The First Grimoire: Final Fantasy Tactics A2

Chapter 3: "Ocktor's Request"

"Come now Luso, is that all you got?"

Cid swung his sword horizontally. Luso took his own sword and parried the blow. He ducked underneath Cid's arm. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that the underside of Cid's face was wide open.

"How about this?!" He yelled as he balled up his other hand. He rose powerfully, ready to uppercut the Revgaji on the chin.

"Clever, but too naïve!" Cid leaned his head backwards, making Luso's fist whiff the air. With a deft motion, Cid grabbed the boy's outstretched hand and spun him around like a windmill. With a loud thump, Luso landed face first in the dirt. Dusting his hands off, Cid crouched down next to him.

"Your mistake was placing too much faith in that one attack." He reprimanded sternly, but his expression was kind. He extended a hand to help Luso up, "Do not believe that just one attack–strong or not–will be able to down an opponent. Always think a few moves ahead. In the case that your first attack does not succeed, you will be still able to respond with another strategy."

Luso nodded as he took Cid's helping hand. It was Luso's idea to have Cid train him. He had felt an acute sense of uselessness during the battle against the Crushatrice yesterday, doing nothing more than nicking the bird's chest and getting a painful retribution in response. He had begged Cid to train him first thing in the morning, before the sun had even broke the top of the forest. Although Cid was initially hesitant, he began to take the training seriously after witnessing Luso's determination.

"However, you did well to avoid my attack." Cid praised lightly, "You do seem to be gifted with a decent set of reflexes. Have you ever trained in swordsplay before?"

"Well, I always get chosen first when it comes to dodge ball in PE, does that count?" Luso grinned, reminiscing to all the times he had surprised the opposing team by catching everything they had thrown at him. Demon Hands Luso, they had called him. All Cid could give was a quizzical expression in reply. Luso quickly shrugged and brushed it aside.

"Can we continue?" Luso asked, he still had an abundance of energy left inside him. "I want to at least be able to hit you once!"

"Aye, let's continue then." The Revgaji walked a few paces away from Luso and reassumed his battle stance. Gripping the hilt with his right hand, he focused his attention on to the boy.

"On three Luso..." Cid murmured, "One..."

"Two..."

"Three!"

Luso kicked the ground powerfully, launching dirt behind him. He ran towards Cid, who was still standing stationary in front of him, waiting for his attack. When he was halfway to Cid, he suddenly changed his direction. He leaped to the side and darted towards Cid's left, the side where he did not hold his sword. Before Cid could turn around, Luso was already next to him, sword at the ready.

Cid gave a low whistle, he didn't expect Luso to reach him that fast, much less change directions in the middle of his charge.

Amazing, he thought, Luso's improving faster than I expected. His speed and stability are surprisingly powerful.

Luso swung his sword at Cid's torso, but a quick turn from Cid and his attack was nullified in an instant. Cid's sword appeared almost instantly, blocking Luso's swing and knocking him backwards in the process.

Of course, he's still young. Cid charged after the staggering Luso, sword raised, His strength isn't enough to even push me right now.

Panicking, Luso quickly rolled on the ground and dodged Cid's attack. Cid's sword had slammed into the dry ground and was stuck in the dirt. Luso quickly recomposed himself and prepared to throw a counterattack during this small opening. The Revgaji had saw this coming, however, and forcefully swung his sword towards him–dirt and all.

"Ack!" Luso quickly closed his eyes as the fragments soil and sand assaulted his vision. In that instant, he saw stars. For the second time this morning, he had collapsed onto the ground.

"Never close your eyes in front of your opponent." Cid had butted Luso over the head, hard, with the back of his sword. Luso could feel a large lump rising out of the top of his scalp. "You'll only leave yourself open to any sort of counterattack."

"That...was unfair." Luso spluttered out, coughing dirt and debris out of his mouth. "You tossed dirt at me!"

"In the midst of battle, any sort of advantage you can gain is an advantage." Cid lectured, "If you're busy crying out 'fair' or 'unfair', you might as well be asking your opponent to drop their weapons and have a nice chat. There are people who would cut you down in an instant if you so happen to drop your guard at any moment, or even attack while you're sleeping."

Luso grumbled as he let himself be pulled up again by Cid. Even though Luso didn't know what kind of people Cid was talking about, he could tell that what Cid was telling him was something important, something that he shouldn't forget.

With a sigh, Luso stood up straight and began to dust off his clothing, which was now becoming rather ragged. A tear was prominently displayed in the middle of the uniform he wore, courtesy of the Crushatrice. The original color was becoming blotched out by dirt and grass stains, making it look like a badly made tye-dye"

"Come to think of it," Cid rubbed his chin as he inspected the weary–looking garment, "Perhaps we should pay a visit to the bazaar."

"The bazaar?" Luso thought he had read the word in a book somewhere, not that he really remembers books that well anyway. "What's that?"

"Someplace where we can get you something less degrading to wear."

Luso punched Cid in the back.

While Luso and Cid were training outside, Edyal was busy with a problem of her own. Specifically, a problem named Lynd.

"You left me out there for the birds!" Lynd yelled, obviously outraged. Edyal simply lifted her cup to her lips and drank, ignoring her clanmate's enraged tirade.

"What did I see when I woke up?" He continued, "My sword gone, the sun down and a half–dead Crushatrice! I had to find the trail back to town in the dark, fending off irritating creatures in the forest with nothing but my fists!"

He slammed his fist against the wooden surface of the table, cracking it slightly. Edyal made no reaction toward his anger, which only served to infuriate him more. He reached over and yanked the cup from out of Edyal's hands.

"If it angers you that much, then why don't you go and have a talk with Cid?" Edyal replied calmly, indifferent to his anger, "He might be more willing to listen to a fool's tirade."

"This does not concern Cid!" He yelled again, "This only concerns your deliberate attempt to abandon me back at the forest!"

"I am appalled at how low you think of me." Edyal replied in a sarcastic tone, "There is no way I would even dream of abandoning such a vital asset to the clan."

"Exactly! I am a vital asset! Which is why Cid recruited me in the first place!" Lynd apparently didn't catch the sarcasm. Edyal rolled her eyes. Ignoring Lynd's self-praise, Edyal took attention to the open door of the pub. Where a new customer had entered through.

"Hello, and welcome. What can I get for you?" Said the turbaned pub bartender, "Muskmallow Ale? I just got a large shipment the other day, definitely will raise your spirits if they are down."

The customer, a Nu Mou wearing a white robe, shook his head and sat down in front of the counter. "Just give me a some straight wine, thanks."

"Not a good day, Dr. Ocktor?" The bartender turned around and began to fiddle with the spigot on one of the massive barrels on the wall.

"Terrible. Simply terrible." The doctor held his head between his two hands, "A patient had came in the other day, inflicted with something I cannot cure without the use of a certain ingredient. Said ingredient is only manufactured in Camoa."

"I see." The bartender placed down a large mug filled with a murky liquid in front of the depressed doctor. "Cheers."

"Thank you," Dr. Ocktor took the mug and drained half of it with one gulp.

"Camoa is not far from Targ, it should take a full day to reach if you are riding a Chocobo." The Bartender rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Do you have problems with riding Chocobos?"

"No, none of the sort." The doctor raised his hand, as if to wave away the bartender's question, "I've been riding Chocobos all my life, transportation isn't the problem here."

"Then what is?"

"Bandits!" He brought up both of his arms in frustration, "Bandits on the highroad!"

"Bandits?"

"Yes! The brigands had halted my assistant while she was riding past the highroad last morn. Took her by surprise they did! The blaggards ordered her to drop all her valuables and return to the wood."

"I see, holding the highroad while robbing any passerby. What a detestable clan."

"Yes, and now I have no means to cure the poor boy who was brought in!" He began to sob, the alcohol was kicking in. "What am I to do? My conscience will not allow me to allow a boy to die when the means to the cure is right underneath my nose!"

The bartender could only put a comforting hand on the doctor's shoulder as he sobbed into his mug.

"I couldn't help but overhear, but did you mention that there were bandits guarding the highroad to Camoa?"

Interested, Edyal had abandoned her argument with Lynd and sat down next to the weeping doctor.

"Y–hic–yes." The doctor raised his tearstained face to look at Edyal, "Four brigands are–hic–guarding the pass at the highest point, ambushing any traveler who tries to head towards Camoa."

"I see, and how many bandits are there?" Edyal handed the doctor her handkerchief to wipe his tears, he accepted it gratefully.

"From what my–hic–Melanee told me," He blew into the handkerchief, "There were three of them, two humes and a moogle. They also had a–hic–wolf that they had captured, which they threatened to let loose on my assistant if she did not comply."

"Only four? Doesn't sound like that tough of a clan to me." Lynd had joined in on the conversation, he had tired of arguing with Edyal as well."If they're resorting to threatening doctor's assistants with wolves, then they must be pathetic in a battle."

"W–who are you?" He turned to the Bangaa who just appeared behind him, "Are you in a clan?"

"You are correct, doctor." Edyal replied, "We are Clan...ahem, well, we do not have a clan name as of currently, but we are a clan nonetheless."

"Are you planning on travelling to Camoa?" Upon hearing that, the doctor sobered up almost instantly, "Do you think you can defeat the brigands that are blocking the way?"

Lynd laughed and patted the doctor on the back, giving him a slight jolt. "Our clan is one of the best! Of course we will not be defeated by a rag–tag clan made up of thieves and beasts!"

And yet, only he was knocked unconscious during yesterday's battle... Edyal silently mused to herself.

"Then!" Ocktor grabbed Lynd's hands in a pleading way, "Please! I ask of you! I beg of you! I implore of you! I–"

"Enough of the begging and tell us what you want!" Lynd pulled his hands out of the doctor's grip, but it was no use. The doctor simply just grabbed them again.

"Take my Melanee along with you as you go past the highroad!" He begged, "I require the ingredients for my medicine, and only Melanee knows where to get it!"

"We wont be taking along extra baggage!" Lynd yelled into the doctor's face, "Another body would only slow us down in battle. Unless you say that she can pull her own weight, we won't accept your assistant!" He yanked his hands out of the doctor's grip again. This time, he moved his arms to where the doctor couldn't reach.

"As much as I dislike to agree with that brute," Edyal chimed in, "But he's right. An extra person would only do as much as slow us down. An extra body to take care of during a battle is a severe disadvantage."

Desperate, the doctor turned around and tried to appeal to Edyal, "No, she will not be useless baggage!" He said, "I've taught Melanee all I know about the White arts! She can heal your injuries if you are injured!"

"Hmm...having a White Mage along with us can be a blessing to us if we are planning on taking on another clan." A new voice joined in on the conversation. Edyal and Lynd quickly turned their seats around to discern who it was.

"Cid? Where have you been?" Edyal said with an irritated voice, "I've been looking for you all morning!"

"I've been out in the fields, helping Luso get his bearings for battle." Cid said proudly, "I must say, he's shaping up to be quite a contender."

"Luso?" Lynd asked, confused, "Who's Luso?"

"I daresay you'll meet him soon." Cid replied.

"A–are you the clan leader?" Ocktor leapt off his seat and stood in front of Cid. A strange sight, as the doctor's height was approximately around Cid's waist.

"That I am," Cid answered, crouching down to have a better look at the doctor, "I hear you have a request to make of my clan?"

"There is a patient, a sickly one, in my clinic." He quickly explained, "I can make a cure for his sickness, but I am missing an ingredient that can only be found in Camoa."

"So is that why you wish to have your assistant come with us to Camoa?"

"Yes, there is no way I can send her to face those bandits alone again!"

"Will you be willing to pay us to deliver her to Camoa?" Cid said, firmly, "As an official clan request."

"Name your price! All I want is to be able to cure the boy of his sickness!" The doctor was already trying to reach for his Gil pouch. Smiling, Cid placed a hand on the doctor's arm and stopped him.

"Do not worry, I wouldn't want to take money from such a dependable doctor." He stood up and faced Lynd and Edyal. "We'll be doing this quest, free of charge. For the sake of the sick child and for the sake of defeating a group of annoying bandits. If you two have any complaints, now would be the time to inform me."

"You're the boss, Cid." Lynd shrugged, "Though, personally. I would prefer to have a reward."

"Your reward will be doing a good deed for a ailing child. Isn't that good enough?"

"I suppose. You've always had a soft spot for children." Lynd walked towards the pub's exit, "I'll be off purchasing a new sword then. As you've all seem to have lost mine." He aimed a glare at Edyal, who simply looked the other way.

Shrugging, Cid turned back to face Dr. Ocktor. He crouched down again, making their faces level with each other.

"Alright then, Dr. Ocktor." He clapped his hands together, "We'll accept your request."

"T–thank you so much!" The doctor attempted to grab Cid's hands as he did with Lynd's and Edyal's before. However, Cid pulled away at the last second. He held up his index finger to the doctor's face.

"You'll have to introduce us to your assistant before we depart." Finishing his sentence, Cid turned around and walked out the pub with Ocktor struggling to follow along in his long strides. Edyal smiled and turned to the bartender.

"One Muskmallow Ale, if you would."

Meanwhile, a certain brown haired boy was having a little bit of trouble.

"Um..." Luso mumbled, "Do you think you can...um..."

"What is it?" A red haired girl replied through a mouth of sewing needles, "Oh, try not to move, I don't want to prick you."

"..."

After Cid had parted with Luso at the local bazaar, he was left at the mercy of the young shopkeeper. She took just one look at the sordid state his clothes was in, and immediately grabbed the young boy and pushed him into the back room. Stripping him of all his clothes except his boxers, the girl forced Luso to stand still as she began to design a brand new outfit for him. On the spot.

"Just hold still for a little bit longer," She assured him, "I'm almost done with your new garments."

"That's...not really my worry..." Luso mumbled again, feeling slightly embarrassed at being half naked in front of her. Earlier, Cid had simply laughed at Luso's situation and left, saying something about meeting up with Edyal.

Regardless of his feelings, the red haired tailor continued with her sewing. "I've sewn in several beast hides into your new clothes." She said plainly, "It'll be strong enough to withstand most cuts and scrapes, so I do not have to worry much about you severely destroying it like you did with your previous clothes."

The clothing destroyer gulped. That comment had a chilling air surrounding it. Inwardly, he vowed to take better care of his clothes from now on.

"Honestly, I cannot understand how one can even think about destroying such a beautiful outfit." She complained, "The clothes you had on was a masterpiece! The sewing on it was expertly done, and the material used was something I've never even seen before!"

That's probably because it was a factory–made uniform ordered by my school. Luso remarked wryly.

"It's simply unbelievable." The shopkeeper shook her head, whipping her long red hair behind her. She jabbed another needle into her mouth and resumed her work.

"So...when will this new outfit be done?" Luso asked, he was beginning to feel uncomfortable from standing in the same position for so long.

The girl held up five fingers in response.

"Seconds?"

She shook her head.

"Minutes?"

She shook her head again.

"...hours?"

A nod.

Luso sighed and hung his head hopelessly.

"...OUCH!"

He got pricked.

A/N: I'd like to have a doctor like Ocktor.