Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Daylight.
Beautiful daylight filled her vision as the sun began to rise in the east, wrapping the ruins of this once beautiful city in a warm golden embrace as it ushered in a new morning.
Behind her, she could hear her friends, slowly walking towards her, but still keeping their distance.
And in front of her, dressed in the dark robes of all Ascians, was Emet-Selch. He stood perfectly still for a moment, before raising a hand to the large, glowing hole in the center of his torso. Slowly, he removed his hood and looked at her with his golden eyes. The hatred had dissipated, replaced with a melancholy softness uncharacteristic of him.
"Remember...Remember us..." he told her, his body beginning to fall apart. "Remember...that we once lived..."
"...I will," she promised.
He just gave her that crooked smile of his and burst into aether.
And as S'eni watched those tiny particles rise high into the sky, she couldn't help the sudden surge of sorrow that rose up from deep within her.
"It's over. Emet-Selch is no more," she heard Alphinaud say and she turned around only to see him get pushed aside by his sister.
"More importantly. How are you?" Alisaie asked.
They were joined by Y'shtola and Urianger as well, the former gently brushing past the twins to step closer to S'eni. Silvery-white eyes scanned her and grew wide.
"...What dost thou see?" Urianger asked.
"Her aether...it's—" the other Miqo'te reached a hand out to rest it against her cheek. "—it's how it used to be. But how?"
S'eni just smiled.
Keeping her hand where it was for a few precious seconds longer as if to make sure she was truly alright, Y'shtola stepped back again, a thoughtful look crossing her features.
"As a disciple of Zodiark, the Ascian was the Darkness to your Light...Could it be that the Light within you was spent when your strength clashed with his?"
"No...It's more than that," Ryne said, hand held out towards her and eyes closed in concentration. "Your soul was breaking apart under the strain of that incredible flood of aether. Yet now it's...restored. H-How is that possible...I tried to help but...Can you tell us what happened?"
Her smile growing, S'eni glanced over her shoulder towards the battle-axe of pure, white Light embedded in the platform behind where Emet-Selch had stood a moment ago.
Thank you...Ardbert.
She watched it slowly dissipate, then turned back towards her friends. "That's a really long story. Which I'll have to tell you another time, I'm afraid."
They all looked at one another in confusion. "I see..."
A chuckle escaped her and she looked past them towards the only other person in the vicinity, walking towards their group with his head held low and averting his gaze like a little boy that had just been caught doing something he shouldn't have.
"Where to start...?" he asked, more himself than them. "I believe I owe you all an apology. Most of all you..."
Gods, part of her still wanted to give him an earful for his plan. But she supposed that would wait for later. "Well, aren't you looking fresh. Did you sleep well, G'raha?"
His eyes widened at the sound of his name and he released a sob, his crystal hand rising to cover his face as tears began running down his face. When he had managed to compose himself again, he gave her a watery smile.
"Never slept better."
"Well, as happy as this reunion is, I suggest we better leave. Who knows how long this illusion will last," Thancred said and stepped forward, giving G'raha Tia a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Besides, we should have a look at your wounds."
"They're nothing. Just scratches," G'raha Tia tried to assure them even as Thancred was already leading him off the platform.
A hand brushed against hers, and she glanced to the side to see Y'shtola smiling warmly at her. Grasping her lover's hand, S'eni gave it a gentle squeeze, and together they joined their friends.
They had just managed to step off the platform, when the scene began to shift and they found themselves standing in a round chamber. From there it was easy enough to find their way to the Capitol's main lobby, where they could take a look at G'raha's wounds.
"Hmm...'tis passing strange," Urianger said as he looked around. "Thou hast ushered Emet-Selch unto his rest, yet his enchantment still remaineth..."
"With how powerful he was, it doesn't really surprise me." S'eni crossed her arms loosely. "There's still a lot we don't understand about Ascian magic."
"Indeed."
S'eni looked over to where Alphinaud and Y'shtola were treating their newest addition.
"Might be a good time to actually explore a bit, don't you think?" she asked and elbowed him playfully, earning herself an amused chuckle. "A little look around, Master Augurelt?"
"Aye. 'Twould be wise to do so whilst Bismarck's dome banishes the water still."
"Yeah, about that, and I've been wondering that for a while, but how are we supposed to return...? Urianger?" S'eni turned around when she noticed that her friend had stopped all of a sudden.
Her eyebrows began to rise as the pondering look on his features became one of almost comical realization. His eyes found hers, and a few seconds passed before the epiphany struck her as well.
Oh no...
With Bismarck only agreeing to deliver them to the Tempest, the only real option left for them was to swim all the way back to Kholusia. And gods, what a horrible experience it had been...
That she had even pondered to do so when she first endeavored to chase after Emet-Selch and G'raha Tia made her want to slap her past self for doing so. Swimming around the Ruby Sea felt like a nice little workout in comparison.
Thankfully, they had all managed to make it to shore relatively unscathed, even if Alphinaud and, after they actually found him, Urianger were a little out of it for a while. The fatigue she had felt at the time, though, had quickly been chased away by the sight of the beautiful blue sky above their heads.
And now, as S'eni watched the twinkling stars above the Crystarium shine as brightly as the tower itself, S'eni felt herself truly relax for what felt like forever. With a smile, she lowered her eyes to the Exedra below, where the people of the Crystarium were celebrating the second return of the night together with people from all across Norvrandt that had come to gather here.
It was over. They could finally live in peace.
"Excuse me?" her ears perked up and she turned around to see a young boy standing there, looking at her with eyes widened in awe. "You're the Warrior of Darkness...aren't you?"
Well, the secret was out anyway. "Yes, that's right."
His expression brightened at her words and he immediately bombarded her with the next question. "Can you tell me where you're from!? And how you got so strong!? I want to become as strong as you too!"
Taken aback for a moment, S'eni then chuckled and raised a finger to her lips as if to playfully shush him. "I'm afraid the where will have to remain a mystery."
"Oh..." the boy's face fell a little.
"But—" she walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "—to become strong, you need to train every day, but more importantly you need to be brave, and have friends you can trust at your side. Because even the strongest of heroes need people at their side."
"So you have friends too?"
"Hm. The best." Raising her hand again, S'eni ruffled the boy's hair and gave him a little grin. "Now come, tonight's a time for celebration. Neither of us should be all alone up here."
After taking the boy back to his friends, she decided to mingle a little as well, having a few drinks and simply enjoying the merriment with her friends and other people, moving from one crowd to the next. Urianger had just finished listing the names of all the women that Thancred had drunkenly conquered in the past, much to everyone's amusement and the latter's horror, when S'eni caught sight of a certain dark-robed figure leaning against the wall next to Spagyrics' entrance, nursing a glass of her own.
"There you are," she said as she approached Y'shtola, noticing members of the Night's Blessed standing not too far away as well. "I was wondering where—why are they crying?"
S'eni squinted her eyes to make absolutely sure she wasn't seeing things. Yes. Definitely crying.
A sigh, half weary half fond, escaped the other Miqo'te before taking a sip from her drink. "I knew they would be here, but with how crowded the Crystarium is, I thought it was safe to speak my true name. As you know, it's customary not to reveal your true name outside of family and ceremony. When I explained that everyone present were like family, well..."
"The waterworks started?"
Another sigh. "An emotional people, the Blessed."
"But they have big hearts," she said, smiling as she watched them, their tears slowly drying and having fun with all the rest.
"Indeed..." Y'shtola's looked at her. "Eni—"
"Out of the way, please!" a voice interrupted her and they both turned to see two members of Spagyrics carrying a body towards the infirmary. Alphinaud.
"What happened!?" S'eni immediately hurried over.
"He collapsed, but it seems like he's only fallen asleep," was the answer she received as her friend was carried inside, leaving her to stare after them until her lover stepped next to her.
"Hardly a surprise, given how exhausted he was earlier," Y'shtola said, giggling into her fist.
"It was more surprising that we didn't have to carry him all the way here."
They shared a laugh.
"You wanted to say something?" she then asked, giving Y'shtola a warm look.
"Yes, I..." a short pause. "Could we...go somewhere else?"
She only needed to see the look in those beautiful eyes, glowing almost ghostly in the light of the tower, to know exactly what she meant.
"...Of course."
Discretely leaving the Exedra, they headed towards the Pendants, finding the front desk uncharacteristically empty for once, and made their way up the stairs towards her room. The doors had barely managed to fall shut behind them, when Y'shtola moved to embrace S'eni, pulling her close and nuzzling her neck.
"Eni..." her lover exhaled, fingers digging into the fabric on her back.
"Ssh." She kissed the side of Y'shtola's head before gently lifting it so that she could look her in the eye, offering her a loving smile. "I know."
Their lips softly brushed, feather-light, like fingertips on velvet, then pressed against each other tightly, giving voice to their feelings without the need for words.
They were here. Alive.
The kiss soon grew heated, lips parting to let their tongues brush, teasingly first, then with passionate purpose. The residue taste of the drink Y'shtola had clouded her senses for but a moment, long enough for her to only realize that they were walking across the room when the golden chains attached to her belt clattered to the ground.
Letting her hand travel up, her fingertips ghosted across the exposed skin of Y'shtola's back until they brushed against the silver clasp that kept it bound together. With a click, it came undone, making the other Miqo'te release a low sigh, her own hand traveling up to rid S'eni of the rest of her jewelry.
They broke apart for a moment to give Y'shtola enough space to do so, granting S'eni access to the brooch that held the front of her lover's robes together, causing them to slip off her shoulders in a rather seductive manner when she undid it with dexterous fingers and revealing more of that beautiful skin.
No sooner did Y'shtola rid her of the other chains, they closed the gap once again. But instead of claiming kiss swollen lips, S'eni dipped down to bury her face into the inviting cleavage below, drawing out a mixture of a gasp and a giggle from the other woman.
Slipping a hand under her himation, Y'shtola dragged the tip of her silver talon across the skin just underneath S'eni's rib cage, before pushing the fabric aside.
Piece by piece, their clothing fell to the ground, leaving them in nothing but their boots and shorts when they arrived at her bed. Pushing Y'shtola on top of it, she took hold of one of her legs and began to undo the laces holding it close.
"Leylines, really?" S'eni asked with an amused grin when she spotted the pattern carved into the sole and narrowly dodge a swipe with her pillow.
"Hush you. They are of great assistance in battle."
"I know they are." Pulling the boot off, she dropped it to the ground and began to undo the next. "Fancy shoes even on a different world."
"Says the woman with gold on hers," Y'shtola shot back, lips curling into a little grin of her own.
"Point taken." After discarding the other one, S'eni removed her own footwear, tossing it somewhere to the side, before climbing on top of her lover and claiming her lips in another heated kiss.
A soft sigh escaped her as fingers slid across her sides and she didn't resist when Y'shtola slowly rolled them around. Hands traveling upward, the other Miqo'te took hold of her wrists and guided them above her head.
Y'shtola broke the kiss and lowered herself to S'eni's neck, planting her lips against the sensitive skin there.
"Shtola..." S'eni breathed out, craning her neck to grant better access.
All of a sudden, her lover stopped. Before she could ask what was wrong, S'eni felt Y'shtola smirk against her skin, and her wrists were engulfed by the sudden warmth of aether.
"Wha—" She looked up and found her hands now bound together by a string of magic, glowing a faint purple in the moonlight draped room. S'eni tried to wiggle free for a few seconds until Y'shtola rose slightly until she was right next to her ear.
"Looks like—" the other Miqo'te whispered, breath hot with desire. She tightened her hold on her wrists a little and guided them towards the backrest, where the same magic holding them together bound them against the bed. "—I have you now, O Warrior of Darkness..."
S'eni blinked as Y'shtola began to sit up and sized her up a little, before nodding like an artist upon finishing their masterwork. She glanced up towards her hands and gave a little pull. She knew that she was strong enough to break free if she really tried, and she knew that Y'shtola knew so as well. So instead of doing that, she returned the smirk.
"You certainly do. Now what will you do with little old me, I wonder?"
"Hmm. What to do..." Y'shtola extended a hand and ran a finger across the valley of S'eni breasts. Up and down. Up and down. "There's so much I want to do..."
Shifting her hand to cup one, Y'shtola leaned down and planted a little kiss on her cheek just below her face stripes. "I have three years to make up..."
A kiss on the corner of her lips.
"And I intend to make it all..."
A soft squeeze that drew a delightful little gasp.
"...count."
"Does that mean you'll finally make good on the spanking?" she chuckled then released another gasp as her lover gave her nipple a little pinch.
"If you keep that up," Y'shtola playfully threatened and let go of her breast once more, cupping her cheek instead and giving her a deep kiss. Upon separating again, the tip of her tongue darted out to brush against S'eni's bottom lip before starting her journey downward, leaving a damp trail in her wake that cooled S'eni's hot skin as the night's breeze wafted in from the window.
Stopping between her breasts, the other Miqo'te glanced up at her, locking eyes as she began plant open-mouthed kisses on both of them, leaving not a single inch of skin untouched aside from her nipples, hard and aching for attention, making her squirm. Y'shtola kept at it for a little longer, clearly enjoying the frustrating effect she was having on S'eni until, finally, she gave one nub a flick with her tongue, then caught it between her teeth.
The corners of Y'shtola's lips rose and she chuckled as she applied some pressure and rolled the nipple around for a few torturous moments before sucking it fully into her mouth to give it the attention it deserved.
Exhaling her lover's name through parted lips, S'eni arched her back a little, trying to get more of that exquisite sensation. After having had her fill, Y'shtola moved towards the other nipple, giving it the same treatment, then moved back, alternating between the two in new, sweet torture that made the heat between her legs grow almost unbearable.
"You know," Y'shtola said, moving on from her breasts and towards her abdomen, running a hand across its defined form. "A lot of women would kill for one such as this."
"Oh?" S'eni tilted her head. "You too?"
"Now why would I do that," she purred, teasing the sides of S'eni's waist with the palms of her hands, "when I have the one that I want lying right here?"
Y'shtola dipped her tongue into her belly button. S'eni squirmed, held firm by Y'shtola's magic.
"You're in pretty good shape too if you ask me," she groaned, trying and failing to keep her legs from shifting as her womanhood screamed for attention.
"Why, thank you. But I'm afraid compliments will get you nowhere." Y'shtola pushed herself back up, smirk growing, and a hand slowly wandered down to come to rest on her thigh. Caressing it, she occasionally dipped her fingers between S'eni's legs, but always keeping them just shy of that now very restrictive piece of underwear.
A curse escaped S'eni's lips, earning herself a little tut-tut from her lover.
"Patience is a virtue..." Y'shtola's hand shifted upward and pressed against her covered sex, eliciting a moan. "...wouldn't you agree?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Stroking her through the fabric and clearly enjoying the way she squirmed, Y'shtola opened her mouth to undoubtedly tease her some more, when a clattering sound from the table interrupted her.
They both turned their heads to see the teapot that had been standing there lying on its side, and perched next to it, staring at them with its perpetual glare, was a small shoebill. No one made a sound for a moment, then it spread out its wings and fluttered away through the open window, leaving as suddenly as it appeared.
Looking at each other again, they blinked once, then burst into laughter.
"I'm starting to think that thing is following me," S'eni said.
"Perhaps it took a liking to you. Many such cases after all."
"Would explain why it was at the bottom of the Tempest..." she muttered.
"Come again?"
She shook her head. "Nothing."
Y'shtola just raised her brows but otherwise didn't comment. Soon enough, her earlier smile returned. "Now, before we were so rudely interrupted, where were we...Ah yes..."
Pulling her hand back, the other woman removed herself from her and began to take off her shorts. S'eni couldn't help a little smirk of her own when she spotted the dampness between those beautiful legs.
Once they were tossed aside, Y'shtola placed her hands on either side of S'eni's black shorts, running her fingers along the hem and making her bite her lip in anticipation. But instead of doing what she desired, her lover withdrew them and moved to straddle her thigh just above the knee.
"...this is for being so impatient," Y'shtola said and began to slowly rub herself against her skin, closing her eyes and moaning softly.
Another groan escaped her, as she watched Y'shtola start to stroke her own body, arching back just enough so that she could better see her pleasuring herself, skin slightly glistening in the pale light from outside. The warm wetness and the brushing of short white curls against her skin were enough to drive her mad with desire and a tiny part deep inside her lust-addled mind screamed at her to just break free.
But no, she would continue to play this delightful little game...
"Oh...Eni..."
...after all, two could play it.
Shifting her foot a little, she pushed her leg up, causing Y'shtola's breath to hitch a little, before turning into moans again when she started to rock it in tandem with the movements of her hips.
S'eni watched with a smug sense of satisfaction as her lover's movement grew more erratic and she doubled over, managing to catch her fall with her hands at the last second and putting her breasts right on display. Dangling in front of her like the ripest of fruit.
Don't mind if I do, she thought and raised her head, lips encircling Y'shtola's hardened nipple. She suckled and tugged, drawing out another long moan from the needy Miqo'te.
Again and again, her name resounded from those pretty lips, sounding like music to her ears and rising by the second.
Higher.
Higher.
With one last moan, Y'shtola stiffened momentarily before her entire body began to convulse in orgasmic release and she dropped on top of S'eni, who still rubbed her now slick thigh against her to prolong the feeling for as long as possible.
They remained like this until Y'shtola relaxed and she slowly crawled back off her, looking at her with half-lidded eyes through tussled-up bangs, naked chest heaving with every breath she took. An absolutely erotic sight.
Giving S'eni a very satisfied smile, she cupped her cheek and brought their lips together in a short, deep kiss. "Your turn now," Y'shtola then said and lowered herself in earnest, the teasing sound in her voice having given way to warm promises eager to be kept.
Relief flooded her very being when she was finally, finally, freed of her shorts, the fresh air in the room alleviating the ache just a little. But she knew that true comfort would only come in the form of the woman who was lowering her face between her parting legs.
Y'shtola locked eyes with her, holding her intense gaze for but a moment, before leaning in.
"Oh gods..." S'eni's eyelids fluttered close and her toes curled into the sheets. Sparks of hot pleasure shot up her spine as her lover's tongue brushed against her sex, wasting no time with idle teasing anymore and giving her exactly what she wanted.
But she needed more.
With a moan, she pushed her pelvis up towards Y'shtola, who wasted no time taking up the offer, and slipped her hands under S'eni's behind, firmly placing one on each cheek and giving them a squeeze while she continued to eat her out.
A soft, warm fog clouded her mind, making her lose sense of all her surroundings. Only pleasure existed, and the one who gave it to her, whose name became a mantra of lust slipping past parted lips; begging for more and more.
Then, suddenly, Y'shtola pulled away, making her mewl out at the loss of contact. S'eni cracked her eyes open, watching the woman climb back up through the haze in front of her vision. Before she could utter so much as a word, loving lips were replaced by soft fingers pushing inside her wet slit, reducing her once more to nothing but moans.
Cupping her face with her other hand, Y'shtola kissed her. After a short and intense battle of tongues, she broke the kiss once again and brought their foreheads together.
"Don't look away," Y'shtola told her, looking deep into her eyes, and began to massage the small bundle of nerves with her thumb. It was hard, yet she managed to resist the urge to slam them shut at the combined sensation of her insides and clit being rubbed, each stroke driving her further and further to the edge.
"Shto...la..." she somehow managed to say amidst her cries, feeling her reason slipping away into the waves of ecstasy crashing upon her, but not wishing to give in before giving voice to the feelings in her heart. "I...I..."
"I know." Her lover smiled. "I love you too."
With a cry that she was sure could be heard throughout the Pendants, S'eni came, her back arching as far as possible and her entire body shaking from the force of her orgasm. Her mind went completely blank. Everything ceased to exist, only Y'shtola remained as pure bliss numbed her senses for what felt like a beautiful eternity.
When she finally regained control of her body, she found her hands unbound of the spell and immediately slipped her arms around her lover's shoulders to pull her close. Their lips came together again, slow and gentle this time, and she let out a happy little sigh as she felt Y'shtola's tail brush against her own.
They separated long enough to share exhausted, but very satisfied smiles, before leaning back in and letting themselves forget everything else.
Just for tonight, right here, right now, only they existed.
S'eni awoke to a faint sound entering her ears and she groggily opened one eye, then the other when she noticed that the spot next to her was empty. Slowly sitting up, she looked around and didn't take long to find Y'shtola, sitting at the nearby desk, her legs lazily crossed while her feet rested on top of it. In her hand, she held a tome bound in a simple black leather cover.
She couldn't help the smile forming at her state of undress, not even having bothered to put on one of the Pendants' bathrobes to shield her body as she read.
High education had never looked as enticing as this view in front of her.
Glancing over to the window, S'eni saw that it was still dark out, but from the angle of the moonlight, she could tell that it wouldn't be long until daybreak.
She walked over to Y'shtola, who had long since taken notice of her, and put her arms around her shoulders, gently leaning down to nuzzle her hair. "Can't sleep?"
Y'shtola shook her head. "Just needed something to drink," she replied. "I was just about to lie down when I saw this lying on your desk."
She glanced at the open page, recognising the words immediately because she had read them multiple times. It was the tome Matoya had given her.
S'eni didn't need to see it to know that Y'shtola was smiling. "I still remember when I first opened this. My first steps into the arcane."
"Hm. While you all were unconscious, Matoya gave it to me. Well, tossed more like." They shared a chuckle. "Said that if I had time to lounge around I also had time to apply myself."
"I should have suspected it, really."
"I suppose that does make me the disciple of a Matoya now, doesn't it?" reaching out, she ran her fingers along the edge of the page. "Other books soon joined. Thaumaturgy mostly, some arcanism and even conjuring. Anything that might have helped you guys in some way."
"I would say that's incredible, but I believe I'm starting to repeat myself on that front." Y'shtola giggled into her fist.
They fell silent for a moment, the only sound passing between them those of turning pages.
"You're going to leave for the Source soon." It wasn't a question.
S'eni hummed. "Got to let Tataru and Krile know that everything is alright over here and that you're all well. I also need to know how things fare with Garlemald."
"I see..."
She smiled once again. "I'll let Matoya and your sister know as well. I can deliver a message if you want."
"No. That's alright. Letting them know I'm well will suffice."
Hugging her a little tighter, S'eni closed her eyes. "Don't worry. I won't be gone for long. I'll be back as soon as possible," she promised.
"I know," Y'shtola exhaled softly, letting her hand come to rest atop one of S'eni's. "Say hello to Mhitra for me."
Her smile widened. "Just hello?"
"Honestly...I know what you're implying and we shall tell her about us together."
Now it was S'eni's turn to giggle. "If she hasn't already figured it out anyway," she said, then planted a little kiss on top of her head. "Come, let's get back to bed."
Eyes lingering on the pages for a few seconds longer, the other Miqo'te closed the tome and placed it back on the desk.
"Yes, let's do that," Y'shtola said warmly.
When I first met you, you were my enemy. An obstacle in the way of what we perceived as salvation for our dying world.
We both know how that ended: you defeated me, and from that defeat sprang hope. But that hope was not to last, and what followed were a hundred years of despair.
Then, you arrived in our world, and little by little brought it back from the brink and me alongside it.
Thank you. For all you have done.
So, stand tall, S'eni. Never stray from your path, no matter how difficult it will be, and always trust those walking it alongside you.
For your journey, our journey, will never end.
- Ardbert, Warrior of Light
Man, what a rude bird...
Anyways, with this we're finally done with 5.0. The next few chapters will be a little bit of downtime. You know, give everyone some time to catch their breaths before the ride continues. So I'll see you next week!