((For an idea of the music for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0RYh9nrZYM ))
The cloaked figurestood solemnly before a weathered stone, far from the civilized areas of Thanalan. The wind buffeted the brown cloak around him, whistling with the force that it battered him. The figure dropped to itsknees before the stone as if praying, but no words escaped its lips.
It had been four yearssince Alec began his journey by opening the first gate. He had trained every day from sunrise to sunset, only then allowed time to do what he wanted. These nights he usually spent one of two ways. He either passed the time practicing upon the battered old piano in their tent, his Master’s only relic from a life that had been long forgotten or he read. The people in the cave had little, but in fleeing the Fall, several had prepared enough to bring books, and most were happy to share them with him. He especially loved the ones about Knights and Paladins, heroes among men that fought monsters and protected the realms. HE hoped to one day become one himself, even at an early age, but each morning he woke up to reality once more, and his miserable training began again.
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The figure did not move for hours, having slid into a meditative position there before the rock. Finally, without moving, a hum escaped its lips, followed close behind by a low song, the smoky baritone drifting across the sands.
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The morning startedlike any other, Alec woke to a breakfast of dried meat and a boiled egg and was dressing to start his training. He was about to leave to seek out his Master in the valley they usually spent their days when the man walked back into the tent. “Slept in again I see, you little shit,†was the loving good morning Alec was given as the man grabbed his hat and gestured for the boy to follow him.
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Alec followed, as healways did, dutifully in the wake of the massive Highlander he called his master. It had come and gone the time people that saw them asked why he was so scrawny, and many had realized by now that though he was called ‘father’ the man was nothing of the sort, at least not to Alec. This day they did not take their normal path to the valley, and instead mounted a chocobo, a new experience that left the young boy terrified and grabbing at the creature’s feathers to keep from falling. Their mount carried them swiftly through the desert, past landmarks that Alec had never seen, and the trip seemed to last for hours.
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The figure stood slowly as it sang, letting it’s song ringout through the rocky plains around it.
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When the beast finally stopped, and the Highlander tossedAlec off roughly to the ground, they stood before a massive stone. Upon its surface grew a strange plant, and Alec could just make out that the debris in front of it had once upon a time been flowers. He knew the rule to not speak unless spoken to, but in his youth his curiosity took over before he could stop himself,†Where are we, father?â€
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A loud crack was all he got in reply as the Highlander threwthe first punch, signaling their training had begun. What followed was a pitiful display of Alecstriking at him, and the man easily dispatching any advance Alec tried to make. This was their routine…The massive Highlander toying with the boy until his anger drove him to use his ability, and today was no different. After an hour of constant fighting, Alec lost his temper and his eyes flashed with aether as he activated what they had come to call, “The Eyes of Rhalghr.†He scanned his master as he always did, seeing every weakness in his form, but having no way to exploit them. A second later the aether faded, as the two had learned a year before that too much use would leave him blind.
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“Do you know who’s grave this is, boy?†The Highlanderlaughed as his fist slammed into the nine year old’s gut. As Alec shook his head, gasping for breath, he added,†It’s your mothers, out here all alone, because of what a monster she was…A criminal to our people. They feared her in life, and refused to let her near the rest of the dead…She died a bitch, just like she lived…â€
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The words were like daggers to the young boy’s heart, and hefell to his knees and sobbed, much to his master’s dismay. “Get up and act like a man!†The Highlander yelled, slapping the boy hard across the face, his rough hands cutting roughly through the skin and drawing blood from Alec’s cheek. Alec rose up as he was told and stood there as his master launched insult after insult about his mother, all the noise soon fading behind the roaring anger the young boy felt.
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“Are we strangers in this place?
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It took little time for Alec’s fury to come to point. Hecould take no more of the insults, and he screamed out as he leapt at his master, launching a flurry of strikes, all of which were deflected. “Don’t you dare speak about her like that!†HE sounded like a mandrake as he screamed out with his attacks, tiring quickly as he used every fiber of his being to try to hurt his master like the man had hurt him.
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He lashed out like the harsh rains of a monsoon, strikingblindly almost as he sought only to cause pain. He could feel the anger inside him frothing, boiling, rising like a tidal wave trying to break free. And then it did…
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What escaped Alec was not mere anger, the gate holding backhis second chakra crashed open and a tidal wave of aetheric energy erupted from him like a typhoon as he lashed out at his master. Even with his newfound strength, he stood no chance against the seasoned monk, and every attack he made was met to jeers and laughter.
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It became clear in moments that the boy had no control overthe massive amounts of energy pouring from him and his master knew his job that day was done. He sent a single strike to the boy’s head with his palm, the force knocking Alec out cold,†That’s two, boy…†He started as he hefted Alec over his shoulder and placed  him acrossthe chocobo’s back. Then he reached into their travel pack and brought out a fresh bouquet of white tulips upon the ground at the stone’s base,†Sorry I had to insult her like that boy… But it’s best you know what most think…Even if they’re wrong…†This would be the only time he ever apologized, and Alec was unable to hear it.
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Alec lifted the hood of his cloak finally, squinting in thewind as he took a single daffodil before his mother’s grave. He sighed and whisper to the wind,†I wish I had gotten to meet you, mother…I know he was lying…You could never be like he described, I’ll never believe that…â€
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He walked away slowly as he raised his hood back to shieldhis face, his brown cloak billowing in the sandstorm that threatened to overtake him as he made his way back towards civilization.
The cloaked figurestood solemnly before a weathered stone, far from the civilized areas of Thanalan. The wind buffeted the brown cloak around him, whistling with the force that it battered him. The figure dropped to itsknees before the stone as if praying, but no words escaped its lips.
It had been four yearssince Alec began his journey by opening the first gate. He had trained every day from sunrise to sunset, only then allowed time to do what he wanted. These nights he usually spent one of two ways. He either passed the time practicing upon the battered old piano in their tent, his Master’s only relic from a life that had been long forgotten or he read. The people in the cave had little, but in fleeing the Fall, several had prepared enough to bring books, and most were happy to share them with him. He especially loved the ones about Knights and Paladins, heroes among men that fought monsters and protected the realms. HE hoped to one day become one himself, even at an early age, but each morning he woke up to reality once more, and his miserable training began again.
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The figure did not move for hours, having slid into a meditative position there before the rock. Finally, without moving, a hum escaped its lips, followed close behind by a low song, the smoky baritone drifting across the sands.
“Are we strangers in this place?
Looking for a place unknown?
We're just leaning on the breeze...
Saying not to give it up...
Can we find the truth behind us,
When the long journey ends?â€
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The morning startedlike any other, Alec woke to a breakfast of dried meat and a boiled egg and was dressing to start his training. He was about to leave to seek out his Master in the valley they usually spent their days when the man walked back into the tent. “Slept in again I see, you little shit,†was the loving good morning Alec was given as the man grabbed his hat and gestured for the boy to follow him.
Â
Alec followed, as healways did, dutifully in the wake of the massive Highlander he called his master. It had come and gone the time people that saw them asked why he was so scrawny, and many had realized by now that though he was called ‘father’ the man was nothing of the sort, at least not to Alec. This day they did not take their normal path to the valley, and instead mounted a chocobo, a new experience that left the young boy terrified and grabbing at the creature’s feathers to keep from falling. Their mount carried them swiftly through the desert, past landmarks that Alec had never seen, and the trip seemed to last for hours.
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“Are we wrapped in mysteries?
Walking down the winding roads?
Can we find the reason why we are
In this world of trials?â€
 The figure stood slowly as it sang, letting it’s song ringout through the rocky plains around it.
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When the beast finally stopped, and the Highlander tossedAlec off roughly to the ground, they stood before a massive stone. Upon its surface grew a strange plant, and Alec could just make out that the debris in front of it had once upon a time been flowers. He knew the rule to not speak unless spoken to, but in his youth his curiosity took over before he could stop himself,†Where are we, father?â€
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A loud crack was all he got in reply as the Highlander threwthe first punch, signaling their training had begun. What followed was a pitiful display of Alecstriking at him, and the man easily dispatching any advance Alec tried to make. This was their routine…The massive Highlander toying with the boy until his anger drove him to use his ability, and today was no different. After an hour of constant fighting, Alec lost his temper and his eyes flashed with aether as he activated what they had come to call, “The Eyes of Rhalghr.†He scanned his master as he always did, seeing every weakness in his form, but having no way to exploit them. A second later the aether faded, as the two had learned a year before that too much use would leave him blind.
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“Here comes the breeze, that's whispering in peace
So full of lights, shining in colors
Don't be afraid, just keep on trying in your way
And you will see how all is sight...â€
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“Do you know who’s grave this is, boy?†The Highlanderlaughed as his fist slammed into the nine year old’s gut. As Alec shook his head, gasping for breath, he added,†It’s your mothers, out here all alone, because of what a monster she was…A criminal to our people. They feared her in life, and refused to let her near the rest of the dead…She died a bitch, just like she lived…â€
Â
The words were like daggers to the young boy’s heart, and hefell to his knees and sobbed, much to his master’s dismay. “Get up and act like a man!†The Highlander yelled, slapping the boy hard across the face, his rough hands cutting roughly through the skin and drawing blood from Alec’s cheek. Alec rose up as he was told and stood there as his master launched insult after insult about his mother, all the noise soon fading behind the roaring anger the young boy felt.
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“Are we strangers in this place?
Reaching out for dreams unknown?
Now we feel our minds are flying high
In this world of libertyâ€
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It took little time for Alec’s fury to come to point. Hecould take no more of the insults, and he screamed out as he leapt at his master, launching a flurry of strikes, all of which were deflected. “Don’t you dare speak about her like that!†HE sounded like a mandrake as he screamed out with his attacks, tiring quickly as he used every fiber of his being to try to hurt his master like the man had hurt him.
Â
He lashed out like the harsh rains of a monsoon, strikingblindly almost as he sought only to cause pain. He could feel the anger inside him frothing, boiling, rising like a tidal wave trying to break free. And then it did…
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“Here comes the breeze that's whispering again
So full of lights shining in colors
Listen to me, just keep on trying in your way
Get the courage to open the door and soon you'll be free...â€
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What escaped Alec was not mere anger, the gate holding backhis second chakra crashed open and a tidal wave of aetheric energy erupted from him like a typhoon as he lashed out at his master. Even with his newfound strength, he stood no chance against the seasoned monk, and every attack he made was met to jeers and laughter.
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It became clear in moments that the boy had no control overthe massive amounts of energy pouring from him and his master knew his job that day was done. He sent a single strike to the boy’s head with his palm, the force knocking Alec out cold,†That’s two, boy…†He started as he hefted Alec over his shoulder and placed  him acrossthe chocobo’s back. Then he reached into their travel pack and brought out a fresh bouquet of white tulips upon the ground at the stone’s base,†Sorry I had to insult her like that boy… But it’s best you know what most think…Even if they’re wrong…†This would be the only time he ever apologized, and Alec was unable to hear it.
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Alec lifted the hood of his cloak finally, squinting in thewind as he took a single daffodil before his mother’s grave. He sighed and whisper to the wind,†I wish I had gotten to meet you, mother…I know he was lying…You could never be like he described, I’ll never believe that…â€
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He walked away slowly as he raised his hood back to shieldhis face, his brown cloak billowing in the sandstorm that threatened to overtake him as he made his way back towards civilization.
