A chapter today, since I'm not sure if I'm able to upload on Friday.
A Friend amidst the Cold
After Titan was defeated, the Scions fell prey to the forces conspiring against them. It was over before they knew what happened, and by the time the Warrior of Light arrived on the scene, all she could do was count the dead and seek refuge in a church.
There she found...me. Or who I thought I was at the time. Memories are funny, but I'll get to that later.
After the dead were given a proper burial, and young Master Alphinaud was able to jog some of my wayward memories, we decided to travel together.
Our travels took us right into Coerthas, and let me tell you, the snow wasn't the only cold reception we were given.
A sigh passed her lips as S'eni flopped down at the table inside the room that had been provided to them as the hour had grown late. Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead on the rough wood.
She was utterly exhausted.
The Holy See of Ishgard definitely earned its reputation of being untrusting of outsiders. And just when it looked like they might have finally made progress, the one lord that had been willing to help them on their search was being accused of heresy.
Why can't things ever be simple? She asked herself.
"Cheer up, friend." Her ears twitched, prompting her to look up to see Cid as he took his seat opposite of her, running a hand through his white beard. "At least we're out of this blasted cold, and we made an ally too."
That was true.
The man in charge of Camp Dragonhead was oddly welcoming of them despite being strangers and had been quick to invite them to stay as guests of House Fortemps after he had read the letter from Lord Francel.
"Things can only go up from here, you mean?" she asked.
He only shrugged, a wry smile forming on his face. "A nice meal would be a good start, don't you think?"
As if on cue, the door opened to reveal none other than Alphinaud, carrying a tray with three bowls and loaves of bread on it. Steam was rising from them, and S'eni could smell the scent of herbs in the air.
"With regards from Lord Haurchefant and the kitchen staff," he said, placing the tablet on the table.
"Hah!" A grin split Cid's face as he took the offered bowl and spoon.
"Thank you, Master Alphinaud," S'eni said when she received hers. It was a rich, creamy-looking stew that made her mouth water.
"Please, just call me Alphinaud. I believe we're past formalities by now," the younger man said with a smile while sitting down.
S'eni mirrored the expression and nodded, taking a spoonful of the stew. It was heavy and savory, the fatty meat blending with the herbs in a tasty mix of homely warmth.
"Now that we have a quiet moment, we should discuss how to proceed next," Alphinaud said after his first spoon.
"It would probably be a good idea to make ourselves useful somehow. A military camp like this always has something that needs to be done or is in need of fixing," Cid replied, grabbing one of the small loaves of bread and tearing a piece out that he dunked into the stew.
"I agree. Lord Haurchefant has shown us great kindness today, and it can only help to get into the good graces of his troops." Alphinaud looked at S'eni. "What do you think?"
"Mhm," She hummed around a spoonful of stew and nodded again. It beat sitting around and twiddling their thumbs while the young lord did his inquiries.
While Alphinaud and Cid continued to talk, S'eni quietly watched her companions, cherry pink eyes focusing on the young Elezen.
When she had first met the boy, she couldn't get a handle on him, his calm and mature behaviour belying his age of 16, but now that she had spent the last few days in his company, S'eni was starting to get a feel for him.
He was smart, well-spoken, and charismatic on top of that, but there was also the hint of a big ego that you would expect from a confident boy his age.
Her eyes moved over to the older man.
Now Cid was more complicated, given that he had no memories other than his name and skills. How strange that must feel, to have large chunks of your life simply missing. She could tell he was frustrated by it.
But regardless of that, he seemed to be an honest and good-natured fellow. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she was missing here...
S'eni shook her head. She could think about that some other time, for now, she needed to stay focused on the task ahead.
After they had finished their meals, the three of them decided it would be best to retire for the night. The first to fall asleep had been Cid, who was out shortly after his head had come to rest on the Chocobo down pillow. Alphinaud was soon to follow, his soft breathing joining together with Cid's snoring as it echoed through the room.
Only S'eni remained awake, lying on her side and looking at the flames dancing inside the small fireplace that provided them with warmth. Now that they were having a moment's respite, she found her mind wandering back to a few days ago when she had returned to the Waking Sands, only to find corpses strewn across the hallways.
The sight had made her blood run cold, and she fully expected to find Minfilia dead as well when she entered her office. But only Noraxia was there. As the dying sylph was lying in her arms, the Echo had given her a vision of what transpired. And while it was a relief to know that Minfilia and the others were alive, being prisoners of the Garleans was little better.
Yet, there was still a glimmer of hope. She had to hold onto that.
With a sigh, S'eni looked over her shoulder to make sure her companions were well and truly asleep, before rising from her bed.
Leaving the room, she made her way down the hallway and left the building. A shiver went through her as she stepped into the cold night, her breath forming little clouds with every exhale, and she looked around for a moment until she had found what she was looking for.
Camp Dragonhead was almost empty, with only a few soldiers manning the walls and gates, stoically standing guard even in this cold. The snow crunched under every step she took as she walked towards the corner of the camp where the troops would train during the day.
Coming to stand in front of one of the dummies, S'eni reached her hand out, running it over every cut and stab mark that had been left in it by diligent training.
Not perfect, but it would have to do.
After doing a few warm-up exercises, she moved into position and closed her eyes, breathing just like Widargelt had shown her, focusing the flow of aether throughout her body on the chakras within her and opening her mind to the gathered knowledge inside the soulstone, passed on for generations between the disciples of the Fist of Rhalgr.
Everything was silent. Only the sound of her breathing could be heard.
Inhale. Exhale.
Inhale. Exhale.
Inhale. Exhale.
Then, from one second to the next, she finally reached it; that one moment of absolute emptiness.
Her eyes snapped open.
Her right arm shot forward, hitting it against its side. She immediately followed with a strike from her left before slamming her open palm right into its center. The impact rattled it in place, making the snow on top of it fall around her feet.
Next, she attacked with her left. She twirled around upon contact and used the momentum to hit the dummy with the back of her hand, then followed up with a high kick to its head.
S'eni leaped backwards, rotating herself into her initial stance, ready to strike again.
The corners of her lips curled into a smirk, before advancing on the dummy once more.
She attacked it relentlessly, each motion as graceful as floating water, but as powerful as a crashing wave. To the onlookers on top of the walls, who had come to see what the ruckus was all about, it seemed as if she was dancing; striking and kicking it then moving to do so again from a different direction, always in motion like the cold winds of Coerthas.
Whirling her arms, she struck the dummy in a downward motion, making her crouch low and spreading them like the wings of a Zu. At almost blinding speed, S'eni shot forward, slamming the lower part of her palm against its head.
A loud wooden crack echoed throughout the entire yard.
Spinning away from it, she used her momentum to whirl into the air. Her heel smashed into its side, with a force so great it made the pole give way and send it flying across the camp. It landed in the snow and came skittering to a halt in front of a pair of plated boots.
Standing there, was none other than Lord Haurchefant, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at her. His eyes then travelled down to the dummy in front of his feet.
Her ears shot up in surprise, and she could feel the wave of embarrassment as it washed over her when she finally noticed the audience on top of the walls.
The sound of footsteps made her look away from the guards to see the camp's captain walk towards her, carrying the broken dummy under his arm. His face was the same mask of neutrality when they had met earlier today.
"L-Lord Haurchefant!" she exclaimed, her face heating up at the possibility that she had just angered their new ally. "Please, let me take that!"
Not even waiting for a reply, S'eni grabbed the dummy and tried to put it back in place by fitting the broken edges together. To her credit, it lasted for about five seconds, before falling into the snow.
By Azeyma! She really should have taken that offer from the carpenters guild when she was in Gridania.
"That was..." the Ishgardian knight said, and S'eni closed her eyes, ears already falling flat on her head, at the impending lecture. "Marvelous!"
Huh? Turning to face the man, she was more than surprised to see that the corners of his lips had risen into an excited smile.
"Never in my entire life have I seen someone move the way you just did. Such grace and strength would rival even that of a member of the Temple Knights that has dedicated his entire life to the martial arts!"
"I, uh, thank you?" S'eni replied with a dumbfounded look.
The guards on top of the walls, seeing as the spectacle was over, returned to their posts.
"So please tell me, who taught you?" he asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.
"I studied under Hamon Holyfist in Ul'dah."
"Hmm..." his hand came up to stroke his chin. "Yes, I can most definitely say that I have never heard that name before."
She felt herself having to snort back a laugh, the crestfallen look on her former master's face immediately springing to life in her mind at the words coming from the young lord. When he looked at her in question, she waved him off.
"But I've taken up some additional studies, ones that I'm not allowed to tell. Trade secret," she added.
Not entirely true, but Widargelt probably wouldn't be very amused if she went around saying she was a disciple of the Fist of Rhalgr when she had essentially just started.
"I see." He nodded, before smiling once more. "It seems my intuition was correct though. You are more than just a simple adventurer. But do tell, why are you out here this late?"
S'eni opened her mouth but quickly closed it once again, looking up at the guards on top of the walls. Lord Haurchefant's eyes followed hers.
"Why don't we head back inside?" he offered. "Surely you must be getting cold."
Maybe there was something about the man that was different from the other Ishgardians, or maybe it was because she was getting damned cold, but she found herself nodding. "I'd like that."
Walking away from the training ground, S'eni was led back into the main building of the camp where she had met the man earlier today. Unlike then, it was now empty.
"We should be safe from any prying ears," he said, sitting down at one of the tables instead of his desk, motioning for her to take a seat as well.
"Thanks," she said and sat down. "It's not like it's a deep dark secret, but I don't need to walk around tomorrow with everyone whispering behind my back."
And now that she said it, they would probably still do so after the show she had given them. Gods dammit!
"I'm afraid my men are indeed a curious lot. It happens when there are so many travellers passing through here as they do," he admitted. "But in any case, what caused you to still be up and about? And training no less?"
Her eyebrows rose, and she couldn't help a little smirk. "I see where they get it from."
"Hm. Guilty as charged, I suppose."
S'eni's expression became serious and she crossed her arms. "Just worries, honestly. I know it probably sounds stupid. Things haven't been going exactly in our favor recently."
"Yes, young Master Leveilleur indicated as much when he and I talked earlier."
"Mmh." She nodded. "We lost some people, others were captured, and now we're kind of just scrambling around."
She closed her eyes for a moment and found herself back in Vesper Bay, carrying the bodies of her fellow Scions towards the Chocobo carriage that would deliver to their resting place.
His face darkened visibly at her words. "I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to lose people, but that still doesn't make it any easier."
Shaking her head, S'eni continued. "We travelled from Thanalan to Gridania in hopes of finding Cid's airship, and from there we came here. And you know how things have gone here."
"I do," he said, a frown marring his features. From out of the corner of her eyes, S'eni saw his gloved hand tighten a little.
"You seem to have things keeping you up as well," she pointed out.
He looked at her for a moment before chuckling. "You're quite perceptive. But yes. This whole situation with Francel bothers me. Him? A heretic? Preposterous!"
"You know him well, then?" S'eni asked.
"One could say without him I wouldn't be where I'm now." Tapping his fingers on the wooden table, he shook his head.
"If there's anything we can do, just say the word," she offered. The Elezen looked at her, his eyebrows rising, before releasing a chuckle.
"Thank you," he said. "But Francel bade me to assist you in his stead, and that is what I shall do."
Silence set over them for a moment, before he rose back to his feet and walked over to his desk. "And I think I have an idea."
She watched him as he sat down and grabbed a few sheets of parchment, starting to write on it immediately. "What are you doing?"
"The High Houses might not be able, or willing, to aid you in your search, but I do know a few people that might be able to help you while I'll make some personal inquiries of my own," he said over the scratching of his quill. "These missives should help you convince them that it was I that sent you."
He stopped for a second. "This will take a while, but they should be ready by tomorrow."
Taking that as her cue that their little talk was over, S'eni rose to her feet. "Guess I'll try to get some sleep then. Sounds like tomorrow will be busy."
"That it will."
"Thank you, Lord Haurchefant."
He looked up from the parchment, lips curling into a smile. "Please, just Haurchefant is enough."
"Alright...Haurchefant." S'eni returned the expression. "Good night."
"Have a good night," Haurchefant said and returned to writing, the sound of the moving quill accompanying her as she left.
Returning to their room, she found her two companions still very much asleep and quietly walked over to her bed. After lying down, she pulled the covers over her body and closed her eyes.
Sleep still eluded her for a little bit longer, but eventually, she managed to fall into the first dreamless sleep in days.
And enter everyone's favorite bro, Haurchefant. He'll be showing up again at a later date.
See ya!