Sweet dreams…Such wonderful occurrences. Buried deep beneath the mundanity of everyday life, beneath the bleakness of one's existence. For many, dreams were the only chance to be who they truly are, who they wanted to be. There were no limits but of one's imagination, an ephemeral spiral of joy, an endless journey into one's soul. Some find solace in their dreams, others are haunted by them, some see nothing.
For Ryne, dreams were a way to escape the pain of her life. The loneliness of being locked up while her captors prepared her for a single destiny. It was either to die before the flood or remain in the darkness forever. In dreams, she was free. Free to glide through the plains of Il Mheg, to witness the beauties of the fae kingdom.
Today it was no different, not after there were no tears left to shed. Ryne found herself drifting along this sea of light and void. There was nothing but the invisible stream and a bright sun above it. The girl was in solitude, not resisting, just breathing slowly and looking up.
There was no threat, no monsters or disturbance, just peace, and looming loneliness. What would happen when she wakes up? What will she do? The time of pain had passed; she needed to carry on. Not just for her own sake but for that of Thancred. He would dread to see her consumed by despair…Perhaps he looked from the stream. Perhaps he knew.
She felt relieved after talking to bounty hunters, and yet…The doubt still lingered. The ascians will return; it was nothing but a matter of time. What will she do alone? What can she do for those that remain? She got a chance to live; she had to make the most of it.
She saw the white desert once again…These creatures and the withered beast's corpse. This time Ryne felt no threat. This vision was very distant and yet very clear. She was beyond their reach, but there was something that pushed her towards it. This place called to her for reasons Ryne could not yet explain or make sense of. But she knew deep in her soul that this place would soon not be distant. Soon she will witness it for herself.
"Hear…" - A voice rang out behind her. Ryne had only heard it a fleeting dream before, but she couldn't confuse this motherly warmth with anything else. A woman with white robes and hair of the same color emerged near Ryne; this time, the girl could finally see her face. Her azure eyes looked at her with sympathy and shared grief. As if she experienced a loss and was now forced into uncertainty. The aura of light around her already gave Ryne an idea. Despite the human form, this presence was familiar.
"Hydaelyn?" - The girl asked, still uncertain. She noticed a smile on this woman's face and a slight nod. "Have you seen it all? We failed..."
"You fought until the bitter end, done all you could." - She said with sadness and not a hint of judgment.
"Why do you talk to me…Is it because I'm the only one left?" - Ryne said with pain. "It should've been Edwin… I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, especially for surviving." - Hydaelyn shook her head and looked at Ryne. "It was I who made a grave mistake. We can still make things right…I believe in it." - She tried to sound calm and confident, but even her voice wavered. What hope did they have when even gods were shaking? Ryne got up and took partial control of her drift, looking at the desert in front of her. "Our time is short…" - Hydaelyn uttered.
Ryne felt the malice brewing in there once again, destructive energy of light slowly spreading, soon to poison this land. Once again, the sense of pure inevitability and dread grappled Ryne's mind, but there was no point in running. Not anymore.
"What is this?" - Ryne asked, unsure if she wished to hear the answer.
"The first sin eater once buried and forgotten. The last remaining light source." - Hydaelyn told Ryne, began to understand.
"Is it the being that caused the flood? The one that Minfilia…."
"It was the first consequence. Many more came later…All that matters now is that the ascians shall use it to reverse the damage done." - Hydaelyn began to fade; her energy was drained. Visiting another's dreams seemingly left a stain on her. "There is only one mortal who may take control, Ryne. You." - She said and looked at the girl.
Ryne was appalled at the notion; she could barely hold her newfound emotions. She felt that this moment would come, but so soon…
"But…How?" - She said, perplexed. "How do I find it? How do I gain control? I can't fight the ascians, I…" - She didn't know what to say. Could Hydaelyn really be placing the task of saving this world on her? On someone who could barely aid her friends…Her family? Hydaelyn closed her eyes for a moment; there wasn't much more she could tell, had time to tell.
"It will call you soon, in part thanks to the tempering…But remember, the sin eater can be the first's doom, but it is also a chance for your salvation." - Hydaelyn was slowly dissipating. "There is much for me to attend to, but I want you to know that it's not lost."
Ryne breathed heavily, looking at Hydaelyn. Still, she spoke in riddles, not answering the many questions Ryne had. Perhaps she didn't know; maybe she would play with her as another pawn. Now she knew the truth. This creature was primal, like one's Thancred told her about. Gods that enthrall minds and enslave bodies.
"Why should I trust your words? How can you know it?" - The girl looked into her eyes. "Did you know that Edwin, Thancred, and others would die? Was it not lost then, as well?! Thancred told me how you saved Edwin when he was on the brink of death…Why could you not aid us here? Everyone would've still been alive, and our world would've been safe!" - She shouted; Ryne needed to vent, and it would seem the dreams would be a perfect place for it. In a moment, she realized that she was too rash and tried to calm herself down. "I…"
"I understand." - Hydaelyn said with grief in her words. She saw Ryne's agony; the girl read sympathy in her eyes, even if slightly mishandled. "I shall be honest with you; you deserve that much. Yes, my belief in Edwin's victory was unwavering. I knew that Emet-Selch won't come out of this clash alive…Or so I thought. But I was wrong, and there is no claim I can now make…Because the truth is, I do not have answers. I can only try and make things right, and together, I still believe that we can. You can…When the time comes, follow the light and find your way in the darkness." - She spoke with sincerity and a glimpse of fear. And yet still, she believed in her, in everyone that remained.
"Wait…But how can I recognize this call? And what if Emet-Selch comes here…What if…."
It was too late for this. Hydaelyn has disappeared; the last Ryne saw of her was a hopeful smile. She was left alone again for the last few moments. Those words unsettled Ryne; she realized how uncertain tomorrow was. Any day could be their last; any day, they could see a flood sweeping Crystarium for one last time, nullifying all of their efforts.
And yet, a hopeful smile appeared on Ryne's face as she thought back to her newfound friends. They gave her support, no matter how dire this situation was. They were a brave team, brave enough to smile and laugh in the face of despair. No one knew what was going to happen, yet they remained firm. And she had to stay strong as well, moving on or not…It was time to go on and face the danger. Ryne closed her eyes and felt the stream sweeping her once again.
It was time to wake up.
…
And here they come, one after another.
Hades witnessed the sin-eaters arriving from distant corners of Norvrandt, coming at Elidibus's bidding. Almost every few minutes, there was one flying in the distant sky, drawn to the creature they found. Some of them were deformed, monstrous creatures; others had a semblance of an intelligent form, at least from the outset. These were the angelic warriors leading the charge once.
These sin eaters thought to find another source of power for them here, a way to prolong their futile existence. In a way, they were the true face of the sundered. No facade, no masks, just the essence of these feeble shades. There was a sight, however, which provided Hades some entertainment. A few sin-eaters carried another one in their claws, the ones with no wings and no chance of getting here on their own. Was it their instinct too? To help their own kind. A glimmer of humanity…No, it couldn't have been anything that deep.
Empty has been an exceptionally dull place, even by Emet's standards. This was the result of having the ascian work only half-finished. A desert void of life and most aether, annihilating all the history that was once in its place. This was Emet's goal. The existence of any kind of "history" after the sundering has been a mistake that did not deserve to be. So many cataclysms, so many tragedies that befell on their people…
Now only two remain in service of their god. Many good people were lost to the sundering; Emet realized that even if they were to be rejoined, they would never be the same. "Expunging from history's weave…" - Emet thought about what he said to Edwin before their clash. Truthfully, he knew full well that this was not possible. He couldn't even expunge the hero from his own mind. These thousands of years left him scarred forever; there was no way to go back from what the ascians had done…Except, perhaps, one.
Hades looked at G'raha; the Exarch still sat on the white ground, looking over the empty. This time, Emet noticed some semblance of life in his expression. He watched sin eaters closely and examined the roads that led out of this ravine and further away from the creature. Perhaps he was getting a little bored. However, soon the Exarch turned back at Emet standing beside him and changed his expression to annoyance, not unlike Hades's own.
"Can't help but watch my every move? I thought you had nothing to worry about…" - G'raha said. Emet was impressed; for the first time, the Exarch was the one starting a conversation, even if it was akin to a cheap taunt.
"When you tried to attack me, had I been a second late, I might have even felt an itch…No need to allow for that." - Emet said as he approached G'raha. "Ready for a rational talk, I see?"
"Somewhat, perhaps…I wouldn't be so sure about you." - He responded calmly, at least compared to his previous behavior.
"Any inquiries? I am in the mood to indulge some potential whims, and I'd advise you to take on the opportunity." - Emet said as he looked down on G'raha.
"Truly? Then perhaps you should do as your associate said…And give control of this creature to me." - He did not expect an affirmative response but said it, nonetheless.
"I was leaning into something more manageable, like some water or food…But I can respect your determination." - Emet shrugged.
"So? Will you take the risk?"
"No, of course not."
"As I expected…You aren't invincible, are you? Edwin made it very clear."
"I never claimed invincibility, not according to our standards, but looking at it from…" - Emet grew tired of these games and taunts. He shouldn't play into G'raha's hands and waste time on this degenerate barking. The ascian turned around; he had to examine the creature, see what power it held.
"What is it you want from me?" - G'raha asked, causing Emet to turn around with delight.
"Do my ears deceive me?"
"Yes…" - G'raha sighed. "Never thought I would ever see a thirst for knowledge as a curse…No point to drag it out."
"Finally, you ask the right question!" - Emet smiled and walked towards G'raha. He did not expect the Exarch to react with anything but absolute rejection in the face of his request. Yet the sooner this seed could be planted in his mind, the better.
And yet, before he could speak, there was an interruption. A whisper echoed in Hades's head, a distantly familiar voice of the one he considered long-gone.
"Emet-Selch…" - The voice whispered his title in the ascian's mind; it was almost as if it came from behind…He realized that the distorted whisper came from the first sin-eater. Suddenly, it made perfect sense, as unlikely as such an outcome was.
"What now?" - G'raha asked with misunderstanding. He would probably assume that Emet played another game, which he could hardly blame, but he was wrong this time. This was not expected.
"Emet…" - The whisper rang out again, calling the ascian to the sin-eater. Could a fragment of his soul still be somewhere deep inside in a slumber? It stood to reason that being buried beneath such a powerful light source would make his soul impossible to detect…
"I'm afraid my plans have faced a slight change…Our conversation will have to wait." - Emet said while looking at G'raha for the final time.
"Just like that?" - The Exarch did not seem angry but somewhat interested. He was always shrewd and could clearly see Emet's uncertainty, especially considering the rarity of such moments. There was no time to waste, however. The chains that held G'raha remained strong and would allow Hades a respite. The ascian quickly teleported towards the sin-eater, standing just before it.
The whispers became more substantial, louder, echoing with emotion…Emet felt a glimmer of darkness. In this place, he was its only source, or so he thought. Somewhere deep inside the creature, there was the darkness that tried to break free.
"Emet-Selch." - The voice became clear; now, Emet was sure of both its location and the man to whom it belonged.
"Mitron…" - He uttered. His former comrade has transformed into a creature a century ago and was left buried beneath the empty. At the time, ascians assumed that his soul fragment had been extinguished, as none could sense him behind all these light layers. His purpose was served, and a new shard could be found later. Emet was surprised but would not allow himself to show any weakness.
"It's been a long time." - Another, weaker whisper echoed. "When I called, you and Elidibus were not the ones I expected…But you shall do."
"How did you manage to retain your senses? To be transformed into a sin-eater and then left alone for hundred years…Even for an ascian, that is one impressive death." - Emet wondered. "Was it the Oracle's intervention that helped you?" - He still had some theories.
"Unintentionally…She helped me retain my senses and a fragment of my soul, but I could never break free from this prison and enter the stream…" - He said with a pained tone.
"And so, you stayed here, desperately calling out for a century." - Emet said with a glimmer of sympathy in his voice. He was too exhausted by sundered mortals to feel anything for them. Yet even though this Mitron was just a pale shard of the Artemis Emet once knew, a talented researcher of aquatic life and an honorable protector of his friends and allies.
"I was expecting Ga…Loghrif. So, I could finally go free; your presence here might simplify it…."
"How unfortunate that your presence is a glaring complication…Is it even possible to free you?" - Emet asked.
"If you restore the balance of darkness within this creature if there will be something for me to latch onto…Then I will be finally free." - He stated, but there was no joy or relief in his voice. Emet-Selch imagined that Mitron's thoughts were similar to his own. "Answer me this, Emet-Selch…One of the questions I mused on for these years has been one of your decisions. Did you and your brethren consider me gone, or did you decide not to tamper with the balance of light by freeing me?" - Artemis said with slight disdain.
"Did you expect us to find your faint glimmer in this ocean of light? We had many other concerns, but I won't deny that freeing you would not have been in our interests. Not while this world was on the brink of rejoining, adding more darkness at this time could as well be considered suicide!" - Emet said with honesty. Many would consider this inhumane, even in Amaurot. However, their current problems required pragmatic solutions. One life for one world was an acceptable price for ascians…
"Then why are you here now?" - Mitron wondered. "I felt a disturbance in light, something so powerful that even I clearly sensed it…And here you are, so soon."
"We have come here to empower this creature once again and use its light to tip the scales of the balance one more time. Then hopefully, this nuisance of a shard will be rejoined." - Emet said; he knew what would follow.
"And what of my presence here?"
Emet thought for a moment. He could have imbued the creature with darkness and freed Artemis from his prison. His fallen brother, who did much for their cause, would return to the fold and rise as their ally. After all the losses they suffered, it would be a welcome addition. Alas…The loss of the sin eater's light would be much more damming, especially with all wasted power.
"That was not part of our plan…But you should understand that the procedure of your freedom will jeopardize our last chance at rejoining this world without waiting another century." - He said gravely.
"I expected this answer…" - Mitron's whispers became angrier; Emet felt deep-seated pain in his voice. "But even after all I've done, you would still turn you back! For a century, I mused whether you were the one to abandon his allies only to be proven right…Yet you still dare to utilize what remains of me, still…" - His voice became weaker after wasting so much energy and eventually dissipated. Emet sighed, consumed by his thoughts.
He was still within, waiting for someone to free him…Still conscious and thinking. Emet heard the pain and fury of a man who was betrayed. Perhaps he should've known, maybe he did, but it was hard to blame one that was imprisoned for so long. And yet, deep inside, he must have known, like the real Artemis did. Just like that fateful council meeting where they made a decision of the future that shall shape the star itself.
Sacrifices were necessary.
…
Who could have thought that returning to normalcy would prove one of the most significant challenges yet?
After witnessing her dreams, Ryne woke up amidst her apartment in pendants. The blissful presence was gone shortly after awakening, replaced with hollowness once more. Ryne saw the shining sun through the window; the morning had approached already. It will take getting used to seeing anything besides corrupted light in their sky.
Ryne took some time laying in her bed before finally forcing herself to wake up, thinking about what to do. She felt a little more stable, and while not letting go of anything, the girl was ready to continue her life. Hydaelyn's words echoed in her head, the tale of the first sin eater…Ryne waited for the call, hoping to recognize it as quickly as possible and be prepared for its next wave. So far, there was nothing to hear. What if Hydaelyn was wrong once again? What if she will not be able to sense this sin eater? What if Emet-Selch was already there, preparing it for another flood of light?
Before these thoughts could plague her mind any longer, Ryne abruptly stopped feeding them. This was no time for doubt, whatever the elusive ascian was planning. It won't get better if she cultivates her weakness. Ryne got up and prepared herself for the day. She remembered how quickly she got up only weeks before, when she had Thancred, Edwin, and others guide her into another adventure. Sane didn't think about its dangers or threats; the only thing Ryne knew was that it was their duty at the time. Now it was the same, but much less hopeful.
After putting on her dress and other preparation, Ryne finally left the room. The breath of fresh air has been extremely relieving, helping Ryne properly come to her senses. She could already hear people outside; it would seem that they finally braced themselves and left their houses. As Ryne passed by, she heard a concerned voice.
"Have you slept well?" - She looked to the receptionist, who seemed to keep his focus on Ryne. He knew who she was and what she's been through.
"Yes, fairly well…" - Ryne responded quietly, hinting that she would rather not discuss her state in-depth, the receptionist was quick to notice.
"Best of luck to you, then." - He said as Ryne wandered into the town.
She thought about what she could do to help the situation. Ryne's first idea was to find Lyna and offer some help with whatever she needed. Perhaps some citizens will need emotional counsel and support after…No, she wouldn't be the best person for it, not now. The girl remembered her newfound friends in Granson and the team. Yesterday was a majestic evening for Ryne, she wanted to experience this moment once again, but such feelings were impossible to re-create. But it was more than soothing voices in her ears and a hand on her shoulder. They were ready to defend Crystarium in the coming days, and Ryne wanted to help. During her time with scions, she honed her skill with daggers and learned to fight, striking from shadows, empowered by the power of light she possessed. It might have not been perfect, but at least she could hold her own.
She needed to find them…This was Ryne's hope as she walked past the plaza. It was full of people, with fragments of their voices echoing in Ryne's ears. As she breathed, Ryne felt the breeze becoming warmer among this crowd. She did not want to appear in public just yet, and so tried to quickly cross the plaza and avoid the gaze of others…
Before she could this, however, Ryne felt something novel. A wavering echo in her ears, a shimmering light glimmered before her eyes. This was a repeating sound in her mind, unintelligible and akin to an animal whimpering…A sin-eater's last breath. It came from far beyond, yet Ryne extended her hand, trying to touch the light before her. She felt the burn on her skin, even though it left no marks. The echo grew more substantial, and Ryne recalled Hydaelyn's words…The call from beyond that she expected. But her meditation was cut short.
"Hey!" - She heard a worried voice from behind her, instantly breaking her connection with this ephemeral being. Ryne looked behind and noticed two men and a woman, all just a few years older than her. They looked at her with intrigue and a spark of fear.
"Is something wrong?" - Ryne asked in confusion as the three quickly approached her; the girl felt a slight unease.
"You're Ryne, right?" - The other man asked.
"I am…"
"We just wanted to ask…" - The woman said. "You've been there, right? You've seen this monster that Lyna told us about, right?"
Oh, not this…Ryne sighed and gave in. She understood their fear. People wanted to know their enemy, while Ryne was the only one who saw him in his full strength.
"Yes, I've been there, it was…Memorable." - She responded, trying to avoid giving descriptions.
"How did you survive? It must have been hell in there!" - The man asked.
"The Exarch saved me at the very last minute, I'm grateful fo…."
"Who is he? Is he really that strong as to destroy the warriors of darkness…How?" - Inquiries continued; Ryne felt entrapped but did not have it in her to refuse them outright.
"He…Is invincible." - Ryne uttered the first word coming to her mind, immediately causing the three to tremble in fear. "He is versed in dark magic without any rivals; even striking him once was almost impossible for us…One single hand wave can make his enemies fall…And then he became the god of darkness. We fought, used up all of the light we had…And this was not enough." - She shouldn't have said this. This would terrify them to the core, but it was the truth, and Ryne would not tell anything but the truth. Seeing their terrified expressions brought a chill to the girl's spine.
Soon a few other people joined in, noticing Ryne finally awake and talking to others. The girl realized that she was surrounded by citizens like vultures, demanding answers she did not have.
"You're Ryne, right? You've been there! Is the Exarch still alive?"
"He was when he teleported me, but…."
"What will this Emet-Selch do next? Do you have any idea?"
"He'd want to destroy this world; I don't know what's his next…."
"How can we fight him? We need to know something, damn it!"
"I…" - Ryne was soon drowned out by other voices.
"If he is so powerful, how will we survive?"
"We've just gained the sky; we can't just fall to this monster; it's unfair!"
"Are there any places he can't reach? Can we run to Rak'Tika?"
Eventually, a loud and confident voice interrupted their rambling.
"Quiet!" - Ryne and people around her looked at a young guard running towards them and standing between the girl and people. Ryne breathes with relief after the stream of despairing voices finally halted; she had enough of that in her own head.
"Leave her alone and mind your own business. Stirring up panic will never help." - The guard said; citizens didn't try to resist. Finally, someone with common sense. People looked at each other, whispering words Ryne couldn't hear. Soon after that, however, they left the two alone.
Ryne looked at her escort. The guard was a young man with short white hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing the light armor of a Crystarian guard and looked at the girl with concern.
"Are you alright? I hope they didn't annoy you too much." - The guard said as they moved away from the plaza, closer to aetheryte and city gate.
"I'm fine. It's just a lot to handle at a single moment." - Ryne responded with relief. "Thank you for sticking up for me." - The girl looked at the guard with a smile, which he reciprocated.
"Not to worry, my duty at such turbulent times would have me dealing with many such instances…Although nothing can spark them like the presence of someone who saw this tragedy with her own eyes." - The guard noted and looked at her with interest. "Ryne, correct? I'm Arctus, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
He extended a hand which Ryne shook; he seemed calm and fair, something Ryne craved in these desperate times.
"Yes, I'm Ryne; nice to meet you…How bad is it?" - The girl wondered, sitting on a bench near the aetheryte to catch her breath. Arctus stood beside her.
"The people? Never easy, especially not now. In times like these, we become more than just guards…I spoke to some that began giving in to despair, some try to pretend like we have an answer…" - The guard said with visible sadness.
"But we have just lost the only answer we had." - Ryne replied dryly. At least now, she was able to acknowledge what happened without a mental breakdown.
"If only it could have gone a different path…" - The guard wondered. "But enough of that, fruitless musings shall only get us this far."
"Thank you for doing the hard work…I hope there is someone to look out for you." - Ryne said; Arctus stared at her, slightly perplexed. He wasn't expecting this response. Ryne's words caused him to think. The girl had a million thoughts racing through her mind. Did she say something wrong? Did anyone ever say these words to him before? What if he lost his family and she is opening fresh wounds? Oh, sweet gods…However, before Ryne could ask, he quickly switched to his calm and faintly upbeat demeanor.
"Always happy to fulfill my duty. Speaking of which, were you heading somewhere? If you need me to pacify the more inquisitive souls, I'd be happy to…."
"I was looking for someone, actually. Have you seen Granson and his friends?"
"That name does not ring a bell…."
"Lue-Reeq, Giott, Cerigg?" - Ryne inquired.
"No, I am afraid my memory with names is rather lacking…Perhaps a description will do?" - Arctus said; Ryne appreciated his attempts to help.
"They are a team of five traveling together; usually, there is a huyr with short blue-and-white hair, a miqo'te with blue hair and bow, a dwarf…."
"Ah, I have seen a party of adventurers at the gates with a dwarf among them! They are a rare sight in Crystarium." - Arctus seemed to remember.
"Where did they go?" - Ryne gleamed with unexpected excitement as she jumped up from the bench. They might have been out in the wilderness defending the city; Ryne wanted to help. To get something useful done instead of endless wallowing in self-pity.
"To Lakeland, there has been a behavioral change in remaining sin-eaters. They became too wild…I can only assume these adventurers have gone to pacify them." - Arctus noted.
"I'll find them, thank you for directions and…" - Ryne was about to leave only to be stopped by the guard's concerned voice.
"Halt for a moment, are you certain?" - He said with care. "It is far from safe there, and you hardly strike me as a warrior…" - Arctus was concerned; Ryne would not blame him for this.
"I am prepared, really! I'm good with daggers, and besides…I still have some light's power on my side." - She said with a confident smile.
"Light's power, you say?" - Arctus was intrigued.
"It's a long story, some residue from who I once was…I have to go before they went too far, but it was lovely to talk with you." - Ryne thanked Arctus once again and went towards the gates. The guard watched her closely as she left his sight. Ryne did not pay much attention. She was happy that an opportunity finally arose to join the fray. The heroes she met were fighting a noble fight despite the dangers, and she would not stand aside.
Perhaps this was a way to keep her thoughts as far away from the tragedy, Hydaelyn's words, and the call as possible…Well, it was definitely that.
And still, she would not deny the joy of such moments.