There truly was no justice for mankind. Despite G'raha clinging onto hope, believing that their actions could still right this wrong, they were faced with more grievances with each moment. Every life lost, every friend slaughtered made it harder to walk, harder to breathe. The initial sense of relief the Exarch felt after killing the serpent was immediately overturned by seeing one of the most benevolent leaders of Eorzea murdered by monsters.
But no matter how horrifying it was for G'raha, it was much worse for her protector and friend, Raubahn. G'raha saw the man petrified, unable to look away from Nanamo's corpse. His hands were the only ones shaking frantically, causing his sword to fall on the floor.
"No…" - He uttered in a tone of one's defeat and submission. "No, no!" - Raubahn kneeled before Nanamo and checked her pulse, although it was obvious that there was no hope that she survived. In a single instant, one of the strongest and most resilient men in all of Eorzea has turned into a broken soul that was dragged into oblivion by his loss. There were no words to help him go through it, for the worst was still ahead. G'raha knew the whirlwind of emotions that would follow once he processed it. "I'm sorry…I…"
"It is not your fault." - G'raha couldn't help but tell the truth. It was painful enough without Raubahn taking any blame on himself. The reaction was turbulent and unexpected; Raubahn turned towards G'raha with anger, though most of it was directed inward.
"Don't you dare lie to my face!" - He stood before G'raha with his legs still shaking due to physical and emotional weight, but his seething rage allowed Raubahn to continue.
"I only spoke…"
"I could have stayed! Were I with her, I could've protected her, I could've killed those bloody bastards, I could've…" - His voice drew louder and more furious, and a dark aura began to emerge around him. Initially thin, it grew in power with every second, slowly overtaking the general. G'raha was unprepared and took his staff out, readying the defense. It only further served to agitate him, Raubahn resisted his urges, but his hatred and shame were taking over, ridding him of the humanity that he had.
"Raubahn…Please…" - A quiet cough rang from behind G'raha. Lyse was on the verge of collapse with her wounds near the neck and on the leg still bleeding out and an insurmountable amount of stress that broke the woman, but she found some strength in her to speak up. "You promised her…To fight despite anything that tries…To break you…She believed…She…Knew…" - Her soothing voice grew fainter, but it managed to strike a chord with Raubahn. His aura grew much fainter before dissipating; the willpower prevailed.
He looked at Lyse with empathy and pain, the weakened woman clinging to every breath, no matter how painful it was. The general gave G'raha a stern look.
"Will you take care of her?"
"You have my word."
There was no need for other words. The one-handed man walked towards the door, leaving G'raha and Lyse alone. The Exarch rushed toward the wounded monk to examine her injuries. He cast a number of healing spells to ease the pain and slow the bleeding. This should give her time before getting examined by a medic.
"She…Is dead…Right?" - Lyse's lips quivered as she spoke of yet another loss.
"I'm sorry."
"I can't…See…Tired…Please…Help him…" - Her voice grew quieter before going silent completely. Lyse's head fell on her shoulder, causing G'raha to fear for a moment, but after checking her pulse, he realized that he was still alive. The spells have eased the pain and made it easier to let go. Perhaps it was for the better; she needed some rest and treatment. It was clear that Lyse's true fear was for Raubahn. His grief would be his worst enemy.
After inflicting more healing and protective spells on Lyse, G'raha grabbed her and walked out of the house. Thankfully, there were no monsters outside, but he could not see Raubahn either. Senna, Aymeric, and Estinien were waiting near the entrance, all of them in utter silence, pondering on the inevitable. Estinien gazed at the skies, waiting for something to change and receiving no result at all. Senna looked absolutely crushed, barely able to hold a staff in her hand; Aymeric looked at her with sympathy, unable to speak in such a tragic moment. Even Lolorito pondered in silence.
They knew.
"Is she alive?" - Aymeric asked with a glimmer of hope as he saw G'raha carrying Lyse.
"Yes, but she needs treatment. Magic can give her time, but we need someone to work with her." - G'raha said.
"There must be medics that escaped, at the very least." - Estinien noted.
"And where is Raubahn?" - G'raha asked, catching Senna's gaze.
"He told us what happened…" - She spoke almost in a whisper, battling her emotions and shock. "He said that he will avenge her…" - It was hard for her to even voice the truth, but Aymeric decided to aid Senna with it.
"He promised to purge the city of every last monster that remained, no matter how weak or powerful."
That was Lyse's fear. That Raubahn will become a slave to his hatred and find the only way to fight his pain in killing more opponents and beasts. As useful as it was to an extent, this hatred would set him on the path to turning into a monster himself. He was a man of strong will, but in a hell that descended upon this world, no one was safe from breaking.
"He also said that we are welcome to join." - Estinien added. "And I, for one, am more than happy to finish the job. The few beasts that are still inside the city can't be allowed to escape."
"A wise course of action, I admit…" - Lolorito said. "But Lyse and I are vulnerable here and are of no use to you, as was Her Grace…If the city outskirts have not turned into a bloodbath yet, people must have gathered together, and we must join them."
"I can guide you once at least a single path is clear." - Senna said, looking at G'raha and others.
"Then it is decided." - Aymeric took charge. "We break through the nearby gate and clear the path outside. Senna will take Lyse and Lolorito, bringing them to a safer place. The rest of us will join them once the remaining monsters are dealt with."
"Finally, getting down to business." - Estinien was eager to do something that would take them away from the horror of the situation they found themselves in.
Perhaps there was some solace in the hunt.
…
Fortune seemed an impossible commodity even after the blasphemous serpent was no more, but G'raha and others were in luck. When those heroes went out to hunt the remaining monsters, they noticed that the few who remained were mostly weak and scattered. Perhaps slaying the first one to be born, the one that played a part in corrupting others, weakened the rest. The team was able to destroy them promptly, putting those tormented souls to rest.
They rarely spoke during this, if at all. There was no joy in killing those who were once innocent people that loved their joyful lives, never expecting the cataclysm to hit them so destructively. G'raha could not get rid of himself of the thought that there could have been a way to reverse this condition, to free them from the shackles of monstrosity and bring them back. Still, they did what must be done, no matter how grievous it was.
Afterward, Estinien, G'raha, Aymeric, and Raubahn ventured outside the city, killing the few monsters that stuck around. They had no organization and ran around like beasts in the wilderness, searching for prey for themselves only. They got separated, and it was much easier to slaughter them like this.
The people that escaped managed to hide in one of the caverns near the city. The fiends would rarely stumble upon it, and if they did, the soldiers of the Immortal Flames that formed a vanguard would kill them one by one. This was the place where Senna took Lolorito and Lyse, and thankfully, there were no new transformations despite all the worry and grief that permeated survivors. Perhaps proximity to other beasts and the shock played a large factor in so many transformations in the beginning.
There were also a few medics that aided Lyse, though they needed some herbs that were growing outside. G'raha and Estinien volunteered to look for them. The search was far less eventful than G'raha expected, with only a few beasts standing in their way. The Exarch was glad that it provided some opportunity to lessen their number, as well as a chance to ask Estinien a few questions that the dragoon was quite eager to answer.
"So Amon was here, then…" - G'raha said with a sigh as they ventured back to the cave with a bundle of herbs in their hands.
"Yes, I spotted him once again. He was with Wilfred, a man who became the winged serpent."
"How did he transform him?"
"He didn't, not directly. He took his wife from him by manipulation and killed her, forcing him to see her corpse while that bastard mocked him from above. I wish I could have speared him there and now." - The dragoon said with disdain.
"He must have known that the leaders would gather here, and so he orchestrated a trap…"
"The one we all walked into and have to deal with the mess that is the consequences." - Estinien scoffed. "If you have the power to sunder gods, why don't you do us a favor and extinguish Fandaniel's soul the next time he chooses to show his face?"
"I wish it was as simple." - G'raha shook his head. "The power was all but wasted on Zodiark; the most I can do with Fandaniel is try to play the same trick as with the beast…Or perhaps entrap him with the vessel." - This was an intriguing possibility. When Beq explained the nature of the new soul vessel to G'raha, he mentioned its impressive capacity. Perhaps it may hold more than one soul, considering the vast amounts of Aether the Tycoon had to contain.
"And have beside you constantly? Hah…I wouldn't envy you."
"If that is what would stop him from meddling again…" - It was too much to hope for. The damage has already been done. All they had to do was to accept it and do something, anything.
"It will only get worse from here, won't it? You've seen the recreation, after all."
"There will be another wave somewhere. And another, until there is nothing left or the root cause is extinguished." - G'raha said gravely.
"The same root cause even the likes of Solus do not know?"
"He might still know more about it, being from the ancient times and seeing the first catastrophe unfold." - G'raha said with hope, trying to look for solutions.
"I doubt he will show himself anytime soon; he does not have any allies nor purpose left." - Estinien said with disdain. "Not that I would hold back were he to emerge." - G'raha understood Estinien's anger, he shared many same feelings, but Hades's knowledge was valuable if they wanted to find any hope of stopping the Final Days.
"He might know a lot. The ancients' answer was to summon Zodiark through sacrifice, but we cannot follow the same route. There is no time…Nor desire on most people's parts."
"So the only chance for us is to extinguish the unknown cause, something even they couldn't do?"
"Perhaps…But it is what Edwin would have done." - G'raha said with confidence and not a single hint of doubt. The hero has always been prone to finding solutions to problems that seemed impossible to others. His resolve and determination would have been the greatest of boons here.
Eventually, the duo reached the camp in the cavern. As they walked toward Lyse and her medics, G'raha finally got a chance to look around and snap out of the sense of urgency that had driven him ever since the council. People shared this sense of monetary pause as well, though it could hardly be called relief.
The cavern was filled with terrified civilians in torn clothes huddling for warmth. Children were clinging to their parents, begging for them to explain what was going on, while they had no choice but to shudder and look away in shame. There were prayers, hopes, and shadowy fears lurking all over the cavern; people wept and screamed and tried to wake up from this nightmare. A dreadful mix of silence and utter agony. Whatever their thoughts on disclosing the truth were back in the city, now there were irrelevant. Those people will know the truth today, no matter how hurtful it will be. When the next wave comes, they will be ready.
Aymeric was also there, continuing to aid as many as he could. Being the paragon of virtue G'raha heard him described, the armored man went out of his way to calm some people down, as well as tend to their wounds. The elezen was so busy with his work that he did not even notice G'raha and Estinien returning.
Eventually, Aymeric noticed Raubahn sitting silently in one of the corners. The general had his payback when slaying every beast he found, but it was clear that there was little solace in this, not with a wound like his. Aymeric approached him carefully with sympathy in his eyes.
"Raubahn…" - He called to the general, who turned towards him with an empty gaze. "I know it was my idea to hide the Sultana and others in that house…I am sorry."
"And I could've easily chosen to stay with her, as she would have wanted." - He responded spitefully.
"It is not your fault."
"Spare me your pity and go help someone who needs it." - The general scoffed, and Aymeric could only sigh and make his retreat. G'raha could hear the shame in Raubahn's words, for he would not accept that this was anyone's fault except for his. He swore to protect Nanamo, and even after they separated, Raubahn kept true to that oath.
He had his path to walk, and G'raha had his. When they approached Lyse, she was asleep with a few women, including Senna taking care of her and her wounds.
"Here, we've got all you asked for." - Estinien called to them, showing the herbs. Senna was the first to get up and walk towards him. She was focused on helping Lyse, though G'raha noticed the echoes of her dread.
"Thank you, this should be enough." - Senna took them and lent them to the healers. "Anything else?"
"We'll take it from here; you've done all you could with the spells." - The woman reassured her.
"Are you sure?"
"She'll be fine." - The healer responded in a snappish manner. Everyone was on edge following the slaughter, and Senna decided to let them do their job. She turned to G'raha and Estinien.
"How fare the other wounded?" - The Exarch asked.
"Better now. None are on the verge of death, and the healers promise that they will get all of them back on their feet in a few days at the latest. But it isn't our main concern…" - Senna looked over the despairing crown around them. "They know it now; they have seen it all." - She said in a fainting and doubtful voice, trying to avoid eye contact to her clear shame. "I wish I knew what to do. But when they get as much as a single moment to think, all of it is focused on them…Nanamo, Merlwyb…I've known them for years, to think of the battles we have seen together, and now…Now they're gone. I forget it; I still think they are around, I want to believe it, but…" - Senna looked down as tears fell off her eyes; she could not hold it anymore. She was desperately hiding her face from the people so as to not show her weakness. Estinien watched silently with sympathy, and G'raha reached out to comfort her.
"I wish I could say something that would help right now…" - The Exarch said. "I felt the same way not so long ago, and it still…It still hurts. But one day, the painful memories of their loss will change to something…Different. Instead of remembering their demise, you will think of the days you have spent together. And it will bring you peace, as much as it can." - He reassured her, seeing Senna look at the ground and wipe her tears.
"Thank you, G'raha Tia…" - She said, though the pain was still clutching her. "I have failed them. We have failed them."
"We can make things right, and I will. I trust you will not object if I tell them the truth?" - G'raha asked, and the seedseer shook her head.
"There is nothing left to conceal, and they deserve to know." - She spoke before walking away to compose herself and wipe the tears. She needed time just like Raubahn, and G'raha did not begrudge her for it. Still, seeing their leaders in shambles would be painful for people, especially with everyone they have lost.
"You mean to do it, then?" - Estinien asked.
"I don't think I can give them hope by lying, but I will give them the truth." - G'raha said before hearing the voice of Lolorito, who approached them from behind.
"You speak of the truth, but are you so foolish as to not realize that they will never accept you after that?" - The lalafell said smugly.
"Is there any point to this?" - Estinien shook his head.
"I am only trying to help our friend to make the right decision." - Lolorito claimed. "It is obvious that the time has come to tell them of this cataclysm and its nature…But if they would know the story of its origin, they will blame you for it. Before you do anything stupid and have them ostracize our new ally, I would wager you pin it on Fandaniel's machinations."
"I see your point, and at another time, I might have agreed with it." - G'raha responded; he knew exactly how it felt to lie for the greater good. He lied to Edwin and the scions, and this led to their demise, a mistake G'raha would not repeat. "But there is no merit in hiding the truth. It is something fit for a coward who runs away from his fate…They will judge me, rightfully so, but if anything is going to bring them peace, it would be the truth that we no longer hide, not a slither of it."
"Oh, you fool…" - Lolorito accepted defeat as he watched G'raha walk towards the center of this cavern.
"People of Ul'Dah, I need you to listen!" - He said in a loud yet kind tone, trying to get their attention. The people looked at him with interest, many had no idea who he was at all, but the rumors of a time traveler had quickly become widespread, not to mention that some must have recognized him as someone who fought the beasts. They gathered reluctantly, looking at the Exarch with eyes full of plea. "I speak on behalf of Eorzean Alliance, and I apologize that we have not warned you sooner. Pray, stay calm; it will be to your benefit."
"How are we supposed to stay calm when people are becoming those…Freaks left and right?" - A woman said spitefully. "My own son…My boy…He turned into a monster! He, he…" - She couldn't finish talking with tears pouring out of her eyes.
"We are under effect from a force yet unknown to us." - G'raha said. "Its power comes in waves, and you have now seen the first one. It causes those who succumb to extreme emotions such as fear or hatred to become the monsters you see. We slayed the root of this corruption for now…But you all need to know that there will be another wave." - He recounted. G'raha was used to giving speeches about hope and reassurance, and Crystarium, bringing news of such doom, filled him with shame and a sense of utter failure. He also had a fleeting thought on the reason why the effect is different from the one Emet presented. The ancients did not become monsters but rather created them with their own magics. Perhaps it was to do with their souls being sundered, one of the many questions the Exarch would ask Hades if he ever gets the chance.
"Another wave? And how many will there be?!" - An old man shouted from the crowd in fear.
"Until we find out what causes it and stop the threat." - Or until they are no more, although G'raha did not say that part out loud. A pitiful end for mankind, the one Edwin would never allow come to pass, and neither would G'raha.
"And what is the cause?" - Another horrified voice rang out. "How did it even come to pass?!"
"I…"
"How are we supposed to know what to do?"
"Listen, there is no need for…"
"Why do we have to suffer so?"
"Because the barrier that shielded our world is no more!" - G'raha let it out, accepting all the blame that would follow. People looked at him with shock, hardly comprehending the meaning. G'raha looked to his side, where Estinien, Aymeric, Senna, and Lolorito watched in awe; they worried but knew that this had to be done. "And I have broken it. In my blind pursuit to destroy the dark god that was the cause of all the calamities in our history, I have committed the gravest of sins and destroyed our world's only respite against this threat…" - G'raha stuttered, seeing the people recoil from him, their eyes changing from shock to disgust. "It was my mistake, the one I accept and thus submit to your judgment. There are no words or apologies that would ever undo such a thing, but all I ask is that we remain calm and cautious in the face of the coming crisis if anything arises…"
"You did it?" - A shocked voice of a young woman rang from the crowd.
"I know that I…"
"It was you!" - An old man shouted with fury. "You brought this doom upon us; it's your fault!" - His voice was filled with disdain, and other voices joined the chorus. These weren't everyone, perhaps not even the majority, but in their anger and spite, they drowned out all the rest.
"Hey, did you come here?! We didn't ask for your help, bastard!"
"You are a monster. Do you know how much blood was on your hands!?"
"YOU KILLED THEM ALL!" - One man shouted with vigor. He was so furious that the Exarch began to sense a dark aura forming around him. It was a humiliating situation to find himself in, to be at their mercy and listen to insults and hate, all deserved. He only wanted to reverse the horror, but every word made sure that G'raha would never forget his mistake.
"Listen, it will not do any of the fallen justice if anyone else succumbs!" - He let out, though it did not sound convincing. His confidence faded, be it due to tiredness or shame, but the Exarch felt as if a giant shadow rose above him, forcing him to submit.
"They're gone now, it doesn't matter, and all because of you!" - Someone screamed. "Don't you dare lecture us on how to…"
"Enough!" - A stern voice echoed through the cavern, forcing everyone present into silence. Raubahn left his shadow and walked past the other leaders, looking over his people with a shade of empathy hidden behind his stark demeanor. "We have all lost someone or something today, and you would let your pride get in the way of genuine aid? I've known people of Ul'Dah, and they are better than this. We have all lost something today…" - He clenched his fist, looking down at the floor with shame. "Our city is in ruins, and Her Grace is dead, and it was I that forsook the chance to stand by her side! He is far from the only one who made mistakes, and he wishes to atone for them. I admit to knowing next to nothing of G'raha, but I saw this man fight for us; I saw him doing everything in his power to save as many lives as possible and prevent transformations; it is by his design that the winged serpent has finally been slain! And for that, I am willing to have him stand by our side." - Raubahn concluded that he had little patience for weakness despite understanding why those people would feel the horror and disdain that they did. Silence befell the cave until another man spoke out from the crown.
"He is right…" - A faint and familiar voice echoed. "Were it not for him, I would've been killed in the city. My wife became one of those beasts…I was horrified and could not abandon her, even when my daughter's life was at stake. He aided me in battle, but more importantly…He helped me clear my mind and showed me that the only way was to save ourselves. And if it's true that he helped kill that creature, mine wasn't the only life saved!" - The man's voice turned from demure and doubtful to one full of gratitude and confidence. A little girl stood beside him, looking at G'raha with as much awe.
"I will do this and much more to atone for my mistake, that I promise." - G'raha declared shortly before people began turning away. Most of them maintained their scoff and disgust, though they did not see any point in continuing to spur their rage at him. Only a few remained for longer, those that maintained hope. Looking into their eyes, G'raha realized that he was not free of his duty; he merely exchanged one for another the moment he shattered the heart of Zodiark. Now his duty was to the people of the Source, no matter what they thought of him.
The Exarch turned to Raubahn, feeling that he deserved gratitude from him.
"Thank you, I wasn't sure if I'd been able to quench their anger myself."
"Don't mention it; we're all in this together, after all…" - The Ala Mhigan man said quietly, still unable to let go of shame; it must have tightened the grip. Estinien, Senna, and Aymeric have soon gathered around them. The knight of Ishgard was clearly relieved.
"That went better than I expected." - He commended. Estinien shook his head.
"Just because they decided not to kill him now doesn't mean no one will try later." - The dragoon noted.
"I won't blame them for being furious, not when their families are paying the price…" - G'raha said.
"Doesn't mean that you will just surrender and die to a lone vengeful spirit."
"Have faith in them, Ser Estinien." - Senna reassured him. "Living through this will break anyone, even the best of us…I think we all understand now."
"Only time will tell." - Estinien brushed it off. "The question is, what will we do now?" - He asked, and Aymeric was the first to answer.
"I will return to Ishgard as soon as possible. The news will spread like wildfire, and I will make sure to be the one who tells, not to mention all the precautions we will have to take. I assume the Elder Seedseer will do the same with her state."
"I will…" - Senna said with doubt. "Though there is little can do without an answer. I will ask the elementals and pray that they need my words."
"And I'll do that which I do best." - Estinien said. "I am not the one to help others prevent their transformation, but if aught comes to pass, I will plunge my lance into those beasts. What about you, general?"
"I…I will stay." - Raubahn said decisively. "Ala Mhigo needs me, but those people do, as well. Their home has been ravaged, and their brethren died. I'm not leaving them in Lolorito's hands; I'm not leaving Lyse. When it is safe, I will lead their return to the city. Merlwyb and Hien's remains need to be sent to their homelands…And I shall oversee Nanamo's burial myself."
He stopped speaking when the pain became too much.
"And you, G'raha Tia?" - Senna asked.
"Considering the nature of my coming and actions, I believe it is for the best to stay out of the public sphere…I will search on the matter of the root cause. The Final Days are different from the ones shown by the ascian, for here, the souls themselves transform into monsters. I will do everything I can to shed light on this mystery. If I am in luck, the archives of Sharlayan might have something, but other than that, there is only one who can tell us exactly what happened and how…"
"Solus." - Estinien said.
"Yes…It is hardly a pleasure, but there is nothing left to grasp. I believe he will show himself sooner or later, and then…Well, now we both have some unfinished business with each other."
And so the course was set, as the task of uncovering the truth and stopping the cataclysm towered as the darkest shadow, a shadow that destroyed entire civilizations, a shadow in which none could find the light.