VANA'DIEL TRAGEDY
Chapter Two: Experimentation of the Ruins
"I do not understand you... Renza Azure. It is so simple" a voice whispered, followed by a cocky laugh. Behind the humor was a sharp resentment.
The words were hissed from a figure standing above the fallen Hume. The eclipsing sun only gave the peculiar man darkness to describe. Renza was on the ground, beaten badly. His golden armor, the uniform of the Ducal Guards, was stained with his own blood.
"W-why?" he coughed a mouthful of blood with those words. He had a concussion for sure and the world around him seemed dim and blurry.
Two other guards, almost disgusted by their actions, kicked him a few times. Renza only bit his lip and ate the pain. The pride within him forbade any plead for mercy or scream in pain.
"Enough! He will never understand... take his position away... he no longer deserves it" the man's voice was cruel and heartless. He turned his back with his cape swinging wildly and walked away towards a large, Jeunoan Palace. The Ducal guards, people he knew as friends once, approached him.
Renza suddenly escaped the flashback, shaking his head. Mercutio glared, from his right, with a face of concern.
"Are... you okay?" Mercutio pondered. The sun, almost the same as the one in that remembrance but gave wonderful radiance.
"It is nothing..." Renza continued after pointing at Mhaura's entrance, "We are here". It was a wooden gate to the town off an ocean and surrounded by the teal stone hills and mountains. Both let their chocobos free and made their way to the seaport.
The celestial sun... the endless sky... the lively Bastore Sea. Kurin-Juran happily watched all of these with his fishing rod out in the water. Not far from him were three other fishers: two other Tarutarus and a Mithra. On the other side of the pier were the fishing guild and its employees. Kurin's hood was at rest upon his shoulders and his messy silver hair felt a nice sea breeze ever so and then.
He felt a tug shake his pole. Kurin smiled and, with all his strength, he pulled back his rod. A Bastore Sardine was caught on the hook and flew in the air until it landed in his palm.
"Yes!" he congratulated himself while the other fishers gave him a series of claps.
He wrapped it in thick white paper and pulled out eleven other sardines also wrapped in the same paper. He had fished himself a dozen-sized stack of Bastore Sardines. While the fresh one squirmed wildly, the others were long dead.
He marched to the fishing guild, each step made a thud walking upon the aged wooden boardwalk. Kurin could hear the shifting waters under the docks. After crossing a small bridging board that brought the two boardwalks together, without words, he spotted a female orange-haired Tarutaru shopkeeper.
He traded his fish for gil when a bow and "Thank you" were exchanged. He swung forward his hood covering his head and hair.
"Kurin-Juran! You ready?" a recognizable voice yelled from a short distance. It was a voice of a strong, young Hume.
Kurin smiled invisibly to his caller and said, "Yes... Hey Cronin". He turned around to see a waving Hume standing a couple feet away from the beginning of the wooden pier, on solid ground.
Cronin had blond bangs with bright brown eyes. He wore tan leather armor, made from lizard skin, and a gold circlet on his forehead. He also wielded a small shield crafted from pugil scales strapped to his arm and a long sword strapped to his left side. The Hume must have been younger than twenty-five, younger than Kurin-Juran. Both of them met when Kurin-Juran first entered Windurst, two weeks ago. Going to taverns and restaurants, they became the best of friends fast.
"Well, you seem ready. Let's head to the gatehouse in Windurst Woods." Cronin said after rubbing his thin goatee-baring chin and they were on their way.
They walked past the boat stores that sold magic scrolls and equipment and then the air travel agency while an airship bursting into the cloudless sky parting its water bay to there right and the Windurstian warehouses to their left.
After going through a small passageway of rock and grass, they made it into Windurst Wood's town square. A fountain and small clay tiles were at its very center, parallel to two small bridges and two small moats. This was where a traveling group of entertainers played: a Mithra juggling knives, a Galka breathing fire, a Tarutaru playing sweet music, and a mime Elvaan girl.
A gentle breeze brushed against the rock walls and waves of grass all around the Tarutaru and his Hume friend. It had been twenty years since the hellish war that torn this world of Vana'Diel apart. So many Windurstians died then and this city was in ruins. Now so much progress was made and it seemed like this land was a virgin to the hatred and brutally of war. Now walking up a small alleyway of rock, Kurin-Juran was quickly reminded how his father died, summoning a frown to his face.
They finally made it to Leviathan's Gate where a guard stood not too far from the other ones. They both waved to the War Warlock, who first told Kurin-Juran the ways and roads of Windurst the first time he came and knows Cronin personally. Both of them walked to the gatehouse, after taking a deep breath.
Cronin spoke for both of them. "We are here for our first mission!" he said eagerly at the Mithran soldier who stood at the center of two other red cap wearing Tarutaru guards.
The Mithra, wearing a gray leather suit of armor, quickly examined the would-be adventurers with her eyes. "Well, well. Let see herrre. Both of you are 'Rank Ones'. I will give you something simple. The minister of the Orastery is doing an experrriment in the most eastern Horutoto magic ruins. Go talk to his assistants in the Orastery and then go help him out."
Both of them nodded and Cronin said, "Thank you very much. We won't let you down".
The duo walked a couple feet dead center for the gate. "Okay, I'll go to the Orastery and see what's up. You go to the eastern magic tower and wait by the entrance to the ruins for me." Cronin suggested.
"Sounds good. Be quick-slick Cronin." Kurin said as he ran out to Sarutabaruta. Cronin traveled back deeper into Windurst.
Sarutabaruta was green and grassy. Birds and rabbits ran around with a sense of natures calm. Tiny plant-like humanoids, green and white, walking onion people named Mandragoras played on their coronets and walked about. It was peaceful, but the damage from the Crystal War was clear. Almost half the animal and plant life was killed or ran out in the battles that were fought on this land.
Kurin-Juran ran through these fields. He spotted some bird-like Yagudos and short Goblins carrying their goods, but he quickly avoided them. He finally reached a giant tower, almost consider awkwardly placed in the scenery. He leaned against the side of the tower, waiting, next to the doorway into the entrance. It was made out of ancient stone with the appearance of exhausting.
Seconds after Kurin made his quiet arrival; a giant yellow worm with black stripes came sluggishly by Kurin from the bushes not too far... a Crawler. These insects spun out silk and were very big for a bug. It outsized Kurin-Juran easily, but not by much. The Tarutaru decided he would hunt one in hopes it will drop a spool of its silk. Crawler's silk sold for a high amount in any of the cities' auction houses.
He started to chant a few words, palms nearly in unison. The close environment's temperature dropped and a dark aura became visible. Small beams of multicolored light shot from the earth Kurin stood on. Within seconds he stopped vocalizing and a ball of fire exploded on the clueless Crawler. It was burned fatally and fell to the ground with a thud. After the small cloud of smoke faded into the Sarutabaruta sky a flash of a faint light gave birth to a tan crystal next to the dead bug.
"Bah...No silk" he said while he walked up and pick up the earth crystal and place it safely into his sack.
"Haha, unlucky one you are" Cronin mocked with a chuckle as he walked towards Kurin.
"So whataru is the deal?" Kurin asked, voice sour for the early remark to the just arriving Hume.
"He is in a hidden part of the ruins on the first floor. Easy to find, seeing how I was smart enough to buy a map" Cronin answered. He pointed to a small, aged paper leaking its sight out of his bag.
"Okay, lets go in" Kurin said, and both of them walked to do so.
They entered a dark hallway that led down many stairs. They continued down the stairs now with glowing stones, which illuminated like green torches. The ruins walls were of old and dirty metal, which seemed foreign to anything a Windurstian would build. Upon looking closer one could see marks and cuts along the walls of the mysterious ruins, most likely made during the war. They reached the first floor: a very wide and tall hallway with both ends leading north from them.
Not far from them, and scattered through out the entire ruins, were magical gizmos. These were round objects held on top of small set of stairs with stone base. Each gizmo was ten feet high, but the stairs made them easy access. Like everything else, the stairs was home to layers of dust. A powerful magical aura came from each of the devices, stronger than the last.
"Wowy... this is a strange place. The lights are orbs of pure magic" Kurin noted as he walked close to the brave Cronin.
Cronin reached into his items, all collected in a bag. He pulled out a folded map and revealed it in its full form. Cronin's eyes were focused on the thin, brown paper map while he mumbled loud enough to be heard: "This room is a square outline with each corner a path to a room that holds a magical device. No mention of a secret room, but I didn't really expect one". He folded his map and placed it back.
"Well, letsy check the walls as we wander around." The Tarutaru gave the idea.
"Sounds fine... should we start right or left?" Cronin asked to Kurin and himself.
"Well-" said Kurin just before a loud clang. Both of them knew it was two bladed weapons catching each other in conflict and it came from the right corridor.
"Right!" the Tarutaru yelled pointlessly as they were both already about to turn the corner.
There she was, fighting a goblin wearing a pug-like mask with merchant clothing and a giant bag of stuffs on his back. A tan skinned Mithra with long blond hair, held by a small red band, which possessed two catlike ears. She was wearing a brown armor set made of scales. Her sword was curved and sharp as it pressed against the goblin's short bronze dagger.
"You need any help?!" Cronin shouted to the girl.
She raised her head to the pair, surprised. Before she could say anything the goblin slashed the Mithra armor, barely piecing it but still caused her pain. She hissed at the pain, grasping her wounded side with her left hand, and made a quick slice across the goblins entire body. His injured body hit the ground with a crying shriek. Cronin and Kurin ran towards the Mithra.
"Are you okay? Is the cut serious-blurious?" Kurin asked with a worry in his tone. He could be considered adorable, tippy-toeing and trying his best to look at the wound.
The Mithra examined her wound from the goblin's blade after she put hers away. "I am fine. It is just a scrrrrratch, no blood" she answered in a soft voice.
Both of them liberated their fear. "What are you doing down here?" Cronin questioned.
"I am on a mission in the name of Windurrrrst" she answered proudly.
"Windurst? So are we. Our task is to find a secret ro-"Cronin said before Kurin cut him off.
"Cronin! We should'aru at least ask her name" Kurin interrupted.
"Sakeru Ghiibi" She announced with a smile directed at the smaller one.
"A nice name... we are trying to find the minister of the Orastery. He is doing an experiment in a secret room and we need to report to him." Cronin told her while she nodded.
"Sounds... fun" she said almost sarcastically then went on, "Anyway, you think I know this secret room is at? Well it happens I do... but it will cost you. I need you to help me with my mission" Sakeru said.
Both of them sighed, faces to the lifeless stone floor. "Whataru is it?" Kurin asked, looking back up to her smooth clean face.
"I got to see Jarublulix, a moblin leaderrrr of a goblin gang that has been pestering some researcherrrrs and reason with him. If that goes badly, which it probably will, I am to use force" she said with a brush of her silky hair. 'Moblin, eh? This should be interesting...' Cronin thought to himself.
"Okay sounds pretty easy we will help you. Do you know where this gang leader is at, Sakeru?" Cronin accepted and asked.
"Hmmm, I have an idea. In the rocky tunnels that spawn off these ruins, that is where most of the attacks have happened." Sakeru said.
"Okay-Wokay! Let's go!" Kurin-Juran yelled to encourage with a smile. Seconds later, they were following the new ally.
After traveling for little more than a minute, they reached a room with a magical device. Sakeru looked at strange portion wall for a short time, right from the contraption. Both Kurin and Cronin stood there with a confused face.
Suddenly, with much quickness she smacked the strange looking wall with her palm. After a second's stall, the wall shook and dust fell from it. It slid to the left slowly. It was a hidden passage way.
"Err, okay, that works" said Cronin, very surprised by the opening door.
They entered through the hidden arc to walk upon rocks. It was an undiscovered tunnel with many, many bats. There was little light, with only some of it coming from the deeper ruin, once the door shut behind the three.
"I would imagine he is not far from here" Cronin said smacking a bat away from his face.
"This place is scary-wary" the Tarutaru noted as they wandered deeper in to their possible doom.
After they walked a bit farther in, Sakeru heard something crawl after them. "What is tha-" Sakeru was about to say before a large green bug bit into her leg. She screamed in pain and Cronin was quick to draw his sword.
Closer examination of the bug would reveal that it was a large Beetle with stripes of white and green. Cronin slashed it away from his Mithran friend's leg. She drew her sword herself.
Cronin quickly noticed his sword was barely hurting it. "Oh damn, this thing is going to be tough!" he warned them as the two swung their swords at their vermin foe.
Kurin-Juran started to chant and the aura of black magic had return to him. A chill was spread and within seconds Kurin stopped. After the short moment of silence, a large amount of water appeared far above the Beetle. It quickly dropped and smashed the insect, hurting it dearly.
"Good! The Tarutaru is a Black Mage!" the Mithra was happy to notice that. Kurin-Juran, even engaged in the middle of combat, gave a small blush to those words.
Cronin's shield blocked cut off the Beetle attacks. The few time the Beetle hit him it hurt. Kurin started his chant yet again. This time a ball of fire was summoned on the Beetle and exploded. It fell on the floor, crisp from the burn.
"Phew, that was a tough bastarrrrd. It seems I am collecting lots of wounds down here" Sakeru said wiping her head of sweat and drinking a blue vial that would heal her wound. Cronin suffered almost no injuries and Kurin was untouched.
"We ready?" Kurin asked the two, in a childish accent.
"Yeah, I am good... Sakeru?" Cronin answered and looked towards the Mithra.
"Always" she responded and looked about to see anything else was going to attack.
With the area clear, they went on. Not far they past a piece of the ruins seemly were coming out of the cavern walls with patrolling skeletons.
"Besty we avoid them" Kurin said and they didn't need to make verbal agreement.
Finally after passing another scene like they saw before, four goblins all like the one Sakeru fought before stood in a circle talking in a rough language hard to understand. Not far from the pack were at least seven other goblins wandering around looking the same, but one in black metal armor.
"The one in metal armorrrr must be the gang leader" Sakeru whispered to the group, stealthily hiding behind the corner.
"Man, if we have to use fight them we are as good as dead!" Cronin complained.
"It is Windurst's beastmen wolicy-policy. We are aboutaru peace to all other peoples" Kurin reminded Cronin.
"Yeah I know. Well here goes nothing" Cronin said with a deep inhale and exhale. He walked slowly to the goblins. Sakeru and Kurin followed closely behind. All deep inside all of them they thought this was going to end them.
Cronin gulp and loudly shout "Excuse me!".
All of the goblins turned to see the group, surprised. "What?" "Kill them!" "Let's take the dumb fools' gil" were all shouted in the room.
"Wait! I come in the name of Windurst. We, as an frrrriendly nation, ask you and your group to move back. Please Jarublulix, we only want peace" Sakeru yelled stepping forward.
"Hehehe" the goblin in all metal grinned. "You dumb Windurstians. If I wanted peace I would ask for it. You think you would be making any kind of treaty with me?!" he roared and his minions cheered.
They all pulled out their swords and daggers, but Jarublulix who carried a steel axe. The group did the same out of fear. Suddenly Cronin spoke up after remembering his diplomatic training.
"Wait... is this gang leader going to be a coward? I challenge you to a duel. One on one!" Cronin called to smaller foe. It was the group's only chance.
The enemies all laughed. "Hahaha! I am no moron! You think you idiocy tactics will work? Prepare to see Paradise!" the Goblin replied, as he was about to lead the charge.
"Wuss" Sakeru insulted.
The Goblin became furious. "What did you say?! Wuss!?" he screamed as he was giving in to a tantrum.
"Wuss, yup, that is what she said" Cronin laughed with those words.
"Wuss-puss!" Kurin yelled with a furious jump.
"Fine! I will fight you one on one! Annoying idiot..." the Goblin said after being incense by the three.
He signaled the others to stay behind. "If you win this, and I am dead, all the goblins will go in deeper and such so... whatever you morons want. BUT! Lets not get our hopes up now... Don't see how I can lose... I am a moblin and the blood of a warrior is inside me" he taunted Cronin who sword was in his hand.
'He doesn't look like a Moblin to me... maybe... he was an outlaw? Kicked out from the city or possibly escaped from their city?' Cronin eyes beamed at the goblin-like being. 'I don't know much about them, but where they live is close to Bastok. They say... they are a lot like goblins, but a lot more greedy and brutal...' the thoughts ended rather quickly.
"Good lucky Cronin!" Kurin shouted.
"I barely know you... Don't mess up!" Sakeru cheered, though more so a scold than a cheer.
Cronin took a big breath and he walked towards the middle circle surrounded by the Goblins. The room was very dark considering a couple of the green stones glowed near by. Jarublulix slashed into the air, it seemed as if he was testing out his hand axe.
Cronin focused on his sword and shield for a short moment looking down then his head flipped up, flapping his blond hair. He was ready for combat. He was going to get combat.