Another double feature because this one connects directly to the last one. Also it's a shorty.
So a little fyi, if I had to pick a voice for S'eni it would probably be Cherami Leigh or Marina Inoue, depening on the dub. Leaning more towards the latter because Ai Kayano is just pure sex. But feel free to read her in any voice you like.
Nocturnal Visit
Minfilia Warde. Antecedent of the Path of the Twelve, founder of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and blessed by Hydaelyn.
An Ala Mhigan refugee like so many others, but unlike the vast majority of them, wished for more than just a liberated homeland. Her wish was for all of Eorzea to know peace, and the conviction inside her heart was strong enough that she persevered while others belittled her. Until finally, after years of hard work, she had managed to earn the respect of the Eorzean elite.
It was something one had to admire.
And pity...
S'eni was lying on her bed, eyes staring up at the stone ceiling above, a frown on her face. After she had returned to the Waking Sands, she had reported all of what had happened in Gridania to Minfilia.
The news had greatly troubled the other woman, that much had been apparent, but with no further leads to go on, there was nothing else they could do but call it a night.
"We will just have to wait until another lead springs up. Get some rest. You above everyone else deserve it," she had said to her.
That had been an hour ago, and while she felt utterly exhausted, sleep seemed to elude her. This whole Ascian situation, as well as those confusing visions, made her mind run well past what she knew was good for her.
"Come on, girl. You need to sleep," she chided herself, rolling onto her side and slamming her eyes shut. But she only lasted for a few minutes before grabbing her pillow and flinging it across the room with a growl.
Jumping out of her bed, she padded over to her desk and sat down, taking a match to ignite the candle inside the lamp standing next to a book that rested on top of it.
With light flooding the room once more, S'eni turned her attention to the tome in front of her, opening it up at the page she had last read.
She had started reading it a week ago, after having received it from Urianger during a quiet moment.
"If thou desireth to learn more about the nature of the Echo, then this tome mayhap hold the answers thou seeketh," he had told her. "May it help on thine quest for knowledge."
S'eni had to shake her head. She liked Urianger well enough, but he was hard to talk to sometimes, often using more words than were strictly necessary to explain something.
Individuals bestowed with the power of the Echo have reported to be able to see memories of others, bearing witness to events that happened in years, even decades past as if they were present themselves; like a silent witness watching from afar, she read in her mind, tapping a finger on the desk. That read very similar to most of her visions, where she felt like part of it, yet always as a spectator.
But what about those other visions that haunted her?
The ones that lasted only a moment, yet struck with the intensity of a frenzied Behemoth.
Leaning back, S'eni stared back up at the ceiling, watching the shadows dance across with the flicker of the flame. She placed a foot against the base of the desk and started to rock her chair back and forth in hopes that it would jog her brain.
But try as she might, she couldn't make rhyme or reason of it all. Was there something different about her?
Y'shtola did say the Echo could manifest differently within an individual...
S'eni's musing came to an abrupt end when a knock sounded on her door. Taken completely by surprise, her foot slipped just as she was rocking backwards. She waved her arms around, trying desperately to regain her balance, but it was already too late and she tumbled onto the floor with the grace of a wet sack of popotos, doing a little roll before coming to lie face-first on the brand new carpet she had just bought the other day.
Seven hells!
"S'eni?" a voice called through the door, a hint of confusion in it.
Minfilia?
Pushing herself up, she spat out some lint before calling back. "Come in!"
The door opened and Minfilia stepped in. She had shed her usual outfit for something more comfortable and her hair hung loosely around her shoulders.
"I saw light burning and—why are you on the floor?" she asked as she saw the Miqo'te sitting on the floor.
"Not important!" S'eni replied immediately, jumping to her feet and putting the chair back into place in record time. "You were saying?"
Minfilia blinked once, her eyebrows slowly rising, but thankfully didn't pursue the question. "I saw light from underneath the door and was wondering if you were still awake."
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep," S'eni said. "Too many things going through my head right now."
"I understand," Minfilia replied. "With everything going on, I find it hard to sleep as well."
"Is that why you're wandering the halls this late?"
The other woman nodded. "I was going to take a walk, in hopes the fresh air would ease my mind." With a smile, she added. "Would you like to accompany me?"
S'eni looked at her, then towards the book resting on her desk, then back at Minfilia.
Smiling, she nodded. "Sure."
She grabbed her boots and put them on, before leaving her room with the other woman, careful not to disturb any other member of the Scions that had decided to stay here for the night as they headed outside.
The usually busy Vesper Bay was empty, its inhabitants all having turned in for the night, and it was mostly silent apart from the sound of the sea pervading the air.
They walked up the stairs into the direction of the main plaza, where the statue of Syndicate member Lolorito Nanarito stood for all to see. S'eni had to wonder what the man himself would think of the fact that his likeness more often than not served as a place for birds to crap on.
She very much doubted that he would be amused.
Minfilia walked over to one of the benches and sat down on it, turning her gaze upward towards the night's sky.
"Five years..." S'eni heard her mumble as she sat down next to her.
"Hm?"
"Nothing." Minfilia shook her head a tiny smile, turning to look at her. "I've been meaning to ask this for some time now, but how do you feel about the work we're doing?"
S'eni's ears rose together with her eyebrows. She hadn't expected a question like this. Crossing her arms, it was now her turn to glance at the stars above, and she had to wonder what secrets they might hold.
"I think what we're doing is good. With the state Eorzea is in, it needs someone like the Scions," S'eni said after a while. "But I would be lying if I said these past few weeks haven't been sobering."
"I know. Believe me, these past five years have taught me many lessons in that regard," Minfilia replied, her face becoming serious. "The wounds Eorzea suffered were not just physical. And the road to recovery is a slow one."
"And then there are people who want to make a profit out of that suffering." As she had seen more than once now.
"Yes." Minfilia looked over towards the statue. "There are..."
A moment of silence passed between them until Minfilia spoke up again. "Thank you..."
S'eni tilted her head questioningly.
"For standing by our side."
She was about to retort with a little joke but stopped when she saw the sincerity reflected in those steel-blue eyes. Her lips curling into a smile, S'eni nodded. "You're welcome."
"And if there's anything I can help you with, please do not hesitate to ask."
For a second, she considered asking her about those other visions she had been having, but Minfilia already had enough on her platter and S'eni didn't want to add to that. Another time.
After a few more minutes of simply enjoying the night's air, the two rose to their feet and headed back to the Waking Sands.
"You know," Minfilia said once they arrived at S'eni's room, stifling a yawn. "I think this really helped. I should be able to sleep now."
"Me too."
The other woman gave her a small smile. "Maybe we can do this again sometime. Next time you can tell me a little bit about yourself."
"There's really not a lot to tell I'm afraid," S'eni replied with a shrug. "You'd probably find it all pretty boring."
"Let me be the judge of that," Minfilia said and raised her hand in parting. "Have a good night."
"Good night." S'eni watched her walk down the hallway and turn around the corner, before heading back inside. Her eyes immediately landed on the book resting on her desk, but she only shook her head and instead made for her bed, kicking off her boots and leaving them carelessly lying on the ground.
Her head had barely hit her pillow when, finally, fatigue started to get the better of her and she fell into a well-deserved sleep.
Not far from her, the Antecedent was leaning against the inside of her door, eyes closed tightly. A sigh made its way past her lips.
"What am I supposed to do?" she asked in hopes of receiving an answer.
But none came.
That's it for this week. See you on monday!