Notes: Minor spelling corrections.
Vana'diel: Crystal of Darkness
Chapter V: the Behemoth Legend
Edgah surveyed the room one last time before sheathing his knife. The General's quarters reeked of death. The Elvaan shoved open the door and exited, making his way towards the armory. With a kick he forced open the door, and returned with his polearm strapped to his back, long, luminous blade glistening in the light. He continued through the Chateau towards the exit. There is something going on here... I must consult Alpha... Ignoring the guards, he pushed his way past them and threw open the door. Suddenly, as he hastily walked through the streets towards the docks, something sunk in, and inside his mind began to panic. He had discovered the body. What if they suspect me? Who could have done such a thing to such an experienced fighter? He was enthralled into something deep, he knew that for certain. There's no one to go to... except Alpha.
The dragoon soon found himself in front of the Air Travel Agency, where the airship was still docked not far behind. He pushed open the door and walked inside. The building composed of a dark stone, with a wooden floor, several racks were placed against the wall containing pamphlets, magazines and brochures. Behind the counter a Hume with long blond hair was kicking back with her feet on her desk, reading a magazine. Edgah walked up to the door opposite the entrance, where a black haired Hume woman stood. "This is the departures entrance, may I see your airship pass?"
The Elvaan reached into his pocket and withdrew the piece of paper Alpha had given him and thrust it towards her. "Well?" He said impatiently, looking down at her as she examined the paper. "I don't have time for this."
Uncertain, but a little frightened, the Hume let him pass through. Edgah strode past crew men in white uniforms, down the stairs and onto the dock. The aroma of salt water washed over the dock with the sea breeze. Ahead lay the airship, looking much like a normal ship. It was a dark blue, with white carved designs all over the wide body. On each end a triplet of large propellers reached into the sky. He walked to the edge of the dock onto the airship platform and stepped inside. The entrance of the ship was a long hallway stretching across the width of the ship. In the center were doorways on either side, one open to the passenger room, the other a stairway leading up to the deck. Edgah walked up to the deck of the airship and instantly noticed Alpha facing away from him, standing at the stern of the ship, looking off across the ocean with one hand behind his back.
Alpha turned around to face the Elvaan, the ocean breeze ruffling their hair and clothing. Alpha gave a quick wave in recognition and stepped down onto the deck. Without delay, Edgah began. "The general of the San d'Orian Reserve Knights is dead."
Alpha stared at Edgah with a troubled, yet calm, look on his face. "What happened?"
"I found him in his room with a knife through his heart, and an arrow in his skull. Execution style." He spoke as if it were an everyday occurance. "Those three I spoke with you of earlier, two of them claimed the general sent them on the same mission I was assigned. Two leaders after the same map. Clearly neither knew the other wanted it, or else I would have heard about it. How important could some map be that it would drive them to this... at exactly the same time?"
"This map... where did you say you found it?"
"The tomb of the unknown adventurer in Ronfaure."
"The one said to have discovered Kuzotz and Valdeaunia." Alpha muttered.
"And the Behemoth Dominion." Edgah added. "I was told the map was buried with him, and that name was mentioned to me upon accepting my mission. There must be something of importance there."
Alpha thought a moment before speaking up. "I'm sure there was. Bards often offer their tales and songs to me as payment for the airship trips, their stories keep me awake on the long nights flying across Vana'diel. One legend tells of the Behemoths, terrible creatures who arose from the darkest corners of the world and reigned terror on the people of Vana'diel- as we saw during the Great War... were you able to remember it." Alpha added. "The god Promathia was said to have spawned these Behemoths and feuled them with the power of the dark crystal to insure total destruction to the five races. And that they nearly did." Alpha crossed towards Edgah as he spoke and stood beside him. "A troop of warriors, Humes, Elvaans, Mithras, Galkas and even Tarutarus hunted down each of the Behemoths and destroyed them in a ruthless reign of slaughters. Hundreds of them died, and on the Island of the Behemoth the last of these demons that roamed freely throughout the world were found. There the remaining dozen of the troop fought to their last, slaying all but one of these demons. A Hume and Mithra, sole survivors, stood alone against the last Behemoth. The Hume and Mithra were lovers, and fought along side each other to the bitter end when at last she was brought down by the Behemoth. In a fury of hatred and passion the Hume defeated the Behemoth and shattered the dark crystal. He was left a heartbroken shell of a man, and was said to be found dead atop a cliff on the island clutching a shard of the crystal in his bloodied hand."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Edgah crossed his arms impatiently.
"The remains of the crystal were scattered across the world and the island lost until it was found by the unknown adventurer, who mapped it, obviously. It was buried with him, perhaps to keep it a secret?"
"Word of it has never left San d'Oria, I would probably be killed for telling even you. It doesn't take much research to find the island. There must be something else..." Edgah's expression never changed from his grim look.
"Perhaps they never wanted word of it to leave proper ears incase some mad person ever decided to reconstruct such an event."
Suddenly a croocked growling voice caused the pair to whip around. "Smoothskins shouldn't speak of such things, no. Yours is death only for foolish meddling." It hissed.
Edgah's hand tightened around his polearm and Alpha's hand found itself resting on the hilt of his sword. Perched on the rim of the ship stood a Yagudo, standing straight as a man, yet with bird-like features. Dark blue feathers coated his body down too it's taloned bird legs. Two large wings stood stationary on it's back. It's face was covered with the same blue feathers, with beady dark eyes that seemed to stare maliciously into their souls. Several feathers sprouted from the top of it's head, and a slender beak protruded from it's face. In each taloned hand it gripped a katana, and it raised them in challenge to the duo. A Yagudo?! How could one of those gotten here from Mindartia? Edgah thought.
"Get off of my ship you damned bird." Alpha spat.
"Foolish smoothskins." The Yagudo dived towards Alpha, who jumped back while drawing his sword and slashed, knocking the Yagudo's katana aside. The Yagudo slashed with his other katana as Alpha sidestepped, narrowly dodging the attack. The Yagudo and Alpha continued their fight, neither able to gain the upper hand, while Edgah withdrew his polearm and leapt into the air. Still gaining altitude, Edgah looked down and pointed his polearm at the Yagudo still exchanging attacks below. The Yagudo assassin, suddenly remembering the Elvaan, knocked aside Alpha's blade again and leapt backwards just as Edgah's polearm crashed down where it was just standing, sending splinters and wood flying and rocking the entire ship. Alpha glared at Edgah's polearm as he ripped it back out of his ship's wounded deck.
Edgah charged towards the Yagudo, who stood ready to continue it's fight. Edgah jumped again, spinning his polearm above his head before bringing it down on the Yagudo, who held it's katanas in front of it's face, shielding the blow. Unfazed by the failed attack, Edgah carried through and delivered another attack, this time with a complete spin that sliced into the flesh of the Yagudo, sending dark blood and blue feathers scattering through the air. The Yagudo hissed in pain and anger from the gash across it's chest, yet still fought on. In a fury of slashes the Yagudo attacked Edgah, yet each attempt was dodged and blocked by Edgah's experienced combat skills. Finally, frustrated, the Yagudo lerched forward at the dragoon, completely tossing aside any thought of defenses. Suddenly the Yagudo halted midair, it's arms and legs straightening at it's side as it let out a call of anger. Alpha stood off to the side, hands outstretched with streams of magic dissipating around him. Edgah, unaware that the Yagudo was paralyzed and defenseless, unleashed his own attack, slashing through Yagudo flesh in a series of swipes, before ending with one final thrust that pierced through through Yagudo's shoulder, sending beastmen blood splattering onto the deck in a roar of agony.
Blood and feathers clouded Edgah's vision, and when the mess settled to the ground, the Yagudo lay on the deck of the ship, wounded and bloody. A gash streaked across it's face, splitting through one eye. It's left arm was completely severed, and several gashes streaked across it's torn body. Dark blood that ran down the deck matted it's feathers together. The Yagudo's bloodied chest rose and fell in desperate struggles for breath as it hissed curses and coughed blood from it's cracked beak. Edgah and Alpha walked over and peered down at the dying beast. Edgah held his polearm's blade tip to the Yagudo's neck.
"Cursed smoothskins!" The Yagudo spat between breaths.
Edgah pushed the tip of his polearm deeper into the Yagudo's throat. "What the hell are you doing here?" he growled. Alpha looked on, disgusted at the mess splattered across the deck of his ship.
"They wills... come..." It choked and coughed up more blood, "prisoners... smoothskins... DIE!" At this last word it spat up more blood, it's muscles relaxed, it's eyes glazed over. Dead.
Edgah and Alpha grimaced. The Elvaan turned around and began walking to the edge of the ship facing the dock. "I have to find them." With that he jumped off the edge onto the deck, then rushed into town. Alpha looked down at the Yagudo's corpse and frowned, his eyes drifted to the hole in the deck of the ship and his frown deepened. ...Better get to work.