Arc 5-A world ablaze

The truth of the Final Days has been unveiled to the world, and now it is in the hands of the mortals to find a way and avert the calamity. After parting with Emet-Selch, G'raha Tia's resolve to save the world at any cost burned brighter than ever. However, the Final Days are on the rise with their shadow looming all over the world, no nation, no continent would remain unscathed. For each of them, it will be a battle against oblivion itself, yet all of them are determined to see another day...

...

Beyond majestic mountains, across the emerald dale

Lies torn the ivory standard, divided did we fall

From distant peaks of Werlyt to untamed northern plains

The death of mighty Garlemald, our suffering and loss

Beneath the pierced heavens, with bloodied hands we toil

Through cracks in iron bleed our hearts, and shattered are our hopes

Too many trials suffered, too many allies slain

The Final Days reign over our the skies, our nation has been torn.

Behold the swords of silent ones, whose graves are now our soil

Their pain aches upon the land, until their course is run

Abandoned by Lord Galvus, the ascian within

Shall guide us all to end of pride, the fall of Garlemald.

Jullus remembered the day Solus zos Galvus died. The day when the whole Empire mourned, when families gathered around hundreds of radios, all of them echoing the same horrifying sound. Many garleans remembered this moment. For each of them, it was unique. Jullus was with his sister, trying to help her get better with a blade, a preparation for the battle to come. Those were the days when the news of Gaius van Baelsar's demise spread through the Empire like wildfire, defeated by a newly-arisen hero of Eorzea. Everyone in Garlemald needed to prepare for another war, even the youngest of them.

Yet none could expect the war and strife to come so soon. When the words of Solus's death rang in their home, he remembered his mother crying, all while his sister couldn't understand the weight of this tragedy, she was far too young to know much of Solus, yet for those who lived years under his noble rule, that day was akin to losing a beloved relative.

Next, the war of succession came, a swift clash between the armies of Varis yae Galvus and Titus yae Galvus, a battle in which the former achieved a decisive victory, in many ways due to the allies he gathered, including Quintus's Ist Legion. Varis showed no mercy for Titus and executed his uncle himself, but he offered the opportunity for other defectors to bend their knees before him. Most accepted the offer, including Titus's own son, Nerva. Varis was a noble leader whom the people of Garlemald respected, and they were ready to put their faith in him as a worthy successor to Solus. And yet, despite the Royal funeral Varis arranged for his grandfather, he never seemed too keen on mourning himself. Now Jullus understood why.

He remembered the day Varis died, too. This time, there was no time for mourning. Flames of destruction have taken over Garlemald, with armies of Quintus and Nerva clashing in the capital in an attempt to secure the throne. A scheme orchestrated by the crown Prince Zenos, a traitor to his own homeland who looked at it with amusement, not caring for his people. Nerva claimed that Zenos was dead and the one that walked among them was possessed by a demon, a claim Quintus rejected at the time…The truth proved far more bitter than any of them imagined. Zenos had nothing but his contest in mind, and he did not care if he would have to slaughter thousands in his attempt to reach it. Another war, this time, the one where they had no chance to stop, the one that took everything they cared for. Nothing left but ash, their friends slaughtered and tempered, families buried in piles of bodies, nothing but the remnants of various Legions slowly drowning in their own grief. And then the final insult…Their first Emperor, risen from the dead, returned for the sake of his own schemes. An ascian that used their people to bring about a calamity, a manipulator who never intended for them to survive, their only hope of retaining the slightest bit of dignity. Yet he was gone too, now.

Jullus didn't want to remember the day Zenos died, the day he perished among the dark god that shielded their world from the catastrophe that unmade the ancient world, fulfilling the desire of his ascian jester. This spelled doom not just for Garlemald but the entire world. Jullus couldn't deny a certain satisfaction he received from such an ironic twist; as horrifying a prospect perishing into oblivion was, it was better than bending the knee before the Eorzean Alliance. Now it was time for them to feel the anguish Garleans felt, to see their own homes crumble. Solus and Varis carried dreams of unity amongst all people of their world, the dream that was finally brought to life by Zenos, for soon they would all become one in oblivion.

And yet still, garleans continued their battle for survival, including Jullus. It was not in their nature to lay down and accept defeat. They continued to scour for supplies for other survivors. They could help by any means necessary. Thankfully, they had some unexpected help now, the only upside to the stalemate between their Legion and the Ilsabard Contingent in which they were stuck ever since their combined assault on the Tower of Babil.

And hence the crimson jewel now pierced the skies of Garlemald, an Allagan creation perfected by Cid Garlond, the N-Warrior. The powerful machine that the inventor restored and used during the battles. Despite the choice all other Alliance members made and they're leaving for Camp Broken Glass, Garlond stayed. According to his words, out of a desire to help his people when they were in need. Few believed him, for he was a traitor in their eyes. Jullus didn't either, not fully, yet he would accept any help they could get. They worked together, with Cid taking to the skies in his mechanical creation while taking Jullus along with him, holding the Garlean in one of its hands, allowing him to ascend as well. From there, Jullus would look for places that could have resources among them, making Cid charge into the battle and squash all the tempered in their way. Today was much the same.

"Over there!" - Jullus shouted, trying to raise his voice high enough for the echo of the warrior's engine not to block him. Luckily, Cid got the message almost immediately, and the warrior's head turned towards Jullus as if expecting elaboration. "Look, there is a camp down there; there might be something left!" - Jullus pointed to a small, abandoned refuge overshadowed by one of the mountains. How agonizing it was to see the scorched land from above, a paralyzing sight from which none can look away. It wouldn't be the first canon they found. All the ones the two had visited before had been devastated, with nothing but slithers of supplies left there. There would be bodies in each one, those meek, frail bodies covered in frostbite with the dreadful acceptance frozen in their eyes…With others, it was horror; the tears that froze on the floor, becoming small icicles, were the only legacy they left. They died alone in agony, staying in their houses for days, hoping that someone would come to save them. Yet no one came. Not a single soul. They couldn't have all died simultaneously, and Jullus did not envy those who were the last to go. Others could have hope that if not for them, at least their friends and allies would find salvation…When you're the last one, you know that you failed. That you all failed. In one of the camps, Jullus found three corpses and a lone gun lying beside them. All of them died from a bullet, with their frozen blood scattered all over the floor. They chose to go together instead of tempting fate…A wise choice, perhaps. Jullus expected this camp to be much the same; there was little that could surprise him after having to run his own blade through his sister's body…

"Let's see if there's anything left. I don't think we visited this one just yet…" - Cid's voice echoed through the N-Warrior's dynamics moments before the machine began its descent. "Look, over there!" - Cid shouted as the warrior's head turned towards the pale snowy ground below them, an exclamation so sudden that Jullus was paralyzed and had to look down. There were people there. Living people. Under any other circumstance, he would assume that those were the tempered who blindly scavenged for food; they became especially aggressive after Anima's demise. But were it so, those tempered would be working in a group…But those people fought. It could have been their animalistic instincts driving them mad, or it could've got that at least some among them were not yet tempered.

"His radiance damn me…" - Jullus gazed down, noticing three soldiers dressed in the Legion's regiments, all circling around like animals who tried to claim their prey, tempered and broken, broken husks whose mind was erased and left nothing but bodies to bury. But there was someone else, a young woman by the looks of her; she retreated slowly, shooting at her pursuers as her hands shook. As the machine descended further, Jullus got a glimpse of her face. Her blue eyes, they were human. There was genuine fear in them, genuine terror as she attempted to kill the tempered. Bullet after bullet, yet most of them were avoided, and a few that made the shot were not enough to stop them.

"Is she…Fighting them?" - Cid wondered.

"Yes…She must be of sound mind. We need to help!" - Jullus shouted, beckoning for Cid to land. The moment this young woman noticed the shadow that loomed over her, she looked up in awe as the machina above her covered the moon. This momentary distraction, however, was her mistake. One of the tempered charged at her, pushing the woman to the ground and making her scream in terror. "Quick!" - Jullus's screams echoed through the wind.

"I'm on it."

The mech landed with powerful force, leaving giant footprints on the snow and immediately garnering the attention of the nearby two-tempered. The metallic grip was eased, and Jullus jumped to the ground, readying his blade for a battle. The first tempered that attacked was the least fortunate of them; Cid's cannons were quick to unleash a powerful blast that tore the soldier's body instantly, scattering his charred limbs underneath the snow. The second one was attacked by Jullus. The man blocked its incoming strikes, piercing the tempered soldier with his blade. Another garlean life that he took, another comrade fallen. Jullus couldn't pretend he didn't care anymore, they might have been lost forever, yet there was no victory or achievement in killing them.

"Don't shoot; you might hit her!" - Jullus commanded. "I'll deal with the last one myself."

He charged at the tempered soldier, yet to his surprise, the gunshot that echoed in his ears finally pacified the tempered soldier. Jullus watched as he let out the last few coughs, blood falling from his mouth, drenching both the snow and the woman's pale green dress. Moments later, he finally collapsed, falling on the woman. She didn't push the corpse aside, yet Jullus could see her still shivering. He approached and tossed the slain man aside, taking a peak at the woman. She was covered in blood, her entire body shivering from horror, and blue eyes raised at Jullus in disbelief. Her gun lay beside wit,h smoke still coming out of it.

"W…Who…" - Her lips quivered in fear.

"It's alright." - Jullus spoke with an echoing warmth. "We will not hurt you, I promise. In fact, we came here to help."

"H…Help?" - She tried to push herself up, still staring at Jullus. I thought there was almost no one left and…What is this thing behind you?!" - She pointed at the N-Warrior, ready to scream in panic at any moment.

"He's with me, don't worry." - Jullus calmed her down before extending a hand. "Come on, let me help you get up."

As reluctant as she was, the blonde-haired woman accepted and grabbed Jullus's hand; he immediately felt the chills that clutched her skin. She had to spend those days in the cold; all camp like this was unlikely to have any heating systems.

"So…Where did you come from?" - The woman wondered. "Is there another safe place? Is there food, is? Isre…"

"Yes, there is food and warmth as well. I'm Jullus pyr Norbanus, the second in command of lord Quintus van Cinna, the Legatus of the Ist Legion." - He explained and immediately noticed yet another shock in her eyes.

"Lord van Cinna… He's alive?" - She spoke in a hopeful voice as a faint, twisted, yet undeniable smile emerged on her face.

"Indeed, he is leading the Garlean remnants at Tertium, the underground station." - The soldier explained. "My associate over here and I were searching for food and other recourses in the abandoned camps, granted his machine makes it much easier…I didn't expect to find any survivors. What's your name?"

"Licinia…"

"Are there any others with you, Licinia?"

"No…" - The woman shook her head frantically. "There were…I escaped with my sister and hid here with a few men we found along the way, but the food was getting scarce; they tried to get more some time ago and did not return. And my sister, she, she…" - Tears fell down Licinia's eyes as she looked down to the snow once again. "She was sick, and I couldn't help. I had nothing, I couldn't, I…"

"I'm sorry…" - Jullus spoke quietly after taking a deep breath. "When…When did the others die?"

"The men left almost a week ago, and my sister…She died three days ago." - If only Jullus and Cid had checked this direction a few days earlier, they might have saved them both, perhaps even all of them. But it was too late now, and he had to watch yet another broken soul cry out in loneliness as she lost everyone and everything that was dear to her.

"Blast it…" - Jullus clenched his fist in anger at his own mistake, even though there was no way of knowing where the survivors would be. "I'm sorry we didn't come earlier, I truly am…But it's alright now; you're safe. Does your camp have any supplies left?"

"No…I tried to gather some today, but the temper attacked me and…I didn't expect them to be this ferocious." - That much was true. Their activity rose in the last few days as if there weren't enough problems for the garleans to deal with.

"And the bodies?"

"I buried her…I don't know where the others are." - Licinia responded meekly.

"I see…There isn't much left here, then, but at least we've found you." - Jullus sighed. "We can take you to Tertium; there's food, heat, and survivors from all around Garlemald there; you'd be welcomed there."

"I…" - Licinia looked around, looking at the ailing camp she was leaving behind as a few more tears fell off her face. "I hoped she would survive, I believed…"

"She wouldn't want you to die out here, stranded and alone."

"I know, I know… It's just… I'm sorry, Flavia… I'm so…" - Her faint voice broke once again; it was never easy to leave their loved ones behind, and Jullus understood it more than anyone.

"Do you need a moment?"

"It's alright…" - Licinia wiped her tears and looked around. "I'll go."

Jullus responded with a silent nod before turning around towards the N-Warrior.

"Buckle up, Garlond. She's coming with us."

"No problem, just warn her that there aren't any spare 'seats,' per se…"

"Of course." - Jullus turned to Licinia. "Unfortunately, the cockpit only has a place for one inside it. He'll carry us in his hands."

"Wait…Did you say Garlond? Cid Garlond?"

"Ah, yes…Yes, it's him."

"But… He's the defector; I thought he was with the Alliance!" - Licinia recoiled. "Are you with them, too? Are you here to take me prisoner, are you…"

"No, I just want to help!" - Jullus raised his voice slightly.

"At ease, girl." - Cid's voice rang from behind, garnering Licinia's attention. "I came here with the Alliance, but I'm not with them currently. I'm helping Quintus and Jullus at Tertium entirely of my own volition. There's no lie here."

"But why…Why would you? You're one of them!"

"Because I'm a Garlean, too…And the differences that divided us in the past don't matter anymore." - He spoke grimly. "I'm not leaving my people to freeze to death, no matter how stubborn they act."

"Please, Licinia, we mean you no harm." - Jullus swore, hoping that she would see reason. Eventually, the girl eased up and took a few steps toward him.

"Alright, but…I want to know what happened while I was here."

"Of course, I'll tell you everything, but I'd rather do that in a place that isn't freezing. I assume it's much the same for you."

"Y…Yes." - Licinia sighed, surrendering to fate. There was no reason to linger in the frozen wastelands any longer. Tertium beckoned. Licinia needed a place to feel at home in, and a report to Lord Quintus was overdue.

…

Their path back to Tertium did not take long; thanks to Cid's invention, they could travel across the frozen lands of Garlemald with incredible speed. Licinia journeyed together with them, and it was Jullus's job to make her feel at ease. He knew that the woman would not let her guard down until she got her proof that he was not a spy from the Alliance. Before the fall, Jullus would've been offended at the insinuation that he was in any way connected to the savages, but after all, he had seen, all he could do was sigh; he understood her pain and fear better than anyone. When they were stranded amidst the snow, it was a difficult choice between accepting help from the savages or even from Solus after his true intentions had been revealed and dying like the people Jullus saw in other camps. In the end, they chose survival, even if it came at a cost. Licinia had to make this choice, too.

He could see the fear in her eyes as the N-Warrior took off; the only place Cid could afford was the machina's other hand. Even if using magitek creations to travel both across roads and skies has not been uncommon for any garlean, having to experience the chilling wind blowing into your face as it became a hurricane due to the speed of ascension was different. Licinia held tight, even though it wasn't necessary, and soon they were on their way. Jullus warned his lord of their return shortly beforehand, and when they finally returned to the station, the old man awaited them with two soldiers clad in ebon armor behind his back. His gaze was fixated upon the machina from the moment it emerged in the skies; the old Legatus watched its every move with his signature look of distrust, though in recent days, this look was more often being replaced by the one of tiredness and ache.

When the machina landed, Cid immediately let Jullus and Licinia go, putting the two on the snowy grounds between himself and Quintus. The young woman was shocked to see Quintus before her in the flesh; even after what Jullus revealed to her, she must've been unprepared to accept it just yet. But now, there was no denial.

"Lord van Cinna… You're alive!" - Licinia exclaimed with joy, taking a few rushed steps toward the Legatus. Few knew him personally, but all of Garlemald had heard of him as a talented warrior and one of closest friends to their former Emperor, Varis.

"Alive, aye…" - Quintus responded quietly as if he couldn't quite accept this himself. After momentary shame, the Legatus looked up once again. "And you, I assume, are the one survivor from the Victor's Spoils Jullus told me about?"

"Y…Yes." - Licinia took a deep breath. "I didn't know there was anyone else left. I thought they got them all, I thought we were done for, that we…"

"Rest assured, many still remain." - Quintus interrupted her with a calm yet dismissive tone. He saw that the woman needed rest and was not calm enough for discussion, and Quintus was never the one to waste time listening to empty outcries. The man turned back towards his soldiers. "Take her to others; she needs some rest, as well as time to her, used to her new surroundings."

"At once, milord. Follow us." - One of the guards spoke to Licinia; the woman nodded and walked along with them, leaving the three alone. Jullus was eager to descend to the Tertium and take a break from the freezing cold, but he could see Quintus's eyes sliding toward him. The Legatus wanted to talk, likely to discuss Jullus's new findings. Before they could begin, however, the N-Warrior's cockpit opened, and Cid jumped out into the snow. Since their first meeting during the Alliance's arrival, their relationship hardly improved. Quintus did not enjoy Garlond's presence in Tertium yet tolerated it because of his garlean heritage. He might have been a traitor who sided with the savages, but their blood still circulated in his veins. Of course, the fact that Cid brought a handy machina with him played a role, too, yet Quintus would never admit to it out of pride.

"Not many supplies this time, I'm afraid." - Cid shook his head with disappointment as he gazed at Quintus, only to be met with similar dissatisfaction. "We've scoured a few camps, but what little we found was frozen and rotten, won't do anything apart from poisoning your men."

"Then do a better job next time."

"Not like we're not trying to." - Cid shrugged. "But we have found most of what there was to find, and rest is no good. If you truly want a stable source of supplies, you know exactly where to find it."

"No."

"Some things don't change, do they? "

"I said no. Now go and prepare for your next assignment." - Quintus scoffed at Cid, not even bothering to hide his distaste. The feeling must have been mutual for Garlond, yet once again, the cataclysm forced former enemies to work together to prolong their world's existence, to give their people a few more days of life, for what little worth it had. At least having a steady flow of supplies would keep them from turning into blasphemies.

Although Jullus wondered if Cid's continued attempts to persuade Quintus to resume their negotiations with Lucia and the Ilsabard Contingent for supplies were made purely out of habit or if he truly believed that the old Legatus would change his mind. As Cid left for the underground, Jullus and Quintus were left alone.

"He is not letting go of his hopes…" - Quintus sighed.

"As long as he helps, I think it's for the best to take it patiently."

"You're right. Let's go; I want to hear details about what you've discovered."

As Quintus and Jullus began their descent down the metal path leading into the depth of Tertium, the last bastion of the Ist, there were questions to be answered. The Legatus was intrigued by the news.

"So, I take it that apart from Licinia, you have only found more tempered?" - Quintus wondered.

"Yes, Milord. Much more than we've begun our searches. Almost in every camp, on the borders of the capital city and even outside… Victor's Spoils are far from the city; I wouldn't expect any of them to reach it, and yet they did…" - Since Anima's demise, the tempered would not hesitate to attack, yet the forces of both Ilsabard contingent and the Ist Legion succeeded at throwing them back. For a time, they believed that it was the end of this trouble, but they were proven wrong.

"There have been more tempered wandering close to Tertium as my other scouts have reported…It seems their activity has increased all throughout Garlemald."

"But why now? What could've changed since we defeated Anima?"

"I don't know…But it is only a matter of time before they attack Tertium again." - Quintus spoke with a grim tone. "We must prepare. Have everyone who is able to fight on their feet and armed, and I expect Garlond to make the best use of his machina."

"And the Alliance?"

"What of them?" - Quintus spoke with suspicion. Ever since their parting and the moment Final Days were unleashed, the numbers of those who stayed at Camp Broken Glass were thinned, and many wished to return home and defend their own cities from the grip of the Final Days. Those who stayed were led by Lucia as she continued with her attempts to establish some kind of truce with the Garleans, a suggestion to which Quintus did not take kindly. Their conflict resulted in a stalemate where neither side communicated with the other except for Cid's occasional travels.

"We might need to cooperate for a while. After all, they will get attacked, too."

"No, not again." - Quintus shook his head and dismissed Jullus, an expected response.

"I am not saying we should surrender to their mercy, but…What if what we have here will simply prove not enough?"

"It is our job to make sure that it is enough. Understood?"

"I am not sure if…"

"Understood?"

"Yes, Milord."

"Good. I have other matters to look into, and I would expect your help with them soon enough. There is a lot to keep up with; our people must be prepared."

"Anytime, lord Quintus. I'm at your disposal."

"Go take a break. I'll call you when I need you. Dismissed."

With those words, the Legatus and his second-in-command parted. Jullus was ready to work day and night to help their people, but even he had to admit that he longed for a break. From time to time, Jullus wanted to spend some moments with his people and talk about their past, their losses, and their grief…Ironically enough, this was the only way they could bond. Through stories of the lives, they led before the cataclysm and suffering were forced upon them, before the tears and loss that each and every one of them experienced. In this pain, they would offer each other a shoulder to lean on, to be someone who would listen and understand. If it wasn't for their camaraderie, it would not take long for most of them to turn.

He never really knew who he would encounter in those wretched halls, what would be yet another heart-wrenching story he would hear from others. Most simply accepted their eventual fate would be oblivion and did not care to fight for their survival. In a twist of irony, this acceptance, this peace they have made with whatever comes next, was likely preventing them from transforming, for there was no panic nor anger in it, no burning despair. How hard must it be for those in Eorzea…When the Final Days were unleashed, they were still hopeful for a better future. The hopes of the Garleans were crushed before the seal was broken.

"Get away from me!" - Jullus heard a loud voice from the nearby wall, causing him to turn around immediately. He saw an old woman clutching her visibly broken radio as Cid stood in front of her.

"Calm down. I mean, you no harm. I heard you say you needed this repaired; I can help you. I know how it works… I've constructed that and more in my academy days." - Cid tried to persuade her, yet the woman would hear none of it.

"I don't need your help, traitor; we've had enough of you!" - She clawed at him while moving aside. Eventually, the inventor must have realized that it was hopeless, and Jullus heard him let out a sigh of disappointment. Cid moved aside to the nearby wall, sitting down in solitude while looking at the metal floor. Soon, he took out something from his pocket, a small device colored in crimson, and looked at it, consumed by his own thoughts.

Jullus didn't know what it was he wished to discuss with Cid, yet he moved toward the inventor, causing him to notice his presence.

"Come to ask for help so soon?" - Cid let out a faint smile.

"No, not really."

"Bah, fair enough. I suppose that's just wishful thinking on my part."

"People around here still don't trust you, do they?" - Jullus walked towards Cid while looking around; all the refugees in this section of the room kept their distance away from the engineer as if expecting him to try and slaughter them any moment.

"Doesn't seem like it'll change anytime soon, and all I want is to offer some bloody help…" - Cid scoffed but eventually got himself under control. "I understand it, I suppose. It's no easy task to trust a defector.

"I will be honest…Were I you, I would've already left."

"I did consider it once or twice."

"And still stayed here."

"Aye, I guess sentimentality got the better of me for once…Or maybe…Huh." - Cid chuckled quietly and looked at his device once again. "Who knows? All that matters is that we're in this together."

"What…What is this?" - Jullus's curiosity got the better of him as he sat on the faintly heated floor beside Cid.

"Oh, I wish I'd known." - The inventor shrugged with disappointment. A trinket that Biggs and Wedge on…Well, near the place of my fri… Nero's demise."

"Nero? Nero tol Scaeva, the XIVth's second-in-command?"

"Yes, him." - Cid nodded, speaking in a hoarse voice full of faint regret. "He was there when the first seeds of the Final Days arose, as was I; we saw Fandaniel making his twisted announcement…But even then, we didn't know how bloody insane all of this would turn out."

"How did it begin? For Eorzea, I mean." - Others wouldn't approve of Jullus's curiosity towards the savages, yet he could not help it.

"It all began with a conflict with the VIIth of the Empire and its Legatus, Valens van Varro, as he unleashed his weapons upon us."

"I heard of him, the weapons' project with which the VIIth planned to conquer Eorzea." - If only they could do it sooner, they might have spoken on entirely different terms now.

"You sound…Proud."

"And I shouldn't? Those weapons were strong enough to change the tide of war from what I heard of them."

"And have you heard that Valens wished to use them to claim the throne? Or that he was working with Fandaniel?"

"What?!" - Jullus recoiled in shock.

"There are many things you don't get told. Valens was a madman who didn't care for people, including his own. His path was one of destruction, and he thought not exactly in the way he wanted…It still got realized by Fandaniel. Me, Gaius, and Nero had to work with Eorzeans to mitigate the damage, especially when the towers arose."

"Gaius was there, too?" - There were many tales that Jullus heard of the rogue Legatus. For a time, the world presumed him dead, yet soon the rumors of the lone ascian hunter began to arise all around the Empire. Many refused to believe that it was Gaius back in the day, most believed him to be loyal to the Empire and expected him to return to his fatherland at the first opportunity. And then the assassination happened, and it was Gaius who got blamed for murdering their Emperor. Now Jullus knew those rumors to be false, but Gaius still defected and joined the Alliance, even if it was as a temporary ally.

"That he was, and it was an especially grievous endeavor for him…Having two of his orphans die, one of them right before his eyes, a terrible loss, one I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy."

"He fought for his family, then…A worthy cause, I suppose." - Jullus responded with a tone of quiet mockery. He understood Gaius's reasons, yet the fact that he chose to abandon Garlemald instead of rejoining his people during this darkest hour was a betrayal Jullus couldn't forgive just yet. "And how did Nero die?" - He couldn't help but still maintain his curiosity about Nero's last moments. Once a respected general and engineer in the Garlean military, then reduced to a lone defector. Would his final moments be of a warrior or a coward?

"Died to save us all…When Fandaniel launched the Diamond Weapon, it was completely unleashed; no one could control this sheer destructive force. It was hungry for the aether, and nothing would stand in their way, all because of the oversoul, the technology that allowed to merge the pilot's conscience with the data of Garlean generals and 'heroes' that was implanted in there…The Diamond's was Zenos." - Even hearing this name made Jullus's blood boil. To look into his eyes at the Tower of Babil, his uncaring, cruel eyes, to see how apathetic he was to his nation's destruction, how it was nothing more than a means to an end to him, an end he didn't even achieve. Yet to have the bloodthirstiness and vigor he once displayed imbuing a machine would undoubtedly result in a terrifying display of force. "Nero piloted the Ruby Weapon, one we took hold of earlier. He defeated the Diamond Weapon, but that required consuming one of the towers…And activating his own oversoul. Enough power to end the unstoppable machine, a sacrifice that many wouldn't believe he was capable of…I believed. I just hoped it would not come to this." - Cid sighed as he looked at the device before him, staring into it as if enthralled by it. "This is what was found in the Ruby weapon, still intact surprisingly…Wedge said that the oversoul figure protected it for some reason more than any other part of the weapon, even vital ones. It wasn't concerned with its own survival, but it was concerned with keeping this safe…And I have yet to figure out why." - Cid spoke quietly; his voice was on the verge of breaking when he mentioned his friend. Jullus wasn't there and did not know Nero personally, there was little he could say to soothe him, and yet this served as a reminder that this cataclysm made everyone lose someone that was dear to them. Family, friends, lovers…Even the traitors and those in the Alliance were not spared from such tragedies. And whatever he might have thought of him, such death was courageous and noble in its own right, no matter who it was he protected.

"He died like a true soldier…He earned his peace."

"That he did…He would've wanted us to earn ours too. That's why we need to fight." - Cid spoke with newfound resolve as he clenched his fist. With this, Jullus could not argue. They might have wallowed in pity from time to time, cursing Zenos, Solus, and fate itself that they brought it upon them, yet most did not choose to end their lives, which meant that there was something still worth fighting for. Was there something in the end? A light that will make this struggle worth it?

Jullus dreaded to find out.

…

Jullus remembered the day when he ran. Ran across the streets of a scorched Garlean capital where the battles raged. Once again, tragedy befell their people, and once again, they had to fight for their survival. Jullus remembered hearing the news about Varis's death and Nerva's claim to the throne that Quintus rejected. The news of Gaius's return and his conspiracies with Eorzeans, the news of hostilities breaking out in the capital. The day when Jullus stood by the side of his Legatus, bracing himself for another war. A war in which there would be no victor, a war that was orchestrated by the meddling ascian and their treacherous prince to destroy the entire world, Garlemald being the first pillar to fall.

He remembered fighting, slaughtering his countrymen, and bloodying his blade with the corpses of soldiers in the IIIrd. His comrades and his brothers were declared enemies the moment they dared to march against the crown. They battled beneath the burning buildings and collapsed magitek reapers as the fire spread across their homeland, claiming countless innocent lives. There was no mercy from either side. When did they become those animals? How did they fall so low as to become the savages they despised, beginning to tear each other apart without a single attempt at negotiation and mediation? Jullus believed this to be a nightmare, yet it this far from the worst of it. The true horror began when the sound came. A sound Jullus was spared from, as well as his closest comrades in the Ist. The moment when the wave of tempering swirled through Garlemald, the moment their war was no longer between the Legions but between those of free mind and tempered thralls, the latter outnumbering the former. He remembered listening to the stories of their own men turning on their comrades like wild beasts, attempting to tear them apart. They had to be put down like the dead men they were.

Jullus was always loyal to his Legatus, always listened to his orders, and obeyed them without question. Yet that day, he disobeyed his order. Quintus said that he would, under any circumstance, allow Jullus to go to the capital; he ordered him to stay by his side, claiming that those people were already lost and that Jullus's life was much more valuable. And yet he still ran, for his family was stranded amidst this chaos.

He remembered charging through the collapsing city, desperately avoiding the sight of the nearby twisted ones. How he took a pause before every corner, desperately hoping that he would not be met with another temper. Sometimes those hope proved futile, and he had to fight, once again bloodying his blade with the blood of his comrades. They couldn't be saved. They were beyond hope, Jullus told himself…And yet still, he felt despair with every life he took.

Eventually, he reached his house, a place which he always saw as a respite from his battles and service, a place where his family would always await him and welcome him with open arms. Now it was burning. Jullus stood there for a moment, unable to force himself to go in, unable to even accept the thought that when he sees his family, they might be already tempered. He did not want to see them suffer, he promised to take them away from the battlefield and guide them to a safe place, he swore…

His waking moment was when Jullus heard the roof of a nearby building collapse from the flames; the time was short. Not thinking of the consequences, the so, died rushed into his home without a second thought. There was no strength left in him even to anticipate anything. For even in his worst fears, Jullus could not predict what it was that he witnessed.

"Mother, father?" - Jullus shouted with a faint hope lingering in his quivering voice. There was no response. All he could see were halls buried in a deep mess. All the items were scattered over the floor with cracks, broken vases, and a toy sword that belonged to his brother.

And then he heard a sound coming from the bedroom. An eerie, inhuman gulp pierced his ears akin to a horrifying gunshot. This animalistic echo sounded familiar, even if it was only vaguely. With shaking hands and trembling hearts, Jullus stepped to the door. He witnessed a gruesome picture. Four garleans blindly stumble around the room, letting out faint wordless sounds from time to time. His parents and siblings, stripped of their humanity, looked at him with empty and broken eyes, in which there was not a single trace of hope or a desire to live. Jullus stood speechless as desperation clutched his heart, slowly tearing his very soul apart. He wanted to throw his gunblade down, to fall on his knees and beg them to remember him, to open their eyes and retain their sanity so they could escape together, even if he knew that was impossible. Perhaps he did…

He remembered his father attacking him, growling like a beast as he jumped at his own son, eager to pierce his flesh. Jullus remembered contemplating giving in, allowing him to kill the soldier. Perhaps that was all that was needed to wake up from this nightmare, a nightmare that would only become worse until it drove him insane, turning into a miserable being that would envy the tempered.

And yet there was a gunshot. Jullus didn't remember if he had the gall to press it himself or if his maddened father did so accidentally while trying to claw through Jullus's clothes. He remembered a single bullet piercing his father, forcing him to fall on the floor beside him while he choked on his own blood, unable to breathe. His father, his mentor, the man he held in the highest regard, was now lying dead before him. He didn't have the time nor the will to look, but he wept. Wept as he crawled towards the room, looking at his mother, brother, and sister. They were weak, all cowering beside the bed and hissing at Jullus. Was it fear, hatred, or simple instincts? What was it that the tempering implanted into them?

"P…Please…" - Jullus's tears swelled down his eyes as he begged them once more. His mother was a woman who raised him and was always there to give him affection and love. His brother, who always looked up to Jullus, always aspired to become a famed warrior for his family and people. And his sister, a bright-eyed girl who was always eager to explore this world, to learn something new, who sought excitement without fear in her heart, even at such a young age. "Please…Come…Come with me, I…We… It's…Please…" - He looked away, clutched his head with his hands, burying his eyes in an all-encompassing darkness.

And then the beast emerged before his eyes. The twisted monster he saw in the Tower crept into the shadows of his own mind. A mockery of their Emperor, a mockery of everything Garlemald stood for, a mockery of everything they have built. The beast that longed for more souls, more fuel for it to mindlessly consume, a beast whose eyes gleamed. Its twisted limbs engrossed Jullus, pushing him further into oblivion. Just another soul to be consumed, another soul to join the fray, another empty prayer that will become a nightmare. His personal nightmare, from which there will be no escape. The beast opened its jaw, ready to plunge its teeth into Jullus.

And then he heard three more gunshots.

…

Once again, Jullus woke up in cold sweat, shaking and reeling from his nightmare. His heavy breaths echoed through the abandoned cart, and thankfully, there was no one close enough to notice. He won't be able to sleep anymore, not today. The soldier got up slowly, looking towards the floor and not letting out a single sound. He just breathed as the horrifying thoughts loomed in his head. He thought he accepted this loss; he thought he was able to let go…Yet every other night, it returned, poisoning him once again, forcing him to continue drowning in this pain and agony. Jullus wondered how it was even possible that he did not turn yet, how could he still carry on despite losing everything, everyone…

The soldier remembered the moment of his return to Tertium. A broken, shivering man whose tears froze on his cheeks, who could barely hold a weapon or even walk. A man who murdered his entire family, who foolishly believed that they could be saved until the last moment, who disobeyed his Legatus's orders only to return empty-handed and ashamed. He remembered Quintus looking at him with a stern gaze as Jullus fell to his knees before him. The old Legatus spoke no words, yet his eyes shifted soon. He looked at Jullus with pain that he shared, with an echoing sorrow that now burned bright in the soldier's heart. What little judgment there was in Quintus's eyes was immediately expunged when he realized what had happened. Jullus didn't remember if Quintus spoke much, only remembered him extending his loyal soldier a hand.

"Come…We will not let their deaths be in vain."

Those were the only words he remembered. These were the words he would keep with himself until now. How could he not let their deaths be in vain when all they lived for was now doomed? Yet, for some reason, Jullus still wished to carry on, no matter how painful the road would be.

His musings, however, came to an abrupt end as the alarm pierced his ears. The intrusive sound forced the soldier to wake up and jump, preparing for whatever was to come. This must have meant that the tempered finally reached Tertium, yet Jullus was relieved to hear it. Better to drench himself in the blood of his former allies than to muse on his own family's demise.

When Jullus left the train, he noticed a squad of Garlean soldiers rushing upwards towards the entrance, fully armed and prepared to fight. Jullus was quick to join them, clutching his sword and ready to protect his people and risk his own life for it.

"What's the situation?" - He asked the nearby soldier, his voice still tired and faint.

"Our guards spotted intruders coming to the station; some of them tempered. We need to protect others!"

"Some of them?"

"That's what they said…It seems they are fighting between each other."

Could this be true? Were they upon discovering other survivors? Jullus would not hesitate to find out. If there were more, perhaps there was still hope that there were other camps, perhaps some that hid underground as well, some other garleans that escaped the nightmare.

When the squad found themselves outside, they witnessed a peculiar picture. Four Garlean warriors were fighting the three remaining tempered. The distinction between them was clear and immediate; the tempered behaved like beasts that desperately scoured for prey, while the soldiers maintained their stance and battled like the true warriors of Garlemald. Especially notable was the warrior clad in black armor, carrying a greatsword with a helmet covering his head. He fought relentlessly, cutting down the tempered right before Jullus's eyes; no mercy nor holding back could be seen in his resolve, as well as his soldiers. Before Jullus and others could even join the battle, those warriors finished the remaining tempered off, pushing them into the ground, slicing their throats, and piercing their hearts.

When there were no thralls left around, the mysterious soldiers turned towards the others, with the black-armored knight stepping forward. Jullus took out his blade, standing in front of the Tertium entrance. It was clear that those soldiers were Garlean and not tempered, yet he couldn't know if they were hostile or not.

"Stay where you are!" - Jullus commanded. "Who are you?"

"Lower your weapons." - The black-armored knight spoke in a commanding tone. "I have not come here for conflict but to talk."

"And who are you?"

The warrior took his helm off before Jullus, exposing his face. A pale-skinned man with green eyes and short black hair, the same color as his armor. A face that Jullus recognized from countless pictures he saw.

"Y…You?!"

"Recognized me, I take it." - The man smiled with pride. "Is Quintus van Cinna still alive?"

"That…That he is."

"Good. Go and call him forth if you don't want to allow me in. Tell him Nerva yae Galvus wishes to talk."