Final Fantasy: The Akashic Record Prologue: The Gathering

During a church ceremony inside a church in the town of Michusi, the high priest started to chant, "Bring us peace. Bring us happiness to others that are less fortunate. Please, bring those that are fallen to your holy home so that they can finally rest in peace." Others responded, "Amen." As the high priest continued with the sermon, Ilalleer thought to himself as he continued to listen to his sermon, "At least, I have a purpose in life. Something to make me continue to live."

An hour later, Ilalleer stepped out of the church, sighed a bit to himself, and thought, "Now then, what are my deeds to do today?" as he began to calm himself down as he continue to think about it.

Then the thoughts came to him making him smile a bit, then he looked at the sky then said to himself quietly, "Looks like it's time to see what the children are up to..." as he headed toward the orphanage keeping his scythe sheathed.

A couple of guards stood in front of the orphanage searching through rigorously for something. Ilalleer thought to himself, "What are these guards searching for in this orphanage?" as he walked up to the three men.

Ilalleer asked, "What do you guys need?" The three guards turned around, looking at Ilalleer suspiciously.

One of the guards responded, "That's highly classified, sir. As such, however, we'd have to close down this orphanage while the investigations are underway."

Ilalleer thought to himself, "Investigations?! That's what it's for...? They shouldn't find anything here, period, so..." As he looked over at the crying children knowing that their home might be destroyed, he thought to himself, "No...not this time..." as he unsheathed his scythe knowing that he has to fight for them.

Ilalleer responds, "What you've done is more than enough to prove that this orphanage shouldn't be under investigation. So I'm requesting you to leave." All 3 of the soldiers responded by unsheathing their swords and charging Ilalleer. He shined his scythe's blade towards the sun and showing the light reflection to the guard's eyes blinding them. Ilalleer charged at the three men, swung his scythe knocking one of the guard's swords away and shoving him hard into the wall.

As the other two regained their vision, the other two guards swung their swords towards Ilalleer, but Ilalleer managed to block one of them. Unfortuantely, one of the swords cut him near the waist. Ilalleer, however, spun his scythe in front of him and knocked the other two swords out of the way.

Ilalleer responds, "Now, get out of here." as he began to close up the wound. As the guards left the facility, Ilalleer responds with a brief smile, "At least, the children of this city have a place to live in...."

Byran swore as he ducked into an alleyway, clutching the cloth-wrapped object close to him tightly. Holding his breath, he stood as still and silently as after two minutes a group of armed men ran by, so close that he could almost smell the stench of sweat and steel and blood. After they passed him, Byran waited several heartbeats before he finally relaxed, collapsing against the wall in a tired heap. However, the movement caused a sharp pain in his side. Wincing, Byran look down and checked the wound in his side.

The wound was somewhat deep. His shirt was completely stained with blood, and it didn't look like he'd stop bleeding soon. Wincing, he pressed his side to lessen it, but it didn't do much good. He knew he'd have to find a healer to deal with it, but as of that moment he was just too exhausted and worn out to even push himself back up.

"Achoooooo" sneezed Alex, "Damn all dusty ruins"

Alex was currently inside a cave near his home town looking at the inscriptions on the wall and deciphering them and writing down what they said.

"Hmmm even more clues to this strange Akashic record thingy" thought Alex, "Must have been very important in the past, hmm says something about infinite knowledge....Infinite knowledge hehehehe wouldnt that be nice"

Alex continued to wander around in the cave checking old inscriptions and such

"Dammit this cave has no difference than the other ones, always mentioning this Akashic record thing but gives no clues to where it is located" thought Alex

"ALEX!!!! can we please leave now" said a Cheryl, a close friend of Alex from the town, she followed him up to the ruins seeing as she was interested in it.

"Yeah yeah coming" said Alex, "Freaking girls have no interest in the pursuit of knowledge, why did i even let her follow me in the first place" thought Alex

Alex left the cave somewhat disappointed knowing there had to be more clues to this Akashic record object

"Thats it ive explored all the caves around my home area i must find a party to leave with to find more" thought Alex, "i must get out of this small world and leave for a bigger one"

Looking determined Alex continued back down to his home

Klen quietly walked down the streets, his hands clutched tightly on his bag. "Let's see... Seven potions left, a couple of antidotes, and a couple of spare vials... I'd better try to find a few more herbs before I head out."

He slipped through the side streets, hoping to take a shortcut to the market. While he had to double back a few times, he kept his eyes open, watching the people that were nearby and making sure to keep his bag firmly secured in his hands.

He paused as he turned into another alleyway, stopping to look at the man that seemed to be laying upon the floor. It only took a glance before he paused and quietly walked up.

"Thought this town was supposed to be secure. What happened here?" He placed his hand on the gaping wound, the bleeding slowing but not stopping.

It was dark, cold, and damp, Water drops from stalagmits echoed throught the cave. Hidaki awoke from hearing noices that echoed from the cave. Hidaki sat up, ''Ugh.. People down here?'' the voices were muffled as they echoed and they started getting faint, ''Hmpt.. I guess i should be getting out of here to..'' Hidaki got up feeling the walls as he walked towared the light that came from the exit of the cave. He shoved his hand into the sleave of his robe and pulled out a long, thin ribben and covered his eyes and tied it. Hidaki exited the cave and stumbled he hadnt eaten in awhile. He started to walk to the city that the cave was outside of.

"Thank you very much!" Echo said as he took the potions from the merchant, giving him money in exchange.

He had stopped in the town of "Michusi" to restock on items, as well as to take a small break from traveling.

He continued walking down the streets, passing a large church that seemed to have just ended. He thought that it may have some of the answers to his questions about the Akashic Record. Even so, he would have to wait until it was completely empty of all who attended before he could ask.

He decided to move forward for now. Suddenly, he heard some commotion from around the corner. Some of the people were running away from it.

"This can't be good.." He told himself before running to see what happened.

After turning around the corner, he saw a few guards on the ground infront of an orphanage, covered in blood, children crying, and a man standing there with a scythe covered in blood.

He reacted quickly.

"Step away from those children!" He ran up to the man, making sure to keep enough distance to be safe from simple attacks, as he glared at the man, gazing into his eyes deeply.

"Why did you attack these guards!?" He said as he stood his ground.

As Ilalleer noticed the guards running from the scene, he noticed a kid readied for battle telling him to step away from the children. As he looked at him directly, he responds, "If you are here for someone to take care of you, ask one of the nuns inside." As for the kid's curiousity, he glanced over to him stating, "I assume you wonder why there was a battle here. I assure you that there was no ill intentions at all by my end. It was the guards that were going to close down this place, so that they can keep searching for the "Akashic Fragment" that's rumored to be inside the city." As he put away his scythe, he looked over to the kid stating, "Believe in whatever you want. It doesn't matter one way or another, but..." As he looked over to the kids, he briefly states, "That search for the Akashic Shard made some adventurers leave behind their kids due to this search," as he headed over to the enterance to the orphanage. He briefly responds after that, "Believe in what you want. If you want a place to stay, kid, come inside. Otherwise, you can be on your way," as he went inside the orphanage.

Inside the orphanage, the kids gathered around Ilalleer asking him for toys. He briefly smiled and pulled out several toys to give to the children. He stared blankly at the ceiling thinking, "At least these kids won't have to feel the same pain as I did long ago."

"Looking for a Party for searching for the Akashic records pieces" shouted Alex

However this was the peaceful town of Shigumi, not many people wanted to travel and fight, and were very happy with their lives. Even worse adventurers party barely came to this town.

"Dammit why did i have to be born here!!" shouted Alex

"Alex calm down a bit im sure you are going to get your chance sooner or later to leave" said Cheryl, "but why would you even want to leave this place its peaceful and nice"

"Thats the problem its too peaceful, i seek knowledge and adventure, I want to know more, experience more, i thought you had understood me by now Cheryl" said Alex

"I do thats why i keep trying to convince you to live a peaceful life but i can never do so" said Cheryl, "and maybe a peaceful life with me" said Cheryl under her breathe

"What did you say" said Alex

"Oh nothing" repleid Cheryl

"Well lets head back to the apartments and rest for the night i doubt im going to have anymore luck today finding a group" said Alex

"Ok" said Cheryl

Little did they know about the sudden event that would destroy this town.

He listened as the man spoke. What he said seemed logical... After all... He noticed first hand what the guards would do for an Akashic Fragment.

'Wait..' He thought to himself.

'He knows about the Akashic Record?..'

He followed the man inside of the orphanage with no intent of fighting. It was partly to see what he knew about the Akashic Record, and partly to make sure that all of the children were ok.

Staying behind him the whole time, he went to touch the mans shoulder when suddenly, he felt a tug on his pants.

"Huh?.." He looked down to see a child, looking like he was about to cry.

Child: "Please sir.. Don't hurt him..." he said as his eyes teared up.

Echo smiled softly and kneeled down to the child.

"Don't worry, I wont, I promise." He said, smiling softly and digging into his bag for something. The child looked in confusement until Echo finally pulled out a doll. It had belonged to him since his 7th birthday. It was all he had left from back home.

"Here you go..." He held the doll out for the child, whom took it happily and thanked him.

Echo smiled, getting back up and looking at the man, now surrounded by children, and smiled as he walked up to him.

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.. Please forgive me.."

Ilalleer leaned near a window responding, "It's no big deal." As he looked towards the kids, he asked, "From back when the Akashic Shards were first "known", my parents disappeared inside some ruins. Hence why I looked after these kids. Anyway, what do you want to know?"

He walked up to the man.

"Exactly what do you know about the Akashic Record?.."
He looked down and then back at the man.

"What is it for?..."

Ilalleer responds with his eyes closed, "Rumors stated that it contained data about the entire world inside the Akashic Shards. But adventurers always try to get more than one, and guess what they leave behind," as he plays with a kid. Ilalleer asks, "Why are you interested?"

"I see..." He said looking at the man.

As he asked the second question, Echo simply looked down, closing his eyes and remembering the destruction of his home town, and the deaths of his friends, family, and master.

"I...." He twitched a bit, trying to hold in his anger.

"Because... I need to know.. So that nobody will have to suffer again.." He said, still looking down.

Then, Ilalleer asks, "So then, are you prepared to leave someone or something behind on your quest? Because, you can guess where these kids ended up in this twisted mess of the Akashic Shard." As he sighed and stared at the kid blankly, "Try to find a purpose of your life. Even if others died, you are still alive. Your fate isn't tied to theirs. Your fate is your own." Ilalleer began to stare at the door solemnly asking, "Well, if you want, you can stay here for a while. Then, you can go search out for more information, if you want."

"You don't understand.." He whispered as he looked out of the window.

He then looked at the man, he seemed so kind. And yet.. He could feel the pain in his voice,

"I.." He reached his hand out for the man when he felt a tug on his pants again.

Child: "Come play with us!"

He saw the kid looking at the man too, as if the kid were asking them both.

"Sure.. Why not?" He smiled and looked at the man to see if he would too.

Ilalleer responds to the kid, "Sorry, I need some rest. I'm going to sleep for a while upstairs. Anyway..." as he stared at Echo replying, "feel free to do whatever you like," as he went upstairs to his room to rest.

He watched as the man went upstairs before being pulled by the kid.

'I wonder if he lost someone aswell..'

He began playing with the kids. They were enjoying themselves so much that he almost felt like a child again as well.

He suddenly thought about the man again.

"May I ask you guys something?.."

Kid: "What is it Mister?" the kids all smiled.

"That man.. Can you tell me a bit about him?"

Kid: "You mean Ilalleer? He's always been with us since as long as we can remember. He dosn't have any family or friends, so he always spends his time taking care of us!"

His heart paused for a second. "I see.. Thank you" He said, getting up.

Kid: "You're welcome!" He went back to playing as Echo began going upstairs, arriving in a hallway.

There was only one room with its door closed so he already knew his destination. He walked down the hallway and knocked on the door.

Ilalleer, resting in bed, yells, "Who is it?" as he tries to regain some energy from the last fight. He then thought, "Probably that kid again. Oh well, at least he won't be lost at the moment, by the lure of the Akashic Shards."

Icarus walked with his head down as he walked into the town ahead. He didn't like being in a city of this size because a lot of things could happen. Icarus walked through the crowd with his head hung and watching the ground. Being easily knocked around the crowd as he made little or no effort to fight the path of the masses.

"....finally..." Icarus said gratefully as he entered the Tech's Pawn Shop.

Icarus walked around taking silent joy in just looking at all the different gagets the pawn shop owner had in his collection.

"Well I guess...I'd better get what I need and not get carred away." Icarus said while counting what he had in his pocket.

Icarus walked up to the counter carrying a few parts he planned to puchase and a few of his own to trade in.

"Well so far so good. 1...2....huh?? He ddn't give me my...nevermind..." Icarus said under hs breath as he stuffed the parts in his bag and went on his way to the the town's mart.

He walked into the room to see the man laying down.

"Ilalleer is it?.." He asked as he closed the door behind him.

He looked at him on the bed, then at the scythe.

'He must be tired from the fight with those guards..' He thought to himself.

Ilalleer asks as he closed his eyes for a minute, "Anything you want to ask me? Because, I have doubts that you wouldn't walk up here for nothing." He briefly thought, "At least, I can rest a bit, regaining energy, before walking around too much. My wound is healed, but the exhaustion from that fight can take a toll on a person."

He walked up to the man and touched his head softly, signaling him to rest.

"My name is Echo.." He whispered before walking to the window and staying silent.

Ilalleer slowly dozed off, trying to regain some energy, so that when the time comes, he can protect the kids again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While sleeping, Ilalleer thought to himself, "Why did you leave me, Mom and Dad?"

Echo looked at Ilalleer as he slept.

"He looks like a child" He smiled softly, his eyes closing half way.

A few hours passed as Echo waited, he dozed off a bit until suddenly, he heard it go silent downstairs.

'Huh?.. Wern't they playing?' He thought to himself as he went down stairs to check.

He saw the kids silently looking out the window then went to see what they were looking at. His eyes widened as he saw a group of guards infront of the building.

'They must be here because of what happened earlyer..' He grunted and gritted his teeth a bit.

"Hey kids... I want you all to go upstairs and stay in your room, ok?" He said calmly, smiling so that they wouldn't worry. They obeyed.

'Good kids..' He thought as he stepped outside.

The guards quickly reacted.
Guard: "Step aside kid! We're here to arrest the man inside!"

Echo sighed, closing his eyes. "I'm going to have to ask you all to leave. The children are sleeping..." He said as he slipped a pair of gloves on. "And you're not welcomed..." His eyes opened into a glare.