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Chapter I: The Birth of an Adventurer

Adventurer (n) - One that seeks adventure. That’s what any dictionary in Vana’diel will tell you the definition of an adventurer is. I’ve heard it over a thousand times from my parents that these so called adventurers were nothing but trouble makers. They protested that any beastmen outside the safe gates of town should be dealt with by the Vana’diel army. Little did they know that their only son was about to become a great adventurer.
Oh my, I do apologize. I seem to be getting ahead of myself. My name is Razel (that’s pronounced Rah-Zell) Fahdeeis. I was born into the quiet and quaint fishing town of Selbina. My Father is a great fisherman, as was his Father before him. My passion however, has always laid with my great Grandfather. His name was Xander. Ever since I was a young lad, my Grandfather would tell me the tale of how my great Grandfather joined the ranks of the adventurers. He saw almost all there was to see in Vana’diel and had slain many a beastmen. Xander found himself appointed as a General of his own army by the Archduke of Jeuno during the “Crystal War”. He fought bravely and a grand celebration was held in his honor after the war. You see Xander took it upon himself to cover a young White Mage, who was still learning the ways of white magic. This White Mage however, was the son of the Archduke. One of the beastmen’s many orders was to hunt down Nideux and kill him. My great Grandfather took three arrows to the back in order to save young Nideux’s life. Xander retired to Selbina after the war was over and took up fishing. It was here he met my great Grandmother. Lucinda was a trade goods merchant who happened to just be passing through Selbina on her way to deliver some cloth crafting supplies to a shop owner in Mhaura. She had missed the boat and was soaking wet from the storm that had been threatening to flood the small town of Selbina for nearly three days. Xander took her in to help her dry off and before either of them had realized it, their fate was sealed. They were truly meant for one another.
Hearing of my great Grandfather’s adventuring tales only made the desire to pursue the ranks of becoming one inside of me grow stronger every day. The day of my 21st birthday, I decided to break the news to my Father. I was going to live out my dream and become a hero of Vana’diel. As I opened the front door to our house, I was met with the refreshing sea breeze, just like every other morning before this one. I walked out onto the docks where my Father stood, trying to attach a ball of insect paste to his line.

Razel: Need some help there old man?

My Father let out a small chuckle but didn’t bother to look up at me.

Uri: Old man? I seem to recall this “old man” beating a certain someone in a race just one week prior to their 20th birthday.
Razel: You mean 21st birthday.

This time it was I who let out a laugh and my Father looked up at me knowing he was mistaken.

Uri: Yes, of course. That’s what I meant. My mind was simply somewhere else.
Razel: That or it is true when they say that the mind is the first thing to go.

My Father smirked and then went back to trying to attach the bait to his line.

Uri: My mind is just as sharp as if it were my 21st birthday, son. Don’t underestimate the “steel trap of knowledge”. Oh why won’t this blasted insect paste stay on the hook? It just keeps crumbling to pieces in my hand. I should have just stuck to the rig I’ve been using for years. I would never have a problem quite like this one.
Razel: You must mean the “rusted steel trap of knowledge” there, Father. The reason the bait keeps crumbling is because you have no distilled water mixed in.
Uri: That’s what I must have forgotten when I left the house in such a hurry this morning. I wanted to get to this spot before that confounded neighbor of ours showed up.
Razel: Rotagus? What seems to be the trouble with him this time?
Uri: He recently discovered that the fishing spot I’ve been using all these years yields the best catch on certain days. Today is one of those days, as was the day before, and last Windsday. He beat me here twice and ended up turning in three fish very rare to this part of Vana’diel and got one hundred gil for each of them. He wasn’t going to show me up again today. This is my spot and if I have to wake up everyday at 4a.m. from now until the day they put me in my grave, I shall do so. We need the extra gil much more than he does and I’ll do everything in my power to get it for us.
Razel: Actually, Father, that’s why I came out here so early. I wanted to talk with about something very important.
Uri: You mean you didn’t just come out here to make fun of your old man?
Razel: Far from it.
Uri: Well then, let’s hear it.
Razel: This…isn’t a decision I came to lightly. I knew how it would affect you. I know I do not need your approval for it, but I want it. No passion can be pursued without having peace of mind that you aren’t hurting the one’s that you care about most. So, Father, I’ve decided to…

Just as I was about to tell my Father of the path I wanted to take, the crumbling bait got the best of his nerves.

Uri: I do NOT believe this! Razel, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I need a favor.

I let out a small sigh.

Razel: Of course, Father. What is it?
Uri: Would you please go back into the house and fetch me a few bottles of distilled water before I completely lose what’s left of my patience and civil tongue with this blasted bait.

I nodded to my Father and began to walk away when he whistled to get my attention. He sat on the ground looking at me.

Uri: I didn’t mean to be so rude. When you return, we shall surely discuss what’s on your mind.

I nodded once again to my Father and before I could turn away, he spoke to me once more.

Uri: Razel…
Razel: Yes, Father?
Uri: Happy Birthday, son.

I smiled briefly at my Father.

Razel: Thanks…Dad.

I headed back to our house, feeling the cool, morning breeze to my back. As I opened the door, I could remember birthdays of mine that had long since past. My parents would smile as I ran about with my friends, just enjoying life. Those good times seem so distant now, ever since my Mother passed away. I walked over to the table that still held her picture in the silver frame that my Father had an expert Goldsmith in the town of Bastok craft for him. He gave it to my Mother on her 47th birthday. Three days later, she died. She had gotten a job delivering supplies once a week to Mhaura to help keep up with the rising cost of living in Vana’diel. There was a change in the winds that one Darksday morning when she set out. The captain of the ferry got lost due to such heavy fog and just when he thought he had gotten back on the right course, something awful happened. The legendary monster, known as the Sea Horror, was on deck. It not only took everyone’s life, but destroyed the ferry as well. Tales of the Sea Horror have existed even long before the “Crystal War”. Many have tried to take down this beast, but alas, all have failed. This too added to my will and want of becoming an adventurer. I stared at the picture of my Mother for what felt like hours, before I set it down. I dried the tears from my eyes and went to fetch my Father’s distilled water. I looked back at the picture once more before getting ready to leave the house.

Razel: Your death shall not be in vain. I will avenge you someday.

Just then I heard a voice come from another room.

Voice: That be the talk only an adventurer filled with sorrow would be saying at such a time, on such a day.

I spun around quickly and dropped the bottle of distilled water on the floor. I heard it smash, but I was taken too much off my guard to worry. I quickly grabbed my onion sword from the wall and proceeded into the next room.

Razel: Who are you? Show yourself!
Voice: Easy there lad, put down the sword before you hurt someone. Mainly yourself.

Just then a candle was lit revealing the identity of who was speaking to me.

Razel: Grandfather! You nearly gave me a heart attack, not too mention yourself getting a pretty nasty slash from my blade.
Dokiaus: Oh come now. Sonny, you could no better handle that sword in battle, than I could outrun a Chocobo.
Razel: Ha, ha…very funny, Grandfather. For your information I’ve been training with my sword for the past week.
Dokiaus: The past week?!

My Grandfather began to laugh.

Dokiaus: Well then, off to Ifrit’s Cauldron with you to slay a dragon or two.

His joke, which I didn’t much care for, only made him laugh more.

Dokiaus: My boy, true adventurers train for years before unlocking their true potential of handling a sword in a real battle. Your great Grandfather spent six hours a day training, only to grab a quick bite to eat, and then would train for six hours more. His sword wasn’t just a weapon. It became an extension of his arm.
Razel: Grandfather…
Dokiaus: Yes, me boy?
Razel: When did Xander know that the path of an adventurer was right for him?
Dokiaus: Aye, that be something there I can’t explain to you. You see lad, each adventurer knows when it’s their time. It’s like a burning flame they feel deep in the pit of their stomach. An that burning echoes throughout their bones. Now, some folks don’t care much for wielding a sword and confronting certain death head on. I be one of those folks. Your great Grandfather had something in him though. He thought if he died in battle, he would save the lives of ten times that many. Maybe even twenty. I see a lot of your great Grandfather in you lad. I only knew me Father for a short time, but when he told me the tales of his adventuring days, I saw at certain kind of look in his eye. You don’t see that kind of look very often. You, lad…you have that look.

Hearing my Grandfather tell me this, I felt a sense of pride begin to build up inside of me. Looking at a picture of the wall of my Father and I quickly turned that feeling of pride, into a feeling of fear. I looked down at the sword in my hand and then back up at my Grandfather.

Razel: How do you think Father will take the news?
Dokiaus: The news that his son, who is 21 years of age, smashed a 10 gil bottle of distilled water and nearly took out his Grandfather’s good eye with an onion sword?

My Grandfather chuckled.

Dokiaus: Aye, I don’t think he’ll be too pleased, but I’m sure he’ll get over it.

This time I smiled at my Grandfather’s joke. I knew he knew what I meant, but I told him in spite of it all.

Razel: No, Grandfather. I mean the news of me becoming an adventurer.
Dokiaus: Oh…that be the news you were talkin’ about. Well, Razel…

In my 21 years of being in the world of Vana’diel my Grandfather never once called me by my name. I was always “lad” or “sonny”.

Dokiaus: I think your Father will take to the news with a good heart. You must learn though to give him some time in order to accept. Such a telling of news, on such a glorious day is not for the weak at heart. I be thinkin’ he’ll take it to more kindly after he lays his eyes on what I got you as gift though.
Razel: What does my present from you have to do with any of this?
Dokiaus: You’ll be seein’ that soon enough. Why don’t you go run what your Father asked of you to get for him out to the docks. I’m pretty sure he’s on his last nerve with that bait of his by now.

I looked at my Grandfather with a puzzled expression on my face, but I decided not to question the issue any longer. As I stepped out onto the Selbina sand, I ended up face to face with a Dark Knight.

Dark Knight: Where is Rotagus?
Razel: Uh…
Dark Knight: Look light weight, I haven’t got all day. Just tell me where I can find Rotagus.

I was at a complete loss for words. I had never seen a Dark Knight before in Selbina. Dark Knights were known for their short tempers and were often referred to as Vana’diel demon warriors. Many people feared them. I was one of those people.

Dark Knight: I see the ability to answer a simple question has eluded you. You’d be perfect as the new president of Bastok. He never seems to be able to give his people a simple answer to a simple question.

The only thing I could think of to do at that moment was laugh along with this Dark Knight.

Dark Knight: I must say I’m quite surprised. I never met a Hume that actually didn’t like that pompous, windbag.
Razel: Well, I’m definitely one of a kind.
Dark Knight: I’ll say.

I followed his eyes down as they stopped at my pants. I looked down then as well. When the looked down, I caught sight of why he said what he said in such a tone. When the bottle of distilled water had broken on the floor inside, some water had splashed up on the front of my pants, creating quite the questionable imagery. The Dark Knight smirked but after a moment, his expression turned back to the scowl that he originally greeted me with. The silence between the two of us was almost deafening, but it was quickly broken.

Dark Knight: I must be off. I have to find Rotagus. It’s quite urgent. Good talking with you…
Razel: Razel.
Dark Knight: Razel.

The Dark Knight then turned and began to walk away. Something inside of me told me to keep silent, but there was also something inside of me that trusted him.

Razel: Excuse me…

The Dark Knight turned back towards me.

Dark Knight: Yes?
Razel: You can probably find Rotagus down at the docks.
Dark Knight: What would he be doing down at the docks?
Razel: He’s a fisherman.
Dark Knight: A fisherman?!
Razel: Yes, a fisherman. You seem surprised. Is something wrong?
Dark Knight: No, nothing is wrong, though you are correct on the surprised part. A fisherman? Heh, he never ceases to amaze me. At the docks you say?

I nodded to him.

Dark Knight: Okay then. Thanks a lot, Razel.
Razel: You’re welcome…hey, you never told me your name!
Dark Knight: You never asked.

I watched this mysterious Dark Knight walk towards to docks, when I heard my Father shout for me. I turned to see him waving to me from his fishing spot and I waved back.

Uri: Razel! Razel, did you get the distilled water yet?
Razel: Yes, Father. I have it right…

I turned back around so I could point out the Dark Knight to my Father, but he was gone. It was as if he vanished with the wind. I looked about, but there no sign of him. I turned back to my Father.

Razel: …here.

I quickly ran towards my Father and handed him the bottles of distilled water.

Uri: Where’s the fourth bottle?

I didn’t answer my Father because I was still looking around for the Dark Knight.

Uri: Razel?
Razel: Hmmm?
Uri: Where is the fourth bottle? I had four in the house.
Razel: Oh, my apologies, Father. Grandfather was in the house and he gave me quite a scare. I thought someone had broken in. I quickly turned to meet them with my…

It just hit me that my Father did not yet know I had bought an onion sword from a traveling adventurer the week prior with the gil I got from my Father when I went fishing with him on the boat to Mhaura. My rod had snapped and I was given the gil to have it fixed.

Uri: Your…?
Razel: Well, I mean, your distilled water.
Uri: Are you saying you threw a perfectly good bottle of distilled water at your poor Grandfather because you mistook him for a Thief?
Razel: He startled me and I didn’t know what else to do.

My Father let out a hardy laugh at the news.

Uri: It’s okay, Razel. Serves my old man right for sneaking up on people like that. You didn’t hurt him did you?
Razel: No, I…
Dokiaus: He let the bottle go too soon is what he did.

I turned around to see my Grandfather standing right behind me.

Razel: Grandfather!

I quickly readied a bottle of distilled water in my hand to help me out in my lie.

Razel: You see, Father! He almost came in contact with another close call. That’s two in one day, Grandfather. You should be more careful.
Uri: Razel is right you know. You’re lucky he didn’t hit you with the one inside of the house.

My Grandfather let out one roar of a laugh. I looked at him with a look of anger upon my face. He knew I was lying about what I had said to my Father inside the house, and I also knew he’d like nothing more than to spoil this day on me by telling my Father the news. Grandfather was never one for keeping secrets. He swore against them. To my surprise though, he winked at me.

Dokiaus: If you would’ve extended your arm more on the throw, you would’ve hit me. Luckily for me, I have been surrounded by adventurers for quite some time, and I learned to side step such a pathetic attack.
Razel: Pathetic attack?! If I had moved one step closer you would…
Dokiaus: I would’ve dodged that attack too lad.

I put my arm down and let out a small sigh.

Dokiaus: Oh come now my boy. With a little practice you could have some of the best marksmanship in Vana’diel. Aye, I know a mighty fine group of Rangers who would be more than willing to…
Uri: Father.
Dokiaus: Yes, Uri?
Uri: You would be wise to end that kind of talk right now. Today is my son’s birthday and I don’t want it to be ruined by talk of adventurers.
Dokiaus: Uri, you can’t keep the boy sheltered from his roots forever.
Uri: That is true, but you do enough indulging of his mind into that adventurer garbage than I could ever stand. Grandfather is dead. Let his tales die with him. For goodness sake Father, let him rest.

My Grandfather then walked calmly over to my Father and struck him across the face with the back of his hand. My Father fell backwards with a stunned look on his face. He wasn’t the only one with such an expression.

Razel: Grandfather!
Uri: It’s okay, Razel. Your Grandfather is very sensitive about his Father tales.
Dokiaus: You’re damn right I be sensitive about them! An for future reference, you’d be wise to not call them “tales”. They are legends! Your Grandfather was a hero of Vana’diel. So don’t you dare ever say that his memory should die. His memory should live on with all of the other heroes of Vana’diel. You speak nothing of lies to your poor son Razel! You make him fear the ways of adventuring. The only reason you’re afraid, Uri, is because of what happened to Miranda. You blame yourself. You blame yourself because you are too afraid to tell your son the truth! It is you who should be the one to let your memories die. Because a part of you already has.
Uri: Enough! I will not stand for these insults! Get out of my sight, Father. Go! Now!
Voice: Did I come at a bad time?

My Grandfather, my Father, and I all turned at the sound of another voice.

Uri: Rotagus, I’m afraid you’ve picked the most possible worse time to show your face here.
Rotagus: I do apologize for that. I was wondering if young Razel has informed you of his news.
Uri: What news? Razel, what news does Rotagus speak of?
Razel: News? Well, um…you see, Father, I wanted to, um…
Uri: Out with, Razel. I don’t have the patience for any of these foolish games of yours.
Razel: I wanted to tell you, Father that I have decided to become an um…
Uri: A what?
Razel: A…
Dokiaus: The boy wants to become an adventurer.

I turned and looked at my Grandfather with a cold stare in my eyes.

Razel: Grandfather!
Dokiaus: You can’t hide in the shadows forever. I see in your heart that’s what you truly desire to become. If that be the case, there be no reason for fear. An your Father, no matter how ignorant he is to their ways, has a right to know.

I fixed my eyes at the ground, as I slowly turned back towards my Father. I then closed my eyes.

Uri: Razel…is this true? Do you truly want to become an adventurer?

I opened my eyes, feeling a few tears escape them. I was ready to speak, but before I could, my Father did once more.

Uri: I see.
Razel: You didn’t let me say anything, Father.
Uri: You did not have to. I can see it in your eyes that the path of an adventurer is truly what you desire.

My Father then began to pack up all of his fishing gear. He did not say a word to anyone. The western wind was the only thing to break the silence between the four of us standing there. What had only been five minutes, felt like an eternity.

Uri: Razel.
Razel: Yes, Father?

My Father looked at my Grandfather. I could see that he now had tears in his eyes, just like I had moments before.

Uri: I would like a moment of your time inside the house. Right now.

I followed my Father into our house and the news he presented to me was something I never expected to hear.

Razel: Father, what’s wrong?
Uri: I have lied to you, Razel.
Razel: Lied to me? How? By speaking your mind about adventurers? Father, I do not consider that lying, I just wanted…
Uri: I was an adventurer once, Razel. Just like your great Grandfather.
Razel: What?!
Uri: It’s true. When I met your Mother, I was a traveling adventurer. I had been stationed in the city of Bastok. I ran into your Mother when I was delivering a stack of wind crystals to the gate guard in the Bastok Mines District. She was looking for an escort to Selbina and offering a very handsome reward. Having no previous engagements after delivering the said crystals, I took her up on her offer. During our three day journey to Selbina, we grew quite fond of one another. People said were fools for rushing in, but what we had felt so right. I decided to take the earnings that I had made from being an adventurer and build this house. We never truly had a place to call home. Then we had Selbina. While your Mother was pregnant with you, I was called away on duty by my mentor. The mission was short, but it came at a price. A band of goblins staged an attack on the outpost, just outside these walls, in the Valkurm Dunes. I was in a strike force along with eight other men. Our job was to flank the goblins from the East, and hopefully weaken their melee fighters by taking out their healers. The operation was running smoothly, when suddenly, I was bound. The black magic had enveloped my entire body and I couldn’t run. I saw a goblin turn to me, and then…everything went white. We had won the battle, but I had been injured. There is a momentary space between life and death in this world. You can see yourself lying there. I was lucky enough to have a noble White Mage use the power of raise upon my body. Had he been just a moment later, I don’t think I would be standing here telling you this story.
Razel: I can’t believe you’re telling me this story at all!
Uri: Please, Razel, let me finish. After my brush with near death, I decided to retire from a life of adventuring. Your Mother knew how close she was to losing me, and when you were born, we decided to never speak of my past. We forbid your Grandfather from it as well. We both know he’s not one for secrets, but he respected our wishes.
Razel: If you were an adventurer, why did you and Mother constantly speak down upon them?
Uri: We didn’t want to see you get hurt. Adventuring has run in your blood for many generations.
Razel: Grandfather is not an adventurer.
Uri: This is true, but he has a long outstanding relationship with them. He may have never been one, but if there was a battle and your Grandfather was put in the middle of it…he’d fight like the best of them.
Razel: Why, Father…why did you lie to me?
Uri: I’ve already told you, Razel. Your Mother and I didn’t want to see you get hurt.
Razel: It was my choice to make though! You had no right to speak lies to me and keep secrets such as this from your own son. Just like you had no right to speak such slander about the ways of adventurers.
Uri: Razel, please…I’m not proud of what I did. I knew sooner or later it would come to this. I could see it in your eye that the path of adventurer is where your heart truly lies.
Razel: That’s what Grandfather said.
Uri: It was selfish of me to try and keep you locked up behind these town walls forever. For that, I apologize.
Razel: Apology accepted.
Uri: There’s something else, Razel.
Razel: What would that be, Father?
Uri: Your Mother’s passing. She begged me to come with her that day, when there was a change in the winds. She knew, as well as I did, that something was going to happen. I let my cowardly ways keep me from getting on that boat. I should have stood by her side and protected her, but I was weak. Promise me something, Razel. If you meet someone and fall in love with them, set this as your example: Never let your past guide the way you make your future.
Razel: I will always remember those words, Father. You should remember though that everyone was killed by the Sea Horror. If you would’ve gone, I would’ve lost you too.
Uri: Sometimes I think that might have been for the best.
Razel: Don’t say such things, Father.

Just then there was a knock on the front door. I opened it to see my Grandfather and Rotagus standing outside.

Razel: Yes?
Rotagus: Ah, Razel. I know this is not the best time, nor was earlier, but I was wondering if you were ready to begin your training now.
Razel: Excuse me, Rotagus, but my Father and I have not yet finished our…wait, did you say training?
Dokiaus: Aye, that he did. I be tellin’ ya that your Father wouldn’t take so hard to the news after he be seein’ what I got you for a gift.
Razel: I’m not sure I fully understand.
Rotagus: Allow me to explain then, Razel. Not too many know of my past here, but I too was once an adventurer.
Razel: You as well, Rotagus? Has everyone in this town been one, but has long since decided to forget their past?
Rotagus: For the most part. That however is not part of what I am trying to tell you. I joined the ranks of adventuring as a Warrior. I pledged my allegiance to the nation of Bastok. After quite some time, I returned to my homeland of San d’Oria. It was there I undertook the path of a noble Paladin. I was trained in the arts of the sword and shield, as well as some protective and curative magic. Now, Razel, any adventurer has the right to choose his or her own path. There is nothing that is forever etched in stone. For now, I would like to train you in the ways of being a Warrior. Should you decide to change your mind a week from now or a year from now, you will always have the skills that I can teach you at your disposal. Whether it be to a new profession in the ways of adventuring or deciding that maybe you didn’t want to be one after all. So with your permission, I would like to get started right away.
Razel: Well, I would have to ask my Father because I…

I felt a slight nudge just then on my back. I turned to see my Father standing there with my onion sword.

Razel: Father, where did you…I mean, I can explain…
Uri: You don’t have to, Razel. I have known for quite some time that you had bought this blade from a traveling adventurer.
Razel: You have? How?
Uri: Come now, Razel. I’m your Father. I know everything.

I smiled warmly at my Father.

Razel: With your permission, Father, I’d like to begin my training with Rotagus.
Uri: That is your decision to make now, Razel. You are a man. You do not need to consult me for permission for such things. However, I do ask one favor of you.
Razel: Yes, Father?
Uri: You will address Rotagus from now until your training is complete, as Master Rotagus.

I nodded to my Father. I took the sword from him and then turned back to my Master.

Razel: I am ready to start my training, Master Rotagus.
Rotagus: Very good, Razel. Follow me.

I waved goodbye to both my Father and my Grandfather as Master Rotagus and I walked towards his house. Inside, I could not believe my eyes. A San d’Orian flag hung in the training quarters. Flags of the three nations were only given to adventurers who went above and beyond the call of duty, and received the highest rank. I gazed upon photographs of Master Rotagus with the Archduke of Jeuno, as well as the King of San d’Oria. I saw the infamous honor sword mounted on his wall. Such a sword was only given to Paladins after completing their training and providing proof that they are Vana’diel knights. I was completely awe inspired at it all. Master Rotagus then entered the room and grasped the handle of his sword tightly. Before drawing it upon me, he looked at me with a very intense gleam in his eye.

Rotagus: Now then, shall we begin?

I brandished my sword just as he had. I nodded to him.

Razel: Let’s.