Star Ocean: The Novel
Chapter Three: Infection
Clatos
It had been two days since Maltos had left for Cool, and not a word had been heard from him since. Ratix, Dorn, and Milly were currently sitting at Ratix's front porch, looking out for anything in particular to watch out for.
"Another boring day…" Ratix murmured, looking at a big, fluffy cloud slowly pass overhead.
Dorn glanced at Ratix for a moment.
"I guess it is… But, hey, we get some excitement every once in a while…"
"Still, I wish I had more excitement in my life. Once in a while, it isn't good enough sometimes…"
"Is that why you've been so glum? Because life is boring you?"
"That's partially it…. I just feel I don't do enough with my life, you know? I wish something really interesting would happen… But I know that's not going to happen. It's just gonna be the same old thing, on a different day. I hate it, I really do."
"Something's bound to happen eventually, you know. You just have to wait for it."
"Dorn is right, Ratix," Milly added "Something interesting is bound to happen sooner or later! You just wait and see."
"I guess so…" Ratix said, drifting off, as something came into view and got closer to them. A carrier pigeon landed to the side of them, cooing and chirping. A note was also tied to its leg.
"I'll get it," Dorn said, picking up the bird and releasing the letter from it, and then sent it off.
"What's it say?"
Dorn turned a little pale, as he read it aloud. Ratix was shocked, and Milly was absolutely horrified. Before the boys could say anything, she took off running, tears in her eyes as she dashed towards the north exit.
"Milly, wait!" Ratix called after her, but she was too engrossed in the news to pay attention to it, and kept on going.
"We need to go after her, you know," Dorn said "Who knows what could happen to her in her current state."
"I know… come on!"
Meanwhile, Milly was running as fast as her legs would carry her, as thoughts of her life and her father swam through her head.
"Father!" called out a young Milly, running towards Maltos, hugging him tightly.
"Milly, how are you today?" he asked, hugging her back.
"I'm fine, Father. Where did you go?"
"I was checking out Astral… They were dealing with a huge sickness, but I and some others took care of it. They're all fine now…"
"How can I become a great Heraldry Wizard like you?"
"Faith, a strong will, and lots and lots of practice and experience…"
"Can I become one, though?"
"Of course you can. You just need to be a little bit older, okay? Teaching one magic at such a young age can sometimes lead to unexpected problems in the process."
"I understand. I can't wait until the day I can! "
"Me either."
Milly gave of a brief smile as she passed by the Starship. The starship was something that had crashed into the planet three centuries before, and it remained a mystery even to these days. Some say some of the Gods came on it to check up on the world, others say that it was always there, and the crash was just a legend. Her thoughts turned to her father once again, about two years after her last memory.
"So you see, Milly, Heraldry is a power of one's heart and soul."
"So, what are the tattoos for, then?"
"They amplify and exude dormant energy from the mind, body and spirit. It can do anything from healing and helping people, to calling upon the destructive forces of nature to cause harm. But if one uses it with noble intentions, they will use that destructive power for good, never evil. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand... So, can I become a Heraldic Wizard yet? I know I've asked it many times, but…"
"I suppose you are old and strong enough now, Milly. We can begin your training as soonas you're ready."
"I'm ready now! Let's go!"
"Alright, alright.," Maltos said with a laugh "Let's go begin your training."
"Okay, Father!"
Meanwhile, Ratix and Dorn were beginning to catch up, but Milly was still quite far ahead of them. Dorn felt weird for a split second, but shrugged it off, as they continued onward.
Just a little while later, the two had reached Cool, just in time to see Milly run down one of the streets.
"There she is." Dorn said "Come on!"
Meanwhile, Milly's thoughts continued.
"This can't be happening… it just can't!" she said to herself, as she reached the house furthest up the road, and entered, Dorn and Ratix in hot pursuit.
She opened the doors and entered.
"Milly, what are you doing here!" Maltos demanded, somewhat weakly, but still strong "I thought I instructed specifically not to come here…"
"But your letter! I… I had to come…"
"Milly…"
"Milly!" called out Ratix as he entered with Dorn.
Milly looked at them for a moment, and then at her father, as she stepped towards him.
"D-don't come near, Milly. By merely touching me, you could get infected, and I don't want that to happen. You must continue on…" Dorn warned.
"But… I… I want to comfort you and yet, I cannot even hold your hand or anything… I…"
"Cool is doomed. You must not allow Clatos to come to the same fate… It must survive this disease…"
Milly looked at her father, for a second more before dropping to her knees, sobbing.
Ratix and Dorn glanced at each other for a moment.
"Please take Milly back to Clatos with you…"
"We will, sir." Ratix said "Come on, Milly, let's get back to Clatos…"
"Yeah…" Dorn added.
Milly stood back up, wiped her eyes and walked out with Ratix and Dorn.
"I'm so sorry, Milly…" Maltos whispered to himself and went back to sleep.
That Night
Dorn was wandering around town, when he noticed Milly by the north gate.
"Milly…" he said "Shouldn't you be at home?"
"Without my father? I don't feel like going home…"
"Ah. Well… what are you doing now?"
"I…"
"You want to go to Mt. Metox and get the herb from its peak, don't you?"
"Yes…"
"Well, don't think I'm gonna let you go out aloargh!"
Dorn suddenly dropped to his knees, shaking.
"Dorn?" Milly yelled, going towards him.
"Don't come near me…"
"But" Milly began, but suddenly dashed off to get help. "Ratix! Ratix!"
"Why is it when she needs help, the first thing that always comes to her mind is Ratix…? Always Ratix…"
Ratix was busy staring at the stars from his window again, when he heard a loud knocking and Milly frantically calling his name. He ran up to the door, and opened it.
"Milly, what's going on?"
"It's Dorn! Something's wrong!"
"What?"
The two ran back to the north gate, Dorn was there, standing up as if nothing had happened.
"Dorn!"
"I told you I was okay!" Dorn shouted "I just got dizzy from standing up too long… Ratix, Milly wants to go to Mt. Metox and get the herb…"
"Yeah…"
"I see," Ratix said "So, should we go together?"
"I don't have any problems with that." Milly said "Let's go get that herb and save my dad, and Cool…"
"So, we're off, then." Dorn stated, as the three left for Mt. Metox. Already, Dorn knew what was really going on with him… He'd been infected by the disease.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes
Whew, three chapters and a prologue done already, and this story has only begun! I'm glad everyone's liking this story so far, thanks for commenting and reading.
I'm willing to bet you're wondering why I'm writing a Novelization for Star Ocean 1. The answer is simple. Lots of people have not had the chance to play this first game in this spectacularly weaved series. So, I'm kind of making this novel to get the word out on Star Ocean 1's story. But I'm also making this because I've written quite a few things over the past few years, and I never once done a video game novelization. Lots of people have done novelizations of other games, so I would love to add to the numerous novelizations out there with a game that, in my opinion, really deserves one of its own.
I'd like to thank Lucius Greiner for getting me into SO in the first place, without his help and friendship, this novel may not have been possible. He's also helped me with my story and given his thoughts on my story from behind the scenes. He's truly an awesome guy, and he's writing a novelization of his own of the second game in this series. Not only that, he's also writing a fanfic that takes place before this story, about two other characters in SO1, Ronixis J. Kenni and Iria Silvestoli. Speaking of which, Ronixis and Iria will make their appearance in the next chapter. I suggest giving his stuff a look.
I would like to say more, but this author note's getting too long already, so I'll leave you be until next chapter.
Jason Winter aka TheMechanirex