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Disclaimer:
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is a product of Square-Enix, and I've no
affiliation with them whatsoever.
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He looked up and was discouraged. Everyone was preparing for harvest time, and even throwing some Harvest Festival decorations around. He was disappointed that they had assigned him to caravan. While he truly loved his town, and had great hope and faith in the Crystal, he had been so looking forward to the festival this year. Maybe it was because he was finally a help. Often enough, he wouldn't pay attention for five minutes at a time, and he would run off with friends, forgetting all the important things he had to be doing. Or maybe it was because he'd finally felt responsible since the recent incident with his sister. Having to watch over her while being terribly sick was a task he'd accepted, and was fully ready to help this year.
Only to discover, to his great dismay, the caravan called for him.
All his Selkie friends were off having fun, and while the Lilties were often always working, they appeared to be entertained with it all. His only Yuke friend was always a mystery to him, but it appeared that his aloof and mysterious behavior seemed as though he was not saddened by anything. Even of his own race, everyone was entertained.
Except he.
And he would feel worse if he had denied it. It was just as much his Crystal as anyone else's in the town. He believed had anyone else been picked, they would not have much a problem with it, nor would they turn on their word. How he wished the day caravanning was optional would come back again. Since the myrrh had become so intensely protected, it was no longer voluntary, but rather, mandatory. And while everyone cheered for this prospect, he was very brought down by it. Just one more reason why he could not help with the harvest this time.
"Why so glum, chum!?"
A clap on his back startled the gloomy Clavat as he looked up to see his Selkie friend, Ramtha.
"Oh. Hey there, Ramtha."
"What's up? You look down."
"Oh... it's the harvest."
"Yeh, but you're always excited about it, aren't ya?"
"Yeah..."
He shrugged. He didn't tell Ramtha he'd been chosen for the caravan. He didn't tell anyone but his father. And his father knew his disappointment well. He'd explained every day after his sister's incident that he felt sure, and responsible, and willing and able to do the required jobs. Every day, he told his father. And the day he explained the draft in the mail, his father felt as sad as he.
"Well, whatever it is, we'll knock it right outta ya!"
"I hope so."
"So, you gonna slack off again this year, or you gonna actually do some work?"
He gave her a half smile as she laughed and trodded off. He hung his head. Out of all the Clavats around, he was definitely the most morose, he was sure. But as he stared at his lonely feet, the breeze swaying the trees' shadows, and the dark figures dancing over his clothes, he turned his responsible desire of the harvest onto the caravan. If he couldn't help with the harvest, he may as well help with the whole town. For, he reasoned, if there was no Crystal, there was no town. And if there was no town, there was definitely never any Festival. He heard about what happened to Tida... He never wanted to see his town end up like that.
And as he stood up, glancing at the dancing golden rays between the trees of the eve, he promised to himself and this town to never give up, and always return with a full chalice.
He smiled.