"You…" - Hades clenched his teeth in anger. After all the challenges and pain that he faced, after losing his power and realizing that he was nothing but a pawn in another's game, seeing his face was the last thing he wanted. G'raha looked stern and determined; unlike the last time they met, there was little joy or relief in him, and the ascian couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. "Should you not be elsewhere? Perhaps throwing a lavish party and boasting of how you are the man who ended the evil ascians? I imagine Ul'Dah would be a suitable place for that." - He did not spare any of his words. There could be no mercy for G'raha after what he did. Venat sundered a quarter of their people, and now the Exarch finished her job by forcing their souls into a broken stream. "Or have you come to finish your job? Can't have a single ascian breathing, now, can we…"
"How quick you are to devolve into a mockery." - G'raha spoke with disappointment. "Yet perhaps I should remind you that Ul'Dah had the same cataclysm fall on it before which your people once stood powerless. Whether you like it or not, in this regard, we are one and the same."
"You've certainly grown in your arrogance…Too much if you believe a worm like you is worth my time." - Emet wanted nothing more than to end G'raha here and now, but he still needed him if he was to use the tower. Perhaps this meeting was fortunate, after all.
"Yet somehow you are still here, wasting your time on a "worm-like me." I have to assume that either you are unable to leave or you still maintain your interest. So, which one is it, Hades? Or perhaps both?" - G'raha spoke with utter confidence, which meant that he was either a fool or that he knew that Emet was weakened, and the ascian was well aware that he was not the former. "I came for your knowledge." - Knowledge that he will never get.
They kept their distance; the Exarch was clenching his staff. One wrong move, and he will act. Hades got little choice. The ascian called upon black magic, forming a spell of ice as powerful as he could in his hands and launching it at the Exarch. With his newfound power, the Exarch unleashed a stronger spell of flame as if he could predict Emet's first turn; the two outbursts collided and exploded, creating a shockwave that forced both the ascian and the Exarch away.
"If only you stopped and thought, considered the ramifications of your actions…" - Emet could not control his fury. "Nothing would've happened, no soul would have to turn, and we would've continued our little game of fates…But no, you had to come and ruin it all! Congratulations, G'raha! By your "grace" was the calamity averted. I hope you take pride!"
The ascian conjured flame spells, empowered by what little control he had over his creation magic, launching one after another towards G'raha. The Exarch did not fire back this time, instead jumping aside and evading the blasts. Seconds before the last one had a chance to hit him, G'raha hid behind the nearby boulder. Only a fraction of Hades's spell was able to hit him.
"You seem to be very angry…" - Exarch said calmly before he conjured a spell of lightning and launched it at Emet seconds after emerging from his cover. The ascian was disoriented for a second but then immediately created a dark aura around him. "But why didn't you kill me the moment Edwin fell? If only you did not delude yourself in your disdain of our kind, you wouldn't have underestimated me." - Now Emet felt it, the spite in his voice. Such a noble and kind soul brought to desperation. The ascian imagined G'raha would blame him, but it was not Emet's hand that doomed the sundered world.
"I can admit to making a mistake…A mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life." - Emet said as the phantom of a white-haired man shimmered before his eyes. "But at least I will have a long life to ponder over it; you will die without even realizing yours!"
"Still chasing the past?"
"Come now. You know me too well to expect something else."
With this mockery, the ascian conjured dark arrows in the air. It was barely a dozen with his broken powers, but he hoped it would be enough. The array flew at G'raha, but he raised his crystal staff as another aura emerged around him. It was that of pure light, and the ascian did not believe him to be able to utilize such strength.
"But…How?!"
"Let's say I went through some "procedures" to get myself separated from the Syrcus Tower. Now the source of my power is always with me." - Exarch choked confidently as the arrows dissipated in this aura, with nothing but their shades tickling the Exarch. Emet was infuriated. Exarch became more of a nuisance with each time they met.
Before the ascian could attack with darkness, G'raha forced a ray of light to emerge from his aura, trying to pierce the ascian. Emet attempted to absorb most of it. The pain was much sharper than he anticipated; without a large amount of darkness behind his back, Emet was left scar more susceptible. It was not long before the spell forced the ascian to the ground as his entire body burned. G'raha rose above him, ready to fight further, but this humiliation only strengthened Emet's resolve to continue the battle.
"Back to the topic of knowledge…" - G'raha began to speak, but this brief respite was not enough.
The ascian created five aetheric mirrors around the Exarch, all of which fired simultaneously, scorching the skin on G'raha's legs and forcing him to fall. The mage tried his best to mitigate the damage, but this outburst was too quick for G'raha to avoid. He had to retreat and heal himself with white magic while Emet was gathering his strength. Once again, Hades admits that the Exarch is a skilled mage, though he could not compete with the sorcerer of eld. The ascian looked at G'raha with disdain.
"Do you truly expect that after all you have done, you can simply come and "ask" me for my knowledge? Is there a limit to your hubris at all?"
"Do not presume I am asking…" - G'raha tried to hide his shame as he stood up. "I had the resolve to pluck Edwin from this world into a battle he did not choose to fight…A battle he had to fight. Do you think I am asking you anything? It is a matter of saving my world, and it's gone far beyond complacency. I need everything you know of the final days, every detail the Convocation discovered, and I will have this truth!" - The Exarch drained the power from his stall, materializing a crystal shield in his hands. With its magical powers, he blocked the array of darkness that Emet used to break him, moving towards him with an unbreakable determination. "All you will do is prolong the inevitable, for I will not retreat, never again!"
"How brave of you to say this when I lost half of my powers! Perhaps you could make a similar speech when your enemy lies comatose?" - Emet created two explosive spheres near G'raha. "I will concede it…Of all the mortals in my life, of all the degenerates I had the displeasure of knowing…You are a special kind of pest! Your only use is your knowledge of secrets beyond our time!"
The spheres exploded, shattering G'raha's shield and forcing the man on his knees, giving Hades a moment's satisfaction. As he attempted to double down, G'raha turned out to be more than prepared. The staff absorbed a portion of Hades's energy, empowering the Exarch's vessel.
It was too late when the ascian recognized his blunder; the wounded Exarch resisted the pain and conjured another spell that broke Emet's aura. With another surge of pain, Hades was sent back into the nearby boulder, having to endure the agonizing burn on his back.
As G'raha approached, many ideas ran through Hades's mind, yet most of them were left unrealized due to the limits of his power. The mere thought of losing to someone like G'raha, to shame himself and his people in such a way, sent Emet into a whirlwind of rage. Yet the ascian was persistent, still figuring out a way to counter the crystal man, he attempted to send his rays of darkness into the ground, but all of them dissipated when they got close to G'raha. The Exarch walked slowly, preparing yet another spell as the time was not on Emet's side. He could not hold it anymore. The rage and despair filled his heart. To fail in such a pathetic manner, to have this be the end of Amaurot's tale, would be an unfathomable disgrace.
"You want to hear my answers, heed my knowledge then?" - Emet shouted nervously. "Heed then, this world is lost! There is nothing you can do to save it short of resorting to mercy-killing! Our people succeeded only through tremendous sacrifice; yours are incapable of it! You are pathetic, self-centered creatures and always have been, even should I tell you…" - He stuttered, realizing his mistake, but it was enough for G'raha to notice.
"Tell me what?"
"You…No, I would never!" - As Hades shouted those words, he felt his heart break. His beat increased, and his blood stopped flowing. It was as if his entire existence had entered a trance, taking away control from him. His magic ran rampant as Hades was powerless to stop it, waking up his deepest nightmares. A feeling all too familiar, a ghost of the past long gone, now reawakened.
The streams of aether flew between Emet and G'raha, enforcing the horror and despair of the ascian's subconscious. It took the form disfigured and disgusting monster, a worm with a dozen of mouths, malicious blasphemy in search of its prey.
…
The Exarch did not expect his blind disdain for Emet-Selch to fume so ravenously, but when he looked into the ascian's eyes, he could barely control himself. All this suffering, all this shame that he had to go through, G'raha always guided himself away from hatred, even if it was directed at his worst enemy. It would serve to shrivel his soul, make him empty and vulnerable; for his own sanity, he had to remain serene. Perhaps Emet had his reasons, but the scars went too deep, especially after seeing their bodies getting prepared for burial.
But it did not take long for a clear reminder of why he should stay away from hatred to emerge. The terminus beast born out of Hades's magic that now rose before them, roaring and preparing to fester on its prey. It was a confirmation of G'raha's theory for the reason people became transforming instead creating beasts, like those in the ancient times, for a man with an unsundered soul was still able to form them. To avoid becoming a beast like this one, it was G'raha's duty to remain calm and collected.
"Very well, then." - He sighed as the worm approached him. The Exarch conjured a powerful spell of light that hit the monster, slowing it down a little. The creature screeched from pain, meaning that G'raha's magic had an effect.
However, the Exarch underestimated its resilience and could not evade the swing of its tail that threw him off. G'raha was back on the ground, clutching to his staff and utilizing one spell after another, serving to further provoke the worm. He quickly rolled to the side when the beast's jaw pushed him to the ground. The Exarch launched a few more light spells right into his mouth, burning the monster's insides.
The furious beast turned its head towards him, but by this, it made itself vulnerable. The instincts must have told it to feed, yet there was more than one potential target. Arrows of darkness emerged from behind, striking the monster even more.
"No, not until we're done with him!" - Emet-Selch shouted from behind, much to G'raha's relief. Perhaps his eagerness to transcend time will be a boon for now.
The monster was stuck between energies of light and darkness swirling around it, slowly tearing the beast apart. Its attention was switched towards the ascian, who hid behind a dark aura and resolved to slowly weaken the monster. The Exarch imagined that Emet would distract the beast enough that he would conjure a powerful spell to end it.
However, the beast behaved unexpectedly. Instead of charging at Emet, the worm turned around and slithered towards G'raha. The Exarch's body was surrounded by the monster's skin, he fought tooth and nail while trying to get out of its grasp, but the beast moved him towards its head, ready to consume its prey. The Exarch held onto his staff when the worm tried to swallow it, piercing its mouth hole with his weapon. The worm roared as G'raha infused his staff with light magic. He was separated from his weapon as the beast threw the Exarch to the ground; meanwhile, his staff remained stuck in the beast's mouth along with all its power. Not the outcome the Exarch predicted, but thanks to Emet's aid, he could give enough power for it to destroy the monster.
The worm tried to slither away, but before it got far, a powerful explosion of light tore its mouth apart, stripping the monster of all its energy. Emet's arrows were just on time, piercing the vital organs of the monster and stripping it of any chance to survive. The worm fell to the ground and dissipated, leaving nothing but a stained crystal staff lying between the rocks.
G'raha was about to walk towards it and reclaim his weapon, but the ascian's voice rang in his ears.
"How lucky you are, I've seen far worse beasts created in Amaurot…" - Emet said in a tone of mockery as he stood before the Exarch. "Going somewhere?"
"Well, it was worth a try after you helped me out…" - G'raha sighed and prepared to fight. It was clear that both he and Emet were exhausted despite their resolve.
"Don't get comfortable; you will die in time." - Emet smirked. "Come to think of it, death by magic is far too graceful for you…A claymore through your chest will do!" - The ascian created a dark greatsword in his hand, the similar one he used in Eden. The only way G'raha could respond was to create a blade of his own with the magic he had.
"So be it, then! I ran from you for far too long…You wanted me to stand before you, and here I am!" - A crystal blade formed in G'raha's hands as two warriors were ready to clash in a gruesome fight.
They crossed their blades beneath the burning sun, and the Exarch immediately felt the pressure and power Emet had; the dark claymore was forcing him back despite G'raha's resistance. The Exarch slides to the side, attempting to strike the ascian from where he is vulnerable, yet Emet is swift to react and block the strike. Without the staff, G'raha's strength was not enough, but the sight of his weapon was lost behind the ascian. Hades had a strong resolve empowering him. Each of his strikes was done with growing hatred and might while G'raha desperately tried to maintain his position.
"After what you have done, there is no death for you but the one that will come by my hand!" - Emet shouted with fury, continuing his onslaught. "Do you know how many souls were in our god? You slaughtered them all!"
"You know I did not do it out of hatred for your kind…" - G'raha said as he empowered his crystal sword with light, thinking of the shades that he witnessed. He knew why Emet-Selch was fighting, the very same reason he fought. "I saw Amaurot; I saw your memories with my own eyes. They were good people and did not deserve this, but I would never allow our story to be unwritten for them. Our lives were never yours to take!"
"I'm sure they will be delighted to know that their murderer did not hate them." - Emet's blade swirled with dark energy in an attempt to counter G'raha's light.
The Exarch had to rely on speed; he jumped once again while Hades was distracted and sliced at his side. The wound of light emerged on the ascian's body as he grunted in pain and recoiled. This was G'raha's chance to run and relieve his opponent of his weapon, but Emet reacted quickly, crossing his claymore with G'raha's blade once again. The Exarch was never an experienced swordsman, but he knew that this was not Emet's preferred method of fighting either. Both of them were drained of their magic.
"I won't run from my sins, unlike you…" - G'raha breathed heavily while he held off Emet's onslaught. "At least I admit that your people we're alive; you never afforded us the same courtesy!"
"Do not presume to know how I think!" - Emet persisted. "Do you believe I never gave your people a chance, never tried to become one with your selfish, warped society?!"
"Perhaps you did, but none of it is a reason for us to give in to annihilation! Your people did not surrender to death; how arrogant one has to be to expect the same of us?"
"Ironic, that one…" - Emet chuckled as if he remembered something. G'raha thought that the ascian opened himself and tried to attack, but Hades blocked his strike once again. The collapse was so powerful that the energies of light and darkness crushed both of their magical blades, forcing them to dissipate into the wind. G'raha wanted to go for the staff, but Emet pushed him back with a weak dark spell.
As the Exarch attempted to get up, the ascian stomped on his hand, forcing the Exarch to the ground once again. G'raha felt Emet's hands grabbing his neck as the ascian choked him in an attempt to subdue him. G'raha attempted to hit him, but dark chains emerged out of nowhere and bound the Exarch's hands.
"I see why you admired him so much!" - The ascian raised one of his hands and punched G'raha, the dark burn spread around the Exarch's face, "I see why you were ready to throw everything for the sake of a single goddamn hero…You are just like him!" - He spoke of Edwin as his voice grew louder in a whirlwind of both disdain and regret. "Always eager to adventure, always believing in the best future for all, always engaged in something, always bringing mischief…Always so stubborn, clinging to ideals, never following someone's guidance if it meant sacrificing the smallest life, and in this pursuit always harming those around you!" - He breathed heavily, drawing G'raha of his strength. For a moment, ascian must have believed himself to have succeeded and thus weakened the grasp. "You and Apollo have always been kindred spirits."
He was wrong to believe in his victory so swiftly, however. Calling up to his light, G'raha broke his chains and pushed Emet aside. The ascian tried to cling to him, but the Exarch rose and punched him with his crystal arm. Hades recoiled from such a powerful strike, his face drenched in blood coming from the ascian's nose, leaving a stain on G'raha's crystallized skin.
"Fine, you've shown your "claws"…" - Hades breathed heavily as he rose beside G'raha. Both of them were exhausted and drenched in blood. Their bodies were pulsing with pain. Yet neither would hold back. Hades created another dark arrow, but only one this time. It pierced G'raha's elbow before dissipating, making it harder for him to stand. After grunting in pain, the Exarch looked at Emet with tiredness as he had to methodically retreat; the ascian was caught up in his rage and passion. Yet after all the pain the ascian experienced, after all his wounds and even conjuring up a beast, his unsundered soul remained horribly weakened, perhaps even weak enough for G'raha to bid the final curtain.
"This is your world too, after all…" - G'raha spoke through agony. "The souls of your brethren can still live if you help save it, is that not what you wanted?" - The Exarch pleaded, infuriating the ascian even more.
"You want me to doom them to this fragmented existence? No, I've seen more than enough!" - The ascian shouted as he launched one dark spell after another into G'raha. It was incredibly hard to avoid. The Exarch could barely breathe with the onslaught he suffered. "There is nothing left for me in this world, NOTHING! Yet there is much to gain in others…So many possibilities, so many timelines that could be saved, averted, so many worlds in which…In which I can finally live! The tower on the First is my key, and you my guide…And I WILL know the truth!"
"Not today." - G'raha smiled as they finally reached the point. His staff was nearby; he needed only to reach. The Exarch cast a minor spell of light at Hades, giving him a few seconds in which he could claim his weapon. The ascian could not react in time, and the moment G'raha claimed his staff, he dared to do something risky.
At his will, the hearing of the Tycoon had opened a rift that connected it to the outer reality, the same technique Beq Lugg used when transferring his soul from the tower. He felt his body pulsating with energy and the crystallized part of him swirling in pain. G'raha prayed that this would be enough; otherwise, he might as well have signed his death warrant.
"What are you…"
"This farce is over!"
G'raha raised his staff into the air as a number of azure chains formed around Emet, caging the ascian and forming an aura of light around him. Hades screamed in agony as he tried to break free, but the energy of the tower had already shackled him.
"You may gush over what I've done to your people, but you also took someone from me…Someone very important." - G'raha said sternly. "I hoped that we could come to an understanding despite all of this, but I see this is clearly not the case. I am not willing to back down, and I do not have to, for my vessel has enough place for multiple souls to be housed!" - G'raha declared as the magic burned any remaining resolve out of Emet-Selch.
"No…NO! I will not lose to you, I will not…I…AAARGH!" - The aura around him drained Emet's essence, transferring it into G'raha's staff. The Exarch could sense the sheer might of his energy, yet in a state like this, even his soul could be broken.
"From now on, your soul is mine! Bound by the same shackles that both chains me and gives me an opportunity to be free from the crystal tower. It might take time, but I will know of the Final Days, everything!" - G'raha could barely believe his own triumph, yet he remained confident. It wasn't so long ago that he had to run away from Emet-Selch back on the first, and now the ascian was beaten and defeated, standing on his knees at G'raha's feet.
Emet breathed heavily, looking into the ground; his resolve had been all but annihilated in an instant. A broken man who lost everything he had, now his prisoner. Hades raised his hand and peered into G'raha's eyes. Even the Exarch could not help but feel pity once he saw the despair that they radiated.
...
At a point, Hades stopped fearing another fall. Ever since he defeated the Warrior of Light, the one he once considered his friend, his life has been collapsing into oblivion. Loss after loss has been brought to the ascian due to his own blunders and failures that took everything from him. Despite his seething hatred towards the traitors of his own people, Amon and Venat, there was one man who played a key role in Emet's downfall. The same one that now walked beside him, binding his soul to his own vessel and shackling the ascian in his chains of light.
G'raha Tia. The Exarch that piqued his interest even since his arrival on the First, the one who dared to challenge the ascians by playing a game that transcends space and time. A game he lost the moment Emet-Selch shot him atop Mount Gulg. Yet Hades's own nostalgia, his own wavering belief that the calamities of their home may still be averted, that all the suffering they went through may be undone…He left him alive. The ascian could have killed him there and now, and there would be no one to steal the light and stop the calamity. He could have killed him when G'raha lay at his feet in Eden, and he wouldn't have played a key part in stealing such a valuable weapon from Emet and Elidibus. He could have abandoned his pursuit of an impossible dream and helped Elidibus when he was dealing with a problem that plagued their star, Zodiark would have still been alive, and no final days would occur. He could've killed him on the moon, succumbing to his urge, and the ascian wouldn't have been humiliated and dragged to a mortal's town.
All because of hope. And the biggest irony of them all was that even now, Emet knew that he couldn't kill G'raha until he told him more about the tower. In pursuing his dreams, Hades lost what little he had left, and there was no purpose for him except for this dream now. Accepting this also meant accepting that G'raha's feat was truly exceptional, something Emet could neither accept nor deny now.
They did not talk on the way to Revenant's toll; there was little to discuss. They only wanted information from each other, something neither was willing to give. Hades wasn't opposed to telling them the truth; he did not care for this world at all, but to do so now would rid him of the last shroud of dignity and make him a slave at their feet. If G'raha were unwilling to give him a key to the past and release him, Hades was more than content with watching all of them die in ignorance along with him.
Seeing "them" when they arrived in the city would be a moment that would forever stick in Emet's memory. Many were outside when the two marched through the arch, all in a hassle, planning a proceeding of sorts. Men, women, and children roamed outside, gathered around scion headquarters, though none of them shared any joy. They must have been dreading the moment when the Final Days come to them and judging by a monster formed of Hades's conscience, it could be any moment, just one fearful soul, and here lies the transformation.
All of their ignorant gazes were turned to G'raha and Emet as many recoiled. So might have known who he was; others likely followed the herd. If only their fear was justified if only Hades wasn't so broken and powerless after his recent trials. Among them, there was the trio that rescued him from the lake; those were the most horrified ones, whispering between themselves and pointing fingers at the ascian. This was a remotely entertaining sight, so Emet stopped for a moment to give them a malicious smile, just to make them realize who it was they "rescued."
"Move." - G'raha reminded him sternly, the ascian no choice but to carry on.
The only figure that dared to approach was a lalafell in a yellow robe, although her expression was no less shocked than the others.
"Is that…" - Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and fear, an understandable reaction. Emet sighed and spoke with mockery.
"Yes, yes, the root cause of all your life's woes…"
"Enough." - G'raha said calmly and commandingly before turning towards his friend. "It's Emet-Selch, the ascian you've heard so much about. His soul was in a weakened state, and I chained him with my new vessel. Now his essence is bound to the staff just like mine. He cannot go far without severe drought. All while the shackles prevent from using any magic." - G'raha explained. "He knows of the Final Days…I have reason to believe that it's even more than he claimed to know. I assume you wouldn't mind if I keep him here until he is more open to talking?"
"No…" - She said with doubt. "No, of course not, our place is yours, but…" - The lalafell looked at the ascian as her expression gradually changed to disdain. "I know what you did. You…"
"Perfect, another sundered soul to whine about how I ruined her life as if I hadn't had enough of that in my last few lifetimes! Go on, tell me about how you cared, how many tears you have shed! Perhaps there was even a favorite that you cherished too much…" - He knew how cruel this was, but he was a cornered predator who could do nothing but bark. Krile clenched her fist before looking to the ground.
"It's not worth it." - She shook her head. "Take him to the solar; I'd like to not see or hear him until we have said our goodbyes tomorrow." - She spoke coldly before looking away. Impressive resolve, even Emet had to admit it. The ascian felt G'raha pushing him from behind, forcing him to move towards the Rising Stones.
His new prison.
…
The ascian did not count time ever since he was tossed into a remote room near the solar, but it must have been hours. G'raha clearly had other business to attend to and now left Hades with his gripping loneliness. Of course, the ascian tried to break his shackles at first, but he was too weak to summon even the faintest spell. The Exarch wouldn't have left him if he was not absolutely confident that Emet would not escape. Perhaps it was for the best; even thinking about him disgusted Hades, much less having to endure his company. However, the thoughts that swarmed him were not, in any way, a better alternative. With what Amon and Venat revealed to him, with a goal he worked towards for twelve thousand years being annihilated in a matter of months, all because he did not die at the moment he was supposed to, that he didn't kill the one he needed…He grew tired, and some part of him wanted this all to end, even if it meant accepting oblivion.
The ascian heard a knock on the door shortly before it opened. There was another lalafell standing before him, this one wearing a red cap with a yellow feather and pink coat. She stood in the doorway for a few moments, unable to force herself to come in, even though she clearly wanted something. When she finally braced herself, the lalafell meekly tiptoed towards the shackled ascian who remained near the wall. His hands were tied, and the access to magic was cut off; now, those animals could find entertainment in his tragedy.
"Why are you here?" - Emet said with spite while the lalafell approached him slowly. She must have been another of G'raha's friends who will moan about he killed those close to her; the ascian was ready. "If you wish to "guard" me, then you'd be pleased to know that I am not in a position that leaves me any opportunity to escape even without your meddling. And even were it otherwise, a frail creature such as you would not be able to accomplish anything except for…"
He couldn't finish. The lalafell rushed towards him and slapped the ascian with what power she had. The shock caused Emet to recoil even if there was little pain to the slap itself. He looked at the creature in disbelief and fury, her knees shivered and tears formed in her eyes; she tried to speak but could not let out anything but scared mumbles. She ran away, barely even shutting the door behind her and not looking back for a second like the pathetic pest she was.
But Emet had to be objective, he was no less pathetic at this moment. Perhaps it was good that Hephaistos and Themis did not see him; they couldn't know how low their comrade had fallen. Was this what those thousands of years were for? Was this the way it was always meant to be? There was only one solace in this chaos. At least he was alive. By virtue of his survival, he defied Venat's belief that the flow of their history could not be changed; by virtue of his survival, did Emet break her loop…
Suddenly, the ascian chuckled at his realization as a recent memory flooded his head. That of a blue-haired boy dressed in garlean armor, carrying a blade and a burden of seeing his own civilization fall. A boy that lost everything in a matter of weeks, and after all this, the boy had to deal with the knowledge that his entire existence was in accordance with someone else's plan. All while the man who orchestrated the life of his nation rose before him with pride, seeing naught but a test subject in this poor soul.
And here he was, days later. Beaten, broken, and betrayed by those that he believed friends, humiliated to the last, and forced to accept that his home was doomed. In all this, Emet got told that his existence ever since the day he visited Elpis was according to a pre-written future, a loop that Venat sought to maintain, the one she knew of and left him ignorant. All this time, he was a pawn in her game, waiting to be discarded in a battle with his former friend, now her precious champion. Now he understood the pain Jullus felt, the pain Quintus felt…But he also understood their resolve to persist. To maintain their dignity and resolve, for this was all they had left. He had such resolve, too, for he did not allow himself to perish; he broke out of this hellish cycle.
And he will see Amaurot again, whatever the cost.
…
"Let's go…Everyone is here."
G'raha remembered the morning when the bells rang.
It was the morning when people flooded into Revenant's Toll, all with a singular purpose. Those were the people of different descents and states, yet they had something that unified all of them. It was faith, faith that they still latched onto even when G'raha's own began to fade. Faith in a man who came into this world to fight for others, to selflessly give his all and never demand everything in return, a hero G'raha always aspired to be. The Exarch knew he was not alone in his admiration.
He helped Krile and Tataru with preparations, yet he dreaded the moment. Ever since their death, he could not brace himself to say goodbyes, to accept that he would never see his friends and hero again. He tried when he visited them before fighting Emet-Selch, but could not force himself to. Yet he knew that he must be present and must pay his respects; it's what G'raha wanted to do. At a point, he was simply content to stay in the crowd and let others speak, but Krile convinced him otherwise.
"You were there in his last moments; you walked this path with him…I cannot think of anyone more deserving to speak of him."
G'raha did not agree with him being deserving, but one of the few friends he had left believed that this was a role for him, and, for better or worse, the Exarch gave in. He would speak before this crowd of adventurers, citizens, and soldiers, all of which had their dreams shattered in a stark realization that their idols were gone and that no one could replace them.
There were hundreds, with people from every corner of the world, coming here to pay their respects. Envoys from Ishgard, Gridania, and Ul'Dah were among them to show that Alliance leaders send their regards. Few could blame Kan-E-Senna, Ser Aymeric, Raubahn, or Lolorito for not coming. They had too much on their hands to be distracted. Theirs was the struggle that allowed others to take a respite from the battlefield this world has turned into, to which they would undoubtedly return when the ceremony would be over.
Among all of them, there were a few guests of honor, each of whom got a place in the ceremony secured by Krile. The first was Estinien, another legend with whom G'racha was now acquainted. Today he wasn't here to be an unbreakable warrior he often was, but a man with heart and soul, joining a myriad of souls who will send out their message unto the stream so that someday, somehow, they would be echoed in the distance.
The second guest was Lyse, still limping from the wound inflicted on her during the battle in Ul'Dah. She would not answer any questions about her condition, only claiming that the healer advised her against leaving the bay so early and that she rejected this notion without a second thought. The Exarch admired her resolve.
The third guest was an old woman who descended from the mountains of Dravania, much to everyone's surprise. Matoya was her name, and she has not left her refuge for decades. Yet when Krile delivered her the news of her pupil, Y'shtola dying, she did not need any convincing to descend. As reclusive as she ever was, Matoya was ready to forego her reservations for the sake of Y'shtola, even if she was not willing to talk to anyone else.
G'raha was almost certain that they would ask him questions about Emet-Selch, perhaps some would even wish to speak with him. To express all the hatred and disdain and hatred they had for him and his horrific crimes. Yet he was not mentioned even in passing, and G'raha realized that it was foolish of him to expect much from people who believed in Edwin. The Warrior of Light never stood for hatred; he never fought because he wanted to annihilate his enemies but rather protect his friends. To criminals like Fordola Lupis and Gaius Baelsar, Edwin showed kindness and forgiveness. Even Yotsuyu Brutus was given a chance by him, a chance she rejected. Wasting time dedicated to goodbyes on hatred would have been a disgrace, and people understood that even if this meant they had to put their feelings aside.
Many tears were shed on the morning the bells rang.
The Exarch stood before the crowd with his friends, watching as those people waiting for something. They knew what about happen, what was to happen as five bodies were brought out, and each of them placed on a pyre. Krile, Tataru, Estinien, Matoya, and Lyse each held a torch in their hands. The time has come to send their friends and heroes away.
Krile was the first one to set forward, having all the gazes from the crowd turned towards her. The lalafell walked slowly towards the nearby pyre, as if dragging out the last moments she could still look at her friends, still pretending that there was the smallest chance that their souls might return from beyond. It was Urianger's pyre she approached; the elezen scholar lay inside a shell long bereft of any substance. She suffered a moment of silence before forcing herself to speak.
"Urianger…No matter how many mysteries we faced, how much we had to peer into the unknown, you were always there to guide us, to peer into the truths of this world no one ever knew before." - Krile sighed, looking at the man's corpse. "At times, you made decisions that others considered questionable…Malicious, even. Yet deep inside, we always knew that you would never turn on us, that you would always be the most loyal of friends…And we were right. There are many sacrifices you made along the way, and I promise they will never be forgotten." - With each new word, Krile's voice was filled with warmth and kindness. "You were hurting because of her loss, yet you always remained strong. Go…Now you and Moenbryda can have a reunion you deserve." - With a heavy heart, Krile put a torch to the pyre. Urianger's body was engulfed in fire, which slowly melted away his skin and features.
It was a beautiful speech, truly, the one Urianger deserved. G'raha knew that the last promise was a lie, however. Urianger's soul is in another stream, the one of the First, and they can never reunite…But as always, people needed a beautiful story to believe in, something to inspire them in those trying times.
The next one to walk forth was Tataru. G'raha could see her hands shiver as she stumbled to walk. Krile gave her friend a concerned look.
"If…If you're not ready, I can…"
"No, I will do it." - Tataru said in an empty, pained voice.
She made her way to another pyre, this time the one that housed a hyur, talented hunter and gunbreaker with unrelenting resolve. Hers was the duty of saying goodbye to Thancred.
"Thancred…" - She stuttered and made a deep breath. The people looked at her with kindness and understanding, and she braced herself. "Be it Waking Sands or the Rising Stones, you always brought life and energy to all of your friends…Your positivity and your confidence have always inspired me. Master Loisoux was right to believe you a hero in the making, and we will never forget your devotion to us, to the people, to Minfilia…" - She was about to torch his body, yet something stopped her. Tataru couldn't bring the flames too close to him, a pain G'raha understood all too well. "Even when…When you were overtaken by an ascian…" - She continued to speak while still stuttering, still picking out words from her head. "It has shown us how dedicated you truly were, that you overworked yourself so much only to help us…Your courage and your dedi…Your kindness and…" - Tears streamed from her face moments before Tataru looked back at Krile, who graced her with a kind yet stern gaze.
"It's time."
Tataru did not dare to look back; she put the fire on Thancred's body before rushing back to her friends, it was unbearable for her, yet G'raha respected the courage Tataru had shown. As G'raha saw his body burn, he thought of how Ryne would have taken it. He knew she would want to be here in his last moments, but with all the horrors she had to endure, perhaps it was for the best to not subject the girl to this.
Krile welcomed Tataru with a loving embrace moments before the two lalafells were overshadowed by master Matoya stepping forward, going towards the pyre with her pupil's body. G'raha knew that Y'shtola learned much of what she knew from Matoya's wing and that the two held a deep respect for each other. One would have to look no further than the name Y'shtola chose when spending her time with the denizens of Slitherbough.
"They say that you charged into the fray, that you never stopped fighting to save them." - Matoya looked down at Y'shtola, speaking in a manner that could be seen as cold by some, but G'raha sensed her pain. He knew the old wizard will never give in to it when there were so many people around, she must have learned that skill during her long life. "Well, I, for one, always knew you would put your skills to good use; you remembered your lessons well. I could rarely understand your desire to fight and change this mess of a world for the better, but you held on to your convictions. And you were right to do so…I am proud of you, Shtola." - The old woman put her torch on the pyre, looking as Y'shtola's body burned before her eyes. "Goodbye, my girl." - She stepped down, walking back to the shadows. G'raha could swear that for a moment, he saw tears forming in her eyes.
The most heart-wrenching part was still ahead. It was time to say goodbye to Alphinaud and Alisaie. The twins were youngsters with a life of achievement and potential ahead of them, and with their ambitions and visions, there was no doubt in Exarch's mind that this potential would be realized. Near G'raha, Estinien and Lyse looked at each other. The woman's eyes were already wet, and she needed time to prepare. Estinien took the burden upon himself and walked to Alphinaud's pyre. He looked down on the boy with the gaze of a man who lost someone very close to him, a brother, perhaps.
"When thinking of what to say, I couldn't help but remember the night after Nidhogg was finally extinguished." - Estinien began. "I didn't think that I would survive, yet you would not dare to accept that inevitability. You stayed near my bed, praying that I would live on. Here I stand. I prayed for you too…I wish it was enough. I wish I could be there." - Estinien's lips quivered. "I wish the adventure we shared, the wisdom we gained from each other…Good days, eh? I wish this would not be the end of it. I know how much more you wanted to do, how much more you wanted to change. We will fight for the peace that you envisioned until our dying breath. I hope you find comfort in knowing that your actions saved thousands of lives…Mine included. Goodbye, Alphinaud." - As a few tears fell from Estinien's face, he put the fire on Alphinaud's pile. So many young dreams were destroyed, and so many hopes burned.
"Lyse?" - Krile said queerly when Estinien returned to them. The woman looked to the ground before taking a deep breath.
"Yes, I…I'll do it."
Lyse moved towards the last pyre, slowly and full of uncertainty. G'raha had an urge to hold her back, seeing that even Lyse herself was not confident she could hold herself together, but this was something she had to do.
"Alisaie…" - Lyse overshadowed the elezen's corpse, the Exarch could see her wounded leg still shaking, yet she remained stoic in the face of the crowd. "The days with you are something…Something I will never forget." - Her voice broke, yet Lyse continued. "When I took off my mask, you were there to support me, to aid me in a battle for my homeland…I always envied your resolve. Your bravery and loyalty inspired me in the times I felt doubt on our path of fighting the Empire, your confidence and belief were my light, and perhaps I would have never gone this far were it not for your companionship. To know that you're gone because of some madman is…It is unfair!" - Lyse shrieked, forcing another stream of tears. "You did not deserve to die; none of you did! You did everything for our people, everything for Eorzea; you were the best of us! It didn't have to be this way. I…I don't understand! You deserved to live!" - It was a cry of helplessness and agony, a plea that Lyse sent into the stream itself, even though she would not get an answer. G'raha wondered if Hydaelyn heard them, even the smallest echo. How must it feel for the goddess who sought to protect this world to be overtaken by such unimaginable horrors?
When Lyse put Alisaie's body to the flames, there was no relief in it, only shame and disdain. Her tears did not stop; even when Lyse returned to her brethren, others could only wish that they had it in them to help.
Now all of them have been sent on their journeys, and there was only G'raha's part left to play. He felt Krile's gaze upon himself, beckoning the Crystal Exarch to step forward and honor the man that unified all of their souls. He stepped forward, holding his staff and watching the people. Many teared up; some could not force themselves to look. The Exarch wished to give them as much hope as he could while still commemorating the dear friend that was lost. When journeying away from the First, G'raha dreamed of dropping the pretense of letting go of his identity as Crystal Exarch and becoming the man he always wanted to be. Alas, this dream was now further from him than ever before.
"Thank you for coming here today…" - He began. "Thank you for commemorating the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and being here in their last moments. I know not whether I am worthy to speak with you on this matter, or if I am worthy to speak to you at all, but I know that is hard. Horrific, even. I've been there in Ul'Dah, and Estinien and Lyse have as well. We have seen enough to know that there is nothing we would not give to see this crisis averted…But you've heard this all before, haven't you?" - G'raha smiled, conscious of how similar this speech might have sounded to those of their leaders. "It never easy to simply rely on a handful of people to save you…But perhaps you do not have to, as our hero has shown us. I have met Edwin in a time that has been but recent for you but a very distant memory for me. Back in those days, he has only recently risen to prominence, defeating Gaius van Baelsar and protecting the land. And then there was I, a wide-eyed man utterly enthralled by the tale. I followed him in a quest, feeling nothing but excitement and joy from being a part of his story." - Thinking of those simple days made G'raha close his eyes and smile; the people raised their eyes at him, for now, they sensed the sincerity and kindness in his voice. "But then I had to learn that a journey such as his was rarely of pure joy, then did I realize the true weight, the true power of him facing each threat with a smile of confidence. The smile I remembered when he clashed with the Cloud of Darkness. A smile I saw when he defeated a beast of light that ravaged a place far, far away…" - His journey was not a secret, and no doubt the information he disclosed to Lucia and others would spread to the people, but this was not the point. "The same smile I saw moments before he died."
"You saw him…Die?" - A woman in the crowd asked.
"Indeed I have. He was killed by one of our greatest enemies, and if that monster had his way, the world of Norvrandt would have been destroyed, unleashing another calamity unto this one." - He said and heard myriads of gasps, saw people recoil. "That night, both of those worlds came close to annihilation…But Edwin's sacrifice averted it. Even in his last moments, he faced his death with pride."
"And how can we possibly hope to go on without him?" - A man in the crowd yelled. "This is by far worse than the Empire, and we wouldn't have a chance against it if not for the Warrior of Light."
"I understand your doubt, I have shared it…I still share it. I still do not believe that I will ever live up to the standards our hero has set up. Perhaps it doesn't matter because the truth is, he believed in me. He accepted my cause in Norvrandt, readily putting my dream into reality…" - Tears rolled down G'raha's cheeks. Ah, he thought of the moment he revealed himself atop Mount Gulg. A moment when Edwin could've judged his trickery and concealment, but he only smiled and called him by his name. G'raha Tia. "He entrusted the fate of our worlds to me, even though I have not earned it. I will not give up, but I want you to know that each and every one of us can play a part!" - His voice brimmed with hope as G'raha imagined that Edwin was watching them someway, somehow, even if he knew it to be impossible. "Our enemy is within ourselves, but we do not have to let it fester. It is not a battle of blades and staffs, one does not have to be a famed hero to fight it. I saw people in Ul'Dah who were on the brink of turning after seeing the world around them turn to hell, and yet they resisted! All they needed to keep their sanity was someone who was there for them, to remind them that life is still worth fighting for, and remind them that they are not alone! And you can be that person! There is no shame in fear, there is no shame in doubt, there is no shame in wanting to live! If you know someone who suffers in silence, who fears for themselves or others, who fears turning, be a hand that will guide their way. If you can do something noble, no matter how small, then do it. That is what Edwin believed, and that is what I believe."
G'raha raised his staff into the air, and the light danced on his tears. He will make Edwin proud; they all will.
"Then let us commemorate our fallen heroes in a promise that whatever comes our way, we will never surrender! No matter the borders and differences that divide, all of us want to live, laugh, to hope! Let this desire carry us forward! Let us fly into the future and save everyone we can!"
A ray of pure light emerged from his staff, reaching for the rising sun. This was their choice and their battle, the one that G'raha brought upon this world. Now he believed that there was a chance at repentance, and he will not forsake. And above all else, nothing shone brighter like his one single belief.
They still had a future. A life to live.
…
The day has come, and ere long
Shall harken they to our song
Their fates are sealed as shadows creep
For their friends and loved ones weep
Their tears begin to soak the blood
Of their own idols now long gone
Scorched by the fire of his rage
As their souls die, begins new age
An age their friend has sought to stop
Yet now he claims his own stained crops
In crystal has he seen reflections
His hand now writes a new direction.
Each step he takes, a wraith will follow,
A ghost of past who's stained by sorrow.
To hope's echo he still clings
It will be shattered when we sing.
Yet as their souls walk astray
Another still can't find a way.
A father's screams let out in grief
From doom he'll never find reprieve
He's one of many who now weeps
As time has come for us to reap.
Once they will know their leaders' deaths
They would've let out their last breath
And from the stream, far, far away
The Emperor laughs as they all pray
Their horrors one, their shared fates
Together will they face decay
The stream in which there's no control
As fear and dread has claimed her soul
Her loop is ash, her plans are broken
Her sins no longer are unspoken
Among the chorus, but one smile
For man who has unleashed his vile
His memory shines like brightest fire
As he fulfilled his heart's desire
All build their pyres, all say their prayers
Yet none enough to end despair
We know the answer, life's last string
Will rip the moment that we sing