Back in Ul'dah, Hunfrid sat heavily on the stone bench attached to the fountain just down the street from the Quicksand. He rested his head back on the ledge, almost too tall to do so. Closing his eyes, Hunfrid hoped he wasnt finally done growing just yet. Roegadyn usually stopped growing by their twentieth summer, but sometimes didnt stop growing for another few years. Only at eighteen summers, Hunfrid still had at least a couple more years to grow.
A pair of large Sea Wolves approached, each grinning or smirking and garbed in Immortal Flames coats. Hunfrid raised his head, looking at them, "May I help you?" He had a bad feeling.
"We require a... 'fee' of sorts, for the goodwill of the guards," one chuckled and glared. The other nodded, "Goodwill, and fer keepin' th' peace." Hunfrid glanced around for anyone else, heart sinking when he realised they were alone. When Hunfrid gulped, the first growled, "Your money, now."
"I dont have anything on me," Hunfrid said, and he was truthful. The second guard punched a hand into the other palm, sneering, "Then we a' beat it from ye'!" The first guard threw a hard punch, landing on Hunfrid's cheek. The Lohengarde fell to the ground from the force, yelling from the sharp throbbing left by the hit.
The second guard stepped to the fallen Roegadyn and kicked him in the gut. Hunfrid yelled again and groaned, clutching his stomach and curling up. "Stop! I have nothing!" But Hunfrid's plea was only met with a few more kicks before the Sea Wolves left him, laughing.
Hunfrid heaved, coughing up blood as he dragged himself onto the bench. He gingerly patted his side, hoping the mostly closed bite wound hadnt been torn open again. The bandage felt more damp, worrying Hunfrid. He pulled up his shirt enough to inspect the white cloth, and it was a few shades lighter than red.
Hunfrid stayed where he was, recouping himself before daring to find a healer. When his bandage got a little darker, he pushed himself to his feet and headed for the Gladiator's Guild. A healer was almost always on duty, or just a few minutes away, in the event an accident occured.
When he told Mylla, she was furious at Hunfrid for not fighting back. She didnt stop yelling and scowling until the healer had ushered her out of his cramped room to let him rest.
Hunfrid didnt stir even once until that evening when his stomach growled. Though the healer had healed his bruised cheek and helped his side, Hunfrid would still need time for the hole to mend on its own. Hungry, he left his room. Mylla glared at him when he passed through the main room, but didnt stop him when he left.
The Quicksand wasnt very crowded, most of the evening goers had already gone by now. Hunfrid hoped the two bullies had already had their fill and gone while he scanned the room for a table.
He almost tripped over a pair of legs, catching himself a half an ilm from them. Hunfrid stepped back, "I-I'm sorry, miss."
The Sea Wolf woman rose to her feet and smirked, "S'alrigh', milord. A' should'nay 'ave 'ad me legs out there like tha'." She rubbed her temple just above her patched left eye.
Hunfrid wrinkled his forehead, "Please, I am just 'Hunfrid'." He smiled, "I'm no lord."
"As ye' wish, milord-... Hinfrid. The name's Antares." She grinned briefly, and scowled, holding a hand to the linkpearl in her ear. "M'sorry, duty calls." She winked at Hunfrid.
With a blush, Hunfrid nodded, "Menphina bless you."
Hunfrid couldnt sleep, tossing and turning on his cot. His ribs ached and hurt from the beat down earlier, and the thin blanket under him didnt help. Mind whirling with the day's happenings, Hunfrid groaned as he pushed himself up. He sat for a moment, closed his eyes and bowed his head, "Menphina, thank you for each night and morning, and for your grace."
He slowly opened his eyes, and the mini airship sat off-center of a dull beam of moonlight. Hunfrid blinked and squinted, and the moonlight faded. Did Menphina try to tell him something?
As the week passed, Hunfrid spent as much of his free time as he could tinkering with a discarded cait sith doll. It had a metal skeleton still in very good condition, but its cogs, joints and cords were in disrepair. What stumped Hunfrid was a small, round hole that seemed to hold a little ball. He could not figure out what it was for.
But the doll needed some form of power to animate, for there was no sign of any wind-up cranks. Did it need a small magitech power core? A little condensed magic would certainly do the trick. Maybe the Thaumaturge's Guild could help with that. The mages would surely know how, with all the things they could do with the aether.
When he finally got a day to himself, Hunfrid packed the doll in his satchel and made his way to the Thaumaturge's Guild. The building was imposing, looming over the courtyard like a tonberry. With a gulp, Hunfrid entered quietly and hesitantly, not very sure what to expect.
A Lalafell garbed in a dark robe approached when Hunfrid had made a couple yalms inside. A tall statue with a curved blade glowered down at a platform of praying disciples. The Lalafell put a finger to his lips, urging silence. He beckoned Hunfrid to follow him, leading the Lohengarde to a side room.
"Just talk quietly," the shortling insisted after he pushed the door shut. He hopped onto a chair and gestured for Hunfrid to take another. When the other seat was taken, the Lalafell inquired, "You are obviously not very apt with the aether, so what brings you here?"
Hunfrid tugged out the doll and showed the hole for the power core. "Im looking for a magitech power core for this."
The mage's eyes widened, "Magitech? That's Garlean technology and beyond my understanding." He gazed inquisitively at Hunfrid, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "But... we do have an individual that can help."
Hunfrid couldnt believe his luck. The cait sith doll sprang to life on the table at the Quicksand, prancing before him on two legs while its eyes glowed a dim green. It soon calmed down, getting down on all fours and pawing around a circle. With a quiet thump, it laid down and acted like it was sleeping.
Hunfrid smiled as he had admired the doll, leaning back in his chair. When it laid down, Hunfrid crossed his arms over his chest, thinking. If he could fix this doll as well as he fixed the airship, could he make a decent living as a tinkerer or toymaker?
He had to find out. Working for the Gladiator's Guild was great, but got boring after the first few months. Hunfrid headed for the market to see what he could bargain for the doll.
Pushing through a crowd, Hunfrid aproached one of the advertisement boards that people posted requests to buy, sell or trade. There wasnt much out of the normal clothing or material requests. Before he turned away, a Free Company flyer caught his eye.
"Do you seek to gather riches beyond measure? Have a lust for notoriety so strong only the blood of the most dangerous foes will quench it? Perhaps you seek to rectify a life of bad choices with charity and service to those in need?
Our company was founded to house a growing band of adventurers eager to stake their place in the world of Hydaelyn. We all have a place on this wide and wandering road. Find yours with us.
Visit your local OIC administrator today!
~Raandal Bennett
Company Leader: Path of Oschon"
Adventuring! It sounded far more dangerous than what the Lighthouse had offered, but Hunfrid hadnt heard from that Free Company in a month. He shook his head and turned away, but hesitated.
Hunfrid raised a hand to his chest, looking down at the ground. He was perplexed at the odd ache he felt. Looking back at the flyer, Hunfrid stared thoughtfully. He almost jumped out of his skin when the doll stirred in his hand.
The cait sith doll wriggled, and when its captor loosened his hold, squirmed to the giant's shoulder. It pawed the air, as if trying to point. When Hunfrid gave it a peculiar look, the doll patted his cheek with one paw and continued to point with the other.
With a gulp, Hunfrid slowly understood, and murmured a short prayer for Menphina's blessing.
"Your name, age and profession, sir," the officer inquired. "We will mail your application to the Free Company leader and you will be contacted by one of their recruitment officers."
"Of course," Hunfrid answered all the questions. When the application was finished, he was dismissed.
Hunfrid had gone several yalms down the street from the office before he stopped and slowly inhaled. His wound was hurting again. With a sigh, he found an empty bench and sat. With a quiet grunt, Hunfrid tugged his shirt up just enough to examine the bandage. It was light pink and otherwise still very dry.
Relieved, Hunfrid smoothed down his shirt and leaned back. To his pleasant surprise, Antares stopped midwalk about a yalm in front of him. Hunfrid returned the smile that soon greeted him with a grin.
"Milor-... Ah, well, good seein' ye again! Ye look like ye could use a bit o' company?" Hunfrid nodded, motioning to the rest of the empty bench. Taking a seat next to Hunfrid, Antares gave him a friendly nudge on his arm. He winced when her elbow met the bruise from being kicked, Antares stared at him questioningly.
"I-it's nothing," Hunfrid gulped. "How are you?" Antares narrowed her eyes at him, unconvinced. When she folded her arms and scowled, Hunfrid continued nervously, "It was a couple of Sea Wolves in Flames uniforms. They demanded money, and when I didnt give them any..." He gingerly patted his stomach, "They beat me down and kicked me."
Antares stared at him in disbelief, "Wha'?!" Hunfrid looked away sheepishly and Antares frowned, "Hunfrid, who were they?"
He shook his head, "They didnt say."
"Here," Antares grabbed one of Hunfrid's hands and pressed a linkpearl into his palm. "If they mess with ye again, let me kno'. I will teach them th' lesson of their godsdamned lives." She was serious. Hunfrid nodded, swallowing and making a mental note to not ever piss her off.
The next several days went by slowly as Hunfrid waited anxiously. He managed to sell the doll for a good price to a pair of expecting Midlanders. With the money, he purchased supplies to start on another mini airship and had enough left to send some things back home. Mylla wasnt very thrilled when Hunfrid told her he was going to try his hand at making toys, but she didnt argue against it so long as he didnt neglect his work at the guild.
The week came and went, and the airship was done. Hunfrid posted a flyer at the market for the toy, and when he returned to the guild, found a letter waiting for him in his room. It was from the Free Company, inviting him to an interview all the way in the Black Shroud, far to the north. The date is for late next week, barely enough time to get there by chocobo.
Hunfrid huffed a sigh as he stood before the building at Hawthorne. Fearing he was late, he hurried inside and looked around. A handful of Midlanders and Wildwood Elezen went about their business while a few sat patiently on a bench.
One Midlander woman looked up at Hunfrid expectantly. Tilting his head, Hunfrid approached her, "I am expected, miss. Are you Daphine?" She nodded and smiled.