Post by Hiko on Feb 4, 2011 3:54:08 GMT -5
A village of creaky bridges, shabby postings, and straw-topped huts, Maria felt the familiar in an unknown land. Too much of the town reminded her of Paloom, of Poft, and of Altair. There was a sadness amongst the villagers, though, despite their warm smiles and busy lives. She'd seen those same hollow glances in the elders before – yes, Altair was a prime comparison. What had ravaged these people? War? No, not quite. There was no distrust in their tones, no worry in their laughs.
Whatever had harrowed this small community had long since been resolved, and didn't seem to have come from brothers of another land.
As Maria walked uneasily along the boardwalk, she watched with curious interest as an older fisherman muttered some sort of prayer after every cast of his line. Grinning at the zealous act, she sat down beside the man and asked casually, “Do you mind some company?”
“Hunh? Oh, morning. Fine day for fishing, eh?”
“It's beautiful. If I didn't have somewhere to be, I'd think I'd like to stay longer.”
“Thought you looked new about here.” He cast the line once more, “Yevon aid me, fill my basket, feed my family.”
“I'm sorry?” Maria blinked. Hadn't she red some text or another about a Yu Yevon? Were they related? It was always difficult to tell where the lines blurred in the Merge.
“Ah, don't mind me. I'm just an old man with old beliefs.”
“That's not to say your beliefs aren't perfectly fine.”
The man laughed, “Most'd argue with you on that, little girl. So! You're going somewhere, yeah?”
Maria nodded, drumming her fingers in her lap, “Heading to Fynn on the next boat out.”
“Can't say as I've ever heard of the place. Is it very far?”
“A ways off, and the boat I'm taking is normally for tourists, so there'll be quite a few stops along the way. But, if I want a straight ride, I'll have to wait another month, and I couldn't possibly keep my queen waiting.”
“Queen?” The man pulled his line back in, frowning at the lack of bait on the hook. Maria laughed softly at the sight.
“Mm, queen. She rules over Fynn. Leads the armies, takes care of the people.”
“Sounds a bit like our old maesters. Shame about them.”
“Shame? How do you mea-” A bugling wave disrupted Maria's question. “Ah! Sorry about this – looks like that boat of mine's ready to leave! It was nice meeting you, ah,” she faltered.
“Jona.”
“Maria!”
“I'll pray for your safe trip, then.”
Maria scrambled up and began running down the walk, “Thanks! I'll need it!”
--
“First stop on our journey will be to the island of Besaid, childhood home of our savior and bringer of the Eternal Calm, the Lady Yuna. Next, we'll be heading to Gulgan Gulch, where you're welcome to find what the seers see in your future!
We'll have our last stop in Poft, where the White Knight Cid offers airship travel and tours of his own. Now, below deck, you'll find...”
Where the tour guide continued to from there, Maria had no clue.
So, Cid was back in business, was he? But, hadn't he died? Maria leaned against the railed siding of the small boat as it began its voyage, grinning like a prime fool at the idea. So the rumors were true after all! Imagine, the dead returning to life, just like that! And if Cid was back to his old habits, would that mean that perhaps somewhere, Minwu was finally living a life of his own?
No, no. If he'd revived, surely he would have seen to the care of Fynn – and more importantly, to Hilda – first. Maria sighed.
At least if great mages wouldn't return, abominable men might not either.
The violet-haired girl stretched out from her half-resting position and picked up her satchel. It was as good a time as any to head below de-
A harsh rock of the boat shoved Maria off-balance. She brought her hands forward in an effort to grab at the railing, but it was in vain. Misjudging her timing, Maria's wrist slammed against the blunt guarding as she tumbled over the side and into the water.
Two thoughts went through her mind as she flailed:
The first was that her ever-faithful glove had slipped off at some point in the fall.
The second was that she really should have learned how to swim as a child.
Whatever had harrowed this small community had long since been resolved, and didn't seem to have come from brothers of another land.
As Maria walked uneasily along the boardwalk, she watched with curious interest as an older fisherman muttered some sort of prayer after every cast of his line. Grinning at the zealous act, she sat down beside the man and asked casually, “Do you mind some company?”
“Hunh? Oh, morning. Fine day for fishing, eh?”
“It's beautiful. If I didn't have somewhere to be, I'd think I'd like to stay longer.”
“Thought you looked new about here.” He cast the line once more, “Yevon aid me, fill my basket, feed my family.”
“I'm sorry?” Maria blinked. Hadn't she red some text or another about a Yu Yevon? Were they related? It was always difficult to tell where the lines blurred in the Merge.
“Ah, don't mind me. I'm just an old man with old beliefs.”
“That's not to say your beliefs aren't perfectly fine.”
The man laughed, “Most'd argue with you on that, little girl. So! You're going somewhere, yeah?”
Maria nodded, drumming her fingers in her lap, “Heading to Fynn on the next boat out.”
“Can't say as I've ever heard of the place. Is it very far?”
“A ways off, and the boat I'm taking is normally for tourists, so there'll be quite a few stops along the way. But, if I want a straight ride, I'll have to wait another month, and I couldn't possibly keep my queen waiting.”
“Queen?” The man pulled his line back in, frowning at the lack of bait on the hook. Maria laughed softly at the sight.
“Mm, queen. She rules over Fynn. Leads the armies, takes care of the people.”
“Sounds a bit like our old maesters. Shame about them.”
“Shame? How do you mea-” A bugling wave disrupted Maria's question. “Ah! Sorry about this – looks like that boat of mine's ready to leave! It was nice meeting you, ah,” she faltered.
“Jona.”
“Maria!”
“I'll pray for your safe trip, then.”
Maria scrambled up and began running down the walk, “Thanks! I'll need it!”
--
“First stop on our journey will be to the island of Besaid, childhood home of our savior and bringer of the Eternal Calm, the Lady Yuna. Next, we'll be heading to Gulgan Gulch, where you're welcome to find what the seers see in your future!
We'll have our last stop in Poft, where the White Knight Cid offers airship travel and tours of his own. Now, below deck, you'll find...”
Where the tour guide continued to from there, Maria had no clue.
So, Cid was back in business, was he? But, hadn't he died? Maria leaned against the railed siding of the small boat as it began its voyage, grinning like a prime fool at the idea. So the rumors were true after all! Imagine, the dead returning to life, just like that! And if Cid was back to his old habits, would that mean that perhaps somewhere, Minwu was finally living a life of his own?
No, no. If he'd revived, surely he would have seen to the care of Fynn – and more importantly, to Hilda – first. Maria sighed.
At least if great mages wouldn't return, abominable men might not either.
The violet-haired girl stretched out from her half-resting position and picked up her satchel. It was as good a time as any to head below de-
A harsh rock of the boat shoved Maria off-balance. She brought her hands forward in an effort to grab at the railing, but it was in vain. Misjudging her timing, Maria's wrist slammed against the blunt guarding as she tumbled over the side and into the water.
Two thoughts went through her mind as she flailed:
The first was that her ever-faithful glove had slipped off at some point in the fall.
The second was that she really should have learned how to swim as a child.
