Chapter Nine: Guile of the Red Mage
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy IX characters but Cronus and Redeal belong to me.
On the outskirts of Treno, a mysterious figure was emerging from the arcane shadow of the towering mountains. He gazed across at the marvellous city and gave a light-hearted smile; his conduct of deceit would soon come to a dawn. He trudged across the congealed grass and stopped upon hearing several branches snap in a nearby forest. A trinity of Carve Spiders emerged from the obscurity of the trees in a sinful style, primed to slay any lost and unprepared travellers. The cabalistic stranger stepped into the moon's lucent light and was seen to be cloaked in noble cloth; His name was Cronus Bao-Jun.
He wore a swank red hat, incised with a single phoenix feather, a matching robe and a pair of rowdy brown boots. Strapped around his waist was a solid silver scabbard, holding his savoured Bastard sword. He drew it with limited ardour, flipped it upright and shot a provoking glare at the abhorrent arachnids. The leader submitted to Cronus' taunting scowls and launched an attack; it scurried towards him, elevated its spindly front legs and embarked on a rabid assault. But Cronus had been agonizingly trained in his juvenility to shun these assaults with ease; He slid to the outset of the downward strike and pivoted the legs of the offensive beast.
Blood surged onto the dry grass followed by the heavy cadaver of the immobilized spider. The remaining duo was uncharitable of their leader's primordial demise and was lucidly braced to resume the engagement. Cronus didn't allow them the opportunity to inaugurate in another salvo of aggression. He sprinted inwards, swung the Bastard sword at his chosen adversary and shunned beneath a counter strike from the remnant. He swiftly retrograded from the fray but recovered in time to wedge his weapon into the guise of the advancing creature. Thick, perpetual streams of blood coursed from its ruptured skull; it keeled over and died in a bitter pond of purple and blue.
Cronus slid the Bastard sword back into its initial dwelling and prepared to employ his potent Red Mage abilities. The residual arachnid was either eminently courageous or enormously lethargic. It hadn't yet attempted to flee the fracas; In fact it was intent on avenging the allies he'd slain. He raised his palm and aimed at the wrathful spider; He murmured an ancient invocation, with a trifling smirk dressed upon his face. Suddenly, the target was engulfed in a fusillade of flames; it shrieked in agony whilst the heat scorned across its body, roasting it into a murky oblivion. Fiery embers drifted across the moist atmosphere and flickered into the void. Cronus paced across to the mediocre steel gates of the city and directed his observance towards the archaic warden.
"Open the gates, I have business here"
The warden scanned him inquisitively whist skimming through a tome of wanted lawbreakers. "Business eh? With whom?" he inquired sceptically, without erasing his irritated scowl. Cronus soughed and straightened his hat, surrounded by an aura of superior annoyance. "My business subsists as mine alone-" he responded, whilst swatting a streak of silver hair from his vision "-it is none of your concern". The warden muttered at having established no basis on which to deny Cronus' access. He progressed towards a small control panel and wearily tugged the glossy bronze lever. The gates trundled apart and he crept inside; he enquiringly absorbed his novel surroundings. He hadn't ventured into Treno's tranquil environment for many years and it felt increasingly eccentric to be back.
He proceeded to the city's Northern Vicinity, cautiously journeyed through the desolate streets and faltered outside a small, tainted building. He inspected the suspended sign in mirth; a stooped, sinister figure could be identified behind the bold title, The Old Peddler.
He smiled, pushed the frayed door ajar and devoid of hesitation he prowled inside. The sight which met his eyes was a rather macabre one. He was ranked in a decrepit public house subsuming a few decaying tables, chairs and cracked candle-lit lamps. Each table was oddly vacant excluding one, which supported three hooded figures, binded in secretive parley. He examined this new environment in repulsion; the walls were eminently greasy and the floorboards were chancy and thick with grime. He stepped up to the dust tainted bar and to snag the odious bartender's attention, he pounded his fist against its surface. However, he paid no heed to the young mage and continued to emit saliva into glasses and wipe them with a stained rag.
"Hey you filthy beast, put that down and haul your obese ass over here!" Cronus growled haughtily.
The bartender grimaced wrathfully before Cronus sneered at the vile little man. "What does a little punk like you want in this part of the city anyway?". Cronus smiled mischievously, having prematurely conceiving a response. "Nothing much, but if you'd commit yourself to an adequate wash then I'd be incredibly grateful". The bartender's face twisted into an indignant scowl before he reached under the bar to withdraw a blood-stained pipe. He erected it close to his unkempt chin and set himself to strike the insolent newcomer. "Right kiddo, would you care to repeat that?" he asked, positive that he was now under no threat from him.
Cronus shook his head in disbelief of his foe's idiocy and deviously wrapped his hand around the cool hilt of his sword. The bartender was given little time to launch an attack; Cronus swiftly drew his weapon and swiped at his upraised wrist which contracted with the cold steel and dropped limply to the smeared floor. He sprung back immediately, horrified beyond calculatable belief. Suddenly, the rickety door overhead the bar swerved open and an esoteric man emerged; he observed the bar from his lofty position before descending the narrow staircase. He wore a vintage suit of Mythril Armour and an innovative pair of combat pants. His face was immensely attractive and his short hair was a fusion of black and brown; upon seeing the man, the bartender's face transformed into a capacious smile; yet his eyes depicted a slight semblance of dread.
"N-now you're in trouble" he whispered to Cronus as he reached the base step. The three hooded figures that'd been conversing around a single table expelled their seats and departed from the pub, abandoning their beverages. "M-Master Redeal-" the bartender stammered "-l-look at what this scum did to me p-please Master, kill him!"Redeal trailed his beady eyes between Cronus and the rueful bartender and sneered at the fresh decapitation. He surveyed Cronus with intent curiously and spoke in a deep and bone-chilling tone.
"Cronus Bao-Jun I presume"
The bartender's grin vanished rapidly as he realised they were known to one another. Cronus nodded earnestly, gave a slight bow and recovered as Redeal stepped closer; the bartender's eyes widened in intensity, he was anxious to witness his Master murder the egotistical mage. "I apologise for wounding this dupe Lord Redeal, but he was being extremely- disrespectful" he said, adding an apologetic tone to his voice. The bartender stumbled against the decaying, wooden beam which held up the inferior staircase; he'd lost a vast amount of blood and it'd begun to take its nauseating effect.
"H-heal me Maste-r" he gasped feebly.
Redeal intentionally neglected the suffering bartender and flashed a wicked smile at Cronus. "Forget him; he's already fulfilled his purpose in our plan". The colour drained instantly from the bartender's stocky face as his Master held up a single finger and pointed in his direction. He collapsed to the filthy floorboards and begun to shake violently; thick streams of blood flowed out of his nostrils and eyes. He was purposely torturing the pitiful man. The witness, Cronus wasn't startled at all by Redeal's actions, murdering one of his own goons was an act he'd committed himself on numerous occasions. The bartender suddenly forfeited from the barren struggle and died in a tributary of his own blood.
Redeal directed his attentions back to Cronus. "Well, now that that unpleasantry is behind us we can talk business. I imagine you're here to personally respond to the little note I sent you hm?". Cronus nodded, leant against the dust and blood covered bar and spoke; "my men are working on your objectives". Redeal smiled sardonically. "We won't require Demitrie's pathetic little gang; one of the disciple's are in Alexandria as we speak. What we need you to do is take care of Firion". Cronus grinned immorally "your decision depicts music to my ears Lord Redeal. Firion is a mere cipher in comparison to my magic, it shall be done". Redeal was evidently pleased with Cronus' decision to unite with their group.
"What shall you do when Reina is brought to you?-" Cronus asked inquisitively" -what will Ipsen need her for.
Redeal shook his head vehemently. "Once we have her in our clutches, that's when it'll be revealed, despite the hatred and evil I sense deep within you, I still don't trust you nearly enough". Cronus wasn't thrown by this response; it appeared to have been what he'd expected. "Very well, I'll return to my hideaway in preparation for Firion-" he proclaimed "-I bid you farewell Master Redeal". Redeal grunted his approval and stalked back up the staircase; Cronus wallowed in his deliberations for a short period before turning towards the door. 'I'm in some serious shit now' he thought as he brooked a final look back at the pub. He allowed himself a silent laugh at his own chicanery as he closed the shoddy door and stepped into the cold night air.
Another chapter tackled. What did you think about it? Do you like the sound of Redeal's character? And what do you think of him killing his own underling? He's rotten to the core and I wanted to illuminate it in some way. Now that Cronus has announced his eagerness to kill Firion and Firion did the same in the previous chapter things are sure to pick up. Arthas: Thanks for the compliments, they're much appreciated. Even if you're not going to do a Final Fantasy fic right now you should definitely write one later, as your last showed potential. Sorry for not reviewing the other chapters, but they're just so goddamned long lol. In your next Final Fantasy IX fic you should probably break it down into smaller chunks. (Don't worry I'll finish them soon.
Next chapter to come: The Semi Finals- The next round of the Abunai Tatakau is launched and the battles become far tougher. Will Firion find the challenge he deserves? Will Quina win the money to buy Bunt cake and pastries? Will Orion totally overwhelm every warrior he faces? Find out when this chapter is posted...- (This chapter may take a while to write, who knows? I'll try my hardest to complete it as quickly as is possible.)