Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy: The Crystal Chronicles ❯ Nadia, Clavat ( Chapter 2 )

Final Fantasy:

The Crystal Chronicles

 

Because of my weird and quirky nature, I decided to make another chapter. If you didn't like the first chapter, don't read the next two, although they contain valuable personal information on the characters involved.

Enjoy… Oh, yeah, refer to the previous chapter to find out what the characters look like.

 

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Nadia felt the warm sunlight on her eyelids. Opening them, she was immediately blinded by its light. Sitting up and collecting her thoughts, she remembered last night. How Velius and her had spent the night together amidst the passionate throes of lovemaking, trying desperately to be somewhat quiet to prevent waking everybody else. Looking down upon herself, she found herself as nude as when she was born. At least he didn't try to clothe me again, she thought, remembering the many botched attempts he'd made to dress her after she had fallen asleep. Glancing around the room for her clothes, Nadia's eyes happened upon a small rose by her windowsill. Wrapping a blanket around her body, she left the comfort of her bed and walked over to the flower. Picking it up, she opened up the note that was attached to it.

 

`I wish we did not have to meet only in the night, as if what we do is so wrong. Maybe during the years we're traveling, we can find a place of our own somewhere more accepting, and settle down.' At the end, it was stamped with Velius's mark. The mark of the Lilties. Nadia was reflecting on how that mark was always making her life complicated when here was a knock on her door, and her father's gruff voice greeted her ears. And Velius' emblem isn't the only one that gives me problems, she thought quietly.

 

“Nadia, are you decent?” asked Arion, “It is almost time for you to leave.”

 

“Grant me a few moments, father. I am getting my things.” Finding a pair of underclothes in her drawers, Nadia tossed the blanket back onto her bed, and slipped the garments onto her body. Pulling out a personal trunk from under her bed, she opened it to make sure everything was there. It wasn't very full, so it did not take long to account for them: a simple sword made by Velius' family, who were the village blacksmiths, changes of clothes for the trip, and, in a hidden compartment, all of the letters Velius had written to her, which totaled 36. It'd be just perfect for them to find out while I was gone, she thought to herself with more than a hint of sarcasm, then we could have a happily cutthroat welcoming committee waiting for us when we got back. Closing the trunk, she went to her linen chest, and withdrew a pair of traveling clothes. Slipping on the outfit, a long white tunic with a crested bib more for shielding it against mud than food, she slid the personal trunk onto her shoulders, and opened her door. Stopping a moment in her father's workplace, she gazed for a moment at the variety of clothes and materials strewn across his workshop, wondering if she would ever see any of it again. Shaking her head lightly in dismissal, she opened the front door. Fatal thoughts will only make it more likely that I'll never come back, she thought, grimacing at what her death would most likely mean. Her family was quietly waiting for her outside, with the exception of her twin brother, Kedan.

 

“Where is Kedan?” She asked as she walked out the door. Her father shrugged his shoulders. Unlike her, Kedan had not been selected for the caravan. `There should be no more than four travelers.' The village elder had said. `The extra chalice filled with myrrh is there for the precise reason that there can only be four travelers. If any one caravan should fall, that chalice is there to revitalize the crystal, and any unaccepted travelers can then go out to obtain what the previous caravan failed to get.”

 

“Probably sleeping. It's unimportant. I wanted to give you something before you left.” Reaching into his apron, he pulled out a small, black ring box. Opening it, he revealed a small silver ring, with a small shard of crystal in place of the jewel. Walking forward to take it, Nadia looked at first her father, then her mother, in order to confirm this was really a gift. They both nodded their heads. Reaching for it, she held the ring in between her thumb and forefinger to examine the craftsmanship, and slid it over her ring finger.

 

“It is a new creation of mine. Hopefully, it will protect you from miasma, even without the chalice. However, I would advise you not to test this theory. I don't know precisely how powerful it is.” Closing the empty box, Arion placed it in his pocket again.

 

“Now remember, dear, stay away from alcohol. It will only lead to trouble, especially if you get it from a man.” Her mother was pulling the bangs out of Nadia's vision as she spoke, tucking them away under the scarf Nadia was wearing.

 

“Yes, mother, I remember. I did inherit some common sense, which is more than can be said about Kedan.”

 

“Well, I'm just concerned about you picking up bad habits from that vulgar Selkie that's going with you. Her mother is quite nice, but I fear her daughter's just about as rude as she can be without being totally revolting.”

 

“You shouldn't talk about her like that, mother. She really isn't that bad…”

 

“She cusses more than that sketchy Lilty that runs the ferry. Just promise me you'll keep your head when you're around her?”

 

“Yes, mother. I won't let her influence my better judgment. Don't worry.” Eager to escape the conversation, Nadia hugged both her parents, and kissed her sister Pauly goodbye. With a final wave, Nadia headed away from her home to join the rest of that year's caravan. However, she failed to notice the stealthy form that followed her to the wagon…

 

 

Fin… for now.

 

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A second (hopefully successful) chapter completed. Review if you want, and please include any and all methods by which I can improve.