Researchers & Rings

After bringing the key back to Bakku, the elder was overjoyed. He gave it to the warriors, and told them to unlock the tower for the townspeople. Monsters made it too difficult for most normal people from town to go to the tower. Besides, Lyle and his friends seemed to be in a hurry.

So the five of them headed to the tower again. This time, instead of going upwards, they took the door in the back of the tower on the ground floor. Lyle put the key in the lock, and the door opened. Then, they all went through it and headed to the northeast, where they found the town of Linze.

Lyle took out a piece of paper that Galuff had given him. It had the address of Brant written on it. After finding the right street, the young man and his friends walked down until they had arrived at his house. Then, Lyle knocked on the door. Soon, an old woman came out.

"What do you want sonny?" she asked, "I'm not buying anything from you."

"We're not selling anything ma'am. My name is Lyle, and these are my friends: Rasha, Migel, Ihrie, and Fam. We want to meet with Brant, is he home?" inquired Lyle.

The woman answered, "He's gone out to the caves in the west to look for Alumina. You can either wait around for him, or go and look for him yourself. But he probably won't be back for awhile. So if you think you can handle the monsters in the caves, it might be better to just go."

Lyle thanked the woman, and then decided to head out for the caves. No one could argue with that, there really was no reason for them to waste time when they could go out and find him themselves. Besides, if there was Alumina in the caves, they might be able to find some.

* * *

As they were searching around the caves, they managed to find one piece of Alumina. But since it was an Alumina mine, they should have been able to find much more. Migel sighed. "This is so useless. There's practically nothing left anymore, and you guys just want to hang around here."

"We've got to find Brant," Rasha reminded him, "He's the one who can tell us what's going on and find us enough Alumina in order to fix Falcon. Do you want to have to dive down to the ruins of Doom Island in order to find Sargus? You know we'd never make it there, let alone back."

"Can we not fight for once? There's no reason for us to do this," whined Fam.

Rasha yelled, "Who asked for your opinion Fang Girl? I'm yelling at Migel, not you."

Fam began to cry. At the same time, she lost concentration on her Light spell, and it went out, leaving the group in the dark. "My name isn't Fang Girl. It's Fam. Why are you so mean to me?"

"Let's just cool down everyone," Lyle stated, "We're here to find Brant, not argue with each other."

"Yes Lyle, anything you say Lyle," Rasha and Fam said at once. They stared at each other with disgust on their faces. Then they turned away with loud "Humphs."

Ihrie told them, "We'd better keep alert, who knows what monsters are lurking in the caves."

Lyle nodded. "Fam, can you re-cast the spell? We need to know where we're going, or one of us might fall off a cliff. I can't bare to lose any of you at this point."

Fam lit the little ball of light, and they continued onwards. Soon, they saw what appeared to be someone's home. Everyone was wondering who would be living in a place like this.

"Who's that in my house?" a voice questioned, "You better have a good explanation for this."

A blond man with green eyes entered the room. He had on a labcoat, as well as a gray tunic and green breeches. Glasses with wire frames accented the shape of his face.

"I'm sorry, we're looking for a man named Brant. Would that be you?" asked Lyle.

The man replied, "No, my name is Clack. I'm a researcher of Doom Island and the old war. Brant is in the Gayas Islands looking for Alumina. People think he's here because they believe that there's a lot left in this old mine. But most of it is in those caves up north. Also, his fiancée lives in the city of Marse, which is the closest port to the Gayas Islands. So he's looking for Alumina there, and also spending some time with her while he's at it. Why do you want to see him."

Lyle took a deep breath before he began with the familiar story. "The Sinistraels Raider and Ramion have come back to life, and we're trying to destroy them. But we need Sargus in order to win, and it has been submerged along with the ruins of the Fortress of Doom. Professor Shaia sold us a ship, but we need some more Alumina to go underwater. We want to ask Brant where to get some."

"Are you guys insane?!" exclaimed Clack, "You're going to take on the Sinistraels! It's suicide to fight those monsters, you people must have a death wish or something!"

"I know it sounds insane, but we have to do this. Or rather, I have to do this, and they are all trying to help me. I am Lyle, the descendant of Maxim," he stated.

Clack told him, "It still is rather insane to take them on. But, if you truly are his heir, you have the best right to kill them. Head to Marse if you wish to find Brant. And I want you to take this with you as well." He pulled a small box out of his pocket, and handed it to the boy. "It's Maxim's Wave Ring. I found it here a few years ago. The currents from the sea wash up here all the time."

"Are you sure?" asked Lyle, "It must mean a lot to you."

"If I can help you destroy the Sinistraels in any way, I will. Only you have the right to wield the ring, as only you can wield the Spirit Sword. I wish you success in your endeavor," Clack said.

Lyle thanked Clack for everything. Then, the group left the cave via Fam's Escape spell. She then took them back to Bakku, where they took Falcon to the town of Marse.

- - - -

I hate this part of the game. Who doesn't? I think I can cover the islands in one chapter, and the final piece in one more. Hopefully.