CHAPTER III
"Fatyr! How can you give your blessing to Maleko, but not to me?" Bhaldryss demanded, outraged by his father's disapproval.
The brothers stood in front of their father, who had just finished breaking his fast and was now arguing angrily with his son in the den of their little hut. Maleko had been shocked when Bhaldryss had stepped forward, requesting leave to follow him to Eorzea. His brother was in line to become the Alpha male of their Sea Wolf tribe, a fact that they were both fiercely proud of. Yet, now it seemed his brother would forsake it all for an overly passionate whim.
"You know that it is different!" his father bellowed. "You are to become the Floernmann(1) of this isil one day; I cannot allow you to go stomping around the Eorzean countryside on your every whim and fancy!"
"It is for that very reason that I must go!" Bhaldryss argued. "I need to learn to control my Wuota Blaet, and I feel in my hearz(2) that I will find my answer in Eorzea.
"That is nonsense, what can that cursed laent(3) give you that we, your Dyn(4), cannot? Eorzea is being torn apart by the Beast tribes, with their Primals, and the Garleans are a constant threat looming on their border." His father growled. Then in a softer voice, touched with concern, he added. "I cannot afford to lose you to some unforeseen disaster…"
"However, you can afford to lose Maleko?!" Bhaldryss asked, uncowed by his father's concern.
The elder stared at his son, anguish plain in his eyes. "You know that I care for you both equally."
Bhaldryss' anger finally subsided, and after a moment, he spoke again, calmly. "Father, I have heard tales of a Roegadyn tribe that harnesses their inner beast for use in waek(5). I believe this may be similar to my Wuota Blaet. If I am to guide our Dyn when my time comes, I must first do anything it takes to control this power."
Bhaldryss Eyriankasyn(6), had been born with a rare gift found among Roegadyn males, and even rarer amongst women, however he struggles to control it. His anger was volatile, and when it seized him, his strength grew substantially, and his tolerance of pain was heightened, however, he could not discern friend from foe, often putting his companions at risk. If he could learn to control his rage, unleashing it at his own will, or at the least, maintaining control of his senses, he believed he could become an unrivaled warrior, strong enough to unite the surrounding islands.
The elders brow furrowed in thought as he processed what his son had just told him.
"I will return, in control of this power, and I will guide our Dyn, I give you my word, I will make you proud Fatyr."
The silence was deafening as the village elder thought long and hard over everything that had been said. He had been saddened, but proud, when Maleko approached him about his desire to find the Lancer's Guild, however when Bhaldryss stepped forward, voicing a similar request, he had been outraged. He had assumed his son was simply being foolish, and wished to follow his brother on his journey, however…
"Fine, I can see now that you have thought long and hard about this." His father began slowly, "Do not return to this isil until you have become a true Wuota."
The rest of the day was a blur of heartfelt farewells between friends and companions throughout the island. Maleko found himself sitting, one last time, at his favorite spot on the island, a small cliff a little ways into the jungle, that overlooked the village, and offered an amazing view of the sunset over the beach.
A group of children were throwing and kicking around a small leather ball back and forth down the beach. Maleko smiled as one of the larger children caught the ball, and was promptly swarmed by a flock of yelling and jumping smaller children, and eventually brought down in a huge dog pile of arms and legs.
Everything was happening so fast now. First light tomorrow, he would put out to sea with the crew of Und Braena, one last time, heading for the Vylbrand coast, and the city-state of Limsa Lominsa, where he'd start his journey in Eorzea. Soon he would leave everything he knew behind, for a journey into an unknown continent.
He gained a certain comfort from the fact that his brother would be traveling with him. However, they had discussed their plans, and Bhaldryss would be staying in Limsa Lominsa to join the Marauder's Guild. Their father had given them a letter of introduction to the City State's leader that would provide Bhaldryss entry into the guild, and Maleko passage to the Shroud.
As the sun began to set, Maleko rose and brushed himself off. He had lost track of how long he'd been sitting, watching the little village, but now he remembered he was supposed to meet Bhaldryss and a group of friends at the local pub for a small going away celebration.
He approached the brightly lit pub and could hear singing and dancing from within. He stepped through the open doorway and voices were raised in greeting. Tomorrow was still a long way away.
(1) Floernmann - Traditional Roegadyn word meaning Leading Man.
(2) Hearz - Traditional Roegadyn word for Heart.
(3) Laent - Traditional Roegadyn word for Land.
(4) Dyn - Traditional Roegadyn word for People.
(5) Waek - Traditional Roegadyn word for Battle.
(6) Bhaldryss Eyriankasyn - The name of Maleko's Brother. Translates to Bold Giant, Son of Wandering Mountain.