Nekaru's Tales

If I ever do bring Nekaru over from Bismarck to Lakshmi here's some stories of her past. I'm leaving out all the early tales of her learning about White Mage (and at the time Thf/Whm was used quite freqently for treasure coffer hunting, now Thf/Nin works just as well for it, although no one coffer hunts anymore.)

But I'll post a story a day to space things out (and I have to rewrite the ending of one as the original ending was long when some forums crashed.)

This first one is her tale of being a member of the Tenshodo as a Thief. (Her original job since she was a street rat who grew up in poverty in Bastok Mines.)



The Will of the Tenshodo

I knew of the Tenshodo, in fact I had even become a member of it. I knew they were linked to the Pirate City of Norg. I knew they ran all of the foreign materials from the outlands to the main two continents. I knew they were a wealthy and rich organization steeped in tradition and culture. But what I did not know, is that they are the true lifeblood of all the people of Vana’diel.

This started with a routine visit to Windurst. Dropping off trinkets to some of the Mithra there; Beehive Chips to Tapah, Crawler Calculi to Illu, and Yagudo Necklaces to Nanaa. Only this time, Nanaa stopped me after I dropped off my shipment of necklaces to her.

She handed me a letter from the Tenshodo, and told me they were looking for able-bodied thieves. And not to even think about refusing it, since it was from the Tenshodo. With that, she gave me a backward glance and said, “She you in Jeuno, dear.”

When I arrived in Jeuno, I went straight to the Tenshodo H.Q. There I showed my letter to the doorman, and he escorted me to a waiting room. In the room were other people, some I recognized, and even knew as thieves, others I recognized, and was surprised that they were actually thieves, and a couple I had never seen before. Once we were all there Vauderame began the meeting.

It seems in the past there was a band of thieves that plundered the areas between San d’Oria and Bastok. A couple of the newer thieves and myself had to be informed of the history of this, since we had never heard of this. I wonder if my old mentor knew of them, and why he didn’t mention it to me. The Tenshodo had pinpointed the location of the eight remaining members of that band of thieves. So they had summoned thieves who were also members of the Tenshodo to deliver ‘letters’ to these individuals, that pretty much said, “Do not cross the Tenshodo. If you want to become thieves again it will be through us, or you will regret it.” However that was said in much more flowery language, but one could easily read between the lines and know what it meant.

We each were given one individual, and none of us knew who they others had received. So the integrity of secrecy was still held sacred, well, as long as the Tenshodo held all the secrets. I was to visit a Galka by the name of Sneaking Tiger who had settled down in Selbina. Not wanting to waste time, I went straight to the chocobo stables to start my journey to Selbina.

I went to the Inn to ask around about Sneaking Tiger, and the innkeeper calmly replied, “He’s standing right behind you.” I turned, and was a little startled, since I had not heard him at all. I should’ve expected something like that, since he was a famous thief. Once he learned I was a representative of the Tenshodo, he told me to step outside. It was odd, but I followed him, since he had a feeling of trust around him. I couldn’t tell if it was genuine, if it was one of his practiced skills, or if he just reminded me of my old master back in Bastok.

He read through the letter from the Tenshodo, and said to me, “Well, ain’t this amusing. I’m on the straight and narrow these days, so I could just sign it for ya. But that wouldn’t be any fun now would it? Let me see. You’re still a young thief, but how good are ya? You can’t get by in this world on thieving alone ya know!"”

I knew. There were so many more secrets I needed to learn about, so much more knowledge I needed to gain, to learn about my past, which is somehow tied to Norg, to learn about the Galka, from whom I have a cryptic message engraved on a stone. But since this was a rhetorical question I didn’t answer, and I could also see in his eyes, he was hoping that there would be talented thieves in the future that could be as good as he was.

He continued, “Could ya steal a bowl of Quadav stew from those turtle guys in Beadeaux? Those turtle guys gang up on ya and ya can’t just pull a snatch and grab job! Show me how good you young thieves are these days! Steal me a bowl of Quadav stew from the turtle guys in Beadeaux, an’ I’ll sign ya paper.”

I sighed inwardly, Vauderame had told me he would be difficult to deal with, I hadn’t planned it on being a test of my skills. But this is definitely something more along my line of skill than hard sell tactics, or the use of force one on one. So to Beadeaux to get some Quadav Stew it was.

When I got to Beadeaux I had already formulated my plan. Last time I was here with a raiding party from Bastok, we took out the Copper Quadavs on the perimeter of the area. During that time I had seen Silver, Zicron and Garnet Quadavs just past the perimeter. So if I could sneak past the Copper ones, and then lure one of the ones from the inside out, hopefully catch one who’s eating, steal the food and then flee to safety.

The plan worked pretty well. I got to an open area on the perimeter, and saw a Zicron Quadav who was just sitting down to a meal. So I threw a dart at him, which landed right next to the stew. Surprised, he got up and looked around, so I smiled and waved at him so he knew it was me, then I ran back some to lure him out away from his buddies.

He didn’t follow right away, so I thought he was re-storing that stew in his shell. Then some fire burst up and all around me. I had forgot the Zicrons were casters. As the fire around me dimmed out the Zicron had caught up to me. So down to my first order of business. I quickly snatched the stew from his shell. The Quadav didn’t like that one bit, so he cast sleep on me, just as I was getting ready to run for my escape. When I awoke there was wind all swirling around me, and so used that chance to let the unnatural wind boost my speed as I fled the area to safety.

When I was far enough away that I knew the Zicron Quadav would have to find another meal, I checked the prize. The stew looked rather disgusting, and I couldn’t make out any of the ingredients in it. But this is what Sneaking Tiger wanted so off to Selbina with me again.

When I got back to Selbina I went to the Shepherd’s Muster to find Sneaking Tiger. And just like before, he was able to sneak up behind me without me noticing. I handed him the stew and he seemed pleased. He didn’t eat it, he just was using it to test me. Then he ended our meeting by saying to me, “Here take this back. I signed the Tenshodo envelope for ya. Enjoy your thievin’ days, Neakru!”

I returned to Jeuno to deliver the letter to the Tenhsodo. I once again was guided to the room to speak with Vauderame. There he accepted the letter and awarded me for my services to the Tenshodo, a knife specially designed for Tenshodo thieves.

As I returned to my rented Mog House in the residential area in Jeuno thoughts of this adventure lingered on my mind. The Tenshodo I joined had fingers all across Vana’diel, and I was one of them. They had ties to the beastmen and even worked deals with them. If you want information, or need an item, the Tenshodo either had it, or knew how to get it. They cross lines of nationality, and thus have within their power a stranglehold on all commerce within the world. But, if you look at the beings in the world as one being, then the Tenshodo are the blood that flows between them all. They are the blood that fixes problems, and keeps everything working. So the one being, Vana’diel, can continue to live on, as it always has.

Norg (Ninja In Training)

I took my first trip to Norg with a small band of adventurers from Bastok. I’d heard the rumor of Ninja being around, but I’d never met any. Even with my dealings with the Tenshodo, ninja were never mentioned. However this group wanted to find out, and I let curiosity get the best of me and went with them. Well, I shouldn’t say curiosity got the best of me, since as soon as I heard the location of the area, and how it was connected to Bastok, something in the back of my mind was telling me this is where I needed to go to learn more about myself.

We rode the airship to Kazham, which still feels like a home away from home for me. I’m still not accepted there, since I’m born from one who left Kazham, but I feel at ease there. They have the same attitude about the world that I do, and they hold dear the lands around them. There’s even this San d’Orian missionary there. I felt bad for him, since I couldn’t tell him he was wasting his time, the beliefs of the Mithra are tied to the land, this world. We come from the land, and we will return to the land in the great cycle of life. Maybe if I retire I’ll come out to Kazham to live.

After our short visit there we took chocobos to the entrance of the foreboding Sea Serpent’s Grotto. Here the White Mage cast Sneak on us and told us that this place wall filled with undead and fishmen, but none of them used sight to find their prey, they did it entirely by sound. I don’t really know what happened next. But about halfway through our journey, after we’d gone through a secret door the White Mage knew about, our Red Mage attracted the attention of two of the skeletons down there, and there really wasn’t anything any of us could do except keep running to the safety of Norg.

This is the part I still have yet to understand, but once I got to Norg, the whole place seemed familiar to me. It was as if I was sleep walking in a dream in a place where I’ve always been. I ran around like a wildcat just looking and observing, and thinking I’ve been here before. At the same time knowing I’ve never been here before. I felt as if a large rusty bucket of déjà vu had been poured over my head and I was still trying to swim out of it. But the strongest feeling that hit my mind that I couldn’t push out was the phrase, in my mother’s voice, “Welcome Home.” And I did, I felt like I was finally home.

I learned that Samurai and Ninja did hail from here, and thus began my quest to become a Ninja, because it felt right for some reason. But to the natives here I was still an outsider who was poking their nose where it didn’t belong. I could tell it would take time and doing things for them to get them to trust and open up to me. There was even a Taru there by the Auction House that acted very threateningly towards me. I couldn’t tell if he really was that strong, or just acting big because of his little stature. Everything here was new, foreign, but as I said before, something was telling me it was right.

As I returned to Bastok from this trip and talked with Ensetsu, I learned the Tenshodo controlled the city of Norg, and thus I began to wonder what my role in all of this is. Why does Norg feel so familiar? What does the Tenshodo have that ties me there? He had no answers for me, just his stories of a tired old man. But, he did show me the way of the ninja, the role he could not obtain. With a determined look I told him, “I will take up that role.” Since if I become Ninja and work with the Tenshodo and the residents of Norg maybe I’ll learn more about my past, and why I feel a connection to that place.

Forbidden Magic

Windurst Walls. Not a place anyone really every visits unless they have ‘official business’ with one of the ministries or with the administration within Heaven’s Tower itself. However there is one house that does have a mystery, or should I say legacy attached to it. That house they have dubbed the ‘House of the Hero’. I learned about this house by playing with some of the local kids, they called it the spooky or haunted house, but they still liked to go there for ‘missions of great importance’.

Although after visiting there I did start picking up on hints of ‘forbidden magic’ and the ‘Savior of Windurst’ from passing conversations the locals were having. Having not grown up in Windurst I didn’t share this common knowledge about what happened during the great war, so I had to start investigating on my own. I guess you could say curiosity got the best of me.

Apparently as the story goes, during the great war, this ‘Hero of Windurst’ no one seems to remember his actual name, which make me wonder if he actually lived or is just a story to hide more truths. This Hero, used magic that was forbidden by the Star Sybil and through its power single handedly drove away all of the beastmen horde that was attacking Windurst. However he channeled so much power and energy through his little taru body that he died after casting that spell.

Truthfully this just seemed like a far fetched tale, the type that is based on some fact, but has so much myth and legend in it, that I was going to drop it until a note was sent to me while I was at the Rarab’s Tail. It read, “If you would like to learn more about the ‘Forbidden Magic’ then come alone to the North Tower of the Horutoto Ruins in East Sarutabaruta.” Hmmm. Suddenly this got a lot more interesting to me.

I made my way up to the tower and into the ruins there. The note didn’t specify which room. So I went around, ignoring the cardians who were ignoring me, opening every door. This was a very reckless thing to do as I came across a Giant Bomb who claimed to be the King of all bombs. He was tougher than a lot of them I’d seen, but I didn’t give him a chance to blow up. In return, he gave me a nice ring, wasn’t that nice of him? Finally after searching most of the rooms I came across one that had a hooded figure.

“Are you the one who sent me the note?”

“Please, come in, we have much to discuss.”

I slowly entered the room with my hand still on my dagger, ready to draw at a moment’s notice. There was something about this person that made me feel uneasy. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but my fur was tingling as if there was a cold chilly aura about the room.

“I have heard you are seeking the forbidden magic.” The figure said to me. “There is a reason it is called forbidden.”

“And what reason would that be?”

“The reason is: One like you should not possess it!”

With that, the figure through off the hooded cloak and pulled a spear off it’s back. It looked like an elvaan male, however it’s skin was all black and I really felt the chill as if the cold was radiating out from this being, like he wasn’t really alive. I didn’t have take to into account more of his features, as the fight was brought to me now and I was very much on the defensive, needing to get inside the reach of the spear to give my dagger an advantage.

“Who are you?” I shouted as I finally got inside his swings.

He leaned down so our two faces were nearly touching and said to me, “Gog.” His breath was quite chilling and made my ears twitch to try to stay warm and get the icy name he breathed into them out.

In the end I prevailed, however even though I thought I was ready for a fight, I wasn’t ready to face a type of creature like him; an elvaan shadow person.

Disheartened that I was back at square one, but intrigued that someone was wanting to keep me from learning this magic, I decided to go back to square one. To the place where it all began and all the clues point to – The House of the Hero.



Once there I found the front door was open, so I went inside to see what was going on. Inside was the cardian named Joker. There it turned to face me and in its manner of speaking and wooden tone it said, “…You…”

“You Are The One.”

“I Have Been Waiting. The Carbuncle’s ruby You Carry…”

“Incredible Force Remains Sealed Within That Gem.”

“Gem Holds Power To Change Life From Within.”

“It Is Calling You.”

I stood there dumbfounded and pulled this strange red gem I had found in the Buburimu Peninsula. I was going to take it to Bastok when I was done out here and have it appraised. However now that I looked at it inside this house with Joker there, it was pulsing with a light, with a small red glow from within.

“Close Eyes And Open Heart.”

“Do Not Fear Voices Accept And Become One With Them.”

I wouldn’t freely admit this to anyone, but in my beliefs everything has a spirit within them, and if you could find a way to attune yourself to those other spirits, then you could talk with them. Talk to the rocks, the trees, the air, and thus learn more about the world we live in.

As I was thinking this the Gem rose out of my hand into the air and pulsed brightly from the light within. And it spoke to me…

“Seek and gather…
…the seven colors…
…that cover the sky…
…and embrace the earth…”

Then the room became dark as the light went out and the gem returned to my hand. As my eyes quickly adjusted to the darker nature of the room, I saw Joker was still there and bouncing (well, as much as one can imagine one of those cardians bouncing with glee…)

“Could You Hear?”

“You Must Fulfill Its Wish”

“When You Do, You Will See True Vana’diel… That Is When You Will Realize That You Are…”

“… The Key…”

As the cardian spoke the last phrase it pointed to the door which opened on its own, as if ushering me out into a newly discovered world, where everything I knew, wasn’t. And thus I had to learn everything all over again.

I don’t remember leaving the house, but I found myself outside the door, and it was locked. Was that all a dream? I reached down into my pack and found the gem, and it was still pulsing with a soft glow from within. Hmm. So maybe it wasn’t a dream, and if what Joker said was true, then the answers to my questions about the spirits of Vana’diel lie within this stone.

‘Gather the seven colors of the sky’ it had said to me. Hmm. How am I supposed to reach the sky? Wait, the airships, I don’t have a pass yet, but maybe I could sneak onto one. But then how am I supposed to catch the color in the sky? Into the gem? In a container? There were just too many questions on my mind, so I decided to do what I had originally intended and make my way back to Bastok.

As I was riding the chocobo from Windurst to Jeuno and got to the Meriphataud Mountains, something strange happened. The gem rocketed out from my pack into the sky and began to glow orange! Then it called out to me, “I can feel it, I can feel the power of clear! Please find the rest of the colors!”

Well, that answered my question about how to find these colors, the gem would get them, and thus on my trip to Bastok I had gathered 5 of the 7 colors, and then it dawned on me. There are seven colors in the rainbow that you can see in the sky, and each different color seems attuned to a different element of weather, and by tying all the colors together you get a bow, a rainbow. And who can argue with the old Elvaan Thief’s legend about hiding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in the tunnels of La Thine.

But for me, my pot of gold would be to free this spirit, to allow it to talk with me, and to learn the secrets of what drives the elemental forces of this world!

After gathering all the colors the spirit told me to return to the magic circle in La Thine. And I got thinking – no one had ever found the Elvaan Treasure. Maybe it wasn’t really a treasure, but knowledge. Since knowledge itself is a treasure, and if it was knowledge about the spirits of this world and how they’re drawn towards elements in nature… Well, the Elvaan Church would have none of that! Since that would go against their teachings of Altana and could be considered heresy.

I found the magic stone circle, and once I entered it, the gem left my pack on its own and floated in the center of the circle. Then in a bright flash of light, a green sphere appeared around the circle and started spinning vertically while elongating at the same time. After a couple of rotations the sphere unwound itself and I could make out legs and a tail, and then I saw the gem, in the center of the forehead of this creature who was staring directly at me.

“Thank you, Nekaru. My name is Carbuncle. I am one of several new forces here in Vana’diel.”

“You have done well to gather the colors to release the seal on my gem. Because of that, I’ll lend you a little of my power. I’ll fight by your side, and watch over you always.”

Wow, I get my own little blue-green spirit of light to fight for me. This will be neat. But I should ask it lots of questions about things that I don’t understand around me.

“However, I demand you perform a labor for me. Visit the ancient beings that sleep in faraway lands and places of legend. Vana’diel is the world in which you live. You should see the true Vana’diel with your own eyes.”

Hmm. That didn’t seem like a problem at all, since I already wanted to do that. Maybe Joker was right, my nature to find out all I can in the world, brought together with this avatar of the gemstone is a match where we can work very well together.

I looked up into the sky and saw the rainbow as it arched towards the crag. Then my eyes met Carbuncle's and I told him, “I accept. I will be the bridge. The bridge between the people of the present, and the beings of ages past. And by the crossings of this bridge I will learn from the past to create a better future."

Amusement of the Avatars

Now that I was a full-fledged summoner of the blue-green Carbuncle, I decided to tour the world to see how things looked from a different set of eyes. Mind you, I’m still looking at the world with my own eyes, but in this new role as a summoner, I’ve got a new perspective on how things are, how the world works, and all the spirits that connect everything together. That and I think wanderlust had taken hold of me again.

After learning how Carbuncle thought, and acted to my commands, I also learned once the monster learned that I was giving the commands, they tended to chase after me, and then the scene looked like a comedy of errors, with Carbuncle chasing the monster who was chasing me. Since as a summoner the monsters seem to hit a lot harder because most of my energy is used to communicate with the spirits rather than enhance the physical toughness of my body.

During my travels I’d heard of a place where mages went to train over in the Windurst area called the Maze of Shakhrami. I’d been in there before, but just to explore and not to train, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to train with other mages about how to fight.

My luck seemed to be going well, as in my first stint in the Maze, I teamed up with two other Summoners, a White Mage and a Ranger. In this party they taught me that the best target for a Summoner was a worm, since the worm doesn’t chase after you, you can just let Carbuncle do all the work. And that’s what we did, the Ranger would find a Maze Maker, and then we’d send three Carbuncles after it, while the Ranger pelted it with arrows, and the White Mage kept him alive.

After the worms in the Maze started to become too easy, I had remembered another place in Bastok similar to this – The Korroloka Tunnel. So I went there and joined a party noting that this party had a lot more melees in it. But we still did well, and the Tunnel Worms were no match for us as long as we worked together as a team.

Keeping these lessons in mind I went back to the Maze to see if what I had learned with other people, I could apply to fighting with just me and Carbuncle. Inside the Maze I learned it was slower than I thought, but Carbuncle and I were like a team in our own way now, and did not have any problems beating the Maze Makers. My only problem was that after each fight I was drained from expending all the energy to keep in contact with Carbuncle to have him here with me. So I had to rest after every fight, that and the worms were notorious for casting Rasp on me, which keep my mind and body bothered enough that I couldn’t concentrate enough to rest until it wore off.

Then the thought occurred to me, “Dark places are where I feel most at home.” This is very true, I thought it was related to my growing up in Bastok, with all the mines, and I just felt right at home in Palborough Mines, but I had the same feeling in Norg, and now here in this Maze as well. A dark place that is enclosed seems to bring me feelings of comfort.

After feeling quite successful there, I started to wander again, to listen to spirits voices in the land, which I had not heard before. The spirits would whisper things to me. They would tell me where monsters were so I could be prepared to either fight or avoid them. They told me that there are those called Primes, which were the root of all the elemental spirits in the world. From the different spirits of the land I came to realize this world is very old, and the different elements are all here as the building blocks of that world. The only question that was left unanswered was, “What is the glue that is holding all of the elements and the world together?”

On my way from Bastok to San d’Oria, while running through the Highlands, my thoughts wandered to the Gusgen Mines that were out here. As much as I liked Palborough Mines, I didn’t like them. The Gusgen Mines made me feel uncomfortable whenever I was in there. Carbuncle explained to me that I had an innate attunement to the world, and the spirits that dwelt in the world. And those creatures in that Mine were Spirits. However, they are spirits of the dead, which want to draw the life out of the living to try to regain the life they have lost. Before the undead would just give me the chills, now with Summoner as my job, I can hear the wails, their calls, and their hollow voices crying out for the warmth of the flesh that they lost and so desperately want to regain.

After that chilling revelation there were no more major incidents as we made our way into San d’Oria. Once inside the city, I ran into two people who stopped me and asked for my help. They were from the Rhinostery in Windurst, well, at least the Taru was, the Elvaan that was with her seemed to be hired help for the taru to complete her mission. And apparently things did not go well on the mission, since here there were in front of me, asking for help, while arguing between themselves. It was an amusing sight to see.

The gist of their quest was to make contact with the Prime Avatar which they had found, and collect data about it so the Rhinostery could learn more about how the world worked. And they failed since apparently these Prime Avatars don’t like being woke up from their eternal slumber. So they were forced to try to come up with a new plan.

This new plan required a decently powered Summoner, who they would warp to the resting place of the Prime Avatar. There the Summoner, alone, would have to ring their new ‘tiny tuning fork’ on the crystal to both wake up and weaken the avatar, well, and the summoner to the same power. There was also one other restriction. The number of spirits you could talk to (and thus summon) was reduced as well, to only the first avatar/spirit you talked to as a Summoner. This meant the battle would be just Carbuncle and me against the Prime Avatar. I accepted and was handed the tiny tuning fork. Then after I assured them I was ready, they warped me up to the Cloister of Frost.

In the center of this room was a giant glowing crystal. Light emanated from it and filled the room. Also there was a cold energy seeping out from the crystal, trying to freeze not just my bones, but even my thoughts, and imprison them here. I shivered as I approached the Photocrystal of Ice.

As my hand pulled out the Tiny Tuning Fork of Ice, I noticed the tuning fork seemed to be just as cold as the rest of the room. At first I thought that it was because this was made of metal, and the room was already really cold, but as I looked down I saw frost starting to form on my mittens as I held the tuning fork.

Quickly, I rang the tuning fork against the crystal. The ice on my hand cracked and shattered as the resonation of the fork and the crystal filled the room. Suddenly I felt a tugging and pulling sensation and I felt myself being drawn into the crystal.

When I regained my senses I looked around. Behind me was the crystal, but the room wasn’t here anymore. It was almost like the crystal was actually a gate. As I held the tuning fork up to the crystal again, I realized it was a one way gate, since the tuning fork didn’t seem to react to the crystal on this side as it did on the other.

I looked around to get my bearings. I was on a round platform with the crystal behind me. Around me were colors and pictures of ice with light blues and dark blues and whites. These colors shimmered and moved as if alive and watching the proceedings that were about to begin. Ahead of me was a path, that climbed upward, had a bend in it then went up some more to another platform like the one I was standing on. I couldn’t see the top of it from down here, but my guess was the Avatar Prime was up there waiting for me.

As I got to the bend in the path, which now had me looking at the path that led to the upper platform, I saw a crystal lager than I’d ever seen, and inside of the crystal was a figure. As my eyes fell upon the form in the crystal, a ringing, the sound like when you strike a tuning fork, echoed into my ears. Then inside my head I heard these words.

“Was I dreaming…?”

“…an eternity? …lost…”

“But enough…Wager your life…”

“…provide me…with…amusement.”

“Are you ready…?”

The voice was chill and direct. But before I could reflect on it anymore, a magic circle appeared on the platform and the figure in the crystal then left the crystal and appeared before me inside that magic circle. I was lost in thought just staring at this avatar that stood before me. Then as she started to move towards me, I remembered what I was here for, and quickly called upon the spirit of Carbuncle to assist me.

As Carbuncle engaged Shiva Prime I realized that I was out of my league on this and would need every once of concentration to come out of this one alive. So I reached deep down within myself and called upon the primal connection I had with the cosmos. I called upon the Astral forces to grant me a connection deeper than the deepest understanding so I could gain a full connection with the summoned avatar and use the Astral forces to Flow their full energies through myself into the summoned form of the Carbuncle from the one known as Carbuncle Prime.

With my newly formed deep connection with Carbuncle I could see an ability I hadn’t seen before. He could use the ruby on his forehead that would create a Searing Light that would damage my foe. So I commanded him to use that power.

Shiva did not like the fact I was commanding him to use that power against her, maybe she already had knowledge of it. But she steered away from him towards me. However I was still close enough that when the Searing Light was launched it hit her, and she turned back to my summoned Carbuncle avatar.

I knew my avatar would not be around for too much longer, so I run back down the ramp to give me distance and as soon as Carbuncle was defeated I summoned him again. This time Shiva didn’t wait for me to give the Searing Light command to him, as she cast a large Blizzard spell at him as soon as he went after her.

My mind hadn’t recovered from summoning Carbuncle last time, so I didn’t have time to summon him again so soon. So I started to run back towards the entry crystal. Shiva followed me and was hitting me as I went. And when she hit me, her touch was so cold that I felt that part of my body go numb for a second after she hit me.

The last thing I remember about that fight was finally reconnecting with Carbuncle and summoning him there, then seeing Shiva’s hand as it slapped me in the face as my head went back and hit the Photocrystal. And now as I look around I’m back in San d’Oria standing in front of the two people who sent me on this quest. And in my head there is this ringing, the same as when using a tuning fork.

As I tried to stand, I felt the ground give way from under me and I fell. Which is pretty unsightly to see a Mithra lose her balance. But I couldn’t find it, with this ringing in my ears going over and over. The Elvaan helped me to my feet and asked me how it went.

I related the entire story to the two of them as the Elvaan was holding me up. Then I told them, “I’m just amazed that I’m still alive.”

To which the Taru replied, “Of course you are! You see that was a mini-tuning fork, so just party-warty of you was summoned into the crystal-whistle while the rest of you stayed out of it as a lifeline for your body. If you had used the normal tuning fork you wouldn’t have had that luxury”

Castilchat, the Elvaan there, helped me to the inn and told me I should rest here until I was able to move again. I looked at him, “Thank you. And once I am better, I will be more prepared for the battle next time.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I won’t but I could hear her voice, this was just a game to her, she’s bored with her domain, and I can help free her, let her see the world with me.”

“Um, sure. Just be careful, I know how hard of a fight she is.”

With that he left me there with my thoughts. I was sure I was right. This avatar had been kept in that crystal for all eternity. She was the governess of the Ice element, but that means she hasn’t seen the world, just those things that relate to ice. I was sure I was right in thinking she was bored there. That this was a game to her to give her something to do. And that above all else she was looking for ones who were worthy of her and could understand her to allow them some of her power just as Carbuncle had allowed me some of his power. And with that power, they could see and experience the world through me.

A week later I had recovered enough to move around again, so I went got some potions and ethers and made my way to see Castilchat and Gulmama again. Gulmama advised me against going, but would warp me there again if I desired. I told her I did want to go, so off I went to face Shiva Prime again.

This time things went better. I used the potions to keep me alive, and the ethers to make sure I had magic on hand to keep bringing Carbuncle back. And this time I timed the commands of the Searing Light better, and after three Searing Lights, Shiva stopped attacking.

“…Impressive…” she said into my mind “…time is neither…an eternity…to bring order…”

With that I was forced out of the chamber as Shiva returned to her crystal. I looked around me and realized this wasn’t the place where I entered. It was still just as cold as that place though. As I looked into my thoughts to try to see where I was, I heard a different voice there.

“You have done well, I shall grant you the ability to call upon me whenever you need.”

I felt it, the same connection I had with Carbuncle, I now had with Shiva. I was elated! I started jumping up and down and then I noticed that I was holding onto something. I looked down and saw it was a scroll, so I opened it and found it to be a Scroll of Instant Warp. I don’t know how it got there, but this was my ticket home!

I read the scroll and then thirty seconds later (I’m sure they put the word Instant in there just to sell more copies of these things) I was warped back to San d’Oria, in front of Castilchat and Gulmama.

“I DID IT!” I screamed at them.

Castilchat looked at me, and said, “Congratulations! Well Done! You see Gulmama this idea was a success!”

Gulmama looked at the Mini Tuning Fork and said, “Hmph. There’s no useful data on here. This just proves that we can weaken the avatar prime to fight it, but as I said before since it’s not at it’s full power, we can’t get any real data about the real power of the prime avatar!”

I was a little disappointed by this, but that didn’t last long from my elation of having a new avatar I could summon. I left as those two started to debate again about the best way to get the data the Rhinostery was looking for.

I ran outside into Ronfaure and found the first monsters I could. Then I summoned Shiva, and had her kill Tunnel Worm after Tunnel Worm. I could tell this wasn’t exactly what she had expected, but she was smiling inwardly at least since I was so overjoyed at having her with me.

“Provide me with amusement.” she had told me. Well, here I am now, with her in tow. And the amusement belongs to me.

Well, I'm here now, so brining over some of my older stories.

White Mage In Training

I released my chocobo at the gates of this enclosed wall of prejudice. At the same time wondering if my thoughts towards the inhabitants here were also prejudice, but that thought left quite soon after I walking through the gates into South San d’Oria.

As I wound my way through the market, past the auction house I could feel those eyes staring into me. “Outsider”, they said. “Foreigner”, they said. The hair on my body couldn’t take anymore. I could feel the tension from my head to my tail. So I fled. I ran quickly through the town, through Victory Arch on my way to the Phoenix Perch Inn.

I was glad that this route led me away from the Cathedral, since that place really gave me the creeps. Maybe that’s because I grew up in Bastok, without religion, or maybe it’s because I have my own views on the world, and they don’t coincide with that which is held dear here in San d’Oria. I felt a calm wash over me as I turned my back to the Cathedral and kept my feet rapidly moving to my destination.

At the desk I inquired about the Lady Scarlette, to which the clerk replied, “She’s upstairs in the first room, she’s been expecting you.” Not wanting to keep her waiting, and not wanting to stay in this kingdom too much longer; I went up the stairs and knocked on the door.

Scarlette answered the door, and motioned for me to come in. She was wearing a gi that she used when training and I could see her armor set up neatly in a corner of the room. The room itself was furnished, as one would expect -- a bed against a wall, a desk with papers on it, and two chairs around the desk. And it was easy to tell just by looking, that everything in the room was San d’Orian made.

“Nekaru!” Scartlette exclaimed. “I’m so glad you could make it up here. I know you don’t really like things here, but really they’re not bad at all. Have a seat, you must be tired from your trip up from Bastok.”

I nodded and sat down at the table. I didn’t have any armor to worry about since I was just in traveling gear. If I needed to fight I’d go ask the San d’Orians to contact my Moogle and rent a place here. But I didn’t think I’d be staying long, so I came straight here.

“So, what did you call me up here for Scarlette?” I cut right to the chase, since we’d known each other for some time, I didn’t feel that all the formalities of talking needed to happen, and I did want to leave when we were done.

“Well, I know that you like to help people. And I also know that you like to learn about new things. And I know sometime you need to be prodded to do things you wouldn’t ever think about doing…” she trailed off a little at this point then hurried the rest of the sentence, “so I signed you up for some White Magic courses at the Cathedral.”

“You what!” I shouted as I stood up and slammed my hands against the table. Some of the papers fluttered from the top of the table onto the floor as the gust from my hands hitting the table sent them there. Scarlette just stood there for a moment. I’m sure she was expecting a negative reaction, but I guess not one as vehemently as I just did, since that was out of character for me to make such an outburst. It’s just, well, I don’t like it here.

“I also thought this would be a good way to introduce you to Altana, since I know you didn’t have exposure to her teachings growing up in Bastok.” Scarelette continued, as I was trying to gather my thoughts and regain my composure. “So I thought this would be something good for you, I brought the materials here so you could look them over.” I really wasn’t listening fully yet, all I heard was something about Altana and look at the stuff on the desk.

She stopped talking as I picked up and looked at the papers in front of me. I didn’t stop to think the top of the stacks was scattered on the floor. “Wait” I said, “Sneak, Invisible, these would be really useful to me.”

“Those are some of the more advanced spells you could learn, but it would take some time for you to get there. And you don’t seem to be interested anyway, I’m sorry I called you up here.”

“No, this is fine.” I said, my voice calm now as my mind began it’s racing, seeing what I could do with these new spells. “You see, once I learn these, then I could go anywhere, and open anything and find out secrets that are held deep within dungeons.” As I was talking now I started speaking faster and getting a hyper look in my eyes. I wasn’t thinking of how long it would take, or how many old codgers’ sermons that I’d have to sit through. I could just see me using this to find some of the answers I’ve been seeking. To know more about myself, to know about the world, and to know what role the stars had in mind for me.

“So you’ll do it?”

“Yeah, this looks very interesting. And apparently you think this would be good for me.”

“That makes me glad.”

So thus begins this Mithran thief’s adventure into the realm of religion -- as a white mage in training.

Dark Explorers

The cold wind blows across the frozen land. The deamons that patrolled regularly have dwindled in number. The shimmering lights gleaming out of the cracks in the ground illuminate upward; hiding the stars that should be shining as two figures approach the large foreboding castle where the Shadowlord once ruled.

“You didn’t have to come with me Dralid. I know the way, I’ve scouted this place out many times.”

The tall Elvaan looked down at the feisty Mithra that was with him, and shakes his head. “No, Nekaru. It is too dangerous and it is my job to protect. And you will need to be protected if you go into this dark domain.”

Nekaru kicks some snow out of the way. “Bah! You’rrre just going to slow me down!”

“Perhaps. But better to go slow and be alive than to rush in to a foolhardy death.” with that the Paladin walked into the castle.

Once inside the Mithra began to shake. “This place… has an eerie feel. It’s differrrent frrrom beforrre.”

“Stay close to me and you will be fine.”

Despite her earlier protests, Nekaru clung close to Dralid as the two strode through the castle. The deamons that were still around gave Dralid space as they were afraid of the holy aura he was radiating around himself.

As they made their way to the keep the Mithra became more fidgety and started to cling to the Paladin. This caused the Paladin some discomfort as by having Nekaru cling to him, it just brought back thoughts in his mind of Shyrendora. Those thoughts stayed with him as he was able to gently pry the clinging Mithra away from him.

“D-drralid. I-I’m scarrrred.”

The Elvaan politely moved the Mithra away from him, and then began to look around the area. He did not need the distraction of a clingy Mithra, he had his own problems he had to deal with. Everything looked in order, as the two slowly moved towards the throne room.

“I-I c-can’t go in therrre…” stammered Nekaru.

“Hmph. You are the one who wanted to investigate the fact that rumor you heard about the Shadowlord. Why are you scared now? I told you I’d protect you.”

Nekaru nodded. “I know, but the prrresence is still there. I can feel the dark shadow that still lurrrks in the area. My information told me I needed to look herrre, but I did not except the darrrk enerrrgies to rrremain. Lingerrring… waiting…”

“There’s nothing here. Dekker and the rest made sure of that. Do you not trust your comerades?”

“I do! I trrrust them. Well, forr the most parrt. But it’s still darrrk herrre.”

Dralid did not listen as he gallantly strode into the thrown room. Nekaru got up and started to follow, but as soon as she entered the doorway, she screamed and fell down to the floor. By the time Dralid had gotten back to her, the Mithra was curled up in a ball on the floor crying.

Dralid cursed under his breath and went back to the ball of clothes and fur. “If you cannot go on, then we will go back.”

Nekaru stayed on the ground just shivering, shaking and crying. It did not look like she was going to be able to move anytime soon. She was muttering some unintelligible words between sobs. Dralid knelt down, and then picked her up.

Cradling her in his arms he walked back the way they came; past the empty halls, out into the snow. He continued to carry her as she shook through the cold of the snow on the glacier, and eventually brought her to San d’Oria where he took her to an inn for her to rest.

After alerting other members of Dawn of Nekaru’s condition he went outside. She had said things weren’t right. And he knew that to be a fact as well. However whatever got to her was not what was bothering him.

Dralid made his way out of San d’Oria, this time not on a quest to protect, but to seek the truth and help him find where his true calling may lie.

A Night at the Festival

Standing on the curved staircase that leads from the Mines district to the Auction House here in the Markets, I stand and watch the falling cherry blossoms. The drift aimlessly into the water below freed from their perch and allowed to float along wherever the current would take them. Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I fell and drifted along like the blossoms below me.

My thoughts were distracted by a voice behind me. “Now there’s a tail I recognize.”

I quickly turned around, half because the voice was the one of the person I was waiting on, and half because I was embarrassed that someone would recognize me just by looking at my tail.

“Ferra! I’m glad you made it!”

“I told you I’d go to the festival with you. I keep my word.”

“Yes, but you always seem so busy… I’m glad you found the time to spend with me.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want you running off again…”

Argh! She’s still upset that I went someplace she deemed dangerous without her. I’m happy knowing that she’s worried about me, but now is not the time to bring up negative feelings, it’s a festival! So before she could finish I pulled out a cake and presented it to her and said with a sly grin.

“Just enjoy yourself and have some cake.”

She accepted the gift and ate it. Then I couldn’t help myself as I started laughing at her as her form changed from that of an adult mithra, to that of an elvaan child.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Ferra asked as she looked at her hands, and her new outfit.

I did my best to answer between laughs. “You… the cake… elvaan…”

I didn’t want her to be left out in the fun so I proceeded to eat a Taru Cake, and once I did my form dwindled in size to that of a tarutaru child. As I looked up to Ferra, she began to laugh at me.

“You… look adorable… that’s so funny.”

I reached my tiny hand out, grabbed hers and ran down the path to a place covered in red mats and looked to be set up in some sort of fashion for the celebration. On the way we played ‘Tag’, and acted like the children we were in the forms of. No one would ever have guessed that the two of us were actually adults who had problems of our own as we played the night away with the carefree attitude of the childish forms we had taken.

We kept doing this after each cake’s magic wore off until we were out of cakes to eat. After that we were both, exhausted, happy, and full of laughter.

As we returned to Ferra’s place in Bastok afterwards I thought to myself, I needed a night like this where I could just play, be a child and run around without any cares. Ferra seemed to enjoy herself as well, as I saw her smiling and laughing more than any other time since I’ve known her.

As we got ready to turn in for the night, Ferra let her hair down. It fell in soft curls along her shoulders. I thought of my hair and how I just matted it down on my own and really didn’t do anything to make it look good. I walked over behind her and started to run my fingers though the fine strands of hair that would curl up again after my fingers combed through them.

I leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “I wish my hair was as nice as yours.”

“Nekarrru…”

“Shhhh.” I reached around and held onto her arms that were in front of her and we just stood there holding one another. “I had so much fun tonight. I don’t want to talk. I just want to live in this moment, in the herrre and now.”

Ferra leaned her head against mine, and after a little bit she broke the silence. “I had fun too, ‘karrru.”

“I’m glad.”

I turned her around to face me and then rubbed my nose up against hers. Then I pressed my lips forward until they met hers in a soft gentle embrace. I was pleased to find her lips were responsive in seeking out the warmth of mine. We stood there lost in the moment; a fairytale ending to a magical day.


The Moogle After…

The next day after I woke up, Ferra was still asleep on the bedding. I nuzzled her neck as I smelled the fragrant scent of her hair. After removing her arm from around me I gently kissed her cheek. Standing up I found my clothes and put them on ready to face a new day armed with the wonderfully pleasant memories of the night before.

I had some business I needed to attend to in Jeuno, so I went to my Mog House to ask my Moogle to assist me in the changing of what jobs I would be using. However the encounter did not go as quickly as I had expected.

“Welcome Home Master!”

“Hi, Moogle, can you…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence as my Moogle began to talk again.

“Um, Master. Is there anything that I’ve done to upset you? You haven’t been home to sleep for a few days now.”

I thought that rather odd that my Moogle would be concerned about such a thing, but I tried to explain myself.

“Well you see…” Once again I was cut off.

“Did you find another place? Was I not watering your plants well enough? I try to keep everything neat and tidy while you’re gone.”

I just stood there. I did not know what to say. My Moogle is being insanely paranoid. I looked him in the eye and tried to talk to him again.

“Look, I’ve just been out. It’s nothing to worrry about. Besides, I don’t keep any plants that need to be waterrred.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“I might be out for awhile, though. How about I make sure to check in with you so you know I’m okay?”

“Yes, that would be good Master.”

“Now about changing my jobs…”

The rest of the conversation and my following trip to Jeuno went as it would be expected. But this experience got me thinking. I guess I have taken for granted that my Moogle would always be there. I just thought of him as part of my house. Now, I know I need to pay more attention to him and treat him like the person he is. And just as he shares his magical abilities with me, I need to share with him – the stories of my magical moments and adventures.

Secrets and Memories

Secrets: the tiny little things that the few don’t want the majority to know, the things that slip out at a tavern over some drinks, the words that have been locked away from prying eyes for a reason. Why am I drawn towards them like a moth is to a flame? Sitting down in the mess hall with Washu, I got to listen in on many of the conversations of the denizens of Norg, and hear the secrets that their tongues held.

The conversation that stood out to me today was about one named Fouvia. Apparently she was a really old Elvaan that had been around for a long time. She hangs around the shadows in the area around the Auction House there. The thing that drew my ears to this conversation was they said she had the power of naming.

Curiosity took the best of me here, so I tracked down Fouvia to find out what was meant by her having this power. She wasn’t easy to find, but she was there just as the ruffians in the pub said she would be. As I approached her she looked up and me and told me, “Oi ‘av naw businesss wi’ de likes av you.”

I was taken aback at what she said, and wandered away. As I was passing the Nomad Moogles a figure stopped me. It was a hume male, middle aged, dressed in a black gi, his hair was dark brown and he had a beard. “Can I help you?” I asked this person.

“No, but I can help you” he replied.

He was very brash, but I recognized the sign. His right palm was open, while his left palm was turned away. This meant if I slipped gil into the left hand while passing, he would give me information. I reached into my pouch and drew out some gil. Keeping it in my left hand I pressed my hand into his while I stood close. As soon as our hands parted he pocketed the gil that I has just placed in his hand. Then he turned to me and whispered, “Fouvia is from San d’Oria. She grew up there a long time ago. She was one of the ones who worked with the wyverns back when San d’Oria had a contingent of Dragoons. She came here during one of the purging of these Dragoons. So now she keeps to herself, but she will talk to any Dragoon who comes by to see her.”

Well, I now had my lead. I continued walking past the un-named hume then after a ways retraced my steps back to the Nomad Moogle.

“What’s goin’ on?” the Moogle asked me.

“Can you focus my thoughts to bring back knowledge of the Dragoons?”

“Of course I can! With Moogle Magic we can help you fill any roll or job you want to pick up for yourself!” With that the Nomad Moogle spun around and there were sprinkles of light all around him and myself. After the specks of light faded I was filled with the knowledge and the power of those who called themselves Dragoons.

As soon as this transformation was complete I ran back to see Fouvia, never minding the fact that in this new form I cannot wear the gear I had on previously. So there I was running towards her in only my underwear.

I made my way back to her, ignoring the stares that were coming my way from the different people around the Auction House out here. As I approached her she looked at me with the same piercing gaze, but this time told me, “Ye gave a name ter yer wyvern whaen yer made yer pact, roi? Well, I’ll let ye in on a secret. Did ye know ye can change yer wyvern’s name? If ye pay me fee, oi can ‘elp yer. Waaat do yer say?”

So this was the secret, a technique that allowed one to grant one the power to name another. I didn’t really get to finish the thought completely before she asked me, “Now whear ye git dat locket deary?”

“It was my mothers.” I told her.

“Whaz it now? It best ye don show dat arund ‘ere. But ye did, so now ye shud come wid me.”

With that she grabbed my arm and proceeded to drag me through the majority of Norg until we got into a storeroom on the lower level. The floor was damp and there were crates all around, but in the middle of the room was a chair.

“Sid en dat char now deary. We need ta see if ye be tellin’ da truth.”

As I sat down in the chair two figures, one from each side grabbed my arms, pulled the around behind the back of the chair, and then tied my arms together to the back of the chair. Fouvia then went and sat in a corner of the room to watch the proceedings that were about to start. That was the last thing I saw as one of the other two people proceeded to blindfold me.

I tried to pick up on what was going on by listening to the sounds around me. I heard a door open, then a few minutes later the door opened again. I couldn’t hear footsteps for the coming and going of people through the door. My guess is these people were well trained in the art of stealth.

“Who are you?” boomed a voice right next to my ear. I was startled since I wasn’t expecting that loud of a sound, while I was straining my ears to hear what was going on in the room.

“Ne… ka… ru.” I managed to stammer out. I still had no idea what was going on, and what I had done to get myself into a position like this.

My thoughts were interrupted as a felt the back of a hand, about as large as my own, so I will assume it belonged to a hume. The hand slid across my collarbone and I could feel him raise the locket I was wearing.

“So,” the voice came again this time in front of me and not as loud, “where did you acquire such a finely crafted locket?”

“It was my mothers.” I responded truthfully. I had nothing to hide, that I knew of, and knowing some of the ways of Thieves and Ninja, they will get the information they want out of you given enough time. And since I was tied up, they had all the time in the world.

“Fouvia,” the voice came again, “come here and read this for me.”

I then heard the shuffling of feet as if an elderly person was walking in my direction.

“Lencieux et Libre” came the old lady’s voice. It was strange, when speaking in the common language she couldn’t pronounce anything correctly, but here her words were fluid, as if this was her native tongue.

“You’re sure that’s them?” came the hume’s voice.

“Ya, der be no mistake. Dis was er locket.”

“Hmm. She is about the right age. What do you think, Fouvia?”

“Cud be. She’s da right age. But der’s many at dat age now.”

“Girl, who was your mother?”

I assumed he was talking to me. So I responded, “I… I don’t know… I don’t remember her… I was too young.”

The next phrase was whispered into my ear. “Well, we’re here to make you remember.” Then he dropped the locket, as I felt it land back onto my bare skin.

I began to hear a scooting sound, and there was also a slosh everytime the scooting ended. Then after whatever was being moved was put into position, somewhere close behind me, I heard a quick ripping noise. While this was going on I also heard the old lady shuffle back to her seat.

A drop of water plunked me on top of the head. Then after awhile another drop landed on my scalp. They weren’t fast, but it was in a regular interval. I just sat there, trying to remember back to my mother. It was very hard to keep focused, because each time I had a memory almost to the surface, another drop of water would interrupt my thought.

I lost count of how many drops of water had fallen on my head. I’d lost track of time as well. I couldn’t think anymore.

“What do you all want with me?” I called out, but got no response.

It got to the point where all I could do was think about when the next drop of water would hit my head. I could feel some strands of hair starting to stick to my face as they were damp with water. Water, that’s where this all came from and was going; lots of drops of water.

“Mother, I’m scared.”

A storm had shown up unexpectedly. Rain began to pour down on the boat. Thunder and lightning began to perform their show out on the ocean.

The little Mithra was holding onto an adult Mithra’s leg. Her face was plastered into the cloth covering the leg so she didn’t have to see the storm. The two adult Mitrha though, were looking into the storm, and seeing something other than rain coming from it.

“Damn! They found us. They surrre are perrrsistent.” The mother Mithra said. “Trrry to get the sail to catch the cross wind, it will take us close to that rrreef, but it should give us a place to hide with the storrrm until they pass.”

The other Mithra hastily attempted to comply with the orders barked by the first. The said got turned and the vessel lurched and water spilled up onto the deck.

“Honey, motherrr needs to help with the ship so we can starrrt ourrr new life.” The mother said as she pulled the little Mithra that was attached to her leg away. The mother looked the little one in the eye and said, “It will all be all rrright, you’rrre with family and we’ll prrrotect you, no matter what.”

The little Mithra sat down in the middle of the boat, out of the way of the two adults who were busy getting the ship to go in a new direction. The storm was beginning to get stronger. Waves were rolling higher and starting to make the ship toss around.

“Move some of the supplies to the storrrm side!” barked the mother again. “That should make it wherrre we don’t toss as much.”

The other Mithra said to the mother in a lower voice, “They’rrre gaining on us. I don’t think we’ll be able to lose them.”

“Damn! We can’t make a stand as we arrre now, we have to keep rrrunning!”

A high pitched whistle was heard by all three, followed by a large splash. The water next to the ship erupted up in a column raining down upon the three passengers of the fleeing vessel.

This was followed by another, which had the same results, followed by a third which struck the mast. There was a cracking sound as the wood gave way to the iron ball that had smashed through it. The other Mithra looked up and saw the top of the mast was shattered, but still being held up in the air by the rigging. However, the cross beam was being turned by the force of the blast and the tug on it from the rigging that was still connected to the top part of the mast.

Without thinking the other Mithra lunged forward pushing the mother Mithra out of the way as the cross beam spun her direction.

“Darrrlan!” the mother called out as the action that was taken got them both out of the way of the cross beam, but the top of the mast swung down and scraped Darlans back and head with a force that the Mithra fell to the ground. The mother ran over to check on Darlan.

“Get… the stone... it mustn’t be lost… “

The Mithra child was hiding next to the crate the mother went to. She opened the crate and pulled out a large oblong stone with strange writing on it and put it in her pouch. Tussling the hair of the child she told her, “It’ll be okay, we’rrre going to make it thrrrough this.”

Darlan was bleeding from the head and back, but was sitting up as the rain was coming down washing the blood away. The mother went over and started tending the wounds. The child pulled her knees up to her chest and tried not to think of all the rain drops that were tapping on her skull.

Another high pitched whistle grew louder and hit its mark. And the rest of the mast came crashing down smashing into the mother’s back and arm sending her sprawling on top of the other Mithra. The mother screamed in pain when the mast hit as a crunching sound was heard as the bones in her arm snapped with the weight and force of the wood crushing into it.

The Mithran child ran over to the two other Mithra. The boat was now taking on a lot of water, and would not be afloat much longer. Darlan hoisted the young one to the main mast that was on the deck. The mother also grabbed onto it with her good arm.

“It will be all rrright, Kerrraji. We will make it, and be a family.” The mother faintly said to the girl.

The boat had gotten to where land was in sight, but still a long way away. The current would eventually carry the three to shore. But all the little one could do was shut her eyes, and feel the ocean tug at her. She held on with all her strength, but still felt as if she was going to slip away into the water.

The water kept falling on my head. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Keraji” I called out.

I thought I heard movement, but couldn’t tell – the water was going to hit me again.

“Name… Keraji…” I repeated, hoping the water would just go away, while knowing another drop would soon land on me.

I heard a scooting sound, and then I didn’t feel the water. Although my skin was chilled and soaked both with the water that had dripped onto me, as well as the cold sweat I broke out into while remembering the buried past.

“Why didn’t you say that before, Keraji?” came the hume’s voice. “Is that what you remember as well?”

“Aye” replied the old elvaan.

“So then Keraji, where are your parents?”

I didn’t like him calling me that name, Keraji. It wasn’t my name. I’m Nekaru. But I answered anyway, “They’re dead.”

“How did they die, little one?”

He used a different name for me, but still said it in a condescending tone. I was getting tired of this. I was wet, cold, half naked, blindfolded, with my arms bound, and really wanted to be home. All of the frustration burst out from me and my eyes released the rivulets of water they had been holding back.

“The ship… shot… sank… into the water….” I bawled at these complete strangers.

“Hmmm. That would explain why they never made it to Bastok. I had assumed they were dead, when our agents didn’t report their presence in Bastok. I just never knew what happened to them.”

I heard the voice move from in front of me to behind me, and I was really hoping he was going to release some of my bonds.

“We didn’t know if you might have been one of the ones who killed them, although we did hope you were whom we think you are now.”

I felt a sharp pain of cold metal in my back cutting through the flesh and moving up my back. I screamed as loud as I could and leaped forward in the chair. The knife came out of my back, but I could feel my blood flowing down my back as I fell to the floor.

“Don’t worry young one. I did not cut you in a way to harm you. But the wound will scar, and that will be our sign of who you are.”

Those were the last words I remembered before I lost consciousness.

I awoke face down in a hammock. My chest and back were firmly wrapped. I tried to roll over, but it hurt too much to move. I craned my neck to look around the room. This looked like sleeping quarters, there were cube spaced areas all around the room, each with a hammock in it. Fouvia was sitting in a chair next to the hammock I was placed into.

“Ah, yer finally awake. Ye slept fer three days.”

“Why did you all do that?”

“Ye never know who may be yer enemy. Better ta have dem at yer mercy until ye know.”

“A nice, hello, would’ve worked for me.” With that I closed my eyes and passed out again.

I woke up to the smell of food. Fouvia had brought some food into the room and once my eyes were opened she told me to eat.

“Washu made dis jus fer ye.”

I sat up, and noticed that the bandages were new. Someone must’ve changed them while I was asleep. I didn’t feel like moving or doing anything. However, after eating some of the food, I started to feel better. I could feel strength returning to my body.

“Don eat so fast!” Fouvia admonished me. “Ye jus got up, pace yeself.”

I set the spoon to rest inside the bowl, and realized I was in a part of Norg that I had never seen before. I noticed that there were exits on both ends of the room, and both looked as if they led to more hallways. I don’t know if I’d be allowed to explore down there, but my curiosity was making me want to do just that.

“An dun think about wanderin’ off. If ye get lost ye not my responsibility.”
“Did you know my mother?”

“Aye.”

“Wha.. What was she like? I… I don’t remember.”

“She wos a strong woman, dat she wos.”

A tall hume with a tattoo on his head walked into the room. He was wearing the traditional gi that many of the residents of Norg wore. When he spoke, his voice was very familiar to me.

“So how is she?”

“Fine!” I retorted.

“Ah, feisty now, are we?”

I picked the spoon back up and returned to eating. The hume motioned for Fouvia to leave, to which she complied. He then pulled the chair she was sitting in towards me, turned it around backwards and then sat down in it.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that you are learning about who you really are, what are you going to do? We’ve taken the liberty to do more research about you now that you’ve caught our eye. I know you’ve dealt with that wimp Ensetsu and heard him blab about the ninja here. I also know you’re starting to make a name for yourself as a thief with the Tenshodo. So where do you want to go? There are others that if they knew you were alive will try to take that life from you. Your mother made quite a few enemies in her time.”

Pensively I replied, “What… about my mother?”

The hume put his arms across the top of the chain and rested his chin on his arms. Looking me in the eyes, he continued. “We called her ‘Shiinto-ittou, or the Silent Blade. She was a ninja who lived and worked with us. I hear she came from Kazham, but I don’t know the details of why she left there. She never talked about that with us. But that’s one of the policies here. Don’t ask, don’t tell. If you leave information lying around, then we’ll find out. Cover your tracks if you don’t want your past to find you.”

I looked at him quizzically at that last phrase. I guess once you start to make a name for yourself, then records of you are easier to find. I’d tried to stay out of the limelight and in the shadows, but I guess you can’t hide everything. The hume stood up from the chair.

“Finish your food, then we’ll talk more.”

“I want to know more about my mother.”

“In time. You’ll learn more in time.” With that he walked out of the room.

After I finished the bowl of food I jumped down from the hammock onto the floor. Whoever had tended to my wound had done a fabulous job. It only gave me any pain when I started to think about it. So I let my thoughts go elsewhere, since I did have a lot to sort through. I held my mothers locket in my hand. Opening it up I could see her picture. I’ve stared at that picture many times. But to learn this is where she lived her life, to actually be there. I closed the locket and held it tightly thinking about what few memories I had of her.

Returning from my thoughts, I realized I was still in my underwear and these bandages. I looked around the room and found a decorative gi that had been laid out, along with some Mithran tribal gear. I quickly put them on, and I noticed that the other clothes in the room were also women’s. That bought me some comfort that I wasn’t dead asleep in a room full of males for three days, dressed as I was.

I decided now would be a good chance to look around and get my bearings. It would be nice to know how to get out of this place, although I also wanted to look around, since this entire place still seemed so familiar to me. It was if somehow, I’d been here before. The air smelled damp and dusky, just like the caves and mines that bring me peace.

I walked out into the hall with a swagger of confidence as if I’d been here before and knew right where I was going. I really had no clue, but I know body language plays a big role in how others will view and approach you. If I looked lost, I would attract more attention than if I just walked around normally.

The layout of this part of Norg seemed very straightforward. I’d found the male and female living quarters, the back part of the kitchen, a couple of storerooms, and a path that lead to the docks. I could see another entrance to the docks across the bay. I’m guessing that one would lead to where the auction house of Norg is.

I began walking back down the hall towards the sleeping quarters. I made it halfway down the hall when I felt a knife up against my throat. An arm quickly encircled my body pinning my arms and leaving me helpless as it were. I didn’t see or hear this assailant who had come upon me.

“Didn’t I tell you to not wander around?” came the now familiar voice of the hume I’d talked to earlier.

As he spun me around to face him, he purposefully nicked my neck with the tip of his knife. I could begin to feel blood trickling from the small cut. He sheathed his knife, and still with a firm grip around me began to walk me down the hallway.

“I don’t like you.” I told him bluntly.

“Good. Then you’re learning. If you have any feelings for a comrade, then you might not be able to perform certain tasks if an order from above comes down targeting them.”

He ushered me into a dark room. The only things in this room were a bed, desk, and a chair sitting up at the desk. He pushed me towards the bed. “Sit down and be good now.”

I hopped up onto the bed and sat down facing him. He took the chair away from the desk and after shutting the door moved it close to me and sat the same way he did before.

“As I said before, your mother worked with us here in Norg. She was a valued member of the clan. She was highly skilled in making sure her target never saw her, and never had a chance to call out for help. Which is how she earned the nickname, Mithra of the Silent Blade.

“One of the other members or our group named Yomi took a liking to a man. Shiinto changed after that. She started acting moody and flirtatious. Things that were totally out of character for her. Then one night she returned. But she wasn’t alone. She had carried with her another Mithra. This one was smaller than her, and dressed in a baggy cloak. We were furious that she would bring someone into our hideout out of the blue without us knowing anything about them. She snapped back at us to let them pass. We told her we’d need to at least know this new Mithra’s name and if she would be taking responsibility for her. She growled that she would and told us to let them pass again. When we did the other Mithra responded, ‘Thank You’ in a voice that was lower than you’d expect from a Mithra. With that I grabbed the cloak around this Mithra as they passed me and pulled it off.

“All of us were dumbfounded at what we saw next. This other Mithra was actually male. I’d never seen a male Mithra before that time or after, mind you. Shiinto just dragged him along with her and came into this room.

“We started to work on damage control. We tried to find out what we could about the male Mithra. We learned for the most part they were kept in Kazham for breeding purposes. So we did our best to hide any evidence of him from any Mithra who we happened to do business with.

“We kept the male Mithra hid in Norg for awhile, never letting him go out into the public places. He really didn’t seem to mind. I couldn’t understand that. Shiinto would leave for missions leaving him here, and he just waited for her. The two of them seemed quite happy.

“A few months after he arrived, Shiinto was showing that she was with child. After that we kept her here with him. And a few months later, you were born; right there in that bed you’re sitting in now.”

I started to get up, but then sat back down and looked at this bed. It wasn’t much, just a simple wooden bed, raised about a foot off the ground. The mattress was firm, with just a little give to it. And the sheets and pillow were just ordinary cloth. I know it’s been over twenty years, and things probably have changed. But if what this hume says is true, this is the spot I came into this world. Right here. I started tugging on the sheets just to feel what they would’ve felt like. I laid back on the sheets, arched my back against them, then I rubbed my face against the pillow that was there. Oh, how I wished the words this hume said were true. After giving me ample time to become ‘acquainted’ with the bed, the hume continued his tale.

“About that locket you have. When your mother first brought her mate here, on one of her trips out, she contracted an Elvaan goldsmith to craft that for her. The design was done to her specifications and that inscription on the back was chosen by her as well.

“She even had an artist commissioned to do a tiny portrait of each of them to put inside the locket.”

“But, there’s only one picture in here.” I replied to him.

“Then the other must be lost. Since the locket was so finely crafted, it was watertight, you can tell by the remarkable quality of that picture that remained in there.”

I pulled out the locket from under the gi and opened it up. The picture on the inside was that of my mother, I was sure of it. So I studied the other side, the inside of the part that opened. On careful investigation, I did see what looked to be a tiny crystal, which I’m sure was used to hold a picture in place. Someone must’ve deliberately taken the other picture from out of this locket. Who and why were the two questions that first came into my mind. I could only think of one ‘who’. My old master Raltan, who buried my parents bodies and gave me this locket. As for the ‘why’, he’s the only one who could answer that. I closed the locket and put it away again.

“So now I’ll ask you again. What do you plan to do?” The hume stood up as he spoke and began to pace around the room. “There are secrets that we don’t even know about Shiinto and the ones who killed her. We can help you find those answers. But to do so won’t be free.”

“There’s always a catch.” I quipped back at him.

“Yes. We’d like to have your skills. Work for us, and in time we’ll find the answers you seek about your parents. There is safety while you are here and one of us. We can’t guarantee that on the outside, and since you don’t know who wanted your parents dead, if they learn you’re still alive, they might come after you.”

I thought about his offer for a minute. It would be nice to have others help me out on this quest. I already have training in the art of ninjitsu, and use it along with my thieving skills. This place feels like home to me, and now I know why. I would be following in the footsteps of my mother.

However there were some negative aspects to this as well I thought as I reached back to touch the wound which was still healing. If I focused my time on thieving and ninjitsu, then I would start to lose my connection to the spirits and understanding the world they’re trying to show me. Most of all though, I don’t take orders well; unless they fall in line with something I’m trying to accomplish. And from doing tasks for the Tenshodo in the past, I know once you start one; you need to follow that through to the end before you can even think about doing something else.

“I don’t think I can accept your offer.” I looked him straight in the eyes as I responded. “I tend to do my own thing more often than not. I will still work with you for the exchange of information, but I would like to still walk my own path.”

“I understand. And we will call on you from time to time then, in exchange for any information we might have. Also, remember, you are always welcome here. You’ll just need to give them your name, Keraji, and show the scar I’ve given you, and they’ll let you in these back areas of Norg.”

I flinched when he mentioned the scar. The wound wasn’t a scar yet, but I could tell it would be. I had no pain from it right now. But still, the memory of the pain was there, and probably would stay with me the rest of my life.

“Thank you” I managed to tell him with a grimace.

“You can stay in this room if you wish; once you are ready to leave we can make arrangements for you.”

I didn’t know what these ‘arrangements’ consisted of, but it would be nice to rest for awhile. “Thank you” I replied again.

With that, he nodded and then left the room, leaving me here alone with my thoughts. I wanted to find this Elvaan goldsmith, since maybe he could tell me more about my mother. I needed to pay a visit to my old master in Bastok. And the hardest part would be trying to find information about my father.

The door opened and Fouvia walked in. In her hands she was carrying an old rag doll. The interesting thing about this doll though was it had ears and a tail like a Mithra’s.

“Eer. I dot ye might be wontin’ dis. Et was left ‘ere by ye ‘fore ye trip ta sea.”

I accepted the doll from her and just looked at it. I ran my hands along its sides. Petted the top of its head. Played with its tail. I even found a small hole in her back that I could stick my finger into and feel the stuffing inside of it. I then realized this hole was at the exact same spot as they drove the knife into me. My thoughts then wandered again. This was my doll, and I had put this mark on her back.

The member 'Nekaru' has done the following action : Cast Lot

'lot' : 19

Stowaway

A storm was blowing in. I could tell, I’d felt these type of winds before. This means that the ships would tie down in the port. It also means it would be the perfect time for an attack by the Sahagin.

I made my way along the sides of the buildings, keeping watch for soldiers and any incoming Sahagin beasts. If you weren’t authorized personnel they kept you out of this place. It was mostly for the protection of those who couldn’t defend themselves. But I knew I could hold my own. Continuing on the way I saw many unmarked ships. I could immediately tell what was going on. These were pirate ships that were conscripted by the Bastok forces to assist their navy in the war against the beastmen. This could be the other reason they wanted to keep unauthorized people out of the port. The old men in charge never change. They hide behind others to keep their hands clean.

I silently made my way up to one of the boats, and snuck onboard. I was curious to see how this ship was set up to compare it to my own. Apparently I picked the wrong ship. This one wasn’t tying down to weather the storm, it was preparing to head out into it.

Hiding under some of the canvas on deck I watched as they ran around clearing things to below deck and leaving only a skeleton crew up top to head out into the sea. Rain started to fall as they hoisted up the anchor and set out.

The rain started to fall harder and I heard thunder in the distance. This crew was either very good, or very foolish for heading out at a time like this. And then I heard the call, “Beastmen boarding from the starboard side.” Most of the time these fish monsers would sink ships from below, what could prompt them to come on board? Watching from under my vantage point I could see the legs of the Sahagin as well as the crew on the ship rushing up onto the deck.

I decided that I would do my part to help. And whenever a beast came near where I was hidden I would snatch his legs and bring him under the canvas where I was hiding. The element of surprise gave me the time I needed to dispatch them. Their screams were lost among the other fighting and the falling of the rain. Once again the assassination techniques taught to me by the Ninja in Norg proved useful.

When the fighting died down I heard muffled talking, and then footsteps walking towards me.

“I tell ya, I saw it. That fish man just disappeared under there and didn’t come back.”

“I’m sure they’re hiding to do an ambush.” Came another voice.

“Well then, let’s just see what’s there, the shape defiantly looks like something is under there that we didn’t put there.”

I heard the footsteps surround my position. I knew I was caught. So there wasn’t much left for me to do. As they pulled the tarp away I saw five men, all with swords pointing directly at me. So I cheerfully smiled, waved and tried to lighten the mood, “Hi therrre! Nice weatherrr we’re having.”

As I had thought, they didn’t know how to react. Here I was, a stranger, but I had three of the enemy’s bodies lying around me. “On your feet.” The man who seemed to be in charge said. As I stood up, he nodded to another of the men who then grabbed my dagger. I could see where this was going. It would be best to play along and see what I could do to get out of it. Then with another nod a third man came from behind grabbed my arms and clamped shackles around my wrists.

“Hey, what’s that forrr?” I called out in protest.

“No talking, Stowaway.” The man in charge retorted.

With a shove they got me to start walking and led me to the captain’s chambers. Myself, the man in charge, and two others entered the room. The captain turned around to greet us, he was a large Galka. He had white hair and sharp eyes. The way he walked when he stood up from his chair showed that he had been on the sea most of his life. Needless to say in that one instant of seeing him, this is a captain I could respect.

The captain looked me over. I was still wearing my dancing outfit. I thought it would be best to try to explain to any of the guards in Bastok that I had gotten lost and they’d just think I was a brainless dancer and buy that story. Here it seemed that wouldn’t work.

Finally the captain spoke in a deep voice, “We were attacked by the beasts and you bring me a present. How nice. What the hell happened out there?”

“Sir. We repelled the attackers and then Wiles noticed that some of the beasts had gone into hiding, so we investigated and found this Mithra.” Then added as a side note, “With three of the beasts dead all around her.”

“Interesting” came the captain’s response. “And what do you have to say for yourself, Miss?”

Well, here goes nothing. “Oh, I was lost and then the rrrain came and I looked for shelterrr on this boat and then it was attacked and I was soooooo scarrrred. Thank you for saving me!”

One of the other men in the room spoke up. “Captain. We examined the bodies and the strikes used to kill them were very precise. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Well, as a trained Dancer of the Bastok Arrrrmy, I have learrrned some knife skills, I guess I just got lucky.” I had to say something or else they’d think I was an assassin trying for their captain.
With that the captain let out a mighty laugh and said, “Take her to the brig. I’ll decide what to do with her later.”

-----

Except for the light coming through the slits in the door, I was in darkness. My hands were still bound behind me. All I could do was sit on the stool in this room and wait.

After what I guessed was a couple of hours the door opened and a figure entered the room. I couldn’t make out much on him as he was blocking the only light. He set down a tray of food on the floor beside me. I could smell the aroma of the soup. He then went back and shut the door. In the dimly lit room I could make out more of him as he walked to the side, and when he turned around to shut the door, he had a tail!

When he finished shutting the door he came back and sat down beside me. He dipped the bread in the soup and then said, “Open up.”

“What?” my response was that of astonishment. He was going to feed me. How demeaning. “Just unshackle me and I can eat on my own.”

He gave off a warm smile, “Sorrrrry, can’t do that. We’ve seen what you can do with those hands.” He actually was quite handsome. Or I mean, not bad to look at.

I purred softly back at him, “I bet you’d want to see what I can do with these hands.” What? Did I just say that, with that connotation? I must not be thinking straight.

The other mithra leaned back putting the bread back on the tray. “If you don’t want to eat, why don’t you tell me about yourrrself?”

“I’m thinking the same. I don’t norrrmaly see male mithra rrroaming around.”

He laughed softly, “I don’t find it strrrange at all. Therrre’s one arrround everywhere I go. Although you are rrright. Until you showed up I was the only mithra on this ship.”

“What ship is this?”

“My, you’rrrre the inquisitive one. Maybe if you eat I’ll tell you more.”

The smell of the food was starting to get to me. I still didn’t like the fact that he was going to feed me. I guess it was better than them just leaving it there and me trying to eat it without the use of my hands. So I finally relented.

I don’t know why I was expecting him to either shove too much food in my mouth to make me choke or be a jerk about it, but he was a gentleman letting me say what I wanted and then holding it there until I was ready to eat it. He told me a lot of things I had already figured out. This was a pirate ship that was working with the Bastok Navy. They were on a mission to deliver some cargo and were one of the blockade running ships. He said they made a good deal each trip since the items they brought back were highly in demand.

When I was finished he used a cloth and wiped the corners of my mouth. As he did this he looked at me and said, “You arrre imprrresive.” And then left the room.

Impressive? What? I didn’t tell him anything about myself. If he was trying to get under my skin, he succeeded. I got up and went to the door and looked out. I got to see him walking with his tail happily swaying back and forth as he went down the corridor.

No one else came, and time seemed to stand still.

I could tell that the storm had stopped. The swaying of the ship had returned to normal. And then I heard a bunch of footsteps and then the light was blocked again as forms opened the cell and entered.

Two of them were carrying things. They put down the crate and a barrel and then left me alone with the mithra.

“The Captain seems to have taking a liking to you. So much so that he’s rrrequested an audience with you.”

I don’t understand this mithra at all. I know I’m the one captured, and he’s making it sound like I’m in charge. Is this just to let my guard down?

“But he does think that your attirrre needed to change. I mean, the old fool might get seduced by someone as beautiful as you drrressed as you arrre.”

“And so you’rrre going to drrress me now?” I rolled my eyes.

“Did you want me to?”

“No. I can dress myself.”

“Without yourrr hands?”

I paused at this stalemate. We both knew the answer to his question. But I wasn’t going to give in.

“How about a comprrromise then?” he asked. As if I wasn’t in a compromising position already. “I’ll change as well, thus we both arrre in the same boat.”

He took off his shirt. I just stared at his chest. He was well toned from working on the ship. And then he started to take off his pants.

“What arrre you doing? I don’t want to see that!” I screamed at him.

He stopped and then made a pouty face, “Aww, I’m hurrrrt.” Then he laughed it off and went to the crate and barrel.

Reaching into the crate he pulled out a crowbar and pried off the top of the barrel. Then he pulled some clothes out of the crate. Removing all of that from the room he came back to stand right in front of me. His scent was that of the sea. Reaching around me he began to feel me through all of my clothes.

“Hey! What’re you doing?”

“No offence, but I need to make surrre you didn’t have any weapons hidden in yourrr outfit.” Smiling he moved behind me, “But you seem to be clean, my name is Derithan.” As he said that I could feel the shackles being removed from my wrists.

“They call me Nekaru.” I responded as I rubbed my wrists glad they were finally free.

“That’s not a mithran name.”

“I know.”

“We’ve prrrepared waterrr for a bath and a set of clothes is therrre as well. I’ll be rrright outside when you’rrre ready.”

As he left the room I went to investigate what had been left for me. It was exactly as he described, a barrel filled with water, a bar of soap, and a stack of clothes. I knew that water was important for a long trip, so I was amazed they would use a whole barrel of it on me.

I took off my clothes and picked up the soap and immersed myself into the water. It felt very relaxing. I let my mind drift off to all the other things that had been happening. I was wondering if my old crew was still doing okay.

When I was finished I stepped out and focused on what I needed to do to get out of this predicament I got myself into. Fully dressed in the clothes they gave me. I knocked on the door. As it opened Derithan looked at me and said. “Those arrre some of my clothes, but the surre look betterrr on you than they did on me.”

I blushed and stammered something. Luckily he saved me by continuing to talk, “So off to the Captain now.” What was wrong with me?

As we entered the Captain’s chambers it was only the captain, Derithan and myself.

“Glad you could make it. Now cut the act. I know a skilled body when I see one, and I can tell you have sea legs. So what in Levithan’s waters were you doing hiding on MY ship?”

Sometimes the best way out of things is to tell the truth. Even if I could think of any plausible story, trying to keep up a façade is not easy to do. And I have a feeling this Galka would be the type to see right through it.

Standing as straight and confident as I could, I coldly looked into the Captain’s eyes. “My name is Nekaru. I am currently working with the Bastok Fourth Division as a Dancer. However, I came to the porrrt of my own frrree will. I wanted to see the ships. I wanted to see the sea again.”

“Ne, ka, ru. Nek, aru. It’s not often you hear Galkan symbols put together in a name. So what’s you’re real name, solider?”

“The name I enlisted as was Sofia, but I was given the name Nekaru by a Galka.”

“So you know what it means.”

I nodded.

“Hmm. Then maybe it is fortune that is smiling upon us this trip. Are you worried about being AWOL from your unit?”

“If I was worried about that, would I have snuck into the porrrt of my own volition?”

The Captain crossed his arms and thought for a minute. “Very well. What brings you out to the sea then?”

I stopped. I don’t know. My real answer is freedom. The freedom to go where I wanted, and do what I wanted, and to see the world on my terms. But I can’t say that here. I have my own ship, and my own crew all awaiting my return. So why was I here? What was the providence that led me to this path? I needed to say something. People have reasons why they do things. I just wanted to see the sea. But is that a good enough answer?

“I was listening to the wind. And felt a storm coming and wanted to be a parrrt of it.”

I have no idea where that answer came from. And it surprised the Captain as well. He seemed to think things over a bit before responding.

“Derithan”

“Yes, Captain?”

“Take her to your quarters. Keep her there until night. Then each night I want her up on deck. I want to see what she can do. But you two stay out of sight during the day, understood?”

“Yes, Captain.” He responded.

Derithan led me back down below and to the brig. However instead of going into the brig, he moved the lantern from it’s position and flipped a switch and part of the hull opened up.

“Afterrr you.” He said sweeping his arms toward the opening.

Looking inside I could see a small makeshift room. There was a chest, a nightstand with a lantern and a well crafted bed. I noticed that the wooden wall was thick and thus would not make a hollow sound if being searched.

Stepping inside the room was actually smaller than their brig, but it was big enough for two people to move around in. The bed actually took up most of the space. And it seemed strange to have this type of a bed on a ship.

Derithan moved into the room behind me and then lit the lantern. After that he shut the door behind us, and was unable to see a way out. I guess there was another trigger in here to open that door.

“What’s with the bed?” I asked.

“Let’s just say that the Captain has special clientele that visit the ship descrrretly when we’re in porrrt.”

My eyes got wide for a second, but then I realized. How naïve of me, being taken in by him just because I hadn’t been around any male mithra for a long while.

He took off his shirt and said, “It’s going to be a busy night, you should prrrobably get some rrrest.”

I look at him, then the bed, then back at him. Taking his shirt I responded, “Right”. Tossing his shirt on the floor I curled up using it as my pillow.

He stood there in shock for a moment, but then he took the two pillows off of the bed and tossed one on top of me and then lay down on the floor as well.

I took the pillow he gave me and rested my head on it. This was my first day on the Silent Storm. What have I gotten myself into now?