Chapter 3. Back to school.
Angel stood before the gates of a huge building. She held both a green pearl and a box. She walked the gates and put the pearl in her pocket. As she walked her eyes glanced over the courtyard. Many students were running around playing and practicing their magic. Quickly she hurries to the main office. Walking quickly through the hallways she finally makes it to the registration office.
"Hello there." She is greeted by a soothing voice. "Welcome to the Bastokian School for magic. May I interesting you in a tour?"
"Actually I am here for classes." Angel answers holding out box to the tall Elvaan.
"I see." He takes the box opening it to see certificates and paper work. "Well this seems to be all in order. All we need to do is finalize a few things. First which section of magic would you like to learn?"
"I'm not really sure yet." Angel said
"Oh alright. No worries we will set you up for a trial run of the school to see what you would like. And we'll have you shadow a student around for your benefit." He walks to the next room and speaks with other personnel. Angel stands in the room waiting for him to return. She finds a photo album setting on a table next to some chairs. She sits down and flips through the pages. Reading the names she notices something. Every person on the pages is either Elvaan or human.
"I guess for this school a tarutaru or a mithra wouldn't bother coming all this way."
The Elvaan comes in. For today we have a student to help you around the campus. She isn't really from around this area. She is a transfer student from Sandoria. She will only be visiting this school for a few months and she volunteered to show you around. You will meet her at the end of fourth period. Until then feel free to look around campus."
"But where will I see her? How will I know who she is?" Angel asked
"Oh don't worry. In this school she will find you."
A little unnerved Angel walked back out into the halls to roam about. She retraced her steps to the courtyard and found a tree to sit under. As she sat an hour passed. She sat staring at the sky watching birds fly past and clouds move. She almost fell asleep until a loud bell ran all across the school grounds. Jolted awake she got up and waited by the main corridor to see if her guide would show up. She stood about five foot nine; she was lost among the waves of students.
"How are they ever going to find me if I am shorter then everyone here?"
From behind her came a sharp tug on her tail.
"Ow!" Angel turned quickly to find where the unwanted attention came from.
Behind her stood an Elvaan woman looking down to her. She put her hand on her head.
"Sorry I pulled your tail." She spoke softly. "I didn't want to draw too much attention to you by shouting "Hey you mithra girl!"
Angel looked confused. "Are you the one who will be showing me around?"
"Oh I'm sorry." She bowed to Angel and spoke. "I am Ginryu, I will be your student guide to the Bastokian School Of Magic. Might I ask of your name?"
Angel smiled at her attempt to break the ice. "I am Angel." She said while bowing back to Ginryu.
"Angel, that's a peculiar name."
"So is Ginryu."
She looked down to a smiling face. "Well don't we have quite a tongue?"
"Well anyway. First thing I was asked to do is show you around the school then have to follow me to a class session. From there I am asked to request your acceptance to a magic school." Ginryu said.
"What do you mean by acceptance to a magic school?"
"Well there are three different schools of magic being taught here, white magic, black magic, and summoning. How ever it is extremely hard to get into the school of summoning."
"Ok then. I'm sure to have an answer by the end of the day." Angel said happily
Ginryu lead her off throughout the school. The courtyard to the library. Then the cafeteria and over to the battlegrounds.
"What takes place here?" Angel asked
"The battle grounds are a testing area for students. Here tests will be preformed involving weapon use and casting techniques."
Again a loud bell could be heard all over campus.
"That would be the end of fifth period. I will take you to my last class of the day and from there is up to you." Ginryu spoke.
Angel followed Ginryu as she ran back to the classroom building. Once there they walked into a building filled with students dressed in robes wielding staves and mallets.
"What class it this?" Angel asked
"This is weapon training." Ginryu answered
She walked to a locker and drew out a shield and sword.
"You're a mage aren't you?"
"Yes I am."
"Then why are you using a sword and shield?"
"For my mage class I can use such tactics."
Angel sat in the back and watched Ginryu spar with other students, and winning every match. She walked away at the end of the class to her locker to put her equipment away.
"Well Angel I am going back to the dorms so I can change. After this class I like to take a shower. If you go back to the main office there you can register your choice of magic school."
"Well about that."
"Yes?"
"What mage class are you anyway?"
"Oh me? I am a Red Mage." Ginryu answered
"Thank you for showing me around." Angel bows to her and heads of for the main office again.
Once she arrives there she fills out the paper work for her chosen class and is assigned a dorm room and a schedule.
"Well I hope to see her again." Ginryu thought to herself
She walked back from the showers to her room. She threw her wet hair back over her head as she opened the door.
"Hmm? Why is this door unlocked?" She said
Once she opened the door she was greeted by a small smiling mithra. Angel stood there holding a certificate out to Ginryu.
"Official entrance to the school of Red Mages." Ginryu read
"They told me you were the only other Red Mage on campus so they paired me up with you." Angel held the paper down looking at Ginryu. "I hope it isn't too much of a burden for you."
Ginryu slicked her hair back again looking down and Angel.
"Well if you are to be living with me there are a few rules. One, no jumping on the bed. Two you must be asleep by sundown. And three, I'm just messing with you, I'd love to have you stay here with me." Ginryu said
Angel laughed and put her papers away and sat on her bed.
"Ever since I came here I have been the only Red Mage in the school so I had to do all my exercises by myself. Tomorrow we will get you set up with your spell and equipment so you can help me out when classes come around." Ginryu said
The following morning Angel and Ginryu were the first up around the school. They were dressed in their school uniforms and were ready for the first day of class. How ever it was not in their agenda for the rest of the students. From behind the scenes there were students that were scheming.
"I have had enough of these outsiders coming to our school and showing us up. First there was just that one Elvaan Red Mage. Now there is the mithra as well?"
"I know I can't stand to see this school falling to shambles because of these kinds of people."
"Do not worry. I have a plan. Today will be their final day of classes."
From the balcony above the classroom building they stood watching everyone run about. Something would happen that would set this day apart from the rest of the world.
"Well Angel, it isn't much but we have enough gil here to get you a starting wizards attire." Ginryu said
"I'm not used to wearing robes or anything. Never less a sword."
"Don't worry, give it a few days and you'll fine. I looked at your schedule. When they said they would pair you up with me they weren't kidding. We have the exact same classes al day."
"Well that's not so bad. Now I wont have to ask anyone for directions." Angel said
"First period is defensive casting. Here we will practice out white magic. Seeing as we are Red Mages we don't really have the largest assortment of white magic spells. However we do get the benefit of being able to cast black magic spells as well."
"So we can just about do anything?"
"Not exactly. Because we stretch our learning so much to learn both white magic and black magic we are limited to the depths of which we can learn."
"So even though we can learn both types of magic we cant truly learn them both?"
"Yes. It takes us longer to learn them too. But in that weakness lays strength. We know the ins and outs of both sides of the magic realms. Giving us the ability to bend it too our will. We can defend against other magic's easier and cast it upon others more effectively."
"Sounds fun. I wonder why more people aren't Red Mages."
"There are several reasons behind it. But that is not our problem now is it?"
"No I guess not. So shall we get to class?" Angel spoke
"Sure."
The two went to class and followed their schedule. Everything was fine until lunch period came around.
Angel sat down at a table with a lunch. Her eyes were glazed over from her classes.
"Gin. How do you do it?" She asked with a blank look on her face
"These classes aren't too hard for you are they?"
Angel sat there slowly falling backwards.
"There are so many spells to memorize. It's not enough all the cures and elemental magic. But the sheer amount of enfeebling. Why?"
Ginryu laughed as Angel sat in a daze.
"There they are. Can we do this now?"
"No not yet. To have our plan fully succeed we must treat this calmly. Plant the seed and walk away and wait for it to bloom. Set the first phase in motion. Make them sit in a state of unrest."
"Right."
A human black mage turned around and uttered a few words. The air around his hands misted and fogged. He pointed at the mithra's tail. From his hand shot a cold wave of air that froze its surroundings. Her tail was quickly covered in a sheet of ice. The group stayed back as they watched the mithra freak and panic over her tail. The other one tried to get the ice off but was forced to resort to a fire spell to melt it.
"Ok leave it alone. We will go after the other one next period then when it comes to weapons training we will attack."
"What the hell was that?"
Angel was on end already, but a frozen tail was enough to ruin anyone's day. She sat in the nurse's office waiting for her tail to completely defrost. The nurse came back in with some warmed towels to wrap her tail.
"So don't you know what happened?" The nurse asked
"I was just sitting there with Ginryu eating lunch then my tail froze."
The nurse paused for a second. "Now normally I would say it was either a prank or it happened by accident. But you said you were with Ginryu at the time."
"Yes, we were eating lunch then it happened."
"Oh my. These things have been happening to the poor girl. Ever since she transferred here there have been random pranks played on her and her friends. So she has bee rather distant from everyone."
Ginryu sat in her class watching the clock.
"I wonder how Angel is making out with her tail." She thought
She sat in a daze throughout the entire class. The hour passed by as she starred into oblivion. When the bell rang for her to change classes she was shocked awake. Quickly she gathered her books and walked out the door to her final class. She heard quick footsteps from behind her.
"Gin!"
Angel leapt on her back grabbing her around her neck and wrapping her legs around her chest. Ginryu was caught by such surprise that she fell over hitting the ground backwards landing on Angel.
"This didn't go as well as I planned." Angel said stressed from Gin being on top of her.
Ginryu got up and looked down on the flattened mithra. She leaned down to help her up and saw her bandaged tail.
"So… how much does it hurt?" Ginryu motioned to her tail
"Not as much as you landing on me." She answered
"Well I'm sorry about that."
"Oh don't worry, I shouldn't have jumped on your back."
"No not that. About your tail."
Angel looks down and pulls her tail around.
"It wasn't your fault. Some punk decided to play fun with my tail. It's not like you did it."
"But because you were around me…"
Angel cut her off.
"Hey isn't it time for class?" Angel said enthused and she pulled Ginryu along.
They arrive at class ready but the teachers aren't around. Only the students stood before the two with their weapons ready.
"Oh what the bloody hell…" Angel said looking and the mob of students.
"We have been waiting for this day for a long time. Mages ready?" One called out
The gang of white stood ground throwing buff spells on themselves then came a flurry of spells. They all targeted Ginryu. Five white mages pointed at her and shouted, "SILENCE!"
The mages were enveloped in white light as it all awoke upon the two. Something horrid was about to happen. Ginryu looked more distressed then ever. She tried to speak but nothing came out when she opened her mouth. Angel thought fast on her feat. Her training as a rouge would have to substitute for her lack of magical knowledge. She grabbed Ginryu and ran for cover. With her casting abilities down they would have to resort to force. With cover of the walls they got to the lockers and grabbed what weapons they could. The two armed themselves with swords and bucklers. Angel looked at Ginryu and spoke.
"We are out numbered by mages. However we can take them. If we can dodge the black mages spells we should be able to get in close enough to hit them. And once your silence wears off they will rue the day."
Ginryu nodded and they sneaked off. Ginryu stood out front looking at the mages and taunted them. Angel used the opportunity to get behind the mages. The black mages were up front shielding the white mages. The mages sent fireballs and gusts of wind to fuel their attacks. She jumped from left to right avoiding the flames. At her feet she could feel rumbling. The earth shattered and sends her back. Then water came raining down on her. Quickly she recovered to her feet. Ginryu charged out at the black mages. With her sword she knocked the staves free from ones hands. She bashed him in the head knocking him unconscious. The waves of mages came at her and she continued to fend them off easily. Then as a surprise all the black mages were falling but none were getting up. One turned to the flock of white mages calling.
"Where are the healing spells?"
As he shouted he saw that the fight was ending. Angel stood in the midst of a dozen knocked out mages. She jumped and pounced on him. Soon the uprising fell and the two stood the victors. They ran. The two red mages gripped their weapons and ran. Out the room they bolted to their room. They packed and went to the main office.
"We're leaving now." Ginryu said.
"But why, your one of our best students."
"Because I rather not be attacked on a daily basis. Oh and in room 302 there are about two dozen mages that will need some treatment." Ginryu spoke
She and Angel walked out of the room and the building. Once they got outside they found a chocobo taxi to Sandoria. Ginryu paid the fair and got in; once she settled in she looked at Angel.
"This is your choice now. You can stay here or come with me to Sandoria."
Angel looked at her blankly and jumped in the taxi. "I'm not staying here."
Once she closed the door they left to Sandoria. Along the ride Ginryu talked to her.
"I always hated that place. They sent me there because that Sandoria had become too crowded with students. So they sent me to the one school that they thought I would fit in the most. Well I'm going back and you can come with me. However I can't guarantee that you will get in."
Angel looked at her. "I don't really care. I don't really have a home ore a family anymore. So if there is somewhere I can belong than it is best if I just follow. But I seem to be more of a bad luck charm than anything for people. The first group I traveled with all died. Then I meet up with you and your problems at school only escalate."
Ginryu patted her on the head.
"Your not a bad luck charm. You just happen to be in a lot of bad situations. But if you persevere you can face all of these problems headfirst. Back there I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there."
Angel smiled slightly.
"I know you will grow to become a great mage. Besides you have people looking out for you now."
"What do you mean?" Angel asked
Ginryu pointed out the window. Angel looked to see a dozen people following them riding on chocobo's.
"Artimas told me you were coming. Why haven't you used your pearl?"
Angel took the green pearl out of her pocket and held it in her hand.
"To see that you can handle problems and lead others into combat without fear is a great quality in a member of our group."
Normal Disclaimer I do not own the game FFXI it is property of Square Enix. I only own the main character and the story. All other characters have their own respective owners.
