FINAL FANTASY XI
CHAPTER XIV
Locale
Aadia was becoming a bit impatient with the backdrop for the current progress of their adventure. She didn't mind that it was a bit green, but everything seemed to be alive around her. She was beginning to have a sensory overload trying to perceive what she should bring her weapon down upon and what she shouldn't. Magus hadn't seemed to flinch at the singing of birds or any of the other animal callings; but then again he was from this part of the world. Aadia was glad to be heading in this direction, fearing if she actually went deeper in the southeastern country she'd become enveloped in its forests forever.
"So this is how you like it? So green?" Aadia put her words together carefully; there was no reason for her to insult Magus for having a taste for being around the living. His patience was almost admirable, but she knew she could best him in heat tolerance. It wasn't a contest, but it was nice to play around in her head their strengths. Magus took a few steps to reach her side; he had trailed behind often to take heed of the nature around them.
"Yeah, there's nothing like a Ronfaure forest." Magus looked at the sky, which was outlined in trees no matter where you looked. Indeed, the young Black Mage was right about that. In Saruta Baruta, where Aadia had obviously been raised, all one could see was rock and sand. The only shrubbery was cacti and small bushes scattered about. It was interesting that her national treasure would be the Wasser-Kristall, Wasser being another word for Water. Yes, water had abundance in San D'oria, but only deep beneath the surface in underground deposits. Sometimes the water was salty, and she assumed the sand had tainted it.
Aadia smiled to herself as the two passed a small stream. She would think of water, and there it had appeared in a surface-dwelling abundance. The formation looked inviting, and Aadia would tap Magus on the shoulder as she headed to the water to take a drink. It was a primitive process, but getting her hands wet wasn't an everyday occurrence. The leather of her hand braces shimmered a bit, but she did not worry of it becoming taught as she cupped her hands and lightly dipped them in the flowing water. As she took a sip from her bare wet hands, she couldn't help but remember what the ocean looked like. There was water as far as the eye could see, and one day she would have to return to it.
Magus had followed her as she instructed; now he knelt beside her filling a small canteen with water. It was the only thing he seemed to travel with, and most of the time it was hidden behind his cape. At least the Black Mage was smart enough to take only necessary things, Aadia was glad she didn't have to wait years for him to catch up from dragging a heavy load. She dropped her lance in the water as she waited for him to do so; some droplets splashed back at her but the shining of the sun against the metal beneath the crystal clear layer made her not mind it at all.
She shook her head, feeling as if she was a child playing with the forces of nature just because she could. Elvaan children were taught that water was the giver of life; the piece of the hymn she had read from Torukoishi's book rose into her mind. "Roaming sheep in search of the people full of love, bathe yourself in water until your mind is soothed." It made sense that such would be written in Elvaan cursive, but why it was on that book and several of the others did not come clear. And there were so many different styles, that was also something to wonder about.
Magus had finished filling the canteen and closed the lid on it immediately, not pausing to take a sip of the water. Obviously he was not thirsty, and he rose to his feet while Aadia still sat quietly near the stream. She decided it wasn't good to waist too much time, and pulled her weapon from the water. She had a strap on her back in which to hold it, but Aadia decided to carry it against her shoulder for a while. Without a word, the two of them headed back onto the trail they were following. Aadia tried not to think about following the indirect directions of a Tartar.
The animals were still continuing their ruckus, and Aadia hoped that one of them might be wild. It might silence the others if she took out one of the larger creatures, not that she wanted to pointlessly slay the native residents of this land. It would just be a sign of the times if a wild beast did come after her; lately each day carried a small incident. A horde of wasps that didn't like a person amidst their territory, or perhaps a mischievous goblin trying to take something she carried. It made life exciting sometimes, and it was beginning to prove the worth of the numerous people who practiced some art of fighting.
Aadia could see little on the horizon, just a few random birds and some kind of rat. It wasn't the end of the world to let the creatures cross her path, which the rodent seemed to be doing. The flying animals would peck at the ground in search of some sort of food, and Magus and she grew closer as they walked. The birds did not bother with her, not did the rodent. She took a few glances just to be sure, and the sight of the rat like beast was almost appalling. It was just such a random combination that she was startled a bit.
It had the ears of rat, of which she had seen in some parts of the city; aside from that it had the face of a bird. A speckling of white amidst a cover of brown feathers, and it possessed two talons instead of a mammal's feet. To accompany this, it had the tail of a rat; all this bird and beast hopping towards her. Aadia wasn't sure how to react; she took a step back from Magus and stopped. She could already tell he was noticing her angst towards the rat-bird, and he halted his paces as well to turn around.
"It's nothing, that's just a mataviel. That's what the Taru Taru call them." Magus was once again undisturbed by the overbearing presence of nature, this mataviel had proved it. If he didn't look twice at a rodent possessing the face of a bird, what would make him flinch? Aadia was assured for the moment, until the bird came onto her boot and stared at the lacing. It would open it's beak and gaze with intent eyes; Aadia felt forced to shake her leg and brush it off with the moderate force of such.
Persistence took shape, and the mataviel would take perch on her foot again, this time making no hesitation to grabbing at the lace. It was to no avail, they were tied tight in an Elvaan knot, but it was quite aggravating that the beast wanted to mutilate her shoe. She kicked at the air and sent it out onto its back, trying to get rid of it once more. It landed on the ground on its feet without trouble, but it growled. Did she give the impression the lacing was alive, and trying to fight back? Aadia was about to become aggravated, she knew such but it didn't seem that the bird was going to give up. Magus showed a bit concern; to him it was just a local animal that didn't mean any harm.
"Come on, leave it be. It's not that big a threat." Obviously the Black Mage was trying to stop any potential conflict, already the growling had becoming louder. Aadia wasn't threatened; so much as she was aggravated at the animal for thinking it could take her on. She pointed her tri-point lance at the fiend and gave it a stern glare. It would be more acceptable if it would just be intimidated and run away, but Aadia was not afraid to strike it if it lunged. She knew nothing of the habits of a mataviel, so it could be a potentiality that aggressive behavior was normal.
The bird tipped its beak skyward and began to howl an oppressive screech; Aadia could barely stand her ground without losing her temper. Smaller animals from all around would spread out from Magus and she, attempting to get away. Perhaps the beast did this often, and the effects left by the mataviel's cry were devastating. But it seemed too lucky for all these creatures to run and hide from such a small unintimidating animal. Aadia was given her answer to her unsaid question, and a shadow would befall her momentary. Her gaze darted upward, and a terrible sight would make her really wish she was within the San D'orian borders again.
"What the hell is that!?" Aadia was horrified by the sight of such a plump bird, it resembled the face of the mataviel in many ways; the small bear and inset eyes along with the plump cheeks and 'ears' made of pluming feathers. Her Dragoon skill had taught her to leap up and in the reverse to dodge an attacking bird, and she did so, catching a brief glimpse of the bird eye to eye. It was like staring into the face of a dragon of which her class held so high. It was actually a fearsome beast, and the agility of it for being a bulging sack of feathers made it even more imposing a sight than the small mataviel.
"Now you've done it, pissed off a Zemzelet!"
"A Zemzelet!?"
"Yeah, mataviels develop into those things when they mature!"
"Oh my god... "
***
CHAPTER XIV
Locale
Aadia was becoming a bit impatient with the backdrop for the current progress of their adventure. She didn't mind that it was a bit green, but everything seemed to be alive around her. She was beginning to have a sensory overload trying to perceive what she should bring her weapon down upon and what she shouldn't. Magus hadn't seemed to flinch at the singing of birds or any of the other animal callings; but then again he was from this part of the world. Aadia was glad to be heading in this direction, fearing if she actually went deeper in the southeastern country she'd become enveloped in its forests forever.
"So this is how you like it? So green?" Aadia put her words together carefully; there was no reason for her to insult Magus for having a taste for being around the living. His patience was almost admirable, but she knew she could best him in heat tolerance. It wasn't a contest, but it was nice to play around in her head their strengths. Magus took a few steps to reach her side; he had trailed behind often to take heed of the nature around them.
"Yeah, there's nothing like a Ronfaure forest." Magus looked at the sky, which was outlined in trees no matter where you looked. Indeed, the young Black Mage was right about that. In Saruta Baruta, where Aadia had obviously been raised, all one could see was rock and sand. The only shrubbery was cacti and small bushes scattered about. It was interesting that her national treasure would be the Wasser-Kristall, Wasser being another word for Water. Yes, water had abundance in San D'oria, but only deep beneath the surface in underground deposits. Sometimes the water was salty, and she assumed the sand had tainted it.
Aadia smiled to herself as the two passed a small stream. She would think of water, and there it had appeared in a surface-dwelling abundance. The formation looked inviting, and Aadia would tap Magus on the shoulder as she headed to the water to take a drink. It was a primitive process, but getting her hands wet wasn't an everyday occurrence. The leather of her hand braces shimmered a bit, but she did not worry of it becoming taught as she cupped her hands and lightly dipped them in the flowing water. As she took a sip from her bare wet hands, she couldn't help but remember what the ocean looked like. There was water as far as the eye could see, and one day she would have to return to it.
Magus had followed her as she instructed; now he knelt beside her filling a small canteen with water. It was the only thing he seemed to travel with, and most of the time it was hidden behind his cape. At least the Black Mage was smart enough to take only necessary things, Aadia was glad she didn't have to wait years for him to catch up from dragging a heavy load. She dropped her lance in the water as she waited for him to do so; some droplets splashed back at her but the shining of the sun against the metal beneath the crystal clear layer made her not mind it at all.
She shook her head, feeling as if she was a child playing with the forces of nature just because she could. Elvaan children were taught that water was the giver of life; the piece of the hymn she had read from Torukoishi's book rose into her mind. "Roaming sheep in search of the people full of love, bathe yourself in water until your mind is soothed." It made sense that such would be written in Elvaan cursive, but why it was on that book and several of the others did not come clear. And there were so many different styles, that was also something to wonder about.
Magus had finished filling the canteen and closed the lid on it immediately, not pausing to take a sip of the water. Obviously he was not thirsty, and he rose to his feet while Aadia still sat quietly near the stream. She decided it wasn't good to waist too much time, and pulled her weapon from the water. She had a strap on her back in which to hold it, but Aadia decided to carry it against her shoulder for a while. Without a word, the two of them headed back onto the trail they were following. Aadia tried not to think about following the indirect directions of a Tartar.
The animals were still continuing their ruckus, and Aadia hoped that one of them might be wild. It might silence the others if she took out one of the larger creatures, not that she wanted to pointlessly slay the native residents of this land. It would just be a sign of the times if a wild beast did come after her; lately each day carried a small incident. A horde of wasps that didn't like a person amidst their territory, or perhaps a mischievous goblin trying to take something she carried. It made life exciting sometimes, and it was beginning to prove the worth of the numerous people who practiced some art of fighting.
Aadia could see little on the horizon, just a few random birds and some kind of rat. It wasn't the end of the world to let the creatures cross her path, which the rodent seemed to be doing. The flying animals would peck at the ground in search of some sort of food, and Magus and she grew closer as they walked. The birds did not bother with her, not did the rodent. She took a few glances just to be sure, and the sight of the rat like beast was almost appalling. It was just such a random combination that she was startled a bit.
It had the ears of rat, of which she had seen in some parts of the city; aside from that it had the face of a bird. A speckling of white amidst a cover of brown feathers, and it possessed two talons instead of a mammal's feet. To accompany this, it had the tail of a rat; all this bird and beast hopping towards her. Aadia wasn't sure how to react; she took a step back from Magus and stopped. She could already tell he was noticing her angst towards the rat-bird, and he halted his paces as well to turn around.
"It's nothing, that's just a mataviel. That's what the Taru Taru call them." Magus was once again undisturbed by the overbearing presence of nature, this mataviel had proved it. If he didn't look twice at a rodent possessing the face of a bird, what would make him flinch? Aadia was assured for the moment, until the bird came onto her boot and stared at the lacing. It would open it's beak and gaze with intent eyes; Aadia felt forced to shake her leg and brush it off with the moderate force of such.
Persistence took shape, and the mataviel would take perch on her foot again, this time making no hesitation to grabbing at the lace. It was to no avail, they were tied tight in an Elvaan knot, but it was quite aggravating that the beast wanted to mutilate her shoe. She kicked at the air and sent it out onto its back, trying to get rid of it once more. It landed on the ground on its feet without trouble, but it growled. Did she give the impression the lacing was alive, and trying to fight back? Aadia was about to become aggravated, she knew such but it didn't seem that the bird was going to give up. Magus showed a bit concern; to him it was just a local animal that didn't mean any harm.
"Come on, leave it be. It's not that big a threat." Obviously the Black Mage was trying to stop any potential conflict, already the growling had becoming louder. Aadia wasn't threatened; so much as she was aggravated at the animal for thinking it could take her on. She pointed her tri-point lance at the fiend and gave it a stern glare. It would be more acceptable if it would just be intimidated and run away, but Aadia was not afraid to strike it if it lunged. She knew nothing of the habits of a mataviel, so it could be a potentiality that aggressive behavior was normal.
The bird tipped its beak skyward and began to howl an oppressive screech; Aadia could barely stand her ground without losing her temper. Smaller animals from all around would spread out from Magus and she, attempting to get away. Perhaps the beast did this often, and the effects left by the mataviel's cry were devastating. But it seemed too lucky for all these creatures to run and hide from such a small unintimidating animal. Aadia was given her answer to her unsaid question, and a shadow would befall her momentary. Her gaze darted upward, and a terrible sight would make her really wish she was within the San D'orian borders again.
"What the hell is that!?" Aadia was horrified by the sight of such a plump bird, it resembled the face of the mataviel in many ways; the small bear and inset eyes along with the plump cheeks and 'ears' made of pluming feathers. Her Dragoon skill had taught her to leap up and in the reverse to dodge an attacking bird, and she did so, catching a brief glimpse of the bird eye to eye. It was like staring into the face of a dragon of which her class held so high. It was actually a fearsome beast, and the agility of it for being a bulging sack of feathers made it even more imposing a sight than the small mataviel.
"Now you've done it, pissed off a Zemzelet!"
"A Zemzelet!?"
"Yeah, mataviels develop into those things when they mature!"
"Oh my god... "
***