Thoughts from the Otherworld

 
 
It was morning, the air wasn't too hot even for the time of the day. Calvier nervously leaned against the fence of the small but reputable chocobo stables in the Markets area. While most travelers would prefer to use a bigger one, his future - he supposed now current - employer had chosen to arrive at this one. He sounded like a person who didn't like wasting time on trivialities, this Endahren Merchell from San d'Oria.

Calvier quickly straightened up when he realized what he was doing. Said employer was standing only several ilm away, making small talk with one of the stable boys. He was a curious sight here in Bastok, a blond elvaan in a country where elvaan were rare enough. A foreigner who wanted to set up a business in this city of opportunities. Calvier supposed he should be thankful that he had been judged good enough to be brought into the position of this man's helper, thankful that a cousin of his had relations to San d'Oria. More than anything Calvier wanted a stable income now, to be seen as a respectable man by his own right. This was his big opportunity, and he wasn't going to make it disappear.
Endahren walked to him, brushing his forehead. "Quite hot in here this time of the year."
"Not particularly," Calvier responded. He wondered how much colder it was in San d'Oria. It was a late-summer morning for sure, but this was Bastok and San d'Oria was quite a way north from here. Calvier was born and raised in Bastok, even though he was an elvaan. He supposed it was uncommon, to be a Bastok-born elvaan. He didn't recall ever meeting another one, although was sure they must exist. But rather than being an oddity himself, the odd one was Endahren in Calvier's eyes, this future husband of a cousin's former student who adamantly wanted to play merchant in Bastok.
"So. I hear you have it all set up for me and waiting."
"Yes. I checked the premises myself before signing the preliminary contract, they are in good shape and the location satisfies your demands. I do think we got a good deal with that building." Endahren nodded to his response thoughtfully.
"Well, that remains to be seen. We'll check the paperwork once I've actually seen the place. From what I understand it's not too far from the markets district?"
"Yes, although like I notified you earlier there would have been chocobo stables closer to the site."
"That's of no consequence. I need to check out the Markets district right away, and I can't really do that lugging a wayward chocobo behind me. Let's start walking."
Calvier felt like sighing. This energy, this dedication wasn't something he was too used to. But this was his big chance. That's what he kept telling himself anyway.
 
 

Miss Kii Kalira,

First of all, I would like to offer my apologies to have left you waiting in uncertainty for so long. There have been some...complications, here in San d'Oria. To make the matter brief, my father Gervaine Richille died last June. To the end he was against me staying in contact with you. I don't think he ever found out Endahren was willing to help us stay in contact. I felt guilty over this, and could not continue. While he did have opinions that differ drastically from mine, he was still my father.

Endahren left for Bastok today. I think that is what made me take up the pen again. With him gone, I realized that San d'Oria will not offer me any more. I have decided. As soon as mother and Triene are settled down into this new life well, I will leave San d'Oria. I wish to see the world. Even if I've hurt you with my inconsiderate behavior, I hope you can still be happy for me. If you still wish to stay in contact with me, you can once again reach me at my home, at least until I leave.

Respectfully,
Jenare Richille

 
 

Jenare sat in front of his desk. The day had been long, and it wasn't even evening yet. His best - and quite likely only - friend had just left San d'Oria to live in Bastok for an undetermined length of time. He felt tired, a kind of a weariness in his bones that would not be easy to dissipate. He missed him already. They had not been friends for all that long - a mere five years - but had at least known of each other for most of their lives. Throughout these five years Endahren had become something irreplaceable for him, spurning him on to new achievements, broadening the horizons of his mind. He supposed he should be thankful for Endahren, but their friendship was beyond thinking in such terms.
He sighed and looked at a small box on the corner of his table. It contained several letters from Kii Kalira, a friend of his from Windurst. Ever since his father had died three months ago, he had stopped reading her letters. Endahren was right, she must be getting worried. He had tried to ignore the situation, he felt guilty over continuing his friendship with her since his father had been so strongly against it. But he had promised Endahren to write to her again.
Hesitantly he reached over to the box and opened it. Picked up the several letters it contained and looked at them. He had really been dishonorable in handling this situation, there was no way of getting around that.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in." His mother Celese entered, carrying a tray with some food and drink.
"Decided to bake you same pie. Thought you would love some right now." Jenare smiled sadly. The scent of baked apples came from the tray. His favorite pie. His mother was a true savior. She was keeping the family together right now, after her husband's death. Triene had always been closer to their father than Jenare, and he had taken his death much worse.
"Ah, letters?" Jenare looked down at them and nodded.
"From Kii Kalira. I should write to her again." His mother placed the tray on the desk gently.
"I won't be bothering you for longer, then. Take care now." Saying that, she left the room, closing the door behind her. Jenare opened the earliest of the letters and started reading. He would have to apologize for waiting so long before responding. He hoped he hadn't made her too angry.