Legend of the Crystals

Stra felt her heartbeat quicken when the little moogle mentioned Dris’s name. Though she was touched by the moogle’s kindness toward Dris, Stra knew she would have to ignore that part of his question. Jote’s voice echoed through Stra’s mind, rebuking her temptation to speak of Dris, the Viera who was now supposed to be dead to all of them. She coldly sat each item they were willing to sell to outsiders on the wooden counter, considering that their stock was running low Jote had told her to raise their prices. Five potions, elixirs, ethers, phoenix downs, several slices of sun-dried jerky harvested from the Malboros from the previous day, three loaves of bread infused with cloves and one alarm clock.

For a few moments she stood and coldly eyed the fluffy outsider. She couldn’t deny the innate cuteness of creature, but her loyalty to Jote and the order of the Green Word kept her kindness toward the creature in check. Suddenly a soft breeze filed with lavender leaves traveled past Stra’s ears. The Green Word’s gentle voice had told her to offer more, and not harden her heart toward this moogle. Stra’s expression changed to a gentle, almost motherly smile at the moogle as she reached under the wooden counter and gently laid down one pair of Magick Gloves and a pair of Blazer Gloves on the counter. “Take these.” She whispered.

Solas seemed confused for a moment. The shopkeeper was oddly quiet... like something was wrong. Perhaps she was just shaken by recent events. Whatever the case, he eyed the food thoughtfully. He didn't have the gil to buy any potions or the like in any reasonable quantity... he just had to hope either he wouldn't need them or Dris had a decent supply.

It was Stra's whisper that cemented Solas's concerns. There was something going on that he wasn't aware of.

Clambering onto the counter and settling down on his knees there, he eyed the items placed before him. He didn't say anything about the gloves... they looked magical... surely he couldn't afford them. Collecting up a small pile of jerky and bread, he placed them in front of him and glanced shyly at the oddly-behaving viera. "How much?" He asked, eyeing the gloves nervously, expecting an outrageous price.

Pushing both pairs of gloves toward Solas, Stra whispered “Take them for…” Her lips trembled, nervous to say Dris’s name. “For your… Friend. I want to ensure you travel safely.” The word felt odd on Stra’s lips, though she was certain that she wanted to give the gloves to him, if only for Dris’s sake. After all there was a chance that Lilis could be found and hopefully returned to the village unharmed. This was for the greater good, and the last kindness she could do for Dris. “As for the items…” She continued remembering Jote had told her to raise their prices by ten Gil, Stra’s voice was no longer a whisper “Potions are eighty Gil each…,” She listed off all of the items she had sat on the counter, each was priced up by ten Gil. “One bread loaf is five Gil and a pack of eight dried meat strips is thirty Gil.”

Solas checked his money pouch and found only 98 gil remaining. Counting out 3 packs of jerky and a loaf of bread, he gathered them before him and placed the 95 gil the selection cost by their side. "These," he said. "Please," he added, remembering to be polite.

Stra nodded at Solas, hoping that he would just take the free gloves before another Viera walked by and noticed that she was giving an outsider two pairs of her handmade gloves and asking for barely anything in return. She accepted the 95 Gil that the little moogle offered to her. “Safe travels.” She said the words with finality, her heart filled with sorrow, but also hope that Dris would be happier in the outside world.

Dris was so consumed with going over a list of the white magick spells she had memorized that when she heard Krim's voice she jumped in surprise.

“I’m not supposed to be talking to you… But, please… Find Lilis.” Krim’s eyes looked heavy with grief. He avoided meeting Dris’s gaze, it was almost as if she was invisible to him now.

“I will find her.” Dris’s voice was barely a whisper, but filled with conviction. Krim nodded as he still faced away from her.

“…Thank you and be safe.” As soon as the words passed through his lips he held back tears as he swiftly ran away from Dris, hoping that she wouldn’t forget all of them once she left, although he and the other Viera were forced to forget her. Dris took a deep breath of the forest air, and went back to reviewing her white magick training in her mind as she continued waiting for Solas.

Solas gathered the food and the gloves and hopped off the counter, before hurrying along the path as fast as his little legs could take him without resorting to an outright run. "Thank you!" He called back as he went, hoping the gloves would cheer Dris up. He didn't know how they could do it, but if the viera shopkeeper thought they would be useful...

By the time Solas reached the village outskirts he was a little exhausted from moving so fast. He slowed down for the final stretch of the journey, catching his breath as he looked out for Dris. When he finally saw her, he headed in her direction eagerly.

Dris smiled sweetly as the little Moogle approached and said “Shall we go?” She couldn’t hide a bit of excitement from her voice, she didn’t have to feel ashamed about her longing for adventure now. She was a “rogue” Viera now, but she hoped she could find a purpose doing some good to those that she met on the outside. She wanted to learn a lot about the outside world, but she also desperately wanted to find Lilis. The Village needed Lilis and she also loved the Viera, almost like a sister.

Not knowing quite what to say about the matter, Solas held out the gloves he had just acquired for Dris. He wondered what significance they had. Obviously they were magical, but they didn't look like they'd have any emotional value... at least not to the culture he was familiar with.

Staring in stunned silence as Solas held out the Magick Gloves to her, Dris’s lavender eyes suddenly filled with tears. ’Stra… She sold her Magick gloves… For me?!!’ Dris knew well that these gloves were one of Stra’s prized creations. She had worked so hard finding the proper materials to make them, sewing them together and then infusing them with magick power. “Thank you so much Solas!” Is all Dris could say, her face flushed with emotion as she dried the tears from her eyes the best she could.

Solas tilted his head. Evidently, these gloves had move importance than he thought. Making sure to hand both pairs of gloves over, not being sure he had any use for either of them himself, he waited for Dris to calm back down, a determined posture indicating he was now ready to go.

"You seemed... troubled..." Solas said. "I wanted to find something to cheer you up. It was the least I could do for your help, kupo. The way everyone is behaving... you're only going to guide me out of the jungle... right...?" His face displayed a look of concern.

“Yes, I will lead you out of the jungle. Don’t worry, I won’t burden you after that.” Dris smiled, hoping to dispel his worries as she said the words, hoping that Solas knew that she wasn’t expecting him to spend any more money on her. She didn’t want to worry the young moogle with Viera politics, after all, those frivolous, arcane rules were behind her now too. She was honestly shocked that he could afford or even was able to convince Stra to part with these beloved gloves. “I’m really grateful, but I hope you didn’t spend too much money on things for me. I..” Her soft voice faltered a bit as she regained her composure. After consideration she slid the Magick gloves onto her hands, immediately feeling the magick power within her increase dramatically. “Follow me.” She smiled, finally stepping through the Magick barrier, her clawed foot gracefully meeting the grass into the Golmore Jungle.

Solas followed after Dris, giving the village one last glance before following after. This was certainly a strange place... with strange people... he wondered what Dris would think about the outside world.

"N-no... it's not that..." he said hastily, realising Dris had taken his words the wrong way. "It's just... you and the others are acting very odd if you're just going to be guiding me to the edge of the jungle... the way you're acting... it's as though you don't expect to return..." he sounded concerned. Concerned, confused and apologetic over how his earlier words were taken.

Seeing the darkness of the deeper jungle ahead, Solas felt his stomach tighten. He was definitely not looking forward to the journey... and he desperately hoped he could get his hoverbike to work again after leaving, given how long the walk to Dalmasca was from this side of the Ozmone Plain. Especially for legs as short as his.

Elyssa ran as fast as her feet carried her. She wasn't sure where she was going, only knowing she had to get away. Her katana hung at her side. It had been given to her by her mentor, Ghi Yelgi. He had taught her the ways of a Parivir and she had learned and learned eagerly. Then continued on her jounrney, exploring he world and helping out when she could. Of course, this habit of helping got her into trouble. This was the reason she was running so fast. Those strange creatures, Seeq Elyssa thought they were called, had chased her halfway across the continent all because she'd messed up one of their plans. She hadn't thought they could be so persistent. She must have messed up something really important to them when she'd freed those people, those other humes, she just wasn't sure exactly what it was.

Anyways, she'd had a brilliant plan to finally lose them. Lead them into the jungle and run. They'd get lost and she'd leave all okay. However, her plan had a single. Horrible. Flaw. Elyssa realized this as she slowed down, checking her items from her last visit to a towns shop. she had 230 Gil. Four potions. 2 Ether. 1 Elixir, and five Remedy's. Oh and decent food supplies. enough Jerky and bread to last her about a fortnight. She'd used some potions and an ether. But anyways...the plan's flaw....

She didn't know where she was. She was totally lost. Elyssa sighs and starts walking, her pursuers couldn't find her. She couldn't fight so many by herself. She'd be captured...or even die. And the creatures in the jungle were worrisome enough already without the added stress of evading capture or death by the seeq.

Just her luck.

Walking swiftly through the path that held the name; The Needlebreak, by the Viera. It was a winding path with many dead ends, luckily Dris remembered the song that the Stra had taught her and all the other sapling Viera. This song would sound like gibberish to any non-Viera ear since they would not know the names of each passage within the Golmore Jungle, but it held within it the order in which one would need to leave the Wood. The old song danced in Dris’s mind, even as she glanced back to make sure she hadn’t left Solas behind.

“We’re heading toward the exit toward the Ozome Plain.” She smiled back at her little friend. If he was feeling tired she would offer her shoulder down to him. Although they hadn’t encountered any monsters yet, Dris knew that they were out there, stalking in the shadows. She glanced down at her Magick Gloves and once again felt a flood of thankfulness and confidence. These gloves would help her inflict more damage with her Green magick spells, increase the amount that she could heal with her White magick and would double the accuracy of any offensive status spells she casted. They would try their best to avoid any enemies and if needed she would have to stay alert to put them to sleep before they could attack her or her friend Solas.

Solas tried his best to keep on his feet for as long as possible, but eventually had to resort to his wings, and then finally riding upon Dris's shoulder. The stuffy environment made it all the more difficult for the furry youth, who was developing a longing for the open air that was beginning to make it difficult for him to breathe. He thought about pulling out his ocarina, but decided it would not be kind on the viera's ears - he knew for sure he won't be best pleased at anyone playing the instrument beside his own similarly-shaped pair. Instead, he tried to take his mind off the environment with daydreams of being a famous freelance airship pilot, adventuring out in the open sky.

Elyssa stops to rest a moment. She hadn't stopped since just before Ozmone Plain. They had chased her across it, not pausing for a second. Luckily, they had had to go on foot and were rather slow, but they'd tracked her movements. She's exhausted. Not for the first time, Elyssa wishes she had some Princes Kiss Potion. It would have been so helpful right about now. She hadn't prepared well enough. Not to mention, the jungle was full of danger. Panthers attacked her constantly, and she wasn't using any elemental abilities for now, trying to conserve her strength and energy.

After a few minutes, Elyssa starts moving again. Albeit at a slower pace. Her purusers were still nearby, although she couldn't see then anymore. She'd hoped she'd lost them.

But she doubted it.

Almost to the Paths of Chained Light Dris suddenly ducked behind a thick group of vines. She and the little moogle on her shoulder were obscured by the vines as a pack of panthers stalked down the path. Staying very still and quiet within the vines Dris gave Solas a look of reassurance. As long as they were very quiet the Panthers would move along and they wouldn’t have to get into an unnecessary battle.

Suddenly Dris heard some quick footsteps running down the path, they hit the forest floor in a pattern she didn’t recognize. Despite feeling a bit afraid, she continued to hide behind the thick vines of the Wood, hoping that whatever creature was coming down the path wouldn’t notice her and Solas. She was ready to cast sleep on any enemy that tried to harm them.

Solas remained held on to Dris for a moment, before quietly fluttering off her shoulder and gently dropping to the ground. Pulling out the remaining coins from his almost-empty money pouch, he waited in case he was forced to use the objects for distraction. At least panthers had no method of flight... though he was pretty certain one of these creatures had fired a ranged technick at him at some point in his initial journey into the jungle.

The sound of a completely separate potential threat, however, only served to drastically reduce his confidence. He was sure Dris had better experience fighting than he did and could possibly handle herself against the animals... but against two threats...?

Elyssa takes a chance to look over her shoulder, and swears quietly, from a branching path, her enemies were in sight, and they'd seen her as well. It was a group of three Seeq. The enemies, began to move faster, and Elyssa knew she wouldn't be able to outrun then.

"No choice but to fight," Elyssa says to herself, turning to face the Seeq charging at her, and drawing her weapon. Elyssa notes how tired she is. If she wants to survive, she'll have to end this as quickly as possible...if she could. Elyssa swallows, this wasn't good. Wasn't good at all.

Elyssa notices the the Seeq's weapons and shakes her head a little in dismay. Two of the three carried handaxes, and the final one carried a net.

"Don't let 'er get away!" the one holding the net snarled the order.

"Can we kill her?" One of the axe holding ones oinks.

"No, stupid, we need her alive, but you can hurt her bad as ya want!" The net responds.

Elyssa's eyes widen. They wanted her alive? Wait? Needed her alive? What were they up too? What had she gotten herself into? Elyssa shifts her grip on her sword, reminding herself she was far better trained then them. She'd go for the one with the net. He seemed like the leader. If he took him out, the other two may flee back to the others in the group.

She had to act quickly. As soon as they got close enough, Elyssa was aiming a Wind Slash at them all. Hopefully, it would take care of the leader and injure the other two badly enough to run away.

It would take most of what remained of her strength though, so she couldn't miss. Elyssa takes a few steps back to stand a couple feet away a wall of Ivy to her left several feet away, her eyes were trained on the enemies coming at her.

Dris bit her bottom lip, trying her best to stay silent as a stranger that appeared to be a Hume and some familiar looking Seeqs ran past their hidden refuge. Where they really the same Seeqs that had invaded Eruyt Village? One of them held an axe, and it’s bulbous eyes were a different shade of mossy green than the Seeqs she remembered from yesterday. None of the Seeqs that had invaded the Village had had such brutal looking weapons. She was hesitant to assume this Seeq was the same as the previous ones that she and Solas had encountered, perhaps the Hume wasn’t the real victim here... She waited in silence as the Hume and Seeqs began to exchange words.

After hearing one of the Seeqs oink that they were planning to hurt the Hume badly but not enough to kill her, Dris felt torn. She considered casting a Sleep spell that would buy the Hume some time to get away from her pursuers, but she also didn’t want to give away their hiding spot within the wall of thick ivy vines. Suddenly, there was another odd walking pattern coming from directly behind the Seeqs. The footsteps pounded against the jungle surface, making the moss shake under Dris’s feet. She tried to keep her breathing steady as her heart rate increased, horrified as the owner of the loud footsteps slowly came into view.

Swinging along on two tree trunk like arms, the creature slowly moved passed the Seeqs from behind. Although it was huge, and loud it didn’t seem interested in the Seeqs or the Hume.

“Gah! What the heck is that?!!” One of the Seeqs yelled loudly at the other, pointing his axe at the giant creature.

’That must be a Treant!’ Dris thought, her heart still pounding, hoping that Solas was doing alright on her shoulder, this situation was becoming scarier by the moment. She had never encountered a Treant before, but she remembered that unlike most of the monsters in the Golmore Jungle, Treants were docile unless they were attacked. Lilis had told Dris about her encounters with the tree like giants, that did not harm unless harmed; once attacked they would normally cast Protect upon themselves, and begin attacking in self defense. Stra had told all of them a tale when they were young, sapling Vieras that a Treant had saved her when she had gotten lost in the Jungle as a sapling.

“I don’t know what it is, but my fire will make short work of it!” The other Seeq, who sounded a bit more intelligent, stupidly outstretched it’s arm, and threw a Red Fang at the Treant. The creature’s left trunk was immediately set aflame, and it twisted around wildly, roaring in pain and fury toward the Seeq attackers.