Chapter Text
Indri was headed for Valnain. When he had told Helga he was looking to leave the Golmore Jungle, she had urged him to think carefully about his decision. She argued that if he left, he could never return home. Little did she know he already could never return to his home. After it became apparent he could not be swayed, she suggested he make his way to Valnain and that from there he could find his way onto a ship and go anywhere. He had pressed her for information on where he could find the Scions but all she could say was that she had heard they hailed from Eorzea. Whatever this world was, the Viera here were just as reclusive as in his home world and relied on rumors for news of the outside world, if they even heard any.
With her rough sketch of a map in hand, he had made decent progress. He was slower than before, still recovering from his ordeal, but guessed it would only take him a couple more days before he reached his destination. This exploration of his was a sort of medicine in and of itself. He felt better just knowing he was free to roam again, not worrying about dark creatures lurking in every shadow, his only obligation being one he gave to himself.
After nearly a week of travel, he broke through the trees and could see the ocean sparkling before him, stretching on endlessly, a bustling port city nestled against its coast. It was the first time Indri had seen the ocean and he couldn’t help but feel excited. It was as if endless possibilities waited on that equally endless horizon.
He made his way through the town, becoming constantly distracted by the street vendors and shops. Everything was so lively! There were people everywhere talking, shouting prices, advertising their wares. And the colors! He was certain he’d never seen so many colors in one place! Clothing, fruit, and even the stall canopies were brilliant! It was so different from his life in the forest, even before the darkness.
Eventually he found the harbor, bustling with activity from fishing crews and merchant ships alike. He asked around for anyone headed to Eorzea, but when he told them he had no money to pay for passage they waved him off in annoyance.
He became increasingly discouraged as the days dragged on and thought about giving up altogether until he could earn enough money to buy passage. That would take a while, but it was starting to look like the only option.
Indri had already run out of the supplies Helga had packed for him and what he had gathered in the forest. Luckily, his Warder training of moving silently had paid off even in town and he had managed to steal what food he needed. Sleeping on the streets or in whatever empty place he could find was getting old though. His body ached from the hard surfaces and the lack of good sleep was making him cranky.
Indri was in a sour mood, patrolling the docks when suddenly someone shoved a large crate into his arms and pushed him toward a ship. “Ah! Um, I’m not-“ but he cut himself off realizing no one was listening. Instead he just followed the other crew members, carrying his crate toward the ship. If no one noticed, perhaps he could even stow away.
Unfortunately, his new plan would not see fruition. Just as he was about to step onto the gangplank, someone stopped him, yanking him aside. “Oi! An’ where do you think yer goin’, boy?!” A large, gruff man practically yelled in his face.
“I dunno, someone just handed this to me,” he replied automatically, changing instantly to feign innocence. “Oh! But I was hoping to find a ship to Eorzea.”
“That’s an expensive trip, that is...How much you willing to pay?” The man narrowed his eyes at him, taking in his scrawny and malnourished form.
“Um, I don't have any money…” Indri said sheepishly. “But I’m strong and a quick learner and willing to work for passage!” He urged desperately as the man started to turn around. His cover was blown, but perhaps he could convince the man to help a poor boy out.
“Bah! All me lads ‘re strong!” Then, narrowing his eyes further at the Viera ‘boy’ in front of him, still holding the crate as if it was nothing. He certainly didn’t look particularly strong, but as an experienced captain he knew looks could be deceiving. “You’ve never been on a ship before, have you?” the man grunted. After a few minutes of consideration, the man finally relented. “Lucky for you one of my lads was injured in a bar fight. I am shorthand...how’s your cooking?”
“Decent enough! I’ve had to cook for myself most of my life,” Indri urged, still maintaining his innocent act. “Please, I’m desperate.”
After a few moments more the man replied. “We stop in Gridania. If that’s fine by you, welcome aboard. You get no pay and you work the whole way. Follow the lads and they'll show you where to put that.” He then walked away shaking his head before pausing and turning back to growl, “Make yourself a nuisance an’ I’ll throw you overboard myself.”
“Thanks!” Indri called after him, pleased with his own con. He didn’t know where Gridania was, but as long as it was in Eorzea, it was fine by him. It seemed the fates were still on his side. He didn’t have long to think before he became swept up in the bustle of preparing the ship. Loading crates, checking sails and ropes, and all manner of duties needed to be done.
He fell in step and no one even batted an eye at the new recruit. He had had to learn quickly to survive his Warder training, so he put that skill to use learning the ways of the ship and managed to fit in okay pretty quickly. At least, he learned quick enough not to be too much of a burden or annoyance to the rest of the crew.
Indri had been tremendously excited for his first sea voyage, but that excitement quickly dimmed to despair. The first day was fairly busy as they got underway and adjusted to the open ocean. Once they were out of sight of land, though, the activity on the ship died down. With this newfound free time, Indri discovered seasickness.
The next three days passed in agony. Waves of nausea coming and going constantly. Preparing the ship’s food while nauseous only made the situation worse. Even the hammock he slept in mimicked the movement of the waves. There was no escape. The more experienced sailors took more notice of him now. Some teased him, others pitied him in silence, and some tried to give him advice or words of encouragement. He didn’t have the energy to respond to any of them and just groaned pathetically. Ultimately, he got used to the rocking and gradually began to recover, slowly managing to eat and keep down his rations.
Once he gained his sea legs, the voyage was just as exciting as he had hoped. He still had work to do, but he found he actually enjoyed it. Sometimes while taking a break above deck, he would see creatures chasing the ship and jumping out of the water; they looked to him like they were playing. He also loved the feeling of the sea salt breeze in his hair and the ocean spray on his face. His skin began to get its color back under the strong sun and his mood lifted. Rations were strict, but even so, he had begun to put on weight and started to fill back out. He had always enjoyed his solitude, but being part of a crew didn’t seem so bad.
The crew had accepted him as a junior member now, though he was occasionally submitted to the teasings they felt necessary to give a new crew mate. Indri knew it was all in good fun and his sharp tongue earned him a certain level of respect. During the day they often broke into sea shanties as they worked, and their nights were spent playing cards or telling fantastical tales, many of which surrounded the Warrior of Light’s exploits. He listened in rapture to tales of the great sea serpent Leviathan and the once treacherous Sirensong Sea, among others. The more he listened, the more he felt unsure if this larger-than-life hero would even care to meet him, much less listen to him.
“Have any of you met him?” Indri interjected, genuinely curious one night.
“Met ‘im?! Like someone like that’d have time for a buncha sorry louts like us!”
“I never met him, but I saw Cid Garlond once!”
“No way!” shouted someone.
“Yer lyin’!” shouted another at the same time.
“I ain’t! I worked a caravan a while back, an’ our route took us to Mor Dhona! I thought I might see the Warrior of Light but no luck. I saw Master Garland outside ‘is workshop though!”
“I heard ‘e made some sorta giant magitek for the Warrior recently!”
The group burst into laughter and shouting about who was telling the truth and who wasn’t but Indri had already tuned out.
Mor Dhona, huh? Guess that’s where I’m headed next. But if he’s not there...Well maybe someone will be able to help me find him...he thought to himself. He had to admit, he was rather surprised at how easy the Warrior’s base seemed to be to find.
After about a month on the ocean, the ship finally docked in a small port near the city of Gridania. Indri helped unload the goods they had been transporting as the final part of his contract. However, after so long on board and growing accustomed to the ground constantly moving beneath him, he was the target of much laughter from the crew as he learned to walk on solid ground again. Having finished his work and said his “thanks” and “goodbyes”, he prepared himself for the next leg of his journey.