Two men walked through the forest. One, a short stocky man. He wore thick leather armor and black pants. He had long black hair and a dark complexion, holding his katana and shield in front of him, as he cast his eyes around him suspiciously while he walked. The other, by contrast, was a tall thin albino, wearing a white robe with red triangular markings, matching his light red hair. He walked with an aura of calm, humming a short tune as he carried his quarterstaff. Yet these two men of difference walked with one unifying purpose.

They stopped. A mound of blue ooze was blocking their path, pulsating with energy as it shifted from side to side on its own. This was a Flan.

It was facing away from them, too.

Both men sweatdropped briefly. The taller man bowed to the other, making a sweeping gesture towards the flan. The shorter man shrugged, then walked up to the still unsuspecting flan, and cut it in half with one smooth downward motion. He looked back towards the taller man, who was peering intently at a low tree branch. The taller man took his quarterstaff and swung it at the birdlike creature sleeping atop it. The simurgh fell to the ground, dead from the blow. The tall man smiled at the other.

The shorter man spoke first, "Nash, you're still pretty good, after all these years."

The man called Nash continued to smile as he spoke, "And you're still better than me, Nicholas."

Nick shrugged, "This is just small stuff, though, wait until we hit the big ones."

Nash gave him a look, "Big ones? How big?"

Nick repeated the gesture, "Oh, I'd say about... THAT big."

Nash turned around and looked up. He turned towards Nick again, quite pale, but still smiling, "Uh, you wanna handle this? I'll just be, uh, in those bushes, hiding. Oh, and providing cover." He dove towards the nearest bush, leaving a sweatdropping Nick on the road to face the large green mass of tentacles with teeth and very bad breath. A vinelike tentacle near the top of the mass opened up and spewed some purple substance at Nick.

"... Physical might! Protect!" A wall of transparent light rose to intercept the substance, which sank to the ground, almost dejected. Nick cast a sideways glance at Nash, who flashed a V for Victory back. Nick turned his attention back to the Marbolo, who was proceeding to spew some black fog at him. Nick was first taken aback by the foul odor, the world began to become black...

"... Heal the ill! Esuna!" Nick got back on his feet, the foul effects of the Malboro's bad breath gone. He charged with regained strength, slashing at the monster several times before the malboro ripped a wound in his arm with its teeth, the shield of light having prevented the monster from taking the whole arm.

"... Wounds close! Cure!" The wound closed itself almost as soon as it was ripped open. Nick thrust his sword deep into the monster's skin, and it was dead. Nick sheathed his sword as Nash rose from the bushes. Nick raised an eyebrow. Nash just smiled.

Back in Archaria city, the two had entered a local bar and were discussing the day's spoils.

"Hey, thanks for helping me with the day's work." Nick said.

"It was nothing. I wanted to field test my spells, and I didn't have any classes today, so it was just opportunity knocking."

"Helps us both out. Here." Nick handed a few coins to Nash, who looked at them and whistled in appreciation.

"This is enough to last me for a couple months! Thanks!" Nash quickly pocketed the money.

"It's only a small portion of what I earned today. You earned it. By the way, what are you doing nowadays anyway?"

"Uh, research, actually. Today confirmed a few things. I might be onto something big."

"Really?"

Nash grinned, "Yeah, I think I'm on the verge of a new spell. I've talked with the professors, but they don't have a clue."

"Well, this IS relatively new stuff to the world." Nick motioned to the orb in Nash's staff.

"Yeah. It'll be cool. A new spell, after just a few years of studying it!"

"True, but the protective magics isn't nearly as popular amongst the mages. Most like blowing things up and the such."

Nash just shrugged, "Maybe that's why spells like Firaga were discovered almost a decade ago, except for Curaga, which was only discovered a few months ago."

Nick nodded, "The black mages have grown in numbers ever since the monsters appeared, probably to combat them. The white mages, on the other hand, aren't that popular since the cities are encased in a thick fiberglass dome, meaning monster attacks withen the town are nil, and since healing potions can do the same job a good cure spell can, without years of studying..."

"Then research of white magic is virtually nonexistent." Nash finished. "Meaning, even if I do discover a new spell, no one will care."

"I'll care."

"I mean my funding. None of the big names in white magic have ever gotten much money for discovering new spells."

"You'll get some money for it."

"But it won't make me a gillionaire."

Nick raised an eyebrow, "That's your goal?"

"No, but it'd be nice..."

Nick sweatdropped, and got up from the table.

Nash briefly frowned, "You going already?"

"Yeah, I'm heading over to Lauciat to hunt some different game. Broaden my horizon and all that."

"Cool." Nash got up from the table as well. "Then I'll be seeing you."

"Yeah. If you ever get a chance, stop and visit, okay?"

"If you're still there when I get there, even if I get there."

Nick laughed, "You're right. I'll write, then."

And with that, Nick left for Lauciat. Nash left for the library.