Two days later, I left the hospital able walking on my own two feet again. I was flanked by Cindy and Cid. I wore new clothes that Cindy had picked out for me, a soft black t-shirt and sturdy little cargo pants like Cids. The clothes actually fit my small frame, which drove home again how young I truly was.
Despite all my inner turmoil, I couldn't deny the simple delight of being clean, fed, and dressed in fresh clothes.
My short black hair needed to be cut, "Don't worry about your hair kid, I'll get you trimmed up later. Cid said. I only nodded I was just happy I was no longer covered with dirt and starving.
I was still surprised from what I saw earlier. I saw a caramel-skinned brown skin face boy, stared back at me from the hospital bathroom mirror that morning. My cheeks were still a bit sunken, but a healthy color was returning to them, and my eyes a striking golden-amber, They had a spark of hope in them again.
Was this the new me? I don't know how old I am either. From the way I look, I could be 4 to 6 years old. I should say five to be safe. When we approached Cid's car I was amazed. It was like a I was looking a big pick up truck. The truck was a nice black, that shined in the sun. I was never a car guy in my previous life, but this car is big and beautiful.
"Wanna ride in the back or sit in the front" Cindy asked.
"Oh no you don't little lady, you know we can do that in the city. Plus the boy just got out the hospital, you both will sit in the front today." Cid said sternly.
"Yes daddy" Cindy said sounding a little disappointed.
Cindy chattered happily as we made our way out of the city. To my surprised There, an honest-to-gods airship flying over us. It was a small personal craft, emblazoned with the logo "Highwind Industries" on the side. Sleek and silver, it looked like a cross between a helicopter and a fantasy ship rotor blades combined with a streamlined hull. My mouth dropped open at the sight.
"You like it?" Cindy grinned, seeing my amazement. "Papa built this one himself. we have our own airship to, but we prefer to drive unless we need to get somewhere in a hurry."
Cid snorted. "It's a skimmer, not a full-fledged airship. But it does the job. The locals and tourist use them for dates and city viewings mostly. There are more sleeker advanced models. For important clientele, the royal family, or visiting officials. They use them every now and again, but they prefer to go by car most of the time."
I pressed my face to the window, marveling at the view as we left the city walls. The Crown City of Insomnia spread out In the distance, I saw the massive Crystal within the Citadel, its light a beacon of blue radiance. Beyond the walls, the landscape turned quickly to dense forest and rolling hills.
"We live just outside the city proper," Cindy explained, leaning over my shoulder to point. "See that lake over there in the distance, with the clearing by the west shore? That's home."
The estate came into view as the. It was a sprawling property nestled amidst towering pines and oaks. A large but simple house of white stone and timber stood at the center. Its roof had panels on it, and they were gleaming in the sunlight.
Several smaller buildings were scattered around, a workshop with a metal hangar roof, a shed, and what looked like a chocobo stable (though I didn't see any chocobos at the moment). A modest vegetable garden was enclosed behind the main house. The entire estate was bordered by a stonewall on one side and by the natural barrier of the lake and a rocky ridge on the others.
It was grand but also had a rustic, a welcoming charm, less a billionaire's mansion, more a family home expanded over generations. There was a a sign that said Workshop as drove past the forest road.
"It's big I know" Cid said. "This land has been in our family for generations. Over time we just expanded the home
We parked the truck on the side of the house, by the wide yard not far from the front porch. As soon as got ready to get out, a small figure scurried out of the workshop toward us. To my astonishment, it was another Moogle, wearing tiny coveralls and goggles that mirrored Cindy's style. "Boss! Welcome back, kupo!" the Moogle chirped, waving a wrench almost as big as its furry arm.
Cid hopped out and gave the Moogle a cordial nod. "Hey Moghan. Everything quiet while I was gone?"
"Yessir, kupo! I kept an eye on things." The Moogle, Moghan, turned curious round eyes toward me and Cindy as we disembarked. "And who's this? Did you bring us a visitor, kupo?"
Cindy beamed and grabbed my hand. "This is Jasen. He's... gonna be staying with us for a while."
Moghan fluttered his little bat-like wings in excitement, floating up to my eye level. I found myself nose-to-nose with the pint-sized creature, taking an involuntary step back in surprise.
Up close, he had fluffy white fur, big caramel-colored eyes, and a bright red pom-pom bobbing above his head. "Hello, kupo!" he squeaked, not seeming to mind my surprise. "I'm Moghan. I help Master Cid around the workshop. If you need any tools or a gadget fixed, I'm your moogle!"
"Uh...hi," I managed, a smile tugging at my mouth. Of all the things I expected upon arriving here, a moogle mechanic greeting us was not one of them. I'm still not use to some of these Final Fantasy game characters and creatures. Then again, in many ways I was excited, and this little guy is adorable.
"Jasen's had a rough go," Cid told Moghan gruffly. "We're takin' him in. So make sure he feels at home, got it?"
"Yes, Boss!" Moghan saluted with the wrench and then gave me an enthusiastic nod. "I'll get a room set up, kupo. Fresh sheets and a plush kupo pillow for you!" With that, he zoomed off toward the house, surprisingly fast on his tiny wings.
I stood there for a moment, overwhelmed anew. The kindness of these people, humans and moogles alike, was something I never experienced before in my old life. It was so refreshing.
Cindy then led me by my hand. "C'mon, let's go inside. You've gotta see the house!"
She led me up a cobblestone path to the front door. We passed under the shade of a great oak tree where a wooden swing hung, swaying gently in the breeze. I noticed a few metal cylinders mounted along the fence perimeter that hummed faintly as we walked by. They were people working around the workshop, waving a Cindy. They were saying "hello little miss", as we passed by.
"Those are the tribe people. Daddy said some are our didn't relatives, and others are family friends. They work with daddy building things, and maintaining the land. But that's another tribes job mostly."
I looked and saw so many people around different ages and colors2. A lot of them were tinkering with machines parts, and weapons. While others were working on what looked like cars.
"What is your tribe called?" I asked.
"The Al Bhed's."
No way the Al Bheds? If I remember correctly in the games of Final Fantasy 10, part one and two. They are a tribe of technologists, but why are they working on Cid's land? Shouldn't they have their own city or something?
More questions for later, I guess.
The stone wall radiated a subtle blue light. Some kind of defensive field projectors, perhaps? It would make sense, living outside the city's barrier, monsters could roam these woods.
Inside, the large house was cozy despite its size. The foyer opened into a high-ceilinged hall with wooden beams and polished floors covered by woven rugs. The furnishings were a mix of modern and rustic: a crystal-powered light fixture hung overhead, but an old-fashioned grandfather clock ticked softly in the corner.
Family pictures adorned the walls, one showed Cindy perched on Cid's shoulder or proudly holding up some mechanical contraption. In one she was a toddler, grinning widely as she sat in the pilot seat of what looked like a half-built airship with a woman beside her. Probably her mom, I looked around and saw more pictures with Cindy, and the woman then her and Cid.
The mother probably died. They had been a family of two, and now they were opening that circle to include me. The weight of gratitude and responsibility I felt was immense.
"Here's your room!" Cindy announced, pulling me down a hallway to a modest bedroom painted in warm olive green colors. True to his word, Moghan had already flown ahead and was zipping about, tucking in fresh sheets on a simple wooden bed frame. The room was not large, but it had a window overlooking the lake, and the late afternoon sun cast golden rectangles on the floor. A small dresser, a wardrobe, and a desk completed the furniture. It was more than enough.
"I know it's kinda plain," Cindy said, almost shyly. "We can decorate it however you like later. Maybe with some posters of whatever you're into!"
I found my voice, though it came out unsteady. "It's...it's wonderful. Thank you." I stepped into the room and traced my fingers over the smooth desktop, the polished wood cool under my touch. In the window's reflection, I saw Cindy watching me with a hopeful expression, and behind her, Cid stood with arms crossed as usual, his face unreadable. I wondered if he worried I wouldn't like it, or if he was still weighing what to make of me.
Moghan finished with the bed and fluttered over. "All done, kupo! Fresh and comfy. If you need anything else, just holler." He gave a little bow midair and then excused himself, muttering something about eating some stew in the kitchen.
"Are you hungry?" Cindy asked me.
My stomach answered with a low growl before I could. We all laughed—a sound I realized hadn't passed my lips in a long time.
"I'll take that as a yes," Cid chuckled. "Dinner's about ready anyway. Let's get some food in you, kid."
We gathered in the kitchen, which was delightfully homey. A cast-iron stove in one corner emanated savory smells. Moghan stood on a stool stirring a pot as big as he was, while humming a tune. When we entered, he hopped down. "Moogle stew specialty, coming up!"
He served us bowls of a hearty stew filled with chunks of vegetables and tender meat (of what animal I wasn't sure, but it tasted a bit like beef). There was fresh-baked bread on the side, and a pitcher of cold spring water. Compared to the scraps of garbage I'd been surviving on, this was a feast.
We sat at a round wooden table—Cid at the head, me and Cindy on either side of him. At first I ate slowly, determined to mind my manners, but the delicious food and my still-recovering body soon overtook decorum. Before I knew it I had cleaned my bowl and was sopping up the last dribbles of gravy with my bread.
Cindy giggled. "Good, huh? Moghan's cooking is the best!"
I blushed, realizing how ravenous I must have looked. "It's amazing," I agreed bashfully.
Cid's stern face softened into something like a smile as he watched us. "There's plenty. Have more if you want." He ladled a second helping into my bowl without waiting for an answer.
My eyes stung again with that all-too-familiar threat of tears, but this time they were born of gratitude. I blinked them away and mumbled another thank you.
After dinner, exhaustion hit me hard. I tried to stifle a yawn, but Cindy saw it. "Bedtime for you, young man," she declared playfully. "Doctor's orders were for rest."
I wanted to protest that I wasn't a baby, that I could stay up, but honestly, I was dead tired. So I just nodded. Cid walked me to my new room while Cindy helped Moghan tidy up. The big man was silent as we went, his heavy boots thudding softly on the floorboards behind me. When we reached my door, I turned to him and summoned my courage. "Mr. Highwind..."
He raised a hand. "Cid's fine."
"Cid... I-I can't thank you enough for all this." I gestured to the room, the house, everything. "You saved my life. You're giving me a home. I... I'll do my best not to be any trouble. I promise."
Cid looked down at me, and to my surprise he placed a callused hand gently on my shoulder. "Listen, kid. You've had it rough. No child should go through what you did. Just focus on getting better. Nobody's expecting anything of you right now, got it? You're not 'trouble.'"
Something in his tone, in those straightforward words, cracked the last bit of my shell. Before I knew it, I had thrown my arms around Cid's waist, burying my face against his torso as a sob welled up. He tensed in surprise, affection from me was clearly not expected, but after a second I felt his large hand pat my back a tad awkwardly.
"There, there," he muttered.
"I'm sorry," I gulped between quiet sobs. "I just... I miss..." I almost said I miss my real family, but stopped myself. "I miss whoever I had... even if I can't remember them." It wasn't a lie exactly; I did miss my old life desperately.
Cid sighed, kneeling down so he could look me in the eyes. His own eyes were softer than I'd seen yet. "I know, kid. We'll do everything we can to help you remember. And until then... you're safe here. You're part of our crew now, okay?"
I nodded, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "Okay."
He rose to his feet with a grunt. "Alright. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, if you're feeling up to it, you can come see the workshop. Cindy's dying to show off our latest project."
Despite my lingering tears, I felt a flutter of excitement. "I'd like that."
Cid gave me a final pat on the shoulder, then headed off down the hall. At the doorway, he paused and added gruffly, "And Jasen...welcome home."
Long after he left, I stood in my room gazing at the moonlit lake outside and replaying those words in my mind. Welcome home. A simple phrase, but it filled me with a warmth I thought I'd lost forever.
For the first time since I awoke in this strange world, I felt like I belonged somewhere.