(Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Final Fantasy or it's related content and this is mainly a fictional universe set a few years after the event of the game. All characters are made up. Any resemblence to any characters, names or personality types is entirely coincidental.)

Chapter 1: Esthar City

It was 6:14 AM, as the alarm clock buzzed next to the bed. Blinking Halfreck had finally pressed the button to turn the buzzing machine off.

"Another Day..", she thought.

Looking around her small room, she'd see outside her elongated window that the sun was still nowhere in sight, except for the white blur of the city lights outside. Sighing, she'd lay there for a moment, thinking to herself. Her room's door would beep as someone tried to go inside but was refused entry. A voice would soon emerge from behind the door.

"Hal dear, it's time to wake up. It's your first day of training." said the sound of her mother's voice.

Halfreck sighed again, as she lopped her pillow over her head.

"Alright already, I'm getting up."

In truth she was simply laying there. Shortly after some beeping noise would be hear from behind the door. Surely it was the manuel override from her door's keypad. She knew it would be seconds before her mother would breach her room.

"I thought, you'd be up by now. Why are you being this lazy. Don't you realize how hard it is to get into the school your in?" said, Halfreck's mother.

"I know.. I know, just let me rest my eyes a little more longer. Your not the one who was up all night studying.", said Halfreck.

A sigh would be heard from her mother, "That's no excuse. You knew today would be important. So stop this nonesense."

Grabbing the pillow from Halfreck and hitting her with it.

"You have to get ready, or you'll be late.", said her mother.

Halfreck would sigh again and would finally get up. "Alright already. I said I was getting up." looking slightly tired as she made her way to the washroom. She'd get ready in her usual way, an hour would pass before she'd finally be fully dressed and ready. Walking into the kitchen she'd overhear a small t.v. on the countertop,

"Today Sorceress Edea Kramer turns 94 today, she's come to Esthar as an honourary guest to the Lunar Cry Festival being held in the next few weeks. She accredits her longevity to the benefits of olive oil...".

Halfreck would take note of the old lady on the t.v. who's old frail figure seemed to remind her of all the old history she'd read about in the history text books growing up. It was hard to believe this woman once threatened the world. Edea would be seen wearing ceremonial lace horns that hide her hair underneath. Halfreck would drown out the rest of the T.V.'s broadcast as she sat to eat breakfast. Her mother whom was already had been sipping tea while reading some magazine, seemingly already prepared for her daughters mishap. Resumed reading, while she took a simple sip of her tea.

"You know, if you don't hurry. You'll be late for your class. I doubt they'll let you remain in there school if you keep this up." said her mother.

"Ugh... I know.. I know. I'm just about done. You know, it's not like other Estharians haven't had a late day before." grumbled Halfreck.

"I'm sure if they did, they'd be forced to work in the mines or worse." replied her mother.

"Okay.. I'm leaving. I'm sure I won't be late." sighed Halfreck.

Grabbing her satchel as she left her apartment. The busy sound of Esthar City would immediately be heard as she took the elevator down to the street level. A large crowd of people would be pushing too and fro as Halfreck tried her best to keep with the pace and possibly run ahead of others whom she'd find too slow. Making her way to the transport. Upon sitting on the circular transit, it would take a moment as others would sit along side her before it'd rise and start to make it's way to the next transit stop. The transport disk would be travelling through what appeared to be a glass tube, traveling at great speed in it's hovering movement. Halfreck could see the pale blue mountain silouette as she gazed upon the vast cityscape. The city itself would be seen endlessly throughout the horizon, seemingly an endless sea of towers and houses and businesses all assembled about one another. She'd have to wonder why when she'd read about the nations outside of Esthar, the cities never looked anything like it. Although she knew very little about the world outside Esthar. It was all she knew.. This overly efficient society of glass houses and walkways. She'd almost feel pity for those who didn't live there. Although she wasn't exactly sure what she felt pity for.. Then she'd see a group of Estharian soldiers assembled around a large winged batlike creature. As one of the people beside her would remark,

"That Elvoret has always plagued the west end ever since the Lunar Cry."

A woman would reply,

"Mmhmm, It took 20 years and they still haven't fully cleaned up the city from such a disaster. I have no idea why they'd make a festival over such a catastrophe.".

Halfreck would only watch as the soldiers tried to get the beast under there control without much success. Before they'd travel out of view. She'd wonder what the lunar cry was truly about.. she'd heard stories that the city was plunged in fear as monsters overtook every major area. Although she'd only though it was merely speculation. All she knew was that monsters have plagued the city limits ever since she was little. It'd worry her a little to think that such catastrophe could one day happen yet again. She'd realize that her stop would soon be in plain view and would need to get off the transport. Remaining quiet the rest of the way, after a short walk she'd soon be at the training facility's gate.