Nooooo, I do not own Final Fantasy or anything like that! MWAHAHAH! I am merely writing this cuz I felt like it =P Apparently my works are liked, so I'll continue to write till the cows come home =D I appreciate good reviews, and would like it if none of them are rude or have cuss words. If I'm writing something PG, I expect the reviews to be PG as well…=P Thanks!

Chapter 1

Farewell

            I had always expected my mother to be against me going on the caravan on my own. Collecting Myrrh was a dangerous job nowadays, but someone had to do it. If Miasma didn't exist, we wouldn't have the need of the giant crystals set in towns across the world, leaving no families in tears as they gave up their first born to search for Myrrh. Everyone here in Tipa had always been someone negative of the idea of females going.

            Born into a family of Selkies, it was only normal for the oldest to leave at some point in time, whether it be for a caravan, or just to seek fortune. It was finally time for me to leave for the aforementioned reason.

            One thing I didn't expect was my little sister, Fa Loo, to be in tears. We had always quarreled with one another, but I knew somewhere inside, deep down, we loved each other like any two sisters should.

            "Don't leave," she said, sniffling into my mother's skirt. She was a mere six years old.

            "I'll be back soon," I reassured her quietly, kneeling down and rubbing her head, making her blue hair stand on end.

            I was the type of Selkie that many liked to call "raccoon tail". My pleated blue skirt was brought up at the thigh, granting me easy mobility. My shoes weren't very comfortable – probably because they were new – but mother promised me they would serve as good traveling wear.

            "Now remember, Alain. Do not fight unless you have to," my father instructed me.  "Even if it's a monster's life you're taking…it's a life nevertheless."

            I nodded slowly. "Yes, Daddy."

            My little brother gurgled. He was a newborn, wrapped in a small blanket, cradled in my mother's arms. I smiled, letting his tiny hand stretch around one of my fingers. I kissed the top of his head, then hugged both him and my mother tightly.

            "Don't be gone too long." My mother frowned. "I'll be sure to cook plenty of bannock bread for you, since I know it's your favorite. Send us plenty of seeds and we'll make you a huge garden," she said, her frown changing to a bright smile.

            My family had always been good friends with another family in the house next to us. They were from the Fields of Fum, and often gave us farming tips.

            I nodded to my father, then turned, waving as I headed for the bridge. "Goodbye everyone! I promise I won't be gone too long!" But inside, my greatest fear was that my promise would be broken.

            The village leader gave me his words of wisdom as I packed up my caravan with the last few belongings I carried. There were some things I thought he could never say enough. "Why back when I was caravanning…" was his favorite phrase to use.

            Finally waving to my small village, I led the large blue beast towards the line that separated the clean air from the miasma. After I passed, I would no longer be part of the village…just me, myself, and I. However, before I could make it over the line…

            "Alain!" shouted a familiar voice.

            I almost twinged. Of all people, how could I have forgotten to say goodbye to Leon? Even though I did not feel the same way about him that he felt for me, he was a very close friend to me.

            "Alain, what are you doing?!" he asked, hurrying up to me. He was carrying something. What looked like a cracked overly-large shell with a small crystal attached to the top.

            I nearly fell over. How could I have forgotten the chalice!? That was the reason I was leaving. I wanted to kick myself over the head, but, realizing not only how difficult it would be, and also how much of an idiot I already looked like, I decided against it.

            Leon's shoulder-length silver hair was slightly ruffled, pointing out he'd just woken. "So off you go into the Miasma, not only without the chalice, but without saying goodbye to me?!" I knew he was merely joking, but his voice was accusing nonetheless. "I awoke to the noise of a farewell. Was I not invited?"

            I gave him a playfully sorrowful look, taking the chalice thankfully and putting it in the back of the cart. "Oh goodness, I invited you. It's not my fault you slept in," I said, trying to excuse myself from all guilt possible.

            "Sleep in…?" He coughed through laughter. "Sleep in! That's a good one! Maybe, Alain, if you haven't noticed…it's five in the morning."

            I grinned, pulling him into a tight hug. He was a few months younger than I was, but he always made me laugh. "How will you ever forgive me?"

            "Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll follow the caravan and pelt you with molding fish I caught three weeks ago," he joked.

            I drew back, nudging his shoulder, giggling. "Alright, that's enough, idiot. Back to the stream on that boat where you belong. Catch me some biggin's, hmm? I'll be hungry when I get back."

            Suddenly he looked uneasy, an expression he rarely wore. He sort of stood there, staring at his feet.

            I paused from walking to the front of the cart and looked back to him. "…Leon? Something wrong?"

            Leon sighed, running a hand through his hair.

            I waited for his reply.

            "Well…I mean…Alain…you've never been out of the village. None of us have except the village leader whenever he went to collect Myrrh."

            'I think I know what he's getting at,' I thought, but didn't interrupt. Only gave him a look that told him to continue.

            "Well," He looked up at me, running his hand along the rough surface of the cart as he walked towards the front as well. "I'm gonna miss you. That's all."

            I smiled gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you too. And everyone else. Take care of Fa Loo for me, please. I know she loves you to death. Just watch out…she's got a major crush on yo—"

            Before I could get my last word out, he'd grabbed me around the waist and kissed me. Releasing me quickly, he made sure he didn't make eye contact with me, even though I was trying my hardest to get him to look into my eyes. I wanted to ask what that was for, but I could barely speak as it was.

            He turned away slowly. "…Just…make sure you come back…alright?"

            Watching him walk over the bridge and around the corner, I just blinked. Finally regaining full consciousness, I hopped onto the cart and took the reins of the beast, and led him onward.

Diary Entry 1:

 
The morning of my departure was here at last. I tried to brace myself for the journey ahead. 
There was a field along the main road where I decided to camp until sunrise. 
Tomorrow I set out in search of Myrrh.
 
 
Okie! End of Chappy 1! And obviously, I added the first Diary Entry of the game. =D I'll be adding them in here and there – so some may be spoilers…soo…yeah…you guys can chill if you don't like it=D hehe! Review and all that good stuff and I'll write another chappy ASAP!