Chapter 10:

Eyna and Farood headed for Balfonheim's tropical port, but their reasons had differed from Mjrn's.

Continuing their passage through the jungle, Mjrn had learned that both Eyna and Farood hailed from The Ordalian Order of Sojourns, a joint fraternity of wayfaring researchers and explorers officially commissioned by both Archadia and Rozarria. Their unifying mission was to decipher Ivalice's remaining mysteries. Eyna surmised the fraternity's founding like an unspoken treaty which assured a partial peace between Ivalice's empires. Mjrn felt she could gain a fragile grasp of Hume politics and affairs.

Eyna and Farood were assigned to the region of Bancour, Ivalice's most Mist-veiled region extending to Golmore Jungle and the Feywood, but it seemed that now they would wrap up business and simmer down at the port.

"You seem really young," Eyna said. "But aren't you sad for leaving home?"

Mjrn carefully recollected her thoughts. "At times I feel uneasy," she said. "But I had always yearned to live freely. I have won my right, and I feel it best to leave my sadness in the past." Mjrn felt pleased that she could now comfortably admit the truth without the weight of remorse.

"You're a tough one," said Eyna. "Not many Viera can admit that. That takes guts."

Nera's final parting flashed in Mjrn's memory.

Farood whizzed his gray flabby body, now facing the Vieras and strolling backwards. "And just like our Eyna," he added, "she is like our big sister of the group. So tough and forthright!"

A smiling Eyna looked at Mjrn and waved away the Seeq's pronouncement. "Oh, they'll say things like that. But why did you leave? Is it just freedom for the sake of freedom? Something else, even?"

Mjrn acceded to the sharpness of the question. When Jote contended the same question, Mjrn felt powerless and condemned. From Eyna, however, she was at ease and relieved. But just freedom? Mjrn had no direct answer. Another vision flashed across her vision, but this time of Basch walking away in his tapering cape. "I am uncertain," Mjrn simply said, then pensively placing her hands on her chest. "The calling was too great, so much that I could not withstand it."

Eyna shrugged, then after a moment, said: "Sometimes we might not know why we're called to places beyond. You just get going and find out for yourself. That's what I did."

Mjrn agreed, and it seemed to reaffirm her unspoken feelings on the matter. "Those too are my thoughts. My desire would be so strong, but I could not explain how I truly felt to the other Viera."

"Well?" said Farood. "Aren't you glad you found us?"

Mjrn shyly acknowledged with a nod. "I am pleased to find allies outside the Wood." Unused to compliments, Mjrn quickly deflected attention to Eyna. "And had you left your village for the same reasons?

"Sure," said Eyna. "It's not easy at first. But I mean, can you imagine being cooped up in the forest your entire life? So much stuff goes on out here. How would you not want to escape? Anyway, I can tell you more once this is finished."

Mjrn noticed Eyna had alluded to the checkpoint up ahead. The familiar exit from years ago lay before her. Forced agape was a cleft where the gnarled vines revealed the annex between the jungle and the opening embrace of the Ozmone Plains and sister pastures. But before she would be free, nearby was the hold up by Archadian soldiers. Eyna held up a sigil pendant to the presiding Archadian soldier, but he swiftly moved in, fanned a spear to halt the Vieras and Seeq, and said "Wait! That other Viera-"

Another soldier chimed in: "It seems your pet beast escaped the jungle," smugly said the soldier. Mjrn sensed the hostility and identified the muffled voice to be the same Hume who had led the failed hunt for Chit. She assumed the begrudged Hume to be a senior officer. One of the other soldiers lay sprawled, and it seemed one fell asleep, telling from the slow rise and heave of his breastplate.

Eyna looked at Mjrn. "What does he mean?"

"My friend is a cockatrice," said Mjrn.

"Oh?" Eyna said. "We have so many of those in Rozarria."

"-Pfft, Rozarria." the Archadian soldier uttered.

Eyna shot her attention to the offending soldier. "What was that?"

Mjrn observed Eyna's defensiveness, but then Eyna said: "Nevermind, let me through. And leave her alone, she's with me."

"Not until the Archadian presence has cleared," said the soldier, his spear still defending their passing. Mjrn tilted her head to observe past the soldier and caught a glimpse of a few small airships and the calm pulsing whirl of their glossair rings. They were ready to disembark. One had already lifted from the grass and began the skyward rise. She was anxious to proceed further into the open.

"Oh, come on," Eyna said with a defiant stomp of her heel. "You already know who I am!"

The soldier grunted then looked at his fellow officer who was almost covered in a full steel carapace. He posed laxly against a rock, ankle crossed the other ankle, reading a map. The more riveted faceplate and sigiled plating had hinted at his seniority as a junior-ranking judge, although nowhere near the same intimidating elegance as Basch's outfit. The judge seemed to look up at the soldier who still stood silent as if to ask for a confirmation of how to proceed with the Vieras. No response: Facial expressions and precise emotions were indiscernible, just two faceplates staring at one another. The judge finally shrugged it off, readjusted his gaze below and continued to study his map. "Let them go," the judge finally said.

The bitter Archadian soldier turned again to the Viera pair, quickly waved them in and said: "Argh, fine be off then, Viera."

"Thanks," Eyna said, and she locked her arm with Mjrn, and Mjrn felt herself playfully tugged away, with Farood following closely. Hurrying a few paces away from the reluctant soldier, Eyna finally turned and stuck out her tongue: "-but no thanks!"

"Be off already!" The Archadian soldier gripped his weapon as if to chase them away, but stood his ground.

Mjrn and Eyna walked off. "Ugh, hotheads," Eyna said. "Why do the rank and file have to be so difficult!"

A palpable trickle rushed through Mjrn's chest. She found the previous scene of defiance thrilling. A small smile crept. "They had let us pass so easily," Mjrn wondered aloud.

"Yes, but worry not, Mjrn. Us Sojourns have the privileges since we are officially commissioned by the empires. They have to protect us whenever we stroll about." Eyna finally turned her direction to the soldier and hollered: "- including checkpoints!"

"Do you want to get hurt, Viera!" the muffled soldier was heard in the distance, almost ready to lunge after the pair.

Eyna pipped, giggled, and then tugged Mjrn with her. "I think I made him mad! Come on, this way."

Moongleams alighted the grassy slopes which weaved into the pastures, as if to unveil the natural way. Northeast, it seemed the horizon had captured its light from blue magicite. Steppes and plateaus sprouted grass tufts, and the canyon grooves cascaded like marble stairways, testament to the eons of erosion. Some pathways swung into the grassy fields like rivers. How elegant, Mjrn thought, and how she missed Ivalice's natural artistry.

The winds circulated the wide prairies. The murmuring exhale of the wind carried a dry grassy whiff which cued her to observe the faraway grasses being strummed under the starlight, pulsing with movement, like the sunbeams flecked upon the forest brooks. She remained faithful that Chit would safely reach Balfonheim.

Mjrn marveled at the small frigate gliding overhead. It was the last Archadian ship to leave the plains. The florescent cyan glossair rings slowly spun, silently awhirl as it propelled the metallic mass upward. It came to a pause as it reached a decent height, then gently pivoted as it switched its trajectory towards the northeast, bound for whatever destination it willed.

The airship emitted a quiet blue burst as it began its journey.

"We're heading the same way," Eyna said unlocking her arm from Mjrn's. Eyna then ran up to a smaller airship up ahead, and then she spun around and spread away her arms as if to present Mjrn their newfound prize. "Well, here's the airship we came in. Ever seen one like this? It's not much but it's fast and it can take us anywhere."

Mjrn was quietly impressed even if the detail was only dully illuminated under moon and starlight. She estimated the airship to be the size of a 24-chocobo caravan lined up from head to tail, yet the airship was smaller than an Archadian frigate. The engravings along the wings had swirled and swooshed and were perfectly symmetrical.

"I had not seen an airship such as this before," Mjrn said referring to the peculiar wingspread. Mjrn ran her fingers along the trellised grooves underneath, noting the foreign but beautiful markings.

Eyna smiled. "It's a Rozarrian Combat Fighter. It's not like those big airships. Archadia has plenty of their own. We can maneuver and get around more easier like this. The wings go like this," Eyna brought up her hands and imitated the forward swept motion of the airship.

"Like an avion?" Mjrn said.

Eyna snapped her fingers. "Yes, that's right! Just like avions. That's why these combat fighters are such a treat to have. They're pretty fast and mobile."

"Ah, I see," Mjrn said happily grasping the concept between airships and an avion.

The jogging of metal approached from behind as Farood ran past the Viera pair and towards the ship. "We make haste for the skies! I tire of plains and jungles. I will make some final checks: Hopefully those rabble-rousing Archadians hadn't touched our Rozzarian beauty!

Eyna acknowledged and returned her attention back to Mjrn. "If you really want to get around Ivalice, get something like this," said Eyna with a wink. "Come on, let me show you inside."

The Vieras entered the ship, and the airy world Mjrn knew shrunk into a compact metallic corridor. The clacking of their heels bounced back a hollow resonance against the paneled floor. Mjrn would outstretch her arm and slide her hand gingerly along the metal panels, touching riveted air vents and cold steel panels and feeling the air brush through her fingers. Mjrn could hear the idle droning hum that came from underneath her feet. Perhaps it was the glossair rings, like the pulse and heartbeat of a sleeping avion.

They entered a room lit by white magicite lamps which bathed everything in a comforting luminescence. Eyna motioned Mjrn to sit down with her on a red ringed plush couch which had encompassed an ivory table. It was the main room, Eyna had said, and as Mjrn sat down, a blue holographic map burst and cascaded upon the table which was emitted from a brown metallic device. The blue beams carefully traced a map above the table.

Mjrn was struck with marvel, then realized that the map now fully manifested was Ivalice glowing before her.

"Is this - Ivalice?" Mjrn asked.

"That's it alright," Eyna said. "The Sojourns updated it recently. And here's Balfonheim-" Eyna then traced her finger midair. "This is where you want to go, right?"

Mjrn nodded, filled with warmth, relief, and happiness.

"Well, good!" Eyna smiled. "Just making sure."

Somewhere came a mechanical hiss. "Almost there," Farood declared from the adjacent room which Mjrn figured to be the cabin. Then he finally said: "Got it!" A louder hiss erupted, then computerized beeps until everything soothed into a slow upward whine. "Success! It's all good," Farood finally said. "Farewell Bancour, we are off to Balfonheim!"

Mjrn pipped as she felt the airship jolt, then rise. She braced herself. It was much faster than she had imagined, believing it would be as graceful as the Archadian ships that she observed.

"Don't worry," Eyna said. "This ship is stable, it's just a little shaky at first," then Eyna turned her attention to the adjacent room, "-Farood, steady as she goes. Don't go so fast, either."

"Aye," the hearty Seeq said, "I'll take it easy for our new guest!"

Eyna smiled, returned attention back to Mjrn. "There's always a first time," she said, then seemed to look around. "But I think Farood should have had this airship repaired sooner. She takes a bit too long to start sometimes. Anyway, would you like some fruit?" Eyna held up a red and orange streaked pulp. "It's Cactus Fruit from the Dalmascan deserts."

Mjrn accepted the fruit and took a gentle nip. It was sweet and satisfying. She acknowledged her growing appetite.

Eyna lifted the same bulbous fruit to her mouth and bit into it. The clear juices seeped before sputtering onto Mjrn's face.

"Whoa!" Eyna said. "I'm sorry!"

"Oh, do not worry," Mjrn said squinting and gently wiping her face. Mjrn felt something awkward about this foreign Viera. While Eyna was oddly ungraceful, Mjrn felt she could invest trust in her newfound ally. Eyna pulled out of her brown satchel a clean white handkerchief which Mjrn happily took. Suddenly, the offering aroused a memory of her friend Nera and their times together near the forest brooks. Mjrn was pulled away from the memory when Eyna spoke.

"So," Eyna said, musing upwards, still unmindful of her sloppy munching. "I don't think I want to come back to Golmore. Humid jungles just aren't my thing."

Mjrn was impressed with not just the carefree way Eyna carried herself, but her fearless aura. "Are you not afraid of what lurks here?" Mjrn asked.

"Huh? You mean in Golmore?" Eyna said.

Mjrn nodded.

Eyna swallowed her fill and then laughed, waved dismissively. "Of course not! It's not as bad so long as you travel in groups."

Perhaps, Mjrn thought, it was time to place some trust into Eyna, and it prompted Mjrn to reveal her true concern: "Have you seen Basch?" Mjrn paused for a moment to recollect the proper words. "Ah - a Hume in dark armor?"

Eyna had perked up. Mjrn looked into the foreign Viera's eyes and took heed of her arched eyebrow.

Eyna finally answered: "Yes, I think we did. The bullhorned one, right? We stepped aside when they passed. Didn't want to get in his way, ya know? Scary person."

Mjrn nodded in acknowlegement, pleased with the answer that she was heading in the right direction. "Do you know where he may be heading?"

"Not sure. Why?" Eyna said.

The curt question surprised Mjrn, and she noticed again Eyna's quizzical face, sensing her underlying but gentle suspicion, but Mjrn confidently admitted to her: "We had known each other."

"What!" Eyna said, now agape and taken aback with widened eyes. "Are you sure?"

Mjrn nodded again, though now confused with Eyna's surprise. "Yes. He is the Judge Magister. He and his friends had once rescued me from harm, but it was long ago."

Mjrn now saw a delighted Eyna who had her hands gingerly perched under the chin with utmost curiosity, and this made Mjrn happy. Mjrn proceeded to retell the events that had led up to the recent past. The images of her old history would return: Fran, Mjrn's curiosity and seeking the Archdians, her capture and manufacted nethicite - Basch and Archaidans storming the village to find skypirates and Archadian dissenters. Dreams of the Occuria.

"So that's what all that loud noise was in the Jungle. I thought it was something nasty that the Sojourns forgot to note. Well Mjrn, you're certainly an interesting one: Knowing the Judge Magister and escaping the jungle all by yourself. You're very brave."

"Ah, but it was not without the aid of my dear friend."

"Oh? The cockatrice?"

Mjrn nodded. "Without him, I would have dwelled forever in the Wood."

"I love the way you talk," said Eyna.

The conversation had taken a suddenly odd turn. The upfront compliment made Mjrn bashful, and she nervously patted her silvery hair. "Ah - Why is that?" she asked.

"Oh, I dunno, you sound so dreamy when you talk." Eyna leaned closer almost as if to kiss her. Eyna looked deeply into her, then at her lips, then back into Mjrn's eyes. Mjrn froze, the glint in Eyna's eyes now noticeable, uncomfortable as she speculated Eyna's suddenly intimate approach.

Farood could be heard galumphing into the room where he started to utter: "Well bunnies, it seems we're surely... Whoa." Farood's words had ceased upon the unsettling scene of the two Vieras. Mjrn snapped away upon Farood's arrival, and despite her light mocha-skinned complexion, she was flushed hot with awkwardness and embarrassment and could only observe Farood's agape bewilderment.

Eyna smiled wryly, pulling away. "Yes, Farood?" she said turning her attention to the Seeq.

"What in freaky Faram was that?" Farood said.

"What's what?" said Eyna.

"-that," Farood merely said.

Eyna heaved, pouted. "What? We're friends! Right Mjrn?" Eyna locked arms with hers as if to claim her.

Mjrn nodded, deciding to simply comply. "Very much so."

Eyna crossed her legs, seemingly pleased and shot a confident smile at Farood. "See?"

Farood merely shrugged. "Right, well, we're over the sea now, but we're surely heading for Balfonheim's coastline. All systems nominal, so feel free to, um, make yourself comfortable during the trip." He walked back into the room to resume his work. His voice emerged again, but muffled and distant: "-but not too comfortable!"

Eyna unlocked herself from Mjrn, arose. "Well, we're almost there." Behind the couch was a wide round window which revealed the entire view that looked from behind.

"Well," Eyna said, "I will change. It might be a while until we reach the port."

Mjrn nodded. "May I rest here?"

"Of course. You're our guest, so treat it as your home, too. I will wake you up once there. I know you're exhausted."

Indeed, Mjrn was tired. She thanked her ally, and Eyna exited into the corridor.

Mjrn laid her head on her arm, staring deeply out the window to see the newfound sight. The Ozmone plains were gone, and so too the Jungle. Her reflection was blurred and vaguely visible from the window, but beyond that, the sky reflected the gentle blue fire of everything that she had remembered. It seems the entire sky, even Ivalice, was hers again. It was just as she remembered: The same burning distance, but alighted by the moon and stars. The swelling content in her heart was hard to contain: She was free now and floating in the skies, just like in her dreams.

But before closing her eyes, she realized she had forgotten to ask Eyna one more question:

What was Eyna's true business in the jungle?

Just research for the Sojourns? Yet Mjrn's exhaustion had compelled her to forget it, and the whimsical question tapered away. Mjrn took out the charm that she had pocketed from the abandoned Jungle encampment, looking it over one more time. She stared again at the Archadian engravings, tapping her long fingernail against the material, struggling to stay awake. But Mjrn could no longer fight the fatigue, and she slowly closed her eyes. Her last vision was the bright blue streamlets spraying from the engines and over the moonlit sea.

Mjrn had finally fallen asleep, with the charm resting on her open palm.