Tales of the Wizard
Ch 12. Palmacosta
Raiden had made his way to the Ossa Trail.
A little further down the path he noticed a hole in the ground.
"Hm, a trapdoor? No, a maintenance passage," Raiden wondered, "I better close it, before somebody falls in."
He noticed the footprints leading from the passage, he recognised them having seen them during the ten year stay in Mizuho.
"Well, apparently Sheena did fall in. I wonder what happened."
Opening the passage again, Raiden jumped down it.
He landed and noticed a small indent in the ground below him.
"Sheena, have you forgotten your training? Any Mizuho ninja should be able to land safely from that height."
He followed her footprints outside, and noticed the tell-tale signs from a struggle.
He also noticed bits of paper, "She used a guardian-seal. That means she has three left."
Raiden grapped some sand from the ground and moved it through his fingers.
"I'd better find Lloyd and the others. Big chance she'll try to attack them again."
After leaving the Ossa trail, he looked around.
Raiden spotted a small village in the distance, and decided to head of it.
In the village called Izoold, he finally got a straight answer.
A girl called Lyla told him that a group matching the description of Lloyd and his group had left for Palmacosta a few hours ago.
Unfortunately, no ship was willing to sail as it was said to be too dangerous at the moment.
"Well, I'll just have to fly to Palmacosta, although it is not the stealthiest of ways," Raiden said to himself.
A few kilometres from the harbour-village, he grew his trunk to its regular size.
He used his sword now that his wand was part of it.
The Firebolt was still in perfect condition, even after a decade of not being used.
Raiden shrunk his trunk again, and put it away.
He took place on the broom and launched himself of the ground and into the skies.
The exhilarating feeling of flying filled Raiden as he approached his planned cruising height.
"Sheena and the others are close, I'll find them soon."
Raiden was reminded a little of the trip with the Order of the Phoenix, only this time the weather was better.
He sped in one line towards the coast of the other part of Sylvarant.
Suddenly he heard the cry of a bird, looking back he saw Névé trying to keep up.
Raiden slowed down and matched her speed.
"You OK?"
The owl hooted, together they flew towards one of the bigger cities in Sylvarant.
Raiden landed away from the town.
He made his way to one of the paths and started walking down the path towards the city.
As he was walking, a party of four headed his way.
"...as foolish for giving us Spiritua's journal that easily. I mean all we did was say we were the chosen's group."
Raiden stopped, "You are the Chosen of Mana?"
"Y-yes , Of course, we are. How else did you think we got Dorr to give us his family-treasure?" a girl in a witch outfit said
He took out a sword, holding it backhanded, "You could have stolen it, or received it with lies."
"Don't you touch her!" one of companions shouted.
"I do not want to harm you but I want the Book of Reneration."
"We'll kill you!"
"You are thrill-seekers, not killers. Give me the book and you will not be harmed," Raiden's voice hardened, his other hand closed over the hand holding the sword.
"N-n-never!"
"Well then, prepare for battle!" Raiden ran to one of the stronger one and hit him with the blunt side of his sword.
The kid was downed instantly.
"W-why? Why do you attack us?"
"I want the book and I know the real Chosen. Just a warning for impersonating her."
The witch threw an orb at Raiden, "You got what you want, now leave us."
Raiden sheathed his weapon, "I knew you would see things my way. Thanks."
He turned around and made his way to Palmacosta.
Raiden suddenly noticed that a group of Desians and their leader made their way towards Palmacosta.
"That.. means trouble. I'd better speed up."
He hurried to the harbour-city.
Arriving before the Desians, he went to higher grounds to prevent them from seeing him.
Half an hour later the Desians arrived.
They attacked one of the shops and dragged the owner ,a woman, out.
Raiden could intervene right now and then, but something told him to wait.
The Desians started constructing a hangman.
They forced the shop-owner on the platform and placed the rope around her neck.
The leader came into view.
One of the soldiers spoke up, " Out of way! Lord Magnius approaches."
Raiden noticed that Lloyd and the others came from behind.
A sickening crunch was heard, Magnius had crushed somebody's neck.
"Damn, this guy is serious."
"This woman defied the wishes of the great Lord Magnius and refused to provide us with supplies," One of the guards said.
"Therefore, while the designated death count has been exceeded, we have been granted orders to carry out this woman's execution!" Another guard continued
A voice of a girl called out, "Mom!"
"Stop right there, woman!"
"If you interfere, we'll make you suffer in ways that will leave you begging for death!"
"You think Governor-General Dorr will let you get away with this?" The girl shouted
"Dorr? Hahahaha! Don't get your hopes up, woman!" Magnius spoke
Raiden wondered about this, apparently Dorr was resisting the Desians but Magnius wasn't worried at all.
The Desian leader prepared to let the floor fall.
"No!" the girl shouted.
Suddenly, a stone was thrown at Magnius, a kid threw small rocks at the man.
"Brave little kid, Brave but foolish. Probably a Gryffindor," Raiden muttered.
"You…disgusting little vermin!" Magnius had a different point of view
He approached the kid.
Raiden threw a shiruken.
It and an energy-wave hit Magnius.
"Stop right there!" Lloyd made himself known.
"Kids can be annoying but still, that is no reason to kill him," Raiden spoke.
Raine talked to Lloyd, who said his reply, "It's not the same! This city doesn't have a non-aggression treaty with the Desians! How can we go on a quest to regenerate the world if we can't even save the people standing right in front of us!"
Collete joined, "Lloyd's right! I won't just stand here and let this happen!"
"Neither can I."
"Raiden?"
The ninja smiled, "Long time no see."
"You! You're wanted criminal #0074…Lloyd Irving!" a Desian said.
This drew the attention of Magnius, "Well, now! So you're that boy with the Exsphere! Hahahaha! This is perfect! After I take that Exsphere from you, they'll make me the leader of the Five Grand Cardinals! Get them!"
One of the guards prepared a spell.
"Is it me, or is that one of the strangest dances I have ever seen," Raiden remarked
The guard released a fireball towards Lloyd's group.
Genis came up from behind and called out, "Forcefield!"
Raiden too, had called out his defence, "Defence Seal"
They stopped the attack.
"Weaklings," Raiden muttered.
Genis walked away, saying "Amateurs…"
Magnius didn't take it very well, "Dammit! You worthless idiots! Enough of this! I'll take care of this woman first!"
The guard approached the floor trap of the hangman.
"No!" Collete called out, she threw her Chakram at the rope around the woman's neck. The rope snapped and the woman fell to the floor.
Magnius watched the trajectory of the weapon, "What the!"
Kratos attacked Magnius, "Let us respect the wishes of the Chosen."
The statement brought up some excitement
The citizens started muttering.
"Do you all realise what you're doing? If you defy the Desians, this city may be attacked just like Iselia," Raine told Lloyd.
"That's right! And I know full well what I'm doing! I won't repeat the same mistake again. I'll destroy them all, the entire ranch!"
"Lloyd, that's insanity," Raine said.
Raiden smiled, "I like the plan, big explosions are popular with me."
"They're only after Colette and me anyway," Lloyd continued "And besides, we have the
Chosen on our side! The savior who will regenerate the world! Right, Colette?"
Colette stepped up.
"Yup! I'm going to fight for everyone's sake."
"Oh! Lady Colette! The great Chosen of Mana!" A pastor said.
Raine sighed, "I give up. You're all hopeless… But I'll help, since I'd be worried about you otherwise."
"Professor Sage! Thanks!"
"Damned little…enough of this crap! I'm leaving them to you. Get rid of them!" Magnius warped away.
"How dare you lay a hand on Lord Magnius! You're all dead!" The second-in-command said.
Raiden formed his double-saber, "Famous last words!"
Lloyd and the others also took on the Desians
Genis used his kendama as a focus and cast a multitude of different spells.
Suddenly Raiden noticed that one of the Desians had chosen to go around the fight and was attempting to attack Raine
"Raine! Behind you!" Raiden called out.
It had the desired effect, Raine stopped her spell and whacked the Desian. Raiden finished him off.
"Thanks Raiden."
"No problem, I told you I would protect you," Raiden smiled.
The group fought the rest of the Desians and killed them.
Raiden walked to the fallen woman.
"Are you all right?"
"I am fine, thank you. Please come with me."
She lead them to her shop.
"I thank you once again.".
"Thank you so much for saving my mom! I don't know what I would have done if they'd murdered my mom as well…" the daughter said.
"As well?" Genis asked
"My husband volunteered in Governor-General Dorr's army…and was killed in a battle against the Desians. And my mother…was taken to the ranch," the woman explained
"It was Grandma that originally founded our shop. We have to protect it, not just for ourselves, but also for Grandma's sake, for when she returns. I'm sorry, but I'd better get going soon. It's almost time for the next Asgard pilgrimage."
"Asgard pilgrimage?" Lloyd asked.
"I work at the Church of Martel Travel Agency. But it's not like I believe in Martel or anything," The daughter said.
"Chocolat! How can you say such a thing!" the mother admonished her
"I know, I know. I'm grateful for the Chosen. But Martel didn't protect Dad or Grandma. Even this time, it wasn't Martel, but the Chosen and her companions that saved Mom. How can anyone believe in a goddess that sleeps while we suffer?"
"True, sometimes the salvation is hard to find," Raiden said.
"I understand. But I still think Martel exists," Colette said
"You think?" Chocolat asked.
"I'm sure of it. She exists inside you and me."
"Well, if the Chosen says so…then I'll at least try to believe."
"Are there really people that want to go on a trip right after what just happened here?"
"It's after events like this that both those with and without faith feel the need to go on a journey in search of salvation."
"That pretty much sums it up. Well then, thank you all very much!"
Lloyd's group exited the shop.
"Something's not right," Raiden said, "I can feel it."
"Indeed," Kratos said, before changing the subject, "I can conclude your quest was unsuccessful."
"Unfortunately, I haven't found her yet."
"You forgot to tell us what she looked like."
"You have met her," Raiden sighed, "She is the assassin sent after the Chosen of Mana."
"WHAT!"