Tempering.
There has been an annoying voice in my head since we were taken in front of the primal Ifrit. A voice who told me that I should turn against the Miqo'te adventurer who had taken lead of our group when we were kidnapped by the Amal'jaa and were going to be used as sacrifice. It said that if we were to get rid of him, everything would become better, that we would be able to get home to our families, that it was because of that Adventurer that we were kidnapped in the first place but I know that it is not the truth, if it had not been for him, we would probably have been decimated the moment we were brought before Lord Ifrit.
I think the others in the group are hearing the same voice. I saw how the gladiator in the group had almost struck at the Adventurer, but yet, I could not find it in myself to speak up and warn him of the danger. I… I am unsure of why I was unable to warn him, I think might have been because of the voice in my head whispered that it would be a bad idea to do that. The gladiator in question seems baffled by his actions as well. That Adventurer is the reason we yet live but deep inside I find myself loathing him for some reason, I almost want to sheathe my lance in his body but I know I cannot, if I do then we are all dead.
Lord Ifrit has been felled, I should rejoice, I will now be able to return to my wife and kids but for some reason I feel so empty… No I feel disgusted with myself, the fact that I have helped this bastard Adventurer to slay our Lord. The voice did not dissipate when he was felled, but it is not annoying as it was at first, now its soothing, I can find comfort in the fact that my Lord will always be watching over me so we needn't fear the aggression of others. I know the others feel the same, we know that we can summon Lord Ifrit again, we must just bide our time, we are still feeling far too drained after our fight.
The Adventurer made rounds to see how we were holding up and I was close to assaulting him. In fact, if the Immortal Flames had not arrived at that moment I might just as well have. There is also a man with white hair there who calls himself Thancred, he seems to be an acquaintance of the bastard Adventurer who felled Lord Ifrit. Perhaps he can be turned against him, all we would have to do is to bring him before our Lord. I… I must bring my family here, they would no doubt serve our Lord well and they would be overjoyed to get the chance to do so. And my friends from the Brass Blades would be delighted to be able to serve my Lord, the fact that the Amalj'aa are our allies might scare them off at first but in the end they will see the wisdom in it.
The Adventurer is gone, along with his white haired friend, and for some reason they have huddled the rest of us together, bound by our hands. I can see the Immortal Flames captain walk towards, Oh it is a man I used to serve under, before he joined the Flames, he would make an excellent servant to our Lord if given the chance. He is currently standing in front of me with his sword unsheathed, probably to cut these ropes that bind us-…. Wait, why can I not hear the voice anymore? Everything around me is silent, the others seem confused as well, why has Lord Ifrits voice been silenced? And, my old Captain is raising his sword, and he looks so sad for some reason.
I cannot help but wonder, has Lord Ifrit forsaken us?
-Fin