A Final Fantasy

Chapter 5: Airship Row

The morning came. The sun shone brightly through one of many windows of Roxanne's residence. Reno opened his eyes slowly. Roxanne and Nyx were sitting on the window looking down at the streets below. The day was just beginning and the boisterous atmosphere of Loftcidia increased every second. Reno sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Morning," he said groggily.

"Good morning," replied Roxanne. "How did you sleep?"

"Like a log! That stew must've knocked me out."

"Glad to hear it." Roxanne came down from the window. She walked into the kitchen and tossed Reno a small orange fruit.

"Eat that. Let's be off to Leoric's."

Reno agreed and rose from the couch. The pair equipped their swords and exited out the door.

The Loftcidian streets were filled with foot traffic. It was the time of the day when the merchants had already begun to set up their shops. As Reno and Roxanne made their way down Breezeway Lane and back into the bazaar, they stopped by the Marksman Board to investigate the new monsters that needed an extermination. Reno caught a glimpse of the Rogue Tomato bill and other vicious creatures, some with sharp claws and talons and others with menacing faces.

They arrived at Leoric's Arms and entered the building. Leoric was positioned in the back behind the counter making sales as customers purchased various of different kinds. Reno and Roxanne approached the counter, and Leoric immediately recognized the duo.

"Welcome back," he said boldly, "and how fares the hunt?"

Roxanne pulled the Rogue Tomato's ragdoll body out of her satchel. It was more crumpled than ever. To the common person, it seemed to be just a doll. Yet, Leoric smelled residue of tomato on the short stubby neck of the doll. She showed it to the miqo'te blacksmith who nodded at the sight of it. He pulled out a copy of the bill somewhere beneath the counter and compared the image to the real object. He nodded some more.

"Consider it... VANQUISHED!" he roared. The entire shop remained silent upon hearing his loud exclamation then clapped and cheered. He then added, "And what about its big tomato head?"

"We ate it," Reno commented.

Leoric smiled and placed a bag of gil in front of Roxanne. "Three thousand gil, just as I promised."

Roxanne took the bag of coins and extended a hand to Leoric who embraced it in return. Reno did the same. Leoric also placed another object onto the counter: a brown weathered seed of a plant. Reno took it and examined it carefully.

"It's a Brustrang seed," Leoric informed. "The Brustrang tree grows quickly in the cold climates and bears fruit enough to sustain oneself for an entire day. Though, in Loftcidia, the seasons do not agree with this tree, and perhaps you may find use of it better than I can."

Reno handed it to Roxanne who stuffed it in her satchel. "Thank you, Blademaster Leoric. We will use it well."

Leoric nodded in approval. "There are more monsters that are in need of killing, so come back when you can if you are up for another job."

The pair acknowledged his request and exited the shop after thanking Leoric again. They exited the doors and reappeared on the streets.

"Next, to find the sky pirate," Roxanne informed.

Reno replied, "Yeah. I know the quickest way to The Edgecliffs."

There were many ways to exit Breezeway Lane. Besides walking down until the road divides into another part of the city, small alleyways revealed hidden stone steps that descended underground of the floating islands. The areas below were not caves but rather a subterranean part of the city. Reno and Roxanne took the nearest stone steps off from the bazaar in hopes of finding the elusive sky pirate at their intended destination.