Chapter 1: Fate Most Grim

[Music theme: Far away in the Twilight, Nobuo Uematsu FF9]

A corpse greeted my sight, right there in the middle of the room. Dire rats surrounded him, and were making short work of it. Despite this, I easily recognized it as Vaan. How did the Ratsbane of Lowtown get laid low by his popular prey? I'd have pondered this, if the rats hadn't been scared off by a rush of wind and a distant neighing sound. A fireball flew into the room, which I easily recognized as the Firemane boss from the beginning of the game. Also watching over Vaan's body now was a spirit creature, which, if memory served properly, was the Wraith mark hunt. Great, now they wanted their share of Vaan's body. I wasn't going to let that happen.

"Stop!" I ran straight towards the two. Both monsters looked up at me, and the Firemane charged forward while the Wraith charged a Doom spell.

[Music theme: Don't be Afraid, Nobuo Uematsu FF8]

A power rose up in me, and I held forward my left hand without even thinking about it. A kanji seal appeared before me, I think it was the one for sword. Swinging my hand across my body, a blade of pure energy slashed through the air and cut the demon horse in two, as well as the runes projecting from the Doom spell. "Spirit Issen"

The Firemane collapsed, dead on impact, but the Wraith still stood, seemingly unaffected by the energy blade as it passed through it. Obviously, it was more resistant to magic; even that variety which I realized took physical energy as well as magical. Apparently, Chi Magicks weren't all powerful. Suddenly, it was in front of me, having teleported, and tried to lash me with one of its long, wispy arms. Again reacting without thinking, I drew a katana from my side, and cut through the arm. Shrieking, it quickly withdrew from me. Before it got far, though, I swung again, and this time it was through the body. The creature let loose a wail, an unearthly sound I didn't know was possible from a creature so silent in the games, and faded away.

[End music]

Looking at my saving grace (I think that will be the name of this blade, too, Saving Grace), I found it to be a Kotetsu katana, customized to look like its hilt was a dragon, with a wing-shaped Tsuba cross guard. Remembering the reason for my confrontation, I quickly rushed to Vaan's side. He was a mess, little more than a skeleton, just barely recognizable. Just then, Kites came down to call Vaan back like in the game. What he found instead was a skeletal corpse, a fox- human creature, and a whole lotta carnage.

"What the-" Needless to say, he was shocked.

"Don't worry, I'm not a monster, just... a strange viera. I was passing through when i found this being ravaged by monsters." I hoped that sounded convincing. I could believe it, and stick to it, if nobody asked too many questions. Kites took it, thankfully, and shook his head.

"Migelo's gonna have a fit. First Penelo falls sick, now Vaan..." He was clearly upset.

"Wait, Penelo's sick?"

"You know Penelo?" The boy looked surprised. Of course, I'm an idiot! Well, got to own up, I guess...

"You could say that... Where is she? Giza?"

"Y-yeah, but how did you..." Oh, of all the ways...

"Lucky guess, based off of surrounding geography."

I left him then. No time to waste. If what the Scion said was true, then a grim fate awaited us with Vaan dead, and others in danger of death. Plus, who knows, I might've slipped up and ruined everything there, before we even got started, if I stayed.

"W-wait! I didn't catch your name!" Well, it would be fine to give him that at least.

"Grypinh! Grypinh Moonfox!" I said with a grin I hoped looked sly. I turned, and headed for Giza.