[b]Great Forest of Nara, Japan, Luna Dial[/b]

A small donation box could be found sitting inconspicuously beneath a single cherry tree. The box was engraved with the image of a cross across the top, inlaid with gold. The sound of twigs snapping and the crunch of dried leaves resonated out as a traveler made his way towards the box. Behind him floated a strange little creature, like a winged bear covered in whitish-pinkish fur. The creature came as a messenger, bearing a letter to be delivered to the one that the people of this village knew as the Saint of the Forest. But, one could not simply approach the forest saint directly, an offering would need to be brought to catch her attention.

"The saint lives by our generosity for her teachings and her protection. She does not cease from her holy work, unless the need to aide a traveller or defend our village comes. As such, we provide her all she needs." 

"And you're sure she'll come, kupo?"

The guide nodded, "Once you put something in the box, she doesn't take long."

The Moogle obliged, flying up to the donation box, depositing a single loaf of bread.

"Now, we wait, kupo?"

The two sat upon the stone bench placed by the box, awaiting the arrival of the mysterious saint of the forest.

"What can you tell me about the saint, kupo?"

"Oh, I can't say much. I've never met her personally, I never need to travel through the forest, but I've heard some say that she is a powerful priestess with great magical abilities. She dwells in a wooden temple in the darkest part of the woods where her worship can transpire uninterrupted."

"How long has she been here, kupo?"

"Oh, as long as any of us can remember," the guide said, scratching his head. "Probably been here for as long as Japan has existed, yet she never seems to get any older." He laughed, "She must be from the Kami or something, she can hardly speak Japanese correctly. Where that accent of hers is from, I can't tell." 

With that, the familiar sound of rustling leaves could be heard, as the creaking of hinges rang out. 

[b][color=8882be]"Who is in need of guidance?"[/color][/b], spoke the emergent figure, a woman, looking to be in her early 30s, clothed in loose, long black clothing, and a beige head scarf wrapped around her hair. The woman eyed the two, though, her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the moogle.

"Are you the one named Junko the Forest Saint, kupo?"

[b][color=8882be]"Sunja"[/color][/b]

"Huh?"

[b][color=8882be]"You asked me my name, and I have told you, my name is Sunja."[/color][/b] she responded monotonously, [b][color=8882be]"The Japanese read my name in their own language as Junko, but if you ask, I will tell you as I read it in my own."[/color][/b]

"Okay, kupo..." The Moogle replied, "I was sent here with a message for you."

An eyebrow perked up, [b][color=8882be]"A message?"[/color][/b]

"Directly from the Roman Emperor in Constantinople, kupo!"

As the moogle handed the envelope over to the nun, she stared at it intensely. That name, Rome. The Roman Empire, Daishin. That hermit, the one who made her like this. He said he came from...could it be? Constantinople, that was a new one. Never had she heard that name before, though, the context made it clear what its significance was.

Snapping back from her lapse, she looked at the Moogle. [b][color=8882be]"This is startling news. Please, if you would be so kind, I believe we should continue this discussion in a more discrete location. We can disclose the details at my monastery."[/color][/b]

It was not a far trek from the donation site to the monastery, though it was a simple structure, a tiny shack out in the middle of a dark forest, the inside of the shack decorated in bright, golden icons. Sunja prepared a small pot of tea for her and the visitor, as she listened to the little creature explain his mission and the plight of those who sent him. 

Taking a sip from her tea, she looked at the creature as she spoke, [b][color=8882be]"While I understand, it would not be so simple for me to just abandon my post here. The people of this village are dependant upon me to protect them not only from the threat of the Heartless but of the Selenites as well. I do not know that I can simply take off to engage in discussions with a war council."[/color][/b]

"But think, kupo, the threat that I have described to you is a danger that has the potential to threaten the entire multiverse. And only certain individuals have the capacity to be of aide! Is that alone not worth at least coming with me to speak with the Emperor?"

Sunja closed her eyes and nodded, "Very well, I will meet with him, and discuss the situation."

[hr]

[b]Massalia, Roman Gaul, Luna Dial[/b] 

The pale-haired girl stood bent over at the waist, head tilted slightly as she looked over the little creature. The poor thing had been unceremoniously knocked unconscious by one of the Selenite bombings, the poor little thing being just out of range to be hit with any deadly shrapnel, but still in range to get a good hit of the shockwave. She removed the conical hat she wore to get a better look, revealing a pair of long, rabbit ears on her head, pale white, brighter than the bluish-gray hair on her head. She reached out to pick up the moogle, taking note of its belongings, a sealed letter of some sort. The girl tucked it away into her clothing, as she retreated back into the hole she had dug, lest more bombings continue with her out of proper protection. 

The messenger moogle would finally awaken, not in a devastated countryside, but in a warm, though clearly makeshift burrow. At the other side of the pile of blankets he had been placed into. The burrow was warm, softly lit by a single candle, and a makeshift bed at the side, though difficult to make anything out in detail, but he could clearly make about that the other end of the dwelling was occupied, and there sat a young woman, with her rabbit ears and all, eating and humming a tune as she sharpened the knife in her hand. 

Wait, a knife?

The Moogle's heart pounded, and it was only made worse by the sudden turn of the face, as the rabbit-eared girl's gaze crossed his own, and she smiled at him.

[color=39b54a][b]"Oh, you've woken up!"[/b][/color], she closed her eyes as she spoke, placing the knife down, to the relief of her visitor. [color=39b54a][b]"I was getting worried, I found you out in that field after they bombed it. But don't worry, we're safe in my little burrow here."[/b][/color]

"Oh, I was just on my way to find someone, kupo. You wouldn't happen to know anyone named Meri, would you?"

[color=39b54a][b]"Oh, I do. That's my name!"[/b][/color] she replied cheerfully, [color=39b54a][b]"You're looking for me?"[/b][/color]

The Moogle responded by handing her the letter he was carrying. With Meri retrieving her knife to both open the seal and to cut and stick some pieces of cheese for eating. 

[color=39b54a][b]"Hmmm, so you need me to come along with you, huh?"[/b][/color]. Stabbing a piece of cheese to be placed in her mouth, she smiled, [color=39b54a][b]"Constantinople...heh, you know, I was supposed to be going there anyway, but...for destroying."[/b][/color]

The Moogle tilted his head, giving as close to a concerned look as possible at the strange woman. Catching sight of the look, Meri couldn't help but wave her hands about to dismiss any concerns. [color=39b54a][b]"Ah! But don't worry, don't worry! I'm not working with the other Selenites anymore."[/b][/color]. Her expression changed as she mused further, [color=39b54a][b]"I couldn't bring myself to go along with...all of this."[/b][/color] A sorrow crept into her words as she spoke, but was cut short by a quick shake of the head.

[color=39b54a][b]"But let's not keep them waiting any longer. Better get back to your ship before the bombs get it."[/b][/color]
[hr]

[b]Gabal, Syria, Roman Empire, Tenebrae Invictae[/b]

The unfortunate traveler hadn't had much of a chance when he entered into Gabal. Communications were lost in the village some time ago, and the Romans would send a scout out east to figure out the source, never to return. The soldier was just another victim in a long line of unfortuate souls who walked right into a death trap that they never would have been able to prepare for. Abraxas' creatures simply shredded the scout to pieces, leaving a mangled corpse to rot away in the heat of the desert. The sun had vanished, yet it always stayed just as hot. The cries that managed to escape from him were an alert of sorts for the one inhabitant who still called Gabal something of a home. She had learned that when the screaming starts to take cover, and to investigate later. 

Enough time had come to pass, and it was fine to go out and see what new treasures were hers. It had become a routine at the first of evey month, to loot the corpse of a fallen soldier and maybe get a treat. She was not disappointed this time. The beasts had been so kind as to leave the soldier's ration pack in place, with a bottle of vinegar and oil, as well as a still mostly intact bread loaf. Sadly, no wine nor honey to speak of. The girl sighed. At least she would have something to soften the old loaf, though no sweetness for breakfast once again. 

The girl, Auxentia was her name, at least, the name she remembered best. Searched the body some more. Ah, her lucky day, the creatures had left the cloak of the soldier mostly untouched. The bright red fabric called out to her, and she quickly snatched up the garment, draping it over herself. The cloak was big, too big for her, but she didn't care. It looked nice, in her mind, and that was all that mattered. She picked up the soldier's dagger, clipping it to her own belt, and began marching up and down the street, mimicking the movements of the soldiers as best as she could remember. She wasn't sure why she did it, maybe it made her feel more powerful, more like she could take care of herself better. 

But the distant, frightening calls of more Abraxian beasts made her take off back towards her hideout. 

But, she was not to make it very far. 

Turning into an alleyway, she crossed around the wall, only to be met with a pair of glowing yellow eyes. Auxentia jumped back, tripping over the cloak and tumbling onto the ground. Out from under her, fell her book. That book, no ordinary book, was the closest thing to a proper defense against this kind of beast. While a well-placed knife could take out one of Abraxas' creatures, these things didn't seem to go down so easy. The Gnosticum had a few banishing spells to send them elsewhere, but it was out of reach right now. As the creature approached, Auxentia's eyes darted to the tome as she made a dive for it, hoping to reach the book and twist away from the creature's reach before it could get to her. Hitting the stone of the road, she pulled the Gnosticum close to her as she turned to the side, but only saw the creature continuing to approach as she struggled to get the pages open. Bracing for an attack, she winced...only to feel nothing.

Opening her eyes, the creature was gone, slain, though no body remained. In its place, two new figures. One, a man, of uncertain origins, and a creature, though far from the monstrous entities that wandered about in Gabala, but more inviting, cute, one might say. 

[i]"Greetings, little lady - My name is Shahrukh Mizra the Fifth, and this is Mog the Moogle. We've come to ask for your help."[/i]

Auxentia did not return the smile, only staring back at the two, a face full of distrust and uncertainty. She looked over at the man's weapon, a blade unlike any other that she had previously spotted. The creature, a Moogle, it was called, named Mog, flew over to deliver the message to Auxentia. Opening the letter, she pondered over it. 

Auxentia looked back at the two strangers, still bearing her nonplused expression. 

[color=aba000][b]"How did you survive the beasts?"[/b][/color], she spoke, her Greek still heavy with the accent of the Gothic language. A barbaric trait, so the Romans had said to her. Though, perhaps it best takes a "barbarian" to survive barbaric conditions.[b][color=aba000]"Do you know a way out of here?"[/color][/b] 

Assured that all would be explained, Auxentia decided to take the leap of faith and follow these strangers. Anything had to be better than remaining here.