FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION

FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION

By Thomas Knapp

Act Two- Scene Five

Karma stood with her head down ever so slightly as Midas reported all that occurred in Moros. At the same time three different jesters tried to lighten the mood in the throne hall, but all with the same lack of success.

"I see…" Karma muttered when Midas finished, her eyes traveling up to the young man sitting ever so uncomfortably on the throne. "So Gregorian knows about the quest to retrieve the crystals… he's a smart man, and will not be easy to outwit."

"Which means that I'm going to have to be extra careful from now on." Midas acknowledged.

At this point, Karma's face became overrun with dismay, "You aren't seriously going to join the expedition to North Landing, are you? We need you here, your highness…"

"Oh please…" Midas said derisively, "You have been doing a fantastic job, whereas I have no experience in politics, nor do I have time to learn. I might as well go where I am useful. Besides, don't think I haven't noticed the shiploads of your Inquisitors that have been arriving on the hour. They'll be more likely to follow your lead as opposed to mine."

"But you are dealing with a most cunning adversary." Karma warned, "And now, it's personal since he thinks you have… enjoyed his daughter. At least let me attend you with an escort…"

"We need to keep the numbers small, Karma, or we risk being easily identified."

"But…"

"That is the end of the matter!" Midas enforced, "I am going to North Landing. If something were to happen to me, being the last of my line, I delegate you as my successor."

Several nobles, who had agreed to Midas's sovereignty, quickly witnessed the statement. Karma stammered, "Sir… that's not… I mean…"

"You appear more than willing to carry on the task of reviving the old ways, as a matter of fact, you drug ME into this. If something were to happen to me, I am confident you'd run the show more than admirably." Midas concluded, "Now… if there is nothing else that needs my royal seal of approval…" He snorted as he said those words, "I shall be on my way. I must prepare myself for the voyage."

Midas stood up, and disappeared through the curtains behind him, taking the path to his royal chambers.

Port of Kohlinsgrad, Dockside…

"Well… here it is…" Harmon muttered as he pointed to the ship in question. It sailed low to the surface, it's wooden hull painted midnight blue. "With our current timetable, we shall arrive at Orland's Point during the night, thus the dark coloring."

"I see this has been well thought out." Midas commented, "This is good, for our opponent is an intelligent one, where half-baked plans will cost us dearly."

Tamara approached the Red Mage timidly, and squeaked, "Umm... Midas?"

Midas sighed, and interceded, "I know… 'Midas, I'm sorry about the uncomfortable position I put you in.' Apology accepted, Tamara."

The Knight made a half-smile, and sheepishly added, "Well, I am…"

The Red Mage turned to face her, and said in as understanding of a tone as he could utter, "I know. I can only imagine what that man had planned for you and your future. Are you sure you wish to come with us to North Landing?"

"If you're worried about people recognizing me… don't. It was ten years ago when I left that place, and I've never returned."

"That's not it… no doubt your old home holds some ill history for you. Are you sure you want to face all that?"

Tamara shook her head, and waved off the possibility, "Any bad memories I have of that place are manifest in the man who sired me. North Landing itself is merely a place. If I designated bad times with places, I wouldn't be able to stand it HERE."

Midas accepted that line of logic, and then asked Harmon, "When must we leave to meet our window?"

"Before the sunset." Harmon answered, "If we miss it, we must wait until tomorrow evening."

"I see no need to wait another day." Midas decided, "Tamara, you and Harmon round up the rest of our merry band. If they don't have anything pressing to accomplish, we will leave within the hour."

Early Morning, Great Central Sea…

Midas felt sick.

REALLY sick.

He had never been on a boat before… he wasn't even sure if he could swim in the large, rolling waves of the Great Central Sea should anything happen to the boat. Those waves would probably just overwhelm him… those rolling, pulsing, waves that rocked the boat back and forth, up and down in a regular constant pattern. A mouthful of bile started to work its way up his throat, and it was through great effort that he forced the escaping stomach fluid back down.

"You feeling okay?" Yura asked as she appeared on the deck, "I was a little worried when you still hadn't come down to the bunks."

Midas put on a brave front, and said casually, "Yeah… I'm fine. No problems here."

Unfortunately, his face and body posture gave him away, and Yura chuckled, "The great Midas, seasick?"

Hurt, Midas snapped back, "So what if I am?"

Yura continued to laugh politely, then replied, "That would mean you've never been on a open sea boat. That's to be expected I suppose."

"I take it you HAVE?"

Yura nodded, "I sailed with the old king to several of the other kingdoms." She leaned against the railing next to Midas, looking down at the water below. "Midas, now that we've got some time alone, I do want to ask you something."

Midas began to dread the next question, but said nonetheless, "All right…"

Yura whirled around, and asked, "Were there any Summoners in your family?"

Midas pursed his lips, and said flatly, "I wouldn't know. Why?"

"Because… only with a Summoner near will the wards to one of their labyrinths part. Since I wasn't there…"

"It could have been Trigger…" Midas noted.

"I thought of that, but when I… talked… to him, he kept pointing at you and then at his forehead."

Midas nodded in recollection; "Yeah… when we toppled into the cavern, he seemed obsessed with my forehead… I can't imagine why…"

"Because no doubt the heritage that all Summoners share was brought to the fore when you entered."

Midas shook his head, "I've got no horn… never had one, either…"

Yura smiled, and explained, "The Summoner's horn only appears as one of my kind begins to gain the natural attachment to the earth and the Eidolons that guard it. Many people with such potential actually never get such a horn. It is a hard trial in which you explore your inner self that finally yields such… physical manifestation. When I was young, I had it… then when Karma prepared me to hunt the crystals, it started to grow back."

"I see." Midas commented.

"That's why I asked if you knew of any Summoners in your family… I just wanted to be sure."

Midas shook his head; "I don't know my family… my father I've only heard of in stories, none of them good. The only memory of my mother is a vague nightmare I have on occasion. Beyond that…" Midas shrugged to indicate a total blank.

"Oh…" Yura added, somewhat saddened.

"Why are you that concerned about my heritage anyway?" Midas asked testily, then he noticed that Yura was crying. "Yura, what's wrong?"

"I've…" Yura sobbed, "I've… been raised with the understanding that I am the last of my kind. All the other Summoners were exterminated; butchered during the revolution. Even Karma killed my mother and father…"

She threw herself against Midas, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I've been alone… no one like me… now I'm beginning to think that I was wrong. I'm NOT alone at all… you're like me, too."

Midas pushed her away, but put his hands on her shoulders, and gave her a gentle shake. "Yura… you've NEVER been alone, even if I am no Summoner. So what if we don't have horns? We're all people here. The only place where you've been alone is that little mind of yours that convinced you that you are."

She choked back another sob, then smiled through her tears, "Maybe you're right, but it's still such a relief to think that maybe…" As she said this, she continued to lean closer, "just maybe… there's another like me…"

At that moment, there was a gasp of surprise. Yura and Midas turned to see Tamara at the entrance to the stairs leading to the lower levels, her hand over her mouth. The Knight frowned, and said, "I… I'm sorry I interrupted you… Pardon me…" There was no masking the sadness that tinted her words.

Tamara disappeared back down the stairs, and Midas called out to her, but it didn't appear that she heard. Midas cursed, and turned to Yura in apology.

"It's all right, Midas…" Yura answered, "Go talk to her if you feel you must."

Midas frowned, and said, "I suppose I shall… but I suppose it can wait until morning. Right now, I think I better get some sleep." With a yawn, Midas worked his way to the stairwell, trying to fight the urge to throw up the entire way."

Two nights later, along the North Landing coastline…

"The port of Orland's Point should be coming up on the horizon right about now." Harmon informed.

"Why does it matter if we can't see it?" Borz retorted, his eyes straining to see in the moonless night beyond.

"There is a large lighthouse at the farthest extent of the point. We shall run aground about three kilometers from it so as not to be detected." Harmon explained, "While they may know that we are coming, they need not know when until as late as possible."

"Agreed." Midas added, "The less trouble we have here, the better."

Fredros added, "We also have to go north into Artica, and the less prepared they are, the better our chances are."

Midas fell away from the front of the ship, and noted that Tamara was looking down at the deck as if she didn't want to see what lied beyond.

"Are you SURE you're going to be all right with this, Tamara?" Midas asked, concerned, "Or are you still…"

"No, I'm not upset about what happened between you and Yura." Tamara replied. Midas had gone to great lengths to explain that he NOT made any choice between the two ladies, or that any choice was forthcoming in the foreseeable future. "There's just nothing to see out there, that's all."

"All right…" Midas replied, not totally convinced. He strode away slowly, hoping that Tamara would explain more, but she was not about to. Tamara merely continued to look down.

"Oh dear, what am I going to do?" Tamara whispered, finally looking out into the darkness, where the lighthouse was beginning to shine, every so often casting light onto the harbor of Orland's Point. She then turned her attention inland, instinctively casting her eyes in the direction of Hamil, capital of North Landing, even though the large city was not even visible.

Barely able to fight back the stinging tears of memory, Tamara asked herself "How can I go back… there?"

Meanwhile, another figure had his eyes focused in the direction Hamil lay. From the crow's nest, Trigger stared into the blackness, memories not just of sadness, but of indescribable rage flooding his mind. He sincerely hoped that Gregorian had decided to head to North Landing. It was time that Trigger settled the score once and for all.

End Act Two