Finally, the sweet taste of freedom.

There was no justice nor honor in what Emet-Selch had done, and now the ascian blamed himself for not seeing this outcome come to pass, not expecting this possibility when all the signs were right before his eyes. Fourchenault has seen too much sorrow to not break, and now everyone paid the price, his wife most of all. Even the ascian recoiled at the thought of how horrific the moment of realization will be for her. But Emet wasn't planning to stay and find out.

The moment his soul was dragged to the heart of Tycoon, this space of azure aether, this miniature universe G'raha created inside his staff, a space that could not contain all of Emet's darkness. It was able to chain a part of his soul, yet now when the rest was sent its way, the chains would finally break and set him free. The battle with the blasphemy only furthered the overwhelming darkness and helped Emet gain control. It was so simple once his full power was restored, there was nothing left to breach, nothing he could restrain.

And now, once the crystal was finally cracked and a pathway to freedom was open, Emet found himself amidst the moment…The time between the seconds felt exhilarating for him. The time when the gateway laid open and the dark sky was finally unveiled before him, when the space around him finally crumbled, throwing away its aether. For the ascian, it was akin to two worlds merging; his soul was still inside the powerful aethereal core, which was now dissipating. For those outside, it must have happened within seconds, yet for Emet, those were minutes of toiling and trying to break free. When the opening appeared, his soul flew towards it only to feel someone imposing more chains upon him.

"Enough!" - G'raha's distorted, broken voice echoed from behind him. The ascian shouted in agony and looked back, seeing a familiar silhouette emerge behind him. Another soul was consumed by the staff, preparing to send it into the aethereal sea along with all the other aether, and that was G'raha's soul. The ascian always felt his presence in this staff, a part of him that he kept locked away, yet now, this part was freed and released to the stream, likely taking the rest of G'raha's soul with it.

"No…Stop…" - The faint soul behind him shouted, desperately trying to cling to him.

"Still trying to chain me? Oh, you have not learned anything!" - The souls of darkness flew towards G'raha's, claiming a form reminiscent of Hades's transformation that charged towards the Exarch, swiftly breaking the weakened chains he imposed upon him. There was no spell, nothing that could slow him down.

"Damn you!" - The Exarch shouted before a powerful dark arrow pierced his soul, forcing G'raha to fall. Emet's silhouette rose above him, corrupting the aether around him, turning this place into a realm of darkness, marking it with his might moment before it finally collapsed forever, unleashing the ascian to freedom.

G'raha stood up and attempted to cast a spell but immediately got burned by Emet's dark magic and chained by darkness, forcing his soul to burn in agony. The ascian had the power to crush him here and now, yet something stopped Emet from doing so. There was something the ascian still wanted to do, although he couldn't quite piece together what it was, exactly. Perhaps there were still words he wanted to say to the Exarch, or perhaps…

"Have I not warned you?" - Emet smiled at the beaten Exarch as the aetheric space around their souls continued to crumble. G'raha lay down, powerless and broken on the brink of death, his fainting soul overshadowed by the ascian. "Your attempt to chain me could never have ended well, and now…Now it's time for you to reap what you've sown."

"No!" - G'raha unleashed his inner strength in an attempt to break Emet's chains, and he succeeded despite extinguishing most of his strength. Emet saw great horror and agony in his soul, yet still, it clung to life and resisted as persisted as the Exarch had ever been. He charged at Emet-Selch, once again attempting to strike the ascian, but quickly got met with a powerful aura that pushed him back. After letting out a pained scream, G'raha attempted to stand, yet Emet's dark charms scorched his soul yet again, and G'raha found himself powerless. "Let me…Go!"

"Go to where?" - The ascian chuckled. "You do realize that your soul is on the brink, and its fate is to perish in the stream?"

"I…I cannot die! I have to protect them, I have to, I need to…" - His voice quivered in panic as realization stroke the Exarch. Emet sensed his soul shivering and fainting; each fiber of it exuded fear and despair, a desire to live rarely matched by anyone Emet ever knew. Much experienced fear of death, and many desperately clung to life in their last moments and wanted to live for longer, like the Exarch…Yet Emet knew that this was not a selfish fear. G'raha feared dying because of how many he would leave behind, the people he wished to save, and the quest that he considered his duty. A pitiful sight, really, yet Hades couldn't help but delight in the irony of seeing him brought down to such a weak, powerless state. A weak, crumbling soul which is only kept alive due to the ascian's chains, and even so, it would not take long for it to burn away completely. "I cannot die…I CANNOT DIE!" - G'raha screeched like a defeated beast, the echo of his soul's pain spreading throughout the dissipating aether. There wasn't much left. The night sky has already arisen around them. Any minute the aether source might be depleted and annihilated completely, releasing both of their souls. One will be free to inhabit yet another body and do whatever it wishes; the other will journey to the stream and have its entire identity erased.

"How sweet…" - Emet chuckled and kneeled to look at G'raha. He had never seen the Exarch in such a panic ever since his friends perished on the First. The ascian took his time rubbing this pain into G'raha's essence with a faint smile on his face. Because the truth was, Hades was ever a slave to sentiment, and he had already made his decision. "I remember you gleefully claiming control, G'raha, taking joy in having me chained and being a slave to your will. Oh, I do very well…It must have been exciting to have such power over an Unsundered ascian, was it not? Can't say I blame you. Alas, you were too shortsighted and never thought of the moment when you would find yourself in my position. Groveling at my feet, shaking from pain and shame, desperately trying to claim freedom…Now you are reminded of how it feels."

"I…I won't give up…I…"

"A fitting end for you, isn't it? A hero who fought for generations for his own dream, only to ruin the world he wished to save…Always hoping for a miracle, yet getting nothing but a disgraceful death in the end. I wonder if there would be many tears shed for you, or will you be remembered as the man who doomed this world to eternal suffering and doom?" - The ascian sighed; it was more than enough. "But alas, my 'friend'…We will never know that."

Moments before the shell around them was reduced to a void, the ascian chained G'raha's soul and looked to the opened sky, unleashing all of his powers to charge upwards and break the very last of their chains. There was no limit now, and for the first time since piercing the Mothercrystal, Emet felt alive once again, his powers were restored, and his soul was finally freed, leaving nothing but a shattered, empty prison behind.

In a few seconds, the souls have finally found their hosts.

A lone corpse of a guard that was pierced by the spider opened his eyes. A black-haired elezen with mortal wounds now had those immediately healed, and the blood dissipated by virtue of Emet's create magic. He arose from the dead to a plaza full of people in utter shock, all of them standing at the edges, afraid to make any moves. Considering that they had just witnessed a storm of darkness and a font of Dynamis that destroyed the monster before them, Emet could not blame them for their caution. The ascian gazed at the place where Fourchenault died; G'raha was still lying there, breathing faintly and trying to restore his conscience. Soon, the soul will get a hold of his vessel, and then he shall finally understand what is going on. For now, Hades was intrigued by something else, something that made the ascian sigh in relief. A lone purple crystal lay on the ground where the beast had perished, his constellation. It must have been eaten by the spider along with his older body, but those crystals were incredibly hard to break or dissolve.

Emet walked towards it, picking the crystal up from the ground. This spared him a journey to Labyrinthos, at least. Finally, being able to go wherever he could, Hades felt the power of teleportation returning to him at this fateful moment. However, before he could finally usher in it, the ascian saw the Exarch get up. The man was shocked to discover that he was still alive, as Emet expected. G'raha looked around, clutching his body as if checking that what he sees is not a dream. He did so before finally noticing the smiling elezen before him, immediately making the Exarch recoil. It took him a few seconds to realize who he was, but after noticing the purple crystal in Hades's hand, he finally spoke.

"E…Emet?" - G'raha uttered.

"You're welcome." - The ascian scoffed in response with a youthful, faint voice, ready to finally leave this wretched place. Yet he underestimated G'raha's determination.

"No, stop!" - The Exarch tried to cast a spell to prevent Emet from escaping, but by that point, the dark portal was already opened. The ascian was about to dissipate and teleport away, but the moment he found himself amidst the portal, the Exarch jumped right behind him, trying to subdue the ascian. It failed, his power could not match Emet's, yet G'raha was successful in forcing himself into the ascian's portal.

Moments later, both men disappeared.

When will this nightmare end? Will it ever end?

Those were the questions that echoed in Arielle's mind ever since she heard of the Final Days breaking free. The news spread through Eorzea like wildfire, bringing untold fear and uncertainty into the people's hearts, yet most of them failed to comprehend it at first. Arielle was among those people. She had her parents and believed that no matter what would happen, no matter the nightmare that would befall this land, her parents would find a way. Any child sees their parents as heroes who can solve any problems, as infallible people who always know and can do everything. That is until they fail.

The night when Rhotsatz's pirates overtook Limsa became one of those days. The horrific day when she saw them struggle, saw fear in their eyes as they were at a loss, knew not how to deal with a swarm of pirates that were intent on destroying everything the fair city of Limsa ever stood for. It was the day she saw them crumble in desperation and fear, doing everything to protect her, giving her a chance to run, a chance that she had foregone out of fear. She paid for it dearly by being Rhotsatz's slave. Even as one of his favorites, he expected obedience from her, wanted her to become a silent servant who would always be at his whim, all the while maintaining her calm and always smiling with a nod as if everything was alright…Because if she were to become a blasphemy, she would be slaughtered without mercy or hesitation.

She did not feel any regret watching those pirates die. They got what they deserved, and Arielle wasn't ashamed of admitting to her disdain, even if she kept it within herself.

When she moved to Sharlayan, she tried to let go, tried to forget those feelings and dread, even if it meant forgetting her parents. Any time a moment of clarity stroke her, any time a painful memory showed itself, she would push it aside and focus on the Beaty of the city she discovered. But, of course, it did not last for long.

Her new home was in Leveilleur Manor, home to a man and woman who had lost their children and had only recently learned of their demise. And Arielle never stopped thinking about it…What if those were her parents and it was her that died? How different would they become? Would they be able to let go, or would the memories of her haunt them forever? She wouldn't want them to feel this way.

She didn't want Fourchenault and Ameliance to feel it either.

Seeing their doubt, shock and agony always made Arielle remember the faces of her parents, how horrified they looked before their deaths, how uncertain and how fearful they were in the face of the inevitable fate that would not let them go, even for a single second. But there was one major difference in their dispositions, one that pained Arielle the most. Despite all the panic that her parents felt that night, there was still hope in their eyes, a faint, wavering belief that everything would turn okay, the desire that allowed her father to smile even when marching into the heart of battle with those merciless pirates. Fourchenault and Ameliance had no such hope, for their beloved children were lost. For them, it was a spiral of darkness with no end to it…Even should they escape to the moon with the rest, they would never bring back their family from the realm far beyond their reach. She saw their pain and fear, saw them speaking to each other, making promises that all shall be alright even when both knew that they shouldn't…It was the same quivering tone she heard when Ameliance hugged her in the wardrobe, saying that it would be okay…The voice of a parent who knows that death is nearby, waiting in the shadows to claim you.

This is why Arielle wanted to stay. The Leveilleur household was one of sorrow and pain, but this pain comforted her. Reminded her that she was not alone and that the cataclysm took the best of them. How many grieving people must there be in Ul'Dah? How many tears must have fallen upon the bloodstained stones of this once great city? How many more will fall? In times like those, in times when everything around you crumbled, there was little room for joy, even the smallest ones. For those who lost everything, it is their sorrows and grief that united them.

And from time to time, salvation would come, like when G'raha saved them from the beast, reminding them that maybe there was some possibility for miracles.

Yet this time, the miracle would immediately turn into yet another sorrow. Ever since G'raha forced the monster away, Ameliance could not relax for a single moment walking around the hall trying to come up, and Arielle understood that it was not just due to shock. All she could do now was to try and convince her lady not to commit yet another horrific mistake.

"Please, lady Ameliance, it's too dangerous to go outside; the monster must still be around…And there may be more to come." - Arielle thought back to Limsa and how easily the blasphemies corroded those beside them, making even more of their own kind. Yet Ameliance could not be dissuaded, all due to a dreadful thought that emerged in her mind, the one Arielle could not reject as a possibility, no matter how much she wanted to reassure her new friend…As the truth was that it was very possible.

"The Exarch knew about this monster much earlier than we did…And have you heard him using the darkness and calling the ascian for help as if his spirit was nearby? They knew…They knew!" - Ameliance rehearsed the same words once again, frantically walking around the gate, still unsure if she should go outside. Her hands shook and faint tears formed in her running eyes.

"We can ask G'raha after he comes back; I know he will, he…"

"But it will be…It will be too late." - Ameliance shook her head. "What if this monster is Fourchenault's friend who turned? What if he harmed him, what if…" - Ameliance stuttered. Arielle knew exactly what she was talking about, the dreadful thought that arose in her mind and did not allow her to calm down, not even for a moment. The fear forced her to want to go outside, even if it meant endangering herself and falling into the beast's sight once again. Yet, at this point, Arielle already knew that there was no stopping Ameliance from going to search for her husband and the truth of what happened to him.

"Fourchenault is a strong man…" - Arielle's voice quivered. "He was incredibly brave at Limsa despite all the chaos that unraveled there, I don't think…"

"We can't know that." - Ameliance clenched her fist and looked away, trying to hold back her tears. "If he is…If he…No, it can't be! If it's true, I…I can't stand aside while they're trying to kill my husband! I need to find him, now!" - Ameliance screamed before rushing to the door, her entire body was shaking, and her face became as pale as those of a corpse.

"Wait!" - Arielle shouted, making Ameliance stop. The elezen woman looked at her ward with a nervous gaze; her patience was at its limit.

"What?"

"I'll go with you." - Arielle volunteered.

"Are you sure? It is dangerous and…"

"I am. I'll help you find him."

"Al…Alright. Let's go."

The two women left their haven to wander off into the darkest night, knowing how perilous it would be to go there, to look into the beast's eye, yet they could not look away. Arielle wanted to believe that this blasphemy was not Fourchenault, and she was honest when she said that she didn't believe him to be the one to turn out of fear. In this case, however, it was a much more devastating emotion. Hatred. The hatred Fourchenault felt for Emet-Selch was justified, yet it could prove his undoing were he to take it to extremes during the times of the cataclysm. If this is truly what happened, and the beast that stalked them was transformed Fourchenault…Even Arielle shuddered at the thought, but she could not grasp how terrifying it must have been for Ameliance. The woman has lost everything; her entire family was tamed from her, and she had to deal with learning about her children's demise; this would be an unbearable horror.

They walked across the city, seeing the stains the beast left. The drops of poison corroding the roofs and walls of some houses, the scratches left from its sharp legs, all this damage would take time to rebuild. Arielle could only wonder if they were planning to restore it at all. After all, soon, this city was to be abandoned anyway.

At least there were no screams, no hisses, and no signs of battle at all. Perhaps the blasphemy was finally defeated by G'raha and the city guard, but what would it mean for Ameliance? Have they even learned who it was?

The streets were surprisingly empty, and the city was consumed by silence as everyone hid in their homes upon learning what was going on and the beast that stalked them. There weren't any corpses lying around, yet the spider's trail left towards a single place, aetheryte plaza. It seemed that most of that battle happened there…It did not take long for Arielle and Ameliance to see it for themselves once they reached it.

The plaza was in ruins. The stains of poison corroded it even now, the aetheryte crystal was broken and torn from its foundation, and the nearby houses had their walls full of holes, close to being utterly decimated. And amidst it all, the crowd, a shocked, surprised crowd that looked at the empty plaza before them as if a wondrous miracle had just occurred. The remaining guards helped the people around them to get up, as well as collected corpses and pulled them to the side. There was not a single sign of blasphemy, and judging by the lack of panic, it was finally defeated.

"What's going on here…" - Ameliance wondered while looking around, but her eyes soon stopped at one particular individual. Krile Baldesion was among them, frozen in shock and watching over the guards. Ameliance's voice, however, seemed to pluck her away from a paralyzing trance. Krile suddenly shook and looked around as she looked towards the lady.

"Oh, mistress Ameliance…" - Her voice trembled. "Why didn't you stay in the manor, is anything wrong?"

"I can think of a few things…" - Ameliance sighed. "That monster was inside my house. It tried to kill me!"

"It's alright now." - Krile was quick to reassure her, though even Arielle noticed how faint and weak her voice sounded. Something was wrong. "There are some who died, but…G'raha did it. He slayed the blasphemy and saved us all…" - No joy nor relief in her voice, Krile constantly tried to look away and hide her face before Ameliance as if she was too ashamed to openly speak. This fear, those quivering lips, and running eyes, they only served to confirm their worst suspicions.

"G'raha knew about it earlier than everyone else, right?" - Ameliance began.

"Yes…"

"And he had Emet with him?"

"Indeed…"

"Do they know who…Who this blasphemy was before the transformation?" - Ameliance stuttered upon asking this question and saw Krile involuntarily recoil. This was the moment the lady knew. Arielle saw her shiver and clench her fist as her eyes looked to the floor in a panic she could barely contain. Krile saw this panic, too, and she was powerless to stop it.

"It's…Complicated. They are still unsure and…"

"Liar."

"I'm sorry…"

"Answer me!" - Ameliance screeched like a wounded animal, forcing Krile to shudder and look up with despair in her frozen eyes. Arielle stood nearby, waiting for the revelation to come in, not knowing what to do next. "They know…Was it Fourchenault?"

"Lady Ameliance, please…"

"Was it him?!" - Ameliance shouted once again, cornering Krile and leaving no possibility of evading the answer.

"It was." - The lalafell finally gave in, looking at Ameliance immediately freezing, standing before them in grave silence. "I'm so sorry, I…" - She was at a loss for words, too, a victim in this horrific cycle of torment, too. Yet Ameliance would have none of it. The woman's eyes remained frozen in shock, and her fists shook, as did her entire body. It was as if she was bound by a spell of ice, the one she could only occasionally break free from.

And then she ran. Retreated to the shadow of the nearest house, not looking back even once. Krile reached out for her, yet she could not even form words, and her quiet, distorted echoes did not reach Ameliance, for they fell on deaf ears. Arielle did not wait; she followed her lady into the darkness, praying that she would live through it, praying to all known gods that she would not transform like Fourchenault did. It was heartbreaking seeing another family be destroyed. It was yet another crack in Arielle's heart, yet another wound that would stay with her until the end of days, an agonizing reminder of the hell they lived in. A hell from which there was no escape, a hell where there was no fairness, only death and decay reigned here, and only the people could save each other from suffering the fate of becoming a nightmare themselves.

She found Ameliance alone, fallen on her knees, surrounded by darkness with her body shaking. This time she moved much more quickly. Her shock breached out and became uncontrollable as the woman looked at her hands and tried to say something with her quivering voice, yet was unable to say words, just quiet mumbles, paralyzed by shock and horror. Arielle stood there, watching her lady being on the verge of the breakdown of sorrow as the demon of realization crawled on her back, forcing her to the ground. Everyone she loved was gone forever.

That's when Arielle remembered.

That's when she remembered her mother's smile as they traveled across Gridania together, as she set her daughter on the path of discovery and exploration of this wonderful world. Of how her father smiled when she played with his sword, wondering why he would need one. Of how they journeyed to Limsa, of how excited she was to see another city, another nation, a complete opposite to the peaceful Gridania, the one full of boisterous sailors who yearn for new battles every day. The day when they celebrated the Alliance's victory at Ala Mhigo, a day when hope has returned to this world, pushing the Garlean Empire back and liberating those who yearn for freedom…Garleans, who they saw as their enemies, as oppressors, are now their brothers and sisters in grief. It was the calm before the storm, before the end. So many days, so many smiles, and moments of joy she took for granted until everything was taken away from her. None of those moments were coming back, yet she attempted to forget, to expunge it from her memory the moment Rhotsatz claimed her…It was easier not to think of everything she had lost. To forget about the past, to not think about the future, and just live in the present moment, following whoever would guide her.

But seeing a woman who was grieving, who suffered in agony because of an untimely and unjust demise of her children being stricken with tragedy yet again reminded Arielle how cruel this world was. How unjust and monstrous the fates of those who deserved none of it could turn out to be. Ameliance was a kind woman to whom life showed no kindness, no justice to be had in return. Her husband and children were never coming back, as were Arielle's parents. They were doomed to solitude to a life of grief and sorrowful memories that would make them break down in tears or swift death by becoming a monster. A simple answer, a door to the depths of despair and nihility.

"F…Fourche…I…I…" - Ameliance tried to speak as rivers of tears streamed down her cheeks. She let out a piercing scream before collapsing to the floor, trembling and crying as the nightmare finally reached her. Even the faint dark aura that formed around her was not as horrifying as Ameliance's screeches that echoed through the city. She cried out in despair, just like all the others who lost their loved ones during this calamity. And there would be more losses, for the nightmare was far from over. This world was ablaze, and none could stop it, only slow the process down…Well, perhaps there was something Arielle could do.

The girl approached Ameliance slowly and silently, looking at the grieving woman, yearning to reach out to her, to show her some support and kindness, the kindness which she deserved, even if it was but a fragment of it…Arielle knew her parents would go through the same agony where she to perish, and she knew exactly how they would feel, how Ameliance felt…Arielle kneeled to her, gently hugging the woman as the girl's tears streamed from her eyes as well. Those memories have become too much to bear. Too sharp, too painful…And now her heart was finally shattered, and she could not run from those memories anymore. These beautiful, majestic days have forever become a part of her, yet they would never come back. The dark river of truth has taken both Arielle and Ameliance into its grasp, dragging them towards their inevitable fate, leaving no hope for the future, and turning their dreams into a dark, hopeless stain over which they had no control.

And here they were, two broken souls, embracing each other with their shivering hands, looking at each other with their red, tearful eyes, knowing that no words would undo their suffering, no one could take them away from the pit they had fallen into…But they could take solace in knowing that in this darkness, they were not alone. Their tears would fall on each other's hands, unmasking the ugly truth of their sorrow. There will be no end to their pain and grief; there will be no day when they will be able to let go…And yet Arielle felt Ameliance's warm touch, her horrified and pained gaze, a reflection of the girl's own agony. They did not look away, for there was no shame in pain, no shame in being sharing it.

Here they remained for minutes, or perhaps hours? Arielle did not count time. All of it was meaningless in the face of the fleeting moments that both soothed her and tore her soul apart…Yet despite all their tears, the dark aura dissipated, and Arielle knew they would live to see another day.

As G'raha rose up from his agonizing slumber, he felt the parts of his soul reuniting with each other before returning to his body, filling it with newfound energy and strength. As he rose up, G'raha felt different. He felt renewed and empowered. He felt like he was born again, stripped of the years of toiling and chains that surrounded him for an entire century. It was as if he never entered the Crystal Tower, never ever gave away his soul to its walls, never became one with a spire of Allag. As if the time he lost was returning to him in a majestic flow of aether, easing his journey and letting him finally be free from the burden of a century. Yet one question remained unanswered. The heart of Tycoon was broken. There was nothing holding a part of his soul, nothing to prevent it from entering the stream and ending him…

How was he still alive?

This was the answer the Exarch hoped to get when he charged after Emet-Selch. He did not know why he did that, not entirely…Perhaps he did it out of habit at this point; a thought that the ascian was free to cause chaos and pursue his own goals was terrifying to the Exarch. The only reason he could chain him back in Mor Dhona was due to how weakened he was from his battle with Hydaelyn, but now there was nothing to slow him down.

The portal took them beyond the city walls, yet it was not too far. The Exarch and the ascian emerged on a small stone plateau formed between the rocky cliffs that overlooked the sea line. G'raha could still see the city from here. It remained beneath them, with this plateau providing a view over it from above. Even the statue of Thailak did not seem as grandiose from here. But it was not vistas nor the sound of churning waters that brought him here.

The Exarch turned around, seeing the young dark-haired elezen man beside him. It was only now that G'raha realized that he did not have his staff with him. It was broken along with the Tycoon's heart that filled it. How idiotic of him to reflexively jump into the fray when he cannot even defend himself.

"Oh, for the love of…" - The ascian rose, his voice being that of a youngster that G'raha couldn't recognize, yet it quickly morphed into a very familiar tone of Hades. "How many times do I have to say it before you finally give up? Was outright torture not enough for you?"

"I am not going to just let you get away! Well…" - G'raha quickly realized how absurd those brash words sounded; he was entirely at Emet's mercy now. "Not without trying, I suppose."

"You just got a chance at a life unrestricted by the tower and its influence, and you want to waste it by dying from my spells? That freedom must have brought you back to the state of being the foolish boy you were before…I would've said, but you seem to be in that state ever since Limsa." - The ascian shrugged, immediately surprising G'raha. He knew about his 'rebirth,' including the specifics of it. After noticing the Exarch's misunderstanding, the ascian smiled once again. "What, didn't realize it yet?"

"You know what happened with my soul? Was it you that…"

"Well, who else?" - Emet crossed his hands, following it with a loud scoff. "Do you expect any of those silly mortals capable of saving your souls? Or maybe you believe it is a miracle? I wouldn't put it beside you." - This was clear enough, though G'raha could still hardly believe it. "I am an Unsundered ascian with a soul sight and an ability perfected through thousands of years…Of course, it was me. I took snatched your soul from that mess of a crystal as it was broken and fused it with your body…That seemed to work well enough." - The ascian examined G'raha. The Exarch must have seemed very lively; he felt his own breaths going quicker as if striving to get every fragment, every particle of his newfound freedom. Even Hades allowed himself a faint smile at the sight. "You are now free, not bound by towers or hearts, and assuming that crystal marking they left on your body are not corrosive…You are free. Just as you were before entering the tower." - This was an incredible, majestic gift. The one Exarch did not believe he would ever get, much less from Emet. Yet the ascian talked so calmly about it. There could be no mistake made about his intentions or desires. An act of pure mercy, the one he wasn't compelled to do, and still went to such lengths. There was but one question the Exarch could ask of him.

"But…Why?" - G'raha wondered, knowing full well what the answer was yet refusing to accept it.

"I decided to give this world a chance." - Emet shrugged. "See, for all your flaws and imperfections, you have two talents which dictated your entire life and path…One of those is solving problems anyone else would consider unsolvable. Another is creating new, even worse problems right after. And while I am half-expecting you to doom this world in some other way after saving it from Final Days…I am not putting salvation itself out of possibility." - The ascian sighed as he complimented the Exarch. "If there is anyone left alive in this world who has a chance at stopping Meteion…It is you." - The ascian conceded reluctantly. G'raha was shaken by such a display of admiration, yet neither this nor the ascian's gift would make him stray from the matter nor give him any leeway.

"While you do what, exactly?"

"Nothing is holding me here, don't you see? This is your world now, your fight…For countless years have ascians and mortals fought over whom shall be this star rightfully belongs to. When you pierced the heart of Zodiark…The mortals won." - There was no anger in Emet's voice, nothing but the bitter echo of defeat and acceptance. "Were it not for your meddling with the timeline, I might've descended deeper into the sea once again to finally kill Venat and then perish myself…But you have given us hope. Not just to me, but to those people in the past, the people of Amaurot who yet live in bliss, not knowing what awaits them…" - Emet clenched his teeth as a faint tear fell from his eyes, swiftly dissolving beneath the grey rocks. "And I will prevent this calamity from ever breaking us…If history must be unwritten, let it be unwritten. Was that not your plan as well? Did you not say that you were not against this?"

"Not before you help us stop the cataclysm here!"

"Help you stop it how?! Do you really want to have my 'help' even after all that happened? Just look at what happened with Fourchenault. He would've not become a blasphemy were I not here, and now you will have to tell Ameliance the bitter truth, hoping that she doesn't transform, not to mention the people the blasphemy killed! Is that the help you want? Do you want this entire city to drown in conflict and turn into another hellish wasteland like La Noscea?!"

"No…I don't."

"Exactly. I told you everything I knew, everything that Venat revealed to me. Now it's in your hands. Your loving 'mother' sundered the world so souls like yours would be able to interact with Dynamis directly and thus fight against Meteion, and now we both know that they can." - Emet sighed. "There are other solutions to be found in my world, but I cannot help you here, not any longer." - Emet's suggestions made sense, yet there was another matter. A matter which Exarch could not forsake or turn a blind eye to, for it was still his fault for bringing the ascian to Sharlayan.

"And what of justice?" - G'raha clenched his teeth. "What of all the people you killed? Fourchenault was right; your crimes are…Unforgivable. And it's justice this world deserves…Especially Ameliance. Do not expect your gestures to make me forgive you for what you did to Edwin and to my friends."

"I do not care about your forgiveness, nor do I care about some abstract sense of justice…Was justice delivered to Amon for the cataclysm he sought to unleash? For an entire garlean race slaughtered and decimated in his scheme? Where is justice brought to Venat who ended my people and manipulated yours? After all, when is justice coming to you, I wonder? After all, it was your hand that doomed this very world…" - Exarch clenched his fist at the mention of those words, immediately having this noticed by Emet. "There is no justice nor kindness to be found in this world…Not in the sundering, nor in rejoining, not in the Final Days, not in the countless wars that are fought in this world, not in all the suffering people have to endure, and you know that bitter truth very well. Were it a just world, you would not have to see three worlds on the brink…And I would never lose mine." - The ascian looked down in shame before taking a deep breath once again and looking at G'raha with a pained smile. "If it makes it any easier, consider my journey to save countless people from suffering and death a form of atonement."

"Heh…" - The Exarch sighed, realizing that whatever his wishes were, there was nothing he could do. Conversely, the ascian could leave at any moment, yet he chose to stay and talk. "You don't need my permission anymore, do you? I am too powerless to stop you, too powerless to even try in a way that would not be suicide. Why do you still try to convince me?"

"I suppose I don't want to part on far too bitter terms." - Emet admitted, looking into G'raha's eyes. Looking at the ascian disgusted the Exarch, and now he understood why. When he looked into the yellow eyes of the one who murdered his friends and doomed the world G'raha lived in, he hoped to see a monster, a remorseless murderer in whose downfall will the Exarch claim his vengeance. Yet he was not a monster, no matter how hard G'raha tried to picture him as such. He was a broken man who went through immense pain and suffering and saw countless civilizations and worlds end, starting from the one he loved so much…And that was all he wanted. To go home once again. To see his friends and, for the first time in eons, feel free of his burden. The Exarch knew that he wasn't that different from him. If what he discovered was true, if the timelines could co-exist in separate worlds, Emet deserved to make his journey, too.

"Very well…" - The Exarch sighed. "Before you leave, Hades, allow me to tell you something. Back in my days of the future past, I vowed to avert the eight umbral calamities and traverse time itself, even should it make my own fabric unravel. That much, you know. But there were people in my world…Many, in fact. Many had their own lives, no matter how hard they were. No matter how much suffering they had to endure in our chaotic world. Many of them would never exchange it for anything. Many did not know of what it was that the Ironworks planned, and yet still they proceeded…I proceeded. The Ironworks nor I expected the timeline to survive. We were ready to erase ourselves for a better future…But we were also ready to erase all the others, all those people who did not choose this fate…" - A few tears fell from the Exarch's eyes; he could not run from his sins any longer. "It truly was fate's mercy that allowed our worlds to co-exist…Make no mistake, people you wronged deserve justice. But to deny you a chance to undo the tragedies of your time, paving the way for your people, if such judgment is for anyone to make, it is not me."

"As I always thought…" - The ascian smiled. "I was always hesitant to give you the credit you deserve because of how short your century is compared to what I've seen…But well, I have to take to account our differing perceptions. For us ancients, what seems like a flash is an eternity to a mortal, but now that I can finally accept this…I know that you understand. Always understood, deep inside, thank you for finally admitting to it."

"Is that thanks I hear?"

"Oh, shut up, or I will change my mind about you."

"Always the charmer…" - G'raha looked up at Emet with stern eyes. "Yet you asked of me a promise, a promise of remembrance, the one I shall fulfill. However…I shall ask you of something as well."

"And that is?"

"You know what it is. You have my blessing for using the Crystal Tower, but I want you to promise not to harm the people of the First in any way…Ryne has boundless reservoirs of aether at her disposal, and Beq Lugg possesses a brilliant mind. Together, I have no doubt that you will discover a way to send your soul back to the times of the World Unsundered. All I want is for you to do what you tried to do before Edwin defeated Vauthry…Please, find another way. One that does not require bloodshed." - The Exarch knew that he was powerless to demand anything of Emet, but he could plead. Plead for the lives of people he swore to protect, the people that he failed.

"I have no desire to harm them." - The ascian responded. "But I will need them to cooperate, somehow."

"I see…When you find Ryne, tell her that G'raha Tia gave his blessing. And if she asks for proof, say to her…'There is nothing shameful in admitting that you want to live'." - The Exarch thought back to the tower, remembering Ryne crying in his arms as he smiled upon her, offering his warmest embrace. The days when they believed the end was in sight, that by defeating the ascians, they would achieve lasting peace for their worlds. Before everything collapsed into the worst cataclysm they had ever faced. "Those were the words I spoke to her not long before leaving Norvrandt. She would know that you are not lying should you say them to her. And please…Tell them about what I did. I don't know how long it will take for the Endsong to reach the shards, but they need to be ready."

"Very well…" - The ascian sighed. "I promise."

There was nothing more to say, yet the two of them stood in silence with nothing but tempestuous winds to echo behind them. The decisions were made, and it was time to finally move on to continue their battle. Both had their answers, yet for both, there could be no satisfaction until they saw their worlds saved and restored. Too much tragedy and sorrow were unveiled in their lifetimes, in all the timelines. At this point, their hatred and blame would be nothing but faint echo which would dissipate in the jaws of oblivion that surrounded them. But if there was as much as slither of hope for their world, G'raha and Emet would take them without hesitation, as they always have done, no matter how many sacrifices it would entail.

"Good luck, G'raha." - Emet's softened voice broke the silence. "I wish you succeed in saving your world, truly."

"And I wish it for you. Farewell, Emet-Selch…May our paths never cross again."

It was a relief seeing him go. Seeing the elezen's body collapse to the ground lifeless as the spirit left it to teleport to the rift, leaving the Exarch in solitude. There was no anger or pain he felt now, no disdain for the ascian even after all he had done…G'raha was tired. He wanted to live again like he once did, yet now another tragedy was upon him. The chaos at Limsa, Fourchenault's death, all this was the price of G'raha's pain for knowledge of the Final Days. And it was time to finally unveil it.

G'raha's path back to Sharlayan took much less than he expected. He had to journey from a cold tunnel drenched with water, but it quickly led him back to the forests that emerged beyond those cliffs; the gates of Sharlayan were nearby. G'raha prayed that situation did not get worse, and the fact that the skies did not turn crimson showed that there was some stability restored to the city. G'raha carried the body of a dead guard when he entered the city. He deserved a proper burial and commemoration, like all those who died on this day. It was a tragedy for all people of Sharlayan, for they had lost their friends and loved ones due to G'raha's misstep due to him bringing Emet-Selch here. It was his responsibility to make it right with any methods he could.

When the Exarch finally returned to the plaza, all he saw were people in mourning. They gathered around the ruined aetheryte, looking for the bodies of their fallen comrades and loved ones. An unbearable tragedy for all of them to witness, a shame to the Exarch. After all of his mistakes and failures, he was unworthy of the title, unworthy of being considered a hero. He accepted this reality and made no illusions of it, yet still, he had a role to play. Krile was nowhere to be seen, but he wouldn't wait before making his announcement.

"People of Sharlayan!" - G'raha's voice echoed through the streets, causing everyone's attention to be focused on him. "I'm sorry it came to this, I truly am…I brought the ascian into the city, and it caused the cataclysm to reach Sharlayan, planting its dreadful seeds into its soil, its people…But for what little it's worth, I promise I will not stop fighting. I would not stop looking for a way to end the calamity, no matter how difficult it shall prove to be. And now, I believe I have a chance." - G'raha smiled faintly, one hopeful thought that permeated his despairing soul. "And spread the news to your friends, spread the news to the Forum…For I now know what it was that caused the Final Days."