Letters to Alma (Bundle 1, Oct-Dec)

[zodiac_brave]

 

Dear Alma,

I doubt this letter shall ever find you, despite the many talents of the couriers here. I know not how much time has passed for you since we last saw one another. For me, it has been about three months, but time flows strangely here. A friend passed into a crystalline sleep for a week, emerged two years older, but said no time had passed without her in her homeland. I can only hope it has not been long since I left your side. If I have broken my promise not to leave you behind again, I beg your forgiveness.

As to what has happened to me- I found myself transported to another world! I arrived in Crystallis on Libra 13^th (October 5^th, in this world’s reckoning). I awoke to find a strange creature, a moogle named Simon. He explained that a great crystal called the Crystal of Fire had transported many ‘Heroes of Light’ to this world to prevent a coming calamity. We know naught about the form of this catastrophe or how we are meant to prevent it, but we all try our best.

Much has happened since I arrived here, and I will tell you about it at greater length later. But most recently, a time of festival came and went. I kept myself busy, bringing presents and food to the city’s most lowly citizens, but it did not keep my thoughts from you. Celebrations like the Starlight Festival are meant to be shared with family. I found a present for you, and I hope I shall be able to give it to you soon, dear sister.

We were given gifts as well. I received a few presents from my friends here. The lady Zelda bestowed upon me a fine charm conveying her well-wishes. The moogle Eris presented me with a couple of games, like the ones we played with as children. My dear friend Yuffie gave me a kiss. And the strangest present I received was drawn from a white crystal given by the leaders here. It was the rapier our Lord Father gave me when I first went away to Akademy. I remember how I longed to prove myself worthy of it, and of our family name. It all seems so long ago now, and it almost makes me laugh, to remember how foolish I was. In any case, I am glad to have a memento of Father. I hope he would still wish me to have it, though I failed in his wish to become a knight.

I pray that you are safe and well. I will hasten back to you as soon as I am able.

Your Devoted Brother,

Ramza

 

 

My Dearest Alma,

In my last letter, I mentioned some of what has passed so far since my arrival in Aqures Ixen, but not at greath length. Here is more of what has happened-

I arrived to find strange decorations adorning the city. They were preparing for another festival, called the Night of the Thirteen Moogles. The moogles celebrate the end of the reign of an ancient tyrant leader.  I met many other ‘Heroes of Light’, including my roommate and many of those I now call friends.

And can you believe it, I rode upon an airship! Although we know of them only from ruins, this world contains operating vessels that soar through the sky. On my trip, I met Sir Ales, Yuffie, and the pirate captain Luffy, ate food procured from a mechanical device, and explored more of the world here.

Soon after my return, strange attacks began, and many moogles were injured and even killed as they went about their duties carrying messages. At the same time, Heroes began to grow ill, and some perished. (But do not fear, sweet Alma- those who die here fall into an enchanted crystal sleep, instead of passing from the earth. Some awake later. It is not understood why, but it is a great mercy.) Myself and some other patrolled the city to attempt to locate the source of the attacks, but our efforts proved fruitless.

On the night of the Festival, some of the fallen Heroes returned and bade us join them against our hosts in Aqures Ixen. We later discovered they were being controlled by a magic-wielding moogle. Although it was difficult to cross blades with our own comrades, we stood against them to prevent the nefarious ritual they enacted. I joined the fight against a mighty warrior called Snow. Though he was a fierce opponent, we bested him at last. He fell into Crystal Stasis after the battle and has not awoken. I wish there was a way to tell him we do not blame him for his actions. His lady love and others from his world fell into the crystal sleep near the same time, so he is, at least, in good company.

In the wake of the battle, we heroes split up to search for clues about the enemy moogle. I traveled with the Lady Ashelia and Lady Yuna to the ancient Lost City of Aqures Tosf, where the Fire Crystal once rested. Within the ruins, we found the diary of the Lady Kalki. Before you scold me for reading a lady’s diary, I must point out that she is an agent of the Heran Empire, which launched an attack on Aqures Ixen shortly before my arrival. Her memoires left us with more questions than answers, but we hope to use clues within it to reveal more about the crystals, the empire, and our purpose here.

The other Heroes successfully located and captured the rogue mage moogle. It is a relief to know he has been apprehended.

I believe that summarizes what has happened to me so far. I shall tell you more about my companions next I write you.

Forever your brother,

Ramza

 

 

Dear Alma,

It is the first day of the New Year here in Aqures Ixen. I thought to begin this New Year with my new friends. Here are the companions I have met during this adventure:

The Lady Zelda- My first friend here in this new world. Her gentle, kind nature reminds me of you, Alma, and you have never met anyone who works harder to make others happy than Lady Zelda. A secret, between you and me- Zelda revealed to me that in her home world, she is a Goddess! At first, it seemed blasphemy, but quickly enough, the knowledge acted as balm to my wounded faith. Although I do not know if I can believe in God and the Church after what we learned, the discovery of a benevolent goddess restores my hope that there are forces of good in the world. If you could meet only one of my new allies, it would be the Lady Zelda.

Lady Lightning- A fierce warrior, I met Lady Lightning upon my arrival here. She led us in our battle against Snow, her brother by law, and fell into Crystal Stasis soon after. I hope she will awake and once again lend us both her blade and her determination.

Laguna- My roommate. He showed me great kindness when I first arrived, and although we have not gone on any great quests together, I hold him in high regards.

Cloud- Imagine my surprise, sister, to find a familiar face in this foreign world. Cloud, the warrior summoned by Mustadio’s strange device, is here in Aqures Ixen as well. He is younger than when I met him, however, and he does not remember me. Still, I know he is a good man and have endeavored to befriend him again. He contracted a strange malady during the Night of the Thirteen Moogles, but recovered once the dark ritual was interrupted.

Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca- She introduced herself to me as ‘Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca’, but I found out later that she is a Queen…of Ivalice, no less! As we talked of our homelands, it became obvious that we are not from the same Ivalice, but there were some striking similarities. Lady Ashelia is brave and strong, both in magic and in will. She will make her Ivalice a fine queen. She fought beside me against Sir Snow, and summoned the power of the Bloody Seraph against him. Later, I cautioned her against relying on Ultima’s power, and she agreed to put aside that power. I was greatly relieved, both that she would not be further exposed to Ultima’s corruption, and that she considered my word trustworthy enough to take to heart. We quested together again in Aqures Tosf, where under her leadership, we located the diary of Lady Kalki.

Lady Bloom- Another of the Heroes I met upon my arrival here. She bore my initial suspicions about the nature of the crystals here with patience and grace. She is very friendly and kind to all who arrive here, and worked hard during the festival to organize something known as a ‘Secret Santa’, where friends secretly exchange gifts with one another.

Yuffie- I met the ‘Treasure Princess’ on my first airship ride. She is the heir to a country called Wutai, and although she does not often divulge information about her homeland, I know her country has been devastated by war, and that it is her deepest wish to see her land restored to its former prosperity. Despite this anxiety, Yuffie is a cheerful and energetic girl, and I am glad to call her ‘friend’. I am afraid I gave her a fright when she came across me at the beaches of Balicea- I was without armor, and stripped out of my wet shirt without thinking. I worry I embarrassed her with my impropriety, although she was kind enough not to mention it again. She also gave me a scare, when she suddenly fell into Crystal Stasis for a week. She awoke older, but says as far as she could tell, time had not passed in her world since she left. We have shared many adventures, patrolling, exploring, and engaging in snow fights to spread holiday cheer.

Sir Ales- A strange looking fellow, Sir Ales is tiny and blue…and Mustadio would be green with envy to talk with him! He is, without a doubt, the most knowledgeable mechanist I have spoken with. He pilots an airship, and plans to build his own. He is also quite brave. Though he has little physical strength and does not have combat skills from his job classes, he both volunteered to help patrol the city during the strange attacks in Capricorn, and came along to assist with the battle that followed.

Luffy, the pirate- At first, I took Luffy for a buffoon or a hooligan. He wanted to steal the airship we both rode upon! However, what I have learned about him and witnessed since suggest there is more to him. I think, perhaps, I was too hasty in my judgment. Word is that he fought most bravely against his opponent on the Night of the Thirteen Moogles, placing himself in harm’s way not to win glory in battle, but to protect his weaker allies. Those who have fought with him hold him in high regards, and I hope to get to know him better so I can form a more accurate opinion of him.

Sir Sephiroth- This man is the spitting image of the Marquis Elmdor, down to his noble bearing and the long sword he carries. Sir Sephiroth aided in patrols before he took ill and fell under control of the Black Mage Moogle. Since then, he has joined the military forces and has been often abroad.

Lady Yuna- Actually, there are TWO Lady Yunas here in Aqures Ixen. How strange it is! Although they look like the same person, and have similar pasts, they have had different experiences. One Lady Yuna stood with me in the battle against Sir Snow, while the other quested at Aqures Tosf with me. Both are very kind. The Second Yuna and I sang carols together for the holidays (although my contribution was Father’s Grass Whistle, which Yuna wished to learn. She is becoming proficient at it).

Sir MarKus- The blacksmith hero, MarKus provides many of the blades to the weapon shop that employs me. He plans to begin researching enchanted weaponry, to which I early volunteered to help test. Although he has a strange manner of speech, his enthusiasm for his craft and his friendliness are a credit to him.

 

More heroes arrive each month, and with each new adventure, I get to know those who I have not yet had occasion to meet. I will update you on those adventures as they come.

I hope, if I am absent, that you are meeting new friends as well although no young men while I am not there to chaperone. No one is worthy of you. Even with all these new faces to keep me company, I am still at a loss without my little sister. As always, I pray I shall see you again soon.

Your friend and brother,

Ramza