A duty only the chosen could fulfill. A purpose bound to a bloodline. It was painful to remember, this memory, this past. This echo was buried deep, but it remained like all the rest. Past the liberation of a broken country, beyond the end of a thousand-year war. Even past the poison that dissolved a warrior's attempt to do right by the world. Locked tightly behind a mental cage, it ached with a longing that could never be fulfilled. What sorrow loomed within the prison could not be felt again, would not be felt again. It would destroy her. There was too much to do, too many problems to solve, too many people that needed a hero.
Yes, stay busy chosen one. Let the solutions you provide to the helpless fill the hole carved inside. Time will let you forget, time will let you heal. Stop the war, deliver the letters, free the people, defeat the primals.
Forget, forget, forget.
The tower looms ever above... that damnable tower. But let it stay sealed, like that memory, that past, that echo. For he had his part to play, as did she.
Part 1: I Will Move On
Chapter 1: Night and Day
"I break but never fall. And I fall, but never break."
A tower of crystal. What an incredible sight to behold. The Warrior of Light stood upon one of the many rocky outcroppings that surrounded the base of the tower. The Miqo'te's black-furred ears twitched nervously as she picked at her fingers, then the red trim of her grey duster in thought. The tower reminded her a little of Hydaelyn, or at least the vision she'd seen of Hydaelyn.
Such a beautiful, sparkling structure. One could only stand in awe upon seeing it for the first time. And yet, something ominous seemed to radiate from within. She couldn't describe what exactly bothered her, it just... didn't feel right. Allagan technology was said to be housed inside; knowledge, power, and weapons stronger than they've ever known. It was intriguing, yet terrifying. With these feelings spinning in the pit of her stomach, Filexi Runedal couldn't help thinking perhaps it should be left alone.
"Filexi! There you are!" Cid called as he climbed the rock formation to stand next to the Eorzean hero. "Grand, isn't it?" The Garlean engineer grinned like a child as he looked toward the tower, light reflecting into the goggles upon his forehead.
"Indeed," the Keeper of the Moon responded, smiling lightly as she looked up at him. Filexi was tall for her race but the Garlean still stood a foot or so higher. Even with her misgivings, Cid's excitement was contagious. Turning her teal eyes from the engineer, she studied the camps scattered about Saint Coinach's Find below.
Cid Garlond had gathered quite the team to traverse the trials of the tower. Mechanics, scholars, and adventurers alike formed the coalition of Ironworks employees below. All had far better credentials to study an accident structure than herself. However, the imminent danger that awaited within dictated she be present. Part of her wished for a moment of peace, a moment to meditate upon the recent Asican issues. But, like a moth to a flame, Filexi couldn't stay away from a big adventure. Especially one that could provide her with more weapon components.
She watched as Wedge and Biggs worked excitedly under a tent while Rammbroes observed. Others about the base camp gathered crates and packs of supplies needed for further research once they were actually in the tower. A glimpse of burnt red fur caught her eye as it moved about the camp. It was that student of Baldesion, the Miqo'te. He'd called himself G'raha Tia earlier, after making his entrance with a flashy acrobatic flip from a questionable height. Filexi scowled, watching the lad wander about.
"What do you make of this G'raha Tia?" Cid suddenly asked, as if reading her thoughts. The engineer's grey eyes followed her gaze as G'raha joined his Lalafell and Roegadyn companions.
Filexi's brows lowered in thought as her black, navy-tipped tail whipped about behind her. "He seems…motivated to complete the task at hand," she responded, choosing her words slowly. "New to hands-on research and combat that isn't schoolyard training, I'd wager. His methods appear to lean more towards show than actual skill."
The truth could often be unkind, and Filexi did not temper her words with Cid. Not when the safety of his people and her friends was on the line. There was fresh ire brewing as she watched the red Miqo'te. It burned her ears that he'd made her go on such a scavenger hunt for those aethersands. She had not appreciated scouring all about the Shroud for his little 'race.'
-Earlier-
"Pray, retrieve the gift ere it be crushed beneath the iron feet of the-aaargh!" A bullet sailed through the brush, just missing the Miqo'te hidden within. "The d-dullahans," G'raha stuttered to finish the previous sentence, red ears twitching nervously. He'd heard of the Warrior of Light's temper, but Gods, he didn't think she'd actually try to shoot him. Time to make his retreat.
Filexi grinned wickedly as she racked a shell from her Ishgardian rifle. So, her hunch about the location of the body that belonged to this disembodied voice had been right. "Pray, do not move and I will leave a bullet in your calf instead of your skull," Filexi said, mimicking the speaker's flippant tone. Her machinist bag bumped quietly against her thigh, eggshell pants swishing softly as she slowly took steps towards where her shot had gone.
The voice laughed, a nervous bubble to its cadence. "But is your mind as sharp as your tongue, adventurer? We will meet again, and sooner than you imagine. When we do, be sure to have your gift...and an answer to the following: I break but never fall. And I fall, but never break."
Another shot sounded about the wood, followed by a fading chuckle. Damn it all, she'd missed. And now riddles? She moved her crimson lensed goggles up to sit on her pale forehead, frowning toward where she thought the voice had been. It was then and there Filexi decided she really was going to shoot whoever this voice belonged to, regardless of friend or foe. That was...after she picked up whatever they'd left for her in Proud Creek.
Filexi had not shot G'raha Tia, as much as she'd wanted to. Neither had she an answer for that annoying riddle. Which of those things bothered her more, she couldn't decide. It had been a while since someone toyed with her and she did not like it. As the proclaimed 'Warrior of Light' people were quick to ask for aid or jump out of the way. She'd gotten quite used to working alone, doing business her way. Someone trying to compete with her felt more like a child's prank than a friendly competition. Had she become too serious?
It was a matter of principle, she'd told herself to justify the anger on the way back to Mor Dhona. Time and effort could have been saved had G'raha helped her rather than stayed hidden for a spectacle. Such smoke and mirrors, all for him to make his grand entrance. Her eyes had practically rolled into her brain when he'd landed his flip in front of them all. He'd grinned and acted like he'd won the Grand Cactpot. Wedge and Biggs had reacted accordingly, gasps and claps all around. Filexi hadn't moved, remaining with arms crossed over her chest, black-toed boot tapping impatiently. G'raha only looked at her briefly. His eyes, one red, one blue, held some semblance of fear and respect. Good.
For his part, Rammbroes had given the lad enough of an earful about his choices. Filexi had been a happy spectator to the reprimanding. Despite it all, G'raha had not been deterred, seemingly endlessly excited about the expedition into the tower. He was strange, eccentric. It all seemed like a game to him. Cid feared the tower contained technology similar to that of the Ultima Weapon. If a conflict of such magnitude awaited them within, it would take more than a couple of fancy flips off a ledge to reach the peak. And get out alive.
"Seven hells, lass, I didn't think he bothered you that much," the Garlean engineer chuckled. He waved a gloved hand, motioning for the Warrior of Light to follow him back towards the others. "Come, we have many more preparations before we begin our ascent."
Filexi blinked rapidly, coming back to the present. She'd been scowling so hard that her canines had been poking through her lips. Filexi shook her head sending her blue and black braided ponytail whipping back and forth. Yes, perhaps shaking the disgruntlement away would work. Idiot. She could feel an embarrassed blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. Trying to defend herself, she opened her mouth to speak but Cid began to make his way down the incline, laughing as he went. With a huff, Filexi followed, thigh-high armored boots pounding against the stone ground. It was on this descent, she had an epiphany.
"Night and day!"