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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 6 - Omens of the Past

Part 6.2 - Familiar Faces

The morning sun rose as it always did over the quiet port town of Bariki. As usual, many fisherman were out already, casting their nets for the day's first haul, and a few hard-working women were strolling the palm tree-lined streets, looking through merchant's stalls for ingredients to their families' breakfasts. Most of the town was still asleep, and would awake in their own time to another idyllic day. Almost nothing ever happened in this town, and the townsfolk liked that just fine.

A peaceful town far away from any cities or kingdoms, Bariki had enjoyed a humble prosperity for many generations due to its isolation. Being situated on a tiny tropical island near the rim of the deadly Mordic Ocean, not many people chose to come here, or even knew of its existence. Those that did know and did come never stayed for long, fearing the curse of the Mordic. The townsfolk just chuckled at these superstitions, knowing full well that the Mordic was only dangerous to those who sought its secrets. Like a sleeping serpent, if left alone it was as harmless as any other body of water. The only danger it posed was the danger of being stranded in its strangely still waters, with no wind or current to guide a ship out. With no fish to catch there, there was no reason to venture that far into the ocean anyways, and so the town of Bariki had remained at peace with the Mordic, and at peace with the rest of the world for countless years.

The only ripple in the lives of these people was the mysterious ritual of the Order that brought their white-clad priests here only once every hundred years. The people of Bariki knew of the Order, and even had a few believers among their population, but knew nothing of the nature of this ritual that brought strangers to their shore. The villagers had no ill-will towards the Order priests, and welcomed them like any other visitor.

Today was the day of the long-awaited ritual, and while there were a few onlookers, mostly children and fishermen, waiting to catch a glimpse of the strange people at their docks, most of the town was happy to let the Order come and go without fanfare. The business of the outside world was not their business.

Down at the docks the Order's ship was now arriving, with two more ships following it. The three ships were an unusual site together, like three different worlds converging on the tiny island. The first ship, the Order's, was a surprisingly modern looking vessel made of metal and driven by motors and propellers. It was painted a stark white, with little decoration besides a few flags showing the Order's symbols. This was the typical type of vessel that the villagers saw, usually hailing from the industrialized nations like Narsille, East Jidorik, or Doma. From the sleek, seamless look of it, it was Narsillian in make and model. Only they had the technology to make something so...otherworldly.

The second ship looked almost like one of the island's own sailing vessels, with no modern technology or pretty colors to distinguish it. The only remarkable feature was an amazingly life-like carving of a woman at the prow, her arms outstretched and twisted, palms outwards. The fishermen still hovering about the docks instantly recognized her as their lady of the water, Aria. She may be known as Elia in other parts of the world, but the fishermen here all knew her as Aria, and paid her as much respect as the Order did their Holy Master. The sturdy, well-traveled look of the ship and its familiar carving instantly endeared this vessel to the fishermen. This was the vessel of a true man of the sea.

The third ship was similar in shape and size to the second ship, but had several major differences. It was covered in gaudy ornaments and decorations, and gleamed with gold from prow to stern. It looked to be more modern, or at least more well-kept than the second ship, but still made of wood and carrying a sail. The most striking feature of this striking vessel was the glowing blue woman engraved at the prow, her one arm outstretched, the other clutching a sphere of pure gold. The last major difference was the obvious presence of weapons on board the ship, a site that slightly disturbed the fishermen observing the ship as it pushed its way into the harbor. War was unheard of here, and anyone who brought weapons to this paradise was not welcome. They would be keeping their eyes on this one.

Once all three ships were safely docked, their passengers began disembarking and gathering near the Order's vessel. From the Order's ship came one lone priest, clad in traditional white robes, and with long white hair that came down to his shoulders. Despite his white hair, he looked to be man no older than thirty, and very nervous. If this was the man's first time on the open seas, the fishermen would not be surprised. Around his neck was a necklace made of pearls, but far brighter than any pearls the fishermen had ever found.

Coming to greet him from the second ship were four men of similar age to the priest, but wildly different appearances. One looked as much a rugged sailor as any of the fishermen and instantly gained the fishermen's respect just by his jovial demeanor and true sea-faring swagger, but the others looked more like the Narsillian scientists that constantly visited the island and tried to sell the village on the wonders of technology, a bothersome dance that always ended the same way. They were dressed in the working clothes of Narsillian mechanics and field workers, and all three bore the unmistakable look of pure curiosity that men of science always carried with them. Despite the Narsillian dress and obviously scientific airs, the three seemed friendly enough, and on good terms with the sea-faring man, who could only be the captain of the second ship. The four of them happily chattered with themselves as they took in the sights of the island's pristine waters and lush forests. Upon reaching the priest, the captain gave him friendly slap on the back, nearly knocking him over. They all laughed, and even the shy priest seemed to loosen his nerves around these men.

The last man to join the group was a sour-looking man from the third ship. Tall, straight and gaunt, he carried himself like a captain, but not the kind any of the fishermen would be caught dead sailing with. He had lank, black hair that framed a pale haggard face worn down long before its time. In that gruesome visage was a look of envious greed, and that coupled with the weapons on his ship warned the villagers present to stay away from this man. As he walked off his ship his eyes darted from the other newcomers to the huts and stalls lining the docks, to the boats of the villagers, sizing up everything up like a shopkeeper taking inventory. He must have found the inventory lacking, for he shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze back to the priest after a few moments. Thrusting his hands into his long green pea coat, he made a very business-like beeline straight for the group, like a man crossing the street in the rain, eager to get out of it as soon as possible. He muttered a few words to the priest, then turned and walked straight back to his ship.

"Not a very pleasant fellow is he?" the priest remarked to the four men from the second ship. "Levi, he said his name was, right? I must say, he is does not seem to be quite the moral character my Elder assured me he would be."

"Don't worry about him, sonny," one of the three scientist-looking men said happily, stroking his well-kept beard. "Jonah Levi is harmless. He's just an unhappy man who doesn't get along with people. Leave him alone and he'll leave you alone."

Now the captain of the second vessel spoke up. "Aye, Indie has the right of it. I've heard of Levi from other sailors and he's just an overfed toad that's gotten too big for his pond. I'm sure he paid off the Order to be here, and is hoping to expand his fortunes and maybe buy a few more lily pads. Pay him no mind."

"But Captain Bismark, are you sure we can trust him?" The priest looked anxiously from one man to the other, hoping for some piece of good news about the man known as Levi. The looks on all but one of the four faces did not help ease his fears, however.

"He hasn't done anything to us to warrant this kind of talk, now has he?" This came from the tallest of the five men; a strong, tanned man with grey hair half hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, and the look of a man just come in from a long day's work in the fields. "Come now, the man may be unpleasant, but he's willing to risk his life for this expedition, just like the rest of us. I say we give him a chance to prove himself before jumping to rumors and hearsay."

The other men quickly softened to the tall man's comment. "Silas is right, as usual," Captain Bismark said gruffly. "We'll treat him like any other member of the group until he gives us a reason to. I don't like him, but he's a scientist like the rest of us, so he can't be all bad." The captain said these words, but in his heart he wondered if he really believed them. Only he had heard the stories of this man, and if even half of them were true, it would be unwise to turn their backs on him. But Silas's generosity was infectious, and it was hard to hate someone that he put his faith in.

Everyone reluctantly agreed to trust Levi, and now the only thing left was to prepare for the voyage. The captain took charge of this step as efficiently as if the men around him were his own crew. "Now then, Jehad. As you know, we're here on a purely scientific basis, and have no wish to interfere with the Order's ritual. Indie, Silas, Alex, and I will take you to Phoenix Isle and follow you as far as we have been allowed to go into this so-called Nacropolis your people speak of. Levi has as much as agreed to the same. Just tell us where to go, and we'll follow. Tell us when to turn back, and we'll turn back. Remember, this is your mission, we're just visitors."

Bismark wondered just what this ritual of theirs was about, but he was not about to meddle in affairs that were not his. Jehad may not be fully aware of the rich and strange history of the infamous Phoenix Isle, but he certainly was, as was any sailor worth his salt. The island only rose to the surface of the water once every hundred years, through unknown geologic processes. After a few days, it then sunk back below the surface of the waves, like it was never there at all. Alex theorized that some complicated volcanic process beneath the island caused it to erupt violently on a hundred-year cycle, heaving it up above the waves, only to sink again once the eruptions stopped. This was why Alex had wanted to join the group. As a geologist, he couldn't pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity like this.

An even greater mystery was the fabled birthplace of the Order of the Pearl that was said to rest inside the crater at the heart of Phoenix Isle. Thousands of years ago, this had a been a thriving city sitting on what was thought to be an extinct volcano. Some terrible event had destroyed the city and forced the survivors to flee their homeland, which sunk into the waves soon after. The enigmatic Nacropolis, as this lost city was called by the Order, was the main reason Silas had asked to come along. His specialty was archeology, and the chance to actually visit an ancient city like this was like being given the chance to visit one of the twin moons.

To add to the wonder of this island was the fact that it was situated so close to the Mordic Ocean. Some said that the island itself was somehow the cause of the Mordic's strange behavior, and that legends say that before the catastrophe that originally sunk the island, the Mordic had been a normal patch of ocean. There were no records from such an ancient time now, unless the Order kept them. Indie, or Professor Indra as his more stuffy associates called him, was here to try and figure out the strange weather patterns that pervaded this area of the world. There was nothing else like it on earth, and the island resurfacing was the perfect chance to get some land-based samples on the history of this areas weather patterns.

Bismark reflected on the strange and happy coincidence that all three of these men were good friends with each other, and with him as well, and were here now for the same reasons. They had crossed paths in their various fields many times, and had found much in common with each other, their love of both science and nature first and foremost. If anyone could figure out what had really happened here, these four could. Levi might be able to help if he chose to, but Bismark knew that man was here for only one reason - the treasure that surely lurked inside the lost city's catacombs. As long as he didn't get in anyone's way, Levi could have all the loot he wanted. Bismark doubted anyone would miss it in that dead city.

Bismark turned to Alex, always his first-mate when he was on board, and asked him rather loudly if the ship was ready to sail.

"As soon as we resupply here in Bariki, we'll be ready to head out, Mobius." Alex spoke up from his reverie, unbroken since he got off the Maiden of the Sea. Always an introspective man, he tended to lose himself in his thoughts, but Captain Bismark was adept at bringing him to his senses. "Whenever Jehad gives the signal, we can go. How are things on your ship, Jehad?"

"I think they will be ready in a bit. We just need to refuel and we should be ready," Jehad answered. "What about Captain Levi? Should we wait to see what he is doing?"

Indie spoke up now. "Nah. You heard'em. He said he's already sick of this place and is ready to follow us as soon as we raise anchor. Personally, if we left him behind I wouldn't find it any great loss, but he is a part of this expedition."

"A-alright, then, Professor Indra," Jehad said nervously. "I still don't like the idea of a man with that kind of look in his eye stepping foot on sacred ground, but if Professor Karn says to trust him, and you all agree with him, I will follow my Elder's word and welcome you all to our homeland. Now, we should probably split up and prepare for the second leg of the voyage, right?"

"That's fine by us," Bismark said. "We'll meet back here in three hours. Alright men! let's get what we need to get, and get back to the sea!"

With that, the five split up and went about the village to gather supplies, while Levi holed himself up on his ship, apparently as well stocked as he felt he needed to be. The strange new faces at the merchant's stalls only fazed the people of Bariki for a moment. To them, they were just another passing wave, to be shouldered with the same patience as a fisherman at sea. They would pass through, and then leave, just like visitors always did. No one stayed long in this town who didn't live here, and these three new ships were no different. In three hours they would be gone from their lives and things would be as peaceful and quiet here as they had always been.

If only the poor townsfolk knew that this fated voyage would bring a dramatic and decisive end to the unbroken peace they had enjoyed for so long, and wipe Bariki off the precious few maps it was still on.