They had to keep the campfire low, even though it was chilly outside in the forest at night. Mr. 78 said it was so that they did not attract unwanted visitors. Vivi had quickly agreed. So the four of them huddled around the tiny flame, seeking even the littlest of warmth.
Garland watched Mr. 78 closely, attempting not to be caught doing it. The boy leaned forward to warm his palms near the ashes. The big Mage seemed not to notice. He was humming to himself and digging a little hole in the ground with the butt of his staff.
Just as clueless as ever.
But they had witnessed something that afternoon that Garland was sure Mr. 78 had not wanted them to see. The spell that had been cast, its dark magics, felt very nearly like the same sort of energy that Garland had experienced in the glade the day the Warding Stone had been shattered. Mr. 78 had walked out without even so much as a scratch.. and the dark thing.. the Da'injin had not returned.
Garland shivered at the thought of the dark magic.
Mr. 299… or… that thing that Mr. 78 called Mr. 299… said something about channeling magic through me to break the stone in the glade. He said something about knowing the inner workings of my own spirit. What did he mean?
He heard a soft whimper, and turned to see Mikoto stirring in her sleep. She was shivering something awful, a cold sweat dampening her face, long blonde hair plastered to her brow. She was having bad dreams, he could tell. She looked really cold.
Mr. 78 paused in his pleasure for a moment to look at Mikoto as well. Carefully, the bigger Mage slid over and wrapped her in one arm, pulling her close for warmth. The girl gave a content sigh, turning to pillow her head in the comfort of Mr. 78's robe.
She had stopped shivering. The big Mage's eyes smiled.
Garland continued to watch in silence. He could see Vivi off to one side, far away from the flame's warmth, only the golden light of his eyes glowing in the darkness of the forest. The little Mage had grown silent, seeming to want nothing more than to be alone for a while. He must have been thinking about things. Garland understood how he felt.
What were those things that attacked us today? That horrible shadow monster.. And those things.. Da'injin..? Where did that word come from, and how did I know it? And what did Mr. 299 have to do with all this? What happened to him anyway.. it was as if he's turned into some demon… It was horrible…
The dying fire gave a groaning splutter, threatening to throw them all into a deeper darkness. Garland really hoped it would not. Mr. 78 must have been thinking the same thing. He reached out and prodded the ashes with his staff, stirring to get a stronger flame.
No one had said anything for a long time. The silence was growing very heavy. Garland hated that kind of silence.
"Mr. 78..?"
The Mage turned to look at him, his voice gentle and warm as it always was. "Hmmm?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"S-sure Garland."
There are so many things I want to ask. No matter how you cover up the truth, I have a feelin' that you know more about what's going on here than any of us could imagine.
"Why did you come with us to the glade this afternoon?"
The big Mage had obviously not seen this one coming. He blinked a few times, then said, "Because I wanted to m-make up for breaking Vivi's m-mirror, of course."
"Was that the only reason?"
Mr. 78 tilted his head slowly. "Somethings are best left unknown.."
The boy nearly choked at the sound in the Mage's voice. It had changed again. It was the same tone that he had used back in the glade, the warmth and cheer, the senseless naiveté all gone. Just like that.
I knew it.. he's playin' games with us. And I don't like it.
"We have a right to know the truth, you know?" Garland frowned. "To know what's really goin' on here. After all, we're just as caught up in it as you are."
Mikoto stirred, murmuring softly, one hand reaching up to clasp the big Mage's robe front. Mr. 78 sighed deeply.
Vivi came forward, making his way towards the firelight. He sat down beside Garland without a word.
Mr. 78 looked at them, a sorrow so deep reflected in his eyes. "I know it's hard for you to understand. But for now you just have to trust me. I'm here to help. I want to protect you."
"Why?" Vivi asked.
Just like that it was gone. Mr. 78 turned to the little Mage and answered cheerfully. "Why what?"
Vivi shook his head. "Nevermind…"
Garland sighed.
Trust him he says… but.. he's been lyin' to us this whole time. How do we know he's not the one leadin' us into a trap? How come Mr. 299 always seems to find us no matter where we go?
"Vivi… What's a Da'injin?" Garland asked. It had bothered him ever since the word had crept upon his tongue.
"You don't know?"
"No… do you?"
"Umm… no." The little Mage answered, "The first time I heard of it is when you said it back in the glade. I t-thought you knew what it was."
"No.. I don't even know where that word came from. I-I.. just said it." The boy hunched his shoulders.
"Mikoto said it too." Vivi answered. "Maybe she knows."
"Yeah.." Garland perked up, looking at where the girl slept, still holding tightly to the front of Mr. 78's robes.
"Don't wake her.." Mr. 78 advised them. "She's really really tired."
"We'll ask in the morning," Vivi promised. "For right now, Mr. 78's right. W-we're all tired…"
But I want to know, dammit! I'm tired of my questions goin' unanswered!
"Are we headin' back to the village tomorrow then?" Garland asked, leaning back against a tree. The bark was cold and hard even through the cloth of his vest.
"We m-must not!"
Vivi jerked his head up at the intensity of Mr. 78's statement. "Why?"
"Um… why what?"
"Why can't we go back to the village?"
"It's dark outside."
"I mean.. in the morning?"
"Oh… well…" Mr. 78 said slowly, staring off into the flames. He did not continue, though the others waited.
"Um…" Vivi finally said after a while. "Mr. 78?"
The big Mage drew out of his silence. "Hmmm?"
"I asked why we couldn't go back to the village in the morning?"
"OH.. YEAH!" Mr. 78 grinned. "Heheheh…"
"So why can't we?"
"What?"
"Arrgg..!" Garland stood up quickly, swinging his arms in frustration. "Enough of this shit! Answer the damn question!"
Mr. 78 shrank back, blinking.
Mikoto stirred, turning in her sleep. "What is… all the yelling for…?"
The big Mage stroked her hair from out of her face. "It's nothing, M-Mikoto… You're really tired.. you m-must want to go back to sleep, right?"
The girl simply gave a little sigh, then nodded back off, huddled against the Mage's side.
Mr. 78 looked at Garland. "Please don't wake her again. She's been having such bad dreams. M-Mikoto needs some peace."
"Then answer the question for once, dammit!"
"G-Garland… language.." Vivi hissed.
"Listen.. at this point I don't give a shit! I'm tired of being led around by the nose. If it's not Mr. 299, it's Mr. 78… Stones breakin', shadow wolf creatures… Da'injin-things.. Mr. 44…." He almost wanted to cry. More from frustration than anything else. "I just wanna know! What's so wrong about that?"
"Garland.." Vivi sounded sympathetic.
Mr. 78 turned to them. "It is pretty obvious that Mr. 299 and the Da'injin have already has reached the village. They are probably there now."
"T-the village is in trouble!" Vivi was on his feet at once.
"Maybe…"
"Then we hafta go back and help them!" The boy demanded.
"What do you expect to be able to do?" Mr. 78's gaze was intent.
Garland felt himself shrink away from it. "Help them…"
"Regular magic and weapons won't even touch those things. It takes a spell like what you saw today.. of that caliber and type in order to come close to harming them." The big Mage said quickly.
Garland was shocked. He felt his eyes grow round. "S-so… y-you were the one who cast that spell?"
Shit… what kind of Mage is he?
"What spell?" Mr. 78 answered at once.
"The one back at the glade?"
"When?"
"This afternoon!!" The boy was on the verge of shouting. "Did you or did you not?"
Mr. 78 just sat for a moment.
"Did I what?"
DAMMIT… and I thought I was gettin' somewhere with him this time!
"Nevermind!"
"Garland… don't be m-mad at m-me… please.." Mr. 78 hid under the brim of his hat.
The boy looked into the fire, not answering.
The Mage's voice was at once both gentle and serious. "There is a reason for everything, Garland. You'll understand one day."
"One day may not be soon enough…"
"I believe your mind will have changed by then." Mr. 78 advised him.
"So if… we can't go back to the village… then… what can we do? Aren't they all in trouble?" Vivi did not sound happy.
"Don't you have some friends, Vivi.. ones that were pretty powerful? I remember them visiting with you a long time ago. Before you came to live in the village." Mr. 78 suggested.
"Yeah.. but…" He shook his head. "They all live on the other continent… by the time we could find them, it would be too late…"
"I… don't think so." The big Mage replied. "From the sound of things.. it m-may be nearly impossible for those things to hurt the others in the village. M-Mr. 299 doesn't want them hurt anyway. Remember? He said he w-wanted them alive."
"Yeah…" Garland blinked up.
Man.. for not having a shred of sense.. he really catches those details sometimes..
"When Mr. 299 realizes he cannot go through with his plans in the village… that's when it's gonna be dangerous for us." Mr. 78 said. "We have to be as far away as possible by then."
"Why?"
"Because… at that point, he'll have no choice but to attempt to capture Vivi."