus, that she detested the thought of being close to someone who could just as easily be lost to her.

Then came the Convergences.  Rydia doesn't actually remember them happening, she fell into a deep illness that refused to release her.  When it finally lifted, she found herself too weak to cast, and had lost, actually lost the ability to Summon greater creatures.  To make matters worse, one look in the mirror revealed a younger face.  It was as if her time in the Land of Summoned Creatures was slowly being reversed.

Rydia blames the Convergences for this, and is sorely afraid of what it may mean for her.  She does not want to turn into an 8 year old girl again, nor does she want to lose what little power she has left.  She knows she must returned to the Land of Summoned Creatures again, though how is something she hasn't figured out just yet...