Bringer of Nightfall

by RoseDragonWitch

Now hailed as a hero throughout the Source, what next awaits the Warrior of Light, soon to become a Warrior of Darkness? The time has come to move on only now we are heading to not a different country, but rather an entirely new world! The path to the First is open to us and a new battle awaits… the most epic one yet… discovering the truth of what lies at the heart of the Star...

23. Full Steam Ahead

Chapter 19: Full Steam Ahead

It was another three days before the Scions were able to set out to Amh Areang at the last. With all the damage that had been done to Lakeland from the attack, everyone needed to be on hand to help with the aftermath. During that time, Claire had only seen the others a handful of times… and, of course, Thancred had all but disappeared into thin air—refusing to speak to anyone.

That first night when Claire was just about to collapse onto her bed and she heard a knock at the door. She wasn't as surprised as she thought she would be when she opened it to find Minfilia standing there twisting her hands around and looking to the floor. Claire didn't need to ask why she was here and let her in. Since then, Minfilia had been sleeping in her room every night—for she unable to bear returning to the rooms that she shared with Thancred and risk another argument. Though Claire had a sneaking feeling that those rooms were the last place that Thancred wished to be at the moment.

She didn't say anything about that though as she let the younger girl curl up at her side—more than once having to lull the girl back to sleep because she was crying so much. If nothing else, the little bit of extra time was nice to spend with Minfilia… though they were very careful to avoid discussing the upcoming journey through the desert.

More than once Claire thought of finding something to say or do that could postpone it; but she knew better than to think that they had any other options. Instead, she would devote herself to her latest hunt in the Greatwood before returning at the end of the day, battered and drained, and comfort Minfilia as best as she could and try to forget all that was waiting for them.

When this next of the Cardinal Virtues was brought low, and the other Scions had done all that they could to help the people recover from the battle, no one could no longer find a reason to delay their trip any longer.

So it was with a heavy heart that they agreed they would set off early the next morning.

Claire did not speak another word until morning after that announcement… merely rubbed Minfilia's back in a comforting way as the girl shook with silent sobs through the rest of the night.

After sharing a quick breakfast with her, she sent the girl off to get ready before she went to the Tower to speak with the Exarch once more before she planned to head out to meet the others at the gate.

"You need not worry about us," he told her when she asked if they would be alright, worried that there may possibly be another attack from sin eaters. But he reassured her that most of the people were now taking refuge inside the city itself and that the only ones still out through Lakeland were those of the guard. Lyna had recovered from the worst of her wounds and was taking charge, but ready to call a retreat should anything else happen. Their biggest priority is protecting the people, and until the final two Lightwardens are brought low, they will do all their power to keep everyone safe.

Claire nodded in understanding, promising that they will return as soon as possible and asked that they look after themselves.

"By the way, have you seen Thancred?" she asked worriedly.

"Not recently," he answered grimly, "I do believe I heard Urianger say that he would find him, but I do know that he has taken up sulking about the upper levels. I have tried to talk to him a few times before, but in all honesty, I'm not certain he even heard me."

She was afraid about that. Ever since Minfilia came to her decision, Thancred had all but shut himself down to them all. It was an impressive resolve that Minfilia showed, but Claire could not help but worry about whether or not she fully understood what must be done. She would love to speak with their Minfilia again… but not at such a cost as this Minfilia's life.

She could not see how this could ever end well.

The Exarch seemed to understand the worry inside her as he gripped her shoulder in a comforting way. He looked at her so warmly as she gave a weary smile in gratitude.

"If this is the course you have agreed on, I will not object—though I am afraid it will be difficult for us to spare any of the guard to accompany you," the Exarch said to her. "I can but promise that you will be well looked after upon your return. Just… see to it that you do return, all right?"

She nodded, thanking him for his kind words and promised that they would return as quickly as possible. They were halfway through this journey and she was eager to end this as soon as she could. She left the tower and headed through town to the front gates to where she found she was the first one there and paced anxiously while waiting for the others.

So much had been going on and suddenly everything felt like it was spinning out of control—as if they were on a train that was speeding up with every second as it headed to disaster.

It had been a long time since they spoke with their Minfilia… but she knew enough to know that she was not the type of person who would willingly sacrifice an innocent girl like this. But then again, it wasn't her decision that mattered the most right now. She could not help but wonder if this Minfilia understood that as well.

Speaking of this Minfilia…?

"Sorry for the wait—I'm ready now."

Claire looked up to see that Minfilia had joined her, looking very pale but there was a sort of stubbornness to her face that showed that her mind had not changed. She was still determined to go through this and decide her future.

She wanted to push that away for the time and just greet her, but she couldn't stop herself saying, "There has to be another way."

What was the point in trying to deny anything anymore?

Minfilia sighed at that and looked down to her feet while mumbling, "Look… no matter what happens to me, I'm sure I don't want to go back to being who I was. I want to be stronger - strong enough to face my destiny. And I want to believe I can play a part in saving this world." She then looked back up and added a little ruefully, "I hope you can find it in yourself to believe it, too."

"There is a difference between growing stronger and sacrificing yourself," she whispered back.

Minfilia shifted uncomfortably when they heard Y'shtola's voice calling out, "When you put it that way, how could we not?" they looked up in time to see their own 'Master Matoya' coming towards them with Alphinaud and Alisaie trailing behind, both looking resigned. As soon as he saw her, Alphinaud blushed red and looked away… while Claire felt her insides churning in embarrassment herself. Not long after Minfilia left her room, Alphinaud came to check on her and…? Well, it seemed that he still remembered what they talked about—or rather didn't talk about.

She shoved what they said down as she focused more on Minfilia and where they were going to head to next just as Y'shtola said to the young girl comfortingly, "It is your decision to make, just be sure that you are prepared, when the time comes."

A couple minutes later, Urianger arrived—and dragging a rather reluctant Thancred behind him with his head held low. Urianger took one look around at them all, doing a headcount, and asked, "If all are assembled, shall we depart?"

When they reassured him that they were as ready as they would ever be, Thancred grumbled, still clearly unhappy about this, "We'll follow your lead. What route would you have us take?"

"About that," Alisaie interrupted suddenly, "There's something I neglected to mention." Everyone turned to her as she grimly explained, "I saw a Eulmoran airship coming in to land over Amh Araeng while I was on my way back to the Crystarium. No doubt the same vessel that bore Vauthry's forces to Rak'tika."

Oh, great. Just what they didn't need.

Alphinaud sighed and ran a hand through his hair, summing up their latest problem, "Meaning we can expect to encounter armed resistance on our journey through the region."

"Right. Now," Alisaie said as she pulled out a faded map, to show everyone, and began to trace her finger along the page, "Naabeth Areng lies in the southern reaches of Amh Araeng, and there are two routes we can take to get there. The first is the Eastern Route which would lead us past Mord Souq. The other…" gesturing down the left of the page, "Is the Western Route, which would require us to pass through the Hills of Amber."

Thancred nodded as he watched the trail and confessed, "Minfilia and I took the eastern route last time."

"Yes," Alisaie confirmed, "That's the more well-trodden path, it also makes for easier traversal of the Naabeth Severance." She looked down at the map again and sighed, "But we can't use it…"

They wondered what she was talking about, and she explained how she wanted to keep the Eulmorans from attacking the Inn at Journey's Head. Some of them were confused, but she understood immediately. The last thing that anyone wanted to do was have a repeat of what happened with the Night's Blessed in a place full of sick people and caretakers, and they all agreed. It was for this, she proposed they split into two groups—one to distract the Eulmorans in the east, and one to slip Minfilia through the Hills of Amber in the West.

In the end, both Alphinaud and Y'shtola decided to join her to distract the Eulmorans. Which left her with Minfilia and the remaining boys towards the Hills of Amber.

Thancred shrugged irritably, though he did seem to recoil slightly after Y'shtola gave him a steely glare to behave before he cleared his throat and stated, "Well then, we'll leave the work of distracting Vauthry's forces to you. The rest of us will take the western route, and try to avoid attracting attention."

"Alright," Alphinaud said quickly, having avoided Claire's eye the whole time they were making plans, "I wish you all the best of luck and we will meet up later on."

He turned and walked away, kinda taking them all by surprise.

"Just like that? I would have thought that we would have to drag you away from Claire," Thancred said, poking fun at Alphinaud who looked like he wanted nothing more than to shrivel up and die.

When they noticed his lack of response, Alisaie gave him a poke this time, suddenly noticing the two 'lovebirds' lack of a goodbye, "Did something happen with you two?"

"Hmm? Oh… ah… nothing," he said but it was clear that Alisaie didn't believe a word of what he said.

"Nothing happened," he repeated and he went marching out, ready to head up to the Amaro Launch and straight out to Amh Araeng without a glance back. The others blinked and looked at each other as Claire sighed.

"What'd I say now?" Thancred asked her as Claire ran her hand through her hair, only to stop rather quickly because she was stuck staring at the white strands.

"We all have a lot on our plates," was all she said, "I'm sure that it can wait."

The others looked ready to question it, but she just forced a smile and reassured them that it was nothing important, and they decided to let it go, wanting to drop the subject, but knew that they will be questioning what was wrong later on.

Still, she bid farewell to Y'shtola and Alisaie before she headed out with the others. All the while, the eyes of another was watching after her.

Ardbert was standing up upon the gate as he watched the group discuss where they were going to next. He wasn't close enough to hear what they were saying, but he could recognize that they were getting ready to head out.

They were leaving… but not him.

He didn't want to go… not this time. But his eyes were upon her retreating form as the group headed out into Lakeland, already heading south. From the angle that they were going… ah… Amh Araeng. It couldn't be any other place.

"Take comfort in the bonds you share," he thought to himself as he stood and watched the group file out, "Accept the pain when the time comes to part. Press on, for joy and sorry walk hand in hand. Beyond Mount Garik lie the Hills of Amber, beneath which run hidden veins of mineral wealth. Or ran, at least. Mayhap they are spent. Or mayhap the ringing of hammers can yet be heard below…"

Suddenly feeling weary, he turned around and sulked through the city with only one destination in mind. Though the room was officially hers, it felt warm and comforting to him. A sanctuary away from the rest of the world, their expectations, and the cruel truths that made it difficult to keep going. It was a safe place where she could speak with a ghost in private without causing worry for anyone else, and where he could find some sense of sanctuary. A place where he was someone… not just a shade.

He needed that security now more than ever before. He needed to be alone with his thoughts, but not outside where he was still nothing but a ghost. At least in that room, he could almost pretend that he wasn't some sorry, lonely specter.

But he did stay for long enough to watch them leave until they were out of sights.

"Safe travels…" he whispered, knowing that no one else could hear the concern in his voice.

*Thancred*

Aside from a few remaining sin eaters along the road, it was another quiet journey. They had just reached the very edges of the southern border when the clouds began to roll in and he knew that rain was threatening to happen at any moment.

He remembered when this Minfilia first felt the rain on her face—? He couldn't help but smile at the memory of how wide-eye she was when she felt the water hit her face.

"Ahhhh! It's cold!" she had gasped but she couldn't stop watching the countless drops fell from the heavens. He even joked that if she kept watching with her mouth open she would drown from all the water she caught—and she even covered her mouth in shock before he burst out laughing.

To think that innocent child was the same one walking besides him?

After spending most of her life locked up in a cell underground, she had never experienced anything as simple as rain… or feeling the wind on their face… or even something so simple as sunshine.

To her, her entire life had been so dark until she was spirited away.

Right now though, he had barely been able to look her in the eye since they set off, and it was only growing more and more difficult with every step they took. He didn't want to say anything about it but always the thought that she may no longer be standing here hurt him more than he cared to admit.

When they spotted the gates in the distance, he explained to Claire that of all the times that he had been there, he never ventured into the Hills of Amber.

"Not that I'm particularly intimidated by new lands, at this point—but we have more than enough reasons to be cautious as it is," he told her quietly, "Keep an eye on Minfilia for me, will you?"

While he was both longing for and dreading this meeting with their Minfilia, he was not foolish enough to believe that it will be an easy journey. He would need help protecting this Minfilia the whole way, and who better than the Warrior of Darkness?

Claire nodded in understanding and some of his dread left him as they continued on south. They left the pretty landscape of Lakeland behind them as the air grew hotter and drier, and the iliac ground beneath their feet turned into sand. Soon they were walking along the slopes of sand and rough cliffs that brought back memories of Gyr Albania or the plains of Thanalan to him.

They walked on in complete silence since he wasn't in the mood for talking, Minfilia was lost in thought, and the other two companions of their group weren't known for their small talk. So it was just the crunch of their footsteps through the sand for the next few hours before they came to a small village to learn more information. It turned out that it was inhabited almost entirely by Mord, who were very curious about seeing a group of people coming through here when they weren't merchants. While they walked about, getting information, they realized they didn't have a clue how to get to Naabath Areng from this way.

He frowned at this obvious problem that none of them had thought of and instead suggested that they question the villagers and see what they knew.

After spending some time getting to know the locals and the surrounding land, they met up just at the gates to discuss the best course of action. Of course, most of them didn't find much, but their own Warrior of Darkness seemed to know just what to say to charm the villagers into giving them the information they needed; including several ways they could get to Naabath Areng. Out of all of their options she was able to learn of they all agreed that their best chances of getting through the desert alive would be with the help of a trolley. It seemed to be the least risky of their options and he couldn't imagine one gate being enough to stop them.

The only problem they had now was that the trolley hadn't run in years and they had no idea what to do to get it up and running again. If they hoped to use it, they would first have to head down south to the trolley yard and learn more about how to operate it.

When they arrived at the Mount Biran mines, Thancred's immediate thought was that the mines were simply abandoned… at least until they got a closer look. Aside from the occasional rust here and there, everything was in good repair and there was even some food found on a counter in one of the buildings that was still hot. It was clear that while at first glance it was left to rust, someone was taking care of the place.

"Ample evidence of recent maintenance, and lukewarm tea besides…" Thancred said when Claire told him what she found after a quick look around.

"The levers for switching tracks looked like they were in good condition, though I couldn't move them myself," Minfilia added slowly, "No ordinary person could, I think…"

"It is my belief that no person is meant to," Urianger said and he drew their attention to the broken stone giant, one of many that were scattered about the tracks. At first, he thought that they were simply stone statues, but after a little more study, Urianger came to realize that these weren't always here.

"This 'Talos' beareth more than a passing resemblance to golems of the Source," their scholarly friend said. "Nor doth it appear to be the sole example of its kind. The proliferation of Talos fragments, as well as the enormity of the mechanisms here, suggest a considerable number were once in operation." Urianger then sighed and wiped some sweat from his brow before glancing back at them, "Alas, this specimen and its fellows now life lifeless and broken, and I know not how to repair them that they might facilitate our passage through the gate. And without the aid of the Talos, even if thou went somehow able to unbar the trolley's path, we would still have no means of propelling it."

Well, that explains why the trolley hadn't been used in all these years. But just because they were at a loss didn't mean that there was no hope.

"We might not know how to repair the Talos, but someone must," Thancred said firmly, "Otherwise why keep everything else in working order? Whoever is maintaining the cars and rails must know something that we don't."

That was when he came to realize that he felt eyes on the back of his head and he glanced out of the corner of his eyes to see that someone was poking their head around one of the run-down buildings curiously.

Thancred jerked his head pointedly at the building and said in a quieter voice so that not even the keenest of ears would be able to hear what they were discussing from that distance, "Let's ask them what it is, shall we?"

He had sent Claire off to check on those other potential eyes watching from the other buildings as he dealt with the group who were hiding right out of sights. It was almost too easy for them to sneak around the back of the building and surprise the spies. Soon enough they had both men beaten to a pulp on the ground and Claire rejoined them to inform them that the rest of the buildings seemed to be safe again.

"Let's see what they have to say for themselves," Thancred said as he dusted off his hands and ready to get to work in getting information.

"Us!?" one of the men cried out indigently from the ground, "We're not the brigands come to… to take what isn't ours!"

What? They thought that they were common thieves? How insulting. What other reason would anyone in their right mind come all the way out here to middle of nowhere with no means to carry off their 'plunder?'

"Do we honestly look like we'd need to steal -" he paused and looked at what this sad mine had to offer and finished, "What, some rusted bits of iron? Don't be absurd. We're not here to rob you."

"A likely story! You look, well…" the man snapped back as he looked over them all with a sweeping, slightly panicked look, "You don't look normal that's for certain. You don't have any wares, so you're clearly not merchants. Travelers never pass this way. The only reason you would come all the way out here is to strip the machinery for parts."

Well, when he put it all together like that, he supposed that they couldn't blame them for thinking the worse of them. He made to calmly explain their situation—to the best of their abilities anyway—but before he could so do…?

"Oh! Thaffe! I have an idea," the second man, hardly more than a boy at any rate with thick hair the color of wheat tucked under his cap, spoke up excitedly. He looked to Minfilia for a moment and after taking in her white dress he began reciting, as if from the intro of a play, "What if, once upon a time, a lovely lady of noble birth ventured forth in search of her lost love…" he then looked to him and Claire standing on either side of Minfilia, and Urianger standing directly behind them, and added, "…joined by her two most loyal servants, sworn to follow her unto the world's end. On their journey, they met a sorcerer as ancient as time itself…"

Aright, now he was just pulling random thoughts out of his arse. Really? Thancred knew that Urianger was older than them, but not that old.

"Moved by the Lady's devotion, he offered to be their guide and they…" he seemed to struggle to continue on for a moment before finishing, "... turned up here, somehow!"

Bit of a sad way to end what was other setting up to be a very interesting story, but he had to wonder if he was alright in the head to stall for something like that.

Thancred just took a deep breath and said, "I can only assume that you're being intentionally obtuse, but in the unlikely event that that's a serious conjecture—no." Well, might as well give him something as he confessed, "I suppose I am a bodyguard of a sort, but we have rather larger concerns than faerie tale romantics."

"Though," Urianger spoke up a little apprehensively, "I would fain hear more of this ageless sorcerer and his heroic deeds."

It was all that Thancred could do not to smash his head against a nearby wall.

"Gods, grant me strength…" he silently pleaded for patience.

"Um, if I may—we're actually searching for a means by which to travel to Nabaath Areng," Minfilia spoke up, perhaps sensing Thancred's growing annoyance, "We were hoping that the trolley here might offer a solution. I realize that we haven't gotten off to the best of starts, but if you know anything about how we might get it working again…"

"The trolley!" the two gasped and looked at each other wildly before turning back to them with new interest.

"You should have led with that!" the younger man who came up with the crazy story said, "We're always keen to discuss the trolley! We're both engineers-in-training, in fact. Jeryk and Thaffe, at your service."

"Technically, I'm a miner, and he does repair work," the one called Thaffe added in a more reasonable tone, "But our true passion is the trolley. We're working with a few other folks to get it up and running again. And before you ask—yes, it's true that there's a little in need of transport these days. But that's no reason to consign a miracle of mechanical innovation to dust. There mere sight of it traveling the track once again would make hearts soar, mark my words!"

"You'll hear no argument from us," Thancred said, glad to hear they were getting somewhere, "What progress have you made thus far?"

And like that, some of the excitement seemed to fade and die in their faces.

"Not as much as we'd like, truth be told," Jeryk confessed a little guilty.

"Well, is there anything we could do to assist you?" Minfilia asked, "We could gather materials or help put pieces together…"

"It's a sight more complicated than that, I'm afraid," Thaffe shrugged, "If you spoke with Magnus, you'd understand. He's the only one with full knowledge of the trolley's operation… I suppose you could speak with him, if you like. We'll introduce you."

In the end, they agreed, especially since they didn't have any other options and so they followed them out of the yard, telling them all they needed to do was follow the tracks to get to Twine. But their two new guides were so happy to be able to discuss the trolley with someone that it was as if their 'painful' meeting didn't happen.

Well, at least the walk to town was interesting.

"Dost thou seek the sorcerer's wisdom, young one?" Urianger asked Claire with a bow.

Claire was actually giggling to herself as they discussed over Jeryk's story, finding the whole tale to be very funny.

"A quest for a lost love…" Minfilia said, and even she was smiling at the thought of being a 'princess' of sorts. "Perhaps that could have been me, had things been different."

Thancred sighed at their antics, and at how Urianger seemed to be playing upon the idea of being this 'ageless sorcerer'. Though now that he thought of it, Urianger always was fond of faerie tales… mayhaps that was one of the reasons he chose to settle in Il Mheg during these last few years.

They followed Thaffe and Jeryk back to a small mining town, very similar in apperance to some of the towns he knew scattered around Thanalan. It was odd to find a place like this that was still occupied—especially since he could see the frozen wave in the distance and knew that it must have come dangerously close to being consumed by the Flood.

Thaffe explained that this was once built to house miners tasked with building the track. Over time miners came to seek their fortunes and it grew into a town all because of the trolley. But now with no trolley, no work from the mines, no miners, and before anyone knew it the place had fallen apart. Thaffe then promised to introduce them to Magnus, but warned them that they shouldn't expect more than an introduction.

They stepped inside the inn to find a sorry-looking man sitting there with several bottles scattered around the table.

"Who are you supposed to be?" he demanded grumpily when he heard the door open and glared up with blood-shot eyes, "Never seen the three of you in my life. Or the… four of you? Wicked white, if you're going to bother me, at least have the damned courtesy to stand still."

"Me thinks this one is deep in his cups," he heard Urianger whisper and Thancred sighed. Great, now they were dealing with a drunkard. Getting information out someone who was drunk was normally a specialty of his… but he could sense from here that this one was going to be a challenge.

Thaffe stepped forward and cleared his throat as he explained, "These are my guests, Magnus. We ran into them at the mines. They're looking for a way to reach Nabaath Areng, so they came to ask about the trolley, you see…"

"What?" he barked with a slight slur, "There's nothing in Nabaath Areng. Not anymore."

Yep, definitely in his cups.

His dazed eyes glanced over all of them, but pausing when he saw Minfilia and added, "And especially not for frail little girls. Give it up."

Minfilia was taken aback by that and countered, "No. We must reach Nabaath Areng. I must."

"Bah," he growled, waving his hand away, "So you have your heart set on it—the world doesn't care. The place is ruin, nothing more. And you're not getting there in the trolley. The thing doesn't run on hopes and dreams."

Minfilia took a step forward before Thancred quickly spoke up to avoid an argument, "We're not fools—it's necessity that drives us to Nabaath Areng. If you insist that the trolley is not an option, at least tell us why."

"No," Magnus growled back, no longer looking at them as he turned back to that bottle, "I'm sick of people asking me about the blasted thing. Leave me be."

But before he did so, Thancred did get a glimpse of his eyes and that was what caused him to stop midway with his reasoning. Rather than fight an unnecessary battle, he looked to his friends.

"We'll speak outside," he whispered to the others and they all left the tavern, though he couldn't help but growl under his breath as he did so, "Stubborn arse."

"I sense there is more to this belligerent drunk and his tale," Urianger said.

"He only said that because… because he thinks I'm weak," Minfilia whispered, "And he's right. But I can't be—I won't be forever. There must be a way. I will find it!"

Well, that may have been part of it, but Thancred would have been very surprised if that was the only reason. It seemed to him that he only called Minfilia out because it was an excuse not to help them. He didn't voice his opinions though as they all grouped around him and they began to come up with other ideas.

It was clear to them all that Magnus had no intention of helping them get the trolley moving. But with no other options, they decided to ask around, and hope that some of the townspeople would be able to better explain the situation to them. As soon as Minfilia ran off, he found his eyes watching her every move, her blond hair shining from the bright glare from above. Urianger was watching where he was looking and he let out an audible sigh before speaking.

"Thancred, art thou truly content to stand witness to fate's course and take no part?"

If only there was such a thing as fate. If there was, then he would—at least—have someone to blame for all that was happening. But things were never that simple.

"This isn't a matter of fate, Urianger," he sighed, "It's about choice, and I've had years to decide where I stand. Minfilia has spent too long in chains already. I would not shackle her again by making my hopes known. It is for her to choose what shape her destiny will take. It is for me to stay silent. To protect her, teach her, and stand by her. That, at least, I can do for her."

It wasn't up to him or anyone else to decide Minfilia's fate. This was a choice that she had to make on her own.

They let the matter go before they separated and began to look around for anything that could be of use to them. It was a little while later when he did meet up with Urianger, who was explaining a newly reconstructed Talos that appeared to be fully functional. The only problem was that they were having a hard time trying to get it to move again.

After Claire got back from helping Jeryk inspect the tracks, Urianger sent her off to get some materials to help, while he put him and Minfilia to work on helping replace some other broken pieces of stone so as to allow the aether to flow more easily.

Once they were all together again and finished their work, Urianger looked to them all and said that, the aether is beginning to flow once again. Yet even after he offered up some of his aether, it didn't so much as twitch.

"It's not moving," Thancred pointed out obviously.

"Strange…" Urianger said, frowning in confusion as he bent closer to examine the stone, "The core refuseth to stir. I fear the condition of this Talos is more dire than I previously surmised. As a heart driveth blood through a man's veins, so doth the core aether throughout this massive frame. Failing its repair or replacement, the Talos cannot be restored."

This didn't seem to surprise Jeryk though as they had also come to the same conclusion. He explained that the core that controlled its flow of aether had failed, and must be replaced. Jeryk admitted that Magnus was the key to fixing the Talos though suddenly seemed very uncomfortable with discussing Magnus's past… and chickened out in the end. Instead he sent them off to Thaffe at the tavern if they wanted to know the whole story, which was what they did.

"Still here, eh?" Thaffe said as they entered, "You can ask again, but the answer's the same. Our trolleys are-"

Claire calmly interrupted him and explained what they were able to learn of the Talos and how they needed a new core to get it working. But when she asked about Magnus and Jeryk suddenly afraid to tell them anymore, he could Thaff beginning to scowl.

"What? Godsdamnit Jeryk…" he sighed, running an irritable hand over his face. "You could've at least finished so I wouldn't have to clean up your mess." He struggled within himself for a moment before deciding, "Seeing how you made such quick progress in fixing that Talos and all, he was probably thinking you could help change things around here."

He told them Magnus' tale—down to the last miserable detail. Howe he had come to Twine with his wife after their son was killed by sin eaters. His wife had been a miner but one day, while she was searching for the very ore they needed for the Talos, the mine collapsed and it took them two months to dig out her body. After that, Magnus seemed to have given up and taken up drinking instead.

Now Thancred understood Magnus's attitude. He had a feeling that there was more to the story and his stubbornness to help them. To him, the Talos and the trolley both must seem like a curse. Though, he suspected as much… not even the strongest ale could gloss over that look of grief in a person's eyes.

But what were they to do now? Even if they were able to get the right ore, Magnus was the only one who knew the full operation of the trolley. They needed his help.

They were all quiet a long time, until Thancred looked around, noticing that he wasn't here, and asked, "Where is he, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Ah, yes, well…" Thaffe sighed, "If he's not here, there's only one other place he'd be."

Wordlessly, he led them outside and pointing up a hill where they could make out the mounds of sand and stone; where Thancred understood immediately.

"Wait here," he told the others as he walked ahead and approached the rows of graves. He found him sitting right in front of one grave that looked to be newer than the others, and was still drinking like there was no tomorrow.

"What?" he asked, looking up at him slightly cross-eyed and seemed to have trouble recognizing him for a moment. "Oh… you again," he went on when he finally did, "How many times must I tell you—the trolley won't run! We'd be better off dismantling the damn thing and selling the parts for scrap. Now piss off back to whoever you came from, and don't let me catch you around here again."

Most would probably be intimidated by that, but Thancred merely looked to the grave and asked sympathetically, "What were their names?"

Magnus was startled at the question and his lack of reaction, but he turned to look at the grave as well that bore his wife's name.

"My son was named Skulli," he confessed, any forms of anger having faded completely to be replaced by a voice of sorrow, "My wife… Agna." He then looked sadly at the bottle and added, "Being here with them… it beats going home. Home stopped being home when I lost them. I thought to try and drown my sorrows… but somehow… the bottle's never deep enough."

"No bottle is," Thancred sighed, knowing how blissful being able to drink your worries and bad memories away… if only for a moment, could be. "Believe me—I know."

"You've lost someone too?" Magnus asked, still in that same placid tone.

"Not like you," Thancred confessed, "Not my own flesh and blood. I grew up an orphan, so I never really knew what family meant." He looked up to the sky as he remembered those days from his youth and how he struggled to survive. "Not until I met a man who offered to take me in and make me his pupil. He was a kindly soul. Always looking out for me, like a father. Not that I appreciated that at the time, or anything else for that matter. But I finally had a family."

For as long as he could remember, he had been a mere street rat. It was the only life that he knew. He had been very young when he was taken in by some of the more unsavory individuals who ruled the underbelly of Limsa Lominsa, not a parent or even a blood relative, he had been too young to remember his mother or father even though he suspected that he had them, so for him life began on the streets. He had been forced into seemingly endless shady schemes, forced to try and earn enough for food. And if, failing that, resorting to stealing the food that he needed to survive. Limsa was very different when he had been a child, for this was before the Admiral took over and forbade piracy and brought some order to the otherwise chaotic city.

He had to learn from a very young age to take care of himself and avoid the dangers that were out to get you at all costs. At some point, he was welcomed into the Dutiful Sisters and learned how to fight to protect himself. They were probably the closest he felt to family in those days—though with their quiet passion and the pride they took in their work—for some reason he didn't feel like he belonged there.

And then the day came he met an elderly Elezen, fresh of the boat to the city, and that was what changed his life forever that day. Oh, he couldn't have picked the worse possible person to try and rob. He seemed like an easy person to pick his pocket… however no sooner did his hand slip into the man's pocket to take his coin—he was suddenly on his back with his limbs bound with powerful magicks that he couldn't free himself from.

All at once, he was certain that it was over for him. He was certain he was going to be handed over to the Yellow Jackets and then spend years trapped in a gaol cell…?

At least until the bindings hold him faded and he was looking up at the old man, who wore a very caring look on his face.

He would never forget the words that he said that day.

"My name is Louisoix Leveilleur. I am a scholar from across the seas. What is your name, child?"

"Thancred," the boy mumbled, still in disbelief.

"Thancred...what? Have you any family?" the old man continued, with a sympathetic smile.

"Just Thancred," the boy shrugged. "And I don't have a family—at least, none that I know of."

The man who had called himself Louisoix paused for a moment, stroking his beard, before appearing to come to a conclusion.

"You are quick and able beyond your years. Were you only in a place where you could learn to use these gifts for the good of all, rather than merely as tools for your own survival—why, there is no telling what life you might lead...Come with me to Sharlayan. You are a gifted child, and there is much that I would teach you..."

And that was what happened.

No sooner did he agree to it, planning to escape later on if things got too bad, he was suddenly pulled to his feet and taken over to the Bismarck to get him some decent food. He was then taken across the seas and began learning how to read and write—and from there he couldn't stop learning.

Before they left Limsa, Louisoix gave him the surname of 'Waters' after telling him that Thaliak was the guardian of rushing rivers and purveyor of knowledge. Thancred, still not fully trusting this strange man, grudgingly accepted a name that he would eventually wear with pride. Life also got much better for him in that he no longer had to fight and steal for food, that he had a warm place to sleep and not fear getting attacked or eaten by rats—something that still bothers him to this day—and was able to gain the kind of education that many would kill for. Louisoix found a mentor for him—a master when it came to covert operations—and he learned so much during his stay in Sharlayan.

Still, he knew enough to realize that Louisoix hoped to use his new talents in the future. To be able to infiltrate the most impregnable of strongholds in the harshest of environments, and his mind that he might charm the wariest merchants and socialites in the most critical of circumstances. Still, he didn't mind so much about being used. After a life of difficulty on the streets, this seemed a small price to pay for some comfort and safety.

Before he even realized the changes in him, the rough and cold child that ran through Limsa's alleys to get away from the Yellow Jackets was gone and a confident, well-educated youth stood there in his place. When the day came that his skills were recognized, upon his neck were inscribed with the sigil of the Archon as Master Louisoix looked on with pride.

He wouldn't be here right now if that old man didn't see a shred of potential inside him and words would never describe how much that meant to him nor how grateful he would forever be.

Thancred smiled fondly at the memories before he sighed and added with much more melancholy, "And then… and then I robbed a young girl of hers. I did my best to make amends, to offer her comfort. But the more I look back on it, the more I realize just how inadequate my efforts were. I let her down. That is why I refuse to let her legacy die."

And out of the corner of his eyes, he could see another little girl gazing at him. A girl that he, mere days ago, almost lost.

*Flashback*

The fighting was growing fierce as they battled against the eaters, but no matter how much of a footing he got, he still felt like he was losing ground as the flashes of white dropped out of the sky.

It was after bringing down, what felt like the hundredth eater, did he pause to catch his breath. But then his head snapped up when he heard Minfilia's voice over the dim: "LYNA!"

He looked up to see that Minfilia had broken away from the fighting and was bolting over to where the Crystarium guard captain lay in the mud. His heart stopped when he saw them both surrounded by eaters.

Then he saw it. The glowing form of what would normally be seen as a beautiful angel. But this one's eyes were dead and empty as it turned its face—perfect as a statues—and lunged for the two of them. And Minfilia, who was tending to Lyna, hadn't noticed it.

He didn't think, didn't even consider the consequences, he just dove in without thinking.

It was as if his entire world threatened come undone and he was racing through the thick mud, before leaping into the air to reach them in time. He had to protect her, she had to stay safe. He struck at the dead creature and blocked the attack in time. His arms felt like they were about to crack and shatter apart from the impact, he could feel the sparks leaping from their clashed blades, but he wouldn't give in.

When he was thrust back and his vision dimmed, threatening to black out.

No… no, no, no, No! NO! Like hells he was giving up now!

He landed on his feet, already tasting blood in his mouth and spit it onto the ground. He had to save them, to save as many people as he could, but most importantly to get Minfilia out of here. He barely even registered when Minfilia cried out to him.

"This one's mine!" he yelled as he blocked the attack and found his footing again, sword plunging into the breast of the sin eater, and watching it writhe before he put an end to it once and for all. He was panting, his energy almost spent, and in pain as he fell into the mud and coughed.

*End of Flashback*

He had done what Minfilia, their Minfilia, had asked to the best of his abilities. He protected the girl as he would have done to the real Minfilia. All the while he tormented himself with the knowledge that one day she would have to make the choice to either live out her life and become her own person—separate from Minfilia—or to fade away and allow another take control of her body and take up her burdens.

But no matter how many ways one looked at it or tried to reason with it, he knew better than hoping that they could somehow find a way so that both could exit. He was aware that this was a decision where he would lose one of these two precious girls in his life… for good.

And what hurt him the most was that he had no say in the matter. He didn't get to put his impute in on what he really wanted. But how could one even begin to choose?

Perhaps it was a good thing that it wasn't up to him to decide.

When Urianger tracked him down before they were to leave for Amh Araeng, he found him atop the walkways above the city. Though he frowned at the sight of him drinking right out of the bottle, he didn't say anything as he informed him that everyone was getting ready to leave.

*Flashback*

Thancred just let out a noise between a scoff and a snarl, not immediately responding.

"Thancred…" Urianger reminded him softly, "It is not too late. Thou still have time to confide in young Minfilia how thy truly feels about this."

"Like you know how I truly feel about all this?" he demanded coldly, downing half the bottle in that one instant. When he gave a painful swallow he hissed, "How would you know?"

"For I know thee, Thancred," his old friend reminded him quietly, "And I am fully aware of how much pain thou must be in to know that the time is finally near…?"

"Sure you do," he snapped, now practically seething with anger as he paced around the area, struggling to keep himself from wanting to punch someone—namely Urianger since he was right here—and keep his anger under control. "But what am I supposed to say? Tell her that she doesn't know what she's doing? She knows what she's doing, or at least she thinks she knows what she's doing! But how am I supposed to talk to her about this? I don't even know what the right way to feel about this is anymore!"

"How… doth thee want this to end?" Urianger asked him quietly.

Thancred didn't speak at first as he leaned over the railing of the upper walkways of the Crystarium and stared out at the bustling city. Memories of his times with both Minfilias entered his mind and he could only find conflict and confusion.

"What would you do if you were me?" he asked, almost pathetically pleading for an answer that didn't make him hate himself, "Minfilia, our Minfilia, is family to me. And now I am faced with the prospect that I may lose her forever! How do you think that makes me feel? I have known her since she was a little girl… I have watched her grow up to be a strong, young woman… only to be forced to say goodbye to her… again… and again! And now I know that there is a chance I can see her again. But to sacrifice a little girl who I have watched over for the last three years? She had already gone through so much and this is to be her fate? How is that fair?"

"I do not think that there is a right answer here," Urianger told him gently. "But I do know that thee love both of these Minfilia's and that, if thou could, thee would take the burdens from them both. But we both know that cannot happen."

Thancred could feel something warm and wet dripping from his eyes and rubbed the blasted tears away as he took several deep breaths.

"But, this I do know," Urianger went on, "That though wishes for nothing but their happiness."

"Of course I do!" he all but yelled, "They deserve so much better than what they were dealt with life! But I know that we can't save them both! I had searched for a way, but there's nothing we've found! The only way that this whole madness can end is if one sacrifices themselves for the other! How am I supposed to live with this on my shoulders?! How am I supposed to deal with losing one of them at the cost of the other?!"

He then threw the bottle that he had been drinking over at the nearest wall where it shattered apart and ale splashed over as he fought the urge to scream out.

"The worst part?! I can't choose!" he finally said, his breath heaving and his voice rose with every second as if a blaze had burst into flame from within his chest. If he had to be honest with himself, three years ago if he had to make the choice then, he would have given anything to have his friend, the girl he saw as family, brought back to him. After all that she had given to him and everyone else, it seemed a simple choice to make… but now he had this girl here who had been a prisoner almost all her life. He had tried—truly tried—not to get attached to her in case it ended with another broken heart. But how could he not come to care for her? He taught her how to fight and survive in this world. He taught her how to swim and build up a campfire before going off hunting for food. He watched as she grew and learned more about the world, listening to even Urianger's dullest lectures with open ears. How she would try her best to cheer him up and how her face would light up when he did something so simple as pat her on the head and tell her that she did a good job or even just smiled at her.

This girl was her own person and had just as much right to live.

And that thought hurt him more than he could ever admit to.

He spun around, ready to shake his old friend until an answer fell from the sky, but Urianger didn't move even as Thancred marched over to him. Indeed, he looked ready to stand there and allow himself to be shook and broken if it helped calm the torment inside Thancred's head.

"The thing is…" he croaked out, the fire suddenly flickering and dying out as it left only cold embers as he looked away, feeling as if the weight of all that came before was on his shoulders, "I know how our Minfilia would want this to end. We both know how she would wish it to end."

In the end, all he could feel right now… was regret.

*End of Flashback*

Such thoughts were racing around inside his head and he knew that how he felt was very different to what Magnus was feeling right now. Still, he did continue and told him, "In the end, all we can do is press on. For those we have lost. For those we can yet save. And that requires your Talos. Please, Magnus. You are our only hope of reaching Nabaath Areng."

Magnus just swirled the bottle's liquid around dully before sighing, "What rubbish."

But he could tell that what he said did seem to reach him. In a sense, anyway. In either case, he didn't see the need to press him further and walked back to the others. Minfilia was looking to the ground as she whispered, "She's not gone. No matter what you say or believe, she's not. We can still bring her back."

But at what cost?

He didn't know how to handle this. He didn't know how to comfort himself, let alone her, and reassure her that everything was going to be alright. How could it be alright?

He didn't answer her as he raised his hand and patted her gently on the head. It was all that he could do right now. And he let it go at tat as he walked away, wanting to be left alone with his thoughts.

It would be a little while later when Claire approached him. If he wasn't feeling so miserable, he may have noticed her sad expression. But he didn't pay attention to that as she informed him that even if Magnus did decide to help them, they would still need a new heart for the Talos, and to find the right material their best option would be to try at a place called Nuvy's Leavings. She suggested that it would be good just for the two of them to head out there and see what they could find and Urianger would stay here to see what they could do to help the people here with Minfilia.

Ah, this took him back… when last did the two of them head off together? Whatever the answer was, they headed south to the mines, ready to make himself useful.

Their walk was mostly silent like how it was on the way here, but as he glanced over at her, about to ask how far it was to Nuvy's Leavings, he could see just how tired she looked. Her skin was ashen and she had dark shadows under her eyes as if she hadn't slept in days. She didn't look like she had been taking care of herself at all recently for her armor seemed to hang off her a little loosely, and the way that some of the way that the bones in her face were protruding slightly gave her the impression of someone who was fighting off a serious ailment.

"Are you feeling alright?" he asked her in concern.

"I'm fine," she countered calmly, "Just… feeling a little under the weather lately."

He wanted to press her for more information, but she insisted that it was just the glare from the light that was making her feel unwell and that the sooner they slew the Lightwarden, the better she would feel. She made sure to drop the subject as they continued on the rest of the way through the desert and arrived outside a series of seemingly uninhibited mines.

After looking around, they did find that they weren't as abandoned as one would think. After looking inside, they met Guthjon, who explained that the stone they needed to get the Talos moving again was called Leonine and that at one point all Talos in the Hills of Amber were powered by it. But with the veins running dry long ago, they were pretty much out of luck. There were other ways they could find it, however, he wouldn't give them any real answers without a trade. Turns out that he dropped a Voeburt gold piece down here and said that if they could find it then he would tell them what they needed to know. Why was he not surprised? Good thing that Thancred had more than a few tricks up his sleeve. He passed to Claire some sundrops to help her eyes take in more light, and together they set off to try and find the damn coin. She set off deeper into the mines while he looked around in the higher layers for a time. When he was certain that there wasn't anything of important he came back to wait here for Claire and hope that she found something.

Eventually she came back with a slightly dented golden coin.

"In the end, my contribution was little more than poor company," he sighed, feeling that he may as well have just stayed behind and brooded.

"Well, I couldn't have done it without your sundrops," she pointed out, though he felt that she was only saying that to make him feel better.

"So you say, but you have a proven knack for success regardless of circumstances," he reminded her, remembering of how it often felt that it was only with her contributions that they were able to get anywhere. "I doubt very much I could've discovered it unassisted. I only managed to survive the Coerthan wilderness and the imperial capital by virtue of extensive preparation—a habit of mine since childhood, and one of my few positive traits which endeared me to Louisoix, I imagine."

He looked away as she looked at him sadly.

"It hasn't been easy finding ways to compensate for my… condition," he sighed, feeling that he had to let off some of what was bothering him, "Every tool and trinket has proven vital to my continued success—such as it is. Had I chosen to pursue the arcane arts rather than espionage, well… I rather not think on it."

Oh, he could use magic fair enough before, but he never felt comfortable using it compared to having a knife or dagger in his hands. It took him a fair amount of time to get used to using the Gunblade after all, but he felt that he was making great strides. As good as with daggers as he was, he needed something a little more heavy-hitting to be able to protect Minfilia in this new world.

After he was rescued from Lahabrea's control he learned that he was left especially vulnerable to a primal's influence, which would make his job as a Scion a little more complicated, he was still able to use magic after all that. It wasn't until his little dip into the Lifestream did it somehow mess up his aether in such a way that he could no longer use magicks like he used to. He found that if he truly forced himself to use it then he can will it to spark… but it left severe damage to his already broken body. He didn't blame Y'shtola for it though, even after they reunited with her and she realized that his aether had 'changed'. She was stricken at first and tried to apologize but he wouldn't hear of it. She saved their lives and he would gladly take that over not being able to use magic again. He could still fight and protect himself so that was all that mattered.

But nowadays, he felt very—inadequate compared to the others now. He would just have to make up for his handicap by being prepared for whatever may happen.

"So long as I have the means to protect those dear to me, and to see my duties through, that's all that matters," he decided.

Without another word to her, they returned the coin to Guthjon, who almost fell over in shock. In fact, he was so happy that he told them what they needed, and that their best chance to find some of the Leonine is to find some knockers—or Coblyns as he knew them as.

They can fit through cracks and crevices down there we could never hope to reach. And they sometimes dig up leonine in the mines. He then explained the best way to draw them out was to use smoke bombs and set them off in the minds and they'll come out.

They each took a handful of bombs and head back into the minds. It was actually something fun to let them off and then attack the knockers that came out to see what was going on. Once they were all dead, he poked through the loose stone on their backs and gathered them up into his pockets before heading out. He only had to wait a few minutes more before Claire joined him, her own arms full of stones of various colors, sizes, and weights before they passed them off to Guthjon, who began to look over what they got for them.

Waiting for him to look over the stones took longer than actually collecting them. He looked over to the minds and became lost in thought after a while.

"It was in Thanalan did you and I have our first mission," he reminded her and chuckled at the memories. "Ah, your first mission. You were so clueless to everything. Cute… but clueless."

She turned her head away but he could see her smirking at that.

"You weren't making things easy," she reminded him and he shrugged.

"Ah, you're a big girl. You needed a humble guide, not a babysitter," he said, "So I felt that it was best to allow you the chance to spread your wings with only a little supervision."

"Humble?" she asked and he laughed at that.

"Alright, maybe humble wasn't the best word to use, but you pulled out of it alright," he said, but his smile soon faded as he remembered the next of his long line of mistakes. "I… I guess… I should apologize for not being when… with Ifrit…?"

They had never brought it up since that day she was dragged off to be served up to the primal of fire. He had wanted to have a chance to properly talk to her about it… but shortly after that event she was rushed off to face Titan and he was—he tried not to remember that.

She was giving him an annoyed look as she scolded simply, "Why bring that up now?"

He looked up in surprise as she shook her head in a way that reminded him of someone but he couldn't recall who it was.

"I never blamed you for that," she told him.

"Maybe you don't, but that doesn't make me any less responsible," he said, "It was only through your own heroic actions that you made it out of that mess alive. I was responsible for helping you with your first mission and look what happened? I almost ended up getting you killed because I wasn't there. I should have been…?"

"And then what?" she cut him off, "What if you were there? Mayhaps you could helped me fight them off and we wouldn't have been taken. But with all those around us that day, I think it much more likely that you would have been dragged off as well and then what? Tempered by Ifrit?"

He couldn't really find a way to counter that. What would have happened if he had been there and he had been captured? The last thing he would want was to find himself worshiping that overgrown lizard, but they could never know for sure what would happen if he was there.

"I still feel that I need to apologize," he said.

"You do, and you did," she reminded him, "And I forgive you."

"How can you forgive me that easily?" he demanded, now growing a little frustrated with her lack of anger towards him. It made this sudden anger inside him make him feel ridiculous.

"Isn't me not hurting anymore more important than you suffering for something that was beyond your control?" she asked. He glared at her before he leaned up against the crates next to him, folding his arms as he took several deep breaths.

"You need to let it go," she told him softly but with a firm edge to it like how Master Louisoix used to tell him off whenever he did something that he shouldn't be doing, "I know that it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known what would happen."

Maybe they wouldn't be here right now if he had been there that day.

He just didn't know what to think.

"You have to let this go," she told him again, "I have already forgiven you. Everyone else has already forgiven you. It's time to forgive yourself for that and any other mistakes you feel that you made."

Easier said than done. Where does one even begin? How will you know when you are ever truly forgiven?

The two of them stood there in silence for a very long time after that. Neither of them speaking a word—though that wasn't really a surprise given the company he was with. If one wasn't in the mood to speak she wasn't the type to push the matter. He remembered when she was first brought before them in the Waking Sands that day and how he joked with her that he had thought that she was mute until she finally broke her silence. Well, if she wasn't going to speak, he was going to and recalling the memories of the good old days, he suddenly came to remember another memory. And when he looked to the scaffolding attached to the mine's entrance, he knew a good story to suddenly tell.

"You may not remember this about our Minfilia…" he said, his voice creaking a little, "But prior to founding the Path of the Twelve, long before the Scions, she was something of a miner."

He felt her looking at her and he finally glanced back, attempting to keep things light as he explained, "After her father died, F'lhaminn took her in and taught her the trade. I think they were both seeking to fill the void left by a loved one. Maybe that's why she took to it so readily." He sighed fondly as he thought back to those younger years while he confessed, "Back in those days, I spent most of my time in the quicksand or some other tavern, loosening tongues and gathering secrets. Occasionally, I'd catch a glimpse of her in the street, or on her way home after another hard day's work."

He had been one of the first recruits to Master Louisoix's Circle of Knowing and he was on a top-secret mission in Ul'dah, tasked with doing what he could to quell the flames of war that threatened to engulf Eorzea. As well as keeping an ear open for any information of the Garleans and their plans.

To most who met him in those days he was just a talented bard who was travelling the land and hoping to improve his skills in battle in the land full of mercenaries and warriors. That had been his cover anyway. The thought was that he was planning to use whatever he could to gain the trust of the Syndicate or, anyone really, who had influence in Ul'dah and use it to stave off any threat that Garlemald might have waiting for them.

It was just another day of spying and buying drinks for those who weren't paying attention to how much ale went into their system. All in the hopes that they would let slip some useful information that they would otherwise be too drunk to remember in the morning. There had been a parade going on in Ul'dah that day after he just made a pair of lovely, young ladies swoon and he decided to see if he could pick out anyone in the crowd that looked… promising. But that was when the goobbue escaped it's bindings, all in the nativity of several citizens of hoping to become 'heroes' to the people, and it ran amok through the city. When the dust settled, it looked like the only damage had been done to the buildings… easily replaceable… but there had been a single casualty. Leaving a young girl to cling to her father, pleading for him to wake up.

If he had been paying better attention, he may have been able to put a stop to it before it turned into a tragedy. If he had been quicker, if he didn't let the goobbue escape from him, he may have been able to prevent a young girl becoming an orphan. Of course he didn't know anything about it being 'planned' at first. It just seemed a little too… convenient for him. When he finally put two and two together, and confronted those responsible… they admitted that they planned on freeing the goobbue and then putting it down so that they could be seen as heroes in the eyes of the people and maybe use that influence to encourage people to fight the Empire.

F'lhaminn was one of them.

She confessed all of this to him when he told her what he knew and she tearfully told him that they never meant for anyone to get hurt, much less killed.

But that wasn't going to change the fact that a man was made to pay with his life and left a daughter all alone in the world. Just like how he had been. He pitied the girl, knowing that she would be forced to survive in this world full of cruelty on her own.

Thankfully, for the girl, F'lhaminn resolved to try and make amends by taking her in and raising her in place of her father. And his own role in the girl's life had dropped to almost non-existent. There was no need for him to worry after all, the girl was safe and alive, and with someone who would do their best to guide and protect her. He shouldn't feel like he had to do anymore…?

It was just that, for reasons he could never explain even to himself, he couldn't bear the thought of letting go. Perhaps it was simply because he was worried that enemies of her father would come after her for he did betray his Garlean spymasters before his untimely death.

He spent many more moons in Ul'dah, and he made sure to look in on little Ascilia from time to time just to make sure she was safe. On a few occasions he managed to find an undercover Garlean operative who was on the trail of her father—which brought him nearly to the girl's doorstep.

It was for this that he approached the two, and told them that for Ascilla's safety, she should take up a new name.

Ascilia looked into his eyes and considered the implication of his words without prejudice. After a moment, she nodded in agreement. "...Very well. But what name shall I take?"

Thancred closed his eyes, thought briefly for a moment, then spoke.

"Minfilia," he said with quiet conviction. "Minfilia Warde."

It was nearly as inspired a name as the one Louisoix had convinced him to embrace so many years ago. A common enough name for a Highlander girl—yet not one so overused as to draw unnecessary attention. A name that would keep her safe in Thancred's absence.

"Minfilia..." she said with a smile. "Yes, I rather like the sound of it."

To this day he looked back on that moment with a smile. He wondered if this was how a parent felt when they first named their child and then watch them grow? From time to time after that, he would make the habit of just stopping by to check on Minfilia and it wasn't uncommon to see her sporting a pickaxe on her back as she made a living in the mines.

More than once he was forced to step in to protect her whenever drunkards from the Quicksand or one of the other taverns were kicked out for getting to rowdy and they would see a young girl walking the streets alone. Though it rarely ended with violence, he did feel much better walking her home.

Her favorite line to him at the end of those trips would be, "Thank you, Thancred. Do take care not to overdo it at the tavern. You are too quick to forget yourself, especially in the company of women..."

To which he would usually come up with a witty comeback, his favorite was, "I will heed your sage advice as if my very life depended on it."

Of course he never did and it caused her to roll her eyes at him before she stepped inside her humble home. It was never much, but every time he saw the girl safely home, he would feel incredibly proud of himself.

"I always felt a wave of relief when I saw she'd come back safe… along with a pang of guilt at the fact I wasn't there to support her as I should've been," he sighed as Claire listened in, "Simply speaking with her more than once in a blue moon would've been a good start, but I could never seem to bring myself to do it. instead, I threw myself into my 'work' and became every drunkard's best friend.

"Not your finest hour, to say the least," she pointed out and he laughed.

"Far from it—and F'lhaminn has never let me live it down," he admitted, more than a little mortified by his past behavior. Ever since then, Urianger had endeavored to 'keep an eye on him' and always remind him of some of his more… embarrassing mistakes whenever he drank too much. Gods, that man certainly knew what to say to get them to behave. "But that was a lifetime ago. Here and now I have another chance to do things right, and I will not squander it again."

Years later when he confessed to F'lhaminn that he felt responsible for being unable to prevent the death of her father, she insisted that he had no reason to feel guilt for that. He had nothing to do with their plans and that if there was anyone out there that should feel tormented by this… it was her.

But though he was not part of their plan, he painfully realized that no matter how strong he had become since those days skulking about the darkmans of Limsa—he was still as powerless as he was back then.

"Hey!" Guthjon's voice called, getting their attention, "Come and see what I've found! You're not going to believe this!"

They both got up and jogged over to the table where he was looking at them with eyes as wide as plates. When they asked about the leonine, he croaked out, "It is, at that! You lot were born lucky. It's mostly broken pieces—but look at this!"

He then took a heavy stone from his pocket and held it out. It was about the size of a dinner roll and Guthjon was overjoyed by this, telling him that it had been decades since they found anything even approaching this size. But he then pointed out the engraving on the stone.

Thancred turned the stone over in his hands and that was when he was able to make out tiny scratches on the rough surface, though they were hard to make out.

To my beloved Magnus and Skulli

All three of them stared at it, not sure what to say.

"Yes! Do you see!?" Guthjon cried, "It was a gift to Magnus from his wife! She found it. She really found it. She must've spent her final hours carving this message into the stone, in the hope that he might see it one day. Those rock-backed bastards must've made off with it before we could clear a path to her. It's fate that brought you here to find this stone. No other explanation. Makes me wonder what else might still be buried in these parts."

That was a good question, but sadly one they couldn't explore right now. They thanked Guthjon for all his help and he tucked it safely into his pocket as they got ready to head out. Before they did though, Guthjon had one request.

"Before you set it in the Talos," he said, "would you take it to Magnus? For three long years he's believed she died for nothing. He must know the truth—that her sacrifice was not in vain."

"We'll take it straight to him," Thancred promised, having planned on showing it to Magnus first anyway, "You have my word. Thank you, Guthjon, for all your help."

They raced back to Twine, finding Magnus right where they left him in the graveyard. But now that he was here, Thancred was a little concerned to how Magnus would react to it. Well, too late to turn back now, the appeared at his side as the man rolled his head to see who was bothering him this time.

"What? Oh, it's you," he grumbled. "If you've come to complain about the trolley, you'll find no sympathy from me. I told you before it won't run, and you wouldn't listen."

"Oh, but it will," Thancred said pulling out the stone, "Now that we have this. Your name is engrave don it, along with your son's. It was a gift from your wife, Magnus. From Agna."

At the mention of his wife's name all trace of drunkenness faded from his face as he got up to his feet. He took the stone and looked over the scratches as if they held the secrets of the universe in them.

"No… no, she couldn't have…" he whispered, "Agna."

His face was filled with something other than the drunk haze that it held since they met—this time a terrible kind of joy and regret mixed in. But it seemed that he could no longer look at the stone and all but threw it back at them

"Take it," he said, "Do with it what you will."

Thancred then offered for him to keep it, but Magnus shook his head, saying that they were the ones who found it and needed it more. He then sat back in front of the grave and grumbled that he just wanted to be alone.

"I hope you'll be there when the Talos stirs to life," was all that Thancred to say to him, "I'm sure she'd want you to see it."

But Magnus ignored him completely as they left, leaving him alone with his thoughts. They then delivered the stone to Urianger, who set to work removing the broken remains of the Talos's old heart from the empty chest cavity.

Urianger carefully placed the large chunk of leonine into the Talos, as Thaffe asked them how they managed to find leonine that big, but by the time that they finished explaining—much to their astonishment—Urianger had already rearranged everything inside its chest before he closed the stone doors and took a step back.

"Preparations for the enchantment are complete," he said, turning to Thaffe and Jeryk. "When the heart hath been suffused with a sufficient quantity of aether, the golem should be restored to life."

Everyone waited with baited breath—indeed, both Thaffe and Jeryk were looking like children impatiently waiting for their nameday presents—as Urianger began to put some of his own aether into the Talos to get it moving. With a loud gridding noise, the Talos creaked and slowly moved. They watched with amazement and excitement as the stone giant began to get to its feet and stood tall for them.

"It's working!" Thaffe cried. "It's working!"

It looked ready to dissolve into cheers at least until he heard Thaffe's shocked voice say, "M-Magnus…"

Thancred looked back in time to see the man had come to watch after all. His eyes were wide with shock as he stared ahead, as if unable to believe it. But then pain washed over his face as they moved back and allowed him to approach the stone creation.

But there was no excitement or joy in his face… only grief… terrible, terrible grief.

"You left me for this?" he heard Magnus whisper as his shoulders trembled, "This wretched heap of stone and rubble…" The bottle fell from his hands and rolled across the stone ground, and he stepped closer, pressing his forehead to the Talos's leg. "This worthless pile of earth?" the hand that had held the bottle now curled up into a fist and he hit the Talos's stone leg over and over before breaking down completely as he whispered, "And yet… I can't… I can't…"

Thancred just looked on, completely lost in thoughts as he remembered all the times that he muttered those same words.

Claire, who was standing beside him, also seemed unable to turn her gaze away from the scene, her eyes glazed over with a kind of sadness that he couldn't remember seeing before. But neither of them asked the other as they watched Magnus cry. When Thaffe and Jeryk both tried to comfort him the two of them decided to give them space and time and they left together when they noticed that half of their group was missing.

They wandered the tracks for a time before they found Minfilia sitting on the top of a cliff near the edge of Twin, with her arms around her knees and hugging herself as she shook. Urianger was kneeling next to her, speaking quietly. Thancred made to join them when they came close enough to hear what was being said and when he heard his own name, he led out his hand to stop Claire, who paused.

"Thancred most of all. He'll never admit it, but I can see it in his eyes…" she croaked out and she was whimpering, on the verge of crying outright before finally crying out bitterly, "I wish he'd just say it - just say that he hates me! That he wishes I was dead so that she could return!"

But that wasn't true. He didn't wish that. He yearned for his Minfilia to be returned to them, but he didn't wish her dead… never. Why would she…? Oh, wait… now it made sense. He lowered his head, screwing up his eyes as he felt sick to his stomach.

He did this to her. He made her feel this miserable and he hated himself for it.

However, the simple truth was that he didn't know how to tell her how he felt. Looking at her now, she never looked more like a frightened child who was separated from her parents and didn't know her way home.

He just wanted to tell her that he was afraid of giving her anymore of his heart in terror of it being broken again. He wanted her to realize that all he wanted was for her to be safe and happy and that he was there to guard her with his life.

But he didn't know how.

Urianger suddenly patted the top of her head gently and reassured her, "None of this is thy doing, child." He seemed to struggle within him for a moment before confessing, "'Twas I who set the Oracle on her path unto the First. I who condemned you all to suffer these torments. 'Tis my sin alone, and one that will haunt me unto my dying day."

That was true… but though Thancred wanted to hate him for that, he could understand why he did what he did.

Together they looked over the landscape of red rock and sand as Urianger told her simply, "Yet, I dare not dwell overlong on my many regrets, for the world is a tapestry of fates, interwoven and inseparable, and we who strive to better it cannot choose but make difficult decisions."

Urianger heaved a sigh, and for the first time, Thancred could see the trace of the 'Sorcerer as old as time itself' in his face. He suddenly looked as if he had aged a hundred years or more in that brief moment and he had to wonder just what was going through his mind to cause him to look like that?

But he then went on with a rather rueful smile at Minfilia, "For naught of worth was ever achieved without sacrifice. And thus must man ever struggle to weigh life against loss."

It seemed like good advice, but still, Thancred could swear that he felt that there was more to it than that… like Urianger was trying to convince himself of that as much as to Minfilia.

When the girl looked up at him, he could see a tear falling from her cheeks and Urianger gently wiped it away as he reassured her, "The one for whom thou mournest beareth no grudge. Were she here, she would not suffer thee to languis in sorrow. She would tell thee to seek thine own path, thine own purpose."

She would, wouldn't she? She—she always did love children and hated to see them cry. Thancred couldn't help but stop the faint smile on his own mouth as Urianger chuckled sadly, "It is a truth which I myself was slow to learn. Yet a truth it remaineth."

Thancred looked back up in time to see how Urianger patted her head again, and smiled kindly at her as he promised, "Thou needs but have faith. Have faith, and all will be well."

His words seem to be enough to bring comfort to Minfilia, who was gazing up at him with those crystalline eyes once more and nodded, despite her sadness, and managed him a small smile of gratitude.

"Go to her."

He had almost forgotten that Claire was here. He heard Claire whisper softly next to him but he ignored it at first. He wanted too… was close to doing so. But he couldn't. No, not now… it wasn't right. He remained silent for a long time before finally answering, "Not today."

He made to turn and walk by her, but she suddenly blocked his way, causing him to blink in surprise.

For one moment he was certain she was going to punch him… or perhaps he was hoping that she would give him a smack. But she just stared at him in a way he had seen somewhere before… ah… now he remembered. It was the same look whenever Louisoix caught him doing something he shouldn't. Disappointment.

"I won't tell you what to do. It is not my place. But if you don't tell her today… when will you next have the chance?" was all she asked him before shaking her head and walking away.

He watched on sadly as she moved out from outside their hiding place and approached the two. He watched as she joined them on that ledge and they talked for a moment before Urianger stood, saying something that sounded like wanting to check on the Talos and that they should rest here before heading back. He left the two girls to sit and talk on the ledge as he walked along the tracks, his head down, and his heart heavy.

They left Claire and Minfilia on that ledge to talk for some time, but eventually, the two came back and Minfilia was looking a little more cheerful. Still sad, but there seemed to be a new thoughtfulness to her face as she greeted them, as if she had much to think about in the short time that they spoke.

When he saw her, Thancred did try to speak, but his throat closed up and his tongue felt heavy so that he couldn't muster any sound. Not that he could think of any words to say right now.

They left the miners of Twine go over the Talos, getting it to walk and testing it out, all of them looking ecstatic that their long years of work had finally paid off. Even Magnus seemed to be pulling himself slowly out of his anguish and by the time that they were certain that the Talos was fully functional, he seemed to come back to life and shake off the boozy stupor he had been in.

"It's been years since I've seen a Talos in such fine shape," he sighed when they approached him, "Would that Agna was here to see it. Or our son… I was ready to let her dreams die down there in the mines. Even after you'd found the leonine, I refused to believe that it could work. Gods, what a fool I was. But I tell you now—I'm going to take good care of this Talos. For both their sakes. On behalf of my family, and all the miners of Twine, thank you."

They didn't do that much—or at least, he didn't—but they smiled at him as he began to explain how everything, including the gate, works. They were finally going to head there and that the control box was at the mines.

Soon… very soon… they would see her again. Now that the moment was here, he was terrified and wanted to turn and run as far from Naabath Areng as he could.

Before he gave into his desire though, he heard Minfilia clear her throat.

"Before we go…" she whispered and he looked down at her, "While you were away with Claire, I prepared an extra set of cartridges for you." And from her pocket, she pulled out a small white bag full of cartridges… including one on top of the pile that seemed to glow.

He looked at it in surprise as she explained, "It's the practice cartridge you gave me. I know I should've thrown it away ages ago, but I've been adding a little extra to it every day. After so many charges, I'm honestly not sure what it will do. But I wanted you to have it. For luck."

He was oddly choked up as he took it… feeling how warm it was among the other cold ones.

"Minfilia, I—uh…" he tried to thank her but was still unable to speak. She just smiled before saying they should go and they followed after her… feeling lower than he ever had before.

They followed the others straight to the old mines where they first met and began to set the Talos up with the trolley, and Jeryk seemed to be in tears of joy. He was just wishing out loud that he wished that he could capture this moment in a painting or even a quick sketch. Suddenly he turned to Claire and began asking her since she was good at everything, he wanted to know if she was an artist too? She just shook her head politely at him but he could feel her eyes on him and he sighed.

"I know what you're thinking, and I will talk to her," he promised her, "When the time is right."

Damn her stoicism… he just could never figure out what she was feeling. She didn't look relieved or disappointed again—she just nodded and let the matter go from there. He supposed that was the best he could get from it.

It was about twenty minutes later before the Talos was ready for them and they were busy at the control panel.

There was no point in delaying their meeting with the former leader of the Scions, and before he could have imagined it, they were climbing the ladder to the trolley as the Talos took the handles, built perfectly just for its massive hands.

That was when they all realized that there was someone missing. Urianger was still on the ground, and they were all looking down at him questionably, wondering what was going on. Thancred was about to joke that even though Urianger was afraid of water that shouldn't mean he was afraid to travel by rail.

"Thou must needs carry on without me," he said seriously, "The path to Nabaath Areng lieth open. Whilst thou travelest thither to the south, I would apprise Mistress Alisaie and the others of our progress. As circumstances permit, I will thereafter rejoin the hunt for the remaining Lightwardens."

What? He was leaving them now? Oh, he wished not… while he could see the logic in his suggestion, the idea of going on alone with these two frightened him more than any sin eater. But, after getting one good look at his face, he knew that he would be fighting a losing battle and agreed that it was for the best.

"Magnus," Thancred called, still feeling unease. "Will the gate close immediately after the trolley passes through?"

Magnus wiped his brow, leaving some dirt spread across his furry forehead, and was in good spirits without having partook in any spirits himself, shook his head, "No, it will stay open until someone closes it manually. Built that way to prevent any untimely accidents."

Well, at least they didn't need to worry about being trapped there. They would just walk along the tracks back through the gate should something else happen. Thancred nodded, and turned his attention back to Urianger. "Then you and the others can meet us in Nabaath Areng after giving the Eulmorans the slip."

Urianger nodded in understanding and they began to bid their farewells.

"Urianger," Minfilia spoke up shakily, and when he looked at her, she seemed to lose confidence in her words for a moment before saying earnestly, "Thank you. For everything."

He just smiled back and reminded her quietly, "Remember - thou needs but have faith."

They all wished each other the best of luck before Magnus yelled at them to grab hold of something if they finished with their goodbyes for he would hate to see them all take a tumble. Urianger waved them off, as the trolley slowly began to move. But as they were leaving, Thancred caught hold of his friends' eye and they nodded. It was now almost time and they all had to be ready… for whatever outcome awaited them.

The Talos sped up and they broke eye contact as he looked forward, preparing himself for whatever was waiting. The Talos sped up as it lumbered behind them, moving surprising fast for a figure of stone, and carried them out of the railyard and ever onwards.

It was a surprisingly smooth ride with nary a hiccup along the way. This was certainly a fine way to travel and Thancred was wondering if they could bring something like this to Eorzea to allow people to get around without the need of Chocobo porters every moment. It was something that he could bring up with Cid when he got back.

He even chuckled as Minfilia looked over the ledge—and he was ready to grab her if she leaned too far over—and watched the scenery go back in a windy blur. Soon enough, they spotted the gate settled into the mountain as they passed below the crystalline wave of light that seemed to make the glare of the sun even more painful than before as it cast facets of rainbows along the deck of the trolley. He was feeling more than a little concerned when they saw the gate and there were no signs of it opening… at least until they felt a slight shake beneath them, as if the Talos stepped on something. At last, the heavy gates began to creak open. To think that they hadn't moved in decades and they were still moving as if they were freshly built? This was a marvel of engineering after all.

"So far so good," he sighed as the door opened and entered a darkened tunnel.

It seemed a smooth trip the rest of the way… at least that was what he was hoping for. But as they fell into a slope and he saw he could see light at the end… what he saw when they came out was when his jaw and heart both dropped.

He couldn't see him at first after the glare of the light momentarily blinded him after they existed the tunnel—but it couldn't be anyone else.

"Wait... is that—Ran'jit!"

And it was indeed the old General from Eulmore… and Minfilia's old prison warden.

He didn't have time at all to react. He was so certain that he had been killed back in Rak'tika…? How the hells did he get here? As the trolley approached the old man—who was standing so causally on the tracks—he gave out a single kick and before he knew it both the Talos and trolley were knocked off the tracks and they went flying through the air.

Dazed and baffled at what just happened, Thancred hit the ground with all the wind knocked out of him and it took him a few minutes to be able to wheeze himself into a kneeling position.

"You're a stubborn old swine, aren't you…" he growled.

"One who has mastered Gukumatz fears not the blackest pit or the fieriest hell," Ran'jit answered calmly, "Your deeds in the east did not go unnoticed. Long have I lain in wait, and sure enough, you did not disappoint. Had you only sworn fealty to Lord Vauthry, you would have no cause to skulk about like frightened animals."

Damn him… he must have suspected that they would break up into two groups—especially when he noticed that Minfilia wasn't with them. He didn't know how he was able to get here ahead of them and through that gate none the less, but he would worry about that later. He was already mentally preparing for them all to fight him again when he heard a slight grunt of effort from Minfilia as she rolled to her stomach and was trying to get up.

"You will remain as you are," Ran'jit ordered, "While I dispatch these villains."

Perhaps he thought that she would meekly shy away from the coldness in his voice, but if he thought so, he was gravely mistaken.

"No! I won't…! I won't let you!" she shot back, and though there was a slight tremble in her voice, she didn't back down like one would expect.

That seemed to quickly spark anger in him as Ran'jit glared at her.

"You forget to whom you speak!" he barked at the girl in outrage, "Who armed you? Trained you? Fought and killed a thousand sin eaters with you? And when you were inevitably cut down and lay lifeless in my arms—who sought out your successor to carry on the futile struggle again and again?! We seek to bring peace to what is left of this shattered land, while these mad fools would only bring further chaos down upon us! Do not be deceived, child! Only by Lord Vauthry's hand will this dying world know a sliver of salvation!"

Blah, blah, blah… the guy comes back from the dead and suddenly he's looking to stand at the altar and preach to the world about the glory of serving a fat lard like his master. Thancred was already reaching for his weapon, ready to strike at him in the middle of his rant, which looked like it may go on for a while, but Minfilia had beaten him to it.

"I don't know about the world… but I never asked to be saved," she spat back, "However much it hurts, and however hard it gets, it's my life, and I want to live it on my own terms!"

He froze at her words as she rallied to her feet, holding onto a bruised arm from when she landed after flying out of the trolley, but that wasn't enough to stop her. No, she went on into a rant of her own, her own anger rising like boiling water and scorching as it spilled over the sides. It looked like she had been wanting to say this for some time as she yelled back, "And those 'mad fools' you want me to abandon? The ones I've traveled with, fought with, and may one day die with—they feel the same. So no, I will not be deceived! No matter what you say, I refuse to believe it's all for nothing!"

She took a deep breath before saying in a smaller tone, "They are everything to me! All I have and all I need! And I will gladly do anything for them."

His heart beat painfully at that… for he knew that feeling very well. For they were family to him and he would gladly give much and more for every single one of them—yes, even that stick in the mud Urianger.

Minfilia then stood tall, her eyes blazing forward, and she seemed to find some satisfaction at seeing Ran'jit's furious appearance as she gave him an ultimatum.

"Let us pass, or kill me," she declared slowly and with no trace of uncertainty, "I'm not leaving here without them."

Something in Ran'jit's face broke at that.

"How dare you!" he roared out, seething with rage before taking several deep breaths and decided, "Very well—if you would cast your lot with villains, then you shall share their fate!"

Thancred's body moved without him even realizing it. one moment he was on the ground, the next he was in front of Minfilia and blocking the attack that Ran'jit had aimed directly for her—as if his hand was about to grab her throat. Thancred was barely able to hold him back, but in Ran'jit's anger, he didn't seem to notice that someone else was there before Thancred forced him back. He just swung his blade as he stood between him and the girls, his blood reaching through his veins as he suddenly found the words that he wanted to say—or rather needed to say.

"I heard what you said. And I'm sorry for all the things I've left unspoken," he said to Minfilia, back to her. He would normally be looking at her, but didn't dare take his eyes off Ran'jit, who was still looking ready to try and take out Minfilia first.

There was no time to waste. He didn't think he would have the strength to do what needed to be done if he waited any longer. There was only one thing that he could do right now and that was to protect her from their biggest threat from getting to the next Lightwarden.

"You have to go. Now!" he commanded to both Minfilia and the Warrior of Darkness.

"Thancred no—!" Minfilia gasped, but he wasn't having any of it.

"Go!" he snapped back, "Do what you came here to do. I'll not have you waste that newfound resolve on me." The girl was finally ready, he could see that, and he had to continue to fulfill his promise to both Minfilias until it was over. He turned his head slightly just so that he could get Claire, who had already gotten to her feet long ago and was reaching for her weapon, but he just silently shook his head at her, getting her attention.

They shared a look with each other, much like how he did with Urianger earlier, before looking back to Ran'jit, still ready to go as he said, "I leave her in your hands. Hurry!"

All he managed to catch was a nod from both of them before he was looking back at Ran'jit. He heard the crunch of their footsteps and knew they were making a break for it when he saw Ran'jit's head turn. He then leapt forward to attack their retreating backs, but Thancred was on him in an instant and forced him back, pointing his gunblade at him, silently daring him to try that again.

"Not another step," he warned, "Your fight is with me."

"You think yourself her protector!?" he barked back with an edge of laughter to it, "Hah! As if a whelp like you could be a better father to her than me!"

What kind of fathers were they though, really? One kept her locked up almost her whole life while the other was afraid to get too close? It was a miracle that the girl wasn't messed up in the head after all the hell she went through.

He was the first to run forward and he met Ran'jit with his blade. It was galling to be fighting a man who fighting back with no form of weapons other than his hands and feet—and who was old enough to be his own grandsire—but he ignored that as he fought back as hard as he could.

"Whatever it takes, I swear I will end you," Thancred pants as he brought his blade down only for it to be knocked away with a punch and he landed a solid kick to his stomach—where Thancred was certain that he broke a few ribs—and knocked the wind out of him for a second time.

"Hmph. You lie to yourself as you lied to her," Ran'jit shouted back, his face full of anger before he created balls of explosive aether between them and brought lightning down upon them. Thancred gritted his teeth as he felt himself burned from the bolts, but he refused to allow the old man to gain the upper hand.

"Aye, I lied," he confessed, "But no more. She deserves better."

She did deserve much better. Better than anything he could have to offer. Only now did he realize just how cold he was, how he must have forced the poor girl to suffer. If he did live through this, he swore that he would do all he could to make it up to her and the others.

"A life of pain?" Ran'jit demanded as both he and his drake attacked, "Of ceaseless conflict and despair?"

Thancred could imagine the pain that he must have gone through that turned him into this. But this was no way to handle it. He wasn't going to stand back and allow him to have his way any longer. Still, the drake did knock him down and he felt himself wheezing for air. No, not today. He couldn't let them down today.

He got back up as more lightning fell and now he had to pace himself and avoid the attacks if he wanted to stay alive long enough to deal any damage.

"This is going well…" he growled, unable to stop himself from joking despite the seriousness of the situation.

"Vanity…" Ran'jit snapped before using another blast of wind aether to force him back and held up his hand. "Beast of my blood, answer my call!"

Thancred knew what was coming now. He groaned out as he watched the long dragon-like drake appear before them. It then swirled around the old man, aether suddenly erupting like a volcano as a blast made his head ring and revealed the armor. Somehow he had merged with the serpent dragon and was garbed in crimson armor and tattered garments with a gleaming red scythe in his hands.

"Rend my foes and ward their blows," he cried as Thancred rallied to his feet.

It was this technique that earned him the title of General in the Eulmorian army.

There was a reason he was considered to be 'undefeated' before now.

Thancred just gritted his teeth, knowing that he had to think fast if he wanted to avoid becoming another victory under his belt.

"Ha, so you really are a monster," he taunted, more to try and annoy him and give him time to think than actually trying to scare him.

"Better a monster than a deceiver," Ran'jit swung his scythe, cutting through the air and making Thancred dodge back just in time. "A spinner of dreams and false hopes."

"There is no folly in hope!" Thancred returned the hit with a shot before Ran'jit jumped back and away, easily dodging it.

"... I said as much myself, once," he sighed, "I was wrong. Never again."

This was getting him nowhere.

'Damn it! I need time to line up a clean shot,' he thought to himself, dancing around the man, slashing where he could and trying to avoid the incoming attacks. "I suppose if there's no other way…"

It was an old friend of his that never failed him before. But with his body in the state that it was…?

Still, he had to do something.

"When will you learn?" Ran'jit demanded.

"When you're dead and buried!" Thancred countered and with a newfound resolve, he rolled out of the way of the scythe just as Ran'jit summoned several heads of pure aether in the form of dragon heads. All the heads were now locked onto him and he was dangerously close to becoming roast here and now.

"Yield now and I will grant you a quick death," Ran'jit snapped.

Oh, how nice of him. Too bad that Thancred was too stubborn to give up to an old swine like him.

"But we've only just begun," he countered with a shite-eaten grin on his face before stepping into Perfect Deception: a technique that hid one from another's view. He was more amazed that he was able to pull it off at all… but almost immediately he could feel his body breaking under the effort. He was choking on his own blood as the aether in his blood reacted violently to the change and his own heart was thumping hard in his own ears.

"Not good," he wheezed as Ran'jit was now leaping across the field looking for him.

'The strain is more than I remember,' he thought to himself, 'At least now I can get that shot.'

He could feel his pulse beginning to quicken and a tightness in his chest before he was able to get Ran'jit to stand still long enough for him to get a shot in.

But Ran'jit wasn't amused even with the bullet in his shoulder.

"You would court death for mere parlor tricks?" he demanded and Thancred was sent flying back and hit the ground, his Perfect Deception fading and left him visible.

Thancred panted hard as he got back up, his legs feeling like jelly, "My life would be but a small price to pay."

Look at him… what did he have going for him? Here he was, completely alone, with no real plan, no one coming to back him up, and with nothing to lose. He had no reason to bluff here. And for a moment, it seemed that Ran'jit realized this fact—that his opponent wasn't too concerned with the prospect of his own death.

That seemed to shake him slightly, but it quickly faded as he snapped, "Then pay it you shall!"

He had to bid his time to strike again. Until then, he just had to survive. Easy right?

Ran'jit's attacks were relentless, coming in wave after wave, mostly of fire and lightning with the occasional swing of his scythe. But Thancred was able to keep ahead of them. If nothing else, he had one thing going for him that Ran'jit didn't have… someone to protect and he knew that he had to hold on… for Minfilia and Claire's sake.

"You never understood her," he said, hoping that he could get him off guard, "She is not a bird to be locked away in a gilded cage."

"And you presume to be her protector," Ran'jit sneered back, "Pathetic!"

He called forth the dragon heads once more and Thancred took that as a sign to fade from view once more.

"Looks like I'll have to use it again, then," he panted before fading away. The second time was even more painful than the first. Now it felt like large insects were crawling up under his skin and a few blood vessels were now popping—at least that was what he assumed that strange popping noise in his ear was.

"Urgh… hold still, damn you!" he wheezed as he had to fight his way just to get close enough to fire another attack. And so the fight went on, though Ran'jit seemed more infuriated at this point.

"You have played your hand far too early, boy," he warned and they began to move in a perfect circle around each other. Thancred starting to feel hope blossom inside him for he knew that he was making progress, slow progress, but progress never the less. However, he was quickly fading. He didn't know how much longer he could reasonably hold out for and Ran'jit was still going strong.

The attacks were coming harsher and faster with every second before he actually realized that Ran'jit was being pushed to his breaking point. Not as quickly as Thancred was, but it was enough to give him the fighting chance he needed. If he could just take him down then he knew that the girls would be safe from him pursuing them. Sure he may not live after that, but if it meant that Minfilia and the Warrior of Light had time to get away, it would be a worthy death in his eyes. He would be keeping Minfilia safe as well as making things up with Claire for his failure to protect her the day that she was served up to Ifrit so long ago.

"This has carried on long enough, wouldn't you agreed?" he asked.

"Why do you persist in this folly?" Ran'jit demanded and he could see a vein reaching danger points in the older man's forehead.

Well, the alternate is letting him win and he certainly didn't want to do that.

"Is that all?" Thancred taunted as the dragon's heads appeared once more. One more… he faded from view, but at this point he could barely draw breath and blood was beginning to spurt out of his many open cuts. This was his last shot and he felt that it was time for him to use his secret weapon. He pulled out the glowing cartridge, ready to load it into his gunblade… 'Minfilia's last cartridge… have to… make it count…' he was panting hard now and his fingers fumbled to try and fit it into the damn slot.

"There you are!"

He looked up in time to be hit by Ran'jit's next attack and he felt blood dripping into his eyes as his trick faded and he hit the ground hard.

"Gah! But how!?" he demanded, blood dripping down his chin. Once more he desperately tried to disappear, but he suddenly found that his body was frozen and could not move. Not that it mattered since Ran'jit found him almost immediately again. It seems that he finally caught on to his own 'aether' and could find him even invisible.

"I'd hoped you would fall for it a third time…" he grunted, struggling to get up, "Urgh… though two times was perhaps already too many…"

His heart was beating in agony and his head felt like someone was shoving a spike through it as he cast his mind about for something, anything, that could get him out of this.

"No more tricks?" Ran'jit asked, also beginning to pant, as he walked towards him, his armor gleaming menacingly in the glaring light, "Then let us finish this."

Thancred was at a lost; but the moment that he heard the word 'trick' he suddenly remembered one last ace up his sleeve… even though he knew that it would almost surely kill him this time.

"But you've not even seen the grand finale," he grinned, trying to get back up, but his body was now rebelling against him. "One… last… disappearing act…"

"Were you not struggling to stand I might think you serious," Ran'jit stated, not seeing the danger that was coming towards him now.

"Oh, I am deadly serious," Thancred grinned as the dragon heads readied to attack. It was his last resort, and even before he lost the ability to use magicks, it was very dangerous technique to use. But he did it anyway by stepping into his Souldeep Invisibility. This was a technique that completely concealed one's own presence by temporarily severing the flow of the Life-sustaining aether around them. He doubted that even those like Urianger and Y'shtola could find him like this… though he knew he had only seconds in this form.

If nothing else, just seeing Ran'jit boom out in frustration was enough to bring him satisfaction even as he struggled to breathe.

"Fool!" Ran'jit roared out, "You think the shadows will save you?"

Ran'jit then fired a blast of wind-aether and though he was hit, the spell didn't fade and Ran'jit still couldn't see him.

"There is no escape!" Ran'jit screamed now attacking the air randomly, attacking as wide a space as he could until he found him, "Do you hear me!?"

Just… a little more… it would all soon be over.

Feeling as if his heart was threatening to burst open, Thancred finished loading his last bullet into his weapon and clambered to his feet. He could feel his aether suffocating him from the inside and his blood was seeping up through his many wounds and cuts as the pain from his broken ribs made him feel that he must have punctured something internally for sure.

"Thank you, Minfilia…" he whispered, "For this precious gift…"

Feeling as if his legs turned too lead, he forced himself to walk, wondering how his body hadn't given out on him by now, but got close enough to Ran'jit to fire.

"To hell with you!" Thancred cried as he delivered a rather hard attack which worked like nothing else had and Ran'jit finally fell.

"Gaahhh!"

Ran'jit was the one taken to his knees this time. Panting he glared up at Thancred, who stepped back into the open and breathed properly for the first time—growing light-headed from the sudden rush. Ran'jit's armor faded away as he looked up, hardly able to move.

"You would have her suffer and die," he snarled at him, "I would spare her that fate!"

That may be… but better the master of your own destiny than merely a pet of another. She was not some helpless little girl—not anymore. And he wasn't going to allow him to control her any longer.

"That is not for you or anyone else to decide—ever again," he hissed, still ready to go another round. But the two just looked at each other for a long time at those words. It seemed that some kind of understanding reached them both and Ran'jit silently looked away. With a burst of lightning, the man and his dragon that swirled around him, disappeared and left them alone.

He was gone… finally deciding to flee. And it was then that any strength left in him faded. Everything that had happened in the last few years seemed to crash down all at once and he tried to remain upright, but with his vision swimming before him, and him coughing up blood, he allowed himself to backwards onto the warm ground and stared up at the sky, panting for breath.

He laid there, flat on his back with his arms outstretched as he felt his painfully beating heart slowly returned to normal. There was a slight wind on his face and he closed his eyes… almost willing himself to believe that he was lying out upon Thanalan's desert sands with a warm sun on his face—just outside the Waking Sands where his family of misfits and outcasts were all working merrily inside. He could almost hear the voices of Tataru scolding the other Scions into not leaving all their books around the place as Papalymo and Yda—Lyse—getting into some petty disagreement and Y'shtola hummed in amusement.

He was so lost in the feeling that when he did open his eyes that, for that split second, he was wondering what happened to the sky.

Right… he was here, wasn't he?

Five years since he first came to this world. Five years since he last saw the night sky… and even longer since he spoke with… his Minfilia.

When he learned of the fate that awaited them on the morrow though, he knew that he would be willing to do whatever it took to prevent that future from coming to pass. He couldn't just sit around and wait for them all to get killed… so he had to make himself useful until the Exarch could get his act together and bring the Warrior of Light here.

During that time, he learned of the latest 'Minfilia'… a child who was both like and unlike his own Minfilia. But it wasn't her. He could not lie and say that he didn't secretly hope that she would be in there somewhere when he saw her. But when he found that little girl huddled in that cell in Eulmore…?

It had taken him months of reconnaissance to be able to learn everything he needed to know to plan the rescue. Sure he could sneak into the city itself easily enough, but he had no idea where they could be holding Minfilia. He could remember the pristine of the white marble and majestic buildings carved out of stone… so familiar with his hometown of Limsa Lominsa that he felt strangely at home even in this city a world away from the one he grew up in.

He had knocked out a Eulmoran guard and stole his uniform to get down to the lower levels until he finally managed to track down the entrance. From what he later learned this subterranean chamber was used as a storehouse in one age and a safe haven to shelter the people from the sin eaters until Vauthry took over and converted into a makeshift gaol.

It was here that he felt it was safe to leave the guard's armor off—it was hard for him to move in anyway—and continued down into the deepest chamber. He managed to evade any watchmen who were stationed here, and only dispatched those whom he thought would try to stop them. Thankfully they were in the middle of a guard change so the area was left mainly empty for him. This was good for him since if he was expected to spirit away a child he needed to use everything at his disposal to ensure her safety.

While he knew that the Exarch cautioned him not to expect their own Minfilia, Thancred couldn't help but feel a powerful connection to this girl—a girl that he had never even met before—and he knew that this was the right thing to do.

After he finished off the last guard, he was outside a heavy looking door and he pulled out a small knife to cut the ring of keys at the guard's belt.

When he stepped inside the room—this wasn't what he was expecting. It was a windowless, yet very comfortable-looking room with a plush bed, study furniture, and an enormous bookshelf that was lined with countless books. It wasn't a bad room by any means… but merely a place to keep a little girl as a prisoner—or a pet—for her remaining days.

And there she was.

A little girl, no more than ten summers old, was sitting on the bed with one of the tomes in her hands as she looked over it with a rather bored expression as if she had read it a thousand times already. She did look up when she heard the door open, perhaps expecting a guard to bring her meal… but her jaw dropped in shock at her unexpected visitor. He stared at her as much as she stared at him—startled at how similar she looked to young Ascilia. The only difference were her startling eyes of crystal…?

"You... You are?" the girl asked fearfully.

There had been only one thought in his head at that moment: 'It's not her.'

But in that moment he felt only something warm blossom in his chest and he couldn't stop the smile coming from his face.

"Minfilia. It's time to go," he said as if he were telling her that it was time to get out of bed so that they could go out. Which, he supposed, was exactly what it was. But he was treating her as if this was an outing that they had been planning for a long time and he held out her hand, as if they already knew each other.

As soon as she heard her name, she suddenly smiled at him and after only a moment of hesitation when she pulled up the hood of her long white dress that swept across the floor, she got off the bed and she took his hand.

Immediately, she seemed to trust him… to feel that same sense of familiarity that he felt the moment he saw her. The moment that he took that tiny hand in his own, he made a promise.

'This time. This time, I will make it right.'

He tried so hard to not grow attached and kept her at arm's length while still holding onto hope that his Minfilia would come back.

But now he fully understood the reason that she spoke to him that day. The day that she borrowed this child's body and spoke to him through her… because she knew that she would never return home with them. Even if it was decided that she would take control of that body in the end, she would never be able to return with them.

She was forever trapped in this world… and by forcing her to remain she would only continue to suffer.

And more young girls would be forced to make that same choice in the end.

No more of that. This he was sure of.

These girls have as much right to live as she did… if not more.

Not that it made accepting this any easier. If anything, it was even more painful to think about.

'Not a single day goes by that I don't think about all you have given me,' he thought sadly to himself. 'Countless memories and moments I took for granted... Gods you grew up so fast.'

But he did what he set out to do. He protected her, he taught her all that he could and made sure that she would make it to Naabath Areng; he could leave Claire to take care of her the rest of the way there.

All he could feel now was his blood-soaked clothes and his body now so numb that he could barely move. But he was smiling the whole time as he went on thinking to himself, 'But you had to, didn't you? Eyes closing as painful memories returned. For those you had lost. For those you could yet save. A world teetering on the very bring of oblivion, for which you gave your everything without hesitation...'

Everything seemed to spin around him as it became a hazy whirlwind of light and color and the pain in his chest just would not die down. Not that he paid proper attention to that, he could only remember the day that they last spoke before coming to the First. His memory of her voice as she spoke to him, and he thought, 'your kindness, your compassion, your love ... Then and now...'

His vision was now blurring and the light was burning through his closed eyelids. With the last ounce of strength he still had, he raised his arm to cover his eyes as he knew that this had to be it.

"One last time, with a little help. I'm so proud to have been a part of your life..." he croaked out, his voice now breaking at this, not even sure that she could hear him—though he had the strangest feeling that she could when he felt that wind kick up dust around him.

"Oh Minfilia..."

He finally whispered what it was that he wanted. What his wish would be… but it was lost on the wind so that not even he heard his own words. He just let the tears fall properly now, with no fear of being seen by anyone and allowed his grief to carry him away from here. He knew he was in bad shape and though he could have sworn that he heard the concerned cries of his friends, he simply chalked it up from left over memories from his dying brain.

He didn't know if he would truly die here, but if he did he was satisfied that he did what he needed to do. With his mind's eye full of memories of both girls that he had come to love as his own… for the first time in years, he blacked out with a smile on his face—not regretting his choice to stay behind in the slightest.

(I did skip over most of the unimportant stuff in this chapter because this was Thancred's chapter. His feelings about all that was happening and his coming to accept what was going to come and I liked to think that it had come full circle. But how will he feel when it's not his Minfilia who returns to him? Next chapter we learn more of what was going on inside Minfilia's head at that point and her feelings about this. As for her talk with Claire? And that supposed conversation that she had with Alphinaud earlier? You will find out in the next chapter as well as an unexpected twist at the end. It's just that this was Thancred's chapter. And I really like to think that it did him justice.)