He would not have told you, Edmont de Fortemps' words replayed endlessly in her mind as she made her way to the airship landing, but when Haurchefant begged me to accept you into our household, he described you as "hope incarnate". The blue mast of the Enterprise came into view, and scattered along the end of the boarding ramp were her allies, friends, comrades. At the time, I assumed he was waxing lyrical, as was his wont. Y'shtola, Alphinaud, and Tataru stood together, chatting animatedly. But I have come to see he simply spoke the truth. Cid was observing Biggs and Wedge as they ran their final pre-flight checks. You are hope—a shining beacon that shall guide the people of Ishgard through the raging snowstorm. Aymeric had his hands folded behind his back, Lucia and Estinien standing quietly on either side. Edmont, his two sons, and an array of family servants and guards were clustered close by.

She looked down at her forearms, at the pieces of Haurchefant's shield she had requested Cid fix onto her clothes. A memento, Edmont had told her when he'd handed her the scarred shield painted with a red unicorn head on a black background, the crest of House Fortemps. Were my son here, he would have wished to fight at your side in the battle to come. Take him there with you, my friend, and come back to us. She had hugged the shield close to her chest, and knew immediately what she would do.

Everyone on the platform turned to look at her as she came down the hill. They spied the pieces of Haurchefant's broken shield fixed onto her jacket—the shoulder guards and vambraces—and nodded with silent approval. I have better if it's armor you need—Cid had said when she asked him to craft it for her. Want, she corrected him. This is what I want. When he started to protest, she said only his name, and he did as she asked.

The group of people was gathered before the Enterprise but they were all staring at her. She looked again at the blue mast then at each of their faces. She had never given the grand pre-mission speeches. That was Minfillia, Alphinaud, Cid—anyone but her. But here they were looking at her, waiting, hoping, believing. It was the Scions the Alliance had looked to, but it was S'liya Lhea that Ishgard put their faith in.

She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply. What speech could she give? I'll end this war once and for all! It had been said before, but the war wasn't over. I'll defeat the Ascians and the Heavens' Ward! But that went without saying. Killing Ishgard's criminals, the ex-righteous, and stopping the Ascians was the mission. I will save Ishgard from the secret powers of Azys Lla. But once the door was open, Azys Lla would be a wealth too vast to prevent plunder. I will…I will…

S'liya opened her eyes. "I cannot make right thousands of years of wrongs, but I can destroy those who would impede Ishgard's progression to peace." Her fingers curled into tight fists. "I cannot bring back our fallen friends…but I can avenge them." She squeezed her fists, nails digging into the leather strips wrapped around her hands. She looked pointedly at Edmont. "And I will."

Edmont bowed his head. "Wheresoever you may go, my son's spirit goes with you. May the Fury grant you strength!"

But the Fury could give her nothing she did not already possess.

S'liya crossed to the airship and the crowd immediately parted for her. Y'shtola, Alphinaud, and Estinien boarded behind her. Cid was the last one on. As the Enterprise swayed from the dock, Aymeric stepped forward.

"Return to us!" he said, voice rising above the whirring of the airship's engine. He then looked at S'liya. Her gray eyes met his icy blue ones. "Return to me."

The Enterprise sped away, racing toward Azys Lla.