No one understood G'raha's pain of seeing a once noble society decay into cruelty and lawlessness as Krile did. After learning of her friend's demise, the lalafell scholar was overwhelmed by her duty as she had to step up as the leader of what remained of the scions. She didn't do it with any expectation that the future would get any better, just that it won't get significantly worse.
And it did. Without the heroes, people turned towards the powers of the Eorzean Alliance to protect them, but its state has been consistently falling into shambles and chaos. Only as the world began to find reprieve from the destruction wrought in Ala Mhigo by the Ruby Weapon and the plague of Final Days that tore Ul'Dah apart, now Limsa Lominsa abandoned its ties and principles, and all the people that previously held it together were replaced by pirates who only cared for riches and power.
And the echo vision showed exactly this. In the midst of G'raha's argument with the Mistweaver, Krile saw the day of the battle. How the unified pirate crews assaulted Limsa Lominsa, breaching its gates and assaulting the docks. Rhotsatz did a good job of keeping the true extent of his loyalists a secret until it was time to attack.
And what a ruthless attack that was. Seeing this, Krile's respect for Merlwyb grew exponentially, as she could not imagine holding those pirates in check for so long. They rushed towards the Mizzenmast, squandering the weakened and unaware Maelstrom opposition. So many noble warriors died that day, and they weren't shown mercy. Krile saw limbs being cut off, endless rivers of blood carved from their skin screams of the civilians that rushed towards their homes, desperately trying to keep their children safe. The pirates did not hunt them down, but they killed everyone who happened to be in their way. Piles of bodies among the bloodstained walls, years of progress overturned in a single day, the red flags of Limsa were burned down out of spite and mockery, for a new regime was about to be born.
Rhotsatz left this assault, bravely fighting alongside his men in their quest for a reward. Yet he was eager to get to the heart of the city and claim the main prize. Krile saw him rising to the top deck, cornering a white-haired roegadyn man dressed in red uniform, Eynzahr Slafyrsyn. Krile knew of him, the leader of the Maelstrom. He must have fought tirelessly to defend his city as his blade was drenched in blood. There was no fear in his eyes, yet when he saw Rhotsatz, a grimace of shock and disappointment emerged.
"You?" - Eynzahr took out his blade.
"Surprised, eh?" - Rhotsatz smiled without shame. "We've come to take our prize and make this bloody ship sail like it once did!"
"I knew pirates would attack one day, but to have it happen so swiftly and with you leading them…Why, Rhotsatz, why?"
"Because I realized that yer path is the one of weakness. Don't be surprised, Eynzahr. I always had my eyes in this city, many of the Maelstrom knew me, and some were far more sympathetic than ye hoped for!"
"And this is the path you would set us upon? The path of piracy and barbarianism? Do you even hear yourself?" - Eynzahr was ready to battle, yet he wanted to understand what drove Rhotsatz, whether there was any sense to the ravenous actions of his old friend.
"The path of prosperity and conquest, that is! Who are ye to judge, ye haven't this path to see the true glory, unless…" - Rhotsatz chuckled. "Unless what they say about ye is true, 'Mistbeard.'"- This revelation did not get Eynzahr by surprise; the man just sighed in disappointment.
"So the rumors have reached you…"
"Oh, that they did. Many speak of it, but few believe."
"Then you have got your answer here and now. I walked this path once; I descended far deeper into this chaos than any captain that currently traverses the seas. My hands are stained with blood, blood that won't ever be washed away. And that is why we know that Merlwyb's path is the one that will bring us to prosperity and peace, not yours nor any captains of the past."
"Well, it hardly matters…We are all pirates, aren't we? So let's settle it like pirates would."
"Then let it be so."
Two roegadyn men clashed and fought atop the Mizzenmast, each eager to defend his way, be it peace or conquest. Eynzahr did not hold back. He was a skilled swordsman who masterfully evaded Rhotsatz's fervent attacks. But the new Pirate King has done a lot of training as well, much of it he got from Eynzahr himself. To think that those two warriors were once associates and even friends was bewildering to Krile. And it reminded her far too much about the stories G'raha recounted of the world he came from. Men came to live by the sword, pitting brother against brother…All because of an external cataclysm.
She saw Rhotsatz prevail shortly before being pulled back to reality. Despite all the wounds he suffered from Eynzahr, despite his heavy breaths and a phantom of worry as he was challenged by such an opponent, no talent and skill could go against time. Eynzahr's age was his demise, preventing the marshal from fighting as fiercely as he would in his youth. And so he fell to Rhotsatz's blade, a blade that pierced his heart and cut off his head unceremoniously, without any show of regret. It was just another trophy for him, another powerful enemy slaughtered. And that's the man they were dealing with.
All those thoughts circled in her head while Krile followed Arielle to the upper decks along with G'raha and Emet. She was so consumed by her thoughts that she wasn't sure if any others were talking. She didn't doubt that G'raha already imagined all the ways in which he could change this horrid situation, and she understood him like none other. This was the purpose scions swore to uphold, but at what cost?
People here were broken, and the elezen girl that guided them was enough of an indication. She was so meek, so horrified, yet calm at the same time; her eyes were devoid of any emotions because she tried to conceal them. After all, she was always watched. They all were watched by the ruthless guards patrolling the Mizzenmast and the decks.
"Are you…From here?" - Krile asked cautiously. "Forgive me if it's obvious. I just haven't seen many elezen living in Limsa Lominsa."
"My family came from Gridania." - Arielle responded quietly. "But it doesn't matter anymore; I live in Limsa."
"Oh, I see." - Krile sighed, imagining whether she should ask the question that was on her mind. In the end, she decided not to shy away from it. "And where is your family?"
"My mother ran." - Arielle's voice broke as she said those words, and her lips quivered before she looked away. "I don't know where she is."
"And your father?"
"I don't have a father. It's Rhotsatz now. He cares for me." - She spoke, looking over the nearby pirates. It didn't sound sincere, but that's as much as she could say in their presence. Emet-Selch's voice rang from behind, as blunt and direct as ever.
"Let me guess, he served in the Maelstrom and got killed during their raid?" - The ascian got the girl's attention; she shivered after looking at him for a moment, leaving this question unanswered.
Arielle sped up her step, bringing the trio to a stone house that found its place among the reaches of the upper decks. It was guarded by a few tired-looking hyuran pirates, who nevertheless watched their every step closely.
"I've brought the envoys." - Arielle announced to them. "Rhotsatz allowed them to stay for a night before they left for Sharlayan." - This was enough for them to step aside.
"Welcome." - One pirate said coldly as he looked over their guests. "As our guests, you are free to move about the city, but be warned…Should you cause any trouble, we won't hesitate to quench it as quickly as any other time. Are we clear?"
"Yes, clear enough." - Krile said as she stepped towards the door. Arielle stayed behind with the men, preparing for her next duty.
The trio found themselves in a medium house with a few rooms, including a kitchen and a bedroom. This was more than just an accommodation. There were some trinkets left around, some wooden toys and cracked cups, all packed in the draw as orderly as possible, but none could remove the stains. The wardrobe had one of its doors missing, while one of the walls had stains of dry blood on them, leaving some of this dark matter on the floor. It was a place big enough for the three, but there was an aura of malice around it. G'raha was the first one to speak.
"This was someone's home, wasn't it…" - The Exarch said with regret, looking down at the floor. The ascian, on the other hand, hardly seemed concerned.
"Well, considering its old owner has most likely ran away or is lying somewhere in a body pile, there is little reason to care." - Emet shrugged and sat on the nearest bed, noticing G'raha and Krile looking at him with slight animosity. "Oh, don't look at me like that. It wasn't my idea to come with you lest you forget. For now…" - He yawned and raised his hands before carelessly lying on the bed. "I did say I enjoyed sleep, didn't I? A perfect way to spend time not thinking about the world collapsing, my duty, or having to see your faces."
"If you think we're that opposed to you quieting down, you haven't spent long enough under our watch." - Krile responded snappily before turning to G'raha, whose thoughts were occupied by something else. She prayed that he would do anything rash.
"So, do you have any ideas?" - The Exarch asked with sincerity and hope. "I can share mine. From what we've seen, I would imagine diplomacy won't work with Rhotsatz, even if we convince him that his preconceptions of "weak" and "strong" are meaningless in the face of Final Days, he won't risk changing the order as to not cause a mutiny. It's the servants we should be focusing on; perhaps there is a place or places where the majority of them is held, if only…"
"G'raha…" - Krile sighed with pain and sat on the nearby chair, unsure how to explain. Emet-Selch knew what was going on, as well, while G'raha continued to be blind to it, likely willfully.
"Don't bother explaining it to this fool." - The ascian said spitefully. "Whatever he has on his mind, he won't go on it."
"Go back?" - G'raha spoke with uncertainty before turning to Krile; he expected an answer from her.
"Please understand…I saw a vision of Rhotsatz." - Krile's lips quivered as she imagined this nightmare yet again. "He is ruthless and merciless in his actions, he has gone a long way to claim this city, and he will not give it up. What he is willing to do, however, is to stay away from our affairs as long as we stay out of his. You pushed that discussion, and he will not be so forgiving next time."
"You're not… You're not suggesting that we just leave as scheduled and do nothing?" - G'raha must have tried to deny it for his own sanity, but now it was impossible. Krile sensed the betrayal and disillusionment in his once hopeful voice.
"Yes, that is what I'm suggesting. We go to Sharlayan to find a way to stop the end of the days. It is too important of a task to risk like that."
"But you have seen what this regime does to people. They are ready to kill each other rather than try to help! There's not even a need to look that far; what about Arielle? She's horrified. She's trying not to say a single wrong word in the presence of those brutes; you can't just leave it this way!" - He said with resolve that reminded Krile of the scions and the old G'raha she knew. He was just as ambitious and hopeful as the Exarch, but he was far more contained and reserved in these ambitions. After going through everything the Exarch went through, he became more skillful in bringing these ambitions to reality, but they would grow. From changing society in a single day to saving the whole world. "You've heard, this blame in part lies on me…I gave Lucia the report. If I am to undo my mistake of ending Zodiark, this one must be undone, too!" - Krile wasn't sure how to answer that, but Emet-Selch was.
"More rambling and less sense." - The ascian shook his head and looked at G'raha. "Do you not see that you are taking too much upon yourself? For all the depravity Rhotsatz sank this place into, he was right about you. You judge the people around you by the standards set up by yourself, by Edwin and his allies…I tried to do so, too, but most of your kind are simply not that good. You may fancy yourself a "perfect mediator" and take your pride in the mastery of getting people to calm down when they are a step away from transformation, but what do you expect from goddamn pirates? Imagine you are one of them, someone who lived your whole life under the creed of always acting and never talking or thinking. Imagine being in a room with someone on the verge of breaking down and transforming into a beast and having a musket in your hands. They save themselves by the means they know; they chose this path, and you trying to change it in a matter of days will only make it worse."
"Chosen their path? That's because those who objected are either enslaved or dead!" - G'raha spoke out.
"And what are you going to do about that? Bring back the dead?"
"No…No, it's too late for that, but I can save the enslaved." - He looked at Krile for affirmation, but she only shook her head.
"I do not want to agree with him, and you know that, but Emet is right…It will delay us from our mission of saving much more people than you can save here. It's the whole star we're talking about here. Think of all other states and people we are failing by trying to divert our focus to a smaller issue!"
"I understand…" - G'raha sighed and clenched his fist. "But I cannot agree. When I was on the First, the job that I also shamefully imposed on Edwin and the scions was to end the threat of sin eaters and make sure that the flood of light orchestrated by the ascians will never come to pass, thus averting the umbral calamity. Alas, there was also a threat of Eulmore. A city whose upper class took pleasure in their isolationism and preying on those without skills or money to get themselves into this "paradise." The birth of this city was in large part due to the chaos that occurred in the outer world, and many people sought paradise. I believed it to not be an immediate threat for a long time…Until I learned the truth. That, in fact, its lord was one of the most powerful sin-eaters there were, and his "paradise" was not misguided but outright malicious. He tempered the people to his will, slowly turning their minds into that of obedient sin-eaters. Liberation of Eulmore and stopping this lord was a key step in saving the world as a whole. I believe it is similar here. While it is Zodiark's death that creates a possibility of the people becoming blasphemous, it's practices like these that will directly turn them. Rhotsatz believes that his regime is stable, and it is absurd. It is only a matter of time before someone turns away from prying eyes or is unable to be stopped. Then it will be the same chaos and slaughter I witnessed in Ul'Dah, spreading across the whole of Vylbrand. There's nothing more important now than resisting the Final Days, and this is exactly the place and time to fight them." - G'raha finished his speech, making Krile doubt her course. The Exarch smiled at her. "It's alright to doubt, but I've made up my mind. I will find a way to save those in need, even if it means that we will have to stay here for longer. Now excuse me… I'll have to do some scouting of the city." - The Exarch walked toward the door, only looking back for a second. Before Krile could come up with something to say, he had already gone. Emet-Selch listened to every word, continuing to be amused.
"He will drag us into a grave with an approach like that…" - The ascian chuckled.
"There is no 'us,' and don't presume it to be otherwise."
"As long as he reigns over my soul, yes, there is, whether you like it or not." - Emet shrugged before standing up and walking towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I need some fresh air, not to mention some 'scouting' of my own. You look like you'd enjoy some solitude to ponder over your thoughts, am I right?"
"Yes…That would be for the best."
Emet nodded and left, leaving Krile to her own devices. She knew this journey would not be simple, especially in times like these, but it was going horribly wrong almost in every way possible. She could only pray that it would be worth it.
…
G'raha witnessed it in Krile's eyes; she remembered what it was to be a member of scions. To always fight for a better future and change their world for the better. Seeing Limsa Lominsa fall into chaos and brutality was incredibly disheartening for G'raha, but now his task was laid bare before him, and he would do his best to save as many as he could, whether Krile would help him or not. Of course, the Exarch hoped she would eventually have a change of heart, but for now, he still needed to plan ahead, and he could do it well enough alone.
Exploring the city went about as G'raha expected, full of loud and boisterous pirates talking to each other, drinking, and at times even challenging each other to test duels. If one did not look upon certain differences, such as bloodied stains on the walls and the obedient servants with collars walking around, it might have been just another day in Limsa Lominsa. But this twisted "normalcy" wouldn't last; G'raha knew that. Someone would turn and bring down this horrific regime, but not in a way that would be beneficial to anybody.
He needed to discover where the majority of the servants were kept, and perhaps he would be able to free them from this hell. Of course, this means that Rhotsatz's clearance would be forfeited, but G'raha was sure that they would be able to negotiate something with the Forum once they arrived in Sharlayan; this was far more important. Alas, without somebody knowledgeable, there was little chance for him, especially with how limited his knowledge of the city was. Perhaps he could speak to one of the servants in private if they would be willing to have those conversations. They were all scared, of course, but someone had to know.
With this idea, G'raha found himself heading towards the former Arcsnist guild, the same one that was turned into another bar and a meeting place for pirates, mostly those of the Bloody Executioners crew. Yet everyone was allowed, and the Exarch believed that for all his wrongdoings, Rhotsatz was willing enough to show his guests some semblance of hospitality.
As G'raha expected, it did not turn out to be a place he would want to visit at any other time, but his leads might be found here. The tavern was full of roegadyn pirates, men, and women who had grown absolutely shameless and drunk with power. They drank and spoke of their previous and coming conquests, of how they would force the entirety of Vylbrand to its knees before moving on to ravage the shores of Eorzea. They mocked their servants, always demanding more than they could bring, some out of pure spite, all while they submitted peacefully and obeyed their every command. Others played games and tried to shoot the target with their muskets as precisely as possible, overwhelming the place with piercing noise. Some familiar sailors were there, too, G'raha and Krile's crew were allowed to partake in the "fun," and they would rather live out their night and leave rather than ask uncomfortable questions. And all of this, not to mention the broken chorus of drank pirates singing a hardly intelligible song. Arcanist's books were scattered all around, with their pages torn and tossed aside. Some were using them as tissues, so much knowledge destroyed…And amidst all this, G'raha found a small remote table for one visitor and sat in the corner, trying to carefully observe his surroundings.
"Excuse me…" - He heard a voice behind him, pulling G'raha away from his thoughts. As the Exarch looked around, he saw a young hyuran man in the servant's robed looking at him with curiosity. "Would you be ordering something?"
"Yes, I would." - G'raha tried to sound as non-confrontational and kind as possible; they were going through enough on their own. "Do you have grape juice?"
"Y…Yes, we do."
"I'll have a glass of that, please." - G'raha said and watched the man becoming surprised overhearing someone be so polite.
"Would this be all?"
"Yes, thank you."
After those words, the servant rushed off to get G'raha's drink. He seemed so cautious and afraid. The pirates did not treat their captives kindly at all. They broke them in such a short amount of time with brute force and cruelty; the Exarch doubted many servants would risk going against this tide.
He got his drink quite quickly, G'raha believed this to be a moment to refresh himself and think about his next move, but unsurprisingly, people weren't oblivious to his presence. Most preferred to keep to themselves, not doing anything more than simply whispering and spreading rumors about their guest, but there was someone who looked at G'raha with utmost curiosity. A miqo'te woman with green eyes and blue hair and a very familiar face from which G'raha would rather look away.
She stood near the bartender with a few pirates by her side, giggling and smiling at them, enjoying every second of her being there. She had given children away to pirates just a few hours ago, and there was no regret that G'raha could see. The Exarch wondered if there were so many horrific, immoral people all this time with them needing a single reason to claim their prize? Is this the world he fights for?
The woman, who Rhotsatz called C'irena, casually strolled towards his table after finishing her talk with others. G'raha sighed quietly and looked down, hoping that he didn't attract too much attention, but it was far too late. C'irena hopped on the chair in front of him, putting her hands on the table and drilling G'raha with her intrigued gaze.
"Hello there, handsome." - She smiled playfully, but G'raha wasn't fooled by it. This was the same smile she gave to the pirates and children she was about to give away. "You were at the square, right? I don't think I've seen anyone else around here with an arm made of crystal…"
"Yes, I was." - G'raha replied calmly, trying to signal his disinterest. If he was lucky, she would go away, and if not, he could try to garner some information from her. She was in charge of those youngsters before giving them away; after all, she was bound to know something.
"Oh, don't be so serious… You're making me sad." - C'irena erased the smile on her face, turning it into a small frown. "It's a place where one can have a lot of fun, you know? Just relax, stop thinking about all your problems, and I'm sure you'll be able to smile."
"Thank you for the advice, I suppose. And why do you care to afford me this…Specific attention if that's what you're doing. Not because of the crystal arm, I wager." - G'raha inquired. C'irena shrugged and smiled once again.
"I have a keen eye for men who have been through a lot and have many stories to tell. You're not going to tell me that I am wrong about that, will you?" - Well, she was right on that, and it didn't bode well with G'raha. For all he knew, it could've been Rhotsatz that sent her here to spy on him. "I'm C'irena, by the way, but you can drop the "C," and you?"
"G'raha Tia." - The Exarch saw no reason for hiding his name as the city officials already knew who he was, but after receiving a look of pity from the woman, he realized that he had said something wrong.
"Tia, really? Oh, poor you…You look like a Nuhn to me." - She must have been of one of the Seeker of the Sun tribes, familiar with their culture. Nuhn was not a name one was born with but rather had to claim. Any man named Tia could challenge the acting Nuhn, leader of their tribe, and take his place, or else leave the tribe and seek their life's purpose somewhere else. For as long as he could remember himself, G'raha never aspired to be a patriarch or a leader, and by pushing him into those roles, fate once again displayed its cruelest irony. "Did you challenge your Nuhn and fail?"
"No, I had to leave my tribe for…Other reasons. I had little interest in challenging him."
"Truly? I think you would make a good leader if only you stopped being so humble… I've heard stories about you; we all have at this point. A man who pierced the fabric of time and reality, however, that would work and destroyed the god of darkness which rested on the moon, no nuhn could ever dream of achieving such heights." - She spoke softly, trying to appeal to his ego. G'raha tried his best not to fall for it; destroying Zodiark did not turn out to be a victory. It turned out to be the gravest mistake he ever made, and this alone made him undeserving of any position in leadership.
"I'll leave that role for those who desire it. Mine is…More important."
"I see. How is the world after the calamity? You must have seen it. Is it as bleak and dark as I imagine?" - She spoke in an upbeat voice, excited to hear about his travels. Perhaps this would make her more open to talking later, so G'raha so no reason not to indulge her.
"I haven't seen much of it before my departure, but I've heard many stories. Dark, grim stories of slaughter, betrayal, and bloodshed. Not unlike what I see here." - The Exarch looked over once again, still trying to process the world's downfall that happened right before his eyes.
"How fun…" - Her voice dribbled in sarcasm. "And what of the shard? The First, was it?"
"Another world on the brink, this time consumed by the flood of light. When I arrived, people there grew hopeless and tired of seeing their civilization being destroyed by the sin eaters."
"And what did you do there? Destroyed those monsters? "
"No, that role was for another one to play; I merely set the stage…I came there with an ancient Allagan Tower, which I safeguarded for an entire century, waiting for the Warrior of Light to finally arrive. That's why I made myself part of the tower. It wasn't so long ago that I separated myself from it." - G'raha raised his crystallized arm to demonstrate; all the while, C'irena had the gleaming emerge in her eyes.
"A hundred years? And all alone?"
"Not alone, no, but I kept my identity a secret from others right until the last few weeks there."
"Oh, this is…This is heartbreaking." - This time, G'raha couldn't discern whether she spoke sincerely or not. All he knew was that after those words, C'irena smiled once again and moved her chair to his side.
"Well, I won't presume to know what's best for someone who's been through so much…" - Her voice grew quieter, sounding like a gentle whisper. "But I think there is something every Tia wants in his heart, no matter how different they all are…" - She grabbed G'raha's natural hand; the Exarch remained cautious but did not push her away just yet, although this was an obvious sign. "They want to feel like a nuhn at least for a little bit, at least for one night, and I think you deserve the pleasure after all those years…How about we come to a private place? You'll have a Seeker of the Sun girl all to yourself, and I promise to obey your every command…It will be wonderful for both of us." - Her voice got all the more suggestive with every word, and this was the moment G'raha pulled his hand away from her and looked at C'irena with a tint of annoyance. He wasn't willing to play this game.
"I'm sorry, lady, but you're out of line. I'm not here for this!" - He said sternly.
"You're not?" - The sheer disappointment in her eyes was not the one that words could describe. "Then why are you here at all? Is your mission so important that you can't even allow yourself to relax?"
"It's not just the mission…I know nothing about you except that you are willing to give young people, even children, away to those pirates. Why would I want to… Don't you see it?" - The Exarch didn't know why he got so nervous, but this woman was playing on his strings.
"So you don't engage with anyone who did something naughty in their life? I see why you're a Tia…" - Another smile emerged, but this one was far more snide and malicious.
"By the Twelve…Maybe we have different conceptions of the world, but what you were doing is far worse than 'naughty.'"
"Think so, huh?" - C'irena crossed her hands. "Well, these aren't my servants; they are Rhotsatz's. He's the one responsible for giving them away, picking the timings of the "shows," one of which you saw. I'm just doing his bidding and overseeing the prisoners; I don't care about this wretched city beyond that…" - This could be a confirmation that she knew where they were held. G'raha raised his eyes and tried to listen carefully. "Maybe because I'm not as scary as some pirate would be to children, maybe because more pirate men would come to the square if it was a playful wench who did all the proceedings, but I'm only doing what I have to earn my place here."
"This does not justify you." - The Exarch shook his head. "The malicious lord I thought on the First would never be able to gain the power he had without amassing and charming the people, all those who turned a blind eye and chose to remain oblivious to his horrific actions."
"And why would I want to change anything?" - C'irena asked with curiosity.
"Well…" - G'raha was taken aback by such sincerity in a question to which he believed there to be an obvious answer. "To make your society better? To make sure that others suffer as little as possible? To ensure prosperity for yourself and those around you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why?"
C'irena shook her head and giggled; a quiet, innocent laugh swiftly turned into a crippling sigh of disappointment.
"You're funny…Because we are all going to die, of course." - She said it so carelessly that even the Exarch was taken aback. He thought so much about Limsan problems that, for a moment, he forgot that the world was ravaged by Final Days, and it would only get worse with time. "I know how it is; we may live for a few weeks longer in a setting like this, but someone's gonna turn. That's just inevitable. And then someone else, another one, and another…And here the city burns, and we are all going to die."
"It won't happen."
"Such confidence! How come?"
"I won't let it happen." - G'raha didn't waver in his resolve, this time shocking C'irena.
"Are you seriously telling me…That you want to stop the Final Days?"
"Of course, they are my fault, after all. It's either victory or death in an attempt."
"Gods, you really are genuine…And how are you going to stop them?"
"I don't know yet, but we're working on it."
"Ahahahah…" - C'irena chuckled before shaking her head. "You really are insane, fitting for someone who crossed the boundaries of his world twice. Just admit it, G'raha; you're as powerless as the rest of us. You couldn't even deal with Rhotsatz, who you clearly despise. What's there to say of the end of days?"
"Can't I? "- In retrospect, G'raha should not have said that, or at least he so believed. C'irena's reaction proved much better than it could've been.
"Are you serious? Do you know what he's capable of? You're playing with fire…That he allowed you to leave is already surprising enough, he didn't afford that to his previous guest."
"Previous guest?"
"Yes, although I don't know much about him. Someone who came from Sharlayan and was not allowed to leave, now he's among the prisoners Rhotsatz keeps."
"And where's that?"
"Are you…" - C'irena grew annoyed and tried to quiet G'raha down, looking at those beside them and making sure nobody heard them discuss this. After that, she sighed and continued in a quiet whisper. "Do you know what Rhotsatz would do to me if I tell you and he finds out?"
"I don't, I confess. Yet that's exactly why I need to act so that even if he does now, he won't have the power to hurt anyone." - His confidence and altruism must have had an effect on C'irena; she remained silent for a few moments before taking a deep breath and forcing herself to talk.
"Rhotsatz and Limsa don't mean anything to me, especially not now…But I want you to promise two things. First, if it fails and he captures you, you won't speak of my involvement."
"Very well."
"And second, if it succeeds, I'd like to leave this hellhole with your crew. It doesn't seem like I'll get another chance in the near future."
"Will Sharlayan do?"
"Yes."
"Then you have my word." - G'raha promised, and he was intent on fulfilling it.
"Now…Meet me near the Fishermen guild in two hours. Not a minute early, not a minute late."
"This sounds awfully like a trap."
"As long as you give me a chance to escape, there's no reason for me to lie to you. If I wanted to, I could let Rhotsatz know immediately."
"Fair enough, then, you can expect me there."
"Good…See you soon." - C'irena stood up before rushing to the exit.
Now he only had to wait amidst these unruly pirates. G'raha might have made the biggest mistake he could or found a way to free all those tormented souls.
Only time will tell.
…
When one forgot how quickly this city has turned into a pirate den, it was almost enjoyable for the climate. Emet-Selch spent the last hour traversing the upper decks and getting as much sun as he could. It was counterintuitive for an ascian, but after spending so much time locked away in Mor Dhona and on the ship, Hades rejoiced at the opportunity to see this place for himself. Though mostly it consisted of him standing near the marble edges, trying to peer into the sun that was above them, it won't be too long before it fell once again. It did well for him to stay from rambling aggressive pirates that took over every single inn and restaurant, leaving nothing but an utter mess in their wake. He would be watched even on the bridges, of course, but at least their presence here was fairly minimal.
After all, being left so powerless as he was, he could only do that much. Emet was annoyed at G'raha, unspeakably so. This naive, idealistic fool was putting his own mission at risk just to help the people he never knew from a city he had never visited before. Not to mention how much it held back Emet, he imagined the shards would be just as affected by the song of oblivion, even if it takes longer for it to reach them. And he still needed the knowledge of both G'raha and those who guarded the tower in Norvrandt.
He was a fool, but he was a fool with a noble heart. This desire to change the world for the better and defy all logic and reasoning is something Emet saw in Apollo, in Edwin, in Themis, and in many of his closest friends, so he understood it much better than the likes of Krile believed. Even for him, the lone ascian who swore off this world and timeline, ready to abandon it for a paradise of the past, seeing this degeneration was saddening, if outright heartbreaking. The Unsundered thought so long to eventually bring this world to the state it once was at, to rid it of all ills and conflicts that plagued each sundered shard. Thousands of years of tiring work, and this is where it all ends. Everything becoming even worse.
Emet took out the purple crystal, the last source of his memory, the relic he kept close to his heart, especially after losing Azem's crystal to Hydaelyn. This crystal had it all, the sparks of the past, Azem, Hythlodaeus, Themis…Those who strive to see mankind and the star set a course of improvement, all those who gave their lives for its sake.
"Ah…" - The ascian breathed heavily. "I wish this was the world any of us wanted to see, but it is not…It never be. I'm sorry…" - His last words were especially quiet as the burden of guilt and shame once again pursued him. It was his failure that allowed G'raha to succeed, a failure that undid everything his people lived and strived for during the eternity they had.
"Ey, you!" - He heard a voice of a brash young man from behind. The ascian reflexively his the purple crystal in his pocket before turning around. Two young pirates, huyr and miqo'te, have crossed this bridge, apparently on their way back from the tavern, considering how drunk they seemed, and couldn't pass by.
"You the bloody Emperor?" - One of them asked rashly, looking Emet in the eyes.
"Alas, I'm now as far from being an Emperor as one could possibly imagine, so you missed your mark by a long shot." - He replied dismissively enough for them to notice his uncaring tone.
"You playing games with us or what?" - The hyur raised his voice in anger before clenching his fist. "Do you take us for idiots?"
"Well…"
"We see the eye, ain't many garleans mopping around here, and we know who came here with that ship!" - The second pirate added. "You're Solus; finally, someone brought you down!"
"Am I supposed to care for your drivel? What, exactly, is the purpose of this little performance of yours? I have my theories, but I'd much rather hear your account if you will."
"My father died at Cartheneu…" - The pirate's tone switched to disdain. "Never got the vengeance on the bastard that took him from me."
"Sorry to disappoint you, but Eula Darnus is long dead and gone. My condolences."
"Oh, you will see what you get for jesting with us…"
They were furious, but they didn't attack, even though no one was stopping them. Emet tried to manifest some of his powers but failed, he was keeping a distance from G'raha and his staff, and the Exarch would surely not allow his soul any freedom while he wasn't under anyone's supervision. But those were just mortal men; they knew exactly who stood before and feared retaliation despite trying to look as intimidating as possible. Of course, this pathetic approach would not work on the ascian.
"And what is it that I would get? Pray…"
The next action came unexpectedly as the young pirate punched Emet in his face. The ascian looked away for a moment, trying not to recoil. It was humiliating enough for Tataru, but this couldn't be allowed to stand.
"Feel that?"
"Oh, not as much as you will…" - Hades clenched his fist, for a moment ready to give in on any etiquette and get into a brawl like another drunk pirate, but they were interrupted.
"Wait!" - A familiar girl's voice rang out from behind as the black-haired elezen rushed to help. Arielle called out to the pirates, who looked away from the ascian for a moment.
"What do you want? Can't you see we're busy here?!"
"Apologies, but I couldn't stand aside…" - Arielle said with a shadow of confidence. "But I want to remind you that these are the guests who have an agreement with Rhotsatz himself, and it is his decree that they should not be hurt!"
"So we're just gonna allow this bastard to walk around like that, seriously?"
"You may always take it with the Pirate King if such is your wish." - She behaved differently this time, unafraid to speak plainly with those pirates, probably one of the privileges that being the Pirate King's favorite afforded.
"Fine, fine…Have it his way." - The pirate shook his head and rushed off, followed by his comrade. The perspective of being punished by Rhotsatz was enough for them to completely change their tune; Emet found it impressive that he was able to build such a reputation in a short span of time.
"Ah, and now they show their true colors…" - Emet sat on the fence, and Arielle walked towards him.
"I'm terribly sorry, it didn't have to happen." - She said apologetically, looking at the ascian with sympathy and trying to examine the cheek that was hit by the pirate.
"Well, another scar here, another there; I don't care for your groveling."
"Are you alright, master Galvus?" - Arielle was still concerned as she saw his cheek redden. "I could get some herbs and potions if you'd…"
"Oh, drop it." - Emet shook his head. "All I want now is to enjoy this fairly good day in solitude…Although I suppose you deserve some thanks for forcing those pests out of my sight."
"I am just trying to keep the peace; I hope you appreciate it."
"I don't mind…Wait, are you following me?" - The ascian crossed his hands and looked at Arielle with suspicion. She doubted for a moment, looking to her sides, unsure of how to proceed.
"I just checking in on you. Rhotsatz said that I should keep a keen eye while you're here."
"Ah, so he doesn't trust us after all. Can't say I blame him. It's admirable, in a way, to have someone decimate this city's previous order so swiftly and effectively only to turn it into something that…Disgusting." - As Emet spoke through his teeth with disdain, he noticed Arielle's disposition change. She recoiled reflexively, looking around to make sure that no one could hear them before approaching Emet again.
"Please…" - She begged, making Emet feel rather confused. "Don't do this."
"Don't do what?"
"I…I heard some of your argument with Rhotsatz, and I stayed at the door. I know you don't like this. I know there are good reasons; I just…" - She breathed heavily, trying not to panic. "I heard your friend speak so boldly about denying all that's going on here, but if he will actually go about changing it…"
"If I may stop you there." - Emet spoke out harsher than he intended. "First of all, that miqo'te is not my friend, and don't you insinuate that he is."
"He is not? But I thought that if you traveled together…"
"A temporary inconvenience for both of us. And second of all, I do not in any way agree with his delusional attempts to change this place; I'd much rather leave it as is and focus on what's actually important."
"Oh, praise Nophica, I was getting worried!" - Arielle breathed with relief. "I was afraid that you three were already planning something." - They were in agreement, but this agreement left an unusually bitter taste in the ascian's mouth. Something about her joy was wrong; it was so empty and beaten down she was happy to remain a slave. "Would you not want it to change?" - Emet asked quietly.
"It doesn't matter…I have Rhotsatz's protection, I'll survive, but if it changes, it will be worse…He is the only one that keeps people in check; if he goes, then it will be chaos again, and then, then…Someone may turn into a monster. We can't defend ourselves, and the pirates won't care for us… We'll all die." - She spoke with despair in her voice, the resignation of someone who saw no future for herself. Seeing this in such a young soul was disheartening, even if this truly was the best course for everything. Is that what G'raha felt? The realization when all logic and sense are stacked against you, but you cannot simply let go of something so wrong unfolding before your eyes.
"But what about your…Accomplice?" - Arielle asked. "What does he want to do?"
"As if I have the slightest idea. I'm not sure if he does, either. All I know is that seeing your city really angered him, and now he has this idea in his head of trying to 'help' you by any means necessary…And he does give up on his ideas easily."
"It can't be good." - Arielle shook her head. "If you see him, can you please talk him out of it?" - He sounded sincere, but the irony of this question made Emet chuckle at her face.
"He would not listen. Actually, no, he would listen and then gain motivation to do exactly the opposite. It's about as pointless as it gets, and I am too tired to waste my time on people like him."
"But what if he acts? I understand that you want to go to Sharlayan, right? Rhotsatz's patience is wearing thin; he might not allow you to leave."
"And what do you want from me?"
"Just…Talk with him."
"I said that wouldn't work."
"But you can try, right?"
"I…I guess I can." - Emet-Selch shrugged. "Not that it will avail anything at all, but are you satisfied?"
"Yes…Yes, I am."
"Then go and attend to your other duties, and I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you…Thank you!" - She brightened up, although it was as fake as her previous displays. Arielle looked away, trying to avoid her gaze and without saying anything, decided to rush away.
The ascian was left to muse whether she would tell all of this to Rhotsatz or keep it to herself. Either way, he did not regret his decision to allude to G'raha's plans. There was no point wasting time in this hellhole, and there was nothing Emet wanted more than for the Exarch to once again realize how damning his pursuit was.
Whatever happens, they will leave tomorrow.
