Chapter 8: Nasty Narshe, or: The Life and Death of Sneaky Lich -------------------------------------------------------------- Tiamat hopped onto Doom Gaze's large, feathered back. She was followed by the other fiends, and Garland. "Take us up, Doom Gaze!" Tiamat commanded. "Yes, master," Doom Gaze replied mechanically. His dull eyes glowed, and he vaulted himself into the air, jarring his riders rather uncomfortably. The great mechanical beast flapped his wings steadily, silently awaiting orders. "Lessee, Albrook is here," Tiamat said to herself, studying the map. "So if we head north, we should eventually reach Narshe. That is, if another hurricane doesn't hit us." "Isn't Narshe a bit too isolated to be a thriving metropolis?" Kraken asked doubtfully. "It seems to be on an island with nothing but mountains..." "Well, it won't do to just sit here talking about it all day," Garland said. "I say we give it a try." The fiends agreed with Garland's sentiment. "Well then!" Garland continued. "Head due north, noble steed!" Doom Gaze started to build up speed, and soon the fiends were racing across the sky towards their new destination. "Hey, this thing really moves!" Kary exclaimed. "Yikes!" Lich said, clutching Doom Gaze for dear life. The great ocean below wasn't very appealing to him at all. The team raced on, and soon enough, the Sabil mountain range could be seen directly ahead. "There it is," Tiamat exclaimed. "Take us down, Doomer!" Doom Gaze wheeled and circled recklessly, landing just outside the gates of Narshe. The sign which read that name hung loosely from one bolt. It swung and creaked in the breeze. There were no people to be seen. The icy wind howled in the fiends' ears. "It's f-f-f-freeezing!" Kary complained, hugging herself and shivering. Garland threw her his cloak, which she greatfully accepted. "Where..." Tiamat started. "Where is everyone? WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO?" "I dunno," Kraken said. "Maybe Arby's...?" "What?" Garland asked, confused. "You'll understand when you're immortal," Lich assured him. "I... don't get it..." Tiamat trailed off. "Where could everyone have gone?" "Most are dead," a voice behind the fiends answered. The fiends whipped around to find a man of some years leaning against a building covered with snow. "You all look tired and cold. Come inside, would ya? I'll explain everything." The fiends followed the middle-aged man into the building. Inside, they found a pleasant atmosphere. There was another man behind a counter, and many more wandering about the building, discussing the proper way to deal with a Behemoth, or just how elixirs could be mass produced. "Have a seat." The man said. The fiends found various seats around the room within earshot. "My name's Arvis. I been in this town for twenty-some years. I know all about it." "So where is everyone?" Kraken asked. A serving girl who was serving tea couldn't help staring at the water fiend's blue eyes. So blue, you could drown in them... "Well, some took refuge in this here training house. Most people were killed, and a few just left. Now this town's forsaken, and mostly run by monsters and thieves. Even the Moogles went!" Arvis was surprised that anyone wouldn't know all that already. "What's a moogle?" Kary asked. "It's kinda like a white teddy bear with bat wings," Arvis replied. "Need anything else made clear?" "Yeah," Lich answered. "Why's the world in such a lousy state?" The serving girl chose not to look at Lich's face, for fear of fainting. "Don't you know?" Arvis asked, wide eyed. "You're not from around here, are ya?" "Oh no, not at all," Garland said, recieving his tea. There was something about him that made the serving girl uneasy, but she couldn't place it. Arvis proceeded to tell a brief summary of the end of the world, Kefka's reign and defeat, and the disappearance of magic. Then he asked, "How come you didn't know that?" "Well," Tiamat started. "You might not believe it, but... we're from another time." "We're the Fiends of The Elements. I am Kary, of Fire." The serving girl envied Kary's looks. "Lich, of Earth." "Kraken, of the Sea." "I am Tiamat, of the Wind and Sky. Also Queen of Evil Dragons. How do you do?" "And this fellow...?" Arvis inquired. "I am Garland, Keeper of Chaos, Guardian of the Temple of Fiends, and Master of the Black Orb Of Time. I'm also their boss." "That's quite a title..." Arvis said, impressed. "Which should I call you?" "Garland is fine, we needn't be formal." Garland proceeded to tell Arvis the entire history of his travels, and how he adopted his titles. He even told of his defeat at the Temple of Fiends, and the legend of the Light Warriors. How the orbs were lit, and darkened, and lit again. "Unfortunately, we've lost most of our power by coming to this world." "Won't it return?" Arvis asked. "Well," Tiamat said, "yes, but slowly. We need to find and light the orbs again to get it all back and light the Black Orb, so we can go home." The serving girl refilled her cup of tea. "Could you get me something for my head, dearie? I've got a killer migraine." "You know something about orbs, old man?" Lich asked disrespectfully. "Hmmm..." Arvis thought aloud. "Not for sure, but I think the Elder had some books about ancient elemental stuff..." "Where's the elder?" Kraken asked anxiously. "Oh, he's dead!" Arvis replied. The fiends and Garland groaned simultaneously, and so loudly, everyone in the place looked their way. "However, his house is still standing," Arvis said reassuringly. "It's uptown aways." "WHERE?" the five said together. "I'll take ya there," Arvis said. He got up. "Follow me." * - * - * The group crept along the streets of Narshe. They stayed up against walls, and moved slowly. Suddenly, the sick sound of some lupine creature baying could be heard. "Aw, crud!" Arvis said. "It's a Red Wolf. Hurry, they're vicious!" The party hurried on. The baying came again, from very close. Suddenly, Kary spotted a glowing crimson figure in a nearby alley. "Um, guys?" the fire fiend said, concerned. "SSHH!" Arvis snapped. "Do you wanna be -" As Arvis spoke, the great beast pounced from the shadows, saliva dripping from its great jaws. It snarled, and circled the party. The monstrous wolf stood five feet at the shoulder, and looked positively bloodthirsty. No one moved. At length, the beast lunged. Fast as lightning, Lich sprang forward, kicking the Red Wolf in the chest. The beast fell back, surprised, then sprang to its feet again, snarling and frothing. It lunged again, this time at Lich in particular. It took his arm in its great jaws. Lich managed to shake him off, but was bleeding rather badly. The beast uttered a low, guttural growl, and talons sprang from its canine paws. Lich and the others gasped. The monster pounced upon Lich, tearing and ripping at hi body. Tiamat gasped. "Oh no!" Kraken said. An eerie silence fell over all. The Red Wolf stood triumphantly over the still body of the once great Lich, Master of Earth, and Lord of the Undead. Kary began to cry. Kraken stood silently. Garland gawked. Tiamat sniffed. Arvis sniffed as well. "He was a good man, I'm sure..." Then something curious happened. "ha... Ha... Ha ha ha... HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA! Foolish DOG!" the body of the fallen Lich shouted manaically. The snapping of bones knitting made the other fiends shudder. The skeletal hands shot up, puncturing the flesh and organs of the gargantuan Wolf. The Undead Lord stood, hoisting the great beast over his death's head. With a great grunt, he sent the monster careening through a nearby weapons shop, with enough force to kill about anything. A great crash of wood, brick, and wolf could be heard in the classroom. "Right..." The bloodied form of Lich said. "Let's get going... WELL? WHAT ARE YOU ALL STARIN' AT?" The group continued through the town, with no further attackers, as could be expected.