Darklegacy Series

Chapter 3 - Blood on the Blade (tale of Reizero)
by: Asukas

This is a fan-fiction based upon the world of Final Fantasy XI, Vana'diel. I take no credit for the locations that my story is based upon or the lore that surrounds them. Also some of the names in the story are taken from real players that I have run across in game.

To Asukas, Reizero seemed to be holding back something. She was not quite sure what it might be, but was scared that this could tear down the friendship that they had established over the past couple of months. "Maybe I just need to stop analyzing everything," Asukas thought to herself. But no matter what she did, she could not shake this feeling. So she decided to bring it up the next time she saw her.

Monday morning Asukas signed up for a quest with one of the local townspeople, and headed out into Dangruf Wadi to find the items that she required to complete this quest. While traveling there she crossed Reizero again in a place called "The Fumaroles," in South Gusteberg. Once again Reizero was slaughtering beastman after beastman, not even taking time to med her wounds some before the next battle. "Why is she so blood-thirsty?" Asukas pondered. "Reizero, are you ok?" Asukas asked. "Oh, hey Asukas, I didn't even see you standing there," Reizero replied. "You really should be more careful Reizero, I know you are much stronger than these goblins, but you need to take time to recover a bit between battles," Asukas continued. "Can you heal me a little then Asukas? I didn't notice how bad I really got," Reizero asked. "No problem. I am already working on it," Asukas replied. "So you want to go to Dangruf with me? I know there are some goblins there too (wink wink)," Asukas said as she laughed out loud. "Sure," Reizero responded.

As Asukas and Reizero entered Dangruf Wadi, Asukas finally had built up the courage to ask Reizero what her deal was with killing. "Ummm, hey Rei, I'm not trying to be nosy or anything, but I can't help but notice that you kinda enjoy killing way too much. I mean its cool and all; it just kinda freaks some people out. Did something happen to you that made you that way, or am I just a complete moron who thinks about stuff too much?" Asukas asked. "I really don't want to talk about it Asukas, so just drop it. I know how you go on and on about stuff, so just forget it okay," Reizero said harshly. "Okay, I'm sorry, I guess you will just tell me when you are ready," Asukas said backing off the topic quickly. "Look, over there, a lizard! Lets go cut its tail off, and see if it still wiggles," Reizero blurted out changing the topic. "Eww, you are sick you know that Rei, sick!" Asukas said jokingly.

The sun had started to set, and Asukas and Reizero has slowed their pace down quite a bit than before when they first entered Dangruf Wadi. They spent more time talking, and less time fighting. "Hey Asukas," Reizero asked. "Yeah?" Asukas replied. "Sorry about earlier, it just that some bad stuff happened to my family and me a long time ago, and I can't control my anger when I think about it," Reizero said. "I mean you did tell me your story about how you got to Bastok and all, and I guess it is a little selfish of me to not tell you some of my past as well," Reizero continued.

For about the next hour, Reizero told Asukas about the ungodly horrors that had happened in her life. Some of the stuff made Asukas kinda sick to her stomach, but she held back the outward signs, to avoid stopping Rei from holding back any details that might help Asukas understand her better. "Most of my family was killed by beastmen right in front of my eyes. The beastmen left me alone to die in the dunes. After a few days of lying in the dunes, waiting to breathe my last breath, an elfish traveler from San d'Oria came across my body in the still of the night. He saw that I was close to death, and proceeded to ask me a question that would forever change my life. As he picked my body up and carried it all the way back to his home in San d'Oria, I gained and lost consciousness many times. When we got back to San d'Oria, he took me to his home in Bostaunieux Oubliette(a dungeon-like place). There he told me, ' my name was NovaImauge. And I have saved your life, but I am afraid that I have also cursed you to a life living in the shadows as I do. People are not ready for what we are, therefore I will do my best to raise you in this dark place.' Over the next 5 years, NovaImauge taught me everything he knew of dark magic. I grew very close to NovaImauge and I liked living with him, as he had become like a father to me. But I also longed to be a part of normal society as well. After several fights between us, I finally decided to leave Bostaunieux Oubliette, and head to a place where the vampire-rumors failed to reach. As I packed my things and left for Bastok, NovaImauge gave me one last gift before I left. Ever since then, I have been living here. And then I met you," Reizero finished her story. "So what gift did NovaImauge give you before you left?" Asukas asked, covering up the shock that she felt inside from hearing the truth. "Oh a scroll of Drain. It is very powerful magic, if you are skilled in the dark arts. But I have never used it in front of anyone…….yet," Reizero finished. Asukas understood that Reizero hate for the beastmen was justified by her history, but feared that this dark truth could be a hazard to her and others if not controlled somehow. "I hope it never comes to that," Asukas thought. "Hey Rei, I am sorry for being nosey. I had no idea it was that bad," Asukas said consolingly. "It's okay, just don't tell anyone else. I don't want people to get the wrong idea," Reizero said. "Maybe one day, people will accept people like me, and understand that this is not a curse, but a gift. Then again, maybe it is good that time hasn't come yet, because I still can't control it 100," Reizero revealed.

"I am safe," Asukas thought and started to wish she would of never learned the truth.

...More to come...