Chapter 4: (Estinien)
"So do not hesitate to send me against your enemies. I'll make them rue the day they met me."
- Estinien Wyrmblood
"Estinien, if ever there was a man in history who needed a hobby, it's you," Claire commented to him as he looked up from his meal.
"Are you saying I have issues?" he countered darkly.
"I wouldn't have worded it like that…" Claire said slowly, "But… yeah, you do."
They looked at one another for a long moment before Estinien swallowed a mouthful of food and answered, "Well, at least you're honest. Though a bit hypocritical."
The two of them shared a teasing smirk before the wonderful smell of cooked spices filled his nose again and he had to admit that this was probably the most he ever heard her talk. Estinien had spent the last couple weeks enjoying the warm heat of Thavnair, still waiting to see what task that Vrtra was to ask of him; yet with so much rebuilding to be done as the isle recovered from the Final Days… he was aware that it might take time. Well, at least he was well-fed. He had been wandering up towards Mehryde's Meyhane for lunch when he happen to run into a certain someone leaving the Hall of the Radiant Host; apparently just reporting to them with the information of another slain blasphemy.
She had just been thinking of stopping by the stalls in the markets to grab something on the go, but he convinced her to join him at the Meyhane, especially since both were well known in the city at this point and the establishment had made it plain that they were never to be charged for their meals here.
It didn't really take too much convincing to get her to join him.
And so now here they were, enjoying the light teasing and banter back and forth as they caught up. Though it had only been about a moon since the Scions had disbanded at this point and Estinien was finding himself bored for excitement… half wondering if he should go and pick some fights with the Radiant Host just for something to do. He had been able to make due by hunting down any remaining blasphemies that were still upon the isle… but he hadn't seen one in weeks and was all but convinced that they succeeded in riding all of Thavnair any remaining trace of the blasphemies.
Either way, he was now here as he took a bite out of his Kalamarakia Tiganita, which he came to learn were actually slices of squid that was covered in spiced flour and fried. And to think that he had thought that the dried kind of squid was good?
"I swear, if I didn't know better, he was trying to butter me up for some impossible task," Estinien stated as added a sprinkle of spice to his dish.
"Could it ever be that they are just nice and respect you?" Claire asked curiously as she sat across the table from him as she fanned herself from the spicy Hamsa Curry she had just tried. Her face was even starting to turn red and when she couldn't take it anymore, she downed half of the Chai drink she ordered to cool her burning tongue.
"It crossed my mind, but in my experience, I find it more likely if I just assume the worst then it won't be that shocking when things go wrong," he stated with a shrug as pondered just what it was they did to get this squid so much more flavorful than just roasting it by dragon fire? With a big swallow of meat in his mouth he then went back to what they were discussing moments before, "So, the blasphemy that has been plaguing Ishgard has been dealt with then? Glad to hear it, I'm sure that everyone is breathing out a sigh of relief. Tell me, how are things there now?"
"Good, more or less," she answered back. "With the blasphemy taken care of, they're turning their focus back to the church. New doctrine is being written and everything, and I think that such a task is helping to comfort the people again."
"In other words, with something productive to do, the people have less likely a reason to turn," he said approvingly as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "I just find a hard time believing that the memories of all the Heavens Ward were all transferred into a clone before transforming into a blasphemy in the shape of a dragon? Just who comes up with this craziness? That couldn't have been easy to take care of though. You should have called me, I could have helped?"
"I guess I didn't want to worry you," Claire answered back with a shrug. "Besides I had Artoirel and Aymeric there to help me. So it wasn't like I was fighting that thing along."
"Of course I would have been worried," he answered back. "I know that Ishgard is in good hands, but it is still my home. So don't think that you would be bothering me by giving me a heads up."
At that moment, a waitress came up to the table informing them that someone had left a package here via the new 'Hippo Riders' and they were trying to figure out who it was for? At the sound of this delivery service, Claire only smiled and he wondered if there was something behind that name. Either way, he doubted that it was for him and he told the girl as much when she asked for his name.
"Wyrmbl… no, Varlineau. But I guess it could be Wyrmblood as well?" he answered with a wave of his hand and the waitress shook her head before apologizing for disturbing them and left. When she was gone, Claire took a few more mouthfuls of food—having so used to going out and hunting for her meals that it seemed she was really savoring the change of pace.
Once she swallowed she asked curiously, "Which name do you prefer?"
"I'm not particular to either, though I'm much more used to my title of Wyrmblood. So much so that it feels more… me than my real name," he answered. "In truth, I haven't gone by the name of Varlineau since before I made a name for myself as a dragon slayer."
"You used it when we first visited Sharlayan?" Claire reminded him.
"Yeah, well, I figured that Wyrmblood might be a bit off-putting," he answered reasonably. "I didn't think that an entire city full of scholars or academics would be able to relate to a former hellsbound hunter of dragons. Do you recall when we first arrived? I felt so out of place…? The people were clearly staring at me the whole time I walked around."
"Not just you," she replied darkly. "They were staring at me as well. I felt that I wasn't… I was…?"
She paused there before he answered, "Out of our element?"
She nodded at that as he let out a bark of laughter and confessed, "I swear, the way that some of them looked at me when they saw my armor and lance? I know that I'm not the most welcoming-looking person you'll see on the street but…?"
"Now, now… I know that you can be nice when you want to. If you could be a little friendlier then maybe they won't be so frightened to approach you?" she asked teasingly, already knowing the truth and he waved a hand at her in an irritated way.
"If they wanted someone who's 'friendly' they shouldn't have sent me to such a place," he answered back. "A battlefield, a frozen wasteland, tiny camps in the middle of nowhere, to dangerous bars in the shadiest parts of town… hells—I suspect even being sent down to the seventh hell would be a place where I would survive in just fine. But at the discussion table? With well-educated scholars or even with highborn lords and ladies…? I have no clue what to do there."
She held up her glass to him as if toasting him, and he knew that she understood exactly how he felt. At least she had a little more experience than he did when it came to such matters and could get by, but he could see just how uncomfortable she was during such meetings. Hells, he could see that just by looking at her back with their first encounter when he was still wandering about Coerthas, trying to draw Nidhogg's gaze onto himself. When he came to discover that Ser Alberic hired the services of some common adventurer to get the Eye back? He didn't know if he should have laughed or been insulted. But as he drew his blade towards her, the Eye that he had stolen began to react in a way that he hadn't seen since he was first brought before it… when he had been chosen.
He could still remember the pain rushing through his body as he felt the strength of a dragon flow through his veins, feel Nidhogg's unbridled fury as it threatened to light his very blood aflame… how he could hear the whispers of the wyrm in the back of his head.
Through sheer stubbornness, he resisted it until the change had completely taken hold and stood back up, proud to know that he would use his foe's own strength against him.
The Eye had remained quiet ever since that day… at least until it was in her presence.
"Hmm? What is it?"
He raised his head as she looked at him in concern and he wondered just what his expression reflected at that moment to cause her to worry.
"I was just remembering when we first met," he answered, "When you were first after the Eye… gods was I shocked to sense it choose another. What a rough few days that was…?"
Right, a rough few days that ended when he was so overcome with his hatred that he almost ended up taking the life of one of his teachers, and the man who had become that of a second father to him…? Only then to fall prey to Nidhogg's influence and almost became possessed at that moment. At least until she managed to knock him back to his senses…?
He could still remember seeing her… but then the image of Haldrath… the first Azure Dragoon and the son of King Thordan appear in her place.
He frowned at that, trying to understand what it was that happened that day. He had felt a certain kinship with Claire almost as soon as he had laid eyes upon her and the feeling only grew stronger after she helped to not only defeat the threat of Shiva but defended the Steps of Faith. Yet, was he just seeing things that day…? What did Haldrath see in her that he appeared? He knew now that the second Eye had fused together with Haldrath's body a thousand years ago could it have been due to a connection between the Eyes? Or did he sense what was coming and appeared to lend her a helping hand because he knew that the Holy See would be needing both of them in the days that followed?
He wasn't sure anymore.
"Ah yes," she said as she wiped at her lip with a napkin. "You were all set up to fight me that day… but then you noticed how the Eye was glowing and you left in a hurry."
"It hadn't done that since the time I was selected to become the next Azure Dragoon, so of course I was surprised," he answered.
"Oh, did it always glow like that when an Azure Dragoon was chosen?" she wondered.
"More or less," he confessed. "Harnessing the Eye's power was not easy—especially since Nidhogg's fury was still felt through the damn thing. But, when the time came, the best of the dragoons among the order were gathered before the Eye… and the strongest among them are selected by it. When I was chosen, the choice was only between myself and another."
"Ah, Heustienne. Yes, I know her. She told me all about that," Claire answered and he rolled his eyes.
"Can I just assume that you know everybody at this point?" he asked without any real heat. "Honestly, how many friends do you have? How do you keep track of them all?"
"Who says I'm able to?" she shot back teasing. "But you must have trained like a madman to have been chosen like that?"
"Something along those lines," he shrugged. "I never gave much thought to it."
He fell silent for a moment as he thought that all over.
"Nay, that is not wholly truth," he admitted. "Rather I gave it too much thought and tried my best not to be reminded of it as I went about my business." She didn't question him as they sat in silence for a few minutes and he pushed his food around his plate for a time before declaring, "I still can remember when I was a child growing up in Ferndale. I remember my mother and father… and my younger brother."
He sighed when he took his cup of ale, threw back his head so that he could swallowed it in one gulp. "My mother was a sweet one. Couldn't imagine her being able to harm even a fly… and my father was a quiet man… a strong man. He would pretend not to be interested in me or my brother, but I remember how his eyes gave him away whenever I talked to him and I knew that he would have fought to the ends of the earth for us if we needed him. We… we never had much money, but we didn't need it. Father worked hard to provide for us and mother always made sure that we had more than enough food on the table when my brother and I went in after completing our chores."
He smiled sadly as the memories continued to play around inside his head and he lost himself in happier days. He closed his eyes suddenly and added, "Even now…? I can still picture it so clearly… the four of us sitting down to one of my mother's home cooked meals as my father would make biting remarks but there was always humor in them. All the while we would have a crackling fire in the hearth and I had no fears of going to bed cold or hungry. Or I think of when the weather was stormy and my little brother would crawl into my bed when the thunder and lightning went on outside and I would tease him for that or joke and say that our father's snores were louder than any thunder…?"
Not a day went by that he didn't think of them.
Not a day went by that he didn't wish for them to still be here and by his side…?
He could only imagine how they would react if he told them about his adventures thus far…? Well, he could see the worry clouding over in his mother's eyes as she would insist on checking him over for the slightest injury and then fret as she set about looking for the right remedy… or imagining the proud gleam in his father's eyes when he would speak of how they travelled to save the world from the grip of despair… probably clapping him on the back as he let out one of his rare, booming laughs.
As for his brother…? Easy to imagine his eyes lighting up like a child at Starlight…? Between the two of them, he had always been the brawn while his brother was the smart one in the family. He often wondered if he would have been able to get along with Alphinaud with such similar personalities?
Estinien was never one for sentimentality… but the nostalgia that came rushing back to him at the thought of the family he lost was enough to feel like his throat was being choked upon. How he wished that he could have done more for them. He had wondered what would have happened had he been there in Ferndale that day Nidhogg attacked them.
He had still been just a child that terrible day, tending to a flock up upon the mountains all on his own when the attack happened. Mere moments before, out of boredom, he had found himself a stick and had been drawing in the dirt absent-mindedly, hating such a dull job but enjoyed the quiet around him save for the occasional bleating of one of the lambs.
He heard them first before seeing them… the leathern wings, too many to count, beating rhythmically overhead. He looked up and gasped in horror when he saw the horde flying overhead, their numbers so great that they blocked out the sun as they flew towards the east.
He remembered how he ran down that hillside as fast as his legs could carry him, tripping upon the uneven trail, following after the dragons—as if he somehow hoped to outrun them. It was still in the morning hours, so many of his fellow villagers were probably still abed, unaware of the danger that was closing in upon them. He stumbled through the mud, silently praying to the Fury to protect his friends and family from the Horde's assault.
He just thought of his parents and brother… his little brother usually joined him tending the flock but he remained at home that day because of a slight fever. Mother promised to make him some warm stew later on after she would head to the markets and pick up some medicine. Estinien had offered to go and get it in her stead but she just smiled and sent him on his way, promising that she had a handle on everything here. Instead, Estinien had planned to tell his brother some kind of stupid, made-up story when he came back and tease him on missing all the 'action'.
Even after he finally reached the foot of the mountain and came upon the outskirts of the village, he kept praying… only to be greeted by the burning and destroyed houses… fire raining down from the maws of dragons as thick smoke choked his lungs and burned his eyes so that he could barely see.
Tears stung his eyes as he ran towards where their house stood… or rather where it once stood. He would never forget the sight of the collapsed roof and wall…? How the bodies of his parents were lying just outside where it looked like his father had been trying to protect his mother from the Horde…? Only to find his brother's body inside the destroyed home…?
That moment changed him forever. It was there his pain and grief gave way to rage… he had used hatred for years to keep him alive and give him a reason to keep living. He had cursed Nidhogg and vowed to end him if it was the last thing he ever did.
He never once bothered to understand why Nidhogg was so cruel… because, to him, the overgrown lizard was just a monster.
At least…?
He remembered hearing Nidhogg's voice from within his head that day at Azys Lla: "Thou hadst done well to resist mine influence, bathed in my power and blood as thou wert. Alas, in thine anticipation of comfort, thou hast lowered thy guard!"
He realized what was happening and tried to fight it, but the pull of Nidhogg's influence was far stronger than he ever experienced before. He had realized too late that it had come from the fact that he held not only both of his Eyes… but also with his own armor stained red with his enemy's blood.
No, he had been stronger than this! He could still fight…?
But the more that he tried to resist, the more that Nidhogg's foul presence wrapped itself around his very being.
"The keening of my kindred… Their smoldering desire for vengeance… Mine eyes have partaken of a thousand years of pain – a pain which I shall bestow upon thee. Drink deep of my rage, mortal… AND BECOME ME!"
After that… was a hazy mess if truth be told.
Nidhogg's essence, his very soul, wrapped itself around Estinien's own and held him bound as they shared pain and hatred. He saw everything from Nidhogg's eyes… felt what was in the great wyrm's heart…? For their hearts were one and the same… they truly were no different from one another.
He could recall shadowed images that came after… the endless, seething rage… the pain that burned in his very breast for so many years… the sorrow that was akin to drowning in a sea of tears as an empty, gaping hole was all that remained in his heart by a lost loved one… the fury of those who dared to hurt what he held so dear…?
Yet still, despite all that, Estinien held on to the tiniest traces of himself. He endured such misery and held on to the few precious memories that were beyond Nidhogg's comprehension. But for Estinien, such feelings were what kept him from becoming lost completely to the madness of his foe. He could remember the meals he shared with his parents and the stories that he would tell his brother as they hid under the covers and talked about brave knights fighting against dragons… he thought of Aymeric and Alberic and how he learned so much for them and they were there to chide him should he get carried away with battle… learned to trust again and rely upon support from others.
He thought of his journey up through the Churning Mists with Alphinaud, Claire, and even Ysayle… how he had enjoyed seeing the embarrassed and frustration in Alphinaud's face when he teased him… how he had fought alongside with the Warrior of Light to admire and respect her as a fellow warrior… and even to how Ysayle gave her life to give them one last chance against the archbishop.
He knew that Nidhogg could see into his heart as easily as he could the wyrm's and knew that he had seen his own memories… and such concepts confused Nidhogg for a time. He suspected that was why he didn't try to gather his troops to attack the city until much later… for Estinien's memories held him back and prevented him from wishing to attack until he was certain he had complete control.
How long he remained in that state, he had no idea. It felt like it was only seconds but also entire lifetimes? Time was very difficult to judge in such a state. He just forced himself to remain aware of what was going on around him—at times drifting in and out of consciousness—though those times that he was awake were often confusing. He remembered flashes of sights and sounds… such as being surrounded by countless dragons in the sky… heard people shouting and screaming… remembered seeing Aymeric armed with a bow and about to fire… before a chant of death rang in his ears…?
Such memories mixed and blended together until he could no longer recognize where one ended and another began.
Some time passed though and eventually he felt himself 'wake up' to a point that he could see clearly what was happening around him. He remembered standing upon the Steps of Faith with Claire in battered armor and weapon. Once he realized what was going on, he was horrified at what he was forced to do when he saw her exhausted appearance, the damage done to the Steps of Faith, and heard the screams of the knights in the background.
And that was when he pushed back, fighting with every ounce of strength he still had left in him. So while Claire fought in the physical sense, he fought in the mental—they battled the wyrm together and when Nidhogg was finally weak enough—Estinien was able to seize control, albeit it was very slight. Still, it was enough for he was able to focus all of his strength upon controlling the left hand, forcing the fingers open so the lance fell from away from them so that it could no longer be used. Once that was done, he pushed on until he was able to feel his arm enough to grab hold and cut off his own windpipe to deprive them of air. It seemed almost poetic in a way that the two of them die together—creatures born of vengeance—and put an end to the war once and for all.
Little did he know that his friends were far more stubborn than he realized.
The whole time that his mind drifted to some of the darker places, Claire watched him, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking of. She didn't interrupt at first as she stirred her curry around her plate, thinking about her own past. Silence passed between them as such words seemed to sink in.
"You are fortunate to have such happy memories with your family. My mother died shortly after my birth and father was already gone before then," Claire confessed sadly. "So, I have no memories of either of them. While I was growing up, I was passed around from household to household… never really having a place that I could always return to."
Estinien, who had been shaken from his thoughts, looked at her and admitted, "That suddenly explains much about you. But that sounds… lonely. You had no one?"
"The village elders were always kind to me and looked after me when I needed it," she answered as she thought back to that simple island village. "I was able to learn a little bit of everything that I would need to make a living had I chosen to remain. At least, I mastered the basics. But I always felt that I was intruding upon everyone else. I understood that they had to focus upon their own families…? And iIt's not that they were ever unkind to me… but it just felt that… there wasn't a place set for me. Like coming to the dinner table only to find that there was no space for you to sit and you have to look in."
"That's not right though," he said firmly. "Didn't you have anyone to turn to? Even after I lost my family, I still had comrades and teachers that I could turn to…? Albeit, I was far from the friendliest child…?"
Claire paused at that, thinking it all over.
"Not… not really," she admitted thoughtfully. "Like I said, I know that the villagers cared for me, but I don't believe I could recall how it felt to be held and cherished like with a family…? It's funny, I can't remember the last time I actually thought of this…?"
"Because something's changed since then?" he asked knowingly and she looked back to him as he had that devilish smirk on his face. "Don't play dumb with me, you know how the other Scions cared for you. Especially, with the twins. While I've only received two letters from Alphinaud since the disbanding, he has made it very clear that you are in both his and Alisaie's thoughts."
Claire smiled at that thought and nodded gratefully.
"Not to mention how a certain family up in Ishgard seem rather attached to you," Estinien added as he held up his hand to order another drink from a passing waitress.
Claire's head jerked up at that in surprise and he smirked as the waitress came by with a replacement mug for him. "Come now, why are you surprised? I've heard from the twins how close you seem to be getting with House Fortemps. Sending letters to Edmont… visiting as often as you can…? Not to mention also checking in on Emmanellain at Camp Dragonhead…?"
"I just want to make sure that Emmanellain isn't driving the place into the ground yet?" she offered with a shrug and he burst out laughing.
"I'll give you that," he grinned. "But you've also started sending other letters to Aymeric as well…? Honestly, how do you keep track of them all?"
"Well, it's often difficult to keep track," she acknowledged with a slight blush. "Artoirel and Emmanellain are aware of the letters and have told me that they get excited when one shows up to the manor. And when I last visited them, Aymeric had found out about the letters I was sending to Lord Edmont and he looked so happy at the sight of them that I told him that I could start writing to him as well. You should have seen the way his eyes lit up?"
"Well, that's pleasant to hear," he chuckled. "I can only imagine how eager they are when they receive such a missive. I've been hearing from Aymeric as well from time to time… if only for him to check in on me and make sure that I'm still alive. He's the same way now as he was when we first met… a pain in my neck… but a well-meaning one."
"Have the two of you always been like that?" she asked curiously and he barked out another laugh.
"More or less," he grinned. "We both joined the Temple Knights as squires when we were in our teen years… though I rarely had occasion to speak with him. All I knew of him for sure was that we were near in ages and that I'd seen him often practicing in the training yard. Those were the days he still fought with a bow."
She raised her eyebrows at him and though she didn't say a word, he understood exactly what she was thinking.
"All dragoons start off as Temple Knights, but by their skill with the lance they can be raised to the position of dragoon," he answered. "And one dragoon a generation is chosen by the Eye to be the Azure Dragoon… but you already know that part. Wasn't easy at first to accept having to share the title. Though, I suppose sharing it with you is more flattery than anything else."
She just smiled sweetly back at him and he felt an urge to be able to test her own lance and see if she still had what it took. Instead of asking, he went on, "And Aymeric did prefer the bow in those days and was one hells of a good shot. We made a good team back then… he didn't switch to a blade until after he was named Lord Commander. But back then, while I saw him around often enough, I couldn't be bothered to speak with him or to even remember his name. I was always something of a lone wolf, focusing only on honing my battle skills."
"So what happened?" Claire asked eagerly.
"Well, me and my unit had been dispatched due to a dragon sighting one day," he answered. "This was long before the snows came to Coerthas, but as we were just scouting the area, a dragon descended upon us… slaying all but myself and Aymeric."
Her eyes went sad at that but didn't interrupt.
"The beast escaped after slaughtering the unit, but I did succeed in wounding it before I blacked out thanks to the smoke," he went on. "And well, you know me, I'm not the type to leave a job unfinished…?" He paused there to take another long drink of alcohol before continuing, "It left a bloody trail and I was able to follow it to its lair. Looking back, I know how reckless it was… probably would have gotten killed if a certain knight didn't decide to follow me and distracted the beast by shooting an arrow at one of its eyes."
He smirked at the memory as Aymeric appeared from the shadows of the cave, his bow in hand, and a smile on his face as Estinien was still gasping for air after slaying his first dragon.
"This is not the way to the Holy See."
"I know. But I thought the journey home would pass more swiftly in good company."
"You have my thanks, Ser...?"
"Aymeric. And it shall be thanks enough if you remember my name. ...Though I shan't object to a tankard of ale back in Ishgard."
Estinien was terrible with names, but he made sure to remember that one as the two of them grinned despite all that had happened. He told her of their conversation and they were both laughing at how innocent it sounded despite how dangerous the situation had been mere moments before.
"Ah, listen to me, I talk too much when you're around," he shrugged. "I guess that's to make up for your lack of conversation for the most part. I've always been a lone wolf until you lot came into my life."
"And isn't it nice not to be alone?" she asked smugly and he smirked back, unable to come up with a good enough argument there.
There was once a time he couldn't stand to have anyone else around him because their voices grated on his ears. The only thing that was in his head was revenge against Nidhogg for taking everything away from him; so he trained like a man possessed during those early years. He knew that Ser Alberic worried for him, but he just couldn't bring himself to listen to reason.
It was different with friends around all the time, who ask if he is alright or if they could help. It was strangely… nice.
"You seem to be more open to the idea as well," he pointed out and she tilted her head in confusion, her drink halfway up to her mouth as he added, "You seemed to be a bit of a lone wolf as well, at least to me. Especially during those earlier days where we met. It wasn't until after coming to Ishgard did you really start to have someone around you all the time."
She seemed to think that all over before slowly nodding.
"I—guess that's true," she admitted slowly.
"And now look at you, you got everyone wrapped around your finger without even realizing," he smirked. "The twins for instance… you ask them to jump and I'm sure that they'll ask 'how high' before realizing what they did and asked what that was about?"
She laughed at that, her smile shining at that.
"And let us not forget your dotting family in Ishgard. You know they all but practically adopted you as one of theirs," he pointed out and she blushed at the thought. Who would have thought the famed Warrior of Light was so bashful? "In fact, if the paperwork wouldn't have been such a nightmare, they probably would have by now."
"I… yes, in fact, I should pay them another visit soon," she decided.
"Didn't you just get back from a visit?" he pointed out.
"Maybe… but… it wouldn't hurt?" she stated with another twinkle in her eyes and he nodded to confirm that. Though that did leave an unfinished question…?
"So, now with the blasphemy problem taken care of, what do you plan to do next?" he asked curiously. "You still haven't explained?"
She took a few bites of her food as she took her time in looking for an answer. Eventually, she said, "I suppose I wouldn't mind seeing more of this world… but I now know that there's so much more out there than I first thought."
"So you really are going to visit the other reflections?" he asked, understanding at once what she was hinting at.
"I can still visit the First whenever I want, but matters there seem to be well in hand so I hardly have any need to visit save for the sights. And, if Y'shtola's research bears fruit, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea," she said as she watched her drink swirl about in its cup. "What would you think?"
"You haven't even had a chance to explore the rest of the Source here and you're already looking to other reflections?" he asked with his eyebrows raised.
"Of course I'll get to the rest of this world eventually," she answered surely. "Such as Meracydia… the New World…? Even the rest of Ilsabard are just some of the places I long to visit someday. But I am burning with curiosity to see the other reflections as well. I want to see them all. Would you be up for it as well?"
"Hmph, can't say I ever thought of it," he confessed slowly. "I suppose… if the fancy took me. But out of curiosity, what would happen if you did see all the other reflections? The Source…? Everything? What would you do?"
"Assuming I live that long? Maybe retire on some little island and grow popotoes or something… though I might get bored eventually… maybe I'll open a café?" Claire offered as he blinked at that and burst out laughing.
"Well, that doesn't sound bad at all," he said as he leaned back and hooked his foot around the leg of the table and gazed out of the vast window at bright sun that seemed to cause the fog about the city to glow. "I had seen some parts of the world when I first left Ishgard that I never thought I would see, and I suppose that I wouldn't mind being able to see more of it from here."
They were silent for a time as they watched a flock of tropical birds fly past the window and swooping down over the bright buildings before he asked, "What do you think the other shards are like?"
Claire paused at that and thought it all over.
"I have… an idea," she confessed. "It's just… I…?"
She seemed to hesitate and he looked at her in confusion as she sighed out and answered, "Do you remember that day I returned to the Annex with Argos?"
"Argos? Ah, that dog," he answered with a nod. "What of it?"
"Well, before I came back, I had a dream… of Venat—or Hydaelyn," she answered and he stared at her. He didn't answer as he watched on and she sighed while confessing, "I don't know if I was dreaming or not… it felt so real… mayhaps I was able to somehow speak with her again…? But… she told me stories of what the other reflections were like and now I am burning to start exploring again. I really want to be able to continue forward and see more? At least for as long as I am able to. I have a feeling that more adventures are waiting in the wings."
"I find it hard to imagine anything topping our trip to the stars, but hey, if you think you can do better? I'd love to see it," he commented. "But go on…?"
"I don't really know if my own exhausted brain came up with it or not, but I remember her there with me," she said softly. "You know, I always felt that I had someone watching over me when I was a child and I think I know who it was and why. I believe that she had been there from the beginning, watching over me. I know what it feels like to be loved by a mother… and I guess the Scions are a family to me in a way that I never expected. Oh, the stories I could tell you of how stuck-up Alphinaud used to be…?"
"Ohhh, this I must hear," Estinien said eagerly, now leaning over the table with a mischievous grin. "Tell me more."
Claire chuckled and after swearing that not a word of this would reach Alphinaud in any way, she told him of their first meeting and of some of the many 'tasks' that he had asked of her… as well as a rather pompous attitude that went with it. When she got to his righteous insolence while they were looking for the Enterprise with a forgetful Cid, he couldn't hold back and burst out laughing so loudly that a few people around them jumped and stared at them.
"Gods, he sounds like the very picture of a prim and spoiled lordling," he grinned. "That would have been a nightmare dealing with him like that."
"Yeah, looking at him now, you never would guess that the two were one and the same," she smiled back. "But I do adore who he became. Him and Alisaie… she wasn't exactly the friendliest person when I first met her at the remembrance ceremonies."
Estinien, still grinning, leaned back once more with his mug as he glanced absent-mindedly to the dancers on the stage but not really seeing them as he became lost in thought.
"I know that feeling," he said. "Looking back at myself, I can't help but wonder what happened to me? I mean, the idea that I would ever be working alongside dragons…? That alone I never would have pictured seeing in a million years. Wait…?"
He paused there and looked to her and said, "It was you. You and that woman who are responsible…?"
"That woman…? Oh, you mean Ysayle?" she asked wondrously.
"Yeah… that's what happened," he said in understanding as she looked on in confusion but he waved his hand. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. But I get the feeling that I'm not the only one who's changed since their journey began."
She smiled back as she noticed how he looked pointedly at her and she nodded in agreement.
"Hmm, I can't help you there," he answered and she chuckled slightly as she took another sip of her tea. "But, what I can tell you is that you don't have to answer to anyone anymore. You can walk on to that horizon and beyond and not have to worry about returning home for some other threat to the world."
"Until the next threat comes along," she shrugged. "It wouldn't surprise me if a new evil was waiting to take over now that Zodiark is gone and Meteion has been defeated."
"Aren't you an optimistic one?" he smirked sarcastically.
She just winked at him before they held up their mugs in a silent toast and drained whatever was left before pushing their empty plates away from them.
"Well, in either case, do you remember what I said to you before?" he asked as she tilted her head in confusion before reminding her, "That my blade is yours should you ever need it. Don't hesitate to call upon me should you need another strong arm. Send me against your enemies and I promise that I'll make them rue the day they crossed our paths."
She leaned forward, resting her chin upon her folded fingers as she replied, "And likewise, if you happen to find yourself in the middle of some danger, I shall be ever disappointed that you didn't think to call me."
"Now you know that I ever strive to impress you," he jested as they got up. Estinien remained by her side as they walked out together, admiring this city and the beautiful land outside as the fog began to clear.
It was a quiet talk, both of them having used up their energy speaking before and merely enjoyed each other's company as they were with the privacy of their own thoughts.
In truth, he couldn't help but worry about her. Now that he knew that she fully intended to continue onwards into an unknown future, he decided that he would walk this path with her. He remembered hearing about the mysterious illness which had stricken the Scions moons prior and he could still recall the worry he felt when he heard that she had pretty much taken on the role as acting leader of the Scions with the others out of commission.
He did not envy her for that and couldn't imagine just the stress the burden had been on her. Yet where he almost lost it was when he learned that the Alliance was still expecting her to fight when she was also dealing with all this madness. Did they not realize that she could fall into a coma like the others while out there on the battlefield? What were they thinking?
He thought that he could trust them with her care? Surely, they were looking out for her better than that? He supposed that someone had to step up and watch her back from here on out. Luckily for him, he had no plans for the immediate future.
(Estinien… what are we to do with you? I was originally planning on the two of them running into each other in Ishgard, but this seemed more fitting and I think it's nice to see the two of them able to take things a little slower and have friendly banter between friends. He does care and respect her, but isn't afraid to speak his mind when he feels that she needs to know something and I think that the WOL is one of a few people he feels that he can really relate to. There is a connection that I see with them that isn't there with the other Scions—even with Alphinaud whom I think he sees as a little brother—there is just something between these two world-weary warriors that is so interesting to watch. And I'm just so happy that he will be joining us 6.2 and onwards. And as for the Island Sanctuary reference, I am so excited for it that I just can't stand it… and after everything that Claire has been through, her own little slice of paradise is the least that she deserves! Oh, and anyone who's asking about the Venat dream and Argos? That was from my Venat story and so while you don't have to read all my stories in order, it is nice to be able to have references. Only two more chapters to go so I hope that you'll look forward to a really special one next week!)