A Reunion of Recent Allies

[Shaizen Latross]

    The echo of his boots against the hard, stone ground was all Shaizen could hear as he walked through the streets of the Market Street. The usual silence that was usual for the area had returned now that the threat of the Heartless had passed. The citizens of Twilight Town had returned to their daily routines, now feeling only slightly safer now that the threat was gone. His part in the situation had been small in comparison to that of others, but he still felt as though he had accomplished something rather grand compared to other things he had done recently. Not only had he helped protect the citizens of Twilight Town from the waves of Darkness, but he had come to realize his purpose in this place.



    And then there was his swords, Lunar and Eclipse. Finally repaired and back to full power, he was able to wield them once more and felt safer for it. His true fighting capabilities came out when he held the two swords, either one at a time or both at once. He had crafted them to be perfectly weighted and balanced for his use, and trained for years with them afterwards.



    As he thought of the creation of his swords, he would find his hands reaching up to rest on the hilts of the blades. He would look up as he continued to walk, realizing he was in a rather familiar part of the town. This was the area he had first woken up in, dazed and confused as to how he got there. To this day, he still wondered how he got there, and what exactly caused his world to be taken by Darkness in such a way.



    Thinking of these things, he also came to realize he was only about a block away from where his newly-met comrade-in-arms called home. Maramdue, was what his name was. A man who Shaizen had at first thought of as a bit odd, he had come to realize that he was also a good person to have as an ally, even if he didn't seem to be one for combat. Shaizen was glad to have met him, as he would have been completely lost if Marmadue had not been there.



    *Perhaps I should pay him a visit.*



    No sooner did this thought cross his mind than Shaizen had started heading in that direction. Being the closest thing Shaizen had to a friend in this world, he figured it might be good to keep on good terms with the man. He did, in a way, owe him, after all. After the promise of keeping an eye out for his bag, even though Marmadue didn't even know him that much, he felt a certain debt was owed. That and Marmadue was not bad for conversation, something Shaizen could use after the past few days.



    Upon approach to the building Marmadue had made home, Shaizen would slow his pace and look up to the building. He wondered how Marmadue had come to claim this place, and respected that he had decided to make it an open shelter for those without a home to call their own. People like that, those with a heart of such kindness, was what this world needed to keep a certain hope alive. Especially if it were to survive the Darkness. Weak hearts would fall easy to the Abyss. Strong hearts, while they can fight back, can be weakened easy in the right conditions. Shaizen had felt his own heart weakening before, and knew the threat was real. Yes, Marmadue was one of the kind hearts here who helped keep that hope alive, as well as those who were willing to fight for others, as he himself had done not long ago.



    Shaizen raised his arm to the door of Marmadue’s home, thinking to himself as he knocked and waited for a response. Was fighting all he could do for the people here? Sure, he had been trained mainly by the Phoenix Guild of Luniel, but the Scribes had trained him a little as well. He had been taught magic to use in more than just combat. Perhaps he could find a use with that? There was much, as fighting was indeed his forte, but he still wanted to do more. Maybe Marmadue could help him with that. He would have to ask once the man answered the knock.



    Shaizen hadn’t seen Marmadue for a while. He was glad Marmadue had told him he was welcome here, and was rather relieved he had at least some place he could go to relax in this torn world. He would call out, hoping Marmadue was home.



    “Marmaude? You in there? It’s Shaizen, thought I might check up on ya.”

[Marmadue]

It felt like things had finally calmed down. It wasn't everyday a large enough Heartless to really threaten the whole town appeared – the first time for Marmadue, actually – and with that had come its fair share of trouble. They survived, peace returned, but not everything had survived. Not everyone had survived. Even more rubble littered the sandlot due to the fallen buildings – and as a healer, the Yuke had had his days full making sure no one had to suffer their injuries for too long. Not the smallest of tasks after such an attack, but now…

Now his little makeshift infirmary was empty again. The bedrolls folded up in a neat pile in the corner, the floor swept clean. A lantern on the counter flickered as Marmadue worked behind it, arranging the leftover supplies into his preferred order. A knock from the door was quick to catch his attention, his gaze turning towards it as if expecting someone to rush in, but nothing of the sort happened. The door remained closed, so he was the one who walked up to it to see what was on the other side.

The Yuke didn't even have to open the door to figure out who was behind it. A familiar voice called out from the other side, causing a slight pause in his steps, but he didn't hesitate for long. He grabbed the handle and opened the door, indeed meeting face to face with the man he had expected.
"Ah. Mister Shaizen. It is, ah, good to see you," Marmadue started. Indeed, he hadn't seen him after the… The attack. That could have meant… Well. It luckily hadn't meant anything bad. In fact, perhaps it had been a good thing. That only meant Shaizen hadn't needed his services. Until… Now?

Marmadue tilted his head. No obvious injuries were on the man, but he did have to ask to be sure. Whatever it was, it didn't sound very urgent. Stepping aside so Shaizen could step inside, he was quick to continue.
"Ah, unless you are coming to visit me due to ah, unfortunate circumstances. You are unhurt, I hope?"

[Shaizen Latross]

    Shaizen would smile a little as he watched the door opening, glad to see he had indeed remembered the location he had come to think of as a haven of sorts. While at first Marmadue’s figure was one that seemed just a little odd to Shaizen, it was now one that he had come to appreciate, one that he was familiar with in this world he was new to. Upon hearing the greeting from the man, Shaizen would nod his head in greeting, the smile that had briefly flashed across his face disappearing as he gained control of himself once more.



    “Hello again Marmadue. It’s good to see you again as well. And please, no Mister needed.”



    Shaizen would take the offer to go inside and step past the Duke, looking around and noticing that things seemed to have been busy. The floor and bedrolls seemed recently cleaned and moved as though they were just recently used. Shaizen then remembered that Marmadue used this place as an infirmary of sorts. The Heartless attack must have taken more than Shaizen had thought. While those he himself had fought to protect had appeared mostly unharmed, it would make sense others in different areas might not have been so lucky.



    His attention would be drawn back to Marmadue as he heard his question. Before speaking, he shook his head to show that he was indeed mostly uninjured.



    “No, I am uninjured for the most part, and there is no unfortunate circumstance. I was just walking by and realized where I was. I haven’t seen you since I took off after you gave me a hand. Thought I would see how you were holding up. I’ve been here long enough to know everyone has to look after each other.”



    Shaizen would rest his hands on the hilts of his swords once more, the two blades crossed behind his back, just a little higher than his waist and with their hilts pointed down. It was a rather odd way for blades to be sheathed, but one Shaizen found easier to access them from.



    “Couple of town people told me about the damage the big Heartless did. I hadn’t realized it was so bad though, not until I walked through. I did what I could to help out a group on Market Street. Glad to see you made it through ok, though.”

[Marmadue]

Marmadue closed the door behind the two of them, his gaze following Shaizen's path as he stepped further into his humble abode. After the soft click, he turned around to better tend to his guest – and to better assess if his movement perhaps gave out any clues to the man's condition. Shaizen was quick to brush such worries aside, indeed just visiting for the sake of visiting. Nothing the Yuke was against – in fact, it was quite touching to be remembered even outside those situations when he was needed!

"Ah, yes. I am glad that you too are in good spirits," he gave Shaizen a nod as he attempted to stay professional, but after the big Heartless' attack and having to deal with the consequences… Well, it certainly warmed the Yuke's heart to just have someone seek him out with no ulterior motives other than to check up on how he was! A hand rose to absentmindedly preen the feathers on his neck.
"Do not feel that you need to visit little old me. You owe me nothing of the sort."

Though it was probably quite obvious from his tone alone that the gesture did please him.

As Shaizen continued, Marmadue's hand fell back to his side when he remembered he hadn't even offered the man a seat even though they already had progressed far enough into this meeting to have a topic to talk about! A rather stressful topic perhaps, a sigh escaping the holes in the Yuke's helmet, the air leaving his lungs seeming to cause his shoulders to collapse in defeat.
"Quite. I kept my distance from that monstrosity, or I might not have been as lucky. To have those of you with combat prowess amongst the rest of us is a blessing…"

The Yuke motioned towards one of the mismatched wooden stools by the counter.
"Ah, but perhaps you would like to take a seat? Anything else I might be able to provide you with? Some ah, refreshments?"

Like the option between cold water or hot water.

[Shaizen Latross]

Shaizen was pleased to hear that the man who had welcomed him into this world had been safe during the attack. One of the few that Shaizen had come to know in this world, he knew that the loss of Marmadue would weight on the entirety of Twilight Town. Even without massive Heartless attacks, wounded citizens were common in this abyssal world. This was one reason why Shaizen felt a need to fight more in this world.



“No problem. Besides yourself, I have only fully met two others. One helped me get my bag back, another was an aged smithy who repaired my swords using the material I found within my bag.”



He would look around to where Marmadue had pointed to the stools. Despite the state of the world and what this building was used as, it still held a certain homey aspect. One that Shaizen found pleasing. Especially when combined with the manners of the one who lived there. He walked over to the stools and grabbed a hold of one, sitting upon it with his feet on the rungs. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he responded to the Duke.



“I am rather parched. Maybe some water, if that is OK. As for the Heartless, I myself stayed clear. The town people told me the Keyblade Wielders were fighting it. I only heard sounds of their battle through the sounds of my own. I had figured the Wielders would be busy with the big one, and the citizens would need more… direct protection. Reminded me of some battles in Luniel.”



He looked down a little and chuckled a little before continuing.



“Well, except for the fact that I didn’t have the Talons with me. Or any other Guardsmen.”

[Marmadue]

Marmadue gave Shaizen a nod as he told about his experiences with the people of Twilight Town. The one who had helped the man with the bag he could finally put a face on, having met with this Mikhail he was told about way back when it was happening – funny how he could still remember such a little detail, but Mikhail had ended up making his face quite known with the recent Heartless attack. But it had been a while since that, and Shaizen hadn't really met up with more than barely a handful of people… Perhaps he should offer a hand and introduce the man to others in the future…?

"Ah, yes, of course," the Yuke's attention snapped back to the present moment, walking behind the counter to take care of the simple request of water. A pitcher was produced alongside with a cup that was soon filled with cool water, Marmadue's gaze occasionally flicking from it to Shaizen as he listened.
"Mhh… I must say, their sudden appearance could not have, ah, come at a better time. When that… Thing made its presence known, all we knew of was just a single wielder of a strange key-like weapon, currently out of commission. And then," the cup was slid over to Shaizen and the Yuke returned to the other side of the counter to sit next to the man, on one of the wooden stools – looking quite a bit more comically small underneath his tall frame.

It didn't seem like he had intended to continue that thought. It indeed was a surprise, but a good one, for once. Would things have gone as well as they did without their help? It did seem like those Keyblades held some sort of mysterious power…

Ah, he was getting sidetracked. Where his helmet was pointing had slowly drifted elsewhere, but now it turned back at Shaizen. They hadn't really had that much time to talk the last time they met, not about their past lives, at least. As such, he was not very familiar with the struggles he was being told about.
"Ah, those terms do not resonate with me, I am afraid."

[Shaizen Latross]

    Shaizen caught the glass of water as it was slid in his direction, lifting it in thanks to the Duke before taking a lengthy drink from its contents. It had been a good while since he had a simple glass of water, and it felt refreshing as the liquid ran down his throat. He would take a deep breath before setting the glass down and looking back to Marmadue.



    As he listened, he would hold on to certain words that would catch his attention. Such words as appearance, presence known, and key-like weapon. In Luniel, the Heartless were always known, from their location to their numbers. They never just appeared as Marmadue was making it sound. As for the key-like weapon, the sound of the words sparked a certain memory.



    “Hold on, made itself known? Like a Heartless that big would just appear? Didn’t anyone see it coming? In Luniel the Heartless were just roaming. We always knew where they were. They seemed to work off basic instinct.”



    He would then pull his bag he always carried with him up and of his neck, laying it on the table and pointing to the emblem of two keys crossed behind an orb of energy.



    “Key-like as in… these kind of keys? Kind of an odd weapon isn’t it? I mean… the closest thing to a weapon I have ever seen a key to be is… well… never mind. Perhaps for a different time.”



    Marmadue’s last words would cause Shaizen a brief bit of confusion at first. Terms? What terms might the Duke be meaning? Shaizen had only said something about his squad from Luniel.



    *Ah, of course. I am the only one here who knows of Luniel’s ways. How could I forget?*



    He would chuckle a little and hold out his right hand, palm down. Upon the back of his hand was an emblem; two crossed longswords with the wing of a phoenix spread behind them.



    “I was part of a guild known as the Phoenix Guild. This is their emblem. Not long before my world was taken, I was promoted to the rank known as Phalanx. The third highest rank, a Phalanx is allowed to put together his own squad. I made a squad from those I had come to fight alongside, each with an unique weapon and specialization in different magics. We were called the Phoenix Talons, and were known as Elites. Every member of the Phoenix Guild is known as a Guardsman.”



    He would pause and look at Marmadue once more, wanting to see what, if any, kind of reaction he might have to this small bit of information of Shaizen’s home world.

[Marmadue]

"Ah, well," Marmadue stroked where his chin might be underneath that helmet, as he took to replying to Shaizen question about the large Heartless' sudden appearance,
"It certainly was not always present. At least, ah, no one had reported seeing it in Twilight Town before it… Attacked. We knew of its existence thanks to an outsider's ah, words of warning. I am certain you were aware of our preparations," he looked at the man. Not that they had very much time in the first place, but even before the Heartless showed its ugly mug, they did what they could trying to prepare for the fight! Now how anyone knew that it was going to attack before it was seen… Well, that probably was going to be a longer story…
"How it made its way here, I am uncertain. What seemed to be certain was that it had targeted this very place."

The Yuke's eyes followed Shaizen's motions as the very important bag of his was being pulled and laid on the counter top to rest. Marmadue leaned forward with his neck craned downwards when the man pointed at the decoration on top. There indeed were symbols that very much resembled keys – and he could remember how when the two of them first met, Shaizen had mentioned the keys. That was back when they hadn't seen a single Keyblade wielder, but were looking for them at Maxwell's suggestion. Keys seemed to be a reoccurring symbol all of a sudden…
"Ah. Yes. A key resembling that, just… Very large. Comically oversized, even. Ah, at least the first one I laid my eyes upon. The others… Seem to follow the general shape but take some, ah, artistic liberties," the Yuke nodded. That was probably the best way to put it.

Marmadue leaned back after he was done inspecting the bag, but his eyes flicked upon the man's hand as he offered it for inspection, noticing his host's lack of knowledge about, well, pretty much everything Shaizen was talking about. He turned his gaze upon Shaizen's face after a while, listening to the brief overview of the position his guest had held back in his world.
"Ah, it sounds like you are quite the accomplished warrior, if I am not ah, mistaken."

[Shaizen Latross]

    Shaizen listened to Marmadue’s explanation of the Heartless, and of the warning they had of its attack. That explained why the town people had been able to work on defenses before the fighting even began. Heartless usually showed up with no warning, and attacked with little time to prepare. The fact that someone had somehow knew of the incoming attack was strange, and something Shaizen would be thinking about.



    “Yes, the preparations in Market Street were what caught my attention and made me aware of the attack. But, so few there knew how to effectively defend themselves, and their defenses would have been practically useless against Heartless. Still, guess we have this stranger to thank for the warning. Would have been caught off guard otherwise. It is indeed a mystery how he knew.”



    Shaizen would take another drink of water before pulling his bag back off the counter and letting it hang from his shoulder once more. So many strange things and people have come to his attention since he first came here. Things are so different from Luniel, he wondered just how much he would discover outside of his home world.



    “Keys weren’t always such a big thing in Luniel. In fact, even recently, only the Scribes, Luniel’s Arcane and Tech Guild, seemed to use keys in ways more than just unlocking things. The leader of the guild seemed to always have a relic key around her neck. Cared for it as though it were an item that could kill everyone.”



    He laughed a little as he remembered some of the arguments between the leader of the Phoenix Guild and the Scribes. The two seemed to always be at each other’s throats, and fights were almost always a possibility when the two were in the same room.



    “Well, my parents were high ranked when they uh… were taken by Heartless. They always had the goal of protecting those who couldn’t quite protect themselves. Guess I got that from them. That and my fighting spirit.”



    He looks up at the Duke and realizes once more just how little he knew of his host, deciding to see if he could get to know at least a few things.



    “What is it that drove you to be the healer you are? Is there a reason behind it? Or did it just come natural?”

[Marmadue]

Marmadue glanced aside as Shaizen mentioned the mystery of how somehow knew that the Heartless was going to attack Twilight Town. The man who had said it was indeed quite familiar with the monster, due to… Reasons. But indeed, knowing the path it was taking… Well. That was going to be a bit difficult to ask about now…

He raised his head to look back at Shaizen after a short moment, returning to the conversation at hand. If keys had ever been that important in his own world, he had certainly missed that. It didn't seem like Shaizen quite connected Keyblades with what he had seen in his own world however, so perhaps these were two different symbols meaning different things, coming from different origins. It certainly seemed to be a symbol that meant something to the people of Shaizen's world – though it seemed like even the man himself wasn't quite sure of all of their meanings. Though it did seem to be a recent development.

"Ah," was the first thing the Yuke said in a while, a short, almost gasp-like sound of realization when Shaizen mentioned the fate of his parents. Oh. Oh dear. Talking too much about their pasts often led into painful memories – especially considering that pretty much everyone had been forced to deal with the Heartless one way or another.
"I am sorry for your loss," he continued, dipping down his head. A new topic. They desperately needed a new topic. Marmadue was quite happy to latch onto the one the man provided him.

"Ah, well, calling myself a healer might be ah, not quite respectful towards those who have perfected the craft with a lifetime of study. This is a task I took upon when I first arrived in Twilight Town," a hand rose to rub the feathers on his neck. It was how most knew him, where they now were, but… But it wasn't a title he could readily accept just like that.
"I was an alchemist. Ah, in training, under my father's wing. A trade that unfortunately lacks use in a situation with no equipment or familiar ingredients, I am afraid," the Yuke shook his head. While he would have been quite interested to learn what he could of this new world and what made it, delicate equipment and glass had not exactly survived whatever had happened in the past quite well…

But continuing from that, Marmadue pressed his hand against his chest.
"You would be hard-pressed to find a Yuke with no magical talent. I have received rudimentary training to hone my inborn abilities, but ah, I am no mage by trade. Magic of healing is just what comes naturally to me, yet I am nothing compared to a Yuke who has taken into magic. This just is what I could offer at the moment."

[Shaizen Latross]

    Shaizen tilted his head a little as he heard the man speak his sorrow. It was rather odd for Shaizen to hear anyone say such, as everyone in Luniel saw it as he had been passed into a great legacy. His parents, and their parents before them, had all been high ranked members of the Guild. Most saw Shaizen as promising for the same path, and Shaizen himself had set himself upon that path, though not for that reason. His reasons for taking said journey up the ranks were more personal. And they were some that he had never really discussed with anyone.



    “Do not feel sorrow for those past. Their deaths were merely time doing what it does best, by making sure life and death kept their cycle. Their passing helped set me upon the path I walk today. Perhaps not directly, but it was one of the things that led to… well… this.”



    It was true that while Shaizen had first been held by grief when they first passed. Now, however, Shaizen only felt pride in them and what little they had passed on to him. Shaizen felt that a better way to honor them and their memories was by instead doing everything he could to make them proud of his progress.



    His attention was drawn away by the Duke’s words of his own power. He had seemed so passionate in this path of healing those in Twilight Town who needed it. Was he really not that accomplished of a Healer? Shaizen found it a little hard to believe, seeing how so many came here to get help after the attack. Then again, few with any kind of arcane abilities seemed to show up. Perhaps Marmadue was one of the only ones with healing abilities who had been brought here.



    “An Alchemist? Can’t say that terms rings any bells. Not sure if I could personally do anything to help with that one. However, I do know that one’s arcane abilities and strength both grow with use, similar to physical abilities as well.”



    A small smile would cross Shaizen’s face as he leaned his arms on the table, continuing with his statements.



    “That means we need to find a way to get you to use more of your Arcane abilities without it draining you too much. Hmm… wonder what a good way that might be?”

[Marmadue]

Marmadue gave Shaizen a nod, acknowledging the sentiment he held towards death, but it was where he left that subject when they could move on to something different. Now wasn't the time for that! Probably. Probably was for the best. They already had to deal with the Heartless often enough, they didn't have to talk about whatever sorrows they had caused in the past, too…

"Ah, the study of the world and the transmutation of substances into others. That, ah, could be a quick summary of the trade. From grand to mundane. A rather useful example you might have come across is, ah, the humble potion to restore one's strength," the Yuke offered a quick explanation to Shaizen, who did not seem to find the idea of alchemy familiar. Then again, he didn't exactly ask, but more knowledge couldn't hurt. He stroke his chin, indeed not finding any simple method of having the man sitting in front of him to help him with that endeavor. It was something he was just going to have to tackle on his own, one day. Eventually.

He did nod as the man brought up magic and how one would go strengthening their magical abilities, agreeing with what Shaizen said. They were on the same page here.
"That, however, I find to be the case," Marmadue voiced his thoughts as well, but the fact that Shaizen was already thinking of figuring out a way to strengthen the Yuke's magic… Well, that was something that caused him to pause, glancing downwards. Maybe… It was the smart thing to do. After all, there was bound to be a time when his skills weren't going to be enough. But…

"Draining myself has not been an issue. Ah, this far. Perhaps that is a part of the problem. Most of those who come to seek my aid are not in critical condition, so what I have is, ah, adequate to their needs. One strengthens muscle by pushing it harder than before, not by giving it the same same challenge ad nauseam," was what he eventually said, but if they wanted to do it that way… Well. It would require someone getting hurt. Many someones getting hurt. And if he couldn't actually deal with that? It really wasn't the path the Yuke wanted to go down.

"…I did seek a Materia to aid myself," Marmadue continued after a short moment of silence before producing one of those small, star-shaped stones from his pocket – this one with a vibrant green color,
"Curious piece, for certain. These, ah, Materia. That does remind me… Perhaps it is just my own lack of training and losing my edge, but ever since coming here, there is this stranger feeling of my magic being… Dull."

[Shaizen Latross]

    The quick summary of alchemy that Marmadue had given him was just enough for Shaizen to make a guess as to some things about alchemy. Words like ‘transmutation’ were some that Shaizen could tell the definition of usually just by how they sound. Being able to make stuff out of something else seemed like a simple explanation. Then again, the way he was making it sound, this Alchemy might have to do with a lot more than just that.



    “Sounds like one of those things that take a lifetime’s worth of dedication. You make it sound simple, but behind that it also sounds rather complicated on a rather grand scale.”



    In terms of turning something into other things, Shaizen had only done so in terms of training, turning time spent into skill and experience. Or the simple terms of one’s own energy into magic. He was unsure of what else this alchemy could be. Perhaps it was something unique to Marmadue’s home. Shaizen sometimes forgot that there were multiple worlds, each being different than others.



    Shaizen would turn back to Marmadue, brought out of his thoughts by the Duke’s words. Lack of healing needed would prove to a problem in such a situation. Then again, with how few in this world went out to actually fight, it was also unsurprising. Those who could fight only got scratched most of the time, and were able to protect those who couldn’t, or at least distract Heartless away from them.



    Upon seeing the Materia, Shaizen’s eyes would light up a little. This was a feeling he knew, and one that he felt rather comfortable with. An item of magic, one similar to those in his own possession. This one felt different than those ones, however. While his were of Light and Darkness, designed for attack and defense, this one seemed to have a more… tranquil feel. The color was one similar to that of the healing magics medics in Luniel used. Perhaps this item was similar?



    “I have heard of Materia. I have a few myself, in fact. Had some little creature in a shop combine a couple. Odd little guy, kinda funny though. The machine he used was certainly something I had never seen as well. Rather surprised it was in this town.”



    He reached inside his bag and pulled out the Materia he had spoken of. With the same star shape, his own had two pieces floating off the both sides and closer to the bottom. Split perfectly in half between two colors, white and black, its appearance alone was enough to tell it was not a natural Materia



    “This is what he made. Called it Invert. I have yet to use, so I am not quite sure what it does. I can tell that it is powerful though, just holding it makes that certain.”



    He sets the Materia on the counter before looking at Marmadue and pondering his statement about his magic seeming to lessen. He was unsure about what all might cause such a thing to occur. Then again, his specialty was combat and the USE of magics. He didn’t really study magics. There was one thing that seemed to effect Tirealians when they moved locations, but he was unsure if the same could happen with others.



    “I am no expert on such matters, but I remember that in Luniel, when Guardsmen changed cities their magics didn’t work right for a few days. The magic within them had to adapt to that of the magic around them before they were able to use their own magic again. I am not sure if that could be what is happening here though, as Luniel was full of both external and internal magic. This place doesn’t seem to have too much external magics.”

[Marmadue]

Marmadue couldn't help but let a chuckle escape when alchemy sounded like something that took a lifetime to learn. It was a good way to put it – and he himself was still young.
"That may be indeed so. One who does not know their way would end up with nothing at all – or perhaps, a body full of singed feathers. It is a journey that never ends," he nodded as he spoke. Well, honestly, many things were like that. But when it came to alchemy… There were things one just had to remember and figure out, things that weren't obvious and able to be seen with the naked eye. Not everyone cared to learn to get somewhere.

It was quite refreshing, just talking to someone. Especially when it came to subjects where neither really seemed to know much more than the other, standing on the same line with neither having the knowledge that put them in a position where they should teach. Just comparing their findings and experiences like this… It was quite the rare treat. And both of them seemed to be quite interested in the Materia!

"Ah, the Moogle," Marmadue nodded, knowing of the Moogle's strange machine, and slid his own stone back into his pocket,
"It indeed is quite something, that machine. To think that it had managed to survive in one piece to be used by us now… A stroke of luck, perhaps. A, ah, welcome one," he continued, watching as Shaizen brought up his own Materia and placed it on the counter top. The Yuke leaned closer to take a better look at it, finding the colors quite striking with how they had been quite perfectly formed into two complete halves with a perfect line in the middle separating them. A quiet but curious hmm could be heard as he studied it and listened to the man's explanation, but Shaizen hadn't still tested it himself. Marmadue straightened his back and looked at his guest.
"They seem to ah, have quite surprising results. Nothing one can do but to experiment with their effects."

The Yuke leaned back on his stool, his arms crossed in thought. It was possible he was just imagining his own magic feeling like it wasn't as potent, but then again, Shaizen had at least heard of a similar phenomena. Marmadue hadn't, himself, but this also was the first time he had ever ventured far from his home. He hadn't really had the chance to test the waters, so to speak!
"Perhaps… I do suppose there are ah, quite a few possibilities behind it. Ranging from just my imagination to ah, there perhaps being something in this world causing it… Or perhaps, it is something to do with myself," he mused. A lot had happened, after all. To him, too. His magic was a part of him, so it didn't seem that out of the picture for it to have been affected, somehow.

[Shaizen Latross]

    Shaizen’s own reaction to the description of something that could happen when misusing Alchemy was one that Shaizen barely used. Shock mixed with slight weariness, as though he had decided then and there to not mess with the practice. Shaizen had learned to be cautious when it comes to certain magics, never mind practices he had never even heard of. The fact that this man in speaking with him knew of such things happening to a race that it came natural to was enough for Shaizen to never want to touch the art.



    “Well, that is enough for me. Note to self, no messing with Alchemy. Seems to be very uh… touchy… don’t think I would want to mess up even the smallest thing with that.”



    Shaizen had remembered his first experiments with magic, having had quite a few spells backfire into his face before he was able to get even a lesser version of them to work. How many times healers had to make sure he didn’t scar himself in one way or another. He would chuckle a little and smile as these memories surfaced, shaking his head before looking back to Marmadue.



    “I find these Materia help me in a field that I never quite excelled at. Naturally, I can only summon three spells, all of Light. These Materia have increased my arsenal, however. And that Moogle seemed rather eager to help as well. That or he just wanted to test his machine.”



    He laughs a little once more. He enjoyed being able to sit down and speak with another after a long day. Marmadue seemed to enjoy it as well, seeming rather interested in the conversation they were having.



    “They do? I am guessing others have made different Materia using the same machine, then? I kinda figured I couldn’t be the only one to have done so. In order to test it, I was thinking of walking the outer streets, closer to the border of town. While they aren’t in large groups most of the time, Heartless are more common there than they are around here. Less chance to be seen I guess, more likely to find lone travelers.”



    Marmadue speaking of his magic problems made Shaizen realize that, when he had used one of his natural abilities in the underground, his Light Beam had seemed to take quite a bit longer to charge. Perhaps it was the fact that he had woken only a little bit before then, but Shaizen felt it may be similar to Marmadue’s problem.



    “Now that you say it, the only spell I have used seemed to take a bit more to charge. Not on the level you are speaking of, however. Then again, I guess I have had more training in the arcane than you, from what you tell me. Still though, it does make one think. It may be something we will have to keep an eye on, yes?”