Final Fantasy D: Vana'Deil by Starlight
Now we turn to the next page of our story, we enter into the land of Vana'Deil. Now this time it's not a recollection of my first visit, or even the last. But more of memories of the seasons in such a wonderful land. Our story for today will be about my experience with what they call their starlight festival....kind of a christmass in this strange land. And this is my story of how I survived my trip through starlight. It all starts in the San d'Orian Embassy in Windurst....
"Dymagox, considering your rare experience that you have been willing to share, we want you to do something special for us," the conselant starts at me...maybe in my journeys I should be more private about my origins. Prince Trion seemed like a sound person and the Elvaan seemed like an understanding race, if not just a little xenophobic. "It seems that one of the local professors of magic would like you to gather some materials for an experiment in the starlight festival....we have no idea what she wants to do and advice you to take extreme caution....but due to the treatice between countries, we are expected to help out."
The consoulant looks at Dymagox and then looks back at the papers on the desk, "but understand to look out for her, she is very mercurial." The young Elvaan shows a look of concern in his eyes. The legends of mages from this region are epic to say the least, and I got the feeling that this particular one was no exception to the rules, "Her name is Shantotto, you will find her in the Windurst Walls district of town."
I bow respectively, cupping my hands in the ways of Yevon...still confusing traditions throughout my travels...but most people take it that I am from some far off culture. Little do they know how right they are. I turn and head out the door. My appearence hasn't changed much, I still wear the hoodie that Jecht gave me. But now I wear the pants common to the region of Aht Urghan within Vana'Deil (or outside of it, I forget which). I still don't cary a weapon yet, though before I left Spira I had boughten a ball from one of the local stores in Luca. The weight of the ball was enough to damage my enemies, though I still looked for a weapon that I could cary and be proud of...but we will get to that later, back to the celebration at hand.
I walk down the way to the house that they sent me too, it wasn't too hard to find. I walked in and saw the Taru Taru that I was to talk to. She was no higher than my waste, but I could tell that she was much older than her looks gave way too. I walked up to her, expecting a gruff warrior hearing about her past, but pleasantly surprised at her artistic way of speach.
"A traveller from beyond time and space has come, he becons to bring the holidays joy and fun, a little present for children old and young, what says you spirit from beyond." Shantotto started her whimsical way of speach, telling me what I needed to know of the quest at hand, "Tell the Yagodu by the stream, That his presence is requested so it seems, and collect the spine, from one of the crawlers when it is time. Xindu will tell you what else is in need, so careful as you travel, or so it be."
I look at her, taking a second to realize what was said. The veteran reminded me of the witches from stories and movies back at home. A puzzled look crosses my face as I thought, but only for a moment. "Well, what is the hold up child of time, you got lands to travel, and items to find, Hohohohoho!" At that Shantotto went back to her studdies and I on my way. It seems that the professor was in hurry. So off I headed, hoping that it wasn't too much for me to handle. This was my first adventure for the most part, and I wasn't used to the whole battling off monsters. But I figured I could use what Jecht taught me about Blitzball to fend the creatures off. Its worked so far, but I don't know if I could keep it up all the time.
I hurry through the city of Windurst to get to the gates closest to my destination. Festivities were going on for the Starlight festival, but I didn't have time to stop, I had to get the stuff for Shantotto. I headed west towards an area filled with streams, this wasn't going to be easy. But then I saw him, waiting on a bridge...it looked like he was....fishing? Na, he couldn't be. I walked towards the bird man, hoping that all was prearranged. I get about 5 feat away from him and then I address him. "Sir, I have been sent here by proffessor Shantotto. I am told you have something that she needs for her gift for the town?"
"I don't know what the witch told you, but we Yagudo have only an uneasy alliance with the people of Windurst, and those pawns that get sent by them are none of our business. Lady Shantotto keeps asking for the bracelet, and I keep telling her no," I was caught off guard with how well the beastman spoke, I was expecting something more like the orcs that I ran into over by the city of San d'Oria. But he held himself like a noble warrior much like the samurai of ancient Japan. "Anyways, why would I give up such an item to the likes of you? You a hume, you a filthy creature to impulsive to even take a second to ask the question why from such a woman. You would only be able to get this trinket from me if you were to rip it off my dead hand, and even then I won't go down without a fight." The beastman sat down his fishing bow and reached for his sheathed katana at his side, holding his hand just above the hilt as he dropped into stance, a stance much like those same warriors as his demeanor.
"Look, I don't want to fight, and I don't want to get into your politics. All I want is the bracelet, and I definetly don't want any......" It was too late, like lightning he charged towards me and with a single motion, pulled his sword out of the sheath and struck at me. I was able to flip over him just like Jecht had taught me for the game of blitzball. I pull the luckball out of it's sack I carried it in, and threw it up in the air. Swung my body around and kicked it at the raven-like man-like creature hitting him in the head and rebounding the ball back towards me. He slashed again, this time cutting me across the stomache. I withdrew towards my ball, kicking it at him once more, this time at his hand. I hit, making him drop his sword for a moment...but that wouldn't be enough to detear him. He charged at me, pulling back out his fishing rod, swinging the string like a flail. I flipped and dodged both right and left, catching the hook here and there, but dodging it the best of my abilities. That was it, I had to charge in. I ran towards him, shoulder pointed towards my advisary. And I rammed right into his chest, knocking the wind out of him. Reached down towards his wrist, forcefully pulling his hand up and the bracelet off.
"Mark me, you will regret listening to the words of that witch traveller, she means no good in what she does. She is bitter and old, and you are young and naive." The Yagudo looked at me with a look of seriousness, I shook my head in disbelief and grabbed my ball and started walking back to town. As I headed back, I saw one of the crawlers she was talking about. I slowly walked up behind it so it wouldn't hear me, and I grabbed one of the spines and pulled. It seemed cruel, but like the cattipillars of my world, it could live without. The spine came right off, but the creature flipped around and went to attack me. I quickly dodged and ran all the way back to Windurst, and back to Shantotto's manor.
"Mistress Shantotto, mistress Shantotto, I have gotten the materials like you asked! You can do what you wanted now," I cried in excitement as I burst through the door. The tiny mage jumped at the sound, not expecting my adreniline fueled excitement. I handed her the materials, "They are what you wished for right?" She took them from my hands and pulled out a small red crystal.
"These will work just fine, you have shown yourself quite well, all will know good spirit in time, just hope that they can tell," She took the materials and the crystal and held them up as a red light encompassed all three. They started to combine and turn into a sparkle in the air, almost dissapearing completely. "Hohohohoho, that should teach the naughty to be nice, but you shall be rewarded thrice! Tell me young man what do you wish?" She looked at me waiting for me to speak my want, but I had to know what just happened. I ran outside and looked, it seemed that every other citizen of the town had become sick. It was almost 1 to every 2 or 3 of them. I couldn't believe my eyes. I ran back into the building.
"What have you done to the town? Why is everyone sick?" I was furious, she tricked me into hurting a town that I have never been to before today. I would not stand for this, "Make them well again, I beg, no I command of you!"
"You speak harshly for someone so young, their pain before me had begun, the naughty were naughty, the nice was nice, I gave each what they deserved, no need to be trice!" Shantotto looked at my face, noticing that her words didn't effect me, changed her smile into a smirk then to a frown, "Oh fine child of time, I shall give you your wish, but not because I feel I owe you no, but because of the risk, hmmmm." She waved her staff once again, taking some materials off her table. And a blue light flew from her out her windows and door and through out the city. I ran outside once again and looked. Those people who had been sick were well once again. I headed back in with a smirk on my face.
"See, you didn't have to be so mean to them, no one is perfect, not even you." I looked at her as she seemed shocked at my words, but a slight grin came across her face...it kind of scared me.
"Hohohohoho, you are right, and for that you deserve this," I winced at first expecting to be turned into a frog or something, but then she took my hand and handed me her staff. "It's so my memory in your travels, you will never miss." I bowed curtiously, then headed out the door to the embassy. After my full report, I opened my book, and headed to where the pages would send me next. And at that, merry christmass to all, and to all a good night!
Next stop, Ivalice. To the empire of Arcadia in Time Will Judge