Chapter Six
The Burmecian soldiers Doyle and Kal, and I, walked along through the thick green forest. The rain had let up, until it slowed to a light drizzle, but I had still become chilled from the cold. Doyle and Kal had mentioned how strange they thought it was that I had come from such a far away place without bringing food, water, or clothes. However, I didn't want to reveal the truth about my origin – At least, not yet...
"So, what's your name, stranger?" asked Kal. "You're not required to tell us, if that is your wish... But, you will have to tell our king."
"I have nothing to hide," I replied. "My name is Nate." I paused for a moment and then asked, "Have you had problems with trespassers in Cleyra before? It seems like it would be guarded more closely if you did... But, I don't mean to be nosy..."
"We have had problems with trespassers before;" replied Doyle, "that is why the king feels that we must begin harsher reprimands. The reason it's not guarded around the clock is that everyone is so busy rebuilding their homes."
"Oh, I see...," I said. "So, what year is this?"
"What!?" burst Doyle. "Surely you can't be serious... You must at least know the year, if not your surroundings...!"
"Well... It's just... I've been traveling," I explained, "and I haven't paid much attention to such things lately..."
"Well, now, my strange friend, it is early in the year 1801, as most everyone else is probably aware."
1801, I thought back, that's the year after Burmecia was destroyed... the year after the wrath of Brahne and Kuja...
Suddenly, through the trees, I saw a structure made of stone. It's Burmecia! I thought. I'm here – I'm here for real...
The three of us emerged from the trees, and I looked forth. In front of us was a great gate made of wood; above it was a stone archway, decorated with glass and intricate carvings. The mighty gate opened, and the three of us entered the Burmecian kingdom.
The main street on which we tread was a bustle of activity. Workers were fixing everything from fountains to roofs, and children were running by everywhere, laughing and singing... everyone here was a Burmecian.
I felt a sense of warmth from the surroundings as we walked slowly by, avoiding getting in the way of anyone. My wish had come true – I was in Burmecia, my dreamland...
"This way, please...," said Kal. "You've cooperated with us well so far – The king will surely accept your claim that you had no evil intent."
"Okay," I replied, "I'll do whatever you ask."
"Good," said Doyle. "The royal chamber is this way."
We walked up a long set of stone stairs and across a large circular market centre. Everything was decorated beautiful – Each arch had skillfully made carvings in them, and the stone ground had a wavy pattern carved in it. It looked truly magnificent.
We entered the royal chamber, which was not just a chamber, but a great red-carpeted hall, decorated with countless old paintings, candelabras, and other hand-crafted furnishings. We walked straight ahead through the hall until we arrived at a conference room. Its large doors opened, and I was led inside.
"Ah, Kal, Doyle," king Puck called from a low throne at the end of the room, "I'm glad you made it back so quickly." Beside him stood many other Burmecian soldiers and knights, who stood silent but watching.
"My lord," said Doyle, as he and Kal bowed down in front of the king, "here is the intruder. It appears that he is not of bad intention after all."
"Well," responded the king, "we'll see right now. Come with me, stranger... What is your name?"
"I am Nate," I replied, "I'm truly sorry if I've caused any trouble... I meant no harm in treading where I didn't belong..."
"Cleyra, or what was Cleyra, is a place that we feel should be left undisturbed," explained the king. "We removed the bodies and gave them decent burials, of course, but we Burmecians and Cleyrans think that everything else should be left as it is, as a reminder... Anyway... just answer one question: What were you doing in Cleyra?"
I felt a slow wave of panic come over me. I didn't know what to tell king Puck. What would he think if I told him the truth? I wondered. Would he believe me? Realizing that I shouldn't lie or hold anything back, I explained to him, in full, what had happened to me since I took that little stroll just outside my home.
The Burmecian soldiers Doyle and Kal, and I, walked along through the thick green forest. The rain had let up, until it slowed to a light drizzle, but I had still become chilled from the cold. Doyle and Kal had mentioned how strange they thought it was that I had come from such a far away place without bringing food, water, or clothes. However, I didn't want to reveal the truth about my origin – At least, not yet...
"So, what's your name, stranger?" asked Kal. "You're not required to tell us, if that is your wish... But, you will have to tell our king."
"I have nothing to hide," I replied. "My name is Nate." I paused for a moment and then asked, "Have you had problems with trespassers in Cleyra before? It seems like it would be guarded more closely if you did... But, I don't mean to be nosy..."
"We have had problems with trespassers before;" replied Doyle, "that is why the king feels that we must begin harsher reprimands. The reason it's not guarded around the clock is that everyone is so busy rebuilding their homes."
"Oh, I see...," I said. "So, what year is this?"
"What!?" burst Doyle. "Surely you can't be serious... You must at least know the year, if not your surroundings...!"
"Well... It's just... I've been traveling," I explained, "and I haven't paid much attention to such things lately..."
"Well, now, my strange friend, it is early in the year 1801, as most everyone else is probably aware."
1801, I thought back, that's the year after Burmecia was destroyed... the year after the wrath of Brahne and Kuja...
Suddenly, through the trees, I saw a structure made of stone. It's Burmecia! I thought. I'm here – I'm here for real...
The three of us emerged from the trees, and I looked forth. In front of us was a great gate made of wood; above it was a stone archway, decorated with glass and intricate carvings. The mighty gate opened, and the three of us entered the Burmecian kingdom.
The main street on which we tread was a bustle of activity. Workers were fixing everything from fountains to roofs, and children were running by everywhere, laughing and singing... everyone here was a Burmecian.
I felt a sense of warmth from the surroundings as we walked slowly by, avoiding getting in the way of anyone. My wish had come true – I was in Burmecia, my dreamland...
"This way, please...," said Kal. "You've cooperated with us well so far – The king will surely accept your claim that you had no evil intent."
"Okay," I replied, "I'll do whatever you ask."
"Good," said Doyle. "The royal chamber is this way."
We walked up a long set of stone stairs and across a large circular market centre. Everything was decorated beautiful – Each arch had skillfully made carvings in them, and the stone ground had a wavy pattern carved in it. It looked truly magnificent.
We entered the royal chamber, which was not just a chamber, but a great red-carpeted hall, decorated with countless old paintings, candelabras, and other hand-crafted furnishings. We walked straight ahead through the hall until we arrived at a conference room. Its large doors opened, and I was led inside.
"Ah, Kal, Doyle," king Puck called from a low throne at the end of the room, "I'm glad you made it back so quickly." Beside him stood many other Burmecian soldiers and knights, who stood silent but watching.
"My lord," said Doyle, as he and Kal bowed down in front of the king, "here is the intruder. It appears that he is not of bad intention after all."
"Well," responded the king, "we'll see right now. Come with me, stranger... What is your name?"
"I am Nate," I replied, "I'm truly sorry if I've caused any trouble... I meant no harm in treading where I didn't belong..."
"Cleyra, or what was Cleyra, is a place that we feel should be left undisturbed," explained the king. "We removed the bodies and gave them decent burials, of course, but we Burmecians and Cleyrans think that everything else should be left as it is, as a reminder... Anyway... just answer one question: What were you doing in Cleyra?"
I felt a slow wave of panic come over me. I didn't know what to tell king Puck. What would he think if I told him the truth? I wondered. Would he believe me? Realizing that I shouldn't lie or hold anything back, I explained to him, in full, what had happened to me since I took that little stroll just outside my home.