Firion, Maria, and Guy were enjoying a perfect afternoon in the hills outside Altair. "You know, I'm just so much more grateful of the small pleasures in life now that the empire is gone," said Firion.
"That's what freedom feels like," commented Guy, who immediately fell into his typical silence.
"It's too bad Leon isn't around anymore to spend his freedom somewhere this pleasant…" Maria began.
"Why do we have to bring up that idiot?" snapped Firion. He and Leon had not parted on the best of terms, and he was very touchy about anyone mentioning the Dark Knight.
Maria turned away; she was very unsure of why her friend hated her brother so. "I heard he was in Semmit Falls hunting for mythril. The market is booming for that stuff now that the war is over."
"It's just like him to go blindly into something that stupid!" Firion said, continuing to insult Leon. "He knows those old caverns are filled with goblins!"
"Actually, he doesn't," grunted Guy, Leaning up against a mighty oak and picking his teeth with a long blade of grass. "He wasn't with us in the falls." A leaf dropped from the high boughs and flitted by his face. Guy slapped nonchalantly at it, sending it twirling and fluttering away, borne on a sudden gust of wind.
"That's right!" said Maria suddenly, remembering the dangers of the hidden caves. "Oh no, Firion, Guy, what if he's ambushed in there! He doesn't know the way like we do! We should do something," urged Maria.
"Your brother is a strong warrior, Maria. Leon will be fine," soothed Guy. Maria turned and gave him an appreciative, admiring look.
"Why thank you, Guy. I'm glad someone has confidence in him…" With this, she gave Firion a contemptuous glare.
"Anyway, Minwu's magic probably did away with most of the goblins and slimes in those caves. He always was pretty skilled with those firagas." Firion said from his perch on a rock overlooking the sea to the east. "It's a real pity he sacrificed himself opening the magically sealed door in Mysidian Tower when we were after the Ultima Tome."
"It's a pity a lot of the other heroes of the Resistance died, but the result is sweet," said Maria with finality. It was apparent the conversation about their former comrades was over.
"Look, a hawk!" Guy said suddenly, pointing up at the heavens.
Everyone gazed skyward to see the aforementioned bird sail above to the west. It swooped down and looped about as it neared the fringes of the forest near the city of Altair. Its graceful movements further reinforced the feeling of happiness in the newfound freedom.
"I used to watch birds of prey before joining the resistance," Maria mused. "It always meant so much to me how they just soared everywhere, doing as they pleased, with no bounds to tie them anywhere…"
"Wait… what's that? In the sky?" exclaimed Firion, pointing to a rippling, shimmering space in the atmosphere just in front of where the hawk was flying. The strange field expanded, and it began to open like a laceration in one's flesh. The void was filled with a shimmering, coursing vortex of countless colors.
"It looks like some kind of… rift in the air?" suggested Guy, dumbstruck. "It's kind of… beautiful…"
"Is it a natural phenomenon of some kind?" asked Maria.
"I don't think so," replied Firion. "Look!" He pointed at the split in the sky. "Something's coming out!" Sure enough, six large black forms descended from the now blood-red expanse beyond the slash.
"This is too weird…" said Maria. "Maybe we should head back to town…"
"Yeah… let's do that…" agreed Firion.
With that, the threesome departed quickly down the large hill toward Altair. Guy kept looking over his shoulder at the sky. The tear seemed to be getting bigger, and he was very wary of what was coming out. A trained fighter, he sensed the imminent danger. Only time would tell what this occurrence signified.
Author's Notes—Thanks for reading! I hope you continue your support as Guy, Firion, and Maria investigate the hole in the sky and go on one huge adventure… Please review!
