Black Mage No. 288 is a non-playable character from Final Fantasy IX. He is a particularly perceptive resident of the Black Mage Village, to whom the other mages turn for guidance. When the party first arrives at the village, he can be found at the graveyard. At night, Vivi wanders out of the inn and meets Black Mage No.288 and questions him about the Black Mages who have 'stopped moving'. He explains the actuality of 'death' to Vivi, which leaves the younger Black Mage confused. When the party returns to the Village later on, Black Mage No.288 is the only one that stayed behind in addition to the two Mages caring for the Chocobo egg. At first, he will not tell Vivi where the other mages have gone, but later reveals that they have joined Kuja at the Desert Palace.
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