Chapter 2: Inviting
Night covered the village of New Vale. The collected snores of the villagers could be heard all around. Silently, Ivan and the others tiptoed past several houses.
"Alright, the weapons stash should be somewhere nearby." Isaac whispered. "We probably will be able to fetch 'em and get out before anyone hears us."
Sure enough, after lifting a small rock, our heroes found the Sol Blade, Excalibur, Atropos Rod, Lachesis' Rule, Clotho's Distaff, Tisiphone's Edge, and Darksword.
"Hey, wouldn't it be smarter if we were to get our backups as well?" Ivan offered.
"Do you seriously want to dig any deeper? We won't be able to shower for another few hours. We have to get to Biblin, at least, if we want to have a nice vacation." Isaac snapped.
"Well, it's not a bad idea. I mean, even though the monsters here are pathetically weak, it's still a good idea in case any one of us forgets our weapons." Sheba replied.
"Why's everyone looking at me?" Garet wondered.
Felix snickered under his breath. "Anyways, we've got to keep moving. Hurry up and use Scoop or something."
"You're the one holding the Gem." Isaac corrected him.
"Oh, right." Felix cursed as he cast Scoop.
The glare of the Gaia Blade flashed deep into the night.
"Idiots, we'll be spotted!" Ivan hissed as he tried to cast Delude.
As the fog covered the area around them, Isaac quickly grabbed the sword and sheathed it.
The others, like frantic rats, grabbed their weapons in a rush, making sure that the gleam of their glorious energy would not emerge to blow their cover.
"Let's get out. We'll be lucky if we even make it out of the village." Ivan whispered as they scurried away.
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The route through Vault and on to the Goma Range is not difficult to tread through. One must be careful not to step in Vermin feces, but other than that, the path is an easy hike. There are no steep inclines, nor are there rocks blocking the path, at least for most of the year. These are the conditions Isaac and the others met as they traversed the area during the night. Taking care to avoid the city of Vault at all costs, they slipped through the dusty road and tall grass to finally arrive at the range.
Thankfully, for most of the year, the Goma Range is not difficult to cross. Though, during late spring and early summer, the landscape is filled with overgrown vegetation, the majority of the plants can easily be burned away with a single Flare Wall. Thus, Jenna was able to clear the way for her allies to escape. The caves and tunnels that dotted the mountain range are short, and, thanks to the generosity of merchants who travel the range almost daily, filled with lit torches that are quite efficient at keeping the cave well lit.
Felix and his comrades easily went through the range and on to the town of Biblin, where they checked in for the night. Unfortunately, when the teller asked for them to pay for the night's rent...
"Fifty coins please." The teller spoke as she waited for them to collect the money.
"Alright, we can definitely afford it. Now, here's the gold bag... Wait, huh?" Jenna muttered as she fished through her purse. "It's not here!" Jenna began to panic, and for good reason.
"What? Jenna, you are responsible for all our gold! I don't believe this." Felix began to get angry.
"Could she have been robbed? What's going on?! We'd better call the Sheriff." Isaac spoke.
"Wait..." Ivan glanced menacingly from side to side. "Has any of you seen Garet?"
"How is that relevant to...?" Felix thought for a minute. "Oh."
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Several miles away in the city of Vault, Garet was sitting at the table of a restaurant. A waitress was standing over him, at attention.
"Anything else, sir?"
"And I'll have the Filet Mignon, the Tiramisu, and, oh that Caviar looks nice."
"Excuse me?"
"What? Don't got any of those things? Fine! Give me your most expensive food."
The waitress promptly left. When she returned, she plopped a plate of salmon on the table.
"Ah, salmon!" Garet dug in. "Wait, it's cold! Are you trying to trick me? You don't even bother to cook it! How dare you!" Garet began to spout a tirade of profanity at the waitress, and was promptly kicked out of the restaurant. (1)
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Our heroes looked embarrassingly at the teller.
"Um, er... Can we get in for free?" Isaac chucked as a bead of sweat ran down his spine.
"I'm sorry?" The teller looked at him in surprise.
"We, um, can't seem to afford your rates." Felix muttered.
"Well, then I can't rent out a room for you." The teller replied.
"But we're the heroes who saved all of Weyward! You should let us in for free." Isaac complained.
"Heroes or no, you are still law-abiding citizens, right? You can't expect us to let you use our rooms for free when we have a business to run." The teller replied.
"Greedy... capitalist..." Felix was cut off by the teller, who sighed and said: "I just work here."
At that moment, a blue-haired man entered the room.
"Piers!" Sheba yelled. She ran over and hugged his leg. "Piers, Piers, Piers!" She squealed.
"Piers! Got some money on ya?" Felix asked.
"Um, yeah, wh..." Before Piers could do anything, Ivan darted forward and grabbed his wallet.
"Here, Felix, now we can afford our rooms!" Ivan beamed.
"Hey!" Piers tried to protest, but Felix promptly paid the bill.
"Alright, you have Rooms 18, 19, 20, and 21 all to yourselves." The teller flashed them a fake smile.
"Kids these days." Piers muttered, rolling his eyes.
"You're the best, Piers! First, you lend us your ship. Then, you lend us money!" Sheba continued trying to fawn after him.
"Fine, fine. No matter. We are friends, after all. So, how's it going?" Piers asked.
"Badly, stupid Garet stole our money bag and we bet that he's still in Vault." Jenna growled.
"Oh, well, should I go fetch him?" Piers offered.
"That would be great, but Felix, shouldn't you go with him?" Mia asked.
"Right, I should. Ok, Piers, we're going to go fetch Garet." Felix smirked. "Jenna, I'm bunking with you. Could you take your stuff off to our room?" He asked.
"Fine, fine. But don't expect me to always do favors for you." Jenna sighed as she lifted their bags.
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Garet moped around the city of Vault. "Why is it always me? I nearly get squashed by a boulder... I fall in a trap for my best friend's girl. I look like an idiot everywhere I go. Why do I have such a bad life?"
"Tough it out, son." A villager sighed as he brushed past Garet.
Garet looked after him, and bitterly trudged out of the town, dragging his Darksword behind him.
As Garet continued walking, he saw two figures approach him. "Felix? Piers?" He called.
"Little thief! Wait till I smack you silly!" Felix roared as he charged towards the hapless adept.
"Uh oh..." Garet muttered as he raised the Darksword.
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By this time, Felix had 2000 HP and Garet had 2100 HP. Piers had 1900 HP.
Felix appeared!
Garet attacks!
Felix takes 100 damage!
Felix casts Odyseey!
Garet takes 250 damage!
Piers appeared!
Garet casts Liquifier!
Piers takes 300 damage!
Piers casts Diamond Berg!
Garet takes 400 damage!
Garet tries to flee!
...But it failed!
Felix uses Meld!
Felix and Piers smack Garet with a combination attack!
Garet takes 250 damage!
Piers is defending!
Garet uses Profanity!
Felix's attack increases by 1000!
Piers's attack increases by 1000!
Felix casts Potent Cure!
Piers is fully healed!
Piers casts Freeze Prism!
Garet takes 700 damage!
Garet uses Cowardice!
Garet is downed...
Felix's party earns 50,000 coins!
Felix's party earns 1,000 experience points!
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Garet willingly collapsed on the floor, shocking both Piers and Felix. "What are you doing?" Piers asked him.
"Don't hurt me anymore!" Garet pleaded.
"Wimp." Felix sighed. "C'mon, Piers, we got him. Let's go." He motioned to Garet to follow them.
Garet drooped his head and walked behind Piers and Felix back to Biblin.
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Isaac and the others were relaxing in their beds. "This is the life... I'm in heaven for bunking with Mia... Ivan, you are the best!" Isaac smiled as he stared at the restroom. Mia, walking out of the restroom in her nightgown, gave Isaac a suspicious glare.
"Isaac?"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"Oh, sorry." Isaac turned away.
"Whatever, I'm going to sleep." Mia yawned as she climbed into bed.
"... Must... Resist..." Isaac thought as he too tried to doze off.
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Late that night, Felix, Piers, and Garet made it to their respective rooms. Garet's snoring made it nearly impossible to sleep, so the next morning...
Felix was sipping his coffee as he emerged from his room.
"Um, Piers?" He asked the zombie-like Lemurian who was staggering in the hallway.
"Go away." Piers snarled at him.
"Ok..." Felix blinked as he walked to the inn's lobby.
Ivan rubbed his eyes and emerged from his room. His eyes met Felix's as the latter came walking back with a second cup of coffee.
"So, what's our itinerary?" Ivan asked.
"We should reach Kolima in two hours or so. Afterwards, we'll try to get through Mogall Forest. We should emerge from the forest in the early evening, so we'll have to make sure that we get to Xian by nightfall." Felix replied.
Isaac overheard their plans, and promptly complained: "You call this a vacation? It's more like taking a second journey, without the stress of having to save the world again!"
"Well, where have we not gone to that's actually fun? Besides, hiking is good for you!" Felix snapped back.
Isaac groaned and packed his things.
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"Well, Karst, you done with the potion?"
"Yep. Now, all we have to do is try to find them." Karst snickered as she held the bottle in her hands.
"Um, the drink is black. Who/what in his/her/its right mind would drink a black liquid?" Agatio asked.
"Someone with style. Now, quit complaining and find out where Isaac and his cronies are." Karst replied.
"Ok." Agatio sighed. He promptly walked out the door.
"Soon, precious... Soon you will make mommy very happy!" Karst slowly stroked the bottle.
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"Well, Saturos, it looks like we made it..." Menardi muttered as she and Saturos found themselves in the city of Vault.
"That was some mean tidal wave. It cracked our raft in half! We're lucky to still have our gold, my sword, and your scythe." Saturos sighed.
"That's all we need, right?" Menardi smirked.
"Anyways, I'm shocked that no one's tried to maim us, yet." Saturos looked around.
"Maybe it's because of your mustache." Menardi nodded.
"I have a mustache?" Saturos stroked his lips. "Oh..."
"Mind you, we were at sea for a LONG time. That's why we have more hair." Menardi reminded him.
"Right... Now that I think of it, your hair's grown longer."
Menardi beamed at him.
"And messier."
Menardi glared. "Saturos!"
"What? I'm telling the truth! Anyways, how much gold do we have? 2,000 coins? Excellent. Let's get something to eat." Saturos smirked.
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As Felix and his party closed in on Xian, Agatio was walking outside of the city.
"This is so boring! Why can't I punch something yet? Gaaah!" Agatio wailed as he strolled along.
Soon, our heroes made their shocking confrontation:
"Hi." Agatio smiled.
"It can't be! You're alive! And, you're at this city. We can't let you cause trouble. Let's get him!" Ivan raised the Kikuchimonji. The others followed suit and approached Agatio.
Agatio examined all of them as they slowly closed in on him, and laughed: "You guys are really ticked at Karst and I, aren't ya? Well, all I have to say is that we're not plannin' to fight you. All we want is to invite you to our new place. It's been a while since we last saw you guys, and even though we tried to kill ya' before, you ended up saving our lives by lighting the beacon. We never had the chance to thank you. Why don't you come over?"
Ivan retreated for a distance, and motioned to Felix to talk to him.
"I don't think we should trust them." Ivan warned.
Sheba walked over to the two of them, and added: "Neither do I. I doubt they could be so friendly so readily, especially considering that Karst was planning to avenge Menardi. She never got what she wanted, so what makes you so sure she'll be this willing to be hospitable? This must be a trick."
Isaac walked over to them. "You know, worst comes to worst, we're armed, we're experienced fighters, and psyenergy has a pretty long range. I doubt they could poison us with both Mia and Piers here, and we all have healing items that could prevent whatever they could throw at us. Besides, we should forgive, shouldn't we?"
"Now when our lives are at stake." Ivan rebutted.
"Well, I think..." Before Felix could finish his sentence, he saw Garet shake Agatio's hand.
"Wha-?" Ivan's eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets.
"Well, we'd better give them the benefit of the doubt. I mean, you know how hospitable Puelle and the others were at Prox. Why can't Karst and Agatio be the same? Let's go join up with them." Isaac nodded.
"Isaac, you have a point. They wouldn't risk their own lives to face us again. Besides, we should treat them the way we'd like to be treated, right? That way, they'll stop bothering us. Let's be nice and join this little gathering of theirs." Felix replied.
"They're going to regret this." Ivan whispered to Sheba.
"That's why they'll need us to tag along." Sheba nodded at him.
Agatio led the way to the Xian Inn.
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Disclaimer: Considering that these early areas are well known by many players of Golden Sun 1 (The Broken Seal), I am uncertain how I should write in detail about the setting, and since these characters are wearing the same clothing, I am uncertain if I ought to describe them. (By the way, do they ever change clothes? It must be sickening to be Mia or Jenna, having to deal with all that concentrated sweat.)
Footnotes:
(1): Based on my experience, Lox is actually quite expensive. So's sashimi. But, seriously. It's cold! It's raw! Why is it so expensive? I've no idea... (But it tastes good, and that makes it worth the cost... I guess...)
Please read and review.