Challenge Tower

Fletcher is sent out while everybody hops down off of the structure, landing safely on Giant Waite. Fletcher quickly flies over to the shiny object, picking it up with its beak before flying out of there as fast as possible. He lands on Flurrie's shoulder and drops the ring in her hand. Flurrie received the Mysterious Ring! It has strange markings on it. It's unknown what the real purpose to this ring is or what it does, but Flurrie decides to wear it as a nice piece of jewelry. Maybe they will eventually find the use for it. With the mysterious treasure gathered, the party moves onward, back home to Tipa.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2HJJDx_ceI

The party returns to the small town of Tipa. In the dark night, they follow the torches lit for them. As Daniel, Hope, La Rena, and Seiberg all approach, the four torches are handed to them. Each one handed by a family member. Daniel receives his torch from his father, as do Hope and Seiberg. La Rena's torch is given to her by her older sister. Flurrie and Nogeko have no idea what's going on, but apparently those four do, so they just go along with it, standing with the crowds. Everyone is led over toward the crystal by the four torch carriers. The full crystal chalice is given to the town's elder, an old man with a large beard. He is handed a book as well from La Rena. The elder places the chalice on a small, stone pedestal in front of the crystal as he opens up the book, flipping to the first page and reading aloud.

"Today is the first day we leave as part of the crystal caravan. I look forward to the adventures ahead. Although I will miss my home and my family, I know this is necessary. Besides, it may be nice to explore the world in search of new magic. There are some things you cannot learn in one place. ~Seiberg

We explored the Mushroom Jungle with ease today. Father will be proud to hear that we have slain a mighty Malboro. Of course, it may have proven more difficult had those two not shown up to stop its bad breath. The wind spirit and the cat. I'm not entirely sure I trust either of them quite yet. I'll have to keep an eye on them. Despite that, a victory is a victory. We will forge onward to gather the next drop of Myrrh! ~Ell Hope

The cat told me to buy some ham. So I did. Hope was mad. ~La Rena

After visiting Alfitaria, we decided to take the path toward the mansion on our way to Shella. But we had no clue that a couple of giant monsters lived there! Expecting to fight them, we battled off the many guards and other monsters, but when we finally met the owners of the mansion, it turned out they weren't bad monsters at all. I still feel bad about destroying their house. To make it up to them, we told them we would do our best to keep other travelers from passing through. They wanted to live their lives peacefully together. Oh, and we made a new friend today. An odd water creature. We call him Waite. ~Daniel

We finally reached Shella after all of that back in the mansion. Even though I was a Yuke, the gatekeeper would not allow my friends into Shella. Perhaps that should have been expected. It is the sacred city of the Yukes, after all. I visited my uncle while I was in town. He had as many interesting magical objects as ever. Not only that, but he had very useful information on our next dungeon, Veo Lu Sluice. It was interesting hearing about the adventures he had with my father. They must have really enjoyed being in the caravan. When I returned to the others, the gatekeeper seemed agitated somehow. I wonder why. ~Seiberg

We collected out last drop of Myrrh! The sluice was full of different aquatic monsters, but we bested one after another. Finally, we reached the ancient mechanism that was used to control the water levels. It was guarded by a powerful Golem. After a difficult battle, we were able to defeat it using the knowledge Seiberg's uncle gave us. It fell with a mighty thud and the gates opened to the control room. There we found not only a Myrrh Tree, but the mechanisms controls. After restoring the water levels to normal, we marched onward towards home. Our town's safety will be guaranteed for now. It may not be forever, but it's worth it. ~Ell Hope"

The chalice flashes with a bright light and resonates with the crystal before the crystal's light is renewed even brighter than before.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt20Ndh0i3w

With this, the town erupts into many loud cheers. A group of traveling musicians begin to play their music as all the townspeople dance along. Standing in front of the crystal, Seiberg, Daniel, La Rena, and Hope all dance along as well. A bunch of Moogles stand around and on top of the crystal, spinning and dancing as well. Flurrie and Nogeko decide to join in with the festivities while wait stares in confusion. He does not understand what exactly is going on. But maybe it is a good thing. His eye changes colors from green to yellow while he watches everyone celebrate. The night goes on and everybody celebrates very late into the night. It was a day to relax and celebrate seeing how they may not get the chance to again. The adventurers were reunited with their families and spent the night in their comfy beds. Flurrie, Nogeko, and Waite all stayed at the inn in Tipa.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmTeQimolS4

Morning comes with the sun rising. Flurrie wakes up and stretches before looking outside at the rising sun. It's a new day to go out there and save the world. Nogeko rolls out of bed lazily into Waite, awaking the water monster. The three head outside, thanking the innkeeper on their way. The beautiful town of Tipa awaits outside. The children play out in the streets and the hard working people are already up early.

Daniel wakes up at home, getting ready to do his chores until he is stopped by his mother. "Don't worry about it, Danny. Today is your day to relax. You've already done plenty for all of us, keeping the Miasma at bay." She smiles at him and heads off into the fields to work. Daniel can see his father and younger brother working as well. Maybe he should take the day off. It has been exhausting working as an adventurer.

Hope gets up in the morning, finding that her father had already left to buy new smithing materials. Her brother is working at the forge, already putting together new weapons. She can't help but smile watching him. "Hey, your weapons are already getting pretty good. You're a natural, you know?"

"Haha, thanks Hope. But I still have a long ways to go, you know? You're already a big hero, but I gotta work up to that kind of stuff."

"I couldn't be a hero if you weren't there to help me out."

"I guess that's a good point, huh? So what are you gonna do with your day off?" He dips a sword into some water to cool. "Are you and your friends doing something cool? You know, like heroes always do!"

Seiberg wakes up in his home and heads downstairs to find his father standing over multiple different potions and such. He is testing some of Nogeko's fur to see what properties it has. "...Good morning."

"Hm? Ah, Seiberg. Good morning to you as well."

"I believe we should talk. About my choice in career."

"Yes, you told me as much in your letter. What is it you wish to speak about?"

La Rena just continues sleeping lazily in her bed. It's her day off. She'll spend it sleeping. If anybody complains they'll get arrowed in the face.

What will you do?

Nogeko and Waite stand awkwardly to the side while Seiberg sits down with his father. "You see, I'm not sure that this is the right career path for me. I do not wish to become an alchemist. I wish to pursue magic as my career."

"Hmm..."

"I know that you were hoping I could continue on your work as the next alchemist, but I really have a passion for magic. Alchemy just...it isn't something I'm as interested in. This is something I understand even better now that I've been journeying with the caravan. I understand if you disagree with me or even hate me, but this is what I must do. I need to take charge of my own life and decide for myself."

"..." Seiberg's father stands and looks out the window. "You know, this is exactly what happened with your uncle. He told us he wanted to abandon alchemy in favor of magic." He turns to face Seiberg. "I will respect your wishes. Go out there and study magic to your heart's content, Seiberg. From today I will make sure to work on your magic studied more than your alchemical studies."

"...Thank you." With his father's word that he would allow him to pursue magical studies, Seiberg leaves the house feeling renewed. With both Nogeko and Waite following behind, the three of them notice the Moogles from last night sleeping around the crystal. They all look like Mail Moogles.

Flurrie goes around to the different stores until finding the shop run by La Rena's father. "Welcome, traveler! Care to browse our wares? We've got all kinds of cool stuff!"

"Hey there, sugar. Got any jewelry? I love my necklace, but maybe you have something that could go with it."

"Umm...lets see...uhh...OH. I got these." He takes out two different jewelry boxes. One contains a pair of blue, teardrop shaped earrings and another contains a golden bracelet with a red gem inside it shaped like a paw. "We just sort of found them one day. These are the Sapphire Earrings and this is called a Power Bracelet. Interested? Each one is gonna cost about 500 Gil. Super rare and expensive stuff."

Hope and Daniel meet up on top of a large hill in Tipa, overlooking the crystal. Daniel set up a little picnic with some sandwiches and a blanket. "So what do you think? I told you it was the best view in town."

"I know, Daniel. We've grown up here. Remember?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right." He lays back on the blanket, stretching out his arms and legs. "It's kind of nice having a day off, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess. It's nice to see our families and all, but I kind of prefer when we're traveling. I like seeing new places. It gets boring being in the same spot all the time and...well, let's just say my father and I don't exactly get along that great."

"Yeah, he's kind of stuck up."

"Don't say bad stuff about my father!"

"But you just-"

"It's different when I say it. He's just...WE just have a lot of history that's difficult to overcome. He used to be a royal guard in Alfitaria. But his wife left him and he was considered a fraud once the princess was captured. You know the story. She disappeared while he was on the job. I guess since all that stuff happened, it's up to me to restore the honor to our family's name. But...it's not that easy."

Daniel sits up and looks at her. "Why not?"

"You just. You have to do everything perfectly. Or else someone else will do it better than me. At least as the oldest, I know I protect my brother from having to deal with all that. Poor kid. Not only is his dad never around, but mom is gone too. And now I go off on this crazy adventure. He's practically raising himself."

"Well...it doesn't always have to be like that. He's got me and my family. Actually, I heard he helped us out a lot while we were gone. He took up my chores for my family. No wonder the harvest turned out so well." He puts his hand on her shoulder. "Just remember that you've always got us to count on. You don't have to do any of this alone."

Hope is quiet a moment before responding. "...Thanks. I guess you're right. And I'll be there for you too." She smiles to him. The two continue to talk on top of the hill and eat their sandwiches. Eventually they finish up and head back down. Back in the town they see the traveling musicians from last night shopping in the town. Hope's brother is selling weapons and Flurrie is at La Rena's father's shop. There's also Seiberg's mother selling magic scrolls.

What will you do?

Oh that reminds me, the elevator is open now. You can access it at the crystal. This floor is cleared.

Seiberg looks at the scrolls. "Hello, Seiberg. Come to look at our scrolls? As usual, I'll give you a discount." Seiberg browses the available scrolls.

Fire: 300
Fira: 800
Firaga: 1,300
Blizzard: 300
Blizzara: 800
Blizzaga: 1,300
Thunder: 300
Thundera: 800
Thundaga: 1,300
Gravity: 500
Clear: 100
Poison: 100
Sleep: 100
Slow: 300
Haste: 300
Cure: 300
Cura: 800
Curaga: 1,300

Flurrie decides not to buy the jewelry and Rena's dad sighs. "Maybe you have something I could use for some water instead?"

"Oh! Yeah, we have a canteen you can buy! It's only 100 Gil. How about it?"

Nogeko wanders off into La Rena's bedroom. He attempts to touch her breasts while she's asleep, but she wakes up and like a demon out of hell, launches Nogeko into the wall. You should not wake up a sleeping Rena. She then sleepily rubs her eyes and yawns, walking out of the room. Outside she finds the knocked out Nogeko she threw through a wall. "You really shouldn't sleep so much, Nog...it will make you lazy." She picks up Nogeko and carries him off.

Daniel, Hope, Waite, La Rena, and Nogeko all gather up together by the crystal. Nogeko notices something strange about the crystal, however, and pokes it to reveal the elevator door. "YES! I found it! The floor is cleared!" Daniel and Hope look at him in confusion.

What will you do?

The traveling musicians?

Maybe someone can buy the canteen for 100 gil for us.

Anyways lets go ahead and explain to the gang what we do and what that it is. Let them know we are on a journey and well we could certainly use all the help we can get.

If your looking for Magic there is a chance to learn magic not from here but from other places. New and undiscovered magic

There will be plenty of adventures, danger, awards, and in Nog's case looty booty but well its kinda of a lot to ask for and its a lot to take in. We understand if you don't want to come but we traveled with you and we know how trustworthy and brave you are and we could use all the good people.

Flurrie pushes the button for Floor 7 and the elevator can be felt moving up. The doors open to reveal an ancient hallway lit only by a few torches on the walls. These look to be some kind of ruin. The hall continues onward into the darkness. Ancient writings cover the wall.

(You will get a chance to see what the floor looks like, but when you select characters, you must choose only four to explore each floor. The rest stay in the elevator while they wait.)

Who will explore this floor?