Words from the Author: This chapter took a LOT of work. School finals coming up and essays were due so it took a while to get time to write. Hope you'll forgive me. Maybe I can get Chapter 15 out over the holidays...not very likely though...but I'll try!
Thanks for reading and keeping with me this far. The feedback I get is what gets me motivated to write and post. It is that reason that makes my personal stories really slow to get out. . So all my readers are a big impact.
FFXI TY's-- As for in game 'thanks', I'd like to recognize my linkshell "ClanWind" and the original Belwyn (may he never forget us no matter what realm he moves to). Zantech, Amneok, and Sirsmashalot for allowing the use of their characters. And Kinom for pushing me to write this story long ago.
-DISCLAIMER - As always, this story is based off of Final Fantasy XI Online which is owned by Square-Enix. The world, races, towns, monsters, and characters are not mine! Some of the characters used in this story are actual players from the game and I thank them for allowing me to include them in this work. Thank you and please enjoy! After all, without Square-Enix, this story never would have existed.
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Chapter Fourteen
Fires broke out over Bastok. Bastok's Mines District was completely taken and the underground path to Altepa through Korroloka tunnel had been sealed. Early on in the raid, Bastokers had made a desperate attempt to escape by fleeing outside into the Gustaburg region and making a dash to Port to grab an airship risking their lives against the many beastmen that lurk within the region. Sadly, San'd Oria's troops managed to seal off the exits to Gustaburg which shifted all offensive efforts into blocking off the path to the airship docks.
The lead guard sent several troops out through South Gustaburg to attempt a raid on Port Bastok from the North Gustaburg gate. He also created a unit strictly for invading Metalworks. The main door to Metalworks had been sealed shut, the blacksmith's guild to blame for wielding the cracks in the door. Zantech and his group of Bastokers managed to fend off the raiders long enough to create a small barrier beneath the arch leaving the path to Port Bastok sealed just as San'd Oria had wanted.
The guards that had managed to slip through before the blockade was formed were met with the flames of skilled black mages. Amneok had lined her group into three rows, a tight squeeze but Tarutaru made the squeeze a little easier. Whenever a San'd Orian came close, the group would each cast out a powerful spell to push them back. Bastok was nearing ruin. With all the officials gone, the only person able to run was no where to be found. That one person was Cornelia, a rambunctious girl who never listened to her parents. She was a Galkan rights activist and, to the people of Bastok, somewhat an angel.
Without her, there was no one over Bastok and the only defense was the adventurers and villagers that chose to fight. Unknown to the people in the streets, Cornelia was in Bastok Mines, having just left the house of a dear friend of hers. San'd Orians that took watch over the district had misjudged her and marked her as a civilian. This meant that they could kill her if they felt it necessary. Cornelia quietly made her way toward the residential district in an attempt to sneak out unnoticed. She made it out from behind the auction house when a guard noticed her and began to charge toward her.
"You, there! Halt!" The guard demanded.
"Great." Cornelia muttered. "Look, I don't have time for this."
The guard stood before her and pointed his blade at her neck. "This area is now under San'd Orian control. All civilians are to stay in their homes, understand?"
"Ok, I do, but my business takes precedence so, if you don't mind, I'll be going now." Cornelia stated as she began to move around the guard.
"Not so fast." The guard said as he slide the tip of his blade against the side of her throat. "Back up."
Cornelia looked over to him, her yellow scarf swaying in the light breeze. "You don't know me…but you're asking for it."
"Ha! You listen here, girl. I am protecting you. Trying to flee is not a healthy choice."
"Leave her alone." A voice said suddenly.
Both the Elvaan and Cornelia looked up to see a small Galka standing on the auction house roof.
"What the?"
"GUMBAH!" Cornelia shouted.
The Elvaan raised his sword to the Galka just as he leapt off the roof. "I demand that you stop what you're…"
Gumbah landed on the Elvaan, knocking him to the ground. Cornelia tried to move to him but Gumbah raised his hand to stop her.
"Run. We'll handle these guys. No one takes our home." Just as he said that, several Galka rushed out into the streets. Cornelia gave Gumbah a worried expression. "Don't worry about us. We'll be fine. You are more important to the well being of Bastok. Cid and Karst have gone. Lucius as well."
"But." Cornelia stated.
"Go on to Metalworks, we'll be fine." Gumbah said with a smile.
Meanwhile, back in Markets, Giraenis had set Aonir down on the rug near the fireplace while he tended to her wounds. Zakk was being examined by Smedile, as well as poked, to see who he was. Tara, on the other hand, simply leaned against the wall, her head down and eyes closed.
"Tell me again," Giraenis said as he wiped his brow, "who are you?"
"My name is Zakk. What more do you want?" Zakk said stubbornly.
Giraenis stood up and walked over to him, making Smedile scoot away. "I want to know about you. A name does nothing."
"What about yourrr past?" Smedile asked with a smile. "That's what we want as well."
Zakk looked at them both then sighed. "Fine. Anything else, while we're at it?"
"Include what happened in Gusgen to cause her to black out." Giraenis stated sternly as he glanced over to Aonir.
"Fine." Zakk snapped. "My name is Zakk Du'Poret. I'm from San'd Oria…and I studied as a Paladin against my father's wishes. My mother had died shortly after my birth, which is what I was told anyway. My father wanted me to become a beastmaster like his father. He hated me ever since I told him the work I had started. He left town after that." Zakk exchanged glances between Giraenis, Smedile, and Tara. "I mastered my work. But, one day, a beastmaster challenged me outside in the tomb. I was foolish. I took the challenge and lost. I was unconscious and he planted some artifact on me. Guards found me and the artifact and I was arrested."
Giraenis gave him a stern look, "What was the item?"
"Some gear for an airship." Zakk explained. "So Bastok sent me to Gusgen. I was there until Aonir showed up. She was so jumpy. I could tell she'd been sheltered. As if there were something wrong with her mind so over stimulation would be harmful. But somehow, the undead went into a frenzy. I helped her get to the top but a strange man attacked. He seemed to be controlling the undead but he claimed to be a dark knight."
"Strange, Dark Knights are worthless against undead." Smedile blurted out.
"Aonir used a spell and then blacked out." He said shaking his head. "The rest from that is a blur, I know I passed out. Then I woke up and carried Aonir to the Crag. I hopped on a chocobo and rushed here."
"Very strange. All right, where is your equipment?" Giraenis stated.
"Not sure. I'll probably have to call for it to return to me. Why? What use do you have for it?" Zakk asked.
"You aren't thinking of inviting him to join us, are you, Galka?" Tara blurted out.
"Oh, you're alive over there." Giraenis stated with a laugh.
"Woah! Woah! I am not pulling my sword out of foolishness again!" Zakk protested.
"You can't pull it out anyway." Smedile said with a grin as she drew his sword revealing it to be shattered. "Unless you wanna use a dagger. Heh."
"Listen, Zakk. You've been pulled into this so you may as well hear me out." Giraenis stood before Zakk and put a hand on his shoulder. "Something strange is happening all over Vana'diel. Officials of the cities are being trapped in crystals. It is our job to solve the puzzle."
"So?" Zakk growled.
"Aonir has been pulled in as well. I can sense you are a true paladin and will not allow a mage to be harmed." Giraenis whispered in Zakk's ear. "You've grown attached to her. She helped you somehow in that mine and you refuse to share that detail. I advise you come along or I shall share that you hold some feelings for her."
Zakk pushed Giraenis away. "Back off."
"Will you help us, then?"
Zakk stood in silence for a moment then gave a quick glance over toward Aonir. He sighed heavily then gave a quick, but short, nod. A smile slid across Giraenis' lips.
Outside, in Fire Water Circle, Sir Smash entered a tent. Inside was an Elvaan wearing shimmering white armor. Smash walked up and grabbed the man by the shoulder which quickly got the attention of the guards outside the tent.
"Stand down!" The man in armor said. "What do you want, dark knight?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Invading Bastok will do nothing." Smash argued.
"I am a knight of the king. I follow my orders. You, on the other hand, are nothing more than an adventurer. You have no say in the matter."
"So this, this raid was not out of true significance? It's just a," Smash began only to have a sword aimed at his throat.
"An act of treachery? How childish are you?"
"This is not an act of treachery! Simply a request for knowledge." Smash declared.
"Silence!" The guard snapped. "That will be enough from you." Several warriors entered the room and grabbed Smash by his shoulders. "You should be proud that your nation has finally taken the Republic."
"What should we do with him, sir?" A warrior asked.
"One moment, before you lop of his head. Dark Knight, I will answer one question, and only one. So make it quick." The guard said with a grin.
"What is the purpose of this raid?" Smash quickly shouted as he tried to free himself from the warrior's grip.
"To capture Plureague and his puppet." The guard said without hesitation.
"Puppet?"
"Yes, his puppet, now you are to go." The guard said which signaled the warriors to begin dragging Smash backward out of the tent.
"No, you must tell me what the puppet is!"
"And go back on my word? Never. Be gone, traitor."
Smash began to laugh then lowered his head. "Fine, you've named me a criminal and a traitor to my own nation. You may have my name on a registry but you now have no authority over my actions."
A burst of power surged from Smash's body. The warriors released their hold in order to defend themselves from the pressure. Smash drew his great sword from his back and jabbed through the guard's armor. Upon contact with the general's body, a strange aura slid down, around the sword's blade, and into Smash's hands. The Elvaan's face went from panic to blank as his body was drained of life. A grin slid across Smash's lips as he pulled his sword from the guard, allowing the body to fall lifeless to the ground. He turned to face the two warriors who had drawn their weapons out of defense. Smash simply smiled at them.
"There is a reason I am called 'smash'." He said slyly. "Care to guess?"
Back inside the house, Aonir had woken from her slumber and Giraenis was preparing the group for an escape. Zakk, who had given into Giraenis's demands, was assisting in forming a plan while trying hard to get use to wearing paladin attire. Smedile was petting Hien while Tara proceeded to stare out the window as if waiting for something.
"We'd have to move quickly. No telling how long those San'd Orians will wait before taking this side of Markets. They've probably already sealed off the stairs from this place to the square." Zakk said as he paced.
"Plureague is still upstairrrs. He hasn't come down since we arrived." Smedile stated with a worried tone of voice.
Giraenis looked up from his map and said, "We'll have to have his approval for our plan. He was my linkcrystal group's leader."
"Linkcrystal? OH! The linkpearls." Zakk said as he pulled out fragments of a crystal from his pocket. "Cid shattered mine upon conviction. Said that I may attempt to escape if I spoke with my friends."
"Hmph! You escaped anyway. He wasted a moment of his life." Tara blurted out.
Aonir walked over to the table where Giraenis had spread his map. "What about teleporting? Master Plureague is skilled enough to pull it off." She asked as she took a seat at the table. "There would only be six of us total so he wouldn't have to strain himself casting."
Giraenis placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "You have a point but you master is very weak from travel. I'm not sure he could cast it."
"If I could, I'd do it." Aonir said as she lowered her head.
Giraenis jumped up, "Perhaps you can, I'll be right back, I'm going up to get Plureague and,"
"No need for that, old friend." Plureague's weary voice said suddenly from the stairs.
Aonir saw he was wearing his doublet and brais again which confused her. She also noticed that, in his arms, he was carrying a package that had been wrapped in brown paper and tied with strands of grass thread. Plureague walked over to the table, his limp more noticeable than usual, and saw that the team had been working on a plan of escape. He exchanged glances between Giraenis and Zakk before his eyes fell on Aonir.
"Master Plureague, you look tired. Please, lie down and get some rest." Aonir said as she stood up. "You can have my seat if it will help you."
"No, I will rest soon enough but, as I have taught you, a white mage never rests until all duties have been fulfilled. This package I have in my hands is for you. You've earned it long before now but I was too childish to give in. I did not want you to grow up. I wanted you to stay a child. A student. You were, no, you are my best student." He walked around the table and stood beside her, his arms holding out the package. "I only hope you can forgive this old fool for holding you back. I see now that my keeping you has caused a lot of difficulties for you and others. I have signed your license, you are legal to travel. No sense in standing around town, dreaming of it. Take these emblems and let the weapons find you. That is how a true mage works."
Aonir reluctantly took the package and the emblems then looked to Plureague as he made his way around the table and back toward the stairs. Giraenis made no noise, simply watched Plureague's movements with a solemn expression upon his face.
"Master Plureague?" Aonir said only to watch her master begin back up the stairs.
"Follow what is inside you. You'll figure it out." Plureague said as he began up the stairs. "Have faith in Altana and in yourself and I know you will make me proud. More so than you already have."
Aonir felt something inside her become heavy. As if a hole had been pierced through her body. Her master felt so far away even though he had simply gone upstairs. Giraenis stood up and grabbed his shield while Zakk adjusted the circlet around his head.
"Is everyone ready?" Giraenis asked.
"No." Aonir blurted out among the nodding members of the group. Just then, the door was forced open and a male Elvaan fell into the room.
Tara glanced over while the others moved their hands to their weapons. Aonir was first to dash over to the fallen Elvaan though Tara was closest. She rolled him over to see that he was covered head to toe in wounds. She knelt beside him and began casting healing spells on him only to be halted by Giraenis. He tried to pull Aonir back away from the man. The young Elvaan stirred but seemed to be in pain.
"Wait, he's still hurt!" She cried.
"Forget it now. We've got to get out of here." Giraenis argued.
Aonir pulled her arm free, rushed back to the Elvaan, and began inspecting him. Giraenis made his way back to her only to have Aonir turn and give him a glare.
"If you try to take me from here while this man is injured, you will find me most unpleasant to be around." She growled her eyes serious and different from how they usually appear.
Tara raised an eyebrow and stared at Aonir with intrigue. Giraenis froze in his tracks and shook his head, allowing Aonir to continue treating the man. Zakk stepped forward, his hands to his sides and looked to see a small smile across Giraenis's lips.
Smedile huffed, "Hope this guy isn't like otherrrs of his job."
Giraenis nodded, "He is a Dark Knight. We must not let our guards down. He may very well be from San'd Oria."
"Look, the guy is injured," Zakk protested, "and since Aonir is helping him, he'll owe us one."
"Hmph, he may by your standards but those that work with the dark arts are not ones to lower their swords to favors." Tara stated.
"Would that include you?" Zakk snapped.
"That depends on what you see as 'dark'." She said with a grin.
"Look," Aonir cried as she began to cure the Elvaan, "if it is that important to leave him, let me heal him and then we'll go."
The group fell silent until Tara pushed off the wall and made her way to Aonir with a grin on her face. "Fine, we'll follow your order. Now, listen, if this guy wakes up and begins an assault before you teleport us, I'll rip that pretty little head of yours off with a single swing of my scythe." She moved right beside Aonir's ear and whispered. "And don't think I wont."
Aonir backed away then looked to the Elvaan. She closed her eyes and sighed allowing the spell to come forth again. The warm white light that emanated from Aonir made Giraenis smile. The group watched as the warm light left from Aonir and a gentle violet light circled the dark knight. She took a few steps away from the knight then turned to face the group.
"Aonir," Giraenis said suddenly, "why not open your package."
"Hn?" She looked to him with confusion then nodded. "Alright. If that's what you think I should do."
She walked back over to the table and began to untie the grass thread. Giraenis was listening to the surroundings, footsteps, many of them, rushing closer and closer to them. Aonir pulled the paper back to reveal white cloth. Her eyes widened with shock as she realized that what was given to her was artifact armor, the white mage base uniform. Giraenis became uneasy and began to pace.
"Aonir, we have to hurry." He said as he readied his sword.
Aonir stared at the clothes then to Giraenis and the others. They too seemed on edge. She pulled all of the armor pieces out to reveal a spell book wrapped within. Giraenis drew his sword and stood by the door, only a foot away from the dark knight.
"Take us to Altepa!" Giraenis shouted.
"It would be safer to go to Dem. We can go to Selbina and reach Windurst for answers." Tara declared.
Aonir rushed over to the rest of the group, package still in hands but the book open.
"Ok, let's see, Dem. Dem. A-ha! Teleport-Dem! Found it!" She said happily.
She stuffed the clothes into her bag then began to meditate. She felt a strange power lifting her up from inside. Smedile clapped just as Aonir finished casting. Unknown to the group, Aonir had pulled in the dark knight so that the soldiers would not hurt him further. They only found out when they landed at the Crag Crystal. Giraenis did not waste time to argue. He jumped off the side of the crag and rushed over to grab a chocobo. Zakk followed while Smedile jumped and flipped while calling Hien to follow her. Tara dashed down the stairs and around and Aonir followed.
"Waitaru!" A familiar voice rang out.
Aonir turned around to see a little Tarutaru rushing down the crag steps. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief then darted back. "Toku!"
"Aonir! Sorry, I was dragged out from Valkurm. Someone used Tractor on me." He lied but worked his twisted tongue well enough to make it believable.
Tara passed him a glare from her chocobo. "Tokurio, what are you doing here?"
Toku looked to her and bowed, "I'm going to help out my friend."
"Look, it's nice to meet you but if you are joining us, you need to move. We have to get to Windurst and fast. Grab a chocobo and come on. We're taking the ship to Mhaura." Giraenis snapped.
Aonir and Toku rushed over and grabbed the chocobos from the Elvaan then followed the group. Aonir struggled to put the book into her bag but managed to squeeze it in underneath the uniform.
Giraenis looked up to the cloudy sky and sighed, "Farewell, old friend."
Back in Bastok, a group of soldiers broke into the house and began a mad search. They knocked over furniture and broke the windows, dashing up the stairs to further search. In a bedroom, sitting in a chair, was Plureague holding his dark staff. He looked up to the soldiers with a weary grin on his lips.
"They've gone. You'll never have her." He said weakly.
One soldier pulled off his helmet, a circle tattoo revealed on his forehead, and smiled, "Our master will not be avoided so easily, old man."
"He already has Tara. He does not need Aonir. She is an innocent girl. She doesn't know anything about Tara or you. Just leave her alone."
The man drew his katanas and pointed one at the Elvaan. "Killing you would be too easy. Rot in your own juice, old man." He said as he sliced across Plureague's chest.
"I will not fight you; I have lived all I needed to. She'll figure you out." He said with a wince. "She's a smart girl."
"Move out, men!" The man shouted.
"I have faith in her, and in Altana." Plureague whispered.
The soldier made his way out of the room, not noticing that the dark staff had vanished. "Old fool."
Plureague leaned his head back and smiled. "I've done all I can. Giraenis, please, you must finish what I could never do." He felt his eyes grow heavy. "Tell her…everything…"