This story belongs to me and my creative mind. However, most of the characters, names, and places all belong to their respective companies, so don't yell at me for copyright infringements! Remember, Italics represent a person's thoughts or the telling of past events.
Enjoy...
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:Faraway Dreams:
Chapter Eleven:
The late afternoon sunlight shone through the patches of open sky lining the ceiling of Lindblum's walls. People walked with a casual pace, the stress of the day's labor sinking into the recesses of the mind as ideas of relaxation took their place. The Airship traffic continued as busy as it was hours earlier, the labor of business never slowing for things like time.
Fedrich, in the middle of it all, strode on with a singular mindset.
I've got little time to waste now. The sooner I can get to Treno, the better my odds are of finding Claire before she disappears into the city. I hope that the guards will be cooperative this time around...
Pulling out the black headband, the Burman stared at the bloodied rose emblem on it's middle with mixed feelings.
Cecil didn't know what this is, but it has to mean something. I hope that someone can tell me if it's supposed to mean something to assassins and thieves...
The Aircab terminal loomed out from the surrounding buildings in the district, and Fedrich pressed ahead with a quick pace to find an Aircab for the Business District, pocketing the cloth. He was well aware that the dangers in Treno would require preparation, potions and antidotes, any medication he could think of. Reaching back to pat the weight of his Gil pouch at the bottom of his travel bag, he figured that his savings over the past few months would be enough to sustain him for long enough. At the moment, he had one destination in mind that he hadn't seen since he first came to Lindblum.
I hope that I won't have to spend too much money. I remember that Dragoos said he would be glad to help me, maybe he would even give me another discount...
Entering the terminal, Fedrich's ears quickly picked up an announcer calling for passengers to the Business district. Striding through the moderate crowds, he entered the cab and settled down for the short trip to the main street of Lindblum's economical center. The cab flew the trip without concern, dropping off everyone at the terminal to enter the beginnings of the street, vendors and shoppers still rushing up and down the cobblestone. Adjusting his feathered hat, he strode out into the crowds for the Falgar plaza with a determined step.
Claire is powerful...more than anyone else I've ever seen. Her skill is incredible, too. Elric seems like a cripple compared to her, and it took three of us to just slow him down enough to be caught!
Fedrich clenched his teeth and fists in suppressed anger and fear. Goddess damn it to the deepest hells, how am I going to stop her? She was right, none of us have the power to stop her if she was serious. She fought those monsters like it was a simple game, even enjoyed it when they swarmed her! How can I compare to a demon like her!?
The Burman chuckled ironically. "That's why she's called the Demon Lance, it seems..."
He looked up at the skyline, noticing the arch of the Fabool marketplace coming up on his walk. The crowds within the open square were thinning out, carts closing up and being rolled aside as merchants turned in for the night. Artificial lights were being opened up on tall posts, yellow light spilling across the darkening settings.
"I hope Dragoos is still open, it's getting late." Fedrich mumbled to himself.
"Fedrich!!" A shrill call rang out from behind.
Ears cringing at the sharp voice, the Burman turned around to see who had shouted out his name. Stunning him, he saw a familiar figure with red braids trailing in the air running into the marketplace. Fedrich remained still until Ruthy's body collided with his own, knocking the two back a few steps, her arms encircled around his torso and her head falling into the crook of his neck. Spectators gave the two a seconds glance, then returned to their tasks.
"Ruthy?" He sputtered, arms holding her body as he steadied them both. "Why are you here?"
"You oaf, I'm here because you are!" She answered loudly.
"Wha-?" Fedrich began, confused.
"You're going out to catch Claire, and I can't stay here and let you go alone! You cold get hurt or worse fighting with her!"
"Ruthy..."
"Please, don't tell me to go back." She whimpered, her grip lessening. "You've always done so much to help me...and now I want to return the favor and help you."
"But what about the others?" He asked.
"They told me to do what I believed was the right thing to do." She answered quietly, stepping back from their awkward embrace. "So I left to go with you."
"You're not gonna stop him?" Cecil asked, eyes wide at his sudden departure.
"If there's one thing I know about him, it's that he'll keep tryin' when he's got his mind set on something regardless 'o what I'd say." Gerick replied.
"...Even if it's a hopeless task." Illis added from her own experience with the Burman's stubborn attitude.
"Still, he's just gone and left without any other clues about where Claire could be. I know he's smarter'n that." Cecil continued.
Illis chuckled. "Normally he's level headed, but throw in something that riles him up and he leaves all common sense behind."
"His actions are still rash and dangerous, though." Gordan commented, looking to the elder Regulator. "Are you sure you did the right thing, letting him leave for Treno alone?"
Gerick shrugged his shoulders. "If he's gonna learn 'ta be less impulsive, he's gotta learn on his own. 'Sides, he's a good fighter, he'll hold his own if he gets in any brawls."
"Feh, that'll be the day." Illis snorted, knowing that Fedrich was slow to change. She looked over to her sister, and her expression faltered when she saw the redhead staring at the door, eyes unwavering. "Ruthy?"
No response.
"Ruthy?" Illis asked a little louder.
"Huh?"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm...I...I don't know. I'm worried about Fedrich getting into too much danger looking for Claire." The redhead answered, voice unsure.
"He'll be fine." Gerick assured her with his wide grin.
"But you saw how strong she was! What if he gets hurt because of her, or attacked by thieves, or-!"
"Ruthy, keep calm, now." Illis pleaded, seeing her sibling growing more frustrated.
"But I can't, sis! I've got this terrible feeling, like something's going to go wrong, and...I just can't abandon him to fight Claire alone. He needs my help, I can't leave him!" She wrapped her arms around herself. "He's trying to help us all on his own, and I...I just can't..."
"Ruthy..." Illis cooed, seeing her younger sister writhing with inner turmoil. The situation seemed eerily similar to her own, and she allowed herself a slight grin in the knowledge that she brought it around. She stood up and walked to her side, the others forgotten for the moment, and leaned over to hug her tightly. The redhead returned the embrace, wetness lining her eyes.
"I'm scared..." She sniffed. "That he'll never-"
"It's okay, sister." Illis spoke calmly. Standing back up again, she regarded her younger half with a warm and knowing smile. "Listen, you go and do what your heart tells you is the right thing. You'll never fail so long as you remember that."
For a long second, Ruthy sat still, taking in the words. As if pulling a mask off her face, her expression lifted and was replaced with one that held strength and focus. Standing up, she smiled in return to her older sister for the advice.
"You're right, sis, thanks."
Fedrich remained silent for a long moment, thinking heavily on the situation. His spur of the moment drive to pursue Claire didn't let him think about the effect it had on everyone else. Looking at Ruthy, the redhead holding herself with amber eyes looking at his own, he came to the conclusion that he couldn't refuse her.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked again.
She nodded. "Wherever you go, I'll follow."
"No." He corrected, putting a hand to her shoulder and drawing her forward. "We'll walk side by side, and face this challenge together."
Ruthy's face broke out in a smile at his reassurance, and she leaned in and hugged him once more. "Okay. Let's go."
* * *
"Mr. Dragoos? Are you in?" Fedrich asked, stepping into the weapons shop.
A shuffle of feet at the back gave sign that someone was present, and the towering bulk of the demi-human appeared at the front counter with a wide yawn. He looked at his customer, but hesitated a moment as the gears in his head churned in thoughts.
"Wait a sec..." He began, scratching his face. "I recognize you...the one with the ol' Burmecia Royal Guard sword, right?"
Fedrich nodded. "The same, Fedrich Castor."
The man's face lit up. "Ah yeah, it's been a long while! 'ow can I help you?"
"Well, I was thinking on buying some armor for myself for some dangerous work I've taken on."
"Sure, but what kind do you need? I've got tons of varieties 'ere." Dragoos spoke while motioning with his arms to encompass his shop.
Fedrich looked at his vest, the once new and thick material worn down and scarred with the signs of battle. Dragoos picked up on the look in his eyes and grunted.
"Something like a vest, you're thinkin'?"
Fedrich nodded weakly. "I'm not sure what other armor I'd want, I've normally stuck to plain clothes for protection."
"Well, trust me, there's an armor for anyone in the world, no matter how picky 'e may be." The owner grinned. "Come on over, I've got vests that'll work for you fine and well."
Dragoos walked out from around his front counter, plodding over to a wall that bore a large collection of plate armors, helmets, and shields. Vests made of shimmering and scaly material were displayed in the middle of it all, most the color of steel while others looked reddish or mud colored.
"Now we've got some copper vests 'n a lot of mythril ones as well." He spoke, motioning to each type. "Those'll run you about eight hundred for copper, and eleven hundred for mythril. These ones here are somethin' called gaia vests. Supposedly they're able 'ta protect you from being hurt by earthen monsters, but I've not noticed it much. Those run for about eighteen hundred, pricey but reliable for those who're into that type."
Fedrich nodded throughout the explanation, thinking about which one would suit him best. The copper vest was too little for his tastes, and the mythril vest seemed the best of them all, the silvery color close to his fur's natural shade. The gaia vest looked like his own, smooth and a color like the earth, but it's price made him think otherwise.
"I'll try the mythril vest."
"Alright." He took the vest off its peg and passed it to the Burman.
Fedrich removed his travel pack and sword belt, then slung the mythril vest over his old one and shifted it around to feel how it rested on him. The armored vest looked like a normal one, but the presence of glimmering mythril threads in the weave caught his eye, and the thicker and heavier weight also proved it's name.
"How do you take to it? It's a good buy for those get into fights, looks like a normal vest 'cept up close."
"It's nice...light and flexible, I'll take it."
"Right then, it'll be eleven hundred Gil."
Fedrich got down and unstrung his travel pack, then reached through it and pulled the heavy sack of Gil from the bottom. He pulled out a handful of coins, sliding them back in until he had the proper amount left in his hand. Giving them to Dragoos, he sealed the pouch and put it on top of the pack.
"Thanks for the purchase."
"You're welcome." Fedrich nodded. "Do you...think I need any other kinds of armor?"
"Depends. 'Ow much trouble are you expectin'?"
Fedrich thought for a moment, then decided to trust the fellow demi-human with a bit of the truth. "I'm going to be hunting down someone who betrayed me a while back. She's strong...and if it comes to a fight, I don't want to go in without something to even the field."
"Well then," Dragoos muttered, crossing his massive arms in thought. "I suppose for a Burman like yourself, you'd want to be free and agile, not weighed down, right?"
"Yes."
"...Then I'd recommend some wraps for yer feet, first off, and maybe your arms as well." He nodded, walking to another section of the store that held a large, wooden cabinet. "The keen thing about you Burmans is that you've excelled at makin' armor that's flexible as string but tough as stone." He pulled out a long length of thin leather material and tugged it, letting it snap and show strength. "This is simple tanned leather, except it was made in Burmecia and has a lotta mythril sewn into it. Most of your soldiers use it 'ta cover their feet and hands, although I've seen some of 'em cover most of their bodies with it."
"How much is it?"
"It goes about three hundred a length of it, so two for yer legs and two for yer hands if you like."
Fedrich stooped down again and checked his bag of Gil. It was still full of coins, but he wasn't sure how much he should spend here and save for the trip and stay in Treno.
"I'll...take two for my feet." He spoke, pulling out the six hundred Gil.
"Okay then, catch." Dragoos tossed two lengths of the wrap to Fedrich, their forms heavier than he thought.
Fedrich stood and gave the other six hundred to Dragoos, the boar grunting his thanks.
"Fedrich, do you think I need anything?" Ruthy asked, silent as she watched the two converse with one another.
"I dunno. It'd probably be better if you had some armor."
"You're an archer, right?" Dragoos interrupted.
"Y-Yes." Ruthy answered, intimidated by the demi-human's large bulk.
"I've got just the thing you'd like, missy, just you wait." He spoke quickly, pleased. Walking to his counter, he rooted beneath it and pulled out two large gloves. They hit the table with a clink of metal. "Plated gloves, miss. Softest leather on the inside and out with tiny metal plates between the joints. Nothin' would be able to hurt your hands in a fight, so you can string up even after getting yer fingers gnawed on."
"How much to they cost?" She asked.
"Five hundred flat. It's a good honest deal, they're normally a lot more 'cause of all the work in 'em, but I've got connections to the man who makes them."
She grinned, reaching for her own Gil. "Okay, sounds worthwhile."
"I'll buy them for you, Ruthy." Fedrich insisted.
"You don't have to."
"I do, though!"
"You really don't need to Fedrich. I've still got a lot left over from that dragon, remember?" She said with a finalizing tone.
Fedrich accepted defeat with a nod, and Ruthy pulled the coins out to pay for them. After passing the coins to the owner, she pulled her own gloves off and donned the mailed ones. Sliding them over her fingers gently, she flexed them and rotated her wrists, finding that they offered little resistance. Reaching back, she pulled her longbow free and readied an arrow, satisfied that the gloves didn't interfere with her trade.
"You like them, eh?" Dragoos questioned.
"Very much, thanks." She nodded.
"Ah, it's not a problem." He hummed approvingly. "Anythin' else I can help you with?"
"No, I think we're set." Fedrich looked over to Ruthy, who nodded in agreement.
"Alright then, you two have a fine evening and stay healthy!" Dragoos waved as the two walked out of the shop.
The later afternoon sunlight was already fading into nighttime, the crowds of people thinned out to a meager collection of patrons at shops and eateries. The skies were alit with pink and red clouds, illuminated by the trailing edge of the sun that rested on the ocean's back.
"Is there anything else we need?"
"Medicine, for certain." Fedrich mentioned, pointing a clawed finger to another building. "There's a shop with them and other things right there."
The two walked across the small plaza, past the fountain with rushing water running along it's sides and collecting at a pool near the bottom. Once across, they stepped into the stoop to the shop and looked inside. Darkness was past the windows, and the door was secured after trying to open it.
"Damn." Fedrich swore.
"Do we really need to buy anything? I've still got potions and antidotes with me." Ruthy prodded.
"So do I, but I'd rather be overstocked than short of them."
"True..." She mused.
"I suppose there's little else to do except get a room for the night." Fedrich huffed, walking away from the shop.
"Why get a room? We can still go back to our homes with everyone else." Ruthy asked with a start, catching up to the Burman.
Fedrich sighed, lowering his head. "Honestly, I don't want to face them. I...want to get this over with soon, seeing them again and being reminded of what I'm leaving would only make me torn over going or not."
Ruthy remained silent as she listened. She figured Fedrich was dead set on finding Claire, but hearing the hesitation in his voice made her reconsider that fact. What else could he be concerned with beyond getting to the truth?
"You understand what I mean, don't you?" He questioned, glancing her way.
"I think so..." She replied, unsure.
The two didn't speak as they entered the nearly abandoned Fabool marketplace. All the vendors had taken their wares and carts and turned in for the evening, exhausted over a hard day of pushing their products. A few of the nighttime businesses were opening up, many of them with less desirable materials and some of questionable morals. The night was when the less savory part of Lindblum woke, offering passerbys a chance to indulge in sinful delights.
"Where are we going?" Ruthy asked after a long number of minutes passed.
"There's an Inn called Lavilero's on the main street. We should be able to get a room there or somewhere else." He informed with a quiet voice.
"Okay." She whispered back, voice low as his was.
Several minutes later, after walking through the awakening nighttime business on the main street of the district, they came upon Lavilero's Inn, sign illuminated with a blue tinted light. Stepping inside, Fedrich was mildly surprised to see a small man with a cap across his head at the desk instead of the eternally reading man during his last visit.
"Welcome!" The worker greeted in a chipper voice. "How can I be of help?"
"I- We need two rooms for the night."
"Any services or the like?"
"Just something to sleep on, nothing special, thanks."
"Alright, the total comes to one hundred sixty for the both of you." The man noted, accepting the Gil Fedrich passed to him and storing it below the counter. "You'll have rooms nine and ten, back of the second floor."
"Thank you." Fedrich said while accepting the two keys.
"Have a pleasant stay!" The man added as the two walked up the staircase.
"You gonna turn in now?" Ruthy asked, keeping pace as they walked to the end of the wooden corridor.
"Yeah...we'll be leaving early tomorrow, so I'll be getting as much sleep as I can." Fedrich yawned, unlocking the door to his room. "...Not to mention that I've been tired most of today, I couldn't get much sleep as of late..."
Ruthy opened her door and tossed her pack and longbow into the small room, then looked back to Fedrich. "I'm going to get something to eat, care to come?"
"No thanks."
Ruthy's expression fell, but she forced a grin and closed her door. "Okay then, goodnight."
"G'night." Fedrich nodded, opening his door and stepping inside.
Closing the door and locking it, Fedrich walked over to the bed and dropped his pack at it's side, setting the sword next to it. He removed his vest and work pants, draping them over a small chair before tossing his feathered hat onto the dresser. He then pulled the thin covers of the bed open and walked to the lamp, closing its doors to darken the room except for a muted glow in the cracks of the block. Sliding into the bed, he rested his head on the pillow and let the day's wear and tear pull him into an uneasy sleep. The blurry visions in his dreaming eye all reminded him of Claire.
* * *
A knock on the door immediately caught the attention of powerful ears, and Fedrich's consciousness wasn't far behind. Opening his eyes slowly, he took a moment to let his body wake up completely before rising from the bed. Plodding to the door quietly, he turned the key placed in the lock and opened it up to reveal his redheaded companion.
"Good morning, Fed-" Ruthy trailed off, a blush rising to her face and she looked away.
"Morning...?" He replied, curious about why her face was red. Brain clicking a second later, he looked at himself and saw he was only dressed in a thin loincloth. Closing the door, he rushed to his bed and immediately donned his pants and vest, a similar blush spreading along his face. Being awake certainly didn't mean his mind was also. After making himself decent, he opened the door again and rubbed his head.
"Sorry." He apologized.
"It's alright."
"What time is it? Is it morning already?" He pondered.
Ruthy pulled out her pocketwatch and brought it to Fedrich's face. "It's already eight. Didn't you want to leave early?"
Fedrich laughed, embarrassed to have slept in so late. "I guess that plan's shot down." Shoving his hair back, he walked into the room and began to pick up his things. "Still, it doesn't mean we can't strike out now and try to make up some lost time."
"One step ahead of you." Ruthy shrugged her pack securely onto her back.
"...Now that we're on the same page," The Burman commented, pulling his hat onto his head and slinging the scabbard of his short sword over his shoulder. "Let's head out."
Closing the door, the two walked down the staircase and returned the keys to their rooms to the same worker. Stepping out into the thickening morning crowds, Fedrich and Ruthy quickly made his way to the Hunter's Gate and into the open air of the plains. Skipping down numerous flights of stairs, the two made a slight detour along the path once getting to the bottom.
"Where are we going, exactly?" Ruthy asked.
"To rent some chocobos for the trip." Fedrich answered plainly.
"Chocobos? You mean we're going by land?"
"Yeah. Tickets for an Airship are too far out of my range, and we need to save what money we can."
"But won't that take too long?"
"I don't think so. Back home I rode a chocobo once or twice, and they can move quite fast when they need to." Fedrich glanced out to the sky, checking the position of the sun. "Hopefully we can cross the Euronus Plains to the Byan Plateau today, rest for a night, then cross the Cebeel river tomorrow and push for South Gate by nightfall. After that, we'll be able to reach Treno by mid-afternoon."
"What about camping out in the wilds? There are monsters there, you know."
"The chocobo stalls should have equipment to use for that, if not, we can always go back and buy the proper material."
Ruthy gave her friend a strange look. "How long have you been planning this?"
"Since Claire ran off." He replied.
Ruthy arched an eyebrow in surprise. She understood that Fedrich was determined to find Claire and settle his score with her, but she didn't think he had made any preparations as serious as these. His calmer attitude about the situation made her curious, that he might not be as obsessed with her as she thought.
I hope to heaven he won't lose it when he finds her...
