Chapter 6: Searching For A Judge (?) - Bonds

Since they both stay awake through the night, Marche decides that he will go out to fetch them something to eat instead of Montblanc. That's the least he can do for his little friend after what happened last night. Also, he doesn't want to see Hurdy just yet. Although Montblanc's word had calm him down, his emotions is still like a balloon that can explode anytime. This is the matter between him and the moogle brothers only; he doesn't want Luso to be stuck in the crossfire.

When he's back, Luso is up already. Still, his face is full of sweat and seems kind of pale. But Marche's attention is drawn to the one standing next to him. Hurdy have made it back to the camp when Marche's out to find foods. But unlike last night, his seriousness is all gone. He's smilling as if nothing happened. When he see Marche, he calls out with a voice full of enthusiasm: "Marche, did you get something good?" . Marche is still in a daze from Hurdy's reaction. This is not the kind of reaction he was expecting from Hurdy. But at least he doesn't have to face Hurdy's seriousness, for on.

Marche nod vaguely and walks to the campfire with a weasels in his left hand and a fish in his right hand. Luso stares at Marche's hand (or rather, what is in Marche's hand), saying: "Wow, even though you're a city's kid, you can handle this much! I'm impressed!" . Marche turns his head to a side to avoid Luso's line of sight before answering: "I learned from a graet teacher". Looking at his friend's reaction, Montblanc can faintly guess just who his mysterious teacher was

Marche's surviving skill was taught to him by his friend Chad. Despite his laziness and unwilling to work, Chad was an expert in survival. Marche had to ask him again and again (and again). Finally, one day, Chad sighed and answered: "Fine, I'll teach you. Geez, you're such a drag. Remember! I'm not gonna teach another person in my life! Ever! So don't go and tell people about this". This training lasted for a few months, and before he knew it, Marche was able to live comfortably in a jungle like it was his second home

Then, after his friend's death, he swears that if he ever returned to the real world, he will make a living by the skills his friend taught him for the rest of his life to honored his "teacher". And that's the reason why he's now a full-time adventurer. He traveled around the world a lot, sometime searching for another grimmoire that rumored to appeared, sometime taking tourists into the wilderness and teaches them a few basic survival skills to earn moneys for his traveling. In the beginning, the first person he shared this intention for the future is his lover, Ritz. Little did he know that this would be the biggest mistake of his life. From that day on, Ritz would tease him nonstop about the fact that someone so small and cute can have such a big dream. When they reach 16, Marche's height stays the same as when he was 14 while Ritz got taller, much, much taller. (She was 6 inches taller than Marche). That was the reason why Marche started training in the gym in his free time (Well, he didn't know that Ritz was making used of his personality to make him prepare for what have yet to come). 2 years later, he grew about 8 inches, barely overcome Ritz. His body was full of muscle from all the training. And although his face hadn't change at all, no one can call him cute anymore. He emits some kind of aura that makes people respect him.

The voice of Luso break Marche's reminiscence: "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and turn those into breakfast. I thought we need to discuss about important". Unable to comprehend what Luso just said, he turns to Montblanc and sees his friend nodding his head. "If it's Montblanc who said so, then it must be something important", Marche thinks as he tries to make grilled fish

The group finishes their breakfast in a heavy mood. Hurdy's still being cheerful as always, yet there still something wrong behind that smile. It looks unnatural, somewhat fake. Montblanc eats his share in silence while watching Hurdy without blinking. Marche tries to finish his share as fast as possible. He just feels like being together with Hurdy makes him unable to think straight with all his emotions mixing up with each other.

Noticing the strangeness, Luso speaks up: "Ok, time out! What is this all about?! Are you guy arguing about something? This kind of thing is so not gonna happen in my watch!". Hurdy answer him with a smile: "What are you talking about? We're not arguing about anything, right Marche?". Then he turns to Marche, clearly expecting him to follow his lead. Marche also doesn't want Luso to get caught in this kind of stuff, so he answers: "U-Uhm.". And when Luso's eyes focus on Montblanc, he just simply nods without saying anything. The three of them all agree without saying that Luso should be keep out of this.

Luso can read just as much from the mood. He knows for sure that they are keeping something from him, and he feels annoy about this. But there's nothing he can do. If he asks them about this, surely they would deny it. So although he doesn't like it, he has to stand out of this matter. Sometime that's the best thing to do: to let the whole thing to solve itself. This is not the first time he had experienced this kind of thing, and surely this would not be the last. So he decides to change the subject. He scratches his head with an irritated face, saying: "Then what was the thing you want to talk about?". Luso's words break the silent and also the heavy atmosphere covering the group. Marche also wants to know what Montblanc wants to talk about.

- Well then, I think we need to discuss about how to find a Judge to protect the clan, kupo – Montblanc is the first to speak up

- Wait, I thought we don't need that anymore. Isn't Marche bro is a Judge himself? And even a Judgemaster, that is. Right, bro?

- I guess … (Marche's thought is occupied right now so he doesn't even have the thought of retorting Luso's speak anymore)

- I don't think that's a good idea, kupo. We have seen that he'll faint from running out magick power. Do you have any idea how much it would affect us if he fainted in the middle of a battle?

- Well, that's true, but I think-

- Also, an official Judge will have a better understanding of the battle and law of this region, kupo

- Wow, brother actually thought up this far! I'm amazed, kupo!

- And finally, can I ask you something, Marche?

- Sure, what do you want to know?

- I'll say this directly: are you really a Judge, kupo?

- …Eh?

- What are you talking about, Montblanc? You saw it too right? Those clothes, that ability, no one other than the Judge can do that. I sure that brother is a Judge. Right, bro?

- …What are you trying to say?

- Well, you were always got caught up in the heat of the battle and tend to forget about your surrounding so you probably didn't notice my line of sight, kupo. In the last battle, I saw you raising your hand after that bangaa's defeat. Of course you can't think of punishing your own clanmate, right? So I think you must have tried to award him, but couldn't. And that make me wonder, are you really a Judge, kupo? Do you really have all the authority a Judge has?

- You can even notice such a thing in the middle of the battle, kupo?!

- If one doesn't have the ability to survey the surrounding in the battle, he will lose sooner or latter. But that's not the point. Please answer me, kupo

- … I guess it's no use trying to keep it away from you. In the past Bansat once said that he admired your abilities as a leader, and your keen sense of surrounding is one of those abilities. That's right. When I tried to turn to the latter half of the book, I was unable to do that. It was as if the pages were glued together with the back. Also, on the last pages that I can open lays the line: "Award" (Of course, this line is in ancient tongue), so I guess I can only open the first half – the "Punishment" – for now. A Judge is someone who make sure that the one who stand by the laws shall be rewarded and those who doesn't must face the consequences, so in that term, I'm not fully a Judge. Maybe "Punisher" is more fit for my current ability

- I can guess just as much. That's why I think it still better for us to get a real Judge on our side, kupo. The problem is: where can we get one?

- Huh? I thought Judges can be found everywhere in the world

- No, kupo. Unlike how you see the Judge from before, Ivalice's Judges are actually golem so they are guaranteed to finish their job without a single selfish desire and they would follow you to save you live in the Jagd, though they won't give you any privilege for battling in that place. If you're looking for a person, the first idea that comes to mind was finding one in a town. But this is not a "person" we're looking for, kupo. My clan was founded in a different continent, so the way I used to find a Judge may not work here

- Wait! There's something wrong about this! Didn't the guy we beat yesterday is also a Judge? You said that Ivalice's Judge is golem without desire, then how can that guy have a criminal record to be put in jail in the first place?

- It's simple. He has desire because he's a hume

- But, you just said-

- Well, I said that Ivalice's Judges are golem, but there are still exceptions, kupo. After the "incident", there are some changes that happened here. Suddenly there are people who claim to be a Judge after waking up from the curse. Everyone else thought that they're crazy, but when they saw how those people can perform some authority that only a Judge can have, they were very happy. The idea of a hume Judge was so fascinating to them, kupo. They could reason to the Judge, hoping he will change his mind … But things didn't go as they planned. The "new Judges" were having a hard time trying to get use to the new laws. There were some who quit from making mistakes over and over again, and there were some who were throw in jail for making unfair decision, so nowadays no hume Judge can be found anymore on the street

- So even normal Hume can also become Judge?

- Technically, yes. But there were those who have tried to do in many year of their life without achieving anything, so I guess that it work this way: when a person was chosen to be a Judge in "Ivalice", their potential to be a Judge was unlocked in their mind, so they were able to use the power of a Judge when they returned to Ivalice, kupo.

- But I wasn't a Judge. Then how can I use powers like one now?

- I think it's related to your law book, kupo. I mean, you knew the magick words to invoke the power of a Judge even though you weren't even a Judge before the moment you opened the book. Maybe the book unlocked the potential of someone worthy to be a Judge above other Judges and pours into the owner's head the essential knowlegde

- Brother, about that law book and how you get it, I think there's a problem in the story you told us last night. A big one, too. Didn't you, like, get that book from someone in "Ivalice"? Then how could you still have it when you returned, kupo?

- Uhm, did I miss something here?

- Just some talk when you were resting last night. I'll tell you later, kupo. About your question, I did come up with a theory. Since Cid was the Judgemaster of "Ivalice", he must be very powerful. He was also aware of the fact that they were living in an unreal world thanks to you, Marche, so he must have thought of some way to repay your deed. And that was, to pass his law book and Judge Sword to you. That action is also mean that he accept you as his successor as the Judgemaster. But there's no guarantee that you can keep it when you returned. And, without magick power, those things may break and can't be use again, and that's why he decided to give it to me and hope that I'll give it to you at the right time. Here's my theory: he must have use a lot of magick power to create a "bond" between me and the book so that the book can't get lost before getting in my hand, and by chance, that "bond" helps keeping the book together with me after the last night at "Ivalice" when I received that book

- I'm impressed! I didn't think you can thought up that many things in the past 6 years

- Another thing, Marche. To you, the amount of time you left us till the present day in your world is 6 years, but it seem like there's a difference in time setting between worlds. Our world's time is 3 times slower than your world's, so in fact, I haven't seen you for 18 years

- …And you're just like as you were, still kind and caring to other. I guess it's a bless that I can have you as my friend

The moment Marche says the word "friend", a "crack" sound surprise them all. Luso is the first to turn around. The sound come from the stick used to hold the grilled fish that's in Hurdy's hand. He broke the stick in his right hand unconsciously with his thumb. Although he's still smiling, the whole expression on his face screams out that he is shocked from Mache's word. "Sorry, I've to go out for a bit", Hurdy just left those words behind and starts walking deeper into the forest. The atmosphere suddenly got heavier. Luso's unable to speak a word. He knows that he hasn't got the grasp of the situation, so any slipped word can easily make thing go for the worse. Marche realizes he had says something that Hurdy can't accept so he lowers his head and sink into silent. Montblanc just bite his lip, looking after his brother's back. After a moment, Marche is the first to speak up: "I'm gonna go looking for Hurdy". But as he's about to get up, Montblanc also stands up, saying: "There's no need, I'll do it". Marche still tries to stand up, he know that the whole situation is because of him, so he has to be the one to solve this, but his lower half of the body is engulfed by an ice peak coming from nowhere. He struggles to get out, but it's no use. Furthermore, his friend is already after Hurdy. He gives up. Montblanc is a kind and gentle person, but if he has made up his mind about something, nothing can stop him. Even if Marche goes after him now, he would probably use "Stop" on him …


- Found you, kupo!

Montblanc found Hurdy at the place they were arguing last night. He's still smiling, tries to look as cheerful as he can get, but still, as his brother, Montblanc knows when his brother's expression is true to his heart

- So it's big brother huh? I guess brother's "friend" is just too much of a coward to face the crime he committed, kupo – Hurdy laughs as if mocking the blonde youth

- Kupo! Don't ever talk about him like that! I won't forgive you if you ever say that again even if you're my little brother

Hurdy stops. He turns to face his brother. Montblanc can clearly see that his expression is filled with anger

- And what are you gonna do about it? Beat me up? Chase me away? Kill me? All because I was telling the truth? You tried to run away from reality for too long, kupo! I don't even understand how you can pretend as if nothing happened, as if that guy is not even involve in this! You know too well that he should have been the one who tries his best to get you out of that damned place as soon as possible, but no, he only cares for himself, for his stupid adventure, so much that he's not even notice just how much this can affect his companion. And yet, after all that, he still tries to call you his "friend"! What kind of joke is that, kupo! And most of all, you try to convince yourself that he's not at fault, not even a single bit-

- That's enough! – this is the second time Montblanc feels so angry ever since he met his old friend – You listen to me! Do you know just how many time he had save me, how many time he tried to cheer me up, to cover me, to help me?! No, you don't! That's why you can say all those heartless things, because you're not me. You don't know him like I do, you weren't there with us in that place, and yet here you are, trying to blame him for something he didn't do. Why are you so mean to him? Answer me, kupo!

- Answer? You want the answer? I'll give you the answer. I care about you so much, yet you take that for granted. I try to protect you, yet you call me mean. Just how unfair is that!? All you ever care about is that spoil hume brat. Marche this, Marche that. I'm tired of listen to anything that involves him. "He uses his wounded body to cover me…", "He stays up all night to watch over me…" … No more, kupo! No more! – Hurdy holds his head with both hand, shaking violently as if trying to clear away thousands of voice that have been stuck in his head

A silent phase followed. Montblanc looks at his brother's face. The cheerful Hurdy is no longer there. His face is full of negative emotion. It is anger? No. Then sadness? That's not it. Then maybe it's…

- Hurdy, are you … jealous?

Hurdy don't say anything. He just stands there. But Montblanc knows he's correct. He knows his little brother well enough to confirm this fact. But before he can says anything, his brother already speaks up, breaking the silent

- …Since the day you woke up, all you've ever talk about is how good Marche is, how nice Marche is. Everything I do seem like it was completely pointless to you, like only something Marche do can impress you. No matter what I do for you, you only say how Marche will handle that. It's like you're here, yet you seem even farther from me than when you were asleep. I thought that if one day, by a miracle, you can wake up from the curse, I'll do anything to deepen our bond. But when you woke up, you were already so far away that my hand can no longer touch you. I … I just don't want to lose you anymore, kupo. I know, in my heart I always know that I should be thankful to Marche for bringing you back, yet my heart just can't accept him for taking away my big brother. All I ever wanted is for brother to care for me like old time. Is that just too much to ask, kupo?

At the last sentences, Hurdy's body starts to shake. It seems like all this emotion was bottled inside his head for so many years. Montblanc can't imagine just how much it has affects his brother's mind. He slowly walks toward his brother and, just as Hurdy lift his face up, slaps him, yelling:

- You idiot!

Hurdy is shocked from his brother's action. He just keeps on placing both of his hand on the part hit by Montblanc

- Why didn't you tell me, kupo? And here I was, worry about you acting all weird.

- You … were worried about me?

- Of course I worry about you! I always was, always am, and always will. Just because I don't let it show doesn't mean I care about you.

- You lied. You only care about Marche, kupo. I was never a part of your world. You don't even know a single thing about me

- What are you talking about? I know all I need to know about you. Like what was the first tune you ever played, the first tune you composed, the trail of your adventure, the name of your flute, how many flute you have use, your favorite food, your personality …

- Wa-wait, how did you find out about all that stuff

Montblanc looks at his brother still in confusion and smiles. It's the gentlest smile Hurdy have seen from his brother

- Silly boy, did you really think I would let you go alone into this dangerous world?

- Then, your meeting with Luso is not a coincidence?

- Ah, I just want to see with my own eyes just who was the one traveling with you

- Then, all this time, you were following me?

- Ahahaha – Montblanc blushes a little – it's pretty embarrassing to go with you after saying some thing like "I hope you enjoy every last minute" and stuff

- Brother…

- Oh come on, don't act like that. We still have to meet up with the Luso and Marche. Make sure you apologize properly to him

- …Do I have to? I mean, clearly he also feels that he's at fault, right?

- Hurdy!

- Fine! I'll apologize.

- Good. Now let's get back, kupo

When Hurdy walks pass Montblanc to get back, he whispers to Hurdy's ear

- Sorry if I ever make you feel you are not a part of my life, kupo

Though Montblanc said it with a soft voice, each word seems to have an impact on Hurdy's mind. He turns around and looks at his brother in an owe

- What are you waiting for? Let's go!

Said the big brother as he's walking back on the same trail, only to be followed by the little brother …


- What take them so long? Argh, I have enough of this! I'm going after them!

- Just be patient. Have some faith in them

- Yeah right! It doesn't feel really convincing coming from the man who tried to follow them but fail.

- M-Mind your own business!

- Still as close as ever, I see

The two both turn to the source of the voice at the same time. It's the one they're waiting for: Montblanc and Hurdy. Though the mood between the siblings is not as heavy as ealier

- Sorry that I make you all worried, I just need a little fresh air, that's all

- What kind of reason is that? You're hiding something-

- No, he's not. Now let's continue the topic. I already thought of a way to find a Judge while taking a walk with Hurdy

- Hey, are you trying to change the topic here? Cause that won't work-

- Well, to find a Judge, first we need to collect more information about them. Let's start with how they're made, where do they come from,…

- What!? You start discussing already! Oh come on …

While Luso is making a ruckus, Hurdy takes a sit near Marche, close enough for them to hear each other whisper. Marche is nervous about what Hurdy's about to say. Hurdy closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and says:

- Let just get this over with. I'm sorry, kupo.

- Ehm, what? - Marche can't seems to understand what the little moogle is saying

- Do I have to say it again? Fine. I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you the other night. It just … seeing how my brother took care of you so whole-hearted make me lose my mind

- Eh? But he does that to everyone, right? After all, he did take care of you since you were young

- What did you say, kupo?

- He told me once that when you were little, there was one time when you got lost in the forest. You started to feel hungry after a while so you tried to eat a poison mushroom. When Montlbanc found you, you were experiencing pain everywhere in your body. He said the pain was so intense that it make you fainted afterward. Montblanc had to stay by your bed for three whole days without sleeping to take care of you. Then, on the fourth day, when you are finally able to open your eyes, it was his turn to faint from exhaustion. But I guess you were just too young to remember.

- He … did that?

- And you don't have to apologize if you don't mean it. Like you said, I'm also at fault for not be able to free my friend sooner

- No, don't mind about it anymore. I only said those things in the stir of the moment. I actually wanted to thank you for helping out my brother in the first place. Without you, he won't have even notice a thing

- It was him who helped me in the first place. And I was just trying my best to help my friend - no, sorry, I mean-

- Don't mind it. I now see just why he treasures you as a friend. Just accept my apologize

- Are you sure? After all the things I did?

- I said it's fine, right? So just leave it at that. Geez, why do you have to be so hard to get mad at?

- I don't really understand it, but I'll accept your apologize?

- Finally! Sometime I think you'll be more fitting as a woman with that kind of personality

- Hey, that's mean!

Noticing the conversation between Marche and Hurdy have ended, Montblanc stops talking nonstop (This kind of complicated talk can be a powerful weapon again Luso. The proof is that you can see him pretty much just close his eyes and presses his hands over his ears during Montblanc's speak as if he's taking on mental attacks)

- Now let's get down to business, kupo! I think my knowledge about this problem is still too little for us to reach a conclusion of a way to find a Judge, so I think we need to find a town and post a quest there about our problem

- But I don't think there are many people with that kind of knowledge

- Don't worry! That's why I decided to post a bill to my own clan. After all, I, I mean, we do have someone with that kind of knowledge. In fact, he have enough knowledge to even turn the table again the Judge

- You don't mean-


- Hey, are you expecting me?

- Of course we've been expecting you, kupo. We DID aim this request at you from the start after all

- It's tough if you're a genius of my caliber. But because this is a personal quest from the guild's leader, I tried my best to get here as soon as possible

- I'm back! Is he here yet?

- Oh my, what an unexpected turn of event. I didn't I think I would be able to see you again, Marche Radiuju

- I thought your reaction after meeting up with your old friend suppose to be more … friendly, Ezel Berbier


Extra 3: Mission ?: Judge Problem

-3 days ago, at clan Centurio's Headquarter-

Bansat: Ok, Theodory, I'll leave you to deal with this "Preparing for Festival", make sure you can entertain the guests. And about this "Chocobo Problem", you seem to be the best for this job, Beltran. Can I could on you?

Theodory: You sure know what I can do best, dear~

Beltran: You can leave the chocobo to me, kupo. I won't let you down

Bansat: Then, next up-

Shara: Hey Bansat, do you know where Ezel is?

Bansat: Still stuck in his room and not even consider helping with the clan's stuff. Can you believe him? "My brilliant will be tainted if I do this kind of thing everyday. I'll be in my room for further study". I wonder why he's even in our clan since the beginning

Shara: Well, you better drag him out of the room because there's a quest that mean for him

Bansat: What?! Let me see that

-Judge Problem-

"Looking for information about Judges. Be as quickly as possible. Genius preferred." - Montblanc

Shara: Can you see the "Genius preferred" part is underlined?

Ezel: So the leader need my help huh? There's no helping it. Guess I'll have to lend him a hand

Shara: Wah! Where did you come from?! Doesn't matter. But you don't even know where he is, how can you find him?

Ezel: That's no problem for a genius like me. Consider it's done. Well then, I shall take my leave


Author notes: Sorry! I didn't think I would get caught up in something like that! I lost 1 whole week for something related to 3 words: "Hospital", "Surgery" and "Ouch". The last chapter was done in a rush, so when I checked it up again, I found so many errors, so much that I could die because even I don't know what I was thinking back then. I'm sorry about this, but please read chapter 5 again if you can, for some changes have been made (the biggest one is the time line, and another change is the name of the one who is close to Montblanc. His name is Bansat, so how can I even type it as Basset, 4 times in a row =.= Somehow I feels disappointed at myself)

I'm so sorry for making so much mistake. I promise the next chapter there'll be less error (I hope). Now, let get back to work. I'll get back on track as soon as possible

Next time: Genius