The moment G'raha heard of the coming assembly, he knew that this was his chance for something more. To speak out and try to propose a solution, to convince those in the Forum to share their knowledge so they could work together on ending this nightmarish cataclysm. The Exarch knew that it could have ended just as their previous attempts, in failure and rejection. Sharlayan Forum was never known for its flexibility and open-mindedness, but there was always a reason to try their best to convince the likes of the Forum to change their minds if it was a necessity. G'raha spoke with Krile about this shortly before attending, and they were of the same mind.
When the two entered the hall at the heart of Sharlayan, they were confined to a waiting room of azure stone before the gates leading to the hall of the Forum. Its doors were locked tight, yet G'raha heard faint echoes of the steps that came from behind there; it would not be long before they were finally taken in.
Except for a few guards that stood in silence, there were two familiar faces, expectedly so. Emet-Selch quietly wandered around the room, staring into the walls around him and thinking to himself while Fourchenault leaned on the wall furthest away from the ascian and desperately tried to hide his angry gaze.
"Look who's here." - Emet smiled upon seeing the scions. "They caught you too, I take it? Found me in the park and demanded that I come for a hearing and listen to the council deciding my fate along with yours…Nonsense and a waste of time, in my opinion, but alas, I'm confined to your incredibly boring conception of entertainment."
"Well, it's nice to know you're in a cheery mood." - G'raha replied casually before standing by the door. He hoped they would not have to wait for long. It would do no one good to have them spend time with each other for too long.
"I assume you are joining us, master Fourchenault…" - Krile looked at him.
"I wouldn't stand here otherwise." - He scoffed and threw a spiteful look at the ascian. Emet continued to demonstratively ignore Fourchenault, but thankfully, they were interrupted by the doors opening and another guard coming out.
"The Forum is ready to meet you; come inside!" - He said commandingly before stepping aside, making way for their guests.
"Here it goes." - G'raha said sternly, looking over his companions. Emet seemed uncaring and annoyed. Fourchenault's rage continued to break free, while Krile was full of worry that something may yet break out. "Before we enter, I ask you not to escalate the situation…I assume none of us want the star to burn too soon."
"When you put it like that…" - Hades began before stopping. "Well, I don't care for speaking. If your performance is entertaining enough, I will let you do the talking."
"It's never easy, is it?"
Before they could continue, the group found themselves standing at the heart of the azure hall. There were many distant, emotionless eyes looking at them from behind the Forum gowns. Each seat that surrounded the central platform on which they stood was taken by a member of the Forum. All wore identical robes, and each peered into their book. Some must have been preparing speeches or potential arguments to speak on, and others have taken notes. G'raha never dreamed of being taken in by the whole Forum, especially with such grim circumstances surrounding the occasion.
"Welcome." - A stern voice echoed through the halls, coming from an elezen man sitting at one of the central seats and being one of the few who did have his gown on. "I am Barnier, the speaker of the Forum, and hereby announce these proceedings open."
"Very well." - G'raha nodded complacently. "You called for us, and here we are. May we get an explanation as to why we are here? I would rather we go directly to the topic at hand." - The Exarch said confidently, but he was interrupted by the ascian.
"Come on, let them have some fun. They must love exerting power at least in some matters, must be a sure way to make you forget that the world around you is crumbling for a moment." - Already, the ascian was willing to mock the Forum. G'raha imagined Emet aimed it at Fourchenault, considering the elezen having yet another spiteful reaction. Yet, for the purposes of continuing their negotiations, they must have remained orderly.
"A few damn minutes and already your break your promise…" - G'raha whispered in disappointment.
"Simply observing my surroundings, no more, no less."
"Do not get distracted." - Barnier continued. "Everyone in this room is aware of your identities and purpose, and many question them, as I believe, with good reason. While master Montichaigne gave you his blessing, your agenda warrants further examination." - Barnier explained this in a calm and collected manner, yet G'raha senses his annoyance re-emerging once again. There was no 'agenda' behind their actions unless they considered that to be a salvation of their world, in which case they were unlikely to come to a satisfactory conclusion when forced against this type of mindset. "You also brought two figures that were never supposed to be seen in Sharlayan. The ascian Solus zos Galvus and the exile Fourchenault Leveilleur."
"If I may…" - Fourchenault sighed with anger and looked up at Barnier. It must have hurt to be called an exile by someone who was a colleague of yours only recently. "I hoped you would have the decency to not put me into the same category as this monster without reminders…But if it needs to be repeated, then I shall."
"I am only stating the facts, Fourchenault. Neither you nor the ascian were welcome in Sharlayan at this point in time, yet now you are walking our streets freely because we chose to give scions the benefit of the doubt. Now it is time to hear them out." - Barnier turned towards G'raha and Krile. "The Forum would like a statement on your true reasons for coming here, refugees non-withstanding." - After those words, Krile was the one to walk forward and speak.
"We came here to speak with you and, hopefully, to learn the truth. It is clear to us that the Forum knows something about the Final Days and conceals it from the public. We believe that it would be for the benefit of our star for us to share this knowledge with the rest of us the same way we would share ours with you." - Krile explained.
"To what end?"
"Averting the Final Days, of course."
"The Final Days are not to be averted." - Another voice from the Forum spoke, echoing Barnier's sentiment. "'Twould be a waste of your resources and energy."
"Aye, that is the truth." - Barnier nodded. "It was rather premature of you to assume that our goals align. It would seem that our methods do not, either." - At those words, another hand was raised, a man G'raha recognized as Montichaigne.
"You are far too dismissive. Weren't we all idealistic seekers of knowledge during our younger years? The Exarch might be far older than even some of us, yet I see no vile in him retaining some of this youthful idealism and desire to read what's in every forbidden tome. Is that not a feeling familiar to all of us? Let's be civilized, shall we? I say we hear out what knowledge the scions have to share and what it is they hope to get from us."
"You raise valid points…" - Barnier sighed. "Very, well, then. If you are so focused on averting the Final Days and claim to have knowledge…Then I believe you have a certain plan in mind?" - Barnier suggested, putting Krile at a loss for words. It was time for the Exarch to speak.
"If you wonder why is that we kept the ascian nearby, this is your answer. He is knowledgeable about the origins of the Final Days…" - G'raha heard a disappointed sigh coming from Emet following those words. "I have reason to believe so. Emet-Selch spoke with Hydaelyn, and while he is reluctant to share what it was exactly they spoke about, he revealed to me some details that were unknown before. He spoke of the energy that was causing the transformations, an energy far thinner in the aether that is now unleashed due to the rotting of aether currents. It is called dynamis and is influenced by the strongest of our emotions, such as those one exhibits before the transformation…" - The endless screams of people who fell to this disease turned into monsters before G'raha's eyes in both Limsa Lominsa, and Ul'Dah echoed through his mind. These people gave in to their emotions, just like anyone does, and they were punished for it. There was no fairness or hope to be found in this tragedy; it was monstrous to its very core. "If we pour our resources into researching this energy and its relationship with aether currents, as well as continue to question Emet-Selch for knowledge until he gives in, we may yet be able to find a way to stop it. If not permanently, then at least by creating something that would give us time, as the people of eld created Zodiark." - G'raha saw by the expressions on their faces that this suggestion was hardly met with approval. The whispers began to spread among them, and even Fourchenault gave G'raha a concerned look.
"Your theories are hardly going to convince anyone, let alone the Forum…There is simply too much at stake for them to divert too many resources to this when…You know what is going on in our world."
"And at what cost?" - G'raha retorted. "I am searching for an opportunity to save our world and those that live in it before it is too late. If we do not act, the Final Days will destroy every single life on the star! How can there be something more important than trying to stop this madness?"
"Order!" - Barnier continued. "I have to agree with Fourchenault on this one. You are guided by your idealism and beliefs, and while those are not negative traits to have when it crosses the line into overzealousness, it can only be harmful."
"Tell me your tale, then." - G'raha turned towards Barnier with anticipation. "What is your alternative to my 'overzealousness' and attempts to save all of our lives?"
"Our sacred duty." - Barnier responded in a stern voice. "Our duty has opened us to the truth that Final Days are an inevitable cataclysm; it cannot be stopped or averted. Already it has ravaged the cities beyond Sharlayan. Its completion is the true way forward, the one we worked on for many years. Whatever comes, we shall see it realized."
"And what is your duty, then? Would you still keep it secret even after so many were lost? Would you just…Turn a blind eye to a proposition? All of us, no matter our past, no matter our occupation and experience, should work together to secure a future for our world before it turns to dust!" - G'raha looked over the Forum. "There is no time left to cower, no time for lies! If there is a time to put aside our differences and share all of our knowledge, then the time is now."
"Bold words, but alas, meaningless." - Barnier responded coldly. "The Forum does not need help overseeing our own operations, especially not from a figure as divisive as yourself and your companions." - G'raha tried to calm himself and not fume at those words. Still, they played games, still refusing to break the enchantment and reveal the truth. During this conversation, Emet-Selch remained mostly silent until this very moment. The ascian stepped forward and looked over the Forum with a sly smile on his face. The hall was consumed by grave silence as they realized Hades was about to speak. Even Barnier changed his expression to a one of caution; it was too late to shut his words.
"Can't do anything without me, poor G'raha…I'm starting to pity you, and that's a sure sign that this show is not going in the right direction already." - Emet sighed before turning to Barnier. "You've done a wonderful job concealing that which you were truly working on with spells and such, but alas, I am not blind to the obvious. You may believe that your little scheme to evacuate people to the moon might bring them to a new beginning, but that plan is not only flawed…It is a lie."
…
Emet-Selch didn't expect to lash out so quickly, yet the way those proceedings began already set the stage for the worst-case scenario. The Forum believed in their way, seeing G'raha as nothing more than a naive fool, perhaps with good reason, perhaps not, yet they would not speak the truth to him because of their enchantment. Conversely, there was the Crystal Exarch, who, despite all facts and reason pointing otherwise, everything is stacked against him, still maintained a belief that the Final Days can be averted. There was no middle ground to have in this discussion, as both sides were stubborn enough to not concede a single point. And the only one who had the power to end this face was Emet-Selch, so did the ascian decide.
Hades felt utterly ecstatic when G'raha and Krile looked toward him in shock, and the whole Forum went silent. He remembered the disgust in Foruchenault's eyes, the worry in Barnier's gaze, yet none of them could do anything.
"Oh, have I spoiled the show?" - Hades said with a tone of mockery. "You would have to forgive me my sharp tongue, but at least now we can focus on the issue at hand without endless cloaking and lies. It would be to the benefit of us all…Unless, of course, your enchantment prevents you from speaking about the duty to anyone outside, even if the said person knows the truth. Poor Hydaelyn, if only she spent more time learning how to properly devise a spell like this…Then I will speak myself." - Emet turned to G'raha. "I have to say, you must be commended. Even after everything I told you, after everything you saw in Ul'Dah and Limsa Lominsa, you continue to believe. You continue to believe so strongly that, in fact, you speak out against the rulers of the city you were raised in, those who anyone in your stead would have perceived as absolute ideals of authority. In my world, someone clinging to their point of view with such devotion could be seen as both respectable and incredibly annoying…Yours can evoke both reactions."
"Is that what you know, then?" - G'raha finally spoke. "They want to bring people to the moon?"
"Yes, according to the words of our 'dear friend.'" - Emet looked at Fourchenault, whose eyes were colored in red from fury, and his fist was clenched as the Forum looked at the unfolding scene with both horror and shame. "To take the people of the world to the moon, where they can escape the cataclysm…A duty entrusted unto them by Hydaelyn herself."
"But how would they do that? Surely no one has enough aetherytes to…" - Krile began, but Emet didn't let her finish.
"When I descended unto the Labyrinthos, I saw an Allagan vessel on my way; I suggest it is there for this exact purpose…" - Judging by Barnier's fearful eyes, Emet was right. "I see why you wouldn't tell the details of this plan to someone like G'raha…After all, the amount of people the moon can house is a limited one. Should you evacuate those from Eorzea? What of Ilsabard? Of Meracydia, of the island kingdoms that surround the continent, of the new world? All of those lives shall be left behind, and that's not to mention the life on the shards." - Emet noticed G'raha recoil at those words, as the ascian expected. His favorite kind of manipulation, the one that required nothing but telling the truth as plain as it was.
"You dare mock us…" - Fourchenault looked at Emet. "We toiled tooth and nail to…To help…" - His voice suddenly broke due to the spell's influence; Fourchenault coughed in pain, unable to continue. "We were…Protecting…To save…That's all we wish to do, all Hydaelyn wishes to do! She was the one who battled against your machinations that bled the land dry and forced us to suffer, and yet you still speak of…Of…"
"Oh, you have no idea how much she concealed from you…" - Emet looked over the Forum, but they still remained silent. "Your goddess is a liar who does not care for you! She gives a chance only to those who live up to her lofty, monstrous standards, and I have witnessed that first-hand. She never told you of how the ancient civilization truly met its end, did she?" - The ascian laughed at the irony. "I wonder how long it will take for her to slaughter you all like the failures you were…She put so much hope in your kind, even if it was only a select few…She made the same mistake as I did, and now that those select few have failed to live up to her expectations, she is ready to sacrifice the remnants…Do you think she truly cares for you anymore than she cares for the people of the shards she sent to their doom? More than those who she is ready to leave behind?" - Emet spoke with disdain and hatred. The only thought that held him back was a fear of the possibility of summoning yet another blasphemy. Just thinking about Venat's actions, the judgment that she cast upon their people made Hades seethe with anger. So much suffering, so many lives sacrificed, both sundered and unsundered for this cause, and nothing to claim, no hope to salvage in the end. Even when he battled Hydaelyn in the stream, he saw the waning hope in her eyes; she did not believe the words she spoke. She did not believe this world could truly be saved anymore. "You are nothing but pawns at her table…A table that is shattered into pieces she is desperately trying to pick up. I admire your wish to save as many people as possible, yet your faith is, as ever, misplaced."
"And why would we believe your words?" - Fourchenault continued. "She was not the one destroying our home, our cities, and nations, not the one causing so much misery throughout those days. Those were the ascians!"
"The ascians that tried to save our world, your world, by protecting Zodiark! The ascians that were successful until someone…" - Emet was ready to throw more shade at G'raha with his rage, but a voice from the Forum finally interrupted them.
"Barnier, may I have the word?" - A young hyur spoke, which Emet recognized as Rolandeau, the one he possessed to question Fourchenault. "There is no point in pretense anymore if we want to speak to them truthfully…Now is the time."
"Indeed…I'm afraid the time has come." - Barnier sighed. "I assume there is no objection among the Forum?" - He spoke loudly, with nothing but silence as a response. "Very well, then, it is time to break the enchantment that bound us to our duty for so long."
Following this order, another member of the Forum spoke. It was a dark-skinned elezen woman with a magical tome; she opened her book and began reading out another spell.
"Give voice to the voiceless. Let bindings be unbound. By unanimous decree, I declare the enchantment broken."
A shade of azure aura appeared around each member of the Forum and Fourchenault before dissipating. Finally, they were free from the spell, and there was nothing standing in the way of truth. Emet was glad that he could influence as much.
"Order." - Barnier spoke before looking at G'raha and Krile, who stood there in anticipation, waiting for their answers.
"Is this true?" - Krile asked.
"Aye, the ascian is correct. When we discovered Hydaelyn in Dravania, she told us of the coming cataclysm and the duty we must undertake if we are to save the people of Eitheyris. To create an ark for those that will leave this star when the seal is broken, for those that shall find a refuge on the moon…It was our task to guide them while keeping this secret for years. Now, our plan is indeed set in motion. Hydaelyn's servants reside on the moon, and they have created a place that shall become a new home to the people of the star until the new world is reached. Is that the truth you wished to hear, Exarch?"
"It is…" - G'Raha looked down, still consumed by his thoughts, no doubt. "But is this truly it? Is that the extent of your plan? To abandon the star and save people that you can while dooming the rest?"
"Will you deny us the opportunity to save as many as possible?"
"No, of course, I won't, but…" - G'raha spoke in disbelief. "You are telling me that in all those years of your foreknowledge, all you worked on was the Exodus? You have not tried to find the root cause, to question Hydaelyn for more? No attempts to end the cataclysm and save everyone, to save the star itself?"
"That would have been a waste, as I already said. We cannot stop the Final Days, only forestall or escape them." - Barnier said without shame, and G'raha found nothing to respond with. The Exarch looked down in shame and uncertainty; Hades couldn't help but feel sympathy for the man. "Now that this matter is settled, I believe it is time to come to our conclusion. My proposal would be, thus-considering that the time is a night to tell the truth, and that the spell is broken, the transgressions on the part of Fourchenault and Emet-Selch in regards to this information have little meaning or weight anymore, nor is it in our power to exile you from this city. The Exodus must continue uninterrupted, and all of our resources should be put into it. If you truly want to help, then you should spread those words to the cities of Eorzea, for their salvation lies here, in Sharlayan. Mistress Baldesion and Master Leveilleur have served Sharlayan with integrity and honor in the past years, and thus I believe they should be allowed on the ark along with others. Speaking of our other guests, however…There is no way we would allow Solus on the ark."
"As if I won't be able to just teleport there eventually…" - Emet scoffed.
"And while the ascian soul is tied to you, Exarch, this denial will be extended to you. Do you understand?"
"I do."
"Then let's see if our views differ. All those in favor, raise your hand."
The vast majority did. Emet saw about seventy of the seats raising hands, including master Montichaigne, the results were obvious to everyone, and there was little they could do to change Forum's minds. Perhaps this was a time for G'raha to learn his lesson, yet Emet doubted he would.
"I count 73 in favor, thus confirming the verdict. This procession is hereby brought to a close, and it is time for all of us to focus on the preparation for the coming Exodus. I would advise our guests not to stand in its way; otherwise, the consequences will be immediate." - Barnier closed the proceedings off. Other members began to stand up, one after another, and Emet finally sighed in relief.
"Thank Zodiark, it is over…" - The ascian was about to walk off, yet he noticed G'raha refusing to move a single step.
"May I have some final words?" - G'raha asked politely yet loudly, bringing the attention of everyone in the hall to him.
"Yes, but I advise you to be quick." - Barnier responded.
"Thank you, I appreciate it." - G'raha said with gratitude before looking at the Forum with hope in his eyes. "Let me begin by saying that I understand the path you have chosen, even if I do not agree with it. Whatever could have been done in the past is now of little relevance, whether we like it or not. Everyone who wishes to go to the moon and try to find a home there should have the right, and I respect the Forum's decision." - The Exarch took a deep breath.
"Yet among the story you told, there is something I cannot help but vehemently disagree with, and that is your claim that it is impossible to stop the Final Days. I do not believe this to be true, not for a moment. I came from a time when a calamity destroyed civilizations, plunging our world into chaos and slaughter. I heard the stories of the people I knew die, the same ones I said goodbye to when opening the Crystal Tower for myself, of the broken world they left behind…No one believed that undoing such calamity was possible. Yet after dedicating their lifetimes, their body, and soul to this quest, my friends from the ironworks, the greatest inventors of their age…Mastered the wings of time." - A few tears fell from the Exarch's eyes as he got emotional thinking of his friends, or so Emet imagined. To say goodbye to your allies, believing them to be the ones to eventually awaken you, only to open your eyes and see a world taken over by flames, a world in which there is no more joy and happiness. To be a lone soul among those who you cannot recognize anymore, among those who changed so much that you are a stranger to them…Emet knew the path Exarch walked. To speak of it so openly required no small amount of bravery. "They had no time nor technology to test out their theory, yet their descendants did. They were the ones that awakened me and presented me with an opportunity…To travel back in time and undo the tragedy of the past. Thus, I have traveled to the distant world of the first, a world not unlike my own. It was a place consumed by light and despair, with its people living their last days in hopes of a painless death and the lies of ascension unto paradise. A world where none knew the night, and no one hoped to see it once again…And yet they did. They saw a hero that united them in a battle against the tyranny of the light, and their world was saved from the brink of destruction." - He spoke with pride, and Emet could not deny that his belief had a reason, had merits. He did not believe that the first would ever recover, no ascian did, yet now Emet had to admit that this world was saved and their influence on it overturned.
"And then I heard of yet another world, a nation of the distant past…Amaurot." - G'raha said with resolve, making the ascian glance with frozen hands and shocked eyes. "A city where people's hopes and faith brought forth Zodiark, a god that did what was considered impossible and forestalled the Final Days. A miracle that gave everyone who lived on a chance, including those long beyond the sundering…" - Emet did not expect those words of praise and even kindness, yet he was enamored by them. A tale of his people told by a voice of hope and love, an undying desire to see this world become better, to see another day. Words of a voice not unlike the hero who became the heart of Zodiark. "Yet I also learned there that there isn't always justice or kindness to be found in this world…Tragedies happen. The Final Days happened, and so did the Eight Umbral Calamity; they brought untold suffering upon us…I saw a hero who I believed unbeatable, unbroken, to be defeated and annihilated. I thought this was impossible too, and once again, I was proven wrong. Those may not be the knowledge you seek, yet these are the lessons of both past and future that I learned over those years." - G'raha spoke with utmost pride even as his voice shook due to the pained memories overtaking his soul.
"Tragedies happen, but miracles do too. And for miracles to happen, we have to do everything in our power to fight for our survival, no matter how grim it may seem. Nothing is impossible; this I choose to believe, and this is why I will fight. I made close friends in the world of the First; without them, I would never have stood here. And I gave them a promise that no matter what awaits me on the other side, I will make sure they see another day. All of them. And for those that perished while trying to accomplish this mission, so too shall I not waver…For the scions, for Nero, for Edwin…For them, I will find a way." - A proud smile emerged on G'raha's face, a smile which made Hades stand and watch it, absolutely enamored. It was a smile of a man who was ready to walk into the depths of the abyss, sacrifice everything he had for the sake of others, and fix his own mistakes. It mattered not that his soul was but a sundered fragment. A true hero would always stay true to his nature. "And with this, I take my leave. Do not feel shame over not affording me a place at the ark, for I would never take it.
As silence befell upon the Forum, each and everyone was shaken by his words. Even Barnier had no response to G'raha, nothing but a silent stare at the floor, hiding his shame from his guests. G'raha's gaze, meanwhile, showed no regret. Despite not getting the answers he wanted, the Exarch's resolve remained unbroken. And with this, G'raha turned around and walked towards the falling sun with the confidence of a true warrior. That was his quest, his battle, and his future.
…
As they left the Forum hall, the ascian had very little to say, a rare occurrence. Once again, Emet saw incredible naivety and blind faith in G'raha's eyes, yet he did not wish to squander or challenge it this time. Because he spoke the truth about miracles, for they do happen. After centuries of tiring work and agonizing labor that pushed Emet further into his depravity, he forgot what it was to truly believe. After all the injustices that his people were faced with, the belief was almost impossible. But G'raha was no stranger to such loss, and yet he endured and maintained his belief. Perhaps this was the only way to keep himself sane.
Fourchenault left immediately, wishing to spend no further time with their company. G'raha, Krile, and Emet walked away from the Forum hall together, each of them pondering on what to do next.
"Well…" - Krile began to speak as they found a place to stay and discuss their discoveries. The last rays of the sun were slowly fading away in this place, saving nothing but soothing darkness. "That was certainly something; I suppose we should be thankful that they allowed us to stay. Thank you for your support, G'raha. I wouldn't have been able to tell them how it is in such an apt way."
"I admit, I didn't plan it to be this long-winded…" - G'raha spoke quietly. "But I suppose it was for the better to relay them the truth. We understand their position, and now they understand ours…" - The Exarch looked at Emet with intrigue. "Any thoughts?" - This question immediately pulled the ascian away from his dream-like state.
"It was…A fine speech." - Emet responded without his usual sarcastic tone. The ascian quickly realized that this sounded too genuine and needed a swift correction. "You are still being a sentimental fool, of course, but at least you can stand up for your beliefs, and while those are naive, they are hardly vile…"
"No snide comments this time? You're losing your grip."
"I didn't expect you to mention Amaurot, and that's all I will say on the matter."
"What you and the ascians did does not mean that your people's deeds shouldn't be recognized. I had to find many sources of inspiration in the last few months…" - G'raha admitted.
"What will we do now, then?" - Krile wondered. "The Forum will soon announce the great exodus and likely begin the evacuation; we could, of course, just help them with spreading the word and then go…"
"That's not an option." - G'raha cut her off. "We will continue to fight and search for answers, whatever it takes."
"But where do we go from here?" - Krile said with doubt. "The Forum does not know any more of the Final Days than we do."
"Perhaps…But there are other leads, even excluding the one we have standing before us." - G'raha threw an annoyed gaze at Hades.
"Have I not explained this to you already? Do we really have to repeat this tiring process?"
"Let's say I have questions about the way you described Hydaelyn. The Forum likely believes it mindless hate and manipulations, but I know you enough to tell that you don't lie outright. For now, though, I believe I know what our next step will be."
"And that is?"
"The moon." - G'raha said and gazed at the darkening skies above them. "We must return to the moon and search for answers there. According to Forum's words, there are Hydaelyn's servants that reside there, and not only have they built a place for our people to live in once they abandon the star. They must know more if they lived there for long generations."
"Chasing false promises yet again…" - Emet chuckled before realizing that he would not undertake this voyage alone. "Well, I assume we can't separate with the current state of the staff, can we?"
"Indeed. In fact, I am looking forward to having servants of Hydaelyn speak with the most fervent servant of Zodiark that still lives. Perhaps in your arguments, there will be some truth born." - G'raha suggested, and for some reason, Emet did not feel annoyed about the prospects. He rarely visited the moon, knowing only of Hydaelyn servants that resided around Zodiark's prison. The ascians kept guessing what their true purpose was, yet with the Forum's revelation, it all became clear, a paradise for the people to live in.
"If it has to be so…I know a place where you, where we could start." - Emet noted.
"Go on."
"The tower that you witnessed rising above Zodiark's grave. The Watcher resides there, a construct created by Hydaelyn to look over our god's prison. He can guide us to others." - There were some questions Emet wished to ask the Watcher as well, the ones he didn't have time for due to the urgency of his last visit. Now was as good of an opportunity as ever.
"Then let's be off, shall we?" - G'raha was eager to get going.
"Will you not take a break?" - Krile wondered.
"No, I'm afraid I can't stay." - The Exarch shook his head. "Every day is precious in a circumstance like this, and we can't hesitate in our search for the truth. I attuned myself to the aetheryte during my previous visit; as costly as this journey will be for two souls, I believe we can make it."
"I see." - Krile said with acceptance. "If that's so, I can only wish you good luck. I hope there is something there…I truly do."
"I will leave nothing out of sight." - G'raha swore before turning back towards Emet. The Exarch was already prepared to cast a teleportation spell.
"Shall we?"
"As if my answer matters." - Emet scoffed moments before he felt his aether shifting without his command, swiftly drained away to a distant aetheryte.
Perhaps the Exarch would find his answers there…Yet that would wholly depend on the ascian.
…
For the first time in his life, Fourchenault actually felt relieved due to not being a Forum member anymore, for this hearing was an absolute disaster. G'raha and Krile were naive, yet they pursued the best of solutions, the one that would see all people of the star saved and keep their hopes, the one that would accomplish a truly impossible feat. A solution the Forum believed impossible, and Fourchenault was inclined to agree. There was too much at stake; the Final Days had already mercilessly ravaged the land beyond their own. Their best hope of survival was escaping to the moon and starting anew…As painful as it will be.
Seeing Emet-Selch mock the Forum while they were powerless to speak was a low Fourchenault believed he would never see. An ascian walking in the halls of their city, given an opportunity to ramble by both the Forum and the Crystal Exarch. All Fourchenault got from this council was a confirmation of his suspicions. G'raha was all too happy to use Emet-Selch as a source of trustworthy information. No matter how much passed between them, how many people the ascian killed, the Exarch would still stand by his side, hoping to discover an impossible solution. This naivety was to the detriment of them all. If Fourchenault had any doubts, wondered if trying to avenge his children now would hurt mankind's cause, now the elezen was convinced otherwise. This was no vengeance but justice, and there was no time like the present.
But now, for the first time since meeting Emet in Limsa, Fourchenault had this justice back on his mind, his thoughts devolving into something else entirely. There was something he could now say, no lies, no concealments, only the truth as plain as it was. One of the most painful parts of this duty was having to keep this secret away from his wife and children. They would always wonder what it was Fourchenault was so busy with; people that didn't know him might have thought he was a man of his work, someone who puts family second, even neglects them at times. To an extent, that much was true, but it all was to protect them from the coming catastrophe, nothing less. And now, once the enchantment was finally broken, Fourchenault rushed to his manor to tell Ameliance what was ahead of them. No secrets to keep, no lies to tell, and a cathartic yet terrifying moment. How ironic that after the news of his s children, it took a looming End of Days to finally make him feel truly alive once again.
When Fourchenault returned to the manor, his eyes were in a desperate search for his wife.
"Ameliance?" - Fourchenault's voice echoed through the halls. There was so much he wanted to tell, so much he wanted to share, so many barriers to be finally broken.
The elezen heard some quiet echoes of another voice coming from the dining hall, immediately prompting Fourchenault to wander there. When he approached the place, Fourchenault witnessed Ameliance sitting on one of the chairs, occasionally taking in sips of tea from her cup. She wasn't alone; Arielle was there too, the girl kept Ameliance company, and the two were caught in a middle of a discussion.
"…You're really good at it." - Ameliance spoke warmly, forcing a shy smile out of Arielle.
"Thank you. I baked for my father before when he came back from his travels…"
"I remember when Alisaie tried." - A very faint smile emerged on Ameliance's face as well. "She was good, and I loved her pies, but she always wanted them to be absolutely perfect…I believed there to be no need, but she wouldn't hear any of it."
"She must've been great with so much practice."
"That she was…That she was."
This was the moment Arielle looked up and took notice of an impatient elezen.
"Master Fourchenault, you're back!" - She welcomed him as Ameliance turned around with a smile of anticipation.
"How did it go?" - Ameliance asked with curiosity and hope. "They did not expel you from the city, did they?"
"No, nothing as drastic." - Fourchenault sighed with relief as he watched Ameliance and Arielle smile. "We discussed…Our matters. The Forum tried to understand G'raha's motivation and attempt to reason with Emet-Selch…It failed, of course, but they do not matter, not anymore." - Fourchenault spoke much quicker than usual, and Ameliance must have picked up on that, judging by a gaze of concern on her face.
"Is anything wrong?"
"They lifted the spell." - Finally, Fourchenault admitted as Ameliance's expression changed to a one permeated by shock.
"After all those years?"
"Yes, there are no restrictions anymore; I can speak freely…If only I could describe how freeing it feels." - Fourchenault smiled without forcing himself to, a rare occurrence, especially during those days. "And they have done so because the time to fulfill this duty is nigh. We are going to the moon."
"What?" - Arielle raised her voice with surprise and misunderstanding; Ameliance was just as puzzled.
"The moon? But how, why?"
"Allow me to explain…This has been the Forum's duty ever since we contacted Hydaelyn in Dravania and were told of a dreadful calamity that will come to our world one day, the day when we should be ready for."
"By escaping?"
"If such is the only way…Ever since have we looked for a way to connect the star and the moon, preparing everything that is needed for an exodus similar to the one out of which our nation was once born. When my father perished during the Seventh Umbral Calamity, an Allagan vessel fell to the sea from the destroyed Dalamud, a vessel the Forum found. From that moment, we knew that this was our path forward. Day and night, we worked on perfecting this broken ark in an attempt to ready it for the Final Days." - Fourchenault recounted the story and knew Ameliance believed every word, no matter how outlandish it could've sounded. She knew that this was something important, something to do with saving the people of the star from the Final Days; now, the truth was unraveled before her.
"But…" - Arielle stuttered. "Isn't the moon empty and barren? How are we going to live there?"
"It was barren once, but not anymore. There are servants of Hydaelyn that reside on the moon, the loporrits with whom we maintained contact over those years. A race of small yet hard-working and tireless people who can manipulate aether at will. They were responsible for creating a home for our people beneath its surface, it will serve us well until another star is discovered." - Fourchenault never saw this place, and a part of him realized that it would never be the same compared to the star they knew and loved, but it would be better than oblivion that encroached them.
"An entire city underground?" - Arielle spoke with childlike wonder, yet even now, there was doubt in her voice.
"Yes, created to the best of their abilities and suited to any need our people may have. According to Hydaelyn's words, the moon is safe from the cataclysm, and it will not touch us there…I was allowed to leave on the ark, we can go together…And live." - Fourchenault spoke with hope looking at Ameliance, yet she maintained doubt.
"But why is the Forum only making this announcement now?"
"We planned to do it far earlier, but we encountered problems…I was supposed to lead the initiative, but my misstep raised a concern on the matter of my own reliability, and you know how that ended." - Fourchenault wished this to be their biggest problem, but there were timing concerns which the Forum could not conceal anymore. "The vessel is…Not yet ready. We still need more time."
"Do we have it?" - Ameliance said.
"I hope so…The last time I was in a meeting, not as a subject of their discussion, I was told the gleaners are working day and night, and certain contacts are being formed with those outside Sharlayan. Alas, with the coming of Final Days…It might get more complicated." - Fourchenault hated that he had no control over this operation anymore and did not know the details, but that was as much as he could assure them of. Ameliance and Arielle looked at him with doubt; the hope that emerged in their souls was put to the test almost immediately.
"Perhaps we can help?" - Arielle asked. "If everyone in Sharlayan gets together, we…"
"I am not sure that is possible. We will need those with specific talents and proficiencies; unfortunately, Allagan tech is not something everyone can work with…But that is not for me to decide anymore." - Fourchenault sighed with disappointment. "It's still hard to believe that I am no longer part of the Forum anymore."
"I would've put my trust in you, I truly would've." - Ameliance said, looking at the emerging smile on Fourchenault's face. "But now that you're not overseeing this, I am not sure if I can be sure that the Forum will do everything necessary.
"They will." - Fourchenault spoke, trying to feign resolve and belief that was slowly stripped from him. "Put your trust in me, then, when I say that they are the most hard-working and dedicated people I know, and they have nothing but the best interests of our people at heart." - It was true, and still, Fourchenault felt the pain of giving them false hope yet again. Their resolve and intentions meant nothing in the face of the resources that were at hand, and those proved to be extremely limited; it would take an unspeakable amount of effort to get it prepared in time before the calamity came to Sharlayan. "There are enough hard-working men and women who do their best to prepare the vessel. It took years of work, and they will not fail at the last moment. I chose many of them personally, and I place my faith in their resolve and work. They would not let this undertaking end in failure, just like I never would've." - Fourchenault imagined the day they leave the star, a day which shall be marked by tragedy and renewal both, a day where another life will open before them, for better or worse.
"Our children wouldn't have gone." - Ameliance said coldly, a bitter truth that they understood. "They would've stayed and thought tooth-and nail…"
"They had their roles, and we have ours, which is to live and guide those people away from a certain doom." - Fourchenault reassured her. "Alphinaud and Alisaie…They were our heroes, heroes of this world; they fought to protect us all. Now that they are gone…The most we can do is not waste this chance." - A lone tear fell from Fourchenault's eye. There was no coming back. "We…We will see their world burn and die, slowly shriveling in the rotten aether. Yet the heart of this world is its people…It's us. And we shall live on…We must. You are my love, Ameliance, and I have no one left but you…I will follow whatever you choose. Yet I ask you to follow, to go with me to the moon where we can start over, where we will be safe. Ameliance…Please, that's all I ask."
"I understand…And I will go." - Ameliance nodded, changing her tone to one even quieter. "Forgive me…Forgive me, my children…" - She wiped her tears and raised her eyes. "If that's the only way, then I will stay by your side, my love. But I want to take Arielle with us." - The girl looked at Ameliance, still surprised, as gratitude emerged in her eyes. The elezen lady looked at the girl with a warm smile. "It is a chance you deserve. All of us do."
"T…Thank you, mistress Leveilleur!" - Arielle's eyes gleamed with joy.
"Of course." - Fourchenault said. "We will go to the moon together and live on, whatever is to come. There will be a future for us, and it will be one of hope…That I promise." - Fourchenault gave Ameliance a warm embrace which she reciprocated; finally, he could feel a purpose once again. Despite his doubts, Fourchenault found himself genuinely believing his last words without a single shadow of uncertainty. There was a future for them, and it was within reach. Yet until then, there was a time for something else.
A time for justice.