Requiem pt. 2
As the darkness that clouded her mind vanished, S'eni found herself surrounded by a starless void, standing on a large circular platform of light, covered in blue-hued patterns of lines and circles that were a complete mystery to her.
Where...am I? She wondered while looking around. Infinite darkness as far as the eye could see. It vaguely reminded her of the last time she had seen Minfi—
"I've finally found you."
Whirling around, she saw a man standing there, dressed in a robe of red, black, and white. His face was obscured by his large hood, revealing only the lower part of a face covered from one cheek down to the neck with what looked like crystal. In his right hand, equally crystalized, he held a staff.
"You—"
"Please, there is no cause for alarm!" he said, holding out his flesh hand before looking around. "Though I have to confess this was not where I had planned to meet you. But the place of our meeting is of no consequence, just like the war you're waging. Victory or defeat, the path you walk only leads to oblivion."
To oblivion? What did he mean?
But that didn't matter right now.
Taking a step forward, she glared at him. "What did you do with the others!? Where are they!?"
The figure, the voice, looked taken aback for a moment but quickly regained his composure. "Calm yourself. I can assure you they are all perfectly fine, and I will explain everything in good time. But I'm afraid time is what we are lacking right now. This connection won't last for long."
S'eni stared at the hooded man. For all she knew, he could be lying to draw her into a false sense of security, and Y'shtola and the others were his prisoners. But he was most likely the surest way of getting them back.
"Alright," she said, relaxing once more. "I'm listening."
He nodded and a slight smile began to form on his lips.
"The battle is over and the danger has passed," he explained. "But your work is not done. Head to the Crystal Tower. I have left something for you at its base. It will serve as a beacon that will help you on your journey. All you need to do is find it and I will take care of the rest."
His smile widened and she could've sworn to hear a light chuckle in his voice. "Soon we will open the gates...and the path to the First will reveal itself to you."
The First!? S'eni's eyes widened. That was where Minfilia and the Warriors of Darkness had gone to!
But before she could ask him further, darkness began to once more invade her consciousness, drawing her back to where she had come from...
S'eni's eyes opened blearily to an unfamiliar ceiling. Blinking a few times, she released a groan and pushed herself up onto her elbows to look around.
Was this...Ishgard?
The sound of something clattering to the ground made her look towards a young Elezen, who was staring at her with wide eyes.
"Yes?" she found herself asking.
Instead of answering, they darted out of the room, leaving her tilting her head in confusion. She looked at herself for a moment, dressed in a simple linen garb and another quick look around revealed that her clothes were lying on a nearby chair.
Letting out a sigh, she fell back onto the mattress and covered her eyes with her hand.
"The First, huh?" she mumbled. Y'shtola and the others were on the First. Just like Minfilia.
The sound of an opening door made her raise her hand to see none other than Aymeric de Borel himself walk into, the ends of his lips rising at the sight of her.
"You're awake, thank the heavens!" he said, grabbing a nearby chair and dragging next to the bed before sitting down on it. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been run over by a herd of Chocobos. What happened?"
"Do you remember your battle with Zenos?" S'eni nodded. "After you fell unconscious, he tried to seize the opportunity to deliver the killing blow. But before his blade could find its mark, the arrival of another adversary distracted him long enough for you to be spirited away to our chirurgeons. Should you wonder, he already left again. As he seems to always do."
A chuckle escaped her. "Typical Estinien."
"He never was one for emotional farewells. In any case, despite his apparent victory, the battle had seemingly taken its toll and Zenos retreated shortly after your rescue. Seeing this, the remaining Imperial forces pulled back as well, allowing us to re-establish our position." Aymeric placed his elbows on his knees. "Since then, words of renewed unrest in the provinces have reached us, no doubt inspired by the efforts of the Eorzean Alliance and our Far Eastern allies. And neither does the good news end there, as our newest intelligence suggests unrest at the imperial court, which would explain why Emperor Varis and Zenos have abandoned the fight. A ray of hope in these dark times."
She released a breath of relief, glad to hear that things were slightly looking up. For now, at least.
"So what now?" she asked.
"Now you concentrate on your recovery. You have carried the hopes of multiple nations on your shoulders, and I know I speak for everyone when I say we are eternally grateful to you, but no one is without limits. Not even you, my friend. So leave this fight to us. You have more than earned a rest." Rising back to his feet, he began to walk over to the door but stopped in his tracks to face her once more. "Ah, before I forget. I was told to deliver a message as soon as you awoke, a reminder that though many of your allies have fallen ill, you are not alone. Once you are rested, you are to return home, where friends are waiting for you. Now if you will excuse me, I need to return to the front. I hope the next time we meet will be under happier circumstances."
Giving her one last smile, he opened the door and left. Now that she was alone again, S'eni closed her eyes again and let her mind wander back to their mysterious caller.
Just who was that man? Why did he want her to come to the First?
Shaking her head, she climbed out of bed, walked over to the chair and began to change.
The path I walk only leads to oblivion... she thought. What could that mean?
After putting on her clothes, S'eni made for the door and left as well, wandering down the hallways of the Congregation deep in thought.
It was only in the main hall when a familiar voice snapped her out of it. "Well, this is a most unexpected surprise. I thought you were confined to bed."
Despite herself, she smiled warmly at the sight of its owner. "Count Edmont."
"Now, we both know I'm no longer the count," he said as he walked over to her, his expression mirroring hers. "And I believe I also told you that just Edmont would be fine."
"Old habits die hard," she replied.
"That they do." The older man looked her over for a moment. "When I heard you collapsed on the battlefield I feared the worst. But with you already up and about, I see that the news of your defeat had been greatly exaggerated."
"Was cutting kinda close, truth to be told. But anyway, how are you? Is everything alright in Ishgard?"
"The war's effects can already be felt here as well. In fact, Artoirel will soon leave for the frontline as well with a contingent of our finest knights to serve as reinforcements," Edmont said.
"I'm sure that seeing the count of one of Ishgard's great houses serving alongside them will do a lot for the Alliance troops' morality."
"Not as much as yours would, I assure you." The former count chuckled before a look of worry entered his eyes. "I would invite you to stay at our manor until your strength has returned, but I can tell that you are set on leaving already."
"I'm sorry, but there are people that need me," S'eni said and lowered her eyes to the worn wooden floor, feeling a little scolded all of a sudden until a warm hand placed itself on her shoulder and made her look up once more to meet his kind gaze.
"Just remember that our doors are always open to you, so do not hesitate to come pay us a visit now and again," he told her, giving her shoulder a little squeeze.
"I know. And I will," she promised, smile returning. "Would it be alright if I brought someone along as well?"
"A friend of yours is a friend of House Fortemps." Giving her a nod, he pulled his hand back. "Farewell, S'eni. May the Fury watch over you wherever you go."
"Thank you. May she watch over House Fortemps as well."
With one last smile, the older man turned around and began to leave. She watched him until he was gone from her sight, before closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath.
Her friends were waiting.
As she entered the Rising Stones, S'eni was surprised to find it abuzz with talk as, bar from Y'shtola and the others, practically everyone was here. Each of them held a serious expression on their faces, even the usually more carefree Aenor seemed to be focused on the situation at hand instead of either of the Boulder brothers.
It was soon replaced by a look of surprise when, noticing her arrival, they all turned towards her. But it was the figure standing in front of the group, slowly turning around upon seeing the other's expression change.
Large violet eyes came to rest upon her, widening for the fraction of a second before welling up with tears. "S'eni!"
"Tataru…" she breathed out, reflexively going to her knee as the Lalafel rushed forward and all but jumped her in a hug as tight as her small arms allowed her to. "You're back…"
"When I heard that you collapsed like the others, I just couldn't stay in Kugane. Thank the Twelve you're alright!"
"Oh Tataru…" With a fond smile forming on her lips, S'eni reached out to wipe away the tears running down her friend's face.
"What in heavens' name is going on?" Tataru asked after she calmed down once more, taking a step back and wiping her eyes one last time.
She rose back to her feet, looked at the others, and began to explain just exactly what had happened. Her battle with Elidibus, how she was called once more, and her subsequent conversation with the one responsible for it. After she was done, questioning looks were passed between the others and the Lalafel too had a puzzled look on her face.
"So if it was his voice you all heard, that must mean that wherever he is, the others must be too, right?"
S'eni nodded.
"Then it's our only option. Ser Aymeric said that the battle fighting has reached a stalemate, but if that monster running around as Zenos comes back then...you're going to need the others at your side to defeat him. And I forbid you from going to face him on your own, you hear!?" Tataru pointed at her with a mixture of worry and anger. "...Go find the others. Bring them home."
"I will. I swear it," S'eni said. The other woman smiled.
"With that settled, you said that stranger left you a beacon at the Crystal Tower, right? But how are we supposed to find it now that it has been sealed shut? There has to be a way…"
She frowned. That would be a problem she supposed. Ever since G'raha had gone to sleep, no one had been able to make the doors of the tower as much as budge even a little. Even now Rammbroes and his—that's it. "...let's ask the Sons of Saint Coinnach."
"Yes! If anyone would be able to find a way, it's them. I'll contact them right away, Cid too, since we're sure to be in need of one of his inventions if we want to track that beacon down. But don't worry, we'll find it for you. Right everyone?"
A cheer went through the group, and S'eni chuckled at the sudden excitement filling the room as everyone began to chatter and plan. "I guess that means I'll be on resting duty?" he asked Tataru.
"You can bet your tail on that!" her friend replied.
"Yeah, I'd rather not. I like where it is." she sighed. "Alright, I'll rest. Are the others still in the infirmary?"
"Yes," Clemence said. "Their condition remains the same, but at least they haven't gotten worse either."
"Thanks." S'eni watched the others for a short moment longer as they began to make preparations for their newest endeavour, then left for the infirmary.
Silence greeted her when she entered, only interrupted by the rhythmic breathing of her friends as they lay in bed. She looked at each of them, eyes lingering on their still forms for a second before moving on to the next, stopping only when she reached the person that meant the most to her. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, S'eni reached out and brushed some of her lover's hair out of her face.
"I'm coming, Shtola. Just a little longer," she said, pressing a kiss on Y'shtola's forehead in hopes that perhaps she could feel it on the other side.
No reaction.
Exhaling through her nose, she withdrew and reached her hand into her bag instead, pulling out the tome that Matoya had given her and somehow had survived the battle entirely unscathed. She brushed her fingers over its thick leather cover and slowly flipped it open to continue where she had left off
I have some time to kill after all...
When I set out to free Ala Mhigo, I had nothing more than my wish for freedom, the words Papalymo had left to me and, most importantly, my friends at my side. Now the war for our, for Eorzea's, freedom had entered another phase. One in which I couldn't rely on the others; on her.
Because her journey led her to another, far away battlefield. To a world that had lost all hope, silently crying for the one that would put an end to their suffering.
But, that is not my story to tell. Besides, they could explain it all better anyway.
- From the diary of Lyse Hext
Book 3 - In Crimson It Began - End
For whom weeps the storm
Her tears on our skin
The days of our years gone
Our souls soaked in sin
These memories ache with the weight of tomorrow
See you soon :)