CHAPTER 4 – The Big Green Beast
Preparing for the journey ahead, Hajime headed on down to the auction house to buy items that would come in use on his quest.
"Hey…HEY NEWBIE!" Hajime turned round to see the warrior that was carrying Cassie.
"I found out where that girls family live, its here in the residential district west". The warrior pointed to a map and handed it to Hajime.
"Thank you, this is much appreciated" said Hajime.
"You travel North through Gustaberg to the Konschtat Highlands. Then go north past Aulgung Pass until you reach the Valkurn dunes. Then head west until you reach the port town of Selbina. From there you head north but I'm sure you can find a guide once you get to Selbina" Explained the warrior.
"Why can't you come with me?" asked Hajime. The warrior looked around and drew his head closer to Hajime's. "Dark times lie ahead. That attack this morning…I think it was the beastmen testing our defences…the real invasion will come soon. But…I may be overreacting. Good luck on your quest Hajime…May the elements be with you". And with that, the warrior walked off into the crowd of merchants.
Realising that he wouldn't stand a chance with any fiends north of Gustaberg, Hajime decided to stay around the area for a while to improve his skills. For two days straight, Hajime fought and fought and fought until he had gained level 16. Exhausted, Hajime set off on his journey towards the Konschtat Highlands. The highlands were a completely different world to what he has previously seen, not that there was much to see anyway, due to the ever winding valley that engulfed him. He checked his map and remembered what the warrior had said to him. "North at the Aulgung Pass" he said to himself as he continued through the valley every now and then encountering chocobo riders. He had to wait until level 20 before he could ride a chocobo and then he would have to venture to Jeuno to actually get a license. He had always wanted to go to Jeuno, ever since the great battle five years ago. But his mind was elsewhere now. His destination was San d'oria. After hours of travelling through the labyrinth of valleys, Hajime finally emerged on the hilly plains of the highlands. He followed the path over the hills, passing the large windmills that stood out as an eyesore on the empty hills. Hajime knew he had to get to cover before the day turned into night to avoid the undead fiends that plague the hills. He quickened pace until he reached a most peculiar structure. Whatever it was, it looked like a large gigas skeleton or some other ancient creature. He took this opportunity to rest up near a strange glowing orb. He sat quietly eating some random snacks he brought from the auction house, trying to figure out the hype behind the acclaimed wild onions…they tasted like any other onion…actually they probably tasted worse. It wasn't long before he set off again on his journey north. As he continued onwards, the hills got hillier, the grass got greener, but there was no sign of any sand or desert like characteristics. The ground beneath him started to get less solid and more liquid.
"This can't be right". He saw a sign, "Beware of Malboro's…what the hell are they?" Clearly, Hajime had taken a wrong turn for he was now in the Pashhow Marshlands.
There were Gadflies everywhere; land pugils littered the boggy Rotmarsh, Clippers, Bogdogs, this area was clearly dangerous. He examined the map. There was no way through if he was to go forward; he would end up in Jeuno. Angry and tired, he decided to turn back to the Green and safer highlands. It was too quiet, the pugils were no longer lingering, the clippers and bogdogs had disappeared. Hajime knew that in Vanadiel, strange circumstances like this always occur for a reason...and that reason was standing right in front of him.