During his time there, Sjin had learnt quite a bit about Lalna. He was a chocobo breeder, for a start. That lead him to point out every bird he cared for. There was Chocolate, Basil, Blackjack, Bubblegum, Mint, Custard... Sjin was beginning to regret that he asked. Looking at all the trophies littered around the place told him that the man was an adventurer as well. Ferocious monster heads scowled down on the men, slain by the impressive weapons that were scattered about the place, gathering dust.
Lalna then inquired about Sjin's life. After a few minutes, he learnt that Sjin worked as an architect but always wanted to be a farmer and feed the world. In fact, he was in his garden the night he fell.
"Well, why didn't you go for it?" Lalna asked.
He shrugged. "I need money for tools and supplies. And I still need to pay off those "legit" deed salesmen," he explained sadly.
Lalna was sympathetic until a chocobo that he referred to as "Banana" started nudging him and squawking loudly. He then sighed and apologetically asked Sjin if he could help him for a while. He happily agreed.
"No wonder he needed help," Sjin thought. Taking care of chocobos is hard work! First, he had to harvest and replant these plants called "gysahls" which he then threw into a trough for the birds. He then lay down new hay in the pen while Lalna cleaned out the old hay. After, he helped clean up all the feathers that were scattered across the ground. Finally, he relaxed as he brushed the chocobo's coats so they were in good condition. Even though Lalna rambled on most of the time and the pungent smell of chocobo clung to his clothes, Sjin enjoyed every moment of it.
It was only mid-afternoon in the summer day when they finished and Lalna reckoned that Sjin looked well enough to travel home. The man looked worried and Lalna gave him a look of confusion in return.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"...Do you know where Mahogany Meadows is?" Sjin asked sheepishly.
He was answered with another confused look.
Lalna then told him that he had a map somewhere and they both went inside of the house to get it. The man watched the adventurer as he rummaged through crates, taking out some bizarre and wondrous items as he searched. Sjin could see, smell and feel the dust particles fly up and dance in the sunlight until they tired and rested on the floor. Eventually, Lalna yelled out excitedly and held up the map in triumph. He then unrolled the worn paper on top of a crate and they inspected it. The map was odd, to say the least. Most of the map was covered in darkness, with small paths leading to buildings or places of interest. In the centre of the maze of paths was a green square. Sjin assumed it was Lalna's house.
"Alright," Lalna started. "Can you see where you live?"
Sjin frowned as there was very little he could see on the map. "What am I looking at?" he asked, gesturing.
"It's a magic map," Lalna explained. "It show where you have and haven't explored- oh..."
Sjin studied the map a little closer. "That's us here," he said, pointing on the map. "Where did you find me?"
The adventurer pointed to a river that was north west of the house.
"I think I recognise it," he continued. "Then if we follow it..."
His finger landed onto a dark spot on the map. "It should be around here!" he exclaimed.
It was now Lalna's turn to study the map. "That's about an hour away on chocobo-back. Takes forever if you're walking though."
Sjin paused before he asked: "Any chance of a ride on one of those chocobos?" He only received a pause and a smile in return.
He waited outside as Lalna prepared for the journey outside. Sjin argued that there was no need but he was scolded and told that should always be prepared. After a few minutes, the adventurer appeared from the house in full gear. He wore a red and black leather hooded chest-piece, trousers, gloves and boots. Every item of armour had strange blue diamonds studded into them. He adjusted the black goggles on his head and, with minimal effort, swung a giant sword and hitched it to his back. The sword was black with red staining its sharp edges and handle. A menacing green eye was fixed into the middle.
"Now, are you prepared for a battle or just the run-of-the-mill invasion?" Sjin snorted. "I think you're going a little overboard."
"Nonsense! It's fine!" Lalna waved away. He started to fasten the saddle on the green chocobo called "Basil". All of a sudden, a female yellow chocobo rushed towards him, nudged him with her head and whistled loudly.
"It's okay, Chocolate. I'll be back soon."
She whistled and shook, ruffling her feathers. She looked upset.
"I'm sorry but you can't come with me. Besides, you need to keep an eye on the others." he said soothingly.
She settled and he petted her before he ran back to Basil and left her to sulk in the shed.
He then mounted the chocobo and yelled to Sjin: "Alright, choose a chocobo, any chocobo!" Sjin looked around the pen until he saw a strong-looking black chocobo.
"I'll choose this guy. He looks like a mighty steed!" he declared. A saddle was then fixed to the chocobo called "Blackjack".
"Do you know how to ride?" Lalna asked suddenly.
"I-I took up horse riding once... when I was little," confessed Sjin.
So before they left, Sjin received a quick riding lesson. He picked up quite quickly, although he wasn't confident when riding. Afterwards, the two were off, riding down the plains and following the long winding river. Basil and Lalna were very fast while Sjin and Blackjack struggled to keep up. Soon, they found a nice steady pace and Sjin was thoroughly enjoying the ride along with Lalna. The fresh air and the smell of the grass was refreshing. The wind and the speed was invigorating and the thrill of adventure was exciting.
They continued following the river and about 40 minutes in, they could see something in the distance.
"There!" shouted Sjin excitedly. "There's home!"
But Lalna wasn't celebrating. His face turned serious and raised a hand. The two then slowed down to a halt.
"Why are we stopping? What's wrong?" Sjin asked.
Lalna pointed to a nearby mossy rock. Sjin shrugged in response. The adventurer then dismounted the chocobo, unsheathed his sword and slowly walked towards the rock. Sjin only watched with a confused look on his face. Then he noticed something. Did that rock just... move? Lalna sneaked toward the rock, making as little noise as possible. The grass rustled. He stopped. The "rock" raised its head and looked around for the source of the noise. It noticed Sjin. He gasped as the monster looked straight at him. As it turned, it saw another human that was far closer it than the other.
With a terrible roar, it swung a long clawed arm at Lalna. He jumped back and put his hood up before running around the monster at an unnatural speed. Sjin panicked and ran around the monster on his chocobo. The monster looked for the human and couldn't find him until it felt a sharp pain in its side. Lalna pulled the sword out of the wound and ran, dodging the arm that swung at him. He sprinted to the other side and swung the heavy sword into the monster, the weapon barely cutting into the thick flesh. He used this tactic a few times and occasionally blocked a few hits with his sword, while Sjin ran in circles, not knowing what to do. Feeling brave, Lalna attacked the front, sword slicing into the monster's stomach. The monster roared and swung his hand at his attacker. Lalna blocked it but the force of it knocked him on the ground. Looking up with fearful eyes, the monster opened its enormous mouth and lunged toward Lalna.
"No!" Sjin cried. He slowed to a stop and watched Lalna disappear into the monster's mouth. His heart hammered in his chest and could not move for shock. His mind slowly registered that the monster did not close its mouth or move. He could not believe his eyes as he watched the adventurer drag himself out of its mouth, pull his sword from the mouth roof and dust himself off.
"Oh man. That was stressful," Lalna commented.
Sjin could not answer; his jaw dropped from shock.
"Come on. We're nearly there." Lalna continued casually.
As Sjin looked back and forth from the monster, it's prey and the departing adventurer, he finally came back to his senses and continued on.