First Stop Of Many (Finished)

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

A young and quite strapping lad took his first steps into Kilika Village. This was only the second time he had ever been off Besaid Island, the first being just over two years ago when he went to see his first Blitzball Tournament. His father never let him come to Kilika when he was younger when he went to trade with them, saying that when he was old enough he would teach him about the business side of farming. That day never came, and now he was here on his own for a completely different reason, he was on his own journey, to follow his own dreams.

He had already paid for the boat to Luca and now he had only a few coins to his name, just enough to buy himself some food when the vegetables and meat his father sold him. His father said he could have them but Fayt said he was a man now and a man paid his way. This actually surprised his father because of the fact that Fayt rarely showed that kind of rational thinking, since he was more likely to rush into things thinking with his heart not his head. Now there he stood, in his brand new leather armour and his steel sword strapped to his back and his steel buckler strapped to one of his leather bracers. He smiled slightly,

“Well here I am first stop… of many.”

[Reeve Tuesti]

Reeve was never certain if Kilika was resilient or just plain insane. Only a few short seasons had passed since Sin had attacked and already it was becoming a bustling center of commerce. Its citizenry seemed to be rather at ease with their precarious way of life, happier (apparently) than most such places. Perhaps it was the near death experience.

Then again, maybe they truly were insane.

"Is it really okay now?"

Case in point: the child before him had broken his elbow in a way that usually caused grown adults to retch and vomit just by the mere sight. The child had, rather practically, gone and looked for anyone who looked 'weak and magic-y'.

That, apparently, described Reeve to a tee. He'd set the bone and cast his magic. The child had only sniffled.

Reeve checked the limb before slowly nodding and gave a thumbs up.

"Good as new," he reported. The kid smiled before running off, babbling to his friends who'd - in a display of childhood solidarity - stuck by and watched the entirety of the grueling medical procedure.

Reeve considered the funny feeling that wormed behind his breastbone. That... had felt good. Doing a good deed without thinking about life and death and everything in between. To do good in bits and pieces.

So caught up in his thoughts was he, that he almost didn't notice the armed and armored warrior before he very nearly bumped into him.

"Pardon me," the priest said politely.

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

Fayt was so absorbed with the village, thinking the place wonderful, amazing, awe inspiring and many other words that you could think of the descried a place that was captivating. It was quite amusing really, it was just another village, but compared to his home village on Besaid he was like a woodland hermit visiting a big city like London or New York for the first time. Child like wonder was almost glazing his eyes over as he looked around from his stationary point, almost afraid to close his eyes in fear of when he opened them again he would be in his village on his father’s fields.

Something snapped him out of it and made him jump, his heart over head way of being coming into play as he automatically reached for his sword. He did not draw it however as he caught sight of what had snapped him out of it, a small guy. Well most people were small compared to him, at six foot and two hundred and ten pounds of toned body. By the looks of things he looked like a priest of Yevon. He may have set out to join the human armies but he had never had a problem with Yevon, hell his hero was a legendary Guardian. He would love to meet Tidus one day, but that might never happen, Spira was a big place. He then snapped himself out of his day dreaming of the first and only time he ever saw Tidus and he spoke again,

“No need for pardon.”

[Reeve Tuesti]

"Do the teachings of Yevon not say that humility is a virtue?" Reeve asked, his eyes twinkling. He was in a good mood, for some reason. In this new, Sin-less age, mentioning Yevon was not always beneficial to one's health. But today he didn't mind. The sky was clear and possibilities endless.

Funny. Patching up warriors and crusaders never had this effect on him.

He took in the bold, strapping figure before him and tried to hazard a guess at why a traveling warrior would be here. Sin was gone, its progeny largely departed. There was little need for warriors, and what need there was wouldn't be heading to Kilika, of all places. Perhaps this young man was visiting relatives? Family? Quite the interesting mystery he had stumbled upon.

"I take it by your appearance that you are a warrior of some sort?"

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

Fayt smiled slightly, the right side of his lips turned upwards slightly at the mention of Yevon’s teachings. He had been right he was a Priest of Yevon. He had no quarrel with them, but he had heard it was not the brightest idea to mention Yevon in a place, like, well anywhere really. He did not follow Yevon’s teachings but he would not harm a person simply because they did. He was a farm boy from Besaid and his father brought him up better then to be a hate monger. Yes he was quite the interesting character, but what he would find out may just change his views on Yevon and the ones who follow him.

When the priest called him a warrior he could not help his heart skipping a beat. The guy called him a warrior, ok a warrior of sorts but it was a start. He had not even proven himself in battle yet but he was asked that question none the less. He then remember the priest and brought himself out of his childlike grandiose thoughts of becoming a master warrior, maybe even beyond a master, maybe he would even invent his own skills. Now that would be great, but what would he call it Heavenly Justice, no that was lame, he could not think of a cool name just yet, he might as well answer the priest,

“Yes I am a warrior, I am on a quest; I wish to follow in my hero’s footsteps, the legendary guardian Sir Tidus.”

[Reeve Tuesti]

Reeve's mouth quirked. Ah. To be so idealistic and young and naive. Why just a few years ago-

...

Reeve frowned.

No. It'd been different before. No one was ever allowed be quite so young and naive. Auron had been a Legendary Guardian simply because he'd survived. People knew the cost of the Calm : the Summoners never survived and it was unlikely that their Guardians would, either. Summoner Yuna had changed things.

As had... Tidus. Though admittedly, it seemed like he'd gone off and vanished from the face of the world. None of Reeve's contacts had the slightest idea where the young warrior had gone.

"I wish you luck on your journey then, warrior."

Reeve turned to leave. Paused - something here felt...

He heard them, then. Like the beginnings of an almighty storm. The sky even darkened. Looking up, Reeve's mouth popped open.

So thick that it blotted out the sky, was a swarm of Killer Bees. There had to be hundreds... no thousands.What in Yevon's name had happened? This had to be every single bloody Killer Bee in all of Kilika.

But then the time for thinking was over. While the vast majority hadn't bothered with the town itself, a good two dozen or so were descending from the flock, their evil intention clear.

"Looks like you'll get your wish after all," Reeve said grimly. His eyes tracked the descending swarm. "They're heading for the village center - let's go!"

Taking off, Reeve rummaged in his head for his spells. He was definitely rusty on anything that could be used to attack though his healing (all the good that that would do!) would no doubt be useful. This was going to be bad...

[ooc: Battle Time!]

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

“Thank you kind priest.”

His ear pricked up as he heard the sound as well. He looked up and saw the killer bees descending on the town. Unlike Reeve he was not looking worried, in fact he looked like he was about to jump for joy. His first real battle, and it was against so many opponents, if this did not gain him some skill he did not know what will at this level, sure enough he could take on some higher level monsters. He was fool hardy not a complete moron, the killer bees would be perfect to let his blade swing against flesh for the first time.

With that he ran after the Priest. He was surprisingly fast for a guy his size, catching up with Reeve quite quickly. A person who was logical and experienced when it came to battle would not run ahead, but Fayt was neither, his heart ruled his head and his experience was about as impressive as a core of an apple. He ran ahead trying to get to the killer bees as quickly as he could. He wanted battle, he could taste the win, he would fulfil his quest if it killed him, and if he was this reckless with high level monsters it might just cost him that price.

He reached the killer bees and cast sentinel. A glowing white light covered him as his defence grew two above normal. He then started to hack and slash at the killer bees, they seemed a little tougher then he thought, but he would defeat them and there was not arguing with Fayt when he caught the scent of victory. Even though the guy was self taught and had no battle experience he skill with the blade was good for one with the credentials he had.

[Reeve Tuesti]

The problem were the numbers. Individually, the killer bees were hardly a threat to even the most inexperienced of town guards let alone travelers. But there were, altogether, nearly twenty-five. Even the most experienced groups would have trouble fighting them off en masse. But worse than the possibility of fighting a number of them was the fact that this was a town - there were too many innocents and the killer bees were indiscriminate when it came to who they targeted.

Most of the residents knew what they were doing - most had gone into their houses, either for weapons or for shelter. But it wouldn't last - once fiends had caught the smell of blood there would no stopping their rage against the living.

Come on, think. Reeve ordered himself. It was an impossible battle - a soldier who had faced Sin would have, likely as not, known how to deal with the situation. But at his disposal he had himself - who was hardly a powerhouse - and a warrior with so little experience that he could voice his dreams with enough naivety to run a temple of acolytes.

And for the moment, they were being ignored in favor of the townsfolk.

"We need to draw their attention of this will turn into a massacre," Reeve hissed tersely as he watched the warrior attempt to swat the killer bees straight out of the air. "Got any ideas?"

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

As He ducked and dived out of the way after killing his fifth killer bee he heard the priest ask if he had any ideas. In all fairness he had not had much time to come up with a plan other then run them through with his pointy sword. He thought about it for a bit thinking back to the lesson his father gave him when getting rid of insects; he then focused on the lesson for bees. He then smiled as his sword sliced through his seventh bee. He did not look at Reeve but he did shout,

“Bees hate smoke, find a way to smoke them out and that should get rid of them.”

He almost found it amusing that he was using the lesson he had gotten for taking care of the fields in the heat of a battle. He cast sentinel again and just in time one of the killer bee caught him in the shoulder, but because of the leather armour and the effects of sentinel he was not hurt much, just a grunt left his lips as he punched the bee and sliced it in half, and that would make eight bees down seventeen to go. He sighed as he went on hacking and slashing.

[Reeve Tuesti]

It'd take a pretty big bonfire to smoke them out. And on the waterfront... no, it wouldn't be practical. Besides, Reeve had an inkling that if set fire to the wharf, the residents of Kilika would be up in arms against Yevon. He'd be lucky if he got by with only a death by stoning.

And besides, Reeve didn't know any fire spells. Though it'd come in handy, admittedly.

"Smoking them out wouldn't be practical."

Reeve eyed the small mountain of killer bee corpses dubiously. Either these were the weakest killer bees he had ever laid eyes on, or this was some sort of martial prodigy.

"Careful, those bees are poisonous," Reeve muttered as he scanned the wharf for more options.

His eyes settled upon the group of children he'd helped earlier. The kid that had had his arm set and healed was waving a stick ineffectually at three of the bees who were - it appeared - toying with their meal.

Damnit.

"Keep on doing what you're doing," Reeve roared. "Follow me when you're done!"

Having said that, he took off at a sprint. It'd kill his legs but he wouldn't need the mobility when he was actually there.

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

By the time Reeve had set off he had sliced through his sixteenth killer bee, he was getting the hang of this and he started to see that these bees were like any other bees they just needed a bigger swatter to deal with them and his sword was the perfect weapon for that.

He grunt as he narrowly dodged a killer bee bring his sword down cleaving the thing in half, nineteen. He looked around and saw only three were in front of him. That could not be right, he was not that good at mathematics but he could have sworn there were twenty five not twenty two. He then caught sight of the missing three killer bees. That was not good. He made quick work of the last three in front of him and ran after The Priest, catching up quite quickly.

He did not know why Reeve did not tell him, but he guessed that he had a plan, which was good because Fayt was not the strong planning type. He looked at the kids fighting them off bravely, the front one waving the stick reminded Fayt of himself when he was that age. He did not know what Reeve was up to but he hoped to whoever was up there that The Priest knew what he was doing.

[Reeve Tuesti]

Annnnd this was pretty stupid.

As well as a stupid way to die. Ah well. Once upon a time, Crusaders might have patrolled the city. Pity what had happened to them. Death, excommunication, disgrace and humiliation. Someone had recently repealed that particular edict so they were technically back in Yevon's good graces - but were hardly numerous.

No, he was on his own here.

Whirling his walking staff, he did his best imitation of a legendary dervish and tossed it as hard as he could. It plunked harmlessly off the carapace of one of the killer bees and then - luckily - tore through the fragile wings of a second. It hit the ground and skittered in agony.

Okay. Good. Get their attention. That was part one of the plan.

Part two involved fleeing. With an unmanly yelp, Reeve retreated, the bees hot on his tail.

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

Fayt saw the bees coming, he thought, which was quite a stretch for him, that Reeve had drawn the bees out so he could slice and dice. He twirled his blade and the first one that came got cut in half, and then followed up and ran his blade into the abdomen segment of the second killer bee. He slowly walked up to the last which The Priest had wounded and put it out of it misery by shoving his sword through its head. The battle was over, they were victorious. Fayt was standing there slightly out of breath, his breathing even a little jagged.

After a few seconds of recovery he looked at the kids and smiled. He then turned around and sheathed his sword. He eyed up the massive pile of killer bees he had slain. He was surprised and very proud of himself. Now there was one more thing to do, go find Reeve. He walked past the pile of bee bodies and started to shout out Priest. He hoped that would get Reeve’s attention. He did not know his name so all he could shout out was priest. There was one thing however, he would never forget this day.

[Reeve Tuesti]

There'd been an old, unseemly battle cry, that a certain population of Chocobo Knights were partial to. Reeve had never understood the fascination and attachment to it.

HOORAH! HOORAH! HOORAH!

Still, there was no denying the elation he felt. There had been no casualties. He was alive (well, half alive, anyway - his legs felt like they were on fire) and the fiends had all been taken care of. Slowing, he turned back and started to limp towards the warrior. Around them, the fiends started to explode into masses of pyreflies - off to rejoin the Farplane or wherever it was that fiends went to.

"Hoorah, indeed." Reeve managed, under his breath.

"Well done warrior," he called out. Around him, the people of Kilika were coming out, looking a bit confused and frazzled. They'd put two and two together soon enough. Reeve gathered his energies and cast a cura on the traveler - that'd surely get rid of any hurts he was resisting through sheer force of will. Perhaps the kid wasn't as naive as he'd first thought.

"Tell me," he asked, before they were swamped by residents demanding explanations, "what is your name, sir?"

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

He heard the cheers and he could not help, not only smiling, but he was actually beaming with joy. He had never felt such exhilaration, was this what it was like to be a hero? He could get use to this, he really, really could. He looked around as the people of Kilika came out of their homes. He also heard the praise from the Priest. This seemed to be quite a bit more satisfying then the cheers, mainly it was because Reeve was there and saw him, he was the one who could fully understand so he praise meant all the more.

The people of Kilika were coming towards them; they looked like they had a load of questions hanging off their tongues. He would answer them to the best of his abilities. He was naïve when it came to a social standing, but when he fought. He was a totally different person; he fought with his natural skill and sheer instinct. He then heard Reeve ask him for him name. He then turned around and held out his hand as to hope for a formal greeting, his father always taught him to at least be proper when you were in front of a clergyman. He then spoke, his voice filled with pride as he spoke his name,

“My name good Priest, is Fayt Tiberius Darkwind.”

[Reeve Tuesti]

"Reeve Tuesti," the priest returned, a name given for a name asked, "I shall remember yours, Master Darkwind."

The crowd was converging. There was a centerpoint - probably some form of elected village leader - who approached. She was old but not stooped, time had given her a certain regalness that Tuesti recognized. Likely as not, she'd seen Sin firsthand and had helped wash and heal those who had been wounded.

"Thank you, young ones. You have done Kilika a great favor."

"But it was quite strange - the fiends of the forest do not usually act in such a way." Reeve's eyes narrowed. Ah. This was a politician who was well-versed in paranoia. "Can you possibly explain what happened?"

[Fayt Tiberius Darkwind]

After shaking his hand Fayt put his hand by his side, “And I shall yours Clergyman Tuesti… it has been an honour.”

As the crowd surrounded them an elderly woman seemed to part them. She must be the village elder. He listened to what was said. In all honesty he could not answer that question. He was a fighter, plain as that, he was not particularly smart, or even that cunning. He relied on his natural skills and instincts to fight. He hoped one day he could rely on trained skill and ability to fight. He just had two techniques to his name, sentinel and cover. He then cleared his throat,

“In all honesty elder I can not answer a question I do not know; I am a simple farm boy from Besaid. Now, not meaning to sound rude, I must get on the boat to Luca, I have a long journey ahead of me.”

With that he bowed to the village elder and then walked toward the harbour. Yes he did have a long journey ahead of him and like he had said before this was the first stop of many.

[Reeve Tuesti]

Reeve watched as the entirety of the audience swiveled their attention to him after the warrior left. Oh no, this wasn't what he thought this was, was it...?

Reeve smiled and raised his hands self-deprecatingly. The elder coughed meaningfully.

Drat, it was. They expected answers out of him.

"Well Yevon says..." he began, trying to make the sermon as interesting as possible.

[EXIT DARKWIND. EXIT TUESTI.]
FIN