The Crystal Exarch
For as long as you have been here, the Crystal Exarch has been a steadfast ally, offering you and your friends all the help he could give. But despite that, he was a man shrouded in mystery. Even the people of the Crystarium didn't know anything about him, where he hailed from or what his name was. He had offered them protection in a time of great need and they respected him for that.
But I can tell that what Emet-Selch has told you was beginning to gnaw on you.
Who was he, really? What was it that he hid underneath that cowl of his?
While the lower part of Kholusia was covered in nice coastal greenery that was perfect to house farmland, the upper part was the exact opposite. Barren and dry, there was only rocky terrain as far as the eye could see.
Perfect, really, for the mining operations that had earned the people their living up here, before the Flood had put an end to it little by little.
Today, only those that had broken their lot with Eulmore had made this area their home. Those and—
"Lali-ho!" a small bearded figure, dressed in chainmail and wearing a large helmet that covered their entire head, greeted them.
—the Dwarves.
With a look of confusion, S'eni turned towards her companion, the Crystal Exarch himself. His shoulders subtly rose and fell. She looked back towards the dwarf.
"Lali..." she tilted her head. "...ho?"
"What sorry excuse for a greeting was that!?" the Dwarf demanded, jumping up and down in a comical fashion. "Where's your heart, lass!? Your stones!?"
"My what!?"
But he ignored her.
"Come, let's try it again! Lali-hoooooo!" he greeted her once more, shifting his body and raising his hand in the air at an angle.
Sighing inwardly, she began to raise her hand the same way. "Lali-hoooooo!"
The Crystal Exarch stifled a chuckle.
"Hmm. Not bad, not bad." The Dwarf nodded. "But there's room for improvement. Anyway, now that we've observed common courtesy—who are you and what're you doin' here?"
"I'm called S'eni and this is the Crystal Exarch."
Her companion nodded and stepped forward, a friendly smile on his partly hidden face. "We have come to seek the aid of the Tholl family at the recommendation of the denizens of Amity. May we speak with Chief Xamott?"
After arriving at the top of Bright Cliff, the twins and she had scouted out the area and quickly found the town of Amity, a settlement that people who turned their back on, or otherwise 'left', Eulmore. Among them was a certain painter that Alphinaud and her had previously met.
Tristol was obviously rather hesitant to help in their endeavour, especially when he heard that the Chais were involved. But after Chai-Nuzz had apologized for all he had done to him, he had decided to trust them and thus their plan to built a giant Talos to carry them to Mt. Gulg could commence in earnest.
Now all they needed was a heart to bring it to life, which was the reason they had come to Tomra. If someone knew where to find the materials for it, it would be the dwarves.
"Why, yes! You may." The Dwarf thumbed his chest. "I'm Xamott, and I welcome you to Tomra. If it's the folk of Amity that sent you here, you must have quite a tale to tell. Come, let's hear it!"
As the Exarch began to recount the events that had led them here, S'eni watched him out of the corner of her eyes, the expression on her face turning into a frown by the second.
"Even to you? How very interesting…" she heard Emet-Selch's words in the back of her mind.
Ever since he had asked her that question, she couldn't get it out of her mind. It was like fuel being poured on the flames of uncertainty that Y'shtola's mistrust of the man had slowly ignited in her.
Who was the Exarch really?
Maybe it was time to try and find out what was hiding underneath that cowl.
After the Exarch was done, Chief Xamott nodded.
"Well, well! And there I thought those below had no fight left in 'em! That said, it's not like we know how to deal with that floatin' volcano and all them sin eaters neither. If you're serious about restorin' peace to these parts, though, we'll gladly lend you a hand. However!" The Dwarf raised his hand, tiny finger extended. "The kind of ore you seek's precious to us too. If I let you have it only for you to bungle things up and squander it, like, no amount of ale will wash away my chagrin. First, I need to make sure you're worthy─by means of a trial! A trial most tricksy, passed down through the line of Tholl!"
The Crystal Exarch looked at her and this time it was she that shrugged. A trial most tricksy?
"And what would this trial be?" he asked.
Chief Xamott laughed. "Come with me and I'll tell you."
They were led further into the town, earning a series of curious looks and friendly Lali-ho's as they passed by them. When they stopped in front of a large house carved into the side of the mountain, the Chief called over one of the other Dwarves, told him something and sent him on his way before turning back towards them with another laugh.
"As you know, we're a minin' folk. And in the minin' life, danger's a constant companion. So, when we come of age, each of us must prove our readiness to take to the mines. This we do by undertakin' a trial that tests the three traits all good miners can't do without: discernment, diligence, and dexterity. We call it...3-D MineRunner!"
S'eni just stared at him. "Okay."
"Now, look at my helm. Mark its features well. You'll be given a slingshot, which you must use to shoot Dwarves that wear different-looking helmets. I've already made the necessary arrangements. When you're ready to take the trial, report to the observer nearby. Best of luck to you!" Chief Xamott said.
"Would you care to do the honors, my friend?" the Exarch asked. "It goes without saying, but out of the two of us, you're the most suited for it."
"Sure. It sounds easy enough," she said and began to walk over to where the observer was waiting, who also greeted her in the same enthusiastic fashion his Chief did before leading her up to the roof where the slingshot was situated.
The slingshot in question was more of a small cannon and its ammo sacks filled with sand, nothing that would kill but would definitely knock the wind out of you if hit.
All in all, the challenge felt more like a festival game than something that would prepare you for actual dangers.
While she was shooting at the dwarves wearing different helmets, S'eni noticed someone from out of the corner of her eyes. It was The Crystal Exarch, having stepped closer to watch the proceedings with Chief Xamott.
A sudden idea formed in her mind, and just as quickly as it did so, she aimed the slingshot downward and fired.
The sack hit the Crystal Exarch straight in the chest, making him stumble back a little. After collecting himself he stared up at her, the corners of his lips turned downward in disapproval. "If that was supposed to be funny, I don't see the joke!"
Actually, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of your face, she thought. With an apologetic smile, she called down. "Sorry!"
After she was done with the trial, and had passed it with flying colors, she returned to the Exarch and Chief Xamott.
"Impressive shooting, lass! Consider me satisfied," the dwarf told her. "It's plain to see that you didn't come this far by luck alone. So I'll place my faith in you, and help you find the ore you seek."
S'eni and the Exarch shared a nod. Finally some progress.
As it turned out getting that ore, or earthseed as the Dwarves called it, had been another matter entirely as the place where it was most likely to be found was Duergar's Tewel, which was claimed by the age-old rivals of the Tholls: the Goggs.
It didn't surprise her at all that the helmets they wore were the exact kind she was told to shoot, and it quickly became apparent that the rivalry ran deeply...and rather petty.
But in the end, they had managed the ore without anyone being seriously injured, and now that they were back in Amity, S'eni found herself watching as her friends left to work on the Talos together with all the other people from all across Norvrandt that came to join them.
While she...had been told to rest. Again.
And though it annoyed her that her friends were now doing all the work, it might actually give her a chance to speak with their mysterious summoner now that they had a quiet moment. If only she could actually find him...
"...The Exarch?" Dulia-Chai asked.
"Yeah, you wouldn't happen to know where he went?"
"Why yes, he went outside a moment ago, my dear." The Mystel pointed into the direction if the cliff. "I would've thought you'd seen him. He kept me company for a short while, but then he became quite pale. He's clearly been straining himself, the poor thing."
S'eni frowned at that. The fight against the Sin Eaters earlier and the distance to the Crystarium were taking their toll on him.
"Anyway, he excused himself, saying that he needed a breath of fresh air. I offered to go with him, but he assured me he would be fine. I hope he's alright..."
"I'll go take a look. Thank you, Lady Chai."
Following the woman's instructions, S'eni headed towards the cliff. It took her a bit, but eventually, she found the man she was looking for, resting against a rock at a spot where you could see all of lower Kholusia. Fast asleep.
She knelt down in front of him, simply watching him as his chest rose and fell evenly. Hard to believe that this was the man that had all summoned them here. One by one, he had pulled her friends here; pulled Y'shtola here, until it had only been her, waiting and wondering when she would be next. And when it had finally been her time, further secrecy had awaited.
It would be so easy now. Just pull his hood down and reveal that face he kept so guarded.
She reached her hand out...
"My destiny is waiting in the future..."
...and stopped, furrowing her brows. He awoke with a start, looking around for a second before letting his unseen gaze come to rest on her. "Forgive me, I must have fallen asleep."
"Resting your joints, old man?" she asked lightly.
"I needed some fresh air and rest for a moment." He sat up straight with a groan. "But I must have nodded off. It seems I'm more fatigued than I realized."
"Is it really that bad? Being away from the tower?"
He nodded. "The further and the longer I am away, the weaker my body grows. Though I suppose it is debatable if I can still call this my body."
Raising his crystal arm, he looked at it.
"When I turned my mind to the salvation of this world, I quickly realized that I would need more time. More than remained to me," the Exarch said. "So I made myself one with the Crystal Tower and earned eternal life."
His arms dropped back to his side and looked out towards the horizon. "It's been quite a journey. But thanks to you, the end is in sight. My wish will finally be fulfilled. In any case, how is the construction effort going?"
"They're beginning to imbue the Talos with aether," she replied.
"Then this may be the last quiet moment we have for a while. Come, sit with me."
"Alright."
"Tell me, what are you going to do next when this is all over?" he asked her after she sat down next to him.
Her lips parted to answer, but she didn't really know how to respond. He hadn't really thought about what she would do afterwards. "I...think I might take a bit of time off. Rest awhile."
Spent it with Shtola, she added in her mind.
"That would be well deserved. Perhaps roam Norvrandt as a simple sightseer. I'm sure if viewed through such eyes, it would be quite a different experience." His gaze turned towards the bright shining sky above. "But whatever it is you decide to do, I'm confident that you will do well. You will leave countless lives better than you found them, and the souls you touched will never forget your kindness. Then, in trying times, when you question your worth and your choices, they will raise their voices to remind you of the difference you have made. Remember this."
"And what will you do when this is over?" she asked.
He seemed surprised at her question for a moment. "When this is over…" he murmured. "Hmm, I once told you that there is someone I wish to save. I wish I could explain everything to her, but I have good reasons to keep my counsel. I've come to terms that its impossible, but what would I give to just speak with her as friends once more. She would tell me stories from her travels, and I would perhaps share some of my own adventures in Norvrandt.
A chuckle escaped him.
"Though ultimately those would be more about you than me." The Exarch paused for a moment, the smile on his lips turning wistful. "And afterwards we would head off on our next adventure, together...oh how happy that would make me. We would travel the land and cross the sea and take to the skies on the eternal wind. That's...my dream."
"Sounds like a plan if you ask me," she said with a smile of her own.
"Well—" he rose to his feet, dusting off his robes a little. "But before that there is still a battle to be won."
Together, they stepped out from behind the rock, looking up at the floating form of Mt. Gulg up ahead, where their enemy was waiting. Where Vauthry was waiting.
"Thank you for your company, my friend. Let's return to Amity," The Crystal Exarch said and began to walk. "The people of this world have entrusted their hopes to us. We can't fail them."
S'eni nodded and began to fall into step next to him, when her ears perked up as they caught his next words, a barely audible whisper on the wind up here, "...Nor those who roused me from my slumber…"
She stopped, finding herself rooted to the spot and eyes growing wide. Did he just…?
No...It couldn't be…
And the plot thickens...