Chronicle Two: Within the Orc's Keep
After leaving the Palace of the Archduke, and stepping down the stairs of Ru'Laude Gardens and into Upper Jeuno. She checked the shops, ask civilians nearby, and checked the Inn.
Knocking on the door, a voice answered, "We only serve.. Residents of Windurst, today."
"But, I only ask if a fellow by the name of Aldo, is here."
The voice did not answer her. So with a sigh of defeat, she head down to the steps that lead to Lower Jeuno.
The sounds of shouts, echoed upon the streets of Lower Jeuno. Of course, people and adventures shouting for goods and services. To get away from the noise, she ducked into a nearby Inn. The Neptune's Spire.
A Mithra who was standing by at the counter, jumped at the sight of Catpaw entering.
"Oh! Good day, ma'am!" she said, still startled.
Catpaw nodded and approached the counter, "Do you know of a man by the name of Aldo? I have something from the Archduke."
The Mithra's startled face turned into a serious one, pulling her face closer to Cat, motioning to do the same, she whispered, "Those whom wish to see Aldo, must be a member of the Tenshodo."
Puzzled by the statement, Catpaw took her leave to search for the Tenshodo Invite. She found one in the Auction House, for a mer two thousand gil. Happy with her find but disappointed in her loss of gil.
She muttered to herself, "I should really stop wasting my gil and get myself that dress... a thief like myself can only cough up with so much gil from treasures..."
Returning to the Neptune's Spire, she waved to the Mithra, handing her the Tenshodo Invite and recieving a Tenshodo membership pass in return. Thanking the Mithra, she headed through the doors.
Continuing her walk down the hallway and pass a few more doors, she enters the main room of the Tenshodo. Decorated with a different culture, but mostly Samurai stuff; everyone was wearing a slight Samurai pieces of gear. A small Tarutaru saw Cat and walked up to her, tugging on her pant leg.
"Excuse me miss," the Tarutaru, Sattal-Mansa, greeted. "I believe you are going to meet with Aldo, perhaps?"
Cat blinked at the question, "Yes I am. But why did you stop me?"
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"And it is?"
"Since I know you'll be needing something for something from our leader, Aldo. Just a few items to go further into Beadeaux. I ask of you to bring me a Quadav Charm and a Quadav Augery Shell. In return I will give you, Coruscant Rosary and a Black Matinee Necklace."
"......alright. I'll get them for you. Now, excuse me, I need to speak with Aldo."
Cat continued her walk and through the final doors, to Aldo's office. Upon entering, she saw a Hume, dressed in an arabian outfit with a cape and turban, equiped with a dagger.
"Excuse me," Cat started, "are you Aldo? I have a letter from the Archduke."
Aldo turned to the sound of Catpaw, stating, "So you're the new diplomatic attache. You've got a secert message from the Archduke? Well, let me see it."
Cat handed Aldo the letter, he quickly examined it, "I see. Thanks for getting this to me. It says I'm suppose to tell you about Magicite."
He let out a sigh and then resumed, "Magicite is found deep inside Castle Oztroja, Davoi and Beadeaux. But those places are thick with beastmen, and those beastmen are quite cunning. You'll need this to get inside Beadeaux."
He handed a silver bell to her. Suddenly, a woman, dressed in a noble dress with brown hair, entered the room.
"Aldo..." said the woman.
Both Aldo and Cat turned to the woman, Aldo answered, "What is it, Verena? Can't you see I have a guest?"
"I know. That's what it's about. I heard that the archduke has made a statement..."
"He's ordered all beastment out of Jueno. He must not think its safe to have them around anymore." Aldo replied.
"What? I think those creeps in the palace are a lot worse than any beastmen we have here! It's like they're wearing masks... you can't tell what they're thinking. And their eyes are like cold stones. You're not going to follow that order, are you?" Verena questioned.
"Well, I know how you feel, but with beastmen on the rampage out there, you can't blame people for feeling jittery about the ones in here. You've heard about all that, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I've heard. But the beastmen in town haven't ever hurt anybody!"
"I know that, Verena... But I don't think the average Jeunoan would agree."
"No..."
"Maybe it's the wise thing to do. You know, taking actions before things get out of hand. Well, I'll see if I can think up a better alternative. Do not worry. I'd be the last guy to chase them out of town."
"Okay. You promised, remember!"
A small voice crept from behind the door, "Verena..."
"Oh!" Aldo jumped and turned to Cat, who was puzzled.
Verena walked to the person, "Fickie! Fickie... Are you alright?"
Catpaw reconized the monster and instantly recoiled.
"That's a weird thing to ask, I'm always all right. How about you? You look pale!" the goblin, Fickblix exclaimed.
Verena stammered "Oh, um... No, no, I'm fine."
"Oh, all right. Well, let's get going!"
"Um okay." Verena agreed and left the room with Fickblix.
Catpaw's heart returned to a steady beat, she never liked goblins, well except for the Weavers... Aldo had meantioned the location of the three magicite again and told her that she was dismissed to go search.
Humbly walking out of the Neptune's Spire Inn, she decided to call up a few friends.
After several minutes, she assembled a team. A male Elvaan Paladin by the name of Trobian, a male Elvaan Dragoon known as Tilik, a male Hume Paladin and a fellow linkshell member, Alexei and a Mithra White Mage for help. They were all various levels.
The white mage casted Teleport-Holla on the party and they arrived by the Crag. Jumping down from the arrival spot, they started to run to Davoi; the dwelling of the Orcs.
"Well this is going well..." Trobian muttered and scouted the area, covered in orcs.
Tilik rolled his eyes, turned to the young Mithra, "Hey Cat, shall we go?"
"Yep!"
"...we need sneak and invisible to get past these guys or we'll be in a lot of battles." Alexei stated.
The White Mage casted the spells and they ran to the area, passing the orcs.
"Well, is this the place?" Cat asked as she poked a wall that warped with red and green.
"What do you think it is?" Trobian said as he passed her, showing the item to progress futher.
Tilik was ahead, everyone went through, Catpaw wasn't sure to go through the Wall of Evil with her item, "Davoi Charm".
"...Well there's no Orcs," Alexei reported as he caught up with the others.
"That's good!" chimed Catpaw as she ran up to the Magicite. "Is this it?"
"Yes." Trobian replied as he leaned against the wall.
"Touch it, Cat!" Tilik encouraged.
"I guess there's no harm..."
Catpaw extended her arm, placing her hand on the Magicite that stood there, glistening in its green raidence. It felt warm, but hard...
"Cat!" voices exclaimed.
Suddenly, she passed out...
"CAT!"
It became white.
And images appeared within her subconcious...
"Where am I?" she asked, ghostly watching a scene.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?" a long orange haired Elvaan in leather armor, asked.
"Francmage? I was not expecting you so soon, Monarlais...tell him." the king of San D'Oria ordered.
"...what's going on?" Catpaw ran up, but merely ignored since she was just a viewer and a ghost. "The King of San D'Oria?! Who are you people?!"
"Yes, sire. Francmage, I've summoned you here today to talk about one thing-- the Northlands investigation." another Elvaan spoke, dressed in noble clothing.
Francmage tensed, "Oh, yes, that. Those Bastoker Humes are causing no end of trouble-- saying that they won't want to investigate here, there and the other place..."
"..........I know that the Humes can't seem to get along with Galka that much...." Cat muttered as she put her hands on her hips, sighing.
An elder Elvaan stepped up, greyed with old age and possibably a mage, Muchavatte spoke up, "It is true! The Humes are fools, and no better. Can they truely believe that same ancient power lies hidden in that foresaken wasteland? Hah! Do they hope to find the gates to eternal Paradise there, in that lair of fiends most uncouth? Preposterous!"
Periduque, the Elvaan that spoke before, returned the voice of command, "We must take control of this situation immediately. Still, we can not let them walk about the Northland, freely. Who knows what they're plotting under the guise of this "investigation". Francmage, listen. Go with the investigation party, and keep a close eye on what your foreign "friends" do. They are up to something for in that wasteland, do not let them take it. Understand?"
Francmage noded and bowed, "As you command, my lord. I would give the very blood that runs in my veins if it were to further the cause of our Kingdom. You can rely on me."
"...what is this "investigation" they're talking about?" Catpaw questioned as she floated over to examine Francmage.
Muchavatte spoke again, "These foreigners are wily and faithless. Never let down your guard, and may the godness of the Dawn protect you in her mercy. The King has taken a beautiful queen, and I think a splendid addition to the royal family is not far off. An heir, perhaps... We people of San D'Oria, too, must ever look to the future. The Elvaan must not fall behind foreigners, in power or faith."
"I understand, Your Grace."
"Very Good. Do well, Francmage." the King dismissed Francmage.
"Yes sire! My life for the Kingdom!"
Catpaw continued to hover, "...so this must be the past. The Queen of San D'Oria died a bit ago and Trion and his brother grew..."
A flash of white blinded Cat for a brief second.
"Where am I now?" she questioned, looking around in a cold area. "Reminds me of Qufim in Jueno..."
She instantly reconized Francmage, but he was with two others. She reconized the race immeditally. A Tarutaru and Mithra, possibably from the nation of magic, Windurst.
"As I though, there is nothing here..." Francmage muttered. "Only barren wastelands as far as the eye can see."
The Tarutaru, Iru-Kuiru, cried, dressed in mage's clothes, "But there is something wrong about this place, I can feel it! I don't think-wink we should leave Xacabard yet!"
"Xarcabard? So this must be the place?" Cat questioned, floating along the tunnel top, following the trio.
A Mithra, by the name Rabntah, sniffed around for clues, "I agree. My nose has never failed me, but I don't smell anything. That's not normal. Something really terrible must've happened here a long time ago."
Francmage shouted, "Ridiculous. We cannot base our decisions on your feelings alone. You can stay and look for whatever this "terrible thing" is suppose to be here, but I--"
Suddenly a male Hume with a beard and mustache ran up to the group, "Help! Come quick! Raogrimm and Cornelia, they--"
"Cornelia?!" Catpaw shouted, knowing the name of the Bastokian president's daughter.
"Ulrich? What happened?!" Francmage questioned.
Ulrich explained hastely, "We were attacked by fiends, and Raogrimm and Cornelia fell down a crevice.."
Iru jumped at the remark, "Oh, no! Oh, no!"
Rabntah stepped forward, "Where?!"
"This way!" Ulrich directed.
They ran across the snowy fields. Followed closely behind by Cat.
They searched for hours, but to Catpaw it was only mere minutes. Francmage and Ulrich walked up a bit more than Iru and Rabntah. Iru stopped.
"Raogrimm and Cornelia...where...could they have gone?"
Rabntah explained to Iru, "We have to assume the worrrst. If I can't find them, no one can."
Francmage sighed, annoyed, "Why must Humes and Galka be so irreponsible?! It is their fault for wandering off without telling us! There is too few of us left to continue. I say we go back. Besides, we would find nothing even if we stayed."
"I second that. I've had enough of this crrreppy place anyway."
"B-but, there are still places we haven't looked--" Iru choked out.
"...poor guys..." Catpaw muttered as she glanced around.
"We have seen enough. There is nothing here but dust and ruins. We accomplished nothing but loosing two members of our party and wasting an extra ordinary amount of time..."
"Yeah, you're right. This whole expedition was a failure. Let's head back tomorrow." Ulrich suggested as he walked ahead, but followed closely behind by Francmage.
"Ulrich. Tell me something... Was it really an accident?" Francmage questioned the Hume.
"What do you mean?"
"Is it not true that there is some....shall we say, tension, between Humes and Galka in Bastok these days?"
"What is he getting to?" Catpaw asked, walking up to the Elvaan and Hume.
"Are you accusing me of something, Elvaan?"
"Hah! Calm down. I do not care if it was an accident or not. I care even less about your little country's problems. Just... do not cause anymore trouble with such trivial matters while I am around. That is all."
Silence arose quickly and followed by the footsteps of the group. Catpaw, however remained in the spot she was.
Another white flash startled her.
As it settled, she reconized the place, she was in San D'Oria again.
"What the?!" was her cry when she got up from her fallen state.
Looking around, she reconized the place, the prision area of San D'Oria, in the Chateau D'Oraguille, known as Bostaunieux Oubliette.
"It is quite late to be up and about..." said an Elvaan gaurd.
"You... you can see me?!" she ran up to the guard, waving her hand infront of his face.
"...Sir Francmage. Is something wrong?"
Cat sighed in defeat, turning to see the same Elvaan from before.
"Ah, Courisaille." Francmage greeted. "It is nothing. I could not sleep, so I decided to take a walk. Leave me; I am fine."
"Yes sir."
Catpaw watched Francmage walk down a corridor... Urge to follow, but, she was repeatively running in a spot.
Suddenly, a shout came from the corridor, "No! Not you...? Raogrimm? What do you mean?! He died in an accident! I know nothing!"
Startled both Mithra and Elvaan guard, the guard took a step foreward as Cat could not move from her spot.
"....S-Sir... Francmage?"
A final scream was ushered and all went silent. Catpaw stood, wide eyed.
"...oh no..."
"Cat!" a voice called to her.
"Cat! Wake up you silly kitty!"
"Come on, Catpaw, you're not dead or anything..."
"unggh... shut up Alexei..." Catpaw muttered as she sat up, grasping her head with her left hand. "What happened?"
"I guess you passed out..." one of her friends stated.
"Well, I didn't pass out when I touched the Magicite," Alexei said, scratching the back of his head with his glove.
"Next Magicite?" Tilik suggested.
"To Beadeaux!"
The White Mage started to cast Teleport-Dem. It was the closest crag to Beadeaux. As little as they knew it... Catpaw was being watched.
"....it has been so long.... my friend..."
After leaving the Palace of the Archduke, and stepping down the stairs of Ru'Laude Gardens and into Upper Jeuno. She checked the shops, ask civilians nearby, and checked the Inn.
Knocking on the door, a voice answered, "We only serve.. Residents of Windurst, today."
"But, I only ask if a fellow by the name of Aldo, is here."
The voice did not answer her. So with a sigh of defeat, she head down to the steps that lead to Lower Jeuno.
The sounds of shouts, echoed upon the streets of Lower Jeuno. Of course, people and adventures shouting for goods and services. To get away from the noise, she ducked into a nearby Inn. The Neptune's Spire.
A Mithra who was standing by at the counter, jumped at the sight of Catpaw entering.
"Oh! Good day, ma'am!" she said, still startled.
Catpaw nodded and approached the counter, "Do you know of a man by the name of Aldo? I have something from the Archduke."
The Mithra's startled face turned into a serious one, pulling her face closer to Cat, motioning to do the same, she whispered, "Those whom wish to see Aldo, must be a member of the Tenshodo."
Puzzled by the statement, Catpaw took her leave to search for the Tenshodo Invite. She found one in the Auction House, for a mer two thousand gil. Happy with her find but disappointed in her loss of gil.
She muttered to herself, "I should really stop wasting my gil and get myself that dress... a thief like myself can only cough up with so much gil from treasures..."
Returning to the Neptune's Spire, she waved to the Mithra, handing her the Tenshodo Invite and recieving a Tenshodo membership pass in return. Thanking the Mithra, she headed through the doors.
Continuing her walk down the hallway and pass a few more doors, she enters the main room of the Tenshodo. Decorated with a different culture, but mostly Samurai stuff; everyone was wearing a slight Samurai pieces of gear. A small Tarutaru saw Cat and walked up to her, tugging on her pant leg.
"Excuse me miss," the Tarutaru, Sattal-Mansa, greeted. "I believe you are going to meet with Aldo, perhaps?"
Cat blinked at the question, "Yes I am. But why did you stop me?"
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"And it is?"
"Since I know you'll be needing something for something from our leader, Aldo. Just a few items to go further into Beadeaux. I ask of you to bring me a Quadav Charm and a Quadav Augery Shell. In return I will give you, Coruscant Rosary and a Black Matinee Necklace."
"......alright. I'll get them for you. Now, excuse me, I need to speak with Aldo."
Cat continued her walk and through the final doors, to Aldo's office. Upon entering, she saw a Hume, dressed in an arabian outfit with a cape and turban, equiped with a dagger.
"Excuse me," Cat started, "are you Aldo? I have a letter from the Archduke."
Aldo turned to the sound of Catpaw, stating, "So you're the new diplomatic attache. You've got a secert message from the Archduke? Well, let me see it."
Cat handed Aldo the letter, he quickly examined it, "I see. Thanks for getting this to me. It says I'm suppose to tell you about Magicite."
He let out a sigh and then resumed, "Magicite is found deep inside Castle Oztroja, Davoi and Beadeaux. But those places are thick with beastmen, and those beastmen are quite cunning. You'll need this to get inside Beadeaux."
He handed a silver bell to her. Suddenly, a woman, dressed in a noble dress with brown hair, entered the room.
"Aldo..." said the woman.
Both Aldo and Cat turned to the woman, Aldo answered, "What is it, Verena? Can't you see I have a guest?"
"I know. That's what it's about. I heard that the archduke has made a statement..."
"He's ordered all beastment out of Jueno. He must not think its safe to have them around anymore." Aldo replied.
"What? I think those creeps in the palace are a lot worse than any beastmen we have here! It's like they're wearing masks... you can't tell what they're thinking. And their eyes are like cold stones. You're not going to follow that order, are you?" Verena questioned.
"Well, I know how you feel, but with beastmen on the rampage out there, you can't blame people for feeling jittery about the ones in here. You've heard about all that, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I've heard. But the beastmen in town haven't ever hurt anybody!"
"I know that, Verena... But I don't think the average Jeunoan would agree."
"No..."
"Maybe it's the wise thing to do. You know, taking actions before things get out of hand. Well, I'll see if I can think up a better alternative. Do not worry. I'd be the last guy to chase them out of town."
"Okay. You promised, remember!"
A small voice crept from behind the door, "Verena..."
"Oh!" Aldo jumped and turned to Cat, who was puzzled.
Verena walked to the person, "Fickie! Fickie... Are you alright?"
Catpaw reconized the monster and instantly recoiled.
"That's a weird thing to ask, I'm always all right. How about you? You look pale!" the goblin, Fickblix exclaimed.
Verena stammered "Oh, um... No, no, I'm fine."
"Oh, all right. Well, let's get going!"
"Um okay." Verena agreed and left the room with Fickblix.
Catpaw's heart returned to a steady beat, she never liked goblins, well except for the Weavers... Aldo had meantioned the location of the three magicite again and told her that she was dismissed to go search.
Humbly walking out of the Neptune's Spire Inn, she decided to call up a few friends.
After several minutes, she assembled a team. A male Elvaan Paladin by the name of Trobian, a male Elvaan Dragoon known as Tilik, a male Hume Paladin and a fellow linkshell member, Alexei and a Mithra White Mage for help. They were all various levels.
The white mage casted Teleport-Holla on the party and they arrived by the Crag. Jumping down from the arrival spot, they started to run to Davoi; the dwelling of the Orcs.
"Well this is going well..." Trobian muttered and scouted the area, covered in orcs.
Tilik rolled his eyes, turned to the young Mithra, "Hey Cat, shall we go?"
"Yep!"
"...we need sneak and invisible to get past these guys or we'll be in a lot of battles." Alexei stated.
The White Mage casted the spells and they ran to the area, passing the orcs.
"Well, is this the place?" Cat asked as she poked a wall that warped with red and green.
"What do you think it is?" Trobian said as he passed her, showing the item to progress futher.
Tilik was ahead, everyone went through, Catpaw wasn't sure to go through the Wall of Evil with her item, "Davoi Charm".
"...Well there's no Orcs," Alexei reported as he caught up with the others.
"That's good!" chimed Catpaw as she ran up to the Magicite. "Is this it?"
"Yes." Trobian replied as he leaned against the wall.
"Touch it, Cat!" Tilik encouraged.
"I guess there's no harm..."
Catpaw extended her arm, placing her hand on the Magicite that stood there, glistening in its green raidence. It felt warm, but hard...
"Cat!" voices exclaimed.
Suddenly, she passed out...
"CAT!"
It became white.
And images appeared within her subconcious...
"Where am I?" she asked, ghostly watching a scene.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?" a long orange haired Elvaan in leather armor, asked.
"Francmage? I was not expecting you so soon, Monarlais...tell him." the king of San D'Oria ordered.
"...what's going on?" Catpaw ran up, but merely ignored since she was just a viewer and a ghost. "The King of San D'Oria?! Who are you people?!"
"Yes, sire. Francmage, I've summoned you here today to talk about one thing-- the Northlands investigation." another Elvaan spoke, dressed in noble clothing.
Francmage tensed, "Oh, yes, that. Those Bastoker Humes are causing no end of trouble-- saying that they won't want to investigate here, there and the other place..."
"..........I know that the Humes can't seem to get along with Galka that much...." Cat muttered as she put her hands on her hips, sighing.
An elder Elvaan stepped up, greyed with old age and possibably a mage, Muchavatte spoke up, "It is true! The Humes are fools, and no better. Can they truely believe that same ancient power lies hidden in that foresaken wasteland? Hah! Do they hope to find the gates to eternal Paradise there, in that lair of fiends most uncouth? Preposterous!"
Periduque, the Elvaan that spoke before, returned the voice of command, "We must take control of this situation immediately. Still, we can not let them walk about the Northland, freely. Who knows what they're plotting under the guise of this "investigation". Francmage, listen. Go with the investigation party, and keep a close eye on what your foreign "friends" do. They are up to something for in that wasteland, do not let them take it. Understand?"
Francmage noded and bowed, "As you command, my lord. I would give the very blood that runs in my veins if it were to further the cause of our Kingdom. You can rely on me."
"...what is this "investigation" they're talking about?" Catpaw questioned as she floated over to examine Francmage.
Muchavatte spoke again, "These foreigners are wily and faithless. Never let down your guard, and may the godness of the Dawn protect you in her mercy. The King has taken a beautiful queen, and I think a splendid addition to the royal family is not far off. An heir, perhaps... We people of San D'Oria, too, must ever look to the future. The Elvaan must not fall behind foreigners, in power or faith."
"I understand, Your Grace."
"Very Good. Do well, Francmage." the King dismissed Francmage.
"Yes sire! My life for the Kingdom!"
Catpaw continued to hover, "...so this must be the past. The Queen of San D'Oria died a bit ago and Trion and his brother grew..."
A flash of white blinded Cat for a brief second.
"Where am I now?" she questioned, looking around in a cold area. "Reminds me of Qufim in Jueno..."
She instantly reconized Francmage, but he was with two others. She reconized the race immeditally. A Tarutaru and Mithra, possibably from the nation of magic, Windurst.
"As I though, there is nothing here..." Francmage muttered. "Only barren wastelands as far as the eye can see."
The Tarutaru, Iru-Kuiru, cried, dressed in mage's clothes, "But there is something wrong about this place, I can feel it! I don't think-wink we should leave Xacabard yet!"
"Xarcabard? So this must be the place?" Cat questioned, floating along the tunnel top, following the trio.
A Mithra, by the name Rabntah, sniffed around for clues, "I agree. My nose has never failed me, but I don't smell anything. That's not normal. Something really terrible must've happened here a long time ago."
Francmage shouted, "Ridiculous. We cannot base our decisions on your feelings alone. You can stay and look for whatever this "terrible thing" is suppose to be here, but I--"
Suddenly a male Hume with a beard and mustache ran up to the group, "Help! Come quick! Raogrimm and Cornelia, they--"
"Cornelia?!" Catpaw shouted, knowing the name of the Bastokian president's daughter.
"Ulrich? What happened?!" Francmage questioned.
Ulrich explained hastely, "We were attacked by fiends, and Raogrimm and Cornelia fell down a crevice.."
Iru jumped at the remark, "Oh, no! Oh, no!"
Rabntah stepped forward, "Where?!"
"This way!" Ulrich directed.
They ran across the snowy fields. Followed closely behind by Cat.
They searched for hours, but to Catpaw it was only mere minutes. Francmage and Ulrich walked up a bit more than Iru and Rabntah. Iru stopped.
"Raogrimm and Cornelia...where...could they have gone?"
Rabntah explained to Iru, "We have to assume the worrrst. If I can't find them, no one can."
Francmage sighed, annoyed, "Why must Humes and Galka be so irreponsible?! It is their fault for wandering off without telling us! There is too few of us left to continue. I say we go back. Besides, we would find nothing even if we stayed."
"I second that. I've had enough of this crrreppy place anyway."
"B-but, there are still places we haven't looked--" Iru choked out.
"...poor guys..." Catpaw muttered as she glanced around.
"We have seen enough. There is nothing here but dust and ruins. We accomplished nothing but loosing two members of our party and wasting an extra ordinary amount of time..."
"Yeah, you're right. This whole expedition was a failure. Let's head back tomorrow." Ulrich suggested as he walked ahead, but followed closely behind by Francmage.
"Ulrich. Tell me something... Was it really an accident?" Francmage questioned the Hume.
"What do you mean?"
"Is it not true that there is some....shall we say, tension, between Humes and Galka in Bastok these days?"
"What is he getting to?" Catpaw asked, walking up to the Elvaan and Hume.
"Are you accusing me of something, Elvaan?"
"Hah! Calm down. I do not care if it was an accident or not. I care even less about your little country's problems. Just... do not cause anymore trouble with such trivial matters while I am around. That is all."
Silence arose quickly and followed by the footsteps of the group. Catpaw, however remained in the spot she was.
Another white flash startled her.
As it settled, she reconized the place, she was in San D'Oria again.
"What the?!" was her cry when she got up from her fallen state.
Looking around, she reconized the place, the prision area of San D'Oria, in the Chateau D'Oraguille, known as Bostaunieux Oubliette.
"It is quite late to be up and about..." said an Elvaan gaurd.
"You... you can see me?!" she ran up to the guard, waving her hand infront of his face.
"...Sir Francmage. Is something wrong?"
Cat sighed in defeat, turning to see the same Elvaan from before.
"Ah, Courisaille." Francmage greeted. "It is nothing. I could not sleep, so I decided to take a walk. Leave me; I am fine."
"Yes sir."
Catpaw watched Francmage walk down a corridor... Urge to follow, but, she was repeatively running in a spot.
Suddenly, a shout came from the corridor, "No! Not you...? Raogrimm? What do you mean?! He died in an accident! I know nothing!"
Startled both Mithra and Elvaan guard, the guard took a step foreward as Cat could not move from her spot.
"....S-Sir... Francmage?"
A final scream was ushered and all went silent. Catpaw stood, wide eyed.
"...oh no..."
"Cat!" a voice called to her.
"Cat! Wake up you silly kitty!"
"Come on, Catpaw, you're not dead or anything..."
"unggh... shut up Alexei..." Catpaw muttered as she sat up, grasping her head with her left hand. "What happened?"
"I guess you passed out..." one of her friends stated.
"Well, I didn't pass out when I touched the Magicite," Alexei said, scratching the back of his head with his glove.
"Next Magicite?" Tilik suggested.
"To Beadeaux!"
The White Mage started to cast Teleport-Dem. It was the closest crag to Beadeaux. As little as they knew it... Catpaw was being watched.
"....it has been so long.... my friend..."