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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time
Book 2: The Goddess War
Chapter 9 - The Wanderer
9.8 - Exiled
Arise, my child...
Maduin heard the voice, but did not move. He had no desire to open his eyes and return to the world of the living. He had no desire to do anything but lie wherever he was and enjoy blissful unconsciousness for as long as possible.
"Get up, you lazy ass!"
Maduin felt a sharp slap on his face, but it meant nothing. The gods had no power over him anymore, and neither did humanity. If he wanted to lie here forever, then that's what he would do.
"Wake up Maydune! It's a miracle!"
Maduin felt a splash of warm water on his face, and couldn't help but sputter and cough. Against his will, he was brought back. When he opened his eyes, the sun was shining down, blinding him. His eyes ached from the trauma they had suffered the night before, and everything was blurry. When he tried to focus, he thought he saw three people standing over him. Two taller women, and a young girl. One was wearing a jet black dress, the other was wearing a soft blue, and the girl, just a simple cotton slip. Elphis and the strange woman with the daggers, and...someone else that seemed vaguely familiar.
Maduin struggled to clear his vision, and after several hard blinks he watched as the double image of two women merged back into one, leaving only Elphis and the woman with the daggers.
"It's about time."
Maduin rubbed his eyes, trying to get a bearing on his surroundings. What he saw was exactly what Elphis had claimed - a miracle. The fires from the previous night were gone, and there seemed to be an impossible number of people filling the streets of Antissa, busily working at rebuilding the town. There couldn't have been this many people that survived the battle last night, and he didn't even think there were this many people in the village to begin with. And amazingly, his wounds from the battle were practically gone, with nothing but thick scars to show he had been in a fight at all. Even Elphis seemed completely fine, and was jumping up and down like her usual exuberant self.
"Elphis...what's going on? Are you hurt?" Maduin asked, his tongue dry and his head throbbing.
"I'm all better now! I got some marks where the big dog bit me, but I feel great!" the little girl chirped, touching her side to feel the wounds where Cerberus's teeth had pierced her. There were dark blooms of dried blood on her clothes, but like Maduin, there seemed to be nothing but a line of scars where she had been hurt. She beamed with pride at her battle scars.
"Who was that other woman?" Maduin asked, still trying to get a bearing on his situation. He could swear he had seen her before, but now she seemed to be nowhere in sight.
"What woman?" Elphis asked. "It's just me and Lady."
"I saw another woman with you, she was wearing a blue dress." Maduin said groggily. He looked around, but saw no one else near them. Just townsfolk running about with all manner of tools and building materials.
"There wasn't anyone else here," the black-dressed woman snapped. "Now, if you would be so kind as to get off the ground. We still need to talk, remember?"
"Fine." Maduin snapped back. After last night, he wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone about anything, but the woman had a way about her that made her impossible to ignore. "First, tell me what's going on. Where am I? Who are all these people?"
"You never give up, do you?" the woman said. "We're near what's left of the north gate. Elphis found you lying here in a crater in the middle of the street, and I followed her. What on earth were you doing?"
"Following my heart." Maduin said in harsh tones, not wanting to speak of the night's unhappy conclusion any further. He hated to admit it, but the pitiless woman had been right. Following his heart had gotten him nothing but pain. Perhaps there was something to killing one's emotions after all.
The woman understood exactly what he meant in that uncanny way she seemed to read a person's thoughts, and simply nodded her head sagely.
"As for the town," she continued without asking for any further explanation, "it would seem the refugees from Narsille that had been camping outside the town saw the fires and came to help. Funny how the tables turn, eh? These 'wanderers' that the people of Antissa looked down on are now helping to rebuild. When the work is done, it will be their town as much as the surviving Antissans."
As Maduin got to his feet, he realized she was right. Most of the people he saw wore the faded clothing of Narsille. These were his people, but he felt no connection to them now. He felt no connection to anyone, and every time he thought of Mae, his heart ached and his mind raged with anger. He loved her, but that love was tainted with the feeling of betrayal. He knew her mother had worked her influence on her, but he also knew that the end result of last night's argument would have been the same even if Mrs. Laperdeau hadn't gotten involved. It just would have taken longer for Mae to finally build up enough courage to turn her back on him, dragging out both their suffering even longer. Maduin couldn't help but utter a grim chuckle at the thought that perhaps Mrs. Laperdeau had done him a favor.
"What's so funny?" Elphis asked innocently from Maduin's side. She had her hand wrapped in his and was squeezing it tightly.
As Maduin felt the warm pulse of Elphis's soft hand in his hard grip, he realized there was still one person he felt a connection with. This small child still believed in him, had sought him out when everyone else had avoided and abandoned him. He squeezed her hand gently, looking down at her sweet face.
"Nothing you will ever have to worry about." he said. As he said those words, he knew that the two of them would be inseparable from now on. He would never let her down, and she would never abandon him
"Aw, you're silly." Elphis said, laughing.
Her laugh filled Maduin with a sense of peace he had longed for these past months. The rest of the human race would gladly see him dead, but he knew this one child still believed in him. Perhaps in time, that would be enough. For now, he still felt the gaping hole in his chest that had once belonged to Mae.
"Excuse me, but I believe we having something to discuss?"
Maduin looked back at the mystery woman, who was visibly annoyed. He had forgotten she was even there, but now he knew he had to tell her what little he knew of her comrade's fate. It was an unpleasant fate, and he knew she would not be happy with his story, if she even believed it.
"The girl is safe, so tell me. Where is the Lord Dunn-Raven? Where is Agent Phantom?"
Maduin collected his thoughts, pushing aside the flood of memories from his time with Mae and trying to remember the vague glimpses of the man that had been known as Agent Phantom. He explained his vague memories of their confrontation on the Maiden, and how the man had escaped overboard using one of the ship's lifeboats. The next time he had seen the man was deep inside Crescent Mountain, a slave to Levi's overwhelming force of will. How the two had met Maduin did not know, but somehow Levi had completely subjugated the man, and worked him to the brink of death. The last glimpse Maduin had of Agent Phantom was through the eyes of his cruel Esper persona. The man had willingly allowed himself to be devoured whole by the newly created Leviathan. After that, Agent Phantom was no more.
"Impossible." the woman snorted after listening to Maduin's story, a flash of that berserker's rage in her eyes. "The Lord Dunn-Raven would never allow himself to be controlled like that. We Stradivari answer only to our leader's command."
Maduin sighed, still not understanding who this woman was, or what her connection to the man known as Agent Phantom was. "I have no reason to lie to you. The man is dead now, of that I am sure. Does it matter why at this point?"
"Absolutely. I have reason to believe his is alive, and currently in East Jidorik. Which means you are either lying or mistaken."
Maduin straightened himself out, towering over the woman. Now he was getting annoyed. "If you knew where he was, then why are you bothering me? Why are you here? Who are you?"
The woman showed no signs of being intimidated by the giant Esper, and stared at him with equal annoyance. "We know nothing for sure. Whoever our contacts in East Jidorik saw, he is not responding to our signals, and is proving almost impossible to communicate with. He doesn't even seem human. He seems...more like you."
"Another Esper?" Maduin said, dismayed. Every day the number of fellow Espers was growing, and Maduin knew it was only a matter of time before their phenomenal magical might swept over the whole world just like they had Narsille.
"I have no idea. Until I had overheard you talking to these townsfolk, I had never heard the word before. But it seems to fit, especially after witnessing the events here. I want you to tell me everything. About Espers, Narsille, and these gods you spoke of."
"I've told you what you wanted to know about your friend, and I won't say anything else. I'm tired of talking about the past. Just leave me alone." Maduin turned to walk away from the woman, but a sharp cry from Elphis stopped him cold. When he looked back at the girl, he found a razor-sharp dagger at her throat and the woman hovering directly behind her.
"You will tell me what I want to know, Esper." The woman's words were cold and emotionless. "I don't want to kill this girl, but I will if I have to."
"You really are a monster." Maduin spat. Elphis still gripped his hand tightly, but there was nothing either of them could do.
The woman didn't blink at Maduin's insult. "Now then, tell me what you know, and we can both go our separate ways in peace."
Maduin growled in frustration, but he had no choice. So, he told the sad story of his travels at the Committee's command, the transformation of himself and his friends into Espers, and the destruction of Narsille. Everything he knew of Sade and the Fallen Masters he explained as best he could, although there was still much he did not know about the true nature of the events that he had been dragged into.
The woman listened silently to his tale, never once taking her eyes off him, or her hand off her dagger. When he was finally done, she looked at him with the same impenetrable stare. Whether she believe him or not, he had no idea.
"If I hadn't seen in with my own eyes..." she said after a long pause, carefully lowering her weapon from Elphis's throat. The girl stepped away from her quickly, wrapping herself around Maduin's thick leg.
"Very well," the woman mused, no longer paying any attention to Elphis or Maduin. "This information will help us greatly in the coming months. It would seem the Stradivari have work to do, if we want to survive."
Maduin looked at her curiously, still wondering just who she was, and what this Stradivari she spoke of was. Despite her brutal methods, he was not sure whether this woman was really an enemy, or an ally.
The woman caught Maduin's look, and smiled. "I know what you're thinking, and all I can say is that as long as you stay out of our way, you are not our enemy. You're wondering who we are, correct?"
"I really don't care." Maduin said angrily. He was curious, of course, but after the way she had treated Elphis, he wanted nothing to do with her.
"Now I know you're lying," she said, still smiling. "Let me enlighten you. Otherwise, you may just find yourself blundering into our affairs, and we would not hesitate to get rid of you."
"I'd like to see you try," Maduin said, his anger rising. He turned to leave, Elphis close beside him. She had a look of anger on her face as well. She had trusted the woman she called Lady, and just like so many others, she had betrayed her.
"The Stradivari are not a force to be taken lightly," she called out as Maduin and Elphis stalked off. "We are everywhere, in every town. And now that we know what is happening, we will use our influence to prevent this war you say is coming. You can either fight with us, or against us. It's your choice."
Maduin stopped, and responded without turning around. "I choose not to fight. I have nothing left to fight for. Let the gods have this world, as long as I can live my life in peace."
"What if I told you your friends are alive?"
"What?" Now Maduin turned around and looked the woman right the eyes.
"What if I told you your Captain was not dead, but alive, and working with West Jidorik?"
Maduin's anger swelled, and he let off a pulse of cold energy right at the woman. It knocked her to her knees, but she did not show any sign of fear. "Tell me what you know."
"Still following your heart, I see. You're an easy man to read." The woman got to her feet lightly, dusting herself off.
"Where is the Captain?" Maduin repeated.
"His ship has been seen at the ports of West Jidorik, and his crew say he is still the captain, and that they are taking orders from him. No one has actually seen him, though."
"I saw Captain Bismark die with my own eyes...by my own..." Maduin faltered. He still wasn't sure what he had seen or done. But he remembered the blood, and the Captain's body lying at his feet. That was the last time he had seen his old friend. Could he really have survived the destruction of Narsille?
"And you say you saw Lord Dunn-Raven devoured as well, and yet I believe he is now in East Jidorik. These are strange times, no?" The woman smiled again, crossing her arms smugly.
"I...do not know..." Maduin stuttered, now curious what this woman knew.
"Let's go, Maydune. I don't like this lady." Elphis tugged at the scrap of cloth hanging from Maduin's waist, eager to get away from the dangerously unpredictable woman.
"I have a feeling we'll meet again," the woman said. "If you are going to Jidorik, and I suspect you will, there are some things you should know. They say there is a dragon on the Dragon Throne now. A real dragon. I had thought this was just a mad rumor, but now I doubt that. You mentioned that Draco Christophe was a part of your group, and had been transformed into an Esper, a dragon Esper. I think it is safe to assume that the dragon king of West Jidorik and your dragon Esper are one and the same, so I would suggest steering clear of him if you want to live. They say anyone who crosses the dragon is never seen again."
"Draco was not an evil man, just another person ensnared in the plots of the gods. I still have hope that he can be returned to his senses."
"Whatever you do, don't be a fool about it. Remember, the Stradivari are everywhere. If we see you as a threat, we will come after you with all our power. If you let your power run wild in Jidorik like you did here, we will consider you an enemy."
"Just who are you?" Maduin asked, forgetting for the moment his disgust for the woman. "You claim to be in every town, yet I've never heard of this Stradivari before."
"Hoho, I never did introduce myself, did I?" the woman said, laughing into her sleeve. "I am known as the Lady Blunt." She bowed elegantly, as if she were introducing herself to a king. "And all you need to know about the Stradivari is that we are a global network of mercenaries. Every town in the world has at least one member of our group in it. We keep ourselves secret and out of sight, but we are always nearby, watching, and listening. Lord Dunn-Raven was one of our members assigned to Narsille. Myself, I am from Zwill. There are countless more of us out there. It would be wise to assume anything you say or do will be known to us immediately, and to act accordingly."
"In other words, I'm being watched, so don't do anything stupid." Maduin said glumly, wondering what new web he was being trapped in.
"Exactly. If you were any kind of fighter, I'd try to get you to join us, but after watching you, I feel you would be more of a liability than a help. The girl, however..." The woman known as the Lady Blunt looked down at Elphis with an appraising eye. Elphis squirmed at the sound of the woman's voice, trying to hide behind Maduin.
"I wanna leave, Maydune," she said unhappily.
"In a moment, Elphis. Don't worry, I won't let her hurt you." Maduin looked back at the Lady Blunt. "The girl stays with me."
"A shame. We could do wonders with someone so in tune with their senses. And I am rarely wrong in my measure of a person's worth to our group."
"I've heard enough." Maduin said, turning away. "I think it's time you left us, Blunt."
'That's Lady Blunt," the woman snapped back. "The Stradivari take our titles very seriously, and it's not often we share our identities with anyone. You should feel honored to even know the little that you do about us."
"Trust me, the honor is all yours. I have no desire to join your group, or to get in your away. Once we part ways, I hope to never see you or your group again."
The Lady Blunt laughed again. "So naive. If you are headed towards Jidorik, you will have to pass through Zwill, where I am from. And knowing you, you will get in our way, unintentionally or otherwise. It's in your nature. We will meet again, Maduin."
"I will try very hard to make sure that doesn't happen, Lady Blunt."
"You would be wise to do that. Until then...keep following your heart, ha!" The Lady Blunt continued laughing as she left the two. With that unnatural ease of movement, she blended in with the mass of people flowing around the group at a safe distance, and was gone in a moment.
"I don't like her." Elphis said quietly once she felt the Lady's steps fade into the wall of sound around them.
"Neither do I." Maduin said, squeezing her hand. "C'mon, let's get something to eat."
"Yeah! I'm starving!" Elphis jumped up and started to drag Maduin towards one of the places she normally went to eat.
Just as the two started moving through the town, the flow of people around them subtly changed. The people were no longer politely ignoring the two, and Maduin could feel the burning glare of a hundred angry eyes on him and Elphis. Soon, the river of people slowed, and Maduin could sense a crowd beginning to form around them, gradually restricting their movements.
"Elphis, stay close to me, and don't let go." Maduin whispered to the girl. She nodded and moved in close to her giant bodyguard.
The crowd continued to grow, and now Maduin could hear murmurs of discontent running through it. He was no longer moving now, and simply stood where he was, waiting to see what would happen next. He had hoped to avoid confrontation with the townsfolk, but it seemed that was impossible.
"We don't want any trouble." Maduin called out to the expanding mob. "We just want something to eat, and then we will leave you in peace."
Several angry curses rang out from the mob, and Maduin could see there were various makeshift weapons in many hands. He did not like where this was going.
"Get out of our town!" one person shouted.
"We have no food for the likes of you, monster!" another voice rang out.
"Turn around, or you'll be sorry!" a third voice joined in.
Soon, there were dozens of voices shouting at the two, and Maduin could see the mob slowly getting closer to them.
"Maydune saved all of you!" Elphis cried out from the Esper's side. Maduin tried to hush her, but she would not be silent while the people of Antissa insulted her friend.
"He beat that big dog, and if it wasn't for him we'd all be dead!" she continued, heedless of the angry voices and heavy rumble of a hundred footsteps.
"He brought that dog into our town and let it loose! My son died last night, and this monster's to blame!"
"He's just another monster like the dog! He'll probably take you to the same place the dog took everyone!"
"Get away from the beast and let us get rid of him!"
Elphis stamped her foot angrily at the accusations of the people. "You're all stupid! Maydune would never hurt anyone! I'm leaving this stinky place!"
A few braver villagers stepped closer, trying to reach Elphis. She sensed them and swatted their hands away. Maduin made no attempt to defend himself, but he reached around Elphis to shield her from the questing hands of the villagers.
Just as the unruly mob was beginning to get too close and too agitated for Maduin, a shrill voice rang out, silencing the mass of people at once.
"Enough. Get away from that filth and let him go. Let them both go. Anyone who sides with that fiend is not welcome here in Antissa."
Maduin looked at where the voice had came from, and saw several people stepping aside. Standing at the center of the mob was Elle Laperdeau, her eyes blazing with hate. Mae was nowhere to be seen.
"Leave this town and never come back!" she shrieked, pointing one long finger straight at Maduin.
Maduin said nothing to the woman. He felt nothing towards her, towards the townsfolk around him. He had risked his life to save them, but that meant nothing to them. And now, he had to leave in disgrace, a wanderer once again. His heart was cold as ice as he turned away from Elle Laperdeau's accusing stare. These people were no longer a part of his life. This town was nothing more than a dot on a map to him now.
"That's right, get out!" Elle Laperdeau continued shrieking. "We don't want you or your kind here! Spread the word to the other monsters out there! We don't want you in Antissa!"
Maduin continued walking with Elphis by his side, refusing to rise to Mrs. Laperdeau's taunts. As the two walked past the mass of rubble that was formerly the north gate, he could still hear her yelling, her voice rising in pitch until it sounded as inhuman as Maduin's own. Maduin did not look back, and neither did Elphis.
"Adults are stupid," Elphis said softly as they walked into the snowy fields that led up into the Narsillian mountains.
Maduin nodded his head in agreement, and continued up into the mountains. After a while, the trail became too steep and rugged for Elphis, and he let her climb onto his back for the rest of the way. The two talked little, and both reflected on their unhappy fates.
"I'm cold," Elphis said after a while. She was still wearing only the cotton slip, and Maduin could feel her shivering on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, but I can only make ice," Maduin said sadly. He wished his powers were more than just those of the cold, the power of death. "Just hang in there and we'll be at my cave soon. I have food there and can make a fire once we are inside."
"I don't wanna live in a cave," Elphis muttered, realizing for the first time what kind of life she was letting herself be taken into.
"It's only for a little while. I have a friend there that I think you'll like." Maduin tried to smile, but he only felt sorrow at the situation he found himself in. He felt guilty for dragging Elphis into his dreary world, and knew it would be much harder for her to live like this than it was for him.
After several hours of trudging through thick snow, Maduin reached the cave he had called home. As soon as he entered the mouth of the cave, a furry white ball zoomed out from the depths of the cave.
"Kupoooo!"
Maduin let Elphis down gently and greeted the little moogle with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. The moogle flitted around him for a moment, rubbing its body against him like a pet cat. Once it had finished accosting Maduin, it glanced at the little girl, curious about the new arrival.
"This is Elphis, Kumiro." Maduin said, reading the moogle's expression. He had found that it was becoming easier to tell what the moogle was trying to say as time passed. Soon he felt he would be able to interact with the creature as deftly as Indie had. "Elphis, this is Kumiro. He's a moogle, and he's very smart."
Elphis let out a squeal of delight at the sound of the moogle's voice and the feel of its fur. She grabbed it like she would a frisky leaf bunny from the Laperdeau's garden, squeezing it.
"Kupow!" Kumiro squeaked as Elphis hugged it tighter and tighter. The cute exclamation only served to tighten the ecstatic girl's embrace.
"You're so cute! And you feel even softer than a leafer! Ooh, I could fluff you all day!" All thoughts of her dismal state vanished as Elphis held the fuzzy moogle in her arms like a baby.
"Kupopopopo!" The moogle let out a stream of gibberish as it struggled in the girls arms, squirming left and right.
"Elphis...I think you should let go. Kumiro can't breath." Maduin said, grinning.
"Oh! I'm sorry Kumiro! You're just so squishy!" Elphis bubbled, loosening her grip.
The moogle popped out of her hands and resumed flying around the cave, muttering kupo's as it circled. It acted like it was mad, but Maduin could tell that it liked the girl.
"Alright." Maduin said after the three had gotten accustomed to each other. "We'll stay the night here, and then we leave tomorrow. I'm afraid it's too cold for you here, Elphis."
"Nah, I'm fine now. Kumiro can keep me warm!" Elphis reached out and snatched the moogle out of the air again, and this time the moogle didn't struggle.
"You don't have to be brave, Elphis. I hate to say it, but that woman is right. I need to go to Jidorik and see what is happening down there. If the Captain is alive, I have to find out. And if I can save Draco from himself, I have to try that as well."
"Aw, but they'll just hate you there, too," Elphis said, her voice losing some of its cheer.
"I know, but I have to try. I can't let one bad experience get me down. And even if the whole world hates me, I still feel like I have to do something." Maduin looked down at the girl and the moogle, happily playing with each other. "As long as there's people like you in the world, it feels like I should still fight for it. Will you come with me?"
"Of course, silly! I'll go where you go, forever!" Elphis blurted without any thought. It was simple fact, and she had no shame it stating it.
"Kupo!" Kumiro said with equal matter-of-fact-ness.
Maduin smiled, deep and warm. "Well then, I guess it's settled. Tomorrow we go south, past Antissa. It's a long road, but I'll keep you safe."
"I trust you!" Elphis said with that same simplicity.
The three continued chatting until the sun went down, and slept soundly until the next day. They left the cave with the rising sun, eager to be rid of the unforgiving climate. They passed the bustling town of Antissa without a second glance, steering clear of its walls. There was nothing there for them now. They were truly wanderers now, with no place to call home.
Along the way south they passed many refugee camps from Narsille, and Elphis and Kumiro managed to mix with the many different people there, getting what food they could for the group. Surprisingly, the refugees were generous and kind, seeing Elphis and her pet moogle as wanderers just like them. Maduin stayed out of sight, knowing full well that their warm welcomes would not extend to the likes of him.
As the trio wended their way further south, they came across an unexpected sight. A few miles from the vast Thanas desert, they came across the stationary hulk of the fortress-like Figaro, surrounded for almost a mile by a swarming mass of large tents, rudimentary buildings and hordes of people, animals, and cargo. The scene looked more like a makeshift village with the Figaro at its center like a king's castle. Maduin was curious what the situation was with the giant mobile laboratory, so he sent Elphis in to ask the people there what had happened.
The story was an intriguing one, and gave Maduin hope that the culture and history of Narsille might not be completely dead. The Figaro had been badly damaged in its hectic escape from Narsille, and without Alex Figaro to head its maintenance, had broken down beyond repair just short of the Thanas. Now, it had been turned into the central core of what was quickly becoming a new settlement. There were vast stores of food, water, and all manner of machinery inside the Figaro, and refuges from all around were flocking to it for aide and protection under the shadow of the great machine.
In less than a month since breaking down, the Figaro had been completely transformed into something akin to a mechanical castle, with various people spreading their homes out from it as more wanderers arrived each day. What were once tents were now becoming proper homes as pieces of the Figaro were scrapped for houses. Even simple farms were cropping up around the mountain of metal, and soon this unlikely place would become a thriving and permanent community. The people who were now living here fittingly called their new town "Figaro" and Maduin suspected that with all the Narsillian engineers haunting the place, it would soon grow to rival places like Antissa, and perhaps one day become a sort of second Narsille, a haven for technology and innovation...and hopefully for peace.
Filled with a new sense of hope, Maduin stayed on the outskirts of the blossoming town for almost a month, enjoying the stories Elphis brought back from his fellow Narsillian refugees. These wanderers had found a home for themselves, but Maduin still had a long way to go to find his own place in the world. And as long as he had Elphis by his side, he felt sure someday he would find that place. He tried his best to put the darkness of Antissa behind him, and embrace this new world he was wandering into. Some nights it was hard to forget the things he had lost, but Elphis never let him stay depressed for long, and neither did the equally enthusiastic Kumiro.
Eventually it came time for the three to move on, and they packed up their belongings and continued south, into the endless sands of the once dead Thanas Desert. Ever since Maduin had removed the curse of the gravity crystal from the region, life had returned with a vengeance. The desert was still extremely inhospitable to life, but there were still cacti springing up, and tufts of hardy grass lining the fringes of the desert. Maduin could even see some of the common desert animals returning here after their long exile. Giant sand rays several feet across, thick-shelled areneid scorpions, and even the occasional wild chocobo could be seen ranging across the desert now. This desert was alive.
As the three entered the great desert, they were unaware of a hidden follower taking note of their every move. This follower had been watching them ever since they left their cave in the Narsillian mountains, and had been dutifully reporting their movements to its master, many leagues away.
Hovering slightly above the ground on an inconspicuous sand dune, a strange insect-like creature the size of a man buzzed contentedly, its bulging eyes studying the three with a cold intelligence. Its black cape-like wing casings fluttered behind it in the wind, and its skeletal golden body hung motionless in mid air, like the ghostly corpse of some giant fly. A faint green aura glistened around it, hiding it from any stray glances in its direction. Every once in a while the metallic buzzing would change to words, speaking to no one.
"The target is heading 56 degrees south by southwest."
"87% probability that Jidorik is final destination."
"Likely objective is to reconnoiter with either Esper Cetus or Esper Bahamut. 97% probability of failure."
"Current revival status of Master Moloch at 62%, but stalled due to lack of suitable sacrifices. Revival rate of Master Chemosh and Mistress Astarte unknown. Estimates as low as 10%, no higher than 50%. Time until revival approximately ten years at current growth."
"Will continue to follow Esper Maduin and report on status of other Masters when their condition is known. Zona out."
With a sharp click of golden mandibles, the ephemeral Seeker of Moloch phased out of sight, leaving nothing but a green cloud of static energy where it had once been.