Kalyi Fei: (In a sweet innocent voice) There heere…
Satu-D-2: Oh stuff it…
Star Equinox: Wow…We've been gone a really long time…
Satu-D-2: (turn to characters) Didja guys miss us?
Alida: Um…Are we gonna get in trouble if we say 'no'?
Star Equinox: Yes. (Starts typing on keyboard.)
Kalyi Fei: Alida!
Alida: (Sweatdrop)
Star Equinox: You know, I think this 'commentary' should be used if reviewers asked a question in the reviews. Shall I?
Satu-D-2: Okay. Go for it.
Star Equinox: (Checking reviews) Hmm… ladycordelia17 said that Kalyi is a sweetheart with De Nam. I didn't mean for that to look that way…I only wanted them to be good friends. Just to be clear on this, Kalyi's heartthrob is back in Tipa. Oh, btw, I just tossed in the Boss Battle as an extra chapter because this one was way too long on its own. Hehe…
Kalyi Fei: Wait. I have a boyfriend?
Star Equinox: Well, he's not really a boyfriend…he's your friend, but lately he's been having a crush on you, and you think it's cute, since you've known each other since you were little kids and why am I giving this away now instead of later in the story?
Alida: oooh…Kalyi and her boyfriend, sitting in a tree, Kay-eye-ess-ess—
Satu-D-2: (thwacks the back of Alida's head) Don't be so mean!
Alida: Ow! That hurts!
Satu-D-2: (Shrugs) You have a head plate. Besides, I didn't hit you that hard.
Kalyi: Wait, are you talking about Deh Yonn? No! I don't have a crush on him! I refuse!
Star Equinox: Well, it's not a crush, but…
Kalyi: I don't care! I don't have any type of relationships with him!
Star Equinox: (uses author's powers) Yes you do.
Kalyi: Oh! (Hearts float above her head anime-style) My sweet love, who waits for me back in Tipa, sitting by the river's edge longing for my presence as I long for his…. (Swoons)
Alida: (Rushes to grab Kalyi before she hits the floor) I think you over did it…
Satu-D-2: I know she over did it.
Star Equinox: Shush. I'm still kind of new to this. Start the story while I try to undo this…
Alida: (Fanning Kalyi) What about the copyright?
Satu-D-2: Kalyi is obviously in no condition to do the copyright.
Star Equinox: I'm sorry! (pouts)
Alida: I could do it.
Satu-D-2: Never mind. This commentary is waaay too long, and the chapter is already long itself. (with a flourish) and now, the story!
Chapter 3
The two girls slumped down, panting in the humid air. Alida motioned to Mog to drop the chalice. They needed a break, and the Myrrh tree wasn't going to get up and walk away. "Hey, Alida?" Kalyi Fei said.
"Yeah?"
"Guess what. We scored 200 points against monsters." Kalyi smiled. "New record."
Alida laid down on the ground "Whoopee…" she said, not sounding the least bit excited.
Kalyi Fei laid down next to her. "For a Clavat, you're pretty ruthless," Kalyi commented. "And hard-core."
Alida raised an eyebrow. "I don't know if I should take that as a compliment on myself or as an insult as a Clavat."
"Take it as a compliment," Kalyi said. "It sounds better."
Alida smiled. "And for a Selkie, you can fight." Alida said.
Kalyi smiled. "Now who's insulting who?"
Alida shrugged. "I dunno. You're complimenting me."
--
"So, who should take the honor?" Kalyi asked.
Alida got up and stretched. "You can do it. I did it last time."
Kalyi nodded, and took the chalice from the ground. Together, the caravanners of Tipa headed over to the Myrrh Tree.
The Myrrh tree's graceful trunk curved upward from the ground, before the long branches billowed out, forming an emerald green canopy over a small stone pedestal that was placed at the foot of the tree. Myrrh glistened and shined within the branches, shimmering despite the dreary conditions of the weather.
Kalyi Fei slowed in her tracks. The Myrrh in their chalice swayed, swerving to and fro in its protective boundaries.
Gently, Kalyi placed the chalice on the pedestal pushed it forward, and then took a step back. The chalice's crystal began to glow, casting vivid colors of light in its direction. And then it happened.
The myrrh tree shimmered, with waves of energy riveting through its form. It traveled steadily upward, reaching the long branches, folding over itself.
A tiny little droplet began to form at the tip of the branch. It glimmered for a moment, before it slowly fell to the chalice below. The small crystal on the chalice caught the drop. A globe of Myrrh hung within the chalice, suspended by the crystal's power.
Gently, Kalyi picked up the chalice, and set it down on the ground.
She sighed. Their lives were dependent on the continuous flow of myrrh. If even one of the Myrrh Trees were to wither without a replacement, there would be anxiety in all of the villages, towns and cities.
Unless, De Nam were to succeed in his research. But he still has a long way to go. Or we somehow rid the world of Miasma. Right, like that's going to happen anytime soon.
Kalyi jumped at the gentle touch on her shoulder. "What's the matter?" Alida asked. "You look worried."
Kalyi shrugged. "Just thinking…" she murmured.
--
"Oh come on! I should take magic," Alida said. "You can have strength."
"You always take magic!"
"But I'm the one who cast more spells! I need magic."
Alida and Kalyi Fei stood at the edge of the Myrrh tree, bickering. Eight artifacts, or 'Myrrh Treasure', hung from the branches of the Myrrh Tree. Whenever a Caravan visited a Myrrh Tree, it would give gifts to them, in gratitude for fighting and working so hard.
"You're better in magic because you always take the magic!" Kalyi Fei retorted. "I'm an Alchemist daughter, and you're the one who's better in magic…Do I see some sort of irony here?"
Alida made a face. "You're magic level is pretty high. I'm only a little bit higher."
"So let's even it out! Our levels won't have such a big gap!"
"No way!"
"Why not?"
"We need to offset each other. You're higher in strength than I am."
"So? Take the Strength Artifact!"
"That's not my point!" Alida threw her arms up in exasperation. "My high Magic evens out your high strength and naturally high speed!"
"True, but my speed doesn't have anything to do with it! It's my tribal advantage! It doesn't count! And if we count your naturally high defense—"
"You can heighten defense!"
"Yeah, but your's are already high. It even out my speed!"
"Oh for—"
"Mailmoogle at your service kupo!"
Alida glanced at the tiny little moogle that was carrying two letters in its mouth. "Uhh…Just a minute," she said. Alida lunged for the Magic artifact that was hanging on the myrrh tree. "Hey!" Kalyi exclaimed. "No fair!"
Alida smiled. "The myrrh tree picked me to get first dibs. So it is fair," she said, snapping the artifact on her charm bracelet. "Besides, the mailmoogle is here and you're too slow." She gave a sly smile. "Shameful since you're a Selkie."
Kalyi Fei glared at Alida. Sighing, Kalyi picked the most powerful strength artifact that was available.
She snapped the strength artifact on her charm bracelet, and then glanced at Alida. "Hmm…"
She picked up her butterfly racket that was laying on the ground. And then—
Whack!
"Ouch! What was that for!?!" Alida exclaimed, rubbing the back of her head.
Kalyi smiled. "Just testing out my new strength artifact." She held up her charm bracelet.
"Sweet. I'm happy."
"That hurt!"
Kalyi shrugged. "You have a head plate. Besides, I didn't hit you that hard."
Alida gave a death glare that was ever possible from a Clavat, as she took her letter from the mailmoogle.
After handing the other letter to the Selkie, the Mailmoogle flitted over to Mog. "Are they always like that, kupo?" the mailmoogle asked.
Mog smiled. "Kupo. You have no idea."
Alida tore open her letter, spilling out the contents.
Dearest Alida,
We have missed you terribly. We all hope you will come home soon. Mika will not stop asking how long you will be, and Antti is pretending not to care (don't worry; we catch him watching for you two every night). Please hurry home, we are awaiting you desperately.
There are terrible rumors going around, but your father and I are refusing to believe them. You are in enough danger without that. Antti told Mika about them and he's frantic with worry; that's why he keeps asking for you.
I hope that you are well, and that you and your Selkie friend are taking care of each other. The hopes of Tipa lie on your shoulders.
"Great," Alida said, sighing. "They barely bothered to write anything."
We eagerly await your return. The love of Antti, Mika, your father and I are with you, and we hope it is of some comfort.
All of our love,
Your Mother
Folded into the letter was a small note, and Alida smiled widely as she opened it, homesickness flooding her system as she saw the messy scribble of her younger brother.
Dear Alida,
I miss you. Come home soon please. Antti won't leave me alone and I need you here to stick up for me coz mum and dad aren't good at it like you are. Don't run into the bandits, coz I don't want you to get hurt.
Love,
Mika
"At least they gave me some food," Alida muttered, trying not to show how much hearing from her family had affected her. She tucked the letter from Mika into her breast pocket, and then sorted through the food that they'd sent her.
"Oi," Kalyi muttered.
Alida glanced at the Selkie. In one hand she held a letter from her father, and in her other hand was a small sum of gil. "What is it?" Alida asked.
Kalyi tossed the letter to the Clavat, who promptly caught it. She skimmed its contents.
Dear Kalyi Fei,
I hope you are doing well. Your brother and sister miss you, and have been 'practicing' their battle techniques with their toy rackets. They keep asking to borrow my old magicite bracelet so that they could practice magic, but I refused. They might set the house on fire or something. Both of them hope to be picked for the next generation of Tipa's caravan.
"Skip that," Kalyi said, "that's personal."
Alida glanced up. She made a face at the Selkie. "Why are you reading my letter?" she asked.
Kalyi shrugged. "You're reading my letter."
Anyways, there have been rumors of different caravans being attacked. But I'm afraid I can't offer many details. I know you and Alida are strong enough to fend for yourselves, but still, I'm worried about your well-being. Trust your Selkic instinct, and if you sense anything wrong, pull yourself and your Clavat friend out of the way. I don't want you to do anything reckless.
By the time you get this letter, you probably already have two drops of Myrrh. Collect your last drop and come straight back to Tipa. You are my daughter, and I love you. I don't want you to get caught up in anything more dangerous than life-threatening monsters and poisonous Miasma.
"Haha," Kalyi said with a smile. "My dad still makes a joke."
I tossed in some spending money for you, but don't go spending it all in one place. Your Mother says hi, and Luverski kal wate hayan te da ruta.
Alida blinked. "Huh?"
"It's Selkie," Kalyi said, tucking Alida's letter back in the envelope. "It means 'The river flows next to the bank, but it doesn't follow the bank'."
"What?"
Kalyi Fei shrugged. "The meaning gets lost in translation."
Come home quickly. The sooner you come back, the sooner we can hold the Myrrh Festival.
Love your Father,
Kono Dei
"So what do you think?" Kalyi said. "The way we're going, we still have to stop by the Fields of Fum to restock on food and stuff."
Alida shrugged. "I dunno." She scowled. "But who would be attacking caravans? Mika said something about bandits…but I think that's just Antti trying to scare him… Whoever it is, that's just…wrong. If a caravan fails on its trip, its people will…well, you know." She sighed. "Besides, being in the caravan is hard enough without being targeted."
They wrote their replies (Alida scribbling a short reassuring note to Mika), then handed it to the mailmoogle, who sped off through the Miasma. Alida picked up her sword. "Shall we go?" she asked.
Kalyi nodded, packing up their supplies. "On the bright side," she said, "We'll encounter fewer monsters on the way back."
Mog picked up the chalice. "Shall we go Kupo?"
Alida nodded. "Back to the Caravan."
--
--
Star Equinox: There. She should be okay now.
Kalyi: Ohh…I feel woozy…
Satu-D-2: That tends to happen if too much author powers are conjugated too quickly or all at once for a long period of time. Which, kind of what happened…. The best way to take care of that is a little bit more author power to get rid of the dizzyness.
Star Equinox: (Enacts author powers) Shall I?
Kalyi: No! I've had enough from you! Let Satu-D-2 do it! She's better than you!
Alida: (Still fanning Kalyi) that wasn't very nice…
Satu-D-2: (Smug)
Star Equinox: (Pout)
Deh Yonn: (Peeks out from behind a door) Um, did someone want to see me?
Alida: Huh? Why do you ask?
Deh Yonn: Well, I heard someone calling my name over and over again, so I figured I better check it out…
Kalyi Fei: (Clasps hands over her mouth) eek…Was I really that loud?
Alida: Umm…As a friend, I don't want to lie, but I also don't want you to feel any more ridiculous for what you've just done.
Kalyi: too late.
Satu-D-2: (Shoos Deh Yonn) Never mind. You can go. You don't appear until later.
Deh Yonn: (Shrugs) Well…okay. (Stars to leave, then pokes head back into room) Is Kalyi okay?
Kalyi Fei: (swoons)
Satu-D-2: Hm…Tricky that…
Star Equinox: Gaah! Kalyi stop swooning!
Deh Yonn: Uh... I'm gonna go now.
Star Equinox: Good idea. I don't think she'll be normal until I get her personality right...
Alida: Kalyi? Normal?
Deh Yonn: Ri-i-ight... (Closes door behind him)
Satu-D-2: I liked him. You've got good taste, Kalyi...
Kalyi: (half awake) Bleah…
Alida: Read and review!