Well, let's make our way northwest to Troia. Palom starts with an Ice Rod, which can easily dispatch the monsters here. We eventually stumble across the Chocobo Forest and make our way across the river to town. Challengingway's in town, but of course we can't start the Challenge Dungeon yet. We also check out the shops. Palom gets a Crossbow and Holy Arrows, because, well, why not, really.
Let's head for the castle, then.
The Epopts are waiting for us.
Epopt: Thank you for coming to Troia. It must have been a long journey.
Palom: That isn't the half of it.
Epopt: I'm sure you are aware of the reason why we have requested the elder of Mysidia to send you here...
Palom: Epopt training, right? So who'll I be working with? I thought Troia had all eight Epopt positions filled.
Epopt: One of our group has fallen ill, I'm afraid. The Epopts of Troia cannot fully carry out their role unless all eight of us serve as one.
Palom: Huh. So basically, you need anew Epopt and fast.
Epopt: Exactly. I see the talented mage of Mysidia has a very sharp mind indeed.
Palom: So, who will it be?
Epopt: Please enter, Leonora.
Leonora enters. She's certainly got the "blue robes" part of being an Epopt down.
Palom: Yeah, this one is definitely in need of some training.
Awkward silence.
Palom: What? Did I offend you?
Leonora: No...
Epopt: Leonora arrived in Troia about eight years ago. She immediately showed interest in joining the Epopts and has distinguished herself in service ever since. In recognition of her talents, we wanted to nominate her to the vacant position...
Palom: All right, all right. Enough introduction. If she was that talented, then why would she need training in the first place? How can you say you have talent if you can't even become an Epopt without someone drilling things into you?
Epopt: Well, you see...
Palom: Besides... isn't it your job to train this girl?
Leonora: You... you are being rude! The Epopts are busy conducting their daily business! And... and with one of their number fallen ill, there are only seven of them to serve their nation!
Palom: Okay, okay, okay. I didn't need a manifesto. But are you sure I'm the man you want? An Epopt's job is to serve her Crystal, right? Wouldn't you want her to be trained in white magic instead? You've got the wrong person here if you expect me to know any white magic.
Considering it's been a month, they'd probably accept anyone's help by this point. Just saying.
Epopt: What...!?
Palom: He really should've sent Porom to handle this.
Leonora: N-no, it's all right!
Palom: Eh?
Leonora: White magic or black magic... both can provide me with the spiritual training I need!
Epopt: I am sure the elder of Mysidia had a plan of his own in mind when he sent you.
Palom: ...Looks like it.
Epopt: Then, Lord Palom, we hereby request you accompany Leonora to the Tower of Trials.
Palom: The Tower of Trials?
Epopt: It lies south of here. If Leonora can reach its top floor, we will then ordain her as an Epopt.
Leonora: It will be done. I look forward to training with you, Lord Palom.
Ok, well, we're now in control of another party member;
Leonora
Class: Epopt Trainee
Leonora is about the closest to a Sage this game is gonna get. She learns spells from both the White and Black Magic sets, although she learns them pretty slowly and loses out on the best spells. For example, she can't get the second tier Black Magic spells during this tale, as she doesn't get them until the mid 40s and when she gets Curaga, most white mages are already messing around with Curaja. Despite this, she can still be an all right party member. Just don't let her be hit.
Well, let's head for the tower. To get there, we have to go all the way north to the Chocobo Village, though.
This place has a lot less Chocobos than in FFIV. There aren't even any Black Chocobos. Oh well, Yellow Chocobos are all we need right now as we head all the way back south to the tower near where the ship landed.
Leonora: This, er... this is the Tower of Trials.
Palom: What's on the top floor, anyway?
Leonora: The... the Monastic Seal.
Palom: So you grab that, come back, and you're an Epopt?
Leonora: Y-yes.
She approaches the door.
Leonora: O great Earth Crystal, who hath blessed us with the great bounties of the land... For the clear water and lush forests you have bequeathed us, I offer you our thanks... and our prayers.
The door opens. That Crystal must have pretty good hearing.
Palom: Well, glad to see you can recite your prayers, at least.
Leonora: Y-yes... I, uh, are you ready to go, Lord Palom?
Palom: Let's make something clear first.
Leonora: Y-yes?
Palom: Could you knock it off with that "Lord Palom" junk?
Leonora: B-but...
Palom: I'm pretty sure we're the same age.
Leonora: I, er... I'm actually two years older than you.
How does she know that?
Palom: Oh yeah? Good for you, but don't expect me to start calling you "Ms. Leonora" or anything.
Leonora: Th-that's... er, that's perfectly fine with me, Lord Palom.
Palom: Like I said, enough with the "Lord."
Leonora: Y-yes... P-Palom!
Palom: That's better...
Well, let's start the climb... only to be stopped by another cutscene as we walk in.
Palom: Well, here we are.
Leonora: Y-yes?
Palom: Ready to start with your training?
Leonora: Certainly! Please, tell me what I need to do.
Palom: Let's begin with the basics. That would be Fire. You know what Fire is?
Leonora: What is it?
Palom: ...It's a fire attack.
As there's no Facepalm sprite in this game, I'll think I'll do one for him. What's that, five facepalms I've done so far?
Leonora: Er, yes. Of course.
Palom: ...That's it.
Leonora: Wait... wh-what? That's it?
Palom: Come on, Leonora. I though they said you had talent. The first thing you need with magic is the ability to project an image of the magic in question. That's part of the idea behind spell transcription, too. Clear your mind and create an image of pure fire. Then project it onto reality!
Palom then sets a few logs on fire.
Leonora: Wow! That's amazing!
Palom: Now you do it.
A battle starts and Palom brings out a doll.
Palom: Here's what you'll be practicing on. Now, go on!
Leonora: O-okay! F... Fi... Fire... Scorching red flames, burning brightly... The searing fire of a furnace...
Leonora learns Fire?, which we then have to cast on the doll. It's kinda wimpy looking.
Palom: You couldn't set a piece of paper on fire with that.
Leonora: ...Yes, sir. I'll try my best!
Then, for the hell of it, I cast it on Palom instead of the target.
Palom: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch where you're aiming!
Well, that was fun, now to actually finish the fight.
Palom: Okay, that's enough! Okay, not bad. Now let's see how well you do in a real battle.
Leonora: A real battle!?
Palom: Training has no meaning if you can't do it in real life situations, right? Can you maintain your composure and visualize that image with a monster staring you down? That's the key.
Leonora: Maintain your composure... Contain your mainposure...
...
Palom: You've lost it already, haven't you?
Leonora: N-no! I can do it!
Let's continue on. As we progress, a monster appears.
Leonora: !?
Palom: A guardian, huh? Here, you try fighting this one by yourself.
Leonora: B-by myself!?
Palom: Yeah, by yourself. Now, go on!
All Mini Red can do is cast Fire on us. We respond by casting Fire? on him. Leonora learns Libra afterwards, and Fire? is upgraded to the proper Fire spell.
Leonora: I... I did it!
Palom: It's nothing to be that excited about... That's just one of the building blocks you can eventually upgrade into higher-level magic.
Leonora: H-higher-level magic?
Palom: Fira, and then Firaga. The more powerful the spell, the more you'll need to concentrate your energy.
Leonora: I-I'll try!
Palom: Of course, most people give up at this point, but...
We progress a bit to a healing pot, and get healed up while Palom explains that we really don't want to run out of MP. We head to the next floor and continue around to a Save Point and another guardian.
Palom: How convenient. One guardian per floor. You're up.
Leonora: M-me!?
Palom: Well, I'm not the one in training here, am I?
Leonora: N-no, but...
Palom: Good luck, kid.
Three more Mini Reds. Not a big deal. Leonora learns Sight after that, and one of them drops a Silver Armlet that we can put on her.
Leonora: I-I did it, Lord Palom!
Palom: ...
Leonora: I-I mean, Palom!
Palom: That was passable... at best.
Leonora: Black magic is certainly harder to learn than white magic.
Palom: It's not a matter of difficulty. Most people are just better suited towards one or the other. That's why you get called a sage if you've mastered both black and white magic. ...!? Wait a minute! That isn't what you're training to become, is it!?
Leonora: What? Oh... of course not! Never in my wildest dreams!
Palom: ...That's what I thought. Let's continue.
Leonora: ...
Up to 3F.
Palom: How about we tackle Blizzard next?
Leonora: Y-you mean ice magic?
Palom: Right, but don't think about ice. Think about the feeling of cold itself.
Leonora: The cold itself? Mmm... Cold air... Cold... Cold... Cold!
Palom: You get the idea, even if you are scaring me a little.
Palom gets out another doll.
Leonora: Cold... Cold...
We get Blizzard?, which hardly looks dangerous.
Palom: Well, you certainly look cold, anyway.
Leonora: I... I'm doing the best I can!
Another casting of Blizzard? finishes that.
Palom: Okay, that's enough! There. You're starting to get it.
Leonora: I... I think so...!
Palom: But that is one seriously creepy face you're making.'
We continue to 4F, which has another Save Point. Eventually we come across another guardian.
Leonora: Um, you'd like me to handle this one, too, right?
Palom: Of course. Now, just keep that creepy face of yours going.
3 Mini Blues. The only difference is Blizzard instead of Fire. Leonora learns Hold after winning, and her Blizzard? becomes the proper Blizzard.
Leonora: I... I did it!
Palom: Are you seriously trying here?
Leonora: I'm sorry...
Palom: I'm not looking for an apology or anything.
Leonora: I'll try even harder from now on! So... so teach me more, Palom! Please!
Palom: Can I ask you a question?
Leonora: Y-yes, what is it?
Palom: An Epopt shouldn't need to know black magic for her job. So why are you so set on learning this stuff?
Leonora: I, er... want to further my mind and spirit.
Palom: Troia's a peaceful nation. Its Epopts aren't supposed to be fighting battles. But there's something weird going on in this land... you know? This ringing a bell for you at all?
Leonora: ...
Palom: ...
Leonora: ...
Palom: Don't want to talk about it, I see.
Next floor.
Leonora: So... next up is Thunder, right?
Palom: Yeah. Let's get started.
Another puppet comes out.
Leonora: Thunder... Rain clouds... Lightning!
Leonora gets Thunder?, which is certainly a lot less powerful than Thunder.
Palom: I guess this is also a certain type of skill...
Leonora: It's just not one I'm particularly happy to have...
One more Thunder? takes care of that.
Palom: Okay, that's enough! You're certainly getting into the swing of things now.
Leonora: Thank you very much!
Palom: Don't get too confident. This is usually the point where people let their egos sink them.
Leonora: Er, yes, I understand!
Right after that, we find a Healing Staff, which we stick on Leonora right away. The path leads us back down to B4 and then up again. Leonora learns Cura on the way.
6F starts with a chest with a Sage's Miter, which puts Leonora's defences above Palom's. Then another Save Point. Leonora learns Slow just before the Save Point. Another guardian lies at the end.
Palom: You're up again.
Leonora: I won't let my ego get the best of me!
Palom: Don't tell me. Show me.
Leonora: Okay!
I shouldn't have to say what to do against Mini Yellows, right? Leonora's Thunder? becomes the full Thunder afterwards.
Leonora: ...I did it!
Palom: Well, you've now officially mastered the basics of black magic. But don't think that's the end of it. You've only just made it to the starting line.
Leonora: Y-yes, Palom!
Palom: Black magic is all about knowing the properties of things. Their weaknesses and strengths. Which magic works best against what type of target - you need to have that knowledge drilled into you.
Leonora: Y-yes... it's all a matter of training, I suppose.
Palom: That's right, and if you don't have a natural talent for it, you'll have to work that much harder.
Up to 7F then. We'll take this opportunity to learn Palom and Leonora's first Band, A Little Black Magic. Combining Bluff and Leonora's Black Magic command, it casts a random elemental spell on all enemies. But it has a chance of casting one of Leonora's crap spells instead. I got Firaga on the first go, but this Band's usually not worth the MP cost to Palom.
Leonora learns Poison as we grab the chests on this floor, which includes a Sage's Surplice. We give this to Palom, which makes the defences of our two party members equal. We then examine the stone slab in the middle of the floor.
Palom: This looks like the top floor.
Leonora: Y-yes, it is!
Palom: Let's see here... "The Monastic Seal is the very words etched on this plinth..." Now that's really stupid. So simply getting here is good enough?
Hey, better than a boss fight.
Leonora: ...
Palom: If that's all you need to do to be a Troia Epopt, then you have to wonder what kind of...
Leonora: Stop it! Please!
Palom: !?
Leonora: You can say what you want to about me. I don't care! But when it comes to the Epopts... I won't just stand here and let you insult them right in front of my face!
Palom: Leonora...
Leonora: I love how gentle and kind everyone in Troia has been to a stranger like me! Maybe it doesn't seem like much to some magical prodigy like you, but...!
Palom: Ah, sorry... I wasn't trying to make fun of them...
Leonora: ...
Palom: But listen... you're probably a lot better off without any natural talent. If you're a prodigy, then all that happens is you get lazy and quit pushing yourself to improve.
Leonora: Palom...
Palom: I'm just saying, don't let yourself be satisfied with where you are now, okay? Anyway, let's head back. You've got an Epopt post to fill.
Leonora: ...Okay!
Leonora's class gets changed to Epopt after that. And now we have to walk back out because Palom doesn't know Warp yet and Teleport doesn't work here. Oh well, easy enough. Palom then learns Warp on the way out. Sigh... Eh, we might as well grab the experience anyway. Leonora also learns Protect.
Well, that's over. Next time, we return to Troia.
Stats:
Leonora: Lv 18 HP:405 MP:119 Strength:15 Speed:9 Stamina:12 Intellect:13 Spirit:28 Attack:15 (2x54% Accuracy) Defence:18 (1x28% Evasion) Magic Defence:14 (1x19% Evasion)
Palom: Lv 21 HP:556 MP:236 Strength:16 Speed:11 Stamina:12 Intellect:31 Spirit:20 Attack:24 (3x80% Accuracy) Defence:18 (1x27% Evasion) Magic Defence:14 (1x20% Evasion)
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