AN: You know, I was just reading a random story recently and thought "hey, this is fairly interesting! Why doesn't the author write more?" Then it dawned on me...i wrote the random story. XX
Chapter 14 - Madin Sari - Ghosts
------------------------------------
Vivi had much to contemplate about since discovering the Black Mage Village. So there were others much like him! Others who had similar anatomical arrangements. Others who had a similar inexplicable affinity to black magic. Others who knew what it was like to live through curious stares and the uncertainty they felt. Vivi had been so excited that he finally found people who could relate to him that his heart felt that he belonged there, in that village full of houses that were made to look like black mage hats.
However, the black mages had asked him to explore the world for them.
Vivi was confused at that request. Did they not like him? Did they not want him there? Why such a sudden and unexpected request?
"You are a brave black mage, traveling with humans. Besides, you are a companion of Mister Zidane!"
They all agreed that they needed someone to see the wonders of the world for them as they were too faint of heart to do so themselves. Many were afraid of humans. Some disliked them. Some thought the only good human was a dead human. Mr. 288, who was among the ambivalent crowd, encouraged Vivi to go along with the adventurers, telling him that, "By helping your friends, you will have helped us more than you know."
Eventually, with no small amount of hesitation, Vivi decided that he would see through the adventure with his human friends. The small back mage was a natural people pleaser, he would not want to disappoint both the black mages and everyone else; he just wanted to make everyone happy.
Now, in the middle of the night, Vivi found himself too restless to sleep deeply. He kept still most of the time, being the considerate soul who did not wish to disturb others. But eventually, he felt the need for a walk.
The first thing Vivi noticed when he rolled over his corner cot was that Zidane's own cot was empty. That was not so unusual, as Zidane rarely slept for long. Vivi knew the truth. Zidane may have acted irresponsibly with his brash talks and self-absorbed swagger, but certain actions spoke otherwise. Zidane had always took the first and last watch, diverted them from danger, and kept them alive when the odds were overwhelmly against them. In fact, Vivi could bet that Zidane was probably out doing patrol. Vivi knew Zidane was, deep down, rather dependable and protective with a fuzzy loving core of unlimited compassion for others. Zidane only acted otherwise because he had an image to maintain or else his Tantalus brothers, especially Blank, would harass him to no end.
Brothers...
Vivi's yellow eyes dimmed in thought. He remembered feeling envious when he watched the other children of Treno playing with their own brothers and sisters. Everyone had their own place where they belonged, where they were loved and accepted. That was not to say that Vivi's "grandpa" mistreated the mage; grandpa simply could not fill the conspicuous void in him that longed to have someone his age, who looked, dressed, and used magic like him. There were only a limited number of mages in the world, and the ones he knew were nearly all red mages.
Until he saw the other black mages in Deli...
Vivi shook his head, trying to clear it. The image of black mages transversing conveyers, dropped and packaged into wooden crates still gave him the shivers. Vivi dared not delve into his own existence. He was sickened at the thought that he was just another doll created to hurt, to be used.
A shuffling sound shook Vivi out of his contemplation. Without knowing, Vivi had trudged outside of their shanty into what used to be a small garden, near a rusted red bench and yellowed grass. He looked around for the source of sound and caught sight of a tall steeple hat, wandering away toward the center of Madin Sari.
It was Nima.
Vivi tilted his head. Nima was one of the reticent black mages, refusing to speak to anyone outside the select few. When Nima did speak, Nima's words were stern, riddled with unconcealed scorn and contempt for everyone he saw. Even toward the most respected black mage, Mr. 288, Nima was less than cordial.
Perhaps it was mistrust, or even dislike, but Vivi decided against alerting Nima to his presence and followed instead.
Nima, despite his short legs, ran very fast for a Black Mage. He ran in what would be a brisk walk for people like Zidane. The pace was urgent, with the air around Nima humming with charged magic. And like a flamboyant prince, Nima did not bother to cover his tracks.
Vivi huffed, trying to keep up. Vivi was never one for sprinting. He passed the many crumbled columns, cracked pillars, and half standing arches. Before he knew it, he arrived at the very holy place he toured earlier that day.
Inside the eidolon wall, that mean bounty hunter lady was standing triumphant over Zidane, up at the offering table, her foot pressed against the thief's chest. Zidane seemed to be in trance, though the usual pink glow seemed darker than usual. The thief's expression seemed strangely impassive. Nima burst into the sanctum.
"Fira!" Nima shouted just as Lani's ax dropped.
"Ugh!" exclaimed Lani as she averted her face from the burning heat that exploded between her and Zidane.
With that one second of distraction, Zidane kicked Lani's ax away from himself and punched her in the mouth. While her head snapped backward, Zidane followed up with another punch right at her sternum. The bounty huntress staggered backward while Zidane jumped to his feet, away from her, eyes deep red instead of the usual blue, blood dripping from his shoulder wound to the floor. Every drop seethed and vaporized into Mist. Vivi could hear the howling of thousands of voices. The sound hurt Vivi's heart, and his soul vibrated in unison. He felt as if he was back in Cleyra, at the storm's powerful edge of the eye, pelted by sand from every direction. The overwhelming experience rooted Vivi to the spot, unable to move.
Lani took a moment to gather her wits and spit out a tooth. She whipped her mouth and looked down to her dress pocket. As expected of a fellow seasoned rogue, Zidane had stolen her bounty during his most vulnerable moment.
"Ahh. So you called for friends," sneered Lani, thinking quickly of ways to retrieve her prize.
"Silence Gaian!" barked Nima, his hallow voice boomed. It was the loudest Vivi had ever heard. "I came of my own accord."
"And what are you going to do to me, if I don't shut up?" Lani taunted, her ax ready for another round. She was a top bounty huntress; she refused to loose to a petty thief, Lord King's pet or no. "A man who can't beat a little girl and have to call for his pals to come help him. How pathetic is that?"
"Contemptuous wench! Master Zidane, please allow me the pleasure of killing this insolent Gaian."
"You're not going to kill me," said Lani. "I'm going to kill you!"
"No," whispered Zidane. He seemed odd, as if the physical trance had enervated his mind also. His battle stance was lax and open to attack from every direction. Clenched in his fist glowed a small gem as crimson as the red moon. "You shall kill no one here, Lani."
"Oh...just shut up and fight!" growled Lani right as she charged ahead.
Suddenly, many figures appeared alongside Lani during mid-charge. The eidolon wall glimmered and pulsed. Beautiful bare apparitions with deathly white skin and black eyes floated in the air. Some were younger, no more than mere children who knew nothing of the world. Some were heavily armored soldiers, carrying long barrel contraptions and daggers. They all floated with the bounty huntress, clamped down on Lani's arms, wrestling her down to the ground. On closer observation, all the apparitions had tails, and their deathly white skin was marred with charred coloration, as if burned.
"What...the...hell!?" Lani exclaimed, struggling to move but unable. Her weapon clinked to the ground unceremoniously. Dozens of hands latched on to her arms, legs and body. Lani's usually grinning face contorted into pain as she tried to wiggle away. "It burns! It fucking burns!"
More apparitions materialized, each pressing on her like anvils. She was about to scream curses when another hand clamped over her mouth. When she struggled, another hand covered her neck and began to squeeze, purposely choking her. A few more pressed on her chest, determined to crush her chest in. After only thirty seconds, Lani's eyes rolled back.
The unexpected appearance of the phantoms seemed to send Nima into shock as his eyes dimmed and his legs turned into jelly. Nima croaked as if gagging before collapsing to the ground.
Finally, Vivi broke out of the his mental freeze and yelled. "Zidane!"
Zidane seemed to have heard it and snapped out of trance. He took one look at the scene before him, his normally expressive face remaining neutral, assessing the situation like some bystander. The white apparitions all turned at his attention, their death grips off Lani, marching toward him with raised claw-like hands.
Zidane took the hint and immediately bolted out of the Eidolon Wall. At the instant he left, the apparitions disappeared, leaving a comatose Lani and an unconscious Nima.
---------------------------------------------------
In the chilly and constricting war room, Queen Brahne paced ponderously back and forth. She paused often to view an ancient map of the world, pin-cushioned by red and black tacks, littered by figurines of soldiers, airships, black mages and even an occasional dragon. From time to time, she would move the figurines for tactical purposes with a fat ham hand. Her mages charged forward as an initial assault followed by a pincher attack with airships, the royal red color of Alexandria, flooding the continents, leaving only a lone black tack. Her favorite move was with the dragon figurines, a temporary symbol of her trump card, the eidolons. Brahne would take the dragon and swipe through all the clutter on the table in a wide arc, flinging all the other figurines off the table. With the eidolons, Brahne dreamed of the day that she, Brahne, crush the puny Kuja. His disgustingly white skin would be marred, that perfect face maimed and on a spike.
Queen Brahne howled with laughter at the mental image. It would serve that arrogant wiseacre a permanent lesson. She would prove to him that she, a woman, was just as intelligent, as capable, and as powerful as him. True sovereignty shall be hers, and in time, she would usher in an unforgettable golden age for which her name shall live on forever.
The door swung open, shaking Brahne out of her self-sating day dream.
"Your Majesty!" addressed a lady soldier named Jenna. "The...jesters" there was obvious distaste in her voice. "Zorn and Thorn, requests your audience."
"Zorn and Thorn?" mouthed Brahne. Yes. Oh yes. She did remember that she summoned Kuja for a private audience. Kuja, as Lord King, was a strict adherent to formalities, may they be enemy or foe. Besides, civilized people never outwardly attack the ruling head of a country. But to send only the jesters, that was a direct insult to Brahne's pride and status as a Queen. "He dared bring those failures to me?" demanded Brahne.
Jenna shrank away at her Queen's obvious displeasure. Queen Brahne was a scary woman. Therefore, to ease her tension, she pushed the two jesters in and slammed the doors closed.
Queen Brahne stumped over to the jesters, towering over the two misshapen little gnomes. "What the hell are you doing here? Where is Lord King!?" she roared. Brahne refused to travel to Treno only to throw down a gauntlet as the commencement of a real war. She was Queen of Alexandria and its vessels! Her vessels came to her!
Zorn cowered and stepped back. This was not meant that he feared Brahne necessarily, but more that he wished not to accidentally damage the human. Kuja was very specific about when he wanted the elephant woman frightened, pained and ultimately killed.
Thorn, though younger, was somewhat more courageous and foolish. He paddled closer. "He is indisposed at the moment," said Thorn, jumping and waving his hand in the usual fashion.
"Yes he is. He is very busy," Zorn followed, bolstering his brother's statement.
"Very true," followed Thorn. "He is busy training everyday with the mercenaries."
"That matters not! He..." Brahne frowned. Kuja actually straining himself physically? Absurd! "trains? Magically?"
Thorn nodded. "And more."
"Explain." Now Brahne was curious.
Zorn glared at Thorn. They were not supposed to indulge anything concerning Kuja, though Thorn continued to speak. "For the past week, Lord Kuja has spent the morning doing physical exercises with daggers, practicing magic through the afternoon and riding on his dragon, Rym for the rest of the night. He had never done so before though. We've never even seen him sleep! We know he was taught to be a battle scholar. But we never knew he could punch through a man's spine and rip out a heart."
"And this is unusual because?" Brahne was getting annoyed. So what if Kuja enjoyed sweat and dirt like a common hog. It was not as if he could take on an army alone. A ruler depended on the size of the army and the skill of the generals to win wars. If wining depended on physical fitness, then Brahne should've quit before she even thought of battle.
Thorn quailed at Brahne's continuing peevishness. Thorn shook, honestly afraid for another reason. "We suspect that he is preparing to die."
"Oh?" Now that was an interesting revelation. Had Kuja already given up, acquiesced to her superior military power?
"Thron!" yelled Zorn, as if his brother had just revealed a crucial secret. "Don't say that!"
"But, do we wish to die too?" Thorn shot back. "We know what he's planning!"
"You think Lord Kuja that simple?"
"Hold on a moment my dears," said Brahne in her best motherly voice. It was the same loving voice that she used when Garnet was only a child. These jesters knew more about Kuja than they let on, and Brahne intended to swindle every little piece of information out of them. "Please don't be distressed, children. Please, tell me what is wrong?"
Zorn glared at Brahne, rightfully suspicious of her intentions. Trust no one!
Thron though, despite previous warnings from Zorn, spoke up immediately. "If Kuja dies, so do we. He plans to purify the red moon, and we are needed as fodder!" Thorn took quick breaths, shook his body and dug his toe into the ground. This was what they feared the most. They, who were once soulless, happily ruthless, had acquired dregs of souls through the proper imbuing. And though they still enjoyed their purpose of suffering and death, they also became afraid of losing their accursed souls. "We...I...I don't want to die!"
"Now now...hush," cooed Brahne. When she wanted to, she could be as gentle and sweet as a fairy godmother. "Do not worry. I know how you can keep your soul."
Both jesters blinked. "How? It's ancient magic!"
"Because, my ancestors are Summoners." Brahne gave her most genteel smile. That statement was true. "Why do you think Kuja is so eager to fight me? He knows why I'm a real threat to him, to his power."
The jesters looked at each other. Only Summoners create Summoners. That would explain why Kuja was after Brahne's daughter, Garnet.
"But...if you're so intent on serving Lord King...I guess I can't help you...A pity really..."
"NO!" cried Thorn. "We'll do anything. Please!"
Brahne smiled. She was finally getting somewhere. "My offer is simple. Help me defeat Kuja, and I'll see to it that your souls remain with you."
"You swear?" both jesters asked hopefully.
Brahne crossed her fingers across her back and smiled. "I swear."
---------------------------------------------------
Zidane cursed to himself as he applied pressure to his shoulder. The cut was deep, cleaving into the bones.
"Oww oww oww oww oww," he repeated to himself as he swashed some water on the shoulder to clean the wound. It hurt so much that the gag reflex he had against potions was forgotten. He gurgled down potion after potion, enough to kill several zombies and some ghosts. Times like this, he wished he knew white magic. Just twirl his pointy finger and everything would be fixed. He had potential too, with a sizable pool of magic; he just lacked any form of patience or desire required for the art. White magic simply took too much concentration and good will; Zidane had neither at the moment.
He was alone, down at the estuary where the river met salt water. It was one of the many isolated cubbies in the village, surrounded by the crumbled shanties. At times, he would look around, an uncharacteristic frown on his face. At times, he looked down and took long breaths, and returned to drinking potions. Deep in thought, he recalled the few flashes of memories splashed in blood at the Eidolon Wall.
"No! Not my daughter! Please!"
"You Summoner Dogs! Holy Ark will cleanse your wicked souls!"
"ARAGGAAAAHHH!"
Zidane closed his eyes and cleared his head, forcing his psyche to banish the memories forever. Even now, the tainted spirits were being cleansed by the purifying Mist embedded in the droplets of his blood. In hours, bits of tainted spirit would be purified and freed enough to return to the Life Stream. It was the least he could do to an evil temple drenched in the blood of thousands. To truly cleanse the Eidolon Wall though, required an entire Caller population; a population that was wiped out years ago. He would be reduced to nothing if he tried alone.
("That was an entirely too depressing thought,") berated Zidane to himself in Terran. ("Eldest brother would reprimand me if he knew.") Eldest brother forbid voicing their dismal situation. They were alive, not in pain, with clothes on their backs and food in their bellies. Their situation certainly could be a lot worse.
Well, with the entire Mist Continent broiled in war, and millions of lives crushed, Zidane was beginning to wonder what constituted "a lot worse."
"You know, Vivi, you might as well come out," said Zidane at one point, when he took a break from drinking potions.
At Zidane's behest, the long time black mage companion Vivi shyly shifted out into the open. "Um...hi," greeted Vivi timidly. "How did you know I was here?"
"Well, you were at the Eidolon Wall, weren't you?"
Vivi did not trust his head to nod so he bobbled his entire body instead.
"So you saw everything?"
Again, Vivi bobbled his entire body forward.
Instead of panicking like Vivi had observed when other people do wrong, Zidane only sighed in resignation. "Well. THAT figures." He jerked a little when he felt another sting. "I swear that Wall is cursed."
"But Eiko says it's a holy place."
Zidane points at his shoulder. "Am I suppose to get this from a holy place? Like I said, bad luck finds me if I even think about the Eidolon Wall." Zidane looked honestly irritated by the situation. "Stupid place. I should've just camped outside this goddamned village."
"Oh." An awkward moment existed between them. This was a side of Zidane that Vivi rarely saw. Petulant Zidane was a yes. An annoyed one was a no.
"Um...Are you alright?" asked Vivi, concerned.
Zidane would have tried to shrug if such an action did not hurt. "Eh. I've had worse."
"Why don't you ask Dagger or Eiko for help?"
"Good question. Why didn't you ask them, seeing that I had the bleeding problem." Zidane shot back before hissing and cursing to himself again. Internally adjusting his bones while not nudging pain sensing nerves was not easy. And why the hell did Lani have to aim for the shoulder joint? He swore he could get back at Lani for this.
"I..." Vivi was at a loss for words. Why did he not go ask for help? Instead, he said, "that looks terrible," pointing to Zidane's blood-soaked upper torso.
"Tell me something I don't know. Oh. I'm fine now," said Zidane, peeling back the frayed shirt, revealing smooth pink flesh.
"You have no scar!" exclaimed Vivi.
"Well, I'm just naturally blessed with insane healing." When Vivi gave him a confused look, Zidane further explained. "I've also chugged over twenty bottles of potions." He pulled the cork off another bottle, taking a well practiced swig like a true boozer. "And I'll be having some more until I puke."
All of it made no sense to Vivi so he did the next best thing. He asked, "What happened out there, Zidane?"
"Lani wanted Dagger's precious..."
"No. I mean those ghosts. What are they?"
Zidane made a face, not sure to how to approach the subject. He had a feeling that his friends would be less than happy if they knew what he was. However, he had learned that the truth was better than a lie. He only had to control how much truth he revealed. "Well, to explain it better to you, let me ask you a question first. Do you know what the Eidolon Wall was for?" It was a safe question.
"Well...Miss Eiko says it's where she prays to spirits and her ancestors for protecting her. It's where Summoners paint pictures of their Gods and..."
"Gods? That's bullshit," For a rarer moment, Zidane seemed to seethe with hatred and Vivi jumped. "Slaves is more like it."
Zidane must've seen the effects of his own behavior because he relaxed some, though no where near his usual easy going disposition. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that." He did not sound so sincere. "I just have bad memories of this place."
"Like what?"
"Things that you shall never see and things I should forget." Zidane said glibly. "You're very lucky Vivi, that you're not human. You don't know how evil humans can be."
Vivi was about to protest. Zidane, Dagger, Blank, Marcus, Eiko, Mr Cid and all those people Vivi met in life were not evil. Demi-humans like Hippaul, the ant-eater mechanics of Lindblum, and Burmecians like Freya, were not evil either. Besides, Vivi resented the implied stigma that he was not human. "What do you really mean?"
"A long time ago, the Eidolon Walls were everywhere. The altars were used as a place to sacrifice people for their souls, which are ingredients to create eidolons." Zidane said. "Some eidolons, especially powerful ones like Atmos, are created from a mélange of different souls, smashed and stuffed into one jewel, pressed into eternal slavery. But the most tractable, powerful and intelligent eidolon required the most powerful of souls, ones from people who used to call themselves Callers. During the Summoner's goal to obtain the most powerful eidolons, they required a lot of trial and error on Callers, many of whom were not so willing. My mother..." Zidane took a deep breath. He had never said this to anyone else. Thinking about it only made him sad and angry. "...wasn't so willing either.."
Vivi gasped but could say nothing of the obvious implication. What could he say? Zidane continued.
"I was lucky enough that I never saw what they did to her, but my brother was made to watch the entire process...he was never the same afterwards." There was a shuddering breath. "He had warned me that I must never go anywhere near an Eidolon Wall. That holy place, Eidolon Wall, is naturally embued with magic specifically to capture my soul." Zidane turned to look at Vivi. "What you saw, the ghosts, they were past Callers who were never purified of their hate. They don't know who were their allies or their enemies. Eiko is only protected because the Summoners long past cursed the enraged souls so they do not harm their own kind. I, on the other hand, weakened that curse, and I am fair game to those who had gone Mad." Zidane pursed his lips. "I just want to leave this place."
Zidane stopped talking, and Vivi took time to digest what he just heard. It would explain why Zidane seemed reluctant at seeing Eidolon Wall in the first place. Suddenly, Vivi realized what internal concessions Zidane must've made to come to this village. No wonder he seemed so un-Zidane the last few days. There was only one other question on Vivi's mind.
"So...why don't you tell that to Eiko? And Dagger? They should know the truth."
"Why? Atone for some atrocity their ancestors committed that neither of them knew about? Look around you Vivi. Do you think they really want to know what had happened to cause all this?" Zidane closed his eyes, imagining the day he made a promise to himself to do the right thing, to help others without reciprocation, without explanation, without question. The cycle of revenge must stop if they were to go on. He had been so young then, and so naive in the ways of the world. His brother always criticized him for his self-righteousness.
"You should tell them," reasoned Vivi.
Zidane shook his head. "Dagger already has enough on her mind. Eiko is too young to understand it. Don't worry. I'll tell them, but after we save Dagger's mother."
Vivi thought about it for a moment then nodded. What Zidane said made sense. There was no use for all of them to maul over a detail, not with their great mission in mind; they must defeat Kuja.
"We should go back," said the black mage, look at the eastern horizon. "They'll be eager to go to the Iifa Tree."
"Yes, we should. You go on. I need to clean up here."
Without more words, Vivi left.
As soon as Vivi left, Zidane turned his head at the many hiding spots. With a well placed swipe of his tail, he flung a rock at a corner of a crumbled house. "Come out. I know you're there."
Nima seemed to materialize out of the shadows. The proper black mage shuffled toward him, his posture upright and confident. "You are as expected, Master Zidane, for detecting me."
Zidane rolled his eyes. "As if I can't figure out who blew fire into Lani's face. What did happen to her anyways?"
Nima shrugged. "The cowardly thing that all Gaian do."
At that, Zidane scowled. He sweared that dragging a direct answer from Nima was worse than pulling teeth from a Mastidon. "And that is?"
"She ran..." was Nima's terse answer.
"Undamaged?"
"I suppose." Nima shuffled a little. "I have a request. I wish to accompany Master Zidane to the Iifa tree."
"Why?"
Nima gazed at Zidane with that dead stare so common to the soulless mages. And at times, Nima was even more soulless than the mindless dolls they found in Burmecia.
With an uncharacteristic lack of patience, Zidane dismissed his own question. "Never mind. Come along. The more the merrier."
With that, they left the riverbank with one additional companion. Before they reached the shanty where the others were resting though, Zidane spoke up. "Oh, and one more thing, Nima."
"What is it?"
"I can care less of your real intentions. But if you interfere with my calibration of the Iifa System in any way, you will pay dearly," said Zidane.
Nima looked away. That was not the reason why he wanted to go to the Iifa Tree. But in the shadow of his hat, Zidane wouldn't have seen. "Of course. I shall leave the calibration to you. After all, you were the one who installed the system."
"Good."
"By the way, out of curiosity, who truly powers the heart of the system?"
"What?"
"I've studied the filters. In the center is always a great eidolon, or a soul that powers the tree, purifies the spirits and prepares them for rebirth. Whose soul is inside?"
Zidane paused and gazed at Nima most critically. "Why are you even curious about that?"
"Because in the absence of Callers, Iifa cleanses all souls for Gaia. In order for it to accomplish such a momentous task, it would require someone pretty powerful. Since you designed the scaffolds and planted the tree, I thought you would know."
"And I think you don't need to know who the unfortunate slave is," returned Zidane in a final tone. "We need to get back now. You'll need to be briefed on what you can do and say."
----------------------------