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THE CHRONICLES OF FINALGAMER My Sword, My Clan

"Justice must be tempered with mercy, otherwise it is nothing more than revenge." Ahrah, Dust: An Elysian Tail

_I need more time. How long? Six months, at the very least, he is almost ready and I can free our friend from this. Our time is running short by the year. You have been loyal to me so far and for this I shall trust you, but- Please sir, believe in me. The seer said this not me, he needs more time to prepare with this ruby that he spoke of, to combine their wisdom whole even as we speak! A ruby? Someone that he found, someone with...strange power that can shift through the lands of the dead, someone who can...save him, someone who can free him! Do you think that this...seer of yours shall truly free him? Does a cure of such cursedness exist, will our friend even live that long enough? It does, it...I believe in him. I just need him to be strong, just a few more months and then I can tell him everything...please. You'll have your plan still, even as you sit from Cocytus far away just please- Very well. We did not expect the wasteland to consume our friend so easily but he has survived with our help, standing on his own two feet greatly after. You may gift him another journey. Thank you...I know you do not want more suffering beyond this. He will live. He has learned many things and now surely must be the one we sought. What about the other vagrant, the one who rode through the stars? ...I...I do not know. Hmm? I...I wish I knew how to help the black one but it seems even...even they cannot help each other, not unless one of them sees the truth...or maybe the lack thereof. Not him. There is another one. A third one. Wh-...what?! You did not see him? He is here in this land you have sent your dear friend to. Did you not know of this? No...I didn't. I swear I didn't, is he dangerous?! No...not in the least towards our mutual friend. Interesting...first he has woven one thread of his own, now two. What do you mean? He is a strange creature, a beast that fate should not have wanted...but almost seems to defy that very nature by a most impossible serendipity. Now let us watch...and learn of our fortuitous choice. _

In the midst of darkened ruins lingering on the mountain tops a strange portal opened briefly from within the depths of its subterrane. Crackling to existence where no one would hear, the raptor birthed out of the cold blistering vortex that shoved him to the cold dust-ridden floor. James Campbell planted both feet and hands forwards as he struggled to stand up, feeling the tear of dimensional space dissipate from behind him. A tingling nerve down his back signalled its disappearance from this world. He tried not to vomit, heaving slightly as he stood shakily on both feet whilst a stinging sensation grew inside his head. Even with his new upgrades from months ago the teleportation was still a severe drain on his nano-abilities. The area around him was certainly underground but not cold for some reason, warm desert heat that felt all-too-familiar to him once more. Crumbling remnants of pillars and ancient carvings showed around him in what seemed like a broken corridor, a dead end that placed him with only one way forward. "Nnnngh...so what's this Ivalice place like then, ruins don't exactly give a good idea of what's happening right now." He meekly walked forwards feeling his current state as a slight blur came to his vision, still recovering from the after-effects of cross-dimensional travel. He brought forwards his scissors preparing for any fights as he made his way down the hallway. Decaying mortar simply greeted him by a small crinkling of dust, seeping through the cracks of the stone ceiling above him as he watched always for any movements. The decor of the place was certainly ancient, maybe tribal despite the unique swirling patterns implicating more advanced concepts of belief. At one point however he saw another section of hallway that did not seem to be carved naturally, but rather that it had been crushed inwards to reveal a whole new area of old rusted steel. A familiar sight to James but this design was much different. Passing from the stone hallway he saw a rather tilted circular room resembling the bridge of a ship, with seats and ancient-looking panels almost as if it were some sort of alien spacecraft as he tapped on the metal. Certainly an iron forged of the earthen plain. It was then that he heard the sounds of battle from further beyond, the acoustics reverberating throughout the stone-and-metal corridor as he rushed towards the source of the noise. Hopping over the seats of the old wreck, he found a wall weaker than the rest on the other side that seemed ready to crumble with a little push, but not wanting to be trapped in a potential landslide.

"Don't really wanna use the blaster, too much energy...maybe a fireball might work if I really burn it up...yeah, yanno what I remember there was something like that, it's been a while. Alright, remember what Kammy taught you, it's all about the voice, force the voice and you force the power, like through the throat. Words are power." Channelling his nano-energy through his blades he watched them slowly well up with fire along the tips of rusted steel, slightly curved inwards as they met like twin rivers of molten lava. He focused much more than usual, wanting to push every bit of flame along to the very edges of his weapon, glowing white-hot as slowly he began forming a sphere of brilliant fire as he struggled to remember his word for it. "HhhuuuuuuuuuHADOUKEN!" With scissors recoiling backwards as if taking on the image of a gun itself, the hot ball of fire burst its way through the weakened wall as it fully disintegrated, crumbling down with deep burning vibrations throughout its stone visage. The way forwards was now even more audible with the sounds of combat as James headed onwards, another stone section of corridors seamlessly sculpted from ages turning towards the left. It took him at least another four minutes to reach another large area, the sight of which was strange at first. A moist central room with an oblong shape, the few remnants of marble sculptures indicating some ornate purpose was given to this place, a fountain in the midst of it now desecrated from its pure white state, now faded with one single column around seven foot high. Water was about two inches thick, the raptor's claws padding thickly upon the stone damp as rays of light glinted in from the world above. Green and brown walls covered in moss, lichen and hanging vines now bore witness to a great fight. What appeared to be a white-furred creature with dark coppery armour was swiftly zigzagging between three villainous serpents, vipers with long teeth and a set of spikes two on each side of its cobra-hooded head. Even the tail was forked cruelly as they violently slithered fast, striking at the white long-eared prey that somewhat resembled a rabbit, swinging a blade in one hand. A striking lunge of vicious fangs was dodged, the prey ducking back with one hand behind itself to let the snake lash out above the smooth-furred body before thrusting its sword upwards, straight into its throat.

Writhing death of ebony impaled on the blade, the fighter kicked the snake off and set upon the second beast who was ready to avenge its brother. James barely got a look from such a rapid assault, the white-furred beast the height of a child suddenly hopping its way up upon the fountain's remnants, stark in the light clearly before the two serpents hissing with threat. One of them dared coil itself around the smooth fountainhead, the little fighter hopping upwards just as the snake lunged its head upon the top of the fountain before staring upwards. "HRAAAAAAH!" The long-eared lapine shrieked before falling upon the viper's head impaled directly by the sword, plunging downwards into the black scale without wasting a moment's opportunity as blood poured out from the fountaintop. Black ichor flowing down on all four sides, the water stained as the small fighter soon witnessed a new player come into the fray. The third snake had been too busy observing its sibling's death upon the marble as James rushed forwards silently, scissors open wide before the viper turned too late to watch the long blades shut neatly down around its throat. A shrieking hiss cut short by surprise as its head completely severed from its body. The warrior standing above looked down upon the newcomer, the raptor smiling upwards with a nod of satisfaction as the snake's body writhed in desperate mortis. Suddenly the warrior leapt from the pillar, rushing towards James who brought up his blades and dodged swiftly to his right ready to strike down upon the incoming blade. But the long-eared fighter was not aiming for him. A fourth serpent had come slithering up behind James before the warrior shoved its sword straight through its eyesocket, severing the brain with one thrust as the beast gurgled its last breath with forked tongue frantically twitching. "You were careless." The saviour who said this was normally not one he would accept as any kind of warrior. Standing at a height of 3'9'' with long-furred ears and a small rabbit-like face, a strange red-haired bauble hung by a small thread off its head. Minus the batwings flickering on its back, it looked almost perfectly like some form of mutant lapine a child would make, yet the sword and leather armour it wore shone as brightly as the day it had been bought, clearly well-cared for with a blade as sharp as an eagle's eyes.

It stood before James bathed within a ray of light shimmering from above, armed with sword pointing straight towards him that gave an oddly crystal-blue light to it as if made of some sort of mineral, a shortsword that to the small beast was more than enough a length for it. Its armour rustled barely against the cold wind, leather brigandine formed in platelets even down its small sleeves. The voice was clearly female, cold and somewhat aloof with sword firmly in her left hand. "Lower your guard and you allow the enemy in, kupo." "Heh," said FG, "I should have remembered that, yeah. Who are you?" "My name shall only be known by friends, or to those who are about to die." "Hmph...alright. I'm not your enemy though." "Nor are you friend, kupo." She sheathed her blade seeing that James had done the same, his intentions made clear as he raised his hands up in peace. "Are you a treasure hunter?" she asked. "More like a punk who gets involved in way too much trouble for his own good...least according to some people." "...your honesty and humility is appreciated, kupo, but that answers nothing to me." "I'll answer you if you tell me your name." "Then it is not worth my time. Leave now, before another mistake shall claim you dearly in this crumbling sanctum." The warrior promptly headed off past the raptor, her stature practically the height of a child despite a voice of clear authority, walking further along the drier area of the ruins with a firm stare. James rarely had seen anyone give such an aura before, even Paladin Jeffries had some hard love about him, "father to his men" and all that sort of thing. But he was fascinated by this individual upon entering this new place, as well as the fact she was at the very least not aiming to kill him as an idea grew in his head, adding: "Actually...I dunno how to get out of here., I fell down a hole back there where I found some-" "That is not my problem," said the warrior. "Maybe you could just, I dunno guide me out of this place, or at least point me to the-" He didn't even see her hand draw her blade before the sword aimed at his stomach. Despite the clear height difference between them, her battle-hardened eyes showed she was not to be trifled with. "I work alone. I do not look after...'punks', kupo." "...point taken. But you might need an extra hand." "Might? Won't." "Then...can I at least be backup, just in case something happens that you don't predict?" "I know the layout of this area, including the monsters within." "And how do you know that?" "I have a bestiary. Even treasure hunters possess one, kupo." "Really?" With her other hand digging into a satchel at the side of her waist, she pulled out a small neatly-sized tome and deftly flicked the pages single-handed over to one memorised page, showing the serpents she had slain. "Viper, found in the Ozmone Plain and of Beast genus, Serpent class, kupo. Voracious appetites despite their appearance, they have two stomachs both of which connect by an intestinal trail down towards their tail. They are weak to that of holy element, but a sword shall do justly, kupo." "But I'm not a treasure hunter," added James. "Then you are a thief," she said closing the book, "worth even less." "I was, when I was a kid. Can't you tell I'm not now?" "...hmmmm..."

Her curiosity was peaked slightly as she looked over his body, her sword still out as she examined him carefully. His body structure was certainly more well-toned than the average thief was, brown scales and purple markings upon his snout and she had to admit the way James had wielded his bizarre weapon was not the clumsy swing of a foolhardy vagrant, but rather precise and determined. She could see experience in his eyes, as well as an honesty borne out of both exhaustion and resignation. The armour she found odd but even more strange was the rather blatant coloured bracelet of blue and yellow, bound on the bicep of his left arm the fibre of which appeared unusual along with his haphazard-looking armour. The leggings were odd too, dyed blue but of a finely woven thread, unaware of denim as a fabric from a future world. He was however even more strange in his gaze, his eyes looking rather weak and paler than normally they would be. She also noticed an odd discolouration across the entirety of his left arm, compared to his right. Perhaps he was older than she took him for, asking: "Where were you schooled?" "Uhh...shit I only went to high school a year before I left London." "A year only, and yet you wield that blade accomplished, kupo?" "OH, you mean-noooo no uhhh I trained for three years proper under my master Glenn, then I kept up my sword skills after." "Recent moreso it seems, and judging by the scars fire has desired its bed with you at some point." "Heh, that obvious? I used to be a knight yanno, until I left recently." "Really? What company were you with, kupo?" "Brotherhood of Steel, Midwest Division." Her curiosity was piqued, an eyebrow raised up towards him as she cocked her head slightly. "I have not heard of this brotherhood, are you of monastic order?" "Ummmm...no, just a guard group off very faraway." "Hm. No, your eyes bely a different story, kupo. Not monastic...what kingdom are you of?" "Uhh, Chicago?" "I...see, this 'Shikahgo' kupo, does it lie in Nabradia?" "...yes." Silence drifted between them as she gave a blank stare of contempt, raising her hand with blade up higher towards his right pectoral. "You are a liar. But only when it concerns geography, not history, kupo." "Heh, alright, I'm not from Nabradia." "But you are something. Plenty of scars mark you as either a good warrior, or a lucky fool." "Iiiiii like to think I'm both. Either way I can fight, if you don't need backup then I at least wanna ask for your help in getting me out of this. I just need a way out and some guidance to the nearest settlement, then I'll be out of your hair." "...fine." She sheathed her blade in acknowledgement of this, seeing that he was not going to leave and that he was not entirely incapable of defending himself. "You may accompany me, kupo, but you will fight your own battles and not expect any assistance." "Loud and clear. I'm James...and you are?" "...a traveller. For now. Come, do not speak loudly, kupo." "Alright, pleased to meet you I guess." Heading across the hall they soon passed into another set of corridors, the raptor now seeing that her swordsheath was on the right side of her waist for her left hand to take, as well as both a satchel and a backpack holding supplies on the left side of her waist. James still had his own satchel and backpack with him, which made him feel solidarity as a fellow traveller and warrior, the echoing footsteps throughout the cavernous ruins giving much more emptiness than actual comfort of companionship.

Darkness interspersed by rays of light coming from various cracks all through the ancient tributaries of rock and stone-cold metal, steel remnants of an age bygone as consoles and living quarters simply crumbled beneath the weight of the mountaintop. Yet somehow all this was connected through a series of tubular passages or odd-sculpted ruined halls carved in the original rock. James was fascinated by such a strange blend of modern and ancient, wondering what the story behind it was. The creature that guided him did not turn even once, keeping straight ahead with her stare as she watched for any movements. Each time they entered a larger room she put her hand towards James signalling him to be silent. He said nothing as they cautiously looked before they leaped down from an arched passage into a much greater promenade of ruins past. A rectangular room of sorts with seats lining all around the area focused purely upon a marble platform oval-shaped in the centre. Once the area was clear of any danger, the other two exits giving them a choice on where to leave next, the raptor asked as they walked onto the central podium: "What IS this place?" "A forum," said the native creature. "Presumably for debating upon social issues of the day, kupo." "How ancient are these people?" "I do not know." "What's with the steel parts, they don't look like they were part of this." "They are not, those are the remains of airships that crashlanded into this mountain haven." "...seriously? Airships?" "Is that concept unusual, kupo?" "No just...damn, somebody fucked up on their driving." "I am simply here to eradicate a beast who has made this home for itself, not criticise those of this rendered past." "Really?" asked James. "What kind of beast?" "A sewer beast who thinks effluence is too good for him, and so decided to relocate itself up to the highlands." "Ugh...so where's it gonna be?" "The dampest place, kupo. ...ah." Walking across to the other side of the ancient forum, she noticed some small purple mushrooms sprouting near one of the exits and softly investigated without touching. She headed further in through the corridor. "Fungus, indicates greater dampness, we must be close." The raptor said nothing as they stepped further in, wary to not antagonise her or any beasts that may be present, the widened passage showing many claws and forcing of solid stone apart, heading downwards upon a smooth trickling slope simply eroded over time by water. They took care in scaling down it, digging their heels or using blades to sink into the soft soil and cautiously navigate downwards. They soon reached the bottom to find yet another room that was covered in fungi.

Further down they found another section of the mountain ruins that most certainly was not of the original construct, a torn steel grimace of rusted corridors and broken supply crates. The bodies of strange beasts, some small and some great, were all but rendered free of their former flesh to become nothing but skeletal remains. James noticed among them a few humans as well as possibly a certain reptilian sort, but most of them he realised were about the same size as the knight who now lead him through. It was what appeared to be some form of storage containment of an old ship, spoiled supplies and crumbling debris in the now crushed and twisted hall of once booming rectangular gait. The walls caved in upon it, rockslides all around them covering up the bodies, grim fearful streaks upon each of the former crew's skull faces glinting up at the two passersby. James could not help but look inside the various cargo crates, sturdily reinforced of both steel and wood trappings and mostly a mishmash of supplies ranging from food to machine parts. He noticed the technology within was all previous tense, cogs and gears, capacitors and flux bellows that made him wonder what sort of technology presented itself in this realm anew. The monsters had picked the bones clean as he stooped over one of the smaller skeletons noticing nothing of interest left upon them, not even a single gold coin which made him wonder on where they put them. Perhaps some sort of other storage for the crew's personal effects, but that was not his concern at the moment as he heard his guide calling him by the tap of her foot. "OH, sorry," said FG getting up, "was just-" "Come, the sooner we find this beast the better." "Gotcha. Man are these all part of the same airship that crashed here?" "Possibly, I am not an expert involving machinery." "Heh, neither am I...except bikes." "Bikes?" "Never mind it's not important, we have to find this beast right?" "Agreed." Passing through the crumbling storage room they found a new area, the number of fungi increasing with each step as soon they hit near another watery substance in the next room. Stone partitions separating parts of the square room into what almost resembled cubicle stalls with drainage holes in each one of them, all of which were now both incredibly damp and somewhat pungent with the new flora. Even James recognised the look of the place despite the gaping torn-off drainage hole in the centre of the area large enough for any monster to come out of. "Please tell me this is not an old bathroom." "It is," said the female. "A public toilet, possibly for the forum gatherers to take breaks inbetween speeches, kupo." "Oh good, after enough months wading through shit I get to do it all over again, gee that sure bones me up like crazy-" "Quiet...I hear him."

Indeed there was a noise restless throughout the air, a somewhat deep harrowed breathing that fumed from the torn drainhole further beckoning them in. The raptor brought out his scissors and readied himself for a fight, as the female noticed the hole was rather dark from within. She stayed her hand behind to keep him back as she dug into her satchel, bringing out a small yellow orb with a fuse attached to its top. "Be ready," was her only warning. The warrior twisted the thread off the top and dropped it into the hole waiting for a response. She stepped back two paces before hearing a sparked explosion resonating across the whole area. A monstrous shriek of fury had come from within as she prepped her blade, the raptor panicking slightly from the electrical pulses seeping from the hole but not close enough to hurt him. "Here it comes!" What emerged with a burst of rage from the ancient public lavatory drain was a most terrifying beast, eight feet tall that stank like a sewer and slathered with bilgewater down its lips. Green bulbous muscles and thick chains wrapped around its wrist, cloven hooves sluiced water from around it as the moist dew and fungal damp of the floor cracked under its weight, supported easily as it shrieked with the head of a scaled rat. The small furred knight introduced their new foe with: "Ah, I see we have finally met Aps, kupo!" "The fuck is THIS?!" cried out FG. "My prey, now if you wish to earn your bread then you will assist!" "Oh good. Time to take out the trash then!" "Hold!" She gazed sideways at him sternly as he drew his scissors the snarling beast sniffing upon them as it squinted feverishly looking to see which one to kill first. "This is my mark, his gaze shall meet my blade alone as the last thing it sees. If you kill him, I will leave you to rot with him." "Fine fine, you want the last blow I'll just weaken him a li'l, he's just a big-ass rat anyway." "Don't be foolish, he may be a beast but he can manipulate water well, kupo!" "Ahh huh...don't use that lightning bomb near me by the way!" "If I need to, I shall warn you, that is your responsibility not mine!" Running towards its feet, she swung her blade down low in both hands before striking from left to right, cleaving across the monster's right knee as it swung its massive fist practically the size of her. James hurried off towards the left side of the beast working by a pincer movement, thrusting his bladetips deep into the monster's thigh and crushing through the thick muscular hide before blood dripped fluidly down its leg. Snarling, it backhanded towards the raptor who dodged low to the ground with a splash of muddy water and swung his way round to the inside of its leg.

Trapped between both legs he stabbed upwards, but the creature had noticed where he went and slammed its fist downwards in order to block his skyward strike, stabbed through the finger as it screeched a howling rage. James suddenly felt himself pulled upwards, the monster wrapping its hand around his scissors and upending him up towards its breathing heavy maw, the stink of foetid teeth almost making FG gag with retching face. But before the monster could bite his leg off, he shot out a blast of fire from his hand and down its throat, shrieking with a choking fit as hot flames sucked out the air from its mouth. With that the Aps dropped him, clasping its hands to its throat as James backed off watching the female warrior use the momentary distraction to climb up onto one of the ancient stone partitions. Within range now above the beast, she sprinted along the narrow stone wall's top and leapt high off the edge, planting her blade downwards upon its shoulder with a brutal scream. Her blade shoved straight to the hilt, cracking through the shoulderbone as the monster shrieked a foul anguished temper as blood started bubbling from its hot wound, down its arm in red rivulets upon green turgid flesh. The smaller fighter carved her way down its bicep, before a slapping mighty hand of filth-green tried to smack her off forcing her to pull out her crystal-blue blade now tinted liked red ruby. Landing on the floor she saw her new work, the open gaping wound of its left bicep hotly pulsating fresh blood as it snarled and clutched its wound with the opposite hand. Soon however its eyes began shimmering, a cold intimate light come forth slowly as she warned FG: "Be careful, he has magic!" "MAGIC?!" cried FG. "This thing knows magic?!" "I warned you it could manipulate water now guard yourself, either move to the stone partitions or try to break through it, the choice is yours kupo!" She made her choice as she launched herself up to the stone separating walls of ancient showers as the monster summoned its true strength, a chaotic force of water from the very depths of the sewer drain behind it. Beating its chest with a violent roar and a glimmer of darkness, the beast somehow was able to control water itself, raw old sewage that came forth like a tidal wave from behind as a mighty wave of darkness. Splashing over the monster itself, the raptor had no time to dodge a small tsunami that literally encompassed the whole room, firing up his blades burning white-hot with rage.

Closing his eyes and mouth he drew his scissors back with his right arm across his face, burning steel come forth from behind his left shoulder as nanos twitched down his claws in the space of nanoseconds. Fire licked across his ear enticing him, the roaring force of sewage come down upon him as he striked with one hit, swinging harsh with one upwards swing as the flames carved through the water itself. Steam rose forth suddenly the moment the scissors hit fluid, the stench permeating into a gaseous form of hot stink sweltering up towards the roof. The water split apart on both sides of him, leaving the front of him dry and scorching with heat like a sauna as he stared down before the beast, its piercing sight born of disbelief at the raptor's trick as he rushed forwards without warning. Flinching all of a sudden, it barely comprehended James striking hard towards its right leg with white-hot scissors thrusting deep into the side of its knee. Severing the arteries within sent it down buckling, shrieking with agony as it striked hard towards the raptor near the front of its lowered chest, who simply leapt upwards with a gust of wind to avoid the lunging swing of its fist. That was the perfect cue for the female fighter to hurl another ball of lightning contained within a small orb of hot spark waiting to ignite, crackling all along the monster's back as it shrieked and howled with agony running through its nerve vessels. James saw the yellow bomb fly through the air with the rope trigger pulled, dodging to the very side of the cubicle room and latching onto the walls tightly to stay off the water-ridden ground. Brief sizzling of sharp currents permeated throughout the room as the female knight leaped down upon its back, roaring a warrior's cry as she plunged straight into its neck. The monster screeched and swung its arms upwards trying to throw her off, but she thrusted deeper in towards the rock-solid spine as she twisted and stabbed viciously, severing as much as she could of its vital nerves before digging in the right spot. Ducking one fist that grabbed at her, she only let go once to jump over another swing from behind its head as she latched onto her blade the moment she came back down. The force of gravity upon the female warrior coming down made her swing downwards along the neck of the sewer beast, her cerulean blade carving down the right side of its neck as she slowly decapitated the Aps itself. Every few inches of raw flesh ripped open before her it would struggle less, breathing shakily with listless tongue hanging for dear life as it grasped feverishly at where she was only to see the knight come down next to its eyes. They slowly rolled upwards in one last breathing of effort, sighing from its whimpering throat as the warrior severed the neck fully halfway.

Landing upon her feet in the filthwater splashing, she soon saw the beast drop dead with a heavy thud of sewage, fallen before her in reverence of her warrior's skill before she nodded firmly to it, almost to herself. James stood back behind her amazed at the violence he had seen, blood pouring across its right shoulder and down its chest bleakly from the neck cavity. "Damn," was all he could say. "Not...bad." "...you should have told me you were a spellblade, kupo." "Huh?" "Your magic," she replied to him, "I would have preferred to have known about it in the past tense." "What do you mean spellblade?" "You...ugh." Without saying any more she went towards its body seeing that it was truly dead before working on the left side of its neck, shoving her blade in and slowly carving it open before the blood trickled neatly from it to the last drop. The sounds of sawing flesh and bone was a little disturbing for James to hear as she grunted her way through it, shanking through the flabby skin. "Next...time-nnngh, inform me of such abilities, I do NOT like surprises." "Sorry sorry, I didn't think I had to tell you EVERYTHING about me." "I do not care-NNNGH-for biography, I simply wish to know what LIMITS...you are capable of, if you wish to stand alongside ME, GAAH!" The blade caught itself next to a thicker bone as she snarled thickly through her teeth, slowly realigning her crystal-blue blade as she sunk in much further to the hilt, halfway through the central spinal column as James asked: "What is that thing anyway, why did it know how to summon water like some wizard?" "The Apanda, nnngh...my mark also known as the Aps, kupo. A worthy beast despite its raw filth with...some meagre ability to summon water itself." "Meagre? It fucking flash-flooded the whole room with shitwater!" "But you are alive, therefore I call it meagre. Now comes the difficult part...transporting the HEAD-GRUUH!" "Wait what?!" Her azure sword was struggling to keep blue by this point, as the female knight fully severed off the Aps' neck to let it thud firmly onto the floor, clearly half the size of her as she sheathed her blade after wiping its blood clean on the monster's head. James saw no special interest in it other than as a gruesome trophy, asking: "Why do you want the head?!" "My mission was to destroy this beast and so I must have proof of its existence gone. Since I am ingratiating myself to take you to the city, you would do best to recompense me in taking its head back as proof of my mission's clearance. I believe that is fair, kupo." "Um...alright then, I mean if that's why you're here I guess I should help but-" "Take this." From her backpack she brought out an easily-foldable sack that spread out to a great enough width to easily contain the head, rolling the monster's head into it with James' assistance before closing the top tightly with a length of rope woven into it. It smelt weird, perhaps even moreso than the monster's head did but at least the sack smelled nicer. Just more unusual with odd mulchy scents, like rotting vegetables on a pungent summer's night. "Uuuugh...won't this attract monsters?" asked FG. "No," replied the knight, "the sack is laced with herbal supplements that shall staunch the flow of blood keeping both scent and taste of it within the sack itself." "Smells rotten as fuck." "It is simply the viscosity of the plant mixture, now come. Let us leave this place, kupo." "Fine by me." Stuffing the head into the sack, they soon left but not before the creature turned and warned with threatening point of her finger. "Do not drop that beast's head, the more intact it is the better I shall be paid so whatever I lose I shall take off from you in debt." "Yes, ma'am."

With a near-mocking salute he hoisted the bag over his shoulder and walked through to the exit, following his sour guide who navigated by some measure of both intellect and memory. Firstly they planted themselves into the broken drainage that was part of the main sewer which while was now less flooded than usual was still rather unsavoury to walk in. With most of the water now in the upper room they had less to wade through as the female knight made her estimates on where they were heading next. It took at least twenty more minutes just to find a way out of the ruins, the long labyrinthine passages of the twisting turning sewer like the small intestine that James tightened everytime he felt slushwater round his heels. The knight of course had it worse being much lower to the ground but so far was no worse for wear or simply too trained to not let the stench get to her. The constant mediocre brown and dull darkness was stinging to their eyes along with said stench, but soon they found a light up ahead. James nearly ran for it but remembered his cargo and stayed firmly on the spot, bracing himself. Slowly they walked, nearing the greater white exit glowing with bright sun up above as they soon found the smell of the sewer had faded from behind them before breathing in cold fresh air. James could only gasp one word before taking it all in as to where he was now. A whole new world unspoilt by the destruction of mankind, or at least most of it. Pure unadulterated beauty. "...holy." A grand pristine mountainous plain of verdant wonder, green as far as the eye could see with lush rivers painted across the landscape in wide smooth curvatures, thin wiry trees and tall peaks across the horizon in some parts. Creatures moved in all shapes and sizes across the midst of the open plain, fighting and congregating as beasts far stranger than that he had ever seen. And that was saying something for all he had been through. Gators with shaggy bodies and huge jaws slithering through the water; bipedal hawks the size of men with blue wings stretching at arm's length; strong-bodied equines with shimmering metallic hoods studded with wicked spikes far too uniform to be of natural design. It was all so strange even for James in this time of his journey to witness such beasts, but it was not the creatures themselves that overwhelmed him. Nor was it the large metal structures littering the great savannah, remnants of a past war which he now realised were the desiccated remains of airships long abandoned.

It was the overwhelming green. He had not seen so much green in months since the Midwestern Wasteland had robbed him of his sense of colour. All he could was breathe out one great gasp of awe before the moogle demanded his attention. "Come." She began scaling down the mountain as the raptor joined her, careful with his claws upon the rock with a weighted monster's head upon his back. The downwards climb was long, much longer than expected until they finally reached ground level, treacherous cracks and rifts in the sunkissed rocks glinting lightly within shadows as James hopped cautiously from rock to rock. The moogle was far more experienced, hopping over ledges and short ravines without a second thought, her wings seemingly useless and offering no gift of flight, but her feet gave enough strength to leap to and fro. Whenever James had to deal with a more treacherous jump he had his own gust of wind to accompany him, boosting across gaps despite the extra weight as the small creature never strayed too far ahead of him, waiting with a tap of the boot. Once they finally reached the ground below, the first thing James did was sigh a heavy relief, scrunching up his clawed feet in bliss as the cool green grass washed over his bare feet, humming softly. "HHhhhhhmmmmmmm...god I missed this." "Missed what, kupo?" "The feel of grass...I've been walking through a desert for like six months or so, haven't seen anything green in like a long time." "Hm. Enjoy it while it lasts, for we shall soon be entering a desert beyond this plain." "Aw seriously?" "Not a true desert, but the city itself is seen as the jewel of such, kupo." "What place is that?" "Rabanastre. The centre of commerce in all of Ivalice, you shall find someone there to assist you." "Awesome, lead the way." James did not mind the next three hours of walking, crossing the great plains as they carefully avoided heading near any animals, wild and monstrous as they were and not something he wanted to fight. Especially not whilst carrying a monster's head in a sack on his back, and thankfully neither was his guide. The crunching of grass underneath his feet, the warm tender breeze that carried the moist dew from trees nearby, the sounds of life and nature most strange and unsightly from whooping shrieks to tremulent roars all around him. Life was beautiful, even the most terrifying. For the most part the animals ignored them so long as they did not approach, skirting around certain territorial spots that the female knight warned FG of as they crossed rivers and grassland. The smell of a dozen kinds of musk permeated the air, a far different cry from hot desert winds that carried nothing but death. Here he saw a new world, a new age of a long-forgotten past maybe. He tried not to slow down despite his whimsical senses at being in such a wholesomely vibrant land.

The airships' remains in one way almost seemed post-apocalyptic by themselves, the crushed steel and broken thorns of civilisation now claimed by nature, worn down by moss and storms as new homes, new landmarks a different shade from the mountain peaks. Eventually, the grasslands faded away and soon they passed into the hot desert plains which while was not a wasteland as James had become accustomed to, was certainly more arid. The harsh sandy soil was an unfriendly reminder despite the thick bush and staunch hardy vegetation that scraped at their leather armour. The animals were different even between plains, the fauna now changed to strange spotted wolf beasts with a giant horn on their snout reminiscent of a beetle, as well as a dusty variation of the vipers from the mountain ruins. For the most part there was little interest, and since it was only the early afternoon according to James' fellow traveller, they would soon reach Rabanastre within the day, adding: "It would be best to reach the city before the rains come, kupo." "Why?" asked James. "The weather cycle changes greatly, creatures of various types come in different weather and it is here there are stronger, more dangerous beasts when the rains come kupo." "Ahhh okay...how old are you?" asked FG. "...that is not a question good people ask, kupo." "I'm just not sure that's all, I must be like thirty-one now, I like knowing how badass people are relevant to their age." "Bad...ass?" she said quizzically. "Yeah like...um...cool, awesome, powerful, skilled." "That is your third mistake." "Third?" Raising a furred finger she indicated the first of three points whilst still moving forwards. "Firstly was lowering your guard. Second was to assume I would have use of your service. Third was to make assumption based on my age, kupo." "...you don't got many friends do you?" "Friends do not make good business partners when comes the division of profit." "What you mean?" The creature stopped shortly without turning her head to speak. "...do you truly not know why I am here?" "No." "The mission within the mountains?" "Not at all." "Hmm...very well. I am twenty-eight if that must concern you, kupo." "Cool, I just never met anyone like you is all so..." "Believe me." She turned her head halfway peering over her shoulder. "I am not some ditherer. I am a knight." "Yeah? Well as a knight myself I understand." "Clearly," said the female knight sarcastically, "especially when one's armour is so poorly-branded, barely conserving itself from becoming pieces kupo. What poor beast did that hide get taken from?" "Brahmin." "...another name I do not recognise." "It's like a cow with two heads." "Hmph...a proper beast hide shall give you better coverage, mayhaps once you reach town you can earn some better armour, kupo." "Why do you keep saying kupo at the end of every sentence?" This was what made her turn fully with a cold look of indignation, an eye squinting with disbelief. "Are you serious?" "...y-yes?" "First your armour comes from a beast not recorded in my bestiary, now you question something every child knows about my kin, kupo? Either you are far errant than I expected or simply remedial." "....can't I be both?" "No." "Then I'm not either." "Hm. I don't have time to explain every single answer to you, now follow me and don't speak until we reach the town." "Okay okay, I'm sorry. Must sound pretty insensitive right now huh?" "No, just ignorant." "Isn't that the same thing?" "...yes. I suppose it is, kupo." In the end they did not have to worry, for by the time they passed through the hills and fields, straggly bushroots nipping at the heels and the odd docile rabbit with leaf-like ears hopping through the scrubland, they would come upon Rabanastre itself. The only thing of note was a nomad village of only a few humans, sand-pale skin with humble rags who simply waved good wishes and warnings upon the rain soon coming. The female warrior had kept a good head through navigating across the plains, avoiding enemy encounters except for one rather rambunctious serpent that tried to ambush her. But she did not even hesitate, dodging left the moment it striked its head forwards with fangs shrieking and lunging towards its throat, a stabbing cut that severed half its entire neck with a bloodied slump onto its belly. Soon they were at the gates to the city, sometime around late afternoon.

The city of Rabanastre brought him straight back to when he first entered Dusty Dunes almost six years ago. A bustling industrious mercantile home of the desert regions, but one far more grand and sumptuous in its wealth than anything like the Mushroom Kingdom had given him. From the moment he set foot inside its borders, the sounds of a dozen dialects came filtering in through his translatoras the galactic upgrades to it gave him a much easier time in filtering out all the noise this time. The many species he saw also intrigued him. Not only were humans once again prevalent in this new part of his journey, but also the small lapine creatures like that of his guide in various shades of fur ranging from snow white to desert dust. He also saw, very rarely, the odd human with rabbit ears and long slender bodies showing off finely-toned legs perfect for running starts. Another race was large and porcine with fat bellies and exposed chests, huge hog-snouts and hanging dog-ears as they waddled through the markets. There were also hunched soft-furred beasts with canine-shaped faces but a snout more resembling reptilian than anything else despite their gentle fur. Then he saw the true reptiles of this world in the form of long-snouted, rough-limbed creatures wearing only leggings and having two long ears on each side of their head. Some of them wore blindfolds, yet managed to navigate the streets exceptionally well. James would have made a comment were he not overwhelmed by the majestic trade market, stalls of many fruits and sundries, shields, armour and swords shining in the sun as people fought amongst their bargain trades, clamouring in the cobbled streets between coloured buildings of both blue and sandstone design. What was even more astounding however were the airships slowly floating above their heads in the pure blue sky with rainstorms in the south behind them. Grand majestic beasts of iron and oaken throne simply flittering across the air struggling to resemble clouds with shapely luminous forms. Some hovered on propellers whilst others he noticed had some sort of exhaust he could not quite discern, but he did not look above too long to not lose track of his guide, following after her along smooth stone streets of archaic design in blue colourings. As the creature led him through the crowd, they arrived upon the southern plaza, a verdant paradigm of an oasis with palm trees and a joyous-looking fountain, children scurrying back and forth with such joy and excitement through the waters splashing about as James smirked at the sight. Adults were also sitting all around of every species talking, romancing and holding hands, or even just drawing the plaza with studious eyes always to capture the scene right. James kept a tight hold on their prize slung over his back, making his way towards the east end of the city as he watched with awe around him. But at the same time he knew to keep all senses about him for he knew such cities and crowds attracted the most petty of rogues scurrying to sneak a few gold off from him. His satchel was locked down tight, and his backpack was too high to reach as they passed through the streets. A thousand voices from a dozen regions at least, the smell of desert travellers and fresh produce all the more making him feel homesick. Even with the sight of such new creatures all around him as he walked up close behind his fellow traveller, asking: "So where do we take this thing?" "The Matsuno," she replied, "I have a contractual obligation to make." "Matsuno? That a desert?" "No, it is a tavern. This requires...a special trade, kupo-NNGH!"

Suddenly a small blue blur had bumped into her from out of nowhere, cluttering a few boxes down in front of her as they stopped watching. A small reptilian creature like the ones James saw around him, long-eared but oddly coloured blue with brown eyes hidden slightly behind a dull steel plating over the nose, like glasses without the lens or frame for them as he said feverishly with slurring speech: "S-s-szhorry! Sszhorry m-misszh let me ju-" "My apologies child," said the female blithely. "I did not observe myself clearly." "J-jusszht um, let me, nnngh-" "Hey-ey lemme help." James put down his sack next to the warrior and helped the small reptile with his boxes, gathering them hastily before propping them back onto his tiny blue arms. Three crates neatly stacked containing various sundries and small bottles, the boy grunting slightly under the weight but it was more his lack of vision that stopped him more than anything else. "You gonna be alright kid?" "Mmhmm!" said the blue creature. "Th-thanksszh sszhir!" As the youth ran off with a reptilian lisp of gratitude, James hoisted up the sack over his shoulder once again before letting the lapine creature guide him towards their destination. She was not however pleased at what had just happened, furrowing her brow with contempt. "What if he had been a thief, kupo?" "Then you would have gutted him right?" "Not a child, no." "Ohhhh wow you have a heart in there?! Fuck I thought you-" "DON'T. You are not from around here and you do not know people." "I know well enough that kid wasn't a thief, just some little guy running from a store back and forth with crates." "And how did you suspect that?" "Well he was the only kid coloured blue I saw out in the crowd, he was rushing back and forth in front of you and I thought you'd notice a little lizard like-NNNPH!" The warrior suddenly hopped up and smacked him on the nose silencing him briefly, cautioning him with: "Do NOT use that word." "Wh-what the hell?!" cried James rubbing his nose. "If you wish to pick a fight with bangaa, then by all means do so with that word you so nearly described that boy as, kupo. Or else be silent." "Wh-what, the...that word? What's wrong with it?" "It is offensive to them. I thought you of all creatures would know that." "Well...I'm not a ban-gah am I?" said James shrugging hugely. "Are you, kupo?" "No. And stop saying kupo all the time like seriously, it's kind of annoying." She could do nothing but look up at him incredulously, mouth agape slightly with hands slightly at her sides. People started noticing the odd couple in the midst of the city street, smirks of both curiosity and derision sneaking across their faces as the moogle replied with: "Are you...THAT feeble-minded?" "Wha-what?!" "You even ask me such a thing tha-...no, I refuse to argue with an idiot such as you, now take my esteemed mark's head to the bar down THERE or else I will turn this entire marketplace upon you like a pack of hyenas, kupo!" "Okay okay fine! Christ I could have just dumped your ass soon as I got into this city." "I know this city better than you." "And I know how all the streets work no matter what city, I'm a parkour master!" "I do not care what you are a master of be it par-koor or a poor cart! Finish your part of our arrangement, and this partnership shall be no more kupo!" "Fine." Eventually they found the bar itself, turning a corner along the east end marketplace as a rather poky little alcove. It seemed rather humble at first, a stairway down into the shade with odd writing that James did not recognise. He already felt the problems of not being able to translate words would come back to bite him severely in this world as they entered down a flight of stairs, into a basement that expanded wider before them, mostly empty except for one or two small groups of wastrels.

A stone-cut stairway revealed a wide room somewhat reminiscent in size to that of James' home bar, right down to the stone-shelled walls and flooring that felt cool against his soles. It was certainly well-ventilated, the ceiling resplendent with cagelocked candles as well as one long bartop raised up from the floor where a pale human sat behind like a judge, a rough old soul with an eyepatch and short brown hair. His blue clothing made James somewhat think he must have been an old sailor of some sort, the slightest greying of his stubble showing age as the smaller knight hopped over towards the bar, the walls resplendent with old maps and scrawlings of some ancient unknown language. "Ahhhh Navi!" said the bartender greeting. "Please do not call me that," said the creature curtly. "I have your beast's head, Bartok." "Ahh wonderful! And who is this fine traveller?" "This is James, he assisted me in carrying the cargo in exchange for guidance back to town. But you shall see that it was my blade that ended its life." "I can trust you on that, let's see." James plopped the head down carefully onto the bar as the man opened the bag, the layering of the sack having well preserved the lifeless sewer Aps' remains with glassy gold eyes glaring up towards Bartok. He leaned forwards slightly with a nod of satisfaction and sat back, pleased at the results. "Excellent, perfectly preserved, my client will be very happy." "Good," said the female warrior, "now to business." "Ah yes, that. I have something to tell you though." "Money as well please." The bartender pulled up firstly a sack of coins from underneath the bar as well as a document of official warrant, the raptor trying to understand what it read but finding no luck in its Ivalician scribble, at least that's what he thought it was. The warrior looked at it with a nod of content, asking: "May I have a pen?" "Not quite." "...did you lose it again?" "No, I-" "I am not going on a fetch quest to find one single pen, do you know how absurd this city can be in its trade for one SINGLE pen?!" "I can't join you!" Bartok slammed his fist on the bar to get her attention as she blinked softly. "...what?" "I cannot...join you." "...I do not understand. We had an agreement, you would give me the permit and the money after I-" "Yes I know but I had something to tell you BEFORE you cut me off and bolted out the door yesterday, I tried to warn you but-" "What?" "I am not able to join you as deputy clan leader...you'll have to find someone else." "Why?" The man sat back sighing rather frustratingly, putting a hand over his face growling: "If you looked over the bar for once or stopped and listened you would know." "What does that even mean?! You promised me a clan and would join me as such!" "I promised you a clan permit but I said nothing about joining you, I said I would LOVE to join you but-" "But WHAT, kupo?!" "He's in a wheelchair," murmured James. "Yes THANK YOU for noticing he is seated you moron, I-...wait, what did you just say?" "Um...he's in a wheelchair, that might be...what he meant."

James nervously pointed to where the human sat as the creature hopped up onto the bar fluidly without effort, and noticed for the first time the problem that soon became apparent. Bartok sat in a rather sturdy wheelchair, wood-and-steel frame like a carriage. She immediately understood but at the same time was quite frustrated, twitching her fist in front of her chest and not knowing who to be more mad at. "Why...did you not tell me?" "I DID," said Bartok, "but YOU cut me off before you even-" "If you had just noted, even ONCE in our conversations, do you ever get out from behind that bar, kupo?!" "I have no damned reason to be out behind my bar during working hours, it's your fault you can't listen to people or take an interest in what they say!" "Because people have very little worth telling!" "Including someone who was a candidate for deputy clan leader?!" "I cannot believe this. I give you a sewer rat's head and you give me a damned permit not worth anything without TWO names! Unbelieveable." She hopped from the bar and strode out the door furiously, snatching the bag of gold and slamming the door behind her without looking back. "Navi, Navi WAIT!" "Do not expect me to return unless you have SOMEBODY able to follow me and not just spindle drinks, like fumbling words you-...KUPO!" "W-WAIT, NAVI! ...ugh...stupid moogle bitch." James simply smirked at the engagement before sitting at the bar himself, looking sheepish towards Bartok. "Heh, sorry man." "It's fine. She never has patience for people so I knew this would happen." "Heheh...huh, she took the money but not the clan permit with her." "Huh...well, then it's not my problem." He laid back in his chair stretching his welted arms, thick and bolstered with sinew showing incredible upper arm strength. "If she cannot tolerate people enough to hear them then I do not care about her problems without a clan." "What exactly does she want anyway? I mean, what's this clan stuff about?" "Hmmm...you seem foreign." "Uh, wow, blunt." "No I mean...no, my apologies, what can I get you?" "Ah nothing, I don't have any money, I just...needed to get to town to find my way around, I'm not from around here obviously and I come from really far away so this is my first time down in Rapper-nasty." "Ahhh I see...and it's Raba-nas-tre, mister...?" "Uh James, James Campbell." "Bartok Flevin, nice to meet you." The raptor leaned forwards hearing the oaken bar creak slightly as he shook hands with Bartok, the bartender taking the beast's head off the tabletop and putting it away out of sight before James would have his answer. "There are these clans all across Ivalice, they tend to have different uses as being either hunters for beasts or simply protecting a town or city." "So basically mercs." "Yes, more or less, there are many kinds, you need at least two people in order to set up a clan, a head leader and deputy. Maximum is twenty-four I believe." "So why does she need one?" "Money, obviously, she's not warm for a heart that one." "Heh...you got that right." Bartok slowly wheeled himself over towards an array of lager in the back of the bar view, serving a customer who came up to drown his sorrows in another pint of bittersweet. A hoarse-looking reptile of green skin and saggy clothes who staggered back stinking of beer, with one look at the raptor before shifting his way back. But James still noticed the clan permit laying on the bar asking: "Hey...um...how badly does she need this clan?" "Hmm?" replied Bartok. "Oh, desperately, she was begging to find someone to make a clan with and I suggested but well...you see what happens when she doesn't listen." "Is she a friend?" "Somewhat, she's a regular here at the Matsuno and more recently an actual acquaintance who I saw skill in, I was going to suggest someone to help her but...again, you see what happens." "...well, I need a guide...does she travel often?" "She has great knowledge of the kingdoms, very well-read, not too social but if someone is in need she will help them despite what you think. She is a sword without a heart and not in the cruellest sense, you could do no wrong having her at your side but...that is IF you can stand having her near you." "Heh...listen..." He leaned forwards surreptitiously as if about to expose a political secret. "How badly you wanna piss her off, like REAL bad without any of this coming back on you?" The human leaned forwards in turn with a smirk on his lips. "Very."

Exiting the bar, he took his time out exploring the city with his satchel locked tight, the sight of open markets intriguing him aplenty and wishing more that he had money. He did not even have his bottlecaps, having gladly handed them over to his former friends back in the previous world knowing greatly that he had no use for them anywhere else. For now however, he had one objective which was to find that mysterious moogle that had run off leaving him at the bar. He barely even knew what a moogle was let alone learn the name of her species half an hour ago. But he at least had her name from Bartok as a means to find her, searching throughout the streets as well as taking time to familiarise himself with the world around him. Firstly he decided to walk around the east end of the city not too far from the tavern, in case the moogle came back for her permit anytime soon. The sounds and smells of market trade however turned him all the more homesick for Dusty Dunes. "Man...really wish I'd bought that watermelon right about now." The fruits and vegetables were somewhat familiar to him, but only in terms of shape and texture as the colouring and smells felt very different yet somehow all-too-familiar. Without any money he could do nothing but wander around before soon seeing the young boy bangaa in blue scales shining like the sea sitting out on the doorstep of a shop door With a better look of him half-shaded from the sun, he noticed the boy wore greyish rags and shorts that wrapped down to the heels but left his clawed feet exposed, cutely kicking back and forth a few inches above the cobblestone. "Hey there." The boy looked up nervously, his smooth young jaw blushing up at the raptor as he shifted nervously to one side before speaking with a scratchy slurring voice: "H-h-hi." "You off work?" "Nah...um, jusszht waitin' around." "For what?" "Jobsszh." "Heh...know anyplace hiring?" "Wha?" "I'm looking for a job too, just arrived to this city and kinda don't know where I'm at, or even what any of these people are." "Whaaat? Whuddaya mean ya don' know whut any of thesszhe people are, where ya from?!" "VERY far away, I actually um...haven't seen anyone like these before." "Wooooow..." The little lad looked quite astonished, pursing his lips slightly or as best he could with a long snout as the raptor leaned up against the wall beside the front step. The shade underneath the store's banner was refreshing enough to savour the cool winds from the south plains, sighing briefly as the boy looked up at him before James asked: "What's your name?" "...I don' give my name to sszhtrangersszh." "Heh, good call." "Unlesszh you wanna be a cusszhtomer." "Customer?" "Yeah, my sszhop! Well, papa'sszh sszhop." "Ohhh your dad owns this place huh?" "Yap, Vikori'sszh Sszhundriessh, besszht in all the town!"

The boy swung his arm with jubilant pride of his father's shop, the people passing by occasionally a look of oddness upon their face at watching this exchange. The raptor entertained him however by asking: "What kinda stuff you sell?" "Posszhions, antidotesszh, phoenixszh downsszh, all ya need fer bein' a traveller!" "So just basic supplies huh?" "We got the besszht an' cheapesszht goodsszh in all of Rabanasszhtre!" "Hahaha, you got a nice pitch there kiddo, tell you what, if you tell me what all these people are, I'll recommend you to a clan I know where I can get all our stuff from you." "Really?!" He stood up hopefully from the store steps bursting with anticipation, his shining brown eyes squeeing as James nodded back to him before he added: "O-okay! Um, well, thosszhe are Humesszh, the sszhorta sszhkinny onesszh with the hair on top?" "Ah huh." "They really got a lot of classzhesszh between 'em though." "Clashes?" "No, CLASSSzhhesh." The boy emphasised as best he could but the strange slur always crept in due to the shape of his mouth as James understood. "Ahhh classes okay, sorry go on." "They don' live long though, that'sszh kinda sszhad, maybe half asszh long asszh usszh bangaasszh." "Right, right." "The onesszh all fat are the Ssszheeq, people don' like 'em, I dunno why, they do lotsszha work fer people!" "Really?" said James with arms crossing. "Yeah! I sszhee a lot of 'em runnin' to the Lowtown carryin' packagesszh, people always sszhayin' like 'you got the sshtuff' an' a ssszheeq alwaysszh got the sszhtuff for 'em!" James slowly realised why the Seeq were not a likeable race, but said nothing and simply nodded as he asked further on: "What about those rabbity things, the small ones?" "OH, Mooglesszh, they're funny! They alwaysszh say kupo a lot cuz itsszh kinda like their language or sszhumthin'?! They're real sszhmart, they built airsszhipsszh my dad told me!" "Wait seriously, those little guys?" "Yah-huh! I bet itsszh cuzzh their wingsszh don' work on their backsszh so they really misszh flyin' high up in the sszhky!" "Aww...anyone else?" "There'sszh the Viera, but I dunno much about 'em, they're kinda myszhteriousszh an' look kinda like humesszh bu' with biiiig long earsszh right up to here." He slowly drew his ears up right above his head before flapping them downwards, soon pointing over at the hunched over citizen of white fur and dog-like features with a pronounced snout. "An' then you gotsszh the-OOOH OOH, the Nu-Mou, they're cool cuzzh you don't sszhee 'em often, an' they got a lotta magic sszhtuff even!" "Magic huh?" "Mmhmm, lotsszh of 'em!" "Well that's cool, is that everyone?" "Yap, that'sszh all I can remember uh...ohhhh yah!" He looked up expectantly like a puppy waiting for a treat, tail wagging excitably as the raptor smirked. "Wh-what?" "Mmmmmmm?" Slowly pulling from his tunic, the boy offered a pamphlet with bizarre scribbling of a very professional font. James recognised it as the sign above him but was still confused asking: "What's...this?" "I told you aaaaalll about the peoplesszh...sszho that meaaaaansszh YOU sszhaid that you would tell yer clan about my papa'szh sszhop!" "OHHHH right of course, my clan, um...listen, I'm actually looking for one of them right now, did you see a moogle with a sour face run off outside that tavern?" "Uhhhh...nnnnnnnnYEAH! Sszhe went off down that way!" The small bangaa pointed due south back towards the big plaza with the fountain, grinning up at the raptor. "Sszhe looked pretty mad, you wanna be careful misszhter-" "MIGELOOO!" "UH, COMIN' PAPA!" The boy jumped at hearing a voice roar from inside the store and hastily bade goodbye to the raptor. "I have to go, tell yer clan abou' the sszhop okay misszhter!?" "I will I promise!" said FG. "See ya later!" "Byyyye!"

As the young Migelo bolted into the shop, James made his way back towards the south plaza looking around for his potential new companion. Not that he wouldn't prefer another person but this was the only one he had known long enough to gauge well as being both a skilled swordsman and no-nonsense traveller. Two things which he needed greatly. The fountain continued cleansing itself, gushing with cold water that soothed everyone around it, from the children splashing through it to the couples kissing and talking next to it. Around the plaza were various cafes and market stalls nestling in the shade, top billing priority for those with rich enough business to snap up the hot retail. Of course these were the most popular, the coffee stores and household names selling fruits of finest glory. Sitting at one table drinking a cup of tea southwest of the fountain, was the moogle herself flitting her wings behind her back with quickening stress, struggling to contain her fury evidently. James found it adorable, waltzing up alongside her as his shadow fell across the table, darkening the shade. "...am I cursed?" she said eventually. "Huh?" "Am, I, cursed?" "...um...I don't think so, why?" "Because I seem to be afflicted with this persistent pest following my every move now." "Heh, alright I understand, you work alone and all that shit...but you might wanna know about this." He slipped between her hands a document, the clan permit she had so graciously forgotten earlier that day. James' scrawlings were now clear to see despite the fact he had to essentially learn the alphabet of Ivalice entirely new with horrible penmanship, proving both his name and the clan's official name on top of the document. The moogle looked down about it with resistant indignation, sipping her cup of tea slowly to not spill before putting it down to one side with a flat response. "...what." "Mmhmm." "How......Bartok." She tightened her fingers into the wood creaking slightly. "You...TOOK my document?" "Not your document if you just stormed out without wanting it, I mean finders keepers. But then again ehhhhhhhhhh..." James sat down in a rather chumly manner on the opposite side of the table, smiling at how annoyed she was getting. "It's not REALLY a clan if it's like one guy so uh...how about you? Would you be interested maybe?" "...I did not think in such a short matter of time I would despise you even more, kupo." "Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot-" "An amputation of it would hurt less." She snatched up the paper between her hands looking furrowed as she tightened her fingers, not even looking at him. "What name is this!? ...Karidai?" "No it says Koridai, that's an O see?" "...by the name of Faram your penmanship is insulting." "Yeaaaah I know I'm not a great writer but-" "There are urchins who scrawl in DIRT who write better than you. What does this Koridai mean, does that even exist?!" "Not TECHNICALLY." "Is this some cheap swill you call cider where you got this brand name, because I see more imagination in one's brewery than this shoddy penmanship kupo!" "I need someone to help me. Someone to help me get round the place, guide me, show me, give me some sort of direction."

She simply pointed towards the south gate on her right, not even bothering to look up. "The marsh lies over yonder, lie face first and don't breathe." "...wow did I really piss you off that much? For fuck's sake I carried a huge head of some THING for you, I didn't even ask for money!" "No, instead you settle on my clan permit, kupo." "Which YOU did not take and flat-out refused because you said you weren't coming back." "I was mistaken." The moogle put down the paper staring at FG, fuming from the way her wings stiffened sharply with adamant hate for him as the raptor sighed and for a moment thought that this wasn't worth it. But he knew he had a real opportunity of something he could build a solid placement within this world if he stayed and offered. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't want to make enemies, let's call this a business partnership. You want to be in a clan, I want someone to show me round the place." "I am not a tour guide-" "Shut up, I'm not finished." James took the permit back from her in the brief moment of surprise for being talked back to. "You're not a tour guide no, and if you were I'd be complaining to your manager about the way you act because you are a rude-as-hell woman and godawful at it." "What do YOU know about tour guides?" "How about a boyfriend for four years who worked as one? And trust me, the way you talk back to people, I bet he'd fire your ass on the spot. Now are you gonna shut up and listen to my offer, or do I have to take this permit and rip it right up in front of you just to see you change your face for once?" She decided to play the better part of keeping silent and listened, tenting her fingers in a V-shape in front of herself. The raptor saw that she was reticent and so continued with his offer. "You are a traveller, you've gone through a lot of places, you know this land well, you're a knight and everything." "But why trust me?" she asked defiantly. "Why trust my words, for all you know I could simply claim falsely." "Come on, the way you fight, that armour, you take care of it too well to be some travelling merc, you got discipline." "A sword against bark can cut with enough days put upon it, kupo." "Not the way you fight. Your sword's too sharp, you have this precise way of swinging it only as far as you want it to but not letting it go all the way, you're controlled, you're professional. Mercs don't do that, they just go for the biggest and loudest noise and hope shit goes down fast." "And what are you then?" "...a former merc who wants to be a knight." James said this with a smirk on his lips, the moogle grimacing slightly as she rolled her eyes hearing him continue. "Look, you wanna be in your own clan for the money, right?" "Why do you suggest that?" "Well what IS your reason then? For not wanting to join some other clan when there's plenty of them to go around?" "Did Bartok narrate this to you, because I shall have words with him very deeply." "I don't care what your reason is, all I need is someone who can take me around the world on any mission, anytime, anyplace, just so I have a layout of the land. I don't know how the money works, I don't know how the places are, which is why I want YOU to handle all the money. That's my deal, you be a part of my clan and guide me through, and I'll let you handle every single coin we have."

Hearing these words a small debate came from her inner self, nodding softly to herself on his made offer, a finger to her lip which came brushing against the knuckle. Before her conclusion should come however, she obliged herself to ask: "What exactly are you searching for?" "Why you want to know?" "Because if I am to agree to form part of your new clan I must know of your intentions, kupo." "...alright that's fair. I'm looking for a portal." The silence before she spoke was not for lack of credibility, but more a surreptitious look of concern for what she was getting into, slowly rubbing her finger along the cup handle in front of her. "I...see." "A magic portal, or at least something that's strong enough to take me to another world." "Hm." "...and you...what, just accept that?" "Why would you request such a thing?" "Because...I need to get back home." "Of course, kupo." "Huh?" She took another sip of her cup to compose herself, trickling the warm nurtured tea to the back of her gullet softly before replying. "I knew you were not a bangaa, your anatomy is all wrong, your sight too good, you lack the ears plus your accent resembles more a hume than anything else which is clearly impossible for a bangaa due to their facial structure, kupo. Your armour is not tanned but its leather is naturally quite wrinkled and destitute as well as different in its shade and texture from any beast I have known, the smell of dust and steel upon you would denote you as a sky corsair but the strange other scents of liquid musk pertaining to at least some form of chemical unknown to me says otherwise, and lastly...that is not a fabric I have ever seen in my life, kupo." She pointed downwards at his crotch indicating the denim as he shrugged casually before leaning back, getting used to bringing such revelations of other worlds asking: "So...you really okay with just me being some other creature from another world? With odd clothing and shit?" "I do not concern myself with the many worlds that mages claim to see, for I seek only one world. One I see both with my eyes and that which mirrors my blade." "Ahhh huh, and what if I'm lying?" "Then I will flense the skin off your back and form it as part of my brigandine for wasting my time, kupo. Either way I shall see the back of you whether you are truthful or a fantasist, kupo. And if you are a fantasist, then rest assured I shall make it truly your final fantasy." She placed a hand down firmly upon the table as if threatening him to grab her, the raptor simply grinning at such confidence. "Well I'm not planning on being anyone's decoration just yet so-" "Good, whatever purpose you have for this portal I do not care. But so long as it does not involve some great cataclysm and most terrible destruction I will assist, kupo. Or else our partnership however brief will soon terminate even more abruptly than it would have." "Hehehe...glad to see you don't tolerate dumb shit, but yeah I just wanna get home an-"

The moogle snapped her fingers harshly three times before him to stop him talking. "Did you not hear that sentence I just said? I do not. Care, kupo. What I care about is that you assist me in my own causes without question, with assurance that you believe in where I take you, and as you so offered, I control every single profit of finance that we make. Every gil, every purchase and transaction no matter how small, prerequisites and tolls included. Whatever business with this portal is nothing to do with me, kupo." "Well think about it this way," said FG forming an idea. "What happens if I disappear from this place, this entire world?" "Hmm?" "You join my clan, I'm already the leader of it, but what's gonna happen if the leader decides to just disappear?" "...if a leader is unable to act due to illness or incarceration then the clan's activities must be halted until their release. However...if one's clan leader has been declared as deceased or outvoted by some political struggle-" "-or missing for a long enough time, right?" "Indeed, at which point we must declare him dead, kupo." "That makes YOU the clan chief as deputy should I disappear for a long time, right?" The warrior was somewhat conflicted by hearing this, not entirely sure what James was up to as he decided to lay the table with his hands flat out to offer his deal. "If I find that portal, I'm leaving, and that means the sooner I leave, the sooner I'm no longer clan leader, that makes YOU the clan leader after I go." "Interesting...that is a very generous proposal even if your plan makes it already fated such, kupo. And yet you give me so trusting a point...when I have oft-heard of deputies murdering their chief to gain position." "You won't do that." "Why not?" "Because if you wanted me actually dead, you would have done that already instead of putting up with my bullshit." The ghost of a smirk came from the female's lips as she nodded firmly in respect of this. James added: "You want to be the leader, I want someone to help me get through this place. You give me a gate, I'll give you the entire clan. Sound good?" She stroked her chin softly before bring up her own final questions before a deal could be made. "...I know not of such gates but I can see as to why you would need to follow someone, kupo. You do not know anything concerning our kingdoms?" "Nope," said FG, "nothing at all." "I see. You clearly lack money, what offerings can you give?" "My sword." "Hm. Good answer." "My clan." "Not so good." "I also have fire, wind and water as well as a whole bunch of other abilities if that helps." "It does. Very well, I shall join your clan as its deputy and financier, do you accept, kupo?" "Madame, you've got yourself a deal. Let's start over, I'm James Campbell." He offered his hand to which she shook firmly with due business. "Navarro Rocino." "It'll be an honour to work with you miss Rocino." "You may call me just Navarro...James. But don't give me any nicknames or else, kupo." "Alrighty, now just sign here and we're all set." James offered her the slip of paper, the mog knight putting her name down as second-in-command under statutory clan rule and becoming deputy clan leader under FG. In truth he rather preferred to have her lead the show and only have a vote that was able to match hers concerning possible decisions. He was however rather uncertain as to why his new ally-in-arms was so fixated upon money problems, and that he hoped he had not gotten himself involved with yet another victim of the great loan shark policy that oft-plagued every world apparently. Hopefully they would not involve themselves with a minstrel group in such case.