Chapter 2: We're The Essence Of Life

In following years, not much differed from childhood. Xeuber was still busy, the grass still swayed in the mute wind. Everything seemed peaceful, and children would be oblivious to the dangers of the outside. The crystal still gleamed with health in the sunlight, the previous myrrh seekers had been successful year in and year out. But they had resigned, saying they were becoming to old to continue such a tiring journey. The new crystal caravan needed to be operated by young blood, something that most youths of the village did not want to do.

At least, not but a select few wanted to run crystal caravans. In the town's ranch, Kazuo was lazing about in his room, resting after a day of hard work. After the schoolings went out, and he barely graduated, he was condemned to working on his family's ranch. Every day he would tend to the animals, feeding and grooming them. This only lasted until the afternoon, where he usually had about three hours until he would have to do it again. During that time, he would not know what to do. He was without friends, a loner.

He remembered quite well, back when he was a child. His only friend in the entire village slowly began to dislike him. It began with the Yuke, and his being mean to it. She shunned him for that, and started to ignore him completely. Of course, Kazuo blamed it all on Senken. In later years, Kazuo remembered quite well, he developed a liking for girls. And as his friend grew, she became very shapely, not over-developed, but past the normal limits of a young girl never the less. When the young rancher attempted to make moves on his ex-friend, she would only shut him down, time and time again. This led to a great disliking in Kazuo, as she would think that he cared about no one but himself. This was partially true.

Kazuo looked out for number one, as he would say it. His family was merely stepping-stones on his way to success. He would use them, be it for money, or food, or anything, he would suck up to them until he got it. Though Kazuo didn't see that the method worked two ways. Kazuo would work day in and day out, and get rewards for it, as his parents saw it. They knew exactly what Kazuo was doing, though they took comfort in knowing that he didn't know they knew. This self-concern led quickly to Kazuo's popularity's demise.

"Kazuo!" A young girl shouted, running into the room.

"Ugh, what?" Kazuo groaned, sitting up on his bed.

"Didn't you hear, brother?" The girl asked. "The crystal caravan is open again, just like you always hoped! You can go on the caravan now!"

"Really?" Kazuo asked, springing to his feet. "You're joking, Pauline, aren't you?"

"Not at all." Pauline said.

"Get out of the way!" Kazuo said as he dashed out of his room.

He ran out of his room and out of his house in a flash. The Elder's house is where he had to go. He could sign up as leader of a caravan! Then people would join him on his quest to recover myrrh drops from the trees. When he came back with them, the villagers would certainly change their tune, or so he thought. They'd actually idle him, instead of hate him. He rushed out past the merchant's house, through a path to the town square, past Senken's home. He gazed at Senken's home, and muttered some cursing before he went on past the giant crystal to the Elder's hut. Though he was surprised at whom he saw there.

Kaegomé and Senken were there, both standing out front with the Elder. Kaegomé was wearing a leather, fur-lined top that covered only her chest, a cloth muffler draped over her shoulders. Her midriff was bare, while she also wore a skirt of similar cloth as the muffler, with a slit up the left side, showing her leg. Most of her legs though, were covered in a kind of stockings, with a small pattern in them to make them more airy. Lastly she wore a pair of leather sandals upon her feet. Added to all that, she wore a smirk on her features, naturally masked by the long blue hair she had, long enough to reach her rear. Her ice blue eyes were half-lidded in confidence.

"Looks like you're late again." She said, looking at Kazuo.

"What are you talking about?" Kazuo asked.

"Too late to be the leader of the caravan." She answered. "I just signed up as one, and Senken agreed to be part of my team."

"What?" Kazuo asked in disbelief, looking at Senken.

Senken just nodded, not being able to communicate any other way. He was wearing the same brass horned helmet he had years ago, though it was larger. His form was covered to his knees in a padded blue cloak with a line of green down his chest, the short sleeve accenting the length of his feathered arms. It was decorated with well-placed buttons and a belt. His legs were garbed in long yellow and blue striped socks, wearing small elf-shoes on his feet. His neck ornament was made of soft leather, hard leather bat-wings protruding from the back, though they were maybe as small as real bat wings. There was no doubt that his small, spade-shaped tail was poking out the back.

"But... why not me! You could have told me!" Kazuo shouted, seeming hurt now. "You know how much I wanted to go on one of these!"

"That's true." Kaegomé said. "But look at you, you're a ragamuffin."

"Ragamuffin?" Kazuo repeated. "What kind of a word is that?"

"It means you look poor, rancher." Kaegomé answered.

It was true that he looked anything but rich. Though Kazuo didn't see himself as poor either. He wore a long-sleeved wool turtleneck sweater, the sleeves being brown, the mid-section being white. Though it was hard to see his chest, as he wore a leather chest plate over that, and a leather carrying pack around his waist. He wore comfortable wool shorts on his legs, and a pair of dark brown long socks, and lastly, a pair of leather boots on his feet. Looking down at himself, he ran his gloved fingers through his shaggy chestnut coloured hair, long enough to reach his neck. He took that time then to make sure his headband was on straight before he looked up at the Selkie, his hazel eyes reflecting offence.

"I'm not poor, and you know it!" Kazuo shouted. "Plus you'll need someone like me!"

Kaegomé looked at Senken, and the both shrugged before she looked back at Kazuo and asked, "How?"

"Um..." Kazuo said, looking kind of dumbstruck at the question. "Well... you'll need me for what I can provide! Face it Kaegomé, you know how much food my family gets a year, more than we know what to do with. I can get it and take it with us on the trip... Plus I'm pretty strong, and there's supposed to be a lot of monsters out there..."

"Hmm..." Kaegomé said aloud. "Could it be that Kazuo is thinking of us for a change?"

"Plus, every team has someone who's good looking. That'll be me." Kazuo said with a smirk. "Well, for the male good looker, you can be the female beauty Kaegomé."

"Kazuo, you're hopeless!"

Just then, another young Clavat walked over to them and stopped, looking to each one of them. He was shorter than most Clavats, being maybe three inches shorter than Kazuo. He wore a white cap on his head, the brown rim folded up partially at the front. It covered his black hair, though leaving his young face and brown eyes in plain view. Aside from that, he wore an outfit much like Kazuo's, though the shirt was white, with a brown chest, and brown cuffs around the sleeves and shoulder-line. He wore almost the exact same leather chest plate, and the same carrying pack around his waist. Also, as a custom to Clavat travelers, he wore a pair of striped traveler's shorts, the stripes being of a lighter and darker shade of brown. The long socks he wore were cow-spotted, and again, he wore light leather boots on his feet.

He looked at them all silently before he spoke up, his tone also being quite quiet. He said, "My name is Snow."

"Snow?" Kazuo repeated, crossing his arms over his chest. "Weird name."

"Kazuo! There you go again!" Kaegomé shouted at him, making him turn his head away.

"Please excuse... that person." Kaegomé said, looking at Snow. "Sometimes he opens his mouth without thinking."

Senken then said something, though it being in his own language, nobody could understand a word.

"What would you like?" Kaegomé asked.

"I have recently returned to the village." Snow said. "I left my father in a village that lays just beyond the nearby miasma stream."

"Miasma stream?" Kaegomé repeated. "What's that?"

"You dummy." Kazuo spoke up. "Even I know what a miasma stream is. It's a patch of miasma that flows like a stream, naturally. Though the difference between the streams and just normal miasma is that the stream's miasma is made up of a certain element. Of course, only people with crystal chalices can get through, but the chalice needs to be the same element as the miasma in order to cancel out the effect."

"Oh, so you do know something." Kaegomé sneered.

"You'd be surprised." Kazuo said with a confident smirk.

"For some reason..." Kaegomé said. "... I don't doubt that."

"Kazuo is right." Snow said. "That's the whole concept."

"But that means you have a chalice." Kazuo said. "Where is it?"

"I gave it to a friend in the village for safe keeping." Snow responded. "But what I wanted to ask is, are you the new caravanners?"

"Actually, yes." Kaegomé said. "I'm the leader of the new caravan."

"Yeah, because she doesn't tell other people about the openings." Kazuo muttered.

"May I join your caravan?" Snow asked.

Kaegomé and Senken looked at one another and shrugged, beginning to think about this.

"Hey wait! What about me?" Kazuo piped up.

Senken nodded to Kaegomé, pointing to both of them.

"Wait, are you sure, Senken?" Kaegomé asked.

Senken nodded again.

"Well, alright, you can both come." Kaegomé said.

"Yeah sweet!" Kazuo said, extending his hand to Snow. "Gimmie a five buddy!"

"Um..." Snow looked at Kazuo's hand for a moment before shedding a small smile and rising his arm, slapping his palm against Kazuo's. "Like that?"

"Yeah you got it!" Kazuo said with a laugh.


Year 1

Today, I returned home from Marr's Pass. I met the caravanners of Xeuber, and requested I join them on their search for the trees of myrrh. After some thought, they let me join. I am grateful.

The team consists of a Selkie girl, who seems to be kind hearted. Then there is a Yuke, who doesn't appear to speak English. What language he speaks is completely beyond me. Then there's a Clavat, like me. He is very obnoxious, and he seems to take very little seriously. But despite all that, he seems amusing.

- Snow


With that, they all visited their families, save Snow, for his family was in a small village called Marr's Pass. They all received a farewell and things they would need on their journey. Kazuo was delighted to go, and happily was seen off by his family. Kaegomé showed some more hesitation, claiming she would miss every one of her family members, and asked that they wrote often. Senken was uneasy about leaving as well, though his parents said that they were very proud of him for deciding to leave, and they said they would write as often as they could. With a soft nod, he turned and left to meet up with his companions.

Hurrying to meet up with them, the young Yuke ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the crystal in the middle of the town. He found his friends waiting there for him, though Kazuo looked annoyed. The Yuke put his feathered hands together and bowed an apology to them. Kaegomé and Snow seemed to be all right with it, though Kazuo said he better not do it another time. The Yuke sighed at this, wondering when Kazuo would ever let up on him.

"So, Snow, where is this friend of yours?" Kaegomé asked. "We need to leave soon."

"Yeah, hurry it up man." Kazuo said, rushing the young Clavat.

"It's right here." Snow responded quietly, moving around to one section of the crystal where there was a small hole.

With that, Snow crawled into the small hole. Kaegomé, Kazuo and Senken all looked confused, never having wanted to go in there before. Giving a shrug, they all crawled in single file into the hole. As they all crawled one by one into an open area under the ground, they were amazed. They were met with the warm glow of a fire in a fireplace at the far side of the round room. The home seemed like a large dome under the ground, and the caravanners could stand up inside of it, no problem. There was a winding staircase against the right wall, curling around the outside of the room up to a second floor. There was a small table in the center of the room, and a soft welcoming rug at their feet. Looking next to the fireplace, there was a small rocking chair, where a small creature sat.

"Visitors! Kupo!" The creature said with glee, hopping out of his rocking chair, and padding over to them to greet them. "Oh it's you again, kupo."

"Wow, it's a real Moogle, right here!" Kazuo said in disbelief.

The Moogle, as it was called, looked to be a combination of a bear and a cat. It stood not even two feet tall, with small paws for hands and feet. Its fur was a snow white, the orange-ish glow changing the tint of the easily masked colour. Its face was small, it's cheeks having more fur than the rest of its body, and it hung from its face cutely. Its eyes were very narrow, to the point where one would wonder how they saw anything, and its nose resembled that of a kitten's. Upon it's head was an antenna of sorts, holding an odd square-shaped object on the end, it slightly drooping behind the animal's head.

"Yes, I'm here to get my chalice back." Snow said, smiling at the small creature.

"Oh, oh! I'll get it, one second, kupo!" It said, turning and quickly padding over to the stairs.

Quickly making it's way up the stairs, rattling could be heard. The caravanners looked at one another before looking back up the stairs, awaiting the Moogle's return. It came down a short while later, carrying an orb within its arms. It barely made it down the stairs, the orb contained within a twisted support being as big as the Moogle was. It padded over to Snow quickly and reached up, handing the chalice to him. It was amazing to the rancher, the chalice looked very neat to him.

"Aw, he's so cute!" Kaegomé said, in a chipper attitude once again.

"And that chalice is so neat!" Kazuo said. "Let me see it!"

Snow turned around and handed the chalice to Kazuo. The rancher took it quickly and gazed at it in awe, as did Kaegomé and Senken. The chalice looked oddly like a perfume container, able to hold liquid and everything, with a small cap on the top. This was without a doubt a chalice made to hold myrrh drops, and to protect travelers from the miasma. They admired it for a few more moments before handing it back to Snow, which turned to the Moogle and bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you for holding onto it for me." He said.

"No problem, kupo!" The Moogle responded.


Year 1

Today, I joined Kaegom's caravan. Darn her! I wanted to be the leader! Oh well, I doubt she'll get very far without me. I have to look after her, you know.

That Yuke is coming with us, and so is another Clavat named Snow. Snow's pretty cool, he even came with his own chalice. The chalice looked so neat, even though i'd seen one many times before. It looked like a perfume bottle, though the crystal was so pretty. I gazed at it as long as I could before snow took it back

We should be leaving soon today... score!

- Kazuo


With that, the caravanners crawled out of the Moogle's home and back into the fresh air. They all agreed then to go and find their new caravan, which should have been at the northern exit of town. They all hurried past the tailor's home, all the villagers they passed waving to them. They ran to the northern exit where they saw it, their own caravan. It wasn't too impressive, just your average reinforced wooden caravan, covered in a blue tarp and attached to two sturdy oxen. Each one of their families and the Elder were there to give them one last goodbye too. They smiled at this and nodded, saying their goodbyes.

With that, they began to pack the caravan, finding it containing some things already. There were weapons in there for each one of them. Kazuo of course took his first, Snow second, examining them. After being scolded to help pack up, they groaned and got to work. Kazuo gathered all the extra food he had gotten from his house and put it inside the caravan while Snow put some refining materials in there. Senken went about organizing his scrolls while Kaegomé hauled in bundles of wheat with help from the Clavats. They finished well into the afternoon, and decided they best get going as soon as they could. Saying one final goodbye, they left then.

Senken hopped into the rider's seat of the caravan, and took hold of the reins of the oxen. Looking back to make sure everyone was in, he spoke a few unknown words, and gave the reins a light flop. Feeling this, the oxen moved forwards at a slow pace. They all then looked back, Kazuo, Kaegomé and Snow in the back of the tarp, waving to everyone as they left. Senken waved his feathered hand out the side to his own family, as he couldn't take his eyes off the path. As time passed, the village got further and further away, and Kaegomé already began to miss it, holding the chalice within her hands. It didn't take them long until they had to stop to rest. They all piled into the caravan then and started a few lamps within it to light it up at the side of the dirt path. They all set up small sleeping bags and pillows, just sitting in a circle, beginning to talk to one another.

"Well... if we're going to go out looking for these drops of myrrh... we should at least get to know one another." Kaegomé stated.

Senken nodded in agreement.

"I'll start." Kaegomé said with a smile. "My name is Kaegomé, and I am a Selkie. Umm... I've always wanted to go on these adventures, every since I was little. I always thought they would be so exciting, and I would be so free while doing it. It's not much fun on a farm anyways, you know. So yeah, I came on this trip for the exploration and the freedom. How about you, Snow?"


Year 1

I told my fellow travelers about myself today. I hope they like me. Well, I know Senken is fine with me, but I don't know about snow. And it's just going to be so hard to get along with Kazuo!

I just hope everything goes well.

- Kaegomé


"Oh well..." Snow began. "My name is Snow. It's kind of a lame name, I know, but it is my own. I used to live in Xeuber village, but when my father's blacksmith business started to get slow, we got our own chalice and traveled over to a place called Marr's Pass during a summer a while ago. Up until now, I always helped out my father while he did his business, but now I'm on this adventure with all of you. I wanted to do this because it would give me a chance to learn to improve my blacksmithing and combat skills. What about you?"

Senken pointed to himself in order to be sure he knew who went next. Snow nodded at this, but the Yuke couldn't saw a word.

"I'll speak for him." Kaegomé said. "His name is Senken, and he is a Yuke, one of the only Yukes in the whole village of Xeuber. His family runs the local alchemist shop in town, and they deal in lots of designs for clothes, weapons, armor, and different potions. I learned from his parents that he can't speak our language, he can only speak ancient Yukian."

"Ancient Yukian?" Snow repeated. "Wow, that must be a very complex language."

"It is." Kaegomé said, but then she looked at Senken. "But... why did you come on this trip?"

Senken rubbed the beak of his helmet in thought, tracing it right down the middle before he snapped his fingers. He began to speak in his language, and although no one could understand him, they hung on to his words. He opened the back of the caravan up slightly and pointed up to the night sky, right at a large cluster of stars. He then nodded.

"The stars..." Kaegomé said. "I'm not sure what you mean Senken, but the stars are beautiful. There's probably a lot we don't know about them."


Year 1

Today, I told them all about me. Kazuo, the Clavat rancher, didn't seem to impressed. Why is he so mean to me?

I'm glad I am able to write in this language, though I don't understand how to speak it. I'd imagine that it's a hard language to speak with... but still. My parents can speak it just fine, though I can only comprehend it. What they didn't understand is why I am here.

I want to learn. There are alot of ancient lores and crolls out there for me to read. Plus, my magic will come in handy. And Kaegomé was partially right. The stars are quite interesting.

- Senken


Senken nodded again, closing the tarp. He then pointed to Kazuo and shrugged.

"Hey, what's that mean?" Kazuo snapped at him.

"It means he wants to know about you." Kaegomé answered in a flat tone.

"Humph, like he should know. But fine." Kazuo responded. "My name is Kazuo, probably the greatest guy you'll ever meet. I live on a ranch back in Xeuber, where all the glorious food over there came from. We should have enough meat and milk to last us a long time. Though I don't really like meat."

"Neither do I." Snow said. "Maybe we'll pick up some fruit somewhere."

"I love meat, and fish." Kaegomé said.

Senken held his throat and let out a fake gag, showing he didn't like meat that much either. This made everyone laugh, even Kazuo.

"Okay, okay." He said. "Back on topic. I went on this adventure for two reasons. One reason was that I always wanted to. Exploring deep, dark dungeons and battling fierce monsters was what I was built for. Plus, it'll make me important."

"Because you have no friends." Kaegomé said.

"Hey shut up." Kazuo scoffed. "And my second reason is to... get chicks of course."

"What?" Kaegomé asked, sounded somewhat offended.

"Oh come on." Kazuo said, preparing to boast. "Who wouldn't want a strong, brave guy like me?"

"Me." Kaegomé answered flatly.

"You keep telling yourself that." Kazuo responded with a smirk.

"Ugh, you pig." Kaegomé muttered.

"Alright, let's calm down." Snow butted in.

After a few moments they all remained calm, just talking about all they could until things got silent. They couldn't sleep quite then; their excitement hadn't worn off. They went to eat, all getting a bottle of milk, and food of their liking. Kaegomé quickly took some meat from Kazuo's stash and began to cook it with a small flame inside a metal cooking bin. None of the others wanted such a thing, so to be nice, Kaegomé got things they would like. She gave Senken some round corn, and both Kazuo and Snow got one striped apple each. They all ate for a while before they began to get tired, and loosen up a bit.

"Hey Kaegomé." Kazuo said, looking at the Selkie.

"What?" Kaegomé responded.

"You think maybe you could sing a song?" Kazuo asked.

"A song?" Snow repeated. "Is she a good singer?"

"Oh yeah, you just have to hear it to believe it." Kazuo said with a grin. "She's the best singer in the entire village!"

"Well... I could." Kaegomé said with a soft blush.

Senken urged her on with a slight clap of his feathered hands.

"Go for it." Kazuo urged.

"Okay, fine. I'll go." Kaegomé said, taking a deep breath before starting.


Dreaming of the stars on high

That speak to me in secret sighs

Drifting on a breeze

Only I can feel and hear

-

Could it be the sacred wind

That's calling me to now begin

To walk into the dark

Carrying the light of tomorrow

-

Need to walk the wings on high

Beyond the earth, beyond the sky

Come on, don't hesitate

Don't look back, we've got to go now

-

Don't fear

You'll be safe from now on

Morning sky watching over all

-

Deep inside so silently

My heart will speak

Deep inside of me

Memories flickering and shimmering on

Endlessly

-

Keeping close to the path

Morning sky watching over all

-

Moving over endless mountains oh so high

Walking to the light

Your heart will

See the path and you will find your way

Just wait and see

-

Moving under endless skies oh so high

Tomorrow we'll follow, when in doubt

Your promises today

Just wait and see.


A/N: That's the opening theme for the game!