Mike AZ 2 here. Another chapter coming right up. Thanks Sailor Astralight, U.k. Owen and Halloween Witch for the reviews.
This chapter and the following won't have much action, but please bear with me.
Disclaimers may seem redundant, but Dragon Quest was developed by Squaresoft.
Chapter V: Of Spirits and Truths
Later that night, Arianna walked out of her room to outside the inn, following the sensation she felt earlier.
As she made her way to the southwest corner of town where several graves lie, she found Trent.
"Couldn't sleep?" she inquired.
"Not really. I visited my parents' graves and Catarrhina's just now, sure wish Coffinwell's curse was lifted much sooner" sighed the Warrior.
Arianna shrugged as she looked towards Catarrhina's grave, which had two more on either side. To her surprise, she saw four ghosts.
"Arianna? Is that your name?" spoke a man who had the same color hair as Trent's and Alicia's.
"Yes, and you were?" said the Minstrel.
The man sighed"I can't recall anymore, I had spent these past few days as a spirit. This cemetary is crowded these days."
Arianna turned to address the woman"Catarrhina... You're stil here?"
"Yes, but I am worried for Phlegming. When I woke here, I was dead. I must ask you a favor Arianna, and help him" said Catarrhina.
"You can see sprits, Arianna?" gasped Trent.
"You figured that out? You probably heard them, I'm amazed you didn't freak out like most would" said Arianna.
Trent shrugged"Yeah, well, I just feel like this around you. But I was surprised to hear my dad's voice from the grave."
Arianna turned her attention back to Catarrhina's spirit"So what do you need me to do?"
Catarrhina's ghost replied"Follow me to Phlegming's research room, I want you to deliver a message."
Arianna started to follow, but turned to address the warrior"Are you coming with me, Trent?"
"I want to remain here for a bit longer" said Trent.
"Heard that, I trained you tougher then this, Trent. You need not grieve for me, just follow your own path. Tell your sister I'll always watch over you two" said the blond man's ghost.
Trent sighed, then said"I can't see you, though I can hear. I will make you proud, dad, farewell."
The Minstrel and the Warrior walked towards Dr. Phlegming's research lab.
There, Catarrhina's spirit instructed Arianna"Phlegming will only answer if you knock on the door in a special way that I've done for him."
Trent shrugged"And the message?"
Arianna relayed the question, which Catarrhina's ghost responded"Many others would've gone if it wasn't for him. Those others who would've gone from the catagion are thankful for him."
Arianna knocked on the door the way Catarrhina's ghost instructed.
"Catarrhina?" said Dr. Phlegming as he opened the door. He was shocked"What? Oh, it's just you. What a cruel joke."
Arianna explained"Sorry, but Catarrhina wanted me to tell you that those who are alive who were sick are thankful for your effort."
"She did? Well, I don't know who else was sick from the Contagion, so I don't know what to say" shrugged the doctor.
"I know of four others in town who had caught the curse before my sister and I left. Come along with us" said Trent.
Back at the inn, Raymond had finished making rounds at Coffinwell and went back to the second floor.
"How was the patrol?" said the Priestess, who was waiting.
"All seems clear. Where are the others?" inquired the Mage.
Alicia replied"Arianna and Trent left earlier and are not back yet, Conrad was snoring away in his room. He is quite loud, so I knocked him out."
"Huh?" Raymond gasped.
"Just kidding, he went to keep a lookout at the town's entrance. Anyway, I've been thinking" sighed Alicia.
"About what?" inquired the Mage.
The Priestess replied"I... I'd like to go on a real date with you, sometime."
"Yeah, we've been busy these past couple days. Want to go for a walk?" smiled Raymond.
Alicia flushed"I appreciate it, but it's the middle of the night."
"What does it matter?" said Raymond.
Alicia shrugged, then the pair walked out.
Elsewhere, Arianna and Trent escorted Dr. Phlegming to visit the four people that Trent knew were sick.
When they got back to the lab, the doctor sighed"Guess I never thought about all this. I suppose I have their gratitude."
"Got that right" said Trent.
Dr. Phlegming proceeded back to his lab"I'll try to be more of a part of the commmunity."
As Trent and Arianna started going back to the inn, they ran into Alicia and Raymond.
The mage spoke"Oh, hey."
"We had some business to take care of. Should I ask why you're up so late?" said Arianna.
Alicia shrugged"Raymond insisted... Well, you and Trent are great together."
"Huh? Are you sugggesting that... No, never mind. I'll just go back to my room at the inn after I pay my respects at the graves one more time" said the Minstrel.
Trent addressed Alicia"Dad's ghost spoke to me and Arianna, he said he'll always watch over us."
"I see, I hope he can rest in peace. But how in the world can Arianna see ghosts anyway?"
"Maybe I'll tell you sometime, but for now I must go" said Arianna.
The Minstrel went back to the cemetary with Trent. Catarrhina's spirit addressed Arianna"Thank you."
"No problem, just doing what I believe is right" said Arianna.
Catarrhina then vanished into the heavens.
"Interesting night, huh?" said the blond ghost.
"Yeah, no kidding" said Trent.
The male blond ghost smiled"Ah, well, 'bout time I departed for the heavens as well. Glad you could help Catarrhina, she should not have had to die so young though."
As Trent's father's ghost disappeared, Arianna saw the inscription on his grave'Here lies a proud former knight of Stornway, and loving father to Trent and Alicia.
"You never told me your father was a knight" said Arianna.
Trent shrugged"My sister and I knew who he was since childhood. My father often told me stories when I was small."
Arianna was silent for a moment, then said"Let's go back to the inn."
The next day, Arianna and her group got together in the afternoon and went to the mayor's house.
The older man thanked the group by giving Arianna a feathered headband.
The march back to Stornway was uneventful, save for an encounter with some slimes and sluggers, which they handled easily.
When they got back to the Adventurer's Rest, Patty greeted the five"Hi, welcome back. Who's the new guy?"
The brunette replied"My name is Conrad, I'm from Coffinwell. I want to register as a member of Arianna party."
"Oh, of course, there are still a few vancancies left for registered Adventurers at my party place. You can stay in the parlor until you're needed, Conrad. So what's new Arianna?" said Patty.
Arianna shrugged"I'm still in the middle of my travels."
The five went into the parlor for some lunch. Trent addressed the Minstrel"So now what?"
"I need to leave, my home still awaits" said Arianna.
"Nice knowing you" said Conrad.
"Farewell" nodded Alicia.
Arianna stood up and made ready to leave after finishing her lunch.
Alicia turned expectantly to her brother"There is still time. We don't know Arianna's destination, but you should at least let her know your feelings. You can't concentrate too much if there's something on your mind."
"But-" The warrior started.
The Priestess raised her hand"Even if she dosen't acknowledge your crush, you should at least get your feelings across."
Trent sighed"You're right, I'll go after her."
As the swordsman left, Raymond addressed the Priestess"So now what? Feel up to going out again?"
"Hm, okay. Conrad, could you do us a favor and make sure the area around Stornway has no monsters?" said Alicia.
The brunette nodded"Count on me."
The Mage and the Preistess left the inn, and headed for the surrounding wilderness of the Stornway region.
There, they inspected the flowers growing nearby.
"Pretty day, huh?" sighed Alicia.
"Yeah, and the flowers are pretty. Would be perfect if it wasn't for the monsters in the wilderness" sighed Raymond.
"Oh, don't be a pessimist. Wasn't that why you became a mage?" smirked Alicia.
Raymond shrugged"Yeah. So anyway, want to go to Angel Falls? I heard that the inn there was pretty good."
"All right, let's go. You brought some Chimera Wings? We should return to Patty's place by sunset" inquired the Priestess.
The mage smiled"You bet, I got some at the item shop on our way to the Adventurer's Rest."
Trent exited Stornway and pondered which direction to take.
'Well, here goes' sighed the swordsman, heading south west.
It wasn't too long before he ran into a couple slimes.
"Though I'm easy prey, huh? I don't think so" Trent sliced through the slimes and went farther on, until he came to a clearing.
There, Arianna was arranging her things in her item bag.
"Hey" said Trent.
"What's up?" said the Minstrel.
The warrior replied"I was just thinking... Actually, when we first met, I felt a spark. I wanted to tell you, that I like you."
Arianna was astonished for a second before replying"Trent, you're a good friend. If you feel for me, I can't blame you for that."
Trent walked a bit closer"So your thoughts about me are..?"
The Minstrel sighed as she glanced to her right"I'm decidedly neutral on the subject for now. I suppose that since you know a bit of my abilities beyond that of ordinairy mortals, do you wish to know my secret?"
"What is it?" said Trent.
Arianna replied"Follow me, it might be a little much for you to take in, here."
As the pair walked forward a bit and turned right, the fairy spoke to Arianna"Sure this is a flapping good idea, Arianna? Telling a common mortal your secret?"
"For shame, Stella. I hate keeping secrets, but I know it's better that not many people here know my true nature. Just please keep quiet for a bit." said the Minstrel.
The fairy grumbled something about 'flapping ametuers'.
"Hey, what's up?" Conrad suddenly caught up to the pair.
Trent sighed"What is it?"
"I was scouting the area, but then I saw you head this way" said the brunette.
The three (four if you count Stella) entered what looked like a seamless space, until Trent and Conrad were met with a surprising sight. A regtangular chamber surrounded them, decorated in bright yellow.
"It's beautiful" gasped Conrad.
"Thanks a flapping bunch" said the insivible-to-Conrad-and-Trent's-eyes being, heading for the console.
Arianna addressed the two male Adventurers"I'm not really a Minstrel, in fact I am only half human. I'm a Celestrian, a Sentinel of the Starry Skies."
Trent and Conrad's eyes widened for a second. Trent whistled"Really? Alicia's not gonna believe this."
"Aren't Celestrians supposedly invisible to the human eye? That's what the textbooks of legends at the churches say, not that I'm a believer" interjected the brunette.
"That, and Celestrians have halos and wings. Mortals barely know of our existance" said the 'Minstrel'.
Trent stuttered"S-so how come you don't have those if you are one of them?"
Arianna shrugged"You know about the earthquake last week? I fell from a cliff, and woke in Angel Falls. My wings and halo were gone, but I became visible. This train, the Starflight Express, is my ticket home now."
"I'd like to visit your home" said Trent.
"Its a sacred place, no mortal has ever been, nor are they supposed to. Trent, I don't know what my next mission will be, but you can come if you want" sighed Arianna.
Stella, who was watching from her station at the controls, sighed"Ready when you are, Arianna."
Arianna nodded, then said"Trent, Conrad, I will have to tell Raymond and Alicia. But we'll do that later, assuming I can find time during my real job to visit Stornway again."
"What's your job?" inquired Trent.
Arianna replied"I was assigned guardianship of Angel Falls before the disaster happened. Okay, everyone, let's go for a ride to my home."
"Yeah, cool" muttered Conrad.
Stella activated the Starflight Express, and the group took off.
Below, Alicia whipped around as she and Raymond were heading for Angel Falls to check out the inn"I thought I heard a train... must be my imagination."
"I'll say, are you worried about your brother?" said the mage.
The Priestess shook her head"No, it's okay. I'll bet he's met up with Arianna by now, but that dosen't mean Trent won't get an earful from me if he does or says anything stupid around her. He is very headstrong sometimes."
"Okay, let's not get too stressed. Let's take in the sights" said Raymond.
"You're right" shrugged Alicia,
Hope this chapter is not too boring, but some more backstory was called for, and I needed to add a bit more fluff to it. I may not have been too accurate with the last of the Coffinwell side-story, but it's been almost too long since I played DQIX.
Another OC will be introduced in the chapter after the next. I like the idea of a female Martial-Artist, but that will come after the next chapter, not during. I'll have to think of a name for that OC. Oh, and if you're wondering how the groups will reunite, the hero in DQIX does learn a spell that allows him/her to travel to previously visited towns, if that's any indication.
Please feel free to review.