Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Javarr: The Azure Scourge of Bastok ❯ Chapter 9 The Shadows of the Sword ( Chapter 9 )

Let it be known that this story is based upon the MMORPG known as Final Fantasy XI, which is a copyright and Trademark of Square-enix incorporated. The author clams no ownership of names of places, characters, abilities, jobs, organizations, religions, or any other material that is protected under international copyright laws.

 

/em sighs and lights a Roll of Bastokan Tobacco +1

 

Now with that out of the way, lawyers happy, and the risk of getting sued by a multi-million dollar company avoided, on with the story.

 

 

Chapter 9: The Shadows of the Sword

 

Once we were outfitted, supplies gathered, and goodbyes said, we set out into the wilderness of Gustaberg. We decided that the first area we would look into would be around Bastok itself. This constituted the area of North and South Gustaberg and the Dangruf Wadi. After hiking pretty much all day, we came to the cliffs that separated the Wadi from the rest of Gustaberg. Drawing my sword and Dal drawing her new cesti, we entered.

 

“I'm not sure about this place…” Dal said, her eyes constantly moving about, looking for any possible attackers.

 

“Yeah, this place just screams ambush. All of these high cliffs and crevices offer a possible enemy any number of places to—“

 

My sentence was cut off as a crossbow bolt whizzed by my head and striking the nearby stone wall. Both me and Dal dove behind a large stone as several more bolts clattered off the rock harmlessly. I nosed around the rock to try and get a look at our attackers. Standing about fifty feet away were about three small creatures, covered in leather armor, using crossbows. Even their long features were covered with leather masks. On their back seemed to be all of their worldly possessions. I sank back behind the rock and cursed.

 

“Goblins… I HATE goblins…” Dal nodded in agreement as a few more bolts clanked off the rock. Then I thought I heard an odd noise. It sounded like the hissing of a snake at first, but it was too fast. I looked to Dal and before I knew what was going on, she was up and dragging me by the arm further down the corridor. Only a few seconds later, the rock we were sheltered behind exploded into splinters, sending us both tumbling to the ground. All I knew was my ears rang. I couldn't hear hardly anything. I could tell Dal was under my arm and was still breathing. That much was good.

 

Shaking my head and trying to get my senses back, I looked up and noticed the three goblins walking towards us slowly, crossbows leveled. Puling myself up to one knee, I raised the small buckler that I had drawn from the armory in a vain attempt at defense. I saw their hands tighten around the triggers and I couldn't help but close my eyes and brace myself…

 

But before they could loose their crossbows on us, I heard as sharp scream. Not really a scream but more like a war cry! Opening my eyes, I saw one Goblin fall as the point of almost six feet of black steel. The person withdrawing it from the creature was clad in standard reddish brown scale armor, had rough, black hair, and wore an expression of enjoyment as the little creature fell to the ground, squirming in pain. Shaking my head and getting the rest of my senses in order, I looked back to Dal, which was starting to come back around. After casting a few quick Cure spells on her, I reclaimed my lost sword and went on the attack.

 

Moving in at a rush, I held my buckler close to my body, mainly covering my chest and throat, my sword coiled back, prepared to strike. The goblin that was going to be on the receiving end of this counterattack let loose another bolt which sank into my shield arm's shoulder. I felt the pain and could feel the blood run down my arm, but I did not stop. I could tell it was frantic to lock another bolt into its weapon, but it did not have the time. My sword lashed forward, cutting the goblin's crossbow apart. With its main weapon destroyed, it drew a small dagger from its side. I found my next attack parried and the one after that. My third attack on the other hand found home in the creature's blade arm. While it howled from the pain inflicted from my blade, I let go of the handle and said a quick chant. Opening the palm of my hand, a burst of flames came from my open palm, catching the creature directly in the face. With luck, I was able to reclaim my blade before it was completely consumed. Once the fire subsided, the charred remains of the goblin fell to the ground.

 

Looking over, I saw Dal on the attack. She moved from side to side, evading the incoming bolts from the other goblin's crossbow. With one final swerve to the side, she came in low and then rose under its guard, catching the creature in the chin with her knee. The force of the impact actually pulled the goblin off the ground and into the direct path of a palm strike to the chest, sending it flying backwards into a jagged rock. When its body struck, it suddenly found itself with a lance of stone jetting through its chest.

 

Once everyone looked around and noticed the battle was won, there was a collective sigh and the sound of weapons being replaced in their respective holders. Looking over at the person that came to our aide, something seemed familiar about him.

 

“Thank you for your help, good sir.” I spoke, still trying to catch my breath.

 

“You haven't changed at bit, Javarr.” I had to perk an eyebrow over that one… I knew that voice.

 

“Sheni? Is that you?!” The swordsman reached up and pulled the piece of cloth away from his faceguard and revealed a very familiar face. “Long time no see. Finally decided to quit playing around in Windy and come back over here and help us out?”

 

I grinned wide as I walked over and crossed hands with my old friend. Sheni as he was known had joined the legion a few years before I had. The last time I had heard from him, he was training under the Mythrils second in command, Zeid. He stood about as tall as I did, but his strength was more then mine ever was. I had known him almost as long as I knew Dal.

 

“Yeah, we figured we'd come out and try to give you all a hand.”

 

Sheni looked over at Dal and whistled. “Damn, she got big! Last time I saw you, you hardly filled out a tunic.” He chuckled in his normal crude humor. Dal just kind of looked down at her chest and then folded her arms over her chest. “Nice to see you too, dickhead.”

 

“It's prick, get it right.” He was still laughing. “Now if I can just figure out where my other half ran off to…”

 

I had to do a double take on that one. “OTHER half?! You mean someone actually could put up with you long enough for a relationship to build?!”

 

“Hardy har har har… You're just the normal comedian now a day.” Sheni replied, folding his arms. She said she was coming out here to treasure hunt. She heard about a rumor there was a chest out here with—“

 

“With a nice amount of gil in it!” Sheni was cut off when a pair of lightly tanned arms reached around from behind him and hugged him. “Did you have some fun without me?!” She sounded like she was pouting now.

 

“Yeah, Setsy. Had to bail an old friend out of trouble.” The arms released their grip and a Mithra spun around to where she was in front of him, her hands on her hips, a pair of daggers resting right below them. “Well next time, trrrrry and save some fun for me.” She winked at him and turned around to look at me and Dal. “So you must be his old friends. Pleasurrrre to meet you. I'm Setsuai!”

 

Needless to say, Setsuai or Setsy for short was one of the rouges of Vana'diel, a thief. Not only was she good at her profession, her skill with daggers was unmatched even back in the early days of our travels. So after that, we all went about our patrol of the Wadi with little else happening… But we all knew that more challenges would await us in our next destination, the Konschtat Highlands…