The Stranger

By Xenomorph666

Disclaimer: I own only the characters of Wraith, Skalla, Perf, Captain and Beano. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and all related artifacts are owned by Square-Enix

Summary: He arrived with no knowledge, no family, no way of knowing that the miasma should kill him. Now the strange young man journey's with the caravan that has welcomed him as they collect their myrrh, while he journey's for the truth of his past.

The Trip Home

Two days passed as I laid in the wagon, letting my strength return. On the third day we came to a large river, it spanned at least two miles in width. I was in awe at such a sight. It was beautiful, yet very deadly. Then I caught Perf staring at his latest spoils, a piece of parchment on a very dark piece of wood.

"It's a beautiful river." I said turning back to the raging waters.

"Yes, yup, yes it is!" Moogly said in his usual over happy tone.

"Yeah, and we have to cross it as soon as the captain gets here." Perf said, sliding the plans in a large sack. "He should be here tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"What was it?" I asked as he turned back to the caravan.

"What was what?" Perf asked, looking honestly confused.

"The item you were holding. What was it?" I asked putting my hood up as the sun sank down.

"Ya, know that's kind of creepy." He said pointing to my hood, "They were some plans for a sword, not much else. I can barely read it and I'm the blacksmith's son, pretty pathetic, huh?"

"Maybe you are not meant to read it." I said as we walked back to the wagon.

"What?"

"Maybe it is meant only for a certain person, or type of person." I said with strange affirmation behind my tone.

"Well they're plans for a sword, that much I can tell. Other than that, I can't read much on it's ingredients or forging method." He said as we took out seats around the fire, Skalla and Moogly playing on the other side, while Beano and Captain counted the gil we had for the journey.

"Then maybe, it is not for mortal men to bear witness to." I said coldly, something in the back of my mind telling me that the item was the housing of an evil force.

"What?" Perf chuckled a little. "It's not like a sword can be evil you know."

"Maybe, but who is to say that a sword cannot compel the evil in men to rise to the surface." I said, still not liking the feeling of the plans he carried.

"Hm, ok. I see your point, if a weapon's valued enough someone might kill any number of people to obtain it." He nodded, "What kind of weapon would be worth such meaningless death."

"No weapon is worth any death." I said sternly as I took out my knives. "Not even these."

"Yeah I know, but could you imagine a weapon powerful enough that the lich kept it hidden away from even himself?" Perf almost sounded excited.

"I would fear it's wielder more, for the lich hid it away for a reason. I would not want to violate that reason." I said again sternly.

"Yeah, you're right. Well, at least it'll make a good wall decoration." He said as he pulled the plans out again.

I shifted uncomfortably over to Skalla's side and watched him intently. He seemed to be petting the dark plans, as if they were the most precious thing he had on him. I could not shake the feeling of dread that paper and wood gave me.

That night I slept again, but my sleep was to be more message than escape. My dream was riddles with a sky that rained fire and lava. The seas boiled red and scalded everything it touched. The earth split open and revealed a great form, the lich, screaming in pain as it tore itself from the bowels of hell.

"HE WILL UNLEASH IT!" Lich screamed and then he was suddenly pulled back into the mires of hell, but not before a single word escaped his lips.

"RAGNAROK!"

The word that chilled my heart and soul to a solid cube of ice. The name of death, the name of my enemy to be.