p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_2762" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Chapter 3 - Meet Marle - Guardia Kingdom - 1000 AD/p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_3744" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Chrono turned his head to the right just in time to see 4 runners barreling down towards him. He barely escaped collision by jumping backwards into the crowd of people he had just passed. "Hey kid, I have a fair sum of money wagered on this race, and you better not have spooked my runner!", Chrono heard one of the people behind him shout./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_17444" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"The Millennium Fair Grounds were set up North of the town in the area that was usually reserved for farmers markets, and wedding celebrations. The King had spared no expense and ordered that the decorations, food, and festivities live up to such an event as a Millennium celebration. The Chancellor had initially handled the preparations, but in recent months his demeanor changed, almost over night people claimed, so now the King was overseeing the final preparations. /p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_24363" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Chrono's allowance from his mother wasn't much, and Chrono knew he should spend it wisely. This task as easier said than done however. As Chrono walked through the fair grounds he noticed that pretty much every vendor was set up to make the patron spend, bet, and lose money. There were the occasional winners, but the odds were not stacked in the players favor. Chrono also had been saving as much as he could, when he could, because he had heard that the legendary sword smith, Belthasar, was going to make a rare appearance with some of his merchandise. Chrono had heard stories of the mysteries sword smith who lived across the sea, and could hardly wait to meet him. "Patience", Chrono reminded himself, "First let me try to win some money for the 'new sword' fund."/p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_31485" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"He visited some of the vendors to determine which one he would be most likely to have success. He could bet on the runners that almost trampled him, play whatever strange game they had dreamed up for the House of Horrors, or challenge a man to an ale chugging contest. As he was contemplating his move, in the periphery of his hearing he overheard a little girl sobbing about a lost cat. His thoughts soon turned to another conversation that he overheard. "I heard that machine of hers has already knocked the day-lights out of nearly a dozen men!" one of the men exclaimed. Chrono smacked his head in bewilderment; how could he have forgotten? His best friend and inventor Lucca had built a sparring robot for the fair. "I hope it will function well enough to knock out the bravest of knights." Chrono remembered her proclaiming to him as it was being built./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_31800" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Being skilled with his sword, Chrono decided this was his best shot to actually win some money. He made his way back across the fair grounds to the West end where Lucca's Robot was set up. As he was formulating his attack and defense strategy in his head he noticed a cat run across his path. He remembered the sobbing little girl and his gut told him that he just saw the missing cat. He also knew he had a decision to make. On one hand this wasn't his problem and he was really interested to see Lucca's machine. One the other hand he knew that if his cat were ever lost he would be a mess and want help too. He decided the Machine could wait./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_31976" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"The cat was a quick and agile one. It lead Chrono on a whirlwind path around the fair, and proved much more difficult to catch than anticipated. Finally, Chrono had the cat cornered. He had chased the cat into the Main Square of the fair grounds. He knew he had to move quick, so he made a head-first diving leap toward the cat. In midair, he saw what appeared as a black silhouette come into his path and he collided with someone. "Ouch!", was the last thing Chrono heard before he hit the ground, the cat escaping through his hands./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_3744" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Chrono turned his head to the right just in time to see 4 runners barreling down towards him. He barely escaped collision by jumping backwards into the crowd of people he had just passed. "Hey kid, I have a fair sum of money wagered on this race, and you better not have spooked my runner!", Chrono heard one of the people behind him shout./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_17444" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"The Millennium Fair Grounds were set up North of the town in the area that was usually reserved for farmers markets, and wedding celebrations. The King had spared no expense and ordered that the decorations, food, and festivities live up to such an event as a Millennium celebration. The Chancellor had initially handled the preparations, but in recent months his demeanor changed, almost over night people claimed, so now the King was overseeing the final preparations. /p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_24363" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Chrono's allowance from his mother wasn't much, and Chrono knew he should spend it wisely. This task as easier said than done however. As Chrono walked through the fair grounds he noticed that pretty much every vendor was set up to make the patron spend, bet, and lose money. There were the occasional winners, but the odds were not stacked in the players favor. Chrono also had been saving as much as he could, when he could, because he had heard that the legendary sword smith, Belthasar, was going to make a rare appearance with some of his merchandise. Chrono had heard stories of the mysteries sword smith who lived across the sea, and could hardly wait to meet him. "Patience", Chrono reminded himself, "First let me try to win some money for the 'new sword' fund."/p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_31485" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"He visited some of the vendors to determine which one he would be most likely to have success. He could bet on the runners that almost trampled him, play whatever strange game they had dreamed up for the House of Horrors, or challenge a man to an ale chugging contest. As he was contemplating his move, in the periphery of his hearing he overheard a little girl sobbing about a lost cat. His thoughts soon turned to another conversation that he overheard. "I heard that machine of hers has already knocked the day-lights out of nearly a dozen men!" one of the men exclaimed. Chrono smacked his head in bewilderment; how could he have forgotten? His best friend and inventor Lucca had built a sparring robot for the fair. "I hope it will function well enough to knock out the bravest of knights." Chrono remembered her proclaiming to him as it was being built./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_31800" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"Being skilled with his sword, Chrono decided this was his best shot to actually win some money. He made his way back across the fair grounds to the West end where Lucca's Robot was set up. As he was formulating his attack and defense strategy in his head he noticed a cat run across his path. He remembered the sobbing little girl and his gut told him that he just saw the missing cat. He also knew he had a decision to make. On one hand this wasn't his problem and he was really interested to see Lucca's machine. One the other hand he knew that if his cat were ever lost he would be a mess and want help too. He decided the Machine could wait./p
p id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489800493043_31976" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"The cat was a quick and agile one. It lead Chrono on a whirlwind path around the fair, and proved much more difficult to catch than anticipated. Finally, Chrono had the cat cornered. He had chased the cat into the Main Square of the fair grounds. He knew he had to move quick, so he made a head-first diving leap toward the cat. In midair, he saw what appeared as a black silhouette come into his path and he collided with someone. "Ouch!", was the last thing Chrono heard before he hit the ground, the cat escaping through his hands./p