Chapter 1: Baron
Mid-morning has come upon the town of Baron, and right now Palom and Porom are making their way back from their solitary trip up Mount Ordeals to the east. But here, two other youngsters are on a mission themselves. On the outskirts of Baron's town, near the Chocobo Forest, a young girl and boy are gathering samori mushrooms from the fields.
"This is getting boring Sylia. I'd rather be sleeping than doing this." The young lad lies back on the grass and shuts his eyes.
"Jero, you're the one who wanted mushroom stew for dinner tonight," says the girl. "And mom said 'if you want it, you have to pick the mushrooms yourself.' You agreed, and you're here, so start picking."
Jero yawns and turns on his side, making believe he doesn't hear her. He closes his eyes and starts to drift into slumber. Catching this, Sylia throws a handful of mushrooms at her unsuspecting brother.
"You're so lazy Jero! You'll never be Captain of the Guards if you keep sleeping on the job."
Jero yawns again.
When he was only ten years old, Jero already knew what he wanted to be. Watching the different squads of Baron's military force do their drills inspired him. He wanted to be a warrior, a fighter more than anything else, protecting the city, the world from evil. But no one inspired him more than his father. His father was a great military leader, a fine warrior, and--
"Hey Jero, do you know where Puvol went?"
"Nope." Jero turns over on his stomach, his arms acting as a pillow under his head, his blonde hair lightly blowing in the wind.
"I'm going to go look for him." Sylia says without so much as a glance at her younger brother.
Sylia enters the Chocobo Forest, irritated by Jero's laziness and lack of hard work. He had dreams and goals; Jero told her that all the time, but he never showed ambition. It's something that worries Sylia every so often.
Now she was looking for the other one--Puvol. The little rascal's probably playing with the baby chocobos, she thinks to herself.
She stares into a clearing to her left, her dark blue eyes are wide in her inspection. Two adult chocobos are searching the area for food, cooing and clawing. These seven-foot tall birds, used by many to travel large distances, are very peaceful creatures. Unlike most other birds, chocobos lack the ability to fly because of their enormous weight and small wings. But they have very strong legs that they use to travel to other nesting areas. They've also been used in the aid of combat when soldiers needed a ride to the battlefield, but that was a long time ago.
Nowadays people use the airships for traveling; a technology that was discovered a few years before the Zeromus war. There weren't many of them then, but there are hundreds of them now, all across the globe, patrolling vast areas of land.
Sylia enters the clearing and pets the two chocobos who greet her warmly with friendly nudges against her blue tunic. Maybe I'll ride one, she thinks. Then she hears a voice off in the brush ahead. "Puvul, is that you?"
The movement in the brush increases as small whispers can be heard from within.
"Puvul if you don't come out here this instant--"
Suddenly a bright streak splits the air, as a bolt of lightning strikes a rock not more than five feet from Sylia. With a loud shriek she stumbles backwards, loses her balance, and falls on her back. Her golden hair falls loosely across her face.
A little boy emerges from the brush, giggling.
"Scared you good huh Syl?"
Enraged, Sylia gets up and walks straight toward her little brother.
"Puvul what the hell do you think you're doing? You could've killed me!" Sylia grabs at Puvol's leather tunic and pulls at it threateningly. "You little runt, when mom finds out about this she'll ground you for eternity!"
"Aw, come on Syl, it wouldn't have killed you. I'm not strong enough for that." Puvol gives his sister a big smile and removes her hand from his black tunic. Sylia was always getting angry with him, and if not her, then Jero was. Puvul was never given the same respect from his older siblings as they had for each other. That's usually the case when you're the third child. After dusting off his clothes and brushing back his brownish hair, he starts towards the two chocobos with Sylia in tow.
"Puvul get back here! What do you think you're doing wandering off by yourself? You could have gotten lost, or hurt, or--"
"Oh give me a break," Puvol cuts in. "I know this place like the back of my hand. Besides, I'm ten years old already. Stop treating me like a kid."
"But you are a kid."
"No I'm not!" Puvul stomps off toward the edge of the clearing, toward the field where Jero is taking his nap.
Sylia sighs. What did I do to deserve a brother like him, she thinks to herself. And so with a heavy sigh, she walks out of the Chocobo Forest, leaving the two chocobos alone to continue foraging for food.
"Hi mom."
"Hello dear. What have you been doing in the forest Sylia?" the pale woman asks.
"Chasing a rat." She says as she slaps Puvul's head with her palm, to which Puvul winces.
"Have you been causing trouble again Puvul?" His mother eyes him with suspicion.
"Not really." Puvol gives her an innocent, sparkling smile.
Sylia decides not to report her recent incident with Puvul in order to spare him another lecture. He never paid attention to them anyway. He was always getting distracted. Little kids are hard to keep occupied, and this one was no different.
Opposed to what most people would think, Sylia really loved her brother, and whenever she scolded him it was because she didn't want him to get hurt. In a round about way that's how most siblings act, even parents. And Sylia just wants to make sure Puvul grows up with a strong sense of dignity and caring.
Their mother eyes the mushrooms strewn about the grass.
"So how's the mushroom picking going?"
"Why don't you ask Jero," Sylia points downward toward her brother. Jero's fallen fast asleep, snoring. "He wouldn't last two seconds in the battlefield."
"Oh don't worry about you're brother. He'll come around one day." Their mother smiles a beautiful smile.
'Beautiful as the Rose of Shalom,' one was heard saying. Her golden hair so neatly dressed everyday, her eyes so soft and warm, and her body in wonderful shape. It's no wonder she gets looks from everyone in town. Her white gown accentuating her form, she looks to be twenty-five instead of her forty years of age. But in her eyes she has to look good. Not to show up all the other women, or to steal glances from the likes of men, but because she's--
"Queen Rosa," One of the castle sentries rides towards the woman and her children on a white stallion, Baron's royal symbol graces the horse's soft hide. "Your Highness, I've been sent to inform you that lunch is ready, and the King anxiously awaits your return along with the children."
"Thank you lieutenant. We'll be there shortly." Rosa replies.
And with that, Sylia slaps Jero awake and the four of them make their way to the castle.
"And so my good chef, what do you have prepared for us today?" asks Cecil.
"Well my liege, I have some new recipes I'm working on. A special salad and soup combination that I learned from a friend in Fabul will be your appetizer, and that will be followed by your main course, which consists of raven's eggs over broiled steaks. And if you care for some dessert, I have a new flavor of cotton cream that I'm working on."
His smile is one of achievement. As the castle's head chef, Jerriko has made a living out of cooking. His fine taste in exotic foods and his preparation and decoration of meals has made him the most popular chef around. 'Just kept on practicing,' was his reason for his expertise.
Fourteen years ago, a twenty-year old Jerriko was washing dishes in the village of Shoal, to the far east of the Mysidian Continent. Dreaming of one day becoming a master chef like his father, he then travelled to the town of Silvera where he was trained in the art of cooking. It was there that he met a tanned man who had come from the town of Fabul--a very important man from what he was told. This man was to be the first customer to taste Jerriko's cooking, and to Jerriko's surprise and to the surprise of his instructor, the tanned, bald man loved it. So much in fact that he introduced Jerriko to the King of Baron, Cecil Harvey.
When he first met King Cecil, Jerriko felt like fainting. He couldn't believe that he was meeting the legendary warrior who ended the Great War three years ago, and never in his life had Jerriko dreamed of even cooking for him.
But now, over ten years later, Jerriko is in charge of everything that goes on in the Baron Castle's kitchen. It's everything that he ever wanted; to be able to do the things he enjoys, and better yet, for probably the most highly respected people in the world.
Reminiscing over this from time to time reminds Jerriko of his heritage, and how fortunate he is to be in this position.
"Sounds like a very excellent meal Jerriko, and from the aroma in the air it smells delicious. I can't wait to eat." Cecil rubs his stomach in anticipation.
"Thank you my liege. It should be ready soon."
Seeing King Cecil smile at him always makes Jerriko proud of what he has done. It's what keeps him going, and with that, he turns towards the kitchen to finish his preparations.
"Nanny, are Rosa and the children back yet?" Cecil speaks to a small, slightly stout old woman who's preparing the dining table.
"Not yet Your Highness," she says as she lays down the utensils. "They should be back very shortly. Would you like me to go check on them for you?"
"No that's quite alright Nanny. Rosa can take care of herself," Cecil looks out one of the dining room windows overlooking the meadows to the west. "I'm sure the children can too."
There are many things in Cecil's life that he is proud of. First of all his marriage to Rosa, his long time love, was conceived a few months after the war. Then his election to the throne of Baron quickly followed suit. After that, Cecil established a military academy to train soldiers in the art of combat, while Rosa set up her school of white magic. In addition to his academy, Cecil has also resurrected the Red Wings--an airship strike force used during the war. Aided by Baron's chief engineer Cid Pollendina, the Red Wings are over eighty strong, making Baron a veritable powerhouse the world over.
So many things to be proud for, Cecil thinks to himself.
Yet nothing made him prouder than his three children. Sylia, the oldest of the three at the age of sixteen, is a very bright and mature young lady. Her intellect and will to succeed has helped her on the road of magic. With the aid of her mother acting as a personal trainer, Sylia's skills have developed quickly. "She will be an expert white magician in no time," Rosa once said.
Cecil's fourteen-year old son, Jero, pleases him very much. Though he has no interest in magic, Jero is training to become a soldier in the Royal Army. Cecil has gotten the pleasure of teaching his son battle tactics and fighting essentials, to which Jero is always eager to listen. From time to time, Jero and his father would engage in one on one combat with wooden swords. Of course Cecil would always win, but he could see the steady improvement in Jero's abilities. Jero will definitely become a fine warrior, Cecil thinks to himself.
The youngest of the three, Puvol, is the rowdy one who's always causing trouble. Cecil never realized how difficult a ten year old could be until now. Puvol was still a good kid though, always wanting to help out with errands and shopping. His ability to conjure up black magic came as a surprise to both Cecil and Rosa, as they were both white magic users. Neither of them could figure it out, though as Puvol grows older, his magic skills would be of great use if the kingdom ever needed it.
Yet, because there were no expert black magic users in the kingdom of Baron, Cecil had to look elsewhere for a teacher. He finally found one in the kingdom of Eblana--an old friend who had helped Cecil in the war seventeen years ago. At least three days a week, she would come by to teach Puvol in the ways of black magic, and today was one of those days.
"Has it been that long?" Cecil mumbles as these thoughts cross his mind. "Seventeen years. Makes me feel pretty old." Cecil gives a faint laugh as he sits in his old oak chair. His thoughts are suddenly interrupted by a loud voice coming from the hallway leading to the dining room.
"Daddy, daddy, is lunch ready yet?" Puvol comes rushing in to take his seat next to his father.
"It will be ready shortly Puvol," Cecil smiles brightly at his youngest son. "Did you wash up before you came in?"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh. I'm starving." Puvol grabs his fork and waits impatiently for his food.
"So, what have you all been doing this morning?" Cecil asks as the servants lay down the meals.
"Nothing much," says Jero as he takes a seat at the table. "Just picking mushrooms."
"You mean I was picking mushrooms while you were sleeping on them." Sylia remarks sharply.
"Same thing." Jero replies as he fills his plate with Jerriko's special salad.
Cecil smiles and then looks towards Puvol.
"And what about you Puvol? Were you collecting mushrooms as well?"
"Nah, I was just playing some games in the Chocobo Forest."
"Games? What kind of games?" Cecil's curiosity piqued as to what games Puvol could play with himself.
Careful to avoid talking about his little lightning show with Sylia, Puvol shoves a heap full of salad into his mouth and says, "Uh...fun games. With the chocobos."
"Puvol, what have I told you about talking with your mouth full?" Rosa glares at her youngest son.
Puvol swallows his mouthful of salad.
"Sorry mom," he says, as he gets ready to munch down on another heaping mound of greens. "By the way, when is Aunty coming to give me more lessons? She's coming today, right?"
"Yes she is," Rosa says. "She should be arriving shortly, so you'd better hurry and finish your meal."
"Your Highness," One of the royal servants enters the dining room. "I just thought you'd like to know that the Captain of the Guards has just arrived from his town to town inspection and surveillance mission."
"Oh good. Would you bring him in here please?" Cecil gestures to the food on the table. "He can join us in our meal here."
Interlude
"You've done very well my children," The Elder palms the rock given to him by the young twins. "You had no trouble getting it?"
"Nah, it was easier than ripping the tail off of a spiked ingleworm." Palom slumps down into one of the Elder's velvet-cushioned chairs.
"Don't be so over-confident Palom," Porom lashes out, her dark brown eyes squinting threateningly at her brother. "One of these days you're going to be in over your head, and I might not be there to watch your back!" She pokes at Palom's chest through his red tunic with a rigid finger.
"Calm down sis, I just meant we didn't have any trouble getting the stone. You don't have to get your berries in a bunch over it." Palom clasps his hands behind his head and leans back in his chair.
The Elder smiles faintly, knowing all too well that the arguing will never stop. He then sits down at his large, wooden desk and begins examining the rock.
"Elder?" Porom asks with much worry in her voice.
Sensing this, the Elder turns towards his young pupils with a somber smile upon his face.
"I know what you're going to ask, and all I can tell you is that this rock is of much importance."
"Can't you tell us what you plan to do with it, or what it's for?" Palom asks.
The Elder turns back towards his desk and to the rock sitting on it.
"For now it is of little use to me. But in time, it will prove to be a great asset," The Elder turns an eye to Palom. "Now I believe you need to prepare yourself for your date tonight?"
"Oh, that's right, I almost forgot!" Palom leaps from the chair and is out the door in a blinding flash, the heavy sounds of his footsteps trailing off into the hallway.
"I know you're worried Porom," the Elder says without looking at her. "There's really no way I can put your mind at ease about this," he looks out the window above his desk, peering across the meadow leading towards the library. "All you can do is trust me on this. Can you do that?"
"I-I guess so." Porom turns to leave but before she walks through the door-
"Oh, and don't worry so much about Palom," says the Elder. "He is your brother, but he's also a grown-up. He can take care of himself."
"Yes sir." And with that, Porom leaves the Elder alone in the room.
The Elder sighs in contemplation. For all the ninety-two years that he's been alive, never has the Elder felt a dread cut so deep into his heart. Something is terribly wrong in the air, he thinks to himself.
"Soon. It will happen soon."
Just outside the Elder's cottage, below the windowsill, a brown and white cat resides, sitting attentively. It's tail sparks slightly of fire and magic, as it's golden eyes gleam in the sunlight.
End of Interlude
"Kain my good man, why don't you join us in our little meal here."
"No thank you sire," says the tall, blonde haired man. "I had a meal on the way over."
"Hey there Mr. Kain!" Puvol yells out with yet another big mouthful of salad.
The Captain of the Guards smiles then waves to the young prince. Kain Highwind then pulls out a few sheets of paper, which he holds securely under his left arm.
"I have the days scouting reports sire."
Cecil sets down his fork, wipes his mouth with a napkin, and sits back comfortably in his chair, his long, greyish hair flowing across the cushion supporting his head. The rest of the royal family continues on with their meals as Cecil gestures towards Kain.
"You may proceed."
Kain clears his throat quietly as he prepares to begin his report, his blue metal armor gleaming from the light through the dining hall windows. This has been a daily routine for the past seventeen years. Ever since Kain was chosen by Cecil to be his Captain of the Guards, Kain has taken great pride to ensure that he does all his duties to the best of his ability--duties such as this one. After all these years he still takes pride in doing his many jobs as if he were doing them for the first time.
On the day he was elected, Kain became the leader and teacher of over two hundred soldiers. Now that number has increased to over three hundred strong making the kingdom of Baron's military force the largest in the world. With so many soldiers at his disposal, Kain mapped out three strategic areas, about a mile and a half around Baron's perimeter, and created Baron's first military base camps--one to the south, west, and north. They were named the Kain's Triangle. Kain himself thought of it as unnecessary and completely humiliating, but it was Cecil who gave it the name, and whatever the King says, sticks. These base camps would insure increased protection over the world's most thriving and most populous nation. There was one problem though and that was to the east. Half a mile to the east of Baron lies the Gheridian Ocean. Even if a military base was set up on the shores of the beach, any enemy who took flight in the sky could easily target Baron with such a short distance to close.
Kain had an idea though. Baron could build a man made station a mile or so off the coast of the continent. This station would have a huge platform with large steel pillars holding it aloft at about two hundred feet above sea level. The platform would be large enough to support fifteen airships and the station would house up to fifty soldiers. If at any given time an attack arises, a single airship could fly to Baron with a warning signal while the other airships keep the enemy at bay. With the speed of any airship, the estimated time of arrival to Baron would be about two minutes, and with Kain's routine of having at least two airships in the air at all times in effect, it's guaranteed that at least one would make it to Baron to warn them.
Kain had given this suggestion over five years ago to Cecil who backs him up entirely, but unfortunately the twelve members of Baron's High Council disapproves of it, siting costs and lack of resources. They suggested that perhaps over time there would be enough money and men to support Kain's idea, but that has yet to come to fruition. The Captain of the Guards scowls at the High Council for their continuous bickering and pointless chatter. They rarely agree on anything and they're always ready to shoot down a good idea for ridiculous reasons. Yet it was the townspeople who wanted the High Council to be able to take in suggestions and complaints, as the King already has much to do himself.
After giving his report, which didn't have anything really interesting in it--a small fire in Toroia, a cave-in at one of the mines in Silvera--Kain sets his report on the dining table.
"Is there anything else before I leave my liege?" Kain stands at attention, his armor clicking and clanging with his movements.
"Yes there is Kain. It's a reminder," Cecil leans forward, his left elbow resting on the dining table. "How many times do I have to tell you, when you and I are not in the company of the townspeople or your soldiers, to call me by my name?" Cecil gives him a stern eye and then quickly softens it. "I know you want to show respect, especially to set an example to your soldiers, but you and I have been friends for over twenty years, and I am no more different than you."
Kain looks directly at his King and says, "Yes Cecil. Forgive me. Sometimes I just get caught up in my duties and; well you know how I am."
"You're a good man Kain, and that's how I know you," Cecil smiles at his longtime friend. "You may tend to your other duties now, but before you do, why don't you take some of this food here. I know you ate already, but I don't want it going to waste."
"Take whatever you want Mister Kain!" Puvol says with a mouth full of bread.
Rosa gives Puvol another stern look to which he acknowledges with innocent eyes and a quick swallow.