While the Exarch didn't see much of loporrits, the work they have done so far placed him in a rather uncomfortable position. G'raha could clearly see that those little people were trying their best to prepare a paradise for the people of the star, making their journey in the boundless sea as enjoyable as it was possible for people who would have just lost their home. Alas, the work they have done so far was tarnished by various misconceptions they had for the people they toiled for. G'raha did not want to seem ungrateful; after all, hearing all the stories Livingway told him, and Emet on the way to another sector of this vessel was truly inspiring and made G'raha appreciate the loporrits for what they did. Still, if they were to make as much fitting preparation as possible for the Exodus, the Exarch had to be as clear on the matter as possible, even if the loporrits would get hurt by the truth. Perhaps Emet's blunt approach would be far more preferable in their situation…G'raha was always quick to admit to his faults, yet when it came to pointing at those of others, he always hesitated.
"And here we have the most beautiful place on our ship, the Endsvale! The value to end all vales, basically." - Livingway announced as they walked through the gate, which led to another gigantic hall. This one looked slightly more appealing that Carrotorium, if only by a slight margin. It was full of large green crystals attached to metal rods, exuding their light across the hall. Livingway's eyes grew even more excited once they entered the place, yet G'raha could not quite share it just yet.
"My friend, Growingway, will show you around…Oh, here he is!" - Livingway waved to another white-furred loporrit who approached them the moment they entered.
"Hey there!" - He waved. "Oh, I see you brought our guests."
"Ready to show them around?"
"Of course, our valley is long overdue for presentation." - Growingway spoke with an upbeat voice as Livingway smiled and left immediately, not even saying anything to G'raha and Emet.
"She is busy, that one…" - G'raha noted as he watched Livingway disappear behind the giant gate.
"Oh, she is doing her best." - Growingway spoke with admiration. "She was overseeing our work ever since we started, and it took a long time! We are all very grateful for her guidance." - This blind loyalty made the ascian beside G'raha smirk quietly.
"If only her creator left her instruction that actually served a purpose…"
"Excuse me?" - Growingway looked at Emet with uncertainty, but G'raha didn't want this to escalate just yet.
"Have no worries; my companion is simply admiring your…Style." - The Exarch could still see Emet; the ascian was barely holding himself from bursting into laughter.
"Oh, I see! I'm glad you're already enjoying Endsvale. Come with me; I'll show you more!"
The duo had to follow the energetic loporrit, who charged ahead, hardly having any patience to wait for them. They were so happy to present their work, the work that has been an entire purpose of their life. How could he explain to them the faults of their masterpiece without devaluing their entire purpose?
"Are you going to tell them like it is?" - Emet wondered. "I am getting tired of this pointless charade, I have to say. Even people of Sharlayan are not as clueless as those creatures…Very in line with their creator, I have to say."
"I will tell them about the improvements they have to make before we leave, have no worries."
"Improvements? Improvements that would have them redo the project of their life almost from scratch? At least be honest about how much they failed. Trying to make it seem like a simple improvement will only make it worse. I know you can be dismissive and confident when the situation calls for it…So be it." - Emet encouraged G'raha, and as crude, as his approach was, it was not without reason. "If it makes it any easier, the rabbit that welcomed us is getting more nervous with every moment she spends near us. Might as well hasten the inevitable."
G'raha didn't respond, but he took those words into consideration. When they finally reached Growingway, the loporrit welcomed them at the heart of this 'vale'; it was surrounded by the crystals which G'raha witnessed from afar, now rising above them. Growingway guided them through the most scenic of pathways, clearly enjoying what he and his comrades had built. Yet just like Livingway, he was nervous and, in his endless gushing shown, avoided eye contact with his guests. Was it because they knew who Emet-Selch was and still feared him or because they realized that their work did not match the expectation of those from the star?
"Welcome to the heart of the Endsvale!" - Growingway finally turned around towards his guest, although the loporrit's eyes were still running around.
"It's a remarkable place." - G'raha said while looking around. "Livingway did a fine job of telling us about how much it took to create such a hall, but I was wondering what is the exact purpose it serves?"
"This vale is a place for the people of Etheirys to feel at home during our long journey." - Growingway explained. "We read our instructions very carefully and recreated trees to the best of our abilities. Do you like them?"
"Pardon…Trees?" - G'raha sounded stumped for a moment before he realized. Those green crystals attached to metal rods were the recreation Growingway talked about. "They were described as green and lush, something that brims with life and is stuck in the ground, so we have grown our own!"
"Are you going to tell him, or should I?" - Emet smiled arrogantly as they watched the loporrit's fake joy dissipate from his face.
"Is…Something wrong?"
"Forgive my companion's crude tongue…" - G'raha sighed. "But those aren't exactly trees…They are made of crystal."
"Well…Yes, they are! We don't know what other purposes you have for crystals on the star, but aren't trees supposed to be a symbol of life? What better way to bring life and hope into the hearts of your people than with crystals? They reflect light, just like Hydaelyn does." - Growingway spoke frantically, trying to find every possible excuse; Livingway must have warned him before bringing G'raha and Emet here. The Exarch did not wish to sound too callous, not in the slightest, yet the process was already set in motion.
"The trees in our world are something different. They are made of wood and leaves…" - It was hard to explain for someone who never truly witnessed them. "They brim with actual life, and it's not defined by light. Your creations are impressive in their own way, but…I suppose what I want to say is that I doubt that this is what will make people of our star feel at home, per se." - He tried to be as soft as possible while explaining this. If the loporrits were given any access to the star itself by Hydaelyn, if she maintained contact with them and helped find the specimen of real trees and grass, all of this awkwardness could have been avoided. Why did she not do any of this over those eons? She made a plan to save the people of Etheyris from the cataclysm, yet it seemed so hastily done and unprepared…This made the Exarch realize something important, something that he did not pay much attention to before. Hydaelyn knew that Zodiark's barrier would be broken, or at least expected it. So did the loporrits who were preparing this vessel for this very moment, not to mention the Forum, which was about to finish its preparations right after Zodiark fell. Was it not too much of a coincidence? These questions made G'raha muse, yet for now, he focused on the present.
"Are you saying that your people don't like crystals?"
"No, not at all, but they have a very distinct association with trees." - G'raha was about to explain in detail, yet he was interrupted by Emet.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" - The ascian gazed at Growingway with focused eyes full of annoyance. "My soft-spoken companion here and I are of one mind, but he, unfortunately, cannot force himself to speak plainly due to misplaced kindness in his heart. To set this matter straight, the impression of his people that you got from the books sent to you is wildly misconstrued. This seems to have tarnished everything, starting from the size of their residential quarters, going on to the way they form a diet for your guests and the surroundings you create. The truth is, none of this will ever replace home for them, not with how you created it." - The ascian spoke without hatred, much to G'raha's surprise; he was simply tired of pretending and looking for more examples when the answer was evident enough. Perhaps he was in the right. "This is a robotic imitation that will make them think of what was once their home and get depressed from realizing what they lost! Just enough to feed their memories of a star that was shriveled and broken before their own eyes, not even close to filling even the smallest portion of this void!"
"Enough." - G'raha spoke commandingly. "Their work is not ideal for our people; that much is true, but it doesn't excuse you for being so brash and…"
"And when did you get into a habit of telling me when it is enough? Your chains are on my soul and my magic, not my tongue. I speak only that which I think, and I am not going to change that because someone likes to sugarcoat words."
"I…" - The loporrit stuttered as he found himself at a loss of words, his hands shivered and eyes brimming with pain and disillusionment. Before he could continue, however, they were unceremoniously interrupted.
"Damn it, stop!" - Another loporrit voice echoed from behind them. A lone creature was desperately running after a mechanical creation with one blue eye, a wheel instead of any lets, and hands shaped in the form of drills. This was one of the stewards they saw in the Carrotorium, but this one was acting wild and uncontrollable. When it got closer to Emet and G'raha, the construct's eyes became focused on the duo as it immediately rushed toward them.
"INTERLOPERS SPOTTED: CLEARANCE PROTOCOL ACTIVATED."
"No, wait, you dumb bucket!" - The worrying loporrit shouted. "They aren't interlopers; they're our guests!"
G'raha was the first one who got attacked by this mechanism; it happened so quickly that the Exarch could barely create a defense for himself. He was pushed aside by the steward moments before forming a crystal blade in his arms, a feat that was especially difficult now when most of his powers were spent holding Emet-Selch back. Before the steward could attack once again, G'raha jumped back on his feet and sliced the machine with an empowered blade. The mechanism's voice became disturbed as its systems and schemes were burned and the set-up utterly decimated, with the remaining parts collapsing before G'raha. An easy victory for him, but were he an average person from the star, his life would have been in danger.
"I'm terribly sorry!" - The loporrit exclaimed. "I was trying to reprogram this damn thing, but it all went wrong. I promise it won't happen again!"
"Ah, yes, of course…" - Emet sighed before looking back at a shocked Growingway. "See what I am talking about? This place is designed so poorly that people can't even be safe in its walls! Get a couple malfunctioning machines like those, and you would prolong the tragedy that pursued the people of the star even on the moon! You had twelve thousand years to make it work, and this is what you give them?" - The ascian tried to tone himself down, sighing in disappointment. "But do not be mistaken, I don't blame you…I blame your creator. Your creator put a contingency plan yet never cared to thoroughly design it because she did not even believe it would come to this…She never bothered to show you the star and what it actually looks like, never bothered to guide you so you could prepare something fitting! So much she cared for the people of this star…Or perhaps not. Perhaps it was just one man who she cared for, and he failed her! He never lived up to her expectations, the expectations she believed to be set in stone! And once those expectations crumbled before her eyes, she was left to pick up the pieces of a world ablaze…And you were all her pawns, blindly walking into oblivion at her behest. This is the truth that you were all so reluctant to accept, but the one that you cannot avoid any longer. Do with it as you will…If you truly want to make this place accommodating, you will have to begin your work now." - The ascian spoke mercilessly with seething rage emerging in his voice, directed at Hydaelyn. G'raha knew that Emet did not care for the future of sundered, yet the sheer pain that echoed in his voice could not be ignored. There was more to it; there was something personal to the certainty he spoke with. Meanwhile, Growingway had no choice but to listen with shame and disappointment.
"I…" - The loporrit tried to speak once again. "I'm sorry that it had to be like this. I'll, I'll…Go to Livingway and relay your…Concerns."
"I'm sorry." - G'raha spoke. "Please do not take it as personal, but there are many changes that have to be done if you are to accommodate people of the star…I believe that contact with those living there will be a perfect way for you to gather more knowledge about our people."
"I'll tell this to Livingway…I suppose we have to leave our tour early if that's the case? Will you stay here for some time?"
"Yes, of course." - The Exarch responded before taking a suspicious look at Emet-Selch. "The two of us have yet to finish our conversation…"
Growingway did not respond. The loporrit looked down and rushed to the gate along with his companion, who was chasing the mechanism, once again leaving G'raha and Emet in solitude. Perhaps they could still fix those problems in time, but this wasn't a time they had, nor the opportunity G'raha wished to consider.
After all, escape was the last resort. The star was yet to be saved.
…
Was this the legacy that their star would share?
Words could not describe the disgust Hades felt at the realization. Now that his race has gone extinct, it would be the sundered who see this star finally be annihilated, the thought of the history of this entire world ending with a clique of sundered leaving on this mechanical, broken, pseudo-paradise while the star burns was…Pathetic. And it was all because a single soul waited for thousands of years before telling them the truth, wasting so much time that could've been spent researching and preparing to fight Meteion, both with sundered and unsundered. Now there will be nothing…A part of Emet wanted to return to the sea and kill Hydaelyn once and for all before leaving their world, but he knew that seeing her face once again would make the pain far worse. Everyone in this hellish cycle was a victim of hers, from ascians to the loporrits, and even though she finally sensed that bitter taste of defeat, it was too little and too late.
Even G'raha was, perhaps, more than any other sundered. His was a key part to play in her plan, the part of vanquishing the ascians and giving Edwin the opportunity to travel back in time…Now that he had failed, the whole cycle was destroyed in her eyes. Perhaps Emet should've despised G'raha for all that he was, for all that he did to sabotage the ascian cause. Yet seeing him still trying to be welcoming and kind to loporrits, seeing him still attempt to maintain his resolve as they sat in silence amidst the mechanical vale while his soul was in turbulence was painful. He tried to save his people much more than Venat or even Edwin did; he achieved what many thought impossible before and averted the calamity. The Exarch had questions he wanted to ask Emet per his own admission, yet for some reason, he couldn't force himself to speak. Perhaps he was too proud to admit that he had reached a dead end? That all those attempts to investigate what the Forum, the Watcher, and loporrits know amounted to nothing? That he wasted his time? When G'raha gave Emet a glance, it was a face of shame with his pained, tired eyes and a frown that formed on his face. A face of a man that did follow a plan, some kind of scheme over an entire century, and now was at a loss, not knowing what he could do. No matter how much the ascian wanted this, he could not call his disposition pitiful. The Exarch took defeat after defeat with dignity when a mortal who has gone through all that G'raha experienced could be forgiven for lacking in it. And not to mention that he did what Emet asked of him; at least I'm part…Hades frowned at the thought, but he could not deny the urge to reveal it. After all, his chains would grow too weak in a matter of a few days, and the ascian had already decided for himself that he would not be leaving without telling the truth. Hythlodaeus was right; Emet was never a slave to his sentiment.
After a few moments of watching the ascian stare at their uninspired surroundings in silence, G'raha scoffed quietly and looked away, which was immediately picked up by Emet. The moment the ascian began this conversation, he knew how it would end. Oh, sweet irony…
"What's wrong?" - Emet smiled. "Don't you feel calm and relaxed near those…Majestic and very real-looking trees?" - The ascian looked at the green crystal beneath which they sat. A robotic, lifeless recreation with no substance or beauty…He couldn't have this be the last remnants of what was once their world.
"I believe we are far beyond playing this pointless, endless game, would you not agree?" - G'raha sighed. "You didn't have to make a scene with our hosts. Now their opinion of our people will fall lower…"
"And? They are still subservient creatures created for a singular purpose that they shall fulfill, no matter what they themselves think…They will guide your people away where they will find a new home in the sea of stars…If any of them live that long, that is. I cannot imagine this search being swift." - Hades shrugged casually, further toying with G'raha.
"I'm tired…That's as much as I can say." - The Exarch sighed and looked at Emet with a shameful chuckle. "I suppose it was clear enough for someone who had to follow my every step and listen to all ravings. Perhaps it is naive of me to think that you would care to understand or even that my suffering is comparable to yours…But I will say that a part of me hoped you would. Ever since you put a bullet in my back, everything has been falling apart." - G'raha spoke with pain and anger festering in his voice. "Edwin's demise, Ryne giving her soul away to become one with a sin eater, destruction of Zodiark, the cataclysm in Ul'Dah, my foolishness in Limsa…And now any answers I managed to find only lead to escape…To escape on this unfinished, unfit vessel which will not house everyone on our star, not even closely…To watch this world burn because…Because I doomed it! Because in my goddamn quest for ending the ascians, I broke the seal, I…" - G'raha looked away in shame, likely realizing how emotional he was becoming, yet it was clear that the Exarch could no longer hold it back. Emet would let him go on and confess to all his failings before giving him what he desires; only then would they be even. "Nothing goes as it should; everything moves towards one end, the end which sees our star burn and most die…So I ask this, Hades, I need an honest answer and not a single mote of your sarcasm…What should I do? Where do I go next? What is there…If anything I can do to even try and save our star." - His broken, angry voice lashed out, although it was clear to Emet that this anger was not directed at him but at G'raha's own missteps.
"Is that some humility that I hear? Truly, the stars must align today." - Emet chuckled.
"Why do I even bother…" - G'raha clenched his fist and looked down, trying not to show his pain. It seemed like he was utterly devoid of hope, desperately grasping at the smallest straws of it he could see, only short of begging directly. But Emet knew that he would not beg. His honor would not allow him to do it, which made the ascian respect him, in a way.
"And if the stars do align…" - Emet sighed, preparing himself for this excruciating talk. He did not want to go through these memories, fearing that this would only make his pain worse, but perhaps sharing it with someone who could understand would ease his agony, if only by a little. "I suppose I should repay my debt."
"What?" - G'raha looked up with shocked eyes.
"You have told me that which I asked of you, it proved to be much simpler than I anticipated, but this only makes my job easier."
"Please, I have no time for another story."
"Even the one of what truly caused the final days?" - Emet wondered and immediately witnessed G'raha recoil in shock. His frozen eyes stared at the ascian, unable to let go of sheer disbelief.
"Y…You will tell it? You know the truth?" - G'raha stuttered with a glimmer of hope emerging in his voice.
"I did ever since talking to Hydaelyn in the aethereal sea. I simply believed it amusing to see you doubt it." - The ascian shrugged.
"Then…I was right! You knew, you knew! But…Am I to believe you would just tell me now after so much time of resistance."
"Don't get yourself too excited; there is something I will ask you by the end of it, and I want a promise that you will do it." - Emet spoke starkly.
"I cannot free you." - The Exarch shook his head.
"I will break free myself soon enough, but no, that's not what I am going to ask."
"Then what is it?"
"You will have to trust me on this one. It won't hurt anyone…But I want a promise right now." - Emet demanded calmly yet commandingly. There was little choice for the Exarch, yet he still hesitated. Hades was not going to give him any chances.
"Am I going to regret this?" - He asked in a tone of voice that diluted his anticipation and hopes with dread that followed in its footsteps.
"That depends on you."
"I…Damn it all. I promise, just tell me what it was you learned from Hydaelyn." - G'raha sighed and accepted his fate.
"Well…It all began on a day when one of our own Convocation members, Fandaniel, declared himself declared his intention to step down and relinquish his seat. He did not do so before naming a successor; however, his apprentice the name of Hermes, the one whose soul Amon inherited. At the time, he was a chief researcher in Elpis."
"Elpis?"
"Ah yes, of course, the names of our facilities must be rather alien to you…It was a floating isle where we, the ancients, have brought forth various new concepts, be it creatures or plants. A place where the most talented creators from the entire world came to share their ideas and put them into practice." It - A beautiful place, that one; even though Emet only visited it once in his lifetime, most of which has been erased anyway, it still left an impression. "A remarkable place that collapsed during the Final Days, its fall to the ground, unleashing a cataclysm that took numerous cities. Was sent forth by the Convocation to talk to Hermes and assess him as a potential candidate for the role, and I took my friend, Hythlodaeus, as a guide."
"How is that relevant…"
"Don't interrupt, or I might still change my mind. I talked to Hermes, who was certainly a talented researcher and creator, yet his resolve…Wavered. He was a troubled individual with his doubts about our way of life, he thought us too quick to discard creations we deem flawed, but this is past the point. Before giving us an explicit answer, Hermes took us on a tour around Elpis, showing us its facilities and projects. He also showed us his own favorite creation, an entelechy by the name of Meteion…A creature that appeared in the form of a small girl with feathers of a blue bird was able to do that which few other creations could. She possessed a soul and shared connection with her sister, similar entelechies." - It was hard to describe her; all Emet's knowledge either came from Venat or from his rather vague memories. "Alas, when we were at Ktisis Hyperboeria, the main research facility, Meteion self-destructed due to her instability, accidentally activating Kairos. It is a device that can wipe one's memories, and it affected me, Hythlodaeus, and Hermes, utterly erasing those few days from our minds. They would only be restored once our souls are cleansed in the aethereal sea. We had to have our conversation again, at the end of which Hermes accepted his duty and claimed the seat of Fandaniel…"
"It seems like you had many creations and devices that were…Far too dangerous to control, for the lack of a better term." - G'raha noted, his cautious voice brimming with suspicion. "But what of the actual catastrophe? I don't see how that helps me…"
"Ha-ha…Oh, you naive, poor soul." - Emet shook his head and began to laugh quietly. "It turns out Kairos cannot only wipe our memories but also replace them with vague recollections of something that never happened…And this was exactly what happened. Kairos activation was not accidental that day, and I have been played for a fool."
"Did Hydaelyn tell you that?"
"Oh, she did…When I met her in the sea, I asked her to tell me the very same story you wanted to hear from me, and she told us of those few days in Elpis and what actually transpired there."
"But how could she know?"
"She was there as well, witnessed everything we did…And did not get her mind cleansed." - If only she had acted differently, if only she had told them the truth before so many tragedies were set in motion, this Emet would never understand. "From her words, I can recount to you what actually happened that day; I doubt you will believe every word of it."
"I know you are not a liar."
"I struggled to believe some of it as well, but I can do nothing else but accept it as fact…Hythlodaeus and I were not alone in Elpis. Edwin was there, too."
"Edwin?!" - G'raha spoke loudly. "Do you mean Apollo?"
"No, it was Edwin as you know him." - Emet smiled at seeing such genuine shock. "Sent forth by the crystal tower, no less, the same one that you brought to the First. He came from a time when the star was ravaged by Final Days yet again, and he sought answers as to what truly caused them."
"But this cannot be true…How could he be in the past? How could he have lived past the…Are you saying there is another alternate timeline?" - G'raha's voice broke with what Emet saw as the spurring excitement.
"According to Venat, yes. The one where all was aligned until the moment of our battle in the Tempest. This was a battle Edwin won along with his comrades, and I failed and perished." - There was some peace in this thought that even should he lose to a mortal, it would be their strongest hero, a soul that was once Emet's close friend.
"So…" - G'raha could barely form words; he took a deep breath before a wide smile emerged on his face. His sudden laughter of the most genuine, even if nervous joy, caught Hades off-guard. "That means the world where they are alive, where he is alive…It exists?"
"If we do not account for the fact that it is being scorched by Final Days as well…Yes."
"Ha…" - G'raha's hands shook as the Exarch's mouth could not allow himself anything but a quiet chuckle of happiness and wonder. He raised his head to the ceiling, looking at it as if at a sky full of beautiful stars. "They live…The live."
"And you will never see them, unfortunately." - Hades answered with a glimmer of sympathy.
"Perhaps, but…I thought my mission was for nothing, but it's not, at least not everywhere…" - G'raha finally stopped breathing deeply and looked back at Emet. "I'm sorry, it has been too much. It's just if this is true…There is some hope for them, right? I didn't know it until now, I…"
"Don't apologize. I understand. But I still have to tell the actual story." - Emet continued.
"Yes, of course."
"We were joined by Venat, a renowned scholar and a former holder of the seat of Azem, and eventually Edwin revealed to us his true nature and purpose. He told us all those stories about Venat becoming Hydaelyn and guiding the star, of me being one of the Unsundered and the garlean Emperor…Can you imagine how annoying it is to realize that all those memories are in my mind somewhere yet I simply cannot remember them?"
"So the three of you knew who you were going to become of the world…It's still barely possible to comprehend." - G'raha sighed.
"It is, even for me. From what I understand, the four of us researched the nature of the Final Days and what could have caused them, only to find the answer was very close to us all this time…Hermes and Meteion. The entelechy he made had a thinner soul and, therefore, could interact with dynamis far more easily than any of us. And her true purpose was much more than any of us imagined…For her sisters have been sent to traverse the sea of stars in search of an answer, in search of other worlds and nations who could have helped with his musings on the answer."
"The answer to what?"
"A question of what makes life worth living. The Meteia would take in the answers and bring them back to Hermes in the form of a single report, a day for which he was yearning all this time…He got his answer that day, too." - Hades shook his head and looked down with his teeth clenched. If only any of them knew who it was working beside them as Fandaniel knew of what he did to their world. "It wasn't the answer he hoped for. Most planets he found died of different causes, be it was, disease or sheer complacency…Meteion concluded that there was no hope and the answer to his question was suffering. Only by being free from life itself can we escape it."
"I think I understand now…" - G'raha continued. "She went out of control and unleashed the cataclysm upon you?"
"She needed time to gain power and reunite with her sisters at the edge of the universe, and so she escaped…Not without Hermes's help, apparently. He still protected her and decided to put mankind to a 'test' during which we could prove if we were worth living."
"That is horrific. How can someone who supposedly cares for your creations could do such a thing?"
"Sometimes the facade truly can be misleading, can it?" - Emet chuckled. "He was the one who activated Kairos, attempting to wipe all of our memories so when the time comes, we would see this cataclysm as something none of us knew about…He succeeded. He stole those memories from Hythlodaeus and me, wiping his own for some reason. Perhaps it was his desire for 'fairness,' or perhaps he simply wanted to escape responsibility. And here is how it happened…The Meteia formed a nest far, far away from the star, sending the waves of their song our way, rotting the aether currents and unleashing dynamis."
"That's quite a tale you've spun…" - G'raha sighed, listening attentively yet still in disbelief. "So, the whole ordeal was orchestrated by a single ancient?"
"Did I not tell you how impressive our people were? Too impressive at times…Hermes had many opportunities to open up or perhaps bring his concerns to the hall of rhetoric, but he chose the path of utter annihilation."
"But that's not the whole story, is it?" - G'raha persisted. "What happened with Venat? If you say she was with you and her memories were not purged…Why did she not tell you?"
"She escaped through the congruence along with Edwin, who she then sent back to his present…I know not what she did after, but she did not tell us the truth. When I confronted her on this, Hydaelyn said that she did not want to disturb the timeline, did not want to alienate Hermes…Many things she told me, but the facts remain. She concealed the truth and stood aside during all our sacrifices. She watched as our people got slaughtered and consumed by those beasts…" - Emet stuttered as his voice grew pained. G'raha looked at him with caution and slight uncertainty.
"Edwin said that it's quite common for Hydaelyn to not be upfront, but this seems…Very uncharacteristic. She cares for the star, does she not?"
"No, she cares for her vision of this star, for her Warrior of Light which she remembers from the past…She said she believed us incapable of accepting suffering. When we began to prepare for a third sacrifice, which would consist of our creations with souls and perhaps the new peoples that emerged after Zodiark brought life back to the world."
"You were going to sacrifice people?"
"It was a…Point of discussion for a time. Even though proponents did not take this decision lightly, I couldn't quite accept it myself, and I admit that we may have gone too far in being brought to our brink. But we never actually get to the point of consensus, and I think you can guess why." - Emet responded with a deep sigh, seeing that G'raha knew where this tale was going.
"The sundering?"
"Yes…What I always believed to be a side effect of her trying to chain Zodiark turned out to be something far more malicious." - Emet paused as he tried to control his fury. "She sundered us on purpose! She believed that only as fragmented, imperfect beings will be able to become strong enough to defeat Meteion and overcome the cataclysm!" - Emet spoke with anger as he could barely afford to look G'raha in the eyes; the ascian was about to tear up. Perhaps it was for the best that he was still chained by G'raha's spell; otherwise, he certainly would've annihilated something with his magic.
"This can't be right!" - G'raha shook his head. "Why would she…Why would anyone do that to their own people? It makes no sense!"
"Ask her, not me. I'm only recounting that which Hydaelyn told me, and it was by her own admission that she wanted to see mankind grow stronger and be brought to the state it was, as well as maintaining the timeline and allowing all the events necessary for Edwin to be born to play out exactly as intended…" - Emet looked at G'raha's disbelief with amusement, but even this wasn't the end of it. "Yes, before you ask…She had the opportunity to save those lives, both of our people and yours, but she chose not to. She chose to sacrifice our world and most of the shards to bring everything to this very moment…The moment that she waited for thousands of years, a moment that never came! It would've been suitable for a comedy if it wasn't so…Infuriating." - There was little Emet could say about Venat; her crimes against their people were too great to forgive.
"No, there must be something else, something she did not tell you…Mayhap she not consider it a murder? Maybe she believed you can regain your memories as sundered…" - He frantically began to search for reasons and excuses, understandable for someone who was ready to put his trust in her up until now, yet all of these pointless musings had to be shut down immediately.
"Oh please, if you are going to throw away your rationality for anyone, at least do it for someone more deserving of it than Venat." - The ascian scoffed and shook his head. "Let's do it with an example, shall we? If someone were to take Krile and split her soul into fourteen separate, formless, and speechless beings that are in constant pain, robbed of their memories, and doomed to retain this animalistic broken state until centuries of evolution down the line and many more reincarnations, would you look at this being and call it Krile? Will you even call it alive?" - Those grim words must have hit G'raha as the Exarch's gaze fell toward the floor once again. He was at an utter loss for words, constantly breathing and trying to process what he had just heard.
"It would be alive…But it would not be Krile. It will be her death which is death with her soul on its way to becoming something else…Like all those who died during rejoining."
"At least you see the obvious. I wonder how far some of her fanatics in Sharlayan Forum will go to defend her."
"This…This would also mean she knew about the seven calamities; she knew that you should've remained Un…Was it her that let you escape?" - G'raha spoke with a trembling voice of horror.
"You are right. Before the sundering, I was able to find a crack in the space near me, a portal to the rift that…Called out to me. I did not know why at the time, but I couldn't resist its temptations. There were two other ancients with me at this time, they did not see the rift, but once I showed it to them, they helped create a pathway. It took the three of us away from the sundering, unleashing us back into the world once the deed was done." - Emet's voice grew quiet as his body shuddered from the mere thought of this horrendous day. Of the heartbreak he felt, unable to believe that which was before him, the screams that filled his mind, the people he could not save.
"Elidibus was with you that day…" - G'raha continued to piece this puzzle together.
"Indeed, he was another of the Unsundered. The third was Lahabrea, Hephaistos…one of our most talented and mighty researchers, a master of creation magics with none to rival him…He had a son, Erichtonios. A young boy whom he taught a fraction of his own might, whom he cherished more than anything else…He had to see him in this broken state." - A tear fell down from Emet's eyes as his voice quivered and his hands shook. "Imagine how Fourchenault would reach were he to see the mutilated corpses of his children before him, thinking they were safe only a few hours before that…That's what she knew would happen, and that's what she did nonetheless!" - Emet's voice grew louder, bordering on a shout, as G'raha continued to listen speechlessly. Emet savored every moment of this conversation; he could read the horror in G'raha's eyes as the Exarch realized who their guiding star really was. "I watched Hephaistos grow mad as he devoted himself fully to our cause. I saw Themis forget his past, slowly burning away any remnants of his true self…They were far more dedicated to our cause than I ever was. They would rarely waver in their resolve, why my memories would always drag me down…" - Tears fell on the floor, and Emet struggled to keep looking at G'raha, so overwhelming was the shame and heartache. "They deserved to live, and I…I didn't! I was weak, I couldn't accept the pain, I rested when Hephaistos died and Themis…He lived past the moment of our timelines divulging; his death was not written in stone, yet instead of helping him to maintain the balance on the Source, I…" - Emet felt the air leaving his lungs as the ascian struggled to breathe. "I failed them all. I wanted to die countless times throughout our exploits, and the only reason I persisted was because of Hephaistos and Themis, but now…Now I know that she wanted me to die, needed me to die, and nothing makes me want to live more than this knowledge. Every second I exist, every second I continue to breathe is a moment of spite for her, and I will take as much of it as I can."
"I…I'm sorry." - G'raha uttered. "I know my words can do little to heal those wounds, but whatever happened, you and your people did not deserve this. I can hardly believe that Hydaelyn would let this tragedy happen, but…Can it be true? If it is so, who are the people of the Forum allying themselves with?"
"Now you see. I would not deny that what my brethren and I did was horrific, but it is no different from what she did…She knew what the three of us would do, and she orchestrated everything that led up to it. She did it all for Edwin. She believed that he was the key to salvation…She was wrong. There is no justice nor kindness to be found in this wretched world, no salvation. It is doomed because of her and her lies. That is the guiding star of all those scions, including your hero…Now you know the truth. Now you know about the creature that hides at the edge of the universe and makes our star vulnerable. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"It…It is, yes." - G'raha forced himself to speak. "You've given me much to think about, far too much…"
"And here we come to your promise." - Emet spoke with a faint and pained smile. "Promise me this…That when you inevitably stand before Hydaelyn and demand answers from her, demand to hear her tell you the truth and look her in the eyes…Promise me you will remember who it was that told you the truth and who it was who lied for eons to my people and yours alike." - Emet spoke, noticing G'raha's visible confusion, adding even more onto the tale the ascian spun.
"Is that…Is that it?"
"It means much more than you might think; it means that at least some honor…Some remembrance of my people goes on that her power was not enough to annihilate us completely…Please, this is all I ask."
"I promise." - G'raha uttered too quickly for Emet to react, surprising the ascian. He looked at his nemesis with frozen eyes of shock, pain, and disillusionment, barely able to speak. The same was true for Emet, who now wasn't alone with Venat in knowing this grim truth. Now there was another, the one whose motives were far purer than Venat's, even if his actions were not always in line with them. Someone knew the dreadful story of how their world came to be.
The only warmth amidst the chill of failure, despair, and shame…The only glimmer of hope in his scorched heart.
…
As soon as Rolandeau heard the news, he was ecstatic. Unlike Fourchenault, who always remained highly cautious, the young hyur saw this as a perfect opportunity to set a trap for Emet-Selch. The aetheryte shard was almost ready, and Rolandeau would waste no time. He descended into Labyrinthos to see the preparations done, hopeful for success yet anxious that G'raha and Emet might return before they get a chance to fulfill this plan. Fourchenault was left behind, waiting for Rolandeau to call him when the time had come.
The moment came much quicker than he anticipated. When the evening approached, and the sun began to fall, the elezen believed this to be a time for respite. Both he and Ameliance were incredibly tired after the busy day and needed some time together to reflect on what they went through and the path that awaited them ahead. For Fourchenault, this was a day of immense significance, for this was a day he had waited for ever since becoming a member of the Forum. The day when there are no more secrets and the path lies clearly before them, a day where he stood and watched the citizens tremble in fear before trying to maintain their wavering hope. It would be a painful sight to behold either way, but being among them instead of the Forum made it hurt even more, for now, Fourchenault truly understood.
Yet this moment was broken short by a linkpearl call Fourchenault heard while sorting out the remaining unneeded papers in his study, this could only be one man. The elezen answered it, praying that the time to enact the plan wasn't yet nigh.
"Yes?" - Fourchenault answered.
"Are you free to talk?" - Rolandeau's voice echoed in the linkpearl.
"Yes, I'm alone now. Is it urgent?"
"Well, yes. The ascian can return through the aetheryte at any moment, and we cannot miss it." - Fourchenault knew how this would end. The trap must have been set up, and Rolandeau needed his aid in guarding it and preparing for Solus's return. In truth, Fourchenault did not want to do it just yet; he wished for nothing more than a few quiet hours with Ameliance, no matter how close the moment of justice was. "I set up the aetheryte. It is connected to our system and is made to detect a soul too thick compared to those that usually use those, as the ascian's would be. Now to prepare the most powerful spells…I need your aid with this. We have to combine our strength if we are to destroy his soul."
"You know I lost my nouliths at Limsa Lominsa, of what aid can I be without them?" - This was a flimsy excuse, and Fourchenault understood that, yet some part of him did not want to go there, made him long for any possible excuse to stay at his home with his beloved wife.
"Remember how I said we have sympathizers? They provided me another set to give to you. I think you'll find those most effective."
"Ah, of course…"
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, it's simply…" - Fourchenault sighed tiredly; there was no point in hesitation. "I was hoping to get some rest this evening. Ameliance is tired, and I'm sure she would appreciate company…I have to be there for her."
"I understand, but…" - Rolandeau's voice echoed with compassion, yet eventually, he pushed forward on their proposition. I understand, truly, but you know that if we lose this moment, this might be it. There is no telling when Emet-Selch will have to use the aetheryte again; what if he breaks his chains before that and runs free? What if he unleashes this chaos once again, this time in Sharlayan? He may try to sabotage the vessel for all we know, and that will ruin anyone's chance at survival!" - Rolandeau's persuasions made sense, as much as Fourchenault did not wish to admit it. This was truly a unique chance for them.
"Very well…" - Fourchenault spoke with a heavy heart and a quiet voice on yet another break. He didn't want to leave Ameliance alone for the night, but they had done everything to prepare for the moment of truth, the moment when the ascian shall meet his demise. "I'll meet you at the Archeion."
"Good, I'll see you there. Don't linger for too long. We have a lot to do." - After those words, Rolandeau ended his call, and Fourchenault left in silence once again. The man sighed and took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts before doing what he must. Rolandeau awaited, and Fourchenault gave a promise. This battle was begun by them not just as a way to avenge those who have fallen but to protect everyone in the city that will be harmed due to this maniac and his games. Fourchenault knew that the ascian would not stop at simply leaving; he despised their kind with all his heart if he had one. There was nothing to keep the monster from unleashing the dreadful end upon them, the Final Days. It will be a gift for everyone, including those close to Fourchenault.
As the elezen walked towards the door, he heard someone's steps. Fourchenault braced himself before seeing Arielle appearing before the door; as he opened it, the girl looked at him with interest and hope.
"Hello, Master Leveilleur."
"No need for formalities." - The elezen reassured her, though, in his usual stern fashion, the turmoil of his own mind didn't allow him to be warm at all.
"Oh, yes, of course…" - The girl nodded hastily before looking up. "I was talking to Ameliance, and she wonders if you would join her." - She spoke with curiosity, making Fourchenault's heartache once again.
"Where…Where is she?"
"Outside in the backyard, she says she really enjoys the dusk…And wants to see it as much as possible until we leave." - Arielle stuttered when speaking of leaving their world; it wasn't something any of them could take easily. "Is everything alright?" - Arielle wondered as Fourchenault looked away in a desperate attempt to hide his frozen eyes. The elezen felt tears forming inside them, ready to fall to the floor any moment. He couldn't show signs of weakness, not now, not until the deed was done. Ameliance would thank him later, and there will still be time to say goodbye to this star, to reignite their love and passion away on the moon…There will be time, but this time was not now.
"Yes, I'm alright, I'm just…Can you tell her then I'm sorry, but I can't join her yet." - Fourchenault forced himself to speak with a tone of feigned confidence, yet another lie.
"Are you…Sure? I didn't talk to her about it, but I think she feels lonely there. She seems so…Sad." - She forced the knife further into Fourchenault's wound, even if unwittingly. If only she knew how much he wanted to be with her this time. "I think she will like it if you visit her."
"I know, I…" - There could be no excuses, no arguments against it. Fourchenault remembered his words at the plaza. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made, and sometimes they have to be personal. "I have to do something very important, something that cannot wait. I can't speak of it just yet, but it will be for the benefit of us all…For the safety of us all. There are no words that can describe how much I wish to join her today, and all I can ask of you, Arielle…Pray convey to her my apologies. Once all is done, we will have all the time in the world. Tell her that is my promise. Can I count on you?" - Fourchenault spoke from heart, almost begging for Arielle to speak in his stead. For if he was to tell Ameliance the truth as it was, he was afraid that he won't be able to force himself to leave.
"I…Alright, I promise."
"Thank you, Arielle, thank you." - Fourchenault smiled at the girl with as much kindness as he could.
"I'm sure you're doing it for her; I know she'll understand…" - A warm smile emerged on her face as Arielle was about to leave. Thankfully, she did not look back as she rushed downstairs; otherwise, she would've seen Fourchenault's tears.
Ever since hearing of his children's demise, he felt empty and powerless. The world around him turned into a gaping void that slowly drowned him in its abysmal depths. And when Emet-Selch showed up, he felt this void becoming stronger, choking him and slowly drowning the life out of his soul. Fourchenault believed that there would be no end to this pain, this humiliation, but now he felt powerful once again. He felt the fate of this monster in his hands, in the hands of a man who would protect the people of Sharlayan.
There was no time to waste.
…
Sometimes, miracles did happen. When G'raha spoke with the Forum about them, he said so with unwavering belief, yet even the Exarch had his doubts about whether some miracles were possible. Emet-Selch coming clean and telling him the truth was one of those miracles. The Exarch remained stunted for some time after their talk, not only because the amount of knowledge about their world's origins was unraveled before him but also because it was Emet-Selch who told him everything. Of course, the Exarch would take everything the ascian says with a grain of salt, yet as always, there was not a single sign of it being a lie in his voice. He knew that Hades despised lying, and he couldn't force himself to believe that the tale was fake.
Few words could describe the exhilarating joy G'raha felt upon finding out that there are timelines in which his quest succeeds and Edwin prevails against the ascians. The thought of his hero rising above the vanquished darkness and bringing hope into G'raha's heart, as well as the hearts of thousands of others. Yet the picture quickly turned bitter and bleak in G'raha's mind as he realized that he would never see this world in person…Even if he tried, there is no way for him to go back to the First, nor can he leave before undoing his grave error. He was stuck in a world where his friends perished, and he was left alone with someone he considered his mortal enemy, someone who he never expected to share his pain with. At least knowing that somewhere, in a timeline beyond his own his friends live on to see another day…The thought warmed the Exarch's heart, even if tears came closer to his eyes at every thought of it.
But then how could Hydaelyn's actions be explained? She was a guiding star of their entire world, their guardian and keeper. G'raha knew little of her, yet he wanted to believe that she was a benevolent god who would do anything for their star, but more and more doubts emerged in his mind. Now he heard the tale of the sundering, and he could not deny that it was a slaughter. She took the lives of everyone on the star except three men, who she willingly set onto a path of destruction, pain, and hate, a path at the end of which they would serve as obstacles for the Warrior of Light on his path to salvation of this star. She had the knowledge of the dreadful future, yet she refused to try and alter it, refused to tell her people the truth…G'raha would withhold his judgments before hearing Venat's side of the story, but this tale was enough to utterly shatter his preconceptions of her that he had.
But, of course, that was not the main reveal…When G'raha heard the tale of Meteion and how Hermes orchestrated the Final Days, the Exarch was incredibly relieved. It was a joyful moment, the one he had never felt ever since when Edwin called out his name atop Mount Gulg. Now he knew the root cause that hides at the edge of the universe and knew that it was something created by a single ancient, and if that were the case, then he fully believed it in their power to defeat her if they were able to reach her. Perhaps the Forum's ship would be a suitable vessel, though G'raha could not imagine them agreeing to give it away. Still, it was a matter worthy of discussion, a discussion they should have immediately with both the Forum and Hydaelyn. With that, G'raha had all information he needed and thus did not need to linger on the moon. Both he and Emet had much to think about and had little to discuss with each other, but G'raha could not leave the moon without saying goodbyes to the loporrits. After all, he didn't want them to take the awkward incident in the Endsvale the wrong way.
G'raha and Emet found Livingway back at the Bestways Burrow, and she wasn't alone. She was surrounded by a few other loporrits, one of whom G'raha recognized as Growingway.
"Be quick with them." - Emet said quietly. "I'll stand aside for this one."
"I need you to say something nice to them." - G'raha said, making the ascian chuckle.
"Are you going to ask me to do something after how much I told you?"
"It's not that big of a feat, is it?"
"I am not going to give them credit for the things they ruined with their design."
"Then give credit where it is due. The way this place turned out is not their fault, and if only they had a deeper understanding of our star, they would've created something far more suitable."
"I suppose…If it makes you take our souls away from this wretched place quicker." - The ascian said arrogantly before letting out a sigh and giving in to the Exarch.
When the two approached their hosts, the loporrits immediately turned around. G'raha read fear and doubt in their eyes. Have they gone too far in their criticisms? Every word against their work must have been akin to a word against their existence, and G'raha realized how it must have hurt.
"Oh, you're back already…" - Livingway said as she looked at G'raha's sympathetic gaze; the other loporrits lined behind her as their leader and overseer, Livingway, spoke for them all. "Apologies, I have not yet prepared the next part of our tour, the living quarters are far from finished, but we could always visit the outskirts…"
"There is no need." - G'raha responded quietly.
"Oh, gods…" - Livingway sighed. "We know what you truly think of our work and how unsatisfied you are with it. You haven't been subtle about it, especially your ascian friend…I'm sorry it ended up like this; if on we knew how different you people have become…"
"Please, there is no need for apologies." - G'raha smiled with warmth and kindness, making the loporrit finally look up at him. "I only ask that you believe that what I am about to say is the sincerest truth, for that is exactly what it is. Even if some of our reactions will tell you otherwise, I am truly fascinated by your work. It might not be to the standards of our people, but that is the fault of those who never gave you a chance to witness the star itself and what it truly looks like. As far as your duty goes, you kept your oath given to Hydaelyn and helped the Forum with preparing an alternative to oblivion that encircles our star."
"Do you…Truly think so?" - Livingway asked after stuttering with her eyes livening up despite still being filled with doubt and distrust.
"I do indeed. Even my friend here who has a rather…Tumultuous relationship with your creator admits your talent and dedication." - G'raha looked towards Emet, hoping that the ascian would say something. Luckily, he got the cue and looked at the loporrits.
"As I said back in the vale, I do not blame you for the way this place turned out. If only your mother had been as dedicated to this plan as you are, everything could've turned out another way. Alas, we have to deal with the situation as is…"
"Does this mean you will help us and tell us how to redo the vessel?" - Livingway smiled with hope, to which G'raha only shook his head.
"I am afraid we will not be staying."
"What, why?"
"It is as I've said before…You have a duty to ensure escape from this star. You desire to help people and save them from doom. I desire the same thing, yet our paths are different. Many believed the Final Days to be inevitable, to be the cataclysm that cannot be stopped, only forestalled…Yet now I know that even Hydaelyn had something else in mind. I know something that will help me and my allies fight against the end of days, not just escape it…And I will not be leaving the star until either the cataclysm is no more or I am. I hope you understand."
"But does that mean…That all of our work was for nothing? That people will not need a vessel anymore?"
"Not at all." - G'raha was quick to reassure her. "While I would stay and fight, there are many who would prefer the certainty of escape, and that is their right that I by no means deny. However, as we all understand, there needs to be some readjustment."
"We will do anything needed! We are ready to work even harder if that's what the people require. Just say a word!"
"I will relay your cause to the Sharlayan Forum as soon as I return. Worry not, I am not going to undeservedly blame you for anything, but I will tell them that more precise instruction is required. Ideally, they would send some of their own to the moon, so they could help you prepare this place before people finally arrive. With their knowledge and your talents, I am sure all the preparations will be made in no time." - G'raha spoke with genuine kindness; all of them were stuck amidst an unfortunate, hellish situation, and only by working together, by sharing their knowledge and experience could they withstand the doom that approached.
"You're leaving, then…"
"We do. And we wish you all the best, and I believe, I know that once the people of the star see how much you have done for them, your work will finally be recognized."
"We…We will do everything in our power to be the best guides we can, I promise."
"And I have no doubt that you will." - The Exarch smiled; it was time for them to separate. "Good luck to all of you."
"And you too! You'll certainly need it more than us…" - Livingway waved to G'raha and Emet as they walked away. The ascian looked at the Exarch, slightly impressed.
"You know how to rile up hope…And how to waste this talent on the most undeserving of culprits."
"Deserving or not, it's not for us to decide. I had to do a lot to learn this back in my days in Norvrandt, and whoever I can give at least a semblance of hope…I will."
"I see…" - Emet sighed, clearly not in the mood to argue. "Shall we be off, then?"
"Yes, the time has come."
G'raha began casting a teleportation spell that would bring him to the Sharlayan aetheryte. It was time to go home.