To the Skies
Chapter 1- Good Friends
Summer had arrived in the land of Ivalice. The sun blazed majestically in the morning sky, and everyone began to feel summer's influence in one way or another. The citizens of Baguba Port were no different. Summer was the ideal season for the sailors that lived there, and for the vendors who heavily relied on tourists who came there for vacation. Summer was also the favorite season for those who rode airships.
Though many others his age were sleeping soundly, Miles Skylance was up and raring to go. He changed from his blue pajamas to a white T-shirt and dark blue shorts and ran downstairs, jumping down each few steps.
"What are you so excited about, kupo?" called a woman's voice. She was Alice Skylance, Miles' mother.
"It's summer, Mom!" replied Miles. "Isn't that enough, kupo?"
"Well, kupo, it's good to see you up and early, son, even though you never wake up this early on school days." She laughed, and Miles joined her. "Anyway, we're having eggs for breakfast. Is that alright, kupo?"
"Sounds perfect!"
"Good. But you'll have to wait for a few minutes, kupo, I'm still cooking them."
"No problem." Miles walked from the bottom of the stairs to the kitchen, a small but tidy room with a stove, table, four chairs, and on the other side, a door leading out of the house. Alice was by the stove, frying an egg on a metal pan. She was wearing a black jacket and black pants that contrasted with her white fur. On the front of the jacket was a small light blue circle sewn snugly around an intricate "S" of the same color.
"Where's dad, kupo?" Miles asked.
"Outside. He's still working on it, kupo."
"Aw, kupo, so it's not done yet?"
"Nope, and it won't be done for a week at the very least. Sorry, kupo. You can go take a look at it if you want, though."
"Kupo, I'll be right back!"
Miles quickly walked out the front door, and ran across his back yard. It took him a minute or two to run to the large, black building on the other side, since his backyard was one of the largest in Baguba. Miles' parents were both renowned machinists and had a great fascination for building airships. A large yard such as theirs was ideal for testing out their creations.
Miles looked up at the metal building. In order to accommodate airships of most sizes, the building was built to be several times larger than Miles' house. He went around to the side and knocked on the door there, hoping that his dad wasn't busy.
"Dad?" The door soon opened, and Willy Skylance walked out. He looked remarkably similar to Miles, just a little taller. Willy was also wearing a black jacket and pants identical to Alice's, and he had light brown skin like Willy.
"Morning, son." Willy was also unusual in that he was able to control himself from instinctively saying "kupo" all the time, unlike most moogles. "You're up early. Excited about not having school?"
"Of course, kupo!" Miles tried to get a good look inside the building, but Willy had shut the door when he walked outside.
"Remember, Miles, only crew members are allowed inside until construction is complete. It's for your own safety."
"Kupo. I know."
"Anyway, I have to get back to work," Willy said, wiping a sweaty hand across his forehead. "You know how the old saying goes, 'Success waits for no one.'"
Miles scratched his head in confusion. "Who said that?"
"Er, don't know," Willy replied, "but that's not what's important."
"What about breakfast, kupo?"
"Tell your mom that I'll eat later." And with that said, Miles' father went back inside to continue his hard work on his latest creation.
Back in the house, Miles ate a hardy breakfast with his mom. He happily munched on eggs, toast, and sausage, and washed it all down with some berry juice. Smiling, he finished his food easily and cleared his part of the table without protest.
As Miles began to leave the table, he asked, "Why is dad so preoccupied with building your new airship, kupo?"
Alice looked a bit surprised by the question, but answered quickly, "Kupo, he wants to make sure it's perfect."
"Oh. I see." Without question, Miles started to leave the kitchen and headed for the front door.
"Where are you going, kupo?" Alice called from the kitchen.
"I'm going to meet my friends, kupo," Miles replied as he opened the door. "See you later!"
Alice yelled back quickly, "Okay, kupo, just don't get into any trouble!"
Once outside, Miles closed his eyes and took a deep breath. How I love summer, he thought to himself. He walked casually down the street, happily thinking about how he had no need to rush and could take as much time as he wanted. It was summer, after all.
He lived near the outer edges of Baguba, but he had arranged to meet his friends in Baguba Park, which was in the center of the city. He saw only a few people outside as he walked, mostly people who were doing their morning errands or taking a morning jog. Most of the houses that Miles saw were a light, almost faded shade of green, just like his house. In his neighborhood, houses were fairly far apart, but the closer that Miles got to the heart of the city, the more packed together the houses seemed to be.
It took Miles a good ten to fifteen minutes to reach Baguba Park, a large grassy area dotted with various trees, shrubs, and flowers. There were walkways all around the park, and benches for visitors were placed around the park. Miles looked around him and saw that a few people around him were enjoying the fresh air and calmly enjoying the new day.
"You're late, Miles." Miles turned and saw his two friends waiting impatiently for him. One was a human dressed in a neat blue vest over a white shirt and blue pants. His skinny arms were folded across his chest and he had a cocky smile across his face. He had dark brown hair and eyes with a gaze that made him look confident and shrewd as he sat on one of the benches.
The bangaa next to him looked formidable and tough, contrasting to the human beside him. Wearing an outfit consisting of a shirt and baggy pants, both crimson in color, he towered over Miles and seemed to be about three times the size of the young moogle. His arms, unlike the human's, were muscular and, one would assume, so were his legs. He was standing next to the human, but didn't seem to move at all, as if he was a statue.
"Sorry, Thenardi," Miles said, "but I didn't expect you two to actually come here so early, kupo."
Thenardi chuckled. "Well, unlike a certain moogle we know, Yuwain and I like to keep our promises."
Yuwain, the stoic bangaa, merely nodded, and Miles looked taken aback. "Kupo? Just what do you mean by that?"
"I suppose you don't remember," Thenardi started to explain matter-of-factly, "that promise of yours to let us see your parents' newest airship?"
"I already explained, kupo!" Miles exclaimed, sounding frustrated, "My parents won't let anyone who isn't part of the crew to see the airship. That includes me!"
"Excuses, excuses," said Thenardi, jokingly wagging his finger at Miles.
"GUYSSS!" Yuwain intervened. The two friends turned to Yuwain quickly without saying another word. It was as if the bangaa's voice boomed with authority over his two schoolmates. "Why did you want to meet usss here, Milesss?"
"Well, kupo," Miles said as he struggled to remember the whole purpose of this little meeting. "Oh, I remember! I wanted to ask you two if you had plans for the summer, kupo."
Yuwain was the first to respond. "I wasss thinking of getting a job, but I'm not sssure."
"As for me," Thenardi explained, "I will probably continue my studies-"
"Wait," Miles interrupted, "You want to study, kupo? Over summer? I know that you're a bookworm, kupo, but-"
"Let me continue. I will probably continue my studies of magic over the summer. Very fascinating."
"I'm glad to hear it," Miles said, "because I have an idea that's better than both of yours combined, kupo."
"Well, then say it."
"Okay," Miles started excitedly. "How about we make a clan?"
Thenardi raised an eyebrow and Yuwain's eyes seemed to shine with surprise.
"Why would we do that?" Thenardi asked, curious of his friend's idea.
"Think about it, kupo. Missions at the pub usually pay hundreds of gil for each mission, right? Kupo, so we'll be able to earn some money for ourselves. Plus, kupo, with the clan wars going on, it will actually give us something to over the break."
Thenardi and Yuwain looked at each other uneasily. After a moment, they both turned back to Miles.
"Fair enough," Thenardi stated, "but there are other things to consider. For example, none of us have any battle experience, right?"
"Ahem." Miles and Thenardi looked to Yuwain, who had a glint of pride in his eyes. "My dad hasss been teaching me to use a sssword for a while now. He's been expecting me to join a clan, just like my cousssin did."
Miles turned to Thenardi, pointing a finger at his friend. "And what about you, kupo? You just told us you were learning to use magic, kupo!"
Thenardi, having thought of no other way to object, surrendered. "Fine, fine, I suppose we can make a clan."
"There's ssstill one problem," Yuwain said.
"What's that, kupo?"
"You need at least sssix people to ssstart a clan."
"Kupo? You do?" Miles, looking defeated, sat himself on a bench across from Thenardi and sulked. "That stinks."
"But all we have to do," Yuwain explained, "isss find three more people."
Miles looked up and smiled. "Of course! Kupo, why didn't I think of that?"
Thenardi joked, "I don't know. You really should have thought of that."
"Very funny, kupo," and they all laughed together. Once things calmed down between the three friends, Thenardi abruptly got up.
"Sorry, but I have to leave now."
"How come, kupo?"
"I'm meeting someone."
"Who?" Miles and Yuwain asked in unison.
Thenardi, smiling slyly, simply said, "A friend."
Miles gasped and put his hand over his mouth in mock shock. "You don't mean… that you have other friends, kupo?"
Thenardi laughed and smiled, saying, "If I had the time, I would try to think of a retort to say, but I don't." The human started to walk out of the park, but not before greeting his friends goodbye.
"I'll see you two later," Thenardi said, "By the way, I'll be sure to ask her and others about the clan."
Miles and Yuwain both waved back at him and watched him leave. Once Thenardi was out of sight, Yuwain turned to the moogle and asked him, "If we are in a clan, how will you fight?"
"Kupo, I think I have an idea," Miles reassured him. "Don't worry about me."
"If you sssay so."
"So, what about you, Yuwain? Do you have any other plans for today, kupo?"
"I'm heading home. I need to ask my dad about me joining your clan."
"Okay, kupo, I'll see you later then."
"Bye, Miles." Yuwain walked away, leaving Miles sitting by himself. The young moogle looked up and saw how barely any time had passed since he woke up. Sunlight still streamed from the sky and the morning had not yet ended. He smiled to himself.
Today is going to be a good day.
