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Bhujerba was, to put it lightly, nothing short of magnificent when viewed from afar. Even after all that he had seen, the sight of a floating continent was still a tremendous awe-inspiring spectacle of Ivalice. A giant land mass brimming with towns and forests, waterfalls pouring endlessly from underneath down to the very sea far below. James saw a flock of dive talons sprout forth from the green-painted tops of the continent, with only mountains of naked earth to break up its constant foliage as far as he could see across it. The continent itself, or rather the floating landmasses all clustered together, was known as Purvama which floated purely by the rich concentrated source of magicite that laid deep within its mines. As a result the islands in the sky became one of the richest most profitable areas of Ivalice, being at the very centre of magicite production. James also could not help but notice the odd discolouration of steel-grey ruins hanging underneath the continent, as well as giant crystalline-blue spires, two of them at the very centre of the entire place larger than mountains. Skyships fluttered back and forth billowing with engines in a variety of odd designations, from showers of crystalline to jet-fuelled sorcery, the sound of roaring engines and looming aircraft unceasing from all around them. The Black Mist was now in tow with the Broken Petal, guided by Kruz's first mate in keeping a course steadily towards the bay of the port city. Even the towns and settlements looked more saintly and pure than anywhere else, an ancient-looking city of pure stone sculpt and wide-running bridges all over the floating continent. It almost resembled an old Indian civilisation, if James had ever known what that looked like with even more strangely a dialect of the people reminiscent of old colonial empires, back 1500 years ago from his world. People from all over the world had flocked here either in refuge or through trade. The first place that he saw was one of the many city docks, a wide platform jutting out from the great landmass big enough to hold a flotilla in, rich in ochre colours of a warm earthen tone welcoming as the Broken Petal landed. The sun that it bathed in gave it a much warmer reception, both figuratively and literally, and by the time they set down onto the city dock James felt purest blissful heat radiating down upon him. Not the baking desert heat of say Rabanastre, but a more wondrous moistened seaside heat that felt perfect for a good time on the sands. He was only a little sad that the sea was currently 20,000 feet below them as Clan Koridai stepped freely from the gangplank, trotting downwards with the rest of the crew. Most of the crew remained on ship but a few who were currently not on duty received permission to make shore leave as they headed off, the kremling captain peering up over the side of the ship. "EY REX!" James looked up staring at his friend's silhouette, the sun in his eyes as he covered his head. "I'LL SEE YOU LATER ALRIGHT?! I GOT TO GET THIS SHIP IN AN' GRAB SOME SWEET GIL OFF THIS THING, WE'LL HAVE DINNER BACK AROUND SIX?!" "SURE MAN, FINE BY ME!" "DON'T START ANY FIGHTS NOW, I GOT PLENTY ENOUGH TO DO BY MYSELF!" "WHAT, COME ON I'M THE NICEST GUY IN THE WORLD!" "ROUND HERE MAYBE, I KNOW WHAT THAT MOUTH OF YERS IS GOOD FER!" "OH THAT'S NICE, I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS!" "WE ARE, UNFORTUNATELY! SEE YOU ROUND SIX?!" "SURE FAGGOT, WHATEVER, GO DO YOUR BALLET STUFF I'LL SEE YA WHEN THE THEATRE'S CLOSED!" "ALRIGHTY THEN, KHHAHAHA! OH HEY BEFORE I FORGET, WHEN YOU COME BACK, SEND YER PAL FAYNE UP TO MY CABIN, I NEED TO ASK HIM SUMTHIN'!" "REALLY!? WHAT EXACTLY?!" "DON' WORRY IT'S JUST OFFICIAL THINGS I NEED TO ASK ABOUT HIS CHURCH STUFF, I'LL SEE YA LATER ALRIGHT?!" "KAY!"

Shrugging curiously, the first thing he saw was Travica Way, a long bridge separating the dock from the city, heading on through towards the main streets seeing the rather ancient-looking buildings up close. They appeared to look like stone palaces of ancient ruin, except not ancient and very clearly well-maintained with solid structure and very little variation between, other than by the signs above entrances. The wind was much more cool and clear above the clouds, almost breathtaking as a slight chill began to creep up on his tail, the raptor bringing out his omni-tool watching in awe of the floating city to capture its sights before asking his group: "So I'm going to ask a stupid question." "When haven't you, kupo?" The moogle rolled her eyes as she brought her chocobos through the streets, pulling Lightning and Asch together whilst Baldwin took Luke, Dahlia with Navarro and lastly James with Cadbury. The strange thing was that this was not an unusual sight, having already seen plenty other herds of people move back and forth with supplies, chocobos included. It felt somewhat strange having birds towed along like horses when they could not fly as high as this. James wondered if it was cruel or not but shrugged it off asking: "Who runs this place exactly?" "The Ondore family, kupo. They have practiced a form of neutrality so that this land shall not become formed with any political party." "Hah, a true pirate nation." "You got that right," said Baldwin, "a plasszhe like thisszh truly isszh where the free can live." "So why doesn't everyone come here then?" "Money," said Dahlia, "the city can only make so much commerce plus it is quite a chore to find a house here. A steady income is much more difficult up in the sky than it is back on land." "Huh...I guess, so what are you guys gonna do? We're stuck for at least a month or so until I have to finish what Kruz wants me to." "What exactly is it he wants?" "Something he wants me to collect, says he trusts me for it." Navarro stopped amidst a street, seeing the bustling crowds of all species back and forth before she consulted her map turning towards the east. The cloistered houses stood finely from wall to wall leaving rather enclosed streets, but that did nothing to dissuade the constant sunshine down upon their heads. "Where did you get that map?" asked FG. "Kruz's cartographer," said the moogle, "he belongs with the cartographer's guild and I paid him for his services, kupo. I hope that this friend of yours is not using you for illicit purposes." "What, noooooo come on Kruz is a cool guy!" "Do you know that truly?" replied Fayne. "I admit that...his play of cruelty had unnerved me greatly." "Hey, Kruz is my friend, he's loyal and he's not some cruel person, would he have gotten you that discount if he was?" "I do not know what your friend can become, but...I-ask that you be careful for whatever the two of you may plan on doing." "And wear protecsszhion," said Baldwin jokingly. "Wha-Baldwin I did not mean that!" "Hhehehehehe, I'm jusszht kiddin', come on I'm dying for a drink, we need to get you ready for the big Triad tournament! You guysszh are all coming to that aren't you?" "Course I am," said FG, "I wanna see you school some guys at children's card games, it'll be great." "I will support you kupo," said Navarro bluntly. "Unless something more important comes up."

Dahlia however said nothing, which made them all turn towards her as an immense sense of pressure came down upon her head turning fearful by the minute. Her hands started to shake, fingers wrought with tension as Fayne stepped in first saying: "You do not ALL have to come, I do not mind, after all I will...hmhm...not be able to hear you throughout the crowd during the tournament." "What don't be stupid," said FG, "we're all going, Dahlia are you-" "No." Her single word cut through in the air quietly like a leaf as her voice turned sullen. "I don't think I'm able to." "What? Why not?" "I...please, just let me...I have other things to do, I'm...sorry Fayne." "Nooooo no no no, come on. Dahlia, you've been really tense all week, I think a good showdown of seeing Fayne kick some ass during card games will help you maybe-" "I SAID NO!" Dahlia's outburst had him stop almost suddenly, the nu-mou frightened and outraged all of a sudden as she stared at the cleric, her hands frought with terrible fear as James tried asking again: "There's no need to be like that, if you don't wanna go-" "No...no no no no no I can't, I cannot, I cannot be there please." "What'sszh the matter?!" asked Baldwin. "I just, I just can't, please, don't make me go, I don't want to have to go, let me be someplace-" "It'sszh the BIG tournament, you not gonna cheer usszh on?! What'sszh wrong with you, you have to come!" "NO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" "Baldwin." Fayne stepped to one side walking over to the fellow mage but she pushed his hand away fidgeting. "G-GO AWAY!" "D-dahlia wait-" "I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF YOUR STUPID GAME!" "I am not going to, let me- "NOOO!" Pushing him hard with a sudden shove she let Fayne fall to the ground but he landed on his good foot, avoiding worse injury before seeing Baldwin rush up towards her indignant. "WHAT'SSZH YOUR PROBLEM!?" "I-I JUST...please, d-don't-" "IF YOU WEREN'T MY FRIEND I'D KNOCK YOU FLAT, BUT YOU BEEN AT MY THROAT THE PASSZHT WEEK AND I'M GETTING SSZHICK OF IT! DON'T YOU EVER PUSSZH MY BROTHER AROUND YOU UNGRATEFUL-...I RISSZHKED MY LIFE TO SSZHAVE YOU AND HIM!" "SHUT UP! STOP IT I KNOW YOU DID, THAT'S NOT IT I'M SORRY! I-i'm s-sorry..." The nu-mou suddenly broke into tears in the middle of the street, her chocobo Rinoa trying to soothe her with a gentle nuzzling of her beak against her cheek. She cradled her neck softly, the cleric picked up by his brother who stood looking very awkward amidst the scene as Navarro rolled her eyes seeing people move back and forth curious and judging them. "Dahlia." She looked up from her hands towards hearing the moogle's voice. "Is there something wrong, kupo?" The mage nodded sniffling back best as she could. "Are you able to tell us about it?" The shake of her head said no. "Are you able to tell ME about it?" Nodding, she said yes. "Alright. Will you come help me take these chocobos towards the stable area in this city? I need to give them some good exercise and food...you can tell me about it then, kupo." "...I'm sorry." She turned away from Baldwin with shame hunched over her shoulders, heading off with Navarro as she took their steeds, Navarro with three and Dahlia with two. Cadbury was a little indignant but a nod from James beckoned him to leave with her before Navarro added: "We will meet you back on the ship, if you are anywhere else then leave a message for me in my room kupo." "Will you be alright with the artifact?" asked FG. "The book is safe, I have it with me in my items. Farewell." As the two girls parted along the streets, the three males were left wondering what exactly had transpired. Fayne however looked uncomfortably certain of something that had been pressing on his mind before James asked him: "Do you know something?" "Hmm?" "You seem to know something about...Dahlia's outburst." "Remember how I told you, that Dahlia...did not want to play with me?" "Yeah?" "That...is why." "Seriously? Why, what would she, what's her problem?!" "I do not know, and I know for a fact it be unrelated to any trauma from the kidnapping." "How do you know that?!" asked Baldwin. "Because, even before then from the day we met, Dahlia never offered, never wanted, then began to outright reject me from ever playing with her on Triple Triad." "That...really? Wait, sszho thisszh...isszh about cardsszh and not...me, isszh it? Did I do sszhomething wrong?" "I know not the...exact-reason, but I am worried about her." "You know what? I am too. Sszhe usszhed to be sszho much more calm and polite before the kidnapping, did sszhomething happen down in that chamber?" "Not before I came," said FG, "but I wouldn't know what she went through exactly, probably made it worse. Did you say something before all this?" "No, never! We jusszht had our argument, you know, the one you and me had but sszhe-" "Called your argument illogical," replied Fayne.

The monk scratched his head confused but at the same time worrying before he leaned up against a wall pressing a hand to his face. He tried to run through what he had said but nothing came out specifically to him. James had one or two ideas but said nothing of it thinking it best not to start trouble with theories until the monk replied: "Iiiii think we sszhould just keep doing our thing and let Navarro handle it." "Agreed," said FG, "I don't wanna start all that shit again." "Yyyyyyeaaaaah..." The cleric looked up with a despondent look before gazing sideline at Baldwin, the raptor noticing this and deciding just to lead them through the streets towards the nearest bar and forget all of their stressful worries. Being that they were essentially stranded here, they realised they had to acquaint themselves quickly with the local geography and start making fuller plans on what to do before reaching Lea Monde. Baldwin and Fayne remained evasive, not entirely certain on what their fate was to be as the monk kept himself quiet concerning his opinion. James appreciated this, but knew from his body language that he was also not comfortable in staying around James even after all they had said. It was inevitable, and even if a part of him despised Baldwin for his views he knew he could not change him, or force him to be anything. An urgent matter came that needed Fayne back on the ship once the Black Mist and all its crew had been well-accounted for with Bhujerba's authorities. A hefty sum of gil trickling to the hundred-thousands was shared amongst the crew, as well as James and his clan for their assistance. Navarro however found herself busying with Dahlia whilst finding a safe place for the chocobos to graze, courtesy of the sky stables that gave free roaming pasture to any steed fresh off the ship. The streets were not quite as busy as Balfonheim had been due to them being somewhat wider with sandtone cobbles that warmed up nicely beneath the hot sun, the constant breeze always keeping their heads soothed with a cool calm sensation. The stables themselves were very pleasant, a perfectly well-kept ranch spanning a good 12 acres for chocobos to relax in. Their steeds certainly enjoyed it, romping through the field with freedom and glory from being detained inside an airship's hold as they began to flitter about. Cadbury was first strutting his wings looking the leader with puffed chest, his spiked collar glinting in the light as he tried to boss the other chocobos around a little. Lightning however rapped him on the head hissing fiercely to remind him his place as he resisted the urge to bite back. Rinoa was running in a circle freely with joy, almost dancing rapturously with little flutters from her wings pure as snow. Luke and Asch seemed rather out of sorts, but for the most part remained close by each other as Asch took the lead nuzzling his brother tenderly. Navarro and Dahlia lead them to a secluded area allowing them to sit down and relax underneath the shade of a tree. The city could be seen well off to the south, the tall sculpted buildings smooth-domed of sheer rock adding a strangely ancient feel as if a lost city had been uncovered, but all the more it felt like it was a world apart from the rest of Ivalice which made Dahlia forget everything for one moment as they walked along the stable fences. "Thank you," she murmured softly, "for letting me-" "It's fine, kupo. I just wanted to avoid another pointless argument." "You'll...keep it a secret, won't you?" "I do not consider this to be a problem that our friends would judge you any differently." "Just, please...I just want to forget, I don't want people to know about it because then they'll bring it up, and I want to forget about-" "I understand, kupo. Your secret is safe." "...thank you." She hugged her tightly by a soft squeeze, the moogle looking at her oddly with side-eyed glance as she made no attempt to return the embrace back. Dahlia let go gently and felt embarrassed all of a sudden even moreso, coughing to break the silence as they leaned against the fence, hearing the chocobos squawk in the distance. "W-well um, I will just stay here and um, tend to the chocobos, would that be alright?" "Of course," said Navarro, "I would appreciate your help with them." "That's good." "Despite today, you are a very kind person to them, they sense that in you. You keep them calm around you, not like with the rest of our group." "Hmhmhm, must be all the testosterone hmmm?" "Possibly, chocobos are very sensitive to such things kupo." "...you must be a kind person too."

The nu-mou said this with hands clasped together as the moogle looked back towards her. "If you were not kind...the chocobos wouldn't like you, would they?" "You can also be firm and dominant," said Rocino, "but the point is you are not cruel, kupo. A chocobo discerns whether you are friend or enemy by the first glance and it is very difficult to change that opinion. You must start by gaining always their trust, before any respect and love." "That sounds like what you should do with people." "It is, kupo. Unfortunately some are too stupid to understand that." "Well...for what it's worth, I've always thought of you as a good friend." "...thank you, Dahlia." She smiled happily as the moogle nodded to her, the two heading back to town after making sure that their mounts were relaxing for the short stay they had up in Bhujerba. Dahlia began wandering off towards the universities curious for what books they had at their libraries and waved goodbye to Navarro when she refused politely to join her. Instead the moogle decided to look around the market area for possible armour upgrades as well as restocking her items. The markets felt reminiscent of Rabanastre except for higher quality, stalls wall to wall littered with trophies, inventories, armour, compact tools and weaponry none of which intrigued Navarro greatly. She did however restock on some antidotes and potions just to make sure she was topped up before noticing a familiar-looking person in the middle of the market streets. A green-clothed moogle of glossy-white, somewhat scuffed with dirt around the edges but there was no mistaking him to her eyes. "...Berniere?" "Hmm?! AAAAAAH kupo!" He smiled as he turned round at the sound of her voice, embracing her with a hug that she returned by simply a handshake. "Goodness...what a small world this is hmm?! How are you?!" "I am fine...you do not come to Bhujerba often." "Ohhh well you know, wherever your missions take you to, what are you doing here, kupo?" "I required a safe passage, kupo. We are making a stop here before we move on." "I see...where are your friends?" "They are somewhere around, busying themselves with their usual problems. What about your people?" "Margaret is...rather exhausted, you know how mages can be." "Quite." "Enoch I believe went up to the universities to take in some lectures." "Hm, my friend Dahlia has done the same." "Hmhmhmhm, nu-mous always have such a deep thirst for knowledge, kupo." Navarro nodded knowingly with arms crossed as she scoped around the place before Berniere asked: "Are you...doing anything right now, Navarro?" "I am not, kupo. Why?" "Well, it's just that I was off to go buy myself a drink and I would very much appreciate the close company of a friend, rather than drink by myself. Would you do me the honour?" "Hmm...very well, I could do with some fellow company myself." "Splendid! Let us find a bar, I will pay for our drinks."

Two moogles walk into a bar. One wore green underneath his steel armour looking somewhat rough around the eyes with harsh blinking as if trying not to fall asleep. The other wore a less finer sort of leather brown with a constant scowl on her face but not for any particular reason. The barman, a fine-moustached hume with a wide grin on his face, had been waiting for this moment for the past five years asking: "So, who's the designated flyer?" "What?" asked Navarro. "Whose turn was it to fly this time?" "...is this a joke, kupo?" "What, come on you must know this one! Two moogles walk into a bar and...whose turn was it to fly this time?" "I will not be made part of some drunkard's foible an-" "It was her turn kupo," said Berniere smiling. "Really?!" asked the bartender. "So why are you tired?" "Cuz I was the one sleeping, she had to carry me!" "HAAAAAAAH! YEEEES!" It was perhaps the most excited response to a successful joke ever made on Ivalice, but it pleased him greatly as he clapped his hands together. "Ohhhh...I've been waitin' fer years for that to happen, sorry I...you know you don't get that chance very often, thank you." "No problem kupo. Can we get two shots of Bhujerban Brandy please?" "For you two, I'll put it half-off fer helpin' me with that joke." "Thank you!" Navarro scowled all the more with her face like an upside-down U before their drinks had been brought. The bar was at least half the size of the Equestrian, a smaller back-alley way that had a most praising review hanged up on the front window giving it a three-star rating. Tables evenly placed with three on each side and the bar at the very middle of the room like a small rotunda of wood and drink holders, the moogles brought wandering eyes of simpering mawkishness at the cutest little knights, before they were brought their drinks at the bar itself. Berniere was thankful more than anyone to slake his thirst. "Mmmmmph...kupo. Been a year since I tasted Bhujerban Brandy." "Must have been nine months for me," said Rocino sipping hers lightly. "How is your family?" "They are well, kupo. Surprisingly my steeds have not been gravely injured despite my...companions." "Hmhmhmhahaha, having clan problems?" "Daily." "Want to complain about it?" "I am beyond caring for this-" "Who, what the-...huh?!" Berniere suddenly turned on his seat looking back behind him towards the door as if he saw someone. But nobody had entered as his eyes looked back and forth shiftily. Navarro cocked her head at him somewhat offended by the interruption before he asked: "Did you...hear someone call my name, kupo?" "No." "But...I thought I...saw...n-never mind, sorry for interrupting." "I was not going to say anything...you seem tired, kupo." "Mmmmnnngh, was it that obvious?" He rubbed his face furiously over the eyelids as if trying to wake them up violently, dishevelled fur on his cheeks as he blinked sparingly before Rocino asked: "Have you not slept?" "No no I have, kupo. I just...hhhhoooo...the last mission I did took a real beating out of me, Margaret's gotten worse she's off recovering from a good draining she got." "That's not like you." "Well you know, some days a mission really knocks you around was uh...quite a scene, I've been holed up in this city for at least five days trying to make sense of things." "Do you wish to talk about it, kupo?" "Naaaaah I'll be fine, I just need to drink myself to sleep and while I do...tell me about your clan's problems." "I really do not-" "Ohhhhhh come ooooon." Berniere leaned towards her knowingly with waggling eyebrows. "You want to complain about everything, I KNOW you do. Go ahead I'm here, I've heard you complain many times kupo." "I thought you wanted to relax." "This is my relaxing, hearing you! You're my closest friend." "Very well." She clonked down her glass with her arms crossed as she began this tirade. "James, our leader, lusts for the male body, kupo." "Wha...really?! gods, I never knew, I only met him a few months back!" "Baldwin, the monk, takes great offence to this and no longer trusts him thinking he is now 'diseased', despite the fact that James has clearly never shown any interest of that sort in him and never will." "Ahhhh that old chestnut, conflicting interests." "Fayne the brother is too cowardly to choose a side between trust in his leader and loyalty to his brother, kupo." "And you?" She turned towards him with a raised eyebrow and the most apathetic expression she could muster. Which interestingly was the face she always had as Berniere nodded smiling. "Of course, kupo." "And then there is Dahlia, my white mage who has become most irascible in recent days which I initially thought was because she had issues with Baldwin, who had an interest in her romantically but that's no longer going to happen thank gods." "Why thankful?" "Relationships of that sort cause great problems within a clan's dynamic, kupo." "And why is this Dahlia so...irascible, kupo?" "I cannot say." "Understood."

Navarro sighed and took another drink, rubbing her forehead promptly with frustration as her small fingers pressed into her temple, her pompom forwards slightly dangling. "All I wanted was a clan that was willing to be guided by my hand to just follow orders, kupo. Is that so much to ask? To do your job in this day and age when we could simply have a good SERVICE to our people?!" "Apparently yes! But surely they are not intolerable." "No...for the most part they do work well together in battle, James being a master spellsword despite his implacable weapon, Baldwin is incorrigible against any weapon-nullifying art with his bare fists, and lastly we have Fayne and Dahlia who share a most brilliant synchrony for their healing, most especially against the undead." "Interesting...quite a well-mixed team you have there." "Just as I planned it, kupo." "But you never planned on people being well...people, kupo. You always did find it hard to engage with conversation." "I don't care." "And that is your problem," said Berniere with pointing finger. "You HAVE to care, to be a leader, even a deputy, you have to open your heart at some point towards at least one person." "I have you." "I am not in your clan." "Then you're just being pedantic, kupo." She turned back to the bar counter and took another swig of her brandy, sighing from the throat simply feeling the strong drink slip thick into her stomach, wishing it would all just wash away temporarily, thoughts and everything. The moogle beside her drank and simply leaned back on his seat, groaning with arms stretched shivering from the alcohol strongly. "I know you cannot be cold," said Berniere, "but I know also that you are afraid." "What?" "You can be such a cliche, kupo. The lone strong wolf, stern knight of logic yet a still heart beats within that cold look you give. You are not heartless, I know that Navarro...but perhaps your friends...may learn to trust you better if they know you are not heartless too." "They know I am not." "Are you sure of that? You speak of your clan like business partners, not friends kupo. You compliment them on tactics but give glaring commentary on their flaws." "And, kupo?" "What do you LIKE about them? Tell me, what do you admire the most out of each and every one of them? Being a clan is not just being a business venture, it is about forming an alliance. A strong alliance that will perceive through time itself, businesses rise and fall everyday Navarro but friendships endure! People do not talk of businesses in record books, they speak of the band of brothers, the united people who fight to protect...or destroy." Navarro turned back to him with steel gaze and bitterness floating to the very top like her brandy. And yet still there was a touch of warmth creeping along the edge of her lips replying: "I hate when you get quixotic." "Hmhmhmhm...but you know I do, and yet you still drink with me, kupo. I am your friend, and yet you still tolerate my flaws just as you tolerate your clan's flaws. You like me because, I remember this, you said that I was the only person to ever outwit you in the battlefield without a single hesitation in what I would do, the kind of person who would run into a burning house and not care for the consequence but had the full necessary skill to live through it. That, is why you of all people, were the only one who never held anger or jealousy against me when I outranked everybody in your class." "I do remember that, kupo. Very well, I will take up your offer. You said the one thing I admire most about each of them." "Mmhmm." "Well."

She put down her drink and leaned back with hands crossed over her chest. "Fayne is quite simple, he is the most calm and level-headed of our group besides me, very shrewd and neutral in arguments for better or worse. Even at the checkpoint in Archadia he had the best disposition of us confronting such idiots." "Hmhmhmhmhm, alright...who else kupo?" "Baldwin on the other hand is very opposite. But his battle posture is ineffable and despite all exhuberance that he wields, he is a most competent level-headed opponent who rarely allows anyone to trip him. Dahlia...I admire her intelligence greatly, kupo." "Really?" "She is definitely the most learned out of all of us, taught me many things that I was not aware of such as the electricity concept in debate right now on Archadian forums. Her studying attempts on this artifact we recovered is to say the least quite progressive-" "Artifact, kupo?" "...yes, we recovered an artifact and we are putting it safely into storage." "I do hope that you are putting it in Lea Monde then, I myself had to deal with an artifact an-" "Mother Mariel herself told us to retrieve this artifact, kupo." His ears lighted up pointing towards the heavens curiously as he looked at her oddly. "She did?" "Forgive me, I think I should not say anything further-" "No no don't worry I-...found it strange she did not tell me when I was available, when was this request she made?" "Perhaps two months ago?" "Ahh...hmm." "James was the one who accepted the offer, you should consult with him if anything kupo." "No no don't worry a mission's a mission, I can't expect everyone to come ask me for something. Speaking of which...what about James, the strange one he is?" Navarro took time on pondering this, twiddling her thumbs softly before an answer came to her. "He has a spirit...almost like that of what I saw in you back when we were younger." "Really, kupo?" "It's...odd, he has a sense of devil-may-care about him that, at the same time is rather learned from experience, kupo. I can tell he has been through many things in the past few years and long story short, I admire his spirit...even if he is rather ignorant of many things. He frustrates me, and yet I can respect his diligence on the battlefield." "Soooo like me." "No." The female turned towards him with a soft thin smirk. "You're smarter than him kupo." "HAHAHAH, ohhhhh I am so thankful to hear that, see there is still a heart lying within you!" "And that is supposed to make me feel better?" "Well...hopefully, kupo?" "Hm. Buy me another brandy and we'll call it even." "Yes ma'am! Barkeep, the lady demands a refill!" "MISTER BERNIERE!" "Who, what the-...huh?!"

Turning in his seat once more he saw a child standing in the middle of the tavern looking up fearfully at the two moogles, a little girl around the age of twelve, a viera unusually which was always a rare sight to see being such an inclusive species. The girl was rather pale, tears down her cheeks with strong arms shaking and her red bow tying her ears together, the green pantaloons ragged like her bleached yellow shirt pale like an apple core as she cried out: "Y-YOU GOTTA HELP ME, SHE...SH-SHE NEED HELP!" "...I remember you," said Navarro. "HUH!?" "You...you can't be but...are you the girl that was from Lea Monde, the ragtag threesome that fancied themselves as knights?" "H-HOW YOU KNOW I'M FROM LEA MONDE?!" "James, kupo. James Campbell, your instructor is my clan leader." "Whu-...y-you...mister James is here?!" "Yes, why are you even here?! A child like you is very far away from home." "What's wrong?" asked Berniere firmly. "Why are you distraught, kupo?" "Mu-...Mrs....Mrs. Imrie, sh-she's sick!" "Who?!" "Th-the lady that takes care of me an' my friends, sh-she never got back from Bhujerba so we snuck on a ship a-a-an' went to go find her an' she fell asleep an' wontwakeupanahdunnowhuttodo!" Blum began sobbing into her hands deeply overwhelmed with panic as Navarro sighed desperately takin another chug of brandy to brace herself as Berniere stood up from his seat, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. The customers looked either very intrigued or very annoyed by a minor in the bar as Berniere took her outside apologetically, soothing her tears in the sunlight. "Calm down little one...now, let's start from the beginning, tell me everything that happened." "Muh-Mrs...Imrie, she wuz gonna come back, a-after mister James trained us up but she...d-didn' come back, we heard she wuz in Bhujerba s-so we...we went on a ship, stowed away c-cuz we knew we could handle it, w-we were like real warriors, clanpeople a-a-an' then she...she wuz sick! She couldn't get back cuz she fell ill an' now she won' wake up c-cuz she...they don' got the mediciiiiiiiiine!" Crying once more Blum cradled against the moogle tightly, bawling into his shoulder the middle of the street as Lavant simply sighed to try and put on a firm expression. "Now now, that's not what a warrior does, kupo." "H-huh?!" "A true warrior does not cry tears when there is still something that must be done, don't you agree?" "B-BUT...they...they don' got medicine, th-they-" "Take me to where she is. I will ask about it." "O-okay...but...w-would you get mister James?" "Of course kupo. Navarro?" She said nothing as she stepped out behind them from the tavern within earshot, leaning against the doorframe. "Let your clan leader know what's happened, I will-" "Send a message to the Broken Petal, kupo. That's dock five where my clan should be if you need us." "Alright, thank you. Now um...little one-" "B-Blum." "Blum, yes, take me to your friends and I will see what we can do. Come now." He raised her head towards him shining tears down her furred cheeks as he smiled upon her. "No crying until it's truly over, kupo. You are a warrior, not a maiden, are you not?" "A-ah...I...I-i think-" "Do you think or do you KNOW you are a warrior? You've come this far." "I...I-i-i am." "That's good, now no more tears. Show me where my task is."

A few days later after their arrival, there came a short time of mourning for their fallen comrades who did not live to see the end. Seven of them whose bodies had been wrapped and given ceremony over by Fayne who offered to give passing to their souls. Due to their transporting the Black Mist along with its unconscious crew however, they had no time to bury the seven deceased at sea with full honours before they reached Bhujerba, the kremling captain keeping a brave smile for all his crew until they were able to proceed. Once they were able to contact the proper authorities and prepare the rites, they gave the ritual to bury their lost crewmates within the island landmass free eternally within the embrace of the sky continent. Standing within a small island glade where the sun always shone upon its cluster of trees, the wind brushed softly across everybody's lips as they saw nothing but endless blue clear as anything, soft scuttling clouds passing gracefully to brush against the jagged rock edges of the floating island. The ship itself was in dock behind them slowly hovering within the air, silent but solemn. The captain witnessed seven graves of humble sculpture commemorating along with the name of their ship, so people knew who they had served with. It was a tragic but sweet affair, with James in attendance as well as his group being respectful. Fayne composed with practiced clarity a few appropriate rites on Kruz's wishes, before they could be buried as the congregation broke, tears fallen from friends amongst the crew who knelt down and kissed upon their fingers, before pressing them onto the stone. Kruz turned away towards Fayne, speaking a small distance from everybody. "Thank you again for doing this." "Merely my duty captain," replied Fayne humbly, "I am but an adjutor for the will of Faram, to bring light and comfort...to-those who have earned it." "My chaplain is not as high-ranking as you so again I appreciate it." "I admit, I have never performed a funeral other than with my own two feet upon the earth." "You're a good man Father Fayne...I need to ask something. Is...James alright?" "What do you mean?" asked the cleric. "I've noticed he looks really tired of late," added Kruz, "I mean last time I saw him was seven years ago but, has he always looked like this?" "For...as-long that I've known him, indeed he never looked particularly healthy, but I merely...assumed that it be a trait of...his people." "Believe me...it's not." "I see..." Fayne appeared hesitant before asking his next question as he tried to construct it best as he could, but before he could Kruz turned towards James off in the distance speaking with Dahlia, her heavy sigh showing still little improvement of her mood. But at the very least she had calmed down as James had his hands on her shoulders pleading to put her trust in him. But Fayne was more focused on the kremling's gaze noting how it softened. "...you care for him deeply, don't you?" "Khheh...what makes you say that?" "The look you gave him...that-is-the-same look I have given Baldwin, and he in turn to me. I know that look well, a fraternal bond." "But we're not brothers." "No...you're not." Fayne looked crestfallen for but a moment as he sighed before standing up briskly with staff in hand clenched. "Love can come in many different...guises." "...so you noticed huh?" "Hmm? Kruz smiled sweetly before the cleric gasped in realisation. "N-n-no, I did not mean...ohhhh Faram no I merely meant the two of you are old dear friendsszh-" "Relax Father Fayne, there's no reason to be upset. It's not like you're wrong." "Wh-what? ...oh...o-o-ohhh."

He turned away with embarrassed awkwardness, shuffling his feet as if wanting to step neatly away from him before remembering himself, his false foot shifting heavy upon the grass. "I'm not going to start anything," said Kruz, "not with you or your brother and yes James has told me about him." "Forgive me but...my brother-" "With all due respect Father Fayne, I do not care what your brother thinks. It doesn't matter to me whether he knows I'm a sodomite or not, or that James and I have been intimate once upon a time seven years ago." The cleric blanched in his expression as if he had walked into a marital argument, clearing his throat awkwardly at hearing this before he wringed his hands upon the staff nervously. He did however appreciate Kruz's respectful tone and use of title when addressing that of his status replying: "I...I have no right to talk on sszhuch thingsszh, I-i am merely here to perform my duty, I will not judge." "Really? And what is your duty exactly? I'm curious." "My...duty-is to bring the light of Kiltia, to bring love to all from itsszh...dear-embrace upon all people." "Would you be against someone who wants to bring love to others, even those the same sex?" "Forgive me but, I would rather not talk on that." "You seem very nervous though," asked Kruz. "I take it Baldwin's opinion is his own and not your church but what about you?" Fayne began to resist the urge to gulp whilst feeling a drop of sweat pour from his brow before clearing his throat. "MMHMMPH-officially, the Kildean faith will remain neutral on the matter, I can tell you right now we have no sszhuch doctrine prohibiting unionsszh between either gender." "I see...khhheh, well I'm glad to see the church isn't at fault here." "I...forgive me, captain but I do not want to create a divide like when...Baldwin did and I have the right to remain neutral on the matter. You are a good friend of my leader and I will...respect that." "Alright...I appreciate that, fair enough. Is there any other part of your duty Father, besides that of the light of Kiltia?" "To forever fight againsszht the Dark...to-destroy-those who would dare taint or corrupt thosszhe of noble heart." Kruz cocked his eye curiously at hearing this, closely leaning in slightly as he noticed Fayne's expression change with sour embitterment. "The dark?" "A potent twisszhted energy," murmured Fayne, "a vile...monstrous aura from the very core of all evil...the Blood-Sin. Two hundred year ago, a dreaded cult built my hometown before corrupting it, tainting it...with their foul impure sszhickening Dark. My duty may be to bring light unto all from Faram....but my-purpose...is-to exterminate all that be the Dark, no matter where it may be." "You talking about demons?" "Worse than that. Demons have sszhape, flessszh by which one can bleed from, not that of the Dark. Nothing sszho...ineffable and foul asszh anyone can desszherve to live through, or sszhuffer from." "Is that something all people from the church of Kiltia do?" "No, only that of Lea Monde...my mother Mariel taught me of our duty, me and Baldwin, of eradicating all who are tainted by the impure Dark. Wherever we may find it....we must...exterminate it." The cleric tightly gripped his staff almost as if he aimed to snap it in half, before relaxing as he remembered his place. "Thankfully we have not found many impure apart from one maybe a few monthsszh back...but over the entirety of my life my brother and I...there are many we have purified." "Am I of the Dark?" "Oh good godsszh no! Your...how may I put it?" "Affliction I think was the word," said Kruz smiling. "Right...the Dark isszh not anything like that, we are talking about a true corrupting aura of the very sszhoul, not jusszht...your affliction of sszhome sszhort...f-forgive me." "Khhhahahahaha, no worries, at least you're polite about it and not actively...against it, if I'm right?" "I am merely neutral on the matter," said Fayne obediently. "Right, sorry, go on about this Dark thing." "The Dark...is-a pure unholy viral form of evil that runsszh through the very sszhoul, corrupting it to rob that sszhoul of ever reaching the afterlife, of heaven eternal." "Right...I was just curious, thank you for answering." "My-pleasure...If you need me, I will be in my room. Good day, captain." "And you, Father." Before they left however, Fayne turned back towards the captain with staff in hand and asked him: "Before we part, um...did any of the crew you captured wield...such-potency to be able to...cast-Darkra at all?" "What do you mean?" asked Kruz. "Did any of the Black Misszht crew know how to wield Darkra?" "Iiiiii...why do you ask that?" "I wanted to know how...dangerous they could be." "Worried about the Dark?" "......correct." "Well, far as I know, none of the crew of the Black Mist know how to wield Darkra. I mean for starters they're bandits, low-level mages amongst them, none of them are that powerful or learned enough to know that kind of thing." "Truly?" "I'm very certain of that, it would not be within their skill to know such things, so you're safe." "I-see...thank you, captain, and good day."

With that settled the two made their way back towards the rest of the group with James and Dahlia now in earshot as they slowly made their way back towards the ship with the rest of the crew. Fayne however tapped FG on the shoulder after catching up with him through a brisk trot over the grass, asking: "May I...speak with you for a moment?" "Uhh...sure." "Privately." "Um...o-kay, Dahlia do you mind if I-" "Oh no," she said politely, "not at all please, you can tell me later back on the ship." "Alright cool, later." The bishop gently took James over by the tree away from the rest of the crew, the raptor looking rather suspiciously down at him before Fayne inquired: "Are you alright...James?" "Hmm?" "I could not help but...notice you were under the effect of a...most dreadful enchantment back in the battle." "Oh, yeah um, someone hit me with a...Darkra spell I'll be alright." "......ahhh...indeed, your ability to...resist that element, I remember. It appeared to be very potent, I might even call it more powerful than that of Darkra, you appeared to be very afflicted." "I'm fine Fayne, don't worry about it." "Very well...you do look tired though." "Well we had a rough fight and all, plus this thing I'm worrying about with those Cupid Mark kids does not help." "True true. I implore you not to...exceed your limit." "Heh, you worried I'll burn out?" "Correct." "Then don't, really I'm alright...thanks for caring though." "Fare thee well." Fayne smiled politely as he walked alongside him back to the ship with the rest of his people. Dinner was served on board the Broken Petal as everyone enjoyed themselves best they could. A few close friends of the deceased made some grievances, to drown their sorrows in beer and gravy but the people let them, the captain sitting amongst his men easily along with James and Clan Koridai. Hefty servings of roasted animal flank that James could not quite discern what it was along with a fine mixture of fruits and vegetables for the sake of balancing the crew's diet. Fayne in particular managed to make plenty friends around the table, but mainly because they had been grateful to him for his ceremonial rites more than anything else. Baldwin surprisingly became very chummy with Tennyson, sharing one story to another that made the bangaa outright laugh with raucous attention. Fayne however was still suspicious of James' true origins and pondered greatly concerning him as he made his way back to his room after dinner, but Baldwin had uncorked a good liter of ale taken from the dinner table to share with him and make him forget his troubled woe. As they gladly sat up with each other to share old stories of embarrassing natures only they would know, it would soon be night time fully upon the brigantine with the two brothers falling to sleep peacefully in drunkenness, much to the gratitude of any who came near their room for all the raucous banter.

From the other side of the thick walls, James was sitting up facing Dahlia across the room as the nu-mou started to undress herself before him, readying for bed as she repeated her worries to him. "I just can't believe it, those poor children risked their very lives coming up to this city all to find their caretaker." "I know," said FG, "...I'm pretty proud of them actually." "Wh-what?!" "Well they did everything they could, they're not just sitting around praying they actually got out and did something that's awesome!" "B-but what if something happened to them?!" "Nothing did happen to them because WE trained them, right Dahlia?" "I-i...I suppose so." She could not decide on whether to be proud or shameful of them, but instead settled on just simple constant worry as she pulled off her robe over her head revealing her dumpy-looking body. Beneath a woollen undershirt and pantaloons of a brighter shade of grey than her fur was, she could not help but notice the raptor's bare chest asking: "Shouldn't you get something warm for yourself too?" "What you mean?" "I just noticed I have never seen you wear an undershirt, aren't you cold at night?" "Not really, I never really liked wearing shirts, sorta like the feel of the breeze against my chest." "Well you should be careful, don't want you catching a cold now do we?" "If I do, you can just wave Esuna on me right?" "That's not the point, you should be responsible about yourself I mean...I...I don't want to be so negative but you do seem very tired always." "Ugh, this again?" "I'm sorry but I want to make sure you're alright!" "It's fine Dahlia I just...I dunno why I look like this every morning, I sleep well, I eat okay, I'm well-exercised I'm pretty strong for my age!" "Well yes, but...let me see." "Do I have to?" "I'm the white mage of this clan so I demand it." Taking up her authority on the matter she did not let this lie as James simply sat up waiting to be examined. Her hands glided over his face peering cautiously into each eye, testing his reactions with a knock-knock fist to the knee which swung aptly in response before pressing her hands to his stomach, whatever exposed parts that left showing from his armour. "Nothing painful inside you?" "Nope." "No tiredness, no exhaustion, no-" "Not since the last time you asked." "Any unusual excretions?" "D-Dahlia jeez!" "I am simply asking as a medical professional!" "I-i know but...jesus girl you-...no, I am excreting everything perfectly fine." "Alright then...s-sorry." She put her hands off him and went back to her bed slowly slipping down underneath the sheets, the raptor getting up with a metallic rustle as he stretched his arms readying himself for sleep. But before he could say goodnight and leave, Dahlia asked: "Um, before you leave I um...forgot to ask concerning our original topic, aren't you going to...help them with their mission?" "Hm?" "The children, aren't you planning on helping them?" "I wanted to...but...see, I have this thing that Kruz really wants me to do but it's in the same week as their mission and I promised him. I know it's kind of awkward and I don't really like saying no to some kids who need help, but then Berniere stepped in saying that he would help instead, wanting to do something good whilst he was stuck here." "Oh, thank goodness, that's good of him. I'm sure they'll be fine with him, he's a very competent warrior, Navarro told me greatly about him." "Yeah they went to school together right? I fought off against him maybe six months back, damn he's really good so I feel better knowing they're safe with him." "You said that this...mission to help the children was in the same week as your friend Kruz's request? Why can you not do both?" "Kruz insisted, he said he couldn't risk me being out-and-out recovering from doing something stupid least according to him. I didn't like saying no to the girls but they at least understood I made a promise so..." "I see..." He walked over towards the nu-mou and put a hand on her in a friendly manner as Dahlia looked up at him kindly, her hands plaintively put together on top of her sheets. "You feeling better by the way?" he asked softly. "Oh, I'm fine thank you...I'm...sorry about-" "It's fine, we all have our days...god that pork was so good at dinner." "Goodness I know! I wonder if I could get the recipe for it." "If you do I'll never leave you alone if you keep making me that stuff." "Hhhahaha, on second thoughts maybe I won't ask!" "Awwww really, that's cold Dahlia, why you gotta hurt me like that." "S-sorry, hhheehee!" "Night Dahlia." "Goodnight James! Sleep well!"

James made his way to bed with the captain of the Broken Petal, striding off across the deck in the midst of night watching the humble stars shine brightly from above once more. It was a humbling experience always to know that he had seen so many different skies, wondering how many of those stars could be seen by the same people he had met before. Stopping briefly in midwalk, he pondered briefly. Would these stars even be seen by Koopin, Diana, or even visited by the crew of the Centurion Eagle? Did Scratch and Grounder lay awake at night wondering what they even were? Were these the same stars that James and Kruz had slept beneath all those years ago? He would have thought further on the matter before a moment of weakness had overcome him as he fell to his knees, groaning with a sudden pain he had not wished to have felt. Bent over doubled with agony, a dark pulsating rose through him once again as he staggered himself towards the nearest private spot, amidst curious crewmembers who chuckled assuming he had some bad roast. Stumbling back down deck, he found a restroom and locked the door before sitting fast onto the toilet, a slatted well-cleaned board with a hole in the middle with a sink to one side fitted with a magicite stone to channel clean water through. Wincing agony coursed through him, gasping as he clenched his fists tight until the veins popped from his neck. The urge to vomit pulsed strongly within him, but he knew that it was deeper, something more infernal as he gritted his teeth. He tried to remember what he did the last time, focusing on that memory so precious to him. One that could somehow repel the demon by its very warmth even if it was not for this particular demon. "N-no...G-GHHHRRRRAAAAGH! HHHHhhh...h-hhhhh...w-what...do you want this time? Y-you...f-f-fucking bitch I ffffucking hate you...I've...got enough to d-deal with...I'm...I'm not afraid of y-you...I will NOT...be your puppet...no more. No. More. No more giving in, no submitting, I know that I can beat you...I won't...I...w-won't...I don't care what you do but leave me ALONE!" Forcing his will back inside himself, a process he could not explain as his muscled tightened up inwardly, the raptor shook stultifyingly throughout his entire body before the demon decided he had enough, falling back into the depths of darkness within FG. A long sigh of relief came through him as he let himself sit on the toilet for a few minutes, gulping back tears of effort before he sniffed back and stood up exiting. "Hey!" Baldwin stopped him upon seeing him exit the restroom suspiciously. The raptor froze with panic thinking that he had been caught out. "Wassszh yer handsszh!" "Wha-...but-" "AH-AH-AH! I don' care what you think, cleanlinessszh isszh nexszht to godlinessszh in my book sszho come on!" "...but...alright." "Thaaank you." The raptor went back inside and cleaned himself with the sink, the magicite-formed water interesting to see along with a bar of soap alongside that he scrubbed thoroughly with. Upon leaving the restroom once more Baldwin nodded with a snigger on his lips. "Bad pork?" "Y-yeah." "You sszhouldn't eat sszho fasszht bosszh, you sszhure wolfed down that pork real good." "Yeaaaah I gotta hold back a little, haha...alright, night Baldwin." "Night!" Finally making his way towards the captain's cabin across the deck, he almost walked into a discussion between Kruz and first mate Tennyson hunched over the desk towards him. The lantern had been lit giving a rosy colour to the walls panelled, the strange feeling of stepping in from a steel airship into the past of a wooden cabin still something he could not shake off. Kruz was in more casual dress stripping down to just his pants, revealing his brown body glowing beautifully next to the lantern, giving shadow towards his eyes especially. "The third of Capricorn," said the hume, "that is what Rzepka said." "Really?" said Kruz. "That's almost two weeks away, I thought it was going to be a month later." "The skies have been rather kind to us it seems. Your mission is going to be resolved within a perfect headwind." "Excellent, we'll be leaving earlier than I expected, but I won't be idle. If any small confrontations come up, you notify me. I know we can't stay in port this long without draining our resources." "The money is not a problem captain, the Black Mist has seen to that." "Are you sure?" "Positive, Quartermaster Tufa said that our gil projection will allow us to cover their earnings for the next three months without mission." "Wow...even after our...payoff for the info?"

The hume smiled softly with a shake of his head, chuckling as he stood up with arms swinging lightly. "For a captain so beloved you always did have a terrible sense of profit." "That's why I have you, Tennyson. Once my own mission's complete, we'll set sail for Lea Monde, drop off James' people and see what's around." "Forgive me for interjecting captain, but...might I request something prudent?" "You may." "I believe it would be good for our more solemn crew members to make a short pilgrimage to the cathedral. Whilst we are there." "Ahh yes...that's a good idea, might help bring some closure, Father Fayne's part of the church so we should ask him about it. Ahh James!" Turning towards the door, the first mate saw the raptor waving from beside the doorjamb as he walked in politely. "Hope I'm not disturbing anything." "No no it's fine!" said Kruz. "In fact it's the perfect time to introduce, James this is First Mate Oswald Tennyson." The two shook hands gladly for their first proper introduction, the raptor staring up at the much taller hume around 6'3'', his armour a finely-balanced ramshackle sort of the Archadian standard. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Campbell." "Heh, just James'll do Mr. Tennyson, I'm not a high rank." "The captain has told me greatly of your exploits concerning you and him." "Awww jeez...Kruz really?" "I only told him the adventures," said Kruz, "no idea what you're thinking." "Oh...heh, course. Soooo I take it you're Archadian right?" "Formerly yes," replied Tennyson, "but I have somewhat extradited myself from the kingdom." "Extra...dited?" "Correct. I am no longer welcome in Archadia." "Wow...can I ask why?" "He' a felon in the eyes of their law," said Kruz, "and a freedom fighter in ours," "C-captain, please-" "Relax Tennyson, James has been a victim of such he understands, no one's going to find you." The first mate nodded with some concern but James nodded back to give his word firmly. The square-jawed hume of perfect short hair made him think he had once been a good mentor to younger students, his voice still with great authority stern yet patient as Kruz explained shortly in Ivalician.

"Tennyson was a whistleblower on the corruption within the army, concerning racially-charged attacks. He exposed the corruption partly and they tried to charge him with a breach of contract calling him a security threat, for revealing confidential work within their structure." "Woah," said James, "so, you got exiled...because you weren't racist?" "Not entirely," said Tennyson, "I knew that those both above and below me were much less concerned about cases dealing with certain races, and would either outright ignore or punish unfairly. I went to debate on this with my superior but he simply dismissed me as not understanding 'the lizard folk and their erroneous ways', if you pardon my words captain." "Not at all," said Kruz, "go on." "There then came the incident concerning a young bangaa, two of them. They had been accused of thievery and four officers murdered them claiming it to be self-defence. After the investigation came on my desk through proper channels, I found nothing of the sort. The time of the thievery did not line up with the time they had been murdered five streets away, that and the accusation the bangaas had poisoned weapons I also found to be false when there was not a single smear of it on the crime scene. That was when I had enough, I exposed the entire case threatening their infrastructure which in turn caused an uprising in the streets." "Holy shit really?!" asked FG. "No wonder you were laughing it up with Baldwin, did you tell him?" "No, I was simply giving him humorous anecdotes humiliating my former superiors. He greatly appreciated my mockery of Archadian systems after he told me about the checkpoint." "I bet he did...how long ago was this?" "Perhaps four years hence...I was to be punished despite the public knowing my name and intention to expose the racial agenda but the courts tied it down with red tape and firmly assuaged that I was to be sentenced to thirty years imprisonment, for breaching the contract of confidential security that I signed on being made a knight. My captain here had heard about me and...well, to put in his words at the time, he had 'never done a prison break before and wanted to see how exciting it could be'." "And boy was it," said Kruz cackling, "I didn't have a big crew at the time, mostly ex-slaves but the moment I saw Tennyson I knew that he was good. That's why I made him first mate, especially when he showed off authority during the battle against the Archadian army, briefly but his advice on their weaknesses was vital to helping us escape." The raptor simply smirked with pride for his friend, amazed in wonderment of such a daring escapade wishing silently he had been there to see it. Before he could ask further, the first mate had other business and so made his leave with a firm nod. "I look forward to our next meet, Mr. Campbell. Captain." "As you were," said Kruz.

Tennyson strided out the room as James stood opposite of the desk facing Kruz directly. The warm lanternlight gave it an oddly cozy scene as the kremling's brown features turned gold, his brown eyes equally radiant as they looked up towards FG. "Were you needing anything?" "Yeah what's this third of Capricon stuff?" "Ahhh, that's our mission." "Wait, our?" "Yeah you an' me, remember? I told you we had a mission to do an' it's high time I explained it. Siddown." James did so with one leg resting over the side of the seat's armrest, leaning back slightly as Kruz explained. "There's this artifact-" "Oh god no." "What?" "I just been having trouble with artifacts man, they're nothing but trouble." "You...only got the one, is there other ones I don't know about?" "Probably? I just not had great experience with them." "Well look, it's not a crystal like you told me, this is another item entirely that I received a mission to obtain." "Ah huh?" "It's called the Song of Souls, a very special trinket created from the brief but unfortunate union of two espers, scions of Light and Darkness." "Espers?" "Oh come on James, you must have heard about 'em!" "Um..." The kremling facepalmed himself with a smirk before explaining briefly: "They're very powerful ancients, the Occuria who are kinda like the gods of this world created them, but there's at least thirteen of them or so I hear that were banished for either rebelling or fer bein' too powerful. Two of them uncovered sumthin' unholy between their efforts, an' so created the Song of Souls. A person of the church informed me of it and requested I obtain it for them, said it would be a great boon to assist them in their holy right." "What exactly does it do?" "It has the power to repel evil by takin' on the form of its weakness...that's all I know." Kruz crossed his arms simply shrugging. "I'm gettin' paid a high amount fer it either way, but it's not easy. You have to find it up here in the Purvama continent, I checked out the place briefly. It requires two people specifically, some kind of ruin with one of those dumb friendship tests yanno, 'you have chosen wisely' kinda bullshit." "Ohhhh...and you want us to do this?" "Mmhmm." "And if we fuck up?" asked FG. "Then we die..........nahahah I'm just kiddin' I dunno, probably just not get in." "Oh...okay, sure that...sounds fun but, why me?" "Because I trust you, plus yer my closest friend an' the closer we have a friendship together the more likely we'll succeed, that's how it works." "Yeah but...you know people here longer than me, like that Tennyson an-" "But they're not soul mates. You an' me...I feel like we are." "Really?" "Yeah...I mean...after all we been through it's like...you ever feel as if you meet someone an' then you just click like THAT?" Said with the snap of his fingers. "Like almost instantly, I mean you got normal friends who you probably been with fer about a year or two, an' then you got like someone out there you just really connect to in that moment, almost like yer from the same family or sumthin'...you ever felt that?" "Not...really, I mean, not like the way you're saying it I guess." "Khhheh...sorry, guess that's just me then." "But that doesn't mean you're not the best friend I have here. I mean...frankly I feel like you're the only one that even respects me what with all that's going down in my clan." "Really?" replied Kruz. "Cuz Fayne respected you a lot when we were talkin' about stuff, he really clammed up about this shit goin' on between you an' his brother." "Iiiii think we're getting past that, we're kinda able to joke about it now and I know that Baldwin's still a little uncomfortable...hopefully he'll just get used to it." "You can choose yer friends but you can't choose yer family right?" "Heheh, right...sooooo lemme guess, are you actually my brother separated from birth orrrr is that not a plot we're doing right here?" Kruz pondered this quizzically for but a moment before smirking foolishly, entertaining the notion briefly as he shook his head. "I'm a couple years older than you, an' we're not even the same species how would that work?" "I dunno!" replied FG shrugging massively. "Dumb shit happens yanno...actually what's your earliest memory? There's a question for ya, I remember you saying you got washed up on the shore or something right?" "Oh jeez...uhhh...pretty much what you said, washed up on the shores of Crocodile Isle, got found by the theatre group who were out practicing an' found me all wrapped up in a small wreck, raised me from the start...I musta been like...two? Never even seen a female until I wound up in Ivalice." "Wow, really?" "Yeah...I got no memory, said I musta floated from the Southern Kremisphere or sumthin', I got no idea where I came from. What about you?" "I was two as well...wait...no, I was orphaned at two, but my earliest memory...was when I was four, the clearest one I have is when I got a christmas present at the orphanage." "Christmas...present?" "Yeah."

James looked up realising Kruz's question as a moment of saddened realisation hit him, before answering half-heartedly: "It's...a holiday back where I came from, people share stuff with each other and give things the other wants to show much they care about them." "Awww...that's nice." "Yeah...I got a little steel motorbike toy, I loved that thing, it was this big kinda fits in my hand and I just played with it all the damn day...but I remember other things." "Like what?" "There's a song. A song I know...I think someone sang it to me I remember a guy's voice...he sung it to me when I was little." "How'd the song go?" "It......come aloooooooong...will there be sunshine shining, will we find a silver lining, come aloooooooong. Sing a sooooooooong, when today becomes tomorrow, will we find joy or sorrow, sing a sooooooooong." Kruz looked on FG with rapture, wondering at the odd song as he curiously cocked his head feeling his musical sense repeat the melody and its gentle rhythm inside his head. Something flickered very faintly as he repeated it to himself, simply smiling at his friend enjoying the melody. James blushed with the feeling of self-consciousness taking over, turning away quickly as Kruz chuckled. "You embarrassed?" "Y-yeah I...know I'm not a good singer." "You don't sound terrible, besides if yer passionate about a song it don't matter if yer good or not." "Says you, you're talented." "I took YEARS to learn how to sing good, and even when I wuz good at dancin' I still had to learn, talent's not sumthin' you can just be born with, you gotta fix it, sculpt it, feel it out until you make your own style, you don't just go singin' right out the gate with a voice of awe, you gotta work on it." "Okay okay fine but I'm not gonna do either of those." "I dunno...you were pretty good at cancan." "The only dance I'm good at is the waltz." "Really?!" shouted Kruz. "Huh, I never knew, maybe you'll dance with me sometime." "Hehehe, sure. I mean I do owe you." "Exactly, so be a good boy-" "Hey-ey-ey I'm not your boy." "No, yer my bitch." "Like hell I am!" "Barely six months of experience on Gangplank Galleon, that makes you a boy. Especially when you were the last boy that K. Rool fucked before our mutiny." The raptor smiled at realising this, widely grinning with a toothy chuckle as Kruz simpered with raised eyebrows. "I was, wasn't I? He fucked me good and I fucked him over when we had that battle inside the island." "Uhhhh, wasn't it the Kongs that threw him into the island's energy source?" "Yeah but...I fucked him up still, got a good stabbin' right in there, crazy bastard could have bled to death if I-...actually he must have been bleeding surely the sharks got him." "Probably...I still remember his laugh." "I should have killed him." "You didn't so who cares." "I care, I'm sure your friends cared about your former captain being some twisted psychopathic fuck who-" "ALRIGHT enough!" Kruz snarled for a split instant before remembering himself, smoothing over his frustrated look by a sheer cocky grin like always as he grabbed FG's shoulder and rustled him. "Seriously, nobody gives a shit cabin boy, you got a long way to go before yer worth any in my crew." "I'm not WITH your crew." "Exactly! Now why don't you relax an' enjoy Bhujerba fer the month we're out here?" "What about the tournament, I'm not gonna miss that am I?" "Naaaah we got time, I'll plan our own day out which is a week before the tournament, okay?" "Alright then...hey, while we got time, you wanna do like a small interview with me?" "Huh?" James brought out his omni-tool smirking gladly at him, the light of amber radiating from his left arm. "This thing can record stuff and...I wanted to make like a sorta video for Koopin, stuff to show people with. I already interviewed the rest of my clan as well and, I wanted to have you in it too." "Khheh...an interview, with me? Wow, make me sound like a celebrity." "Who says you're not, mister hero of the Karmesan Rift? Seriously, what is all that about?" "I'll tell ya later, why don't you introduce me first." "Alrighty. And uh, you can be totally honest about yourself, where you're from, what you do, it's alright." "Sure, sure show me off to yer...boyfriend I guess."

James rolled his eyes before pressing a few buttons memorised as he started his recording showing a perfect view of Kruz with grand window behind him, his desk of his usual effects with hook hand glinting in the warm lanternlight. "So, why don't you tell us your name and occupation?" "Ahoy there, my name's Kruz an-...naaaah cut, can we redo that?" "What?" "That sounded corny, that 'ahoy there', I don' wanna do that." "I'm...not going to stop recording Kruz." "Wha-aw come ooooon you gotta make me look good!" "When do you not look good?" The kremling shook his head with a wide smirk. "...khheh, you...khhheheheheh, alright wise ass let's do this ah-heh-hem...hello there, my name is Kruz, an' I'm the captain of the Broken Petal. I wuz formerly part of King K. Rool's Kremling Krew, until a portal...made by James here, went kinda psycho an' got trapped remainin' on my island home. Now he dunno how it happened but I do, the energy of the island went all supernova an' tried to suck all the energy out the portal so I dove right in...otherwise I wuz gonna sink with the rest of the island right down to the sea." "And so you end up in Ivalice," asked FG. "Yep. Still dunno why it happened, but hey, now you know you can bring yer friends to other worlds all you need to do is just cause a huge-ass magical reaction!" "Suuuuure...Koopin I'm not gonna do that don't worry." "Awww why not?! I'd love to meet your boyfriend, he seemed cute." "No I know what you're like, you're not coming!" "Khhahaha, what's wrong? Afraid I'll steal his heart too?" Kruz winked at the omni-tool grinning toothily before the raptor added: "What do you mean steal HIS heart too?" "Oh right, like you weren't fallin' fer me at one point?" "W-we were bunkmates!" "Yanno he's blushin' behind that camera so it must mean I hit sumthin', khhahahaha." "W-whatever, what you been up to since then?" "Well..." The captain leaned forwards slightly as he put both his "hands" together. "I spent a long time tryin' to make sense of this other world, had to learn the language from scratch, took some night classes an' well I manage to speak it well enough. The writin' I'm better at frankly but hey, always wuz kind of artistic." "Is that what they call it?" said FG mockingly. "Watch it," said Kruz pointedly, "I kicked yer ass with that artistic talent of mine." "Yeaaaaaaah no one's gonna believe you, besides it's not caught on tape." "Oh...well in that case how about I DO show you what I know, hmm?" "You wanna show off to the camera a little?" "Is that an offer?" The raptor smirked shaking his head softly before deciding: "Alright, yeah go on, show the people at home what you can do!" "Alrighty then! Stand back." With bare chest he stood as he walked over towards the open part of the room next to the bed, stretching his legs to do a warm-up first before he stepped himself into a pose. The raising of his left leg came first, as his arms slowly lifted upwards before he spun his leg outwards in a ronde de jambe, his arms lowered to stand out from his body. Five spins he made before he slowed down and brought his leg back in, forming a soft twirling bend as he arched his body forwards with arms crossed together above his head. It almost resembled that of a flower blooming before wilting back into its stalk. Swinging his right arm in a circle, he reared his head and upper body back as he pressed his right foot forwards, straightening himself out for but a moment as a warm smile crossed over his features. His arms swept outwards openly, spinning once towards the side as he bent down low offering a hand to dance a fair maiden to. The hand was received gratefully before he made an imaginary waltzing motion, legs apart except only to press the heels against each other as he spun circling round his invisible dearest. Only once did he spin away from it, a hand out towards them with left arm out behind him. He spun close in a motion James recognised as doing himself during waltzes, one that allowed him to twirl straight back into a dear beloved's arms. Kruz pressed the right hand to the cheek of his imagined partner in front of him, guiding them towards his chest before finally ducking with his knees into a humble crouch, hands pressed to his chest. The stalk had swayed briefly in the wind dancing benevolently before returning to earth like the humble seed, only to sprout once more as Kruz looked up hopeful at first. Standing once more fully with a grin, he suddenly found himself assaulted by an invisible being, buffeted from both sides.

The brief look of clumsiness was well-played, his feet spinning with him as fear crept upon his features sinking to the floor, cowering before something great and terrifying. Then he put his arm up, the left one dragged violently forwards as if about to strike the elbow upon something. A tug of war as he rocked back and forth briefly, before stumbling forwards into a breaking run spinning into the air by a not-so-perfect twirl of his legs together, landing with his hands covering his face before falling to the side in a slump. He looked up, fearful of the world around him until he noticed his left hook as if seeing it for the first time. Clasping it with the right hand, there came a look of sorrow, then bitterness swept over him, curling his lip before he turned fast towards the door and strode off into a brief run. He stopped after three steps, clenching his right hand looking all around him as if there would be no escape, before turning back towards James. He rushed two steps forwards back to him before he spun purely on the left foot, the loss of traction sliding him forwards raising both arms and right leg high before sweeping down low, bending on the one knee with arms back out on either side of him. He went down on both knees and clawed the wooden floor curiously with the hook, scraping tenderly before he looked at it closely, bringing his right hand to it as if trying to hold it. He clasped it to his chest before a springing leap, hands high above his head in a circular arc before he stood on both feet perfectly the same time his hands rested arms out on either side of him. The kremling raised them slightly, slowly pressing his feet forwards as he balanced his body upon the very toes of his feet. James cringed inwardly as he curled up his own seeing Kruz perch perfectly with toes vertical to the floor for but a few seconds of bliss, his eyes closed with an oddly serene look upon him. Then he stopped, resting back on his heels swinging his arms back down panting slightly. "Hhhhhh...so...that good?" "That...was...pretty cool yeah." The kremling cocked his head whilst tapping his foot, as if insulted by this. "I-i mean it was great yeah, awesome I mean it...wow...you really had something going on there huh?" "Khhheheh...yeah I...hard not to be emotional for that stuff." "It looked kinda painful right at the end." "Takes a lot of practice...that wuz the first dance I ever did perfectly, my own routine to...please my mentor. It's...kinda special to me." "What sort of dance is it?" "It's called the Sticklebrush Symphony. It's the story about the petal from a flower who lives perfectly in the garden, dancing with his beloved until one day he's caught up in the winds, twirling away until it lands in the sticklebrush, thorns and jagged edges all around him tearing, twisting...deforms him. He has a new home but instead of mourning simply all his life, he embraces a new identity and becomes the only leaf to ever grace the thicket, thorns never knowing what sort of life he had but knowin' he is not one of them. But he can dance through them in the winds and learn to live amongst them." "...wow...I...I can kinda see that yeah." "I hope so, normally it's a lot longer cuz it's an entire story but that was the more uh...cut-down version." For a brief moment there was a look of sadness on Kruz's face, eyes cast downwards before he sighed swiftly to rejuvenate himself, with wide grin sauntering up towards FG looking cock-of-the-walk. "Let's not mention the fact I kicked yer ass dancin' like this." "Yeah riiiiight you toooootally did, no one's gonna believe you." "OHOHO I see how this is!" He swiftly began to armlock James playfully with his head underneath the right armpit, the omni-tool's view shaking wth every struggle its user made. "G-GET! OFF!" "Ah-ah-ah, you didn't say the magic word!" "KRUZ COME ON!" "Ah-ah-ah!" "Y-YOU-PFFT-c-come on quit fucking around!" "Not until you confess who won, come on! Who won when I wuz showin' you my ballet du sang?!" "OKAY FINE YOU DID, BUT I WASN'T PREPARED!" "Thaaaank you." Releasing him from his strong grip, Kruz headed off to bed to be done with the day as he slowly began to undress fully, looking back towards FG as he added: "You gonna make this a strip show too?" "Wha-naaaah," said FG, "I won't." "Why not?" "I think I'd wanna get paid for it." "If you were strippin' they'd have to pay more fer that sexy body." "K-KRUZ! Dammit, um...I'm editing that out." "Suuure you will, khheheh..." Turning off the omni-tool as he remembered himself, James simply chuckled with small blush as he undressed in turn before slipping into the sheets of his kremling kompanion's bed. Their next mission he was rather curious about, but he also found himself worrying about what the Cupid Mark Crusaders would get up to. He trusted Berniere as a stern warrior and hoped that whatever happened with them, their plan in the next two weeks would go along smoothly.