It was a clear night in Alexandria. The night time folk were scarce, but were about in cleaning their shops, pushing dirt off of their sidewalks, and closing up for the brilliant night. The stars shone as Selene sneaks out of the back of the palace. Climbing down a series of vines with a backpack, she stumbles and falls down to the grass below with a thud that has her laying on her back. It wasn’t ironic that the first step towards becoming the best White Mage in the land was filled with pain. Maybe it was justly so to remind her that the way ahead would be harder than she imagined or even wanted.
A single blonde butler resides by a carriage in waiting. He opens the doors and Selene runs in to set down her heavy backpack.
“Mi’lady, surely such a journey is not a necessity. You have all here and with little for want or needs. Why undergo such a venture?”
“I have to find out what the light in my dream meant, Miles. Why did I dream about that …that Academy for nearly a month? Why was it shining so brightly?”
“Dreams are but figments of imagination, Mi’lady.”
“I will find out! If I am meant to fail then I will return with tail betwixt my legs and whisper of your being so right. In the meantime, I will venture! Will you give Mother my letter? I know she will understand.”
“I shall do so with a heavy heart, Mi’lady. Take the carriage to Spira. When you are at your destination, the driver will let you out. Then take Transit Bus 3E-PAN and it will take you close enough to the Academy you see.”
“Thank you, Miles. You have been a darling friend. I shall do my best to return as someone who will do more than be a pretty rose to watch wither away! I will bring real change with great ability and reputation. Watch for me, Miles! In the meantime, farewell and bless you.”
“And to you, Princess. May your journey bare the fruit you so seek.”
And with that, the little redhead was off to Spira.
The journey itself was fairly long, lasting about 4 whole days with only a few stops to attend…bodily needs, but otherwise, she got to see the lovely country side of the region. The gorgeous crags near fields of grass and the lovely stylings of the people. It was then a few hours after arriving at the bus station that the bus note appeared as a moogle gives a time to the audience.*
“Bus arriving in 1 hours, kupo!”
With such a note, she sighs and goes into the nearby store. The selections were VASTLY different from her normal pickings. As she wandered the small store ailes, a fellow speaks up…
“Having trouble picking?”
“I-I am having no difficulties! It is only the picking of something to eat, is all. How difficult can such a thing be?”
“Some Spirans use slang on their snack signs here. Here, try these out. They are pretty simple breads. A drink like this pairs well with it. Don’t worry, miss. I know a tourist when I see one, hoho.”
“My thanks. Ah…forgive my defensive manner. I am simply awaiting the bus to the Academy a few miles away.”
“You’re going to that strange place? Can’t say I envy you. Lots of rumors about it, but I aint one to spit nonsense. Whatever you’re going to do there, best take care, ya hear?”
“Uh… yes, I will be attentive. My thanks.” She curtsies
With that Selene sits on a bench and eats her sweet bread and sips the light milk. She looks about at the people who are generally attending her own business, but it is clear that her own wares are fairly uncommon in this area. She might as well have smelled like upper class, because, well… she literally did. It was then the bus pulls up and she hurries onto it.
The remaining hours of travel were, thankfully, uneventful. She fiddles with her hair nervously as the sight of the Academy comes into slight in the distance. The tower of the Headmaster slowly gaining height as the mechanical gears grind. Her hands begin to shake and her breath shortens as the first students come into sight along the road. They looked so confident and so well dressed and …was this the right thing? Did she make a mistake?
No, it could not be so. She had to find the light that she found in her dreams. There has to be something here! Sure the dreams of one such as herself could not be such a false promise, right? Alas, it was too late now. There was no turning back. Now was the time to really go all in and become someone of note like the heroes of old from her country. It was then there was a… flash, and she saw a vision of a fellow, in an almost vivid dream. Her body was not her own and… … …she awoke anew after the odd and deep vision, in a bed in the Academy.
