Hello, hello! Welcome to my little foray into the Final Fantasy XIV fandom. Previously I wrote mostly for the VII fandom, but after getting hooked on the game the ideas just wouldn't leave me, so this project was started out of pure self indulgence and grew quite a bit. And now I've written enough to be able to post. So I hope you'll find a little bit of enjoyment out of this.


Book 1: A Warrior Reborn


A New Scion

The Warrior of Light...in the future, they will most likely tell stories about her. How she's a living legend, the savior of Eorzea. But stories like that have a tendency to forget that even legends tend to have humble beginnings. And as it just so happens, so did she.

Who would have thought that things were going to unfold the way they did after this adventurer joined a certain organisation?

- from the notes of Cid Garlond


Her eyes roamed the hallway while she followed the eager steps and friendly voice of the little Lalafel dressed in pink as she showed her around her new...what could she call it? Workplace? Secret club?

When she arrived in Ul'Dah just weeks prior, S'eni never imagined that she would join a group that had made it its calling to bring peace to Eorzea.

But then again she supposed it wasn't that different from being part of the Adventurer Guild.

She was shaken out of her musings when the smaller woman stopped in front of a room and pushed the door open.

"And this is where you'll be staying," the Lalafel said, turning toward S'eni with a smile. The room was pretty small, much smaller than her guest room in the Quicksand, with a bed, a table, and a chair. The other woman's smile fell a little. "I'm sorry, but this is sadly all we can afford even with the donations we receive."

S'eni shook her head. "That's alright. I'm an adventurer after all. I've spent some nights on the road." With a smile, she added: "I like how cosy it feels. Thanks...uh, Tataru, was it?"

"That's right." Tataru grinned.

"Sorry, I'm legit terrible with names," S'eni admitted sheepishly. "I'll probably take a while to get everyone's down."

Yet she couldn't shake this feeling of familiarity that surrounded some of the other Scions. It started when she had met Thancred, but she was pretty sure she never met the guy before.

Maybe it was because of the Echo?

"Don't worry, everyone here is quite the character in their own right. You'll have them remembered soon enough." Tataru's eyes widened all of a sudden and she did a little jump that made her look downright adorable. "Oh no! I forgot to arrange the documents for Minfilia! Excuse me!"

S'eni barely managed to step aside as the Lalafel dashed out of the room. Looking after her, she ran a hand through her blonde hair before chuckling.

At least things wouldn't be boring.

Might as well explore a little, S'eni thought and left the room, closing the door behind her. While wandering around, she couldn't help but take note of all the people gathered here, from all corners of Eorzea, not bound down by affiliation to one nation.

It reminded her...

A sharp pain shot through her head, like a piece of hot iron being jammed up her spinal cord and right into her brain, making her hiss out and stumble against the sand-colored stone of the wall next to her.

The sounds of battle all around her, the smell of fire and blood.

Screams, death, destruction.

A giant ball of crimson illuminating the night's sky.

Everything was—

"Are you alright?" a husky voice asked, and S'eni felt herself return to the here and now, the pain she felt reduced to a dull ache in the back of her mind. Taking a few shaky breaths, she slowly nodded, turning her head to find herself looking into a pair of mint green colored eyes, slit pupils scanning her for wounds.

"Y-yeah," S'eni replied, slowly pushing herself off the wall.

"Is that so?" the other woman, a Miqo'te as well, asked, quirking a white eyebrow and not sounding even remotely convinced.

"I'm fine, really," she assured her. "It's the Echo, I think. It gives me visions. I guess I'm just not used to it."

The look in the other Miqo'te's eyes changed from one of slight concern into one of curiosity, and she raised a tanned hand to rub her chin. "I see..."

Taking a deep breath, S'eni started to feel like herself again and smiled. "Still, thanks for the concern..."

"Y'shtola, we were introduced earlier, remember?"

"Y'shtola. And I'm terrible with names," S'eni said, tapping her head as she started to walk down the hallway again. "But I'll try to commit it to memory!"

"S'eni Gata," Y'shtola called after her, making S'eni halt in her step at the sound of her full name. Apparently, she had no trouble remembering names. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the other woman walking towards her. "Care to join me for a cup of tea? You look like you are in need of a little pick me up."

She would be lying if she said she didn't. "Alright. Lead the way."

The hint of a smile formed on the other woman's lips before walking ahead.

1

A soft sigh escaped her once the fruity taste with just a slight hint of spice made its way down her throat and into her belly, its warmth spreading throughout her whole body and making her relax.

"Good, isn't it?"

"It's delicious!" S'eni exclaimed, her ears doing a little wiggle. The two of them had sat down at a table nestled in the back of a large room that looked like it also doubled as a warehouse. Around them, other members of their organisation were keeping themselves busy with work or conversation.

"It's a favorite of mine," Y'shtola said, raising her cup to her lips and taking a long, appreciative sip from it.

"I can tell," she chuckled. "Hmm. It's not Ul'dahn tea, is it?"

"It's from Gridania. A special brand made by the botanist guild. I know someone there that sends me some once a moon."

"Well, give them my thanks."

"So tell me," the other woman said after another sip, placing the cup down on the table. "These visions that you're experiencing, of what nature are they?"

S'eni looked at her, an unreadable expression on her face. Truth be told she was expecting that question after the scene in the hallway.

"I think it's visions from the past? It's hard to put into words. One moment I'm here and the next I'm somewhere else."

"I see..."

"Sorry. Maybe when I get more of a hang for it I can understand them more clearly."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. It just piqued my curiosity. From what little understanding I have of it, Hydaelyn's blessing manifests differently. Take Minfilia for example." Y'shtola pointed to the other side of the room where said woman was currently engrossed in a conversation with another member of the Scions. "She has none of your combative abilities."

"She has the Echo as well?" S'eni asked, a frown forming on her face.

"That's right. But perhaps that is something better talked about between the two of you."

"Hm." She hummed in response. The leader of the Scions must have felt her staring, as she turned her head to look in their direction, eyes immediately finding S'eni's. There was a tingle of...something in the back of her mind, like a hand trying to reach out to her, but slipping through her fingers at the last moment.

What did that mean?

But before she could ruminate about it, another voice joined them.

"Ah, so this is where the newest member of our illustrious organisation has vanished to. And here I was so looking forward to showing you around, but it seems our dear Y'shtola has had the pleasure already."

It was none other than Thancred. Now that was a name that she came to remember quickly. He was quite the...memorable character.

"There isn't a lot to show around, you know that as well as I do," Y'shtola replied drily, once more taking a sip from her tea while he sat down to join them.

"I wasn't merely speaking of the Waking Sands though. Vesper Bay has many beautiful sights to offer that I'm sure would be to your liking, S'eni," he said, brushing some of his white hair out of his eyes in a very charming manner as he leaned towards her. "The setting sun is especially beautiful to behold. If you would like I can show you the spot where to best watch it."

"If you can stand the smell of fish that's been lying around all day that is," Y'shtola commented.

A frown formed on the man's face but was gone once more in the blink of an eye, replaced with a smile of perfectly white teeth.

"So what do you think? Care for a stroll around town?"

S'eni raised her cup to her lips, taking a sip and enjoying the flavor for but a moment longer, before replying: "As charming as the invitation is, I have to say no. You see, I promised myself long ago to not go for men that resemble my father."

After saying those words, the corners of her lips curled into a smile of her own. Thancred recoiled backwards as if she had just slapped him, the smile dropping instantly.

"F-father? Surely you jest..."

Instead of responding with words, S'eni's smile grew bigger and her ears did a little wiggle.

"Ah, how cruel fate must be," Thancred said almost theatrically, hand moving to his heart as if struck a mortal wound. "Another fair lady whose tongue is as sharp as she is beautiful."

"Or it just so happened that age has finally caught up with you, friend," Y'shtola said from behind her cup.

He sent the other Miqo'te a glare that soon after turned into a smirk. "My dear Y'shtola, it is age that separates cheap swill from fine vintage, as I'm sure you know."

If looks could kill then Thancred would have caught fire and burned to ash in an instant at the scathing look in Y'shtola's eyes, and S'eni noted that his smirk was wavering just a little.

"My, how time flies. I just remembered that there are important matters that need to be attended to. If you'll excuse me."

The two women watched as Thancred made his hasty exit to wherever that business may be.

With a huff, Y'shtola put her cup away. "He's such a boy wearing a man's guise."

"So like my old man," S'eni chuckled, resting her face on the palm of her hand, a finger tapping against one of the markings on her cheek. "He never learned to act his age either."

Releasing a sigh, the other woman shook her head, leaning back into her seat and folding her hands in her lap. "One of these days he will bite off more than he can chew."

"That just means you get to tell him 'I told you so' when it happens," she said with a wink.

The corners of Y'shtola's lips quirked upward. She was just about to say something when a shadow fell upon them. They turned their heads to see an Elezen standing there, tall even for his kind and clad from head to toe in long robes. His face was obscured by a large hood and a pair of red goggles.

"Mine apologies, but I requireth thine counsel on recent matters regarding the Sahagin," he said to Y'shtola.

"It seems my teatime is over," Y'shtola said in return. With another sigh, she picked up her cup one final time to drain it of the last of its contents, before rising to her feet. "Lead the way, Urianger."

Urianger turned his head to look at S'eni now, inclining his head in a little bow, then turning around to leave again.

Weird guy, she thought.

Y'shtola followed the Elezen, but stopped after only a few steps, turning around to face her again.

"I think we might get along, S'eni," she said, mint green eyes locking with cherry pink colored ones. "Enjoy the rest of your tea."

Sending her a small smile, Y'shtola turned on her heels and followed Urianger. S'eni watched her leave, a finger circling over the rim of the cup resting in front of her before grasping it and bringing it back up to her lips.

Tataru was right, quite the characters indeed, she thought to herself.

As the Miqo'te enjoyed the rest of her tea in silence, she didn't notice a pair of eyes resting on her; watching her from across the hall.

A look of sadness crossed those steel-blue pupils belonging to none other than the Antecedent, followed by a heavy sigh.

"S'eni..."


Alright, feel free to lambast me for the name here. I made this bed and am ready to lie in it.

Now with that out of the way: this is a chronicle of my character's journey. Sometimes it will be scenes that take place in between and sometimes it will feature scenes from the game's story. In the latter cases you will likely find some discrepancies in dialogue, which is because I've decided to mostly base this on the dialogue from the language I'm playing the game in, namely German. I thought that might freshing things up a tiny bit.

Anyway. That's it for now. I endevor to keep a regular schedule for this, so expect updates two times a week unless I say otherwise.

See ya.