You all seem to have a very vivid dream. At least, you think it is a dream until it starts. It is pitch black.
(Vankiel Zim): "My name is Vankiel Zim, a member of the class of 8. If you are seeing and hearing this, you have been near one of the 8 memory recorders left by myself and my classmates."
"This was an assignment for our class in order to record our memories for future generations to hear and see, and plant them in various places across Sharna. In this case, you have found mine. The memories you will hear are the stronger ones of the 48 hours starting on my graduation day."
You all now see what appears to be a bathroom. You enter the bathroom and look in an unusual mirror. In the mirror, you see Vankiel standing there as if he was you - of course, this is the case since it is his memories afterall.
You also see in the upper right hand corner of the mirror what appears to be a scan result.
Sir Vankiel Zim Human
Level 30 Magitek Knight
HP: 394 Status: Haste
EP: 351 Mood: Bored
(You/Vankiel): "Just making sure this worked. That, and I'm supposed to put up a scan for the record. This will have to do. Turning the recording off for awhile, as I don't think you want to see me use the bathroom."
Everything fades to black again, and then comes back up. You see what looks to be a very small hut. Sasuke, you'd know this to be the hut that was the original building of the University of Goug, back when it was still located in the Machine City itself.
You appear to be walking rather quickly to the hut and open the door. Inside (which looks much larger than the outside, I might add) you see six other people - a werewolf (Bob), a Half-Elf (Xan), a Moogle, a Zard, a Neko, and a Dwarf. Most likely, none of you have ever even seen a Zard or Dwarf before, and a moogle only in a picture before.
As you/Vankiel enter, you look up and the sign above the door reads, "Magitek Knight Vankiel Zim"
(Unnamed Moogle): "Oh, so you are a MTek Knight today? I'd swear you have a scan fooler on your fur, but last I checked humans don't have fur."
(You/Vankiel): "Well, good morning to you too Kumeg, what got into your wing today?"
(Kumeg): "Oh, I'm just having a problem with my final project - it won't launch for some reason. Would you mind taking a glance at it for a second? Maybe my eyes aren't just seeing it."
(You/Vankiel): "Considering your eyes, I doubt mine would help, but sure."
After you sit down to help, someone else enters the room. All of you would recognize Varia, only she is a bit younger - she looks to be around 10 at this time, and just as cheerful. The sign reads, "Engineer Varia Hyral"
(Varia): "Hi everyone!"
(Bob): "Morning Varia!"
(Kumeg): "Top of the Kupo to you!"
(Unnamed Neko): "Yo."
(Unnamed Dwarf): "Whazzap?"
(Xan): "A pleasure to see you this morning Miss Varia."
(You/Vankiel): "How is my apprentice doing this morning?"
(Varia walks over to Vankiel and gives him a playful stare): "Your apprentice wants to challenge you this morning. Your apprentice thinks that she can do much better."
(You/Vankiel): "Well, my apprentice is also a very cocky young girl. My apprentice also should show her elder some respect." (at this point, Varia is sticking her tongue out at Vankiel) "Or at least helping out her fellow classmates in their projects if they are stuck. I'm sure you could figure out why this telescope isn't launching."
Varia looks at the telescope's rockets, points, and chuckles. Kumeg looks down at them too, sweatdrops, and then puts the rockets on the other direction.
(Kumeg): "Told you another point of view would help."
(Varia): "Only because someone like Vankiel wouldn't expect someone like you to strap rockets onto a telescope. Really, you strap rockets onto EVERYTHING!"
(You/Vankiel): "Why is it that you two always bicker about something?"
(Varia): "Because one day Kumeg's going to strap rockets onto her wings and launch herself to kupo knows where!"
Kumeg and Varia start to laugh.
(You/Vankiel): "Dot dot dot."
(Unnamed Dwarf): "Shut yer piehole Vankiel, you know you think it is funny too. Just a bit too stuck up and hoity toity for your own good, I tells ya."
At that point, things fade again, and then you see what looks like the Arena that you were at before. However, a few things appear to be different - for one, no one other than you and Varia are there - no audience, no monster arena, nothing. The arena also appears to not have an audience chamber or any of the other extra stuff - just an open air arena.
(You/Vankiel): "Today's lesson is defending yourself deals with magic. I'm certain you know what that is, right Varia?"
(Varia): "Yep! My daddy and sister are both magicians. Very good with magic. They told me that I'd be just as good if I tried."
Vankiel begins lessons in magic.
*****NOTE: If you don't have Magic Lore (Int based), you do now for free. If you already have magic lore, you get teaching (Leadership based) instead for free. His teachings are actually THAT good.
By the end of the lessons, Varia is already casting (according to a magic lore check) major spells.
(You/Vankiel): "Wow.. I've never had a student learn THIS fast before."
(Varia): "Good. Now let me duel you." She gets into a stance. Anyone with any form of martial arts proficiency can tell that this might very well be the single WORST martial arts stance you have ever seen. You think it might actually make her EASIER to hit instead of harder.
Varia loses within a second, as you/Vankiel have her pinned down at the blade of a naginata (you can look it up on Google if you don't know what it is - actual Japanese weapon).
(Varia): "No fair, you have that cool weapon!"
(You/Vankiel): "Actually, this is yours. Your father stopped by a couple of weeks ago and told me to give you this when you were ready."
(Varia): "You think I'm ready now?"
(You/Vankiel): "No, but we are graduating today, and I don't want to anger your father afterall."
(Varia): "Butthead!"
They both start laughing, and Varia's watch beeps.
(Varia): "Time to get ready for graduation."
Fading again, coming back after the graduation. Everyone appears to be leaving in their own means (you see the Neko get into a car, the dwarf get onto an Airship, the moogle just teleporting, Bob getting into a tank, Xan getting into a carriage).
(You/Vankiel): "Now, there is something I need to tell you."
(Varia): "What is it?"
(You/Vankiel): "You know Kumeg's telescope? How it was put into orbit upside down this morning and looking at this area?"
(Varia): "Yeah..."
(You/Vankiel): "I saw what was reading out on that. There is an army heading to Goug from Ordalia, and I think they might arrive here before your father does."
(Varia): "Then I'll just have to stop them. Simple."
(You/Vankiel): "Varia, you aren't a fighter. You are still a young princess of Ivalice-"
(Varia): "Who has an estimated IQ estimated in the upper 600 range with an ego to match, your point? I can handle myself, trust me. You, on the other hand, have had a message waiting on your phone for the past ten minutes that you think you are hiding."
(You/Vankiel sigh): "Yeah... I really didn't want to go back home. I'm not looking forward to the battle."
(Varia): "Vankiel, you are the strongest and most powerful and intelligent person I know. You are also one of the most kind as well. Any choices in this supposed epic battle of yours will be the right ones, and you'll be victorious. I know it because you are just that damn cool, okay?"
(You/Vankiel): "You are right... well Varia, I hope to see you again. Maybe by then you'll be able to beat me in fighting. That defense technique of yours appears to be very promising... but you REALLY need better posture while fighting!"
(Varia): "Stop delaying and go already!"
At that point, you pick up your phone. There are voices that appear in your head, but for some reason you can understand them - thinking about it, since it is recording memories, most likely Vankiel's mind is translating them to the languages you speak (Human).
(Voice): "Vankiel, we need you right now."
(You/Vankiel): "Got it Garrak. Just needed to say goodbye to a good friend."
You teleport and arrive at what appears to be a balcony, facing the inside. Very tall cylinder-looking building you are on the balcony of. There is an imp there, presumably the one Vankiel called Garrak.
(Garrak): "Vankiel, I'm sure you know why we revived you and sent you off to school."
(You/Vankiel): "Yes, I do. In return for my help, you give me my freedom and send this message that is recording right now to a random spot in the world."
(Garrak): "Message?"
(You/Vankiel): "Don't worry about it, it is just a school assignment. So, where is the enemy?"
(Garrak): "Look behind you."
You turn and see a very breathtaking panoramic sight. A sun rising against the horizon. It appears as though you are VERY high up. However, there are clouds. Except they aren't clouds.
Those are hoardes of Kassandra. A quick estimate tells you a few million of them. They are a bit far off, and they seem to be flying towards you, but not very quickly. They don't appear to be in a big hurry.
(Garrak): "We aren't sure what to call them, but reports are tel-"
(You/Vankiel): "Kassandra."
(Garrak): "Excuse me?"
(You/Vankiel): "Kassandra. That is what they are called. They are a scourge that will one day engulf the world if not stopped."
(Garrak): "So you'll help?"
(You/Vankiel): "I'll be done before breakfast. Let me just end this message-"
You wake up. The last thing in your minds was, "Find Varia's Recorder. You are going to need it very soon."
