Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Chasing Cleyra ❯ The Exile ( Chapter 1 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

It was said at some point the people of this world sought refuge from their troubles around the great Crystals. They still base their lives around the Crystals, they themselves live around the Crystals, as generations before them had.

There had been no accounts of a Crystal dulling and its township succumbing to the dreaded miasma, short of the long, hard road that the Crystal caravans pursued and the uncountable hardships that lied along it. The townships, and the numerous races that inhabited them, were thrust together in alliance, as that would be the only means of guaranteeing their survival. There was no time for argument when their homes were constantly threatened by the dark mist that roamed the land.

I dread the day when that alliance falls...




********





5 years ago...




Once again Anton's sword was tossed lazily into the closet, the ring chained to its hilt screwed snugly around the arm of a coatrack. His chainmail and other accessories were scattered around its other limbs, held up by distorted wooden hangers. He looked into the small room one more time, checking over his equipment once more before shutting the small door. Everything was shut tightly into the small closet under the stairs, hidden away again until another eight months had passed.

Even then he wouldn't be the one wielding it.

Why he bothered starting his caravan duty months before it was due was beyond him at the moment, at his age just the myrrh festival tired him enough. Better to fill the chalice early, he told himself - whether he'd be able to sustain that statement was yet to be seen. Thirteen long years he led the caravan of Halemt - and he'd never set foot out into the dangerous wilds again. He suddenly got the urge just to head back and stare at his armory just a little while longer, and relish in the memories eminating from the repeatedly-refurbished battle wear.

But enough of that - it was time to notify his next-of-kin that his mighty brigand had finally disbanded - and he would be passing the torch.

"Is Cleyra around?" he shouted.

"Out playing again," his wife's voice came from upstairs. "...not sure if anyone's out with her, but she can sure keep herself busy."

There she goes again, he thought. In any case, 'out playing' meant 'out playing somewhere in the radius of the crystal', which appropriately translated to 'hell if I know where'. As it stood, his record time for finding his 15-year old daughter was an hour and a half.

But as always, he set out, walking from his house and out of the town square. He was still surprised how virtually no one lived in the town of Hamel - the town's population was now down to 30, half of what it was two years ago - meanwhile Marr's Pass, the intersection at which most Crystal expeditions met, had steadily grew, as many of the larger cities did - but Marr's Pass was easily the prime example. True enough, their caravans were a little more qualified, and much more work/Gil was available in the bigger settlements, but his heart sunk further as during the celebration of the end of this year's myrrh season last night, several Selkies made their intentions known. Another four people were off to Marr's Pass, two to Shella.

Anton himself could never be brought to leave the country.

He neared the edge of the Crystal's defenses. He slid to a halt as a purple haze could be made out beyond the trees. On the ground a distinct line was made seperating the wilted grass from the pristine greens of the township. He stretched, ready to make his way around the perimeter. He hadn't moved more than 50 feet before he caught sight of a blonde-haired girl, wrapped in a loose brown tunic. She lied in the grass, picking at a large flower. His smile suddenly reviving, he stepped forward, ready to call out to her.

He stopped his foot before it touched the miasma-soaked ground. His face froze as he raised his head again, staring out blankly to his daughter, who now noticed him. She was lying deep within the miasma-blighted grove. "...Cleyra!! What are you doing?!"

"...huh?" she glanced around again. "...what are you talking about..."

"YOU'RE IN THE MIASMA! Are you blighted?! Quickly, get out!!"

"...but I've been out here for two hours now... I found some nice flowers for the table." she held up a small basket of red-petaled carnations. Anton knew for a fact they weren't of Halemtian origin.

"...Cleyra... how long have... you been in the miasma?"

"...what I said, two hours... ish." she pushed herself up, tilting her head.

Anton didn't believe his eyes. Cleyra showed none of the exhaustion that was usually attributed to low-level miasma exposure... as a matter of fact, he was convinced that she showed no signs of harm at all. "...gods..."

He still had no idea how she had remained so far from the village and not taken any harm, but Anton knew at that moment that she was destined for duty outside the village - as a caravaneer. He had no explanation for the powers that she possessed, that was, if she had such, but he'd keep that a secret from the citizens of Halemt... for a while, at least.




********

It's been a year since the exile.

Teddy's dad got up the nerve to tell the town council about some ability of Cleyra's... never knew her really, she was around here a lot but neither of us really got up the nerve to talk to her. Girls... girls aren't my thing. But that's besides the point. Eventually when word spread around the few of us remaining here in Halemt, about the fact that after some experimentation they found that she was INVULNERABLE to miasma, the idiot Lilties here drove her and Teddy's dad out of town! Why, they were getting the assumption that she was some kind of monster! Those moogles always loitering around here don't as much as cough with miasma in their face and you don't see people chasing them with torches and pitchforks!

Lilties... aren't my thing either. I bet it was some kinda grudge, like maybe their and Teddy's family's crops were a little off-proportion or something, or some petty thing... that's a Lilty for you... step on their toes and they're in your face... I know the one Lilty family here had a kid who used to just RAMBLE about how his father was a great soldier once and the Lilties ruled the world at some point and blah blah blah. Well, they're not the authority now, here or elsewhere, they need to get that through their heads...

What a rant... I sound like such a bigot.

Either way, Teddy was a bit upset for a while, seeing as the rest of his family pretty much vacated during the event. He's been living with us since then, and I think he's simmered down a bit... enough about that though, I did happen to find some interesting new samples today... I'd better get to examining them.

********


A slender, feathery arm set down an equally feathery pen in a nearby goblet of ink. The other hand flipped the ornate diary shut, quickly shoving it into a drawer, again freeing up space on the cramped desk - the small surface was nearly entirely taken up by pots containing exotic plants and flowers. The floor along that wall held more plants, those that were either too tall or required too large of a pot to place on the countertop. A window had been carved through the wall, covered up with simple netting to let the sun in.

The Yuke stood up, nearly toppling several other pots in the process. He stepped over to the bed nearby, lifting up one of two recently-potted flowers. He peered through the rusted sallet covering his face. "...whoa, that's a new one no doubt... haven't seen any shade of purple like that before..." he set it down on the desk, sitting down and sliding the chair forward. He held up a small scope to where his eye would normally have been, starting to look over the specimen as he drug a large botany text off the shelf next to him.

"Lavitz!" a gruff voice called from downstairs. "Get down here, the Lilties are leaving and you'd better say goodbye!"

Lavitz grumbled, standing up on his toes as he peered through the window. Down below, the mentioned Lilty family was busy shuttling boxes of goods from the shack next to Lavtiz's, which eventually ended up in a large wagon nearby. "...not that I'll miss them or anything... but MORE people are leaving?"

"Lavitz!!"

"Coming, coming..." he set the scope down, continuing to mutter to himself as he left his desk.


********


Thus, Lavitz would go on to spend the majority of his afternoon watching the four Lilties running back and forth, moving crates that appeared impossibly large for their stout frames to handle. Two older Yukes, his guardians, were busy talking with the village elder, an old Clavat - one of the few remaining in the rapidly disappearing town.

Lavitz raised his hand as the last box was added to the jigsaw puzzle of wrappers and containers that completely filled up the small wagon, causing it to sag. "Uh, question, goodbye and everything, but why exactly are you guys leaving Halemt, anyways?"

"You're too young to understand." the lead Lilty sighed, pulling down the burlap that covered the rear of the wagon. Another had already made his way around to the front, where he took the seat behind the blue, rotund bull-like steed. Lavitz attempted to make his way to the front, but the driver had already lashed the reed that caused the wagon to lumber forwards. He simply stopped, his arm half-raised in protest as the remaining Lilties ran alongside the wagon as it began to follow the dirt road leading out of the town.

"You gave them a piece of the Crystal, right?" one of the Yukes questioned.

"I really don't have a choice." the elder said sadly. "If someone wishes to leave Hamel, I must guarantee their safe passage to wherever it is they're headed..."

Lavitz glanced back to the town square. The gargantuan crystal, standing nearly 20 feet tall, stood nestled in the stone receptacle that took up the center of the open area. Those uneducated about the functioning of Crystals would be a bit upset with someone smashing off small chunks for people to have, but the Crystal did in fact grow back to its usual proportions over time, giving it almost organic properties. In theory, anyone could leave the village any time they wanted, but most still didn't - monsters and brigands still roamed the land. Lavitz had used a crystal shard before to retrieve some plants found a short distance outside the Crystal's protective field, but he had been lectured again and again to thoroughly decontaminate them before bringing them into the house.

He jumped as a hand slapped down on his shoulder. "Lav, what's up?" it was another scruffy-haired blonde Clavat, about Lavtiz's age, wrapped in a bright green tunic and wearing faded green slops underneath.

"Teddy..." Lavitz shook his head as he watched the Lilties' wagon disappear over the hill. "...I don't like this."

"Don't like what?"

"More and more people leave every year. Every year it gets quieter and quieter... when I can count how many people make this place home on my fingers and toes, I get a little concerned."

Teddy stepped back. "I was thinking you liked the quiet. You know, for your bogamy research and stuff."

"Botany."

"Right, what did I say." Teddy rubbed his chin.

"It's just that I start to wonder how this place is supposed to sustain itself. I hate to think of what I'd have to do if we had to move elsewhere... Marr's, or Alfitaria, or wherever..." he shivered. "...I'd have to quit my studies... cities aren't particularly gardens..."

The three adults continued to talk in the background.

"Ralin..." the male guardian grumbled. "I don't like this."

"Don't like what?" the elder gave a warm glance in response.

"More and more people leave every year," the female responded. "Every year it gets quieter and quieter... when I can count how many people make this place home on my fingers and toes, I get a little concerned."

"I was thinking you liked the quiet." Ralin sighed.

"It's just that I start to wonder how this place is supposed to sustain itself. I hate to think of what I'd have to do if we had to move elsewhere... Marr's, or Alfitaria, or wherever..." he shivered. "...Lavitz'd have to quit his studies... cities aren't particularly gardens..."

"I understand our predicament well..." Ralin turned back to the Crystal looming over the center of the town. "...Anton had this place under wraps... but those damned Lilties that took up shop here couldn't stop bugging him about his daughter. Supposedly the story goes that Cleyra had shown to be impervious to the miasma. I had no chance to see it... I was informed the day after Anton met with the town council that the Lilties had run him and his family out of town, save for Teddy. Anton knew what he was doing... he was ready to retire from the caravan, not that I could blame him - he served ten long years, more than any Alfitarian soldier has, from my knowledge. He made a good decision, in knighting Cleyra as his successor. But..." he shook his head. "...well, you know how that went. With both Anton and Cleyra out of the picture, the remainder of Anton's old caravan headed for the hills. With no potential caravaneers available, and our town continuing to shrink as is, I fear for Halemt's survival. I hate to say this, but we may as a matter of fact have no choice but to relocate to a more developed area until we can find a crew able to recharge this crystal."

"You can't just give up like that," the male Yuke sputtered. "...I'm, I'm sure that this is just a phase that Halemt's going through. I'm sure that if we, advertise a little we should get some more permanent residents."

"And how would I do that without making it sound like we're desperate for caravaneers? I'm sorry, friend... I seriously do not know what to do in a situation like this."

"I've lived here all my life, Ralin. I'm not ready to just pack up and leave like this."

"Besides, it's only been nine months since the last myrrh festival." the female interjected. "I'm sure we can rally the people needed to throw together a caravan on short notice."

"You make it sound like I haven't tried. You just don't get it..." Ralin's face sulked into a sad frown. "...no one cares about a little backwater hamlet like Halemt. Myrrh harvesting is a risky business, and other caravans are too busy hunting for their own share to bring back to their towns. I don't imagine you'd be able to put on a better show than me to get people out here..."

"We won't need to." the male turned his head. "Lavitz! Get over here, I want to ask you something."

"Now you're in for it." Teddy said flatly as Lavitz skulked by, cringing.

"Alright, for future reference, it was the goblins that got into the compost and threw it all over the town square. Okay?"

"I never said Fire magicite would make a good fertilizer." Teddy said matter-of-factly.

Lavitz walked up to the group, shuffling his feet. "...uh, yeah, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"You have to be kidding." Ralin stared blankly at Lavitz.

"Yeah, really, it was the goblins." Lavitz nodded.

The three adults exchanged stares. "...what are you talking about?"

"Nothing at all." Lavitz quickly remarked.

Ralin remained motionless, shaking his head as he turned back to the two Yukes. "Am I mistaken here? You're willing to send Lavitz out into the wild?"

"With Teddy."

"Huh?" Teddy glanced over.

"What are we going out for?" Lavitz glanced frantically between the elder and his guardians. "...we're not shopping at Marr's again, I'm hoping..."

"I think it's time you two took on some responsibility." the female stated.

"You're kidding me." Ralin waved his arms at the two teens. "...I told you, caravaneering is a dangerous task. Lavitz and Teddy have no combat experience whatsoever, not to mention they've never been anywhere in the wild off the roads. You can't subject them to this."

"Combat?" Lavitz said quizzically.

"Caravaneering?" Teddy said slowly.

They both stared at each other. "Caravaneering?!"

"We don't have a choice. You two, you heard me, you're going to represent Halemt as its Crystal Caravan. If you two want to live here so bad, it's time you went out into the world and ensured that Halemt'll be here five months from now. Don't look at me like it's already the end... elder, the myrrh groves closest to us are coming back into season, correct?"

"That's no excuse!" Ralin growled.

"See, it should be easy for you two to get the myrrh we need. All you really need to know is how to defend yourselves should a dangerous situation arise."

"Fiends. Monsters. Demons." Teddy interwined his fingers, making a snapping-teeth motion. Lavitz shivered.

"Oh, come on. A goblin here and there, maybe. I believe in you a little more than that... Lavitz, you're smart, you'll figure something out, and you'll get by just fine... Teddy, remember that your father was a great caravaneer, and now it's up to you to follow in the footsteps that Cleyra would have normally. This is your time to shine."

Lavitz raised his hand. "B-"

"And you'll be representing Halemt in the network of caravans. You'll be famous!"

Teddy laughed nervously. "Bu-"

"Who knows what else you'll find out on the road! Treasure, glory, riches, power, wom-" the male Yuke was promptly bapped by his spouse.

Lavtiz suddenly perked up. "...plants?"

"All kinds, I'm sure of it! You've only checked out the wildlife in and around Halemt if I'm not mistaken, this'll be a great learning experience for you!"

Lavitz stanced himself, rubbing the bottom of his sallet. "Well, if I do say so, that's a very promising proposition! I'll have to discuss this with my cohort!" before Teddy could say anything, Lavitz had already clotheslined him and drug him into a huddle, facing away from the adults.

"You're crazy," Teddy hissed. "We can't CARAVAN! I haven't even used a weapon before! And you aren't the budding warrior yourself, I imagine. How are we supposed to be the diplomats your dad takes us for?"

"Are you kidding?" Lavitz mumbled back. "Who said anything about caravanning? I'm in it for the research material, leave the myrrh out of it. We'll nab the Crystal chalice, leave, mope around for a bit, then we're gonna FIND Cleyra and Anton, that'll solve their actual caravaneer problem well enough."

Teddy struggled. "No one's even SEEN them for a year! How are we supposed to find them? And besides, what makes you think my family would even want to help Halemt after what happened?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Both Lavitz and Teddy whirled around. "Well, after some thought and light discussion, I think we're ready to take on any responsibility you're ready to slap on us."

"Damn your bottomfeed." Teddy growled.

"Botany."

"Whatever."

"See?" the male guardian would be glaring at the elder, if there were any way he could make the gesture apparent. "I'm sure with the right training Lavitz and Teddy could be fine caravaneers, they certainly have the motive... and that's the hard part, isn't it, Ralin?"

Ralin tsked, eventually throwing up his arms. "...fine, fine... you win. When I think about it... I suppose Teddy has the potential to become a warrior, he has the heritage, and if I'm not mistaken, I believe Anton may have left some things behind by accident that may be of some use to Teddy... but, well, I'm still wondering, what exactly does Lavitz have to offer?"

"That's our secret," the wife Yuke said, pulling back Lavitz. "...alright then? How about you give us two weeks, and we'll have these two fit and ready for caravan duty?"

"Is that a challenge?" Ralin smirked.

"I do believe it is." the male tapped Teddy on his shoulder. "...right, Teddy, we're gonna stop by your dad's old place for a bit... see if he left any family heirlooms, so to speak."

"What a mess you got us into." Teddy said sharply as he was drug away in the opposite direction of Lavitz.

"You're very welcome, friend." Lavitz was promptly drug back through the house he had erupted from mere hours before.


********


Lavitz spent the evening up in his room, finishing up the report on his two most recent finds, tacking them up on the wall along the countless others he had created over the years. He slumped back in his chair, looking over them again - and planning how to move his bed so he'd have the other wall free to add double that in new finds out in the miasma. He unlatched his sallet, tearing it off and tossing it into a pile of dirty clothes at the foot of his bed. Blinking his beady black eyes and rubbing his sore beak, he jumped again for the helmet as he heard the door behind him creak.

Eventually he turned around, noticing a slim wooden carrying case slid under his door. He clicked it open, exposing exquisitely carved holders for a plated, slotted bracelet, and a set of shiny, translucent orbs. Magicite? Did his parents expect him to use magic?

Teddy in the meanwhile had finally found a large, rusted key in the drawer of a nightstand, the last piece of functional furniture remaining in the empty-smelling house. He had tried every lock in the house, eventually sliding it into the padlock that held the stair closet shut. Beyond he fought off the smell of mothballs, dragging the coatrack out of the darkness and letting it fall with a thud against the floor - he didn't notice until then what it actually contained. The chainmail fit a little loosely, but the sword was in impossibly good condition, with nary a scratch on it. Bronze, sure, but it looked both as if it had been in its fair share of scrapes yet gleamed with an eagerness not seen in a weapon.

Waving the heavy weapon around for a bit, he eventually fit it in its sheath, lugging it along with him.

Neither of them had any idea whatsoever what they were getting themselves into.


********


"...n-no way!" the Selkie backed up, brandishing his racket as several more tall, armored figures drew into his sight. Several others continued to dig through the wagon behind him, tossing out random goods before one hopped out carrying an odd-looking artifact. He gave it a shake, him and the others watching as the clear liquid in it bobbed. The other Selkie had since been tied up and loaded into the wagon opposite it. Both steeds conversed in whatever language they employed. The Selkie swung his racket, but it was caught by the nearest soldier, who tore it from his grip and shoved him to the ground. "...you can't do this! This is a caravan! The kingdom will have your heads for this!"

The dark knight stepped forward, receiving nods from his troops. "...then... I guess I'll feel a little more comfortable... having yours."

One blow was all it took.


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