The Stranger
By Xenomorph666
Disclaimer: I own only the characters of Wraith, Skalla, Perf, Captain, Birch 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.
Arrival at the Village Tipa
It was a week later when we arrived at my companions home. It was a fairly large sized seaside village, upon our arrival the village cheered at the sight of their beloved caravaners. Skalla ran to what seemed to be her family, as did Captain. Perf and Beano bowed politely to theirs as they walked up and placed the chalice in the hands of an older gentleman who almost immediately took notice of me. I had been hiding at the side of the wagon, still unnerved by the feeling the crystal in the town gave me.
"Hello there young man, I am Roland McGhee, Mayor of Tipa." He was a short man, and wore a red overcoat with a cane at his side. "And who might you be?" He gave me a small smile and I couldn't help but find myself confused by his sudden kindness. Here I was a stranger in his town, in his world and he was welcoming me, be I for good or ill. It was odd.
"I have no name, but you may call me Wraith." I said with a slight bow.
"Wow you don't have a name?" A little girl asked as she walked up. She dressed in a similar fashion to Skalla. "What kind of parents don't name their kid?"
"Mimie!" A young man in a red bandana shouted at the younger girl as he smacked her lightly across the back of her head. "Don't talk like that to guests of the village!"
"You shouldn't hit little children." I said, in an angry tone. Perhaps a little to angry as it seemed to startle the Mayor and the two in front of me.
"Right, sorry. Name's Birch, nice to meet you." He said as he extended his hand for a shake.
It was then that I felt a small tingling sensation, like the crawling of ants up and down my spine, then I saw it and I reacted with out thought as I threw one of my blades straight past the mayor and the young man, past several gathered families and straight into the heart of a strange green beast that had snuck into the village.
As I walked over to retrieve my dagger, I was completely unaware at the attention I had gathered. That was at least until I looked up from he body. The entire town was gazing at me, partially in fear, partially in awe. My usual first impression it seemed was fear.
"Whoa." The little girl, Mimie, said. "DID YOU SEE THAT? IT WAS AMAZING!" She then began to retell my exact actions in a very excited manner, as if it were the most interesting thing she had ever seen.
"I should be going." I said as I realized the village was probably a little more than upset at my actions. I was about to make my way to the exit when the mayor stopped me with his cane.
"Young man, I thank you." He said as he looked up at me, "And if you feel you must go, then might I ask you to join us for tonight's celebration before you do so?"
"Celebration?" I asked with a confused look hidden in the shadows of my hood. "For what?"
The mayor simply stared at me for a few seconds before answering. "For the Myrrh festival of course."
I nodded to the mayor in affirmation as he took his cane down from my chest. Then I heard the whispering start. Barely a half hour in town and I was already the most gossiped about. I'd have been flattered, if I didn't want to be alone.
"All right everyone, lets go home and prepare for the festival!" Roland said in a very cheerful voice, when the people all cheered and walked off however he turned to me. "Wraith was it, please come with me."
Quietly I followed the older gentleman. He lead me to a small house, opened the door and motioned for me to follow him in. As I entered I took notice of several trophies on the walls, some were animals and others were old treasures.
"You are not from any of the tribes, are you?" He asked with a serious look on his face.
"No, no I am not." I said as I took off my hood. "I know not of my people or my past only that I am different."
"I know." He said as he pulled out a letter. "At first I thought Perf was going mad when he sent me this letter, but it seems he was all to accurate in the description of your skills and 'differences'." He sat down in a very comfortable chair and motioned for me to sit across from him. "You are truly unique among men, do you know that?"
"I do not follow." I said, trying to understand what he was saying.
"You have a gift to not only resist the miasma, but you are immune to it's effects as well." He chuckled a little. "But as you said, you have no memory. You are with out purpose, responsibility, ties, family and most importantly memories. You are a man yet to be made." I was silent as he continued to speak. "Perf also tells me that you defeated to large monsters that presented themselves as a greater threat."
Instantly my mind flashed to the two battles. "Yes, a dark power held a maddening grip over them."
"You would know this how?" He asked as an older woman came in with three cups of tea. "Maladye, Wraith. Wraith, my wife, Maladye." I bowed my head slightly at the introduction.
"I know it just as I knew where the monster was; I just do." I said as I politely refused the tea.
"Wraith, would you say this power has spread the world over?" He asked me, a new tone in his voice, worry.
As I thought about it, I remembered that despite the uneasy feeling of the crystal's force, I was often uneasy at the sight of large areas that the others told me held myrrh trees. "Very much so."
The mayor was deathly quite for a few seconds, before he finally spoke. "Will you accompany Perf and his caravan on their next trip out?"
"Excuse me?" Surprise lined my voice at the sudden offer.
"Perf seems confident in your skills, and I think with them you might find some clues to your past and your strange abilities." He smiled, "Of course they don't leave for another six months, and until then my wife and I would be more than happy to provide your lodging."
"And if I uncover nothing?" I asked, referring to my past.
"Then the offer will be extended, indefinitely." He looked at me with an odd glance. Not one of pity or boredom, but of understanding, of compassion.
"I will think about it tonight and let you know in the morning." I said as I looked down at his table.
"Very well then young man." He said as he got up. "Now if you'll excuse me I must advise the other caravans to add more members to their group so that they may remain safe."
"I understand." I nodded as I left into the town, a whole new adventure awaiting me there. A game called tag.