Ever Heavensward
It was a bright and sunny day, such a rarity in the snowy mountains of Coerthas. Five years ago this was a beautiful place, filled with grass as far as the eye could see, and the sun was a much more frequent companion.
But S'eni supposed—
She looked across the snow covering the cliff of Providence Point as the sun reflected off it in sparkles of light.
—this was also quite beautiful.
In the distance, Ishgard stood tall and proud, looking almost like it was floating on a sea of snowy mist.
But as beautiful a sight it was, it was not the reason why she was here.
The corners of her lips curled up into a smile as her eyes landed on a small pillar of granite amidst the white.
"Quite the view you got," S'eni said, stopping a few steps away from it. Her eyes landed on the name inscribed in the stone.
Haurchefant Greystone
"I'm sorry I didn't come here earlier. Things have been quite busy as you can imagine. But I'm here now." She fell silent for a moment and closed her eyes, imagining him standing there with that smile of his. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "We stopped them. Thordan and his Knights of the Round are dead, but I suppose you never had any doubt about that, right?"
Her eyes shifted away from the gravestone and towards the city in the distance.
"Ishgard is re-joining the Eorzean Alliance today. Everyone is most likely celebrating right about now," she told him.
A momentous occasion. Not too long ago, the possibility of Ishgard returning had been almost absurd, and now here they were.
She just wished he could be here to see it with his own eyes. Him...and Ysayle too.
Just after they had broken through the barrier around Azys Lla, the Garleans had shown up in one of their airships, firing at them with everything they had. They might not have made it if not for Ysayle showing up when she did and using all of her primal powers to cripple the Gration enough for them to get away at the cost of her own life, her body shattering into a million shards of pure light.
Another friend that had paid the ultimate price for something she believed in.
And then there was Estinien who, in the end, had been possessed by Nidhogg's vengeful spirit and was now out there, biding his time.
Peace was not yet assured for Ishgard.
But whatever the future held, she would be there to protect it. Just like he would have done.
The sound of boot-crunched snow made her turn around to see Alphinaud and Tataru making their way towards her.
"There you are," he said as they stopped next to her. His eyes landed on the grave and he closed them for a short prayer. "A noble monument, for a noble soul."
Carrying a bouquet of flowers, the Lalafel walked forward and placed them in front of the gravestone, offering a prayer as well as she did so. "From here he can watch over all of Ishgard..." she said and stepped back.
I guess it's my turn now, S'eni thought to herself and took the shield that had been slung over her shoulder this entire time. She knelt to the ground and rested it against the stone, placing it in such a way that anyone who would come to visit could see the emblem of House Fortemps. Thank you, Haurchefant. For everything. Rest well, my friend.
A minute of silence passed before Alphinaud spoke once more.
"It's been a long and arduous journey, and we have lost much along the way. Yet whatever comes we must stay true to our purpose and press on. For our friends."
"That's right! It's time we got back to rebuilding the Scions." Tataru exclaimed, raising a finger. "Which means we're going to need money. Lots of it!"
S'eni chuckled. "Already planning on running me ragged, huh?"
The Lalafel simply looked at her with a wide grin on her face, causing all three of them to burst into laughter.
"We should head back," Alphinaud said after they had calmed down once more.
"Yeah." S'eni nodded and gave the grave one last smile. "Let's go."
Fortemps Manor was quiet as S'eni entered, something that did not surprise her much since everyone was most likely still at the celebration of Ishgard's return to the fold. Even the staff had been given time off to bear witness to it.
As she headed down the hallway towards her room, she looked around at the deep red walls that had become so familiar to her. It had not been long, but this place had become a home to her.
She would miss it when the time came to move on, and not just because the beds were some of the comfiest she ever slept in.
But she supposed that was just how things went. She was an adventurer and a Scion after all.
S'eni felt herself coming to a stop when her eyes landed on the door of a certain room, one that would forever stand out to her. His room.
Slowly walking towards it, she was surprised to find the door ajar the same way as it had been that night. And just like back then, she couldn't help but take a peek inside.
There she found Count Edmont, sitting in the chair that had once been occupied by Haurchefant, a thoughtful expression on his face as he stared up ahead.
Not wanting to intrude, S'eni took a step back again, but the older man took her entirely by surprise and called out to her. "S'eni, is that you?"
"Yes," she replied after a moment of hesitation.
"Please, join me," he invited her in. The tone in his voice was welcoming and she found herself unable to refuse. As she sat down next to him, she saw that he was nursing a glass of wine in his hand.
"You were missed at the ceremony," Count Edmont said.
"I thought it would be fine to sit this one out. There's no need for the Warrior of Light today. Alphinaud should be there by now, doing what he does best."
"You were visiting Haurchefant then I take it?"
"I did. It's a beautiful spot," she said. A look of concern entered her eyes as she glanced at the wine glass, already half-drunk. "...How are you feeling? We haven't seen each other since our return from Azys Lla."
"If you are concerned about me drowning my sorrows I can assure you that I just needed a little refresher," he said and raised the glass, a kind smile forming on his features. "But thank you. It truly means a lot."
Exhaling through his nose, he looked around, slowly as if to take it all in. "My late wife never forgave me. Not for having an illegitimate child, that had been something she was raised to expect, but to take him into our home and raise him. She loved me and our sons, but she never loved Haurchefant," he told her, raising the glass to his lips and taking a sip. "To never be able to mend that rift is one of the things I will forever regret. But never mind that, I am sure the stories of an old man like me must be boring to you."
S'eni shook her head. "Not at all."
Count Edmont chuckled. "Still. I do not wish to linger on regrets and mistakes today, so might I ask you for a favor?"
"Anything," she replied.
"Tell me how you and my son met. He told me all about it, but I would like to hear your version of it."
A smile forming on her lips, she nodded and started to recount the day Cid, Alphinaud and her arrived in Coerthas in search for the engineer's missing airship, how their search lead them to Lord Francel and got them caught into a conspiracy woven by an impostor that ultimately lead them to Camp Dragonhead where Haurchefant had entered her life.
It soon turned into them swapping stories about him, both their voices filled with a fondness for him.
"One thing that still confuses me is, why in the seven hells did he have his men train while stripped down to the waist?" she wondered.
"Oh, that is because he did so himself," Count Edmont said with a light shrug.
S'eni blinked once then tilted her head. "Seriously?"
"Very much so. He frequently trained in the gazebo."
"Huh...wait, that gazebo?" she pointed in the general direction of where it was located next to the manor in full view of the entire neighborhood.
"To the delight of many noblewomen," he said, making her slump back into her chair and shake her head. He was such a weird one.
Their quiet moment came to an end when steps echoed down the hallway in a hurry, followed by a voice calling out, "S'eni! S'eni!"
"Tataru?" the Count and her shared a look, before she turned her head and called back. "In here!"
She watched as the Lalafel nearly ran past them but managed to come to a halt and burst into the room, a panicked look on her face. "Oooh, it's terrible. Absolutely terrible!"
"What's terrible?" S'eni asked.
"Y'shtola just contacted me via linkpearl. A primal has appeared in the Dravanian Hinterlands!"
A look of shock crossed her features at the Lalafel's words, before becoming one of determination. "Tell her I'm on my way."
Tataru nodded, her hand already going to her ear to relay her message.
"I'm sorry," S'eni said, turning towards Count Edmont. "But—"
"Duty calls, I understand. There are more important things than talking to an old man," he replied, his smile returning. "No rest for the righteous, right?"
"And for the wicked," she added with a wink. All but jumping out of the chair, she hurried over to the door.
"S'eni!" the older man called out, making her stop just shy past the door frame. "Be careful."
Her lips curling into a smile, she nodded. "I will."
And with that, she was off, Tataru hot on her trail as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
The Count remained where he was, eyes turning to the glass in his hand. Raising it to his lips, he emptied the rest of it and slowly rose to his feet as well, taking the walking cane that was resting next to the chair as he did so.
He gave the room one last look, before leaving as well, closing the door behind him carefully as if not to disturb anyone.
Releasing a deep breath, Count Edmont started to head down the hallway and towards his study.
He had lived a long life. Perhaps it was time to write some of it down.
Yes—
The Elezen smiled and started to hum to himself.
—That was a fine idea indeed.
And so ends a glorious chapter in their tale. However, tumultuous days still lied ahead of Ishgard.
After a thousand years under the rule of the church, the people take their first tentative step into the unknown. And though they see a glimmer of peace upon the horizon, Nidhogg's vengeful shadow still remains to darken the way.
Be that as it may...
So long as the young knight commander and his heroic companions are there to guide them, the people may yet hope.
Hope that one day, true peace would return to Ishgard, and that man and dragon may live in harmony once more.
Let the deeds written in these pages never be forgotten, so that they may inspire generations yet to come to strive ever heavenswards.
[cue Dragonsong]
A slightly shorter one, but one I felt that needed to be done. It's also the reason why I more or less used Edmont's memoir entry as it was in the game here. Because it felt right.
More to come soon.