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"What do you think?" Navarro looked up from reading the local herald towards FG in front of a mirror, turning on his feet as he asked: "The new armour, what do you think?" "...you look much more befitting a gladiator, kupo." "Really?!" "Yes. You look much more...bangaa-like." "Heh, all I need now's the ears." "And the voice." "Hey if Fayne can pull it off-" "By avoiding certain letters, kupo." "I can do that." "...you lack the vocabulary for it." "I don't need to know more words, I just let my scissors do the talking for me." "Then kindly snap them shut." "Hhhehehehe...they sharpen your tongue at school too?" "That I learnt myself, kupo." "Nice. Yeah...I really like this." The raptor stared at himself in the mirror, straightening up his new armour after purchasing with his new money. The power sash, as the vendor called it, was a marvellous-looking red attachment that went V-shaped down the front of his chest, connecting his new shoulder pauldrons to the waistguard. His waist was now covered by a leather belt around his belly, followed by a pair of cloth leggings below it that went down to his knees which also came with its own draped banner-like folding over the middle of it, almost like a sporran would on a kilt. He also had a new set of leather gauntlets that covered his forearms, as well as a set of leather greaves that protected only the space between the knee and the foot, leaving his claws still exposed. It was the most armour he had ever worn but he took Navarro's advice on the matter to guard himself up more diligently with something that afforded better protection. All in all, it actually felt rather comfortable to move in despite being a slight chore to take on and off. At least his new gauntlets did not get in the way of his omni-tool, which simply re-emerged on top of it like a natural sleeve. "Your memstone takes to it well I see," said Navarro. "Yeah I guess so! ...it's kinda quiet here without the rest of the gang." "I like it. Besides Dahlia is resting, we are not truly alone kupo." "Yeah but the two bros aren't here...where the hell do they go anyway?" "Out, socialising like brothers do." "You got any brothers or sisters?" "No, kupo." "Huh...I don't got any siblings either." James decided to test out his new armour by heading back to his room and picking up the wooden sword that Berniere had given to him. Stepping back out to the open meeting area, he readily stepped into his sword-wielding stance, front leg pointing forwards, back leg pointing to the side. Bent slightly at the knees, he pretended as if someone had struck him before making a horizontal guard and swung his sword ruthlessly by turning his wrist, slicing in front of him as if decapitating somebody.

Immediately repeating the same movement, he followed it with a one-two-three swift strike going right-left-right, before a sudden thrust-stab forwards with one knee bent with imaginary evisceration fluidly before him. Pulling his sword out with a thickening gut-carving motion, he spun himself round with the momentum before ducking low and made a huge diagonal upwards strike from bottom right to top left of vision, the air whooshing past his ears briefly as he felt nothing of his armour unbalance him. He smiled happily before sheathing his sword coolly. "Yanno I'm really glad Berniere gave me this, I used to have these hammer handles for training but I think I lost them somewhere." "Really?" asked the moogle. "Why hammer handles kupo?" "Because they were really stiff and the right length to knock some people around without using my scissors in case I killed someone by accident. Must have dropped them somewhere at...hmmmm...where did I lose them..." Did that um...what's her name that, quarian girl Zorah throw them away? Maybe they got burnt in the ship fire, or did I lose them even before that? I bet Scisso dropped them somewhere whilst he was pissing around in my body, like the dick he is. Kinda weird I never noticed for what, eight months or something? Ah well, least I got a sweet-ass wooden sword that's certainly a lot better than some hammer sticks. As if testing his reflexes, the door suddenly burst open from the front as Rocino swept her paper away with sword ready at her sheath, the raptor on reflex unsheathing his wooden blade. "I GOT USSZH A JOB!" Baldwin came stumbling in excitably with a piece of paper that made Navarro keep hold on her blade, the brother Fayne coming in behind with a slight wheezing from his breath. A parchment was being waved in the monk's hands glowing with pride before stating: "I GOT USSZH A JOB, RIGHT HERE!" "Bring it here, kupo." The monk hurled it down onto the table as they all gathered round to see. James for once was actually able to understand some of the writing, squinting harshly at the shorter words as his tongue flopped uncertainly in his mouth. "Wine...cellaaaar...infect?" "Infestation," corrected Rocino, "a barkeep in Lea Monde requires an exterminator, kupo." "Lea Monde?!" cried Fayne. "Bu-...Baldwin, where did you find thisszh?!" "The pub I go to, the Cock an' Plucker? The guy there told me about a friend of hisszh, remember that guy at the Equesszhtrian?!" "...how could I possibly forget." "WELL, I wasszh talking to him about our friend there, an' he sszhowed me thisszh, sszhaid the guy wasszh lookin' fer a clan to wipe out sszhome pesszht down in the sszhellar!" "And no clan in Lea Monde would do?" "Uhh, did you forget how much they cosszht up there? Yanno, becausszhe they all go to the cathedral?" "Ahhhh...the damn tithesszh-nngh." "Are we really THAT affordable?" asked FG. "Compared to other clans yes," said Navarro. "Jeez...so are we gonna go?" "There is no other mission for us to take so yes, where is Lea Monde?"

Baldwin walked over to where the map of Ivalice hung on a wall, pointing to a place west of where they currently were situated. The size of the world even to a raptor who had travelled to places far wider than this, was nevertheless rather intimidating to experience walking through. "Riiiight here...nexszht to the coasszht." "Quite a distance, but a few days walk won't do much harm, kupo." "You're not gonna jusszht do the job an' leave are you?! There'sszh sszho much you can do up in Lea Monde, sszho many thingsszh! Maybe more jobsszh, an' we can get you a great affordable plasszhe to sszhleep an' tide over." "Very well, pack your things, unless you have business still in Nalbina?" "Nope," said FG, "I'm good." "Good, wake Dahlia up and let her know our plans, I will get our inventory ready." The raptor went off towards Dahlia's room to let her know they were planning to leave, the sleepy nu-mou looking rather bashful at having been woken up before heading out with the group. The clan homebase had a sign propped onto it in case they were on long journeys signalling they were currently out on a mission and should anyone require them, they would have to leave their request and name at the desk. It was a long walk, at least four days worth of travel through mountain passes and the occasional forest, the few creatures they encountered only by random chance. Vicious birds of leathered skin, crocodilians with shaggy hair and the odd hulking rockbeast of pure muscle that towered over them by twice their height. It was not the most arduous journey they had undertaken thanks to good team effort, supporting each other with two careful healers managing their magic, along with two swords and a pair of fists that synchronised immensely well. Navarro always swung higher than FG by a leap of faith, her skill in aerial strikes incredible to witness upon the unwary beast that dared to threaten them. Baldwin's brutal fists and spiritual control of his inner strength combined to create armour-piercing blows that broke spines and tore guts asunder. James' "spellblade" courtesy of his nanos ripped through most enemies with either burning ice or scorching fire, his gusts of wind almost always only used either to join with Baldwin's own strength, or to support Navarro's aerial attack. Occasionally, when they had found a good camping spot next to a stream, they would wash the dirt off of them taking turns with at least two people on guard in case of any sudden ambushes, of which there were none thankfully. Out of respect, the males and females of the party washed separately with James, Baldwin and Fayne going first, then Dahlia and Navarro together.

James could not help but smirk at the two brothers' naked bodies, the monk being rather ripped with lithe brawling arms and a boxer's build perfectly so, tight washboard stomach and lean legs to boot. Fayne was admittedly rather lithe in nature, but he clearly looked after himself with not a gut on him, despite constant teasings from his brother poking at his naked belly and the occasional splash fight between them. He also was surprised that bangaas had slits true to their reptilian origins, something he had not seen since Kruz back on the days of his short career as a pirate. But he did not look any further out of respect for his friends. As curious as James was concerning his other friends, he did not dare look at Navarro naked nor did he watch Dahlia. Though he did note whilst sleeping that Dahlia had turned awful quiet after cleaning themselves off in the stream, the raptor swearing that she had a blush on her face presumably from awkwardness. He said nothing and slept through the second night of their journey. The third day was surprisingly uneventful and soon by the fourth morning, they had reached the city of Lea Monde, surrounded by a huge forest on most of its sides. The first thing they noticed was the impressively ancient city walls that surrounded the entire place, a not-unusual sight in the world of Ivalice but they noted that these walls were much more ancient than expected, as if far more history had seeped into these darkened rocks. Once they passed through by the magnificently large oaken doors protecting the city front, they soon witnessed the town centre. Even as unaware as he was, James knew this place was like a different world from most other cities. Daylight bathed the streets of grey and brown cobbled stone giving the city a strangely rustic charm, a quaint village sense encouraged by its sepia tones despite being clearly a much larger settlement with an overpowering presence of faith. Old carvings of a different sort of alphabet were strewn upon its walls, completely different from that of Ivalician lettering on almost every sign on every store, directions given in both standard script and ancient as if to preserve the integrity of this town's history.

Amongst the usual bakeries, butchers and whatnot, he saw many workshops with a different smell of iron about them somehow. A river flowed through the town centre itself, glistening with such purity that they even saw people drink from it, wash their clothes or even children just playing in the shallow banks happily so. Humes, nu-mou, bangaa, as well as one or two viera could be seen amongst the population, and almost all of them were dressed in some form of ceremonial clothing reminiscent of Fayne's own apparel. But the true crowning jewel of Lea Monde was the Grand Cathedral, a magnificent imposing structure of gothic design that, whilst looked incredibly dark and overbearing, captured the light just perfectly to look resplendent. A house fit for a god with many spires and towers around the central large-windowed structure facing outwards towards the southeast. It was the biggest church James had ever seen in his life and for a moment, very rarely, he was in awe of reverence to its great majesty, at least more than a hundred feet tall above him. "Woooooooah...that place is huge." "Sszhure isszh," said Baldwin. "The Grand Cathedral isszh the sshzhtrongeszht magic point of the entire sszhity, the sszhpireszh an' towersszh hold many relicsszh of the old priesszhthood. Legend hasszh it that when the dark cult of Mullenkamp wasszh firsszht esszhtabliszhed, the daevasszh of earth, fire, water, wind, and darknessszh gathered here to guard it before their great downfall." "Wait, daeva?" "A dark deity," said Fayne, "one that we reject for their foul ineffable meaning." "So what was this cult then, didn't you once mention that the city started because of them?" "Correct, Lea Monde did become founded by the dark cult of Mullenkamp, but we have eradicated the evil from it...many-centuries ago. Brother, could you narrate the tale for me?" "Gladly," began Baldwin politely, "Mullenkamp wasszh a high priesszhteszh of the Kildean faith that me an' my brother are part of. Four hundred yearsszh ago, sszhe gathered enough followersszh into her worsszhhip of the Dark, an ancient irasszhible power not meant to be, the very essszhencszhe of all negative energy in our world. Itsszh power variesszh from persszhon to persszhon, but it isszh a vile horrible corruptive forcszhe that sszhould not ever be allowed to breathe in thisszh world." "So it's the power of darkness," said FG, "right?" "Yesszh, but it getsszh sszho much worsszhe than that. To give yoursszhelf over to the Dark isszh to damn yoursszhelf, for all who wield it are cursszhed. Their sszhoulszh are tainted and are no longer allowed into the afterlife, forcszhed to become one with the collective of other cursszhed sszhoulszh, an incomplete death." "All who are tainted by the Dark," continued Fayne, "are trapped forever between life and death...and-so are driven to insszhanity-hmmph, envying the living and forever hunting...for-the-flesh of pure untainted people, to inhabit their body and live again." "So...if you gain power of the Dark, you don't die fully but can't live again unless you possess someone else?" "Correct," said Fayne. "And even then, you are incomplete permanently, never to find...peace."

James felt a dark shudder run through him as if something enjoyed hearing this sad tale, but cautiously asked: "There's no way to cure that?" "No," replied Fayne, "you are forever tainted, and the afterlife will be eternal barred to you." "What if you were like really able to control it though?" "Then they are even MORE unworthy. For one who can control the Dark cannot be a kind...soul. To be able to wield that power without...one's-soul being corrupted can only mean that it already became...such, by a most...reprehensible character." "Jeez...is any of this Mullenkamp still around?" "No," said Baldwin, "not asszh far asszh we know, the old priesszhthood mosszhtly eradicated them from the sszhity, and if we ever meet any on our travel, then we are obliged by the light of Kiltia...to desszhtroy them. Esszhpecially one who carriesszh the Blood-Sszhin, the grand mark of inheritansszhe for the true power of the Dark." James, Navarro and Dahlia looked at each other rather uncertainly, but nodded with agreement, having no reason to protest after all they had heard of it. The nu-mou however switched conversation over to a much more pleasant topic noting: "It's hard to believe this city is only four hundred years old, it looks so much more ancient." "Truly," said Fayne, "we are very proud of it and I do have to admit, Mullenkamp did craft an elegant home for the light of Kiltia." "What are those workshops?" asked Navarro. "I have not seen such steel, kupo." "Ahhh, Hagane or...Damascus, VERY fine craft that may well be the lifeblood of Lea Monde, all over the land people have them in high demand." "So this is where it's from...my blade is but mythril but I would fear its strength against such steel blades in combat." "Whysat?" asked FG. "They are the most perfectly-crafted of steel, so sharp that a falling hair upon its blade would split in two, and is very expensive as a result kupo." "Ohhhh...damn, there really is something that sharp?" "Yes, kupo." "Goddamn...oh, sorry." "Hmm?" said Fayne. "I uh...never mind." "Alright, would you like a tour of the town and cathedral before we go to our endeavour?" "Sure, why not I mean we're here and everything we might as well." "I too would like that," said the moogle, "if anything just to familiarise myself with the geography, kupo." "Very well," replied Fayne. "Come, to the Grand Cathedral! My brother and I...must-attend to a matter there either way." Traversing across the town centre they made their way to the cathedral, the bangaas guiding them through the city with practiced gait as if knowing every cobblestone around them, not even hesitating in their step. People who recognised them bid good day and salutations of joy as they bade in return gladly, pointing out various places of good interest such as their favourite bakery, their favourite bookstore, and also the best alleyway to sneak to with a fine lady according to Baldwin's nudging elbow.

The fact they were also in a much more temperate climate in the cooler north away from the hot sands of Nalbina's region also gave James a much more medieval sense of the world. Clerics and guarded knights of the holy order passed on by, the bishop praising them with a small polite greeting as they made their way towards the Grand Cathedral. It was even more immaculate up close than had they seen it from afar, gazing down upon them like God from the heavens. James felt a small shiver in him of distaste not of his own, feeling more safe about treading on holy ground. Inside the cathedral, it was nothing short of magnificent. High echoing hallways, chambers resplendently shaped with stately arches and glass windows imperceptibly sculpted to dapple broken rainbows upon the floor. James had the urge to remove his hat in reverence, if he had worn one that is, seeing the open entrance hall before him in all its grace as they walked upon red soft carpets. Higher members of the order passed to and fro greeting Baldwin and Fayne with clear recognition as they passed through a few corridors. Soon they found one of the main congregatory halls with a strangely Christian design to James, complete with pews and pulpit to speak from which was currently occupied by a mass of people. The symbols were different, showing mainly an X-cross with one arrow pointing upwards, elaborately patterned to almost resemble butterfly wings being folded and halved. They quietly waited to the side at the very back, hearing a grand hymn being played to the heavens. Fayne and Baldwin joined in without a beat, memorising it perfectly within the first three seconds of hearing. James had never heard hymns very often, but this one in particular he already understood to be not of Ivalician language, but rather of an older dialect. The entire scene was surreal, reverential and also making him feel rather humbled as he waited. Dahlia smiled at the holy aura of the place, the light shining down slanting perfectly through the glass stained windows. Navarro kept silent respectfully, observing the head of the mass at the pulpit as the sound of bells chimed gently, an organ lowly trembling throughout the entire sitting. A nu-mou was at the head, singing calmly with an enlightened look upon its face, robed in green and white clothes resembling that of a nun in its design right down to the wimple on its head that slanted green and white diagonally across. Eventually, the congregation had finished singing, and began to leave after their ending prayer, the bangaa brothers also doing the same. "By the light of Kiltia may we bring warmth to this land, to the land of Ivalice until we are awash with bliss. To forever love all that is good, to forever banish all that is evil, forever and ever, Faram." They crossed their chests in perfect unison before leaving, Fayne and Baldwin doing the same as they bowed to the congregate. Once the room had been cleared, looking surprisingly spacious without people, they softly approached the remaining nu-mou who came down from the pulpit. She was the oldest that James had ever seen, easing herself down carefully with a biting of her wrinkled lip, sighing with great age in her bones.

A much greyer-furred creature than anything else he saw in Ivalice, her jowls drooped softly on either side of her soft lips, sucked inwards tenderly as if her teeth had failed her. She stooped much further than most nu-mou, her back hunched beneath her white-and-green robe, but her eyes sparkled bright with engagement as she shuffled forwards amidst the grand hall of the cathedral, as small and helpless-looking as a beetle on a cobbled street. "MOTHER!" In tandem they cried out as both Fayne and Baldwin rushed towards the old lady before hugging her tightly, not too much to frump the dress but enough to give firm comfort, nuzzling against her cheeks with scaled snouts as she chuckled. "Ohohoho...my dear sons, how wonderful to see you." She brought her arms slowly out before pulling them in closely, creasing her eyes up tightly. The raptor looked at his other friends curiously with surprise at her words, weakened throat of age but still kindly and tender. "My you two have grown BIG." "We have only been away half a year!" replied Fayne. "And look how much you've grown, oh...have you fared well?" "Alwaysszh mother," said Baldwin, "we alwaysszh do our prayer every day an' keep fighting the evil, mother." "Good good, my dear sweet boys. Now remember our greeting, on three, one, two, three!" As if on command the two kissed her cheeks perfectly in sync, as she blushed softly. "And how was your pilgrimage?" "Ecstatic," said Fayne dutifully, "never have I been more enlightened in my very life, Mt. Bur-Omisa-...hhhh, was beautiful." "Hohoho...my poor Fayne, do you still worry about your sweet tongue?" "W-well...I do try mother, I really do." "I know, you try much harder than most should." The bishop looked down crestfallen as his fingers shook on his staff. Baldwin however distracted his thoughts by saying: "Well there wasszh that one time, remember the thief you tripped up?!" "Th-that...I did not intend, it merely happened while walking through-" "Fayne sszhtopped a thief in Rabanasszhtre, whacked him crosszh the legsszh an' brought back sszhtuff to the sszhop!" "Really?" said the mother proudly. "What good children I have...and what of you Baldwin? Surely at least you must have done something naughty." "No no," said the monk practiced, "we have remained diligent through our whole journey." "Apart from your...everything," said Fayne smirking. "Bah, you jusszht wisszh you could drink asszh well asszh me." "Believe me, I would never want to encounter the world from your view, down on the floor." The nu-mou chuckled heartily for her age and pat-patted both of them on the head despite both clearly dominating in height over her by a good foot and a half. The bishop however turned and swept his hand towards their new friends with eagerness, taking her hand softly as he rubbed across the old wrinkled fur.

"We DO have a few people we would like you to meet. Our new clan." "Oh," she cried, "goodness you have a clan!? Oho by Faram what a joyful reunion this is, how long have you been formed?" "Three monthsszh," said Baldwin, "but they been around for maybe a month before usszh, thisszh isszh Clan Koridai, that'sszh Jamesszh our leader, Navarro our deputy, an' Dahlia our white mage." "Then may I welcome you to our home," said the mother with smallest curtsey, "I am Mariel, mother Acolyte of this congregation and also these two little rascals you see before you." "It is an honour to meet you," said Dahlia walking first to her. "You have a beautiful church, and your hymn was marvellous." "Thank you dear...what a kind face you have." "O-oh...th-thank you." "Are you blessed with the light of Kiltia too?" "W-well...no more than anyone else, miss Mariel." "Hmhmhm...and what of you two?" James and Navarro walked forwards together as she spoke for both of them, bowing as did James in turn. "We are honoured to walk this hallowed place, kupo. But I fear that the light of Kiltia does not shine on us so brightly as thee." "Oh...well no matter, all of Ivalice will become part of the Kiltias one day, but there is no rush. Our light shall shine for eternity, no matter who may threaten it." She turned with constant smile towards the raptor, who kneeled slightly out of respect to speak upon her asking: "And what of you, sir James was it? You are a most...unusual presence." "I-um, come from far away miss Mariel. It's an honour to meet you." "Hmhmhm...such a strange charming presence, one as if almost completely untouched by Faram himself." "Well I AM from really far away." "I can tell...and why have you come to this land dear James?" The raptor was not sure if she had already guessed him, or simply assumed he was a far-off traveller of the same world but he decided to be honest, replying: "Well...I'm not here for a PARTICULAR reason other than a mission that Baldwin here found for us." "Hmhmhm, did he now? Well, much as I appreciate meeting new friends, I sense something about you. Tell me, you are clan leader correct?" "Yes." "May I ask why you formed this clan?" "I'm...looking to study magic of a sort, a particular kind of magic and I needed someone to guide me. So I made a clan because, well, while I'm here in Ivalice I might as well do my best to help people and search for my own objective. Navarro helps me through the world and then we met Dahlia then Baldwin and Fayne." "And what objective is that, good sir James?" "A very powerful kind of magic...I could explain if you want, but um, you wanna go somewhere more comfortable, maybe sit down or something?" "How kind of you, yes please. Boys, could you?"

The two brothers supported her step, bending down to offer her better walking speed as she hobbled her way towards a side seating area reserved mostly for clergy. A small office mainly for holding hymns and parchment notes, there was a desk with the same language as that of the old archaic James had seen scrawled everywhere across Lea Monde with a secondary Ivalician translation. There also was a large plush green seat against oaken wooden headboard that stretched along two walls by the corner allowing a row of people to be seated at, the bangaas lifting up Mariel slightly to give her comfort. Fayne and Baldwin sat either side of her, with Dahlia at the far end on Mariel's left and James sitting against the wall right of the acolyte, Navarro seated alongside him. "Ooof...thank you dears." "Alwaysszh mother," said Baldwin. "Now...I am curious about you sir James, you say you are looking for magic of a sort?" "Um yeah," replied FG, "but that's not why I'm here exactly, we're here because of a mission." "Oh?" "The guy at the Equesszhtrian," said Baldwin, "he put up a mark to go down to the wine sszhellar an' deal with sszhomething." "My goodness...a beast of the Dark?" "Maybe...I hope not, but it wasszh up here in Lea Monde sszho we thought why not come home while we can?" "Such a considerate boy you are." She petted him on the head as he blushed hotly smiling. Navarro however could not help but ask whilst leaning forwards: "Forgive me for asking but, Is your mother title official, or familial kupo?" "Ohohoho, such a prompt little darling you are, and so serious too. But yes, I am their mother...officially. I have raised these two since they first ended up here as orphans, poor things arrived at our doorstep begging for a place to be. You remember still, don't you Fayne?" "Y-yesszh," murmured Fayne, "I...I remember." "I don't," said Baldwin shamefully. "I can't remember why." "You had been in...an-accident remember, the bump on your head? Not that you do any favour to it." "Pfft it'sszh not like you know how many timesszh I've fallen off a sszhtool-" "Two-hundred-and-forty-sszheven." "...oh-kaaaaay that isszh very creepy." Fayne and Mariel both chuckled at this before the nu-mou continued with: "Naturally I took them in, we have an orphanage quarter in the city for such tragic occurrences but the light of Kiltia accepts all into its gratitude. You are not the first...but I did hope that you shall be the last." "If only we were," said Fayne, "war and conflict can never be kind." "Indeed..." "I'm an orphan too," said FG in empathy, "I know how it is but this place seems a LOT nicer than the place I went to." "Oh, dear." "Not the WORST place but...I mean this place is kind of amazing, what stuff do you do here?"

"Learning about Kildean faith," continued the mother acolyte, "educating our children in a solid understanding of all things ecumenical. All of our children leave here as model citizens well-rounded in all schools of thought, including science, mathematics, geography, history, law and philosophy." "I learnt law and...philosophy," added Fayne, "in lieu of my teaching. A prelate can wield power over either topic." "What do you mean?" asked FG. "In my...capacity I am able to perform many a duty. Scholar. Bishop. Lawyer. Exorcisszht-ugh." "Wait lawyer?!" "If need be, rarely required but being of the cathedral I...am-sanctioned by the court of the world to have the capability to perform that by...ecclesiastical law." Baldwin rolled his eyes looking to one side seeing the raptor smirk with surprise at such a wide range of topics, feeling rather humbled alongside Navarro who listened intently with ears sharply alert. "Wow...I think we skipped philosophy at my orphanage, I don't know a lot of history either." "Or math," said Navarro snarkily, "or science...or geography." "Hey I know about glaciation, and how deserts work, and tidal waves, my boy-...um...my boy...that's uh my nickname for him, my friend Koopin, he's a tour guide so he taught me about how those things work." "Oh!" said Mariel happily. "Is he a scholar of the Kildean faith too?" "Something like that...you could say he was blessed by the stars above." The old nu-mou smiled at this poetic tense as James further explained smiling in return: "But yeah he did graduate and become a full tour guide and everything, does like guides around old ruins open to the public, talks about history, does martial arts." "Oh he'sszh a monk like me?!" replied Baldwin. "I didn't know you knew a monk." "Well he's smarter than you so-" "Heeey!" "Hahahaha, hey no worries, at least you can handle your drink better than him, I mean wow like two drinks and he's down." "Hhhahahahah, what a wussszh!" The raptor smirked as Mariel simply tut-tutted her head at him, raising her eyes to heaven before saying: "Do you still rankle your blood with the drink?" "Only every sszho often, I never causszhe a fight when drunk!" "I should hope not! Revelry is one thing I taught you to enjoy life's merriment but not at the expense of others." "Yesszh mother." "Can I ask," said FG cautiously, "I sorta never knew how...religious you guys were but I...um, what exactly do you DO, in your role of this church?" "Ahh, well we sszhpread the good word of Kiltia an' banisszh the Dark wherever it may be, that isszh it!" "To become an coadjutor of the light," said Fayne, "the grand pantheon led by Faram to bring good to the world." "Okay but," asked FG further, "what...exactly are your teachings?" "Allow me." Mariel slowly pulled out a book clearly involved with holy writing as she flickered through the pages, seeing the two brothers peering over her shoulders as if about to hear a bedtime story.

"The light of Kiltia endeavours to sweep across all of Ivalice. To bring warmth and kindness to those who are lost, to do right by others, to not commit sins upon others that would place those unworthy of sin in a darker night. To stand against evil and the Dark itself, to not stain the land with the blood of the innocent or to deprive them of wealth and food they themselves have earned the right to." "So basically don't be a bad person." "Is that not what our fate should be? To praise the just and kind whilst the cursed and wicked fall far below?" "And people who have the Dark?" "...they are a pitiful existence." The nu-mou stared a thousand yards into her book as she felt the deepening of the heart. "An existence no one should live for." "Esszhpecszhially the Blood-Sszhin," reminded Baldwin. "Ah...yes, the Blood-Sin." "What is that?" asked Navarro. "It is a most dreaded tattoo," explained Mother Mariel, "that marks the highest order of Mullenkamp's cult. Whosoever has it, has the power to wield all of the Dark itself, if they are strong enough to do so. One can even craft grimoires out of them without even the need for magicite, purely from the very essence of which it came. But as one who can wield the Dark itself they are forever cursed never to live freely...and yet also never die truly. Neither boundary can offer true peace to them, so they must fade into eternity...to nothingness." James sucked in through his teeth shaking his head with pity. Perhaps too much pity. "Damn, that's scary." "Indeed," said Mariel, "a most dreadful stain...on one's soul it must be." "A fate they made by their own hand," replied Fayne sternly, "the Dark may be a manipulator murmuring many an oath into their ear, but they have made their bed by their own free will. If they are too weak to...resist, then they can only await death truly without their...soul." "I know, my child. It is a pitiful existence that they pick but you are right that they chose it to themselves...we must keep others safe from being corrupted and those who already have been against their own will...it will become mercy to give them peace." "Agreed." "Now, enough of this gloom, do you have plans at all?" "Just the one mission," said the moogle, "but we are willing to assist with any other missions that are available kupo." "Hmmmm...since you are my children's clan I will see if I can find someone in urgent need. And as for your leader, I shall try to find something concerning this magic he speaks of." "Wait really?" asked James. "Why yes, if you could explain to me a little further about what you seek exactly and whatever your reason may be I would be glad to help." Navarro looked at him with discerning look, wondering what excuse he could make up for this. Fayne and Baldwin looked up curiously also wondering in turn as he knew he had to say the truth, but at the same time felt the judgement of heavens upon him. He shifted nervously in his seat before thinking back through all the excuses he had made in the past. One struck out perfectly.

"I...I'm looking for a friend. He fell into a portal, a magic portal of some kind that opened it was...he...we found some ritual happening and someone was about to be sacrificed." "Wasszh it Mullenkamp'sszh cult?" asked Baldwin. "I don't know, we rushed in and tried to stop them sacrificing someone but my friend...he...he got too close to the portal and just...disappeared. I didn't wanna say before because it sounded strange and I wasn't sure if you'd believe me...but I wanna find a way to make a portal open so I can find my friend again. I just wish I knew where to start." The moogle nodded at this complicit lie as did Baldwin and Dahlia. Fayne was more uncertain but took it for now as Mariel said: "Well I am not too certain about portals my dear James, but...I do believe there may be some texts that can enlighten you on the matter. Why don't you go and perform your task and see me another day, that will give me plenty of time to research on such things." "Really? Aw thank you so much, I'd really appreciate it." "Not at all my good fellow." She bowed humbly with a smile and closed eyes before slowly starting to pull herself up, the two bangaa brothers uplifting her with their aid. "Now I have work to do my dear sons, so why don't you go and do your duty, and I will see you later on?" "Can we have sszhome of your sszhtew?" asked Baldwin politely. "Not today, maybe tomorrow when I am less busy, alright." "A-alright mother." The nu-mou kissed both of them on the cheek as they blushed before they left the church, the old woman waving them goodbye as they headed towards their destination. Somewhere in the raucous side of town, which was weird to see for such an apparently religious place, there lied a large two-story tavern known only as The Equestrian. A large former boarding house in the middle of a fountain square with two alleyways on either side of it, it was a lusciously sturdy-looking mix of stone walls and caulked wooden reinforcements giving it a slightly more modernd design. The sign that swung above them resembled a white unicorn with wings as Baldwin opened the double doors and breathed in the smell of rich alcohol. The interior was gorgeous, and reminded James of the bar back in the Mushroom Kingdom in terms of openness. A central wooden floor big enough to dance on, tables scattered all over with a very full house and still having a few tables left over. Walls of solid stone, a wide sprawling bar with an insane variety of drinks behind one hume bartender with slightly curled brown hair and smirking eyes wearing a brown apron over green clothing.

There also was a set of stairs leading up towards the second floor to the right of the bar, possibly to some rooms for rental should one want to sleep overnight, a rare sight for James to see on his travels. The place was bustling with the constant noise of voices from every corner of the room, laughing and cavorting away with friends and companions. The bangaa monk strided his way up to the bar and cried: "WOOTIE!" "EYYYYY Baldie!" The bartender instantly recognised him and shook hands whilst slapping each other's shoulders, the rest of the clan making their way up to see the conversation. "How ya doin'?!" "Ohhh really good," said the hume, "other than my um, problem, we just renewed our contract so we can go on for a good while longer." "YESSSZH, wonderful, let'sszh sszhelebrate!" "Indeed, you came about my mark right?" "Yep, we sszhure did, got sszhome trouble in the basszhement I hear?" "More like the old cellars, there's priceless stocks of wine in there I recently got the rights to claim, a few new rooms had been found hiding away, old Mullenkamp stock." "Hereticsszh ssszhure love their wine." "Indeed...and who are these folk?" "Thisszh isszh my clan! Fayne you already know, that'sszh Dahlia, Navarro aaaand Jamesszh." The raptor walked up fully to the bar resting his arms on the top offering his hand to shake. Already the potent scent of fine liquors permeated his nostrils approving of the many brands and types that existed behind the bartender. "James Campbell, clan leader, nice bar you got here!" "Name's Wootton, thank you." "I used to work in bars, is this number of people regular?" "Oh yes, we're the most popular bar in the area for our large drinks and friendly atmosphere." "I can tell, that's the biggest collection I've seen in like, three years." "Hehehe...we make our own special mixes, always trying something new to keep people going." "Ohhh you're a cocktail bar?" "...cocktail?" "Ummmm, like yanno, mixed drinks." "Yes, something like that. We have many styles here you can only find in this tavern and nowhere else! We like to share our magic with all who come here." "Wait, magic?" "Why yes, a lot of these drinks have been magically-brewed and fortified for that extra ZING to it. Not all but some." "Well hit me up!" said Baldwin slamming his fist. "Been agesszh I had a tasszhte of that Sszhparkle of yersszh!" "Ahhhh..." Wootton rubbed the back of his head nervously asking: "You ARE here about my mark, right?" "Yesszh!" "Well...I would rather you got that out of the way first if that's alright Baldwin." "What?! Awww but...but Sszhparkle, I neeed iiiit!" "I know I know, but let's talk like businessmen here for a moment, I need those wine cellars free of any trouble if I want to keep running, and I need you to have a clear head for it. Now I can keep myself going on THIS stock for a good few months, but I really need those cellars cleaned out." "We only jusszht arrived like an hour ago, we need a little resszht." "You?" The bartender crossed his arms surreptitiously with suspecting smirk. "Didn't you once bar crawl for two nights without sleeping?" "...well I can't do that EVERY year." "Listen...if you clear out this problem for me today, you only have to pay half your drinks. Is that a deal?" "...hokay, deal then!" "What demon are we dealing with?" asked Fayne. "Definitely something possessed," replied Wootton, "...I don't want to alarm you but...it may be something more terrible, something like-" "The Dark?" "...maybe."

The bishop rubbed his chin uncertainly as Baldwin's look darkened suddenly, turning towards his brother. They both leaned forwards conspiratorially asking: "What creature?" "I tried to go down," explained Wootton, "into the new cellars we located on our usual and...found some sort of ancient armour lying around, possibly from the early Lea Monde days, it was very archaic and laden with old symbols. But when I tried to take one of the barrels up, the thing came alive and almost sliced my head off!" "What armour did it look like?" "Um...I think it was hagane, old hagane...there was red symbols all over it and a sort of...when it came alive it had this pulsing red energy like an evil from the centre of it, but there was no body controlling it. Like it was being possessed." "Red marksszh," said Baldwin nodding. "Nightsszhtalker." "You know what it is?" "Sszhpiritsszh of fallen sszholdiersszh, unable to find their way to the light. That isszh sszheriousszh, alright, we'll clear out the sszhellar firsszht, then we'll come back and run up our tab." "Thank you. I know you're eager to try our drinks again bu-" "No. Duty comesszh firsszht." Baldwin's sudden seriousness unnerved his friends who looked at him oddly. Fayne however was right on board as they were lead to the cellar passageways. At the very back of the bar, there was an old locked door that went to the underground, hidden next to the riverbank by a flight of stone steps. Wootton unlocked it with his key and allowed them the way in, a cold deathly mist peering out from the interior of it. Darkness crept through the sides of the stone corridor within, as the bartender offered them a map and a lantern to help guide their way, with Baldwin going first. At first they felt as if they would be journeying to the centre of the earth from the long stairway heading deeply downwards, the darkness encroaching upon Fayne's staff where the lantern was hung for the sake of reach. But soon after perhaps three floors worth of steps they reached solid bottom, cold filth-ridden dirt and cobblestone underneath. The wind came mournful through unknown passages, hunting or perhaps pleading for a sweet release from what cold ethereal prison they had became part of. Baldwin had the map, holding it underneath Fayne's lantern as they looked upon their surroundings. The first few rooms more resembled an ancient dungeon, wooden structural supports interlaced with iron rebar against solid stone walls that literally kept the entire street above their heads. The worst they would find down here would surely just be rats, and not even big enough for a threat as they walked through to the map's instructions. The monk said not a word as Fayne scoped the next corner, closely walking in tandem footsteps as James, Navarro and Dahlia kept suit behind them. James and Navarro wondered about their change in personality, whilst Dahlia was merely frightened of what would come out at them asking:

"A-a-are you certain there are no other monsters down here?" "No," said Fayne, "we eradicated...most of them." "Why would a bartender ask a clan to deal with this and not...well, the church?!" "They demand more pay," said Navarro, "they are a business after all, and much larger kupo. We however are simply few and five and therefore much more accommodating." "It seems a little...disrespectful when the church could do a lot more against this." "We can do thisszh," said Baldwin sternly, "if anything it will be good for me and my brother to sszharpen our sszhkillszh againsszht the Dark." "You really think it's that?" asked FG. "Not yet," replied the bishop, "but when we find it, we will know what evil it-is. You...can-sense-it too, can't you?" "What do you mean?" "Your ability to...resist-the dark nature of many, not only that phantom at the manor but, Dahlia told me of your battle with a blue mage, correct?" "Ahhh...yeah...what about it?" "It isszh every unussszhual," began Baldwin, "for a mortal to resszhiszht the element of Darknessszh." "Is that related to the Dark?" "No, the Dark isszh itsszh own evil entity, DarkNESSSZH isszh what we call the element. It isszh like the lantern." He gently held Fayne's staff and swung it over towards FG illuminating his face, haggard look made even more obvious underneath the wrought flame encased. "It isszh itsszh own enetity, but the element insszhide it...that isszh what we call Fire element. And like that, the Dark isszh but a lantern to the Darknesszh itsszhelf." "Ahhhh right," said FG, "okay I understand." "Now keep together...we are entering the wine sszhellar now." After traipsing through hallways of dark pitch black areas whilst moving together as a group in single line following the light, they soon moved out of the stone halls and then into the ancient wine cellar. Barrels corked stood all around them perfectly preserved, rich succulent tastes of well-fermented juice with great necessity. There was no smell of it however, which was good indicating they had been sealed tightly, but he did note some of them had been recently used and dusted off closely inspecting one barrel marked Valendian 206, sniffing greedily. "Hmmmm...damn, that smells like...rose merlot, that's some real classy stuff." "I am not familiar with wine," said Fayne. "Baldwin?" "Valendian Red," corrected the monk, "two-oh-sszhix, good year, more pointy of a tasszhte compared to three-oh-sszhix." "Really?" asked FG. "Mmhmm, I'll give you a tasszhte tesszht after we're done with thisszh, but for now, we musszht focusszh." "Got it." Seeing the bangaa's face sternly nodding, they walked on passing through rows of barrels flushed-set into the stone alcoves never moving, perfectly preserved down in ancient fridges. The cool stone and wrapping mist around their ankles was the perfect place to keep things chilled, to the point that FG began shivering but kept his breaths concise. Dahlia moved up to him asking: "W-would you like my robe to keep warm?" "N-n-no, thanks...you n-n-need to keep warm." "Alright...it's strange to see them so...stern and serious." "Y-y-yeah...I think s-so too...g-g-guess they are church people and e-everything." "You sure you are alright without some more clothing?" "I-i got my f-f-fire, no worries."

Eventually James decided to burn up his fingertips a little, not too much but just to smoulder a little to pass some heat back into his body sighing happily as he rubbed his arms up thickly for hot warmth. A few areas were a little tricky to navigate, one of which was a large room that required them to cross over a wide gap between rocky ledges, one of which was higher than the one they now stood. The remains of a bridge having recently been shattered down across the floor beneath them, showed evidence as they noted a six-foot drop and some old stone blocks along with sturdy crates. Fayne simply noted: "We have to make a bridge." "I agree," said Navarro, "James, you and Baldwin move the stone whilst Fayne and Dahlia move the crates, kupo. I will instruct you from up here on the ledge on where to put them." They all hopped down except the moogle who waited on the ledge, the two fighters heftily pushing the stone blocks whilst the healers went over to the crates. Even if they were possibly empty, the sturdiness of them with iron reinforcements added an uncomfortable amount of weight they they eventually had to carry together with hands on each side of it. Baldwin could lift the smooth rock presumably used for sculpture or architectural purposes, but only enough to roll it across the floor. James simply resorted to shoving the rock he had chosen towards the space between ledges calling out: "Am I there yet?" "Almost, kupo." "Nnnngh...now?" "Two seconds more of pushing." "Oh jeez...who the hell needs a bridge down here anyway?" "There, stop!" Finally putting the rock into its proper place, the stone foundation of their new bridge was soon given lift by Fayne and Dahlia hoisting up crates onto the stone blocks, forming a stairway a block higher with each new step. Once it had been set in place, they made their way up by climbing onto the crates one by one before reaching the higher level, another dark passage through grim rock and cellars full of liquid wealth. Fayne kept front sternly watching for any movements in the shadows constantly shifting around his lighting path, raising the lantern higher on his staff. "There." He pointed his way towards one side-area of the cold deep cellar as something seemed to slink off from out of view around the corner. Cautiously heading forwards, they found another open storage room but this one seemed like an old entranceway that had caved in long ago, a large slope of debris at the back of the room crumbling from an ancient broken door. Light had completely faded with the smallest cracks glinting through to the streets above, to imagine life still living and walking above their heads was almost surreal to think.

But what attracted their attention most was the rusted pile of armour laying down at the foot of the debris, a heavy set of old steel that covered the torso, arms, knees and feet with a sword lying next to it. Red markings were apparent on it but they were faded and washed away by centuries of dust, as far as they knew. Baldwin however gripped his brother's arm and shook his head murmuring: "We musszht do thisszh quick." "Agreed," murmured Fayne. "It will come awake when we approach?" "What's your plan?" asked FG. "Fan out by our typical maneuver, Dahlia with one group near me, my brother will move near the other group. The armour cannot be killed in the manner of the living, we need to purify it by magic." "In other words Holy," said Navarro, "we will cover you, the two of you know this enemy kupo. Anything to warn us of?" "The blade can cut deep, deeper than...flesh. Do not let it touch you, guard or avoid, not even to touch your armour." "Poison?" "The Dark can corrupt more than one may think. Are you ready?" "Yes, I will guard your brother." "I'll guard you and Dahlia," said James. "Let's do this." Fayne moved slowly towards the metal carapace as James and Dahlia walked by him, cautious with uncertainty as Baldwin and Navarro moved opposite of them to pincer in. Soon as they came within four feet, the red began to blow on its dark symbolism before lurching its hand forwards made of pure ancient forged steel folded across itself. One hand struck out towards the sky, the other slowly gripped at its blade which was a long four-foot beast of a hooking bladed tip, almost like that of a harpoon. Blood-like scars wreathed across its armour constantly shifting of demonic energy before it struggled to stand on its two feet, a headless set of armour that gripped its sword preparing for combat. Even though it had no living body, pieced together of random bits of armour giving the sense of an invisible being wearing it, it had an eye wrought of pure evil glowing from within its very central core. The aura it emitted set everyone's hair on edge, a feeling James had known plenty in the past and present as Fayne began his first assault, his staff glowing with Kildean light. "Begone, demon! For the light of Kiltia will rend you into the bloodborne Dark of which you came!" The animate armour staggered heavily on one steel leg but its intent was made clear, swinging its sword out with a carving streak across its vision towards the cleric who backed off swiftly. Summoning his own power, he took the lantern off his staff and thrust his stave forwards as a pure light empowered forth from it. Shattering hot white across the dark hall, the Nightstalker suddenly strafed right completely dodging past the holy blast before rushing straight towards Fayne, the raptor clashing hard against its blade to protect him.

Scraping ancient steel against rusted scissors, whatever darkness had possessed this armour was most certainly strong enough to force its gauntlets hard against James unrelentingly steadfast to the ground. One of its hands tried punching hard over the swords, the raptor ducking harshly but in turn forced to lose his ground bearing as the armour shoved past him to strike down upon the bishop. Fayne ran too late, twirling his staff hard across the armour's chestplate which made it barely stagger before the hooking blade lunged forth towards him. He managed to avoid losing his head but not his shoulder getting caught upon the wicked hooktip, screaming as it stabbed through into his flesh caught within his shoulderblade. The flesh began tearing with his cloak as he struggled not to move but at the same time wanted to run free from the deathly grasp of the curved tip seeing Baldwin rush up with Navarro towards him. Working in tandem, the moogle ducking low beneath the sword and striking upwards to unhook it from the priest's body whilst Baldwin slammed his fist ruthlessly into the armoured side of the wraith-like possessed. Blood spilt sweetly upon the bishop's back before staggering forwards hurriedly, wincing as he turned to watch his brother duck beneath the violent horizontal whoosh of the dark-stained sword. The moment it swung, Baldwin dodged low and stepped to the left before punching violently towards the abdomen, a wretched remnant of blood-filtered spine still trapped between armoured constructs. Somehow the beast shuddered silently but with great agony, before backhanding Baldwin across the face as the monk slammed his own fist against steel gauntlet bluntly. His muscle flexed within his arm, somehow not in pain despite being clubbed the back of his hand by a wrought fist before he cracked down with his other fist onto the chestplate like a hammer. The slight stagger the Nightstalker made was enough for Baldwin to back off, looking to see if his brother was alright and noticing that Dahlia was already on the case, nursing his fresh wound with a Cura spell as James kept guard at all times. The monster soon rushed towards them, Baldwin standing into martial pose waiting for it to come close. At first it swung its blade downwards trying to cave open the monk's head, but as soon as Baldwin dodged left the sword came down hard across his snout, scraping his flesh with a brutal slice. Blood poured down his lips as he staggered panting hard wincing silently with bared teeth vicious towards the armoured geist. The scar freshly turned red across the top of his snout making a curled L-shape as he roared: "FAAAAARAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!" With a sudden rush, he pelted the armour with two blows of impenetrable knuckle against cold steel before slamming both fists straight into the monster's "gut" underneath, straightening the spine with a solid crack of bone-shattering force. The remnants of spinal column snapped backwards out of joint, Dahlia cringing at the sight of it as the beast staggered backwards from the blow. It was their chance to strike, James rushing forwards to stop its wretched blade when it tried to swing upwards once more to come down upon their heads. The raptor striked hard from the right, streaking past for his scissors to clash hard and smack down the hooked blade with a nerve-wracking pain were the creature able to feel such from life. Disabling its sword hand allowed Baldwin to grab at its other hand and force it backwards exposing its lower body, with Fayne now healed and ready to summon his truest strength. But the armour enchanted was ineffable in its strength, tearing its hand free from Baldwin's grasp and smacking him hard with a backfist against his already-bloodied snout, it came straight towards James after pulling its sword free.

With a hot vicious scrape across his scissors, the monster spun on its foot heavily with an almost body-staggering swing come full circle for the raptor's head, who dodged downwards before thrusting forwards to the weakened abdomen. It stopped briefly from being pierced in such an area but not completely dealt with, swinging its longsword diagonally twice from top-right and top-left trying to carve FG's face off with a strength so violent that the wind from each swinging miss slapped him across the face. Standing forwards on a slower strike, he brought up his left hand almost instantly protected by a reinforced gauntlet of blocks across his own armour's gauntlet, a brief shimmer of a multicoloured clash to repel the monstrous blade before him. It struck his guard hard enough to push back the force of the hooked swordlength as James stared down into the piercing red core of the possessed suit of incomplete armour, a vile maelstrom trapped within a sphere-like essence as if acting like a heart beneath the steel cage. Waiting for the right moment, he dodged right as soon as the sword came down onto the hard stone, but unlike Baldwin who made a mistake, James ducked even lower as the sword swung to the side trying to catch him instead. Firing up his scissors with pure flames, he stabbed straight into the abdomen and upwards to the chest, weakening the creature even further as it rattled with agony, deep breaths of an ethereal pain flowing from it coldly down FG's scissortips. Then he heard Fayne's proclamation when the enemy was wide open. "BY THE LIGHT OF KILTIA! I! BANISH! THEEEEEE! _" Roaring with pure holy blast from his crosier, the staff glowed an ephemeral light that shot through into the demon armour's glowing red center, an aching violent twitch from its cortex showing he had hit true. With no mouth to scream it spasmed in utter agony before dropping its sword, stumbling forwards with unholy pain in each step it took. Forcing James and Baldwin off of him, it staggered forwards just a few steps before crumbling to one knee heavily. They thought it had been defeated finally. Then something even stranger happened. **_h-help** A voice drifted through the cellar. h-help...me

They did not know from where it came but Baldwin and Fayne almost immediately started searching with earnest eyes through the broken entrance. They wanted to ask them but felt as if to do so was to break an unspoken oath of silence. The monk felt a presence in the crumbling slope of debris that completed the room and started digging his hands in ruthlessly, pushing his claws in and tearing the dirt out in thickened chunks of rock. Soon he saw a face peering out of it, half of a hume staring up at him. Unblinking and grey, skin too long decayed of living blood yet too well preserved to have died normally. Baldwin peered down upon him as blood dripped sweetly from the tip of his snout, bowing not with respect, but with another feeling altogether. you...my sword "Wasszh that your sszhword?" he asked the body. "Did you hold it in your lasszht momentsszh?" i...was cursed...monster...took me...please...f-forgive me, my sword...it knows not what it desires "Really. You do not desszhire more life insszhide you? To have more...fresszh glowing sszhkin to wear apart from your old decrepit body, Dark one?" i...the darkness...what darkness do you mean, the cellar...what of lea monde my good brother "I am NOT your brother, foul demon. But he isszh." Fayne stepped forwards with staff tightly gripped, looking upon his scarred brother's face and sneering upon the corpse breathe deathly before them. His lips barely moved but the voice of the dead was immeasurable in volume, gasping out a plea of innocence. my good brother...of the light, please i beg of you...help me "With what?" replied the bishop. my body...starved of light, taken by darkness...i beseech you, to help me find me a resting place...an inner peace for me to- "I cannot." why? "You are...accursed, and you know that your kin are no longer welcome by the light of Kiltia. Whilst-we gave unto the world a radiant light, your people bargained...with-shadows beneath." i...was not at fault...please, brother i beg of you- "Quiet."

Slowly from his robe, Fayne pulled out a strange dagger unlike anything James had seen. It was a curved blade that captured the light even in a place as dark as this, shining with holy light that made him nervous at the very look of it, a slender knife that tapered like a ray of light before the raptor tried to speak. "Um F-Fayne, I-" "Sszhilencszhe." Baldwin's word of warning kept him quiet as Dahlia nervously stood by him, Navarro simply curious for what end would come as the bishop rose his blade higher. "By the light of Kiltia, by the warmth of Faram and the pantheon, you have fallen to the Dark. By your own hand...you-chose to hide beneath our light and cower...in-darkness. You were denied our love but you alone were the one to deny it...and-so you now pay dearly. You can never feel...true-peace. But I offer you......the antithesis." what...why must you damn me, when all i did was follow your grace in a different means, by the love of Mullenkamp- "Quiet sszhinful demon!" snarled Baldwin. "Your wordsszh are hollow, much like your sszhoul or where it oncszhe sszhlept." "G-guys-" "Shh!" James tried to speak but Navarro halted him, shaking her head sternly as he forced himself to look on with uncertainty. i was weak...but i could taste the darkness like mother's milk...i tried...i did everything i could, i just need one more body, just to feel...please, let me be with you "You could never have wielded the Dark," said Fayne sternly, "evil cannot be tamed by any heart...unless-your heart already had turned to black before taking you completely. Faram forgive thee." please, brother don't, i...i-G-GAAAAAAAARRRRRGH Fayne did not let him finish before he thrust the blade deep into the hume's eye and pierced straight into his brain, screaming wild pains throughout his body as the dagger of light burned through his very centre of being. Whether he had a soul still or not was unknown to the raptor, but the fact he saw the two brothers coldly look down upon the inflicted as Fayne plunged deep with a twist of his dagger fully, made him feel concerned about the two and their religion. Shrieks began rising, agony turned great as light began to grow from the debris and the savaged corpse. The armour began to twitch its last too with final afterthoughts, synced to the hume within the rubble whose eyes bulged faintly with light of holy until creasing up through his skin, flesh tearing away to become dust in the wind. Thickening black ash, his body howled with deep regret as his screams turned unearthly, going beyond that of any simple ghost, more of an abysmal shriek of the damned that made James' soul weep with a hot stinging pain not unlike one's ears bleeding of a much deeper intensity.

But the body had now disappeared, as did the armour itself to dissipate into the cold air and become nothing but smoke and ash, tainted before fading out of existence. The brothers crossed themselves as Fayne sheathed his dagger sharply, turning towards his friends who watched curiously, or even frightened and confused by what just happened. "This-land," began Fayne, "is-now clean. We are free to leave the darkening beneath our fair...city and come back to the light." "Okay," asked FG, "but...what just happened?" "The hume in that rubble," replied Baldwin, "wasszh infected by the Dark. If we let our guard down, he would have taken our bodiesszh an' robbed usszh of our very being. Do not be fooled by thesszhe thingsszh, they are mosszht unworthy and very quick to sszhneak up on you with their mournfulnesszh, and their sszhad tonesszh jusszht sszho you can open your heart and let them in like thievesszh into your housszhe." "He...really? Cuz it looked like he needed help." "Believe me," said Fayne, "we are not unkind and were there a way to heal him of the Dark, we would have. But there never will be. We are done here...agh..." "You alright?" "My back...that thing hooked me like a carp...thank you Dahlia." The mage said nothing as she tread behind him softly giving another good dose of healing as well as putting a salve cold onto his tearing flesh. The blood dripped still down his back, robe stained with a red streak as they made their way back along the passageways of the wine cellar. Fayne kept in front always with lantern now reattached to his staff before reaching the exit. Upon returning back to the bar, Wootton was overjoyed upon seeing their faces pop out of the darkness, a sombre look on both bangaas fading away as he shook their hands gladly, taking back his lantern with a slight wince at Baldwin's new facial scar asking: "Is it done?!" "Aye," said Fayne, "the Dark no longer...resides-in yon sszhellar-...hmmph." "Boys you've done me a great favour, how can I possibly repay you?!" "You can sszhtart," said Baldwin with growing smirk, "by giving usszh sszhomething to DRINK, Wootie!" "Hahahaha , coming right up! What are you having?" "...you know, there isszh almosszht enough of usszh to have the Elementsszh of Harmony altogether, give usszh the main sszhix!" "The what now?" asked FG. "You'll sszhee...jusszht a little sszhomething the Equesszhtrian isszh well known for." The clan looked confused until the bartender rolled out six pint glasses of various colourings that James was most curious about the ingredients of. One purple, one honey-orange, one pale yellow, one white with purple strains, one pure pink and finally one that was blue with a rainbow palette underlining it. Navarro however wanted to ask: "Which one for which, kupo?" "Depends on your taste," replied Wootton, "what you do here is that you all sample the six drinks individually, and find the one that matches you best, your favourite hopefully." "And why not tell us what's in these drinks?" "Well that would ruin the fun of finding out, explore your tastes on your own, go on, drink all of them and stick with your favourite." "Very well." The five began to experiment with the different drinks, each taking a sip of the curious collective trying to wonder what each would take with. The raptor had a try at each and every one turning more curious for the next. The purple drink tasted like curacao, sour raspberry and club soda, a sharp prim drink with a magical tingle to the tongue. The orange however was most definitely apple cider, jager and reminiscent of whisky giving a brawny farm taste.

The pale yellow was a rather weak-tasting creme de cacao, banana-ish tonic water that was incredibly soft and sweet, whilst the whitish-purple was incredibly fancy reminiscent of Irish creme and French vanilla. James did not like this one as it was too acerbic a taste, reminding him of the cream in high-class restaurants. The bluish-rainbow was an extraordinarily bombastic mix of gin, vodka, triple sec, fruit punch and blue curacao that tasted like thunderclouds dipped in rich cola. Lastly, there was the pink one. James could not comprehend what was in it, in fact for the first time in his life even his snout was confused at what was in it. He was almost certain that there was raspberry and melon liqueur, but he swore that he had also tasted absinthe briefly, a touch of madness within chaos. It almost never seemed to settle on one single taste, constantly switching between fruits both sharp and soft randomly that mystified him, as well as put a huge grin on his face. Eventually they all settled on their favourite drinks and began ordering second rounds further inebriating themselves at different paces. Baldwin was in the deep end almost immediately by purely chugging back the bluish drink, whilst Fayne took careful sips of the whitish-cream drink barely staggering on his feet. Navarro enjoyed greatly the purple drink, savouring the sharp tingle in her mouth whilst Dahlia enjoyed the softest drink that barely buzzed her. James ended up completely flat-out drunk on the pink stuff, mumbling to himself as Baldwin joined him. "Ah fink ah found iiiiit!" "Huh?!" "Mah fav'rit! Sssshhoooo random!" "GREAT!" said Baldwin without volume control. "Ahh knewyuwud." "Ah didn' think ah would like thuzz bar bu' thiszh iszh GREAT!" "GREAT!" "Quiet," said Navarro, "there's celebration and then there's disturbing the peace kupo." "Yer barely a pint tall, 'ow cumyer naw drunkyit?" "Because I can control myszhelf...nngh." "Hhhheheheheheehehehahahahahaha, SSZHO MUCH FER THAT!" "Baldwin," warned Fayne. "Forgive him." "I don't care," said the moogle drinking further. James and Baldwin ended up sitting together for the rest of the drinking session, occasionally chugging each other's drinks to try and handle the sudden rush as they turned further inebriated. It was a wonderful sensation James had not felt in a long time, the simple feeling to just forget all of life in one stupor and let someone else drive you home. A dangerous sensation, one he knew in his heart that was irresponsible. But he was done being responsible for a good bit as Baldwin started singing with him, teaching an odd melody. Fayne, Navarro and Dahlia sat beside each other with heads shaking at the two. "Idiots," murmured Rocino. "I think it's lovely like this," said Dahlia beside her, "that we're all getting along so well on our journeys together it's just...wonderful." "Drink does not make good foundation for a relationszhip, kupo." "W-well...you would be surprised how many friendships and...relationships happen after a drink or two." "But do they last long is the question." "Well...that depends on the people...does it not?"

Dahlia leaned a little too far forwards closely to the moogle's face who simply rolled her eyes and gently prodded her back. "True...how iszh your drink?" "It's lovely, so soft and sweet, not too creamy...but I can always prefer something a little more...strong, and...s-sssharp-witted and something...that smells like dusty roads on an open journey far across the sand dunes...hhhhmmmmm...o-oh, snrrrk." "What?" Navarro drank once more before turning with a slight frothy moustache on her lip that the nu-mou tried to point at. Fayne scratched his chin curiously at Dahlia's words but had to smirk at the nu-mou trying to indicate her lips adding: "Y-you've...got a little something there Navarro." "Where?" "R-right there u-um...hhhehehehe g-gosh it's- "A harelip?" murmured Fayne over her shoulder. "PFFFT HEEHEEEHEEHHHA ha ha ha ha, oho, I-i'm so s-sorry I jus-you-khhhhha ha ha ha!" The moogle understood and wiped the froth from her furred lips rolling her eyes and shaking her head at the nu-mou clearly a little too inebriated despite her rather soft drink. "You are too easzhy...mmmph." "Believe me," replied the bishop, "I know your pain right now on being eloquent." "Don't you szhtart, kupo." "I can educate you gladly-" "I will szhettle for a hangover cure." "You haven't drunk enough for a hangover to come yet." "No...not from the drink, but from them." She pointed over to the raptor and the monk raucously singing with each other, shoulders clasped in merriment as they rocked back and forth trying not to shout and somewhat failing at this simple task. "PINNNKIEEE YOU GOTTA SSZHTAND UP TAAAALL, LEARN-TO FACSZHE YOUR FEARSSZH, YOUUUU'LL SSZHEEEE THAT THEY CAN'T HURT YOU JUSSZHT LAUGH TO MAKE THEM DISSZHAPPEEEEEAR! HA, HA, HA!" "Be thankful," said Fayne," he could have picked a more bawdy melody involving a chocobo and two-" "DON'T!" warned Navarro. "That will be plenty, kupo!" "Fair warning." "GIGGLE AT THE GHOSSZHTLY GUFFAW AT THE GROSSSZHLY CRACK UP AT THE CREEPY WHOOP IT UP WITH THE WHEEPY, LAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH! HAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAAAAA! " Both Baldwin and James laughed into the night, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders as their first day ended in Lea Monde successfully after a rather sombre mission. It was one of the best nights James had ever slept thanks to Baldwin's raucous humour, ending upstairs in the boarding rooms of the saloon completely conked out with a smirk on his face and a bladder that would desperately need to go first thing in the morning.