Unfortunately, that big day started with a large, flat object landing on my head. "What in Lich's name?" was the first of many curses that flowed out of my mouth before I opened my eyes. The attacker was in reality Ariel. "Just when you think you're sober, you get a hangover in the morning. I'm seeing a person that has been dead for days! I should go and kill myself before I start even more hallucinations! Swirling Bolts…" I started to rant before Ariel opened her mouth.
"No need to join me there Mueller, I can assure you, you wouldn't want to do that. The wait list up there is quite long, I only had to wait a day because of your father." She started to say. "Why did my father send you here?" I inquired, wondering what the hell he was cooking up. "Well, I wanted to see you and your father told me to go after you while you find your brother. Also you should be getting ready for your big promotion today! It's not everyday that someone becomes a Summoner!" She proclaimed with her great ambient energy. "Oh Ajora! I already forgot about that! I gotta get dressed! Get out!" I yelled in the quick rush that surrounded me with both embarrassment and anxiety. I had been so tired from thinking about the conversation between me and Delita last night that I only got an hour or two of sleep.
A sharp, burning pain definitely woke me from my revile. "What in the name of all Gallione?!! Water! I need WATER!" I screamed as I ran left and right while the flames burned at my arse at the end of the magician's tunic. With those screams, the paranormal projection of Ariel walked through the door. "Ariel! I have a Phoenix Down in my sash you know!" I threatened her because everyone knew about the curative magics were reversed for the undead. "Alright, alright, no need to send me back there again. I just heard you dozing off again so I went to wake you up… Now go get dressed before I use something stronger! I do happen to know a few dragons around the castle!" she yelled as she disappeared again through the door. When she left I gave a sigh of relief and dressed in my paltry time mage garb.
I walked out onto the castle terrace to be amazed by an enormous sight. Knights mounted on Red chocobos occupied the side barriers of the front walk of the castle grounds and Archers were placed on the castle roof to keep the swaying crowds back. Another thing that shocked me was the volume of people that appeared to see my promotion. I had either gained a reputation over these few days or the people had little to celebrate as a whole with increasing Death Corps attacks. Either way, the looks on their faces were those of joy and glee. I was directed to the central podium by a Royal guard of Holy Knights that teleported in formation at my sides. As I neared the podium, confetti barraged my clothes and an orchestra was playing a slow, tuned out march. (Author's note: this song is 'Commander in Training' for any of you who have the soundtrack for FFT and for the people that have played the game, it's that song that plays in the start of Ch. 1) After the long, loud walk to the stand, I kneeled down before my brother Delita and Master Fink.
"Citizens of Gallione, welcome and thank you for appearing for this celebrated day." The greeting of the king elicited thousands of cheers and cries of 'Long live the king!' "For those of you who don't keep track of military events, you are here to witness to elevation of a rising hero." He proceeded onto explaining. "With the increasing assaults of the Reformed Death Corps, this nation is in dire need for hero's to step up to the task of defending the innocent. This Time Mage is no exception. He, with some of our greatest soldiers defended the castle from an assault from the vast task force from the Corps. Although we lost many worthy men and women of that day, Mueller here rose to the task and took initiative. With rage that would make Bahamuht tremble, he cut down the traitorous leader, former Holy Knight Alen Luc Grensal with this Holy Blade and a spell acquired from his bloodline." He spoke, raising the blade Excalibur above his head. This brought shock and amazement at the fact that a mage could muster the strength to wield a Knight's sword. "So today, we are here to witness the promotion of Time Mage Mueller Beoulve Shulen to the rank of Summoner." Yet again, the use of my father's family name shocked the crowd. With his speech over, he handed the ceremony of promotion to Master Fink.
"Mueller, are you ready to face to hardships of a Summoner? To endure and rise to the heavens with power and honor? To be an example for rising mages and accept to your destiny? Are you ready to be worthy of your name, Mueller Beoulve Shulen?" The powerful Summoner beseeched of me. In awe of the events, I merely acknowledged with a nod. "Now for the moment of truth! Scorch with Dragon's flame! Bahamuht!" Fink uttered to familiar words to call upon the lord of beasts and men to the castle.
The Dragon lord appeared from a rift in the sky and flew down to the ground next to Fink. With a few whispers to Fink, he began his part of the ceremony. "Mage Mueller Beoulve Shulen, that's quite a prestigious name from what I hear. I remember kindly the exploits of your Brother Ramza well, as with his aging friends and soldiers scattered across the castle grounds. Although it saddens me to see you only elevate to this one rank when you could go so much farther, I am happy to see you go at least to the high ranks of Summoners. Kneel down and lower you head!" He bellowed loud enough for people a mile away could hear. I did as he told as Dragonfire gathered at his mouth. The sweltering heat covered my entire body as sweat poured out of my every pore. He finally released the fire in a tumult of painless flames as my robes burned and turned to ashes while a new garb appeared. The fire went out and he spoke again.
"Summoner Mueller Beoulve Shulen, rise to the task! You are now a Summoner! Learn from Master Fink well and bestow honor among your family line again! I expect to hear your voice call upon my strength from this world while I rest in the void one of these days! Farewell!" He spoke his part and flew back to the Void, awaiting another's call. I took the time to look at my new uniform. It was a black shirt woven from silk with Panther skinned pants. The robe was an emerald-green thing woven with Morbol hide. My gloves were sewn from the strongest Taimat skin. I adjusted my brown-horned Summoner's cap and looked to the crowd. They were cheering and waving in joy. I kneeled down toward the king once again.
"Congratulations Brother." He whispered to me as he presented to me the Excalibur. As I touched the handle, I felt the holy essence and the acceleration of my heartbeat. I turned towards the crowd and raised Excalibur high above my head. The yellow blade reflected the sunlight and shined a brilliant array of colors. The crowd gave a last shout and proceeded to celebrate the event. Master Fink silently walked up to me and whispered, "Go to the inner throne room tonight after dinner. Congratulations Mueller." Then he walked out to his quarters.
"No need to join me there Mueller, I can assure you, you wouldn't want to do that. The wait list up there is quite long, I only had to wait a day because of your father." She started to say. "Why did my father send you here?" I inquired, wondering what the hell he was cooking up. "Well, I wanted to see you and your father told me to go after you while you find your brother. Also you should be getting ready for your big promotion today! It's not everyday that someone becomes a Summoner!" She proclaimed with her great ambient energy. "Oh Ajora! I already forgot about that! I gotta get dressed! Get out!" I yelled in the quick rush that surrounded me with both embarrassment and anxiety. I had been so tired from thinking about the conversation between me and Delita last night that I only got an hour or two of sleep.
A sharp, burning pain definitely woke me from my revile. "What in the name of all Gallione?!! Water! I need WATER!" I screamed as I ran left and right while the flames burned at my arse at the end of the magician's tunic. With those screams, the paranormal projection of Ariel walked through the door. "Ariel! I have a Phoenix Down in my sash you know!" I threatened her because everyone knew about the curative magics were reversed for the undead. "Alright, alright, no need to send me back there again. I just heard you dozing off again so I went to wake you up… Now go get dressed before I use something stronger! I do happen to know a few dragons around the castle!" she yelled as she disappeared again through the door. When she left I gave a sigh of relief and dressed in my paltry time mage garb.
I walked out onto the castle terrace to be amazed by an enormous sight. Knights mounted on Red chocobos occupied the side barriers of the front walk of the castle grounds and Archers were placed on the castle roof to keep the swaying crowds back. Another thing that shocked me was the volume of people that appeared to see my promotion. I had either gained a reputation over these few days or the people had little to celebrate as a whole with increasing Death Corps attacks. Either way, the looks on their faces were those of joy and glee. I was directed to the central podium by a Royal guard of Holy Knights that teleported in formation at my sides. As I neared the podium, confetti barraged my clothes and an orchestra was playing a slow, tuned out march. (Author's note: this song is 'Commander in Training' for any of you who have the soundtrack for FFT and for the people that have played the game, it's that song that plays in the start of Ch. 1) After the long, loud walk to the stand, I kneeled down before my brother Delita and Master Fink.
"Citizens of Gallione, welcome and thank you for appearing for this celebrated day." The greeting of the king elicited thousands of cheers and cries of 'Long live the king!' "For those of you who don't keep track of military events, you are here to witness to elevation of a rising hero." He proceeded onto explaining. "With the increasing assaults of the Reformed Death Corps, this nation is in dire need for hero's to step up to the task of defending the innocent. This Time Mage is no exception. He, with some of our greatest soldiers defended the castle from an assault from the vast task force from the Corps. Although we lost many worthy men and women of that day, Mueller here rose to the task and took initiative. With rage that would make Bahamuht tremble, he cut down the traitorous leader, former Holy Knight Alen Luc Grensal with this Holy Blade and a spell acquired from his bloodline." He spoke, raising the blade Excalibur above his head. This brought shock and amazement at the fact that a mage could muster the strength to wield a Knight's sword. "So today, we are here to witness the promotion of Time Mage Mueller Beoulve Shulen to the rank of Summoner." Yet again, the use of my father's family name shocked the crowd. With his speech over, he handed the ceremony of promotion to Master Fink.
"Mueller, are you ready to face to hardships of a Summoner? To endure and rise to the heavens with power and honor? To be an example for rising mages and accept to your destiny? Are you ready to be worthy of your name, Mueller Beoulve Shulen?" The powerful Summoner beseeched of me. In awe of the events, I merely acknowledged with a nod. "Now for the moment of truth! Scorch with Dragon's flame! Bahamuht!" Fink uttered to familiar words to call upon the lord of beasts and men to the castle.
The Dragon lord appeared from a rift in the sky and flew down to the ground next to Fink. With a few whispers to Fink, he began his part of the ceremony. "Mage Mueller Beoulve Shulen, that's quite a prestigious name from what I hear. I remember kindly the exploits of your Brother Ramza well, as with his aging friends and soldiers scattered across the castle grounds. Although it saddens me to see you only elevate to this one rank when you could go so much farther, I am happy to see you go at least to the high ranks of Summoners. Kneel down and lower you head!" He bellowed loud enough for people a mile away could hear. I did as he told as Dragonfire gathered at his mouth. The sweltering heat covered my entire body as sweat poured out of my every pore. He finally released the fire in a tumult of painless flames as my robes burned and turned to ashes while a new garb appeared. The fire went out and he spoke again.
"Summoner Mueller Beoulve Shulen, rise to the task! You are now a Summoner! Learn from Master Fink well and bestow honor among your family line again! I expect to hear your voice call upon my strength from this world while I rest in the void one of these days! Farewell!" He spoke his part and flew back to the Void, awaiting another's call. I took the time to look at my new uniform. It was a black shirt woven from silk with Panther skinned pants. The robe was an emerald-green thing woven with Morbol hide. My gloves were sewn from the strongest Taimat skin. I adjusted my brown-horned Summoner's cap and looked to the crowd. They were cheering and waving in joy. I kneeled down toward the king once again.
"Congratulations Brother." He whispered to me as he presented to me the Excalibur. As I touched the handle, I felt the holy essence and the acceleration of my heartbeat. I turned towards the crowd and raised Excalibur high above my head. The yellow blade reflected the sunlight and shined a brilliant array of colors. The crowd gave a last shout and proceeded to celebrate the event. Master Fink silently walked up to me and whispered, "Go to the inner throne room tonight after dinner. Congratulations Mueller." Then he walked out to his quarters.