"Come on!"
I watched as Raya-O dragged Fordola along like a ragdoll. The two were on age with each other and their personalities were polar opposites, but somehow they bridged the gap and became friends, though it was somewhat one sided at the moment.
In the end, the woman that Fordola became was a result of unburdened anger. With only her mother left, Fordola's heart became consumed with a righteous fury that couldn't be quenched without fulfilled vengance. It got even worse after she fell under the direct influence of the Empire's higher ranks.
I theorized that if the girl found people that she wanted to protect more than people she wanted to spite, then perhaps she wouldn't end up the way she did. I wanted to pull that girl back from the ledge.
Although I couldn't be sure that my plan would work, it was the best I could think of with my mediocre intellect. I was thankful to have a cheat in the first place, but the gap between me and an ultra smart, hyper potent, AI assisted, stat stealing, novel protagonist was far too large.
"Over here! I see one!"
It was the Hatching-tide in Eorzea. This world's version of Easter. Surprisingly enough, this year was the second anniversary of the event's founding. A Miqo'te, obviously high out of her mind, spoke far and wide about how she had a dream. The Twelve Archons who stopped the Calamity of Water spoke to her and told her to prepare eggs for their return.
And yet, despite the goal being to re-summon the lost Archons, the Dreamers as they call themselves, shipped massive crates of painted eggs to the 3 city-states. The way Kan-E told it, was that they had to create a team to hide the eggs all around Gridania and for each egg you brought back, you'd get a prize ticket.
The short notice drove her crazy, but in the end Kan-E and Y'shtola managed to get things under control. Yda volunteered for the Egg Hiding committee and the consequences of such a thing were immediately obvious.
I glanced up from my window into the thick green canopy above and spotted a few pink and yellow eggs. Painted with delicate ribbons and bold spots. There was obviously no way anyone could get those, right? Well, it was none of my business.
tap-tap-tap
The light impact of boots hitting the hardwood floor of our home echoed in my ears.
My hypersensitive hearing interlinked with the Dark Dream AI system to run polyhexadiagonal matrix calculations in my head, within a fraction of a second, I could deduce the intruder's identity with pinpoint accuracy.
Or rather, she called ahead of time and so, I knew she was arriving soon.
There weren't many reasons to pose wistfully near a window otherwise, right?
"Settled in?"
"M-Mhm..."
I looked over my shoulder to the Elezen woman with icy colored hair. She no longer dressed in her simple village clothes, instead donning an outfit that I was more than familiar with. Azure short robes, a small white skirt and thigh high leather boots.
Her bangs covered her eyes and she continued to twiddle her fingers with anxiety. I was over the moon to finally see her.
Our encounter was unfinished business after all, but now that she was here, I had plenty of time to cherish and build more between us. First I had to dispel that awkward energy that clouded over her head.
Ysayle had settled things with her mother just fine, but her father was horrified that a specter had wandered in at some point and invited his daughter to fly away with him. Of course he not only refused to come along, but things teetered dangerously close to an edge.
Ysayle was a headstrong woman when she got something in her mind. So headstrong that she'd willingly die for her ideals. Well, that was a trait that she got from her father. Naturally, they got along the best when their interactions were spaced out.
I understood the feeling of horror well enough. I was like the Pied Piper. Or Peter Pan? I blow into my magical flute and all those who wander too far from the light of God follow my joyous tune. I promise dreams fulfilled, secrets revealed, and corrupt the hearts of poor women like Ysayle.
kiss
"I'm so happy you're here, Ysayle."
"I-I-I-!"
kiss
"I love you~"
"EEEEK!"
But I wasn't giving her back. Sorry old man! Should've picked a different god!
MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!
I held Ysayle gently, choosing not to dive deep into raunchy behavior right away. We didn't cross the line during my short time in Falcon's Nest, so I still had to take my time. Not that I minded. The more I engaged in it, the more I loved...well, romance.
I never would've thought of myself as such a man, but here I was! Teenage me would've cringed as if his skin was turned inside out and he was told to roll on grass!
I tapped her nose with mine and felt Ysayle's body jump slightly. Even Yda wasn't this sensitive.
"I...I love you too, Winter."
"Ohhh~ So brave!"
"You...!"
Ysayle pinched me lightly after getting over her awkwardness. I wanted her to meet Minfilia soon.
"Come on, let's walk around for a bit~"
"T-Together?!"
"You're not in Ishgard anymore, Ysayle~"
I took her delicate hand into mine and pulled the overly-anxious Iceheart along.
Gridania was a beautiful place for a date, even with the terrible 1.0 layout. The serene canopy, chirping of birds, and dampened wind all contributed to a zen, almost meditative atmosphere. I decided to choose the route that E-Sumi-Yan chose when he first taught me about Dynamis.
The ancient creature was around less and less, and no one was privy to his exact location. Kan-E kept saying that the Elements were becoming more and more active with every passing month. For good reason of course.
'Fire Sky...'
How ominous.
---
'Hear.'
In her mind's eye, a cerulean crystal, as large as a mountain, floated within a glowing space of sparkling dust and trailing stones. A solemn and ancient wind blew across her skin and tussled her hair as she floated there wordlessly. She could feel a resolve that wasn't hers. A stony determination to hold firm, to stand tall, to wait for however long it took.
This vision was not one she received often, but it was the one that scared her the most. Mainly because this vision had something within that could see her. It spoke to her softly.
A woman's voice.
'Feel.'
She used to consider these visions to be a curse. It was only after telling Winter that she started to believe otherwise. She used to run away from this vision. From her voice. Minfilia never saw this curse as a power to be tamed. It was just something that happened to her. Like waking up in the morning with a headache, another stone prospected without any glimmer of ore, or a day spent sickly in bed. This curse was nature. It was a burden. If she knew what it was, and that it wouldn't get her in trouble, she would've sought out a cure earlier.
But Minfilia, probably more than anyone else on Eorzea, understood the value of secrets.
'Think.'
The soft melodic voice spoke into her ears. She couldn't move nor respond. Usually, the dream would end here, she finally would have the ability to wake up, but this time, she wanted to peer deeper. To see more. To understand just what this...Echo could mean.
'I want to help him.'
She thought to herself. She wasn't sure how, but it was her desire to.
"My child, you've finally chosen for yourself?"
"Who...!"
Minfilia's eyes flicked here and there. The glowing space was illuminated only by the crystal mountain in front of her. There was nothing else.
"Here."
A light pulling force moved Minfilia's floating body- towards the crystal mountain.
"You do not recognize me."
The mountain spoke. It's voice was steady and absent of time. A wheel that spun long after the mechanisms had stopped.
"I am Hydaelyn. All made one."
The Mothercrystal.
Twelve above, Minfilia was hearing the voice of the very star itself.
"Do not fear, my child. For I have chosen you."
Chosen? The star called out to her? Minfilia could scarce believe what she was hearing. Millions of souls, billions perhaps, and the star chose hers? Why?
"I beseech thee, my child. Hear my Voice. Feel my will. Think of my words."
The force moved Minfilia to match the mountain, Hydaelyn, in height. Then began her slow orbit, rotating around the Mothercrystal and her many shards.
Minfilia's skin glowed with a warm shine of blue, the azure lights sought to purify her blood and clean her soul.
"A foul Darkness encroaches upon all life. A Darkness that once dwelled within Light as one. However, that Darkness coveted great power. The balance was broken. I was forced to seal it away, for the sake of all."
The story overlapped with Winter's telling of the Calamity of Water. Mages of White and Black. A story of light and dark.
"That Darkness has returned, my child. Free of its fetters and exhausted with fury. I have entrusted you, amongst many others, to carry out my will. To wield my Light, and banish that Darkness back into the shadows from whence it came."
The Echo, it was likely what she meant by light. But it sounded like light and Light were different concepts. Minfilia couldn't quite tell the two apart.
"My child, Ascilia."
A name she hadn't heard for many years. She thought her reaction would be stronger, but it wasn't. That little girl... It didn't even feel like her to be honest.
"Oh how you've suffered."
She had. More than many.
"But I see within you a brilliant gleam."
She had her Light too. One that would not easily go dark.
"I can see its origin. A wellspring that fuels your desires."
She wouldn't let go of it. She doubted that she could, even if she tried.
"Is he well?"
And-Hm?
"I'm sorry...?"
"The man you've named Winter. Is he well?"
The voice was still calm, but...
What is that?
There was an undercurrent hidden within. Minfilia's instincts said as such. It was only now that Minfilia realized that she was truly floating. Floating however the Mothercrystal saw fit. Her body was as difficult to move as her mind was to think.
But Minfilia did not panic.
Why was she...asking about him?
'You must be careful of zealotry.'
A question that didn't fit.
'What do you mean?'
The Mothercrystal didn't know him.
'Well, even the Twelve have their own designs. Their own plans. Each Calamity was a blight they had to suffer, and I suspect that they'd do many things to prevent them from happening again. Zealotry is one of those many tools.'
Winter did not possess the Echo.
'It sounds...'
They had not spoken. They couldn't have.
'Suspect, I know.'
Winter sipped his applemelon cider with a curiously serious look in his eyes.
'But throughout my studies, I just couldn't shake this idea.'
What was that feeling?
'There's a larger game being played. And we're the pieces on the board.'
"...He is well."
Minfilia stated carefully.
Was it...
"...I see."
Longing?
Hatred?
Jealousy?
Guilt?
Tolerance?
Concern?
Disdain?
Some feelings Minfilia had felt before, others that were foreign to her. A mix of many things that stirred within the very tone of the star. She wanted to ask, but she also did not.
Feeling unsure and slightly scared, Minfilia urged herself to awaken.
click
And she did.
Within the same sandstone room that she began her vision in. Minfilia pulled a small hourglass out of her drawer. Not even a minute had passed.
"Whew."
Minfilia leaned back into her chair, putting her fingers against her temples to dispel her headache.
It wasn't the first Echo she had put herself through today, but it was easily the most intense. Controlling this power was not at all easy. It required a state of mind that Minfilia was not used to practicing.
Calm.
Minfilia closed her eyes and made still her breath. Like it or not, she was bound by Hydaelyn. It wouldn't be a simple task to encroach on... Why it... She- asked about Winter.
What did the star, Hydaelyn, want?
---
"You've been summoned, street rat."
"Thank the Twelve! I was starting to think you forgot about me!"
The guard sneered at Thancred while rudely gesturing for him to enter the Royal Promenade. He had been awaiting this for many years now. Raubahn kept his end of the deal, now it was Thancred's burden to bear.
The young Archon strode atop the plush and luxurious red carpets, careful to watch his balance. Royals had many different customs and rules they adhered to, and if you were to break the wrong one recklessly, it would be your head.
Thancred's practiced smile graced his features as the large double doors opened in front of him.
'Show time.'
It was impossible to miss the dark stained hardwood table that was as long as three men laying down. One could sit every Ul'dahn noble at this table and still not knock elbows. At the very end of the table, was a child flanked by her two blades.
Papashan, an older Dunesfolk Lalafell that donned well polished, but noticeably tarnished, Paladin Armor. A light Paladin crown, a ring of small golden swords, sat like a band around his head. His dark gray eyes kept a close notice on Thancred, ready to flash across the room and sever him should he step out of line.
Thancred's intelligence reported that this man acted as a father to the orphaned Sultana. Though he had no place on the Syndicate, and thus could not make any decisions to benefit the Sultana, this sultansworn was steady in his loyalty.
On the other side, was the mad dog. The Bull of Ala Mhigo. Standing at a height even taller than Master Louisoix, his dark brown hair was tied into savagely tight rows of braids. His skin, which was previously as dark as night, cleaned up into a mature dark walnut color. His broad nose matched his broader jaw, giving one a feeling of intimidation, like a stone soldier that had seen too much action. Deep pitted scars that dragged across his face did nothing to soften his image.
The worst of it were those eyes. If his pair of hulking black steel machetes didn't stay at his hip, Thancred swore that those eyes communicated their bloody intent with no tricks nor charade.
He couldn't even tell their color, as the man's brow cast a damned shadow over the sockets.
"I humbly pay my respects to your Majesty, the Desert Rose, Nanamo Ul Namo."
Thancred bowed in the way he was taught.
"You may rise, Archon."
Thancred did not acknowledge the voice that belonged elsewhere. Until the Sultana herself said so, he dared not move from his bow.
"Hohoho, yet another miss, Telendji."
The venom in the other man's voice was potent. It could corrode steel and burn flesh. It must've been Lolorito, Chairman of the East Aldenard Trading Company. It was this man's business that Little Winter was adamant about avoiding.
'Even if we are reduced to shipping wine by Chocobo, we must not conflict with that company! Stay away from those potato-sized bastards!'
"Enough, you two."
Another voice that was not the Sultana's. Her court was run like a sporting event. Even in front of a guest, the Syndicate showed no amount of decorum or care.
"Hmph."
VOOOOOOOMMMMMM-BZZZZZZBBBBZZZZZZZ
A gruff sound clawed its way from the hells and rocked the room. Thancred's muscles twitched and spasmed, his instincts begging him to evade and move, but he stilled his nerves.
That was undoubtedly Raubahn. With one puff of breath, the entire chamber went silent. Thancred could feel cold sweat running down his back. His breath grew labored and shaky. It was not often that the bard was helplessly put into such terrifying situations.
He hated it and desperately wished to return home, but the fate of the realm depended on him. Thancred could not back down after coming this far.
"You may rise, Thancred.... Waters."
Finally, a small voice, responded to him. Thancred recovered from his dreadful state to meet the gaze of Ul'dah's puppet ruler.
Nanamo Ul Namo had just passed her thirteenth summer, but no one could tell. The young girl was only slightly younger than Minfilia and Winter when he first met them. Her pink, Winter colored, hair was tied into elegant twin pig tails that brought an incredible contrast to her dark green eyes. On her head she wore a thin crown embedded with rose colored stones that Thancred couldn't identify.
Her slightly puffed, mushroom shaped dress gave the Sultana a strange or even foreign appearance, but Thancred didn't let his eyes wander.
Normally, she wouldn't be here. Every time Thancred had presented his case previous to this, the Syndicate would run him ragged and send him packing.
But this time was different.
"You've been granted permission to speak, Mister Waters. Pray, share with me your thoughts."
Nanamo's kind and ignorant tone echoed throughout the room. He had to pretend this was his first attempt, else blood would spill in this room as redemption. There was no time for inner conflict. The hells had come knocking upon their door.
Thancred stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, Eorzea now faces incredible danger. A danger far worse than the Garleans."