p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; } Character Name: Astraxus Strombringer
World Name: Zodiark
Prize Choice: Chocobo Noble Barding


“I...I can't stop the bleeding...”.


“For the love Nophica, you're a damned White Mage, do something!”


A cold wind drifted in from the East, gently swaying the bundles of Flax that stood guard around the party. Darkness began to fall over the Shroud in swathes not too disimilar to waves that broke against Moraby Docks. An eerie silence filled the void in where the Au' Ra and Highlander gathered around their wounded comrade, a silence so loud it was almost deafening.


Carnelian blood soaked deeply into the ground. Black patches grew all too quickly, echoing the life draining from the Lalafellian Black Mage. Utter hopelessness.


“I'm sorry Henzik, I am not strong enough to mend him...I do not know what to do. When I was a Scholar...I...I could have done something...but now I'm only White Mage of thirty-eight; if only we had more time!” the purple haired Au Ra exclaimed.


“We don't, that bastard Lady Bug made that much clear!” Henzik angrily retorted.


The Lalafel lay sprawled across a dirt road, staring longingly into the abyss. The chest rises. A moment passes; the chest falls. Once more, the chest rises. The last breath of Milgin Catter the Black, rang out in a melancholy chorus. The chest fell, never to rise again. Eyes glazed over, softly retreating to the lower corner of his eyelids. His friends looked on, praying to whatever God that might be listening to make their friend breathe one more breath. Alas, it would not be this day.


The stillness washed over two living souls, enveloping the sadness with a jarring calm. Disbelief ravaged Astraxus's face, a White Mage of now no consequence. Holding back tears, Astraxus sat in catatonic state of shame. Henzik, a Warrior of some renown, felt no shame in screaming obscenities to those who would listen at the loss of his dear friend Milgin.


Some time had passed, mayhap no longer than ten minutes, when the cold wind ceased to stir. It felt as if all life energy had absconded from their location, a brittle reality being all that is left. A solemn, single voice whispered in the dark:


“Astraxus...you...you….”


The Au Ra whipped his head around to the left, his eyes greeted by a terrible vision of Milgin, pale and without doubt, an apparition not of this Star. The Lalafel's injuries still visible although they did not flow with the crimson water.


“Milgin! I failed you! Please forgive me...” begged Astraxus.


“You...you...” echoed the phantom.


“What is it old friend?! You must tell me!”


“You...you...you had god damn Esuna at 18, dumb ass!”


“...oh.”