CHAPTER 1

It was an early day in Bastok. He sat on the harbor, and the fiery haired Elvaan he was just speaking to proceeded to walk away. He guiltily glanced a look at her posterior and grinned lightly to one side as she walked. He felt there was a chance she was more than aware of this, yet he still felt a complete fool for even speaking. This beautiful girl came to talk to the delivery boy, for crying out loud. But she didn't know he was a monk in training, and she still didn't know he thought she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid his eyes upon.

Gotta remember her name, he thought to himself. I mean after all, she remembered mine. I wonder how long she'll be in town. Wait…

Gavain looked up and saw that the sun had withdrawn slightly over Port. He just remembered that he had ten minutes to deliver his next package. Two minutes late again today and Foss the Bucket handler would be very perturbed at this 'bothersome child.' He left for the warehouse in Port Bastok, where Foss's shipment was housed, running speedily all the way. A heavily armored Galka stepped in his way over the bridge, causing quite a stumble for Gav.

"Hey! Watch where you're goin'!" Gavain shouted.

"… miserable Hume," uttered the Galka.

"Whatever." Gav continued running as he arose from his fall. He burst through the doors of the warehouse and saw that Sern was working the packages. He felt relief, as this tall, well-built Hume knew what he was doing, and was a good friend of his.

"Sern!"

"Gav… lemme guess. Foss's."

"Yeah. You got it on row ten?"

"No, it's on lower level waiting for you." Gav sighed heavily as this meant another minute of going downstairs, getting the package, hiking back up, and then going back to Firewater Circle. As he proceeded to do so, Sern let a light laugh escape from him at knowing of Gav's struggle. Marching back upstairs Gav looked at him with narrowed eyes. Sern looked back and held himself up on the table, then pointed out the window wryly.

"Four minutes, Gav."

"WHAT!" He bolted out the door in a frenzy. Sern simply laughed hard, and continued organizing boxes.

Gavain stopped cold in front of Foss's spot. He was nowhere to be seen. Gav began to get angered at this. His spot always remained the same, and every time he ever suggested him to meet him halfway at Metalworks, Foss retained the answer no harder than he retained his fancy tall tales of golden buckets found in the sea. Flustered, Gav sat the boxes down and leaned on the wall next to them. Out of the blue came Foss, bewildered and also angered with his package handler.

"Seven minutes late? What am I to do with you, Gavain? I pay your service a high price and this is what I receive?"

"That's enough! I was here on time, for a long time. And anybody standing there at the auction house can testify to that!"

"I was at the Metalworks! I thought that was where you said to meet you at from now on."

Gav put both hands in his face and uttered a muffled curse. "Alright… where are we meeting from now on?"

"Here, young fool. You meet me here right at 18:00. That is how it has been, that is how it will be. You shall bring me boxes; I shall give you your 225 Gil. Every minute you are late, 5 Gil is taken away, just as it has been. Understood?"

"Crystal clear."

"Funny you should mention that, young Gavain. You know the Bastokan Military is looking for bothersome children like yourself to enlist in their ranks. They want their crystals, and Cid is studying them all the more frequently these days. Perhaps you should sign up with them instead of delivering me late buckets every Darksday."

"Ah, stuff it, geezer. I'm not cut out for that kinda thing. I never really was fond of it at all anyway."

"But there are ways around it that could be beneficial to you… just remember that when the time comes." Foss held his hand out and gave Gav 400 Gil, to which Gav stared in amazement.

"Hey, Foss… you just gave me…"

"I gave you what I thought you should have," Foss interrupted.

"Take 225 to Mack, keep the rest for you. You do me well, but you'd do me a lot better on time! Let that be a lesson to you."

Foss then walked away with his boxes in tow. Gav put the coinage in his pouch and walked back to port. He took his strides slow and steady, as this was more money than he'd normally get for anything, even more than three days pay. He looked up at the Metalworks and thought of going to the cafeteria later, but first he had to report back to work and give his supervisor Mack his earnings for the delivery. Gav remembered the day Mack hired him a few weeks back, and how Mack always tended to give him grief in front of him, yet speak the world of him behind his back. Gav didn't understand this, and thought that he never would.

As he walked on, he passed over the residential area, and saw an old Elvaan talking into a door. The beautiful female Elvaan he was speaking to earlier was in that house as well. He stopped and let his gaze wander fully on her. He could feel nothing else for a moment.

What is her name? This is ridiculous; I can't even remember two simple syllables… oh yeah! Aerwyn. She is just…so beautiful.

Gav kept his gaze focused, right until the point where she stared back. As soon as she met his eyes with hers, he turned and walked back towards the Port. He could not understand why this girl stole his eyesight. He was puzzled as to why he kept thinking about her. These and many questions bewildered him as he walked on to the warehouse, and he stopped asking himself things right as he approached the door.

Gavain opened the warehouse door, and went inside. There on the desk sat Mack and Sern, with a chair open for Gav in between them.

"Gav, my boy," said Mack in a dull rumble. "Please seat yourself."

"How was your trip Mack?" said Gav.

"Ah, it went alright. You know, San 'Boring'a isn't as bad this time of year when they actually have some festivals goin' down." They all chuckled at his anecdote.

"You know we're all doing pretty well. Just us three I mean. You two guys are making this warehouse a lot of revenue. Sern you're doing a great job of keeping our inventory. And Gav, despite some… downfalls… you're the best delivery guy I've ever had. I wanted to show you guys a little appreciation, so as a token of my esteem, and seeing that there are no deliveries next week, I want you guys to take the week off. With pay."

Both Sern's and Gav's eyes lit up as they smiled and exclaimed out loud. This was totally unexpected, and very much unlike Mack to do.

"Gav, did Foss pay you full this time?"

"Yeah, I got the 225 right here," Gav said. He put the Gil on the table for Mack to recoup, which he did. Mack counted it twice and added it to the safe box. He then brought out 1,250 Gil and split it.

"That's your pay for next week."

"But sir," said Sern. "This is way over what we're normally paid."

"I'll say again, that is your pay for next week. Now take it or leave it," Mack said emotionally.They both took it, and Gav looked at the empty safe. He could tell something was the matter, but he did not know how to ask. He decided on the simple approach.

"What's wrong Mack?" Gav asked.

"Okay. I'll keep this simple and short. You boys are getting transferred to the airship docks. You'll be getting paid about double what you have been, and you'll start work in ten days." They both grinned at the prospect. Sern especially had been looking for the opportunity to move up. He happily looked towards his boss and asked him a simple question as well.

"What about you Mack? You're gonna be bossin' the place, right?" Mack kept completely silent.

"… Right Mack?" Sern asked again.

"No." Everyone stayed silent. They waited for Mack to explain.

"The Republic of Bastok bought out the warehouse for the airship docks, so new people are gonna be manning this place. Galka, more than likely. I was not asked to be a part of anyone's crew, so I've been forced outta the picture. I don't have a job boys. I'm goin back to Fort Zulkheim tomorrow to see if I can talk anybody into needin' a chocobo courier. I doubt it'll work, but I've gotta restart somewhere. I put in good words for both you boys, and you had better make me proud at the airship docks. You had better work it for all it's worth, and you had better move up. And you had better not worry about an old coot like me! Understood?" Mack said, as a smile came across his face.

"Yes sir," both Gav and Sern said.

"Alright now get goin. I gotta clean this place and lock it up. You're both dismissed. And no, I don't want your help. Go have fun, be yourselves. Those are your orders." Both Sern and Gav left. Gav took up his pouch and his 625 Gil, and staggered a little to hear Mack crying in the background. Afraid of dishonoring his wishes, Gav left and shut the door behind him. He did not understand why this happened, because he thought the business was thriving. But even the questions that befell his mind were insignificant compared to the fact that he had just been promoted to a new job. Sern looked over at Gav and stared questioningly.

"Hey Gav?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't worry about Mack. He knows what's best for him, you know he's the loner type. He'll be alright."

"I know, man; it's just that I really feel bad. I don't know if it was something I did, you know what I mean?"

"Nah, don't give yourself that much credit," Sern smiled.

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah I do, but seriously. Things always happen for a reason, and there's a good reason we're getting transferred. I mean if we actually do good, we'll get to travel and apprentice under people and stuff like that. We could pursue lots of things with this new job. I hope that we can anyway."

"I'm sure we will. I'm just of two minds about everything."

"Well when you narrow it down to one, I'll be at the cafeteria."

"Alright Sern. See ya later, man."

Gav staggered behind and watched Sern walk away. He went back to the residential area, not feeling hungry anymore, and eager to put some of his earnings away. As he knocked, his moogle Mog opened the door.

"Good to see you, kupo!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's been a rough one today Mog," Gav sighed.

"Really? I'm sorry to hear that Master Gav. I got some good news though!"

"What's that?"

"Your plants are growing pretty well, kupo!" Gav sighed again and his eyes narrowed at Mog.

"Thanks," he whispered.

"I know you're not the gardening type, Master Gav, but it does put me at peace. Perhaps you need to find something, or someone I dare say, that can put you at peace. Oh your delivery box," Mog remembered. He flew into Gav's delivery box and removed a letter.

"This was addressed to you, with no other sign of name on the envelope," Mog said.

"Weird," Gav said. He opened the letter, and noticed it was in a script he couldn't quite make out.

"Hey Mog."

"Yes, Master?"

"Come here a second will ya?"

"Of course, kupo!" Mog hobbled over to Gavain and sat down beside him on his table.

"Can you read this?"

"Oh, it's in Elvaan. Wow… it's been awhile but I can certainly try Master!"

"I appreciate it Mog."

"Okay here goes:

Dear Sir Gavain,

You delivered a package to me today, and you delivered it on time and with the utmost courtesy. I am grateful to you and your services that you have rendered. Meet me tomorrow at the Goldsmith's at 9:00 so I may properly reintroduce myself. I look forward to seeing you there, and getting to know you a little better. Thank you kindly, and take care this evening.

Aerwyn

P.S.: I know you cannot read Elvaan, but if you want to meet me, I'm sure you'll find a way to translate this document.

Wow, sir. It would appear you've made an admirer out of an Elvaan, kupo," Mog said happily.

"I would say quite the opposite, Mog." Gavain blushed silently, and folded the letter back and kept it on top of his table. He was again flustered at this Aerwyn, this beautiful woman who'd captivated him for just these twenty-four hours. He climbed into his unmade bed and dimmed the candles down to two.

"Are you hungry?" Mog asked.

"Nah I think I'm just gonna hit the hay for tonight, Mog. But please help yourself. Oh if you need any money, I have some in the bag if you wanna go to the cafeteria."

"No thank you, Master. I am quite pleased, and will be retiring also. Sleep well, kupo!" Mog exclaimed.

Gavain rested his head and fell asleep within minutes.