A Dragon's Gratitude

You really managed to destroy the tower's core. I am impressed. Though it should not come as a surprise, I suppose, since it is you we are talking about.

But, of course, things are seldom simple with you and your friends, and that theory of yours proved itself a bit too true for comfort didn't it?

Once again though, you all managed to cheat death for another day. Now all that is left is to get everyone back safe and sound. And it's a lot.


"Alright everyone, on three," S'eni told the soldiers helping her. "One. Two. Three!"

With a collective groan, they lifted the unconscious Arkasodara off the ground and onto the cart nearby. The wood made a strained noise from his weight, but otherwise held firm. Nodding to herself, she looked at her helpers, each of them busy catching their breaths and gave them a thumbs-up.

"Thanks," she said and wiped some sweat from her brow, before looking around.

The beach that had been practically littered with unconscious Arkasodara was now mostly empty, and the few that still remained were slowly being carried over to one of the many other carriages sent here from Radz-at-Han. They were almost done. Good. Because, truth be told, her arms were beginning to feel a little tired.

Matanga were a heavy bunch!

After giving the driver the signal to leave, S'eni began heading over to where Thancred and Estinien were standing. "By Azeyma just looking at you makes me sweat even more!" she said to the Dragoon and wiped away another few droplets running down her face. "How you can wear that in this heat is beyond me."

He just shrugged, making her roll her eyes.

"Good timing on your part though," Thancred then said. "When Varshahn left, he invited us to Meghaduta at our earliest convenience. And seeing as we are all about done here, it might be best to take him up on that invitation."

"Yeah, not much more that we can do here anyway."

"I've contacted the others as well, they will join us as soon as they are finished tending to the prisoners." His brows suddenly furrowed. "On second thought, you and Estinien should go on ahead. I need to make a quick detour by the Great Work."

Tilting her head, she was about to ask what he meant, when realization struck her. "Oh, Raha. You brought him there, I remember."

As the tower was starting to disappear, it was a well-timed levitation spell by G'raha that protected them and the captured Arkasodara from any grievous harm. But the sheer size of it had caused him to overexert himself and had promptly knocked him out. And since the Great Work was closer than Radz-at-Han, he was taken there to recover.

"Better fetch him before he's crammed into a specimen jar. They were a little too excited when we delivered him..." raising his hand with a quirk of his lips, he began walking off.

"Just you and me then," Estinien said once Thancred was gone. "The guard at the gate should wave us through."

"Want to ask one of the drivers if he can take us with him?" she asked. "I don't know about you, but my feet are killing me."

"Fine by me."

It didn't take long for them to find someone that was willing to have them travel along, and soon enough they were on the road to Radz-at-Han, crammed next to the large frame of an unconscious Matanga.

"So, since we don't have Varshahn guiding us this time—" she gently moved the trunk of their fellow passenger aside to better look at Estinien. "—anything interesting you can tell me about Radz-at-Han?"

"It's a veritable maze, so we should ask someone for directions," he replied. And while that was a sound idea, since the city was quite large and she really hadn't managed to memorize their way past it, it was also not what she meant and she tried to convey as much with her look. It failed. "What?"

"Alright..." she nodded. "And here I thought money was the only thing you were bad at."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "And I'm not bad with money."

"No, you only nearly let yourself be swindled out of over ten thousand Gil if I hadn't arrived in the nick of time!" S'eni shot back. "And I would have not been the one to explain to Tataru why our travel funds suddenly had a dent like that in them."

Estinien just grumbled.

The journey to Radz-at-Han was blissfully short, and just like he had said, the guard at the gate waved them in without much trouble, but not before profusely thanking them for all they had done. As they entered the city, they were greeted by slightly more populated streets than last time and it didn't take a genius to figure out that word of the tower's disappearance had reached the people. Still, it was good to see a modicum of normalcy return. Who knows, maybe the next time they were here, they would get to see one of the famous Thavnarian dances being performed in front of the fountain they were walking past.

"Let's ask that sentry over there for directions," she said and pointed towards the lone soldier standing not far off the fountain. As they approached, she called out to him, "Excuse me!"

"Yes, what can I—Ah, Mistress S'eni!" He exclaimed upon noticing her. Apparently, her face was already quite known amongst the Host. "You are here for the audience with the Satrap, I presume?"

"That's right. My friend and I would like to ask you for directions on how to get to Meghaduta."

"Of course. The Satrap's residence is located in Dharma, the uppermost part of the city. Ordinarily, the quickest route would be through the bazaars, but the area is still off limits until due to the state of alert," he explained to them. "So let me offer you an alternate route. First, please ascend the steps next to this fountain, then continue left. There will be more steps, and upon ascending them, you will emerge on Paksa's Path. Proceed through the large door on the right, and you will arrive at Ruveydah Fibers. Within you will find another sentry who will give you further guidance."

Estinien and her shared a look. "In other words, we head up. Sounds straightforward enough."

Thanking the sentry, they began to head up the stairs as he described. Part of the way through, Estinien suddenly stopped and looked down to the streets below. S'eni followed his gaze and saw a strange-looking gate.

"Ah, yes. I know about this gate. It leads to a nearby isle. The treasure vault of one of Radz-at-Han's wealthiest families," he explained.

Holding her tongue about the fact that, all of a sudden, he was playing tour guide, she instead asked, "Isn't it risky to have it so out in the open without even a single guard?"

"See those engravings above it?" she nodded. "They took the god of luck as their guardian, on account of which they occasionally open part of their vault. For aspiring treasure hunters to try their own luck so to speak."

"Ah. So it's riddled with traps they are quite confident about. That makes sense," she said. Perhaps it was something they could try their hands on once things had calmed down. Alphinaud might enjoy another treasure hunt.

They continued onward until they arrived at the next Host soldier, who gave them further instructions, leading them right through Ruveydah Fibers. The artisans seemed hard at work, despite the circumstances. Even in a crisis, people still needed clothes after all.

After leaving the workshop, things started to finally look familiar to S'eni, and it didn't take long for them to arrive on the very same path they had taken on their first visit. Not long after, they stood in front of Meghaduta.

"Greetings and welcome," the attendant in front of the doors said. "May I inquire after your business?"

"We're members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn," Estinien replies. "We've come at the invitation of His Excellency."

"Ah, of course. We have been expecting you. Please follow me to the audience chamber."

As they arrived in said chambers, S'eni was a little surprised to find the others already enjoying the Satrap's hospitality, sitting at the table and partaking in some food.

"Welcome," Ahewann said, inclining his head. "You have won a great victory today. Please, sit down and rest while we wait for your comrades. You have earned it."

S'eni didn't need to be told that twice and walked over to the very cushy chair across from Y'shtola. She let herself plot down in it and immediately made a grab for one of the ripe bananas on the plate in front of her. Peeling it in what must have been record time, she took a quick bite and released a little moan at the sweet taste.

"Someone looks exhausted," Y'shtola noted.

"I could say the same of you all," she said, glancing over at the can of tea that the other Miqo'te had not so subtly claimed for herself.

"And you'd be right," Krile said and let herself sink further into the chair. "I didn't know administering the tempering cure would be this taxing."

"Sure is." S'eni finished her banana and took an apple right after. "How's it looking?"

"We cured as many Arkasodara as we could, the rest will have to be done by the healers here," Y'shtola said. "But they will all be fine sooner or later."

Good, she thought and bit into the apple.

The time passed quietly until the doors opened once more and Thancred walked in with G'raha by his side. When he saw everyone in the room turning towards them, the former smiled lightly. "Were you all waiting for us? In that case, sorry for the delay."

"I see you are well on your feet again," Ahewann said at the sight of G'raha.

"Thanks to your efforts, no doubt." He smiled. "The tinctures of Radz-at-Han's alchemists are truly...unique."

The Au Ra chuckled. "You get used to the taste eventually. Though of course, I hope you shall never have the questionable pleasure of doing so."

After the two joined the rest of them at the table Vrtra, who had stayed silent up until now, spoke up. "Valiant Scions, let me offer you mine boundless gratitude once more," he said. "You cast down the tower and freed its captives. You cleansed their souls of its corrupting influence. No word of thanks will ever suffice, so I offer you a bounty of warding scales and Radz-at-Han's eternal goodwill."

Vrtra turned his head towards Ahewann, who nodded.

"Across the land, alchemists have worked tirelessly in the forging of the talismans. The finished ones have been collected and taken to the High Crucible of Al-Kimiya," he said and handed Alphinaud a scroll. "Present them this when you are ready to take them into your possession."

"We too have to thank you," Alphinaud said. "The wisdom of Radz-at-Han shall be vital in the battles yet to come."

"I have been wondering this for a while but...these are your scales, aren't they?" Alisaie asked. "You must be in great pain..."

"Compared to the suffering this land and its people have endured, mine own pain is but an annoyance," the wyrm replied.

Alphinaud briefly closed his eyes. "Though it was only a brief time, the Dragonsong War has taught me how complex and fragile the relation between man and dragon is. Your tale may have been a different one, but how many tragedies did you have to witness? How much suffering to endure? And yet...you have never given up on us."

"When that conflict first bloomed, I already lived alongside the people of Radz-at-Han. In some distant land man slew dragon, and dragon slaughtered man, yet how couldst I hate those smiling faces that looked to me for guidance?" Vrtra asked, moreso himself than anyone else in the room. "In the end, not even mine brother's righteous rage could rally me to his cause. I huddled here, secret and still, hoping against hope that which I had built would remain untouched by the chaos and carnage."

"Satrap..." Y'shtola suddenly spoke up. "You wish for peace, don't you? Then allow me to ask you something."

He nodded.

"The Telophoroi wish to usher in the Final Days. An apocalyptic event predating the sundering of this star into fourteen reflections. As a great wyrm, you look back upon a long life. Do you know anything about this cataclysm?" she asked.

A short moment of silence passed before Vrtra shook his head. "Nay. When war and strife drove mine sire from his home, he crossed the great expanse with only our unhatched eggs as company. When he found this star, 'twas already long shattered. Of events preceding his arrival, he knows naught save that which Hydaelyn hath deigned to disclose."

"I see..." with a frown, Y'shtola crossed her arms in front of her chest. "In that case, we have no other choice but to look to Hydaelyn herself for answers."

"'Tis the will of the star you desireth to divine?" he asked after letting his one-eyes gaze pass over them. "If so, I have a tale which may afford you some small comfort...Many, many years ago, when I was but a whelp, I posed mine sire the question of why he hath chosen this star to settle upon. To which Midgardsormr did reply, ''Twas the last bastion of hope'. He believed so long as Hydaelyn endured, so too might dragonkind. I still recall the tone in his voice to this day, solemn and portentous. What deeper meaning his words held, remaineth a mystery to me still. Yet take solace in the knowledge that, whatsoever Hydaelyn doth strive for, she hath earned mine sire's full conviction."

"Thank you for your valuable insight, Vrtra," Y'shtola said. "We shall keep it in our hearts until the last battle is fought."

"Speaking of battle," Thancred said and turned to face her. "If there's no more questions, I think it's time we picked up our talismans and be on our way. Our enemy is far from defeated."

They all nodded.

"If you would excuse us then? Please don't hesitate to call upon us if you need assistance though," Krile said and got out of her chair. Offering a little curtsy, she turned around and left. The others, too, began to leave and S'eni was just about to join them, when Vrtra's voice made her stop.

"A moment, if you wouldst," he said.

"Yes?" she asked, unsure what he could possibly want from her.

"There is one whom my sire deemed worthy of his respect, a hero known as Eorzea's champion. This hero...'tis you."

"Midgardsormr and I crossed paths, yes."

"I knew it be so. From man and dragon alike have I learned of your exploits. 'Twas a revelation most pleasing that mine sire hath entered a covenant with a child of man. Yet over mine elation, the shadow of dread loometh. Many threads wound around your life's reel. 'Tis blessing and curse alike. You walk along a path offering no reprieve, every twist and turn a struggle without surcease. And what of your companions? How often didst the flames of your existence devour them?"

A pained expression formed on her face and she closed her eyes. So many people had given their lives so that she could continue onward. Louisoix, Ysayle, Moenbryda, Papalymo, Minfilia, and Haurchefant...they all had become entangled with her and paid the ultimate price; their sacrifices were the kindling to keep the fire of hope burning ever bright.

"...Too often." A heavy silence followed that statement, and though it only lasted several seconds, it felt like hours. When Vrtra spoke once more, his voice was filled with a warmth she would not have expected from a great wyrm such as him.

"If you wouldst continue on this path, then protect them. They will be your strength and salvation. The hope you will need come the end," he said. "Even cowering behind mine curtain, I know the suffering of the powerful. I have watched mine siblings driven mad by loss. Thus I exhort you to never give up and spare no effort to keep your loved ones safe."

Her lips parted, but before words passed them, the doors began to open and the twins walked in.

"Ah, apologies," Alphinaud said. "We didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's just that we do have a history of suddenly collapsing," Alisaie added. "So when you didn't follow us out..."

"'Tis I who must apologize. I have detained your champion overlong with idle chatter," he told them and returned his focus back to her. "Go. At war's end, I pray I welcome you back into mine hall, where together with your joyful comrades you may toast your triumph."

S'eni stared at Vrtra for a moment longer, then nodded. "Thank you, I won't forget your words," she said and turned to leave. As she walked over to her two friends, a smile began to form on her lips at the confused looks on their faces. "Come on, you two, let's not keep the others waiting."

She knew that what lay ahead of them might be the toughest battle they had ever faced, but she would do her damndest to protect those that she held dear.


Vrtra sure is cut from a different cloth compared to the rest of his family, isn't he?