Disclaimer: Once again, I own nothing directly related to FFTA *bows down
to Square* I'm not worthy! Lol
Author's Notes: Ok, well, the last two chapters sucked, but if your still reading you must be really bored, or you think my story kicks butt ^___^;; heh, not. So yeah, The double spacing still didn't work, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. If someone could be so kind as to e-mail me at CowHuntr88@aol.com and help me out, I'd be really grateful. Just be sure to label the e-mail as "Double Spacing FF".
::indicates thoughts going through character's mind::
And So It Begins
Leo awoke in a bed with white sheets. He squinted his eyes as bright sunlight poured through the stained glass window depicting a soldier standing on top of a dead Firewyrm, holding up a shining sword in victory with the races of Ivalice bowing down at his feet. Leo rubbed his head and winced in pain as he rubbed on a bruise.
::Man, I've got such a headache. And where is that organ music coming from? Where am I?:: Immediately, Leo jumped out of his bed to leave and, as if on acue, the door to his small room opened and an old Nu Mou walked in.
"Oh, thank heavens your awake child. Your going to miss your test!" cried the old Nu Mou woman.
"Test? Sorry lady, I think you have the wrong..." started Leo.
"Now now, there's no time to dawdle about. Put these on and grab your staff and hurry on down to the testing center. Headmaster Roba won't be pleased on bit to see his star pupil late for his exam. Ah, it's such a blessing to see you become a full fledged white mage," the Nu Mou nurse said with a small tear in her eye.
"Testing center? Wait, where am I?" asked Leo, but it was too late. The Nu Mou nun had left as soon as she entered.
::Ok, so I'm in a church, full of ancient looking mice people that can speak English... white mage? Staff? Test? What was that old bat talking about? And no way am I putting this on! It looks like a dress!:: Leo began to look around the drawers in his room but had no such luck in finding other options for clothing, and was forced to change into the white garment since his current clothes were too smelly and dirty. As Leo left the room, he grabbed a wooden stick he hoped was his staff, and began to walk down the hall lined with numerous old doors.
Luck still proved to be against him as he knocked on many doors and received no response, until a young Nu Mou crashed into him.
"Owww! Eep! Sorry, so sorry, I didn't mean it, I..." started the Nu Mou girl. When she saw who it was, she relaxed a bit more. "Oh, Leo, it's just you. What are you doing here? You of all people, late for the test?"
"What are you talking about? And who are you?" questioned Leo. He tried to be as polite as he could, but his pounding headache was getting worse with the organ music playing in the background.
"Oh, silly Leo, up to his little games again," giggled the Nu Mou. However, all she got in return was a confused stare. "Oh, all right, I'll play along. My name is May."
"Hello May, it's nice to meet you. I'm Leo" he said while extending his hand in a welcoming gesture.
"Hee hee, silly Leo, I already know who you are! But we're already late, let's hurry up or we'll miss the test!" said May in an anxious voice as she sped off down the corridor.
"Wait up!" called Leo, running after May, "Where am I? And what test?"
"*sigh* Leo, I don't get you sometimes. But I'm in a good mood, so why not?" said May in a cheery voice.
"You're in St. Foobar's academy for white mages. Remember yet?" asked May. Leo shook his head.
"Wow, I must have crashed into you pretty hard to make you forget that much! Well, a white mage is a person that is able to use defensive magic, you know, curing and stuff like that. We started studying magic when we were five remember? I found you out on the street unconscious in the rain three months into my studies, and I tried performing a Cura spell on you, but it did more harm than good. Thankfully, Sister Nito was nearby and helped you in from the rain and nursed you back to health. There was a major uproar though! The Nu Mou population wanted to kick you out, since St. Foobar is a school for Nu Mou only. Humans aren't really that good at magic you know. Headmaster Roba wasn't very keen on keeping you around either, but he got this strange feeling that you'd be able to help Ivalice somehow. Ever since Sartes came to power, judges haven't been doing well, lately. Clan wars are getting out of hand, and even with the heir of Judgemaster Cid in power of the law, Ivalice has gone entirely corrupt. Oh, hey, we're at the testing center already!" May paused for a second, as if recollecting herself.
"Ok Leo, remember, don't be nervous at all! Just be confident, and just remember eleven years of studies and you'll be great," exclaimed May. She gave him a quick hug and walked into the testing center.
::Eleven years of studies... great... how am I supposed to know that much when I don't even know what the heck is going on around here:: Leo's head was swimming with information, and he felt as if he could have barfed right there with all the anxiousness in his stomach and the pounding headache since the organ music had gotten very loud as he stood in front of the door to the testing center.
::Well, here goes nothing:: Leo pushed open the big oak door, and immediately the organ stopped playing and every Nu Mou in the room turned their heads to look at Leo. He could not have felt more out of place.
"Ah, here he is at last. Leo, please follow me, we'll begin your testing personally in my office," said a very old Nu Mou. This one looked as if he could drop dead at any given moment. A wave of whispers filled the room. Still, Leo followed the ancient Nu Mou into his office.
"I can imagine your confusion," began the Nu Mou as he closed the door with a wave of his hand. "I'm sure you don't remember anything?" Leo shook his head once again.
"Ah, well, I can help with that," stated the Nu Mou in a soft voice. The Nu Mou placed his wrinkled hands on Leo's head, and began muttering some ancient spell. Leo was just confused. He sat there for about fifteen minutes with nothing happening. He was beginning to think this was all a joke, but in an instant, Leo remembered everything. He remembered playing Chinese checkers with his friends in his uncle's cabin. He remembered watching the outrageous pillow fight. He remembered the lights going out. Then there were things he didn't remember. He saw himself running in the woods in the middle of a storm. He saw a lizard type creature, clad in golden and black armor chasing after him with a spear. He saw himself sitting at a desk with a big old book in front of him. He saw himself holding his wooden staff, muttering some incantation to bid a small withering flower back to life. He remembered everything he had ever studied for this day.
"It is done. I'm sure you'll be most satisfied to be back with your memory," said the Nu Mou calmly. "Oh, and one more thing," stated the Nu Mou. The Nu Mou waved his right hand in front of Leo's eyes and whispered "Esuna". In an instant, Leo's headache was relieved.
"I'm still kind of lost... why me? Why didn't you throw me out? Isn't this a..." Leo struggled to find the word.
"Nu Mou?" the old Nu Mou suggested.
"Yeah! Isn't this a Nu Mou only institute? I thought humans like me weren't any good at magic," Leo said in a confused voice.
"Well, that is the stereotype. Very rare humans are in Ivalice. Why, I haven't seen one since I was about your age as a matter of fact. But that is beside the point. I kept you around because you proved to be an excellent magic adept. You can also help us wage war against Sartes, and bring harmony back into Ivalice," explained the Nu Mou. "I am Headmaster Roba," added the Nu Mou as an after thought.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready yet. You know, to be a white mage. May told me that we help people, curing them and such," said Leo. He was looking for any excuse not to be kicked out of the only place he knew.
"Well, this is what the test is for. It is quite simple really. All you have to do," said Roba, "Is fix this." Headmaster Roba pulled out an ugly orange plant from behind his desk. Apparently, the plant had eaten too much since it looked like it was on the verge of exploding.
::Oh man, how am I gonna do this? I can remember reading something about curing spells, but I just don't know how to do it:: Leo slowly moved his hands to the plant and concentrated hard on it. He felt sorry for the plant though. Somehow he knew that if the swelling plant exploded, it would die and it wouldn't be able to have a happy life anymore. Leo began to feel something inside, him, and in an instant, a small blue aura glowed around his hands and connected with the orange plant, reducing the swelling.
"Ah, the Curaga spell. This just proves to me that you are more than ready to graduate from this institute. Some of the nun's here can't perform a Curaga spell like this one," chuckled Roba, as he tucked the smiling and gurgling plant away. Now listen. I normally don't do this with just any student, but I would like you to take this Gil.
::Gil? What's a gil?:: Roba handed a pouch over to Leo, and poured a couple of gold coins into Leo's hand.
::Ok, I think I'm getting the hang of this. Gil is money. White mages are like doctors. Sartes is a bad guy. But where am I supposed to go?::
"Well, I was hoping I could answer that question for you," stated the Nu Mou. Apparently, this one had the ability to read minds as well. "Right now, you are in the town of Cadoan. I would advise that you buy a new staff and some clothes at the shop, since I can tell you don't like the garments we provide (at this comment, Leo blushed and looked down at the floor). After that, I would highly suggest that you visit the jail here in Cadoan. Normally, there was only one jail in Sprohm, but since the criminal rate has increased, every town has had to build a jail. So please, do not forget to visit the jail, and when you find someone that may aid you on your journey, offer this to the guards to pay for bail." Leo nodded his head to signal that he understood every word, and the headmaster gave Leo a necklace with a silver snake charm at the end.
About an hour later, Leo had gone out and found it very easy to navigate his way around Cadoan. Evidentally, Cadoan was a very Nu Mou populated area. His first stop was at the store, to buy clothes and a new staff. This too was a very simple task, but unfortunately, Leo found that he did not have much Gil left after buying the best of the best: a Dream Watcher Staff and Light Robe.
::Wow, I look good:: thought Leo. The robe he had picked was a shimmering white, lined with gold trimmings. Everything he wore was white: his robe, his pants, his shirt, his boots, even his bracers. ::Just what a white mage should look like:: Leo though, as he grinned to himself in the mirror. As he left the shop, he heard screaming.
"Unhand me now you stupid lizard! I didn't do anything wrong! I stole nothing!"
::I know that voice:: Leo began to rush towards the commotion, and found a thief being held by two very big lizards. The thief looked very familiar to Leo. He was wearing an old black bandana, with a tight black shirt and dirty brown pants and boots. His gloves had the finger tips cut off, and were also black, with crossbones on each hand. The thief also had a belt with two knives tucked in safely, and as the thief struggled, Leo noticed that the thief was also hiding another knife in his left boot. However, Leo was snapped back into reality, as the thief escaped the grasps of the two lizard guards.
"Ha ha, you stupid Bangaa can't catch me now!" teased the thief. Ironically enough, the thief tripped over his own feet and was sent sprawling onto the ground face first and landed in front of Leo. The Bangaa guards chuckled to themselves.
"Sstupid boy. You'll get double the prisson time for trying to defy the law, and we'll get double pay when the warden hearss we've caught the famouss Mike. Who'd have thought that you would fall sso simply into our handss after easily running from uss every time we've come sso closse to catching you," said the surely Bangaa guard.
::Wait a minute:: Leo thought to himself ::Mike... running... I know him!:: The Bangaa guard roughly picked the thief up and spit in his face.
"You shall not lay a hand on him!" shouted Leo. The Nu Mou crowd gasped and turned to look at the human white mage. "I wish to pay for this thief's bail!" The thief looked confused.
"A white mage human? Humanss can't do magic," hissed the Bangaa guard. "And bessides, this thief's bail iss more than you can afford!"
"Not even if I offer you this?" question the white mage. Leo pulled the necklace out of his pocket and the silver snake glimmered in the sunlight. The Bangaa guard's eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?" the Bangaa guard asked, throwing the thief down. He could have run away, but he too was intrigued by the treasure that the white mage held up.
"That is none of your business lizard," said Leo in a defying voice. ::Wow. Where'd this new confidence come from??:: "Do we have a deal?" The Bangaa contemplated the pros and cons of the offer, and finally agreed to the mage's terms. The guard snatched the necklace away, and threw the thief at the mage's feet.
"Are you alright?" asked Leo. He helped the thief up, and tried to look into the thief's eyes to see if it really was Mike.
"I can't believe you just went and did that," the thief said, dusting himself off. Unfortunately, this only made the thief dirtier, so he ceased his attempts to clean himself. "Well, whatever. My name is Mike, at your service." The thief made a dramatically low bow, as if to imitate the proper ways of introduction.
"Tell me mage," the thief said as he pulled out a knife from his belt, "Why did you go and waste such a fine treasure on a criminal like me? How do you know I won't kill you?" With that last sentence, the thief pulled the knife dangerously close to Leo's neck.
"Well, I wanted to ask you a couple of questions," whispered the mage. Evidently, this wasn't the Mike he knew. But still, he couldn't help but hope...
"Questions? Is that all?" the thief roared with laughter, and pocketed his knife. "Well, fire away. This thief tells no lies."
"Well... I don't know how to phrase this... but do I look familiar to you?" Leo looked hopefully at the thief's dirty face, hoping that Mike would realize him.
::What is this kid up to?? How does he know that I think he looks familiar...:: thought the thief to himself. "Nope, sorry kid, I can't say I've seen you around before. This thief works alone. Leo couldn't help but be disappointed.
"But hey! We can start a clan! You know, I hear clan wars are getting out of hand. Lots of opportunities to steal stuff! Plus there's exciting adventures and all that nonsense. What do you say? I won't take no for an answer. You did save my life after all," suggested the thief.
"Sure... why not?" said Leo. ::Maybe this guy won't be so bad after all:: Leo thought.
Author's Notes: Ok, well, the last two chapters sucked, but if your still reading you must be really bored, or you think my story kicks butt ^___^;; heh, not. So yeah, The double spacing still didn't work, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. If someone could be so kind as to e-mail me at CowHuntr88@aol.com and help me out, I'd be really grateful. Just be sure to label the e-mail as "Double Spacing FF".
::indicates thoughts going through character's mind::
And So It Begins
Leo awoke in a bed with white sheets. He squinted his eyes as bright sunlight poured through the stained glass window depicting a soldier standing on top of a dead Firewyrm, holding up a shining sword in victory with the races of Ivalice bowing down at his feet. Leo rubbed his head and winced in pain as he rubbed on a bruise.
::Man, I've got such a headache. And where is that organ music coming from? Where am I?:: Immediately, Leo jumped out of his bed to leave and, as if on acue, the door to his small room opened and an old Nu Mou walked in.
"Oh, thank heavens your awake child. Your going to miss your test!" cried the old Nu Mou woman.
"Test? Sorry lady, I think you have the wrong..." started Leo.
"Now now, there's no time to dawdle about. Put these on and grab your staff and hurry on down to the testing center. Headmaster Roba won't be pleased on bit to see his star pupil late for his exam. Ah, it's such a blessing to see you become a full fledged white mage," the Nu Mou nurse said with a small tear in her eye.
"Testing center? Wait, where am I?" asked Leo, but it was too late. The Nu Mou nun had left as soon as she entered.
::Ok, so I'm in a church, full of ancient looking mice people that can speak English... white mage? Staff? Test? What was that old bat talking about? And no way am I putting this on! It looks like a dress!:: Leo began to look around the drawers in his room but had no such luck in finding other options for clothing, and was forced to change into the white garment since his current clothes were too smelly and dirty. As Leo left the room, he grabbed a wooden stick he hoped was his staff, and began to walk down the hall lined with numerous old doors.
Luck still proved to be against him as he knocked on many doors and received no response, until a young Nu Mou crashed into him.
"Owww! Eep! Sorry, so sorry, I didn't mean it, I..." started the Nu Mou girl. When she saw who it was, she relaxed a bit more. "Oh, Leo, it's just you. What are you doing here? You of all people, late for the test?"
"What are you talking about? And who are you?" questioned Leo. He tried to be as polite as he could, but his pounding headache was getting worse with the organ music playing in the background.
"Oh, silly Leo, up to his little games again," giggled the Nu Mou. However, all she got in return was a confused stare. "Oh, all right, I'll play along. My name is May."
"Hello May, it's nice to meet you. I'm Leo" he said while extending his hand in a welcoming gesture.
"Hee hee, silly Leo, I already know who you are! But we're already late, let's hurry up or we'll miss the test!" said May in an anxious voice as she sped off down the corridor.
"Wait up!" called Leo, running after May, "Where am I? And what test?"
"*sigh* Leo, I don't get you sometimes. But I'm in a good mood, so why not?" said May in a cheery voice.
"You're in St. Foobar's academy for white mages. Remember yet?" asked May. Leo shook his head.
"Wow, I must have crashed into you pretty hard to make you forget that much! Well, a white mage is a person that is able to use defensive magic, you know, curing and stuff like that. We started studying magic when we were five remember? I found you out on the street unconscious in the rain three months into my studies, and I tried performing a Cura spell on you, but it did more harm than good. Thankfully, Sister Nito was nearby and helped you in from the rain and nursed you back to health. There was a major uproar though! The Nu Mou population wanted to kick you out, since St. Foobar is a school for Nu Mou only. Humans aren't really that good at magic you know. Headmaster Roba wasn't very keen on keeping you around either, but he got this strange feeling that you'd be able to help Ivalice somehow. Ever since Sartes came to power, judges haven't been doing well, lately. Clan wars are getting out of hand, and even with the heir of Judgemaster Cid in power of the law, Ivalice has gone entirely corrupt. Oh, hey, we're at the testing center already!" May paused for a second, as if recollecting herself.
"Ok Leo, remember, don't be nervous at all! Just be confident, and just remember eleven years of studies and you'll be great," exclaimed May. She gave him a quick hug and walked into the testing center.
::Eleven years of studies... great... how am I supposed to know that much when I don't even know what the heck is going on around here:: Leo's head was swimming with information, and he felt as if he could have barfed right there with all the anxiousness in his stomach and the pounding headache since the organ music had gotten very loud as he stood in front of the door to the testing center.
::Well, here goes nothing:: Leo pushed open the big oak door, and immediately the organ stopped playing and every Nu Mou in the room turned their heads to look at Leo. He could not have felt more out of place.
"Ah, here he is at last. Leo, please follow me, we'll begin your testing personally in my office," said a very old Nu Mou. This one looked as if he could drop dead at any given moment. A wave of whispers filled the room. Still, Leo followed the ancient Nu Mou into his office.
"I can imagine your confusion," began the Nu Mou as he closed the door with a wave of his hand. "I'm sure you don't remember anything?" Leo shook his head once again.
"Ah, well, I can help with that," stated the Nu Mou in a soft voice. The Nu Mou placed his wrinkled hands on Leo's head, and began muttering some ancient spell. Leo was just confused. He sat there for about fifteen minutes with nothing happening. He was beginning to think this was all a joke, but in an instant, Leo remembered everything. He remembered playing Chinese checkers with his friends in his uncle's cabin. He remembered watching the outrageous pillow fight. He remembered the lights going out. Then there were things he didn't remember. He saw himself running in the woods in the middle of a storm. He saw a lizard type creature, clad in golden and black armor chasing after him with a spear. He saw himself sitting at a desk with a big old book in front of him. He saw himself holding his wooden staff, muttering some incantation to bid a small withering flower back to life. He remembered everything he had ever studied for this day.
"It is done. I'm sure you'll be most satisfied to be back with your memory," said the Nu Mou calmly. "Oh, and one more thing," stated the Nu Mou. The Nu Mou waved his right hand in front of Leo's eyes and whispered "Esuna". In an instant, Leo's headache was relieved.
"I'm still kind of lost... why me? Why didn't you throw me out? Isn't this a..." Leo struggled to find the word.
"Nu Mou?" the old Nu Mou suggested.
"Yeah! Isn't this a Nu Mou only institute? I thought humans like me weren't any good at magic," Leo said in a confused voice.
"Well, that is the stereotype. Very rare humans are in Ivalice. Why, I haven't seen one since I was about your age as a matter of fact. But that is beside the point. I kept you around because you proved to be an excellent magic adept. You can also help us wage war against Sartes, and bring harmony back into Ivalice," explained the Nu Mou. "I am Headmaster Roba," added the Nu Mou as an after thought.
"I'm not sure if I'm ready yet. You know, to be a white mage. May told me that we help people, curing them and such," said Leo. He was looking for any excuse not to be kicked out of the only place he knew.
"Well, this is what the test is for. It is quite simple really. All you have to do," said Roba, "Is fix this." Headmaster Roba pulled out an ugly orange plant from behind his desk. Apparently, the plant had eaten too much since it looked like it was on the verge of exploding.
::Oh man, how am I gonna do this? I can remember reading something about curing spells, but I just don't know how to do it:: Leo slowly moved his hands to the plant and concentrated hard on it. He felt sorry for the plant though. Somehow he knew that if the swelling plant exploded, it would die and it wouldn't be able to have a happy life anymore. Leo began to feel something inside, him, and in an instant, a small blue aura glowed around his hands and connected with the orange plant, reducing the swelling.
"Ah, the Curaga spell. This just proves to me that you are more than ready to graduate from this institute. Some of the nun's here can't perform a Curaga spell like this one," chuckled Roba, as he tucked the smiling and gurgling plant away. Now listen. I normally don't do this with just any student, but I would like you to take this Gil.
::Gil? What's a gil?:: Roba handed a pouch over to Leo, and poured a couple of gold coins into Leo's hand.
::Ok, I think I'm getting the hang of this. Gil is money. White mages are like doctors. Sartes is a bad guy. But where am I supposed to go?::
"Well, I was hoping I could answer that question for you," stated the Nu Mou. Apparently, this one had the ability to read minds as well. "Right now, you are in the town of Cadoan. I would advise that you buy a new staff and some clothes at the shop, since I can tell you don't like the garments we provide (at this comment, Leo blushed and looked down at the floor). After that, I would highly suggest that you visit the jail here in Cadoan. Normally, there was only one jail in Sprohm, but since the criminal rate has increased, every town has had to build a jail. So please, do not forget to visit the jail, and when you find someone that may aid you on your journey, offer this to the guards to pay for bail." Leo nodded his head to signal that he understood every word, and the headmaster gave Leo a necklace with a silver snake charm at the end.
About an hour later, Leo had gone out and found it very easy to navigate his way around Cadoan. Evidentally, Cadoan was a very Nu Mou populated area. His first stop was at the store, to buy clothes and a new staff. This too was a very simple task, but unfortunately, Leo found that he did not have much Gil left after buying the best of the best: a Dream Watcher Staff and Light Robe.
::Wow, I look good:: thought Leo. The robe he had picked was a shimmering white, lined with gold trimmings. Everything he wore was white: his robe, his pants, his shirt, his boots, even his bracers. ::Just what a white mage should look like:: Leo though, as he grinned to himself in the mirror. As he left the shop, he heard screaming.
"Unhand me now you stupid lizard! I didn't do anything wrong! I stole nothing!"
::I know that voice:: Leo began to rush towards the commotion, and found a thief being held by two very big lizards. The thief looked very familiar to Leo. He was wearing an old black bandana, with a tight black shirt and dirty brown pants and boots. His gloves had the finger tips cut off, and were also black, with crossbones on each hand. The thief also had a belt with two knives tucked in safely, and as the thief struggled, Leo noticed that the thief was also hiding another knife in his left boot. However, Leo was snapped back into reality, as the thief escaped the grasps of the two lizard guards.
"Ha ha, you stupid Bangaa can't catch me now!" teased the thief. Ironically enough, the thief tripped over his own feet and was sent sprawling onto the ground face first and landed in front of Leo. The Bangaa guards chuckled to themselves.
"Sstupid boy. You'll get double the prisson time for trying to defy the law, and we'll get double pay when the warden hearss we've caught the famouss Mike. Who'd have thought that you would fall sso simply into our handss after easily running from uss every time we've come sso closse to catching you," said the surely Bangaa guard.
::Wait a minute:: Leo thought to himself ::Mike... running... I know him!:: The Bangaa guard roughly picked the thief up and spit in his face.
"You shall not lay a hand on him!" shouted Leo. The Nu Mou crowd gasped and turned to look at the human white mage. "I wish to pay for this thief's bail!" The thief looked confused.
"A white mage human? Humanss can't do magic," hissed the Bangaa guard. "And bessides, this thief's bail iss more than you can afford!"
"Not even if I offer you this?" question the white mage. Leo pulled the necklace out of his pocket and the silver snake glimmered in the sunlight. The Bangaa guard's eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?" the Bangaa guard asked, throwing the thief down. He could have run away, but he too was intrigued by the treasure that the white mage held up.
"That is none of your business lizard," said Leo in a defying voice. ::Wow. Where'd this new confidence come from??:: "Do we have a deal?" The Bangaa contemplated the pros and cons of the offer, and finally agreed to the mage's terms. The guard snatched the necklace away, and threw the thief at the mage's feet.
"Are you alright?" asked Leo. He helped the thief up, and tried to look into the thief's eyes to see if it really was Mike.
"I can't believe you just went and did that," the thief said, dusting himself off. Unfortunately, this only made the thief dirtier, so he ceased his attempts to clean himself. "Well, whatever. My name is Mike, at your service." The thief made a dramatically low bow, as if to imitate the proper ways of introduction.
"Tell me mage," the thief said as he pulled out a knife from his belt, "Why did you go and waste such a fine treasure on a criminal like me? How do you know I won't kill you?" With that last sentence, the thief pulled the knife dangerously close to Leo's neck.
"Well, I wanted to ask you a couple of questions," whispered the mage. Evidently, this wasn't the Mike he knew. But still, he couldn't help but hope...
"Questions? Is that all?" the thief roared with laughter, and pocketed his knife. "Well, fire away. This thief tells no lies."
"Well... I don't know how to phrase this... but do I look familiar to you?" Leo looked hopefully at the thief's dirty face, hoping that Mike would realize him.
::What is this kid up to?? How does he know that I think he looks familiar...:: thought the thief to himself. "Nope, sorry kid, I can't say I've seen you around before. This thief works alone. Leo couldn't help but be disappointed.
"But hey! We can start a clan! You know, I hear clan wars are getting out of hand. Lots of opportunities to steal stuff! Plus there's exciting adventures and all that nonsense. What do you say? I won't take no for an answer. You did save my life after all," suggested the thief.
"Sure... why not?" said Leo. ::Maybe this guy won't be so bad after all:: Leo thought.
