OCtober Day 4: Nagendra Ssserpentum

 I’d not seen many of them around here, the Au Ra that is. 

At one point, my travels had taken me to this fantastical realm known as Eorzea. I took a brief tour through the land, fawning over the fauna of the great and varied ecosystems. Though the port towns and the deserts caught my eye, eventually I settled down in the forest city of Gridania. I didn’t have to worry about standing out too much here. They mistook me for one of their Elezen, because of my ears. 

He, however, did not seem to care about said worries. The reptilian man dropped in some time after I’d acquired a job at the local tavern. A few like him had passed through before. The Au Ra were generally quite tall it seemed. Though, this one towered head and shoulders above the rest. From across the room, I observed him talking to the tavern’s owner. His muscular frame almost burst from within his purple robes, to which a magic staff was attached the back. Curious, I thought. Such a warrior like man, travelling down the path of the thaumaturge. I didn’t manage to get much more of a glimpse, as he was gone in a flash as soon as their exchange was done. Off to hunt more quests, like an adventurer does. 

As expected, he returned some hours later to claim his reward. To my surprise though, instead of teleporting away, he approached me. I was simply wiping down a table at the time. Though, he seemed to wait patiently until I was done. When I put down the cloth and stood up, I found myself almost eye level with him. Almost, in that the reptile man had a few inches on me, though I did my best to suck up my jealousy. It was then I got a good look at his face. Rough, with a light tan, the chin, nose and neck glistening with thick, white-gold scales. Two cattle like horns of the same colour jutted from the sides of his head. Dark green hair, flecked with wine purple, hung neatly past his chin. Angular makeup around the eyes made the man look as though he was perpetually angry. Though, the cocky smirk and hand on his hip said otherwise. I’m sure he came to me for something, so I politely enquired.

“Good morrow sir, is there something I can help with?”

He nodded, slowly. A little awkward.

“Might I catch your name?”

“Nagendra Ssserpentum...call me Nag” he replied, in a deep, smooth voice. He put a slight, cheeky emphasis on the ‘s’. “Do you, perchance, need any help?”

Ah, as expected; seeking a quest. I racked my brain for a moment. Tis an exciting opportunity to be a quest giver. In this realm I’m seemingly overlooked most of the time. I’m just another one of the barmaids or barmen. Occasionally, I may be asked to fetch an ingredient they need for some noble banquet, or so on. This, however, has been the first time I was asked directly here. 

Looking around, I remembered that my shift was due to end. The sky outside was growing dark. The lingering drunkards were being shooed from their spots. Nag, however, did not move. He seemed determined on an answer. 

Maybe something simple will do…

“Could you...take me on a walk?”

He raises an eyebrow at my request. I continue.

“I’ve been wanting to explore the forest, though without an adventurer by my side, I’d be surely dead. If you escort me for a walk, and a conversation, then I’ll reward you with something special. Sound ideal?”

Of course, I lied about the ‘surely dead’ part. But, to get what I desire I must act the part. He shrugs and nods in agreement.

“Sounds easy, I’ll do it” he replies coolly. 

Swiftly, I remove my apron and stuff it behind the bar, before joining him at the door.

“Shall we?”

The walk itself to the city borders is quiet in and of itself. We both revel in the tranquility of the evening. Once we cross into the wild, Nag readies his staff. Neither of our eyes are especially stunted by the dim light, though the floating, glowing spores are quite welcome.

We start on a path that I’m aware leads to a nearby town. The atmosphere for a moment is nice. His boots crunch on the rocks and dirt, wind whistles through the leaves, and the non hostile creatures purr as they feast on the foliage. Things are fairly peaceful, though no words were yet to be exchanged. I was promised a conversation with my walk, after all.

“So, Mr Ssserpentum”

“Call me Nag”

“Nag...tell me something about yourself. I don’t get to meet many Au Ra. What brings you to Gridania? And most curiously, what led you to seek the path of thaumaturgy?”

I gesture to his muscular frame as I speak. That smirk twists into a scowl.

“I do not like your definition of conversation…” he mutters. 

In the quiet, I’m able to register something about his voice that I didn’t before. The way he speaks, it’s almost as though he’s masking an accent. A posh one at that.

“You just fascinate me goo-”

My words abruptly stop, as I find myself stumbling into a swamp. Ah, clumsy me, I had gotten so wrapped up in things.

“I suppose I should look where I’m going” I joke.

He does not reply. As I turn to look around, I’m suddenly slapped with a thumping pain in my side, and sent skimming across the water. Dizzy, I sit up, and try to find my assailant. 

Oh dear.

A quite humongous tentacled beast is writhing about. Malboros, I believe they’re called. Instinct urges me to run. However, Nag calls out.

“Don’t move!” 

The tentacled beast pauses in its slithering, frozen in place upon the water. Then, in a flash, the dreary swamp comes alight with a ring of magic fire. The Malboro screeches, dissipating into ashes within mere seconds. Behind it, Nag stands, the staff in his hand coming down from its glow. He rushes over. No words are exchanged for a moment, ensuring that I drink the health potion he offers first. We get up in silence, quickly leaving the area.

As we’re on the final stretch, my reptilian friend is the first one to speak this time.

“I don’t...like talking about the past” he begins. “I will say...coming from nobility...it’s not the life that was ideal for me”

We approach the gates. He looks forward, eyes narrowed at the villagers retreating their homes, smiles on their faces. We stop for a second by the chocobo pen, where the keeper kindly lets us pet one. Glancing up, I see that smirk returning to Nag’s face. I ask no more questions, sliding him a bag of something shiny, and sauntering off to find the inn.