Chapter One
Dragged to Conflict
Damned señor... Ida thought with pure agitation. Making me do this damned work when I could be doing something more useful...
Sighing, Ida tossed the packs of Ghasyl Greens with as much force as her small body could muster, and watched with strange satisfaction as the grass went soaring into the wall, where the strings binding it together split. Greens spilled everywhere in the stables, and the chocobos began to chirp with delight, trying to charge through their stalls to get to the tempting food. Smiling with satisfaction, Ida rubbed her stained hands on her blouse, not caring if she got scolded for making a mess that would take hours to clean. It was about time someone did work around here, besides her. She thought she was supposed to be a White Mage, an adopted daughter to señor, and a valuable asset to the family's army. Instead, she was still doing work like she was a servant. It was aggravating that no one in the family could remember what she was.
Ah well. They'll remember when I cast Confuse on them and send them running into walls when they think it's a door.
The thought caused a cruel chuckle to come from Ida's mouth. It was a rare thing, her chuckling over some nasty thought that involved inflicting pain on someone, but frustration often brought the oddest of things to someone. At that moment, it brought mental images of seeing her idiotic "family" running into walls from confusion. She would probably try such a thing as well, if she didn't know what would happen in her sleep if she forgot to cast her average Protect spell. Being the adopted daughter of a family that hated hers was definitely dangerous business, but she had grown used to danger. It followed her around like a big puppy ever since she could remember. It was always there, seeming innocent and cute, but you never knew when it may bare its teeth and strike. If you were with it enough, however, you learned its moods. Ida had done the same with danger, and she knew exactly when it was going to strike.
The time had come, actually. As she walked out of the stables, which had sounds coming from it that sounded like chocobos succeeding in breaking out their stalls, a loud, angry shout came from the mansion that Ida called her "hellish home". Ida recognized the shout instantly, and it made her sigh with great agitation, and begin to twirl a piece of her red-brown, shoulder-length hair around her fingers out of nervousness. Ida quickened her pace away from the stables, which had such a disaster happening within that even a nearly deaf person could probably hear it, and toward the garden. She wanted to make sure it didn't look like she had caused the mess in the stables, though señor would certainly guess it. He was, unfortunately, incredibly smart, and he also knew Ida quite well. He knew she would cause a mess within his life at any chance she got. It was a wonder that he hadn't kicked her out of the house yet.
No, I have to be valuable. For what, practicing his threats on?
The shout came again, and this time it was much closer. Ida could easily identify it as señor, and he sounded like he was in the living room, which had a door that led directly into the garden. Ida had arrived upon the garden, and was walking along the sandstone pavement, admiring the pink-flowered cherry trees and the birds that were singing within them. She had the best innocent face she could muster on, which certainly wasn't much. Hands behind her back, she walked with lady-like grace, an odd thing to see when she wore leather pants with a white blouse that was stained with Ghasyl Greens. Ida knew she was as obvious as a white cat in the dark, and that her attempt at innocence would only make her seem more guilty to señor, but it didn't hurt to try and act her way out of it...
"Ida! What's the- Ida! Dammit, can you do anything right these days?"
Ida grinned at the agitated voice of señor, who had, judging by the shrill calls of chocobos who found an intruder upon their food, stumbled upon the stables first. He was probably being chased by a bunch of hungry chocobos. Whistling a cheery tune Ida had made up called "Señor Got Ran Over by a Chocobo", Ida turned away from the pretty garden and skipped toward the great wooden doors that led into the family room. She took a large, wooden key out of her pocket and unlocked the door, before slipping into the family room and closing the door. She tossed the key onto the mahogany desk that rested near the door, then began to walk through the family room, leaving ugly green stains on the white carpet. She passed quickly through the family room and into the smaller but no less lovely kitchen.
"Hey, Moa!" Ida called to the older woman trying to get dough to roll out into a circle, something it did not seem willing to do. "What are you doing? Making a new type of bread?"
The old woman sighed, turning her attention away from the stubborn dough and over to the eighteen-year-old child watching her with a grin. Her black eyes blinked slowly before she replied in an old, cracked voice, "Shouldn't you be working?"
Ida grinned, brown eyes glittering innocently. "What? I'm finished..."
The old woman groaned, obviously not pleased with hearing such a thing. She motioned to a wooden stool near the kitchen's massive, iron stove. "Sit down and let me work."
Ida skipped like a young child over to the stool and sat down, smiling at the roaring fire within the stove. She looked around the room, as always admiring its grey stone walls, sandstone floor, and gorgeous wooden counters that had intricate designs of dragons and flowers (Ida wasn't sure why the two were put together, and she didn't dare ask). It was a small, peaceful room, and the only room where stains were expected and not looked down upon.
"IDA!"
The peace of the kitchen was shattered by the extremely angry roar coming from the family room. The entire house seemed to be shaking as the angry steps of a large man reverberated throughout the building. The old woman glanced toward Ida and jerked her head toward the family room, an obvious command of "Get out!" Groaning, Ida jumped off the stool and walked into the family room, calling upon her White Magic in the process. Just as she walked into the family room, she was surrounded by a sparkling, goo-like shield that made her gain a yellowish tinge. Seconds later, a hand that made an attempt to slap her made contact with the shield, and slid along it as if it were covered in grease. Ida couldn't help but grin at the slowly reddening face of the man who found that he couldn't punish her after all.
Señor was a large man, easily 230lbs (around 104kg), and almost 6 feet 5 inches (about two meters) tall. He had large, muscular arms and legs, though the rest of his body seemed lacking in strength. He had the power one needed to wield a massive axe, and a temper that would cause anyone seeing him holding such an axe to run the other way. His blue eyes stared down at Ida with sheer rage, and yellow feathers were stuck in his black hair, which was up in a long ponytail that almost reached the floor. Brushing feathers off his leather pants and armor, which Ida had learned seemed to attract chocobo feathers like a magnet, he pointed an accusing finger at Ida, who merely stared up at him - Ida was only four feet two inches (about a meter and a quarter) tall - while doing her best to hide a smirk.
"I want an explanation for this-" señor fumed, pointing to the chocobo feathers in his hair. "This-" Now he motioned to the grass stains on the once beautiful carpet. "And that." He motioned in the direction of the stable, which sounded like it was still a disaster zone, even from inside a thick-walled room.
"That is because chocobos shed way too much during spring, that is because Greens are quite messy and you were thick enough to choose a white carpet, and that is because chocobos really like their food," Ida replied, refraining from laughing at señor's reddening face.
"Dammit Ida! Do you have any realization of how lucky you are?" señor began, but Ida cut him off.
"Don't try that again, please. I've heard it too many times. You can't be here just to scream at me for being a 'bad, unappreciative child'. What do you want?" Ida asked calmly, somehow managing to keep her voice very calm.
For a few moments señor's lips moved silently, as everything he wanted to say refused to come out in actual noise. Ida yawned purposely, not because she was tired or bored but just to annoy señor as best she could. Annoying señor was an awesome form of entertainment for Ida, who found that she couldn't find anything particularly fun to do those days. Aggravating señor was the best way to do it, and what better way than to yawn right in his face? It worked, but señor refrained from trying to hit Ida, for the protective shield was still shimmering with full strength. Trying to punish the child would result in another hand sliding along goo like a misplaced foot upon ice. It wasn't worth the humiliation and Ida's grin. Truthfully, nothing was worth it.
"The Lycurgus have challenged my men to a duel," señor explained. "I ne- Eh, you are required to come and assist us."
Still can't admit you need me, eh? Arrogant moron. Just have to keep up your reputation, Ida thought bitterly, but hid the smoldering thoughts under a calm visage.
"You can't just refuse? Or ask another White Mage?" Ida asked, though this time her words were actually truthful.
"Refuse? And lose face? You must be joking. And you're the be- Um, no one else is available right now, so you must come along," señor replied.
Right. And I'm a chocobo who writes novels about Alexandrian history.
"Fine, fine. Let me go get ready. I'll be out in the front within ten minutes," Ida groaned reluctantly. Then, without waiting for another word, she turned away from señor and strode toward the large wooden staircase on the far east wall of the family room.
"Ah! Enu, no, that won't work. You need to concentrate more, feel the power within your fingertips, feel it pass through your very veins."
"But I did, Sir Conleth! I did!" Enu wailed, jumping up and down with frustration. He showed all signs of being a frustrated six-year-old.
Conleth sighed, shaking his head. He was showing all sings of being a frustrated sixteen-year-old. "No, you mustn't of. If you did, more than a little drop of water would've resulted! See, watch me, sense the power..."
With those words, Conleth closed his yellow eyes, something all Black Mages seemed to have. He held his gloved hands out before him, and began to silently chant within his mind. He felt magic rush through his veins, and gather at his fingers. He switched his chant from a simple call for magic to an incantation for water. His fingers felt simply damp at first, but then the power escalated to a feeling of his fingers drowning in water. To most, it would be an uncomfortable feeling, but to Conleth it was wonderful. Slowly he brought his hands out to his sides, his arms perfectly straight. He felt the drowning sensation split to evenly cover both of his hands, and it only continued, traveling up to his wrists. At that point, he switched his chants once more, and called upon the magic to release itself from its binds, and rise forward.
That it did. The drowning sensation left, and his gloves and edge of his sleeves felt distinctly wet, as the sensation of water within him left to be replaced by the feeling of water on the outside. He heard Enu gasp, and guessed that the child had just witnessed seeing water rise from someone's hands the way a zombie rose from a grave. For those that weren't used to it, it could be an odd thing to see, and for an inexperienced mage, an odd thing to feel. Conleth, however, wasn't inexperienced, and it was a calm and peaceful sensation.
Conleth's thoughts threatened to stray away from the task, and quickly he switched the chant to sending the water upward. The feeling of being soaked left immediately, and he heard the rush of water as it surged upward, splashed into the ceiling, and fell down to the ground, soaking him. Opening his eyes, Conleth looked up to see a small hole in the ceiling where the force of the spell had hit and deformed the ceiling. Conleth looked down to see Enu gaping at the ceiling.
"Wow," the child mouthed, and Conleth smiled.
"See? That is what you must do. Call the magic like you're saying a prayer to it, and it will come to you naturally," Conleth explained.
"Sir Conleth? Did the Old Black Mages have to do such things?" Enu chirped when Conleth turned to leave.
Conleth stopped moving, surprised by the question. It had been the same question that had caused his thoughts to nearly stray and lose the spell of Water. There were many books around about the Old Black Mages, with their pointy hats and glowing oval eyes, and how they were manufactured like they were toys, toys designed to murder. Supposedly they were purely magic, and had "died" long ago. When they died, however, supposedly humans, Burmecians, and other species being born with Black Magic abilities had become more and more common. It was almost as if their "deaths" had released their magic.
The books never told of how they used their magic, though, and if they had to almost pray to it. Conleth assumed not, since they were magic, and it wouldn't make sense if they had to pray to themselves. Still, he wasn't sure, and he didn't want to give false information to an innocent child. Therefore, he shrugged lightly.
"I don't know. Maybe someday someone will find out," Conleth answered. "Practice your magic. I will be right back."
"Okay!" Enu chirped, suddenly incredibly eager and cheery. It made Conleth smile as he left the room.
The minute Conleth had left the room and was in the hallway, he sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. He then shivered and pulled his cloak, which was blue to signify Conleth's specialty to be of the Water, closer around his frail frame. Mages never grew very tall or strong, and Conleth followed this, being only four feet (about a meter) tall and 102lbs (about 46kg). He looked to be nothing more than skin and bones, and hid this skinny frame with flowing clothing. Given clothes that he felt he didn't deserve the luxury of, Conleth regardless wore the white linen pants and shirt, with a light chain link vest over the shirt, black leather boots and pants, and a gorgeous blue, silk cloak over the outfit. His black hair was dressed up in a braid held together by blue silk pieces of cloth. This braid reached halfway down his back, as was almost standard among mages.
"Hello Conleth."
"Hmm?" Conleth looked to see who had spoken, but it was too late; the woman was already walking down the hallway.
That was one part of being one of the youngest, most handsome, most powerful mages that Conleth did not enjoy: the attention. Everyone, from nine-year-olds to thirty-three-year-olds, was hoping to impress him, get his attention, maybe even form more than just a friendship with him. Conleth, however, had no interest in any of the women who came toward him, no matter how lovely or sweet they may be. He had better things to worry about than a girlfriend. He had spells to learn, armor to purchase, and a small, unimportant war to fight (not that he wished to fight the war, but he was paid to fight it, and thus he felt he might as well). At that moment, however, he wanted nothing more than to go get a bite to eat, then maybe head home and take a nap.
"Sir Conleth! There you are!"
Oh no. Mr. You're-Going-Into-Battle, right at lunchtime.
"Yes, General?" Conleth called, coming to a stop as General Lycurgus came along, looking quite exhausted.
General Lycurgus was tall and heavy compared to Conleth, being five feet (about a meter and a half) tall and 150lbs (68kg), but compared to any other general he was small and frail. Regardless, the tan-skinned General was an expert with airships, and could get them into and out of the strangest situations. At that moment, he did not hold his normal confidence. Rather, there were black circles under his blue eyes, and his ochre hair was frizzy. He looked like he hadn't gotten sleep in two weeks, and whenever the General looked like such, there was trouble.
"The Chutzpah's forces are advancing!" General Lycurgus breathed out in a panic.
Conleth could only stare with shock, thousands of thoughts running through his head. Advancing? They had made a treaty to give each other a week to allow their armies to recover! Why were they advancing? It seemed like the Chutzpah had, once again, broke the rules in an attempt to get ahead in the stupid feud. It caused Conleth to sigh heavily. Whatever they were doing, they were succeeding in making Conleth lose his lunch and afternoon nap once again.
"Where do you need me?" Conleth asked. There was no arguing, no whining, simply a calm following of orders.
"I want you to kidnap someone," the General replied.
That woke up Conleth up, if he hadn't already been alert. Mages normally weren't told to kidnap people, particularly sixteen-year-old mages with powers that would be far more useful in the front of the battle.
"Whoa! Okay, back up! You want me to kidnap someone? Me?" Conleth gasped, stunned by the news.
"Yes... Don't worry, they shouldn't be armed. You're to kidnap a White Mage," Lycurgus replied, trying to calm the quickly panicking Conleth. "You can use your Death attack to knock her out easily enough, and then bring her to our side. Surely your spells can help you get there safely?"
Conleth wasn't sure about that question. His magic was powerful, certainly, but that didn't mean he could kidnap a person without risking danger or being seen. There was still the chance he'd be seen and killed, or captured. Disaster still loomed overhead. Unfortunately, Conleth could tell there was no way he could refuse. If he did, Lycurgus would send someone a lot less experienced and up to the job, and they would probably get killed. Conleth would rather risk his own life than have someone else get crippled just because they didn't know what to do.
"All right... I'll do it... Where should I meet you?" Conleth said reluctantly and slowly, rubbing his left arm out of habit. The wound that had once been there had long healed, but he still rubbed it when nervous.
"Outside Lindblum. Please hurry," the General said, then rushed away, heading toward the room where Enu was practicing.
Conleth didn't bother watching him leave. He simply began a hurried run toward the main exit of the Black Mage Training Quarters.
Oh gosh. I'm alive. Yes, I'm alive, and writing FanFiction at that O.O Anyway, I know the first chapter is really confusing setting-wise, as you're probably thinking "Who ARE these people? Where are they? What the -censored- is going on here anyway?" Don't worry... Where they are isn't important, so I see no reason to explain it. The chapter seems rather description-deprived to me, but I only described who was important... Which wasn't much. I did what I had to do here... Introduced you to our "heroes", and the problem. -bows- Adios until next time.
This story is copyright to me. Final Fantasy IX, and all content related to it, is copyright to Square-Whatever-Their-Name-Currently-Is. Thank you.