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Chapter 38: Song of the Champions

Wind and Water

Earth and Fire

Call upon your heart's desire…

Be strong warrior

Leave Home behind…

Travel the path untried

Face your fears…

Hold fast your strength

Do not look behind your way

Champion of the Elements

Protect Lente's Heart

Bring Honor to us all…

Bring Honor to us all…

Distant songs echo across the air, fleeting yet resonant, whispers yet loud. Rushing through the leaves of the trees, drifting through the trickles of water, weaving in through the light lamps of the night and murmuring through the breeze.

It is a song as old as Lentia itself and a song that is rarely heard by the people of the Wood. A song so rare in fact, that it only reaches the ears of the Viera every ten thousand hume years. It was the song of the Champions.

Whenever the song echoes through the whole of Lentia, all Viera grow excited. Soon, it was time for the Champion of the Village to enter the Forgotten Village of Lentia to face the Duenna of the Heart. To be given a chance for the Ultimate Honor.

Three female Viera children could not sleep that night. The song had begun that morning and they knew it was only a matter of time before their Champion would make the journey to bring Honor to Eruyt village. They sat awake on their bed bunks, looking outside at the dimmed lights of their village, peeking to look at the adult members of their village, preparing for the Champion's journey tomorrow. All of the adults were singing the Song of the Champions.

The Viera girls looked at each other in excitement. How very alike these three were, both in appearance and in thought. Though not of the same age, they were still as bonded as any group of sisters. Strange, for all Viera are reclusive and all Viera are aloof. These children were an exception however, and they told each other everything.

All three of them had skins of the darkest chestnut brown and all of them had the same twinkling red eyes. As was the look of all Viera living in Eruyt, they also had snowy white locks fashioned perhaps in their own unique way. They also had long ears like that of rabbits growing on top of their heads, peeking through their locks.

"What do you think Jote?" the youngest of these children asked, her white hair fashioned short just below her chin followed the eager movements of her head. She was the Viera child who always followed her sisters, and thinks very highly of them. "Will she beat the Duenna? Will she become the Guardian of the Heart?"

Of course, she was obviously the Champion of their village. Every ten thousand years, there was a tournament held and the chosen Champions of all villages will compete with each other and with the Duenna of the Heart of that time. The Viera who get defeated shall return home to their villages and take up the title as Elder. As it were that no Viera has ever defeated the First Duenna, who has been rumored to be a Viera of the old City, all Champions were considered as Heirs to their Elders more than the future Duenna or Herald. But still, it does not hurt to hope that one day, one of the Champions would be able to defeat the First Duenna and be given the ultimate Honor.

Jote, as it was, was the eldest of these three Viera children, and she knew more about this tournament and all matters related to it than her sisters. At least, that was what she told them. She shook her head, allowing her free flowing white locks to drape over her shoulder.

"I hope not, for if she becomes Duenna, she will have to leave Eruyt and never return until another Viera has defeated her. I want her to become Elder and stay here, with us, at home."

"You never know," the middle one spoke now, her ruby eyes twinkling. Of the three of them, she had the lightest spirit and she smiled more often than any other Viera. " She might be able to defeat the Duenna and she will bring much honor to the Wood." She nodded her head eagerly, her white hair, drawn upwards into two plaits on either side of her head bobbed up and down.

"Honor?" Jote now asked her. "Is that all you think of Fran? Can we not have our Champion stay here with us, keep the tradition?"

Fran shook her head. "No Jote, I do not think of honor all the time. Sometimes I think of traveling, and seeing the world. I hear from those who have left the village and speak with the moogle tradesmen that it is a wonderful place."

"Leave?" Jote now asked, her voice was laced with shock and sounding very much like an older woman than the young Viera she was. "You know that that is the ultimate dishonor Fran! How could you even think of such a thing? The Viera belong with the Wood! We have been taught that!'

'Fran, sister." The youngest now spoke and it was a gentle tone and far more comforting that Jote's scandalized voice. 'Do you really wish to leave this wood? You would leave Jote and I to uphold tradition?" their was fear in their younger sister's voice and Jote went over immediately to embrace her, not before giving Fran a look that told her she was to blame for their sister's fright.

'Of course not Mjrn." Fran now spoke, also going for her sister and holding her smaller hands in hers. 'I will always be Viera. I would never leave my sisters. It is not the Viera way. It is not the Eruyt way.'

Mjrn smiled back at her sister while Jote nodded her head with satisfaction. Before any of the three could speak further however, the door to their quarters opened and a much older Viera peered her head in.

"Mother!" It was Fran, the most affectionate of the sisters to run towards the beautiful Viera who entered. This Viera, was obviously from Eruyt village, with her long plaited snow white hair, her dark beautiful skin and her scarlet eyes. Unlike her children, dressed in their night things, she was still dressed in Eruyt Viera armor, with the colors of black and red as her gauntlets and pauldrons; her sharp feet encased in metal heels and her torso only slightly covered with a gossamer-like fabric. To others she looked every inch a formidable warrior of the Eruyt village, but to the three little girls, she was their mother.

"My daughters," she spoke smoothly in an accented voice, smiling softly at each Viera in turn, one of her hands resting on top of Fran's head as the little Viera embraced mostly her mother's legs.

"Why still awake at this time of night? You know you must be asleep before the leaves begin rustling of the Wood's words.' She went and sat on of the beds, pulling each child with her.

'We could not sleep mother.' Jote said and she looked uneasily at Fran as if fearful her sister would say something about leaving and disturb their mother.

"Could not sleep?" her ruby eyes smiled. ' Now why is that?"

Mjrn, who was mostly silent when her mother is there, slowly went forward and clutched the gossamer-like fabric of her mother's armor. "The Tournament is approaching.'

Their mother nodded knowingly. 'So it is my daughter.' She bent down and picked up Mjrn.

'Tell us the story again Mother.' Fran pleaded as their mother placed their sister in her bunk.

'What story?" their mother said, smoothing Mjrn's hair back and winking at her youngest daughter. Mjrn giggled.

'The story about Lente. How the tournament was invented. Everything!" Fran said eagerly, and though Jote did not say anything, she looked at her mother with interest.

Their mother shook her head in mock-exasperation. 'How full of energy you all are.' She muttered almost to herself before meeting Fran's enthusiastic eyes. 'If I speak of this tale will you promise you shall rest for the night? No more listening to the Song until dawn?"

Mjrn and Fran eagerly said yes and Jote nodded in what she hoped was a serene way. Their mother smiled. "All right then. Get into your beds then my daughters and I shall begin the story.'

Fran then had bounded for her bunk, and Jote just shook her head at her sister but followed suit.

Their mother just smiled knowingly at each of her daughters, proceeded to sit on the window sill of their bedroom and began her tale.

"More than a hundred thousand years ago, in the time when we the Wood had no name and the Viera had no villages, a Viera named Lente was born. It was said that the Gods blessed her birth and prophesized that it was she that would bring order into our kind. As Lente grew older, for during these times, we Viera were not immortal, she rose among her fellow Viera and she became skilled in the arts of weaponry and Magicks. It was she who first learned how to control the Mist. She brought much glory and much honor for the Viera and when the time came, Lente became the leader and she brought all Viera to live in a splendid city, far more beautiful than any that was created." She paused and looked at her daughters. How strange that no matter how many times she repeats the tale, the look of utter awe on their faces never wanes. Their mother smiled again.

"The Gods, being very pleased with Lente, saw to grant her a gift. They sought to maintain Lente's line, and since the Viera were not immortal then, the gods granted her a child. A daughter. With her, the gods saw a bright future for the Viera race. Lente, with joy, thanked the Gods and named her child…"

"Fran!" interrupted the middle Viera child and Mjrn laughed in delight. Her sister always loved to interrupt at this part and she loved her for doing so. It made the tale all the more enthralling to hear.

Their mother, instead of scolding Fran for interrupting, merely smiled again and nodded. "Yes, she was named Fran."

"I was named after her!" Fran said excitedly and this time Jote silenced her with a sound.

"I want to listen to the story!" Jote scolded and Fran frowned.

"Now, now darlings, do not quarrel. " Their mother said in placating tone. "Yes, dear, you were named after Lente's daughter, as much as Jote was named after my mother's sister, and Mjrn was named after mine. Now, shall I continue with the story or I shall continue tomorrow?"

All the Viera children shook their heads. They knew that tomorrow was going to be a busy day and there would be no time for stories.

"Very well." Their mother said and she knew there was no fooling the three girls. "Now, Fran, under the tutelage of Lente became the Viera's greatest warrior. There was no Viera who could defeat her for she became adept wielding any weapon, including her body and that of magick. She was the ultimate warrior."

Fran beamed at this but stayed silent. "Now," continued their mother. "When Fran was of mating age and it was time for her to pick a suitable mate for her to bear children with, Lente began speaking of fading away with the Mist. At first, she spoke nothing to her daughter and Fran paid no heed as the Viera were experiencing a Golden Age. Fran chose to marry Rjel, the greatest Mist Walker of their time and the only Viera capable of wielding as much Mist as Lente and in their union there came five Viera children. Four of these children will go on and establish the Viera villages that are still alive today. Fran and Rjel are the few Viera, so they say to feel the emotion that keeps humes together. The two of them were in love and Lente had much pride in them. Until that time when all things went awry and not even the Gods could help the Viera."

Mjrn had began looking fearful again and their mother gave her a soothing look before continuing. " Lente was dying. She had lived her whole life to the fullest and thought that it was time to return to the Mist, where all things are created from. Though the Gods had granted Lente and all her line with a long life, they also offered her immortality. Lente, however denied this; she had lived far too long under the spirit of Ivalice and she was getting weary. Instead, she went and blessed Fran her daughter, Rjel her son-in-law and her grandchildren and sought to grant them a life as fulfilling as the life she had lived. When she had done this, she climbed to the highest treetop of their city and there she faded, leaving the city and her family forever."

"Oh no," an anguished murmur came from one of the three Viera and it was Jote who spoke.

"For a time," their mother continued as if Jote had not said a thing, "All of the Viera were devastated at the passing of their great leader, more so her family who had loved her. Fran, her daughter, in terrible grief and agony left the Wood, forsaking all duty and responsibility, leaving her husband and her children and her people to ease her own pain. It is with this leaving did the law of never leaving the wood came to pass.

"Rjel, as the ruler of the Viera, sought to save his people from the terrible tragedy of losing their greatest ruler and their most beloved warrior. He had loved his wife and could not bear the thought of her leaving but the Viera were facing a Dark Age and he knew he must step forward. So alone, did he travel to the tree where Lente faded, and there he felt the strongest gathering of Mist there ever was. It was Lente's life spirit and the Gods saw this as the spirit to keep the Viera alive."

"With great skill, Rjel thought to encase this life spirit and mix it with the Mist of the Wood. He sought to end the pain of the Viera at the cost of everything, even his own life. But being a great Mist Walker, he managed to create an enchanted sphere of Mist combined with Lente's life force and thus Lente's Heart was borne."

The girls smiled now, knowing that the best part of the story was too come.

"Rjel by the time the making of Lente's Heart was complete, thought it was also his time to fade and return to the Mist that created all beings. Before he was to go, however, he sought to choose among his five children the most worthy to guard that of which all of Viera's spirits reside in: Lente's Heart. He thought that if one of his children would protect it, the heart will be ensured of the protection it deserved. Rjel desired the children, who had already come to a mature age, to choose among themselves, but each of them were all powerful in their own ways."

"As Viera belonging in Lente's line, Rjel's children were all exceptional and all wielded the Mist effortlessly. Each of them, however, specialized in an area where they most desired, and it is these areas were they most excelled."

Their mother held up five very long Viera fingers now. "The eldest of these children, was a male, the name of Bjeran. He valued peace among his siblings and he alone learned all history of the Viera since the Creation of Ivalice. He is called the Wise, for he had inherited much of his father's thoughts and wisdom."

"The next of these children, is a name we know well. Being a female and much inclined to heal all hurts and protect those unprotected; Eruyt was the sibling, like her brother, desired peace among all. She was called the Healer, and it is from her where we are descended."

"The third sibling was one who dabbled in the Mist more frequent than that of the rest of the siblings. Being the Adept, Laneyt was the one who discovered ways to control the Mist beyond than that of her grandmother and father's findings."

"The fourth and the twin of Laneyt is the Viera called Mjro. He was a Viera who loved and desired to create, thus he was called the Crafty. He created and fashioned almost all of the villages."

"The last and fifth child was called the Maverick, for she surpassed all her siblings in skill and in wisdom. She was reputed to be the sibling that channeled most of Lente and Fran's spirit, and she alone defied most of the laws of the Viera. Cljrn was the first among our people to leave the Wood and travel across Ivalice. It is said that in her travels she stepped foot inside the Holy City Giruvegan and met with the Gods and it is said that she is the only Viera who ever returned to the Wood and was accepted back into the fold. Cljrn was also the favorite of Rjel and he desired perhaps that the guarding of the Heart was entrusted to her."

"The siblings were nonetheless enraged at this decision. Clrjn had abandoned them, just like their mother did and she should not have returned. But they were family, Rjel had spoken and if the siblings will compete with each other to see who would guard the Heart, Cljrn must also be given the chance to do so. Thus, the First Tournament of the Champions began."

"It was a long battle." Their mother whispered now, her voice low enough to be heard. "The Viera who stood watch began to fear a civil war was upon them and waited with bated breaths. Until at last, after a good many days passed, one by one the siblings emerged and they bowed before their father, who, though was allowed, did not watch the battle."

"'I have been defeated, Father,' Bjeran, the eldest of the five spoke now. 'Wisdom was not enough to win me the title of Herald.' He stepped away now and Eruyt came forward. 'I have been defeated Father.' She said. 'My powers of healing were not enough to ensure me the title of Duenna.' Both Laneyt and Mjro came forward, bowed before their father. They were twins and together they kneeled before Rjel declaring their Craft was not enough to be called worthy of protecting the heart. Then, the last of the Viera children stepped forward and she curtsied before her father. 'I am called the Maverick, Father.' She spoke in her calm voice that made the Viera who stood watch think of Fran, Her mother and Lente, her grandmother. 'And I…' she paused now, her words failing and tears came to her eyes. Rjel, by this time saw the regret in his daughter's heart for leaving the Wood and embraced her. 'You are now the Duenna of the Heart. Keep it safe until your time has come.'"

"And so, the Viera breathed deeply again. The strife among the siblings was assuaged and when Rjel left his people to be one with the Heart, the once great City of the Viera was abandoned. Instead, his four other children sought to create villages around it, to explore the jungle that the Humes call Golmore and yet still be part of the power of the Heart. The Gods, knowing now that the Viera may live at peace again, blessed each of Rjel's children in turn as they went forth and founded the four villages of our people."

Their mother looked at her three girls now, knowing full well what they wanted to do next. " Can you tell me the names of these four villages darlings?"

" Bjeran!" Fran said enthusiastically, practically bouncing on her bed bunk. They learned about the villages from their lessons. "Named after the eldest of Fran's children. His village is located closest to the Forgotten City. The village channels the Element of Wind!"

Their mother nodded with pride. "And the others?"

"Laneyt and Mjro." Jote said in her steady voice. "Their villages are built closely together. Mjro channels the Element of Water, Laneyt, Fire. After that, there is…"

"Eruyt." Mjrn spoke in her soft voice, looking anxiously at her sisters, as if fearful of reprimand. But Fran just smiled and Jote nodded in her steady way that Mjrn knew it was all right to go on.

"The village that is the farthest from the others, we channel the Element of the Earth, or the Green Wood. We protect the entrance to the home of the Viera."

"Very good, darlings." Their mother said smiling each in turn. "Since Clrjn became the Duenna, and the siblings established the villages, the once nameless City of the Viera came as one great Land and came to be called as Lentia, after Lente, the greatest ruler the Viera has ever known. The Forgotten City, as it were was named after the four's father: Rjel. At Rjel, Cljrn still resides, guarding her grandmother's Heart, where all Viera lore come from. We live for the Heart pulsates all throughout Lentia; we wield our Elements for Lente's Heart aids us to do so. We are Adept in Magicks, able to have sharpened senses because the Heart of Lente grants this to us. That is why if any of our Viera kin leave this Wood, slowly but surely, their sense are dulled and the only thing left to them is their skills in battle and their prolonged life. That is why we never should leave the Wood."

"Lente's Heart is our life source, darlings. If so desired, our kin may wield it to use against the enemies of the Viera. That is why it must always be protected, treasured and guarded. Lente's Heart is so powerful that once it stops beating, the Bjeran Viera say that Lentia will soon wither and die."

Their mother saw Jote give Fran a pointed look but the younger Viera girl just stared at her mother.

"Tomorrow will be the Tournament of the Champions, mother. What will happen? Will we have a new Elder?"

Their mother now left her perch on the windowsill and came to each of her children's beds.

"The Wood does not tell me, my child." Their mother said in her soft voice, smoothing Mjrn's hair back and kissing her forehead. "We will learn in a few days."

"But Mother, you're strong enough." Fran insisted. "You will be the second Duenna there is, I'm sure of it."

Their mother just smiled at her daughter's confidence in her. "If not, my child, then I will be Elder and I will name Jote as my Heir." She proceeded to kiss Fran's forehead as well as Jote's.

"Do you think I will be able to be a good Champion, Mother?" Jote whispered and their mother just smiled.

"Of course. I have faith in you. And when you're time comes, you will name Fran as you're Heir if you do not have children and Fran will name Mjrn as hers if she bears no children as well. That has always been the way of Eruyt for the past fifty thousand years. You will be wonderful."

Long after their mother bade them good night and the song of the Champions could still be heard through their window, Mjrn sat up in bed and saw Fran sneaking her way back to the window. She got up as well and stood beside her and soon Jote came too and together they started to sing softly underneath their breaths the song of forgotten origin but of powerful tradition:

Champion of the Elements

Protect Lente's Heart

Bring Honor to us All…