A deep rhythmic melody was playing. The sounds were resonating in the open air. Terra was sitting on a balcony playing an obsidian violin. Each individual note created a sound of such simple joy. Finishing the song Terra's performance did not go unnoticed. Isclei stood behind her clapping. A smile on his face he praised her work.
"In the time you have been here your skills have improved greatly." He said
"Thank you. I couldn't have become this good without your teaching." Terra said
Walking to her he spoke again.
"Have any of your memories returned yet?" He asked
She looked down to her reflection in the violin.
"No… I can't say that I have." Terra answered
Putting a hand on her head he tried to cheer her up.
"Don't stress over it. Your memories will return to you one day. I won't force you to anything." He said kindly. "Now I have to go out and get some items from about the land. Would you like to accompany me?"
Terra put the violin in its case.
"I would love to." She answered
Out of a mansion the two walked. They each carried a bag to go pick up vegetables and fruits from the trees. Picking the items from the strange white trees they filled the bags and went back home. Coming out again with fishing poles they sat by the beach with lines out into the water waiting for a fish to bite.
Terra starred out onto the sea lost in thought.
"How long has it since I arrived here?" She said
Iscle looked at the sky. Faint stars could be seen between the floating islands.
"I'd have to say three years." He answered
"Where has the time gone?" She thought
Closing her eyes a few images were running through her mind. Washing up on shore to learning to play that violin. She sat and thought. Then there was a dark image. A cold dark place that she was stuck in. She was screaming but no one was answering. Then at that moment there was a figure with white wings. Terra blinked her eyes open. Rubbing them she looked back out to the sea.
"I don't think I ever want to remember." Terra thought to herself
Back in Jeuno the three consulate leaders from the nations were talking.
"The next order of business we have to discuss is the gate crystals of the three great crags." The Bastokian consulate spoke
"Yes, there is a unusual fluctuation of energy coming from ours." The Windurstian consulate said
"Yes well we have surveyed the crag in La Thiene, of the three gate crystals one has been fractured. The cracks have been running deeper into the crystal itself." The Sandorian consulate spoke
The other two looked through their papers. Reports of the crystals acting oddly have come up in their reports but any of them breaking was another thing all together.
"Yes, this is strange news. I say we gather a group of surveyors to check out this problem." The Bastokian consulate says
"Agreed." The Windurstian consulate speaks
They finish the meeting and disperse.
"So what did they say?" The Sandorian consulates aid spoke
"They are willing to help, in the next few days we will gather together a group of people to survey the area." The Sandorian consulate spoke
"Do you think they will find anything?" She asks
"I just hope they can resolve this issue." He answers
Over the coming week a team of ten people were assembled to try and fix the problem with the gate crystals. Upon arriving at the scene they test the cracked crystal trying to pinpoint what could be wrong. Through the testing they gather the fractured shards from the original crystal. Days they were there. Still with all they could do nothing was coming up.
Compared to the other crystals the only difference was that the energy signal it gave off was pulsing. But it was getting faster. The team stayed another week and was able to calculate the speed at which it was pulsing. The last day the group stayed something horrible happened. A sonic echo resonated from the crag. The damaged crystal shook harmonizing with the rest of the crystals. But the vibrations were too much for its frail state. Soon it completely fractured and broke. The large glowing crystal shattered into a pile of shards on the ground. The sonic disturbance stopped and the group looked at the mess that was left. Inspecting it there was a strong energy that pulled one of them in.
Back in Jeuno the consulate leaders were informed of the situation and collected some of the trusted adventures from the last war.
"We need you all for a search mission. We have a man missing and we need you to retrieve him. We will send some people with your to ensure your return. We don't know where he is or what condition he is in. Please assist us." The head consulate of Jeuno asks
Before him is a standing group of six adventurers. They all converse with each other and come to a final conclusion.
"We will help. Just tell us when you want us to go in?" Ziggeraut speaks
He stands representing the group. Standing there is Ziggeraut, Kiary, Kadak, Noxes, Chster, and Bale.
In Basil Terra is walking along the shoreline. She had been walking all morning. She had vivid dreams the night before. It was disturbing to her. The pictures she saw left her unsettled.
"What are these horrible things that keep coming back to me?" She speaks
The waves roll over the sand. The cool breeze gently pushes her hair around. Looking around there were the creatures that migrated around the area. The animals were moving in odd patterns. They would move too a distance from her and stare. Before they wouldn't mind her presence. But now that waited from a distance watching her. Paying no mind to it she kept walking. Moving along the waters edge she saw an elaborate decorated gazebo on an island out in the water. About four feet away from the beach it was there on a small patch of land. Terra walked towards it. Getting closer she noticed the animals around her were reacting to its presence. Then she saw the base of the structure. There was a glowing circle. Stepping away from it she started walking back to the house. Her mind was settling. Calming herself she picked up her violin and started playing again. She was remembering a rich song of love and joy. But for some reason now matter how she tried to play it the song was saddening.
"Why won't it sound right?" She said
Putting it down she looked out off of the balcony.
"Is there something wrong Terra?" Isclei asked
She turned to him.
"No, I guess not. I think I'm just in a down mood." She answered
Iscle walked forward and sat down next to her. Putting an arm around her he pulled her close.
"Please don't be. It hurts to see you sad." He said softly
Terra put her head on Isclei's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"Lately I have been having these horrible dreams. And sometimes when I'm awake images come back to me." She said
Her voice was cracking slightly.
"I'm afraid of my lost memories." She said trying to hold back her tears
Isclei pulled her closer putting both arms around her rocking her slightly. He was trying his best to comfort her.
"I can't image what you're going through. But try and be strong." He said to her
Terra had tears coming down her face.
"After my time here with you, I don't want them back. I don't want to know what brought me here. I just want to be here with you and let it be just this." She said
Holding her he spoke.
"If that is what you want, I wont be the one to say no." Isclei spoke
"Your too kind to me." She said
Isclei brushed the hair from her face and looked into her eyes. She starred back, gazing into each other's eyes they leaned in and kissed. On the balcony they stayed for hours. As it grew dark they went inside.
The next morning when they arose Terra wanted to show him the gazebo in the water. Bringing her violin with her they walked along the waters edge.
"So what is this thing you wanted to show me?" Isclei asked
"You'll see it when we get there." She said jokingly.
As they neared the decorative building they noticed the animals were acting oddly again.
"Same thing as yesterday." She said
"What is the same?" He asked
"Well I came out here yesterday and all of the creatures around here were acting strange." She spoke
Iscle looked around to see all of the creatures watch them. They moved in slow small patterns keeping eye of the two walking along the beach.
"Ah there it is." She said
Pointing to the building she pulled him along to it. She brought him to the water and looked at the structure. She walked through the water splashing it slightly over her dress. Getting to the gazebo she looks at Isclei. He is standing there watching her dance around under its roof. She takes out the violin and starts playing, this time the song was happy to her. She had a place to belong and be with someone that cared for her.
Behind Isclei the creatures were moving towards them. They looked at Terra who was playing such sweet music. She had her eyes closed moving around in the gazebo playing. Isclei stood in awe, as she played there was a light aura building around her. He walked through the water and joined her. She lied the violin down and the two danced hand in hand under its roof.
In La Thiene the surveyors and adventures were examining the broken gate crystal.
"We can detect a strong magical aura coming from with in the crystal. It seems like it is now an open door." One of them says
Ziggeraut looks to his team.
"Well let's go in. No need to wait around here for nothing." Ziggeraut says
He steps to the crystal and puts a hand on the broken shards. The rest watch as he disappears. Soon after everyone else follows suit and appear in a large white lobby. Before them is a large staircase and two elevators to each side.
On the stairs is sitting a man.
"Ah there is our fellow worker." One of the surveyors speaks
He walks to him.
"Where have you been?" He asks
"Its so bizarre." He says
"What is?" another asks him
He only can point to a giant gate.
"You can't go in by ordinary methods. I was examining the rest of this area when I came upon that contraption over there it created a kind of seal. I could feel my essence being suppressed by it. Like it was taking my soul and boxing it up." He said
Ziggeraut talked with his team.
"Ok, are any of you as confused as I am?" He asked
"Yes, I think we all are." Kadak responds
"Well I for one want to go see what is beyond those doors." Kiary speaks
"Yeah, I'm with her." Bale says
Ziggeruat looks at Chster.
"Can you sense anything strange?" He asks
"It is faint, but there is something familiar close by. I have no idea what it is but it is strong." Chster answers
"Group consensus. You all want to go check it out then?" Ziggeruat asks
They all agree.
"So how did you get past the gate again?" Ziggeruat asks
The lost worker points to the strange apparatus by the stairs. They walk down to it. Kiary walks in first. As she steps on the contraption it starts up. A glowing gold seal surrounds her and collects her energy. In a flash it is gone. She stumbles out of it a bit woozy.
"Wow, that was weird." She says. "I think I'll sit down after that."
One by one they all step onto the apparatus and its magical seal hits them all.
"Now that that is done lets get to it." Chster speaks
They all walk up the steps.
"Take him back. We will check out what is up ahead." Ziggeruat speaks
As they all reach the top the gate opens for them. They walk through wondering what they are going to see.
In Basil Terra and Icslei were lying in each other's arms on the ground.
"I don't want this to ever end." She thought
They got up and started to walk back home when there was a flash of energy coming from behind them. Turning to see what was happening the gazebo had a light pulsing around its base. A second flash and there were people standing there. As their eyes readjusted they could make out six people standing there. They moved out of the structure and walked through the water on to the land.
"Who could they be?" Isclei thought
Legal notice. I do not own FFXI. It is property of Square-Enix. All PC's and NPC's have thier respective owners.