Felinis: Another day another excuse to put off my homework. Also the most wonderful thing happened to me. Some people on an online community I frequent had heard about how I've never been able to play any game, but Vespy and were kind enough to send me without my knowledge a PS3 and all the PS3 titles. Including a Japanese copy of Vespy. It's so wonderful and is one of those moments that makes me have hope for humanity.
They continue through the Quoi Woods for a good hour without much conflict. A few monsters lash out but are quickly disposed. They're nearing the edge of the woods when Repede barks that someone is watching them. A rustling is heard bush to the side as a scream comes out.
"P-prepare to die, eggbear!" the two sidestep and watch a young boy holding a giant sword almost as tall as him. They watch as he spins in circles until he drifts next to them and Yuri beats him back with a simple thrust of his sword. The weapon in his hand snaps easily like a cheap toy and the boy falls to the ground with a groan. "Ooh, man that hurt..." Repede stands over him and the boy panics. He falls back down again and cries. "I-I'm warning you! I don't taste very good. You'll get the runs!"
Repede lets out a gruff bark. "Do I look like I eat kids?"
The boy seems to take this the wrong way and begs for help. "Is this kid for real?"
"It's all right now." Estelle kneels next to him and the boy opens his eyes in shock.
"Huh? The monster turned into a girl?" Yuri pauses at the statement. This kid is not the sharpest sword in the bunch from the looks of it. The boy realizes his mistake and stands up tall and strong to greet them. "I'm Karol Capel! I'm a member of the Hunting Blades guild. We travel the globe in search of the toughest monsters." A kid in a monster hunting guild? That seems reckless and stupid. Kids could get killed wandering outside the barrier. He barely looked older than his neighbor's son Ted and Yuri didn't trust him with a knife let alone a sword.
Yuri introduces themselves quickly and takes off towards the exit. There's little time to waste. It's already well past morning since they took a few wrong turns here and there. They don't have time to spend talking to a kid. The sooner he got away from Estelle the sooner Yuri could smell something besides her scent of decay.
The kid runs ahead of them eagerly. "W-wait. You guys are here to enter the woods, right? Well then, I'll-"
"Actually, we've just finished coming through the woods, and we're on our way to Halure." Estelle interrupts and the kid is taken aback.
"No way! You guys made it through the cursed woods?" He looks them over and Yuri wonder if this kid got lost. "Did you guys run into any eggbears?" Estelle looks at Yuri for an answer and he can say for sure that they didn't. Or at least he thinks they didn't. The poor boy deflates and hangs his head low. "Man... Wonder if I should head back to town, then... They definitely won't like it if I keep them waiting... All right." He jumps with renewed energy and ensures them that they're safe now that a star member of the hunting blades is there to protect them. Karol points to his blastia and book while Yuri points to his broken weapon and Estelle the empty pages in his monster manual.
"It might hurt your 'star member' status if it got out that you broke your sword." Yuri chides as they head out while Karol calls from behind for them to listen to him. Saying he broke his sword on purpose and that they're going the wrong way. Before they can say anything, he's following behind making little remarks here and there.
"I don't understand Repede. He's a dog, with claws and fangs, but he uses weapons?" Karol says eying the way Repede cuts away at obstacles in his way with a sword rather than using claws.
"Because, I have pride in my appearance and refuse to reduce myself to being nothing more than a barbaric animal." And, Repede says he's the vain one.
Yuri has to think on the matter, because he's so used to thinking of Repede as just Repede. Actually, he almost never animals as animals. Lambert never seemed like a dumb beast nor have any of the other creatures he's met. But then, Yuri could actually understand what they were saying. "I guess most dogs do fight with their claws and teeth."
Estelle looks at Repede puzzled at the matter. "But, Repede is a dog, right?"
"I am myself and nothing more. Label me all you like I am still just me."
Yuri shrugs. "Repede is Repede. That's all. He just uses items and weapons because that's what he likes to do. If he wants to read he'll read. If he wants to chase a ball he'll chase a ball." Repede thanks him for making his point and Yuri gives a light pet on the head. "No problem buddy."
Karol looks at Repede and back to Yuri. "Yuri… are you translating what Repede's saying."
"Nah. It's just your imagination."
It's then Estelle notes something Yuri mentioned offhandedly. "Wait… Repede reads?"
They don't even have to reach the town for Yuri to know something is wrong. The barrier is down and the fence at the entrance is broken. Estelle looks around in terror. "Halure... The 'City of Blossoms'." She mutters as she looks at the destruction and the giant wilted tree that towers over the city.
Yuri looks at the empty sky and scrunches his brow. "Don't they have a barrier here?"
Estelle is looking around too as if hoping they just missed it. "Yes, there should be."
"You guys haven't been to Halure before, right? So then you haven't heard about the tree barrier." Karol says and Yuri looks at the tree closely.
"Tree barrier?" He closes his eyes and tries to listen to the humming of the blastia, but there's no sound.
"Some blastia fuse to plant life, gain organic qualities and evolve." Makes enough sense. Yuri always felt that blastia were alive. "The tree barrier of Halure is one prime example of this. I read that in a book."
Yuri nods and tries to see any sign that the blastia is still functioning. "Well thank you, professor. So what's happened to this famous barrier? Doesn't look like it's doing much right now."
"Every year, just before the blossoms are in full bloom, the barrier weakens for a while." Karol says. "It's just that time of year right now, and the monsters took the opportunity to attack..." Yuri gets the idea when he sees the people of the city limping around with deep wounds.
"Is that when the barrier went down?"
Karol nods. "Yeah, the monsters were taken care of, but the tree is slowly starting to decay." A girl runs by carrying gauzes and gels and Karol runs after her.
"So I guess you'll be looking for Flynn now, huh, Estelle?" Yuri says as he looks to where she was once standing, but the girl has once again run off to help the injured. He sighs because there is no way they're going to keep a low profile with her healing all these injured people. As Yuri walks around he places his hands on the roots of the tree and feels some relief. There is a buzz coming deep within the tree assuring him it's alive. He listens closer and hears words in the buzzing. "Poison? You've been poisoned?" Underneath those are the cries in the back of his head as the aer stirs from Estelle's healing artes.
Geez, he's not even the target and he feels sick. There's truly no way to win with this. He'll just have to get away from her at some point. Besides she doesn't need to follow him to Aspio. Yuri walks around he sniffs the air for Flynn. He can smell that he was here and he feels sick when catches the stale whiff of Flynn's blood. A growl curls on his lip and Yuri can't explain why.
Yuri heads towards Estelle and here the citizens speak badly of the knights. Of how they are useless and selfish. Till one mentions Flynn and Estelle's eyes light up. "Is he still in the city?"
The man who mentioned Flynn deflates a little. "No, he left the village afterwards in search of a mage who could fix the barrier." The man mentions that Flynn was heading east and Yuri comes to the conclusion they must be referring to Aspio.
Estelle nods. "So we can wait here, and Flynn will come to us."
"Looks like we've caught up with him. Don't you feel better now?"
"Yes...I won't be able to relax until I see him, but I guess I feel better."
Yuri looks at the tree. "I think I'm gonna check out this tree blastia."
Estelle calls after him. "Um, weren't you in a hurry to catch the blastia thief?"
Yuri waves her off as he heads up the hilly slope past the houses towards the tree. "I can spare enough time to look at a tree, at least." Yuri wants to let himself listen to the tree. Off to the side on the hill he sees Karol muttering to himself sadly and pulls Estelle along. Yuri knows that look when he sees it and it's someone who clearly wants to be alone. Children parade around talking about how they'll fight monsters like Flynn and Yuri cringes.
Once at the base he can't help admiring the size of it. "It's huge up close."
Estelle agrees and looks at the buds on the branches. "The tree's flowers should blossom any day now."
"Yeah, I wish I could see it in bloom." They stare silently and then Estelle mentions healing the injured and Yuri looks at the dying core he can glimpse when he focuses on the center of the tree. He doubts a human could see it or even reach it under normal circumstance, but Yuri knows it's there. "Hmm, if you're going to heal something, maybe you could heal the barrier itself?" If Estelle had the power to make a dead blastia move she could help a dying one.
"What do you mean?"
"Monster are just going to keep attacking this town until the barrier is restored. Those kids we just saw could be among them."
"That's true, but I have no idea how I could heal the barrier."
"What you need to heal is this tree. It wouldn't be in this condition just because some monsters attacked it." He graces his hand on the wood. "It's poisoned, but I can't say how to fix it."
"How can you tell?"
He shrugs. "Call it a hunch."
"A hunch?"
Yuri nods. "Yep, a hunch."
The old man from before walked by and called out to them. "What are the two of you doing over here?"
"We're trying to figure out why the tree has withered like this." Estelle said looking mournfully at the drooping branches.
The man sighs and hunches. "I don't know if you'll make much progress on that one. The knight Flynn couldn't figure out the reason either." Yeah, well, Flynn couldn't hear the voices of blastia.
Estelle sees Karol walking past the tree and calls to him and the boy half-heartedly looks their way. He talks of monster blood polluting the tree and the reason why he was looking for an eggbear to make a panacea bottle. He pulls Karol along down the sloping hill. "Come on Karol, we're going back to the Quoi Woods."
The boy's eyes widen. "You mean you believe what I said about the panacea bottle?"
"Were you lying?" Karol shakes his head. "Well then, we'll have to go with what you've told us."
Estelle runs up and grips their hands. "It's settled then! The three of us will restore the barrier together."
He raises a brow. "What about waiting for Flynn?"
"Wasn't it you who said, 'if you're going to heal something it should be the tree'?" She remarks proudly.
A wide smile creeps on his face. "We'll just have to fix the tree before he gets back. Can't wait to see the look on his face. All right let's get some of those Luluria Petals." They convince the mayor with some difficulties to give them the petals before going to the Quoi Woods. They're traveling a long way back and return to find the Nia fruit and Karol states they need to lure the eggbear out with some of them.
Estelle looks at their trap from behind a bush and asks where the fruit came from. "I didn't see any Nia trees."
"Oh, that's just how the monsters mark their territory."
"Can we really just take it, then? I suppose there's no way for us to ask permission." She says looking at the fruits sitting in the open.
"Who cares. They're just monsters and Hunting Blades hunt them. We don't need ask about their feelings or making friends with them."
Yuri cringes, because he's never liked killing monsters. Yuri finds that the ability to understand monsters makes him more sympathetic that he ever should be. Even when they were slaughtering them at mass in Shizontania Yuri never took much joy in that. They start walking around Yuri listens for the voice of what could be an eggbear and steers them towards that direction.
The monster lumbers in and Karol hides behind his leg. "B-be on your guard, everyone. It's r-really ferocious!"
"Hey fearless leader, you're not supposed to hide right after saying things like that."
Karol nervously puffs up his chest. "The star always performs the finishing blow, everybody knows that!"
Estelle scrunches her face. "No...I don't think so..."
"Well, I have to hand it to you, Captain Karol, operation stink bomb was a smashing success."
The boy looks up at him and clutches his fist and Yuri finds it amusing. "Hey, d-don't go giving my plan weird names."
Yuri pushes Karol's head lightly as he draws his sword. "Stand up straight when you say stuff like that."
Yuri slams Karol in the beast's path as he runs up to flank the eggbear. The boy jumps away from an oncoming claw and slams his broken sword into the monster's chest while Yuri drives the creature into the ground. The monster growls and Repede barks a quick apology as he drives the blade into the neck.
Karol looks over the eggbear stunned. "I… we did it so easily."
Yuri stands over the body and notes it's still breathing shallowly. Nice work Repede. "Stay still." He whispers as he leans in front of the paw. "Hey Karol, how do you get the claw off these things?"
"What?! A-anybody can do that. It just comes right off." The boy says inching towards the 'dead' eggbear.
"Here, let me help too-"
"Estelle, you should watch the perimeter." She looks at the body and her face greens a little as she nods.
Karol pokes at the body cautiously with at it with the edge of his blade. "Y-you're sure it's totally dead, right?"
"I don't know." Yuri says as he creeps behind him and growls into Karol's ear and the boy jumps away shaking fiercely. "Wow, Captain. If I didn't know you were just goofing around, I'd swear you were really scared." He plucks the claw off and pats the monster's back slipping a gel under its claw.
"Eat that once we're gone. It should help you." Repede barks as they leave to head back to Halure.
They're at the edge of the woods when an unexpected, and greatly unwanted voice, pierces the quiet air. "Yuri Looowell! I know that you're here in these woods! Turn yourself in like a good boy!"
He huffs and looks back at the dark woods in frustration. "You've gotta be kidding me. Leblanc followed me all the way outside the barrier?"
"Uh, what? Who followed you?" Karol says.
"Oh, just some guys from the Imperial Knights." Annoying and hindering guys.
Karol laughs. "Hah hah, yeah, right, the Knights are chasing their own former member." This kid clearly hasn't been to Zaphias. "Wait, seriously?!" Yuir and Estelle nod and the kid clutches tightly on his weapon. "So, what're they after you for? Vandalism? Fraud? Smuggling? Robbery? Murder? Arson?"
"Umm, it's really just for jailbreak..." Yuri shrugs. Well, he did sort of kidnap a princess, so add that to the list. And, tax evasion. While he's at it he might as well tag on racial profiling, because god knows be a halfer makes him guilty of something.
Karol scoffs. "Yeah, right… what are you doing?" Yuri's pushing large longs and tearing up bushes to put in the path.
"Making it harder for them to chase us, duh." He sets a push down and wonders if he's going to need a bigger barricade.
"We can't do that! It'll get in the way of other people passing through!"
He rolls down another log. "Who's gonna be passing through? These woods are 'cursed', remember?" Estelle tries to argue, but he continues till he's satisfied. They make their way on and by the time they've made it back the sun has set and the tree looks weaker than before.
It's Karol who runs to the general store to help prepare the panacea bottle while Yuri finds a corner to curl himself into. His head is hurting again he needs to make sure he's not having an episode. It's hours before the bottle is ready and Yuri spends the whole time tuning out the world. Estelle shakes him and Yuri looks at her tired eyes. "The bottle is ready."
Yuri gets up and finds Karol clutching the bottle dearly. "I just hope this works." He mutters. They head up the road to the tree quickly, but cautiously.
"Here's hoping we aren't too late." Yuri mutters as he tries to listen for that faint hum.
A crowd has gathered to see if this can truly restore their dying tree. Karol pours the bottle on the ground near the base. A soft light spreads from where the core lies, but the blastia remains silent and still. Yuri looks up despite his better judgment and steers his eyes from the night to focus on just the tree.
"Please…" Estelle mutters for both of them.
Karol looks down at the ground and up at the tree repeatedly. "No way! Was the dosage too small? Or maybe this isn't the right way..."
"We'll have to get another panacea bottle!" Estelle says, but Yuri knows that's hopeless. The tree is at death's door and he can feel it.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. That was the last of the Luluria Petals."
Yuri bites his lip in frustration as he grips his fist. This town will end up abandoned and there's nothing he can do. Blood trickles down and Yuri wipes it away bitterly.
"But... but we tried so hard..." Estelle laments and clutches her hands in prayer. Yuri watches as the aer around her gathers like stars from the earth and air. "Please Great Tree… bloom." The aer bursts like a shockwave as the soft light from before is now a beacon. The people watch in awe as the tree is restored to its glory while Yuri is clutching his chest in pain.
His lungs are on fire and he can't even cough as the people cheer at near collapsing Estelle. His body doubles over and he hears Karol call his name. The aer is too thick and everything smells like death. Yuri stands, barely, and tries to walk away. The humming is now screaming in his ears and he can't think.
Poison…
"Yuri what's wrong?" Estelle says running towards him she looks ready to caste a healing arte and his eyes widen.
"No artes!" he coughs as the people stare at him. "Please." He looks and he's coughing blood. "I need to rest." Then he remembers Leblanc and his goons. "No, I need to get going."
Estelle's holding him. "No, you're not going anywhere!" She looks at the mayor. "I need a room for my friend. Is their one at the inn?"
The innkeeper runs up and clutches Yuri's side. "Uh, yes. Hurry this way." Yuri's pulse is racing, because he knows he can't stay here. He needs to get out and away from these people. He can't have an episode here.
Estelle is looking at him as he keeps coughing. "Yuri, what's wrong? Please tell me."
"I just need to rest a bit. It's just the aer." He huffs as he's pulled forward.
She glares at him. "For the last time, stop telling me fake excuses."
Yuri snaps and pulls away from the two people. "Look, I don't need your help! I don't need Flynn's help! I can take care of this." He breaths deeply and stares at Estelle and then catches red glinting in the distance. "Oh no."
Estelle looks his way and gasps. "Aren't those the people from the castle?"
Yuri nods as his breath returns. "We can't let these people get caught up in this. We need to get going."
Estelle looks at him and the huffs. "I'm sorry sir, but it looks like we won't be needing that room." The innkeeper shies away and Karol looks at them in confusion as they head out of the town. "I hate to say it, but I can't wait for Flynn to come back."
"Who's this Flynn person?" Karol calls from behind.
"He's an Imperial Knight that Estelle's got a crush on." Yuri chides. "Personally, I think you could do better. He's such a buzzkill."
"I don't have a crush on him!"
"You don't? Ohh, I get it. You two are already a thing then?" Yuri teases. "You must meet in your room for all your escapades."
"No, it's not like that at all!" Yuri doubts that. He's smelt her enough times on Flynn to know they hang out often and Yuri know the blonde can't resist a pretty face. He puts up with Yuri after all.
"We should head towards Aspio. The villagers said he was heading east. If we're lucky we'll bump into him on the way back."
"Wait!" They turn to see the mayor running towards them holding a bag of gald that he holds out to Estelle. "Please, for saving our tree."
She looks at the bag and refuses profusely. "No, I couldn't."
He holds out to Yuri who refuses and then to Karol who Yuri smacks for attempting to take it.
"But then how will I ever repay you?"
Yuri thinks a moment. "Well, how about this. The next time we come into town, set us up with VIP blossom viewing picnic seats!"
Estelle smiles at the idea. "That's a great idea! I can't wait."
The mayor while taken aback, smiles. "All right then. The next time you're here, I'll put my heart and soul into paying back what you've done for us!"
They walk away as Karol continues trailing behind them. "So Karol, what are your plans?"
The boy freezes as he's caught his hand in the cookie jar. "I want to go to the port city, and cross over to Tolbyccia from there."
"So, I guess it's goodbye, then." Yuri says as he's about to exit the town gate. He's still feeling ill, but at least he's got a grip on himself. "Thanks, Karol. It's been fun."
Estelle bows. "Please take care of yourself."
The boy runs in front of them with an awkward smile. "On second thought, maybe I'll stick with you guys a little while longer."
"Why?" Yuri says raising a brow.
The boy scratches the back of his head. "You guys would be lost and lonely without me around."
Yuri debates the pros and cons of taking a kid, but nods. "Well, you have come in surprisingly handy, Captain."
"Well then, let's all go together." Estelle cheers.
Karol stops them before saying. "Um, wait I need to get my weapon from the shop." They laugh and wait a few minutes as the boy comes running up holding an almost cartoonish sized hammer. "There! Now let's head out!"
"Right." Yuri says as they set out eastward for hours before finally stopping to rest for the evening. That night Yuri grips his head in pain as his horns grow back, but his consciousness holds well enough for him to start hacking them off while everyone sleeps.
Felinis: Writing this fic is interesting. A lot of the dialogue is taken from the game and skits. A fair amount is verbatim and played around with. It's quite a fun thing to do.