As always, this is a M/M romance, so you can't say that I didn't warned you!
For those who wonder how did I got the inspiration of writing this story, it's basically because I have two characters on the same server, and I thought that those two characters would really look cute together!
Anyway, we'll see how Garrett will progress as he enters the Shrouds!
[Garrett]
As soon as I arrived in the Shrouds, I could feel the serenity in the atmosphere. Something I were not familiar with, since I never got out of Ala Mhigo. The Shrouds is known for the numerous amount of tremendous forests and tall trees. At first glance, I knew it was the best place for me to stay. However, I didn't know where to go, as I was walking in the woods all by myself.
The first thing I needed to find is a village. Not only I didn't sleep last night, my body was covered with a mix of blood and dirt, plus, I was exhausted of walking hours and hours.
I saw a bridge that lead to the Camp Tranquil, an important waypoint between the Shrouds and the Thanalan. The bridge was leading to various raised trays, where there was a huge Aetheryte, some tents and lots of people. I was not really hard to miss. People looked at me with a doubtful glance.
Suddenly, I felt too weak to stand still, as I kneeled down before fainting. At this moment, people run at me, as they knew I needed help. They looked if I was okay, and a man took me in his arms to carry in his house, to put me on a bed.
I heard a voice from the man who carried me. I never knew who he was or how he looked, but I do remember his distraught voice. He was talking to a young girl.
Mysterious Man: "We have to do something. We can't let this little boy going on his own like this. He's all covered with blood and dirt. One step further and he's dead."
Young girl: ''I know, but I sense a problem just by his presence in the Shrouds.''
Mysterious Man: "What's wrong?"
Young Girl: "since he came from the south, I'm pretty sure he's from Ala Mhigo. The spirits of the forest seems to not welcome any trespassers."
She was right, I was not welcome in the Shrouds. Damn origins…
Young Girl: "But … I have an idea."
Mysterious Man: ''You have something in mind, Raya-O-Senna?''
Raya-O-Senna, that was the young girl's name. She was about 17 years old. She was redhead, with pigtails on the sides, with gray horns. She had green eyes and freckles on her face. A hairclip with a flower was putted above her left ear. She was wearing a white and red Robe, white boots and was wielding a white staff. She seems like a nice girl. I wonder what she's planning to do.
Raya-O-Senna: "Since he's not affected by the spirits' decisions, I will train him to be a White Mage. The Guardian Tree starts to be corrupted and lose his power, and we need three white mages to perform a ritual of purification." She had a nice and calm voice, she was probably an important person. "A-Ruhn and I are already making two, so this boy will make us three".
The mysterious man seems interested by this idea. He nods as he went away.
A white mage, you say? They are mages who were chosen by the elementals to take care of the forest. Unlike conjurers, white mages can use the power of the elementals to use spells, and their primary utility is their ability to cure. They were also capable of casting elemental spells, such as wind, stone or water, but they rarely used those spells unless necessary.
As I listened the conversation ending, I immediately close my eyes and slept… and waited as time will do his job...
16 years has passed since I quitted Ala Mhigo. 16 years where I trained myself to be a white mage. As the time passed, I got myself a beard that covered my whole jaw, I grew up and got a bit muscular. As a highlander, muscles seems to grow naturally, since most people were executing tasks where physical activities were omnipresent.
I was also wearing a robe, mainly dyed in white, and black on the sides. I was also wearing a white hat with a black strap around it. My pants were not visible, due for the robe being too long, but I was wearing white pants. As for the shoes, I had comfortable white boots. All of my clothes were made of vanya silk, purposely made for healers.
My weapon was not something really complicated. It was a staff made of rosewood. Not the best weapon ever made, but it was enough for me to use wisely.
I was in front of the Guardian Tree, with Raya-O-Senna and A-Ruhn-Senna. I was finally ready to perform the ritual of purification.
A-Ruhn was Raya's brother, having some similarities, such as being redhead, being extremely short. He was wearing a white and green robe with a green staff that looks like a tree. Both Raya and A-Ruhn were padjals" Padjals are holy figures who never ages in appearances, that they will mostly always looks young until they die. Padjals are known for their powerful conjury.
I looked at Raya to hear the next step of the purification. She exactly looked the same from 16 years ago.
Raya-O-Senna: "Are you ready, Garrett?"
Garrett: "Indeed." I smiled at her. "Don't say that all those sixteen years of preparation were not enough".
A-Ruhn-Senna: "Well, from your attitude, I guess we are ready for a try."
We were all three separated around the tree, as we would concentrate our aether on the Guardian Tree. The tree progressively started to become better and better as time was passing. Suddenly, the tree shone and recovered as if nothing happened since the start.
Garrett: "That's all?" I look almost disappointed as I was looking at Raya-O-Senna. "I was expecting something like monsters that could interrupt us, or something more difficult."
A-Ruhn-Senna: "You have a lot of expectations, My friend."
Suddenly, my vision started blurring. I felt something in me that was not usual, but I had no clue of what was happening in my own body. I had difficulties standing still as I fainted on the ground.
When I finally woke up after a while, I saw Raya-O kneeled down in front of me, followed by A-Ruhn who was casting cure spells on me. They both looked distraught, of course.
Raya-O-Senna: "Garrett! You finally woke up. What happened? Did something happened to you?!"
Garrett: "I don't know, my vision blurred out instantly, and I fainted." I got back up and looked at Raya-O, confused. "Does the ritual had any downsides?"
Raya-O-Senna: "Reminding me of all of my knowledge, there is nothing bad that is suppose to happen."
A-Ruhn: "Uhm … Sorry to interrupt you guys, but can we talk about this elsewhere? I don't think this place is a nice spot for chatting"
Garrett: "Actually, I was actually going to go to Gridania after the ritual. You see, since i'm an adventurer, I want to explore a bit of the other city-states". To be honest, I didn't really like when conversation takes a bit longer than usual. "Beside, I think I can manage myself for a bit."
Raya-O-Senna: "Oh well." She seemed not really sure about my decision, but she smiled at me and nodded. "If you ever want to talk to us, communicate with your linkpearl, then."
A-Ruhn-Senna: "Sure then, have fun!"
I walk away as I briefly waved at Raya-O and A-Ruhn. Looking in my pocket, I took out my chocobo whistle to summon my chocobo. Chocobos are large yellow birds that are mostly used for traveling, and whenever I need a ride, I simply take out my whistle and I blow in it. They can come at you at any location, anywhere in the world, as long as you're not being attacked.
As my chocobo just came at me, I climb on the mount and I guided my chocobo to go to Gridania. Being close to Gridania, no monsters are a threat in my way, hopefully.
Arriving at Gridania, I ordered my chocobo to stop running and stand by. I climbed off my mount and pat my chocobo's head, smiling.
Garrett: "I'll see you soon, Kikouri"
I took out a Krakka root and put it near Kikouri's mouth. It was a treat for being a good mount. I got my chocobo's licence where I was about 17 years old. I named my chocobo Kikouri because it was a funny name back in the days.
Kikouri: "Kweh!" He happily jumped and then went away in the forest.
Gridania, the city-state of the Black Shrouds. Gridania's buildings are all made of wood, but being made so gracefully, those building are almost a part of the surrounding environment. In this city-state resides some guilds for adventurers such as the conjurer's guild and the archer's guild, and some other factions as well. A particularity of Gridania is that all of the guilds can cooperate with each other.
It is also the home of Kan-E-Senna, the Oracle. She is the leader of the Order Of The Twin Adders, a group of people who take care of international and national problems. Soldiers, to be short. Kan-E-Senna is known for being the incarnation of calm and serenity, as she is able to take care of problems with only dialogue. Kan-E-Senna is also Raya-O and A-Ruhn's big sister, so she is a padjal.
But I didn't go to Gridania for tourism. I came here to take an airship to go to Limsa Lominsa, the city-state in La Noscea. I went inside the Carline Canopy, a tavern and also an adventurer's guild. All adventurer are ask to register their name to Mother Miounne, the tavernkeeper, before they can sail into adventure.
As I Walked to the airship's station, Mother Miounne waves at me. I smiled at her as I walked to her.
Miounne: "Hey there, sweetie!" She is usually very sweet with people. Most of the people likes her a lot. "So, where do you want to go next for your little adventure?"
Garrett: "Nothing major, just a little trip for Limsa Lominsa in search for adventure. You know, I need to make some money."
Miounne: "Gridania's missions is not enough to fulfil your adventuring needs?"
Garrett: "That's not the problem. I just need to explore some new areas, for a while."
Miounne: "I understand" She smiled at me. Knowing a lot of adventurers, she understand the reasons to go in adventure. "Anyways, have fun, and don't act clumsily!" She winked at me, as I gave her my salutation.
Short conversations, that's what I like!
Arriving at the airship station, I could hear voices of people yelling at each other. As I approach, I could see a Seawolf Roegadyn, alongside two other people. The roegadyn was wearing a plate armor in black and blue, with a sword unsheathed on the left side of his hip and a shield on his back. I didn't bothered looking at the others as I walked to the airship ticketer.
Garrett: "So, since when those people started yelling at each others like this?"
Airship Ticketer: "About twenty minutes. I heard that their healer died during a mission, and the roegadyn is blamed for this."
Garrett: "Oh. That's something that I hear a lot these days. Anyway, I'm here to ask a ticket, for Limsa Lominsa."
Airship Ticketer: "Very well, then." He gave me a ticket to take the next airship as I paid him for the travel. "The next airship will fly off soon. Have a good trip!"
I walked across the airship's aerodrome as the next airship was parked in front of me. Airships are the best way of travelling to another city-state outside of teleporting. Those ships are controlled by balloons, controlled by a wheel, just like a pirate ship.
I aboard the airship and sat on a bench. Few seconds before we were starting to fly away, I heard the voice of someone who was running to take the same airship as me.
Hurried Man: "Wait! Let me aboard with you guys!"
It was the roegadyn in armor who got blamed for failing to protect his healer. The airship's pilot stopped the engine and let the man boarding the ship.
As the man boarded the airship, he sat on the same bench as me and started catching his breath. Being the only one with him on the airship, I started talking to him.
Garrett: "Not your lucky day, huh?" I smiled at him and gave him a friendly hit with my shoulder.
Hurried Man: "Nope, not at all." He looked at me, exhausted.
The airship started to fly away from Gridania
Garrett: "So I heard you with your group, that your healer died. What happened exactly?"
Hurried Man: "He died in battle. I separated from my previous group. They said I were not able to protect our healer, but I think it's because our healer were out of ather."
He was right. Unlike white mages, conjurers were limited by the elementals' power to cast spells. If they were out of this resources, they would use their own aether, and could likely die if using all of their aether.
Garrett: "Oh, sorry to hear that."
Hurried Man: "That's okay. I can get over it." He looked at what I was wearing for a short second. "You look like a strong conjurer, what's your name?"
Garrett: "White mage, to be exact, and my name is Garrett. What's yours?"
Hurried Man: "Big. The name's Big. Paladin of the Royal Family of Ul'dah, at your service!" He looked at me and showed me his hand for a handshake.
Big was a seawolf roegadyn. He had green coloured skin, red and white hairs and a beard that covered his whole jaw. When I looked at him, I started to blush for a bit. I probably never saw someone looking that good for me… What really took my attention is his eyes. He had dark red eyes, and he was wearing glasses.
Big: "Garrett, are you okay? You seem distracted." He looked at me, confused.
Garrett: "Oh, I'm so sorry! Nice to meet you, Big!" I shook his hand as I looked at him.
I started to blush for him, that's a new one. In my whole life, I never felt such a thing. Probably that love didn't matter in those time. This time could be different, I could finally feel the feelings of love. I started to act a bit nervous, but I managed to maintain a certain calm.
Garrett: "So, what will you do in Limsa Lominsa? Have any plans?"
Big: "I'm seeking for adventure, so I'm travelling all around the world, meet some people, and do missions to get some gils. You know, adventurer stuffs."
Garrett: "I never thought we had the same plan. I'm also searching for adventures!"
As we speak, both of us didn't know what were happening around us. The air started to change, and monsters started approaching the airship. Normally, airships never encountered any monsters. Big and I got up from our bench and looked around us.
Suddenly, three ahrimans appeared on the airship,as Big and I took out our weapons to strike back. Those ahrimans were beasts with one eyes and had bat wings. They were creatures summoned from the void.
Big: "Talking about adventures, that's something to start a good adventure."
Garrett: "You realise that an airship is the worst place to fight, especially when there's little to no space where you can attack …"
Big: "Don't worry, I got this." He looked at me, as he smiled and winked. "The Knight in armor, ready for everything."
I looked at the ahrimans and began to focus my aether in my staff to cast stone and wind spells on the ahriman, while Big started to cast a ray of light to strike on the ahrimans. As he finished his cast, a light came from the sky and struck on one of the ahriman. The ahriman fell down in the clouds, leaving two of them with us.
Stones came out of my staff, as they immediately struck on both of the ahrimans. One of the ahrimans began to fall for his death. As the last one decided to approach me, I walk backward to take more distance. When the ahriman was close enough in the airship, Big took his sword and pierced it in the ahriman's body.
When the last ahriman fainted, Big took the ahriman's body, walked to the side of the airship, and finally dropped the ahriman's body in the clouds.
The atmosphere then changed to it's original state. Neither of us knew what exactly happened, but we were glad that nothing major happened, like one of us would fall of the airship or something like this.
Garrett: "...Well, that was unexpected." I looked at Big, confused. He had probably the same thought as mine.
Big: "What truly matters is that both of us are alive." He smiled at me and then look away. I suppose that we are near Limsa Lominsa."
Garrett: "Yes we are!" As I look outside, we could see the city-state of La Noscea, Limsa Lominsa. This marine city-state is spread by tiny islands, linked with bridges made out of wood and iron. We could see the aetheryte from above.
I also noticed that it was the end of the travel, that it was probably the last time I could talk to Big… It's been such a short trip, and I want to know more about Big. Suddenly, I thought of a way to spend more time with him.
Garrett: "Uhm, Big? Can I ask you something?" Big then looked at me.
Big: "What is it, Garrett?"
Garrett: "You said you were going in Limsa Lominsa in search of adventure, right? How about we go both together have some fun doing missions together?" I'm a bit scared of his answer, but if he want to go alone, I won't prevent him to go.
Big: "Sure, why not? You showed me that you were a good teammate. We can do as good as we did in the airship" He smiled at me, interested.
Nothing could ever describe how I felt when he accepted to come with me. I would jump around in joy to express how happy I was, but I decided to nod and smile to express my satisfaction.
This is a new step in my journey, as I hope I could stay with him longer, that I would know more about him…
… Yay, new character! As I said before, this is a story about my two characters created on the same server.
Garrett becoming a white mage was not a thing that I imagine writing in the first place, considering that me main Monk instead! Same with Big, being a paladin instead of a white mage/bard!
Next chapter, we will see Big, spending time with Garrett in Limsa Lominsa, as he learn a bit of him step by step!