The Lhusu Mines

I quickly grabbed the gunpowder from the supplies bag and put the pouch of it on my pouch next to the small Machina shells. Glad that no one had noticed my thieving I jogged back up to the group as we entered the Lhusu Mines. As I expected the place was very dark, only dimly lit by oil lamps in the tunnels. If lamps were lit someone was definitely down here. In fact we could her the clinking of armour getting closer and closer so her went behind a pillar and hid.

"You will forgive me for asking, but you are diverting the purest of Magicite," A muffled voice said. They must have been wearing a helmet.

"I assure you it reaches Lord Vayne most discreetly," Another man answered with a calm and even tone.

"You wear your saddle well," The first voice laughed.

"Be that as it may, I have no intentioned of being bridled, Your Honour," Your Honour? Was this some lord or something?

"Then you prefer the whip?" The voice asked, sounding more harsh now. "Stubbornness will not only see you broken, Your Excellency, but Bhujerba as well." The steps became fainter but Lamont was just about to walk out from cover when I pulled him back, hearing several dogs barking.

"Ambrose, come," That was a different voice from the other two. It was muffled like the first one. We waited for a couple of minutes before emerging and watching the group walk away.

"Halim Ondore IV, Marquis of Bhujerba," Lamont explained, recognising the man somehow. "The Marquis served as mediator during the negotiations of Dalmasca's surrender. It would appear he's somewhat... less neutral now." Less neutral? Who was he siding with?

"They say he's been helping the Resistance," Balthier mused. Ah right, so that answers that.

"They say many things," Lamont agreed.

"You're certainly well informed. Who did you say you were again?" Lamont's eyes seem to flash in panic as he avoided eye contact with Balthier.

"What difference does it make? We have to find Penelo!" Vaan interrupted quickly. Lamont seemed glad for the interruption and face Vaan as he went down into the Mines.

"And Penelo is your...?" He asked curiously. I wanted to say girlfriend the way Vaan worried about her. I don't care if he kept saying she wasn't I had a feeling about this.

"She's a friend. She was kidnapped and taken here," Vaan answered. Really? Not your girlfriend? Well I'll see what she thinks when I meet her. Maybe she'll just deny it like Vaan.

"So the Mines," I began, trying to get some information. The men we hid from mentioned Magicite and I was curious about what it was. "How long have they been around? Is Magicite all they offer here?" I was being very careful with my wording. It seemed as though the older members of our party were suspicious of my ignorance to this world.

"Common knowledge states that they do only offer Magicite," Balthier answered. "By the look of things it seems as though the paling protecting miners has fallen, preventing anything productive happening now," He gave a sideways glance. "Gain a few blows to the head while in Nalbina?"

"Would you believe me if I told the truth?" I returned. The group all looked at me as we walked. Awkward. Never had this problem in Spira. Then again I had the same problem as soon as I got home. "Fine, no beating around the bush: I'm a sort of vagrant, if you will. I lived in one realm for seventeen years before finding myself in a new realm, in which I travelled with two other people who had entered the realm through the same means as I had. I then returned to my home realm for two years and then I went back to the other realm, got into trouble, and wound up here roughly six months ago. As such I am trying to adjust, which is why I'm joining you guys no matter what and I'm not holding out on any hopes of returning to either of the realms I've been in previously. There." The group was quiet. They would have found out sooner or later anyway. I'm sure they'll fill Penelo in on the details when we find her.

"You expect us to believe something as ludicrous as that?" Reina asked, frowning.

"I'm not expecting you to believe anything," I answered frankly. "Believe or disbelieve it if you want but it's my story, it's the truth and I'm sticking to it. If you ask, I'll give the finer details but at the moment we're too busy rescuing someone to bother with my origins. How about we just get on with this?" It seemed to be mutual agreement that we continue onwards. I kept my hand on my pouch. I just had a feeling we would encounter something unpleasant.

A previously empty bag we had was now filled with varying pieces of dead creatures that Reina cut up expertly and quickly. Why I had to carry the stuff was anyone's guess. Then again I was carrying everything else and I made sure everything was securely fastened on me and closed so it didn't bother me in a fight. I think they thought I could handle it at the moment as I wasn't really being hindered as much as I thought. I hope we take turns though.

I noticed the Lhusu Mines were becoming more natural looking. The walls glittered subtly and prettily. This must have been the raw form of Magicite. It reminded me so much of the caverns in Mt. Gagazet the way they glowed and glittered. Lamont was ahead of us, looking at the strange rocks.

"This is what I came here to see," He explained. He came to see the Magicite? Why would it interest him? The answer came in the form of a small stone within a glass casing. The casing was blue and the stone glowed a pale green. The casing and the stone inside looked man-made. Looked like an imitation.

"What's that?" Vaan asked, pointing to Lamont's stone.

"It's Nethicite. Manufacted Nethicite," Was the answer.

"Nethicite?" Vaan questioned.

"Sounds ominous," I remarked, looking around the cavern.

"Unlike regular Magicite, Nethicite absorbs Magickal energy," Lamont educated the boy. "This is the fruit of research into the manufacture of Nethicite," A pause in the boy's speech. "All at the hands of the Draklor Laboratory..." He got up and went to inspect one of the walls of Magicite. "So this is where they are getting the Magicite." What was this kid's interest in it? Balthier started to approach him.

"Errand all attended to, then?" His voice sounded lower than usual. Something had struck a nerve. I looked to Fran who merely stared at me for a moment before returning her gaze to Balthier.

"Thank you. I will repay you shortly," Lamont answered, not aware of the Pirate approaching him.

"No, you'll repay us now," The man demanded. "We have too much on our hands to goon holding yours," Lamont turned around, seeming slightly frightened. Balthier was acting quite intimidating at the moment. "So tell me where did you hear this fairy tale about Nethicite? And where did you get that sample you carry? What do you know about the Draklor Laboratories?" Lamont tried to get away but Balthier blocked his exit. "Tell me: who are you?" Now it was Vaan's turn to enter the scene, trying to get the Pirate to back off.

"Balthier!" Although something else was what got his attention.

"You kept us waiting Balthier!" Dammit. I hate when my bad feelings are right.