"Hamon!" Came a yell beyond the gates. Mutual sighs shared around.
"The boy has returned...again, can't you at least give him an audience Hamon?" Chuchuto pleaded from her perch on the railing.
"No. And why should I?" Hamon huffed. "The boy shows less resolve than an unarmed Tonberry."
Shared grumbles about the disturbance showered on Hamon.
"Fine, fine you lot can't do it yourselves, better to have the Master do it anyway" Joints protested upon his rising, striding to the gates he flung them open to... an empty passage?
"Well I suppose he heard the Holyfist 'imself was going to greet 'im this time." Hamon chuckled to himself returning to the guild.
"Hiya!" Came from the rafters above Hamon, as Bace took the opportunity to strike.
"Do you see me now Hamon?" Bace threw at him between blows, defying his looks Hamon deftly dodged each fist as they flew.
"Have you grown a spine little one? Keep practicing and one day I may allow you to shine me boots!"
"No can do old man if I am to ever leave pearl lane." The words stopped Hamon mid block causing a clip to his hip sending him to his rear. Bace moved in to finish the fight hoping to finally be recognized by his hero.
"Enough!" Chuchuto came to Hamon's aid, palm thrusting Bace into an awaiting gladiator's arms
"Shh boy settle down now no harm will come to you but you must be still." Bace stopped struggling as much, and covered his head.
"Please don't kick me, I'll stop and won't be in anyone's way I..I promise!" Franz's face drained of color as the boy's voice cracked through the statement.
"I will do NO such thing young miqot'e, now nor in the future! So, please stop." As Franz sighed the last statement Bace stopped his residual resistance to look at the Holyfist himself.
"H-Hamon? Will he be ok?"
"Aye. I am just shocked is all," Hamon muttered upon rising with the help of Chuchuto. "you are from pearl lane you said?"
"Um yes sir...I mean not originally but now yes."
"Where is your parents?" Inquired Hamon while dusting himself off.
"I..i mean they left me here, my mom is feral." Whispers from the guild began to build but a sharp look from Chuchuto silenced all.
"Franz please bring him in, Chuchuto please fetch the night milk there is much to discuss."
"Duneswright." Bace muttered "I like it Chuchuto thank you."
"Of course, they say it was the Lalafell that united the clans' given name, I find it suits you."
"Would you like a ride back to the guild? Hamon is probably waiting for these skins." Bace said lifting their cargo.
"Please it's is rather hard keeping up with you now-a-days." Chuchuto sighed reaching up to Bace.
"Heh would you say I outgrew your expectations of me?" Bace asked arching his brow.
"Oh goodness I never thought you would be as small as me but at least you aren't as large as average miqot'e." Chuchuto added upon settling on Bace's shoulders. The return to Ul'dah was uneventful allowing distaste for the plain landscape to burrow deeper in the back of Bace's mind.
"Hamon we're home!" Came Chuchuto's small voice
"Good 'urry in 'ere now we 'ave a guest!" Hamon resounded from the back
Bace's tail bristled at the thought of another guest the last one ended quite poorly. Quite the Ofish fellow had attempted to pet Bace without permission and ended with a visit to a healer, though Hamon had howled with laughter Chuchuto was not thrilled with the treatment.
"Ah this is the lad now" Hamon motioned to Bace
"Please allow me but a moment to ease this load." Bowing politely Bace stepped away.
Now muffled voices carried well to the young seeker's ears.
"Well he has grown well that is visible and you assure me of his strength, but how fairs his mind?"
"He is sharper than most, not one for a fight." Hamon laughed "Heh well unless it's me or the wilds that is."
"Hmm...well I am looking for guard during travel. Are you sure that can be filled?"
"Have no doubt if troubles arise you will wish for no other."
Bace made plenty of noise on the return hoping to end the conversation, to no avail.
"Perfect. Boy I require a demonstration of your skill" The guest motioned to the sparing square. "Please find a suitable opponent."
"Um ok, Hamon are you.." Bace began
"No! It shall not be Hamon, take Chuchuto." Chuchuto rose from her seat by the hearth.
"I...I understand." Bace bowed again, Chuchuto would not be pleased if he upset another guest. Turning to stretch and find his focus Bace noted how small she appeared when taking stance. A shout came from behind, She rushed him unprepared catching him in a daze. Barely able to deflect her flurry of blows the world was a muffled dissonance. Scared, Bace threw consecutive punches flawlessly strung together through fear, creating a deadly dance that Chuchuto could not keep up with. Landing multiple blows in quick succession sound returned to deaf ears pleading him to stop. Out of breath he ran to Chuchuto though stopped short by other guild members encompassing her
"Step no further fiend you will harm her no more!" Fear showed in the pugilists eyes causing Bace to step back.
"I...i didn't mean too." Tears began to well in his eyes. "H..hamon please." Not looking at Bace, Hamon picked up Chuchuto carefully.
"She will be fine, please return to the back with Erin while 'er wounds are tended." Hamon strode out of the hall with most in tow.
Tears rolled down his face mixing with his sweat. He had no desire to go anywhere with that man let alone be in the abandoned guild hall with him. He began to run towards the entrance when a cough made him freeze.
"I believe you are to stay here with me boy." Erin said waving towards the back. Not wanting to cause anymore trouble Bace followed solemnly behind, taking the seat Hamon vacated Bace looked down ashamed.
"Stop the sulking, in fact you should be proud you are able to achieve grease lightning." Bace bristled at his words.
"A child sulks. I am concerned for my friend, do not insult me or my intelligence!" Bace spat at him with words dripped of spite.
"Well be that as it may you have demonstrated you are capable of being my escort so we shall be departing tonight." Erin rose dusting himself off. "I recommend you commence packing." Leaving Bace alone to release a breath he didn't know he was holding. He couldn't leave he would miss everyone. His mind flashed the unwelcoming faces of everyone surrounding Chuchuto.
"I will leave and I will come back to them with a head held high." Bace began to pack.
Night seemed to fall quickly with nothing but small murmurs rising from the guild itself only a handful of pugilists had returned leaving Bace alone curled on his empty cot awaiting Erin's return.
"Come." Was all Erin chose to say to him, upon departure Erin threw a small sack of gil onto Hamon's cot. "That should be enough." Bace watched as the seam broke feeling as if his heart might do just the same. Leaving the din of the city was bittersweet, it was as if he could breath a little less hindered now.
"Where are we traveling?" Bace wondered aloud adjusting on his chocobo.
"Ah! It finds it's voice again" Erin exclaimed.
"I have a name!" Bace snapped at Erin. “please do well to remember that."
"Tsk...tsk however are we to get along at this rate." Erin sighed "Well if you must know Bace we are headed to Ala Mhigo'."
"One in the same, not everyday you get to see such a sight eh?" Erin smirked knowing the boy was hooked and wouldn't leave now. And he was right every pugilist dreamed of meeting the esteemed chosen monks of Ala Migho. Top in the standing armies across the realm enhanced by their devotion to Rhalgr which also brought them discipline. Which by the 12, was it needed to deal with the mad king of the land.
"Will we be seeing the king?" Erin laughed at him.
"Gods no! I have no plans of dying so soon, and nor should you." Erin left it at that. Traveling through the many parts of Thanalan proved less exciting than Bace first thought, no foul weather or oppositions to be meet. He began to get disheartened they would never arrive when they finally were able to see the spires in the distance. Bace's breath caught in his throat the sight was as nothing he had seen before. Ul'dah has it's beauty in strong stone structures but the towering monoliths were beyond what he'd imagined.
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