Leagues away from Igros and the Royal Palace, in the land of Ordalia, there are great expanses of rural land. Green is the predominant color in this landscape, unlike in the crowded cities in Ivalice. Each day, before the sun rises, there can be seen farmers tending to the land. A casual observer would notice several families of rather nondescript people living their rather unremarkable lives, however one of the quaint little cottages that dotted the landscape housed people who were anything but ordinary.
"Brother Ramza?!:
A young girl, barley twenty, padded softly through a field of barley. Her hair flared a brilliant gold as the sun began to cross the horizon.
"Ramza? Where are you?" she called.
"Over here, Alma!" a youthful tenor responded.
Alma hurried through the sun-kissed field instinctively making her way toward her brother's favorite place.
Trotting through the various patches of vegetables that she called her own she hurried until she came to the edge of a glorious meadow. The meadow had been the reason her brother had been so insistent on choosing this spot to make their home. It went on, seemingly forever, over the horizon. Flowers of every color imaginable dotted the landscape and somehow there always seemed to be flowers blooming, regardless of the season, or time of day. Even having lived in Ivalice all her life, Alma had never seen anything quite so magical.
The pitter-patter of her feet quickened as she hurried through the brilliant wildflowers to the most prominent landmark in the area. An evergreen tree of some sort, which neither she, nor her brother, nor anybody else who lived in the area, could identify. It towered over even the tallest of trees, and according to the families that had lived there for generations, had existed practically since the dawn of time. Rounding the edge of the tree, Alma did her best to look stern.
"Ramza! You promised that you would help me prepare our packs. You want to make Igros by the end of the month, don't you?"
Ramza turned around to face his sister, and made a valiant attempt to pacify her.
"We still have some time. An hour here or there, won't change when we arrive by much. I can finish watching the sunrise can't I?"
Alma opened her mouth, but realized that her brother was too engrossed in the landscape to hear what she would say. As the sun crossed the horizon she was forced to squint against the intense light as she seethed at her brother.
'He'll never change!' she raged to herself, but then felt her anger deflate rapidly. Her brother had already changed. Even though he was as innocent seeming and as kindhearted as he was in his childhood, there was a tightness about the eyes, and wrinkles spider-webbed across his forehead in a way that had been absent before. Not for the first time Alma wondered if it might be better to forget that the last few years had happened. To live out the rest of their lives in this peaceful place… She knew it was impossible, but it was a beautiful dream. To do so would mean to forget who they were and, more practically, the Galabados church had somehow enlisted the help of the usually neutral Ordalian army. It wouldn't be long until she and Ramza were discovered if they remained. Ivalice, however, was in turmoil. In it's current state it wouldn't be difficult for two non-descript individuals to escape notice until things died down in Ordalia.
Alma watched as the sky glowed with orange and red. The clouds burned as the sun crossed the horizon and finally took its place in the sky.
Ramza got up from his spot and turned to Alma.
"Okay, lets go"
Authors Note: I'm sorry for the long period of time between updates. I'm taking AP classes and am really involved with other things. I look forward to your reviews (Hint Hint) and I will try to update more frequently for those who care at all. The next chapter is nearly done, but it's just like the second half of this one.