"FATHER!" cried a Mithra child with an outstretched hand as she was being carried away by her mother...
The Mithra's father, an Elvaan warrior, graced with midnight black semi-long hair; stole a last glance and smile towards his daughter as he returned to his fight with the enemy... The cries of battle errupted from within him as he slayed with his blade.
Her mother, also Mithra, poised with semi-long white hair and a scar on her right eye earned from training at a young age; continued carrying her child... the child would not forget his dying scream...
It echoed down the tunnel, engraved into the young mind. The mother halted...
"...Mother...?" the tiny voice asked, scared; as she clutched onto her mother's sleeve.
The mother gave no reply... she slowly put down her child, sorrow in her eyes...
"Do not get seen... get away from this place..." she softly said.
"...but..."
"Do not question, run..."
With that, the child ran and took heed of shelter where no one could see... The mother turned to the monsters that reeked of blood. Drawing her katana...
"You shall not go any futher!" she shouted and prepared battle stance.
"...mother..." the child wimpered...
The battle raged on, the mother took down most but was injured. As a Samurai's duty, die with honor...
The final blow was decided... she had fallen... dead...
The monsters left... Silent tears rolled down the child's face...
"...mother... father..."
She crept from her hiding place, unaware of the one monster that was left behind. She saw the dead bodies, the image would be burned in place.
The monster behind her moaned, which startled the child... Making her tripped over a hand that layed carelessly.
The monster charged, the child got to her feet and ran... Making her way pass the endless stone walls, she saw some more monsters, corning two Hume children... she continue to run... the monster continue to persuit... suddenly, something strange happened.
A boy, out of no where, took on the monster... with a one handed sword...
"Run!" he shouted.
She needed no advice, she continue to run...
Miles after miles, she staggered on... and reaching the end... she had fled, a town of Vana'Diel... in ruins...
After many days, she finally colasped just inside the gates of a stone city, Bastok...
...Many Years Later...
The young Mithra who was once small, grew up from a caring of a mother, who pitied on the first sight of the child. Now, eighteen years old, she gained friends and was a swell fighter, she carried the name of Bastok highly. She was heading to the Grand Duchery of Jeuno; for another mission assigned by Bastok.
"Ah, Catpaw," the Ambassador of Bastok greeted, "nice to see you again."
"As well as you, sir," the Mithra addressed. "How are you feeling?"
At that comment she said, Altair, the ambassador laughed, "After you found me down in Delkfutt's Tower, I'm fine!"
"...ah..." she muttered as she slightly moved her head to look at the floor.
She was remembering that dreadful event, running through the tower for the key to unlock where the ambassador was; she was with a Dragoon at the time...
Just Catpaw and an Elvaan Dragoon, ran up the stairs that lead to the ambassador... The Elvaan's armor clanged loudly as he ran, followed quietly but hastly behind was his wyvern... As they came the room filled with giants, he raised a hand to halt Catpaw.
"Let's sneak around them, be careful... We'll get to that door." he ordered.
She just nodded to his reply and followed behind, surely they got to the door. She unlocked it, and there, she saw, the ambassador, on the ground.
"Oh no!" she cried and ran over to his side, kneeling beside him.
The Dragoon remained silent...
The ambassador moaned and sat up, grasping his head in pain.
"Are you alright?" the Mithra asked.
She studied the ambassador, he was an older Hume with a beard and mustache, of course, one of the two main races in Bastok.
The ambassador groaned, "Yes I am alright... some monsters ambushed me from behind... and when I awoken, well... I ended up here. What are you doing in a place like this?"
Catpaw managed to say, "...I was assigned to find you by your assistant, and I'm from Bastok..."
The ambassador stood up, "I see, let us take a leave of here..."
He spotted the dragoon and turned back to the Mithra, "Is he with you?"
Catpaw jumped at the remark, "He is just a friend!"
He muttered something under his breath and said, "...come on, let's go..."
"Catpaw?"
"Hm? oh! Sorry, sir!"
"You are to go to the Audience Chamber for your briefing... here is your Audience Chamber pass to see the Grand Duke."
"Thank you, sir." she took the pass and saluted the ambassador; she took her leave of the Embassy.
A few moments later, Catpaw stood infront of the Palace of the Grand Duke. Upon showing her Audience Chamber pass to the two guards, she was allowed in.
Walking up the stairs, the pale lighted room reflected off the shinny floor. Sitting upon the throne, the one and only Grand Archduke of Jeuno.
"So, you're the new attache. I am Kam'lanaut, Archduke of Jeuno." he introduced himself, a Hume also but with strange marks embedded into his face.
"Yes, I am...I guess..."
"I'd like your nation's help with a certain matter..." he began but was interupted by a sudden person.
A kid dressed in noble clothes, blonde hair, a blue eye and an eyepatch ran beside Kam'lanaut, questioning, "Oh a vistor? Hello there. My name is Eald'narche. Pleased to meet ya."
Catpaw noded and slightly bowed, "Pleased to meet you."
"This is my brother. Don't let him bother you."
Kam'lanaut cleared his throat, resuming, "Now, let us get down to business, I summoned you here for a certain mission. Have you heard of the Shadow Lord?"
Catpaw glanced up to the Archduke, answering, "Yes I have heard before. From a person I met at Holaris Peak, after I slayed the dragon of San D'Oria..."
Eald'narche stepped up, "My sources tell me that beastmen in Davoi, Beadeaux, and Castle Ozroja are conspiring to return him to Vana'diel.
"They seek to do so by harnessing the power of mysterious stones called Magicite. To stop their nefarious plan, I want you to go to those three places and seize that magicite. I will issue an airship pass upon reciept of the three magicite. With it, you can swiftly travel home, or to any civilized land, for that matter." explained the Duke.
"So they're after the magicite, are they? I wonder what this means... Take extra special care. The thought of a world under the control of the beastmen makes me shudder. I bet the beastment have traps waiting. First, you've got to find out as much as you can."
"Eald'narche speaks the truth. Start by finding out what you can in town. I'm counting on you!" the Duke finished his briefing.
Catpaw bowed and started to walk out, but a cloaked, pale skinned man stopped her.
"A moment please," he said, "By the order of of His Grace, we have decided to seek the assistance of the Tenshodo, the organization run by that Aldo fellow. This secert dispatch outlines our wishes. Would you be so kind as to deliver it to him?"
"But of course, I would not defy something from the Duke." she answered.
"He is a man of many talents. It would be wise to seek his acquaintance. Good luck!"
Mawl'gofaur gave her the letter and she resumed her walk out of the palace...